Bios: Bo-By Surnames: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA
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Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia
of Fayette County, Pennsylvania
editorially managed by John M. Gresham
assisted in the compilation by Samuel T. Wiley, A Citizen of the County
Compiled and Published by John M. Gresham & Co. Chicago: 1889
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/fayette/gresham.htm Table of Contents.
______________________________________________________________________
NOTE: "Brnv & Bdgpt" stands for "Brownsville and Bridgeport"
NAME LOCATION PAGE
Boley, Hugh T Brnv & Bdgpt 249
Bowers, J W Springhill 250
Bowman, G H Brnv & Bdgpt 252
Bowman, H G Franklin 316
Bowman, N B Brnv & Bdgpt 251
Boyd, A D Uniontown 145
Boyd, John, Dr Uniontown 145
Boyle, Charles E Uniontown 127
Boyle, George Luzerne 536
Boyle, John Uniontown 146
Bradman, W H Franklin 317
Breading, Clark Uniontown 147
Brechbill, McClellan Dunbar 416
Brightwell, Nathan B Washington 194
Britt, Robert Georges 493
Brooks, C H Springfield 535
Brooks, G W, Capt Springfield 535
Brooks, M D L Dunbar 415
Brown, Alexander Washington 318
Brown, J K Connellsville 416
Brown, Noah Uniontown 147
Brownfield, Ewing, Col Uniontown 580
Brownfield, F M Uniontown 148
Bryson, Adam Dunbar 417
Bugher, Aaron Washington 318
Bush, William Tyrone 319
Bute, Joseph Franklin 319
Bute, W F Dunbar 418
Byers, D A Dunbar 419
p249
HUGH THOMPSON BOLEY is a merchant at Bridgeport, Fayette county, Penna,
and is a son of Daniel Boley and Ruth Thompson Boley. His father was born
and raised in Allegheny county, Penna, and was a pilot on the Ohio and
Mississippi rivers. His home was at Sewickley, Allegheny county, where he
died in 1853 at the age of forty seven. He was a democrat. Mrs Boley was
born and reared in Washington county, Penna, and died at Pekin, Illinois
in 1855 at the age of seventy eight years. Alexander is engaged in the
ice business and has been for the past twenty five years at Pekin. (?)
Hugh Thompson Boley was born at Sewickley, July 14, 1845, where he was
reared till the age of fourteen years. At the age of fourteen he went on
the river, at the age of sixteen was acting as mate on the Ohio and
Mississippi rivers, and continued on the river in this capacity till
1874. He was in the government service throughout the entire war, was on
the steamer Henry Clay on April 14, 1862, when she ran the blockade at
Vicksburg and was sunk by the batteries of the city.
In 1874 he came west to Brownsville, and married Miss Belle Weaver, a
daughter of Joseph Weaver of the same place. In the same year he formed a
partnership with his father-in-law, the firm being named Weaver and
Boley, and engaged in the general mercantile business at Bridgeport. They
have been very successful in building up a large trade and in doing good
business. Mr Weaver died the 13th of February, 1889, at the age of
seventy years. The business is still carried on in the old firm name. The
establishment carries a nice stock of goods.
Mr Boley resides in West Brownsville while he carries on business at
Bridgeport. He is a warm democrat and has served several times as a
member of the council, and as judge of the elections. He has no children.
p250
JOHN WILSON BOWERS was born in Springhill township, Fayette county,
Penna, March 26, 1860, of pure German origin, and is the youngest son of
Joseph Bowers and Julia Ann Brooks Bowers. Joseph Bowers, the grandfather
of John W, was an early settler in the southern part of the county. He
was a man of genius, and in the crude state of Mechanical arts of that
day and in that respect gained considerable reputation. He was an upright
liberal Christian gentleman. He owned a farm of one hundred acres; the
land, due to its location, was rather unproductive, but by his energy and
excellent management lived reasonably well, and raised a family of eleven
children, who reached man and womanhood and occupied with honor and
respect various positions in life.
Joseph Bowers, with his farming and other business, built a small
distillery and made whiskey and apple brandy. In 1828 when the Women's
Christian Temperance Society was founded, many of its members,
unreasonably as it may appear, vehemently denounced the manufacture, sale
and use of whiskey in every form. They attacked Joseph Bowers and told
him if he did not cease making and selling whiskey his sons would be
drunkards. His sons were all temperate and grew to be respectable men.
He died in 1846. Joseph Bowers Jr was born July 25, 1825, on the old
homestead farm in Springhill township, Fayette county, Penna, and
received his education in the schools of the township, becoming well
learned in mathematics. In 1845 he was married to Julia Ann Brooks, a
daughter of James Brooks (deceased).
After marriage he began housekeeping on his father's farm. One year later
his father died, and by an order of the orphan's court, the farm was
appraised at fifteen dollars an acre. Joseph Bowers bought and paid the
other ten heirs their part in the estate in money. With a little over
$100 he started in life, and for twenty three years he remained on the
home farm and by the many improvements he made, added much to the value
of the farm. In 1868 he sold the farm and purchased the Alex Ross farm,
two miles north of Morris Cross Roads. This farm at that time was in a
bad condition, the buildings and fences almost gone; but Mr Bowers
immediately after his purchase began to replace them with more
substantial structures and improvements. The old buildings gave way to
more modern and fashionable ones, and his barn and house are models of
neatness and convenience. To their union were born three children: James
P Bowers, George D Bowers and John W Bowers.
John W Bowers was married to Miss Anna E Wilson, daughter of Rev William
O Wilson, DD, March 13, 1888. In April of the same year he assumed
control and management of the homestead farm where he now resides. He
received his education in the common schools of the county and at
Southwest Pennsylvania State Normal School. He never smoked a cigar nor
drank a glass of whiskey in his life.
He is a consistent member of the Lutheran church, and has been from his
early youth. He is now superintendent of the Lutheran Sabbath School. His
start in life would indicate a very promising future, and few men so
young as he are as well situated in life. He is active and a fit
representative of the young democracy of his township. He has filled the
office of township auditor for two terms, and served as member of the
county central committee.
p252
GOODLOE HARPER BOWMAN. The late Goodloe Harper Bowman who died at
Brownsville, January 30, 1874, was during his life pre-eminently one of
the ablest and most highly respected business men of the county, and his
life was without stain or blot. His family is an old and very respectable
one. He was the third son of Jacob Bowman and Isabella Lowry Bowman, the
former of English-German extraction, and the latter of Scotch-Irish
descent.
Goodloe H Bowman was born in Brownsville, April 20, 1803, and his
educational advantages were none of the best. He attended the
subscription schools of Brownsville only a few terms before entering the
store of his father, who carried on a general mercantile business at that
time at Brownsville. Young Bowman soon developed an unusual talent for
business, and formed a co-partnership with his brother, N B Bowman, on
the retirement of their father, Jacob Bowman, from business. They
continued in the general mercantile business from 1832 to 1655.
Goodloe Harper Bowman was elected cashier of the Monongahela Bank of
Brownsville in September, 1830, and filled the position most acceptably
for about twelve years when he resigned on account of the passage of an
act by the legislature of Pennsylvania, which prohibited a cashier from
engaging in any other business; and he was not disposed to relinquish his
mercantile business for the cashiership.
He became president of the Monongahela Bank of Brownsville in 1857, and
the successor of his brother James L Bowman, who went in as president in
1843, as the successor of their father Jacob Bowman, the first president
of the bank. Under the administration of the Bowmans, the bank attained
the fine reputation that it still possesses, as a reliable and prosperous
institution.
Mr Bowman on January 9, 1840, married Miss Jane Correy Smith of Reading,
Berks county, Penna. He left five children, namely: Isabella Lowry
Bowman, now Mrs Loeser; James L Bowman; John Howard Bowman; Ann S Bowman;
and William Robert Bowman. Jane Corry Smith Bowman, who died August,
1877, was the daughter of John Smith of English descent, who married
Elizabeth Bull, daughter of Colonel Bull, a native of Berks county,
Penna. He was a highly respected and very prominent man in eastern
Pennsylvania.
Mr Bowman was for many years senior warden at Christ Protestant
Episcopal church of Brownsville. He was a consistent church member, an
able and honest businessman, a kind husband, an affectionate father-a
model man.
p316
HENRY G BOWMAN of German descent, was born February 18, 1838, on the
farm where he now resides in Franklin township, Fayette county, Penna,
and was educated in the common schools of the township. In politics he is
a republican and the religion of the family is Baptist and Disciple. He
has always been a farmer, and owns 300 acres of land inherited from his
father.
Andrew Bowman, the father, was born at Hagerstown, Maryland, May 16,
1797, and came to the farm now owned by Henry G Bowman with his parents
when he was but two years old. He was educated in the subscription
schools. In politics he was first a democrat, later a whig and afterwards
a republican. He was a Baptist in religion, but joined the Disciple
church in 1844.
On May 19, 1825, he was married to Ruth Cook, daughter of Thomas Cook of
Redstone township. They had five children: John Bowman, born July 9,
1826, died July 2, 1877; Ann Eliza Bowman, born April 11, 1828, now
living with her brother Henry; Thomas C Bowman, born May 25, 1830, died
November 9, 1851; Henry G Bowman and Andrew Bowman, who died February 17,
1874.
