USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Genealogical and personal history of Fayette county, Pennsylvania > Part 8
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further. 9. Isaac Allen, born April 27, 1839, died December 29, 1897; a veteran of the civil war; married Sarah J. Burchfield, of Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania. 10. Lydia Car- oline, born November 15, 1842; married Thomas McClelland. II. Harriet Helen, born April 30, 1845, died March 22, 1879, unmar- ried.
(V) William Nixon, son of Basil Brown- field, was born March 26, 1836, died January II, 1889. He was educated in the public schools and grew to manhood on the home farm. After his marriage he purchased a farm of one hundred and thirty acres (to which he afterward added) one mile south of Uniontown, on the Morgantown road in South Union township. He enlisted, August 28, 1862, in Company F (Captain Springer's) Fourteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- teer Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He was wounded at the battle of White Sulphur Springs, South Carolina, but being only a flesh wound he soon recovered, al- though his health was seriously impaired by his army life and he was never again physi- cally strong. After the close of the war and the grand review in Washington, he was hon- orably discharged and returned to his home. He resumed the cultivation of his farm, but his energy and habits of industry cansed him to frequently overwork himself and for many years prior to his death, Jannary II, 1889, he was an invalid.
He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Baptist church. He married, March 3, 1859, Elizabeth Caroline Sackett, who survives him. (See Sackett-Brownfield VII.) Children: 1. Sarah, residing at home. 2. Jane, residing at home. 3. Mary E., mar- ried Levi Brown, a retired farmer of Union- town. 4. Dona B., died in 1880, aged four- teen years. 5. Basil B., a sketch of whom follows. 6. Harriet Helen, married Harry Gans, a civil engineer of Uniontown. 7. Lu- cinda C., married John Jeffries and resides in Uniontown. 8. Joan, married John Grant Fullman, an electrical engineer and contractor of Pittsburgh. 9. Margaret C., residing at home. 10. Edward, died in infancy. II. Sam- uel Sackett, a civil engineer and superintend- ent of the Fort Palmer Coal Company at Ligonier, Pennsylvania: he married Lou Blank, of Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania; one child, William N.
(VI) Basil B., son of William Nixon and Elizabethi Caroline (Sackett) Brownfield, was born in South Union township, Fayette coun- ty, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1870. He at- tended the Hatfield district school in South Union, obtaining a limited education only. He grew up on the home farm, and when but a young boy began learning the carpen- ter's trade, becoming an expert workman. He was but fourteen years of age when he ob- tained his first contract, which was the erec- tion of a large double house for William O'Connell, who believed in the boy and in his mechanical ability. The contract was faith- fully performed, and this act of Mr. O'Con- Hell's so won the boy's heart that they were always the closest of friends until Mr. O'Con- nell's death. This contract was the founda- tion of his fortune, and from that start he has, as a boy of fourteen, gone forward to a most successful career as a contractor and builder. He has been continuously engaged as a con- tractor, save two years, when he was engaged as building carpenter by the H. C. Frick Coke Company. In 1895 he moved to Uniontown, where he had erected a handsome home at No. 318 South Morgantown street. He has inherited a goodly portion of the shrewdness and business capacity of his grandsire Basil, and has acquired a competency through his own industry and ability. He has dealt large- ly in unimproved real estate, building suitable honses thereon and selling them to desirable owners. He is a Republican in politics, but never sought or desired office. He served for nine years in the Tenth Regiment, Pennsyl- vania National Guard, and was called out with his regiment at the great Homestead strike. Both Mr. Brownfield and wife are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Uniontown.
Mr. Brownfield has devoted a great deal of time to travel in the United States and has a valuable collection of curios collected by him; also a fine and valuable collection of coins and antiques, and is well considered as an authority on the latter. He is a man of warm, sympathetic nature, and has been a benefactor to many of small means in various instances, aiding them to the acquisition of a honie.
He married. April 16, 1895, Ada C. Clark, born in South Union township, Fayette conn-
Isaac, H.Brownfield
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ty, daughter of John and Hannah (Farr) Clark. John Clark is a farmer of South Union township and a veteran of the civil war. Mrs. Brownfield was educated in the public schools and Madison Academy, of Uniontown, Penn- syivania, then taught school in South Union township for several years before her mar- riage. Children of Basil B. Brownfield: Ruth, born January 16, 1896, died April 7, 1900; William, born February 27, 1902, died Sep- tember 1, 1903.
