History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 102

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1288

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was continuously connected with the Curtis coal bank till 1881. Since that time he has had a small greenhouse at his home on the west hill. He started his sons, James S. and Fred, in a meat market on State Street, in September, 1886, which they have since carried on. Mr. Wilson was married in England, in August, 1851, to Elizabeth Booth. Eight children of this union survive: George, Edward, James S., Annie, Clara, Fred, Laura and Willie. The fam- ily belong to the Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Democrat, and has served three terms in the borough council. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and one of the oldest citizens of Sharon, where he has lived over thirty- four years.

JAMES J. WILSON, street commissioner, was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., January 5, 1831, and is a son of John and Mary (Lynch) Wilson, natives of Pennsylvania. The parents removed to Jennyberg Hill, Sharon, in 1845, and a few years after went to Lawrence County, Penn., where the father resided till his death. His widow is a resident of West Middlesex. Our subject has made Sharon his home ever since coming here, forty-three years ago. For many years he was engaged in the coal business, was super- intendent of the construction of the Greenfield Railroad, and was one of the well-known coal men of the past. He has been married twice, but has no children. Politically he is a stanch Republican, and has voted for every presidential candidate of that party from Fremont to Harrison. He has been twice burgess of Sharon, and has served three terms in the borough council. He has been street commissioner for seven years, and has given better satis- faction to the people than any of his predecessors.

ARCHIBALD WISHART, carpenter and builder, was born near Guelph, Ontario, Canada, February 13, 1844, and is a son of John and Jessie (McKean) Wis- hart, natives of Edinburg, Scotland, who immigrated to Canada in 1832, and settled on the shore of Lake Ontario, eighteen miles northeast of Hamilton. They afterward removed into Wellington County, near Guelph, where the father died and where the mother still resides. Archibald grew up in his native county, and there began learning the carpenter's trade. In the fall of 1865 he came to Sharon and completed his trade. After about two years he went to Phelps County, Mo., where he resided four years. Returning to Sharon in 1871, he has since followed contracting and building, in which line he has been fairly successful. In April, 1886, he opened a grocery store on State Street, which is in charge of his son, Charles A. Mr. Wishart was married September 30, 1867, to Miss Jennie, daughter of the late William Ulp, of Sharon. Four children have been born to them: Charles A., Jessie, Ella (deceased), and Russell. Politically Mr. Wishart is a Republican, is a member of the E. A. U., and the family belong to the Presbyterian Church.

JOHN P. WRIGHT, deceased merchant, was born in Lawrence County, Penn., February 10, 1810, and was a son of Alexander Wright, who died on the old homestead in that county. John P. grew up in Lawrence County and on reaching manhood went into the mercantile business in Pulaski. In 1849 he came to Sharon, and was an active business man up to his death. He was en- gaged in merchandising many years, and was also in the milling business. Mr. Wright was twice married, his first marriage occurring in Pulaski, Penn., February 15, 1849, to Mrs. Ann Jane Bell, nee McMillan. He reared two children by this union: James A., of Sharon, and Charles F., of Michigan. The mother died July 3, 1854, and he was again married October 8, 1857, to Miss Jane Stewart, of Mercer. £ She was born in that borough, and is a daughter of Robert Stewart, one of its pioneer merchants, and sister of Will- iam Stewart, a prominent pioneer attorney of the Mercer bar. Mr. Wright

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died in October, 1860, in the faith of the Presbyterian Church. He was a Re- . publican in politics, an ardent anti-slavery man, and filled the office of justice of the peace for several years. He was an upright, honest and successful citizen, and was honored and respected by those who knew him best.

