USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Genealogical and personal history of Fayette county, Pennsylvania > Part 46
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At present she has charge of the ladies' suit department. She is considered an expert in her line of work. Miss Anna is still at home. W. Thomas Miller, a grandson of Jacob and Rebecca Franks, living on a cozy little farm in Nicholson township, near Smithfield, has been a justice of the peace for many years, and is uncommonly well posted as to the duties of the office, and frequently uses his influence for a peaceful settlement of difficul- ties without going to law in the courts, where the public welfare is not involved, and has the full confidence of the people in his integ- rity, good judgment and safe counsel. For some years after the First National Bank of Smithfield was organized he was bookkeeper and treasurer, and thoroughly demonstrated his fitness as a banker.
He has strong moral and religious convic- tions. He is an active church and Sunday school man and deacon in the Oak Hill Bap- tist Church at Old Frame, of which his good wife is also a member. He has one daughter, Lenora, at home. Also three sons, of which Jacob F. is a Baptist minister. The other two, John and Charles, are well equipped by education and training for success in life. Rev. Ellsworth Hare, another grandson of Jacob and Rebecca Franks, is now pastor of a Baptist church at Mckeesport, Pennsyl- vania.
Elizabeth, second child of Michael (3) and Amy (Furst) Franks, married, May 13, 1819, Jonathan Higgins, a successful farmer. Eliza- beth died at the age of thirty-six years; he later married her sister Amy, November 19, 1837. In 1839 he moved from near New Geneva to Adams county, Ohio, and lived there until the time of their deaths.
Mary (Polly), third child of Michael (3) and Amy (Furst) Franks, was born March 29, 1801, and was married to Andrew Kramer in 1829. Andrew Kramer at the age of sixteen years took up the trade of glass blowing and was one of the pioneer glass manufacturers of the Monongahela valley. Later he oper- ated a glass factory below Greensboro, Greene county, Pennsylvania, in partnership with Philip Reitz, below New Geneva, but on the opposite side of the river. It is worthy of note that the first glass made west of the Alleghany mountains was at or just above New Geneva, on Georges creek, promoted by
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Albert Gallatin, of national fame, and who lived at the now historic place called Friend- ship Hill, at present owned by J. V. Thomp- son, the noted banker and coal king. Galla- tin founded New Geneva in 1797.
Andrew Kramer moved to Linn county, Iowa, in 1839, and for years endured the hardships incident to a pioneer life. He final- ly conquered and made good-raised a large family-some of them filling important posi- tions in life. One, Isaac N., now at the age of eighty years (1912), with a son, has two extensive floral and greenhouse establish- ments, one at Marion and the other at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Another son, Michael, aged eighty-two, is living at Denver City, Col., who in turn has a son who is a physician. In politics Andrew Kramer was a Whig. Both he and his wife were Baptists. He died Sep- tember 1, 1872, in his eighty-third year. His wife died August 25, 1877.
Michael (4), fourth child of Michael (3) and Amy (Furst) Franks was born October 29, 1803. He lived all his life in Nich- olson township, Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania. He was a short, compactly built man of fair complexion, fine auburn hair and very regular features, and weighed about 150 pounds. He had a genial, happy tempera- ment, was a pleasing conversationalist, and his company was always a pleasure. He was a progressive farmer, and, like his brothers, who were true to their instinct and training, abhorred bad fences and dirty fence corners. During his life he became possessed of sev- eral hundred acres of well-improved land, but in different farms. The last farm he bought was the James W. Nicholson farm in the early fifties.
