Bios: Selected Bios A-J : History of Fayette County, by Franklin Ellis, 1882: Fayette Co, PA
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______________________________________________________________________
History of Fayette County, by Franklin Ellis, Philadelphia,
L H Everts and Company, 1882.
______________________________________________________________________
INDEX
BARTON, William
BLACKSTONE, James [2]
BOYD, William
BRITT, Robert
CAMPBELL, George W
CAUFIELD, Thomas
COOK, Edward
COVERT
DILS, Henry
DUNLAP, Rev James
ELLIOTT, Joseph S
ELLIOTT, William
FINLEY, Ebenezer Jr
FORSYTH, William
GANS, Lebbeus Biglow
GHOST, Graft
GIBSON, James
HAGUE, Reuben
HARDIN, John and Martin
HUSTON, Joseph
JACKSON, Isaac
JACOBS, Adam
JOHNSON, DAVID
______________________________________________________________________
p694
WILLIAM BARTON, who was born in New Jersey, September 13, 1795,
of Quaker stock and of English ancestry, came into Fayette county with
his parents at about twelve years of age. He enjoyed good advantages of
education for the times, and in early life was occupied for some years as
clerk and manager of a furnace in Uniontown.
On November 28, 1824, he married Mrs Hannah Collins Foster, born October
28, 1795, widow of John Foster, a captain in the regular army in the war
of 1812 and daughter of Thomas Collins of Uniontown, who was a colonel in
the same war and at one time sheriff of Fayette County, a man of great
business capacity.
Soon after marriage Mr Barton settled with his wife on the old Collins
farm which eventually became by inheritance the property of Mrs Barton in
South Union township, where he prosecuted farming all his life, adding to
the farm by the purchase in 1830 of an adjoining tract equal to it in
size. Mr Barton became a considerable stock raiser withal, and for twenty
years or more ran a distillery, the products of which had great
reputation all along the line of the National Road when that thoroughfare
was at the height of its glory.
He was an old line Whig, afterwards a Republican, and took great
interest in national politics, particularly and though confined to his
house mainly for the last eighteen years of his life, he always caused
himself to be carried into town to deposit his vote. He died November 6,
1865, while the war of the Rebellion can be said to have been hardly
settled, and during that struggle watched its course with intense anxiety,
but with full confidence from the first in the ultimate success of the
cause of the Union.
He was a genial man and noted for his thorough integrity in business,
his word being all the "bond" his neighbors needed of him. He took great
interest in the public schools and was a director for a number of years.
Mr Barton was a great reader and an independent thinker, and was never
attached to any religious organization; in fact, he was distrustful of it
not opposed to such organizations.
Mr Barton died leaving four children, one daughter and three sons, all
now dead save one son, Mr Joseph Barton, who served as a private in the
First West Virginia Cavalry during the war of the Rebellion, and who owns
the old homestead in which with his family resides his aged mother, an
intelligent woman, still hearty and active, occasionally walking to town
even in the coldest weather, a distance of two miles over a road too
rough at times for horses to travel with safety to limb, and one of the
wretchedly bad roads too common in the county and a disgrace to the
people of Uniontown.
p545, Dunbar Township, Fayette County, Penna
The venerable Mr JAMES BLACKSTONE of Dunbar township near the line of
New Haven, is of English descent.
His grandfather, James Blackstone, came hither from the Eastern Shore of
Maryland shortly after Col William Crawford and his comrades found their
way into Yohogania County, Virginia, as the region of which Fayette
County is a part was then called. Mr Blackstone married before he left
Maryland and brought his family and some negroes with him and settled in
what is now Tyrone township on the farm recently owned by Ebenezer Moore.
He had four daughters and one son, James Blackstone Jr, the father of the
present James Blackstone, who was born June 4, 1780.
On the 13th of October, 1803, James Blackstone Jr married Miss Sarah
Rogers of Dunbar township, and going to Connellsville there engaged in
merchandising and built the home now occupied as a hotel by E Dean on
Water Street into which he moved. He died July 16, 1809, leaving three
children, the youngest of whom, born July 19, 1808, is the subject of
this sketch.
Mr Blackstone grew up under the care of his mother, a most estimable
woman, and spent his youth in the village except two years thereof passed
at college in New Athens, Ohio. After returning from college, he spent
some time as a clerk in the store of Davidson & Blackstone, the latter of
whom was his brother, Henry Blackstone, at Connellsville and some time as
clerk at Breakneck Furnace then owned by Mr William Davidson; but farming
was always more to his taste than merchandising.
