USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Genealogical and personal history of Fayette county, Pennsylvania > Part 7
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(III) John Henry, youngest son of Henry and Mary (Barkley) Harman, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, August 7, 1874. He was six years of age when his parents left the farm and located in Mount Pleasant. where he attended the public school, graduating from the high school in 1893. After leaving school he began learning the carpenter's trade, working under the instruc- tions of his father. He became an expert workman and was placed in charge of his father's building operations. From 1897 to 1902 he was employed in the planing mill of
1902 he came to Uniontown, where he in- stalled the saw and planing mill equipment of the Carroll Lumber Company and was manager of that plant for eighteen months. In 1903 he was graduated after a seven years' course in architecture with the International Correspondence School of Scranton, Penn- sylvania, and in April, 1904, formed a part- nership with W. B. Jamison, opening an architect's office in Uniontown. The new firm won successful recognition and contin- ued as partners until 1910, when they dis- solved, Mr. Harmon continuing the business alone. He has risen high in his profession, and inaintains offices both in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and Morgantown, West Vir- gina. He has grown steadily in public favor, and with his practical knowledge of construc- tive building and his skill as a designer makes a most capable superintendent of buildings committed to his care and oversight. He has designed many churches, schools, business blocks and fine private residences in Union- town and elsewhere, always with the greatest satisfaction to the owners. He designed the clubhouse for the Uniontown Club, also the landscape gardens surrounding it. He oper- ates over a wide territory and everywhere may be found evidences of his taste and skill. He is a member of Great Bethel Baptist Church and of the Order of Heptasophs. In politics he is a Democrat.
He married, August 15, 1896, Clara, daugh- ter of Louis and Lydia (Koontz) Simpson, both residents of Uniontown. Louis Simp- son. now retired, was for twenty years yard foreman at the Mount Pleasant Coke Works for the H. C. Frick Coke Company. Mr. Harman built his present residence at No. 129 Evans street, Uniontown, in 1908. Children: Louis, born November 28, 1898; Arthur, Au- gust 15, 1900; Ralph, September 12, 1909.
The earliest ancestor of this fam-
EGNOT ily of whom record is found is Michael Egnot, a farmer and landowner in central Austria, Hungary. He remained in Hungary all his life and married Julia Children: 1. Michael (2), of whom further. 2. John, emigrated to the United States when twelve years of age; re- sides in Allegheny City, where he holds a po- sition as clerk in a mercantile house. 3. -
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Anna, came to the United States and settled at West Butler, Montana, where she married John Garber, a farmer. 4. George, died in infancy.
(II) Michael (2), son of Michael (I) and Julia Egnot, was born in the central part of Austria about 1864. He was educated in the common schools of his native province, and about 1882 emigrated to this country with his brother John, settling in Tyrone township. Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where he found employment at one of the blast furnaces for about eighteen months. When he was un- able to find any more employment there he moved to Braddock, Pennsylvania, where he held the same position for the following four years. He then worked in a pipe mill at Mc- Keesport for three years. He showed no dis- position to remain for any length of time in one particular situation, but after being em- ployed at the Nellie Mines for three years, he gave up his roving life and remained at Juniata for twenty years. Here he was en- gaged in drawing and leveling coke. About 1895 he purchased property at Duquesne, Pennsylvania, and in 1903 bought a house with about an acre and a half of land attached near Juniata. He has been steadily adding to this until now he owns thirty acres, all of which he cultivates. While the wisdom of living an unsettled life as he did might be doubted by some, it is nevertheless true that his prosperous condition justifies his wander- ing. His only relative in this country is a cousin John, a son of his father's brother. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the Roman Catholic church.
He married, at Mckeesport, about 1887, Mary, daughter of John and Susan Monsky ; children: 1. John, emigrated to the United States, but returned to Austria after five years, where he died. 2. Susan, married John Dubinsky: lives at Charleroi, Penn- sylvania. 3. Eli, married Mrs. Anna Mon- chan. 4. Peter, married Anna - - and lives at Juniata. 5. Mary (of previous men- tion.) Children of Michael (2) and Mary (Monsky) Egnot: I. Michael (3), married Anna Slukey, now deceased; had one daugh- ter who died at birth. He is employed at Jumata Coke Works. 2. John, yard foreman at Juniata Coke Works. 3. Mary. 4. An- drew. 5. Anna. 6. George. 7. Susan. 8. Margaret. 9. Paul.
