History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 88

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

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DRS. JAMES AND BERIAH MAGOFFIN. - The subjects of this sketch were of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Their father, Dr. James Magoffin, Sr., was a grad- uate of medicine from the University of Edinboro, Scotland, and in his early professional life was a surgeon in the British navy. After some years of this service he engaged in private practice in the city of Newry, Ireland, and later in life emigrated with his whole family to the United States. His wife, whose maiden name was Anne Moore, was of the same stock as the British general, Sir John Moore, who fell at Corunna, Spain, and whose memory is so beauti- fully embalmed in Wolfe's poem, entitled "Burial of Sir John Moore."

Dr. James Magoffin, Jr., their eldest son, was born in the city of Newry in March, 1798. He received a classical education in his native city, studied medicine under the direction of his father, and graduated as a doctor of med- icine in 1820 from the University of Glasgow, Scotland. He immigrated to the United States in company with his father's family in 1821, coming over as sur- geon of the vessel in which they sailed, intending, however, to go to the Brit- ish West Indies to practice his profession. After landing at Quebec the family took passage up the St. Lawrence and across Lake Ontario, visiting on their way the falls of Niagara, and reached Mercer in July of the same year. Their purpose in coming to Mercer was to visit Ebenezer Magoffin, Esq., an elder brother of Dr. James Magoffin, Sr., who had immigrated to America near the close of the last century. The uncle persuaded the young doctor to abandon his idea of going to the West Indies and to locate in Mercer, painting to him in glowing colors the wonderful future that was about to open to the town and county. Seduced from his original intention by the eloquence of his uncle, the young doctor located in Mercer, and immediately succeeded in acquiring a large practice. After a short stay in Mercer the rest of the family resumed their journey to Kentucky to visit the twin brother of the elder doc- tor, Beriah Magoffin, Esq., who had immigrated to this country and settled in Kentucky about the time his brother Ebenezer settled in Mercer. Dr. James Magoffin, Jr., had diligently practiced his profession in Mercer for about five years, when he married Miss Grace Elizabeth Mitcheltree, only daughter of Dr. William Mitcheltree, late of Dublin, Ireland. The children of this union were: W. J., now deceased; Elizabeth Anne, also deceased, wife of Rev. W. H. French, who is now pastor of the First United Presbyterian Church, of Cincinnati; John M., a resident of Mercer; Sarah J., a maiden lady of Mer-

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

cer; Matilda Grace, deceased, wife of the late Rev. W. C. Jackson, who at the time of his death was pastor of the Fourth United Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia; Beriah, an attorney of Mercer; Montrose M., a physician and surgeon practicing in Mercer; Maria, a maiden lady of Mercer; Amanda, de- ceased, and H. M., the youngest, who is a farmer in Findley Township. Dr. James Magoffin practiced his profession with great energy and skill, and gave his attention strictly to his vocation, attending all classes, the rich and the poor alike. He never failed when any of his patients were unable to procure necessary medicines, or were liable to suffer from lack of nourishing food, to supply their wants. No physician in this part of the country ever practiced over the extent of territory he did. It was no uncommon occurrence for him to be called into all the surrounding counties, and even into the State of Ohio, and if he had not been blessed with a fine physique, indomitable will and nerve, he never could have stood the long rides on horseback he frequently had to undergo, He was likewise a public-spirited citizen, and always responded liberally to every enterprise calculated to benefit the town or community. He established the first drug store of any consequence in Mercer, and perhaps the first in Mercer County. The three-story brick building at the northeast cor- ner of the public square, known as the Magoffin Drug Store Block, he built in 1839, which was the first building of the kind erected in Mercer, and at the time was regarded as quite an imposing edifice. He donated the ground and furnished much of the means to build the First United Presbyterian Church of Mercer, of which congregation he and his wife were long communicants. He practiced medicine for nearly fifty years, and died November 25, 1879, at the advanced age of eighty-two, honored and respected by the whole com- munity in which he had so long lived. His wife, who was a lady of great re- finement and adorned with all the virtues that define the true woman, had pre- ceded him to the grave, having died March 2, 1873.

