Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 127

Author: McKnight, W. J. (William James), 1836-1918
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers
Number of Pages: 972

USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II > Part 127

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

JAMES J. HAMILTON, of Perry town- ship, represents a family of notable worth long identified with the history of southern Jefferson county. He was born in that town- ship Nov. 18. 1846. son of Robert Hamilton. one of the largest landowners and in whose honor the postoffice of Hamilton was named when established.

David Hamilton, grandfather of James J., was born in Scotland and there married Mar- garet McFarland. With one child, James,

they came to America, remaining in the vicinity of Greensburg, Westmoreland county, where he was in the employ of Judge Young for two years. In 1805 he purchased 180 acres of land in what is now Perry township and settled at the forks of the Little Mahoning, living in a round-log cabin in the midst of the forest. Subsequently he built a hewed log house in which he made his home until his death, in 1850, meantime having greatly improved the property. His wife's death occurred in 1821. His acquisitions of land in Jefferson and Indiana counties aggregated one thousand acres. Those of his children to reach maturity were James, who remained with his father in his extensive business and died at the age of forty-two. Joseph died in childhood and was the first white child born in that part of Perry township which is now located in Porter township. Young was killed by a falling tree in boyhood. John, born in that part of Perry now Porter town- ship in 1807, married Mattie Hopkins, of Indiana county, and devoted his life to a farm in East Mahoning township given him by his father and there died in March, 1894, survived by his wife and three of their four children : Margaret, widow of William Nichols; Nancy, deceased wife of Nathaniel North, of North Mahoning township, Indiana county ; Anna, Mrs. Ilaslet, and Mrs. Elizabeth Winecoop, deceased in 1892. David, who spent his entire life on the homestead, died in May, 1895, his wife { Miss North) continuing to reside on the farm with her four children. Robert com- pletes the family.

Robert Hamilton-was born in what is now Porter township in January, 1813, and died in 1003 at the age of ninety, being the oldest native of Jefferson county residing within its borders. He attended school but five weeks, he and his brother, John, helping to clear the farm; but his practical education was unex- celled. He received from his father three hundred acres adjoining Perrysville, partially improved, upon which he located at the time of his marriage.

His father had such confidence in his ability that the entire responsibility of managing and settling the large estate was confided to him at the age of twenty-four. For many years he was engaged in merchandising at Perrys- ville, nevertheless retaining supervision of his farms and land deals, among his purchases being the Haddon and Bell farms adjoining the old homestead. He too acquired the ownership of about one thousand acres, his operations in timber and in live stock being

629

JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

commensurate with his real estate holdings. Taking sincere interest in the establishment of good educational facilities, he was untiring to that end, acting as director and treasurer of the school board. lle was postmaster at Ham- ilton (Perrysville post office) a number of years. He had been a Whig, but became a Republican when that party came into exist- ence. He was a member and liberal contribu- tor to the Perry Presbyterian Church.

In 1845 Mr. Hamilton married Margaret Johnston, daughter of William Johnston, of Armstrong county, who was his companion, confidant and coworker for nearly fifty years, death breaking the conjugal bonds Jan. 2, 1894. They had eight children, the oldest two dying in infancy. The others are (1) James J. (2) William S., born in 1848, was a farmer and stock dealer and from 1876 for ten years was a merchant at Indiana. In 1885 he joined J. R. Johnston in the brokerage busi- ness, at Pittsburgh, holding membership on the Chicago Board of Trade. Leasing twelve thousand acres in Greene county, they became pioneer operators in the Nineveh oil fields. In 1889, because of poor healtii, he returned to the old family homestead, and built one of the handsomest modern homes in the county. He maintains active association with the business world and acts as superintendent of the Clymer waterworks in Indiana county. By his marriage to Emma Rowe, daughter of Adam and Susan Rowe, of Indiana, he had one daughter, deceased in infancy. Mrs. Ham- ilton died Jan. 23, 1886. (3) David A., born in February, 1851, was educated at Perrys- ville and a commercial college at Mount Union, Ohio. He managed his father's business for a number of years, later engaging in merchan- dising on his own account. At the time of his marriage to Annie Edmonds, of Bethle- hem, Pa., he located at Perrysville, erecting a fine residence on the old homestead. Two children were born to him, Garnett and Rob- ert E. (4) Mary Elizabeth, born in 1852, is the widow of Dr. D. A. McComb, of Clarion county, now living in Pittsburgh, and had one child. Myrtle. (5) Laura A .. born in November, 1854, is the widow of Dr. J. A. Miller, who practiced at Perrysville for many years. Her home is now in New Mexico. She had two children : Dr. Robert H., a graduate of Jefferson Medical College. and Mary N .. a graduate of Hollidaysburg Sem- inary. (6) Martha T .. born in August, 1856, married Dr. John K. Brown. formerly of Summerville. now of Brookville. She died March 19, 1887, leaving one daughter, Bessie.

