USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Genealogical and personal history of Fayette county, Pennsylvania > Part 30
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
(IX) Arthur Weir, son of Dr. Robert Lewis and Susan (Collins) Bliss, was born at Florence, Alabama, June 1, 1847, died in Atlantic City, New Jersey, August 25, 1903. He was a very bright, intelligent boy and pre- pared for college at home. At age of six- teen years he entered Princeton University beginning with last half year of the sophomore class. He was graduated with the class two and a half years later, having completed the prescribed classical course. After gradua- tion he returned south, taught at Bolivar, Tennessee, one year, then came to Union- town, Pennsylvania, where he engaged with the Dunbar Furnace Company as book- keeper at their Dunbar plant. While occu- pying this position he became of legal age and cast his first vote. He remained with the Dunbar Furnace Company several years, gradually rising to more responsible posi- tions. Later he resigned and formed a part- nership with George C. Marshall and the two young men began the manufacture of fire brick, with plant at Dunbar. They pros- pered wonderfully, again and again enlarging their plant, the development of the coke in- dustry creating a great demand for their pro- duct. After many successful years in busi- ness as fire brick manufacturers, they began the manufacture of coke; they found this business profitable and became one of the
471
FAYETTE COUNTY
most extensive coke producing firms in Fay- ette county. They owned large plants at Percy, Oliphant and at many other points in the county, all producing merchantable coke. Mr. Bliss continued actively in business until his death in 1903. He resided in Uniontown at the old Judge Gilmore mansion, the child- hood home of his wife, and one of the fine resident locations of Uniontown. He was a most capable and energetic man of business, farseeing and wise in management of his large interests. He was a Democrat in poli- tics, and a member of the Episcopal church.
He married, January 6, 1881, Lida G. Gil- more, born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania (see Gilmore). Children: Adele and Florence.
MCLAUGHLIN Robert Mclaughlin was born in the state of New Jersey, resided in Fay- ette county, Pennsylvania, and there founded a family. After settling in Franklin town- ship, Fayette county, he engaged in farming, but spent his last days in Ohio. He was a Democrat, and a member of the Presbyterian church. He married Ann Barricklow, born in New Jersey in 1800, and had issue, includ- ing a son, Robert (2), of whom further.
(II) Robert (2), son of Robert (1) Mc- Laughlin, was born in Fayette county, Penn- sylvania, in 1824, died in 1900. He attended the public schools, and afterwards learned the stone mason's trade, an occupation he followed many years. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Methodist church; his wife was of the Presbyterian faith. He married Susan Gilleland, born in Fayette county about 1828, died in 1882, aged fifty-four years, daughter of William and Mary Gilleland, both of whom died in Fay- ette county. Children. I. Mary Ann, born 1848, died 1876. 2. Isabell, born 1849. 3. Rebecca, 1852. 4. Mariah, born 1854, died 1857. 5. John, born 1856. 6. Elizabeth, 1859. 7. Lindley B., 1861, now of West Vir- ginia. 8. Robert E., of whom further. 9. Charles, born 1865, died 1867. 10. James, born 1868, died 1889. II. William, born 1869. 12. Emma, born 1871, died 1889.
(III) Robert E., eighth child and third son of Robert (2) and Susan (Gilleland) Mc- Laughlin, was born in Franklin township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, March 30, 1863. He was reared on the home farm, at-
tended the public schools and completed his education at Mt. Union (Ohio) College. After leaving college he entered the employ of James Cochran & Sons Company, con- tinuing with them fourteen years as yard foreman. He is a Democrat in politics, and was elected justice of the peace of Dunbar township in 1901 and still holds that position. In 1905 he was elected chief burgess of the newly created borough of Vanderbilt and wisely guided its affairs during his term of office. He is a member of the following fraternal orders: Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Junior Order of American Mechan- ics, Knights of the Mystic Chain, Modern Woodmen of America, Loyal Order of Moose, Knights of Pythias.