On the 10th of June, 1834, he married Nancy C Johnston of Connellsville
and lived there till 1836, in the spring of which year he bough of
Colonel William L Miller Roscommon Farm, moved to it June 23rd, and has
there lived ever since. Mr and Mrs Blackstone have nine children, four
sons and five daughters, living.
Mr Blackstone was an old line Whig and is now a Republican, but never
was an active politician, never holding pubic office and never desiring
one. He has ever led a quiet life and enjoyed an enviable reputation for
integrity.
p786, Tyrone, Upper and Lower Townships, Fayette County, Penna
JAMES BLACKSTONE was a native of Maryland and must have located in
Fayette County prior to 1784 as in that year he is recorded as "appraiser
of damages." He located upon the land called "The Summit" in Tyrone
township which now belongs to William Moore and Presley Moore. April 18,
1798, James Blackstone was appointed a justice of the peace. His family
consisted of one son and three daughters. Two of the daughters married
James Hurst and Thomas Hurst, living near Mount Pleasant, and the other
daughter became the wife of Judge Boyd Mercer of Washington County.
The son, James Blackstone Jr, removed to Connellsville in the year 1803
building for his home a brick house on Water Street, which is now known
as the Dean House. He also carried on a general store in his building. Of
his two children, both sons, Henry Blackstone, the oldest, is a civil
engineer now in the employ of the government. James Blackstone, the
younger, has lived upon a farm near Connellsville for the last forty
years. The land which was originally taken up by the elder Blackstone,
spoken of as the property of William Moore and Presley Moore, came to
these gentlemen through their grandmother, Mrs James Hurst, the daughter
to whom Blackstone gave it by will. The 208 acres of land adjoining the
Blackstone property was taken up by Joseph Copper before 1786. He
afterwards sold the property and emigrated West.
p488 Bullskin Township, Fayette County, Penna
WILLIAM BOYD came from Virginia some time about the close of the
Revolution, making the journey to his new home on the west border of
Bullskin on pack horses. He brought with him several slaves and six negro
children were registered as being born to these slaves from 1795 to 1809,
namely, Andrew, Millie, Ben, Prissie, Samuel and Alexander, but of their
subsequent history nothing can be here said.
William Boyd was a man of considerable education and served for a number
of years as justice of the peace. He died in 1812 and was interred on his
homestead. His family consisted of eight children: Thomas Boyd; John
Boyd; Robert Boyd; James Boyd; William Boyd; Jeremiah Boyd and a daughter
who married James Barnett of Connellsville and Stewart H Whitehill, who
resided on the Mounts place many years.
After 1812 Thomas Boyd lived on the homestead where he carried on the
distillation of liquor at an early day. He was a popular man among his
fellow citizens. Two of his sons: William Boyd and Richard Boyd are yet
residents of Bullskin township. Other sons, John Boyd, Randolph Boyd,
Thomas Boyd and Rice Boyd, have died or removed. Thomas Boyd Sr died in
1855; John Boyd, the second son, died in 1857 at Connellsville; Robert
Boyd moved to Menallen township; James Boyd died in Tyrone township;
William Boyd moved to Ohio; Jeremiah Boyd became a physician and after
living in Louisiana a number of years, moved to Washington.
p588
ROBERT BRITT of Smithfield is of Irish descent and was born in Chester
County, Penna, June 4, 1805, and removed from there with his father to
Springhill Furnace, Fayette County, Penna, in August, 1811. He received
his education in the common schools. Mr Britt is by occupation a
carpenter. He spent two years working at his trade in Kentucky and
following his vocation, passed eight years of his life in Virginia; the
rest has been spent in Fayette County. He has resided in his present home
for thirty two years.
December 11, 1831, he married Asenath Greenlee, a lady of Irish stock,
whose mother was three years old when brought to America. Of this union
are three children: Mary Emily Britt married to Benjamin Franklin
Goodwin; Frances Elizabeth Britt, wife of Albert S Miller; and Frank P
Britt was educated in the common schools, at Washington and Jefferson
College, and the Allegheny Theological Seminary, and is now pastor of the
Pisgah Presbyterian Church at Corsica, Jefferson County, Penna.
