USA > Pennsylvania > Greene County > History of Greene County, Pennsylvania > Part 56
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PROF. W. M. NICKESON, principal of the Carmichaels High School, was born in Washington, Washington County, Penn., August 28, 1839. His parents, Solomon and Phœbe (Watson) Nickeson, were also natives of Washington County, and of Scotch and German origin. His father, who is a farmer and stock-grower, worked at the .cooper's trade in early life. 'The Professor is a member of a family of thirteen children-five girls and eight boys. IIe was with his parents on the farm until eighteen years of age, and attended the public schools of Washington County. He subsequently entered Waynesburg College, where he completed the regular course of study and afterwards received the degree of Master of Arts. After teaching in Greene and Washington counties for ten years, he re- turned to Washington, studied law, and was admitted to practice in
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1867. He resumed his teaching, however, and had been engaged therein for twenty-four years, when he was elected superintendent of schools in Greene County in 1881, and served a term of three years. Since then he has been principal of the schools of Carmichaels, making in all thirty-one years that he has been connected with the schools of this and Washington counties. In 1866 Mr. Nickeson married Anna S., daughter of William Gass, who is of Irish and German descent, and a resident of Clarksville, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Nickeson have two children -- Frances M. and William Edmon. Mr. Nickeson has served as burgess of Carmichaels, also as justice of the peace for one term. He is a prominent member of the I. O. O. F., and he and wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is trustee, and superintendent of the Sabbath- school.
I. B. PATTERSON, farmer and stock-grower, P. O. Carmichaels, Penn., was born on Ruff's Creek, in Greene County, September 28, 1834. His parents, Thomas and Dorcas (Bell) Patterson, were natives of Pennsylvania. His father was a farmer and drover, and often sold stock in the Baltimore market on commission for the citi- zens of Greene County. He was the father of eight children, of whom I. B. is next to the youngest. He was educated in the com- mon schools of the county, chose farming and stock-growing for his business, and owns 355 acres of valuable land in the county. In 1858 he married Mary E., daughter of James Barns, whose portrait appears in this volume. It is said that Mr. Barns brought the first steam engine into Greene County, and was also founder of its first woolen-mill. He departed this life in 1883, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson are the parents of seven children-William B., Thomas, James L., Isaac N., John L., Minnie and Franklin M. Mr. Patterson is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Pat- terson are prominent members of the Carmichaels Cumberland Pres- byterian Church, in which they have ever been faithful, earnest workers.
J. G. PATTERSON was born in Franklin Township, Fayette County, Penn., August 23, 1830. IIe is a son of James and Jane (Smith) Patterson, who were born near Philadelphia, and of Scotch- Irish descent. Mr. Patterson's father was a farmer, his family con- sisting of nine children, of whom J. G. is the seventh. He was reared in Fayette County, Penn., attending Madison College at Union- town, and Greene Academy at Carmichaels, Penn. He studied medi- cine with Dr. W. L. Lafferty, of Brownsville, Penn., and practiced one year at Havana, Mason County, Illinois. He then engaged in the drug business in Pittsburgh, Penn., for a period of eleven years. In 1854 he married Miss Nancy J., daughter of John McAllister, and they are the parents of two children-Julian S., who is a physi-
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cian at Carlisle, Penn., and Anna, wife of George L. Denney, of Fayette County, Penn. In 1862 Mr. Patterson enlisted in the One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. When the company was organized he was elected First Lieutenant. In 1863 he resigned on account of ill-health, returned to Greene County and engaged in the oil business, and subsequently in mechanical pur- suits. In polities Mr. Patterson is a Democrat, in religion a Presby- terian. His wife is a devoted member of the M. E. Church.
J. H. REA, farmer and stock-grower, P. O. Carmichaels, was born in Cumberland Township, August 26, 1831, and is a son of John . and Margaret (Dowlin) Rea, who were of Seotch-Irish descent. His mother was a native of Pennsylvania, and his father, who was a blacksmith, was born in New Jersey and came to Greene County in 1803, and died November 25, 1847. Of their ten children, nine grew to maturity, the youngest of whom is the subject of this sketch. He has lived all his life on a farm, with the exception of two years spent in the army. He owns the farm of 106 acres where he now resides. He was united in marriage, August 26, 1852, with Miss Orpha, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Long) Worthington. Mrs. Rea is of English origin. Their family consists of seven children- Calvin B., Margaret Alice, wife of James Craig; Frank L., a stock- dealer in the West; Mary M., Walter G., Anna V. and John Linn. They are all members of the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Rea has been elder, trustee, and superintendent of the Sabbath-school. Mr. Rea takes a great interest in educational matters, has served as school director, and filled most of the important offices of his town- ship. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company F, First Penn- sylvania Cavalry. At the regular organization of this company at Harrisburgh, August 17, 1861, he was elected Captain, and was pro- moted to the office of Major, November 14, of the same year. Ile was discharged for disability, January 12, 1863, and was carried home on a streteher, in what was then thought to be a dying eondi- tion. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post.
