History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 141

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 141


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188


1865. Henry Wileman.


1845. Steel Sample.


1866. Johnston Forsyth.


1846. Peter Miller.


1847. David L. Brackenridge.


1868. Robert Boyd.


1848. Asa Worley.


1869. B. M. Chalfant.


1849. Nathan Morehead.


1871. Lewis Cope.


1850. Martin Bechtel.


1872. Joseph W. Chalfant.


1851. James L. Brackenridge.


1873. Taylor Clark.


1852. Jesse C. Strawn.


1874. James S. Elliott.


1875. David Browneller.


1876. E. O. Murphy.


1856. Abner Donaldson.


1877. James Challant.


1857. J. B. Hutchinson.


1878. S. S. Patterson.


1858. S. R. Nutt. 1879. N. E. Murphy.


1859. James Essington.


1880. 1Iarvey Steele.


1860. William Elliott.


188]. II. 11. Trump.


AUDITORS.


1840. Joseph D. Wilgus. 1849. James C. Elliott.


James Elliott. 1850. John II. Andrew.


George Kirkpatrick.


1851. David Shearer.


1841. Samuel Cope.


IS52. William Elliott.


IS42. William Sharpless.


1852. Willinto G. Patterson.


1843. Jebn W. Chalfant.


1844. Isaac Umble. Jueub Kemp.


1856. Levi B. Stephens.


1845. William G. Patterson.


1857. James Coulson.


1846. John Byers.


1858. Andrew Ford.


1847. Levi Calvin. Arcbihald Boyd.


1848. William Forsyth.


1859. Jobn N. Dixon.


1867. Willium 11. Wolle.


1853-54. F. C. Herron.


1855. John N. Dickson.


1854. William Forsyth. 1855. Thomas Miller.


624


HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


1860. William I. Wells.


1870. Eli Forsyth.


1844 .- William Show, Julius Kemp.


1861. H. B. Goe.


1871. Gibson Burns.


1845 .- Abraham Alfree, David Peop'es, Andrew C. Ford.


1862. Robert Elliott.


1872. Stephen R. Nutt.


| 1846 .- William Forsyth, William G. Patterson.


1847 .- Francis C. Herron, John Patterson.


1848 .- David Peoples, Thomas E. Warner.


1849 .- Walter B. Chalfant, Eli J. Bailey, William C. Patterson. 1850 .- Apollos Loar, Christopher R. Stonecker, Adamn Culler.


1851 .- Charles MeCracken, Eli J. Baily, David Deyarmon.


1852 .- William G. Patterson, Walter B. Chalfant.


1853 .- W. J. Stewart, F. C. Herron.


1854 .- N. C. Ford, H. B. Goe.


1855 .- William G. Patterson, F. C. Herron.


1856 .- Peter Miller, William J. Wells.


1857 .- F. C. Herron, HI. II. Connelly, William Thistlethwaite, Samuel Browu.


1858 .- William Elliott, Thaddeus Chalfant.


1859 .- William Forsyth, David Deyarınon, A. C. Ford.


1860 .- Thomas Miller, F. C. Herron, David Deyarmon.


1861 .- F. C. Ilerron, William G. Patterson.


1862 .- James Essington, William I. Wells.


1863 .- Samuel Brown, William T. Goe.


1864 .- Jobn S. Goe, S. R. Nutt.


1865 .- Levi Narcroze, J. M. Crouch.


1866 .- A. C. Ford, James D. Miller.


1867 .- F. C. Ilerron, David Deyarmon, John S. Elliott.


1868 .- James M. Crouch, Joseph S. Elliot.


1869 .- E. D. Stewart, D. M. Shearer.


1870 .- Robert S. Goc, Francis S. Herron.


1871 .- David Deyarmon, Mark Winnet.


1872 .- Charles Stuckslager, Andrew C. Ford, Hugh Laughlin, Israel Cope.


1873 .- Robert Boyd, James Hutchinson.


1874 .- Caleb Campbell, Jebu Luce, Mark Winnet.


1875 .- David Deyarmon, A. C. Ford.


