History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 147

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

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H. C. ZEIGLER, oil producer and stock raiser, post-office Sandy Lake, was · born November 28, 1847, in Trumbull County, Ohio. His parents, Elias and Elizabeth (Misner) Zeigler, had the following children: Mary M., H. C., J. L. and Emma C. After the death of the father, the mother was married to W. B. Smith, by whom she had six children. The father was a carder and spinner, and at one time was interested in the woolen mills at Sharon. H. C. Zeigler received his education in the common schools, mostly in Mercer County, whither he moved when a small boy. He was reared principally in West Mid- dlesex, and the first business he did for himself was "the book agency." In this he was quite successful, and later engaged in a hotel at Foxburg, Clarion County. He also conducted a livery business in connection with his hotel. While thus employed he began to operate in the oil business in Butler County, which he continued for four years. He held prominent positions in the com- panies connected in the pipe line business. He engaged in the drug business in Sandy Lake, in 1875, with DeFrance, for one year. In 1877 he resumed oil producing, which he has since followed. He is interested in this project in Venango, Butler, Mckean and Warren Counties, Penn., and Allegany County, N. Y. He has also an interest in Ohio and Indiana oil fields. He is a member of a stock company at Sandy Lake, engaged in the breeding of fine road and draft horses. He was married to Hattie J. Perrine, daughter of Daniel Perrine, whose sketch appears elsewhere. By her he has two sons: Fred D. and Roy A. He is a member of the K. of H., A. O. U. W., A. F.

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M., and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and is one of the self-made, representa- tive young business men of Mercer County.

WORTH TOWNSHIP.

WILLIAM BALL, deceased, was a son of Caleb and Phoebe (Walters) Ball, natives of Washington County, Penn. In 1796 they came to Mercer County, and located on a tract of land in what is now Worth Township. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and died in 1814. His wife lived to be about nine- ty-five years old, and died in Indiana. They reared eight children, Aseneth, Mrs. Stokely, of Illinois, being the only one now living. Our subject was born in Worth Township in 1808, was educated at the log school-house of that period, and in 1834 he married Sarah, daughter of Valentine Zahniser, of Cool Spring Township, and settled on a part of his father's tract of land. He voted the Republican ticket, and was in sympathy with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died in 1888. His widow and two children still live on the homestead. They reared ten children: Caleb and Henry are dead; Valentine Z., in Kansas; Jacob, of this township; Elizabeth, Mrs. Bennett Hunter, of Venango County; Rebecca, Mrs. William Kenniston, of Meadville; Phoebe, Mrs. Frank Bissell, of Perry Township; Sarah, Mrs. B. Meadbury, of Worth Township; Beriah and Nettie, at home. Jacob enlisted in 1861 in Company G, One Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until June 17, 1864, when he was hon- orably discharged because of a severe wound. Beriah was the youngest boy, and at the death of his father became possessor of the homestead. He votes the Republican ticket. Henry enlisted in 1864 in Company A, Second Heavy Artillery, and was discharged with his regiment January 1, 1866.

OLIVER BEACH, farmer and merchant, post-office Kilgore, is a son of Stephen W. and Sarah (Simpson) Beach. James Beach, the grandfather of our subject, was of Scotch descent and a settler in Sussex County, N. J., where the father of our subject was born. He learned the shoemaker's trade, and in 1809 married Sarah Simpson, and in 1816 they came to this county, and first stopped in Wolf Creek Township, and remained until 1819, when they settled on a farm in Venango County. The father died there, May 28, 1865. His widow remained on the homestead for a number of years, and then went to live with her daughter in Butler County, where she died in February, 1888. Their family consisted of fourteen children: Morris, in Ohio; Caro- line, deceased; Euphema, deceased; James, in Indiana; John, deceased; Susanna, Mrs. Patrick McDowell, of Butler County; Israel, of Venango County; Sarah, Mrs. Samuel Baker, of Venango County; Stephen, in Indiana; William, on the homestead; Jane, deceased; Oliver; Houston, deceased; Daniel, in Butler County. The father was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and voted the Democratic ticket. Our subject was born on the home- stead, in Venango County, Penn., November 12, 1829, and when seventeen years old he came to this county and learned the blacksmith trade at Centre- town, and followed that for thirty years. In 1860 he purchased his present farm, where he has since resided, and in 1883 established a general mercan- tile business. He married, in 1851, Miss Anna Mulhulland, daughter of William Mulhulland, a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, and a settler in Venango County. By this union they have six children: James Austin, in Venango County; Delilah Jane, Mrs. Aaron Blair, of Butler County; William M., professor in the college at Waynesburg, and who is studying for a physi- cian; Martin Luther, at home; Sarah A., Mrs. W. W. Park, of Youngstown, Ohio; Nancy K., at home. Our subject has been school director and consta-

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

ble of the township. In 1862 he was appointed postmaster at Kilgore, and held that office a number of years, and in 1883 was again appointed, and is postmaster at the present time. He is an elder in the Cumberland Presby- terian Church, and votes the Democratic ticket.

