History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 104

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

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DR. ANSON T. CLARK, physician and surgeon, was born in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., April 21, 1835, and is a son of Elam and Perces (Carpenter) Clark. His father was a native of Northampton, Mass., and his mother of Norwich, Conn., who immediately after their marriage located in New York State. In 1843 the family removed to Crawford County, Penn., and settled four miles east of Meadville, where the parents resided until death. Dr. Clark grew to manhood on the homestead in Crawford County, and received

his primary education in the public schools thereof. He afterward attended Randolph Academy, in New York State, now the Chamberlin Institute, two years. For the next three years he taught school in Crawford County, and during that time commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. John C. Cotton, of Meadville. In 1859 he entered the medical department of Michigan University, Ann Arbor, where he graduated in March, 1861. Dr. Clark opened an office soon afterward in Centerville, Crawford County, where he continued in practice up to May, 1863, when he was appointed assistant surgeon of the Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, for the unexpired term of that regiment, which extended up to the fall of 1864. Dr. Clark then

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

returned to his home and opened an office in Greenfield, Mercer County, where he prosecuted the duties of his profession, until the fall of 1879, when he removed to Greenville. Since locating in this borough he has devoted his whole attention to his profession, and now enjoys a good practice. He was married October 7, 1861, to Miss Adelia F. Carr, a native and resident of Conneautville, Crawford County, of which union three children have been born, two of whom are living: Charles C., now at United States Military Acad- emy, West Point, and S. Frances. Dr. Clark and family belong to the Baptist Church. He is a Republican in politics and a member of John C. Dickey Post, No. 433, G. A. R. He is also a member of the Mercer County Medical Society, the State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.

W. H. CLIFT, grocery merchant, was born in Bucks County, Penn., March 13, 1852, and grew to maturity under the parental roof. His father, Jona- than Clift (deceased), was born in the same county, March 31, 1826, and was a son of Jonathan and Ann Clift, who resided in Bucks County until their decease. Jonathan, Jr., learned the stone-mason's trade in his native county, which he followed in different parts of the Union. He was a contractor in Bucks County until his removal to Delaware Grove, Mercer Co., Penn., in 1863. Here he engaged in hotel-keeping, and dealing in stock in partnership with B. E. Worthington, a leading stock dealer in Bucks County, Penn. In 1865 he removed to New Hamburg and formed a partnership with Daniel Hecker in the mercantile business, which lasted six years. Throughout this period Mr. Clift continued the stock business, and in the fall of 1870 removed to Greenville, where he bought and shipped stock up to 1881, when he retired from the stock trade. In partnership with his son, W. H. Clift, he estab- lished a grocery house, in which he was interested until his death, September 21, 1887. Mr. Clift was married in Bucks County, Penn., September 11, 1850, to Miss Emily R. Boyd, a native of Philadelphia, who bore him five children: William H., Anna M., Louisa S. (deceased), Mary H. and H. Jennie (wife of L. F. Black, of Greenville). Mr. Clift was a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, to which his family also adheres. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Masonic and I. O. O. F. fraternities. His widow and family reside in Greenville. Our subject, W. H. Clift, followed clerking from the age of twelve until he went into business for himself. Besides a public school education he spent one year in Bustleton Academy, Philadelphia. In 1881 he formed a partnership with his father, and they opened a grocery store, which he still operates. Mr. Clift was married Feb- ruary 10, 1884, to Miss Phebe J. Freeman, of Crawford, Penn., of which union two daughters, Mabel and Emma, have been born. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he belongs to the Republican party. He is a charter member of Greenville Lodge, No. 64, A. O. U. W.

CHARLES DAMBACHER, merchant tailor, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, June 24, 1852, and is a son of Andrew and Veronica (Hafler) Dambacher, natives of the same place, where both died. Charles grew up in Wurtemberg, and there learned the tailor's trade. In 1871 he immigrated to Greenville, Penn., where he worked at his trade three years. For the succeeding six years he worked in Erie, New Castle and Fredonia, Penn., returning to Green- ville in 1880, where he continued the same for nearly two years longer. On September 1, 1882, he formed a partnership with Frank A. Donner, under the firm name of Dambacher & Donner, and opened a merchant tailoring estab- lishment, since which time they have won and retained a good share of the business. Mr. Dambacher was married January 27, 1876, to Miss Sophia,

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daughter of Michael and Mary (Rommelfinger) Schumacher, a pioneer Catholic family of Greenville. Mrs. Dambacher was born in Greenville, and bore him a family of four children: Otto, Mary, Michael and Gertrude (deceased). She died June 11, 1885, in the faith of the Catholic Church. Our subject was again married January 6, 1886, to Miss Lizzie F., daughter of Samuel and Mary (Huston) Kee, natives of Lake Township, Mercer County. The father died in 1868, and his widow resides on the old homestead. Mrs. Dambacher was born and reared in Lake Township. Mr. Dambacher is a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church, and his wife of the Presbyterian Church, of Green- ville. He is a Democrat in politics, and one of the active young business men of the town.

