History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 123

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

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ried, March 10, 1840, Miss Grizzila, daughter of David Garvin, of Mercer, Penn., and by this marriage they had two children: James and John C. . His death occurred February 29, 1880, his widow surviving him until April 17, 1883. John C. was born September 21, 1844, in Lackawannock Township, and was reared in Pymatuning Township. He was bred a farmer, an occupa- tion he has always followed. He married Helen, a daughter of Albert Herriott, of Pymatuning Township, and by this union they have two children: Mary M. and Albert C. Mr. McKnight is one of Pymatuning Township's progressive farmers, and is one of the present school directors. In politics he is a Democrat.

JOHN L. RENO, farmer, post-office Clark, was born November 2, 1841, in Jeffer- son Township, this county. His parents, Jesse and Elizabeth (Bebout) Reno, were natives of Beaver County [see sketch in Jefferson Township]. Our subject was educated in the common schools and academy at Clarksville, and was married September 21, 1865, to Hester, daughter of George W. and Mary (Robinson) Magargee. There have been four children born to them: Lizzie P. M., Frank A.,

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Lewis M. and P. H. Tack. They lived one year on a farm, after which he was engaged in a drug store in Orangeville, Ohio, two years, in Toledo two years, and in Erie about eight years. While in Toledo he became interested in the manufacture and sale of mineral paints in Pulaski, Penn., which he con- ducted for ten years, and in which he was very successful. After leaving Erie he located in Clarksville, and spent much of his time traveling in the interest of his paint works, and looking after the interest of a farm which he owns, near Clarksville. He was a volunteer in the first call for troops in the late war. He enlisted in Company B, Seventy-sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, as a private, and was promoted to first lieutenant, and served till the close of the war. He received a wound in his breast at Deep Bottom, Va., which has deterred him from active labors ever since.

EDWARD, DANIEL AND ALICE RICKERT, post-office Transfer, are heirs of Charles Rickert, who was married in 1843, to Susannah Holler, daughter of Jonathan and Catharine Holler, of Hickory Township. They rented the Rob- ert Campbell farm, in Pymatuning Township, for a short time, when they settled on a farm of eighty acres in the same township. Charles was born October 4, 1816, in Northampton County, Penn., and came to Mercer County with his father, Peter, in 1834. Charles was the father of ten children: Albert, Samuel, Sarah E., wife of William Everett, of Ohio; Edward. Lewis S., Daniel P., Alice S., Simon H., Jonathan C. and Milton B. His education was limited. He was a Republican, and with his wife were members of the Reformed Church. He died October 19, 1886, and his wife died February 15. 1886. The three children named at the head of this family notice reside on the old homestead, and are enterprising and intelligent citizens.

SAMUEL C. SIMONTON, postmaster of Clarksville, was born April 29, 1822. His father, James T., was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1800, and was married to Catharine, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Custard) Clark, of Clarks- ville. They settled on a part of the Clark estate, where he followed the occu- pation of a farmer and shoemaker. They reared three children: Jemimia, wife of William Stillings; Samuel C., and Mary A., wife of Israel Garritson. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics he was a Democrat. James T. Simonton was captain of a militia company for many years, and died in 1872, his wife dying in 1867. Our subject grew up on the old homestead, and was married October 13, 1842, to Sylvia A. Gleason, of Portage County, Ohio, They located in Clarksville, where Mr. Simonton worked at the mill-wright trade until 1850, when he took charge of a division of forty-nine miles in the superintending of the Beaver & Erie Canal, and was employed on that work until 1872, excepting two years spent in the war. He owns the farm of 100 acres near Clarksville, and some property in the borough. He has reared a family of four children: Samuel, Mary C., wife of Thomas Stewart; George W. and Charles C .. Politically he is a Dem- ocrat, and has filled the office of justice of the peace twelve years, resigning in 1886 to accept the postmastership at Clarksville. Mr. Simonton was elected captain of a company organized at Clarksville during the War of the Rebell- ion; was afterward promoted to major and served two years.