SAMUEL W. REA, farmer and stock-grower, Carmichaels, Penn., was born in the township where he resides, February 2, 1829. He is a son of Jesse and Mary (Wright) Rea, natives of Mont- gomnery County, Penn. His parents were of Scotch-Irish origin, and came to Greene County in May, 1828, where Mr. Rea, who was a farmer all his life, died in 1870. Samuel W. was the only son in a family of four children. He was with his parents on the farm until he attained his majority, and attended the district school in the township and Greene Academy at Carmichaels. He has devoted his time to farming and the growing of fine stoek, and has met with more than average success. He owns a fine farm of 360 acres in Cumber- land Township. Mr. Rea was united in marriage, in 1848, to Miss
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Ruth Ann, daughter of William and Zillah (Johnson) Bailey. Their children are-Jesse L., Amanda Jane, wife of H. Kerr, has one daughter, Ruth E. Kerr; L. M., who married Josephine Hewitt, and is the father of one child, Anna Mary; John M., M. Zillah, E. F., C. Albert and Calvin W. William B., Hannah Frances, James W. and Nettie are deceased. In politics Mr. Rea is a Republican. He has been school director in his township, and filled important offices in Car- michael's Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which his family are all members.
JOSEPH REEVES, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Cumberland Township, Greene County, Penn., November 23, 1816, and is a son of John B. and Sarah (Luse) Reeves, natives of Penn- sylvania. His father was a farmer, and lived to be eighty- five years of age. His family consisted of twelve children -- six sons and six daughters. Joseph was the sixth in the family, received his educa- tion in the common schools, and chose farming as his business, which he has followed all his life. He started out in the world with nothing but a willing mind and strong muscle, first working by the
day and month. He has met with marked success, and is now the owner of 550 acres of well improved land where he resides. In 1840 he married Miss Rebecca, danghter of Phineas and Hannah .(Ross) Clawson, who were of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Reeves were the parents of six children, five living-Hannah J., wife of Wesley Evans; Sarah Ellen, wife of J. B. Sharp; Eliza . M., wife of Jamies Chafen; Phineas C. and John L. Their mother was a faithful mem- ber of the Baptist Church. Mr. Reeves' first son, Phineas C., is a farmer and at present resides with his parents. He was born in Greene Township, January 9, 1850, and received a common school education. In 1875 he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Davis. They have five children-Charles R., Rosa Pearl, Ernest J., Joseph B. and F. A. In politics their father is a Republican, and is a leading member in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
DANIEL RICH, farmer and stock-grower, Khedive, Penn., was born in Cumberland Township, Greene County, April 25, 1830, and is a son of David and Margaret (Morrison) Rich. His parents were also natives of Greene County, and of German and English ancestry. His father and grandfather were both farmers and among the early settlers of the county. Daniel is the ninth in a family of thirteen children, twelve of whom grew to maturity. "He was reared on the farm, attending school in the township, and also graded school in Virginia. He chose farming as his occupation and is now the owner of 360 acres of valuable land in Cumberland Township, where he resides and is regarded as one of the leading men of Greene County. He lived four years in Monroe County, Ohio, where he was united in marriage, October 8, 1858, with Miss Lany, daughter of Levi
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Stephens, a native of Greene County, Penn., and of German origin. They have two children-A. L., born in Monroe County, Ohio, August 13, 1859, and Phœbe C., who is the wife of Columbus Scott Their son, A. L., was reared on their present farm, in Cumberland. Township, to which his parents returned soon after his birth. Hle was married, October 8, 1882, to Miss Kate, daughter of C. C. Harry; and they have one child-Stephen Harry, an interesting boy of five years. In politics Mr. Daniel Rich is a Republican, and was elected justice of the peace in 1880, also in 1885. He is energetic and successful in his business, and has always held the confidence of his neighbors. He has settled up fifteen estates, for heirs in the neighborhood, to the entire satisfaction of the parties concerned. His family are all members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which he has served as trustee and superintendent of the Sabbath- school.
