History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 135

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

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Two camp-meetings were held on the plantation of Mr. Stokely, the first in the year 1827, and the second in 1834. On these occasions he prepared the grounds and entertained all of the clergy in attendance. On some of the clergymen expressing some surprise at his choice of location, he told them that he had a particular purpose to serve in that matter. A gentle pressure to ar- rive at a knowledge of this purpose elicited the fact that the woods in which the selection was made was the resort of foxes, skunks, owls and other vermin, that stole his poultry, and he thought the noise made in a good rousing camp- meeting would drive them out and give him comparative security in the future, to effect which he hoped the preachers, who loved to feed on chickens and ducks as well as himself, would aid him to the best of their ability. When the second camp-meeting was held he selected a different place, the reason for which was that he then wanted the vermin driven back to their old quarters. The first wife of Mr. Stokely died in May, 1814. She was the mother of ten chil- dren. He was married the second time, in 1817, to Mrs. Elizabeth Snyder, of Pittsburgh, formerly Miss Stephenson, of Salem Township, Mercer County, by Bishop Roberts. The second wife, who died in the year 1876, was the mother of seven children. Mr. Stokely was an independent thinker, and orig- inal, if not eccentric, in his ways. He was well read, and far in advance of the most of his neighbors in his knowledge of history and general learning. He was a ready and correct writer, and, after a newspaper was established in Mercer, contributed a great deal to its columns. Before physicians had established themselves in the country, his advice and assistance were often solicited. He would bleed and prescribe for the sick. On one occasion, when there was a general alarm, he inoculated thirty persons in five families for the small-pox in one day, every one of whom passed safely through the disease. This was be- fore the introduction of vaccination into this country. The persons thus treated were previously prepared by a proper dieting, so that the danger of inocu- lation was not deemed very great.

In a paper dictated a short time before his death, in 1843, he left the fol- lowing account of his religious experience. He says: "It is seldom, if ever, any person writes their own obituary notice, but the subject of this, being somewhat eccentric in opinion and habits, has thought proper to say that in a

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long life he has passed through three or four different conceptions of religion. First, when a lad between seventeen and eighteen he took the opinion of others near to him as correct, without noticing technical distinctions. Second, he, at the period above stated, became fully convinced of the necessity of a reformation in principle and practice, and that through the merits of the Sav- iour only was salvation to be obtained. Third, at the age of twenty-one or twenty-two, or perhaps from twenty to twenty-five, he gradually became sceptical in most things of a religious nature; in this state he continued for up- ward of forty years. Fourth, in the latter part of 1839, or at the age of about seventy-three, in a state of indisposition of body and nervous affection, he began to see the approaching prospect of temporal dissolution, which excited an inquiry what was best to do to prepare safely for the change. And now he feels fully persuaded that to die in a full reliance on the mercy and merits of the Lord Jesus Christ is the best and only sure and peaceful way to leave the world. He will not conceal according existing difficulties to his judgment in the plan of redemption, but in this interesting crisis he dares not to raise any direct opposition to it, and therefore yields up his breath and his all to Al- mighty God who gave him existence." Such was the life of Benjamin Stokely, the first settler in Mercer County. - By Garvin.

SAMUEL TAIT .- The subject of this memoir came into Mercer County in the summer of 1800. He, too, graduated from Dr. McMillan's log cabin, start- ing on a missionary tour through the northwestern counties immediately thereafter. After preaching in various places, wherever he could get a hear- ing for his messages, he accepted calls from Cool Spring and Salem, and in November of that year was ordained pastor in each. The town of Mercer had then no existence, and hence his churches at first were purely backwoods insti- tutions. Eaton's history of the presbytery of Erie contains a very interesting account of the construction of the church in Cool Spring for his accommoda- tion. Mr. Tait had said to his hearers on Sunday: "If you will build a meet- ing-house I will come and preach for you." The offer was accepted, and a day appointed for a meeting of the people with their axes for that purpose. They attended in sufficient numbers to effect their purpose. Some went to work at cutting logs of the proper length for the building; others in preparing clap- boards for the roof and puncheons for the floor, and wherewith to fit up the pulpit. When the logs were cut it was found that they were too heavy to be brought into position by manual labor, in time to finish the building on that day, and here was a very serious dilemma. Says Mr. Eaton: "There was but one team in all the settlement, and that was a yoke of oxen belonging to a pro- fessed infidel. It would not do to ask him to bring his team for such a purpose. Just as the necessity became pressing Mr. S. was seen approaching with his oxen, crying out with his great merry voice, 'Here comes the devil with his oxen to help you build your meeting-house.' The work then went gaily for- ward. The next important thing was the appearance of Thomas McLean, with a small, flat keg of whisky under his arm. This was placed in Mr. Tait's hands, when all took a drink, beginning with the minister, and ending with the donor himself. Three cheers were then given for Thomas McLean, with the promise that when the church was organized he should be the first elder. This promise was afterward fulfilled, and Mr. McLean was the first elder that was elected. By sundown the church was built, covered with clapboards, floored with puncheons, and round logs rolled in for seats. The house was so located that a large stump answered the purpose of a pulpit, with two punch- eons set upright in front, and one across secured to the uprights with pins, on which the Bible might be placed." It will thus be seen that Mr. Tait liter-

