USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Genealogical and personal history of Fayette county, Pennsylvania > Part 38
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GANS This family was founded in Fay- ette county, Pennsylvania, by George and Joseph Gans, born in Germany, from which country they fled to escape persecution. They settled at or near Antietam, Maryland, where they re- mained about ten years. In 1784 they came to Fayette county, settling in Springhill township, where each took up about four hundred acres of land that was surveyed to them by the government. Both married and founded families.
(I) The founder of the branch herein recorded was George Gans, who died in
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1807. He was a member of the German Baptist church (Dunkard), although most of his children and their descendants be- came members of the Christian church (Disciples of Christ). He married and left issue : Jacob, Joseph, Daniel, George, Marg- aret, married A. Getzendaner; Anna, mar- ried A. Greenley, and lived in Greene coun- ty, Pennsylvania: Elizabeth, and William. These sons later in life all settled in the west, except William.
(II) William, youngest child of George Gans, was born in Springhill township, Fay- ette county. Pennsylvania, 1789, died there in 1867. He grew up on the farm near Morris Cross Roads, which is still owned in the family. He later became its owner and spent his entire active life engaged in its care and cultivation. He married Mag- dalene, daughter of George Custer, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 3, 1744, died on his farm in Georges township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, December 5, 1829. He was a large healthy man and the father of fifteen children. He was the fourth son of Paul Custer, who married Sarah Ball, daughter of Colonel William Ball, of Lancaster county, Virginia, and a sister of Mary Ball, the second wife of Augustine Washington, and the mother of George Washington, the "Father of his Country." Mary Ball married Augustine Washington, March 6, 1731, and died August 25. 1789. Her son, George Wash- ington, was born February 22, 1732. He was a first cousin of George Custer, father of Magdalene, wife of William Gans. Children of William Gans: I. Dr. George, many years a practicing physician of Moundsville, West Virginia. 2. Dr. Dan- iel, settled near Canton, Ohio, where he practiced medicine: married Margaret Hanna: children: Henry C., of Youngs- town, Ohio: Emmet and Mrs. Olive Muck- ley. both of Cleveland. Ohio ; Elizabeth. mar- ried Judge Krichbaum, of Canton, Ohio. 3. Tonathan, a farmer moved to Missouri, but later returned to Fayette county, where he died : married Sarah Eberhardt, her father was a farmer of Nicholson township. Fay- ette county, and a veteran of the civil war. 4. Altha. owned the farm in south Favette county, where Gans Station is now stand-
ing and named in his honor. 5. Lebbeus Biglow, of whom further. 6. Mary Ann, married William P. Griffin, who lived on his own farm in Nicholson township for over sixty years. 7. Lydia, married James C. Ramsey, a farmer of Springhill town- ship.
(III) Lebbeus Biglow, fifth son of Wil- liam and Magdalene (Custer) Gans, was born in Springhill township, Fayette coun- ty, Pennsylvania, March 31, 1825. He was educated in the common school, grew to manhood on the home farm, and later pur- chased the homestead property. He was a prosperous farmer and added an adjoining one hundred and thirty-four acres, which gave him three hundred acres of the best farm land in southern Fayette county. He later in life devoted his attention more to the raising of fine live stock than to agri- culture, but he was all his life a farmer. A feature of his farm was a sugar maple grove containing two thousand trees which yielded a good profit annually. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and held in high esteem by his neighbors. He married (first) January 6, 1848, Elizabeth J., daugh- ter of James C. Ramsey ; children : I. Dor- cas Ann, married T. F. Protzman, many years a merchant at Morris Cross Roads. 2. Elizabeth J. married W. Morgan Smith, of Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. 3. A son, died in infancy. He married (second), October 10, 1868, Emily S., daughter of Henry B. Goe, of Allegheny City, Pennsyl- vania, born in Fayette county, on the farm now owned by H. B. Goe, December 23, 1803, died November 1, 1889. He was a farmer in Jefferson township in early life, but about 1865 moved to Pittsburgh, Penn- sylvania, where he died. He left the farm to engage in oil production, having oil in- terests in McKean county. He married Catherine Shotwell, born at the Shotwell farm in Franklin township, December 23, 1806, died August 11, 1889. They were married in 1824, and spent sixty-five years of married life together. They were both members of the Christian church.
