History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 158

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

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COL. ANDREW CHRISTY, deceased, was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., December 22, 1775. He was a son of John Christy, a native of Ireland, who immigrated to the colony of Pennsylvania prior to the Revolutionary War, and with that love of freedom inherent in the Irish race served in that struggle for liberty as a scout on the frontier. Andrew grew to maturity in his native county, and in the fall of 1796 joined a party of land prospectors, among whom were the Loutzenhisers, Klingensmiths and Kecks, and visited the country now embraced in Mercer County. He selected land in what is now Hempfield Township, began an improvement, and then returned to Westmoreland County. The following spring, 1797, accompanied by his father, brothers John and Samuel, and two sisters, he again made the trip to Mercer County, and settled permanently on his land. The balance of the family located about

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

one mile south of the site of Greenville, where his father died, on the farm now known as the Thomas Callen place, in Hempfield Township. Soon after coming, the father, John Christy, was appointed justice of the peace for this portion of Allegheny County, and was no doubt one of the first pioneers. to fill that office in what is now Mercer County. Andrew built a cabin on his land, and devoted his energies to clearing away the forest then covering the soil. In May, 1803, he was married, by Rev. Samuel Tait, to Miss Sarah Williamson, a native of Centre County, Penn., who bore him a family of fifteen children, nine sons and six daughters, of whom six sons and five daughters grew to matu- rity: Margaret, James W., Samuel L., John G., Eliza J., Andrew J., Susan, William W., Nancy A., Oliver B. and Isabel. All of these are dead except James. W., of Greenville; Nancy A., wife of Samuel Long, and Isabel, widow of John K. Sheakley, both residents of Iowa. Andrew Christy and wife were Presbyterians, and lived and died on the old homestead, the latter April 16, 1856, aged seventy-three years, and her husband March 27, 1865, in the ninetieth year of his age. During the War of 1812, when Erie was threatened by the British, Lieut. - Col. Christy marched at the head of his regiment of Pennsylvania Militia, largely composed of the pioneers of Mercer County, to assist in repelling British invasion. He was also brigade inspector of the Mer- cer District five years, and was one of the best known men in this part of the State. In early life he was a warm political adherent of Andrew Jackson, but subsequently became a Whig and then a Republican. Col. Christy was elected sheriff of Mercer County in 1827, and served one term. Coming to the county among the very first settlers, he lived to see its lands converted from a wilder- ness into a garden of agricultural prosperity, and did his full share toward accomplishing this result. Like many of the pioneers he was very fond of hunting, and was never more happy than when following the chase. He died full of years and honor, and possessed of a comfortable competence, the result of his own unaided efforts.

JACOB BAER, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born May 1, 1841, in Mercer County, to Daniel and Elizabeth (Snyder) Baer, natives of Pennsylvania. The parents were married in this county, and their children were Jacob, David, Levi, James, Sarah, Mary, Hettie, Caroline, Kate and Melinda. The father was a tailor by trade, began for himself with $12, and at his death was worth $40,000. Our subject was educated in the common English schools, and was brought up at farm labor. He was married to Anna Aldenderfer, by whom he has had six children: George, Lila, John, Harvey, Mary and Lizzie. He and wife are members of the German Reformed Church. Mr. Baer is the owner of a fine farm, and is one of the prosperous farmers of the county. Joseph Alden- derfer, the father of Mrs. Baer, was born October 7, 1816, in Berks County, Penn. His parents, George and Kate (Mowry) Aldenderfer, were natives of Lehigh County, came to this county in 1834, and settled in a log cabin in the woods. George was a gunsmith, and made axes, chisels, sickles and other necessary articles. He died in 1868, and his wife died in 1837. They had seven children: George, Jacob, Henry, Polly, Joseph, Benjamin and John. George was married again, to Miss Elizabeth Shaffer. The parents were Luth- erans, and the father helped to build the church edifice where they worshiped, and was an elder in the same. Joseph was educated in the log school-house, and began learning the trade of a gunsmith with his father at the age of sixteen years. He has followed that business the greater part of his active life. He was married in 1841 to Sarah Moyer, by whom he had six children: George, lives in Wichita, Kas., and is engaged in the mercantile business; Louesia, married John Hawes, and has two sons, Anderson J. and James H. ;

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Elizabeth, married Rev. William Busch, and Anna B. The other two are dead. Mr. Aldenderfer started out in the world a very poor man, and by hard labor, strict economy and frugal dealing accumulated a large fortune. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, to which his deceased wife belonged. In politics he is a Democrat.

