Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People (Volume 1), Part 81

Author: Babcock, Charles A.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

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with her maternal grandmother in Hartford, Conn. (3) Mary R. is the wife of Edwin Eugene Seep, mentioned elsewhere in this work. (4) John A., who died in September, 1913, was engaged in the office of the Oil City Boiler Works. (5) Frank died when nine years old. ' (6) Clara A. is the wife of Charles P. Berry, secretary and treasurer of the Oil City Boiler Works, and they have two children, Charles Parker, Jr., and William Geary. (7) Stella E. is the wife of Joseph D. Flynn, formerly professor of mathematics in Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., now as- sociated with the Travelers Insurance Com- pany at Hartford, Conn. They have three children, Joseph Devine, Stella Elizabeth and Geary Benedict. (8) Charles J., deceased, married Genevieve Miller, of Clarion, Pa., and she survives him with one child, Cath- erine. (9) Arthur M. married Ella Shields, and their children are Mary Alice, Stella Elizabeth, Catherine Waybright, Arthur Michael and Daniel Joseph.

Mr. Geary is buried in St. Joseph's ceme- tery, Oil City, he and his family having been members of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church. In politics he supported the Demo- cratic party. His widow now makes her home at Hartford, Connecticut.

CAPT. CHARLES WILLIAM MACKEY, whose recent death removed one of the most conspicuous factors in business and legal circles in western Pennsylvania, was a man of in- herited and acquired talents so well employed as to bring him fame and position which never diminished in over, forty years of active asso- ciation with the largest interests in this section. Entering upon the practice of the law at a time when "big business" was just at the beginning of its regime, he inade a specialty of corpora- tion law and organization, and in that field had few equals. The bare record of his accom- plishments in this line gives an adequate idea of his capabilities. The mental power and energy lying back of his work are abundantly evidenced in all his undertakings. Captain Mackey was a native of Franklin, Pa., where the family has been established for almost a century. He was a descendant of James Mackey, of the Clan Mackey, three of whose sons came to America together in 1765, one locating in South Carolina ; another in Chester county. Pa .; and the third, James, ancestor of Captain Mackey, at Port Deposit, Md. The second served as a delegate to the convention that framed the first constitution of Pennsyl- vania.

James Mackey, the brother from whom the family here under consideration descends, was born near Inverness, Scotland, and for a few years lived in County Tyrone, Ireland, marry- ing Keziah Rebecca Murphy, of that county. During the American Revolution he served in the Continental army. His children were: Margaret, who was married in Baltimore to Major Symington, of the United States army ; Charles Washington; William, a soldier of the war of 1812, who married and moved to De- graff, Logan Co., Ohio; and Thomas, who located at Washington, D. C.

Charles Washington Mackey, son of James and Keziah Rebecca (Murphy) Mackey, was born April 21, 1791, at Port Deposit, Md., and passed his early life on the home farm. In his youth he learned the trade of wagonmaker with William Peary, at Wilmington, Del., and about the time he attained his majority went to Chester county, Pa., where he engaged in the business on his own account. He also followed that line for a number of years in Lycoming county, Pa., in December, 1831, settling at Franklin, Venango county, where he remained until his death, March 12, 1865. For nearly thirty years after his arrival at Franklin he carried on the manufacture of wagons and carriages, as well as blacksmithing, operating what was then considered a large establish- ment, and retiring in 1860, after a very success- ful career. As an able business man and a citizen of the most reliable character he held the esteem and confidence of the best element in the community, and used his influence in the furtherance of its worthiest movements, but he was not ambitious for official honors and did not solicit them. He served a term as coroner, however. The social and religious enterprises of the community had his cooperation and sup- port, the Presbyterian Church counting him among its most valued members, and he was a ruling elder for a number of years. Fraternally he was a Mason. a charter member of Myrtle Lodge, No. 316, F. & A. M. Politically he was a Democrat.

On May 19, 1819, Mr. Mackey married Julia Ann Fagundus, who was born Dec. 14, 1801, in Chester county, Pa., daughter of John Fagundus, and granddaughter of John Fa- gundus, a native of Germany. The latter was born at Frankfort-on-the-Main. and came to America in 1732, locating at Philadelphia. On Feb. 3. 1761, he married Martha Done. Their son John was born Nov. 3. 1761, and on May 23. 1785. married Marv Cressman, who was horn May 17, 1763, daughter of John and Catherine (Howard) Cressman, who were mar-

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ried in 1749 at Philadelphia; John Cressman came to that city from Germany in 1732. To John and Mary (Cressman) Fagundus were born children as follows: Andrew, May 10, 1786; Carame, Oct. 24, 1787; Elizabeth, Aug. 28, 1789 (married Edward Pierce) ; Jacob, Aug. 27, 1791 ; Susan Jane, Jan. 1, 1793 ; Mary, Sept. 19, 1794; Catherine, Dec. 18, 1796; John, Aug. 19, 1798; Julia Ann, Dec. 14, 1801.

