History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 107

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 107

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HENRY F. JAMES, oil producer, son of Edwin and Sarah G. (Sandsbury) James, was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts, December 3, 1841. He learned the cooper trade, and subsequently engaged in the whaling busi- ness. In 1861 he came to Venango county; in February, 1865, he located at Pithole as superintendent for A. R. Williams. In 1871 he removed to Sugar Creek township to accept the position of superintendent for the Frank- lin Pipe Line Company, and soon afterward leased one hundred and fifty acres of the McCalmont farm, and engaged in oil operating. Mr. James has developed, sixty wells upon this farm and has thirty producing wells at the present time. He was married in 1866 to Miss Susan Hunter of Nan- tucket, Massachusetts, who has borne him two children: Bertha and Frank. Politically Mr. James is a Republican; he has always taken a deep interest in the progress of education, and at present is secretary of the school board in his district. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., A. O. U. W., and the K. of P., and one of the well-known and enterprising citizens of his adopted county.

FRANCIS MCDANIEL, miller and farmer, son of Francis and Mary (Thomp- son) McDaniel, was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, in 1832. He received a common school education, and his early life was spent upon the farm. In 1854 he engaged in the lumber business, and was subsequently

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BIOGRAPHIES OF SUGAR CREEK.

engaged in the manufacture of sash and blinds and in the flouring mill business, at Jefferson, Ohio, also in the mercantile business at Dorset, Ohio. In 1881 he located at his present place and purchased the McKinzie mill, which he operates in connection with farming. He married Miss Mary Ev- eritt, who died in 1874, leaving three children: Samuel A .; Margaret, wife of Frank Ruggles, and Frank P. In 1876 he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth, daughter of the late John McKinzie. In politics he is a Democrat, and at the present time is a member of the local school board.

JAMES R. ADAMS, superintendent and one of the directors of the Reno Oil Company, was born May 15, 1848, in the town of Wilton, Saratoga county, New York, and is the only son of Charles and Emmeline E. (Deyoe) Adams. In the fall of 1859 his father came to Oil creek, following the ex- citement incident to the striking of the Drake well. In the following year he commenced operating for oil on the John P. Hays farm, on the Allegheny river, two miles below the mouth of Oil creek, where he resided for many years, subsequently removing to Oil City, where he now resides. From boy- hood Mr. Adams has been connected with the oil business. In the spring of 1878 he was employed by the Nobel Brothers to go to the Caspian sea oil fields to introduce the American method of operating for oil. After spending one year in the Baku district he joined Doctor H. W. C. Tweddle and spent a year in his employ, developing that part of the Black sea oil fields known as the Cuban district, returning to Oil City in the summer of 1880. In 1881 he accepted the position he now holds. He was married in 1885 to Sarah E., eldest daughter of John Coyle, of Oil City. By this union they have one daughter, Ruth E. He is a member of the Masonic order, I. O. O. F., and the A. O. U. W. Politically, he is a Republican, with strong Prohibition proclivities.

OLIVER P. Ross, justice of the peace and oil producer, is a son of George and Rachel (Calvin) Ross. He was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in 1839, and was reared in Crawford county, Pennsylvania. In 1862 he entered the employ of Hozen & Trunk, as foreman on the construction of the Jamestown & Franklin railroad, afterward engaged in the teaming busi- ness, and subsequently engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes at Turner's Corners, Mercer county. In 1865 he came to Oil creek and was in the employ of various parties. In 1874 he settled in Sugar Creek and en- gaged in teaming. In 1880 he entered the employ of Yates & Grant, with whom he remained five years. He then entered the employ of J. Hurley, in whose employ he now is, and is operating some production of his own. He married in March, 1863, Miss Jones, daughter of William Jones, of Mer- cer county, Pennsylvania. They are the parents of five living children: John W. ; Margaret R. ; Flora; Oliver P., and Elsie. , He has filled the office of road commissioner six years, was elected justice of the peace in 1882, and re-elected in 1889. He is a member of the K. of H. and in politics a Democrat.

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

HENRY ALEXANDER, farmer, was born March 17, 1848. He is a son of John and Margaret Alexander. The father of our subject was a native of Centre county, Pennsylvania, came to Venango county, and settled in Sugar Creek township in 1846, where he died June 22, 1860. He was twice married, his first wife dying June 14, 1852, leaving three children, two of whom are living: Henry, and Catharine, wife of Thomas Naylor. His second wife was Mary Duffield. Our subject was reared in Sugar Creek township, and has always followed farming as an occupation. He married in 1874 Miss Ellen Norden, of Sugar Creek township, and by this marriage they have two children: Hardenia and Ralph H. Mr. Alexander politically is a Democrat.

