History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 155

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

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GEORGE W. HOFFACKER, farmer, post-office Hadley, is a son of George and Mary (Werner) Hoffacker, of York County, Penn., who settled in Mahoning County, Ohio, and in 1853 they came to Mercer County and located on a farm

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in what is now Perry Township. The father of our subject was a member of the Lutheran and German Reformed Church, and of the Democratic party; also was in the War of 1812, and drew a pension. His wife, Mary, died in Ohio, and six children were born to them, three of whom are still living: Adam and Jacob, of Perry Township, and our subject, George W. His sec- ond wife was Mary Oshall. She died in 1886. Four of their children are still living: Juliana, Mrs. Thomas Daniels, of Ohio; Harriet, Mrs. Jesse Ruhlman; Susan, Mrs. S. J. Cleeland, and Lucy, lives with Mrs. Ruhlman. The father died in 1842. Our subject was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, May 28, 1836, and was educated at the public schools. He was drafted in the late Rebellion, and sent a substitute. In 1864 he married Miss Sophia Lipply, of Mahoning County, Ohio. Two children have been born to them: Sylvanus W. and Martha A. Mr. Hoffacker has been school director and as- sessor of Perry Township. He and family are members of the German Re- formed Church of Otter Creek Township, and politically he is a Democrat. He is engaged in general farming and raising fancy horses, cattle and sheep.

THOMAS M. JACKSON, M. D., is a son of Joseph and Jane (Mathews) Jack- son. His father was born in that portion of Mercer County which is now Lawrence County, in 1808. His parents were William, brother of Philip Jack- son (the praying elder), and Margaret (Little) Jackson, natives of Washington County, Penn., who purchased a tract of land, near where West Middlesex now stands, in 1812. Here the father of our subject was reared and learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed for a number of years. In 1844 he pur- chased a farm in what is now Mill Creek Township, where he lived until his death, in 1877. He was for many years an elder in the Utica Presbyterian Church. His wife died in 1881. She was the daughter of Thomas Mathews, a personal friend and follower of Robert Emmet, and an officer in the Irish rebellion of 1798. The English Government having offered a reward for his head after the capture of Emmet, he was compelled to flee from Ireland, and found a home in the United States. He finally located in Trumbull County, Ohio, where he died. Their family consisted of nine children: Two died when young; Margaret A., died in 1884; Eliza J., died in 1881; John C., firm of Jackson, Walker & Co., which opened the Bradford oil field, putting down the first well in August, 1875; he afterward moved to Kansas, and died in Hadley, this county, in 1885. The living are: Homer, the eldest, who was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, December 29, 1836. He received his- education at the schools of Utica, New Lebanon and Edinboro State Normal School. For a few years he engaged in teaching school, and operated in oil, and afterward engaged in running flat-boats from Green River, Ky., to New Orleans. He studied medicine, and graduated from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery in 1871, and practiced his profession for four years at Clintonville; he then graduated from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, and returned to Clintonville. He also practiced in Missouri. In 1885 he came to Hadley, and has since been practicing with Dr. T. M., our subject. He is a member of the Mercer County Medical Society, of the Lodge of Craft No. 333, F. & A. M., of New Castle, Penn. In 1876 he married Miss Elizabeth A., daughter of Judge Robert Cross, of Venango County. By this union they have five children: Justina P., Albert B., Levis E., Joseph M. and Charles E. His wife is a member of the Hadley Presbyterian Church; Sarah M., Mrs. W. H. Hanna, of Cooperstown, Penn. ; Thomas M., our subject, and William, on the homestead in Mill Creek Township. Our subject was born in Mill Creek Township March 19, 1846. He was educated at the town-