The Colonial ancestors of the SACKETT Sackets and Sacketts of America came from England. The Sackets, Sacketts and Sackvilles of Eng- land trace descent from a common ancestor whose forbears were natives of Normandy. The name Sackett originated from one whose pursuit was the sacking of wool for ship- ment. In the records of early days Adam S. Sackere (Adam, the Sacker) is met with, as one busied not in the care of shearing sheep, but as one engaged in the purchase and ship- ment of wool. This man, whose father or grandfather came to England with William the Conqueror, is recognized by the Sacketts and Sackvilles of England as their common ancestor. Just when or under what circum- stances the last syllable was changed from "er" to "ett" and "ville" does not appear.
Few families have played a more important part in founding, developing and maintain- ing our republic than the descendants of Si- mon Sackett, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and John Sackett, of New Haven, Connecti- cut, brothers, who landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts, from England, with Roger Williams. No authentic records have yet been discovered which establish beyond ques- tion the name of the father of Simon and John Sackett, the accepted tradition being that they came from the Isle of Ely, Cam- bridgeshire, England. In the early records the name is spelled with the final double "t." (I) Simon Sackett sailed with his brother John December 1, 1630, on the ship "Lyon," from Bristol, England, arriving at Boston February 5, 1631. He settled at Newtown (three years later renamed Cambridge), where, with six other "principal gentlemen,' he erected a substantial dwelling. In the lay- ing out and founding of the town he was an important factor, but the exposure and priva- tions of his midwinter voyage on the "Lyon" had undermined his health, which continued to decline until October, 1635, when he died. On November 3 following his widow, Isabel Sackett, was granted authority by the court to administer on his estate. It was at this same session of court that the infamous de- cree banishing Roger Williams from the colony was entered. John, brother of Simon Sackett, followed Roger Williams to Rhode Island, and later was a prominent citizen of New Haven, Connecticut, and a founder of
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the Sackett family of Connecticut. Widow Isabel Sackett's name appears on the Cam- bridge records February, 1636. In June oi that year she joined Rev. Hooker's company with her two sons and traversed the wilder- ness to Hartford, Connecticut, where she be- came the second wife of William Bloomfield. Children of Simon and Isabel Sackett: Simon (2), born 1630, died July 9, 1659, married Sarah Bloomfield; John, of whom further.
(II) John, son of Simon Sackett, was born at Newtown (Cambridge), Massachusetts, 1632, and so far as is known was the first white child born there. He was taken to Hartford, Connecticut, by his mother, who remarried, and in 1653 John Sackett was a resident of Springfield, Massachusetts. Here he married, and a short time afterward sold his land and moved to a property he had pur- chased at Northampton, fifteen miles up the Connecticut river. Here he lived until 1665, when he again sold out and moved to a farm purchased near Westfield, Massachusetts, on what are now called Sackett's Meadows. There he built a house and barn, which were burned by the Indians October 27, 1675. He lost a large amount of other property at the same time and all his cattle, which were driven off. He rebuilt his house and barn and also erected a saw mill. In 1672 he was chosen selectman of Westfield, holding that office as late as 1693. His wife died in 1690 and he remarried, continuing to reside on his farm until his death. His will, dated 1718, was probated in 1719. He married, Novem- ber 23, 1659 (first), Abigail Hannum, born 1640, died October 9, 1690, daughter of Will- iam and Honor (Capen) Hannum. He mar- ried (second) Sarah, daughter of John Stiles and widow of John Stewart. Children of first wife: 1. John, born November 4, 1660, died December 20, 1745; married Deborah Pelley. 2. William, of whom further. 3. Abigail, born December 1, 1663, died July 3, 1683; married- John Noble. 4. Mary, died in childhood. 5. Hannah, born March 7, 1669, died August 30, 1740. 6. Mary, born June 8, 1672; married Benjamin Moseley. 7. Samuel, born Septem- ber 16, 1674; married Elizabeth Bessell. 8. Elizabeth, died young. 9. Abigail, born 1683, married David King.
(III) William, son of John Sackett, was born at Westfield, Massachusetts, April 20, 1662, and met his death by drowning in the
Connecticut river at Deerfield, March 28, 1700, while on his return from a wedding with a party of relatives and friends. He married (first) December 26, 1687, Sarah Crain, who died soon after; (second), 1689, Hannah, daughter of Isaac and Hannah (Church) Graves, and granddaughter of Thomas Graves, "the emigrant." Children of William and Hannah Sackett: Joseph, born May, 1690, died 1756; married Abigail -; Han- nah. born June, 1692; Rebecca, born Septem- ber 18, 1694, died September 15, 1872; mar- ried T. Dewey; Jonathan, of whom further.