Ten children were born to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Washington Mackey, viz .: James Fagundus, who was a major in the Civil war and served as treasurer of Venango county ; John and William, both of whom died in Center county, Pa .; Mary Jane, wife of James K. Smith; Keziah Rebecca, wife of Richard A. Magill, of Fagundus, Warren Co., Pa .; Elizabeth Anne, wife of Royal E. Scott, of Fagundus; Susan Julia, wife of Judge Charles E. Taylor, at one time president judge of Venango county ; Margretta, wife of Henry Pike, of Jamestown, N. Y .; Charles William ; and Edward Pierce, who is deceased.

Charles William Mackey was born Nov. 19, 1840, in Franklin, Venango Co., Pa., and began his education there in the public schools. Later he attended the Venango Academy and had private instruction under Prof. William Burg- win. When he went to work he learned the printer's trade, and was publishing a newspaper when a mere youth, but by the time he was eighteen he had decided to take up the study of law, which he commenced with his brother-in- law, Hon. Charles E. Taylor. His legal studies were interrupted by the Civil war, for he was among the first to offer his services, assisting in recruiting the first company in the county, the Venango Grays. This command was mustered in as Company C, 10th Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserves, and attached to the division first commanded by Gen. George A. McCall, later by General Meade. Entering the service May 6th as first lieutenant of his company, his first active duties were at Baltimore and Wash- ington. From August to November he was detached on recruiting service in Pennsylvania. Thereafter, until March, 1862, he was in McCall's Division of the Army of the Potomac, and detached as ordnance officer on the staff of Gen. E. O. C. Ord. He took part in the ex- pedition to Gunnell's Farm, Va., Dec. 6, 1861 ; reconnaissance to Dranesville, Dec. 10; action at Dranesville, Dec. 20; advance on Manassas, March 10-15, 1862; McDowell's operations against Fredericksburg, in April-June; Pen- insular campaign in June and July ; Mechanics- ville, June 26: Gaines' Mill, June 27; Charles City Cross Roads, June 30; Malvern Hill,

July 1 ; was at Harrison's Landing until Aug. 15; in the movement to Centerville, Aug. 15- 26; Pope's campaign, Aug. 26-Sept. 2; engage- ments at Gainesville, Aug. 28; Groveton, Aug. 29; Second Bull Run, Aug. 30; Chantilly, Sept. I; Maryland campaign, in September and October ; battle of South Mountain, Sept. 14; Antietam, Sept. 16-17; advance on Falmouth, Va., in October and November ; "Mud March," Jan. 20-24, 1863; duty in defense of Wash- ington, February to June; Gettysburg, July 1-3. He received his honorable discharge July 11, 1863, and shortly afterward received the appointment, from Secretary Chase, of spe- cial agent from the treasury, being assigned to the district of Eastern Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. In that capacity he collected and disbursed large sums of money, and his accounts were audited as perfect, his duties being creditably and ably performed in spite of the adverse conditions caused by the unset- tled state of affairs at the time. He resigned Aug. 1, 1865.

It may be appropriate here to mention that 1 after his Civil War service Captain Mackey gave further military service in the Pennsyl- vania National Guard, and in 1872 received his captain's commission therein from Governor Hartranft. He was a valued officer, and relin- quished his connection with the Guard reluc- tantly, because of the ever-increasing pressure of business.

Captain Mackey returned to Pennsylvania when he gave up his treasury position and shortly afterward gained admission to the bar, Aug. 29, 1865, on Sept. Ist becoming a member of the law firm of Taylor and Gilfillan, of Franklin. Business came rapidly, and it was not long before he ranked with the best patron- ized lawyers in this region, being retained as counsel in some of the most important cases in western Pennsylvania. On Dec. 5, 1875, he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States, on motion of Hon. Jere- miah S. Black, former attorney general. Cor- poration law was his specialty from the outset of his practice, and from acting as solicitor for various railroad and other corporations he also became connected with them in an official capacity, forming so many associations of important character that he was regarded as one of the strongest corporation lawyers in the State. His gift for organization brought him particular renown, and he has a record of having organized or helped to organize a hun- dred or more corporations, with an aggregate capitalization of one hundred and fifty millions. Twenty-odd railroad companies, six gas com-

