USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Our country and its people. A historical and memorial record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania. > Part 76
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William G. Johnston, M. D., was born in Oil Creek township November 21, 1866. He is the son of Archie and Sarah Johnston, and the eldest of three children. (An account of Dr. Johnston's medical history is found elsewhere in this book, under the subject of the Doctors of Medicine of Titusville. ) His late experience as the assistant surgeon of the Sixteenth Regiment, Penn- sylvania Volunteers, in the Spanish-American war, was valuable and impor- tant.
On October 21, 1897, he was married to Miss Myra E. Benedict, daugh- ter of W. B. Benedict, mayor of Titusville.
It is proper to say that Dr. Johnston is jealous of the honor of his pro- fession; and it may be expected that he will contribute to its usefulness by adhering to rational theories and trusting to approved methods instead of resorting to experimental empiricism.
Hugh Jameson, M. D., was born in Agra, India. (His medical history will be found under the caption of Doctors of Medicine.) He is of Scottish parentage, the son of William Hugh Jameson, surgeon major in Her Majes-
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ty's service, then stationed in India. He left India when six years old and spent his boyhood days in Lincolnshire, England. He was afterward edu- cated at Edinburg, in Daniel Stewart's school. At the age of sixteen he entered Edinburg University for a medical course of nearly six years, and was graduated in 1889, with the degrees of M. B. and C. M. (Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery.) He was also since graduated in the medi- cal department of the University of Western Pennsylvania, taking the degree of M. D. He arrived in the United States October 28, 1890, and came im- mediately to Titusville, and, excepting his absence at the Pittsburg College, he has since continuously practiced medicine here. In addition to other asso- ciations of which he is a member Dr. Jameson belongs to the General Medical Council of Scotland.
December 28, 1893, he was united in marriage with Miss Helen S., daughter of Robert L. Kernochan, of Titusville.
I'illiam IWhite was born at Manchester, England, February 12, 1841, the son of Uriah and Anna White, and is the twelfth born of fourteen chil- dren. His father was a mechanical engineer, at which vocation William served seven years. He was employed at the Manchester. Sheffield and Lin- colnshire works from the age of fourteen to twenty-five. In 1868 he left for the United States, remaining in the eastern states for a few months, and then came to Shamburg, Pennsylvania, where he entered a machine shop and worked as a journeyman for a year. Next he was superintendent for Emery Brothers in the oil-producing business for two years,-until the thirty-day shut-clown. Having accumulated some money, he engaged in producing oil on his own account, and has continued to operate until the present time. Five years ago he added to his occupation real-estate and insurance. He lives in the second ward of Titusville, which division of the city he represented on the school board from 1893 to 1897. In his politics he is non-partisan and independent.
He has a wife and five grown children.
James L. Proper, M. D., was born in Plum township, Venango county, this state, March 8, 1835, the son of Daniel and Margaret ( Archer) Proper. and the eighth of twelve children. His grandfather, Samuel Proper, came to America with La Fayette, and five of his sons served in the American army in the war of 1812.
James L. spent his youth at school and on a farm until the age of twenty- one, and besides the common schools he attended the academy at Coopers- town and two terms at Kinsmantown, Ohio. He began the study of anatomy under Dr. Jennings of Titusville, and Dr. Allen of Kinsmantown; but a later preceptor was Dr. Scudder of Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended the Eclectic
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Medical Institute, where he graduated with the degree of M. D., and he began the practice of medicine in 1861, in Clarksville, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where he continued until 1872, when he came to Titusville and practiced until his last sickness, which ended in his death May 29, 1898. In his death the poor lost a friend. A sick call from people whom he knew to be destitute of means received from him the same prompt response as from those possessing abundance, even supplying also his impecunious patients with medicine from his own store and driving miles into the country, often over rough roads and in inclement weather, to administer medical treatment to persons who were practically paupers.
The Doctor was married twice. For his first wife he married Melinda Kemerer, by which union there was one son, named Emberson E .; and for his second wife he was united with Miss Lida Titus, in 1873, and by this mar- riage there were no children. Emberson was graduated at the Titusville high school, at which he subsequently taught for some time; and he also grad- uated at the Allegheny College and at Harvard University, gaining distinction at the last named institution, where he afterward taught for a while. He has since taught at Brooklyn, New York.
