History of Greene County, Pennsylvania, Part 53

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago : Nelson, Rishforth
Number of Pages: 908

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CARMICHAELS BOROUGH AND CUMBERLAND TOWNSHIP.

WILLIAM A. AILES, farmer and stock-grower, P. O. Car- michaels, was born in Washington County, December 25, 1835. He is a son of James and Elizabeth (Nixon) Ailes, who were also natives of Washington County, Penn., and were of English and Irish de- scent. His grandfather was Amos Ailes, also a native of Washing- ton County. William is the youngest of a family of seven children. He has remained on the farm with his parents, where he received his education, and wisely chose farming as his business. His farm con- sists of 300 acres of land, well stocked and improved. Mr. Ailes was united in marriage, March 1. 1858, with Miss Lucinda, daughter of Thomas and Dorcas (Bell) Patterson. Mrs. Ailes' parents were of Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Ailes' only child, Mary Bell, was born in 1880, and died in 1886. In politics Mr. Ailes is a Republi- can; in religion they are both Cumberland Presbyterians.

WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, deceased, who was a farmer and stock-grower, was a son of Abraham and Rnth (Conwell) Armstrong, and was born in Greene County in October, 1805. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and of English descent. His father was a farmer by occupation, and among the early settlers of the connty. William was the oldest of a large family, and was reared on the farm in Cumberland Township, where he attended the sub- scription schools. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary Will- iams, of English descent. She was born in 1807. They were the parents of nine children-Maggie, wife of Archibald Grooms; George W., a farmer; Emma, wife of William M. Murdock; Elizabeth, wife of Josiah L. Minor; Sarah, wife of Oliver Griffeth; Alice, wife of James K. Gregg; Cinthy, wife of Richard Gwyn; Lyda, wife of N. II. Biddle, and James, a farmer. Mr. Armstrong made farming the business of his life, met with great success, and at the time of his death was the owner of a well-improved farm in Cumberland Township, where he died in 1849. In politics he was a Democrat; in religion a Cumberland Presbyterian, of which church his widow is also a faithful member.

ALFRED T. ARMSTRONG, deceased, who was a farmer and stock-grower, was born in Greene County, Penn., February 1, 1807. He was a son of William and Elizabeth (Russell) Armstrong. Ilis mother's parents were of Scotch-Irish origin. Alfred was the oldest in a family of seven children; he was reared in this county and attended the subscription schools. He engaged in farming as a busi-

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ness, and met with more than ordinary success. He was united in marriage, February 22, 1837, with Miss Helen M., daughter of Jere- miah and Anna (Alexander) Davidson. Mrs. Armstrong's father was a native of this county, and her mother of Mercer County, Penn. They were of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong had a family of ten children, of whom six are living-Russell, Barclay, Elizabeth, wife of Jesse Benner; John, Neri, and Maggie, wife of William Elliott. Mr. Armstrong was a Democrat, and a devoted Presbyterian, of which church his widow is also a zealous member. He died in 1878.

JOSEPH H. ARMSTRONG, deceased, was a farmer and stock- grower. He was born in Cumberland Township, Greene County, Penn., July 25, 1819, and died July 4, 1887, in his sixty-seventh year. His father, William Armstrong, also his grandfather were among the earliest Scotch-Irish settlers of this county. They were all farmers. Joseph was the sixth in the family, and was reared on the farm where he died. Ilis education was obtained in the township and the old Greene Academy at Carmichaels. He was industrious, frugal and a good financier, owning at the time of his death 225 aeres of well improved land. He was united in marriage Novem- ber 23, 1843, with Mary A., daughter of James and Mary (McClel- land) Flenniken. Her ancestors were also farmers, and among the earliest settlers of the county. They were of Scotch-Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong were the parents of three children-Lizzie, wife of Daniel Thompson, of Uniontown, Penn .; Mary Louisa, wife of Robert Denham, and William W., who is a farmer and has charge of the home place. In politics Mr. Armstrong was a Democrat.

NERI ARMSTRONG, merchant, Carmichaels, Penn., was born in Cumberland Township, December 27, 1855. He is a son of Alfred and Helen M. (Davidson) Armstrong, natives of Fayette and Greene counties respectively, and of Irish descent. Mr. Armstrong's father was a farmer, and reared a family of ten children, of whom Neri is the ninth. He received a common-school education, remain- ing on the farm with his parents until 1884, when he went to Car- michaels to engage in business for himself. He there opened a grocery and drug store which he still retains. Ile is a man of good business qualificationg, industrious, prompt and obliging, has a great many friends and a fair patronage. In 1876 Mr. Armstrong married Frances, daughter of I. L. Craft. Mrs. Armstrong is a native of Greene County, and of German descent. They have two children -- Myrtle and Alfred. Mr. Armstrong is a Democrat and a member of the town council. He and Mrs. Armstrong are prominent members of the Presbyterian Church.