John Bowman, grandfather, was born in Franklin county, Penna, in 1772,
and was a wagonmaker by trade. He married Miss Catherine Snively,
daughter of Andrew Snively, in 1796. After his marriage he removed to
Hagerstown, Maryland, and in 1800 removed to Fayette county, Penna, where
he died in 1858. He gave to each of his four daughters a quarter section
of land.
Henry Bowman, great grandfather, ran away from his home in Germany at
the age of eleven years, came to the United States, and as was the custom
in those days he was sold upon his arrival here to pay for his passage
across the ocean.
Andrew Snively, great grandfather, took out a patent in 1778 for 307
acres of land, in what is now Franklin tonwhsip, which adjoined the lands
of George Washington and Jacob Snively. He deed this land to his two
daughters, Catherine Bowman and Susan Newman. John Bowman bought Susan
Newman's half of the land and deeded the whole tract to his son, Andrew
Bowman.
Thomas Cook, maternal grandfather, was born in Nottingham township,
Chester county, Penna, July 28, 1756, died February 14, 1842, and was
married three times. First to Susannah Cousins of Washington county,
Penna, born September 18, 1783; second time to Elizabeth Cope, daughter
of John and Mary Cope in 1786. The Cope family in this country originated
from Oliver Cope and Mary, his wife, who came over to this country with
William Penn in 1682. Four children were born to them: William Cook,
Elizabeth Cook, Ruth Cook and John Cook. John Cook was the father of
Henry G Bowman's grandmother, Elizabeth Cook.
(Wait, isn't the grandmother Ruth Cook?)
Henry G Bowman and his sister Ann live on his farm. They are both
single, but their home is always full of children of their friends and
relatives. They are known throughout the whole surrounding countryside
for their acts of philanthropy and charity. They reared four orphans: In
1854 they took Sarah J Sinclair, a relative orphan; in 1858 Nancy
Wadsworth; in 1866 Willaim Rodaback; and John Hodge was with them for
three years, when he went West with his mother, remained there four
years, then returned to the Bowman home and continued to live with them
till his death. Only one of all these was related to the Bowmans.
p251
NELSON BLAIR BOWMAN is of a stock that represents three nations of
people: United States, England, and Germany-requiring the bull-dog
courage of English character, to conquer and hold the soil; the
persistent frugality and industry of the German to develop the resources
of the same; and the combination of the two races to establish the
country which is rapidly developing in the strongest and greatest nation
of the world.
The Bowman family settled in County Cumberland, England, where they
remained for many generations. When Robert Seymore Bowman, third son of
Stephen Bowman of Kirkoswald, was at the age of fifteen years, he was
placed as a page in the household of Elizabeth, daughter of King James
the First. In 1613 Elizabeth married Frederick the Fifth, Elector
Palatine of Germany. Young Bowman continued in her service, going with
her to Germany, where in 1616 he married and founded the German branch of
the Bowman family.
From this branch Nelson B Bowman is descended. Simon Bowman, a
descendant of Robert (or Rupert as the Germans have it) came to the
United States the middle of the last century, and settled on a farm known
as Big Spring, six miles from Hagerstown, Maryland. He married Mary
Easter, and after the birth of his son Jacob Bowman, removed to
Hagerstown in 1764 and built the first stone house constructed in that
town. His death occurred in 1802.
The second of this line, Jacob Bowman father of Nelson B Bowman, was
born in Big Spring in 1763. At the age of sixteen years he entered the
store of Col Robert Elliott of Hagerstown, where he continued as a clerk
till in the twenty fourth year of his age when he became partner with Col
Elliott, and in 1786 came to Brownsville where he was one of the earliest
merchants of that place. He acted as assistant commissary to the western
army during Wayne's campaign against the Indians.
During Washington's administration he was appointed postmaster at
Brownsville, holding the office for thirty years or until Jackson became
president, when he was removed for being an offensive partisan-a
Washington Federalist. He was one of the founders of the Episcopal church
at Brownsville, as well as one of its earliest, most useful and prominent
members. He was a man of great mind, enterprise and industry, and died in
1847, leaving a large estate.
His wife was Isabella Lowry, native of County Donegal, Ireland. In 1845
she passed away at the age of seventy eight years. She was the daughter
of Major James Lowry of Castle Finn, Ireland. The wife of the latter was
Susan Blair, daughter of Rev Arthur Blair, rector of Carnone. Major Lowry
was descended from James Lowry of Ballynagorry, who came to Ireland from
Maxwelton, Dumfries, Scotland, in 1619 and died in Ireland in 1665. After
the death of her parents, Isabella Lowry came to this country in 1784,
with her guardian Robert Nelson, a merchant of Baltimore, and a relative
of her mother.
The present head of the Lowry family in Ireland is Somerset Richard
Lowry, Earl of Belmore of Castle Coole, County Fermanagh, with whom Mr
Bowman is in regular correspondence. The Countess of Belmore is a neice
to the right Honorable William E Gladstone, the late Premier of Great
Britain.
Nelson Blair Bowman was born at Brownsville, July 8, 1807, and is the
youngest son in a family of nine children, and of whom he is the only
survivor. At twelve years of age he entered Washington (now Washington
and Jefferson) College, taking a four years' course. Leaving college he
engaged in the mercantile business and continued in the same with
remarkable success up till 1855 when he retired from active business. He
is now vice president of the Monongahela Bank of Brownsville, one of the
strongest and most reliable banks in the whole country, and one of the
very few banks that did not suspend specie payment prior to the breaking
out of the late Civil War.
Nelson B Bowman's father was the first president of this bank in 1812,
remaining as such until he handed in his resignation just previous to his
death. He was succeeded in the presidency of the same by his son James
Lowry Bowman, who continued as president until his death in 1857. He was
succeeded by his brother Goodloe Harper Bowman, who acted in the same
capacity until his death in 1874.
Nelson B Bowman was married in 1856 to Miss Elizabeth L Dunn, of
Reading, Pennsylvania. To their union were born six children, two of whom
are now living: Sarah Bowman and Charles William Bowman. Mr Bowman has
never held any office nor aspired to political honors of any kind. He is
senior warden of Christ Episcopal church at Brownsville. He owns two
beautiful farms near Brownsville, besides large tracts of land in the
West, and is otherwise well fixed in life. He is a man of pleasant
manners and is well versed in literature, a good conversationalist, and
takes special pride in entertaining his friends at his beautiful home,
Nemacolin Towers, where he was born and where his father lived for sixty
years from his marriage to his death. The house is very extensive, castle
shape, commands a magnificent view of the Monongahela, of the extensive
suburbs of Bridgeport and West Brownsville. With its ample grounds finely
improved, it is considered by many to be the finest residence in Fayette
county.
June 16, 1889, he mourned the loss of his excellent wife. The following
concerning the same appeared in the GENIUS OF LIBERTY, June 20, 1889: Mrs
Elizabeth L Bowman, wife of Nelson B Bowman, died at their home in
Brownsville, Sunday, June 16, 1889, in her sixty second year. Mrs Bowman
was a woman possessed of many Christian graces and had many friends. With
her husband, two children, a son and a daughter, mourn her death. She
was a devoted member of Christ church in which her funeral rites were
performed and in the churchyard nearby her remains were interred on
Tuesday the 18th.
p145
A D BOYD. What a man makes of himself, and not what he is made by the
aid of family or the influence of friends, is a record that he can
proudly leave behind him for the inspection of the world; and the field
of action in which a life career of activity or usefulness may be carved
out, need not be national in its dimensions. Such has been the fortune of
the subject of this sketch. He has won for himself the position in life
he now holds through his own efforts.
Albert D Boyd is a native of Menallen township and was born December 31,
1845, and is the son of William Boyd and Jane Burgess Boyd. His
grandfather, Robert Boyd, was a native of Fayette county, Penna, and
served one term as associate judge. His great great grandfather Boyd came
to the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, thence he removed and settled near
Connellsville. William Boyd, his son and A D Boyd's father, was raised a
farmer and followed that pursuit for a livelihood. William Boyd died in
1880. His wife, Jane Burgess Boyd, was born in Maryland.
Albert D Boyd was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools,
and attended an academy for a few sessions. He read law with Judge
Willson, and was admitted to the bar March 1, 1869. He was elected
district attorney and served as such from 1871 to 1874. He was twice
chairman of the democratic central committee of Fayette county. With his
splendid executive ability, energy and push, his appointments were
generally designated as "the right man in the right place."
He was married in 1872 to Miss Annie E Patterson, daughter of Robert
Patterson, a natiave of Ireland, from whence he emigrated in about 1815.
Mr Boyd has five children: Alpheus E Boyd, Samuel P Boyd, Albert D Boyd,
Wallace B Boyd, and Mary E Boyd.
A D Boyd is a good lawyer, a good speaker, is making a fine record, and
is rapidly rising toward the head of his profession. He enjoys a large
practice, and is highly respected at the bar.
p146
DR JOHN BOYD is of a family that has produced a number of eminent,
professional men, as well as men of note, gentlemen and scholars.
