History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 149

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

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MILL CREEK TOWNSHIP.

ABRAHAM BLATT, New Lebanon, was born in that portion of Union which is now in Snyder County, Penn., July 14, 1833. His parents were Peter and Rachel Blatt, who came to this county in 1837, and located on a part of the Jacob Grove farm, in what is now New Lebanon Borough. In 1842 they moved to a farm in French Creek Township, where they resided until death. Peter Blatt was an elder in the Lutheran Church, and died August 6, 1867. His widow died March 6, 1871. Their family consisted of six children: Daniel, was a member of Company F, of the Buck Tail Regiment, and died from the effects of a wound received at the battle of Spottsylvania; Jonas, Absalem, Catharine, the wife of William Livingston, and Abraham. The last named was educated at the township schools and learned the trade of a wagon and carriage maker, establishing his present business in 1859. He has also added the undertaking business, which he has followed for many years. In 1863 he

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

enlisted in Company K, Fifty-fifth Militia, and served three months. He is a member of the Norville Muse Post No. 251, G. A. R., and the Lincoln Lodge No. 54, A. O. U. W. He served the county as director of the poor during the year of 1882; has held the office of school director, and is serving his third term as justice of the peace. April 7, 1859, he married Isabella McKissick, by whom he has: Eva A., married L. D. Wheeler, and has Charles F. and Don H .; Austa O., Mrs. J. H. Grove; William B., telegraph operator in Dakota; Clyde. Mr. Blatt is an elder in the Lutheran Church, and votes the Republican ticket.

DANIEL BRUNNER, proprietor of woolen mill, post-office New Lebanon, was born in Lebanon County, Penn., in 1816. His parents moved to Perry County, Penn., where he was reared, and afterward moved to Huntingdon, Mifflin and Venango Counties. In each of these our subject engaged in woolen mills. In 1862 he came to Mill Creek Township, and erected his present woolen mill, which he has since operated in connection with farming. He also engaged in manufacturing plows and cultivators for about ten years. In 1837 he married Sarah Beaver, who died in 1840, leaving one son, Samuel, who was a mem- ber of Company B, One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served through the Rebellion, and received a wound at the battle of the Wilderness, which caused the loss of one finger. He married Mary Horton, of Jefferson County, and has three children: Hattie; Maggie and Mamie. In 1842 he married Miss Mary Staum, a native of Switzerland, whose parents settled in Snyder County, Penn. By this union they have six children: Mar- tha Ann, Rebecca, Sarah Elizabeth, William W., Kate and H. C. William W., of Mill Creek Township, married Sarah, daughter of George Morton, of Mill Creek Township, and has two children: Mary and Earl D. Henry C., who was born in Clarion County, Penn., June 25, 1856, received his education at the select schools of New Lebanon, and at the age of seventeen years, en - gaged in teaching school. He had charge of schools in Findley, Deer Creek Lake and Mill Creek Townships, and has charge of one room in the public school of New Lebanon at the present time. In 1872 he entered into part- nership with his father, in the manufacture of woolen goods, and has since had charge of the mill. He has also been engaged in selling sewing machines since 1873. In 1882 he married Lizzie, daughter of Charles McMichael, of New Vernon Township, and has one child, Leland. He is connected with the Re- publican party, and has held various offices. Our subject has held the offices of township trustee, township clerk, school director and supervisor, also the office of exhorter and class-leader in the United Brethren Church of New Lebanon. He votes the Republican ticket.

ROBERT CANON, farmer, post-office North Sandy, is a son of John and Jane (McFarland) Canon, and a grandson of Thomas Canon, Esq., a pioneer of She- nango Township. The father of our subject was born in Washington County, Penn., in 1787, and located on the Shenango River in Shenango Township, where he lived until his death May 27, 1835. He served in the War of 1812, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and voted the Democratic ticket. Their children are all dead except Eliza, Mrs. Joseph Clark, of Kan- sas, and our subject, who was born in Hickory Township October 14, 1815. He was reared in Shenango Township, and attended the old log school-houses of that period. He remained on his father's homestead until 1835, when he went to Youngstown, Ohio, and worked on the cross-cut canal at that place, also in Portage County, Ohio, and on the Erie extension. In 1840 he married Miss Catherine, daughter of William Steele, of this county, In 1841 they located on their present farm, where they have since resided. Their children are: John

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

W., superintendent of Sharon public schools; Jane, Mrs. John Reynold, of Deer Creek Township; Thomas Ewing, farmer of Mill Creek Township; Esther, Mrs. Peter Urey, of Mill Creek Township; Elizabeth L., Mrs. Albert DeFrance, of Sandy Lake Township; Mary, Mrs. William Raygel, of Mill Creek Township. Our subject is a member of the Stoneboro Agricultural Society and of the Sandy United Presbyterian Church.

