History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 85

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650

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JOHN GIBSON was a son of John Gibson, a native of Ireland, who after serving

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY,

in the British army in the American Revolution, returned to his native country. He was born, July 1, 1774, and emigrated to America in 1801. He married, Decem- ber 17, 1802, Elizabeth Ramsey, born May 24, 1775, and soon after removed with her from Peach Bottom, Maryland, to Lycoming county. settling in Susquehanna township. He died, September 17, 1847, and she died, July 5, 1846. Their children were as follows: Mary, who was born December 11. 1503, and died December 22, 1SS5; Elizabeth, who was born March 2, 1805, and married Robert Smith; James, who was born March 30, 1807, and died April 30. 180S; Letitia J., who was born March 17. 1510, married Charles Borrows, and died December 8, 1832; John, who was born October 28, 1811, and died October 29, 1831; Nancy N., who was born April 26, 1814, became the second wife of Charles Borrows, and died January 7, 1891; William H., born July 13, 1816; Robert R., who was born July 20, 1818, married Sarah Hyndman, January 16, 1S51, and was the father of seven children: John R .; Alexander; Mary E .; William A .; Robert, deceased; Annie H., and Robert H.

SAMUEL GIBSON was the eldest son of John, Sr., and Mary (Henderson) Gibson, who were the parents of seven children: Samuel; William; John: James; Robert; Elizabeth. and Mary. He brought his parents to America and they died at the home of their son, John Gibson, and were buried in the family graveyard on the farm now owned by Robert Gibson. Samnel married a Miss Vandyke and to them were born four children: John; Mary; Elizabeth, and Jane. He and his son John settled in St. Joseph county, Michigan, where many descendants are yet living.

WILLIAM GIBSON, son of John and Mary (Henderson) Gibson, was born in Ire- land, February 14, 1769, emigrated to America about 1802, married Mary Ramsey in 1803, and removed with her from Peach Bottom, Maryland, to Lycoming county, locating for a while along the banks of Larry's creek, and finally settling in Arm- strong township, where Mrs. Gibson died, March 13, 1836. Mr. Gibson was again married, to Mancy Jamison. By his first wife there were three children: Elizabeth, who was born in 1804. married James Warren, and died in 1841; Mary, who was born September 1, 1805, and married Ralph Elliot, and John, born July 15, 1807.

JOHN GIBSON, son of William Gibson, was married, February 24, 1842, to Jane B., daughter of Tunison Coryell. and to them were born eight children: Sarah C., ' who married George W. Parsons and became the mother of four children; Jean G. : Marcia: Florence C., and John G .: William, born September 15, 1544, who married June 11. 1872. Alice Otto, and has seven children: Otto C., deceased: James E .; Clara M. ; Fred W .; Ralph; William, and Alice; James J., born in 1846, who was married. October 30, 1576, to Lucy, daughter of Abraham Updegraff. and has two children: Abraham and Elizabeth; Mary C., who was born January 11, 1849, and died December 11, 1860; John C., who was born September 9, 1850, was a farmer for years, is, a member of the firm of Thompson, Gibson & Company, and is married to Elizabeth, danghter of Samnel Jones, and has three children: John; Samuel, and Charles; Elizabeth, who was born August 15, 1853, and died September S, 1855: Robert W., born September 2S, 1855, married March 5, 1879, Isabella Baker, and has two children: Charles B. and Elizabeth B. : Charles C., who was born May 27, 185S, was clerk in the First National Bank of Williamsport for some time, and is now treasurer of the Lycoming Suspender Company. John Gibson was a farmer

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during his lifetime, and filled many township offices. He was one of the moving spirits in erecting the first bridge across the Susquehanna river: was an original director of Loyalsock Gap Turnpike Company, and president of the same at the time of his death, March 8, 1885; was a stockholder and director in the First National and West Branch Banks, and was a stockholder and director of the Williamsport Gas Company. He was a Whig and Republican, took a deep interest in schools, and with his wife belonged to the First Presbyterian church.

JAMES GIBSON, son of John and Mary (Henderson) Gibson. was born in Ireland. He married Susan Coffin. and they were the parents of nine children: Samuel; James: Ira C .; Andrew; William: Mary; Susan; Henrietta, and Margaret. Mr. Gibson died in 1864, and his wife died about 1545. He was a Democrat in politics, and belonged to the Presbyterian church. His son. Ira, a coal dealer, was born, March 4, 1525, in Susquehanna township. He married Rachel Bennett in 1852 and to this union were born four children: Charles: James: Ida, and Carrie.

