History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 97

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868-
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Brown, Runk & Co.
Number of Pages: 1323

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CHAPTER XLIX.

BIOGRAPHIES OF IRWIN, SCRUBGRASS, AND CLINTON.

IRWIN.

T THE McMURDY FAMILY are among the descendants of one of the early settlers of Irwin. Isaac McMurdy and his son George came to Irwin township in the spring of 1797. They selected a tract of land containing five hundred acres in Venango and Butler counties, three-fourths of it in Venango. They cleared a patch and planted it with potatoes, built a log cabin, and returned to Huntingdon county, from whence they had come.' In the fall they came back, dug the potatoes, planted wheat, and again returned. In February, 1798, they returned, bringing the family, moving their worldly goods on a wagon drawn by a pair of oxen, which is claimed to have been the first in this section of the country. Isaac's family consisted of his wife, Ellen, and four children: George; Isaac, Jr .; John, who remained in Huntingdon county, completed his trade of carpen- ter, and subsequently came to Venango, and one daughter, who married Jacob Izel, and remained in Huntington county, Pennsylvania. Isaac, Sr., was a tailor by trade and lived in Baltimore, Maryland, before settling in Huntingdon county. Heremained on the place of settlement in Irwin until within a year of his death, when he went to Butler county, and died at the home of his sister in 1849, his wife having died a few years previously.

GEORGE McMURDY, who made the settlement with his father, bought in 1819 one hundred acres of a settlement of four hundred, and subsequently purchased the entire tract. This land now forms a part of the village of

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

Barkeyville and the balance is in the possession of his sons, John and James. He built one of the early hotels, which was opened in 1812, and built the first distillery in this part of the county. It was located close to the hotel, which stood where Beatty's store is now located, at McMurdy's Corners. George married Polly Martin, daughter of David Martin; they had thirteen children, six of whom lived to maturity: John; Isaac; Polly, who married Michael McFadden; Nancy, married to James McFadden; Mat- tie, wife of Craft Walter, and James.

JOHN McMURDY was born on the homestead November 25, 1809. He spent his early life on the farm. In 1832 he built a distillery on the home- stead farm, which he operated for a few years. He then engaged in farm- ing upon a part of the old place, where he has spent his life. He married in 1836 Jane Gilmore, who died in 1845, by whom he had five children: George, deceased; Nancy, deceased; Isabella; Sarah, Mrs. Robert Shaw, and Joseph, deceased. His second wife was Nancy, daughter of Francis Vogus, who is deceased. By this marriage he had two children: Annie, Mrs. Thomas Shaw, and Martha, Mrs. Daniel Joseph. Mr. McMurdy is the oldest living representative of the pioneer settlers of Irwin. He is a Democrat, having cast his first and last vote for that party. He has filled the offices of school director and road commissioner.

JAMES McMURDY was born December 25, 1818. He resides on part of the homestead. He was married in 1843 to Miss Elizabeth Porter, and they are the parents of eight children: Louisa, Mrs. Thomas Kimes; Ada- line, Mrs. Isaac Yard; Nancy J .; Margaret, Mrs. James Enfield; Martin; Ambrose; Calvin, and Curtis.

THE GILMORE FAMILY. - Joseph Gilmore, a native of York county, Pennsylvania, settled on the line of Butler and Venango counties at an early date, but very little is known of his history by his descendants. His children were as follows: William; James; Maria; Jane; John, and Thomas. John, the third son, was born October 15, 1804, and from him have de- scended the Gilmores of this county. He was one of the enterprising pio- neers of Irwin township and built the second grist mill erected in that part of the county. He was also extensively engaged in farming. He com- menced his settlement in Irwin township in 1823, was appointed justice of the peace by Governor Shunk in 1840, and filled that office up to his death. He first located on the land now occupied by Simon Beighlia. He married Nancy Peters, of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, who was the mother of eight children: Angeline, married to Daniel Hoffman; Lucy A., married to Craft Walter; Esther, married to James Kimes; Eusebia, married to Walter Hoffman; Joseph, deceased; Alexander, deceased; Jefferson, and William H. The parents died February 28th and May 15, 1844, respectively.

