Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 63

Author: Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: New York, Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 538

USA > Pennsylvania > Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 63

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Mr. McKee married Anna Graff, born Sep- tember 27, 1886, daughter of William and La- vina (Rowe) Graff. Mr. and Mrs. McKee have one child, Beulah, whose birth occurred May 22, 1908.

Michael Walter, the founder WALTER of the family in this country. was born in Germany in 1812, died in Tylersburg, Pennsylvania, in 1857. In 1830 he emigrated to America and settled first in Albany, New York, where he remained for two years, and then removed to Baltimore, Maryland, where he remained for a time, going from there to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and in 1836 to Clearfield county and then to Clarion county, Pennsylvania. In 1838 he settled in Knox township, where he remained until 1853 when he removed finally to Tylers- burg, where he opened a cabinetmaker's shop and conducted a hotel until his death. He was a Democrat in politics, and a Roman Catholic in religion. He married, in Pittsburgh, Penn-

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sylvania, in 1836, Catherine Yost, born in 1818, died in 1894. Children: Joseph, referred to below; Minnie, now living in Grove City, Pennsylvania, married James Wray; Frank, now living in Mill Creek township, married Sallie Ann Smith; Michael, referred to below ; Stephen, deceased ; John, now living in Tylers- burg: Maggie, deceased; Mary, deceased ; Jacob H., referred to below.

(II) Joseph, son of Michael and Catherine (Yost ) Walter, was born December 28, 1839, and is now living in Tylersburg, Pennsylvania. He received his early education in the public schools, and then learned the trade of a cab- inetmaker and also the trade of a wagon- maker, and in 1861, on the outbreak of the civil war, enlisted in Company F, Sixty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served throughout the war, taking part in all of the battles of the Army of the Potomac. He was captured and confined for five months in An- dersonville prison and five days in Libby prison and later exchanged and rejoined his regiment. After the war he was for fourteen years in the Golinza Mills, then removed to Tionesta, Pennsylvania, finally settling in Tylersburg, where he is now living, having retired from active business. He is a Republican in poli- tics. He is a member of John Martin Bow- man Post, Grand Army of the Republic. He married, in 1882, Alma Smail, of Clarion county, Pennsylvania. Children : Robert, de- ceased ; Viola, deceased; Anson, Curtis, Dona.

(II) Michael (2), son of Michael (1) and Catherine (Yost) Walter, was born October 15, 1845, and is now living in Tylersburg, Pennsylvania. He received his early educa- tion in the public schools, and then went to work in the woods as a lumberman and later became a boat-builder and general carpenter, and finally settled in Tylersburg, where he was in the mercantile business for many years. He is a Progressive in politics. He married, in 1869, Sarah Neely, of Clarion county, Penn- sylvania. Children : 1. Ernst, born August 26, 1871; educated in the public schools and at E. B. U. College and at G. W. Michaels Col- lege in Delaware, Ohio, and at Zaneseatı Col- lege in Columbus, Ohio, and is now engaged in the produce business. 2. Gertrude, now living in Endeavor, Pennsylvania; married Edward Myers. 3. Harry, now living in El- mira, New York.

(II) Jacob H., son of Michael and Cather- ine (Yost) Walter, was born in Tylersburg,

Pennsylvania, July 11, 1855, and is now living in Leeper, Pennsylvania. He received his early education in the public schools, and at the age of fourteen years engaged in general labor, which he followed until he was twenty- six years of age, when he worked at shoemak- ing for five years; he then bought a farm, which he cultivated for fourteen years and finally, in 1901, settled in Leeper, where he entered mercantile business in which he still continues. He also owns a farm in Farming- ton township. He is a Republican in politics, and was for several terms the supervisor of North Farmington township. He married, August 24, 1882, Sallie, born in Tylersburg, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1862, now living in Leeper, daughter of David R. and Rowena (Smith) Mays (see Mays III). Children: I. Alice, born February 11, 1884; married Wil- liam Slaughenhaupt; child, Walter, deceased. 2. William, born February 19, 1885; married, June 12, 1906, Della Hulings ; children : Ger- aldine, born February 14, 1907 ; Milton, Octo- ber 14, 1908; Charlotte, June 28, 1910; Don- ald, March 4, 1912. 3. David, born July 30, 1891. 4. Evelyn, born March 24, 1904.

(The Mays Line.)