(IV) Jonathan, son of William Sackett, was born at Westfield, Massachusetts, March 20, 1696, died September 1, 1773. He grew to manhood in Westfield, but after his mar- riage moved to a small farm in Hebron, Con- necticut, where he lived the remainder of his days. He married (second) January 28, 1725, Ann, daughter of Zebulon and Experience (Strong) Filer. His first wife, Abigail Ash- ley, died within a year after her marriage. Children of Jonathan and Ann Sackett: I. Ann, died in infancy. 2. Jonathan (2), born December 26, 1727, died 1777; married Han- nah Phelps. 3. Justus, born March 9, 1730, died March 16, 1815, married Lydia New- comb. 4. Reuben, of whom further. 5. Aaron, born August 5, 1735. 6. Anne, Au- gust 23, 1738. 7. Hannah, August 13, 1740. 8. Rebecca, April 14, 1743. The last four are all supposed to have died in childhood.
(V) Reuben, son of Jonathan Sackett, was born at Swansea, Massachusetts, June 17, 1732, died June 5, 1805. He resided with his father at Hebron, Connecticut, later in East Greenwich, that state. He married, De- cember 21, 1752, Mercy Finney, who died aged seventy-one years, daughter of John and Ann (Toogood) Finney, of East Green- wich, Connecticut. Children : I. Samuel, born April 5, 1754, of whom further. 2. Alex- ander, March 6, 1758, died May 7, 1829; was a revolutionary soldier ; married Patience
3. Aaron, December 26, 1760. 4. Cyrus, January 5, 1764. 5. Anne, April 10, 1766. 6. Lucinda, January 23, 1769. 7. Vio- let, July 18, 1771.
(VI) Dr. Samuel Sackett, son of Reuben Sackett, was born April 5, 1754, died Feb- ruary 13, 1833. In his diary, still preserved, he says he was born at East Greenwich, Kent, Litchfield county, Connecticut. On
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August 2, 1774, he was living in Spencer- town, Connecticut. He studied medicine, and during the revolutionary war served in the Continental army as surgeon. On February IO, 1777, he was married, and in 1780, in company with his brother Aaron, he came to Western Pennsylvania. In a letter still pre- served, dated Shistee Settlement, Youghio- gheny county, October 27, 1780, he writes to friends in Connecticut: "I do not think I can cross the mountains back home until spring. There are no doctors here between Pitts- burgh and Wheeling, and all the way is thickly settled. It is a healthy looking coun- try. I do not think I will get much to do until I get acquainted with the people. Tell Jonathan Hamilton I think this is the best place for land jobbing in the thirteen states, and in case of invasion by Indians it is sup- posed that fifteen hundred men would rid them out." In the family record, under date of September 15, 1781, he writes: "We set out from New England to come to Redstone township, and arrived at Beesontown, or Uniontown, on October 16, 1781. The fol- lowing children were born at Beesontown: Betsey, April 4, 1782; Lucinda, March 5, 1784; Alexander, January 10, 1786; Mary Anna, September 3. 1788. On November 10, 1788, we moved to Georges creek, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where the following children were born: Annie, November 9, 1790; Lydia, November 22, 1792; Samuel, September 21, 1795; Sarah, October 20, 1797, married Dr. Louis Marchant, of HuguenotY descent.". These entries are in the doctor's handwriting. His eldest son, Alexander, born in Pennsylvania, studied medicine with his father and served as surgeon in the war of 1812. He was attached to General Harrison's command and died of fever at Fort Meigs, aged twenty-seven years. His first born son Reuben (not named previously) learned the printer's trade in Pittsburgh in 1802 at the Gazette office. In 1803 he went to Alexan- dria, on the Red river, Louisiana, where he was thrown from his horse and killed. being then aged forty-nine years. His second son, David (not mentioned previously), learned the saddler's trade in Pittsburgh and later studied medicine with his father. He located in Centerville, Indiana, where he died, aged eighty-four years. His children: Guiliema, Elizabeth, James, Alexander, Emily, Mary,
Martha, David, Margaret and Agnes.
Dr. Sackett was probably the first physi- cian to practice in Fayette county. He was skillful, successful in his practice and held in highest esteem. He moved in 1788 from Uniontown to the fame yet known as the old Sackett homestead on Georges Creek, one mile south of Smithfield. He continued his practice and cultivated his farm until his death in 1833. Dr. Sackett's wife was Sarah Man- ning, to whom he was married in Sharon. Connecticut, by Rev. Smith, February 10, 1777. Children (not previously mentioned) : Reuben, born January 16, 1778, died 1823: David Filer, January 18, 1780, died 1864. married Martha Milliken. They were born at Kent, East Greenwich, Litchfield.
