History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 124

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 1314

USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 124

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Of this family of children, all worthy, filling their places well in the world, and sprung, as it were, from the loins of Fayette County, since their parents were both natives of the county, perhaps the one whose life and deeds have reflected more honor than any of others

Banning, whose biography is a part of the history of the country, and is so widely known and so written down for immortality in various extended histories of the late war as to need no considerable mention here. Educated at Kenyon College, he studied law and had become a successful practitioner at the time of the breaking out of the war. He at once enlisted (in April, 1861), and was made a captain of Company B of the Fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which regiment took part in the battles of Rich Mountain, Romney, Blue Gap, etc. But we have not space to rehearse here in detail the history of Gen. Banning's distinguished military career. Suffice it that he rose through various grades to the rank of major-general, being breveted as such after the battle of Nashville for eminent and daring service therein. During a portion of the war he was colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, belonging to Gen. Steedman's division of the Army of the Cumberland, which regiment, under his command, at the famous battle of Chickamauga, en- gaged the Twenty-second Alabama, drove them and captured their colors, the only rebel colors taken in that fearful fight. After the war he resumed the prae- tice of the law at Mount Vernon, and was several times elected from his distriet a member of the Ohio Legislature. He removed to Cincinnati in 1868. In 1872 the Liberal Republicans nominated him for Con- gress against Rutherford B. Hayes, whom he defeated hy an overwhelming majority in a strongly Repub- lican district. In 1874 he was re-elected to Congress. In 1876 he was again a candidate, and on that occa- sion ran against Judge Stanley Matthews, whom he defeated. He died on the 10th of December, 188I, at the age of forty-five years. The Cincinnati Enquirer

Col. A. R. Banning was educated in the common schools near Banning's Mills, Ohio, and under private tutors. He learned farming, milling, and merchan- dising, and at about the age of twenty-five years left Ohio and came to Fayette County, settling at New Haven as a farmer, and has since followed farming as his principal vocation, but has been much engaged in the railroad business and in various other pursuits. coking coal lands, Col. Banning has been one of the largest operators. In all his pursuits he has been sig- nally successful. Comprehensive in understanding, cautious and careful, his course has been a steady and sure one. Col. Banning is noted for his probity and business honesty, and has frequently been intrusted by his acquaintances with large sums of money for investment, no security being asked. In fact, during his whole extensive operations for others he has never even once been asked to give other security

upon the old "home of his fathers" was Gen. H. B. than that embraced in his "word," as good as any man's bond.

His possessions are chiefly in coal lands and town property. Among several farms owned by him is one upon which Banning Station, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, named after him, is built. This is per- haps the best site for the upbuilding of a manufactur- ing village between Pittsburgh and Connellsvile.

Dee. 2, 1856, Col. Banning married Catharine MI., only daughter of the late Daniel and Mary Rogers, of . New Ilaven.

ALBERT J. CROSSLAND.

It is not often in these days of jealous and zealous competition in all departments of life, while moneyed capital holds almost supreme sway, that a man making his way by his own unaided energy and native intellect- uality achieves notable business success, and erects a monument to his own memory in the affections of his fellow-citizens, and goes down to death, widely mourned, before reaching forty years of age. But a marked exception to the general rule existed in the case of the late Albert J. Crossland, of New Haven, Fayette Co., who was born Oct. 24, 1841, and died Aug. 1, 1881.

Mr. Crossland was remotely of Quaker stock, and was the son of Mr. Samnel Crossland, who lived at Connellsville at the time of his son's birth. Mr. Crossland in boyhood attended the common school of his native village, and when about fifteen years of age went with his father to a then recently purchased farm in Broad Ford, where he learned of his father, then a carriage-maker as well as farmer, the trade of car- riage-making. Possessing a strong desire for learning, Albert pursued private studies, and at length entered

Jame Nort

Duris Woodward

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DUNBAR TOWNSHIP.

