USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Genealogical and personal history of Fayette county, Pennsylvania > Part 52
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There are several families COLLINS bearing this name in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, spring- ing from both Irish and English ancestors. The name has always been an honored one in the county; those bearing it have been im- portant factors in the development of Fayette industries and in the military history of the county. The branch herein traced springs from William Collins, born in England in 1762, who may have been of the same Eng- lish family as an earlier emigrant, Charles Collins, who came from Bristol, England, about 1734, settled in New Castle county, Delaware; married Sarah Hammond, and had a son, Isaac, founder of the Collins fam- ily of Burlington, New Jersey.
(I) William Collins was born in England in 1762, and when a young man came to Kent county, Maryland, where he passed the re- mainder of his life, engaged in farming. He married a Miss Gail, of the same county. They died leaving issue: William, John, George and James. From the latter springs the Collins branch herein recorded.
(II) James, youngest son of William Col- lins, the emigrant, was born October 17, 1777, in Kent county, Maryland, where he was educated, grew to manhood and married. In 1822 he came with his family to Fayette county, Pennsylvania, settling on a farm in Dunbar township, known as Fort Hill. He devoted his life to agriculture both in Mary- land and Pennsylvania. He was a man of steady, industrious habits, and bore a high character in his neighborhood. He served in the war of 1812, in the commissary depart- ment. He married, in Kent county, Mary- land, Sarah Dudley, daughter of Nicholas Dudley. Children: I. William (2), of whom further. 2. James, born April 20, 1810. 3. John D., born April 29, 1813; came to Fay- ette county with his parents; married Agnes, daughter of Christian Stoner; he was a mem- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, trustee, and a man noted for charity and benevolence. 4. Louisa, born May 19, 1816;
He married, June 21, 1904, Mary Emma, daughter of Isaac and Hettie (Hornbeck) Mills, both deceased, former residents of Fay- ette county, Pennsylvania. She is also a mem- ber of the Third Presbyterian Church. Chil-married William Patterson, who died March
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8, 1838. Nicholas Dudley, father of Sarah (Dudley) Collins, was born in England, came to America and settled in Maryland, where he died, leaving children: Benjamin, Nicho- las (2), Francis, Elizabeth, Mary; Sarah, mar- ried James Collins; Samuel, died in Fayette county, May 25, 1889, aged 87 years.
(III) William, son of James and Sarah (Dudley) Collins, was born in Kent county, Maryland, in 1807, died October 24, 1888. He came with his parents to Dunbar, Fay- ette county, in 1822, and from that time for- ward was a resident of that township until 1822, when he moved to Kansas. He was reared a farmer, educated in the public schools, and always followed agriculture as a business. He was highly respected in his town, was a faithful member of the Cumber- land Presbyterian church of East Liberty, and always found on the side of morality and clean living. He moved to Kansas in De- cember, 1882, where he lived near seven of his ten living children until his death six years later, aged over eighty years. He was carried to the grave by his six sons, that having been among his dying requests. He married (first), August 28, 1833, Eliza Cox, died July 22, 1851, daughter of Joseph Cox. He married, (second) October 1, 1851, Mary B. Stone, of Knox county, Ohio. Children by first marriage: 1. George W., born June 25, 1834, died 1837. 2. Joseph R., born April 9, 1836, died young. 3. Lutelus L., of whom further. 4. James C., August 20, 1840; served in the Union army three years of the civil war, in the Fifteenth Regiment Cavalry. 5. William H., born February 13, 1843; also a veteran of the civil war; enlisted as private, rose to the rank of captain, in the Seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry, served near- ly four years; was engaged in numerous bat- tles and was with the troops that captured Jefferson Davis, president of the Confed- eracy. 6. Susan E., born October 21, 1845; married William Parkhill, of Franklin town- ship. 7. Sarah, born April 24, 1848, died young. 8. Eliza Alice, born October 24, 1849; married Clark Shaw, of Connellsville, Pennsylvania. Children of second marriage: 9. Mary A., born July 20, 1852; married Hen- ry Ackley, of Kansas. IO. John E., born May 26, 1854. II. Alonzo D., May 18, 1857. 12. Ida M., July 20, 1858; married John Smith, of Kansas. 13. Margaret O., born
August 17, 1862, died young. 14. Charles E., born December 4, 1864.
