Bios: Ma-Me 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
Madeira, H C Brnv & Bdgpt 286
Mahaney, David Dunbar 445
Marchand, L A Jefferson 554
Marshall, L V Tyrone 359
Martin, B B Washington 360
Martin, J G, Rev Dunbar 446
Martin, R L Georges 511
Martin, W J Dunbar 445
Mason, J A Connellsville 449
Mathiot, H B, Dr Georges 512
McClary, J J Washington 364
McClay, J E, Rev Springfield 556
McCleary, William Uniontown 197
McClelland, John H Uniontown 198
McClenathan, J C, Dr Connellsville 455
McCormick, J T Connellsville 452
McCormick, Provance Connellsville 449
McCormick, William Menallen 363
McCormick, W B Uniontown 198
McCray, F W Uniontown 199
McCray, John Menallen 363
McCrory, James Washington 351
McCrory, William Washington 362
McCrory, Wilson Washington 362
McCune, James Dunbar 452
McCusker, J P Dunbar 456
McDowell, J R Dunbar 456
McEldowny, John Luzerne 555
McFarland, Jesse Stewart 556
McGie, Samuel Uniontown 200
McGlaughlin, Henry Uniontown 200
McKee, John Sr Washington 364
McKee, Robert Dunbar 457
McShane, William German 513
Merritt, Henry Tyrone 360
Mestrezat, S L Uniontown 201
p286
HENRY C MADEIRA. The Madeira family was originally from Spain from near
the Madeira Islands. The ancestors of the American branch of the family
migrated to Germany and thence to this country.
The coat of arms of the Madeira family is a blue shield with three solid
silver triangles to represent the three Madeira Islands. Helmet on the
top is steel, finished in gold. Wreath on top of the shield is silver and
blue mountings: inside silver, outside blue. Three solid silver triangles
are above the helmet.
Nimrod Madeira, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born at
Morgantown, West Virginia, in 1815. He lived at Morgantown all his life,
and died in March, 1888, at the age of seventy three. He was a carpenter
and contractor, and one of the best in that section of the country.
He married Miss Elvira Knox, a native of Morgantown. She was the
daughter of Jacob Knox, a carpenter and contractor who came from Reading,
Penna, and located at Morgantown. She died in 1847 at the age of forty
years.
Henry C Madeira was born January 26, 1838, in Morgantown, Virginia, and
grew to manhood there. He attended the common schools of his native town.
In 1856 he came to Brownsville where he completed his apprenticeship as a
molder with John Herbertson and at present resides in Brownsville. The
molder's trade not agreeing with his health, he abandoned it and learned
that of a stone and brick mason. In this business he has prospered and is
now a contractor.
In 1861 he was married to Miss Annie E Cox, daughter of David and
Elizabeth Cox of Brownsville. David Cox was a bricklayer by trade and
died in 1864. The result of this marriage was four children: Ella
Madeira; Norval Madeira; Howard Madeira; and Maud Madeira, all living.
Norval Madeira was born July 26, 1867; he was reared in Brownsville and
attended the common schools there. For the last two years he has been
studying electricity and has become an expert electrician. He is also a
watchmaker and a timer, having learned the former calling with J S
Moorhead of Brownsville, and the latter with S Vorhees of Bridgeport. He
is now in the hardware business, and carries on the other three vocations
in connection with his hardware. He deserves credit for his success; very
few have done as well so early in life.
p445
DAVID MAHANEY of New Haven was born in Washington county, Maryland,
December 15, 1807, and is a son of William Mahaney and Susanna Shrader
Mahaney who were married in 1798.
William Mahaney was born in Culpepper county, Virginia, about 1767 and
was drowned in the Potomac River in 1856. Susanna Shrader Mahaney was the
daughter of Henry Shrader, a German who came to America and settled near
Boonsboro, Kentucky.
David Mahaney is one of a remaining few of a once prominent class, the
hotel keepers of "The Old Pike" or National Road. When the road was in
the zenith of its glory, Mr Mahaney was one of the genial and
accommodating Maryland landlords that looked after the comfort of the
traveling public. It was no small job to accommodate the throng of people
who came on foot, on horseback, in wagons and coaches and to feed and
shelter the droves of horses, cattle, sheep, etc.
From 1836 to 1862 Mr Mahaney kept a hotel at various points along the
National Road in Maryland and for some years managed the American House
at Cumberland. From 1862 to 1864 he kept the Mountain City Hotel. When
the railroads had secured the travel and business of "The Old Road," he
left Maryland and in 865 came to Fayette county. He ran the Yough House
in Connellsville for nine years when he bought what is now known as the
Fulton House, removed to Uniontown and ran this hotel for three years.
He subsequently went to Broad Ford and took charge of the Phillips House
for two years, leaving there he removed in 1882 to his present home at
New Haven. He has been a member of the town council of Connellsville for
a number of years, and served for several years as school director of
Connellsville. He was educated in Friends Cove township, Bedford county,
Penna, and in Allegany county, Maryland and was a classmate of Judge John
Cessna.
He was married in 1836 to Caroline Smouse, a daughter of Daniel Smouse.
She was born in Allegany county, Maryland. They have the following named
children: Alcinda Mahaney; George Mahaney; Lloyd Mahaney; Mary L Mahaney;
John Mahaney; David Mahaney Jr; Denton Mahaney; and Carrie Mahaney.
Two of his sons served in the late Civil War. Lloyd Mahaney, second
lieutenant of Company G, Second Maryland Regiment of the Potomac Home
Brigade, was promoted to first lieutenant and served four years. He was
in several battles and was in Hunter's raid to Lynchburg. He is now the
proprietor of the Spottsylvania House at Uniontown. George Mahaney
volunteered August 12, 1862, in Company G, Second Maryland Volunteers,
Potomac Home Brigade, and served until the 27th of June, 1864, when he
was honorably discharged on account of physical disability.
David Mahaney, now an octogenarian, can look back over a long, busy and
useful life spent in serving and accommodating the public; and within
that time he has witnessed the birth and growth of nearly all the great
American industries of the age and all of the wonderful modes of modern
travel.
p554
LUCIUS A MARCHAND, an estimable citizen of Jefferson township and the
founder of the village of Marchand, is a son of Dr Louis Marchand and
Sarah Sackett Marchand, and was born at Uniontown, Fayette county, Penna,
October 5, 1838.
Dr David Marchand, with his father David Marchand, came to Hagerstown,
Maryland, from the Canton of Berne, Switzerland. Dr David Marchand was a
fine physician of extended practice in Westmoreland and adjoining
counties. He died July 22, 1809, in the sixty fourth year of his age.
His children were: Catherine Marchand; Elizabeth Marchand; Susanna
Marchand; Judith Marchand; Dr Daniel Marchand, a physician of Uniontown;
Esther Marchand.
Dr David Marchand Jr settled in Westmoreland county, was twice elected
to Congress, was a successful physician, a man of spotless reputation,
and his seven sons were all professional men.
Dr Louis Marchand was born June 23, 1782. Dr Louis Marchand read
medicine with his father and was graduated from the University of
Pennsylvania in 1809, practiced medicine at the Marchand homestead farm
for a few years and upon the death of his brother, Dr Daniel Marchand,
located at Uniontown where he successfully practiced his profession until
1849. His death occurred January 11, 1857. He was a man in the truest
sense of the word. His character was above suspicion and none knew him
but to praise him for his skill as a physician and his blameless life as
a man and citizen.
In about 1823 he was married to Miss Sarah Sackett, daughter of Dr
Samuel Sackett, a surgeon in the Revolutonary War and a native of
Connecticutt. Dr Sackett practiced his profession at Uniontown and on
Georges Creek from September, 1781, to 1833 when he died.
Mrs Marchand died November 8, 1870, at the age of 73 years and left six
children: Elizabeth Marchand, wife of A J Miller; Dr Samuel S Marchand, a
captain in the late war and died in Libby prison in 1863; Mary Marchand,
wife of Thomas W Lilly; Frances C Marchand, wife of J W Ward; Lucius A
Marchand; and Catherine B Marchand, wife of E W Lilly.
After four years of age, Lucius A Marchand was reared on a farm and
educated in the common and California schools. He chose farming for a
life pursuit and has been a successful farmer up to the present time.
In 1866 he married Miss Minerva Van Druff, daughter of Henry Van Druff,
a prominent farmer and stock dealer of Greene county, Penna. They have
four children: Lewis K Marchand; Samuel V Marchand; Marion C Marchand;
and Gertrude E Marchand.
Lucius A Marchand owns the homestead farm of 130 acres, originally 400
acres, five miles below Brownsville. In 1873 he laid on this land the
present thriving village of Marchand, containing fifty voters. Marchand
is on the line of a projected railroad, opposite Coal Center on the P V &
C R R, and is a favorable site for a coke works. L A Marchand is a
republican and school director. He is an enterprising farmer and a useful
member of the Christian Brethren church at Coal Center.
p359
L V MARSHALL, an experienced and competent clerk in the Union Supply
Company's store at Summit, was born in Wayne township, Lawrence county,
Penna, September 6, 1854, and is a son of John H and Sue S Marshall, both
natives of Washington county, Penna.
The Marshalls are of Scotch Irish descent and of a long life race of
people. John H Marshall was born in 1810; at thirteen years of age he was
engaged in driving a team across the mountain and at the age of sixteen
owned and drove a six horse team. He drove between Pittsburgh and
Philadelphia; afterwards he engaged in the farming and mercantile
business and died in 1887. His wife, born in 1817, was a Presbyterian and
died in 1886.
His father, Thomas Marshall, was a large landowner in Washington county,
Penna.