J. K. BAILEY, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Cumber- land Township, Greene County, Penn., August 30, 1814. He is a

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son of William and Zillah (Johnson) Bailey, the oldest in their family of seven children. Ilis parents were natives of Pennsylvania, were members of the Society of Friends, and of English origin. Ilis father was twice married, his first wife being Miss Sarah Miers. By this marriage he was the father of one child, a daughter, who is now the wife of Miller Haines, and resides in Columbiana County, Ohio. J. K. Bailey's sisters and brothers were: Amanda, wife of James Murdock; Rev. E. E., now a missionary to the Indians; Ruth Ann, wife of Samuel Rea; William, Zillah, the widow of R. Richardson, and L. M. (deceased). Mr. Bailey was reared in Cumber- land Township, and has made farming his business, in which he has met with great success. In 1835 he was married to Miss Delilah, daughter of John and Phobe (Hibbs) Craft, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and of English ancestry. Mrs. Bailey was born in Cumberland Township, August 10, 1812. Her mother was a mem- ber of the Society of Friends. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey's children are

-Zillah, wife of N. H. Biddle; JJohn Milton; Phoebe, wife of R. S. Long; W. Calvin; Clarinda, wife of Joseph Hawkins, Lydia B., wife of Corbly Fordyce; Almira is the wife of John Rinehart, and J. K. Jr. The family are all members of the Cumberland Presbyte- rian Church, in which Mr. Bailey has served for many years as elder and Sabbath-school superintendent. In polities Mr. Bailey is a Re- publican, and has served for twenty-five years as justice of the peace, in which office both his father and grandfather preceded him.

REV. E. E. BAILEY, missionary, was born in Greene County, Penn., August 6, 1817, a son of William and Zillah (Johnson) Bailey, also natives of this State. His parents were of Quaker ori- gin and of English ancestry. Ilis father came to Greene County when he was about nine years old with his parents, Eli and Ruth Bailey, from Chester County, Penn .; he died at the advanced age of eighty-two years. He was twice married, and the Rev. E. E. is a child of his second wife, and grew up on the farm with his parents, receiving his early education in a log cabin school-house, afterwards attended school at Greene Academy and at Waynesburg, Penn. At the age of sixteen he joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Greene County. He was licensed to preach and ordained by the Union Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. IIe labored some in West Virginia, six miles west of Morgantown, but mostly in Fayette County, Penn., where he was engaged in the min- istry for a term of years. Having had a desire for missionary work he then went West, where he engaged in missionary work among the Indians, and met with good success. In 1887 he was sent to his present position among the Cherokee Indians by the board of mis- sions of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In 1839 Mr. Bailey was united in marriage with Miss Mary, daughter of John and Mar-

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garet (Dowlin) Rea. Mrs. Bailey is of Irish descent. They have five children-Harvey M., John F., Hannah J., Margaret E. and William R. Mr. Bailey is a Prohibitionist.

JOSEPH TAYLOR BAILEY, farmer and stock-grower, Carmi- chaels, Penn., was born in Dunkard Township, Greene County, June 10, 1820, and is a son of Joseph and Hannah (Johnson) Bailey, na- tives of Pennsylvania. His father, who was a farmer and miller, came when a young man to this county, where he was married and reared a family of six children. Of these Joseph Taylor is the young- est, and was reared in Greene and Fayette counties. Early in life he learned the miller's trade with his father, and followed it for forty years. He erected and operated a grist-mill for nearly twenty-eight years. He is a successful farmer and at the present time the owner 320 acres of valuable land in Cumberland Township. He was mar- ried in Fayette County, Penn., November 16, 1854, to Miss Martha Jane, daughter of Francis and Martha (Morehouse) Lee. Mrs. Bailey is of English descent. Her father was a blacksmith and farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have two children-Eli and Frances. In politics Mr. Bailey has ever been a strong Democrat. He and his wife are prominent members of the M. E. Church.