DANIEL STAMBAUGH, farmer, postoffice Sharpsville, Penn., was born July 14, 1815, at Campfield, Ohio, and is a son of Samuel and Rebecca (Ritter) Stambaugh. The parents of our subject came from Ohio in 1824, and located upon a farm of 200 acres in Hickory Township. Previous. to their removal to Mercer County four children were born to them: Daniel, Israel, Maria, widow of George Palmer, of Sharon, Penn. ; Catherine, wife of Mr. Sylvester. of Iowa. Subsequently two more were born: Julia, who died in infancy, and

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Rebecca, who died at the age of thirty. Samuel's wife died December 24, 1827. In 1829 he married Margaret, daughter of Robert Hodge, of Pyma- tuning Township, and by this marriage they had nine children: John, William, Jane, Mrs. Archie Titus, who is deceased; Samuel F., Martin, who was killed in the late war; Sarah, David C., Robert, and Lydia, Mrs. Samuel John- son, of Youngstown, Ohio. The father of our subject died February 28, 1860, his wife surviving him till 1881. Our subject received his edu- cation in the common schools of the township, and was bred a farmer. He located near Sharon in 1836, and engaged in operating coal mines until 1844, when he purchased the Nathaniel Hazen farm, in Hickory Township, where he lived for fifteen years, when he purchased the farm of Lewis Lightner, con- taining 275 acres, in Pymatuning Township, where he lived for fifteen years. He then purchased his present place, known as the Budd farm, in Pymatuning Township. He was married June 14, 1836, to Miss Margaret, daughter of Benjamin and Orpha (Heath) Castor, of Peters Creek, near Petersburgh, Penn., and there has been born to them eleven children: Orpha, deceased, Samuel R., Benjamin K., Rebecca, wife of J. W. Stewart, of Cleveland, Ohio; Aman- da M., widow of John Hope; Israel, Hiram, deceased; Julius, of Texas; Will- iam E., of Colorada; Loresta, of California, and Lawrence, of Colorado. In politics our subject is a Prohibitionist, and is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

SAMUEL STOYER, farmer, post-office Transfer, was born July 11, 1834, in Delaware Township, this county. His father, Daniel, was born September 17, 1795, in Berks County, Penn., and his mother, Christinia Miller, was born in 1795 in Lehigh County, Penn., both of German descent. They were married about 1818, and settled in Berks County on a small farm, where he followed the occupation of a shoemaker. There were nine children, four of whom are living: Priscilla, wife of Joshua Homer; Daniel M., of New Ham- burg; Christinia, wife of T. Hengist, of Kansas, and Samuel. They moved to Delaware Township, this county, in 1833, and settled on a farm, where he continued his trade, and his sons conducted the work on the farm, He remained on the farm and in that vicinity for many years, when he sold it and spent the remainder of his days with his children. He died October 11, 1885, in the ninety-first year of his age, and his wife died about 1875, at the age of eighty years. They were members of the Lutheran Church, and in politics he was a Democrat. Samuel was married December 23, 1858, to Lydia Bar- tholomew, daughter of Philip and Lydia (Donner) Bartholomew, of Hickory Township, this county. They located in Hickory Township on a farm, where they lived until 1869, when he purchased a farm in Pymatuning Township of forty-one acres. They have seven children: Franklin A., Permilla (wife of Frank Moyer, of Greenville), Hiram (of Pymatuning), Daniel P., Clara V., Walter S. and Charles E. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. Politically he is a Republican, and has held the office of assessor one term and assistant assessor two terms.