(IV) Lutelus, son of William Collins and his first wife, Eliza Cox, was born in Dunbar township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, April 7, 1838. He was educated in the public schools and at Chesterville (Ohio) Seminary. He was a lad of thirteen when his mother died, and six years later, in 1857, he migrated to Kansas, where, although yet not a legal voter, he threw all his influence in favor of the Free Soil movement, and in 1858 worked for the election of the first Free Soil state legislature elected in that state. He caught the gold fever then raging through the west and crossed the southern plains to California, where he worked for a time in the gold mines of Nevada county. He left San Francisco December 5, 1862, on a Pacific mail steam- ship to the Isthmus, crossed and took pas- sage for New York on the steamer "Aerial." which on the passage was chased by the cele- brated Confederate cruiser "Alabama," but escaped. In August, 1864, he enlisted in the Sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Heavy Ar- tillery for the defense of Washington, was detailed as clerk at headquarters of De Bus- sey's division, and served in that capacity until mustered out at Washington, June 13, 1865. After the war he returned to Fayette county, where he engaged in farming and stock dealing, purchasing a farm from his father. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church of East Liberty, holding the office of elder several years. He is a member of William Kurtz Post, Grand Army ot the Republic, of Connellsville, and a Re- publican in politics. He married, November 5, 1863, Anna, daughter of Christian and Mary H. (Shallenberger) Stoner; she was born June 20, 1845. Children: 1. Mary E., born September 21, 1864, died May 18, 1882. 2. George A., born November 10, 1866; mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of William Leighty, of Ohio. 3. John W., born August 18, 1868; married Millie, daughter of John Lint, of Dickerson Run, Pennsylvania. 4. Blanche, April 20, 1871; married Ulysses S. Thomp- son, who was killed in a shaft at Trotter Coke Works, August 9, 1908. 5. Curte C., of whom further. 6. Ken H., born February 19, 1881; married Jennie Bunnell. 7. Florence, March 22, 1886; married John Leslie Love, of Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania.
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(V) Curte Christian, son of Lutelus Col- lins, was born in Dunbar township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, October 26, 1876. He was educated in the township schools and Vanderbilt high school. He grew to man- hood on the farm, and in January, 1898, es- tablished in the lumber business in Vander- bilt, Pennsylvania, and in 1900 became one of the proprietors of the mills, retail lumber yards and contracting business of the firm Ogilvie, McClure & Company, a thoroughly well established concern of Vanderbilt. Mr. Collins is a Prohibition Republican in poli- tics, served three years as school director of Dunbar township, and now a member of the town council of Vanderbilt. He is a member 01 James Cochran Lodge, No. 614, Free and Accepted Masons; Connellsville Chapter, No. 283, Royal Arch Masons; Uniontown Com- mandery, No. 49, Knights Templar; Union- town Lodge of Perfection, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, in which he has attained the fourteenth degree. He is also a member of Modern Woodmen of America and has been clerk of the Vanderbilt Camp since it was organized thirteen years ago. He is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church at Vanderbilt, in which he has taken an active part for more than fifteen years; is chorister and choir leader and superintendent of the Sunday school, in which capacity he has served about fifteen years.
He married, April 27, 1905, Estella Arison, born in Fayette county, January 30, 1886, daughter of Hickman and Althea (Evans) Arison. Hickman Arison was killed at Star Junction, being crushed between cars on coal tipple. His wife survives him, a resident of Vanderbilt, Pennsylvania. Their children: Ethel, Clayton, Estella, Joel E., Arleigh A. and Lela. Children of Curte C. and Estella Collins: Grace, born March 19, 1906; Clar- endon, June 27, 1907; Harold Dudley, June 6, 1908, died August 8, 1908; Ethel May, born May 7, 1909; Harry J., January 29, 1911.
This branch of the Collins COLLINS family descends from James Collins, born in Ireland, who came to the United States, settling in Somer- set county, Pennsylvania. The name of his wife has not been ascertained. He lived to a good old age, was prosperous and respected. One of his sons, William Collins, was asso-
ciate judge of Somerset county, and was noted for his great height, standing six feet five inches; another son, Moses, is of further men- tion.