JOHN M. YAHRES, iron roller with P. L. Kimberly & Co., was born in Pitts- burgh, Penn., December 19, 1839, and is a son of Matthias and Christiana (Byers) Yahres. The former is a native of Darmstadt, Germany, born in 1807, and, on reaching manhood, immigrated to Pittsburgh, Penn., where he mar- ried Christiana Byers, born in 1809, and daughter of one of the early settlers of Allegheny County. She died in Sharpsburg, Penn., a few years ago, and her husband still lives there. John M. grew to manhood in his native county, and on August 1, 1861, enlisted in Company E, Sixty-third Regiment Penn- sylvania Volunteers, and served in the battles and campaigns of his regiment. up to the time of his capture in front of Petersburg, June 22, 1864. From that time up to March 5, 1865, he was a prisoner in the rebel prison pens, including Andersonville, when he was exchanged and discharged from the service in April, 1865. Returning to his home he was married September 27, following, to Miss Sophia Gregg, of Allegheny County, Penn., who is the mother of six children: Mollie C., Frank G., John M., Samuel H., Lou E. and Ada G. Politically he is an independent Republican, and the family be- long to the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the R. T. of T., G. A. R. and Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers. Since he was thirteen years old he worked in the iron mills of Allegheny County till September 2, 1872, when he came to Sharon, and has ever since been one of the leading iron rollers in the mills of P. L. Kimberly & Co.

CHARLES H. YEAGER, general dry goods merchant, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, December 19, 1853, and is a son of John and Rebecca (Reiber) Yeager, natives of Lehigh County, Penn., of German descent, both of whom died in Trumbull County, Ohio. Charles H. grew up in that county, and re- ceived his education in the public schools of Newton Falls, Ohio. He began clerking in that town, and subsequently clerked in Warren, Ohio. He after- ward traveled for the wholesale dry goods house of Morgan, Root & Co. In 1882 he became interested in a wholesale notion house in Cleveland, the firm being Manahan, Greene & Yeager. After some two years he sold out, and again traveled on the road for Morgan, Root & Co. He was afterward en- gaged in business in Wheeling, W. Va., a short time. In the fall of 1885 he

opened his present dry goods store in the Prindle Block, in Sharon, and has since won and retained a large trade. Mr. Yeager was married June 30, 1881, to Miss Mary L. Patterson, of Cleveland, Ohio, of which union two children have been born: Charles E., deceased, and Helen R. Politically Mr. Yeager is a Democrat, and one of the enterprising business men of Sharon.

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CHAPTER XXXI.

BIOGRAPHIES OF GREENVILLE.

H "ON. JOHN ALLISON, deceased, late register of the United States Treas- ury, was born in Beaver, Penn., August 5, 1812, and died of apoplexy at Washington, D. C., March 23, 1878. His father, James Allison, was one of the foremost lawyers at the Beaver bar. At the age of eighteen our subject went to Pittsburgh to learn the hatter's trade, where he spent three years. He then went to Marietta, Ohio, and commenced business for himself. In the mean- time, March 16, 1836, he had married Miss Eliza Ann, daughter of Dr. Milo Adams, a prominent physician of Beaver, and after a short residence in Mari- etta he returned to Beaver. He entered his father's office, read law, and was admitted to the bar, but the profession was not congenial to his tastes and he never attempted to build up a practice. Mr. Allison was a natural politician, and from 1847 to 1850 he represented Beaver County in the Legislature. Upon the expiration of his last term he was nominated and elected to Congress from the Beaver District, and after serving his term was renominated. Under a new apportionment the district was changed, Mercer County being included therein, and Mr. Allison was defeated by Hon. Michael C. Trout. At the close of Mr. 'Trout's term Mr. Allison was again the Whig nominee, and was elected by a good majority and served with honor in that capacity. Mr. Allison was one of the founders of the Republican party in Pennsylvania, and was presi- dent of the first Republican State convention held in Pittsburgh in 1855. He was also one of the leaders at Pittsburgh in the winter of 1856 to lay plans for a national Republican organization, and was chairman of the Pennsylvania delegation in the Republican National Convention at Philadelphia in 1856, which nominated Fremont and Dayton. Mr. Allison there named and sup- ported Abraham Lincoln for the vice-presidency, and whom four years after- ward he helped to elect President. During the Rebellion he filled the position of paymaster in the army, with the rank of major, and though he paid out hundreds of thousands of dollars his accounts always balanced to a cent. In 1864 he purchased a farm in Perry and Otter Creek Townships, Mercer County, to which he removed his family in the spring of 1865, and soon after closed his accounts as paymaster and retired to his farm. In the fall of 1867 he traded his farm for a controlling interest in the Greenville Steam Tannery. The family residence was on the west side, which his widow occupied until her death, May 4, 1884, and is still owned by his daughter, Mrs. George O. Keck. In 1869 Mr. Allison was appointed by President Grant register of the United States Treasury, and continued to discharge the duties of that position with credit and fidelity up to the day of his death. During the last ten years of his life he was frequently mentioned in connection with important positions, and was the unanimous nominee of the Republicans in the Legislature for the United States Senate when Hon. William A. Wallace was elected to that posi- tion by the Democracy, then holding a combined majority. Mr. Allison left a wife, two sons, James and John H., residents of Missouri, and four daughters: Mrs. Charles M. Merrick, of New Brighton, Penn .; Mrs. George O. Keck, Mrs. W. O. Tillotson and Mrs. W. H. Beil, all of Greenville. At the time of his death the Philadelphia Times paid the following glowing tribute to his

