History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 168

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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OZIAS M. PATTERSON, agent of the Pittsburg, Shenango and Lake Erie railroad, at Hilliards, was born in Delaware township, Mercer county, March 18, 1855, son of William C. and Mary ( Colton) Patterson, the former a native of Mercer county, and the latter of Erie county. His grandfather. Andrew Pat- terson, a native of Maryland, located in Mercer county about 1503. His father died in 1886. His maternal grandfather, Luther Colton, a native of New York, first removed to Erie county, and thence to Mercer county at an carly day. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and his widow drew a pension as long as she lived. The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm, but has been connected more or less with railroad- since boyhood. Ile has been an employee on regular station work since 1881, and became agent at Hilliards in March, 1858. Mr. Patterson was married on January 1, 1875. to Lucy Patterson, a daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Hart) Patterson, of Crawford county. Her grandfather was one of the early settlers and owned a part of the land where the town of Sharon now stands. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson have a family of four children, as follows : Blanche ; Lloyd E. ; Wade W., and Raed J. The family are con- nected with the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics, he is a Republican, and is a member of Eureka Lodge, A. O. U. W., of Grove City.

JAMES VINCENT, SR., a native of Ireland, came to the United States in 1794, and located in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. While there he married Charity Gilmore, and early in 1796 they removed to Mercer county. Becoming dissatisfied with the locality in which they settled, Mr. Vincent purchased. the same year, a tract of 100 acres in what is now Marion township, Butler county, and early in 1798 he settled upon it with his wife and two sons, Thomas and John. The children born here are as follows: James ; Robert; Jane, who mar- ried Robert Allen ; Mary, who married Alexander Scott; Margaret, who mar- ried James Barnes ; Gibson ; William, and George C. Some time in the twenties he purchased 200 acres of land near Cadiz, Ohio, and gave to Thomas and John,

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100 acres each, upon which they settled, but they sold their farms in 1839, and removed to Washington county, Iowa. About the same time Mr. Vincent pur- chased another 200-acre tract in what is now Slippery Rock township, Butler county, npon which his sons Robert and William located. He built a grist mill there, operated by water power, but in the fall of 1835 it was burned. He soon afterwards rebuilt it and the mill is still standing and in successful operation. Gibson Vincent married Matilda Baird, a daughter of Thomas Baird, of Venango county, owned the larger part of the old homestead, and died there in 1864. His widow is still living on the old place. The youngest son, Rev. George C. Vincent, became a Presbyterian minister, and for nearly fifty years preached the gospel in Ohio, Illinois, fowa and Pennsylvania. He was also a prominent educator, being a professor in Westminster College at one time, and president of Franklin College fors even years. He was an editorial writer of considerable ability and continued his labors in the ministry until a few months of his death, which occurred at Allegheny, Pennsylvania, October 16. 1889. James Vincent, Sr., died upon the old homestead, March 18, 1847.

JAMES VINCENT, Son of James and Charity Vincent, was born in Marion township, Butler county, August 11, 1798, and is said to have been the first child born in that part of the county. He resided on part of the old homestead all his life. In early days he served as captain of a militia company, and took an active interest in public affairs. He married Nancy Kerr, a daughter of John Kerr. of Mercer county, who bore him three children : Harriet, who married James Porter : John K., and Charity, wife of Levi Porter. Captain Vincent was a stanch Republican, and was a leading member of the United Presbyterian church. He died on August 10, 1870, aged seventy-two years.

JOHN K. VINCENT. only son of James and Nancy Vincent. was born on the old Vincent homestead in Marion township, August 6, 1830. and has spent his entire life thereon. In 1862 he married Martha Baird, a daughter of James Baird, and a grand-daughter of Thomas Baird. Her grandfather was a native of Franklin county, Pennsylvania. a surveyor by profession, and settled in Clinton township, Venango county, in 1796. Mr. and Mrs. Vincent are the parents of three children, viz. : Hattie ; William J., and Charles G. They are members of the United Presbyterian church. In politics, he is a Republican, and has served one term as justice of the peace.

WILLIAM J. VINCENT, son of John K. and Martha Vincent, was born on the Vincent homestead, Marion township, January 20, 1866, received a common school education, and has followed farming as an occupation. On October 20, 1887, he married Nannie Snyder. a daughter of Jonathan and Rose (Nutt) Snyder, of Mercer county. Three children are the fruits of this union, viz. : Mary: Wilda, and Rose. Politically, Mr. Vincent is a Republican, and is a member of the United Presbyterian church.

