Bios: Sa-Sk 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
Saddler, C K Springhill 292
Sanduskey, William Nicholson 525
Sargent, A M Brnv & Bdgpt 293
Schaefer, John F Stewart 567
Schnatterly, Miles Nicholson 525
Schnatterly, Tho B, Hon Miscellaneous 594
Schneider, J G Washington 378
Schoonmaker, James, Col Miscellaneous 600 Pittsburgh
Schrock, Singleton Franklin 378
Scott, C H Menallen 379
Scott, Thomas Washington 380
Seal, William E Uniontown 225
Searight, E B Menallen 388
Searight, J A Uniontown 222
Searight, Thom B, Col Uniontown 218
Searight, William Menallen 380
Seaton, J D Springhill 293
Semans, Thomas Uniontown 225
Shank, H L Nicholson 527
Sharpnack, W G German 527
Sherbondy, A G Curtin Springfield 569
Sherrick, Abram H Bullskin 568
Shipley, Elijah Bullskin 568
Shoaf, J R Nicholson 528
Shoemaker, W A, MD Tyrone 379
Showman, George W Springfield 570
Shultz, John L Springfield 570
Simeral, J D Dunbar 473
Singer, J J, Dr Connellsville 474
Sipe, Cyrus B Springfield 571
Sisley, W M Connellsville 473
Skinner, S, Squire Bullskin 571
p292
CYRUS K SADDLER, one of the substantial farmers of the county, is a
native of Springhill township, Fayette county, Penna, and was born June
28, 1837, near Pt Marion. He was brought up in his native township, and
attended the common school until his twenty second year.
He is a son of John Saddler and Hannah Keiser Saddler. John Saddler was
a native of Fayette county, born at Pt Marion in 1810, and died May 28,
1861. He was a farmer and his father (C K Saddler's grandfather)
Christian Saddler, was a native of Little York, Penna, came to Fayette
county, Penna, in 1800, and settled in "The Forks of the Cheat." He owned
all the land where the pleasant town of Pt Marion now stands. Here he
engaged in farming and distilling, and died in 1840. Hannah Keiser
Saddler was born in Greene county, Penna, in 1810, and died February 11,
1878.
Cyrus K Saddler, leaving school, engaged in farming with his father at
the old homestead, and has continued farming ever since. He now owns
eighty acres of the old homestead that is well improved and productive.
He has erected on his farm an elegant residence.
Mr Saddler was never an office seeker, and is not a member of any secret
society. He is a prominent member of the Disciple church at Pt Marion,
and is a deacon. He has by prudence, economy, honesty, and hard work,
accumulated considerable property, and is one among the best farmers of
Fayette county.
He was married in 1863 to Miss Susan G Crow, a daughter of Micheal
Crow-a well-to-do farmer of the county. Of this marriage seven children
were born: William Saddler, Evalena Saddler, Jennie Saddler, Plesie
Saddler, Frank S Saddler, Zella Saddler, and Bessie Saddler, all of whom
are single and at home, except Jennie who is with an aunt at Hastings,
Nebraska.
p525
WILLIAM SANDUSKEY of Scotch descent and a highly respected citizen of
New Geneva, is a son of Jacob Sanduskey and Sarah Way Sanduskey, and was
born in New Geneva, Nicholson township, Fayette county, Penna, March 6,
1820.
Jacob Sanduskey was a native of Nicholson township. His people were
Quakers. When a mere child, his father, mother, brothers and sisters were
taken prisoner by the Indians, and no information was ever obtained of
them afterwards. Jacob Sanduskey was taken after this sad affair and
kindly cared for by strangers. He was raised by George Wilson and learned
the trade of stone splitting, and engaged in that business until he died
in June, 1852. His wife was a native of eastern Virginia, a devoted
member of the Presbyterian church, and died in December, 1852.
William Sanduskey was raised at the village of New Geneva, obtained the
scant education of the subscription schools, and at eighteen years of age
engaged with Frederick Eberhart to learn the trade of carpenter. Three
years later he began business for himself and was continuously engaged in
contracting and building until 1888 when he was disabled from further
active work by having his hand caught and lacerated in a circular saw.
On January 23, 1844, he married Miss Dugan. They had eight children:
David D Sanduskey; Sarah J Sanduskey; Elzie Sanduskey; Dianna Sanduskey;
Mary J Sanduskey; Elizabeth Sanduskey; Rachel Sanduskey; and William
Sanduskey, all of whom are dead except William, a carpenter and furniture
dealer of New Geneva, and Rachel, wife of Samuel Wigle/?Weigle. Mrs
Sanduskey was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and died July
16, 1865.
Mr Sanduskey married for his second wife, August 24, 1867, Miss Anna
Cannon, daughter of James and Lucinda Cannon of Mt Morris, Greene county,
Penna: the former a blacksmith born in 1805, the latter died in 1885.
William Sanduskey owns a good house at New Geneva, and eight acres of
land near that village. He is a republican but takes no active part in
political matters. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church,
while his wife is a member of the Baptist church; but this occasions no
jar for they travel life's pathway harmoniously and are highly respected
by their neighbors.
p293
ACKISON M SARGENT of Bridgeport, and the proprietor of one of the finest
liveries in Fayette county, is a son of James and Isabella Sargent. He
was born January 10, 1860, in Zollarsville, Washington county, Penna.
His parents were born near the same place. His father died before the
subject of this sketch was born, and his mother when he was only thirteen
years of age. Thus thrown upon the cold charities of the world as a
friendless orphan, Ackison M Sargent proceeded to manfully fight his own
way through life, unaided by friends or influence. For four years he
labored on a farm, and during the winter season worked for his board and
the chance of attending the common schools.
At seventeen years of age he came to Fayette county, and engaged in
farming on shares, in which he successfully continued for four years. In
1881 he came to Bridgeport and engaged for two years in the grocery
business. After selling his grocery, he began teaming at which he still
continues.
In the spring of 1885 he engaged in the livery business, which was woned
by E H Bar; it burned in 1886. In 1887 Mr Sargent erected in Bridgeport a
large livery stable, one hundred and thirty eight feet long, thirty two
feet wide and sixteen feet in height to the square. In its construction
fifty three thousand feet of lumber was used. It is one of the finest
livery stables in the county, is well stocked with a large lot of
excellent horses, and is furnished with a large number of fine carriages
and buggies. He is prompt to accommodate his patrons and has a large and
increasing trade.
Mr Sargent was married August 25, 1881, to Miss Ella Allen, daughter of
Oliver Allen, a farmer residing near Brownsville. They have one child, a
daughter, Annie M Sargent.
He is a republican, is attentive to his business, and is one of the
self-made young men of Fayette county, Penna.
p567
JOHN F SCHAEFER, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Stewart
township, was born at Retterod, County of Liechman, State of Hesse
Cassel, Germany, November 15, 1827, where he was educated in the common
schools of the county. He came to America in March, 1848, arriving at
Baltimore the following May. He came at once to Pittsburgh where he was
employed as a common laborer at six dollars per month. Later he went to
Washington county in 1853 where he worked in a rock quary at sixty two
cents a day. In 1856 he engaged in the coal business and remained in that
business till 1871 when he removed to Fayette county and engaged in
farming.
John F Schaefer was married in 1855 to Miss Sarah E Williams, daughter
of Samuel Williams of Washington county, Penna. Six children have been
born to their union: Samuel W Schaefer; Elizabeth A Schaefer; Mary E
Schaefer; John H S Schaefer; Sarah E Schaefer; and George A Schaefer.
Mr Schaefer is a prominent member of the Lutheran church and has been
for many years.
His grandfather and father, both John G Schaefer, were natives of
Germany. His father was a soldier in the German army against Napoleon
Bonaparte in 1814- 1815. He was in quite a number of battles and was at
Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo.
John H Schaefer had three brothers and two sisters: Justus Schaefer;
Casper Schaefer; Augustus Schaefer; Mary E Schaefer and Anna C Schaefer.
p526
MILES SCHNATTERLY, a comfortably situated farmer of Nicholson
township, is a son of John Schnatterly and Malinda Kendall Schnatterly. He
was born in Nicholson township, Fayette county, Penna, September 12, 1833.
His great grandfather emigrated to Philadelphia from Holland prior to
1775 and subsequently removed to what is now Nicholson township. Two of
his brothers had preceded him but were never heard of after leaving home
and were probably slain by Indians. He was a farmer and a devoted
follower of Martin Luther.
His grandfather, John Schnatterly, was a native of Nicholson township
where he was twice married. Of the first family of eight children was
John Schnatterly Jr, father of Miles Schnatterly.
John Schnatterly Jr was born near New Geneva, April 17, 1805. In 1827 he
married Miss Malinda Kendall, daughter of Thomas Kendall. They had nine
children, of whom seven are living: Margaret Schnatterly, Mrs Sturgis;
Mary Schnatterly, Mrs Chestler; Elizabeth Schnatterly, Mrs Hartley; Miles
Schnatterly; John C Schnatterly, stone mason in New Geneva; Hon Thomas
Benton Schnatterly who was district attorney in 1866, member of the
Pennsylvania legislature in 1870, 1877, and 1885, was State senator in
1879 and 1886, now an attorney at law at Uniontown; Lewis W Schnatterly,
physician in Freeport, Penna. Mrs Schnatterly was born in 1807 who is
still living.
