History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 161

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

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

life to farming, and has improved two farms. He inherited a part of the old homestead, improved it somewhat, and sold it to his brother, Absalom, and in 1864 he bought a farm of 100 acres in Otter Creek of Hon. J. C. Brown, a portion of the old farm known as the Harry West property. There he settled in 1866, and lived upon the same until 1888. He was married in 1856 to Florena Bower, daughter of Stephen Bower, and by her he had four children: Hannah J., William J., Flora B. and Emma (deceased). His wife died April 14, 1877, and he was again married, to Eliza Pearson, who died April 14, 1887. Mr. Koon has been school director. He is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, to which his deceased wives were attached. He is a member of the Grange lodge. He united with the Cadets of Temperance when a boy. In politics he is a Republican, and is the owner of a good farm and other personal property.

JAMES R. McMILLEN, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born May 16, 1825, in the portion of Salem Township that is now in Hempfield Township. His father, William McMillen, was born in New Jersey, and came to this county from Fayette County, Penn., in 1800; subsequently returned to Fay- ette County, there married Nancy Parker, and brought her and his entire household goods on horseback, and settled for awhile near the present site of Jamestown. They finally located on land where the P. S. & L. E. Railroad crosses the Greenville and Mercer road in Hempfield Township. Here Mrs. McMillen died about the year 1816 or 1817, and was the mother of Mary,

Mr. married Rev. William Smith; Alexander, Thomas and an infant. McMillen was again married, to Margaret McClimans, a native of Pennsylva- nia. He died in 1855, and his widow December 25, 1869. They had seven children: Nancy, William M. (deceased), Sarah, married David McKnight; James R., Hugh P., Thompson and Margaret (deceased). William McMillen was a prominent man, a Democrat, and with his wife belonged to the United Presbyterian Church. Our subject was educated in the common schools and was brought up on a farm. He was married, in 1848, to Eliza Errel, daugh- ter of George and Jane Errel, and by her has eight children: William E., Margaret J., married David Wier; Chauncey L., Mary E., married William Metzler; Leander, James L., Reuben and Laura I. Mrs. McMillen died in 1870, and he was again married, to Anna Carver. He settled on his present farm of sixty acres in 1853, and has been successful. He has served as school director eleven years, and is a Republican and one of the enterprising citizens of Otter Creek Township. He and his wife belong to the Presbyte- rian Church.

EZEKIEL H. SANKEY, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born in 1823 near New Castle, Penn., son of John R. and Cynthia (Espy) Sankey. Ezekiel, the grandfather of our subject, came to Mercer County in about 1800, and set- tled in that portion which has since been subdivided and is now in Law- rence County. He was an officer in the War of 1812, and soon after his return from the war died, comparatively a young man. He was married to Miss Jane Cubbison, who survived him many years, and died in the one hundredth year of her age. John R. settled near New Castle, where he and his wife, Cynthia, both died in the prime of life. To them were born seven children: Mary A., wife of R. R. King; Ezekiel H., John E .; Sarah J., deceased; one daughter scalded to death at the age of four or five years; Ruth; Rebecca, widow of S. McMillen. Politically John R. was a Democrat. He was postmaster at the Old Harbor on the canal for many years. Ezekiel H. was married in 1845 to Nancy Espy, of Crawford County, and they settled near Linesville, Crawford County, where they lived about sixteen years, when they

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

purchased a farm in Otter Creek Township, and settled thereon. They were the parents of seven children: Nancy, wife of W. F. Braden, of Greenville; Cynthia, Mary A .; Sarah, wife of H. Bishop; Emma, deceased; George F .; James H., deceased. His wife died August 15, 1873. He was again married in 1875 to Bathenia, daughter of James and Eliza Mckean. There have been two children born to them: Enoch F. and Eliza. Politically our subject is a Democrat.

CHARLES SNYDER, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born June 30, 1826, in Lehigh County, Penn., to Jacob and Elizabeth (Keistler) Snyder, natives of Lehigh County. The parents came to Mercer County in 1836, and after one year's residence in what is now Otter Creek Township they removed to Delaware Township, and seven years later returned to Otter Creek, where the father died in 1846, and his widow died in 1870. They were the parents of thirteen children: Charles, deceased; Catharine, Sallie, Jacob, David, Betsey, Mary, Priscilla, Charles (2), John, Caroline, Lucy A. and Susan. The parents were members of the German Reformed Church, and the father a Democrat. Our subject was educated in a log cabin school-house. He was brought up at farm labor, and was married in 1859 to Emeline Miller, daugh- ter of George Miller, of Jefferson Township. By her he had two children: Reuben S., married Hattie Fellnagle, and has two children, Irvy and Elmer; and Sarah E., Mrs. Morneweck. Mr. Snyder settled on his present farm in 1860. He possesses 124 acres of excellent land, all of which is the result of his own labors. He is a Democrat, and a member of the German Reformed Church.

