History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 165

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

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union, his second wife dying April 10, 1855. Mr. Melvin was then mar- ried to Mrs. Harriet Fell, nee Sponsler, who bore him one son, Charles, of West Salem. He was again married, May 10, 1870, to Annie M., daughter of George and Sarah Logan, of Greene Township. Mr. Melvin has spent his whole life in West Salem Township, and both he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. He has always supported the Democratic party; has filled the office of justice of the peace fifteen years in succession, and united seventy-five couples in marriage. He has been one of the most prominent supporters of the public schools since their establish- ment, and has won and retained the respect and confidence of the best people of his native county.

LESTER MELVIN, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born on his present homestead September 15, 1831, and is the eldest living child of John R. Melvin, a pioneer of West Salem Township. Our subject here grew to manhood, and received his education in the district school of his neighbor- hood. He was married May 31, 1855, to Miss Mary, daughter of Henry and Salome (Bortz) Miller. The former was born in West Salem Town- ship, and was a son of Adam Miller, who came here from Maryland in 1802, where he died. Henry Miller and wife died in West Salem, in the Lutheran faith. Mrs. Melvin was born in West Salem Township, and is the mother of seven children: John, Herman, Allen, George, Ida, Susie and Lomy. Polit- ically Mr. Melvin is a stanch Democrat, and in 1882 was elected justice of the peace, and served one term. He was again chosen to the same office in 1888. He has served seventeen years on the school board of West Salem Township, and has always taken a deep interest in the growth and prosperity of his native county. He is recognized as one of the prominent, and most prosperous farmers of West Salem.

CHARLES H. MELVIN, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born on the old homestead, in West Salem Township, March 14, 1860, and is the youngest child of John R. Melvin. Our subject has passed his life in Mercer County, and received his education in its public schools. He was married September 9, 1880, to Eva, daughter of Joseph B. and Mary (McLaughlin) Nelson, na- tives of Mercer County. Mrs. Melvin was born in West Salem Township. and is the mother of two children: Harry Clifford and Joseph Plummer. Po litically Mr. Melvin is a Democrat, and one of the progressive young farmers of the township.

FREEMAN L. MILLER, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, October 17, 1848, and is a son of Jeremiah and Salome (Smith) Miller, the former a native of Mahoning County, Ohio, and his wife of Lehigh County, Penn. They were married in Mahoning County, and reared four children: Augusta A., Freeman L., Laura A. and Felley M., all of whom are living. The parents were members of the Evangelical Association, and died in Trumbull County, Ohio, the father March 18, 1877, and the mother May 9, 1884. Freeman L. grew up in his native county, attended school at Farming- ton, Ohio, and taught in that county two terms. He was married December

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29, 1869, to Miss Olive Craig, of Trumbull County, Ohio, who bore him one son, Claudius E. In 1874 he came to Mercer County, where Mrs. Miller died, at Shenango, January 10, 1878, in the Evangelical faith. Mr. Miller was again married December 14, 1880, to Miss Mary A., daughter of George S. and Mary Eisenhart, who settled on the farm where our subject now lives in 1851, and where both died. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his wife of the Reformed. Politically he is a Republican, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Miller was a telegraph operator for fourteen years, three years at Fredonia and eleven at Shenango, but gave up . that business in the spring of 1888, and has since devoted his attention to farm- ing and stock raising, being interested in a stock farm in Nebraska.

MORFORD FAMILY-Joseph Morford, deceased, was born in New Jer- sey in 1774, and there grew to manhood. In the last decade of the eighteenth century, he came into the Shenango Valley and settled on a tract of land in what is now West Salem Township, Mercer Co., Penn. He built his log cabin where his grandson, Dr. Ralph D. Morford, now lives. He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Morford, a cousin, who died without issue. In 1804 he was again married, to Elizabeth Fell, born September 25, 1785, and daughter of Nathan and Ann Fell, pioneers of Pymatuning Township. With her he began improving his farm while the Indians were yet their neighbors and deer and other wild game roamed at will through the now beautiful Shenango Valley. They were the parents of ten children, seven of whom grew to maturity: George, the eldest, was married to Sarah Brown, of Vernon Township, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and subsequently removed to Illinois, where he lived to rear a family; Martha, born in 1809, was married to Robert Woods, of Pymatuning Township, and moved to Illinois, where she died in 1876; Rachel, married Elisha Fox, of Pymatuning Township, and removed to Illinois, where she resides, a widow without issue; Benjamin, married Rebecca Stem, of Pymatuning Township, and removed to Illinois, and there died after rearing a family; Nathan, further notice of whom is given in this sketch; Joseph, married Hannah Dunbar, of Trumbull County, Ohio, where he died in early manhood, after being very successful in the practice of medicine; Rebecca, married Andrew Burnett, who at the time of marriage was a dealer in coal in Hubbard, Ohio, and afterward removed to Greenville, where they died, leaving one son, James, who resides in that town. All of the children are dead except Mrs. Rachel Fox, of Youngstown, Ill. Joseph Morford was a very successful farmer, and accumulated a large estate. Politically he was first a Democrat and then a Republican, and filled offices of trust several years. He was a quiet, unobtru- sive man, upright and straightforward, of strict integrity in all his dealings, and one whose opinions and judgment were held in high esteem by all who knew him. He died March 4, 1861, his widow surviving him until July 27, 1868, being in their eighty-seventh and eighty-third years, respectively. All of their children were born on the old homestead, and seven of them became heads of families.

