History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 106

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

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JAMES SIMCOX, farmer, Raymilton, was born in this township, February 29, 1832, son of William and Jane (Marshall) Simcox. The former was born in Maryland, June 14, 1794, son of Shadrach Simcox, the first repre- sentative of the family in this county, who served in the war of 1812; the latter was born February 14, 1804, the daughter of James Marshall, of Mercer county. They were the parents of twelve children: Mrs. Eleanor Amon; Mrs. Martha Zink; Mrs. Mary Whitaker; Nancy; John; William; James; Mrs. Jane Gibson; Philetus R .; John L .; Hugh M., and Lester M. William Simcox died September 5, 1850, and his widow, June, 12, 1860, both at the age of fifty-six. James Simcox was brought up in this township, and obtained a limited education at the common schools. He engaged in farming in 1854, on the farm he now occupies, and has resided there continuously ever since, with the exception of a year in Ohio and two in Mercer county. In 1854 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Henderson, of Worth township, Mercer county. They have one adopted child, Mrs. Carrie Woods. Both are connected with the Center Methodist church. Mr. Simcox has held various local offices, and is a Democrat in politics. Two brothers, John and Hugh, served during the civil war.

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

ALEXANDER WRIGHT, justice of the peace and farmer, was born in Mercer county, near Hendersonville, August 21, 1839, son of Thomas and Sarah (Fowler) Wright. Thomas Wright was from Bleakley Lane near Whitley Rocks, Lancashire, England. He was born there and reared to maturity, emigrating to America when a young man. He came to Mercer county im- mediately, with a family of Fowlers from the same locality. Here he mar- ried a daughter of Richard Fowler and settled on an uncleared tract of land. He lived here until his death in 1850, and is buried at Zion church, Worth township. His wife lived to an advanced age, dying in 1885, and is buried at the same place. She reared a family of six children: Mary, wife of William Trevitt, of Perrine's Corners, where they occupy the first house erected by John Forest in 1838; Alexander; G. W. Wright, of Mercer, ex- member of the Pennsylvania legislature; R. R. Wright, of Frankel & Wright, merchant tailors, Mercer; J. S. Wright, merchant, Henderson- ville, and T. J. Wright, on the old homestead in Worth township, where he has twice served as justice of the peace. Alexander had but limited education, and at an early age took his father's place at the head of the family. In 1865 he engaged in farming in this township, and in 1869 bought the farm of one hundred and ten acres upon which he now resides. He married Mary L., daughter of Augustus Giebner of Worth township, in 1865. They are connected with Center Methodist Episcopal church. He has held various township offices and has been justice of the peace three years.

WILLIAM M. GLENN, oil producer and lumber dealer, Raymilton, was born September 8, 1848, near Grove City, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, son of John and Jane (Kilgore) Glenn. The paternal grandfather, Samuel Glenn, was from Ireland, and an early settler of French Creek township, where he was for many years a justice of the peace. He was the father of a large family, of whom John was the oldest. He was engaged in the mill- ing business at various points in this and Mercer county, and died at Sandy Lake in March, 1885, at the age of seventy-five. His wife was a daughter of John J. Kilgore, once a member of the Pennsylvania legislature, whose history is given in connection with Irwin township. She was the mother of seven children: Mrs. Elizabeth Coulter; Mrs. Dorcas Finley; Mrs. Jane Baker; John; Samuel; William M., and Amanda. Our subject was reared in this county. Not long after oil was discovered he went to Oil creek and has been engaged at the wells and refineries ever since. In 1880 he located at Raymilton, where he built the Globe refinery, and managed it about five years. During this time he became interested in production, and since his retirement from the refinery in 1885 he has given his attention to this and lumbering. October 29, 1874, he married Juliet A., daughter of Joseph A. Allen, of Irwin township. They are the parents of two children: Earl C. and Loyal B. They are connected with Mount Pleasant Presbyterian

James Poster

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BIOGRAPHIES OF VICTORY.

church, of which Mr. Glenn is an elder. He is a Republican in politics, and is now filling the office of justice of the peace.

VICTORY.

TRE DEWOODY FAMILY of Victory township is descended from John De- woody, a native of Ireland, who emigrated to America, and removed from Pittsburgh to the valley of Sandy creek in 1796. At Chartier's creek, Allegheny county, he had met and married Anis Mccullough, daughter of a captain in the American Revolution from Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, who removed to the west to receive payment in lands for his services. The original Dewoody settlement was made on the old Pittsburgh road in this township, where a portion of the tract is now owned by John Dewoody, son of the first settler, who kept hotel here many years. John Dewoody, Sr., served in the war of 1812, and died on the old homestead in 1842. He was the father of eight children: George; William; Robert; John; Andrew; Benjamin; Mrs. Sarah Ford, and Mrs. Nancy Kilgore.

