USA > Pennsylvania > Venango County > History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including > Part 119
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W. E. HILL, oil producer, was born February 14, 1860, in Cranberry township, son of W. M. and Mary Jane (Maxwell) Hill. W. M. Hill has eighty-three acres of land in Cranberry township upon which thirty-eight wells have been drilled, thirty-seven oil producers and one a gas well. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have had fourteen children: Sarah; Hughy, deceased; Samuel; Pnellopy; Margaret; James; W. E .; David; Lizzie; Sophia; Mary; Robert; George, deceased, and Elmer. Our subject was educated in the common schools and was married October 18, 1885, to Lizzie Corll. She was born May 26, 1865, to William F. and Mary Corll of this county, who are the parents of ten children: Amanda; Phoebe; Olive; May; Lizzie; Charles; Amos; Willie, and two deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are the parents of two children: Harry and Roy. In politics he is a Democrat.
THOMAS LAWLEY, farmer, was born August 19, 1819, in Staffordshire, England, son of Joseph, a gold miner, and Sarah (Ford) Lawley, both of whom died in England and were the parents of seven children: Isaac; Mary; Margaret, Joseph; John; Samuel, and Thomas. The last named was edu- cated in the common schools of his native country and began his business life as a japanner. He came to America in 1841, settled in Bunting Falls, New Jersey, and mined coal for a living. In 1851 he settled on a farm in President township, this county, where he remained twelve years, moving thence to the farm where he now lives in Cranberry township. In the year of his removal to this county he was married to Martha Morehead, daughter of John and Jane (Crawford) Morehead of this county. Mrs. Lawley was born March 27, 1825, and has had seven children: John, married E. M. Mushrash; Samuel, who married Margaret Finefrock; Nancy J., married to George Phillip; Margaret, who married Turner Hayes; Isabel; Martha, and Ida. Mr. Lawley is independent in politics.
1146
HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
WILLIAM H. MILLER, farmer, was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, March 25, 1825, to T. F. and Catharine (Schnure) Miller, the former born in March, 1796, the latter in July, 1798, in Union county. The father was a carpenter and served as constable for a period in his native county. He came to Venango county in September, 1835, and bought a farm of one hundred acres, wholly uncultivated, which he subsequently cleared, and also one hundred acres adjoining. He was killed March 24, 1853, accidentally. His widow died in 1887, the mother of fifteen children: Elizabeth, deceased; Catharine, wife of Solomon Wolfe; Fannie, wife of Jacob Zeigler; George, who married Christina Shoup; Joseph, deceased, who married Susan Zeig- ler; William H .; Simon, married to Emily Sayers, deceased, and whose second wife was Mary Walters; Sarah, wife of David Zeigler; Margaret, deceased wife of Jacob Wilt; Henry, married to Mary Dewoody, deceased, and whose second wife was a Mrs. Hayes; Mary, wife of David Pryer; Susan, wife of Paul Stover; Emily, wife of John Seager; Lucy, wife of William Folwell, and Hannah, who died young. Our subject was educated in the common schools and began for himself working at a furnace, char- ring wood. He married Sarah M. Houser, August 11, 1853. She died January 12, 1855, the mother of one child, Howard W. He was married a second time, May 6, 1858, to Lucinda Allison, by whom he had two chil- dren: Eveline, who was born December 3, 1860, and died May 15, 1865; Allison, the other child, died May 16th, of the same year. Mr. Miller has been administrator for six estates and held a number of township offices. With his wife he belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian church. In poli- tics he is a Republican.
JOSEPH HOGUE, farmer, was born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, February 12, 1835, son of John and Christiana (Miller) Hogue. John Hogue was a native of Northumberland county, and his wife of Centre county, this state, both coming to Lawrence county when children, thence together to Venango county April 5, 1843, where they were engaged in farming for many years, and where she died, after which he removed to Mercer county, and died in 1877. They were the parents of nine children: William; Ebenezer; John; Jonathan; Mary; James; Joseph; Samuel, and Harrison. Of these Samuel and Harrison enlisted in the war in the One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers and died in the hospital.
