USA > Pennsylvania > Indiana County > Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II > Part 27
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Elmer F. Frasher received his early edu- cation in the public schools of Wheeling, W. Va., following which he became a student at Washington and Jefferson College, at Wash- ington, Pa., from which institution he was graduated in 1883. He then entered the med- ical department of the University of Mary- land, at Baltimore, where he received his de- gree of doctor of medicine in 1887. During the next year he served as interne in the Uni- versity Hospital, Baltimore, Md., and then entered the Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Pittsburg, of which he was resident physician for one year. He was also assistant physi- cian in the Eye and Ear Hospital, Baltimore. He took the eye and ear prize of his class while in college, as well as the gold medal prize for the highest number of points in practice in medicine, taking two of the five prizes offered in a class of ninety pupils.
tice, but in 1905 came to his present location, at Smicksburg. Dr. Frasher carries on a general practice. His wide and varied ex- perience in his profession, his inherent sym- pathy, his acknowledged ability and kindness of heart, all have combined to assist him in the alleviation of the ills of mankind, and to build up a large patronage. He has kept abreast of the various discoveries and ad- vances of his profession, subscribing to the leading medical journals and attending lec- tures, and takes a great interest in the work of the various organizations, in which he holds membership. Dr. Frasher is a consistent member of the Lutheran Church. He has not taken an active part in political matters, but has always maintained an intelligent in- terest in those movements which have affected the welfare of his community. A leader alike in professional and social life, he has numer- ous friends throughout this section, and no man stands in higher general esteem among the people of Smicksburg.
WALTER H. JACKSON, managing edi- tor of the Indiana Evening Gazette, was born on a farm near Sewickley, Pa., Dec. 16, 1867, his father being Andrew Jackson, for years a successful farmer near Shelocta, this county, and his mother being Rebecca (McClarren) Jackson, whose girlhood was spent in Indi- ana. When but seven years of age the sub- ject of this sketch lost both his parents by death. After that and until his marriage, in 1895, he made his home with an uncle and aunt, . the late Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Hilde- brand, in Indiana. His education was ob- tained in the Indiana public schools, the local model school and the Indiana State normal school, from which he graduated with the class of 1886. During the following winter he taught school in Shelocta, this county, and then worked for several years in stores in In- diana.
In 1891 Mr. Jackson became connected with the Indiana Gazette, then a weekly paper, as a reporter. After a year's service here, he was called to Altoona, Pa., to accept an editorial position with the Altoona Evening Gazette; but in six months he was recalled to Indiana of the Indiana Gazette, with which paper he has ever since been connected. In editorial
In 1888 Dr. Frasher embarked upon the to assume the management and editorial chair practice of his profession in Pittsburg, where he remained during the next five years, then going to Wheeling, W. Va., where he acted- policy, Mr. Jackson has always stood for the in the capacity of medical examiner for var-
industrial advancement of Indiana county. ious insurance companies for five years. He He proclaimed the mineral wealth of this rich was next located in the suburbs of Pittsburg section at a time when his statements were
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ridiculed as overdrawn, but he kept plugging which appeared in the Brookville Republican away, calling attention to every new devel- of March 24, 1897. Dr. McKnight's parents opment and endeavoring to direct the atten- tion of capital to Indiana county. Naturally considerable satisfaction has come to him as a result of the wonderful developments of the last few years.
In 1895 Mr. Jackson married Florence B. he was thrown upon his own resources,
Young, daughter of Prof. and Mrs. J. H. Young, of Indiana, and shortly thereafter erected the handsome residence on South Sixth street in which they now reside.
Mr. Jackson served as chief burgess of In- diana for three years and was a member of the town council for a short period, filling out the unexpired term of a member who had died. In past years he has been officially identified with a number of his town's organi- zations, being one of the incorporators of the Indiana Street Railway Company, now the In- diana County Street Railways Company. He was an earnest advocate of the Young Men's Christian Association and had considerable part in the raising of the $50,000 fund for the building and equipping of the present mag- nificent Y. M. C. A. building. He is one of the board of directors of the Association.