JOHN DEWOODY, fourth son of the original settler, was born in November, 1806, upon the farm where he now resides. Here he grew to manhood, and February 21, 1839, married Margaret, daughter of George Kilgore, who emigrated from Londonderry, Ireland, in 1833, and died in 1865, at the age of eighty-seven. They are the parents of five children: George A .; Mrs. Anna M. Hill; John; Sarah E., and Margaret, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Dewoody have been members of the Presbyterian church at Polk since its organization.

JOHN C. DEWOODY, son of Robert and Elizabeth (McBride) Dewoody, was born in Sandy Creek (now Victory) township, April 15, 1838. His father, Robert, was the third son of John Dewoody, Sr., and died June 19, 1860. He is buried in the old Sandy grave-yard. His widow still sur- vives. Our subject was brought up in Sandy Creek, and obtained a fair common school education. By the death of his father he was, at an early age, compelled to assist his mother in the support of the family. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. He participated in the campaigns of Maryland and Virginia, was under Sheridan at Winchester, and within a short distance of Gettysburg during that memorable engagement. He was also in the battles of Stony Point and Stony Gap, Virginia. After the grand review at Washington, he was discharged, May 29, 1865, and returned to his home. August 22, 1866, he married Agnes A., daughter of William Henderson of Victory township. The family numbers eight: Mary A., wife of Clayton Park, of Franklin; Sarah E. ; Effa J .; Margaret M .; Myrtie A .; Orvil G .; Howard, and Will- iam E., deceased. The family is connected with the Evangelical church of this township, in which Mr. Dewoody is Sunday school superintendent. He is secretary of the township school board, and politically a Republican.

1038

HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

WILLIAM SHORTS, deceased, was born July 8, 1805, in Butler county, Pennsylvania, son of Robert and Mary (Porter) Shorts, and grandson of Richard and James (Johnson) Shorts, the former of England. His wife was Martha Jane Witherup, born May 10, 1803, in Venango county, daughter of John and. Mary Witherup. John Witherup, first sheriff of Venango county, was born in England, came to Scrubgrass, Venango county, and was there engaged in the lumber business. His wife's maiden name was Brock- ingham, and her parents came from England to Philadelphia. William Shorts came to Venango county when a young man and engaged in the lumber business two years. After his marriage he removed to Ohio, stayed there but a short time and returned to Victory township, Venango county, where he secured the tract of two hundred acres still known as the old Shorts farm. He was elected colonel of militia, from which he derived his title. When the Rebellion broke out he raised a company and went as captain of Company K, served two years, and was discharged on account of sickness. After the war he moved to Hunnewell, Missouri, with all of the family except Robert. They lived there a number of years, and then all returned to the old Shorts farm in Venango county. He died December 13, 1885, at the age of eighty in Jacksonville, Florida. He was the father of seven children: Robert C .; John; William, deceased; Mrs. Henrietta Mc- Kissick; Elizabeth; Mrs. Ann H. Balliett, deceased, and Abraham, now living in Franklin.

ROBERT CRISPEN SHORTS, son of William and Martha J. (Witherup) Shorts, was born. September 7, 1826, in Trumbull county, Ohio. He removed to Pennsylvania in the year 1830, where he has lived the greater part of his life to the present time. He attended the schools of the neighborhood and received only a limited education. His occupation has been farming. He was married in 1853 at the age of twenty-seven to Catharine Bunnell, daughter of Alfred and Rachel Bunnell of Venango county; they are the parents of six children, the oldest of whom, Elwilda Viola, died at the age of one year. The five living are: William Lawrence; Floretta Florence, wife of Leonadis Heasley, of Franklin; Martha Maud, wife of Robert Blair, of Mercer county; Buena Kate, wife of William Beaver, of Switzerland, now residing in Franklin, and Mary Ellen. His wife, Catharine Bunnell, daughter of Alfred and Rachel Bunnell, was born in 1834. Her grand- father, Bunnell, came from England, lived in Maine for a number of years, then came to reside in Venango county, Pennsylvania. Her grandfather, Cannon, came from Ireland and settled on Sandy creek when it was an un- broken wilderness, inhabited by wild beasts. He made improvements and lived there the remainder of his life. Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Shorts are con- nected with the Church of God. He has been a Republican since the organ - ization of the party and is a man of very decided views on general matters.

