History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 105

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

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removed to Greenville in 1880, Dr. Fetzer, immediately after graduating, came to this borough, opened an office and has since built up a good practice. The Doctor was married in January, 1876, to Miss Mary E. Mohler, of Ephrata, Penn. Dr. Fetzer is a member of Lake Erie Dental Association and the Odontologi- cal Society of Western Pennsylvania. He is a Democrat in politics, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Lutheran in religious belief.

W. J. B. FINDLEY, grocery merchant, was born in East Fallowfield Town- ship, Crawford Co., Penn., January 28, 1831, and is a son of Moses and Elizabeth (Hays) Findley. The former was born in Ireland, and at the age of twenty-one immigrated, with his father, John Findley and family, to Crawford County. John Findley died in the north part of Crawford County, leaving three sons and two daughters: Moses, John, Robert, Rhoda and Mary Ann, all of whom have since passed away. Moses Findley was married to Elizabeth Hays, in Crawford County, December 17, 1811. She, too, was a native of Ire- land, and a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Hays, natives of Scotland, who emigrated from Ireland to Westmoreland County, Penn., when she was seven years old, and in 1803 settled in Crawford County, where they died. To Moses and Elizabeth Findley were born eight children: John, deceased; Eliz- abeth, deceased; Mary J. deceased; Samuel H., of Crawford County; Rhoda, deceased; Haul, deceased; Thomas, of California, and W. J. B., of Greenville. The father died on the old homestead in 1845, in his sixty-fifth year, from dis- ease contracted while serving in the War of 1812. His widow survived him until 1873, dying in her eighty-third year. They were Covenanters in religious faith, and Democrats in politics. The Hays family were connected in marriage with the Buchanans of Pennsylvania, Polks of Tennessee, and the Knoxes of Arkansas. Our subject grew to manhood in his native county, and at the age of twenty-two opened a store in Sheakleyville. In 1856 he went to California, and returned in 1860. He began mercantile business in Mead- ville, which he carried on until the spring of 1877, when he sold out and spent some time recuperating his broken health. In the spring of 1879 he located in Greenville, and in the spring of 1881 opened a general grocery store, which he has since conducted. Mr. Findley was married August 21, 1856, to Miss Hattie Dunn, of Sheakleyville, of which union three children have been born: Carrie E., wife of S. H. Sutherland, a stock grower of New Mexico; Charles H., who died July 9, 1883, and James E., of Greenville. The fam- ily belong to the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Findley is a fearless advocate of the principles of the Democratic party, and in 1874 was the choice of his party in Crawford County for Congress.

WILLIAM H. FINDLEY, of the firm of Beatty & Findley, dealers in books, stationery, etc., was born in East Fallowfield Township, Crawford Co., Penn., January 5, 1850, and is a son of Hon. Samuel H. Findley, of Hartstown, Crawford County, who has represented that county two terms in the Legis- lature. He was born on the old Findley homestead, in East Fallowfield Town- ship, February 4, 1821, and is a son of Moses Findley, previously mentioned. He grew up under the parental roof, and received a good English education.

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He spent a portion of his early manhood in the South engaged as a contractor .. He was married June 22, 1847, to Miss Louisa Ann, daughter of Richard and Almera (Whetmore) Custard, of Crawford County, who afterward removed to Sheakleyville. Mrs. Findley was born in Greenwood Township, Crawford County, December 17, 1827, at what is well known as "Custards," where her father kept hotel and post-office for many years. Samuel H. Findley and wife are residents of Hartstown, and members of the United Presbyterian Church. Politically he was always an anti-slavery man, and was one of the local organizers of the Republican party. He has served many years as justice of the peace in a Democratic township, and has always been prom- inent in the local affairs of his neighborhood. He is a strong temperance man, of wide knowledge of men and affairs, and is highly respected by his neighbors. In 1863 William H. Findley went to Meadville, where he spent three years in the public schools and the academy of that borough. He after- ward clerked in Meadville three years, and in the fall of 1869 entered Jeffer- son Academy at Cannonsburg, Penn., and spent two terms. He taught school one term in Crawford County, and in May, 1872, came to Greenville, and clerked till August, 1873, when the firm of Beatty & Findley was established and began business. They have been the leading house in their line in Green- ville for the past fifteen years. Mr. Findley was married October 31, 1877, to Miss Susan J. P., daughter of the late Dr. R. E. Breiner, of Greenville,. of which union one son, Paul B., survives. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Findley has been one of the leading Repub- licans of Mercer County for several years.

