History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 138

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

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JOHNSON GRAHAM, retired farmer, post-office Jackson Centre, was born August 20, 1807, in what is now Worth Township. His father, William Gra- ham, was born in either Scotland or Ireland, and came to America after hav- ing married his second wife, Sarah Boyle, and with her and daughter, Jane, and William, a son by his first wife, he came to America in 1800. Their chil- dren born in this country were Sallie, Hugh, Thomas, Mary A., John, Johnson, Susan, James, all of whom are dead but our subject, the parents of whom were members of the Seceder Church. Johnson Graham was educated in the log cabin school-houses of his day, going bare-footed a portion of his attend- ance. He began with only a willing heart and strong hands. About the first money he obtained to apply on the purchase of land was secured by cleaning and digging a mill-race, at 10 cents per yard. His first purchase was the old homestead of 150 acres. He was married, in 1837, to Jane E. Williamson, born in this county to Jacob Williamson, and by her he had two children: Isa- bella, married Henry Smith; William J., married Mary Johnson, of Youngs- town, Ohio, and has Jennie, Fannie and George. Mrs. Graham died in 1872, and was a member of the Seceder Church. Our subject came to Jackson Cen- tre in 1862, and bought 110 acres, a portion of which he laid off in town lots. He was a judge at the first borough election, and was once a member of the I. O. O. F. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and is a Republican.

JESSE HARRISON, farmer, post-office Jackson Centre, was born September 19, 1843, on the farm where he resides. His father, William, was born in England, and came to America when thirty years old. He settled on the farm now owned and occupied by Jesse Harrison, and married Sarah. Johnson, who was born in England and came to America with her mother and sisters, Ann, Mary, and brother John. William Harrison had eleven children: Joseph, Ann, Mrs. Hugh Evans; George, Isaac, was in the late war; John, died in the war; Elizabeth, Mrs. Thomas Mckay; Sarah, married James Allen; Jesse, Thomas, Mary, William H. The parents were Methodists. Jesse received a common school education; he enlisted in Company I, Fifty-seventh Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, and was discharged from Company D after a service of seventeen months. He was married, November 5, 1878, to Mary McElree, a daughter of John McElree, and has by her: Eddie E., John E. and Elva M. He owns 125 acres of well-improved land, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Republican.

JOHN INFIELD, hotel keeper and butcher, post-office Jackson Centre, was born February 2, 1836, in Jackson Township, to Daniel, born in Somerset County, and there married Sarah Ringer, and came to Mercer County October 18, 1829, settling in Jackson Township. He had by his marriage: Joseph, Catharine, Hiram, Mary I., John, James, Daniel, Emeline. The father followed farming, and took charge of a hotel, which he named the "Infield House," in 1862, which

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was the second house of the kind in Jackson Centre. He had kept hotel on the Satterfield farm, known as the "Old Wash McKee Stand." He died Sep- tember 11, 1874, and his widow still lives with the subject, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. She is one of the original members of the Jackson Centre Cumberland Presbyterian Church, to which her husband belonged. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and was brought up at farm labor. He was married to Mary N. Nuneymaker, a native of this county, and by whom he has had ten children: Jennie, Charles, Lizzie, George, Eva, Daniel, Kate, Samuel, Myrta, Frank. Mr. Infield took. charge of the hotel in 1868, and in 1882 he added butchering. He has been a member of the borough coun- cil. His wife is a member of Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He lived in Franklin from 1862 to 1868. He is a Democrat.

PEARSON LYTLE, farmer, post-office Jackson Centre, was born January 22, 1840, on the farm where he now resides. His father, John, was a native of Ireland, and came to America when a boy, and to Mercer County in 1824, set- tling where our subject lives. He married Sarah Kane, of Fayette County, Penn., and had the following children by her: David, Mary, married William Reese; James, Joseph, George, Pearson and William, who was killed at the battle of the Wilderness. The father died in 1852, and the mother July 3, 1867. They were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Pearson Lytle was educated in the country schools, and began life for himself at the death of his mother. He was married October 24, 1871, to Melissa Pearson, daughter of Samuel and Matilda (McConnell) Pearson, and has had by her Edwin, Bertha and De Witt. He and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is a Democrat.

