USA > Pennsylvania > Lycoming County > History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania > Part 121
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ELLIS NUNN, farmer, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Thomas and Barbara (Gortner) Nunn, mentioned elsewhere in this work. He was educated in the common schools, and has devoted his time exclusively to farming. He was married, September 20, 1883, to Aldica Glidwell, and to this union, have been born two children, Ernest and Edna. Mr. Nunn and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Picture Rocks.
ROBERT TAYLOR was born April 28, 1778, in Ireland, son of Frederick Taylor, who immigrated from Ireland to America in 1783, and located on a farm in North- umberland county, Pennsylvania. He was twice married; by his first wife he had one child, Robert, and by his second wife, whose maiden name was Gailey, he had seven children. In 1802, Robert, the only child by his first marriage, located in what is now Sullivan county, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in farming. In 1831 he built a saw and grist mill, and in 1832 he constructed a still-house, oper- ating them in connection with his farm. He married Elizabeth Mahew, and to them were born eight sons and four daughters: Frederick, deceased; Robert; Rich- ard M., deceased; James, deceased; William, deceased; John, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased; Catherine, deceased; George Washington; Matthew, deceased; Mary A., deceased, and Jane. Robert Taylor died, March 17, 1838, and his widow died, February 6, 1878, in the ninety-fifth year of her age.
G. W. TAYLOR, merchant and farmer, was born in Sullivau county, Pennsylvania, July 21, 1817, son of Robert and Elizabeth (Mahew) Taylor. He received a com- mon school education, and began business for himself on a farm. In 1848 he built a saw mill, and manufactured lumber until 1886. He erected his business room in 1865 at Tivoli, where he has done a general mercantile business ever since. In 1848 he commenced to build the little hamlet of Tivoli, now containing twenty houses, sixteen of which were built by himself. February 28, 1839, he was married to Miss Mary A. Craft, and to them have been born ten children: Norman, deceased; Oliver W .; Maynard, deceased; Jurushia, who married Francis Hall; C. Lloyd; H. Wilson; Amanda, who married J. W. Fiester; Margaret E., deceased; M. Tivoli, and Thomas W. Mr. Taylor has always taken an active interest in the Democratic party, and in 1864 he was elected to the State legislature. In 1841, when at the age of
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twenty-four years, he was appointed a justice of the peace, and is now serving his eighth term. He is a member of the Masonic order, and in his religious views he is liberal.
PETER CORSON migrated from New Jersey to Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, in 1794, and located on a farm, now the present site of Hughesville. He was the father of five sons and four daughters, all of whom grew to maturity and reared families: Elizabeth, who married George Fague; Abraham, who married Jemima Morris; Isaac, who married Sarah Shipman; Jane, who married Henry Buck; Jacob; John, who married Elizabeth Bnck; Ann, who married Fred Taylor; Mary, who married David Woodly, and after his death, Jesse Blaker, and Peter, who married Margaret Mc- Carty.
JACOB CORSON, son of Peter Corson, was born in New Jersey in 1782. He mar- ried Elizabeth Fiester, and to them were born fifteen children: Two who died when young; Charles, deceased, who married Mary Britton; Mary, deceased, who married William Taylor; George, deceased, who married Susan Jones; Peter, who married Hannah Dugan; Ann, deceased, who married Aaron Whittaker; John, deceased, who married Jane Mary Borrows; Susan A., who married George Myers; Isaac, deceased, who married Josephine Wilson; Eliza, who married H. R. Merhling; Jacob F., who married Emma Neece; Maria, who married Thomas Howlett, deceased; Caroline, who married Alfred H. Hill, and Daniel, who married Sarah Neece. Jacob Corson died, December 23, 1842, and his widow December 19, 1861.
JACOB F. CORSON, farmer, was born on the farm where he now resides, in Shrews- bury township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, April 4, 1830, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Fiester) Corson. He received a common school education, and has fol- lowed farming all his life. The farm upon which he now resides was purchased by his grandfather in 1798; his father, Jacob Corsou, resided thereon and owned an adjoining tract of 400 acres, in connection with which he operated a saw mill. After his father's death our subject took charge of the mill and timber tract, and conducted the business until his mother's death. On the 18th of May, 1859, he married Emma Neece, daughter of John Neece, and to them have been born five children: Clara B., who married Dr. Essick; Thomas, who married Iola Taylor; . William, who married Sarah Eddy; Joseph, and Flora. Mr. Corson is one of the leading Democrats of his township, in which he has served in many offices of trust, and with his family takes an active interest in the Methodist Episcopal church.
