History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 98

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

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WILLIAM A. McKNIGHT, druggist, was born in Wisconsin, November 26,. 1859, and is a son of Jonas F. and Mary J. (Ferguson) McKnigbt, of Clarks- ville, Penn. His great-grandfather, William McKnight, was born in Washing- ton County, Penn., and was a son of David and Hannah (Gaylor) McKnight, of that county, who located in Pymatuning Township, Mercer Co., Penn., in 1804. They had then nine children: Robert, Polly, Anna, Elizabeth, William G., David, John, Margaret and Hanna; while Andrew, James and Joseph were born after the settlement of the parents in this county. Andrew and Joseph are the only survivors of the family. The parents both died in Pyma- tuning Township, the father November 16, 1839, and the mother some years-

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

afterward. The paternal grandparents of our subject were William G. and Agnes (Fell) McKnight, also pioneers of Mercer County. The maternal grandparents, Thomas and Experience (Dunham) Ferguson, were pioneers of Pymatuning Township. William A. grew up in Clarksville, and was educated in the public schools of this county. In 1880 he entered the drug store of Dr. B. Love, in Sharon, and learned the druggist's profession. In October, 1885, Mr. McKnight purchased the drug store of W. V. Byard, one of the oldest drug houses of Sharon, where he has since conducted a good business. He was married December 28, 1887, to Miss Nannie L., daughter of William Bailey, of Pymatuning Township. Mr. McKnight is a Democrat, a member of the E. A. U. and N. U., and is one of the well-known druggists of Sharon.

PATRICK McMANUS, proprietor of the McManus House, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, March 1, 1844, and is a son of Patrick and Margaret (Burke) McManus, the former of whom died in Ireland, where his widow still lives. In May, 1869, Mr. McManus immigrated to Chicago, Ill., and afterward spent a few years in Michigan. In February, 1870, he came to Sharon, where he has since made his home. In 1871 he opened a grocery store, and in 1880 his present hotel, which he has since carried on. Mr. McManus was married January 16, 1871, to Ann, daughter of Terence O'Hare, of Sharon, who. died November 5, 1877, leaving one son, Patrick J. He was again married, May 13, 1879, to Ellen E., daughter of John Muldoon, of Sharon, of which union three children have been born: Catherine, John and Margaret. The family belong to the Catholic Church. Politically he is a Democrat, and has served one term in the borough council. He was one of the main organizers of Branch No. 6, C. M. B. A., of Sharon, and since coming to this town has- succeeded in life beyond his expectations.

FREDERICK P. MILLER, general grocery dealer, was born near Hermitage, Hickory Township, December 8, 1860, and is a son of Matthias and Catherine (Foltz) Miller, natives of Bavaria, Germany, mention of whom will be found among the sketches of Hickory Township. Our subject grew up on the old homestead and received a district school education. He worked on the farm and subsequently looked after his father's store at Hermitage. From 1877 to the spring of 1886 he assisted his father in the store and post-office at that point. In September, 1886, he opened his present grocery, which he has since operated. Mr. Miller was married June 8, 1886, to Miss Maggie, daughter of Jacob Dresch, deceased, of Sharon. She has borne him one son, Arthur J. He is a Republican and a member of the P. H. C., and both he and wife belong to the German Reformed Church.

DAVID MORGAN, head of the puddle mill of the Sharon Iron Works, was born in Monmouthshire, South Wales, November 2, 1828, and is a son of David and Mary (Leonard) Morgan, both of whom spent their lives in that country. David learned the iron business in his native shire, and in the fall of 1856 immigrated to Pittsburgh, Penn., and for about thirty years was manager of iron mills in that city and other points. In 1872-73 Mr. Morgan built at Wellsville, Ohio, the first mill for the manufacture of tin, and rolled the first tin-plate in the United States. In April, 1887, he came to Sharon, and has since had charge of the puddling department of the Sharon Iron Works. Mr. Morgan was married in 1848, to Elizabeth Thomas, of South Wales, of which union five children grew to maturity: James, Theo. D., Charles, David and Elizabeth. His wife died November 15, 1869, and he was again married, in 1870, to Mrs. Julia Russell, who had three children by her first marriage: Matilda, deceased; Elizabeth and Katie. Mrs. Morgan had no children by her second marriage, and died January 16, 1887. In 1888 Mr.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Morgan was again married, to Mrs. Jannett Macaulay, who had borne two chil- dren to her first husband: Alexander and Marian. Our subject is a Repub- lican, and in the summer of 1861 enlisted as second lieutenant of Company K, First Virginia Volunteers, and served about one year. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and K. of P., and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