The Sacketts have in their possession many souvenirs of the good doctor, dating back into the eighteenth century. There are nineteen copies of the Pittsburgh Gasette to which paper he was a subscriber, and on which his son was a compositor, dates 1794, 1795 and 1796. There are fourteen letters over one hundred years old written him from friends in Connecticut. There are $700 in Continental money, the largest note being for $80, the smallest two shillings. Probably this money represents his pay as surgeon in the army. There is a doctor's account book printed in London in 1603, and an account book of Dr. Sackett's in which the oldest date is 1774.
(VII) Samuel (2), son of Dr. Samuel Sack- ett, was born in Georges township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on the home farm. Sep- tember 21, 1795, died April 27, 1860. He grew up on the home farm and was educated in the schools available at that early day. Being the youngest son, he remained with his parents, and after his father's death became the owner of the homestead. While yet a young man he left the farm and for a few years conducted a general store in Smith- field. Later he returned to the farm, where his after life was spent. He was a man of quiet tastes and habits, a great reader and lover of history. He was an ardent Whig, and strongly opposed to human slavery, be- ing classed among the then despised aboli- tionists. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church. He married Pris- cilla Caldwell, born July 24. 1811. died April. 1881, daughter of William and Rachel
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(Cross) Caldwell. Children: I. Alexander, born November, 1832, died February, 1900; he was a machinist and resided in Pitts- burgh; unmarried. 2. William, born July, 1834; he was a farmer and stock raiser of Georges township, now living retired in Smithfield, Pennsylvania; married Millie Everhart, who is also living; children: Hugh, who owns the farm settled by Samuel Sackett in 1788; Marchant and Carrie. 3. Lucinda, born March 14, 1836, died August, 1911; married, October, 1856, Laurence Crawford, who survives her; he was formerly a mer- chant of Greensboro, Greene county, Penn- sylvania. Children: Ortella and George Harry. 4. Elizabeth C., of whom further. 5. Louisa, born March 3, 1844; now resides in Smithfield, Pennsylvania.
(VIII) Elizabeth Caroline, fourth child of Samuel and Priscilla (Caldwell) Sackett, was born in Smithfield, Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania, May 9, 1839. Her early life was spent on the old homestead in Georges township, where she was educated at Georges Creek Academy. She married, March 3, 1859, Will- iam Nixon Brownfield (see Brownfield). After her husband's death Mrs. Brownfield moved to Uniontown, Pennsylvania, with her daughters, where she has resided since 1898, at No. 12 Nutt avenue. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a most vivacious, courteous, charming lady of "ye olden time."
BROWNFIELD The Brownfields of Fayette county, Penn- sylvania, are of Eng- lish, Scotch-Irish blood. They were original- ly natives of Scotland, where the father of Charles Brownfield, the emigrant, was born. They settled in Ireland and were members of the Scotch Presbyterian church. The Scotch family trace to George Brownfield, a native of England, who was a soldier under Crom- well, and after the revolution fled to Scotland.
(I) Charles Brownfield was born in Ire- land, where he grew to manhood. Prior to the American revolution he emigrated to America with other members of the family, settling near Winchester, Virginia, finally coming to Fayette county, Pennsylvania, be- ing persuaded to this latter step by Colonel Burd (his sister's husband), the builder of Burd's Fort and Burd's Road in Western
Pennsylvania, the fort being built at the mouth of Redstone creek. Charles Brown- field built his cabin on his own land, where stands Brownfield station on the Southwest Pennsylvania railroad; was several times dis- lodged and driven off by the Indians, but at last fixed his abode in peace and safety. The first title in fee simple given for land in Fay- ette county is that of Charles Brownfield to George Troutman, dated November 21, 1783. He married and had sons, Robert, of whom further, and Thomas (q. v.). Another account of the origin of the family was written by Joseph Brownfield, a son of Basil and great- grandson of Robert (1) Brownfield. He says: "The origin of the Brownsfields is: One Brownsfield, an Irishman, went to Scot- land and married a Scotch lady by name of Grier, and had a son, Robert, who came to America with a wife and family. He came to Fayette county and camped under a large white oak tree east of Smithfield, about one- half mile east of where grandfather and grandmother Robert and Mary Brownfield are buried. He was my great-grandfather, and had a son named Robert, who was my grandfather. This same Robert married Mary Bowell, whose mother's maiden name was Jane Lamont."
(II) Robert, son of Charles Brownfield, was the settler in Fayette county alluded to as camping and making his first home under the spreading branches of a white oak tree in Georges township, near Smithfield. He married and had a son Robert.