Joseph Hogue was educated in a log cabin with its slab benches for seats and began his business life as a farmer. He was married October 16, 1864, to Mary Roberts, daughter of John and Arminda (Snow) Roberts, natives of Maryland and Oneida county, New York, respectively, who mar- ried in Butler county, Pennsylvania, and became residents of Venango county in 1851. They were the parents of the following children, all of whom were born in Butler county: Mary; Eliza J .; Permelia; Jonathan S .; John W .; Dikeman T., and William S.
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BIOGRAPHIES OF CRANBERRY.
John Roberts died in Ohio about 1879, and his widow is living with our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Hogue have had five children: Annie; Charlie, de- ceased; Minnira; John E., and L. Berta, deceased. Mrs. Hogue is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Hogue is a Republican.
JAMES SHAFFER, farmer and hotel-keeper, was born August 7, 1835, to John and Hannah (Johnston) Shaffer, in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania. John Shaffer came to Venango county in 1853 and now lives in Cranberry township. Mrs. Shaffer is the mother of twelve children: Jane, deceased; Hiram, deceased; James; Jacob; Catharine; Elias; John; Martha; Hannah; William B .; Calvin, deceased, and Margaret, deceased. Our subject was educated in the common schools and was married May 22, 1862, to Miss J. Anna Stine, daughter of Jacob Stine. Her mother died when she was but two years old and she was reared by Harry Jenkins of Clarion county, Penn- sylvania. She died February 13, 1885, the mother of eight children: Elias W .; W. E .; Frank E .; Stella M .; J. M. ; John E. ; Jennie B., and Josephine. Mr. Shaffer is a Republican in politics.
WILLIAM C. BIGLER, farmer and lumberman, was born December 27, 1835, in York county, Pennsylvania, son of Philip and Eliza (Smith) Bigler. Philip Bigler owned a woolen factory in York county. He moved to Venango county in 1838, settled in Irwin township, and operated a woolen factory in Wolf Creek township, Mercer county. About the year 1850 he purchased a farm in this county and spent the remainder of his life thereon, dying in 1880. His wife died in 1856 and was the mother of six children: Simon, deceased; William C .; Martin, who entered the army in 1861 in the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, was captured in December, 1863, and died in Andersonville prison; Sarah R .; John T., and Mary J. Our subject was educated in the common schools and began life for himself in the lumber business. September 20, 1861 he enlisted in the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry; he was wounded at the battle of Malvern Hill in August, 1864, was transferred to the Twentieth regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps, in April, 1865, and discharged by general order of the war department at Wheeling, West Virginia, in August, 1865. He was married November 21, 1865, to Harriet A. Wilson, a native of this county and daugh- ter of Nathan and Mary (Coats) Wilson, the former a physician of high standing. Mr. and Mrs. Bigler are the parents of nine children: Mary E., deceased; Harry N. ; Laura N .; John P .; Charles W. ; Lon F .; Harriet F .; Waid H., and Zella E. Mr. Bigler is a member of William Downing Post, G. A. R., of South Oil City. He has served as constable of Cranberry town- ship for a number of years, and is independent in politics. He and his wife are active members of the Baptist church of Salina, of which he is a deacon.
JACOB KARNES, farmer, was born October 26, 1837, in Pinegrove town- ship, this county, son of James and Mary (Stroup) Karnes, who came to this county at an early day. The former died in 1871, and the latter in
1148
HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
1884; the children born to them were ten in number: William; Adam; Eliza; Isaac; Clarissa; John, deceased; James, deceased; Jacob; Sarah, and Henry. Our subject was educated in the common schools and was brought up at rural pursuits. He was married August 2, 1860, to Frances Stewart, born April 9, 1841, daughter of Charles and Catharine (Stover) Stewart, natives of this county and the parents of twelve children, three of whom are living: Samuel; Mary J., and Frances. Jacob Karnes is the father of fourteen children: Henrietta; James E .; Mary J., deceased; Em- ma A .; Charles W .; Sarah C .; Frances M .; Wales F .; Alice L .; Eliza W .; Jacob F .; an infant, deceased; Stella M., and Savilla G. Mr. and Mrs. Karnes are members of the Free Methodist church, and he is independent in politics.
