History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 101

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868-
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Brown, Runk & Co.
Number of Pages: 1323

USA > Pennsylvania > Venango County > History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including > Part 101

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JOHN A. PORTER, torpedo operator, was born April 17, 1842, in Irwin township, V.enango county, and is a son of John and Julia (Black) Porter and a grandson of Alexander Porter, an early settler of Clinton township. His youth was spent upon a farm, and in 1861 he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Second Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was the first man from Clinton township to enter the service. He participated in the battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, Antietam, Fredericksburg (first and second), and at Salem Heights was made a prisoner and confined on Belle Isle until his parole a month later, when he returned to his regiment. At the battle of the Wilderness in May, 1864, he was wounded in the left leg, and was confined for a little over one year in various hospitals. He was color bearer of his regiment when wounded, and while in the hospital was promoted to the first lieutenancy, but never was able to return to his regi- ment, yet ranks as lieutenant in his discharge, which occurred in 1865. In 1867 he engaged as a clerk in a drug store in New Castle, Pennsylvania, and afterward followed farming until 1887, when he engaged in his present business. Mr. Porter was married in 1868 to Miss Mary R., daughter of James Baird, by which marriage he is the father of eight children: James B. ; John J. ; Fred; Arthur; Utillis A. ; Anna M. ; Ella A., and Ada P. While a resident of Lawrence county Mr. Porter filled the office of county treasurer, and since returning to Clinton township has held some minor offices. He is a member of John M. Phipps Post, G. A. R., and of Union Veteran Legion, No. 45, and with his wife belongs to the Presbyterian church.

THE HOVIS FAMILY, of Venango county, are descendants of John Theo- dore Hofius, a native of Prussia, and a minister of the Reformed church. His first settlement was in Bedford county, Pennsylvania; thence he re- moved to Washington county, where he married Nancy Baker, who bore him four sons and one daughter: George, who settled in Hickory town- ship, Mercer county, about 1800, where his father died in 1808, at an ad- vanced age; William, who settled in West Virginia near Wheeling; Ernest, who located in Irwin township, Venango county; Barbara, who married Henry Koonce, of Clarksville, Mercer county, and John, who settled in what is now Clinton township about 1808, where his mother died in 1820. She was buried in the old graveyard upon the Hoffman farm.

JOHN HOVIS was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and located upon a four hundred acre tract in this township, where David Hovis now lives. He served in Captain McManigal's company in the war of 1812. He

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

married Susanna Cogan, of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, who bore him eleven children: William; John; George; Nicholas; Jacob; Ernest; David; Catharine, who married Benjamin R. Yard; Nancy, who married Philip Boker; Elizabeth, who married William Campbell, and Sally, wife of Rob. ert Cannan.

DAVID HOVIS was born on the homestead, where he now resides, March 19, 1813, and is a farmer and oil producer, having had ten producing wells upon his own farm. He was married in' 1838 to Miss Margery J., daughter of James Cannan, of Clinton township, and by this union has eight children: Charles W .; John N .; William J .; Thomas C .; Lester A .; Maria L .; Mary J., wife of John M. Baird, and Susan E. Mr. Hovis has been elected justice of the peace and has always taken a deep interest in the public af- fairs of his township. He was at one time a captain of a militia company, and has been an ardent Democrat all his life. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for fifty-five years, and has served as stew- ard and trustee, and superintendent of the Sunday school for many years.

JOHN N. HOVIS, oil producer, was born October 7, 1847, upon the old homestead, where his early life was also spent. He is a son of David and Margery (Cannan) Hovis. He received his education in the township schools, and followed the carpenter trade for some years. . In 1878 he entered the employ of Phillips Brothers, and in 1882, in connection with Hosea Beighlea, he purchased a well located on the Vanderlin farm, two on the Daugherty farm, and one upon the Surrenna farm, from Phillips Brothers. In 1884 his partner died, and the widow sold his interest to O. B. Cross, and in partnership with him Mr. Hovis has since carried on opera- tions. Our subject is also connected with Hollister & Cummings in other wells. He married Ellen, daughter of John and Margaret Ray of Butler county, and by this union has five children: Frank; Annie; Minnie V .; Charles E., and Arthur. Mr. Hovis is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church, and in politics a Republican.

