Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 84

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 84

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In this same year Bruce was defeated by the English and fled to Ireland, but he afterwards returned to Scotland, fought many engage- ments, and in 1314 defeated King Edward at the battle of Bannockburn. In 1328 Bruce was acknowledged king, and Scotland declared independent.

Rev. John Jamieson enjoyed the advantages of wealth. He graduated from St. Andrew's University. and studied theology with Rev. John Brown, of Haddington, who formulated the Westminster catechism. Rev. John Jamie- son was licensed and ordained by a burgher presbytery of Scotland in about his twenty- fifth year. He preached from the Hebrew or Greek Bible, translated his own text, and was an expert shorthand writer. According to his diary he preached at Bathgate, Scotland, in 1776. His early life embraced a stormy period in Scotland, between the Scotch and English. 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 exceeded two thousand. In 1775 Rev. John Jamieson mar- ried 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 chil- dren were born to them in that city, viz. : Jeanette, John and Agnes. Rev. John Jamie- son, considering himself prepared for thorough gospel labor, determined to migrate to America and devote his life to missionary work. 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 for America, and in the latter part of November, 1783, landed at Philadelphia, Pa., where he imme- diately connected himself with the Associate Reformed Church. He resided here and went on missionary journeys on horseback through the wilderness as far south as the Carolinas and Georgia, until Sept. 22, 1784, when he lo- cated at Big Spring, Cumberland Co., Pa., where he preached in a log church for eight years, also in houses and barns at Stony Ridge, Shippensburg, Marsh Creek and Conoco- cheague. He also purchased six hundred acres of land and erected a grist mill at or near Big Spring, and his son John resided here until after 1809. Three children were born to Mr.

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

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A sermon written and delivered by him, in Bathgate, Scotland, February, 1770. This is photographed from his diary book of lectures, sermons and notes from 1776 to 1800. The system is dead and there is no key to it. (Isaac Pitman was born in 1813 and published his system in 1836.) When this sermon was written it was a crime (conspiracy) to write phonography.

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and Mrs. Jamieson while living at Big Spring : William, Isabelle and Margaret.

In the early spring of 1792 Mr. Jamieson re- signed his charges and crossed the Allegheny mountains with his family and effects, all on horseback, or pack horses, and located in Han- nastown, in Westmoreland county, leaving. however, John Jamieson ( Jr.) and two other children on the homestead at Big Spring. In 1794 he removed to Derry, and in 1796 to Alt- man's Run, where he erected his log cabin in what is now Conemaugh or Blacklick township. Indiana county, being the first minister to locate in that county.

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, with the congregation hav- ing logs on the ground for seats. Ilis mode of preaching was to lecture or expound the Scripture in the morning, and to preach a ser- mon divided into "firstly," "secondly." etc., in the afternoon. 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, and according to his diary also at Conemaugh. Crooked Creek, Bethel ( Indi- ana county ), Plum Creek and Kittanning : he held services in cabins and log barns. This cliary also contains notes of texts and sermons. many of these in shorthand. The country be- ing new, he proceeded from settlement to set- tlement. For roads he had forest paths ; bridges there were none, and in devotion to duty he braved alike the beasts of the forest. the summer'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. the cabin in the woods, in the log barn or log church.

The Associate Reformed Church flourished. It spread rapidly to the westward, and was largely and steadily increased by immigration. In 1793 it had a firm hold on the territory now known as Western Pennsylvania. In that year the original Presbytery of Pennsylvania was divided into two-the First and Second Asso- ciate Reformed presbyteries of Pennsylvania. The Second, by order of the Synod, took the name of the Monongahela. It was composed of four ministers-Revs. John Jamieson, Hen- dlerson, Warwick and Rankin, with their elders. This was the first presbytery organized in connection with any of the Reformed Churches west of the Allegheny mountains. Its boundary lines were the Allegheny moun-

tains on the east and the Pacific ocean on the west.

Jamieson was a man of decided abilities and theological attainments, so that his presbytery placed its theological students under his care, Alexander Porter, Alexander McCoy and David Proudfit.