J. C. REMBOLD, farmer, was born February 15, 1839, in Wurtemburg, Germany, to John and Margaret Rembold. John Rembold and wife had twelve children, five of whom came to America: Lewis, who entered the war of the Rebellion, and it is supposed that he was killed; Henry; J. C .; Charley, and William, all of whom were educated in Germany. J. C. emi- grated to America in 1865 and began working in an oil refinery at Oil City soon after his arrival. He was married in 1870 to Mary Miller, daughter of Peter and Sarah Ann Miller. Mrs. Miller is dead and was the mother of six children: William; Margaret; Peter; Mary; Sarah, and David. Mrs. Rem- bold, wife of J. C. Rembold, is the mother of eight children: Margaret L .; D. C .; Charles H .; James A .; Lewis D .; Freddie P .; Mamie, and George H. Mr. Rembold is Democratic in politics.
J. T. McCORMACK; farmer, was born in 1850 to John and Ellen (Gib- bons) McCormack. John McCormack was born in 1809 in Westmeath, Ireland, and immigrated to America about 1849. He first settled in New York, and located in Venango county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1847. He resides in Cranberry with his wife, who was a native of the same place, and was born in 1819. Their children are named as follows: James; J. T .; Hugh; Anna; Matt; Mary, and Dan. Our subject was educated in the com- mon schools, and began his business life in drilling oil wells. He was mar- ried February 12, 1888, to Rachel Boyle, daughter of J. M. and Isabel (Daugherty) Boyle. James, the eldest brother of our subject entered the war in the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served eighteen months. Our subject and wife are members of the Catholic church. He is a Democrat.
SIMEON W. LAWRENCE, dairyman and farmer, was born December 20, 1853, in Scrubgrass township, this county, to Samuel and Celinda (Mor- rison) Lawrence, natives of Clarion and of this county, respectively, and the parents of eight children, five of whom are living: Hannah, wife of J. M. Delaney, of Allegheny City, Pennsylvania; Clara, wife of S. A. Crawford, of Franklin; Hortense E. ; Osborn D., of Seattle, Washington, and Simeon W. The last named was educated in the common schools of this county. He
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John Standley
BIOGRAPHIES OF CRANBERRY. 1149
was married November 16, 1876, to Huldah L. Mallory, a native of Erie county, Pennsylvania, born June 4, 1856. Her parents, William and Dra- zilla (Stafford) Mallory, were the parents of four children: Adaline, de- ceased; Adelaide; Huldah L., and Hiram J. In 1872, at the age of nineteen, our subject began in the oil business and followed it until 1882. He is the father of five children: Leona B .; Annie M .; Ethel M .; Elvia B., and J. Osborn. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is one of the representa- tive business men and ardent Republicans of Venango county.