His grandfather, William Boyd, came from Kilmarnock, Scotland, and
brought a grant for several hundred acres of land covering the present
site of the city of Halifax. This grant bore the sea of James VI, King of
England; but his sympathy for the American colonists during the War of
the Revolution caused the forfeiture of his lands to the crown.
His father, Rev Eben L Boyd, was a noted preacher in South Berwick for
many years.
His eldest son, Dr Eben L Boyd, was a graduate of Cambridge,
Massachusetts, and had an extended reputation throughout the Eastern
states as an able physician and surgeon, having performed some very
wonderful surgical operations in his day. He died at Wilkesbarre,
Pennsylvania.
Dr John Boyd was a man of considerable reputation, not only as physician
and surgeon, but as a preacher of the word of God. He was born in South
Berwick, Maine, July 11, 1817, and was a son of Rev Eben L Boyd and Sarah
Frazier Boyd. He was married to Maria A Stevens, daughter of Joseph
Stevens of Boston. For eighteen years (?) and was at the time of his
death Inspector at the Custom House in Boston. His wife, Clarissa
Cushing, was a lineal descendant of Caleb Cushing, the latter coming over
in the Mayflower and whose portrait can be seen at the Independence Hall
Museum in Philadelphia.
Dr John Boyd was educated in the school of South Berwick, and afterwards
read medicine with Dr Charles Trafton of the same place. In 1835 Dr Boyd
had a call to the ministry at Haverhill, Massachusetts, and subsequently
preached at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Hampton and Kennebunk, Maine. He
was a strong advocate of temperance and delivered lectures through Maine
in the interest of her first prohibition laws. In 1848 on account of
failing health, he accepted an agency for the American and Foreign Bible
Society, and visited and preached at many of the principal Baptist
churches throughout the state. He was the pastor at Wilkesbarre for about
five years, and later for about the same length of time pastor of the
Baptist church at Washington, Pennsylvania.
He came to Uniontown in 1864 and devoted himself to the practice of
medicine, and built up a lucrative practice. He continued to preach at
Uniontown up to the time of his death. He was endowed by nature with a
strong mind, was a hard student, great reader, well versed in literature
and a good thinker. For fifty six years he was a devout Christian and his
faith in the promises of God was firm and secure, and died in full trust
and hope in them. He was full of love and charity for his fellow men.
In his library are some of the oldest books extant: a priestly Bible
published in 1634; Oyer and Terminer of the city of London published in
1730; Court of the Gentiles published in 1674; and some very valuable
medical works. He kept a handbook of his practice of medicine, and
registered every dose of medicine that he ever gave. He also kept a
register of all the patients he ever treated: giving a full history of
each case in all its different stages.
The pension officials at Washington would often come to Dr Boyd for
dates and facts in the history of applications for pensions. He was made
a life member of the American Baptist Missionary Union, Boston, September
30, 1846.
He had in his possession the family coat of arms which is several
hundred years old. The children of Dr Boyd are five in number: John Boyd,
who died soon after the war at the age of twenty two years; Eben L Boyd,
died in infancy; Sarah F Boyd, died November 4, 1882, at the age of
twenty seven; Mrs Maria F Gribble and Mrs Clara F Johnson are the living
children, and both reside with their mother at Uniontown.
Dr Boyd spent the last moments of his life in helping the sick: having
gone out at 4:30 AM to see a patient, returning home at 9:30 AM and with
a severe attack of hemorrhage, passed away February 27, 1889, "full of
years and full of honors." His remains rest with those of other members
of the family at Newburyport, Massachusetts.
p127
CHARLES EDMUND BOYLE. By the apace allowed by the plan of this work, it
is impossible to do justice to the memory of this remarkable man; yet we
deem it most appropriate that a record of the salient points of his life
should be given in the Biographical Cyclopedia of Fayette county.
Charles E Boyle. As calm and unbiased judgment of a man's life is most
likely to be rendered when its labors are ended and its ambitions and
rivalries can no longer affect the award; and as the time is now here the
historian should render such judgment in making record of the life of the
Hon Charles E Boyle, a distinguished lawyer, statesman, and jurist. The
rightful measure of distinction to which he is entitled is both local and
national: as it was honorably and justly won, it should be freely
accorded space on the Biographical page.
Charles E Boyle was born at Uniontown, Fayette county, Penna, February
4, 1836, and was the youngest of a family of four children. His father
was Bernard Boyle, who came from Ireland and died near New Market,
Virginia, 1839.
Charles E Boyle received his education in the common schools (which at
this tme were merely ushered into existence in Pennsylvania), and
afterwards pursued his studies at Madison College, and ended his school
life with a course at Waynesburg College.
While yet at school he spent his spare moments in a printing office, and
at the age of nine years he had picked up the art of setting type.
Leaving college he engaged as printer in the office of the GENIUS OF
LIBERTY. He soon passed from the type-setter's case to the editorial
chair and the proprietorship of the paper; and the unceasing toil of the
boy gave unerring promised of high position to be won through the earnest
labors of the man.
In 1861 he sold the paper to Col E G Roddy in order to engaged in his
chosen life pursuit, that of the law. While proprietor of the GENIUS his
leisure hours were devoted to reading law with the late Hon Daniel Kaine,
and was admitted to the bar December 2, 1861. He at once entered upon the
practice, in partnership with his preceptor, which lasted until 1865. Mr
Boyle in 1862 was elected and served for three years as District Attorney
of Fayette county. At the bar he developed and matured professional
attainments and intellectual powers that won him respect as a lawyer and
member of Congress, and subsequently as Chief Justice of Washington
Territory.
As a lawyer his comprehensive mind was peculiarly fitted to grapple with
the difficult quesitons arising out of a complicated case at law. His
clear statement of the facts and relevant points of his case, his strong
and convincing arguments, his logical conclusions, his comprehensive
summary of evidence and his masterly exposition of the law, made him one
of the foremost lawyers of Pennsylvania.
After a most careful and exhaustive study of his cases, when called in
court for trial, he was generally successful in winning them. His
political career began in 1865 when he was elected by his party, the
democrats, as Representative to the Assembly, and re-elected in 1866, and
was placed on several important committees. In the last session of which
he was a member, he at once assumed leadership of his party in the House,
and his course of action was so acceptable to his democratic fellow
members that they presented him at the close of the session with a costly
service of silver. He was elected president of the Democratic State
Convention in 1867 over Judge Jere Black, and in the following year was
the democratic candidate for Auditor General of the State.
Intellectual attainments, mature mind, and nearly twenty years of useful
public life amply qualified him to enter a wider field of activity and
usefulness, and accordingly his name was presented by his friends in
1872, 1874, 1876, 1878, and 1880 as a candidate for Congress from the
twenty first district before the democratic convention. In each of these
years his native county increased her majority for him, but he failed
each time in teh monination, it going to men in on or the other counties
of the district.
After an acrimonious contest in 1882, he was nominated and elected to
Congress by a handsome majority over the late popular Charles S Seaton,
and was re-elected in 1884 by a very flattering vote over the Hon J W
Ray. While serving his second term, he was chairman of the Panelectric
Committee, and made one of the ablest reports ever sent out from a
committee room.
He was a candidate for President Judge in 1887 of the Fourteenth
Judicial District, composed of the counties of Fayette and Greene;
receiving the nomination of his party for that office in Fayette, but as
there was in the county an independent democratic candidate for the same
office, divided the democratic vote so that the republican candidate was
elected. He was well qualified for the office and would have made an
able, learned and most excellent Judge.
He held various offices of trust and responsibility: Director of First
National Bank and Vestryman of St Peter's Protestant Episcopal church.
>From 1871 to 1880, he operated largely in coke. He was solicitor of the B
& O R R Co, and retained counself of nearly all the large coke and
furnace companies of southwestern Pennsylvania.
In the Democratic conventions of 1876 and 1880 as a delegate, he
strongly advocated the nomination of General Hancock for President. From
his speeches and reports in Congress, he acquired national reputation and
without solicitation upon his part, the President appointed him 1888
Chief Justice of Washington Territory. Just before leaving to assume the
duties of this important office, however, he was given a banquet at his
home and every member of the Fayette county bar was present. Soon after
receiving this flattering testimony of good will and esteem from his
legal associates, he left for Washington Territory, where he arrived
November 18th, publicly installed on the 22nd of the same month and
immediately entered upon the important duties of his office as Chief
Justice of the territory.
Only a few short days and Charles E Boyle, who so well graced the Bench
and so ably discharged the duties of his high office, was stricken down
by the hand of death, in the midst of what promised to be a long life of
honor and usefulness. He died on the evening of December 15th 1888,
Occidental Hotel, Seattle, Washington Territory, of pneumonia, contracted
while in the discharge of his judicial duties. Of Washington Territory
and of Pennsylvania, his friends alike were surprised and grieved at his
sudden and unexpected death. Many of the leading citizens of Washington
Territory mingled with their aspirations of Statehood the hope of sending
Judge Boyle, when the star of Washington as a State should be placed on
the flag of the Nation, to represent her interests and protect her rights
on the floor of the United States Senate...
