History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 132

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

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GEORGE W. RIDDLE, shoemaker, Mercer, was born May. 12, 1837, son of John B. Riddle. He was educated in the common schools, and was married December 25, 1860, to Mary, a daughter of Joseph McDonald. Her father was born in 1806 and her mother was born in 1803. Mr. Riddle enlisted in the late war as a private in Company A, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, on the 14th day of August, 1862. He was mustered out June 21, 1865. During his services in the defense of his country he was stricken with rheumatism, which has since troubled him a great deal. His children are Edmund, born February 22, 1862; Ida M., born May 12, 1866; Anna B., born February 28, 1868; Frank W., born January 9, 1870; Walter C., born November 5, 1871; Alfred, born December 1, 1873; Parker, born November 3, 1876. The children are all unmarried. He is a member of the G. A. R., is a Republican and a strong temperance man. His grandfather, Edward Riddle, was born in Scotland, and his grandmother, Margaret Riddle, was a native of Shippensburg, Cumberland Co., Penn. They were the parents of six boys and four girls, and became residents of Mercer County. James Riddle, a member of this family, was born September 19, 1794, and served in the War of 1812, being present at the engagement of Perry's fleet with the British in the famous " Perry's Victory."

ANDREW ROBINSON, farmer, post-office Mercer, was born December 23, 1829,'in Trumbull County, Ohio. His father, Thomas, was a native of Wash- ington County, Penn., and his mother, Mary Mayers, was a native of West- moreland County, the same State. The Robinsons moved to Trumbull County about the year 1802, and to Mercer County in 1836, where they settled in what was then Sandy Creek Township, now Perry. There they bought 500 acres in the woods. Here the father died in 1852, and his widow died at the

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

home of our subject in 1868. The father was a member of the Ohio Legis- lature in 1834-35, and was an elder in the Associate Church at his death. He was for years a justice of the peace in this county, and was the father of seven children: John, deceased; Benjamin, deceased; James H., died at the age of six years; Thomas A., lives in Jamestown, Penn ; James H. (2), whose sketch appears elsewhere; Hiram, lives in Florida, and Andrew. The last named was educated principally in the common schools, and was brought up at farm life. He was married March 14, 1853, to Mary Mills, a daughter of Robert and Mary Mills, natives of County Tyrone, Ireland, who came to Pittsburgh in 1831, and two years later settled for a period in Springfield Township, but finally in Perry Township, where the father died in 1857 and the mother in 1878. They were the parents of Joseph, James, Eliza, William, John, Mary, Jane A., Robert, Andrew, Thomas, David, Jane A. (2), Cass, Sarah and Emma H. The father was an Episcopalian in religious belief, while the mother was a Presbyterian. Our subject has had ten children: Thomas, married Ella Keith and is dead; Mary J., married Robert Miller, and is dead; Sarah E., married Homer S. Black; Joanna, deceased; Robert M., married Mary A. Yengor; Emma, deceased; Frank A., Hattie, deceased; Sarah, L. F. and James H. Mr. Robinson was commissioner in 1874-75, was school director for fifteen years, and is serving his third term as a justice of the peace. He is an enterprising gentleman, is a Republican, and he and wife are earnest members of the First United Presby- terian Church of Mercer, of which he is one of the ruling elders.

REUBEN RUPERT, farmer, post-office Mercer, was born November 5, 1829, in York County, Penn., to Philip and Leah (Rahauser) Rupert, natives of York County. The family came to this county in 1831, settling one year near Blacktown, and then moving to an old school-house which stood on the farm where James McGonnell now resides. From there they moved to the farm on which our subject now lives, and settled in an old log cabin, which stood for fifty years, and was then made into wood and used to burn the brick out of which the present elegant residence of Mr. Rupert was built in 1884. The father died in 1862, and his widow January 1, 1886. They were the parents of eleven children: Mary A., married Samuel Reeher; Reuben; Catharine, married John C. Cribbs; Adam (married Hannah McDowell) was in the war from this county, and was for awhile confined in Libby and Salisbury Prisons; Elizabeth, married Newton McDowell; Leah, married Henry Giles; William, married Hannah Wingard; Susan, married Jacob Shuler; Sarah, married Dan- iel Uber and Ephraim McCalmond, and Philip, married Frances Guist. Our subject was educated in the country schools, and brought up at farm labor. He was married in 1853 to Hannah Uber, daughter of Michael and Mollie (Urey) Uber, natives of Westmoreland County and early settlers of this county. Her parents had three children: Mary, married James Guist, who was found dead in his bed by his second wife, who was Jane Patterson; Sarah, married Jacob Wingard, and Hannah. Lizzie Guist, a daughter of James Guist, makes her home with Mr. Rupert. Mr. and Mrs. Rupert have had four chil- dren: Adam P., married Eva Thompson; Norias, deceased; William A., mar- ried Lizzie Todd, and James C., at home. Mr. Rupert some time ago estab- lished five fish ponds, and raises the German Carp. A beautiful spring flows from the side of the hill near by, which feeds the ponds with fresh water, making them of much value to him. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Mercer, and he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM SEIDLEY, farmer, post-office Pardoe, was born June 9, 1838, in Mercer County, on the farm where he now lives. He was educated in the log cabin schools, and was married July 4, 1867, to Maria Barnes, a sister of

