History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 162

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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HENRY SHANOR. SR., was born in Maryland, in 1758, removed to Hunting- don county, Pennsylvania, after reaching his maturity, and about 1798 settled in Butler county, purchasing 200 acres of land where George Flinner and William Barkley now live, in Muddy Creek township. Upon this farm he built his cabin and resided until his death, in 1838. lle married Elizabeth Buttonbarger, a native of Westmoreland county, who survived him four years, and died in 1-12. They were members of the Lutheran church, and were interred in the old Stone Church graveyard. in Lancaster township. Their family were as follows : Henry; Daniel; Elizabeth, who married Thomas Johnson : Susan; Abraham ; Michael ; Solomon ; Christina ; Margaret, who married Abraham Zerley, and Lydia, who married Jacob Moyer.

HENRY SHANOR, JR., eldest son of Henry and Elizabeth Shanor, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. in 1758, and was about ten years of age when his parents came to Butler county. Ile grew to manhood in Muddy Creek township, married Susan Beighley, a daughter of John Beighley, and settled upon

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

his father-in-law's farm. In 1817 he located upon the farm where his son Jonathan J. now resides, which was purchased after his death, in 1827, by his father-in- law, who deeded it to Mrs. Shanor. His family were as follows : Jonathan J. ; Abraham, deceased ; John C .; Mary R., who married William McDonald . Catherine, deceased wife of Andrew Kaltenbach ; Henry J., and Absalom. His widow married James Black, and died in 1887. Mr. Shanor was one of the pio- neer members of St. John's Lutheran church, and was a deacon in that society at the time of his death.

JONATHAN J. SHANOR, eldest in the family of Henry and Susan ( Beighley) Shanor, was born in Connoquenessing township, upon the farm of his grand- father, John Beighley, in 1812. When five years old his father removed to the farm where our subject now lives, and he has spent seventy-seven years of his life upon this place, the greater portion of which time he was engaged in farm- ing. He cultivated 200 acres until within a few years, when he sold one-half of his property. In 1838 he married Ann McDonald, a daughter of William Mc Donald, to which union were born the following children : Susannah, wife of John Dodds ; William, deceased ; Reuben ; William McD., of Iowa; Conrad. who enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and died at Georgetown. D. C., from wounds received at the battle of Fredericksburg : Samantha, widow of S. McAllister ; Angelina, deceased ; Maggie, wife of Warren Myers, and two that died in infancy. Mr. Shanor and wife are members of the Lutheran church, of Prospect, in which he has held the offices of deacon and elder. In early life he was a Democrat, but has been a Republican since 1856. He has filled the offices of school director, and many other minor positions.

DANIEL SHANOR, SR., second son of Henry and Elizabeth ( Buttonbarger ); Shanor, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, about 1791, and came with his parents to Butler county in 1798. He was reared upon his father's farm in this county, and was the second man to join Captain Boston's company. at Butler, for service in the War of 1812. He afterwards purchased 200 acres of land in Lancaster township, where William Kocher now lives. cleared and improved it, and died there in 1879. Mr. Shanor was a stonemason and plas- terer, and followed that business in connection with farming. Ile married Deborah Moyer, a daughter of Samuel Moyer, of Lancaster township, and they were the parents of the following children: Henry, who died in Franklin town- ship ; Catherine, widow of John Ziegler; Samuel, of Muddy Creek ; Edward .. who died in Lancaster township ; Jacob, who was murdered in Georgia ; Sarah. who died in 1835; Daniel, who died the same year; Abraham, who died in 1836, and Elizabeth, wife of Henry Kocher. Mrs. Shanor died in 1870. They were members of the German Reformed church of Harmony, in which Mr. Shanor filled the offices of elder and deacon. He was a stanch Democrat, but would never accept office or take any active part in political affairs.

SAMUEL SHANOR. only living son of Daniel and Deborah Shanor, was born in Jackson township, Butler county, September 7, 1823, and grew to manhood upon his father's farm in Lancaster township. He resided upon the old home- stead until 1881, in which year he purchased his present farm of 121 acres in

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

Muddy Creek township, and has since erected the buildings now upon it. He married Catherine Stauffer. a daughter of Henry Stauffer. She died in 1861, leaving three children, viz. : Ellen, wife of Madison Davis; Campbell, who resides upon the homestead, and Daniel, of Erie. Politically, he is a Democrat, has served two terms as supervisor and overseer of the poor in Lancaster town- ship, and has held the office of supervisor in Muddy Creek township since 1890. lle is a member of the German Reformed church of Harmony, in which society he has filled the offices of deacon and elder.

