USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Our country and its people. A historical and memorial record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania. > Part 93
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The children born to Hon. J. Porter Brawley and wife Isabella were six in number. Those who attained maturity were as follows: James Buchanan, an eminent lawyer, who died in May. 1886; John Brooks; Frances Lucy. whose death took place in June, 1896; Hugh Porter; and Isabella Hurst. John B. Brawley studied law and was prothonotary of Mckean county for two terms and served for one term as clerk to the county commissioners of Craw- ford county. Active in the support of the Democratic party, his services in its behalf were recognized by President Cleveland, who appointed him to the position of sixth auditor and assistant register of the United States treasury. Of late years he has been engaged in the oil business. in partnership with his
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brother, Hugh P. The latter is at present the chairman of the fourth division of the Democratic state executive committee.
Curtis S. Clark, clerk of the courts of Crawford county, was born in Chautauqua county, New York, February 20, 1840. When five years of age his father died, and his mother removed with her children to Crawford county, where he has since been a continuous resident, with the exception of fifteen years spent in Cleveland. Much of his education was acquired at home, under the instruction of his mother, and this was supplemented by a course at the Edinboro Normal School.
In 1858 Mr. Clark began teaching school in Crawford county, and in 1863 engaged in the oil refinery business, and the next year went into the drug busi- ness in Titusville with his brother. He sold out his interest in Titusville in 1868 and removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where he engaged in the manufacture of a proprietary medicine. In 1884 he located permanently on his farm in Crawford county, and followed the occupation of a farmer until 1893, when he came to Meadville, and the next year established a paper known as the Sledge Hammer. In 1896 he became the candidate of the allied Democratic and Pop- ulistic forces for clerk of the courts, to which office he was elected, and which he now fills.
Elbert Smith, treasurer of Crawford county, was born at Guy's Mills, Pennsylvania, on the 17th of January, 1865. His early education was acquired in the schools of this county, and he entered Allegheny College, at which insti- tution he was graduated in June. 1888, having won several honors during his college course. The ensuing year was spent at Harvard University. In the summer of 1889 he visited Europe, spending some time in England, Germany and France, particularly in London and Paris. Returning to America in the fall of 1889. he taught school in Crawford county for a year.
In 1890 he received the Republican nomination for county treasurer, the Democrats endorsing his candidacy, and he was elected by a majority of thir- teen thousand votes. In 1894, his term of office having expired, he took up the study of law in the office of Joshua Douglass, Esq. In 1896 he was again elected county treasurer, for a term of three years, and is still serving in that capacity. Mr. Smith is an active worker in the Republican party and is a promi- nent member of the Columbia Republican Club, in which he has held various offices.
Matthewe R. Snodgrass .- Sixty-five years ago Matthew R. Snodgrass was born on the old homestead in West Shenango township. Crawford county, where he is still living. This property has been in the possession of his family for almost a century, and thus it may be seen that they were numbered among
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the early pioneers of this locality. Our subject's paternal grandfather, Benja- min Snodgrass, and his son John, the father of our subject, came to this vicin- ity in 1800 and took up land which, after they had assisted in clearing and improving it, rightfully enough fell to the three sons of John Snodgrass,- Benjamin, Matthew R. and J. W. Matthew R., who is the subject of this biographical notice, has greatly improved his homestead since it came into his possession and has made of his eighty-three acres a most desirable country place, furnished with substantial buildings, neat fences and well-kept orchard and shade trees. He purchased the interest of his brother. J. W. Snodgrass, who now lives on the farm just east of that owned by our subject, who is a thorough, practical farmer, making a success of most of his undertakings, and enjoying an excellent reputation for business, honor and fairness in all his transactions.
The son of John and Mary ( Rankin ) Snodgrass, Matthew R. Snodgrass, was born December 11. 1833. His boyhood was spent on the farm where he lias always resided, and such education as fell to his share was that gained in the district schools of the vicinity. By judicious study and reading he has added to the knowledge thus acquired and is now well posted on the great events of the past and contemporaneous history. In the school of practical experience he has also necessarily had his mental horizon broadened and his sympathies with his fellow men deepened and strengthened. In religion and politics he strives to keep his mind free from strong bias, that he may be able to judge fairly the merits of every question coming beneath his notice.