L V Marshall received his education in the common schools of Lawerence
county and North Sewickley Academy. At sixteen years of age he obtained a
position as clerk with the Wheatland Coal Company of Mercer county,
Penna, and remained in their employ for three years. The next three years
of his life were spent in the Western States.
In 1877 he was engaged in the oil region above Pittsburgh as a tool
dresser and pipeline gauger. He worked for three companies and remained
in the oil region until 1880 when he taught a term of school. He became a
clerk in the Sharon Iron Works store in Mercer county, Penna, where he
continued until 1884 and in the year succeeding he clerked for G G Lyon &
Co of Connellsville.
In October, 1885, he became a traveling salesman for the tea house of
Ramsey Brothers when in April, 1886, he accepted a position as clerk in
the Broad Ford store of the Union Supply Company. His duties were
discharged satisfactorily and in July 1, 1887, he was transferred to his
present important clerkship in the Summit store.
L V Marshall was married in 1877 to Miss Emma Lyon, daughter of W C Lyon
of Pennsville. They have two children: Deomidas W Marshall; and Anna M
Marshall. Two of his brothers, Thomas J Marshall and W B Marshall, are
engaged in the mercantile business, while another brother, Ed H Marshall,
is a store manager. L V Marshall is a Heptasoph and a member of the
United Brethren church. He is a reliable young man and is well qualified
by years of experience for the discharge of his responsible duties.
p360
BENJAMIN B MARTIN was born in Fayette county, Penna, June 18, 1862, and
is a son of Edmund Martin and Elizabeth Brown Martin.
Benjamin Martin, grandfather, was one of the early settlers in the
county and was a soldier in the War of 1812.
Edmund Martin was in his time one of the leading merchants of Belle
Vernon, as well as an extensive dealer in stock in Fayette and
Westmoreland county. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born December 1,
1806, and died February 5, 1876. He was an earnest supporter of the
Baptist church, a good citizen and a useful businessman. His wife,
Elizabeth Brown Martin, was a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of
Benjamin Brown who was an old settler and leading citizen of his day.
Benjamin B Martin, whose name is the caption of this sketch, received
his education in the common schools. At an early age he entered into the
mercantile business at Belle Vernon and successfully continued it until
1889.
He was married September 30, 1886, to Miss Lizzie Springer, daughter of
James M Springer. Their union has been blessed with one child: Sarah E
Martin.
Mr Martin is a young man qualified by good business training and
considerable business experience to successfully prosecute any enterprise
in which he may embark.
p446
Rev JOHN G MARTIN is a native of Dunbar township, Fayette county, Penna,
and was born December 21, 1837.
His grandfather, John Martin, was born in Fayette county about 1790, and
was of Irish origin. His wife was Elizabeth Cottom. The children born to
their union were: Alexander Martin, Nancy Martin, William Martin, Samuel
Martin, Henry Martin, Ellen Martin and James O Martin.
The maternal grandfather was Abraham Lincoln. He was married to Patti
Cole and both were born in Fayette county, Penna. Mr Martin's father,
Samuel J Martin, was born in Fayette county in 1817, and was married to
Sarah Lincoln, daughter of Abraham Lincoln, in 1836.
Samuel J Martin for many years has followed mining, but he is now a
farmer and resides at Dunbar.
John G Martin was educated in the common schools of the neighborhood,
and the normal schools of Upper Middletown. Leaving school he went to
Uniontown where he spent one year learning the millwright business under
the tutelage of William Barnes. At the end of the year he abandoned his
trade and took up the carpenter's trade which he has followed ever since.
>From 1865 to 1868 he resided at Broad Ford, from 1868 to 1880 at Dawson,
and was at both places extensively involved in contracting and building.
He located at Dunbar in 1880.
He has been a member of the church for twenty five years, for eighteen
years of the time a member of the Methodist Protestant church, and for
the last seventeen years he has affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal
denomination. He has held the office of class leader, steward and
superintendent of Sabbath school. In 1875 he was licensed as an exhorter
in the Methodist Episcopal church, and is an honored member of the
Knights of Pythias.
Rev Martin was married to Miss Surna Bryson, daughter of Andrew Bryson
of Dunbar, in 1864. Their union has been blessed with the following
children: Andrew L Martin, operator for B & O R R, born August, 1864 at
Dunbar; Fannie D Martin, May 10, 1866; Charles Martin, May 3, 1868;
Samuel Martin, March 27, 1870; Franklin Martin, July 9, 1872; Lulu
Martin, September 10, 1874; and Walter Martin, February 8, 1877; Nannie
Martin, May 12, 1880, died October 4, 1881; Effie Martin, died November
18, 1888. Four of the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal
church at Dunbar.
p511
ROBERT L MARTIN, general superintendent and stockholder of the
Fairchance Furnace Company and one of the prominent businessmen of
Fayette county was born in Philadelphia July 28, 1847, and is a son of
Robert L Martin and Adelaide Nevins Martin.
His paternal grandfather, Thomas Martin, was of Scotch descent and a
native of Snow Hill, Maryland. He was a hat manufacturer and operated
hatting establishments at Alexandria, Virginia, and Baltimore. He was an
old line whig, served in the War of 1812 and died in Baltimore.
His maternal grandfather, Samuel Nevins, was of Irish descent, a native
of Connecticut and removed to Philadelphia where he died. He was a banker
and broker in Philadelphia.
His father, Robert L Martin Sr, was born in Alexandria, Virginia, and
died in Chester City (?county), Penna. He was engaged in cotton and
woolen manufacturing at Philadelphia. He was an earnest republican and a
consistent member of the Episcopal church and an active, energetic and
successful worker in the republican party.
His children are: Colonel Archer N Martin, with Post, Morton & Co,
bankers, New York City, entered the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry in
1862 as second lieutenant, was promoted to colonel, served on General
Sheridan's staff, was in all the great battles of that wonderful
commander; Robert L Martin; George S Martin, graduate of the University
of Pennsylvania and principal of a high school in Philadelphia; Mary N
Martin, married Rev Eustace Daniel of Frome, England, and is now pastor
of the Episcopal church of that city; Harriet W Martin, traveling in
Europe; and Littleton L Martin, half brother of Robert L, engaged in
Kansas City in banking.
Robert L Martin was educated by private tutors until thirteen years of
age, afterward in West Chester Academy. Leaving school he engaged for
some time with his father in the cotton and woolen manufacturing
business, and later for a short period operated a marble quarry near
Philadelphia. In 1873 he engaged as assistant superintendent of the
Fairchance Furnace Company; one year later accepted his present position
of general superintendent and in 1880 became a stockholder in the same
company.
In 1871 he was married to Miss Annie L Smith of Chester, Delaware
county, Penna. They have four children: Elizabeth L Martin; Adelaide N
Martin; Robert L Martin; and Fannie D F Martin. Mrs Martin is a daughter
of Thomas Smith, a lumber dealer and manufacturer of Chester. Her
maternal grandfather, Judge George S Leeper of Delaware, Penna, was a
prominent jurist. He served in Congress and was a personal friend of
Andrew Jackson and James Buchanan.
Robert L Martin is president of the Fairchance Firebrick Company, which
he assisted in organizing and is one of the chief stockholders. He is a
Master Mason and a member of the Episcopal church. Politically he is a
tariff democrat, takes a active part in political matters, and frequently
has been solicited to act as chairman of the democratic county committee.
For the last fifteen years he has intelligently supervised and
successfully operated Fairchance Furnace, one of the most important
furnaces in the State of Pennsylvania.
p445
WILLIAM J MARTIN comes of Anglo-Irish stock; his grandfather, Samuel
Martin, came from Ireland in 1776, to what was then known as Union
Furnace, the present site of Dunbar Furnace, in this county. He was a
furnace man by occupation. He married Mary Brown, a native of Fayette
county, and they had the following named children: William Martin,
Alexander Martin, John Martin, Samuel Martin, and James Martin.
His maternal grandfather was a native of England and came to America and
served in the Revolution, and afterwards drew a pension for his services.
He married a Scotch-Irish lady after his arrival here and followed
farming in Fayette county. They had the following children: Ellen Brown,
Mary Brown, Elizabeth Brown, William Brown and Sarah Brown.
His parents were John Martin and Elizabeth Cottom Martin. John Martin
was born at Trumbull Furnace, Westmoreland county, Penna, in 1790.
Elizabeth Cottom was born at Fayette county in 1791. They were married in
1808, and had seven children: Nancy Martin, Alexander Martin, William J
Martin, Samuel Martin, James O Martin, Ellen Martin and Henry Martin.
William J Martin was born in Center Furnace, Dunbar township, Fayette
county, Penna, December 9, 1814, and was educated in the pay schools of
the county. His business has been chiefly in blowing furnaces, and he has
been employed in that capacity in the following furnaces: Fairchance,
Laurel Hill furnace, Redstone, Cool Spring, and Union in Fayette county;
Hecla, Vesuvius and La Grange in Ohio; Amanda furnace and Bellefonte in
Kentucky; also Springhill furnace which was the last charcoal furnace
used in Fayette county, and for three or four years past has been in the
employ of the Dunbar Furnace Company.
He married his first wife, Miss Minerva Beeson, a daughter of John
Beeson, who fought under Commodore Perry in the War of 1812 and received
a medal for his bravery. They had the following children: Elizabeth
Martin, Calvin Martin, Henrietta Martin, Mahala Martin, Aneliza Martin,
James O Martin, Alice Martin, Amanda Martin, Charity Martin and Jane
Martin. His eldest son, Calvin Martin, was a soldier in the Sixteenth
Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served till his death, March 26, 1863.
Mr Martin married a second time to Mary Schaeffer, a daughter of Robert
McDowell, and the widow of Samuel Schaeffer. They had three children:
Robert Martin, who is a school teacher of the county; Bertha Martin, and
Emma Martin.