(II) Thomas Brownfield, son of Charles Brownfield (q. v.), was born near Winchester, Virginia, and after his marriage came in 1805 to Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He at first rented and afterward bought the White Swon Tavern in Uniontown, of which he was pro- prietor until his death in 1829. The land on which he settled was bought from the sons of William Penn, and part of it is yet owned by his great-grandson, Isaac H. Brownfield. He married Miss McCoy, and had sons Ewing, John, Isaac and others.
(III) Isaac, youngest son of Thomas Brownfield, was born at the Brownfield home- stcad, in South Union township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1782, died at the homestead April 25, 1859. He was a farmer all his active years. By a first mar- riage he had a daughter. He married (scc- ond) a widow, Mrs. Jane (Reynolds) Gaddis, born December 12. 1780, died August 15, 1862. Children: 1. Isaac (2), of whom fur- thier.' 2. Jane, born July 9, 1821; married Thornton Fisher, both deceased. 3. William, born January 2, 1825, died unmarried, aged twenty-four years.
(IV) Isaac (2), son of Isaac (r) Brownfield, was born at the homestead in South Union township, Fayette county, May 10, 1818, died there September 11, 1890. He was educated not after the manner of the farmer boy of that early period, but in a private school. He grew up a farmer and inherited the home farm, "which was always his home. He was a Whig, later a Republican, and an attendant of both the Baptist and Presbyterian churches, his wife being a member of the latter. He mar- ried Elizabeth Beatty, born in Virginia, died at the home farni, September 19, 1888, daugh- ter of William and Mary Tarr Beatty. Wil- liam Beatty was a carpenter, living in Vir- ginia, later came to Fayette county, where he died at Hopwood, while yet a young man; his
children: Mary Ann, married Jesse Sackett; Elizabeth, of previous mention; Harriet, mar- ried Mr. Crayton; Hannah, married Aaron Hutchinson; Lucinda, married Alfred Gorley ; Nancy, married Andrew Lenox; Lydia, mar- ried James Frazier; William, died in child- hood. Children of Isaac (2) and Elizabeth (Beatty) Brownfield: I. Jane, died unmar- ried. 2. Mary Ann, died young. 3. Malinda, resides at New Florence, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. 4. William, now a farmer of South Union township; married Mary Derrick. 5. Elizabeth, resides in South Union township. 6. Isaac, died young. 7. Isaac H., of whom further. 8. Anna, married Newton Crossland, now a coal dealer of New Florence, Pennsylvania. 9. Harry L., died aged three years.
(V) Isaac Hopwood, son of Isaac (2) Brownfield, was born at the old Brownfield homestead, in South Union township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1861. He was educated in the public schools, later en- tering Mount Union College, Alliance, Ohio, whence he was graduated, class of 1887. After leaving college he taught school one year in Olio and two years in South Union township, then returned to his boyhood occupation, farming. He soon, however, became actively engaged in coal operations and coal land dealing. He was for fifteen years sole owner and manager of the Brownfield Coal & Coke Company; part owner of the Lafayette Coke Company, which he sold to the Atlas Coke Company, and also owned the River View Coal & Coke Company, sold to the Southern Consolidated. He is president of the Cameron Coal & Coke Company, which corporation is not at present active. He has retained the management of his farm through all these years of active business life, and resides in a beautiful modern home erected by himself. He is a man of wealth and influence, highly esteemed by all. He is a Republican in pol- itics, served as school director seven years, and now serves in the same office after re- election for a six years' term. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic order and of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. He married, May 8, 1886, Marv A. McClean, born in Mount Union, Ohio (now sixth ward of the city of Alliance). daughter of Edwin and Maria (Mil- ler) McClean. Edwin McClean was a former who late in life moved to Alliance, where he
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died aged seventy years. Maria Miller was born near Benton, Ohio, and died aged sev- enty years. Their children: Jesse, married Rhoda Hopkins, both deceased; John, a prac- ticing D.D. S. of Washington, D. C .; Samuel, a blacksmith of Alliance, Ohio; Hugh, mar- ried Etta Heiserman, and resides in Alliance; Mary A., of previous mention; Frank, a fruit farmer of Cuba; married Clara Oyster.
Children of Isaac H. and Mary A. (Mc- Clean) Brownfield: 1. Frank W. born October 18, 1886; now a farmer ; married (first) Maude Fell; child: Donald, died in infancy; married (second) Mary Kramer; child: Gladys, died in infancy. 2. William Watson, born June 11, 1888; graduate of Ohio State University, class of 1912. 3. Samuel M., born November 25, 1889; graduate 1912, New York School of Electricity. 4. John A., born September 26, 1891, died in infancy. 5. Isaac Hopwood (2), born May 21, 1893. 6. Marie, born January 10, 1895. 7. Charles E., born March 30, 1897. 8. Paul, born February 28, 1900, died in in- fancy. 9. Martha, twin of Paul. 10. Mary Ruth, born April 8, 1902, died in infancy. II. Arthur Mckinley, born July 22, 1905. 12. Mary Frances, born April 5, 1911.