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Samuel Barnes, whose sketch appears in this work. By her he has five chil- dren: Jennie. John G., George V., Maggie (deceased) and Reed B. He set- tled at marriage on his present farm of 106 acres. He and his family were members of the old Springfield congregation, some of them being there when Rev. E. Small was pastor. They now belong to the First United Presbyterian Church of Mercer. He was a Democrat until the war, when he became a Re- publican. He is now a Prohibitionist. His father, Bartholomew Seidley, was born August 24, 1806, in Germany, to Anthony and Mary Seidley. He came to America in 1827 and settled in Somerset County, Penn., where he worked at clock-making. In 1834 he settled in Mercer and followed his trade for three years. He married Jane Truxell in 1837. and began clearing a farm in Springfield Township in connection with his clock tinkering over the county. He probably fixed 1.000 clocks in Mercer County. He settled on his present farm in Findley Township in 1861. His wife died in 1854, the mother of six children: Jacob, William, Mary, John, Sarah and Elizabeth. He was married again, to Mrs. David Boyer, who died in 1863. She was a German Reformed in religious belief.

S. M. STEWART. farmer. post-office Mercer, was born in 1846 in County Derry. Ireland. to David and Elizabeth (Campbell) Stewart, who came to America in 1850. and settled in Lawrence County, Penn. Here the father was employed at the Mckinley Furnace for ten years. He then moved to a farm in that county. He subsequently sold notions at wholesale over the sur- rounding country, traveling by a four-horse team. He was employed in this for some time by James Cochran, then of Hanover. Ohio. He finally joined the firm of James Cochran & Co. He later removed to Pittsburgh and fol- lowed this business, and subsequently established a business in partnership with his sons, W. C., D. W., S. M. and A. L., at Beaver Falls, and continued a number of years, and then moved back to Pittsburgh, where he continued in trade until death, in April, 1882. His widow died in Mercer County, and had blessed him with eleven children: J. B., W. C. (was in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers), D. W. (was in the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers). S. M., James (deceased), A. L .. R. W., Mary, Margaret J., Elizabeth and Mattie. The father was married a second time, his last wife being Mrs. Mertilla Reed. S. M. Stewart was educated in the common schools of Mercer County, and was married to Zenobia E., daughter of George and Amanda Cotton, natives of this county and the parents of the following children: Zenobia. Melissa, Armina, Fannie, Mary, John, William. Edward and Clarence. Mr. Stewart located where he now lives in 1887, and has built a fine house in which to spend the remainder of his days. He and wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Mercer, and he is a Republican and belongs to the F. & A. M. His children are Eleanor, Lina, Florence and Nina B.

DAVID WILSON, carpenter for the Mercer County Coal Company, and farmer, post-office Pardoe, was born September 10, 1832, in Westmoreland County, Penn: His parents, James and Catharine (McKee) Wilson, were natives of Ireland, and came to this country while single. They moved to Mercer County about 1840, and settled in what is now Findley Township, where the mother died in 1878, and the father in 1876. They had nine chil- dren: David; Hannah, married Alexander Moore; Jane, married William J. Michaels; Sarah A., married John Axe; Margaret, married A. Highbarger; Catharine, married James Lusk; Lizzie; Thomas, married Addie Heasley, and Hugh. The parents were members of the old Springfield United Presbyte- rian Church. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and began to

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

learn his trade when seventeen years of age. He is the carpenter for the Mer- cer County Coal Company, and has been since 1878. He was married in 1857 to Mary, a daughter of Thomas Houston, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. By this union he has seven children: William J., a farmer; Jen- nie; Sadie, married William McCurdy, of Jackson Township; Mary C., Min- nie E., George A. and Thomas, deceased. Mr. Wilson owns two farms of eighty-one and ninety-one acres, which are the result of his own labors. He has been school director of Wolf Creek Township and assistant assessor of Findley Township. He became a member of the old Springfield Church when Rev. Edward Small was the pastor, and his wife belongs to the same. He is a Republican, and has taken a deep interest in every public enterprise.