John Schnatterly Jr owned a valuable farm of 111 acres of land, was
engaged in farming and was a lifelong democrat. He was ever ready and
willing to work for his party, was elected county commissioner in 1859,
and after the expiration of his term of office was justice of the peace
for five years. He was a prominent member of the Baptist church at
Greensborough and died July 26, 1882.
Miles Schnatterly was brought upon the farm, educated at the common
schools and Georges Creek Academy and was engaged in farming with his
father. He made two western trips, one in 1863 and the other in 1866, and
while in the west he was engaged in mining in Montana for a short time.
On July 16, 1865, he married Miss Jane Schnatterly, daughter of Micheal
Schnatterly. They have four children: Nora B Schnatterly, dead; Carson W
Schnatterly; John M Schnatterly; and Otto C Schnatterly.
In 1870 Mr Schnatterly removed to McDonough county, Illinois, and was
there engaged as a carpenter and farmer. In 1873 he returned to the home
farm where he continues to reside. He is a good democrat and has filled
various township offices. He was one of the organizing members and at
present a deacon of the Oak Hill Baptist church. His wife and two sons
are members of the same church. He is an Odd Fellow and a leading citizen
of Nicholson township.
p594
Hon THOMAS BENTON SCHNATTERLY.
One of the most active public men of Fayette county and at present and
for some years past a successful leading politician, and now having
perhaps more promise than any other man of his party in his district,
State, senatorial, or congressional of a sure and distinguished career in
the future is Senator Thomas Benton Schnatterly.
Mr Schnatterly as a politician has the good sense to follow through
opposition and over obloquy the dictates of his better manhood and boldly
and bravely place himself upon the platform of the old time genuine
democratic principles, and wage war for the laboring classes, and
consequently for the best interests of all classes at last, against the
great corporations with their unlimited exchequers at ready command for
any scheme of remunerative corruption, and with their autocratic
aspirations, instead of following the course of too many leading
democrats, as well as republicans, who either covertly or openly and
shamelessly sell their talents and consequences to capital in its cause
versus righteousness among men.
His political foes denounce his course as demagogism. That was to be
expected but the more of that kind of "demogogism" Fayette county and
Pennsylvania enjoy, the better; the sooner, therefore, will the hideous
wages-slavery as base in many respects as was ever the chattel-slavery of
the neighboring State of Virginia and which has made the system practiced
by many of the great Pennsylvania corporations objectionable to all
right-minded thinkers, be abolished and true republican customs be
substitute therefore.
Thomas Benton Schnatterly comes of Dutch lineage on his paternal side.
His great grandfather with a number of brothers came from Holland prior
to the Revolutionary war. A part of them settled in eastern Pennsylvania,
in Lebanon county. Two pushed westward with the purpose of making homes
near the headwaters of the Ohio, but were lost sight of and were perhaps
slain by Indians.
Another, the great grandfather of Senator Schnatterly, eventually
settled in Fayette county in what is now Nicholson township and there
married and became a father of a son named John Schnatterly, who was the
grandfather of Thomas Benton Schnatterly.
John Schnatterly had by his first wife some eight children; by a second
wife one child, a son. Of this first family of children was John
Schnatterly, the father of Thomas B Schnatterly. He was born near New
Geneva in the year 1805 and at about the age of twenty two married Miss
Malinda Kendall, daughter of Thomas Kendall, then living near Uniontown.
Mr and Mrs John Schnatterly, both enjoying the peace of ripe old age,
are the parents of nine children, seven of whom, four sons and three
daughters, are living; and of whom Senator Schnatterly is the sixth in
number and was born July 13, 1841. He was brought up on the homestead
farm, and was educated in the common schools and Georges Creek Academy,
teaching school himself, somewhat, during this period of his life, and at
Madison Institute and Waynesburg College.
After leaving college at the age of twenty two, he entered the office of
Col T B Searight at Uniontown as a student at law and was admitted to the
bar in December, 1864. In October, 1865, he was elected district attorney
for Fayette county for the term of three years and entered upon official
duty in December of the same year and went out of office in December, 1868.
The term was an arduous one, occurring just after the war, and
comprising a reign of crime. Special sessions of criminal were in those
days held to try offenses of high degree. After the term was over he
continued the practice of law in Uniontown and at the October election of
1869 was elected by the democratic party a member of the General Assembly
of Pennsylvania for Fayette county and served in the session of 1879, and
was elected in that year to the General Assembly of 1871, and served
therein; and thereafter, while conducting the practice of law engaged in
October 1871, as a contractor in the construction of the Greensburg and
Connellsville division of the Southwest Pennsylvania railroad, which
division was completed in 1872, the charter for which he had caused to be
granted in the session of 1871. In 1872 he was defeated as a candidate
for the senate at the democratic primary elections by Hon William H Playford.
He continued the practice of the law, and in 1876 was again elected to
the general assembly for the session of 1877-1878 and at the November
election of 1878 was elected State senator for the Fortieth District,
composed of the counties of Fayette and Greene, for the period of four
years.
In the House he served on general and local judiciary committees; in the
Senate on local, judiciary, railroad and corporation committees. In both
House and Senate, in all legislative controversies between capital and
labor, he was always on the side of the oppressed, constantly looking out
for the interests of laboring classes and was not tenderly loved by the
grasping monopolists of Pennsylvania.
He originated the bill abolishing under severe penalties the odious
female waiter system then in vogue with all its iniquities in the cities
of the State. He was also the projector of the Senate bill entitled; "An
act to secure to operatives and laborers engaged in and about coal mines,
manufactories of iron and steel and all other manufactories, the payment
of their wages at regular intervals and in lawful money of the United
States." In the session of 1880 this bill was passed but was vetoed by
Governor Hoyt, but it was introduced by Senator Schnatterly in the
succeeding session of 1881 and again passed and then received the
governor's approval and became law.
The struggle over this bill was a test fight between capital and the
interests of labor in the State. The senator did brave work in pushing
the bill on to recognition in law and by a powerful array of facts
convinced a senate at first in active opposition to the bill, of the
justice of his propositions and the necessity for the act.
Another important fact in Senator Schnatterly's career as a legislator
should not fail of record here and it is this, that he has uniformly
voted for the largest appropriations for the public schools and the
public charities, a specie of "demogogism" almost as discreditable as his
legislative warfare in favor of the rights and interests of the laboring
classes. He can well afford to be criticized for voting decent
appropriations for the blind and maimed. The foes who censure him for
doing so are the men who also look upon the working classes of the State
as unworthy of a better fate than that they suffer under.
The act above referred to, looking to the emancipation of labor is now
generally evaded by those whose injustices it was intended to decrease
and prevent, but in time will compel itself to be respected when the
senator, it is to be hoped, will be sustained by popular approval in all
parts of the State in his efforts in the cause of humanity.
Senator Schnatterly has of late returned to railroading as a contractor
in the construction of the Pittsburgh, Virginia and Charleston road, and
in that of the Southwest Pennsylvania railroad, and has just completed,
March, 1882, several sections of the Redstone division of the Pittsburgh,
Virginia and Charleston road.
In 1867 he married Miss Mary Morrison, daughter of George Morrison and
Anna West Morrison of Uniontown.
p378
JOHN G SCHNEIDER, burgess of Belle Vernon, was born September 13, 1853,
in Wurtemburg, Germany, and is the son of John Schneider and Anna Caturia
Schneider, both natives of Germany. His father was born in 1828 and died
in 1842; he was a cabinet maker and a man of prominence in his native
town. The maiden name of the mother of John G Schneider was Messmer. She
is still living at her old home in Germany.
John G Schneider was educated in the schools of his native city. From
eight to nine years of age he attended the common school. From nine to
twelve in the preparatory school and later attended the University at
Tubingen. He came to American in 1869 at the age of sixteen and settled
in West Newton, Westmoreland county, Penna, where he learned the trade of
painter. He removed to Belle Vernon in 1872 and worked at his trade.
In 1875 he was married to Miss Clara Boltz, whose father was a native of
Prussia and came to the United States in 1849 and married Elsie Spahr, a
native of Washington township, whose parents were from Germany and were
early settlers of the county. By this marriage was born one child: Grace
D Schneider.
Mr Schneider is a democrat and was elected burgess of Belle Vernon in
1889 by a handsome majority, although the borough is largely republican.
He is a very popular man among his fellow citizens and is a prominent
member of the Royal Arcanum, Improved Order of Red Men, is past officer
in both and has been representative to the Grand Council of each.
p600
Col JAMES M SCHOONMAKER, though a native and resident of Pittsburgh, has
large business interests in Fayette county, in the development of coal
mines and the manufacture of coke and is, therefore, more practically
identified with the welfare of the county than are many of her own
children.
Colonel Schoonmaker is of New York "Knickerbocker" stock; his paternal
ancestors subsequent to 1660 having been born in Ulster and Orange
counties, New York. Hendrick Jochem, one of his paternal ancestors, came
to America from Holland in 1660 and settled in Ulster county.
James Schoonmaker, the father of Colonel James M Schoonmaker, removed
from Ulster county to Pittsburgh in 1836 at the age of twenty three years
and embarked in the drug business. In 1841 he married Mary Stockton,
daughter of the Rev Joseph Stockton of Pittsburgh, by whom he has had
nine children, five sons and four daughters, of whom James M Schoonmaker
is the oldest. Both parents, as well as all the children, are living.
