History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 145

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

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JAMES GORDON, retired farmer, post-office Sandy Lake, was born May 23, 1813, in Venango County, Penn., to John and Polly (Cooper) Gordon. The father was born in Westmoreland County, and removed to Venango County in 1798. He had purchased land in that county one year earlier. He died on this farm February 14, 1847, and his wife died in 1819, the mother of Samuel, Margaret, William, Nancy, John, Jane, John (2), James, Joseph, Robert C. and Josiah. The father was married again, to Mary McMasters, and by her he had Samuel and Rebecca. Mrs. Gordon was the mother of five children by her union with Mr. McMasters: Isabella, Margaret, Elizabeth, John and Mary. Joseph Gordon came to Mercer County in the spring of 1837, and was the father of John I. Gordon, of the Dispatch and Republican. Robert E. Gordon came to the county in 1853, and died February 4, 1856. William Gordon settled for awhile in this county. The father of our subject was auditor of Venango County three years, and also held other small offices. He and wives were members of the Presbyterian Church, and helped to build the church for that congregation, near his residence. James Gordon was educated in the log cabin schools, and the first two houses where he sought for infor- mation had no floors. The first work he did for himself was to put in a crop for a neighbor. In December, 1834, he began in the woods to clear up a farm. His father gave him a piece of land, unimproved, and there was his beginning. He was married in 1836 to Charlotte Smiley, born February 13, 1817, to Thomas and Mary (Duffield) Smiley, natives of Pennsylvania, who were early settlers of Venango County, and the parents of Armstrong, William, James, John, Charlotte and Philip. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon settled at their marriage in a cabin on a farm, and have gone through the hardships that go to make up the life of the real pioneers. He was engaged in the mercantile business at New Lebanon with his brother and James Muse for about three years. He was also engaged in a steam mill with the same parties. He also dealt in oil for a period. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon had no children by their marriage. but they have reared the following persons: Mary A. Jewell, who married D. C.

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Montague; Nancy L., daughter of R. C. Gordon, she married Isaac Suydam. of Glendora, Colo., and Joseph A., married Emma Smiley, lives in Nebraska, During the time of the war Mr. Gordon raised flax, which sold at large figures. He hired girls to pull and spread it and men to skutch it. For many years after his marriage he and his wife made their own clothing. He united with the Presbyterian Church at the age of twenty and his wife at the age of seven- teen years. He is a Republican, and one of the respected citizens of Sandy Lake. [Both he and wife died since the above was written.]

J. W. HAWTHORN, miller and farmer, post-office Stoneboro. Among the prom- inent, enterprising business men of Sandy Lake Township is the gentleman whose name heads this biography. He was born July 26, 1849, in Jefferson Township. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Ross) Hawthorn, were natives, the father of Mercer and the mother of Allegheny County, Penn. The father is dead and the mother lives in Findley Township. Their children were: J. W., A. J., of Jefferson Township; Samuel H., of Pymatuning Township; George R., John F. and Joseph, of Findley Township; Alexander S. and Charles E. The parents worshiped at the Baptist Church, and the father was a Re- publican. Our subject was educated principally at the Pearson school-house, in Jefferson Township. He began for himself when reaching his majority. He was married April 14, 1875, to Mary A., daughter of George I. Slater, of Fre- donia, by whom he has had three children: Lizzie M., deceased; infant, deceased, and Montie, living. He settled at his marriage in Fredonia, where he worked in a saw-mill two years. He then rented a mill in Fairview Township, which he operated two years, after which he purchased a mill, moved it to New Vernon Township, ran it two years, and the following eighteen months operated the same in Lake Township. In 1883 he located his mill in Sandy Lake Town- ship on his farm, and employs a number of men in the manufacture of lum- ber. He is a member of the A. F. M. of Sandy Lake. He and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is an earnest, energetic Republi- can, a clever gentleman, a public-spirited, intelligent and honorable citizen.