JOHN YOUNG, deceased, was born about the year 1776 in Franklin County. Penn. His father, William Young, came to what is now Lawrence County in 1804. John Young, the father of William, had preceded him to Lawrence County two years. He settled about six miles south of Mercer, and William died there. William married Mary Elder, by whom he had eight children: John, David. Elizabeth (married John Sankey, a relative of the great evangel- ist, Ira D. Sankey), Margaret (married David Summerville), James, Mary (married John McCandless), William, Jane (married James Small). John Young was a minister of the United Presbyterian Church, and went to Illinois in 1840, where he soon after died. His widow died in 1864, and had blessed him with five children: Nancy, married David Munnell: Jane, married Robert Elder, and lives in Lawrence County; William, died in 1861; James W. and John, the latter a resident of Lawrence County. James W. was educated in the common schools, and married Mary McGoun, and had eight children, seven of whom are living: Maria, married Andrew Fox; Margaret, married Aaron Hing- ston; John, Fannie, Robert, Isabella and Sarah. James Young settled on his present farm in Findley Township in the spring of 1867. He and his wife belong to the First Presbyterian Church of Mercer. His son, John, who assists in the management of the farm, was a soldier in the One Hundred and Third Pennsylvania Volunteers, enlisting in 1864. He and his father are Democrats, and among the enterprising citizens of the township.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

BIOGRAPHIES OF COOL SPRING, FAIRVIEW, LAKE AND JACKSON.

COOL SPRING TOWNSHIP.

M ARTIN L. ALEXANDER, farmer, was born July 15, 1837, to John C., born in 1804 in Fairview Township. The latter was a son of Joseph and Sarah (Barndollar) Alexander. John Alexander married Martha Rose, and with her lived in Fairview Township until his death in 1876. His widow went West in 1878, and lives with her daughter. Mrs. James A. Shout, of Salina, Kas. Their children were: Sarah, married R. C. Clark; Martha, died small: M. L., Maria J., married James A. Shout; John I., Martha, married Joseph Nelson; Rachel E., married Barton Mishler; James E., died April 16, 1875. John, the twin brother of Martha, enlisted in Company G, Tenth Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, and died in Salisbury Prison March, 1865. The par-

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

ents were members of the old Cool Spring Presbyterian Church. Martin L. Alexander was educated in the country schools, and was trained to rural pur- suits. He was engaged for thirteen years manufacturing wagon lumber in Sandy Creek Township. He was married September 29, 1863, to Margaret C. Vaughn, daughter of Jacob and Eliza J. (McFatrich) Vaughn. Jacob Vaughn was born March 13, 1815, to John and Rebecca (French) Vaughn, the parents of Jacob, Sarah, Phoebe, William, Susan, Nancy, John and Eli. John Vaughn was a soldier in the War of 1812. Jacob Vaughn's wife died May 21, 1886, and had blessed her husband with Margaret C., George S., Hugh M., Emma, married Samuel Steele, and Zidania, married Minor Vernon; William B., and John, married Emma Eckels, who is dead, and he has two children, George and James B. Jacob Vaughn learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for fifteen years. He made wagons and buggies for years, and then engaged in the manufacture of wagon material. He invented a machine for cutting out

felloes. In 1876 he retired from his trade, and now resides with the subject of this sketch. M. L. Alexander came to his present farm of 100 acres in 1884. His children are: Clara D., married Ed R. Eckels; John H., a teacher; Marvin M., Martha E. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church of Fredonia. He is a Republican, and was elected poor director on November 6, 1888.