Mr Martin has been a member of the Methodist Protestant church for over
forty years, and has been one of the trustees of the church for several
years. He has served as school director of his township.
p449
JOSEPH A MASON is one of the popular merchants and prominent citizens of
Gibson near Connellsville, and is a son of Benjamin Mason and Margaret
Evans Mason. He was born in Harford county, Maryland, October 17, 1845.
Benjamin Mason is a native of Yorkshire, England, and when ten years of
age came with his parents to Baltimore, Maryland. He afterwards removed
to Harford county, Maryland, where he has been engaged in merchant
tailoring and is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
He married Miss Margaret Evans of Baltimore, who was a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, and died in 1866 aged fifty four years. Her
father, George Evans, was a native of Baltimore, served in the War of
1812, was a whig, held some important offices under the State government
of Maryland, and died in 1850. His sons, William Evans and Joseph Evans,
were in the Mexican War.
Joseph Mason was educated in the schools of Harford county and
Baltimore. In February, 1862, he left school, enlisted in Company G,
Third Maryland Volunteers, and was mustered out as orderly sergeant in
Baltimore in May, 1865. He was with his regiment in all its battles, in
Miles' surrender and was paroled on the field. His brother, Charles
Mason, was mortally wounded at Frederick City, Maryland, July 1, 1864.
Another brother, Rev William Mason of the Southern Methodist Episcopal
church, served in Battery B, Fourth Chesapeake Light Artillery of the
late Confederate States of America and died in 1879.
After the war, Joseph A Mason engaged in the mercantile business at
Ridgeville, Carroll county, Maryland, removed to Sams Creek in 1867, and
was appointed postmaster but sold his property and store in 1870 and
removed to Baltimore where he worked at the trade of carpenter. In 1872
he located in Cumberland, Maryland, and was engaged for eight years in
the stationery and picture business.
In 1880 he removed to Gibson near Connellsville where he purchased land
and erected his present residence. Six years later he became a member of
the firm of Gibson & Mason, who are engaged in general mercantile, feed
and coal business.
In 1889 Mr Mason purchased his partner's, J G Gibson, interest and
continues successfully in his present prosperous business. In 1864 he was
married to Miss Sidney A Fisher, daughter of William and Sarah Fisher of
Frederick county, Maryland.
Mr and Mrs Mason have eight children living: William B Mason; Harvey F
Mason; Minnie D Mason; Joseph A Mason; Estelle D Mason; James S Mason;
Lillie E Mason; and George H Mason.
Joseph A Mason is a straight out republican and is justice of the peace.
He is a member of King Solomon Lodge No 386, A Y M, a popular merchant
and a number of the Connellsville Methodist Episcopal church.
p512
Dr HENRY BERNARD MATHIOT, an old and skilled physician and a prominent
citizen of Fayette county, Penna, is a son of George Mathiot and Ruth
Davies Mathiot and was born at Connellsville, Fayette county, Penna,
August 30, 1815.
Dr H B Mathiot is descended from a French officer who, at the time of
the St Bartholomew massacre, obeyed the voice of conscience rather than
that of the king and charged on the priests with his regiments for which
he was compelled to fly from France. But the king, winking at his
official misconduct, furnished him a letter intended to serve as a
warrant of immunity from civil arrests and he returned to France seeking
to regain his estates. The family still found France dangerous ground on
account of the priests.
Jean Mathiot, grandfather of Dr Mathiot, came to Lancaster, Penna, in
1754. His wife was Catherine Margaret Bernard, daughter of Hon Jean James
Bernard, mayor of Dampierre, France. They were married in 1753 and had
three sons: Christian Mathiot, John Mathiot, and George Mathiot, the
latter the father of Dr Mathiot.
George Mathiot, born October 13, 1759, enlisted November 18, 1776, in
the Continental Army, and was honorably discharged at the close of the
war. He afterwards located at Elk Ridge Landing, Maryland, where he was
married October 31, 1787, to an estimable Quakeress, Miss Ruth Davies,
daughter of Joshua Davies of Ann Arundel county, Maryland.
In 1796 George Mathiot removed to Connellsville and served for years as
justice of the peace, was an influential member of the Methodist
Episcopal church and prominent alike in religious and secular affairs
until his death, April 4, 1840.
He had eleven children: Colonel Jacob D Mathiot, a large iron
manufacturer and a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1833; Eliza
Mathiot, wife of Colonel Davidson, who refused to surrender under Hull at
Detroit in 1812 and escaped with his command; Catherine Mathiot; Mary
Mathiot; Honorable Joshua D Mathiot of Ohio, a lawyer and a member of
Congress in 1842 and one of whose daughters married Dr Cuyler of
Brooklyn; Cassandra Mathiot; John Mathiot; Susan Mathiot; Ann M Mathiot;
George F Mathiot; and Dr Henry B Mathiot, of whom only Ann M Mathiot,
widow of George W Dorsey, and Dr Henry B Mathiot are living.
Dr H B Mathiot received a limited school education and while yet a mere
boy began for himself the battle of life. He trudged forty miles on foot
through the snow to engage as a clerk with his brother at Ross Iron
Works. Subsequently read medicine with Dr Anderton Brown of Newark, Ohio,
for three years (1837 to 1840) when he returned to Fayette county and
began the practice of medicine at Smithfield, as an undergraduate, a
common custom at that time in Pennsylvania. He graduated from Jefferson
Medical College in the class of 1852 and successfully practiced medicine
at Smithfield ever since. For the past year or so, however, he has been
trying to retire from active practice.
On March 19, 1844, he married Miss Rebecca Ruth Brownfield, daughter of
Colonel Thomas Brownfield. They had born to them ten children, of whom
four are now living: Caroline Mathiot; Ida M F Mathiot, wife of Dr
Longanecker; Dr Edward B Mathiot; and Perie A Mathiot.
Dr Edward R Mathiot graduated in 1882 from Jefferson Medical College and
practiced at West Newton, Penna, until 1888. Since 1888 he has been in
attendance at the celebrated medical schools of Germany and France to fit
himself as a specialist.
His domestic life has been most fortunate and happy. His wife has been a
helpmeet in the grandest sense. Her husband's comfort and her children's
happiness have been her greatest care, and to her wifely devotion he is
largely indebted for the comforts of his home, the hospitable doors of
which are ever open. It is proverbial that no house in the community
entertains so many persons, friends and strangers, as does Dr Mathiot's.
He is an earnest and persuasive public speaker and for a quarter of a
century his voice has been heard in advocacy of every moral, temperance
and religious movement that has agitated the community in which he lives.
Of indomitable will and iron constitution, Dr Mathiot has achieved a
successful career in life over apparently insurmountable obstacles. He
was ordained a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church by Bishop
Simpson in 1872 and has given his services religiously, as well as
medically, freely alike to rich and poor. He was a whig and is now a
republican; was twice a candidate for the legislature, running ahead of
his ticket but was defeated each time. Dr Mathiot is of that class of men
who make their mark in whatever station in life to which they aspire.
p364
JOHN J McCLARY, one of the capable and thorough young businessmen of
Fayette county, was born in Springhill township, Fayette county, Penna,
August 21, 1865, and is a son of William McClary and Catherine Kussart
McClary, the latter a native of Greene county, Penna.
William McClary was born in Springhill township, December 6, 1818. For
thirty years he was a thorough, stirring and energetic farmer. In 1870 he
was engaged in the lumber business at Confluence, Penna, and three years
later he retired from active life. He has resided at Connellsville since
1873, is a strong democrat, and was justice of the peace for five years
in his native township. He has reared a family of five sons and three
daughters.
John J McClary was reared at Pennsville, received his early education in
the schools of Bullskin township and finished his studies at Grand River
Institute, Ohio, where he attended two terms. During the summer months of
1883 and 1884 he labored at the coke works and in the winters of those
years taught in the common schools of Bullskin township. In 1885 he
secured a position as clerk with Union Supply Company, limited, at their
Trotter store. His services were of such a character as to favorably
commend him to the attention of his employers, and on May 1, 1889, he was
given his present responsible position, that of manager of their store at
Morgan. Step by step he won his own way from the coke yard to the office
desk.
In politics Mr McClary is a Cleveland democrat. He is a Heptasoph and a
member of the First Presbyterian church at Connellsville. Although young
in years, he has been remarkably successful and stands high as a
businessman and private citizen, wherever known.
p556
Rev JOSEPH E McCLAY, a faithful and efficient minister of the United
Brethren church, was born in Springfield township, Fayette county, Penna,
June 3, 1848. He is the son of Thomas McClay and Sarah Eicher McClay.
His grandfather, James McClay, was born in the North of Ireland,
emigrated to the United States about 1800 and settled in what is now
Springfield township. He married a Miss Shuman of the same township.
His father, Thomas McClay, was born in Springfield township and was a
farmer. He married Miss Mary (or Sarah?) Eicher, daughter of Joseph
Eicher.
Rev Joseph E McClay received his early education in the common schools
and afterwards attended Madison Normal School in Westmoreland county
under Professor G M Bigam.
Qualifying himself for the ministry, he was accordingly licensed by the
United Brethren church and first employed in 1871 on the Castleman
circuit in Westmoreland county. Later he served four years on the Bedford
county charge and was then transferred to Three Springs charge in
Huntingdon county where he remained three years. From Huntingdon county
he was sent to Mount Pleasant and served one year. He was presiding elder
of the Greensburgh district for some time.
On January 21, 1873, he married Mary Jane Eyer, daughter of John and
Susan Eyer of Huntingdon county. Unto this union were born three
children, only one of whom is living: Anna Edna McClay, born July 7,
1878.