Dr. Beriah Magoffin was also born in the city of Newry, Ireland, about the year 1800. He came with his father's family to this country, as already stated, in the year 1821, and settled first in the State of Kentucky. There he studied medicine, graduating from the Transylvania University, located at Lexington, when that institution had on the roll of its professors the names of such emi- nent physicians and surgeons as Daniel Drake and Benjamin Winslow Dudley. After receiving his degree he came to the State of Pennsylvania, and located for the practice of his profession in the town of Harmony, Butler County. He then succeeded in building up a large and lucrative practice, and established a fine reputation as a physician. In 1840 he was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Patterson, daughter of Robert Patterson, Esq., of Mercer, and shortly after removed from Harmony to Mercer, where he continued to live until the time of his death in August, 1877. Several children were born to him and his wife, but only one, James, lived to attain manhood. His wife Amanda died in 186-, and in 1867 he was again married, to Miss Maria Mitcheltree, of Pitts- burgh, who survives him. His son James, in whom he had centered such high hopes, died in the fall of 1876. Dr. Beriah Magoffin did not practice his pro- fession with any great energy after he came to Mercer to live. For the first ten or twelve years he took charge of his brother's drug store, preferring that kind of practice to the hardships incident to horseback riding through the country. He was a man of generous impulses, and although not possessed of the same positive, robust qualities as his brother James, he always com- manded the respect of the community as a man of sterling character.

The lives of both the Dr. Magoffins, James and Beriah, did honor to our common humanity, and they died leaving behind them memories which their friends will never cease to treasure as precious legacies.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

HON. S. R. MASON, attorney, was born March 1, 1827, in the portion of Mercer County that is now included in Lawrence County, son of Robert and Matilda (McKinley) Mason, natives of Ireland and Washington County, Penn., respectively, and were the parents of seven children, two of whom sur- vive: S. R. and William W. Our subject was educated in the country schools, private instructions by David Martin, a minister of the United Presbyterian Church, and in Allegheny College, at Meadville, graduating from that institu- tion in 1849. He read law with Hon. John Hoge, of Mercer, was admitted to the bar in 1852, and subsequently formed a partnership with Hon. Samuel Griffith, which firm became one of the best known in Western Pennsylvania. He was married in 1853 to Miss Sarah J. Smith, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Smith, one of the pioneer families of Mercer. Mr. Mason's union gave him seven children: Lizzie, Robert, Mary M., Joseph, Samuel R., W. C. and Jennie A. Mr. Mason was elected district attorney for Mercer County in 1854, and was one of the commissioners who built the union schools of Mer- cer. In 1878 he was nominated and made the race for governor of Pennsyl- vania on the Greenback ticket. Since then he has thrown his influence with the Republicans. He is one of the trustees of the insane asylum of Warren, was a director of the New Castle & Franklin Railroad, and is now the attorney for the B., N. Y. & P. and Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroads. He and wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Mercer.

G. W. McBRIDE, the present district attorney of Mercer County, was born May 15, 1849. His parents were David and Margaret (McCandless) McBride. His father was born in Ireland, and immigrated to this country when a boy, and was married to Margaret McCandless in 1842. After their marriage the parents settled on a farm in Pine Township, this county, where they died some years since. The subject of this sketch was one of eleven children, of whom eight are still living. He was educated in the common schools of the neigh- borhood where he resided, and also in Grove City Academy and Westminster College. He taught school successfully for a number of years in Mercer and Lawrence Counties, and, after reading law in the office of Hon. S. H. Miller, was admitted to the Mercer County bar in 1882. He was nominated and elected district attorney of this county, by the Republican party, in 1887. He married Maggie J., a daughter of W. H. and N. J. McCoy, of Grove City, by whom he has two children: Quincy A. and Paul A. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., of Mercer Lodge, and has been a member of the borough coun- cil. He is a representative of a self-made man, having worked himself up from the position of a country school-teacher to the honorable and useful posi- tion which he now occupies ..

