History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 109

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 109

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ALEXANDER FRAZIER, farmer, is a grandson of John Frazier, and son of James Frazier, both natives of Scotland. The latter came to the United States when twenty-six years of age and located in New York, where he worked at his trade of stone-cutting and building. He subsequently moved to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and was employed in the construction of a large viaduct at that place, and later removed to Venango county where he was engaged upon the construction of the French Creek canal. After the com- pletion of the canal he engaged in farming in this county, which he carried on in connection with his trade, and later removed to Michigan where he died. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Angus and Christina (Frazier)

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

McKinzie, both of Scotch descent and among the pioneers of Venango county. The McKinzie family settled in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, at an early date, and later Angus McKinzie came to Venango county and settled in Sugar . Creek township, where he died in 1846, at the advanced age of one hundred and ten years. His widow died in 1851, aged ninety-three years. Their children are as follows: Angus, deceased; Alexander; William; Angus S., deceased; John H., deceased; Christina, deceased, and Adelaide, wife of H. H. Ware.

Alexander Frazier was born in Greenville, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, November 29, 1838. He was reared in Venango county, and received a good English education in the common schools and at Cooperstown Academy. He enlisted in company I, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, October 14, 1861, and served three years. He participated in many of the bloodiest battles of the war, including the Seven Days' fight on the Peninsula, Antietam, Get- tysburg, Fredericksburg, Cold Harbor, Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House and numerous others, in all eighty-seven, through which he passed without serious injury. In 1862 he was promoted to the lieutenancy of his company, and later took command of the same. He was honorably dis- charged in October, 1864, and returning to Venango county engaged in the oil business, which he prosecuted with fair success until 1870, and then moved to his present homestead in Canal township. Mr. Frazier was mar- ried June 17, 1874, to Miss Priscilla, daughter of Joseph and Hannah Por- terfield of Venango county. Three children have been born of this marriage, only one of whom, James W., is living. Politically Mr. Frazier is a Demo- crat and takes an active part in the affairs of his party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and belongs to the G. A. R.

PHILIP D. CUTSHALL, farmer, is a native of Venango county, Pennsyl- vania, born November 3, 1846, and a son of Jacob and Sarah Cutshall. Paternally Mr. Cutshall was descended from German ancestry. His grand- father, Philip Cutshall, was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1767, and came from Cumberland to Venango county in 1803, settling six miles west of Franklin. Subsequently he moved to Crawford county. Jacob Cutshall was seven years old when the family located in Venango county, moved with them to Crawford, where he resided until 1830, and in that year located where his son, Philip D., now resides in Canal township. Here he died on the 29th of May, 1872, at the age of seventy-two years, dying as he had lived in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife, Sarah, was the daughter of Christian Sutley, an early settler of Canal township and soldier of 1812. She died April 21, 1887, aged seventy-three. They were the parents of the following children: Nancy J., deceased; Esther J., wife of J. H. Ray; Philip D., and Sarah E., deceased. By a previous marriage with William Oliphant, Mrs. Cutshall had one child, Elizabeth, now the wife of A. O. Burns of Canal township.

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Philip D. Cutshall was born and reared where he now resides. In early life he attended the common schools, obtaining a good English education, and on the death of his father took charge of the home place. He has always been a resident of this township, and is one of the substantial citi- zens thereof. In 1874 he united with the Wesleyan Methodist church, and has been an official member of quarterly conferences, a delegate to a number of annual conferences, and twice to the general conference of that denomina- tion. Mr. Cutshall is a licensed preacher, and for three years served as pastor of Mount Pleasant church, near Meadville, besides preaching for other congregations in Venango and adjoining counties. He was a Republican until 1876, but since that year has voted independently, and was identified with the Greenback party. He is an earnest advocate of temperance reform and took an active part in the amendment campaign of 1889. Mr. Cutshall was married September 3, 1867, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Charles and Maggie (Galbraith) White, of Sugar Creek township, Venango county, a union blessed with seven children: Myrtle M., wife of William K. Deets; Ada F. ; Cora M. ; Harland B. ; Maud L. ; Leonard R., and Philip D.

