History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 108

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 108

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HJ. James

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BIOGRAPHIES OF PLUM.

PLUM.

JOHN RICHEY, farmer, was born in Ireland, June 3, 1805, son of William and Margaret Richey. The father died in Ireland in 1806, and the mother emigrated in 1812, first locating in that part of Mifflin county which is now Juniata, whence she removed about the year 1820 to Butler county, Pennsyl- vania. The children were five in number, of whom William settled in Oakland township, and became one of its leading citizens; Samuel remained a bachelor; Jane married John Gill and died at Oakland; Sarah married in Butler county and died there, and our subject located upon his present farm in 1832, reducing the land to cultivation and developing the farm from its primitive state. In 1827 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Job, of Mercer county. Ten children were born to this union, of whom nine arrived at maturity: Julia Ann, deceased wife of Daniel Welsh; Margaret, Mrs. Charles Thomas; Isabella, deceased wife of Thomas Brown; Tabitha, deceased wife of William Peebles; John C., of Sunville; Andrew W., farmer, Plum township; Cyrus D., deceased; Martha M., and Alice E. Mrs. Richey died March 6, 1881. Our subject was road commissioner and pathmaster of the township for forty years. Politically he was formerly a Democrat, but for some years past has been a strong supporter of the Prohibition party. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, in which he has been an elder forty years, and is one of the oldest and most respected citizens of the county.

JACOB G. PROPER is the grandson of Samuel Proper, a pioneer of German descent who emigrated from Schoharie county, New York, in the year 1801 with a family of six sons and three daughters, and settled on a farm of two hundred acres at the present site of the Diamond, Venango county. At that time all was a dense wilderness; the nearest neighbors were six, miles distant, Indians and wild animals were plentiful, and many were the hard- ships endured by this early pioneer in his efforts to establish a home in Venango county. Daniel Proper, father of Jacob G., was born in 1797 and was consequently four years old at the time his father came to this county. As a boy he shared the hardships and labors of the family, and when the war of 1812 broke out, though a mere youth, enlisted as a soldier and for many years in his old age drew a pension for honorable service in that con- test. At the age of twenty he married Margurite Archer, daughter of John Archer, and settled on a large farm adjoining his father's. From this union were born seven sons and three daughters. Jacob G. Proper, born January 3, 1820, was the second son. At an early age, with several of his brothers, he engaged in the lumber business on Tionesta creek, Forest county. At the expiration of eight years, having succeeded well in the lumber industry, he returned to his old homestead, married Esther Kightlinger, and settled on a fine farm at the Diamond, where he still resides. A family of three children blessed his home, all of whom are married and living in this county.

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

During his long residence in Venango connty Mr. Proper has had the con- fidence and esteem of the community in which he has lived, and has held several positions of trust, being a justice of the peace for ten years and postmaster for a long term. He has been a stanch Republican ever since the founding of that party. Mr. Proper's six brothers are all living. The oldest of the family, J. A. Proper, resides in Tionesta, Forest county. He is associate judge of the county, and largely interested in oil and timber lands. Joseph R., Daniel D., Isaiah, and William H. are all well-to-do farmers, residing in this county. James L. is one of the prominent physi- cians of Titusville, where he enjoys a successful practice.

W. W. DAVISON, deceased, was one of the leading citizens of Plum town- ship and favorably known throughout the county. Descended from Irish Presbyterian ancestry, the family were early residents of the central counties of Pennsylvania, from which part of the state Isaac Davison, father of our subject, moved many years ago to Mercer county. W. W. Davison was born in Mercer county, and in early life followed the potter's trade. About 1835 he moved to Venango county, settling in Plum township, where he engaged in farming. He subsequently followed the mercantile business in the village of Sunville, of which he was founder, and at one time served as associate judge of the county. He was for many years justice of the peace, was a leading Republican, and one of the pioneers of that party in western Pennsylvania. He was a public-spirited citizen and for many years an in- fluential member of the Presbyterian church. He died May 17, 1862, aged fifty years. His wife, Bithiah Davison, was the daughter of Richard Van Dyke, one of the early settlers of Butler county, who bore him a family of seven children: Elizabeth J., deceased; Isabella, wife of John G. Jennings; J. A., merchant of Sunville; Cyrus R., who enlisted in Company I, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, but returned disabled after one year's service and engaged in mercantile pursuits at Sunville in partnership with J. A., retir- ing from active business several years since; Sarah, wife of Stephen Davis of Erie county; Mary, who married William J. Cooper, and I. H., mer- chant of Polk, Venango county.

