History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 115

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

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CAPT. FRANCIS M. POWELL, farmer, post-office West Middlesex, Penn., is a son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Satterfield) Powell. They were natives of Maryland and located at New Bedford, in what is now Lawrence County, Penn., in 1837. They were the parents of seven children: William S., Francis M., Elijah D., John W., deceased; James S., Elizabeth, wife of B. J. Haywood, of West Middlesex, and Eugene R. He married for his second wife Eleanor Sloss, by whom he had one child, Fernando, deceased. Our subject was born in 1838, at New Bedford, Penn., and received his education in the schools of his native town. At the age of twenty-two he engaged in teaching. In 1862 he was mustered into the service of the United States volunteer serv- ice as second lieutenant of Company A, One Hundred and Forty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers. He followed the fortunes and hardships of the regiment in its marches and battles with the Army of the Potomac, and at the battle of Fredericksburgh received a slight wound and was promoted to first lieutenant. He participated with his company in the battles of Chan-

. cellorsville and Gettysburg, and in the latter received two severe wounds, and was promoted to the command of his company. After recovering from his wounds he rejoined his regiment and participated in the battle of the Wilder- ness, again being severely wounded. Upon his recovery he was detailed for duty under Col. J. V. D. Reeves, at Pittsburgh, Penn. At the close of the war Mr. Powell engaged in the mercantile business in West Middlesex, which he followed until 1873, when he was elected county treasurer, which position he filled for three years. He returned to West Middlesex and again engaged in the mercantile business, which he carried on until 1878. He then engaged in farming and has since given his attention to that business. He was mar- ried December 14, 1871, to Lucy S. Spearman, daughter of Francis and Eliza- beth Spearman. They have two children: Alice E. and Norman S. Mr. Powell is a member of the Alonzo McCall Post, No. 456, G. A. R., of West Middlesex, also of F. & A. M., No. 389. He is connected with the A. O. U. W. and the R. T. of T. Both he and family are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, of which he is filling the position of treasurer and trustee.

ALBERT E. RANDALL, postmaster of West Middlesex, Penn., was born September 6, 1857, at New Hamburg, Mercer Co., Penn., and is a son of Robert and Leah (Hildebrand) Randall. In 1865 he removed with his parents to West Middlesex and received his education in the public schools of that borough. At the age of fifteen he entered the employ of William Jones, a merchant of West Middlesex, and remained with him for three years. He

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

then engaged with the Wheeler Iron Company, and subsequently became their book-keeper, which position he filled until his appointment as postmaster July 1, 1885, being the first postmaster appointed by the present administration. He was married, September 21, 1881, to Miss Jessie, daughter of George Lloyd, of Ohio, and by this union they have one daughter, Edna C. Mr. Randall is a member of the Masonic order, being connected with Kedron Lodge, No. 389, of West Middlesex. He also belongs to the P. H. C., and is a member of the Baptist Church of Hubbard, Ohio.

ELMER T. REED, post-office West Middlesex, Penn., is a son of William and Phoebe (Carll) Reed, natives of Clarion County, Penn., where our subject was born October 10, 1835, and came to Mercer County with his parents. Mr. Reed's father was an iron worker, and was engaged in many of the furnaces in the State. He died in 1873, and his wife in 1876. They had nine children. Elmer T. was the third child, and received his education in the common schools of this county. In 1846 he commenced work at the Mineral Ridge Furnace, in this county, and found employment at various furnaces until 1857, when he settled in West Middlesex and commenced work with the Sennett & Warren Iron Company as furnace keeper. In 1859 the Shenango Furnace was erected at West Middlesex, and he engaged with them. In 1862 he took charge of the work, for G. W. Tifft & Co., of this place. In 1869 the Shenango Fur- nace Company was organized, and he was engaged by them to fill the same position, and has continued his connection with them up to the present time, the company now being known as the Wheeler Furnace Company. In 1857, when Mr. Reed came to the works, the daily output was from thirteen to fif- teen tons, employing about eighty-five hands. The present daily output is 112 tons, and 170 hands are employed in the works. Mr. Reed was married, in 1859, to Miss Melissa, a daughter of W. D. Brandon, of Mercer County, and by this union they have seven children: Philitus, Anna, Ella, Maud, Lydia, Rufus and Charley. Our subject is a member of Kedron Lodge 389, F. & A. M., also of the A. O. U. W., No. 12.

