USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Genealogical and personal history of Fayette county, Pennsylvania > Part 45
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(II) John B., son of Henry and Rebecca (Crane) Marshall, was born in Eastern Penn- sylvania, September 10, 1809, died September 1880. He was two years of age when his parents came to Fayette county, where he was educated and grew to manhood. He culti- vated his father's farm, then rented and worked other farms, but always was a farmer and always lived in Dunbar township. He married (first) Priscilla Wilhelm, born near
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Breakneck, in Fayette county, in 1814, died in 1850, with four of her children-Mary, Jane, James, John and George-during an epidemic of typhoid fever; one son survived, Joseph Crawford, of whom further. He mar- ried (second) Cynthia Garven, who bore him several children, now all deecased.
(III) Joseph Crawford, son of John B. and Priscilla (Wilhelm) Marshall, was born in Dunbar township, Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania, November 30, 1843. He attended school in his early years, but at ten years of age left home to make his own way in the world. He worked among the farmers, do- ing such work as a young boy was fitted for, but as he grew stronger and experienced he found ready employment, finally making a permanent home with Alexander Murphy, a farmer near Broad Ford. He remained with Mr. Murphy until May 30, 1861, the date of his enlistment in Company F, IIth Regiment Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry, to serve three vears. He fought at Fredericksburg, where he was wounded in the left thigh; at Gettys- burg he was one of the defenders of Little Round Top, and during his three years saw much active service and hard fighting with the Army of the Potomac. On May 30, 1864, his last day of service, he was captured at City Church, near Cold Harbor, Virginia, and sent to Andersonville Prison, where he was confined most of the time until the war be- tween the states was brought to a close at Appomattox, when he was released and re- turned to Fayette county. There are now (1912) but five men in that county that were confined in Andersonville. After a short tinie in Fayette county he moved to Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania, where he was employed in the mines digging coal for three years. In 1869 he located at Broad Ford, Fay- ette county, worked in the coal mines, fol- lowed carpentry, finally opening a general store, which he lias conducted for the past sixteen years. He has served as justice of the peace, constable, school director, and ten years as tax collector. He is independent in politics, is in favor of prohibition, but is in sympathy with the principles of the Demo- cratic party on national issues. He is a mem- ber oi the Methodist Protestant church, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Grand Army of the Republic. He married, January 30, 1869, Mary B. Holliday, born in
Dunbar township, Fayette county, December 20, 1846, daughter of Ebenezer, died 1852, and Elizabeth Holliday, of Connellsville. Mrs. Marshall was also a member of the Methodist Protestant church. She died May 14, 1892. Children: I. Elizabeth, born De- cember 17, 1869; married Walter Menefee; living at Connellsville, west side. 2. Jose- phine, resides at Broad Ford, her father's homekeeper since the death of his wife. 3. Mary Jane, born 1875; married John Hawthorne; resides at Scottdale, Pennsylvania. 4. John Burt, of whom further. 5. George, born Au- gust 1, 1878; now a practicing physician lo- cated at West Leisenring, Pennsylvania; mar- ried Maude Lint, of Vanderbilt, Pennsylvania. 6. Winifred, born 1883, died 1896.
Mr. Marshall resides at Broad Ford, his home for the past forty-three years. He has fought well the battle of life, was a good sol- dier in actual warfare, and is a good citizen of the land he helped defend. He is held in highest esteen, and is one of the most reput- able business men of his village.
(IV) John Burt ("Burt"), eldest son and fourth child of Joseph C. and Mary B. (Holli- day) Marshal, was in Broad Ford, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, May 17, 1876. He at- tended the public schools, and after finishing his studies became clerk in his father's store. In 1899 he purchased a lot in South Connells- ville, erected a suitable building, and estab- lished and opened a general store. He has prospered and expanded until he is the lead- ing merchant of that part of the city. In 1904 he was appointed postmaster of South Connellsville, and has held that office con- tinually until the present date (1912). He is a Republican in politics, active in the party, and interested in all that pertains to South Side development.
He married, September 7, 1904, Lily May, born at Dickerson Run, Fayette county, daughter of Benjamin and Martha Ann Orbin, both born in Fayette county. Children: Edwin Orbin, born August 13, 1905; Martha Frances, April 19, 1908; Lily May, May 9, 1910.