In religion Mr. Jackson is a Presbyterian, being a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Indiana and superintendent of the primary department of its Sunday school.
HON. WILLIAM JAMES McKNIGHT, M. D. The subject of this sketch was born and raised in the town of Brookville, Jeffer- son Co., Pa., the date of his birth being May 6, 1836. Thrown upon his own resources when a boy, at an age wheu little was ex- pected of a youth, by his own indomitable will, push and determination (which were marked characteristics in his early boyhood) he rose from the humble and obscure farm laborer and "printers' devil" to a position and prominence which few men attain, carv- ing out for himself a name and fame in the annals of his profession, town, county and State, to which his descendants and his friends can always point with pride.
Dr. MeKnight is recognized as one of the prominent, influential and well-to-do citi- zens of his section, one who has always taken an active and beneficial interest in the ad- vancement of town, county and State, a man who has always held his word as sacred as his bond; one who has taken a great interest in the uplifting of mankind, and who has never willfully misused or wronged his fellowman. This sketch is taken largely from an article
were Alexander and Mary (Thompson) Mc- Knight, the father dying when W. J. was but thirteen months old. The Doctor received a limited education in the common schools. When he was about eleven years of age and began the struggle of life. For five years he lived and worked upon a farm. At the age of sixteen he began teaching school and working in the office of the Jefferson Star, learning the printer's trade. Two years later he began reading medicine under Dr. A. M. Clarke, of Brockwayville, and held a position as compositor on the Elk County Ad- vocate. During the next three years, by prac- ticing such economy as is rarely thought of by the young man of the present day, he had saved enough money to enable him to take a single course of medical lectures at Cincinnati, Ohio, during the winter of 1856-57, and in March following (1857) he began the prac- tice of medicine in his native town. In 1859 he formed a partnership with Dr. Niver, of Brockwayville, which was terminated four years later after they had established a large and extensive practice. In 1863 Dr. Mc- Knight returned to Brookville, where he op- ened a drug store on Oct. 8th, carrying on the same in connection with his practice, and which, together with his son, J. B., he still operates under the firm name of MeKnight & Son. It is the oldest store in point of con- tinuous management in Jefferson county. On Aug. 4, 1862, Governor Curtin appointed the Doctor examining surgeon for Jefferson and Forest counties. He was also appointed, and served for seven years, as United States pen- sion surgeon, but other duties made it neces- sary for him to resign this position. He served as private and orderly sergeant in Company G, 57th United States Emergency Régiment ; was promoted to quartermaster sergeant, and took part in the campaign against Morgan. In 1869 he attended lectures in Philadelphia and received the degree of M. D. He after- ward attended two full courses in succession at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa., from which institution he was graduated in March, 1884, and the same year received a degree from the school of anatomy and sur- gery. In 1885 he took a post-graduate course at Jefferson College.
Dr. MeKnight's political activities began when a boy. In 1876 Jefferson county Re- publicans presented him for State senator, and Indiana county Republicans presented
1913
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Dr. St. Clair, Indiana and Jefferson counties of unclaimed human bodies for scientific pur- forming the 37th Senatorial district. Three poses, through a board created for that pur- conventions were held without a nomination, pose, and to prevent unauthorized uses and when for the good of the party, to save the traffic in human bodies, which was approved and signed June 18, 1883. This law has now been enacted in nearly every State in the Union. He supported and voted for the fol- lowing laws: The law of 1881, Act No. 21, which provides proper means of conveyance of persons injured in and about the mines, to their homes; Act No. 54, 1881, "To provide the means for securing the health and safety of persons employed in the bituminous coal mines of Pennsylvania"; Act No. 173, 1881, "To secure to operators and laborers engaged in and about coal mines, manufactories of iron and steel, and all other manufactories, the payment of their wages at regular inter- vals and in lawful money of the United States" (this law regulates and prevents the excessive profit on merchandise) ; law of 1883, Act No. 16, "To provide for voluntary tribu- nals, to adjust disputes between employers and employed"; Act No. 46, 1883, "To pro- tect the miners in the bituminous coal regions in this Commonwealth" (this law secures the miner pay for all clean coal mined by him without