GEORGE BEAVER, farmer and carpenter, was born April 2, 1847, on the farm where he now lives. His father, Peter Beaver, was a second cousin of Gov. James A. Beaver, and came to this county about 1828. He married Julia A. Stenger, who bore him five children: William, a physician in Colby, Kas .; Reuben, a Presbyterian preacher, died in 1884; Alice, married Frank Huber; Drucilla, married William Reichard, and George. The father's first wife was a Miss Wasser, by whom he had five children: Valentine, Edwin, Maria, Polly, Eliza. The parents of our subject were members of the Ger- man Reformed Church, and he was a Democrat. George Beaver was edu- cated in the common schools, and began to learn his trade in 1878, with John Koser, and has followed it since. He was married in 1874 to Emma Koser, a daughter of John Koser, and has one child, Ralph Stuart. Mr. Beaver owns and lives on twenty acres of the old homestead. His wife was born in Mifflin County, and some of her brothers and sisters were classmates of Gov. Beaver. Her father married Sarah Shellenberger, who blessed him with seven children: Mary J., Sarah A., A. L., Lucinda, Levi, Melinda and Emma. Her parents came to Lawrence County in 1852, and the father died January 15, 1886. The mother resides in Hempfield Township with her daughter. Her brother, A. L. Koser, was in Company D, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, and is a member of the G. A. R. Our subject and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church of Greenville, and he is a Repub- lican. His brother William spent fifteen years in a drug store at Greenville, and then went west and studied medicine, practiced in Iowa and Nebraska for some time, and is now in Colby, Kas. Another brother, Reuben, was educated at the common schools, Mount Pleasant Academy, and took a theo- logical course at Allegheny City.

D. T. BELTON, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born April 6, 1832, in Philadelphia. His parents, Israel and Elizabeth (Pacy) Belton, were natives of England, and immigrated to Philadelphia about the year 1828. Four years later they settled in Columbiana County, Ohio, and subse- quently moved to Stark County, the same State, where the father died in 1852, and his widow several years later. The children were Mary, Caroline, John, Samuel, Elizabeth, Nancy, Daniel and Joseph. The father had, by a prior marriage in England, two children, Israel and Eliza. Israel is a Disciple minister of South Bend, Ind. Joseph entered the war from an Indiana company, and died in camp. The parents were consistent members of the Baptist Church, and he was a Whig. Our subject received his edu- cation at the common schools and at Mount Union, Ohio. He was married in 1857 to Angeline Leet, a sister of Dr. Leet, of Greenville, whose sketch appears in this work. Two years after his marriage he left Stark County, Ohio, and settled in Otter Creek Township, this county, where they remained until 1871, when they settled on the farm they now occupy in Hempfield Township. They have had four children: William F., deceased, was educated at the Edinboro Normal School, taught several terms, including terms at West Middlesex and Sharon, married Elizabeth Conner, who died, and he again mar- ried, Clara Ames, and had one child, Jessie; Atlas L., married Lula, a daugh- ter of Esquire Hofius, of Hickory Township; Mary, died August 11, 1886, at the age of twenty four, and Jesse C., engaged in the manufacture and sale

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

of the Pollard Improved Patent Barrel Swing and Counter Support. He owns the exclusive right of this valuable patent. Mr. Belton is the possessor of a good farm in Otter Creek Township, is one of the worthy citizens of the county, is a stanch Republican, and he and his estimable wife are members of the Baptist Church of Greenville.

SIMEON BETTS, who died in 1888, was born March 6, 1830, in Crawford County, Penn., son of Abraham and Chloe Betts, the parents of thirteen children: Johnson, Erastus, Nancy, Elizabeth, Simeon, Lorinda, William, Peter, Mary, Orena, Abram, Theodore and Leonard. The parents reside in Minnesota. Our subject received a common-school education, and was em- ployed on a farm during his boyhood days. He was engaged in boating on the canal for sixteen years. In 1865 he turned his entire attention to farming, and was very successful. On his farm of forty acres he averaged 150 bushels of wheat, 300 to 600 of corn, 150 to 600 of potatoes, 100 of oats, other vegetables in proportion, and from sixteen to twenty-four tons of hay. He was married to Elizabeth Hill.in 1848. She was born in 1827, and had one infant, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Betts reared Charles Betts, who married Elizabeth Roseberry, a daughter of Jasper and Isabella (Callahan) Roseberry, and the parents of the following children: Elizabeth, John, George, Martha, Zella, Henry, Trixy and Isabella. Charles Betts is a carpenter on the P. S. & L. E. R. R., and is a Republican. Richard Hill, the father of Mrs. Simeon Betts, was born in Ireland in 1794, served seven years at the printer's trade in England, and also learned the book-binding business. He was em- ployed as a printer for three years in the king's office. He came to Mercer County at an early day, worked in the Western Press office in Mercer, later at Warren, Penn., and Ellicottville, N. Y. He was the first printer to work in Greenville, a mention of which appears in the sketch of the newspapers of the place. He was married about the year 1825 to Jane Hill, who blessed him with three children: Allen, infant, deceased, and Elizabeth. He died in 1841, and his widow died June 7, 1876. He was once identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, but at the time of his death was a member of the United Presbyterian organization.