James J. Hamilton was reared on the home farm, attending public and select schools. His home one mile north of Perrysville comprises four hundred and sixty acres, and includes the Archie Haddon and Squire John Bell farms which his father purchased, and which have the distinction of being the first land settled and cultivated in Perry township. The first improvements were made by Squire John Bell, and the first threshing and mowing machines in the township were used there. Squire Bell's first cabin, later replaced by a log house, stood on the site occupied by Mr. Hamilton's modern residence, erected in 1865. The Squire set out the first orchard planted in Jefferson county, and a few representative trees are still in evi- dence, and bearing. His home was the polling place for voters from an extended territory, all township elections being held there in the early days. The first gas well in Perry town- ship was sunk on Mr. Hamilton's farm about 1901. its success leading to extensive develop- ment in that line.

For many years Mr. Hamilton bore an active part in the administration of the town- ship, having been chosen to various offices. He is a Republican and a Presbyterian.

Mr. Hamilton married Margaret Adams Gourley, daughter of Thomas and Margaret Eleanor ( Adams) Gourley, whose family came to the vicinity in the thirties. She was born May 5, 1846, near Frostburg, in Perry town- ship, and died in 1903, her noble character. demonstrated in a life of practical faith, giving her memory lasting place in the hearts of a wide circle of warmest friends.

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton : ( 1) David Blair graduated from the Columbus Medical College and has prac- ticed for a number of years at Mason, War- ren Co., Ohio. His wife was Savilla ( Bath) of Perry township. (2) Margaret Eleanor married Lex N. Mitchell, attorney, of Punxsut- tawney, and died in 1892 leaving one child, Irene Hamilton, wife of James R. Smyers, of Pittsburgh. (3) Virginia Blanche married A. C. McClung, a newspaper man, of Troy, Ohio, where they now reside. Mr. Hamilton has two great-grandchildren, Blanche Smyers and Alfred McClung Smyers.

HARRY A. O'NEAL, M. D., is engaged in the practice of his profession at Knox Dale and has gained by effective service, sterling character and recognized ability an enviable vantage place as a representative physician and surgeon in this section of the old Key- stone State.

630

JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Dr. O'Neal was born at Summit, Union Co., N. J., on the 30th of March, 1886, and is a son of Frank and Anna ( Swick) O'Neal, both of whom were born and reared in New Jersey, where they continued their residence and where the father was engaged in agricultural pursuits until about 1890, when removal was niade to Erie, Pa. There Frank O'Neal en- gaged in the retail grocery trade until 1914, when he removed to Akron, Ohio, where he maintains his home and continues his active association with the mercantile business.

Dr. O'Neal was a child of about four years at the time of the family removal to Erie, where he continued his studies in the public schools until graduating from the high school. In consonance with an ambitious purpose he soon afterward matriculated in the medical department of the University of Pittsburgh, and graduated with the class of 1911, taking his degree of doctor of medicine. Thereafter he further reinforced himself for the work of his profession by serving eighteen months as resident physician and surgeon at Butter- worth Hospital, in Grand Rapids, Mich., where he gained a broader and more valuable clinical experience than could have possibly come through an equal period of private prac- tice. After leaving Grand Rapids Dr. O'Neal returned to Pennsylvania and established him- self in Indiana county, where he continued practice until May, 1914, when he came to Jefferson county and opened an office at Wals- ton. In November of the following year lie removed to Knox Dale, succeeding to the sub- stantial practice of Dr. Jolin G. Steiner. He is unswerving in his devotion to his profession, keeping in touch with the advances made in medical and surgical science by availing him- self of the best professional standard and periodical literature. He is identified with the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, the Jefferson County Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Alpha Kappa Kappa and the Sigma Phi Upsilon.

On the 18th of November, 1915. at Knox Dale, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. O'Neal to Helen Depp, who was born and reared in this county, where her father, Aaron Depp, is a prosperous farmer and lumberman. Mrs. O'Neal was afforded the advantages of the public schools and Grove City College. ,

SAMUEL C. ESPY (deceased ) came to Brookville nearly three quarters of a century back, and was a business man in that town and later in Corsica, Jefferson county, in the early

stages of their development. The family is still represented among the most esteemed residents of Jefferson county, his daughter, Mrs. Place, making her home at Brookville, where other descendants are also to be found.

