USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Genealogical and personal history of Fayette county, Pennsylvania > Part 33
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who graduated one year earlier. He read law with Judge James Veech, a learned his- torian and able jurist, author of "Monon- gahela of Old," and was admitted to the Fayette county bar in 1850. In the follow- ing year, his father being the proprietor of the Genius of Liberty, the organ of the Fay- ette county Democracy, Thomas B. Sea- right assumed charge of the paper as editor, and conducted it until the beginning of the war against the south, a period of ten years. In 1857 he was elected prothonotary, re- elected in 1860, in 1881 and in 1884, at that time being the only man in the county who had ever served four terms in that office. In 1863 he represented Fayette county in the house of representatives of the state legis- lature, and was re-elected in 1864. Two years later he was chosen state senator from the district composed of Greene, Fayette and Westmoreland counties. He was a leading member, as well as one of the acknowledged leaders of his party on the floor of the house and senate, serving on many of the import- ant committees, took a prominent part in all important legislation, and was generally suc- cessful in securing the passage of meaures that he favored and advocated. Active in behalf of the interests of the people of his district, he received many manifestations of regard from Governors Curtin and Geary, and, on the proposition to ratify the four- teenth and fifteenth amendments to the con- stitution of the United States, his speeches in all the debates arising thereon were both able and conspicuous against their ratifica- tion by the legislature of Pennsylvania. He was a delegate to the Pennsylvania Demo- cratic state conventions of 1857-60-63-69-92, and also to the National Democratic conven- tions at Chicago that nominated General George B. McClellan and Grover Cleveland for the presidency, in 1864 and 1884. In all the political campaigns since 1848 he took a leading part in Fayette county, and in va- rious parts throughout the state. Without solicitation on his part, he was appointed in 1873 by President Grant surveyor-general of Colorado, and served as such for three years. In 1883 he received the Democratic nomination for the judgeship of the Four- teenth Judicial district, but opposing influ- ences in an adjoining county and dissen-
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sions in his own party in Fayette count: prevented his election.
Colonel Searight was a humanitarian in the broadest sense, his benefactions often being in excess of his ability to give. He was a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church.
In politics he believed in the prin- ciples of Jefferson, as enunciated by Jack- son, and after a careful study of all polit- ical parties his early principles became his mature convictions. As a Democrat, he advocated state sovereignty, but did not be- lieve in secession, and was as liberal in the financial support of his party as he was fear- lessly outspoken in his political views. As a political organizer he had no superiors in Fayette county, which he controlled largely according to his will during the thirty years of his active life, most of which was spent in holding important offices whose every duty he discharged efficiently and satisfac- torily.
He was a magnanimous political op- ponent when the smoke of battle cleared away, and, while other men of Fayette coun- ty held higher offices, none made a greater impress as a potent factor in the political life of the county. Colonel Searight's ag- gressiveness was doubtless hereditary, as well as his qualities of leadership, inherited from his ancestors of the warlike clan of Hamilton of Scotland. Colonel Searight's tastes were more political and literary than legal, yet he practiced successfully before the different county, district and supreme courts of Pennsylvania. He was a member of Fayette Lodge, No. 228, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and also of Fort Necessity Lodge, No. 254. Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
A grand page in the history of the new world is Colonel Searight's story of the "Old Pike, or National Road," which great thoroughfare was so important to the early development of his country, and so power- ful in strengthening the bonds of the Union, and around which cling a wealth of ro- mance and many facts stranger than fiction. There are but two great highways noticed in history, one of the Appian Way, the "Queen of Roads," of which no account has been preserved, and the other, the "National
Road." whose history is only told by Col- onel Searight, who was born and reared on its line and who spent his entire life amid scenes connected with it, some of which were very familiar to his fellow college student, James G. Blaine, whose letter con- cerning a trip over the "Old Pike" is given :
Stanwood, Bar Harbor, Maine, September 8th, 1892.
Hon. T. B. Searight, Uniontown, Pa.
My Dear Friend: I have received the sketches of the "Old Pike" regularly, and have as regularly read them, some of them more than once, especially where you came near the Monongahela on either side of it, and thus strike the land of my birth and boyhood. I could trace you all the way to Washington, at Malden, at Centerville, at Billy Greenfield's in Beallsville, at Hillsboro (Billy Rob- inson was a familiar name), at Dutch Charley Miller's, at Ward's, at Pancake, and so on-familiar names forever endeared to my memory. I cherish the desire of riding over the "Old Pike" with you, but I am afraid we shall contemplate it as a scheme never to be realized.
