History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 163

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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is a member of John H. Randolph Post, G. A. R., and is secretary of the United Presbyterian church of Prospect, in which he has also held the office of trustee.

JOSHUA GALLAGHER, son of John and Sarah Gallagher, was born July 20, [846, in Muddy Creek township, where he has always resided. In 1878 he mar- ried Mary J. Moore, a daughter of Isaac Moore, and settled upon his present homestead. They are the parents of one son, Ralph. Mr. Gallagher is a Repub- lican, and one of the prosperous farmers of the community.

JOHN MYERS, SR., was a native of Germany who came to America prior to the Revolution and served in that struggle for liberty. After the close of the war he settled in Virginia, and resided there until his removal to Butler county. About 1805 he accompanied John Boston, William Beighley, Adam Albert, and John Moon to this county, and settled upon what is now the Bauder farm, in Muddy Creek township, but through an imperfect title or some other cause he lost the property. He then purchased 400 acres, situated where David Myers' heirs, John Myers, and William and Charles Myers, now reside, upon which he resided until his death. Ile was married in Virginia to Sarah Moon, a daughter of John Moon, and their children were as follows : Solomon; John ; Samuel; Daniel ; George ; David, and Annie, who married John Beighley, all of whom are deceased. Mr. Myers and wife were pioneer members of the Lutheran church of Lancaster township.

JOHN MYERS, second son of John and Sarah Myers, was born in Virginia, about 1791, and came with his parents to Butler county. After reaching his majority, his father gave him 200 acres of the original tract, upon which in later years he erected the stone house where his sons William and Charles reside. He devoted the balance of his life in clearing and improving this farm. He was twice married, his first wife being Rachel Stickel, to which union were born six children, viz. : Sarah, deceased wife of James Slemmons; Nelson, who married Annie Cratty, and lives in Tennessee ; Mary, wife of Sipe Bellis; Samuel, de- ceased, who married a Miss Smith; John, who married Nannie Turner, and lives in Nebraska, and Margaret, wife of Henry Fieldgrow. Ile married for his sec- ond wife Hannah Morrison, a daughter of John Morrison, who became the mother of four children, as follws: Tirzah; Emeline ; William, and Charles. Mr. Myers died in 1844. His second wife survived him until 1885, and both are interred in the Presbyterian cemetery at Portersville, to which denomination they belonged.

WILLIAM MYERS, eldest son of John and Hannah Myers, was born upon the homestead farm in Muddy Creek township, attended the public schools of his district, and grew to manhood in his native township. He has always resided upon the old homestead, engaged in farming. Ile is a member of the Presby- terian church of Portersville, and in politics, he is a Republican.

CHARLES MYERS, youngest in the family of John and Hannah Myers, was born in Muddy Creek township, and has spent his entire life upon the homestead farm, which he and his brother William cultivate in partnership. He is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, and politically, an ardent supporter of the Repub- lican party. His sisters, Tirzah and Emeline, also reside on the old homestead, which was purchased by their grandfather early in the present century.

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SOLOMON MYERS, eldest son of John and Sarah Myers, was born in Vir- ginia, came with his parents to Butler county, and settled upon a part of the tract entered by his father in Muddy Creek township. He was twice married. Ilis first wife was Margaret Boston. a sister of Capt. John Boston, who served in the War of 1812. His children by this marriage were as follows: George ; John ; Boston ; Samuel ; Elizabeth, who married Charles Phillips, and Sarah, who married William Albert. His second wife was Margaret Douglass, to which union were born the following children : James; Jasper ; Newton ; Hosea ; Milton ; David, and Lucinda, who married James A. Humphrey. Mr. Myers and wife were members of the Lutheran church. They died upon their homestead in Muddy Creek township.

DAVID MYERS Was born in Muddy Creek township, Butler county, in 1834, grew to manhood upon his father's farm, subsequently purchased the old home- stead, and resided upon it until his death. He was twice married; first to Eleanor Cooper, who bore him two sons: Orin D., and Ellsworth E. His second marriage occurred in September, 1870, to Margaret S. Sullivan, a daughter of Thomas Sullivan, of Prospect. She became the mother of the following children : Hosea M. ; Milton S. ; Gailey ; James A. ; Hosea H., deceased ; Don C., and Samuel T. Mr. Myers was an active worker in the Republican party. and filled the office of school director for a number of years. He was a member of the Baptist church, and died in that faith, October 15, 1889. His widow resides upon the homestead farm, where the greater portion of his life was passed.

DANIEL MYERS, fourth son of John and Sarah Myers, was born in Virginia, October 13, 1800, and was about four years of age when his parents located in Muddy Creek township, Butler county. He grew up upon the farm, and at the age of eighteen commenced learning the stonemason's trade with John Moon, which he followed for some years, finally engaging in the business for himself. He purchased 100 acres of the original Myers tract, erected buildings and other improvements, and engaged in farming in connection with his trade. Ile mar- ried Annie Smith, a daughter of Elijah Smith, who came from New Jersey to Slippery Rock township, Butler county, at an early day. She died in 1852, and her husband, September 5, 1855. They were interred in the Presbyterian ceme- tery at Portersville. Their children were as follows : Sarah, wife of John Johnston ; Mary J., deceased wife of William Roberts : Ruhama, wife of Richard Lewis ; Milton, who enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Third Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, was captured and died at Andersonville prison ; John S .; Amanda, wife of William Robbins, and Annie, who married a Mr. Woods. Daniel Myers was a colonel in the old State Militia, took quite an interest in pub- lic affairs, and served as collector, assessor, auditor, supervisor and school director in his township. In politics, he was a Whig. He was reared In the Lutheran church, but in later life united with the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a class leader in that denomination.

JOHN S. MYERS, second son of Daniel and Annie Myers, was born April 23, 1832, upon his present homestead in Muddy Creek township. He learned the stonemason's and bricklayer's trades with his father, and in 1853 commenced

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

business for himself. Ile followed that business for thirty years in different parts of the county, while at the same time he carried on his farm. In Iss3 he retired from contracting, and has since devoted his entire attention to agricultural pursuits. Mr. Myers was married November 9, 1855. to Mary A. Peggs, a daughter of Edward Peggs, of Lawrence county, to which union have been born the following children : Annie, wife of Samuel Jones ; Laura J., wife of George Magee ; Ella, wife of Frank Reis ; William; Harry ; Edward ; Minnie, and Jef- ferson. Mr. Myers is a Republican, and has filled the offices of supervisor. assessor and collector in his township. The family are connected with the Pres- byterian church of Portersville.

JOHN BOSTON was born near Winchester, Virginia, in 1774, there grew to manhood, and about 1805 came to Butler county, and purchased the claim of a Revolutionary soldier, consisting of 200 acres, in what is now Muddy Creek town- ship. He was accompanied by his wife, Elizabeth, and several sisters. He cleared up a farm and resided upon it until within a few years of his death, which occurred in 1862, at the home of his son, Sheplar, in Porter-ville. His children were as follows : George; Rebecca, who married Daniel Smith : John ; Chris- tina, who married James Douglass: Samuel: Elizabeth, who married John Douglass ; Adam ; Catharine, who married Andrew Douglass ; William ; Shep- lar, and Sarah. Mr. Boston was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was located in the Lake Erie country. He was a stanch Democrat. and one of the original members of the old Lutheran church of Lancaster township. His widow survived him two years.

THOMAS CHRISTIE was a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. and settled on the site of Portersville, Butler county, in 1812. He was a brother-in- law of Robert Stewart, the first settler on the site of that borough. His grand- father was a native of Scotland. and settled in Connecticut at an early day. leav- ing a family of six sons, two of whom settled in Ohio, two in Nova Scotia, and two in Westmoreland county. Pennsylvania, one of the last mentioned being the father of Thomas, The subject of this sketch purchased 400 acres of land, a portion of which is included in the southern part of Portersville. He married Eleanor Gailey, and they were the parents of the following children : Susan, who married Archibald Glenn ; Clara, who married Dr. William McClelland ; Margaret, who married Dr. Randolph ; Jane, who married John Sharp ; Eliza- abeth, who married Dr. John Cowden ; John ; William, and Thomas G., all of whom are dead. William was the father of Dr. James 1I. Christie, of Alle- gheny. Mr. Christie was one of the extensive farmers of Muddy Creek town- ship, was a justice of the peace for many years, and is well remembered as " Squire Christie." He was a pioneer member of the Associate Presbyterian church, and later of the United Presbyterian church, of Portersville. Ile was one of the early merchants of that borough, and a widely known anti-slavery advocate. He died in 1851, and his wife some years before.

THOMAS G. CHRISTIE was born at Portersville. Butler county, in 1822, and was the youngest son of Thomas and Eleanor Christie. He was reared upon the homestead farm, and afterwards engaged in merchandising at Portersville, which he followed until his death, in 1851. In 1848 he married Nancy R. George, a

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daughter of James George, of Mercer county, to which union were born three children, viz. : Henderson W. : Calvin G., and Thomas G. Mr. Christie was a member of the Seceder church, and in politics, a Whig.

