Genealogical and personal history of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, Part 49

Author: Jordan, John Woolf, 1840-1921, ed; Hadden, James, 1845-1923, joint ed. cn
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: New York, NY : Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 510


USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Genealogical and personal history of Fayette county, Pennsylvania > Part 49


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married Miss Immel; Cramer, married Mary Dial, and lives at Confluence; Irwin, married Mattie Seybert, and lives at Ohiopyle; James Bailey, father of Kate Bailey Lyons, married Sarah, daughter of Joshua and Susan (Mari- ette) Kern, both of Fayette county. Joshua Kern was a farmer and small land owner, also a soldier of the war of 1812. He died aged eighty-six years. His children: 1. John, killed in the civil war. 2. William, now living in Springfield township. 3. George, a farmer of Springfield township. 4. Mary, died young. 5. Sarah (of previous mention), married James Bailey. 6. James, killed in the civil war. 7. Margaret, married Silas Prinkey, and lives in Springfield township. James Bailey was born in Springfield township, October 18, 1837. He married in 1858, later served four years in the Union army, nine months of which he spent in Libby prison. He died at Hilton Head, South Carolina, on his way home. He was a private of Company K. Eighty-fifth Regi- ment, Pennsylvania Infantry. His widow never remarried. Their children: 1. Joshua, now living at Coal Brook, Fayette county. 2. Kate, married Norman Resler Lvons; their children: Randall Bailey, born October 16, 1890, now employed with the Crystal Ice Company of Connellsville, Pennsylvania; Maude Esther, born October 19, 1892, now a student of the Pennsylvania State Normal school at California, class of 1913.


The earliest record POORBAUGH found of this family is of Philip Poorbaugh, born in Germany, who came to Somerset county, Pennsylvania, shortly after the revolutionary war. He was a pioneer settler in Northamp- ton township, part of Somerset county, lying east of the Alleghanies. He became the owner of a goodly number of acres of this mountain land, not the best suited for agri- cultural purposes, but heavily timbered. When he first settled there he had to go as far as Chambersburg for flour and salt. Un- der such conditions many of the early set- tlers became discouraged and abandoned their improvements, but Philip Poorbaugh had come to stay, and stay he did. He en- gaged chiefly in lumbering, but soon had part of his acres under cultivation. He pros- pered, and many of his descendants are yet


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found in Northampton and part of the orig- inal land taken up from the government by Philip Poorbaugh is yet in the family name. Prior to the coming of Philip Poorbaugh to Somerset county he had lived in York coun- ty, Pennsylvania. In 1793 he obtained his warrant for seven hundred and ten acres of land. His children were: Henry, who moved to the state of Indiana in 1848; Philip, lived and died in Northampton; John J., of whom further; George, lived and died in Northamp- ton.


(II) John J., son of Philip Poorbaugh, was born in Northampton township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1795, and lived near his birthplace until his death in 1862. He was a farmer and lumberman all his life, and well to do, as the times then considered wealth. He was a Whig in politics, later a Democrat, and active in local affairs. The first election in the township was held at his house. He married Elizabeth Gerry, who died in 1876. Children: 1. Jacob, died Jan- uary 1, 1911, aged eighty-four years; he lived on a part of the original homestead and served many years as justice of the peace. 2. Samuel, died 1905, a farmer of Northampton, living at Glencoe, where his son was a mer- chant; married a Miss Rengler. 3. John J., of whom further. 4. Mathias, died . 1907; a farmer of Northampton. 5. Gideon, moved to Illinois, served three years during the civil war; settled in Nebraska, where for thirty years he has been a farmer. 6. Herman, a soldier of the civil war, was wounded in bat- tle and died a year later from the effects. Ellen, the only daughter, was the first born child.