Very sincerely your friend, JAMES G. BLAINE.
The "Old Pike" has been favorably re- ceived and highly commended by the book reviewers and the reading public, and it deals with every character and phase of life of fifty years ago, while its historic pages are rich with incident, accident and anecdote and sometimes relate tragic events as well as humorous incidents. While re- membered in the future as a strong political leader and recollected as an able lawyer, yet the memory of Thomas B. Searight will ever be kept bright through the future as the author of the "Old Pike," which will be his monument-enduring and indestructible -for all time to come.
Colonel Searight married, October 29, 1857, Rose, only daughter of Hon. Robert P. Flenniken, who was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, 1804, died in San Francisco, California, 1879. Mr. Flenniken was minister to Denmark under President Polk. Children : Emily, William, Robert, Anne.
Colonel Searight's remains, after beauti- ful and impressive funeral services at St. Peter's Church, were entombed in a taste- ful spot selected by himself in Oak Grove cemetery, and near the "Old Pike," whose history he wrote so well and about which he loved to converse so much.
-
Ewing B. Jearight
19 55 - Wilhome Bre N
Scan R. Phuman
Cafel William Fenright 1
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FAYETTE COUNTY
(IV) Ewing Brownfield
SEARIGHT Searight, second son of William (3) (q. v.) and Rachel (Brownfield) Searight, was born at Searights, Menallen township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, September 5. 1828. died February 26, 1902. He was educated in the common schools, and grew to man- hood on the home farm. He engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he followed successfully throughout the active years of his life.
He was also connected with the "Old Pike" as superintendent, his tenure of office being noted for efficiency, served Men- allen township as anditor for ten years, school director from 1869 to 1875, and was for three years a director of the Fayette County Home. He was the owner of farm and coal lands, and was a man of high standing in the community. He was a staunch Democrat, and with his wife an ardent member of Grace Episcopal Church, near the front door of which he is buried near his father and mother.
Mr. Searight married, February 3, 1859, Elizabeth, only daughter of Zadoc and Ly- dia Jackson. Children: I. Rachel, born Au- gust 26, 1860, died August 1I, 1882; she married Charles J. McCormick and left a son, Searight Ray, born August 1, 1882. 2. William, born August 11, 1863; married, February 20, 1890, Miss Jennie Louise Pat- terson, a
beautiful and accomplished daughter of Sidney Patterson, ex-president of a Dunbar bank. William still lives on the "Old Homestead," and is a very highly respected citizen.
(IV) Jean, daughter of Will- SHUMAN iam (3) (q. v.) and Rachel (Brownfield) Searight, was born in Menallen township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, September 15, 1830. She re- ceived her education at Washington Female Seminary, then under the charge of Mrs. Sarah R. (Foster) Hanna, who was a well known teacher and a prominent member of the Seceder church, of Western Pennsyl- vania.
She married. April 25, 1849, Captain Thomas Shuman, of Brownsville, who died February II, 1878. Soon after her hus-
band's death, Mrs. Shuman removed to Uniontown, where she has resided ever since. To the union of Thomas Shuman and Jean R. Searight were born eight children : William Searight, Florine, Emma Virginia, George Bowman, Thomas, Elizabeth Sea- right, Rachel Searight and Samuel Ramsey, all living. excepting William Searight.
(IV) Captain William Sea-
SEARIGHT right, third son of William (3) (q. v.) and Rachel (Brownfield) Searight, was born at Sea- rights, Menallen township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, June 28, 1834, died July 31, 1881.
He was educated at Dunlap's Creek Acad- emy, and Washington and Madison Colleges (Pennsylvania), and in 1853 was appointed cadet at the United States Military Acad- emy, West Point, from which he resigned one year later. He then took a thorough commercial course, after which he entered the employ of Governor Black, of Nebraska, as clerk, and also served in that capacity for his brother in the prothonotary's office at Uniontown, Pennsylvania. In 1861, at the beginning of the civil war, he enlisted in Company G, Eighth Pennsylvania Reserves, Captain Oliphant. He was made first ser- geant, and became a popular drill officer, his West Point schooling now bringing results. Upon his captain's promotion, leaving a vacancy, he was advanced over the senior officers and elected to the rank of captain. Sickness compelled him to resign, but upon regaining his health, he again enlisted as a private in the Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, serving until 1865. Under Presi- dent Johnson's administration he served ef- ficiently as a departmental clerk at Wash- ington, D. C. In 1869 he became local edi- tor of the Genius of Liberty, and made that paper one of the best known, ablest, and most popular papers in Western Penn- sylvania. From that time until his death. Captain Searight (familiarly known as "B") was prominently connected with the Union- town and Pittsburgh papers. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and of other local organizations. He was kindly-hearted and generous, having a wide circle of friends who cherish his memory.
