History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 95

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

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MALIN EWING, dealer in dry goods, notions and millinery, is a native of New Lisbon, Ohio, born April 13, 1843, and is a son of Jacob and Sarah A. (Malin) Ewing of that town. The grandfather was a native of Ireland, who immigrated to Ohio, where Jacob was born and reared. Jacob married Sarah

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A. Malin, a native of Pennsylvania, whose paternal ancestors were of Puritan stock, and, on the maternal side, of Quaker origin. In the fall of 1847 they removed to Georgetown, Beaver Co., Penn., where our subject was reared and educated. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Company L, Twenty-eighth Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, and served until April, 1865, when he was discharged with the rank of second lieutenant. This regiment was afterward divided, Company L, Twenty-eighth, then becoming Company A, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers. He participated in the many battles and campaigns of his regiment, and was wounded at Lost Mountain, in the Atlanta campaign, but recovered sufficiently to serve in Sherman's march to the sea. He was in command of his company from May, 1863, until dis- charged, except the interval while wounded. He followed steamboating on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers till 1870, when he came to Sharon, and clerked until 1883, in which year he and B. R. Williams succeeded to the old estab- lished house of Mrs. L. Williams. He subsequently purchased his partner's interest, and has since continued alone. His parents came to Sharon about eight years ago, where they died in 1881 and 1882, respectively, in the faith of the Disciple Church. Mr. Ewing was married October 1, 1868, to Miss Lizzie, daughter of Reese and Leah Williams (deceased), one of the old fam- ilies of Sharon. Of this union four sons survive: Charles S., Benjamin S., Malin R. and Ralph W. Mr. Ewing is a trustee and stockholder in the Hall Institute, a member of the G. A. R., and the family belong to the Baptist Church.

ENOCH FILER, coal dealer and operator, was born in England January 15, 1833, and is a son of Thomas and Ann (Barber) Filer, who lived and died in England. Enoch came from England to Mercer County, Penn., in March, 1852, and began working at the coal business, which he had followed in his native land. In 1859 he sank the first large shaft on the farm of John Hofius, Hickory Township, this being the introduction of that class of mining in Mer- cer County, and the first in which machinery was used for hoisting the coal. He subsequently sank a shaft for Kimberly, Forker & Co., and also one for Pierce, Scott & Allen. He afterward spent a couple of years in the oil region, where he was engaged in the coal business for himself. In 1866 he returned to Mercer County, purchased an interest in the original shaft on the Hofius farm, and soon after went into partnership with Samuel Kimberly, as Kim- berly & Filer. He was afterward connected in the coal business with James Westerman, whose estate is still a part of the company. Mr. Filer is, to-day, the oldest and most prominent coal operator in Mercer County, and has been very successful in business. He was married May 21, 1853, to Elizabeth Law- ton, a native of England, by whom he has five sons and one daughter: John F., Enoch L., Frank P., Henry J., Walter G. and Clara. He is a Democrat, a K. T. of the Masonic fraternity, and is one of the enterprising, progressive busi- ness men of the Shenango Valley. The family belongs to the Episcopal Church.

HENRY FORKER (deceased) was born in Mercer, Penn., in August, 1823, and was a son of Gen. John and Isabella (Graham) Forker, of that borough. He grew up and received his education in Mercer, and there carried on the mercantile business up to 1857, when he sold his interest to his brother Joseph and Mr. Zahniser, and removed to Sharon, where he entered the coal business in partnership with his father-in-law, T. J. Porter, Esq. In company with Samuel Kimberly, under the firm name of Kimberly & Forker, he opened Keel Ridge coal mine in 1863. He was successfully engaged in coal operations un- til his sudden death by a railroad accident at Altoona, Penn., May 20, 1865.

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He was married February 22, 1849, to Miss Salina J., daughter of the vener- able T. J. Porter, Esq., of Sharon. Of this union three sons and two daugh- ters survive: John, teller of the Sharon National Bank; Thomas J., dry goods merchant of Sharon; Harry P., Julia A., wife of Frank H. Buhl, of Sharon, and Bella G. Mr. Forker was a stanch Republican, but took no active inter- est in political affairs. He was deputy sheriff under his father one term. He was a regular attendant at the United Presbyterian Church, and did a great deal toward building up that denomination in Sharon.

THOMAS J. FORKER, dry goods merchant, was born in Mercer, May 27, 1856, and was the second son of Henry Forker. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of Sharon, clerked two years, and in 1877 formed a partnership with C. S. Quinby, under the firm name of Forker & Quinby. They began business in the old room previously occupied by Porter & Forker, and have increased their business annually till they are now one of the leading dry goods houses of the town. Politically Mr. Forker is a Democrat, but devotes his attention solely to his business affairs.

