History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 127

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

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BENJAMIN F. GORDON, retired physician, Leesburgh, was born August 29, 1822, in Lackawannock Township, this county. His grandparents, Thomas and Jane (Young) Gordon, the former born in 1754 and the latter in 1751, were married in 1774, and emigrated from Ireland to America in 1790 and settled first in one of the eastern counties of Pennsyvania, but subsequently, about the year 1802, in Lackawannock Township, Mercer County, on Tract No. 581, in the third district of donation lands, which they had purchased. Their children were: Mary, born October 25, 1776; John (father of Benjamin F.), born April 27, 1779; William, born October 2, 1783; Jane, born November 25, 1786; Agnes, born April 29, 1790, and Thomas, born April 11, 1793. The first four were born in Ireland. Agnes was born on the sea as the family were coming to America, and Thomas was born in this country. Thomas Gordon, Sr., died October 16, 1822, and Jane, his wife, on August 27, 1835. John Gordon was married August 27, 1801, to Amelia Barton, born in 1775. He died at Pulaski, Penn., in the year 1839. His wife survived him, and died at the home of her son, Benjamin F., on July 24, 1853. To John and Amelia Gordon were born ten children, viz., Thomas, born July 2, 1802; Daniel, born April 5, 1804; Rachel, born May 5, 1806; Jane and Susan (twins), born July 4, 1808; Nancy, born July 24, 1811; John, born June 29, 1813; Joseph, born January 22, 1816; Emily, born in March, 1820, and Benjamin F. The latter was educated in the country schools and the old Mercer Academy. He taught school in Mercer in 1846-47 in an old building which stood near the present

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

site of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1846 he began reading medicine with Dr. Baskin, of Mercer, and completed his studies at the Cleveland Medical College in 1849. In February of that year he began the practice of his profession at Leesburgh, and continued the same at that place for thirty- seven years. He was the examining surgeon for the county at the time the first draft was made during the war of the Rebellion, and was a member of the Legislature in 1879. His wife, Mrs. Isabel M. Gordon. to whom he was married November 12, 1850, was a daughter of James and Nancy (McDowell) Brandon, early settlers of Pine Township, this county. The Doctor and his wife have five children: Quincy A., William B., Mary A., Laura B. and Hettie M.

ARTHUR J. JOHNSTON, farmer, post-office Leesburgh, was born September 13, 1840, on the farm now owned by John W. Nelson, to James and Eliza (Den- niston) Johnston, natives, the father of Ireland and the mother of this county. Arthur Johnston, the father of James, married Eleanor Campbell, a descend- ant of the Highlands of Scotland, with whom he came to this county in an early day, and settled on the farm where Joseph Masters now lives, where he remained as a renter for five years. He then built the stone house where John W. Nelson now resides, and from 1831 to 1842 he kept tavern to accommodate the traveling public. He also kept a post-office there for years. He died in another stone house on his farm of 200 acres in 1844, aged sixty-eight years. His widow died in 1862, aged eighty-nine. Their children were: Mattie E., Mary, Eleanor and James C. Arthur was a Democrat. The children of James C. and Eliza Johnston were nine: William, deceased; Ellen, deceased; Mary E., married James S. Collins; Esther A., married Erastus C. Drake; A. J., William H., Joseph, died small; Margaret, killed by the horses running away when the family were going to church; infant, died small. The parents of the above children were members of the First Presbyterian Church of Mercer at the time of their death. A. J. Johnston was educated in the common schools, and was brought up on the farm. He was married in 1864 to Hannah, a daughter of Alexander Campbell, of Lawrence County, Penn., and had by her four children: William, deceased; Mary, married John W. Nelson; Anna M. and Ora C. Mr. Johnston is the owner of seventy-five acres of good land, part of which he inherited. He has taken a deep interest in the Democratic party, to which he is attached, has served as delegate, and was assessor of Spring- field Township for three terms. He and family are members of the Presby- terian Church of Leesburgh, of which he has been deacon.