Dennis Carkhuff was born May 12, 1837, near Adamsville, Crawford county, Pennsylvania. His parents, Henry and Rebecca Cole Carkhuff, were natives of New Jersey, and moved into Pennsylvania in the early part of the century.
Henry Carkhuff was a blacksmith, and when his son Dennis was nine years old he apprenticed him out to Mr. Beard of Adamsville to learn farm- ing. Dennis was to have remained until he was eighteen, but he did not approve of his surroundings, which were anything but congenial, and after a few years of contention he returned to his father, who was then living in Roy- alton, and where he, Dennis, worked with him in the shop. His mother died during his apprenticeship and his father married again. After a while the superiority of the carpenter over the blacksmith trade appealed to Dennis Carkhuff, and he availed himself of his brother's knowledge in this direction. The venture proved a good one and he was soon in a position to require the help of several assistants, as he had the monopoly of contract work for miles around. At this time lie made his home with Mark Royal of South She- nango.
At the beginning of the war Mr. Carkhuff enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania, under Colonel H. L. Brown of Erie, and in Company H. With him in that company were his three brothers,-David, William and Isaac. James was a later recruit. The military experience of William was limited, as he died at Harper's Ferry two months after going to the front. Isaac was a prisoner at Andersonville for nine months, and, owing
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to the harsh and terrible experience, he was an invalid until his death, in 1896. Dennis Carkhuff carried his musket through almost the entire war; he was at Antietam, but was so severely wounded at Chancellorsville that he escaped duty at Gettysburg. He received a gunshot wound in his left wrist, the ball passing up the fore-arm, through the elbow joint, and out below the shoulder. Complications set in and it was found necessary to amputate the arm above the elbow. Even after his discharge from service, September 22, 1863, the wounded arm was still a source of great trouble and necessitated more surgical aid. The loss of his arm rendered both of his trades unavailable, and Mr. Carkhuff turned his attention to carriage and house painting. Being a con- scientious and painstaking workman, he soon had all that he could do in that line. Incidentally and for recreation he studied scientific bee culture, and for many years had as many as one hundred and thirteen colonies of bees.
February 1, 1865, Mr. Carkhuff married Miss Mary E. Mason of South Shenango, where she was born. The Carkhuff family consists of Laura J., wife of Charles Simonds, of Espyville; Nellie C., a music teacher, and James M., a painter, are living at home.
Mr. Carkhuff is a Republican and has been active and interested in all his party's undertakings. He has been assessor, collector, school director and county committeeman, and has been mentioned for county treasurer. He is a member of Captain A. J. Mason Post, No. 322, of Espyville, and is adjutant of the post; and he is also a member of Police Camp, No. 40.
Mr. Carkhuff, who has one of the most delightful homes in Espyville, is living in the house once occupied by the Rev. J. Boyd Espy, former captain of the old Company H. He is a genial man and still enjoys fishing and base ball. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is steward, and he has been Sunday-school superintendent.
Andrew Stols .- America can boast of no more patriotic citizens than the sons of the Fatherland who have sworn allegiance to the Stars and Stripes. For over thirty years the gentleman of whom this sketch is penned had been a business man of ·Kerrtown, a suburb of Meadville, and actively associated with all the interests of this locality.
Andrew Stolz was born August 12, 1829, in Mergentheim, Wurtem- berg, Germany. His father, who had served in the war against Napoleon, was a successful manufacturer of brick and tile, and this business he taught our subject. It had been the intention of the senior to give the lad the best possible advantages in the way of an education, and Andrew had become quite advanced in a collegiate course when his eyesight failed to such an extent that his ambitious plans for the future were overturned.
The young man aided his father in the business until he decided to come to the United States. With his beloved wife, a bride of a few months, he
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started on the long journey May 21, 1853. Leaving Liverpool on the ship Jane E. Walsh, commanded by Captain Thomas, they arrived in New York city August 14, after a voyage of fifty-six days, provisions and water all con- sumed. For seventeen months Mr. Stolz remained in the metropolis, work- ing in the fire brick yard owned by J. Kreider, and in Jackson's foundry, on Corek street. Removing thence to Catasauqua, in March, 1855, the family dwelt there for twelve years, the father working at his accustomed calling and for a period was employed by the Crane Iron Company. On the 2nd of April, 1867, he came to Meadville, and after he had been engaged in business in partnership with Jolm Hiller for several months he established a factory of his own in Kerrtown, where he is still occupied in the manufacture of brick. For some years he also dealt in coal, lime and building material, particularly in the winter season. His energy and excellent business ability have gained for him an assured competence and an enviable reputation in commercial circles.