From 1783 to at least 1816 Mr. Jamieson went about his Master's business. Money he did not need, for every cabin door was open wide to him, while his wife and family were busy at his own cabin raising food, scutching, spinning, weaving, knitting and making the family homespun clothing.

Of the twenty-six religious bodies in Penn- sylvania that Rev. John Jamieson organized through his personality, twenty-four are strong, wealthy United Presbyterian Churches, each under the jurisdiction of one of the fol- lowing presbyteries: Big Spring. Westmore- land, Conemaugh or Monongahela. Of the two remaining organizations one is a Coven- anter Church of Alexandria, Westmoreland county, and the other is the Covenanter Church at Clarksburg, Indiana county.

Rev. John Jamieson was six feet, three inches high, and dignified in bearing. Mentally he was able, and possessed wonderful vigor, energy and endurance. His voice was strong, clear and far-reaching : his oratory magnetic, holding the attention of his hearers as well through a long service as a short one. To aid in the civic interests of Indiana county he con- tracted for the erection of the first county jail. He served as county commissioner for Indiana county for the years 1809, 1810 and 1811. Actively engaged in educational mat- ters, he was one of the pioneer trustees of the Indiana Academy, incorporated March 28, 1814. It appears in his diary that he was regu- larly preaching in and around Kittanning from 1813 to Jan. 8. 1815: in Freeport region in 1813-14. and what is now Union and West Crete up to 1816: his services in these years were held in cabins and barns and log churches.

Rev. John Jamieson died in March, 1821, aged seventy-four years, and is buried in the U. P. Church graveyard at Crete, Indiana Co. His wife, Nancy, died in 1841, aged ninety-one, and is buried at Lewisville, Indiana Co. The children of this union were: Jane, married Moses Thompson; John, married Martha Mitchell : Nancy (Agnes), married William Thompson ( they were the parents of John J. Y. Thompson) : Margaret, married Archibald Coleman ; and Isabella, married William Rankin.

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

THOMAS J. HUMPHREYS holds a re- spected position among the substantial resi- dents of Snyder township, where his thrift as an agriculturist, efficient public services and social qualities have gained him enviable stand- ing and general goodwill. In his capacity of assistant postmaster at Lanes Mills he comes into direct contact with a large proportion of the local population, among whom he has made his home most of the time since his arrival in America. Mr. Humphreys was born May 28. 1868, at Kilnacrea, near Butler Bridge or Ballyhaise, County Cavan, Ireland, son of John and Charlotte Humphreys, and grandson of George Humphreys, a gentleman farmer. His grandmother was Elizabeth Roberts, who lived to the remarkable age of ninety-nine years. ten months. John Humphreys was a farmer at Kilnacrea, where he died at the age of sixty- eight years. Hle married Charlotte Dodson, of County Cavan, and they had a large family. Thomas J. being the eighth child and second son. One daughter, Charlotte, born March 12. 1863, is the widow of Robert Humphreys, a leading citizen of Jefferson county. Another (laughter married Samuel Brooks, of Mon- treal. Canada.

Thomas J. Humphreys was sent to public school at Ballyhaise when six years old, but was expected from early boyhood to assist with the work at home, his father training him to such duties as he could perform and relying upon him for their execution. Though strict. he was kind, and his methods proved wise and beneficial. The boy helped with the chores, was sent with cattle to the fair or mar- ket at Cavan, and learned to handle and sell stock, his father raising and selling fine ani- mals. As the farm was one of the best in the neighborhood. the boy had valuable experience. He was but twelve years old when his father died, much of the responsibility thenceforth resting on him until he reached his majority. Sailing from Londonderry on the vessel "Corea." he landed at Boston and took another boat, for New York, whence he proceeded di- rect to Lanes Mills, Pa., where he found em- ployment with the firm of Lane & Humphreys. in which his brother-in-law. Robert Humph- revs, was a partner. He began in their saw- mill. continuing with them in various capacities for the next seven years. Subsequently he was engaged in the sawmills of A. M. Carrier and T. W. Raine, at Empire, Elk county, and finally in a sawmill at Loleta. Returning to Ianes Mills, he entered the store of Robert Humphreys, for five years having charge of the establishment, until he bought a farm of

twenty-three acres in the neighborhood, upon which he has since lived. He has cultivated this systematically, and has made a . number of improvements, building a fine new barn, and a silo in 1913. He also acts as assistant postmaster at Lanes Mills, his various interests giving him constant and remunerative employ- ment. Socially his principal activity is in the I. O. O. F. lodge of Brockwayville, of which he is past noble grand. He attends and sup- ports the M. E. Church, although not holding membership therein. On political questions he is a Republican.

