USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Genealogical and personal history of Fayette county, Pennsylvania > Part 26
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Elizabeth Watkins; children: Cornelius, James and Richard; married (second) Har- riet Claybaugh; children: Nellie, Catherine, Georgianna. 4. Margery, married John Watkins and had fourteen children: Susan, Catherine, George, Eliza Jane, Henrietta, William, Elizabeth, Matilda, John, Mary, Annie, Daisy, Charles, Mary. 5. John, mar- ried Anna Britton; children; Charles, George, Lillian, William. 6. Ann, married James Cauthers; child, James B., now a lawyer of New York city, graduate of Amherst college and Columbia university. 7. Catherine, mar- ried William Noble; no issue. 8. Ellen, mar- ried, February 15, 1866, James Williams, of West Brownsville, who died February 6, 1912; enlisted in August, 1862, in Company B, Twenty-second Pennsylvania Cavalry, serving until the close of the war; he was in railroad employ for twenty-three years, later a grocer.
.(II) William, son of George and Catherine (Laird) Britton, was born in County Ferma- nagh, Ireland, in 1832. He came to the United States in 1849 and later settled in Greene county, Pennsylvania, where he worked in a distillery. He remained in Greene county until after his marriage, then moved to South Brownsville, Fayette county, thence to Washington county, returning later to South Brownsville, where he died in 1909. He was engaged in the distilling business all his life. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Episcopal church. He married Melinda South, born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, died in South Browns- ville in 1910. Children: 1. Anna, married John G. Crawford. 2. John G., married Ella Sprin- ger, of South Brownsville; he was superin-
tendent of the Pittsburgh & Morgantown Packet Company many years, and for several years was pilot from Pittsburgh to Louisville, and one of the best known river men of the day. 3. Ruth, married Robert Crawford. 4. Catherine. 5. Elizabeth. 6. William D., of whom further.
(III) William Duncan, son of William and Melinda (South) Britton, was born in Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, near the old National road, June 20, 1868. He was edu- cated in the Brownsville public schools, and until he was seventeen years of age lived on a farm. He then became engineer on river boats 'owned by the Pittsburgh, Brownsville & Geneva Packet Company, and for fifteen years was chief engineer on river boats run- ning south from Pittsburgh. For the past two years he has been engineer for the Brownsville Brewing Company, having charge of the engine room of the refrigerat- ing department, the largest ice plant in the county used in connection with the brewing business. He owns the old homestead in South Brownsville, which is still the family home. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Episcopal church; Brownsville lodge, No. 60, Free and Accepted Masons; Brownsville Chapter, No. 164, Royal Arch Masons, and the National Association of Sta- tionary Engineers.
He married, in 1904, Daisy, daughter of Allen J. and (Day) Mowl, of early Washington county families. Allen J. Mowl survives his wife, a resident of Washington county. Child of Mr. and Mrs. Britton: Elizabeth, born December 25, 1908.
ROWE The Rowe family of Uniontown are of English parentage. Isaac Rowe, of London, England, came to the United States in 1873 and settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where he had banking con- nections. In 1874 his wife and family joined him in Cleveland where he died two years later. He married Sarah Thoroughgood, who yet survives him, a resident of Cleve- land. Children: Isaac O., deceased; Frank W., of New York; Ernest H., of whom fur- ther; Gilbert W., deceased.
(II) Ernest H., son of Isaac and Sarah Rowe, was born in London, England, April 20, 1872. His boyhood was spent in Cleve- land, Ohio, where he was educated in the
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public schools, graduating from the high school with the class of 1889. For ten years he was connected with the brokerage and in- surance business in Cleveland and during that period attended the night law school of Baldwin University, being graduated and re- ceiving his law degree in 1902. He has never practiced law, but all his business life has been as indicated. For ten years he was an active, working member of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, serving on important committees and becoming thoroughly fami- liar with the workings of a. modern chamber of commerce in a progressive American city. In 1909 he received a call from the city of Lorain, Ohio, to become secretary of the Chamber of Commerce of that city. He re- mained there one year, then came to Union- town in 1910 to accept a similar position. He has placed the business organization of the chamber in a healthful working condition and the interests of Uniontown have been greatly advanced. The matter of civic progress and expansion is one that Mr. Rowe has carefully studied and he has developed an ability that has produced satisfactory results. His powers of organization have brought him prominently forward and other associations of business men have placed confidence in his abilty. He is secretary of the Coke Pro- ducers' Association of the Connellsville re- gion, secretary of the Automobile Club of Fayette county and secretary of the Fayette County Road Supervision Association. He has allied himself with national and civic as- sociations and derives from them the advan- tages such bodies confer. He belongs to the American Association of Commercial Execu- tives. the American Academy of Political Sci- ence and the American Civic Association. He is active and energetic along lines of commer- cial development as well as in civic or polit- ical improvement. Another association for the public good in which he is actively inter- ested is the Uniontown Library Association. He is independent in political action, throw- ing the weight of his influence and position in favor of conservative businesslike conduct of public affairs. He is an active member and lay reader of St. Peter's Episcopal church of Uniontown, of which his wife is also a communicant.
