History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 152

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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ISAAC N. WRIGHT, youngest son of William and Sarah Wright, was born in AAllegheny county, Pennsylvania, June 3. 1842, and spent his boyhood days in his native county. He was married November 28, 1565, to Susan Killian, born January 11. 1845. She is a daughter of Henry and Mary Killian, natives of Ger- many and Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, respectively. Her father died in Allegheny county, December 21, 1877, aged seventy-one years, but her mother is still living at the advanced age of eighty-three years. In January, 1855, Mr. Wright located on his present farm in Cranberry township, Butler county. He is the father of six children, as follows : Ida M., wife of John Steele, of Roches- ter. Pennsylvania : Henry C .; Clark II. ; Earle E. ; Gilbert W., and Albert R. Mr. and Mrs. Wright are members of Dutillh Methodist Episcopal church. in which he has been superintendent of the Sabbath school. He is a Republican in politics, and was elected justice of the peace in 1887 and re-elected in 1992.

GEORGE GAERTNER, a prominent German citizen of Cranberry township, Butler county, was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany. September 22, 1822, and is a son of Christian and Catharine Gaertner. He came to the United States with his parents in 1826. They settled in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. subsequently removed to Beaver county, and later resided near Zelienople, in Butler county, whence they returned to Beaver county and there died. At the age of sixteen the subject of this sketch hired out for three years, at the rate of fifty dollars per year, and thus commenced life for himself. He followed various occupations

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

until 1\16, in which year he married Christina Metz, a native of Alsace-Lor- raine. Germany, whence she came with her parents to America. The young couple resided in Beaver county until 1865, when they purchased their home- stead in Cranberry township, upon which Mr. Gaertner has resided for nearly thirty years. Six children were born to this union, as follows : Caroline, wife of Andrew Voerker; Lizzie, deceased : Henry, of Cranberry township ; Margaret, wife of Andrew Kirshler : George, of Cranberry township. and Sophia. deceased. Mrs. Gaertner died in 1886. in the Lutheran faith, to which denomination her husband also belongs, being an elder in that church. He is a Republican, in polities, and has been supervisor in his township for three years.

JOHN BARNET REICHLE was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, in 1537. grew to manhood in his native land. and served six years in the Royal Cavalry. In 1866 he immigrated to New York, possessing no capital but pluck. determina- tion and energy, thence came to Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, where he worked in the mines, and later located at Pittsburg and found employment in an iron mill. Hle afterwards engaged as a teamster, and during his residence in Pittsburg he married Maggie Bergman. In the meantime he had saved some money, and, in ISSJ, purchased his present farm in Cranberry township, Butler county, paying cash for the same from his accumulated earnings. His farm con- tains sixty acres, is well improved and has a number of good oil wells upon it. Mr. and Mrs. Reichle are the parents of ten children. Politically. he is a Demo- erat. and is a worthy, prosperous fariner.

MATTHEW WHITE, Son of Alexander White, was a native of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and removed with his family from the site of Wilkins- burg. AAllegheny county, to Connoquenessing township. Butler county, in May, 1799. He was then the "fullest handed" settler in that locality, and a man above the average in education and intelligence. The village of Whitestown was founded by him and named in his honor. He died on his farm in IS13. His wife was Frances Spear, who survived him many years, and was known among the pioneers as " Aunt Fanny." Their infant son. John, was the first interment in Mt. Nebo graveyard. in August. 1801. Three sons, Alexander, Andrew Spear and Edward. grew to manhood. Alexander White. Sr., was a slaveholder, and divided his slaves among his children. Eleanor Troy, better known as " Black Nell," he gave to his daughter Annie, wife of Alexander Gal- braith, of Centre township : one " Pomp," a mulatto, he gave to his son James, who settled at Waterford. Erie county, and . George Mitchell." a mulatto, became the property of his son Matthew. Alexander White, eldest son of Matthew White, spent his life at Whitestown. His son. Robert A .. resides in Butler. The second son of Matthew White, Andrew Spear White, married Ange- lina Ford, who bore him one daughter, Jane. She married Matthew MeCollough, and was the mother of A. W. McCollough, of Butler. Edward White married Elizabeth Sullivan, a daughter of Charles Sullivan, a pioneer of Franklin town- ship. She bore him eight children, six of whom are living. Matthew White and wife were among the founders of Mt. Nebo Presbyterian church. They and many of their descendants have been sleeping the years away in Mt. Nebo burial

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ground, where long rows of little mounds, whose green curtains never outward swing, mark the resting place of the family.

