History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 169

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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WILLIAM MORTLAND, son of Alexander Mortland, was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, in 1796, and was ten years of age when his parents came to Butler county. On attaining his majority, he settled on the farm now occu- pied by his son Newton, in Marion township, cleared and improved it, and resided there the balance of his days, dying March 19, 1856. He married Tamar Orlton. a daughter of John Orlton, of Marion township, to whom were born four children, viz. : Harvey; Newton ; Jerusha, wife of W. II. Gilchrist, and AAlvin. Mr. Mortland was a member of the Presbyterian church, was a Demo-

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crat in politics, and held various township office- during his residence in this county.

NEWTON MORTLAND was born in what is now Marion township, Butler county, December 24, 1835, son of William and Tamar Mortland. lle was reared in his native township, received a common school education, and has made farming his life vocation, succeeding to the old homestead at his father's death. On November 12, 1857, he married Ellen Gilmer, a daughter of John and Mar- garet ( Kilgore) Gilmer, of Marion township, and has five children, viz. : Sarah E. ; Maggie A. ; William H. ; John G., and James C. Mr. Mortland is a vet- eran of the late war. He enlisted in Company F. One Hundred and Thirty- seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, August 13, 1862, and participated in the bat- tles of South Mountain, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. assisted in burying the dead at Antietam, and was honorably discharged after nine months' service. On March 31, 1864, he re-enlisted as a veteran volunteer in Company F, Second Pennsylvania Artillery, and was engaged in the battles of the Wilderness, North Anna, and Cold Harbor. At the last mentioned engagement, June 2, 1864, he was taken prisoner. After eight days spent in Libby prison, he was transferred to Andersonville, where he remained four months. Ile was then sent to Savannah, Georgia, soon afterwards to Millen, same State, and after six weeks at that point, with many other sick and wounded, he was brought back to Savannah, was there paroled and sent to the hospital at Annapolis, Maryland. In December, 1864, he was sent home on furlough, rejoined his regiment on June 2, 1865, at Petersburg, and on July 14, following, was honorably dis- charged. Mr. Mortland is a member of the G. A. R. Politically, heis a stanch Democrat, and has held most of the local offices in Marion township, being at present justice of the peace.

GEORGE RAY, SR., was born in Fairview township, Butler county, in 1802, and in 1810 removed to what is now Marion township, where he found a home with his uncle, George Ward, at that period one of the largest land-holders in the township. He was reared by his uncle, and spent seventy-four years of his life on the Ward homestead, a large portion of which he owned at the time of his death. He was recognized as one of the leading farmers of the township. He married Elizabeth Gilmore, a daughter of Hugh Gilmore, a native of Ireland, who settled in what is now Marion township in 1796. To this union were born eight children, all of whom grew to maturity, viz. : William. deceased ; Mrs. James Buchanan ; Ilugh ; Mrs. J. S. Neely; John ; Jane, who married William Johnson ; Isabel, who became the wife of J. E. Miller, and George. Mr. Ray died in 1884, at the age of eighty-two.

GEORGE RAY, youngest son of George and Elizabeth Ray, was born on the homestead farm in Marion township, February 15, 1850. He was reared and educated in his native township, and has made farming his life vocation. He married Cynthia McCoy. a daughter of James M. McCoy, of Pine township, Mercer county, and has four children : Mame R .; Ettie G. ; Laura B., and George N. Mr. Ray is a member of the United Presbyterian church, and in pol- itics, he is a supporter of the Democratic party. He resides upon the old home- stead, and is one of the progressive farmers of the community.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

ROBERT ATWELL, a native of Ireland, came to Pennsylvania towards the close of the Eighteenth century, and settled in what is now Scrubgrass township, V'enango county, prior to 1800. By survey of October 24, 1801, he became the owner of 190 acres of land, by virtue of settlement and improvement. About 1816 he removed to Marion township, Butler county, where he cleared and improved a farm, on which he resided down to his death, in 1840. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and a man of quiet manners and unobtrusive character. He was a member of the Associate Reformed church, known at that time as the Seceder church. Mr. Atwell was twice married. Ilis first wife was Mary Dixon, who bore him one son, Dixon. His second wife was Margaret Russell, to whom were born seven children, as follows: Ellen, who married William Brandon ; William ; George; John ; James; Robert, and Mary, who became the wife of Alexander Watt.

