History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 126

Author: Brown, Robert C., ed; Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Meagher, John, jt. comp; Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899, jt. comp
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1658

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PATRICK MCLAUGHLIN, a native of Donegal county, Ireland, where he mar- ried Nancy Dougherty, came to Pennsylvania about the year 1780, and in the last ‹lecade of the Eighteenth century located on 100 acres of land in what is now Fairview township, originally Donegal. He erected a log cabin and began clear- ing and improving his new home. The family was among the first to settle in this part of the county. Mr. MeLaughlin resided upon his homestead down to his death, in 1830, at the advanced age of eighty-five years. His widow survived him about ten years, dying at the age of ninety. They reared a family of six sons and one daughter, as follows: Sarah, who married Michael Sweeney ; Peter, who served in the War of 1812; John ; William ; James, who was a engineer on the Pennsylvania canal ; Patrick, and Bernard, all of whom are dead. The family were among the founders of St. Patrick's Catholic church, at Sugar Creek, in which faith the parents lived and died.

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, son of Patrick and Nancy Mclaughlin, was born in the old log cabin on his father's farm, in Fairview township, Butler county, April 14, 1798. Ile grew to maturity upon this farm, endured the privations and trials of pioneer life, and was schooled in the dangers of that period. He remained with his parents until his majority, and then married Catherine Green, a native of Slippery Rock township. Butler county, born in 1800. She was a daughter of James Green, one of the pioneers of that locality. Immediately following their marriage the young couple settled upon 100 acres of the MeLaughlin homestead. The land was entirely unimproved, but before his death Mr. Mclaughlin had cleared off the forest and brought the farm to a high state of cultivation. They took an active interest in the advancement and improvement of the community, and both spent their entire lives in Butler county. They were members of St.

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Patrick's Catholic church, at Sugar Creek. Mr. MeLaughlin died at his home, April 13, 1872. llis widow continued to reside there with her son Henry until her death, November 5, 1875. They were the parents of eight children. as fol- lows : Jane, deceased ; Ro-anna, deceased wife of Timothy Mckeever ; James ; William, who went to Illinois when a young man, enlisted in the Seventy-eighth Illinois Volunteers, in 1861, was promoted to the position of trainmaster, served in that capacity until the close of the war, and died in Slippery Rock township, Butler county, July 23, 1892 ; Daniel G. ; Henry A .; Sarah, deceased, and David, deceased.

DANIEL G. MCLAUGHLIN, son of John and Catherine Mclaughlin, was born in Fairview township, May 16, 1838, and remained with his parents until of age. On June 16, 1863, he married Eleanor 1 .. Boyle, a daughter of Ilugh and Susan ( Mckeever) Boyle, born in Armstrong county. November 11, 1838. They resided upon a portion of the old homestead until 1868, and then settled on their present farm. They are the parents of eight children. six of whom are living, viz. : Rosanna ; Sylvester Raymond ; Jerome A. ; David P. ; Hugh Leo, and Alice. The family are members of the Catholic congregation, at Millerstown. Politically, Mr. McLaughlin is a Democrat, and has held various township offices. lle devotes his attention to farming and oil producing.

WILLIAM W. WALLACE, gauger at Karns City, was born in Butler county, June 22. 1847, upon the homestead entered by his grandfather, Robert Wallace, in Fairview township. His father, Thomas Wallace, was born upon this place in 1799, married Margaret Hilliard, also a native of the county, and resided here until 1863, when they removed to Brady's Bend, where Mr. Wallace died in January, 188F. His widow still lives there at the age of eighty years. The subject of this sketch is the sixth in a family of thirteen children. He received a common school education, and at the age of fourteen years went to Pittsburg. and found employment in the iron mills of that city, in which he worked for eight years. He afterwards spent some years in clerking in a store at Parker. In 1871 he engaged as ganger with the National Transit Company, and is also an oil producer. Mr. Wallace was married December 14, 1875, to Alice J., a daughter of John and E. D. Shriver, of Forest county. She died September 21. 1882, leaving three children, viz. : Ida D. ; Charles C., and Maggie A. He was again married, January 15, 1884, to Minerva, a daughter of Josiah and Rachel Brown. She was born in Fairview township, and is the mother of two children : Edgar Lewis, and Florella Alberta. Mr. Wallace is a Republican, and has served in the council and on the school board of Karns City. He is connected with the Masonic order, and is a member of Derrick Lodge, K. of P., also of the I. O. O. F.