December 29, 1880, Mr. Snodgrass married Miss Orpha Gregory, daugh- ter of William and Lottie ( Lafferty ) Gregory. The father was a well known farmer of this county and for years successfully conducted a tannery business at Turnersville. The mother, a lady of rare culture and ability, was for some time engaged in teaching school and was a popular and successful educator. Mr. and Mrs. Snodgrass are the parents of one son. Lloyd, born October 24. 1885.
When the war of the Rebellion was being waged M. R. Snodgrass offered his service and fought under and for the flag of his country more than three years. Enlisting September 5. 1861, he was faithfully at his post of duty during the weary years up to the time of his honorable discharge, November 4. 1864. He took part in numerous skirmishes and minor encounters with the enemy and, among others, was actively engaged in the battles of Antietam, Cedar Mountain, Resaca, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He was a private in Company G. One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment of Pennsylvania Infan- try, which was a part of the Third Brigade. Second Division, Twelfth and Twentieth Army Corps, under command of Generals Hooker and Slocum. Much of the time Mr. Snodgrass was detailed to duty with the wagon train, but wherever his place was assigned there he was always to be found, prompt,
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obedient. faithful and cheerful. At the battle of Antietam he was struck in the left arm by a fragment of shell, but he did not leave the ranks and only fought the harder. The principles for which he was then ready to sacrifice his life he has always abided by, and has endeavored to do his whole duty as a citi- zen of this great republic. At present he is in favor of free silver. For the long period of forty years he has been a member of the United Presbyterian church of Shenango, and has freely contributed of his means to worthy religious and ' benevolent enterprises.
Delwein A. Stebbins, of Cussawago township, was born in that township August 31. 1854. His father, John A. Stebbins, was born in Lebanon, Madi- son county. New York, on January 4, 1813, and was the youngest son of Daniel Stebbins. Daniel Stebbins married for his first wife a Miss Fuller, and had one son, Daniel, Jr., who died at Mosiertown many years ago. For his second wife Daniel married Rachel Blodgett, and he died before the family came to Cussawago township.
In 1820 Rachel ( Blodgett) Stebbins and family came to Cussawago township in an ox cart and settled on the farm owned for many years by Horace Fields. At this time her family consisted of these children : Daniel, Jr., Lem- uel, Elizabeth, Ursula, Ralph, John, Mary and Louisa. Lemuel married Lu- cinda Greenlee, Elizabethi never married, Mary married Edmund Greenlee, Louisa married Harry Fields, Ursula married Rev. Ray Green, and all are dead.
John .1. Stebbins married Hannah T. Dawley for his first wife, and they had two children, Wheeler Dan Stebbins and Minnie C. Stebbins; for his second wife John A. Stebbins married Phebe M. Green, daughter of Rev. Ray Green. Ray Green was born in Rhode Island, and came to Alfred, Allegany county, New York, and married Lucy Smith, who was born in Connecticut. They had these children: Erastus, Eunice, Moses, Phebe, Joel and Selina. Erastus married Nancy Green, Eunice married Barton W. Millard, Joel mar- ried Rebecca Reading, Selina married first Elisha B. Green and second Jerome Remington. All are dead except Selina, who lives at Independence, Allegany county, New York. Ray Green married for his second wife Ursula Stebbins.
John A. Stebbins and Phebe M. Stebbins had two children, Delwin A. and Nina. John A. Stebbins died on the farm now owned by John Davis. where he had lived and which he had owned for many years, in Cussawago township, on April 15. 1872. Phebe, his wife, died at Independence, New York, September 26, 1886. Both are buried at Mosiertown.
Wheeler D. Stebbins was born in Cussawago township, June 30, 1845. He enlisted in the Second Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, which regiment was later divided, and he remained in the Second Provisional Heavy Artillery. He was wounded while placing the colors on the rebel breastworks at the battle in
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front of Petersburg, Virginia, was shot in the left shoulder and died in hospital at Washington, D. C., on July 26, 1864, and is buried at Arlington Heights, in the national cemetery.
Minnie C. Stebbins was born April 9, 1847, married George W. Lloyd, and died at East Springfield, Erie county, Pennsylvania, March 6, 1886. Nina Stebbins was born July 16, 1856, and now lives at Independence, New York.