ALBERT M. RICHEY, now a resident of Iowa, was born in Fayette County, Penn., February 10, 1810. His parents were Sam- nel and Elizabeth (Humbert) Richey, natives of Pennsylvania and of German and English ancestry. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812. Leaving his native county at the age of twenty-one. Albert came to Greene County, after having learned cabinet-making, in Fayette County, Penn., and carried on business until 1878. At that time he went West and engaged in the same business at In- dianola, Iowa, where he still resides. His family consists of seven children. His oldest and only child in Greene County is Miss Eme- line Riehey, of Carmichaels, Penn., where she is owner and pro- prietor of a large dry-goods and dress emporium. Miss Richey is deserving of special mention, her life having been so much out of the range of most of her sex. She was reared in Carmichaels and at- tended Greene Academy until 1854, when she was employed by J. W. Hathaway, as clerk in his store. Here she displayed such ex- cellent taste and good judgment in the selection and purchase of goods, and such business ability, that Mr. Hathaway soon trusted her to do all the buying in the East, and gave her complete control of the store during the last few years she remained with him. In the fifteen years she was with him Mr. Hathaway's business was far more prosperous than ever before. Miss Richey has met with the same success in her own store, which she opened in 1869. She has a good trade in dry-goods and millinery, and also makes a specialty of fine dress-making, receiving the patronage of many prominent ladies for 'miles around Carmichaels. She is always prompt and obliging, conducts her business in a business-like way and has met with marked success in all her undertakings.
THOMAS RINEHART, retired farmer and stock-grower, Cey- lon, Penn., was born in Greene County, February 14, 1802. His
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parents, John and Peggy (Inghram) Rinehart, were of Irish and German descent. His ancestors were among the earliest settlers of the county, in which many descendants of both families now reside, some of them having held prominent positions therein. The present President Judge of Greene County is a nephew of Thomas Rinehart, the the subject of our sketch. Mr. Rinehart's father was a farmer all his life. Thomas was his second son and was reared in Greene County, attending the subscription schools. Ile manifested ex- eellent business proclivities early in life, and was untiring in his zeal to make the best of every opportunity, as a result of which he now owns a fine farm of 200 aeres, where he lives in Cumberland Township. Here he was married and is the father of two children- Thomas Franklin and Margaret Ann. Mr. Rinehart is a Democrat, and he and his wife are consistent members of church.
THOMAS W. ROGERS, photographer, who was born in Bealls- ville, Washington County, Penn., July 17, 1846, is a son of James R. and Sarah (McLean) Rogers, also natives of Washington County. Mrs. Sarah Rogers died in 1854. Mr. Rogers, who is a carpenter and contractor, now resides in the State of Indiana. His family con- sists of seven children now living-five sons and two daughters (five dead). Thomas, who is the third son, was reared in Washington County on the farm, and attended school at Beallsville. In 1861 he learned photography, at which he worked for over three years before he opened his establishment in Carmichaels, where he has been a very popular and successful photographer. In 1869 Mr. Rogers married Miss Belle, daughter of Joseph Daugherty. They are the parents of five children, viz .- Olly, Velma, Wilber, Ina and Fred. Mr. Rogers is modest and unassuming but industrious and energetie in his business, and has always had the respeet and confidence of the community, from which he has received a liberal patronage. In pol- itics he is a Republican; and he and Mrs. Rogers are among the most faithful and prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
A. J. SHARPNACK, farmer and stock-grower, of Cumberland Township, Greene County, Penn., was born August 25, 1847, on the farm where he now resides. He is a son of IIenry and Elizabeth (Rice) Sharpnack. Mr. Sharpnack's father, who died in 1879, made farming the business of his life. Mr. Sharpnack is the youngest of nine children, five of whom are living. He was reared in Cumber- land Township on the farm with his parents, where he attended the district school. He wisely chose his father's occupation-that of stock-growing and farming. He owns an improved and well stocked farm. In 1868 he married Caroline M. Rinehart. They have two sons-Levi and Henry. Their mother died and Mr. Sharpnack was again united in marriage with Martha, daughter of David Bowser,
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Their children are-Lora, Malinda, Chester A. Arthur, Elizabeth Ann, Lilian Dell, and James G. Blaine. Mrs. Sharpnack is a de- voted member of the Baptist Church.
