History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 141

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

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JOHN DAUGHERTY, farmer, post-office Grove City, is a son of John and Elizabeth (McCoy) Daugherty. William Daugherty, the grandfather of sub- ject, was a native of North Carolina, and came to Pennsylvania and settled near Pittsburgh some time previous to 1787. He was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary War, and afterward located in the county in what is now Pine Town- ship. His wife was Polly Watson, a Quaker lady of South Carolina. They reared a large family of children, all of whom are dead. John, Sr., was their oldest son, and was born near Pittsburgh in 1787, and was brought to this county by his parents when he was quite young. He was reared here, and af- terward moved to Butler County, where he remained ten years, and then re- turned to this county and located on the homestead now owned by our subject, where he lived until his death in 1848. His wife died in 1847. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and earned the commission of first lieutenant. He was one of the early constables of Pine Township for many years, and in 1845 was elected justice of the peace, and served until his death. His family consisted of seven children: Catherine, Mrs. Hugh Gilmer, of Illinois; William W., farmer, of Pine Township; Mary Ann, Mrs. Samuel Montgomery, of Illinois; Joseph, of Bovard, Butler County; John, our subject; Thomas M., who went to Australia in 1854; Mary, Mrs. John Dunn, of South Oil City. Our subject was born in this township February 14, 1827, received his education at the schools of Harrisville, and has been an extensive lumber operator and farmer. In 1851 he married Julia Ann McCoy, daughter of Thomas and Jane (McCon- nell) McCoy, of this township. She died in 1858, leaving four children: Emily Jane, married William Wilson, of Wolf Creek Township, and has two children, Charles H. and Lester; Horace, lives with subject, married Ada Z. Gill, daughter of James and Sarah L. (McDowell) Gill, of this township, and has two children, Earl and Cliff; Annie, living at home; Austin Dewitt, in Omaha, Neb. Our subject was again married, to Mrs. Emily Braham, daughter of Thomas McCoy. She died in 1873, leaving five children: Lizzie Inez, Mrs. David J. McCord, of Armstrong County, who has two children, Earl and Edna Olive; Olive, Lula, Maud and Hattie. Subject's present wife was Maggie J.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

White, daughter of James White, of this township. They have no children. Mr. Daugherty has held all of the township offices, and in 1853 was elected justice of the peace, and has held that office since without a break. He and family are members of the Presbyterian Church of Grove City.

JOSEPH FILER, proprietor of the Filer House, Grove City, Penn., was born in Staffordshire, England, February 5, 1828, and when a boy engaged in min- ing coal. In 1850 he immigrated to America, and has been engaged in many of the largest mines of Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. His wife was Rachel, a daughter of Samuel Oakes, of near Greenville, and they have five children: William, a mechanic in Pine Township; Amos, located in Sharon, Elizabeth, at home; Charles, livery stable proprietor at Grove City, and James. In 1882 Mr. Filer retired from the coal business and purchased his present hotel, and by his geniality and courtesy has made it one of the best hotels in the county.

JAMES GILL, farmer, post-office Centretown, is a son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Kelly) Gill. William Gill, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Scotland, and immigrated to America about 1795, and settled in Liberty Township. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. His children were Samuel, Hugh, William, Isaac, Sarah, Mary and Fannie, all of whom are dead. Isaac was born in Liberty Township in 1810, and always followed farming. He afterward settled in Wolf Creek Township, where he died in 1877, and his widow in 1886. They reared five children: David, died in 1874; Isaac, a farmer in Wolf Creek Township; John, of Jackson Centre; Eliza- beth, Mrs. John McCord, of Butler County, and James, who was born in Lib- erty Township in 1829, and was reared and educated in Wolf Creek Township. At an early age he learned the trade of carpenter, and has since worked at that in connection with farming. In 1862 he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served nine months, holding the rank of corporal. In 1856 he married Sarah McDowell, daugh- ter of Samuel and Prescilla (McDowell) McDowell, of Wolf Creek Town- ship. They have seven living children: Jennie (Mrs. F. G. Masson, of Pine Township, who has two children, Martha U. and Aura G.), Ada Z. (Mrs. Horace Daugherty, of this township), Elmer (who married Nancy Yates, and lives in Lawrence County), John E., James P., Euphemia B., Sarah E. Mr. Gill has held offices of school director and constable of Wolf Creek Town- ship, and in 1870 moved onto his present farm, and has since been supervisor and school director of Pine Township, and is a member of Marion Craig Post No. 325, G. A. R. He and family are members of Scotch Hill United Pres- byterian Church. he being an elder of that body.

