History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 118

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 118

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O. H. STRONG, principal owner of Oakwood Rose Gardens, was born Sep- tember 11, 1832, in Chautauqua county, New York. His parents, Orrin and Lucinda (Shepardson) Strong, had the following children: O. H .; Matilda E., Laura L., and E. O. H. Strong received a common school and academic education. In 1862 he enlisted in the Seventh New York Independent Sharp- shooters and served until the close of the war. On his return from service he engaged in keeping books for an oil company, subsequently engaging in the production of oil with reasonable success. In 1854 he married Manira L. Treadway, a native of Chautauqua county, who died in September, 1886, the mother of two children: May L., Mrs. H. B. Beatty, and Minnie L., the wife of Reverend J. W. Simpson, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Mrs. Strong was a consistent member of the Second Presbyterian church of South Oil City. For a few years following his marriage, Mr. Strong was engaged in farming in Kansas. In 1885 he established Oakwood Rose Gardens, mentioned in the chapter on agriculture in this volume. He is a member of the I.O.O.F., Royal Arcanum, American Legion of Honor, Royal Templars, and Grand Army of the Republic, a stockholder of the First National Bank of James- town, New York, secretary of the Oil City Fuel Supply Company, a stanch Republican, and one of the representative self-made men of Venango county.

H. B. BEATTY, junior proprietor of Oakwood Rose Gardens, was born August 16, 1857, in Mercer county, son of E. S. and Agnes (Braham) Beatty. The father was born in 1824 in Butler county, near the Venango line, and his parents, Henry and Margaret Beatty, had the following chil- dren: Elizabeth; Jane; Ebenezer S .; Annie; Mahalah; Henry; David; John; Margaret, and Valentine. E. S. Beatty was the father of nine chil- dren: Melvina; Ralph; Mary; H. B .; Calvin; Viola; John; Agnes, and Le Roy. H. B. Beatty was educated in the public schools of Rouseville, State Normal School at Edinboro, and Business University of Rochester, New York. He began for himself in producing oil. July 28, 1879, he was married to Miss May L., daughter of O. H. Strong, and has four children: Hollis S .; Minnie A. ; Lorraine, and Eda Lois. Mr. Beatty was once clerk of Cornplanter township, is a member of the Second Presbyterian church, and votes the Republican ticket.

JOHN STANDLEY, farmer, was born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, September 1, 1826, to Andrew and Elizabeth (Heckathorn) Standley. An- drew Standley was born in New Jersey May 23, 1797, and came to Law- rence county in 1819. He served an apprenticeship of eleven years in New

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

Jersey, learning the cabinet maker's trade, and after coming to this state worked at his trade in New Castle, but later bought a farm and spent the remainder of his days thereon, dying in 1873. Mrs. Elizabeth Standley was a daughter of George and Elizabeth Heckathorn, and died June 19, 1886, aged eighty-two years, seven months, and two days. Her grandfather, Michael Sadler, came from Germany when about six years old and settled in Maryland. He was a tanner by trade and moved to Westmoreland county, thence to Beaver county, where he died. Her father was married in Westmoreland county to Elizabeth Sadler, and with her removed to near Georgetown, Beaver county, this state, settling along the Ohio river. From there they went to the part of Beaver county that is now included in Law- rence county, settled not far from the present site of New Castle, and were among the earliest settlers of that locality, New Castle being at the time a small village. Two of her brothers are deceased, both having passed the age of eighty years, and four are yet living, the oldest at the age of eighty-

five and the youngest at the age of seventy-seven years. Andrew Standley died in the eastern part of Lawrence county in 1873, after which his widow took up her residence with her son near Oil City, at which place she died. For over forty years she was a member of the Zion Baptist church of Law- rence county, located near Grant City, and was buried in the quiet grave- yard at that church. Her children were: Sarah; John; Elizabeth; Ann; Mary; Andrew; Jane, deceased; Rachel, and James C. John Standley was educated in a log school house then located in Lawrence county and was brought up on a farm. He was married to Barbara C. Fox, February 26, 1852. She was born in Lawrence county, October 17, 1830, daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Herpst) Fox, who came to Venango county in 1849.

Michael Fox was born March 2, 1794, in Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania, and removed to Beaver county, this state (the portion now included in Lawrence county) when a young man. He was drafted in the war of 1812, and was at Erie during a part of his term of service. His wife, Eliz- abeth Herpst, daughter of George and Barbara Herpst, was born May 24, 1802, and the children born to this union were as follows: Lydia; George; Jacob; Daniel; Michael; Barbara C .; Ann; Abram; Joseph; Betsey, de- ceased, and Sarah, deceased. Mr. Fox died June 14, 1871, and Mrs. Fox died May 13, 1876.