regard to size; makes seventy-six pounds of coal a bushel and two thousand pounds a ton ; requires all cars to be branded and uniform in size ; creates the office of check weighman and defines his duties) ; Act No. 48, 1883, which now compels props and timber to be furnished; Act No. 97, 1883, creating a mining boss and defining his duties, providing for cut-throughs and holes for shelter, bore holes, printed rules, safety lamps, board of examiners, etc., also for six bituminous mine inspectors instead of three, and also for two mining engineers ; Act No. 104, 1883, "For the better protection of the wages of mechanics, miners, laborers and others" (this law gives the laborer preference against insolvent com- panies or debtors). Congress nominee of Indiana, and to secure harmony among the voters, Dr. McKnight in a most magnanimous and manly letter with- drew from the contest. In 1880 Jefferson county Republicans again presented Dr. Mc- Knight as her choice, and Indiana county Re- publicans presented George W. Hood. After a three days' convention, of delegates from the two counties, no nomination being agreed upon, a second conference was held with no result. . Another meeting was held, at which Gen. James S. Negley, of Pittsburg, acted as umpire, when Dr. Mcknight was nominated; he was elected at the polls and served in the Senate from 1881 to 1885. The Doctor took a very active part in all public measures „brought before the Senate during his term of office. He was the author of several very im- portant bills, and through his conservative and practical business methods were enacted a number of needed reforms whereby the Com- monwealth was saved several hundred thou- sand dollars per annum. Honesty and econ- omy with the people's money was his slogan. His reform in printing public documents saves the State forty thousand dollars a year. He advocated and secured the first additional appropriation under the new constitution to the schools of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars; advocated the furnishing of schoolbooks free by the State to all the schools; and free schools in fact-school tax abolished, schools to be maintained and sup- ported by the State. The attention he called to careless auditing brought into the State one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. He carried through a reform in the commence- ment of borough and township offices. He took an active interest in the wards of the State and gave a hearty support to the sol- diers' orphans' schools, advocating justice to the soldier, his widow and his orphan. He introduced a bill providing for the classifi- cation of the insane, and advocated that the expense of their support be paid by the State.
In a speech advocating reform in the Sen- ate, March 14, 1883, Dr. McKnight used these words, "and now, Mr. President, to fur- ther assist in the public good, to promote hon- est government and purify the public service, He originated and introduced a number of I would make all offices in both State and valuable reforms that fell for want of time. nation, except the merest clerkships, elective He pushed through the Senate in 1881 the by the people. I would elect postmasters, col- bill authorizing counties to refund their bonds
lectors, marshals, and especially United at a lower rate of interest. He originated, States senators." His zeal and enterprise agitated and pushed through the Senate bill No. 117, entitled An Act For Promotion of Medical Science, by the distribution and use 59
gained for him State celebrity, as well as re- flecting much credit upon his ability and statesmanship. In 1884 Dr. MeKnight and
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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
G. W. Hood were again pitted against each elected to that office for the year 1817. IIe other for the nomination. The established was commissioners' clerk for the years 1807 usage of the party entitled Dr. MeKnight to and 1811. He was county treasurer for the a second term, especially as Indiana county had had the senator for sixteen out of twenty years, and all acknowledged that he had served with honor and credit to his district, his constituents and himself. He was regu- larly and fairly renominated at a party con- ference in Indiana, but was defeated at the polls by Hood, who ran as an independent candidate.
Dr. MeKnight has been a bituminous coal operator since 1895, opening and running the Toby Valley Coal Company, also the Mc- Knight Coal Company, which are still (in 1913) in active operation.
As a writer Dr. MeKnight is the author of "My First Recollections of Brookville, Pa.," "Recollections of Ridgway, Pa.," also of the "Pioneer History of Jefferson County, Pa.," "A Pioneer Outline History of Northwestern Pennsylvania," embracing fourteen counties, and of "Pioneer Sketches of the Cities of Al- legheny, Beaver, DuBois, and Towanda, Pa." And now. in 1913, as director and vice presi- dent of the National Bank of Brookville, Pa., merchant, coal operator, writer and author, he is still active.