J. W. ALLISON, farmer, post-office Mercer, was born November 29, 1840, in Hickory Township, to James and Elizabeth J. (Gettis) Allison, natives, the father of Westmoreland County, and of Scotch extraction, and the mother of Ireland, an immigrant to America at the age of six years with her father, Arch- ibald Gettis. They settled in Pittsburgh, where he merchandised for a num- ber of years. He died in 1840 and his widow died in 1854. James H. Allison was engaged in cabinet-making in Pittsburgh when he was married in 1832, and the following year he came to Hickory Township, where he remained for many years. In 1835 he and a Mr. Lightner began a search for coal on their respective farms. The first shaft was sunk on Mr. Lightner's farm, with no success, and the next was on Mr. Allison's farm, which was with good result. His son claims that these were the first coal shafts sunk in Mercer County. Mr. Allison subsequently sold his farm, and died at his home in Illinois in 1863. His widow died August 7, 1885, at the home of J. W. Allison. They had eighteen children, nine of whom grew up: James C., enlisted in the One Hun- dred and Thirty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers; Thomas C .; J. W., Mary J., married S. J. Wier; Henry J., a merchant at Pittsburgh; Margaret, married John Nelson; Fannie, married F. Bastress; Emma, married Abner Rice, and Joseph. Our subject attended the common schools and Allegheny College, at Meadville, and taught eight terms of school, two of which were in Shelby Coun- ty, Ind. He enlisted in Company I, Eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Three months afterward he enlisted in Rabb's Light Artillery, but was rejected owing to a wound received in service with Company I. He was married in 1861 to Eliza- beth Wilson, and has by her James, Homer, Robert, Edith, Jennie, Mary and Benjamin. Mr. and Mrs. Allison are members of the Second United Presbyte- rian Church of Mercer, and he is a Republican. He and his boys are exten- sively engaged in the dairy business, running a milk wagon to Mercer. They are all farmers, and give especial attention to raising small fruits.

JOHN ARMSTRONG, farmer, post-office North's Mills, was born November 11, 1830, in County Tyrone, Ireland, to Thomas and Elizabeth (Elliott) Arm- strong, natives of the same country, where the father died July 2, 1838. His widow came to America in 1842, with her eight children: Elizabeth, married John McCoy; Mary, married Robert McCoy; Jane, married John Walker, and

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

died December 25, 1857; Margaret, married Thomas Mitcheltree; Ann, married Richard Hutchinson; John; Elliott, married Sarah Mckay; Matilda, married John Keister. The mother never married again, but died January 20, 1853. She and her husband belonged to the Church of England. Our subject was educated principally in Mercer County. He was married October 1, 1857, to Mary E., a daughter of Malcolm and Jane (Summerville) McComb, natives of Washington County, Penn. Her parents came to Mercer County in an early day, and their children were John, Robert, David, Sarah, Martha, William and Mary E. Mrs. Armstrong was born November 21, 1831, in East Lackawan- nock Township. Her union with John Armstrong has given her two children: Thomas E., born July 17, 1858, married Florence E. Bromley, a daughter of Michael and Margaret (McCormick) Bromley, by whom he has three chil- dren: Margaret S. (Jane died small), John B. and William E. Mr. A. came to his present farm of seventy-three acres in 1866. He and wife are mem- bers of the Second United Presbyterian Church of Mercer, and he is a Dem- ocrat.

DANIEL BACKUS, farmer, post-office North's Mills, was born August 31, 1845, in Mercer County, Penn., to Daniel and Mary A. (Kauffman) Backus, natives of Allegheny County, and of Scotch extraction. The parents settled in Delaware Township, this county, about 1837, and there the father died in 1845, and his widow subsequently removed to Fredonia, where she died in 1884. She was the mother of two children: Mary J., married James White, and resides in Fredonia, and Daniel. The father was a farmer and owned 200 acres of land before his death. He belonged, with his wife, to the Presby- terian Church. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and worked on a farm until 1881, when he sold his farm and bought a saw-mill in Perry Township. This he operated for five months, sold and bought another mill in Cool Spring, ran it four months, then operated a mill in Butler County for six months, thence to Cool Spring, and pursued the same business for nearly two years, after which he ran another mill in Lake Township for two months, and then went to Fredonia and cut a large amount of staves, afterward going to Butler County, and operating a mill, which he sold June 10, 1887, and on December 1, 1887, he located on his farm of fifty-six acres, in Cool Spring Township, which he had purchased in 1884. He married Cyrena Keen, daughter of Reuben and Paulina (Mitchell) Keen, and by her has three chil- dren: Mintie, Mary P. and Fred. He was a member of the council of Fredonia Borough for three years, auditor and street commissioner of the same for two years each. He is a Republican, a member of the I. O. O. F., and, with his wife, belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JOHN BESTWICK, farmer, post-office Mercer, was born June 26, 1848, in Mer- cer County, son of John and Ann (Godsby) Bestwick. He was educated in the common schools, and brought up on a farm. He was married in 1880 to Sadie Moon, daughter of Lewis Moon, of Jackson Township, by whom he has two children: Plummer and Sennett. He settled on his present farm in 1882. It consists of 100 acres, a part of the old Stokely farm, upon which the famous old pioneer sleeps his last sleep. He is a Republican, and an enterprising young man, who always does his share in every public enterprise that has a tendency to build up Mercer County or the community in which he lives. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His brother, Thomas Bestwick, was born November 13, 1841, in Jackson Township, and was mar- ried April 5, 1866, to Mary J., daughter of George McEwen, by whom he had John, Charles, George (deceased), Anna, Thomas (deceased), Jennie, Bert and Lester. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, One Hundredth Penn-

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

sylvania Volunteers, and re-enlisted in December, 1863, and served until the close of the war. At the battle of Bull Run he was shot in the right shoulder, and was shot through the clothing several other times. A part of the time he was a sharp-shooter, and bears a record of a brave soldier.

