History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 110

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 110

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nent) Mcclintock. He received his education at the common schools, Edin- boro Normal, and Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania, afterward teaching two terms. He began his business career as a farmer in Oakland township. In 1877 he commenced the production of oil and dealing in the same. This he continued for about one year. He then began the present business in Clarion and Venango counties. In 1889 he moved to Hunting- ton, West Virginia, where he is doing an extensive business in the manu- facture of staves and lumber, employing regularly about one hundred men. He was elected a justice of the peace at Dempseytown in 1875 and served a term of five years. For some ten years during his residence in Dempsey- town he was the organizer and leader of an excellent band, which will long be remembered by the citizens of that village and surrounding country. He was married October 6, 1870, to Adaline Richey and has six children: James Pliny; Herber De Witt; William Richey; Emma; Mabel, and Laura. He is an active Democrat, and a member of the I. O. O. F. of Dempseytown, and the F. & A. M. at Pleasantville. The family is Presbyterian.

WILLIAM T. RICHEY, farmer, was born in Oakland township, February 25, 1852, son of Thomas H. and Mary (Nole) Richey, natives of this county. The father was a farmer of Oakland township, and reared a family of five children: William T .; L. W., deceased; Mary, Mrs. C. H. Wright; James H., and J. D., deceased. The parents of Thomas Richey immigrated from Ireland to this country at an early date. William T. Richey was edu- cated in the common schools. He was married October 10, 1872, to Emily A. Kitner, and their family consists of four children: Lyman B .; Charles E .; Israel R., and Chloe E. Mr. Richey is a member of the I. O. O. F.

W. H. HILL, farmer, was born in Cranberry township, this county, son of Hugh and Eliza (Bell) Hill, natives of Ireland and of Butler county, Pennsylvania, respectively. Hugh Hill came from Ireland with his parents to this country when ten years of age. He learned the mason trade, but during the latter part of his life followed farming. He was the father of twelve children: W. H .; Sarah A., deceased; J. P. ; Catharine E. ; Simon, deceased; Rebecca J., deceased; Isabella, Mrs. Bert Chapel of Warren; Martha E., Mrs. Thomas Conard; J. O .; Almena, Mrs. Curt Irwin; an infant, deceased, and Cora A., Mrs. John Barsock. The father died in January, 1884. Our subject was married September 28, 1876, to Ruth Thompson and to this union have been born three children: Maude E., deceased; Oliver E., and Edwin F.

JACKSON.

DOCTOR ROBERT CRAWFORD was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, May 14, 1817, son of Robert and Elizabeth (Ramsey) Crawford, who immigrated to America in 1821, the father, however, dying on the voyage across the ocean. The mother and her family located in the vicinity of Pittsburgh, Pennsylva-

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nia, and William, the oldest son, is now living in Mercer county; John, another son, became a noted physician and practiced in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Our subject was educated in an academy at Allegheny City and read medicine with Doctor Wilson of Allegheny county. He was grad- uated from the Medical College of Cleveland, Ohio, in 1845, and from the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, in 1860. For twenty years he has been one of the censors of the Cleveland Medical College. He began the practice of his profession at Cooperstown, Venango county, in 1837- fifty-two years ago-and has ever since been in active service. He is a mem- ber of the American, state, and county medical societies, having been one of the prime movers in the organization of the latter. In 1838 he married Miss Sarah P. Kelley, daughter of John Kelley, of Centre county, Pennsyl- vania. She died July 21, 1888, and was the mother of four sons and four daughters: Elizabeth E., wife of Hugh Smith of Cochranton, Pennsylvania; Joseph K., physician, of Cooperstown; James R., farmer, of Mercer county; W. A., merchant, of Cooperstown; Homer C., a resident of Jackson town- ship; Emma, Mrs. F. A. Curtis, of Cochranton; Etta, and Sarah Ella. Doctor Crawford has always been an active Democrat. He is one of the best physicians of the county and holds a high rank among the medical frater- nity of the state. He has been pension surgeon four years, and finds time aside from his practice to attend to some fine farms in Venango and Mercer counties, with other financial interests of a varied character.