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worth: "He was one of Pennsylvania's purest and best men. Although aggressive as an anti-slavery champion, he was a man of general conservative attributes, and avoided the conflict of faction and the race for conspicuous party leadership. He was one of the few men who have filled so high a meas- ure of public trust, and died with hardly an enemy to dispute the integrity of his public or private acts." He was a devoted friend, a kind father and hus- band, a wise counselor and an upright, Christian man.

JOHN ANNETT, dry goods merchant, was born in the County Down, Ireland, August 20, 1844, and is a son of Hugh and Mary A. Annett, natives of that county, where his mother died and his father yet resides. In May, 1861, John immigrated to Huntingdon County, Penn., where he had an uncle liv- ing. In October, 1861, he came to Greenville and began clerking for Charles Hoge, with whom he remained seven years. In the winter of 1868 he went to Jamestown, Penn., where he clerked one year for James Rodgers. He then opened a store in that town, which he carried on till January, 1875, when he sold out and went on the road as a commercial drummer for Raymond, Lowe & Co., of Cleveland, Ohio. He afterward traveled for Morgan, Root & Co., of the same city, and then for Tefft, Weller & Co., of New York, with which firms he spent in all ten years. In June, 1885, he began the dry goods business in Greenville, in which he has since been engaged. Mr. Annett was married April 28, 1870, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of James W. Brown, one of the early settlers of Mercer County. Mrs. Annett was born on the old Brown homestead immediately north of Greenville. She is the mother of three chil- dren: Jennie M., Hugh W. and Maggie B. Politically Mr. Annett is a Republican, and the family adhere to the United Presbyterian faith.

JOHN RANDOLPH ARTHERHOLT, queensware dealer, was born in Pymatuning Township, Mercer Co., Penn., June 22, 1852, and is a son of David and Mary Ann (Speir) Artherholt, a sketch of whom will be found under the head of Pymatuning Township. He grew up on the homestead, and attended the district schools of his neighborhood. In March, 1872, he entered the employ of D. B. Packard & Co., crockery dealers, with whom he remained for about

four years. He then attended commercial college at Mount Union, Ohio, for one term. In April, 1876, he purchased an interest in the queensware store of E. P. Beckwith & Co., the firm name remaining as before. In the spring of 1877 James Loutzenhiser and L. D. Leech bought interests in the business, and the firm of Artherholt & Co. was established. In December, 1881, Mr. Leech retired from the business, and Messrs. Artherholt and Loutzenhiser have since continued to carry on one of the largest business houses of Green- ville. Mr. Artherholt was married January 30, 1883, to Miss Sakie White- sides, of Crawford County, Penn. He is an unswerving Democrat, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and one of the enterprising young business men of the town.