He married, June 26, 1901, Osyth, daugh- ter of William and Florence (Secord) Cal-
lory, of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Chil- dren: Victoria, born May 24, 1904; Osyth, born December 16, 1905, died October 10, 1910; Patricia, born December 11, 1910.
NIXON This family is said to be of Scotch ancestry. There was a John Nixon, of Ridley, Dela-
ware county, Pennsylvania, a member of the Society of Friends in 1683, of whom little is known. There is a theory that he was the father of Richard Nixon, father of Colonel John Nixon, born in Chester county, a noted merchant of Philadelphia, and one of the founders, in 1770, of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. He was chairman of the Committee of Public Safety during the revolution, and lieutenant-colonel of the Third Pennsylvania Battalion, in the defense of the Delaware river in 1776 and 1777. He it was who on July 18, 1776, read to the people of Philadel- phia, for the first time, the Declaration of Independence, using a platform built for an- other purpose in state house yard. The Nixons of Uniontown descend from the Phil- adelphia and Delaware county family. They are Scotch-Irish, their progenitors settling in Ireland before coming to America. There is a William Nixon found in Georges town- ship, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1787, a property owner.
(I) The earliest record of this branch is of Samuel Nixon, a farmer of Georges town- ship, justice of the peace, and from 1828 to 184I associate justice of the Fayette county court of common pleas and quarter sessions. He was a prominent man, married, and left issue.
(II) James, son of Samuel Nixon, was born in Georges township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, December, 1828, died Novem- ber, 1894. He was educated and passed his minority in his native county. After his mar- riage he moved to Westmoreland county, re- maining, however, but a few years. He then returned to the Nixon homestead in Georges township, Fayette county, where he engaged in agriculture until his death. He was a Democrat, active and influential in public affairs. In 1886 he was elected commissioner of Fayette county, serving three years. He and all the members of his family were mem- bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He married Sarah Jane Zerley, who survives
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him, a resident of Fairchance. Pennsylvania. She was born January 1, 1836. Children: I. Dorcas Ann, married Harmon Custer, and resides in Galesburg, Illinois. 2. Hannah P., married Ambrose Bradley, of Altoona, Penn- sylvania. 3. Jennie, married Robert Golds- boro, of Fairchance, Pennsylvania. 4. Will- iam S., of whom further. 5. James, now of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. 6. Sarah, married Richard Goldsboro, of Fairchance. Pennsylvania. 7. Charles B., residing in Fair- chance. 8. Alice, deceased, married Samuel Artis.
(III) William S., son of James and Sarah Jane (Zerley) Nixon, was born in Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1862. He was educated in the public schools and passed his earlier years at the home farm in Georges township, his parents returning there while he was a child. He began busi- ness in 1886 at Fairchance, Pennsylvania, es- tablishing a meat market. In 1890 he went to Denver, Colorado, where he was engaged in the grocery business two years. In 1892 he returned to Fairchance and opened a meat market, continuing until 1896, when he sold his business. He engaged in the undertaking and livery business in Fairchance, building up a prosperous business, and in 1908 sold out and came to Uniontown. He there opened an undertaking establishment, with a livery stable in connection. He is a graduate of the Barnes School of Embalming, and has been very successful in the two branches of his business, both being conducted on thor- oughly modern lines. The serious duties of his profession have been attended to with great zeal and carefulness, and his handling of the delicate and difficult problems con- nected with funerals has been done with the greatest consideration and respect for all concerned. He has every facility of the up- to-date undertaker, and with his first-class appointments has secured a fine trade in the undertaking line in Uniontown. He is a member of the First Presbyterian church, in which he is an active worker, and is a mem- ber of the Royal Arcanum.
He married (first) April 4, 1883, Rhoda, daughter of Jacob and Melinda (Kendall) Dawson, of Georges township, Fayette coun- ty, of the well-known and prominent Dawson family; she died March 19, 1896. He mar- ried (second) April 23, 1900, Mary A., daugh-
ter of Captain James and Jennie (O'Don- ovan) Abraham, of Georges township. Chil- dren of first marriage: I. Ray Dawson, now living in Fairchance, Pennsylvania. 2. El- enora, living at home. Children of second marriage: 3. Janet H. 4. William S. 5. James A. 6. Donald R.