ALEXANDER GILMORE, the second son of John Gilmore, was born in 1833, and reared and educated in his native township. He followed farming and

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milling, and in 1870 located near the mill where his family now reside, and continued the milling business until his death, August 17, 1888. He was engaged in repairing the dam when he fell into the stream and was drowned. In his death Irwin township lost one of its most enterprising citizens and a man who always commanded the respect and confidence of his neighbors. He was twice elected justice of the peace and was filling his second term when his death occurred. He was also at one time a county auditor, took an act- ive interest in educational matters, and filled several of the minor offices in his township. Mr. Gilmore was married in 1851 to Nancy, daughter of Amos Shontz, of Irwin township, who bore him twelve children, ten of whom are living: John; Amos; Eleanor, wife of Samuel Hoffman; Lysan- der B .; William; Catharine, wife of Lewis Martin; Meona; Alexander; Lizzie, and Merty. Mrs. Gilmore survives her husband and resides at the old place. Their son, Lysander B., was born in 1860, learned the milling business, and in 1884 engaged on a saw mill, which occupation he followed for two years. He then entered the employ of Lewis Martin in Warren county as an oil pumper, but on the death of his father returned to take charge of the mills, in which he has since been engaged.

JEFFERSON GILMORE, the oldest surviving son of John Gilmore, is also a native of Irwin township and was reared on the old homestead by his uncle, Thomas Gilmore. He learned the carpenter trade, which he followed for some years, and in 1866 located on his present farm and has since been en- gaged in agriculture. He was married in 1857 to Miss Nancy, daughter of Benjamin R. Yard, of Mechanicsville, and is the father of eight children, two of whom are living: Margaret, wife of William B. Beach, and Benja- min H. Mr. Gilmore is a member of Pleasant View Methodist Episcopal church, and has filled several of the minor offices of his township. His son, Benjamin H., was born in 1859, and in 1884 married Marilla, daugh- ter of Samuel Baker, who is the mother of two children: Bert R. and Eva C. He lives with his father upon the old homestead, which he assists in cultivating.

WILLIAM H. GILMORE, the youngest son of John Gilmore, was born in Irwin township in 1843, and was reared upon the old homestead. In 1861, at the age of eighteen, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Third Pennsyl- vania Volunteers and served until July, 1865. He participated in the follow- ing engagements: Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Weldon Railroad, Charles City Cross Roads, Harrison Point, Kingston, North Carolina; Goldsboro, North Carolina; Black Water, Virginia; Southwest Creek, Williamstown, North Carolina; Foster's Mills, North Carolina, and Ply- mouth, North Carolina. At the last mentioned battle, April 20, 1864, he was shot in the right hip, the bullet passing through his body. He was taken prisoner and sent to Raleigh, North Carolina, thence to Saulsbury, and afterward to Columbia, South Carolina, and from there to Libby prison,

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

where he was paroled October 22, 1864, after spending six months in South- ern prison pens. At the close of the war he engaged in the milling bus- iness with his brother Alexander, which he continued until 1876, and then located upon his present farm. Mr. Gilmore was married January 15, 1862, to Miss Martha L., daughter of David Walter. Politically he is a Repub- lican, a member of the G. A. R., and with his wife belongs to Amity Pres- byterian church. In 1878 he was elected justice of the peace and filled that office one term. He has also held some of the minor offices in his township.

THE BAKER FAMILY. - William Baker, a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, removed to Irwin township, Venango county, in the year 1805. He was married in Westmoreland county and reared the following family: John; Peter and William, twins; Philip; Eva, who married Jacob Hoffman; Polly, who married Robert McConnell; Elizabeth, married to Philip Surrena; Katie, married to Francis Vogus; and Nancy became the wife of Jacob Jacobs. William Baker, Jr., was born in Westmoreland county in 1790, came to Venango county with his parents, and about the year 1829 purchased the land whereon his son Samuel now lives. He served in Captain McManigal's company in the war of 1812. He married Polly, a daughter of Peter Walter, and they became the parents of thirteen children: William J., deceased; Samuel; John; Philip; Martha, wife of Israel Beach; William; Polly, who married William Daniels; Clark; David, deceased; Walter, deceased; Rosanna, wife of William Beach; Betsey, wife of William Walter, and Lewis.

SAMUEL BAKER, eldest living son of William Baker, was born August 13, 1813, on the farm of his grandfather, Peter Walter, in Clinton township, where he also spent his youth. He followed shoemaking for some years, but has principally been engaged in farming on the old place, which he purchased in 1859. He was married in the year 1838 to Miss Sarah, daugh- ter of Stephen Whited Beach, and the fruits of this union have been ten children: John J .; Alva, who was a member of Company K., Fourth Penn- sylvania Cavalry, and died April 6, 1864, from disease and exposure in the Confederate prison on Belle Isle; Ezra, deceased; Martha J., deceased; Walter, deceased; Euphemia, married to John H. Lovell; William A., de- ceased; Marilla, wife of H. B. Gilmore; Hattie, and S. Boyd. Mr. Baker and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and in politics he is a Republican.