ELLIS B. BAILEY, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Greene County, Penn., November 21, 1824, and is a son of Eli and Peria (Gregg) Bailey. His parents were natives of Chester County, Penn., were members of the Society of Friends, and of English de- scent. IIis father was a farmer. Mr. Bailey's ancestors were among the earliest settlers in Greene County, and often had to flee to the forts for protection. His father died in 1854, in Fayette County, where he had resided since 1837. IFis family consisted of ten chil- , dren, eight of whom grew to maturity. Of these Ellis B. was the sixth. He was reared in Fayette County, attended Madison College and had entered the senior year, when he left school and commenced farming and stock-growing. He has made his own way in the world, and is among the wealthiest men of Greene County, owning over 1,000 acres of well improved land. He is a man possessed of more than ordinary energy, his success in life having been due largely to his strong determination to succeed, coupled with a willing disposi- tion to work. His business life has not, however, all been sunshine. IIe lost $23,000 by the failure of the Exchange Bank of Waynes- burg, and $2,000 by the destruction of his wool in a big fire at Boston. But every reverse in business seemed only to make him more determined, and to add new strength to his ambition. He has devoted his time to farming, stock-dealing and buying land, and he has dealt considerably in wool. He was never given much to specu- lating; but gave his business close attention and careful oversight, and has succeeded in accumulating a handsome fortune. He was

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married in Fayette County, Penn., March 7, 1850, to Harriet, daugh- ter of John and Sarah (Barton) Gaddis. Her parents were Quakers, and of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have six sons and two daughters-William H., John E., Joseph E., George E., Eli F., Richard L., Sarah F., wife of Thomas H. Hawkins, and Anna R., wife of George F. Luse. The two daughters and three sons are married; all are intelligent business men and good citizens. In poli- tics Mr. Bailey has been a Whig and a Republican. He has served nine years as school director in Cumberland Township. All the family are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Bailey has been elder and superintendent of the Sabbath-school.

J. E. BAILEY, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Cumber- land Township, Greene County, May 22. 1858. He is a son of Ellis B. Bailey, whose biography appears in this volume. He is the fourth in a family of eight children. He received a common-school educa- tion, and also attended Greene Academy at Carmichaels, Pennsylva- nia. Mr. Bailey married Miss Ella, daughter of J. M. and Charlotte (Rinehart) Morris. They have one child, Earl, an interseting little fellow of four years. Mrs. Bailey's father, Morris Morris, is a promi- nent farmer and stock-grower of Greene Township, and one of its most influential citizens. He is an ardent Democrat and has taken an active part in the politics of the county. Mr. Bailey is a rep- resentative young man of his township, is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian Church.

GEORGE E. BAILEY, farmer and stock-grower, son of Ellis B. and Harriet (Gaddis) Bailey, was born in Cumberland Township, Greene County, Penn., December 8, 1860. Ilis father is a prominent farmer, and resides in this township. George E. is the fifth in a family of eight children. After attending the district school, he en- tered Greene Academy at Carmichaels, and subsequently attended Monongahela College at Jefferson, Pennsylvania. He is an indus- trious, energetic young man, and has made farming and the raising of fine stock a decided success. He spent the summer of 1883 in the Sonth and West, as the general agent of a large book publishing establishment of Philadelphia. In politics Mr. Bailey is a Repub- lican; and he is a zealous, active member of the Presbyterian Church.

W. H. BARCLAY, farmer and stock-grower, Khedive, Penn., was born March 6, 1836, where he now resides on a farm of one hundred and seventy-eight acres. He is a son of Hugh and Phoebe (Craft) Barclay, the oldest of their five children. His grandfather, Hon. Hugh Barclay, was of Scotch-Irish descent. He was a repre- sentative of the Pennsylvania State Legislature, and during his term introduced the bill establishing the Greene Academy at Carmichaels, Penn. W. II. Barclay's father was a farmer all his life. His family consisted of five children, all of whom are married. Mr. Barclay

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was reared on the farm, received his education in Greene Academy, and has made farming the business of his life. In 1856 he was mar- ried to Sarah E., daughter of John P. Minor. She died in 1862. In 1866 Mr. Barclay was again united in marriage with Martha J., daughter of Henry and Mary (McCann) Arford. Mr. and Mrs. Bar- clay are the parents of seven children-Sarah Ellen, George P., W. HI., Myrtle V., Phoebe E., Norval L. and Harry S. Mr. Barclay is a Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which he is a trustee.

