USA > Pennsylvania > Greene County > History of Greene County, Pennsylvania > Part 55
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WILLIAM HARTMAN, born in Jefferson, Greene County, Penn., February 14, 1817, is a son of Adam and Elizabeth (Stickels) Hartman. Ilis parents were of German descent, his mother being a native of Pennsylvania and his father of Ohio. His father's family consisted of eight children, of whom William is the fifth. He at- tended the schools of Greene County and learned the cabinet-maker's trade, in connection with which he has devoted considerable time to contracting and building. He was united in marriage November 8, 1838, with Acsah, daughter of Daniel Smith. Their children are- Ann, wife of William F. Flenniken; and Elizabeth, wife of J. F.
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Gwyn. Mr. Hartman is a Republican, and was elected justice of the peace in 1858. He has also been a member of the town council and burgess of Carmichaels. Mr. and Mrs. Hartman are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which he has been superintendent of the Sabbath-school and served as elder for many years.
J. W. HATHAWAY, deceased, who was a merchant in Carmich- aels for many years, was born in Jefferson Township, this county, May 19, 1821, and was a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Estel) Hathaway. llis mother was born in New Jersey and his father in Pennsylvania, and they were of English and Dutch descent. When Mr. Hathaway was only one year old his father died, and he was reared by his grandfather, Matthias Estel, who sent him to school and induced him to learn a trade. He chose the chair-maker's trade, served a regular apprenticeship, and worked at the business for a time at Newtown. There he began business as a clerk in a store at the age of sixteen. At nineteen years of age he went to Carmichaels as clerk. He was for many years junior member in the firm of Carson Ilathaway, merchants; afterwards buying his partner's interest he became sole owner of the large merchandising establishment there. Ile was an energetic, careful and thrifty manager of busi- ness, always exercising the keenest tact in his ventures and invest- ments, yet conducting the same with a motive of honesty and fair dealing toward all, bearing the respect of everybody. Years ago when Carmichaels was the business center of Greene County Mr. Hathaway-added to a continued large retail trade- did consider- able business at wholesale. He also dealt quite extensively in stock and real estate, and at the time of his death was the owner of 550 acres of valuable land. He was united in marriage January 1, 1846, with Miss Ary, daughter of William and Keziah (Wiley) Anderson, who were of Scotch-Irish descent. Her father was a millwright, and she had two brothers in the war of 1812. To Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway a family of ten children were born, six of whom, together with Mrs. Hathaway, survive the deceased. The children are- Charles, Samuel, William, Jacob and Lawrence, of Carmichaels; and Mrs. Mary McGinnis, of Lincoln, Ill. Mr. Hathaway was well known and was regarded as a man of great business ability, sound judgment and sterling integrity. He had been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for, over forty-five years, and was a ruling elder in that church for thirty-two years. He was without question a true Christian.
JOSEPII HAMILTON, deceased, was a farmer and stock- grower and a successful business man. He was a self-made man, and by reason of his industry, economy and business ability, snc- ceeded in accumulating a goodly share of this world's possessions.
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He died in 1871, leaving to his wife and children over 400 acres of valuable farming land near Carmichaels, Penn. Mr. Hamilton was born in the State of Pennsylvania in 1808, was a son of Joseph Hamilton, and was of Scotch-Irish origin. His father was a manufacturer of boots and shoes. Mr. Hamilton received a common school education; he came to Greene County in 1859 and settled in Cumberland Township. His wife, whom he married in Fayette County, Penn., was Miss Catharine Coursin. Of their eight children, seven are now living-William, Elizabeth, wife of Richard Moffett; Mary, Sarah, Catharine Noah and Nancy J. Mr. Hamilton was known throughout his life as a stauneh Democrat and a strict adherent of the Presbyterian Church.