JOHN RAY was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in 1798. His father, William Ray, a native of Ireland, came to Butler county in 1800, and settled about two miles west of the village of Fairview, where he entered a tract of 400 acres of government land. He was one of the first settlers of that vicinity, and resided upon his farm down to his death. He had a family of five children, John being the eldest. The latter grew to maturity upon the homstead farm, and was married in 1825 to Ann Smith, a daughter of Matthew and Nancy

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(Hindman ) Smith. Her father was a native of Ireland, and settled two miles east of the site of Fairview, at an early day. After their marriage, John Ray and wife took up their home on a portion of the Ray homestead, cleared and improved the same and spent the remaining years of their lives thereon. Mrs. Ray died in 1850, and her husband in 1876. He was for many years a member of Bear Creek church. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom grew to maturity, viz. : William, a resident of Oregon ; Nancy, wife of Samuel Donaldson, of Concord township; Matthew S., of Fairview ; Elizabeth, wife of P. B. Kelchner ; John C., of Fairview, and Robert, deceased.

MATTHEW S. RAY was born upon the homestead farm in Fairview town- ship, June 7, 1830. He assisted his father in clearing the land, and his mother in preparing the flax and wool from which she manufactured clothing for the family. His education consisted of a few weeks' attendance at the subscription schools during the winter season. When nineteen years of age he began an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, receiving two dollars per month during the first few months of his service, which lasted three years. He afterwards engaged in business for himself as a contractor and builder, and erected many of the houses and barns yet standing in this locality. In January, 1851, he married Euphema Campbell, a daughter of Archibald Campbell. Three children were born to this union, two of whom are living. viz. : Ophelia J., wife of William Fleming, of Oil City, and Anna M. In April, IS51. Mr. Ray removed to the village of Fairview, and is to-day one of its oldest residents The family belong to the Presbyterian church, and he is an elder in the Fairview society. Politic- ally, he has always been a stanch Republican, was elected a justice of the peace in IS55, and, with the exception of one term. has served continuously up to the present. He has also held various other positions in the township and borough. lle is a charter member of Liberty Lodge, K. of II., of which he has been reporter for many years.

Joux C. RAY, son of John and Ann ( Smith) Ray, was born in Fairview township, Butler county, January 30, 1836, and spent his boyhood days upon the farm with his parents. On November 21, 1861, he married Tirza McConnell, a daughter of John B. McConnell. an early settler of Parker township. They located on their present homestead, a portion of the Ray tract, containing 145 acres of well improved land. Mr. Ray is one of the leading farmers of the town- ship, and his improvements are among the best in the locality. Ile has had fine oil production on his farm, and is prosperous and progressive. Mr. Ray and wife are the parents of four children, as follows: Anna, wife of R. E. English ; Emma ; Charles, deceased, and Daisy. The family are members of the United Presbyterian church, at Fairview, in which he served as elder and trustee for many years, and is at present clerk of the session. Politically, he is a stanch Democrat, has served twenty years on the school board, and twenty-five years as overseer of the poor. Mr. Ray is one of the representative and enter- prising citizens of his native township.

PAUL MCDERMOTT, a native of Donegal county, Ireland, came to Pennsyl- vania, and settled in Westmoreland county, where he married Margaret Christie. About 1796 they came to Fairview township, Butler county, purchased 500

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acres of land, erected a cabin near the site of Karns City, and commenced the life of pioneers. Both spent the remainder of their lives upon this property. Mrs. MeDermott died in 1830, and her husband, in ISH, the latter living to the advanced age of ninety-three years. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom grew up, viz. : Edward; Mary, who married James Mc Elwee : Robert ; James, and Paul.