James M Schoonmaker was born June 30, 1842, and was educated in private
schools and in the public schools of Pittsburgh, and attended the Western
University of that city, which institution he left at the age of nineteen
years, and entered the volunteer army in the War of the Rebellion, being
attached as private at first to the Union Cavalry of Pittsburgh, which
joined the Army of the Potomac. With this force he served a year, being
meanwhile made a lieutenant of Company A, of the First Maryland Cavalry
Regiment to which the Union Cavalry was attached.
In August, 1862, he was ordered from the front to return home and take
command of the Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry which was then recruiting
in Pittsburgh, being partly made up of the three companies from Fayette
county: Company B under Zadoc Walker; Company E under Captain Ashbel F
Duncan; and Company F, led by Captain Calvin Springer, late sheriff of
Fayette county. Many of the surviving members of these companies are now
living in Fayette county.
In November, 1862, Col Schoonmaker received his commission as colonel
and took his regiment into the field. At that time Col Schoonmaker, being
a little less than twenty years and five months of age, was, it is
believed, the youngest officer of his rank in the Federal army. He
commanded the regiment till January 1, 1864, when he was assigned to the
command of the First Brigade, First Cavalry Division of the Army of the
Shenandoah, and remained in that command till the end of the war, after
which with his brigade still in service, he was sent by the War
Department to guard the overland stage route from the Missouri River to
the Rocky Mountains, serving in that campaign till August, 1865, when the
brigade was mustered out of service at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
During his military career, Colonel Schoonmaker was constantly in the
field, and participated in all the battles of the Army of the Shenandoah
under General Sheridan, the campaigns of which were especially severe. At
one time his brigade was for forty two consecutive days and nights in the
saddle, engaging the enemy daily, and took part in the three decisive
battles of the Shenandoah Valley, which practically ended the war by
destroying the enemy's forces.
After mustering out of his brigade at Fort Leavenworth, Colonel
Schoonmaker returned home and entered into business with his father,
remaining with him until some time in 1872 when he went into business
with his father-in-law, William H Brown, in the mining of coal and the
manufacturing of coke.
In 1879 Mr Brown having meanwhile died, and his business being divided
or assigned among the members of his family, Colonel Schoonmaker came
into possession of the Connellsville coke branch as his interest in the
partnership business, and has ever since been exclusively engaged in
prosecuting that. A good portion of his works are located in Fayette
county, 463 coke ovens being situated at Dawson's station, he being also
chairman of the Redstone Coke Company, Limited, which has 300 ovens near
Uniontown, Col Schoonmaker owning one third of this property. He also
owns the Alice mines in Westmoreland county, comprising 200 ovens, and is
chairman of the Morewood Coke Company, Limited, of the same county, and
running 470 ovens of which property he is one fourth owner. Colonel
Schoomaker's principal office is at 120 Water Street, Pittsburgh.
February 22, 1872, Colonel Schoonmaker married Miss Alice W Brown,
daughter of William H Brown and Mary Smith Brown of Pittsburgh, and who
died October 7, 1881, leaving a son.
p378
SINGLETON SCHROCK, one who has led a life of continual yet profitable
change, was born in Allegany county (now Garrett), Maryland, November 11,
1847, and is a son of J Schrock and Rebecca Miller Schrock.
His grandfather, John Schrock, was of German extraction, and died in
eastern Pennsylvania in 1803.
His father was born near Berlin, Somerset county, Penna, in 1799. He
married Miss Rebecca Miller, daughter of John Miller, and they had eleven
children: John Schrock, Harriett Schrock, Lucinda Schrock, Malinda
Schrock, Clarissa Schrock, Louisa Schrock, Elizabeth Schrock, Joseph
Schrock, Susan Schrock, Sarah Schrock and Singleton Schrock.
Singleton Schrock was educated in the common schools of Markleysburg,
served Custer in the late war eighteen months in the Eighteenth Cavalry
Regiment, and learned the trade of a blacksmith with George Smith in
Jockey Valley. He worked for one year at his trade in Markleysburg and
then removed to Columbus, Ohio. In the latter place he failed to find
employment, and being out of money was compelled to beg and tramp his way
back to Somerfield. Here he engaged in a blacksmith shop until April 1,
1870, with John Close.
His next move was to Confluence where he worked four months as a tool
dresser for D W Patton & Co railway contractors. From Confluence he
removed to Brooks Tunnell and labored with Gletzell & Co contractors
until 1872. From Brooks Tunnell he removed to Confluence, and remained
for ten years and twenty three days in the employ of the P & C R R Co at
a salary of $65 per month, making and dressing tools.
In 1882 he took charge of a boarding camp for a construction train and
remained fourteen months when he opened and ran a blacksmith shop in
Confluence for six months. His next location was Dickenson Run where he
conducted a boarding house for eighteen months.
In August, 1885, he purchased a fine residence at Dickenson Run. His
house is a fine two story building with a mansard roof, 70 feet front,
126 feet depth and contains fifteen rooms. He keeps boarders and is
engaged at his trade working at the P & McK Railway round house, is also
a partner of J F Black & Co in the mercantile business.
Singleton Schrock was married August 13, 1874, to Miss Jennie Shaw of
Kingwood, Preston county, West Virginia. Two children were born to them:
Nellie Schrock and Franklin M Schrock.
Mr Schrock is a republican and served one terms as councilman of the
borough of Confluence, Penna. His life has been one of continual change
and many hardships, but by pluck and push, he has secured for himself and
family a competency.
p379
CRAWFORD HARRISON SCOTT of New Salem, Menallen township, was born
August 8, 1840, near Mendenhall's dam.
Crawford Scott, his grandfather, came from Ireland, September 30, 1788,
and settled in Lancaster county, Penna.
Wilson Scott, father of C H Scott, was born September 30, 1808, and was a
blacksmith by trade, at which he worked nearly all of his life in
Menallen township. He married Miss Ann Woodward, who was born October 26,
1813, in Menallen township, the daughter of Joshua Woodward.
C H Scott was educated in the schools of Menallen township under George
Osborne, a noted teacher of his day. At the age of twenty one, he
enlisted September 19, 1861, under Captain John Weltner, Company I,
Eighty fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Joshua B
Hall's regiment. This regiment was made up in Greene, Fayette and
Somerset counties. The following are the principal battles in which he
was engaged: Black Water, October, 1862; South West Creek, North
Carolina, December 13, 1863; Kingston, North Carolina, December 14, 1863;
White Hall, North Carolina, December 16, 1863; Goldsboro, North Carolina,
December 17, 1863; the siege of Yorktown, 1862; Jones Ford, June 28,
1862; the siege of Charleston, the siege of Richmond at Bermuda Hundreds,
Deepbottom, seven days fight. He was wounded in the fight at Strawberry
Plain, August 14, 1864, by a shot in the left lung and still carries the ball.
He entered the army as a private and was promoted to non-commissioned
officer in 1862. He served three years and three months, and is now a
prominent man in the Grand Army of the Republic.
He married Miss Mary Radcliff, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Radcliff of
Upper Middletown. They are both members of the Christian church and have
four children: W R Scott, born February 13, 1866, who is now preparing
for teaching; Ross Scott, also preparing for teaching, born October 21,
1867; Orrin C Scott, born April 5, 1873; Clarice Gay Scott, born April 29, 1877.
C H Scott was a teacher before the war; after leaving the army he went
into the mercantile business at New Salem in 1867. He was postmaster at
New Salem for nine years, and is a self-made man and has amassed a
competence by his own unaided labor. He is a good citizen and respected
by all in his township. He is a republican in politics, and is an
effective worker in the party.
p380
THOMAS SCOTT was born in 1833 in County Longford, Ireland, and his
parents were James and Catherine Scott. When he was eight years of age,
his parents came to Pennsylvania where his father died soon after their
arrival, and the boy was thus thrown upon his own resources. He worked
three years for Joseph S Walton, a Quaker of Chester county, receiving as
compensation his board, clothing and three months schooling each winter.
His next employment was three and one half years' service in the Doe Run
Cotton Mills, thence he went to Lancaster county and labored for a time
in a saw mill.
In 1854 he came with his widowed mother to Belle Vernon where he has
since resided.
In the late war he enrolled himself as volunteer under Lincoln's first
call for troops. His enlistment dated from October 16, 1862, in an
independent company, but later joined the Ringgold Battalion then
consolidated with the Twenty Second Pennsylvania Volunteers.
He was in thirty six engagements, mustered in as a corporal, and came
out as a commissary sergeant, October 31, 1865. He has a commission of
promotion signed by J G Isenberg and A J Greenfield.
He was married in 1858 to Sarah A Gamble, daughter of James Gamble, an
old and respectable citizen. They had three children: Alice S Scott,
married to Samuel McKean and lives in Belle Vernon; John T Scott is in
partnership with Lewis Jobes in the butchering business; and Anna M (Mrs
Scott) died May 18, 1883,
Mr Scott is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and
belongs to George D Baird Post, No 178.
p225
WILLIAM E SEAL, merchant tailor of Uniontown, was born in Belmont
county, Ohio, September 23, 1863, and is a son of Richard Seal and Nancy
Watters Seal, the former born in Maryland in 1826 and the latter a native
of Baltimore.
William E Seal was educated in the public schools of Ohio. Leaving
school, he removed to Wheeling, West Virginia, where he learned the trade
of tailor with Thomas Hughes & Co. Desiring to perfect himself in his
chosen trade, he attended Mitchell's Cutting School in New York City and
was graduated from there in 1886. From 1885 to 1887 he was a partner in
the firm of Seal & Bro, engaged in fine tailoring at Bellaire, Ohio.
June 2, 1887, he married Miss May Thompson, daughter of Captain Stephen
Thompson of Pittsburgh. Mrs Seal is a native of Monroe county, Ohio, born
June 20, 1863.
William E Seal came to Uniontown July 2, 1887, and purchased the
merchant tailoring stock of John Lynch which he removed to his present
rooms on Main street. He is the resident and managing partner of Seal
Bros, merchant tailors, Main street, Uniontown, who constantly carry a
large and valuable assortment of cloths and trimmings, directly imported
from Europe.
William E Seal is a practical cutter and merchant tailor who
personally attends to every department of his business and is deserving of
the large and flattering patronage he has built up for the firm in a
comparatively short time.
p222
JAMES ALLISON SEARIGHT
Among the many prominent and successful businessmen of Fayette county,
none are more modest and unassuming and yet more conscientious and useful
than James Allison Searight, who represents at Uniontown the leading and
reliable insurance companies of both the Old and the New World.
James Allison Searight, youngest son of William and Rachel Searight, was
born on the old Searight Homestead, Menallen township, Fayette county,
Penna, September 13, 1836.
Until at fourteen years of age he remained at home and attended the
local schools of his neighborhood. In 1850 he began an academic course at
Dunlap's Creek Presbyterian Academy, then in its most palmy days, and
during his attendance there was instructed by Dr Wilson, founder of the
school, Dr Black and Professors Powers, Downs, Chalfant and Mercer.
Leaving the academy he spent some time in the banking house of John T
Hogg at Brownsville and from the bank he went and took a partial
commercial course at Iron City College, Pittsburgh, Penna. In 1859 he
entered the preparatory department of Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio;
after the first term he was admitted to the freshman class and was
graduated from there in 1862. One of his classmates was E L Stanton,
son of the great war secretary, E M Stanton.
During his college course the president of the institution resigned,
raised a regiment for the army and it was not long until it was Mr
Searight's sad duty to help entomb the body of the soldier college
president near the old chapel of Kenyon college. At the close of his
collegiate term in 1863 he became a student of Divinity under Dr Ohl of
Brownsville, Penna, and in the fall of 1865 entered the Philadelphia
Divinity School. At the end of a year's close application to theological
studies his health began to fail and he was compelled to abandon his
chosen profession. Mr Searight passed a couple of years in Washington
City; and in 1871 he came home and opened his present insurance and real
estate agency.
He is a member of St Peter's Protestant Episcopal church at Uniontown
and has frequently represented the church in its diocesan councils. He
was a member of the diocesan council when the first division of the
diocese of Pennsylvania was made, and was also a member when Dr Kerfoot
was elected bishop of the diocese of Pittsburgh. He was also a member of
the diocesan convention that elected Dr Whitehead, the present bishop,
and served on the committee that notified him of his election.
In 1873 Mr Searight with several others applied for and obtained the
charter of the Peoples Bank of Fayette County with a capital stock of
$50,000. Shortly after its formation Mr Searight was elected cashier, and
upon the death of the president, Col Ewing Brownfield, in 1889, Mr
Searight was elected his successor, a position he now holds. He has spent
considerable time and expense in securing facts and data for an accurate
sketch to preserve for all time to come the memory of his family and
ancestry. He has also taken a deep interest in the success of the
Biographical Cyclopedia as the only sure way of preserving the ancestral
history of Fayette county.
For nearly twenty years Mr Searight has conducted a large and
continually increasing insurance business. His agency represents nineteen
of the largest fire, life and accident insurance companies of the world,
and the Anchor and State lines of steamship companies. He represents the
Aetna; North American; Hartford; National; Connecticut; Phenix
Continental; Pennsylvania and farmers (US); Royal, Phenix Guardian;
London, Lancashire and Queen (England): and Western (Canada) Travelers'
Life, Travelers' Accident; Pennsylvania Life of Philadelphia and United
States Plate Glass of same city. Altogether he represents over fifty
millions of capital.
p218
Colonel THOMS BROWNFIELD SEARIGHT.
The oldest in active practice of the lawyers at the Uniontown bar and
one of the prominent and well known public men of Fayette county, is the
gentleman whose names heads this sketch, a man of good legal
attainments, fine literary ability, and extended political influence.
Thomas Brownfield Searight is a son of William Searight and Rachel
Brownfield Searight and was born on the National Road in Menallen
township, Fayette county, Penna, February 20, 1827.
Colonel Thomas B Searight was reared on a farm and successfully
prosecuted his academic studies at Dr Wilson's Academy and Madison
College at Uniontown. He entered Washington and Jefferson College May 1,
1844, and was graduated from that famous old college in the class of
1848.
One of his classmates was Judge Slagle of Pittsburgh; another was Hon J
Murray Clark, and one of his warm and intimate friends while there was
James G Blaine who graduated one year earlier. Leaving college, Colonel
Searight read law under James Veech, a learned historian and able jurist
and was admitted to the Fayette County Bar in 1850.
In 1851, his father being the proprietor of the GENIUS OF LIBERTY, the
organ of the Fayette county democrats, Colonel Searight assumed charge of
the paper as editor and conducted it until the beginning of the war
against the South.
In 1857 he was elected prothonotary and in 1860 was re-elected. In 1863
he represented Fayette county in the House of Representatives of the
State legislature and was re-elected in 1864. Two years later he was
chosen State senator from the district composed of the counties of
Greene, Fayette and Westmoreland counties.
He was a leading member as well as one of the acknowledged leaders of
his party on the floor of the house and senate, serving on many of the
important committees, took a prominent part in all important legislation,
and was generally successful in securing the passage of measures that he
favored and advocated. Active in behalf of the people's interests of his
district, he received many manifestations of regard from Governors Curtin
and Geary; and on the proposition to ratify the fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments to the Constitution of the United States, his speeches in all
the debates arising thereon were both effective and conspicuous against
their ratification by the legislature of Pennsylvania.
He was delegate to the Pennsylvania democratic State convention of 1857
that nominated William F Packer for governor, of 1860 that nominated
Henry D Foster, of 1863 that nominated Judge Woodward, of 1866 that
nominated Heister Clymber, of 1869 that nominated A H Dill, and of 1882
that nominated Robert Emory Pattison.
He was delegate to the National Democratic conventions at Chicago that
nominated General George B McClellan and Grover Cleveland for the
presidency in 1864 and 1884. In all the political campaigns since 1848,
he has taken an active and leading part in Fayette county, and at various
other parts throughout the State. Without solicitation on his part, he
was appointed in 1873 by President Grant, surveyor general of Colorado,
and served as such for three years. In 1881 he was elected prothonotary
for a third term and three years later elected for a fourth term. In 1883
he received the democratic nomination for the judgeship of the Fourteenth
Judicial District, but opposing influences in an adjoining county and
dissensions in his own party in Fayette county prevented his election.
October 29, 1857, he was married to Miss Rose Flenniken, only daughter
of Robert P Flenniken. They have four children: Emily Searight; William
Searight; Eliza Searight; and Annie Searight.
Hon Robert P Flenniken was born in Greene county, Penna, in 1804 and
died in San Francisco in 1879. He practiced law for many years at
Uniontown, was an able lawyer, and served three terms in the Pennsylvania
legislature, was appointed in 1845 Minister Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to Denmark under President Polk, and subsequently served
as associated justice of the Territory of Utah under President Buchanan.
At the close of his last term as prothonotary, Col Searight again
resumed the active practice of law and has secured a large practice. For
over thirty years he has almost continuously held important offices, and
has always discharged the duties devolving upon him creditably to himself
and satisfactorily to the public. Rev J S Marquis, a fine scholar and
able writer, has the following biography of Colonel Searight, his college
classmate:
Searight has made some valuable contributions to literature. His letters
on States Rights are logical and evidently prepared with great care and
research. His history of "The Old Pike" containing reminiscences,
romance, accident and incident and scenes along its thoroughfare in its
earlier days, is a gem of that kind of writing.
We quote the following sentences from the opening chapter of "The Old
Pike" as illustrative of the style of the work:
The National Road was for many years the great highway of the nation,
preceding the era of canals and railroads, and rivaling in grandeur the
Appian Way that connected ancient Rome with Southern Italy. Its numerous
and magnificent stone bridges, with splendid, handsomely turned arches
and its iron mile posts, attest the skill of the workmen engaged in its
construction and remain enduring monuments of its grandeur and solidity.
Col Searight is easily approached, is affable in manner and easy in
conversation. His practice is before the courts of Fayette county, United
States District Court, State courts at Pittsburgh, and the Supreme Court
of Pennsylvania. In the field of politics he has ever steadfastly held to
the principles founded by Jefferson and afterwards so ably espoused and
powerfully enunciated by Jackson: having carefully studied the history
and examined the principles of all the great political parties that have
ever existed in the country, his early democratic principles have become
his mature convictions.
p380
WILLIAM SEARIGHT of Menallen, the founder of the Fayette county family
of Searights, was born near Carlisle, Cumberland county, Penna, December
5, 1791. He was of Scotch-Irish descent on both paternal and maternal
sides. His paternal grandfather, William Seawright, came from County
Donegal in the North of Ireland about the year 1740, settled in Lampiter
township, Lancaster county, Penna, and was at the time of his death,
1771, a prominent citizen and landholder of that county. His paternal
grandmother, Ann Hamilton, came from Belfast, Ireland, at the same time,
and settled in about the same locality near Lancaster City, Penna. She
came to America with her brothers William Hamilton and Hugh Hamilton and
his sister, Mary Hamilton.