I. R. JACKSON, retired carpenter and contractor, was born in Cumberland Township, Greene County, Penn., April 19, 1824. He is a son of Stephen and Hannah (Miller) Jackson, natives of this county. His grandfather, a pioneer farmer, was born in Maryland. Mr. Jackson, whose father was a millwright and carpenter, was the third in a family of five children. He learned the carpenter trade, in which he engaged in Cumberland Township for a period of thirty- five years. He was united in marriage April 12, 1846, with Mary A., daughter of B. M. and Martha (Murdock) Horner. Mrs. Jack- son's parents were among the early settlers of the county. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, only one survives- Emma C. The deceased are: James J., Mary Ann, Louisa J., Alice L., Stephen T. and Margaret A., who was the wife of William Grooms and mother of two children, one of which, James A. Grooms, is still living. Mr. Jackson is a Democrat, and has served as burgess of Carmichaels Borough. He and his wife are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
WILLIAM KERR, manufacturer of saddle-trees, was born in Washington County, Penn., September 12, 1803, and is a son of James and Elizabeth (Boke) Kerr, also natives of Washington Coun- ty, and of Irish descent. His father was a blacksmith, and reared a family of eight children. William was the third and received a common school education. He learned the saddle-tree trade, and has made it the business of his life, most of which he has spent in Cumberland Township, where he was married in January, 1824. His wife was Elizabeth. daughter of James Curl. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr are the parents of ten children, eight of whom are living. They are: Mary A., wife of Elias Flenniken, of Greensboro, Penn .; Rachel, wife of James Flenniken; Jolin C., of Carmichaels; Lettie J., wife of Thomas Lucas; Elizabeth M., wife of William H. Sharp- nack; Sarah E., wife of Thomas Nutt; Hiram A. and William W. Mrs. Kerr died August 29, 1874, a consistent member of the
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Methodist Episcopal Church, to which Mr. Kerr also belongs, and has been steward and class-leader. In politics he is a Democrat.
JAMES KERR, farmer and stock-grower, Carmichaels, Penn., was born in Washington, Washington County, Penn., March 31, 1808, and is a son of Archibald and Mary (Huston) Kerr, who were of Irish and English descent. His mother was a native of Washing- ton County, and departed this life in Greene County, Penn., in her eighty. seventh year, and his father, a farmer and hotel-keeper, was born in Ireland and died in Virginia in his eighty-fourth year. IIe had a family of eight children, of whom James was the fourth, and was reared on the farm in Cumberland Township. He attended the common school and chose farming as a business, working by the day and month to get his start in life. IIe drove hogs from Greene County to Baltimore for twenty-five cents and two meals a day. He has ever practiced the most careful economy and strict integrity in all his dealings, and is now the owner of a valnable farm of 375 acres. Mr. Kerr was united in marriage August 29, 1833, with Miss Ellen, daughter of George and Betsey (Lowery) Davis. Mrs. Kerr was born in Greene County, April 1, 1813. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr have eight children, five living-David, Elizabeth, wife of Captain II. H. Cree; Alexander, Hnston and Archibald. The deceased are George, James and Willie. In politics Mr. Kerr is a Democrat. HIe has served as school director in the township. They are prominent members of the Presbyterian Church.
JOHN C. KERR, manufacturer of saddle-trees, was born in Carmichaels, Penn., December 28, 1832. He is a son of William and Elizabeth (Curl) Kerr, being the third in their family of eight children. He was reared in Greene County, and early in life learned his trade with his father, who still resides near Carmichaels, where John C. has worked for many years. In 1859 Mr. Kerr married Caroline, daughter of Amos Horner. They were the parents of two children-Mary Ellen, wife of John Bell, and Margaret, wife of John Mossburg. Their mother died in 1865. Mr. Kerr was a second time united in marriage, February 9, 1869, with Elizabeth, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Rice) Sharpnack. Her parents were of Welsh and English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr have four children, all boys-William Henry, George S., Robert O. and Jesse F. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr are devoted members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr. Kerr is a Republican, and has been a mem- ber of the town council of Carmichaels, where he has resided for over twenty-five years.
ARCHIBALD KERR, of the firm of Kerr Brothers, furniture dealers and funeral directors, Carmichaels, Penn., was born in Cumber- land Township, September 22, 1851. He is a son of James and
-
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Eleanor (Davis) Kerr, natives of Greene County, and of Irish descent. His father is one of the prominent farmers of Cumberland Township. Archibald is the seventh in a family of eight children. He received a common-school education, and early in life learned the cabinet- maker's trade. Ile worked by the day and job for eight years in Virginia and Pennsylvania, and in 1876 engaged in his present busi- ness at Garard's Fort, Penn., where he remained for two years. He then came to Carmichaels, where he has always had the reputation of doing first-class work. In 1873 Mr. Kerr married Frances, daugh- ter of James Clawson. Mrs. Kerr is of English descent. They have a family of five children -- Charles Edward, Lida E., Jesse, Alex- ander and Ilarry. Mr. Kerr is a leading member of the M. E. Church, and his wife is a Cumberland Presbyterian. In politics Mr. Kerr is a Democrat. Ile is a member of the town council, and be- longs to the I. O. O. F. Lodge at Carmichaels, Penn.