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panies, sixty-seven manufacturing companies, several banks, three companies for the reduc- tion of ores, and several coal mining and quarrying companies, go to make up this total, including the following : Allegheny Valley Rail- road, of which he was attorney several years ; Olean, Bradford & Warren Railroad (now a part of the Western New York & Pennsylvania system), of which he was the projector, vice president and general solicitor; Pittsburgh, Bradford & Buffalo Railroad, of which he was projector and president ; Cincinnati & South- eastern Railroad (now part of the Chesapeake & Ohio system), of which he was a projector, vice president and general solicitor : Pitts- burgh & Western Railroad, of which he was a director and general solicitor; Norfolk & Vir- ginia Beach Railroad, which under his manage- ment established the beautiful summer and win- ter resort at Virginia Beach; New York Con- necting Railroad (now owned by the Pennsyl- vania ), of which he was a vice president, having under way the project of a bridge over the East river between Morrisiana and Brooklyn; Colorado & Northwestern Railroad, of which he was vice president and general counselor : the Firth-Sterling Steel Company of Pittsburgh, which has furnished large quan- tities of projectiles to the government; the American Axe & Tool Company, one of the largest concerns of the kind in the country ; the Columbia Gas Light & Fuel Company, of which he was also president, which supplies na- tural gas to various places in Pennsylvania and, through conduits, to Youngstown. Ohio: the Franklin Natural Gas Company, of which he was president ; the Franklin Steel Company, whose works are now the Franklin plant of the American Steel Foundries: the Anglo- American Oxide Company, whose works are in Belgium; the Shenango Coal & Mining Company, one of the largest coal corporations in western Pennsylvania ; the National Lead Company ; the Columbia Spring Company ; the National Saw Company ; and the Erie brew- eries, whose consolidation he effected. He was a director in several Pennsylvania banks, the Exchange Bank of Franklin, the Savings Bank of Franklin, the Emlenton Bank and the Eden- burg Bank.

For many years Captain Mackey maintained offices in New York City, transacting most of his operations from that point. He also had law offices in Franklin, being senior member of the firm of Mackey & Hughes, of that city. Though handling enough legal and business responsibilities to more than fill one man's time, he was long active in politics, as a stanch

Republican, from the time he cast his first vote for Lincoln, in 1864. It was said that no man in Pennsylvania rendered the party better service than Captain Mackey, and he was its candidate in 1884 and 1886 in the Twenty- seventh Congressional district of Pennsylvania. His defeat both times was brought about by the use of a large corruption fund in Erie, for except in that city he had a majority largely in excess of that of any Republican candidate in the district for years, the vote he drew in his own county being larger than Blaine's in 1884 and nearly three times the majority given for Governor Beaver in 1886. In 1888 his work as a speaker in New York and New Jersey attracted wide attention. In Franklin, where he made his home, he was city solicitor, city councilman and mayor, receiving the high- est honors his fellow citizens could bestow.

Captain Mackey had numerous social con- . nections, being a companion of the New York Commandery, Military Order of the Loyal Legion; a member of Mays Post, G. A. R., of which he had been commander ; a member of the Army and Navy, New York, Manhattan Lawyers', Colonial, Hardware and other clubs of New York City ; the American Geographi- cal Society ; the New York Medico-Legal So- ciety ; the Grosvenor Club, of London; the Duquesne Club, of Pittsburgh; and the Nur- sery Club, of Franklin. Fraternally he was a Mason, a past commander in the Knights Templar, a district deputy grand master and district deputy grand high priest, Royal Arch Masons. He died May 25, 1917, at Cam- bridge Springs, Pennsylvania.

On May 9, 1867, Captain Mackey married Lauretta Barnes Fay, daughter of Cyrus Paige and Myra (Barnes) Fay, of Columbus, Ohio, and granddaughter of Daniel Fay, of Hard- wick, Mass., who was born Dec. 14, 1752, and served in Colonel Larned's regiment in the Revolution. Her descent from Elder Brewster. of the "Mayflower," is traced as follows: Elder Brewster and his wife Mary; Gov. Thomas Prence and his wife Patience ( Brewster), married Aug. 5, 1625; Maj. John Freeman and Mercy ( Prence), married in Feb- ruary. 1649: John Freeman and Sarah Mer- rick, married Dec. 18, 1672 ; Chillingham Fos- ter and Mary (Freeman), married in 1704; Deacon James Foster and Lydia Winslow, mar- ried Julv 10, 1729: Col. Timothy Paige and Mary ( Foster), married Oct. 24, 1754 : Daniel Fay. Jr., and Mary ( Paige). married Aug. 23, 1778: Cyrus Paige Fay and Myra Barnes, mar- ried Aug. 18, 1819.