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(IV) James Allison Sea-
SEARIGHT right, fourth son of Will- iam (3) (q. v.) and Rachel (Brownfield) Searight, was born on the Sea- right homestead, Searights, Menallen town- ship, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 13. 1836.
His early education was obtained in the township public school, and in 1850 he be- gan an academic course at Dunlap's Creek Presbyterian Academy. After leaving the academy he entered the employ of John T. Hogg at Brownsville, then engaged in the banking business. He then became a student at the Iron City Business College of Pittsburgh, and in 1859 entered the pre- paratory department of Kenyon College, class of 1863, where he was a classmate of E. L. Stanton, son of the great war secre- tary, Edwin M. Stanton. During his col- lege course, Lorin Andrews, president of that college, resigned his position and raised a regiment with which he marched to the front, but he was soon brought home and entombed near Rosse Chapel, Gambier, Ohio.
Two years after his graduation he en- tered the Philadelphia Divinity School, but ill health compelled him to leave in a short time and he was forced to abandon all thought of following the sacred calling of the ministry. After some time spent in Washington, D. C., in the general land of- fice, he returned home, and in 1871 estab- lished a real estate and insurance agency in Uniontown, where he has represented some of the leading insurance companies of Europe and the United States, and in which city he has since been identified with many of the leading industries. In 1873 he joined with others in organizing and se- curing a charter for the People's Bank of Fayette County, of which he was soon after elected cashier. Upon the death of the presi- dent, Colonel Ewing Brownfield, in 1889, he was elected to succeed him in the presi- dent's office. He remained at the head of this bank until it was merged into the Cit- izens' Title & Trust Company, and gained enviable distinction as a careful and con- servative financier.
Mr. Searight has pronounced literary tal- ent and has contributed many well written
articles to the press. He spent several years in collecting data for the history of the "Family of Searight in America," which he wrote in 1893. His book has received com- mendation from scholars and the press, and is to be found in many of the leading libra- ries of the world. It has also been widely distributed among the various branches of the Searight family in America, and it will stand as an enduring monument to the Sea- right name as long as the English language is either read or spoken. A number of paragraphs which appear in this sketch of the Searight family have been copied from a review of the above-mentioned book by W. Scott Garner, of West Virginia.
Mr. Searight has been active in important diocesan conventions of the Episcopal church in Pennsylvania; he was a member of the council when the first division of the Diocese of Pennsylvania was made; again when Dr. Kerfoot was elected bishop of Pittsburgh ; again when Dr. Whitehead was chosen bishop of the same city, and served on the committee that notified the bishop of his election.
Mr. Searight is a member of St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church, has been ac- tive and useful in the local work of the same and has served in prominent church office. He was the first member of the Scotch- Irish Congress, elected from South Western Pennsylvania. He is a life member of the Sons of the American Revolution, a life member of the Historical Society of Penn- sylvania, and has contributed liberally to its collection of valuable works, and a member of the Fayette County Historical and Gene- alogical Society. He is a Knight Templar Mason, and a Jeffersonian Democrat. He takes a keen interest in the history of his nation and state, also in the Scotch-Irish So- ciety of America. He is modest and retiring in nature, but a man of sterling worth and an honor to the race that claims him. He is well known in his city, where his worth is fully appreciated.
(IV) COLVIN Elizabeth, youngest child of William (3) (q. v.) and Rachel (Brownfield) Sea- right, was born at Searights, Menallen town- ship, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, Febru-
Eng by Ei Withers & B .; NY
James A. Seanight
Elizabeth f. Calvin
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FAYETTE COUNTY
ary 17, 1839.
She received her education at Washing- ton Female Seminary, then under charge of Mrs. Sarah R. (Foster) Hanna, a Scotch- Irish teacher of ability and reputation. She married, January 7, 1869, Joseph T. Colvin, president of the Pittsburgh Bank of Com- merce, later president of the Tradesmans' National Bank of Pittsburgh. Mr. and Mrs. Colvin resided since their marriage in Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania. She died November 18, 1908, and is buried in "Homewood Ceme- tery," Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She, like her sister, Mrs. Shuman, was held in high esteem by all who knew her.