The name Frank[s]. German FRANKS Fraunk, means free (free born). The Franks claim their descent from one of the German tribes inhabiting Franconia, who in the fifth century under
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their leader and King, Clovis (Lewis), overran and conquered Gaul and gave it the name of France (or Franc). This may account for the claim of some that they are of French blood. Prior to, and on down, from the great religious Reformation under Martin Luther, we find them well established along the Rhine and throughout that region of Ger- many. Many of them seemed to have im- bibed the spirit and teachings of the Great Reformer.
The more immediate ancestors of the Franks families in this country, it is claimed, came from some of the Free cities along the Rhine and settied in Alsace-Lorraine (a Ger- man possession), and probably in Lorraine.
It was from this country that Michael Franks came with his three children, Jacob, Michael (2) and a daughter Elizabeth. They landed at Baltimore, Maryland, about the year 1748. The father seems to have been in very poor health. The writer has failed to find any proof that he and his daughter ever came to the High House settlement. He probably died shortly after arrival, and the daughter probably married. But the two brothers, Jacob and Michael (2) became the progenitors of two great lines of families in this country, whose descendants have multiplied into thou- sands, and are scattered over perhaps all parts of the United States westward of the Alle- ghenies, to the Pacific Coast. Jacob, the older, was born in 1732.
They decided to go westward and to carve out a home in the wilderness. It is claimed Jacob came over first to "spy out the land." He returned to Baltimore and married Bar- bary Brandeberry, a German emigrant girl. A little later Michael married a Miss Livengood also a German girl, whose parents had come from Germany. Neither of the brothers had attained his majority when he married. With their little families (Jacob now had one child) they set out together on their somewhat dan- gerous journey. The women rode horses, with blankets thrown across, tent canvas and a light outfit of cooking utensils attached. The men walked, carrying their guns and an ax. When night came on they would pitch camp. In order to protect themselves against the more dangerous wild animals, they built log fires, and when the wolves, bears and panthers came prowling around, they pulled
out burning firebrands, and by swinging them about kept the savage beast at bay, or until a lucky shot from the trusty rifle brought down the furtive beast and made it harmless.
But it is not known that they were molested by the Indians at any time coming over. Sev- erai times they missed their course and wan- dered about for days in circles without mak- ing any real progress. At last they struck an Indian trail which they followed the rest of the way across the mountains.
At one of their camping places in the moun- tains on the Yough river, a son was born to Michael and his wife. They called him Henry. This event occurred June II, 1753. This Henry, in a sense, was a child of destiny. This event is also very important as it fixes the time closely as to their arrival at what was later known as, High House, Fayette county, Pennsylvania.
Each of the brothers took up by "Toma- hawk" right two large tracts of land, lying in its primitive state, covered with majestic forests of oak. Jacob's claim included the more northerly and northwesterly tract and extending to, if not across, Brown's Run, while Michael's claim lay on the southwest side.
At this time this whole region was sup- posed to be in Virginia, and was so claimed by Virginia. Afterwards when this dispute had been settled and the line established, the rights of these "Tomahawk" claims by the settlers were respected by Pennsylvania. Pat- ents for these lands were granted in 1789 and 1790, based on warrants issued in 1784 or 1785 and signed by Thomas Mifflin as presi- dent of the council. By this time quite a community of Franks had developed, and the settlement was called Frankston, and patents and other early conveyances were given under the name of Frankton. As before stated, Jacob and his brother Michael, with their lit- tle families, arrived in June, 1753. They were among the very first permanent pioneer set- tiers in this region, west of the Allegheny Mountains. A few others came about the same time or a little later. Of these Frederick Walser (Waltzer) was among the more prom- inent ones. Also a Mr. Wendel Brown and two sons, came from eastern Virginia, follow- ing the Potomac river to near its source, crossed over and went westward, it is said, as
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far as to the mouth of Dunkard Creek, Greene county, Pennsylvania. Wendel Brown made friends of the Indians here. They told him of some rich lands lying northeast across the Monongaliela river and offered to take him to them. He at once accepted their kindly offer. When he saw the rich limestone hills and rich little valleys, covered with fine timber of oak, sugar maple and walnut, he was delighted with it and resolved to secure some of it. A few years later he carried out this purpose and secured a large tract of this valuable land. This formed the nucleus of what became known as the Brown Settlement, located a few miles west of Uniontown. A part of this Wendel Brown tract later was owned by Christopher Brown, better known as "Stuffle Brown." A spring at the house of this farm is the head of Brown's run.