Six children were born to Captain Mackey

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and his wife: Susan Taylor, born March 27, 1868, was married June 25, 1889, to Edward E. Hughes, and their children are Henry M. and Charles Mackey; Myra Barnes, born March 27, 1870, married Cyrus Clark Osborne ; Cyrus Fay, the next in the family, was born July 1, 1872 ; William Chase, born Jan. 7, 1877, died in Hong Kong, China, Jan. 14, 1912; Julia Anne, born Nov. 9, 1878, married Dr. Karl Emmerling, of Pittsburgh, Pa .; Marion Paige, born April 13, 1884, married Thomas J. Campbell, of Franklin, Pa., April 28, 1909, and has one child, Marion Paige, born March 24, 1910.

JAMES B. RIAL, of Franklin, is one of the extensive oil producers of that region, and though he may not be counted among its oldest residents he may very properly be included among the pioneers in the oil industry, with which he has been associated since he was a mere boy. His father, coming to Franklin to engage in business because it promised to be a live center of trade, was quick to see the possi- bilities in the oil fields, and the son being old enough to afford him practical help naturally did so, thus early entering the line which has proved to be his chief interest. Father and son in turn have ranked with the most substantial men of their time in this region.

The late Edward Rial, father of James B. Rial, was of English extraction, John Riale, his first ancestor in America, having come to this country from his native England in 1725. The final "e" was not used in spelling the name for long after his arrival here. John Riale settled in Bucks county, Pa., where he followed farming. His son Richard, the next in the line we are tracing, was born between 1735 and 1740, and was also a farmer in Bucks county. John Rial (2), son of Richard, was a resident of Bucks county, serving many years as justice of the peace at New Britain.

George Rial, son of John Rial (2), was born about 1800, and at the time of his death had his home at Harrisburg, Pa., where he is buried. He did contracting, constructing large works, and when he died was building a canal for the government, from Clark's Ferry to Harris- burg. His death was caused by accidental poisoning. His wife, Harriet (White), sur- vived him with one son, Edward.

Edward Rial was born July 22, 1826, at Harrisburg, Pa., and was reared by his maternal grandparents, his parents dying when he was very young. Though his educational advan- tages were limited to the instruction he had in a few terms' attendance at country school

he became a well educated man, having an active mind and intelligence which only needed the spur of interest. He saw that if he was to succeed, it would have to be through his own efforts, but that was no discouragement to one of his ambitious temperament. After working in a hardware store in Center county for a time he conducted a livery stable, and later carried on a hotel at Tidioute, Pa., at the same time operating a stage line between that point and Warren. In this connection he had the government contract for carrying the mails. From Tidioute he removed to Union City, Pa., where he was occupied in a new venture, the manufacture of an improved patented pump. In 1869 he came to Franklin, where he first embarked in the grocery trade. But before long he caught the fever then raging over the oil discoveries in this region, and showed his faith in the value of the product by selling out his grocery and investing in oil leases and lands, being one of the first to try his fortune in that way. Though never reckless of his hard- earned capital he was liberal in making invest- ments, and chose carefully. his judgment prov- ing unusually sound. By 1879 he was interested in nineteen wells, all producing. Mr. Rial was indefatigable about following up promising leads, and never spared either time or pains to investigate his purchases thoroughly or plan their exploitation to the last detail. Hence his success. He built the tramway to the sum- mit of Point Hill, to deliver supplies to the wells above, being the first to make this im- provement in service. It was so with all his operations. They were well thought out and well dispatched, and he continued to engage in active business until his death, at Franklin, Aug. 15, 1911, at the age of eighty-five years. He is buried with his wife in Franklin ceme- tery. Mr. Rial was a member of the Baptist Church, to whose support he contributed liber- ally, and in politics he was a Democrat in principle, but not active in the party.

On April 2, 1848, Mr. Rial was married to Catherine Morrison, who was born Jan. 1, 1832, daughter of Thomas Morrison, of Mercer county, Pa., and died March 9, 1900. Eight children were born to this union: Clara, born Jan. 7, 1849, married John P. Kennedy, of Philadelphia, and died April 2, 1877, the mother of two children, Rosan (born Oct. I, 1875, wife of H. Griffith Clark ) and James E. (born Sept. 9, 1876, married Alice Parker and has a daughter Catherine, born Oct. 11, 1900) ; John, born Oct. 17, 1850, died April 11, 1851 ; Edward, born May 6, 1852, married Oct. 4, 1875, Henrietta Kilgore, and died Aug. 1, 1900,

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leaving a son, Wirt Duffield (born in Septem-, gia, wife of Curt McElheny; James O., of ber, 1876) ; Savage, born Feb. 25, 1854, died Oct. 13, 1856; Emma, born Feb. 16, 1856, died Aug. 10, 1856; James B. is mentioned below ; Phyla Emma, born Dec. 16, 1859, mar- ried Sept. 29, 1887, Edward L. Branch ; Kath- arine was born Jan. 20, 1862.