ADDISON L. V. RIGGs, farmer, post-office Hubbard, Ohio, is a descendant of Jonathan Riggs, of Baskinridge, N. J., who settled near the Mercer County line in Venango County. Penn., in 1795. His wife's maiden name was Mary Hampton, a native of New Jersey, who bore him nine children. He was a soldier in the Revolution, serving through the seven years' service. He died April 2, 1836, at the age of ninety-five, his wife having died some years pre- vious. Jonathan, his second son, was the grandfather of our subject, and was born about 1785, and married Druscilla, daughter of John Toland, of Wil- mington, Penn. They had six children, all of whom are dead excepting Jona- than, the third of that name in the family, and the father of our subject. He died in 1823, and his wife in 1851. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, hav- ing command of a company. Jonathan, the father of our subject, was born in 1815, and was reared and educated at Hubbard, Ohio, where his father had removed in 1818. He married, in 1838, Miss Sarah Van Fleet, daughter of Richard Van Fleet, of Pulaski, Penn., and reared four sons: Richard C. N., John P. J., J. W. Byron and Addison L. V., all deceased excepting the last named, who was born in April, 1842, in this township, where his father had located. In 1843 his father removed to Mill Creek, where he was reared and educated. In 1882 he, in connection with his father, removed to his present farm, and they are extensively engaged in farming, operating some 435 acres in Shenango Township and in Mill Creek. Mr. Riggs and his father occupy a handsome residence, which they built in 1884, and where they live, surrounded by the results of their industry. He married, in 1870, Miss Emma, daughter of John

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McClure, of Perry Township, Mercer County, and they have four children: John J., Mary R., Ad E. and Sarah E.

HON. JOSEPH W. RUSSELL, post-office West Middlesex, Penn., is a son of Joseph and Jane (Gallagher) Russell, natives of Ireland. The parents of Mr. Russell immigrated to this country about 1832, and settled in Philadelphia, Penn. Mr. Russell, Sr., engaged in the contracting business upon the public works in Philadelphia, and continued in that business until 1852, when he re- moved to Mercer County, and settled at New Vernon, where he engaged in farming. His wife died in 1849, leaving five children: Martha, who married George Marshall, of Philadelphia; Mary Ann, married Andrew J. Johnson, of Philadelphia; Elizabeth L., married John L. Cheessman, of Burlington, N. J. ; Isabella F., married Charles Benner, of Philadelphia, and Joseph W., all of whom are dead excepting Elizabeth and our subject. In 1852 he married Mrs. Margaret James, daughter of James Buchanan, of Butler County, Penn., and of this marriage two children were born: David J. and James A., both of whom reside in Nebraska. Mr. Russell, Sr., died January 13, 1866, meeting his death by accident, through his team running away. Our subject was born in Philadelphia, Penn., in 1837, received his education at the public schools of that city, and was apprenticed to the moulder's trade. In 1856 he came to Mercer County and settled in West Middlesex. He followed his trade until 1861, when he enlisted in Company B, Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served for three years, participating in the following engagements: Drains- ville, Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill, White Oak Swamp, Charles City Cross Roads, Malvern Hill, South Mountain and Antietam, when he was appointed commissary-sergeant of his regiment, which position he held until the close of his term of enlistment. In 1864 he connected himself with the William Mc- Gilvray Iron Works of Sharon, as superintendent of the foundry department. In 1865 he purchased the Veach, Risher & Co. Iron Works of West Middle- s'ex, which he sold in 1868 to engage in the coal and mercantile business in the same place. In 1870 he bought back the iron works, which he operated until 1887, when he removed them to Hubbard, Ohio, where he now has them in operation. Our subject has been actively identified with the public affairs of the county, and in 1884 he was elected to represent this county in the State Legislature. He has been identified with the schools of West Middlesex as school director, with the exception of two years, since 1867, and also as a member of the borough council. In 1881 he was elected a member of the Re- publican State Central Committee and served in that capacity for the years 1882-3-4. Mr. Russell was married in 1863 to Miss Minerva J., daughter of John and Elizabeth (McBride) Newkirk, of Mercer County, and by this mar- riage they have four children: Frank M., who is a midshipman in the United States Navy; Fred E., Clara B. and Helen E. Mr. Russell is connected with the Masonic order, and is a member of the Kedron Lodge No. 389, of West Middlesex, also of Alonzo McCall Post 456, G. A. R., and A. O. U. W. No. 12. He and family are members of the Methodist Church of West Middlesex, and he is an enterprising, trustworthy citizen.