ROBERT DICKEY, retired merchant and farmer, was born in County Donegal, Ireland, November, '8, 1808, and is a son of Rev. William and Margaret (Porter) Dickey, of the same place, where both spent their lives. Rev. Will- iam Dickey was a Presbyterian minister, and followed that vocation in his native county up to a short time of his death, Our subject grew to manhood in Ireland, and there learned the trade of a copper and tinsmith. In May, 1830, he immigrated to Pittsburgh, Penn., where he married Miss Matilda Cooper, October 7, 1833. She, too, was a native of County Donegal, Ireland, born May 10, 1810, and was a daughter of John and Elizabeth Cooper. Mrs. Dickey reared the following children: Samuel C., John C. (deceased), Re- becca, Joseph P., Robert and James C. Mr. Dickey resided in Pittsburgh until the spring of 1845, when he came to Greenville and established the busi- ness house which his sons still carry on. In 1859 he gave up that business and purchased a part of the old Loutzenhiser farm, northeast of Greenville, and resided there till the spring of 1888, when he removed into the borough .. Mr. Dickey became a member of his father's congregation in Ireland, and when he settled in Pittsburgh he united with the Associate Presbyterian Church of that city. He kept up his membership in that body until its amal- gamation, in 1858, with the Associate Reformed, since which event he has continued a leading member of the United Presbyterian Church of Greenville, Penn. In 1838 he was elected an elder of the Allegheny Church, and for the past fifty years has filled that office. His wife died February 22, 1883, in the United Presbyterian faith. Mr. Dickey has been a resident of Mercer County over forty-three years, and is one of its well-known, respected pioneers. He was first a Whig and then a Republican; was burgess of Greenville in 1858, and has also filled the office of school director.

DICKEY BROTHERS, stove and hardware merchants, are the successors of one of the oldest firms in the borough. Their parents, Robert and Matilda Dickey, natives of Ireland, removed from Pittsburgh to Greenville on April, 1845, where the former established a tinware and stove store, which he con- ducted fourteen years, when he sold out to his son Samuel C., the senior mem- ber of the present firm. Samuel C. was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., October 25, 1836, and came with his parents to Greenville. In 1859 he bought out his father's store and ran the business until 1867, when A. G. Boies purchased an interest. The firm of Dickey & Boies continued until 1873, when Mr. Dickey bought out his partner. His brothers, Joseph P. and Robert, subsequently entered the business, and the firm of Dickey Bros. was formed. Mr. Dickey was married September 20. 1866, to Miss Eliza Stinson, of Greenville, whose father, James Stinson, was one of the early settlers of Mercer County. One son and two daughters have been born of this union, Amelda being the only survivor. Both he and wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church. Mr. Dickey is a Republican in politics, has been councilman of the borough

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nine years, and is now serving as burgess. He is a member of Sergt. John C. Dickey Post No. 433, G. A. R., which was named in honor of his deceased brother.

JOSEPH P. DICKEY was born in Greenville September 5, 1848, and grew up in his native town. In 1866 he went to Colorado, where he spent sev- eral years in mining and merchandising. In 1873 he returned to Greenville and became a member of the present firm. On the 1st of December, 1879, he was married to Miss Ada M. Palmer, of Cleveland, Ohio, of which union three daughters have been born and survive: Mamie, Rebe and Clara. Mr. Dickey is a stanch Republican, and a member of the Masonic fraternity.

ROBERT DICKEY, JR., was born in Greenville . October 13, 1852, and has always lived here. In 1873 he became a member of the firm of Dickey Bros. He was married February 2, 1882, to Miss Dora, daughter of James W. Linn, who spent his whole life in this county. Two daughters have been born to them, Matilda and Roberta, both of whom are living. Mr. Dickey is an ardent supporter of the principles of the Republican party.