EDWIN ASH, farmer, was born in Northampton County, Penn., January 31, 1832, and is a son of John and Catharine (Laurish) Ash, natives of the same county, and of German ancestry. They were married in Northampton County, and in the spring of 1834 removed to Hickory Township, Mercer County, with a family of seven children, and five were born in this county. Nine of these grew to maturity, and six are now living, two of them residents of Mercer County. John Ash was a tailor by trade, and worked at that business on his farm, where he also kept a tavern for many years. The parents died on the old homestead in Hickory Township, the father January 23, 1853, and his widow in March, 1855. Both were life-long members of the Reformed Church. Our subject grew to manhood on the home farm, and was married

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September 8, 1853, to Marietta, daughter of Samuel and Eva (Cover) Rickert, who settled in Pymatuning Township in the spring of 1836, where the father died and the mother yet resides, at the ripe old age of eighty-five years. Mrs. Ash is a native of Eastern Pennsylvania, and is the mother of eight children, five of whom are living: Milton E., James E., Newton D., Edwin E. and Mary V. Of the three deceased children only one, Ada J., grew to maturity. Mr. Ash followed farming in West Salem Township up to the spring of 1884, then removed to Greenville, where he was engaged in the coal business until the spring of 1888, when he sold out. In politics he is a Republican, and the family belong to the Reformed Church.

HENRY AUSTIN, the pioneer jeweler of Greenville, who died of paralysis on Tuesday, March 6, 1888, was born in Sheffield, Berkshire Co., Mass., Febru- ary 28, 1821, and celebrated his sixty-seventh birthday on the Tuesday pre- ceding his death. His parents were Harry D. and Elmira (Pope) Austin, natives of Massachusetts, both of whom died at Sheffield at ripe old ages. At the age of fifteen Henry left home and went to Michigan, and three years afterward located in Erie, Penn., where he was employed in his brother's jew- elry store. In the fall of 1840 he returned to his early home and entered the jewelry store of his brother-in-law, in Sheffield, whence he removed to Norfolk, Conn. Soon afterward he returned to Sheffield, where he worked at his trade till the fall of 1845, when he came to Greenville, Penn., and opened a jew- eler's store. For nearly forty-three years Mr. Austin carried on that business successfully in this town, and at the time of his death was the oldest merchant of Greenville, all of those who were in business when he came having either left the borough, retired from active life, or passed to their eternal reward. Mr. Austin was married in Sheffield, Mass., October 19, 1847, to Miss Clar- rissa Jones, a native of the same place, who survives him. Six children were born of this union: Harry D., Robert E., Adela F. (wife of C. E. Loutzen- hiser), Charles H., Ida L. and T. Merrill, all of whom are residents of Green- ville, except Robert E., of Sharpsville, and T. Merrill, a professor of music in Westminster College, New Wilmington, Penn. Deceased was one of the old- est members of Eureka Lodge No. 290, F. & A. M., also of Mound Chapter No. 212 and North-Western Commandery, and belonged to Alhambra Lodge No. 293, I. O. O. F. Politically he was a stanch Republican, and served in the borough council and filled the position of burgess. He always took a deep

interest in the growth and progress of education, and was at one time an active member of the school board. Throughout his long residence in Greenville Mr. Austin was at all times an ardent advocate of temperance, and did all in his power against the liquor traffic. He possessed a cheerful, hopeful and benev- olent disposition, strong convictions, strong likings, and the opposite, but was always courteous in business and social life; while simplicity, integrity and love of home and family were among the most prominent traits of his character.

JOHN BACHER, clothing merchant, was born in Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, April 26, 1841, and is a son of Michael and Margaret (Fichtner) Bacher, natives of Wuertemberg, Germany, who immigrated to Pittsburgh, Penn., about 1830, and a few years later removed to Warren, Ohio. They reared three sons: John, of Greenville, Penn. ; Henry, of Warren, Ohio, and Daniel, of Washington Territory. The mother died in Warren, Ohio, and the father in Greenville, Penn. Our subject attended school in Warren, Ohio, until March, 1857, when he came to Greenville and spent three years and a half at the confectioner's trade. . In the fall of 1860 he began clerking in the store of Henlein & Brother, which he followed until October, 1862. He then enlisted in the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served

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nearly ten months, when he was honorably discharged from the service. He returned to the old establishment, where he took charge of the clothing department as clerk. In 1871 he obtained a working interest in the business, the firm being Henlein & Bacher, and in January, 1873, T. C. Gibson joined the firm, and it then became Bacher, Gibson & Co. In April, 1876, Mr. Gib- son retired, and the old name of Henlein & Bacher was resumed. This firm continued in successful operation until February, 1885, when Mr. Henlein dropped out and J. G. Benninghoff and Gustav B. Henlein each obtained an interest, and the present firm of Bacher, Benninghoff & Co. was established, and carries on one of the largest clothing houses in Mercer County. Mr. Bacher was married, November 16, 1865, to Eva M. Mathay, a native of Ger- many, whose parents settled in Mercer County when she was a child. Of this union six children have been born to them: William F., Mary, Nettie U., Jennie B., Eva M. and Annie E. Mr. Bacher is a Democrat in politics, a member of the G. A. R., and the family belong to the Lutheran Church.

B. F. BASKIN (deceased attorney) was born July 2, 1819, in Selins Grove, Union Co., Penn., and was educated at Lafayette College, Easton, Penn., from which institution he graduated in 1839. He read law with John Lashells, then of New Berlin, and was admitted to the bar in 1842. He began the practice of his chosen profession in Mercer in 1843, being a portion of the time that he remained in the county seat in the office of John Hoge. In 1849 he removed to Greenville, and ten years later to Meadville, Penn., and for three years was associated with the Hon. S. Newton Pettis in the prac- tice of law, in the latter named city. He returned to Greenville in April, 1862, where he died July 9, of that year. He served one term as district attorney of Mercer County .

WILLIAM BEATTY, ex-commissioner of Mercer County, was born March 5, 1831, in Delaware Township, this county. His father, James, was a native of Chester County, Penn., and one of nine, the children of William Beatty, who immigrated to America from his native country, Ireland, prior to the Revo- lutionary War. The children of William Beatty were: Jane (married a Mr. McCreary), Rebecca (married a Mr. Porter), Polly (married Washington Tait,. a brother of the well-known Rev. Samuel Tait), Betsey (was never married), Margaret (married Richard Moore), Samuel (was never married), Robert (mar- ried Anna McMillan), William (was never married), James (married Elizabeth Campbell). William Beatty, the grandfather of our subject, was a brave soldier in the great Revolutionary struggle, and two of his sons, Robert and William, served in the War of 1812; the latter was wounded in the shoulder and maimed for life. Elizabeth (Campbell) Beatty, was one of seven chil- dren: Margaret married Robert Fruit; Anna married Thomas Fruit: Jane married J. W. Ormsby; Polly married Charles Koonce; William married Esther Dilly; James married a Miss Thompson, and Eliza. The mother of Will- iam Beatty, Sr., often walked fifteen miles and return to enjoy the preaching of the famous Whitfield. Robert, the brother of James Beatty, was an earnest worker in all reforms, especially temperance, abolition and the church. Robert's children were: Sarah (married Thomas Shoemaker), William (died young), Samuel (was never married), Eliza (married W. Alden, a nephew of Timothy Alden, once president of Allegheny College, at Meadville, Penn. ), Isabella (died single), Ebenezer (died young), Amelia (married Bartlett Leon- ard), Caroline (married David Parker), Harriet (married Samuel Hubler), James (married Axenia Cutler). The children of James and Elizabeth (Camp- bell) Beatty are: Mary A. (never married), Margaret (married Anson Jones), Elmyra (died when young), William. The last named was educated in the

