History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 144

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

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

J. N. EGBERT, farmer, post-office Sandy Lake, was born December 2, 1823, in Sandy Lake Township. His father, Lewis Egbert, was a native of the east- ern part of Pennsylvania, and came to this county with his father, William Egbert. William Egbert was a shoemaker, the first in what is now Sandy Lake Township. He was the father of the following children: Job, was a very prominent man in his day, was for many years a justice of the peace, and finally went to Kentucky, where some of his relatives still live; Clarissa, mar- ried Charles Shields; Charlotte, married Daniel Perrine; Ursula, married Enoch Perrine; Elizabeth, married Nathaniel Hazen, and Lewis. The family settled on the farm in Sandy Lake Township that is owned by W. H. Clawson, and William and his wife were consistent members of the Baptist Church. Lewis Egbert obtained his education mostly in the old log school-houses, with their slab seats, puncheon floors, slab writing desks and big fire-places. He was brought up to hard labor on his father's farm, and was married in Virginia to Miss Aseneth Nixon, and settled on the old homestead, where he died in 1872, and his widow died in 1880. They were the parents of the following chil- dren: Edwin, John N., Albert G., Prudence, married John Lamb; Patience, wife of W. H. Clawson, whose sketch is given elsewhere; Harriet, married James Coleman; Thaddeus, Milton, Lewis, Aseneth, Levina, married Edward Taft. Lewis Egbert, whose portrait appears in this work, and the father of the children just named, was for many years a justice of the peace, and was a director of the poor; was a Whig, a strong anti-slavery man, later a Republi- can, and he and his consort were earnest and active members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Edwin, the eldest of his children, was born February 14, 1822, was educated in the common schools, and was married in 1847 to Milcah Grace, a native of Mercer County, and daughter of Bennett Grace, by whom he had two children: Rufus A. and Nancy J. The former is a practicing phy- sician at Bradford, Penn., and the latter married Prof. J. J. Wasson. Mrs. Egbert died in 1855, and he was again married, to Ruth S. Dorchester, born November 2, 1835, daughter of M. C. and Nancy (Tuttle) Dorchester, natives of Connecticut and Mercer County, respectively. Mrs. Egbert's parents died when she was four years of age, and she was reared by her grandparents, Tuttle, who were early and prominent citizens of this county, they being two of the four to form a Methodist Church in the neighborhood in which they lived. This union has given Edwin the following children: Lillian, Lucy, Newton, Mark, Ezra, Milo, Lizzie, Prudence, Arthur, Lewis, Edwin, Benja- min and Chester. J. N. Egbert received a common-school education, and was married in 1846 to Ann Fowler, and settled on the farm where he now lives, which contains 100 acres, and was given to him by his father. He and his son William have 300 acres of well-improved land. His union blessed him with seven children: Elizabeth, born January 7, 1847, married R. G. Morrison; William, born July 28, 1848, married Sarah Kelley, and has three children, Kate, Thaddeus and Echa; Eliza, married T. Wright; Sarah; Eveline, married Veet Porter; Aseneth, married L. L. McClelland, and Ruth, married Rev. H. H. Wallace, of the United Presbyterian Church. J. N. Egbert has from time to time been elected to the various township offices, and has served as a justice of the peace, which office his son is now filling. Albert G. is a retired physician of Franklin, and one of the most worthy citizens of that place. He is known all over Northwestern Pennsylvania as a quiet, unostentatious man, good to the poor, and a liberal contributor to various public enterprises. In the history of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Jackson Centre it is mentioned that Dr. Egbert gave several thousand dollars toward the erection of the present elegant brick edifice, and it cannot be out of place to herein mention what led

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to this unsolicited and liberal contribution. When the Doctor was a small boy he and his eldest brother, Edwin, went to a meeting to listen to the preaching of a Rev. Murphey. On this occasion the sacrament was administered, and the rev- erend gentlemen excluded every one who did not belong to his church. Ed- win was an earnest Christian boy, and was deeply affected by this seemingly unchristian act, while the future doctor treasured up a lasting impression. Long afterward Albert attended another meeting, which was presided over by this same Rev. Murphey. He took a seat well up to the front of the church, and when the minister came into the church he suddenly halted just as he reached the pulpit, and, after a few moments of solemn reflection, he said: "My friends, I am going to preach a different sermon than any I have ever preached. While coming to this pulpit I heard a voice telling me what to say, and that this was my last sermon. I want everybody to commune with us to- day." It was a glorious meeting, and proved to be the last sermon from Rev. Murphey, for on the next day he was stricken with paralysis, and soon died. This new church at Jackson Centre was to supplant Rev. Murphey's old church, and this last liberal sermon caused Dr. Egbert to subsequently make the unso- licited and liberal contribution of $4,444 to assist in the erection of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Jackson Centre. Thaddeus was a gradu- ate of medicine at both the Ann Arbor and Cincinnati medical colleges, and practiced in Oil City for nineteen years. Milton C. was graduated from the Cleveland Medical College, and retired to Pittsburgh after many years' prac- tice. The Egberts are one of the most respected families of Sandy Lake Township, and are mentioned in the historical portion of this work.