BARTHOLOMEW PARSONS, a Revolutionary soldier and a shoemaker by occupation, migrated from Connecticut to Massachusetts. His son, Aaron R. Parsons was quartermaster in the war of 1812, and married Sarah C. Clark, who bore him nine children: Henry C .; John R., deceased; Eliza J., deceased; Franklin; Amanda M .; O. F .; Mary E., deceased; Sarah A., and William O., deceased. Aaron R. Parsons died, December 5. 1861, and his wife died, March 17, 1871.
O. F. PARSONS, farmer, was born in Massachusetts, April 10, 1822, son of Aaron R. and Sarah C. (Clark) Parsons. He received no education, except that obtained after work hours, often pursuing his studies into the " wee small" hours of morning, and is thus virtually self-taught. He has devoted his time principally to farming. He enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Forty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, and after seeing service for about one year was discharged on account of sickness. On
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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.
March 30, 1862, he was married to C. Francilla Heath, and to them were born six children: George A .; Maude L., who married Jacob A. Casselberry; John W .; Elbert O .; William H., and Abigail G., deceased. Mr. Parsons is a member of J. R. Bryan Post, No. 503, G. A. R., and also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM PEDDIGREE was pressed into the British service, and transported to America to take part in the Revolutionary war. Soon after he was landed at New York, provisions being scarce, he was sent out by the British army on a foraging expedition. This gave him an excellent opportunity to disguise himself and escape, which he accordingly did by having his long hair cut off, and by swimming the Hudson river and joining the American army, then in New Jersey, and at the close of the war he located in Lancaster county. He was with the militia from that county, which marched to Northumberland at the time of the Whiskey Insurrection. He was the father of seven children: William; John; Peter; Moses M .; Abbie; Polly, and Clara, all of whom are deceased. William Peddigree died in 1839.
MOSES M. PEDDIGREE, son of William Peddigree, was a farmer, born in Lancas- ter county, Pennsylvania, and was married to Elizabeth Clinger, a native of York county, Pennsylvania, and to them were born six children: William; Peter, deceased; Morris; James; Rachel, and Catherine. In 1836 he removed with his family to Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and located on Pine creek, where he died in June, 1839, followed by his widow in January, 1879.
W. H. PEDDIGREE, farmer, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, June 19, 1827, son of Moses and Elizabeth (Clinger) Peddigree. He received a common school education, and after learning the carpenter's trade followed boat-building for seven years; was car-repairer and inspector for twenty years, and then settled upon the farm where he now resides. June 19, 1851, he was married to Margaret B. Newman, and to them were born six children: Maurice, deceased; Mary; Anna; Joseph, deceased; James, deceased, and Albert, deceased.
PETER FRANTZ, accompanied by his brother John, came to Lycoming county about 1800, from Monroe county, Pennsylvania. Their father, William Frantz, a Swiss emigrant, had settled many years before in Lancaster county, married Mary Gower, and afterwards lived in Monroe county. Peter purchased a tract of 200 acres, upon which his grandson, Daniel G. Frantz, now resides; he subsequently secured a second tract of 200 acres, upon which his great-grandsons, Allen J. and Ellis L., sons of Daniel G., now live. He lost his life by drowning. He married Elizabeth Beaver, and they were the parents of three sons and five daughters; Jacob, the youngest son, was born where his sou, Daniel G., now resides. He mar- ried Elizabeth Good, and they are the parents of five living children: Peter; Dan- iel G .; Amanda; Henry, and William B.
DANIEL G. FRANTZ was born May 30, 1843, son of Jacob and Elizabeth Frantz. He learned the trade of blacksmith, but relinquished that calling in 1864 to enter the United States service as carpenter. Six months later he returned and engaged in farming on the homestead, subsequently embarking in the lumber business. At present he is one of the most extensive farmers of this section and operates a steam saw mill in connection with his agricultural interests. He is one of the Democratic leaders of this part of the county, and has filled the office of school director twenty years. He is a member of Penn Alliance. He was married September 23, 1863,
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to Harriet, daughter of Philip and Sarah (Shipman) Smith, of Moreland township, and to them seven children have been born: Howard M., deceased; Allen J .; Ellis L .; Amanda L., who married George Wesley Drick; Sarah E., deceased; Harry Ralston, deceased, and Jennie.
JOHN FRANTZ married Savilla Fague, by whom he had born to him eight children: Mary Elizabeth, deceased; Peter Milton; Sarah Ann, who married Francis Smith; David Thomas; Susannah Catherine, who married Elias Sahm; Hannah Rosetta, deceased; George Washington, and Martha Jane, who married George Nerfer. Mr. Frantz was a farmer, and died in February, 1878; his wife, whose maiden name was Savilla Fague, died September 27, 1862.