JOSEPH FORKER, president of the Sharon National Bank, was born in Mer- cer, Penn., June 6, 1829, and is a son of Gen. John and Isabella (Graham) Forker, the latter of whom is still a resident of Mercer. Adam Forker, grandfather of our subject, with his wife and family, located in Cool Spring Township early in the present century, afterward removing to Mercer, where Adam and wife died. Gen. Forker was a gunsmith by trade, and in the War of 1812 followed that business for the army at Erie, Penn. He was afterward prominently identified with the militia of the county, holding therein the rank of brigadier-general. He was an ardent Democrat, served one term as sheriff of Mercer County, and was one of the leading men of his day. He died in 1865, in the faith of the United Presbyterian Church, and his widow still survives him. They reared five children, three of whom are living. Joseph was the third eldest in the family, and grew to manhood in Mercer. At the

age of sixteen he began learning the gunsmith's trade in his father's shop, at which business he spent five years. In 1853 he began clerking in his brother Henry's drug store, and in 1857 formed a partnership with R. M. J. Zahniser and C. W. Whistler, under the firm of Forker, Zahniser & Co., and bought out his brother's store. In 1864 Mr. Forker sold out to his partners, and went into the coal business in Hickory Township, and for the past twen ty-four years has been actively identified with the development of the Mercer County coal fields. In 1868 he became interested in the furnace of Henderson, Allen & Co., and since 1872 has been connected with the Spearman Iron Com- pany. Mr. Forker was one of the organizers of the Sharon National Bank, in 1875, and was chosen its first president. He served until 1878, and was succeeded by James Westerman, who served until his death, July 20, 1884, when Mr. Forker was again chosen president, and still occupies that position. He was married in 1857 to Miss Mary Mathews, who died in 1861, leaving two children: Frances (wife of Victor Delamater, of Meadville, Penn.) and David M. (of Birmingham, Ala.). Mr. Forker was again married in 1877, to Mrs. Ruth Harrington, of Sharon. He is a Republican in politics, and the family belong to the Episcopal Church.

JAMES SATTERFIELD FRUIT, hardware merchant, is a native of Jefferson Township, Mercer Co., Penn., where he was born October 17, 1849. His parents were Thomas and Anna (Campbell) Fruit, the former a native of East- ern Pennsylvania, and the latter of Mercer County, and a member of a pioneer a mily of Hickory Township. Both died in this county, the mother January 26, 1888, surviving her husband many years. Our subject left home at the

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

age of fourteen, and entered a store in Clarksville, Penn. At the age of six- teen he attended the Edinboro Normal School, where he spent three terms. He subsequently clerked in Wheatland, and tbence removed to Trumbull County, Ohio, where he conducted a general store for about eleven years. In January, 1879, Mr. Fruit formed a partnership with J. J. Spearman, and as J. S. Fruit & Co. purchased the hardware store of A. E. Carter & Co. The following month they bought out Ohl, Vile & Co., and the firm of Fruit, Ohl & Co. was then organized. For the past nine years this firm has conducted one of the leading hardware houses of the Shenango Valley. Mr. Fruit was married December 4, 1884, to Miss Callie Semple, of Hermitage, and a native of Mercer County, of which union one son, Fred, has been born, Mr. Fruit was a delegate to the Republican State Convention in 1884, and was a member of the State Committee in 1885. In 1886 he was elected to the Legislature from Mercer County, and served in the session of 1887. In the spring of 1888 he was renominated at the convention held at Mercer, and re-elected in Novem- ber. Mr. Fruit is a member of the Masonic and I. O. O. F. fraternities, and is one of the best known citizens of his native county.

