USA > Pennsylvania > Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 55
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
292
ALLEGHENY VALLEY
born August 16, 1863; married Frances Har- genrader. 10. George B., of whom further. II. Jacob, born July 26, 1867 ; married Agnes Bauer. 12. Mary Agnes, born June 8, 1869; married Paul Guth. 13. Elizabeth, born Octo- ber 12, 1871; married Joseph Bauer. I4. Frances, born June 19, 1874; married Alphonso Bauer.
(III) George B., son of Jasper and Agatha (Seigel) Fasenmyer, was born in Knox town- ship, Clarion county, Pennsylvania, July 17, 1865. He was educated in the common schools of that township. At the age of seventeen years he left his farm honte and went to Brad- ford, Mckean county, Pennsylvania, and secured employment as a pumper for J. M. Stevenson and Louis Hampshire. Later on he became manager of their oil and gas lease. During that time he began operating as partner with companies in Crawford and Clarion coun- ties. At the end of ten years he resigned and located at Venus, Clarion county, where he took charge of one of the leases, remaining nine years. He then moved to Leeper, Farm- ington township, Clarion county, and took charge of another lease. Since then he has had many extensive dealings in oil and gas pro- duction, which have been very successful, drill- ing and operating continuously. He is the owner of real estate in Farmington and Wash- ington townships, having eighteen acres of land in Leeper, whereon he resides in an attrac- tive house, equipped with all necessary com- forts. He and his family are members of the Catholic church, and he is a Democrat in politics.
Mr. Fasenmyer married (first) February 20, 1896, Cecelia Leight, who died February 20, 1908. Children : Austin Henry, born May 9, 1901 ; Amelia Elizabeth, born October 4, 1907. Mr. Fasenmyer married (second) Janu- ary 30, 1912, Josephine, only child of William and Minnie Beatty, who for the past three years have made their home at Gulfport, Mis- sissippi. Mr. Beatty is a drummer ; he was born September 6, 1866, in Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, son of Henry and Josephine Beatty, who lived near Brookville, Jefferson county, Pennsylvania. Minnie Beatty, born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, February 5, 1869, is the daughter of David and Mary (Markett) Greenawalt, both living at present (1913) in Clarion county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Greenawalt, who is a stonemason by trade, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.
The founder of the Collner COLLNER family in St. Petersburg, Pennsylvania, was Lewis Coll- ner, born in Germany about 1810, the only one of his family to come to the United States. He died in St. Petersburg in 1893. He was educated in the States school and learned the shoemaker's trade. He was a soldier in the German army and at the age of twenty-two, he so disliked the idea of compulsory service, that by the influence of friends and officials he took passage for the United States. The voyage consumed sixty days from port to port, but ended in safety. He worked at his trade in New York City for a time, then located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He then came to western Pennsylvania, and became a traveling salesman in the counties of Mercer, Crawford and Venango. He was a careful buyer and shrewd salesman, and his traveling business was made very profitable. He abandoned travel and in 1846 settled in Richland town- ship, Clarion county, within half mile of the present borough of St. Petersburg. Here he opened a small store, and although at that time there were only two houses in the settlement, yet he prospered, and a few years later erected a store building on the tract on which St. Petersburg now stands. There he conducted a general store, and although as the village increased in importance, other merchants com- ing in, he retained his position of "leading merchant" until his retirement.
In 1871 he practically retired, turning the business over to his son, who continued under the firm name H. Collner & Brothers. He was active in all departments of village life, and business acumen, wide experience and thrifty nature combined to make this old pioneer mer- chant a leader. His eighty-three years were well spent, successful ones, made so by his industry and perseverance. He was a mem- ber of the German Reformed church ; his wife was a Lutheran. In politics he was a strong Democrat. This thrifty merchant did not con- fine himself to the buying and selling of mer- chandise. He purchased a large farm near St. Petersburg, and when Pennsylvania "struck oil," he sold the oil right for a generous royalty. Timber lands were also a favored investment and he made large purchases in favorable local- ities. In all his dealings he was upright and honorable, but always secured a profit. He was honored and respected by all and truly mourned when his long, useful life ended.
0
Lemuel Callner
293
PENNSYLVANIA
He married Sarah Fry, born near Alum Rock, Richland township, about 1818, died in St. Petersburg, 1894, daughter of Samuel and Anne (Neely) Fry, of Richland township, their farm including Alum Rock. Samuel Fry was a soldier of the war of 1812, serving in the company raised in Richland township by Cap- tain Henry Neely, his brother-in-law. Cap- tain Neely and his company saw active service in the war and are commemorated in histories of that period. Children of Samuel Fry : I. Samuel (2), a farmer of Clarion county. 2. Paul, lived and died on the Richland township homestead farm. 3. Fannie, married Henry Weter, a farmer of Salem township, both de- ceased. 4. Sarah, of previous mention ; mar- ried Lewis Collner.