1876 .- Robert Elliott, Israel Cope.


1877 .- James Chalfant, Lewis Cope.


1878 .- Robert S. Goe, Daniel Bortner.


1879 .- Joseph Swartz. J. T. Elliott.


1880 .- J. R. Luce, Frank Hough.


1881 .- I. O. Miller, J. Wehage.


The annual report for the school year ending June 7, 1880, gives details concerning Jefferson's public schools, as follows:


Number of schools .. 9


Average number of months taught .... ...


5


Male teachers


Female “


6


Average monthly salaries of tuales. 830 .. = females. 30


Male scholars.


165


Female "


144


Average attendauec ..


percentage of attendance.


83


cost per month SO.86


Mills levied for school purposes. " " building ..


.01


poses ... 8983.60


Srate appropriation ....


Receipts from taxes and all sources except State appropriation ... 1633.87


Total receipts .. 1633.87


Cost of school- houses, - purchasing, building, renting, etc.


Teachers' wages. $1200


Paid for fuel and contingencies, fees of collectors, and all other expenses ... 159.82


Total expenditures .... 1359.82


Resources 489.94


Liabilities


1840 .- Josiah King, Joseph Nutt, William Sharpless, and Job Mann.


1$41 .- Abraham Alfree, Andrew C. Ford.


1.42 .- Abraham Alfree, David Deyarınon.


1.44,-William Forsyth, Christian Krepps.


1873. Eli S. Forsyth.


1864. William Hall. | 1874. Thomas Lilley.


1.65. William Elliott. 1875. Gibson Burns.


1866. John Simpson.


1876. J. N. Dixon.


1567. William Hall.


1877. William J. Townsend.


E. N. Stephens.


1878. W. J. Forsyth.


1868. Gibson Burns.


1879. IIugh Laughlin.


Thomas W. Lilley.


1880. Emmor Cope.


Hugh Laughlin.


1881. William Stephens.


1869. William Elliott.


SCHOOLS.


Early school history in Jefferson is somewhat vague, for previous to 1835 there were no free publie schools, and consequently no school records. The first school now recollected as having been taught in Laurel Dale District was held by a Mr. O'Connor in 1805. In Washington District school was taught in a log cabin by Nathaniel Clark about the same time Na- thaniel's father, Joshua, owned the land upon which the school-house stood. The place is now included in the Boyd farm. In 1817 school was held in one of the unfinished buildings at Albany, intended by Samuel Jackson to be a portion of the Albany Glass- Works. John Sheldon, an Irishman, taught there and in the neighborhood a good many years. He was a warm admirer of England's king, and kept the king's portrait hung in his room, in which it was often his pleasure to gather a company and dilate in eloquent manner upon the veneration with which he regarded the royal George. Sheldon died in Browns- ville, where his daughter, Mrs. Joseph Graff, now re- sides. In Laurel Dale Distriet, in 1816, Mordecai Johns taught in the old stone school-house. In the same year a log school-house stood in Washington District, near the present house, and in it that year an old man of seventy, known as Hickory Quaker Miller, taught the youths of the period. In 1806 an old Irishman taught and thrashed in Cedar Hill Dis- triet. He was accounted a severe task-master, and beat the boys right and left until they were black and blue. Roused to a pitch of desperation, the pupils took revenge on the pedagogue one day by throwing red pepper upon the stove and then clearing out and locking him in the school-room. He begged and plead and sneezed until his head threatened to leave his shoulders, but the boys refused to release him until he had promised to behave decently to them in the future. Whether the promise was kept or not is not related.


Following is a list of school directors of Jefferson township from 1841 to the present time :


Amount " 4 and school pur-


1863. Thomas Lilley.


C25


JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.


CHURCHIES. LITTLE REDSTONE CHURCHI.