Allegheny College, where he passed a year, and there- after taught school for a while at the old Eagle school- house. Remaining mainly on the farm working with his father till about 1863, he then went into the em- ploy of Morgan & Co., of Pittsburgh, in charge of a coke siding at Mckeesport, where, on July 11, 1866, he married Miss Lottie Long, after which time he was transferred to the company's office in Pittsburgh for a while, and was then put in charge of the com- pany's Union Works at Broad Ford, where he oper- ated for a year or so, and became a member of the firm of Morgan & Co., continuing with them, super- intending the Morgan Mines, constructing cole-ovens at the slope in West Latrobe, etc. ; in short, being the trusted superintendent and business man, doing the heavy work of construction, etc., wherever needed, and exercising practical guidance in a vast business until near his death. His moneyed interest in the firm of Morgan & Co. was one-sixteenth.

Mr Crossland was a man of heroic mould, being over six feet in height and well proportioned. To his energy there were no bounds. He was noted for strong common sense, for fine humor and wit, for general geniality and affability in the social and do- mestic circle. His family never heard a cross or irri- table word from his lips, He seems to have possessed all the virtues which go to make up a really noble character. He was especially generous to the poor in a very quiet way, and celebrated his Thanksgivings not by luxurious dinners at home, but by privately sending provisions of food and fuel to worthy poor of his acquaintance.

He was an earnest Freemason, a member of King Solomon Lodge, No. 346, of Connellsville, and other lodges at Greensburg and elsewhere, and had passed the degree in Gourgas Grand Lodge of Perfection, it being the thirty-second degree in Freemasonry. Ile was also a member of General Worth Lodge. No. 386, I. O. of O. F. Distinguished members of both fra- ternities from different parts of the State united with the great concourse of his neighbors and fellow-citizens of Fayette County in doing honor to his memory at his funeral obsequies. Mr. Crossland was the father of two children (sons), both of whom, with their mother, survive him.

SAMUEL WORK.

An excellent representative of the best class of Fayette County agriculturists, combining the in- stinets and culture of the gentleman with the steady industry and the muscle of the prosperous farmer, is Mr. Samuel Work, of Dunbar, who was born Dec. 5, 1817. Mr. Work's paternal ancestors came to Amer- ica from the north of Ireland. His grandfather, Samuel, whose name he bears, and who was born July 17, 1749, and died in 1833, moved from Lancas- ter County into Fayette County, and settled in Dun-

bar township about 1766, where John, the father of Mr. Work, was born in 1787, and married, in 1814, Nancy Rogers, daughter of John Rogers, of Fayette County.

Mr. Work, the second issue of this union, attended in childhood the so-called subscription school at the old " Cross Keys" school-house in Dunbar until about seventeen years of age, and after that the academy at Uniontown, conducted by Rev. Dr. Wilson, till well advanced in his twentieth year, and then commenced the life of a farmer on the old homestead farm, and subsequently inherited an adjoining farm, which he cultivated with skill and profit, raising cattle, among other things, together with carrying on the business of a dealer in cattle, which he often sent in droves to the Eastern markets until 1876, when he retired from business, having previously sold the Connells- ville coking coal which underlies a large portion of the farm he occupied, the surface of which he has since disposed of, he now residing in Dunbar village.

Mr. Work is a gentleman of genial, active tem- perament, and in early life greatly enjoyed all kinds of athletic, manly sports, particularly that of fox- hunting with horse and hounds, and was noted as a finished horseman and bold rider; but being ever temperate and attentive to business, he never allowed his love of the chase to infringe upon important affairs. He belonged to the Fayette County Cavalry, at one time a famous organization, and took great pride in military matters. In polities he is a Repub- lican, and was formerly an old-line Whig. He took great interest in the late war on the side of the Union, and contributed liberally, particularly in aid of the work of the Sanitary Commission. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which his wife is also a member, and to which he has belonged for about fifteen years, and enjoys an unsullied reputation for general integrity and honest dealing wherever he is known.

On the 23d of September, 1858, he was united in marriage to Miss Jane W. Watts (born in 1837), a native of County Donegal, Ireland, and daughter of George and Jane Wilson Watts, both of Scotch de- scent. When about fifteen years of age, Mrs. Work, then well instructed for her years, came to America, and here continued her studies until the time of her marriage. They have no children.

DAVIS WOODWARD.