THOMAS MCBURNEY, stock dealer, was born March 25, 1819, in Ireland, son of John and Mary (Frances) McBurney, natives of Ireland, and who immigrated to Mercer County in 1828. James McBurney, a brother of John, opened up a mercantile store in Mercer in a smoke-house which stood on the site of John M. Magoffin's present residence. This smoke-house was the prop- erty of an Irishman named Samuel Thompson, who at that time was conduct- ing a hotel near by, known as the Thompson House. He retired from the business about 1848, and died in 1855 or 1856. He was the father of the fol- lowing children: Mary J., married Frank Baskin; Celia, married Thomas R. Sheriff; Sarah A., married Rev. John Armstrong; Matilda, married David Mourer; Rebecca, married W. J. McKean. John McBurney engaged in farm- ing when locating in the county. He followed that business in Springfield, Lackawannock and Jackson Townships until 1867, when he died, his wife having preceded him to the grave about two weeks. He was the father of

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eight children: Ann, died in Erie while the family was on their way to this county; Celia, married Joseph Taylor; Mary, married Rev. Miller Wallace; Sarah, married Theopolus McDowell; Jane, married David Proudfit; Thomas, James and John. Our subject began for himself on reaching his majority upon a rented farm, and later became the owner of land and an extensive dealer in cattle and sheep, buying them in Mercer County, driving and selling them in the eastern markets. He was married in 1841 to Rosannah, daughter of Hugh Mckean, and was blessed with four children: Nancy, married B. A. Ride; John F., married Sarah Maskry; Mary, married Fred Squires, and Will- iam T. Mrs. McBurney died December 29, 1873, and he was again married, to Sarah Moore, daughter of John and Isabella Moore. Mr. McBurney was nominated by the Democrats for sheriff of Mercer County in 1866, and was defeated by a small majority.

THOMAS W. McCLAIN, foreman of the Western Press, was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., November 27, 1854. His father, David McClain, was born in County Downe, Ireland, in 1826, was a shoemaker by trade, and died August 6, 1877, the father of six children. His mother, Sarah (Mckeown) McClain, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1828, and is still living in Sharon. Our sub- ject was educated in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Sharon. He began the printer's trade in the office of the Sharon Times in 1868. He was the editor of this paper at the time of its suspension in 1880. He also published a small paper in Sharon for a few months, and was editor of the Vindicator, of Hubbard, Ohio, for nearly one year. In 1880 he joined Capt. George R. Guss in the publication of the Chester County Democrat at West Chester, Penn. In 1882, a few months prior to the death of Hon. William S. Garvin, he came to Mercer to take charge of the Western Press, which in the fall of that year passed into other hands. He has been since then connected with that paper. He was married in Sharon July 5, 1877, to Mary A. Zahniser, born in 1857 in Hickory Township, this county, daughter of John and Ann Zahniser. By this union he has has six children: Alice, Mary, John, Lidia, Thomas and Robert. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., K. of P., and E. A. U., and is a Democrat.

S. H. MCCLEERY, county superintendent of schools, was born July 20, 1856, to James and Lucinda (Snyder) McCleery. The father was born in Mercer County in 1834, and his father, Samuel, was a native of Ireland, and immigrated to America, with his parents and brothers and sisters, at the age of eighteen years. Samuel settled near Sheakleyville, where James now resides, and is the father of the following children: S. H .; J. S., a dentist at Beatrice, Neb., who taught school a number of years, read dentistry in Green- ville, practiced at Burg Hill and Hubbard, Ohio, married Joanna Calvin and in 1885 went to Beatrice; William E .; Catharine; Martha; Mary E., married Newton Vanmeter; Frank A., Hugh N., John E. and Emma. S. H. McCleery attended the common schools, academy of New Lebanon, Sheakleyville, Grove City College and Edinboro Normal, Erie County, Penn. He graduated at the last named in 1882. He began teaching at the age of nineteen, and followed that vocation for six winters in country schools, one year in Utica, Venango Co., Penn., and one year at Sheakleyville. He was elected county superin- tendent of Mercer County in 1884, and re-elected in 1887. He was married to Silvia J., daughter of Joseph and Mary Infield, of New Vernon Township. By her he has one daughter, Mary E. He is a member of the Baptist organi- zation of Sheakleyville. Mr. McCleery has worked himself up to the high position he now holds by his own efforts. His father was wounded in the war while serving in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania

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Volunteers, and was always in limited circumstances. Consequently our sub- ject was compelled to make his own way through his educational studies. He usually spent his vacation during the summer months in the harvest fields, cradling wheat and pitching hay. In politics he is a Republican.