JOHN J. KILGORE, deceased, was of Scotch descent, his grandfather, James Kilgore, having been born in Scotland in 1720. He came to America in 1736 and settled in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, where Patrick Kil- gore, father of John J., was born in 1766. Patrick removed to Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, and settled on the banks of Sewickley creek, eight miles from Greensburg, where John J. was born September 20, 1796.

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In 1800 the family removed to the northern part of Mercer county, near Sandy Lake. Here John J. married Dorcas McClelland February 7, 1815, and in October of the same year removed to Irwin township, where he re- sided until his death, November 25, 1883. He was a man whose kind and jovial disposition gained him many friends. He was twice elected justice of the peace, served one term as county commissioner, and represented the county in the legislatures of 1852-53 and 1853-54. He reared a family of eleven children, of whom six were daughters: Margaret, wife of John Gilmore; Jane, deceased wife of John Glenn; Elizabeth, deceased wife of William McKee; Sarah, deceased wife of E. Davis; Mary, who married James Martin, and Matilda, wife of David Kelly. The five sons were John, deceased; Sam- uel; William; James, and Andrew J. At the time of his death the descend- ants of Mr. Kilgore numbered about two hundred. His settlement originally comprised two tracts of four hundred acres each, one of which he subse- quently sold. He was a regular attendant of the Presbyterian church, of which he became a member at the age of seventy. He was a man of re- markable energy, and always took great interest in public affairs.

ANDREW J. KILGORE was born August 17, 1840, on the homestead where he now resides. He early engaged in the oil business and spent a number of years in the employ of various companies as superintendent of oil refiner- ies. In 1888 he returned to the homestead and has since been engaged in farming. In 1873 he married Miss Susan, daughter of John Baker, of Worth township, Mercer county. They are the parents of the following children: Araminta, wife of Charles Smiley; Idolletta; John C .; Emyrtie, deceased; Ira E .; Nellie P .; Cochran L., and Frederick J. Mr. Kilgore is a member of Amity Presbyterian church.

THE BEACH FAMILY .- A large part of the history of the Beach family in the United States is gathered only by tradition. Joseph Perkins Beach of Boston, a son of the founder of the New York Sun, has been engaged in writing a history of this family, and has succeeded in getting the names of two thousand seven hundred and fifty-three descendants of two brothers who came to this country from Scotland in 1639. From that year up to 1735 little is known of the family, though there are accounts of valuable services rendered by its members to their country, who filled responsible positions both in mercantile and public life. About the year 1730 one of the family moved from New York city to Sussex county, New Jersey. His son, James, remained in New Jersey and reared a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters. James Beach was twice married, first to a Miss Peck, whose father remarked he had a bushel of girls because he had four Pecks. His second wife was Betsey Morehouse. He died in 1820 at the age of sixty-two. His son, Jared, remained on the homestead but the others removed to different parts of the country. Stephen Whited Beach, the leading subject of this sketch, learned the shoemaker's trade, and in

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

1809 married Miss Sarah Simpson, whose grandfather came from Scotland in 1700 and settled in New Jersey. Her grandmother, after whom she was named, was of German descent. Stephen Whited Beach and wife, Sarah, lived seven years on the homestead. Four children were born to them. Mrs. Sarah Beach, who in after years was known as "Mother" Beach, at the. earnest request of her brother, John Simpson, who settled on the head- waters of Wolf creek, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, persuaded her husband to immigrate to western Pennsylvania, where land was cheap and a home could be secured. In November, 1816, they started for the West, and on reaching Dutch Valley, New Jersey, were persuaded to remain there and open a shoemaking shop. They did so and lived there two years, when they again started westward. They chose their route via Easton, Scranton, and Harrisburg, and on reaching the summit of the Alleghenies met an acquaint- ance, Henry Darr, a blacksmith, who persuaded Beach to remain in his neighborhood over night, and then resumed their journey westward, his good wife urging him against his will to keep on toward the setting sun, with the intention of reaching her brother John's home in Mercer county. In due time they reached Pittsburgh without serious mishap, and spending the night with a number of other movers, crossed the Allegheny river the following morning, and finally arrived at the house of James Brannon on Muddy creek, Butler county. Here "Mother" Beach's energy gave out, having walked all but fifty miles of the distance. Mr. Brannon gave them a hearty welcome, and after a few days' rest, they pursued their journey to the home of John Simpson, on Wolf creek, their whole capital on arriving consisting of but twenty-five cents. The winter of 1818-19 they passed at the home of Samuel Waldron, in the meantime looking around for a suita- ble location. Mr. Beach returned to the home of Henry Darr for a portion of a load which they had left behind. In 1819 they bought a farm of one hundred and fifty acres in Irwin township, Venango county, now owned by William Beach, at one dollar per acre, and immediately settled upon it. Here they endured the toil, hardships, and trials of pioneer life, but from the time their settlement was completed, unsullied happiness prevailed in their household. On the 28th of May, 1865, Mr. Beach died in the seventy- ninth year of his age, having been born February 15, 1787. He was a life- long member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and died as he had lived, a faithful member thereof. His wife was born September 10, 1789, and survived him until February 6, 1888, living to the advanced age of nearly ninety-nine years.