(IV) Isaac Allen Brown- BROWNFIELD field, ninth child of Basil Brownfield (q. v.) and Sarah B. ( Collins) Brownfield, was born April 27, 1839, died December 29, 1897. He grew to manhood on the old Brownfield farm, and re- ceived his education in the public schools. He was barely of age when the war between the states broke out and called the patriots of the north to the field of battle. He enlisted in Company A. First Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry, fought three years, when he was pro- moted to the rank of lieutenant. He was then ordered to Tennessee, where he was in charge of wagon transportation. He served until the close of the war, receiving honorable dis- charge. He fought at Antietam and in many other battles and skirmishes, proving a brave soldier and an efficient officer. After the war he returned to his farm of two hundred and thirty-six acres in South Union township, continuing there until his death. He was a Republican in politics, served twelve years as school director, and was a member of the Baptist church, his wife a Presbyterian. He
married Sarah B., daughter of Levi Berch- field, a blacksmith and farmer of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, who died aged seventy years. He married Eliza Lusk. Their chil- dren: Thomas; Phineas; Sarah B., wife of Isaac Allen Brownfield and the only living member of the family of children; Mary, Kate and Edward. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Brownfield: 1. Levi (better known as Lee), of whom further. 2. Basil Allen, of whom further. 3. Frederick, died aged twelce years. 4. Wade, died in infancy. Mrs. Sarah B. (Berchfield) Brownfield, aged sixty-three years, resides at her old home, the Brownfield homestead in South Union township.
(V) Levi (Lee), eldest son of Isaac Allen and Sarah B. (Berchfield) Brownfield, was born at the home farm in South Union town- ship. Fayette county, Pennsylvania, July 1, 1870, where he has lived all his life. He was educated in the public schools, and has al- ways been an agriculturist. He is a success- ful farmer, owning one hundred and two acres. He is an upright, highly respected citizen of the community in which he is well known as "Lee" Brownfield. He is a Republican in politics, but is strictly a private citizen, never having sought or held public office. He served four years in the Pennsylvania Na- tional Guard. He married Jessie Dolores Forsythe, born at Morris Cross Roads, Springhill township, Fayette county, Penn- sylvania, April 7, 1887, daughter of John Ells- worth and Eliza M (White) Forsythe. Eliza M. White was born in Kingwood, West Vir- ginia, June 29. 1863, died August 27, 1910. Children: 1. Jessie D., wife of Levi Brown- fieid. 2. Luna, born April 10, 1889. 3. Alice, September 15, 1890. 4. Florence, June 6, 1892, died March 19, 1894. 5. May, January 6. 1894. 6. Edna, September 15, 1896. 7. John, April 24, 1902. These children are all residing in Uniontown except Mrs. Brown- field. Child of Levi and Jessie D. Brown- field: Joseph, born August 27, 1910.
(V) Basil Allen, second son of Isaac Allen and Sarah B. (Berchfield) Brownfield, was born in South Union township, Fayette coun- ty, Pennsylvania, July 26, 1872. He was edu- cated in the public schools, and after finishing his school years cultivated the home farm for twenty years. He then contracted a severe attack of "gold fever," which was not cured
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until after a year spent in Alaska in search of the elusive yellow metal. He returned home minus about four thousand dollars, but with an experience well worth the cost, and well contented to follow the less romantic, but much more profitable calling of a Fayette county farmer. He returned to the home farm, has dealt extensively in timber land and conducting a general contracting business. He owns a good farm of one hundred acres, which he profitably cultivates in connection with his other activities. He is a Republican in politics, but has never sought public office. He served in the Pennsylvania National Guard for ten years; mustered out as first sergeant.
He married, May 31, 1901, Anna Myrtle Endsley, born in Luzerne township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, August 19, 1880, daughter of John W. Endsley, now a farmer and threshing machine operator of Georges township, aged fifty-eight years. He married Mary Jane Balsinger, born in Luzerne town- ship, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, died aged fifty-six years, being killed by a horse. Their children: 1. Laura, married Charles Barbour, now a clerk in Toledo, Ohio. 2., James, now a farmer of North Union township, Fayette county ; married Minnie Daniels. 3. Margery, deceased; married Ewing Walters, now living in Masontown, Pennsylvania. 4. Anna M., wife of Basil Allen Brownfield. 5. Frank, now in charge of the air shaft at Redstone Mines; married Bessie Ryan, and lives in Uniontown. 6. Noah, foreman in a laundry at Uniontown, unmarried. 7. Russell, a car- penter of Georges township. 8. Lola, married Thomas Collier, an engineer; lives in Georges township. Child of Basil A. Brownfield : Sarah Jane, born March 17, 1902.
The Kellys of Connellsville, KELLY Pennsylvania, descend from Irish ancestors who settled in Maryland about sixty years ago and founded a family of enterprising, steadfast men and women.
(I) The American ancestor, Michael Kelly, accompanied by his wife Mary, came to the United States in 1850, locating at Mount Savage, Maryland. Michael was a farmer and soon became the owner of a good farm, on which he lived and died. After his death his farm was found to be underlaid with valuable coal veins.
(II) John W., son of Michael Kelly, was born at Mount Savage, Maryland, 1861. He attended the public schools and learned the trade of brickmaker, later learning the car- penter's trade. He came to Pennsylvania when a young man and was, in addition to his trade of carpenter, a stationary engineer em- ployed by the Bessemer Coke Company. He is a member of the Catholic church. He mar- ried, in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Alice Am- brose, born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, 1861, a member of the Episcopal church, daughter of James and Mary Jane (Shaw) Ambrose. Mary Jane Shaw's father built the tavern at Sea Wright, which he kept for many years; also was a toll taker on the "old pike." James Ambrose was a stage driver in the early days, running between Cumberland. Maryland, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; later a farmer. He was born in Scotland and came to the United States about 1840. He died at Vanderbilt, Pennsylvania. Children of John W. and Alice Kelly: William Ed- ward, of whom further; Katherine, a teacher.
(III) William Edward, son of John W. Kelly, was born in Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania, March II, 1887. He was educated in the New Haven (now Connellsville) high school, and after finishing his studies became general ironworker, employed in various Connellsville shops. On September 1, 1910, he was appointed manager of the Connells- ville Iron Works, a position he still most capably fills. He is a Republican in politics and a member of several secret societies. He belongs to the Episcopal church. Mr. Kelly is unmarried.
JOHNSON The early history of this family is somewhat obscure. Various descendants give varying traditional accounts, and in former printed works dealing with Fayette county families discrepant statements are made. The time of the coming of the immigrant ancestor to America is given as early in the eighteenth century; he came from Scotland or Ireland; he was very young when he came; his father, according to one version, died on the route to America; a German family brought him up; he lived somewhere in Eastern Pennsyl- vania. So far there seems to be agreement, but an attempt to fill out this bare outline
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with the living details soon meets bewilder- ing contradictions. The paucity of written records in a pioneer community, save in ex- ceptional cases, like those of Massachusetts and Connecticut, and the natural direction of the interest and attention of the pioneers of a new civilization toward the present and the future, therefore away from the past, quite explain this phenomenon. Of few of the Western Pennsylvania families can the his- tories be clearly and positively traced in the eighteenth century; the peculiarity of the present case is only in the number of definite but disagreeing traditions. On one other point there is enough agreement to make a good probability, namely, that the immigrant married into the German family by whom he was brought up.
A probable family line is as follows:
(I) Peter Jonnson, perhaps the immigrant ancestor, but more probably his son, was born in Eastern Pennsylvania, and came to Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1790. He was a farmer and a Mennonite. Whom he married is not known. Children: Jacob, mar- ried Susanna Bixler; David, of whom further.
(II) David, son of Peter Johnson, was a large land owner in Nicholson township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, to which he had come on foot from Hagerstown, Mary- land. To each of his six sons he gave two hundred and fifty acres of land, and only within a few years has this land been alienated from the Johnson family. The name of his wife is not known. Among his sons was Peter, of whom further.
(III) Peter (2), son of David Johnson (and commonly called Peter of David), was born about 1800. and died on his two hundred and fifty acre farm, received from his father, in Nicholson township, in 1885. He was a Democrat, never aspiring to office. He mar- ried Rebecca Fast, born about 1806, died in 1882. Children: David; Francis, of whom further; Magdalena; John, deceased; Mary Ann, deceased; Jacob, deceased; Elizabeth; Margaret; Miles; Daniel J.