Her brother William Hamilton was the grandfather of the distinguished
Governor of South Carolina in Calhoun's day, who was known as the
Nullifier Governor, in consequence of his advocating the nullification of
certain tariff laws passed by Congress, which he considered adverse to
the interests of the people of the South.
A pretty full though incomplete history of the Hamilton family of
Lancaster county, Penna, can be seen in Egles Pennsylvania Genealogies in
"Notes and Queries" by Colonel Evans of Columbia. The ancestors of the
Lancaster County Hamilton family, of which-as stated-the grandmother of
the subject of this sketch was a member, came from Scotland to Belfast,
Ireland, when it became the refuge for the persecuted Covenanters. They
were part of the historical Scotch family of Hamiltons, one of whom was
chosen as the husband of Queen Mary, and another as the husband of Queen
Elizabeth. Family history and family tradition also teach that Alexander
Hamilton of revolutionary fame was also connected with this same family
of Lancaster county Hamiltons.
The names of the children of William Seawright and Ann Hamilton were:
Mary Seawright, Esther Seawright, Ann Seawright, William Seawright (the
father of the subject of this sketch) and Alexander Seawright. (See Deed
Book WW, p 134 Lancaster county records)
Mary Seawright, the eldest of the children, married John Glenn. The
Glenns are extinct, and are mostly buried in the Pequea churchyard,
Lancaster county, Penna; Esther Seawright married Gilbert Seawright and
did not change her name. Gilbert Seawright who married Esther was the
founder of a large family of Seawrights in and around Carlisle,
Cumberland county, Penna; Ann Seawright married William Wood and removed
from Lancaster county to Albemarle county, Virginia, and from there the
children of the Wood family moved on to their lands near Lexington,
Kentucky; Alexander Seawright married a Logan, and removed to Augusta
county, Virginia. They had three children: William Seawright, Alexander
Seawright and Margaret Seawright, who removed with their families from
Augusta county, Virginia, to Henry county, Tennessee, in about the year
1826, where some of their descendants are now living. William (the father
of the subject of our sketch) married Jane Ramsey, a daughter of Samuel
and Catherine Ramsey (nee Seawright).
The maternal great great grandfather of William Searight came from
Donegal, Ireland, about 1740, and settled in Leacock township, near
Lancaster City, Penna, where he lived and died. His name was also William
Seawright. He was for many years a landholder and a prominent citizen of
Lancaster county, Penna. In the Revolution of 1688, the ancestors of
William Seawright threw themselves into the cause of William of Orange.
Some of them were driving within the walls of Londonderry when its gates
were closed against James the Second, some afterwards died in the
besieged city, while others of them survived the siege. The maternal
great grandmother of the subject of this sketch was also a resident of
the North of Ireland, whose maiden name was Catherine Jackson. William
Seawright and Catherine Jackson had but one child, Catherine Seawright.
Catherine Seawright married Samuel Ramsey of Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania, who afterwards became a wealthy and prominent citizen of
Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. He owned the famous "Letort Springs"
tract near Carlisle, where he lived and died. They were the parents of
the mother of the subject of this sketch. The names of the children of
Samuel Ramsey and Catherine Seawright Ramsey were: Jane Ramsey, Catherine
Ramsey, Margaret Ramsey, Esther Ramsey, Elizabeth Ramsey, Samuel Ramsey,
Archibald Ramsey, and Seawright Ramsey.
Jane Ramsey married William Searight, the father of the subject of this
sketch. Catherine, Margaret, Esther and Elizabeth died unmarried. Samuel
Ramsey married a Gettysburg lady and had no children. Archibald married
Margaret Dean, some of whose grandchildren are now residents of New
Bloomfield, Perry county, Pennsylvania. Seawright Ramsey married a Denny,
a member of the Pittsburgh family of Dennys, and a sister of the wife of
Dr Murray of Carlisle, Penna. All of this family except Jane and Samuel
are buried in the old graveyard at Carlisle, Penna. Samuel Ramsey is
buried in Huntington county, Penna, and Jane Ramsey Searight in the
Ligonier Valley. After the death of his wife Catherine, Samuel married
the widow Macfeely, grandmother of General Robert Macfeely, commissary
general, U S A, Washington, D C.
In about 1780 the parents of William Searight removed from Lancaster
county, Penna, to Cumberland county, Penna, and from there to Augusta
county, Virginia. They remained in Virginia about eight years when they
returned to Cumberland county. There they remained for a short time when
they started for the western part of the State, stopping a short time in
Huntington and Indiana counties, and finally made their permanent
settlement in Legonier Valley, Westmoreland county, Penna, about five
miles above Legonier on the Loyalhanna river.
The names of the brothers and sisters of William Searight were: Samuel
Searight, Alexander Searight, Mary Searight, John Searight, Hamilton
Searight, Archibald Searight. After 1810 Samuel Searight settled at
Tippecanoe county, Indiana. Alexander Searight first settled in Brooke
county, Virginia, and afterwards moved to Morgan county, Ohio, and
William Searight, the subject of this sketch settled in Fayette county,
Pennsylvania. The other members of the family remained in the Legonier
Valley, and died without issue. They are buried alongside of their
parents in "Pleasant Grove" graveyard about five miles from the town of
Legonier.
William Searight received only a plain English education, but he was
endowed with the precepts of stern integrity, industry and honor, the
elements of his future success in business, and of his elevated
character. In the neighborhood in which he was reared, he had learned the
business of fuller and dyer of cloth, a knowledge of which with his
energy and honor was his entire stock in hand. He arrived in Fayette
county about the age of twenty one, and commenced business at an old
fulling mill on Dunlap's creek known as Hammond's mill. He afterwards
prosecuted his vocation at Cook's mill on Redstone creek, and also on the
old George Washington farm near Perryopolis. He next purchased a farm and
hotel at Searights, the property and village deriving its name from him,
and there made his permanent settlement. On March 26, 1826, he married
Rachel Brownfield, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Brownfield of
Uniontown, Penna.
Rachel Brownfield (wife of William Searight) was of English Quaker
lineage. Her parents were natives of Frederick county, Virginia. Her
grandparents were natives of Bucks county, Penna, and her great
grandparents were natives of Yorkshire and Chester, England. She was born
in Gainsboro, Frederick county, Virginia, February 7, 1805. She is now
living with all her faculties well preserved, within half a square of
where she landed in 1805.
At the village of Searights, William Searight laid the foundation of a
large fortune. His integrity, united to a generous and benevolent heart,
gave him a high place in esteem and affections of the community in which
he lived. His sound judgment soon impressed itself on his own county and
he became one of her most influential and useful citizens. He was a
prominent and zealous, old-time democratic politician and wielded a large
influence. On one occasion he rode on horseback from Searights to
Harrisburg, a distance of over 200 miles, to assist in the preparation
to nominate General Jackson for the presidency. He was an intimate friend
of the late Simon Cameron, ex-United States Senator from Pennsylvania,
and had close personal relations with the leading politicians of his day.
In the early history of Fayette county, political conventions of both
parties were accustomed to meet at Searights and plan campaigns. A
memorable meeting, of which Mr Searight was the chief instigator, was
held there in 1828 known as the "Gray Meeting" from the name of the
keeper at that time of the local hotel, John Gray. At this meeting the
Jackson and Adams men met to test their strength. They turned out in the
meadow below the hotel, formed in rank and counted off; the Jackson men
outnumbered their opponents decisively, and it was regarded as a great
Jackson victory.
In the political campaign of 1836, a large democratic meeting was held at
Uniontown, and the delegation from Searights bore a banner with the
inscription, "Menallen the Battleground of the Gray Meeting." Many
politicians of the olden time were there, among them on the Jackson side
were General Henry W Beeson, Colonel Ben Brownfield, Westley Frost,
William F Coplan, Henry J Rigden, James C Beckley, Benedict Kimber,
Solomon G Krepps, William Searight, Hugh Keys, William Hatfield, Colonel
William L Miller, John Fuller, Provance McCormick, William Davidson,
Alexander Johnson, and Thomas Duncan.
On the Adams side were Andrew Stewart, John M Austin, F H Oliphant, John
Kennedy, John Dawson, Samuel Evans, James Bowman, William Hogg, Stokely
Connell, William P Wells, Basil Brownfield, George Mason, Kennedy Duncan
and John Lyon.
The many similar political meetings with which William Searight was
identified go to show the esteem in which he was held by the citizens of
the county by all parties. But Fayette county, although the first, was
but little in advance of other communities to learn and admire his worth.
He early became known and appreciated throughout the entire State. He was
appointed Commissioner of the Cumberland road (National Road) by Governor
Porter in the most palmy days of that great thoroughfare, a position he
held for many years.
In 1845 he was superseded by Colonel William Hopkins of Washington,
Penna. Subsequently an act of the legislature placed the road in the
hands of trustees appointed by the courts, and these trustees restored
William Searight to the commissionership, the duties of which office he
continued to discharge with great fidelity and industry. He was
thoroughly familiar with all the hills and valleys of that grand old
thoroughfare, once so stirring and active, but now still and grass-grown.