He married, in 1883, Frances Boyer, born in Vanderbilt, Pennsylvania, September 26, 1869, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Sin- clair) Boyer, both born in Fayette county, and both deceased. She is a granddaughter of George Boyer, a former farmer and tax collector of Dunbar township. Children of Robert E. McLaughlin: Orville Pearl, born 1884; Grover Cleveland, 1885; Bessie Emma, 1887, formerly a teacher in the Vanderbilt schools, now teaching in Franklin township; Elizabeth Idessa, born 1890; Eva Louisa, 1892; Mary Nevada, 1895; Helen Rhea, 1900; Henry Etta, 1902; Frances Roberta, 1908.
DUNN This branch of the Dunn family in Connellsville descends from Thomas Dunn, born about 1745, in County Down, Ireland, and his wife, Mary Caldwell, born in Scotland. He came to western Pennsylvania in 1772, and took a patent from the government for four hun- dred and sixty-four acres of land in Fayette county, now in Franklin township. He was a soldier of the revolution and one of the great army of Fayette county hardy pioneers. After settling on his land he did not wait to erect a dwelling, but made the family home in a stable for a year after their arrival in order to get in a crop. The following year he put up his log cabin, and also a wagon shop as he was a wheelwright by trade, con- tinuing in business until his death in 1800. Four years before his death he erected the stone house which his grandson Thomas (2) occupied. He died aged fifty-five years. His wife, Mary (Caldwell) Dunn, born January
472
PENNSYLVANIA
20, 1746, survived him until 1824. Seven of his twelve children were sons, and all but two of them moved to the state of Ohio early in life. These two, John and Samuel, worked the old farm together for several years; then Samuel took the western fever and, selling his interest to John, also went to Ohio.
(II) John, son of Thomas (1) Dunn, was born in Franklin township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on the old homestead farm, where he died October 21, 1861. He was a farmer and a soldier of the war of 1812. He continued on the old farm after all his bro- thers had moved to Ohio, and ended his days in his native township. He married (first) in 1815, Mary Smith, who died June 5, 1835; she left children: Sarah; Elizabeth; Mary Jane; Nancy; Thomas (2), of whom further; Re- becca; Robert, moved to Kansas; Harriet. He married (second) Mary Oldham, who died in 1843, and he married (third) Cath- arine Scott, who survives him.
(III) Thomas (2), son of John Dunn, was born in the old homestead in Franklin town- ship, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, April 7, 1824, died 1882. He was a farmer of Fay- ette county all his life. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church; in early life a Whig, later a Republican and a Prohi- bitionist. He married, February 4, 1844, Eleanor Scott, born near Masontown, Fay- ette county, in 1822, died 1894, daughter of Thomas and Catharine (Foster) Scott, who both lived and died in Fayette county. Chil- dren: Marion Crawford, killed at the battle of Murfreesboro during the civil war; Eleanor; Elspay; Mary; Major; and Robert. The last survivor now resides at Atlantic City. Children of Thomas (2) Dunn: John Alexander, born 1845, now deceased; Agnes R., born 1846, died 1911: Thomas Scott, of whom further; Mary Catherine, born 1849; Samuel Watson, born 1855, deceased; Wil- liam Caldwell, born 1857; Ann Elizabeth; Harriet Isabel, killed in a runaway, 1879; Robert C., born 1861 ; Major Elsworth, 1862; William C .: Harry Grant, 1866.
(IV) Thomas Scott, son of Thomas (2) and Eleanor (Scott) Dunn, was born on the old homestead farm in Franklin township, Fay- ette county, June 7, 1848, being the third generation born there after the settlement by his great grandfather, Thomas (1) Dunn. He was educated in the public schools, and
chose farming as his occupation in early life, but soon became employed in saw milling and lumbering, a business he has carried on for over forty years. He also has large coal and real estate interests. In 1909 he moved from Franklin township, taking up his resi- dence at 314 South Eighth street, Connells- ville, Pennsylvania. He was a Republican in earlier life, but since 1877 has been a third party Prohibitionist and a leader in the party. He has been the candidate of the Prohibi- tion party for every important office in the county. This is purely a matter of principle with him, as an election is not even among the possibilities. He is an elder of the United Presbyterian church, of which his father and grandfather also were elders. He has always been interested in Sunday school work, hav- ing served as superintendent for many years.