ANTHONY STRUBLE, farmer, post-office Clark, was born June 3, 1828, in Sussex County, N. J., and is the third son of David and Hannah (Woodhill) Struble. His parents moved to Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1834. His father was killed while crossing a railroad track, in 1878, at the age of seventy-seven years. His mother died in Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1886, in the eighty- fourth year of her age. Anthony, our subject, attended school at Cottage Hill, Ohio, and remained at home, teaching and attending school, till he was about twenty-five years of age. He was married September 15, 1853, to Miss Julia A., daughter of Samuel and Mary (Thompson) Koonce, of Hickory Town-

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ship. They have had seven children: Walter S., Frank F., David C., John T., Anna L., Wallace (who died in infancy), Mary E. (died at twenty years of age, the wife of S. O. Ewing, of Canfield, Ohio). They located in Pyma- tuning Township, on a farm that was a portion of the Koonce estate. In November, 1859, he moved to Delaware Township, and settled on a farm pur- chased of Peter Free, containing 100 acres, to which he afterward added, by purchase, ninety acres adjoining, which property he still retains. He also owns fifty acres in Pymatuning Township and eighty acres in Summit Town- ship, Crawford Co., Penn. He was extensively engaged in buying and selling stock. He moved into the borough of Clarksville in 1884. He was a volun- teer, and captain of Company D, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served nine months in the late war. Politically he is a Republican. He was county commissioner for three years, and has filled the offices of school director and councilman in the borough. He was elected jus- tice of the peace in 1887. He is a member of the G. A. R., Post No. 557, of Clarksville, and his wife and himself are members of the Presbyterian Church.

DWIGHT WILLSON, saw and planing-mill, post-office Orangeville, Ohio, is a son of Nathaniel and Betsey (Brockway) Willson, and was born in Hartford Township, Trumbull Co., Ohio, October 10, 1840. He was reared and edu- cated in his native township. At the age of sixteen he was employed in the saw-mill business with his father, and at the age of nineteen he purchased a half interest in a saw-mill in Vernon Township, Trumbull Co., Ohio, where he remained three years. In 1865 he was employed as engineer at E. B. Ward's coal mine, three miles east of Orangeville, where he remained for three years. In 1868 he purchased the saw-mill at Orangeville, and operated it till 1887, when he erected his present saw and planing-mill. Our subject was married in 1863 to Miss Lizzie J., daughter of Eli and Jane Myers, of Hartford Township, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and by this marriage they have three children: Ada V., Jennie E. and Lyle M. Mr. Willson is one of the members of the school board of Pymatuning Township, and in politics he is a Republican.

REV. SAMUEL E. WINGER, post-office Clark, was born December 3, 1850, in Venango County, Penn., and is a son of David and Catherine (Smith) Winger, both of whom are of German descent, and to whom were born eleven children, seven of whom are living: William, Henry, Josiah, Frederick, Jennie, Tillie and Samuel E. The parents moved to Oil City in the fall of 1862, where the father died December 17, of the same year, at the age of fifty-four years. Samuel, our subject, remained on Oil Creek , where he relied upon his own efforts for a livelihood until he was seventeen years of age. He then attended school at Oil City two years, and afterward the Allegheny College at Meadville for three years, and a theological seminary in New Jersey. In 1872 he joined the Erie Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was married January 1, 1873, to Miss Eva F., daughter of Rev. James and Sabina (Muse) Clyde, of Mercer County. He received his first charge on the Clapp farm, near Oil City, where he preached one year, and then at Brady's Bend, Water- loo, Venango, Sunville, one year each. He then attended school at Allegheny College, in Meadville, for one year. He then preached at New Bethlehem, Clarion County, two years, Luthersburg one year. Helena, Montana, two years, Salem, Mercer County, three years, and located at Clarksville in 1888. He was ordained deacon by Bishop Peck in 1874, and as elder in 1876. He has seven children: Merril C., Rose F., Clare M., Samuel H., Eva M. (deceased), Bessie, Pearl and Cecil B. He is a Republican of Prohibition proclivities.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