Mr. Standley was twice drafted for service in the Union army; the first time he paid his commutation fee and Lee surrendered before the time to report on the second occasion. Mr. and Mrs. Standley have had eleven children: William; Elizabeth; Mary; George; John P .; Andrew; James C .; Sarah; Etta, deceased; Emma, and Ida. He is a Republican in pol- itics, and is one of the representative citizens of the county, honest and upright in all his dealings.

ANDREW J. STANDLEY, farmer, was born December 28, 1838, in Lawrence

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county Pennsylvania, son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Heckathorn) Standley whose sketch appears in this work. He was married February 14, 1867, to Isa- bella S. Wood, daughter of Gideon H. and Rebecca (Ewing) Wood. Mr. Wood was a blacksmith at Harlansburg, Lawrence county, and by a previous mar- riage he was the father of ten children: Adaline E. ; Mary T. ; Silas, deceased; Charles, deceased; Eli C. ; Liman C., deceased; Edward, deceased; Martha, de- ceased; Harriet S., deceased, and Gideon M. By his second marriage he had six children: John A. ; Hannah C., deceased; Isabel; Henry, deceased; Samuel R., deceased, and James S., deceased, of whom Henry, Samuel, and James entered the war in Company E, One Hundredth Pennsylvania Regiment, known as the Pennsylvania Roundheads. Henry was killed May 6, 1864, at the battle of the Wilderness; Samuel S. died August 16, 1863, at a Cin- cinnati hospital; James was taken prisoner June 2, 1864, and died in An- dersonville prison. Mr. Wood died July 7, 1861, and Mrs. Wood died June 4, 1860. Our subject was educated in the common schools, enlisted in the war September 18, 1861, in Company A, Fifty-Third Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, was discharged September 31, 1863, re-enlisted in the field as a vet- eran, and was discharged the second time, August 11, 1865. He was with his regiment in all of its engagements. He is the father of five children: Alonzo N .; Stewart W .; Rebecca E .; Louie E., and Jennie B. Mrs. Stand- ley is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Standley belongs to William E. Downing Post, G. A. R., and is a Republican.

HENRY J. SAYERS was born August 28, 1831, in Armstrong county, now a part of Clarion county, Pennsylvania, the eldest son of John and Ruth D. Sayers, natives of Armstrong county. John Sayers died March 28, 1836, and Ruth D. January 27, 1883. They had four children: Henry J .; Will- iam A. ; John F., and Emily J. Henry J. received a common school edu- cation and learned the carpenter trade, but never followed it. He came to Venango county in 1852 and on the 22nd of April, 1855, was married to Sarah J. Vance, who was born December 16, 1833, in County Cavan, Ire land, a daughter of William and Maria Vance, who came to this country about 1838. Mr. Sayers followed farming until 1870 when he engaged in the real estate and oil business with I. H. Hilliard at Franklin. This has been his business to the present time. His wife died June 11, 1883; by her he had five children: John H., deceased; Anna L .; Francis A., attorney at law; William H., merchant, and L. Emma, teacher, F. A. being a gradu- ate of Allegheny College, W. H., of Iron City College, Anna L. and L. Emma, of Edinboro State Normal School.

FRANCIS A. SAYERS, attorney at law, Franklin, was born in Rockland township, September 27, 1861, son of H. J. and Sarah J. (Vance) Sayers. He was brought up in Cranberry township and received a common school education. After attending the State Normal School at Edinboro, Pennsyl- vania, two terms, he began teaching in 1877 in Cranberry township, con-

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tinuing at this work seven years. In 1882 he entered the preparatory de- partment of Allegheny College, at Meadville, graduating from that institu- tion June 26, 1887, representing the Athenian society on that occasion. In the Junior year he took the prize in declamation in that society, and was simi- larly honored as orator of the society the following year. After leaving college he entered the office of Lee, Criswell & Hastings and read law two years under their preceptorship. In August, 1889, he was admitted to the bar of Venango county. Mr. Sayers is a member of the Methodist church, and a Republican in politics.