G. A. BARCLAY, merchant-miller, was born in Cumberland Township, this county, February 25, 1850. Ile is a son of Hugh and Phobe (Craft) Barclay, and grandson of Hon. Hugh Barclay. Ilis father and grandfather were prominent among the early farmers of the county. Mr. Barclay is the youngest of a family of six children. He was reared on the farm, receiving his education in the common school and in Waynesburg College. Early in life he learned the miller's trade and operated a mill for a period of four years. In 1882 he engaged in the same business at Carmichaels where he has met

with good success. In 1870 Mr. Barclay was united in marriage with Rhoda, daughter of Samuel Kendall, deceased. Mrs. Barclay is a native of this connty. Her father was a Baptist minister. To Mr. and Mrs. Barclay have been born six children-Ida L., Stephen H., John F., Ettie, Gertrude and Clarence. Their mother is a devoted member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Barclay is a Re- publican in politics. He is a school director and member of the town council of Carmichaels Borough.

JAMES BARNS, the subject of this sketch, was born June 24, 1790, and died March 12, 1883. He was the youngest son of Thomas and Sarah Barns, who were among the pioneer settlers of West Virginia. They settled in the woods near where the thriving town of Fairmont now stands. His parents were among the first Methodists in West Virginia, his father being a class leader many years, and his father's house a preaching place for a long time. At the age of fifteen, Mr. Barus left his home to learn the trade of a millwright, and served an apprenticeship of five years. In 1811 he had an attack of fever, the only sickness that ever caused him to lie in bed one day, during a period of nearly ninety-three years. IIe

was badly injured in 1870, by the running away of a team of horses, from the effect of which he was confined to his room for six weeks. On December 10, 1812, he was united in marriage with Miss Rhoda Davidson, of Fayette County, Penn .- a worthy companion of a worthy man. Their union was blessed with nine children, five of whom were living, also present when he died. This worthy couple were converted at a camp-meeting held in 1819, near Browns- ville, Penn., and their habitation became emphatically a house of

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prayer as long as they lived. In 1824 he became dissatisfied with the government of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he and his companion were devoted members. He took a deep interest in the controversy that agitated the church, and culminated in the organization of the Methodist Protestant Church, and identified hin- self with the new organization in 1830. He was elected as a lay representative from the Pittsburgh Annual Conference to the first General Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church, which held its session in Georgetown, D. C., in May, 1834. He was also a member of the General Conference of 1838, which held its session in Pittsburgh, Penn. In February, 1868, God took his beloved com- panion from him. Iler loss was painfully felt by him and his children, though assured of her future and eternal happiness in

leaven. On March 1, 1870, he married Mrs. Mary Lantz, with whom he lived in the enjoyment of great domestic happiness until February 12, 18SO-the date of her death. Two years later, he sold his farm and the old homestead, in which he had lived sixty-seven years, to his son-in-law, Isaac B. Patterson, who married his youngest daughter, Mary Ellen. This was very agreeable to all his children, as it keeps in possession of the family the dear old homestead where they were born and raised. Mr. Barns had a good constitution, and he took good eare of it. His habits were exemplary; he was strictly temperate and regular in his manner of life. Ile always cultivated a cheerful disposition; lived in communion and fellowship with God; was always usefully and honorably employed, and to these things owed his long life, at the close of which he makes this note: "Have liad great enjoyment all through life, and also health. Have not laid in bed one day from sickness since 1811." Thus after a sojourn longer than that usually allotted to man, James Barns peacefully passed away; the last of as good a family as Virginia ever produced, consisting of four brothers-William Barns, M. D .; John S. Barns, Esq .; Thomas Barns and James Barns. There were three sisters -- Sarah Willie, Phoebe Shinn and Mary A. Thrapp. These all lived and died in the faitli, and left behind them families that revere their memories and imitate their virtues. "Children of parents passed into the skies."

ISAAC T. BIDDLE, deceased, who was a farmer and stock- grower, was born in New Jersey, in the year 1799. IIe was a son of Timothy and Mary (Taylor) Biddle, natives of New Jersey and of English and German origin. His father, who was a shoemaker in early life, came to Washington County, Penn., in 1802, and carried on farming for twenty-eight years. In 1840 I. T. Biddle came to Greene County and bought a farm in Cumberland Township, and one year later his father, Timothy Biddle, came to the same farm. I. T. took charge of the farm and continued his father's business of