He married, in 1869, Jane A. Murphy, of Fayette county, born September 27, 1848, daughter of Robinson and Margaret (Frazer) Murphy, early settlers of the county. Chil- dren of Thomas Scott Dunn: I. Clarence Edgar, born 1869, died in infancy. 2. Olive Bell, born 1871; married in 1897, Dr. J. O. Arnold, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 3. Thomas Bryson, born 1875, now cultivating a farm in Franklin; married 1898, Ethel Arri- son. 4. William Robinson, born 1877, re- sides on homestead farm. 5. James H., born 1881; married Annie E. McBurney, Decem- ber, 1906. 6. Harriet, born 1884; married William B. Downs, of Connellsville, May, 1906.
The Stoner family is one of
STONER the old families of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, the earliest ancestor, name unknown, coming from Switzerland.
(II) Christian Stoner, son of the emigrant, was a farmer of Bedford county until 1799, when he moved to Westmoreland county, settling in East Huntington township, where he secured title to three hundred acres of good land, and followed farming until his death in 1814. Prior to his demise he di- vided his farm among four of his sons, John, Abraham, Jacob and Daniel. His wife, Bar- bara Shank, came from Bedford county with him and died in Westmoreland. Children: John, a farmer of Westmoreland county, and a Mennonite, married Magdalena Fox, Abra-
473
FAYETTE COUNTY
ham; Christian (2), of whom further; Jacob; Daniel; Henry; David; Barbara, married John Wertz; Elizabeth, married Christian Sherrick; Anna, married John Rudabuck.
(III) Christian (2), son of Christian (1) and Barbara (Shank) Stoner, was born in Bedford county, October 10, 1793. When six years old his parents moved to Westmoreland county, settling in East Huntington township near Scottdale, at what is known as "Stoner's Settlement." Here he grew to manhood and resided until his marriage, when he moved to Dunbar township, settling in 1817 on the old Stauffer farm, which he obtained through his wife, Annie, daughter of Christian and Agnes (Overhault) Stauffer. Annie Stauffer was born February 5, 1798, died October 9, 1865. They were both Presbyterians. Children of Christian (2) Stoner: 1. Abraham, married Margaret Mackey; settled in Illinois, going thence to Missouri; served four years in the confederate army; died at Eureka Springs, Arkansas. 2. Christian S., married Mary Shellenbarger, and moved to Illinois, where he died; two of his sons, Caleb R. and Martin S., served in the union army. 3. Mary, mar- ried Abraham Galley, and resided in Franklin township, Fayette county. 4. Sarah, mar- ried Henry N. Friede, and lived in Bullskin township, Fayette county, where her husband died. 5. Agnes, twin of Sarah, married John Dudley Collins, and lived in Dunbar town- ship. 6. John W., married Margaret Og- leive, and moved to Kansas about 1875; he served in the civil war in the Sixth Regiment, Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery; both de- ceased. leaving a large family of grown chil- dren. 7. Rebecca, married Joseph Ogleive of Dunbar township, a merchant of Vander- bilt. 8. Elizabeth, married Joseph New- comer, and moved to Kansas, where he was killed by a train. 9. Levi, of whom further. IO. Isaac F., married (first) August 11, 1859, Rachel Ball, who died January 25, 1882; he married (second) March 9, 1884, Mrs. Leah (Sipe) Eicher, widow of Andrew Eicher, a union soldier killed in front of Petersburg, and daughter of Peter and Rebecca Sipe. 11. Annie, born October 4, 1839; married John W. Hair, and lived in Franklin township, Fayette county. 12. Cyrus, born October 6, 1842, died unmarried in Dunbar township, aged thirty-three years.
