History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 104

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 104

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BIOGRAPHIES OF FRENCH CREEK.

stantial mercantile houses of Venango county. In connection with mer- chandising the firm operates a flouring mill at Utica. Mr. Stevenson was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Shannon of Utica, and is the father of four children, three of whom are living: Blanche; William D., and Ward T. Politically he is a Republican and one of the well-known citizens of the county.

THE GASTON BROTHERS, merchants, Utica trace their paternal ancestry back to an old family which settled in Connecticut in colonial times. Their grandfather, Ebenezer Gaston, was a native of New York, where he lived and died, and their mother's people were early residents of the same state, having resided for many years in Livingston county. Their father, E. W. Gaston, was born and reared in New York state, and for a number of years followed the occupation of carpenter and builder in New York and Pennsyl- vania, and later engaged quite extensively in the lumber business, which he carried on for some time with success and financial profit. He died in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, about the year 1880. His wife, Phylinda (Burden) Gaston, whom he married in New York state, died in Crawford county in 1878. E. W. and Phylinda Gaston were the parents of seven children, of whom the following are living: W. G .; Athelston; Arthur B .; Frank D., and Eunice, wife of H. S. Brown. The names of those deceased are: E. H. and Aseltha.

ARTHUR B. GASTON was born near the Genesee river in Allegany county, New York, December 7, 1843, and at the age of ten years accompanied his parents to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood amid the active duties of farm life. His early educational advantages were such as the common schools afforded, but later he increased his knowledge by at- tendance at the Meadville Academy and Edinboro Normal School, in both of which institutions he spent several terms. Having early manifested a strong liking for telegraphy, he began studying the same in 1863, at Lines- ville, Pennsylvania, and the following year was intrusted with an office on the Atlantic and Great Western, now the New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio railroad, with which company he continued about sixteen years as operator and agent at various places on the line.

During his period of service he became a very skillful operator, securing several important promotions, and was recognized as one of the trusted em- ployes of the road. In 1881 he abandoned his profession, and in partner- ship with his younger brother, F. D. Gaston, engaged in the lumber busi- ness at Utica, where the firm still continues a large and lucrative lumber, mercantile, and stock business, being among the substantial business men of Venango county. Mr. Gaston is a liberal and public-spirited citizen. He was originally a Republican, but having always been a strong advocate of temperance reform is now an ardent Prohibitionist. He has been a Mason since 1873, and is an active worker in the A. O. U. W., belonging to the

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

lodge at Atlantic, Crawford county. Mr. Gaston married Miss Hannah J., daughter of James and Sarah McMaster, of Crawford county, Pennsylvania, a union blessed with six children: Winnie; Sarah P .; James E .; Harold; Mattie, and Donald, deceased.

FRANK D. GASTON, youngest son of E. W. and Phylinda Gaston, is a native of Allegany county, New York, born January 26, 1853. When he was but nine months old his parents moved to Crawford county, Pennsylva nia, where, upon a farm in Sadsbury township, he passed his youth, attend ing the common schools at intervals and acquiring the elements of a practi- cal English education. At the age of thirteen he began working at the carpenter trade with his father, and after becoming proficient in his call- ing followed the business a number of years in Crawford and adjoining counties. About 1874 he abandoned mechanical pursuits and entered the employ of what is now the New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio Railroad Company, and one year later located at Utica in the lumber trade, thus lay- ing the foundation for what has since become one of the substantial busi- ness firms of the county. Mr. Gaston enjoys the confidence of the com- munity, and in his transactions as a dealer in fine blooded horses is well and favorably known throughout the counties of western Pennsylvania. He married Miss Clara L., daughter of Samuel and Sarah Henry, of Craw- ford county, Pennsylvania, who has borne him the following children: Edna G .; Ethel C .; Phylinda G .; Audley B., and Marie, all of whom are living. Mr. Gaston is an active member of the Masonic fraternity, belong- ing to Sandy Lake lodge, Mercer county. He is also an Odd Fellow, a member of the R. T. of T., and politically an ardent Prohibitionist.