WILLIAM AND JAMES J. GIBSON, sons of John and Jane B. (Coryell) Gibson, were educated at Dickinson Seminary, and Hudson River Institute at Claverack. New York, the former taking also a course in the American Business College at Springfield, Massachusetts. Returning home, William was employed for two years by Edward Lippincott, a lumberman operating in Rose valley. He then became financially interested in saw mills with Mr. Lippincott for two years. He and James made their first venture in business by investing $35 each in Williamsport gas stock, and soon after William sold his interest in the saw mills. They became members of the firm of Harrison, Gibson & Company, wholesale stationery, wallpaper, and oils. They subsequently sold, and purchased W. R. Vanderbelt's interest in D. S. Andrus & Company's music store, of which James J. is manager at the present time. Soon afterward they started the Williamsport Carriage Works. and now employ about twenty-five men. In 1582 they bought D. B. Hubbard's interest in the Williamsport Furniture Company. of which William is secretary and James is president. William is a director and one of the organizers of the Williamsport Braid Company, begun in 1892: he was a director of the Williamsport Gas Company; is a director and an auditor of St. Mary's Coal Company; is a director of the Otto Chemical Company, succeeded his father as director of the Loyalsock Gap Turnpike Company, was a director of the Williamsport Bridge Company, is a director of the Lycoming National Bank, and is a director and president of the Keystone Plaster Company, at Chester, Pennsylvania, in which his brothers, James J., Charles, and John are interested, the last named being treasurer. William is also a director in the Edison Electric Illu- minating Company, is one of the executors of the John A. Otto estate, and he and James J. are the executors of their father's estate. They are both Republicans and members of the Ross Club. William and his wife belong to the First Presbyterian church, and James J. and his wife are members of the Second Presbyterian church.

ROBERT W. GIBSON was born in Armstrong township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, September 28, 1555, son of John and Jane B. (Coryell) Gibson. He received his education in the common schools and took a two years' course at Penn- sylvania State College. In 1573 he embarked in the dry goods business in Penns- field and St. Mary's, Elk county, Pennsylvania, with his uncles, John B., and Charles H. Coryell. In 1877 he became a member of the firm of R. W. Gibson &

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

Company, of Williamsport, and remained with the same through its change in 1888 to the firm name of Thompson, Gibson & Company, until he resigned, October 3, 1891. In January, 1892, he organized The Royal Braid Company for the purpose of manufacturing silk and cotton suspender and other braids. He was elected to the offices of secretary and treasurer, March 5, 1892. He was married March 4, 1879, to Miss Isabel L. Baker, of Farmington, Maine, and to this union have been born two children: Charles Blanchard, and Bessie Blanchard. Mr. Gibson is an active Republican, and with his wife belongs to the First Presbyterian church.

JOHN AND JANE HAYS emigrated from West Donegal, Ireland, in 1732 and settled in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, where the former died, November 16, 1789; the latter died in 1806 in Northumberland county. They were the parents of nine children: John; William; Robert; James; Francis; Jane; Isabella; Mary, and Elizabeth. All of the sons except William, who died young, were Revolutionary soldiers, and it is said that two of them were detailed to keep up the camp fires while Washington surprised the British at Princeton. John was the only one who remained at the original Irish settlement in Northampton county. He raised a company and marched with it to Philadelphia in 1776, and was afterwards known as Capt. John Hays. He was born in Ireland and came to America with his parents when two years old. He was married, October 16, 1760, to Barbara King, who died, August 11, 1770, leaving five children: Mary; John; James; Jane, and Elizabeth. Captain Hays was again married, August 13, 1771, to Jane Walker, who died, December 15, 1825, leaving ten children: 3 Ann; William; Isabella; Robert; Thomas; Richard; Samuel; Mary; Joseph, and Rebecca. Of these, William served four years in the State Senate, was associate judge of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and died in 1846, leaving seven children: John; Robert; Richard; Henry; Charles; William, and Jane. Robert, the second son of Captain Hays, died in Bellefonte, February 15, 1843, where he followed tanning for many years. He was the father of three children: William; Alfred, and Ellen. Thomas, the third son of Captain Hays, engaged in the manufacture of hats in Williamsport, and served as sheriff, prothonotary, treasurer, and register and recorder of Lycoming county. He married a sister of the late Judge Huston, and died in 1846, leaving eight children: Thomas; William; Charles; Jane; Mary; Sarah; Martha, and Isabella. Richard, the fourth son of Captain Hays, was for years engaged with his brother Thomas in the manufacture of hats in Williamsport, and finally purchased and settled on a farm in Lycoming township, where he served as a justice of the peace for twenty years. He married Christiana Ralston, and died, October S, 1856, leaving four children: J. Ralston; Jane; Marian, and Isabella. Samuel, the fifth son of Captain Hays, settled in Erie, where he followed tanning and died, May 27, 1850, leaving five children: William; John W .; Jane; Catherine, and Maria. Joseph, the sixth son of Captain Hays, died in Northampton county, March 30, 1795. Captain Hays died at Meadville, Pennsylvania, November 3, 1796.