Davis Woodward, of Dunbar township, was born in Menallen township, Fayette Co., June 11, 1806, and was of English descent. He received his education in the common schools, and was married Nov. 2, 1828, to Mary Boyd, of Menallen township. They had thirteen children. Twelve grew to manhood and womanhood, and were all married. There are seven sons and four daughters living. The sons are all far- mers, and the daughters all married farmers. Eight of

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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the children reside in Fayette County ; the other three in the West. Mr. Woodward had sixty-five grand- children and thirteen great-grandchildren. He was engaged in farming and stock-dealing all his life. Mr. Woodward never held any office. He said he always had enough to do to attend to his own business. He and his wife were members of the Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church. He was a successful busi- ness man, a cautious, skillful dealer.

His father, Caleb Woodward, eame to Fayette County from Chester County, Pa., early in the present century. His wife was Phebe McCarty. They had six children, five of them girls. Davis is the only son. Caleb, the father, was a blacksmith by trade. He bought a farm soon after coming to Menallen township, and continued blacksmithing and farming to the end of his life. He died Oct. 18, 1856, aged seventy-seven years eight months and nineteen days. His wife Phebe died Dec. 4, 1856, aged seventy-six years nine months and twenty-four days.

Mr. Woodward died April 6, 1882. He was an ex- cellent citizen, enjoying the esteem of his acquaint- ances, and had abundance of this world's goods. He was able to say, as he did say, that he made his money by telling the truth.

JAMES WILKEY.

James Wilkey, of Dunbar township, born Jan. 17, 1803, is of Irish extraction in both lines. His pater- nal grandfather, John Wilkey, and maternal one, James Wilkey, both came to America from the north of Ireland about the same time, and settled in the same neighborhood, near Laurel Hill Church, Dun- bar township, both bringing families with them. John had two daughters, it is thought, and one son, James Wilkey, born in Ireland about 1771, the father of our James, and who was an educated gentleman, and taught subscription schools in his neighborhood until he became an old man, dying about 1835. Mr. Wilkey's mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Wil- key (daughter of James, above named). She died in old age, outliving her husband by a score of years. They had six children, of whom James was the only son. The daughters are all dead.

James attended in childhood the schools kept by his father, often going five miles each way daily to and from school, summers and winters. At four years of age he was taught to read the Scriptures. At thir- teen he went to learn saddle-making of James Franeis, at Connellsville, but remained with him only six months, when Franeis moved to Rising Sun, Ind. He then hired out to an ironmaster, S. G. Wurts, to do general work, at ten dollars a month, and "stayed with him three years, eleven months, and twenty-six days," as he distinctly recollects. Mr. Wilkey kept no written memoranda of accounts, Wurts did, and there was a host of itemizations in that long time; but Wilkey thought, when about to leave, that Wurts

owed him about forty dollars, and Wurts' accounts showed that he was in debt to Wilkey about forty-one dollars,-a decided "head for accounts." Mr. Wil- key's memory is remarkable. He recalls with mi- nuteness many incidents which occurred when he was only two years of age. Leaving Wurts he went to learn the tanner's trade of Reason Beeson, at Plum- sock, as an apprentice, and remained with him till twenty-one years of age. He had to have, according to contract, a common cloth coat when his time should be out, but did not get it; but two years afterwards got its value in store goods. When through with Beeson he had a dollar and a half of money only. But his sister kindly gave him a "levy" (eleven pence), worth twelve and a half cents, saying, "James, take that; it may help you." With his one dollar and sixty-two and a half cents in pocket he started out in search of work, and traveled one hundred and fifty miles before he found it, at a point eleven miles below Zanesville, Ohio, and yet had a part of the money left! The young men of these days may not comprehend such economy, but the secret lay in Mr. Wilkey's industry. Leaving home on April 1st, he went on board a flat-boat at Connellsville, and worked his passage down the river into the Ohio and on. Wherever the boat stopped he went on shore and hunted for work, at last finding it. Through the influence of an uncle living near the place before mentioned he got a job of boiling water at a salt- works, and stayed at the work till fall, when he be- came sick with fever and ague and resolved to return home. He and a fellow-laborer agreed to divide the results of their toil, and Wilkey's share was a quantity of salt, which he sold to a stranger living a few miles from the works for twenty-two dollars and fifty cents, which he got two years afterwards. Men were honest in that time, and he had no fear to trust any stranger,- felt safe, was safe. Mr. Wilkey prays for the return of those honest days. After being gone about a year he returned to Connellsville. An old acquaintance seeing him on the street went, without Wilkey's knowl- edge, to John Fuller, tanner (father of Dr. Smith Fuller), and advised him to hire Wilkey. Fuller sent for him and gave him a trial of two weeks, at the rate of six dollars per month ; and when the two weeks were passed offered to employ him for nine months at five dollars per month. Wilkey stood out, and de- manded more wages, to wit, two pairs of coarse shoes into the bargain.

Fuller yielded, with the eautions condition that he should get the shoes only in the last month of the period. Wilkey consented to this, and, in brief, earned the money and shoes, and Fuller's perfect confidence besides. Near the time the nine months were up, Wilkey chanced to eall at the house of Dr. Bela Smith, Fuller's father-in-law. Wilkey being abont to leave, Mrs. Smith, who knew his reputation as a workman, said, "James, I wish I had a bill of sale of you." "What for?" asked Wilkey. "Why, then

James Wiky

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I'd have a tan-yard sunk at Bela's (her son's), and put you in it." This led to Wilkey's going with Bela B. Smith (Jr.) as a partner into the tanning business near Perryopolis. He continned in the busi- ness there for about four years, near the end of which his grandfather, an old man of ninety-six years, died, and left a farm of two hundred and twenty-two acres in Dunbar, and all Wilkey's relations said, " James, you ought to bny the farm." It was much encumbered, but he bought it and moved upon it, soon selling a part of it to Henry Leighty. Ile occu- pied the farm for seven years, and selling out, had $1700, a horse, and nine cows left. He next bought a tan-yard of John Fuller, in Connellsville, for $2500, $1000 down, the rest in $250 notes, running a course of years without interest, Fuller agreeing to take half-pay for the notes in leather. Wilkey conducted the business for about ten years, when he sold it and bought the farm whereon he has ever since resided, leading the life of a farmer. He added to the farm till it contained two hundred and seven acres, a part of which (coal lands), he has disposed of. He has always been a hard worker, but has enjoyed the best of health, and has been very prosperous.

Mr. Wilkey has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for over forty years, most of the time a class-leader, steward, etc. Since he first joined the church he has always liberally contributed to its support, and has also done much work in collecting money from others. Lately the church in Connells- ville has taken steps (March 1, 1882) toward pulling down its old edifice and the erection of a two-story church on its site. Mr. Wilkey refuses to contribute towards the new edifice, on the ground that its audi- ence- room will be " up-stairs," so high that lame old people like himself and his wife and many others cannot get into it, and will thus be practically pre- vented attendance upon preaching. He would give, he says, as much as any other man towards a new "one-story church." It seems there is a difference of opinion among the members of the church, some de- siring to have the proposed edifice a "one-story," and others wishing what Mr. Banning calls a "two-story" church. The latter he says shall have no aid from him.

March 24, 1831, Wr. Wilkey married Catharine Rodocker, daughter of Philip Rodocker, of Wash- ington township, by whom he has had six children, three of whom are now living.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

FRANKLIN, one of the original townships of Fay- ' beds are already graded, and by the autumn of 1882 ette, is purely agricultural in its interests, and the both railroads are likely to be in readiness for traffic. The first named will doubtless be opened early in the present summer (1882). Franklin has no village, but possesses two post-offices, -Flatwood, established in 1842, and Laurel Hill, in 1879. census of June, 1880, credited it with a population of 1373. It is bounded on the north by the Youghio- gheny River, which separates it from Tyrone; on the south by Menallen and North Union ; on the east by Dunbar, and west by Menallen, Redstone, and Jefferson. The township valuation subject to county tax was in 1881 fixed at $639,870, or a gain over 1880 of $3537.

The township is well watered by numerous small streams, while upon the Redstone Creek (which sepa- rates it from Menallen and Redstone townships) and the Youghiogheny River there is abundant mill- power. Franklin contains rich and extensive de- posits of coal, that to the present time have remained undeveloped because of the lack of railway transpor- tation near at hand. Although there are yet no rail- road facilities, assurances are made that before 1883 two railway lines will be constructed in the township, -one between Brownsville and Uniontown, and the line between New Haven and Brownsville. The former will follow the course of the Redstone, and the latter that of Bute's Run, in the town hip. The road-