ALBERT B. WEED is one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Rey- noldsville, where he holds the position of chief dispatcher for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and his brother Manley E. Weed. of whom more specific mention will be made in later paragraphs, is here engaged in the furniture business. Both are popular repre- sentatives of one of the best known pioneer families of northwestern Pennsylvania, the one in whose honor the village of Weedville. Elk county, was named.

Albert B. Weed was born at Weedville, Elk Co., Pa., Jan. 18, 1857, and is a son of Justus and Eliza ( Tudor) Weed, both of whom were residents of the vicinity of Weedville at the time they died, the father passing away in 1807 and the mother in 1903.

Frederick D. Weed, the great-grandfather of Albert B. Weed, was a native of Stamford, Conn., and a descendant of a family that was founded in New England in the early Colonial period of our national history. Frederick D. Weed became a pioneer settler in Saratoga county, N. Y., where he spent the closing years of his life. His son Abijah B., the grand- father, was born at Saratoga in 1796. and in 1818 became one of the earliest settlers of Elk county, Pa. There he acquired the owner- ship of about five hundred acres of land, in- cluding the site of the present town of Weed- ville, which was named in his honor. He was a saddler and shoemaker by trade and in Elk county erected and operated a pioneer tannery. the products of which he utilized in connection with the work of his trade. \ man of ability and indefatigable energy, he was one of the most influential pioneers of Elk county, his activities having included the operation of a gristmill, the lumbering incidental to the clear- ing of his extensive landed estate, and the early exploitation of agricultural industry in Elk county. He was one of the most honored pio- neer citizens of Weedville at the time of his

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death, in 1866, and his wife, Charlotte ( Mead), survived him several years. Their children were five in number: Peter, Barney, Justus, Nancy and Wealthy.

Justus Weed was born at Weedville in the year 1831. and in that immediate vicinity passed his entire life, prominently concerned with farming and lumbering enterprises and well upholding the prestige of an honored name. He was a substantial and influential citizen of his native county and did much to further its civic and industrial advancement, even as had his father before him. Of his three surviving children the eldest is he whose name introduces this article: Manley E. will also be mentioned below; Eva is the wife of Jerome H. Webb, of Falls Creek, Clearfield county.

Albert B. Weed was born at Weedville, as previously noted, and there he acquired his early education in the public schools. He continued to be associated with farming in his native county until he had attained to the age of nineteen years, and then learned the art and trade of telegraphy in the Weed- ville office of the Low Grade Division of the Pennsylvania railroad. He has continued his service with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company during the intervening years, and from 1890 to 1900 was chief dispatcher on the Low Grade branch of the Buffalo & Allegheny Valley division. In the latter year he assumed his present position as chief dispatcher at Rey- noldsville.

Mr. Weed gives his political allegiance to the Republican party and he served twelve years as a member of the borough council of Reynoldsville. He is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Epis- copal Church in their home town. In 1881 Mr. Weed married Emma J. Darnell, who was born at Grampian, Clearfield county, and who presides most graciously over their pleasant home. They have no children.

MANLEY E. WEED, who is one of the repre- sentative business men of Reynoldsville, was born at Weedville, Elk county. June 14. 1860, and he is indebted to the public schools of his native place for his early educational disci- pline. He remained at the parental home until he had reached his legal majority, and then emulated his elder brother by learning telegraphy. For three years he was employed as an operator on the Low Grade branch of the Buffalo & Allegheny division of the Pennsylvania railroad, and he then assumed the position of chief clerk for