JOSEPH K. W OMER, farmer, was born July 5, 1857, in Mercer County, Penn., and is the seventh child of John and Margaret (Keiser) Womer, of Clarion County, Penn. The family settled at Harry of the West furnace, in 1851, and moved to Findley Township about 1855. Here they remained eight years, and then moved to a farm owned by Wilson Ormsby, in Pymatuning Township. Seven years later they moved to the farm of John Frampton, and the year following to the farm of Maj. Frampton, and after a period of farm-' ing for Vance Stewart they bought a farm of thirty acres. They have had nine children: Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Weller; Emily F., wife of A. G. Cron; Harry B., Rev. John C., William H., Amos M., Joseph K., Edward G., and Beva C., wife of C. J. Law. The parents are still living in Pymatuning Township. Joseph K. was married June 28, 1881, to Julia, a daughter of Joseph and Eliza (Weaver) Rickert, of Pymatuning Township, who have lived there for nearly half a century. The Rickerts are the parents of seven children: Abraham, Joshua, Lydia, Emeline, Sophia, Julia and Henry P. Joseph pur- chased a part of the Rickert estate and resides thereon. He has one child, Essie E. Joseph obtained his education at the common and select schools, and spent seven years in teaching in Mercer and Venango Counties. He served as school director for three years, is a Democrat, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. His wife is a member of the German Reformed Church.

DELAWARE TOWNSHIP.

DR. DANIEL ACHER, post-office Kremis, was born October 3, 1821, in Union County, Penn., and is a son of Daniel and Rebecca (Reichard) Acher. The father of our subject was a native of Lehigh County, Penn., who removed to Union County about 1819. In 1834 he settled in Salem Township, Mercer County. His family were six sons and three daughters: Daniel, David, Will- iam, James and Henry; Elizabeth, Mrs. Joseph Humphrey; Margaret, Mrs. David Baxter, and Lucy. The early education of our subject was received at the Mercer Academy. He commenced the study of medicine under Dr. John Rodgers, of Mercer, Penn., and completed his medical studies at the Eclectic College of Cincinnati, Ohio, and commenced the practice of medicine in 1857, in Middle Lawrence, Butler Co., Penn., where he remained until 1863, when he located at Mount Jackson, Lawrence Co., Penn., remaining there until 1867, when he removed to Bellefontaine, Ohio, and pursued the practice of his profession until 1871, when he returned to Mercer County, and settled at London, where he remained until 1885, when he returned to Kremis, Penn., where he enjoys a lucrative and growing practice. In 1843 the Doctor was married to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Peter Cribbs, of Findley Township, and by this marriage they have five children: William H., of California; C. J., of Greenville; Prudence, wife of C. E. Bellows; Ellen J., at home, and Salena A., Mrs. H. D. Hecker, of Kremis, Penn. The Doctor is a member of the P. of H., Delaware Grange 463, also the Lutheran Church of Delaware Town- ship. Politically he is a Republican.

THE BIGLERS. - One of the prominent families of Mercer County, to which reference has been made, was that of the Biglers, who lived in what is now Delaware Township, a few miles from Fredonia. The family resided there for a number of years. Two of the sons, John and William, became prominent in public affairs. John Bigler was born in Cumberland County January 16, 1804, and died November 13, 1871. He was of German descent. Learning the printers' trade, he became a journalist, but subsequently a lawyer. He spent some of his youthful years on the parental farm in Mercer County. In 1846