ALEXANDER E. GRAHAM, banker, Grove City, is a son of Mark and Nancy (Reed) Graham. Arthur Graham, the grandfather of subject, was a native of Ireland, and settled in what is now Findley Township, in this county, some time prior to 1800. The father of our subject was born in that township in 1811, and followed farming until his death, in 1857. His widow died in 1886. His sister Isabella, Mrs. William Cummings, is the only child living of their family. Mark and Nancy Graham had six children, three of whom are still liv- ing: James and Arthur, on the homestead, and Alexander E., who was the sec- ond child and born on the homestead near Mercer in 1839. He was educated at the public schools and the Commercial College of Pittsburgh. For several years he engaged in farming, afterward worked at book-keeping in various places of this county, and in 1873 entered the Sharon Savings Bank in that capacity, and remained there some years. In 1884 he located in Grove City, and suc- ceeded the Gealey Bros. in the Grove City Bank. In 1887 he built his pres-

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

ent fine building, and January 1, 1888, associated with him Mr. W. C. Alex- ander, of Mercer. In 1870 Mr. Graham married Charlotte Heald, daughter of Joseph Heald, of Wisconsin. They have two children: Mark and Emma .. Mr. Graham is a member of Hebron Lodge No. 250, A. Y. M., of Sharon. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Grove City.

JOSEPH HUMPHREY, farmer, post-office Grove City, is a son of Henry and Harriet (Rose) Humphrey. The father of our subject was the second son of David Humphrey, and was born in County Armagh, Ireland, immigrated to America in 1803, and lived in Chester County, Penn., for some years, and afterward moved to Delaware County, N. Y., where he married and where our subject was born in 1820. In 1828 they moved to this county and located in Findley Township. They afterward moved to the farm now owned by our subject, where the father died. Five of their children still live: Sarah, Mrs. Daniel Gregg, of this township; Martha, Mrs. William Buchanan, of this township; James R., of Kansas; Maggie, Mrs. Robert Hyslop, of Xenia, Ohio, and Joseph. The last named received his education in the public schools, and has since been engaged in farming. He was married in 1847 to Elizabeth Acher, daughter of Daniel and Rebecca (Ryard) Acher. They have five chil- dren: James V., farmer near Mercer; David R., of New Brighton; Margery, Maggie and William H. He and family are members of the United Pres- byterian Church of Grove City.

ISAAC CONRAD KETLER, president of Grove City College, was born at North- umberland, Penn., January 21, 1853. He was one of twelve children born to Adam and Mary (Kyle) Ketler. The father was a huckster, was born at Bar- ren Hill, Montgomery Co., Penn., in 1818, and died in 1885. The mother was born in Northumberland County in 1826, and is still living. Isaac was educated at the National Normal School, Lebanon, Ohio, and at the University of Wooster, and was graduated from the Western Theological Seminary in 1888. He was married, December 24, 1878, to Miss Tillie Gibson, of Lon- don, Penn., a daughter of David, born at Derry, Westmoreland County, in 1812, and Rebecca (Courtney) Gibson, born in 1812. He has one child, Wil- lie G., and is a Presbyterian. He commenced teaching as early as 1871, and began work at Grove City April 11, 1876. The strides forward that have been made by Grove City College under his administration are remarkable, and are largely due to his energy and ability.

JOSHUA KINDER, merchant, Grove City, was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1831, came to America and located in this borough in 1853, and first engaged in the boot and shoe business, which he followed until 1870, when he opened his present store, where he deals in general merchandise. In 1855 he married Malinda, daughter of John Smith, of Northumberland County, Penn. They have two children: Ella A., who is a professor of chemistry, etc., in Grove City College, and Martha Edith. Mr. Kinder is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and holds the office of trustee in it.

ALBERT A. LITTLE was born near Millbrook, Mercer County, Penn., April 13, 1861, and is the third son of Joseph J. and Ruth Little. His father was born in Ireland in 1831, and immigrated to the United States in 1839, and was mar- ried in 1854 to Miss Ruth Bradley, of Jackson Township, Mercer Co., Penn., who was born in 1835. Albert A. Little received his common school educa- tion at Millbrook, and while attending school corresponded to some extent for local papers, and soon formed a liking for this kind of work, but subsequently attended Grove City College for two terms, when he entered the Western Press office, at Mercer, in 1881, to learn the printing trade. He afterward worked on the Sandy Lake News and Oil City Derrick. In August, 1884, he pur-