W. A. McKAY, station agent of the New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio railroad, Utica, is a native of Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, and a son of G. W. and Jane E. (Close) Mckay. Paternally Mr. McKay is descended from Irish Presbyterian ancestry, and on the mother's side comes of German and Irish stock. His grandfather, William McKay, was an early resident of Juniata county, Pennsylvania, and a farmer by occupation. His maternal grandfather, Adam Close, was a native of Center county, this state, and about 1851 came to Venango county, and subsequently removed to Mercer county, where his death occurred in 1865. D. W. Mckay was a miller by occupation, served in the late war, was captured at Murfresboro, Tennessee, and died from the effects of his imprisonment the same year. His widow remarried and resides in Kansas. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McKay: W. A .; James C .; Mrs. Nancy Morrow, and Mrs. Emma Bradley, all of whom are living.

W. A. Mckay was born September 7, 1847, and came to Mercer county in 1858, where he resided with his grandfather, Adam Close, until 1863. In the latter year he entered the office of the Democratic Register at Mercer for the purpose of learning the printer's trade, but after spending a short

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BIOGRAPHIES OF FRENCH CREEK.

time in that office he enlisted in the Fifty-Fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers and served from June until the following August. In September, 1863, he entered the office of the Oil City Register, where he remained until Febru- ary, 1864, at which time he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Fif- tieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, with which he served until the close of the war. He was with his regiment in a number of battles, and in the Wilder- ness was severely wounded three times, which necessitated his retirement from further duty. From that time until his discharge, July 25, 1865, he did garrison duty at Camp Distribution and Washington city, and on leaving the army returned to Mercer county, where for several years he was engaged in farming. In the meantime, by home study and attendance at New Lebanon Academy and the Edinboro Normal School, he fitted himself for the teacher's profession. He followed teaching for several years in Venan- go county, and during this time studied telegraphy, in which he soon be- came proficient. Mr. Mckay took charge of Geneva station, on the New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio railroad, April 1, 1871, and in 1874 was trans- ferred to Utica, of which office he has since been in charge. Since locating in Utica he has served as justice of the peace, member of the school board, secretary and treasurer of the borough. He is also a skillful civil engineer, and is frequently employed in that capacity in this and other counties. Mr. Mckay united with the Methodist church a number of years ago, and for some time has been a local preacher of that denomination. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has risen to the thirty-second degree, and also belongs to the G. A. R. On the 11th of February, 1871, he mar- ried Miss Louisa, daughter of Reverend R. E. and Angeline Anderson, of Ohio, a union blessed with four children: David, deceased; Frank D., de- ceased; James C., and William R.

FRANK M. MCCLELLAND, physician, Utica, was born in Mill Creek town- ship, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, December 1, 1859, and is a son of William B. and Sarah (Craw) McClelland, natives of Pennsylvania and New York, respectively. William B. McClelland was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, but grew to manhood in Mercer county, where he still resides, being one of the representative farmers of Mill Creek township. The doctor's paternal ancestors were among the sturdy Irish Presbyterian set- tlers who came to the western part of Pennsylvania early in the present cent- ury, his grandfather, John McClelland, locating in Mercer county about the year 1825. He was a farmer by occupation, is remembered as a man of energy and sterling integrity, and was drowned in the Allegheny river about 1829, while rafting timber to Pittsburgh. On the maternal side Doctor Mc- Clelland is descended from English ancestry, and traces his family back to the early settlement of Vermont, from which state his grandfather removed to New York state and from thence to Pennsylvania about 1844, and settled in Utica, Venango county, where for some time he was in the employ of A.

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W. Raymond, the leading business man of the place. He also carried on farming for some years, and died about the year 1858. William B. and Sarah McClelland are the parents of eight children, six of whom are living: Maggie, wife of Charles H. Adams; Frank M .; Amos E .; Bessie I .; Hattie A., and Cora. The names of the deceased members of the family are Maurice and John.

Doctor McClelland passed his youth on the home farm in Mercer county, attending such schools as the county afforded, and later pursued his studies in the Utica high school, McElwain Institute, Mercer county, and at Edin- boro, Erie county, in all of which he made substantial progress in the higher branches. In 1878 he began teaching in the public schools of Mercer county, and followed that calling about seven years, reading medi- cine in the meantime under the instructions of Doctor D. S. Brown, of Utica. In 1885 he entered the medical department of the Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, from which institution he graduated in the spring of 1887, taking the class prize in materia medica and therapeutics. After graduation he located at Utica, where he has since built up a lucra- tive practice in the counties of Venango and Mercer. Doctor McClelland was married July 4, 1888, to Miss Flora M. McQuiston, daughter of Andrew and Evaline McQuiston of Mercer county. He is a member of the Venango county Medical Society, a Prohibitionist in politics, and with his wife belongs to the United Presbyterian church.