John Hays, son of Captain John and Barbara (King) Hays, married Jane Horner, May 21, 1795, and soon after purchased land of his father in Lycoming county. They came to their future home in a wagon, and erected a cabin where their son, John K., was born. John Hays served as sheriff of Lycoming county in 1807, and died, October 9, 1821, followed by his widow, September 23, 1824. Their

Jacob Sallads

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only child, John K. Hays, received such educational advantages as the times afforded. March 1, 1827, he married Jane Hays, who died, November 6, 1830, leav- ing two children: Jane and John Walker. May 31, 1832, Mr. Hays was again mar- . ried, to Martha Grier, who died, April 8, 1867, leaving three children: James G .; Martha Ann, and Henrietta. Mr. Hays was married a third time, September 24, 1868, to Mrs. Jane H. Teas, who died, November 25, 1875, followed by Mr. Hays, March 11, 1878.

John Walker Hays was educated in the country schools and Williamsport Academy. He learned the tinner's trade and was engaged in the tin, stove, and heating business from 1850 to 1880. His father was one of the original stockholders of the Williamsport Savings Institution, and since his death John Walker has taken his place on the board of directors. He is a member of the A. F. and A. M., No. 106, and served as Master of the same in 1857. He is also a member and Past High Priest of Lycoming Chapter, No. 222, and Past Eminent Commander of Bald- win II Commandery, No. 22, K. T., and belongs to Adoniram Council, No. 26. He was reared a Whig, voted for Fillmore for President in 1856, and for Bell and Everett in 1860. He became a Democrat soon after this, and has since given his support to that organization. He was a member of the borough council, 1860-63, of the common council of the city, 1867-68 and 1877, and was a member of the Board of Health about ten years. He is an active member of the First Presbyterian church, and was a trustee for many years. Mr. Hays was married, May 17, 1855, to Rachel Allen, and to this union were born four children, two of whom survive: John K. and Jane. The first named was born, August 18, 1856. He was educated in Williamsport and graduated from Lafayette College in 1876. He read law with Hon. Robert P. Allen, and was admitted to the bar in 1879. He is an active member and trustee of the Y. M. C. A. He was married, June 25, 1885, to Sarah B., daughter of John B. Coryell, and to this union have been born three children: John C .; Walker A., deceased, and James B. Jane, daughter of John Walker Hays, married Charles R. Stearns.

WILLIAM HARRIS was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, son of John and Susan (Scott) Harris. He was educated in the country schools. He married Sarah, a daughter of Jacob Grafius; they were the parents of four children: Catherine, who married Dr. A. S. Rhoads; Sarah S., who married Charles Stewart; Jacob G., who married Phobe Shultz, and John, who married Mary White. Mr. Harris was a shoemaker by trade. He was employed for many years as a clerk in Mr. Grafius's store in Williamsport. He served , one term as commissioner of Lycoming county, and was elected sheriff of the county. He died, July 31, 1835, while serving in the latter office. Mrs. Harris died, December 16, 1884. Both were highly respected by the community in which they resided so many years.

COL. JACOB SALLADE was born in Nippenose valley, Adams township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania (now Crawford township, Clinton county), February 26, 1817. He is the fourth child and second son of Jacob Philip and Catherine (Showers) Sallade, a sketch of whom will be found in another chapter. His boyhood days were passed on the homestead farm, and he still vividly remembers a trip he made in the winter of 1822 with his father in a sleigh to Antes's mill, which stood near the mouth of Antes creek, and was the pioneer grist mill of the Nippenose valley. His birth-

