History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Part 125

Author: Smith, Robert Walter
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Waterman, Watkins
Number of Pages: 790

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Robert W. Smith, Esq., died December 6, 1881, at the home of his brother at Bronxville, West- chester county, New York, aged sixty-four years. He had been in poor health for about two years prior to that time, and for a much briefer period so ill as

JAMES E. BROWN, ESQ.

A history of Armstrong county would be radi- cally incomplete without a sketch of James E. Brown, Esq., who, more than any other individual person, was identified and connected with its growth and development; nearly its entire history was compassed by his life and included within the period of his active business experiences.

Mr. Brown's ancestry has been traced back two hundred years. His remote progenitor was James Brown, a Scotchman and a soldier in the famous Enniskillen dragoons (according to an old song, composed entirely of men " six feet two without a shoe "), killed at the battle of the Boyne. He left a son James, who had two sons-John by his first wife and James by his second. John Brown had a son John, who married Margaret Eaton, and after her death an Irwin. His children were, by his first wife : Mrs. Betty Thompson, Jane Hughes, Nancy Montgomery, John, Joseph, Robert, George, James and William; by his second wife: Thomas, Frank, Irwin, Margaret and Mary. John Brown, who became the father of these children, was fourteen years of age when his uncle James Brown, son of Grazilla Kennedy, was born, and these two, uncle and nephew, were the grandfathers of James E. Brown, who was the fifth possessor of the name in the direct line of the family." His father was Robert Brown, a true type of the Scotch-Irish, was born in Ireland in 1775, and came to this country about the year 1795. Soon thereafter he was mar-

*James E. Brown, Jr., is the sixth James Brown in regular sucres- sion from the one who fell at the battle of the Boyne.

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY.

ried to Rebecca, daughter of James Brown, a sol- dier of the revolutionary war, then living in Car- lisle.

After his marriage he settled near Ebenezer, in the adjoining county of Indiana, where, on the 5th day of May, 1799, his first child, James E., was born.

About this period the eyes of the frontier set- tlers were directed to the valley of the Allegheny river, and to the new county of Armstrong, through which it extended, then recently organized.

The father, Robert Brown, after several visits to the new settlement, moved his family thither and took up his residence at the mouth of the Cowan- shannock creek. The town of Kittanning was laid out in the year 1804, and at about that time he removed to it, becoming one of its earliest citizens. He soon acquired a large amount of property within and adjoining the village, and contributed very much to its improvement by the erection of many of the houses, the first tenements in the place. During life he occupied a prominent posi- tion as a citizen. For many years at the beginning of this century he held a commission as justice of the peace, and after a long and useful life died on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1858, at the advanced age of 83.

In the first years of the settlement of the new town, extremely few facilities for education ex- isted ; civilized life had then barely a foothold on this frontier soil, but the boy James E., already ambitious and restless even in childhood, availed himself of every attainable means to advance his education, totally ignoring the usual amusements and devoting the whole time of his juvenile years to the reading and study of such books as the scanty settlement could supply, at a very early period manifesting an aptitude for mathematics, in which he always excelled, as evidenced by the accuracy of the numerous and extensive surveys subsequently made by him throughout his own and the adjoining counties.

In the course of time a select school was estab- lished, over which the then accomplished teacher, Master Elliott, as he was called, presided. An un- plastered room in the then unfinished jail was set apart for the purpose. In this place many of the future prominent citizens of the town received their first regular instruction. The youthful stu- dent was one of the first enrolled, and was soon recognized as the first in scholarship, retaining his precedence till the teacher had no longer a place or anything to teach his precocious pupil.

In those days penmanship was regarded an in- dispensable requisite to a good education, the

teachers themselves rating more by their hand- writing and good spelling than by any other test of scholarship. In this the pupil also excelled, an accomplishment that early in life brought him into prominence as the village scribe, copyist and ac- countant, youthful employments tending to fit and prepare him for the active duties of his subsequent career.

At an early age he opened a store on his own account on the northeast corner of Market and Water streets. While thus engaged, on March 2, . 1819, he was married to Miss Phebe Bratton, daughter of the late venerable Robert Parks, one of the original settlers of Armstrong county. Two years later he was appointed prothonotary of the county, a position in which he acquired consider- able practical and legal knowledge, but was not admitted to the bar until 1860.

