History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 133

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania > Part 133

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DAVID PATTON, son of Robert and Rebecca Patton, was born in Concord township, Butler county, April 27, 1822, and grew to maturity upon the home- stead farm. His advantages for obtaining an education were limited to a few months each year at a subscription school. Upon the death of his father he inherited the old homestead, where his entire life has been passed. Though formerly a Republican, he is now a Prohibitionist. He has held various town- ship offices, and is a member of Concord Grange.

HENRY KUIN was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. March 30,

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IS05, and when about eight years old came with his parents to Butler county. The journey across the mountains was made in a wagon, and they camped at night at the most convenient point on the road. The family settled in Allegheny township, on a tract of wild land, and there these sturdy pioneers began to hew out a home in the wilderness, where the balance of their lives was passed. Henry was the youngest in a family of five children, and during his boyhood assisted his parents on the farm. After reaching manhood he often made trips across the mountains for salt, which was a scarce article in pioneer days. When about twenty-five years of age he married Margaret Hawks, of Westmoreland county, who came to Marion township. Butler county. with her parents. Mr. Kuhn resided on a part of the old homestead in Allegheny township, until 1851, when they removed to a farm in what is now Concord township, which property is now owned by his sons. Here the parents died. the father in 1872, and the mother in 1879. They reared a family of six children. as follows: Alexander D .. born April 29, 1831, who was a merchant at Middletown for thirty-eight years, and died in April, 1893; Catherine. born September 14. 1832, married Campbell Hutchison, and died in December, 1891: John Coulter. born March 17, 1835, served in the Eleventh Pennsylvania Reserve, was wounded at the second battle of Bull Run, and died in the hospital at Alexandria : Henry. born February 1, 1837; Mc Allister. March 30, 1839; Lucinda 11., March 19. 1841, married W. J. Hutchison, and died in IS93.

Mc ALLISTER KUHN. youngest son of Henry and Margaret Kuhn. was born in Allegheny township, Butler county, March 30. 1839, and was reared in that township and upon the homstead in Concord township. On August 9. 1862, he enlisted in Company G. One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Pennsylvania Volun- teers, and served in the battles of South Mountain. Antietam, Chancellorsville, etc., and was honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of enlistment. In 1867 he married Sarah Ann Campbell, a daughter of Thomas J. and Mary (Meals) Campbell. and took up his residence on his present farm. He is the owner of 200 acres of well improved land, and is one of the leading farmers of his township. Five children have been born to McAllister and Sarah Ann Kuhn, named as follows: Mary E., wife of W. E. Duffy ; Maggie L., deceased ; Detmer T. : Frank M., and Jessie L. The family are connected with Concord Presby- terian church. and in politics, Mr. Kuhn is a stanch Republican.

JOSEPH EMERY, better known as " Trapper Joseph," was a native of New Jersey, of Dutch extraction. In 1807 he removed to what is now Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, bringing with him his father, and settled close to the But- ler county line. Ile was a fifer in a company from this part of the State in the War of 1812. and served at Erie with his command. The balance of his life was spent upon his farm on the Lawrence county line. where he was engaged in farm- ing and trapping, being one of the well known hunter's of pioneer days. lle was married in New Jersey to a Miss Hull, and their children were as follows : Jacob; John: William ; Joseph ; Henry ; Peter : Daniel; David; Maria, who married John Book ; Mrs. Fannie Campbell, and Mrs. Catherine Pounds.

WILLIAM EMERY. son of Joseph Emery, was born in New Jersey in 1801. and was reared in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania. At the age of fifteen he was

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bound out to Colonel Covert, of Brady township, Butler county, with whom he learned the carpenter's and cabinet maker's trades, which business he afterwards followed at various places for a few years. Ile then settled on a farm on the line between Butler and Lawrence counties, where he owned 100 acres of land. In connection with farming, he also worked at his trade the greater part of his life. In 1838 he and his brother Joseph purchased 200 acres of land in Washington township, Butler county. upon which he resided until within a few years of his death, when he sold his farm and made his home with his grand-daughter, Mrs. Lizzie McCandless. of Clay township, Butler county, where he died, March 20, 1889. llis wife. Elizabeth, died on December 20, 1574. She was a daughter of James McCune. They were the parents of fourteen children, seven of whom grew to maturity, whose names are as follows : Hannah, who married Samuel Meals : Robert N. ; Susannah, who married William Turner ; Mary, who mar- ried John Hartzell, and after his death John McCandless; Joseph. and William S., both residents of California, and Nancy E., who married James Blain. The family are adherents of the Presbyterian church. and in politics, Mr. Emery was a Republican.