EDWARD SWEENY, deceased, was born in County Kerry, Ireland, and immi- grated to America about 1810. His parents had educated him for a Catholic priest, but, as he did not desire to enter the priesthood, he left home and came to this country. He first obtained employment as a book-keeper in Philadelphia, and from there he went to Butler county, thence to Venango, and accepted the position of sub-manager of the Oil Creek furnace, at Oil City. In May, 1821, he married Miss Rebecca Jennings, and purchased the farm owned by our subject, but did not settle thereon until 1828, when he built a log cabin for shelter, and engaged in improving the farm. He was considered a leader in the Democratic party for many years. He held the office of justice of the peace for thirty-five years, and other local offices. He was never attached to any church, but donated the ground upon which the Cooperstown Presbyterian church is located, and gave liberally to its support during his residence there. He began for himself in this country with no means, and by hard labor, economy, and frugal dealings, he accu- mulated a large property. He died in 1871, and his widow in 1875. His children were nine, but five of whom are living: Juliet, Mrs. Chester Phillips, of Jackson township; Jemima; Sarah; Rebecca, and Edward.

EDWARD SWEENY, farmer, Cooperstown, was born September 13, 1838. He was reared and educated in this township, and has always lived on his present farm. December 29, 1869, he married Miss Mary F. Kightlinger,

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

daughter of Jacob Kightlinger, one of the pioneers of Crawford county. To this union have been born two children: Duane E. and Pearl F. Mr. Sweeny sent a substitute to the late war. He has been justice of the peace for fifteen years, and school director for several terms, and was a member of the borough council of Cooperstown. In politics he is a Democrat. He belongs to the A. O. U. W. and the K. and L. of H. of Cooperstown. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church, of which he is a trustee. He owns a fine farm, which is well stocked with Jersey cattle.

HENRY BOOTH, deceased, was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1809, son of James Booth, a clothier of his native town. His education was obtained at night schools, and necessarily limited. In 1826 he immigrated to Amer- ica, first locating at Philadelphia, where he remained for some time, but, on the breaking out of the cholera, he went to the country, finally drifting to Lycoming county, where he became associated with -- Rich, a manu- facturer of woolen goods. About the year 1839 he came to Cooperstown, as a member of the firm of Rich, Booth & Hillier, and was in active busi- ness until his death, in 1872.

JOSEPH HILLIER, retired woolen manufacturer, was born in Wiltshire, England, December 25, 1810, immigrated to America in 1821, and settled in Centre county, Pennsylvania. He early learned the art of manufacturing woolen goods and came to Cooperstown in 1835, where he became a mem- ber of the firm of Rich, Booth & Hillier in the erection of the woolen mills now operated by S. B. Hillier.

S. B. HILLIER, proprietor of the Cooperstown woolen mills, was born in this county, December 24, 1843, a son of Joseph Hillier. He has been en- gaged in manufacturing during all of his active life. He was married April 2, 1870, to Elizabeth Beachdel.

DAVID RAY, blacksmith, was born in Saegertown, Crawford county, this state, October 28, 1825, a son of Alexander and Lydia (Eldercon) Ray; he removed with his parents to Canal township, Venango county, when a child, learned the blacksmith trade with his father, and followed it in various parts of the state. November 14, 1848, he married Miss Elizabeth Puskey, daughter of Storffel Puskey, by whom he has seven children: Milton B .; Leonard L .; Mary Ella, Mrs. Frederick Foster; David C .; Melvern A .; Jennie, and Louisa A. October 26, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was honorably discharged July 1, 1865. He was sergeant of the company and received wounds at Harper's Ferry. He is connected with Andrew Jackson Post, No. 299, G. A. R., of Coopers- town, and a member of the borough council.

L. L. RAY, sheriff of Venango county, was born in Cornplanter town- ship, December 15, 1852. He received his education at Cooperstown Acad- emy. He learned the blacksmith trade with his father and has since fol- lowed that business. In 1878 he married Mary Etta Strohecker, daughter

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BIOGRAPHIES OF JACKSON.

of Colonel T. S. Strohecker, of Jackson township. To this union has been born one daughter, Emma Grace. He is an active member of the Demo- cratic party, and in 1889 was elected sheriff of Venango county. He has served as burgess and councilman of the borough of Cooperstown. May 29, 1885, he was elected captain of Company E, Sixteenth Regiment National Guards of Pennsylvania. He belongs to the A. O. U. W., the K. and L. of H., and the Methodist Episcopal church.

JOHN BOAL, deceased, came from Centre to Venango county in 1838, and purchased a farm of two hundred and fourteen acres in Jackson township. He was a carpenter by trade, and combined that vocation with farming. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religion a member of the Presbyterian church. He died March 20, 1885. His widow (formerly Miss Isabella Huey), survives, and six of her seven children are living. Elizabeth, the eldest, married W. W. Andrews of Crawford county and is the mother of seven children. William married Caroline Record of Crawford county, by whom he had five children. He was a soldier in the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry during the civil war. David C., who served in the Sixth United States Cavalry three years, married Sarah Fetterman and they have one child. George, a physician of Beaver county, married Miss M. E. Doyl and they are the parents of six children.