Nathan Morford was born on the homestead May 14, 1817, and grew up and spent his whole life on the home farm, which he purchased of his father. He was married January 10, 1841, to Miss Mary Ann Smith, a native of Cumberland County, Penn., who had been teaching school in the neighborhood a few years prior to her marriage. She is a daughter of John and Sarah Smith, natives of Cumberland County, Penn., and reared a family of three children: Nathan A., of Phoenix, Arizona; Ellen, wife of W. H. Ruhlman, of North Lima, Ohio, and Dr. Ralph D., a practicing physician, living on the old home-

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stead. Politically Mr. Morford was a Republican, and represented this county in the Legislature in 1872-74. He was a man of enterprise and public spirit, and always took a deep interest in the public affairs of his native county. He was a Universalist in religious belief, and highly esteemed by those who knew him best. He died February 8, 1881. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. His widow and youngest son reside on the old home- stead where the husband and father passed his whole life.

JOSEPH MORFORD, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born in Pymatuning Township, Mercer Co., Penn., December 30, 1819. His father, Richard Mor- ford, came to Mercer County with his parents, John and Mary Ann (Cox) Morford, about 1803-04, who settled in Hickory Township, where both died. John Morford was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. After coming to this county Richard was married to Elizabeth Morford, a sister of Joseph Morford, then living in the south part of West Salem Township, of which union five sons and one daughter grew to maturity: James, deceased; John, William, deceased; Ann, deceased wife of Jeffrey Bentley, of Hickory Township; Joseph and Isaac. Mrs. Morford died July 26, 1826, and her husband married Mrs. Mary Brown. nee Mclaughlin, widow of Andrew Brown, and removed to West Salem Township. She bore him four children: Emeline, deceased; Eliza, deceased; Andrew and Judson. She died July 20, 1873, and her hus- band September 1, 1874, both in the faith of the Baptist Church. Politically Richard Morford was first a Whig and afterward a Republican. Our subject was reared in West Salem Township, and has always followed farming. He was married August 14, 1845, to Elizabeth, daughter of Matthew and Elizabeth (Atchison) Hunter, and granddaughter of Alexander Hunter, a pioneer sur- veyor, who settled in West Salem Township in the spring of 1812. Mrs. Morford is a native of this township, and has reared three children: Maggie J., Wellington and Orlando. Mr. Morford and wife are members of the Baptist Church, and politically he is a Republican.

JOSEPH NELSON, deceased, came to Mercer County in 1797 and settled in Sandy Creek Township. He had married Jane Armstrong before coming here, who bore him ten children: Isabel, Jane, Samuel, Betsy, James, Joseph, Alexander, Margaret, John and Irvine, the two last mentioned being the only survivors. The parents both died in Mercer County. Alexander was born in Sandy Creek Township August 12, 1801, and spent his whole life in Mercer County. He was married, March 12, 1829, to Sarah, daughter of Andrew and Mary Brown, pioneers of West Salem Township, where Mrs. Nelson was born March 26, 1812. They reared six children: Mary Ann, widow of Will- iam Brown; Joseph B., Sarah J., wife of Dr. L. N. Woods, of Oregon; Mar- garet (deceased), James W., and Clara, wife of Monroe Saul, of Greenville. After his marriage Alexander settled on a part of his father's homestead, near Sheakleyville, where he resided till the spring of 1835, when he purchased the old homestead in West Salem Township, where he spent the balance of his life. He was a member of the Baptist Church for fifty-three years, and polit- ically he was a Republican. He died September 11, 1886, being then one of the oldest settlers in the county. He was an honest, upright man, and bore a high character among all who knew him. He was a good neighbor and a kind husband and father. His widow resides on the old homestead with her son, James W., and enjoys good health. She has been a member of the Baptist Church for nearly half a century. James W. was born on the old homestead August 11, 1849, and has always resided here. He married, December 20, 1877, Amanda Etzweiler, of Harrisburg, Penn., and have three children: Freddie E., Maggie B. and Frank A. Politically Mr. Nelson is a Republican.