JAMES BESTWICK, farmer, post-office Hazzard, was born in Staffordshire, Eng- land, January 1, 1807, and in 1833 immigrated to America and located on a farm in what is now Worth Township, where he has since resided. His parents were James and Hester Bestwick, who came to America in 1834, and located on an adjoining farm. Hester Bestwick died in 1855, and James died in 1882, at the age of ninety-nine years. Our subject, Jane, Mrs. G. W. Brigham, of Franklin, and Esther, Mrs. Hiram Clawson, of Michigan, are the only ones of their children that are living. In 1839 our subject married Miss Mary, daughter of Francis Huey, of Jackson Township .. She died July 1, 1887, leaving four children: Ann, Mrs. Alex McKee, of Wolf Creek Township; Sam- uel C., of Jackson Township, who is an oil operator in Washington County, married Miss M. C. Taylor, daughter of Benjamin Taylor, of Jackson Town- ship, and she, having died in 1868, leaving one child, Minnie A., he again married Mary Jane Crowley, daughter of Timothy Crowley, of Jackson Town- ship, and has by her five children: Laura, Walter, Mary, Samuel, infant; James H., coal operator, Worth Township, married Eliza, daughter of Capt. James Zanhiser; she died September 4, 1887, leaving eight children: Ella, Harry, Myrtle, Valentine, Clyde, James, Mary, Bessie; George, living on part of homestead, married Eliza Lewis, a native of Wales, who died May 4, 1888, leaving five children: Mary Jane, Warren, Charles, Lambert and an infant. Our subject owns the farm on which the Ormsby Coal Mine is situated, and is a member of the Democratic party.

DANIEL BUCKLEY, farmer, post-office Henderson, is a son of William and Milcah (Perrine) Buckley. Samuel Buckley, the grandfather of subject, was a native of England, and settled on a farm in Sandy Lake Township in 1819. Three of his children by his first wife were born in England: William, Mary and Ann. He married for his second wife Hannah Perrine, daughter of John Perrine, and had by her John, Ella, Samuel and Sarah. All of his children are dead except Ella, Mrs. William Fowler, of Sandy Lake Township, and Ann, a maiden lady. He died in 1878 and his widow in 1885. William, the father of subject, was born in England in 1807, and came to this country with parents. He married Miss Milcah Perrine, daughter of John Perrine, and a sister of his father's second wife. They reared a family of eight chil- dren: John, of Worth Township; Mary, Mrs. John Woods, of Venango County; Samuel and Enoch, in Venango County; William, of Worth Town- ship; Daniel, of Worth Township, our subject; Perry, deceased; Sarah, Mrs. George Hart, of Venango County. He was a supporter of the Republican party, and died in Venango County in 1868, and his widow died in 1878. Our subject was born on the homestead, in Worth Township, in 1843, and married Hannah Holmes. She died in 1882, leaving seven children: Milcah, at home; Mary, Mrs. Moses Snyder, of Sheakleyville; Sarah, William, Joseph, Daniel, John, all at home. Our subject again married, Mrs., William Thomp- son, daughter of Peter Boyle, and has by her one child-infant. Our subject and his four brothers, John, Samuel, Enoch and William, were all members of Company G, One Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteers, the most of them re- ceiving wounds, and they all served until the close of the war. They vote the Republican ticket, and are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Henderson.