Delwin A. Stebbins married Nellie, daughter of Luther Spencer, of Alfred, New York, on September 25, 1881. They had one child, Myrta Rose, born July 20, 1882, who is still living. Nellie Stebbins died December 28, 1887.
On November 25, 1889, Delwin A. Stebbins married, for his second wife, Mary S., daughter of John Loper, of Addison, Steuben county, New York. Her grandfather, Sir John Loper, was one of the pioneers of Steuben county.
Delwin A. Stebbins attended school at the "sand bank" school house, in Cussawago township, and later a select school at Mosiertown, also the Edin- boro state normal school. He moved from Cussawago in 1873, lived at Little Genesee, New York, for some time on a farm, later attended AAlfred University, teaching school winters. He studied law with General Rufus Scott at Belmont. New York, was graduated in the Albany law school on May 22, 1884, and admitted to practice law at Binghamton, New York, on May 9, 1884. He has since resided and practiced his profession at Almond, New York.
William Pents, of Meadville, was born April 2, 1820, at York, Pennsyl- vania, a son of Daniel and Rachel (Shaffer) Pentz, both natives of York and of German ancestry. William received his education in the public schools at York, and learned his father's trade, that of a tobacconist, and later became a plasterer. He afterward was a butcher, which occupation he followed for eight years. William came to Meadville in 1845. His father removed here in 1856. He remained but three years, when he returned to his native home. In 1870 William was appointed court crier in 'Meadville, and in 1872 was elected justice of the peace, serving until 1877. In 1879-80 he was superin- tendent of the Odd Fellows Home at Meadville, and in 1882 was again elected justice of the peace, which office he still holds, his present term expiring in 1899.
In 1841 Mr. Pentz was married, at Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, to Miss Mary A. Campbell, a native of Kentucky, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. They had nine children, four of whom are living. Mr. Pentz is a devout Christian and has been for many years a deacon in the Methodist Episcopal church, of Meadville, and for a time was engaged in preaching on a circuit.
Samuel Pratt, a baker in Meadville, was born February 15, 1842, in Amos- ville, Virginia, a son of Henry and Rachael Pratt. His father died in 1842, and his mother in 1876. In 1869 Mr. Pratt married Miss Hattie Jackson, and
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the children of this union are: Minnie Bertha, born April 20, 1872, and Bessie Lorena, July 10. 1878. Mr. Pratt came to Meadville in 1866, and has followed an active life. He first began as a butcher, which vocation he fol- lowed until 1892, when he began as a baker, and thus he still continues. He was elected to the city council in 1892.
James Henry Caldwell, the son of John W. and Susannah Caldwell, was born in Montour county, Pennsylvania, March 27, 1839. His great-grand- father, Robert Caldwell, came from the north of Ireland to the United States, bringing his little son James at the age of four years, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Mr. Caldwell's maternal grandfather, Follmer, came from Germany.
James passed his early years upon his father's farm and at the district school: in the winter months of 1858-59 he attended the academy at Milton, Pennsylvania. At the age of twenty-one he received as wages nine dollars a month for work upon his father's farm, and in the winter following he taught a district school. When twenty-two years of age he worked the farm, on shares, the stock and implements with the farm being furnished by his father, and he putting in his labor and receiving one-fourth of the crops.
In 1865 Mr. Caldwell came to the oil country, first engaging in boating oil from Rouseville to Oil City. This business not suiting him he withdrew from it and undertook the drilling of wells for oil, and after two years of work at drilling and becoming interested in eight wells he obtained a paying well in company with Lewis Emery, Jr., on the Foster farm at Pioneer.
In 1867 he was married to Miss Mary A. Wagner, of Montour county, this state, who was born March 13, 1841, and with his wife he settled at Pioneer, an oil town on Oil creek, and while there he became a member of the firm of Emery Brothers & Company. In 1869 he moved to Titusville and built the residence on East Main street, now owned by Mrs. B. E. Moreland, and also carried a half interest in the building and ownership of the Emery & Caldwell block. In the autumn of 1873, discouraged by the effects of the financial panic, he sold his residence in Titusville, liquidated his obligations and moved to Butler county. By close attention to business in producing oil he repaired losses and in a short time was on the road to prosperity. In 1876, while on a visit to the state of Virginia, he purchased the plantation known as Varina, near Dutch Gap canal, on the James river, containing thirteen hundred and twelve acres.