Little Redstone Church was organized by Rev. Jacob Jennings in a log cabin that stood close to where the town hall now stands. The year of the organization is supposed to have been 1797, although the loss of the early church records renders positive evidence upon that point unobtainable. For the same reason the names of the constituent members of the organization cannot be given. The first elders chosen were Joseph Lyon, John Blythe, Sr., and John Wells. Among those who served as elders in the early history of the church may also be men- tioned William Steele, John Steele, John MeKinnon, John Hazlip, Peter Humrickhouse, John Gormly, William Forsyth, Nicholas Baker, J. H. Duncan, Henry Barkman, David Hough, William Hongh, Jo- seph Wells, James Cummings, J. V. Gibbard, and William Parkhill. Little Redstone Church was sup- plied with preaching by the pastors of Dunlap's Creek Church, and when Rev. Mr. Jennings ended his pastorate Rev. William Johnston took charge. During his term of service the organization at Little Redstone was discontinued and its members trans- ferred to the Brownsville Church. In 1844 Little Redstone was reorganized by the election of William Steele, John Steele, John Wells, and John Blythe as elders. A brick church was built in 1845, about a half-mile north of the old location (William Elliott, William Forsyth, and William G. Patterson being the building committee), and a churchyard laid out. Rev. Thomas Martin assumed the pastorate and re- mained until 1848, when he was succeeded by Rev. Robert M. Wallace. Mr. Wallace remained until 1860. His successors to the present time have been Revs. Joseph H. Stevenson, George Scott, R. R. Gailey, and C. C. B. Duncan. The latter was the pastor in April, 1881. The present membership is ninety. The trustees in April, 1881, were S. R. Nutt and John N. Dixon.


FAIRVIEW (METHODIST EPISCOPAL) CHURCH.


Fairview was organized in 1828, with something like forty or fifty members. Among those who took a leading part in effecting the organization were Samuel Goe, Robert Dunn, Stacy Hunt, William Ball, Jacob Wolf, and William Condon. After using the stone school-house a year for meetings the congrega- tion built a frame church in 1829, and in 1849 built the present brick edifice. The present pastor is Rev. J. J. Mitchell, who preaches once in two weeks. The membership is now about sixty. The class-leader is Johnson Noble, who is also superintendent of the Sunday-school, which has enjoyed a continuous and prosperous existence since Sept. 18, 1830. The church trustees are Playford Cook, George Krepps, Johnson A. Noble, Joseph W. Miller, J. D. Miller, Alexander W. Jordan, James Essington, John Stephens, and Charles Stuckslager. Some of the early pastors of


Fairview were Revs. Thornton Fleming, Jacob Young, James Wilson, William Monroe, Christopher Frye, Joshua Monroe, Thomas Jemison, Asa Shinn, David Sharp, John Spencer, Charles Elliott, Robert Boyd, William Stephens, - Bascom, J. G. Sanson, John Erwin, Warner Long, and Samuel Wakefield.


BELLEVUE (PROTESTANT METHODIST) CHURCHI.


Bellevue Church was organized in 1832, by Rev. Mr. Dunlevy, of the Brownsville Circnit, in the church building of the Fairview Methodist Episcopal con- gregation. Among the prominent constituent mem- bers were Thomas Burton and wife, Robert Isherwood and family, Alexander Blair and wife, and Robert Dunn and wife. The major portion of the organizing members had been connected with Fairview, and at Fairview as well as at the school-house meetings were held until 1835, when Bellevue Church was erected. The first trustees were H. B. Goe, Thomas Burton, and Robert Dunn. A Sunday-school was not organized until 1856. Previous to that, Fairview had a Union Sunday-school. Rev. Mr. Dunlevy was the first pas- tor at Bellevue. After him some of the earliest pas- tors were Revs. Cyrington, Palmer, Hull, Valentine Lucas, Henry Lucas, Taylor, Colehour, Crowther, and Stillwagon. Bellevue had at one time a membership of seventy-five, but can boast now of but about forty communicants. Among the early class-leaders were Alexander Blair, Robert Dunn, Thomas Burton, T. W. Dunn, and Jacob Wolf. The present pastor is Henry Lucas, and the leader, Thomas W. Dunn. The trustees are Jacob Wolf, S. W. Reed, and William Bradman.


MOUNT VERNON CHURCH (PROTESTANT METHODIST).