(IV) Levi, ninth child of Christian (2) and
Annie (Stauffer) Stoner, was born in East Dunbar township, Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania, about 1836, died in Sistersville, West Virginia, in 1904. He followed farming 111 early life, then became a teamster. He served two terms as constable, and spent the last fourteen years of his life in Sistersville. He served three years of the civil war in the One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He mar- ried Catherine Shaw, born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, November 5, 1840, who sur- vives him, a resident of Sistersville, a member of the Baptist church. She is a daughter of Nathan Shaw, an early resident of Connells- ville and a riverman for many years. Chil- dren: William; Cyrus M., of whom further; Charles Bell, deceased; Catherine; Nathan; Lulu; an infant, twin of Lulu; Frederick; Joseph, deceased.
(V) Cyrus Millard, second son of Levi and Catherine (Shaw) Stoner, was born in Fay- ette county, Pennsylvania, March 25, 1861. He attended the public school of Connells- ville until he was a lad of twelve years of age. For a time he was connected with the Na- tional Locomotive Works, but left there and went to the oil fields in Butler county; re- turning he entered the employ of the Hazel- wood Oil Company as an apprentice to the machinist's trade. He has been with Boyts, Porter & Company since 1882, now thirty years. He has been promoted several times, and is now (1912) superintendent of the Con- nellsville plant, a position he most capably fills. He is a Republican in politics, and attends the Lutheran church.
He married, August 23, 1883, Emma Daw- son, born in Connellsville, July 25, 1864, daughter of Robert and Nancy Dawson. They were early Fayette county settlers of Scotch-Irish descent, the American ancestor being John Dawson, who came to the Amer- ican colonies from Whitehaven, England, early in the eighteenth century. Nicholas Dawson served with Washington in 1764 and during the revolution; he was in Crawford's defeat, and narrowly escaped capture while helping a bewildered soldier. Children of Cyrus Millard and Emma (Dawson) Stoner: I. Edna May, died in infancy. 2. Alberta,
474
PENNSYLVANIA
born July 27, 1884. 3. Sadie, born June 15, 1887; married Carl W. Foore, of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and has: Emma Jane, born May 4, 19II.
This branch of the Brown fam- BROWN ily descends from Joshua Brown, born in England, in 1764. He came to the United States, set- tling in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where he became wealthy and prominent. He owned at one time one thousand acres of land, several slaves, and two hotels. Much of his land was under cultivation, and in addi- tion to managing his farming operations he also conducted both hotels. He was inter- ested in the early establishment of banks, and seems to have been a man of great energy and quick discernment. His slaves were freed by law, but he kept them in his employ as long as they wished to stay. He died in 1819. He married (second) Catherine Ach- ards, born in Germany, who lived to be one hundred and one years of age. By a first marriage he had nine children; by his second, three.
(II) Rev. Benjamin F. Brown, son of Joshua and Catherine (Achards) Brown, was born in Georges township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, August 20, 1816, died Febru- ary 23, 1906. He was educated in the town- ship schools and reared upon the farm. He was ambitious to become a minister, and in furtherance of his ambition studied and read until his mind was richly stored. He accom- plished a course of theological study and re- ceived from the Baptist church a license to preach. Later he was ordained and admitted to membership in the Monongahela Baptist Association. He filled appointments in Mary- land, West Virginia and Fayette county, Pennsylvania, besides work in missionary fields. He was a faithful minister and sound exponent of Baptist doctrine, as well as an eloquent pulpit orator. He retired to his farm in Georges township in 1895 and spent his remaining years in practical farming, the occupation of his early manhood. He inher- ited one hundred and sixty acres from his father, to which he added one hundred and twenty-five acres more, also considerable town property. He served the township as tax collector and supervisor. He married, April 5, 1838, Maria, daughter of John and
Catherine Lyons. She was born in Spring- hill township in 1819, died 1892. Children: Thomas J., deceased; John L .; George W., of whom further; Sarah A .; Mary C .; Re- becca J., deceased; Orpah, deceased; Benja- min O .; Ada M.