The Goe family came originally from Scotland the emigrant settling in Jefferson township on land yet held in the family name. Children of Henry B. Goe. I. Henry
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B. (2), moved from Pittsburgh to Bradford, Pennsylvania, about 1880, engaged in oil production, and soon afterward died; married Lydia White, of Connellsville; children: Henry B. (3), Gertrude, Eliza- beth, Catherine. 2. John S., lived and died in Jefferson township, a fancy stock and cattle dealer; married and left children : Dorcas, wife of John H. Gans; Emma V., widow of John Moore, of Georges township; Eva Catherine and Irene of Uniontown ; also John S. Jr., who died in the west. 3. Robert S., a farmer on the old home farm in Jefferson township; married Heater Higginbotham ; children: James H., Henry B., of Jefferson township; Ada, wife of At- torney Robert M. Curry, of Pittsburgh; Cora, wife of Dr. Lloyd Trowbridge, of Piqua, Ohio. 4. Joel S., died in Pittsburgh. 5. Susan, married John Newcomer ; she sur- vives him and has lived for over fifty years on Main street, Connellsville, Pennsylvania ; children : Mrs. L. F. Ruth and Mrs. W. Foley. 6. Sarah, married Robert Elliot, a farmer of Jefferson township; both de- ceased ; children : Henry and James, living in Iowa; Lawrence and George, of Jefferson township, Fayette county; Charles S., of Clarksburg, West Virginia; Frank; Mary ; Catherine and Martha; the last four live in Greenwood, Delaware. 7. Emily S. (of pre- vious mention), wife of Lebbeus B. Gans. 8. Rose, married John D. Bailey (deceased) ; he was a broker, belonging to tlie Pitts- burgh Stock Exchange, and for many years was known as the oldest member of the Exchange. 9. Laura, resides in Pittsburgh, unmarried. Children of Lebbeus B. Gans and his second wife Emily S. Goe. I. Henry B., a civil engineer, living in Uniontown, Pennsylvania; married Harriet Brownfield. 2. William L. of whom further. 3. Catherine (deceased), married William H. Morgan, of Morgantown, West Virginia, who survives her with one child, Emily Josephine. 4. Dr. Robert A., a physician of New Salem, Fay- ette county, Pennsylvania; married Laura Buckley, of Omaha, Nebraska.
(IV) William L., son of Lebbeus B. and Emily (Goe) Gans was born on the farm settled on by his great-grandfather, in Springhill township, Fayette county, Penn- sylvania, January 12, 1873. He was educated
in the public schools in Springhill township, and Bethany College, West Virginia, whence he was graduated, class of 1895, after a course in the liberal arts. He was a member of the college Neotrophian Liter- ary Society and an active worker. After fin- ishing his college course he began a course of legal study under the direction of Howell & Reppert, in the latter's law offices at Uniontown, Pennsylvania. In 1897 he was admitted to the Fayette county bar, and at once began practice in Uniontown, where he has been constantly engaged in his pro- fession ever since. In 1906 he formed a law partnership with Thomas P. Jones, under the firm name Gans & Jones, which con- tinued until the death of the latter, October 24, 19II. Mr. Gans has since been practic- ing alone. He is well established in a good business, and is a leader among the younger professional men of his city. He is secre- tary and a director of the Fairchance & Smithfield Traction Company, and has other business interests. He is a Republican in politics, and has served as councilman in Uniontown. He is a member of the Cen- tral Christian Church, and the lodge, chap- ter and commandery of the Masonic order, York Rite, also a thirty-second degree Mason of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Pittsburgh Consistory.