CHERRY TREE.

JONATHAN T. CURRY, farmer, was born on his present homestead July 18, 1809. His father was Robert Curry, of Huntingdon county, who came to Titusville as a young man. He married Miss Alevia Titus (a sister of Jonathan Titus) and took up a tract of land in Cherry Tree township, which he cleared and improved. He was drafted in the war of 1812 but was excused from serving. He was a Whig and afterward a Republican in politics. He died in Franklin while attending court, and his wife died on the homestead farm. They reared four sons and four daughters. The liv- ing are: Jonathan T .; Robert, of Cherry Tree township, and Peter, of Clarion county. Our subject received but a limited education, as he was early put to work in assisting his father with the farm duties. In 1840 he married Miss Margaret Elder, daughter of Moses Elder of Cherry Tree. She died in 1877. They reared two children: Robert, living with his father, and married to Miss Celia Bucklin, and Eliza, Mrs. Samuel Ed- wards of Vinton, Iowa. Mr. Curry is a member of the Republican party.

ROBERT CURRY, farmer, was born on his present homestead July 25, 1814, son of Robert and Alevia (Titus) Curry. He received his education at the early log school houses, and has always lived on his present farm, ex- cept five years spent in the gold and silver mines of California. In 1856 he married Miss Elizabeth Curry, daughter of Samuel Curry. She died in 1880. They reared two children: Cassius, living at home, married to Miss Lizzie Moyer of Troy Center, Crawford county, and Dora, Mrs. Fred Gib- son of Cherry Tree, mother of one child, Ralph David. Mr. Curry is a member of the Republican party.

E. W. HAMILTON, farmer, was born on his present homestead, July 6, 1833. His grandfather, James Hamilton, was a native of Ireland, who im- migrated to America in 1775, and settled in Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he remained a short time, thence removing successively to the vicinity of Carlisle, Cumberland county, and to Centre county. In 1801 he came to Venango county and took up a tract of government land in Cherry Tree

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BIOGRAPHIES OF CHERRY TREE.

township. Here he lived until his death. His children were: Cynthia, Mrs. Carson Graham, deceased; John, deceased, who served as sheriff of Venango county and judge of Warren county, this state, for many years; Richard, deceased; Hugh, deceased. and James, deceased. The father of our subject was born near Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, November 16, 1789, and came to Venango county when about twelve years of age. In 1832 he married Miss Margaret Hamilton, a daughter of Thomas Hamilton, and settled upon the present farm of our subject. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. In politics he was a Democrat, and served one term of three years as county commissioner. He died in 1853. His wife survives and lives with her son, E. W. Her nine children are named as follows: E. W .; Mary Jane, Mrs. C. W. Bean of Edinboro; James M., deceased, who was a soldier of Company I, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and died in Fortress Monroe; John C., who died at the age of seventeen years; Lizzie A., a maiden lady; Margaret E., Mrs. G. E. Shering; Thomas O .; Cynthia C., and Mrs. S. A. Ware. Our subject was reared on the farm where he now resides and has always followed rural pursuits. He is a Democrat, has held some of the township offices, and was elected justice of the peace in 1889.

MICHAEL PURTILL immigrated with his wife from County Limerick, Ire- land, to America in 1827. They first located in the famous Conemaugh valley, near Johnstown, their settlement being in Westmoreland county. Michael held a position under the canal commissioners and helped to build the Pennsylvania canal, after the completion of which he had charge of a section for many years. He finally removed to Pymatuning township, Mer- cer county, this state, where he died April 3, 1845. He was a Democrat, and a prominent member of the Catholic church. After his death his widow purchased the homestead farm now owned and occupied by James Purtill in Cherry Tree township, this county, and settled thereon in 1857. There the mother died January 27, 1880. Her children were: Joanna, Mrs. Joseph McCann; Ella, Mrs. James McCann; Thomas; James; Margaret; Mary, Mrs. J. L. Sloan; Catharine, Mrs. Thomas Bennett; Nancy, Mrs. Hugh O'Hara; Michael, and Augustin, who died in 1877.

THOMAS PURTILL, farmer, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania, February 28, 1833, son of Michael and Joanna (Dealey) Purtill. He was reared and educated in Westmoreland county, this state, and has prin- cipally been engaged in farming. For a number of years he and his brother James were engaged in the production of oil in Cherry Tree township. In 1875 he purchased his present farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres and has improved it until it is one of the finest in the township. In 1869 he married Miss Sarah Lavery, daughter of Hugh Lavery, by whom he has six children. He is a Republican and he and family are members of the Catholic church at Titusville.