(II) Moses, son of James Collins, the emi- grant, was born in Somerset county about 1820. He was a millwright by trade and superintendent of the woolen mills at New Haven, Pennsylvania, at one time; also su- perintendent of the Dunbar Furnace Com- pany at Dunbar, Pennsylvania, for many years. When the railway mail was estab- lished he was one of the first appointees on the Baltimore & Ohio road, running between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Cumberland, Maryland. He met his death in the wreck at Bidwell, Pennsylvania, October 22, 1871, be- ing caught in his car and literally burned to death. He married Phoebe Scritchfield. born in Fayette county, Springfield township, of German parentage. Moses Collins left issue.
(III) James S., son of Moses Collins, was born August 1, 1841, died January 29, 1890. His early education was obtained in the schools of Dunbar township and Connells- ville, Pennsylvania, his parents settling in the .atter town when he was about eight years of age. He enlisted at the beginning of the civil war in Company C, Eighty-fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served during the entire war, enlisting a second time, serving in the latter year as commissary sergeant. He was shot in the thumb and hit by flying pieces of shell, but never received serious injury. After the war he returned to Fayette county, learned the carpenter's trade, and for thirteen years was employed in the Calhoun planing mill at New Haven. He was an invalid during the last six years of his life, but bore his sufferings with Chris- tian fortitude. He was a member of the Bap- tist church and a faithful, consistent follower of the Master. He married Martha Ann Artis, born near Connellsville, February 28, 1849, daughter of Isaac and Christiana (Mur- phy) Artis, both born in Springfield town- ship, Fayette county. Isaac Artis was a steel mill worker; Christina Murphy was daughter of John Murphy, of Springfield township; she died in 1881, her husband, Isaac Artis, pre- ceding her to the grave many years. She married (second) John Basenger. Martha Ann Artis made her home from early child-
FAYETTE COUNTY
hood with Joseph and Mary Kimmel, who reared hier as their own. Children of James S. and Martha. Ann (Artis) Collins: Alvin E. and Clarence N., of whom see forward; Fred and Frank, died in infancy; Moses Lawrence, assistant foreman in Kelly and Jones brass manufacturing works at Greensburg, Penn- sylvania; Elizabeth, married Fred Yeskey, of Greensburg; Mary, died in infancy; Charles C., of whom further. The mother of these children survives her husband, and resides with her son, Clarence N. Collins, in South Connellsville.
(IV) Alvin E., eldest son of James S. and Martha Ann (Artis) Collins, was born in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, February 10, 1868. He was educated in the public schools of New Haven (Connellsville, West Side), where the family then resided, but at the age of twelve left school and began working in the grocery store of Woodfield Brothers; at the age of thirteen he began working in the planing mill of Calhoun & Company, run- ning mostly a molding machine. At the age of sixteen years he was promoted foreman and manager of the main floor of the mill; at the age of eighteen he began learning the general carpenter's trade, continuing four years more with Calhoun & Company; at the age of twenty-one years he married, and the next year worked for eight months in the Baltimore & Ohio carpenter shops, following with six months with the Connellsville Plan- ing Mill Company, two years with the H. C. Frick Coke Company as carpenter at their Davidson Works, three years with the City Electric Light Plant as assistant engineer, two years at the Everson Car Shops for the H. C. Frick Coke Company, one and a half years at their Davidson shops, and two years for the Home Building Society, Campbell and Wilson, proprietors. In 1902 he entered the employ of the Connellsville Construction Company, with which he still continues. He is independent in politics, voting for the best candidates, regardless of party. In 1881 he became a communicant of the Baptist church, his wife joining in 1878.