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

he removed to Illinois, and three years later went with emigrants to Califor- nia, where he became prominent in the Democratic party, and was known as "honest John Bigler." From 1852 to 1856 he served as governor of that State. William Bigler, his brother, was born in Cumberland County in 1814, and died in Clearfield, Penn., August 9, 1880. He assisted his brother John, in 1829, to publish the Centre' Democrat at Bellefonte. In 1833 he removed to Clearfield, and established the Clearfield Democrat, a Jackson paper, which became prosperous and notable. In 1836 he sold it and began lumbering. His editorial career, however, marked him as a public leader. He was elected to the State Senate in 1841, and its speaker in 1843-44. In 1849 he was appointed a revenue commissioner, and in 1851 was elected governor of Penn- sylvania, the same day that John was chosen to a similar position in California. He was renominated in 1854, but was defeated by the Know-nothing swell. In 1855 he was chosen a member of the United States Senate. He was a member of the Charleston Convention in 1860, and temporary chairman of the Dem- ocratic National Convention in 1864, and a member of the same body in 1868. He was a member of the Centennial Commission in 1874. These two distin- guished sons, as well as their noted Christian mother, are well remembered by citizens of Mercer County still living.

AARON BLUMER, farmer, post-office New Hamburg, Penn., is a son of Henry and Mickly Blumer. He was born in Whitehall Township, Lehigh Co., Penn., September 29, 1809. The grandfather of our subject was a German Reformed minister, a native of Switzerland, who immigrated to this country previous to the Revolutionary War, and settled in that part of Lehigh County which at that time was Northampton County. Our subject was the third child of a family of seven children. He was taught the trade of blacksmith. At the age of twenty four, in 1833, he came to Delaware Grove and purchased 200 acres of land, erected his blacksmith shop, and began the clearing of hise farm, which was a wilderness for miles surrounding. At the expiration of five years he gave up his business, giving his attention entirely to his farm and its development. In 1838 he married Elizabeth, daughter of John and Sarah Haas, natives of Northampton County, Penn., who had settled in Delaware Township, and by this union they had three children: Thomas, John and Edwin, who was a member of the Tenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Cavalry, and was killed at Fredericksburg. Mrs. Blumer died Jan- uary 15, 1888. Mr. Blumer has been a life-long supporter of the Democratic party, and has always taken an active interest in educational matters, and was a school director for nine years. He is a member of the German Reformed Church of Delaware Township.

SAMUEL BUSCH, farmer, post-office Fredonia, is a son of Andrew and Louisa F. (Greiner) Busch. The father of our subject was a native of Ger- many, who immigrated to this country about 1812 or 1813, and settled in Green Township, Mahoning Co., Ohio. He subsequently came to Mercer County and located in Otter Creek Township. He was twice married; his first wife bore him a family of two children: Beva, who married James Moyer, of Lake Township, and Margaret, the widow of Andrew Bowman, of Ohio. Andrew died in 1865 in Otter Creek Township. His second wife survives him and resides upon the old homestead in Otter Creek Township. Their family consisted of nine children, seven of whom are living: Mina, Mrs. Michael Groh, of Delaware Township; Samuel, of Delaware Township; Louisa, Mrs. Fred Shoner, of Fairview Township; Andrew, of Otter Creek; Leah, Mrs. M. E. Pauly, of Transfer, Penn; Rev. William L., of Otter Creek, and Joseph, of the same township. Our subject was born April 16, 1839, in

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Jackson Township, Trumbull Co., Ohio. He was reared and educated in Otter Creek. In 1863 he married Mary Ann, daughter of Amos Ruhlman, of Perry Township, and settled in Delaware Township, where he now resides. By this union they have four children, viz. : Levida, Emma, Lester and William. Our subject was bred a farmer, an occupation he has always followed. He is an ardent Democrat, and was one of the candidates for the Legislature in 1887, on the ticket with the Hon. Norman Hall. Mr. Busch is a member of the Lutheran Church of Otter Creek, of which his brother, the Rev. Will- iam L. Busch, is the pastor.