PETER MILTON FRANTZ, farmer, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, November 20. 1837, son of John and Savilla (Fague) Frantz. He received a com- mon school education, and has always followed farming. He was married in 1862, to Miss Mary Flick, and to this union were born nine children: Charles Mcclellan, who married Etta Houseknecht; Bradia M., deceased; Elsworth, deceased; Clara Ada; Harvey Ernest; Stella May; Bruce Clyde, and two who died in infancy. Mr. Frantz is a descendant of one of the pioneers of Muncy valley, where the Frantz family settled early in the century.
JOHN BARTO and three brothers were traders, and concealed themselves for some time to prevent being forced into the British army during the Revolutionary strug- gle for American .independence; they finally succeeded in escaping to America, where they separated, John locating in Berks county, Pennsylvania, where he married Elizabeth Beeber and reared a family of seven children: Abraham; David; Daniel; Christiana, who married a Mr. Gray; Mary, who married George Cleese; Hannah, who married a Mr. Hamilton; and Catherine, who married Sam Hoff. John Barto died in 1834, followed by his wife two years later, both in the faith of the Presby- terian church.
DANIEL BARTO, a farmer by occupation, son of John Barto, removed from Berks county, Pennsylvania, to Lycoming county, and located on a farm in what is now Penn township. He married Catherine Sellers, and was the father of six children: George, deceased; Sarah, who is the widow of Abraham Day, deceased; Samuel, deceased; John G .; Anna, who married William Farney, and Mary, who is the widow of Richard Bartlow. Daniel Barto died February 10, 1867, and his wife died July 24, 1888, aged ninety-six years; they were both members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Barto always took an active interest in politics; in the early part of his life he was a Democrat, but at the organization of the Whig party, he joined its ranks, and naturally drifted into the Republican party.
JOHN G. BARTO, farmer, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, October 17, 1827, son of Daniel and Catherine (Sellers) Barto. He received a common school education, and began his business life at farming, which he has followed all of his life with the exception of a few years which were devoted to lumbering. April 5, 1849, he was married to Miss Savilla Baker, daughter of Samuel Baker. She was born, November 11, 1828, and to her union with Mr. Barto have been born eleven children: Emma, who was born in 1851 and died December 27, 1890; Sarah, who was born in 1853 and died February 1, 1887; Samuel, born in 1855, who married Catherine Kepner; Francis L., who was born in 1858, and died June 5, 1884, in
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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.
Texas; Clinton W., born in 1860, a merchant at Washington, Iowa, married to Miss Emma Wright; John H., born in 1862; Lloyd M., born in 1865; Cora A., who was born October 31, 1867, and died January 20, 1882; Carrie, who was born May 15, 1870, and died in 1882; Maggie, who was born in July, 1872, and Harry J., born in 1875. Mr. Barto and wife belong to the Mt. Zion Lutheran church; for the last thirty-eight years he has been agent for the West Branch Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and is one of the stockholders of the paint works at Rupert, Pennsylvania. In politics he is a Republican, and filled the office of school director for nine years. He is a member of Penn Alliance, No. 202.
ISAAC KEPNER was a blacksmith by trade, which occupation he followed in con- nection with farming. He was married to Mary Miller, and to them were born five children: Benjamin; Emanuel, deceased; Moses, deceased; Valentine, and William. Isaac Kepner helped to build all the churches in the section of the county where he resided; with his wife he belonged to the Lutheran church, and died November 4, 1863, followed by her in February, 1864. His grandfather emigrated from Germany to America about the year 1750, and is buried in the graveyard of Immanuel's church, Muncy Creek township. The father of Isaac Kepner was Barnett Kepner, who enlisted as a private in the Revolutionary war, served over seven years, a part of the time under General Washington, and filled all the army offices from private to quartermaster. He was married three times; by his first wife he had two children; by his second wife he had three children, and by his third wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Kettery, he had sixteen children. He died in 1820, and was buried in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania; his widow died in 1844.
VALENTINE KEPNER, farmer, was born in Penn township, Lycoming county, Penn- sylvania, October 25, 1828, son of Isaac and Mary (Miller) Kepner. He received a common school education and has always followed farming and lumbering; he now operates a saw mill, and also conducts a farm of 200 acres. He was married, March 13, 1851, to Miss Catherine Flick, and to this union have been born eight children: Isaac M., deceased; Mary L .; Amanda T., deceased; Edward W .; Jane; Anna; David M., deceased, and Mary, who married Peter Neufer. Mr. Kepner is a director in the Moreland Fire Insurance Company. In politics he is a Republi- can with independent proclivities, and has filled several township offices. He and wife are members of the Evangelical church.
