History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 146

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

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AUSTIN POTTER, clerk for the E. M. B. A. Insurance Company at Sandy Lake, was born February 18, 1843, in Kinsman, Ohio. His father, S. A. Potter, was a native of Trumbull County, Ohio, was educated in the com- mon schools, and when a young man was appointed deputy sheriff of that county, when the territory that now comprises Trumbull and Mahoning

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Counties were one. He formed a partnership with John Kinsman, of Kins- man, Ohio, and conducted a mercantile business there for a number of years. He then came to Sandy Lake, and engaged in the railroad business, being one of the pioneers engaged in the building of the Jamestown & Franklin Rail- road, which passes through that place. It was largely through his efforts that the road was built. He was also interested in the Mercer Iron & Coal Company. He married Amelia Austin, of Warren, Ohio, May 18, 1837, by whom he had two children: Austin and Olive, the wife of D. J. Ives, of Ames, Iowa. S. A. Potter died in 1882; was a Republican, a member of the Disciple Church, and one of the most energetic citizens of Sandy Lake. His son Austin was educated in Kinsman and Warren, Ohio. In 1866 he took employment as clerk in the freight department of the Lake Shore Railroad, at Buffalo, and later held the same position at Cleveland, for the same road. He returned to Sandy Lake, and in 1884 he took the position he now holds. He

has established a green-house in Sandy Lake, which is a credit to the place as well as a profitable investment to him. He was married in 1873 to Kittie Hamilton, of Cleveland, by whom he has six children: Seymour, Lula, Bes- sie, Charles, George and Kittie. He is a member of the F. & A. M. and K. & L. of H. His wife is a member of the Methodist Church.

I. H. ROBB, attorney, Sandy Lake, was born in Mill Creek Township, Mercer County, April 18, 1847, to Robert S. and Sarah (Miller) Robb, natives, the father of Allegheny County and the mother of Lisbon, Ohio. The father came to this county in 1806, with his parents, Robert and Mary (Smith) Robb, the parents of Jane, Robert, Mary, Amelia, Isaac, John, Margaret, Eli and Eliza. The children of Robert S. and Sarah Robb were: James, Meribah, Robert, Nancy, Ebenezer, I. H., Mary L., Sarah J., Susannah and Joseph S. I. H. Robb was educated in the New Lebanon Academy, and taught seven terms of school. He read law with Coulter & Martin, of Parker's Landing, and completed his studies with Griffith & Mason, of Mercer. He was admitted to the bar October 23, 1873, and began practice the December following at Sandy Lake. He was appointed notary public in 1877, and still holds that position. He has been burgess of Sandy Lake one term, a member of the coun- cil three terms, and school director two terms. He is a member of the K. of L., K. & L. of H. and I. O. O. F. He was married November 5, 1873, to Cassie E. Blair, who bore him three children: Eva L., Maggie B. and Estella (dead). His wife died February 12, 1881, and he was again married, to Maggie A. Blair, and has one child, Theressa M. He and wife belong to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which he is a trustee. He is a Republican.

A. P. ROSE, real estate dealer, Sandy Lake, Penn., was born in Harrisville, Butler Co., Penn., July 24, 1837. His grandfather, Ephraim Rose, was a native of Somerset County, and a resident of Mercer and Venango Counties for many years. He was a foundry-man and furnace manager in early times, his last furnace being at the mouth of Oil Creek, where Oil City now stands. John Rose, the father of A. P., was an ornamental painter and cabinet-maker by trade, was born in Mercer County, and on July 5, 1832, was married to Mary Clark, daughter of Abraham and Catherine (Starr) Clark, of Cool Spring Township. He was a resident of Pine Grove, and afterward of Harrisville, Butler County, where he followed his trade, also serving the public as post- master and the State as captain of a militia company, holding a commission from Gov. David R. Porter. In 1845 he moved west to Lee County, Iowa, ' where he and two of his children died in 1846, his widow and his sons, A. P. and E. L., the only survivors, returning to Mercer County, Penn. E. L. Rose, brother of A. P., died at Mercer in 1879, from disease contracted