WILLIAM G. MORGAN, foreman of the blacksmith department in the mills of P. L. Kimberly & Co., was born in Llannaganch, Carmarthenshire, South Wales, June 3, 1842, and is a son of Griffith and Ann Morgan, the former of whom is dead, and the latter a resident of Wales. At the age of seventeen William G. went to the great iron town of Merthyr-Tydfil, Glanmorganshire, South Wales, where he learned the blacksmith's trade. He worked there till the spring of 1869, when he immigrated to Mineral Ridge, Trumbull Co., Ohio, removing to Girard, Ohio, the next fall. In the spring of 1870 he came to Sharon, where he has since resided, and has been connected with P. L. Kimberly & Co. over seventeen years, twelve of which he has been foreman of the blacksmith department. Mr. Morgan was married December 25, 1865, to Miss Mary, daughter of Robert Davis, of Merthyr-Tydfil, Wales, of which union seven children have been born, three of whom are living: Robert, Thomas and Annie. He and wife belong to the Congregational Church, and he is a charter member of Sharon Lodge K. of P., K. of G. E. and I. O. R. M. Politically he is a Republican, and has served three years in the borough council. He has recently invented a machine for the manufacture of staples, which is highly praised by expert iron workers as a very important addition to the many inventions of the country.

THEO. D. MORGAN, superintendent of the Sharon Iron Works, was born in New Castle-on-Tyne, England, February 24, 1853, and is a son of David and Elizabeth Morgan, natives of Wales. In 1856 the family immigrated to Pittsburgh, where David was a manager of iron mills about thirty years. He is now a resident of Sharon, and connected with the Sharon Iron Works. Our subject grew up in Pittsburgh, and learned the iron business in that city. He took a scientific course and was graduated in chemistry from Mount Union Col- lege, Ohio, in 1874. For one year he was one of the writers on the American Manufacturer of Pittsburgh. Mr. Morgan was assistant superintendent of the Baugh Rolling Mills of Detroit three years; superintendent of the Judson Rolling Mill, Oakland, Cal., one year; had charge of the steel department of the Pennsylvania Iron & Steel Works one year, and was manager of the Chess, Cook & Co. steel mill of the same city a short time. In April, 1887, he came to Sharon to accept the position of superintendent of the Sharon Iron Works, which he has since filled. He is one of the inventors and patent- ees of an improved machine for the manufacture of wire nails on a cut-nail machine, and also of an improved reversing valve for regenerative gas fur- naces and several other improvements on gas furnaces. Mr. Morgan was married August 21, 1875, to Miss Jennie M. White, of Glenwood, Pitts- burgh, Penn., who is the mother of two children, Minnie and Lottie. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the Masonic order and A. O. U. W., and the family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

RICHARD GRAHAM MORRISON, secretary and manager of the Sharon Boiler Works, was born in Delaware Township, Mercer Co., Penn., July 25, 1844. His father, William, was born in Huntingdon County, Penn., April 1, 1800, of Irish ancestry, and married Sarah Graham, a native of Armstrong County, Penn., of Scotch descent. About 1842 they located in Pymatuning Township, on a tract of land extending across the line of Delaware Township, whence

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

they removed to Brookfield, Ohio, where the mother died in 1856. Her hus- band then returned to Mercer County, and died upon a part of the old home- stead, in 1864. They reared a family of four children: Richard Graham and John L., both of Sharon; R. Woodward, of Pittsburgh, and Mary C., wife of C. A. Ashton, of Sharon. With the exception of the five years which the family spent in Brookfield, Ohio, our subject has always lived in Mercer County. His business life in Sharon since 1867 has been spent in connection with the iron interests of the borough, being book-keeper and afterward man- ager of the William McGilvray & Co. Foundry and Machine Shops, up to their purchase by the present company. In 1878 Mr. Morrison was one of the firm who organized the Sharon Boiler Works Company, and has since been its sec- retary and manager. He was married December 17, 1874, to Miss Elizabeth Egbert, of Sandy Lake, Penn., whose parents were early settlers of that part of the county. Three children have been born of this union: Sarah G., Egbert R. and Gertrude. Politically he is a Republican, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and both he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