For some years he has served in the Springfield charge and then retired
to a valuable farm that he owns in the township. He is at present engaged
in improving his land and resting from mental labor. He is an earnest and
efficient minister and an honorable gentleman.
p197
WILLIAM McCLEARY is a son of Ewing and Katherine McCleary and was born
at Uniontown October 10, 1813. His father was a native of Adams county,
Penna, and came to Uniontown when a young man to follow his trade of
hatting.
His mother's maiden name was Katherine Brownfield, a daughter of Thomas
Brownfield, who came to the county from Winchester, Virginia, in the
early settlement of the county. Many years he kept the Swan hotel-a great
and popular wagon stand in that day.
William McCleary attended Madison College when it was opened, and at the
age of seventeen he apprenticed himself to William Crawford of Uniontown,
to learn the saddle and harness trade. He worked four years and four
months, and in 1836 went to South Bend, Indiana, and started in business
for himself. He sold out in the same year and returned to his native
county, and became a clerk for his uncle, Colonel Ewing Brownfield. He
continued in the general mercantile business at Uniontown until 1845,
when he removed to Smithfield, and for twenty three years was a leading
and successful merchant of that section. He sold out in 1868 and returned
to Uniontown, and engaged in the same business.
He next took an interest in the coke company of Ewing, Boyd & Company,
and in this venture he was quite unsuccessful. In 1881 he accepted the
position of teller in the People's Bank, and efficiently discharged its
duties until the spring of 1889.
He was elected in 1843, captain, and held the office for several years
of the Uniontown volunteers. He served from 1879 to 1882 as jury
commissioner of Fayette county, being elected by the people.
William McCleary has always been honest and straightforward in his
business transactions, and possesses the confidence of all who trade or
transact business with him. He has always held unswerving to the line of
moral rectitude and practiced the principles of correct and fair
dealings, He has a firm and abiding faith in the Christian religion, and
has been a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church for nearly a third of
a century.
He was married January 11th 1838 to Miss Rebecca Swearingen, an estimable
woman, and is held in kindliest remembrance by the poor and afflicted,
many of whom received material aid and personal attention from her. Her
father, William D Swearingen, was a native of Wellsburg, Virginia, came
to this county when a young man, followed farming and droving, and was
known as "Drover Bill."
Mr McCleary has three children-one son and two daughter: Ewing McCleary
has been engaged in the mercantile business for many years, is now
located at Jefferson, Greene county, Penna; Elizabeth D McCleary, wife of
the Hon Matthew G Holmes, a member of the West Virginia legislature, and
owns a large mercantile establishment at Clarksburg, West Virginia-he and
his wife were residents for several years of the "Celestial Empire" where
Mr Holmes transacted and controlled a large American and English trade
with the "Flowery Kingdom;" Kate McCleary, who married Warren W Mitchell
of Illinois. They reside in Washington City, where Mr Mitchell holds an
important position in the public printing office.
p198
JOHN HENRY McCLELLAND was for over forty years one of the active and
useful businessmen of Uniontown. He was a son of William McClelland and
Rachel McIntyre McClelland and was born at Uniontown, Fayette county,
Penna, June 15, 1823.
His father, William McClelland, came from Washington county to Uniontown
and erected the well known McClelland House.
John H McClelland was reared at Unionton and educated in select
schools and Madison College. He learned coach making but abandoned the
trade shortly after completing his four year apprenticeship. He engaged
in the drug business forming a partnership with Smith Fuller and W H
Bailey. After some time Mr McClelland withdrew from the drug business and
removed to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he was successfully engaged for
nearly ten years in the general mercantile and drug business. He boated
the balloon frame of his building from Cincinnati and witnessed at
Leavenworth many terrible and tragic scenes of the Kansas Border Warfare.
About 1857 he returned to Uniontown and formed a partnership with W H
Lewis and for ten years engaged in the wholesale and retail grocery
business. During the last fifteen years of his life he was interested in
the banks of Uniontown and Connellsville, and was one of the leading
directors and was vice president of the National Bank of Fayette County
at the time of his death. He was one of the corporators of the People's
Bank of Fayette County and was largely instrumental in founding the First
National Bank of Connellsville of which he was a prominent director. His
death occurred February 8, 1885.
December 23, 1867, he was married to Miss Margaret J Brownfield,
daughter of Jehu Brownfield and Jane West Brownfield. The former a
prosperous farmer of Georges township and a son of Colonel Ben
Brownfield. The latter died on March 2, 1851, and was a daughter of Enos
West and Margaret Snyder West of Uniontown. Mr West was a sober and
industrious man and fine mechanic; his sister, Sarah West married the
celebrated William Brownfield.
Mrs Margaret Snyder West was a daughter of Peter Snyder and sister of ex
county commissioner James Snyder and ex sheriff William Snyder.
Mrs McClelland is a woman of intelligence, culture and refinement, was
educated under John G Hertig and in the select school of Ethelbert
Oliphant. She had two brothers: Ben W Brownfield, a successful architect
in St Louis, and Enos W Brownfield who went to Wichita, Kansas, in 1870
to invest in land and was murdered for his money.
John H McClelland was an Odd Fellow, a conservative republican, and for
several years previous to his death was a consistent member of St Peter's
Episcopal church of Uniontown. He was a man of fine personal appearance
and the public, after his death, rendered universal testimony to his
unswerving integrity, his spotless character and his generous impulses.
He began life with no capital, but by his keen foresight, excellent
management and honest dealing he amassed an estate worth $100,000; and
was greatly missed in social and business circles.
p455
Dr JOHN C McCLENATHAN, a classical scholar and a prominent physician of
Connellsville, was born in Bamwell [Amwell] township, Washington county, Penna,
July 9, 1852, and is a son of John McClenathan and Rachel Carter
McClenathan, both natives of Washington county, Penna. Dr McClenathan is
of Irish descent on the paternal and on the maternal of Scotch
extraction.
His grandfather, William McClenathan, was born in Dauphin county, Penna,
August 10, 1765, removed to Washington county, Penna, in 1790 where he
was engaged extensively in farming and died June 26, 1850.
John McClenathan, son of William McClenathan, a native of Washington
county, was a prominent farmer, a member of the Presbyterian church, a
lifelong democrat, and died November 10, 1878, at the age of seventy
three years. During his life he was a useful and honored citizen, His
wife was a daughter of John Carter, a Washington county farmer and
prominent Presbyterian. She was a consistent member of the same church of
her husband and died August 22, 1885, at the age of seventy five years.
Dr John C McClenathan grew to man's estate on his father's Washington
county farm and received his early education in the common schools. In
the fall of 1872 he entered Washington and Jefferson College, remained
two years, after teaching two years returned to the same college and
graduated with high honors in the class of 1878 and received the degree
of BA. He took a classical course and stood near the head of his class of
which he was a member at the time of his graduation.
The degree of A M was conferred on him in 1882. Having acquired a
thorough education he turned his attention to medicine as his chosen
vocation of life. He had on purpose delayed his medical studies in order
to get a thorough collegiate education, aware of the fact that such was
highly essential, and an invaluable aid in the successful practice of his
profession; and his experience as a physician has attested the wisdom of
his course. He read medicine with Dr Thomas McKennan, one of the ablest
physicians in Washington county, and afterward attended lectures at
Jefferson Medical College where he graduated in the class of 1881. In the
same year he completed a course in operative surgery for "bandaging and
fracture dressing."
In 1886 he went to New York City and took a post graduate course in the
New York Post Graduate Medical College. After his graduation at
Philadelphia, he came to Connellsville and engaged as a general
practitioner and has continued successfully in the practice ever since.
He has built up and enjoys a very large and lucrative practice.
On January 12, 1882, he was married to Miss Flora Hanna, a daughter of
Thomas Hanna, a prominent and influential citizen of Washington county.
Dr McClenathan is a member of the Fayette County Medical Society and of
the State Medical Society; was president for four years of the Chatauqua
Literary Class at Connellsville of which he is a graduate. His attention
has been given to the material interests of his adopted town as well as
to his duties as a physician. He is secretary of the Connellsville
Improvement Association and an able promoter of any enterprise calculated
to improve the town. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and is a
genial and affable gentleman, a well read and skilled physician, and has
an extensive and well selected library. He is justly and deservedly
popular.
p452
JOSEPH T McCORMICK, the youngest son of Provance McCormick, was born
near Connellsville, Penna, November 23, 1830. The common schools of those
days were not of the best but by faithful application and private study
he managed to obtain an education sufficient for the ordinary affairs of
life. At the age of nineteen he began to teach, but at the end of three
years abandoned teaching and went into the drug business in
Connellsville, retaining an interest therein until 1876.
In 1859 and again in 1863 he was engaged in the surveyor general's
office at Harrisburg and during the latter term superintended the removal
of all the records to Philadelphia to prevent their falling into the
hands of the Rebels who were then at Chambersburg; after which in a burst
of patriotism he joined a company of department clerks who offered their
services to Governor Curtin to assist in driving the Rebels out of
Pennsylvania, but instead of sending them to the front, he ordered them
to pack their knapsacks and march for home, which they did without much
loss of time. After this event, patriotism assumed a milder form. At the
expiration of his term of office in 1866, he returned to Connellsville
and engaged in the manufacture of cars and machinery in which business he
has since remained.
October 2, 1855, he married Susan Newmyer, a daughter of Jonathan
Newmyer. Three children resulted from this union: Mary M McCormick, wife
of Rev J M Scott; Karl C McCormick, now in the hardware trade in
Connellsville; and Louis P McCormick, a student of medicine at the
University of Pennsylvania.