DR. JOHN COWDEN was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1797. son of William Cowden, a native of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, who removed to Washington county after reaching his majority, and in 1800 located in Trum. bull (now Mahoning) county, Ohio, with his family, where he spent the remain- der of his life. John was the fourth son, was reared in Ohio, and read medicine with his uncle, Dr. Isaac P. Cowden, of Poland, Ohio. In ISIS he commenced practice at Portersville, Butler county, where he prosecuted his professional duties for nearly fifty years. Ile then retired to Allegheny City, and died Feb- ruary 15, 1880, in his eighty-fourth year. Dr. Cowden married Elizabeth Christie, a daughter of Thomas Christie, one of the early settlers of Muddy Creek town- ship, and a justice of the peace for many years in that subdivision. They reared a family of seven children. viz .: William Reynolds: Maria C .. who married James Frazier ; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Erskine McClelland ; Eleanor J., wife of John Frazier ; Tirzah, wife of Andrew Gailey, and Susannah, deceased wife of Rev. Samuel Kerr, of Harrisville. Mrs. Cowden died in 1879, and both she and husband are interred in the United Presbyterian cemetery at Portersville. Dr. Cowden was one of the early members of the Associate Presbyterian church, and later an elder in the United Presbyterian church for many years.

DR. WILLIAM REYNOLDS COWDEN was born in Portersville. Butler county, March 4, 1820, only son of Dr. John and Elizabeth Cowden. His primary edu- cation was obtained at the Jamestown Academy, in Jamestown, Mercer county. and at the Venango Academy, in Franklin, Venango county. He subsequently spent two years at Washington and Jefferson College, and then engaged in teaching. Hle read medicine with his father, and attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in the winters of 1844-15, and 1845-46. In the spring of 1846 he commenced practice at Portersville, and with the exception of three years spent at West Sunbury, and a few years in Worth township, when comparatively retired from practice, he was engaged in the active duties of his profession at Portersville for forty-eight years, and is the oldest practicing physician in Butler county. In 1894 he removed to Middle Lancaster, where he still continues to practice. Dr. Cowden was married November 7. 1850, to Matilda M. Kline, a daughter of J. George and Catherine Kline, of Mercer. Pennsylvania. They are the parents of two sons and five daughters, as follows : William Rush, a practicing physician at Middle Lancaster, Butler county ; John Victor, who is now reading medicine ; Anna E., wife of C. F. Wick, of West Sunbury : Ida M .. wife of George M. Campbell, of Centreville : Margaret K., wife of Elmer Elliott, of Butler ; Eva M., wife of John Edmundson, of Prospect, and Eleanor J., a teacher in the public schools. Dr. Cowden is a member of the United Presbyterian church, and one of the liberal supporters of that society. Politically, he was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, and since that time has supported that organization. He cast his first vote for Henry Clay in 1844, and has voted for every presidential candidate of his party for the past fifty years.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

WILLIAM HUMPHREY, son of William and Elizabeth ( Dunbar) Ilumphrey. was born August 22, 1835, upon the homestead farm in Worth township, Butler county, the same tract settled by his grandfather, Thomas Humphrey, in 1798. lle received a common school education, and also attended a select school at Portersville. At the age of twenty-two he commenced to learn surveying under HIngh Smith, and followed that profession, in connection with teaching in the publie schools of Portersville and Muddy Creek township, for fifteen years. In 1861 he established a general store at Portersville, and also engaged in buying wool. Since that time he has purchased over 500,000 pounds of wool, being one of the most extensive buyer> in Butler county. For more than thirty years Mr. Ilumphrey has carried on merchandising at Portersville, and is one of the success- ful business men of the community. In 1868 he was elected justice of the peace for Portersville, and filled that position for twenty years. Ile has also been a school director for ten years, and a member of the council and burgess of Porters- ville. He was identified with the Democratic party until 1876, when he became connected with the Prohibition movement, and has since given it his support. He is a strong protectionist, and an advocate of a high tariff, believing that policy beneficial to the country at large. Mr. Humphrey is a member of the Portersville Presbyterian church, is a trustee in that society, and a member of the general session since 1886. In 1856 he married Elizabeth Riddle, a daughter of John Riddle, and has a family of four sons and one daughter, as follows : James; John, who is in partnership with his father ; Walter N., a physician ; Edwin W., now a law student in Philadelphia, and Margaret. Mr. Ilumphrey is one of the leading citizens of Butler county, and has always been one of the enterprising and progressive business men of the community in which he has spent the greater portion of his life.