LEVI A. SHARPNACK, farmer and stock-raiser, Carmichaels, Penn., was born in Cumberland Township, Greene County, Deeem- ber 24, 1850. IIe is a son of John and Sarah (Antram) Sharpnaek, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and of German and English ori- gin. His father was an industrious and energetic farmer and stock- raiser until his death, April 8, 1858. His family consisted of eleven children, seven living, of whom Levi is the youngest and the only son. Ile was reared on the farm and received a common school edu- cation; has made choice of farming as his occupation through life, and meets with great success. He owns ninety-two acres of valu- able land where he now resides. In 1874 he married Elizabeth, daughter of William and Susan (Curl) Armstrong. Mr. Sharpnaek is of Irish descent. Their children are: Linton, Chauncey, Ora, Charles and Launa. Mr. Sharpnack is a strong Democrat, and one of the most influential citizens of his township.
TIIOMAS L. STEWART, deceased, was born in Dunkard Town- ship, Greene County, in the year 1813. Ilis parents, Leonard and Elizabeth (Ferrell) Stewart, were of English descent, and among the early settlers of the county. His father was a farmer. Thomas L. was reared in Dunkard Township, and followed farming as his occupation. In 1842 he married Miss Eliza, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Hopton) Johnson. They are the parents of three chil- dren: Joseph. Mary E. and Johnson, who married Sarah Durr, and is the father of two children-Charles and G. Pearl. Joseph, their oldest son, was born in Cumberland Township, Greene County, Octo- ber 24, 1844, and received a common school education. In 1882 he married Miss Amanda, daughter of E. Y. Cowell. Mrs. Joseph
Stewart was a member of the Baptist Church. She died in 1884, leaving one child, Mary. Mr. Stewart and his sons are strict adher- ents to the Republican party.
ELIAS STONE, deceased, who was a farmer and stock grower, was born in Greensboro. Greene County, Penn., September 22, 1808. He was a son of James and Nancy (Sedgewick) Stone, who were na- tives of Greene County, and descended from its earliest settlers. The history of the family on both sides shows them to have been farmers usually, and of Irish descent. Mr. Stone was the second in a family of eight children. He was reared in Monongahela Township, this county. where he attended the subscription schools. ' He devoted his business life to farming and the growing of fine stock. In 1833 he married Mary, daughter of Samnel and Nancy (Lackey) Huston. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania and of Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Stone were the parents of three children. Lizzie, Nan and
.
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Fannie. Their mother died in 1843. Mr. Stone was Republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was twice married, and his widow and two children, Frank and Amanda, survive him. He died in 1872.
D. C. STEPHENSON, farmer and stock grower, was born in Greene Township, Greene County, Penn., June 5, 1826. IIis par- ents, Alexander and Rachel (Jones) Stephenson, were natives of this county, and of Welsh and Scotch-Irish descent. His grandfather and great-grandfather were Hugh and Daniel Stephenson, who were farmers and soldiers in the Revolutionary war; they came to Greene County soon after its close. His father served as justice of the peace in Greene County for a period of fifteen years. The history of the Stephenson family gives farming as their usual occupation. Mr. Stephenson's grandfather was born in Greene County, where he spent all his life. IIe died in 1857 in his eighty-second year. Mr. Stephenson is the oldest in a family of four children-two sons and two daughters. He was reared on the farm in this county, where he attended the district school. In 1861 he came to Cumberland Town- ship and engaged in farming until 1869, when he came to Ceylon and kept store for a period of sixteen years. He was united in mar- riage, in Henry County, Iowa, with Miss Martha, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Barclay) Johnson. Mrs. Stephenson is a great grand. daughter of the Hon. Hugh Barclay. Iler grandfather was also Hugh Barclay, and her grandfather Johnson's name was William. Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson have eight children-Mary E., wife of Noah M. Hartley; Alexander M., a farmer; Fannie, Hugh C., of Iowa; J. W., a teacher, Anna M., Flora M. and I. T. (de- ceased). In politics Mr. Stephenson is a Democrat, and has served as postmaster in Greene County for fifteen years. IIe has made his own way in the world, and by means of his energy and untiring zeal in his business has become one of the most prosperous farmers in the county and highly respected by all who know him.