DAVID H. FORD, carriage manufacturer, was born in Bolesburg, Centre County, Penn., August 11, 1839, and is a son of Hiram Ford, a native of Pennsylvania, of English parentage. His father grew to manhood in Centre County, and there married Barbara Ream, of that county, of German ancestry. They reared two children: David H. and Mary J., wife of Edward Stenger, of Hempfield Township. The father died when our subject was an infant, and the widow subsequently married John Durst. About 1851 the family came to Mercer County, where the mother died in 1886. David H. grew up in Mercer County, and was educated in the common schools. He learned carriage trim- ming in Greenville, commencing in 1857. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Sixty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the charge at Mayers Heights in the battle of Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863, where he was severely wounded while carrying the colors of his regiment in that charge. He lay in the hospital eight months, and at the end of fourteen months was honorably discharged as unfit for further service. Mr. Ford followed his trade until 1873, when he purchased the interest of William McDowell, of McDowell & Cooke, carriage manufacturers, and the firm of Cooke & Ford was then formed. In October, 1884, Mr. Ford became sole proprietor, and in January, 1886, his present partner, R. E. Thorn, joined him in business, and the pres- ent firm of Ford & Thorn was established. Mr. Ford was married July 26, 1866, to Amanda M., daughter of Samuel and Louisa Spear, early settlers of Mercer County. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the G. A. R. and the Masonic fraternity, and both he and wife are Presbyterians.

CHARLES H. FRY, farmer and proprietor of stone quarries, was born in Lehigh County, Penn., December 26, 1813. His parents, Abraham and Rebecca (Hofford) Fry, lived and died in that county. In the fall of 1837 our subject came to Greenville, where he has ever since made his home. He was married December 26, 1846, to Hannah, daughter of Jacob Hommer, one- of the well-remembered pioneers of West Salem Township, where he came

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

with his father from Maryland in 1809. Mrs. Fry was born on the old home- stead April 23, 1826, and is the mother of nine children: Louisa, widow of Daniel Knappenberger; William, Elizabeth E., wife of Jonathan Hawk; Charles, Joseph, Fannie, wife of Frank Keck; Samuel Q., Benjamin and Addie B., deceased. Mr. Fry has followed farming and quarrying the princi- pal portion of his life. From 1852 to 1860 he was connected with Samuel West in carrying the mails between Greenville and Mercer, and the latter part. of that period between Greenville and Warren, Ohio. Mr. Fry began life in Mercer County without a dollar, and by steady, industrious habits has accumu- lated during the past fifty-one years a competence for himself and family. Politically he is a Republican, and the family belong to the Lutheran Church .. He is now a member of the borough council.

FRED H. GAISER, of the firm of Gaiser & Kane, general merchants, was born in Greenville, March 31, 1853. His father, David Gaiser, was. born in Switzerland, in 1806, there grew to manhood and learned the carpen- ter trade. In 1830. he immigrated to Greenville, Penn., and was one of the pioneer carpenters of the town. He was married November 29, 1840, to Mrs. Elizabeth Snyder, nee Sweitzer, widow of Jacob Snyder, an early settler of Greenville, where they were married in June, 1834. Mr. Snyder died May 7, 1837, and three years and a half afterward she became the wife of David Gaiser. She was born in Germany in 1809, and bore the following children by her second marriage: Eliza, John, David (deceased), George, Eli and Fred H. Mr. Gaiser died April 1, 1853, and his widow has ever since

resided in Greenville. He followed his trade up to his death, and erected many of the first buildings in this part of the county. Fred H. Gaiser has always made Greenville his home. He began clerking at the age of sixteen, in the store of S. P. Johnston & Co. In February, 1877, he obtained an in- terest in the business, and has since continued a member of the firm under its several changes. In September, 1887, Martin Kane obtained a half inter- est, and the present firm of Gaiser & Kane was formed. Mr. Gaiser was mar- ried June 27, 1875, to Miss Abigail Bates, a native of Greene Township, Mercer Co., of which union seven children have been born: Nora, Bert, George, Eli, Thomas, Mabel and William, all of whom are living. Mr. Gaiser is a stanch Democrat, a member of the K. of P. and K. of H. and the family adhere to the Reformed Church.