Dr. MeKnight married Penelope Goddard Clarke, Jan. 9, 1860, and they celebrated their golden wedding Jan. 9, 1910. Seven children were born to this union, four of whom are now living, viz .: Amor Archer; Mary Ade- line, wife of H. H. Kennedy ; Jay Byron ; and Bonnie, the wife of George R. Matson. All reside in Brookville.
COL. AMOR ARCHER MCKNIGHT was a great-grandson of Alexander and Isabella (McBride) McKnight, natives of County Down, Ireland. About the year 1790 they immigrated to Franklin county, Pa. Alex- ander MeKnight here pursued agriculture. In 1795 he removed to and located on the place now known as the McKnight farm, on Crooked Creek, in Washington township, In- diana Co., Pa. Six children were born to his union with Isabella McBride, two sons and fonr daughters, the sons being Alexander, Jr., and James.
James McKnight, son of Alexander and Isabella (McBride) McKnight, located in the town of Indiana, where he died May 14, 1819, aged about forty-one years. He filled a num- ber of offices there creditably, being an excel- Ient scholar. He was the first burgess of the new borough of Indiana in 1816, and was re-
years 1811-12. When the Indiana Academy was incorporated, March 28, 1814, Rev. John Jamieson and James MeKnight were two of the thirteen trustees. He married Jane Mc- Nutt, May 25, 1807, and to this union were born two children: William, born May 5, 1808, who died June 9, 1830, in Blairsville, Pa .; and Alexander, born June 9, 1810. Jane MeKnight, the mother of these children, died Ang. 15, 1811. James McKnight married (second) Nov. 19, 1812, Jane MeComb, and to this union were born three children, viz .: (1) James, Jr., born Sept. 9, 1813; while a young man he migrated to Texas, where he was elected mayor of Galveston city. Losing his health, he died in South America, while on a visit, aged forty years. (2) John died in infancy. (3) Jane accompanied her brother to Texas, where she was twice mar- ried. Her first husband, Colonel Sandusky, was secretary to Gen. Sam Houston, the first president of the Texas republic.
Alexander McKnight, second son of James and Jane (McNutt) McKnight, married May 10, 1831, Mary Thompson, daughter of Wil- liam Thompson, of Altman's Run, and grand- daughter of Rev. John Jamieson, the pioneer preacher to locate in Indiana. Alexander and Mary (Thompson) MeKnight commenced married life in Blairsville, Indiana Co., Pa., and on the 19th day of May, 1832, their son Amor Archer was born; he afterward became distinguished in the war for the Union as colonel of the 105th Regiment of Pennsyl- vania Volunteers. Late in the fall of 1832 the young couple moved into the wilderness of Jefferson county, Pa., locating in Brook- ville, and Alexander taught the first term of school in the borough. Their son W. J. Me- Knight was born in Brookville, May 6, 1836. Alexander MeKnight was a good scholar, but having contracted fever and ague in New Jer- sey, was an invalid; yet he filled the offices of lieutenant colonel in the militia, justice of the peace and county treasurer, holding the latter position at the time of his death, which occurred in June, 1837. when he was but twenty-seven years old.