The emigration and prosperity of the Beach family was largely due to the energy of this pioneer lady. She was sagacious and farseeing, and the good fortune of the family was undoubtedly due to those qualities. Though none of the family have occupied prominent positions, yet when the flag was insulted by the English in 1812, Stephen Whited Beach went out in defense

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of his country. And when the throes of civil war convulsed the land many of the family entered the ranks of the Union army to battle for the old flag. Stephen Whited and Sarah Beach were the parents of thirteen children: Caroline, deceased wife of James McConnell; Effie, deceased wife of Azor Bagley; James, a resident of Indiana; John, who died in Indiana; Susan, deceased wife of Patrick McDowell; Israel, of Irwin township; Sarah, who married Samuel Baker; Stephen, of Indiana; William, of Irwin township; Oliver, of Worth township, Mercer county; Henry, who died in Irwin town- ship; Jane, deceased wife of Andrew Lyons, and Daniel, of Butler county.

ISRAEL BEACH, farmer, was born March 14, 1819, son of Stephen W. and Sarah (Simpson) Beach. His educational advantages were exceedingly limited. He commenced life by clearing a farm, and as the result of indus- try and frugal living, now has a fine farm of two hundred acres. For the past twenty-five years he has been successfully engaged in farming and stock raising. December 25, 1839, at the house of his wife's parents in Irwin township, he was married to Martha Baker, born March 13, 1820, daughter of William and Mary (Walters) Baker, natives of Bedford county, Pennsylvania. The former, born in 1790, died February 2, 1869; the latter, born in 1794, died January 13, 1888. They are the parents of twelve chil- dren: Julana; Mary; Maria; Sarah J .; Wheeler W. ; John; Keller; Lewis; Samuel B .; Israel; Martha, and Ellen. Mr. Beach is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics a Prohibitionist.

BENJAMIN R. YARD, retired farmer, was born in Mercer county, New Jersey, in 1802. He is a son of John and Harriet (Benson) Yard, natives of New Jersey, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, respectively. John Yard was a descendant of an old New Jersey family who came from England and were active participants in the Revolutionary war. In 1812 he brought his family to what is now Scrubgrass township, and left them with Thomas Ja- cobs while he sought employment at his trade of cabinet-making in Pitts- burgh. In 1813 he settled upon a farm in Scrubgrass, and three years afterward removed to Irwin township and purchased the Captain McMani- gal property, where he died in 1858, his wife having preceded him two years. Their family consisted of the following children: Theodosia; Ben- jamin; Jane; John S .; Stephen; Zachariah; Sarah; Robert; Rufus, and Benson. Our subject learned the cabinet-making and carpenter's trades, which he followed for several years, and finally relinquished to go into farming. Mr. Yard has been a member of Pleasant View Methodist church and the church at Mechanicsville for nearly forty years. He mar- ried Catharine, daughter of John Hovis, who bore him the following chil- dren: John; Elijah; Nicholas; Ezra, and Mary, who married Jefferson Gilmore. Mrs. Yard died in 1858, and he subsequently married Miss Mar- garet, daughter of Alexander Porter.