ROBERT N. EMERY, eldest son of William and Elizabeth Emery, was born October 14, 1827, near the line of Butler and Lawrence counties. Ile received a common school education, and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in connection with teaching school. In 1862 he purchased his present farm of 100 acres, in Concord township, which he has since improved. In connection with his duties on the farm, he has taught school during the greater portion of his residence in this county. In 1864 he enlisted in Company B, Sixth Pennsyl- vania Artillery, and served until the close of the war. Mr. Emery married Sarah J. Turner, a daughter of William Turner, of Parker township, to which union have been born the following children : Elizabeth, deceased wife of Dr. Lysander Black, of Butler; Alwilda J., wife of James Pierce ; William J. ; Martha : John T .; Joseph McC., and Nelson R. Politically, Mr. Emery is a Republican, and has always taken an active interest in public affairs, Ile is a member of Concord Presbyterian church, and an eller in that organization. IIe is connected with Concord Grange, P. of II .. and is one of the leading farmers of his township.

JOHN THOMPSON was born in Down county, Ireland, April 6, 1833, son of Isaac and Elizabeth ( Bailey) Thompson. When fourteen years of age he came to the United States with his parents, and after some time spent at Kensington furnace, they settled in Washington township. Butler county, where both his father and mother died. John was reared upon the farm and received a common school education. In 1859 he married Naney Stoops, of Washington township, and settled in that part of the county. In September, 1864, he enlisted in Com- pany G, Fiftieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served with his regiment in the siege and capture of Petersburg. Ile was honorably discharged in June, 1865. and participated in the grand review at Washington. He returned to his home and resided there until 1851, in which year he purchased and located on his pres- ent farm in Concord township. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are the parents of five children. as follows: James B .. a physician at Prospect : Henry: William ; 66

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Della, and Elizabeth. Politically, Mr. Thompson is a Republican, and he is a member of the G. A. R.

SAMUEL FINDLEY, SR., was one of the pioneers of Clay township, But- ler county. where he settled in 1798. He built his cabin in the midst of an unbroken forest and spent the remaining years of his life in making a home for himself and family. He was a native of Ireland, and immigrated to West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, with his brother William, prior to the Revolu- lution. His brother was a soldier in the Continental army, and after peace was established, became one of the most distinguished legislators of the State. He was a member of the first Constitutional Convention of Pennsylvania, and was elected to Congress in 1790, as a Jeffersonian Democrat, and served in that body for twenty years. He wrote a treatise on the funding of the public debt, also a history of the Whiskey Insurrection in Pennsylvania, in 1794, which he assisted in quelling, and other political pamphlets. Ile died in Westmorland county, in April. 1529. Samuel Findley, Sr .. had three sons and three daughters who came with him to Butler county, and afterward became well known settlers. The sons were Samuel. Robert and David. The daughters were Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson, Mrs. Mary Christy and Mrs. Martha Milford. Samuel became a prominent minister in the United Presbyterian church, his field of labor for many years being in eastern Ohio, where he died in the latter part of the sixties. Rob- ert and David patented lands in Clay township, a portion of which yet remains in the Findley name. They spent their lives in Clay township, and both died in the year 1843. Samuel Findley, Sr., was commissioned by Governor McKean one of the associate judges of Butler county. July 4. 1803. and served on the bench until his death, in 1816. Hle was one of the prominent and influential cit- izens of the county during pioncer days.

DAVID FINDLEY, Son of Samuel Findley, Sr., was born in Westmoreland county. and came with his father to Butler county, in 1798. In 1812 he married Margaret Glenn, and reared a family of four children, viz. : Jane ; Samuel ; James, and Mary. Jane was married to Robert Hays, of Lancaster township, in 1851, and is yet living in Kansas. Samuel was married in 1852, to Sarah Hays and resides upon the homestead farm. His family consisted of seven children, six of whom are living, viz. : William C .; Mary: Eveline, deceased ; Chalmers : Clara : A. Lincoln, and Laura. James married Mary J. MeCandless, in 1853, and resides in Kansas, and Mary died in 1855. unmarried.

