History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 152

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

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Thompson married MaryA., daughter of John Findley, natives of Ireland, and residents of Crawford County. He died in 1849, and his widow in 1859. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and elder in the Second United Presbyterian Church. Their family were: John, died in 1878; Rosanna (deceased), wife of Elliott Logan; Mary (deceased); Adam, died in 1845; Rhoda (deceased), who married William Parks; Jane, Mrs. Archibald Montgomery, of Deer Creek Township; David L. (deceased); Eliza (deceased); Sally and Ellen, who died in infancy, and Moses F., who was born September 7, 1824, on the old home- stead, where he was reared and educated at the common schools. He was brought up on a farm, and remained at home until twenty-four years of age, when he engaged in the lumber business, which business he conducted at var- ious places until 1884, when he located at Sheakleyville and engaged in the hotel business, which he has since followed. At the time of Lee's raid into Pennsylvania Mr. Thompson enlisted in Company H, Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Militia, and served ninety days. He was married in 1850 to Miss Sarah, daughter of Charles Montgomery, of Sandy Creek Township, and by this mar- riage they have born to them six children: John, deceased; Charles; Eliza- beth, Mrs. Frank Parks; Frank, deceased; James; Mary Ann, Mrs. James White. Mr. Thompson is the present constable for his township, and a mem- ber of the borough council, and politically is a Republican.

David, the sixth son, was born February 21, 1826, in Sandy Creek Township, and has always lived there and followed farming. He was married to Miss Martha, daughter of John McCracken, of Sandy Creek Township, in 1850; she died in 1868. By this marriage they had seven children: William, de- ceased, 1886; Annie, Mrs. Calvin Collner, of St. Petersburg, Penn .; John E .; Sadie J., Mrs. James L. Riley; Emma, Mrs. A. K. Steel; Hattie, Mrs. Charles Drives; Rosie, deceased, who married John Hughs. His second wife was Mrs. Maggie E. Carringer, and by this union, which occurred in 1869, they have one son, Warren C., of Findley, Ohio. Mr. Thompson is a member of the Sheakleyville Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically is a Republican.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Maria, the daughter of John, Sr., married James Dunn, of Meadville, Penn. Emeline, deceased, married Thomas Chess, and Cynthia is the widow of Justus Hall, and resides in Greenville, Penn.

Robert F. Thompson was born December 6, 1818, in Deer Creek Township, and was married in 1842 to Miss Jane, daughter of Charles Montgomery, by whom he had six children: Maria, Elizabeth M., Mary A., Martha J., Sarah and Rhoda. Mr. Thompson served as justice of the peace for ten years, and in 1856 was a county commissioner. He is a member of the United Presbyte- rian Church at Sheakleyville, and has been treasurer of the same for thirty years. In politics is a Republican.

A. P. WHITE, farmer, post-office Sheakleyville, Penn., is a son of William and Eleanor (Farrell) White, and was born in 1836 in Ohio. The grandfather, James White, was a native of Ireland, and at the age of eighteen he came to this country and settled in Youngstown, Ohio. He married Fannie Pittenger, a native of New Jersey, by whom he had four children: John, William, James and Jane, who married James Kyle. The father of our subject settled in Sandy Creek Township, where our subject now resides, in 1837. His family were: James, deceased; Elizabeth, Mrs. Isaac Mackey; Thomas, deceased; Jane, deceased, who married Thomas Morrison; John, of Sandy Creek; William P., deceased; Mary A., wife of James Crawford; Fannie, Mrs. Dr. Axtell, of Warren County, Penn. ; Catherine, Mrs. William Palm; Nancy, Mrs. Hum- phry Church, of Kansas; Angeline, Mrs. A. M. Crawford; Almira, Mrs. S. H. Dunn, and Ellen. William died in 1858; his wife survived him, dying in 1882. Our subject was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, and was reared on the homestead farm, where he has always lived. His education was received at the public schools. He was bred a farmer, an occupation he has always fol- lowed. He has served as school director for ten years. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., W. G. Brown Lodge No. 592, of Hadley, Penn. Mr. White is a Democrat, and takes an active interest in the success of his party. He was married in 1859 to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Walter Hall, of Sandy Creek Township, and by this marriage they have six children: Hattie, George, Laura, Mrs. Charles Steel, of Sheakleyville, Penn .; Andrew, William and Genevieve.

DEER CREEK TOWNSHIP.