A. G. HOOVLER, farmer, post office Sandy Lake, was born March 8, 1836, in what is now East Lackawannock Township, Mercer County, son of Jacob and Nancy (Hurry) Hoovler, born, the former June 5, 1805, and the latter July 26, 1815, both in Beaver County, Penn. John and Catharine Hoovler were for many years residents of the vicinity of Darlington, Beaver County, and their four sons came to Mercer County: Eli resides in the northern part of the county; Samuel lives in the southern part; Joab is a resident of Venango County, and Jacob. Jacob was married to Nancy Hurry April 22, 1825, . settled on a farm in East Lackawannock Township, remained until 1842, when they bought and settled on a tract of 200 acres in Mill Creek Township, where they lived until 1873, at which time they retired to Sandy Lake. Here Jacob died July 13, 1887. His children were ten: A. G. ; Mary L., married Lucius Jackson; Francis M., married Margaret G. Canon, both deceased, he having died from the effects of a wound received in the battle of the Wilderness, as a member of Company B, Eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers; Edward H., served three years in Company G, One Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteers, is married and lives on a farm in Iowa; Catharine, married Ansley Canon March, 1851, and died September 22, 1869; John C., married M. E. Firster, and served in the One Hundred and Thirth-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers; Jacob T., married Mary Lynch, and resides on a part of the old homestead; Nancy J., is a maiden, and resides with her mother in Sandy Lake; J. Mason, married Elsie Kitch, and died October 16, 1879, and William, died small. Jacob Hoovler was a Republican and a member of the Presby-

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terian Church, to which his widow belongs. A. G. Hoovler was educated in the common school, and was married May 13, 1862, to Mary U. Law, born May 3, 1841, in Sandy Lake Township, daughter of William E. and Julia A. (McClain) Law, natives of Ohio and Cool Spring Township, respectively, and the parents of ten children: Ephraim, married Sarah E. Denwoody; Thomas M., married Elizabeth Grove; Mary U .; Eveline, married Solomon Zedaker; Minnie J., married David B. Wilhelm; Caroline, died small; Amelia and Amanda (twins), the former lives with her mother and the latter is dead; Julia A., married James H. Gilliland, and an infant, deceased. William Law owned 200 acres of good land at his death February 29, 1876. He was a Presby- terian, to which organization his widow is attached. Our subject settled at marriage on his farm in Sandy Lake Township, composed now of 130 acres. He is also the owner of two houses and three lots, the brick block partially occupied by Scott's hardware store, all in Sandy Lake Borough, and a house and one acre in Zedaker town, all of which he made by his own labors except the value of a colt, the gift of his father. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., A. O. U. W., K. & L. of H. ; is a stockholder of the Stoneboro Fair and a director of the Mercer County Live Stock Association. He is a Republican, and he and wife belong to the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a deacon. His brother, Jacob M., died, leaving two children: Blanch and Catharine, of whom our subject is guardian, and they with their mother reside on his farm in Sandy Lake Township.

ARCHIBALD McBRIDE, farmer, post-office Sandy Lake, was born December 19, 1820, in Cool Spring Township, to Thomas, born in 1779, and Mary (Gill) McBride, the father being a native of Scotland and the mother of Pennsyl- vania. Her father, William Gill, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, from Pennsylvania, and lived near Courtney's Mill, Liberty Township. Thomas Mc Bride came from Scotland in 1787, and with his father, Charles, settled in Pennsylvania. They came to Cool Spring Township about 1803. The land where they settled is now owned by John McCurdy. The mother of Thomas

is buried at the old Cool Spring church-yard. He died in 1834, and she about ten years later. There were twelve children born to them: William, died in Ohio; Thomas, killed by the cars in the oil region; Charles, died in Ohio; James, died in Butler County; Robert, died in Ohio; Mary, died in Cool Spring Township; Archibald; Sarah, died in Butler; Margaret, single, lives in Butler; Samuel, lives in Nebraska; Isaac, died in Cool Spring Town- ship, and John, lives in Trumbull County, Ohio. The parents were members of the Springfield Church, and the father was a Whig. Our subject was edu- cated in the common schools, was brought up on the farm, and worked four months at the carpenter trade. He was married in 1845 to Susanna, daughter of George Barnes, and settled in Cool Spring Township, where he remained three years. In 1848 he came to where he now lives, buying 100 acres, sixty of which he still owns. By this marriage they have had twelve children: Maggie, married Thomas Powell; George, deceased; Melissa, a teacher at Knoxville, Freedmen's Mission School; Mary A., married James Wallace, of Mercer; Sadie, married A. C. Reagle; George E., of Westmoreland County; Mattie; Thomas, at home; John, attending Grove City College; Myrtie, at home; Ella, at home, and Bella, married A. C. Horn. Our subject was elected justice of the peace, and held that office for two terms, about 1860-70. He has also been assessor two terms. He is a member and elder in the United Presbyterian Church, and was superintendent of the Sabbath-school of Sandy Lake. In politics he is a Prohibitionist.