S. L. EGBERT, farmer, post-office Sandy Lake, was born September 2, 1852, in Mercer County, to Justice and Eliza A. (Hunter) Egbert, both of whom were born in Sandy Lake Township. He died July 12, 1880, and his widow sur- vives him. By this marriage there were seven children: Joseph; Margaret, married Isaac Dight, who lives near Sheakleyville; S. L., Rhodan, Frank, Anglice and Warren. The father was a Democrat. Our subject was educated at the common schools, and always farmed. He was married September 5, 1878, to Jennie, daughter of Rev. William Thompson, of Lake Township, and by this marriage they have had two children: Anna M., born July 6, 1883, and Joseph, born July 12, 1886. Our subject settled on a farm of 122 acres, where he still lives. He is a member of the K. & L. H., also of the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church of Sandy Lake. Politically he is a Democrat.

ALEXANDER ELDER, farmer, post-office Henderson, was born September 21, 1812, in Westmoreland County, Penn., to William and Elizabeth (McManus) Elder, natives, the father of Edinburgh, Scotland, and the mother of the State of New Jersey. They were married in Westmoreland County, and were the parents of eleven children, of whom our subject was the youngest. He was educated in the common schools, and under his brother. His father taught school for over forty years in Legonier Valley, part of the time in his own house. He was a graduate of Edinburgh, Scotland, and was master of thir- teen languages. The children of William and Elizabeth Elder were: Elenor, wife of Andrew Henderson; Elizabeth E., Mary E., Jane E., William, a Greek and Hebrew scholar, settled in Union County, Iowa; James, also a teacher, settled in Union County, Iowa; Joseph, a teacher and surveyor from youth to old age, in Westmoreland County; John, married a daughter of James Major, of Venango County, resides in Wells County, Indiana; David E., married Margaret Braden, of Derry Township, Westmoreland County, a farmer; Jacob E., married Rebecca Howell, of Fairfield Township, Legonier Valley, West- moreland County. A. H., a son of Joseph Elder, is a graduate of West-

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

minster College, and a United Presbyterian minister in Cleveland, Ohio. Another of Joseph's sons, J. G., is a physician in Fisher, Ill., and the young- est son, R. S., lives on the old homestead in Westmoreland County, Penn. Our subject began for himself, teaching school, and taught twenty-four winter terms, nearly all in Mercer County. He clerked three years in Venango County, was married in 1838 to Margaret, daughter of John Carmichael, and had nine children: Mary J., married John Phipps, who is dead; Charlotte, married John Wilson; Eliza, married Samuel Carroll, is dead; Sadie, married John Carroll; John C., married Sadie McClelland, and has three sons, Fulton, Harry and William A .; William, married Emma, daughter of A. J. Jacobs; Alfred, attended medical college in Cincinnati, studied medicine under Dr. Galbraith, of Franklin, took a course at Bellevue Hospital, N. Y., practiced in Defiance, Ohio, some time, and is now practicing in Hubball, Neb .; Eveline, deceased; Edith, married John L. Jacobs. Our subject settled upon his present farm about 1839. It was then in the woods. He began clearing and has im- proved 115 or 120 acres, besides building a fine brick house. He has always been a Democrat. His wife died February 17, 1888. She was a member of the Holiness Band, or Saints of God, a society in Hendersonville, of which he is a member. Mr. Elder has followed surveying at intervals in Mercer Coun- ty since 1840.