JOHN L. MORRISON, editor and proprietor of the Sharon Herald, was born in Pymatuning Township, Mercer Co., Penn., September 6, 1846, and is a son of William and Sarah Morrison, previously spoken of. Our subject received his primary education in the public schools, and at the age of sixteen, in July, 1863, he enlisted in the Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Militia, and served in the 100 days' service. In February, 1864, he again enlisted, in Company A, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served in all the battles of his regiment up to the close of the war. Returning to his home. he attended Oberlin College and Edinboro Normal School, for the purpose of completing his education, and subsequently taught one term. In January, 1868, he entered the Argus office, at Greenville, where he spent one year. On the 1st of January, 1869, he purchased one half interest in the Sharon Herald, and was connected with that paper until January, 1876, when, having been elected recorder of Mercer County, he sold his interest in the paper. At the expiration of his term in the recorder's office he returned to Sharon, and in March, 1879, purchased the Herald, and has since been its editor and proprietor. Mr. Morrison was married October 12, 1880, to Miss Eleanor B. Serrill, of Darby, Delaware Co., Penn. Politically he is a Republican, and a member of the Masonic fraternity and the P. H. C.

THOMAS MOSES, proprietor of the City Roller Mills, was born in Sunderland, England, August 13, 1846, and is a son of Matthew and Elizabeth Moses, natives of England. In 1857 the family immigrated to Pittsburgh, Penn., and two years afterward removed to Johnstown, Penn., where the parents now reside. Our subject removed to Portage County, Ohio, in 1872, and carried on a general store at Nelson and Wyndham, and for three years oper- ated a mill, in connection with the store, at the latter place. In January, 1882, he came to Sharon, leased the Stambaugh Mill for one year, and in 1883 erected his present brick flouring mill, on the corner of Pitt and Rail- road Streets, fitted it up with all the latest improvements, of the full roller process, and has since conducted one of the leading mills of Mercer County, having a capacity of 125 barrels every twenty-four hours. The grade of flour turned out by the City Roller Mills is second to none. Mr. Moses was married June 10, 1872, to Miss Perlina Bosley, of Johnstown, Penn., of which union five children have been born: Maud, Myrtle, Bessie, Arthur and Florence. The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Moses is a trustee of the Sharon congregation. Politically he is a Republi- can of strong temperance proclivities, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity. He is recognized as one of the progressive business men of the borough.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

DAVID E. MOSES, grocer, was born in Monmouthshire, England, October 23, 1823, and is a son of Edward and Rachel (Phillips) Moses, the former a native of England and the latter of Wales; both died in the old country .. David E. learned the puddler's trade in Tradegar, England, and followed that business in his native land till he immigrated to Wheeling, Va., in 1857, where he continued at his trade until the breaking out of the Rebellion. In May, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, First Virginia Volunteers, and served in the three months' service. He then returned to his trade in Wheeling. In the spring of 1864 he came to New Castle, Penn., and the following Novem- ber located in Sharon. He worked here a few years and then went to New- burg, Ohio, and thence back to Wheeling, Va. In 1870 he again came to Sharon, and worked a few months. He then opened a small grocery store, which he has since conducted. Mr. Moses was married June 10, 1850, to Miss Sarah, daughter of David Davis, a native of Monmouthshire, England, and has seven children: David S., William H., Edward, Mary J., Sarah A., Thomas J. and Susanna. He is a member of the Baptist and his wife of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics he is a Republican.

JOHN P. NEILER, photographer, was born in Phoenixville, Chester County, Penn., February 26, 1841, and is a son of John G. and Catherine (Strough) Neiler, both natives of Pennsylvania. The former was a blacksmith, and died about nine years ago in Chester County, where his widow still lives. John P. grew up in his native town, and there began to learn the carpenter trade, and was working at that business when the war commenced. In June, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, First Pennsylvania Reserves, and after the battle of Bull Run the Reserves were sworn into the United States service at Balti- more for three years. Mr. Neiler took part in all the battles and campaigns of his regiment until mustered out in June, 1864. In 1865 he came to Sharon, Penn., where he worked at the carpenter trade until embarking in the photo- graph business in 1870. He carried on that business here till 1883, when he sold his interest, and for three years conducted the same business at Sharps- ville, though residing in Sharon. In the summer of 1886 he established his present gallery, and is the oldest photographer in Sharon. Mr, Neiler was married December 18, 1874, to Miss Lizzie Clair, of Sharon, daughter of the late John Clair. He is a member of the Masonic and I. O. O. F. fraternities, and politically is a Republican.