(I) Thomas Mays, the first member of this family of whom we have any definite infor- mation, was born in 1753 in South Carolina, died in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, in 1830. He removed to Georgia, later to eastern Penn- sylvania, from there to Westmoreland county, and finally about 1802 settled in Clarion county, where he built the first flouring mills west of the Allegheny mountains. He was a soldier during the revolutionary war. He mar- ried, in Charleston, South Carolina, Mary Hamilton, born in 1751, died in Forest county, Pennsylvania, in 1850. Children: John, Thomas Washington, James, William, re- ferred to below.

(II) William, son of Thomas and Mary (Hamilton) Mays, was born in Georgia, in 1793, died in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, in 1870. He removed with his parents to Clarion county where he became a farmer and a boat- man on the Allegheny river. He, with his three brothers, served in the army during the war of 1812. He married Elizabeth Hum- mel, born in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1799, died in Clarion county, Penn- sylvania, in 1840. Children: 1. Mary, mar- ried John Long. 2. Thomas. 3. Samuel H.,

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born in Clarion county, 1823, now living at Verona, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; mar- ried, in 1848, Sarah Lowry, born 1826, died 1897; children : Mary Heller, Emma, Flor- ence, Judson S., Alice C., William L., George H., Harry M. 4. James, deceased. 5. David R., referred to below. 6. George, deceased. 7. Elizabeth, married John R. Cribbs. 8. Jane, married Samuel Roseman. 9. John, now living in Clarion county, Pennsylvania.

(III) David R., son of William and Eliza- beth (Hummel) Mays, was born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, September 25, 1827, and is living at Leeper. He received his early education in the public schools, and then became a lumberman on the Clarion river, which occupation he followed for forty years and then retired to a farm in Farmington township. He married (first) in 1848, Mary Carbough, died October, 1856, and married (second) December 15, 1858, Rowena, daugh- ter of Philip and Sallie ( Brenneman) Smith, born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, April 30, 1836, died in 1909. Children by first wife : I. Hester Ann, deceased; married William Smith, deceased. 2. Emma, married Esquire Cook; resides in Cooksburg, Pennsylvania. 3. Loretta, married James Starr; resides in Elk county, Pennsylvania. Children by second wife : 4. Florence, married Joseph McCartney. 5. Alma Lucretia, married Charles Swatzfa- ger, deceased. 6. Sallie, married Jacob H. Walter (see Walter II). 7. Alice, married Daniel Carson, who was killed in a saw mill in 1903. 8. Ida, married William Austin, de- ceased. 9. Samuel, married Effie Dale; resides in Kane, Pennsylvania; employed on the Bal- timore & Ohio railroad. 10. Lowella, mar- ried B. A. Shotts ; resides near Sharon, Penn- sylvania. II. Herbert M., married Emma Ostemyre ; resides at Fort Wayne, Indiana. 12. Gertrude, died in infancy.

JAMIESON The Jamieson family in America is of direct Scotch descent. Though many gen- erations separate the members of the Ameri- can branch from their kinsmen in Bonny Scotland, they still retain an inherent love for the land of their forefathers, and have also inherited the noted Scotch clannishness.

The first of the family to cross the Atlantic in search of religious and political liberty was John Jamieson, who came over about the year 1724, and located in the colony now known as

the state of New York. He appears to have been of a wandering nature as he soon after- ward went to the Berkshire Hills, Massachu- setts, and later removed to Manhattan Island, New York. He was here joined by his cousin, Ailsie Jamieson, and they were married imme- diately after her arrival. Several children were born of this union, among them John (2), who, following the trend of the times, and being imbued with the pioneer spirit, which Thomas Jefferson said (many years afterward) would be the making, and cause the extension, of the United States (at that time the American Colonies of the English Crown), went farther westward and located in Wyoming, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. His name, or that of his son John, appears in the list of soldiers, July 3, 1778, who were led by Colonel Zebulon Butler and Colonel Nathan Denison in their historical battle with the Brit- ish, the Tories and the Indians. The Jamie- sons early acquiring a competence (in each family) were among the few Americans who, after the revolutionary war, visited the "Auld Countree" frequently, thus keeping in touch with their trans-Atlantic relatives.

(I) John Jamieson, one of the above-men- tioned, became interested in the mills of Pais- ley, Scotland, during a visit, there married and settled for the time. He was the father of a large family of children, the majority of whom, from time to time, deserted the ances- tral home in Scotland and came to the United States. Among his numerous children was Hugh, of whom further.