W. D. BOYD, farmer, post-office Mercer, was born December 1, 1842, in Cool Spring Township, son of Joseph and Nancy (Weese) Boyd. The father was a native of Ireland, and came to this county when small, with his parents, Henry and Rebecca Boyd, and was one of five children: John, Henry, Joseph, Catharine, married John Ford, and Elizabeth, married Stephen Horn. Henry and Rebecca were Methodists. Joseph Boyd had by his marriage seven chil- dren: W. D., Sarah and Jennie are dead; Mary E., married John Myers; Henry P., Andrew J. and Anna, deceased. Our subject attended the common schools, and was married December 28, 1871, to Mary, daughter of Charles and Rebecca (Porter) McClain, natives of this county, and the parents of the fol- lowing children: Milton, David, Isabella, Amelia, Martha, Thomas, Arkana, Mary, Julia and John. The mother of Mrs. Boyd is dead, and her father lives in Mercer, married to Jane Jamison. W. D. Boyd had one child by his first marriage, Nannie B., who married Rev. W. P. Graham, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. By his present wife he has one child, Charlie. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. He enlisted in Company D, Two Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served about one year, at the close of the war. He was in the battles before Petersburg and Fort Steadman. He is a stanch Republican, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church.

ROBERT BUXTON, farmer, post-office Mercer, was born February 4, 1846, in what is now Jackson Township, this county, to Robert and Ann (Howell) Bux- ton, natives of England, and who came to America with their respective par- ents and settled in Mercer County. The children of Robert and Ann Bux- ton were: Charles, was in the war from Lawrence County; Albert, Robert, Lizzie, married Thomas Mckinney, and Henry. The mother died, and the father was again married, to Ellen Levey, by whom he had five children: Anna, married Harvey Umphrey; Blanche, married William Riley; Thomas, John and Nellie, deceased. The father resides with his last wife in Lawrence County. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and was brought up at farm labor. His father gave him about $1,500, to which he has added until he is worth $15,000. He and brother Albert, and sister Lizzie, began for themselves on a farm in Cool Spring Township, which they divided many years later with entire satisfaction. Mr. Buxton was married September 28, 1871, to Miss Maggie Filson, by whom he has three children: Welma I., Harry and Robert, all attending the Mercer public schools. Mr. Buxton is the owner of ninety-five acres in Liberty Township, and fifteen acres, well improved, near Mercer, where he now resides. He is a Republican, with his wife belongs to the Second Presbyterian Church at Mercer, and is one of the enterprising, public-spirited citizens of this county.

J. L. BYERS, farmer, post-office Mercer, was born June 15, 1823, in the por- tion of Mercer County which is now included in Lawrence County. His par- ents, Samuel and Mary (Gundy) Byers, had eight children: Margaret, married William Robison, and is deceased; Rebecca, Elizabeth, married Robert Atwell; J. L .; Mary A. became the second wife of William Robison; Elitha, married J. P. Mckinley; Daniel C., Christina, married Marshall Couch and Rufus Yard. J. L. Byers was educated in the common schools in this and Venango Counties. He was married August 19, 1846, to Sarah Steel, daughter of Will- iam and Esther (Ewing) Steel, and by her he has had six children: Josephine

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

S., the wife of D. R. P. Zahniser; Mary L., married William Sloss; Hedessa M., married Charles Ayer; Margaret M., married William Gilbert, and she was fatally burned by the explosion of a lamp at her home in Mercer, on the evening of November 12, 1887; Daniel O. and Eletha S. Mr. Byers is engaged in farming and keeping hotel. He kept hotel at Waterloo, Venango County, for three years, and extensively at his present place for five years. In politics he is a Democrat. His brother, Daniel C. Byers, who makes his home with him, was for four years a member of the lumber firm of Thorn, Byers & Co., of Mercer. He is now in his seventh year of employment by the Shenango & Allegheny Railroad as a carpenter. Mrs. Sarah Byers died March 26, 1888, at the age of sixty-three years.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 132

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