M. Z. Hovis, justice of the peace and oil producer, was born May 9, 1850, in Irwin township, Venango county, and is a son of Samuel and Eliza C. (Welton) Hovis, and grandson of William Hovis. His great-grand- father was John Theodore Hofius, who settled in Hickory township, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in 1800, and there died in 1808. Samuel Hovis was born in Clinton township, Venango county, and is at present a justice of the peace of Victory township, where he resides. His children are as follows: Lydia L., wife of John B. Henderson of Clinton township; Emmerilla, wife of Isaac R. Eakin; William J .; Sadie E., wife of James A. Osborn; Samuel H .; Joseph C .; Chester L .; Margaret C .; John D., and M. Z. The last mentioned was reared and educated in Victory township, Venango county. He farmed in summer and taught school in winter until his twenty-third year, and then entered the employ of Barkey & Company, merchants of

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Barkeyville, this county, as a clerk. About 1877 he returned to Victory · township and engaged in the mercantile business, and established the post- office known as Pearl, of which he was postmaster for several years. In 1881 he retired from business and removed to Clintonville, and formed a partnership with J. C. Hovis in the production of oil. Their wells are located in Butler county, but he has one well upon his father's farm in Clinton township. In the spring of 1889 he was elected justice of the peace, and is also the auditor of Clintonville. Mr. Hovis was married in 1873 to Miss Susanna, daughter of John Shelly, of Irwin township, who died April 15, 1880, leaving two children: Susie P. and Henry B. Polit- ically Mr. Hovis is a Democrat, and a member of the Church of God.

THE HENDERSON FAMILY. - One of the early settlers of Venango county was Andrew Henderson, who came from Westmoreland county about 1816 and located in what was then Scrubgrass township. He married Mary Elder of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and died in 1844. His children were as follows: Joseph; William, deceased; Jacob, of Sandy Hill, Pennsylvania; Thomas, of Clinton township; Andrew, of Irwin township; Charles, of Sandy Creek township; Mary, wife of John Lockard; Eliza, wife of Benjamin Brink of Clarion county, and Margaret, wife of David Moore of Washing- ton city.

THOMAS HENDERSON, third son of Andrew Henderson, was born in West- moreland county, and came with his parents to Venango, where he was reared to a farm life, and educated in the pioneer schools of the township. He married Catharine Bonner, who bore him ten children, four of whom are living: John B., of Clinton township; Andrew J., of the same township; Elizabeth, wife of Robert Hutchison of Clinton township, and Amanda, wife of Marion Blair of Victory township, Venango county. Mrs. Hender- son died in September, 1864.

JOHN B. HENDERSON, son of Thomas, was born in 1838 upon the home- stead farm, where he also grew to manhood. In 1860 he engaged in the oil business, being one of the pioneer operators, and has continued in that line to the present. He is also engaged quite extensively in farming, and resides upon his homestead of two hundred acres, about three miles north of Clintonville. This farm was originally owned by the Davidson family, who were among the pioneers of the county. Mr. Henderson was married January 13, 1863, to Miss L. L., daughter of Samuel Hovis of Victory township. He and wife are members of the Church of God, and politically he is an ardent Prohibitionist.

ANDREW J. HENDERSON, son of Thomas, was born February 2, 1845, was reared a farmer, and subsequently engaged in oil operating. In 1883 he returned to agricultural pursuits. He was married in 1867 to Miss Julia, daughter of David Clay of Clinton township, who is the mother of one child, Delilah J. Mr. Henderson is a member of the K. and L. of H., and politically a Democrat.

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

RICHARD KENNERDELL was born at Bolton, Lancashire, England, March 19, 1817, and died at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 17, 1878. His father, Edward Kennerdell, and five of his father's brothers, were officers in the British army, and sons of a leading physician of Bolton. Edward married Miss Mary Wiles, a native of Bolton, who bore him a family of twelve chil- dren, seven of whom grew to maturity-five sons and two daughters: James, who died in Philadelphia; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Henry Martin, of Sheakleyville, Pennsylvania; Richard, deceased; Thomas, who died at Ken- nerdell; John, who died at Kittanning; Anna, wife of Isaac Firth, of Worth- ington, Armstrong county, and Edward, who lives at Kittanning. In 1826 the family came from England to Philadelphia, and in 1837 removed to Pittsburgh, and soon after located at Craig's Mills, Armstrong county. While there Richard Kennerdell manufactured the first woolen goods made in that county. In 1844 the Kennerdells removed to Agnew's Mills, Rich- land township, Venango county, which Richard had previously leased for nine years, and carried on the manufacture of woolens during that period. In 1852 they purchased the property on Big Scrubgrass, since known as Kennerdell's mills. They improved the buildings and operated saw, grist, and woolen mills, and also conducted a large general store. Edward Ken- nerdell and wife spent the remaining years of their lives at this point. In 1859 Richard Kennerdell bought the interests of the other members of the family, and with characteristic energy he gradually improved the property until Kennerdell became quite a flourishing little hamlet.