HUGH MURRIN, SR., a native of Londonderry county, Ireland, immigrated to America prior to the Revolution, and served in a New Jersey regiment throughout that struggle for liberty. He was married in New Jersey to Cathe- rine Shaw, and they were the parents of the following children who grew to maturity : James; Joseph ; Hugh; John: Philip; George: William; Peter ;

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Catherine, and Mary. After his marriage he settled in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, where he resided until 1799, in which year he removed with his family to Butler county, and settled upon a tract of 400 acres in what is now Venango township. His sons, James and Joseph, each took up 200 acres near their father's entry. Mr. Murrin erected a cabin and began the work of making a home in the primitive forest of Butler county. Both he and wife died upon the farm, and were buried in a private graveyard located thereon. They were stanch members of the Catholic church, and erected on their farm, as early as 1805 a small log church building where services were celebrated by the early mis- sionary fathers of western Pennsylvania. In his will he left some money towards the erection of a more commodious church, which was carried into effect at a later day through the efforts of his son John. The lands settled by himself and sons are yet in possession of his descendants.

JOHN MURRIN, fourth son of Hugh and Catherine Murrin, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. in 1787, and was twelve years of age when his parents came to Butler county. He grew to manhood upon the homestead farm, and obtained such an education as the schools of that period afforded. but in after years he acquired through observation and reading a wide knowledge of men and books. After attaining his majority he purchased 200 acres of land adjoining the old homestead, where he established a store about 1830, and con- ducted that business for some ten years. Ile also purchased a grist mill. erected saw mills, and was an extensive lumber manufacturer for many years. At his death he owned between 1200 and 1500 acres of land. He also operated a distillery for some years. In 1820 he was appointed by Governor Wolfe a justice of the peace, and served continuously through re-elections to the same office for over forty years. He was widely and intimately known throughout western Pennsylvania as 'Squire John Murrin, and was one of the most promi- nent men in this section of the State. Politically, he was an ardent Democrat. was a candidate of his party for the legislature, associate judge, etc., and alway- active in public affairs. He was the founder of the village of Murrinsville, and gave liberally of his means towards the erection of the Catholic church at that point. being one of the leading members of the congregation throughout his life. He married Elizabeth Keating, a daughter of Ilugh Keating, of Centre county, and reared a family of eleven children, as follows: Hugh, and William, both deceased ; John, of Butler ; Francis P., a resident of Ohio; Margaret.deceased wife of William Forquer ; Catherine, wife of Patrick McBride; Mary. deceased wife of C. McBride ; Julia Ann, who married Alexander Simpson : Matilda, wife of Michael Gormley ; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Henry Gormley, and Louisa. wife of J. S. Neeson. 'Squire Murrin died July 19, 1863. his wife having passed away on August 31, 1848. They sleep side by side in the Catholic graveyard at Murrinsville.

HUGH MURRIN. eldest son of John and Elizabeth Murrin, was born in Ven- ango township, Butler county, April 4. 1817, was reared upon the farm, and received a common school education. In early manhood he located in Marion township, upon the farm now owned hy his nephew. John Z. Murrin. He later spent four years at Emlenton, where he was engaged in the hotel and mercantile business,

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and then returned to his farm in Marion township. In 1866 he removed to Murrinsville, locating on the property now occupied by his children, where he continued farming, and also carried on the hotel business for sixteen years prior to his death, which occurred September 28, 1885. He married Jane Gormley, a daughter of Cornelius and Mary Gormley, of Marion township, to which union were born nine children, as follows : Elizabeth : John F. ; Anna, wife of Michael Higgins : Harry ; James A .; Josephine L .; Cornelius G .; Catherine, and Matilda. His wife died February 12, 1883. Mr. Murrin was a practical mem- ber of the Catholic church, and reared his family in that faith. In politics, he was a Democrat, and in early days was captain of a militia company.