DAVID MARSHALL was born in Ireland, in 1812, son of James and Jean (Peebles) Marshall, who immigrated with their family, to Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, in 1822, and located in Penn township, Butler county, in 1824. David was about twelve years of age when his parents settled in this county, and he grew to manhood upon his father's farm in Penn township. In 1839 he engaged in merchandising at Petersville, Connoquenessing township, where he carried on business for two years, then removed to Prospect, Franklin township, and con- tinued the same business down to 1865. In that year he retired to a farm near Prospect, where he died in 1877. He was twice married, his first wife being Euphemia Gilliland, a daughter of Barnet Gilliland, to whom was born one son, James M. Mrs. Marshall died in November, 1871, and was interred in the United Presbyterian cemetery at Prospect. Mr. Marshall married for his second wife, Mrs. Martha Frazier, who survives him. He was deeply interested in the public schools, and served as a director for many years. Politically, he was a Whig in early life, and a Republican from the formation of that party. He was a mem- ber of the United Presbyterian church of Prospect, was a trustee in that society, and was one of the building committee in the erection of the present church building.

JAMES M. MARSHALL, only child of David and Euphemia Marshall, was horn at Petersville, Butler county, June 3. 1841, received his education in the

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public schools of Prospect, and subsequently entered his father's store in that borough. In 1862 he formed a partnership with William Riddle, and carried on merchandising at Prospect down to 1873, when he retired to a farm in Worth township, and resided there until 1885. In 1880 he established the banking house, now known as J. M. Marshall & Company, at Portersville, and removed to that borough in 1885. Ile has devoted his attention to his banking business for the past fourteen years. In 1860 he married Ruth A. Riddle, a daughter of John A. Riddle, of Portersville, and they are the parents of the following chil- dren : John D., an attorney of Butler ; Archie S .. a merchant of Portersville ; Il. N., an attorney of New Castle; Thomas C., a merchant at Hazell Dell ; Mar- garet, wife of Edward Kennedy ; Sarah E. ; William R. ; James P. ; Nannie E., and Edwin H. Mr. Marshall was a Republican until 1868, and since that time has been an ardent supporter of the Democratic party. He is a member of the Presbyterian church of Portersville. He is one of the leading citizens of the county, and is interested quite largely in real estate at Hazel Dell, Lawrence county, as well as in his native county.

W. H. DANN, manufacturer and dealer in harness, etc., was born in Middle Lancaster, Butler county, May 2, 1859, son of Jacob and Margaret ( Total) Dann. His father was a native of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, and immigrated to Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, in 1844, where he worked at the tailor's trade, which he had learned in his native land. In 1847 he settled in Middle Lancaster, Butler county, where he has carried on business for the past forty-seven years. Jacob Dann was married in Pittsburg, and reared a family of nine children. W. HI. grew to man- hood in Middle Lancaster, received a common school education, and learned the harnessmaker's trade, which he worked at for several years in various places. Ile finally established himself in business at Middle Lancaster, which he carried on down to 1891, and then removed to Portersville, where he has since conducted a general store in connection with his trade. Ile deals in all kinds of harness and wagon stock, and carries a full line of whips, harness, blankets and driving goods. Mr. Dann married Mary Erb, a daughter of E. Erb, of Middle Lancas- ter, and has two children : Ralph L., and Luella. Politically, he is a Democrat, and is the present tax collector of Portersville. Ile is a member of l'ortersville Lodge, No. 909, I. O. O. F., and assistant secretary of the I. O. O. F. Endowment Association. Ile is one of the prosperous and enterprising merchants of Por- tersville, and gives a liberal support to every worthy project.

JACOB IFEBERLING was born in Carbon county, Pennsylvania, in 1792, was reared in his native county, and came to Zelienople, Butler county, after reaching manhood. Hle had learned the stonemason's trade in his early home, and one of his first contracts after coming to this county was the erection of the old stone church at Zelienople. He was a man of good education and taught school during the winter seasons. He married Mary Gruver, a daughter of Michael Gruver, one of the early settlers of Jackson township, and of their family of twelve children, six grew to maturity viz. : Reuben ; John ; Paul; Christina, who married Samuel Swain ; Sarah, wife of William Peffer, and Henry. Mrs. Heber- ling died in 1840, and her husband, in 1842, upon their farm in Jackson township.