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ship schools and at New Lebanon Academy. He engaged in teaching for a few years, and in 1870 began the study of medicine under Dr. T. M. Cooley, who was located at Utica, Penn. In 1874 he graduated from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, and practiced in Clarion County, Penn., for six months. In 1875 he came to Hadley, the first physician to locate here, and he and his brother, Homer, are engaged in an extensive practice. He is a member of the county and State medical societies, a member of the Eureka Lodge No. 290, F. & A. M., of Greenville. For the past ten years he has been examining physician for Madison Lodge A. O. U. W., of Clark's Mills, and an honorary member of the Hadley E. A. U. December 9, 1875, he married Miss Mary J., daughter of William Sheakley, of Perry Township. By this union they have four children: Thomas C., Jennie P., Joseph W. and Mary E. He has held the office of school director of Perry Township, and is an elder in the Hadley Presbyterian Church. In. religion they are thorough Presbyterians, and in politics Democratic.

SAMUEL C. LONG, farmer, post-office Hadley, is a son of David P. and Jane M. (Coulter) Long. Samuel Long, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Westmoreland County, Penn., and first settled in Mercer County about 1805-06. In a few years he returned to Westmoreland County, learned the blacksmith trade, and returned to, this county and located in what is now Hempfield Township, where he followed farming and blacksmithing until his death in 1862. He was a member of the Seceder Church, and a soldier in the War of 1812. He afterward voted the Republican ticket. The father of our

subject was his oldest son, and was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1806. He located in Hempfield Township in 1837, and purchased the farm now owned by our subject, where he died October 25, 1885, and his wife February, 1886. He was once elected justice of the peace of Perry Township, but refused to serve. He was an elder in the Sheakleyville United Presby- terian Church for many years, and voted the Republican ticket. His family consisted of J. C., who was a member of Company G, One Hundred and Forty fifth Regiment, and died at Washington, D. C., July 2, 1864, from the effect of wounds, and our subject, who was born in Hempfield Township April 15, 1832. He attended the schools of that period, and has since followed farming. In 1854 he married Mary Jane, daughter of Alexander McCleary, of Perry Township. They have had born to them the following children: Miles O., who died young; Annie M., wife of A. D. Beggs, of Sharon, and have two children, Lillie M. and Edith M .; Rachel A., wife of J. A. Roberts, of Perry Township, and have two children, Myrtle B. and Samuel L .; David A., farmer of Perry Township, married Mary N., daughter of Henry Wizner, of Perry Township. Mr. Long was reared in the faith of the United Presby- terian Church, which he attends, and votes the Republican ticket.

JOHN MCCLURE, farmer, post-office Clark's Mills, is a son of Andrew and Mary (Hazen) McClure. Robert McClure, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Ireland, who came to Mercer County about 1797, and located on a tract of land in what is now Lake Township, where he lived until his death. The father of our subject was born in Ireland in 1790. He was reared on the farm in Lake Township, and served in the War of 1812. After his marriage he located on the farm now owned by our subject. He was a member of the Democratic party, and died in 1833, and his widow in 1876. Their family con- sisted of seven children: Eliza, Mrs. Dr. McMeans, of Iowa; John, Martha, a maiden lady; Mary, Jane, Matilda and Ezra, deceased. Our subject was born on the farm he now owns November 1, 1817. He attended the log schools of that period, and has always resided on the homestead. In 1847 he married

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Mary Jane, daughter of Samuel Kerr, of Salem Township. She died Decem- ber 12, 1884, leaving seven children: Eliza, Mrs. Hugh C. Wallace, living with our subject; Malinda, wife of William McGee, of New Vernon; she died December 11, 1887, leaving four children: Claud, Maud, Frank E. and Jennie; Samuel A., of Sandy Lake Township; Joseph, of Dakota; Sarah, Richard P., of Perry Township, and.Frank I. Mr. McClure served as county commissioner for one term, and has been school director, supervisor, etc., of Perry Town- ship, and justice of the peace for twenty years. He is an elder in the Hadley Presbyterian Church, and votes the Republican ticket.

WILLIAM J. MCCLURE, farmer and carpenter, post-office Clark's Mills, is a son of Robert and Hannah (Axtell) McClure. Robert McClure, the grand- father of our subject, was a native of Ireland, who came to America about 1796, and located on a tract of land in what is now Lake Township. His fam- ily consisted of John, Andrew, Richard, James, Robert, Nancy, all of whom are dead. The father of our subject was born in Lake Township April 3, 1804. He always remained on the homestead, purchasing more land and adding to it. He died in 1876, and his wife died in 1844. They had born to them: Sarah, deceased; Euphemia, wife of Alfred Canon, of Lake Township; Daniel, of Nebraska; William J., George, of Lake Township; Mary, wife of George Ross, of Lake Township. Our subject was born in Lake Township March 11, 1838. At the age of sixteen years he learned the carpenter trade, and has since followed that in connection with farming, purchasing his present farm in 1880. In 1861 he married Miss Lovina Bissle, of Perry Township. They have six sons : Charles E. ; George E., married Miss Dora Scribbens, of Sandy Creek Town- ship, and has one child, Carl; Frank E .. James L., William Loyd and John R. Mr. McClure served nine months in Company A, One Hundred and Sixty- ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers. He is a member of Elisha Thompson Post, G. A. R., of Sheakleyville, of the K. & L. of H., No. 1640. Politically he is a Republican.

DAVID MORNEWECK, farmer, post-office Hadley, was born March 31, 1861, in Perry Township, to Michael and Catharine (Lipply) Morneweck, natives, the father of Germany, and the mother of Mahoning County, Ohio. They were married in Ohio, and settled soon afterward in Mercer County. The father followed farming and threshing, having operated a machine for over thirty years. The parents have had ten children: Solomon, Ephraim, Sarah, Susannah, Samuel, infant, deceased; David, Harriet, George W. and Obediah. The parents are members of the Lutheran Church. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and learned the painter's trade, and follows that business, in connection with farming. He also teaches vocal music during the winter, and on Saturday nights during the summer. He was married June 9, 1881, to Sarah E. Snyder, daughter of Charles Snyder, whose sketch appears else- where. By her he has had two children: Charlotte, deceased, and Pearl V. He is serving as township auditor, and with his wife belongs to the German Reformed Church. He has been deacon of the same, and is now superin- tendent of the Sunday-schools of said church. In politics he is a liberal Democrat.

JAMES STRIGHT, retired, post-office Clark's Mills, is a son of Joseph and Olivia (Coulter) Stright, father a native of Virginia. George, the uncle of the father of our subject, was a native of New Jersey, and settled in this township about 1800. At the death of his parents, the father of our subject came to this county to live with his uncle, and after his marriage he located on a farm in what is now New Vernon Township, where he lived until his death in 1877. He belonged to the old Militia companies, and was captain of

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the Georgetown Rifles, and major of the battalion. He attended the Presby-

terian Church, and voted the Democratic ticket. He reared six children: James, Amanda, Mrs. Charles Stewart, of New Vernon Township; George W., Isabella, Mrs. John H. Ross, of Deer Creek Township; Sabina E., Mrs. Samuel McCracken, of Franklin, and Andrew J. Our subject was born in New Vernon Township March 2, 1832, received his education at the schools of that period, and engaged as clerk in the old Mineral Ridge store, under J. & William Ward, where he remained a number of years, and then entered the store of Montgomery & McElwain in New Vernon. In 1860 he formed a copartner- ship with John McElwain, which continued two years, conducting a general mercantile store. For one year he engaged as time-keeper in the building of the Jamestown & Franklin Railroad, and engaged in manufacturing shingles and lumber on the homestead. In 1872 he formed a copartnership with J. M. McCormick, and established a general mercantile store at Clark's Mills. They dissolved in 1880, and since then he has been engaged in the lumber business. Mr. Stright is an honorary member of the K. & L. of H. and a member of the A. O. U. W., of Clark's Mills. In 1860 he married Miss Mary J., daughter of James McCormick, of New Vernon Township, and has one child: Lizzie, wife of Ira Zahniser, of Perry Township, who has three children: Edna, Mary and Wilber. Mr. Stright is a member of the Democratic party, and has held several township offices.