ELIAS CLAYTON, farmer, post-office North Sandy, is a son of John and Mary (Ralston) Clayton, natives of Huntingdon County, Penn. In 1842 they removed to Mercer County, and located on the Shenango River, in Pymatun- ing Township, and afterward moved to Delaware Township, and in 1853 located on a farm now owned by our subject, where his father died in 1884, and his mother in 1849. They reared five children, four of whom are still living: Elias, Lewis, in Sandy Lake borough; Isabella, Mrs. William Glenn, of Mill Creek Township; Florence, Mrs. Madison Breanman, of Venango County. The father of our subject was again married, to Jane Tingley, who still lives in Lawrence County. He was also a member of the Sandy Lake Presbyterian Church, and voted the Democratic ticket. Our subject was born in Huntingdon County December 2, 1827, and came to this county with his parents, and has lived on his present farm since 1853. In 1858 he married Miss Hattie, daughter of David Barr, of Venango County. By this union they have one child, John M., who lives on a part of the homestead. He married Maria Reagle, daughter of Soloman Reagle, of Venango County, and has two children: Lawrence A. and Florence H. Our subject has held the offices of school director and supervisor of the township, and votes the Democratic ticket.

DR. C. F. DAUBENSPECK, New Lebanon, Penn., was born in Butler County, Penn., January 24, 1850. He attended the township schools, and Tableau Seminary, Emlenton, Penn. His medical education was gained at the West- ern Reserve Medical College, graduating from, that institution in 1877. He located in Clarion County, Penn., where he practiced for eighteen months, and then removed to New Lebanon, Penn., where he has since resided, and engaged in a very extensive practice, having established a reputation as a physician excelled by none in his part of the county. In 1876 he married Miss Mary C. Pontious, of Donegal Township, Butler Co., Penn. By her he has one son, Charles V. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church of New Lebanon. He has always been a supporter of the Democratic party. For a long time he was familiarly known as the "lone fisherman voter" of New Lebanon.

WILSON DEAN, farmer, post-office New Lebanon, is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Duff) Dean, of French Creek Township. He was born in Lawrence County, Penn., October 20, 1838, and in the spring of 1839 his parents moved to this county and located in French Creek Township, where he was reared and educated. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. In 1858 he became united in marriage with Mary, daughter of James Muse, of New Lebanon. By this union they have four children: Rosetta, wife of George Amon; Kit C., Milo E. and Harry P. Our subject moved to his present farm in Mill Creek Township in 1871. He has held various township offices, such as school director and supervisor. He is a member of the Nor- ville Muse Post No. 251, G. A. R., and of the A. O. U. W., No. 54, of New Lebanon, and votes the Republican ticket.

SAMUEL DEEMER, farmer and miller, post-office North Sandy, is a son of John and Mary (Butts) Deemer, natives of Washington County, Penn. They moved to Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1823, and in 1839 they came to Mercer County and

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

located on a tract of land in what is now Cool Spring Township, where they lived eight years, and then moved to Mill Creek Township, where both resided until death. He died in 1872, and his widow in 1876. He was a school director and supervisor of the township, voted the Republican ticket, and was a member of the Lutheran Church. Their family consisted of ten children: Sarah, wife of William Fonner; Mary, Elizabeth, Susanna, Jonathan, David, Martha, wife of John McWilliams; John, Samuel, Emeline, wife of Arthur Martin. Our subject was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, August 27, 1833, came to this county with his parents, and has always followed farming. He was a member of the State Militia, and corporal of Company K, Fifty-fifth Regi-

ment. In 1865 he married Miss Sarah, daughter of David Raymond, of Mill Creek Township. By this union they have five children: Minnie B., wife of L. M. Rice; Myrtie M., Elva E., Armand E. and Loy. In 1865 they moved to Trumbull County, Ohio, and remained there till 1880, when they moved to Venango County, Penn., and in 1887 purchased the present farm and the Glenn grist-mill, which he has since conducted. He is a member of Worth Lodge No. 554, I. O. O. F., and formerly voted the Republican ticket, but is now identified with the Greenback party. His wife is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.