I. H. DAVISON, merchant, Polk, son of W. W. and Bithiah (Van Dyke) Davison, the former a native of Mercer county, and the latter of Butler county, Pennsylvania, was born in Venango county, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1843, and here grew to manhood, first attending the common schools, and later obtaining a practical knowledge of the higher branches in Allegheny College, Meadville. In July, 1863, he enlisted in a state company with which he served for three months, and in July, 1864, he entered the naval service at Erie, Pennsylvania, and was soon afterward assigned to duty on the United States steamship Moose, commanded by Captain Leroy Fitch. He spent one year in the naval service, during which time his ship took part in a number of engagements. At the close of the war he returned to Ve- nango county and engaged in farming and the mercantile business at Sunville in partnership with two brothers. This firm continued about two years, at the end of which time he engaged in agricultural pursuits exclusively until 1878, when he was elected by the Republican party county treasurer, the duties of which position he discharged in a creditable manner until the close of his official term, when, at the solicitation of his successor, W. C. Cross, he accepted the deputyship and served as such until 1884. In that year he was again the Republican candidate for the same office, and after an exciting campaign against a popular competitor was again elected. At the expira- tion of his second term Mr. Davison engaged in the mercantile business in

J.P. MCG Mellan

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BIOGRAPHIES OF FRENCH CREEK.

the borough of Polk, where he has since carried on a successful trade. He was married December 1, 1866, to Miss Adaline E., daughter of R. R. and Harriet Grove, of Venango county, who bore him four children: George E .; Harry M. ; William W., and Floyd. She died in September, 1885. Mr. Davison has been a member of the Presbyterian church since childhood, and belongs to the congregation at Polk. He is an active member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity, and also of Mays Post, G. A. R., of Franklin.

JAMES J. HAYS, hardware dealer, Polk, is a son of James and Eliza Hays, natives of Huntingdon and Venango counties, Pennsylvania, respect- ively. Samuel Hays, the grandfather of James J., was born in Ireland, came to the United States when seventeen years of age, and settled in Hunt- ingdon county, this state. In 1835 he located in Plum township, Venango county, where he died about 1871, at the advanced age of ninety-five years. His son, James, was born in Huntingdon county, September 2, 1810, came to Venango county with his parents, and followed farming until his death August 18, 1884, aged seventy-six years. His wife, Eliza (Gilliland) Hays, was a daughter of James and Eliza (McClaran) Gilliland. She was the mother of six children: David S .; Mrs. Sarah Hughes; Mrs. Mary Leason; James J .; Samuel, deceased, and William B., deceased.

James J. Hays was born in Plum township, Venango county, Novem- ber 20, 1844. . He spent his youth and early manhood on a farm, attended the common schools at intervals, and on attaining his majority engaged in agriculture, which he followed until 1884. In that year he abandoned farming and went into the lumber business at Polk, and three years later, February, 1888, opened a general hardware store which he still carries on successfully. He was married May 19, 1870, to Miss Rose, daughter of Adam and Ellen Carnahan, of this county, a union blessed with five chil- dren: Minnie, William B., George B., Harvey J., and James N. In pol- itics Mr. Hays is a Democrat, and an active member of the I. O. O. F.

, JAMES LEE, farmer, was born in the town of Macclesfield, Cheshire, England, April 26, 1817, and is a son of James and Charlotte (Birtenshaw) Lee. His grandfather, Samuel, was a native of Scotland, and a silk weaver by occupation. He served in the British navy under Lord Nelson, was wounded at the battle of Trafalgar, and on quitting the service shipped on a whaler, which business he followed four years. He afterward engaged in the manufacture of silk at Macclesfield, which he followed for a number of years. He met with a mysterious death while on a visit to his family in the United States, having been last seen on the Erie canal near the city of Utica, New York. It was supposed that he was murdered and his body hidden, as nothing was ever heard of him after the night of the mysterious disappearance. James Lee, Sr., followed silk weaving in his native land, and worked at the same trade in Boston, where he landed in 1826. After a year and a half spent in that city he went back to England, but in 1830

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

returned to the United States and settled in Mercer, Pennsylvania. His wife, Charlotte, was a daughter of William Birtenshaw, a native of Ireland. James and Charlotte Lee died in 1845 and 1878, respectively. Their chil- dren were as follows: William, deceased; James; Mary A., deceased; Charles; Hannah, deceased; John H .; Samuel, deceased; Robert Mc., and Samuel (second).