He was married to Miss Mary Hendrickson of Uniontown, February 7, 1858.
They had seven children: Lucy Boyle (dead), John Boyle, Edgar Boyle,
George Boyle, Charles E Boyle, Frances Boyle, and Florence Boyle...
He died in the land of sunset skies where oceanward rolls the mighty
Columbia. He sleeps in the beautiful and historic valley of the
Monongahela where riverward flows the gentle Redstone. But his fame is
not in keeping of either the East or the West but has passed into the
possession of a nation. Requiescat en pace.
p536
GEORGE BOYLE, son of Charles E Boyle and Mary A Hendickson Boyle was
born in Uniontown, May 12, 1863.
George Boyle received his rudimentary education in the schools of
Uniontown, prepared for college at Pottstown, Penna, and entered Kenyon
College, Ohio, but on account of ill health was compelled to give up his
college course after attending two years.
He was compelled to relinquish all ideas of a professional life, and to
seek work more congenial to his health; so he engaged in farming. In 1883
he took charge of a farm in Menallen township adn remained on it until
1886 when he removed into what is known as "the Bend" in Luzerne
township, where he had previously purchased a farm of two hundred acres
of good land, upon which he has since erected a very fine house and barn
on a high bluff that overlooks the Monongahela river and commands a
magnificent view of the surrounding country. Mr Boyle has a natural taste
for farming, and expecially interests himself in the breeding of fine
stock.
In 1883 he was married to Margaret Richards of Uniontown. Their union
has been blessed with four children: Mary Boyle, Lucy Boyle, Helen Boyle
and Catherine Boyle.
p 146
JOHN BOYLE, one of the young and successful lawyers of the Fayette
County bar, is a son of the late Hon Charles E Boyle and Mary Hendickson
Boyle, and was born at Uniontown, Fayette county, Penna, November 22,
1858.
He attended the Uniontown public schools and completed is education at
St James Episcopal College, Washington county, Maryland. He read law with
his father, and was admitted to the Fayette County bar, December 5, 1881.
Five years later he became a partner with his father and S L Mestrezat
until August 13, 1889, when he opened an office on his own account, and
is now successfully engaged in the practice of his profession. April 12,
1882, he was married to Miss Ella Litman, daughter of George W Litman, a
former editor of the Genius of Liberty. Mr Boyle's practice is of the
largest among the young attorneys of the county.
In political opinion, he follows in the footsteps of his illustrious
father. He has a large and lucrative practice, to which he devotes his
whole time and attention.
p317
WILLIAM H BRADMAN was born in Jefferson township, Fayette county, Penna,
February 22, 1850, and was educated in the common schools of Franklin
township. In politics he is a democrat; in religion he is a Protestant
Methodist, and has been a member of the church since 1879. He is a
carpenter by trade and works it in connection with farming.
May 20, 1888, he was married to Martha A Chalfant, a daughter of James W
Chalfant, who resides near Brownsville. They have the following children:
Bessie L Bradman, and Margaret O Bradman who are living, and an infant
and Ethel V who are dead.
William Bradman (father) was born in Maryland, October 22, 1811, and is
of English descent. His father emigrated from Maryland, and settled near
Searight in 1812. His father died when he was about eight years of age,
when he was bound to Abraham Vale, a Quaker of Searight, with whom he
remained until he was sixteen years old, after which he worked at farming
for different persons till he went to learn his trade. He was one of a
family of twelve children, whom their widowed mother was unable to
provide for, and they were scattered. He learned the trade of carpenter
with Robert Graham, of Indiana county, Penna, in 1829-32. He worked at
his trade for about forty years in Fayette county.
He is a democrat and voted for General Jackson in 1832, and for Grover
Cleveland in 1888. He has held the offices of constable, school director
and auditor of Franklin township. In 1855 he was elected treasurer of
Fayette county, and served one term of two years. He has been a member of
the Methodist Protestant church since 1840, and has been a steward and a
trustee of the same for many years.
In 1850 he bought eighty four acres of land from the heirs of Francis
Lewis of Franklin township, and has resided on the farm ever since. In
1856 his house and all the contents were destroyed by fire, and not a
change of clothing even was left to him or his family. He rebuilt and now
the buildings of the farm are in first class order.
He has been twice married-in 1833 to Jane Dearman, daughter of Alexander
and Jane Dearman of Jefferson township. They had two children: Mary Jane
Dearman who died at the age of twelve, and John A Dearman who resides in
Lansing, Michigan. His wife died in 1837.
In 1840 he was again married, to Hannah, daughter of Jacob Wolf, of
Franklin township. Their children were: Ann Bradman, Jacob Bradman,
Austman Bradman, George Bradman, William Bradman, Kate Bradman and Agnes
Bradman. Agnes is dead. Jacob and Austman died in infancy. The three
living sons are carpenters. His second wife died in 1887, aged seventy
five years, seven months, and twenty eight days.
His father, Jacob Bradman, was born east of the mountains, married Mary
Winset of Maryland, and was a farmer by occupation. His children were:
Ellen Bradman, Priscilla Bradman, Ketura Bradman, Tabitha Bradman,
William Bradman, James P Bradman, John Bradman, Nancy Bradman, Rachel
Bradman and Agnes Bradman. Two other children died in infancy. It can be
truthfully said that the Bradman family are, and have always been, honest
and industrious citizens, and conscientious Christians.
p147
CLARK BREADING -a staunch republican, Masonic Knight Templar, successful
farmer, and a large stock dealer-was born in Luzerne township, Fayette
county, Penna, March 9, 1806, and died April 12, 1883.
He grew to man's estate on his father's farm, and walked over four miles
to school that ran but three months in the year, with the speller as its
only textbook. With these limited opportunities he fitted himself well
for business, and was successful in whatever he undertook. He engaged in
farming in which he continued till 1865. In 1865 he purchased the
property on the corner of Main Street and Mount Vernon avenue, in which
he resided until his death. He was a large and well known stock dealer,
and was for many years in the drug business.
The ancestry of the Breading family is as follows: David Breading of
Scotch descent was born in Ireland and came to Lancaster county, Penna,
in 1728; accompanying him was his son James Breading.
James had two sons: Judge Nathaniel Breading, who served under
Washington, married Ann Ewing, daughter of General Ewing. Judge Breading
was born 1751, Lancaster county, and died 1822, in Fayette county, Penna.
David Breading was born in Lancaster county, Penna, in 1756; he also
served under Washington and was at the battle of Monmouth, and a witness
to Washington's severe reprimand of General Lee. David Breading Jr
married Elizabeth Clark, November 17, 1785, came to Fayette county, Penna,
in 1794, followed farming and died in 1844, aged eighty six years and
thirteen days; and was followed by his faithful helpmeet on March 27, 1855.
Clark Breading, son of David Breading Jr, had one brother and three
sisters, who died of cholera in 1835 at Troyhurst, Indiana, namely: James
Breading; Eliza Breading; Jane Breading, wife of William Scott; Nancy
Breading, wife of William Lagow.
Clark Breading was united in marriage to Miss Mary Craft of the county,
on May 1, 1827. By this marriage he had one child: Margaret Breading,
married Dr O E Newton, May 10, 1849, and who now resides at Cincinnati,
Ohio.
Mr Breading's wife died June 2, 1828; he was again married the second
time, September 10, 1834, to Miss Hettie Jane Roberts, daughter of
William Roberts, a farmer of this county, the latter born August 25,
1795. She died January 10, 1868. Of this second marriage, one child, John
C Breading, was born August 5, 1851. He attended the Tuscarora Academy;
leaving school, he came home to engage with his father in the drug
business in 1872. In 1879 he sold out his store and bought a farm near
Uniontown. In 1885 he returned to Uniontown and again engaged in the
mercantile business. He was married in 1873 to Miss Ella Brownfield,
daughter of Nathaniel Brownfield, one of Uniontown's oldest and best know
citizens. They have four living children, three boys and one girl: Clark
Breading, Hettie Breading, Frank Breading and Nathaniel Breading.
John C Breading is regarded as one of the safe and solid businessmen of
Uniontown as was his father before him. He is of that class that gives to
a place whatever of business reputation it possesses.
p416
McCLELLAN BRECHBILL was born in Unity township, Westmoreland county,
Penna, June 21, 1862. His grandfather, Christopher Brechbill, was born in
Mt Pleasant township about 1795 and died at the age of seventy four. He
married a Miss George, a lady of Irish origin, who died at the age of
seventy two. The children born to their union were: Lucy Brechbill,
Elizabeth Brechbill, Matilda Brechbill, Samuel Brechbill, and Bertha
Brechbill.
McClellan Brechbill's father, Samuel G Brechbill, was born in about 1825
in Mt Pleasant township, Westmoreland county, Penna, and was married to
Mary Ann Moser, a native of the same township. They had the following
children: George S Brechbill, Emma B Brechbill, Charles Brechbill, Scott
Brechbill, McClellan Brechbill, John T Brechbill, Laura A Brechbill, and
Harvey S Brechbill.