DR. FIELDING DONALDSON, SR., physician and surgeon, was born in Wash- ington County, Penn., December 25, 1822. His grandfather, William Don- aldson, emigrated with his family from the County Armagh, Ireland, to Chambersburg, Penn., where he spent the balance of his life. The Doctor's parents, John and Nancy (Watson) Donaldson, were also natives of Armagh, Ireland, where they were married, and in 1801 immigrated to Lancaster County, Penn. Two years afterward they removed to Washington County, where a family of eleven children were born to them. In the spring of 1840 the family settled in Freedom, Beaver County, and there the parents died in October and December of 1851, respectively. Dr. Donaldson received his education prin- cipally in his native county. He began his medical studies in Youngstown, Ohio, and completed them under his brother, Dr. James A. Donaldson, of Venango County, Penn. In the spring of 1850 he commenced practice in Venango County, where he remained in practice over seven years. In the fall of 1857 Dr. Donaldson came to Greenville, and formed a partnership with Dr. H. D. La. Cossitt, one of the pioneer physicians of the town. This partner- ship continued two years, when it was dissolved and Dr. Donaldson continued alone. He attended his first course of lectures at the Western Reserve Medi- cal College, Cleveland, Ohio, and his second course at Philadelphia Medical University, where he graduated in 1866. The Doctor was married May 14, 1845, to Miss Margaret C. Jones, a native of Rochester, Beaver Co., Penn., who is the mother of four sons: Nelson F., a physician at North Platte, Neb., and one of the surgeons of the Union Pacific Railroad Company; James A., a dentist of Greenville; Jacob J., a dentist of East Palestine, Ohio, and Field- ing, a practicing physician of Greenville. Dr. Donaldson belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church and his wife to the Disciples, while the whole family are Republicans in politics. Since locating in Greenville, more than thirty years ago, Dr. Donaldson has continued in active practice, and he yet occupies the same house, on the corner of Main and Water Streets, wherein he first located. He is to day the senior member of the medical profession in Greenville.

SIMON DONNER, retired merchant, was born in Northampton County, Penn., March 12, 1821, and is a son of Michael and Susannah (Laubach) Donner, natives of the same county, of German ancestry. Simon grew to maturity in Northampton County. His father died when our subject was about eighteen years old, and he subsequently went to learn the tinner's trade, at which he spent a couple of years. He worked at his trade in his native county till

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1848-49, when he came to Clarksville, Mercer County, and started the tin- ning business. He was there married, April 16, 1850, to Christiana Holler, of Hickory Township, but a native of Northampton County, Penn. Soon after marriage Mr. Donner removed to Greenville, where he continued in the tinner's business a few years. He then engaged in merchandising, and re- mained in that line of business the greater portion of his time up to a recent date. Mr. Donner reared two children: Frank A., of the firm of Dambacher & Donner, and Amanda, wife of George W. Hewitt, a jeweler of Greenville. He has been a stanch Democrat all his life, and is one of the oldest and most substantial citizens of the town.

REV. BERNARD DONOHOE, pastor of St. Michael's Catholic Church of Green- ville, was born in Ardleny, County Cavan, Ireland, August 15, 1852, and is a son of James and Bridget (Keirnan) Donohoe, natives and residents of the same place. Our subject attended the national schools until his twelfth year, and then went to a classical academy, located on the banks of the celebrated Lough Sheelan, in his native county, where he spent six years. In August, 1870, he immigrated to New York, and soon afterward entered St. Bonaven- ture's College, Allegany, N. Y., where he remained until June, 1874, when he was called to Erie, Penn., and ordained priest by Bishop Mullen, June 7, 1874, and was immediately sent as assistant priest in St. Thomas' Church, Corry, Penn. In December, 1874, he took charge of Lepanto, Clarion Co., Penn., but early in 1875 he removed to St. Michael's Church, Emlenton, Venango Co., Penn. A short time afterward he took charge of the Immacu- late Conception Church, in Rome, Crawford County, returning to Corry in the fall of 1875. He remained in Corry until July, 1876, when he was appointed pastor of St. Michael's Church, Greenville, where he has ever since had charge. In connection with St. Michael's are the missions of Jamestown, Transfer, Orangeville, Hadley and Atlantic. Since taking charge of the Greenville Parish, Father Donohoe has made many improvements in the church and pas- toral residence. He has also purchased four lots opposite the church, known as the Andrews property, and four acres of an addition to the cemetery, adjoin- ing the same on the west. He has done a great deal toward building up St. Michael's congregation, which is to-day in a more flourishing condition than during any period of its history.