T. W. BROWN, deceased, was born December 6, 1822, in Centre County, Penn., son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Hayes) Brown, natives of Northumber- land and Northampton Counties, Penn., respectively. Elizabeth was born July 21, 1788, and removed with her parents, Robert and Mary Hayes, to Northumberland County in 1790. She married Thomas Brown in 1814, and lived in Centre County until 1832, when they removed to Venango County, Penn., and engaged in farming, and where he died in 1864. In 1865 Mrs. Elizabeth Brown came to the home of her son, T. W., and one year later went to Cochranton, Crawford County, where she lived with her daughter, Amanda, till her death, January 24, 1884. She retained her memory to the last, although she lost her eyesight seven years before her decease. Her children were Will- iam, Robert, John, Joseph, Elizabeth, Jane, Sarah, Amanda, T. W. and an infant. Thomas and Elizabeth Brown were consistent members of the Pres- byterian Church. Our subject was educated principally in the common schools of Venango County, learned the trade of a carpenter, and followed

house-building for many years. He was married December 16, 1852, to Sarah J. McCalmont, born July 14, 1831, in Venango County, Penn., daughter of Jos- eph and Margaret (Linn) McCalmont, natives of Centre and Union Counties, Penn., respectively. Joseph McCalmont came to Venango County with his par- ents, John and Elizabeth (Conrad) McCalmont, when a boy, and died April 22, 1874. His widow died February 7, 1873, having been the mother of the follow-

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

ing: Emily, Jemima, Sarah J., Fleming, Murray, John L. and Elizabeth, all living except Jemima. The McCalmonts were Presbyterians. T. W. Brown, when married, settled in Conneautville, Crawford Co., Penn., where he fol- lowed carpentering. He bought a farm of sixty acres in Hempfield Township, this county, in 1865, where he at once settled, and died June 27, 1886. He has two sons: George H., who married Alma Davis. of Cleveland, Ohio, where he engaged in the clothing business, and Charles M., at home. The Advance- Argus said in a notice of his death, that "Mr. Brown, by a life-long course of honorable dealing, had gained the confidence of all who knew him, as was attested by the regret expressed on all sides when the news of his death came." He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, to which organization his widow belongs.

W. E. DAVIDSON, farmer, was born May 9, 1845, in Mahoning County, Ohio. His parents came to Mercer County in 1865, with their children: Ramsey, engaged in the lightning-rod business in Pittsburgh; Carmillus, em- ployed in an implement house of Pittsburgh; Frances, married D. D. Linn, and lives in Sugar Grove Township, and W. E., who is the second son. The family moved from Ohio to Venango County in 1850, where the father made $16,000. He retired to Greenville in 1875, where he and his consort enjoy the fruits of their early labors. They are members of the United Presby- terian Church of that place. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and has devoted his life to rural pursuits. He was married in 1869 to Rhoda, a daughter of David Linn, whose sketch appears elsewhere. She was born October 6, 1851, in this county. Mr. Davidson remained on the old homestead of his father until 1876, when they purchased a part of the old Beaver farm, in Hempfield Township, where they have remained since, with the exception of nearly two years, when they lived in Greenville. He and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church of Greenville, while the daughter, Della M., belongs to the Presbyterian Church. He is a Republican.

