History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 112

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 112

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his only household companion. He lived to be ninety-nine years of age, and left behind him a name and reputation that reach down to the third and fourth generation of his house, and softens and brightens their lives as they recount the legend of his manifold virtues.

John Rynd, his only son, was born in 1777. He married Nancy Mc- Caslin, of Allegheny township, reared five sons and three daughters, and died in 1849. In transmitting the estate of his father to his own children, the old homestead on the west side of Oil creek fell to his son, John, whom for the sake of identity, we denominate John the second. The elder John was a thrifty man; he added much to the estate of Ambrose, and gave unto his sons each a good farm, and to his daughters an equivalent in money. The daughters are all dead, and only two sons are living: James, in his eighty-sixth year, at Tarentum, and John, in his seventy-fourth year, at Perryville, this state.

John Rynd, the second, lived at the mouth of Cherry Tree run until 1865. He was born in the old log cabin, in 1815, and at the age of thirty married his cousin, Nancy McCaslin, the name of his mother. He reared three sons and four daughters; but two of the latter are living.

Cyrus D. Rynd, his eldest son, was born in Cornplanter township, Venango county, and the common schools of Pittsburgh, Beaver Academy, and Duff's Commercial College, supplied him with an ample education. He began business in Pittsburgh, as a general agent for the Wilson Sewing Machine Company, remained with them six years, farmed two years in Fayette county, and in 1881 took charge of the Rynd farm. Here he was five years a merchant, and from 1882 to 1887 the postmaster. He was married in Pittsburgh, April 30, 1874, to Miss Eliza Blair, who has borne to him two children: Nancy, born July 23, 1876, died December 18, 1877, and John Dickson, born January 5, 1878. The Rynd family are Pres- byterian in faith.

WALTER SIVERLY, of the borough of Siverly, has been many years a familiar figure around the Oil Exchange of Oil City and is known as an en- terprising and successful petroleum broker. His father, Philip H. Siverly, now about eighty-six years of age, resides in Philadelphia; an uncle, Milton T. Siverly, now about eighty-four years of age, lives in Davenport, Iowa, and Elhanan W. Siverly, another uncle, is over eighty-two years of age and resides at Morning Sun, Iowa. An aunt, Alzira Mary (Siverly) Witherspoon, over eighty years of age, resides at Siverly, Ohio, and another aunt, Ann Dorothy (Siverly) Purdy, more than eighty years old, resides in Rockland township, this county. His grandfather, Abram G. Siverly, came from New York city in 1819 and settled in Pinegrove township, this county. In 1820 or 1821 he located in the immediate vicinity of the village of Siverly and it was for him the place was named. In 1839 he emigrated to Iowa and there spent the rest of his life, dying near the town of Wapello at the age

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of about seventy years. He reared a large family of children, the only sur- viving members of whom are enumerated in this sketch. Philip H. Siverly married Mary Elderkin on Tionesta creek, resided at Siverly from 1848 to 1865, and reared one son and three daughters. Mary Elderkin Siverly died in 1884.

The Siverlys came originally, and at an early date in the history of this country, from Germany. The nationality of the Elderkin family is not known to the writer; but it is evident that they were among the pioneers of New England. Walter Siverly was born at Newton, then Venango county but now Forest county, Pennsylvania, January 29, 1832. He was educated at the common schools, followed farming as a boy, subsequently dealt in lumber some years, and later on became an oil producer. For the past ten years he has been an oil broker. He is one of the most proficient mathema- ticians of the state. His contributions to scientific papers published both in America and Europe, on problems and solutions in higher mathematics, have attracted the attention of the learned and won for him the honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy. This distinction was conferred upon him in 1888 by the North Carolina College of the Evangelical Lutheran church. He is therefore at this time entitled to supplement his name with Ph. D. He was married at Oregon, Chautauqua county, New York, December 8, 1870, to Miss Lucy Dimond.

