History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 126

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

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SAMUEL STEISTER, farmer, post-office Mercer, was born about 1816, in Union County, Penn. He is one of ten children: Susan, Betsey, Valentine, Jacob, John, Levi, Ann, Catharine, Sophia, Samuel. The father of the above was Barnhart Steister. Samuel Steister attended the log cabin schools in Mercer County a short time. He began learning the blacksmith trade at the age of eighteen years with John Moyer, in Union County, which business he fol- lowed for nine years. He was married in 1841, to Mary A. Ross, a native of Sandy Lake Township, and the daughter of David and Elizabeth (Fowler) Ross, the parents of Abigail, Mary A., Elizabeth, Sarah J., David, Ellen. Mr. and Mrs. Steister have five children: Lizzie, married William Wright; William, married Lizzie Wright; John, died in a hospital while in the service of his country; Samuel, and Levi, deceased. Mr. Steister resides on thirty-eight acres of well improved land which is owned and cultivated by his son Samuel, who is growing berries with good success. Our subject and his son are Re- publicans.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

SAMUEL T. ZAHNISER, farmer, post-office Hill, was born August 1, 1821, on the farm which he now owns, son of Mathias Zahniser, born in Westmoreland County, Penn., and came to Cool Spring Township when about twenty-four years old. He married, in Cool Spring Township, Doratha A. Fry, and by her had eleven children: John and Michael, dead; Polly, married Jonathan Young; Mathias; Hannah, married James Young; David; Julia, married James Anderson; Jacob; Samuel; Susan, married Adam Merchant; Catharine. The father was road supervisor, and was once an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Mercer. His wife was also a member of the same church. The subject's father gave each of the boys, except Samuel, the value of 100 acres of land, and our sub- ject was to have the old home place, he to maintain his parents. Samuel was educated in a log cabin school-house, and was married January 16, 1844, to Mary W. Walker, born May 15, 1819, a daughter of Andrew and Esther Walker, by whom he had nine children: Jane, Jeremiah, Dorotha, George, Sophia, Albert, and three others who died small. His wife died December 5, 1887, and was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Charles- ton. Our subject has been township supervisor. He is a farmer, and has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church thirty-three years. He has always been a Democrat, and has taken the Western Press for forty-six years. Mrs. Zahniser was blind for twenty-five years before her death. On December 3, she went from the home of her daughter, Mrs. James R. Nelson, to her own home, and on the fifth day following, as she was sitting on a chair knitting, the needles fell from her hands and her eyes were opened in the world beyond where there is no blindness.

AMOS ZAHNISER, farmer, post-office Hill, was born January 17, 1837, in Jefferson Township, and is a brother of Josiah, whose sketch appears else- where. He was educated in the common schools. He was married September 17, 1861, to Hannah Blackstone, daughter of James and Nancy (Waugh) Blackstone, the parents of Thomas, Samuel, John and Hannah. Her father died in 1865, and her mother in 1871, both Presbyterians. Her father was once county collector. Mrs. Zahniser was born July 20, 1835, and at mar- riage settled with her husband in a log cabin on the farm of 160 acres where they now live, 100 acres of which were given him by his father. Mr. and Mrs. Zahniser have, Nannie A., dead; John E., Lizzie M., Frank W., Thomas M., Montrose, and an infant, died small. He has been justice of the peace for five years, and assessor, school director and road commissioner. He was a lead- ing member of the Grange Lodge once in existence in the township. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Charleston, and he is a stanch Republican.

JOSIAH ZAHNISER, farmer, post-office Hill, was born December 10, 1841, in the house where he now lives, to John and Mary A. (Bernhard) Zahniser, natives, the father of Cool Spring Township and the mother of West Salem. They were the parents of Dollie A. Levina, married Cornelius Shaffer; Levi, dead; Elizabeth, married Richard Fruit; Amos, John A., Mary A. and Josiah. The father died September 15, 1869, and the mother February 14, 1882; they were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Charleston. Josiah re- ceived his education in the common schools, and has always been a farmer. He was drafted for the late war, and insisted on going, but his father, rather than give up his only son then at home, hired a substitute. He was married February 25, 1868, to Mary J. Broadbent, a sister of H. A. Broadbent, county treasurer, and has by her Ammon, Ella M., Ida J., Willis H., Verne W. and Herbert. He settled at marriage on a portion of the old homestead. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a stanch

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Republican. An extensive history of the Zahnisers appears among the Jackson Township biographies.