EDMUND FARRAH, farmer, post-office Sandy Lake, was born December 9, 1833, in Trumbull County, Ohio, to Isaac and Hannah (Webster) Farrah, natives, the father of New Jersey and the mother of Massachusetts. They came to Ohio when small. They were married in Trumbull County, Ohio, where they lived until 1838, when they settled in Sandy Lake Township. The father died in Michigan at the home of his son, Isaac Farrah. His father was a soldier in the Revolutionary struggle, and served under George Washington and Mad Anthony Wayne. The children of Isaac Farrah were: Sallie, married Henry Leonard; Abram, dead; Webster, lives in Ohio; Isaac, Hazzard, Edwin and Edmund, twins; Hannah, married John McEnallen. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and has always been a farmer. He was married in 1855 to Eliza DeFrance, by whom he has five children: Mary, married A. T. McElwain; Jefferson, at present treasurer of Stark County, D. T .; Clara, married George Beggs; Jessie M. and Nannie, a teacher. Mr. Farrah is a stockholder of the Stoneboro Fair. He has taken an active interest in the Democratic party. Mrs. Farrah was born August 29, 1833. in Mill Creek Township, to John and Mary (Dai- ley) DeFrance, the former of whom was a native of France. The Daileys were of Irish descent, and served in the Revolutionary War under Anthony Wayne. The first to come to this country was the great-grandfather of Mrs. Farrah. Her parents had five children who grew up: R. M., dead; John, dead; Nancy, married John M. Galloway; Eliza J. and James A. Her grand- parents, James and Elizabeth (Arthur) DeFrance, had twelve children: Robert, Allison, John, James, Charles, Abram, William, Arthur, Matthew, Boon, Anna- and Eliza, who died when small from the bite of a rattlesnake. The maiden name of the mother of Elizabeth Arthur was Boone, and she was a niece of the renowned Daniel Boone. Robert was at a time a prominent officer at Burling- ton, Iowa, and both he and John were in the War of 1812. Robert fought in the battle of Lake Erie. Mr. and Mrs. Farrah are consistent members of the Presbyterian Church of Sandy Lake. In this work appears a further mention of the DeFrance family.

DR. IRA CONDIT FEATHER, deceased surgeon, Seventy-second New York Vol- unteer Infantry, eldest son of John and Phoebe Feather, was born in Perry Town- ship on August 7, 1829. His grandfather was one of the earliest settlers and

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pioneers of Ohio and Pennsylvania. His mother was a descendant of John Condit, master and warden of the mint in England during the time of Sir Isaac Newton, and important in the history of the colonies since 1678, and rich in lore of education and distinguished men of unassuming worth. Both sides of the house were patriotic defenders of freedom during the War of 1776, and, ever true to the cause of humanity and freedom, were not wanting in the dark days of internicine war, 1861. Ever a deep, diligent and thoughtful student, Ira C. Feather made the best possible use of early educational means -first with a view of the ministry in the Presbyterian Church, but afterward studied and practiced medicine under the instructions of Dr. Cossitt, of Green- ville, Penn. On October 27, 1853, he was married to Miss Josephine Coulter, daughter of Dr. Coulter, of Scrubgrass Township, Venango Co., Penn., well known for many miles around as a physician of great renown for over thirty years, and closely connected with the history of Venango County. On July 29, 1854, John Coulter Feather was born, who for many years was a companion, partner and trusted confidant of his father, Dr. Feather, whom he now succeeds as head and principal of a large practice peculiar to itself, which he had assisted to build up. On August 4, 1858, Francis Floyd Feather was born, who, as junior member of the firm of Drs. J. C. & F. F. Feather, is assisting his elder brother. On December 19, 1860, a daughter, Lizzie Feather, was born, but died of lung fever on February 6, 1861. In 1861 Dr. Feather joined Company K, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry Volunteers, but was after- ward transferred as regimental surgeon of the Seventy-second New York Infantry Volunteers. In 1862 he was detailed to act as surgeon-general of the hospitals at Yorktown, Va. It was at this time he suffered from yellow fever for first time, from which so few northern men recover; in 1865 he sent north for his family, he still serving as medical director of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, besides having a large private practice. On August 20, 1867, his wife died of typhoid fever, and, his own health being wrecked ever since the war, he returned north in 1868, and, in 1869 was married to Miss Hannah C. L. Bell, daughter of William and Lovina Bell, of Sandy Creek Township, Mercer County, whose lives form part of the history of Mercer County for a period of over fifty years. In June, 1875, Dr. Feather commenced the practice of his profession in Sandy Lake, Penn., where he remained until death. Dr. Feather was burnt out on February 26, 1880, without insurance, and in 1882 built the three-story building used as a dwelling until the completion of the building known as Dr. Feather's Block, corner of Main and Lacock Streets, constructed of stone, brick and marble. In 1882 he suffered a stroke of paraphlegia, caused by the disabilities and injuries sustained while in the military service. On November 11, 1887, he was again taken sick from the same cause, but his power of resistance had decreased as his disease had increased, and death came on November 18, '1887, at the age of fifty-eight years.