Samuel Brechbill served as county commissioner of Westmoreland
county in 1882, 1883, 1884.
McClelland Brechbill was born and raised on a farm, educated in the
common schools of the county, Sewickley Academy, and Pleasant Unity
Normal School. He studied pharmacy ten months with Dr T L Smith of
Pleasant Unity, and took the position of pharmacist with Drs Goodman and
Heath at Mt Pleasant in 1880. He remained with them four months when he
engaged with Mr John V Stephenson, druggist at Greensburg; remained only
a short time, going thence to Pittsburgh, and was there engaged with John
T Kinney for over two years, and attended Pittsburgh College of Pharmacy
while in his employ. He came to Dunbar in August, 1883, and engaged with
Shepler, Clark & Co. Upon the dissolution of that firm in 1886, it was
merged into the firm of R W Clark & Co. Mr Brechbill still holds in his
position. Besides owning property at Percy, where he is interested in a
drug store, the firm being Brechbill & Co of which he is manager. He is a
member of the Royal Arcanum, is a popular young druggist and is one of
the business young men of Dunbar.
p396
NATHAN B BRIGHTWELL was born at Arnold's Mills, Washington township,
Fayette county, Penna, May 18, 1831. His grandfather, Thomas Brightwell,
was a native of Maryland, a soldier of the War of 1812 and married Mrs
Elizabeth Madden Hart. His father was a miller by trade, came from
Maryland in 1824 to Brownsville in search of his uncle, Joshua
Brightwell, whom he found in Washington township on the Johnson R
Stephens farm.
November 9, 1826, he was married by Rev James Sanson to Miss Zeruiah
Briggs, daughter of Nathan Briggs and Althea Pitcher Briggs, the former a
blacksmith and both natives of New England.
Mr and Mrs Brightwell had twelve children, of whom six are living: John
B Brightwell, born December 8, 1827; James S Brightwell, December 7,
1829; Nathan B Brightwell, May 18, 1831; Elizabeth Brightwell, August 29,
1833; Margart P Brightwell, September 23, 1835; Nancy J Brightwell,
October 8, 1837; Althea Brightwell, March 30, 1840; William F Brightwell,
January 23, 1842; Zeruiah Brightwell, February 12, 1844; Jemima L
Brightwell, December 2, 1845; Sarah E Brightwell, December 6, 1846; Rufus
P Brightwell, September 14, 1848. The father was a Baptist and the mother
was a Methodist.
Nathan Brightwell was educated in the common schools, was brought up to
milling and followed that business until his mill was burned in 1876 when
he removed to his present farm, the John Tiernin farm.
In 1856 he was married to Miss Catherine Tiernin. They have five
children: John T Brightwell married Margaret Alter; Charles E Tiernin
married Minnie M Wilson; Micheal W Brightwell died at 4 1/2 years of age;
William D Brightwell, a school teacher and United States storekeeper at
Gibsonton's Mills, and Eliza K Brightwell, wife of William M Finch.
Nathan B Brightwell has been for over thirty years a prominent member of
the Masonic fraternity and has filled many important positions of the
order and in his lodge. He is a charter member of Fayette City Lodge No
511, I O O F. He has filled nearly all the offices of his township and
borough. He is one of the reputable men of the borough, owns a
comfortable home, is well and favorably known throughout the county and
is a staunch democrat.
p493
ROBERT BRITT, a wealthy farmer of Georges township, living near
Smithfield, and now in the eighty fifth year of his age. He is of Irish
descent and the son of Robert Britt and Mary Lloyd Britt. His father was
born in Philadelphia, on the 12th of July, 1772, and was a carpenter by
trade. He removed to Springhill furnace in Fayette county in August,
1811, where he lived until he died, June 1, 1846. He was a Free Mason,
and belonged to Fayette county lodge, No 228. He was an elder in the
Baptist church. Mary Lloyd was the maiden name of his wife, who was born
January 25, 1772 in Chester county. She was the daughter of John Lloyd
who was of Welsh descent. She removed to Fayette county with her husband
and lived there till her death, May 5, 1862.
They were married October 16, 1793, and had eight children: Hannah
Britt, born December 29. 1794; John Britt, born September 29, 1796;
Elizabeth Britt, born September 28, 1798; Levi Britt, born December 29,
1800; Samuel Britt, March 1, 1803; Robert Britt (our subject), born June
4, 1805; Phoebe Britt, born November 29, 1808; and Evan Britt, born April
4, 1812.
Mr Robert Britt was born June 4, 1805, in Chester county, Penna, and
came to Fayette county with his father when a little past six years old,
and has made this his home ever since. He has lived here excepting two
years spent in Kentucky and eight years in Virginia while working at his
trade. He is a carpenter by trade, although for many years past he has
turned his entire attention and energies to farming and to some extent
raising stock. He owns 480 acres of land in Georges township, where he
now resides, where he has lived for nearly forty years past.
He was married December 11, 1841, to Miss Asenath Greenlee, a daughter
of William and Mary Greenlee, both residents of this county and among the
early settlers, although the exact date of their coming to this county
cannot now be ascertained. Miss Greenlee was of Irish descent; her mother
was born in Ireland and came to America when but three years old. Of this
marriage were born nine children: Mary E Britt, born September 11, 1832;
Nancy M Britt, born August 29, 1835, died June 18, 1852; Samuel G Britt,
born March 25, 1837; Ann E Britt, born 30, 1840; William M Britt, born
January 13, 1842, died August 27, 1844; Frances E Britt, born September
8, 1844; Charles R Britt, born September 5, 1846, died June 15, 1852;
John L Britt, born April 2, 1850, died July 11, 1852; and Frank P Britt,
born April 22, 1853.
Three of them are living in sight of the homestead. Frank P Britt is
a Presbyterian minister at Corsica, Jefferson county, Penna. Mary E Britt
was married to B Frank Goodwin, November 3, 1856. Samuel Britt was
married March 11, 1860, to Caroline Miller. Frances E Britt was married
January 25, 1863 to Albert S Miller. Rev Frank P Britt was married
December 28, 1876, to Jennie M Ralston.
In December, 1881, Mr Britt and his wife celebrated their golden
wedding. She died on the 17th day of June, 1882.
Mr Britt has been a member of the Presbyterian church for many years
and is a Free Mason, a member of Fayette lodge No. 228. He has held the
office of school director and some other responsible offices of the
township.
p535
CHARLES H BROOKS, one of the intelligent and progressive young men of
Springfield, is a son of W H Brooks and Lucinda King Brooks and was born
in Springfield township, Fayette county, Penna, October 19, 1859.
His grandfather, Joseph Brooks, was born in Fayette county in about
1810, and Dorothea Basinger, daughter of Micheal Basinger, was also a
native of Fayette county. Joseph Brooks was a farmer and stock dealer by
occupation, and died a highly respected citizen.
His father, W H Brooks, was born near the village of Springfield,
Fayette county, and was married June 19, 1856, to Miss Lucinda King,
daughter of Charles King by Rev William Shimp. Unto their union were born
six children: Rebecca Brooks, Charles H Brooks, Lizzie Brooks, Maggie
Brooks, Harry Brooks and Kate Brooks.
Charles H Brooks received his early education in the common schools of
Springfield township and attended several local normal schools of Fayette
county. He began teaching at sixteen years of age in his native township,
afterwards taught at New Haven and in Tyrone township. He was engaged for
thirteen years in teaching, and was popular and sought after as a
teacher.
In the spring of 1887 he was appointed United States gauger and
storekeeper in the Internal Revenue Service. He served four months at the
Gibbon's Glade distillery and resigned in orde to personally superintend
his business affairs at home, where he is now successfully engaged in
buying and selling stock.
On August 31, 1884, he was married at Springfield by Rev J E McClay to
Miss Fannie B Miller, daughter of Jacob H and Louisa Miller of
Springfield township. They have one living child: Don Dickerson Brooks,
born November 9, 1887.
His grandfather Charles King was born in Somerset county, Penna, in
1805. His wife, Rebecca King, was born in 1810, and died in July, 1889.
Mr Brooks is a past officer of Eyland Tribe, No 260, Improved Order of
Red Men, and a member of General Worth Lodge, No 386, Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, of Connellsville, Penna.
Mr Brooks is an ardent democrat, an enthusiastic worker, and has
addressed local political meetings during the different campaigns of the
last ten years. He is considered a good political worker by the
democrats.
p535
Captain GEORGE W BROOKS was born January 15, 1835, in Springfield
township, Fayette county, Penna, is a son of Joseph Brooks and Dollie
Basinger Brooks, and is of English and Dutch descent. He was raised on a
farm and educated in the common schools of the township. He remained on
the farm till the breaking out of the rebellion when he volunteered in
September, 1862, in Company B, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was
commissioned as a second Lietenant of his company; he was afterwards
promoted to the first lieutenancy and later as captain of the same
company.