The fine brick mansion (for that day) was on the top of a high hill one-half of a mile above Geneva, commanding a beautiful view of the winding silvery band of the Mononga- hela river. Greensboro and its neighborhood section of the valley. To this farm he moved and spent the remainder of his days with his excellent wife. Michael Franks was a Demo- crat. Both he and his wife were Baptists. Both died at a good age, their deaths being only a few days apart, and they were buried in Cedar Grove cemetery, New Geneva. On November 13, 1828, he married Charity Ken- dall, sister of Rev. Samuel Kendall, an old-
time Baptist preacher. To this union were born: I. Isaac K., born January 4, 1830; married Mary Eberhart, of New Geneva, a daughter of Martin Eberhart, a glass manu- facturer. He was a farmer and mill owner, etc. Later in life he moved to Kansas and died some years ago, aged seventy-six years. His widow is still living with a son in Okla- homa, a large land owner and wealthy. She is now (1912) enjoying good health at the age of eighty-one years. 2. Michael W., born April 29, 1832, was much like his father in looks, size, build, and complexion, except that his hair was darker colored and inclined to baldness. He was a farmer, but often in township offices, and in November, 1878, was elected county treasurer for three years. Also he was later made cashier of Internal Reve- nue of the Twenty-third District. In political faith he was a Democrat. He was a courte- ous, pleasing gentleman and made and held friends wherever he went. On May 17, 1864, he married Martha J., daughter of John Bell, of Greene county, Pennsylvania, a wealthy and well known farmer. He died at his home near New Geneva, December 14, 1899, in his sixty-eighth year. His wife died March 23, 1904, aged about sixty-seven years. He and his wife were buried in Cedar Grove cemetery. He left children: Charles Boyle, a sketch of whom follows; Emma, mar- ried (first) James C. Long, (second) Jesse Dills; they own and cultivate the old Franks homestead. 3. Estella, married Allen Fast, a teacher and clerk, and resides in Masontown. 4. Frances A., born Oc- tober 28, 1842; married John Morris, a farm- er. Both are dead and survived by four sons. 5. Amedee M., born January 18, 1848, a pow- erfully built man of great physical strength; in the prime of life was a farmer and car- penter. He was a good, useful and upright citizen, a Democrat, and he served as county commissioner with credit to himself and to the county. He was a man of good business judgment and always stood squarely for the right. Both he and his wife were Baptists. On March 3, 1866, he married Nancy Lon- ganecker. He died at his home in Union- town, March 3, 1906, and was buried in Cedar Grove cemetery. He left a family. Holly W., of the J. S. Douglass agency, is his son. His widow also survives him. 6. Alice R., born May 21, 1851; married James
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K. Dills, a farmer of Nicholson township; has a family of grown-up children. Several oth- ers died in infancy.
James, fifth child of Michael (3) and Amy (Furst) Franks, married Maria Chick, a cousin of William Chick, of Uniontown. He was a successful farmer and lived on the farm where William Trader resided until the time of his death, and now owned by his son, William H. Trader, Jr. In about the year 1847 he moved to Wayne county, Ohio, and settled on a fine farm a few miles from Doylestown. They raised a large family. He died at the age of seventy-six years. His wife lived to a good old age. Their children that are living are well settled in life, mostly on large, well tilled farms, prosperous and favorably known in Fayette county. In re- ligion Baptists, in politics Democrats.
Samuel, sixth child of Michael (3) and Amy (Furst) Franks, died in infancy.
Samuel, seventh child of Michael (3) and Amy (Furst) Franks, was born in Nicholson township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He married Susan Trader (sister of the late Will- iam H. Trader Sr.). He died August 12, 1894, in the eighty-eighth year of his age. His wife died April 24, 1865, in her fifty-ninth year.