JAMES McJUNKIN was born in the north of Ireland, in 1768, immigrated to America after arriving at manhood, and in 1795 located upon a tract of 400 acres of land in what is now Clay township, Butler county, the larger part of which is still owned by his descendants. Hle slept the first night on a large, flat sandstone rock near where he had concluded to erect his cabin, which he built in the midst of the primitive forest. This building was used as a dwell- ing house down to 1830, when a large hewed-log house was erected, which sub- sequently gave place to a more substantial brick structure. Soon after coming to this county he married Asenath Turk, by whom he had three children, viz. : David: William, and Mary, all deceased. His wife lived but a few years, and he was again married, in ISIS. to Nancy Turner. a daughter of James Turner, one

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

of the first settlers of Parker township. She was born in Ireland, and was only two years old when her parents immigrated to the United State -. Eight chil- dren were the fruits of this union, as follows : Mary Ann, and James T., both de- ceased ; Hannah, wife of Isaac Hall, of Cherry township : Samuel, deceased ; John R. ; Sarah J., deceased wife of William A. Christie, of Centre township : Martha, deceased, and Susannah, wife of James Rose, of Centre township. Mr. Mc Junkin died March 6. [833. After the death of her husband the widow struggled bravely to rear her family and retain the land which he had entered, but through the sharp practice of land jobbers, she lost three-fourths of it. Her son, John R .. finally succeeded in after years in obtaining possession of 350 acres of the original tract. Mrs. Mc Junkin died February 25, IS5S. The parents were members of the Presbyterian church, to which denomination most of the Mc Junkin family adhere.

JOHN R. McJUNKIN was born upon his present farm in Clay township, Butler county, April 27, 1825, and is the third son of James and Nancy (Turner ) McJunkin. His father died when John R. was in his eighth year, and when he arrived at the age of sixteen he became the main support of his mother and took charge of the homestead farm. Through untiring industry he was enabled to repurchase the lands which his mother had lost through the chicanery of land jobbers, and he has resided on this farm up to the present. Mr. Mc Junkin was married May >, 1856. to Mary Hays. She was born in Connoquenessing town- ship, Butler county, in 1827, and was the mother of five children, as follows : Agnes, wife of William Timblin, of Clarion county : Harriet L., wife of Robert C. Thompson ; Elizabeth, a teacher in the Butler public schools : James Elmer, an oil operator of Butler, and John W., deceased. Mrs, Me Jukin died December 29, 1863 On January 15, 1866, Mr. Mc Junkin married Amanda Clark, of Craw- ford county. to which union were born two children : Amanda Eva, and Imelda J., deceased. Mrs. Mc Junkin died February 24, Iss5. The family are members of the Presbyterian church, and politically, Mr. MeJunkin is a Prohi- bitionist. Ile has been justice of the peace four terms, school director several terms, and overseer of the poor for many years. His homestead contains 415 acres, is finely improved, and he devotes particular attention to the breeding of fine sheep, and other stock, and has been extensively engaged in oil producing. He is one of the most progressive farmers in Butler county, and gives liberally of his means towards every worthy object.

JOHN W. MeJUNKIN, youngest child of John R. and Mary ( Hays) Mc Jun- kin, was born December 24, 1863, upon the McJunkin homestead in Clay town- ship. He received his primary education in the public schools, and completed his studies at the West Sunbury Academy, then commenced teaching in the winter seasons and working on the farm in summer. He was united in marriage October 22. 1890, to Anna Stewart, a daughter of A. G. Stewart. of Whites- town. One son was born to this union, George Herbert, who died in infancy. Mr. Mc Junkin resided on a portion of the old homestead until his death, Febru- ary 10, 1895. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and politically. a Republican.

JOHN MECHLING, SR., was a son of Jacob Mechling, a native of Germany.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

who first settled in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, thence removed to West- moreland county, where he died. John was born in Northampton county, Sep- tember 80, 1765, grew to manhood there and in Westmoreland county. and came to Butler county with his brother Jacob in 1796. They entered a large tract of land in what is now Washington township, built their cabins in the midst of the forest and began the work of clearing a farm. Jacob afterwards removed to the borough of Butler, went into the hotel business, and became quite prominent in the early official life of the county. John Mechling remained on his farm in Washington township until his death in 1829. He married Margaret Saams, born June 6, 1768, who bore him the following children : Mary, born March 14, 1794; Catherine, February 6, 1796; William, March 5, 1795; Elizabeth, May 30, 1800; John, March 29, 1802; Margaret, March 18, 1804; Joseph, May 26, 1806; Sarah. February 21, 1809; Harriet, June 18, 1811, and Esther, August 7, 1814, all of whom are deceased. The parents were members of the Presbyterian church, and died in that faith.