He married, March 21, 1889, Margaret Bell Hill, born in Connellsville, August 23, 1869, daughter of George W. and Rosanna (Martin) Hill. Her father is a locomotive engineer, liv- ing in Scottdale, Pennsylvania; he was born in Ohio, August 12, 1840, came to Connells-
ville, Pennsylvania, in 1869; was pit boss at the Davidson coal mine north of the city, finally becoming a locomotive engineer on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. Rosanna Miller was born in Ohio, May, 1846, and married there. Children of George W. Hill: Mary Ellen, deceased: Mary Ellen, married James A. Raymer; Ahce Jane, resides in Connells- ville; Margaret Beli (of previous mention); Charles Henry, a traveling salesman residing at Point Pleasant, West Virginia, married Harriet Reynolds; William Ellis, died in in- fancy; Anna Malinda, married J. E. Yenney, and lives in Salt Lake City, Utah; Olive Myrtle, married Harry Osterwise, a black- snuth of Scottdale, Pennsylvania; Ida May, now living in Connellsville; Edna Pearl, mar- ried Lloyd S. Hoyle, a railroad man of Union- town, Pennsylvania; Robert Roy, married Leona Province, and lives in Scottdale. Chil- dren of Alvin E. and Margaret B. (Hill) Col- lins: Wilbur E., born December 20, 1889; Charles E., February 10, 1892; George Mor- gan. August 21, 1894, died November, 1903; Annabel, born December 19, 1896; Agnes, January 29, 1899; Laurence, July 7, 1901, died November, 1903; Francis Valentine, born February 14, 1905; Harold, May 31, 1908; William, September 13, 1910.
(IV) Clarence N., second son of James S. and Martha Ann (Artis) Collins, was born in New Haven, Pennsylvania (Connellsville, West Side), August 16, 1869. He attended the public schools of New Haven and Con- nelisville, working at all kinds of boy's work outside of school hours, and at the age of fifteen years becoming clerk in a grocery store. He continued clerking for two years, then began learning the carpenter's trade. He has continued without interruption working at his trade until the present time (1912), sometimes as journeyman, and again taking building contracts himself. In December, 1900, he moved to South Connellsville, where he erected his present home in IgoI. He is a Republican.
He married. November 19, 1891, Amelia Guard, born at Parkersburg, West Virginia. daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Hicks) Guard. Thomas Guard was born in West Vir- ginia, of German descent, died November 16, 1889, aged fifty-six years; he was tailor by trade, and during the civil war served in the Confederate army. Margaret Hicks was
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reared in Charlestown, West Virginia; she was burned to death in 1901. Children of Clarence N. Collins : Mary Elsie, born Sep- tember 5, 1892, died October 5, 1898; Mar- garet, born March 29, 1895; Ina, January 28, 1898; Clarence (2), March 22, 1900; Al- bert, February 3, 1902.
(IV) Charles C., youngest son of James S. and Martha Ann (Artis) Collins, was born in New Haven, Pennsylvania (now Connells- ville, West Side), September 7, 1875. He was educated in the public school, and all during his school years worked after and before school hours in a grocery store, delivered papers and took care of Dr. S. S. Stahl's horses. He was such an earnest, energetic worker that he always was in demand. After leaving school he became clerk in Edward Turner's hardware store on Brimstone Cor- ner; then, until December 4, 1898, was em- ployed in the tinplate mill. He then spent a year in Greensburg, learning iron molding, later returning to Connellsville, where he was employed for a time in the J. R. Balsley lumber yard. He was again employed in the tinplate mills (doubling) until the mills shut down, then resumed work at the carpenter trade, begun with Mr. Balsley. In 1911 he became a stockholder in the South Connells- ville Lumber Company, and is now employed at carpentering in that company. He is a Republican in politics, and has served as school director.
He married, March 14, 1904, Julia Adams, born in Bullskin township, Fayette county, daughter of William Adams, born in Bullskin, May 4, 1827, son of William Adams, an immi- grant from Ireland. William Adams was a farmer and a veteran of the civil war, serving four years in Company D, Eighty-fifth Regi- ment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, being twice wounded in battle. He married Sarah Easter, born in Favette county, May 25, 1827. Children of William and Sarah (Easter) Adams: Mary Jane, deceased, married Samuel Hughy; Harriet, married Simon Hughy and lives at Breakneck (Connellsville suburb); Sarah Elizabeth, married Weldon Baker; John, lives in Bullskin township; William Cal- vin, died in infancy; Julia (of previous men- tion); Laura Bell; married Henry Richter, of Bullskin township; Maria, married George Stillwagon, of Connellsville.
