Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People (Volume 1), Part 92

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Venango County > Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People (Volume 1) > Part 92

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In 1802 Mr. Hughes married Nancy Shorts, who died Dec. 18, 1866. They became the parents of twelve children, ten of whom reached maturity, namely : Ellis married Urilla Davis ; James is next in line to Edward Everett ; Nancy married Rev. Jesse Benn ; William mar- ried Sarah Cousins; Samuel married Ann Campbell ; Jemina, born April 3, 1810, married Jacob Shorts, and died June 12, 1878; Jane, born May 18, 1812, married Robert Porter; Roland, born June 7, 1814, married in 1839 Susan Ridgway; Sarah, born Jan. 15, 1817, married Jesse Benn; Richard, born April 28, 1819, married Sarah Burchall in 1845.

James Hughes, son of James and Nancy (Shorts) Hughes, was born March 29, 1804. He grew up in primitive surroundings, and acquired a sturdy independence of character which won him the unqualified esteem of all who knew him. In the spring of 1826 he re- moved to Waterford, Erie county, this State. and after a year there located in Rockland township, Venango county, where he built a sawmill and gristmill, giving most of his time to operating same. Thence he removed to East Sandy, in Cranberry township, where he also built mills and carried them on until the spring of 1837, when he exchanged these pro- perties for a farm three and a half miles east of Franklin. He made his home there until 1862, and for the next three years lived on the east side of the Allegheny river at Frank- lin, thereafter living in the town until his death, which occurred Jan. 31, 1888. An honored citizen, and strong in the confidence of his associates, he was elected justice of the peace a number of times, serving twenty-seven years in that office.

On March 23, 1824, James Hughes married' Mary Mallory, daughter of Nathaniel Mallory. who had served as a sergeant in the Revolu-

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tionary war. Nathaniel Mallory was a man of stern, positive character, and when his daugh- ter Mary became a convert to the Methodist faith he was so bitterly opposed to the idea that he threatened to disinherit her if she did not leave the denomination. The girl had a will like his own, however, and when she re- fused was .given her clothing and sent from home, which she left after offering a prayer for the family. For a year she lived at the home of James Ford, in Crawford county, meanwhile teaching school. Coming with the Ford family and Rev. Seely Parker to Wolf Creek campmeeting, her story was heard by James Hughes, Sr., who offered her a home in his family, and there, too, she taught school. James Hughes, Jr., received private instruc- tion from her, at home, and their marriage took place not long after. Her husband also joined the Methodist Church, in which he served as steward and class leader, holding the latter position for seven years.

To James and Mary ( Mallory ) Hughes were born fourteen children, and Mr. Hughes sur- vived the mother and all but three of the chil- dren. Of the nine who survived, John W., born Dec. 22, 1825, married June 21, 1849, Mary Ridgway, and had children, Helena (Mrs. William Shaffer), Wilson (married Anna Royer), Clinton Wesley (married Mary Kennedy) and Charles (deceased). William, born July 30, 1829, married Nov. 28, 1850, Eleanor Bunnell, and died Feb. 19, 1854. Henry M. was the father of Edward Everett Hughes. Roland, born Feb. 28, 1834, died July 15, 1858. Sarah Jane, born May 5, 1836, died Feb. 23, 1840. Nathaniel, born Sept. 5. 1840, died in July. 1861. Nancy Ann, born Sept. 14, 1842, married Sept. 2, 1861, Plymp- ton Hill. and their children were Lewis P. (born May 14, 1863, married Minnie Pitton and had Dora, Lucille, Nina, Minnie and Nancy) and Dora (born April 14, 1865, mar- ried Ralph Mattern and has Edwin and Wilda). Phebe Armina, born June 14, 1845, died Sept. 30, 1851. Martin B., born May 16, 1847, mar- ried Catherine Stevens, and died in Dec., 1909. In 1862 Mr. Hughes married (second) Mrs. Mary Steele. widow of George Steele and daughter of Moses Hill.