(III) Robert (2), son of Robert (1) Brown- field, was born in Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania, where he spent his life engaged in farming. He married Mary, daughter of Thomas and Ann Bowell, whose parents emi- grated from Wales to America at an early date. Among the children of Robert and Mary Brownfield was a son, Basil.
(IV) Basil, son of Robert (2) Brownfield, was born on the homestead farm near Sinith- field, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, March 2, 1796, died at his farm in South Union town- ship, August 21, 1881. He received a lim- ited education in the early subscription schools, but the absence of book learning was more than compensated for by a quick, active brain and an unusually retentive memory. He worked on the home farm until about twenty years of age, then began an unusually
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active and successful life. By industry and rare business tact he won his way to fortune until at the age of thirty-five years he was accounted wealthy in a local sense. At about the age of forty he became involved, through much endorsing and bail giving for others, in extensive litigation, which financially em- barrassed him and caused him to mortgage much of his real estate. Finally, however, he managed to lift his burdens. During this period of financial difficulty his business com- plications became numerous and vexatious, and a career of litigation in his history was inaugurated which won for him a remarkable distinction in the courts, and till the day of his death a career in which he was for the most part the victor by one means or an- other.' Litigation became a recreation to him, obviously a necessity to his happiness; strong willed, aggressive and of a strong in- tellect, he used these weapons to fight the battle of life, making, as all strong characters do, hosts of enemies, but also an army of friends, and many, neither enemies nor friends, who admired his pluck and diplomacy, however much they may have questioned the propriety of some of the weapons with which he fought. His great experience as a litigant made him familiar with the legal prin- ciples and knowledge of common law, and his quick mind was not slow to take the measure of the lawyers who frequented Fay- ette county court house. He held most of them in royal contempt; one of his expres- sions concerning them was that they were "not fit to feed stock." He had at one time owned thousands of acres of land on the mountains, and here and there made clear- ings, put up cabins and got tenants to occupy them. Almost invariably these "savages" of the mountains would quarrel with him and launch suits at law to avoid payment. These very people would stop at his fireside, turn their horses into his pasture and eat at his table on their trips to and from the court house. Some of his bitterest legal fights were with men who thus took advantage of his well-known hospitality and good nature. Yet he at times became so wrought up by the vileness of men and methods employed against him that he forgot his great virtues of benevolence, social virtue and rigid sense of justice, and that he stooped to the same questionable methods and used the weapons of William Barton. 8. William N., of whom
his enemies delighted in. But he was always better than his surroundings, and at his death the Genius of Liberty said four days after his death: "His neighbors bear testimony that he was a man of good impulses and was al- ways ready to forgive an injury when ap- proached in the right way. * *
He was a pleasant, agreeable gentleman, and his home was always open for the reception of his friends and neighbors."
He was a great reader, especially of the Bible, which he could quote at length, and at eighty-six years was as full of vigor and aggressiveness as many a man of forty. He was publicly known as "Black Hawk," a name which associated with his will and brawn bore terror to evil doers. He was a member of the Baptist church, and exceedingly liberal to the poor. He married, March 2, 1820, Sarah Collins, died October 1, 1870, aged sixty-eight years, daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Allen) Collins, of Union township. Joseph was a son of John Collins, who came from Ireland when a boy. Margaret Allen was a daughter of Major Isaac and Margaret Allen, of English descent. Isaac Allen was a major in command of American troops at the battle of Saratoga, an event he survived only a few years. Margaret Allen was a girl of twelve at the time of Burgoyne's surrender, and after the death of her father, Major Isaac Allen, she came with her mother and an old aunt, Whitesides (also mother's maiden name). to Uniontown. then Beesontown. Jo- seph and Margaret Allen Collins lived at what was then known as Gaddis Fort. Children of Basil Brownfield: 1. Joseph Collins, born No- vember 29. 1821, died May 2, 1905; married Martha Chipps ; he became a large land owner of Fort Worth, Texas. 2. Robert, born Oc- tober 28, 1822; married Phoebe, daughter of Isaac Brown, of Georges township. 3. Mar- garet C., born February 2, 1825; married Jehu, son of Colonel Benjamin Brownfield. 4. Mary, born April 19. 1827. died February 3. 1857: married Isaac Hutchinson, born at Trenton, New Jersey. 5. Eliza, born Novem- ber 4, 1829. dicd unmarried. July 20, 1853. 6. Sarah N., born March 9, 1832, died July 4, 1883; married William F. Core, and moved to Texas. 7. Ruth, born October 23. 1834, died January 10, 1884; married Joseph, son
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