WILLIAM CHARLES TYLER, M. D., Rouseville, Pennsylvania, was born at Hiram, Ohio, January 6, 1838, and is a son of Calvin Tyler, a native of Greene county, New York, a farmer by occupation during his active life, and descended from English ancestors. The family name of the doctor's mother was White and her first ancestor in America came over in the May Flower. The doctor's father, now ninety-two years old, lives with the son; the mother died in 1886 aged eighty-two years. They reared three sons and two daughters. William C. received his literary education at Hiram College, Ohio, and while there was at one time a student under James A. Garfield. Leaving college he taught school in Ohio for about five years. In 1862 he entered the University of Michigan and was graduated there- from in the following year with the degree of M. D. He began the prac- tice of medicine at Munson, Ohio, and from there in 1864 came to Rouse- ville, where he at once took rank as a first-class physician. In addition to his professional practice he is interested in the production of oil, and has in Rouseville a first-class drug store. Though an ardent Republican he is no place seeker; the only office he has ever held is that of township commis- sioner, in which office he is now serving his second term. Doctor Tyler is a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of Bloomsburg consistory. He was married in Rouseville June 4, 1873, to Ella Conant, who died on the 6th of July following. The present Mrs. Taylor, to whom the doctor was married at Morenci, Michigan, October 19, 1875, is Angie, a sister of his former wife. The doctor has three children: Ella, Rowena, and Edith.

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DOCTOR E. P. CROOKS, Plumer, is a native of Crawford county this state, a son of Aaron R. and Esther E. (Hellyer) Crooks, and was born May 22, 1842. His father, a farmer by occupation, was born in Chester June 26, 1798, and his mother in Bucks county, this state. With their eldest child, then one year old, they removed from Doylestown, Bucks county, to Craw- ford county in 1827. The family came from Crawford county to Venango in 1850 and located in Jackson township. The father died in July, 1883, at the age of eighty-five years. His wife, to whom he was married January 20, 1824, was born July 4, 1804, and died October 17, 1879. Both are in- terred in the Franklin cemetery. They reared four sons and four daughters of whom three sons only are living: Anderson B., in Jackson township; An- drew Wilson, in Crawford county, and E. P., the subject of this sketch. Nathan H. died May 24, 1880, aged fifty-three. Of the daughters, Martha G., wife of James S. McCray, died March 4, 1889; Mary Jane, wife of Walter Bell, died May 12, 1884; Sarah Ann, wife of Charles Coxson, died March 2, 1877, and Araminta died October 9, 1843, aged four years, three months, and three days.

E. P. was educated at the common schools, read medicine in Petroleum Center, completed his professional education in Canada, and began practice in Cornplanter township where he has since remained. From 1873 to 1875 he dealt extensively in oil at Petroleum Center, also had a production in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, and in 1877 moved to Plumer. Here he kept the Plumer house ten years and is now proprietor of the Stone House hotel. During all these years he has kept up his practice of medicine not- withstanding the other various lines of business in which he has been en- gaged. The doctor was married in Petroleum Center, February 23, 1871, to Miss Margaret J. Alexander, and has four children: Martha Elva, an ac- complished teacher of select schools; Frank A., Harry P., and Daisy May.

JOHN N. MARTIN, superintendent of the Imperial Refining Company at Siverly, was born in Beaver county, this state, March 27, 1844, and his parents were Jesse and Eliza (Moore) Martin, natives of Pennsylvania, of Irish and Scotch extraction, respectively. He was educated at the common schools, and at the outbreak of the late war was working at the blacksmith trade. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Lawrence county as a private soldier in Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-Fourth Pennsylvania Vol- unteers, and served nine months in the Army of the Potomac, participating in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. In 1872 he came to Oil City as still-man for the Imperial (then but just built by Mr. Gracie), was soon afterwards made foreman, and in 1879 was promoted to his present position. Mr. Martin has been twice married, first in 1864 at New Brighton to Miss Wiley. She died in 1870, and in 1874, at James- town, this state, Miss Anna Rankin became the present Mrs. Martin. By his first wife Mr. Martin has four children: Robert J .; Antoinette M .;

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

Gertrude J., and Sadie A. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Martin belongs to the G. A. R.

CHARLES E. CLARKE, foreman of the Tidioute and Titusville branch of the National Transit Company, Rouseville, was born in Monroe county, New York, December 9, 1844. He received a common school education and January 10, 1862, at Rochester, New York, enlisted in Company C, Fourth New York Heavy Artillery. He served three years in the Army of the Potomac, taking part in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg. At the end of the term of his artillery service, he joined Company I, Sixty-Fifth New York Volunteer Infantry, and served from April 6, 1865, one hundred days, leaving the army as orderly ser- geant. Soon after leaving the service, Mr. Clarke came to the oil region and has been here ever since, excepting, perhaps, about two years spent in Butler county. Here he has operated in oil for himself and other parties, and in 1878 accepted the position he now occupies. He was married in Ontario, New York, July 4, 1871, to Miss Hattie Sanders. Mr. Clarke is a member of Oil Creek Lodge No. 303, F. & A. M., of Titusville; Oil City Chapter, No. 236; Talbot Commandery, No. 43, and Captain William Evans Post, No. 167, G. A. R.