(III) John J., son of John J. and Elizabethi (Gerry) Poorbaugh, was born in Northamp- ton township, Somerset county, Pennsyl- vania, 1830, died there May 15, 1912. He was a farmer all his life, first for his father, and later purchasing the home farm, on which he resided until death. He was drafted during the civil war, but for some unknown reason was never called into active service. He was a lifelong Democrat and served in many township offices. In' religious faith he ad- hered to the German Reformed church. He married (first) Mary Elizabeth Weisel, born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, February 20, 1835, died March 16, 1868, daughter of David and Mary (Polly) (Sellers) Weisel. David


Weisel was born in Bedford county, Pennsyl- vania, his wife in Hagerstown, Maryland, but her parents died when Mary was young and she was reared under the guidance of an older sister, Mrs. Rock, of Bedford county, where she met and married David Weisel. He was a millwright and miller, building and operating many of the early mills of Somer- set county. He also owned seventeen hun- dred acres of timber, some of which he cleared and farmed. He was an ardent Whig, and with his wife belonged to the German Reformed church. He was a natural me- chanic, and in addition to his milling and tarming made coffins for his neighbors when needed, and was a generally "handy man." He was born September 9, 1795, married March 23, 1820, died August 13, 1853. His wife, Polly Sellers, was born February 7, 1797, died May 18, 1879. Their children: I. John, born February 26, 1821, died unmar- ried, January 23, 1859. 2. George W., born September 13, 1823, died April 17, 1857; mar- ried Susan, sister of Dennis Comp, men- tioned especially in this work. 3. Philip, born December 25, 1825, died March or April, 1900; married Eliza Miller and lived on the home farm. 4. Sarah Anne, born December 30, 1827, died February 7, 1864; married Hezekiah Fair, who survived her, and again married. 5. Henry, born May 30, 1830, died unmarried, September 9, 1861. 6. David, born January 12, 1833, died December 30, 1838. 7. Mary Elizabeth, born February 20, 1835, died March 16, 1868; married John J. Poorbaugh, of previous mention. 8. Emeline, born August 20, 1837; now living in Scott- dale, Pennsylvania: married (first) Henry Suder, (second) Henry D. Bole. a soldier of the civil war, serving in the Pennsylvania Regiment, Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, commanded by Colonel Gallup; they are now living in Scottdale, Pennsylvania. 9. Samuel, born September 27, 1841, died September 24, 1882; married Charlotte Dively. John J. Poorbaugh, married (second) Mrs. Mary Sumpstine, widow of William Sumpstine. She bore him three children: Wilson, of Meyers- dale, Pennsylvania; Jacob Franklin, of Ne- braska; Elam, of Mount Pleasant, Pennsyl- vania. He married (third) at the age of sixty- seven years a widow, Mrs. Martha Hamilton, aged forty years, who bore him Helen and


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Marshall. Children of John J. Poorbaugh and his first wife, Elizabeth Weisel: 1. Henry A., of whom further. 2. Silas, died in in- fancy. 3. Herman, an invalid, now residing in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. 4. Nelson, a farmer and dairyman, near Mount Pleasant. 5. John, died aged ten years, his mother giv- ing up her life at his birth.


(IV) Henry A., eldest son of John J. and Elizabeth (Weisel) Poorbaugh, was born in Northampton township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, May 26, 1859. He attended the public schools and grew to manhood on the home farm, continuing his father's assist- ant until his marriage in 1886. He then rent- ed a farm, on which he lived until 1899, then moved to Bullskin township, Fayette county, and bought a farm of fifty acres. Later he sold that property and bought his present farm of seventy acres, on which he lives and conducts general farming operations and stock raising and dairying. He is a Demo- crat in politics, has served in several town- ship offices and as member of the Democratic county committee. He is a member of the local grange, Patrons of Husbandry. Both Mr. Poorbaugh and wife are members of the Reformed church.