JOHN B. DEFRANCE, farmer, post-office New Lebanon, is a son of Allison and Martha (Montgomery) DeFrance, who were among the early settlers in this county, locating on a tract of land in what is now Mill Creek Township. Allison DeFrance was a soldier in the War of 1812. He voted the Demo- cratic ticket, and was counted one of the leading men of the township, and died in 1862. His wife was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and died in 1885. Their family consisted of eleven children: Sarah, deceased; James M., an attorney at Kirksville, Mo .; John B .; Eliza, wife of Rev. Sears; William; Isabella, deceased; A. H., an attorney, and at present one of the supreme commissioners of Colorado; Mary J. ; Mattie A., deceased; Archie M., and Albina, deceased. Our subject was born on the homestead February 11, 1828, and was educated at the township schools, Greenville Academy and the Grand River Institute of Ohio. Mr. DeFrance has always lived on the homestead where he was born, and is one of the wealthy and suc- cessful farmers of Mill Creek Township. He has served the township as jus- tice of the peace for five years, and is connected with the Democratic party.

J. ADDISON DEFRANCE, farmer, post-office New Lebanon, is a son of James and Mary (Moore) DeFrance. The father of our subject was born in Craw- ford County, Penn., in 1800, and was one of the early settlers of this county, having located in Mill Creek Township at an early day, and afterward pur- chased a tract of 225 acres of land, which is now owned by our subject. He was an elder in the North Sandy United Presbyterian Church for many years, voted the Democratic ticket, and died February 15, 1875, and his widow died September 11, 1884. Their family consisted of three sons: Hugh, Albert, and our subject, who was born on the homestead where he now lives Decem- ber 17, 1842. He received his education at the New Lebanon Academy, and has always followed farming. In 1887 he married Miss Mary E., daughter of Dennis Kennedy, of Venango County, and by this union they have one child, J. Addison. Our subject votes the Democratic ticket, and he and wife are members of the Utica United Presbyterian Church.

[] A. C. GROVE, merchant, New Lebanon, is a son of Jacob and Catharine (Voorhis) Grove, and a grandson of Abraham Grove, a native of Union County, Penn. In 1813 Abraham and his family, consisting of wife and children, Jacob, David, Abraham, Elizabeth, Barbara, Mary, Hannah and Rachel, came

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

to Mercer County. Jacob was born in Union County, Penn., in 1811, and attended the log cabin schools, and was brought up at farm labor. He held some of the small township offices, and died February 23, 1881. His wife was killed at Summitt by a train on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad in 1873. Their children were Absalem, was in Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was killed at Cold Harbor in 1864; Mary E., Mrs. Reuben Stewart; A. C .; Elizabeth, Mrs. Thomas Law; Sarah J., Mrs. William Conn; Jacob T., was in the Eighty- third Pennsylvania Volunteers, and came home without a wound; Jonas B., Jeremiah M., Jay C., telegraph operator; Kate, Mrs. A. H. Banes. A. C. was born in New Lebanon September 3, 1838, and was educated at the select schools of that borough. In 1861 he enlisted in Company B, Eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, served eight months, and on his return he, in com- pany with Col. J. T. Giebner and Col. Rogers, organized Company B, One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served throughout the Rebellion, and held the commission of second and first lieutenants and cap- tain of the company. He was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness. He was married to Mary, daughter of James A. Leech, by whom he has six chil- dren: Leon V., Nettie C., Marshall M., Darwin C., Victor H. and Leech A.

WILLIAM GLENN, farmer, post-office North Sandy, is a son of Samuel and Jennie (Barr) Glenn, natives of County Derry, Ireland, who came to America

in 1790 with John Glenn, the grandfather of our subject.

They remained

near Philadelphia three years and then settled in Allegheny County. They first came to Mercer County in 1803, and in 1806 purchased the farm now owned by our subject, in Mill Creek Township, where the parents of our sub- ject died. His father, Samuel, was in the War of 1812, served the township as justice of the peace for about forty years; voted the Whig, afterward the Re- publican ticket, and was a member of the Rocky Spring United Presbyterian Church. His wife died in 1855 and he followed in 1859. Their children were Eliza, Mrs. John Brandon; John; Margeret, Mrs. James Pinkerton; David, Mary, Martha, Matilda and Samuel, in Erie County, Penn. ; Jane, Mrs. Joseph Stevens, of French Creek Township. Our subject was born on the homestead he now owns May 28, 1820, attended the log school-house of that period and has been engaged in farming principally. In 1855 he erected a grist-mill on North Sandy Run, which he conducted for about fourteen years. The mill has since been known as the Glenn Mill.