WILLIAM MURRIN, son of John and Elizabeth ( Keating) Murrin, was born in Marion township, Butler county, April 10, 1827, and was reared upon his father's farm. In early manhood he conducted a store at Murrinsville in partner- ship with Patrick McBride, and later was proprietor of the Murrin House, at Franklin, for fifteen years. He then returned to Murrinsville, and was engaged in merchandising from 1874 until 1881, when he located upon his farm in Marion township, and continued to follow agriculture until his death, which occurred December 20, 1887. He married Elizabeth Fielding, a daughter of Zachariah and Rosanna (Carr) Fielding, of Slippery Rock township, Butler county. She became the mother of seven children, viz. : Bessie, wife of Bernard McCrea : John Z. ; Rosanna, deceased ; William E. ; Estella, now Sister M. Norberta. of the order of Sisters of Charity: Mande, and Katherine. Mrs. Murrin is a resident of Franklin, Pennsylvania. She is a member of the Catholic church. in which faith her husband lived and died. Politically, he was a Democrat, and an enterprising, progressive citizen.

JouN Z. MURRIN, eldest son of William and Elizabeth Murrin, was born at Murrinsville, Butler county, October 31, 1858, and was reared in Butler and Venango counties. lle received a common school education, and has been engaged in farming in Marion township since 1879. On August 20, ISSO, he married Catherine McBride, a daughter of Michael and Grace (Friel) McBride, of Venango township, and has six children, viz .: Marie; Grace ; W. Lawrence ; John B .; Catherine, and Ella. Mr. Murrin and family are members of the Catholic church, and in politics, he is a Democrat. After serving four years as justice of the peace of Marion township, he resigned to accept the post- mastership at Boyers, to which position he was appointed in July, 1593. lle i- a descendant of Hugh Murrin, Sr., who came to Butler county nearly one hun- dred years ago.

JOHN BLACK was born in Donegal county, Ireland, son of John Black, a native of the same county, where he died in 1783. His grandfather, James Black, born near Letterkenny, Ireland, was a son of James Black, a native of Scotland, who removed to Ireland towards the close of the Seventeenth century. The subject of this sketch came to the United States in 1793, and settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where he married Jane Criswell, a native of Derry county, Ire- land, in 1795. In 1797 they removed to Westmoreland county ( now Armstrong), and in 1799 settled in what is now Marion township, Butler county, upon the land where William and Joshua T. Black reside. He subsequently purchased

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another farm of 400 acres on the Middle Branch of Slippery Rock creek, where he built a saw mill in 1825 and later a grist mill, the only mill in this section for many years. It was known as Black's mill, and was a familiar landmark in pio- neer times. Here he died on October 3, 1832, and his wife, in January, 1864. He was one of the founders of West Unity United Presbyterian church, and a leading Democrat of his day. The children of John and Jane Black are as fol- lows : Martha, who married Robert Breaden ; Matthew, who died in 1850; Jane, who married John Kerr; Robert C., who died in 1850; John, who died in Butler, in 1889; James, a resident of San Jose, California; William. who died in 1891; Alexander M., who died in 1834; Rebecca, who married David Vance, and Julia A., who married John Porter. Several of the sons became leading citizens of Butler county, and were prominent factors in its social and material development. During the Rebellion thirteen grandsons of John Black, Sr., served in the Union armies, and four of the number laid down their lives in defence of the flag. No other family in Butler county exhibited a greater devotion to the Union cause than the descendants of this Irish pioneer of Marion township.

MATTHEW BLACK, eldest son of John and Jane Black, was born in Marion township, Butler county, in October, 1800, was reared in the old log cabin erected by his father in the primitive forest of Marion township, and received a meager education in the pioneer schools of that period. He made farming his life vocation, and owned a portion of the original tract entered by his father, to which he added thirty-three acres, owning at his death a farm of 110 acres of well improved land. He died on June 8, 1850, in his fiftieth year. Mr. Black was twice married. His first wife was Eliza Curry, of Marion township, who bore him three children, viz. : John A., deceased ; James C., a resident of Iowa. who served in the Thirty-fifth Illinois Volunteers, in the Rebellion, and Matthew 1., deceased. His second wife was Charlotte Tinker, a daughter of Joshua Tin- ker, of Cherry township, but a native of England. Six children were the fruits of this union, as follows : Uriah J., who enlisted in Company C, Eleventh Penn- sylvania Reserve, and died in the service ; Jarvis W., deceased ; Abigail, wife of W. F. Maxwell, of Kansas; Robert W .; Silas T., deceased, and Joshua T. Mr. Black was a member of the United Presbyterian church, and in politics, was a supporter of the Whig party.