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JAMES NELSON, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born on his present homestead February 2, 1838. His father, James Nelson, was born in Mary- land, and came to this county with his parents, James Nelson and wife, when a boy, and settled in West Salem Township. Here he grew up and was mar- ried to Isabella, daughter of James McCullough, of Sugar Grove Township, and settled where his sons, James and Samuel, now live. They reared seven children, all of whom are living: John, Deborah, wife of W. G. W. Porter, of West Salem Township; Hannah J., wife of John Grover; James, Samuel, Nancy A., wife of William McBroom, of Greene Township, and Amanda, wife of Robert McMichael, of Meadville, Penn. The parents died on the old homestead, in the United Presbyterian faith. The father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and in politics a Democrat. He died February 27, 1867, his widow surviving him until December 17, 1887. Our subject has passed the most of his life in Mercer County. He was married, February 27, 1862, to Sarah E., daughter of Samuel and Anne E. (Moffett) Dumars, and grand- daughter of Alexander Dumars, one of the earliest and most prominent settlers of what is now Hempfield Township. Mrs. Nelson was born in that township, and has had six children: Annabel (deceased), James B., Maude, Sarah J., William D. and an infant. Politically Mr. Nelson is a Democrat, and a descendant of one of the oldest families of the county.

ISAAC PARKER was a son of Samuel and Mary Parker, and was born in West Salem Township February 24, 1815. He was a hardy pioneer boy, who de- lighted in the pastimes of hunting and playing in the dense forest that sur- rounded his father's log cabin. At an early age he attended the district school, and obtained what knowledge he could, but as he grew older he was obliged to assist in his father's saw-mill. His thirst for knowledge was great; books at that time were scarce, and his father's library contained but few vol- umes. Such as they were he read and re-read, every spare moment being spent in study, and by this course he mastered the rudiments of a good education. At the age of twenty-three he married Miss Priscilla Burnett, of Hubbard, Ohio, who was the daughter of Enos Burnett, an old pioneer, who was born in the year 1763, and was but thirteen years old at the time of the Declara- tion of Independence. He frequently saw Washington and his wife. After he grew to manhood he immigrated from New Jersey to Trumbull County, Ohio, and settled in Hubbard Township. There were but three white fami- lies in the vicinity, though Indians were numerous. Priscilla Burnett was the youngest daughter by his second marriage. She was married to Isaac Parker, April 1, 1838. By this union were born two daughters. Esther M. A. S. Parker, eldest daughter, was born February 24, 1839. She studied very hard at school, and at the age of twelve years had finished geography, astronomy, philosophy, and was making rapid progress in other branches. At the age of sixteen years she commenced teaching, and ultimately between each term of teaching she attended the best normal schools. She had a good knowledge of

all the higher branches and fine arts. Her correspondence was large.

Five

years before her death she destroyed 2,300 letters, besides postals. Her cor- respondence continued until her death, which took place March 5, 1886. Mary A. T., youngest daughter, was born December 18, 1844. She was about ten months old at the time of her father's death, which occurred November 9, 1845. She was reared and educated by her mother, and attended different seminaries. She is well versed in the common branches, and studied many of the higher ones. On the 1st of January, 1866, she was united in mar- riage to A. J. McMurren, of Brookfield, Ohio, who was a soldier in the late Rebellion. In politics he is a Republican. By this union Mrs. McMurren is

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the mother of two children: Duward B. P. and Durant E. L. Mrs. McMurren still resides on the old farm that was willed to her by her father.