Mr. Kennerdell was married December 30, 1835, to Miss Jane, daughter of William Hare, a native of Scotland. She was born in the city of Lon- donderry, Ireland, and came to Philadelphia at the age of eighteen, where she soon after met her future husband. They were married in that city and became the parents of nine children, six of whom grew to maturity: Mary Ann, deceased; James Craig; Anna Elizabeth, wife of W. J. Welsh; Jane K., wife of Doctor W. A. Nicholson; Mary Ann, who died August 23, 1886, and Sarah Elvira. The parents were reared in the Protestant Episcopal church, but having no body of that faith near them in this county, they united with the Presbyterian church. Mr. Kennerdell erected and supported, largely at his own expense, for many years a church and school at Kenner- dell. In March, 1878, he removed to Philadelphia, intending to make that city his future home, but the following month, while on a business trip to his old home he was taken ill and died at Pittsburgh. His remains were interred in the public cemetery of Franklin, where a handsome shaft marks the last resting place of himself and wife, who survived him until January 19, 1881. Politically Mr. Kennerdell was a Democrat, but took little inter- est in public affairs. He was a man of wonderful energy and rare business tact, and through unflagging industry and fortunate investments he accumu- lated a handsome competence. Upright and honest in all his dealings, char-

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itable and kind to a remarkable degree, and affectionate in his home rela- tions, it is not indeed strange that he went down to his grave possessing hosts of friends and deeply mourned by the community where so many years of his life were passed.

WILLIAM CROSS, who is well remembered as one of the pioneer iron man- ufacturers of Butler, Venango, and other counties, was a son of Samuel Cross, a native of Ireland, who immigrated to eastern Pennsylvania, and thence to Centerville, Butler county. Samuel Cross was twice married, and reared a family of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters. Joseph, one of the sons, was elected to the assembly from Butler county. All the members of the family remained in that county, except our subject, who served in the commissary department during the war of 1812. He removed to Franklin in 1831, leased a forge, and engaged in the manufacture of iron. In July, 1835, he located at Clintonville, where he erected a resi- dence and store. Individually, or in partnership with others, he erected and operated the following furnaces: Slab furnace, in Cranberry; Sandy, in Victory; Van Buren, in Cranberry; Bullion and Jane, in Clinton; Forest, near Tionesta, and Pleasant Grove, in Lancaster county. He was. also interested in grist and carding mills, and was one of the energetic men of his time. He married Jane, daughter of Robert Weakly, of Butler county, who bore him nine children: Samuel W .; Robert; Wilson; William C .; Harriet, wife of Thomas Hoge, who was a member of the state senate and mayor of Franklin; Sarah Jane, who married Nathan Davis; Matilda, who married John Maxwell, and two daughters named Caroline, one of whom died young. William Cross died at Clintonville November 24, 1861, in his seventy-sixth year.

JUDGE ROBERT CROSS was one of the most prominent and enterprising citizens of Clinton township for many years. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1811, son of William and Jane (Weakly) Cross. He looked after his father's business for many years during the lifetime of the latter, and then engaged in merchandising in Clintonville. He was the first postmaster of the town, and filled that position about thirty years. He also engaged in farming, and continued in agricultural and mercantile pur- suits up to within a short time of his death, which occurred at his home in Clintonville, June 22, 1874.

Judge Cross was married December 25, 1835, to Miss Hannah McKissick, daughter of Aaron and Mary (Means) McKissick, natives of Maine, who set. tled in Franklin, Pennsylvania, about 1818, and thence removed to Sandy Creek township, where both resided until death. Mrs. Cross was born in Portland, Maine, April 15, 1816, and is the mother of nine children: Caroline, deceased; Mary J., deceased wife of E. P. Newton; Hattie, wife of Major Robert J. Phipps; Lovisa, wife of Reverend J. M. Foster; William; O. Byron; Emma F., wife of C. M. Riddle; Alice, wife of Doctor H. Jackson,

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

and Henrietta, married to David V. Eakin. Mrs. Cross is still a resident of Clintonville, and has lived in Venango county for the past seventy-two years. She has watched its gradual development from a comparative wilderness to its present prosperity.

Judge Cross was an elder in the Presbyterian church and a very liberal supporter of churches and schools. Generous and charitable to a remarkable degree, and upright and honest in all his affairs, he was recognized not only as a good man, but the leading business man of Clintonville during the greater portion of his active business career. Politically he was an ardent Democrat and served as associate judge of Venango county several years. He went down to his grave respected and honored by the whole community, wherein more than fifty years of his life were passed.