SAMUEL MCKINNEY, a deceased pioneer of Cranberry township, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, October 31, 1786. His father, a soldier of the Revolution, emigrated from the North of Ireland and settled in that county, where he reared a family of which the subject of this sketch was one of the older members. The latter enlisted for service in the war of 1812, and volunteered on board the American squadron which Commodore Perry led to victory on Lake Erie September 10, 1813. In compliment to his patriotism and bravery on that occasion he was awarded a silver medal by the legislature of Pennsylvania in 1819, which, with the letter of Gover- nor William Findlay, conveying the thanks of the government in compliance with the directions of the legislature, is still preserved as a valued family heirloom. At that time he was a resident of the Nittanny valley, Centre county, where he farmed and operated a fulling mill. In 1833 he removed to Cranberry township and secured two hundred acres of land near the vil- lage of Salem City. There he passed the remainder of his life and died on the 20th of September, 1871, having done much to promote the material improvement of his township and to encourage its religious and educational institutions. He was married in Centre county May 23, 1816, to Rachel Mckinney, of Sunbury. Pennsylvania, and they were the parents of twelve children: Rebecca, deceased; John, of Nebraska; Isaac, deceased; Marga- ret, wife of Joseph Chambers, of Rockland township; Mary J., wife of Doctor Edwin Oppelt, of Loogootee, Indiana; Louisa, deceased wife of Benjamin McGee; Macada; Samuel H .; Charles B., of Bradford; Alvina; Imelda, wife of Andrew Gates, of Emlenton, and Henry, deceased. Mrs. McKinney still resides in Cranberry township at an advanced age.

SAMUEL H. MCKINNEY, county commissioner, was born November 2, 1835, in Cranberry township, where he was reared and attended the public schools. He also obtained a fair academic education at the Franklin Acad- emy, and a select school at Pleasantville, after which he taught school sev- eral terms. Since that time farming has been his principal occupation, with the exception of a brief interval of oil producing. He was elected township clerk at the first election at which he cast a vote, and since that time has served the public in some official capacity almost continuously. For a num- ber of years he was school director of Cranberry township. In 1887 he was

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elected county commissioner by a majority of nine hundred and ninety-nine, probably the largest ever received by a commissioner in this county. In this responsible position Mr. Mckinney has proven an efficient and capable official. Although occupied with the duties of his office he continues to re- side in Cranberry, where he has a fine farm, and is also interested in oil ter- ritory. He married Rebecca Ann, daughter of J. H. Borland, an early resident of Cranberry in the vicinity of the old Cumberland Presbyterian church, of which he was long an elder. Mr. and Mrs. Mckinney are the parents of four sons and eleven daughters, all of whom are living and in the enjoyment of good health. In politics he is a Republican, and a member of the R. T. of T.

SOLOMON WOLFE, deceased, was born December 16, 1810, in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the subscription schools and early learned the tanner's trade, which he followed for many years, working at ten dollars per month. In 1839 he purchased an unimproved farm in Cranberry township, this county, and one year later located thereon, where he remained until his death, June 8, 1887. He was married in 1846 to Catharine Miller, born November 21, 1819, a daughter of Tobias and Cath- arine (Snewer) Miller and sister of George Snewer, a wealthy banker of Selin's Grove, Pennsylvania. The children of Solomon and Catharine Wolfe are as follows: E. M .; Catharine A., who married L. P. Drebelbis; John D., an extensive oil producer; Tobias F., oil producer; George, who died in 1878; Lucy A., married to Doctor R. V. Leech of Oswego, Indiana; Simon L., and D. Elmer, both engaged in the oil business. The parents early became identified with the Evangelical Association, in the faith of which Mr. Wolfe died. His widow resides on the old homestead and now worships at the Methodist Episcopal church, because of its convenience. Mr. Wolfe and his entire family have adhered strictly to the principles of the Repub- lican party.

PATRICK GORMLEY, deceased, was born in County Derry, Ireland, March 17, 1810. He emigrated about 1820, settled first in Butler county, Penn- sylvania, and thence removed to Venango in 1851. He married Mary Con- ley, also a native of County Derry, and they are the parents of four children: Gust; Francis M .; Sarah, and James. Their father died November 13, 1877.

JAMES GORMLEY was born July 18, 1854. By his marriage with Emma Finger July 6, 1887, he is the father of one child, Olive. He is a Demo- crat in politics and a member of the Catholic church.