WILLIAM SPEAR, a Revolutionary soldier, who married Barbara White, familiarly known as " Aunt Babby," came to Butler county in 1799. with Mat- thew White and family. He settled in what is now Franklin township, not far from the site of Prospect, where the remaining years of his life were passed. He and wife were among the organizers of Mt. Nebo Presbyterian church, and when death came they were laid at rest in the old graveyard near by, where many of their descendants sleep in peace. Two of their sons, Andrew and Matthew. were prominent physicians of pioneer days. Another son, Edward, settled at War- ren, Ohio, to which place his brother William afterwards removed. The former. who died at Warren a few years ago at a ripe old age, was the father of Judge William Spear, the present chief justice of Ohio.

LEONARD SHANNON was born on the Atlantic, during the passage of his par- ents from Ireland to America. They settled in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, where Leonard grew to maturity. He learned the wagon-maker's trade in Phila- delphia. subsequently located in Cumberland county, where he filled the office of sheriff for one term. In 1799 he came to Butler county, and settled in Franklin township, where he took up a tract of 400 acres of land, and engaged in farming and wagon-making. He married Jane Walker, a daughter Robert Walker, of Washington. D. C., to which union the following children were born : David ; Rachel ; Sarah ; Joseph ; John; Mary, who married William Gibson ; Betsey : Jane, who married a Mr. Berger ; Hannah, who married Robert MeGinnis, and Samuel W., all of whom are deceased. Mr. Shannon was a man of great physi- cal strength and undaunted courage, and was well fitted by nature for the trial- and hardships of pioneer life. He resided upon his farm in Connoquenessing township until his death, in 1543. In early life he was an adherent of the Democratic party, but afterwards became a Whig. Ile was a prominent mem- ber of the Masonic order, and in religious belief, was a member of the Presby- terian church, in which denomination he filled several offices at different period -.

DAVID SHANNON, eldest son of Leonard and Jane Shannon, was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1794, and came with his parents to Frank - lin township, Butler county, in 1799. He attended the pioneer subscription schools in early boyhood, and subsequently learned the blacksmith's trade in Pittsburg. Returning to Butler county he followed his trade at Whitestown, purchased 350 acres of land in Connoquenessing township, and followed farming in connection with his trade. In 1818 he married Ann White, a daughter of Matthew and Fanny White. They became the parents of eight children, viz : John L. ; Matthew W. : Fanny, who married Matthew McCollough ; Rachel, who became the wife of Alfred Hines ; Betsy, deceased ; David : Mary, decea-ed wife of Robert Lemmon, and Samuel, deceased. Mr. Shannon was a stanch Democrat, served as justice of the peace for several years, and also filled the office of coroner. He was at one time connected with the Butler Repository, as editor. He died in 1876, and his wife in 1875.

Jonx L. SHANNON, eldest son of David and Ann Shannon, was born in Connoquenessing township, Butler county, in 1819, attended the pioneer schools

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

of his neighborhood, and was reared a farmer, which business has been his life vocation. He married Margaret Cabel, a daughter of Daniel and Catherine Cabel, who became the mother of seven children, viz. : Henderson, who was killed in the Rebellion : David, deceased ; Emmeline, deceased wife of J. W. Gibson ; Jane, wife of John Barr; Maggie, deceased ; Charles, and Quincy Gil- more. Mrs. Shannon died in 1891. She was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, to which denomination her husband belongs. He held the offices of steward and trustee in the church for a great number of years, and is one of the pioneer members of that church in Connoquenessing township. Mr. Shan- non is one of the substantial citizens of his native county, in which his entire life ha- been passed.

WILLIAM BRANDON was born in New Jersey, January 19, 1756, and was a son of Thomas Brandon, a native of Ireland, who settled in that State and was the father of two sons and one daughter. Thomas was a great-grandson of Col. William Brandon, who came from Holland to Fermanagh county, Ireland. in 1600. On April 1, 1776. William Brandon enlisted in the Continental army, and served one year and nine months. He participated in the battles of White Plains, Trenton. Princeton and Brandywine, and in 1821 he was granted a pen- -ion by the Pennsylvania legislature as a reward for his services in the Revolu- tion. In 1751 he married Sarah Livingston, born in New Jersey, June S, 1753, and in 1798 came from AAdams county, to Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and located on Wolf creek. Here the parents spent the remaining years of their lives, dying in March, 1826, and June, 1812, respectively. Their children were is follows : John : William ; Henry ; James ; Thomas, and Sally.