ELIJAH D. SATTERFIELD, post-office West Middlesex, farmer and drover, was born in Maryland in 1812. His parents were Elijah and Elizabeth (Dukes) Satterfield. Our subject was reared in Maryland. He was left an orphan at the age of twelve years, and for five years worked for $25. He bound wheat after a cradle for 25 cents a day. From Maryland he went to Dela- ware and worked three years at $3.50 a month. When about twenty years old he came to Mercer County, traveling in a two-horse wagon, where he worked on a farm for $6 a month, and afterward clerked in David Thompson's store,

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who sent him to Philadelphia with a drove of horses, which he sold there, and walked home in eleven days, the distance being about 400 miles. He remained with Mr. Thompson until his first marriage, when he bought a farm at Clarks- ville for $1,000, where he settled, but subsequently removed to West Middle- sex. Mr. Satterfield was married in 1834 to Marilda, daughter of William Haywood, of Hickory Township, who died in 1855, leaving one child, Catha- rine, who married Dr. Veach, of New Castle, Penn. His second wife was Miss Addie, daughter of James Campbell, of Hickory Township, whom he married in 1859. She died in 1862, leaving two children: Frank, who re- sides in Shenango Township, and Fred, a resident of Hickory Township. Mr. Satterfield married for his third wife Miss Sarah, daughter of James and Hannah (Waddle) Hamilton, of Bellefonte, Centre Co., Penn., September 21, 1869. Mr. Satterfield has been one of Mercer County's most active business men, and has been the most extensive purchaser of horses and cattle in this section of the State. For thirty-seven consecutive years, in the same month of the year (February), he has crossed the Alleghany Mountains with his drove of horses for the Eastern markets. He has also farmed extensively, and is to-day one of the oldest and most prominent citizens of West Middlesex. Mr. Satterfield is connected with the Presbyterian Church of West Middlesex, and politically is an ardent Democrat.

GEORGE STEWART, farmer, post-office Wheeler, Penn. The grandfather of our subject was Robert Stewart, and was one of Mercer County's early set- tlers. He came from Huntingdon County, Penn., in 1810, and settled where our subject now lives. His wife was Elizabeth (Sample) Stewart, by whom he had ten children. He participated in the War of 1812, and died in 1845 at the age of sixty-five. Robert, Jr., his son, and father of our subject, was born on the homestead in 1820. He married Elizabeth Thompson, who died in 1856. By this marriage he was the father of three children: Mary, deceased; Joseph and Robert. He married Miss Annie Allen for his second wife, by whom he had four children: John, deceased; James, William and George. He died in 1871. George was born in 1862; was reared and educated in the schools of the township, and has always resided upon the old homestead. He married Miss Fannie Rankin, daughter of Robert Rankin, of Pulaski, Penn., and has one child, Robert.

VAN FLEET FAMILY .- Among the early settlers of Mercer County was Rich- ard Van Fleet. He was born October 21, 1769, in Somerset County, N. J. He was a young unmarried man on his coming to the county in 1798, where he took up a tract of 400 acres in the donation district, felled the timber and built his log cabin, thus making a permanent settlement. He then brought out his sister, Mrs. Hannah Burwell, and her three children, William, John and Lydia. In 1800 a dispute arose as to the ownership of the tract, which was compromised by his giving up 200 acres of his entry. On August 1, 1801, he was married to Miss Sally Hogue, a native of Ireland, born December 25, 1779, who came to this county with her brothers, John and James Hogue, who settled in what is now Lawrence County, Penn., about 1800. Richard Van Fleet was a farmer and weaver by occupation. It is claimed that the first Presbyterian sermon ever delivered in Mercer County was preached by the Rev. W. Wick, August 1, 1800, in Mr. Van Fleet's log cabin. He was the father of twelve children: Phœbe, born in 1802, died in February, 1886; William, born in 1803, died in March, 1885; Eleanor, born in 1805, married William Fitch, of Youngstown, Ohio, and died in April, 1886; John, born in 1807, and resides in Youngstown, Ohio; Hannah, born in 1810, married Fredrick Price and lives in Brookfield, Ohio; Richard H., born in

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

1811, killed by a fall at Youngstown, Ohio, in 1846; Sarah, born in 1813, married Jonathan Riggs and lives in Shenango Township; Alexander M., born in 1815, and died in Shenango Township in 1850; Jesse G., born in 1817, and died in Shenango Township in 1857; Rebecca B., born in 1820, married Henry Kile and lives in Pulaski, Penn .; David, born in 1822, and now resides upon the old homestead, and Eliza, born in 1824, married Adam Sheriff and lives in Lawrence County, Penn.