NORVAL LAIDLEY was born in Cumberland Township, this county, May 4, 1829. He is a son of T. H. and Sarah (Barclay) Laidley, being the oldest in their family of twelve children. He was reared in Carmichaels, receiving his education in the old Greene Academy. Early in life he learned the saddler's trade, serving an apprenticeship at Carmichaels, where he soon engaged in the busi- ness for himself and continued therein for twelve years. IIc after- wards started a general store in company with his younger brother, A. D. Laidley, to whom he sold his interest in 1876 and left him sole proprietor of their merchandising establishment.
J. B. LAIDLEY, physician and surgeon, Carmichaels, Penn. Among the best known physicians in Greene County is the gentle- man whose name heads this sketch. He is a son of Dr. Thomas II. and Sarah (Barclay) Laidley, and was born in Carmichaels, August 21, 1830. The Doctor's father was also a prominent physician, and practiced in Carmichaels and vicinity for over half a century. His grandfather, Thomas Laidley, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and his maternal grandfather, IIon. Hugh Barclay, was a mem- ber of the Pennsylvania State Legislature in 1804. The Doctor is the second in a family of twelve children, ten of whom are now living. IIe received his education at Greene Academy, and subse- quently studied medicine at the medical department of the University of Wooster, at Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated March 1, 1856. He then returned to Carmichaels, where he has practiced continuously except during a part of the years 1861-62, when he served as Sur- geon of the Eighty-fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. In 1859 he was united in marriage with Mary E., daughter of William Galbraith, who was for many years a prominent physician of Jeffer- son, in this county, where Mrs. Laidley was born. They have three living children-William Galbraith, Edmund Wirt and John Collier.
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Dr. and Mrs. Laidley are members of the M. E. Church, in which he has been an official member since he united with the church. He has been school director for thirty years, and has been known as a friend ef education. He is a member of the G. A. R., Post No. 265, of Carmichaels, Penn.
HON. T. H. LAIDLEY was born in Carmichaels, Penn. He is a son of Dr. T. H. Laidley, who was among the most prominent physicians of Greene County. Mr. Laidley was the seventh in a family of eleven children. He was reared in Carmichaels, attending the Greene Academy. He learned the trade of a tinner and followed it as an occupation for eight years. Ile subsequently clerked on a boat on the Monongahela River for a period of eight years. He married Sarah W., danghter of John W. Flenniken. Her father was a descendant of the early pioneers of this county. Mr. Laidley is the father of three children-Hettie, Thomas H., Jr., and Albert. Mr. Laidley is a Democrat, and has taken considerable interest in the politics of his county. He served as county auditor for several terms. He also represented his county in the State Legislature two terms, at the close of which he engaged in the mercantile business. He is a Presbyterian, of which church his deceased wife was also a member. She died in 1885.
R. S. LONG, stock dealer, farmer and stock grower .- The sub- ject of this sketch was born in Greene County, Penn., October 24, 1835. He is a son of Jerry and Lucretia (Stephens) Long, who were natives of this county and of English origin. His father was reared on a farm where he spent the early part of his life. He after- wards made a specialty of stock-growing, in which he dealt quite extensively in the West, and succeeded in accumulating a handsome fortune, being at the time of his death, in 1863, the owner of 1,300 acres of well-improved land in Greene County, and extensive stock interests in the West. He was married in his native county, and all of his six children were born in Cumberland Township. They are as follows; Milton, Elizabeth, wife of Corbly Garard; Mary, R. S., W. S., Sarah A., wife of James Stephens, and Nancy V., wife of Wallace Eicher. Richard was reared on the farm and attended the common school. In business he has very closely followed the ex- ample of his father, and has met with about the same success. At the age of twenty-two he went west and engaged in buying stock, of which he made heavy shipments from Iowa to Chicago. He deals principally in sheep and cattle, and of the latter owns at present 900 head, in company with others in the West. His home farm con- sists of 261 acres of land, well stocked and improved. He was mar- ried, December 4, 1861, to Miss Phobe C., daughter of J. K. Bailey, and they are the parents of three children-J. C., D. Annie Lanrie and Lucretia V. Nellie. In politics Mr. Long is a Republican, and
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he and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which he is one of the leading officers.