Previous to his appointment as commissioner of the National road, he was
a contractor on the same. He was one of the contractors who built the
iron bridge over the mouth of Dunlap's Creek between Bridgeport and
Brownsville, and was also a contractor on the Erie extension of the
Pennsylvania and Ohio canal.
At the time of his death, he was a candidate for the democratic party
for one of the most important offices in the State, that of canal
commissioner. To this office he would have undoubtedly been elected, had
not death interposed and called him from the active duties of this life
to the realities of another world, as after his death, Colonel William
Hopkins of Washington county, was nominated to the democratic party for
the same office and was elected by a large majority.
He died at his residence in Menallen township, on the 12th day of August,
1852. He left a widow and six children: Thomas Searight, Ewing Searight,
Jane Searight, William Searight, James Searight, Elizabeth Searight. His
widow is living at Uniontown at the advanced age of eighty four, and has
all her faculties as perfect as ever. Of the children, William is dead,
the rest are living. Thomas, Jane, and James live at Uniontown. Ewing
Searight lives on the old homestead in Menallen township, and Elizabeth
is the wife of J T Colvin, president of Pittsburgh National Bank of
Commerce, Pittsburgh, Penna, and lives in Pittsburgh.
p293
JOHN D SEATON, merchant at Wymp's Gap, Springhill township, was born in
Fayette county, Penna, March 15, 1834. He was reared on the farm,
attended the schools of the neighborhood until he arrived at the age of
nineteen years. On leaving school, he remained on his father's farm till
he became of age, and then rented a farm and managed it on his own
account up to 1863, when he removed to Preston county, West Virginia.
Here he ran a hotel for eighteen months, and thence he removed to Greene
county, Penna.
In 1877 he began merchandising at Rosedale, where he remained til 1883,
when he returned to Springhill township, engaged in the same business at
Wymp's Gap, and where he is at present engaged. He was married October
12, 1854, to Sarah E Elliott, daughter of Solomon Elliott, the latter a
farmer of the county. In politics, Mr Seaton is a sterling democrat, as
is also his father. He was appointed by President Cleveland post master
at Wymp's Gap, October 1, 1888, and is the present occupant of that
office. He has a pleasant home in Springhill and is doing a splendid
mercantile business.
John D Seaton's parents were Hiram Seaton and Mary Fisher Seaton. The
former was born in 1800 and the latter in 1797. The mother died in
October, 1883.
Hiram Seaton was born at Uniontown where he received a very good
education. At the age of eighteen he engaged in peddling goods, continued
at it for two years, when he purchased 600 acres of land in Wharton
township and engaged in farming.
He was married in 1821. In 1823 his wife died and he was again married
in 1827. To this last union were born seven children, five sons and two
daughters; all became men and women. Hiram Seaton was elected treasurer
of Fayette county in 1855, and was popular with the people. A special act
of assembly was passed by the legislature of Pennsylvania for the purpose
of re-electing him as treasurer for a second term, and after serving two
terms as county treasurer most acceptable to the people, he retired to
his farm in Wharton township. In 1869, he removed with his family to
Pleasant Hill, Cass county, Missouri, where he died October 28, 1870, in
the seventieth year of his age.
Hiram Seaton's father was one of Uniontown's earliest settlers. He was
the proprietor of the old Seaton House, which for many years was the
leading "tavern" at Uniontown for drivers and wagoners on the National
road, and was run by Mr Seaton during the palmiest days of the old road.
p225
THOMAS SEMANS, a Jacksonian democrat and a solid businessman of Fayette
county, is a son of Henry Semans and Polly Warren Semans, and was born at
the head of Morgantown street in Uniontown, April 26, 1800.
Henry Semans came from New Jersey to Uniontown. He was a carpenter and
enlisted in the War of 1812, but was not called into active service as
peace was declared soon after his enlistment. His family consisted of
three sons and five daughters.
Thomas Semans was educated in the subscription schools of South Union
township and Uniontown. He learned the trade of tanner with John Miller
of Uniontown, and operated a tannery for forty five years in South Union
township, and made many improvements to save labor while he was engaged
in that business. In addition to the tannery he conducted a shoe shop,
carried on a general store at home for fifteen years, and owned an
interest for several years in a Uniontown store.
In 1827 he married Miss Lydia Johnson, daughter of Jacob Johnson. They
had five children: Francis M Semans, merchant at Monroe; George W Semans
of Morgantown, W Va; Eliza Semans, wife of Samuel McDonald; Harriet
Semans, wife of Samuel Clark (dead); Mary Ann Semans, wife of Henry
Cassidy (dead). Mrs Semans is dead.
His second wife was Miss Margery Grant, whom he married in 1845. They
were blessed with ten children of whom three are living: Ezra Semans in
the coal business, Sarah Semans and Walter Semans at home.
After the death of his second wife he married Miss Mellicent Foster,
daughter of Thomas J Foster and Rebecca Slagle Foster, the latter a
descendant of the famous Simpson family of Maryland.
Thomas Semans is a Royal Arch Mason, is prominent in lodge and chapter,
and served one terms as District Deputy Grand Master to instruct the
masonic lodges of four counties. He has been a member for sixteen years
of the Protestant Episcopal church of Uniontown. He has served five years
as tax collector, three terms as school director, two terms as justice of
the peace, and two terms as poor house director. He is remarkably well
preserved in both body and mind for a man verging on ninety years of age,
and was engaged in binding grain in his harvest fields during the last
summer. His first presidential vote was cast for Jackson, and for sixty
five succeeding years he has yielded unanswering allegiance to the
political principles of Jackson.
p527
HENRY L SHANK, D D S, one of New Geneva's leading citizens and a dentist
of good reputation, is a son of David Shank and Anna Dils Shank, and was
born in Springhill township, Fayette county, Penna, October 28, 1831.
David Shank was of German extraction, born in Springhill township in
1807, and died in 1832. He was a cooper by trade, a whig in political
opinion, and a member of the Mennonite church. His wife was Anna Dils,
who was a member of the Presbyterian church. She died January 17, 1882.
Her father, Philip Dils, was a Fayette county farmer who was born in New
Jersey.
Dr Shank was reared on a farm, educated in the subscription schools, and
took one term at Mt Hope Academy, Ohio. At twenty years of age, Mr Shank
began teaching school and continued in this business until 1858, when he
read medicine and studied dentistry with Dr P L Kramer of Greensboro,
Greene county, Penna. He practiced dentistry in 1859 at Greensboro, then
for a short time at Carmichael's, and from there he removed to New
Geneva, where he has since been engaged in practicing dentistry.
On March 29, 1864, he was married to Miss Fannie Springer, a daughter of
Marshall Springer. To this union five children have been born: Anna L
Shank, wife of A J Hayden of Greensboro; David Marshall Shank (dead);
Rachel D Shank; Emma L Shank; and Lizzie S Shank (unmarried).
In 1865 he purchased property at New Geneva, where he is comfortably
situated. Mr Shank is a democrat, was elected justice of the peace in
1885 for a term of five years; is serving as justice of the peace and for
nine years has held the offices of assessor and auditor of Nicholson
township. He is a member of the Presbyterian church at the "Old Frame,"
while his wife and daughters, Mrs Hayden and Rachel, are members of the
Baptist church at Greensboro. He has been "the architect of his own
fortune," is a successful dentist and a useful man.
p527
WILLIAM GARANNE SHARPNACK of Masontown, was born at High House, Georges
township, Fayette county, Penna, on the 15th of May, 1854, and is a son
of Daniel Sharpnack and Mary Ann Denny Sharpnack.
His paternal grandfather, Daniel Sharpnack, was one of the early
merchants of Greene county, Penna, and married Mary Ann Rice, a cousin of
Dan Rice, the great showman. His maternal grandfather was John Denny, who
used to own and operate the old Beeson mill at Uniontown.
His father Daniel Sharpnack, a native of Jefferson, Greene county,
Penna, was born August 12, 1811, in what is now the Ingraham Hotel. He
came to Uniontown when twelve years old, lived with Old Ellis Bailey, and
attended Madison College for five years. At seventeen he was apprenticed
to Hugh Graham to learn the trade of carpenter. When he completed his
trade, he became a contractor. His first contract was repairing the old
court house. He afterwards built the Dawson Law Building, Judge J K
Ewing's residence, and the old Baptist church on Morgantown street. From
1837 to 1842 he followed merchandising at Carmicheals, Greene county,
Penna. From 1842 to 1867 he engaged in farming at High House, when he
came to Uniontown and entered the real estate business. The first piece
of property he handled was the Weniger block that he bought and sold at a
clear profit of $6,000. He successfully prosecuted the real estate
business years. He was married December 31, 1834, to Mary Ann Denny. He
was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church for over forty years,
and died April 9, 1889. Daniel Sharpnack was a very fine mechanic, a good
farmer, and a remarkably successful businessman.
William G Sharpnack attended the common schools, in 1873 entered the
Iron City College, Pittsburgh, Penna, and graduated the same year. He
attended Dickenson College, York, Penna, in 1875, and made penmanship a
specialty. He taught a business school at Monongahela City a few months,
and then turned his attention to farming near Brownsville, at the strong
solicitation of his aged parents. In August, 1881, he began the
mercantile business at Masontown, Fayette county, Penna, and has
successfully continued in it until the present time.