In 1877 he moved back to Titusville and in 1881 purchased the estate of Jonathan Watson. In 1884 he took the option of a large coal property in Fremont county, Colorado, in company with McDonald & Norris, of Denver; and during the year McDonald was killed by the cars at the mines. This acci- dent was followed by a strike of the miners, and the year ended with a loss to
James He Caldwell
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the operating company. With all these discouraging circumstances, however, Mr. Caldwell purchased a small interest in the mine and obtained a lease for another year ; but discriminations by the railroads in freight rates and in fur- nishing cars caused him to sell his interests to the other coal companies, im- pressing upon his mind the necessity, for successful operation in coal-mining, of owning a railroad or at least of possessing a remunerative "pull" on railway managers. Before leaving Colorado permanently he sunk three wells for oil, the last one drilled proving to be a fair producer.
Mr. Caldwell ranks as one of the large producers of oil. He has been engaged in the business for over thirty years and in nearly all the fields east of the Mississippi river.
In 1882 he was elected mayor of Titusville for the term of two years. A few evenings after the first meeting of the city councils the Parshall block and the Brunswick hotel were burned. Mayor Caldwell lived in the suburbs, and when the fire bell was rung he looked out of his house and saw from the reflection of the light that the fire was apparently gaining. He lost no time in hurrying to the spot where the fire was raging,to find all the firemen, except one company, in revolt. On inquiring as to the cause of the trouble, he was told that the men would not work under the chief who had just been elected by the council. They gave as a reason that they did not feel safe in serving under a chief whom they regarded as incompetent. Mayor Caldwell did not stop to debate the matter with the men, but sent for the old chief and placed him in command. By this timely action the fire was prevented from spreading beyond the Brunswick hotel and the Parshall block. Mayor Caldwell convened the councils on the following evening and reported officially what had occurred at the fire; and he recommended that in place of the volunteer system, which had been in operation since the founding of the city, a paid fire department be organized at once. His recommendation was immediately adopted and a paid department was organized and put into operation without delay. This system, which now has been in operation in Titusville over sixteen years, gives almost universal satisfaction.
The police force was also dissatisfied, claiming that their duties were too onerous and asking that the number of patrolmen be increased. The Mayor, on investigating the subject, comparing existing work with past service, recommended that one patrolman be dropped from the list, and this was done.
At the beginning of Mayor Caldwell's administration the city water-works were barely paying running expenses; at the close of his term the works were not only paying current expenses, but also the interest on the water bonds. He was indefatigable, by personal attention, in effecting both large and small reforms. The system which he inaugurated in the management of the water- works has continued to go forward, and now the water-works are both a great
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public convenience and a large source of revenue to the city. Mr. Caldwell is a director of the Titusville Board of Trade.
In 1888 he commenced the refining of benzine, and since then he has constantly increased the capacity of his works and the number of its products. He now manufactures lubricating and refined illuminating oils and all qualities of gasoline and naphtha, calling his plant the Climax Oil Works and the com- pany the Climax Oil Manufacturing Company.
Mr. Caldwell's political faith is that the government should be adminis- tered for the people as a mass and not for classes. He has twice been a candidate for congress, in the district where he resides, a district largely Re- publican, upon the Democratic ticket, and the last time he carried Crawford county against a party majority of fifteen hundred.
To Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell have been born two sons,-John Wagner and James Henry ; and one daughter,-Gertrude May, who was born February 21, 1876, and died at the age of two years and two months. John Wagner was born July 28, 1871, and James Henry, March 7, 1877. John W. was educated in the Titusville schools, the Kiskeminetas school at Saltsburg and the Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie. New York. On January 1, 1898, he took full management of the Climax Oil Works. James Henry, Jr., was educated at the Titusville schools and the Lawrenceville ( New Jersey ) School; he entered Princeton University in the autumn of 1894. at the age of seventeen, and he left college in the spring of his senior year and enlisted in Light Bat- tery A. of Philadelphia, and saw service in Porto Rico in the late war .. Be- fore leaving for the seat of war. however, he returned from camp on furlough to Princeton and received the degree of A. B. with his class, on June 15. 1898.
The eulogy upon the character of James H. Caldwell, who now is almost sixty years of age, is to be found in a life of noble deeds. His manhood, his fidelity to truth and his pure integrity are more eloquent than panegyric of any historic pen.