J. A. DAVISON, merchant, Sunville, was born in Plum township, Decem- ber 27, 1836, son of William Wilson and Bithiah (VanDyke) Davison. He was reared on the homestead farm and educated at the township schools. His present business was established in 1865 and has since been success- fully continued. He has also been postmaster at Sunville for some years. He was married in 1860 to Rachel V., daughter of Philson Cooper of Coop- erstown, and has one son, O. C. Davison, farmer, of Plum township. Our subject is a member of the Presbyterian church, and in politics a Republican.

JAMES F. DAVISON, farmer, was born in Plum township, June 16, 1836, son of John and Eliza (Weekley) Davison, natives of Butler county, this state. In 1829 they came to Venango county and purchased two hundred

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BIOGRAPHIES OF PLUM.

acres of land in Plum township at a cost of three dollars per acre, a large portion of which was well timbered with fine oak. They became among the wealthiest farmers of the township, and were prominent members of the Presbyterian church at Sunville. Mrs. Davison died in 1853, leaving seven children: Isabella, Mrs. LaFayette Straight; Isaac W .; James F .; Eliza- beth Jane, wife of David Mathers; Fannie, Mrs. Samuel Williams; Sarah Amanda, wife of Edward Schultz, and Martha A., wife of Robert Battin. Mr. Davison was again married, to Mrs. Elizabeth Foster, and by her had one child, Mrs. John Zeigler. He died in 1876, and his widow survives him, residing on the homestead. Our subject received his education at the township schools and has followed farming. In 1860 he married Miss Lu- cinda Mathers, daughter of Samuel Mathers, and has four living children: Lottie L .; Elma E., Mrs. Frederick Bumpas; Fred H., and Annie Belle. In 1862 Mr. Davison enlisted in Company E, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cav- alry, in which he served until the close of the war. He was taken prisoner March 31, 1865, at Dinwiddie Court House, Virginia, and held until Lee's surrender. He is a stanch Republican, and has been school director, town- ship auditor, and commissioner. He is a member of Union Veteran Union, No. 10, of Chapmanville, also of Andrew Jackson Post, No. 199, G. A. R., of Cooperstown, and is an elder of the Presbyterian church of Sunville. Since July 1, 1889, he has conducted the United States mail route from Bradleytown to Franklin in connection with his farm duties.

WILLIAM K. GILLILAND, drawer of deeds, conveyancer, surveyor, etc., Sunville, was born in Potter township, Centre county, Pennsylvania, March 11, 1828, son of Joseph A. and Nancy (Kerr) Gilliland. His grandfather, Joseph Gilliland, was born in New Jersey in 1770, moved to Chester county, this state, in 1796, and subsequently to Union county. In 1805 he moved to Spring Mills, Centre county, where he kept a hotel. He was an active Presbyterian and was elected an elder in the Sinking Creek church in 1815. He reared seven sons and two daughters, the only one of whom now living is Samuel of Centre county.