HENRY WAGNER, farmer and carpenter, post-office Greenville, was born December 20, 1842, in Jefferson Township, this county. His father, Philip, was born in Lehigh County in 1805, where he was reared and married to Lu- cinda Reinhart. They came to Mercer County about 1828, and lived on the Richard Tunison farm, near Greenville, one year, when they moved on a forest farm in Jefferson Township, where, for some time, they occupied a hut built by the Indians. They remained on this farm about fifteen years, then went to Delaware Township and remained until his death. To them were born fifteen children, nine of whom are still living: Moses (of Jeffersonville Township), Adam (Delaware Township), Aaron (of Greenville), Henry, Eliza- abeth (wife of J. Reimold), Catharine (wife of B. Reimold), Daniel, William, Savina (wife of J. Will). Politically, Philip was a Democrat. The sons are all Democrats, and the daughters all married to Democrats. Philip died in April, 1879, aged seventy-four years. His widow is still living in Delaware Town- ship. Henry, our subject, was married June 4, 1868, to Eliza, daughter of George A. Miller, of Jefferson Township. Henry lived in Jefferson Township one year, when he rented his father's farm, in Hempfield Township, contain- ing 126} acres, and at the death of his father he purchased seventy-six acres of the farm. There were nine children born to them: Cynthia, Jennie, Luella, Maria, Creola, Mable, Georgia, Cora and Edith M. In the spring of 1888 he traded his farm for a farm in Otter Creek Township, near Kitch's Corners, where he now resides. Politically he is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

CHAPTER XLII. BIOGRAPHIES OF WEST SALEM AND GREENE.

WEST SALEM TOWNSHIP.

M AHLON B. S. ARNER, farmer, post-office Orangeville, Ohio, was born in Lawrence County, Penn., April 12, 1836, and is a son of John and Mary (Myers) Arner, the former a native of Westmoreland County, and the latter of Columbia County, Penn. They were married in Lawrence County, and reared seven children: Lavina, Mary Ann, Magdalena, Mahlon, Lydia H., deceased; John, deceased, and Sarah, deceased. In September, 1849, the family came to West Salem Township, where the father resided until his death. His widow returned on a visit to her daughter in Lawrence County, and there died. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics Mr. Arner was a Democrat. With the exception of six years in the coal business, our subject has resided on the old homestead since 1849. He was married August 7, 1858, to Anna M. Mohr, a native of Germany, who has borne him eight children: Alpheus C., Margaret E., wife of Frank Aubel; Emma J., Philena, Lorinda, Belle L., George and Anna L. Politically Mr. Arner has always been a Democrat and a stanch adherent of Democratic principles.

JOSEPH AUBEL, farmer and proprietor of saw-mills, post-office Greenville, was born in Union County, Penn., March 19, 1826, and is a son of Jacob and Catharine (Walbon) Aubel, natives of Lancaster and Union Counties, Penn., respectively. In the spring of 1835 they came to West Salem Township, and died in Delaware Township, whither they had removed. They were the parents of ten children: Julia A., deceased; Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Daniel, Barbara, Henrietta, Samuel, Catherine and Sarah, deceased. The parents lived and died in the Lutheran faith. Our subject has resided in West Salem Township for the past fifty-three years, and was married in the fall of 1853 to Fiana, daughter of Abraham and Ann Ludwig, of West Salem Township. Mrs. Aubel was born in Lehigh County, Penn., June 23, 1831, and came to West Salem Township with her parents in 1833. She is the mother of eight children: Levi, deceased; Franklin, Armina, wife of James Ash; Charles, John W., Henry, Alvin and Emanuel. Mr. Aubel and wife are members of the Luth- eran Church. Politically he is a stanch Democrat, and one of the successful farmers of his township, and what he has to-day is the result of his own in- dustry and energy.

