USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 83
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88
The doctor compelled the enforcement of the law auditing the accounts of prothon- otaries, registers, etc., which brought in an increased revenue to the State of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. He was the author of numerous measures that fell for want of time, notably one to classify the insane and insane criminals. The object of this bill was to separate the criminal from the ordinary insane. All insane managers throughout the State praised and endorsed this bill. He introduced several amendments to the Constitution, one of which was to extend the term, fix the salary, and lessen the num- ber of legislators. He introduced and came within two votes of carrying through the Senate the resolution to prohibit the manufacture and sale of liquors as a beverage in this commonwealth. He had Jefferson county made into a separate judicial dis- trict, but the governor vetoed the general bill. One of his favorite measures which failed for want of time was to enlarge the jurisdiction of justices of the peace, which would have saved Jefferson county every year thousands of dollars. He assisted and hurried through the Senate the bill authorizing counties and municipalities to refund their bonds at a lower rate of interest, which has saved Brookville borough and Jeffer- son county many dollars.
In 1884 Dr. McKnight was presented by Jefferson county to the district for a second term. G. W. Hood, esq., carried Indiana county. It was hoped and expected by Mc- Knight and his friends, that Mr. Hood would at this time cheerfully acknowledge to Dr. McKnight the established usage by the party of a second term. Mr. Hood had no.
715
W. J. MCKNIGHT, M. D.
elements in him to equal such an occasion. It was "Indiana's turn." Conferences were held without results, and a final disagreement and adjournment was made in Indiana October 1. On October 3, a caucus of Hood's friends was held in his law office, and a pledge written by them referring the dispute to the State Central Commit- tee, and requesting speedy action of the committee. Dr. McKnight was sent for and asked to sign this pledge, which he did. After he signed Mr. Hood signed also, and this pledge Mr. Hood, or his friends, mailed to the State Central Committee. The " pledge," as signed, will be found in Hon. Jno. E. Reyburn's report as umpire. The umpire appointed by the committee and the umpire accepted by Mr. Hood and his friends, and who agreed to abide by any decision he would make. The following is his report :
PHILADELPHIA, PA., Oct. 10, 1884.
Hon. Thomas V. Cooper, Chairman State Committee :
DEAR SIR :- In accordance with your letter of appointment (bearing date, Oct. 4th, 1884), with full power to adjust or settle a controversy in the 37th Senatorial district, composed of the counties of Indiana and Jefferson, I proceeded to the borough of In- diana, arriving there on the 6th inst., and immediately entered upon the performance of the duty imposed.
Upon my arrival I was met by Mr. G. W. Hood, the contestant from the county of Indiana, who with great courtesy and entire absence of any bias in the matter, placed me in communication with large numbers of the Republican citizens of Indiana, with whom, during the afternoon and evening of the 6th, I had full opportunity to acquaint myself with not only the claims of the friends of Mr. Hood, but with the needs of the district generally. On the morning of the 7th, the Hon. W. J. McKnight, contestant from the county of Jefferson, arrived with the three conferees from that county and pre- sented the claims of that gentleman and of their county with vigor and earnestness. The first question that arose was in what way the matter in dispute could be acted upon in a formal and satisfactory manner. The suggestion was made that a meeting of the conferees be held, and I as the presiding officer, and after a full and complete discussion, a ballot taken, whereupon if a tie should again appear, I should cast the deciding vote. I stated to both the contestants that I held other views as to the manner of procedure, but if this was thought to be the better and more satisfactory, I would yield and take part in the conference. After consultation they agreed, and I P. M. of that day. Tuesday, 7th inst .. was fixed, and promptly at that hour the conference convened, the proceedings of which are best told by the minutes which are hereby inserted :
INDIANA, PA., Oct. 7, 1884.
The Senatorial conferees in the 37th Senatorial district meet and there is present on behalf of Jefferson county Messrs. W. H. Gray, James A. Cathers and S. W. Temple, and on behalf of Indiana county, Hon. A. W. Kimmel, J. W. Books, esq., and E. H. Moorhead, esq., and upon the coming of the conference to order the Hon. John E. Reyburn, of Philadelphia president pro tem. of the Senate of Pennsylvania, laid upon the table a letter submitting the controversy to the decision of the State Committee, and signed by W. J. McKnight and G. W. Hood, and in the words and figures following :
INDIANA, PA., Oct. 3, 1884.