JOHN DUFFIELD, a deceased pioneer of Canal township, was born in cen- tral Pennsylvania, August 12, 1781, eldest son of William and Elizabeth (Hasson) Duffield, of whom mention is made in the biographical department of this work in connection with French Creek township. He came to this county early in the first decade of the century with his parents and settled in the southeastern part of Canal township. There he was a pioneer, and although not identified with the public affairs of the county, was one of the respected and substantial citizens of the community in which he lived. He married Nancy Johnston, and they were the parents of nine children: John, retired farmer, Cochranton; Philip, manufacturer, Corry; William, farmer, Plum township; Eliza, deceased wife of John Mawhinney; Jane, deceased wife of William Myers; Esther, deceased; Isabel, deceased wife of Samuel McAlevy; Polly, widow of Johnston Alexander, and Nancy, wife of Ezra Wright, of Crawford county. The death of John Duffield occurred June 20, 1849; his widow survived him until 1866 and died on the old homestead. Mr. Duf- field was a successful business man and left to each of his children an im- proved farm.

JOHN MAWHINNEY, deceased, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, March 14, 1800, one of a family of five children, the names of the others being Henry, Mary, James, and Rachel. He was a son of John and Mary (Ham- mond) Mawhinney, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Scot- land. He immigrated to the United States in 1820, and being a stone mason by occupation, found employment on the construction of the Beaver and Erie canal, About the year 1829 he settled in Canal township, where he married Eliza Duffield in 1832. They were the parents of five sons and six daughters: John, of Dakota; Elizabeth; Mary J., wife of Jonathan

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

Rossman of Franklin; Nancy, deceased; William H., of Canal township; Rachel, wife of James McCracken; James D., of Canal township; Esther, wife of Hiram Mead; Catharine, wife of James Dunbar of Kansas; Andrew S., and Samuel A., both of Sugar Creek township. Mrs. Mawhinney was born in what is now Canal township, April 11, 1809, her parents, John and Nancy (Johnston) Duffield, being pioneers of that locality. Mr. Mawhin- ney was for some years manager of a salt works in the Conemaugh valley, and interested in contracts for bridges, etc., at various places. He was an ardent Republican from the organization of that party. He died January 7, 1867, his wife surviving him until October 9, 1872. In religious faith they were Presbyterians.

ANDREW S. MAWHINNEY, farmer, was born April 6, 1849, son of John and Eliza (Duffield) Mawhinney. He was reared upon the homestead farm, and was educated in the common schools. He taught for ten years in the schools of Venango county. In 1870 he was appointed agent for the Howe and Singer Sewing Machine Companies, which business he followed about four years. In 1875 he engaged in the oil business, and five years later located upon the farm where he has since resided. In 1887 he was elected one of the county auditors, which position he still holds. Mr. Mawhinney was married in 1871, to Miss Ellen, daughter of Andrew Lupher, and by this union they have four children: John M. ; George L .; Lura E., and Florence L. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, superintendent of the Sun- day school, and in politics is a Republican.

HENRY HART, deceased, was a native of Pennsylvania. He moved from York to Crawford county, thence about 1814 to Venango county and settled in the northern part of Canal township, where his son Isaac now lives. He was a successful farmer, and accummulated a valuable property. He died about 1859. Mr. Hart married Mary, daughter of Abraham Bean, an early settler of Canal township, and reared a family of eight children: Conrad; Abraham; Samuel; Susanna; Mollie, deceased; Julia A., deceased; Lu- cinda, deceased; Isaac, and Mrs. Sophia Brown. Mr. Hart was a soldier in the war of 1812, and a member of the Baptist church up to his death. Of his sons, Abraham, Samuel, and Isaac are residents of Canal and among the substantial residents of that township.

THE HASSON FAMILY were among the early settlers of Venango county, locating first in French Creek township and later removing to Canal, where a large number of the descendants still live. Hugh Hasson, a native of Ire- land, came to America and settled in eastern Pennsylvania, where he en- gaged in farming. He served in the war of the Revolution, and about 1800 came to Venango county and located in French Creek township, where he died about 1815. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth McClair, was a native of Pennsylvania, and died in 1843. John L. Hasson, son of Hugh Hasson, was born in the eastern part of the state and accompanied

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BIOGRAPHIES OF CANAL.

his parents to Venango county, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was married February 16, 1816, to Margaret, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Hasson) Duffield, early settlers of French Creek township, and reared a family of eleven children: Elizabeth, deceased; William; Mrs. Jane Black, deceased; Hugh; John C .; Mrs. Mary Wright, deceased; Sarah A. ; Jackson; James S; Mrs. Angeline Boughner, and Samuel D. Mr. Hasson became a resident of Canal township in 1824, settling where his son John C. now lives, where he resided until his death February 5, 1885, at the age of ninety-four years. He followed farming all his life, and served in the war of 1812. His wife preceded him to the grave, dying in May, 1870, aged seventy- four.