J. H. MCCURDY, farmer, was born October 24, 1852, within about four miles of Norristown, Montgomery Co., Penn. His father, James F., was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1808, and immigrated to Montgomery County in 1837, where he married Rosannah McMullen, born about 1821 in County Antrim, Ireland, and who arrived in Montgomery County later than her husband. The family came to Mercer County in 1860, settling on the farm where our subject now lives; here the father died January 24, 1883, and the mother, February 8, 1880. Their children were: David, died at the age of seventeen years; Jane, Mrs. Lemuel Black; John, died when young; Mary, was burned to death by her clothes catching on fire; Rosannah, is a maiden lady; J. H., Kate A. and one died when young. The parents died members of the Cottage Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject was principally educated in the common schools of Mercer County, and was'brought up at farm labor. He was married December 19, 1876, to Mary J. Patterson, born September 15, 1853, a daughter of William and Elizabeth J. (McDowell) Patterson, the parents of the following children: John, Mary J., Sadie and Martha. Mrs. Patterson died in 1861, and, with her husband, belonged to the Springfield United Presbyterian Church. J. H. McCurdy has five children: James W., William R., Ira L., Nellie M. and Kate A. Mrs. McCurdy is a member of the Cottage Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a stanch Republican, as well as a worthy, upright farmer and citizen, who is to be found with his influ- ence on the side of public advancement in the community where he lives. He is the owner of a finely improved farm, to the cultivation of which he gives his personal attention.

DR. JOHN McELRATH was born in County Down, Ireland, on the 17th day of May, A. D. 1813. He was the second child of Archibald and Mary (Mc Williams) McElrath, immigrated to America with them in the fall of 1822, and settled in Beaver County, Penn. He received a thorough education in

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Beaver Academy, and after completing his course of studies, followed teaching as an occupation, and at the same time prosecuted the study of medicine, under the tutelage of the late Dr. George Allison, of Beaver, Penn. He was mar- ried in 1842, to Jane Brandon, second daughter of the late James Brandon, of Pine Township. He attended the Western Reserve Medical College, at Cleveland, Ohio. In the fall of 1852 he located in what is now Jackson Centre, Mercer Co., Penn. He again attended medical lectures in the winter of 1867-68, at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. He died on the 24th of February, 1872. In his profession and in the sick room he was a cool, calculating and, in an eminent degree, thorough physician, possessing that rare faculty of cheerfulness which gave to the patient strength, encour- agement and hope, and that gentleness which could apprise them of their approaching dissolution without excitement or dread. He left a widow and four children: Dr. James B., of Jackson Centre; A. H., of Mercer, Penn. ; Mary E., of Jackson Centre, and Ida N., now intermarried with A. M. Claw- son, of Sandy Lake Township, Mercer Co., Penn.

JAMES B. McELRATH, physician and surgeon, post-office Jackson Centre, was born September 18, 1843, in Mercer County, Penn., to Dr. John and Jane (Brandon) McElrath. He was educated in the public and private schools and the Mercer High-schools under instructions of Prof. Warner, now con- gressman from Ohio. He taught school at the age of eighteen years. He read medicine with his father, and attended Jefferson Medical College for over three years, also Charity Hospital. He graduated from the medical college in 1871, and began his practice with his father at Jackson Centre, where he still continues. He married Miss Emma L. Smith, daughter of H. K. Smith, superintendent of the Philadelphia & West Chester Railroad, October 21, 1877. His union has given him two children: John C. and Henry K. The former is deceased. His wife died January 12, 1881. The Doctor is secretary of the Board of Pension Examiners for Mercer County, and is vice-president of the Mercer County Medical Society. In politics he is a Republican. He served in Company F, Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Militia, and afterward in Com- pany M, Sixth Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, until the close of the war.

JOHN Mc KAY, farmer, post- office Jackson Centre, was born August 10, 1829, in County Antrim, Ireland, to James and Sarah (McElroy) Mckay, natives of the same county. In 1834 the family, consisting of parents and sons, John and William, came to a portion of Beaver County now included in Lawrence County. Here they remained until 1843, the father being employed as a stone mason and school-teacher. In the last year named they came to Mercer County, built a shanty in the green woods of Lake Township and improved a farm of 125 acres, where the father died March 24, 1857, and the mother July 8, 1858. They were the parents of John, William, Thomas, Isabella, Sarah J., Mary M., Catharine, Melissa and Therressa. The parents at their death belonged to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which organization at Jackson Centre he was a ruling elder. John McKay was five years old when he came to America, and was educated in the common schools and by his father at home. He was brought up at farm life, but learned the carpen- ter trade, and has for many years done his own blacksmithing. He was mar- ried in 1853 to Jane Hill, born August 23, 1828, in Mercer County, Penn. Her father, Capt. William Hill, of the War of 1812, enlisted when twenty years of age in a company commanded by Capt. Junkin. He was under Gen. Harrison in Ohio one campaign, and was two campaigns at Erie, being there when Commodore Perry gained his celebrated victory. Her mother, Jane (Lowry) Hill, gave birth to John, Adam, James, Margaret, Hannah, Jane, Will-