D. N. ZAHNISER, farmer, post-office Hill, was born April 16, 1856, in Jefferson Township, to David and Rachel (Tice) Zahniser. David was a brother of Samuel T. Zahniser, whose sketch appears elsewhere. Rachel was born in Canada, and came to America with her parents many years ago. The children of David and Rachel were Catharine, Jacob L., M. R., lives in Sharpsville; F. T., lives in Mercer County, Ill. ; H. N., lives near Greenville; A. J., farm- ing on the old place; D. N. The father died in 1878, and his widow in 1883. The latter was a Methodist. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and brought up on a farm. He kept a grocery store at Charleston for about eighteen months. He was married May 1, 1884, to Chloe Weller, daughter of Samuel and Lizzie (Womer) Weller. Her mother is a sister of Rev. John C. Womer, who preached in this county, but is now located at Wampum, Penn., in charge of a Methodist Episcopal congregation. The parents of Mrs. Zahniser had Chloe, T. G., J. C., Liola, Effie, Roy and Willie. By his marriage our subject has one child, Frank Logan. He owns 125 acres of good land and a house and lot in Charleston. He has served as assessor two terms, road commissioner two terms, and in 1887 was elected a justice of the peace by 100 majority. He is an I. O. O. F. at Greenfield, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Big Bend, and a stanch Republican.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

BIOGRAPHIES OF SPRINGFIELD AND FINDLEY.

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP.

B. S. ALEXANDER, farmer, post-office Indian Run, was born January 26, 1850, in Findley Township, and is a son of ex-Commissioner M. W. Alexander, whose sketch appears elsewhere. He was educated in the common schools, and has always been a farmer. He was married February 11, 1872, to Anna M. Eats, daughter of George and Nancy (Miller) Eats, and is one of four children: Mary, married J. J. Covert; Anna M., George A., engaged in the liv- ery business at Grove City, and Lydia, married I. V. Covert, of Grove City. Mr. Alexander has by his marriage five children: Harry E., Robert M., Celia J., William M. and John H. He settled on his farm of sixty-three acres, known as the Daniel Nelson farm, in 1881. He was a delegate to the State convention which nominated Judge Williams and William B. Hart. He and wife are members of the Second United Presbyterian Church of Mercer, and he is one of the progressive farmers and enthusiastic Republicans of the county.

W. N. ARBUCKLE, farmer, post-office Balm, was born December 11, 1835, in Hickory Township. His father, Joseph, was born in Berks County, Penn., and married Eliza Moore, a daughter of John Moore, an early settler of Hick- ory Township, and who is mentioned in another part of this work. Joseph Arbuckle died in Shenango Township in 1871, his wife had died on her way home from a visit to a neighbor's in November, 1856. They were buried in

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

the Clarksville cemetery, and had ten children: Isabella, Culbertson, John, Rebecca, James, William N., Elizabeth, Maria, Harriet and Joseph S., who, in his seventeenth year, enlisted in the Fifty-seventh Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. The father was a stone and brick-mason. He walked from his native locality to this county, carrying all he had on his back. He said "that when he arrived he found his feet were blistered." He did his first mason work in this county for a Mr. Pearson, it being the old stone woolen-mill which stood on the site of the "Broadbent Woolen Mills," in Jefferson Township. He also built a furnace for John and Joseph McClure at Sharpsville. Our subject was educated in the country schools, and was married February 23, 1860, to Elizabeth Bagnall, daughter of William Bagnall, of Jefferson Town- ship, whose sketch appears in this work. She was born October 20, 1841. Mr. Arbuckle was drafted in the first draft made on Mercer County, served a short time, and then hired a substitute, and in the second draft he was called upon again. He paid his fine, and after having secured a little home for his family he enlisted in Company H, Fifth Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, and served until the close of the war, and is a sufferer from the effects of that serv- ice in the cause of his country. On his return from the war he resumed farming, and subsequently engaged in the real estate business with W. J. McKean, of Mercer. In 1873 they bought their present farm in Springfield Township, where they have since remained. Their marriage has given them five children: Minnie A., married J. M. Vanhorn, a carriage manufacturer, Balm, Penn .; William P., attended the common schools, and graduated at Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, preached one year in the Centerville Circuit, married Anna Whieldon, and is attending Boston University Theological School, preparing for the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while his wife is pursuing her musical studies in the same city; May, married Charles Brown, a merchant of Pittsburgh; S. Carrie is at home; Jesse E. entered Boston University College of Liberal Arts in the fall of 1888. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been a steward. He is a Republican, and oue of the enterprising farmers of Springfield Town- ship, and every member of his family have the advantage of commencing life with college instruction.