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place was the first farm improved in the valley, having been settled by Jobn Clark in 1776. In the "Big Runaway " Clark was driven off by the Indians, but returned in 1784. Michael Showers, the maternal grandfather of Colonel Sallade, purchased this farm, and in 1817 it became the property of his son-in-law, Jacob Philip. Sallade. In early boyhood our subject began assisting on the farm and in operating the grist mill built by his father at Sallade's Gap, and during the construction of the Pennsylvania canal he worked for his father on that improvement. He was afterwards employed in boat building, and in erecting flour and saw mills at different points in the West Branch valley for several years. On the 10th of August 1837, he married Nancy Thomas, and the following year he settled on the old homestead, and successfully operated for a short time the saw mill erected by his father at that point. He purchased timber lands near Salladasburg, and followed lumbering and manufac- turing. also erected houses, mills, etc., and engaged in merchandising and shoemak- ing quite extensively. He operated two saw mills on Larry's creek, and was one of the most active business men of that period and locality.

In the autumn of 1844 he removed to Williamsport, but still carried on lumber- ing, merchandising, and farming on Larry's creek and at Salladasburg up to 1853. During this period he also continued contracting and building, and served four years as foreman on the Pennsylvania canal. He erected bridges, locks, mills, churches, etc .. and in partnership with Levi Hartman built the middle portion of Dickinson Seminary. After coming to Williamsport his interests were many and varied. He was interested in a drug and bookstore, had charge of the telegraph office, was a partner of J. W. Mussina in the jewelry business, and operated a saw and planing mill for several years. In 1850, in company with Robert Baker, he bought the Jersey Shore Republican, and in 1860 removed the plant to Williamsport, and changed the name to the West Branch Democrat. When Sumter was fired upon he sold or leased his several properties, and went to Washington, where he served as agent in the quartermaster's department. In February, 1863, he was appointed a paymaster in the United States Army, with the rank of major, and was afterwards promoted to colonel, and held that position, with headquarters at New Orleans and Washington. until February, 1866, when he resigned and returned to Williamsport. On leaving the service Colonel Sallade received the highest testimonials from his superiors and comrades of his department. The originals are still in bis possession, and a perusal of them will convince any candid mind of his efficient and faithful serv- ice and high standing as an officer. In 1866 he was appointed postmaster in Will- iamsport, and filled that position two years.

Colonel Sallade was one of the original stockholders and directors of the First National Bank; was a director of the Savings Institution, and in 1869 helped to establish the bank of Holden, Lentz & Sallade, which carried on a large business abont six years. He was one of the projectors and builders of Larry's Creek plank road, and a director of that company for many years. Since the war he has been interested in several newspaper plants of Williamsport. In 1879 he purchased stock in the Gazette and Bulletin, which he sold and then purchased the Sun and Democrat. In 1880 he bought the Daily and Weekly Banner, amalgamated the two papers, and in company with his son. H. T. Sallade, under the firm name of Sallade & Son, founded the Sun and Banner, and published it for several years. He then sold the

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office, and has since devoted his attention to his large real estate interests in this city and county, and his farms in the West and in Virginia. He has been quite an extensive traveler, and has visited most of the States and Territories, besides Cuba, the British Isles, and the Continent of Europe.

Colonel Sallade has always been a Democrat, and a prominent advocate of tem- perance. He has served two terms in the select council of Williamsport, and ten years as justice of the peace of Loyalsock township. He is a member of Reno Post, No. 64, G. A. R., and takes a deep interest in all that relates to the defenders of the Union. In August, 1842, he united with the Methodist Episcopal church, and for the past fifty years he has been one of the most liberal supporters of that denomi- nation, and has given generously toward the erection of churches, and educational and charitable institutions. He is a trustee in Mulberry Street Methodist Episco- pal church, and fills the same office in the High Street organization. He has been officially connected with Dickinson Seminary since 1856, and is one of the founders of the Preachers' Aid Society. He is also one of the organizers of the Y. M. C. A. of Williamsport, and a life member of the Association. Mrs. Sallade died in 1881, and the following year he married Mrs. Agnes Oliver. She was a member of Mul- berry Street Methodist Episcopal church, and died December 30, 1891. No chil- dren were born of either marriage, but Colonel Sallade reared an adopted son, H. Torrence, since deceased. He has been a continuous resident of Lycoming county for more than seventy-five years, and is one of the best known citizens in the West Branch valley. His life has been a busy, useful one, and he has accumulated through the passing years a large and valuable estate.'