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iam and three others who died when small. The father of these children died June 12, 1851, and the mother died January 19, 1868. Both were originally connected with the Seceder Church. Two of their sons, John and James, were in the late war. John served nine months, and two of his sons, Joseph C. and Robert C., were also in the war. Robert was wounded in the shoulder, and James served three years; was in Company I, Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers ; was wounded in the thigh at the battle of the Wilderness on May 5, 1864; was taken to Libby Prison, and afterward sent to Belle Island. His two sons, Summerville and Washington, were in the same regiment. Capt. Hill's father, Adam Hill, served in the Revolutionary War seven years and six months under Gen. Wayne, and was wounded in the thigh at the battle of Stony Point. He came to Mercer County in 1800, and settled in Sandy Lake Township, near where the Stoneboro fair is now held. Madison Davis, son of Margaret Hill, served in the late war; was taken prisoner and died in Ander- sonville Prison. The children of John and Jane Mckay are: Margaret R., born August 14, 1854, married Simon Moon March 13, 1878; James W., born August 11, 1857, married Mary J. Kemm August 11, 1882, was graduated at Waynesburg College, Greene County, Penn., in June 1884, then entered the theological seminary at Lebanon, Tenn., and was graduated in June, 1886, in 1887 he completed the post-graduate course in theology prescribed by the Lebanon, Tenn., institution, which conferred the degree of Ph. D. upon him. For the past two years he has been pastor of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church at Carmichaels, Greene Co., Penn., and September 1, 1888, he removed to Pittsburgh to take charge of the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church at East Pittsburgh; Jessie A., born August 7, 1858, married W. W. Taylor May 9, 1879; Blackford, born October 14, 1860, died February 4, 1861; John L., born July 26, 1862, married Emma J. Supplee July 2, 1884; Sarah A., born August 15, 1865; Myra J., born October 30, 1867; Mary A., born May 9, 1870, died May 11, 1872. Our subject lived at the old home- stead until 1863, and in Pine Township till 1870, when he located on a farm in Dixon County, Tenn. One year later he bought and settled on the old Pearson farm in Jackson Township, where he now resides. He and his son John L. own and operate a steam saw-mill on his farm. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. and of the Royal Templars of Temperance. He and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Jackson Centre, in which he has been acting elder for over twenty-five years. He is a Prohibi- tionist, and in 1888 was nominated by that party for poor director.

D. L. NISBET, merchant, post-office Jackson Centre, was born August 7, 1852, two miles north of Greenville, to James, born May 31, 1824, near Green- ville, and Maria (Loutzenhiser) Nisbet, born April 6, 1831, and died April 9, 1881. She was the mother of Sarah L., born January 16, 1851, married John Irwin, of Crawford County; Albert, born February 4, 1854, a cattle dealer in Arizona; Felicia, born September 19, 1856, married Rev. George Critchlow, a Lutheran minister at Prospect, Butler County; Frederick L., born March 5, 1862, a physician of Meadville. The parents belonged to the Presbyte- rian Church of Greenville. Our subject was educated in the country schools. He began clerking in Greenville in 1872. In 1875 he opened a store at Orangeville, Ohio, and subsequently at Neshannock, this county. In 1877 he located at his present place, buying out William Porter, who had started the store in 1876, in the neighborhood of the Jackson coal banks. Here he has been very successful. He was married to Rosa L. Reimold, born June 20, 1855, in Pymatuning Township, and has two children: Ray B. and Vida A. He and wife are members of the German Reformed Church.

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GEORGE W. PEARSON, farmer, post-office Jackson Centre, was born August 10, 1844, where he now lives, to Joshua, born July 4, 1801, near Philadelphia, and Hannah (McNutt) Pearson, a native of the same place. They came to Mer- cer County in 1829, and the father died January 20, 1846, the mother May 9, 1885. They were consistent members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Jackson Centre at their demise, and were the parents of six children: Rachel, born July 13, 1830, married Hiram McConnell; Jane, born May 5, 1832, married Mordecai Taylor, died March 17, 1888; Margaret, born July 10, 1836, died October 13, 1878; Elizabeth, born August 5, 1839, and died December 8, 1861, at the home of William Stewart; Anna, born March 11, 1841, died June 4, 1858, and George W. The last named was educated in the country schools, and was compelled to sustain himself when quite young, be- cause of the death of his parents. He was married May 31, 1871, to Sabina Donaldson, born July 11, 1848, and by her has one son, John S. Mr. Pear- son has served as school director, and is now in his second term as township constable. Both he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyte- rian Church, and in politics he is a Democrat, as was also his father.