WILSON PARKER, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born upon the farm where he now resides, October 20, 1821. His father, Samuel Parker, was born near Mount Holly, N. J., where his parents died when he was an infant. He there grew to manhood, and in 1804 came to Trumbull County, Ohio. He married Mrs. Mary Bowman, nee Shetler, whose husband, Samuel Bowman, died March 4, 1807. She reared the following children: Harriett, wife of Abraham Artman, of Greene Township; David, deceased; Isaac, deceased; Eliza, wife of James Burnett, of Ohio; Wilson, and Margaret, wife of Alex- ander Wade, of Greene Township. After his marriage Samuel Parker settled in West Salem Township, and a few years later located on the farm where his son, Wilson, lives. Here he died, September 22, 1859, in his eightieth year, and his widow March 2, 1875, in her ninety-seventh year. Mr. Parker was a Democrat in politics, and filled a number of the township offices. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and a respected citizen of the township. Our subject has passed his whole life on his present homestead. He was married November 27, 1843, to Elizabeth, daughter of Robert and Mary Waid, of Kinsman, Ohio. Mrs. Parker was born at Kinsman, November 27, 1822, and reared two children: Mary L. and William L. She died in 1851, and he was married again, October 9 of that year, to Mary Waid, a sister of his first wife, and also a native of Kinsman. Three children are the fruits of this union: Robert, Samuel K. and Elizabeth R. The family belong to the Baptist Church, and in politics Mr. Parker was formerly a Democrat, but is now a Prohibitionist. He has filled several of the local offices of his township, and has been quite successful through life.

SAMUEL K. PARKER, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born on the old homestead, in West Salem Township, January 25, 1855, and is a son of Wilson Parker, of that township. He was married September 22, 1874, to Emma J., daughter of Josiah and Permelia O. Brown, of West Salem. Mrs. Parker was born on the old homestead where her mother now resides. She has three children by this marriage: Millie M., Alice E. and Royal J. W. Mr. Parker and wife are members of the Baptist Church, and in politics he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM T. PHELAN, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, February 6, 1838, and is a son of Michael and Mary Phelan, who spent their lives in Ireland. Our subject grew to manhood in his native county, and in the summer of 1859 immigrated to the United States, After visiting his brother, Rev. Richard Phelan, of Armstrong County, Penn., (now bishop of Pittsburgh), he went to Dayton, Ohio. He spent about four years in that portion of the State as book-keeper and clerk in wholesale and retail grocery houses. In 1864 he returned to Pennsylvania and spent about one year in the oil country. He came to Greenville in the spring of 1866, and in partnership with William Shields opened a grocery store. He continued

this business until March, 1871, when he located on his present homestead, in West Salem Township, and has since been engaged in farming. Mr. Phelan was married June 15, 1869, to Miss Eliza J., daughter of the late Mark Doyle, of West Salem Township. She was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, and is the mother of eight children: Mary R. J., Elizabeth T., Richard M., Mark F., Bridget C., Annie J., Johanna I, and Florence. The family belong to the Catholic Church, and in politics Mr. Phelan is an unswerving Democrat. He is one of the well-known and respected citizens of West Salem Township,

WILLIAM G. W. PORTER, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born in Hick- ory Township, Mercer Co., Penn., July 24, 1833. His father, Luke Porter,

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was born in Eastern Pennsylvania, and was a son of William Porter, one of the earliest settlers of that township. Luke grew up in his native county, and mar- ried Jane, eldest daughter of William Welch, a pioneer of Hickory Township. After marriage he settled near Sharon, and removed to the farm now occupied by our subject in 1835. He reared one son and eight daughters, and three of the latter have since died. His first wife died here, and he was again married and removed to Virginia, where he was killed by the cars in 1883, being then in his eighty-ninth year. Our subject has lived on his present farm for the past fifty-two years (it being the old homestead), and has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was married March 6, 1860, to Deborah E., daughter of James and Isabel Nelson, deceased pioneers of West Salem Town- ship. They have reared six sons: Clifford C., James L., Victor W., Vincent M., Bion W. and Curtis L., all of whom are living. Mr. Porter is a Demo- crat, and one of the leading farmers of the township.

CHARLES RICE, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born in Lehigh County, Penn., July 26, 1819, and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Bear) Rice, natives of Lehigh County, who came to West Salem Township in the spring of 1837, and here passed the remaining years of their lives. They belonged to the Re- formed Church, in which faith they died. They were the parents of the fol- lowing children: Maria, Charles, Sarah, deceased; Emma, deceased; Julia, Eliz- abeth, Lestie, Catharine and Henry. Our subject has lived in this township for the past fifty-one years, and has always been engaged in farming. He was married October 2, 1842, to Abagail, daughter of Daniel and Polly (Hummel) Goode, natives of Lehigh County, Penn., where Mrs. Rice was also born. She has had eleven children, eight of whom are living: Sarah, Lydia, Samuel, Malinda, Henry, Charles, George and Elizabeth. Mr. Rice and wife are mem- bers of the Evangelical Association, and politically he is a Republican.