WILLIAM BURNETT, farmer, post-office New Vernon, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, August 8, 1821. His father, William Burnett, was reared in New Jersey, and settled in Trumbull County, Ohio, about the year 1800. He married Barbara Huff, by whom he had the following children: Joseph, Zilla, Peter and William. Our subject was married in his native county to Eleanor Snyder, in 1842, daughter of Joshua Snyder. In 1864 he removed to this county, and settled on the farm where he now resides. His marriage gave him six children: John, married Sarah, daughter of William Boylan, and has seven children: Flora, Olive, Winnie, William, Julia, Elizabeth and John; Elisha, married Caroline, daughter of William Boylan, and has one child, Ellen C .; Julia, married Henry Rom, and has one child, Eleanor; Eugene, at home; Lincoln, married Jennie, daughter of James Wilson, and has two children, Earl and Gal; Hershell, at home. Our subject votes the Republican ticket, and is one of the enterprising farmers of the township.

OLIVER CALDWELL, post-office Sheakleyville, is a son of O. P. and Merilla (Stright) Caldwell. The father was born in Crawford County, Penn., and came to what is now Deer Creek Township in 1835. In 1839 he married and located on a small farm. He worked at carpentering and accumulated a good deal

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of property. He was constable for six years, poor director in 1878, and helped to build a place of worship in Deer Creek Township. He died in 1882, and his widow in 1885. Seven of their ten children are living: Oliver, George, Lewis, Ellen, Eva, Lillie and Dorie. Our subject was born January 1, 1840, on the homestead, and was educated in the common schools. He learned the carpenter's trade, and was married in 1861 to Mary E., daughter of David Linn, and by her has had the following children: Flora, Ambrose, Elda M., Stella, Maggie and Addie. He has been school director and held other town- ship offices. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is identified with the Republican party.

LEWIS A. CALDWELL, post-office Sheakleyville, son of O. P. Caldwell, was born April 25, 1857, on the homestead, a portion of which he now resides upon. He received a common school education, and was married in 1881 to Miss Matilda, daughter of Samuel Mook, of French Creek Township, and has one child, Dennis Murel. His estimable wife is a member of the Lutheran Church of New Lebanon, and he is a stanch Republican.

ROBERT M. CURRY, farmer, post-office Sheakleyville, is a son of Robert and Catherine (Moyer) Curry. His father was born in Washington County, Penn., came to Mercer County in 1801 and engaged in hunting, trapping, etc. - He was in the War of 1812, and finally settled in Deer Creek Township, where he died in 1851, and his wife in 1848. They reared six children, of whom George, of Butler County, Penn., and Robert M., are living. Our subject was born in this county January 15, 1825, and at an early age he learned black- smithing, and first located at Hendersonville. He served for eighteen months in Company A, Twelfth Pennsylvania Artillery, and held the commission of com- pany artificer. After the close of the war he returned to Hendersonville and remained until 1870, when he located on his present farm. In 1850 he mar- ried Miss Rachel, daughter of Alexander McCleary, of Perry Township. She died in 1879, leaving seven children: Asenath, Mrs. Calvin Gealy; Rachel L., Mrs. J. Pearsall, of Salem Township; James B., of Lake Township; Hettie M., Lizzie A., Alma E., Irene S. Mr. Curry was appointed postmaster by President Buchanan, and again by Lincoln, and served seven years, also held township offices of Deer Creek. He has always supported the Democratic party, and is a member of the Sheakleyville Presbyterian Church.

ALBERT PRICE, farmer, post-office Sheakleyville, is a son of David and Julia Ann (Hice) Price, natives, the father of Bucks County, Penn., and the mother of Mercer County, N. J. He spent two years in North Carolina, building railroads, and in 1840 located in what is now Worth -Township, and in 1852 settled on a farm in Deer Creek Township now owned by his grand- son, D. A. Price. He was a prominent Democrat, and received the nomina- tion for county commissioner in 1856. He was trustee and steward of the Mount Hope Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. His wife died in 1868, and he in 1883. Our subject was their only child, and was born at Easton, Northampton Co., Penn., July 25, 1822. He came here with his par- ents, and for a number of years engaged in teaching in the township schools of this and Venango Counties. Since then he has been principally engaged in farming. April 19, 1843, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Bennett Grace, of Worth Township. She died April 2, 1877, leaving eight children: Julia A., Mary, Nancy, Caroline, Phoebe P., David A., Elizabeth D. and Albert D ;. one son, Harry P., died in infancy. Our subject was elected county auditor in 1847, and served three years. In 1861 he was elected county commissioner for three years. He has also served two different terms as State auditor, and has acted as justice of the peace for fifteen years. Mr. Price is a member of the

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Masonic fraternity and of the I. O. O. F. He has always been an ardent sup- porter of the Democratic party.