JACOB M. BOYLE, who died at his home in Cranberry township, Septem- ber 8, 1889, was born in Ireland in 1816, son of Owen and Mary (Brogan) Boyle. He immigrated to the United States with his parents, who first settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, subsequently resided in Lebanon and Centre counties, and about 1834 removed to Venango county, and set- tled on a tract of two hundred and fifty acres in Cranberry township. The

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

parents both died on this farm. They had a family of eight sons and two daughters: Michael, who died in Ireland; Mrs. Rosanna Byrns; John, who died in Illinois; Owen, a farmer of this township; Jacob M .; Mrs. Sarah King; Michael, deceased; Charles, a resident of Kansas; Timothy, who died in the Mexican war, and Francis, of Allegheny City. Jacob M. had but limited schooling, and worked at different furnaces for ten or twelve years, and then began farming. He was twice married, first to Isabel Daugherty, and after her death to Catharine Kennedy. He was the father of seven living children: Theresa; Mary; Rachel; Isabel; Rosanna; Catha- rine, and William D. ; and three deceased: John T .; Constantine, and Jacob. Mr. Boyle was an industrious and energetic man and an honest, worthy citizen. He possessed a generous disposition, and was always ready to con- fer an act of kindness. The family belong to the Catholic church, in which faith Mr. Boyle lived and died.

J. W. SMULLIN, justice of the peace, was born at Brandywine, near Wil- mington, Delaware, September 20, 1832, son of William S. Smullin, a native of Donegal, Ireland, who was born in 1811, came to America in 1829, and settled in Philadelphia. He and his brother-in-law, William Richards of Philadelphia, came to Cranberry township in 1833 and erected the Jackson furnace on East Sandy creek. In 1835 Mr. Smullin bought Richards' in- terest and carried on this industry until 1844, when he sold out to Hatch Brothers of Pittsburgh; but he continued in the iron business at different places until 1851, when he went to Texas. From 1852 to 1858 he was en- gaged in a mercantile business at Placerville and Sacramento City, Califor- nia. At the time of the gold excitement in British America he emigrated". to Vancouver island and afterward located on Frazer river near Fort Yale, where he mined until 1860, at which time his whereabouts became unknown to his relatives and it is thought that he was killed by the Indians. Martha A. (Collom), his widow, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and now resides in Clarion, Clarion county, Pennsylvania. She became the mother of eight children: J. W. ; Thomas, deceased; William S., deceased; Adelaide, deceased; Henry C .; Charles, deceased; Mary J., and Helen.

J. W. Smullin was educated in the common schools and taught one term of school before reaching the age of sixteen years, when he entered the printing office of the Clarion Democrat. After three years' experience at this he began clerking and keeping books at Slab furnace. December 13, 1850, he was married to Mary J. Curtis, who was reared by her uncle, James Allison of this county, her parents having died when she was young. In the spring of 1852 Mr. Smullin joined his father in Missouri on a trip overland to California. Here he engaged in mining and after eight years returned and assisted W. R. Johns on the Register of Oil City. He subse- quently published the Monitor for a time at Oil City. In 1864 he engaged in the mercantile business and continued until 1866, afterward pursuing the

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same business at Nineveh, Clarion county, Pennsylvania. He has been an acting justice of the peace since 1870. His children are named as follows: Horace L. ; Martha L., married to A. J. Shiner, an oil producer of Salina; Lillian L., married to H. L. Shafer, a contractor of Salina, and Laura L. Mrs. Smullin is a member of the Free Methodist church and Mr. Smullin of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the Masonic order and a Democrat in politics.

HORACE L. SMULLIN, oil producer, was born December 25, 1852, and is a son of J. W. Smullin. He received his education in the common schools of Cranberry township, and at the age of sixteen years was employed as an oil driller, which vocation he continued for twenty years. He was married July 28, 1879, to Florence A. Jones of Sharpsville, Mercer county, Penn- sylvania, one of twelve children born to her parents: Benjamin A. ; Florence A .; Charles C .; Dora L .; Ida L .; Rilla J .; William F .; Clara N .; Frank; Jennie; Ellis, and Ernest. Her father died at Sharpsville in 1882 and his widow still resides at that place. Mr. Smullin is the owner of several pro- ducing oil wells. His children are: Mary J .; Sanford W .; Wilde L., and Martha. In politics he is a stanch Democrat.

ROLAND HUGHES, farmer, was born June® 7, 1814, in Scrubgrass town- ship, the son of James Hughes, a native of Maryland and a miller by trade, who settled on Scrubgrass creek in 1806, built a mill, and opened one of the first stores in the county. In 1839 he bought Slab furnace and removed to Cranberry township. His wife was Nancy Shorts, and they were the parents of thirteen children, two of whom, Roland and Samuel, are resi- dents of this township. The former was engaged in lumbering in his early manhood; in 1840 he began farming at his present residence and has achieved fair success. In 1839 he married Susan, daughter of Samuel Ridgeway; of a family of ten children, five are living: Lovina, wife of George E. Ridgeway of Franklin; James R .; W. Harvey; Charles M., and Peter T. Mr. Hughes has served as road commissioner more than twenty years. He has also been identified with the educational interests of his township.