ROBERT MCDERMOTT, son of Paul and Margaret MeDermott, was born in Fairview township, Butler county, May 31, 1795, and was reared upon the home- stead near Karns City. During the War of 1812 he ran away from home to enter the service, but was rejected on account of his youth. He afterwards become a captain in an early militia company and took a deep interest in military affairs. He was a great hunter and a splendid rifle shot, and many a bear, deer, etc., fell a victim to his unerring aim. In 1823 he married Jane Wilson, a daughter of Will- iam Wilson, who bore him a family of five children, as follows: Mary Ann, who married George Emerick ; William ; Jane, who married James Ray ; Mar- garet, and Nancy, all of whom are dead. Mrs. McDermott died afte: s.me years of married life, and on February 4, ISH, he married Fannie Martin, a native of Fairview township, born February 14, ISIS, and a daughter of Robert and Emily Martin, early settlers of this locality. They took up their residence on the old homestead, in a little log cabin built in 1923, which is still standing and in a good state of preservation. Mrs. MeDermott often clipped wool from the sheep, and carded, spun and wove the same into clothing for her family. She is the mother of eleven children, ten of whom grew to manhood and woman- hood, as follows : Emily, wife of D. Mclaughlin; Sarah. who died in Iss0 ; Alvira, wife of M. Banks : James P. ; Edward : Robert Ross ; Anita F., who died in 1851 ; Minerva, wife of F. G. Brown ; Ida, and John C. Mr. McDermott died February 22, 1877. Ile was a member of Fairview United Presbyterian church, an active Democrat, and held various official positions. He was one of the carly school teachers of the county, and a thoroughly progressive, enterprising citizen. Ilis worthy wife still survives and resides upon the old homestead. She too was a teacher in the public schools. In May, 1837, she joined the Fairview United Presbyterian church, and is still a member of that society. Although well advanced in years she possesses a remarkably clear memory, and can relate many incidents of pioneer days and trials.

ROBERT ROSS MCDERMOTT. son of Robert and Fanny McDermott, was born on the farm where he now resides, June 9, 1851, and was reared in his native township. He early became interested in the oil industry, and has followed that business very successfully. In 1854 he purchased the old homestead. On September 9, 1850, he married Rheuemma MeCollough, a dangh- ter of l'eter McCollough, of Fairview township. He is an ardent Democrat, and has filled various township offices. Mr. MeDermott is a member of Derrick Lodge, Number 156, K. of P., of Karns City, and is recognized as one of the enterprising and progressive farmers of his township.

WILLIAM WILSON, SB., a native of Ireland, came with his wife and family to Pennsylvania after the Revolutionary war, and settled in Lancaster county. In the year 1800 he journeyed across the mountains to Butler county, and pur-

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chased a tract of 400 acres of wild land from a man named Hall. in what is now Fairview township, the consideration being $150. fle cleared a small space, erected a log cabin twelve feet square, where the town of Petrolia now stands. and there this pioncer family took up their abode, being among the first settlers of this part of the county. Their nearest and most numerous neigh- bors were the wild animals that roamed through the forest and surrounded the cabin at night. Greensburg was the nearest trading point, the trip to that town requiring two weeks to make. Some years later Mr. Wilson erected a log dwelling half a mile west of his first location, where both he and wife spent the remainder of their lives. He died August 31. 1839, aged eighty-six. Mrs. Wil- son died April 5, 1838, aged eighty-three years. They were the parents of eight children, all of whom are dead, as follows : Robert : William ; Jane, who mar- ried Robert McDermott : Nancy, who married Edward McDermott ; James ; Armstrong ; John, and Thomas.

JAMES WILSON, son of William Wilson, Sr .. was born in Lancaster county, April 6, 1795, and was but two years old when his parents settled in Butler county. His mother made the trip on horseback, and carried him in her arms the greater part of the way. He grew to maturity in the new country, sur- rounded by privations and enjoying the limited advantages which fell to the lot of the youth of that period. In 1825 he married Sarah Hutcheson, a native of Westmoreland county, born September 22, 1798, a daughter of William Hutche- son, one of the early settlers of Parker township. Having learned the tanner's trade in boyhood, Mr. Wilson located in Lawrenceburg after his marriage, where he engaged in the tanning business, but later settled on a farm in Parker town- ship. In 1843 they took up their residence on a portion of the Wilson home- stead, in Fairview township, where Mrs. Wilson died, August 10, 1886, and her husband. September 1, following, their deaths occurring only a few weeks apart. Both were members of the United Presbyterian church, of Fairview, in which he filled the office of elder for several years. They were the parents of the follow- ing children : Margaret W .. wife of John Jameson ; William; Eleanor J., deceased wife of George H. Graham ; Martha, deceased wife of William Gibson, and James A. of Fairview township. Mr. Wilson was a Democrat until the organization of the Republican party, when he espoused its principles and con- tinued to support that organization until his death. He filled various township positions of trust during his residence therein, and was one of the respected pio- neers of the community.

WILLIAM WILSON, eldest son of James and Sarah Wilson, was born in Lawrenceburg, December 7, 1831, came to Butler county with his parents and grew to maturity under the parental roof. His educational advantages were such as the early schools afforded, which he attended during the winter season for a few weeks each year. Until his fifteenth year his clothing consisted of the coarse homespun of the period. After reaching his maturity he commenced working out at ten dollars a month, later engaged at the carpenter's trade, and followed that business as a journeyman for twelve years. He resided some years in Oil City, and was engaged in the oil industry. In 1872 he returned to Petrolia, and conducted the home farm for his father. He now owns 121 acres

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of the original tract, upon which he resides, and devotes his attention to agricul- tural pursuits. Mr. Wilson was married, December 31, 1862, to Lucinda Shell, a native of Clarion county, who died in Oil City, in 1865. He was again mar- ried, October 25, 1883, to Emma M. Gilfillan, a daughter of James G. and Mary A. Gilfillan, a pioneer family of Mercer county. They have an adopted son, Willie LeRoy, aged six years. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are members of the United Presbyterian church, of Fairview, in which he has served as trustee. He has always been a Republican, and enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Thirty- seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, August 9, 1862. He served in the Army of the Potomac, participated in the battles of Antietam, Chancellorsville, and the Virginia campaign, and was honorably discharged on June 3, 1563.

JAMES ARMSTRONG WILSON, son of James and Sarah Wilson, was born upon the Wilson homestead in Fairview township, Butler county, December 25, 1839, spent his boyhood days upon the farm and received a common school edu- cation in the little log school house of the neighborhood. On June 16, 1861, he enlisted in Company II, One Hundred and Second Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was mustered into service at Harrisburg. His regiment joined the Army of the Potomac, and he participated in the battles of Seven Pines, Fair Oaks, Harri- son's Landing, and Malvern Hill, and followed his regiment through all the vary- ing fortunes of war, in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Cold IIar- bor, etc. He was twice wounded, once in a skirmish at Salem Church, and again in the Wilderness. He was taken prisoner before Petersburg, was sent to Belle Island and thence to Andersonville, where he was confined six months. He was then exchanged and returned home on furlough, where he was ill for three months. After recovering he joined his regiment, but the Confederacy had crumbled away, Lee had surrendered and the war was over. He was honorably discharged July 5, 1865, after participating with his regiment in the grand review at Washing- ton. Returning to his home Mr. Wilson engaged in farming, which vocation he has followed up to the present. In February, 1873, he married Martha McGar- vey, a daughter of William McGarvey, of Fairview township. Two children were born to this union, viz. : Robert N., and Maggie May. In 1878 Mr. Wilson located upon his present homestead at Fairview, a portion of the tract entered by his grandfather. In 1884 he erected a substantial residence, one of the most com- modious farm houses in the township. The family are connected with the United Presbyterian church, in which Mr. Wilson is superintendent of the Sabbath school, while his wife takes an active interest in woman's work. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, is a member of the borough council and school board, and also fills the office of assessor. Ile is a member of the Union Veteran Legion at Butler, and is one of the patriotic citizens of the community.

ISAAC REEP, SR., was born upon the site of Philadelphia, and when a lad of ten years of age carried supplies to the soldiers in the Continental army, in which his father was serving. He grew to manhood upon the homestead farm, married a Miss Bash, and in 180I came to Butler county, making the journey in a wagon, and entered a tract of 400 acres of land on the line of Fairview and Parker town- ships. It was covered with an unbroken forest, in the midst of which he built a cabin and began the work of making a home. Mr. and Mrs. Reep reared a family 63

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of five children, and resided upon their original settlement the balance of their lives.

ISAAC REEP, son of Isaac Reep, Sr., was born near Philadelphia, in 1787. and came to Butler county with his parents when fourteen years of age. He grew to maturity here, and served in the War of 1812. Hle married Mary Pontius, a native of eastern Pennsylvania, and settled on a portion of the Reep homestead, near the village of Fairview, where both he and wife resided until death. Mr. Reep died July 2, 1863, and his wife, March 9, IsSO, aged eighty-three years. They were members of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and the parents of thir- teen children, only three of whom are now living. The names of their children are as follows: Elizabeth; John; Isaac ; Gabriel; Samuel: William; Mary; Jacob : Ilenry ; Lewis ; Eli ; Catherine, and Solomon. Of these William, Eli and Catherine survive.