Like his brothers (except Abraham), a farmer, and pursued farming throughout his long life. He inherited the strong traits of both parents, some of which were honesty, amiableness of temper, with a kindly disposi- tion toward all. He possessed a modest ap- preciation of the humorous side of life. Con- sequently he had many friends and but few if any enemies, but was firm in his convic- tions as to right and wrong. He was always cheerful, happy and contented, never moody or fretful. After this simple analysis of the man it would scarcely seem necessary to add that he was a model citizen, father and hus- band. At an early age he united with the Mount Moriah Baptist Church at Smithfield, Pennsylvania, under the pastorate of Rev. John Patton. His wife, Susan, was noted for her kindness and sweet disposition. She was a Presbyterian and died in that faith. Her pastor was Rev. Ashabel Fairchild, widely known as a theological writer. In politics he was a Democrat. The children that grew up and married are the following: Sarah A.,
born 1836, wife of the late John Whetstone. Elizabeth, married John Jaco, who enlisted as a private in the civil war in the Sixty-third Pennsylvania Regiment. He was wounded in one of the Seven Days' battles of the Wil- derness. Was taken to the hospital at Wash- ington City, D. C., and died at the age of about thirty years. The wife is now dead. William H., a physician; read medicine with the late Dr. F. C. Robinson, of Uniontown, and took a full course in Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating some time in the early sixties. Shortly after he went to Brimfield, Noble county, Indiana, where he began the practice of his chosen profession. Being an ardent student, of good judgment, patient and sympathetic, he rose rapidly in favor with the people. He married May Gib- son, of near that place. Later he moved to Ligonier, in the same county, where he now lives as a retired physician. Mary (Mollie), married Luther Wheeler and lives at Deer Park, Maryland. Amanda, married Harry Zimmerman, who for many years has held a responsible and lucrative position with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company at Cameron, West Virginia, where they reside. Eliza J., married Charles Griffin, son of the late W. P. Griffin, of Nicholson township. They live at Chanute, Kansas, and are well fixed in life.
Abraham, eighth child of Michael (3) and Amy (Furst) Franks, was born in Nicholson township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, Oc- tober 29, 1806, where he grew to manhood. His early education was limited to the mea- ger advantages of the subscription schools of that day, but by severe application of mind to the pursuit of knowledge he succeeded in storing his mind with a degree of education far beyond the average teacher of the day in the community.
For a few years he taught school in his own neighborhood and also in the High House settlement. He then engaged in the mercantile business at New Geneva. At the age of twenty-eight years he sold his store at New Geneva and went westward, expect- ing to go to Chicago, Illinois. Chicago at that time, 1834, was merely a trading post. Going by the way of Wayne county, Ohio, he concluded to stop off at Doylestown and visit some of the Franks living in that sec-
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tion. While visiting Abraham Franks, a son of one of the former settlers of the Franks region at High House, Pennsylvania, this Abraham was persuaded to remain and go into business with him. To this he agreed, and they conducted successfully for years a general store business at Doylestown under the firm name of Abraham Franks, Sr., and Abraham Franks, Jr. He married, Septem- ber 9, 1848, Amanda, daughter of Abraham Franks, Sr., and Lydia (Blocker) Franks. Soon after his marriage he was elected to the state legislature on the Democratic ticket. He was re-elected and served with credit to himself and the people of his district. On leaving the legislature he returned to Doyles- town and engaged in the hotel business (no bar or liquor sold) for several years. Tiring of this, he moved to his farm and for a num- ber of years engaged in farming. In 1861 he again returned to Doylestown and again en- gaged in the mercantile business, and so con- tinued until 1878, when he retired from active business life on account of age. On December 3, 1887, his wife died at the age of fifty-eight years. He was among the early settlers of Wayne county, Ohio, and aside from his more public life, as already stated, was one Of the prominent citizens of the county, and was for many years a justice of the peace.
He was an able and intelligent man and wrote much for the papers. However, he lacked the oratorical gift of expressing him- self orally, which proved somewhat of a bar to his public advancement.º At an early age he united with the Baptist church at Smith- field, Pennsylvania, and throughout his long life was a consistent and upright follower of his Lord and Master. He was an everyday Christian, and this was the testimony of those who knew him best. He died January 26, 1890, at the age of eighty-three years, two months and twenty-seven days. He was a model husband and father. Constitutionally kind and sympathetic, he was an example worthy of imitation by all.
Amanda, wife of Abraham Franks Jr., was born at Chippewa, Wayne county, Ohio, Au- gust 1, 1829. She united with the Baptist church at an early age. She was a woman of strong Christian character and her faith and trust in her Saviour seemed to increase as the years passed by. In her last sickness she was a great sufferer for many months. But her
patience and fortitude were said to be beau- tiful and sublime. As before noted, she passed through "the pearly gates ajar" to rest in the heavenly Beulah land on Decem- ber 3, 1887.