Children of Lewis and Sarah Collner: I. Levi, now a farmer of Richland township, Clarion county ; married Sarah Ashbaugh. 2. William F., deceased; was a veteran of the civil war, enlisting at the age of sixteen years, serving until the end; later was sheriff and prothonotary of Clarion county ; after retiring from public life he engaged in the insurance business ; he married Cecelia Brannon. 3. Samuel, became a successful merchant of Franklin, Pennsylvania, where he died May 12, 1912. 4. Harrison, associated with his brother Lemuel in business at St. Petersburg ; he married Elizabeth Caldwell. 5. Joseph, now a retired merchant of Clarion. 6. Lemuel, of whom further. 7. Calvin, died aged twenty- three years.
(II) Lemuel, sixth son of Lewis and Sarah (Fry) Collner, was born in St. Petersburg, Clarion county, Pennsylvania, February 1, 1854. He was educated in the public school and when but a boy began working in his father's store. When the father retired in 1871, and the brothers, Harrison, Samuel and Joseph, succeeded to the business as H. Coll- ner & Brothers, Lemuel continued in their em- ploy. Later he was admitted to the firm, Sam- vel and Joseph retiring. In 1875 the firm began the erection of a double two-story brick store, which was finished in 1876 and has since been occupied by H. Collner & Brothers, the firm name remaining unchanged, although the pres- ent owners and proprietors are Harrison and Lemuel Collner.
The firm has continued, as always, the lead- ing business house of the section and now transacts a very large volume of business. During the "oil boom," when St. Petersburg
was the center of a population of ten thousand people, the firm prospered mightily, those being the years of their heaviest business as merchants. Both brothers inherit the admir- able traits of the old pioneer merchant, their father, and have lived up to the high standard of honorable dealing, upon which the business was founded. The Collner brothers are both Democrats in politics. Lemuel Collner is un- married.
(III) Samuel T. Corbett, sev-
CORBETT enth child of William (q. v.) and Sarah (Clover) Corbett, was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, June 15, 1792, died June 15, 1869. When he was nine years of age his parents moved to Clarion county, Pennsylvania, the journey being made by him on a pack-horse. He obtained a prac- tical education in the schools near his home, and upon attaining young manhood erected the first mill in Clarion county, on Brush Run, which was known as Corbett's Mill, and this he conducted until his death. He was the owner of a farm located in the vicinity of his mill, which he cultivated and on which he resided. He was a member of the militia, in which he attained the rank of major, being known always as "Major Corbett," and he was an important personage at the military reviews. He was a member and elder in the Presby- terian church, of which his wife was also a member, and in politics he was a Whig, later a Republican.
He married Ruth Kirkpatrick, born in West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, 1807. She was of Scotch-Irish descent, her father being a native of Scotland and her mother of Ireland. Both emigrated to this country early in life, married here and settled in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk- patrick were the parents of five other children, as follows: William; Alexander; Jane, mar- ried Rev. Dickey; married Robert Henry; Nancy, married William Corbett. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Corbett: I. Dewitt Clinton, deceased. 2. Charles Lee, a farmer in Clarion township ; married Nancy Wilson, de- ceased. 3. Jerod, resides in Clarion ; married Margaret Rankin, deceased. 4. Samuel Bruce, a retired merchant, resides at New Bethlehem ; married Susan Space. 5. James M., who served as agent for the Pennsylvania railroad from the time the road was built until he
294
ALLEGHENY VALLEY
retired from active pursuits ; resides at New Bethlehem ; married Jennie Space. 6. Nelson, a retired merchant, resides at Corsica, Penn- sylvania ; married Loretta Ray. 7. Albert G., of whom further. 8. Frank S., a farmer, re- sides in Clarion township ; married Anna Orr. 9. William S., formerly a merchant, now en- gaged in insurance business; resides in New Bethlehem ; married Priscilla Mcclellan. 10. Sarah, married (first) James Kirkpatrick, ( second ) --- Kifer ; she died December 25, 1900.
(IV) Albert G., seventh child of Samuel T. and Ruth ( Kirkpatrick) Corbett, was born in Clarion township, Clarion county, July 17, 1844. He grew up on his father's farm in Clarion township, and his education was ob- tained in the public schools near his home and a three years' course at the Glade Run Acad- emy. He then became a clerk in a general store at Corsica, Pennsylvania, and in 1877 he removed to Clarion and opened a drug store on Main street, which he has conducted up to the present time (1912), enjoying the distinction of being the only merchant in the city to con- tinte active operations from that year, 1877, to the present. In addition to this he has been interested in oil and gas ventures at various times, and is serving in the capacity of presi- dent of the East Gellico Coal Company of Tinsley, Kentucky. He has always taken an active interest in the welfare and development of the community, and is now acting as presi- dent of the board of trustees of the Clarion State Normal School at Clarion. He is a mem- ber of the Clarion Presbyterian church, as is also his wife, and he has served as trustee for a period of nine years. He is a Republican in politics, but has never sought elective office.
Mr. Corbett married, June 8, 1870, Clara V., born in Highland township, Clarion coun- ty, Pennsylvania, January 26, 1850, daughter of Jacob and Nancy (Cochran) Howe, the father, a lumberman and early settler of Clar- ion county. Children : 1. Stanley, born Octo- ber 18, 1871, resides in Pittsburgh, employed in the internal revenue department ; married Gertrude Grainor; children: Catherine and Stanley Jr. 2. Lucy, born October 19, 1872, resides at home : unmarried. 3. Edgar J., born October 9, 1878, resides in Du Bois, Penn- sylvania ; manager of the Corbett Specialty Company, a wholesale drug company ; married Maud Bausingauer ; no issue. 4. Clifford W., born October 22, 1882. resides in Clarion,
Pennsylvania ; manager of the Wayne Chem- ical Company ; married Reba Kelly ; one child, Albert. 5. Ronald G., born November 29, 1890, resides at Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania ; owner of the Granny Coon Mineral Springs; unmarried. 6. Fannie, died aged nine months.
The Marshalls of Pollock, MARSHALL Pennsylvania, descend from Robert and Ann (Douglas) Marshall, both of whom lived and died in Eng- land, leaving issue.
( II) George, son of Robert and Ann (Doug- las ) Marshall, was born in Winloyton, county Durham, England, September 1, 1809, died on his farm one mile south of Emlenton, Penn- sylvania, June 6, 1883. He was educated in English schools, learned the trade of black- smith, married, and in 1840 came to the United States, the voyage from Liverpool consuming seven weeks. He first settled in Pittsburgh, remaining two years, working at his trade. He then moved to Brady's Bend, Armstrong county, where he worked in the rolling mills until 1850, when he purchased a farm at Pop- lar Bottom, on the line separating Butler and Venango counties, his farm house in Butler, his barn in Venango county. He lived in peaceful prosperity the remainder of his life, thirty-three years, dying at age of seventy- four. He was reared in the Church of Eng- land, but died in the Methodist faith.
He married, in Winloyton, county Durham, England, August 6, 1837. Isabella Dickson, born in Winloyton, England, November 7. 1813, daughter of Robert Dickson; she died at the home of her daughter, Mary Cubbison, in Scrubgrass township, Venango county, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1903. Children of George and Isabel Marshall: I. Thomas, born in England, now a resident of the state of Indiana ; he inherited a fortune from England and is now living retired. 2. Rob- ert, a carpenter, now residing in Butler county, Pennsylvania. 3. Douglas, a carpenter, now living in Venango county, opposite Em- lenton. 4. John, now living in Butler county, an employee of the South Penn Oil Company. 5. Belle, married William McLaughlin and resides in Ohio. 6. Mary, married William Cubbison, a farmer of Venango county, near Emlenton. 7. Elizabeth, married Jack Smith. a farmer of Venango county. 8. George Wash- ington, of whom further.
(III) George Washington, son of George
295
PENNSYLVANIA
and Isabella ( Dickson ) Marshall, was born at Brady's Bend, Armstrong county, Pennsyl- vania, October 12, 1842, died in Perryville, Clarion county, Pennsylvania, September, 1911. He was seven years of age when his parents moved to the Butler, Venango county, farm, where he grew to manhood and was educated in the public school. He worked on the farm for some time, then became an oil producer, making and losing a fortune during the Elk City excitement. Later he was gauger in the employ of the Standard Oil Company and engaged in oil production on his own account. He followed the oil fields and re- sided in different places in Clarion county. He was a man of daring enterprise, very ener- getic and on the whole successful in business. He was a Democrat in politics, and a Lutheran in religion. His wife, in the absence of a Lutheran church nearby, has affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a Ma- son, and was active with the Knights of the Maccabees, and as member of the Allegheny River Boatmen's Association.