W. H. H. DUMARS, editor and proprietor of the Shenango Valley News, is a descendant of one of the pioneer families of Mercer County. His grand- father, Timothy Dumars, was a native of Ireland, who immigrated to Penn- sylvania when eighteen years of age, and in 1797-98 came to the Shenango Valley, and located in what afterward became Salem Township, Mercer Coun- ty. He was twice married, first to Mary, daughter of William Fell, a pioneer of West Salem, of which union two daughters, Nancy and Polly, were born. His second wife was Sarah Stuart, who bore him seven children: Phoebe (de- ceased), Thomas S., William (deceased), James, Joseph (deceased), Fanny (deceased) and Sarah. The parents both died in this county. The eldest son, Thomas S., is the father of our subject, and was born in Salem Township June 18, 1810. His boyhood days were spent upon his father's farm, and his early manhood in agricultural pursuits. He was married April 23, 1833, to Hannah A. Limber, who bore him nine children, five of whom survive, viz. : Sarah (wife of Rev. W. H. Mossman), W. H. H., Mary F., Annie (wife of D. D. Buck) and Emma (wife of H. H. Lininger). In 1846 Mr. Dumars began keeping hotel in Mercer, removing to Meadville in 1849, where he continued in the same business till 1852, when he came to Greenville and opened the St. Charles Hotel. From 1857 to 1862 he lived in Jacksonville, Ill., where

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

he was engaged in farming and milling. He then returned to Greenville, and has since resided in this borough. Our subject was born a few miles east of Greenville, December 24, 1840, and was named in honor of the then Presi- dent-elect, William Henry Harrison, grandfather of Benjamin Harrison, recently elected to the same high office. In 1854 he commenced learning the printing trade in the office of Finch & Weir, then publishing the only paper in Greenville, and worked three years in that office. In 1858 he entered Illinois College, at Jacksonville, spending four years in that institution, and during vacations worked at his trade and on the farm. He did editorial work on the Jacksonville Journal, and in 1860-61 published the Jacksonville Review, at the same time contributing to the Continental Monthly, St. Louis Democrat and other publications. In 1862 he returned to Greenville, and August 11 enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, and served till the regiment was mustered out, May 31, 1865. He is a member of the G. A. R., and, though a sufferer from rheuma- tism contracted in the army, he has never applied for a pension. After the war Mr. Dumars was appointed to a clerkship in the war department at- Wash- ington, which he resigned, in 1867, to take an interest in the Greenville Argus. He soon sold out to his partner, and took a situation on the Erie Dispatch, filling consecutively the positions of compositor, night editor and managing editor on that paper. Returning to Greenville he became one of the founders of the Advance, now the Advance Argus. In 1882 he purchased the Shenango Valley News, and has since been the editor and owner of that paper. Mr. Dumars was married March 27, 1876, to Mrs. Nellie M. Lyon, who is now his business, as well his domestic, partner. She is a practical printer, and fully competent to take charge of the office. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. As the News is one of of the most vigor- ous supporters of the Republican party it is perhaps unnecessary to add that its able editor has always held the same political faith since the birth of that organization.

DAVID EMERY was born in what is now Lawrence County, Penn., March 21, 1823, and removed with his parents, William and Lydia (Harlan) Emery, into Butler County, when he was about two years old. His parents were natives of this State, and his grandparents, John and Ann (Covert) Emery, settled in what is now Lawrence County, on Slippery Rock, early in the pres- ent century. The maternal grandfather, Jonathan Harlan, emigrated from Eastern Pennsylvania to the site of Harlansburg, Lawrence County, in the latter part of the eighteenth century. David grew up in Butler County, and was married, in Grove City, Penn., to Miss Isabella Campbell, born near Harlansburg, Penn. They reared seven children, all of whom are living, and three sons and one daughter residents of Greenville. Mr. Emery taught school for fifteen years and carried on farming during this period, removing in the spring of 1857 to the vicinity of Greenville, and in 1872 located in the borough where he and his wife have since resided. W. W. Emery was born near Harlansburg, Butler Co., Penn., July 27, 1847, and remained under the parental roof until he grew to maturity, receiving a common-school education. Ere reaching manhood he began clerking in a dry goods store in Greenville, and in 1877 formed a partnership with W. A. Keck in the dry goods business. Mr. Emery continued a member of the firm of Keck & Emery until February, 1886, when he sold out to his partner and, with his brother, P. C., purchased the boot and shoe stock of William Beatty & Sons, which he sold out in the fall of 1888, with the intention of re entering the dry goods in 1889. Mr. Emery was married, September 15, 1874, to Miss Dora F., daughter