In a list of settlers in Georges NIXON township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1787, is found the name of William Nixon; where he came from is not known. He owned land in Georges township and was a farmer there until his death. He was a Whig and a deacon of the Presbyterian church. It is said by one authority that he died on the ocean while re- turning to his native land. He married and left issue: Hannah, married Dr. J. Cory; Moses, of whom further ; Jane, married How- ard Griffith; Isaac, Samuel.
(II) Moses, son of William Nixon, was born in 1812, died in Georges township July 22, 1857, on the home farm which now bears the name "Oliphant farm." He received his education in the public schools of his native township, and in his later life followed the occupation of a farmer. He was at one time a member of the state militia, and in religion he and his wife were Cumberland Presby- terians. He married Louisa Bailey, born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, but who moved to Fayette county when very young, daugh- ter of Eli, a farmer in South Union township, and Perrie (Gregg) Bailey. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Bailey: I. Presley, married and lives in the west. 2. Jesse. 3. Ellen, married Harriott Gaddis. 4. William, married Jenny Patterson. 5. Louisa, of previous men- tion. 6. Eliza, married William Barnes. 7. Ruth Ann, married Ellis Linn. 8. Emily, married William C. Dixon. They are all de- ceased. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Nixon: I. William, married (first) Mary Means, (sec- ond), Mattie Richardson, and lives in Mon- tana. 2. Francis, married Azel Freeman, deceased. 3. Perrie, deceased, married Will- iam Dawson. 4. Amanda, lives in Denver, Colorado, married Charles Day Armond, de- ceased. 5. Emily, married Jacob Renshaw, and lives in Winfield, Iowa. 6. Moses Tay- lor, of whom further. 7. Ellen, married Al- bert Smith, of Connellsville, Pennsylvania. 8. Samuel G. (q. v.). 9. Presley, deceased, mar-
I. S. Migon
.
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Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Nixon and Grandchildren
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ried Carrie Robinson. 10. Anna, married Thomas Ringland, a farmer of Winfield, Iowa. II. Victoria, married William Law- head, deceased, lived at Uniontown, Penn- sylvania.
(III) Moses Taylor, son of Moses and Louisa (Bailey) Nixon, was born in Georges township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, March 22, 1849. His entire life, with the ex- ception of three summers, when he was in Iowa, has been passed in Georges township, where he received his education. He has owned a farm since 1889 and is to-day one of the county's most energetic, enterprising and successful farmers, having all modern equip- ment and improvements upon his farm and a group of buildings so unlike many tumble- down farm houses that they would do credit to any village or town. Cleanliness is the slogan in everything attempted and every- where is seen the glittering of freshly applied paint. His interest in politics, local, state and national, is great, and he has held several of- fices as a Republican, among them being school director, to which he has several times been re-elected; a member of the election board, tax collector; on the county poor board for three years and at present is road- master. With his wife he is a member of the Presbyterian church.
He married, September 19, 1878, Frances Collier, born in Georges township, July 23, 1858, daughter of Merchant, a farmer in Georges township, and Hannah ( Hustead) Collier. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Collier : I. Frances, of previous mention. 2. Daniel, born August 7, 1860, died July 7, 1908, mar- ried Mollie Sesler. 3. Alsesta, born Decem- ber 16, 1862, married James Robinson. a farmer of Georges township. 4. Loretta, born October 6, 1865, married Robert Brownfield, a farmer of Georges township. 5. Robert, born June 19, 1867. died January II, 1869. 6. Mary, born January 8, 1869, married (first) Norval Medara, (second) Robert Kennedy. 7. James F., born Octo- ber 20, 1871, married (first) Ella Steel, (second) Children of Mr. and
Mrs. Nixon: I. Louisa, born October 30, 1879, married Albert Thomas; children: May Thomas, born October 29, 1899, and Bessie Thomas, born July 22, 1901. These children live with their grandparents, who take great
delight and pride in them. 2. Hannah May, Dorn July 4, 1881, married D. F. Swaney, road supervisor of Georges township. Chil- dren : Daniel and Earl.