DAVID T. WHITE, farmer and miller, post-office Clark's Mills, is a son of James and Eunice (Tuttle) White, early settlers of Warren County, Penn., where our subject was born January 6, 1826. He received his education at the public schools, and engaged in lumbering in that county until he became twenty- five years of age. In 1853 he came to Mercer County, and located in New Vernon Township, and engaged in farming and lumbering. In 1873 he purchased his present farm and grist-mill, which he conducted under the firm name of D. T. White & Sons. They have added the roller process, both for wheat and buckwheat, and make it one of the best mills in the county. In 1850 he married Miss Norcissa, daughter of William Stright, of this county. By this union they have three children: Cyrus M., married Emma, daughter of Jeremiah Corll, of Perry Township, and has three chil- dren: David, Penelope and Maude; Madison, married Mary, daughter of Gustavus Kattenbough, of New Vernon Township, and have three children: Clara, Norcissa and Nancy; Elmer, living at home. Mr. White has held the offices of school director, supervisor, etc., of New Vernon Township, and votes the Republican ticket, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Cyrus is a member of A. O. U. W., of Clark's Mills, and I. O. O. F., of Sandy Lake.

PETER YEAGER, farmer, post-office Clark's Mills, was born in Prussia Feb- ruary 5, 1824. His parents were Peter and Mary C. (Wadenphul) Yeager, who landed in New York City October 26, 1840. Here the mother of our subject died, and the father and his family came to Pittsburgh, November 12 of the same year, and engaged in market farming in.Chartier Township, where the father died. He reared nine children, eight of whom still live, and are: Catherine, widow of John Bartz, of Perry Township; Peter, Margeret, Mrs. Martin Frederick, of Allegheny County, Penn .; Elizabeth, Mrs. Webster, of Allegheny County; Mary, Mrs. Wheeler Burgess, of Steubenville, Ohio; Eva, Mrs. Henry Shafer, of Pittsburgh; Christopher and Jacob, of Allegheny County. Our subject married, March 7, 1848, Mary, daughter of Jacob Smith, of Woods Run, Allegheny County, and in 1853 they moved to their present farm. Eleven children have been born to them: John, deceased; Peter J., of Perry

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Township, married Rosa Quinn; Mary, Mrs. Alva Minnis, of Sugar Grove Township, and has two children, Floy and Glenn; Matilda, Mrs. Ezra Unger, of Crawford County, Penn., whose children are Leavitt and Leavant (twins) and Mary; Louisa, Mrs. Leslie Wentz, of New Vernon Township, who has four children: Floyd, Paul, Albert and Harley; Albert, Lewis, Annie C., Sadie, Richard and Ernest. Mr. Yeager has held the office of school director for six terms. He has been class-leader in the Perry Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church of Clark's Mills since 1861, and is also trustee. Politically he is a Republican, with prohibition proclivities.

CHAPTER XLI.

BIOGRAPHIES OF SALEM, SUGAR GROVE, HEMPFIELD AND OTTER CREEK.

SALEM TOWNSHIP.

F RANCIS BEATTY, deceased, was born May 8, 1789, in Westmoreland County, Penn., of Scotch-Irish parentage, and came to Mercer County with his parents, David Beatty and wife, in the year 1802. His father settled on a farm in Delaware Township near where Salem Presbyterian Church stands, and he there grew to manhood. On June 10, 1812, he was married to Isabella Will- iamson, daughter of Capt. James Williamson, a veteran of the Revolutionary War. She was born in Cumberland County, Penn., June 6, 1792, and came on horseback with her father to Mercer County in 1800. They reared five sons and seven daughters: David M., deceased; James W., Henry W., Samuel B., deceased; Jane, deceased, wife of Stewart Caldwell; Caroline, deceased; Ellen, deceased, wife of Thomas M. Reznor; John A., deceased; Susan, wife of W. K. Fulton, of Illinois; Isabel, deceased; Sarah Ann, of Greenville, and Eliza H., wife of J. A. Fulton, of Nebraska. In 1814 they settled on a farm in Salem Township, where his two sons, James W. and Henry W. Beatty, now reside. He went to Erie as a soldier in the War of 1812. In 1824 he was appointed a justice of the peace by Gov. Gregg, and served till 1836, when the new constitution made the office an elective one. He was elected a county commissioner in 1834. In 1837 he was elected a member of the Legislature, and was re-elected the following two years. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church of Georgetown (now Sheakleyville), in which he was a ruling elder from 1833 up to his death, October 18, 1872, in the eighty- fourth year of his age. His widow died May 31, 1879, in her eighty-seventh year.