(II) Hugh, son of John Jamieson, was born in. Scotland, married Jeannette in 1823, emigrated from Paisley, Scotland, in 1824, to Hudson-on-the-Hudson, New York, and removed later to Berkshire Hills. During his residence in Berkshire Hills he had charge of the weaving department of the large cotton factories of that place, introducing the latest and most approved European methods of weaving cotton cloths. In the fall of 1843, following in the footsteps of his progenitors, he removed to Pennsylvania, settling in Sugar Grove, Warren county. Here he entered the employ of D. K. Grandin. Retiring from active business life, his latter years were peacefully spent on a farm in Sugar Grove. He was an ardent Presbyterian, as was his good wife Jeannette, and to the end of their days they were both devoted to the "kirk." He died, after a useful life, well and worthily spent, at the

GW Jamieson

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ripe old age of ninety-eight; while his wife passed away at the age of eighty-eight years. Hugh and Jeannette Jamieson were the par- ents of several children, among whom was Hugh A., of whom further.

(III) Hugh A., son of Hugh Jamieson, was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, May 31, 1835. With his parents, sisters and broth- ers he removed to Sugar Grove, Warren county, Pennsylvania, in 1843. He received a common school education, such as was ob- tainable at that time, but being ambitious and a close student he fitted himself to teach. He taught three winters, the last in Jamestown, New York. In the spring of 1857 he returned to Sugar Grove. Buying out the business in- terests of Mark Wilson, he formed a partner- ship with Isaac N. Tider. His business acu- men was so pronounced, coupled with his legal knowledge, that he excited universal favorable comment. He was persuaded to study law. He severed his connection with Mr. Tider in 1859, and entered the law office of Johnson & Brown. He was admitted to the bar in 1861. His former interest in commercial life still clung to him, and while practicing his profes- sion he accumulated a large number of busi- ness interests. These becoming so financially important and needing his undivided attention, he gave up his legal practice to engage in strictly commercial enterprises. Years before his death he had accumulated a fortune. He successfully established the largest hardware business in Warren county. He was a direc- tor and president of the Citizens' National Bank of Warren county. He was an active worker for the Warren Library Association, contending that the reading of books was abso- lutely essential for the growth and cultivation of the mind and for enlarging a man's outlook on life. He was a loyal Republican, always voting with his party, and was elected burgess of the town in 1882. His religious affiliations like those of his parents, were with the Pres- byterian church. He married (first) Julia Crane. To them were born four sons: Hugh and Frank, dying in infancy; Mark W .; Charles Wetmore, of whom further. His sec- ond marriage was to Rhoda Hall, now de- ceased.

(IV) Charles Wetmore, son of Hugh A. and Julia (Crane) Jamieson, was born in Warren, Pennsylvania, July 9, 1867, died July 6, 1912. He was reared in the west under the judicious direction of his mother, and grad-

uated from the public schools and Grinnell College. He returned to his native city about 1895, where he at once entered into business, connecting himself with the Warren Refining Company, in conjunction with his father, Hugh A. Jamieson. He continued a member of the company until the time of his demise. He also engaged in other business enterprises, notably among which were the Floridin Com- pany, of Warren ; the Abbott Motor Company, of Detroit, Michigan ; in both of which he was serving as president at the time of his un- timely taking off. In 1909 Mr. Jamieson suc- ceeded the late Perry D. Clark as president of the First National Bank, and was acting in that capacity at the time of his death. He was a director of the Corn-Planter Refining Com- pany, and of the Riverside Acid Works. For years he was in the forefront of every pro- gressive movement, church, municipal, state and personal business, and was characterized by his fellow townsmen as one of the leading men of his city and section. He was an active member of Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church, and to it was always generous, loyal and helpful. It was largely through his per- sonal efforts that the Brotherhood of St. An- drews was organized, he serving as president, which has been an invaluable aid to the church. He was a constant attendant at the meetings and its staunch supporter. He was a liberal contributor to the Young Men's Christian As- sociation, and was for years president of the local branch of that institution, and was thrice elected member of the state committee. He later resigned the presidency, but retained his position on the board of directors. He estab- lished in Warren a high standard of truth and right living, and wielded a powerful and benef- icent influence on those with whom he came in daily contact during his life, and this influence will continue for all time, for such an influ- ence does not die with the man. In his death Warren lost one of its foremost, most appre- ciated and best known citizens. He was of more than local fame as he was a great captain of industry, one who built well and wisely, not for himself alone, but for those around him and for those who come after him. It can be truthfully said of him that the world is better for his having lived in it.

He married (first) in 1894, in Des Moines, Iowa, Lily L. Yoder, a classmate, who died in 1901. On April 13, 1903, he married (second) Wilhelmina D. Schnur. Mrs. Wilhelmina D.