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ally took the stump, in his advocacy of the cross, and did not despise the means used at that time to enliven and exhilarate social and political gather- ings of the people. In after times, a quarter of a century later, when the temperance question had been agitated and discussed, he banished the liquor from his own harvest field, and entered very heartily into the crusade then commenced against the social use of intoxicating drinks. It is related by Eaton that luxury soon began to creep into the Cool Spring Church, threaten- ing trouble. William McMillan placed in the meeting-house a puncheon seat, supported with legs, for self and family to sit on, while all the others were using the round logs originally placed in the building for that purpose. Here was pride and innovation that many held to be deserving of rebuke, as the innovator and family were held to be no better than others. But McMillan was not without friends; possibly they were of those who selfishly contemplated a similar improvement for their own comfort. Here was division and conten- tion that could only be settled by the authority of the pastor, who, doubtless after prayerful consideration, decided on the side of progress and comfort by declaring that every one should be permitted to put in for himself such a seat as he chose. This difficulty happily settled, the congregation increased so rap- idly that the building had to be twice enlarged for its accommodation, which was done by cutting out logs on the sides and adding "leantoos." In 1806, a Presbyterian Church having been organized in Mercer, Mr. Tait relinquished his Salem charge to assume the duties of pastor in the county town. In 1813 the Cool Spring people agreed to come to town, and the time previously given to them was extended to Salem. In 1826 the church at Salem was finally relinquished by Mr. Tait, and his time afterward wholly given to Mercer until his death in 1841.

Mr. Tait was a man of commanding presence, being over six feet high, erect in his carriage, and grave and determined in general demeanor. He was devoted to the cause of Christianity, and was a very Paul in his efforts to vitalize and gather into the church all with whom he came in contact. To his friends, to whom he unbended, he exhibited such a warm and loving sympathy that gratitude, confidence and veneration were all blended in the reciprocity invited and returned. To those outside of this circle he was deemed austere, illiberal, and a kind of Calvinistic monk, and the result was that, while he had warm, trusting and devoted friends, his opponents were numerous, decided and active. Along about 1809 a difficulty occurred between William Johnson and John Bowman, both of Cool Spring, the latter a member of Mr. Tait's church, which caused much excitement and a great deal of litigation after- ward, Mr. Tait becoming one of the principals. Bowman contracted to deliver sixteen bushels of rye at the mill of Arnold & Hackney for the use of Johnson. When Johnson applied at the mill for the rye its delivery was denied; when he went to Bowman its delivery according to contract was affirmed. Unable to get the rye, he brought suit against Bowman before 'Squire Rambo. In the trial Bowman swore that he delivered the rye accord- ing to contract, while both Arnold and Hackney swore that they had never received it. The justice, presumably on the weight of evidence, gave judg- ment for the plaintiff. The church then took up the matter, the decision of the justice being assumed a practical charge of perjury against one of its members. The investigation here exonerated Bowman. This was looked upon as a whitewashing report, and a communication published in one of the Pittsburgh papers followed. the author of which indulged in a libelous and abusive attack on Mr. Tait. The authorship was assumed by Johnson, although generally suspected to have been written by his neighbor, Benjamin