ELI REEP, son of Isaac and Mary Reep, was born upon the homestead in Fairview township, June 14, 1832. He was reared upon the farm, assisting his father in the home duties, and obtaining a meager education in the subscription school of the neighborhood, to which he was compelled to walk three miles through the forest. Ile was afterward- engaged on Oil creek in drilling and operating. He was married, August 22, 1861, to Mary J. Benninghoff, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Benninghoff, of Venango county, where she was born July 24, 1839. They settled on a part of the Reep homestead, where they lived until September, [884, and then removed to Fairview borough. Mr. Reep still owns 180 acres of the tract entered by his grandfather. on which there are two produc- ing oil wells, Of their six children, four are living, viz. : Jobn W .; Eli E. ; Etta A., and Achsah J. The family are connected with the Methodist Episco- pal church. Though formerly a Republican, Mr. Reep is now a Prohibitionist ; ha- served three years as borough assessor, and has also been a member of the borough council. He has always been active in church affairs, and has served many years as steward, trustee and class leader.

ALEXANDER BAIRD STOREY was born September 1, 1506. llis parents, James and Hannah ( Baird) Storey, were natives of Ireland and pioneers of Fair- view township, Butler county, settling upon a tract of unimproved land near the site of Karns City. James Storey was a soldier in the War of 1812, and died March 17, 1815. Hle was the father of four sons and one daughter, all deceased but Thomas, of Worthington, Pennsylvania. The subject of this sketch married Juliet Campbell, who was born in Fairview township. November 14, 1820. They resided some time at Brady's Bend, but returned to Fairview township about 1849 and spent the remaining years of their lives upon a farm in this town- ship. Mr. Storey died June 6. 1882, and his wife, January 2. ISS1. They reared a family of eight children, as follows : William C., of Brady's Bend ; James B., who enlisted in Company II, Thirteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, in 1861, re-enlisted in Company 11, One Hundred and Second Pennsylvania Vol- unteers, was twice wounded at Petersburg, losing his left hand thereby, was discharged from service, took a course at Iron City Commercial College, served one term as sheriff of Butler county, and was subsequently appointed to a position in the auditor general's office, where he was serving at the time of his death,

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October 28, 1889; Hannah J., wife of J. L. Shaner, of Clarion county ; Alexan- der W., a druggist of North Clarendon; Townsend R. ; Juliet 1., deceased ; Almira M., wife of J. S. Jamison, of Armstrong county, and Edna C., wife of D. II. Wheeler, of Fairview township.

TOWNSEND R. STOREY was born in Fairview township, Butler county, June 24, 1850, son of Alexander Baird and Juliet Storey. He grew to maturity upon his father's farm, and in 1875 engaged as a pumper and soon afterwards embarked in oil producing. In 1588 he went into the drug business at Edenburg. Clarion county, and in 1892 located at Karns City, where he established and has since carried on the same business. Mr. Storey was married March 15, ISSI. to Eliz- abeth O., a daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth Storey, of Parker township. They have one daughter, Juliet Elizabeth. He is a Republican in politics, and has served as a member of the borough council. He is a prominent member of Karns City Lodge, Number 931, 1. O. O. F., and of Derrick Lodge, Number 456, K. of P.

DAVID RANKIN, a native of Ireland, immigrated to Pennsylvania at an early day and settled on 200 acres of land in what is now Fairview township, Butler county, which he cleared and improved. He married Elizabeth Wallace, a daughter of John Wallace. She was born in Ireland and came with her parents to Maryland when a girl, whence the family removed to Butler county in IS06, and settled in what is now Fairview township. Mr. Rankin carried on a distillery upon his farm for some years, and died March 15, 1813. His widow survived him more than half a century, dying in April, 1869. They were the parents of four children, named as follows : William ; Jane. deceased wife of Josiah Som- merville ; Joseph, and David C.

DAVID C. RANKIN, the only surviving child of David Rankin, was born upon his father's farm in Fairview township, March 19, 1SIB, a few days after the death of his father. He grew up under the care of his widowed mother, and enjoyed the limited advantages of pioneer days. In September. 1 35. he married Nancy Moore, a daughter of Andrew and Annie ( Storey) Moore, who was born in Butler county, September 27, 1817. They lived for some years upon the old homestead, and then removed to the western part of the town-hip, locating upon their present farm, near the village of Fairview, in the spring of ISTs. Mr. Rankin and wife are the parents of sixteen children. six of whom are living. and are among the oldest citizens of the township. They are members of the United Presbyterian church. He has been a Republican since the formation of that party, and has filled various township offices.

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 126

Author: Brown, Robert C., ed; Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Meagher, John, jt. comp; Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899, jt. comp Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago : R. C. Brown Number of Pages: 1658

Author: Brown, Robert C., ed; Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Meagher, John, jt. comp; Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899, jt. comp
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1658