Henry M. Hughes, son of James and Mary ( Mallory) Hughes. was born May 12, 1831, in Rockland township, Venango county, and received his early education in the common schools of the county. Later he attended an academy in Nelson, Ohio, and studied at Alle- gheny College, Meadville, Pa., being allowed all the advantages possible. From 1857 until

he entered the service during the Civil war he was a resident of Kansas, where though only a young man his ability and intelligence won him recognition and responsibility. He was elected superintendent of public instruction, acted as deputy sheriff and recorder of deeds, clerk of the County, Probate and District courts, and was elected marshal of Paola. He was appointed enrolling clerk of the legislature, and as such had the honor of enrolling dupli- cate copies of the Wyandotte constitution, un- der whose provisions Kansas was admitted into the Union as a free State; he was, more- over, one of the public-spirited workers who labored to keep slavery out of Kansas. Return- ing to Pennsylvania, Mr. Hughes enlisted in October, 1861, in Company K, 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was soon chosen first lieutenant, with which rank he was mustered in Oct. 18th. On Nov. 1, 1862, he became captain, serving as such until the expiration of his term, Oct. 18. 1864. On Dec. 24, 1862, he became cap- tain and assistant inspector general, 2d Brigade, 2d Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Po- tomac. Until May, 1862, he was on duty in the vicinity of Washington; and during that year he took part in the following engage- ments : Mechanicsville, Va., June 26; James Mill, June 27; Peach Orchard, June 29; White Oak Swamp, June 30; Malvern Hill , July 1; was on duty at Harrison's Landing and Yorktown until September; Rockville, Md., Sept. 11 ; Frederick, Sept. 12; South Mountain, Sept. 14; Antietam, Sept. 17; expedition in pursuit of Stuart, Oct. 6-16; Upperville, Va., Nov. 3; Markham Station, Nov. 4; Jefferson, Nov. 7; Fredericksburg. Dec. 13. He was assistant inspector general and chief of staff to Gen. J. Irving Gregg, in General Burnside's second campaign, Jan. 20- 24, 1863; following with the engagements at Hartwood Church, Feb. 25 ; Kelly Ford, March 17; Chancellorsville, April 29-May 6; Dum- fries, May 17; Beverly Ford, June 9; Aldie, June 18; Middleburg, June 19-21; Hanover Junction, Pa., June 30; Gettysburg, July 2-3; Steven's Furnace, July 5; Shepherdstown, Va., July 16: Oakshade, Sept. 13; James City, Oct. IO-II; Sulphur Springs, Oct. 12; Bristoe Sta- tion, Oct. 13: Rappahannock Station, Nov. 7; Mine Run, Nov. 26-Dec. 2: and was at Camp Stoneman until May 12, 1864. He took part in the actions at Guinea Station, May 21, 1864; North Anna, May 23-27: Hawes Shop, May 28; Old Church Tavern, May 30; Cold Harbor, June 1-6; Trevillian Station, June II : White- haven. June 21 ; St. Mary's Church, June 24- 25; Proctor's Hill, July 1-3; Warwick Swamp,

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July 12; Four Mile, July 27; Deep Bottom, Aug. 13-15; White Tavern, Aug. 16; Reams Station, Aug. 23-25; Gunley House, Sept. 2; Vaughn Road, Sept. 29-30. His record of service may well be a matter of pride to his descendants.

Upon leaving the army Captain Hughes settled at Plumer, Pa., and after some connec- tion with the United States Revenue service went into the oil business, becoming one of the organizers of the Antwerp Pipe Line Com- pany, of which he was secretary. He handled the duties of his position so ably that when the Antwerp was consolidated with the United Pipe Lines he was similarly placed in the new organization. He died in his prime, Sept. 9, 1885, at Valparaiso, Saunders Co., Nebraska.