Mr Britt and his wife have been members of the Presbyterian Church for
more than a quarter of a century. In December, 1881, they celebrated
their golden wedding. Mr Britt has held the office of school director and
other responsible township offices. He has always been a Jefferson
Democrat, and never swerved from his party.
p762
GEORGE W CAMPBELL of Springfield, is the son of James Campbell of the
same place and Rebecca Kilpatrick, daughter of Esquire Thomas Kilpatrick,
who were married in 1840. George W, our subject, the sixth son of James,
was born May 18, 1853. His grandparents on his paternal side came to
America from near Belfast, Ireland.
Mr Campbell attended the common schools of his village until fourteen
years of age when he entered as clerk the general merchandise store of
his brother, John F Campbell, where he became a proficient bookkeeper and
developed a fine business character, continuing a clerk until 1876 when
he became a partner with his brother, remaining such till 1880 and then
bought out his brother's interest, and has since carried on the business
very successfully.
He became assistant postmaster of Elm in the township of Springfield in
September, 1869, and acted as such till March 21, 1881, when he was
commissioned postmaster by Postmaster General James. He is a stalwart
Republican and has been frequently sent by his party as a delegate to
county conventions. On the 1st of January 1882, Mr Campbell established a
small monthly paper called THE MOUNTAINEER, he being editor thereof as
well as proprietor, and which has attained a profitable circulation.
On the 11th of August, 1880, Mr Campbell married Miss Ida May Sparks,
daughter of Horatio L Sparks.
p739
THOMAS CAUFIELD is of Irish stock. His father, Timothy Caufield, was
born in County Galway, Ireland, in 1784 and migrated to America in 1810,
locating in Belmont county, Ohio. He married Nancy Hynes of that county
in 1826. Mrs Caufield died in 1831, leaving three children: John
Caufield, Thomas Caufield and Daniel Caufield. John Caufield resides in
Clarke county, Iowa. Daniel Caufield was merchandising in Kansas during
the struggle for supremacy there between the Northern and Southern
political forces, and has not since been heard of by his friends in
Pennsylvania.
Timothy Caufield moved from Belmont county, Ohio, into Fayette county,
Penna, in 1834. He was a contractor on the National Pike and spent much
of his life in operating upon public works, building roads, etc. He was
married second time in 1836. The maiden name of his second wife was
Elizabeth Detson who died in 1872. Mr Caufield died December 30, 1873.
Thomas Hynes Caufield was born April 24, 1829, in Belmont county, Ohio,
and removed with his father to Fayette county, Penna, in 1834. He was
educated in the common schools and has spent nearly all of his life upon
the farm where he now resides.
He was married July 15, 1874, to Maggie L Lynn of Millsboro, Washington
county, Penna. Her great grandfather, William Lynn, was one of the
pioneers of Fayette county, settling in Redstone township on a farm
adjoining her husband's about the time the county was organized. The farm
remained in the name for three generations. Mr and Mrs Caufield have had
four children, three of whom are living: John Gibson Caufield; Carrie
Lynn Caufield; and Mary Edna Caufield.
Mr Thomas Caufield has never held or sought political office. He is a
well informed gentleman, having read much, particularly of history,
remembering well what he reads and applying the results of his study to
practical purposes much more than it is customary for farmers to do. His
neighbors esteem him for his honesty and fair dealing.
p807, Washington Township, Fayette County, Penna
Col EDWARD COOK.
Important by reason of his connection with the history of Washington
township and Fayette County, and also with that of the nation, Col EDWARD
COOK deserves first mention in the chronicle of Washington's early
settlement. He was born in Chambersburg in 1741 and in 1770 made his
first journey west of the mountains in search of lands for he was at
that time in possession of considerable means. he brought with him a
stock of goods. When he made his location near the present line between
Fayette and Westmoreland Counties, he built a log cabin near the present
home of his grandson, John Cook, and in one corner of it opened a small
store.
The country was then new and stores were not easy to reach, so that when
the opening of Cook's store became known among settlers within a radius
of many miles, they gladly gave him their patronage. Cook kept also a
house of entertaining where such few travelers as happened that way might
find rest and refreshment. Under the law he charged six and a half cents
for a horse's feed and twelve and a half cents for a man. In 1772 he
began the erection of a pretentious mansion, constructing it entirely of
the limestone that was found in abundance on his land. In 1776 he moved
his family into it and there it still stands, a substantial edifice.