To the Republican State Committee :
GENTLEMEN :- The undersigned candidates for State Senate in the 37th Senatorial district beg leave to inform you, that after repeated meetings our conferees have
716
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
adjourned sine die, without a nomination. If we both continue to be candidates, the probabilities are that a Democrat will represent this district in the State Senate during the next. four years. This we do not desire, and as our conferees failed to settle the matter between us, we hereby submit the whole case to the consideration of your body, and agree to abide by any decision of the matter the committee may make.
We ask for speedy consideration of the subject. W. J. MCKNIGHT. GEO. W. HOOD.
The Hon. Mr. Reyburn also laid upon the table a letter from Hon. Thos. V. Cooper, the chairman of the State Committee, to him, empowering him to act as the representa- tive of the State Committee which letter was in these words :
HEADQUARTERS STATE COM., 1 PHILA., Oct. 4th, 1884. 1
Hon. Fohn E. Reyburn, Member of the Republican State Committee, 5th Senatorial District :
DEAR SIR :- The candidates of Indiana and Jefferson counties. for the Republican nomination for State Senator, whose respective conferees failed to agree and adjourned sine die, have in writing submitted the whole case to consideration of the State Commit- tee, agreeing over their own signatures to abide by any decision of the matter which the committee may make. You are hereby appointed as the representative of the State Committee with full power to adjust or settle the controversy, and your decision in the matter shall be final. The Republicans of both counties ask for immediate action, and you are requested to enter at once upon this commission.
Very truly yours, THOS. V. COOPER, Chairman.
And thereupon, upon the reading of the said letter of submission, and letter of authorization, the said Hon. John E. Reyburn, of Philadelphia, took his seat as a mem- ber of the Senatorial Conference of the 37th Senatorial District. Upon motion of John W. Books, esq., the said Hon. J. E. Reyburn was unanimously chosen as chairman of the conference, and upon motion E. H. Moorhead, esq , of Indiana, was chosen secre- tary. Upon motion the conference proceeded to the nomination of a senator. and thereupon Indiana county presented the name of George W. Hood, esq., and Jefferson county presented the name of Hon. W. J. McKnight. Remarks were made on behalf of Mr. Hood by Hon. A. W. Kimmel, John W. Books, esq., and E. H. Moorhead. esq., and on behalf of Dr. McKnight by Messrs. Cathers, Gray and Temple. E. H. Moor- head moved that the conference adjourn to 7:30 P. M., but at the suggestion of Mr. Books the motion was withdrawn.
Mr. Moorehead suggested that the conference adjourn until 8 o'clock P. M., but the suggestion being opposed by the conferees from Jefferson county, no motion to that effect was made.
Upon motion, it was agreed to, that the conference proceed to a ballot for senator, and upon the roll being called, W. H. Gray voted Senator McKnight, J. A. Cathers voted Senator McKnight and Samuel W. Temple voted Senator McKnight. Hon. A. W. Kimmel voted George W. Hood, John W. Books voted George W. Hood, and E. H. Moorehead voted George W. Hood. and Hon. J. E. Reyburn voted Senator McKnight, and upon the announcement of the vote by the secretary. the chairman announced that Senator McKnight was the nominee of the conference. E. H. Moorhead thereupon moved that the nomination be made unanimous. and after the motion was put, the chairman declared that the nomination was made unanimously.
717
W. J. MCKNIGHT, M. D.
The chairman then proceeded to state at length the reasons that impelled him to cast his vote in favor of Senator McKnight. On motion of E. H. Moorhead a vote of thanks was tendered to the Hon. J. E. Reyburn for his labor in settling and compos- ing the conference in the 37th Senatorial District.
On motion, the conference adjourned sine die.
JOHN E. REYBURN, President.
E. H. MOORHEAD, Secretary.
It only remains for me to refer to a few of the reasons urged in behalf of the two counties comprising the district, and which influenced my conclusion. On behalf of Indiana it was urged
First, That when Mr. Hood yielded four years ago, she should have the next term without opposition on the part of Jefferson county ;
Second, That she, by reason of her strong Republican majority, was entitled to it by right ;
Third, That the nomination for Congress had been given to Jefferson, therefore In- diana should have the senator.
These reasons were given in many forms and in great variety, but there was a con- stant reiteration of the same. To this Jefferson denied that such a promise was made either by Hon. W. J. McKnight, or any one authorized to speak for her ; to the second and third propositions, that the political history of the two counties showed that she had always given way to Indiana county, and that that county had been represented both in the councils of the Nation and State far more than was just or demanded by reason of her greater number of Republican votes.