JOHN CARMICAL, farmer, post-office Henderson, is a son of John and Cbar-

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

lotte (Wible) Carmical. John, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Scotland, and first settled in Allegheny County, Penn., where he was mar- ried, and lived until about 1797, when they and their two sons, Duncan and John, came to this county and settled on a tract of land in what is now Worth Township. The grandfather died in 1808. In 1810 Duncan mar- ried Catherine Crane, and moved into Ohio near Cincinnati, and afterward moved to Indiana, where they lived and died. John, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Allegheny County, Penn., in 1780, and gained his education mostly at home. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and engaged in clear- ing up the land on which his father settled. He was an able supporter of the Democratic party, and held several township offices. His wife was born in 1783. They reared a family of eleven children, six of whom are still living: John, our subject, is the oldest; James, in Worth Township; Hiram, in Ne- braska; Sarah, widow of James Wilson, Worth Township; Nancy, Mrs. Au- gustus Giebner, Sandy Lake Township; Phobe, widow of Elijah Thompson, of Sheakleyville. Our subject was born on the homestead which he now owns February 24, 1803. He attended the old log school-house of that period, and cleared up the greatest part of his farm. In 1836 he married Jane Elder, who died August 6, 1837. In 1838 he married Mrs. Sarah Geddes, daughter of George and Rebecca Smith. She died April 11, 1854, leaving seven chil- dren and one step-daughter (Rebecca Ann Geddes): Sarah Jane, married Amos Snyder, and is dead; Charlotte Wyble, living at home; Nancy Laenna, Mrs. William Dunn, of Sandy Lake Township; Mary Eliza, Mrs. Archibald Mar- shall, Worth Township; John Andrew; Duncan, in Kansas; Clarinda, deceased; Warren, living on the homestead with his father, married Inez, daughter of Alexander and Sarah (Stokely) Miller, and has three children, Hazel, Howard and Harry. Our subject has held the office of supervisor and school director of the township, and votes the Democratic ticket, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Hendersonville.

JAMES M. CARMICHAEL, farmer, post-office Henderson, is the second son of John and Charlotte (Wible) Carmichael, and was born in Worth Township June 30, 1818. He received his education at the old log school-houses of that period, and has always been engaged in farming. In 1861 he married Miss Margaret Forringer, of Armstrong County, and located on his present farm. They have reared six children: Martha, Mrs. Thomas McDonnell, of Titus- ville, Penn. ; Alice Ann, Amanda Jane, Sarah, Looie and Ralph E., all at home. Mr. Carmichael has always supported the Democratic party, and he and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Hendersonville.

DUNCAN CARMICHAEL, farmer and county commissioner, was born May 4, 1843, in Mercer County, in the house in which he lives when on his farm. He is a son of Aaron and Margaret (Henderson) Carmichael, both natives of Worth Township. The Carmichael family were originally from Scotland, and John Carmichael, the great-grandfather of our subject, fought under Wolfe, and it is believed that he was the third man to climb the Heights of Abraham in the battle of Quebec. John came to Allegheny County soon after this struggle, and he and family were the first of the Carmichaels to come to Mercer County. His two sons who came with him were Duncan, who went to Rushville, Rush Co., Ind., where some of his posterity yet reside; the other was John, who married Charlotte Wible, resulting in ten children: John, Sarah, married Augustus Giebner; James, Margaret, married Alexander Elder; Charlotte, married John Reed of Mill Creek Township, both dead; Phoebe, married Elijah Thompson; Andrew, died in 1865; Hiram, lives in Nebraska. Aaron died in January, 1885, and his wife died about 1873, both members of the Methodist

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Episcopal Church, and he a Democrat. Duncan, our subject, was married, July 4, 1865, to Harriet E. Covert, of Butler County, who died in 1871, having had three children, all of whom are dead. He was again married, December 12, 1873, to Emily T. Mackey, of Meadville, and has two sons: Clarence G. and Leon A. He was elected county commissioner in 1887; has been school director, and is a member of the I. O. O. F., a stanch Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Mention of the family is made in former chapters of this work.

GEORGE W. CARROLL, farmer, post-office Millbrook, is a son of David and Elizabeth (Alcorn) Carroll. William Carroll, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Ireland, and after immigrating to America first settled in Pitts- burgh. He was among the early settlers of this county, and located on a tract of land in what is now Worth Township, and which is owned by our sub- ject. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and he and his wife are buried in the family burying ground on the homestead. Their family consisted of sev- eral children, all of whom are dead. The father of our subject was born in 1797, and was quite young when brought to this county. He was reared on the homestead, attended the log school-houses of that period, and built a foundry on his father's homestead, and afterward erected one at Millbrook, and one north of there in Wolf Creek Township. These he conducted in connec- tion with farming during his life-time. He voted with the Whig and after- ward the Republican party, and was one of the first anti-slavery supporters in this section. For many years he was an instructor of vocal music. He was first a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but in the latter portion of his life joined the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Millbrook. He died in 1869 and his widow in 1885. Their family consisted of thirteen children: Three died in infancy; Joana, Mrs. James F. Carroll, of Worth Township; William A., died in 1887; Elizabeth, deceased, wife of S. B. Kerr; Rev. Jonathan E., of Cleve- land, Ohio; Robert N., of Fairview Township; Mary, deceased, wife of Joseph B. Page, Mercer; Esther A., Mrs. A. J. Kerr, Mercer; Rozetta M., Mrs. Hon. G. W. Wright, Mercer; Jennie, Mrs. Robert McKnight, of Bradford, Penn., and our subject who is the youngest, was born on the farm he now owns December 11, 1850. He attended the township schools, and has always fol- lowed farming. In 1879 he married Mary, daughter of James M. and Maria (Brandon) Rose, of Pine Township, and has two children: Clifton Clay and James Rose. Our subject has been clerk of township for several years, and is school director at present time. His wife attended school at the Grove City Academy and normal school of Edinboro, Penn., and was a teacher in the public schools for several years.