The Walsers, Browns and others of the High House settlement married and intermar- ried with the Franks.
But little can we know of the hardships to which these first settlers were exposed. The country at first was almost an unbroken wild- erness. Aside from the troublesome wild ani- mals and poisonous snakes, there was the far more dangerous and treacherous redskins. And in order to protect themselves against the murderous tomahawk and scalping knife thev erected a strong fort.
Every community had its fort. Every one was on the qui vive, and often a swift courier would suddenly arrive and give the alarm that the Indians were murdering some of the whites of a neighboring community, and the cry "Flee to the fort!" was heard. It was from this fact the little town afterward and still is to-day called Flee Town. The men carried their rifles wherever they went, whether to work, to worship God at their re- ligious meetings, or what not.
The lands of Jacob have been divided and sub-divided into many small tracts and are still held mostly by some of his numerous descend- ants, while that of Michael has long ago passed into other hands. It is Michael's fan- ily which we are mainly considering. Some of Michael's children went to Wayne county, Ohio, and became pioneer settlers there, and later others of the family followed them. A portion of the old homestead was later pur- chased by Colonel Henry Core. The same, or a part, is now owned by Charles Jones.
The children of Michael (2) were: 1. Henry, of Indian captivity, of whom further. 2. Char- lotte, who became the third wife of Jacob First (German, Furst). 3. Abraham, who set- tled in Luzerne township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. 4. John, went to Ohio. Also the following sisters with their husbands and children followed and settled in Ohio, viz .: Mary, married Nicholas Helmic; Elizabeth, married Phineas Flaherty; Dorothy, married Jacob Miller; Catharine, married Jacob Hat- field. George settled in the upper part of Greene county, Pennsylvania, near to Blacks- ville. John also went to Ohio. Charlotte First and her brother Michael remained here, the latter settling in Nicholson township, near New Geneva.
Much confusion has already arisen among the later posterity of the Franks families in Fayette county. Some cannot tell whether they are descended from Jacob or Michael, or of what Jacob and what Michael. There were so many of these two names, especially the latter. To make more simple and for con- venience the chronicler of the Michael branch has designated the Michaels as Michael Ist, 2d, 3d, etc. To add to this confusion, another Michael who had two sons, a Jacob and a Michael, came liere from Germany some years later. This later Michael was a cousin of Jacob and Michael 2d, the first arrivals. The cousin and his two sons settled on lands in German township, a short distance northeast of Germantown, now Masontown.
It was an extensive tract of land, involving what is now embraced in the St. Jacob's Lutheran churchi grounds, with its farm and lands later held by the Haydens and the Davids eastward to the road leading from High House to Old Frame Cross Roads in Nicholson. The father, two sons and a daugh- ter Catharine, who married a man by the name of Baccus, not mentioned above, were all Lutherans. The two sons, Jacob and Michael, were very zealous and agreed to do- nate the land and build a church, others of like faith in the neighborhood to assist in building. Although brothers, Michael was a member of the English Lutheran and Jacob a member of the German Lutheran. The church was built and dedicated as the St. Jacob's Lutheran Church, named in honor of its principal founder. It was and is still known as the Dutch Meeting House.
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At his father's death Jacob came into pos- session of the eastern section on which there is a noted spring which is the head of Jacob's creek and which took its name from the owner, Jacob Franks. This part of the write- up is a digression, mainly for the purpose of clarifying much of the Franks history in Fay- ette county.
THE GRAVE OF THE PROUD FARMER.
BY NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY.
Into the acres of the newborn state
He poured his strength and plowed his ancient name, And, when the traders followed him, he stood Towering above their furtive souls and tame.
That brow without a stain, that fearless eye Oft left the passing stranger wondering To find such knighthood in the sprawling land, To see a Democrat well-nigh a king.
He lived with liberal hand, with guests from far, With talk and joke and fellowship to spare- Watching the wide world's life from sun to sun, Lining his walls with books from everywhere.
He read by night, he built his world by day. The farm and house of God to him were one.
For forty years he preached and plowed and wrought-
A statesman in the fields, who bent to none.