JOHNSON TOPPIN, retired farmer, Carmichaels, Penn., was born in Maryland February 25, 1808, and is a son of John and Re- becca (Johnson) Toppin. They were members of the Society of Friends, and of English descent. Ilis father was a farmer and car- penter through life. Johnson was one of three sons and three daugh- ters, and spent most of his life in Greene County, Penn., where he also attended school. He learned the gunsmith trade, in which he engaged for a time, then followed ship carpentering as a business. He also ran on the river as captain on a keel boat for nineteen years. He afterwards bought a farm in Cumberland Township, where he lived until 1885-the date of his retirement. In 1833 he was united in marriage with Miss Harriet, daughter of John and Jane Dalby. Mrs. Toppin was born in 1813 and is also a native of
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Pennsylvania. Of their five children, three are living-two in Iowa. They are all married: Matilda, wife of William Gass; Rebecca Ann, wife of J. K. Parshall, and Almira, wife of Thomas W. Linch. Mr. Toppin is a Democrat; and his wife is a faithful member of the Methodist Church.
T. P. WARNE, farmer and stock-grower, Carmichaels, Penn., was born in Carroll Township, Washington County, Penn., January 26, 1847. He is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Irwin) Warne. His father and mother were natives of Washington and Chester counties respectively, and were of English and Irish descent. His father, who has met with marked success as a farmer, still resides on the old home farm in Carroll Township, Washington County, and also owns a fine farm of 250 acres in Cumberland Township, Greene County. Mr. T. P. Warne, who is the second in a family of seven children, attended school at Monongahela City, where he started in business as a coal merchant and remained there for a period of nine years. In 1882 he sold out his coal interests, and came to this county in 1885 and has since been engaged in farming in Cumberland Township. Mr. Warne was united in marriage, April 21, 1887, with Anna E. Long. Her parents were James and Mary (McClelland) Long, of English and Irish ancestry. Mrs. Warne is third in their family of six chil- dren; and is a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Warne is a Democrat, and one of the leading citizens of his commu- nity.
LEM H. WILEY, musician, Peoria Ill., was born in Greene County, Penn., April 17, 1844. He acquired a common school edu- cation, and worked at the blacksmiths trade with his father. In 1862 he went to Peoria County, Ill., and in the fall he enlisted in the Seventy- seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteers, as chief musician, being then only eighteen years of age. This position he filled faithfully until the regiment was mustered ont of service at the close of the war. Upon
returning home, Mr. Wiley became a member of the celebrated Light Guards Band of Peoria, with which he remained nine years, during which time he also opened a music business. In 1872 he was one of the twenty-four cornetists at P. S. Gilmore's World's Peace Jubilee at Boston; and has been a member and leader of a number of the noted bands in the United States. Ile was married, Angust 17, 1872, to Miss Alta, daughter of Levi Wilson, of Peoria, Ill. In 1880 he be- came a leader in Haverly's Original Mastodon Minstrels, organized in Chicago, and remained with them five years, during which time he played in all the large cities in the United States and most of the principal cities in the old world. In January, 1885, he became man- ager of the new Grand Opera House in Peoria, Ill., a position he still holds. Mr. Wiley is considered by the world a thorough musician and remarkable cornetist.
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A. J. YOUNG, farmer and stock grower, Rice's Landing, Penn., was born in Washington County, February 7, 1831, and is a son of Abraham and Hannah (Rose) Young. ITis parents were natives of Washington and Greene counties, respectively, and of German and English ancestry. Mr. Young is the seventh in a family of ten children. He was reared in West Bethlehem Township, Washington County, and acquired his education from the common schools of his neighborhood. HIe chose farming as his occupation, and owns 165 acres of well im- proved land in Cumberland Township, Greene County, where he took up his abode in 1854. In the same year he was united in marriage with Miss Rachel, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Swan) Ailes. The former was a native of Washington County, and the latter of Greene County, and a descendant of one of its earliests settlers. Mrs. Young's great- grandfather, John Swan, settled on the farm now owned by A. J. Young, in 1767, and had to build a fort to protect himself from the Indians. Mr. and Mrs. Young are devoted members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, the former ruling elder of the church. Mr. and Mrs. Young are the parents of two children- Amy H., who died when four years old; and William A., a carpen- ter and farmer, residing on the home farm. He was united in mar- riage in 1884 with Miss Maggie M., daughter of Jacob and Rachel Braden, and they have one child, Walter B.
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