SAMUEL Hovis, farmer and justice of the peace, was born June 19, 1822,

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BIOGRAPHIES OF VICTORY.

in what was then Irwin township, this county, son of William and Sarah (Baker) Hovis. William Hovis was born, it is thought, in Clinton town- ship, and was a son of John Hovis, the original progenitor of the family in this county. He was a descendant of John Theodore Hofius, a minister of the Reformed church and one of the pioneers of Mercer county, Pennsyl- vania. William Hovis followed farming all his life. During the war of 1812 he joined a company of militia and marched to the defense of Erie. He died at an advanced age and is buried in the Methodist Episcopal grave-yard at Clintonville, of which denomination he was long a member. He was the father of nine children: John, of Irwin township; Peter; Will- iam; Mrs. Clarinda Moore, and Nancy, deceased; H. P. and A. J., of Clin- ton township; Mrs. Susanna Bonner, and Samuel, the subject of this sketch. The last mentioned married Eliza C. Welton of Cattaraugus county, New York, in 1842, and they are the parents of ten children: Lydia L., wife of J. B. Henderson, of Clinton township; Emmerilla, wife of Isaac R. Eakin, of Emlenton; William J., of Butler county; Monroe Z., of Clintonville; Sarah E., wife of James Osborn, of Mercer county; Samuel H., merchant and postmaster of Pearl; Joseph C., of Butler; Chester L., of Clintonville; Mar - garet C., and John D. The family is connected with the Church of God in this township, in which Mr. Hovis has served as elder since its organization. He has been a life-long Democrat, has filled various local offices, and takes an active interest in public affairs.

PHILIP HECKERT, farmer, was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, January 18, 1805, son of John and Catharine Heckert. In 1829 he mar- ried Juliana Erb, and has resided in this township since 1835. Of a family of twelve children born to Philip and Juliana Heckert, ten are living. One son, John, enlisted in Company E, Sixty-First Pennsylvania Volunteers, and died in the service.

JOHN . H. BLAIR, farmer and merchant, was born in County Derry, Ire - land, in May, 1823, son of Robert and Nancy (Eakin) Blair, who immi- grated to Pennsylvania in 1828, locating in Scrubgrass township, Venango county, whence they removed the following year to Butler county. John H. obtained a limited education in the schools of that county, and began life as contractor at Buchanan and Jefferson furnaces in Clarion county. · In October, 1848, he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in Vic- tory township, his present homestead, and moved thereon in 1851. He en- gaged in merchandising in 1876 and still follows that line of business. He was married January 2, 1849, to Amelia, daughter of William Griffin, of Irwin township, who has borne him ten children. The family is connected with Hebron church of the Evangelical Association and politically Mr. Blair is a Democrat.

WILLIAM CATHER, farmer, was born July 18, 1821, in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, son of John Cather, a native of Cecil county, Maryland.

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

The latter was an early settler of Wolf Creek township, Mercer county, and one of the first school teachers of that locality. He was also at one time employed at the old furnaces in Scrubgrass township, Venango county. In 1831 he came to Springville, Victory township, and two years later took up a tract of three hundred and fifty acres of land. His death occurred in Ohio, and was the result of an accident in an iron mine. William Cather married Mary, daughter of John B. Smith, in 1873. They have had seven children, four of whom are living.

JOHN WAREHAM, farmer, was born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, September 3, 1831, the youngest of a family of six children born to John and Elizabeth (Stevens) Wareham, of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and of German origin. They subsequently removed to the vicinity of Mechanicsville, Irwin township, Venango county. The subject of this sketch obtained his schooling in that township, where he commenced farm- ing in 1853. In 1865 he became a resident of Victory. November 14, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served until disabled in the following year. In 1853 Mr. Wareham married Nancy, daughter of John Phipps, and they are the parents of ten children. The family is connected with the Church of God, of which Mr. Wareham was the second elder of the society in Victory township.

JOSEPH H. MCMILLIN, farmer and hotel keeper, was born January 15, 1841, son of John and Mary (McQuiston) McMillin. The former was born June 18, 1794, and died August 13, 1876. He was a son of Daniel McMillin, one of the pioneers of this township, and the eldest in a large family. Both John and his father served in the war of 1812. John McMillin was the father of ten children, of whom Joseph H. is the oldest now living. The latter was brought up in Rockland township, and obtained a limited educa- tion. At an early age he engaged in rafting, and from this time until 1876 he farmed with his father, and then became a resident of Victory township. March 27, 1880, he removed to Springville, and in the following year was appointed postmaster at that point. Mr. McMillin was married July 3, 1862, to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Neff, of Clarion county, who has borne him thirteen children, nine of whom are living. His political affilia- tions are with the Democratic party.