After Cook's death, his son James Cook occupied the mansion as his home,
and now James Cook's son, William E Cook, lives in it.
Edward Cook was one of the most extensive landowners in Southwestern
Pennsylvania. He had altogether about three thousand acres, located in
Washington, Westmoreland and Fayette Counties, and occupied now in part
the farms of Joseph Brown, John B Cook, William E Cook, Mrs John Brown,
Mr Montgomery, the site of Fayette City, and numerous other tracts.
The patent for the tract called "Mansion" was issued to Colonel Cook and
described the tract as four hundred and two acres situated in Fayette and
Westmoreland Counties, surveyed in pursuance of a warrant issued to Col
Cook, December 17, 1784. A patent for "Mill Site" on the forks of William
Lynn's run was issued in 1796.
Col Cook was a resident of the county from 1771 until his death in 1812,
and during that time achieved considerable public distinction. He was a
member of the Provincial Congress convened in Carpenter's Hall,
Philadelphia, June 18, 1776, that drafted the first declaration of
independence presented to Congress, June 25, 1776, (see "Journal of
Congress, vol ii, p 230); was a member of the State Constitutional
Convention that convened September 28, 1776; was the first commissioner
of exchange and appointed sub-lieutenant of Westmoreland County, March 21, 1777.
He was one of the founders of Rehoboth Church, a member of its first
session, its first representative to the Redstone Presbytery, and the
Presbytery's first representative to the General Assembly.
January 5, 1782, he was appointed lieutenant of Westmoreland County to
succeed Col Archibald Lochry, who had been captured and killed while on
an Indian expedition. This office gave him command of the militia of the
County and the management of its military fiscal affairs. It was from this
appointment that Col Cook received his military title. He aided in fixing
the boundaries of Fayette County and was a member of the commission that
located the county seat.
November 21, 1786, he was appointed justice of the peace with a
jurisdiction that reached into Washington County. April 8, 1789, he was
appointed president of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Session; was
associate judge of Fayette County in 1791; and from 1796 to 1798
treasurer of Westmoreland County.
It will be seen that Colonel Cook's public record was a remarkable one
for that or any day, and it its brief chronicle tells in unmistakable
terms that he must have been very high indeed in public esteem to have
won such distinction. He was one of the foremost men of his time in
Southwestern Pennsylvania. His landed and other interests were extensive
and these he looked after closely despite the pressure upon his time by
his official cares. He built a saw mill and a grist mill on Cook's Run;
laid out Freeport, afterwards Cookstown and now Fayette City; and was
largely engaged at his home farm in distilling.
He was conspicuous in the Whiskey Insurrection and having been prominent
in some of the meetings of the insurgents, his arrest was ordered but in
the meantime before any action could be taken he appeared November 6,
1794, before Thomas McKean, chief justice of the Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania and in the presence of William Bradford, Attorney General of
the United States, voluntarily entered into recognizance to the United
States for his appearance before the justices of the Supreme Court of the
United States at the next special session of the Circuit Court held for
the district of Pennsylvania "then and there to answer such charges of
treasonable and seditious practices and such other matters of misdemeanor
as shall be alleged against him in behalf of the United Sates and that he
will not depart that court without license."
Having taken this bold and honorable course, he quietly awaited the
result which was simply that nothing was found against him and he was not
molested in person but some cavalrymen belonging to the army that came
out to quell the insurrection visited his home and did considerable
damage, nearly demolishing his distillery, knocking in the heads of
liquor casks and spilling a vast amount of whiskey.
Colonel Cook was among General Washington's personal friends and on two
occasions at least entertained Washington in the old stone mansion now
the home of William E Cook. On one of the occasions named, Washington was
journeying that way to visit his lands in Washington County and stopped
at Col Cook's for a brief rest. Cook was at that time engaged in
reviewing a body of militia nearby and knew nothing of the arrival of his
distinguished guest. Word of the arrival was whispered to the men before
it reached the colonel, and when he observing the commotion learned what
was in the wind, he relaxed all discipline and set off unceremoniously for
the house. The militiamen followed at the double-quick and hurrahing
enthusiastically for General Washington brought him to the porch and
evoked from him in reply a good natured and fatherly speech which the
soldiers cheered to the echo.