GEORGE WATSON is a son of James and Elizabeth (Mitchell) Watson. The father of our subject was a native of Penn's Valley, Penn., and removed with his father, William Watson, to New Castle, and married Elizabeth Mitchell, of that neighborhood, who died February 21, 1854, leaving one child, the subject of our sketch. In the fall of 1849 he located upon the property now occupied by our subject, in Shenango Township. Mr. Watson, Sr., married for his second wife Jane Irvine, in 1856, who died May 3, 1861, leaving two chil- dren, Irvine and Jane. He married, August 20, 1863, Miss Margaret Soders, who survives him, and by whom he had one child, Ella (Mrs. Randall, of Kan- sas City, Mo.), with whom the mother resides. He died June 5, 1872. George, the subject of our sketch, and the presesnt representative of the family, was born April 5, 1847, was reared upon the homestead, and received his educa- tion in the schools of the township. When he became of age he engaged in farming with his father, and has, since his father's death, been engaged in conducting the business upon his own account, and is following general farming and stock raising. He was married September 18, 1878, to Miss Anna, daughter of Mathew and Lillie Barrett, of New Bedford, Lawrence Co., Penn., and they have three children: Georgianna, Vida P. and Emma B.

FORD J. WHARTON, son of Oliver P. and Harriet (Mortley) Wharton, was born August 25, 1858, at Rock Island City, Ill. The father of our subject is a prominent newspaper man, at present located at Sandusky City, Ohio, as the manager of the Journal and Local. He established the first Republican paper west of the Mississippi River, at Rock Island, Ill., known as the Rock Island Daily Advertiser. He was an intimate friend of Abraham Lincoln, and draft- ed the resolution that founded the Republican party in Illinois. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted in an Iowa regiment, and served four years. The grandfather of our subject, on the paternal side, was Henry L. Wharton, and a descendant of Lord Philip Wharton, of England. Our sub- ject was educated at Beaver Seminary, at Beaver, Penn., and was apprenticed to the Beaver Argus. After completing his apprenticeship he located at Youngstown, Ohio, and was engaged on the Youngstown Vindicator, subse- quently working on various papers in different parts of the country. In 1879 he located at Youngstown, and established the Greenback Signal. In 1881 he settled in West Middlesex, and established the West Middlesex Mail, which he subsequently removed to Youngstown, Ohio, and changed the paper to the Youngstown Free Press. In 1881 our subject located his family upon his farm, two and a half miles from West Middlesex, where he now resides, and is engaged in farming. He was married January 4, 1879, to Miss Clara, daughter of Anderson McCreary, of Shenango Township, and by this marriage they have four children: Henrietta, Wade H., Howard and Lottie. Mr. Whar- ton is a member of the I. T. U., K. of L. and the Jr. O. W. A. M. In politics he is a Democrat, and a public-spirited citizen.

DAVID WHEELER, farmer, post-office Hubbard, Ohio, is a son of William and Margaret (Weldon) Wheeler. Our subject was born in Erie County, Penn., February 17, 1822. At the age of eight years he removed to Brook- field, Ohio, with his parents, where he was reared and educated. Our subject

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has always followed farming as an occupation. In 1882 he removed to She- nango Township, and settled upon the Dr. John Mitcheltree farm, where he now resides. Mr. Wheeler married in 1849 Miss Elmina, daughter of A. Alderman, of Ohio, who died in 1854, leaving two children: Belle, wife of George Patterson, of Crawford County, Penn., and Charles, who resides in Trumbull County, Ohio. In 1885 Mr. Wheeler married Mrs. Albina Van Ness, of Hubbard, Ohio. Our subject is one of the present supervisors of his town- ship, and in politics is a Republican.

JAMES F. YOUNG, farmer, post-office West Middlesex, was born in 1847 in Pymatuning Township, Mercer Co., Penn,, but was reared and educated in Shenango Township. His parents were John and Mary (Mitcheltree) Young, The father of our subject was a native of Ireland, settled in Pymatuning Township about 1828, and was married about 1845. In 1854 he removed to Shenango Township, and settled where our subject now lives, about one mile west of the borough, on the West Middlesex and Hubbard road. They had three children: Margaret, Lewis and James. The father died in 1855, the mother surviving him, and resides with our subject. Mr. Young is engaged in farming, which occupation he has always followed. He was married in 1870 to Miss Catherine Young, a daughter of James Young, of the County Tyrone, Ireland, by whom he has seven children: Rebecca J., John H., An- drew E., James A., Sadie, Fred and Charley. Our subject is a member of the Presbyterian Church of West Middlesex, and one of the young progressive farmers of his township.