On Nov. 27, 1859, Captain Hughes married Frances A. Richardson, who was born Feb. 9. 1840, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Rice) Richardson, and died Feb. 22, 1901. Nine children were born to this marriage, namely : Harry R., born Aug. 19, 1860, married Gertrude Cunningham and (second) Charlotte Clark, and had four children, Gertrude (born to the first union), Marguerite, Francis and Charlotte. Edward Everett was next in the order of birth. Albert Duncan, born May 31, 1865, married and had five children. Virginia Ella, born Sept. 2. 1867, was married Feb. 17, 1886, to Harry Lamberton. Eugene Emmer- son, born Feb. 7, 1870, married Belle Jones and had two daughters, Virginia and Elizabeth. Nina May, born Sept. 22, 1872, became the wife of Morris Cummings. Ural Sumner was born April 21, 1875. Annetta Lulu Lorraine, born March 27, 1877, became the wife of Charles E. Rogers and had three children, Louise, Richard Bigley and Robert, the last named deceased. Frances Amenta, born May 24, 1881, married Robert E. Moorehead and had two children, Robert (who died young) and Mary Louise.

Edward Everett Hughes, the second child of his parents, was born March 14, 1862, at Shippensville, Pa. He was carefully educated. attending the Allegheny Preparatory School at Meadville, Pa., and later entering the Uni- versity of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. Having completed his literary course he took up the study of law at Franklin, reading in the offices of Lee and Criswell, and he was admitted to the bar in 1886, since when he has been in practice at Franklin. His legal training not only led him into congenial professional work in the handling of others' interests, but has also been of inestimable value in the care of his own affairs, his business ventures having

worked out very satisfactorily. When a re- ceiver was to be appointed for the Franklin Rolling Mills Mr. Hughes was chosen for the position, and he has been associated with the conduct of the plant ever since. The company was successfully reorganized under his guid- ance and its affairs shaped upon a substantial basis, and as vice president and general manag- er he has continued to be influential in directing its policy. The establishment is now the Frank- lin Steel Works, one of the plants of the Chi- cago Railway Equipment Company. Mr. Hughes is a serious and effective worker, con- serving the matters intrusted to his care with consummate skill, with due regard for the smallest essential detail but without fuss of any kind. and his connection with any movement is a guarantee of its sincerity of purpose and reliability.

On June 25, 1889, Mr. Hughes was united in marriage with Susan Taylor Mackey, daugh- ter of Capt. Charles W. Mackey. They have two sons : Henry Mallory, born April 20. 1890, a graduate of Cornell University ; and Charles Mackey, born Sept. 23, 1899.

JAMES STORY McCRAY (deceased) was in his day one of the foremost men in the Pennsylvania oil fields, probably one of the largest oil producers in the world. Born Nov. 16, 1824, about a mile below Titusville, Pa .. on what was known as "Watson's Flats," he was a son of William McCray and a member of one of the pioneer families of the region, his grandfather, William McCray, from the North of Ireland, having early settled near Titusville, where he lived and died. He had a large family, namely : James ; Robert; Wil- liam; John; Samuel; Margaret, wife of Jacob Young; Nancy, wife of David Sims; Eliza- beth, wife of James Felton; Sarah, wife of George McCray; Ellen, wife of Benjamin Upton : Jane, wife of Samuel Moore; and Mary. Mrs. Stephen Hosmer.