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while in the service of his country, the subject of this sketch and his mother being the only survivors of the family. A. P. Rose was educated in the com- . mon schools of Jackson Township. At the age of fourteen he was employed by Sennett & Warren, a furnace and mercantile company at West Middlesex, in whose service he remained as clerk and book-keeper for over five years. In the spring of 1858 he went by water route to the Pacific Coast, and spent fourteen years in the frontier gold mining camps of California, Idaho and Montana. He was much exposed to the incidental dangers of that life, but his love of peace, powers of persuasion and "artful dodging" saved his scalp. When in the southern mines of California, in the early days of our late unpleasantness, he was chosen colonel of a home military organization, that was organized to counterbalance a "Golden Circle" of that section. It had a quieting and soothing effect upon the Circle. He was six years a resident of Northern Montana, located at Lincoln Gulch, an isolated mining camp, situated in the territory of the hostile Blackfeet Indians. Before the estab- lishment of post-offices he carried express from Helena to the northern camps. He was afterward postmaster, express agent, merchant and packer at Lin- coln; was the Republican nominee for the Territorial Legislature in 1867, and in 1870 for county treasurer of Deer Lodge County. He returned to Mercer County, Penn., in 1872, and conducted a general store at Jackson Centre for several years, when he served also as postmaster. He came to Sandy Lake in 1879, and in 1880, leaving his family at Mercer, went to Arizona Territory, in behalf of the Milner heirs. He returned with his family to Sandy Lake in 1883, where he has since been engaged in the mercantile and real estate business. He was married on September 5, 1876, to Eva Carroll, daughter of W. A. Carroll, of Worth Township. They have two children; Edwin Car- roll and Nellie May. In politics A. P. Rose is a Republican; in religion a Liberal, believing in the religion of humanity-of doing unto your fellows as "ye would that they should do unto you."

WILLIAM SIMCOX, merchant, Sandy Lake, was born March 14, 1830, in Venango County, Penn., and is a son of William and Jane (Marshall) Sim- cox, natives of the same county. The father was a farmer, and for a time kept hotel along the Franklin and Mercer road. He died in 1855 and his widow in 1860. Their children were: Eleanor, married William Amon; Martha, married Josiah Zink; Mary, married A. P. Whitaker, the present editor of the Franklin Spectator; Nancy, died single; John, deceased; Will- iam, James, lives on the old homestead; Jane, married Hugh Gibson; Phile- tus, deceased; John (2), went West and joined an Iowa company, and after the war settled in Washington Territory; Marshall, in the war from Venango County, resides in Missouri; Lester M., also lives in Missouri. The parents were Presbyterians. Our subject was educated in the common schools and in the log cabins, with their slab seats and puncheon floors. He was employed a portion of his early boyhood time around his father's hotel. At the death of his father he was compelled to make his own living. He was married in 1860 to Hannah I., daughter of Samuel Irwin, of Venango County, by whom he had five children: William, died when young; Marshall, deceased; Florence, married O. Carnahan, who is an agent for the North Platte Lumber Company, at North Platte, Neb. ; Ralph, with his father in the store, and Fred. Mr. Simcox remained on the farm until 1866, when he sold and engaged, under the firm name of Kirk & Simcox, in the general dry goods business at Sandy Lake. Seven years later he bought the interest of Kirk, and subsequently was joined by J. A. McCormick, who in five years purchased the interest of Mr. Simcox, and three years later sold the entire stock to our subject, who has since con-

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ducted a general line of dry goods, groceries, queensware, etc., carrying at . the present time a stock valued at $4, 000. He possesses other good property in the village, all of which, together with his stock of goods, has been made by his own labors. He has served as burgess of Sandy Lake one term, and has been a member of the village council two terms. He is a member of the A. F. M., A. O. U. W .; is a Democrat, and he and wife belong to the Method- ist Episcopal and Presbyterian Churches, respectively.

C. W. SMITH, oil producer, Sandy Lake, was born March 9, 1836, in French Creek Township, to Robert and Julia (Myers) Smith, natives of the same place. John and Lydia (Wallace) Smith were the parents of Robert, Williams, Charles, James, Joseph, Sarah, married Thomas Williams; Jane, married John Rockfellow. John Smith and wife were members of the Meth - odist Episcopal Church, and he was a strong anti-slavery man. Robert Smith was educated in the common schools of French Creek Township, and served as a justice of the peace for over twenty years. He and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Both are dead, and were the parents of the following children: Peter M., John, C. W., Mary, married Dr. C. M. Stewart; J. S., and Eliza, the wife of J. A. Painter. C. W. Smith was edu- cated in the schools of his native township and was brought up at rural pur- suits. At the age of eighteen he began learning the carpenter's trade with David Randall, with whom he remained for three years. He was afterward, for several years, in partnership with Mr. Randall. He followed his trade until 1861. He then, August 15, 1861, enlisted in Company B, Eighty- third Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served three years, being discharged September 18, 1864, as lieutenant of said company. He was wounded in the left shoulder at the battle of Gettysburg. On his return from the war he resumed his trade, which he pursued until 1868, when he engaged in the oil producing business at Pleasantville, Penn., and has operated in Butler, Arm- strong, Clarion, McKean and Crawford Counties. He bought sixty acres of land in New Vernon Township in 1876, and has lived in the borough, on a four- acre lot, since. He was married, in 1857, to Elizabeth Livingston, daughter of Daniel and Sarah (McCullough) Livingston. She was born in Center County, Penn. By her he has four children: Cassie, married S. F. Newkirk; Ella, married Harry Long; Mary, married George Lafferty; Charles S. He was elected burgess of Sandy Lake in 1887 and 1888, and has been a member of the council. He is a director of the E. M. B. A., is a member of the A. Y. M., I. O. O. F., A. O. U. W. and the K. T. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a Republican.