J. W. MCCULLOUGH, farmer, was born March 17, 1821, one mile north of Mercer. William McCullough, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of the north of Scotland, and immigrated to Washington County, Penn., in 1784, where he remained until the spring of 1794, at which time he, in com- pany with his two eldest sons, came to Mercer County and located on land now in East Lackawannock Township, to where he, in the year 1796, brought his entire family. In July, 1833, he died. His children were: William, John, Alexander, Mary, Jane, Nancy and Elizabeth. John, the father of our subject, was married to Mary Wright, who came from Cumberland County, Penn., and his children were: Margaret, William, Mary, George, John W. and Samuel. The father died in August, 1854, and his wife died in January, 1842. Both were original members of the First Presbyterian Church of Mer- cer. John W. Mccullough was educated principally in the old Mercer Academy, his teacher being D. B. Cook. He was reared on a farm, and at the age of eighteen years he began clerking in a store. He was married in 1848 to Mary Patterson, by whom he had two children: William W., married Miss E. P. Horne, and has one child, John; the other died in infancy. Mr. Mccullough was elected a justice of the peace eight terms, was county poor director in 1860, and was one term burgess of Mercer. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Republican.

ARCUS MCDERMITT, deceased, was born in what is now Findley Township, Mercer Co., Penn. His father died when he was very young, and his early life was spent on the farm where he was born, attending the country schools and the old famous Mercer Academy. Later he became a student at Colum- bia College, Tennessee, in which State he also taught school. Returning to Butler County, his family's home, he read law with Charles Sullivan, a prominent attorney of Butler, and was admitted to the bar of Butler County in 1849. He was admitted to the bar of his native county September 1, 1851, and in 1852 he was elected county treasurer, and served with credit for a term of two years. From this time until he was chosen president judge he con- tinued to prosecute his chosen profession with much energy and success. He formed a partnership with S. H. Miller in 1872, which continued until 1874, when he was elected to the office of president judge. The Mercer Western Press of January 1, 1884, says: "In 1882 he was a prominent candidate before the Democratic State Convention for the nomination for judge of the supreme court. The excellent record which he had made as one of the best common pleas judges in the State was known all over the commonwealth, and it was generally thought by the most careful politicians that he would secure the nomination. He would have done so without a doubt had not the complications arising from nominating Robert E. Pattison for governor worked against his interests. He, however, stood next in the list to Judge Clark, who received the nomination." He was married September 28, 1865, to Miss Elizabeth Hoge, daughter of John and Rebecca (Smith) Hoge. John Hoge, whose father and childless uncle, John Hoge, presented to Mercer the land upon which it is built, was born in Washington, Penn .; graduated from Washington College; began practicing law in Mercer, and married Rebecca, daughter of Joseph Smith, in 1835. His fine scholarly attainments and brilliant mental endowment made him a man of mark, and it is the pleasure of such men as Simon Cameron, Charles R. Buckalew, George

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Plumer Smith and others to relate anecdotes of his wit and genius. He died suddenly of apoplexy in 1854, and was the father of the following children: Elizabeth (who became the wife of A. McDermitt), David L. (who resides in Illinois), Annie (who married A. B. McCartney), and three others who are deceased. The judge's union blessed him with one daughter, Jane Hoge McDermitt. He was stricken with sudden illness on Monday, November 19, brought on by too close application to study and the duties of his profession and position, and died November 30, 1883. His funeral took place the following Sunday, and was the largest ever seen in Mercer, the number present being estimated at from 3,000 to 4,000 persons. The Mercer bar passed the following memorial, which was read by Quincy A. Gordon at the funeral ceremonies: "The members of the bar of Mercer County, called together by the sudden death of the Hon. Arcus McDermitt, president judge of our courts, deem it a proper occasion to pay a suitable and truthful tribute to the memory of our late professional and official chief. Judge McDermitt's life was devoted to his profession. Endowed with generous and varied gifts, he was above all things a lawyer. He was original in his cast of mind. Everything he said and everything he wrote was full of the individuality of the man.