W ... T. McBURNEY, postmaster Sandy Lake, was born June 27, 1852, in

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Mercer, a son of Thomas McBurney, whose sketch appears elsewhere. He was educated in the Mercer public schools, and began learning the jeweler's trade in 1868 with Hinkley, of Mercer, with whom he remained six years. In 1877 he opened up a jewelry store in Sandy Lake, and continued the same until 1888, when he sold. In 1886 he took an interest in the dry goods firm of M. L. Zahniser & Co., now Giebner & Co. He and M. L. Zahniser have been dealing in horses for about four years. He was married April 13, 1871, to Rachel Ride, daughter of B. A. Ride, and has two children: Benjamin and Harry. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., A. O. U. W., P. H. C. and I. O. O. F. He is a Democrat, and was appointed postmaster of Sandy Lake in 1888 by President Cleveland. He and wife are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church of Sandy Lake.

R. J. MCCLURE, miller, Sandy Lake, was born May 28, 1831, in Old Cool Spring Township. The farm is now in Lake Township, and was settled by Robert McClure, he having a settler's right. James and Hannah (Gam- ble) McClure, the parents of our subject, were natives of this county and England, respectively, the latter having come from that country when nine years of age, and settled with her parents in Cool Spring Township. Her par- ents had Hannah, Henry, William, Sarah, Ruth, Mary, Elizabeth, Maria and Charles. James McClure died July 4, 1845, and his widow is living. They had R. J., Henry, Andrew, Mary, married P. J. Boyd; Sarah, married Lem- uel Bristol; Ruth, married T. Egbert, and is dead. The father was a farmer, and owned at one time 210 acres. R. J. McClure was educated in the common schools and was brought up on a farm. He taught seventeen terms of school in Mercer County. He was married in 1872 to Mary J. Caldwell, a sister of George P. Caldwell, at present connected with the management of the poor- house. His wife died leaving one son, Robert. He was again married, to Ella, a sister of his first wife, and has three children: James B., Frank T. and Clara. He and brother, Henry, bought a mill at Sandy Lake in 1879, and in 1881 it burned. The same year the dam went out, and they rebuilt the mill and dam in 1882, and began running five buhrs. The mill is three stories, and cost about $7,000. February 2, 1882, the dam again gave away, and they were compelled to spend $1,000 more to repair it. In 1887 they put in the full roller process, at a cost of $5,000, and the mill is in good order and is running continually during the day. He is also the owner of a large farm in this county. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of L. He has represented his lodge at the grand lodge of I. O. O. F. He served as school director of Lake Township for twenty-three years, and is now holding the same position in Sandy Lake. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a Republican.

RICHARD MEARS, farmer, post-office Sandy Lake, was born November 11, 1816, in Staffordshire, England, to Francis and Mary (Cooper) Mears, natives of England. She died in England, and had three children: Richard, Mary and Sarah. Mary came to this country, and married Rev. George Jaquess, who died, and she now lives at College Spring, Iowa. The father married for his second wife Ann Smith, and with her came to this country, his family con- sisting of Richard, Mary and three children of his second wife: Charles, Will- iam and Ann, the youngest then but five weeks old. After coming to this coun- try four more children were born: Sarah, Thomas, Stephen and an infant. William enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and died of fever at Spottsylvania, and is buried at Zion Cemetery. He was married to Helen Marvin, who lives at Sandy Lake. Charles lives in Lake Township; Ann married William Nicklin, of Mill Creek Township; Sarah

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

married Joseph Buckley, of Sandy Lake Township. The father died October 14, 1884, and his wife died about 1854. He married for his third wife Ann, widow of William Potter, and she died August 19, 1886. He was a Republi- can, held the office of treasurer, and at his death was in moderate circum- stances. Our subject was educated in the common schools and was brought up on the farm. He began for himself in 1840, by working on the canal along the Shenango one summer, then two years for Thomas Wright on his farm. He was married January 26, 1843, to Mary Fowler, and settled in Sandy Lake Township, and lived in a log cabin, building a small frame house the follow- ing summer, and subsequently erecting their present residence. He has been identified with the township offices, having filled the offices of assessor, treas- urer, supervisor and school director. His family consisted of ten children: George, married Lizzie Peat and lives in Kansas City; he served three years in the late war, and was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness; Eliza, died May 29, 1846; Margaret M., died July 16, 1864; Richard W., Mary J., Frank, died September 23, 1854; W. F., who lives in Warren, Penn .; Sarah E., died April 28, 1862; Fred, died May 12, 1862, and Tillie E., who married J. P. Ebbert and has one child, Richard A. Our subject is a stockholder of the Stoneboro Fair, is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a steward of the latter. Politically he is a Republican.