JOSEPH ALEXANDER ALLEN was born in Penn's valley, Centre county,

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

Pennsylvania, May 24, 1809, and is a son of Joseph Allen, a native of Ire- land, who immigrated to this country in 1785 and married Mary Biggs, a native of England. Seven children were born to them: James, deceased; Robert, deceased; Joseph Alexander; William, deceased; Polly, deceased wife of Patrick Davidson; Nancy, deceased wife of Jesse Carroll, and Margaret, deceased wife of James Osborn. Joseph Allen, Sr., died in 1824, his widow surviving him twenty-six years. He was a tanner by trade, but after coming to Venango county engaged in farming. Our sub- ject obtained a limited education in the schools of his native township and was brought up to farm labor. He was united in marriage in 1836 to Miss Sarah Coleman, who died in 1845 leaving three children: Joshua Coleman; Mary Jane, who married J. Wesley Henderson, and John Munson. Mr. Allen married for his second wife Juliet, daughter of Judge McKee, who died in 1848, having borne to him one child who lived about six months. He was again married in 1850 to Caroline Cossett, daughter of Doctor Coul- ter, who is the mother of five children; Juliet Achsah, wife of Milton Glenn; Martha Ann, wife of John Williams; Cyrus Glenn; Sarah Caroline, and William Elliott. Mr. Allen has been a member of Amity Presbyterian church for fifty-six years, and for fifty-one years of that time a ruling elder. He was elected and served as captain First company Seventy- Eighth regiment of militia, from 1842, being commissioned by Governor D. R. Porter. Mr. Allen is a stanch Republican in politics, has always taken a leading part in school interests and progress in his community, and has been prominently identified with the material development of the county.

HENRY BARKEY was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, in 1810, son of Abraham and Catharine Barkey, who removed to Butler county, where our subject was reared. He grew up on the homestead farm, and followed farming for many years, and afterward engaged as a clerk in a general store. In 1851 he located on the site of Barkeyville and engaged in mercantile business in partnership with Abraham Hunsberger. He followed mercantile pursuits until 1885, when he retired from business. Mr. Barkey was mar- ried in 1833 to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John Latchaw, and reared one daughter, Catharine, wife of Abraham Hunsberger. He was an elder in the Church of God, and in politics a Republican.

HEZEKIAH MAYS was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1812, a son of William and Ellen (Watson) Mays. At the age of ten years he came to Venango county with his parents, who settled upon the Allegheny river in Victory township. His father was a tailor, and followed his trade in connection with his farming. He was the father of sixteen children, seven daughters and nine sons, and died about 1828. Hezekiah was the seventh son, and passed his early life in various occupations. In 1830 he married Mrs. Jane Cochran of Irwin township, and for many years conducted the

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tavern at May's Corners. He has filled most of the township offices, and held the postmastership at May's Corners for several years. Mr. Mays was one of the early members of Bullion Methodist church, and later of the Pleasant View Methodist church. His wife was the mother of five children, and died in 1888. Their names are as follows: Mary J .; Ellen; John, de- ceased; Robert, deceased, and Ezra W.

JOHN HENDERSON, deceased, was a native of Ireland and came to this country with his father, who settled in Worth township, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, about 1798. Our subject located in Irwin township at an early date, where his son Judas now lives. He served in the war of 1812, in a company from Mercer county. Mr. Henderson married Mary Karl of Mercer county, and was the father of the following children: Robert; Will- iam; Jonathan; Joseph; John F .; Wesley; David W .; Mary; Margaret, and Leslie. He died about 1855, his widow surviving him about six years. His son, Joseph, whose descendants now live in Irwin township, was born in Mercer county, married Jane Bagley, who at her death left one child, Jane. He subsequently married Rebecca Hawthorne by whom he had four children, three living: Helen; Wilber, and Julius. He died in 1872.

RICHARD HENDERSON, justice of the peace and farmer, was born on the homestead in Irwin township in 1847. He is a son of George and Laura (Wilson) Henderson, natives of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. George Henderson came from Westmoreland county about 1830 and purchased part of the Morris tract, upon which he yet resides at the advanced age of eighty- five years. He has been twice married, first to Eliza Freeland, who bore him four children: Freeland, in the United States service; Elizabeth, wife of John Atwell, both deceased; James, of Mercer county, and Laura J., mar- ried to Alfred Hardwick, of Scrubgrass. His second wife, Laura Wilson, became the mother of five children: Caroline, wife of Perry Beebe of Mer- cer county; Eliza J., who died in childhood; Richard; Alexander, residing on the homestead in Irwin, and Angeline, wife of John Smith of Warren county. In 1877, our subject purchased his present homestead and has since resided thereon. He was married in 1867 to Miss Clarinda, daughter of A. D. Bonner, who has borne him seven children: William A .; Laura J .; George A. ; Susie B. ; Harry R .; Isaac V., and Francis A. Mr. Henderson is a member of Pleasant View Methodist Episcopal church, is politically a Democrat, and in 1889 was elected justice of the peace, which position he is now filling.

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History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 97

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