SAMUEL PEW (deceased). - Longevity is characteristic of certain families. Constitutions of native strength endure the toils and ills of life with such effectiveness that they seem to be exceptions to the operations of natural law. Of them it may be said, as it was in the days of Nimrod, the mighty hunter before the Lord, "there were giants in those days," or of Saul, the son of Kis, he stood from his shoulders above his fellows. The vigor and longevity of these pioneers may be attributed to several causes: First, their ancestry were, as a rule, noted for the simplicity of their modes of living. Late hours for retiring, thin soled shoes, exposed arms, tight lacing, paints and powders, fear of sun and storm, spices and other condiments for food, etc., were then comparatively unknown. Second, outdoor exercise, fresh air, simple food, regular habits, clear consciences and freedom from sensational literature were conducive to health and long life. Third, heavy clothing of home- made material, cut for comfort rather than according to fashion plates, assured an active circulation of pure blood that carried growth and develop- ment everywhere. Samuel Pew, the subject of this sketch, died December 15, 1887, in his ninety-fifth year. He was born in Washington County, Penn., October 22, 1793. He was the eldest son of John Pew, with whom he came to the site of the present town of Mercer on the 1st of May, 1797, when the boy was in his fourth year. At the time of this removal to the " new country " but one structure, and that a rude log hut, marked the site of the present. beautiful and prosperous city of Allegheny. With his father he lived in Mer- cer until 1804, when the family removed to what is now Jackson (then known as Cool Spring) Township, settling on the farm since and until his death owned by Samuel.

John Pew, his father, had a family of thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters. Of this number one son, Joseph, still lives in West Virginia, and three daughters, Hannah, Amelia Ann and Nancy, live respectively in Michi- gan. Washington Territory and Mercer. John Pew was one of the first settlers in that portion of Jackson Township in which he located. North and east of him were the Zahnisers, the Wilsons, the Forkers and others, who had pre- ceded him by some seven or eight years. Of John's other sons, brothers of Samuel, the second, Abraham, was well known in Mercer County. He died May 1, 1882, at the advanced age of eighty-six years, and his remains lie in the old dilapidated and neglected grave-yard back of the First Presbyterian Church of Mercer. John died May 4, 1884, aged eighty-three years. His

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remains rest quietly in the Findley grave-yard, a mile east of Mercer. Prior to his going to the farm Samuel Pew, though but a boy ten years of age, held the first stake set in the laying out of the town of Mercer in 1803. Even three years earlier than that, viz., 1800, he carried water for the men who built Rev. Samuel Tait's meeting-house, in Cool Spring Township. At that time he was about seven years of age. While the family was still living in Mercer, the Pews were intimately acquainted with the Indians living in the neighborhood. The latter frequently visited the frontier cabin and fondled the children. Among these In- dians was the well known Harthegig, son-in-law of the old chief Petty. He was ugly in physical appearance, and his disposition partook of the characteristics of his body. He was addicted to the use of intoxicating drinks, and, when under the influence of the poison, was particularly quarrelsome and disagree- able. Then he was a terror to the children. On one occasion Harthegig, ac- companied by two other Indians, Peter and John, came to the Pew cabin. Samuel, then a frolicsome boy, was sitting on one end of the logs that had been rolled into the huge, open throated fire-place, warming himself. Har- thegig, the ugly Indian, approached him and seizing him by the hair, said: "I will scalp you." This language and the corresponding action so terrified the other Indians and James Jeffers, a neighbor who had accompained them, that they all sprang to their feet and caught the drunken man, instantly dis- arming him. Then the three Indians left. Next morning Jeffers, who greatly disliked Harthegig, passed the Pew place, with his gun on his shoulder. Seeing young Samuel in the yard, he inquired whether Harthegig had passed up the hill that morning. Answered in the affirmative, Jeffers passed up through a skiff of snow which then covered the ground. Nothing of the In- dian was subsequently seen, and his disappearance was enveloped in mystery. Nine years afterward a large skeleton of a human being was discovered near " Yankee Ridge," by a man named John Johnston. It was supposed to be the frame of the ugly and pugnacious Indian. The inference was that James Jeffers could have solved the mystery connected with the Indian's disappearance. Samuel Pew and his brother Abraham were both out in the War of 1812. In July of that year they went in the company of Capt. Samuel Clark. They were at Erie, ready to give their services to Commodore Perry if he needed them. On their return, it is said, Abraham, who was but a boy of about seventeen, was so wearied with marching that he tied strings to his big toes to enable him to lift his feet more easily. This joke illustrates to every one the hardships connected with military life. While at Erie Samuel is said to have been detailed to assist in getting out the timber for the flag-ship, Law- rence, from which Commodore Perry fled to the Niagara after the former was disabled. These brothers went with Clark a second time, and the third with Capt. John Junkin. Owing to the threatened condition of the northern frontier they proffered their services a fourth time to Lieut. - Col. Thomas Hosack. For their services they both drew pensions from the government. Samuel was married twice, the first time to Miss Mary Vaughn and the sec- ond to Elizabeth Condit, daughter of David Condit, an early settler near Sheakleyville. The last wife died March 24, 1875, aged seventy-one years ten months and twenty-three days. Her final resting place is in the Findley grave-yard. By the first wife he had five children, viz .: James, Elizabeth, Lydia, Rebecca and Amelia. All are living except the last. By the second he had eight, viz .: David, John (died in the army), Joseph, Mary, Abram P., William, Thomas and Samuel, twins. Politically Samuel Pew was an old- time Whig, and by consequence a Republican. He was a member of the Presbyterian and Cumberland Presbyterian Churches. His constitution was