Amor Archer MeKnight, son of Alexander and Mary (Thompson) MeKnight, was born in Blairsville, Indiana county, May 19, 1832. In November, 1832, he was brought by his parents to Brookville, Jefferson county, and in June, 1837, his father died. At an early age young MeKnight returned to Blairsville
AMOR ARCHER MCKNIGHT COLONEL 105TH REG'T. PA. VOLS.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
and learned the art of printing in the Appa- At the February term, 1855, he was admitted lachian office, and afterward worked for Mr. to practice, and soon afterward entered into partnership with G. W. Andrews, Esq. Their firm was one of the most successful and had as large a practice as any at the Brook- ville bar. When the first alarm of war sounded forth he was one of the first to en- list in defense of his country, but his military record is given elsewhere in the history of his regiment. The court of Jefferson county ap- pointed R. Arthurs, W. P. Jenks, G. W. An- drews, A. L. Gordon and D. Barclay, Esqs., to report resolutions upon the death of Col- onel MeKnight, when he fell at Chancellors- ville, one of which reads as follows:
Samuel McElhose on the Jefferson Star, of Brookville, Jefferson Co., Pa. In 1853 he was admitted to the bar, and entered into partnership with the late George W. An- drews, Esq. He had a strong predilection for military matters, and from 1854 until the breaking out of the Civil war had been cap- tain of a militia company called the "Brook- ville Rifles." Long before the actual storm burst he felt that trouble was at hand, and as early as the winter of 1860 commenced to recruit his company so as to be ready when the emergency might arise. When the news of the firing upon Sumter reached him he at once offered the services of his company, and with Company I, 8th Pennsylvania Regiment, served three months. As soon as that term of service had expired he recruited the 105th Pennsylvania Regiment, a regiment that had no superior in the Civil war. A rigid disci- plinarian, he made his command one whose fame was known throughout the Army of the Potomac. He was an intrepid, daring soldier, winning the praise of his superior officers, and fell May 3, 1863, at the head of his gallant veterans in the battle of Chancellorsville while leading them against the command of Stonewall Jackson, who had fallen only a few hours before.
Amor Archer Mcknight at an early age evinced a deep love for study, and proved an apt and diligent student in the common schools and the Brookville Academy, obtaining a good average education. He was a close, careful reader, and when quite young gathered to- gether, as his means would permit, a collec- tion of books, which in after years proved the nucleus of an excellent and extensive library. The death of his father when he was so very young made him the main support of his mother and her little family, and the loving care he gave that mother as long as she lived was one of his pleasant duties.
The late Mr. Samuel McElhose, who was editor of the Star, in his notice of. Colonel McKnight's death said of him: "He was an excellent workman; what he found to do he did with all his might." The practical and general knowledge he gained in the printing office, he admitted in after years, had been of incalculable benefit to him. On leaving the Star office he entered the law office of W. P. Jenks, Esq., where he applied himself to the study of law half of each day; the balance of the time he had to work at the "case" in the printing office, as a means of support. feated King Edward at the battle of Ban-
"Resolved, That whether regarded as a sol- dier, patriot, citizen, friend, brother, or pro- tector of his aged parent, Colonel McKnight was true to duty. By his death our country has lost one of its brightest ornaments, the legal profession a well-informed, trustworthy and honorable member."
Again, on May 27th, the Star said: "He cared most tenderly and affectionately for his mother. He mourned in deep sorrow over her death, and gave the most convincing proofs of the great nobleness of his heart. No man is without his faults, and of course he had his, but one trait we cannot overlook, and that was his perfect abstinence from gam- bling and intemperance. He spent his earn- ings for standard books, and his spare time in perusing them. He was laborious and stu- dious. He was fearless and outspoken, gen- ercus and obliging, he was an ardent admirer of the free institutions of his native land, of the right of man to self government, and loathed the institution of human slavery. His career on earth is ended. He has sealed his love of country with his life's blood." Col- onel McKnight never married.
The biography of his brother, Dr. W. J. McKnight, appears above.
REV. JOHN JAMIESON was born at Thorn Hill farm, Scotland, about eight miles from Glasgow, in 1747. His father was Allen Jamieson. One of Allen Jamieson's ancestors was land steward to Mary Queen of Scotland. This ancestor turned Protestant, left the court and returned to Thorn Hill farm. Al- len Jamieson was a descendant of Robert Bruce, who was crowned King of Scotland in 1306. In this same year Bruce was defeated by an army of English and fled to Ireland, whence he afterward returned to Scotland, fought many engagements, and in 1314 de-
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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
nockburn, after which in 1328 Bruce was ac- cocheague. He also purchased six hundred knowledged king, and Scotland declared in- acres of land and erected a gristmill at or dependent. At this time Bruce had the lep- near Big Spring, and his son John (Jr.) re- rosy and died from it in 1329, having reigned almost twenty-four years.