Before this he had secured the agency from some of the large landed proprietors living in the East, who were owners of many undivided tracts of land in this section of the state; the care, subdivision and sale of these tracts was committed to him. Many of these he afterward purchased or received in payment for his services.

After his term of office expired he was commis- sioned as a justice of the peace. He also formed a mercantile partnership with the late Alexander Colwell, a gentleman of large means and excellent business judgment. In a few years this firm was dissolved, and he then became associated with the late Andrew Arnold, and with him and others undertook several experiments in boring wells for salt, which, however, were unsuccessful.

In the year 1841 he formed another partnership with Thomas McConnell and the late David Pat- terson, under the firm name of Brown, McConnell & Patterson. Retiring from this firm, his atten- tion was next directed to the development of the rich mineral resources of the county.

In 1845, in conjunction with his brother, John P., and brother-in-law, James Mosgrove, he erected and put into operation the well known Pine Creek Furnace, which proved throughout many subse- quent years a most successful and profitable enter- prise.

In 1847 he organized the Kittanning Iron Com- pany, and erected the rolling-mill and factory at Kittanning, which, under various partnership changes, he continued to superintend and control till the year 1858.

In 1856 the first bank in Kittanning was estab- lished, known as the Kittanning Bank. He was its principal stockholder and continued to be its president during its chartered existence. Imme-

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

diately after the passage of the national banking ] act he organized the First National Bank of Kit- tanning, only fifty-five preceding it. Of this he was also nearly the exclusive owner, and his recog- nized financial experience and large means con- tributed to establish it as one of the most undoubted and secure institutions in the country. During the later years of his life his attention was chiefly directed to its management, and he continued its president till his death.

His business judgment was unsurpassed and enabled him to discern successful results from the very inception of his multifarious enterprises, and so strong was his own confidence in this discern- ment that he did not hesitate to engage in projects from which the more timid would cautiously shrink, so that in the course of his tireless and busy life he had become identified directly or indirectly with an almost inconceivable variety of enterprises and duties. He had delved into the hills for their hidden minerals and made them largely contribute to his wealth. He had bored into the depths of the earth years ago to tap the undercurrents of salt water, wholly unconscious then that from a lower stratum he would subsequently be largely engaged in extracting a much more valuable de- posit of petroleum. He was the projector and principal owner of the bridge spanning the Alle- gheny river at Kittanning and the chief owner of the one at Parker. He was largely interested in the railroad from Parker to Butler, a stockholder and director in several pipe line and transporting companies, and more recently in a refining com- pany, and in the year preceding his death reorga- nized a company to erect a large blast furnace and rebuild the long dismantled rolling-mill at Kittan- ning, all now in successful operation.

Energy, enterprise and a fearless and indomit- able will were the predominant traits of his char- acter. To these qualities, in a life commenced in unpropitions poverty and beset throughout with many obstacles, may be attributed the ultimate financial success that crowned its close.

His first wife and most faithful partner through- out many years of his ceaseless toil died Novem- ber 1, 1864, leaving surviving her an only daughter, Mrs. Jane B. Finlay, who also died on December 30, 1876. Afterward, on November 27, 1865, he was married to Miss Kate L. Hughes, who with one son, James E. Brown, their only offspring, still survives. His own unexpected death, after a brief illness, occurred on November 27, 1880.

Mr. Brown was throughout the greater part of his life a member of the Presbyterian church, and always took a deep interest in all that tended to

its success. From its earliest organization he was connected with the Sunday-school work of his church, and for upward of forty years preceding his death had been its constant superintendent and head. He contributed very largely to the mission work of his church, and gave largely and always unostentatiously to many charities. In social intercourse Mr. Brown was always kind, consid- erate, courteous, unassuming in manner, and as free from display as the plainest citizen.

The Rev. A. Donaldson, in his remarks at the funeral of Mr. Brown, thus spoke of the religious element in his life: "Whilst unremitting in attention to his vast and complicated business con- cerns during six days of the week, on the Sabbath of the Lord he was a diligent, devoted and suc- cessful student of his Bible. * *

* As an elder, beyond most others, he was determined to uphold his pastor's hands." He was further spoken of as "an elder whose place can never be sup- plied." Dr. Donaldson further said : "In the Pres- bytery often, in the synod several times, and in the general assembly his presence .was prized and his influence was great and good."