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

chased a half interest in the Grove City Telephone, which he yet retains, and is now editor and business manager of that paper. He was married September 24, 1885, to Miss Cassie B. McElwaine, of Sandy Lake, and the union has been blessed with one son. Mr. Little and family are identified with the Methodist denomination. He has risen to his present place through force of character, enterprise and integrity, and is a young man of promise. While attending college at Grove City Mr. Little conceived the idea of establishing a paper in Grove City, the Pine Grove, and before the Telephone had been started, but little then thought that his ambition would afterward be realized. J. M. MARTIN, M. D., Grove City, is a son of James and Sarah (Mills) Martin, the father a native of Lawrence County, Penn., and the mother a daughter of John Mills, of Pine Township, Mercer Co., Penn. Dr. Martin was born near Wilmington, Lawrence County, in 1849; was edu- cated at the college in that place; read medicine with Dr. John Hamilton, of Allegheny City, and Dr. W. R. Hamilton, of Pittsburgh, for a number of years; was graduated from the medical department of Bellevue College, of New York City, in 1874, and in the same year located in Grove City, where he has since practiced, and now enjoys a very extensive practice in this end of the county. In 1876 he married Miss Ada Black, daughter of R. G. and Mary (Park) Black, of this borough. At the present time he is a member of the borough council, and a Republican in politics. He was one of the founders of the Pine Grove Normal Academy, and one of the original trustees, but subsequently withdrew his support.

THOMAS McCOY, stone mason and farmer, Grove City, is a son of William and Jane (Gilmer) McCoy. Thomas, Sr., the grandfather of subject, was a native of Virginia, and moved into what is now Pine Township when the father of Thomas was a child. He took up a large tract of land from the Government, which is inhabited by many of the McCoy family, and the settle- ment is known as McCoy Town. The father of our subject followed the occu- pation of farming; died in 1866, and his widow in 1887. They reared ten children: Joseph, was a member of the Ninth Wisconsin Regiment, and was killed at Hatch's Run in 1865; John, of Pine Township; Catherine, Mrs. David Mortimer, of Butler County; Mary Ann, Mrs. James T. Graham, of Pine Township; Lucinda Jane, Mrs. Lemon Mortimer, Clarion County; Thomas; Jackson, on the homestead; Elizabeth, Mrs. Robert McBride, Pine Township; William, of Bradford, and James, of Grove City. Our subject was born in Pine Township in 1835, and was educated at the common schools. In 1861 he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Third Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the close of the war, receiving wounds at the battles of Fair Oaks and Kingston, N. C. After the close of the war he returned and worked at stone masonry for a number of years; fol- lowed the oil excitement through various counties of the State, and for the last seven years has been engaged in conducting his farm and working at his trade. In 1880 he was married to S. Angie Thomas, daughter of Lewis Thomas, of Westmoreland County, Penn. They have one child-Lewis Earl. Our subject is a member of Marion Craig Post No. 325, G. A. R., and the A. O. U. W. He and family are members of the Presbyterian Church.

PROF. J. B. MCCLELLAND, Grove City, Penn., was born February 28, 1853, in Findley Township, this county. His parents are James and Janet (Brown) McClelland, natives of Ireland, who immigrated to America about 1848, and settled on a farm in Findley Township, where they still reside. Their family consists of Alexander, of New Wilmington; David, a carpenter of Pittsburgh; Robert and Wilson, living on the homestead; Mary, who married C. J. Craw-

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

ford, register and recorder of Venango County; Annie, living at home, and our subject, who is the eldest, and received a common school education, and graduated from Westminster College at New Wilmington in 1878. In 1884 he received the degree of A. M. in Allegheny College, and in the same year was offered the chair of Greek in Westminster College of New Wilmington, which he refused to accept. He also graduated from the United Presbyterian Theological Seminary of Allegheny in March, 1887; was licensed by Butler United Presbyterian Presbytery September 14, 1886, and ordained sine titulo by same presbytery September 18, 1888. In 1878 Prof. McClelland became connected with the Grove City College, and has since held the chair of Greek in that institution. For three sessions he has had full charge of the college, and is its head in the absence of Dr. Ketler. In 1880 our subject married Miss Melissa, daughter of James and Margaret Montgomery, of Findley Township. By this union they have three children: Mont Waldo, James Homer and Margaret Janet.