JAMES W. BEATTY, farmer, post-office Hadley, was born December 11, 1814, in Salem Township, and is a son of Francis Beatty, previously mentioned. Our subject was reared on the homestead and educated in the common schools. On January 5, 1858, he was married to Mrs. Emeline Brown, whose maiden name was Long, by whom he has one child, Ella A. L. B. Brown, who re- sides with them, is the son of Mrs. Beatty by her first marriage. Our subject purchased a part of the homestead, upon which they now reside. He is a Re- publican, and for many years has held the office of justice of the peace, and

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has served in many of the local township offices. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

BAPTIST BRUSH was one of the early settlers of Salem Township. He was a native of Ireland, and came to this county with his family about 1798. He located on the farm now owned by Samuel North, where he resided until his death. His son, Baptist, was born in Ireland in 1782, and had reached the age of sixteen when the family settled in Mercer County. He married Esther Simpson, whose parents were from Ireland and early settlers of the county, and located on the homestead, where the balance of his life was passed. Eight chil- dren were born of this union, four of whom are living, viz. : Simpson, John P., Jane, wife of Nelson Dingman, of West Salem, and Mary, wife of William Allen, of Salem Township. Baptist Brush was a sergeant in Capt. Gilliland's company in the War of 1812. He died June 18, 1857, and his widow October 8, 1860, both in the faith of the United Presbyterian Church.

EDWARD CALLAHAN, farmer, post-office Kennard, was born October 6, 1819, in Fayette County, Penn. His parents, Edward and Jane (Thompson) Calla- han, were of Scotch-Irish parentage, and came to Mercer County in 1827, and settled on a farm near Greenville. Of the twelve children born to them seven are still living: David, of Mill Creek Township; Edward; William, of Greene Township; James, of West Salem Township; Nancy, widow of J. Lutton; Margaret, widow of H. Wade; Rebecca, wife of A. P. Hill, of Greene Township. Politically Edward was a Democrat. He and his wife were mem- bers of the Associated Reformed Church. Edward died May 19, 1839, aged sixty-three years, and his widow died September 20, 1850, aged seventy years. Edward, our subject, was married January 2, 1840, to Isabella, daughter of Andrew and Catharine (Harfield) Wade, of Crawford County, Penn., and lived on a farm near Greenville one and a half years, when he went to Mercer and worked for Mr. Junkin one year in a grist-mill, after which they purchased a piece of land near Greenville, where they resided for five years. They then purchased a farm, now owned by Jacob Kechler, in Sugar Grove Township, where they lived three years, when they bought the farm now owned by C. Stoll, in Sugar Grove Township, where they lived five years, and then pur- chased a farm of A. Riley, in Salem Township, where they lived until 1884, when he left the farm to his two sons, John and Frank, and purchased a homestead at Kennard, and retired from farm labors. To Edward and Isabella Callahan were born six children: William, lives in Missouri; James, deceased; John, lives in Salem Township; Frank, of Salem Township; Joseph, of Sugar Grove: Catha- rine, wife of David Faulk, of Salem Township. On the 5th of January, 1877, Edward's wife died, in the sixty-second year of her age. For many years she had been a devoted Christian and member of the Seceder Church. Edward was again married, August 1, 1878, to Mrs. Hannah Riley, nee McCurdy, of Sugar Grove Township. Politically our subject is a Democrat. He was elected justice of the peace in 1856, which position he filled for five years, and in 1876 he was elected jury commissioner, and served three years. He and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church.