GEORGE ATWELL, second son of Robert and Margaret Atwell, was born in Venango county, in 1808. and removed with his parents to Marion township, Butler county, where he grew to manhood and resided until his death, in 1877. He married Mary McKissick, a daughter of David MeKissick, a pioneer of Mer- cer township, Butler county, to which union were born eleven children, viz. : Sarah, who married William Vogus; Margaret, who married Robert Donaldson : Nancy, who became the wife of Samuel Vanderlin ; David M .; Julia A., who married Samuel Eakin; Maria, who married John Kime- ; Thomas J .; John ; Mary E., who married Samuel Kramer; Elizabeth, and Jane, who married Mar- tin Hoffman. Mr. Atwell was a member of the United Presbyterian church, and died in that faith.

DAVID M. ATWELL, eldest son of George and Mary Atwell, was born in Marion township, Butler county, December 8, 1837, received a common school education, and was reared upon the farm. He learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed as an occupation for twenty-five year-, a portion of the time in the various oil fields of Pennsylvania, where he also operated as a producer to some extent. He has been a resident of Marion township since 1874, where he owns and occupies what is known as the James Black homestead, and devotes his attention to farming. In September, 1869, he married Nannie Daubenspeck, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine ( Hoover ) Daubenspeck, of Washington town- ship, Butler county. Nine children have been born to this union, as follows : Harry P .; Catherine, wife of A. P. Painter; Jacob C. ; George C. : Samuel S. ; David F. ; Mary M. : Margaret M., and Olive N. Mr. Atwell is one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of the community, and has an exten- sive acquaintance throughout the oil region. Politically, he is a Democrat, and in religion, is an adherent of the United Presbyterian church.

ALEXANDER PORTER was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, about 1761, a son of Samuel Porter, a native of Ireland, whose father was born in Scot- land, and whose grandfather was a native of Holland, from which country he was driven on account of religious persecution. Alexander had five brothers who were soldiers in the Revolution, three of whom never returned. He settled in. Clinton township, Venango county, in 1794, and was the first blacksmith in that locality, carrying on his trade under great difficulties. It is related that an

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iron wedge driven into a stump did service as an anvil, a piece of an old axe was used as a hammer. and the bark of trees utilized for fuel. Iron was brought from the furnaces in Huntingdon county, on pack-horses, through the trackless forests. Mr. Porter settled on 400 acres of land, where his grandsons, Samuel and Thomas V. Porter, now reside, which has been the property of the family for over 100 years. Ile carried on his trade in connection with farming, and died September 26, 1847. His widow survived him until 1850, and both are buried on the old homestead. Her maiden name was Margaret Braden, and she was the mother of twelve children, viz. : Joseph ; Mary: Elizabeth; Isabel, who mar- ried William Coulter ; Nancy, who married William Osborn : James ; Annabel, who married James Kerr; Samuel ; John, whose first wife was Juliann Black, and second wife Rachel Barr; Margaret, who married Benjamin Yard ; Lucy, and Alexander, whose first wife was Margaret Mckinley, and second wife Levina Mitchell.

JAMES PORTER, second son of Alexander and Margaret Porter, was born in Clinton township, Venango county, December 21, 1801, and resided upon the old homestead until 1828. In that year he purchased a farm in Marion town- ship, Butler county, now occupied by his son Levi, where he lived until 1857. when he purchased the old homestead in Venango county, upon which he resided down to his death. While a resident of Butler county. he filled the office of jus- tice of the peace. Ile was an ardent supporter of the temperance cause, and quite prominent in temperance circles. He was twice married; first to Sibellah. a daughter of Patrick Coulter, of Clinton township, Venango county, who died. leaving two sons, Levi, and James C. His second wife was Harriet Vincent. a daughter of James Vincent, of Marion township, Butler county, who bore him two sons, Samuel and Thomas V. Mr. Porter died on June 18, 1887, in his eighty- sixth year.

LEVI PORTER. eldest son of James and Sibellah Porter, was born upon his present homestead in Marion township, Butler county, July 11, 1829, where nearly all his life has been spent. He received a good common school education. and is a surveyor by profession, which he has followed for many years in con- nection with farming. His farm was purchased by his father in 1828, and was originally settled by Edward Canaan, about 1799. He erected a water-power sash saw mill on his place in 1852, and built his present frame residence in 1877. On November 20, 1882, his barn, built in 1839, was burned, with horses, etc .. the loss amounting to $2,300. He rebuilt it in 1883. Mr. Porter enlisted in Com- pany K, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry September 13, 1864, and participated in the Seven Days Fight before Richmond, the battles of Antietam, South Moun- tain, Fredericksburg. Chancellorsville, Trevellian Station, Haws Shop. Hanover Court House, St. Mary's Church, Petersburg, and many other engagements, and was honorably discharged from the service, October 18. 1864. Being refused re-enlistment on account of disability, he returned home and resumed farming and surveying. On November 4, 1869, he married Charity Vincent, a daughter of James and Nancy (Kerr) Vincent, of Marion township. Mr. Porter and wife are members of the United Presbyterian church, and stanch advocates of prohi- bition principles.