(III) George W., son of Rev. Benjamin F. Brown, was born in Georges township, Fay- ette county, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the common schools, and has spent his life in the pursuit of agriculture. He now owns and cultivates the old Brown farm in Georges township, first patented to his grandfather, Joshua Brown, owned next by his father, Rev. Benjamin F. Brown, and now by himself. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian church. He married Mary C., born in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania, daughter of Benjamin Rotharmel. Children: Minnie, married Charles E. Mor- ton. of Georges township; Anna M., married Ashbel F. Conn, of Springhill township; Fan- nie, married James E. Hanly, of Uniontown; Edward D., of whom further; Roy J., of Georges township; Ora S., of Smithfield borough.
(IV) Edward D., son of George W. Brown, was born on the homestead farm in Georges township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, June 19, 1877. He was educated in the town- ship schools, taught for four years, then en- tered the State Normal School at California, Pennsylvania, whence he was graduated, class of 1900. Later leaving Normal School, he taught for two years, having in 1901 be- gun the study of law under the guidance of D. M. Hertzog, of Uniontown. On Novem- ber 2, 1903, he was admitted to the Fayette county bar, and at once began the practice of his profession, locating in Uniontown. He has been admitted to practice in all the state and federal courts, and is well established in his chosen profession. He has business inter- ests of importance outside of his law practice, together with coal land interests in West Vir- ginia. He is a Republican, served on the ex- ecutive committee of the Republican county committee, and is a member of Uniontown city council. He belongs to the Fayette County Bar Association, the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows, and is an active member of the Presbyterian church, as is his wife.
He married, July 20, 1898, Alice, daughter of Daniel P. and Ella (Lyons) Morgan, of
EDBrown
r
475
FAYETTE COUNTY
Springhill township, Fayette county, Penn- sylvania. Daniel P. Morgan was a farmer and cashier of the First National Bank of Smithfield. He was a son of William and Sarah Ann (Stentz) Morgan, who were mar- ried in 1846. His grandfather was Colonel John Morgan, a soldier of the war of 1812 and the Mexican war. He was a son of David Morgan, who came to Fayette county in 1788 and took up land on Grassy Run. The Mor- gans are of Welsh extraction. Children of Edward D. Brown: Morgan H., born Oc- tober 14, 1902; Lauretta, born September 14, 1906.
HETZEL The Hetzels of Connellsville, Pennsylvania, descend from a long line of German ancestors native to the town of Mulheim, province of Wittenburg, and for three generations at least engaged in the slaughter and sale of meats. The American ancestor, Jacob Het- zel, was born in Mulheim, Germany, where he grew to manhood and followed the busi- ness of his fathers. He came to the United States in 1846, having been preceded by his son John the previous year. He settled in West Newton, Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania, where he lived a retired life until his death in 1859. His wife survived him un- til the following year. They left issue, four daughters and two sons; all came to the United States except Jacob.
(II) Jacob (2), son of Jacob (1) Hetzel, was born in the town of Mulheim, province of Wittenburg, Germany, in 1819, died there in 1863. He was a butcher and operated a re- tail meat market in Mulheim. He married Mary Slotterbeck, born in Wittenburg, died in Mulheim, Germany, aged sixty-three years. Children: Jacob, deceased; John T., of whom further: Catherine, deceased; Jacobine, de- ceased; Barbara, unmarried, living in Ger- many; Louisa, married Mark Slagle and lives in New York city; Mary, married John Stroebel and lives in Germany; Wilhelm, of whom further.