Thus I found the obstacles to peace and harmony were those of locality, confined entirely within certain imaginary lines, and likely to occur every time there was a con- test, leaving ill feeling and resentment to be carried into the most trivial affairs.
This has been the case for a number of years, and knowing the anxiety of the com- mittee to arrive at some result which would look towards the prevention of these con- tentions, I therefore sought for a solution of this and at the same time an action which would give the district an assurance of a representation in some degree commensurate with the high character and intelligence of its people.
At one of the meetings of the conferees, Jefferson had offered a resolution to settle the controversy upon the basis of two terms for her and three for Indiana, or Jefferson eight years and then Indiana twelve in succession, thus acknowledging the claims of Indiana because of her superior numbers.
As to the fitness of the two contestants I found Mr. Hood a man of high character and attainments, fully qualified to do honor both to the district and to himself.
I also found the Hon. W. J. McKnight to be of like high character, and I listened attentively for any expression of dislike or objection to his past course in the Senate, and failed to hear even an intimation of that kind.
Finding the men in their personal characters so nearly equal, and the question one of locality, determined to set both the men and claims of locality to one side and endeavor to decide the question for what seemed to be the best interests of our party and the good of the district. The interests of the party were, to my mind, to be better served by deciding in favor of Jefferson, upon the basis proposed by her conferees, and I think all fair minded men will agree, that where a district is represented by a man of good character, whose course upon all the questions coming before the highest repre- 87
718
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
sentative body of a great State like ours, and whose action upon these questions fails to bring forth a fault-finder, that district is best served by at least two terms, and I might be warranted in going beyond even the fixing of any limit, and so after weighing all the facts. considering all the interests with a deep sense of the grave responsibility of my position, I thought best for these reasons, to cast my vote in favor of the Hon. W. J. McKnight, the present senator, and the contestant from Jefferson.
Yours respectfully. JOHN E. REYBURN.
After the nomination was regularly and unanimously made on the 7th day of Octo- ber, A. D. 1884, Dr. McKnight received the following communication :
" INDIANA, Pa .. October 15, 1884.
DR. W. J. MCKNIGHT. DEAR SIR .- Inasmuch as the day of election is almost here, and in view of the action of the Republican county committee of this county to-day, and with an earnest desire for the success and harmony of the party in this Senatorial District, I desire to make you a proposition, which, I think, if adopted will solve the vexed problem. It is this : withdraw our letter to the State committee ; let the Senato- rial conference be reconvened, and permit that body to select a seventh man from an adjoining county, and to this tribunal we submit which of us shall be the candidate of the Republicans of the district. In this manner we will gain time, which is now a mat- ter of grave necessity. If this proposition meets your approbation, I feel sure that it will be for the best interests of the party. As this letter will be handed you to-morrow, may I hope for an answer not later than Friday, October 17. Awaiting a reply, and express- ing the wish for the success of our party in this district. I am
Very respectfully, GEORGE W. HOOD.
Reply of Dr. McKnight :
INDIANA, Pa., October 16, 1884.
G. W. Hood, Esq. MY DEAR SIR .- Your letter of October 15 received, and con- tents noted. As I am now the regular nominee of the Republican party of this district for State senator, I am not at liberty to participate in any future conferences on that subject. My duty is now to work for the success of the whole ticket. For your infor- mation as to the regularity of my nomination, I enclose you a paper marked " A," which fully explains your and my final action on that subject.
Very respectfully, W. J. MCKNIGHT.
Dr. McKnight, after the report of Senator Reyburn had been received, addressed himself to the work of the campaign. Mr. Hood, on the other hand, unwilling to have his senatorial aspirations checked in any way, determined to run as an independent can- didate, relying on the large vote of Indiana to carry him through. In this he was suc- cessful. W. P. Hastings, the Democratic candidate, believing that his election was certain with two Republican candidates in the field, made but little effort, and Mr. Hood was elected by a plurality of twenty-three votes. The large Republican vote for Mr. Hood in Jefferson county was cast by the rank and file of the party to prevent the elec- tion of a Democratic senator-a result especially undesirable in view of the fact that two United States Senators would be voted for by a senator chosen at this election.
Time has thus far laid his hand lightly on Dr. McKnight. As a physician he has. been eminently successful, and as a business man energetic and useful.
719
HENRY BROWN.
B
DROWN, HENRY, was the sixth of a family of nine children born to James and Sarah Brown. His earliest recollections are of Westmoreland county, where he was born on the 21st of May, 1821. His father was born in Eastern Pennsylvania, and died in 1864, at the age of seventy-seven years. His mother died, aged fifty-five years, when Henry was a little child. As for schooling Henry had but little, as he only at- tended school when there was no work to be performed. The family removed to the present site of Apollo, Armstrong county, in 1831, and he remained with them until 1848, when he came to Bell township, Jefferson county, to haul timber, and since that time his connection with the lumber interest has never ceased.