James Lee, Jr., passed the first fourteen years of his life in England, during a part of which time he worked in a silk factory, and attended the schools of his native town at intervals. He came to the United States with his parents, grew to manhood on a farm in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and on attaining his majority engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1844 he came to Venango county and purchased a part of his present farm in French Creek township, one and one-half miles west of Utica. Since coming to this county Mr. Lee has taken an active part in public affairs, served one term as county auditor, and filled different official positions in the township. He cast his first ballot for Harrison in 1840, and since the dissolution of the Whig party has voted the Republican ticket. He has been identified with the United Presbyterian church for many years. Mr. Lee was married Feb- ruary 28, 1838, to Susan, daughter of Andrew and Rebecca Zover, by whom he had a family of seven children: Alexander; James; Andrew, killed in the battle of the Wilderness; Annas, deceased; Brice G .; William S. D., deceased, and John A. Mrs. Lee died May 22, 1888, and was laid to rest in the old Mill Creek cemetery.

ALEXANDER LEE, oldest son of James and Susan Lee, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, November 26, 1838. He was reared principally in Venango county, educated in the common schools, and at the age of twenty- one began life for himself in the city of Pittsburgh. He afterward worked in New Castle and Meadville, and in 1865 engaged in the manufacture of sucker-rods at Utica, Venango county, which he followed until the spring of 1887. At that time he took charge of the old homestead, where he has since resided. Mr. Lee was married December 6, 1859, in Venango county, to Anna A., daughter of Thomas and Jane Blair of Mercer county. Three children were born of this union: W. E., married to Kate Ribb, and now living in Washington county; U. E., and Nellie, deceased. Mrs. Lee died at the age of thirty-four years, and December 26, 1878, he married Miss Florence, daughter of Jacob and Susan Pellman, who has borne him one child, Dora.

H. CLULOW, farmer, is a native of England, born in Staffordshire, Octo- ber 18, 1817, and is a son of William and Sarah (Smith) Clulow. His father was a farmer and sawyer, and died in England about 1838. His grandfather's name was also James Clulow, and he spent his life in England. His mother, Sarah Clulow, died in her native land about 1835. She was the mother of two children: H., and a daughter who died while

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quite young. Mr. Clulow immigrated to New York city in the fall of 1833. From there he came to the vicinity of Sandy Lake, Mercer county, where for some years he was employed at farm labor, attending the common schools at intervals. He afterward pursued his studies in the Allegheny College at Meadville with the object of entering the teacher's profes- sion, and subsequently taught several terms in Mercer county. In the spring of 1845 he came to Venango county and settled on a farm near Polk, but later purchased his present homestead about four miles from that borough. He began life with no capital save a determination to succeed, and is now one of the substantial citizens of the community. He is Re- publican in politics and has served one term as auditor of Venango county, the duties of which he discharged in a satisfactory manner. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for a number of years, and with his wife belongs to the Reynolds congregation. In 1844 he married Mary, daughter of William and Frances Nicklin, of England, who has borne him five children: James; Thomas; Daniel, deceased; Sarah F., wife of John Snyder, and Mary A., deceased wife of Milton Ohler.

JAMES J. HURD, farmer and stock raiser, is a native of Delaware, born in the town of Smyrna. January 1, 1820. His father, William Hurd, was a descendant of an old Irish family which settled in Delaware at an early date, and his mother, whose maiden name was Nancy Johnson, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and came of English ancestry. William Hurd immigrated to Pennsylvania many years ago, settling in Penn's valley, Cen- tre county, and in 1825 removed to Wilmington township, Mercer county, and settled about six miles southwest of Mercer. He was a successful farm- er and a substantial citizen, and died about 1846, at the age of sixty-five. Mrs. Hurd preceded her husband to the grave, dying about 1839. Their children are as follows: James J .; Henry, deceased; Francis; William; Alfred, and Mrs. Sarah Barrett. By a previous marriage with a Mr. Mur- ray, Mrs. Hurd had two children: Elizabeth, widow of Isaac Reed, and Lucinda, deceased.