THOMAS CHISMAN GIBSON, clothing merchant, was born in Darlington, England, November 8, 1847. His paternal grandparents, William and Sarah (Chisman) Gibson, had a "registered coat of arms, " and lived and died in Darlington, England. The father of Sarah Gibson kept the "Queen's. Head" Hotel in Darlington for many years, and after his death, at the age of eighty-seven, his widow conducted the business for a long time, living to the ripe old age of eighty-eight years. The parents of our subject, Chisman and Hannah (Hodgson) Gibson, were also natives of England, where the latter died in 1854, leaving a family of three sons. Chisman Gibson immi- grated to Buffalo, N.Y., in 1856, whither his children followed him in Jan- uary, 1858. The family subsequently removed to Aurora, N. Y., where the father still resides. Thomas C. was educated in the public schools of New York State, and at the age of twenty went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he com- menced learning his present business; thence removed to Warren, Ohio, and af- terward to Sharon, Penn. In June, 1871, Mr. Gibson came to Greenville, to fill the position of cutter for Henlein & Bacher, and in January, 1873, obtained an interest in the business, the firm becoming Bacher, Gibson & Co. This co- partnership was dissolved in April, 1876, and Mr. Gibson opened a mer-

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chant tailoring and clothing house in the room he has ever since occupied, and where he is conducting one of the largest trades in the county. Mr. Gibson was married October 26, 1876, to Miss Lizzie Kern, of Greenville, a native of Hamburg, Bucks Co., Penn., and a daughter of John and Wilhemina (Feather) Kern, natives of the same place. Two sons have been born of this marriage: Howard K. and Frank C. Mr. Gibson is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and an active adherent of the Republican party. He was president of the Blaine and Logan Club in 1884, and has always taken a deep interest in the success of Republican measures and principles. He is also one of the managers of the Board of Trade, and every worthy enter- prise finds in him a warm friend and generous supporter. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church of Greenville, Mr Gibson being one of the trustees of the church.

ALEXANDER D. GILLESPIE, attorney at law, was born two miles east of Greenville, October 10, 1822. He is a son of David and Hannah (Dumars) Gillespie, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter a daughter of Alex- ander Dumars, who settled two miles east of Greenville in the spring of 1800. When our subject was six years old his parents moved to Big Bend, on the · Shenango River, and there spent the remaining years of their lives. Alexan- der left home at seventeen to attend the academy of Greenville, then under the charge of Rev. John Gamble, a well-known educator of that period, where he spent one year. He then began teaching school in the winter seasons, and devoted the remainder of his time to the study of law in the office of William Maxwell, of Mercer. He attended Allegheny College at Meadville during the session of 1842-43, and taught school until 1844. On the 17th of December, 1845, he was admitted to practice, and "hung out his shingle " in Greenville. His surplus of cash to bridge over the period during which he was waiting for clients was the enormous sum of 75 cents. The first few years he scarcely made expenses, but with indomitable pluck he stuck to the law, and finally became one of the leading and most successful attorneys of the Mercer bar. Mr. Gillespie was married, July 4, 1846, to Miss Nancy Linn, a native of Mercer County, who has borne him four sons: Alfred D., Cassius R. (who died while attending the Edinboro Normal School), Eugene P. (a prominent attorney of Greenville) and Alexander J. (a practicing attorney of the same borough). Mr. Gillespie and wife reside on the west side, and are one of the few remaining pioneer couples of the town. Throughout his life he has been firm in his adherence to the Democratic party; assisted in establishing the Greenville Progress, and for a time was its editor and pro- prietor, and has been elected eight terms as burgess of Greenville, which fact, the town being strongly Republican, speaks volumes in favor of his standing among the people of his old home.

EUGENE P. GILLESPIE, attorney at law, was born in Greenville September 24, 1852, and is a son of Alexander D. Gillespie, a prominent pioneer lawyer of that borough. After receiving the advantages which the public schools afforded, he entered Allegheny College, Meadville, Penn., in 1868, where he spent two years. Late in 1870 he entered St. Michael's College, Toronto, Ontario, and was a student of that institution till June, 1872, when he received his certificate of graduation. Returning to Greenville he began reading law with his father, and was admitted to the Mercer bar August 18, 1874. He has since been engaged in the active duties of his profession, and has built up a large and successful practice. Mr. Gillespie was married, November 25, 1880, to Miss Ella Davidson, of Sharon, Penn., of which union three children have been born: Florence Stanley, Ellen and Robert Wray. He is a member

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of the Masonic fraternity, a leading politician of the Democratic party, and one of the best known attorneys of the county.