JOHN P. DERR, a cooper by trade, came to Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, at an early day. He was the father of ten children: Sallie, deceased; Peter, deceased; Daniel, deceased; Catharine; Jane; Andrew, deceased; John; Martha, deceased; Lavina, deceased, and Charles W. Peter Derr, a cooper by trade, son of John P. Derr, was married to Elizabeth Fague, by whom he had born to him twelve children, six of whom grew to maturity: Martha J., who married Elias Reese; Amanda, who married Milton McCarty; John E. ; Sarah E., who married David Bartlow; Lewis S., and Hiram, deceased.
JOHN E. DERR, farmer, was born in Penn township, Lycoming county, Pennsyl- vania, November 23, 1850, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Fagne) Derr. He received a common school education, and has been a farmer during his entire business life. He was married in 1875 to Miss M. Sophia Kepner, and to this union were born two
John Kahler
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children: Brady M. and Gertie A. Mrs. Derr died, September 19, 1883, and he was again married, to Selecta M., daughter of Charles Poust, and with her belongs to the Lutheran church.
CHRISTOPHER F. FRY came from Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, to Lycoming county in 1819, and took up a tract of 400 acres. He was the father of three chil- dren: Daniel; Abigail, and Mary, all deceased. He died in June, 1836, followed by his widow, September 22, 1842. Daniel Fry, eldest son of Christopher F. Fry, was born July 9, 1797, and married Anna Raver, born August 4, 1804, and to this union were born twelve children: Barnabas, deceased; William, deceased; Daniel; John; Charles; an infant, deceased; Savilla; Christian; Caroline, deceased; Sophia, deceased; Susan, and George W. Mr. Fry was a Democrat in politics, and with his wife belonged to the Lutheran church. His death occurred May 16, 1875, and that of his widow in February, 1879.
GEORGE W. FRY, farmer, was born on the farm where he now resides in Penn township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, November 22, 1842, son of Daniel and Anna (Raver) Fry. He received a common school education and has devoted his life to farming. He was married, May 21, 1865, to Hannah E. Flick, and to this union have been born two children: Stephen M., and William E., deceased. Mr. Fry served several years as anditor for his township, and takes an active interest in the Democratic party. His wife died August 9, 1889, in the faith of the Lutheran church, of which organization he is a member.
JOSEPH HILL, a native of the southern part of Pennsylvania, located in Northum- . berland county, Pennsylvania, when the Indians were quite numerous in that sec- tion. He died there in 1832. Daniel Hill, a son of Joseph Hill, was the father of a family of ten children, all of whom became members of the Lutheran church. He died in 1870, followed by his widow two years later, whose maiden name was Eliza- beth Corchner. The names of their children were as follows: Frederick; Israel, deceased; Andrew, deceased; Jesse; Frymire; George, deceased; Sallie, deceased; Elizabeth; Mary, and Robert.
FREDERICK HILL, farmer, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, April 19, 1824, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Corchner) Hill. He received a common school education and has always been engaged in farming. In 1864 he enlisted in Com- pany I, One Hundred and Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served for nine months. He was married in March, 1851, to Miss Anna Edwards, and to this union have been born six children: Harvey; Sarah, deceased; Mary, who married Frank Smith; Charles; Elmer, and Gertrude, deceased.
ISAAC MCCARTY was one of four brothers who came to Lycoming county, Pennsyl- vania, at an early day, locating on a farm. He reared a family of eight children : Benjamin, deceased; Lewis, deceased; Charles, deceased; George, deceased; Mar- garet, deceased; Hannah, deceased; Sarah, and Lavina. Isaac McCarty died in June, 1847. Benjamin McCarty, oldest son of Isaac McCarty, was born in Penn township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and married Lavina Harding, and to them were born six sons and one daughter: Silas, who enlisted in the first nine months' call for soldiers at the breaking out of the rebellion, afterwards serving six weeks with the State militia; he then enlisted in Company F, Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry, for three years, serving until the close of the war; Josiah; John; James;
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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.
Ellis; Benjamin, and Alwilda, who married William Rogers, of Penn township. Benjamin McCarty died November 17, 1863. Josiah McCarty, farmer, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, February 5, 1847, son of Benjamin and Lavina (Harding) McCarty. He received a common school education and has always been engaged in farming.