W. HARVEY HUGHES, farmer, was born January 18, 1847, in Cranberry township, son of Roland and Susan (Ridgeway) Hughes, both natives of this county. He was educated in the common schools and at the age of twenty- one years entered the refining business in Franklin. In 1875 he sold his interest to his partner, Owen Lyons. He was married April 17, 1873, to Flora Mays, a native of this county, daughter of Henry and Lovina Mays. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes have had borne to them five children, two of whom are living: Lovina M. and Audley W. He has served as school director and filled other township offices. At the present time he is engaged in farming and producing oil. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., having filled all the offices in that order. He was elected county auditor in the autumn of 1872 and served three years.

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

WILLIAM AARON HUGHES, farmer and oil producer, was born April 23, 1838, in this county, to William and Sarah (Cousins) Hughes, both natives of this county. His father was a miller by trade. Their children were as follows: Nancy, wife of James Bennett, of Emlenton; Elias; James; David; William A .; Miranda, wife of A. Gordon; John; Harrison, deceased; Sarah, deceased; Roland; Marsh; Allen, deceased; Hattie, wife of William Strand, of Mercer county, Pennsylvania; Jane, wife of John Harry, of Mercer county, and Minnie, deceased. The mother died in 1877. Our subject was edu- cated in the common schools. He was married February 10, 1861, to Mary Leeper, daughter of James and Margaret (Goodman) Leeper. Mr. Hughes has served as school director and filled other minor offices. In politics he is a Republican. Mrs. Hughes is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

WILLIAM A. HUGHES, driller, was born August 28, 1860, to Samuel and Ann (Campbell) Hughes, of Cranberry township. Samuel Hughes learned the blacksmith trade at the age of fifteen and has followed this and farm- ing all his life. He is the father of ten children: James; Briggs; Richard; Ella; William; Andrew; Lovina; Wilda, deceased; Sylvester, deceased; and Roley. Our subject was educated at common schools, began drilling oil wells at the age of twenty-one, and has followed it all his life. He was married September 10, 1885, to Mary E. Shiner, born December 12, 1864, to John and Nancy E. (Hovis) Shiner, both natives of this county, and they are the parents of seven children: Andrew J .; Peter H. ; Mary E. ; Fulton B .; Irene L .; Alice, and John W. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes have had one child, Russell B. In politics he is a Republican.

JOSEPH G. HILL, farmer, was born August 4, 1842, in New York state, to George J. and Esther (Riley) Hill. The former was a native of Connect- icut, born August 21, 1805, and the latter was born in Vermont, September 1, 1804. Each moved to New York with their parents at an early day; he died November 2, 1876, and she December 16, 1861, the parents of three children: Mary A., deceased; Stilson E., of Philadelphia, who enlisted in Company H., Fiftieth New York Engineers in August, 1861, and served three years; Joseph G., who enlisted in August, 1864, in Company F, One Hundred and Forty-First New York Volunteers, and served till the close of the war, marching with Sherman to the sea. Our subject was married April 30, 1880, to Isabella Shannon, daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Smith) Shannon, natives of Centre county, Pennsylvania. They became residents of this county in 1832; both died in Cranberry township, the father February 4, 1878, in his eighty-ninth year, the mother April 23, 1856. They were the parents of twelve children: John; Mary A., deceased; Jane, wife of James McCutcheon; Peter S .; Barbara A., wife of Samuel Hoy, of Mercer county, Pennsylvania; Alexander D .; Elizabeth, wife of Reverend A. D. Davis of Delaware; Nancy, deceased; Isabella; Jacob W., deceased; Han-

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BIOGRAPHIES OF CRANBERRY.

nah, deceased, and Samuel, deceased. Joseph G. Hill came to Venango county in 1866 and has been farming and producing oil ever since. In politics he is a Republican; Mrs. Hill is a member of the Salina Baptist church.

SAMUEL R. HILL, oil producer and farmer, was born January 4, 1850, son of William and Mary J. Hill, old respected residents of Venango county, and brother of W. E. Hill. He was educated in the common schools and Edinboro Normal, and was married January 23, 1876, to Lydia Ann Stuck, born 1856, daughter of Joseph and Hattie (Haynes) Stuck of this county, the parents of six children: Henry; Simon; William; John; Andrew, and Lyda. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have had three children born to them: Ollie, Bertha, and Ora. He is a member of the Select Knights of the A. O. U. W., and politically is a Democrat. He has been engaged in the oil business for a number of years, in connection with which he also owns and manages a farm. He is at present a member of the Meadow and Hill oil companies operating for and producing oil in the famous Tarkiln oil district.

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History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 118

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