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Stokely. Mr. Tait prosecuted and Johnson entered a counter-prosecution- the community took sides in nearly equal parts, and became very much excited over the matter, but the result in the court was a complete victory to Mr. Tait, he obtaining a verdict of over $2,000 against Johnson, and wholly defeating the cross-prosecution. Beyond the fee of his attorney, Mr. Bald- win, and the costs, Mr. Tait refused to allow anything more being collected from Johnson. It was not money that he sought in the courts, but vindication of his character. There followed this a singular series of mishaps among several of those that were supposed or understood to have taken sides against Mr. Tait, which a portion of his congregation and friends were disposed to attribute to the interposition of Providence for the punishment of their wick- edness therein. The powder-mill of Arnold & Hackney was blown up, the eldest son of the latter, named Larken, losing his life thereby, their grist-mill afterward being destroyed by fire. Mr. Johnson was killed by a limb falling from a dead tree while passing under it on a load of hay. This tree was cut down, and falling across a little swale alongside of the road, was used by foot passengers to avoid the mud. Mr. Thomas Bingham slipped on it, and had three of his ribs broken by the fall. The horse of Miss Sarah Beckwith, while riding past, became frightened, and threw her against it, breaking a thigh. Misfortunes of other families among Mr. Tait's opponents are recited, all as occurring within the space of two years after the legal conflict with him. It is worthy of the passing remark, however, that most of these afflicted fami- lies belonged to other churches, and were pious and respectable people, while no accident happened to Benjamin Stokely, the recognized commander-in- chief in the war against Mr. Tait, and at that time an avowed infidel. Mr. Tait had afterward to contend with some difficulties in his church, but his peo- ple always stood by him faithfully. His face was always set against innova- tors, and his support undeviatingly given to the orthodox side of all questions that came up. He unquestionably did a great deal of good. - By Garvin.

THOMAS VANATTA, farmer, post-office Mercer, was born December 20, 1833, in Lawrence County, Penn., to John, born June 5, 1803, and Mary (Crawford) Vanatta, born May 25, 1802. The parents were natives of Beaver County, and the father was of German and the mother of Scotch-Irish extraction. They came to Mercer County in 1838 and settled in Lackawannock Township, where he engaged at his trade, that of a carpenter. While working on a building he fell and broke three ribs loose from the backbone, and two in front. He served as a justice of the peace in Lackawannock Township for five years. He died July 25, 1885, and his wife died June 9, 1865. They were married March 30, 1826, and were members of the Presbyterian Church. Their children were Benjamin, died January 17, 1857; Hannah, married Mitchell Roland; Ruth, married Martin Davis; Thomas, Margaret J., married William Clark; Mary A., died October 18, 1884; John, and Eliza, married William Ransom. The father was a Democrat until the breaking out of the war, when he became a stanch Republican. The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools and was brought up at rural pursuits. He began for him- self when twenty-four years of age, at which time he rented the old home place, where he remained until 1881, when he bought the farm he now lives on. He was married April 13, 1858, to Elizabeth, daughter of William and Nancy (Boyd) Clark. Her father was born April 27, 1802, in Ireland, and came to America when twenty-one years old. Her mother was born January 14, 1801. Her parents were married in Lawrence County, September 27, 1832, the result being seven children: Mary, Agnes, Elizabeth, William, Rebecca, Margaret and Samuel. Her father died November 18, 1882, and

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her mother, April 26, 1884, and were members of the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Vanatta was born May 25, 1835, and has blessed her consort with eight children: Nancy J., John W., a farmer in Kansas; Robert, Frank, Maggie E., deceased; Elizabeth A., Sarah E. and Clara M. Mr. and Mrs. Vanatta and their three oldest daughters are members of the Cool Spring Presbyterian Church. He is a Republican, and is one of the honest, upright farmers of Mercer County.

R. O. WALKER, farmer, post-office Mercer, was born October 10, 1851, in She- nango Township, Mercer County, to Samuel and Elizabeth (Nelson) Walker. George Walker, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Ireland, and set- tled at an early day in Shenango Township. He was the father of nine children: George, Hugh, Robert, Samuel, John, Sarah, married Joseph Kitch; Betsey, Jane, married James Baird; Mary J., married William Mayrs. The father of R. O. Walker was blessed with nine children: George, Nelson, Margaret, R. O., Smith, Amanda, Elizabeth, and two others who died young. The mother died in 1887, and the father in 1888, in his native township. He and his wife united with the United Presbyterian Church, many years ago, at West Middlesex. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and was married in 1875 to Mary M. Ewing, daughter of Thomas and Mary Ewing, one of eight children: Mary M., Frank, Elizabeth, Carrie, Jennie, Emma, Willie and Lulu. Her parents live in Youngstown, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have three children: Harry W., Beulah B. and Mable V. They set- tled on their present farm of 100 acres in 1876. He and wife are members of the Cool Spring Presbyterian Church, and he is a Republican.