WILLIAM NICKLIN, deceased, was born October 2, 1796, in Staffordshire, England, and married Frances Moore, a native of the same county; came to America in 1833, and settled on the farm where Charles S. Nicklin now resides. Here he died November 11, 1868, and his widow September 16, 1881. They were the parents of eleven children: Mary, married Henry Clulow and lives in French Creek Township, Venango County; Frances, married H. B. Rice, of Greenville; George D., married Mary M. Eberly, lives in Selina, Venango County, where he is engaged in the mercantile business; Joseph, dead; Eliza, remained in England, married Samuel Jackson, died December 5, 1883; Will- iam N., lives in Mill Creek, and is mentioned there; D. T., lives in Venango County; Thomas, dead; Simon J., lives in Venango County; Ellen J., married Thomas Arnitt, of Franklin, Penn. ; Charles S., born August 9, 1837. The parents were Catholics, and are buried in the grave-yard of that organization, north of Mercer. The father was a successful farmer. Charles S. Nicklin was educated in the common schools and brought up on a farm. He was twice drafted. The first time he paid the amount of money necessary to be released, and the second time a discontinuance of hostilities rendered his services un- necessary. He was married July 23, 1865, to Miss Mary C. DeWoody, born in Venango County in 1842. Her parents, Robert and Elizabeth (McBride) DeWoody, were natives, the father of Venango County and the mother of the State of New York. They had the following children: Crawford, Thomas, Mary C., Alexander and Albert. Mr. and Mrs. Nicklin have four children: Ella J., married William A. Scott; John C., Mary E. and Florence E. Mr. Nicklin has been school director for nine years, and filled various other offices of trust. He was a member of the order of Patrons of Husbandry, and for a time master of Grange No. 393, Sandy Lake. For many years he and his family were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Hendersonville, and he was for a long time the superintendent of the Sunday-schools. They withdrew from this organization, and by letter joined the Methodist Church at Sandy Lake. He is a stanch Republican, and always sacrifices a large amount of his valuable time to the interest of that party.

EPHRAIM OSBURN, farmer, post-office Stoneboro, was born June 15, 1832, in Mercer County, to Christopher and Sallie (Coleman) Osburn, natives, the

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

father of New Jersey and the mother of this county. They were the parents of seven children: Joseph, dead; Nathaniel, dead; Nancy, married James Day; Bennett, dead; William, dead; Betsey, married Robert McElheny. The parents of the above named children are dead. Our subject attended the com- mon schools, and was brought up at farm labor. He was married in 1855 to Amelia Osburn, a distant relative, and by her he has four children: William B., Fred L., Elmer C. and Eva, who is married to H. L. Jacobs. Mr. Osburn enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, in 1862, and served nine months. Mrs. Osburn was born May 28, 1825, in Mercer County, on the farm where she now lives, to John and Sarah (Anderson) Osburn, the parents of four children: William A., David M., Me- linda and Amelia. Her mother was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which Mrs. Osburn is attached. Mr. Osburn is the possessor of 114 acres of good land, and is a Democrat.

WILLIAM H. PERRINE, farmer, post-office Sandy Lake, was born July 16, 1817, in Worth Township. His parents, Daniel and Charlotte (Egbert) Per- rine, were natives of New Jersey, and came to Mercer County in an early day. They had eleven children: John, deceased; Job, deceased; Mary, married James Barker; Rebecca, deceased; Rebecca (2), William H., O. Perry, Lewis, A. Jackson, Samuel and Elizabeth. The parents were Baptists, and the father was in the War of 1812. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and brought up at farm labor. He has also worked at carpentering. He was married Nov. 13, 1838, to Hannah Slater, daughter of George Slater, who was born in England May 22, 1818. Mr. Perrine settled at his marriage on the farm where he now resides. By his wife he has had ten children: Elizabeth, married Jacob H. Bizler, who died, and she was again married, to George Har- rison; William, married Harriet A. Perrine, was in the war from this county, took sick and was brought home by his father, and died a few days later; George, was also in the war, serving in the same company with his brother; Julia A., married Charles Smith; Grace, deceased; Henry, married Retta Smith; James, married Mary A. Slater, who died, and he was again married, to Olive C. Winings; Charlotte, married Samuel Nicklin; Daniel, married Alice Buckley, and Mary, married Peter Griggs. They have forty-six grand- children living and five dead, and have three great-grandchildren. Mr. Perrine has been a member of the Pymatuning Fire Insurance Company for many years. He and wife are members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. He has served as a trustee of the same, and has been a substantial supporter of that organization. He is one of the prosperous and enterprising farmers of the township, and other mention of the family is made elsewhere.