Mr Sharpnack was married to Miss Ida Neff, daughter of Dr George W Neff
Sr, and sister of Hon George W Neff Jr, May 2, 1883. He is well qualified
for the mercantile business that he is so successfully prosecuting; owns
the handsomest residence in Masontown, which he architected and built to
his own taste.
p569
ANDREW G CURTIN SHERBONDY was born October 13, 1863, at Springfield,
Fayette county, Penna. He was educated in the public schools of Dawson,
Penna. In 1876 he learned telegraphy and engaged with the B & O Railroad
and was the agent at Dawson and Markleton, and also worked at Uniontown,
Mount Pleasant, Hickman Run, Rockwood and other points. He remained in
the service of the B & O RR until the spring of 1883 when he removed to
Springfield and engaged in the mercantile pursuit where he has been very
successful in business.
He enjoys the distinction of being the only democrat of the name of
Sherbondy. He is a democrat in every sense of the word and is held in
high esteem by his party, having taken an active part in politics since
he was thirteen years of age. He was appointed postmaster at Elm
Postoffice, Fayette county, Penna, on July 20, 1885, and resigned on
February 1, 1889, to take effect 1st of last March, while his successor
was not appointed and qualified until May 4, 1889. He believes in Andrew
Jackson's motto: To the victors belong the spoils.
He was elected Congressional delegate in 1888 and is at present a member
of the democratic county committee.
He was married at Somerset, Penna, by the Rev J F Sharer, Lutheran
minister, on October 21, 1882, to Miss Aggie May Crichfield, daughter of
Henry Crichfield, deceased, late of Springfield, Penna. This union has
been blessed by two children: Florence Belle Sherbondy, born July 22,
1883; and Ivan Gold Sherbondy, born June 6 1889.
He is a member of Eylan Tribe No 260, I O of R M, and is a past officer
of his lodge.
He is a son of John W Sherbondy and Christiana Lowry Sherbondy, formerly
of Springfield but now of Dawson, Penna. John W Sherbondy, father, has
been farmer, merchant, and stock dealer and held various offices: ten
years as justice of the peace for Springfield township; ten years justice
of the peace at Dawson, Penna; and he was postmaster at Elm, Penna, under
President Lincoln.
John W Sherbondy was born August 13, 1822, at or near Mendon,
Westmoreland county, Penna, and came to Fayette county in 1845.
Christiana Lowry is the daughter of Jacob Lowry of Dunbar township, who
died December 8, 1886, aged eighty eight years. She was born July 18,
1827, at Dunbar, Dunbar township, Fayette county, Penna.
David Sherbondy was an extensive contractor of public turnpikes in the
early days, having built part of Mt Pleasant and Robston pike road from
Bridgeport up Coal Hill to what is now Allentown Pittsburgh. He made
several miles of turnpike up the Sciota Bottoms at Portsmouth, Ohio, and
also on National, Claysville, Hillsboro, Frostbburg, Maryland, pikes. He
paved the streets of Morgantown, West Virginia, and numerous other roads.
David Sherbondy, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born
in South Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, Penna, and died May 8,
1880. The Sherbondys were of German descent and the Lowrys of Scotch
Irish.
Mr Sherbondy is one of the hard working and energetic young men of the
county and is deserving of success in whatever he undertakes.
p568
ABRAM H SHERRICK is a representative of that class of men who win
success in life through their own energy and individual merit. He is a
prominent farmer and coke manufacturer of Bullskin township and was born
at Mt Pleasant, Westmoreland county, Penna, March 24, 1832. He is a son
of Abram Sherrick and Annie Overholt Sherrick who were natives,
respectively, of Fayette and Westmoreland counties. His paternal
grandparents, John Sherrick and Annie Stauffer Sherrick were among the
early pioneers of Fayette county, removing here from Berks county, Penna.
Abram H Sherrick's history is much like that of others, who by their own
efforts have attained competence and position in this life. His early
life was spent on the farm and at the age of fifteen he went to Mt
Pleasant and attended the seminary where he was principally educated.
Some few years before he had reached his majority he was associated with
his uncle, John Sherrick, in the mercantile business in Mount Pleasant.
At the age of twenty two years he crossed overland to California in
search of gold under the rugged crests of the Nevadas ere the
construction of the iron ribbed railroad, which now spans the continent
from ocean to ocean. He continued successfully as a goldminer for three
years. From 1854 to 1858 he was engaged in the distillery business. In
1862 he removed to his farm near Pennsville, Bullskin township, where he
has since resided. Besides owning a splendid and highly improved farm of
three hundred acres, he is one of the most prominent and extensive stock
dealers in Fayette county. He operates and is the proprietor of large
coke works near Pennsville which are supplied with coal from his own
farm. He ships from these works daily about ten cars of coke.
Mr Sherrick was married to Mary Dillinger, a daughter of Samuel
Dillinger. To their union have been born ten children: Frank Sherrick;
Samuel Sherrick; Bart Sherrick; Ella Sherrick; Carrie Sherrick; Charles
Sherrick; Cora Sherrick; Lydia Sherrick; Mollie Sherrick; and Edward
Sherrick. Frank Sherrick died in 1861.
p568
ELIJAH SHIPLEY. Among the prominent citizens of southern Fayette county
is Elijah Shipley, born near Ohiopyle Falls in what is now Stewart
township, Fayette county, Penna, July 5, 1844, and is a son of Levi
Shipley and Catherine Linderman Shipley, both natives of Fayette county,
this State.
Elijah Shipley's family is traced back to Europe whence in 1801 Charles
Shipley, Levi's father, sailed for the United States and afterwards
settled in Fayette county. One of his sons, Levi Shipley, was born
December 14, 1816. Levi Shipley was a well-to-do farmer and a highly
respected citizen. He married Miss Catherine Linderman and reared a
family of eleven children: Leonard Shipley; Sarah Shipley; Elijah
Shipley; Everhart Shipley; Squire Shipley; Melvina Shipley; Nancy
Shipley; Levi Shipley; Rebecca Shipley; George Shipley; and William
Shipley.
Elijah Shipley was reared on a farm and received his education in the
common schools. March 25, 1864, he enlisted in the Federal service and
served until the close of the war. He enlisted as corporal, was promoted
to sergeant and was made assistant quartermaster and ward master. He was
captured once but succeeded in making his escape. As a soldier he was in
the battles of the Wilderness, where he was slightly injured; Cold
Harbor; Chapin's Farm; and in the Siege of Petersburg. Since the war he
has been engaged successfully in farming.
In 1867 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Youtzy of Somerset
county, Penna. To their union have been born four children: Florence
Shipley; Ella Shipley; Catherine Shipley and Ulysses Shipley.
In political matters Mr Shipley is a republican, has served twelve years
as road supervisor and nine years as school director. In 1887 he was
elected as director of the poor for Fayette county and is serving
acceptably in that position at the present time. Mr Shipley resides at
Falls City and enjoys the respect and good will of his fellow townsmen.
p528
JAMES R SHOAF, an energetic and prosperous farmer of Nicholson township,
is a son of James Shoaf and Malinda Bowell Shoaf and was born in Georges
township, Fayette county, Penna, March 6, 1842.
His father, James Shoaf, was a son of James Shoaf, a day laborer who
lived in the mountains and was killed by a log falling on him at the
raising of a building. James Shoaf began life under very discouraging
circumstances, could not read or write, but at his death left a handsome
fortune acquired by his own industry and energy. He was a farmer and a
democrat. He owned a valuable farm of over two hundred acres of land
underlaid with coal and well stocked.
He was married to Miss Maldina Bowell, daughter of Captain Bazil
Bowell, who commanded a company in the War of 1812. They had nine
children of whom six are living; he was born July 26, 1814, and died July
3, 1881.
James R Shoaf was carefully trained in farm work and attended the common
schools. Selecting farming as an occupation, he steadily devoted his time
and attention to that business.
On May 11, 1868, he married Miss Mary Harriet, daughter of Joseph
Newcomber, an industrious farmer of Georges township. Their union has
been blessed with ten children: Thomas B Shoaf; Joseph N Shoaf, dead;
James C Shoaf; Mary Malinda Shoaf; Alda Tilden Shoaf; John H Shoaf; Daisy
D Shoaf; Nancy I Shoaf; Matilda R Shoaf; and Frank N Shoaf.
He is a democrat but does not neglect his work to engage in politics. He
owns two splendid farms of 203 acres in good state of cultivation, of
which one hundred acres are underlaid with coal. He recently sold a tract
of sixty acres for $6,500. He is a quiet, peaceable, industrious and
prosperous citizen.
NOTE:
According to my information, Mary Harriet NEWCOMER, wife of
James R. SHOAF, was the daughter of Joseph & Mary Ann (SESSLER)
NEWCOMER.
Bill Newcomer mrbill@iserv.net
p379
WILLIAM A SHOEMAKER MD is the son of Daniel Shoemaker and Elizabeth
Probst Shoemaker, both natives of Lock Haven, Clinton county, Penna, and
where they at present reside. His father is a farmer of Clinton county
and a stock trader. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
John Shoemaker, paternal grandfather of Dr Shoemaker, was a farmer of
Clinton county and died in 1872. The Shoemaker family is an old and
respectable family of Clinton county. His maternal grandfather Probst was
also a farmer of Clinton county and respected as an honorable, upright citizen.
Dr William A Shoemaker was born November 10, 1859, at Lock Haven,
Clinton County, Penna, and grew to manhood in his native town. He
received his early education in the public schools and completed his
studies by taking a scientific and classical course at the normal school
at Lock Haven.