JOHN BRANDON, eldest son of William and Sarah Brandon, was born near Gettysburg. York county (now Adams), Pennsylvania, July 4. 1782, and came with his parents to Mercer county in 1798, where he grew to manhood. Early in the present century he settled in what is now Forward township, Butler county, purchasing 140 acres of land where his son, James Brandon, now lives. He died at the home of his son, John W., in Connoquenessing township. June 13, 1873, at the remarkable age of ninety-one years. Mr. Brandon was one of the early members of Mt. Nebo Presbyterian church. Although his name does not appear in the roster of Butler county pioneers who went out in the War of 1>12, it is claimed by his descendants that he served in that war. He was orig- inally a Whig and afterwards a Republican, and served as county commissioner one term. In 1804 he married Susan Welsh, and they were the parents of five children : William ; John W. ; Thomas ; Sarah, who married Jacob Cleffer, and after his death Rudolph Kelker. and Mary, who became the wife of George Marvin.

JOHN W. BRANDON, Second son of John and Sarah Brandon, was born upon the homestead in Forward township, Butler county, September 6, 1814. le grew to manhood beneath the parental roof, and settled close to Petersville, in Connoquenessing township, where he spent his life in the peaceful calling of agriculture. He died September 9, 1890. His farm is the celebrated Brandon oil farm. In early life he was a Whig and afterwards a Republican. but in later years he was an ardent Prohibitionist, and chairman of the county commit-

John &. Hannon

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

tee. Ile served one term as county commissioner, and for many years filled the office of justice of the peace, and took an active part in public affairs, Mr. Brandon was one of the leading members of Mt. Nebo Presbyterian church, and filled the office of elder in that organization. Ile married Ruth A., a daughter of John Bieghley, of Lancaster township, who survives him. Their children are as follows : William W. ; Sarah J., wife of Peter H. Ileckert; Jacob C. ; John C., deceased ; Washington D. ; Susan C., wife of John A. Brandon ; Quincy A., deceased ; Martha E., wife of S. O. Wright ; James E., and Junius II., deceased. DANIEL GRAHAM was born on the Isle of Lewis, near the west coast of Scotland, about 1749, grew to maturity in his native land, and immigrated to America in 1770. He served in the Revolution, was married in Philadelphia to Margaret J. Mckenzie, and settled in the vicinity of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in 17-3. In 1794 he removed to Allegheny county, lived there two years, and in 1796 he came to what is now Butler county, and located upon a tract of 400 acres in Connoquenessing township, a portion of which is now owned by llenry Brunermer. Ile resided here down to his death, in 1839, aged ninety years. 1Ie was the father of five children, as follows: John, who was born near Carlisle in 1784, and married Mary McLeod; Alexander; Nancy, who married Robert McKee : Catherine, who married Carhart Walling, and Margaret, who married Capt. Alexander Graham, all of whom are dead. Mr. Graham was a member of of the Union, now the United Presbyterian, church, and died in that faith.

ALEXANDER GRAHAM, youngest son of Daniel and Margaret J. Graham, was born near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in 1791, and was about five years old when his parents came to Butler county. He was reared upon the homestead in Connoquenessing township, and followed farming all his life. He married Eliza- beth Rainey, a daughter of Thomas and Catherine C. Rainey, to which union were born seven children, as follows : Jane, wife of Henry Brunermer ; Hiram, who married Elizabeth E. Steen ; Sydney, who married Robert Lemmon ; Daniel, who died at Wilmington, North Carolina, through long confinement at Libby and Andersonville prisons; Thomas, who married Jane Purviance ; John A., who married Mary Ann Wade, and Theophilus, who married Mertilla Fair. Mr. Graham was a member of the United Presbyterian church, and in politics, he was a stanch Whig. Ile died in 1855; his wife survived him two years.

THOMAS GRAHAM, son of Alexander and Elizabeth Graham, was born upon his father's farm in Connoquenes-ing township. Butler county, November 13, 1837, was educated in the public schools, and settled upon a portion of the okl homestead. In 1861 he married Jane Purviance. Politically, he is a Republi- can, and was elected justice of the peace in 1886. He is quite active in public affairs, and is recognized as one of the progressive farmers of his township. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church, and an elder in that body.