HENRY SHANOR. eldest son of Daniel and Deborah ( Moyer) Shanor, was born upon the homestead farm in Lancaster township, Butler county, Pennsyl- vania. in 1814. and grew to manhood beneath the parental roof. He received a meager education in the pioneer subscription schools, and learned the stone- mason's trade before reaching manhood. In 1810 he purchased a farm of 180 acres, in Franklin township, now in possession of his son Daniel, which he cleared and improved, and resided upon it until his death, in 1880. He was engaged for many years in contracting and building, in connection with his farm duties, and was quite a successful man. He married Magdalena Stamm, a daughter of Daniel Stamm. of Beaver county, and their children were as follows : Sarah, wife of Jonathan Taylor : Daniel: Deborah, wife of William Morrow ; Eli. deceased ; Alfred F. ; Elizabeth J., wife of William Kaufman, and Emma. wife of J. C. McClymonds. Politically, Mr. Shanor was a Democrat, and in religious faith, an adherent of the Lutheran church.

DANIEL. SHANOR, eldest son of Henry and Magdalena Shanor, was born in Franklin township, Butler county. November 1, ISH, grew to maturity upon the homestead farm and inherited the same at his father's death. Ile resided upon it until 1891, when he purchased his present farm of 105 acres, and is now operating both places, making a total acreage of 268 acres. In 1891 oil was dis- covered upon the old homestead, and there are now seven producing wells located there, with a total production of fifty-six barrels per day. They are operated by McFarland & Company. Mr. Shanor married Mrs. Annie Warren. nec Forrester, who died in July, 1892. leaving three children, viz. : Magdalena ; Effie May, and Etta P. Politically, Mr. Shanor is a Democrat, and is one of the enterprising farmers of Franklin township.

ALFRED F. SHANOR. youngest son of Henry and Magdalena Shanor, was born October 1, 1851. in Franklin township. Butler county, and was reared and educated in his native township. Ile purchased his present farm of 137 acres, in Muddy Creek township, in ISSO, and located upon it the following year. He has made all the improvement- which it now contains, and has one of the best farms in the township. Mr. Shanor was married in April, 1881, to Ellen Shaffer, a daughter of Henry Shaffer, of Prospect, and has three children, viz. : Mont. W .; Amy B., and Catherine A. In politics, he is a Democrat, and an ardent supporter of his party. In 1886 Mr. Shanor engaged in buying stock for the home market, which business he has since carried on in connection with his farm. He is recognized as one of the leading farmers of his township, as well as one of its most progressive citizens, and has a small production of oil on his farm.

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DAVID KENNEDY was one of the early settlers of Muddy Creek township, Butler county. He was born in Monaghan county, Ireland, in 1752, there mar- ried Jane Gracie, and in 1788, in company with his wife and one son, Robert, he immigrated to Philadelphia, where he found employment as a wheelwright, which trade he had learned in his native land. While residents of Philadelphia the following children were born to them : John, Edward, and David, who lived and died in Muddy Creek township : Daniel, who settled in Slippery Rock township, Lawrence county, and there died, and Elizabeth who married George Frazier, and died in Muddy Creek township. The eldest son, Robert, grew to manhood in Philadelphia, and engaged in teaming between that city and the western part of the State. His mother carried on a dairy in Philadelphia, and the parents and Robert combined their capital with the intention of purchasing a farm in western Pennsylvania. In 1800 they removed to Butler county, and purchased a 400-acre claim from Matthew Kelly, a Revolutionary soldier, situ- ated in what is now Muddy Creek township, and built a cabin on the land where David R. Kennedy now lives. It was a log structure, twenty-six by eighteen, one and a half stories high, and finished in that crude manner in which nearly all of the early buildings were constructed. The father lived to see 200 acres of this land cleared and improved, and died January 1, 1840, while on a visit to the home of his son Edward, who resided a few miles distant in the same township. Ilis wife had died about 1828. Both were members of the Presbyterian church of Montville. Lawrence county, and were interred in the cemetery attached to that church.