In personal appearance Mr. Brown united char- acteristics of form and feature that would attract attention from every observer. He was very erect, upward of six feet in hight, of symmetrical pro- portion, quick and active in his movements, and physically a perfect specimen of that sturdy man- hood that can assert its power by merely external influences. His features were of the true Scotch- Irish type, regular and at the same time promi- nent, with a florid complexion, clean blue eyes and light-brown hair.

DR. SAMUEL S. NEALE.

Dr. Samuel S. Neale was born in Burlington, New Jersey, on January 15, 1792, where he re- ceived the usual education afforded by the excellent academy of that city. Afterward he commenced the study of medicine in the city of Philadelphia, under such eminent physicians as Dr. Rush and Dr. Physic, and also attended the course of lec- tures in the University of Pennsylvania.

About the year 1814, he settled in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, and in the course of two or three years thereafter located in Kittanning, where he continued to practice his profession till the time of his death, with but a single interruption of a short residence in the city of Pittsburgh.

He was married on July 4, 1826, to Margaret E., daughter of Robert Brown, Esq. Her death oc- curred March 18, 1851.

He died on August 22, 1857, leaving surviving

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY.

him two daughters and three sons-Rebecca B., Phebe I., Charles T., James B. and Alonzo P. Neale.

As a physician he commanded the respect of his professional brethren as well by his skill as by his uniform courtesy and constant observance of pro- fessional etiquette ; but, more than all, he became greatly endeared to those to whom he bore the re- lation of family physician. Constant and devoted in every case of illness, skillful in his treatment of disease, kind and thoughtful in his manner, and gentle and sympathetic in times of distress and . affliction, his presence and words could always soften the grief and allay the sorrows, even at the bedside of the dying.

In social life he was always genial and open, re- fined in his manner and conversation, and warm and sincere in his friendships. In his death he bore with him the respect and good will of all who had known him.

COL. WILLIAM SIRWELL.

William Sirwell, son of Richard and Elizabeth (Graham) Sirwell, both natives of England, was born in the United States army, at the Allegheny arsenal, on August 10, 1820, his father, who had been principal musician, at that time being armorer at the arsenal. Of a military turn of mind he entered the militia service in 1839, and commanded in succession the City Blues, of Pittsburgh, and the Washington' Blues, Brady Alpines and Kit- tanning Yeagers, of Kittanning, to which place he removed in 1855. He was also for ten years brigade inspector of Armstrong county. In person he is six feet in hight, broad shouldered and robust. He was married on November 6, 1840, to Miss Elizabeth McCandless, of Butler county. They have had eight children, viz .: Lucinda Ann, Alexander Nelson (dead), Sarah C., Mary H., William Mitchell, Samuel (dead), Elizabeth M., and Emma J. (dead).

In 1854 being in Iowa, he raised at Davenport the first military company in the state, and in 1855, while on his way home, he organized in Pittsburgh the first military company of colored men known to have been formed in the United States. They were called the Hannibal Guards.

On the breaking out of the rebellion Col. Sirwell with his company, the Brady Alpines above men- tioned, were the first company in Western Penn- sylvania to offer their services to the United States government, and were at once accepted and served through the three months compaign in the 9th regt. Pa. Vol. Inf., under Gen. Patterson, in Virginia. Upon the expiration of their term of service and