R. N. H. Boal, farmer, was born August 21, 1842, and is a farmer of this township. Politically he is a Democrat with strong Prohibition pro- clivities, and has filled various township offices. August 22, 1878, he mar- ried Mattie Harvey, and they are the parents of four children: Rachel B .; Bertha L .; Lizzie A., and Laura O. He is an elder in the Cooperstown Presbyterian church. John M. and Mary I. Boal reside with their mother on the old homestead. The former was born April 13, 1846. He received his education in the common schools and has always been engaged at rural pursuits. He is a Democrat with temperance sentiments. He has been school director and auditor of the township, and belongs to the Presbyterian church.

JOHN FETTERMAN, farmer, was born in Plum township, this county, De- cember 24, 1808, son of John and Barbara (Frank) Fetterman, natives of Juniata county, Pennsylvania, who were among the early settlers of Plum township. John Fetterman was a soldier of the war of 1812, a Democrat, and for many years a justice of the peace. He and wife belonged to the Lutheran church. Both died in Oakland township. They reared a family of ten children: Hannah, wife of Robert Russell; Rachel, wife of Jonathan Lesh; John; George, and six others who are deceased. Our subject was reared in Plum township and assisted in the clearing of the homestead. In 1836 he married Miss Levinah Grove, a daughter of Jacob Grove, and settled upon his present farm which he has brought to a productive state. To this union ten children were born: Julia, Mrs. Henry Weber; Mary Jane,

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

Mrs. David Buchanan; Angeline, Mrs. R. W. Davison; Arvilla, Mrs. Will- iam Gates; M. B. L .; Electa, who died at the age of eighteen; Joseph; Marian; Sarah, deceased wife of David Boal, who left one daughter, Alice Boal, and she has been reared by her grandfather, John Fetterman; and Loretta, Mrs. John Pritchard. Mr. Fetterman is a Democrat, and has filled various township offices. His wife has been long a member of the Sunville Methodist Episcopal church. His son M. B. L. was born on the homestead May 9, 1853, and was educated at the township schools. In 1883 he was married to Miss Ellen Ray, daughter of John Ray of Polk. He is a strong Prohibitionist, a member of the I. O. O. F., and with his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.

WILLIAM COWAN, deceased, was a native of Rockingham county, Virginia. Before leaving Virginia he was married to Catharine Pickering, who died in Trumbull county, Ohio, leaving two children, one of whom is living, Ro- hannah, widow of P. G. Welsh, of Plum township. He married Catharine McIntosh, his second wife, in Trumbull county. In 1823 he came to Venango, where he purchased a farm in Plum township. He began for himself with little else save a willing heart and strong hands and ere his death became one of the well-to-do farmers of his neighborhood. He was a Democrat, and served one term as county commissioner. He was twice elected as a justice of the peace, but refused to serve. His wife died in 1872 and himself in 1875. Three of their children are living: Mary Jane, Mrs. James Richey, of Plum township; William H. F., and Andrew Jackson. WILLIAM H. COWAN, farmer was born in Jackson township, December 13, 1828, son of William and Catharine (McIntosh) Cowan. He attended the common schools of his neighborhood and remained on the homestead until thirty-three years of age. In 1862 he married Mrs. Isabella Brown, daughter of John Richey, and she died in 1863 without issue. He was again married, to Miss Sarah Ehrhart, daughter of Jacob Ehrhart. In 1861 he enlisted in Company I, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served a short time. He is a Democrat in politics and has served in various township offices. He is a member of Andrew Jackson Post, No. 299, G. A. R., of Cooperstown, and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife is attached to the Presbyterian church.

SAMUEL O., SMALL, farmer, was born in Jackson township February 22, 1828, son of Samuel C. and Isabella (McLaughlin) Small, natives of Ire- land, who immigrated to America, locating successively in Philadelphia, Dauphin county, and Venango county. The father was a man of fair edu- cation and became a teacher after locating in this township. He was a member of the Baptist church, and a Democrat in politics. His death oc- curred April 3, 1880, his wife having died September 6, 1869. Of seven children born to them five are now living: William C., of Bradford; Mary, wife of H. R. Mcclintock, of Meadville; R. A., of Pleasantville; Samuel O.,

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BIOGRAPHIES OF JACKSON.

and Moses G., of Crawford county. Our subject was reared to farm life, attending the district schools at intervals. In 1850, he married Miss Alice Weber, daughter of George Weber, a native of Centre county, and has reared the following children: Mary E., wife of William Bradley; Lincoln H., of Glenfield, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania; Curry S .; Hamilton G., and John W. He has been a Republican since the organization of the party, and is a member of the Presbyterian church.