Mount Vernon was at one time a prosperous or- ganization, but since 1872 it has had a precarions ex- istence, and at present may be considered as virtually dissolved. No regular preaching has been enjoyed there for some time. A church building was erected in 1855. In 1872, Francis Herron, the mainstay of the society, removed from the township, and being soon followed by other members, the speedy decline of the church followed. There was an organization of Methodist Episcopals at Mount Vernon in 1849. but it failed in a few years for want of support.


On the Boyd farm in Washington School District an Episcopal Church stood in 1805. It was a log cabin, minus doors or windows, and had for a pulpit a rough desk, under which the rector's surplice was nsnally kept. This looseness in hiding the priestly robes led to their being abstracted by certain mischievous spirits, and a consequent dismay when the rector next came and searched for his garments that were non est. Joshua Clark donated seven acres of land for the church and churchyard. The property was for many years as- sessed to the Church of England. It is thought the church was built as early as 1800. In 1806 the Epis- copalians gave up their meetings, and for a while


626


HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


afterwards the German Lutherans used the house for worship.


COAL PRODUCTION.


The coal deposits beneath the soil of Jefferson township are said to extend beneath the entire area of territory, except a small portion in the southeast. The so-called Pittsburgh nine-foot vein prevails here, and the deposits are therefore of an exceedingly valuable nature. Thus far, however, developments in the way of important mining operations for shipment have been confined to the river-front, for the reason that only by means of the river has there been ready trans- portation to coal-consuming centres. The contem- plated completion of the Redstone Extension Rail- road along the course of the Redstone Creek will offer an outlet for the product of the creek coal region, and the opening of the railway will of course be the signal for the opening on the Redstone in Jefferson township of extensive mining enterprises. Something like four thousand acres of coal lands lying along the creek have long been owned by the Redstone Coal Company, which has been waiting simply for the march of railway progress to bring forth its hidden treasures.


Upon the river, in Jefferson, coal-mining has been carried on to a greater or lesser extent since 1834, and engages at present the attention of six different mi- ning companies, who ship annually millions of bushels, employ hundreds of hands, and have upon investment hundreds of thousands of dollars. In the olden days mining was pursued according to primitive methods. The coal was wheeled from the pit to the river bottom and there dumped, to remain until such a time as the water in the river became high. Water being plenti- tul the coal was dumped into flats and floated down the stream to Pittsburgh or other points. Similarly coal was mined along the Little Redstone, and floated out in the same way upon the coming of high water. The largest operators on the river in Jefferson at present are Turnbull & Hall, who have been mining there since 1871. They have a river-front of half a mile (or from the Washington line to Troytown), owned from the commencement from six hundred to seven hundred acres of coal, and of that quantity have three hundred acres still to be mined. They have two openings. Both reach from the river to Little Redstone Creek, while one passes under the creek and so on. Turnbull & Hall have a capacity for mining eighteen thousand bushels of lump coal daily, and employ ordinarily one hundred and twenty- five men. They own a steam tow-boat and forty-three coal-boats, possess also forty tenements in which their miners live; they disburse monthly about twelve thousand dollars in wages, carry on a store for the convenience of their hands, and have upon in- vestment in their business about one hundred thou- sand dollars.


Adjoining Turnbull & Hall on the west is a miners'


village, known for years as Troytown, from one James Troy, who abont 1855 began mining operations there and erected a score or more of tenements. The landed interests have been, however, owned in chief for many . years by Adam Jacobs, of Brownsville, who has leased the coal privileges to various parties from time to time. Among the mining operators at that point after the departure of James Troy were Thornton Chalfant, Mark Winnet, John Bortner, and Daniel Bortner. Armstrong & Jacobs took the business in September, 1880, and employ at present twenty hands. They get out from three thousand to four thousand bushels daily. Their working territory includes about one hundred acres. Next above the Troytown Works is the Forsyth mine, operated by Harris & Brother, who have two hundred aeres under lease and mine about three thousand bushels daily.