THOMAS J. GILLESPIE, leather merchant, was born in Clarksville, Mercer Co., Penn., July 14, 1840, and is a son of John and Sarah (Clark) Gillespie. The former was born in Fayette County, Penn., July 19, 1806, and was a son of Samuel and Martha (Luckey) Gillespie, natives of Pennsylvania, of Irish ancestry. They were married in Fayette County, Penn., and removed to Pymatuning Township, Mercer County, where both spent the balance of their lives, dying March 7, 1850, and August 9, 1855, respectively. They reared the following children: John, Mary (who married John Duncan), Harriet (who married John Fell), Anna (who became the wife of a Mr. McDowell, and after- ward of a Mr. Rutledge), James, Sarah J. (who married John Woods), David and Samuel L., all of whom became the heads of families, and only one, Mrs. Sarah J. Woods, of Iowa, survives. John, the father of our subject, married Sarah, daughter of Samuel Clark, a pioneer of Clarksville. He was a cabinet- maker by trade, and carried on the manufacture of furniture in Clarksville until his death, September 25, 1846, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church. John and Sarah Gillespie reared the following children: Samuel (deceased), Martha (deceased), William, James D. (deceased), John, Jacob, Thomas J. and Mary (deceased). The mother died in Clarksville, January 26, 1885, in her eighty-second year, and throughout her life she was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject grew up in Clarksville, and at the age of seventeen went west, where he spent two years. He then returned home and learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he worked a few years. In June, 1867, Mr. Gillespie opened a boot and shoe store in Sharon, which he gradually gave up for the more successful business of a dealer in hides, leather, etc., in which he has built up a large and lucrative trade. He was married May 27, 1867, to Miss Almira, eldest daughter of Henry and Zula Clark, pioneers of Pymatuning Township. Mr. Gillespie enlisted in Company B, Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Militia, to repel Lee's invasion of Penn- sylvania. His brother, John, was captain of Company B, Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served three years. Jacob served three years in an Illinois regiment. William went South in 1852 and served in the Twentieth Mississippi, was captured at Fort Donelson, and subsequently exchanged and returned to his home. Mr. Gillespie is a Republican, and has served two terms in the council and two years as burgess of Sharon. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, I. O. O. F. and N. U.

ELISHA GRISWOLD, physician and surgeon, was born in Chester, Penn.,

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

March 14, 1828, and is a son of Jesse and Susanna (Mancill) Griswold, th former a native of Chester County, and the latter of Delaware County, Penn. In 1833 the family removed to Trumbull County, Ohio, where the mother died in 1846. The father again married, and, on the death of his second wife, re- moved to Gardner, Ill., and died there in 1873. His first wife bore him seven children and the second three; eight of the ten are living. Our subject was the eldest of the family, received his primary education in the public schools of Trumbull County, Ohio, and then attended a private school of higher grade, afterward teaching in that county. In 1848 he returned to his early home in Eastern Pennsylvania, where, under private tutors, he spent three years in improving his education. Before returning to the east he had spent two years in studying medicine, but not being satisfied with his preparatory educa- tion, he concluded to improve it by a more thorough course of study. After having done so he resumed his medical studies, and graduated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, March 9, 1853. Having met Dr. S. S. Me- hard, late of Mercer, who was attending some special studies at Jefferson College, he learned of a desirable field in Mercer County for qualified young physicians, and soon afterward located at Sheakleyville. In the spring of 1854, having formed a partnership with Dr. John M. Irvine, of Sharon, he moved to that place. Dr. Irvine retired two years afterward and left Dr. Griswold the field. In October, 1861, the Doctor was appointed by Gov. Curtin surgeon of the One Hundred and Twelfth Pennsylvania Volunteers, but was soon made acting brigade and afterward acting division surgeon, which positions he occupied up to July 30, 1864, when he resigned his position as sur- geon of the regiment for the purpose of accepting an appointment by President Lincoln in the corps of United States surgeons. This appointment was accepted while on the Petersburg front, and he was ordered to Washington and placed in charge of the Giesboro United States Army General Hospital, having a capacity of 500 beds. He filled this position till December 14, 1864, when the hospital was closed, and Dr. Griswold was transferred to the charge of Judi- ciary Square Hospital, of like capacity, which occupied the grounds whereon the pension office now stands, Washington, D. C. He remained in charge of, the same until it was closed, July 8, 1865, after which he was engaged for a few weeks on a medical board for examining candidates for the United States colored regiments. He was then sent to New Orleans as chief medical officer for the Freedman's Bureau for the State of Louisiana, in which capacity he served till March 15, 1867, when, having resigned, and received commissions as lieutenant-colonel and colonel by brevet for long and faithful services, from the President, he finally returned to Sharon, where he has since continued in the active duties of his profession. Dr. Griswold was married in 1856 to Miss Mary A. Cook, of Vermont, who died without issue April 22, 1871. He was again married April 8, 1874, to Miss Nannie Green Heywood, of Wooster, Mass., of which union five children have been born, two of whom survive: Arthur H. and Ralph M. Politically the Doctor is a Republican, and a mem- ber of the three bodies of the Masonic fraternity, viz .: The blue lodge, the chapter and the commandery. He is a. member of the Mercer County Medical Society, of the Trumbull County Medical Society, of Ohio, of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, and of the American Medical Association. He was a member and officer of Section 3, of the Ninth International Medical Congress, which met at Washington, D. C., in September, 1887, and is also a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States Comman- dery of Pennsylvania.