He married, January 10, 1900, Lucy Brooke, born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, January 5, 1876, daughter of Frank L. and Mary (McCormick) Brooke, of Uniontown. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Child: William Paul, born April 19, 1903. The family home is in South Union township.
This name with many var-
COLBORN iations of spelling may be traced to Edward Colborn,
who came from London, England, in the ship "Defence" in 1635, settling at Ipswich, Massachusetts.
(II) Robert, son of Edward Colborn, of Ipswich, settled at Concord, Massachu- setts ; married Mary Bishop.
(III) Edward (2), son of Robert Colborn, was born in Massachusetts; married Mercy Buttrick.
(IV) Samuel, son of Edward (2) Col-
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born, was born in Concord, Massachusetts, died at Hampton, Connecticut. He mar- ried, November 17, 1727, Elizabeth Halt.
(V) Michael, son of Samuel Colborn, was born in Connecticut, lived and died in Woodbridge, New Jersey; married Sarah Mitchell.
(VI) Robert, son of Michael Colborn, was born in New Jersey, January 16, 1753. At the age of eighteen he was apprenticed to a foundry man who taught him the trade of forgeman. He married in New Jersey, and with wife and three children settled in Tur- key Foot township, Bedford, (now Somer- set) county, Pennsylvania, where he en- gaged in farming and working at his trade of blacksmith. He was one of the founders of the first church in Somerset county, built in 1775, and known as the Baptist church in the "Jersey settlement." During the revolution he returned to New Jersey, with others originally from that colony, and en- listed as a private in Captain Joseph Luse's company, Morris county, New Jersey, and served every alternate month for four years. After the war he returned to Somerset county. His farm near Draketown, worked by his sons while he wrought at the forge, is yet known as the "Colborn farm." He died May 16, 1836. He married Effie Wort- man, born in Morris county, New Jersey, 1753, died in Somerset county, November 25, 1826.
(VII) Abraham, son of Robert Colborn, was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, December 23, 1789, died on his farm in Tur- key Foot township, in same county, October II, 1843. He was a farmer, and deacon and elder of the Baptist church. He married Eleanor Wood Mansey, who died July II, 1858; nine children.
(VIII) Sylvester, son of Abraham Col- born, was born in 1808, on the parental farm in Turkey Foot township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, where he continued his resi- dence until moving to a good farm of his own. He lived and farmed in Somerset county all his life. He married Olive Rush, and left issue.
(IX) David L., son of Sylvester Colborn, was born April 3, 1827, died 1868. He was educated in the public school and grew to youthful manhood on the parental farm. He
purchased a farm in Somerset county which he cultivated until his death. He married when young (his wife being but seventeen years of age), Julia A. Dull (or Doll) of German descent, born in Somerset county, in 1833, died 1894, daughter of George and Catherine (Walters) Dull. Catherine was a daughter of George and Catherine Wal- ters, of Somerset county. George Dull was a skilled blacksmith; a large landowner at Mill Run, Springfield township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania; justice of the peace and holder of several township offices; he died November 18, 1880. He married a second wife, Mrs. Margaret Bell Lyman. Children of George Dull by first wife, Cath- erine Walters : Daniel W .; Uriah; Rom- anus, served in the civil war, was captured by the Confederates and died in a military prison; Jacob; William H. (All the fore- going were veterans of the civil war and are all deceased) ; John, a farmer, yet sur- viving; Julia A. (of previous mention) ; Rebecca, deceased; Mary C., deceased ; Lucinda, married Alexander Brooks, and lives in Scottdale, Pennsylvania. Children of David L. and Julia A. (Dull) Colborn : I. Lavinia, died in infancy. 2. Rev. Lafayette S., now a minister of the Baptist church, located in Alexandria, Ohio. 3. Willis D., of whom further. 4. George W., for twenty years an employee of the Rainey Coal Company, Bullskin township, Fayette county. 5. Walter S., a merchant at Mill Run, Pennsylvania. 6. Andrew Jackson, of whom further. 7. Anna, died in 1868, two weeks after her father's death. 8. Sylves- ter, died in infancy.