Mr. Espy was born at Germantown ( Phila- delphia ), Pa., son of Capt. James Espy, who had heavy interests in the merchant marine, owning a line of boats and trading with China, whence he brought merchandise to this country. He was drowned in a storm off the coast out of New Orleans, his three ships going down, and all his crews being lost but one man. Captain Espy had two children, Samuel C. and Margaret, Mrs. Freas, who lived and died in Philadelphia.

Samuel C. Espy obtained his education in Philadelphia, and was not only well grounded in the common school branches, but learned to speak seven different tongues. When a young man he learned tailoring, serving some time as an apprentice at that trade. For a while lie lived at Neffs Mills, Huntingdon Co., Pa., in 1842 imoving to Brookville, where he was engaged as a merchant and also in the lumber business. Afterwards he located at Corsica, Jefferson county, where he followed tailoring a number of years, finally selling out and moving to South Dakota and there took up a homestead. He made a permanent home in his new location, dying on that place when seventy-nine years old. At Neffs Mills he married Jane Humphrey, daughter of James Humphrey, and she passed away while the family was residing at Brookville. Mr. and Mrs. Espy were the parents of nine children, namely : Richard James; Thomas, father of the late Claude W. Espy, of Brookville ; Eliza- beth Mary, Mrs. Levi Lerch ; Samuel C. ; John McClelland ; Martha Jane, Mrs. John W. Lat- timore; Anna Bell, Mrs. S. M. Flemming ; Matha ; and Kate Norma. widow of Capt. Fayette Place.

CAPT. FAYETTE PLACE was born at Rome, N. Y., and was of Welsh and English de- scent. He was reared in Michigan, and be- came a skilled mineralogist, being called upon to inspect some of the largest and most pro- lific mining properties in America, Central America and British Columbia. During the Civil war he enlisted from Colorado in the Ist Colorado Cavalry, and after serving all through the conflict continued in the army for eighteen months longer, doing duty along the Mexican border. He died at Wallace, Idaho, when fifty years old. Captain Place was a pioneer in the Western country, and his wife frequently made trips with him, riding a mule and camp-

631

JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ing out when necessary. She has traveled through many interesting regions compara- tively unknown until lately, having gone over the Bad Lands, and the region around Dead- wood, in the Dakotas, Alaska, New Mexico, Old Mexico, Central America and British Columbia. It was in South Dakota that Cap- tain Place married Kate Norma Espy, daugh- ter of Samuel C. Espy, and they had one son, Herbert Levi, who died when three and a half years old. Mrs. Place survives her husband, and has returned to Jefferson county to live, making her home at Brookville. She is a Presbyterian in religious connection and is much respected and beloved among a large circle of church and social acquaintances.

WILLIAM MCCAULEY. The compen- sating element in human motion and action is that which gives peace and prosperity in later years to the man who has marked the days of his maximum vigor with productive industry, and whose rewards have been the direct fruit- age of his own honest and well ordered endeavors. To such reward William McCauley has attained, and he is justly entitled to the comfort and fair prosperity which now attend him after he has reached the age of fourscore years. He is living in pleasant retirement at Brockwayville, a citizen whose sterling charac- ter and worthy accomplishments make him especially eligible for recognition in this his- tory.

Mr. McCauley was born on a pioneer farm in Fox township, Elk Co., Pa., Sept. 20, 1836, and as he himself has quaintly expressed it, he "was just a regular boy." He was reared on the little primitive farm in the midst of the forestwilds, and at the age of eight years had the opportunity of attending the little log schoolhouse in which he was to acquire his rudimentary education. This pioneer school- house was equipped with puncheon floor, slab benches for seats, and an old-time fireplace to provide requisite heat during the cold winter terms. The teachers "boarded round" among the homes of the pupils, and Mr. McCauley recalls Samuel Early and Charles McVane, as well as Miss Almeretta Vail, as being among the early instructors who instilled wisdom in his mind and had their share of disconcert- ing privilege in curbing his boyish mischief. He continued to attend school during the win- ter terms until he was about seventeen years of age, and in the meanwhile gave vigorous aid in the work of the home farm during the intervening seasons. That he had made good use of his educational advantages was signifi-