JOHN NEWTON, proprietor of livery stable, was born in Norfolk, England, April 15, 1848, and is a son of Charles and Maria Newton, both of whom are still residents of England. In the spring of 1869 he immigrated to Pennsyl- vania, where he worked at coal mining about one year, and then went to work in the Allentown Iron Mills, and learned the puddler's trade. He continued working in Allentown until October, 1872, when he came to Sharon and entered Kimberly's Iron Mills, where he worked until the close of 1885. In the mean- time, in May, 1880, he purchased the livery stable of Frank Porter, and has continued at that business up to the present. He was married in Pittsburgh November 29, 1870, to Mrs. Sarah Briggs, a native of England, and the mother of two sons at the time of her second marriage. She has borne Mr. Newton two sons: Charles and John. The family are attendants of the Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Republican, a member of the K. of P., K. of G. E. and the K. of L.

HARRY ORCHARD, saddlery, hardware and harness dealer, was born in Som - ersetshire, England, April 24, 1844, and is a son of James and Elizabeth (Howe) Orchard, who spent their lives in England. Our subject immigrated to New York, where he continued to work at his trade, which he learned in

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

England, till August, 1867, when he went to Hamilton, Ontario, and lived there one year. Returning to New York, he remained there till the spring of 1871, then came to Cleveland, Ohio, and soon afterward located in Sharon, where he obtained an interest in the harness store of C. E. Tribby. In 1875 Mr. Orchard became sole owner, and has since continued to carry on the lead- ing harness business of the town. He was married in the fall of 1866, to Miss Mary J., daughter of John and Elizabeth Bailey, of Plymouth, England. Two daughters have been born to them: Maud B. and Nellie. Politically Mr. Orchard is a Republican, and was elected burgess of Sharon in 1887, and re-elected in 1888. Since his first election large additions in territory and population have been made to the town, and it is confidently believed that the next census will entitle Sharon to a city charter. The family belong to the Episcopal Church. Our subject is the division commander of Division No. 7, of the Masonic K. T. of Penn., and one of the State officers of the Grand Chapter H. R. A. Masons, and is also a member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. Orchard is one of the most popular and enterprising citizens of Sharon.

JEROME PATTERSON, deceased undertaker, was born in Sharon March 12, 1840, and was a son of Isaac and Lorena (Hull) Patterson, of that borough. His father was one of the first undertakers of the town, learned the cabinet- maker's trade with Joseph Reno, and began business in the thirties. Jerome grew to manhood in Sharon, received his education in the public schools, and learned his business in his father's establishment. After his marriage he went into partnership with his father, and on the death of the latter, January 18, 1878, Jerome succeeded to the sole control of the business, and carried on the same up to his sudden death, August 4, 1885. Mr. Patterson was mar- ried September 16, 1866, to Miss Sarah, daughter of David and Margaret (Sloss) Anderson. The Andersons were one of the pioneer families of Jeffer- son Township, and Mrs. Patterson's parents died in this county. Three children were born to Jerome and Sarah Patterson: Bertha M., Carrie H. and Harry R. Mr. Patterson was a stanch Democrat, was tax collector of the borough several years, and one of its most progressive and enterprising cit- izens.

JOHN T. PEW was born at Big Bend, Mercer Co., Penn., October 17, 1835. His father, William, was born in Jackson Township, Mercer County, May 25, 1798, and was a son of John Pew, who came from Washington Coun- ty, Penn., to Mercer County, in May, 1797. The latter grew to manhood on the homestead farm, subsequently resided about three years in Mercer, and then purchased a farm at the Big Bend, in Jefferson Township, upon which he spent the balance of his life. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Thompson, an early settler of Pymatuning Township. They reared eleven children: Jane, Emeline (deceased), David (who married Emily Ann Caldwell, of Jeffer- son Township), Mary (wife of Thomas Blackstone, of Lackawannock Town- ship), John T., Rebecca, Elizabeth (wife of Frank Booth, of Sharon), Lydia (wife of Samuel Pew, of Mercer), Martha (wife of John Gordon, of Lackawan- nock Township), Albert (who married Lydia McMillan) and Horace (who married Minnie Jewell), both of Jefferson Township. The parents died upon the old homestead, and were life-long Presbyterians. John T. grew up on the home farm, and was married April 9, 1859, to Mary, daughter of Andrew Snyder, of Delaware Township. In 1861 he enlisted in the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, and did good service for his country. In March, 1872, our subject located in Sharon, and went into the livery business, which he followed up to the spring of 1888, when he sold out. Politically he is a Republican, and a strong temperance man.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