Joseph A. Gilliland, father of our subject, was born in Chester county in 1796. In 1805 his father moved to Centre county, where he was reared, married, and followed farming. In October, 1833, he removed to Venan- go county, locating in Canal township seven miles west of Franklin on the Meadville and Susquehanna pike, where he purchased a large farm and in connection with its cultivation kept a temperance hotel. His wife's death in 1844 broke up his home and he gave up the farm to accept the superin- tendency of a section of that turnpike. He subsequently moved to Frank- lin, where he died March 10, 1861. He was a Democrat, and an elder of the Presbyterian church. His children were named as follows: Mary J., Mrs. Smith Kelley of Pleasantville; Catharine C., Mrs. Isaiah Corbitt of Franklin; Margaret I., Mrs. Johnson Alexander, who died June 14, 1852;

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

William K., Joseph S., who died at Davenport, Iowa, in January 1853, and John Mc., of Franklin.

Our subject came to Venango county when five years of age; he ob- tained his education at the log school house, and in 1838 received one year's instruction at a select school taught by his uncle in Centre county. He served an apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade, after which he worked in Franklin and various other places until 1854, when he settled in Sunville. On account of an accident that made him a cripple for several years he aban- doned his trade in 1859. In 1851 he traveled through the western states, Illinois, and Iowa. In 1863 he was elected a justice of the peace and has since held that position. In 1871 he was elected county auditor; in 1883 he was appointed by the court to fill a vacancy, and was re-elected to the office in 1884. He was married in 1852 to Miss Nancy Foster, daughter of John Foster of Canal township, by whom he had ten children, seven of whom are living: Levi S., a school teacher; Foster W., also a teacher; Effie G., wife of Professor J. D. Goodwin; John A., who is employed at farming; Cyrus A., a teacher; Mary A., and William K. Mr. Gilliland has been an earnest Republican and with his wife belongs to the Sugar Creek Presbyterian church, of which he is an elder.

WILLIAM M. GOODWIN, farmer, was born in the portion of Jackson town- ship formerly included in Plum, February 27, 1826, son of Daniel and Sarah (McIntosh) Goodwin, both natives of Pennsylvania, who moved with their respective parents to Ohio. There they were married, and in 1825 came to Venango county and purchased the farm where our subject was born. They subsequently removed to the farm now owned by Ira Good- win, where they lived the remainder of their days; the death of Daniel Goodwin occurred February 4, 1862, and that of his wife January 1, 1879. The father was a prominent farmer, and held many of the township offices. For several years he was a class leader in the Methodist Episcopal church, and was highly respected by all who knew him. His children were six in number, four of whom are living: William M; A. J .; David W., and Ira R. Our subject received his education in the common schools and passed one year at Allegheny College. He taught school for a number of terms. In 1863 he was married to Miss Sarah E. Holder, daughter of George Holder of Ohio, by whom he has two children: Edwin D. and John Nelson, both at home. After marriage Mr. Goodwin settled on his present farm. He is a Democrat. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.

JAMES R. GROVE, farmer, was born in the portion of Centre county now included in Clinton county, Pennsylvania, February 13, 1828, son of Peter Grove, who was born in the same county, December 25, 1791. Peter Grove, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Germany and immigrated to America in time to participate in the Revolutionary war. A boon companion of the famous Brady, he was a great hunter and trapper and was familiarly

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BIOGRAPHIES OF PLUM.

known as the "Indian hunter of the Bald Eagle." He was drowned in attempting to cross the Susquehanna river. He left five sons and five daughters; one of the latter, Mrs. P. Reed of Armstrong county, is yet living. Peter, the father of our subject, was the fifth child. He learned the blacksmith trade, which occupation he followed many years. In 1822 he married Miss Fannie, daughter of James Bruce, of Scotch-Irish extrac- tion and a settler in Centre county, this state. In the spring of 1835 they moved to the farm where James R. Grove now resides, then a dense wilder- ness, but which under his management rapidly developed into a productive farm. Here the father died in December, 1887, and his widow in 1888, after a life of usefulness and a married relation of sixty five years. Seven of their children grew to maturity and four are yet living: Robert; Amanda; Sarah; and James R., who came to Venango county when seven years of age and has since resided on the farm. April 1, 1869, he married Miss Rebecca Ann Foster, daughter of James Foster of Plum township. She died in 1883, leaving three children: William R .; Kate, Mrs. Jasper McClelland, of Crawford county, and Ella. Mr. Grove is independent in politics, is serving his twenty-first year as school director, and is a member of Dempsey- town Lodge, No. 632, I. O. O. F.