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of Marvin Loomis, of Greenville. Four children have been born of this union: Mary, Ella, Laura and Marvin. Mr. Emery is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and belongs to the Republican party. P. C. Emery was born in Butler County, Penn., November 4, 1855, and grew up and received his education in Mercer County. In 1871 he came to Green- ville, and clerked until 1879, then went to Mercer and formed a partner- ship in the dry goods business with James Campbell, the firm being Camp- bell & Emery. He remained in business at Mercer until February, 1886, when the partnership of Emery Bros. was formed, which existed till the fall of 1888. Mr. Emery was married March 22, 1883, to Miss Sadie, daughter of William Logan, president of the First National Bank of Mercer. He and wife are adherents of the United Presbyterian Church, and he is an unswerving advocate of the Democratic party.

WALTER J. FELL, manufacturer, was born in West Salem Township, Mer- cer Co., Penn., October 12, 1851, and is a son of Aylett R. and Clarissa (Fol- lett) Fell, who reside upon the old homestead in West Salem. W. J. grew to manhood on his father's farm, and received his primary education in the dis- trict schools. He afterward attended the high-school at New Lebanon, Mer- cer County, and subsequently the Western Reserve College at Hudson, Ohio, and Mount Union College in the same State, also the State Normal School at Edinboro, Penn. During this period he had been engaged in teaching at various points, and was principal of the public schools of Orangeville, Ohio. In January, 1878, Mr. Fell commenced the manufacture of oil barrel staves and lumber in this county and Trumbull County, Ohio, and West Virginia, and has since continued in this line of business. He owns and operates sev- eral mills in Mercer and adjoining counties of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and in West Virginia, and has been very successful in the several enterprises in which he has been engaged. Mr. Fell is a stanch Republican, and one of the most energetic and enterprising citizens of his native county.

WILLIAM R. FESSLER, merchant tailor and cutter, was born in Heidelberg Township, Berks Co., Penn., October 19, 1828, and is a son of Daniel and Rebecca (Gruber) Fessler, natives of the same place, of German ancestry. Both died in Harrisburg, Penn. Our subject grew up under the parental roof, and learned the tailor trade in Cumberland, Md., and afterward spent some time working at his trade in different portions of the Union, principally in the Southern States. In June, 1848, he came to Mercer County and located in Sheakleyville, where he was married, in March, 1849, to Miss Nancy H., daughter of the late Thomas and Ellen (Limber) Wallace, pioneers of that portion of Mercer County. Three children were born of this marriage: Lydia (deceased), John W. and Walter Woodruff. From 1848 until 1861 Mr. Fess- ler spent most of his time in Sheakleyville, where he followed his trade and where his family resided. In April, 1861, he came to Greenville and entered the employ of John Brackin, merchant tailor, in which house he filled the position of cutter a period of over twenty-seven years. Mrs. Fessler died after a lingering illness January 28, 1888, in the faith of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, to which denomination her husband also belongs. Politically Mr. Fessler is a Democrat, and has been councilman of the borough and a director on the school board. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also of I. O. O. F. since 1849, and has always taken a deep interest in the growth and progress of his adopted county.

M. H. FETZER, D. D. S., was born in Cambria County, Penn., November 18, 1856, and is the son of Rev. C. A. and Anna W. (Harris) Fetzer. The former is a native of Germany, and a minister of the Lutheran Church. The

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latter was born in England, and they were married in Jefferson County, Penn. Dr. Fetzer was one of the first students of Thiel College, then known as Thiel Hall, and afterward attended Tabeleau Seminary in Venango County, Penn. He subsequently taught school two terms in Clarion and Armstrong Counties. In June, 1875, he commenced the study of dentistry in Ephrata, Lancaster Co., Penn., under Dr. Rhine Hertz, a prominent dentist of that section of the State. In 1881 and 1882 he attended the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery, and graduated in the spring of the latter year. His parents having

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 104

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