(III) Samuel Gregg, son of Moses and Louisa (Bailey) Nixon, was born in Georges township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, De. cember II, 1852. He was educated in the public schools and remained at the home farm with his parents until manhood. After his marriage he began farming operations for himself in South Union township, where he owns a good farm and is successfully en- gaged in farming and live stock. He mar- ried, October 30, 1880, Anna Williams, born in Uniontown December 1, 1854, daughter of Isaac and Martha (Lancaster) Williams. Isaac Williams was a brick manufacturer for forty years, and founded the business now con- ducted by his sons. He retired from business fifteen years preceding his death in Union- town, November 21, 1893. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Williams: I. Thomas B., deceased, married Emma Sheets, who survives him, a resident of Morgantown, West Virginia. 2. Lewis, married Rebecca Clark, both de- ceased. 3. Josiah V., married Ellen Derrick, deceased; he resides in Uniontown; is a brick manufacturer. 4. Elliott, married Ada Bailey; he is a brick manufacturer of Clarks- burg, West Virginia. 5. Marjorie, died in in- fancy. 6. Jenny, married Perry Markle, a real estate dealer of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. 7. Anna, of previous mention, wife of Samuel G. Nixon. 8. Emma, married George Brooke, a merchant of Uniontown. 9. Julia, married Marshall Brooke, a farmer of Somerset coun- ty, Pennsylvania. 10. Rev. Charles, a min- ister of the Protestant Episcopal church, liv- ing near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 11. Harry, bookkeeper for the Elkins Coal and Coke Company ; married Grace Kiddie. Chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Nixon. I. Pearl, born September 23, 1881 ; married Charles Clark, a lawyer of Uniontown ; children : Martha, born 1005; Helen, 1907; Mary, 1908. 2. Jessie, born September. 7, 1883; residing at home. 3. Ray, born August 1, 1884; married May Browning; child: Ray (2), died in infancy. 4. Martha Jane, born July 25, 1885; resides at home. 5. William Moses, born October 10, 1887 ; died in infancy. 6. Paul, born Decem- ber 28, 1890. 7. Julia, born April 26, 1893.
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8. Perrie D., born August 22, 1895. 9. Ruth, born November 28, 1899.
This branch of the Don-
DONNELLY nelly family descends from Michael Donnelly, born in Ireland, who with his wife, formerly a Miss Hastings, came to the United States in 1823. They settled in Susquehanna county, Penn- sylvania, where he was one of the pioneer farmers.
They were both devout members of the Roman Catholic church, and Michael Don- nelly was a Democrat. He died at his farm and is buried at Fredsville, Pennsylvania; she died in 1871, aged eighty-one years. Children who grew to maturity: John, Michael, Pat- rick, Dennis, Martin, of whom further; Ed- ward, James, Margaret, Eliza, Bridget.
(II) Martin, son of Michael Donnelly, was born in Ireland, and came to the United States with his parents in 1823, then but a child. He was educated in the public schools of Susquehanna county, and in his earlier years was a farmer and lumberman. In 1849 he moved to Binghamton, New York, re- maining until 1855, when he returned to Sus- quehanna county. In 1856 he went west, set- tling in Oconto county, Wisconsin, remain- ing until 1859, when he again returned to his boyhood home in Pennsylvania. Later, in 1871, he located in Scranton, where he died Febritary 7, 1908.
Martin Donnelly married Margaret, died Jitly 31, 1906, daughter of Thomas and Honora (McDonald) Sheahan, both born in Ireland, came to the United States, settling at Silver Lake, Susquehanna county, Penn- sylvania. Thomas Sheahan died in Grand Rapids, Michigan, aged ninety-three years His wife died in Meadville, also at an ad- vanced age. Children: Philip; James, a con- tractor in Iowa; Patrick; Thomas; Margaret, of previous mention; Mary; Eliza, living at Grand Rapids, Michigan; Honora, living in Port Colborne, Canada. Children of Martin and Margaret Donnelly: I. Mary J., born February 3, 1848, in Susquehanna county. 2. James E., January 27, 1850, at Binghamton, New York. 3. John J., of whom further. 4. Anna Eliza, January, 1855, in Susquehanna county. 5. Thomas P., 1857, in Wisconsin, killed on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad in Pennsylvania, February 6, 1893. 6. Nellie,
born May 30, 1861, in Susquehanna county. 7. Joseph E., April 30, 1863, in Susquehanna county. 8. Lucy, born 1865, died young.
(III) John J., son of Martin Donnelly, was born at Binghamton, New York, February 10, 1853.
He attended the public schools and worked on the farm until he was sixteen years of age. He then entered the train ser- vice of the Delaware, Lackawanna & West- ern railroad as brakeman. He later came to Connellsville, and on May 1, 1873, entered the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company. In 1874 he was promoted to con- ductor, continuing with the company ten years and one month. He then resigned, and for sixteen years was engaged in the bottling business in Fayette county. He spent nine years in the lumber business, two years in contracting and is now living retired. He is a Democrat and has served the city of Con- nellsville as auditor for two terms of three years each. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church.