JOSHUA T. BLACK, youngest son of Matthew and Charlotte Black, was born upon the homestead farm in Marion township, March 17, 1845. lle was edu- cated in the common schools, and soon after attaining his majority be purchased the old homestead, upon which he has resided since his birth. On July 24, 1873, he married Annetta M. Byers, a daughter of Resa and Ellen (Patterson) Byers, of Waterloo, Venango county. They are the parents of four children, viz. : Ira E. ; Frank B. ; Alda M., and Charles E. Mr. Black is a member of the United Presbyterian church, and politically, he is a Republican. He is now serving his second term as justice of the peace, and is recognized as one of the representative citizens of his community.

JAMES BLACK, fourth son of John and Jane (Criswell) Black, was born in Marion township, Butler county, August 31, 1808, and was reared upon the old

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homestead. lle learned the cabinet-maker's trade and followed that business in connection with farming until 1865. Removing to Franklin in that year he engaged in the furniture and carpenter business, which he followed until Sep- tember, 1874, and then removed to San Jose, California, where he now resides at the ripe old age of eighty-six years. During his residence in Butler county he took a deep interest in educational matters, and was a director in the public schools for several years. lle has been an elder in the United Presbyterian church since arriving at the age of twenty-five, and a liberal supporter of that organization. In politics, he was originally a Democrat, but afterwards united with the Republican party. Mr. Black married Nancy A., daughter of David Russell of Marion township, Butler county, June 20, 1833, to whom were born the following children : John C., a lawyer, residing in San Jose, California ; David A .. a farmer of Santa Clara county, California : William M., a resident of Illinois, who served in Company K, Seventeenth Indiana Vol- unteers, from June, 1861, to July, 1865; James H., of Leavenworth, Kansas, who served in Company H., Seventeenth Illinois Volunteers ; Isaiah, of Frank - lin. Pennsylvania, who was fife major in the Sixteenth Illinois Volunteers; Newton, attorney at law, Butler; Josiah B .. an oil producer of Butler ; Perry N., of Bradford, Pennsylvania ; Jennie M., who died March 3, 1893; Lysander, a physician of Butter, and Alfred P'., assistant district attorney of San Francisco, California.

ROBERT SEATON was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, of Irish parentage, in 1763, and came to Butler county in 1800. He settled in what is now Marion township, and at once set to work and erected a log cabin, in which his daughter, Eliza, was born the fourth day after the family arrived at their des- tination. Mr. Seaton was a millwright, and built nearly all the mills in this section of the country in his day, furnishing the lumber for the same, in payment of which he received a certain share of the profits of each mill for seven years. About 1815 he built a fulling mill on the South Branch of Slippery Rock creek, and subsequently a tannery. These he carried on until his death, in 1852. Ile married Mary Davis, of Huntingdon county, and their children were as follows : Polly, who married Robert Shaw ; Alexander ; Eliza, who married Stephen Van- derlin ; Ann, who married Robert Hutchison ; Margaret ; Thomas ; Robert ; Will- iam ; James, and John.

ALEXANDER SEATON, eldest son of Robert and Mary Seaton, was born in Huntingdon county, in 1790, and came to Butter county with his parents when about ten years old. On attaining his majority he purchased a farm on the line of what is now Mercer and Marion townships, his residence being in the former. He was a millwright and farmer, and erected a saw, grist and cloth mill, which he operated for many years. Mr. Seaton married Isabella Donaldson, a daugh- ter of Andrew Donaldson, and reared a family of eight children, viz. : Mar- garet, who married James Bailey : Robert F. ; Andrew ; Mary A., who married John Buchanan ; John; Thomas; William A., and Abner. Mr. Seaton was a member of the United Presbyterian church. In politics, he was a Democrat, and held the office of justice of the peace many year -.

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ROBERT F. SEATON, eldest son of Alexander Seaton, was born upon the Seaton homestead in Marion township, in 1821. He learned the stonemason's trade and subsequently engaged in farming. He married Mary, a daughter of Alexander McMurray, and their children were as follows : Samuel M. : Eva J., wife of John Ray; Matilda, deceased ; Samantha ; Seretta, wife of John Murrin, and Scott A.