ALEXANDER KENNEDY, farmer, post-office Balm, was born September 17, 1835, in Butler County, to David and Mary (Armstrong) Kennedy. The father was a native of Ireland, immigrated to America about the year 1800, and settled in Allegheny County. He was a brick maker, and finally located in Butler County, where he engaged in the milling business. He died July 5, 1858, and April 30, 1858, his wife died. They had ten children: James (deceased), Jane (married Ethen Kelley), Catharine (deceased), David, Alex- ander, Margaret, Melissa, George G., Robert A. and John E. George, David and Robert were in the war. Our subject was educated in the common schools and was brought up at farm labor. He enlisted in Company D, Fourteenth Pennsylvania Reserves, for three years, but after being wounded at South Mountain, in the right leg, he was discharged. He thus served only nineteen months. He was in the battles of his regiment, in the seven days' fight, was taken prisoner the second day, confined in Libby and Belle Isle prisons for thirty-nine days, and was exchanged at the second battle of Bull Run. He married Maria, daughter of Samuel Shaffer, a native of Hunting-

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

don County, Penn. Her mother, Elizabeth Simenton Shaffer, was a native of Center County, and lived with her husband in that county until his death, 1871. Since then she has been a resident of New Castle. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy have two children: Florence and William. He and wife and Florence are members of the First United Presbyterian Church of Mercer, and he is a stanch Republican. About five years ago he sold his farm in Butler County and bought where he now resides, and is engaged in farming and stock grow- ing. Although not long a resident of this county, his name is to be seen at the head of every enterprise that tends to build up and sustain the good name of Mercer County.

EZEKIEL W. LOVE, farmer, post-office Indian Run, was born October 10, 1824, in Butler County, Penn., to John and Margaret (Wilson) Love, natives, the father of Ireland and the mother of Beaver County. The father came to America at the age of ten with his parents, Patrick Love and wife. After a short residence in New York they came to Butler County, where the father was employed as a miller. He also served in the War of 1812. He died June 3, 1876, at the age of eighty-four years. His wife died in 1853. Their children were: Ezekiel W., Sarah J., married James Rodgers; David, lives at New Castle; William (deceased), John, in Oil City; Charles, in Pittsburgh; James, died small; Martha (deceased), Thomas (deceased). The parents were members of the Covenanter Church. Our subject was educated in the com- mon schools, and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1878. He bought a part of his present farm in 1853, and has now ninety-five acres, with a fine field of raspberries. He was married December 17, 1850, to Mar- garet Montgomery, whose family is mentioned elsewhere. She was born June 3, 1826, on the farm where they now reside. He has by her seven children: . John A., dead; Nannie A., dead; Lizzie M., married December 13, 1887, to Robert Breckenridge, of North Liberty; Mary J., James M., Sibbet A., dead; Samuel T. A. Lizzie and Nannie have taught school. He has been a school director, and he and family are members of the Second United Presbyterian Church of Mercer. He is an elder of that church, and is a stanch Republican. He is a man of unimpeachable character and a good citizen.

NATHANIEL MCCONNELL, farmer, post-office London, was born August 14, 1841, in Lawrence County, Penn., to John and Martha (Carlon) McConnell. He was educated in the common schools, and began for himself at the age of twenty- one years. He was married to Flora, a daughter of Alexander Campbell, of Lawrence County. He enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Twenty- sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served nearly three years. May 6, 1864, he was taken prisoner at the battle of the Wilderness, was confined for a few days in a prison in Danville, Va., and with seventeen others he was trans- ferred to Andersonville. The only two of this number to get out of the prison alive were Mr. McConnell and William O. Wood, of Ohio. They were taken from there to Florence, S. C., and in December, 1864, were paroled. After returning from the war, and somewhat recovering from the evil effects of horrible prison confinement, he engaged in farming. He bought, in 1867, 125 acres of land in Springfield Township, and has lived thereon ever since. He served as constable for one term, and has been school director. They have one daughter, Mary, and are rearing Joseph Campbell, a son of Mark Campbell, a brother of Mrs. McConnell. They are members of the Presbyterian Church of Leesburg, and he is a Democrat. Alexander Campbell was born in Huntingdon County, and married, in Lawrence County, Mary McWilliams, by whom he had John, Robert, Flora, Joseph, William, Hannah and Mark. The last named married Elizabeth, daughter of David Gilson, and had three children: Herman, dead;

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

David A. and Joseph T. Mr. McConnell is a good citizen, and daily suffers the severest pains from the effect of his services in the defense of his country. (Note: Since the above sketch was written Mr. McConnell died May 20, 1888).