SAMUEL BEIL, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born in Northampton County, Penn., July 14, 1823, and is a son of John and Rosanna (Franken- field) Beil, natives of Pennsylvania. In 1828 they crossed the mountains to Mercer County, and settled in what is now the southeast corner of West Salem Township. John Beil served in the War of 1812. He was twice married, his first wife dying before he came to this county, and leaving three children: David, Sally and Susan, who came to Mercer with their father, and here spent their lives. His second wife, Rosanna Frankenfield, reared four children: Samuel, William H., Clarissa and Lydia, deceased. The parents both died in this county, in the Lutheran faith. Our subject grew up in West Salem Town- ship, and learned the carpenter trade, which he followed about forty years. In

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the meantime he bought his present farm, upon which he has resided for over thirty years. Mr. Beil was married in December, 1845, to Mary Ann, daugh- ter of George Mowry, of Hempfield Township, and has reared three children: Edwin W., Reuben G. and Sarah E. The family belong to the Lutheran Church, and politically Mr. Beil is an unswerving Democrat.

MARTIN L. BENNINGHOFF, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born in Cherry Tree Township, Venango Co., Penn., August 31, 1856. His father, Martin Benninghoff, is a native of Clearfield County, Penn., born March 16, 1828, and a son of John Benninghoff, a sketch of whom will be found in the chapter on Greenville. Martin Benninghoff grew up in Venango County, and was there married, October 10, 1855, to Anna Mary Gahring, a native of Germany, who is the mother of nine children: Martin L., George H., Jacob G., Anna E. (deceased), Julia A., John M., Joseph L., Frederick W. and Jeremiah. In the spring of 1865 Mr. Benninghoff purchased his present homestead in West Salem Township, upon which he settled the following October, and where he has since resided. Our subject grew up in West Salem, and received a com- mon-school education. He was married September 19, 1878, to Miss Lizzie, daughter of Levi and Nancy (Saul) Kamerer, a native of this county, who has borne him one child, Eva E. Mr. Benninghoff and wife are members of the Reformed Church, and in politics he is a Republican. In 1882 he located on his present homestead on the Greenville and Orangeville road, and has since been one of the leading young farmers of West Salem.

LEVI BORTZ, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born on the site of She- nango August 7, 1830. His father, Henry Bortz, was a native of Lehigh County, Penn., where he grew up and married Magdalena Litzenberger, of that county, who bore him four sons and two daughters: Salome, deceased wife of Henry Miller, deceased; Mary, widow of John Shoemaker; Solomon, of Craw- ford County; Charles, of Greenville; Mandis, of Pymatuning Township, and Dennis, deceased. His wife died, and he married Susannah Litzenberger, a sister of his first wife, who bore him one son, Reuben, of West Salem Town- ship, prior to their coming to Mercer County. In 1828 they crossed the Moun- tains, and settled on the site of Shenango in West Salem Township, where three children were born to them: Levi, of West Salem Township; Eli, de- ceased, and Tilghman, of Greenville. The parents died in West Salem Town- ship in the Lutheran faith. Like all the pioneers they underwent the trials and hardships of early days, and did their full share toward the development of Mercer County. Our subject grew to manhood on the old homestead, and learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed about fifteen years. He then engaged in farming, and has since followed that vocation. Mr. Bortz was married April 28, 1853, to Miss Eliza, daughter of George S. and Mary (Reich- ard) Eisenhart, natives of Lehigh County, Penn., who came to this county in 1851, where the father died June 23, 1870, and the mother July 17, 1888. Mrs. Bortz is a native of Lehigh County, and is the mother of five children: Marietta U., wife of Frank Taylor, of Shenango; Alice R., wife of W. H. Wilkerson, of North Vernon, Ind .; Louisa, deceased; George. deceased. and Carrie A. P. Mr. Bortz and family are members of the Reformed Church. Politically he is a Republican, and takes a deep interest in the public affairs of his native township.

REUBEN BORTZ, shoemaker, post-office Greenville, was born in Lehigh County, Penn., February 1, 1821, and is the eldest son of Henry and Susan- nah Bortz, who settled on the site of Shenango in 1828. Our subject grew up in this county, and February 18, 1844, was married to Mary Magdalena, daughter of Samuel Kamerer, of Hempfield Township. Four children are the

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

fruits of this union: William Allen, Helen, Wilhelmina and Marcus. Mr. Bortz followed shoemaking up to within a few years ago, when he retired from the business. His wife died March 20, 1864, in the faith of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. He has been a life-long member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics a Democrat. In 1862 he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania Militia, and served nine months. William Allen, eldest son of Reuben Bortz, was born in Hempfield Township February 17, 1846, and, excepting two years spent in Kansas, he has always lived in Mercer County. He was married, May 4, 1865, to Elvina, daughter of Abraham and Anna Ludwig, early settlers of West Salem Township. Mrs. Bortz was born on the old homestead, and has had twelve children, five of whom are living: Marna M., Mahlon D. La., Epaphroditus, Eva and Milburn. Mr. Bortz and wife are members of the Evangelical Association, and in politics he is a Democrat.