William McCray, father of James Story McCray. was born in 1799, and died June 28, 1861, in his sixty-third year. He is interred in the old burial ground at Plumer, was a lifelong member of the old U. P. Church at that place, and a Democrat in politics. An early settler in Cornplanter township, he re- sided first on the Lamb. farm near Plumer, thence removing to the famous McCray tract near Petroleum Center which later became re- nowned for its rich oil resources. He spent his days there engaged in farming, giving the better part of his life to its improvement and development. Mr. McCray married Elizabeth

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Story, daughter of Buchanan Story, and she, too, is buried at Plumer. Three sons and six daughters were born to this union, namely : James Story, mentioned below; Robert, who died young; William Jackson, born June 6, 1834, who married Anna McCray (they are mentioned elsewhere in this work) ; Elizabeth, who married Henry Sedoris; Nancy A., who married Joseph McCaslin ; Mary E., who mar- ried J. M. Goudy; Margaret, who married John Wilson; Isabella, who married Gilson Eakin; and Rachel H., who married Robert Eakin and (second) C. M. Carner. The mother died in 1841, and the father subse- quently married (second) Mary Prather, who died in 1867. There were no children by this union.

James Story McCray came to this section when a mere boy, living with his parents on the Lamb farm near Plumer until they settled on the McCray place at what later became well known as Petroleum Center, nearly half surrounded by the creek along whose margin, directly at the base of the hill upon which the farm is situated, were several of the largest flowing wells of the Pennsylvania oil fields, which, together with the infinite number of good pumping wells that perforated the ground in the immediate vicinity in that terri- tory, made it one of the most remunerative in the history of oil development. Mr. Mc- Cray had such education as the local public schools offered, attending an old log school in the home township during the winter months, and during the summer seasons assisting with the work on the home place, which comprised two hundred and fifty acres. He remained at home until twenty-two years old, and when he left to start on his own account had but two dollars in his pocket. During the next two years he was employed at various sawmills in the adjacent lumber region, along the Alle- gheny river, above Oil City, and by hard work and enterprising economy was able, at the age of twenty-five years, to buy a team and take up the land which now constitutes the McCray farm, paying two thousand dollars for the property. By constant industry at farming and lumbering he continued to augment his possessions and lay the foundation for a com- fortable home, and when twenty-eight years old he married Martha G. Crooks, of Venango county, who proved a valuable helpmate in the days of their humble beginning and an in- valuable guide when the flood of fortune, which might have unsettled a steadier head, rolled upon him. Of all the remarkable records made after the discovery of petroleum in this

region, there is none more phenomenal than that of the development on the McCray farm and its immediate vicinity, at Wild Cat, Petro- leum Center and the Egbert farm. Though for eight years the sources of supply were sapped to an unheard-of extent, yet in Oc- tober, 1870, six months after oil was struck on the hill, this farm produced over twenty- seven hundred barrels a day, yielding to its owners the enormous income of more than six thousand dollars a day, though but little more than half the production was his.

When the news of Drake's success spread like wildfire up and down the country, draw- ing crowds of curious and excited visitors, Mr. McCray, associated with several others, formed a company and took a lease of two acres on the Buchanan farm at Rouseville. This lease proved a remunerative bargain, but before the first well was down Mr. McCray took advantage of an opportunity to sell his interest, and he soon afterward secured a lease on the Blood farm, adjoining his own. It was here that he made his first great success in oil operations. He had obtained a most valuable lease from his old neighbor, who still held the farm, and there in company with sev- eral partners put down the famous "Maple Shade Well," struck Aug. 5, 1863, which flowed eight hundred barrels a day for ten months. After realizing twenty-five thou- sand dollars in this venture Mr. McCray sold his interest in the lease for fifty thou- sand dollars. In 1863 Dr. Egbert acquired possession of the strip of bottom land along Oil Creek, at the base of "McCray Hill," where the first success of any importance in the immediate vicinity had been met in the spring of 1861, the Hollister well having been opened there, on a triangular tract at the foot of McCray Hill known as the Hyde and Egbert farm. There the re- nowned "Coquette Well," which began to flow twelve hundred barrels a day and yielded eight hundred daily for a considerable period, was struck almost on the McCray line, and Dr. Egbert accordingly took a lease of all that ter- race called the McCray Flats, which adjoined his own property, giving three eighths of the oil as royalty. He began developments with- out delay, and the first three wells sunk aver- aged about three hundred barrels of oil a day for a long time, of course netting a handsome revenue to Mr. McCray and piling up wealth for him. In all there were eight wells sunk on his land at the foot of the hill. In 1865, while the production was at its height, Mr.