SAMUEL M. WEBB, farmer, post-office Mercer, was born March 16, 1863, on the farm where he now resides. His father, James Webb, was born on the farm now owned and occupied by B. A. Williams, in East Lackawannock Township. He was a brother of Mrs. Daniel Nelson, of Mercer. He mar- ried Belle Mckay, who died in 1864, leaving one child, Samuel M. After the death of his mother our subject lived with his aunt, Eliza McLain, of Mercer, until five years old, and until eight with his father, when he was sent to Pitts- burgh, where he attended school for four years, making his home with his aunts, Jane and Amelia, sisters of his father. He then joined his father on the farm, they doing their own housework, until November 24, 1884, when the father died, and our subject was married December 25, the same year, to Mary Hunter, daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Alexander) Hunter. Her mother died when she was six months old, leaving four children: Ida, George, Mina and Mary. Her father was again married, to Elizabeth McMillan, and had four children: Mattie, Louis, Bertha and Clara. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel M. Webb have two children: Nannie and Elva. Mr. Webb is a Republican, a good farmer, and buys and sells stock.

THE WILSONS, of East Lackawannock Township, were early settlers. John Wilson, Sr., was born in Dublin, Ireland, August 15, 1765, and was married to Grace Miller. He came to Mercer County in 1800, bought the farm on which he lived in 1804 from Hendricks and Bready, administrators of the John Gold estate, of Allegheny. He paid $200 for 200 acres, the old deed bearing date of March 29, 1789. The issue of this marriage were seven chil . dren: James, Grace, John, William, Nellie, Charles and Margaret. He was one of the early members of the old Cool Spring Presbyterian Church, of which the Rev. Samuel Tait was pastor. He walked through the woods a distance of six miles every Sabbath to attend the services, taking a lunch and remain- ing all day. James Wilson, the eldest son of James, Sr., was born in Ire- land August 11, 1790, and came to America with his father when about eight

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years old. He was married March 8, 1820, to Esther Harris, of Mahoning County, Ohio, and reared six children: William H., Margaret C., Isaac New- ton, Phoebe C., Almon B. and James L. Almon B., of Coitsville, Ohio, and Phoebe C., of Marshalltown, Iowa, are the only surviving members of the family. Newton Wilson, father of W. H. and George H. Wilson, was born in Mercer County October 9, 1824, and married Cynthia A. Hoagland, daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth Hoagland, of Brookfield, Ohio, April 3, 1851. He followed dairying for over a quarter of a century, was a stanch Democrat, and one of the surviving members of the First Presbyterian Church at the time of the split mentioned elsewhere in this work. They reared two children: William H. and George H. The former was born April 3, 1852, and the latter was born March 21, 1859. Newton Wilson died July 8, 1877, and his widow, Cynthia A., died March 8, 1884. William H. Wilson was married to Laura A. Snyder October 9, 1883. She was a daughter of Joel and Eliza- beth Snyder, of Hempfield Township. He bought the farm formerly owned and settled by William Alexander in 1797, and who was probably the second settler in the township. William H. Wilson moved to this their present home on April 1, 1884, and has one son, Jay Clyde, born October 2, 1887. George H. Wilson, of East Lackawannock, was married to Kate D., daughter of Jesse and Sadie Hoagland, June 26, 1884. He has one child, Jesse, and owns and lives on the old original homestead of his father. Jesse and Jay Clyde Wil- son are the fifth generation, their great-great-grandfather having come from Ireland almost 100 years ago.