cantly shown when, at the age of twenty-one, he was retained to teach a little school on Boone mountain. He was successful in his work, but his pedagogic activities continued only one year. After this experience he assumed the position of clerk in the general store conducted by his brother Jacob, in the little village of Kersey, Elk county, where he remained two years. It was at this time, in the year 1859, that he married, and soon afterwards became associated with his brother Jacob in the estab- lishing of a shingle mill near Kersey, where Jacob owned a tract of one hundred acres of fine pine land. Within the ensuing four years they manufactured at this mill four million shingles, and William McCauley next turned his attention to a radically different line of enterprise, by purchasing the harness and sad- dlery business of a man named Brown, at Ker- sey. He employed a skilled saddler and har- nessmaker, built up a substantial business, and continued to conduct the same successfully for the long period of twenty-seven years. He and his wife began their married life at Kersey and in that village he eventually erected for their use an attractive house. On a tract of three acres which he acquired in the village stood an old-time tannery, and this he re- equipped in a modern way, for the purpose of manufacturing the leather used in his sad- dlery shop. Adjoining the village he also owned a farm of fifty-six acres, and to the general supervision of this he gave his atten- tion in connection with his other business enterprises. In the meanwhile he had learned harnessmaking and thus was able individually to turn out a large part of the work in his shop. The work eventually proved too severe a strain on his eyes, and after retiring from the saddlery business he installed a stock of groceries in his former shop. After conduct- ing the grocery about five years he turned the same over to his son Charles R., who removed the stock to Sugar Hill. Then Mr. McCauley resided upon his farm until he sold the property to his son Lemuel, who had just returned with his family from the State of Florida. Mr. McCauley had acquired other good real estate at Kersey, but after dispos- ing of his farm he had no wish to be idle, so he manifested his versatility by accepting a position as carpenter for the Northwestern Mining & Exchange Company, at Dagus Mines. Ilis natural mechanical ability had enabled him to become through his own efforts a skilled workman at carpentry, and he continued his services with the company mentioned for a period of nine years. The health of his wife

632

JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

had in the meantime become much impaired, and their son Charles persuaded them to re- move to Brockwayville and make their home with him. Since that time Mr. MeCauley has here lived practically retired, but his mental and physical vigor is such that he finds some- thing useful to occupy much of his time. The supreme loss and bereavement in his life came when his devoted wife was summoned to eternal rest, her death having occurred July 20, 1915. She became a member of the Pres- byterian Church when she was a girl, and con- tinued a zealous and devoted adherent of the same until the close of her gentle and gracious life, her husband still continuing an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Brockwayville. Mr. McCauley has never swerved in allegiance to the Democratic party, and while a resident of Kersey served ten years as postmaster and for some time as constable.

On July 3. 1859. Mr. McCauley was married to Laurette Hyatt, of Kersey, where she was born March 14, 1838, so that she was seventy- seven years of age at the time of her death. Of their children, the eldest is Lemuel W., born May 13, 1860, he and his wife, Linda (Bundy ), residing at High Point, N. C. Charles R., born Dec. 31, 1863, is a prosperous lum- berman and sawmill operator at Brockway- ville, and in his home the venerable father re- ceives the deepest filial care; Charles R. MeCauley married Hannah Holt. Phoebe A., born Aug. 20, 1870, is the wife of Spurgeon Quinn, an oil operator at Bolivar, N. Y. Blanche is the wife of James Monroe, of Eri- ton, Clearfield county : she was born Dec. 18, 1872. Daisy, the youngest, born Nov. 13, 1877. is now the wife of George Hampton, of Kittanning, this State.

Lemuel W. MeCauley, the eldest son of William McCauley, has a family of four chil- dren, Norman, Loretta, Donna and Quentin. Charles R. McCauley and his wife have four children: Clyde, born Oct. 21, 1887, married Pearl Thomas, and they have one child, Mar- garet Isabelle May ; Helen, born July 26, 1889, is the wife of William K. Reed. Jr., and they have one child, Charles Richard, born Jan. I, 1916 (they reside in Kittanning) : Bertha May, born Oct. 15, 1891, is the wife of Reece W. Hafner, and their one child is Reece Wil- liam, Jr., born June 23, 1916 (they reside in Kittanning ) : Kathleen Laurette, born May 21, 1897, remains at the paternal home. Mrs. Phoebe A. Quinn. eldest daughter of William McCauley, has one child, LaRue. Blanche, Mrs. James Monroe, has five children, Clif-

ford, Lauretta, Lyle, Mildred and Eileen. Daisy, Mrs. George Hampton, also has five children, Harold, Donald, Helen, Leah and Lester, of whom Harold and Donald are stti- dents at a college in Honolulu.