JOHN W. SMITH, farmer, post-office Sandy Lake, was born April 15, 1852, in Venango County, Penn., to Samuel and Eliza (McMillen) Smith, natives, the father of some portion of Eastern Pennsylvania, and the mother of Venango County. The father died August 21, 1880, and the mother is living on the old home in Venango County. They had nine children: John W., Marion V., farmer of Venango County; Willard F., also a farmer of that county ;

Sarah E., married Lybner Riddle, of Venango County; David, deceased; Clay- ton, farmer of Venango County; Sherman, a farmer of Venango County; Alice, married Riley McDow; Mary, married D. W. Walters. The father was a justice of the peace, and a member of the Church of God, to which organization the mother belongs. The father was a very successful farmer, and gave to each of his sons 100 acres of land, and to his daughters $1,000 each. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and was married, in 1872, to Angeline Henderson, of Venango County, Penn., by whom he has four children: George, Laura, Myra and Sherman. He came to Mercer

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County in 1882, having traded his farm in Venango County for one in this. He is at present one of the school directors of the township. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and with his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Although a new-comer to the county, he is to be found encouraging everything that goes to build up the community in which he resides. He has an excellent farm, and is raising sheep and other good stock. In politics he is a Republican.

JOHN TAYLOR, farmer, post-office Sandy Lake, was born August 4, 1821, in New Jersey, to Thomas and Anna (Elick) Taylor, the father being a native of England and the mother of New Jersey. The parents both died in New Jer- sey, and the father was a carpenter by trade. They had six children: John, Hugh E., Mary, Eli, Ufamy, married Isaiah Bell, and Maurice H., painter. The parents attended the Lutheran Church. Our subject was educated in the common schools. His father died when he was eighteen years old, and he had to work to support the family. They drove from New Jersey, and a part of the wagon and the buggy in which they came is yet in their possession. In 1856 he came to Mercer County and bought about eighty-five acres, then in the woods. He erected a log cabin, a portion of which now stands. He has since built good frame buildings. In 1848 he married Susan, a daughter of David Heggar, of New Jersey. By this union he has one child, Isabella, who married William Bailey, a physician of East Liverpool, Ohio. He assisted in the defense of his country by hiring a substitute in the late war. Mr. Taylor manages his own farm, and is a quiet, unassuming man, who attends strictly to his own business, pays his honest debts and enjoys the fruits of his early days' labor.

H. W TROY, deceased, was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1804, married Elizabeth Hendrickson, born in 1802, and settled in French Creek Township at an early day. They had twelve children, of whom the following are living: Hon. Cyrus, Dr. S. S., Mrs. S. S. Ross and Mrs. William Burns. Those deceased were John, Gideon, Albert, Hiram, Rev. McVey, Martha, Phobe and Sarah. H. W. Troy died November 28, 1887, and Elizabeth Troy November 4, 1877. Rev. McVey Troy was born November 12, 1846, in French Creek Township. He was educated at Allegheny College, entered the Erie Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in July, 1868, and was first lo- cated at Salem City, where he remained one year. The next two years were spent at Punxsutawney, Jefferson County, and following that he was sent to Rockland, Venango County. Here his health failed in one year, and he was compelled to obtain superannuary relations. He died April 15, 1873, at the early age of thirty-six. He was married to Maggie Perrine August 18, 1866. Three children were born to them: Albert E., born April 4, 1868; Orvill M., born April 7, 1870, died October 26, 1877, and Carrie L., born September 19, 1872. Albert E. Troy started the Weekly Tribune at Sandy Lake February 29, 1888. It only lived a few months; was a six column folio and independent in politics.