EDWIN RICHARDSON, master mechanic on the P. S. & L. E. Railroad, post- office Greenville, was born in Stoddard, Cheshire Co., N. H., June 17, 1835, and is a son of Franklin and Harriett (Wilson) Richardson, natives of the same town, His mother died in 1878, and his father resides in Kansas, at the ripe old age of eighty years. Our subject began railroading in 1853, on the New York Central, and in 1862 came to Meadville, Penn., where he was connected with the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad till 1869, The next five years were spent in Kansas and Texas. In 1875 he took a position on the S. & A. Railroad, and two years afterward became master mechanic at She- nango, which position he has filled for the past eleven years, Mr. Richardson was married April 26, 1864, to Miss Sarah J. Powell, of Corry, Penn., who has borne him three children: Frank C., Charley C., and Edwin. Both he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. Politically he is a Repub - lican, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and one of the well-known railroad men of Mercer County.

JAMES SAY, farmer, post office Greenville, was born in Butler County, Penn., August 22, 1812, and is a son of John and Sarah (Martin) Say, natives of Pennsylvania. His maternal grandfather, John Martin, was born in Ire- land, and served through the Revolutionary War. His parents died in Butler County, Penn, Our subject grew up in his native county, and was married April 12, 1849, to Nancy, daughter of Samuel and Nancy (Story) Steel, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Irish ancestry. Her grandfather, Isaac Steel, emi- grated from Ireland to Pennsylvania, served in the Revolutionary struggle, and fought the Indians on the western border of the State. Mrs. Say's father is dead, and her mother resides in Armstrong County, Penn., at the advanced age of ninety-two years. Mrs. Say was born in Armstrong County, April 27,

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1824, and has reared nine children: Samuel N. (deceased), Sarah J. (wife of D. C. Shull), John P., Malinda (wife of Alfred Bales), R. L., William, Eliza- beth, Belle and Tillie. Mr. Say resided in Butler County until April, 1873, when he purchased and removed to the farm north of Greenville, where he has since resided. The family are members of the United Presbyterian Church of Greenville. In politics he has always been a Republican, with temperance proclivities.

PETER SIMPKINS, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, March 11, 1819, and is a son of Peter and Martha Simpkins, natives of Eastern Pennsylvania, who removed to Ohio some years before the birth of our subject, crossing the Mountains in a six-horse wagon. In 1827 they removed across the line into West Salem Township, Mercer County, where the parents died. The father was a member of the Disciple Church, while his wife was one of the organizers of West Salem Baptist Church. They reared the following children: John, William, Catharine, David, Martha, Enoch, Rebecca, Peter and Mary Ann. William and Peter are the only sur- vivors of the family. The latter was left an orphan at the age of thirteen, and was then thrown upon his own resources, obtaining only a few months' schooling in the old fashioned log school-house of pioneer days. He grew to manhood in West Salem Township, and for over sixty years has made his home therein. He was married September 6, 1838, to Emily, daughter of Joseph Dilley, of Pymatuning Township. She was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, and has had twelve children, eleven of whom are living: Juliett, William, Hasen, Mary, Joseph, Eliza, Linus, George, Almon, Perry and Florence. Mr. Simpkins has resided on his present homestead since his marriage. For over thirty years he was principally engaged in operating a coal mine on his farm, where it is believed the first coal in Mercer County was mined. He also devoted his attention to farming in connection with his coal business. Both he and wife have been members of West Salem Baptist Church since July, 1844, and in politics he has been one of the leading Democrats of his town- . ship since early manhood.

FREDERICK SMITH, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born in Germany Jan- uary 20, 1828. His parents were Jacob and Magdalena Smith, natives of Ger- many, who immigrated to Allegheny County, Penn., in 1830, where they resi- ded until the spring of 1844, and then settled on the farm in West Salem Township where our subject now lives. They reared eight children: Fred- erick, John, deceased; Mary, wife of Peter Yeager, of l'erry Township; Eliza- beth, widow of William Whitney, of Greene Township; Magdalena, wife of Andrew Kechler, of Kansas; George B .; Christina, wife of Edward Courtright, of Trumbull County, Ohio, and Caroline, wife of John Snod- grass, of Iowa. The parents were Presbyterians, and died on the old homestead, the father April 20, 1875, and the mother November 18, 1886. Frederick has lived on his present farm since the coming of his parents in 1844. He was married August 25, 1887, to Emeline, daughter of James and Jemima Gillis, pioneer residents of West Salem Township, where Mrs. Smith was born. Politically Mr. Smith has been a life-long Democrat, and reveres the memory of his parents, who settled here forty-four years ago.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 165

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