He was married in 1852 to Miss Catharine Fisher, a daughter of Frederick Fisher, of Pittsburg.
In 1854 he purchased an old water mill on the Big Mahoning Creek in Bell town- ship, and leveled it to the ground, and on the site erected a large gang mill, with a ca- pacity for 60,000 feet per day. This mill was too large for the transportation facilities offered, and he was obliged to abandon it, and near it he constructed a circular saw- mill whose products were much less, but more proportionate to the shipping facilities. Besides these mills he has a large square timber business on the Red Bank as well as on the Mahoning. In the latter he has often driven 200,000 feet, and in boards the amount has averaged from 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 feet per annum. In his busiest times he has employed two hundred men and sixty teams. He has also been engaged in farming since he was able to wield a hoe, and now manages seven farms containing 1,500 acres, besides 2,500 acres of timber land. November 15, 1884, his saw-mill, machinery and a large amount of lumber was destroyed by fire, and he suffered a loss of about $11,000, having no insurance. In 1885 he built a large mill with a capacity for 40,000 feet per day, and at an expense of $10,500, and is one of the best in the county. He owns 2,300 acres of land which is underlaid with two or three veins of coal, and for which he has refused $90 per acre. He also owns 650 acres of timber and mineral land in Tennessee, which is underlaid with coal and iron ores and limestone as follows : one vein coal, twenty-two feet thick ; one eight feet thick, and one vein of limestone fifty feet thick, and one vein iron ore about eight feet thick is covered over with valuable timber land.
BRIEF PERSONALS.
Aljo, William G., Warsaw, Richardsville p. o., was born in Porter township, Clarion county, on September 14, 1836. He is a farmer and owns 100 acres. He enlisted in Co. K rIth Pa. R. C. Vols., in May, 1861, and served until January, 1863. When he enlisted he weighed 202 pounds, but while in the service had a sun stroke which affected his spine, and he is now seven inches shorter and only weighs 135 pounds. He now draws a pension of $30 per month. His parents were George and Rebecca (Dayres) Aljo. He was married on July 23, 1864, to Rachel A. Steward. They have had three children- Almira M., George M .. and James S. Rachel was a daughter of Matthew and Nancy (Dennison) Steward, of Clarion county.
Allen, J. G., Warsaw, Allen's Mills p. o., of Warsaw was born in Washington town- ship, Jefferson county, on November 30, 1840. He is a farmer and proprietor of the grist and saw-mill, and owner of 300 acres of land. Ile has been postmaster for six years. He enlisted in Co. B, 71st Pa. Battalion in 1862, and was discharged at the expiration of his term of service in 1863. He re-enlisted in 1864 in Co. K, 199th Pa. Vols., and served to the close of the war, being commissary sergeant of the 199th. He was a son of Dillas and Jane A. (Brown) Allen. Mr. Allen was born in Vermont and came here about 1830. J. G. Allen was married on June 24, 1869, to Margaret J. Morrison. They have had one child, Dillis S. Margaret J. was a daughter of John and Fannie (McConnell) Morrison.
Atwell, Jesse N., Snyder, Sugar Hill p. o., was born in Jefferson county on January 29, 1839 ; is now engaged in farming and manufacturing lumber by steam, and now owns 315 acres. He served in the State militia, and was serving at the time Lee invaded Pennsylvania, and also at the capture of General John Morgan in Ohio. He enlisted in Co. H, 105th Pa. Vols. in March, 1864, and served to the close of the war. He is now a justice of the peace. His parents were John and Mary (Dunlap) Atwell. He was married on July 31, 1862, to Mary A. Penfield, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Johnson) Penfield. natives of Manchester, England. They have had nine children- Mary J. (died in 1865), James W., John T., Artie E. (died in 1884), William E. (died in 1886), Joseph A., Bertie T., Jesse N., Jr., and Laura R.