He married, in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, September 26, 1886, Sarah Baumaster, born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Elias and Elizabeth (Harshberger) Bau- master, of German parents; she died Decem- ber 7, 1903. He married (second) June 24, 1908, Mary, daughter of John and Tina (Hoover) Long, both living in Somerset county, Pennsylvania. Children of Henry A. Poorbaugh and his first wife: I. Edward, born September 15, 1888, now a teamster and farmer living in Bullskin township; married Katherine Hinkle. 2. John, born May, 1892, died December 21, 1897. 3. Raymond, born January 13, 1899. 4. Elizabeth, born June 7, I902. Children of second wife: 5. Lucy Emeline, born May 12, 1910. 6. Joseph Glenn, May 13, 1912.


This is an ancient Polish fam- PISULA ily transplanted from the land of their birth to the United States in recent years comparatively. The grandfather, Martin Pisula, was born in Po- land, and worked a farm near the city of Posen. He was born in 1826, was educated


in the state schools and followed the occupa- tion of farming until 1885, when he came to Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, joining his son, who had preceded him a few years. He found employment about the coke ovens near Mount Pleasant, continuing until his death in 1902, aged seventy-six years. His wife, Mary Pisula, still survives him. They were members of the Catholic church. Children: John, of whom further; George, a hotelkeep- er of Everson, Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania; Philip, now a mine fire boss in West Virginia; Jacob, deceased. Several children died in infancy.


(II) John, son of Martin and Mary Pisula, was born near Posen, Poland, in 1859, died 1907. He attended the state schools, grew up on the farm, and on arriving at suitable age began learning the stonemason's trade. He married in 1879, and in 1880 emigrated to the United States, settling at Mount Pleas- ant, Pennsylvania. He found employment at the coke ovens, working as a coke drawer for a few years. He was economical, and in 1885 moved to Everson, where for several years he worked for the Scottdale Brewing Com- pany. In 1899 his capital was sufficiently large to purchase the Everson House in Everson, Pennsylvania, continuing propri- etor until his death in 1907. He was a Ro- man Catholic in religious faith. He married Josephine Jozviak, born in Poland, 1865, died in Everson, Pennsylvania, 1899, daughter of Martin and Catherine Jozviak, both born in the same Polish village, came to Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, about 1848, where he worked at coke burning until his death in 1910. His wife Catherine died 1912. Their children: 1. Josephine, wife of John Pisula. 2. Margaret, married Lawrence Kosciel- niak, now living at Alice Mines, Fay- ette county. 3. Mary, married John Rac- zunski, and lives at Morgan, Fayette county. 4. Andrew, now living in New Salem, Fay- ette county. Children of John and Josephine Pisula: Vincent Paul, of whom further; Jo- sephine, student at Eastman's Business Col- lege; Harry, Alexander, Leo and Anna, all attending school.


(III) Vincent Paul, eldest son of John and Josephine (Jozviak) Pisula, was born at Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, July 7, 1888. His parents moved to Everson, Fayette county, when he was quite young, and there


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his first ten school years were spent in the parochial school. In 1901 he entered St. Mary's Seminary at Detroit, Michigan, where he was graduated, class of 1905. He chose medicine as his profession, entered the Med- ico Chirurgical College, Philadelphia, whence he was graduated M. D., class of 1909. He served one year as interne at Uniontown Hospital, then, in July, 1910, located in Ever- son, where he is securing a good practice. He is highly respected among his profes- sional brethren. He is a member of the state and Fayette county medical societies. He is deeply immersed in professional work, study and investigation, constantly fitting himself for greater usefulness in the future. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, the Knights of Columbus, and in politics a Dem- ocrat.


He married, September 7, 1911, Anna Stackowiak, born at Everson, July 22, 1889, daughter of Andrew and Margaret Stack- owiak, both born in Poland and now living in Everson.