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JOSEPH PORTER, eldest son of Alexander and Margaret Porter, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania. in 1792, and removed with his parents to Clinton township. Venango county. when two years old. He there grew to manhood, and in 1817 married Martha VanDyke, a daughter of John VanDyke, of Marion township, Butler county. The following year they located in Cherry township, where he cleared and improved the farm now occupied by his son Alexander, and resided thereon the remainder of his life. To Joseph and Martha Porter were born the following children : Lucy, who married Robert Seaton ; John; Isabel, who married Cyrus Kerr: Braden: Polly, who married Abner McCallen ; Martha, who married David Dunn ; Sarah, who became the wife of Robert Sankey, and Alexander. Mr. Porter was a soldier in the War of 1812, and died February 25, 1886, in hi- ninety-fourth year. He was always known as a most worthy citizen, strictly honorable in all his dealings, and was never sued or brought a suit during his long and eventful life. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics, he was a Republican.

JOHN PORTER, eldest son of Joseph and Martha Porter, was born on the homestead in Cherry township, Butler county, February 13, 1823. He received a common school education, and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for several years. In June, 1852, he settled in Marion township, on the farm where he now resides, on which he has made all the improvements. Mr. Porter was married October 21, 1847, to Martha C. Turner, a daughter of William and Mollie ( McCandless) Turner, of Parker township, who has had a family of eleven children, six of whom are living, viz. : Mary A .; Maggie I., wife of John II. Crawford ; Jennie J., wife of Abner Buchanan ; Joseph T .; Ada E., wife of Martin MeGill, and Laura 11., wife of Lewis Sankey. Mr. Porter is a member of the Presbyterian church, is an ardent advocate of prohibition, and votes the Republican ticket. He served in the Union army ten months during the Civil war.

JOSEPH T. PORTER, only son of John and Martha C. Porter, was born in Marion township, Butler county, February 2, 1859, was reared on the old home- stead, and was educated in the common schools and at Grove City College. He was married September 24, 1884, to Melda E. Carson, a daughter of William and Prudence (Calvin) Carson, of Marion township, and has four children, viz. : James C. ; John R .; Grace M. P., and William H. Mr. Porter has always fol- lowed agricultural pursuits, and resides upon the farm where he was born. Politically, he is a Republican, an advocate of prohibition, and is a member of the Presbyterian church.

JAMES MILFORD was born in Antrim county, Ireland, and immigrated to the United States in 1807. After a varied career he located in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, removed to Clay township, Butler county, about 1824, and in 1827 settled in Marion township, on the farm now owned by his son Samuel F. Hle cleared and improved this property, and resided upon it until his death, in 1859, aged about seventy years. Ile married Martha Findley, a daughter of Judge Samuel Findley, a pioneer of Butler county, and one of its first associate judges. Four children were born to this union, viz. : Mary J., who married J. J. Dunn ; Samuel F. ; James, and David. Mr. Milford was a member of the

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Associate Reformed church, afterwards the United Presbyterian, and in politics, he was a Republican. He was one of the honored and respected citizens of the community during his residence therein.

SAMUEL F. MILFORD, eldest son of James and Martha Milford, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, July 11, 1822, came with his parents to Butler county, and has lived in Marion township since 1827. He assisted in clearing and improving the old homestead, which he inherited upon the death of his father, and has always resided upon this farm. Mr. Milford enlisted in Com- pany II, Fiftieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, September 20, 1864, and served until honorably discharged, June 2, 1865. In 1873 he married Mrs. Margaret Rea, a daughter of John and Margaret ( Scott) Morton. of Antrim county, Freland. Both he and wife are members of the United Presbyterian church, and politically, he is a Republican. Mr. Milford is a successful farmer, and is one of the pro- gressive citizens of the township.

JOSEPH KERR was a native of eastern Pennsylvania, a son of John Kerr, grandson of Thomas Kerr, Jr., and a great grandson of Thomas Kerr, Sr., who was born in Ireland in 1721. and came to America about the middle of the last century. In early life Joseph Kerr removed to Ashtabula county, Ohio, served in the War of 1812 from that county, and soon afterwards settled in Venango town- ship, Butler county, Pennsylvania. He cleared and improved a farm, upon which he resided down to his death. His wife was Margaret Braden, to whom were born the following children : James; Thomas; John ; Zachariah; Joseph ; Harvey; Lucy, who married Samuel Briggs; Amanda, who married Calvin Graham, and Eliza.

JOHN KERR, third son of Joseph and Margaret Kerr, was born in Ashta- bula county, Ohio, February 21, 1805, and removed to Venango township, Butler county, with his parents after the close of the War of 1812. He grew to man- hood in this township, and soon after his marriage, in 1834, he settled in Marion township, where he cleared and improved the farm now owned and occupied by his sons, Joseph, James HI., and William. He died upon this farm on March 21, 1872. He married Jane Black, a daughter of John and Jane (Criswell) Black, of Marion township, who bore him a family of eight children, viz. : Joseph ; Alexander P. ; Nancy J., who married James Vanderlin ; John B. ; James H. ; Rebecca A., who married Samuel McMurray ; William, and Carlisle, deceased. Mr. Kerr was a member of the Presbyterian church. In politics, he was a Democrat, and served three terms as justice of the peace in Marion township.

JAMES H. KERR, fourth son of John and Jane Kerr, was born in Marion township, Butler county, on the farm where he now resides, January 12, 1836. He received a limited education in the common schools of his distriet, and has followed farming as an occupation since childhood. He has always resided on the old homestead, a portion of which he now owns and occupies. In July, 1863, he married Eliza J. Vanderlin, a daughter of Stephen and Eliza (Seaton) Van- derlin, of Venango township, Butler county. Eleven children have been the fruits of this union, viz. : Lodusky J., wife of Marion Kohlmeyer; Ida ; Ella ; Louisa ; Stephen ; Nannie ; James ; Maud ; John A. ; Samuel A., and Lottie. 83

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Mr. Kerr is one of the leading farmers of Marion township, is a Democrat, in politics, and has filled the offices of assessor and school director.

WILLIAM KERR, fifth son of John and Jane Kerr, and grandson of Joseph Kerr, was born in Marion township, Butler county, October 9, 1840, and was reared on the homestead farin, on a portion of which he now resides. He received a common school education, and learned the plasterer's trade, which he followed for fifteen years, having also been engaged in farming more or less for the past twenty-five years. In 1864 he married Matilda Vanderlin, a daughter of Stephen and Eliza (Seaton( Vanderlin, of Venango township, Butler county. They are the parents of six children, named as follows : Eli V. : William F .; Lida J. : Etta M. ; Lewis B., and Hulbert S. Politically, Mr. Kerr is a stanch Democrat.

CORNELIUS GORMLEY, a native of Tyrone county, Ireland, came to Phila- delphia in 1840, and settled in Marion township, Butler county, the same year, locating on the farm now owned by his son Cornelius, where he resided down to his death. He married Mary McCullough, who bore him ten children, viz. : James : Patrick ; Kate, who married Michael Conway ; Sally, who married Hugh McCollough ; Henry ; Michael; Mary ; Jane, who married Hugh Murrin ; Cor- nelius, and Francis. Mr. Gormley and wife were members of the Catholic church, to which denomination the family also belong.

MICHAEL GORMLEY, fourth son of Cornelius and Mary Gormley, was borne in Tyrone county, Ireland, in 1827, and came to Butler county, Pennsyl- vania, with his parents in 1840. After attaining his majority he engaged in farm- ing in Venango county, and later was proprietor of a hotel in Franklin, Pennsyl- vania, for three years. For over thirty years he has been engaged in farming in Venango township, Butler county, and cleared a part of the farm whereon he now resides. He married Matilda Murrin, a daughter of Squire John Murrin, of Venango township, of which union ten children survive, viz. : John II. ; James ; Mary L., wife of Michael McBride; Michael; William ; Elizabeth ; Francis ; Kate ; Birtilla, and Charles, Mr. Gormley and family are members of the Cath- olic church, and in politics, he is a stanch Democrat.

JOHN II. GORMLEY, eldest son of Michael and Matilda Gormley, was born in Venango county, Pennsylvania, March 27, 1850. He was reared upon the homestead farm, received a common school education, and was engaged in farm- ing until thirty years of age. In 1880 he embarked in merchandising at Mur- rinsville, in which he has since successfully continued. In February, 1875, he married Catherine McBride, a daughter of Patrick and Catherine ( Friel) Mc- Bride, of Venango township, Butler county, and has four children, viz. : Matilda M .: John A. ; Patrick M, and Mary G. Mr. Gormley and family are members of the Catholic church. He is one of the influential citizens of Marion township, is a stanch Democrat, and has been postmaster of Murrinsville since 1893.