BRINKER The American ancestor of the Brinkers of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, herein record- ed, was Henry Brinker, born in Germany, who came to America with his parents at an early day, and settled in Butler county. Their names or place of settlement are not known, but Henry Brinker is first found in Westmoreland county. He married Eliza- beth Henry, and left issue, one son being Stephen John, mentioned below. Four of his sons served during the entire civil war period in the Union army. They were Car- son B .; Joseph H., deceased; Simon, de- ceased; and Columbus, deceased. The daughters were: Louisa, deceased; Mar- garet, deceased; Rebecca, deceased.
(II) Stephen John, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Henry) Brinker, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He served during the entire period of the civil war.
He married Alice, daughter of Peter and Jane (Richey) Leezer, both born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. Jane Richey was a daughter of Abraham Richey. Children of Stephen John Brinker: I. Harry L., now chemist for the Ohio Steel Works at Youngstown, Ohio. 2. Laura Jane, married John K. Griffith, of Uniontown, Pennsyl- vania. 3. William H., now of Uniontown. 4. Henrietta, deceased. 5. Samuel P., of whom further. 6. Lottie, unmarried.
(III) Dr. Samuel P. Brinker, youngest son of Stephen John Brinker, was born at Tarr Station, Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania, July 13, 1876. He was educated in
the public schools and at Greensburg Sem- inary, whence he was graudated, class of 1899.
He then entered the College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Maryland, whence he was graduated Doctor of Medi- cine, class of 1905. For one year after grad- uation he was connected with Bay View Hospital, Baltimore. He was then in Wheel- ing, West Virginia, for a time at the Emer- gency Hospital. He was duly certified to practice by the State Medical Board of West Virginia, and the same year took the examination prescribed by the State Medical Board of Pennsylvania, who in 1906 duly certified his fitness to practice in the state of Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1907 he began practice in Normalville, Pennsylvania, continuing until November, 1911, when he came to Uniontown where he is well established as a skillful, capable phy- sician.
He is a member of the American Medi- cal Society; the Pennsylvania State and Fayette County Medical Societies; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Royal Arcanum; and Royal Order of Lyons, of which he is medical examiner. In politics he is a Republican, but takes little part in political affairs beyond exercising his right of franchise as an intelligent and patriotic citizen.
He married, November 28, 1907, Amy Zoe, daughter of William Henry (2) and Mary Agnes (Alfred) Waggy, of Weston, West Virginia, and granddaughter of William Henry (1) and Agnes (Alfred) Waggy, who came from Germany and settled in Weston, West Virginia. Her grandfather was a large slave owner and a prominent citizen. William Henry (2) Waggy was born near Weston, where he still resides. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Waggy: Lillian May, mar- ried M. W. Smith, now of Baltimore, Mary- land; Effie A., married D. B. Givens, of Weston; William T., deceased; Amy Zoe, of previous mention; Stella Agnes, mar- ried K. E. Anderson, of Oklahoma; James Henry, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ; Delphi Denella, married Clarence B. Butcher, of Weston. Dr. Samuel P. Brinker and his wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church of Uniontown.
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The family is of Ger-
LUTTERMAN man ancestry, long seated in the Father-
land.
The earliest of whom we have record is August Lutterman, a collector of taxes under the government, who lived and died in Germany leaving issue. He held office under King George V. until the fall of the Hanoverian monarchy.
(II) Arnold, son of August Lutterman, was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1833. He was educated in his native land, and when a young man came to the United States set- tling in Cincinnati, Ohio. He learned the trade of molder and now resides at Dawson, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the German Lutheran church.
He married, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Amelia, daughter of Fred and Mary Nolte. Fred Nolte was a well-to-do farmer of Northwestern Indiana, and a veteran of the civil war, enlisting at Tell City, Indiana, and received severe wounds at the battles of Bull Run and Gettysburg. Children of Arnold Lutterman : August, deceased ; Arn- old, married Mabel -; Oscar, deceased ; Oliver, deceased ; Walter, deceased; Harry T., of whom further; May, now living in Toledo, Ohio, married Charles Palmer, three children; Nannie, deceased; Carrie, de- ceased.