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McCray refused a clear half million in cash for his farm.

Early in the spring of 1870 Keffer & Wat- son, operating on the Dalzell tract, on top of the hill, struck a well which began to flow four hundred barrels a day. It was near the Mc- Cray line, hence leases on the McCray farm on the top of the hill were immediately in anxious demand, and would-be operators were clamor- ing to obtain them at any cost. Mr. McCray fixed a uniform price of a thousand dollars per acre, bonus, and half the oil, and many were ready to venture production even on these terms. He also began operating himself on a large scale, and the field proved so pro- ductive that there is probably not another piece of land equal in size anywhere in the Pennsyl- vania oil regions on which are to be seen as great a number of derricks. Operations paid so well, and the yield increased so rapidly. that six months after Keffer & Watson's strike, in October, 1870, the McCray farm piped twenty-seven hundred and thirty bar- rels of oil daily. About seventeen hundred barrels of this production were Mr. McCray's own, and for a time he had probably the larg- est revenue ever received by a single firm from the production of petroleum. Yet with all these exciting experiences he retained his thrifty, honest and industrious character, the greatest ambition which he and his wife had, in the acquisition of their large fortune, being to give their children a better chance in life than they themselves had enjoyed. From the commencement of operations in 1871 to July. 1873. the production on the McCray farm reached, if it did not exceed, five hundred thousand barrels, one half of which was turned over to Mr. McCray. He was a man of active temperament. and developed marked business ability in the handling of his land as oil property, and though he worked hard en- joyed fine health throughout his long career. being blessed with a vigorous constitution.

In 1872 Mr. McCray purchased the elegant private residence of Mr. Brough in Franklin, Venango county, and there resided from that time until his death, Oct. 14, 1889. Honored and respected for his personal integrity. his civic enterprise, and his substantial worth as a neighbor and friend, the oil region lost one of its best citizens in his death. His wife had passed away March 4th of the same year, and they are buried in the Franklin cemetery .. Of their three children, Cornetha, the only daugh- ter, born Dec 19. 1855, died in 1871, and is buried at Franklin ; William Preston is men-

tioned below; Willis Elmer, born June 30, 1861, is in the West.

WILLIAM PRESTON McCRAY, eldest son of James Story McCray, was born Nov. 2, 1857, on the McCray homestead farm in Corn- planter township, Venango county, and has spent all his life in this section. He received his education at Franklin, and his connection with the oil business began in 1874. as his father's assistant. When eighteen years old he became interested in the industry on his own account, and he has made a notable suc- cess in it, though his energies have not been devoted exclusively to this line. For several years he was engaged in merchandising at Petroleum Center, where he served as post- master four years. Then he gave all his time to the production of oil on the homestead place and to the agricultural development of the property as well, settling there in 1879, when he purchased it. It was originally the old Mc- Elhenney farm. The property now comprises three hundred and fifty acres and is consid- ered one of the most desirable along Oil creek. There is still a good production of oil on the place. In 1881 Mr. McCray acquired a half interest in land formerly owned by the Central Petroleum Company, but disposed of the same two years later to Henry Wilbert. In all his personal and business associations Mr. Mc- Cray has endeavored to sustain the high repu- tation which his father enjoyed, and which has long done honor to the name. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Frank- lin, and well known in the local membership of the A. O. U. W., which he joined when nine- teen years old. Though not closely identified with public affairs he has always taken a good citizen's interest in the general welfare. and he has served six years as road super- visor in Cornplanter township.

On March 20. 1879, Mr. McCray married Kate D. Espy, daughter of George P. and Mary (Jewell) Espy. and they have two chil- dren : Lottie May married Charles V. Young and has one son, Charles Raymond, born Oct. 20, 1909; they reside in Oil City, where Mr. Young is associated with the National Transit Company ; he entered the military service dur- ing the Spanish-American war, and was in the army for two years. Orrin Delbert Mc- Cray, only son of William P. McCray, mar- ried Lena May Perry, and they have one son, William Preston 2d, born Dec. 29. 1917. They reside on the McCray farm, Mr. McCray as- sisting in its management, in which connec-

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tion he is becoming well and favorably known among business men.

HON. ROBERT F. GLENN, attorney at law, of Franklin, Venango county, could not receive a better compliment than to be called a thoroughly typical representative of the name he bears. The Glenn family in every genera- tion has had members who were men of thought and action, influential in molding public opinion and piloting it in the right direction, and those of the present day are no exception. Rev. Robert Glenn, the father of Robert F. Glenn, was a Presbyterian minister in this county from 1832 until his death, and from his day until now the name has been associated with the best intelligence and the best citizenship which Venango could boast. Reading between the lines of the bare record of their activities, we may discern energy of thought and purpose which could not fall short of useful accom- plishment.

Mr. Glenn was born Feb. 8, 1851, in French Creek township, Venango county. The family is of Scotch-Irish origin. James Glenn, great- grandfather of Robert F. Glenn, was the first of the family in this region, removing to But- ler county from York county, Pa., prior to the year 1800. He was one of the early farmers in his district, and most respected as a citi- zen. His wife was a sister of Lord Nelson, of England, and they spent the remainder of their lives in Butler county, where they are buried. Among their children was a son Samuel.

Samuel Glenn, son of James Glenn, was a young man when he accompanied his father from York county to western Pennsylvania be- fore 1800. He was occupied as a farmer and bridge builder. Later he located in the ad- joining county of Mercer, in Pennsylvania, where he died when about eighty years of age. He married a Miss Cunningham, of what was then Pinegrove township, Butler county. and they had four children, namely : Robert ; Cun- ningham, who died when a young man, leav- ing two sons and one daughter; Mrs. John Pew, who died in Mercer county ; and Mrs. Joseph Pew (the sisters married brothers), who lived in West Virginia.

Rev. Robert Glenn. son of Samuel Glenn, was born March 22, 1802, in Wolf Creek town- ship, Mercer Co., Pa. He was highly educated and became one of the early ministers of the Presbyterian Church in western Pennsylvania. After attending the academy at Canonsburg. Pa., and graduating from Jefferson College, in 1 828. he entered the Western Theological Semi-

nary, at Allegheny ; and on the 3d of Febru- ary, 1831, at a meeting of the Presbytery of Erie held at Mercer, Pa., was licensed to preach. The ensuing year he spent chiefly in supplying the vacant pulpits of the congrega- tions at Amity, Mill Creek and Sandy Lake. At a meeting of the Presbytery of Erie held at Mill Creek, Sept. 12, 1832, he was ordained and installed pastor of the congregation at Mill Creek, Venango county. also giving part of his time to Amity and Sandy Lake. He made his home at Mill Creek, where he had a farm and reared his family. On April 3, 1850, Mr. Glenn discontinued serving the charge at Amity and about the same time that at Sandy Lake, and on June 18, 1850, became the pastor of the Big Sugar Creek Church, supplying both Big Sugar Creek and Mill Creek until his death. which occurred Sept. 6, 1857. He is buried in Mill Creek Church cemetery. Mr. Glenn did notable work in advancing educa- tional facilities in his neighborhood. Largely through his influence select schools were or- ganized and competent teachers secured, and when no more suitable place could be had the church building at Mill Creek was used for school purposes-a modern idea which then found little favor among the strict Presby- terians who worshipped there. It was prin- cipally due to his efforts that the commodious building of the Utica Academy, since destroyed by fire, was erected in 1855.

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Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People (Volume 1), Part 92

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

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