JAMES MICHAELS, soldier and farmer, post-office London, was born October 29, 1845, in East Lackawannock Township, to George and Sarah (McCormick) Michaels. The father was a native of Westmoreland and the mother of Dauphin County, Penn. They came to Mercer County about the year 1842, and the former died in Springfield Township, January 16, 1885, and the mother, June 14, 1871. They were members of the Center Presbyterian Church, and the parents of ten children, seven of whom are now living: Francis M., married Ellen Dunwiddy and lives in Butler County; James T., Isabella, the wife of William Black, of Pine Township; Amelia, married Jacob Stillwagon; R. S., Lovina (dead), Rebecca (dead), Thomas S. (dead), Jacob, married Minnie Waldron, lives in Pittsburgh, and Lovenia, who lives with our subject. Our subject was educated in the common schools and Greenfield, West Lackawannock Township. He enlisted in Company F, Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served sixteen months. At the battle of Deep Bottom a ball struck his right eye, passed through the nose, and took out the left eye with the right. He is, therefore, blind. He was confined in prison in Richmond for eight days, was paroled and discharged at Pittsburgh. There was no time that he was not rational. He is a member of the Center Church, is a stanch Republican, and is the only soldier in Mercer County who gets a full pension. He can do his feeding and gather eggs with seeming ease. He is the owner of 103 acres of good land, on which he has erected good buildings. His sister, Lovenia, lives with and cares for him. He has never married.

J. A. MONTGOMERY, farmer, post-office Indian Run, was born November 14, 1823, in Jamestown, Penn., to James and Elizabeth (Andrews) Mont- gomery, natives of County Antrim, Ireland, who came to Jamestown, Penn., in 1822, and later to Springfield Township. Here the father died in 1857, and his widow in 1880. They had Mary, married Samuel Smith; Elizabeth, married James English; J. A .; Margaret, married E. W. Love; Nancy M., died in 1850, and James. The parents were members of the United Presby- terian Church. Our subject obtained his education by walking nearly three miles to a log cabin school-house, where he experienced all of the ancient ways of school instructions. He was married, November 27, 1849, to Jane Akin, daughter of Andrew and Rachel (Adams) Akin, natives of Westmoreland County, Penn., and early settlers of Lawrence County, where she was resid- ing when married. She was born October 7, 1823, died June 25, 1882, and was a consistent member of the Second United Presbyterian Church of Mercer. He is a member of the same church. He settled at marriage where he now lives, on his farm of ninety-two acres, which is the result of his own labors. His children were seven: Melissa, married Noble Cozad, of Mercer; Mary, teaching in Washington Territory; Andrew A., Jennie, Anna, Emma, married A. B. Carter, a merchant at Indian Run, and William J. He is a stanch Republican, and one of the enterprising men of the township.

JAMES L. MOORE, post-office Balm, farmer, was born in Hickory Township, November 20, 1836. His parents, Joseph and Eliza (Dawson) Moore; were both brought to this county in their mothers' arms, the former from West- moreland County and the latter from Washington County. John Moore (father of Joseph) settled three miles east of Sharon, was the founder of the old Moorefield Church, and was elected elder at its organization. Joseph was

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

the oldest of the family, born in 1797, died October 2, 1865, married 1821, and had twelve children, viz .: Matthew D., Isabella, John J., Calvin, Wylie A., Robert R., Nancy J., William W., James L., Mary C., Amanda E. and Joseph W. The parents were members of the Clarksville Presbyterian Church, of which he was an elder. He was justice of the peace, and five of his children were school-teachers. Eliza (Dawson) Moore was born July 31, 1802, and died November 3, 1884. She was a daughter of Matthew Dawson, who came to Mercer County at an early day, and, with his wife, whose maiden name was Wylie, settled, lived and died in Lackawannock Township. They were members of Neshannock Presbyterian Church, of which he was an elder. Our subject was educated in the common schools and in the Clarksville Academy. He taught school for four years, and was married December 22, 1860, to Cornelia E. Robison, born June 28, 1840. Her father, Abram Robison, was born Sep- tember 12, 1805, and her mother, Mary (Hamilton) Robison, was born October 22, 1800. They were married December 16, 1830, and were natives of Blair County. They came to this county in the spring of 1840, where they died, he June 24, 1870, and she April 25, 1867. They had six children: Elizabeth H., Margaret J., Martha S., Emma A., Cornelia E. and Winfield S. They were Presbyterians, belonging to the West Middlesex Church, of which he was an elder. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have four children, viz .: Harry A., born Janu- ary 6, 1862, married September 8, 1885, to Sarah L. Freeman, of Crawford County, who is agent and operator for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Shenango, Penn. ; Wilbur W., born April 22, 1866; Mary E., born May 8, 1870; Anna E., born February 18, 1873. Mr. Moore resided in Hickory Township until 1872, when he bought what was known as the Esquire Black Farm, in Springfield Township, where he now lives. He is a member of the P. of H., and with his wife belongs to the Center Presbyterian Church, of which he is an elder. In politics he is a Republican:

NICHOLAS MOUL, deceased, was born March 2, 1812, in Hessen, Germany. He came to America with John, his father, his mother and two sisters when he was eighteen years of age, and settled for awhile in Butler County. He afterward came to Mercer County, where he, December 22, 1836, married Elizabeth Sager, who was born December 2, 1815, in Crawford County, Penn. The Sagers were natives of Westmoreland County, and in 1818 settled on the farm where Alexander Kennedy now resides. This farm was afterward sold, and they moved to the farm where Jacob Shuler now resides. There the mother died in 1857, the father in 1860. There were eight children: John, Jacob, Mary, Abram, Daniel, Elizabeth, Andrew and Barbara. The parents were members of the Lutheran Church. Nicholas Moul settled on a farm in Findley Township, where Mr. Moul was killed by a limb of a tree October 6, 1855. His sad and untimely death was mourned by all who knew him. He was possessed of many noble traits of character. He was a member of the Lutheran Church. By his union with Elizabeth Sager he had eight children: Clarissa, married George Cribbs; John, married Hannah Glenn; Jacob, died when four years old; Reuben, married Ettie Trout, and, after her death, Mrs. Mary George; Salome, lives with her mother; Melissa, died when three years old; Amos, died when one year old; George, a member of Company A, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, killed at Cold Harbor June 7, 1864, having been shot in the head; he died the same evening at 9 o'clock, and was buried on the 8th near the Cold Harbor and White House Landing road. Mrs. Moul settled in Balm in 1857, and has since led a quiet life, deeply mourning the loss of her worthy companion. She is a consistent member of the German Reformed Church.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

THOMAS P. MUNNELL, farmer, post-office Indian Run, was born July 8, 1835, in Armstrong County, Penn., son of Adam and Mary (Risher) Munnell, na- tives of Mercer and Armstrong Counties, respectively. The father was reared near New Castle, learned the trade of a stone-cutter, and while working on the construction of a canal through Armstrong County he became acquainted with his future wife. After marriage he removed to Mercer County, and was em- ployed on contract to build locks on the Beaver & Erie Canal, at or near Greenville. He afterward removed to the farm where our subject now resides, and three years later to another farm, in Lawrence County, where he died September 13, 1851. His widow is still living at the ripe old age of eighty- one years, and is the mother of the following children: Eliza J., married William H. Crooks, she is a widow with four children; Mary, wife of James Thorn; Calvin, Effie, married William Simmison and resides in the West, and W. H., who is engaged in the general book business; Peter R. Munnell married Maria Oakley, of Lawrence County; Thomas P., Mary K., married James M. Rice, who is dead, and she resides in Oil City and has three children: Effie, Edwin and Anna; William Munnell is a resident of Springfield Township; Lizzie married W. H. Harper, an oil producer of Venango County. Adam Munnell was the owner of about 400 acres of land at the time of his death, which was the result of his labors, economy, and frugal dealings. Thomas

P. Munnell was educated in the common schools, and was married to Lizzie Young, a daughter of John and Margaret Young, natives of Washington County, and who came here during the early settlement of this county. Mrs. Munnell was one of four children: Jane, William, Mary and Lizzie. Her father was a strong anti-slavery man, and took an interest in the under-ground railroad transportations. He made public speeches against the evil of slavery, and his son, William, served in Company D, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers. Our subject enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was out eight months, and was wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg in the left leg. He has six children: John, Charles W., Herbert, Anna, Mabel M. and Freddie. He is the owner of ninety acres of the old homestead, and is a stockholder of the Mercer Central Agricultural Association. In politics he is a Republican.

JOHN A. NELSON, farmer, post-office Indian Run, was born on the farm where he now lives, August 26, 1839, and is a son of James Nelson, whose sketch appears elsewhere. Further mention of the Nelson family is made in the notice of Daniel Nelson, of Mercer, hence it is useless to repeat it here. Our subject was educated in the common schools of the neighborhood where he lives, and was brought up on the farm. He has always been at home, conse- quently he helped his father in the nursery business, and is engaged in the berry cultivation and general farming. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Mercer, and is an intelligent, enterprising gentleman and a Repub- lican.