GEORGE D. NICKLIN, merchant, farmer, and oil producer, was born June 15, 1820, in Staffordshire, England, son of William and Frances (Moore) Nicklin. The former was born October 2, 1796, and immigrated with his family to America in 1833. They settled on a farm in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where he died November 11, 1868, and his widow September 16, 1881. They were the parents of eleven children: Mary, who married Henry Clulow and lives in French Creek township, Venango county; Frances, married to H. B. Rice of Greenville, Pennsylvania; George D .; Joseph, de- ceased; Eliza, who remained in England, married Samuel Jackson, and died December 5, 1883; William N., of Mercer county; Daniel T., of French Creek, Venango county; Thomas, deceased; Simon J., of Franklin, Venango county; Ellen J., married to Thomas Arnitt of Franklin; and Charles S., who lives at the old homestead in Mercer county. The parents of these children were Catholics and are buried in the grave-yard of that organization north of Mercer. Our subject was educated in the Catholic schools in Eng- land and taught a number of years in Mercer and Venango counties. He married Mary M. Eble April 14, 1841, a native of Germany who came to America with her parents when she was six years old. There have been born to this union eleven children: an infant, deceased; Lambert F., who entered the war in Company I, Forty-Second Pennsylvania Volunteers in 1861 and was killed May 6, 1864, at the battle of the Wilderness; Eliza J., wife of Adam Snyder of Dakota; Eusebius R., of Cranberry, Venango county; Francis E., who died July 4, 1868; Clarissa B., deceased wife of H. C. Baird, of Coleridge, Nebraska, where she died April 28, 1888; John H., of Dakota; Julia, wife of A. D. Cole of Nebraska; Amanda, wife of J. C. O'Connor of Nebraska; Charles W., deceased, and Hattie B., teacher, of Coleridge, Nebraska.
Mr. Nicklin served as assistant revenue assessor under Joseph Lenhart during the war and for a number of years was a school director and held other township offices. Mrs. Nicklin is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church and Mr. Nicklin, though formerly a member of the same church, has for many years been unconnected with any church organization. Whilst professing a firm belief in the essentials of Christianity he is opposed to de- nominationalism. He claims to be a Republican of the Lincoln, Greeley, 65
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1150
HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
Seward, Webster, and Clay type, but has for many years been independent, interested only in effecting political reform.
DAVID H. COFFMAN, merchant, was born February.7, 1852. His parents, Daniel and Mary (Herstine) Coffman, were born in Lawrence county and Centre county, respectively, and have had eight children: John H .; Abram; Ellen; David H. ; Lucinda; Maggie; Daniel, and William. Mrs. Coffman's father was a worthy merchant of Centre county, Pennsylvania, and was the father of the following children: Fannie; Mary; Eve; Barbara; John; Susanna, David H .; Abram; William J .; Sarah, and Lizzie. John, the eldest of Daniel Coffman's sons, enlisted in 1863 in the Sixteenth Pennsyl- vania Cavalry, and served eighteen months. David, the fourth, was edu- cated in the common schools and was brought up at rural pursuits. He was married October 19, 1882, to Catharine M. Nolf, born January 29, 1848, daughter of Isaac and Christina (Potts) Nolf, the former a native of Clarion county, Pennsylvania. To this union there have been born eight children: Eliza; David; Priscilla; Catharine; Sophia; Eva A. ;- Ezra T., and Rachel E. In 188- they settled in Cranberry township, where they now reside. Mr. Coffman is a member of the A. O. U. W. and the Prohibition party.
JOHN B. GALEY, oil producer, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, January 7, 1842, son of John and Eliza (Burnside) Galey. John Galey came to Venango county in 1847 and settled on a farm in Irwin township, where he died in 1865. His wife Eliza died in 1842 and was the mother of seven children; Edward, deceased; Mary J .; Ellen, deceased; Burnside; Marsaile; Smith, and John B. Mr. Galey was again married, to Elizabeth Barber in 1846, who died in 1887, the mother of four children: Samuel; Sarah; Catharine, and William C.
John B. Galey was educated in the common schools and began for him- self by drilling oil wells. December 24, 1868, he was married te Elizabeth J. Brandon, born November 12, 1848, in Venango county. He enlisted in Company L, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, September 15, 1861, for a term of three years; in 1863 he was discharged, but re-enlisted while yet in the field as a veteran for three years more and served till the close of the war. On his return he contracted and drilled oil wells. He is the father of two children: Nellie A. and Jesse B. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. and Knights of Maccabees, a Republican with strong Prohibition proclivities, and with his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.
A. J. BENNINGER, oil producer, was born October 31, 1850, in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, to Nathaniel and Sarah (Blaney) Benninger. Our subject at the early age of one year experienced paralysis of his right side. He was educated at Reid Institute in Clarion county and Edinboro State Normal School. He taught school ten years in this county. He is a Re- publican, and adheres strictly to the principles of that organization.