GEORGE H. GRAUEL, dealer in books, stationery, etc., was born in Pitts- burgh, Penn., March 25, 1862, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Nippert) Grauel, he a native of Bavaria, Germany, and she of Pittsburgh. In 1863 his parents came to Greenville, subsequently returning to Pittsburgh, where they remained a year or two and again located in Greenville, where his father is now engaged in the bakery and confectionery business. Our subject was. educated in the public schools of Greenville, and at the age of seventeen began clerking in a book and stationery store of the borough. He continued clerking in this town till the spring of 1883, and the following nine months clerked in Kansas City, Mo., returning to Greenville late in 1883. He after- ward went to Pittsburgh, where he clerked until October, 1885, then came home and purchased a half interest in the book store of John P. Derr, the. firm becoming John P. Derr & Co. In May, 1886, Frank M. Woods pur- chased Mr. Derr's interest, and the firm of Grauel & Woods was organized, and has since carried on the business. Mr. Grauel was married, October 5, 1887, to Miss Della, daughter of Lyman B. Speir, of Greenville. Politically he is a Republican, a member of the I. O. O. F., and both he and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JOHN K. HAMBLIN, senior member of Hamblin, Sons & Co., proprietors of the Greenville Foundry and Machine Shops, was born in Wilmington, Essex Co., N. Y., March 2, 1809. He is a son of Samuel and Rhoda (Smith) Ham- blin, natives of Connecticut, and grandson of Simeon Hamblin, a native of Maine, and a pioneer of Essex County, N. Y. Samuel removed with his family to Licking County, Ohio, early in the thirties, where he died in 1838. His widow afterward came to Mercer County, Penn., and here spent the remaining years of her life. In 1829 John K. Hamblin came West, and located in Unionville, Lake Co., Ohio, and taught school in that county two terms. He then, as confidential clerk, took charge of a furnace store in the same county, which position he filled three years, and then went to Cleveland, Ohio, to occupy a similar position. In 1835 he went back to Wilmington, N. Y., and on the 20th of September was there married to Miss Elizabeth Hickok, a native of Essex County, born September 10, 1810. Mr. Hamblin immediately returned to Lake County, Ohio, and resided there until March, 1838, when he removed to Greenville, Penn., and opened on Canal Street the first foundry operated in the town, and one of the first in Mercer County. For the past fifty years, excepting one short interval, he has been continuously engaged in the same business, the present foundry being just across the street from the site of the one he established half a century ago. Mrs. Hamblin died in November, 1846, leaving a family of five children: Henry M., Mrs. Mary E. Thalimer, of Greenville, Samuel, Mrs. Harriett Donaldson (deceased) and Mrs. Emeline McClelland, of Warren, Ohio. Mr. Hamblin was again married in April, 1848, to Mrs. Eunice B. Hunstable, who bore him three children: Albert, a resident of North Carolina; Alice, wife of A. T. Kreps, of Hamblin, Sons & Co., and J. Charles (deceased). Mrs. Hamblin died April 6,1888. Our subject is a Republican in politics, and the oldest surviving pioneer business man of Greenville.

HENRY M. HAMBLIN, of Hamblin, Sons & Co., was born in Lake County, Ohio, August 29, 1836, and is the eldest son of John K. and Elizabeth Ham- blin. After receiving the usual advantages of the Greenville public schools, he attended Allegheny College, Meadville, Penn. A large portion of his youthful days was spent in Rock Island, Ill., and Boston, Mass. He read

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law in the former city, and, after his return to Greenville in 1865, practiced his profession in Mercer County, and has served one term as district attorney. In August, 1871, be became a member of the present firm, and has ever since devoted his attention to the foundry and machine business. Mr. Hamblin is married, is the father of three children, and is one of the stanch Republicans of Greenville.

SAMUEL HAMBLIN, of Hamblin, Sons & Co., was born in Greenville, Penn., January 7, 1840, and grew up in his native town. After obtaining a common- school education he entered his father's foundry and machine shop, and became master of the mechanical part of the business. He continued to work for his father until August, 1871, when he became a member of the present firm, with full control of the mechanical department. Mr. Hamblin was married December 7, 1861, to Miss E. J. Kyle, of Greene Township, a native of Dauphin County, Penn. Four children have been born of this union: Mary C., John G., Maud G. and Ralph R. Mr. Hamblin is a Republican in politics, and the family are adherents of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

MICHAEL HAMILL, proprietor of the Hamill House, was born September 29, 1842, in the parish of Fork Hill, County Armagh, Ireland, and is a son of Mich- ael and Susan (Lee) Hamill, who lived and died in their native place. Our sub- ject received a good education in his native land, and in August, 1865, immi- grated to Greenville, Penn., where he then had relatives. He worked for his uncle a short time and then began clerking in the grocery store of Eugene Rooney, with whom he remained three years. In February, 1869, he started a grocery store, which he carried on successfully until March, 1881, when he opened the Hamill House, and has since been engaged in the hotel business. For the past fourteen years Mr. Hamill has had the general local agency of all the steamship lines between the Atlantic seaboard and Europe. He was married December 27, 1867, to Miss Mary Morgan, of Greenville, and a native of his own parish in Ireland. Of this union six children have been born to them, three of whom survive: Michael J., John T. and Susan. The family belong to the Catholic Church, and Mr. Hamill is a member of the C. M. B. A., and one of the stanch Democrats of the borough.