WILLIAM HASSON, oldest son of John L. and Margaret Hasson, was born in French Creek township, February 22, 1819, and since 1824 has been a resident of Canal. He remained with his parents until after his majority, when he began farming and teaming, purchasing his present homestead in the spring of 1854. He was married February 23, 1843, to Rachel, daugh- ter of Samuel and Elizabeth Black, and has a family of six children, all living: Barbara J., widow of Ira Davis; Marvin F .; Robert E .; Emily; Samuel B., and John McC. Mr. Hasson was originally a Whig and has been identified with the Republican party since its organization.

SAMUEL DEETS, farmer, was born in Venango county in 1822. His par- ents, Joseph and Sarah (Cousins) Deets, were natives of Pennsylvania, and moved here from Westmoreland county, first settling in Sugar Creek town- ship, and later removing to Canal, where Mr. Deets subsequently became the owner of a valuable farm. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in Canal township, February 5, 1877, aged eighty-two years. Mrs. Deets died March 10, 1865, at the age of sixty-two. They had a family of twelve children, of whom the following are living: Samuel; Mrs. Jane Johnston; Mrs. Sarah Record; Adam; Joseph; Jackson, and Mrs. Louisa Kefard. Samuel Deets was born in Sugar Creek township, remained with his parents until attaining his majority, and at the age of twenty-nine began farming for himself, which business he has since followed. He is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church, and votes the Republican ticket. His wife, Julia Ann, is a daughter of William and Elizabeth Ketnar, and the mother of the following children: Zidand, deceased; Milligan, deceased; Teresa, deceased; Mrs. Sarah Budman; Emeranda, deceased, and David.

EDWARD C. STEVENS, farmer, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October, 20, 1811, and is a son of David and Teresa Stevens, natives of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, respectively. David Stevens was educated for the law, subsequently took a course in a theological institution, but eventually engaged in business in Philadelphia, where he followed merchan- dising for some years. He also carried on business for a time in Baltimore, and about 1830 removed to Mercer county, Pennsylvania, engaged in farm-

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ing, and there died about 1854. He was the father of five children, the sub- ject of this sketch being the only survivor. His widow died a few years later. Edward C. Stevens resided in Philadelphia until his sixteenth year. He accompanied his parents to Mercer county, and in 1857 came to Venango county and settled on his present homestead in Canal township. He was married November 16, 1838, to Miss Eliza, daughter of James and Nancy Cosgriff, to which union three children were born: Barbara, deceased; Teresa, deceased, and Clara, wife of Charles Beightol. Mr. Stevens is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Episcopal church.

GEORGE BAKER, farmer, was born in Genesee county, New York, Septem- ber 14, 1821, and is a son of Ambrose and Sallie (Barnes) Baker, natives of Massachusetts and New York state, respectively. Ambrose Baker went to New York when quite young, and in 1844 came to Canal township, Venango county, where he resided until his removal to Iowa in 1867. His wife was a daughter of Solomon Barnes, a native of Canada, who was killed in Erie county, Pennsylvania, a number of years ago. She accompanied her hus- band to Iowa, where both died. They were the parents of six children: George; Phobe; Ambrose; Solomon; Emily, and Henry. George Baker learned the paper-maker's trade in youth, and at the age of thirteen went to Erie county, Pennsylvania, where he resided until 1848, when he located near Mount Pleasant church, in Canal township, and in 1867 removed to his present home where he has since resided. He was married September 10, 1842, to Clarissa, daughter of Chauncey and Madaline Hart, who has borne him the following children: Ambrose; Mrs. Elizabeth Rifenberg; Joshua, deceased; Phobe, wife of Elias Waters; Waterman, deceased; Hiram; Mag- gie, wife of J. N. Morrison; Parker; Lewis; Joseph, and Frank. Mr. Baker is a Republican in politics, and with his wife belongs to the United Breth- ren church.