T. J. McINTOSH, merchant, was born in Plum township, September 6, 1847. son of A. J. and Mary (Gillispie) McIntosh. The father was a native of Franklin county, Ohio, and the mother of Crawford county, this state. The former came to this county with his parents, who settled near the pres- ent site of Cooperstown at an early date, purchasing there a tract of land which the senior McIntosh and his family improved, and in addition operat- ing a distillery and grist mill located on the same for a number of years. The grandfather, William McIntosh, was a soldier of the war of 1812, and of his children but three are living: A. J. and Clemuel, of Cooperstown, and Millicent, wife of Thomas Green, of Plum township. A. J. McIntosh after his marriage settled on his present farm and has become one of the prominent and representative farmers of the community in which he resides. Mary, his wife, died in 1879 and two of her three children are living : W. R. of Cooperstown, and T. J., our subject, who was educated at Edinboro Normal. He was engaged in the production of oil in Butler county for a number of years, after which he became a member of the firm of Miller Brothers & Company, of Titusville and Oil City, and established his present store in March, 1889. He was married in 1870 to Miss Sue Bowman, daughter of James Bowman of Jackson township, and has three children, Charles C., Ralph D., and Mildred. He is a member of Queen City Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Titusville, and the E. A. U. of Wallaceville, a Democrat in politics, and has filled various township offices.

R. P. SEELY, farmer, was born in Oakland township February 18, 1838, son of Alva and Margaret (Andrews) Seely, who located in Oakland soon

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

after their marriage. Here the father died in 1845, and the mother died in 1879 in Cherry Tree township. Five of their seven children are living: William A., of Crawford county; Sarah Jane, wife of Michael Spangler; Phoebe Ellen, Mrs. John Loker; R. P., and Eli H., of Oakland. The mother was again married, to James Watt, by whom she had one child, Re- becca Jane, wife of Charles Shaffer. Our subject was reared and educated in Plum township. In October, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served until the close of the war, participating in all the battles of the army of the Potomac, except the battle of the Wil- derness. In 1861 he married Miss Sally Ann Starling, daughter of Elisha Starling, and has four living children: Elisha D .; Mary M .; Cora A., and Zula P. Mr. Seely was formerly a Republican but is now a Prohibitionist. He has filled the office of school director, and is a member of Union Vet- eran's Union, No. 10, and of Andrew Jackson Post, G. A. R., of Coopers- town. He settled on his present farm of fifty acres in 1865, soon after his return from the war, and is the owner of a fine English stock breeding horse. He and his family belong to the Second Advent church. In 1885 he purchased fifty acres adjoining his previously acquired landed property.

R. M. STRAUSS, physician, was born in Moshertown, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, May 24, 1849, son of Henry and Susanna (Long) Strauss, of Lehigh and Crawford counties, respectively. Henry Strauss, his grand- father, settled on the farm now occupied by the Crawford county poor farm in 1832. Henry, his father, was then nine years of age. He was educated at the public schools, and remained on the homestead for some time, after which he engaged in keeping hotel in Woodcock. He was elected auditor of Crawford county in 1850 and served one term. He was a director in the Peoples' Savings Bank of Meadville. He died in 1877. His wife survives him, and resides in Woodcock borough. They reared five children, four of whom are living: Mary M., a maiden lady; Georgie Annie, Mrs. Doctor C. H. Harvey, of Erie, Pennsylvania; Addie J., and R. M., our subject, the oldest, who received his literary training at the township schools and the academies of Woodcock and Saegertown. He read medicine with Doc- tor A. Logan of Woodcock, and graduated from the medical department of Wooster University, at Cleveland, in 1878. Since then he has practiced at Tryonville, Crawford county, and Evansburg, locating at Plum in 1882. June 1, 1876, he married Miss Clara F. Higby, daughter of D. B. and Mary N. (Crabb) Higby, natives of New York state and settlers in Craw- ford county. They have two children: Charles Henry Logan Strauss and Georgie Annie Strauss. Doctor Strauss is a charter member of the Evans- burg Lodge, I. O. O. F., a member of the A. O. U. W. of Evansburg, the K. of P., a charter member of the Knights of the Maccabees of Plum, and with his wife a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Strauss graduated from the state normal school at Buffalo in 1874. She