AV-22

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(Schnur) Jamieson is of colonial and revolu- tionary stock. Her ancestors fought the bat- tles of the colonists against the Indians, helped to conquer the wilderness, and aligned themselves on the side of the continental army in its struggle for independence from England. She is one of the leading members of the Gen- eral Joseph Warren Chapter, No. 950, of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her national membership is No. 84106. She is a prominent member of Trinity Memorial Epis- copal Church, where she in a measure tries to sustain the work of her husband.

PORTERFIELD This family is of Scotch origin. The emigrant was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, of Scotch-English parentage, and settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Three sons, Robert, George and John, grew up in Lancaster county, and later all became farmers of Venango county.

(II) Joseph, fourth son of the Emigrant Porterfield, settled in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, later moving to Venango county, where he built the first iron furnace in the Mill Creek district. He also engaged in lumbering and milling, owning a saw mill and grist mill on Mill Creek, Richland township. He mar- ried Hannalı, daughter of James Hall, of Richland township. Children: John C., of whom further; Cyrus, yet living in Venango county ; William H., died in Oil City, Penn- sylvania; James, twin of William H .; Pris- cilla, married Captain Alexander Frazier, whom she survives, now living in Coopers- town, Pennsylvania.

(III) John C., son of Joseph and Hannah (Hall) Porterfield, was born in Venango county, Pennsylvania, September 6, 1828, died in Emlenton, Pennsylvania, April 5, 1894. He spent his youth at the home farm, attended the public schools, and for a short time taught school and worked in the store operated by the proprietors of Shippen Furnace. When nineteen years of age he located in Emlenton, Pennsylvania, where he became clerk in the Morgan dry goods store, then situated near the bridge. In 1849 he became manager of the "Iron Store" established by Brown, Phillios & Company, of the Kittanning Iron Works. He continued in that employ until 1857, when he became the senior member of the general hard- ware firm of Porterfield, Teitzell & Company, John McCombs being the silent partner. In

1860 the firm became Porterfield & McCombs, so continuing until the death of Mr. McCombs in 1890, Mr. Porterfield continuing the busi- ness until his death four years later. Under his management the business had grown and expanded from that of the "Iron Store" to one of great proportions, combining four de- partments. It was not only the oldest busi- ness house in Emlenton, but the largest in that section. The stocks in every department were complete and every customer was dealt with in absolute fairness. This policy has been continued by his successor, Howard Hall Porterfield, who in all things has proved a worthy son of his honored father. John C. Porter was a man of varied activities and a most potent factor in the development of Emlenton and Venango county. He main- tained a large, general mercantile establish- ment at Foxburg, and for twenty-four years was a director and stockholder in the Foxburg Bank. He was treasurer of the Emlenton Bridge Company; director of the Emlenton Gas Light and Fuel Company; interested in the St. Petersburg Bank, and in oil and gas properties elsewhere. Another enterprise with which he was connected and one that gave Emlenton its first great impetus was the building of the Emlenton & Shippensville rail- road. The corporation was organized June 17, 1875, Mr. Porterfield being chosen a mem- ber of the first board of directors. He was a charter member of Allegheny Valley Lodge, 552, Free and Accepted Masons. In politics he was a Republican, and a most liberal, pub- lic-spirited and valuable citizen. From an humble beginning he built for himself a name synonymous with integrity and success, lead- ing where others followed and bequeathing to his posterity not only riches, but an honorable name.

He married, in 1851, Susan, daughter of Henry Allebach and granddaughter of Jacob and Verona Allebach, of Germantown and Venango county, Pennsylvania (see Allebach II). Mrs. Susan Porterfield survives her hus- band and resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Children: I. Emma, married W. S. Watson and resides in Pittsburgh. 2. Howard Hall, of whom further. 3. Jessie A., married P. O. Heasley, whom she survives, a resident of Pittsburgh. 4. Henry A., now manager of the Dexter Oil Company, of Pittsburgh.