ROLAN DAILY, farmer, was born in Venango county, Pennsylvania, August 17 1832, and is a son of John and Nancy (Cousins) Daily, natives of Vir- ginia. The paternal grandfather, John Daily, came from Ireland before the war of the Revolution, in which struggle he bore a part, and later moved to Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where his death occurred. The maternal grandfather, William Cousins, was also a native of Ireland, and an early set- tler of Venango county. John Daily, father of Rolan, located in this county about 1829, settling in Canal township. He died in 1863, aged fifty-nine years. His wife died five weeks before him at the age of fifty-four. They were the parents of twelve children, Rolan being the second eldest. The latter was reared in Canal township, and remained with his parents looking after their interests until nearly thirty years of age. He resided on the home place until 1876, when he purchased his present farm near Hanna- ville, where he now resides. Mr. Daily was married June 25, 1863, to Eliz- abeth, daughter of Winslow Burdick, of Crawford county, a union blessed

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BIOGRAPHIES OF OAKLAND.

with four children: Albert E .; Harriet E .; Charles, and George. Politic- ally Mr. Daily is a Democrat, and a stanch supporter of the principles of that party.

CHARLES B. HOOD, farmer, is a native of Venango county, born April 16, 1839, and is a son of David and Elizabeth (Hasson) Hood, natives of Virginia. His paternal grandfather, William Hood, was one of the pioneers of Canal township, and located about three miles from Utica on the Black farm. David Hood was a farmer and shoemaker, and died in this township in 1859. His wife was a daughter of Hugh Hasson, and died about 1840. They were the parents of five children: William; Moses, deceased; Mrs. Almira Moore; John, and Charles B. The last mentioned grew to manhood in Canal township, was reared a farmer, and received his education in the common schools. From the age of thirteen until his majority, he followed, principally, lumbering in Forest county, whence he returned to his early home, and after two years spent in French Creek township, removed to Canal, where he has since resided. He purchased his present farm north of Utica in 1870, and is one of the substantial citi- zens of the community. On the sixteenth of January, 1862, he was married to Margaret, daughter of Thomas and Mary Beightol, who has borne him two children: Oscar C., and Mary Ellen, the wife of Samuel Thompson, of Kansas.

OAKLAND.

JOSEPH KEAN was born December 22, 1801, in Mifflin county, Pennsyl- vania, and was brought to this township in 1803 by his parents, his father being George Kean, born at Germantown, Pennsylvania, April 7, 1766, son of Cornelius Kean, a native of Ireland, who immigrated to America about the year 1757. George Kean visited Venango county, in 1801, settled permanently in Oakland in June, 1803, and resided there until his death, May 3, 1861. Although our subject received but limited education, he was one of the pioneer school teachers of this part of the county. He was also interested in early Sunday school work, and was a school director forty years. He was married to Mesopotamia Fetterman, November 12, 1829, and they reared five children: Martha; Eliza; Barbara, wife of David E. Thomas; Columbus C., and John M. Mr. Kean is one of the oldest citizens of the county, in which he has resided longer than any other of its present population.

GEORGE K. WEBER, tailor by occupation, was born at Rebersburg, Centre county, Pennsylvania, March 30, 1830, and is a son of George and Barbara (Kreitzer) Weber, natives of York and Dauphin counties, respectively. His father, a wagon maker by trade, was born in 1797. He married in Centre county and reared eleven children of a family of thirteen, of whom nine, six sons and three daughters, are now living. He died in 1866 at the home of George K., a member of the Reformed church. The death of his wife,

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

who was connected with the Lutheran church, occurred two years previously. George K. Weber obtained an ordinary education at the public schools of his native town. He learned the trade of tailor, and pursued that vocation for thirty years. In April, 1851, he came to Venango county, and a year later to Dempseytown, where he was in business until 1887, associated with different parties at various periods, and part of the time individually. Since 1887 he has virtually retired from active life. Mr. Weber was married in Oakland township, October 17, 1852, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Michael Homan, of Centre county, and is the father of nine sons and one daughter: Newton, who was born January 4, 1853, and died October 15, 1862; Emerson, who was born July 16, 1854, and died October 24, 1862; Pira, who was born February 28, 1856, and died April 5, 1858; James, farmer in Colorado, born September 30, 1857; Charles, farmer in Colorado, born December 17, 1860; Howard, physician in Forest county, born October 28, 1862; Judson, merchant in Dempseytown, born September 26, 1864; Edgar, blacksmith in Oregon, born May 6, 1866; Norton, telegrapher in Oregon, born October 6, 1871, and Duff, at home, born July 28, 1873. Mr. Weber is a member of the I. O. O. F. He is a self-made man in the fullest sense of the word. The competency upon which he retires from business life is entirely the result of individual effort and industry.