T. S. STROHECKER, farmer, was born May 12, 1829, at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, son of Jacob and Susanna (Snyder) Strohecker, the former a native of Berks county, born in 1800, a farmer and brick maker, and now deceased; the latter still resides at Lewisburg at the advanced age of ninety years. Our subject received his education at the Lewisburg Academy. In 1858 he moved upon his present farm. In 1861 he recruited Company I., Fifty-Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, of which he became captain, and was subsequently promoted to the lieutenant colonelcy. He retired from the service in consequence of a wound received at the battle of Fred- ericksburg, and has since devoted his attention to farming and oil producing. He is a well-known writer on agricultural subjects and ranks with the most progressive and successful farmers of the county. Colonel Strohecker was married in 1850 to Catharine Bachman, of Middleburg, Snyder county, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of four children: Winfield S., of Cranberry township; Susan M., wife of G. W. Bower, of Rouseville; Mary E., wife of L. L. Ray, of Cooperstown, and Gertrude. He is a member of the G. A. R., and was the first commander of the post at Cooperstown.

ROBERT W. DAVISON, farmer, was born in Butler county, this state, son of Isaac M. Davison. At the age of three years he was taken into the fam- ily of his grandmother Armstrong of Lawrence county, with whom he lived until fourteen years old. He then joined his father in Venango county. In September, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Vol- unteers, and was honorably discharged June 14, 1865. He was corporal of his company. Since the close of the war he has been engaged in farming and running a threshing machine. In July, 1867, he married Miss Ange- line Fetterman, daughter of John Fetterman, by whom he has four children: Gertrude B. ; Hattie May; John Harrison, and Cora. He is an active Repub- lican, and has served as assessor of the township. He belongs to Albert H. Jackson Post, No. 299, G. A. R., of Cooperstown, and the I. O. O. F. of that borough. He and family are members of Sunville Presbyterian church.

ISAAC M. DAVISON, farmer, was born in Mercer county, this state, July 8, 1816, son of Isaac and Jane (Kenney) Davison, natives of Huntingdon county and of Irish extraction. About the year 1819 they removed to But- ler county, and there purchased a farm. Our subject was married in But- ler county in 1840, to Margaret Jane Armstrong, daughter of Archibald Armstrong of Lawrence county; she died leaving two sons: W. H. and R.

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

W. August 19, 1850, he was again married, to Miss Rebecca Hays, daughter of Samuel Hays, a native of Ireland, who settled in Plum town- ship in 1835. The children by this marriage are: Maggie I; Mary E .; Fannie S., wife of Charles Gray of Franklin; Wilson S .; Elmer H., of Franklin, and Edwin E. Mr. Davison is a Republican and with his family is connected with the Presbyterian church.

ISRAEL FERRINGER, farmer, was born in Clarion county, this state, December 25, 1837, son of John and Magdaline (Hannah) Ferringer, natives of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, and among the early settlers of Clarion county. They subsequently removed to Cranberry township, where they died, the parents of nine children, eight of whom are living: Lydia; Caro- line; Eli; Jessie; Matilda; Israel; Paul, and Emanuel. Our subject was reared in Clarion county. February 9, 1864, he married Miss Hannah Keister, daughter of John Keister of Clarion county, by whom he has eight children: Emma May; William; Charles F. ; Harry; Ettie; Lena; John, and Lilly. In 1877 he located in Sugar Creek township, this county, where he resided until 1887, when he purchased his present farm in Jackson and settled thereon. He and family are members of the Lutheran church. He is a Democrat and one of the school directors of the township.

A. P. MILES, oil producer and lumberman, was born in this county March 4, 1845, to Thomas and Catharine (Proper) Miles. His great-grand- father, Thomas Miles, a soldier of the Revolution, emigrated from Mary- land to Plain Grove, Lawrence county, Pennsylvanla, and from him the family in Mercer county is descended. Louis, third son of Thomas, Sr., and grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in the war of 1812. Thomas Miles, father of our subject, came to this county in 1839. Of his family of ten children seven are living: Audelia, Mrs. J. D. Grove; L. M. ; Rachel, Mrs. John Peoples; James; Lizzie, Mrs. James Miles; Mattie, and A. P. Their mother died in February, 1875. Our subject was educated at the public schools and Edinboro Normal. He began his business life by farm- ing. January 13, 1869, he married Miss Lizzie, daughter of James Davison of Plum township. Three children have been born to them: O. E .; Nellie, and Elda. Mr. and Mrs. Miles are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is connected with the I. O. O. F., A. O. U. W., and E. A. U. He is a Republican in politics, and has served as member of, the borough council at Cooperstown.