ROBERT KENNEDY, eldest in the family of David and Jane Kennedy, was born in Monaghan county, Ireland, in 1777. spent his early life in Philadelphia, and was afterwards employed in hauling good- between that city and the towns in the western part of the State. It is claimed he brought the first load of mer- chandise to the borough of Butler, from Philadelphia, for John Potts, an early merchant of Butler. After his father purchased land in Muddy Creek town- ship. Robert devoted himself to clearing and improving it, and at his father's death he received 2173 acres of the original tract. containing the old home. Here he resided until his death, in November, 1848. He married Mary Ann Patter- son, a daughter of John Patterson, a native of Ireland, who settled in Pittsburg. The following children were born to this union : Jane, who married Alexander Aiken : David R. : John, a resident of New Castle. and Cassie, wife of William J. McClymonds, of Beaver Falls. Mrs. Kennedy died in 1854. Both were mem- bers of the United Presbyterian church at Porter-ville, and he was instrumental in the erection of the first church in that village. Politically, Mr. Kennedy was a Democrat, and served as a school director for several years. Ile was a soldier in the War of 1812, from Butler county.

DAVID R. KENNEDY, eldest son of Robert and Mary Ann Kennedy, was born upon the old homestead in Muddy Creek township, Butler county, October 4, 1×30, was educated in the old log school house of his neighborhood, and has been engaged in agriculture up to within a few years, when he retired, turning over his farm of 140 acres to his sons, Robert B. and James E. In April, 1861. when the first call was made for troops by President Lincoln, he accompanied a

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

squad of thirty men from his neighborhood, all of whom joined Company H. Thirteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers. He served three months, the full term of his enlistment. In 1862 he married Mary J. Stoner, a daughter of James Stoner, of Lawrence county. Four children are the fruits of this union, viz. : Robert B. ; Laura E. : Lizzie, deceased, and James N. Mr. Kennedy is a Republican, and has held the offices of assessor, collector and school director. He and wife are members of the United Presbyterian church of Portersville, in which he held the office of treasurer for a number of years.

DANIEL KENNEDY, fifth son of David and Jane Kennedy, was born in Philadelphia, and came with his parents to Muddy Creek township, where he grew to manhood. lle followed farming and droving for some years, buying stock for the Pitt-burg and Philadelphia markets. Later he removed to Law- rence county, and, in partnership with his sons, David L. and Hosea, engaged in operating two mills in that county, where he resided until his death. IIe married Cassie Levis, daughter of John Levis, of Philadelphia, who died some years before her husband. Their children were as follows: David L., deceased ; Elizabeth, wife of Dr. D. R. Marks, of Prospect ; John K., who resides in New Brighton ; Ilosea, a resident of New Castle : William, deceased, and Thomas P. Mr. Kennedy was an adherent of the Democratic party, and was recognized as a progressive, enterprising business man.

THOMAS P. KENNEDY, youngest son of Daniel and Cassie Kennedy, was born upon his father's homestead in Muddy Creek township, November 9. 1836. was reared a farmer, and went to Lawrence county, where he assisted his father in operating the mills for five years. In 1875 he purchased forty acres of the Bander farm, erected buildings and has since devoted his attention to farming. Hle married Mary Bander, a daughter of John Bauder, and they are the parents of the following children : Henry N. : John K. ; Lewis K. ; Harvey P. ; Minnie V. : Sarah E. ; Dora M. ; Peter C., and three that died in early yonth. Mr. Ken- nedy is a Democrat, and has filled the office of school director and other minor positions in his township.

ARTHUR CLEELAND, a native of Down county, Ireland, immigrated to the United States about 1791, owing to religious and political troubles in his native land. He was forced to leave home in disguise to escape violence, and was con- cealed near the seaboard for three months while his family disposed of hi- pro- perty, after which they joined him and came to this country, settling in the Buffalo Valley, Pennsylvania. About 1500 Mr. Cleeland came to Butler county, purchased 400 acres of land, and built his cabin on the farm now owned by Samuel Cleeland, in Muddy Creek township. With him came his wife and family. Their children were as follows: John: James: Robert; Arthur ; David : Thomas: Samuel : Jane, who married Allen Streator, and Ellen, who became the wife of Thomas Kelty. Mr. Cleeland and wife spent the remain- ing years of their lives upon their farm in Muddy Creek township.

ROBERT CLEELAND, third son of Arthur Cleeland, was born in Down county, Ireland. about 1774, and came with his parents to Butler county. His father gave him 100 acres of land, which he settled and improved, and spent his life thereon. He married Phoebe Wimer, and their children were as follows :

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John. a resident of Butler; Nancy, deceased wife of John Morrison; Isaac, deceased ; Sarah, deceased wife of Adam Streator; Samuel ; William ; Rachel ; Eleanor ; Jane (the last three are dead), and Phoebe, wife of Jacob Struble. Mr. Cleeland and wife were pioneer members of the Portersville Presbyterian church. He died in 1837, and she in 1844. Politically, he was a Whig, but never held any public office.