To this union were born two children: Jennie, born at Doylestown, Ohio, May 17, 1850, and Louis Kossuth, born in Chippewa, Wayne county, Ohio, November 29, 1854. Jennie was given the advantages of the best schools the town afforded, and displayed quite a talent for music, for the development of which she had training under the best in- structors the town afforded; also a course at Wooster, Ohio. She was bright and well equipped to maintain a high standard of use- fulness and social distinction. While in Wooster she met Rev. J. W. Lowe, minister of the Disciple church. This mutual ac- quaintance ripened into love. They were married in May, 1872. At the date of this in- formation (1894) they had one daughter, Lucy Virginia, a young woman of twenty- one years, an accomplished musician.
Louis K. was born in Chippewa, Wayne county, Ohio, November 29, 1854, as before noted; he was given the advantages of the common schools and also started in a college course; but owing to the advanced age and consequent infirmities of his father, was pre- vented from completing his college course. The practical part of his education was re- ceived at an early age and in his father's store, the latter proving of great advantage in all the succeeding years of his life. At the age of twenty-five years he engaged as a partner in the drug business, and was thus engaged for three years, making of it a finan- cial success. On August 1, 1883, he married Linda Wharton, of Ashland county, Ohio. Since his marriage he has pursued various callings, serving as deputy county treasurer of his native county for two years. In June, 1912, the writer found him a farmer, cultivat- ing a fine farm a few miles from Doylestown, where he was enjoying the comforts of a good home. He drives to and from his farm and greatly enjoys the blending of country and town life. He possesses strong physical and mental vigor, is kindly and hospitable in disposition, but has a high standard of posi- tive convictions in morals, religion and pol- itics.
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He is a man of strong personal influence in the community where he lives, and is most highly respected. His politics, like his father's, were cast in the mold of the old Jeffersonian Democracy. His wife is a be- fitting helpmeet and at once a loving com- panion and mother and a practical and thor- ough housekeeper and homemaker. Their children are: Metta C., a teacher, at home; Kent Wharton, in Ohio University, veter- inary department; Carrie, at home.
George, ninth child of Michael (3) and Amy (Furst) Franks, died at the age of twenty.
John, tenth child of Michael (3) and Amy (Furst) Franks, also the seventh son born consecutively, was born in Nicholson town- ship in the early part of 1811. His education was that of the average country boy of his day-reading, writing, spelling and some arithmetic. Like his father and the remainder of the family, he possessed strong instinct to stick close to the bosom of mother earth. Here it may be stated that while a youth he learned the trade or art of weaving, and in addition to the more ordinary products of the loom that were used in those days largely for home clothing and other household purposes, he made the heavy bedspreads (or coverlets) with their beautiful inwoven figures, very pop- ular in those days. But he soon quit weav- ing and from that time on was a farmer.
On April 10, 1837, he married Mary, daugh- ter of Peter and Ann (Fuller) Hess. The marriage took place at the home of the bride, a few miles northwest of McClellandtown, the officiating minister being Rev. William Wood, a noted Baptist preacher and evangelist, and who in turn was the father of the late Rev. W. S. Wood, of Mount Pleasant, Pennsyl- vania, a noted theologian and preacher. They set up housekeeping, and for a short time lived on William Greenlee's farm, near what is now Ruble, in Georges township.
In the year 1838 Peter Hess sold out and moved to Fayette county, Ohio, which was then a new country, beginning to settle up. Peter Hess wished to have all his children settle near him. In a short time thereafter John Franks, with his wife, followed and set- tled on a farm on Compton creek, in Fayette county, Ohio, four or five miles from Wash- ington Court House. Here John contracted malaria so badly as to make life miserable,
and they remained there only a little over two years, when they returned to Fayette county, Pennsylvania. It was while in Ohio that Peter Hess, the oldest child, was born, the birth occurring December 18, 1839, of whom more hereafter. A second child born in Ohio died in infancy. As before stated, John re- turned to Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and settled on the farm in Nicholson township, on which his brother-in-law, Andrew Kramer, had lived. In 1847 he moved to the farm lying close to New Geneva, where he remained to the time of his death, which occurred October 16, 1858.