return home, Capt. Sirwell at once proceeded to organize the 78th regt. Pa. Vol. Inf., was commis- sioned colonel of the same, and with his brigade, under the command of Gen. James S. Negley, or- dered to the army then stationed in Kentucky. In the affair at Lavergne, one of the actions for the defense of Nashville, the regiment particularly distinguished itself, and its commander was com- plimented by Gen. Negley and by Andrew John- son, then military governor of Tennessee. At Stone River the regiment captured the White Horse Artillery, of New Orleans, consisting of four twelve-pounder brass Napoleon guns, the regi- mental colors of the 26th Rebel Tennessee, and the guidon of the 4th Florida. As a reward of his service here, Col. Sirwell was made provost mar- shall of Murfreesboro, and was afterward placed in command of the 3d brigade, 2d division, of the 14th corps, department of the Cumberland. In the terrible conflicts of Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, and in the subsequent campaign of Atlanta, he rendered valuable services. At New Hope Church so marked was his gallantry that he was commended by Gen. Thomas. When Atlanta finally was taken after a campaign of a hundred days in which the smoke of battle scarcely cleared away, it became difficult to keep open the base of supplies, stretching away to Chattanooga. Col. Sirwell was assigned to this duty and preserved unbroken the line of transportation, supplies being rapidly brought up. After his term of service expired, at the solicitation of the commander of the department, Col. Sirwell remained in the field, his regiment as mounted infantry being employed in attacking and pursuing Forrest's cavalry through Middle and Southern Tennessee.

Col. Sirwell was a gallant but prudent officer. He was much admired by his brother officers and the men of his command. He was made the re- cipient of two swords, both handsome and valu- able ones, but prized by him more dearly for their associations than anght else.

At one time Col. Sirwell saw fit to resign his command (which, however, he almost immediately resumed), and the officers of the 78th regt. at that time, November 20, 1863, presented him with the following resolutions:

WHEREAS, Col. William Sirwell has felt it his duty to resign his commission as colonel of this regiment, we, the commissioned officers, do resolve,

1. That we sustain Col. Sirwell in the cause that in- duced him to take this step which sunders the reciprocal ties which for over two years have held him and his mil- itary family together. Declining health induced by hard service in the field entitle " the old soldier " to an hon- orable retirement.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

2. That the history of this regiment from its organi- zation to this time, its superior discipline, its undaunted courage on the field of battle, and its complete appoint- ment in every department are the handiwork of Col. Sirwell, and stamp him as a military commander of the first order.

3. That the name and services of Col. Sirwell will ever be associated in our minds with recollections of Lamb's Ferry, White Creek, Neely's Bend, Goodletsville, La- vergne, Brentwood and Stone River, Dug Gap, Chicka- mauga.

4. That the kindness of disposition and the frankness of Col. Sirwell have endeared him both to officers and men, and in parting with him they feel that they are losing a father who watched over them with fond care.

5. That we each and all resolve here tonight in taking the parting hand of Col. Sirwell that we will do our ut- most to bring this regiment home to him with its colors flying and its bright escutcheon untarnished.

6. To William Sirwell, late colonel of this regiment, the strict disciplinarian, the accomplished soldier, the high-toned gentleman, the kind and genial companion- you have toiled with us, you have endured all the suffer- ings and enjoyed many of the glories of the soldier's life-to you we say farewell, and God bless you.

7. Resolved, that copies of these resolutions be for- warded to Col. Sirwell and to the papers in Kittanning (except the Mentor), Indiana, Clarion, Butler, Law- rence and Pittsburgh.

(Signed by the commissioned officers of the 78th Regiment).

Having performed his duties faithfully to the government during the time of war, Col. Sirwell has since resided in Kittanning, and has held the offices of postmaster and justice of the peace. He has spent much time in collecting curiosities and relics, especially those which pertain to Armstrong county, and has perhaps the most valuable private cabinet in Western Pennsylvania.

FREDERICK ROHRER.

Frederick Rohrer was born in Westmoreland county about 1794. He learned the printing busi- ness in Pittsburgh in the Mercury office and came to Kittanning in the latter part of the year 1818 or in the early part of the year 1819, during which year or about the month of February, 1819, he started the then only paper published in the county, called The Columbian. He was appointed by Gov. Schultz register and recorder of the county, and afterward was appointed by Gov. Wolf prothono- tary. He held the office of postmaster during the time he was prothonotary, and was after the expira- tion of his term engaged in mercantile pursuits. IIe ceased the publication of The Columbian dur- ing the year 1831 or 1832. He afterward was appointed a justice of the peace, and was holding that office at the time of his death, which occurred in 1837.

HON. JOHN CALHOUN.