W. C. BLACK, farmer, post-office Balm, was born December 13, 1843, on the farm where he now resides. His parents, A. H. P. and Eliza (Christley) Black, were natives of Springfield Township. The mother died in 1864 and the father in 1865. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, and had three children: Anna, deceased; Helen, married Dr. G. W. Burnes, who lives in White Hall, Greene Co., Ill. and W. C. Our subject was educated in the com- mon schools and at New Wilmington College. He taught two terms of common school, and has followed farming. He was married April 9, 1868, to Ellen Pearson, daughter of William W. and Sophronia (Loveland) Pearson. Her father is dead, and had a large family. Mr. Black settled on the present farm of 180 acres at the time of his marriage.

He has one child, Grace. He enlisted in Company D, Two Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volun- teers, and served nine months, and was in the battles of Fort Steadman and Petersburg. Mr. and Mrs. Black are members of the Center Presbyterian Church, of which he is a ruling elder. He makes a specialty of raising fine stock. He is a Republican. Mention of the Black family is made in another part of this work.

A. U. CHRISTLEY, farmer, post-office Balm, was born August 31, 1826, in Springfield Township, to William, who was born in 1796, to George and Eliz- abeth (Snyder) Christley, natives of Westmoreland County, Penn., from whence

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

they came to this county in 1812 and settled in Liberty Township. There the grandparents of our subject died, and had William, John, Polly, married Stephen Cooper, and is the only one of the children living; Catharine, Michael, Elizabeth; George, Samuel B. and Curtis. William Christley was educated at the country cabin schools in Westmoreland County, and learned the trade of a cabinet-maker, which he followed until 1832. His father was also a cab- inet-maker. Our subject has in his house several pieces of furniture which were made by his father and grandfather. William was married September 25, 1817, to Magdalene Uber, who settled at an early day where Benjamin Uber now lives. William located on a farm near London, in Springfield Town- ship, at his marriage, and in 1832 came to the farm where our subject now resides. He built a log cabin, and later a small frame house, which is yet standing. He died March 4, 1858, and his widow February 2, 1867. They were members of the German Reformed Church at Blacktown. Their children were: Catharine, married Thomas Courtney, April 11, 1843, died January 17, 1864; Mary E., married A. H. P. Black, December 15, 1840, died January 30, 1864; Sarah A., married W. J. Tinker, September 24, 1863, died December 23, 1879; Margaret, married A. T. Black, October 3, 1846, died April 24, 1875; George S., died August 10, 1869; and A. U. Our subject was educated in the district schools and the log cabin. One of his early teachers was James Mathers. This man used the old Western Calculator, and when he could not get the answer in the book in his solution of a problem, he would put his answer on the work and write "corrected by James Mathers". Mr. Christley worked for his father until 1850, when he formed a partnership with Jacob Snyder, in the general mercantile business, at North Liberty. In four years he sold to Snyder, and after a period of a few months in the employ of Mr. Snyder engaged in farming on the old place. He was married January 21, 1864, to Martha W. Morris, daughter of George and Harriet (Winton) Mor- ris, natives, the father of Westmoreland County and the mother of Onondagua County, N. Y. Mrs. Morris was born March 4, 1817, and married October 16, 1839, in Mercer County .* Her husband died in 1881. They had Martha W., born August 26, 1840; Albert, married Mary Hosack, and lives in Mercer; Mary, married Cyrus Hosack; Isabella, dead; Sarah, married George Snyder, and lives in Buffalo, N. Y .; William. Mr. Morris was a member of the Con- gregational Church, and Mrs. Morris lives with our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Christley have three children: Anna E., Ida B. and William G., all at home. Mr. Christley is the owner of over 300 acres of good land, and is one of the wealthiest and most respectable citizens of the township. He is a stanch Republican, and he and his family are members of the Center Presbyterian Church.

W. A. COULTER, merchant, London, was born July 14, 1827, in Wolf Creek Township, Mercer Co., Penn., and is a son of Andrew and Sarah (McCoy) Coulter. The father was born in Chambersburg, Penn., and came to this county at an early day with his parents, Richard and Catharine Coulter, and settled in Wolf Creek Township, where the parents died, having been blessed with the following children: Andrew, James, William and Samuel. Andrew got his education in Franklin County, and was in the War of 1812. He married Sarah McCoy, by whom he had two children: Mary J., married Edward Denniston, and W. A. The parents died in Wolf Creek Township, were Presbyterians, and the father held some of the small township offices. Our subject was educated in the common schools and the old Mercer Acad- emy. and taught two terms in the public school. He was educated in vocal music, receiving his instructions under Dr. Mason at Chicago, George F.