J. A. MCCUTCHEN, merchant tailor, Grove City, is a son of William and Lettice (Watt) Mccutchen. Henry McCutchen, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Ireland, and came to America about 1804 and settled in this township near Shaw's mills, being a blacksmith by trade. The father of sub- ject was born at that place in 1818, and always followed blacksmithing. He died in 1849 and his widow in 1850. Two of their children still live: William P., of Titusville, Penn., and our subject, who was born on the homestead near Mercer in 1847, and educated at the schools of that period, and the select schools of this borough, and is a graduate of Eastman's Commercial College of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. After finishing his education he learned the painter's trade, which he followed for many years. In 1886 he engaged in mercantile business in Grove City. In 1868 he married Mary E. Grace, daughter of Aaron Grace, of Worth Township. They have eight children: Effie M., Liz- zie M., Hattie R., Sarah E., Vera Grace, William J., Fred. H. and Charlie. Mr. Mccutchen has held the offices of auditor and school director of the borough, and was elected justice of the peace in 1886, which office he still holds. He and family are members of the Presbyterian Church.

W. J. McKAY, farmer, post-office Grove City, was born in Hamburg, Delaware Township, Mercer Co., Penn., September 15, 1838, to William and Eliza (Lenigan) Mckay, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The parents had eight children, seven of whom are living, and are mentioned in the his- tory of the family in Findley Township. The father and mother were both members of the Springfield United Presbyterian Church, of which he had been an elder for several years preceding his death. Our subject attended the country schools as much as possible after attending to his farm duties, At the breaking out of the war he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Thirty- ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and remained in service until the sec- ond battle of Vicksburg, where he was wounded and discharged. Returning home he resumed farming, and was married in 1866 to Eliza S. McCleary, daughter of Samuel and Mary A. (Kerr) McCleary, natives of Lawrence County, where they still live. By this marriage he has two children: Ida M. and Lester M. In 1884 he was elected county treasurer by the Republican party, of which he has always been an active member.

A. B. McKAY, manufacturer of carriages, Grove City, is the second son of William McKay, and was born at Pardoe, this county, in 1844, where he was reared, and in 1867 he engaged in his present avocation at Pardoe, and continned for nine years. In 1876 he removed to Grove City, and established his extensive business, and employs sixteen men, and manufactures about 300

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

wagons per year. February 27, 1864, he enlisted in Company H, One Hun- dredth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the close of the war, He married in 1870 Miss Annie M. Paxton, daughter of Thomas Paxton, of Pardoe, and has two children, William S. and Stella M. Mr. Mckay was a member of the first council of Grove City, and was burgess in 1879. He is a member of Marion Craig Post No. 325, G. A. R., and of the R. T. of T. He and family are members of the United Presbyterian Church, and he is a Re- publican.

JOHN Mc WILLIAMS, retired, post-office Grove City. Is a son of Robert and Hannah (Wilkey) McWilliams. His father was a native of Ireland, and first settled in this State in that portion of Beaver County which is now Law- rence County. His wife was a native of Chester County, Penn. In 1838 they moved into this county and located near Mercer, in what is now Findley Township, and engaged in farming. He was drafted in the War of 1812, but failed to pass the examination. Their family consisted of nine children, five of whom still live: Dorcas, Mrs. John Boyd, of Butler County; Elizabeth, Mrs. George Morrow, of Armstrong County; Hannah, Mrs. Edward Elder, of Lawrence County; Alexander, of Liberty Township, and our subject, who was born in Beaver County in 1824, and was engaged in farming until 1884, when he retired and moved into Grove City. In 1848 he married Miss Margaret J. Albin, daughter of William and Martha (Walker) Albin, of Find- ley Township. She died in 1883, leaving eight living children: Martha, Mrs. Robert McCune, of Pine Township; Robert, of Illinois; Sarah, Mrs. John T. McConnell, of Pine Township; Almira, Mrs. William G. Hays, of Crawford County; John, of Chicago; Seymour, of Illinois; Edward, of Chicago; Anna, living at home. Subject's present wife was Mrs. Richard Smith, daughter of Robert Kile. He and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Grove City. NOTE .- Since the above was written John McWill- iams has died, leaving a large circle of friends to mourn the loss of a most worthy and respected citizen.