WILLIAM CROSS, eldest son of Robert Cross, was born November 19, 1845, in Clintonville, and was educated in the schools thereof. He was reared a farmer, and in 1875 purchased his present homestead. He was married in 1867 to Miss Nannie, daughter of Samuel Phipps, and eight chil- dren have been born to them: Effie M .; Frank; Fred A. ; Hannah; William R .; Florrilla; Hattie, and Robert P. In 1888 Mr. Cross was appointed mer- cantile appraiser. He is a member of the K. and L. of H., and politically a stanch Democrat.

WILLIAM C. CROSS, fourth son of William Cross, was born in Butler county, January 22, 1823, and was associated with his father from an early age until the death of the latter in 1861. In 1881 he was elected treasurer of Venango county, and filled the position one term. He was married in 1848 to Isabella Cummings, who died May 21, 1867, leaving seven children: William C .; Sarah A .; Mary; Jane; Isaac H .; Eva, and John C. He married for his second wife Mrs. Mary J. Ford. Mr. Cross is now en- gaged in the mercantile business in Clintonville, with which he has been identified for a number of years, and is one of the well-known citizens of the township.

J. B. McMILLAN, physician, Clintonville, is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where he was born in Wolf Creek township in 1824. His paternal grandfather, Daniel McMillan, was a native of County Derry, Ireland, who immigrated to the United States about 1793, and settled near Pittsburgh. His wife died on the voyage to this country, leaving a family of four sons and two daughters, two of whom, William and John, subsequently settled in Mercer county, Pennsylvania. William purchased a tract of four hundred acres of land in Wolf Creek township, and the records of Mercer county show him as a tax payer in 1802. He was one of the three commissioners appointed to lay out the county seat of Mercer county, and for forty years filled the office of justice of the peace. He served at Erie in the war of 1812, and was one of the progressive men of his day. He was a pronounced temperance advocate,

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and prominent in temperance work during his life time. His death oc- curred in 1843. His wife, Margaret (Robb) McMillan, bore him a family of four sons and four daughters: Daniel; Robert; Andrew J .; John B .; Margaret, who married M. Elrod; Matilda; Eliza, who married John Mc- Millan, and at his death Robert Hutchison; and Mary, Mrs. Samuel Thomp- son. Doctor McMillan spent his early years on the homestead, and received his primary education in the log school house of that period. At the age of twenty-two he came to Clintonville, wbere his brother, Doctor Andrew J. McMillan, had located in practice, and commenced the study of medicine in his office. In 1850 he commenced the practice of his profession, but after a few years' his brother removed to Butler county, and subsequently to Kansas where he now resides. Our subject was married in 1851 to Miss Mary, daughter of Judge David Phipps, which union has been blessed with six children: Andrew J., of Kansas; Margaret, wife of William Tribby, of Sharpsville, Pennsylvania; Sadie, wife of William McKee, of Clintonville; Almira; Blanche G., and Austa N. Doctor McMillan has been in contin- uous practice in Clintonville for tbirty-seven years, and has been closely identified with social and material interests throughout this period. He is a stanch Republican, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

K. M. HOFFMAN, physician, Clintonville, was born December 15, 1836, in what was then Scrubgrass township. He is a a son of James and Christina (Monjar) Hoffman. His grandfather, James Hoffman, was a native of Penn- sylvania, of German ancestry; his father immigrated to this country and set- tled in this state. On the maternal side the ancestry was from France, immigrated to Maryland, and thence to Venango county. Doctor Hoffman spent his early years upon the homestead, and received a good common school education. He then entered Allegheny College, Meadville, where he remained for six months; returning to his home he engaged in teaching for the purpose of raising means to prosecute his studies. In 1851, having accu- mulated sufficient means, he attended school at Harrisville, Butler county, where he spent two years. Returning to his home he continued his stud- ies in the Clintonville Academy, and remained in that institution for two years. In 1857 he commenced to study medicine with Doctor John B. Mc- Millan, of Clintonville, and subsequently under Doctors McMillan and Fowler at Harrisville, Pennsylvania. In the winter of 1865-66 he attended lectures at the Ohio Medical College, and in the latter year formed a part- nership with Doctor J. M. Foster of Clintonville, and commenced the prac- tice of medicine. In 1872-73 he entered Cleveland Medical College and graduated in the latter year. In 1873 he associated himself with Doctor Homer Jackson of Utica, Venango county, Pennsylvania, which partnership continued five years, and the subsequent five years was a partner of Doctor George Parr of Perrysville, Ohio. Since the dissolution of the last partner- ship he has continued to practice alone. Doctor Hoffman is an active

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

Republican, and in 1886 was elected burgess of Clintonville, and at the present time is a member of the borough council. He was married in 1864 to Miss Mary Miller, who has borne him one daughter, Berdie, wife of John F. Craig, of Clintonville.