Mrs. Charles C. Collins was Julia Adams,
and married (first) Samuel Hawk and had children: 1. William L. Hawk, born August 27. 1880, died December 15, 1906; he was killed at the Southampton Mills by a Balti- more & Ohio railroad train; he was a brake- man; he married Elizabeth Hyde; children: Viola, born January 18, 1903; Edith Chris- tiana, born October 14, 1905. 2. Lida. 3. Daisy. 4. Christiana. 5. Georgia. 6. Emma Pearl. 7. Sarah. 8. Harry W.
KEARNS The paternal grandfather of Thomas Kearns, of Trotter, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, was William Kearns, born in Ireland, married Ellen Welsh, and about 1828 came to the United States, leaving his wife and six chil- dren in Ireland. He remained in this country twelve years, prospered and returned to Ire- land with the intention of bringing his family baek with him to the United States. His in- tentions were defeated by death, he falling a vietim to the plague then raging in Ireland. His wife also died in Ireland. Children: Rich- ard, came to the United States and settled in the south; William, died in New York City; Thomas, of whom further; Kate, never mar- ried, died in the United States; Ellen, died in ireland; Mary, now living in St. Louis, Mis- souri.
(II) Thomas, son of William and Ellen (Welsh) Kearns, was born in Ireland about 1814, died October 9, 1889. He was a miller, and followed that occupation in Ireland until his coming to the United States in 1885, then an old man. He married Mary O'Bryan and 1 eared a family of eleven children. After they had grown up they all drifted away from the old home in Ireland and came to the United States. In 1884 the mother followed them, and in 1885 Thomas, the father, the last to leave the old sod, closed up his business af- fairs and joined the family in this country, leaving only a son, Matthew, in Ireland. He lived a quiet retired life until his death four years later. His wife, Mary, born about 1814, stiil survives him, now very near the century mark in years. Her mother, Joanna (Powers) O'Bryan, died in Ireland in her ninety-seventh year. Her father, Pierce O'Bryan, was a farmer, lived and died in Ireland. Children of Thomas and Mary (O'Bryan) Kearns: I. Wil- liam, died in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania. 2. Richard, now living at Mammoth,
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Pennsylvania. 3. Thomas (2), of whom fur- ther. 4. Martin, now living at Mammoth, Pennsylvania. 5. Ellen, married Patrick Rowan. 6. Mary, married Patrick Powers. 7. Michael, now employed at Jamison Coke Works. 8. Morris, deceased. 9. Matthew, re- inains in Ireland at the old homestead. IO. Kate, married Michael O'Toole. 11. Died un- married.
(III) Thomas (2), third son of Thomas (1) Kearns, was born in County Waterford, Ire- land, July 8, 1858. He was educated in the schools of his native parish, grew to manhood, and married in England. In 1884, in com- pany with two of his brothers, he came to the United States, landing in New York City April 26. He came to Connellsville soon after and entered the employ of the H. C. Frick Coke Company, continuing with that concern twenty-two years. In May, 1905, he bought a small farm of thirty-two acres, remodeled the house standing thereon, and has since re- sided there. His intention is to spend his remaining years in gardening and poultry raising. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served as road supervisor. In religious faith he is a Roman Catholic, the family faith for many generations. He is a member also of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
He married, January 6, 1883, in England, Katherine Hennessy, born at Marley Hall, County Dulane, England, of Irish pa- rents, Thonias and Mary (Morrison) Hen- nessy, and granddaughter of William and Katherine Hennessy, the latter both dying in Ireland. Of their eight children, Thomas Hennessy was the only one to come to the United States; he settled in Fayette county, dying at Leisenring No. I. Mary Morrison, his wife, was a daughter of John and Kath- erine (Powers) Morrison, who also lived and died in Ireland. After the death of his first wife, Mary Morrison, Thomas Hennessy mar- ried (second) Elizabeth Edgar, and came to the United States, where both died. No issue by this marriage. Children by his first mar- riage: William, now living in Leisenring, Pennsylvania; John. deceased; Katherine, wife of Thomas (2) Kearns; Ann, married Philip Meegan.