ALEXANDER DUMARS, an Irish school-master, was born in the County Tyrone, Ireland, December 3, 1769, and immigrated to America in 1793, where he married Jane Gilliland, a native of County Donegal, Ireland, in 1795. At the time of marriage both resided in Westmoreland County, Penn., whence they removed to a tract of land east of Greenville, Penn., in what is now Hempfield Township, in the spring of 1800. After coming here he taught school in the winter and the balance of the year engaged in farm labor. About the year 1810 Gov. Snyder appointed him a justice of the peace, which office he held until the adoption of the constitution of 1838. In the War of 1812 he went to Erie, but being near-sighted he was not accepted. The sword he carried is yet in the possession of his grandson, A. D. Gillespie, of Greenville. Seven children were born to Alexander and Jane Dumars: Nancy M., born August 1, 1796; Jane, August 3, 1798; Hannah (in Mercer County), June 15, 1800; Susannah, December 16, 1802; Rebecca L., Novem- ber 22, 1804; Samuel S., March 9, 1807, and David G., October 8, 1808. Nancy married Alexander Donnell; Jane married John Bean; Hannah mar- ried David Gillespie; Susannah married Samuel Lowry, and Rebecca became the wife of Robert Roberts. All of the children lived to have families, but are now dead. Of their descendants residing in the county, there are A. D. Gillespie and sister, Mrs. Sarah J. Turner, Alexander D. Roberts and Mrs. Sarah Nelson, while several of Mrs. Lowry's children reside near Sandy Lake. His wife died in 1811, and her husband survived her until May 25, 1854, and both are buried in the old United Presbyterian Cemetery in Greenville. Mr.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Dumars was one of the organizers of the Seceder Church of Greenville, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was a man of strong convictions, of firm opinions and good judgment; hospitable and kind to friends, he never tried to conceal his animosity from his enemies. His defective sight was a great drawback to him all his life, yet by his habits of economy and sound judgment he acquired a nice fortune. At the time of his death he owned about 500 acres of land and money securities, amounting in all to at least $40,000.

SAMUEL FRITZ, JR., farmer, post-office Greenville, was born November 30, 1859, on the farm where he now lives. His father, Samuel, was born August 26, 1822, in Lancaster County, Penn., son of John and Polly Fritz, natives of the same county, and the parents of twelve children, ten of whom grew up: Elizabeth, Daniel, William, Samuel, Susannah, Mary A., Sarah, Jacob, John and Isaac. Samuel, Sr., was educated in the common schools and brought up on a farm. He began for himself by hiring out. He was married in 1842 to Maria Bouch, born January 10, 1817, in Lancaster County, Penn., to Ephraim and Elizabeth (Kiskel) Bouch, the parents of ten children: Elias, Maria, Susannah, Rebecca, Aaron, Elizabeth, Levi (deceased), Leah (deceased), Urias and Cath- arine. Mr. and Mrs. Fritz have had seven children: Salinda (deceased), Ephraim, Susannah, Albert, Urias, Elizabeth and Samuel. The family came to this county in 1856, and have been residents of Hempfield Township since. Samuel, our subject, received a good common-school education, and was mar- ried in 1880 to Mary E. Benninghoff, by whom he has four children: Stella, Cora, Delos and Winnie. He is a Democrat, and has been township auditor for several terms, and he is a Lutheran, while his wife belongs to the United. Presbyterian Church.

WILLIAM GIBSON, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born June 15, 1834, in Jefferson Township, to James and Mary (Stewart) Gibson, natives, the father of Lawrence County and the mother of Hickory Township, this county. The parents settled in Jefferson Township on a farm, where the mother died in 1839. They had three children: William, Stewart and an infant. The father afterward married Mary Sample, by whom he had five children, who survive: Alfred, Almira, Jane, Sadie, Eve. He died June 15, 1884, and was buried at Unity Church. With his first wife he was a member of the Seceder Church, but with his last wife became a Presbyterian. Our subject was edu- cated at the common schools, and began for himself when he was nineteen years old, working for $9 a month. He then helped his father for two years, and in 1856 went to Iowa and worked on a farm. Finally, in 1861, he located in Venango County and worked in the oil business one year, afterward work- ing for his uncle, Vance Stewart, near Greenville. In 1864 he was married to Margaret McMillen, born January 22, 1834, in what is now Hempfield Town- ship, to Alex. and Margaret (Thompson) McMillen, the parents of two children: Wilson and Margaret. The father married for his second wife Elizabeth Blair, by whom he had: Nancy, married John Reznor; Jennie; William, belonged to Company K, Fifty-third Regiment, and was killed at the battle of the Wilderness; Henry, died when four years old; Thomas. The father died in 1886; was a member of the Greenville United Presbyterian Church. and a Republican. His last wife still survives. In 1873 our subject settled on his present farm of seventy-five acres, known as the McFetridge farm. He has one son, Delos W., who married Melinda Hittle, daughter of George Hittle, and has two children: Carrie and Sadie. His wife is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and he is a Republican. He operated the old mill which McFetridge built on this place at an early date.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