His plowmen-neighbors were as lords to him. His was an ironside, democratic pride.
He served a rigid Christ, but served him well- And for a lifetime saved the countryside.
Here lie the dead who gave the Church their best Under his fiery preaching of the word.
They sleep
with him beneath the ragged grass.
The village withers, by his voice unstired.
And though his tribe be scattered to the wind From the Atlantic to the China Sea,
Yet do they think of that bright lamp he burned Of family worth and proud integrity.
And many a sturdy grandchild hears his name In reverence spoken till he feels akin
To all the lion-eyed who built the world- And lion-dreams begin to burn within.
Henry, eldest child of Michael (2) Franks, was born June II, 1753, at a camp in the mountains as before noted. He was a power- fully built, muscular fellow, very active and fleet-footcd. As a frontiersman much of his life was wild and romantic, a rugged and hard life from his youth onward. But he was a born fighter and gloried in it. Both he and his father were in the colonial and revolution-
ary wars. Henry was also in the war of 1812. At one time he was engaged in a desperate battle with the Indians near Sandusky, Ohio. Here, with a number of others, he was taken a prisoner. As to the length of time he was held a prisoner there has been some difference in the traditional statements.
This battle was probably the one fought by Colonel Crawford in 1782. The warring Wyandottes had been giving much trouble in northwestern Ohio, and Colonel Crawford had been commissioned by Washington to go and quell them. But Crawford's little army was defeated by the savages who many times out- numbered them. The Colonel, with a num- ber of his men (many were killed in the battle) were taken prisoners. Crawford was put to a cruel death by burning at the stake. As stated, Henry was one of the prisoners, and he was tested for Indian citizenship by caus- ing him to run the gauntlet between two lines of redskins armed with withes to lacerate his bared back and shoulders. If he reached the goal (wigwam) at the end of the race for life, for that is what it was, without succumbing to pain or fcar, his life would be spared and luis prowess revered. If not a cruel death would follow. Suffice it to say, he performed so well, even to the knocking down with his hatchet and almost killing an Indian who tried to block his way in running, that a great savage war whoop of admiration rang out.
Although in this mighty test of valor he re- ceived a knife wound at the hands of the In- dian he had struck down with his hatchet, yet his stoicism and valor made them his friends. they nursed him and doctored him (Indian fashion) until he had entirely recovered. He soon learned their habits of life and skillfully adapted hiniself to them, thus strengthening their confidence, so that in time they allowed hini to go away by himself for several days at a time, but he never broke his word with them until the time of his escape.
They roamed together over the very lands on which he afterward settled with his family, though his oldest son John seems to have set- tled on land in Wayne county, Ohio, before his father. Henry's wife, Christina (Van Bus- kırk) Franks, died August 16, 1842, aged sev- enty-seven years.
The account of the escape of Henry Franks back to civilization and finally to his friends
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in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, is the one given the writer by Isaac Franks, as he re- membered his father, Michael, brother of Henry, tell it. The account as given in the history of Wayne county, Ohio, says he made his escape by reaching the lake coast, board- ing an English vessel bound for Montreal, Canada, thence crossing to the American side and walking to Philadelphia, thence to Pitts- burgh, and from there back to his family in the Franks settlement at High House, Fay- ette county, Pennsylvania. This account also differs as to the length of time Henry was in captivity, having the time as much as four or five years. As to the fact of his being in the Indian wars and his capture at a battle near Sandusky, Ohio, there can be no doubt.
Henry Franks died May 5, 1836. His body has been reinterred and now rests in Chestnut Hill cemetery at Doylestown, Ohio. A few years after his return home to High House settlement he moved with his family and old mother to Ohio and settled on Chippewa creek, Wayne county. His mother lived to a great age.
The names of Henry's children are as fol- lows: Sons, John, Michael, Henry, Uriah and Abraham. Daughters, Abigail Huffman, Betsy Higgins, Christina Collins, Sallie Roat- son, Phoebe and Katie not married. Abigail, born 1802, died September 22, 1841. John, oldest child of Henry, who settled in Wayne county before his father, is buried in the Huff- man lot at Doylestown. Mrs. Mary Elliot, a widow, and a daughter of John, is still living (1912) at Doylestown, Ohio, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. Also a Mrs. Bowlby, of Canon City, Colorado. Data of the rest of John's children not known.