Jesse Hasen, a farmer of West Fairfield township, this county, is a native of Mercer county, this state, and was born September 10, 1826. a son of Peter and Barbara (Lackey) Hazen, who settled in Crawford county in 1838. 011 the farm where the subject now resides. Their family consisted of ten chil- dren, and our subject was the fifth child: Margaret, wife of Perry Crookham ; Joseph, deceased ; David: Jonathan: Jesse, our subject: Martha: Melinda; Mathew ; and Matilda and Hulda, both deceased.
Mr. Hazen was first married to Esther McAdoo, who died August 18. 1867, at the age of thirty years. Children : Sarah Matilda, wife of William Grute, and a resident of Mercer county ; and Alfred Hazen, of West Fairfield township. March 15. 1888. he was again married to Jennie M., daughter of Thomas and Eliza ( McCurdy) Lyon. Four children have been born to this
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union, namely: Mary Elizabeth, widow of Peter Tighe, who died January, 1895, aged thirty years ; Estlier Ann, who married Edward Borland, and they are residents of Mercer county ; Margaret Grace, wife of Chauncey Kelly, West Fairfield township; and Thomas L. Hazen, who died March 15, 1895, at the age of twenty years. Mrs. Hazen is the eldest of a family of seven chil- dren, namely: Jennie, wife of our subject ; Joseph, John M., James A .. of Mercer county, Mary and Maggie D. Lyon. Thomas Lyon is still living, at the age of eighty-five years. The grandchildren of our subject are Thomas Wilton Tighe, Esther Grute, Mildred, Ralph Borland, Adeline Kelly and Paul Kelly.
Mr. Hazen has been among the important citizens of the township, having been director of the school board two terms, treasurer, auditor and trustee of Powers' church for several years.
Robert P. Marshall .- One of the loyal citizens and stanch Republicans of South Shenango township, Crawford county, is Robert P. Marshall, the sub- ject of this notice. He has long been recognized as an important factor in the success of the party in this immediate locality, and has exerted his utmost ener- gies to achieve its triumph, as he is an earnest believer in its principles and is certain that the wonderful prosperity which blesses this nation is the direct result of the beneficent rule it has so long exercised in our history since the Civil war. For twelve years Mr. Marshall has officiated as a constable and has also served as supervisor of his township. His personal popularity is so strong in this district that his friends brought forward his name as a candidate for the nomination as sheriff in 1896; but he was not the lucky man. In the Masonic and Odd Fellows societies he stands deservedly high, being identified with Adelphi Lodge, No. 424, F. & A. M., of Jamestown, Pennsylvania, a member of the Knight Templars Commandery of Greenville, and connected with the Linesville Lodge of Odd Fellows. Moreover, he is a member of the Woodmen of the World and belongs to the Grange.
Michael Marshall, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of the north of Ireland, where he probably was married to Mary Thompson. He was one of the pioneers of this county, and hewed out a farm in the forests of South Shenango township. One of the first settlers of this section, he suffered many of the hardships incident to frontier life, but left to his children a legacy of an honorable name, an unblemished record and a goodly estate. In politics he was an old-line Whig. and religiously he was connected with the United Presbyterian church. Of this church, the first of the denomination in this county, his son James, the father of our subject, was also a member. He was born, reared and passed his entire life within this township. respected and admired by all who knew him. He was a stalwart Republican and occupied various official positions of trust and honor. His death occurred
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when he was in his fifty-seventh year. For his wife he chose Miss Catherine Maxwell, of Conneaut township, this county. She lived to the age of three- score and ten, dying March 3. 1882. Like her husband she was a zealous worker in the United Presbyterian church, and was universally loved and hon- ored. Of her eight children five are deceased, and of those who survive our subject is the eldest, and the others are James B., a farmer of Tuscola county, Michigan, and Susan, wife of Frank Corson, of this township.
The birth of Robert P. Marshall occurred not far from his present home. April 12, 1854. When he was a lad of about twelve years his father died, and as he was the eldest son the duty of looking after the farm fell upon his young shoulders. He made a heroic struggle to meet the unaccustomed cares man- fully and was not unsuccessful in his undertaking. He continued to reside upon the old homestead and to manage the place as long as his mother lived, and after her death he purchased the interest of the other heirs and has since carried on the farm in his own right.
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