James B. Rial was born July 29, 1857, at Tidioute, Warren Co., Pa., and acquired his education in the public schools, continuing his attendance after the family settled at Franklin. Help was scarce in those days, so he began to work with his father when only a boy. In 1870 they drilled the second well on Point Hill, where James B. Rial now resides, and were rewarded with what is known commercially as the first sand heavy oil, the best in the United States. In 1874 he became his father's regular partner, the firm being known during the lifetime of Edward Rial as E. Rial & Sons, and later as E. Rial & Son, and the Rial oil interests at present are carried on under the name of J. B. Rial & E. Rial Estate. The Rials have drilled and bought about one hundred and twenty-five wells on the Point alone, and James B. Rial owns many producing wells at this writing. Besides his interests at Franklin he has wells in Butler county, up French creek, and in different parts of Venango county along the Allegheny river. Practically all his business hours have been given to the production of oil, and his heavy investments have been made to pay well by judicious operations. Like his father he is a clever judge of oil properties, and his long ex- perience in handling them has made him one of the most trusted authorities in the region.

Mr. Rial is widely known in business circles, especially in his own line, and the social con- nections he maintains have further widened his acquaintanceship. He belongs to the Wash- ington Club, Odd Fellows fraternity, Red Men, Eagles, Maccabees and Masons, in the latter affiliating with Myrtle Lodge, No. 316, F. & A. M .; Venango Chapter, No. 211, R. A. M .; Keystone Council, No. 42, R. & S. M .; Frank- lin Commandery, No. 44, K. T .; and Zem Zem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Erie, Pennsyl- vania.

In 1877 Mr. Rial married Ida J. Brown, daughter of James H. and Sarah Jane (Mc- . Christian) Brown, the former a well known contractor of Franklin. Ten children have been born to this marriage, namely: Edward J., living on Point Hill, who is in partnership with his father; Sarah J., wife of Willard Carr (they live on the Point) ; Harry E., living at Rockmere, who married Rosa Eckels ; Geor-

Franklin, who is a machinist by trade and asso- ciated with his father in business; Ida J., wife of Warren Shaffer, of Cranberry township, this county, an oil operator ; Roll R., who lives on the Point and is with his father in business ; Ruth, wife of Elmer Kechler, of Youngstown, Pa .; Irene A., wife of George W. Black, of Franklin, Pa .; and Helen Marie, wife of Donald Bleakley, son of W. J. Bleakley. Mr. and Mrs. Rial have fourteen grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. They have a beautiful home on the Point, the location com- manding a view that cannot be surpassed in this region for beauty of scenery. The family are Presbyterians in religious association.

HENRY BALDWIN PLUMER, for many years prominent in legal and political circles in Pennsylvania, was born in Franklin, Ve- nango Co., Pa., Sept. 25, 1841, youngest son of Arnold and Margaret (McClelland) Plumer. He received a thorough education and in his boyhood had the advantages of the guidance of his distinguished father, during which association his mental and moral char- acteristics no doubt took shape in the way that afterward made him distinguished. He was particularly taught to revere those principles of life and morals which had won for his father the confidence and respect of all who had business or professional relations with him. He studied in the University of Penn- sylvania, being a member of the class of 1862, was graduated from Harvard Law School in 1863, and was admitted to the bar in Boston in 1863, being subsequently granted the right to practice at the bar of Fayette county, Pa., before the Supreme court of Pennsylvania, and at the bar of Philadelphia. He began practice in the office of his brother-in-law, Judge Samuel Gilmore, of Uniontown, and later removed to Franklin, Venango county. where he practiced with his brother Samuel Plumer. In the pursuit of his profession Mr. Plumer made an enviable reputation for legal knowledge and skill and for his eloquence in presenting cases to the court. He threw himself with all the zeal of his nature and with all of his great learning into the cause of his client. He was ambitious for success, but he never wished it at the price of his honor, and looked with disdain upon anyone whose stand- ard was, first, success, no matter what the means. He belonged to that class of lawyers who look upon the profession of the law as an order of government, and believed that, whether in office or out of it, he who measured

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Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People (Volume 1), Part 81

Author: Babcock, Charles A. Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: Babcock, Charles A.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: