USA > Pennsylvania > Greene County > History of Greene County, Pennsylvania > Part 69
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JAMES SCOTT, deceased, was one of the most successful and enterprising farmers of Jefferson Township. He was born October 6, 1822, on the farm where his family resides. His father and mother were James and Margaret (Kineaid) Scott. His father was a son of Mordecai and Kizzie (Potete) Scott, and came with his parents from Maryland to Greene County, Penn., where he married Margaret Kin- caid, who was born in 1790, and departed this life in 1888. James , was the fourth in their family of five children. He was united in marriage, May 19, 1853, with Mary A., daughter of William and
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Elizabeth (Hedges) Spencer, who were natives of Washington Coun- ty, Penn. Mr. Spencer came with his parents to Greene County when only two years of age. He was married in Washington Coun- ty, returned with his wife to Greene County and remained until 1871, then moved to the State of Tennessee, where Mrs. Spencer died April 12, 1883. In the fall of the same year he again returned to Greene County, and has since made his home with his daughter, Mrs. James Scott. To Mr. and Mrs. Scott were born six children, five of whom are living. The oldest of these, Lizzie E., is the widow of I. N. Me- Nay, the mother of one child, named Newton for his father; the second daughter is Anna S., wife of Dr. J. L. Millikin, of Greens- boro, Penn., and the mother of one son, Joe P .; the others are Will- iam S., Emma K. and J. Newton. Margaret is deceased. Mr. Scott acquired hsi education in the common schools in Jefferson Township. Like his ancestors, he made farming and stock-raising his business, and owned 400 acres of land. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and belonged to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which Mrs. Scott is also a devoted member. He remained on the old Scott homestead until his death, September 30, 1878.
MILTON S. SHAPE, farmer, Clarksville, Penn., was born in Greene County, July 29, 1835, a son of Jacob and Joanna Shape (nee P'ettit), who were also natives of Greene County, where they were married, settled and remained until Mrs. Shape's death, which occurred in 1859. Her husband afterwards married Elizabeth Black (nee Walters), and they reside in Clarksville, Penn. Mr. Jacob Shape is the father of eight children, six now living. Milton S. is the oldest and was united in marriage, August 16, 1878, with Cath- arine A. Lancaster, who was born in Fayette County, Penn., Feb- ruary 10, 1844. Her parents, Bartholomew and Minerva (Fraley) Lancaster, were natives of Maryland, where they were married and then came to Greene County, Penn., in 1843, removing two years later to Fayette County, Penn., where they died. Mr. and Mrs. Milton Shape are the parents of four children, only one living, Ilad- ashia B., born November 11, 1880. Mr. Shape is a carpenter by trade, which he followed for sixteen years. He then engaged in farm ing, and owns seventy-two acres of land. He enlisted in Company G, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry and served his country three years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and Mrs. Shape is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
THOMAS SHARPNACK, farmer, Jefferson, Penn., was born in Cumberland Township, Greene County, June 30, 1827. He is a son of Peter and Mary (Alfree) Sharpnack, who were native of Greene County, where they were married and made their home until Mr. Sharpnack's death in 1845. Mrs. Sharpnack died in 1867. They were the parents of nine children, five now living. Of these
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Thomas is the oldest and was united in marriage, June 27, 1852, with Elizabeth Craft, who was born in Fayette County, Penn., No- vember 6, 1826. She is a daughter of Benjamin and Mary Craft, also natives of Fayette County. Her father died March 27, 1886; her mother is still living. They were the parents of fifteen children, nine living. To Mr. and Mrs. Sharpnack have been born five children, only one living, Simon. The deceased are George, Ada- line, Benjamin and Peter. Mr. Sharpnack is a farmer and owns 166 acres of land where he and his family reside. Mrs. Sharpnack is a faithful member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
T. H. SHARPNACK, M. D., born at Rice's Landing, Penn., November 20, 1843, is a son of William and Sarah (Neel) Sharp- nack. Ilis parents were natives of Greene County, Penn., and were of Scotch and German descent. His father is a farmer and stock-grower and resides in Cumberland Township, where he was born in June 9, 1810, a son of Samnel and Nancy (Crago) Sharpnack. The Doctor's grandmother, Nancy Sharpnack, was born in 1776 and lived to be eighty-four years old. His grandfather, Samuel, died in 1852 at the age of sixty-three. The Doctor's grandparents on his mother's side were Barney and Martha (Hughes) Neel. They were natives of Cumberland Township. Eleven of their children grew to maturity. The Doctor is the fourth in a family of nine children. He was reared in Jefferson Township, educated at Waynesburg College, and studied medicine with Dr. Laidley, of Carmichaels. Ile took the regular course in medicine at Jefferson Medical College, at Phila- delphia, and graduated in 1872. He then entered his profession at Jefferson, where he has had a good practice since. The Doctor is a inember of the Greene County Medical Society, and was sent as delegate to the State Medical Association. He has served as the physician of the Children's Home in this county, 'and is examining physician for three life insurance companies. He was married, June 23, 1870, to Cynthia, daughter of James and Hannah Moredock. They have four children-James M., William F., Gertrude II. and Thomas P. (deceased). Mrs. Sharpnack died August 16, 1877. The Doctor is a member of the Baptist Church; in politics he is a Dem- ocrat.
STIERS SHARPNACK, farmer, Jefferson, Penn., was born on the farm where he and his family reside, July 2, 1855. His parents were Thomas E. and Catharine (Haver) Sharpnack, who were natives of Greene County, Penn., where they were married, settled and re- mained until their death. He departed this life October 2, 1876, and she November 8, 1887. They were the parents of three children -Calvin, Andrew S. and Stiers, the subject of this sketch. He was united in marriage, April 14, 1877, with Jennie Hupp, born in Mor- gan Township, March 4, 1856, a daughter of Uriah and Marinda
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HIupp (nee Cox). Mrs. Sharpnack is a consistent member of the
Disciple Church. Her father was a native of Washington County, Penn., and her mother of Greene County, where they reside in Morgan Township. Mr. and Mrs. Sharpnack have four children -- John II., Minnie L., William II. and Harry A. Mr. Sharpnack was raised on a farm and makes farming his business. Ile owns 107 acres of land in Jefferson Township.
ALVA C. SHAW, merchant and burgess of Jefferson Borough, was born in Canaan Township, Morrow County, Ohio, March 4, 1844, a son of John and Mary A. (Bell) Shaw. Their parents were of Scotch-Irish origin; they were Quakers and among the early settlers of Pennsylvania. The Shaws have usually been farmers and mer- chants. Alva's father, J. L. Shaw, was a farmer and stock-grower, born in Morrow County, Ohio, June 6, 1806. He was a son of John and Polly (Luther) Shaw, and was the oldest in a family of six children. He always met with marked success in business. In 1877 he moved from Ohio to Jefferson, Penn., and engaged in selling farm- ing implements. He died in Jefferson Borough. Of his six children, only three reached maturity. Alva is the youngest and was educated at Delaware College, and Ohio Wesleyan University. He started in life as a teacher, but was induced by his father to work on the farm till 1874 when he went to Lincoln, Nebraska, and engaged in the coal business till 1879. He then came to Jefferson and began mer- chandising. He was elected' burgess in 1887. IIe is a strong temperance man, and in politics is a Prohibitionist. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is steward, trustee and teacher in the Sabbath-school.
SYLVANUS SMITH, M. D., Jefferson, Penn., was born in Franklin Township, Greene County, November 30, 1832, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Huss) Smith, they were natives of Pennsyl- vania and of German and English origin. His father was born in Greene County, in 1796. His grandfather, Sylvanus, a native of Monmouth County, New Jersey, came to Greene County, Penn., in 1793. They were all farmers and members of the society of Friends. Dr. Smith's father died in 1879. Of his four children, the Doctor is the youngest, and was reared on the farm with his parents in Franklin and Morgan townships. He attended the district schools and studied medicine in Jefferson Borough, with Dr. W. D. Rogers. Here he commenced the practice of his chosen profession in 1862, has met with good success, and accumulated quite a competence from his practice. June 1, 1862, he married Lonisa Crayne, who is of English descent, and daughter of Miller Crayne. Dr. and Mrs. Smith's children are-John S., a physician and druggist; Sam- nel M., a law student at Waynesburg; Elizabeth, C. Harry, Albert P. and Lucinda. In politics the Doctor is a Democrat. He is a
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
, member of the I. O. O. F., and a Sir Knight Templar of the Masonic Fraternity.
REV. CHARLES W. TILTON, pastor of the East Bethlehem Baptist Church in Washington County, was born in Washington County, Penn., November 21, 1815. He is the son of Enoch and Elizabeth (Wheatley) Tilton, natives of New Jersey. They were of Scotch, English and German ancestry. ITis father was a farmer, and his family consisted of thirteen children, eleven of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. Charles W., the eighth in the family, remained on the farm with his parents until fifteen years of age, and attended the district school. His parents then moved to Beaver County, after which he entered Frankfort Academy. Early in life he taught school as a business. In 1839 he joined the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Washington County. In 1840 he came to Jeffer- son, Penn., and has lived in this vicinity ever since. In 1843 he was ordained as a minister and has been an active worker in the Baptist Church up to the present time, having held over one hundred pro- tracted meetings, resulting in the conversion of fully 2,000 persons, and baptized over 1,500 converts. For many years he has taken a deep interest in education, and labored in the interests of Mononga- hela College, having served as secretary of the board of trustees from the organization of the college, and as financial agent for sev- eral years past. He has been twice married, first to Miss Nancy Hoge, who died in 1858. Again in 1861 to Sarah Elizabeth David- son, daughter of William Davidson, of Baltimore, and Margarett (Oliver) Davidson. In his last marriage they had four children- Enoch Randolph, Charles Louis, Nannie Clare and John Hunt- three of whom are graduates of Mononghela College. The oldest son, E. R., a graduate of Crozer Theological Seminary, is pastor of a Baptist Church in Evans City, Penn. The second son, C. L., gradu- ated in the Western Reserve University of Cleveland, Ohio, and is a practicing physician in the State of Colorado. The youngest son is still at school.
F. B. WISE, druggist and postmaster, Jefferson, Penn., is a na- tive of Morgan Township, Greene County, where he was born April 24, 1846. His parents, Solomon and Hannah Wise, were natives of Pennsylvania, and of German origin. His father has been a farmer all his life, and at present is in the cattle business in the West. Frank is the oldest in a family of seven children now living, and was educated at Waynesburg College. He taught school and farmed until 1872, when he engaged in the drug business in company with Dr. Sharpnack, of Jefferson, whose interest he bought in 1879 and established his present business. In 1870 he married Miss Lizzie, daughter of H. Johns, ex-sheriff of Greene County, and of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Wise are members of the Baptist Church, in
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
,
which he is clerk and superintendent of the Sabbath-school, and clerk of the Ten-Mile Baptist Association. He is a member of the board of trustees and secretary of the executive committee of Monon- gahela College. In politics Mr. Wise is a Democrat. Ile is a member of the town council, and was appointed postmaster in 1883.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
JAMES CARPENTER, farmer and stock-grower, Nettle Hill, Penn., was born in Franklin Township, Greene County, Penn., March 5, 1838. He is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Smith) Car- penter, natives of this county, and of English and German origin. His father is a farmer and now resides in Gilmore Township. Of his family of eleven children James is the third. James was drafted in the three years' draft of 1863, paid his conscript and received his dis- charge the same year. He was reared on a farm, receiving his edu- cation in the common schools of Jackson Township. Ile makes farming and stock-growing his chief pursuit, and owns 125 acres of well improved land where he resides. Mr. Carpenter was united in marriage, December 12, 1863, with Miss Mazy, daughter of Joseph and Rachel (Shriver) Kniseley, and their children are-J. C., a teacher; Robert E. Lee and John B. Mr. Carpenter is a Democrat. Hle and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant Church.
WILLIAM GRAIIAM, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Franklin Township, this county, March 29, 1828. Ile is a son of William and Margaret (Muekel) Graham, who are of Dutch descent. The Grahams are an industrious, energetic family. Some branches of the family spell the name Grimes, but the original name was Graham. William Graham's father was a blacksmith by occupation, but also engaged in farming, spending most of his life in Greene County. His family consisted of six children, of whom William is the third. He was reared on the farm in his native township, and , attended the common school. He has made a very successful busi- ness man, devoting himself principally to farming and stock-grow- ing. He owns 318 acres of well improved land where he resides, near Holbrook, Penn. He also owns land in other parts of the county, making in all 473 acres. On November 7, 1850, Mr. Gra- ham married Charlotte, daughter of William and Sallie (Bodkin) Smith, who were of English and Dutch extraction. Mr. and Mrs.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
Graham's children are-Sarah M., wife of Thomas Henning; James F., a farmer; William S., who is in Kansas; Lydia Ann, Mary Eliza- beth, wife of John Morris; Cephas J., who is in Kansas; John A. and Spencer Milton, all farmers; and Japheth E. All the family, with one exception, are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Graham is a Democrat and a member of the Democratic County Committee.
HIARVEY ALLISON GRIMES, a farmer and stock-grower of Jackson Township, this county, was born May 9, 1857, on the farm where his father now resides. His parents, P. M. and Maria (Ridge- way) Grimes, are natives of Greene County, and of English origin. His father is a merchant and farmer, and one of the influential citi- zens of Jackson Township. Harvey A. Grimes is the fifth in a family of eight children. He was reared on a farm, attended the common schools, and early in life made choice of farming as his chief pursuit. His present farm consists of 120 acres of finely im- proved land. On January 29, 1876, Mr. Grimes was united in marriage with Martha D., daughter of George and Mary (Gump) Loar, of German origin. Her father was a minister in the Method- ist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Grimes are the parents of three children -- Ada May, Eva Maria and Luta Lena. Mr. Grimes is a Republi- can. He has served as school director in his district. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
GEORGE W. GRIMES, farmer and stock-grower, who was born in Jackson Township, this county, June 8, 1859, is a son of P. M. and Maria (Ridgeway) Grimes, natives of Greene County. The subject of this sketch is the sixth in a family of eight children. He was reared on a farm and received his education in the common schools. He made choice of farming as his occupation, and has been very successful and is the owner of 108 acres of land where he re- sides, near White Cottage, Penn. Mr. Grimes was united in mar- riage, January 10, 1880, with Miss Ella, daughter of William and Nancy (Dunson) Roberts, who are of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Grimes are the parents of three children-John II., James A. and William E. Mr. Grimes is a Republican. Ile and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Grimes belongs to one of the oldest families in the township, his ancestors having been among the earliest settlers in the county.
P. M. GRIMES, merchant and farmer, was born in Franklin Township, this county, October 16, 1823. IIe is a a son of William and Margaret (Muckle) Grimes, who were born in New Jersey, and of German descent. His father, who was a successful farmer and mechanic, died in 1877, at the age of seventy-six years. His mother died in 1865, and was sixty-six years of age. Mr. P. M. Grimes was reared on the farm and received his education in the subscription schools. IIe has resided in Jackson Township since 1846, and at
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White Cottage, Penn., since 1851. He opened a dry goods and grocery store there in 1855, and has been very successful in his busi- ness. Mr. Grimes bought 800 acres of land, and has given several hundred acres to his children. He has the reputation of being an honorable, high-minded gentleman, and has a wide circle of friends. Mr. Grimes is a Republican, and has served as justice of the peace for thirty-three years. He has been postmaster at White Cottage for many years, and is a prominent member of the I. O. O. F. and the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Grimes was united in marriage in 1841 with Maria, daughter of David and Lydia (Calahan) Ridgeway. Mrs. Grimes is of English and Irish extraction. Their children are -William, Allison, George, David, James, A. L. and Margaret, wife of William Millikin, a prominent farmer of Greene County; and Jane, wife of Perry Scott, a prominent farmer and Democrat. Mrs. Grimes is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN GROVES, farmer and stock-grower, born in Whiteley Township, this county, in 1837, is a son of Jacob and Nancy (Orn- doff) Groves, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. His father was a farmer all his life and died in Greene County, in 1868. He reared a family of twelve children, of whom John is the ninth. He was reared in Whiteley Township near Newton, Penn. Early in life he chose farming as his chief pursuit and has met with marked success. He is the owner of a good farm of one hundred and ninety acres where he resides near Holbrook, Penn. By his own exertions Mr. Groves has succeeded in making himself independent. Mr. Groves married Nancy, daughter of Robert Dunson. She died in 1886-eighteen years after their marriage. They were the parents of three children-William T., Anna Belle, and Flora Viola. Mr. Groves is a Democrat, and has served as school director in his town- ship. He belongs to the Disciple Church, of which his deceased wife was also a member.
WILLIAM HUFFMAN, farmer and stock-grower, White Cottage, Penn., was born December 27, 1850, on the farm which he now owns in Jackson Township, Greene County, Penn. He is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Stagner) Ifuffiman, who were natives of this county, and of English origin. Ilis father died in 1885 at the advanced age of eighty-three years. Of his family of nine children William is the seventh. IIe was reared on his present farm in Jackson Township, and has made farming his business through life. He has been very successful and owns two hundred and six acres of land well stocked and improved. Mr. Huffman was united in mar- riage, November 27, 1870, with Miss Jennie, daughter of Corbly and Jane (Bailey) Fordyce. Mrs. Huffinan's ancestors were among the pioneers of Greene County. They were of English origin. Mr.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
Huffman is a Democrat. His wife is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church.