JAMES PURTILL, farmer and oil producer, was born in Westmoreland

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

county, Pennsylvania, July 18, 1834, son of Michael and Joanna (Dealey) Purtill. He was educated in the township schools of Mercer county and on removing to Venango county he settled where he now resides. Since 1865 he has combined the production of oil with farming and has been successful. He now operates eight wells. In 1881 he married Miss Jane Sloan, daughter of John Sloan, of Crawford county, this state, by whom he has two children: Louis Edwin and Mary Frances. Mr. Purtill is an active member of the Knights of Labor, being identified with Titusville Local Assembly, No. 6921, and District Assembly, No. 69. He is a strong Republican and an earnest anti-monopolist. He and family are members of the Titusville Catholic church.

JAMES PEEBLES, deceased, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in May, 1800. His father was a very extensive farmer, who owned a township of land. James was brought up on a farm, and was educated in Baregh, his native town. Here he lived until he was twenty-five years old, when he married Margaret Orr, whose father was a second cousin of President Buchanan. Margaret was born February 22, 1807. Shortly after their marriage they left Ireland, and came to St. John, New Brunswick, where he worked at ship building for two years. In 1827 they moved to Phila- delphia, and there remained a short time; he then removed to Juniata county, Pennsylvania, then a part of Mifflin county, where he purchased one hundred acres of land, on which he lived until 1837. From this place they moved to Plum township, Venango county. He bought a farm of two hun- dred acres, of Samuel Dale, of Franklin, and continued to buy land adjoin- ing until he had one thousand acres. In 1869 he retired from farm life, and located in Wallaceville, where he died July 25, 1881. His widow died August 30, 1886. He was a Democrat in politics, and was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church. His children were ten in number: Robert, of Cherry Tree township; Stewart C., of Cherry Tree township; Anna Belle, Mrs. Jesse Alcorn, of Cherry Tree township; William O., who died in February, 1889; Catharine, Mrs. John Pastorius, of Crawford county; James L., of Plum township; John M., of Cherry Tree township; Ellen, Mrs. William R. McIntosh, of Jackson township; Mary, Mrs. Doctor Charles Van Sickle, and Martha O., Mrs. R. O. Carson, of Forest county.

ROBERT PEEBLES, farmer, was born in New Brunswick, Canada, February 23, 1826. He came to Venango county in 1836, and in 1849 he married Miss Mary Breed, daughter of John Breed, of Breedtown. She died in 1870, the mother of ten children: John B .; Margaret, Mrs. David E. Lan- das; James O .; Jennie, Mrs. Archibald Mack; Robert R. ; William Stewart; Benjamin W .; Franklin E .; Albert, and George. He was again married, in 1874, to Mrs. Caroline Ketner, daughter of John Thomas, of Mifflin county. In politics he is a Democrat.

STEWART C. PEEBLES, farmer, was born in Juniata county, this state,

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BIOGRAPHIES OF CHERRY TREE.

March 1, 1828, and settled in Plum township, Venango county, in 1837. He received a limited education, and has been engaged in farming, with the exception of five years, during which he was dealing in real estate in Titus- ville. In 1854 he married Miss Margaret D. Alcorn, daughter of A. B. Alcorn, and settled upon his present farm in the same year. They have six children: Margaret Jane, Mrs. H. B. Miles, of Cherry Tree township, who has five children: Charles S., Harry T., Moble D., Maude E., and Millie O .; James B., who married Ida E. Young, in 1881, daughter of David Young, of Cherry Tree township, and has four children: Warren Lee, David C., Jennie, and Henry W .; Andrew T .; Mary E .; Martha O., Mrs. H. D. Carter, of Sugar Creek township, and Robert L. James B. has served as township treasurer. Mr. Peebles is one of the representative farmers of the county, owning over three hundred acres of land. He is a Democrat, and school director of Cherry Tree township. With his family he attends the Baptist church.

JAMES L. PEEBLES, farmer, was born on his present homestead, in Plum township, March 9, 1838, and has always lived thereon. In 1871 he mar- ried Miss Mary E. Greene, daughter of Thomas Greene, of Plum township, and has four children: Thomas V., Wert L., Sylvia M., and Nellie M. He is a Democrat, and a member of Dempseytown Lodge, I. O. O. F.

WILLIAM O. PEEBLES, deceased, was three times married. By his first wife, Miss Mary A. VanDresser, he had two children: Ella, Mrs. Jacob Young, of Rochester, New York, and James Nelson; and by his second wife, Tabitha Ritchey, four children: Mrs. Edward Thomas; John S .; Gaylord O., and Clayton J. His third wife was Miss Mattie Pastorius. His death occurred in February, 1889.