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BIOGRAPHIES OF CANAL.

is one of the organizers of the W. C. T. U. in Plum township and president of the same.

CANAL.

THE JOHNSTON FAMILY were the first permanent residents of Canal township, locating there as early as 1797. Hugh Johnston, the ancestor of the family in this county, was a native of Ireland, came to Amer- ica in the colonial times, and settled in eastern Pennsylvania. Later he came to Venango county, accompanied by his nine children, five sons and four daughters, and located in what is now Canal township, about one mile east of Utica. Alexander Johnston, Sr., son of Hugh, accompanied the latter to the township and died here many years ago, leaving a family of sons and daughters, among whom was Anthony Johnston, who married Polly Ray, daughter of Thomas Ray, and reared a family of four children: Alexander; Thomas; Mrs. Sally Douglass, deceased, and Mrs. Polly Wilcox. By a subsequent marriage with Polly Elderkin Mr. Johnston had a family of eight children.

ALEXANDER JOHNSTON, JR., was born in Canal township August 4, 1818, and was the eldest son of Anthony and Polly (Ray) Johnston. He early became familiar with the rugged duties of farm life, attended the pioneer schools of the county during his minority, and at the age of twenty-one purchased a tract of woodland on which in due time he cleared and de- veloped a good farm. He subsequently added to his first purchase, and is proud of the fact that he has cleared in all over three hundred acres in Canal township alone. He early displayed good business tact, which he turned to advantage in buying and selling lands, and succeeded in accumulating a handsome competence, including some of the most valuable real estate in Canal township. In 1876 he located on his present homestead near Hanna- ville, one of the best improved farms in the county. Originally an Aboli- tionist, and later a Republican, Mr. Johnston for the past fifteen years has been a strong advocate of political prohibition. Ever an opponent of all secret societies, he has been a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church for over forty years, has filled various official positions in that denom- ination, and has been liberal in contributing toward the erection of church buildings in various parts of the country. He was married in 1841 to Delia A., daughter of Samuel Hammond of New York, by whom he had a family of eight children, four now living: Franklin H .; Samuel W .; Mrs. Delia A. Brown, and John W. The deceased are Mrs. Elmeretta Fleming; Melvin A., a soldier in the late war; Anthony L., and Lewis S. Mrs. Johnston died October 5, 1885, and he was again married October 7, 1886, to Mrs. Laura L. Spear, widow of the late Reverend James Spear. One child is the fruit of this union: Laura Zella. By her previous marriage Mrs. John- ston had nine children, seven of whom are living.

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

JOHN FOSTER, deceased, was born in County Armagh, Ireland, in 1768, and immigrated to Maryland in 1787, where he remained until 1798, when he came to Venango county and settled in the Sugar creek valley. In 1800 . he purchased the farm whereon his son William lives. He was a weaver by trade, and followed that business in connection with farming. Mr. Foster was twice married, his first wife being Miss Rebecca Lee, of Centre county, to whom were born the following children: James; Mary, who married James Morrison; Elizabeth, who married James Rogers; Archibald; Sarah, who married David Taylor, and Rebecca, who married David McCuloy, all of whom are dead. He married for his second wife Isabella Beatty, who bore him five children: Lilah, wife of Andrew Lupher; William; Samuel, deceased; Nancy, wife of W. K. Gilliland, and Levi. Mr. Foster was one of the founders of the Sugar Creek Presbyterian church, of which he was an elder for many years. He took an active interest in educational matters, and donated the land for the old Foster school house. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Politically he was a Democrat. He died January 26, 1844, his widow surviving him until 1867.