(III) Harry T., son of Arnold and Amelia (Nolte) Lutterman, was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, July 18, 1873. He was educated in the public schools of that city, in private schools, and in Merrill Business College of Stamford, Connecticut. He began business life as an accountant, continuing several years.
In 1900 he came to Connellsville and established the Model Dye Works at No. 406 South Pittsburgh street, of which he is proprietor and manager. He is a member of the Methodist church and of the Masonic Order ; in politics a Democrat. He has traveled extensively in almost every state in the Union and is a well educated and thoroughly informed man. He married, May 29, 1912, Anabel, eldest daughter of James B. Millard, of Connellsville, Pennsyl- vania.
Another branch of the STRICKLER Strickler family descends from Conrad Strickler, born in Germany, through his son Conrad (2) Strickler. There are said to have been seven brothers named Strickler who settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, later coming to Fayette county. They were all large men except the youngest, who was called "Little Dave."
(II) Conrad (2) Strickler kept a drover's stand and house of entertainment on the "Pike" between Connellsville and Union- town, was also a farmer and built flat boats, freighting on the Youghiogheny and Ohio rivers. He married Elizabeth Varns and had issue: Jacob, of whom further; Mary, married William Snyder: Conrad, now liv- ing in California, a fruit farmer ; Henry, died young ; John, died aged twenty years ; Eliza- beth, married Parkhill Blair; David. mar- ried Lyda Strickler; Samuel, now living near Vanderbilt, Pennsylvania; Sarah, mar- ried John Guiler, whom she survives.
(III) Jacob, son of Conrad (2) Strickler, was born in Dunbar township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, August 20, 1822, died May 17, 1908. He worked for his father un- til his marriage, then moved on the Henry Galley farm, remaining one year. He then bought one hundred and twenty-eight acres in the eastern part of Franklin township, and a few years later purchased the Oglivee farm lying in both Dunbar and Franklin town- ships. In 1892 he built a frame house on the farm, letting his son William have the red brick mansion-here he lived until his death. He was Presbyterian in religion, his wife a German Baptist or "Dunkard." He was a Democrat in politics and served as school director. While he was a very well- to-do farmer he made most of his money in cattle raising and dealing, having engaged in that line very largely.
He married, October 10, 1850, Rebecca Snyder, born February 14, 1831, who sur- vives him, residing in Fayette county, daughter of David and Susan (Hepler) Sny- der, and granddaughter of Lewis Snyder, born in Germany, who came to America and settled in Lancaster with his parents, who died and left him without resources. He was bound out to a cooper who taught
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FAYETTE COUNTY
him his trade. He later came to Fayette county where he owned a good farm in Tyrone township, operated a cooper's shop and made a specialty of bee culture. He was a German Baptist as were the members of his family. David Snyder, his son, was a farmer of Tyrone township, owning his own farm. He married Susan Hepler, who died aged sixty years leaving an only child Rebecca, who married Jacob Strickler. David Snyder married (second) Sarah Cum- berland and died near Mount Pleasant at the foot of the mountains. Their only child Sidney married James Wiedman and now lives in Mount Pleasant. Children of Jacob and Rebecca Strickler : 1. David, born July 24, 1851 ; married (first) Lena McGinnis, (second) Mary Downs, and now lives on his truck farm near San Francisco, Cali- fornia. 2. Conrad, born April 6, 1853: mar- ried Sarah Foster and now lives at Smith- field, Ohio. 3. Susan, born April 12, 1855; married Aaron J. Fairchild and lives on their farm in Dunbar township. 4. John, born May 3, 1857; resides at the home farm in Franklin township with his aged mother : he is unmarried. 5. Elizabeth, born September 12, 1858; married William Foster and lives at Smithfield, Ohio. 6. Sarah, born May 5, 1861; married George Bute, now the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of land near Omaha, Nebraska, on which he resides. 7. Joseph G., of whom further. 8. Benjamin Franklin, born January 9, 1865; married Nan Hornbeck and lives in Frank- lin township. 9. Flora, born October II, 1867; married J. H. Edwards, an under- taker of Vanderbilt, Pennsylvania. 10. Jesse O., born March 14, 1869; married (first) Nora Core, (second) Margaret Lewis; he is a farmer near Curfew, Franklin township. II. William, born May 26, 1871; married Anna Cowan and lives in Dunbar township, a farmer. 12. Anna, born February 25, 1875; married Dr. Jesse Cogan and resides in Dawson, Pennsylvania.
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