JOHN M. PEEBLES, farmer, was born in Plum township, April 15, 1840, and was reared and educated in the township. He has always followed rural pursuits. June 18, 1865, he married Miss Margaret Billig, daughter of William Billig, of Plum township. Soon after this he settled on his present farm, in Cherry Tree township. He enlisted in defense of his coun- try in the late Rebellion, but, being under the age required by the govern- ment, was refused. His family consists of eight children: William J., George A., Jesse A., Roxsie M., Esther O., Blanche, Catharine, and Mattie. In politics he is a Democrat, and has served as school director for five years. His wife and daughter are members of the Presbyterian church.

ROSWELL BREED, farmer, was born at Stonington, Connecticut, Septem- ber 21, 1815, son of Charles and Mary (Hancox) Breed, natives of that state, who came to Venango county in 1818 and settled on the present farm of our subject. Joseph Breed, a veteran of the Revolution, with his sons Nathan, John, and Charles, and son-in-law, Amos Hancox, settled in Cherry Tree in 1818, giving to the locality in which they resided the name of Breedtown, which it continues to bear although our subject is almost the only living

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

representative of the family. Here he was reared and has passed the whole of his life since the age of three years. In 1840 he married Amelia Flem- ing, who died in 1841, and in 1842 he married Ann Lamb, who has borne four children. The family has been uniformly Baptist in its church con- nection and Democratic in politics.

SAMUEL C. WILSON, farmer, was born February 24, 1823, at the farm upon which he now resides. His father, William Wilson, was a native of Centre county, Pennsylvania, and settled in Cherry Tree early in the pres- ent century. His son John served in the war of 1812. He was twice mar- ried, and was the father of fifteen children. His death occurred September 8, 1849. Our subject was married in 1850 to Emily C., daughter of Joel and Lucinda (Davis) Marsh. They have reared eight children. Mr. Wil- son is a Prohibitionist in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian church.

GEORGE W. TARR, farmer, was born at his present residence March 23, 1826, son of Martin and Elizabeth (Ferry) Tarr, and grandson of George Tarr, of German descent, an early settler in Cherry Tree, where he died April 1, 1845. He was the father of five sons: Matthias; John, who served in the war of 1812; Martin; Jacob, and George; and three daughters, two of whom died young. They have been among the most respected families of the township. Our subject was married in 1850 to Adelia, daughter of Isaac Rose, and they are the parents of seven children. He is a Republican in politics and has served as school director, etc. The family is Presby- terian in church connection.

WILLIAM S. REYNOLDS was born January 11, 1835, in this township, son of Joshua T. and Nancy (Hamilton) Reynolds, and grandson of William Reynolds, a native of Yorkshire, England, and a pioneer of Venango county. Our subject learned the milling business and followed it for some years. He married in 1870 Miss Mary F., daughter of John L. and Mary (Palmer) Fillmore. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and in politics a Republican.

JOHN MARSH, farmer, was born in Plum township, this county, July 10, 1833, son of William and Mary (Sterling) Marsh, natives of Westmoreland county, and among the early settlers of Crawford county, Pennsylvania. About the year 1832 they moved to Venango county and purchased a farm near Wallaceville. The father was a blacksmith by trade and later returned to Crawford county, locating near Titusville. He was a Democrat in his early manhood but became a Republican before his death, which occurred in August, 1881. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church for over forty years, and his estimable widow, who survives, residing with her son John, is also a Methodist. Her children are named as follows: John; James; Maria, Mrs. S. A. Bromley; William Henry; Ira; Mary Jane, deceased wife of Simon Proper; Samuel, and Matilda, Mrs. Henry Whitner. Our subject received his education in the common schools and learned the

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BIOGRAPHIES OF CHERRY TREE.

carpenter's trade, which he has followed in connection with farming ever since. He located on his present farm in 1883. January 17, 1858, he married Miss Amplies Proper, daughter of Daniel Proper of Crawford county, and has three children: Mary, Mrs. William Carter; Huldah C., Mrs. Frank McClelland, and Nettie, Mrs. G. W. Strawbridge. Mr. Marsh has always been identified with the Republican party. He furnished a sub- stitute for service in the late war. He has been a member of Dempseytown Lodge, No. 632, I. O. O. F., twenty-one years.