He was wounded twice, first in the right shoulder at the fight near
Harper's Ferry; the second wound was received at the battle of Hatcher's
Run, Virginia, on February 6, 1865. His final discharge was July 24,
1865. He now receives a pension of $204 a year.
He married Miss Hannah King, daughter of Charles King of Springfield
township, by whom he had twelve children: Alexander Brooks married
Lucinda Dull; Amanda Brooks married John Skinner; Charles K Brooks
married Sadie Van Horn; Walter Brooks married Lucinda Bungard; Amy
Brooks; Carrie Brooks married Albert Friend; Wilson Brooks married Anna
Bailey; Rebecca Brooks married Levi Gilbert; John Brooks, Mary Brooks,
Jennie Brooks and Dellie Brooks.
Captain Brooks is a member of the G A R, William T Campbell Post No 375;
and is past commander. He belongs to the Independent Order of Red Men, No
260; and to the General Worth Lodge, No 386, I O O F of Connellsville. He
is a democrat, an ardent worker in his party, and delights in his party's
success. He has held the local offices of constable, justice of the
peace, and notary public.
p415
MARSHALL D L BROOKS grandfather and father were born in Pennsylvania.
Joseph Brooks, the grandfather, was born in about 1789, and married
Dollie Bassinger. Their children were John Brooks, Henry Brooks, Jacob
Brooks, William Brooks, George Brooks, Joseph Brooks, Samuel Brooks and
Irwin Brooks.
His father, Irwin Brooks, was born in 1837 in Springfield township,
Fayette county, Penna, and was married to Hannah Lyon, a native of
Somerset county, Penna. She was a daughter of Jonathan Lyons. They had
the following children: Dollie Brooks, Sparks Brooks, Norman Brooks, and
Marshall D L Brooks.
Marshall D L Brooks was born May 4, 2865, in Fayette county, Penna, was
educated in the public schools and at Mt Pleasant Institute, Westmoreland
county, Penna. On leaving college he taught school three times in Salt
Lick township, and two terms in Dunbar borough.
In 1888 he embarked in the mercantile business at Dunbar, under the firm
name of Brooks & Herrington. They continued in business for about two
months, when the name of the firm was changed to Brooks & Company. In
connection with the general mercantile business, he is agent for Enger &
Co of Cincinnati, extensive manufacturers of carriages and buggies, etc.
In the spring of 1889 he was elected member of the council of Dunbar. He
is a member of the Royal Arcanum 754, and is a member of the Junior O U A
M. He is an enterprising and successful young merchant, and is fast
winning success as a businessman.
p318
ALEXANDER BROWN was born at Davidson's upper ferry, now East Riverside,
Fayette county, Penna, July 21, 1828. He was reared in the village of
Merrittstown and attended school there. He began business with his
father as a clerk in a store. He clerked for various firms until he came
to Belle Vernon, and engaged as bookkeeper for L M Speer, boat builder.
He remained at Belle Vernon employed by several different firms until
1878 when he went to Pittsburgh as a bookkeeper for Captain J W Clark and
there he continued for five or six years. He was next employed with the
Speer and White Land Company and remained with them for two years. Since
then he has been engaged with the First National Bank of Pittsburgh in
looking after their coal interests in Westmoreland county.
He was married November 8, 1848, to Miss Catherine R Dunaway, daughter
of John Dunaway and Margaret Robinson Dunaway, natives of Fayette county
and of Irish descent. They are the parents of five children, three in the
drug business and one a practicing physician. The daughter is the wife of
O R Springer.
William Brown, the great grandfather of Alexander Brown, came to this
county about 100 years ago, settled on Redstone creek and was one of the
earliest settlers here. He came from Virginia to the county, and had been
a teacher in a college in New Jersey. He was a soldier in the
Revolutionary War, fought at the battle of Brandywine Creek.
He built his first distillery in this county. He owned large landed
estates in Virginia, and sold a farm near Winchester, which was paid for
in Continental money. The wife of this member of the Brown family was of
the Piersol stock.
Alexander Brown, son of William Brown, was born in Fayette county,
and was the father of George Brown, the latter the father of Alexander Brown.
George Brown married Miss Elizabeth Davidson, daughter of Jeremiah
Davidson and Anna Alexander Davidson, who were of Scotch origin and of
families who settled very early in Fayette county.
The Davidsons were Presbyterians, and are a prominent family in this
section of the state.
p417
JOHN K BROWN's paternal grandfather was of German extraction, and his
maternal grandfather, Alexander Kelly, was born in about 1771 in Ireland.
The latter came to America and, in all probability, settled in
Westmoreland county. He married and had the following children by his
first wife: Jane Brown and Elizabeth Brown. He married the second time
Catherine Campbell, who was born December 2, 1783, and had the following
children: Samuel Brown, George Brown, John Brown, Rebecca Brown, James
Paull Brown, Washington Brown, Campbell Brown, Catherine Brown and
Susannah Brown.
John K Brown's parents were Adam Brown and Mary Kelly Brown. Adam Brown
was born in Westmoreland county, Penna, and was a shoemaker. They had the
following children: John K Brown; James Brown (dead); Mary Brown married
David Hepler; Elizabeth Brown; Jane Brown married David Sherril of
McKeesport; Alexander Brown (dead); and William Brown (dead).
John Kelly Brown was born in Westmoreland county, Penna, September 4,
1811, brought up in that county and was educated in the subscription
schools of the day. He learned the trade of a shoemaker at which he has
worked since he became of age. He has been living in Connellsville for
fifty five years.
July, 1836, he was married to Elizabeth Sheppard, the daughter of
Theophilus Sheppard, a native of Westmoreland, who married Elizabeth
Stafford, and had the following children: Mary Sheppard, James Sheppard,
Phoebe Ann Sheppard, Henry L Sheppard, Elizabeth Sheppard, Sarah A
Sheppard, Catherine Sheppard, Theophilus Sheppard, Robert W Sheppard,
John Sheppard, Joseph Sheppard, Paoli Sheppard, Athanasia Sheppard, and
George Sheppard.
Of this union were born: Theodore M Brown (deceased); Artemisia S Brown
married Albert S Cameron of Connellsville; Joseph K Brown married and
lives in Canton, Ohio, and there engaged in glass manufacturing; Fielding
D Brown (dead); Florence Henrietta Brown married E Y White (see his
sketch); Mary Alice Brown (dead); George B Brown married and lives in
Connellsville; Sarah Ann Brown married to David Baer and lives in Ohio;
William Brown (dead); Eliza Eva Brown (dead); John Charles Brown, a
druggist in the West; Ida May Brown married to Flavius O Goodwin, a
resident of Connellsville, and runs a steam laundry there; Cora Adella
Brown (dead); Albert Brown, a traveling salesman for his brother.
Mr Brown had two sons who served in the Civil War. Theodore Brown
volunteered at the beginning and served during the entire war.
Joseph K Brown enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-second Pennsylvania
Infantry, under Captain Du Shane in 1862, and served to the close of the
war.
Mr Brown and his wife are members of the MP church and have been for the
last fifty three years. He is the president of the board of trustees and
a steward of the church. He has served as a delegate to the following
conferences: at Pittsburgh, Washington and Beaver Falls. He is a member
of the following orders: IOOF, K of P and Redmen. He is the only charter
member of Gen Worth's Lodge at Connellsville now living. He has never
drawn any money from any of the above orders. He has always been a strong
advocate of the cause of temperance, and has belonged to various
organizations whose objects were for the furtherance of that cause.
He was the originator of the Connellsville Hill Grove Cemetery Company
ub 1868, is at present president of the company, and the chief
stockholder of the same.
p147
NOAH BROWN is descended from one of the pioneer families of Fayette
county. He is a son of Emanuel Brown and Sarah Franks Brown, and was born
in South Union township, April 10, 1833.
His great grandfather was Wendel Brown, one of the earliest settlers in
Fayette county. An account of the part he took in the French and Indian
War is too lengthy for insertion in a sketch of this character; but can
be found in the Fayette County History, and Veech's "Monongahela of Old."
One of his grandsons, Abraham Brown, was born in 1764, and married Mary
Brownfield, sister of Col Ben Brownfield. They had fourteen children, one
of whom was Emanuel Brown, father of Noah Brown.
Emanuel Brown was born in 1800 in Georges Township where he afterwards
owned three hundred acres of good land-he was a farmer and died in 1859.
In politics he was a democrat and served as Poor House director. He
married Miss Sarah Franks, daughter of Micheal Franks of German township.
Noah Brown was raised on a farm, received his education in the
subscription schools, and engaged in farming as his life pursuit. October
2, 1864, he married Miss Eliza Jane Lawrence. They have seven children:
Alfred C Brown, born October 7, 1865; Benjamin F Brown, born August 17,
1866; Martha V Brown, February 20, 1870; John C Brown, November 4, 1871;
Ada Osceola Brown, July 21, 1875; Wade Hampton Brown, December 1, 1877;
Lulu Olive Brown, September 16, 1881.
Mrs Brown is a member of the Lutheran church, and she is a daughter of
Caleb Lawrence, born 1799, and a granddaughter of Jacob Lawrence and
Barbara Walser Lawrence.
Jacob Lawrence was taken prisoner by the Indians during the French and
Indian War. After two years of captivity he succeeded in making his
escape.