WILLIAM A. SEATON, fifth son of Alexander and Isabella Seaton, was born in Mercer township. Butler county, Pennsylvania, June 22, 1831, was reared on the homestead farm. and acquired a common school education. When eighteen years of age he began learning the blacksmith's trade with James McDowell, of Harrisville, Butler county, and served an apprenticeship of two years, for which he received fifty dollars in store goods. He next worked one year at Clin- tonville. Venango county, for which he was paid seventy-five dollars. In 1851- 52 he followed lumbering at Irwinsburg, on the Conowango river, and in the spring of 1853 he located at Mercer, Pennsylvania, where he worked at his trade until the summer of 1854. He then entered Westminster College, at New Wil- mington, Pennsylvania, where he spent the fall term of 1854, and the winter and summer term of 1855. In the fall of the latter year he went to California and worked at his trade in the mining region until the spring of 1857. He then pur- chased a claim and embarked in mining, which he followed two years. In the spring of 1859 he sold his claim and engaged in farming in Feather river valley, which he continued until April. 1861, and then started for his old home in But- ler county, where he arrived in safety. On September 16, 1861, Mr. Seaton enlisted in Company 1, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and participated with his command in the Seven Days Fight before Richmond, Gaines Hill, Mechanics- ville, Glendale, Malvern Hill, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Shepherds- town, and many other engagements. and was honorably discharged September 17, 1864. After his return from the army, he worked at his trade in Grove City for eight years, and then purchased his present farm, upon which he has since resided. Mr. Seaton married Ann E., a daughter of Robert Hutchison, of Marion township, August 6, 1863, and has two daughters : Anna B .. and Ella M. Fle is a member of the United Presbyterian church, also of the G. A. R., and is a man of upright character and strict integrity.

SAMUEL M. SEATON, eldest son of Robert F. and Mary Seaton, was born March 9, 1847, on the Seaton homestead in Marion township. He received a common school education, and was reared upon his father's farm. In 1864 he enlisted in Company G, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served with his regi- ment until the battle of Amelia Springs, where he was taken prisoner and held until the surrender of Lee. When the war closed he returned to his home and engaged in the lumber business, but subsequently located upon the homestead, where he remained engaged in farming until 1888. In that year he removed to his father-in-law's farm, but in 1892 settled upon his present farm in Marion township. which he had purchased some years previous. In 1893 Mr. Seaton was elected, on the Republican ticket, prothonotary of Butler county, and began his official duties in January, 1894. He has been always an active participant in local politics, and has filled the offices of collector and secretary of the school board

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of Marion township. He was married in 1872, to Juliann, a daughter of William Black, of Marion township. Five children have been born of this marriage, as follows : Cora B. ; Tillie ; Robert W., and two that died in infancy. Both he and wife are members of West Unity United Presbyterian church, in which he fills the office of elder. Ile is a member of Z. C. McQuillen Post. G. 1. R .. and Mylert Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Centreville.

WILLIAM SEATON, son of Robert Seaton, was born in Butler county, in February, 1804. He was reared on the old Seaton homestead, and resided there until his death, in 1886. He married Rebecca Vanderlin, a daughter of John Vanderlin, of Venango township, to whom were born the following children : Kate ; Margaret, who married Thomas Hovis; Caroline, who married James Jack ; John; William G .; Hettie, who married Stephen Cooper ; Amos; Elias, and Lewis.

AMOS SEATON, third son of William and Rebecca Seaton, was born in Venango township, Butler county, August 23, 1838. He was educated in the common schools, and learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed four years. In May, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, Eleventh Pennsylvania Reserve, and participated in the first battles before Richmond, Malvern Hill, Charles City Cross Roads, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, and other engagements, and was wounded in the battle of Charles City Cross Roads. He was honorably dis- charged on June 20, 1864, and re-enlisted on August 24, following, in Company D, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. He was mustered out of service June 20, 1865, and returned to his home, where he resumed his life upon the farm. He has devoted his entire attention to agriculture, with the exception of four years residence in Butler. Mr. Seaton married Mary Laughlin, a daughter of Samuel Laughlin, of Marion township, who has borne him seven children, viz. : Hettie; Delphine; Ada; Ersie; Fannie ; Homer, and Darley M. Politically, Mr. Seaton is a Republican, and has served one term as treasurer of Butler county. Hle is a member of the G. A. R., and the U. V. L., and is connected with the Methodist Episcopal church.

ALEXANDER MORTLAND, a native of Ireland, came from Juniata county, Pennsylvania, to what is now Marion township, Butler county, in 1806. He settled on a farm near the site of Murrinsville, which he continued to clear and improve until his death. in 1818. He was twice married, his first wife bearing him a family of six children, viz. : John, who served in the War of 1812; Will- iam ; James; Ann, who married Hugh Orlton ; Mary, who married John Sny- der, and Sally, who became the wife of William White. Mr. Mortland was a Democrat, in politics, and a Presbyterian, in religious faith.

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 168

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