ALFRED B. ARMSTRONG, merchant, Rouseville, was born in Crawford county, this state, November 25, 1835. His parents are William and - (Hickernell) Armstrong, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Irish and German extraction, respectively. The senior Mr. Armstrong, now residing in Craw- ford county, in the seventy-third year of his age, was formerly a carpenter and joiner. His wife is now seventy-two years old. They reared five sons and five daughters, of whom four sons and three daughters are now living. The subject of this sketch, the eldest of the family, and a brother, Will- iam L., were in the army during the Rebellion; the latter is now an oil producer in Clarion county. In regard to his education, Alfred B. is prin- cipally self-taught, and that he has made the best of his opportunities is manifest. In early life he learned the trade of carpenter, and followed it about ten years. In October, 1862, he enlisted at Meadville, in Company H, One Hundred and Sixty-Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served nine months in the Army of the Potomac as second lieutenant. Prior to 1870, at which time he engaged in mercantile business at Rouseville, he was vari- ously employed at Shamburg, Rynd Farm, etc. Mr. Armstrong is a K. of P. and a Mason. He was married in Saegertown April 21, 1855, to Abi- gail Woodring (originally spelled Wotring), and has twelve children: Mary E., Mrs. C. A. Myers; Frank W .; Ida E., Mrs. Huston McCombs; Clara E., Mrs. Jerry Ghering; Charles B .; William Joseph; Margaret; Alfred B .; Abigail; Nancy J; John, and Thomas.

JOSEPH T. FRY, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, March 28, 1836, and his father, George Fry, was born in 1811, where the town of

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BIOGRAPHIES OF CORNPLANTER.

Greenville now stands. The old gentleman spent his life in Mercer county, dying in 1888, at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife, whose family name was Moyer, died in 1853. They reared three sons and three daughters. Joseph, the second son, was brought up to farming, and at the common school acquired the rudiments of an English education. At the age of twenty-one years he engaged in the coal business at Clarksville, and fol- lowed it until 1866. In that year he came into the petroleum country, pur- chased an oil well on Moody run, and became a producer. In 1880 he came to Rouseville and engaged in mercantile business. At the present time he is associated with his son in the grocery business. He is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, and a Republican. He was married March 22, 1860, at Sharon, Pennsylvania, to Miss Jane McAllen, and has one son, Frank L.

FRANK L. FRY, merchant, Rouseville, was born in Shenango, Mercer county, this state, July 8, 1862, and is a son of Joseph T. Fry. He was educated at the common schools and at the age of eighteen years began the grocery business at Rouseville as a clerk. In 1883 he embarked in business for himself and so far has met with flattering success. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, holding the office of collector, of the E. A. U., and of the Methodist Episcopal church. He united with the church when fourteen years of age and is now its secretary and treasurer and superintendent of its Sabbath school. Mr. Fry was married in Rouseville January 13, 1885, to Miss Dora M. Dull and has one child, Josephine.

LINCOLN H. WILLITT, proprietor of the Rathburn hotel, Rouseville, was born in Erie county, New York, May 25, 1860, and his father was Homer Willitt, a hotel man, who came to Rouseville and purchased the Rathburn house in 1879. Though he subsequently sold the hotel to his son, he con- tinned with it as manager until the time of his death, January 5, 1885. He was first associated with his son, John L., in the hotel, and after selling his interest to Lincoln H., the two brothers ran it till 1885. The widow Will- itt purchased the property, and through her it comes into the hands of our subject at this time. The hotel has twenty-four sleeping rooms and is oth- erwise amply equipped for the entertainment of both "man and beast." In addition to his hotel business, Mr. Willitt, our subject, is one of the pro- prietors of the Oil City Chautauqua Ice Company, and is largely interested with others in valuable real estate property at Rouseville. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the Royal Arcanum. His wife, to whom he was married at Franklin, Pennsylvania, in 1881, was Miss Alta Sparks, daughter of John Sparks, of Rouseville. They have two children: Homer and Harley.