1151
BIOGRAPHIES OF CRANBERRY.
M. L. BENNINGER, oil producer and farmer, was born January 31, 1852, in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania. His parents, Nathaniel and Sarah A. (Blaney) Benninger, settled in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, thence moved to Pittsburgh, where Mrs. Benninger died in April, 1864. She was the mother of seven sons: A. J .; M. L .; John, and four who died in in- fancy. The father and his children settled in Oil City, where he married Miss Hettie Jane Houser. After a three years' residence here they returned to Armstrong county, but two years subsequently again came to Venango, and settled on a farm in Cranberry township. Our subject was educated at the common schools and began a business life at lumbering. He was mar- ried November 10, 1872, to Alice Morehead, who was born August 3, 1853, daughter of William and Margaret (Craig) Morehead, natives of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Benninger have had nine children: Sarah A .; William M .; Nathaniel; John; Nora B .; Samuel T. ; Alvin J. ; Richard E. and Jesse M. Mr. and Mrs. Benninger are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a Republican.
R. C. MORRISON, oil pumper, was born April 27, 1851, at Franklin, Pennsylvania, to John H. and Eliza (Erskine) Morrison, natives of Dunferm- line, Scotland, who immigrated to America in 1844 and settled in Cranberry township. When he arrived he had about ten dollars in his pocket and a family to support. He worked at his trade, shoemaking, until he had saved enough money to buy a farm of one hundred acres, for which he paid one dollar and a half per acre. Mrs. Morrison is a descendant of the noted Erskine family of Scotland. Our subject was educated at the common schools and began life as an oil pumper in 1868. He was married March 12 1879, to Eleanor C. Shiner, daughter of James and Mary (Kane) Shiner, natives of Kerry, Ireland, who immigrated to America with their parents. The parents of Mrs. Shiner first settled at Greensburg, Pennsylvania, about the year 1800, and took up a tract of four hundred acres in 1820; thence they removed to Venango county, where the father died in 1867, and the mother in 1879. The age of the latter was eighty-three. Having acquired her "second sight " she could see to read without glasses, and her memory was unimpaired. Mr. and Mrs. Shiner were both born in this county, he in 1829, and she in 1833. Eight children were born to them: Margaret; Eleanor C .; Sidney J .; Mary C .; Sarah C., deceased; Nannie; Annie, and James, deceased. The wife of our subject is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She has been the mother of seven children, of whom three are living: Maud; George C., and Bernice L.
SAMUEL REESE, contractor, was born October 21, 1851, on the farm in Cranberry township where he now lives, son of Peter and Susan (Weaver). Reese. The father was born June 29, 1809, and the mother September 28, 1818, both in Centre county, Pennsylvania. They came to Venango county
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1152
HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
in 1832 and settled where they now live. Their children are named as fol- lows: Robert, who enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-First Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served three years; Mary J .; Sarah; Sophia; Solomon; Harriet, deceased; John; Samuel; David; James; Rebecca; Will- iam, and Joseph. Our subject was educated in the common schools and began for himself as clerk in a store. He was married April 28, 1873, to Ella Dreifeldus, daughter of Moses and Mary (Engel) Dreifeldus, natives of Cranberry township. Mr. Reese laid the gas lines under contract, leading to Meadville, Pennsylvania, and Youngstown, Ohio, supplying said towns with fuel, and helped to drill nine oil wells, each proving non-productive. Mr. and Mrs. Reese are the parents of four children: Minnie, Harry, Hat- tie, and Eddie. Mrs. Reese is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is an active member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P., and is a Republican.
J. S. LONG, contractor and driller, was born September 2, 1852, in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, to Andrew and Jane (Sloan) Long, both natives of Mercer county. Our subject was educated in the common schools, came to Venango county in 1878, and went into the oil business. In 1883 he engaged in contracting and drilling in partnership with other parties, and has run as many as five strings of tools at one time; at present, in com- pany with L. R, Kerstetter, he is running three strings of tools. He has drilled about two hundred wells in this and Clarion county. He was mar- ried June 21, 1883, to Lutitia, daughter of John and Sarah (Demeling) McBride of this county. Our subject is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, and a Republican in politics.