R. M. HOFFMAN, oil producer, is a son of James and Christina (Monjar) Hoffman, and was born October 15, 1835, in Clinton township. The pater- nal grandfather was James Hoffman, a German, whose parents emigrated from Germany and settled in Westmoreland county. He was born in 1773, and came to Venango county in 1797 and settled on the land where Andrew Hoffman now lives, in Clinton township. He was a wagon maker, and en- gaged in the making of agricultural implements for the farmers. He mar- ried Mary, daughter of Major Philip Ghost, one of the early settlers of Clinton. Their children were: Barbara; Mary; John; James; Daniel; Adam; Philip G .; Jacob; Elizabeth; Christina, and Catharine. He died about 1848, and his wife in 1848. James' family consisted of five sons: Doctor K. M .; R. M .; Coulter; Samuel, and Philip; and four daughters: Caro- line; Clementina; Mary, and Barbara. Our subject was reared on the homestead and educated in the schools of the township. In 1861 he enlisted in Company K, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served until the close of the war; he participated in all of the battles fought by the Army of the Po- tomac; at the battle of Sulphur Springs all that reported of his company of the rank and file were one officer and two privates, he being one of them; at the battle of Hatcher's Run he was the color bearer, and received from General Gregg a furlough for standing to his colors when the regiment broke, his action causing them to rally. After the close of the war he farmed until 1876, when he engaged in the oil business. He also operated a hotel near Clintonville in the oil' excitement of 1876. He at present is en- gaged in operating five wells, in connection with his son. He married, in 1859, Miss Elizabeth Martin, of Irwin township, and by this union they have three children: Martin R., Minnie, and Claudia C. He is a member of the Church of God, and politically a Republican.

WILLIAM MOORE, farmer, son of Robert and Mary (Eakin) Moore, and grandson of William Moore, was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, in . 1815. His grandfather emigrated from Ireland and settled east of the mountains. His mother, Mary Eakin, was also a native of Ireland, and by her marriage to Robert Moore had a family of seven children: William; Samuel, a resident of Scrubgrass township; Sarah; Mary, wife of Matthew Riddle; Elizabeth, who married John Mckinley; Jane, deceased, and James, of Clinton township. Her husband died in 1826, and she survived him until 1864. At the age of ten years our subject went to live with his grandfather, Samuel Eakin, where he resided seventeen years. In 1839, in connection with his brother Samuel, he purchased two hundred acres of land on the line of Clinton and Scrubgrass townships, where he has ever since

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lived. Politically he is a Republican, a life-long member of the United Presbyterian church, and one of the respected citizens of the community.

SNOWDEN D. PORTER, farmer, was born March 15, 1833, in Cranberry township, Venango county, and is a son of Aaron and Rachel (Delong) Porter. His paternal grandfather, Thomas Porter, came to this county and settled in Cranberry township, near Franklin, where he died about 1840. He married Margaret Shorts, who bore him the following children: Jesse; Aaron; Richard; Sarah, who married John Gordon; Elizabeth, who married Charles Jacobs; William, and Margaret, who married Thomas Sarver, all of whom are dead. Aaron Porter was born March 25, 1801, was a farmer by occupation, and removed to Ohio, where he died June 17, 1875. He was thrice married. His first wife, Mary, died June 28, 1828, leaving two children: George and Mary. He married for his second wife Rachel Delong, who died September 9, 1845, leaving five children: Snowden D .; Jesse, deceased; Hannah, wife of Henry Hughes; Sarah, deceased, and James L., of Ohio. His third wife, Catharine, died December 15, 1883, leaving six children: John; Clarinda; Amanda; Margaret; Jason, and Elias. Our subject was reared in Ohio and Pennsylvania, received his education in the public schools, and when thirteen years old began boating on the Alle- gheny river, which he followed for some years. He then purchased his present farm, and has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was twice married, first to Retta McClafferty, who died May 1, 1855, leaving two children: William, deceased, and George. He was again married Feb- ruary 12, 1857, to Miss Rachel, daughter of David Eakin, one of the pio- neers of Venango county, and by this union is the father of six children: Warren; Martha, wife of Findley Griffin; Isabella, wife of L. Dille; Eliza- beth; Anna, and Samuel. Mr. Porter is a Democrat, and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.

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History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 101

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868- Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Brown, Runk & Co. Number of Pages: 1323

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868-
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Brown, Runk & Co.
Number of Pages: 1323