John J. Donnelly married, January 6, 1876, Lena Bower, born in Germany Feb- ruary 6, 1856, daughter of John and Kath- erine Bower. John Bower was born in Ger- many in 1808; came to the United States and settled in Alleghany county, Maryland, in 1863, where he worked at his trade of miller; later moved to Bedford county, where he engaged in farming until his death in 1881. His wife Katherine was born in Germany in 1823, died in Bedford county in 1884. Chil- dren: Charles; Louis; John; Laurence. de- ceased; Frederick, deceased; and Lena, of previous mention. Children of John J. and Lena Donnelly: I. William H., born October 15, 1876; married Mary Jones; children : Mar- garet J., born December 25, 1902; Marie, November 18, 1904; John J., September II, 1907; Eleanor, March 14, 1910. 2. Joseph E., born January 17, 1878. 3. Dodie Frances, February 10, 1880; married September 5, 1906, D. J. Lambert; and has a son, John, born February 10, 1910. 4. Nellie Mary, born February 10, 1882; married, November 4, 1910, M. M. Patterson, and has a daugh- ter, Louisa, born April 7, 1911. 6. Charles F., born August 28, 1889. 7. Albert V., May 31, 1891. 8. Margaret G., December 1, 1893. 9. Eugene H., October 26, 1895, died March 30, 1897.
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This is a famous name in
O'CONNOR Ireland, and was borne in the United States by one of the greatest lawyers of the New York bar, Charles O'Connor, a descendant of the Irish family. The father of Bernard O'Connor, of Connellsville, Pennsylvania, Peter O'Connor, died in 1871 in Ireland, where his life had been spent. His widow, Mary (Murtha) O'Connor, came to the United States, where she lived with her children until her death in 1887. Peter O'Connor was a farmer and small landowner. He married (first)
Mccluskey; children: John, who came to the United States and was never heard from; Bridget and Peter, died in infancy. Children by his second wife, Mary (Murtha) O'Connor: I. James, lives in Ireland and farms the old home acres. 2. Michael, died in Ireland, leav- ing six sons and two daughters. 3. Alice, married John Riley and lives in Ireland; eight children. 4. Mary, married James Rock and died leaving two children in the old country. 5. Margaret, died in infancy. 6. Francis, came to the United States and settled in Connells- ville, Pennsylvania; married and has five sons and three daughters. 7. Patrick, came to the United States and resides in Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania, with a family of six sons and two daughters. 8. Rose, married (first) in Pennsylvania, James O'Freil; he died at Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania; she married (second) Lawrence Megan. 9. Bernard, of whom further. 10. Katherine, came to the United States, married John Lynch, of Pitts- burgh. Pennsylvania; has four living children : parents and children were all members of the Roman Catholic church.
(II) Bernard, youngest son of Peter and Mary (Murtha) O'Connor, was born in Coun- ty Cavan, Ireland, November, 1855. He re- ceived his education in the village school in his native land and under a private tutor, at his own expense. In 1881 he came to the United States and located in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, where he was employed for one year and seven days as a coke drawer by the Cambria Iron Company. He then entered the service of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad as foreman of a construction gang and laid the first section of the double track between Con- nellsville and Pittsburgh. Later for a verr was timekeeper for the W. J. Rainey Coal Company, then for six months was patrolman
on the Connellsville police force. In 1885 he bought seventy-five acres of the old Rogers homestead, "Cross Keys," and for four years was engaged in dairy farming. In 1889 he discontinued dairying, but remained owner of the farm until 1908. About 1888 he began contracting in a small way, but his business so increased that in 1900 he gave up the farm, built a brick residence at No. 201 North First street, Connellsville, West Side, which has since been his home. He continued in busi- ness very successfully, and in 1909 formed a partnership with J. W. Madigan, under the firm name of O'Connor & Madigan. For four years, 1904 until 1908, he was proprietor of the Victoria Hotel in Connellsville, then re- turned to contracting. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, the Holy Name Society and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In politics he is an independ- ent.
He married, May 12, 1882, at St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York city, Rose, born in County Monaghan, Ireland, daughter of James and Rose Cassidy, who both died in Ireland. Children: 1. Florence, married J. W. Madigan. 2. Mary, died aged fourteen years. 3. Alice, died in infancy. 4. Anna, resides with her parents. 5. Charles, in busi- mess with his father. 6. Laura, graduate of State Normal School at California, now a teacher in the Connellsville schools. 7. Kath- erine, a graduate of the State Normal School at California. 8. Bernard P., student in the Connellsville high school. 9. William, student in the Connellsville high school.
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