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BIOGRAPHIES OF SUGAR CREEK.

CHAPTER LI.

BIOGRAPHIES OF SUGAR CREEK, CHERRY TREE, PLUM, CANAL, OAKLAND, AND JACKSON.

SUGAR CREEK.

W HITMAN FAMILY .- Among the early families of Sugar Creek township was that of Jacob Whitman and his three sons: John, Jonathan and William; of the two last named, nothing is known by the present members of the family. They came from one of the Sus- quehanna river counties, and settled within the former limits of Sugar Creek. John, the oldest son, settled upon the lands now owned by the Mclaughlin family. He married Jane Davis, and they were the parents of the following children: John; Gabe; Samuel; Jonathan; George; Jane; Margaret, and Jacob. Margaret married Benjamin Nock. Jacob was born in 1797, and in early life was engaged upon the farm, later in boating and in the construction of boats for river transportation. At the time of the war of 1812, he was employed in transporting military stores intended for the construction of Perry's fleet at Lake Erie. He married Mary M., daughter of Abraham Bean, to whom the following children were born: Abraham B .; John; William; James; Leonina, wife of Jonathan Blyler; Jane, deceased wife of Henry VanDusen, and Ellen, wife of John Lindsey. The father died in 1872, his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1853.

ABRAHAM B. WHITMAN, eldest son of Jacob and Mary (Bean) Whitman, was born in 1825 on the homestead farm. His education was obtained at the district schools and his early life spent upon the farm. Although princi- pally engaged in farming, he has also been interested at other times in various enterprises. In his native township he has served as constable and collector, and filled various other local offices. In 1846 he married Miss Joanna, daughter of George Wilt, and they are the parents of seven living children: Annie, wife of Christopher Seber; Louis; Louisa, wife of Austin Whitman; Lizzie; Lemuel; Samuel, and Lucy. Mr. Whitman is independ- ent in politics. He is one of the most respected and influential citizens in his township.

JOHN J. WHITMAN, second son of Jacob and Mary (Bean) Whitman, was born in 1829 upon the homestead farm, upon a portion of which he resides. In early life he spent his time in rafting, but since that has been engaged in

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

farming exclusively. In 1854 he married Miss Sarah Coxson. Of ten chil- dren born to them seven are now living: John; Eliza A .; James McFar- land; Addie, wife of James McElhaney; Lizzie, wife of Thomas Halett, and Francis P. Mr. Whitman affiliates with the Democratic party.

JAMES WHITMAN, youngest son of Jacob and Mary (Bean) Whitman, was born in 1832 upon the homestead farm. He has always been engaged in farming. He was married December 23, 1858, to Miss Sarah J., daughter of William Chrispin of Sugar Creek township, and they are the parents of five children: Jane, wife of Arthur Shoffstall of Crawford county, Penn- sylvania; Charles; Adelia, wife of J. R. Davis; Bertha, and Walter. Po- litically Mr. Whitman is a Democrat; he has been a member of the local school board and has filled other township offices.

McQUAID FAMILY. - William McQuaid, a native of Ireland, emigrated to this country in 1764. He settled in Perry county, Pennsylvania, where he died. He was twice married, and his family consisted of four children: William; Jane; Betsey, and John, the last of whom was the progenitor of the McQuaid family of this county. He was born in Perry county and set- tled in what is now Sugar Creek township about 1802. He was a mill-wright by trade and followed it in connection with his farm of two hundred acres. He was at the defense of Erie in 1812. He married Isabella, daughter of William Duffield, and by this union they had thirteen children, six of whom grew to man and womanhood: William, deceased; John, of Cali- fornia; Jesse, of Sugar Creek township; Armstrong D., of Sugar Creek; Mary, wife of William Hastings, of Canal township; and Harriet, wife of Archibald Foster. John McQuaid died upon his settlement in 1850, his wife surviving him until 1858.

JOSEPH MCCALMONT, deceased, the youngest son of John and Elizabeth (Conard) McCalmont, was born in Centre county, Pennsylvania, November 23, 1798, and came to this county with his parents in 1803. He was reared in Sugar Creek township. In 1829 he purchased the farm upon which he resided until the time of his death, April 22, 1874. He married Margaret, daughter of John Linn of Centre county, and they were the parents of eight children: Jemima, deceased wife of Andrew Johnson; Emily, wife of Sam- uel Cooper; Sarah J., who married T. W. Brown; James F., of Nebraska; Murray L., of Sugar Creek; Susan, deceased; Margaret E., wife of Doctor H. M. Crapper, and John L., of this township. Mrs. McCalmont died February 7, 1873.