Adjoining the Harris place is the White Pine coal-mine, which has been abandoned since 1876, when John Stofft was the lessee. The Forsyth traet has been leased to the extent of two hundred acres by the Little Alps Company, and will be mined in the autumn of 1881. At the Marchand mine, in the river bend, Eli Leonard now takes out from three thousand to four thousand bushels of coal daily, and employs a force of thirty-five men. At the Bud Coal- Works the Little Alps Company has been operating quite extensively since 1873, but that tract, like the Marchand Mine, shows signs of exhaustion. The Little Alps Company's works include the coal under an area of about seventy aeres, produce at the rate of six hundred thousand bushels annually, and give employment to fifty men. Next to the Little Alps Works, going up the river, lie the works of Morgan & Dixon, who have been at work since 1874. They owned originally one hundred aeres of coal, of which they have yet about fifty to be mined. Their work- ing foree averages from forty to sixty men, and their yield is about twenty thousand bushels weekly. They own a steam tow-boat and eighteen coal-boats. Be- tween Morgan & Dixon and the mouth of the Red- stone Creek there is an abundance of coal, but as yet the deposits have not been developed.


The Redstone Coal Company, alluded to in the fore- going as owning about four thousand acres of coal lands along the Redstone Creek, was organized in May, 1873, by Westmoreland County capitalists. At the head was A. L. McFarland, and associated with him were Messrs. H. D. Foster, Edward Cowan, William Welsh, George Bennett, F. Z. Shellenberg, Israel Painter, the Mcclellans, and others. They bought coal lands on Redstone Creek, reaching from the mouth of the creek to Vance's mill, and as a con- dition precedent to their purchases agreed to construct a railway through their territory. The railway eom- pany was accordingly formed, with J. H. Bowman as president, and a majority of the directors of the Red- stone Coal Company as directors of the railway com- pany. Subscriptions to the amount of one hundred


Lais Marchand 2/6 2


627


JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.


thousand dollars were received from people living along the line, and work upon the road was bezun without much delay. The plan was to grade from Brownsville to Mount Braddock, where connection was to be made with the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad. Smith and Prindiville took the contract for grading. Prindiville completed his portion of the work, but Smith retired from the field before he had fairly begun. His part of the unfinished con- traet was sold to Campbell & Co., of Altoona, who upon winding up their affairs with the railway com- pany found themselves unable to get much satisfac- tion upon their unpaid claim of about twelve thousand dollars. They entered suit and obtained judgment, whereupon, in 1879, the road was sold by the sheriff, and bid in by Mr. Prindiville for seventeen thousand dollars. He sold out to Charles Spear, of Pittsburgh, who took in George E. Hogg and Adam Jacobs, of Brownsville, and they in turn sold their interests in the fall of 1880 to the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany. Meanwhile nothing was done upon the road after the bed had been graded to Vance's mill, but upon the acquirement of possession by the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company measures were set on foot to push the work to completion with such effect that the road is now nearly ready for the running of trains from Brownsville to Uniontown. The Redstone Coal Company remains still intact, F. Z. Shellenberg being the president, and S. S. Graham secretary and treas- urer, and awaits simply the completion of the railway line to begin the development of the coal-mines.


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.


DR. LOUIS MARCHAND.


In the year 1770, Dr. David Marchand, the ances- tor of the Marchands now residing in Western Penn- sylvania, settled on Little Sewickly Creek, about six miles southwest of Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Pa. He was born in the canton of Berne, Switzer- land, and emigrated at an early age with his father, David Marchand, to the British colonies in America, and settled near Hagerstown, Md. His father was a Huguenot, and fled his country ou account of religious persecution.


Dr. David was a physician of rare ability. He practiced in Westmoreland and adjoining counties, and so great was the number of patients who applied to him at his office that be established a hospital near his home, to which many persons resorted for medical treatment. He died July 22, 1809, in the sixty-fourth year of his age, and his remains sleep in the cemetery of Brush Creek Church, of which he was a liberal supporter. His old German wooden-backed Bible contains this entry upon the first page :


" These are the children which the Lord hath given me. Will the Lord keep them to walk in His way,


that in their conduct in life and in death they may, in Christ, grow in patience and virtue :


"Catharine, born March 8, 1767.