L. P. FOSTER, post-office Sandy Lake, breeder of Standard breed horses, was born in Venango County, Penn., May 10, 1849, to John and Mahala (Byers) Foster, natives, the father of Venango and the mother of Pulaski, now Lawrence County. The parents lived after marriage in Franklin, where the father followed rafting lumber and boat building. He died on the ground where the United States Hotel of Franklin now stands, in 1851. His widow died in 1853. They had only one child. The parents belonged to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. The father owned, at death, the farm that Foster's Station is located on, which was named for him. At the death of his father our subject was taken by his grandfather, Byers, who then lived in Venango

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County, but who now lives in Fairview Township, Mercer County. He stayed with his grandparents until 1870, and was educated in the New Lebanon Academy, Sheakleyville schools and Jamestown Seminary. He then, in 1870, came to Sandy Lake and engaged in the livery business with J. W. Byers, continued for three years, and then sold the business to the Barnes Brothers. This stable is now owned by S. P. Turner. He then entered into the dry goods business with Devore & Stevenson, and continued nearly three years. He erected a fine bank building, and July 1, 1876, opened a private bank under the firm name of Brown & Foster. Mr. J. F. Brown, of this firm, died in November, 1876, and was in the bank but once. Mr. Foster continued to operate the bank for seven years, and finally concluded to close up the busi- ness; he notified his depositors, paid them their money and withdrew his stock. He then bought one-third interest in the dry goods store of Paden, Patton & Co., of Greenville, and lived there for two years, when he with- drew, came back to Sandy Lake, and engaged in stock breeding, being in full partnership with R. R. Wright in the same. He was married Sep- tember 3, 1872, to Jessie Brown, and had four children: Brown, deceased; John, deceased; Katie, deceased, and Jessie. His wife died March 8, 1881. She was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. He was again mar- ried, to Lizzie Whitling, September 5, 1883, and has two boys: Charles W. and James B. He is a member of the A. F. M., K. of H., A. O. U. W. and K. & L. of H. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a Democrat. Mr. Foster is a real representative of a self-made, thorough- going business man, who has won the esteem of every one with whom he has had dealings, by his faithful fulfillment of business agreements. He be- gan in life by working out by the month, and is the artificer of his present little fortune.

RICHARD FOWLER, SR., deceased, was a native of Staffordshire, England, immigrated to America in 1830 with his wife, Margaret Mears, by whom he had nine children. He died in 1867, aged eighty-one years. His wife, Mar- garet, died in 1859, aged sixty-seven years. Of the nine children Margaret Perrine (deceased) was the oldest, wife of John Perrine, Esq .; she was the mother of sixteen children, nine of whom are still living. The second daugh- ter, Sarah Wright (deceased), wife of Thomas Wright, Sr., Esq., was the mother of nine children, six of whom are still living. Mary Mears, wife of Richard Mears, the third daughter, was the mother of ten children, five of whom are living. The fourth daughter, Ann Egbert, wife of John Egbert, Esq., was the mother of seven children, all living. The fifth daughter, Eliz- abeth Carmichael, wife of Hiram Carmichael, was the mother of twelve chil- dren, all living. The sixth daughter, Eliza Carmichael (deceased), wife of John Carmichael, Esq., was the mother of two children, one living. The old- est son, Richard Fowler, Jr., married Mary E. Buckley, by whom he had five children, all living. The second son, Simon Fowler, was never married, and is the owner of considerable property, which he still enjoys. The third son, William Fowler, married Ellen Buckley, by whom he had four children: John, Emma, Alfred and Eliza; John married Sadie Hosack; by her he has three children: Jennie, Mary and Ansley; Emma, married Walter Huey; Alfred, married Clara Barker, by whom he has two children; Eliza married Lewis Perrine, and died leaving one child. Richard Fowler, Sr., is the father of the Fowler family in this county.