(X) Willis D., second son of David L. and Julia Ann (Dull) Colborn, was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, October 17, 1855. He was educated in the public schools of Somerset county. He took espe- cial interest in bookkeeping, in which he perfected himself, and in 1881 entered the employ of the Rainey Coal and Coke Com- pany, at Moyer, Fayette county, as book- keeper, continuing until 1902. In 1903 he became associated with the Fayette County Gas Company, beginning as cashier, and is now superintendent of the Connellsville division. He is a member of the Christian church, and the Knights of the Maccabees; in politics a Democrat.
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He married, August 3, 1882, Emma B. Echard, born in Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania, October 3, 1861, daughter of Jacob and Nancy (Rhinehart) Echard, of Fayette county (see Echard). Children of Willis D. Colborn: Robert Pattison, born Octo- ber 8, 1883, now living in Pittsburgh, Penn- sylvania; John G., born February 6, 1885; James E., born January 9, 1889, now living in Greensburg, Pennsylvania; Harry G., born July 25, 1890; Eleanor, June 1892; Ann Mary, August 5, 1898.
(X) Dr. Andrew Jackson Colburn, sixth child of David L. Colborn, was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, April II, 1863. He was five years of age when his father died, and shortly afterward his widowed mother brought her family to Mill Run, Fayette county, where her father, George Dull, resided. Here Andrew J. was educated in the public schools, and began business life as a clerk in the general store of A. Stickle, remaining five years; he then spent two years in Connellsville as clerk for J. A. Zimmerman. He then returned to Mill Run, established a general store, and during President Cleveland's first admin- istration (1885-1889) was postmaster. He later sold out his business and until 1896 was clerk for W. J. Rainey; was manager of the Ohio Coal & Coke Company's store ; then again clerk for Mr. Rainey. During these years he had been a student of medi- cine, and in 1896 he entered the medical de- partment of the University of Baltimore, whence he was graduated M. D. in 1898. He at once began practice, locating at Ohio- pyle, Pennsylvania, where he remained un- til 1901. He then took a post-graduate course at Maryland Medical College, and returned to Ohiopyle, continuing until Jan- uary I, 1905, when he sold his practice and located in Connellsville, where he has been in successful practice. He is a member of the Fayette county and Pennsylvania State medical societies, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Malta, Frater- nal Order of Eagles, Fraternal Order of Owls, the Royal Arcanum, Knights of the Maccabees, Children of Ben Hur, and Knights of the Mystic Senate. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religious faith a Baptist.
He married, August 5, 1883, Mary A. Tannebill, born in Somerset county, Penn- sylvania, September 4, 1860, daughter of Eli and Jane Tannebill. Eli Tannebill en- listed from Fayette county and was killed in the civil war. Children of Dr. Andrew Jackson Colborn: I. Bessie, born July 31, 1884; married Frank W. Daley, of Ohio- pyle, Pennsylvania. 2. Harry Earl, born November, 1885, died 1892. 3. Roy T., born 1887, died 1890. 4. George Dull, born June 19, 1889; graduate of Mt. Pleasant Insti- tute. 5. Mary Edith, born June, 1895. 6. Leah, born 1900.
ENOS This family is of English descent, their progenitors, early settlers of Somerset county, Pennsyl- vania. The first of whom we have record is Jonathan Enos, son of the English emi- grant. He was a blacksmith of Somerset county, coming when a young man in 1840 to Connellsville, where he established a smithy on the north side of East Main street, in the block numbering in the two hundreds. He died in Connellsville, Sep- tember 18, 1876. He married, in Connells- ville, Mary Keepers, also of Somerset coun- ty, daughter of Thomas Keepers, who came from Somerset to Connellsville and kept a tavern in the early eighteen hundreds. The Keepers were of German descent. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Mary Enos moved to Northumberland county, Penn- sylvania. Children of Jonathan Enos, liv- ing in 1900: I. George, of whom further. 2. Emma E., married Henry Kurtz of Con- nellsville. 3. Dr. Joseph B., of Charleroi, Pennsylvania. 4. Mary E., married J. K. Taggart, whom she survived. 5. Edgar Jonathan, born August 1, 1865, a blacksmith of Connellsville ; married, August 24, 1887, Sarah Luella, daughter of Abraham H. and Mary ( Dillinger) Sherrick of Pennsville, Pennsylvania; children: George, Mary Lucile and Ora Caroline.