CROW This family is of either Dutch or German origin, the founder in Fayette county being Michael Crow, whom authorities differ in assigning a birthplace, giving both Maryland and Hol- land as the place of his nativity. The greater probability is that he was born in Maryland, as he came to Fayette county when a boy of eighteen years with a party from Maryland, settling in Springhill township. Later he married a daughter of one of his old Mary- land neighbors. She lived to be very old and was known for many years as "Granny Crow." Michael Crow built a grist mill on Georges creek, in Springhill township, which he operated until his death, aged nearly one hundred years. It was a burr mill, operated by water power. Children of Michael and "Granny Crow": 1. John, lived at Crow's Ferry, on the Monongahela river, and oper- ated the ferry there for many years; also owning a farm on which he lived 2. Isaac, of whom further. 3. Michael, a farmer of Springhill township; married Sallie Cover. 4. Alexander, lived at Geneva, Pennsylvania, and for two terms was associate judge of Fayette county; married Sarah Hustead. 5. Nathaniel, a miller, and with his brother Isaac, ran the Georges creek grist mill after


the death of Michael Crow; he married Eliza- beth Brown. 6. Jacob, lived near Crow's Mill and cultivated the old homestead farm; he served a term as treasurer of Fayette coun- ty; he married a Miss Gans. 7. Elizabeth, married A. Neal, and lived on a farm near Geneva, Pennsylvania. 8. Kate, married Alexander Dunham, a farmer of Springhill township. 9. Mary, died unmarried.


(II) Isaac, second son of Michael Crow, was born at Crow's Mill, German township, Fay- ette county, Pennsylvania, July 31, 1799, died February 3, 1889. In 1807 he took the inan- agement of the mill, his father then being an old man and getting feeble. He continued the operation of the mill for thirty-one years until 1838, when he purchased a farm of one hun- dred and seventy-six acres, one mile east of McClellandtown, in German township, Fay- ette county. There he lived the remainder of his days, retaining active control of its oper- ation until old age put an end to his activity. He was a strong Democrat, serving as school director and tax collector. He was always ac- tive in town affairs and a man of influence.


He married Nancy Kendall, born in Springhill township in 1800, died June 6, 1872. Her father died a young man and her mother married (second) a Mr. Schnatterley, by whom she had a son, Henry. Nancy Kendall was the second child of her parents and had an elder brother, Samuel, a Baptist minister of Greenlee, Pennsylvania. She had three younger sisters: Peggy, married Samuel Hall, a farmer of Springhill township; Charlotte, married Michael Franks, of Springhill town- ship; Malinda, married A. Schnatterley. Children of Isaac and Nancy (Kendall) Crow: I. Eliza Ann, born January 12, 1823; married Vincent Parshall, of German township, later nioved to Carroll county, Virginia. 2. Han- nah, born August 24, 1824. married Samuel Antrim, of German township; later moved to La Salle county, Illinois, where she died. 3. Eugene, born August 20, 1826, died unmar- ried, aged twenty-five vears. 4. Elizabeth, married Evans McWilliams, whom she sur- vives, a resident of German township. 5. Michael, born September 6, 1830, moved to Ohio, where he married (first) Sally Kendall, (second) in Virginia, Susan Bushhorn. 6. Margaret, born October 7. 1832, died, March II, 1833. 7. Mary Ann, born January 2, 1834, married Evans Finley, a farmer, and moved


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to Grand Ridge, La Salle county, Illinois. 8. Harvey, born June 16, 1836, died March II, 1837. 9. Josephus Melanchthon, born No- vember 9, 1839; married Sarah Parshall and moved to Grand Ridge, La Salle county, Illi- nois, where he died; she now resides in Union- town. 10. Josiah Brown, of whom further.


(III) Josiah Brown, youngest child of Isaac Crow, was born at Crow's Mill, German town- ship, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, October 10, 1841. He attended the public school of McClellandtown, and as the youngest son re- inained on the farm with his parents. After his father's death he purchased the homestead which he still owns. He continued actively engaged in the cultivation of his farm until 1905, when he moved to Uniontown, built a inodern home on Ben Lamond avenue, where lie now lives a retired life, after one of suc- cessful effort. He was a Democrat in earlier life, but is now a supporter of the Republican party. He has been a member of the Pres- byterian church, with his wife, for forty-five years.