J. W. NELSON, fruit grower, post-office Indian Run, was born March 3, 1844, to James A., born in Pennsylvania, and Lydia (Holman) Nelson, who came to Mercer County after marriage, and settled on the farm where our subject now resides. They erected a log cabin, in which they lived for many years before building the residence yet standing. Here the father died April 22, 1887, and his widow still resides on the farm. They had nine children: Adonin J. (engaged in the fruit business in Kansas), Sophia A. (deceased), John A., Jonas (enlisted October 10, 1862, in Company I, Tenth Pennsylvania Vol- unteers, was taken prisoner August 19, 1864, and confined in Salsbury prison, and died March 27, 1865, a few days after being released from confinement

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

in that terrible prison), J. W., Susan J. (deceased), Margaret E., Mary L., Elizabeth and one died when young. The father began the nursery business about 1857, planting out from 2,500 to 5,000 trees. After 1870 he made a specialty of small fruits. About this time, however, he retired, leaving the business to his sons, J. W. and John A., who are running an extensive busi- ness in small fruits. The father was a Democrat, and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Mercer. Our subject was educated in the com- mon schools, and was married in 1879 to Kate Grubb, a native of Erie County, Penn. Her father, T. P. Grubb, came to this county in 1854, and settled where his son now resides. Mrs. Grubb died in 1855, and Mr. Grubb in 1886. Mr. Nelson enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, and served fourteen months. He belongs to the G. A. R., is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Mercer. He is one of the enterprising, progressive men of the township.

HIRAM ORR, farmer, post-office Mercer, was born January 30, 1832, in Springfield Township. His father, John M. Orr, was born February 4, 1804, to William and Mary (Orrick) Orr, natives of Ireland, from whence they immi- grated to America in 1794, and settled in Washington County, Penn. In 1803 they came to this county, and died in Springfield Township, he in 1843, and she in 1863. They had seven children: James, William, John, Robert Jane, Elias and Elizabeth. John M. Orr married Elizabeth Jamison, by whom he had ten children: Mary J., William, Isabella, Hiram, John, Eliza- beth, David P., Margaret, James and Joseph S. He married a second time, his wife being Mrs. Martha Denniston, who died September 7, 1871. His first wife died October 7, 1854. Our subject, Hiram Orr, was educated in the common schools, and was brought up on a farm. He began for himself at the age of twenty-five years, on a farm of forty acres given him by his father. This he owned about nine years. when he sold and bought the farm where he now lives. He has in all 192 acres, mostly the result of his own labors. He was married November 24, 1856, to Mary J. Carlon, of Lawrence County, by whom he had three children: H. M., married Jane Ramsey, and lives in Butler County; George C., died at the age of eighteen months; John C., mar- ried Emma Fithian, and is a jeweler in Sharpsburg, Allegheny County. Mrs. Orr died May 18, 1863, and he was again married June 30, 1864, to Mary J. Barnes, born June 29, 1832, a daughter of John Barnes. By her he has five children: Ida E., a teacher, of this county; Eva J .; infant, dead; Melvin B. and Hattie E. The first Mrs. Orr was a consistent member of the Leesburg Presbyterian Church. He and his last wife are members of the First Pres- byterian Church at Mercer. He has taken a deep interest in the Democratic party.

G. W. PALMER, farmer, post-office Leesburgh, was born March 6, 1835, in Springfield Township, to Thomas and Catharine (Guist) Palmer, natives of Washington County, Penn., where they were married, and in 1827 they came to Springfield Township, and settled in the green woods on the farm where our subject now resides. They moved to different farms in the township before they died on the farm where Mr. Galloway lives, that event in his career occurring April 7, 1875, and in hers December 12, 1877. They had eleven children: Daniel, Elizabeth, Alexander, G. W., Andrew J., was in the service of his country, and died with congestive chills after the siege of Vicksburg; James S., Nancy, Sarah A., Maria, Thomas, Mary. The parents were mem- bers of the Seceder Church. He began poor, and at death was the owner of considerable property. Our subject attended the common schools, and was

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

married January 9, 1862, to Wilhelmina, daughter of Henry and Catharine (Lewis) Baughman, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1847, settled in the neighborhood of Clarksville, and in 1854 came to Springfield Township. Here he died in 1877 and she in 1868. Their children were: William, Christina, John, Henry, Albert, Louesa and Wilhelmina. Her parents were Lutherans at Blacktown. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have ten children: Archie E., Ida L., Cora, Quincy, Harry, Frank B., Charles W., Anson L., Minnie F. and Floyd C. He and wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Leesburgh, of which he is an elder. He is also super- intendent of the Sunday-school, and is a Democrat.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 127

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