(III) George, eldest son of Jonathan and Mary (Keepers) Enos, was born in Con- nellsville. April II, 1849, died there Octo- ber 12, 1905. He attended the public school and learned the blacksmith's trade with his father, with whom he worked for several years, finally establishing a shop of his own.
A foolbon M.D.
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Later in life he associated with Henry Wil- helm and contracted the erection of coke ovens. They built a great many all over the coke regions of Pennsylvania, also in Pocahontas and Bramwell, West Virginia. He continued in active business nearly to the end of his life. He was a Democrat, and served on the city council. He mar- ried Elizabeth Wilhelm, born in East Lib- erty (Pittsburgh, East End), Pennsylvania, 1850, died 1884, daughter of John and Mary Wilhelm. John Wilhelm was born in Ger- many, and settled in West Newton, Penn- sylvania with his parents. He married there, and prior to the civil war came to Connellsville, where he built the "Yough House," and was the proprietor for several years. Later he sold out and built a brick house on East Main street, where Lytle's drug store now is, which was considered the best house in the town at that time. He was a pioneer in the manufacture of fire- brick in this vicinity, in association with Joseph Soisson and Kilpatrick. He held several styles of patents on the beehive style of coke oven, and was the pioneer in that form of oven construction. He was also one of the pioneer railroad constructors, and built the Baltimore & Ohio railroad between Connellsville and Indian Creek. After the completion of. his section he rode on the first locomotive to attempt the bridge crossing Indian Creek. The structure was not strong enough to carry the weight of the engine, which crashed through, fell to the creek bottom, killing all on board ex- cept Mr. Wilhelm, who received injuries that eventually caused his death. He was a member of the German Lutheran church, as was his wife Mary; she was born in Germany, but met and married John Wil- helm at West Newton, Pennsylvania. Children of George Enos: John Jonathan, and George W .. of whom further.
(IV) John Jonathan, eldest son of George and Elizabeth (Wilhelm) Enos, was born in Connellsville. Pennsylvania. March 22, 1874. He was ten years of age when his mother died. and was taken by his grand- mother Wilhelm. then living in Alleghenv. Pennsylvania. He remained there until he was seventeen vears of age, receiving a good education in the schools of Allegheny
and Oakland. At the age of eighteen he returned to Connellsville, where he learned the blacksmith's trade under the instruction of his father, whom he succeeded after the latter gave up the shop and became a coke oven builder. He continued one year only in business in Connellsville, then for eight- een months was in the employ of the Elec- tric Metal Works at Erie, Pennsylvania. He again returned to Connellsville, where he established a livery and boarding stable, to which he has added general teaming, street paving, cellar excavating, etc. His home is in Snydertown, a suburb of Con- nellsville, where he erected his present home in 1905. He is a Republican, and a member of the Luthern church. He mar- ried, March 27, 1895, Olive C. Wilt, born April 23, 1875, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, daughter of Albert and Mary (Dunn) Wilt. James Wilt was an engineer on the Balti- more & Ohio, and met his death in a rail- road accident when his daughter Olive C. was a young child. Children of John J. Enos: Mary Elizabeth born December 7, 1895: John Clyde, May 8, 1904.