DANIEL PERRINE, president of the Sandy Lake Banking Company and farmer, was born June 23, 1834, in Worth Township, to John and Margaret (Fowler) Perrine, natives, the father of this county and the mother of Eng- land. She immigrated here with her parents, who are mentioned elsewhere. Their names were Richard and Margaret Fowler, and they had Simon, Richard, William, Margaret, Ann, Betsey, Eliza, Mary and Sarah. John Perrine mar- ried in this county, was a farmer, and always resided in Worth Township. He died in 1876 and his widow died in 1881. Their children were Daniel, Simon, Clarissa, John, Mary, Charles, Margaret and Andrew. They are all living in this county. The parents belonged to the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Our subject was educated in the common schools of his boyhood days. The first money he got for himself was from the hoeing of a patch of potatoes for 25 cents. He next obtained some money by splitting rails at a shilling per 100 rails. He chopped the timber off of at least 100 acres of land, at from $5 to $6 per acre.

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At the age of twenty-two he bought 120 acres in the woods, and made a pay- ment of $100, which he had saved from his small earnings. He sold this farm in six years to Dr. A. G. Egbert for $4,000. He then bought land in Worth Township, and soon disposed of it. He located where he now lives in 1864, and has 100 acres. He has 100 acres in another part of the township, all of which is the result of his own efforts. He was married March 25, 1858, to Elizabeth Frost, born October 22, 1836, in England, and immigrated to this country with her parents, William and Anna Frost. Her mother died in 1838, and had but two children. Her father was married a second time, to Charlotte Ralps, by whom he had three children. He was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and was a class-leader and steward in the same. Our sub- ject was blessed with five children by his union: Hattie, married to H. C. Zeigler; Lottie, married W. S. Watson; Anna, Maggie and Charles. Mr. Perrine has been justice of the peace and held other offices of trust. He was for twenty years a director of the Stoneboro Fair. He has been for eight years the treasurer of the Economical Mutual Benefit Association of Sandy Lake. He was one of the committee and treasurer in the construction of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Sandy Lake, which cost about $8,000. He and his wife are members of that organization, and he is one of the leading Republicans of Eastern Mercer County. He has been identified with nearly all the business interests of Sandy Lake, and is one of the foremost men in this section.

D. M. PORTER, farmer and teacher, post-office Henderson, was born August 6, 1850, in Mercer County, son of David and Matilda (Cummings) Porter, natives of this county. His grandfather, Alexander Porter, emigrated from County Down, Ireland, with his wife, Mary, to America, about the year 1794. Soon after they came to Mercer County, where he entered 100 acres of land in Sandy Lake Township. He died in 1842, the father of eight children: James, Margaret, William, David, Jane, Alexander and Mary. The only one now living is Alexander. He and his children were all members of the Covenanter Church. The large two-story log dwelling-house put up by him in early times was long used as a place of worship. The father of our subject was educated in the common schools, and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for many years. He was married to Anna White, who blessed him with three children: James B., Amanda and Albina M. Mrs. Porter died, and he was married to Matilda Cummings, by whom he had Mary A., D. M., John A., M. W. and M. C. The last named is studying medicine in Kansas. Mary and John died in 1862. The father died May 14, 1881, and his last wife died in 1888. He was for many years a ruling elder in the Covenanter Church. D. M. Por- ter was educated in the common schools and at Sandy Lake. He also attended the New Lebanon Academy, and took private lessons under Rev. Rice. He began teaching at the age of seventeen years, and has taught twelve terms, the last four at his home district. He now follows farming exclusively. He was married December 31, 1874, to Mary V. Hunter, daughter of John and Mary (Hutchinson) Hunter. Mr. Porter is the possessor of 110 acres of land which were originally owned by his grandfather and father. The dwelling-house referred to above still stands, and is occupied by the subject of the present sketch. He is `secretary of a public library which has recently been started in the village of Hendersonville. It already contains over 100 volumes.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 145

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