MILTON LONG, farmer and stock-grower, P. O. Khedive, was born in Cumberland Township, January 29, 1838. He is a son of Jerry and Lucretia (Stephens) Long, also natives of this county. He comes of a long line of farmers, of whom his father was one of the most prominent, and also eminently successful as a cattle-dealer in the West. Mr. Long is the third in a family of six children; he attended the common school of his district, remaining on the farm until 1861, when he enlisted in Company F, First Pennsylvania Cav- alry and served his country three years. He passed through the en- gagements of Gettysburg and Fredericksburg, and was also in the battle of the Wilderness. When he came home from the army he went to Page County, Iowa, and engaged in buying and shipping stock to Chicago, Illinois. After remaining there for a period of eight years, he returned to Cumberland Township, where he has since been engaged in his present occupation, and owns 330 acres of well improved land. In 1872 he married Mary E., daughter of Robert McClelland, who died in 1859. Her mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Weaver; she was of German and English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Long have one child-Mabel. In politics Mr. Long is a Republican, he is a member of the G. A. R., and he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
JAMES MURDOCK, retired tailor, was born in Cumberland Township, this county, August 3, 1811, and is a son of Charles and Ann (Campbell) Murdock. Mr. Murdock's grandfather was one of the earliest settlers of Greene County, coming here among the In- dians. His mother was born in Ireland. His father, who was of Scotch origin, was born in Greene County, Penn., in 1789. His family consisted of eight children-six sons and two daughters, of whom James was the oldest. He was united in marriage in 1838 with Amanda, daughter of William Bailey. Mrs. Murdock was born in this county in 1816, and is of English descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Murdock were born six children-Zillah, Anna E., William M., Mary (deceased), Ellis B. and Ellen. Mr. Murdock is a Republican. Ile has been school director, was for two years burgess of Car- michaels, and served as justice of the peace for a period of ten years. Both are faithful members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. They are among the oldest and mnost highly respected citizens of Carmichaels.
WILLIAM M. MURDOCK, merchant-tailor, was born in Car- michaels, August 28, 1844, and is a son of James and Amanda (Bailey) Murdock, natives of Greene County. Mr. Murdock is the third of a family of six children. He was reared in Carmichaels and learned the tailor's trade with his father. Ilis first work was for the
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Government. In 1862, when eighteen years of age, he enlisted as a soldier in Company K, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, and served until 1865. He was at the battle of Stone River and in several other engagements and skirmishes. At the close of the war he came home and worked at his trade with his father. In 1870 he engaged with his brother in the merchant tailoring business, in which they have continued quite successfully ever since. In 1866 he married Emma, daughter of William and Mary (Williams) Arm- strong. They have four children-Augustus L., Mary, wife of F. Davidson; Louise and Lottie. Mr. Murdock is a member of the G. A. R. Post; and both are leading members in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
SIMON MOREDOCK, retired farmer and stock-grower, born in Jefferson Township, Greene County, Penn., is a son of George and Priscilla (Anderson) Moredock. His grandfather, James Ander- son, was of Irish descent. Mr. Moredock's father, who was a farmer, had a family of twelve children, ten of whom grew to maturity. Simon is the fourth child, was reared in Jefferson Town- ship, and received his education in the old stone school-house of the district. Early in life he engaged in the distillery business which he followed for ten years. lle then bought a farm and has since devoted himself wholly to agricultural pursuits. In 1848 he was united in marriage with Mary J., daughter of John and Jane (Kincaid) Reynolds, who were of Welsh and Dutch descent. Mr. and Mrs. Moredock have six children-Sarah, wife of B. Sharpnack; George W., M. A., Rebecca J., Daniel and Minerva. Mr. Moredock is a Democrat; and both are members of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church, in which he has served as elder.