SAMUEL S. Ross, farmer, post-office Sheakleyville, is a son of Stephen and Hannah (Sisley) Ross, and a grandson of Aaron Ross, a native of New Jersey, and an early settler of Mercer County. The father of our subject was born in this county, and after his marriage located in Deer Creek Township. He. was justice of the peace for ten years, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and voted the Whig and Democratic tickets successively. He reared five chil- dren: Samuel S., Elizabeth (wife of Joseph Casbee), Sarah M. (wife of George Sheakley), Louisa (wife of Jacob Fisher) and Maria I. (deceased wife of Albert Shaffstall). Our subject was born on the homestead which he now owns, March 22, 1829, and attended the township schools. In 1855 he married Miss Catherine, daughter of H. W. Troy, of Deer Creek Township. By this union they have three children: Charles A., Clara A. (wife of James B. Curry) and Phoebe (a teacher of music). Our subject has held the offices of constable, supervisor and school director, votes the Republican ticket, and he and family are members of the Sheakleyville Methodist Episcopal Church.

JOHN H. Ross, post-office New Vernon, is a son of William and Abigail (Har- ris) Ross. The father was born in Mercer County, on the homestead where our subject now lives, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was a descendant of Aaron Ross, a pioneer of this State. William came to the farm in 1817; was a member of the Fairfield Presbyterian Church and a Democrat, and died in 1877. His widow died in 1879, the mother of Polly, Almina, Sarah, John H., Lucinda, Louisa, Angeline and Elma E. Our subject was born November 2, 1829, and was educated at the common schools. He was married to Isabella, daughter of Maj. Joseph Stright, of New Vernon Township. Their children were Fannie, James H., William J., Charles W., Hattie, Clement, Nellie, Lydetha, Frank M. and Hortense. Our subject has served as justice of the peace, school director and constable; is a member of Madison Lodge No. 591, A. O. U. W., and belongs to the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a trus- tee. In politics he is a Democrat.

JAMES P. STERRITT, farmer, post-office Sheakleyville, was born in Venango County, Penn., February 18, 1840. He attended the township schools of this county, and learned the plasterer's trade, which he followed for fifteen years. He then located on a farm in Worth Township, and in 1878 purchased his pres- ent farm, and is engaged in general farming and bee culture. In 1871 he was married to Miss Catharine, daughter of William Bardon, of Wolf Creek Town- ship. Mr. Sterritt is township clerk at the present time, and has served as assistant assessor. He is a deacon in the Fairfield Presbyterian Church, and votes the Republican ticket. His father, Alexander Sterritt, was married first to a Miss Montgomery, by whom he had six children: Rebecca, the wife of William Simpson, of Springfield Township; John, deceased; Robert, resides in Venango County; William, lives in Morrow County, Ohio; Matthew, lives in Montana, and Thomas is dead. The father's second marriage was to Margaret Davidson, by whom he had three children: James P. ; Martha, is married and resides in Butler County, Penn .; Mary A., lives in Ohio.

JOHN W. STRIGHT, farmer, post-office Sheakleyville, is a son of John L. and Mary (Warnock) Stright. She was a native of Ireland, a weaver by trade, and located in New Castle, Del., and thence to New Castle, Penn., at early periods. Her husband, John L., was a native of New Jersey, and settled at an early day in Crawford County, and in 1818 located on the farm where our subject now resides, for which he traded his farm in Crawford County. He served in the War of 1812, died in 1847, was a member of the Presbyterian

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Church, and in politics a Whig. His widow died in 1853, and was the mother of Jane (deceased), and John W. Mr. Stright was married to a Miss Dodd prior to his union with Mary Warnock, and had by her six children: Charity, Margaret, Young, D. Freeman, Rhoda and Chloe; all dead except Freeman. Our subject was born January 6, 1824, on the farm he now resides upon; received a common-school education, and was married in 1852 to Elvira H., daughter of Amos Hall, of Venango County, by whom he had seven children: William H., Orville L., Mary, Leonard L., Jane M., Frederick L. and Anna A. Mr. Stright has been school director and held other small township offices. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church of Fairfield. He was twelve years an elder in the Fairfield Church, and is a Republican.

JOSEPH STRIGHT, farmer, post-office Sheakleyville, Penn, is a son of Amasa and Mary (Dodd) Stright, natives of New Jersey. The grandfather was Laurance Stright. The father of our subject was born in New Jersey in 1789, and came to Mercer County with his parents and settled in what is now Deer Creek Township about 1815. He was a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church of Sheakleyville, of which he was an elder for many years. In politics he was a member of the Free Soil party, and was the first man to vote that ticket in the township, and subsequently became a Repub- lican. He died in 1861, and his widow in 1866. Their family consisted of six children: Lovinia and Teressa, deceased; Sarah, the widow of Nathaniel Axtell; Marilla, wife of Perry Caldwell; Ithiel, who resides in Kansas, and our sub- ject, who was born March 11, 1826, on the old homestead where he has always lived. He married, July 2, 1857, Elenor, daughter of James Myers, of Sandy Creek Township, and by this marriage they have two children: J. H. and William S. Mr. Stright has filled many of the township offices. He is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Sheakleyville, and politically is a Republican.