LEVI G. BORTZ, farmer and carpenter, post-office Greenville, was born on the site of Shenango, August 20, 1850, and is a son of Mandis and Sarah (Mowry) Bortz, both natives of Lehigh County, Penn. The former came to West Salem Township with his father, Henry Bortz, in 1828, and here grew to manhood. He married, November 1, 1849, Sarah, daughter of George Mowry, of Hempfield Township, who blessed him with ten children: Levi G., Edward H., Ellen, deceased; Amelia, Martin C., Eliza J., wife of Philip Snyder, of Pymatuning Township; Emma, wife of Charles Sponsler, of Dela- ware Township; Frank, Emanuel and Lydia. The parents located at She- nango after marriage, and five years afterward settled on their present home- stead in Pymatuning Township. Our subject was reared in Pymatuning, and learned the carpenter and painter's trade, at which he has worked about twenty years. For the past fifteen years he has followed farming in connec- tion with his trade, purchasing his present homestead in the spring of 1883. He was married in December, 1873, to Margaret A., eldest daughter of Charles Benninghoff, of Pymatuning Township, who has had four children: Harry W., Clarence A., Ellen, deceased, and Oliver O. Mr. Bortz and wife belong to the Lutheran Church, and politically he is a stanch Republican, and one of the progressive citizens of the township.

JAMES BROCKWAY, farmer, post-office Jamestown, Penn., was born in Kins- man, Ohio, February 22, 1831. His father, George Brockway, was a native of Hartford, Conn., and about 1814-15 his father, Elias Brockway, removed with his family to Ashtabula County, Ohio, where George grew to manhood. About 1823 the latter came to West Salem Township, where he married Christiana Smail, daughter of John and Mary Smail, natives of Germany, who settled in this township in 1812-13. She reared the following children: David W., Joseph and Jeremiah, of Kansas; James, of West Salem Township; Eme- line, deceased wife of Samuel Livingston, of Crawford County; Alvin, Amos and Levi, of Greene Township, and Eliza J., deceased. The seven sons are all living and heads of families. George Brockway and wife resided for a few years on Big Run, in West Salem Township; thence removed to Kinsman, Ohio, where they lived about seven years. In the spring of 1834 they returned to Mercer County and took up their residence in Greene Township, on the farm where their son Levi now lives. They spent the remaining years of their lives on this place, dying June 28, 1852, and June 1, 1884, respectively. The mother died at the home of her son James, in West Salem. George Brockway was a Baptist from youth up to 1840, when, being a strong anti-slavery man, and disliking the position assumed by his church on that subject, he severed his connection therewith and subsequently became a "Free-thinker." James

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Brockway was reared on the old homestead, and attended the district school. He was married January 27, 1852, to Caroline, daughter of Richard and Barbara (Greiner) Brown, pioneers of West Salem. Mrs. Brockway was born in this township, and has had three children, viz. : William O., Richard E., deceased, and James S., deceased. In the spring of 1852 our subject located on the farm where he yet lives. He is an unswerving Republican, and one of the enterprising, progressive farmers of Mercer County, where he has lived more than half a century.

JAMES R. BROWN, retired farmer, post-office Greenville, was born in West Salem Township March 27, 1812, and is a member of one of the oldest fami- lies of the township. In the year 1800 James, William, Richard and Andrew Brown came to Mercer County, Penn., and, after exploring the country, the two last mentioned located in West Salem Township, while James and Will- iam settled across the line in Trumbull County, Ohio. They were natives of Eastern Pennsylvania, of Irish ancestry. A few years after coming Richard Brown married Barbara Grenier, a resident of West Salem Township, and a native of Pennsylvania, of German extraction. They reared a family of nine children: Andrew (deceased), James R., Sarah (deceased), William (deceased), Lorinda, Eliza (deceased), Cunningham R. (deceased), Emeline (deceased) and Caroline. The parents both died in West Salem Township, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at ripe old ages. Politically Richard Brown was first a Whig, and afterward a Republican, and served in the War of 1812. Our subject has always lived in West Salem, and was here married, March 11, 1834, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Ann Speir, who was born in West Salem Township February 8, 1808. She bore him four children: Richard C., Erwin, Malinda (deceased) and Robena, wife of William Lininger. Mrs. Brown died March 6, 1880, in the Baptist faith. Mr. Brown is a stanch Republican, and one of the oldest citizens of the township.