WILLIAM MECHLING, eldest son of John Mechling, was born in what is now Washington township, Butler county, March 5, 1795, grew up inured to the trials and hardships of pioneer life, and engaged in the usual avocations of a farmer's son. About the year 1824, he married Catherine Kuhn, of Venango township, to which union were born eight children, as follows: George W., a minister of the Presbyterian church; John; Henry K .; Joseph : Sophia ; Isaac: William S., who died December 1, 1892, and Lycurgus, a Presbyterian minister. Mr. Mechling lived in Concord township from his marriage until 1852, in which vear he removed to Scioto county, Ohio, where he died, July 29. 1870. His wife died in this county in 1851, a year before he removed to Ohio. They were members of the Presbyterian church. and earnest supporters of that denomina- tion. In politie -. he was originally a Whig. and afterwards a Republican, but took very little interest in public affairs.

JOHN MECHLING was born in Concord township. Butler county, April 22. 1827, and was reared upon his father's farm, receiving his education in the neigh- borhood subscription school. He learned the carpenter's trade, and located at West Sunbury in 1849. Hle worked at his trade in connection with wagon-mak- ing down to 1875, when he embarked in the furniture and undertaking business, which he still carries on. On December 23, 1852. he married Martha Dunlap. a daughter of Thomas Dunlap, of West Sunbury, and they are the parents of the following children : Albert: George W., and Emma S., both deceased ; Chloe, wife of Howard C. Pryor ; Minnie, wife of Samuel Hunt, and Florence. Mr. Mechling was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a trustee, class leader and Sabbath school superintendent until 1892, when he joined the United Presbyterian church. In politics, he is an ardent Prohibitionist, has filled the offices of school director, overseer of the poor, etc., and is the present burgess of West Sunbury.

GLENN FAMILY .- In 1808 Joseph, John. James, William and Samuel Glenn, sons of James and Janet ( Sterling) Glenn. natives of York county, Pennsyl- vania, who had removed to Westmoreland county, came from the latter county with their mother and three sisters, to Butler county, and located on lands in

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Clay township previously purchased by their father, who died prior to effecting a settlement. Joseph married Anni- McElvaine; John married Dorcas McEl- vaine ; James married Anna Campbell ; William married Rebecca Porter, and Samuel married Jane Conway. The sisters were Mrs. Margaret Findley, Mrs. Mary Cowden, and Mrs. Porter. Their mother was a shrewd business woman. and to her foresight was largely due the purchase of the Glenn lands in Clay township. All of the sons and daughters reared families, and many of their descendants are living in Butler county.

JOHN GLENN came from Westmoreland county with his mother and brothers, and settled on a part of the land previously purchased by his father. He was captain of a company in the War of 1812, and filled the office of justice of the peace for many years. He married Dorcas McElvaine, who bore him seven children, as follows : Samuel ; Annis, wife of John Daubenspeck ; Mary E. ; John C .; Sarah M., wife of D. P. Kelly; Amy, wife of A. G. Campbell, and Robinson, who died in infancy. Mr. Glenn died in January, 1874, at the ripe age of eighty-two years. He was one of the well known men of pioneer days, and many of the present generation remember him.

SAMUEL GLENN was born in Clay township, upon his present farm, June 1. 1830, and is a son of John and Dorcas (McElvaine) Glenn, natives of West- moreland county. Ile was the eldest in a family of seven children, and when eighteen years of age commenced teaching school. He taught until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Penn sylvania Volunteers. He served in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville and Crampton Gap, and was discharged June 1, 1863. He returned home and taught school for six years, was elected county superintendent of schools in 1869, and filled that office three years. He then taught and farmed alternately, until 1883, when he gave up teaching and has since devoted his whole attention to his farm. Mr. Glenn was married March 13, 1872, to Maggie C., a daughter of John Christley, of Slippery Rock township, to whom have been born three children : Florence E., Edwin L., and Karl D. Mrs. Glenn died October 26, 1892, aged fifty-one years. The family are members of the Presby- terian church. Politically, Mr. Glenn is a Republican and is connected with Dickson Post, G. A. R., of West Sunbury.