D. R. VAUGHN, county clerk, was born February 17, 1852, in Deer Creek Township, to Russell and Susan (Carson) Vaughn, natives of Trumbull County, Ohio, and who came to Mercer County about 1848. They settled in Deer Creek Township, where the father built and operated a mill for twenty years. He died in 1872, and his widow survives on the old farm. They had eight children: Seth; Robert J., was at his death, in 1881, foreman of the stone work on the county poor-house; D. R., George J., Lucy B., married George T. Hadley, and she died with the typhoid fever, which she contracted while attending her brother, Robert J. ; Lilly, Allen L., is now an agent for the Lake Shore Railroad at Reno, to where he was transferred from Hadley, where he had been a clerk for our subject for five years, and Elsie. The parents of our sub- ject were Presbyterians, and the father became a Republican at the breaking out of the war. D. R. Vaughn was educated at the district schools till the age of seventeen years, when he went to Kansas for a period. On his return he began studying telegraphy at Cochranton, Crawford Co., Penn. He was soon after appointed an agent for the A. G. W. Railroad at Utica, Penn., and served five years. He was then employed by the Lake Shore at Hadley, where he continued for seventeen years, or until his election to the office of county clerk. He has been school director, auditor and treasurer of Deer Creek Township. He was married June 25, 1872, to Hattie J. Hays, daughter of William and Agnes Hays, of Utica, and has Gertrude L., Blanche, Amy, Nellie (deceased), David R., Lucy, Fred W. and Alice. He is a member of Blue Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Jamestown, and Chapter of Greenville. He and wife are Presbyte- rians. He is a Republican.

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NEW VERNON TOWNSHIP.

DANIEL AXTELL, deceased, was born May 4, 1787, and came to Mercer County with his parents, Daniel, born in 1748, died June 7, 1826, and Ruth, born in 1750, died April 8, 1831. £ The family settled in what is now Sandy Creek Township, where they died.

Their children were Daniel, Eliab, Lin- coln, Joseph, Polly, Ruth and Elizabeth. Daniel Axtell, Sr., was one of the first elders of the old Fairfield Church. Daniel, Jr., was educated in the country schools, was married to Euphemia Lynn, a native of New Jersey, and settled where Sylvester Axtell lives. He once owned a saw-mill and tannery on that farm. He was strongly identified with the Fairfield Church. He died September 20, 1858, and his wife December 22, 1870. They had twelve children: Ruth, born August 28, 1808, died November 30, 1883; Hannah, born December 4, 1809, died October 21, 1844; Alexander, born July 5, 1811, died November 8, 1847; Rhoda, born March 30, 1813, died March 21, 1874; Thomas, born October 25, 1814, died January 15, 1852; Eliab, born December 22, 1817, died March 1, 1855; George, born November 10, 1820, died Febru- ary 16, 1859; Louesa, born May 5, 1822, died June 19, 1855; Mary L., born November 2, 1824, died October 16, 1825; Martha, born December 18, 1826, died May 9, 1861; Andrew, born July 12, 1828, and is living; Loretta B., born June 17, 1831, died August 6, 1832. George was educated in this county, and was married to Isabella McCracken October 30, 1849. Isabella was born February 3, 1822, in French Creek Township, to Joshua and Mary (Zahniser) McCracken, the parents of Alexander, Mary, Isabella, infant, David and an infant. He settled at marriage on the old place, where George engaged in a lumber mill. He had four children: Sylvester; Mary, deceased; Eliab, deceased; Daniel, deceased. George was an elder of the United Pres- byterian Church at the time of his death. His widow is a member of the same. Sylvester Axtell was born September 19, 1850, on the farm where he now re- sides. He was married May 27, 1875, to Eliza E. Jenkins, daughter of M. M. Jenkins, and she died September 16, 1882, leaving three children: Maude L., William N., dead, and Matilda B. He was again married, to Martha R. Condit, October 30, 1884, by whom he has had two children: Infant, dead, and Mary. He is school director, has been township auditor and assessor. In politics he is a Republican.