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farming and stock-growing, devoting his time principally to the raising of fine sheep. He succeeded in accumulating a handsome fortune, but in later years met with serious reverses by the failure of three banks in which he lost about $40,000. This proved a serious disarrangement in his financial affairs, but he was a good business man and died in fair circumstances after reaching a good old age. Ilis widow, whom he married in Washington County, still survives him. Her maiden name was Jane Kerney, daughter of William and Eliza- beth (Montgomery) Kerney. Mrs. Biddle was born in Washington County, September 16, 1804, and is of Irish lineage. Mr. and Mrs. Biddle had a family of eleven children, Seven now living-Eliza, wife of Edward Carson; Mary, wife of Lewis Jennings; Morgan, who married Eunice Patterson; Nathan H., married Zillah Bailey and lives on the old homestead; John, married Mary Barclay; Amanda, wife of Dis South; and Edith F., wife of Walter Richey. Mr. and Mrs. Biddle have been faithful members of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church, in which he served as elder for many years. Mrs. Biddle has property in Carmichaels, where she still resides, an active and remarkably well preserved woman for her age, and loved and respected by all who know her.

N. H. BIDDLE, farmer and stock-dealer, P. O. Carmichaels, was born in Washington County, Penn., August 25, 1829. His father was Isaac T. Biddle, now deceased. His mother's maiden name was Jane Kerney; she was born in 1804 and is still living. Harvey came with his parents from Washington County to Cumber- land Township in 1840, and has made it his home till the present time. He is the fourth in a family of eleven children, seven of whom are living. He was reared on a farm and has been engaged in farmi- ing and stock-dealing all his life, owning at present over seven hundred acres of valnable land in Greene County. Mr. Biddle was united in marriage, December 25, 1856, with Zillah, daughter of J. K. Bailey. Their family consists of four sons and two daughters- Newton M., Flora, wife of Thomas Patterson; William C., Richard L., Jesse T. and Virtue C. Mr. and Mrs. Biddle are zealous members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Carmichaels, Penn., in which he is one of the elders. Mr. Biddle takes an active interest in the educational affairs of the county, served as school director for twelve years, and has been a member of the board of trustees of Waynesburg College for a number of years and is still a member.

SAMUEL BUNTING .- Among the representative men of Cum- berland Township we mention Samuel Bunting, a farmer and stock- grower, who was born in Fayette County. P'enn., April 28, 1836. IIe is a son of Samuel and Nancy (Butler) Bunting, natives of Penn- sylvania, and of German and English origin. Mr. Bunting's father, who has made milling the business of his life, has now reached the

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advanced age of eighty-four years. Samuel was the fourth in his family of eleven children, and was brought up in Fayette and Greene counties, having lived in the latter since he was eight years old. Early in life he learned the miller's trade with his father, continued in the business until 1885, and has since been engaged in farming where he now resides near Carmichaels, Penn. He was united in marriage February 22, 1859, with Agnes, oldest daughter of Samuel and Mary (Cree) Horner. Mrs. Bunting is of English descent. Her father was a wealthy miller, and also engaged somewhat extensively in farming. In politics Mr. Bunting is a Prohibitionist. He and his wife are zealous and active members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder, and is also serving as assistant superintendent of the Sabbath-school,

S. S. BAYARD, fariner and stock-grower, was born near Waynesburg, Penn., December 27, 1839, and is a son of Perry A. and Nancy (Sayers) Bayard. His parents were natives of Greene County, descendants of the early pioneers, and of French and Eng- lish origin. Mr. Bayard's father was a farmer and mechanic; in early life he was a stone-mason in Whiteley Township. S. S. is the fifth in a family of seven children; he was reared in Greene County, attended the schools in Whiteley Township, and afterwards entered Waynesburg College. He is a farmer by occupation, and owns 200 acres of well improved land where he resides in Cumberland Town- ship. He has abont twenty acres of his farm in choice fruit trees. In 1866 he married Miss Jane, daughter of W. T. E. Webb, Esq., of Waynesburg. Her mother's maiden name was Mary Stull; she was of French origin and a native of Kentucky. Her father was born in Virginia and was of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Bayard are the parents of four children, two of whom are living. In politics Mr. Bayard is a Republican. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, and was Sergeant of the company. He was in several prominent engagements of the late war-among others the battles of Antietam and Stone River, and was discharged for disability in 1863. Both his grandfathers were in the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Bayard are active mem- bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and both are prominent teachers in the Sabbath-school.

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History of Greene County, Pennsylvania, Part 53

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Chicago : Nelson, Rishforth Number of Pages: 908

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago : Nelson, Rishforth
Number of Pages: 908