JOHN WALTER was born in Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania, eldest son of John Walter, a native of Germany. His father and uncle Peter settled in Irwin township, Venango county, about 1800, where the former resided down to his death. His children were as follows : John ; Peter : Jacob, and Philip. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native township, and

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followed milling in connection with farming. Ile married Elizabeth Walter, a daughter of Peter Walter, of Venango county, to whom were born eight children, viz. : David; Craft; John ; Peter ; Mary A., who married David Ayers ; Ann, who married Jacob Iloffman ; Ellen, who married Michael McFadden, and Sarah C., wife of Ghost Hoffman. Mr. Walter died at the age of sixty-two years.

CRAFT WALTER, son of John and Elizabeth Walter, was born in Irwin township, Venango county, April 9, 1826, and was there reared to manhood. Ile received a limited education in the public schools, and has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1848 he located upon his present homestead in Marion township, Butler county, most of which he has cleared and improved. Mr. Walter has been twice married, first to Martha McMurdy, a daughter of George McMurdy, of Irwin township, Venango county, who bore him two chil- dren : Melissa, wife of John Kimes, and Martha, wife of Craft Hoffman. His second wife was Lucy A. Gilmore, a daughter of John Gilmore, of Irwin town- ship, to whom have been born the following children: Carlisle; John G .; Louisa, wife of James McFadden ; William J. : Emma ; James, and Alice. Mr. Walter is a member of the Church of God, and in politics, he is a Democrat. He has held the offices of constable and collector, and is one of the substantial farmers of his township.

JOHN MCFADDEN was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1799, and was a son of Edward McFadden, a native of Ireland, who located in that county in 1797, whence he removed to Irwin township. Venango county, in 1803. He subsequently removed to Somerset, Perry county, Ohio, where he resided until his death. His children were : William ; John ; Michael ; Charles ; Sarah, who married George Green ; Anna, who married Ed Megargil, and Mary, who mar- ried George Sheffler. John was reared in Venango county, Pennsylvania, and Perry county, Ohio. From thirteen years of age he lived in Irwin township, Venango county. lle was a natural mechanic, and followed the trades of a car- penter and a millwright: It is said he built nearly all the blasts for furnaces, and the saw and grist mills in his locality. He owned a farm of 160 acres of land in Irwin township, which he cleared and improved, and there died in 1881. His wife was Barbara Hoffman, born in 1801, a daughter of James Hoffman, of Clinton township, Venango county, who bore him twelve children, as follows : James ; Sarah, who married John Layton ; Michael : John ; Daniel ; Mary A .. wife of A. J. Morrow; Philip G. ; Perry ; Margery, wife of James Farren ; Jacob ; Carlisle, and Barbara. Mr. McFadden was a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church, and in politics, a Democrat.

CARLISLE MCFADDEN, youngest son of John and Barbara McFadden, was born in Irwin township, Venango county, April 10, 1841, and received a com- mon school education. He learned the wagonmaker's trade, which he followed ten years, but since 1871 he has been engaged in farming, in Marion township, on the farm where he now resides. In June, 1864, he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteers, and was honorably dis- charged on March 17, 1865. In 1870 Mr. McFadden married Elizabeth Farren. a daughter of William Farren. of Marion township, and has three children : Sarah J., wife of E. Sutherland ; Lafayette T., and Anna D. Politically, he is

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a Democrat. is a member of the G. A. R., and is an adherent of the Methodist Episcopal church.

PATRICK McDOWELL was born upon his father's farm in Venango county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Patrick McDowell, a native of County Down, Ire- land, who immigrated to America in 1768, and served in the Continental army five years. Patrick, Sr., married a Miss Turner, and at an early day settled on a tract of 400 acres of land in Venango county, upon which he died in 1828. aged seventy-six years. He reared a large family, all of whom are dead except the subject of this sketch. When sixteen years of age, Patrick, Jr., went to Mercer county, there learned the blacksmith's trade, and followed that occupation for a period of forty years. After a short time spent in the oil fields of Armstrong county, he settled in Venango township, Butler county, where he is now living in the eighty-first year of his age. He was twice married ; first to Lucinda, a daughter of Daniel Waldron, of Mercer county, who bore him two children, one of whom is living, Patrick. Mr. MeDowell's second wife was Susan Beach, a daughter of Stephen W. Beach, of Venango county, to whom were born three children. Of these, Cynthia married Jacob Kellerman and died in 1892, and John resides in Marion township.

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 169

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