Mr. Stolz has been actively interested in public affairs and has always endeavored to promote the welfare of his community. He has officiated as a school director for over seven years in Vernon township; for five years acted in the capacity of a justice of the peace and for a period of two years was township supervisor.
Mr. Stolz was a member of the First Baptist church of Meadville, and assisted a great deal in the erection of a brick chapel in Kerrtown, in 1896, for the use of the Kerrtown Sunday-school Association, of which he is a trustee. His motto is : Ut desint vires, tamen laudanda voluntas est.
The marriage of Mr. Stolz and Miss Magdalena Brand was celebrated October 3, 1852. Ten children were born to them, and of this number two daughters and a son are deceased. Those who survive are as follows : Augustus Frederick, of Franklin, Pennsylvania, born in New York, August 16, 1853; Henry Walter, of Catasauqua, December 13, 1856; Edwin, Feb- ruary 24, 1859; Mrs. Clara Thibant, of Kerrtown, March 5, 1861; Otto Alfred, attorney-at-law, of Meadville, April 2, 1863; Lydia, of Kerrtown, November 6, 1872; and Walter Benjamin, of Kerrtown, May 18, 1876.
David Bradford, farmer, son of Andrew, who was a soldier in the Rev- olutionary war and was born in Windsor county, Vermont, was a soldier in the war of 1812. He married Esther Burton. In 1841 he made his home in Rome township, this county, and in 1862 removed to Sparta township. In 1865 he went to Washington township, Erie county, Pennsylvania, where he died; his wife died in 1862. Of their eight children one survives,-Joseph F.,-born July 15, 1826. In 1848 he married Elizabeth Hunt and settled in Sparta, where he now resides as a farmer, and has preached in the Baptist church for forty years.
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In 1861 he enlisted in Company K, Eighty-third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was discharged for disability in 1862, when he returned home. He enlisted in Company I, Colonel Dix' regiment, where he was orderly sergeant, and was discharged after the battle of Fredericksburg. In 1864 he enlisted in the Tenth Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves, and was dis- charged in 1865. He had six children, one of whom, J. E., is a farmer.
Judge John J. Henderson .- One of the most popular members of the bar of Crawford county is Judge John J. Henderson, who, for nearly thirty- two years, has been engaged in the practice of law. He was born in Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania, September 23, 1843, and when thirteen years of age he removed to Meadville with his parents, this city having since been his home. After leaving the public schools he completed his education in Meadville Academy and Allegheny College. His studies were broken in upon by the dreadful civil conflict which was being waged between the north and soutlı, and he left the schoolroom to go forth to fight for the Union. Enlisting in the One Hundred and Fiftieth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, in August, 1862, he remained in the ranks until there was no longer need of his services, and was honorably discharged June 16, 1865.
Upon his return to the paths of peace, Judge Henderson took up the study of law and was admitted to the bar in August, 1867. In 1872 he was elected district attorney, and fifteen years later he was selected president-judge of the Thirtieth judicial district of Pennsylvania for a term of ten years, where he made an enviable record.
Preston Steele, M. D., was born in Franklin, Pennsylvania, in 1870, a son of O. B. and Mary Flemming Steele. O. B. Steele, his father, is one of the pioneer oil men of Franklin and was early identified with many interests of that locality.
Dr. Steele attended a course of lectures at Pulte Medical College, Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and is a graduate of the Cleveland Medical College, of Cleveland, same state, and began the practice of medicine in Titusville in 1894.
He was married, in 1897, to Lyda, daughter of William and Olive ( Long) Paden, of Greenville, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Steele is a member of the Elks, Knights of Pythias, Eclectic As- sembly, World's Mutual Benefit Association and Knights and Ladies of Columbia.