(IV) Francis, son of Peter (2), and Re- becca (Fast) Johnson, was born in Nicholson township February 2, 1837, died in German township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, Au- gust 31, 1909. He was brought up in Nich- olson township, and attended the district school. He cultivated a farm near Mason-
town and died near where German township adjoins Masontown. At different times he held many township offices, though they came to him unsought. His friends were al- ways numerous, and he is said never to have had an enemy He was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In German township he was active in politics as a Republican He married (first) Hannah, born about 1840, died on the home place November 17, 1887, daughter of and Martha Ache. Her father was a farmer in Nicholson township and there died. Children of and Martha. Ache: Louisa, lives in German town- ship, near Masontown; Hannah, married Francis Johnson; Jefferson, deceased. Mr. Johnson married (second) in 1890 Sarah (Moser) Galley; she married (first) Joseph Galley. Children of Francis Johnson, all by his first wife and all living: 1. Lowrey, mar- ried Mattie Deffenbaugh; he is a contractor and builder and lives on Lake street, Chester, Alabama. 2. Allison D., born July 5, 1866; married, October 28, 1892, Lucinda Kine; he is a furniture dealer at Myersdale, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. 3. Emerson Ache; he married Laura Wright; they live at Union- town, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where he is bookkeeper for C. O. LaClair & Com- pany. 4. Miles Lester, of whom further. 5. Cora, married Charles E. Moser, a farmer, and they live in Iowa. 6. Lindsey, married Pearl McCann; he farms on the home place, near Masontown. 7. Clayton S., married a Miss Provins; he is a dentist at Brownsville, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. 8. Myrtle, married Norman Speicher; they live at Myersdale.
(V) Miles Lester, son of Francis and Han- nah (Ache) Johnson, was born at Masontown December 23, 1872. His early years were spent on the home place and he received a public school education in German township. In 1892 he graduated from Redstone Acad- emy. For the next two terms he taught school in German township. Going to Phila- delphia for the study of dentistry, he grad- uated from the Philadelphia Dental College in 1898, receiving the decree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. For 'one year he practiced with Dr. J. W. Jaco at Uniontown. Since that time he has practiced at the same place by himself, having his dental office at No. 23
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West Main street. He is a Republican. The earlier generations of the Johnson family were disposed toward the Mennonite religion, but the present family are members of the Third Presbyterian Church, Uniontown.
Dr. Johnson married, June 8, 1899, Lida Jane, born at Uniontown September 3, 1872, daughter of Samuel A. and Emma (Marcy) Loughman. Her father was a blacksmith, who died at Uniontown in February, 1900, aged fifty-four years; her mother was a na- tive of Jefferson township, Greene county, Pennsylvania, living at Uniontown. Mrs. johnson was the only child. Child of Dr. Miles Lester and Lida Jane (Loughman) Johnson: Miles Lester, Jr., born January 25, 190I.
Of this name, historic both HOWARD .in England and in America, the origin is doubtful. Dan- ish, Saxon and Norwegian derivation have all been suggested. Havard or Haavard is said to have been a common personal name among the Northmen; it is thought to be the source of the English name Howard, having been left by them in Northumberland and East Anglia. Authentic records of the How- ard family extend no further back than the thirteenth century when the Howards rose into eminence in Norfolk. There are several New England families of this name, and probably others in other parts of the coun- try. Their connection with the famous Eng- lish family would be probable, but could probably not in any case be proved. Of Americans of this name General Howard was a notable soldier of the civil war.
(I) Absalom Howard, the first member of this family about whom we have definite in- formation, settled before the revolution in what is now Greene county, Pennsylvania. Thus he was one of the first settlers in West- ern Pennsylvania. He cleared a large tract and was a farmer all his life. It is not known whom he married, but he had a son, Absa- lom, of whom further.
(II) Absalom (2), son of Absalom (I) Howard, farmed on the same lands as his father had occupied. The name of his wife is not known, but he had a son, Denune, of whom further.
(III) Denune, son of Absalom (2) . How- ard, was born, probably in Greene county,
Pennsylvania, in 1802, died in April, 1876. He attended the subscription schools and learned the trade of a cooper. About 1825 he left Greene county to settle in Nicholson township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. At Jacob's Creek he established himself in the cooperage business, and he continued in this the remainder of his life. For many years he made barrels at the cement mill, where the Howard Carriage Company's factory now is, at Uniontown, on West Peter street. Later he removed to Masontown, German township, and there he had a shop until his death. Sev- eral of his sons learned the cooper trade, and with their help he carried on a large factory at Masontown. He was an old line Whig, afterward a Republican, but held no office. Both he and his wife were Dunkards.
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