(III) John T., son of Jacob (2) Hetzel, was born in Mulheim, Wittenburg, Germany, Oc- tober 12, 1846. He was educated in Germany and worked with his father in the meat mar- ket in Mulheim until he was fourteen years of age, when the father died and the business was continued by his eldest son, Jacob. John
T. Hetzel remained with his widowed mother until he was twenty-one years of age, then was compelled to enlist and perform his years of service in the German army. After serving one year he became so filled with the idea of coming to the United States and join- ing his uncle, John Hetzel, in Connellsville, with whom he was in correspondence, that his mother secured his release from the army by purchasing a substitute. In 1868 he sailed for the United States. His regiment, the First Wittenburg Infantry, was badly cut up at the battle of Metz in the Franco-Prussian war, only eighty men of the regiment coming out of that battle unharmed. After a voyage of fifty days he landed in Baltimore, Mary- land, and at once came to Connellsville, Pennsylvania, where for a year he worked for his uncle, John Hetzel, in his meat mar- ket. He then worked for two years in Pitts- burgh at the same business, then returned to his uncle's employ, continuing until his marriage in 1872. During this period he at- tended night school in Connellsville and im- proved his knowledge of English. In 1872 he opened a meat market in the borough of New Haven (Connellsville, West Side), continuing until 1885, when he built a brick residence and store at the corner of Main and Third streets, where he is now in prosperous busi- ness and is highly esteemed. He is a Repub- lican and has served four terms in the city council and on the school board. He and all his family are members of the Trinity Lutheran church.
He married, February 4, 1872, Sarah Ann Blough, born in Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania, daughter of Benjamin and Mary Ann (Coughanour) Blough. Children: I. Louis, died aged two years, nine months and twenty days. 2. Charles, now living in Pittsburgh. 3. John. 4. Mamie, married E. H. Dillenbach, of Allegheney City. 5. Harley, now associ- ated in business with his father; married Belle Rout, born in Favette county: children: Thelma, Grace and John. 6. Saylor.
(III) Wilhelm, son of Jacob (2) and Mary Hetzel, was born in Germany, July 8, 1861, died in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, Septem- ber 23, 1892. He was educated in the excel- lent schools of his town, and continued his residence there until shortly after his mar- riage, when with his bride he came to the United States, settling in New Haven, now
476
PENNSYLVANIA
Connellsville, West Side, where he worked for two years for his brother, John T., there engaged in the butcher business. He then started a meat market on his own account on Pittsburgh street, Connellsville, continuing until his death from typhoid fever after an illness of seven weeks. He had built up a prosperous business and was one of the lead- ing dealers in his line. He was a Republican, but gave his time entirely to his family and business, taking little part in public affairs. He was a member of the German Lutheran church, as was his wife, but since her hus- band's death Mrs. Hetzel has been con- nected with the English Lutheran church. He married, in Germany, Margaret, daughter of Philip and Margaret (Snyder) Kraft, both natives of Germany, where the mother died. Philip Kraft, a shoemaker, survives her, now aged seventy-five years. He married (sec- ond) Philipena Hay, and has Sophia, Kath- erine and Beana. Children of Wilhelm Het- zel: 1. Philip Wilhelm, of whom further. 2. Louis, now a resident of Mount Vernon, New York. 3. Lena Louise. 4. Fred, now a stu- dent at Gettysburg College.
(IV) Philip Wilhelm, son of Wilhelm and Margaret (Kraft) Hetzel, was born at Con- nellsville, West Side, September 6, 1884. He attended the Connellsville schools, was a stu- dent for two years in high school, then en- tered Pittsburgh College of Pharmacy, whence he was graduated April 12, 1905. Immediately after graduation he entered the employ of Graham & Company, druggists of Connellsville, a position he now holds. He is a duly registered pharmacist and thorough- ly familiar with all the requirements of his profession. He served in Company D, Tenth Regiment, National Guard of Pennsylvania, two years, eight months, advancing from pri- vate to first lieutenant, resigning on account of the demands of his business. He is a member of the English Lutheran church and in politics a Republican. He is a member of the Masonic Order and of the Heptasophs. His college fraternity is Beta Phi Sigma.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.