J. L. TUCKER, oil producer, was born December 8, 1852, in Cranberry ownship, to Allen and Ellen (Rose) Tucker. Allen Tucker was an early settler of this county, and died in 1885. His widow is still living and bore him eleven children: John F. and W. Q., who entered Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-First Pennsylvania Volunteers and died of typhoid fever while in the service; Clara; Hester, deceased; Ephrama N .; J. L .; L. B .; Lizzie; Mary; Nancy, and Jefferson, deceased. Our subject was edu- cated in the common schools and began his business life in oil production. He was married December 16, 1876, to Louisa Oaks, daughter of David and Mary (Heckathorn) Oaks, of this township. David Oaks was the father of one daughter, Louisa, by his first wife; after her death he was married a second time, to Maria Davis, who is the mother of the following children: William; Wilda; Jennie; Lizzie, and Minnie. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker are the parents of four children: Floyd; John; Ella, and Lamont. Mr. Tucker is a Prohibitionist.
J. M. DEITRICH, oil and gas producer, was born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, December 13, 1856, to William and Catharine (Busany) Deit- rich. The father was born in 1826 and died in 1871. He and his wife emi-
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1153
BIOGRAPHIES OF CRANBERRY.
grated from Prussia to America in 1849 and were the parents of eleven chil- dren: Lizzie; Minnie; John M. ; William F .; two infants, deceased-Charles H. and Mary; Jacob, deceased; Katie, and August, deceased. Our subject was educated in the common schools of Clarion county, and was married September 24, 1886, to Louie, a daughter of John R. Lindsey, a farmer of Clarion county. Mr. Deitrich began the oil business in 1884 by drilling the first well in the Cogley oil field of Clarion county, Pennsylvania, and came to Venango county, in September, 1886, where, in company with G. H. Kline, H. M. Hess, Jacob Sneidley, and a Mr. Myres, he drilled the first well in the gray sand oil field, near Salina.
He subsequently bought the interests of the other members of the firm and has drilled twelve wells, seven of which are good producers. At pres- ent he owns six producing wells and two gas wells. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in politics a Republican.
JAMES H. Ross, oil producer, was born February 22, 1858, in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, son of John H. and Isabella (Stright) Ross, natives of Mercer county. John Ross was born November 2, 1829, and was the father of ten children: Fannie; James H .; William J .; Charles W .; Hattie; Clement; Nellie; Lydetha; Frank M., and Hortense. Our subject was edu- cated in the common schools and at Edinboro Normal. At the age of nine- teen he came to Venango county and went into the oil business, which voca- tion he has followed ever since. He was married September 26, 1878, to Susan Shaffer. Her parents had the following children: Sarah E .; Mary C .; Susan; Elsie; Julia; Charles; Lizzie, deceased, and Warren, deceased. Mrs. and Mrs. Ross have had five children, two of whom are living: King J. and Edna. Mrs. Ross is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Ross is a Prohibitionist.
J. H. WILLIAMS, contractor and driller, was born October 11, 1858, in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, son of Samuel P. and Elma (Ross) Williams, also natives of Mercer county and the parents of the following children: J. H. ; W. W .; J. L .; E. H .; H. L .; Vinton, deceased; Claud, and Frank. Our subject was educated in the common schools. He was married August 1, 1882, to Sadie Smith, daughter of John and Margaret (McNutt) Smith, natives of this county. Her father died in 1888. She is the mother of one child, Bertha Maynard. Mr. Williams came to this county in 1879, and went into the oil business. In 1882 he began contracting and drilling and has drilled about one hundred and fifty wells. He belongs to the Knights of Maccabees and is a Republican. Mrs. Williams is connected with the Methodist Episcopal church.
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