John Franks early united with the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church at Smithfield. Later in life he was made a deacon. He was a man of strictest moral integrity, never broke his word though he might suffer loss thereby. His word was considered as good as his bond. This was certified by all who knew him most intimately in life. He never sought public of- fice, but nevertheless was a forceful person- ality as a citizen and in every sphere of his lite.
At the time of his death (at forty-eight) he was the owner of two valuable farms in Nich- olson township. The home on which he erected a good brick house in 1855-56 con- tained about one hundred and sixty acres of productive land, with coal and other valuable minerals, and another farm of about one hun- dred and twenty-one acres. In politics he was a Democrat. His wife survived him many years. She was a Baptist. Both were buried in Mt. Moriah cemetery, Smithfield, Pennsyl- vania.
Children of John and Mary Franks: I. Peter Hess, whose sketch follows.
2. An infant daughter, Amy Ann, named for its two grandmothers, was born and died in 1841 while in Ohio.
3. Jolın Irvin, born July 3, 1843, died Octo- ber 21, 1858. He was a promising boy.
4. David Jackson, born April 13, 1846; mar- ried Fannie, daughter of James and Sarah Daugherty, of New Geneva. First a farmer, but for years conducted successfully a large hotel at Greensboro, Greene county, opposite New Geneva. Later he added to the hotel business a grocery store with Mr. Lee Burns as partner. The latter business so increased in volume that another storeroom on the op-
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posite side of the street is also occupied. They have no children. In polities he has always been a Democrat.
5. Margaret Caroline, born August 28, 1847; married James Hare, a farmer, and by trade a blacksmith. They live in Springhill township. They have a large family of grown children, some are married. He is a Demo- crat.
6. William W. F., born May 9, 1849, died September 25, 1858.
7. Mahala, born November 20, 1852; she married Asbury La Poe, once a prosperous farmer and business man, but now in poor health. They have one child living, James Lindsay, born in 1896. He has a fine, prac- tical mind, with a good foundation in educa- tion already laid, promises a life of great use- fulness. Their home is in Greene county, Pennsylvania, near Crow's Ferry.
8. Elizabeth Harriet, born February 23, 1855, died March 25, 1859.
9. Charles Spurgeon, born May 5, 1858; while a young man he learned the art of pho- tography and practiced it for some time at Carmichaels, Greene county, Pennsylvania. He married Melissa Stull, of Washington county, Pennsylvania. He then bought a small farm in Dunkard township, Greene county, Pa. In a few years sold out and moved to Rehway, Iowa county, Wisconsin, where he is still living. They have two chil- dren, a son, and a daughter, Pearl, at home. They are graduates of the high school of Rehway.
Mary (Hess) Franks, wife of John and mother of Peter H. Franks, as already noted, was the daughter of Peter and Ann (Fuller) Hess. Peter Hess was a son of Peter and Susanna Hess, who came from Germany to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, thence to Fayette county, Pennsylvania. They were among the very early settlers west of the Alle- ghany mountains. Peter, the second, was born near New. Salem, on Dunlap's creek, about the year 1787. He was a very thrifty business man, owning large and valuable farms in German township. He dealt largely in stock and was known as a drover, driving large numbers of cattle and hogs to the east- ern markets. He imported from England and introduced the first pure blood Durham cat- tle into the Dunlap's creek valley. When he moved to Ohio he bought a large tract of rich
land not far from the town of Bloomingburgh, Fayette county, Ohio. This he improved into a fine home, and at death left a large estate.