H. M. WELTON, farmer, post-office Sandy Lake, was born January 23, 1846, in Venango County, Penn., to Milo and Jane (Morris) Welton, the former a native of New York State and the latter of Venango County, Penn. The father came to Venango County when he was a boy, and became the father of eight children: John A., a lieutenant in Company K, Fourth Penn- sylvania Cavalry, wounded in front of Petersburg May 6, and died May 12; Matilda, married Lewis Baker, and lives in Venango County; H. M .; George M., of Venango County; Eliza, married Thomas De Woody, who is deceased; Lorene E., of Venango County; William S., of Venango County; Nancy,

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

married to Elder Major, of Venango County. The father was a member of Company K, Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, and died in October, 1863, of chronic diarrhoea. The mother died March 18, 1884. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the father was a Democrat. Our sub- ject was educated in the common schools, and was married August 19, 1869, to Maggie E., daughter of John and Rachel Brown. He now owns fifty acres of land where he settled in 1872. He and wife are members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, and he is a Republican.

JAMES A. WINNER, farmer, post-office Sandy Lake, was born April 24, 1851, in Fairview Township, son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Brest) Winner, natives, the father of Westmoreland County and the mother of Lawrence County, Penn. The father came to Mercer County about 1842; was married in Law- rence County, where he lived some time, and finally settled in Fairview Township, where he lived until 1857, when he moved to Deer Creek Township, and there died in May, 1859. His widow died September 10, 1885. They had the following children: Anna (married William Bowman), Levi, James, Lizzie (married David Weston, a miner at Stoneboro) and Mary (married Henry Rineman, of Mercer). The father and mother were Methodists, and he was a Democrat. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and brought up, principally, on a farm. After his father's death he stayed at home until twelve years old, when he went to live with V. B. Coulson, of Lake Township, for five years. He began at $7 per month, and got $25 at the close. He drove a huxter wagon two years for him, selling produce. At the age of seventeen years he began as a brakeman on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, running from Oil City to Jamestown and Girard on a freight train. He then engaged in huxtering to Oil City, and continued at it thirteen years. He bought butter and eggs in Cool Spring, Jackson, Sandy Lake and Lake Townships, and also in Venango County. At the end of that period, in 1875, he settled on the farm where he now lives, and has been dealing in horses ever since. He was married, in 1871, to Sarah C., daughter of Jacob Smith, of this township, and has three children: William J., Nannie and Harry. He has been township supervisor, constable, and col- lector three years, and is a Republican. He is rearing Clara Bell, the daugh- ter of his brother, Levi Winner, whose wife died when the child was three days old. The following reference is given to the mother of Mr. Winner: " Mrs. Elizabeth Winner died very suddenly of apoplexy, at the residence of her son-in-law, David Weston, Main Street, this place, on Friday morning, September 10, 1885. She had been in usual health, and fell dead over a wash-tub without a moment's apparent warning. Mrs. Winner was born August 19, 1818, and consequently at the time of her demise was sixty-seven years of age. She was the mother of Messrs. James and Levi Winner, and Mrs. Elizabeth Weston, this place; Mrs. Mary Rineman, Mercer, and Mrs. Ann Bowman, Stoneboro, Penn., and was a sister to Joseph Brest, Sharpsville; Andrew Brest, Mercer, Penn., and Mrs. Catherine Sweitzer, Cincinnati, Ohio. A large number of relatives showed, by their sorrow at her funeral, the strong hold Mrs. W. had upon their sincere affection. After suitable religious service in the Wesleyan Methodist Church, conducted by Revs. Foster and Crawford, of this place, on the afternoon of Saturday, September 12, the remains were followed to the cemetery at New Lebanon, and there interred beside those of her hus- band, who a few years preceded her to the mysterious hereafter. The appro- priate discourse, delivered by Rev. S. H. Foster, was founded on the words, ' Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his.'"- Sandy Lake News.