S. B. Ramsey, superintendent of the Low Grade branch mentioned. Of this responsible post he continued the incumbent seventeen years, with headquarters at Reynoldsville, and at the expiration of this period he here engaged in the hardware business in partnership with J. K. Johnston, under the title of the Key- stone Hardware Company. With this prosper- ous business he continued his active association fifteen years, at the termination of which he sold his interest, and soon afterwards, in July, 1915, he purchased the well established furni- ture business of C. R. Hall, to which enterprise he has since continued to give his attention, with a large and representative supporting pa- tronage. He has a well equipped and ap- pointed store in which he displays the best of modern furniture in all lines, and his is one of the leading mercantile establishments of Reynoldsville. He is one of the loyal and valued members of the Reynoldsville Chamber of Commerce, is progressive and liberal in his civic attitude, is a Republican in politics, and has served as school director and as a member of the municipal council of the borough.

In the time-honored Masonic fraternity Mr. Weed is affiliated with John M. Read Lodge, No. 536, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master; with Jefferson Chapter, No. 225, Royal Arch Masons, at Brookville; and with Bethany Commandery, No. 83, K. T., at DuBois, Clearfield county. At Reynoldsville he holds membership in Lodge No. 824, 1. O. O. F., and both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

In 1890 Mr. Weed wedded Ella Burris, daughter of Henry F. Burris, of Reynolds- ville, and they have one son, Melrose E.

CHARLES E. CALHOUN is a popular representative of that fine old pioneer stock to which Jefferson county is indebted for the initiation of development and progress in the beautiful Beechwoods district, and well may it be said that these settlers were of "the salt of the earth." In the early and also in later generations their names have stood exponent of sturdy energy and industry, of inviolable integrity, of productive achievement and of all things that make for ideal citizenship. It is in itself a distinction to be a scion of such a family as that of which Charles Edward Cal- houn is a prominent representative, and a lead- ing agriculturist and stock grower. He is owner of Pine Grove Stoek Farm, in Wash- ington township, a splendid estate that com- prises 225 acres of the excellent land of the Beechwoods.

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Charles Edward Calhoun was born on the old homestead of the family, near Westville, March 8, 1858. In his home his father passed the closing period of a long and useful life, and to this honored pioneer it is most consonant that a tribute be paid at this juncture, by quot- ing in part a memoir that appeared at the time of his death :

William John Calhoun, one of the oldest and best known of the pioneer residents of the Beechwoods, died at the home of his son Charles Edward, in Washington township, on a Saturday in April, 1913, death being due to the infirmities incidental to old age, as he had attained to the venerable age of eighty-four years, four months. He was one of the hand- ful of settlers who established themselves in what at that time was a dense wilderness and braved the hardships and trials that only those of the earlier days can fully appreciate. He was one of the men who, through persistence and courage, became one of the strong pillars in holding together the little community and assisting in its development to the most beatt- tiful farming center in Jefferson county. For sixty-eight years Mr. Calhoun was closely identified with the renowned Beechwoods dis- trict and its affairs, and it was but natural that his demise should cause general regret and sorrow in the county.

William John Calhoun, a scion of sterling Scotch-Irish ancestry, was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in December, 1828, and was reared and educated in that beautiful section of the fair Emerald Isle. In 1848, as an ambi- tious young man of about twenty years, he came to America, and after passing a brief interval in the vicinity of Philadelphia he finally came to Jefferson county, where he de- cided to cast his lot with others of his country- men who had the Beechwoods for their des- tination, and here he continued to stage his activities during the remainder of his active career, the while he passed the remainder of life in the gracious prosperity which he won through earnest endeavors.

In 1857 was solemnized the marriage of William J. Calhoun to Ruth Ross, and they established a home on what is still known as the old Calhoun place. Mr. Calhoun developed one of the finest farms of the county, was closely concerned with lumbering in the early days, and the old homestead was known as one of the most hospitable places in the Beech- woods district. After the death of his loved and devoted wife. who preceded him to eternal rest by a period of nearly thirty years, he passed the time in the homes of his children,

all of whom accorded him filial solicitude ; during the last five years of his life he resided with his son Charles E. At his death Mr. Calhoun was survived by thirty-three grand- children and three great-grandchildren, and since then both generations have been aug- mented. Concerning the children brief record is entered at this point: Charles Edward was the firstborn; James Ross is a resident of Oklahoma: Andrew Elmer is a prosperous farmer of Snyder township; Nancy Margaret died in 1891 ; Mary Ida, the wife of William C. Moore, died in 1897; Carrie May became the wife of L. W. Perrin, and her death occurred in 1908; John C. is a resident of the Beechwoods ; William Presley lives in Kansas.