Among the earliest settlers in Franklin may be reck- oned William Rittenhouse, a Jerseyman, who came in as early certainly as 1777, with his wife and child, and located upon a tract of land lying upon the west- ern side of the township. As to the record of his ex- perience for a few years after he came, not much can be learned. It may be stated, however, that in 1795 he was living on the place now owned by Matthew Arison, and in the house now Mr. Arison's residence. He kept tavern in that house, which was in its day a favorite halting-place for travelers, to whom landlord Rittenhouse would, when in the mood, relate his brief but adventurous experience during the Revolution, in which he served as a fifer for the space of a year from 1776 to 1777. Upon the site of his farm there was, at an earlier date, an Indian village and graveyard, and, tradition adds, in the village resided a chief of some

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IIISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

note, who more than once held important councils there with other dignitaries of his race. The plow- share of the husbandman has in recent times un- earthed many an Indian relie, such as arrow-heads, stone hatchets, and the like. After a while Ritten- house bought land adjoining his traet and skirting what is called the Lazy Hollow road. Of that land Isaac Quick was an owner before Rittenhouse, and report has it that it was from the circumstance of Isaac Quick's extraordinary indolence that the hollow men- tioned was given the name of Lazy. A little east of Aaron Lynn's present residence Rittenhouse built a tavern, and leased it to John Freeman, who came from New Jersey and settled first in Franklin, on what is now the Radlinghofer place. The thorough- fare was the mainly traveled road between Browns- ville and Connellsville, and Freeman's was probably a busy centre at times. How long he kept the place is not known, but the old tavern stand, now in ruins, still marks the spot, a reminder of the days when Boniface welcomed with hearty hospitality the weary wayfarer, cheering as well as sustaining him with whatever fat that part of the land produced. Amos Emmens also is said to have kept tavern on the Lazy Hollow road, but just where is not known. Mr. Rit- tenhouse was much devoted to the encouragement of religious as well as secular education, and at an early day built a school-house on his farm, wherein Samuel Blaney, a famous teacher in his day, taught the chil- dren of these pioneers their early steps in the paths of learning. William Rittenhouse died on the Arisou farm in 1815. Of his large family of thirteen chil- den, the only one now living is the widow of Ayers Lynn, an old lady of eighty-two years.

Robert Smith came from Westmoreland County before 1790, and settled on the farm now occupied by his son Robert. Mr. Smith had served as a private in the Revolutionary war, and of his record in that struggle has left the following :

" An account of the military services rendered by me during the Revolutionary war in the Pennsylva- nia militia of Berks County. I was drafted, and served two months in 1776, during September, Octo- ber, and November, in Col. Burns' regiment, stationed at Bergen and Paulus Hook, in New Jersey. In 1777 I served two months as volunteer in the Berks County militia, during September, October, and November. Our officers' names I do not recollect. Our general's namie was Irven, of Philadelphia. Our encampment was along with Gen. Washington's main army at sundry places. When we were discharged the army was encamped at White Marsh, about fourteen or fif- teen miles from Philadelphia. When I returned home I was drafted, and served two months in the same fall and winter with Col. Heister's regiment of Berks County militia. We were stationed at Plymouth Meet- ing-house, near Barren Hill Church. From thence we went to the banks of the Shammine, near the Crooked Billet tavern. ROBERT SMITH."

Mr. Smith set up a blacksmith's shop on the Lazy Hollow road in front of his dwelling, and for years plied his trade in the service of the people who came from near and far. He died in 1837, at the age of eighty. Of his ten children ouly one is left, Robert Smith, aged eighty-two, and living still on the Smith ' homestead, where he was born. Long before Robert Smith the elder came to Franklin, the farm he bought - there had been occupied by David Allen, of whose sons, Josiah and George M., Smith purchased it.

The farm now occupied by Jesse Piersol was owned at a very early date by Hugh Shotwell, who settled thereon about the year 1780. His four sons-John, Joseph, William, and Arison-settled in Franklin, but the last three ultimately moved to Ohio. John died in Franklin iu 1869, aged eighty-five. One of his daughters is now the wife of Robert Smith, above mentioned.

The fine farm in Franklin township known as the Modisette place was occupied in 1790 by Samuel Stevens. But little is known about him, as he died a few years after his settlement. His widow died in Uniontown, aged ninety-three. His only child. Pris- cilla, is now Mrs. Austin, of Uniontown, and is in her eighty-ninth year.

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History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 124

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 1314

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 1314