SAMUEL CLEELAND was born upon the homestead farm in Muddy Creek township, Butler county, July 31. ISIS, third son of Robert and Phoebe Clee- land. Ile was reared a farmer, and remained with his parents until his marriage, when the farm was divided between him and his brother Isaac. In 1865 he removed to Centre township, lived there eight years, and then returned to the homestead, where he has since resided. Mr. Cleeland married Mary Wimer, a daughter of Adam Wimer, of Lawrence county. She died November 28, 1881. leaving two children : Henry and Robert, who are engaged in cultivating the farm. their father having retired from active life. He has been a life-long mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, and in politics, he is a Republican.

THOMAS CLEELAND was born in Down county, Ireland, about 1780, sixth son of Arthur Cleeland, and came with his parents to the United States, and subsequently to Butler county. Very little is known of his early life by his descendants. He was twice married, each time to a Miss Johnston, and hi- children were as follows: William, who died in Wisconsin ; David, deceased; Nancy, deceased wife of Allen Morrison ; Mary, deceased, who was twice mar- ried. first to Thomas Robinson, and afterwards to John Limfer ; Ellen, wife of Rev. Joseph Buchanan, and Margaret and Hannah. both deceased. The parents spent the remainder of their lives in Butler county.

DAVID CLEELAND was born upon his father's homestead in Muddy Creek township, Butler county, in 1810, son of Thomas Cleeland. Ile received a good education, and taught in the schools of his native county for several years. In 1833 he purchased the farm upon which his son, Thomas J., now resides, where he died in 1859. IIe married Mary M. McClymonds, a daughter of James Mc- Clymonds, one of the pioneers of the county. Their children were as follows : Margaret, deceased wife of William Dowler ; James M., of Grove City ; Addison, who died in early youth ; Addison, who grew to manhood, enlisted in Company C. One Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteers ("Round Heads"), and died from exposure in the service, at Fairfax Court House, Virginia ; Maria E., deceased ; William J., who resides in Muddy Creek township; Thomas J., of the same township ; David T., a physician of Harlansburg, Lawrence county, and Ella, who resides upon the homestead with her brother Thomas J. Mrs. Cleeland survived her husband until 1889. They were members of the United Presbyterian church of Portersville, in which society Mr. Cleeland filled the office of elder. He served as school director for a number of years, and also filled other offices in his town- ship.

THOMAS J. CLEELAND was born December 16, 1849, upon the homestead farm in Muddy Creek township, and is the fifth son of David and Mary M. Cleeland. He received a common school education, was reared a farmer, and is engaged in cultivating the original homestead, consisting of 100 acres. He is

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one of the representative farmers of his township, and a progressive, public-spir- ited citizen. Politically, he is a Republican, and is at present serving as a mem- ber of the school board. He is connected with the United Presbyterian church, and contributes liberally towards that denomination.

WILLIAM J. CLEELAND, fourth son of David and Mary M. (McClymonds) Cleeland, was born upon the homestead farm in Muddy Creek township, Butler county, March 27, 1846, and received a common school education. He was reared a farmer, and resided with his parents until his enlistment in the Fifty- second Pennsylvania Militia, Captain Christie's company, in which he served two months. In 1864 he enlisted in Company A, Sixth Pennsylvania Artillery, and served until the close of the war. He was subsequently engaged in various occu- pations until he purchased his present farm of eighty acres, and is now making a specialty of fruit growing. He was married in 1868, to Sarah J. Fisher. a daughter of Samuel Fisher, of Lawrence county. Five children are the fruits of this union, viz. : Addison : Mary; Ira : James, and Roy. Mr. Cleeland is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the United Presbyterian church of Portersville. He is connected with Watson Brothers Post, G. A. R .. and also with the A. O. C. W.

JOHN GALLAGHER, SR., one of the pioneers of Butler county, was a native of Down county, Ireland, and settled in Muddy Creek township, late in the Eighteenth or early in the present century. He purchased a tract of 400 acres of land, erected upon it a log house, and resided there the remainder of his life. The site of his home is now the property of Henderson Wilson. With him came his wife and the following children: James : John : William ; Mary, who mar- ried James English ; Margaret, and Jane. The eldest son, James, was twice married, his first wife being Sarah Forrester, and his second, Mary Albright. Ile died in Muddy Creek township, as did also his brother William.