In 1881 he commenced the study of medicine under the tutelage of his
cousin, Dr W J Shoemaker of Lock Haven wit whom he continued for one year
when he went to Baltimore and entered the medical department of the
University of Maryland. He took a course of three years study in medicine
and graduated from there in March 1885. On March 31, 1885, he located at
Dawson in the practice and has established a large and successful
practice at Dawson and stands high in the community as a successful
physician and citizen. He is a general practitioner and is a member of
the Fayette County Medical Association and the State Medical Association
of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and of the
Royal Arcanum and Odd Fellows.
He was married in 1888 to Miss Cora Given of Dawson, daughter of Robert
T Given. She died soon after her marriage.
In June, 1888, Dr Shoemaker formed a partnership with Dr J C Smith of
Hampshire, West Virginia.
p570
GEORGE W SHOWMAN was born in Dunbar township, Fayette county, Penna,
April 28, 1847, and is a son of David Showman and Jennie Younkin Showman.
David Showman is a native of the town of Somerset, Somerset county,
Penna. He removed to Springfield township, Fayette county, Penna, where
he lived for fifty years. He was a farmer and is still living.
He married in Somerset county December 1838, Miss Jennie Younkin,
daughter of George Younkin. They have nine children: W H Showman; Alex
Showman; Nancy Jane Showman; George W Showman; Catherine Showman; Albert
Showman; Ellen Showman; Jeremiah Showman; and Sarah Showman.
George W Showman was educated in the common schools of Springfield
township. For nine years he was engaged as a coal miner in Tyrone and
Hutchinson mines. Leaving the mines, Mr Showman engaged in farming for
six years in Tyrone township when he removed to Springfield township and
has continued in farming up to the present.
On November 21, 1872, he was married at Mt Pleasant to Miss Francis
Hurst, daughter of James Hurst of Tyrone township. They have had four
children: Albert Showman, born May 9, 1878, died February 11, 1879; Mary
Jane Showman, born May 29, 1874; Lida Belle Showman, born October 9,
1876; and James G Showman, born in Springfield September 3, 1881.
Mr Showman is a republican, has been school director for five years, and
is now president of the school board of Springfield township. He is a
member of Eylan Tribe No 260, I O of Red Men. He is an efficient member
of the Methodist Episcopal church at Springfield where he serves as class
leader. He is a prosperous farmer and a prominent citizen of his
township.
p570
JOHN L SHULTZ, who risked his life and lost a limb in defense of the
Union, is a son of John Shultz and Sarah Lyons Shultz and was born in
Salt Lick township, Fayette county, Penna, February 14, 1838.
His father, John Shultz, was a son of Jacob Shultz who came from
Somerset county to Salt Lick township in 1837 and located on what is now
the Davis Kalp property. The Shultzs are of German extraction.
John L Shultz was brought up on a farm and educated in the schools of
the neighborhood.
On December 15, 1861, he was married by Justice Sherbondy to Miss Mary M
Kern, daughter of Jonathan Kern of Greene county, Penna; three children
have blessed their union: Jacob K Shultz, born May 6, 1862; Eliza Jane
Shultz, born June 15, 1867; and William K Shultz, born February 10, 1875.
In September, 1862, he left his business and enlisted in Company C,
Eighty fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers which was afterward
consolidated with Company H, Fifty seventh Regiment Pennsylvania
Volunteers. He was in the battles of the Peninsula, Fredericksburg, and
Chancellorsville; at the last fight he was severely wounded and unfitted
for duty for three months. At Hatches Run in a charge on a skirmish line,
he lost his right leg. He received his discharge from the service August
25, 1865, and returned home and is at present engaged in farming.
He is a democrat and has held most of the various township offices. Mr
Shultz is a member of the William T Campbell Post, No 375, Grand Army of
the Republic, is a useful member of the Methodist Episcopal church at
Springfield and has many friends.
p473
JACOB D SIMERAL, the accurate and accommodation agent at Dickerson Run
station on the P McK & A railroad, is a son of James Simeral and Margaret
DeWalt Simeral, and was born near Shaner, Westmoreland county, Penna,
September 30, 1859.
His father, James Simeral, is a native of Westmoreland county, and
resides at Buena Vista, this county. He married Miss Margaret DeWalt,
daughter of Jacob DeWalt. One of her brothers, William DeWalt, lost an
arm in the late war; another James DeWalt was a corporal and served in
Sherman's army.
Jacob D Simeral received his education in the common schools of
Allegheny county, was engaged for tome time in digging coal, and for
several years later as a tract layer on a railroad. While thus engaged as
a day laborer, he assiduously employed every spare moment in fitting
himself for a position in the business world. He learned telegraphy and
other work pertaining to a station agent's work, and was successful in
July, 1886, in securing the position of night agent at Dickerson's Run
station, opposite Dawson. He was accurate in all his business and gave
strict attention to the most minute details of his work. This
thoroughness in work soon secured his promotion to the position of general
agent, which he has held ever since with satisfaction to his employers
and the public.
He was married to Miss Isaphine M Collins, daughter of George M Collins.
They have three children: Clara E Simeral, Alice P Simeral, and Maggie L
Simeral.
Jacob D Simeral is a member of the Baptist church, and his wife is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His success in life is but
another illustration of what intelligence, energy and perseverance will
accomplish for a man who has a definite aim or object in life, and works
earnestly to pursue it.
p474
Dr JAMES J SINGER, a leading physician of Fayette county, is a native of
Pennsylvania. He was born in Donegal township, Westmoreland county, November
25, 1850, educated in the public schools of Greensburg and was graduated
from the high school in 1868 when he began the study of medicine with Dr
Robert Brown. He afterwards took a full course of lectures at the Jefferson
Medical College and was graduated in March, 1871, before he was twenty one
years old. He came to Connellsville in June of the same year where he has
resided and practiced medicine most successfully ever since. He was for
several years a partner with Dr Phillips and has been surgeon for the B & O
R R Co at Connellsville for the past seventeen years. After four years
practice Dr Singer took a course in King's College Hospital, London, and a
clinical course in the various hospitals throughout that city. He makes
surgery a specialty and has been signally successful.
He is a son of Robert W Singer and Eleanor Warren Singer, both born in
Westmoreland county. Robert W Singer removed from Donegal township to
Greensburg to take charge of the office of clerk of courts to which he had
been previously been elected.
Dr Singer was married to Miss Jennie Johnston of Fayette county and have
five children, three boys and two girls. He has a very beautiful home.
Dr Singer is one of the most talented of the young physicians of the county
and his success is of that kind of which only come to men of brains and
energy.
p571
CYRUS B SIPE was born in Springfield township, Fayette county, Penna.,
September 6, 1846, and is a son of Jacob Sipe and Catherine Corpenning
Sipe.
Peter Sipe, grandfather, was born in Somerset county, Penna, and was a
farmer and removed in an early day to what is now Springfield township
where he settled on the farm now owned by William Drill.
Jacob Sipe, father, was born in Springfield township, was reared on a
farm and received his education in the old log schoolhouse under the
subscription school masters.
He married Miss Catherine Corpenning, daughter of John Corpenning of
Somerset county.
Cyrus B Sipe was raised on a farm and attended the subscription schools
of Springfield township. Leaving school he engaged in farming and stock
dealing in which he has ever since continued.
He was married by Rev James Wakefield to Miss Lizzie Sparks, daughter of
H L Sparks of Salt Lick township.
Mr Sipe is a republican but is not politician. He has served six years
as school director, is an upright business man and a highly respected
citizen.
p473
WILLIAM M SISLEY, an enterprising and successful merchant of Gibson near
Connellsville, is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Fayette
county, June 14, 1858. His is a son of John L Sisley and Hannah J Wilgus
Sisley, both natives of Fayette county and living.
The paternal grandfather, Morgan Sisley, was born in Fayette county and
engaged in farming for many years, but the latter part of his life was
spent in keeping the Perry Hotel at Perryopolis. The maternal
grandfather, Edward Wilgus, was by trade a shoemaker.
John L Sisley, father, is a carpenter and has been a resident of Gibson
for over twenty years, and in politics he is a democrat.
William M Sisley was reared on a farm until he was eleven years of age,
when he came with his parents to Gibson; received his education in the
common schools and was engaged for ten years in carpentering. Leaving his
trade in April, 1888, he commenced his present business of general
merchandising.
In 1878 he was united in marriage to Alice Kincell, daughter of Alfred
and Evaline Kincell, both natives of Wheeler, Fayette county. They have
three children living, two sons and one daughter: Joseph Sisley, Ella
Sisley, and John A Sisley.
At Gibson Mr Sisley has a good store, well filled with dry goods,
notions, groceries, hardware and everything needed to supply the wants of
his large custom. In political matters he is a republican, a member of the
J O of A M and is one of the foremost and leading citizens of Gibson.
p571
Squire SYLVESTER SKINNER of Stewart township was born in Fayette county
in 1819 and received only the benefit of a common school education. He
was married January 23, 1838, to Miss Adeline Thorp, a native of Fayette
county, Penna, and daughter of James Thorp, Esq. They have ten children:
Sarah Jane Skinner, Sabina E Skinner, James Skinner, David Skinner, John
M Skinner, Abrah Skinner, Tabitha Skinner, Jefferson Skinner, George
Skinner, Marcellus Skinner and Ella Skinner. Rev Skinner was a Baptist
minister and held the office of justice of the peace for ten years. His
death occurred on January 17, 1870.