JOHN PHILLIPS, manufacturer, was born in Union County, Penn., October 1, 1829. His father, Samuel, was a native of Northampton County, Penn., born April 5, 1805, and married Susanna Winey, of Union County, Penn. In 1836 the family removed from Union County to the farm in Hickory Town- ship, Mercer Co., Penn., whereon Samuel resided till his death, September 1, 1888, and where his wife died July 2, 1884, aged seventy-seven years and seven months. Our subject grew up on the old homestead, and on reaching maturity entered the employ of the late Gen. Pierce, with whom he remained about three years, principally engaged in attending to the coal shipping inter- ests of that gentleman. He then spent a couple of years in farming, and in 1854 formed a partnership with Gen. Pierce, under the firm name of J. Phillips & Co., and developed the coal beds on his father's farm, and in 1855 opened the mines. He managed the business of the firm until 1861-62, when he sold out to his partner. In 1863 he leased coal lands on the farms of the late John Eberhart and Samuel Fry, and developed the same. The firm of Phillips, McMaster & Co., later J. Phillips & Co., mined coal on these farms and vicin- ity until 1887, when they retired from the business. From 1864 up to 1883 he was interested in the Sharpsville Railroad. He was one of the organizers of the Spearman Iron Company at Sharpsville, and has since been connected

with that institution. Mr. Phillips has been a stockholder and director in the Sharon National Bank since its organization in 1875. He was married May 13, 1858, to Miss Emma, daughter of John and Susanna (Berlin) Eberhart, early settlers of Hickory Township. Mrs. Phillips was a native of this county, and the mother of three children: Florence E. (wife of W. G. Henderson, of Sharon), Sadie M. and Charles F. (of Sharon). She died October 20, 1885, aged forty-nine years and three months. Though a life-long member of the Lutheran Church, she united with the Methodist Episcopal Church shortly before her death. Mr. Phillips is a Democrat, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity.

CHARLES A. POLLEY, liveryman, was born in Pymatuning Township, Mer- cer Co., Penn., November 4, 1860, and is a son of Henry and Helen, (Diefen- derfer) Polley, deceased, pioneers of that township. Charles A. grew to manhood in his native township, and attended the district schools of his neigh- borhood. He worked at farming till February, 1887, when he came to Sharon and purchased the dray line of Samuel Tolman. He carried on that business one year, and on March 23, 1888, bought out the livery interest of John Pew, of Pew & Macaulay, and under the firm name of Macaulay & Polley has since been engaged in the livery business. Mr. Polley was married September 4, 1885, to Miss Mary E. McDowell, of Delaware Township, who is the mother of one child, Leonore. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a Democrat, and a member of the Protected Home Circle.

THOMAS J. PORTER, retired, was born in Chambersburg, Franklin Co., Penn., December 29, 1800. His father, Washington Porter, was a son of David Por. ter, and was born in Shippensburg, Penn., July 13, 1778. He there grew to manhood, and December 17, 1799, was married at Chambersburg, Penn., to Miss Rachel Shannon, a native of that town, born April 25, 1778. They reared three sons: Thomas J., David T. (deceased) and Alexander W. The first and last mentioned are residents of Sharon, where David T. died February 21, 1876. In 1802 the family removed to Butler County, Penn., and in 1804 to the borough of Mercer, where Thomas J. grew to manhood and attended the pioneer schools. In April, 1825, Mr. Porter located in Sharon, and was the second postmaster of the town, and one of its early hotel-keepers. He was also one of the pioneer merchants of Sharon, and among the first to go into the

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

coal business, and for many years was engaged in developing the coal fields of the Shenango Valley. His parents moved to Sharon many years after our sub- ject, where the mother died June 14, 1852, in her seventy- fourth year, and the father August 26, 1860, in the eighty-third year of his age. Mr. Porter was married August 14, 1827, in Sharon, to Miss Julia A., daughter of Samuel and Achsah (Parks) Quinby, natives of New Jersey, who settled here in 1808 or 1809. Mrs. Porter was born in Warren, Ohio, March 15, 1807, and was the mother of four children: Salina, widow of Henry Forker; Samuel Quinby, who died in Sharon, in 1874, and for several years one of the prominent busi- ness men of the borough; Julia, and Anna (deceased). Mrs. Porter died in the faith of the Baptist Church, October 13, 1849, and her husband has since remained unmarried. Politically Mr. Porter has always been a Democrat, though he has never taken an active interest in political affairs. He cast his first presidential vote for Andrew Jackson in 1824, and has never since missed casting his vote for the presidential nominee of the Democratic party. Since early manhood Mr. Porter has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is one of the few living links connecting the historic past with the ever event- ful and changing present.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 98

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