S. W. LANCASTER, oil producer, was born in England, April 16, 1843, son of William and Keziah (Cull) Lancaster, who came to Canada in 1850 and still reside there engaged in farming. Our subject was educated in Canada and came to the United States in 1862. He found employment on the boats plying between Ogdensburg, New York, and Chicago, and also on Lakes Huron and Ontario. He subsequently went to Nashville, Ten- nessee, where he was employed in the government blacksmith shops, and remained there until 1865. In 1866 he engaged in drilling in the Canada oil field, removing in the following year to Shamburg, this county; in 1876 he made his present location and has operated from six to ten wells. In 1872 he married Miss Kate Aurand, daughter of George Aurand of Demp- seytown, who were the parents of five children: William; Elizabeth; Susan; Kate, and George. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster consists of three children: Maud; Mabel, and Augustus. He is a Democrat, and one of the school directors of Cherry Tree township.

ISAAC CULP, oil producer, was born in Saegertown, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, August 19, 1845, son of Benjamin and Eva (Zimmerman) Culp, of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, and among the early set- tlers of Crawford county, of which the father is still a resident, and promi- nent farmer. He is president of the Farmers' Cooperative Bank of Saeger- town and an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His first wife, Mrs. Eva Culp, died in 1865 and he was again married, to Miss Margaret Flough. The children by the first wife are seven in number; Henry A., superintendent of the county poor farm; Isaac; Israel, of Cherry Tree town- ship; Silas, of Franklin; Frank S., secretary of the Y. M. C. A. of Oil City; Sarah, Mrs. John Williams, of Meadville, and Mary, Mrs. Joseph Brink, of Saegertown. There is one child by the second marriage, Charles, of Meadville. Mr. Culp engaged in oil producing in 1865 and has since con- tinued in the business. He now has eleven wells in operation. He has put down sixty-seven wells in Cherry Tree township. In 1867 he married Miss Mary Flesher; daughter of Daniel Flesher, of Crawford county, by whom he has one child, Albert. He is a Republican in politics, and has served as school director for nine years. In 1863 he enlisted in Company D, Fifty- Sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. He is a member of the G. A. R., I. O. O. F., K & L. of H. and Order of Tonti,

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

all of Titusville. Mr. Culp also owns a fine farm and is a stockholder in the Farmers' Cooperative Bank.

JOSEPH GORDON, oil producer, was born in Erie county, New York, Sep- tember 26, 1851, and is a son of Thomas and Rosetta (Pettitt) Gordon, na- tives of Ireland and Canada, respectively, who came to Venango county in 1868 and engaged in keeping a boarding house in Cherry Tree township. The father died in 1880 and the mother lives with our subject. Her children are named as follows: Sarah, Mrs. Charles E. Cross of Titusville; Joseph, and Sophronia, the wife of William Lewis of Titusville. Our subject was reared and educated in his native county, and for three years he was a rail- road boss at Memphis, and at Fort Dodge. He settled in Venango county in 1872 and has since been engaged in the production of oil. In 1876 he married Miss Lizzie Harris, daughter of Charles and Melvina (Jacobs) Har- ris, by whom he has one child, Joseph. He is a Republican, a member of the K. & L. of H. and the Order of Tonti.

WILLIAM EDGAR STEWART, farmer, was born on his present homestead, June 3, 1853. His father, John F. Stewart, was born in Cherry Tree township, in January, 1820. Elijah Stewart, the father of John F. Stewart, was born in Pennsylvania east of the mountains and was among the early settlers of Cherry Tree. John F. Stewart married Barbara Crain and set- tled on the farm where our subject now resides. He became one of the prominent citizens of the community in which he resided, and took an act- ive interest in the Republican party. He died in 1871 and his widow resides with her son, William Edgar. They reared two daughters, both deceased, and two sons, William Edgar and Frank. The former of these sons was married in 1882 to Miss Nellie McIntyre, daughter of William Mc- Intyre of Armstrong county, this state, and has one daughter, Vernie Annetta. He is a Republican, and holds the office of road commissioner. His brother Frank married Miss Lizzie Stevenson, daughter of George W. Stevenson, and has one child, Ralph. He is engaged in farming a part of the homestead. ·

FRANK LINCOLN HARRIS, oil producer, was born in Niagara county, New York, November 25, 1864, and is a son of Charles and Melvina (Jacobs) Harris, natives of that county. His father was a carpenter by trade and died in Niagara county in 1871. The mother still resides there and her children are: Daniel, of Buffalo; Emma, Mrs. Edwin Lacy, of Buffalo; Elizabeth, Mrs. Joseph Gordon of Cherry Tree township; E. E., of Buffalo, and Frank Lincoln, who received his education at Buffalo, New York. He came to Venango county in 1876 and in May, 1889, established the firm of Gordon, Harris & Company, oil producers. He is also engaged in farming. He is a Republican, belongs to the Royal Templars of Temperance, and the Order of Tonti.

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History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 107

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