Atwell, sr., John, Snyder, Sugar Hill p. o., was born in Westmoreland county on Blacklick Creek, February 12, 1798, and was married May 3, 1821, to Mary Jane Dun- lap. They settled in Butler county where they resided until the fall of 1835, when he came to Jefferson county and bought 200 acres of land near Rockdale, Washington township. In the winter of 1836 he moved his family on sleighs and crossed the Alle- gheny River on the ice, and lived there until 1854 at which time he moved to where John Atwell, Jr., now resides in Snyder township. Eight children were born in Butler county and two after his removal to Jefferson county. All are now dead with the excep- tion of John and Jesse Nelson, who live in Snyder township. John, sr., died on Sep- tember 22, 1856, and his wife in 1880 in the eighty-first year of her age. John Atwell, jr., was born in Butler county December 30, 1833, and was married on July 4, 1867, to Susan W. Whitby, of Indiana county, and a daughter of Robert and Sarah (Lucas)
721
BRIEF PERSONALS.
Whitby. Mr. Whitby is still living and now resides in Cass county, Missouri, at the age of eighty-two years. To John and Susan were born three children-Jesse W., May E., and Hattie J. John Atwell is a farmer and stock raiser and owns 429 acres of land and has a fine residence three miles west of Brockwayville at the headwaters of Mill Creek, one of the tributaries of the Red Bank. Brookville, the county seat at the time Father Atwell settled in Jefferson county had but one store and one hotel. Most of the site of the town was then covered with pine trees. The only store then in the town was kept by John Dougherty and the hotel by a Mr. Pierce.
Bell, Squire John T., Punxsutawney, a representative citizen of Punxsutawney, was born in Armstrong county on July 2, 1827, and was a son of James H. and Anna (Mc- Conaghie) Bell. James H. was born in New York State in 1800, and was of Irish par- entage, and his wife Ann was born in Mifflin county and was of Scotch parentage. They were married in 1826 and had a family of thirteen children, four of whom died at an early age, and nine of whom are now living-Captain John T., William E., Margaret, Nancy J., Annie, Sarah, Hattie, Evaline, and Elizabeth R. James H. died on Sep- tember 15, 1877. His wife Anna died on March 12, 1865. Three sisters now reside on the old homestead at Bell's Mills. John T. enlisted in Co. 1, 62d Regiment, in 1861, and served for three years, and by the special act re-enlisted on June 23, 1863, and re- ceiving extra bounty he served to the close of the war, but was wounded at Gaines Mills, was taken prisoner and confined in Libby prison with six hundred sick and wounded prisoners, was taken north to Bellevue hospital with three hundred of the suf- ferers. He was promoted to captain and now receives a pension. He married Mary E. Miller. They had a family of nine children, seven of whom are now living-Will- iam O., Myrtle, Nettie A., Charles, Annie, Walter, and Paul. Evaline died in 1881. Margaret, Sarah, and Hattie now reside on the old homestead farm of 150 acres.
Bell, William E., Bell's Mills, was born in Apollo, Armstrong county, Pa., on Jan- uary 27, 1829, and was moved to Jefferson county when between two and three years old, to the place where he now resides. He was married on the 19th of January, 1858, to Hannah M. Barclay, to whom ten children were born, six are living-Kate, A. M., Nancy J .. John R., James I .. and Fannie C. Kate and Anna M .. have taught school for several terms. Kate married D. F. A. Hall, and resides in Kansas. Mr. Bell in early life was raised to lumbering and farming, manufacturing lumber, and has also been en- gaged in milling business. He held the office of justice of the peace for ten years, also held the office of postmaster at Bell's Mills, Jefferson county, for a number of years. He was the second son of the Hon. Jas. H. and Anna (McConeghey) Bell.
Best, Frank P., Winslow, Reynoldsville p. o., is a farmer, and was born in Winslow township on November 21, 1852. He was a son of William and Francis (Moore) Best. His father was a native of Westmoreland county, and settled in Winslow township about 1837, and cleared and improved the farm now owned by Frank P., where they lived and died. They had five children- Frank P., Margaret N., Eliza, Florence, and Alex- ander. His paternal grandfather was William Best, pioneer of McCalmont township. Frank P. Best now occupies the old homestead. Here he was born and reared. He married Jennie McConnell, and has had two children - William R. and Hattie D. His wife, Jennie, was a daughter of Joseph and Ellen (Smith) McConnell, of Washington township, this county.
Billmeyer, Allen E., Big Run, was born in Montour county, Pennsylvania, in 1863, and was a son of Martin and Mary (Kramn) Billmeyer, who were residents of Lehigh county. Martin died in 1868, leaving a widow and eight children. Allen E. was a graduate from the Eastman College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. After his graduation he became a bookkeeper for the Big Run Lumber Manufacturing Company. He was mar- ried in 1883 to Estell Martin, of Milton, Pa. They have had one son - Llewelyn.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.