All Scotch people who spell their name Jamieson are of one blood, to wit: Jamie's son.
sided here until after 1809. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jamieson while living at Big Spring, viz .: William, Isabelle and Margaret.
In the early spring of 1792 Mr. Jamieson resigned his charges in Cumberland county and crossed the Allegheny mountains with
Rev. John Jamieson enjoyed the advan- tages of wealth. He graduated from St. An- drew's University, and studied theology with his wife and three children, with their effects, Rev. John Brown, of Haddington. Rev. all on horseback, or pack horses, and located John Jamieson was licensed and ordained by in Hannastown, in Westmoreland county, a burgher presbytery of Scotland in about his leaving John Jamieson (Jr.) and two other children on the homestead at Big Spring. In 1794 he removed to Derry, and in 1796 to Altman's Run, where he erected his log cabin in what is now Conemaugh or Blacklick town- ship, Indiana Co., Pa., being the first minister to locate in what is now Indiana county.
twenty-fifth year. He preached from the He- brew and Greek Bible, translated his own texts, and was an expert shorthand writer. According to his diary he preached at Bath- gate, Scotland, in 1776. Rev. John Jamie- son's early life embraced a stormy period in Scotland, between the Scotch and the English. In 1794 Rev. John Jamieson organized the Crete Church, in Indiana county, preaching to the people first from a small platform, 5 by 8 feet, supported by wooden brackets between two large oak trees, the congregation being seated on logs on the ground. His mode of preaching was to lecture or expound the Scrip- ture in the morning, and to preach a sermon divided into firstly, secondly, etc., in the after- noon. At Crete a tent was secured for a while, and then, in 1815, a log church, 24 by 30, was erected. He preached at this point until near 1820. From his diary it is found that he also preached at Conemaugli, Crooked Creek, Bethel (Indiana county), Plum Creek and Kittanning, and that he held services in cabins and log barns. The names of these places, dates, etc., are recorded in his diary, as well as notes of texts and sermons, many of these in shorthand. The country being new, he proceeded from settlement to settle- ment. For roads he had forest paths ; bridges there were none, and in devotion to duty he braved alike the beasts of the forest, the sum- mer's heat and the winter's cold. Truly his was the "voice of one crying in the wilder- ness"; in the wilderness crying almost daily somewhere for thirty-six years, either in the open air, or in the cabin in the woods, in the log barn or in the log church. His adult life was surrounded by a period of literary activity. The poems of Ramsay, Thompson, Burns, Scott, Holmes and others were written and published from 1730 to 1785. The known Scottish poets then ex- ceeded two thousand. In 1775 Rev. John Jamieson married Agnes (otherwise called Nancy) Gibbs, daughter of John Gibbs, of Paisley. Gibbs' wife was a Miss Jackson. The young couple set up housekeeping in Edinburgh, Scotland, where they resided seven years. Three children were born to them in that city, viz .: Jeanette, John and Agnes, otherwise called Nancy. Rev. John Jamieson, considering himself prepared for thorough gospel labor, determined to migrate to America and devote his life to. missionary work in the new world. It might be well to state here that Pollock, author of the "Course of Time," was born on the adjoining farm, and that these two farms are now literally covered with houses and form a part of greater Glasgow. At the age of thirty-six, with his wife and three children, Rev. John Jamieson started from Edinburgh, Scotland, for America, and in the latter part of Novem- ber, 1783, landed in Philadelphia, Pa., where he immediately connected himself with the As- sociate Reformed Church. He resided here and went on missionary journeys on horse- The Associate Reformed Church flourished. It spread rapidly to the westward, and was largely and steadily increased by immigra- tion. In 1793 he had a firm hold on the ter- ritory now known as Western Pennsylvania. In that year the original Presbytery of Penn- back through the wilderness as far south and west as the Carolinas and Georgia, until Sept. 22, 1784, when he located at Big Spring, Cum- berland Co., Pa., at which place he preached in a log church for eight years, also in houses and barns at other points, to wit: Stony sylvania was divided into two-the First and Ridge, Shippensburg, Marsh Creek and Cono- Second Associate Reformed Presbyteries of
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