JAMES GALLAGHER, ellest son of John Gallagher, Sr., was born in Ireland, and came with his parents to Muddy Creek township, Butler county. He sub-e- quently settled on a farm in what is now Franklin township, where the remainder of his life was spent. Mr. Gallagher was twice married. His first wife bore him a family of three children, as follows: George : William, and Margaret, who married George Elliott, all of whom are deceased. By his second marriage he became the father of nine children. viz. : John, a resident of Franklin town- ship ; Sarah A., deceased wife of William Rose : Nancy, wife of Lott Wilson ; James, who resides in California ; Robert, who was a member of Captain Pillow's company, and died in the Rebellion ; Henry, of Pittsburg ; Mahala J., wife of Samuel Burnsides ; Amelia. wife of Dinwiddie MeCollough, and Matilda, wife of James Dunn.

JOHN GALLAGHER, JR., second son of John Gallagher, Sr., was born in Ireland, and came with his parents to Butler county. He finally settled upon a part of the land entered by his father, who gave him 100 acres, and he resided upon the same down to his death, in 1881. The farm is now in possession of his son Thomas, and the original log house is still standing. Mr. Gallagher married Frances Mains, a daughter of Thomas Mains, who lived in what is now Franklin township. To this union were born the following children : John ; Thomas :

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Ellen, who married Charles Gallagher ; Margaret ; Mary, and Catherine, who married Jacob Cable, all of whom are dead excepting Thomas and Catherine. Mr. Gallagher and wife were members of the United Presbyterian church, and are interred in the cemetery at Prospect. Ile was a member of Captain Boston's company in the War of 1812.

THOMAS GALLAGHER, second son of John and Frances Gallagher, was born July 11, 1817, upon his father's farm in Muddy Creek township. He was reared a farmer, and his advantages for an education were such as the pioneer schools afforded. He remained with his parents until 1860, and then purchased a farm of fifty-three acres, and erected his present residence and other necessary improve- ments. It adjoins the old homestead, a part of which he owns, his farm now embracing 130 acres. Mr. Gallagher married Catherine Garvey, a daughter of Thomas Garvey. She died in 1885, the mother of two children : William, a resident of California, and James, who resides at home, and who married Anna Woods and has two children. In early life Mr. Gallagher was a Whig, but has been a Republican since the formation of that party. He is a member of the English Lutheran church of Prospect, in which he has filled the offices of deacon and elder. He has retired from the active duties of life, and is one of the oldest citizens in his native township, where he has resided for seventy-seven years.

JOHN GALLAGHER, eldest son of John and Frances ( Mains) Gallagher, and grandson of John Gallagher, Sr .. was born in 1811, upon the land purchased by his grandfather, in Muddy Creek township. He was reared on his father's farm. and subsequently purchased fifty acres of the homestead. upon which he erected improvements and resided until his death, April 16, 1885. He married Sarah Ferguson, a daughter of llugh Ferguson, one of the early settlers of Franklin township, to which union were born the following children : Ferguson W. ; Fan- nie, deceased wife of James White ; Mary E., deceased wife of J. Milton White ; Nancy A., wife of Charles F. White Joshua; Elizabeth, and John, deceased. Mr. Gallagher was a Democrat until the Rebellion, when he became an adherent of the Republican party. Both he and wife were members of the United Presby- terian church at Prospect. The latter died March 6, 1887.

FERGUSON W. GALLAGHER, eldest son of John and Sarah Galla- gher, was born upon his father's homestead in Muddy Creek township, Butler county, February 27. 1834. Ile received a good education and followed teaching until 1861. In August of that year he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until discharged because of physical disability. Returning to his home he engaged in huckstering, which business he followed for some years, then purchased a farm adjoining his present homestead, upon which he resided until 1882. In that year he bought 11 acres and located upon it, where he has since lived. In 1863 he married Jane Ken- nedy, a daughter of David Kennedy, who died leaving two children : Sherman and Hosea. The former married Nancy Prudence Kennedy and has two chil- dren, Nancy Jane and Florence Louisa. Mr. Gallagher married for his second wife Sarah Findley, to whom have been born eight children: viz. : Emma J. ; Amelia M .; Maggie L .; Clara ; James ; Aggie ; Grace E., and Bessie. Politi- cally, he is a Republican, and has held the offices of overseer and collector. Ile

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 162

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