He was never commonplace. To those qualities he added the fruits of industry, unremitting and life-long labor. His capacity for work seemed to be without limit, and continued until his life went out. "His eye was not dim nor his natural force abated" until the shadow of the death angel literally fell upon him. So accustomed were we to see him vigorous and strong, grasping the duties of life with a firm hand and a keen zest, that we were startled and shocked when we realize that he is dead, and that it is less than a fortnight since he occupied his place on the bench. On this sad occasion it is pleasure to be able to say that in addition to mental gifts, such as are rarely bestowed and still more rarely improved, Judge McDermitt possessed qualities of heart which endeared him to a large circle of personal acquaintances. He was sternly and scrupulously honest. No one ever suggested or suspected that he had ever touched a dollar that was not honestly his own. He was sympathetic; he was the friend of the unfortunate, and always resolved all doubts in favor of the largest liberty of the citizen. It is not panegyric, it is simple justice, to say that an able jurist, a just judge and an honest man has fallen this day. And while thus giving expression to our appreciation of the high character and worth of Judge McDermitt as a lawyer, judge and man, we desire to tender our sympathy to his family in their sore bereavement. We would further recommend that this tribute to the memory of our departed chief be spread upon the minutes of the court, that they may be read at the funeral services, that a copy be pre- sented to his bereaved family, and be furnished the press of Mercer County for publication." Signed by S. Griffith, B. Magoffin, Edwin W. Jackson, Thomas Tanner and A. F. Henlein. On the same occasion the Hon. John Trunkey, late of the supreme court, delivered an eloquent and heartfelt tribute to the deceased, whom he knew so well from a long and intimate relation. He said: "I never heard while practicing beside him, or when presiding in the courts of this county, where he was engaged during my administration, on one side of almost every important case that was tried, that he ever exacted an exorbitant fee, but I frequently knew that he was ready to lend his best service for the defense of him who was poor and unable to pay a farthing; that no poor man, as far as I knew, ever resorted to him for counsel and assistance and was denied. I knew him to have been a true friend, a friend without deceit, for if he ceased to be your friend you knew it, for

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that was the nature of the man. I never knew of his attempting to despoil anybody in a business transaction; I don't think he was ever known by the brethren of the profession to resort to a trick. Earnest as he was in behalf of his client, making the case his own, he sought to win upon its merits. He sympathized with the poor, the widow and the orphan, the weak in their con- tests with the strong; neither money nor power, nor personal feeling, rested his judgment; he was a terror of evil doers, and the hope of the innocent; with all his mind and heart he administered justice according to the law of the land."

WILLIAM McELHENY (deceased). - William McElheny was born in Shavers Creek, Huntingdon County, Penn., about the year 1801. He came to Mercer County in 1831, and bought a farm in Cool Spring Township from Aaron Hackney, who was the builder of the old Whistler Hotel. After four years at farm life Mr. McElheny, in company with Thomas Fairman, opened up a small store in a building on the present site of the F. & M. N. Bank. Two years later our subject bought the stock of goods and moved them to a room where now stands Montgomery's drug store. Three years later he removed to the corner where the Western Press was issued for many years. In four years he sold out and bought a lot, with an orchard and a small frame hut, on the site of which is the Magoffin drug store corner. On this lot is to be found a well sixty feet deep, the last thirty feet having been cut through solid stone. It is not exactly known who planted the orchard or dug the well. It is thought,

however, that a Mr. Sample was the man. Mr. McElheny helped to build the brick block that now stands on the old orchard spot, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1865. He married Mary Smartt, of Huntingdon County, and brought her to this county by team. He and Andrew Patterson used to go to Philadelphia on horseback for goods. His union gave him seven children: Letitia, a maiden lady of Mercer; William C., was a minister of the Union Presbyterian Church; John S., was a farmer; Elizabeth, Mary, Margaret and Frances, died when young. William C. married Alice Walsh, a native of Ireland, and who came to America when twenty years old. By her he had two children: Mary F. (married John B. Morrow) and William G. (died December 9, 1879). Mr. McElheny served as justice of the peace, and was interested in the schools of the county. He helped to build a church where the water-works tank now stands. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and died in the faith of that organization. His only daughter, Letitia, is a resident of Mercer, and a worthy Christian lady.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 88

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