C. B. FULTON, secretary of the Economical Mutual Benefit Association, Sandy Lake, is a son of Dr. T. H. Fulton, a native of Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio The Doctor studied medicine with Dr. G. W. Baskin, once a prominent

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physician of Mercer, but who is now dead. He attended the Cleveland Medical College, and began practice at Sandy Lake, where he built up a large practice, and became one of the leading physicians in the county. He married Eva Brown, a native of this county, by whom he had four children: C. B., Belle, W. B. and Thomas H. Dr. Fulton resides in Nebraska, and other mention is made of his useful career in another part of this work. C. B. Fulton was ed- ucated in the common schools and at Sandy Lake. He began for himself as a clerk in a drug store for DeFrance & Zeigler. He was appointed assistant cashier of the Sandy Lake Banking Company in 1873, and in 1880 was made its cashier, which important position he held until 1884, when he resigned the cashiership, having previously been elected secretary of the E. M. B. A. He was married to Miss Lina Gumfory, daughter of John Gumfory, by whom he has one child, Julia C. He is a member of the town council, and treasurer of the same; is a director of the bank, auditor of the Stoneboro Fair, is inter- ested in the Excelsior Stock Company, is a member of the A. F. & A. M., K. of H., K. L. H., is a Republican, and he and his estimable wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Sandy Lake.

E. X. GIEBNER, physician and surgeon, Sandy Lake, was born July 5, 1830, in Mercer County. His father, Valentine Giebner, was a native of the eastern part of Pennsylvania, and came to this county at an early day. His mother, Anna (Albin) Giebner, was born on the ocean, to John and Jane Albin, in 1804. Charles A. Giebner died in this county, and was buried about four miles south of Sandy Lake. He was the father of the following children: Jacob, John, was drowned at Galena; Augustus and William, both died in Mercer County; Polly, married James McCloskey, and died in Sandy Lake; Valentine and Samuel. Valentine died in 1874, and was the father of four children: E. X., J. T., an attorney of Sharon; Mary A., married Samuel Waldron; Sarah B., married James Grace. The parents were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject was educated in the common schools and Allegheny College, Meadville, and during intervals he taught in the country, and two years at Franklin, Venango County. He began reading medicine at that city in 1851, with Dr. B. Gillett, and attended medical college at Har- vard, where he graduated in 1854, and at once began the practice of his chosen profession in Franklin, Penn., in partnership with his preceptor, for one year. He then went to Blair County, where he remained until 1856, when he located at Sandy Lake, where he has taken high rank as one of the best physi- cians and surgeons in this part of the State. He had Dr. T. M. Cooley as a partner from 1876 to 1888. He was married, in 1856, to Mary A. Dunn, a native of Sandy Lake, and daughter of Robert and Anna (McKean) Dunn, and by this union has two children: Annette and Ida E., married William Har- vey, who is dead, and she is the mother of one son, Earl. The Doctor has been burgess of Sandy Lake, and at various times a member of the council of the same. He has also served as school director. For many years he was identi- fied with the Republican party, but is now an adherent of the Greenback party. He is a member of the F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., A. O. U. W. and K. of H. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

C. W. GIEBNER, deceased, farmer, was born July 8, 1832, in the house where his widow now resides. He was a son of William Giebner, who is mentioned elsewhere. He was one of four children, two of whom grew up, C. W. and Sarah J., who married Abram Farrah. The deceased was married October 9, 1857, to Miss Amelia Vath. He enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and a short time after his return from the war he was returning from town in a wagon, when his

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horse took fright and threw him out, breaking a leg, from the effects of which he died April 23, 1865, He was the father of three children: Georgie E., married E. W. Thompson; C. W., at home with his mother, and John E., who married Nellie Robinson, and is a prosperous merchant of Sandy Lake. Mr. Giebner believed in the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which organization his widow is attached. Dr. J. P. Vath, the father of Mrs. Giebner, was born in Germany, where he was educated. His

father and brother Philip were prominent physicians in that country. His sister Maria married George Albright, and subsequently settled in Mercer County, She died leaving six children: Barbara, Margaret, Amelia, Cassie, Mary and Susan. Dr. Vath left Germany during a war, and practiced in New York City, and there was married to Frances Webber, and subsequently removed to Buffalo, practiced there and in Norwalk, Ohio, for some time, and then came to what is now Sandy Lake, in 1838, and built a house on the site of A. P. Rose's residence. Here he died July 19, 1854. His widow died about twenty years later. Their children were: J. P., Amelia, Theressa,

married Alexander Lowrey; Louesa. Lewis P., Harriet, married James Smith, and Joseph, who is dead. Dr. Vath formed a partnership with Dr. Giebner a short time before his death. He and his wife were members of the Catholic Church, and were buried in the grave-yard of that organization a short distance north of Mercer. Their daughter Louesa married Samuel Bowers, by whom she has two children: Della, married Newton Holland, of Youngstown, Ohio, and Lewis P., a printer, of the same city.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 144

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