REV. JOHN MCCLINTOCK, pastor of the New Providence Presbyterian Church, in Cumberland Township, Greene County, Penn., was born in Washington, Penn., November 10, 1808, and is a son of William and Mary (McGowan) McClintock. His mother was a native of Pennsylvania and of Scotch-Irish descent. His father was born in County Donegal, Ireland; but when quite a young man, came with his two brothers, to America and settled in Wash- ington, Penn., where they spent the rest of their lives, all dying within nine months. Mr. McClintock is one of five children. IIe received his early education in the subscription school; then learned the weaver's trade, serving a regular apprenticeship of five years. When he reached his majority he entered Washington College, l'enn., and graduated in the regular classical course with the class of 1836, Having chosen the ministry as his profession, he subsequently entered the Western Theological Seminary, at Allegheny, Penn., and was licensed to preach in April, 1837. Ile seized every opportunity of preparing himself for the high calling which he had chosen, and 33
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accepted as his first work the cause of missions, the field being Smyrna, in Asia. In July, 1839, he came to Greene County and accepted his present charge, in which capacity he still continues, hav- ing outlived all but three members of his original congregation. By reason of his most earnest, efficient work, Rev. McClintock's is among the largest congregations in Greene County. He has also been instrumental in doing great good outside of his own church, having baptized 261 persons and performed 207 marriage ceremonies. He was married, in Washington, Penn., April 17, 1834, to Miss
Mary, daughter of James and Margaret (Hawkins) Orr. Mrs. Mc- Clintock was also a native of Washington, Penn., born December 11, 1803, and of Scotch-Irish descent. Her grandparents came from Ireland; her father was a magistrate for many years, and among the prominent men of Washington County, where he settled in 1800. Mrs. McClintock is a lady of great piety and motherly kindness, and is most highly respected by those who know her best. Few have as many friends as this aged couple who have worked side by side in the vineyard of the Lord for more than fifty years. Their union has been blessed with six children-Margaret E .. Mary, John C., a min- ister; and Ann, living; and James and William, deceased. Their family is highly respected, and they have a prosperous, happy home near Carmichaels, Penn., where they now reside.
REV. DR. JOHN McMILLAN was born at Fagg's Manor, Chester County, Penn., November 11, 1752. His parents, William and Margaret (Rea) McMillan, emigrated to America in 1742. They were Scotch-Irish, and devout Presbyterians. They had eighteen children. Their three sons who attained maturity were Thomas, William, and John, the youngest, whose name heads this sketch. It was his father's wish that John should be a minister of the gospel. He received a classical education at Princeton College, was first licensed to preach October 26, 1774, and was among the pioneer preachers of Washington and Greene counties. IIe was a strong man, and engaged in physical as well as mental labor. Early in life he formed the habit of writing and committing all his sermons. He was always greatly interested in his work, and has given account of revival meetings in which he frequently labored through a whole night. Soon after the Revolutionary war, about the year 1778, he removed with his family to Washington County, Penn., where he was the founder of Jefferson College, now known as Washington and Jefferson College, and was president of the institution at the time of his death. He was married by the Rev. Mr. Carmichaels, Angust 6, 1777, to Miss Catharine, daughter of William Brown. Seven children were born to them, viz: William, John, Samuel, Jane, Mar- garet, Mary and Catharine. Jane, the oldest daughter, was twice married, her first husband being the Rev. Mr. Morehead. She was
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afterwards united in marriage with Samuel Harper, a merchant and farmer, who was born and raised near Philadelphia. He spent most of his business life in Greene County, Penn., and was one of its most prominent citizens. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church for many years, and served one term as sheriff of the county. Samuel Harper was twice married and had ten children, the youngest of whom is H. Harper, now a prominent citizen of Carmichaels, Penn. IIe was born in Cumberland Township, this county, September 29, 1819, was reared on the farm and attended school at Greene Academy, but devoted himself principally to farming, and met with great suc- cess. In 1862 Mr. Harper married Rebecca M., daughter of Will- iam and Rebecca (Norris) Johnson. Her parents were natives of Chester County, Penn., and of English descent. They were mem- bers of the Society of Friends. Mr. Harper is Republican in poli- tics. Ile and Mrs. Harper are prominent members of the M. E. Church. Having retired from the more active duties of life, they now reside in Carmichaels, where they have a neat, substantial resi- dence. Mr. Harper's brother, John McMillan Harper, was born in 1812, in Greene County, where he grew to manhood. He was edu- cated at Greene Academy. His vocation was that of farming, for which he seemed especially adapted, being a powerful man, six feet and two inches in height, always strong and robust and in the enjoy- ment of excellent health. He was married in Jefferson Township, this county, to Miss Isabella Hughes, and they had one child, Mar- garet Jane, who is the wife of E. C. Stone, of Brownsville, Penn. During the late war Mrs. Stone's father, John Harper, raised a com- pany of cavalry, of which he was soon elected Major, but by some means was defrauded out of his command. While at home, buying horses for the regiment, at which time he succeeded in getting 600, another was installed Major in his place. He then resigned and re- turned home, spending the remainder of his life on the farm, where he died in 1878, honored and respected by all who knew him.
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