ISAAC BORLAND, deceased, was born February 25, 1834, on the farm where his widow now lives. His father, Houston, was born August 18, 1803, and his mother, Eleanor Holloway, was born July 12, 1804. They were married March 1, 1827, and settled on the farm mentioned above. They owned 150 acres, which has never been out of the possession of the family. Isaac added to it until the farm contained 212 acres. Andrew Borland, the father of Houston, was the first to come to the county. He was of Scotch-Irish extraction, and married Margaret Houston. She was the first white woman who came to live in what is now New Vernon Township. Houston Borland and wife had eight children: John, born March 15, 1828, studied medicine with Dr. J. R. Andrews, the old pioneer physician of New Vernon, and later practiced in Lawrence County, and is now at Franklin, Penn. ; Isaac; Martha, born Novem- ber 22, 1839, and married Daniel McClure; Anna M., born September 24, 1842, and married Andrew Montgomery, who put up the first house in York, York Co., Neb. The following children are dead: Catharine, born April 15, 1830, and died August 27, 1831; Samuel, born July 8, 1832, and died the same day; Margaret, born November 8, 1836, and died December 29, 1839; Isabella, born June 2, 1845, and died April 13, 1848. Isaac H. Borland was educated in the common schools, and farmed the greater part of his life. He

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made cheese on his farm for many years. He was married December 24, 1857, to Sarah E. Allen, born June 10, 1835, in Mercer County, to George and Ann (Fisher) Allen, natives, the father of Ohio and the mother of what is now Lawrence County. Her parents had eleven children: Margaret R., died the widow of James McCracken; Anna M., died widow of Robert Stew- art: William F., Sarah E., Elizabeth L., Martha J., deceased; George; Harvey, was killed at the battle of Gettysburg, where his body was buried among the unknown, and some time after was taken up and a letter and testament were found in his pocket, which Mrs. Borland has in her possession; James R. was also in the war; John C., Emma and Mary C. The father of the above children died in 1863 and his wife in 1850. His second wife, Mrs. Lydia Stewart, whose maiden name was Gibson, is still living, and bore him one child, Sam- uel W. Isaac Borland died August 6, 1887, with apoplexy, dropping dead, like his father, while at work. He had nine children: Anna B., married George Infield; William A. and George H. are deceased; James H., married Laura Reihard April 19, 1888; John C., married Belle Boylan, January 29, 1886, and he graduated at the Edinboro Normal School in June, 1888; Robert S., died July 11, 1888, was also a student at Edinboro when taken sick; Edgar A., Lydia E. and Samuel W. Mr. Borland was an elder of the United Presby- terian Church at the time of his death, and was one of the most respected and honorable citizens who ever lived in New Vernon Township. He was a Republican, to which organization his sons are attached.

ANDREW BORLAND, deceased, was born April 15, 1812, in New Vernon Township, and is a brother of Houston Borland, whose sketch appears in this work. Andrew was educated in the common schools, was married March 31, 1835, to Elizabeth McCormick, born April 28, 1815, in Mercer County, to Archibald and Jane (Hill) McCormick, and settled on the farm where Adam Borland now lives. It was then in the green wood. He put up a log cabin 20x24 feet, and later built the house now standing on the farm. In 1844-45-46 he worked in a coal bank near Greenville. He died September 13, 1873, and his widow died September 15, 1880. He was in partnership with Dr. J. C. Andrews, whose office Mr. Borland erected near his own resi- dence. He furnished the means to buy medicine, and was to have half of the income of the practice. Andrews was a man of intemperate habits, and Mr. Borland was a continual loser by the partnership. He studied medicine, and became to some extent a practitioner. He was initiated in the Know- nothing party, but soon after renounced it and became a Democrat, which he continued until his death. He has seven children: Jane, born October 5, 1836, married David Gosnell, lives in St. Louis; Archibald, born June 3, 1838, died in Salisbury Prison; James, born March 18, 1843; Cyrus, born June 11, 1850, died September 19, 1851; Evaleen, born March 18, 1853; Ella, born January 25, 1857, died March 21, 1858. The parents were members of the United Presbyterian Church. Adam C. Borland, post-office New Vernon, the son of the deceased, was educated in the common schools, and was brought up on a farm. He worked for a while at the harness manufacturing business in Tylersburg, Clarion Co., Penn. He was married September 24, 1874, to Sarah A. Carmichael, who was born December 2, 1852, and was one of nine children: Sarah A., Eliza J., Andrew, Mary, Alanson, Victoria, Ellsworth, Charles and Lizzie. The parents of the above children were Hyram and Elizabeth (Fowler) Carmichael, who were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Borland has two children: Roland and Andrew. He and wife are members of the Fairfield Presbyterian Church, and he is a Democrat.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 152

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