WALTER E. HALL, proprietor of livery stables, was born in Brookfield,

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Ohio, June 7, 1846, and is a son of Ira D. and Laura M. (Griffin) Hall, he a native of Connecticut and she of Ohio. They were married in the latter State, and were the parents of two children: Walter E. and Florence, deceased. The mother died January 21, 1884, and the father is still a resident of Brook- field. Our subject grew to manhood in Trumbull County, and was educated in the Johnston public schools. He learned the blacksmith trade in Vienna, Ohio, and in 1866 came to Sharon. In 1870 he started a general blacksmith and wagon shop, which he carried on five years. In the meantime he pur- chased, in 1871, a half interest in the livery stable of Emanuel Struble, and in March, 1873, his present partner, Ernest Cope, bought out Mr. Struble, and the firm of Hall & Cope was formed. This firm has since been engaged in the same business, and is the oldest livery firm of the borough. Mr. Hall was married, December 24, 1868, to Miss Flora A. Hazleton, of Sharon, of which union seven children have been born: Maud D., Edward H., Bertha M., Edith L., Aurie D., Bessie G. and Charles H. The family belong to the Dis- ciples' Church, and Mr. Hall is independent in politics, and a member of the P. H. C. and E. A. U.

REV. HORACE CHANDLER HALL, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Sharon, was born in Courtland County, N. Y., March 24, 1853, and is a son of Joseph B. Hall, a native of Susquehanna County, Penn. Our subject grew to maturity in his native county, and received his primary education in the public schools of that county and Crawford County, Penn. He prepared for his collegiate course at Reid Institute, Reidsburg, Penn., entered Bucknell University at Lewisburg, Penn., in the fall of 1878, and was graduated June 28,1882. Before his graduation he received a call from the First Baptist Church of Sharon, assumed charge of that church in July, 1882, and was ordained August 3 of that year. Since coming to Sharon the membership of his church has doubled, while the handsome church edifice and pastoral residence have both been erected under his administration. Rev. Hall was married, August 26, 1872, to Miss Dora E. Post, of Centreville, Crawford Co., Penn., of which union two children, Lola E. and Leroy H., have been born. Politically Mr. Hall is independent. He is the originator of the P. H. C., and has been its supreme president since its organization. He is also a member of the E. A. U. Mr. Hall has recently established a preparatory institute in Sharon, which bears his name. The building is erected and equipped, and school was opened September 18, 1888, with nearly 100 students in attendance, and is daily increasing in numbers and popularity.

JACOB B. HANN, farmer, was born in Sussex County, N. J., July 24, 1822, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Roof) Hann, natives of New Jersey, born in 1783 and 1782, respectively. They were married in August, 1810, and in 1827 removed with a family of six children to Brookfield Township, Trumbull Co., Ohio. In 1830 they settled on the old Hann homestead in Hickory Township, Mercer Co., Penn., where the remaining years of their lives were spent. The father died October 8 and the mother October 24, 1874, each being in their ninety-second year. They were life-long members of the Baptist Church, and in the August preceding their death celebrated the sixty-fourth anniversary of their marriage. They reared the following children: Sarah A. (deceased wife of William Applegate), Christopher (de- ceased), Mary (deceased wife of Henry Shilling, deceased), James, Jacob B. and Elizabeth J. (widow of Lemuel Troutman). Our subject grew to man- hood on the old homestead, where he resided up to the spring of 1884, when he removed to Sharon. He was married, in October, 1854, to Miss Nancy, daughter of William Titus, of Hickory Township. She died in the Baptist.

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faith in September, 1863. He was again married, January 30, 1868, to Miss Jennie, daughter of John and Kate (Groves) Cauffield, of Brookfield Town- ship, Trumbull Co., Ohio. Her parents were natives of Ireland, who immi- grated to Ohio in 1825, where both spent the remaining years of their lives. Mrs. Hann is the mother of one daughter by this marriage-Drusie. She is a member of the Disciple Church. Politically Mr. Hann is a Democrat, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity.