ADAM FOLLMER is the eldest son of William and Catharine Follmer, and was born on the homestead in Loyalsock township, Lycoming county, May 19, 1820. He was reared under the parental roof, and received only a meager education in the log school houses of his boyhood days. He followed farming until 1843, and then removed to Williamsport, where he engaged in the mercantile business, which he continued four years. Since then he has been engaged in dealing in real estate, and has accumulated through the passing years a handsome competence. He is a stockholder in the Lycoming National Bank, also in the First National Bank, and was formerly a director in the first mentioned institution. He is a stockholder in the Central Pennsylvania Telephone and Supply Company, and the Lycoming Electric Company. He has always been a stanch Democrat, but has never taken any active part in political affairs. He was married November 10, 1842, to Catharine, daugh- ter of Jacob Strieby, a pioneer of Loyalsock township. They have no children, and are spending the declining years of their lives at their home in Williamsport. They reared a niece, Clementine Strieby, wife of William E. Sprague, lumber dealer, of this city. They also reared Charles Oliver Patier, a relative of Mrs. Follmer, who went west before the breaking out of the Rebellion. At St. Louis, Missouri, he and William Wolf raised a company of which Mr. Patier was provost-marshal and sub- sequently captain. At the close of the war he located in Cairo, Illinois, and is a prosperous merchant. Mr. Follmer and wife are members of the Lutheran church, to which faith they have adhered all their lives.

O. H. RANDALL was born in Oxford, Chenango county, New York, November 4, 1829, son of Orrin and Esther (Stafford) Randall, the former a native of Connecti-

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cut, and the latter of Vermont; both families were among the pioneers of Chenango county. Orrin Randall was a soldier in the war of 1812, and drew a pension from the government. He married Esther Stafford and engaged in farming in Chenango county, whence they removed to Bradford county, Pennsylvania. They afterwards went to Missouri, where he took up a soldier's grant and settled upon it. At the breaking out of the rebellion be came to Williamsport, and died at his daughter's home in Canton, Pennsylvania, in 1863. His wife died in Missouri in 1860. Both were members of the Baptist church. They reared twelve children: Mrs. Caroline Smith, of Bradford county; Louisa, widow of Benjamin Minor, of Chenango county, New York; Mrs. Hannah Jones, of Norwich, New York; O. H .; Samuel, deceased, who served in Company I, Two Hundred aud Third Pennsylvania Volunteers; Clor- inda, wife of John Paulhamus of Hepburn township; W. J., deceased, who was a physician of Sullivan county; Howard, who resides in Texas, and served in the Con- federate army during the war; Polly, a resident of Texas; Luther, who was a member of Company I, Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and died in Salisbury prison, South Carolina; Jabez, of Missouri, and Zinah, who was killed at Vicksburg, while serving in the Union army.

The subject of this sketch was reared principally in Bradford county, Pennsyl- vania. In early manhood he worked at shingle making, and afterwards became con- nected with the lumber business. He worked for Peter Herdic, and rafted the boom with him for six years, and was connected with the firm of White, Lentz & White for thirty years. In 1854 he settled in Williamsport, where he has since resided, and is one of the few surviving lumbermen of the West Branch valley. In 1863 he enlisted in Company I, Two Hundred and Third Pennsylvania Volun- teers, and served until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Fort Fisher and Petersburg, and the closing scenes around Richmond. He is a member of Reno Post, G. A. R., is a Republican in politics, and has served as constable of Williamsport for one term. Mr. Randall was married in 1852, to Abigail, daugh- ter of Abraham Case, of Troy, Pennsylvania, and has five children: Dr. William H .; Fannie, wife of Gottlieb Waltz; Josephine, wife of William Waltz; Mary, and George, all of whom are residents of Williamsport. He and wife are members of the First Baptist church, in which he holds the office of trustee. Mr. Randall is. the owner of a farm of 200 acres in Clinton county and one of 300 acres in Lyco- ming county, to the management of which he devotes a share of his time.

REV. THOMPSON MITCHELL was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, March 22, 1817, and is a son of George and Jeanette (Baird) Mitchell, natives of that county. His paternal grandfather, George Mitchell, was a native of Ireland, and immigrated to America about the time of the Revolution. He married a Miss Thompson of Centre county, Pennsylvania, and settled in Mifflin county, where the remaining years of his life were passed. George Mitchell was born near McVeytown, in the latter county, in 1784. He learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he worked for many years, and afterwards purchased a farm and became one of the substantial agricult- urists of his native county. He married Jeanette, a daughter of John and Margaret (Wilson nee Boyd) Baird, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. She died in 1842; her husband was again married, and sur- vived until 1860. The subject of this sketch was the third in a family of ten chil-

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 85

Author: edited by John F. Meginness Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1650

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650