Mr Brown has a good farm of 327 acres of land in the township; he is a
democrat of the "old school;" is a member of the Knights of Pythias; and
is a good citizen and an intelligent farmer.
p580
Colonel EWING BROWNFIELD. Among the venerable men of Fayette county,
identified particularly with Uniontown for a period extending from 1805,
when, as a child of two years of age he was brought by his parents to
Fayette county, to the year of this writing (1882), a period no less than
seven years more than what is commonly counted "the allotted age of man,"
stands Colonel Ewing Brownfield in the vigor of well-preserved old age,
and if his old time neighbors are to be credited, without a stain upon
his character for general probity and uprightness in his business
dealings through life.
He was born near Winchester, Virginia, September 7, 1803, of Quaker
parentage. Thomas Brownfield, his father, brought his family to Uniontown
in the year 1805 and at first rented and afterwards bought the White Swan
Tavern which he conducted till he died in 1829.
Ewing grew up in the old tavern, enjoyed the advantages of the common
schools of that day, and when become of fitting years assisted his father
as clerk and overseer of the hotel until his father's death, when in 1830
he and his brother, John Brownfield, now a prominent citizen of South
Bend, Indiana, formed a partnership in the dry goods business of which
more further on.
In early manhood Colonel Brownfield conceived a great love for military
discipline and display, "the pomp and glory of the very name of war," and
in a time of profound peace, when he was about twenty years of age, was
one of the first to join a Union volunteer company at that time organized.
It is one of Colonel Brownfield's proud memories that upon the occasion
of General Lafayette's visit to Albert Gallatin at New Geneva in 1825,
he, with several of his companions in arms, went on horseback as military
escort to the residence of Mr Gallatin and were delightedly received by
the latter gentleman and his renowned guest.
About that time there came into Uniontown a certain Captain Bolles, a
graduate of West Point, who formed a military drill squad of which
Brownfield was a member. Under the tutelage of Captain Bolles, Brownfield
became proficient in company drill, also in battalion and field drill,
etc. After the formation of the First Regiment of Fayette County
Volunteers about 1828, Colonel Brownfield, then a private, became an
independent candidate for major of the regiment and was elected over
three strongly supported candidates. Holding the position for two years,
he was thereafter on the resignation of Colonel Evans, elected colonel
himself without opposition and continued in the colonelcy for five years,
receiving from Major General Henry W Beeson, at that time a military
authority of high repute, the distinguished compliment implied in the
following voluntary plaudit bestowed upon his regiment, namely, "The
First Fayette County Regiment of Volunteers is among the very best
field-drilled regiments in the State."
In 1832 he and his brother dissolved the partnership before referred
to, Ewing continuing the business till 1836 when he "went West" and settled
in Mishawaka, Indiana, again entering into the dry goods business. But
owing to the malarial character of the locality in that day, he decided
to leave the place after a few months and returned to Uniontown where in
1837 he resumed the dry goods business.
In the same year he bought a house and lot on the corner of Main and
Arch streets, tore away the old building, erected a new one, and there
conducted his favorite business, continuing in the same from that date to
1862. In the latter year he disposed of his dry goods interests and from
that time to 1872 was engaged for the most part in the wool business. In
1873 he was elected president of the People's Bank, which position he now holds.
Colonel Brownfield was married in 1842 to Miss Julia A Long, daughter of
Captain Robert Long of Springfield township, Fayette county. They have
had three children: Robert L Brownfield, Anna E Brownfield, and Virginia
E Brownfield.
Robert L Brownfield, a graduate of the Sheffield Scientific School of
Yale College, New Haven, Connecticut, is now a prosperous merchant of
Philadelphia; Anna E Brownfield graduated at the Packer Institute,
Brooklyn, New York, and is the wife of William Huston, a wholesale
merchant of Pittsburgh; Virginia Brownfield died on the 14th of May, 1872.
p148
FRANCIS MARION BROWNFIELD, a descendant of one of the old pioneer
families of Fayette county, is a son of Elmer Brownfield and Mary Jane
Douglas Brownfield, and was born in South Union township, Fayette county,
Penna, December 17, 1854.
Charles Brownfield, great-great-grandfather, was born in Scotland and
came to Winchester, Virginia, but soon after joined the pioneer stream
emigration to the fertile lands of the Ohio Valley. In 1760 he arrived in
what is now South Union township, where he located on three hundred acres
of land. Warrant number 3456, dated June 14, 1769, was issued to him for
this tract. In 1783 Charles Brownfield sold this farm to his son,
Benjamin Brownfield, and removed to the "Dark and Bloody" hunting grounds
of Kentucky.
Benjamin Brownfield, great grandfather, was one of Fayette county's
centenarians. He inherited the homestead farm on which he was born March
28, 1780, and died October 7, 1880. Colonel Brownfield, March, 1804,
married Miss Ruth Sutton, born December 7, 1783. He was a farmer and
stock raiser, and a very successful businessman. His real estate
consisted of several hundred acres in Missouri, four hundred acres in
Ohio and one thousand acres of coal land in Fayette county. His mind was
active up to the hour of his death.
Elmer Brownfield, father, was born on the farm, June 27, 1826. He was
educated in the subscription schools and afterwards engaged in farming.
March 7, 1854, he married Miss Mary Jane Douglas, daughter of James
Douglas. He was a democrat, as was his father before him, and was a
faithful member of the Baptist church at Uniontown.
Francis Marion Brownfield was educated in the common schools. Leaving
school, he turned his attention to farming. January 10, 1878, he married
Miss Nancy H Thomas, born June 15, 1851. She is a daughter of Thomas
Thomas of South Union township. They have two children: George W
Brownfield, born November 21, 1878, and Bessie Ellen Brownfield, born
August 26, 1881.
Mr Brownfield is a conservative democrat. He owns the home farm, which
is well cultivated and very productive, and is underlaid with coal. He
is an unassuming but intelligent and prosperous farmer. He is a member of
the Patriotic Order of Sons of America, Knights of Pythias and Odd
Fellows fraternities.
p417
ADAM BRYSON is of Irish descent. His great grandfather Andrew Bryson was
a native of Ireland, came to America and settled in Fayette county,
Penna. His grandfather, David Bryson, was also a native of Ireland, came
with his father in 1700, and settled in Fayette county. He married Nancy
Wilson, a daughter of Alexander Wilson of Fayette county. They had the
following children: Elizabeth Bryson and Andrew Bryson.
William Laughery, who was born in Fayette county, was the maternal
grandfather. He married Susan Kemp of the county and to them was born
Charlotte Laughery, the mother of the subject of this sketch.
Andrew Bryson (father) was born August 4, 1819, and came to Union
Furnace at Dunbar when the yield of iron was but three tons per twenty
four hours. Now the yield is 125 tons in the same time. They had the
following children: Surue Bryson, Nancy Bryson, Mary Bryson, William
Bryson, Rebecca Bryson, John Bryson, Adam Bryson, Emma Bryson, Bella
Bryson.
Adam Bryson was born February 15, 1860, in Dunbar township, Fayette
county, Penna, and was educated in the common schools of the township. He
has followed laboring during all of his life, working chiefly for the
Dunbar Furnace Company. He is a member of the Good Templar, Odd Fellows,
Jr O U A Mechanics, Orangemen, Knights of the Camp of Israel. He was the
first Arch Purple Marks man in Balyer, Sons of Liberty. S O L No. 36 at
Dunbar. Presided as W M for the first two years, has represented King
David Lodge, I O O F, No 826, and was twice in the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania. His father was a charter member of King Solomon Lodge of
Masons at Connellsville, and King David Lodge of Odd Fellows at Dunbar.
p318
AARON BUGHER (deceased) was born in Fayette county, Penna, in March,
1798, was reared on a farm until about the age of twelve years when his
parents removed to Freeport-now Fayette City. He learned the trade and
began boat-building, and owned an interest in the Jewess and other
steamboats. He built the first steamboat built at Cookstown in 1836, and
it was known as the Exchange. From 1836 on for many years he was
interested in boat building. His sons for many years owned a line of
steamers than ran between Cincinnati and Memphis. Among the number were
the Silver Moon, Glendale, Lady Jackson, Lady Franklin, and Lady Pike.
Aaron Bugher was married November 10, 1816, to Lovina McLain, of German
descent. They raised seven children: Sarah A Bugher, Margaret Bugher,
James Bugher, John Bugher, William H Bugher (born September 9, 1838) and
Ellen Bugher. His wife died October 21, 1833. He was again remarried to
Rachel Farquhar, a daughter of Robert Farquhar and Esther Dalson
Farquhar; the former a native of Scotland, and the latter a native of
Maryland. The Farquhars were Quakers. To this marriage were born four
children: Alling/Alline Bugher, born February 2, 1839, married M J Speer;
Steven D Bugher, born December 16, 1840; Aaron H Bugher, born May 18,
1841; Larretta Bugher, born May 23, 1843; and Anna F Bugher, born June
23, 1846.