JAMES F. CARROLL, farmer, post-office Millbrook, is a son of William and Rachel (Sutton) Carroll, and was born in Worth Township, April 30, 1821. He received his education at the log school-house, and in 1861 enlisted in Company G, One Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until his honorable discharge from disability. His wife was Joana, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Alcorn) Carroll, and in 1858 they settled on their present farm. They have had seven children, all of whom are dead except Newton T., who lives on part of the homestead. He married Myrtle Turner, daughter of Jones Turner, of Worth Township, and has one child, Elma L. Our subject is a member of Sandy Lake Post, G. A. R., and of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and votes the Republican ticket. , His parents reared eleven children: John, deceased; Rebecca (Mrs. Nathaniel Hall), deceased; Elizabeth (Mrs. Samuel McGinnis), deceased; Joana (Mrs. Stephen Yard), deceased; William, living in Illinois; Margaret (Mrs. Robert Thorn), deceased; Mary (Mrs. Alex-

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

ander Campbell), deceased; our subject; Reuben, in New York State; Stephen, in Crawford County; Rachel (Mrs. E. H. Page), deceased. The father was a Methodist Episcopal minister, and in the War of 1812, and came when but a small boy with his father (William Carroll) from near where the city of Pittsburgh now is, and probably made the first settlement in what is now Worth Township.

GRACE FAMILY .- The first of the Grace family to locate in this county was John and his wife, Milcah (Redding) Grace, who came here from Mary- land about 1796-97, and located on a tract of land in Worth Township. They reared a family of ten children: William, died when a young man; Nimrod, settled and died in Indiana; John, located and died in Jackson Town- ship; Nancy, married John Perrine, and afterward Thomas Graham, and died in 1849; Bennett, died in 1849; Elizabeth (widow of Rev. Thomas Lamb), is still living at the age of eighty-eight; Priscilla, Mrs. John Albin, of Wolf Creek Township; Burchfield, lived and died on the homestead; Aquilla, died in Lawrence County in 1888; Milcah (Mrs. Elijah Coleman), died in 1843. Bennett Grace married Mary Coleman, and settled in Worth Town- ship. He was justice of the peace for several years, a member of the Meth- odist Church, and voted with the Whig party. He died in 1849, at the age of fifty-two, and his widow died in 1865. They reared a family of twelve children, four of whom are living: Sarah A., Mrs. Robert W. Hoy, of Michi- gan; Rebecca, Mrs. Frank Cochran, of Iowa; John J., of Grove City, and Samuel R., of Millbrook. The youngest of the family was Thomas J., who was a member of Company G, One Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and died in 1861. Samuel R. Grace was born on the homestead in Worth Township, June 5, 1839, and received his education at the public schools of the township, and learned the shoemaker's trade, which he has since followed. August 28, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, One Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteers, his company having been formed at Millbrook, and served until the close of the war, he being captain of his company. In 1864 he married Malinda, daughter of Fleming Smith. She died in 1879, leaving two children: Fred A. and Estella M. George S. died in 1867. The present wife of our sub- ject is Jane A., daughter of Benjamin Campbell, of Butler County. She has had two children: Chester A. and Lester K. The latter died in 1887. Since the close of the war Mr. Grace has lived in Millbrook, and worked at his trade. He held the office of school director of the township, is a member of Marion Craig Post, G. A. R., and votes the Republican ticket.

JOHN F. GRACE, farmer, post-office Hazzard, is a son of Burchfield and Rebecca Grace, and was born August 5, 1830, on the homestead. He attended the schools of that period, and has since followed farming. In 1852 he mar- ried Emeline, daughter of Philip McConnell, of Jackson Township, and in 1858 they moved onto their present farm. Their family consisted of Wil- helmina, Mrs. Oliver Perrine, of Sandy Lake Township; William B., of Worth Township; Ida Jane, Mrs. Mathew Irwin, of Worth Township; Clarence, Mary L. and Lauris O., living at home. Mr. Grace and family are members of Fairview Methodist Episcopal Church.