WILLIAM FOSTER, farmer, was born February 24, 1827, in Canal town- ship, Venango county, upon the farm where he now resides; he is a son of John and Isabella (Beatty) Foster, was reared to farm life, and has followed that occupation up to the present. He married, in 1854, Miss Amelia P., daughter of Eli Crowther, of Crawford county, Pennsylvania. They are the parents of four living children: John H .; Dwight H .; Gertrude, and Alice, wife of D. D. Duffield. Mr. Foster was elected justice of the peace 1874 and re-elected in 1879. He has also filled the office of county auditor. He is an elder in the Sugar Creek Presbyterian church, and in politics a Democrat.

WILLIAM MCCUNE, deceased, was born in Venango county, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1806. His father, James McCune, was a pioneer of Canal town- ship, where he located before the birth of his son William. He opened a farm near French creek, still in possession of his descendants, and died in the year 1840. William McCune was reared in this township, and became one of the well known farmers and substantial citizens of the community. His wife, Keziah, was a daughter of Thomas Paxton, of Mercer county, and bore him two children: James and Thomas. She died August 27, 1865, aged sixty-four years, her husband surviving her until May 18, 1889.

JAMES MCCUNE, eldest son of William and Keziah McCune, was born on the old homestead June 16, 1831, and there grew to manhood, attending such schools as the country afforded. On reaching his majority he began farming on a part of the home place, and is now the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres. Mr. McCune was married August 19, 1852, to Miss Margaret, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Black, who bore him six chil- dren: William; Samuel; Thomas; Robert, deceased; Elizabeth, and Alex-

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BIOGRAPHIES OF CANAL.

ander. Mrs. McCune died March 23, 1869. He was again married, December 23, 1881, to Miss Margaret Ann, daughter of James Smith of Mercer county.

BARNETT LUPHER, farmer, is a son of Jacob Lupher and grandson of John Lupher, who emigrated from eastern Pennsylvania to Allegheny county early in the present century. John Lupher was a native of Germany and emigrated to eastern Pennsylvania, where his son Jacob was born in 1782. The latter became a resident of Allegheny county when a young man, com- ing to Venango county about 1818, and locating in Canal township where the widow of Andrew Lupher now resides. He was married in 1815 to Miss Martha Hill, of Pittsburgh, who bore him eleven children: John; Eliza, deceased; Andrew, deceased; Barnett; James W., deceased; Hiram; Alfred B .; Jacob P., who died in the army; Mrs. Martha Hawthorn; Syl- vester M., and Mrs. Elmira J. Colt. Mr. Lupher was a prominent farmer and became the owner of much valuable real estate in Venango county. His wife died March 14, 1860, and he survived her until July 24, 1874. Barnett Lupher was born in Canal township May 18, 1823, and has always resided in the county. He was educated in the common schools, lived with his parents until twenty-five years of age, and then engaged in farming for himself. His farm of one hundred and eighty acres near the center of Canal township is one of the best in the county. He is also largely engaged in stock dealing, in which he has been quite successful. Mr. Lupher has been justice of the peace for fifteen years, and for twenty consecutive years has been class leader in the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1861 he enlisted in Company I, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, with which he served two years, participating as sergeant in a number of battles, including the Seven Days' fight, Malvern Hill, and Antietam. Upon his discharge in the spring of 1863, he returned to his home in Canal township, where he has since resided. He is a Republican in politics and an earnest supporter of the principles of that party. On the 15th of January, 1850, he married Miss Jane, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Hays) Brown, of eastern Pennsylvania, who has borne him the following children: Addison; Robert B .; Fyett, wife of George K. Riddle; Amanda J., and Avilla, deceased.

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History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 108

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