Michael (3), son of Michael (2) Franks, was born in German township, Fayette coun- ty, Pennsylvania, at the High House settle- ment, about the' year 1773, perhaps the early part of that year. At the age of about twen- ty-three he married Amy First (German Furst), who at the time was less than sixteen years old. She was a daughter of Jacob Furst, who came from Germany. Amy was a daughter by his first wife, his third and last wife being Charlotte Franks (see Charlotte). The Firsts, or Fursts, were among the early settlers. Shortly after marriage Michael and his wife settled in Nicholson township, a few
miles northeast of New Geneva. He was a man of great energy and physical endurance. He was a muscular man, standing six feet high, rather dark complexion and weighed about 180 pounds. His wife was short and small, but later became stout, in complexion fair, with a sweet face and placid and even disposition, and matched her husband as a worker and manager. Constitutionally she was a remarkably good woman. In his life Michael was a man of correct and regular habits and of uncommon industry. When they set up housekeeping they did not have much, but they toiled and saved and con- stantly added to their savings. Of course he was a farmer; one of the best and most thrifty in the country. Michael became the largest land owner in the township, owning nine excellent farms. He raised large crops of grain, especially corn. He raised and fed many hogs. He also raised many good horses. He was one of the first to mine and haul coal to New Geneva. Strange to say, it was then little used as a fuel. He also hauled stone for Albert Gallatin to build a house on the historic Friendship Hill farm, above New Geneva. It is said he was listed for the war of 1812, and was to hold himself in readiness for one year and a day. He was not notified until a day after the time had expired, and therefore could not be held. Michael and his wife were at first Lutherans, but shortly after marriage their religious views underwent a change; and they united with the Mount Moriah Baptist Church at Smithfield, Penn- sylvania, in which fellowship they remained until death. He was a deacon thirty-seven years; a man of strong personality and a forceful citizen. He neither had time nor in- clination for public office, but was alert for the public good. His influence, with his sons, was always a potent factor, especially in county and township politics. He and his sons were of the old "Hickory Jackson" mold. His home was a Mecca for Baptist ministers, and the poor and worthy were never turned away empty. He died in 1857 at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife died in 1872 in the ninety-first year of her age. They rest in the old Baptist cemetery at Smithfield.
Jacob, first child of Michael (3) and Amy (Furst) Franks, was born February 20, 1798. By occupation he was a farmer. He married
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Rebecca Rose (date of which cannot now be found). In early life he bought a farm in Monongalia county, Virginia, now West Vir- ginia, near Easton. Later in life he sold out there and moved to his father's old home in Nicholson township, Fayette county, Penn- sylvania, to care for his aged mother, then a widow. He died a little over seventy-five years of age. His wife survived him for some years and died at the advanced age of eighty- seven years. They were good people and given to hospitality and most highly re- spected by all who knew them. Having both united with the Baptist church at an early age, they were faithful unto death. In pol- itics he was a Democrat. They had eleven children, but for lack of data only a few notes can be given. Children: Michael, the oldest, served in the Union army throughout most of the civil war. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, and for many years to the time of death was located in Tyler county, West Virginia. He married and raised a highly respected family. He was a faithful and influential member of the Baptist church, and was also his noble wife. He was an influential, leading citizen in his county. He died a few years ago at an advanced age.
Of the large and respectable family of Jacob and Rebecca the only one now living (1912) is Mrs. Rebecca A., wife of H. T. Jaco (insurance), of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. By this union she is the mother of five children. J. W., a fine dentist, owns and has his office in the Flatiron, at the water fountain, on Morgantown street, Uniontown, and lives in a fine brick residence on Beeson avenue. He is a member of the Great Bethel Baptist Church. Another son, Charles H., also a den- tal doctor, located in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, and is demonstrator and lecturer in the Pennsylvania Dental College, the school from which he graduated in 1906. He is still single. Frank R., youngest child, is a jeweler and has charge of the watchmaking depart- ment of the George Bennett Company, a wholesale house in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is married. Mrs. Dora Moore (widow) has been for a number of years one of the leading clerks in the Wright-Metzler Depart- ment Store in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, suc- cessors to Captain James M. Hustead and I. W. Semans, with whom she was employed.
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