He married, February 8, 1866, Elizabeth McCombs. born in German township, Fay- ette county, near New Salem, December 29, 1841, daughter of John McCombs, born March 1, 1800, in German township. died 1884, son of William and Margery (Moss) McCombs, of German township. The latter died and William McCombs married a second wife and moved to Ohio. John McCombs was reared by an uncle, Jacob Moss, and became a prominent well-to-do farmer of German


township. He attended the Presbyterian church, and his wife was a member of that church. He married Mary Jane Gallaher, born September 30, 1818, died September 9. 1861, daughter of George and Hannah (Baird) Gallaher, of Scotch-Irish descent. Children of John and Mary Jane McCombs: I. Eliza, married a Mr. Brown and lived in Luzerne township. 2. Lydia, married John Miller and moved to the state of Indiana. 3. Elizabeth (of previous mention). 4. William, a farmer of Redstone township, Fayette coun- tv. 5. Johnson Gallaher, moved to Illinois.


Children of Josiah B. and Elizabeth Crow: I. Mary Alice, born November 16, 1866, died Mav 17, 1867. 2. Eliza Ann, born August 4, 1868, married John Blanev and lives in Frank- lin township; children: William Harold and Ralph Crow. 3. William Evans, born March


10, 1870 (of whom further). 4. John M., born April 29, 1872, married Alice Riffle and lives on the home farm in German township; child: Caroline E. 5. Frank R., born June 1, 1874, married (first) Emily Parshall, (second) Flor- ence Brumbaugh; children: Martha, Frank and Geraldine. 6. Arthur E., born April 22, 1878 (of whom further). 7. Elizabeth, born February 11, 1880, married Charles Hubbard; child: Charles. 8. Josiah Benton, born March 30, 1884, married Maude Rush and lives in Uniontown.


(IV) William E., eldest son of Josiah B. and Elizabeth (McCombs) Crow, was born in German township, Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania, March 10, 1870. He began his studies in the district public school, later entering Pennsylvania State Normal school at Cali- fornia, whence he was graduated. He taught school two terms in German township, but re- signed that profession in favor of journalism and was reporter on Pittsburgh papers for three years, 1891 to 1894. He continued his journalistic career as local editor of the Uniontown Standard, and when that paper was merged with The News, became local editor of the consolidated News-Standard. He had previously studied law with Boyd & Umbel, of Uniontown, and in December, 1895, was admitted to the Fayette county bar. One month later he was appointed assistant district attorney of Fayette county under Ira E. Partridge, the then district attorney. In November, 1808, he was elected district attor- ney, serving most efficiently for three years. After retiring from office he resumed private practice, and has so continued until the pres- ent time, having a large practice in state and federal courts. He has given much time to the public service, and is an active, influential member of the Republican party. In 1895 he became secretary of the county central com- mittee, and in 1899 was elected chairman, serving three years as the directing head of the committee. In 1902 he was the candidate of his party for the state senate, but through an unfortunate rupture in the party was de- feated. In 1906 he was again the candidate for the senate and elected. He served with distinction, and in 1910 was again elected, and served as president pro tempore of the senate during the session of 1911. He has frequently represented his district at the county and state conventions of his party, and was chairman


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of the Republican state conventions of 1909 and 1910. He has served in every position with fidelity and distinction, and is one of the influential party leaders of western Pennsyl- vania. His practice of the law has been con- tinuous, and his position at the bar is an hon- ored one. His offices are in the First Na- tional Rank building; the family home at No. 127 North Gallatin avenue. He is a member of the Masonic order, being a thirty-second degree Mason of the Ancient Accepted Scot- tish Rite. He also belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His clubs are the Uniontown Country, the Duquesne, the Young Men's Tariff and the Athletic, the lat- ter three of Pittsburgh. In religious prefer- ence he is a Presbyterian.


He married, March 24, 1897. Adelaide, daughter of James P. Curry, of North, Union township. Children: William J., January 22, 1902; Evan Curry, April 19, 1908; W. E., Jr., September 25, 1911.