HENRY HOMAN, a native of Maryland, of German descent, removed to Centre county, Pennsylvania, where he lived until 1837; he then came to Venango county, and settled upon the land now in possession of his sons, Thomas R. and Andrew J. He married Catharine Armagost, a native of Maryland, who bore him twelve children: John, deceased; Samuel, deceased; Sarah, who married David Homan; Hannah, deceased wife of William

1043

BIOGRAPHIES OF SUGAR CREEK.

Fleming; Henry, deceased; Catharine, deceased; Susanna, deceased; Mary; David, who resides at Cooperstown, and married Catharine McKinzie; Re- becca, wife of William Canan; Thomas R., and Andrew J. In early life Henry Homan was a member of the Lutheran church, but in later years he was connected with the Methodist Episcopal church. He filled various township offices, and died in 1872, his wife having died ten years previously.

THOMAS R. HOMAN was born in Centre county, Pennsylvania, in 1834, was reared in Sugar Creek township, received a common school education, and has always followed farming. He has taken a deep interest in the affairs of his township, and in 1878 was elected county commissioner, serv- ing one term. He has filled the office of constable and collector for eight years, and school director six years. Politically he is a Democrat, and one of the respected citizens of the township. He is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church.

ANDREW J. HOMAN, youngest son of Henry Homan, was born upon the homestead, in Sugar Creek township, in 1837, and has spent his entire life thereon. He received a common school education, and has always followed farming. He was married in 1870 to Miss Rachel, a daughter of Frederick Devere, of Sugar Creek, and by this marriage they have one son, Charley. Mr. Homan has filled the office of school director, is a Democrat, and a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church.

JOHN CULBERSON; farmer, is a native of County Donegal, Ireland. He was born February 14, 1811, and is a son of John and Isabella (Davis) Cul- berson, who immigrated to Philadelphia in 1834, where they resided until their death. Our subject was one of a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters, and was the second son, all of whom are dead excepting one sister, Mrs. James Davis of Philadelphia. Our subject came to Venango county in 1832, having emigrated two years previous to his parents. He found employment with Thomas Anderson of Cornplanter township, where he remained one year. He then rented a farm, which he worked for two years, when he entered the employ of Samuel Bell, furnace proprietor, where he remained one year. In 1838 he purchased one hundred and six acres where he now resides, adding to his farm until he has two hundred and thirty-two acres. He has been three times married; his first wife was Lucy McFate, a native of Ireland, who died in 1845 and bore him four children: Samuel, deceased; Robert; Mary J., deceased, who married Mark Ward, and John. He married for his second wife Esther Lamberton, who died in 1868, by whom he had no children. His third wife was Margaret Rossman, who died in 1886, leaving six children: Melvin; Ann J .; Nancy B .; Renwick; Sarah E., and Harvey. Mr. Culberson joined the Presby- terian church in Ireland; after his settlement here he joined the United Presbyterian church and has been a member and an elder for thirty-seven years. Politically he is a Democrat.

1044

HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

BEAN FAMILY. - Abraham Bean, a native of one of the eastern counties of this state, came to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, about 1800. He set- tled on the line of Canal township and subsequently purchased the farm in Canal township where his grandsons, John D. and Andrew, now live, where he died about 1839. He had two sons, Samuel and Henry. From Samuel have descended the Bean family of Canal township. He was born in 1793, reared in Canal township, and lived his life upon the farm, engaged in farming. He married May 23, 1822, Jane, daughter of James McCune, one of the early settlers of Canal township, and by this marriage they had thir- teen children: Elizabeth, wife of Silas Thompson; Susan, deceased, who married Abraham Hart; Adaline, wife of Henry Hare of Crawford county; James, of Canal township; Martha, deceased, who married Michael Brown; William; Samuel, deceased; John D .; Mary A., deceased, who married Samuel Whitman; Andrew of Canal township, and Thomas P., deceased. Samuel died upon the farm May 5, 1872, his wife having died in 1865.

DAVID ROSSMAN, deceased, a native of Centre county, Pennsylvania, came to Venango county in 1839, and settled in Cranberry township, where he lived two years. He then removed to Sugar Creek township and settled upon a farm on the river. In 1844 he purchased the farm where his son David now lives. He married Elizabeth Fife of Centre county, Pennsyl- vania. They were the parents of thirteen children, five of whom are now living: John; Henry; David; William, and Susanna, who married George Frank. Mr. Rossman died in 1855, his wife surviving him until 1882.

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History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 106

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