(IV) Howard Hall, son of John C. and Susan (Allebach) Porterfield, was born in

S.l. Potentiell

St. A Partirfried

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Emlenton, Pennsylvania, January 6, 1856. He received his early education in the public schools, then entered Phillips Academy at Andover, Massachusetts, whence he was grad- uated in 1873. Choosing a business career he entered his father's employ as manager of the Porterfield general store at Foxburg, holding that position until the death of John C. Porter- field in 1894. He then continued in manage- ment for the estate, of which he was executor, of both the Foxburg and Emlenton stores until 1905, when he purchased the interests of the heirs and became sole owner. The Emlenton business was diversified to include four princi- pal departments and became the largest gen- eral mercantile establishment in the county as well as the oldest. The business done was not only of a retail character, but a large wholesale trade was carried on extending be- yond local limits. Since 1905 Mr. Porterfield has been sole owner of the Foxburg store and has proved his excellent business capacity in its management. He is also vice-president of the Foxburg Bank, of which his father was an organizer, and is also interested in the Pennsyl- vania Fuel Company and other enterprises of lesser importance. He is a past master of Em- lenton Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; a companion of Venango Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ; a Knight of Franklin Commandery, Knights Templar ; a thirty-second degree Ma- son of Pennsylvania Consistory, Ancient Ac- cepted Scottish Rite, and a Noble of Syria Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine ; the two latter bodies located in Pittsburgh. He married, October 26, 1900, Anna L., born in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, January 6, 1870, daughter of Rev. David Lat- shaw.

(The Allebach Line.)

(I) The founders of this family in the United States were Jacob and Verona Alle- bach, who came from Germany, settling in Germantown, Pennsylvania. During the revo- lution they were driven out of Germantown by the British and their home burned. They found refuge and safety in Berks county, Pennsylvania. Jacob and family later settled in Venango county, Pennsylvania, where the parents died.

(II) Henry, son of Jacob and Verona Alle- bach, was born November 5, 1800, in Mont- gomery county, Pennsylvania, died in Emlen- ton, Pennsylvania, September 25, 1888, after an illness of but ten days. His early life was

spent in Berks county, Pennsylvania, where he worked in a woolen mill. Later he moved to Reading, where he learned the jeweler's trade and carried on business until 1837, when he moved to Beaver township, Venango county, Pennsylvania, where his parents had preceded him. There he bought a farm on which he resided three years, then sold and moved to Emlenton, Pennsylvania, where he was the first jeweler to locate, having his store on Main street. He continued in business until 1852, when his eyesight failing he turned the business over to his son Levi and for five years engaged in a mercantile business less trying to the eyesight. He then returned to the jewelry business, continuing until his re- tirement in 1872. At his death he lacked but two years of a half century residence in Em- lenton. Both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church and helped organize the first congregation of that faith in Emlen- ton. He married, November 30, 1823, in Berks county, Pennsylvania, Sarah, daughter of Christian Shaner ; she died in Emlenton, January 3, 1888, aged eighty-six years, eleven months and twenty days. The business founded by Henry Allebach continued by his son Levi, is still continued by his grandson under the firm name of Allebach Brothers. Children of Henry and Sarah Allebach: I. Maria, deceased; married George Truby. 2. Sarah, married John Sloan. 3. Levi, de- ceased; he was his father's successor in busi- ness. 4. Susan, widow of John C. Porterfield (see Porterfield III). 5. Henry, died young.

The first authentic infor- CARNAHAN mation relating to this fam- ily dates back to the year 1540, when three Irish tribes or clans by the name of Carnochan, Carnaghan and Carna- than, entered into an agreement to unite for self protection. Previous to this time, tradi- tion says, they subsisted by the right of the strong arm, as was the custom of the day, preying upon the weaker tribes and levying tribute in lands, cattle and servants. Inhabit- ing the rough and stormy coast of the north part of Ireland, one of their chief means of support was from the wreckage of vessels driven ashore, and they were even accused of luring them ashore by means of false lights. When these three tribes had no mutual ene- mies to assail they fought each other until their numbers were greatly diminished. When

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the great religious reformation spread over Ireland, they embraced the Calvinistic faith and doctrines, and in 1540 united under the leadership of one James Alexander Carna- han. That they were strong and firm in their beliefs is evidenced by the fact that they met in numerous pitched battles the soldiers of Mary X Tudor (1553-58). In the latter year they were almost exterminated, their chief slain, and goods and lands confiscated to the crown. Many suffered imprisonment or death. Some escaped and of these there are traces of two branches who took refuge in Scotland; one settled at or near Dumfries, and the other at Aberdeen. The Dumfries branch became weavers by occupation; the Aberdeen branch became hewers of stone, or stone masons, and at one time owned and worked large quarries. That they became people of some importance is known, for one John Andrew Carnahan was a delegate to the convention in France from which resulted the celebrated Edict of Nantes (1585).

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Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 63

Author: Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921 Publication date: 1913 Publisher: New York, Lewis Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 538

Author: Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: New York, Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 538