(IV) Arthur E., fifth child of Josiah B. Crow, was born in German township, Fayette township, Pennsylvania, near McClellands- town, April 22, 1878. He attended the public schools, and became later a student at Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois. He had, how- ever, decided upon a profession, and leaving Knox entered Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, 1899, from whence he was grad- uated M. D. in 1903. For one year he was resident physician at Jefferson Hospital, and in September, 1904, located at Uniontown, Pennsylvania, where he is now well estab- lished as a skillful physician and surgeon. He is a member of the Pennsylvania State and Fayette county medical societies; Laurel Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; the Or- dei of Moose; Phi Beta medical frater- nity and Alpha Omega Alpha. He is a Re- publican in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian church. He married, October 12, 1909, Edith M. Abraham, daughter of Enoch H. and Belle R. Abraham, old resi- dents of Fayette county. One child, Arthur E., Jr., born February 18, 1912.


ENGLISH This name is said to be an additional name, applied for distinction's sake in Great Britain in early Norman times, to such per- sons as were permitted to retain their lands. Of the American families of this name, the


longest settled in this country is probably the New Haven (Connecticut) family, which is still prominent in that city. The best known American of this name was William H. Eng- lish, of Indianapolis, Indiana, a Democratic nominee for vice-president of the United States.


(I) - English, the first member of this family about whom we have definite informa- tion, is said to have come from England to America, with three sons, one of these being Henry, of whom further.


(11) Henry, son of English, was born in England, and died in Alabama. In that state he lived, a farmer and slave owner. He was a Whig, and both he and his wife were Presbyterians. He married - Mc- Cracken. Children: I. Henry; he was a surveyor in Alabama, and went to South Am- erica, after which knowledge of him was lost. 2. Elbert ; a lawyer, and for twenty-two years chief justice of Arkansas. 3. Alfred. died in Jefferson county, Arkansas, in young man- hood; he was a farmer. 4. Noah D., of whom further. 5. Cyrus, died in Little Rock, Ar- kansas, at the age of nineteen. 6. William, a lawyer in Arkansas, died in Texas. 7-8. Died young.


(III) Noah D., son of Henry and (McCracken) English, was born in Oc- tober, 1821, and died in Jefferson county, Ar- kansas, in February, 1869. He was raised in Athens, Alabama, and settled in Jefferson county, Arkansas, where he owned 1120 acres of land and many slaves, and was a great cot- ton planter. For many years he was county judge, and he served in the legislature at the outbreak of the civil war. Although he was a Whig, he was strongly opposed to secession, and made many speeches against the attempt to secede. He married, about 1847, Anna Eliza, daugliter of James and Mary (Caldwell) Cox, who was born in Saline county, Ar- kansas, about 1829, and died in Jefferson county, Arkansas, in October, 1867. Her fa- ther was a native of Kentucky, born and mar- ried in Kentucky; thence he went to Benton, Saline county, Arkansas, where he died. At that place he was a merchant. His widow lived afterward with their son-in-law, Noah D). English, and died in Jefferson county. Ar- kansas, about 1846. He was a Whig and a slave owner, yet he is said to have been a Quaker. Mrs. Cox was a Presbyterian.


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Their daughter, Anna Eliza, was brought up in Saline county, their only child who lived to maturity; a brother, James, died in young boyhood. Mrs. English was an Episcopalian. Children of Noah D. and Anna Eliza (Cox) English: 1. Henry J., of whom further. 2. Mary Leona, born 1851, died about 1868. 3. A daughter, died young. 4. Elbert T., born 1854, died at Benton, young; married Mary Wright; he was a clerk. 5. William, died when three years old. 6. Elizabeth, died when one year old. 7. Stonewall Jackson, born 1863, died in Cincinnati, Ohio, about 1884. S. Blonde, born 1865; married Silas Hayes; they now live in Little Rock, where he is a printer.




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