ERWIN BROWN, farmer, post-office Greenville, son of James R. Brown, was born on the old homestead, where he yet lives, January 22, 1837, and has always lived in Mercer County. He was married September 26, 1859, to Sarah, daughter of Rev. Nimrod Burwell, of West Salem Township, who has borne him eight children: Etta (deceased), Ina C., Elizabeth, Curtin, Malinda, Nora. (deceased), Arthur and Cora. Politically Mr. Brown is one of the leading Republicans of the county, and is also one of its most prominent farmers and stock dealers.

WILLIAM BROWN, deceased, was born in West Salem Township in 1816, and was a son of Richard and Barbara Brown, spoken of in the sketch of his brother, James R. Our subject grew up and spent his whole life in West Sa- lem Township. He was twice married. His first wife was Maria, daughter of Andrew Brown, by whom three children survive: Clorinda, wife of J. W. Woods; Eliza J., wife of Alfred Moats, and Mary L., wife of Grover Fetter- man. His wife died, and July 12, 1866, he was married to Mrs. Mary Ann Brown, daughter of Alexander Nelson. She was born in Sandy Creek Town- ship, and November 25, 1852, married James Brown, by whom she had two children: Irwin C., and Emily L., wife of Augustus Kamerer. By her second marriage one son, William S., was born. Both the sons reside with their mother in West Salem Township. Politically Mr. Brown was a Republican, and one of the respected citizens of the township, where he died June 25, 1868.

JOSIAH BROWN, deceased, was born on the old homestead, in West Salem Township, January 20, 1816, and was the only son of Andrew Brown, who settled in this township in the year 1800. [See sketch of James R. Brown. ] Andrew Brown married Mary, daughter of John and Nancy Mclaughlin, na-

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tives of Ireland, who came to West Salem Township in April, 1800, where her father died the following year. They reared five children: Sarah, widow of Alexander Nelson; Nancy, deceased wife of James Speir, deceased; Josiah, deceased; Lovina, wife of Jeremiah Morford, and Maria, deceased wife of William Brown, deceased. Andrew Brown died in July, 1823, and his widow afterward married Richard Morford, and died July 20, 1873. Our subject spent his whole life on the old homestead in West Salem Township. He was twice married, first to Mary, daughter of Thomas and Susan Morford, and reared four children by this union: Thomas, deceased; Andrew, deceased; Mal- lissa, wife of Dr. Cushman, and Mrs. Susan Brooks. His wife died, and he was again married, August 21, 1849, to Permelia O., daughter of Osman and Mary Williams, of Trumbull County, Ohio. Mrs. Brown was born in that county, and is the mother of eight children: Emma J., wife of Samuel K. Par- ker; Emerson O .; Ransom J .; Nancy A., wife of A. M. See; Minerva; Philura, wife of A. F. See; Milo and Manley, all of whom are living. Mr. Brown was a member of the Baptist Church many years, and died in that faith August 2, 1868. Politically he was a Republican, and served as justice of the peace two · terms. He was an affectionate father and husband, and accumulated through the passing years a competence for himself and family. He was an honest, enterprising, public-spirited man, took a leading interest in the public affairs of his township, and was one of its trustworthy and most respected citizens.

REV. NIMROD BURWELL, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born in North Shenango Township, Crawford Co., Penn., September 13, 1814. He is a son of Samuel and Hannah (Paden) Burwell, the former a native of England and the latter of Maryland, of Irish and Scotch parentage. They were mar- ried in Maryland, and after the birth of their first child removed to Crawford County, Penn. They were the parents of twelve children, eleven of whom grew to maturity, only four of whom are now living. They died on the old homestead in Crawford County. Our subject grew up in his native township, and learned the tailoring trade in Sheakleyville, Penn., where he located in 1831. He was married September 13, 1835, to Sarah B., daughter of Thomas and Sarah B. Phillips, old settlers of Sandy Creek Township. Two children survive this union: Sarah A., wife of Erwin Brown, and Emma T., wife of John B. Alexander. Mrs. Burwell died September 3, 1854, and he was again married April 10, 1855, to Lovina, daughter of David and Christiana Arner, of West Salem Township, and a native of Armstrong County, Penn. Four chil- dren are the fruits of this marriage: Nimrod Wayland, Ella (wife of Dr. R. H. Duff), David H. and John L., all living. Mr. Burwell united with the Baptist Church in 1834, and January 29, 1845, he was ordained, in Vienna, Ohio, a minister of that denomination. He took charge of three churches in Trumbull County, Ohio, where he remained about two years, and subsequently was pastor of West Salem Baptist Church two years, and the Greenville con- gregation about three years. He resided in West Salem Township most of this period, and has since been one of its well-known citizens. Politically he is a Prohibitionist, and deeply interested in the success of the temperance cause.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 161

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