W. P. HANNA, piano and organ dealer, was born in New Castle, Penn., May 29, 1856, and is a son of J. C. Hanna, jeweler of that city. William P. grew to manhood in New Castle, and received his musical education at the Boston Conservatory of Music. In 1875 he established the New Castle Con- servatory of Music, which he conducted about two years. In December, 1877, he located in Sharon and established a jewelry and musical instrument store. He carried on this business till the spring of 1887, when he disposed of the jewelry department, and has since devoted his sole attention to the piano and organ trade. He is one of the leading dealers in that line in Mercer County and does a large business. Politically he is a Democrat, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In the spring of 1888 he went to Australia as the representative of several leading musical instrument manufacturers, and took charge of their exhibit at the great Melbourne exposition.

HUGH C. HARSHAW, grocer, was born in the County Tyrone, Ireland, June 9, 1839, and is a son of James and Jane (Rafferty) Harshaw, who immigrated to Elgin County, Ontario, in 1845, subsequently removing into Middlesex County, where both spent the balance of their lives, dying at the ages of ninety-six and seventy-seven years, respectively. Our subject grew to manhood in Canada, followed farming and also taught school four years, and sold goods in St. Thomas, Ontario, about three years. In May, 1869, he came to Charleston, Mercer Co., Penn., where he remained until 1871, and then located in Sharps- ville, where he was successfully engaged in the mercantile trade fourteen years, and one year in farming. In February, 1886, he came to Sharon, where he has since carried on a general grocery business. Mr. Harshaw was married June 27, 1872, to Miss Margaret T., daughter of John and Margaret McCallen, of Hickory Township. Three children survive this marriage: Jen- nie May, Edward Clark and Mary Evelyn. Mr. Harshaw is a Republican, and both he and wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church.

WILLIAM C. HAUS, attorney at law, was born in Boalsburg, Centre Co., Penn., February 6, 1852, and is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Crozier) Haus, na- tives of Union and Juniata Counties, Penn., respectively. Jacob Haus was a prominent Republican politician of Union County, and served as deputy sheriff and also prothonotary of that county two terms. He afterward removed to Boalsburg, Penn., and in 1854 to New Castle, Penn., where he has since resided. In 1855 he was elected justice of the peace, and excepting the period from 1867 to 1869, when he was prothonotary of Lawrence County, has served continuously in that office up to the present. Our subject grew to manhood in Lawrence County, and was educated in the public schools of New Castle. He spent considerable time in his father's office during his term as prothono- tary, and thus became familiar with the duties thereof. In January, 1870, Mr. Haus came to Mercer and clerked in the prothonotary's office nearly two years, devoting his spare moments to reading law. In October, 1871, he be- gan reading in the office of McClure & Anderson, of Sharon, with whom he remained nearly two years. In August, 1873, he entered the Albany Law School of the Union University, Albany, N. Y., and graduated May 5, 1874. He was at once admitted to the Mercer bar, and began practice in Sharon,

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where he has since followed the duties of his profession. He was admitted to the United States courts May 8, 1876, and is the local solicitor for the Penn- sylvania Company. Mr. Haus was married February 11, 1875, to Miss Mary, daughter of Cornelius Bowden, of Sharon, of which union two children, Will- iam B. and Emma R., have been born. Politically he is a Republican.

SALEM HEILMAN, physician and surgeon, was born in Kittanning, Arm- strong County, Penn., June 10, 1847, and is a son of Isaac and Hannah (Briney) Heilman, the former a native of Armstrong and the latter of West- moreland County, Penn., and both residents of the former county. The Doctor was the second eldest in a family of eight sons and four daughters, and re- ceived his education in the public schools and academies of Armstrong County. In the fall of 1868 he began reading medicine at Cochran's Mills, in that. county, and in the fall of 1869 entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadel- phia, Penn., where he was graduated March 12, 1871. On the 6th of the fol- lowing month he opened an office in Sharon, where he has been engaged in active practice for over seventeen years, and has built up one of the largest practices in this portion of the county. Dr. Heilman was married March 23, 1871, to Miss Bella McKee, of Cochran's Mills, Penn., of which union two children survive, Elmo Pearl and Ralph Salem. Dr. Heilman is a stanch Democrat, and the family adhere to the Lutheran Church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is a K. T. in that society, also belongs to A. O. U. W. and is supreme medical examiner of the P. H. C. Dr. Heil- man spent five months in Europe during the winter of 1886-87, and took special courses in general surgery and gynecology in the medical colleges of Berlin, Vienna, Paris and London. For the past thirteen years he has been surgeon of the Fifteenth Regiment of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, and ranks as major of that regiment. He is an ex-president and member of the Mercer County Medical Society, and belongs to the State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 95

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