WILLIAM A. McKINZIE, farmer, was born on the farm where he now lives December 24, 1845, son of Alexander and Isabella (Wilson) McKinzie, natives of this county. The parents of Alexander McKinzie immigrated from Scotland in 1796 and first settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They afterward removed to Crawford county, thence to Venango, and are men- tioned in the history of Sugar Creek township. Alexander, the father of William, died in 1847 and his widow in 1867. They were the parents of

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BIOGRAPHIES OF ALLEGHENY.

three children: Christina A., Mrs. Doctor J. J. Looney of Utica, this county; William A., and Jennie, Mrs. A. M. Gay of Michigan. Our subject was educated in the common schools, academy of Cooperstown, Edinboro Nor- mal, and Commercial College of Wheeling, West Virginia. He began his business life as a farmer, kept a feed and provision store on Oil creek, and was in the oil business for some time on that stream. He was clerk to the county commissioners for three years, and was a candidate for county treas- . urer on the Democratic ticket, when, although defeated, he ran ahead of his party vote. At the present time he is serving as justice of the peace. January 17, 1874, he married Maggie Black of Canal township, who died June 17, 1888, and was the mother of four children: Jennie; Mary; Edith, and Drew. Mrs. McKinzie was a member of the Presbyterian church, to which organization he is attached. He belongs to the A. O. U. W. and is a stanch Democrat.

CHAPTER LII.

BIOGRAPHIES OF ALLEGHENY, CORNPLANTER, PRESIDENT, AND OIL CREEK.

ALLEGHENY. >

TSAAC CONNELY, a pioneer of Allegheny township, was born in Ire- land in 1747. He acquired a classical education and became a teacher of languages. Emigrating in early manhood, he located at Philadelphia, where he kept the well-known Black Horse hotel on Market street between Fourth and Fifth during the Revolution, after which he removed to Centre county, where he engaged in merchandising, and thence in 1803 to Venango, where he resided until his death, July 4, 1823. He was three times married. By his first wife, Mrs. Rebecca Garrigues Robinson, he had six children: William, Susan, Rebecca, Hannah, Isaac, and Rachel. His second wife, Mrs. Margaret Robinson, died without issue. His third wife, Rachel Huey, was the mother of seven children: George, Eliza, Mary, Sarah, Jane, Rob- ert, and Nancy.

JOHN LAMB, deceased, was born near Bellefonte, Centre county, Pennsyl- vania, June 13, 1806. His parents, John and Nancy (Sparks) Lamb, were of Scotch-Irish descent and were among the first settlers of Centre county. John was the youngest of eight children, three sons and five daughters. His father died when he was about fourteen years old. He was appren- ticed and learned the tanner's trade. In 1829 he came to Allegheny town-

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

ship, Venango county, and purchased a small piece of land in the woods, on which he built a log house, started a tannery, and began clearing up a farm. He began with no capital but strong hands and an energy and spirit of determination to succeed. The farm grew to be one of the largest and finest in Venango county, the little home to be a popular, well-known way- side inn in the old stage-coach days, and the tannery expanded into an ex- tensive mercantile and lumber business. On the discovery of oil he en- gaged in the production and refining of that commodity in a limited way, as the oil business was only in its infancy at the time of his death. He was zealous and active in political affairs, and was a Democrat until Lincoln's nomination for president, when he became a Republican.

In April, 1833, he married Mary Bailey Smith, daughter of Captain William Smith, of Waterford, Pennsylvania, to whom were born five sons and two daughters. She died in November, 1849, and he was again mar- ried, in 1851, to Miss Annie May, daughter of Reverend Hezekiah May, of Tionesta, Pennsylvania, to whom was born a daughter, now Mrs. W. J. Bleakley, of Franklin, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Annie May Lamb died in No- vember, 1877. Of the first family, William, the eldest, died when an in- fant; Henry R. died in 1887; the others are all living-John, at Silver City, Idaho; David, at Pleasantville; Mrs. Sam Q. Brown, in New York; Miss Sarah K., in Philadelphia, and Alfred, on the old homestead.

Mr. Lamb was a man of fine presence and genial disposition. He was prominent and well known for his enterprise and business qualifications, and everything that had a tendency to build up the community in which he re- sided received his encouragement and support. A member of the Presby- terian church, a school director, and an active business man, he did much to build up the moral, educational, and material interests of the county. His house was a welcome home to friends and strangers alike, and his hospitality knew no bounds. He died in November, 1863, in the fifty-eighth year of his age.

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History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 110

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