James Calhoun, the father of the old and hon- ored resident of Armstrong county whose name stands at the head of this sketch and of whom a portrait appears, came from Ireland to this country prior to the issuance of the declaration of inde- pendence, and settled in Lancaster county, Penn- sylvania, where he married a Miss Ellen Temple- ton, by whom he had two children, Samuel and William. James Calhoun served through the revo- lutionary war and was wounded in one of its battles. After the close of the struggle he settled in what is now Indiana county, and his first wife having died he there married a Mrs. Mary Walker, whose maiden name was Abrams. She had a large family of children by her first husband, of whom Col. Robert Walker, well known as a spy in the Allegheny valley during the long period of Indian hostility, was one. He subsequently became a set- tler in what is now Boggs township.

Our subject, John Calhoun, was born in Arm- strong township, Indiana county, January 16, 1784. In his youth his parents moved to the region now known as Boggs township, Armstrong county, and he of course accompanied them. He purchased a tract of land in that township and improved it. In 1806 he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Anthony, with whom he con- tinned to reside upon his original purchase until the spring of 1814, when he sold it. He imme- diately bought another tract in Wayne township, south of the site of Dayton, to which he moved in the spring of 1815. He lived upon this farm until the spring of 1839, in the meantime, September 1, 1827, losing his wife. His final removal was to a fine body of land in the northwestern part of Wayne township, about seven miles from Dayton, which he purchased from Gen. Robert Orr. To this place his children by his first marriage and his second wife, Catharine Marshall, whom he had married January 1, 1828, went with him. Her death occurred upon April 26, 1865. Mr. Calhoun departed this life ten years later, in his ninety-first year.

In his early years Mr. Calhoun was a great hunter, and in his old age he delighted in relating reminiscences of adventure in that sport, which was the pioneer's chief means of relaxation from arduous toil. He had learned the carpenter's trade, but his occupation throughout life was farming. He was a man of sturdy character, of great useful- ness to the people around him, widely known and universally respected. He held office during a large portion of his active life. Upon August 30, 1811, he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel, and

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY.

upon March 30, 1813, captain of militia, by Gov. Snyder. He was commissioned by Gov. Heister in 1822 as justice of the peace for district No. 7, composed of Plum Creek and Wayne townships, a position which he filled for many years. In 1840 he was appointed and commissioned associate judge of Armstrong county, serving out the unex- pired term of an incumbent of the office removed by death. In 1842 he was commissioned to the same office for a full term by Gov. D. R. Porter, and again appointed by Gov. Shunk in 1848. He gave the utmost satisfaction in this and other offices which he held. Politically he was a demo- crat and a life-long adherent of the party, taking a deep interest in its success and the measures which tended toward it. He was one of the founders of the Glade Run and the Concord Pres- byterian churches, and served as an elder in each. He was a man of strong and practical religious tendencies and exerted a valuable influence in the community.

· The children of John and Elizabeth (Anthony) Calhoun, with the dates of their respective births, were as follows : Noah A., born December 26, 1806; William J., July 22, 1809 ; Mary (Ritchey), Janu- ary 15, 1812 ; Nancy (Porter), September 18, 1814; James R., March 25, 1817 ; Sarah (wife of James Calhoun), October 4, 1819 ; Samuel S. N., March 22, 1823, and John K., February 26, 1825. Of these, all are deceased except Noah A., James R. and Samuel S. N. The first and last named of these three live upon the old farm, Samuel S. N. having the homestead place, and James R., having retired from active farming, lives in Dayton. All of the daughters married farmers, and all of the sons followed farming, except John K., who was an attorney.

When quite young, this son went to Kittanning to obtain an academical education. He studied law in the office of Judge Buffington, and was admitted to practice December 18, 1850, upon motion of Hon. Thomas White. He soon exhibited unusual talent, and rose rapidly in his profession. In 1856 he was elected, upon the Democratic ticket, to represent Armstrong county in the legislature, and served during the session of 1856-7. By re-election he became a member of the legislature of 1857-8. When the war broke out he took a deep interest in the success of the Unionists, and was elected cap- tain of a Kittanning company of militia or emergency men. While attending court in Pitts- burgh in the fall of 1863, he fell ill with what proved to be typhoid fever, from which his death resulted upon December 5 of that year. He was deeply lamented by his professional colleagues and

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History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Part 125

Author: Smith, Robert Walter Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago : Waterman, Watkins Number of Pages: 790

Author: Smith, Robert Walter
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Waterman, Watkins
Number of Pages: 790