DANIEL HOUSEKNECHT, a carpenter by trade, who spent a portion of his time at farming, married Elizabeth Shipman, and to them were born eight children: Lavina, who married Henry Lake; Christopher, deceased; John; Theodore; Will- iam; Charlotte, who married John Tolly; Helda M., who married John C. Lake, and Susan C., deceased. Daniel Houseknecht died July 2, 1870, and his wife in 1844. William Houseknecht, son of Daniel Houseknecht, a carpenter by trade, was mar- ried October 27, 1859, to Mary De Walt, and to this union were born two sons: Bert and Hiram F. Mrs. Houseknecht died June 17, 1864, and he was again married, to Matilda Yaple, and to them were born four children: Manda T .; Sarah J .; Eli W., and Mabel M. Bert Houseknecht, farmer, son of William T. and Mary (De Walt) Houseknecht, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. He received a common school education, and was married December 28, 1882, to Martha Poust, daughter of Jacob Poust, who died March 20, 1890.
CHAPTER LI.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
BOROUGH OF MONTOURSVILLE, AND FAIRFIELD, UPPER FAIRFIELD, MUNCY, AND MILL CREEK TOWNSHIPS.
SAMUEL MENDENHALL, hardware merchant, was born in Columbia county, Penn- sylvania, January 14, 1816, son of Abner and Lydia (Carlton) Mendenhall. Abner Mendenhall was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and married Lydia Carlton, a native of the same county, and with her he settled in Columbia county prior to 1800. He was a mechanic and cabinet-maker and manufactured pumps, by which. he secured the means to purchase a small farm in that county, upon which he settled and lived until his death. Our subject received a limited education at the subscription schools, and at the age of eighteen years he was employed as a clerk in a mercantile store. This he continued for about ten years, and then purchased an interest in a mercantile establishment at Bloomsburg, where he did business for ten years, removing thence to Schuylkill county. In 1857 he removed to Black Hole valley, Lycoming county, where he engaged in farming for fifteen years. He established his present hardware business at Montoursville in 1872, and has given his personal attention to it ever since. He was first a Whig, but since the formation of the Republican party he has been identified with that great organization. He was school director of Clinton township for eight years, and filled the same office at Bloomsburg; he was burgess of Montoursville one term, and has been a member of
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the borough council. While residing in Bloomsburg he was his party's candidate for prothonotary of Columbia county, but was defeated on account of his party being largely in the minority. He was married in 1845 to Miss Matilda W., daughter of Peter Mensch, and to them have been born six children: Mark; William; Arthur, who was train despatcher at Pittsburg, and is assistant trainmaster of the Pan Handle railroad; Charles; Clara, who married Sylvester F. Bubb, and Mary C., who married Griffith H. Lichtenthaler.
WILLIAM MENDENHALL, son of Samuel Mendenhall, was born in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, July 7, 1849. He was educated in the public schools of Lycoming county, learned the tinsmith trade, and on the 17th of January, 1872, he became a member of the firm of S. Mendenhall & Son. He was married, May 5, 1875, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Michael Meckley, and to them have been born three children: Florence, Bessie, and Arthur. He is a Republican, was a member of the county committee for six years, and was school director for four years; he is a member of Eureka Lodge, No. 335, A. F. & A. M., and Fairfield Lodge, I. O. O. F., of which he was District Deputy Grand Master for three years. His wife is a mem- ber of the Episcopal church.
JAMES W. RAKESTRAW, farmer, was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1843, son of William and Mary (Sweigard) Rakestraw, natives of that county. His father was a shoemaker by trade, and died in 1845; his widow was again mar- ried, to Joseph Knouff, of Perry county, Pennsylvania, by whom he had one child, Joseph W. Mrs. Knouff died in 1848. James W. Rakestraw was educated in the common schools, which he attended during the winter months, and at the age of nineteen years he engaged at railroading on the Pennsylvania line, after which he took employment in a saw mill for a number of years. He came to Lycoming county in 1864; in 1873 he began farming in Old Lycoming township, and settled on his present farm in Fairfield township in 1882. He was married in 1863 to Miss Louisa Bastian, of Dauphin county. She died in 1864, and he was again married in 1866, to Hannah, daughter of John R. Hinkle, of Lycoming county, and to this union have been born eight children: Minnie, who married John Saylor; Ella May; Sarah Gertrude; Jennie Ray; John Roseberry; James Harrison; Lydia Josephine, and Sophia Bertha. Mr. Rakestraw is engaged in farming and dairying. He is a Dem- ocrat with independent proclivities, has served as school director and treasurer of Old Lycoming township, and with his family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church of Montoursville.
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