Ellen Bugher was married to Philip Coons, March 18, 1843; Sarah A Bugher
married Thomas Todd. Margaret Bugher married Griffith Wells; James Bugher
married Margaret Housemay/Houseman; A H Bugher married Mary McClain;
Stephen Bugher married Sarah Ransom of North Carolina; Laura Bugher
married Dr S Conklin of Washington county, Penna; Anna Bugher married
Martin L Streator of Washington county, Penna, and is now a prominent
minister of the Christian church at Helena, Montana.
Mr Bugher was elected to the Legislature of Pennsylvania in 1841. He
was a prominent member of the Christian church. He died in Cincinnati, Ohio,
in 1847. Mrs Bugher still lives in Fayette City, and is in the eighty
first year of her age.
p319
WILLIAM BUSH is the son of Henry Bush and Elizabeth Ames Bush. Henry
Bush was born in 1827 in Washington county, Penna, and was a farmer of
West Bethlehem township. He served through the War of the Rebellion in
the Eighty fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry and was wounded at
Roanoke, Virginia, by the bursting of a shell causing such a fracture of
his leg that it had to be amputated. He was killed in June, 1875, while
he was cleaning a well at Hillsboro by a bucket falling on him. His widow
is still living and resides at Hillsboro.
William Bush was born June 26, 1850, at Hillsboro, Washington county,
Penna, was reared and educated at that place. At the age of eighteen he
went to Marshall county, Illinois, where he remained for two years.
Returned to Fayette county and worked at mining till 1880 when he went to
Colorado and worked in the silver mines for about eighteen months, when
he returned to Fayette county and established himself in the furniture and
undertaker business at Dawson. He occupies a large building on Railroad
street near the depot where he keeps a large stock of furniture, and has
built up a good and paying trade.
He was elected burgess of Dawson in 1885, and held the office for two
years; was re-elected in 1889, and is the present incumbent. In 1888 he
was elected a member of the F & A M, the I O O F, and Royal Arcanum.
Mr Bush was married in 1878 to Miss Katie E Cox, daughter of Harrison
Cox, a farmer of Upper Tyrone township. They have three children: Della
Bush, Harry Bush and Bessie Bush, and all are living.
p319
JOSEPH BUTE, of Scotch descent, was born at Upper Middleton, Menallen
township, Fayette county, Penna, July 27, 1812, and is a son of John Bute
and Mary Morrison Bute.
Joseph Bute, great grandfather, was born in Scotland; was a soldier
under General Braddock, and was one of the survivors of Braddock's
defeat. When his term of enlistment was out, he settled in Virginia and
was married there. The result of the marriage was one child: a son.
Joseph Bute, paternal grandfather, was born in Virginia and married a
Miss Dick of Virginia, and when he died left two sons and two daughters.
Joseph Bute, father, was born in Virginia in 1785. When a small boy he
removed with his mother and stepfather to near Wheeling, but at sixteen
years of age left home on account of his stepfather's idleness. After
working three years, he removed to Upper Middleton, then known as
"Plumsock" and engaged for a time as bar-tender with his uncle, Henry
Dick.
He soon purchased the Pierce farm in Franklin township where in 1829 he
built a sawmill and grist mill. He died in 1857.
In 1808 he married Miss Mary Morrison, daughter of Joseph Morrison. They
had the following children: Washington Bute, born May 30, 1809, married
Hope Rosser, now living in Ford county, Illinois; Madison Bute, born
February 20, 1811, died 1885, was married to Mariah Humbert, who died in
1842, then to Lutelia Black; now living in Iowa; Joseph Mephibosheth
Bute, died in infancy; John Bute, born September 11, 1815, married Nancy
Crop, lives in Illinois where his wife died in 1889; Jane Ann Bute, born
June 20, 1817, married Benjamin Archibald (dead); Cyrus Bute, born
September 26, 1819, married first to a Miss Winey, then to Margaret
Gibson, they live in Warren county, Illinois; Jefferson Bute and Monroe
Bute, twins, born January 26, 1822, Jefferson married Rebecca Crop
(dead); Monroe married Elizabeth Ball (dead, widow lives in Hastings
Nebraska (?); Andrew Jackson Bute, born May 15, 1824, married Martha
McLaughlin (dead); William M Bute, born July 10, 1826, married Ellen
Woods, reside in Page county, Iowa; Franklin Bute, born August 24, 1829,
married Mariah Huston, and lives in LaSalle county, Illinois.
Joseph Bute received a very good education and when twenty five years
old removed from the Phillips farm to the farm he now owns in Franklin
township. He was married in April, 1837, to Sarah Ann Sparks, daughter of
Isaac Sparks of Perry township. She died March 29, 1838. They had one
child, Jackson Bute, born February 3, 1838, and is now living near Grand
Ridge, Illinois.
Mr Bute's second wife was Miss Clarissa Black, daughter of Willliam
Black of Perryopolis, and she died February 17, 1875. They were married
June 1, 1839. They had the following children: John Bute, who died at two
years of age; William Franklin Bute, married Mary Smith, is a merchant of
Vanderbilt; Horatio S Bute, maried Elisabeth Oglevee, daughter of Jesse
Oglevee, now in Page county, Illinois; Sarah Jane Bute, married Isaac S
Byers, lives near Aurora, Nebraska; Arabella Bute, married James E
McMullan, is at Grand Ridge, Illinois; Susan E Bute, married Robert
McBurney; Joseph Pierce Bute, married Emma Strickler, daughter of Samuel
S Strickler, leaves near Aurora, Nebraska; Mary Clarissa Bute, married
Rev D H McKee, now pastor of Bridgeville M E church, Allegheny county,
Penna; George C Bute married Sarah Strickler, daughter of Joseph
Strickler; C L V Bute, Cora S Bute, and Olive E Bute.
Joseph Bute has always been a democrat and has been a member of the
Baptist church for forty seven years. He has been clerk of the Flatwoods
Baptist church since 1862, and deacon since 1863.
He inherited one hundred acres of land, by good management has increased
it to five hundred acres, besides owning a tract of 320 acres near
Aurora, Nebraska. He is engaged largely in stock raising.
p418
WILLIAM F BUTE, a successful merchant at Vanderbilt, was born in
Franklin township, Fayette county, Penna, July 26, 1843, and is a son of
Joseph Bute and Clarissa Black Bute.
He erected a distillery, saw mill and grist mill and was actively
engaged in conducting his various branches of business for many years. He
died in 1857. His wife was Miss Mary Morrison. They had ten sons and one
daughter. But two of these sons remain in Franklin township; one is dead
and the other, Joseph Bute--father of W F Bute--has resided since 1837 on
the old Andrew Arnold farm. He was born July 24, 1812, at Upper Middletown.
John Bute, grandfather, although not a pioneer settler of Franklin
township, yet was very active in its early history. He was born at
Winchester, Virginia, at about the close of the Revolutionary War; came
to what is now Upper Middletown in 1813 where he engaged in butchering
and hotel keeping, but soon purchased and removed to the "Pears" farm on
what is now Butes Run in Franklin township. Received his early education
under James Adair, a celebrated "master" at Thornbottom schoolhouse, and
engaged successfully in farming until his death.
Joseph Bute was twice married. His first wife was Miss Sarah Ann Sparks;
after her death he married Miss Clarissa Black, daughter of William Black
and Mary Sayers Black, the former a native of Greene county and a glass
blower. Joseph Bute had six sons and six daughters by his second marriage.
William F Bute was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools.
Leaving school he devoted most of his time and attention to farming until
1881. In that year he removed to Vanderbilt and began merchandising, in
which he has since continued with great success. His store room is
eligibly located, well arranged, and contains a large and well selected
stock of dry goods, groceries and notions.
In 1864 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Smith, daughter of Jacob
Smith of Connellsville. To their union have been born two children:
Evalina C Bute (dead) and Katie E Bute.
W F Bute is a prominent democrat, has served two terms as school
director, one in Franklin and one in Dunbar township; was elected and
re-elected justice of the peace for Franklin township, but only served
one year of his second term before his removal to Dunbar township.
p419
DAVID ANDREW BYERS was born July 22, 1843, in Fayette county, Penna.
His father, Andrew Byers, was born in Fayette county and married Jane
Hamilton, daughter of John Hamilton. Their children are: Isaac W Byers,
Susan B Byers, Sarah J Byers, Margaret Byers, John H Byers, David Byers
and Mary Byers.
D A Byers was educated in the common schools of the county, and followed
farming till 1861. In 1861 he enlisted in Company H, First Pennsylvania
Cavalry, under Captain Davidson and served three years and three months.
He was in the battles of the Army of the Potomac.
In 1868 he engaged in the coke business at which he was employed till
1873 when he engaged in the mercantile business in Dunbar for five years.
In 1878 he retired from active business and is living at the present time
at Dunbar. He is a member of the K of P, Jr O A M, the Royal Arcanum, and
the G A R. He is a member of the Presbyterian church at Dunbar and is a
leading member of the G A R.
He was married March 22, 1871, to Lucretia Spears, a native of Dunbar
and is a daughter of John Spears. They have the following children:
Ann Byers, Mary Eva Byers, James A Byers, and Ella S Byers.