His wife, Ann Fuller, was the daughter of Daniel Fuller, who was born in Ireland about the year 1777, and came at the age of fifteen years first to a Quaker settlement and soon after came over the Alleghany mountains and settled not far from Connellsville, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. Her brothers and sis- ters were: James, father of Dr. James Fuller, deceased. Jolin, a member of the legislature three terms, and father of the late Dr. Smith Fuller Sr., of Uniontown; James, of Perry- opolis, and Daniel, of near Newtown, Greene county, Pennsylvania, a very wealthy farmer and stock man. Mary (Polly) married George Hess, a brother of Peter Hess, and Elizabeth (Betsy) married David Jackson, a wealthy farmer and banker. They have all been dead many years.
The children of Peter and Ann Hess were: Fuller, married Mary A. Stevens, of Union- town, Pennsylvania; he became a wealthy farmer and lived not far from Washington, Fayette county, Ohio; a son, Bowman, at the latter place, still survives. Ann, married Sam- uel Greenlee; Caroline, married "Gus" Par- rott; Elizabeth, never married; Margaret, married Thomas Porter Greenlee, brother of Samuel; they were sons of William Greenlee, of Georges township, Fayette county, Penn- sylvania; Irvin, who came into possession of his father's homestead, well improved and having about eight hundred acres of very rich land. These children of Peter and Ann (Ful- ler) Hess were all born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, but as noted, all settled and died in Fayette county, Ohio.
Children of Peter Hess and his first wife, Eliza (Poundstone) Franks, are as follows: I. Mary Elizabeth, born in Nicholson town- ship, May 11, 1862, died January 28, 1887. 2. Sarah M., born in same township, October 17, 1863: she married Walter G. Rea, Decem- ber 25, 1890, a son of Major J. Harvey Rea, of Carmichaels, Pennsylvania; she died at her home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, January 25, 1909. To them two children were born, Anna Ethel, March 18, 1892, died May 26, 1896, and Nellie, May 9. 1896, now (1912) at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 3. Anna B., born April 12, 1865; later went to Pittsburgh, and took a graduating course in M. Garnier's
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school of ladies' tailoring and dressmaking. Returned to Uniontown, established herself in that business on Morgantown street, opposite the Messmore block. In a few years she changed into a millinery business, sold out and went west in 1898 with her sister, Mrs. Rea, and settled in business at Pueblo, Colo- rado. On April 30, 1899, she married John J. Ryan, a business man. For some years conducted the St. Remi Hotel in that city. In 1910 quit the hotel and established themselves in other business. She is a woman of great business energy. She is a Baptist. They have two interesting children, William J. and Mar- tha, who recently at the age of six years gave readings from Shakespeare, Burns and others, that excited the admiration and astonishment of all who heard them. 4. John Fuller, born April 26, 1867, at McClellandtown, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, is an able and efficient Baptist minister. He is now pastor of the First Baptist church at Alice, Texas. He re- ceived his education in the public schools, at Waynesburg College, Denison University, Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky, and the Western Pennsylvania Classical and Scientific insti- tute, Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. On June 27, 1895, he married Ida Bell, daughter of the late Benjamin and Caroline (Fulton) Phillips, of Redstone township, Fayette county, Penn- sylvania. They have three children living: Carolyn, now a young woman; Mary and Ful- ton. A son, Charles, died in infancy. 5. Wil- liam Passavant, born January 22, 1871; was educated in the public schools of Nicholson township; at University of West Virginia, one term; at Mount Pleasant Classical institute and California Normal. He then taught eight terms in the public schools. For some years he has been in the real estate business. De- cember 21, 1899, he married Hester A., daughter of James and Lucinda (Hogsett) Hankins, of Uniontown. To them have been born seven children. Three are dead, the liv- ing are: Raymond H., Wilbur, Mildred and an infant son. 6. Hester A., born October 19, 1872, in Nicholson township; for some years a nurse in East End, Pittsburgh; married, August 16, 1911, John J. Gallagher, a well- to-do farmer of Beaver county, Pennsylvania. A grandson, E. H. Trader, born October 25, 1884, is the efficient city agent for the Amer- ican Express Company at Akron, Ohio. He started at the bottom as driver for the Adams
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