The subject of this sketch has always been retiring disposition and has
participated as little as possible in the stirring events of the
community. The partiality of friends has sometimes drawn him into
positions of trust, which he has filled conscientiously and to the best
of his ability, but he prefers the tranquility of home and the
companionship of his books, and out of business hours is rarely drawn
away from them. He inherits a pacific disposition and is rather inclined
to suffer a wrong than to resent it.
p449
PROVANCE McCORMICK was born near Connellsville, Penna, on the 29th day
of July, 1799, and died within sight of his birthplace, June 16, 1887, at
the ripe age of eighty eight years. His ancestors came from England with
the cavaliers who left their native land and fled to Virginia soon after
the execution of Charles I by Cromwell about the year 1649.
William Crawford, the great grandfather of Provance McCormick, was born
in Orange county, Virginia, in the year 1732. The family afterward
migrated to Winchester near the foot of the Shenandoah mountains then the
western confines of civilization. His father dying when he was four years
of age, he was reared by his mother, Onora, a woman of great energy of
character. at the age of seventeen he became acquainted with the youthful
Washington, which acquaintance ripened into the warmest friendship, never
broken till the death of Crawford.
In 1775 as an ensign he accompanied Braddock in the ill fated campaign
against Fort Duquesne and for gallantry displayed on that occasion was
advanced to a lieutenancy. In 1758 appointed to a captaincy by Washington
who was then commander in chief of the Virginia troops, he went with
Forbes Expedition against Duquesne. In the spring of 1767 he located a
claim at Stewart's Crossing where the town of New Haven now stands and in
1769 moved his family there becoming the first settler west of the
Allegheny mountains.
In 1773 Crawford was appointed by Governor Penn presiding justice of
Westmoreland county, a district which then embraced a great portion of
Western Pennsylvania.
Upon the news of the battle of Lexington, he at once raised and equipped
a regiment for the defense of the colonies; this not being at the time
accepted, he was on the 14th of August, 1776, commissioned as colonel of
the Seventh Regiment Virginia Battalions. His regiment was sent to Long
Island and participated in all the principal battles in New Jersey, and
was with Washington on the memorable Christmas day when the army crossed
the icy Delaware; also at the victorious battle of Trenton on the day
succeeding; and at Princeton soon thereafter. In May, 1778, by order of
Congress, he was transferred to the western frontier to take command of
the forces sent against the Indians.
Upon the surrender of Cornwallis, it became evident that the contest
with Great Britain was drawing to a close and Crawford gladly accepted
the opportunity of retiring to his home on the banks of the Youghiogheny.
Having, as he believed, done his whole duty to his country, he now
thought only of spending the remainder of his days in quietude and peace,
but the atrocious outrages of the Indians becoming day by day more
numerous, he with reluctance and gloomy forebodings, took command of an
expedition against them in the spring of 1782, an expedition which
culminated in his execution by the Indians with cruel tortures at the
stake near the present town of Little Sandusky, Ohio, on the 11th day of
June, the same year.
Effie Crawford, the second daughter of Colonel Crawford, born in
Virginia, September 2, 1751, was a hardy young girl of seventeen when the
family crossed the mountain into the unbroken wilderness of the
Youghiogheny Valley. There, on the 10th of February, 1773, she married
William McCormick, a backwoodsman from the hills of Virginia and a
companion of her father's in his frequent adventures with the savages
who, at that time, infested the Shenandoah Mountains. William McCormick
was born February 22, 1738.
They built their cabin on the east bank of the Yough near Stewart's
Crossing where it yet stands (1889), the oldest house in the town of
Connellsville. They both lived to a good old age, the husband dying in
Connellsville in 1816 and the wife in Ohio, in 1825.
William McCormick and Effie Crawford McCormick were the parents of
eleven children, the second of whom, Sarah McCormick, born January 8,
1776, and deceased in 1854, was the mother of Provance McCormick. The
early years of the latter were passed amid the hardships of a frontier
life where schools were almost unknown; his inherited energy of mind,
however, enabled him without the aid of a teacher to acquire an education
sufficient for the time.
On the 2d day of December, 1819, he married Susan Bowers, who was born
of Nova Scotian parents, December 16, 1800. Four children were the result
of this marriage: Elizabeth Jane McCormick, wife of Christian Snyder;
George B McCormick; and Joseph T McCormick, all of whom are living except
Jane who died October 24, 1886.
Until about the year 1830 he followed the occupation of a teamster in
the transportation of merchandise between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and
during the next ten years was engaged in various occupations, among
others the manufacture of gun barrels for the United States government.
About this time he conceived the idea of making "coke," which he surmised
might be made to superseded the use of charcoal in the smelting of irons.
In pursuance of this idea in the year 1842 he had erected on the bank of
the Youghiogheny river about three miles below Connellsville two coke
ovens, which were exactly similar to those in present use, and proceeded
with the experiment.
The attempt seemed to be as successful as could be desired and with
buoyant hope and visions of wealth and honors, a large flatboat was built
and loaded with coke was floated down the Ohio river to Cincinnati. Vain
hope!!! No one could be found to risk a trial of this strange fuel and
with sad heart the scheme was abandoned.
Ten years later the attempted was revived by other hands and the
originator lived to seem more than ten thousand ovens in active operation
in his immediate neighborhood with other thousands all over the country
producing millions tons of coke, finding eager purchasers and enriching
hundred of more fortunate operators.
After occupying numerous positions of trust, postmaster, justice of the
peace, associate judge of Fayette county, etc, he in his old age became
reduced to poverty through his generous aid to unfortunate friends. He
was a man of unbending integrity and while courageous in the maintenance
of prerogatives again those maliciously invading them, he was full of
charity for the errors and misfortunes of his fellow men. This kindly
disposition often blinded his better judgment and finally led to his
financial ruin. His faith trust in a Divine Providence was complete and
almost childlike, and never for an instant deserted him.
Though often sorely afflicted both in body and mind, he bore all with
unflinching fortitude and courage. His counsel and advice were largely
solicited and no one, however humble his station, ever failed to receive
his kindest sympathy and if needed such material aid as his limited means
could afford. This human disposition was inherent in his nature and was
strikingly shown in almost his last hour on earth. While suffering
most intensely and unable to rise without aid, he insisted on being
supported in the arms of his attendants while he made a last attempt to
do an act of kindness.
His ancestors were faithful adherents to the Church of England but he
chose the Baptist denomination as the exponent of his belief and for
nearly sixty year held fast to that faith. His orthodoxy was somewhat of
the sterner sort but with the mellowing influence of age came a more
liberal feeling as to the Divine judgments. The unity of Christian
churches he greatly desired, but had no hope of such a result. His whole
life was an illustration of his belief in the universal brotherhood of
mankind, and his memory will be fragrant in the hearts of many that he
has comforted.
p363
WILLIAM McCORMICK of Menallen township was born on the McCormick farm in
the same township, Fayette county, Penna, September 11, 1819, and is a
son of Charles and Margaret McCormick.
James McCormick, paternal grandfather, was born in the north of Ireland
and settled in Redstone township nearly one hundred years ago.
Charles McCormick, father, was born in 1772, died in 1835 and was an
active working member in the Dunlap's Creek Presbyterian church. His wife
was Margaret, daughter of James McCormick.
William McCormick was raised on a farm and attended the schools of the
neighborhood. On March 6, 1844, he was married by the Rev Hudson to Phebe
Jones. Her father, Edward Cook Jones, was born March 27, 1799, and
married Hannah J Woodward, daughter of Caleb Woodward who came from
Chester county in an early day.
William McCormick has nine children: Caleb Finley McCormick, born
December 21, 1844, married Margaret Carter and has six children and lives
at Uniontown; Charles Jackson McCormick, born March 18, 1847, married
Rachel Searight, daughter of Ewing Searight and has one child; Hannah
Rebecca McCormick, born May 30, 1849, married John Moore and has one
child; Margaret E McCormick, born November 17, 1851, married John A
McCombs, has four children: Lydia Jane McCormick, born June 14, 1854,
married William Moore and has three children; Ewing S McCormick, born
September 22, 1859, married Annie French, has three children and lives in
Nebraska; Noble McCormick, born February 26, 1857, married May De Tar of
Kansas, has four children: William McCormick, born August 7, 1863; and
Anna E McCormick, born June 25, 1866.
He owns a fine farm in Menallen township and for the last twenty years
he has extensively engaged in wool buying, together with his farm
interests. For a man of seventy years of age, he is very active and
successfully manages his different kinds of business. He has lived an
industrious, useful life and has many friends.
He united early in life with the Presbyterian church at Uniontown, then
under the pastoral care of the Rev Joel Stoneroad, and now he and his
wife have their membership in the New Salem Cumberland Presbyterian
church.
p198
WILLIAM B McCORMICK is of Irish descent, his father having come to
American when only seven years of age. He was a weaver by trade, also a
farmer and school teacher, spending the greater part of his time in the
latter calling. He died March 29, 1850, at the age of 62 years. The
mother of William B McCormick was a native of New Jersey and died
December 5, 1841.
William B McCormick was born August 25, 1821, near Smithfield, Fayette
county, Penna, and came to Uniontown with his parents in 1832. He was
brought up in the vicinity of Uniontown on his father's farm and attended
Madison College. In 1840 he taught a select school in North Union
township and afterwards taught in the public schools at intervals for
twenty years. He was principal and superintendent of the public schools
of Uniontown from 1848 to 1860. At the commencement of the war he engaged
in butchering at Uniontown and continued till 1877 when he turned his
business over to his son, George McCormick. He was very successful in
business, having one of the largest list of customers of the town.
In 1877 he engaged in the grain business at Uniontown with his youngest
son, Milton A McCormick. In 1881 they removed to Fairchance and with
the grain added the lumber business and have built up a paying business
conducted and principally managed by Milton A McCormick.
William B McCormick has retired from active business and gives the
greater part of his attention to his bees, and on this subject he is
regarded as an authority. He has served as member of the town council for
five or six years, has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church
ever since he was fifteen years of age, and a trustee of his church for a
number of years.
His parents were Noble McCormick and Ester Hadden McCormick. He is a
Knight Templar and has been treasurer of the Blue Lodge of the Chapter,
and Commandery for the past ten years. He is a director and secretary of
the Uniontown Water Works Co and was the instigator in starting his
improvement in the borough, having advocated for it for several years
before the measure was adopted, and which is now acknowledge to be one of
the greatest blessings of the town.
He was married September 10, 1842, to Miss Susan Allen, daughter of
Matthew Allen, who served as high sheriff of the county for two terms. He
was first elected in 1837 and re-elected in 1850 on the democratic
ticket. He was a native of this county and died August 18, 1875.
They have seven living children: Mary McCormick; George A McCormick;
William C McCormick; Milton A McCormick; Ellen Jane McCormick; Lizzie
McCormick; and Sophia McCormick.
George A McCormick is the present nominee of the democratic party for
sheriff of the county. Mary McCormick married Frank L Brook of Ohio, now
of Uniontown and is a dealer in agricultural implements. William C
McCormick engaged in the grain and feed business on Fayette street, and
is a member of the town council. Ellen Jane McCormick is married to
William B Thorndell, a native of Uniontown and where he now resides.
Lizzie McCormick and Sophia McCormick are single and at home.
William B McCormick is a good citizen, highly respected by all who know
him, and is one to whom the people can go for advice and assistance
without fear of rebuff. He is a man who desire is to benefit his fellow
man and never to harm anybody.
p199
FRANK W McCRAY was born on the old McCray homestead in Menallen
township, Fayette county, Penna, November 6, 1830.
His father, John McCray, was also born in Menallen township and was
married to Margaret Duff, a native of Ireland, who came to America in
1810 at the age of twelve years.
Frank W McCray was married to Mary Jane Miller, daughter of Warwick
Miller, August 13, 1863. To their union have been born five children,
three of whom are living: Maggie M McCray, wife of M H Hare; and Ella R
McCray. Warwick Miller McCray, born February 26, 1867, was drowned July
13, 1886, at West Point and his remains lie buried there and where he has
a fine monument erected by his comrades to his memory. It was a sudden
ending of a young life that seemed to be full of promise. His position in
his class at West Point, although its youngest member, was most
excellent. His character was clean and without a stain, and his mental
capacity was beyond the average at his age. His death was mourned by
every member of his class. His appointment was secured by C E Boyle
through a competitive examination. At West Point he stood 12th in a class
of eighty five members.
George W McCray, the youngest, was born April 21, 1877.
Frank W McCray was educated in Menallen. His first teacher was William
Beggs, who taught in an old log school house that stood on the present
site of Grace church. For twenty years Mr McCray has been an Odd Fellow.
For the past thirteen years he has been successfully engaged in
mercantile business; five years at Uniontown and eight years at Hopwood.
p363
JOHN McCRAY of Menallen was born on the McCray homestead, four miles
west of Uniontown, Fayette county, Penna, September 18, 1824. He was a
son of Adam McCray and Anna Jackson McCray.
Adam McCray, father, was born April 12, 1780, and died August 12, 1855.
In 1807 he married Miss Anna Jackson, daughter of Isaac Jackson of
Menallen township, Fayette county, Penna. They had ten children: John
McCray; Isaac McCray; Margaret McCray; Sarah Ann McCray; Mary McCray;
Rebecca McCray; Eleanor McCray; John (2?) McCray; Martha McCray, and
Emily McCray.
John McCray, paternal grandfather, was of Scotch Irish descent, born in
Ireland, where he learned the trade of weaver. He came to America and
with three of his brothers, served under Washington in the Revolutionary
War. After that struggle closed, he removed to Menallen township where he
died. His wife's father made the first crown glass in Scotland.
John McCray was reared on the home farm and educated in the subscription
schools of Menallen. He owns one hundred acres of fine land in the
township and is engaged in farming and stock raising. He married Mrs
Catherine Filley, widow of Dr Horace Filley, and daughter of John Deal of
Pittsburgh, March, 1854. Their union has been blessed with four (5?)
children: Maggie E McCray, died in infancy; Mary McCray; Ida McCray, died
at fifteen years of age; Anna J McCray, born November 2, 1855, married
Alex H Patterson, lives near Martinsburg, West Virginia, and has five
children; Sarah Louisa McCray, born July 30, 1862, married to Oliver B
Jeffries of Uniontown and has one child.
Mr McCray is a good businessman, a good farmer, a respectable citizen,
and has for many years been a follower of "the lowly Nazarene," being a
highly respected member of the Presbyterian church at New Salem.
p361
JAMES McCRORY was born October 26, 1820, at Fayette City, Penna. He
remained at home until 1840 when he went to Geneva and learned the
trade of glass cutter. He followed this business until 1850 when he went
to California and engaged in gold mining until 1856. In 1856 he came home
and purchased a farm of one hundred and forty in Washington township
where he still resides.
In 1848 he married Rebecca Nutt, the daughter of William B Nutt, a
native of Fayette county. By this marriage there were nine children:
Charles H McCrory; George McCrory; Seneca McCrory; Anna McCrory; Thomas
McCrory; Sarah T McCrory; Nancy S McCrory; James A McCrory; and Mary
McCrory. Thomas, Anna and Sarah Tunissa are dead.
Mr McCrory is a member of the I O of O F; he is the oldest member of the
order now living in the vicinity of Fayette City. He also belongs to the
Equitable Aid Union and is in good standing in both organizations.
He is the son of Thomas McCrory and Eliza Brown McCrory. His father kept
hotel in Fayette City for forty years, was one of the early settlers of
the town and was a good, substantial man. His children were: James
McCrory; Seneca McCrory; Wilson McCrory; Achsa McCrory; Mary E McCrory
and Sarah Jane McCrory. The two brothers of James McCrory went to
California at the same time as himself but have never returned.
p361
WILLIAM McCRORY is a native of Fayette City and was born March 11, 1822.
He attended school and worked in his father's blacksmith shop until he
was nineteen years of age when he became a steamboat engineer. He ran for
many years on the Monongahela and Ohio rivers, and was in the "Lower
Trade" on the Mississippi for some years.
He was married in 1850 to Miss Mary Banks, daughter of William Banks who
was a prominent glassblower. She died in 1853. In 1858 he married again,
his second wife being Miss Mary Wilson, daughter of David Wilson who came
from Ireland to Fayette county prior to 1794. During the whiskey
insurrection, he and three of his neighbors assisted in preventing the
burning of Pittsburgh.
Mr McCrory made a trip to California in 1850 going by water by way of
the Isthmus of Panama. He remained on the Pacific coast for two years and
a half.
He has invented a life preserver that is claimed to be superior to any
other in existence. It is a gum jacket that can be inflated at will, and
is sufficiently strong to float the weight of two ordinary persons. His
friends and many who have examined this preserver, are enthusiastic in
its praises, and claim the day is not far distant when it will be in
universal use.
p362
WILSON McCRORY of Washington township is a son of James McCrory and
Hester Sisley McCrory, and was born at Cookstown, now Fayette City,
November 2, 1812. He is of English descent.
His father, James McCrory, was a native of Fayette county, and a son of
James McCrory who came from England, and settled near Allenport,
Washington county, over one hundred years ago.
His mother, Hester Sisley, was a daughter of Lewis Sisley, who settled
in the county over one hundred years ago.
William McCrory attended several subscription schools, later learned the
blacksmith trade under his father, who was an early settler of Cookstown,
and cut the logs on the ground where he erected his house and shop. He
followed blacksmithing for four years and then engaged in steamboating,
which he continued up to 1885.
He was married November 2, 1870, to Mary Hamer, daughter of James Hamer,
the latter a native of Manchester, England, who came to Brownsville in
1822 and removed thence to Cookstown. They have two children: James H
McCrory and Nelson McCrory. The older son is mechanically inclined and
without any assistance when thirteen years of age built a steam engine.
His third and last engine is one of four horse power. With it he has
drilled a well thirty six feet deep and found a small flow of gas.
Mr McCrory has in his possession as relics the Sisley conch shell,
bearing the date 1806, and the old indentures, over a century in age, by
which his father was bound to work three years for about two pounds
sterling, three months schooling and a "freedom suit."
He served as tax collector and was elected school director, and has
filled several other offices of the borough.
Mr McCrory was at the siege of Vicksburg, in the Morgan raid from
Kentucky to Ohio, and was at Buffington Island. After a long life of
activity and hard labor, he has now retired from business, and is a
highly respected citizen of Fayette City, where he at present resides.
p452
JAMES McCUNE, the founder of the McCune family in Fayette county, was
born in Scotland and was a farmer of Cumberland county, Penna. He had the
following children: Thomas McCune, George W McCune, Samuel McCune,
William McCune, Elizabeth McCune, John B McCune, and Jane McCune.
John B McCune was born in Cumberland county, Penna, in 1805, and was a
farmer, married Mary Wilson, the daughter of John Wilson, a native of
Pennsylvania and of Scotch descent. They had the following children:
Thomas W McCune, William G McCune, James H McCune, David P McCune,
Catherine B McCune, Jane W McCune, and Isabella B McCune. He was married
a second time in 1848 to Miss Mary Weddell, and their children were:
Robert McCune, John N McCune, Peter W McCune, and Nancy Jane McCune.
David P McCune was born in Allegheny county, Penna, August 7, 1846,
brought up on the farm and was educated in common schools of the county,
and at Curry Institute at Pittsburgh. He worked as a carpenter for eight
years, and in 1874 engaged in the furnace business at which he has since
been engaged. He assisted in superintending the erection of Lemont
Furnace in Fayette county in 1875. He took the position of labor boss at
Scottdale Furnace, Fayette county, in 1877, and went to Powlton Furnace
in Bedford county to supervise its erection in 1877. He came to Dunbar in
1882 as a furnace manager, and has remained there ever since.
In 1873 he was married to Miss Eliza A Culbert, daughter of Samuel
Culbert, a native of Ireland, and has five children: William H McCune,
Arthur C McCune, Emma B McCune, David P McCune and Jesse W McCune.
Mr McCune is a member of the Masonic order. He is also a member of the
Presbyterian church. Three of Mr McCune's brothers served in the Civil
War: James H McCune during the whole war; William McCune served during
the whole war, except six months as the beginning; Thomas W McCune was
major of his regiment for two years.
p456
JOHN P McCUSKER of Dunbar is of Irish descent.
His grandfather, John McCusker, was born in Ireland in 1756 where he
lived and died.
His father, John McCusker, was born in Ireland in about 1800 and came to
America in 1826. He settled in New York City where he was engaged as a
contractor. From New York he went to Frederick City, Maryland.
He was married in Ireland to Miss Margaret Gillogly, daughter of
Terrence Gillogly. They had the following children: Ellen Catherine
McCusker; Mary A McCusker; James McCusker; Sarah McCusker; John P
McCusker; and Francis McCusker. Francis McCusker enlisted in company M
Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry in 1862 and took part in the fight at Bull
Run and in other battles.
John P McCusker was born in March, 1840, in Allegany, Maryland. He was
educated in the common schools of his native county. In 1852 he engaged
in the fire brick business at Mount Savage, Maryland, and continued in
this business for twenty years. In 1872 he came to Dunbar and engaged in
the same business at which he is now engaged.
He was married in 1861 to Miss Mary A Kelly, daughter of John Kelly. The
latter was born in Ireland and came to the United States and settled in
Mount Savage, Maryland.
They had the following children: Nora E; Mary C; John F; Margaret
Morgan; Elyria; Sarah; Anna; William; Bernadotte; James; Arthur; Maggie;
and Monicham. His family are all members of the Catholic church. He was
elected road supervisor in 1883 and has been re-elected successively ever
since.
p456
JAMES REED McDOWELL, deceased, who was a prominent citizen of Dunbar
borough, was born in Mifflin county, Penna, January 7, 1803.
His father, Robert McDowell, settled in Mifflin county, Penna, and was
born January 18, 1771. Sarah McConkey, the mother of the subject of this
sketch, was born in Ireland and was the mother of four children: John
McDowell; Robert McDowell; James Reed McDowell; and William McDowell.
James Reed McDowell received only the advantages of a common school
education in his native county; came to Fayette county in 1845; and
purchased a farm near the borough of Dunbar where he continued to farm
until his death in September, 1881. He held the office of school director
of Dunbar township and served one term as poorhouse director. He was a
successful farmer and a good citizen, filling various stations in life
with honor. He was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church at
Dunbar and was a strong advocate of temperance.
While he was not a public speaker and only a plain, practical man,
nevertheless he had strong views on the subject of temperance which he
expressed in simple forcible words as he felt it to be his duty as a man
and a Christian to do.
James Reed McDowell was married to Margaret Hazlett, daughter of William
Hazlett who was of Scotch origin. Their union was blessed with five
children: Robert W McDowell; William A McDowell; Sarah Ann McDowell; Mary
J McDowell; and Margaret Emily McDowell.
Robert W McDowell was a member of the class of 1862 that graduated from
Washington and Jefferson College. After graduation he immediately entered
the army as first lieutenant of a company in the Sixteenth Pennsylvania
Cavalry but in short time was made captain and for his gallantry in the
field was promoted to the office of major.
A comrade of his writes: "In the closing campaigns of 1865 he was
actively engaged each day, and distinguished himself by promptness,
courage and cool judgment, winning praise from his men and fellow
officers, and being publicly complimented by his general. He was promoted
to major and afterward promoted to assistant adjutant general on the
staff of Major General Irvin Gregg."
William A McDowell, the other son, leaving school entered the law office
of C E Boyle and was admitted to the bar at Uniontown, and is at present
engaged in the real estate business in Colorado where he removed in 1882.
p555
JOHN McELDOWNY, a native of Bedford county and a comfortably situated
farmer of Fayette county, is a son of William McEldowny and Rebecca
Gordon McEldowny and was born in Bedford county, Penna, January 18, 1831.
Robert McEldowny, grandfather, was a native of Baltimore, who emigrated
to Bedford county and engaged in farming. His father was an early settler
in Western Pennsylvania and was killed by Indians.
William McEldowny was born at Bedford, Penna, in 1795, was a stonemason,
democrat and useful member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He
removed to near Heistersburg, Fayette county, where he reared a family of
three sons and six daughters; the second son, James McEldowny, served in
the Army of the Potomac under General Grant. Mrs McEldowny was a daughter
of James Gordon of Bedford county.
John McEldowny, after receiving a common school education, worked as a
day labor until twenty five years of age and drove stock on the "Old
Pike" for Eli Cope. He was next engaged for several years in handling
steamboat lumber, in the meantime however, teaching a term of school in
Greene county, Penna. Since 1863 he has been engaged in farming at
Jenning's Ferry five years, thence to a farm near Heistersburg eight
years, and afterwards removed to his present farm near Ormond. From 1857
to 1860 he ran Abel's Mill near Fairchance.
On August 16, 1856, he was married to Miss Martha Vernon, daughter of
Pierce F Vernon of Greene county, Penna. They have six children: Thomas
McEldowny of Kansas married Miss Jennie Crawford; Jennie McEldowny, wife
of I N Heath of Kansas; John McEldowny; William McEldowny; Cora
McEldowny; and Martha McEldowny.
John McEldowny owns a favorably located and desirable farm of eighty two
acres and is conveniently situated near Ormond. He is one of the
substantial citizens of his township, a member of Hopewell Cumberland
Presbyterian church, is a Master Mason, and a democrat in the fullest
sense of the term.
p556
JESSE McFARLAND of Stewart was born in Greene county, Penna, December
22, 1852.
His grandfather, John McFarland, was born and raised in Greene county,
Penna.
His father, Jacob McFarland, was also born in the same county, and
removed in 1870 to Ohiopyle. His wife was Susana Brown, a daughter of
John Brown of Delaware county, Penna.
Jacob McFarland and his wife had thirteen children: Rebecca McFarland,
Mary A McFarland, John McFarland, Jesse McFarland, Sarah E McFarland,
James L McFarland, Caroline McFarland, Minor McFarland, Malinda
McFarland, Jacob McFarland, William McFarland, Alice McFarland, and
Thomas McFarland.
Jesse McFarland, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the common
schools of Greene county, and was married November 7, 1874, to Miss
Elizabeth Turney, daughter of S G Turney of Preston county, West
Virginia. They have two children: Robert T McFarland and Silva E
McFarland.
Mr McFarland is engaged as a bookkeeper for McFarland Brothers lumber
dealers. He has served as constable two terms, tax collector, two terms
and one term as school director.
p200
SAMUEL McGIE, the enterprising and prosperous proprietor of the McGie
livery, feed and sale stables of Uniontown, is a son of George McGie and
was born within one mile of Uniontown, September 19, 1855.
He received his education in the public schools of Uniontown. At
nineteen years of age he entered a printing office, but that business not
suiting him he engaged in plastering for four or five years. Leaving
plastering he engaged in his present successful livery business at
Uniontown.
In 1872 he was married to Miss Rosa Wilda, daughter of Nicholas Wilda,
an emigrant from Germany to the United States in 1808. They have six
children living: Melvina McGie; Lelia McGie; Eddie McGie; Jacob McGie;
John McGie; and Fenia McGie.
Samuel McGie has been extensively engaged at Uniontown in building and
selling houses. He has built and owned 152 houses and at the present time
is the owner of thirty houses at that place. He has been surpassed by few
in the number of houses that he has built. He is a quick, stirring trader
and is very beneficial to the business interests of Uniontown.
McGie's livery and feed stables are substantial and commodious and very
conveniently arranged to accommodate large and constantly increasing
patronage. Excellent saddle horses and first class teams are furnished
promptly and at ordinary prices. He has a fine stock of carriages and
buggies and is accommodating and obliging to all.
p200
HENRY McGLAUGHLIN, one of the industrious citizens of North Union
township, is a son of Joseph McGlaughlin and Mary Moore McGlaughlin, and
was born near Evans Station, North Union township, Fayette county, Penna,
October 8, 1840.
George McGlaughlin, grandfather, was a native of Ireland and came to
Fayette county early in life. He was a soldier in the War of 1812.
Joseph McGlaughlin, father, was born March 4, 1797, in Fayette county
where he died January 4, 1865. He married Miss May Moore, daughter of
Abraham Moore of North Union township. They reared a family of seven sons
and three daughters. Three of the sons were in the Civil War, where one,
Hamilton McGlaughlin, was taken prisoner and died soon after his release
and return home.
Mrs McGlaughlin, who now resides in Uniontown, was born Janury 30, 1803.
Henry McGlaughlin attended the common schools of North Union township,
but at an early age left school and engaged in farming. After several
years experience as a farmer he engaged in his present business of
quarrying and coal mining.
February 11, 1869, he was married to Miss Ellen Hanan, daughter of
William Hanan. They have had seven children, of whom three are living:
Emma McGlaughlin, born April 28, 1872; Laura Nettie McLaughlin, born
September 23, 1874; and Harry Cannon McGlaughlin, born August 26, 1877.
Henry McLaughlin is a democrat and has served three years as school
director. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
He is an industrious, temperate and persevering man, and has acquired by
his own efforts a fair competency of material wealth.
p364
JOHN McKEE Sr was born in Ireland and came to American when a young man.
He soon enlisted in the Continental army, and served for four years. He
married Mary Seabird of Bucks county, Penna, and they had the following
children: Anna McKee, born April 16, 1790; John McKee, born October 17,
1792; Thomas McKee, born January 22, 1796; Henry McKee, born May 11,
1798; Hugh McKee, born April 18, 1800; Catherine McKee, born January 29,
1802; Francis McKee, born September 19, 1806; Mary McKee, born January
17, 1807; Margaret McKee, born January 5, 1810; Jesse McKee, born January
6, 1812; and Ephraim McKee, born January 4, 1815. He removed from Bucks
county to Northampton county, thence to Williamsport, Lycoming county,
and then to Washington township, Fayette county, where he settled in 1809
and lived till his death.
Of his family John McKee died in Washington township; Francis McKee at
present resides in Washington township; Hugh McKee and Henry McKee living
in Washington county, Penna; Thomas McKee removed to Wayne county, Ohio,
where he reared a large family.
Francis McKee married Miss Joanna, daughter of Joseph Allen and Anna
Thompson Allen, and they reared five children: Annette McKee married John
Harah of Uniontown; Josephine McKee married S S Jack of Decatur,
Illinois; Joseph A McKee, Mary McKee and Celia McKee.
Joseph A McKee was born December 4, 1839, attended the common schools of
the township, and the school at Washington, Penna. He was married
December 20, 1877, to Susan Church, daughter of Samuel Church and
Margaret Kuhns Church of Greensburgh, Penna. He was a descendant of the
Church family which came over to this country in early colonial days. The
ancestor was Captain Church, who was founder of the family in this
country. The Kuhns family came from Northumberland county, Penna, to
Westmoreland county. From this marriage were five children: two of whom
are living; infant dead; Fred McKee, nine years old; Anna McKee, died an
infant; Bettie McKee, two and a half years old; Sallie McKee, died an
infant.
Joseph A McKee has held numerous township and borough offices, is now
burgess of Fayette City, and justice of peace of the township. He is a
member of the Royal Arcanum, owns 400 acres of land in Washington
township, and an elegant home on the higher grounds at Fayette City. He
has lived the principal part of his life in Fayette City. He is a leading
democrat of his township.
p457
ROBERT McKEE was born in Ireland September 18, 1848, where he was
educated. He came to Canada in 1869 and followed farming. In June 1872 he
came to Fayette county, and is now engaged as a laborer with the Dunbar
Furnace Company, Dunbar. He was married October 1, 1874, to Miss Margaret
J Beers, a daughter of James Beers, a native of Butler county, Penna.
They have the following children: George E McKee, Thomas W McKee, Robert
C McKee, Jane F McKee and James B McKee.
Mr McKee is a member of the Presbyterian church, of I O O F, and K of P.
His father, George McKee, was a native of Ireland, and resided there all
his life. He died at the age of one hundred and two years. He was a
farmer and married Jane McKee, and they had eleven children: Ann McKee,
Lettie McKee, Mary McKee, Thomas McKee, Jane McKee, Elizabeth McKee,
George McKee, Richard McKee, Catherine McKee, Robert McKee, the subject
of this sketch, and Andrew McKee.
Thomas McKee, grandfather of Robert McKee, was a native of Ireland. Mr
McKee is intelligent, well-informed, and of industrious habits and frugal
disposition.
p513
WILLIAM McSHANE, a prominent farmer and a leading stock trader of German
township, was born on Georges Creek, Georges township, Fayette county,
Penna, February, 1829, and is a son of Barnabas McShane and Elizabeth
Romyne McShane. The former was born June 13, 1800. The latter was born in
Loudon county, Virginia. They had eleven children born to them of whom
William McShane was the fifth child.
His father, Barnabas McShane, was a farmer and horse drover, a strong
democrat, and for may years a highly respected gentleman of the county.
His father, Daniel McShane, was a native of New Jersey and one of the
county's pioneer settlers. Daniel McShane's wife's maiden name was
probably Jane McDonald.
Barnabas McShane labored in the construction of the Pennsylvania
railroad and was for some years a teamster on the National Pike. His
uncle, Robert McShane, was a soldier in both the War of the Revolution
and of 1812.
William McShane, whose name heads this sketch, was married to Elizabeth
Hurst, daughter of Nathan G Hurst of Fayette county, December 25, 1851.
They have had born to them nine children, of whom seven are living: Mary
McShane; Arilla McShane; Anna McShane; William McShane; Julia McShane;
Martha McShane; and Porter McShane. Mary McShane is the wife of Hugh
Cameron, now of Iowa.
William McShane, after receiving the benefit of the township schools,
began life as a farmer. In 1852 he removed to Iowa where he was
extensively engaged in farming and dealing in stock till his return to
Fayette county in 1864. He purchased a farm near West Leisenring in 1865,
sold it in 1881 and bought his present farm in German township and
removed to it one year later. His farm of 183 acres is beautifully
situated and is underlaid with two veins of coal, six and nine feet, and
it also contains numerous stratas of limestone.
For the past nineteen years he has been associated with Captain J A
Weltner in buying and selling stock and throughout Fayette county he is
known as a successful trader. He has served as school director and held
the offices of assessor, justice of the peace, and tax collector, and is
truly one of the leading and successful businessmen of the county.
p360
HENRY MERRITT, farmer in Lower Tyrone township, is the son of Lewis
and Nancy Ann Sechrist Merritt. His father was born April 30, 1823, and a
native of South Huntington township, Westmoreland county, where he lived
till 1853, when he came to Fayette county and located on the farm he now
resides on in Lower Tyrone township. This farm is situated on the hill
just above Layton Station, and contains sixty three acres of good and
well improved land, about fifty acres of which is cleared. He was married
to Miss Nancy Ann Sechrist, born October 23, 1824, and a native of Perry
township, Fayette county. They are both members of the Methodist
Episcopal church. He is a republican.
Jonathan Merritt, grandfather of Henry Merritt, was a farmer of South
Huntington township, Westmoreland county, settled there in an early day,
and was from near Philadelphia. He was of German descent.
David Sechrist, maternal grandfather of Henry Merritt, was a farmer
of Perry township, Fayette county.
Henry Merritt was born March 29, 1852, on a farm in Lower Tyrone
township, Fayette county, Pa, where he was brought up and attended the
common schools of the township. He remained on the farm with his father
until the fall of 1876, when he began life for himself. In 1877 he went
to mining fire clay for the Diamond Brick Company at Layton, and worked
for them three years, the greater portion of this time as foreman. In
1878 he bought an unimproved farm of 140 acres at sheriff sale, which he
greatly improved and put in a fine state of cultivation. In 1880 he
engaged in mining where he remained for some time, when he engaged as
foreman of the times for ten months at the Cochran brick yard near
Oakdale owned by James Cochran & Brother. He then took a contract to
furnish the clay by the ton to them, which he did for six months.
In 1887 he bought what is known as the Layton farm, containing sixty
eight acres, and has since bought a piece of land as an outlet to the
road to the Layton farm. He is thrifty, energetic man, ready to do
anything that is honest for a livelihood, and has accumulated
considerable property. He keeps a team going all of the time hauling, and
at present has the contract for supplying all of the clay used by the
Keystone and Diamond Company's brick works. In politics he is a
republican, and is at present worth about $7,000.
p201
STEPHEN LESLIE MESTREZAT was born at Mapletown, Greene county, Penna. He
attended Waynesburg College and graduated from there in 1869. He
subsequently entered the celebrated Washington and Lee University at
Lexington, Virginia, from whose portals he came forth with high honors as
a law graduate in the class of 1871. In September, 1871, he was admitted
to the bar at Waynesburg, where he had been previously registered as a
student at law.
In 1871 he went west, but after an extended trip returned to
Pennsylvania and was admitted to the Fayette county bar December 7, 1872,
and January 16, 1873, opened a law office at Uniontown. On April 1, 1875,
he formed a partnership with the late Judge C E Boyle. The firm was Boyle
& Mestrezat. The partnership lasted until November, 1888. Boyle &
Mestrezat were retained as counsel for all the principal corporations of
the county, and employed in all of the leading and celebrated criminal
cases tried in the county; among others might be mentioned the famous
Mollie Maguire cases in 1881 and the great Nutt and Duke case.
S L Mestrezat has always taken an active part in politics and is a
stanch democrat, has served several times as congressional conferee, and
was chairman of the democratic county committee in 1884 and 1885. He was
a delegate to the democratic state convention in 1882 and 1886. In 1877
he received the nomination from his part for district attorney of Fayette
county, was elected and served from 1878 to 1881. He took an active and
leading part in all the campaigns that Judge Boyle was engaged in during
their partnership.
He is the son of Jean Louis Guillaume Mestrezat and Mary A Hartley
Mestrezat, both natives of Pennsylvania, and who now reside at Mapletown,
Greene county, Penna.
His paternal grandfather, Charles Alexander Mestrezat, was a native of
France, came to this country in 1795 and was engaged in the mercantile
business at Mapletown up to his death in 1815.
His maternal grandfather, Matthias Hartley, was a farmer of Greene
county and of English Irish descent.
He was married on August 1, 1888, to Miss Eliza Willson Ewing of
Uniontown.
He is now the solicitor for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, has
retained about all the practice of the old firm of Boyle & Mestrezat and
has acquired additional practice. Hard study and close application to
business have given him the power to quickly scan a case, to thoroughly
grasp its salient points and intricate bearings. He brings to his aid in
the presentation of his case to the jury, an eloquence in language and an
earnestness in manner that in many instances has won success where
success seemed impossible.