JACOB HECKER, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born March 19, 1850, in Hempfield Township. His father, James Hecker, was born September 13, 1812, in Northampton County, Penn., to Jacob and Mary Hecker. James was the only son, and was educated in a German school. He married Eliza Moyer, daughter of Casper Moyer, of Lehigh County, and had by her Dianna, John, Jacob, Reuben, Henry and George. He was married a second time, the last wife being Sarah, the widow of Benjamin Aldenderfer, and daughter of Conrad Heckman. James came to this county in 1834. Our subject was educated in the common schools, the select school at Jamestown and the Greenville schools. He began teaching at the age of seventeen years, and taught twelve terms, all in Mercer County, except two in St. Clair County, Ill. He was married in St. Clair County, Ill., in 1877, to Augusta Pfadler, only daughter of Philip and Maggie Pfadler, and soon after settled on the farm where he now lives. He has in all seventy-six acres of good land, a part of which he inherited. His two children died in infancy. He is a Republican, and takes a deep interest in the welfare of that organization. He and wife are members of the German Reformed Church, to which his father and present wife belong. Mr. Hecker is one of the representative farmers of Hempfield Township. James Hecker, who has been a respected citizen of Hempfield Township, died at his late residence, September 8, 1888, at the age of seventy-five years, eleven months and twenty-six days.

PETER HITTLE, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born July 20, 1826, in Berks County, Penn. His parents, George and Mary (Wetzel) Hittle, were natives of Lehigh County, Penn., where they were married, and moved soon after to Berks County, from where they came to this county in 1833 by teams. They finally bought 100 acres, and settled in a log cabin on the farm where our subject now lives. The father died here about 1849, and his widow died in 1873; they had twelve children: Catharine, married Peter Wageman; Anna, married James Reichard; George; Caroline, married Jonathan Moyer; Elmira, married Joseph Stoyer; Peter, William, John; the others died small. The parents were Lutherans, and helped to build the little church near by. Peter Hittle received a common-school education. Aside from farming, he worked at shoemaking for over thirty years. He also worked at stone masonry. He

was married in 1855 to Mary Haas, a daughter of John and Sarah Haas, the parents of Charles, Eliza, John, Stephen, Thomas, Henry, Mary, Sarah and Daniel. Her parents are dead, and were Lutherans. Mr. Hittle settled at marriage on his present farm, which is now in a state of good improvement. He is the possessor of over 200 acres of arable land, of which he is the artificer. Near his residence there are six springs, all on less than one acre. He has dealt considerable in horses. His union blessed him with twelve children: Ed- win, Eliza, Elias, Sarah, Daniel, Ellen, George, John, Reuben, Louesa, Charles and James M. Mr. Hittle has served as school director twelve years, treasurer of that board for three years, auditor three years, assessor and assistant asses- sor each three terms, and treasurer of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company for ten years. His property is worth about $20,000, including twelve acres of a sandstone quarry. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and is a Democrat.

BYRON S. HULL, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born August 3, 1843; is one of ten children born to Hiram and Lucinda Hull. He was married April 29, 1879, to Carrie, daughter of Robert Fruit, and has one child, Jennie F., a graduate of the Greenville High-school in the class of ""'88," and is now a student of the State Normal School at Edinboro, Erie Co., Penn. Mr. Hull's fine farm of 116 acres is situated one and a half miles east of the Green-

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

ville Borough line, and is somewhat noted on account of Greenville's magnifi- cent water works being located on it. Over-brook farm is well named, as the two reservoirs form two lovely little lakes or brooks just below the resi- dence. Mr. Hull is a successful farmer, a strong Republican, and a good citizen.

BENJAMIN KAMERER, deceased, was born July 31, 1831, on the farm where he died in the fall of 1888, to Samuel and Elizabeth (Lininger) Kamerer, natives, the father of Westmoreland County and the mother of Maryland. The father came to this county in 1812, and with his brother Jacob bought land. The mother came to the county with her parents, and when married settled with her husband in a log cabin in the wilderness. She died in 1840, after having blessed her consort with ten children: David, died in Delaware Township; Esther, married Frank Cooper; Elizabeth, lives on the homestead; Mary, married Reuben Bortz; Joseph, Leah, Benjamin and John. The father died December 28, 1863. He held some small offices, and he and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church of Good Hope. He was a friend of William S. Garvin, and took the Western Press for many years. Our sub- ject was educated in the log cabin schools, and brought up on a farm. He began for himself when twenty-one years old, with but little means. He in- herited a portion of the old homestead and bought the balance. He was mar- ried in 1862 to Elizabeth House, daughter of Henry House. He took his bride to a log cabin, and there remained until he constructed the present fine residence. £ They had three children: Clara E., Loretta and Laura (twins). The latter is the wife of Lon E. Roberts, grocer, of Youngstown, Ohio. Mr. Kamerer was assessor, with his wife was a member of Good Hope Lutheran Church, and held office in the same, and was a Republican, although the first newspaper he ever read was the Western Press of Mercer.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 158

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