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Root, Bradley, and one term under Bassina, the noted Italian musician. He taught music in Mercer, Lawrence and Venango Counties. He enlisted in the Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and after 100 days' service he re-enlisted in the Two Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was colonel of the latter, commanding that regiment the last year of the war. On his return from the war he resumed teaching music, and in 1870 he purchased a stock of dry goods of Mrs. E. C. Breck, at London. He suc- ceeded David Gilson in this business at this place in 1849, and conducted it until 1860. In 1872 he erected a fine building, which was destroyed by fire in 1886, together with the entire stock of goods and his household goods also. He at once rebuilt and put in a line of goods, and carries a stock of about $6,000, under the firm name of W. A. Coulter & Sons. He was married in 1851, to Caroline M. Smith, daughter of John C. and Charlotte (Croy) Smith, by whom he has five children: Willis and John S., of the firm; Clara, married P. N. Painter; Sadie, married William Munnell; Lucia, married B. E. Robb. Mr. Coulter was appointed postmaster at London in 1849, and served until 1860. He was again appointed in 1870, and resigned in 1886 in favor of his son, Willis, who conducts the office in his store. Mr. Coulter was appointed notary public in 1883, and re-appointed by Gov. Beaver. He, W. C. Davis and G. C. McCracken established a creamery at London in 1885, which was one of the first in Northwestern Pennsylvania. He and wife belong to the old Center Presbyterian Church, and he has led the music for this organization forty years, and has been superintendent of the Sabbath-schools for sixteen years. In politics he is a Prohibitionist.

SAMUEL DRAKE, farmer, post-office Leesburgh, was born January 12, 1803, in Westmoreland County, Penn., to Moses and Susan (Beneman) Drake. The father was born in New Jersey, and came to what is now Lawrence County in 1815, and finally settled in Wilmington Township, this county, with his second wife. By his first wife he had four children: Fannie, Samuel, Daniel and Betsey; and by his second wife he had Sarah, Susan, James, Anna, Jane and William. Samuel Drake was educated in the log cabin schools, which were much un- like those in which his children were educated by his means. He attended only twenty-three days in all, but by securing good books and papers he has become a well-informed man. He early learned the art of making brick, and made those used in the construction of the first Second United Presbyterian Church edifice in Mercer. He was married in 1831 to Elizabeth Orr, a sister of John Orr, and by her had only one child, Mary J., who lived with her grand- mother until the latter's death, when she came back to the home of her father. Some time subsequent to the death of his first wife, he was married to Lydia Orick, of Ohio, by whom he has four children: Erastus, Margaret M., mar- ried William McCracken; Julia A., Samuel W., married Martha Robinson, and has two children, William and Jane. Mr. Drake was married a third time, his last wife being Martha, the widow of Robert Donley, by whom he had four children: Robert, Rebecca, Margaret and Lucetta. He has been an elder of the Leesburgh Presbyterian Church for over twenty years. The two wives who lived with him in this county were also attached to that church. Mr. Drake began in this world with only a willing heart and strong hands, and by economy and frugal dealings he has accumulated 160 acres, which he yet manages. He has always contributed to every enterprise that goes to help build up and retain the good name of Mercer County, and at the time of furnishing the data for a sketch of his life to appear in this volume he ex- pressed the hope that he might live long enough to peruse the history of the county he has labored so earnestly to help make " blossom as the rose," that

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those coming after him might enjoy what he helped to make with his willing hands. At the ripe old age of eighty-five years he attends to his own busi- ness, and a part of that of the church of his choice. He has always been an ardent Republican since the organization of that party.

T. S. ELLIOTT, miller, post-office Leesburgh, was born September 21, 1849, and is a brother of J. G. Elliott, of Mercer, whose sketch appears elsewhere. He was educated in the common schools, Beaver Female Seminary and a select school at Grove City. He began the milling business several years ago, buy- ing the property of John Campbell. He subsequently built a new mill at a cost of $8,000, which burned two years later, but he got only $4,000 insurance. In 1886 he rebuilt a three-story mill, 30x36, and put in five sets of rollers, one purifier of the Wolfe & Hamaker make, of Chambersburg, Penn., four centrifugals, two cleaning machines, all costing about $6,000. The mill is run by water power, the water being conducted to the wheel by means of a tube, which is 300 feet long, and has its source from never failing springs. Indeed it is one of the most complete small mills to be found anywhere. He was married in 1875 to Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of William Stuart, of Law- rence County, and has by her five children: Hallie, Jessie, Kate, Clara and an infant. He is an elder of the Leesburgh Presbyterian Church and superin- tendent of the Sunday-schools. His wife is a member of the same church. He is a Republican, and the owner of 102 acres of land. Since the above was written Mr. Elliott took pneumonia, and on May 31, 1888, he resigned his spirit to the God who gave it, and his widow and little ones are left to mourn his loss as a severed tie that no lapse of time can restore, but they were left in good financial circumstances.