HICKORY TOWNSHIP,

FRANCIS ALLEN, retired iron manufacturer, post-office Hermitage, Penn., was born in Luzerne County, Penn., March 15, 1817, and is a son of Rich- ard and Nancy (Mowery) Allen, the former being a native of Ireland, and the latter a daughter of Andrew Mowery, of Luzerne County. Mr. Allen removed with his parents in 1827 to Waterford, Erie Co., Penn., where he was reared. He was educated at the Waterford Academy, incorporated in 1811, and at one time a prosperous institution of learning. At the age of eighteen our subject commenced a business career which has extended over a suc- cessful period of fifty years, engaging at that time with B. B. Vincent, of Water- ford, as a clerk in his store. In 1841 he went to Erie and entered the employ of Johnson, Himrod & Co., mercantile and iron manufacturers. Early in 1845 he came to Mercer County in the capacity of general manager for Vincent & Himrod, to superintend the erection of the Clay Furnace, situated two and a half miles from Clarksville. This was the first blast furnace built in Mercer County. He remained three years in charge of the works, and then, returning to Erie County, purchased a farm and engaged in farming. In 1852 the Clay Furnace, having changed hands, was re-organized as the Sharon Iron Works, and Mr. Allen returned and acted as manager and agent for the company. Under his official management it was demonstrated that Lake Superior ore could be successfully manufactured into iron in paying quantities. In 1861 the works closed, and Mr. Allen purchased the property. In 1862 our subject formed a connection with James Wood & Sons, of Pittsburgh, as superin- tendent, and erected the first furnace built in Wheatland. In the spring of 1863 he became a member of the firm composed of the Hon. William L. Scott, Gen. James Pierce and F. Allen, and opened the Oakland Coal Bank, in Hick- ory Township. He located his residence five miles south of Sharpsville, and was identified with the building of the Sharpsville & Oakland Railroad. In 1868 he removed to Sharpsville, and superintended the building of the Allen

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Furnace, Henderson, Allen & Co., proprietors. He continued there as its manager until 1882, when he purchased his present place of residence at Her- mitage, in Hickory Township, where he is engaged in farming. He was united in marriage in April, 1846, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Henry and Jane (Patton) Woodworth, of Conneaut, Ohio. By this union he has had four

children: Blanche, who died in 1851; Jane, who married T. K. Mackey, of Carbondale, Ill., and died in 1886; Charles B., who married Fannie F., daughter of T. M. Ford, of Sharpsville, who has blessed him with two chil- dren: Francis F., and Jessie, wife of David Jamison, of New Castle, Penn., who has one daughter, Elizabeth W. Politically Mr. Allen is an unswerving Dem- ocrat, and is one of the most successful business men who has ever lived in Mercer County. He is a man of unblemished reputation, and a fitting repre- sentative of the growth and development of the leading interests of the Shenango Valley.

THOMAS CLARK, deceased, son of Thomas and Mary (Presland) Clark, was born February 12, 1793, in England. He immigrated to this country about 1827, and located at Fort Erie, Canada, opposite the city of Buffalo, N. Y., remaining there five years working at his trade of miller. He then came to New Castle, Penn., where he took charge of a mill. In the fall of 1833 our subject purchased the mill located on the Shenango River, near Sharon, now known as "Clark's Mill," and kept it in constant operation up to 1843. Mr. Clark during that period did the principal milling business of this location. He was also extensively engaged in farming, cultivating some 200 acres in connection with his mill. He was identified with the late Joel B. Curtis in the construction of the old Sharon Rolling Mill, as one of the stockholders. Mr. Clark was a stanch Democrat, and always took great interest in the success of his party. He died in 1876, leaving a widow and eleven children. Mr. Clark married, in 1832, Miss Nancy, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Young) Crow- der, of Canada. Their family consisted of Louisa, Joseph P., Edmond F., and Lucy J., of Sharon; John L., of Jackson Centre; Elizabeth, wife of I. K. Whitcraft; Robert, of Ohio; Mary, wife of Louis Buchholz, of Sharon; Florence, James T. and Alfred D.

SAMUEL COLE, farmer, post-office Wheatland, Penn., is a son of Isaac D. and Elizabeth (Taylor) Cole, and was born May 31, 1846, on the old homestead in Shenango Township. He received his education in the common schools of the district, and early engaged in farming, which occupation he has continued to follow, in connection with the breeding of Norman horses. In 1869 he was married to Miss Mary J., daughter of William Stewart, of Hubbard. Ohio, who died in November, 1885. By this marriage one daughter was born to him, Ida May (deceased). In 1886 he was again united in marriage, to Miss Mary, daughter of James McCallen, of Shenango Township, who has borne him one son, Heilman D. Our subject is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 347, of Sharon, Penn., and is one of the well-to-do farmers of the She- nango Valley. His father resides in Sharon, and a sketch of him will be found in the biographical chapter of that borough.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 115

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