F. J. HANNA, deceased, was born in Ireland November 1, 1831, immi- grated to America with his parents in 1834, and located in Philadelphia, where he learned the machinist trade. In 1866 he opened a machine shop

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

in Petroleum Center, in company with a Mr. Murphy, which enterprise was burned, and rebuilt by Hanna & Company. He moved to Kane City, where he died February 8, 1889. While at Kane City he was interested in oil pro- ducing. He took an active part in educational matters, having been at various times connected with the school board, and was a member of the Masonic order of Philadelphia. He was married October 27, 1856, to Elizabeth Mckinley, a native of Philadelphia, and by her had two children: John F. and Joseph. The former of these sons married Clarissa J. Dodds, and has the following children: Francis J .; Elizabeth J., and Albert J.

H. E. WHITTLESEY, valve-cup manufacturer, Petroleum Center, was born June 11, 1833, in Massachusetts, to Federal and Caroline (Churchill) Whit- tlesey. He received his education in the common schools and began his business career as a grocery merchant, drifting from that into the shoe busi- ness. In 1865 he came to Venango county and began the oil production. He bought the valve-cup factory in 1875 from A. Leggett and in 1879 was joined by D. K. Jones in the business, which partnership continued until 1885 when Mr. Whittlesey became the sole owner and still continues the manufacture of this important article, together with casing cups and steam pump cups, making the majority of each used in this part of the oil country. Mr. Whittlesey enlisted in May, 1861, in Company G, Sixty-Fifth New York Volunteer Infantry, subsequently being transferred to the Ninety- Eighth New York Volunteer Infantry. In November, 1862, he was mus- tered into the Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry as second lieutenant, was pro- moted to first lientenant, then to captain, and during battles had three horses shot from under him. He was married in 1855 to Isabel Cram, a native of New York, by whom he had two children: Harry C. and Mary R. His wife died September 20, 1865, and he was again married in 1869, to Elizabeth Wilson, a native of Albion, New York, and to this union were born three children: Federal E .; Seward C., and Clara I. Mr. Whittlesey is a member of the A. O. U. W. and the E. A. U .; in politics he is a Re- publican and with his wife belongs to the United Presbyterian church.

EDWARD G. TWITCHEL, postmaster and farmer, was born in England, Jan- uary 10, 1831, to Edward and Mary (George) Twitchel. Edward, Sr., was a weaver by trade while in England; he immigrated to America in 1832 and worked at joining in the carpenter trade. Our subject was educated in the common schools and learned the trade of shoemaker. He came to this county in 1862 and in 1876 he opened a general store in Pithole, which he conducted until 1887. He has been postmaster at this place since 1876. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

J. W. GARDINER, of the firm of McCollom & Gardiner, coal miners and operators, Oil City, came from Sharpsburg, Allegheny county, to this place in 1861 and engaged in the production of petroleum, a business in which he has since been regularly interested. In 1863, as a member of the firm

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BIOGRAPHIES OF CORNPLANTER.

of Reynolds, Brodhead & Company, he entered the mercantile trade, and followed it about five years. From 1868 to 1876 he devoted his whole time to oil production and in the latter year formed a partnership in the lumber and coal traffic with B. T. Borland. In 1882 he organized the Oil City Lumber and Coal Company, from which he withdrew in 1887 and organized the Venango Lumber & Coal Company. Retiring from the latter concern in March, 1889, he embarked in his present enterprise. In addition to his coal interests he is largely engaged in the manufacture of lumber in Cran- berry township, and is the special agent for the Erie City Iron Works. In the last named line he is handling specially the famous boiler and engine known to the trade as the "New Economic." Mr. Gardiner was born at Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, March 14, 1842. His father, Thomas Gardiner, a merchant in his life-time, was a native of Ireland. He died at Sharpsburg in 1850, at the age of thirty-five years, leaving a widow, one son, and three daughters. The widow succeeded to her late husband's business and in it brought up her son, the subject of this sketch. She yet resides at Sharps- burg. Mr. Gardiner was married December 25, 1863, to Miss S. J. Siverly, of Siverly, and has five children: H. H., a grocer at Siverly; Maude; Grace; Florence, and Donald. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

H. T. GILLESPIE, farmer, was born in Canada, August 5, 1846, son of William and Hannah (Rodhouse) Gillespie. He came to Venango county in 1865, and like the greater portion of the incomers, commenced to assist in the production of oil. He was united in wedlock January 27, 1870, with Miss Annie J., daughter of Robert and Frances (Bartholomew) Shaw of this county, and the result of this union has been four children: Robert W .; Charles F .; Harry P., and Lilian P.