DAVID GILSON, farmer, post-office London, was born July 9, 1812, in West- moreland County, Penn., to David and Elizabeth (Wier) Gilson, natives, the father of Westmoreland, and the mother of Adams County, Penn. William Gilson, the grandfather of our subject, bought a large tract of land in West- moreland County, and at a time owned the famous "Trindle Springs" prop- erty in Cumberland County. William Gilson had three sons: William, John and David. Our subject attended the common schools in the log cabin. His father died when he was nearly eight years of age, leaving seven children: William (who lives on the old homestead in Westmoreland County), Dorcas, Robert, James, David, Mary and Samuel. Those living are Mary and David. The parents were strict Presbyterians, never leaving any work for Sunday that could be done on Saturday. Because of the death of his father, David had to do for himself while quite a boy. He, however, remained with his mother until twenty-one years old, and in 1833 came with his brother-in-law, Dixon Hall, to Butler County, to where his sister, Dorcas, and her husband, Mr. Hall, lived. Here he remained one summer. July 14, 1836, he was married to Rebecca, a daughter of Thomas and Esther (Robinson) Courtney, born September 8, 1812, and, after a short period of renting, he went with her to his farm of 125 acres in Butler County. In the fall of 1839 he came to London, this county, and opened the first store in that place. He was thus engaged for a period of ten years, and during this time was instrumental in establishing a post office, of which he was the first postmaster, and to which he gave the name of London. In 1849 he sold his stock of goods, and engaged extensively in buying and selling cattle, which he continued for thirty years. In 1854 he bought a farm of 125 acres near London, and added to it until he had about 554 acres, on which he raises and grazes cattle; 150 acres of this he gave to his son, Thomas, and 87 acres to his daughter, Elizabeth. He is one of the wealthiest citizens in the township, and is the artificer of his

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

fortune. He became a member of the Center Presbyterian Church in 1857, also his wife and eldest daughter. He has always taken a deep interest in this organization, the financial interests of which are much benefitted by his relationship as well as otherwise. He and wife have had five children: Melissa, Thomas, William, Elizabeth (dead), and Matilda, wife of Isaac Ketler, president of Grove City College. Mr. Gilson cast his last Democratic vote for President Jackson, is now a stanch Republican, and is largely in- terested in the First National Bank of Mercer. In 1833 he bought up his first drove of horses, took them East and sold them.

JAMES T. GLENN, farmer, post-office Balm, was born July 27, 1812, in Pine Township. His parents, William and Jane (Cunningham) Glenn, were natives of Pennsylvania, and from the eastern part of the State. They came to this county about the year 1800, and settled in Pine Township. In 1823 the family moved to Circleville, Ohio. In one year they returned to Mercer County and bought a farm of 280 acres, a part of which is owned by our subject. Here he died about 1832, and his widow in 1839. They had Margaret, Samuel, Rebecca, married Abram Vanhorn; Elizabeth, William, James T., Charles, married Rachel McCleary; Robert, married Sarah Young, and Hannah, mar- ried Marcus Rodgers. The parents were members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was an elder. Our subject was educated in the log cabin schools. He married, May 29, 1834, Sarah E. Kerr, daughter of John and Polly (Agee) Kerr, natives of Adams County, Penn., and early settlers of Springfield Town- ship. The father died in 1833, and his widow in 1854. Their children were Mary J., William, Sarah, Nancy E. and Margaret. Mr. Glenn settled on his present farm at marriage. He owns fifty-seven acres, and has been auditor of the township. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church. His children are: Peggy J., married H. T. Vanhorn; John K., married Christina Reeher, daughter of Abram and Catharine (Michael) Reeher, and has two children, Lola K. and James A. John K. and wife are members of the Pres- byterian Church at Centre. He and his father are Republicans. Mr. Glenn was captain of a militia company for eight years.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 126

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