HENRY BRUNERMER, whose parents were natives of Germany. from which country they immigrated to Canada in 1826, was born in the Province of Ontario, Canada, about ten miles from Niagara Falls, in the year 1830. Ilis parents sub- sequently moved to Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1839, and settled in Conno- quenessing township, Butler county, in 1840, purchasing sixty-twoacres of land, which they cleared and improved. He learned the carpenter's trade with James 75

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Gray, of Connoquenessing township, and followed it for forty-six years in con- nection with farming. In 1852 he married Jane Graham, a daughter of Alex- ander and Elizabeth Graham, of Connoquenessing township, to which union were born twelve children, as follows: George Alexander, who married Cora Collin -: Mary E., who married Hans Anderson : Sydney .A., who married Rev. Samuel Krohn ; Hiram Clayton, and Margaret O. , both deceased ; Laura J. : Margaret Ann : Daniel G. ; Agnes R. : Willa Blanche : Mertilla, deceased, and Ilenrietta. Politically, Mr. Brunermer is a Republican, and has served in several minor township offices. Himself and family are members of White Oak Spring United Presbyterian congregation.

PETER HENRY was a son of Frederick Henry. a native of Germany, and was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1764. When Peter was fourteen years of age, their home. six miles from Greensburg, was attacked by a band of marauding Indians, and his mother and the two youngest children were killed. Peter and two younger children were taken prisoners by the savages. but they had proceeded only a short distance when the youngest child began to ery and was immediately tomahawked. The Indians carried Peter and his sister to the point since known as Brady's Bend. where they went into camp. The redoubtable Captain Brady, at the head of a party of scouts, had followed the savages, attacked them in the night while asleep, and only one of the band escaped to tell the tale. Brady took the children to Fort Pitt, and subsequently delivered them safely to their father. Peter grew to manhood in his native county, and in 1795 came to what is now Summit township, Butler county, entered a tract of 320 acres of land, and erected a cabin in the midst of the for- est. This land is still in possession of his descendants. Hle brought his family to his new home in 1500, and resided upon this farm down to his death. in 1852. aged eighty-eight years. His wife Margaret died in 1532. They were the par- ents of the following children : Mary A .. who married 11. J. Coyle ; Elizabeth, who married John Brinker : John : Adam ; Peter ; Frederick : Joseph : Jefferson. and William, all of whom are dead. Mr. Henry and wife were members of the Lutheran church. He was a leading spirit in the Federal party in Butler county. and afterwards a local leader in the Whig party.

JOSEPH HENRY, Son of Peter and Margaret Henry, was born upon the homestead farm in Summit township. Butler county, September 13. 1812, and grew to manhood in his native township. In October. 1837. he married Mary V. Scott, a daughter of Robert Scott, and settled upon a farm in Clearfield town- ship. upon which he resided until 1857. He then purchased a farm in Conno- quenessing township, now in possession of his son, Robert S., upon which he lived for thirty years, dying May 5. 18ST. He was the father of eleven children. ten of whom grew to maturity, as follows: Sarah B., deceased wife of N. N. Stevenson : Margaret, who married Benjamin Powell: Mary A .. deceased ; Elizabeth J., wife of E. G. Duncan, of Iowa: Caroline, deceased : Robert S. : Jane, deceased wife of J. C. Cruikshank : Mary .A., deceased wife of J. A. Croft ; Melissa E. who married John Greene ; Harriet F., wife of Charles Shannon, and Minnie M., deceased. Mr. Henry was a justice of the peace for twenty-five years, was a local leader in the Republican party, and was quite prominent in

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public affairs. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and filled the offices of trustee and steward in that organization.

ROBERT S. HENRY. merchant, was born in Clearfield township, Butter county, March 1, 1845, son of Joseph and Mary N. Henry. He received a com- mon school education, and followed farming until 1889, then retired from agri- culture, and was appointed agent of the Cumberland Fertilizer Company, also of the Standard Fertilizer Company, of Syracuse, New York. In 1892 he estab- lished a general store at Buttercup, Connoquenessing township, and was appointed postmaster of that office July 1. of the same year. Mr. Henry married Sarah L. Shannon, a daughter of Thompson Shannon, to which union have been born nine children, viz : Levingston S. ; Earnest L. : Joseph D. : Peter, deceased ; Dallas D. ; Nettie : Tyne ; Frank, and Rosso N. He is an ardent Republican, and is a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M., and Eureka Grange, Number 244. Patrons of Husbandry.