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G. W. WORRELL, merchant tailor and dealer in ready made clothing, hats and caps, boots and shoes, Sandy Lake, was born October 16, 1836, in Mont- gomery County, Penn., to Thomas and Elizabeth (Rambo) Worrell, natives of the same county. The family settled on the land in Jackson Township where Dr. J. B. McElrath now lives in the year 1839 or 1840. They subsequently located near where the widow of Thomas Clark now resides, in the same town- ship, and later the father built a two and one-half story log house on the site of Rev. J. M. Gallagher's residence, in Jackson Centre, and there made boots and shoes. After awhile he followed the same occupation at Terrell's Corners, in Trumbull County, Ohio. After another settlement in Jackson Township and a period on Otter Creek Hill, in Cool Spring Township, where he worked at his trade, he finally settled on his present farm in Jackson Township. He and wife are living, and have had four children: G. W .; J. R .; Maggie A., married James McKay, and Lewis A., married Maggie E. Garvin. The par- ents belong to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Our subject was edu- cated in the common schools, and was brought up at hard farm labor. In 1869 he engaged in the mercantile business at North's Mills as a clerk for North & Bowman, subseqently with North & Eberle and North & Bromley. He bought North's interest, and for nearly two years did business under the firm name of Bromley & Worrell. He later bought out Bromley, and after nearly two years moved the stock to Perrine's Corners, five miles south of Sandy Lake. There he remained for five years engaged in merchandising and farming. In 1881 he came to Sandy Lake, and has been in partnership with Watson, Zahniser & Co., Zahniser & Co., and is now doing business under the firm name of G. W. Worrell & Co. They are the leading merchants in the place in that line, and carry a stock of goods valued at from $8,000 to $10,000. He was married August 22, 1865, to Miss S. Jennie Mckay, daughter of James McKay, of Lake Township, and has by her four children: J. M., Thomas I., William A. and George B. He is a Prohibitionist, and he and his wife belong to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the K. & L. of H.

ALBERT W. WRIGHT, farmer, post-office Sandy Lake, was born May 5, 1846, in Sandy Lake Township, to Sampson and Nancy (Egbert) Wright: The father was born in England, immigrated to Mercer County at an early day, and set- tled in Sandy Lake Township. He was a farmer, and married in this county, which union resulted in eleven children: Lewis, killed at the battle of the Wil- derness, as a member of Company B, One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsyl- vania Volunteers; John C., lives in Crawford County; Albert W., Matilda, mar- ried J. S. Wright, a merchant at Hendersonville; Elizabeth, died at the age of three years; Prudence, married A. F. Perrine; Aseneth, married Samuel Buckley; Harriet, married Robert Perrine; Charles S., Patience, single; H. Ellsworth, lives in Franklin, Penn. The mother of the above children died in 1866, and the father was again married, to Harriet Buckley, the widow of John Buckley, by whom he had one child, Priscilla. He was the owner of over 300 acres of land at the time of his death. He was a Republican. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and attended an agricultural col- lege in Centre County, Penn., for sixteen months. He taught two terms of school after returning from Centre County. He was married to Rebecca, daughter of Uriah and Mary (Taylor) Owen. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have six children: Maurice E., Harry S., Mary G., Nancy E., Bessie A. and Albert W. He enlisted in the Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Militia, and served three months.

CHARLES S. WRIGHT, farmer, post-office Sandy Lake, was born January 17, 1859, on the farm where he now resides. The history of his parents appears in connection with a sketch of Albert W. Wright. Our subject was educated

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in the common schools, and has always been engaged in farming. He was married November 3, 1880, to Miss Belle Smail, daughter of Aaron Smail, and has been blessed with two children: Pearl and Inez. He was elected by the Republican party treasurer of the township, which important office he now holds. He is the possessor of eighty acres, the old homestead. He and wife are members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. He is one of the intel- ligent and enterprising farmers of the township. He is a never-swerving Republican, and always takes a deep interest in the welfare of that great organization.

M. L. ZAHNISER, cashier Sandy Lake Bank, was born October 8, 1846, in Lake. Township. His father, David Zahniser, was born in the same township, and married Elizabeth North, by whom he has eight children: William A., M. L., Mary, married Frank Fleming; Catharine, married R. D. Porter; Caroline, married John Hamilton; Ira, Melissa and Maria. Our subject was educated in the common schools and was brought up at rural pursuits. In 1864 he was employed as a clerk by the firm of North & Zahniser, general merchants at North's Mills. This he continued for two years, and then, in partnership with his father, started the first store at Jackson Centre, this being in 1866. They continued here for two years with good results, and then sold, and he, with his brother-in-law, Balliet, opened a hardware store at Sandy Lake. In 1873, when the bank was established, he was elected its first cashier, and filled that position until 1880, when he retired from the bank and became interested in the clothing business. In 1884 he resumed his old position in the bank, and has been of great service to it. He was married in 1867 to Susan, daughter of John Bell, of Mansfield, Ohio, and has been blessed with four children: Harry, a book-keeper in Mansfield; D. Lester, Mabel and Jay. Mr. Zahniser is a director of the bank; is a member of the K. and L. of H .; he and wife belong to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and he is a Repub- lican and one of the enterprising men of Sandy Lake, one whose name is always found in every movement that goes to build up the place and retain its good name, as well as that of the county.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 146

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