He married Rosella Ogden, born in Venango county, Pennsylvania, 1854, who survives him, residing in Perryville, Clarion county. She is the daughter of Joseph and Eliza Ogden, both deceased. Joseph Ogden was born in Venango county, was a farmer of Scrubgrass township, owning the best farm in that section of the county. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Children of Joseph Ogden: 1. John, now a farmer of Clarion county. 2. Rosella, of previous men- tion. 3. Dessie, married John Hewitt, an oil producer of Clarion county. 4. Clara, married William Cubbis, an oil producer of Butler county.
Children of George W. and Rosella Mar- shall : 1. George Wesley, of whom further. 2. Lillian, married William 1. Goble, of West Virginia ; he is general manager and one of the principal stockholders of the Crude Oil and Gas Company of West Virginia. 3. Della, married Charles Glenn and lives at Mentor, Ohio; he is connected with the Mentor Woolen Mills Company of that place. 4. Flora, mar- ried William Burt McGinnis, of Polk, Penn- sylvania. 5. Josephine. 6. Pauline. 7. Wal- ter D. The last three are living at home.
(IV) George Wesley, eldest child of George Washington and Rosella (Ogden) Marshall, was born at Fullerton, Richland township, Clarion county, Pennsylvania, January 25,
1873. lle was educated in the public schools of Elk City, Shippensville and Clarion, finish- ing his studies at the Clarion State Normal School. After completing his studies he be- came engineer at a pumping station of the Standard Oil Company in Butler county, con- tinuing three years in that position. He was then appointed gauger for the same company at East Parker, Pennsylvania, a position he has held since 1896. He has held many posi- tions of trust and at this time is trustee of the Pollock Coal and Lime Company, and one of the prosperous men of his section. He is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to Parker City Lodge, No. 521, Free and Accept- ed Masons ; Clarion Chapter, Royal Arch Ma- sons ; and Order of the Eastern Star. He is also a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is a Democrat in politics.
He married, July 30, 1896, Earla Pearl Ray, born at North Washington, Butler county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Perry Franklin Ray, a farmer and stock raiser, making a specialty of Percheron horses ; he married ( first) Mary Badger, deceased, by whom he had children : Earla Pearl, aforementioned; Cora Eva, mar- ried Edward Kuhn, of Hooker, Butler coun- ty, Pennsylvania; William Perry, deceased ; Charles Roy, lives at Jerome, Idaho; Mary Estella, married Arthur Cumberland and lives at Hooker, Pennsylvania; Lewis Franklin, lives at Sunny Side, Utah. Mr. Ray married ( second ) Sarah (Sadie) Campbell; children : Merl, Floyd, Harriet, living at home.
Children of George Wesley Marshall : Ossoli Frances, born August 29, 1897; Rosella, No- vember 4. 1903; Georgianna, November 6, 1906.
KEEFER
The Keefers came to Clarion county at an early day even be- fore its erection as a county.
The earliest definite record found of this branch is of Benjamin Keefer, whose history follows.
(1) Benjamin Keefer was born near Eden- burg, Clarion county, Pennsylvania (then a part of Venango county), in 1810, died 1851. He became a farmer, owning his own land. He married Margaret Keefer, born near Eden- burg in 1815, died in 1881, daughter of Jacob Keefer, born in Eastern Pennsylvania, where he married, came west and was among the early settlers of Venango county. He was of German descent, and both he and his wife
296
ALLEGHENY VALLEY
members of the Lutheran church. Children of Jacob Keefer: Henry, a farmer of Clarion county ; Sarah, married John Highbarger ; Kate; Margaret, married Benjamin Keefer ; after the death of her husband in 1851, she returned to her parents, remaining until about 1863, when she afterward resided with her children. Children of Benjamin and Margaret Keefer: George, deceased, a veteran of the civil war; Jacob Marion, of whom further ; Jesse, deceased, an oil operator, died in Cali- fornia ; Paul H., an oil pumper in Clarion county until 1911, when he moved to Whittier, California; Harriet, died young; Mary Deli- lah, died young ; Clara, married Archie Coven- try, and resides in Oil City.
(II) Jacob Marion, second son of Benjamin and Margaret (Keefer) Keefer, was born in V'enango county, Pennsylvania, February 19, 1844. He was seven years of age when his father died and afterward worked around among the neighboring farmers for his board and clothes. When he was eighteen years of age he enlisted in August, 1862, in Company K. One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry. He was in the hard- fought and sanguinary battles of Fredericks- burg and soon afterward was stricken with a serious illness, and on recovery honorably dis- charged for disability. He remained at home one year, and in 1864 again enlisted, joining Com- pany G, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regi- ment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, fought with the Army of the Potomac during all their battles to Appomattox and marched with that tattered but triumphant army in the Grand Review before President Lincoln, receiving honorable discharge in June, 1865. Returning to Clarion county, Pennsylvania, he began working in the lumber woods as a saw mill hand and was in the lumber business until 1902 in both Clarion and Forest counties. In 1902 he settled in Clarion, Pennsylvania, where he has since lived a retired life. He had been a hard worker from childhood and has richly earned the comfort and ease he now enjoys. He is a Republican in politics, and he and his wife members of the Lutheran church.