J. L. CHRISTIE, physician and druggist, was born in Concord township, But. ler county, Pennsylvania, May 19. 1852. son of William A. and Sarah J. (Me Junkin ) Christie, pioneer families of this county. He was reared in Centre township, upon the homestead farm, obtained his primary education in the com- mon schools, and subsequently attended Witherspoon Institute and Grove City College. He read medicine with Dr. A. M. Neyman, of Butler, and graduated from Miami Medical College. Cincinnati, Ohio, in the spring of 1877. In April of that year he located at Petersville, where he has since continued to practice hi- profession. In 1887 he established a drug store, which he has since conducted in connection with his professional duties. Dr. Christie has been a member of the Butler County Medical Association for sixteen years, and has filled the office of secretary for five years. He has also been a member of the State Medical Society for fifteen years, and is one of the well known physicians of Butler county. Since locating at Peter-ville he has built up a lucrative practice, and has won the respect and confidence of the people of his community. Dr. Chris- tie was married in Is81, to Sarah Richardson, a daughter of William Richardson of Connoquene sing township. She died January 1, ISSS, leaving two children. viz. : Frank, and Karl. He was again married, to Tyne S. Jamison, a daugh- ter of Rev. William HI. Jamison, by which union he is the father of two children, viz. : Ralph, and Mildred. In politics. Dr. Christie is an ardent Republican. and has always taken an active interest in the success of his party. He is a mem- ber of the United Presbyterian church, and has filled the office of trustee for eleven years.

JOHN RICHARDSON was a mative of Ireland, and immigrated to Butler county, Pennsylvania, in 1800. settling on a farm in Connoquenessing township, now in possession of his grandson, William Richardson. He learned the weaver's trade in his native land, and followed that business in this county for a number of year -. He took up 400 acres of unimproved land, built his cabin in the midst of a forest, and re-ided there the remainder of his life. He married Ellen Pillow, also a native of Ireland, who became the mother of six children, viz. : William : Moses, killed in boyhood by a falling tree : Elizabeth, who married John Fra- zier; Eleanor: Jane, who married James Cochran, and Polly, who became the

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wife of Daniel Graham. all of who are deceased. Mr. Richardson was a member of the German Reformed church, and quite prominent in that denomination. In politics, he was a Whig.

WILLIAM RICHARDSON, SR., eldest son of John and Ann Richardson, was born in Ireland, and came with his parents to Butler county. In 1sos he settled upon a portion of his father's farm, and assisted him in clearing the land. Ile married Elizabeth MeCleary, a daughter of William McCleary, in IS12. which union was blessed with the following children : John, deceased; William ; Ellen, deceased wife of Augustus Cuthbert : Eliza J., wife of Alexander Bryson : Samuel, who was killed on a steamboat near Yankton, Dakota ; Sarah Ann, who married Peter Ray , Newton M., a physician of Prospect ; Caroline, who mar- ried Jacob Ray : Milton. deceased. and one that died in early youth. Politically, Mr. Richardson was a Republican. and filled the office of tax collector for three years. Ile died in 1870, aged eighty-nine years : his wife survived him three years, dying in IST3.

WILLIAM RICHARDSON. second son of William and Elizabeth Richardson, was born upon the homestead farm in Connoquenessing township, Butler county, in 1817, was reared to farm life, and after attaining his maturity inherited the property upon which he resides. In 1850 he married Eliza Frazier. a daughter of Arthur and Martha Frazier, of Connoquenessing township, and has four chil- dren, viz. : Ellen, who married Thompson Purviance ; Samuel : Sarah. who mar- ried Dr. J. L. Christie, of Petersville. and Mary, wife of Dr. McConnell, of Prospect. The last mentioned is the only survivor of the family. Mr. Richard- son has always been an ardent supporter of the Republican party, and has filled the office of school director for a number of years. He is a member of the Ger- man Reformed church, and has filled the offices of trustee and elder in that denomination.

THOMAS ALEXANDER was a native of Ireland, immigrated at an early day to the United States, and finally settled in Connoquenessing township, Butler county, Pennsylvania. in the first decade of this century. He married Nancy Bailey, also a native of Ireland. who became the mother of seven children. viz. : Sarah, who first married John MeCauley, and afterwards Samuel Gallagher ; Andrew. and Robert. both deceased ; Nancy, who married Jacob Cratty ; Eliza, who married a Mr. Kelly, and Lucinda who married a Mr. Leviere. The parents died upon the old homestead, the father in 1876, and the mother in 1886.

ROBERT ALEXANDER, second son of Thomas and Nancy Alexander, was born in 1825. upon the old homestead in Connoquenessing township, now the residence of Joseph Allen. He grew to manhood upon his father's farm, and in 151 was married to Martha Ferguson. Ten children were the fruits of this union, as follows: Orville : Nelson : Thomas; Benton; Nettie. who married George Ross : John : William II. : Boyd ; Nannie, and Dora, who married Ford Weigle. The survivors of this family are Thomas, William H. and Nannie. Mr. Alexander was a member of the United Presbyterian church, and was quite prominent in local church matters. A Republican, in politics, he held the offices of school director, supervisor and overseer of the poor for a number of years, and was always active in promoting the good of the community. He purchased

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 152

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