(IV) George W. Enos, youngest son of George and Elizabeth (Wilhelm) Enos, was born in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, Janu- ary 5, 1879. He was five years of age when his mother died and left him to his father's care. He attended the public schools, and at an early age was taught the blacksmith's trade by his father. He was an adept pupil, and while yet a growing boy was considered an expert smith. He married when eight- een years of age, and continued the Enos shop established by his father on South street, where he is now in successful busi- ness. He is a Republican, and a member of the Lutheran church. He married, Febru- ary II, 1897, Blanche Shaw, born Septem- ber 15, 1879, in Connellsville, daughter of George W. and Emma Shaw.
George W. Shaw is a descendant of Nathan Shaw, born in Scotland, came to the United States with his brother James and settled in Massachusetts. The Shaws were of English ancestors who for two genera- tions prior to Nathan Shaw had been seated in Scotland. Nathan (2), son of Nathan (I) Shaw, was born in Massachusetts; was a mill sawyer. He came to Fayette county,
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Pennsylvania, when a young man, and owned a saw mill at Tale's Hollow in the mountains seven miles east of Connellsville. His wife Catherine was born in Fayette county. Four of his sons, Solomon, James, Lester and David served in the Mexican war, the latter killed in battle. George W., son of Nathan (2) Shaw, was born near Connellsville, Pennsylvania, 1822. He was a stone mason and bricklayer working at his trade in Connellsville until his death, excepting the time spent in the army. He enlisted in Company C, Eighty-fifth Regi- ment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, un- der Captain Treadwell. He enlisted in Som- erset county, taking with him several men from Connellsville. He was wounded in the arm at the battle of Cold Harbor; but after recovery rejoined his regiment and served until the close of the war, attaining the rank of sergeant. He was a Republi- can, and served as town constable. In re- ligious faith he was a Methodist. He mar- ried Ellen Cunningham, born in Dunbar township, Fayette county, and their children were :
George W. (2), of whom further; Dorcas, married J. W. Bishop, of Connellsville; Belle, married Hugh Stillwagon; Nathan, served eight years in the United States reg- ular army, and died aged thirty years; Clara, married David Randolph, of Con- nellsville; Jennie, married Frank Holland, of Connellsvile; Mary, married Dr. F. N. Sherrick, of Connellsville. George W. (2) son of George (1) Shaw, was born in Con- nellsville July 4, 1849. He attended the public schools and learned the blacksmith's trade at the National Locomotive Works at Connellsville, working there four years. In 1875 he entered the employ of the Balti- more & Ohio Railroad Company as black- smith at their general repair shops at Con- nellsville. In 1884 he was promoted fore- man of the blacksmithing department, hold- ing that position until 1896. He was then for eight years with the Connellsville Machine and Car Works as blacksmith. four years with the American Tin Plate Company, and now is with the Sligo Steel and Iron Company. He is a Republican in politics.
He married, May 15, 1872, Emma Ross,
born May 15, 1859, in Connellsville, daugh- ter of Captain Henry and Nancy (Secrist) Ross, both born in Pittsburgh. Henry Ross was an Ohio river steamboat captain. Children of George W. (2) Shaw: Ger- trude, born November 12, 1874, married Thomas Cordner (or Gardner), of Connells- ville; Edward, born September 12, 1875, resides in Connellsville; George W. (3), born April 4, 1877, died in infancy ; Blanche, born September 15, 1879, of previous men- tion ; Charles N., born April 1, 1882, mar- ried Emma Lamley; Fred, born Septem- ber 12, 1884; Bessie, February 17, 1888.
Children of George W. and Blanche (Shaw) Enos : Helen Gertrude, born November 17, 1898; Jean, August 17, 1901 ; George, September 13, 1903; Charles, July 15, 1908.
DEFFENBAUGH
This is a good old
German family
planted in Fayette county by Conrad Deffenbaugh, a native of Germany. After his emigration he settled in Eastern Pennsylvania, later coming to Fayette county, where he married Margaret Riffle. They settled on new land and en- dured all the dangers and privations of the pioneer. They had a family of seven children.
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