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They were members of the Lutheran church in early days, but subsequently united with the Methodist Episcopal church.

HENRY HTEBERLING, youngest in the family of Jacob and Mary Heberling, was born in Jackson township. Butler county, August 16, 1837, and was reared upon the homestead farm. In March, 1857, he went to Missouri, and learned the tinner's trade at Canton. In 1859 he returned to Pennsylvania, and engaged in business at Beaver, Beaver county, but removed to Portersville, in April, 1860. where he established a general tin store, which he has conducted up to the present time. Mr. Ileberling was married September 27, 1860, to Christina, a daughter of George Lambert, and has a family of seven children : Nettie; Harry, William : Thomas; Frank: Sarah, and Theodore. In politics, he is a Republican. He is a member of the Lutheran church of Middle Lancaster.

SAMUEL. MOORE, SR., was one of the early settlers of what is now Brady township, Butler county. He was born in Antrim county, Ireland, in 1780. there learned the weaver's trade, and at the age of sixteen immigrated to Balti- more, Maryland, near which city he found employment on a farm, but remained there only a short time. He removed to Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he worked at his trade for several years. He married Sarah Cornelius, a daughter of Isaac Cornelius, of that county, who subsequently came with his family to Butler county. In 1801 Mr. Moore located in Allegheny county, where he fol- lowed his trade and cultivated a small farm, but later bought a larger farm six miles southwest of Pittsburg. He resided there until 1827, in which year he purchased 200 acres of land in what is now Brady township. Butler county, erected buildings and resided upon it until his death, in 1833. His family con- sisted of the following children : John, who died in Muddy Creek township; Mary, deceased wife of William McClymonds : Isaac, of Muddy Creek township: Charles, who died in the same township; James, deceased, whose descendants are in Ohio: Jane. deceased wife of James Brown ; Joseph, deceased ; Sarah, wife of Robert Glenn ; Esther, widow of Silas Covert ; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Newell Graham : Samuel, a resident of Brady township, and one that died in infancy. Mrs. Moore survived her husband twenty-three years, dying in 1856. and both are buried in the Wolf Creek graveyard. Mr. Moore and wife were members of the Seceder church, in which he was an elder. Politically, he was a supporter of the Whig party, and an ardent anti-slavery advocate.

ISAAC MOORE, Second son of Samuel and Sarah Moore, was born in Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania. March 19, 1805. grew to manhood in that county, and came with his parents to Butler county. He remained with them for two years, and then purchased 100 acres of land in Muddy Creek township. He cleared and improved this farm, and followed agriculture until 1882, when he retired. In 1829 he married Nancy Scott. a daughter of John Scott. She was the mother of eleven children, viz. : Samuel W., of Brady township : Rachel. who lives with her father ; Joseph, of Mercer county ; John C., of Muddy Creek township; Sarah. widow of M. W. Kennedy; Eli J. ; Adeline, wife of John Kennedy : William S., of Muddy Creek township ; Mary J., wife of Joshua Gal- lagher ; James Madison, deceased, and Minerva A., wife of Benton Dick. Mrs. Moore died in 1891. A coincident connected with this family is the fact that

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Samuel W., Eli J., and Adeline A., were all born on March 19, their father's birthday ; while his son, William S., and grandson, William P., were born on October 18. Mr. Moore has lived to see all of his children well settled in life, and all engaged in agricultural pursuits. Both he and wife were members of the Seceder church, later of the Associate Reformed, and finally of the United P'res- byterian church of Portersville. He is a worthy christian man and an upright citizen. Ile was originally a Whig, and afterwards a Republican, and has filled a number of the minor offices of his township. He is to-day one of the oldest citizens of Butler county.

SAMUEL MOORE was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, December 20, 1822, and is a son of Samuel Moore, Sr. He was reared in Brady township, received a common school education, and has spent the greater portion of his life upon his present homestead, following the peaceful vocation of a farmer. Mr. Moore has been twice married. His first wife was Martha Graham, of Mercer county, who died in 1873, leaving five children, as follows : Elizabeth, wife of Presley Stevenson. of Kansas; John. a resident of Brady township: Lorenzo, a merchant of Butler ; William, of Pittsburg, and Isaac Newton, a teacher in the Slippery Rock State Normal School. His second wife was Martha Dodds, whom he married in 1874. by which union five children have been born to him, viz .: Thomas : Clara ; Nannie : Sadie, and Ida. Mr. Moore is a member of the United Presbyterian church, and in politics, he is a Republican.

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 163

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