He also built a saw-mill on the same run, which he conducted for about twenty years. In 1847 he married Miss Esther, daughter of John Dickey, of Mill Creek Township. She died in 1865, leaving eight children, six of whom are still living: Ann Eliza, Mrs. Charles Baker of Erie, Penn. ; Oscar, in the United States Navy, now on board the "Michigan" and stationed at Erie; Melvina, Mrs. A. L. Reid, of Butler, Penn .; Jennie, Mrs. John Deemer, of Venango County, Penn .; Margaret, Mrs. George Bright; Hettie, Mrs. John Cleland. The second wife of our sub- ject was Mrs. Isabella Free, daughter of John Clayton, of Mill Creek Township. He has held the offices of school director and supervisor of the township; is a member of Worth Lodge No. 554, I. O. O. F., and a member of the Sandy United Presbyterian Church, and votes the Republican ticket.

JAMES LINDSAY, farmer, post-office Utica, Venango Co., Penn., is a son of Robert and Adeline (McDonald) Lindsay. His father was born in Venango County, near Utica, and settled in Mill Creek Township, this county, about 1829 or 1830. He was a member of the Democratic party. He died in 1844, and his widow in 1854. Their family consisted of six children: Finley, was a member of Company B, Eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was killed at the

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

battle of Fredericksburg; the living are Samuel M., was wounded at the Sec- ond Bull Run; John M., of Franklin, Venango County; Walter R. (with Samuel), dealer in hardware, etc., in Riceville, Crawford County; Ellen, wife of Frank Stranahan, of Kansas, and our subject, who was next to the oldest, and was born on the homestead he now owns, October 24, 1832. His educa- tion was gained at the schools of the township and his principal occupation has been farming, although for the past twenty years he has acted as agent for all kinds of agricultural implements, and owing to his enterprise and energy he is counted one of the leading farmers and business men of his section of the coun- ty. He is now serving his second term as justice of the peace, and has also acted as school director of the township for a number of years. He is a mem- ber of the Sandy Lake Lodge No. 434, of the Masonic fraternity, and of the Stoneboro Agricultural Society. Politically he is a Republican. In 1872 he married Miss Sarah, daughter of Robert Reed, of Mill Creek Township. By this union they have three children: Phemie, T. W. and C. D. His wife and daughter are members of the United Presbyterian Church of North Sandy.

ARTHUR MARTIN, post-office Sandy Lake, is a son of Thomas and Mary (Williams) Martin. His father was born in Lawrence and his mother in Butler County, Penn. In 1864 they located on a farm in what is now Mill Creek Township, where he died in 1882. His widow is still living on the homestead. He was a member of the New Lebanon Methodist Episcopal Church, and voted the Republican ticket. They reared ten children: Arthur, Isaac, George, , Harrison, Cassay, Esther, J. A., Philip, Eliza and Malinda. Our subject was born in Lawrence County, Penn., October 12, 1838. He came to this county with his parents and attended the New Lebanon Academy for three years; he engaged in teaching in the township schools, and has since followed farming, moving to his present farm in 1866. In 1865 he married Miss Emeline, daughter of John Deemer, of Mill Creek Township. By this union they have John, Samuel, Richard and Horace. Mr. Martin has acted as school director and supervisor of the township and at the present time is justice of the peace. He is a member of the Stoneboro Agricultural Society, and one of the trustees in the Methodist Episcopal Church of Sandy Lake. He votes the Democratic ticket.

GALBREATH MCMULLEN (deceased). - Probably one of the oldest, if not the oldest man that ever lived in Mercer County was Galbreath McMullen, of Mill Creek Township, who died at the home of his son, A. J. McMullen, about mid- way between Sandy Lake and New Lebanon, on the 24th of September, 1884, aged one hundred and four years, five months and sixteen days. He was born at Winchester, Va., on the 8th of April, 1779, the son of Galbreath and Mar- garet (Lukens) McMullen. His ancestry was of Scotch descent. He was twice married, the first time to Rebecca Angell in 1809. By her he had these chil- dren: John A., Margaret, Ellen, Elizabeth, James, Sarah, Hannah, Galbreath and infant unnamed. The second, in 1824, to Mary Park; by her he had Sam- uel, Archie, Joseph, William, Andrew J. and two girls who died before they received names. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 from what is now Law- rence (then, Beaver) County. For more than seventy years he was a resident of Pennsylvania. In early days he hunted on the site of the present city of New Castle. He was always a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Thomas Jefferson, at his first election in 1800. He never used tobacco in his life, and never used spectacles. He could read ordinary print with ease up to a point within a few weeks of his death. His descendants are numerous in Mercer County.