HIRAM WORLEY, farmer, post-office Mercer, was born March 24, 1848, in Wilmington Township, the son of Henry and Susannah (Moon) Worley. The father of our subject was born near Hagerstown, Md., in January, 1809, and came to Mercer County in 1822, with his mother and step-father, Jacob Ruth- rauff and Barbara (Tice) Ruthrauff. He learned the mill-wright's trade with James McGrath, working on the famous old Crill mill in Findley Township, and others in the county. He followed his trade for some years, married Susannah Moon in 1832, moved to his farm in Wilmington Township, Mercer County, in 1835, and lived there, clearing up his farm, which was nearly all woods at that time. In his latter days he devoted his entire time to farming, and died in August, 1871. His children were: Uriah, Ruth A., Mary J., Angeline, Emeline, Seth, enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Thirty- ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, was wounded at the battle of the Wil- derness, and died in a hospital at Washington one month later; Hannah J., Hiram, Hugh, Charlotte, Ira, Amanda, Milton, Elmer and Susan. Our sub- ject was educated in the common schools in his native township, and was brought up at farm labor. He began learning the carpenter business in 1866, with James S. Collins, and followed that for twelve years. He worked nearly six years on pattern work in the machine shop at Mercer, and one year at Ham- lin, Sons & Co., at Greenville. He came to his present farm of 108 acres in 1878. He was married in 1873 to Mary Crill, a sister of John T. Crill, whose family is mentioned elsewhere. His children are: Susan J., Frank G., John H. and Lewis A. He is serving as supervisor of Cool Spring Township, is a Republican, and his wife is a member of the Cool Spring Presbyterian Church. Some of the troops belonging to Col. Hosack's regiment, while on their way to Erie, in the War of 1812, encamped for a short time on the farm now owned by Mr. Worley. Near his house, the site of the camp, he found two coins, dated 1772 and 1809, which were no doubt lost by some of the soldiers. These coins are still in his possession.

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FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP.

SAMUEL B. ALEXANDER, farmer, post-office Hathegig, is a son of Sam- uel T. and Ruth (Good) Alexander, the latter a daughter of Thial Good, of French Creek Township. The grandfather, Joseph Alexander, was a native of Ireland, who came to this country with his parents when four years old. They settled near Philadelphia, Penn. Joseph came to Mercer County in 1799, and settled on the farm where his grandson, Joseph W, Alexander, now lives. He died in 1841, and his wife in 1857. Their family consisted of four sons and four daughters: Eliza, Mrs. Robert Bowman; Sarah, Mrs. Samuel Bowman; Jane, Mrs. John McLain; Mary A., Mrs. Samuel Camp- bell; Irwin, John, Samuel T. and Martin; all deceased except Mrs. Campbell and Mrs. McLain. Samuel, the father of our subject, was a farmer. His family were: Samuel B., Sarah, Mrs. George McClure; Eunice, Mrs. Robert Rogers; Joseph W., Chloe, wife of S. R. Robins, deceased. He died in 1883. His wife survives him, and lives with her son, Joseph W. Our subject was born August 27, 1839, grew up in the township, and at the age of twenty- three enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and participated in all the engagements from Antietam to Spottsylvania, where, on May 12, he received a wound in the left wrist, which necessitated the amputation of his hand. After his return he was engaged in various occupations until 1873, when he located upon his present farm. Our subject served as school director and tax collector for several years. In 1875 he was elected county treasurer, and was the first treasurer to fill the three - years' term. He married, January 18, 1872, Miss Mary J., daughter of Sears Morford, of Fairview Township, and by this marriage they have six children: George, Jennie, Willard, Elsie, Sears, Walter. His wife died January 20, 1886. Our subject is a member of Wesleyan Methodist Church of Fairview.

AARON H. ARNOLD, deceased, was born in Fayette County, Penn., June 13, 1803, and was a son of Levi and Elizabeth (Hackney) Arnold, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of Philadelphia, Penn. They reared a large family, and about 1830 came from Fayette County to Mercer County, where they settled in Cool Spring Township, on a tract afterward known as the "Donaldson farm." They here built a distillery, a powder-mill and a grist- mill. In 1834 they sold out, and removed to the site of Fredonia, where they built a grist and saw-mill in 1837-38, for many years known as "Arnold's Mills," which was operated for several years by Aaron H. and his father. The parents both died in that vicinity. Our subject was married December 25, 1835, to Julianna Grove, of Centre County, Penn., who reared six children, all of whom are living: Curtis, of Shenango; Maria E., wife of George W. Washabaugh, of Westmoreland County, Penn. ; Leslie F., of Jackson Centre; Martha M., of Denver, Colo .; Lydia V., of Jackson Centre, and Hiram N., of Denver, Colo. Aaron H. Arnold was a miller by trade, and was engaged in that line of business in Mercer County up to his death, which occurred May 16, 1862. His widow resides with her son, Leslie F., at Jackson Centre, Mr. Arnold was a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics was a Republican. He was a very well read man, especially in The- ology, and was an upright, honest citizen.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 135

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