The concluding paragraph of a memoir that appeared in a local newspaper at the time of the death of William John Calhoun is here reproduced in full :

"Mr. Calhoun was a gentleman of high Christian ideals, and his life walk was one of courage, uprightness and sterling worth. He united with the Beechwoods Presbyterian church June 12, 1857, and was always an inter- ested and active member of that congregation. Ile was one of the small company of Chris- tians who established the original church there, and he continued a stanch and reliable pillar of the church to the end of his life. During the last five years he made his home with his son Charles, and there the sunset of his career dissolved itself into eternal peace and rest after a life that was one of general usefulness and good. At the funeral services, held at the Beechwoods Presbyterian church, there was a large attendance of relatives and other friends, many coming from a distance to pay a last tribute of respect to the venerable pioneer, and interment was made in the Beech- woods cemetery."

Charles Edward Calhoun was reared to adult age under the conditions and influences of the old pioneer farmstead and he is indebted to the public schools of the locality for his early education. He attended the Dennison and also the Grove schools, and two of his first teachers were Misses Martha Dennison and Abbie MeCurdy. He has never faltered in his allegi- ance to the great fundamental industries of ag- riculture and stock-growing, and his estate is probably the largest that is occupied and under the personal management of the owner in all of the Beechwoods district, even as it is one of the model farms of this section. After his marriage, in the spring of 1882, Mr. Calhoun located on the old Peter Hetrick farm, in Washington township, and three years later

THE NEW YORK A LA MARY

W.O. Smith

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

removed to his father's homestead, where he continued farming a number of years. In 1909 he assumed control of his present stock farm, which was formerly the homestead of his wife's father, the late Samuel M. Crawford, who erected the commodious and attractive house about 1884 and whose son Walter built the large barn about 1901, the main structure being 54 by 64 feet, two additions having since been made to it, one 21 feet square and the other 12 by 30 feet. Though giving a due amount of attention to farming of a diversified order. Mr. Calhoun is making a specialty of stock growing, utilizing the full-blooded Hol- stein cattle. He is one of the most progressive and successful stock growers of this section and the same spirit animates his civic attitude, for he is ever ready to lend aid to the further- ance of measures projected for the general good. He has manifested no predilection for public office but gives unswerving allegiance to the Republican party ; both he and his wife are zealous members of the Beechwoods Pres- byterian Church and also popular factors in the social life of the community.

On the 8th of March, 1882, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Calhoun to Nancy C. Crawford, the ceremony being performed by Rev. William Filson, pastor of the Beechwoods Presbyterian Church, and the happy event tak- ing place on the twenty-fourth birthday of the bridegroom. Mrs. Calhoun was born in Sandy Valley, this county, on the 4th of Octo- ber. 1862, and was about eight years of age when the family removed to the Beechwoods, where she was reared and educated. She attended the Rockdale school and her first teacher was Eliza Sterrett. Mrs. Calhoun is a daughter of Samuel M. and Mary Amanda Crawford. her father having been born in County Donegal, Ireland, and when a boy com- ing with his parents to America, who estab- lished themselves in the Scotch-Irish colony of the Beechwoods, where he was reared to manhood on the farm now owned by Charles E. Calhoun. Here Mr. Crawford died in August. 1908, a venerable citizen and represen- tative farmer, his wife, who was a devout Presbyterian, having passed away in 1899. Of their children Mrs. Calhoun was the first- born ; William J., who is one of the substan- tial farmers of Washington township, married Sadie Hetrick ; George MI., who is a represen- tative farmer of Washington township, wedded Clara Hetrick ; James Elliott is another pros- perous farmer of Washington township and his wife was Elsie Turner; Samuel R., who wedded Mary Calhoun, has been for many 27

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 84

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