" Elizabeth, born Nov. 5, 1768.


" Susanna, born Oct. 13, 1770.


" Judith, born Jan. 12, 1772.


" Daniel, born Dec. 8, 1773.


" Esther, born Aug. 23, 1775.


"David, born Dec. 10, 1776.


" Louis, born June 23, 1782."


The daughters all married and settled in Westmore- land County, Pa. The sons all became physicians, and all eminent in their profession, and their distin- guished ability, and that of their father, connected the name Marchand in the most prominent manner with the medical profession in that early day. Dr. David, Jr., located in Westmoreland County. Ile possessed great popularity as a citizen and a man, and was twice elected to Congress, and returned home with a pure and good record. He was the father of nine children, seven sons, all professional men. Dr. Daniel settled in Uniontown, Fayette Co.


Dr. Louis Marchand read medicine with his father, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1809. He then located upon the Marchand home- stead farm, in Jefferson township, Fayette Co., five miles below Brownsville, on the Monongahela River, where he practiced his profession for a few years. Upon the death of his brother Daniel he located in Union- town. While there he married (about 1823) Sarah, daughter of Dr. Samuel Sackett, who lived on Georges Creek, one mile south of Smithfield. He continued to practice his profession in Uniontown until 1843, when he retired from practice and removed to his farm in Jefferson township, where he led a quiet life until his death, Jan. 11, 1857. His remains rest in the family graveyard upon the farm where he spent his declining years. He was long a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and became a member at the time of its organization in Uniontown. He had the profoundest reverence for God and sacred things, and had implicit faith in the atonement of Christ. Many remember him kindly for his valuable services, and bless his memory for his disinterested love. He practiced medieine from love for his pro- fession, and from a desire to do good to suffering humanity. He was an esteemed citizen and true patriot. "IIis life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him that Nature might stand up and say to all the world, this is a man." IIe had nine children, seven of whom grew to manhood and womanhood,- Elizabeth, married to A. I. Miller ; Samuel Sackett Marchand, who was a physician, and noted for ability and skill in his profession. He was educated at Madi- son College, Fayette County, and Cleveland Medical College. He practiced in Westmoreland County, Pa., and entered the army during the late war as captain of Company H, 136th Regiment (Col. Bayne's). He was wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg, Dec. 13


628


IIISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


1862, and died in Libby Prison, Feb. 28, 1863. His remains were interred at Richmond, but have since been removed to the family burial-ground on the farm in Jefferson township.


The third child, Rachel, married A. I. Miller as his second wife. The other children were Mary Louisa, who married Thomas W. Lilly; Frances Caroline, who married John W. Ward; Lucius A., who married Minerva Vandruff, and resides upon the old homestead; and Catharine B., married to Ellis W. Lilly.


WILLIAM FORSYTHI.


William Forsyth was born in Jefferson township, Fayette Co., Pa., Aug. 28, 1799; died July 20, 1878 ; Scotch-Irish stock. He was married, Sept. 18, 1828, to Jane P. Steele, daughter of John Steele, of Jeffer- son township. Jane died Jan. 24, 1882.


They had eight children,-John, born July 2, 1829, died Sept. 4, 1852; Eli S .. married to Kate E. Wood ; Nancy J., married to Joseph S. Elliott ; Will am Johnson, married to Lizzie R. Baily ; Elizabeth D., married Isaac T. Crouch ; Mary A., married to Louis S. Miller ; James S., married to Mary E. Morton ; Ruth A., married to W. Frank Hough.


Mr. Forsyth was engaged in farming all his life. He was also a coal merchant, and was successful in all his business. He was a model farmer. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church at Brownsville, where he held the office of elder. When Little Redstone Presbyterian Church was or- ganized, about 1840, he was chosen a ruling elder there, and continued in that position until his death. He was an exemplary Christian, respected and beloved by all who knew him. He was quiet, unostentatious, and benevolent.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.