He married, November 23, 1882, Nancy Jane Wiant, born in Porter township, Clarion county, Pennsylvania, June 17, 1858, daugh- ter of William and Elizabeth ( Howe) Wiant. William Wiant was born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, February 23, 1832, died Novem- ber 15, 1906, son of Jacob and Hannah Wiant,
of German descent, early settlers of Porter township. William Wiant was a farmer, liv- ing on the Howe farm, and served in the civil war, receiving a wound in the shoulder. About 1890 he moved to Clarion where he lived retired until his death. His wife, Elizabeth (Howe) Wiant, was a daughter of Abraham and Barbara (Yearty) Howe, also early set- tlers of Porter township, Clarion county, Penn- sylvania. Children of William Wiant: Mar- garet, married McCellan Ferringer, and lives at New Mayville, Pennsylvania; Kate, mar- ried Paul Keefer and resides in California ; Nancy Jane, of previous mention ; John, died in infancy; Martha, married John Corman, and lives in Rimersburg, Pennsylvania ; Wal- lace, now living in Clarion county : Clara, twin of Wallace, married William Gold and live's in Butler county : Rebecca, deceased, married Thomas Hall; Ella, married George Adams, both deceased; Fannie, married Hiram Eiser- man and resides in Strattonville, Pennsylvania.
Children of Jacob M. and Nancy Jane Keefer: 1. Frank, born March 10, 1879; attended the public schools at Leepers Mills and other public schools in Clarion county, then entered Clarion high school whence he was graduated class of 1896. After leaving school he became a clerk in Martin's feed store in Clarion, remaining four years. He was then clerk for four years in C. E. Capron's general store, later clerk in the Peter's general store, Carrier Brothers' store, then for two and a half years in Brinkley's general store. In Jan- uary, 1909, he was appointed deputy treasurer of Clarion county, a position he now holds. He is a Democrat in politics, but chooses his candidates for local office for their fitness, un- biased by political preference. He is a mem- ber of the Improved Order of Red Men and keeper of records in the local lodge of Macca- bees, an office he has held five years. He is also secretary and treasurer of the Clarion County Cemetery Association. Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. He married, May 30, 1899, Kate Hiwiller, born in Toby township, Clarion county, Penn- sylvania, March 6, 1880, daughter of George and Frances Hiwiller, both deceased, Mrs. Hiwiller dying in 1908, he February 8, 1913. Children of Frank L. Keefer: Bertha, born October 30, 1900; Kenneth, June 6, 1902; Gladys Lucile, died in infancy ; Savila Marie, born February 6, 1907. The family home is at 616 Liberty street, Clarion. 2. William
297
PENNSYLVANIA
Evans, born April 12, 1884; is now an engineer on the Pennsylvania railroad, and resides in Clarion. He married Cora Dean; children : Dorothy Dean and Charles William. 3. Bessie, born March 27, 1886; married Kent Logne, a blacksmith, and resides in Clarion ; children : (irace, Ethiel and Everet. 4. Jesse Earl, born September 22, 1892, a glass worker; married Mabel Wensell and resides in Clarion; child. Earl Clifford, born March 10, 1912. 5. Freda, died in infancy. 6. Orvis Craig, born July 17, 1896: lives at home with parents. The family home of Mr. Keefer is on Fifth avenue, just outside of the Clarion borough line.
SHIREY The progenitor of the Shirey family in Clarion county, Penn- sylvania, was Samuel Shirey, whose birth occurred in Berks county, this state. He was a pioneer farmer in Clarion county, and was a stalwart Democrat in his political convictions. In religious matters he was a devout member of the Reformed church. He married Miss Johnson, a native of Berks county, and to this union were born ten chil- dren. Those to reach maturity were: Wil- liam ; Rude ; James ; Joseph ; Samuel, of whom further ; Katie: Angeline; Jewett, and Polly, married Deitman.
(II) Sammel (2), son of Samuel and ( Johnson) Shirey, was born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, January 10, 1838. He grew up on his father's farm and spent most of his lifetime in Clarion county, where he was the owner of a finely improved farm of one hin- dred and thirty-three acres, on which he was most successfully engaged in diversified agri- culture and stock raising.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.