ANDREW J. MCMULLEN, farmer, post-office Sandy Lake, is a son of Gil-

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

breath, Sr., and Mary (Park) McMullen. He was born near Edenburg, in that part of Beaver County which is now Lawrence County, August 30, 1832, and was educated at the public schools of Venango County. About 1844 he and his parents came to Mercer County. In 1857 he married Miss Julia Ann, daughter of William Christie, Esq., of Venango County, and in 1875 they moved onto their present farm in Mill Creek Township. Their children are: Margaret L., widow of James McClimans, living with subject, who has two children, David Earl and Alice May; William Clarence, farmer in Hempfield Township, married Della, daughter of Esquire Price, and has two children, Frank and Carl; Samuel, living at home; Alice, Mrs. William Grove, of New Lebanon Borough; James Park, Maud May, Oliver and Homer. Mr. McMullen has held various township offices, and at the present time is assessor. He is a member of the Stoneboro Agricultural Society and of the Democratic party. His family attend the Presbyterian Church of Sandy Lake.

D. S. NELSON, farmer, post-office New Lebanon, is a son of John and Mary (Stewart) Nelson, natives of Ireland, who settled in Lawrence County, Penn. In 1860 they removed to this county and located in what is now Find- ley Township, and remained three years, and then purchased the farm now occupied by our subject, where the father died in 1877 and the mother in 1888. Mr. Nelson formerly belonged to the United Presbyterian Church of Mercer, and after his removal to Mill Creek Township he united with the United Presbyterian Church of Utica. He voted the Republican ticket. Their family consisted of seven children: D. S .; Robert, of Columbus, Ohio; Lizzie J., William, Mary E., Maggie M. and John, all living with D. S. on the homestead. Our subject was born in Lawrence County, Penn., October 2, 1859, and received his education at the high-schools of Utica and New Leba- non, and has always followed farming.

WILLIAM N. NICKLIN, farmer, post-office North Sandy, is a son of Will- iam and Frances (Moore) Nicklin. [See sketch of Charles S. Nicklin, of Sandy Lake Township, for further mention of the parents. ] Our subject was born in England September 9, 1825, and came to this county with his parents in 1833. He attended the common schools of this county, and has principally been engaged in farming. In 1850 he married Miss Ann, daughter of Fran- cis Mears, of Sandy Lake Township. By this union they have: Lizzie, living at home; Sarah, widow of William Brennan, of Stoneboro, who has four children: Thomas, Joseph, Winifred and Anne; Eva, Jane and Harriet, at home; Emma, Mrs. C. L. McFetridge, of Mill Creek Township; William, in Colorado Springs. Our subject settled on his present farm in 1864. He is a member of the Stoneboro Agricultural Society, and of the Catholic Church. He votes the National Greenback ticket.

E. C. VOORHIES, livery, New Lebanon, is a son of Abraham and Sarah (Hathaway) Voorhies. Rhyneer Voorhies, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of New Jersey, and an early settler in Washington County. In 1805 he located on a farm in what is now New Lebanon Borough. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and voted the Whig ticket. His children were Price, Abram, Ephraim, Jane, Sarah, Catharine, Calvin, Margaret, Rhoda and Ira, all of whom are dead. The father of our subject was born May 11, 1800, came to this county with his parents, and after his marriage he located on an adjoining farm, which is now in the borough of New Lebanon. He built a tannery, which he conducted for many years, and was constable and deputy sheriff of this county, also supervisor and school director, and a Republican. He died in 1879. His first wife died in 1842, leaving J. Arnold, E. C., Ebenezer, Chloe, Abi-

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

gail, Phoebe Jane, Ryneer and Adeline. His second wife was Laura Smith. His third wife was a Mrs. Lowe, and his fourth a Mrs. Owens. Our subject was born in the borough of New Lebanon March 11, 1825, attended the public schools and learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for about thirty years. In 1862 he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the close of the war, receiving wounds at the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania and' Peters- burg. After the close of the war he returned to New Lebanon and worked at his trade. He held the office of postmaster for five years, and was school director. He established his livery business in 1882, and in 1884 was elected constable, which office he now holds. In 1847 he married Miss Emeline Andrews, and has the following children: Cyrus M., a Presbyterian mission- ary in New Mexico; Samuel A., Martha J., A. A., J. A., Sarah Belle and Miller. Mr. Voorhies is commander of Norval Muse Post No. 251, G. A. R., and a member of the A. O. U. W. He is a Republican, and has been trustee and steward in the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 149

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