JOHN H. HAZEN, physician and surgeon, was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, February 7, 1857. His parents, Benjamin G., Sr., and Rachel (McClintock) Hazen, were natives of New York and Venango county, respec- tively. Their children were six in number: F. Monroe, Benjamin G. Jr., John H., Elizabeth, wife of Francis Brown; Mary, wife of Doctor D. H. Foster of New York, and Rachel, wife of H. H. Doyles. The father, Ben- jamin G., Sr., is a farmer and lives in Crawford county. He served ten years as justice of the peace and has always taken an active interest in the Repub- lican party. Our subject was educated at the high school located at Venango, Crawford county, at Edinboro Normal School, and at Allegheny college, Meadville. He began the study of his chosen profession with his brother- in-law, Doctor D. H. Foster, in 1878, and was graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1881. In the spring of 1881 he began his practice in Venango borough in his native county, and one year later removed to Dempseytown, where he now enjoys a lucrative practice. He is a member of the National Eclectic Association, the State Medical Asso- ciation, the Burton Medical Association of Philadelphia, and the Eclectic Medical Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania, being the secretary of the last named. He is also medical examiner for the E. A. U. He was married March 8, 1881, to Sarah E. Taylor of New York and has two chil- dren: Merl Victor and Elma May.

R. B. NEELY, farmer, was born at Youngstown, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1822, son of Joseph and Martha (Bell) Neely, who were

Meetthanier

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BIOGRAPHIES OF OAKLAND.

married in 1807 and had the following children: William; Eliza; John; R. B. ; James R. ; Joseph; Martha J .; Samuel, and A. J., all of whom are now living except William, Eliza, and Samuel. The father of Joseph Neely was a soldier during the war of 1812; he was wounded at the battle of Browns- town and was at Detroit when General Hull surrendered that post. He was one of a family of five sons and two daughters, all of whom except himself became residents of Ohio. Their parents emigrated from Ireland about 1770 and settled in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. The grandson of the latter, and the subject of this sketch, has been a farmer by occupation. In 1847 he married Mary Anne Bear, daughter of Martin Bear of Centre county, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of fifteen children: Mary Jane; Lois E. ; John M. ; Margaret A. ; Joseph; Martha M .; R. C .; Sarah L. ; Emma C .; Elizabeth M. ; Samuel E .; Eva M. ; Ina B .; James M., and Wilson A., all of whom are living except Sarah L. Mr. Neely immigrated to Oakland in 1827 and settled at his present farm in 1847.

CHRISTOPHER SEBER, farmer, was born in. Wittenburg, Germany, July 9, 1827, son of Christopher and Louisa (Eberly) Seber. The grandfather of our subject was principally reared in America, although his father returned to Germany for a period and then came back to this country; he finally set- tled in Venango county, where he reared eight children. He died in 1839 and his widow two years later. His son Christopher was educated in Ger- many and the common schools of this county. He was married September 29, 1849, to Sarah Hoahn, a native of Butler county, Pennsylvania, and to this union were born four children: Fred; John, deceased; Louisa, Mrs. Benjamin Fedeler, and Annie. Mrs. Seber died in July, 1864, and he was again married, to Miss Annie Whitman, March 6, 1865. They are the par- ents of four children: Louisa, Mrs. Henry Snyder; Emma; Jacob, and Samuel. Mr. Seber served three terms as poor director of Butler county and has been school director. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. of Frank- lin, and a Democrat.

JOHN J. REYNOLDS, farmer, was born in this county, April 25, 1840, to Daniel and Eliza Reynolds. Daniel came from Centre county, Pennsyl- vania, with his parents, served in the war of 1812, took part in Perry's vic- tory on Lake Erie, and his father served in the Revolutionary war. He lo- cated on the farm where our subject now resides in 1841, and began to clear a farm from the woods. He reared a family of four children: Martha J. ; Elizabeth W .; William C., and John. Daniel died July 25, 1875, and his widow in March, 1883. Our subject was educated in the common schools. He was married September 6, 1869, to Louisa A., daughter of Christopher Covnel, a pioneer of Oakland, and has five children: Atlantic; Charlotte; Hattie; Bessie J., and John E.

C. A. MCCLINTOCK, stave and lumber manufacturer, was born December 7, 1846, in Dempseytown, this county, son of James R. and Jerusha (Ten- 60

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

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History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 109

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