M. W. MOORE was born May 17, 1854, near New Alexandria, Westmore- land County, Penn., was the youngest son of John and Margaret Moore. His father died at the age of seventy-two years. His mother is still living. In infancy his left leg was partially paralyzed, in consequence of which he was destined to be a cripple for life, and began his walk through the world with crutch and cane, both of which were his inseparable com- panions until about a year ago, when he discarded his friend crutch, and now walks by the assistance of a steel brace on his paralyzed leg, the work of an ingenious artificial limb manufacturer, of Pittsburgh, Penn. Mr. Moore attended public school near Saltsburg, Indiana County, and in Kittanning, Armstrong Co., Penn., until sixteen years old, when he entered the office of the Kittanning Sentinel, where he learned the "art preservative." After serving three years he began the career of a jour- neyman printer on the Oilman's Journal, at Parker's Landing, Penn., and acted as foreman on many other papers in the State. He has had a large and varied experience in the journalistic line, as his education has been chiefly that of the newspaper office. On September 8, 1884, he married Mrs. Maggie C. Black, daughter of B. McDowell, of Grove City, Penn., and moved to Sandy . Lake, where he opened a job office, which was carried on quite successfully for about a year, when the opportunity offering he purchased the interest of Mr. A. C. Ray in the Grove City Telephone, December 1, 1885, moving to this place, where he has been successfully engaged in the newspaper business ever since. Mr. Moore is a sober, industrious citizen, a genial Christian gentle-

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man, especially esteemed for his social qualities. He has made for himself a host of friends, who all rejoice in his deserved prosperity.

M. J. MONTGOMERY, farmer, post-office Grove City, is a son of James C. and Nancy (Irwin) Montgomery, of Wolf Creek Township, was born in that township in 1840, receiving his education at the public schools, and in 1860 he engaged in oil operations, which he followed for four years. In 1864 he moved with his parents to Wolf Creek Township, and farmed for his father until 1866, when he was married to Nancy Kerr, daughter of Thomas and Jane (McKee) Kerr, of this Township. They have four children: James Luther, Jennie, Edna and Thomas. Our subject removed to his present farm in 1867, and has held the office of school director, supervisor, etc., of the township, and he and family are members of the United Presbyterian Church of Grove City. He has been an elder of said church for the past ten years.

JOHN C. MONTGOMERY, farmer, post-office Harrisville, Butler Co., Penn., is the second son of James C. and Nancy (Irwin) Montgomery, of Wolf Creek Township, and was born in that township in 1843. He received his education at the public schools, and has always been engaged in farming. In 1869 he married Miss Emeline Coleman, daughter of Samuel and Mary Ann (Patterson) Coleman, of Wolf Creek Township. They have four children: Mary A., Jessie A., Estella V. and an infant. In 1870 he purchased his present farm, and has since been a resident of Pine Township. He and family are members of the Presbyterian Church in Venango County, of which he is a trustee.

D. M. MORROW, postmaster of Grove City, Penn., is a son of Jesse and E. A. (Swogger) Morrow, natives of Lawrence County, who settled in Lackawan- nock Township, in this county, in 1854, and engaged in farming. They still reside there, and have a family of six children: Wealthie J., Preston W., Levenia E., Nicholas H., John A. W., of Oil City, and our subject, who is the second child, and was born in Lawrence County March 19, 1851, and reared and educated at the public schools of this county. In 1869 he learned the carriage-making trade, which he followed for a number of years, and in 1876 moved to this borough. In 1878 he and his brother, P. W., associated themselves with Mr. McKay, and engaged in the manufacture of carriages, under the firm name of Mckay, Morrow & Co. In 1881 Mr. Mckay retired from the firm, and J. A. W., the other brother, took an interest, and the name was changed to Morrow Bros. This firm continued until 1887, when they dissolved. October 1, 1885, our subject took charge of the post- office of this place, it being a fourth-class office, and was raised to a third- class office October 1, 1887, he being appointed postmaster by President. Cleveland. In 1877 he married Jessie, daughter of J. H. Black, of this town. They have five children: Claudius H., Leon J., Jesse E., Austin D., Jennie M. Our subject was a member of the first council of this borough, a member of Eureka Lodge No. 60, A. O. U. W., and of the R. T. of T., Grove City Council No. 56. He and family are members of the Presbyterian Church of Grove City.

T. W. ORR, professor in the public schools of Grove City, is a son of John and Annie (Squibb) Orr, natives of Westmoreland County, where our subject was born in 1853. He received his education at Edinboro Normal, in Erie County, Penn., and has since been engaged in teaching, having had charge of schools in Erie, Crawford, Allegheny, Clarion and Mercer Counties. In 1883 he took charge of the public schools of Grove City, and by his efforts it now ranks as one of the best schools in the county. In 1876 he married Miss Kate Munn, daughter of Dougald Munn, of Pittsburgh. They have three

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 141

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