Children of Thomas (2) and Katherine Kearns: 1. William, born November 21, 1883; married Lena Moore; one child, Catherine; they reside in Washington county. 2. Martin,
born October 11, 1885. 3. Thomas, born July 27, 1887; married Dora Skyles ; resides at Con- nellsville, Pennsylvania. 4. Matthew, born September 19, 1889. 5. Richard, twin of Mat- thew, both died in infancy. 6. Mary, born September 27, 1890, died aged thirteen months. 7. Michael, twin of Mary, died in in- fancy. 8. Mary, born October 27, 1891, died in infancy. 9. Patrick, born August 1, 1893, died in infancy. 10. Michael Richard, twin of Patrick, died in infancy. II. John, born Au- gust 24, 1894. 12. Helen, born February 4, 1897. 13. Matthew, born August 3, 1900, died aged two years four months. 14. Kath- erinc, born October 9, 1903, burned to death in fire from open grate. 15. Michael, born November 12, 1904. 16. Mary, born May I, 1906.
CONWELL The names Cornwell, Corn- wall and Conwell are of fre- quent occurrence in the early records of Sussex county, Delaware, as variant forms of the same family name. Fran- cis Conwell was sheriff of the county from 1686, and was made justice of the peace April 9, in that year he died before November 12, 1691. The name is not confined to one of the hundreds of Sussex county, but there were many of this name in Broadkiln hundred in 1785, and the name is found there to or near the present day.
There are probably at least four or five fam- ilies of the name in America. A variety of spelling is found in England also; the name is probably of local origin, from Cornwall, Eng- land. However, one of these American fam- ilies is of Dutch origin, the name in this case having been originally Cornelise, and the American center of this family being at Flat- bush, Kings county, Long Island. If Francis Conwell was not himself an immigrant from England, or at least from Great Britain and Ireland, it seems probable that the present family is an offshoot of this Dutch stock.
(I) Jehu Conwell, the first member of this family about whom we have definite informa- tion, was born in Sussex county, Delaware, in 1749, and died in January, 1834. With his brother William he settled in Luzerne town- ship, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in June, 1767. They found James Bredin living in a iog cabin on a tomahawk claim, he having come in the preceding April. For a small
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consideration they purchased of him his claim, seven hundred acres in extent, with the in- provements which he had made. At first the Indians were friendly, but the revolution was drawing near, and there were after a time signs of hostilities, leading to the temporary withdrawal of the Conwells from the country. In August, 1772, Jehu Conwell returned to his old lionie in Delaware; in October he mar- ried, and in November he and his bride set forth on horseback for his Luzerne clearing. They lived in comparative quiet until 1774, when Indian aggressions on the colonial fron- tiers began in earnest. It was largely due to the Conwell brothers that in 1774 a block house was hastily constructed on the Coieman plantation on the west side of Dunlap's creek, about half a mile below Merrittstown. As- sisted and directed by them, the pioneers con- pleted this fort in quick time, and it was oc- cupied in May. It was used by them for safety, but there is no evidence that it was ever attacked nor that the people of this re- gion were ever seriously injured by the In- dians. Probably the great battle of Point Pleasant, in northwestern Virginia, insured the safety of the settlements in Fayette county and elsewhere along the frontiers of white civilization. For a time, however, the Fayette county settlers were in great terror of Indian attacks. In 1776 the brothers Conwell en- tered the continental army, and they fought through the revolutionary war. Jehu Con- well, on account of the distance to which he had had to go in order to have his grain ground, erected a mill of his own, the first in Luzerne township, perhaps the first in the county. It was used simply for pounding corn; a flutter wheel was the motive power for a great sweep, to which the pounder was attached; the mortar was a rock in which an excavation was rudely made. He is said to have constructed this primitive mill the year after his coming into the township. He was a generous man, liberal in his views, conscien- tious, respected by his neighbors and those who had his acquaintance. His home was headquarters for immigrants westward bound from Delaware. He married, in Delaware, in October, 1772, Elizabeth, daughter of Yates Stokely. Children: Sheppard; Yates Stokely, of whom further; John; George; - , mar- ried William Ewing; -, married Andrew Porter; - , married John Arnold.
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