N. H. JOHNSON, farmer and stock-grower, was born February 1. 1829, on the Haines farm, east of Waynesburg; he resides near White Cottage, Penn. Ile is a son of William and Hester (Haines) Johnson, who were born in Pennsylvania and were of German and English origin. His father, who was a tanner by trade, died in Greene County, May 3, 1847. Of his family of six children the subject of this sketch is the second. He was reared on the farm and received a limited education in an old-fashioned log school- house with slab seats and paper windows. He has been a successful farmer and owns a fine farm of 230 acres of land in Jackson Town- ship. Mr. Johnson was a poor boy and by industry and patient ef- fort has made himself independent. He has been thrice married. His children now living are-William Henry, who is in the West; N. J., Mary, wife of Ambler Elliot; W. S., J. S. and E. J. His first wife's name was Charlotta Coen, second Elmira Burge, and third Susannah Wagonner.
LINDSEY KEENER, farmer and stock-grower, Pine Bank, Penn., was born April 30, 1836, in Jackson Township. He is a son of Peter and Susan (Stewart) Keener. His mother was born in Maryland and his father in Pennsylvania. They were of English extraction. His father spent his life in Greene County, and was a farmer by occupation. Mr. Keener is the youngest of nine children. He was reared on the home farm, attended the common schools and chose farming as his life work. He owns a good farm of 110 acres which he has acquired by patient toil and earnest effort being a self- made man, and anxious to succeed in life. In politics Mr. Keener is a Republican, and one of the representative men of the county.
ALEXANDER KIGER, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Whiteley Township, Greene County, Penn., and is a son of John and Sarah (McLaughlin) Kiger, who were of German and Irish de- scent. His father was a farmer all his life, and died in 1872. Of his family of ten children, the subject of this sketch- is the eighth. He was reared on a farm in his native township, and attended the district school. Mr. Kiger has made a success of farming and is the owner of 173 acres of valuable land where he resides near IIol- brook, in Jackson Township. Mr. Kiger was united in marriage, March 9, 1862, with Catharine, daughter of Isaac and Phoebe (Pope) Higgins, who were of Dutch and English origin. Mr. and Mrs. Kiger's children are, Jerome B., Elizabeth, John L., Newton, Belle and Sadie. Mr. and Mrs. Kiger are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. IIe is trustee and class-leader in the church and a teacher in the Sabbath-school. In politics he is a Democrat.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
JACKSON KUGIIN, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Wayne Township, Greene County, Penn., December 22, 1828. He is a son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Huffman) Kughn, who were of German and English ancestry. His mother was born in Maryland and his father in Greene County, Penn., where he died in 1861. Jackson Kughn is the oldest of eight children. He was reared in this county and received a good English education in the common schools. He chose farming as his occupation through life and is the owner of the farm of 121 acres where he now resides near Pine Bank, Penn. On May 27, 1859, Mr. Kughn married Eliza Jane, daughter of John and Sarah (Stewart) Thomas, who were of English origin. Mr. and Mrs. Kughn's children are-John L., Abraham, William Henry, George Morgan, Rachel Ellen and Mary Alice. Mr. Kughn is a Democrat. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church.
LESTER KUGHIN, merchant and farmer, Pine Bank, Penn., was born in this county, May 12, 1841, and is a son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Huffman) Kughn. His father, who was of English and German ancestry, was born in Greene County, Penn., where he spent all his life as a farmer. The subject of our sketch is the fifth in a family of eight children. He was reared on the farm in Jackson Township, and received his education in the common schools. Early in life he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for several years, and also farmed considerably. He owns a good farm where he resides in Jackson Township. Since 1884 he has been en- gaged in the mercantile business. In 1863 Mr. Kughn married Ellen, daughter of John and Mary (King) Cole, and their children are-George, a carpenter; Mary A. and Elizabeth Jane. Mr. and Mrs. Kughn are members of the Baptist Church, in which he is a deacon and has been superintendent of the Sabbath-school. Mr. Kughn is a Democrat, and has served justice of the peace in his township.
JAMES MEEK, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Greene County, Penn., April 3, 1821. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Boyd) Meek, natives of Greene County, Penn. His father was of French descent and his mother of Scotch ancestry. His father was a farmer and died in 1877. Hle served his country in the war of 1812. His family consisted of ten children. The subject of this sketch is the oldest of the children. He was reared on the farm, and was a school teacher early in life. He has made farming his main occupation, and owns a farm of 225 acres of well improved land. Mr. Meek is a self-made man, having acquired his present posses- sions entirely through his own industry. He was united in mar- riage, October 20, 1842, with Miss Mary, daughter of Samuel and Bithiah (Sharp) Smith, who were of Scotch and Irish lineage. Mrs.
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