JOHN G. DONALDSON was born March 5, 1789, in Philadelphia. His wife, Ann Roberts, was born April 7, 1789, in Bucks County, Penn., and their mar- riage was on the 5th of June, 1809. They lived in Frankford (now a ward in Philadelphia) until 1815, where he was engaged as a bookbinder. During this time there were three children born to them: Ann; Elizabeth, widow of William S. McLean, of Salem Township; Josephine. In May, 1815, the parents came to Mercer County, and lived in Otter Creek one year, when they purchased a farm in Hempfield Township, and lived there until 1835, when

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they purchased a farm in Salem Township, where, they lived until their de- cease. While living in Mercer County there were eight children born to them: James R., Susan, Adaline (widow of J. W. Young, of Hempfield Township), Joseph R., Maria, Penelope, John W., Almira, all of whom are dead except Adaline. While living in Mercer County John G. made several trips on foot to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and would there work at his trade a few months at a time, to earn money with which to support his family and pay for his farm. He died November 21, 1871, in his eighty-third year. His wife died June 6, 1878, in her ninetieth year. James R. Donaldson, son of John G., was born April 25, 1817, in Hempfield Township. He was reared at home, and married, July 6, 1848, to Jane G., daughter of Robert and Rebecca Rob- erts, of Sugar Grove Township. They resided on a farm in Salem Township, which is now in possession of their son, John G. Donaldson. To James R. and

Jane G. Donaldson were born two children: Robert R. and John G. Politically James R. was a Republican. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died February 21, 1886, in his sixty-ninth year; his wife died September 18, 1877, aged forty-nine years. Robert R. was born June 29, 1849, in Sugar Grove Township. He was reared at home, and was married January 14, 1878, to Ada V., daughter of David and Margaret Linn. He purchased a portion of the Grier farm, in Salem Township, where they settled and still live. John G. Donaldson was born December 6, 1853, in Salem Township. He was reared at home, and educated at the common schools. He was married July 5, 1877, to Felicia, daughter of J. Ross and Elizabeth (Keck) McLean, of Salem Township. They located on the family homestead deeded to him by his father. To them were born three children: Edna J., Burdette and Lizzie. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as also are Robert R. and his wife.

THOMAS J. EUARD, farmer, post-office Hadley, was born August 20, 1827, in Allegheny City, Penn. His father, Thomas Euard, was born in 1795 in Ireland, and was married to Miss Anna Woods. They immigrated to this country in 1820, and located in Allegheny City, where he was engaged in rope making until 1830, when they purchased a farm of 200 acres of James Ander- son, in Salem Township, on which they located. The farm was a dense forest, but with his strong arm he felled the trees, cultivated the soil, and lived to see it brought under a high state of production. Nine children were born to Thomas and Anna: Anna, wife of B. Burns; Isabella, deceased wife of Joseph Milner; James, Thomas J., Eliza J., deceased; Jane, wife of Thomas Roberts; John, deceased; Rosanna, wife of E. Harshaw, of Ohio; Irwin, deceased; Mary Althouse, deceased. The first five were born in Allegheny City and the rest in Salem Township. Politically Thomas was a Democrat. He died Feb- ruary 18, 1869, at the age of seventy-four. His wife survived him several years, and lived to be eighty-three years old, dying December 13, 1879. Thomas J. was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca J. McCoombs, of Alle- gheny County, November 15, 1855, and located on a portion of the paternal homestead, where he followed the occupation of a stone-mason, stock broker and merchant in connection with farming. There were two children born to them, Flora, wife of George Euard, and Levica, the deceased wife of Isaac McKean. Our subject was educated at the common schools. In March, 1863, his wife died, and he was again married, November 1, 1871, to Mary C. Shiner, of Venango County, Penn., and by this union they have two children: Nannie A. and D. Leroy.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 155

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