SAMUEL GIEBNER, farmer, post-office Perrine, is a son of Augustus and Nancy (Carmichael) Giebner. Charles Giebner, the grandfather of our subject, was a Hessian, and was brought to America by George Washington and family, and located in Westmoreland County, Penn. In 1797 he came to this county and located on a tract of land in what is now Sandy Lake Township, where the father of our subject was born and reared. He went to school but ten weeks, and in 1858 purchased a farm in Worth Township, which is now occu-

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

pied by Jacob Bixler, where he lived until his death in 1882. He was a mem- ber of the Republican party and of the Fairview Methodist Episcopal Church. His widow is still living in Sandy Lake Township. Their family consisted of eight children: Mrs. Sarah A. Rockwell, died April 5, 1870; Charlotte, died August 15, 1859; John J., died March 7, 1886. The living ones are: Samuel, our subject; Wesley, in Erie County; Stewart, in New York City; Margaret Jane, Mrs. D. W. Henderson, of Venango County, and Mary, Mrs. Alexander Wright, of this county. Our subject was born in Sandy Lake Township June 22, 1838. He attended the township schools, and has always been engaged in farming. In 1862 he married Miss Margaret, daughter of Robert Henderson, of Worth Township, and by this union they have ten children: Mary, Mrs. F. A. Cozad, of Cool Spring Township; Nancy, Sarah and Lucy, at home; Elmer, of this township, married to Miss Lavina, daughter of William Anderson, of Mill- brook; Robert, Samuel, Wesley and Frank, all at home. In 1861 our subject purchased his present farm, where he has since resided. He and family are members of Fairview Methodist Episcopal Church, and he votes the Demo- cratic ticket.

JAMES L. GRIFFIN, farmer, post-office Henderson, is a son of James and Elizabeth (Kohlmeyer) Griffin, the father a native of Huntingdon County, Penn., and mother a native of Centre County. In 1835 they moved to Butler County, where they lived for several years. He is a carpenter by trade; has always voted the Democratic ticket, and has been a member of the Lutheran Church of Butler County over fifty years, being elder of the church. His wife died in Illinois, where they had moved in 1856. He remained there until 1880, and since that time has been residing with our subject and Henry J., of this township. Their family consisted of eleven children: Margaret, married John Mortland, of Butler County, and resides in Illinois; Sarah Jane, married John Whan, of Venango County, and lives in Iowa; Henry J., of this town- ship; Susanna, Mrs. Orvill F. Follett, M. D., of Illinois; James L. ; Mary L., Mrs. Robert Gibson, of Worth Township, died in Iowa in 1884; John, of Illi- nois; Hannah E., Mrs. David Stickles, of Iowa; George W., of California; Alfred M., of Iowa; and Amanda B., Mrs. Jacob T. Murdock, of Illinois. Our subject was born in Butler County March 18, 1839, and received his education at the township schools. In 1856 he went to Illinois with his parents, and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in Kansas, Iowa and Michi- gan until 1862, when he came to this township, and located near his pres- ent farm. August 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, served until the close of the war, and was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, and at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. August 17, 1862, he married Miss Mary E., daughter of Thomas H. Taylor, of Worth Township. By this union they have six children: George, of Worth Township, married Eva, daughter of Blackwood Porter, of Sandy Lake Township; Maggie E., Mrs. Clement L. Andre, of Venango County, who has two children, Carl and an infant; Orville F., Thomas W., Mabel, Jessie M., at home. Our subject has held the offices of school director, supervisor and constable of the township. He is a member of Col. Dawson Post No. 224, G. A. R., and of Worth Lodge I. O. O. F. He and family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He votes the Republican ticket.

HENRY J. GRIFFIN, farmer, post-office Henderson, is a son of James and Elizabeth (Kohlmeyer) Griffin, and was born in Butler County April 22, 1885. In 1855 he went to Iowa, and in 1858 moved to Kansas, and followed the occupation of a carpenter. In 1860 he returned to Hendersonville, and in 1864 moved to Sandy Lake. In 1868 he purchased his present farm, where

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

he has since resided, following carpentering and farming. In 1855 he mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin S. Stokely, of Worth Township. She died in 1867, leaving two children: John Alfred. of this township, married Luella, daughter of Harvey and Jane Osborn, of Worth Township, and he has three children, Marion, Ora and Homer; Jane, Mrs. Jason Osborn, of Hen- dersonville, who has one child, Daisy R. Our subject was again married in 1868, to Elizabeth, daughter of James E. Hart, of this township, and has by her eight children: Rena B., Minnie M., Mary S., Alma C., Wyona P., Catherine E., Frank H. and Nellie E. Our subject has held the offices of school direct- or, supervisor, etc., of the township. He and family are members of Hender- sonville Methodist Episcopal Church. Since 1860 he has voted with the Republican party.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 147

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