WILLIAM PERRY HANNA closed his eyes in the sleep of death on Saturday, October 6, 1888, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, aged seventy-three years, four months and twenty-seven days, after a lingering illness of several months' duration. He was born at Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Penn., May 7, 1815. His father, John C. Hanna, was a native of County Donegal, Ireland, and immigrated to the United States in early manhood, where he met and married Hannah Smith, also a native of the Emerald Isle. William P. was thus of pure Celtic stock, and inherited many of the characteristics of that remarkable race. His parents resided successively in Cumberland and Allegheny Counties, and removed to the borough of Mercer in 1822. They had then a family of three sons and three daughters, viz .: Robert, John S., Mary H., Sarah A., Nancy and William P. Sarah died at Mercer the year following their settle- ment. Our subject received his education in the pioneer schools of Mercer, and in 1833 came to Greenville to learn the chair-maker's trade in his brother Robert's factory. He, however, did not like the business, having had from early youth a strong natural inclination for drawing and painting. Fol- lowing this penchant he quit his trade and engaged in house and sign paint- ing, also indulging in his natural though uncultivated taste for drawing and portrait painting whenever the opportunity offered. In his late home are a few specimens of his brush, which he took pleasure in exhibiting to his friends. His mother died at Mercer October 21, 1844, in her sixty-fifth year, and his

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father then came to Greenville and made his home with his children until his death, June 16, 1846, aged seventy-two. From early manhood William P. was the mainstay of his parents. and their principal support in their declining years. His brother Robert and sisters Mary and Nancy died in Greenville, while John S. emigrated to Baltimore, Md., and is supposed to have died there. Politically Mr. Hanna was a stanch, unswerving Democrat, and faithfully believed in and advocated the principles of his party. He was appointed by President Polk postmaster at Greenville, December 29, 1845, and served until May, 1849, when the administration of President Taylor having come into power he was relieved from office. He then followed painting until June 6, 1853, when he was again appointed to the postmastership by President Pierce, and reappointed by President Buchanan in 1857. Soon after Abraham Lincoln succeeded to the Presidency Mr. Hanna was replaced by William Keck, a supporter of the new administration. In May, 1861, immediately after leaving the post-office, he established the Union Democrat-the first Democratic paper published at Greenville. He continued the publication of the Democrat under trying difficulties until the autumn of 1864, when the business proving un- profitable he sold the office to W. F. Chalfant, of the Argus, and retired from the newspaper field. He ever afterward, however, retained a love for news- paper work, and contributed many valuable articles to the local press. He was also one of the best and most reliable authorities on local history in Green- ville, and his extensive memory preserved for the historian a mass of valuable information on the early history of the town that but for him would have been lost 'mid the rubbish of forgotten things. After selling the Democrat Mr. Hanna opened a news and book store, which he disposed of in 1865 to Conrad Bittenbanner, and subsequently spent a few months in West Virginia. Re- turning to Greenville he again entered the book and news business, which he carried on till burned out by the fire of January, 1871. He did not engage in business after this event, but in 1874 he was elected justice of the peace, and served five years, commencing April 11, 1875. Mr. Hanna was married October 13, 1859, to Miss Lizzie, daughter of Moses and Esther Blair, of Crawford County, Penn., who has borne him two children: Lizzie, wife of Lewis Klein, and William T., now in the government mail service. His home life was strongly marked with the Christian virtues of love and kindness, and the deep affection existing between him and the members of his household was an example worthy of imitation. For many years he had been a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died strengthened and solaced by the teachings of his faith. Mr. Hanna was generous and charitable beyond his means, and could not pass by a case of suffering or need without extend- ing consolation and a helping hand. Ever true to his friends, he had few if any enemies, and was always courteous to friend and stranger alike. He pos- sessed a modest, unassuming, obliging disposition, and was never so happy as when doing a favor or granting a request. His thorough distaste of ostenta- tion, and strong love for his fellowmen, were vividly illustrated by his dying injunctions. He requested that his funeral should be a simple one, devoid of show, and that the services should be conducted at the residence. Said he to his pastor: "Say nothing about me or my life, but try and say something that may find a lodging place in the heart of some friend present." Here was an example of unselfishness and Christian charity worthy of perpetuation in the pages of history.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 105

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