JAMES C. GLENN is a son of James and Anna (Campbell) Glenn, and a grandson of James and Janet (Sterling) Glenn. His father inherited a part of the lands purchased by his grandfather in what is now Clay township, Butler county, and resided there until his death, in December, ISSI, aged seventy-six years. His father reared a family of nine children, seven of whom are living. The subject of this sketch was born upon the homestead farm, in Clay township, December 4, 1840, and was the fifth in the family. After arriving at the age of twenty-two years, his father gave him his present farm, and he has since devoted his attention to agriculture. Mr. Glenn was married October 9, 1862, to Mary E. Christie, daughter of James Christie, of Washington township. She died October 28, 1863, and he was again married, September 21, 1865. to Amanthus Campbell, a daughter of Robert Campbell, of Parker township. Eight children are the fruits of this union, viz. : Adice O .; Thomas M .; Zilla D .; Mary D .;

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

Robert K .; Harvey J. ; Clare C .. and one that died in infancy. The family are connected with the Presbyterian church, and politically, Mr. Glenn is a Repub- lican.

JACOB BROWN, SR., was born in Germany in 1783, and came to Pennsyl- vania with his parents, who settled in Westmoreland county. About 1801 he located in Clay township. Butler county, on a tract of 400 acres, his home being where Mrs. James Cochran now lives. He walked from Logan's Ferry to his new settlement in Butler county, carrying his provisions on his back. In the spring of 1802 he married Mary Catharine Fleeger, being then in his nineteenth year, and the young couple took up their home in a small log cabin which he had erected on his land. Three sons and two daughters were the fruits of this union, viz. : John; Christian ; Jacob ; Catherine, widow of Jacob Fleeger, and Mary E., who married Henry Miller, all of whom are deceased except Mrs. Fleeger. The mother died February 28, 1819. Mr. Brown married for his second wife Eliza- beth Osenbaugh, who bore him three children, all of whom survive, as follows : Henry; Thomas, and Mary, who first married William Young, and second to Joseph Rinker. Mr. Brown's death occurred on July 3, 1837, and he and wife were buried close to his house ; his son Jacob erected a monument to mark their last rest- ing place. They were members of the Lutheran church, and died in that faith. At his death his tract of 400 acres was left to his children, and is still in posses- sion of his descendants.

JOHN BROWN, son of Jacob and Mary Catherine Brown, was born in 1804, in Clay township, Butler county, and grew to manhood in this county. He married Margaret Miller, who became the mother of six children, viz. : Jacob, who died October 16, 1859; Isaiah, a resident of Centre township; John M., of Clay township; Alfred H., also a resident of Clay; Rosanna, wife of Jacob Brown, of Clay township, and Sarah, wife of Nelson Borland. The parents were Presbyterians, and spent their lives in Butler county. Margaret Brown died May 6, 1859, and John Brown, January 25, 188%.

JOHN M. BROWN, third son of John and Margaret Brown, was born Febru- ary 23, 1837, in Clay township, Butler county, receiving his education in the public schools, and has followed farming since boyhood. Mr. Brown was mar- ried, January 19, 1862, to Margaret Miller, of Clay township. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and politically, Mr. Brown is a Republican. He is the owner of 150 acres of well improved land, upon which he has recently erected one of the most substantial homes in the township. He devotes consid- erable attention to stock-raising, and is a well informed, progressive farmer.

CHRISTAIN BROWN was a son of Jacob Brown, and was born in Clay township, December 10. IS09. He was reared upon his father's farm, and fol- lowed that vocation all his life. On February 25, 1836, he married Nancy Gor- don, to whom were born six children, viz .: Samuel, deceased ; Maria J., wife of George Brown : Margaret, deceased ; Mary M., wife of Matthew Brown ; James M., of Clay township, and Henry J., of the same subdivision. Mr. Brown died June 30, 1854.

HENRY J. BROWN was born in Clay township, Butler county, son of Chris- tian Brown. When eighteen years of age he commenced to learn the carpenter's

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

trade, which he has followed more or less ever since. He owns and cultivates a farm of forty-seven acres, a portion of the old homestead. Mr. Brown was married October 14, 1875, to Christina Holstein, a daughter of Philip Holstein, which union has been blessed with five children, as follows : Etta, deceased ; Charles A. ; Minnie E. ; Adelia, and an infant, deceased. The family are mem- ber- of the Lutheran church. In politics, Mr. Brown is a Republican, and has filled the offices of assessor, constable, collector and school director in his town- ship.

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 133

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