Professor Albert Baumgartner .- Eight years ago Professor Albert Baumgartner, musical director of Saint Agatha's German Catholic school, came to Meadville, where he has since occupied a distinctive place in musical circles. He was born in Baden, Germany, in 1837, and received his musical
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education at the Teacher's Seminary at Meersburg, which town is near Con- stance, Germany. The training in that well known institution was most comprehensive and thorough, and the young man was specially instructed in lines of work to which his later years have been given with splendid results. He is proficient on the piano, organ, violin and zither, and is fortunate in being able to impart instruction in a pleasing and profitable manner to the pupil. Soon after reaching his majority he came to the United States and for some time thereafter he made his home in Ohio. In1 1879 he removed to Erie, Pennsylvania, where he followed his accustomed vocation as a teacher, leader of a band, and organist. In 1891 he was induced to accept his present posi- tion in Saint Agatha's school, and here, as elsewhere, his success has been marked.
I11 1871 Professor Baumgartner married Miss Frances Ott, and five of the children born of their union survive, namely : Gustav, of Erie, Pennsylvania : Albert. who is a teacher of music in Boston, Massachusetts; John, a resident of Youngstown, Ohio; Rose, wife of John Stritzinger; and Leo, a carpenter, of Meadville. November 5. 1894. our subject and Mrs. Elizabeth Connell were united in marriage. She is a daughter of John and Gertrude ( Bonefen- ture) Marhofer, who were worthy citizens of this place. The father was a carpenter by trade, and at the time of his death he was seventy-two years old. For many years he had been one of the trustees of the Catholic church to which he belonged. The wife and mother, a lady of most lovable disposition. was but forty-two years of age when she passed away. Of their eight chil- dren, five were daughters and three sons. Mrs. Baumgartner is the third in order of birth. She has one daughter by her previous marriage, Gertrude, wife of ex-Marshal S. W. Reece, of North Baltimore, Ohio. The professor is a member of the Central Catholic Society, while his wife is identified with the Ladies' Catholic Benevolent Association, of St. Agatha's church.
Jonathan Watson was born in Derby, Vermont, November 16, 1819. At the age of twelve he went to live with an uncle at Haverhill, New Hampshire, and six years later to Hartford, Connecticut, and entered into the employ of a man named Warren as clerk in a lumber yard there. After the death of Mr. Warren, which occurred a few years later, Mr. Watson pur- chased an interest in the business and continued in it until 1845, when he sold out. With between five and six thousand dollars, which he had accumulated. he started west, came to Titusville and bought an interest in the lumber firni of Brewer, Allen & Company. The company, as first constituted, was or- ganized in 1840. The site for the first mill had been selected in 1839 by D. D. Allen and Rexford Pierce. A mill lower down on Oil Creek was built in 1842-43. The tvo mills had each two vertical saws, and together they cut four thousand feet of pine lumber a day. Several thousand acres of pine
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timber land on Pine and Caldwell creeks had been purchased in 1840 by Ebenezer Brewer, and his partners, who had been engaged in the manufacture of lumber at MeIndoes Falls, Vermont. After Mr. Watson entered the firm, he had charge of the sale of the lumber at Pittsburg. The company next established a yard in Allegheny City. By seasoning their lumber they were able to command a much better price for it. The lumber was rafted in high water down the creek and into the Allegheny river, and thence to Pittsburg. While at Pittsburg Mr. Watson had an attack of smallpox and was for a long time very sick, barely escaping deatlı.
Petroleum, "Seneca oil," showed itself at the upper mill. At first it was collected and used for lubricating the machinery at the mills. Finally a con- tract was made between Brewer, Watson & Company and J. D. Angier for increasing the production of the oil spring at the upper mill. Angier dug trenches, as has already been related in this work, and a pump worked by machinery at the mill pumped the oil and water into vats, convenient for dip- ping the oil after it had been collected upon the surface of the water. Further operations for collecting the oil by dipping were carried on, until Drake drilled vertically into the rock, striking a vein of oil on the 27th of August, 1859. This was late on Saturday afternoon. On Monday a temporary ap- paratus for pumping was constructed and the oil and water pumped into a temporary tank. On Tuesday, August 30, Mr. Watson rode on horseback to the Hamilton Mcclintock farm, containing three hundred and fifty acres, below Rouseville, and leased this land for oil purposes. Following this, Brewer, Watson & Company leased the J. W. Mcclintock farm, on which Petroleum Center was afterward built. At about 1860 they sold their lumber business to Nelson Kingsland and gave their attention to oil production, and they were highly successful. Mr. Watson in 1864 sold his entire oil interests to eastern capitalists, and retired upon a fortune of about three million dollars. He moved to Rochester, New York. But life there became dull to him. Like many others, who, having acquired fortunes from the oil business, have moved away to enjoy their wealth in easy retirement, become sick of quiet monotony, and long for a return to a life of venture, Mr. Watson, after two years' residence in Rochester, came back to what had been the most interesting period of his career. He erected a palatial residence on East Main street, on what was the old James Parker farm, and again began to drill for oil. He not only sunk deep wells, but also sunk large sums of money in the experiments.