RICHARD FRUIT, post-office Clark, the second son of Robert Fruit, was born August 12, 1826, in Jefferson Township, where he was reared and educated, and where a sketch of the ancestry will be found. His early life was spent upon the old homestead farm. In 1854 he engaged in droving, in which business he operated in very extensively for twenty years. He has since been engaged in the saw and grist-mill business, purchasing the old mill property that belonged to his father. He is also one of the most extensive farmers of Mercer County, managing some 800 acres. In 1874 he was appointed sheriff, by Gov. Hart- ranft, to fill the unexpired term of Sheriff Pew, and at the expiration of his appointment was elected to the same position and filled the office three years longer. He has also served in all of the important offices of his township. He was married June 24, 1858, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John Zahniser, of Jefferson Township. Their children are: Robert, of Jefferson Township; Ellen M., Margaret, wife of D. W. Bactress, of Delaware Township; Caroline, Jennie and Walter. Politically Mr. Fruit is a leading Republican, is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and one of the most enterprising citizens of his native county.

JOHN W. FRUIT, post-office New Hamburg, son of Robert Fruit, was born in 1837, in Jefferson Township, where he lived upon the old homestead until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in Company G, Tenth Pennsylvania Reserves, in which he served until June 30, 1862, and on that day, at the battle of Charles City Cross Roads, he received a gunshot wound in the right knee, was taken prisoner, and confined in Libby Prison three months, when he was exchanged and sent to the general hospital. at Philadelphia, Penn., from which place he was discharged in October, 1862, when he returned home, where he remained until Lee's raid into Penn- sylvania, when he was commissioned by Gov. Curtin, and raised a com- pany, which was attached to the Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers. On his return from the war Mr. Fruit was engaged in farming until 1876, when he was appointed deputy sheriff under Sheriff Pew, which position he filled from that time until the expiration of his brother, Richard Fruit's term of office. He also filled two terms of justice of the peace while residing in Jefferson Township. In 1879 he established himself upon his present place, and in 1882 was elected justice of the peace, and served one term, and has also served as school director for both Jefferson and Delaware Townships. Mr. Fruit has been identified with the National Guards, having had command of Com- pany A, Fifteenth Regiment Pennsylvania National Guards, for ten years. He was married in 1864, to Sarah, daughter of Daniel Lowell, of Erie County, Penn., and to them have been born five children: James, Frank A., William, Mary and Robert D. Mr. Fruit is a member of the G. A. R., Post No. 234, of Sharpsville, Penn., also Sharon Lodge No. 250, F. & A. M., and politically he is a Democrat.

CHARLES HECKER, general manager and treasurer of the Kremis Milling Company, post-office Kremis, was born in Seneca County, N. Y., February

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15, 1828. He is a son of Daniel and Catharine (Haas) Hecker, natives of Lehigh County, and who removed to Seneca County, N. Y., after marriage. Mrs. Catharine Hecker died in 1828, and was the mother of Stephen, Daniel. Joseph and Charles. The father was again married, and had the following children: Franklin, Levi, and Mary, the widow of Edwin Hoffman. Daniel Hecker removed to Mercer County in 1839, and here died in August, 1886, at the age of ninety-three years. His last wife died in 1883, at the age of seventy- seven years. Mr. Hecker was a justice of the peace for Delaware Township for fifteen years, a prominent member of the German Reformed Church, and in politics a stanch Republican. Our subject was taught the carpenter's trade, and for fifteen years was engaged in that business. He then estab- lished himself in the lumber business and farming. In 1883 he organized the Kremis Milling Company, and is its treasurer and general manager. The mill is a prominent industry of Delaware Township, and its capacity is fifty barrels of flour in twenty-four hours. He is also extensively engaged in farming, and is one of the stockholders of the Kremis Co-operative Store. Mr. Hecker is an energetic business man, enjoying the confidence and esteem of the people of his county. He is a member of the P. of H., Delaware Grange 463, also of the Reformed Church of Delaware Township. In poli- tics he is a Republican. He married, in 1849, Caroline, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Reinhart, early settlers of Delaware Township, and to them have been born a family of four children: George W., Henry D., Lizzie, wife of William Limber, and James E., manager of the Kremis Co- operative store.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 123

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