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strong and active, and even to a period of a few weeks prior to his death he was seen on the streets of Mercer. He lived to see the development of this nation from 4,000,000 to 60,000,000, and witnessed every presidential elec- tion after the first term of Washington. Steamboats, railroads, telegraphs, telephones, coal as fuel, natural gas, power printing presses, mowers, reapers, binders, threshing machines, and nearly every form of invention have been bequeathed to the world during his life-time.

ALEXANDER PORTER, farmer, post-office Pardoe, was born March 25, 1811, on the farm now owned by D. M. Porter in Sandy Lake Township, to Alex- ander, born in County Derry, Ireland, who married Mollie Holliday, with whom he came to Berks County before 1800, and to Mercer County in 1805, by team. He died on the farm about 1847, and his widow died about 1851. They were the parents of James, Margaret, Eliza, Jane, William, David, Alexander and Mary. The father was in the War of 1812, and with his wife belonged to the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Our subject attended the schools of his early boyhood and was brought up at farm labor. He was married in 1849 to Eleanor Mouck, and by her had three children: Alexander C., Mary E. and Amanda C. He was married again June 7, 1861, to Nancy Montgomery, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Barnes) Montgomery, one of twelve children: William, John, James, Mary, Nancy, Esther, Sarah J., Martha, Elizabeth, George, Thomas and Samuel. Her parents are dead. They were members of the Seceder Church, and her father was in the War of 1812. By his last mar- riage Mr. Porter has one child, Thomas E. They are members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.

ANTHONY SILVEUS, burgess and retired farmer, post-office Jackson Centre, was born October 19, 1831, in Greene County, Penn., to David, born in Lancaster County, and when two years old he removed with his father, whose name was also David, to Rockingham County, Va., and at the age of twenty-one years he went to Fayette County, where he married Mary Bowman, daughter of Henry Bowman, and soon after moved to Franklin Township, Greene County, where he bought 300 acres. Here he reared a family of eleven children: Nancy, Mary, Susannah, Henry, David, Catharine, Elizabeth, Joseph, John, Anthony and William. The father came with his wife, John, Anthony and William to Mercer County in 1849, and settled in Lake Township, on the farm now owned by John and Thomas Kemm ; he died at the home of his son, Anthony, in 1876, his wife having died in 1862. Both were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Our subject was educated in the common schools, until eighteen years old, when he devoted his entire time to farming. He was married June 14, 1855, to Emma Vernam, daughter of John Vernam, by whom he has four children: William F., born in 1856; Sarah, born March 23, 1859; John G., born November 15, 1863; Mary B., born June 20, 1865; Sarah E. The elder son, William F., attended school at Waynesburg, Greene County, and is now preaching in Washington County, Penn. John G. is attend- ing school at Waynesburg, and is reading law at intervals with A. F. Silveus, at that place. Our subject owns the Matthew DeFrance farm, in Jackson Town- ship, from which he retired in 1884. He was elected burgess of Jackson Centre in 1885, 1887 and 1888. He was once a member of the I. O. O. F. He and wife are members of Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Jackson Centre, and he is leader of the choir in the same. He is a Democrat, has read the Western Press for over thirty years, and has been a member of the Central Committee of his party and a delegate to the conventions.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 138

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