James J. Hurd was three years of age when his parents removed to this state, and five years when they settled in Mercer county. His early educa- tional advantages were limited to a couple of months' attendance each year in the common schools, and amid the rugged scenes of farm labor his youth and early manhood were passed. While still a youth he took up the car- penter's trade, and for a period of twenty-five years followed that occupation in Mercer and adjoining counties. In 1864 he moved to Venango county and purchased a part of his present farm, located about two miles west of Utica, but a short time afterward he rented his place to his son, and moving to Franklin, resumed his trade in connection with rig and tank building. After a few years at the county seat he returned to his farm, upon which he has since resided. Mr. Hurd has been thrice married, the first time

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

April 14, 1842, to Mary, daughter of William and Hannah Johnson, a union blessed with six children: Nancy, deceased; Sarah A., deceased; William; Frances J .; Daniel, deceased, and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Hurd died in 1863, aged forty years. His second marriage was solemnized with Miss Isabel Reed of Mercer county, who died in 1871. Mr. Hurd was mar- ried to his present wife, Mrs. Ellen (Hibler) Hurd, widow of Daniel Hibler and daughter of Alexander and Nancy Montgomery, April 14, 1872. In politics Mr. Hurd is an earnest Republican, and a warm friend of temper- ance reform. He has been a member of the United Presbyterian church for more than twenty-five years.

JAMES RUSSELL, farmer, is a son of Alexander Russell whose father, Thomas Russell, was one of the pioneers of French Creek township, having located about one and a half miles above Utica as early as 1800. Alexan- der Russell was a farmer and mechanic, and died in 1883 at the age of eighty-four years. His wife, Elizabeth, was a daughter of Allen and Eliz- abeth (Hamilton) Dunn, early settlers of Mercer county. She died about 1867. They were the parents of ten children: James; Margaret; Thomas; Elizabeth; Allen; Alexander; Samuel; David; Sarah, and Matilda. James Russell was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, July 1, 1821, and was reared in Venango county. His education was obtained in the schools of Utica, and at the age of twenty-five he began farming where he now lives near the center of French Creek township. Mr. Russell was married December 24, 1846, to Miss Julia A., daughter of John and Polly (Foster) Martin, who died in 1852. She was the mother of two children: George, and Jerome, deceased. In 1853 Mr. Russell married Margaret, daughter of William and Esther (Ewing) Steele, who died June 15, 1887, leaving two children, John and Landis, both of whom are living. He was again mar- ried to Mrs. Samantha Gordon, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Mumford) Moore, of Crawford county, Pennsylvania. Politically Mr. Russell was for many years a Democrat, but is now an adherent of the Greenback party. In religion he is a member of the United Presbyterian church.

DAVID LEYDA, farmer, is a son of James and Jane (Reed) Leyda, and was born August 14, 1832, in Mercer county, Pennsylvania. His grand- father, David Leyda, removed from Washington to Mercer county in 1808. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died about 1874. James Leyda was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1804, removed with his parents to Mercer county four years afterward, and resided there until about 1869, when he removed to Franklin, Pennsylvania, where he still lives. His wife, Jane, was a daughter of William Reed, a pioneer of Lawrence county. She died in 1856. Their children were as follows: David; Re- becca A., deceased; Mrs. Elizabeth Bleakley; Mrs. Hulda C. Burns; Mrs. Sarah Rahouser, deceased; John G., deceased; Mrs. Jennie Mitchell, and Mrs. Margaret Hays. By a subsequent marriage with Elizabeth Evans Mr.

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Leyda had a family of several children. David Leyda was reared a farmer, educated in the common schools, and remained with his parents until his twenty-sixth year, when he commenced farming for himself. In 1868 he came to Venango county and located in French Creek township, about two miles southwest of Utica, where he purchased the farm upon which he has since resided, and has been a successful farmer. On the 8th day of May, 1856, he married Eliza Jane, daughter of Stephen and Jane Reed, of Mer- cer county, a union blessed with the following children: Jennie, deceased wife of Addison Lupher; Odessa, wife of Albert Thompson; James A .; Sarah, wife of Joseph McCandless; Lottie; Laura L .; Alice, deceased; Cora M., and Benny. Mr. Leyda is a Republican in politics, and the whole family are members of the United Presbyterian church.

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History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 104

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