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common schools. His father died when he was ten years old, and his school days were consequently cut short, because of the need of his services to sus- tain the family. He spent his early days on the farm, and later gave his attention to stock growing. In 1874 he formed a partnership under the firm name of Bright & Beatty, and dealt in boots and shoes at Greenville. After a period of success he withdrew, and subsequently re-entered the same business with his son, J. P. In 1884 Fred, another son, was taken into the firm, and they continued until 1886. In 1884 he was elected a county commissioner, and served as president of the board with credit and ability. He was married in 1855 to Mary E., a daughter of John L. Dilley, of Hubbard, Ohio. By her he has been blessed with three children: J. P., Fred (deceased) and Eva (the wife of J. W. Vaughn). Mr. and Mrs. Beatty are consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a stanch Republican. The ancestors of Mr. Beatty have nearly all lived to a ripe old age, and were closely identified with the Presbyterian Church. It was about 1802 or 1803 when the first of the Beattys came to Mercer County. On March 12, 1888, the angel of death came along and plucked from this happy family their brightest flower, in the person of Fred Beatty, which filled the entire community with sorrow. For many years he had been an efficient clerk in the store of Tillotson Bros., in whose welfare and business he took as deep interest as if it were his own.

EDWIN T. BEATTY, of the firm of Beatty & Findley, dealers in books, etc., was born in Sheakleyville, Mercer County, Penn., August 10, 1849. His father, David M. Beatty, was also a native of this county, where he was born February 10, 1813, his parents being Hon. Francis and Isabella Beatty, of Salem Township. David M. grew up on the old homestead, and during his boyhood days learned the shoemaker's trade. He was married to Miss Eliza- beth Findley, April 25, 1839, who was born in Crawford County, Penn., and was a daughter of Moses and Elizabeth Findley, natives of Ireland, pioneers of that county. Soon after his marriage David M. removed to Portersville, Penn., where he resided about two years, then returned to Mercer County and located at Sheakleyville, where he carried on the boot and shoe business till his sudden death, January 9, 1885, his wife having died May 3, 1884. They were the parents of seven children: Francis G. (of Nevada City, Cal.), Findley N. (deceased), Mrs. Caroline Carver (of Sandy Lake) Norman H. (of Jefferson, Ohio), Edwin T. (of Greenville), Elizabeth (deceased), and Thomas D. (of Rock Creek, Ohio). Mr. Beatty was a prominent Republican, and filled the office of justice of the peace in Sheakleyville twenty-three years, and died while serving his fifth term. He also went out in the ninety-days ser- vice during the Rebellion in Capt. John Stinson's company. He was a quiet, unassuming man of upright character, and died possessing a host of friends. Both he and his wife were Presbyterians all their lives, and belonged to the United Presbyterian body from its organization in 1858. Edwin T. was reared in this county, and attended the public schools of Sheakleyville till 1868, when he commenced clerking in Wayne, Ohio. In 1869-70 he attended the Normal Academy at Cannonsburg, Penn., for two terms. During the win- ter of 1870-71 he taught school in Mercer County, came to Greenville in the latter year and engaged in clerking. For a few months in 1872, he was in the coal business. In August, 1873, he formed a partnership with W. H. Findley, and purchased the book store of Jacob Miller, of Greenville. The firm of Beatty & Findley has ever since been engaged in that business. Mr. Beatty was married September 1, 1875, to Miss Maggie M. R. E., daugh- ter of the late Dr. R. E. Breiner, of Greenville, where Mrs. Beatty was born and reared. Three children are the fruits of this union: Robert E., Susan

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 102

Author: Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1288

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1288