ROBERT SHAW was a native of Sugar Creek township, Venango county. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812. Robert Shaw was a Whig and took an active interest in the Underground railway in the transportation of colored fugitives to Canada. He cleared up a farm which afterward was famil- iarly known as the Shaw farm-noted for its great oil production. He was the father of eleven children: James W .; Robert L .; Adelia A. ; Sylvester I. ; Anna J. ; Emeline U. ; Sarah E. ; Frances A. ; William P. ; Margie, deceased, and David, deceased. James W., the eldest, served in the late war as a mem- ber of the One Hundred and Fourteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers and lost his right arm at the battle of Gettysburg. He served as recorder of Venango county nine years and held the same position for three years in Mckean county. He is now practicing law at Bradford. Robert, Sr., died Decem- ber 25, 1884, and his widow died in 1887.

H. B. HIXON, retired oil operator, was born April 1, 1818, in Emmitts- burg, Maryland. His father, Henry Hixon, was of English extraction, a native of Maryland and a soldier of the war of 1812; he was with General

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Jackson on his campaign through Florida. Mary (Blackburn) Hixon, the mother of our subject, was also a native of Maryland and of German ances- try. She had only one child, H. B. The father was married a second time, to Mary Crabster of Taneytown, Maryland, and had one child, William. H. B. Hixon was educated in the common schools and at the age of twelve years began working in a woolen mill in his native town; at eighteen he removed to near Winchester, Virginia, and there continued his trade until reaching his majority, when he went to Franklin county, this state, and worked there for one year, afterward following the same business at Quincy, in that county, for another year. At the close of the last mentioned period he took charge of a dyeing and carding establishment for John Cavode of Ligonier valley, Westmoreland county, then a resident of Chambersburg, whose business he managed in the Ligonier valley for two years. January 3, 1839, while at the last mentioned place, he was married to Eliza, daughter of Irvin Elliott, and to this union were born nine children: Henrietta, deceased; Mary A. ; William H. H .; Augusta; Edward; Lucius, an oil oper- ator in the West Indies; Florence L., and two others who died in infancy. The mother died August 19, 1885, and was buried at Oil City. After mar- riage Mr. Hixon's whereabouts became somewhat transient, one of the prin- cipal locations being at Johnstown, where he erected a large brick woolen factory, which withstood all attempts of the late flood to wreck its walls, and is still standing. In 1863 he came to the oil country, from Kinsman, Ohio, and in 1865 began the production of oil, to which he gave his attention for fourteen years. He then retired to the Shaw farm in Cornplanter town- ship, where he yet resides. He served as collector and assessor of Corn- planter township for eleven years and held other township offices. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, located on the Shaw farm. For many years he was class leader of this organization and at the present time is assistant superintendent of the Sabbath school. He became one of the early members of the Whig party and drifted from that to the Republican party. He is one of the upright, intelligent, and worthy citizens of Corn- planter township.

C. C. DALE, oil producer, was born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, to David and Catharine (Henlen) Dale who immigrated to this country in 1859. Our subject began his business life in oil producing. He was mar- ried in 1869 to Henrietta Hixon and had three children: L. G .; Loe, and Floridale. Mrs. Dale died in April, 1882, and he was again married to Lizzie Irwin of Plumer, this county, by whom he has three children: Randle; Roscoe, and Catharine. A mention of his father's family will be found elsewhere.

WILLIAM J. McCRAY, oil producer and farmer, was born on what is known as the " McCray Hill" about one mile from Petroleum Center, June 6, 1834. His father, William McCray, one of the pioneers of Cornplanter, improved

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BIOGRAPHIES OF CORNPLANTER.

and developed the agricultural resources of the well-known McCray farm. He was first married to Elizabeth Story, by whom he had eight children: James; Elizabeth, married to Henry Sedors; Nancy A., married to Joseph McCaslin; Mary E., married to J. M. Goudy; William J .; Margaret, de- ceased wife of John Wilson; Isabelle, deceased wife of Gilson Eakin; Rachel H., who married Robert Eakin and after his death, C. M. Carmer. The mother died in 1841 and the father married Miss Mary Prather, who died in 1867 without issue. The senior McCray died in 1861 at the age of sixty- four years; he was a Democrat and a life-long member of the United Pres- byterian church of Plumer.

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History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 112

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