Jonathan Watson was upright in purpose. Sincere himself in what he professed, he was slow to suspect others of hypocrisy. He had a great heart, and his aim throughout life was to do good, and he spent not a little of his fortune in generous donations. To the Chicago sufferers in 1871 he gave a thousand dollars, and he lived to see Chicago forget his generosity. Among his other gifts was a cabinet of geological specimens to the Titusville high
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school. Another gift was one thousand dollars to the widow of a foriner part- ner in business. When misfortune overtook him his spirit did not grow sour. He was magnanimous, and an optimist to the last. In December, 1848, he was married to Miss Joanna L., daughter of Joseph L. Chase. She died in 1858, leaving five children. Two of these, Ruel A. and George W., are dead ; and John T., Mrs. M. M. Wray and Mrs. Lanman Chase, now survive. In 1862 Mr. Watson married as his second wife Miss Elizabeth Love, who bore him four children, three of whom are now dead. Mrs. Watson is living in California. Mr. Watson died at Clifton Springs, New York, where he had gone for medical treatment, June 16, 1894.
Jolin Binney, son of Robert, was born in Brattleboro, Vermont. He married Philena Adkins, and about 1830 came with his team and wagon to Little Valley. Cattaraugus county, New York, where he was the proprietor of a hotel and also engaged in farming. August 12, 1845, he moved to Concord township. Pennsylvania, where he settled on a section of land and made his home. His wife died in August, 1852. By his second marriage he connected himself with the Culver family. He died July 29, 1862, at Irving, New York. He had eight children by his first wife, five of whom are living. Of these are Charles R., a harness-maker of Spartansburg ; Mary (Mrs. Richard Ful- ler), and George W., who married Cyntha French and settled in Marietta, Ohio, where he followed his trade of shoemaking. In 1865 he camne to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and still followed his trade. He had eight children. George W., his son, grocer and postmaster, married Ruth Taylor. and since 1865 has resided at Spartansburg.
Oliver L. Brunson .- The sufferings endured by the volunteer soldiery of the great Civil war so far as this county is concerned, can be well illus- trated by giving the experience of Oliver L. Brunson, long a resident of Ran- dolph township.
His parents, Munson and Electa (Chase) Brunson, were natives of Massachusetts, who early removed to Charlotte, Chautauqua county, New York. Here Oliver was born, on January 12, 1839. He and his two surviving brothers, Enos S. and Alfred F., were all disabled by wounds received while soldiers battling for the Union. Oliver was a private in Company F. One Hundred and Fifty-fourth New York, in which organization he served three years. After taking part in numerous historic battles, among them Chan- cellorsville and Fredericksburg, he was wounded while participating in the gallant charge of his regiment made on July 1, 1863, to recover its captured colors, and fell a prisoner into the hands of the rebels. From this time until November 20, 1864, when he was paroled, he experienced all the horrors of the dreadful prisons of Belle Isle, Libby. Scott's prison, Millen, Andersonville,
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Savannah, Charleston and Florence. In these horrible places he became fear- fully emaciated and contracted both scurvy and rheumatism. These diseases brought about disabilities which made him a total cripple and a sufferer during life. By such individual personal sacrifices was preserved our national exist- ence. The memory of those who thus suffered should never be forgotten. They were martyrs for their country.
George Stephens, of Titusville, was born in Worcestershire, England, in 1828. and March 1, 1854, arrived in America, where he found circumstances not the most flattering. Imbued with a true impulse of his vigorous nature, Mr. Stephens did not propose to succumb to his surroundings, but start forth with a view to gain a competency and establish a home in his chosen domain. After a few years of persistent industry and frugality he attained what at first seemed impossible. Mr. Stephens was a cooper by trade, which he began in 1843.
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