William McCauley, Sr., father of William AcCauley, was born in Buffalo Valley, Center Co., Pa., April 6, 1794, the presumption being that his father was born in Ireland and the remoter genealogy tracing back to stanchi Scottish origin. As a young man William MeCauley, Sr., removed to Clearfield county, where he reclaimed a farm from the forest, and where he gained local celebrity as an expert hunter of deer, elk and bears. He married Rosana Moyer, also a native of Penn- sylvania, who was of German lineage. Wil- liam McCauley, Sr., eventually removed to Rock Grove, Stephenson Co., Ill., where he purchased a small farm, and there passed the closing period of his life, his age at the time of death having been eighty-eight years. Of his children, the eldest was Jacob, who was born in Clearfield county, Dec. 21, 1825, and who was a resident of Brockwayville, Jefferson county, at the time of his death, in 1911. He married Rachel J. Meredith, who is also de- ceased. Mary, born Dec. 15, 1828, became the wife of Isaac Hayes, and she was a resi- cent of Elk county at the time of her death, in 1911. William was the next in order of birth. The father was a stanchi Democrat and it is interesting to note that at one time he was one of the fifteen representatives of the MeCauley family that voted the Democratic ticket in a single precinct in Stephenson county, Illinois.

ALPHEUS ANTHONY. farmer and saw- mill operator near Grange, is a worthy mem- ber of an old established family of Henderson township, where he was born July 23, 1860, being a grandson of Levi Anthony, founder of the family. A complete account of the earlier generations appears elsewhere in this volume.

Alpheus Anthony learned the details of lumber manufacture with his father and since has operated a sawmill on his forty-acre farm in Perry township, near Grange, where he has a profitable business and a comfortable home. The condition of the farm and its improve- ments fully testify to his energy and ability. He has also found time for public service, having held various local offices with credit to himself and benefit to the community. He votes the Republican ticket. Socially he

633

JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

affiliates with the Knights of Pythias and the Order of United American Mechanics.

In October, 1879, he married Salome Kuntz, born in Henderson township, where her father, Philip Kuntz, was an early settler and pros- perous farmer. She died in 1883, at the age of twenty-five years, the mother of two chil- dren, George H., born in Henderson township about 1881, who married and had three chil- dren; and Laura, who died at sixteen. For his second wife Mr. Anthony married Martha Ann Shilling, who was born Aug. 30, 1864, on the farm in Perry township where she now re- sides, daughter of Michael and Catherine Shilling, who moved to Perry township some years before. Ten children have been born to this marriage: Orpha Maud, born July 6, 1886, who married Miller Stoops, of Punxsu- tawney, and has two children, Martha Ruth and William Alpheus ; Paul Byron, born Feb. 5, 1888, a farmer, married Susan Niel and has three children, John R., Mark A. and Francis B .; Nellie C., born May 17, 1890, married Robert Weaver, an engineer in the rolling mills, of Butler, Pa. ; Hulda Irene, born Nov. 23, 1893, wife of Luther Bush, an insurance man, of Kittanning; Mary Hazel, born Sept. 24, 1894, at home; Buzze Ernest, born Nov. 27, 1896; . Alda M., born March 6, 1899; Ralph Vernice and Elva B., twins, born June II, 1902 ; and Edith M., born March 20, 1905.

WILLIAM F. WANNER has been asso- ciated with the grocery trade at Brookville for over half a century. Beginning as a boy in a humble capacity he has worked his way steadily forward to an influential position among the worthiest men of the time, and his success is concrete evidence of what may be accomplished by devotion and well directed effort, coupled with a thorough knowledge of business and persistence in carrying out plans to completion. Mr. Wanner was born in Jef- ferson county, on a farm in Pinecreek town- ship, July 22, 1851, son of John and Caroline (Heisline ) Wanner.

John Wanner. the father, was born at Hos- tetten, Germany, and grew up in his native land, learning the trade of bookbinding, which he continued to follow while in Germany. He married and had two children before com- ing to this country, in 1849, landing at New York in November, and proceeding thence by wagon to Buffalo, N. Y .. where he did not locate, however. With his family he continued his journey to Jefferson county, and settled in Pinecreek township. on the North Fork, where he purchased a small farm.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 127

Author: McKnight, W. J. (William James), 1836-1918 Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers Number of Pages: 972

Author: McKnight, W. J. (William James), 1836-1918
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers
Number of Pages: 972