Colonel Cook had but one son, James Cook, who married Mary Bell. The
colonel's yearning ambition was to become a grandfather and when the news
came to him that he had a grandson, his joy knew no bounds. In the
exuberance of his delight, he waited upon his old friend Joseph Downer,
and insisted upon his drafting a will in which all the Cook estate should
be left to the grandson, Edward Cook, and it was only by persistent
effort that Downer persuaded him from this project, and convinced him
that as there might be more grandchildren, such an act would be one of
injustice.
Colonel Cook died in the old stone mansion, November 6, 1812, and his
remains rest in Rehoboth churchyard. His widow survived him twenty five
years. She died in 1837 aged upwards of ninety. Colonel Cook's son James
Cook had a family of six sons and one daughter, The daughter, Martha
Cook, is now in West Newton. Of the sons: Edward Cook; James Cook; Joseph
Cook; and Michael Cook are dead. John B Cook and William E Cook occupy
portions of the homestead farm.
p 652
COVERT
The progenitor of the Coverts in the United States was one Abraham
Covert, who came from Holland to the colonies about 1707. Of his family
nothing is now known except that he had a son Abraham Covert, who raised
a family of eight children-four sons and four daughters. These four sons
in time became widely separated.
Abraham Covert remained in the East while the others sought their
fortunes in the West. John Covert settled north of Pittsburgh.
Morris Covert first lived in New Jersey and there married a Miss Mary
Mann. After his marriage he moved to Col Cresap's estate on the Potomac
in the state of Maryland where he resided some years. About the year 1780
he moved to Fayette county, Penna, and located about three miles west of
Beesontown, now Uniontown, where he purchased a farm of three hundred
acres for eight hundred and fifty dollars, on the old Fort road leading
to Redstone Old Fort. Here he lived and died and raised a family of
eleven children-six sons and five daughters.
The oldest son, Joseph Covert, married Nancy Borer of Harrison, Ohio,
where he lived and died.
The second son, Alexander Covert, married Catharine Black, and they
removed to Harrison county, Ohio.
The third son, John Covert, married Amy Doney, and lived on the
Monongahela River in Luzerne township, Fayette county, and died in his
ninety third year.
The fourth son, Morris Covert, was an intinerant Methodist preacher. He
married Nancy Purcell of Chesapeake Bay, and died near Clarksburg, West
Virginia, aged about sixty years.
Jesse Covert, the youngest son, married Henrietta Gibson, resided
principally in Fayette county, Penna, and died at the age of fifty five.
Benjamin Covert was born on July 10, 1799, on the old homestead, where he
grew to manhood. He married Abigail Randolph, and removing to Harrison
county, Ohio, in 1820, settled on the Stillwater and there resided until
1830. To of his children, Richard Covert and Mary Covert, were born
there. He next removed to a farm on Short Creek in the same county. There
he remained three years and there his youngest daughter, Elizabeth
Covert, was born.
He then moved to a farm in Luzerne township, Fayette county, Penna, which
he purchased from George Custer. It contained two hundred and fourteen
acres and cost him two thousand six hundred and fifty dollars. Here he
has resided for forty eight years, doing good as the Lord prospered him,
"by helping build churches in the Bend and at the Landing, and sustaining
the ministers of his church, as well as contributing to the support of
others." He has been an ardent Methodist for sixty four years. His father
and mother were Methodists, as were also his brothers and sisters. They
are all dead having lived and died meek and humble Christians. He alone
of the family survives in his eighty third year.
His children are: Richard Covert, who resides on the old homestead; Mary
Covert, married to D H Wakefield of Jefferson township, Fayette county,
Penna; and Elizabeth Covert, married to Joshua Strickler of Luzerne
township. With but little intermission he has held an office in the
church during the entire time of his membership. His start in life was a
strong constitution. He has always been noted for his sobriety,
indomitable energy, frugality, and rectitude of purpose.
p706
HENRY DILS of Nicholson township, who was born July 3, 1816, in what was
then Springhill township, is descended from good old Dutch stock, it is
believed
His father, Philip Dils, married in Springhill township, Mary Hager, and
located in the same township about 1807. They had five children, of whom
Henry Dils was the third. Three are yet living: Henry Dils, Peter Dils
and Mary Core. Mr Dils' father passed most of his life as a farmer and
was successful, leaving each of his children a good farm.
Mr Dils received a limited education in the common schools, but is a man
of observation and intelligence and has held the position of school
director and other offices. He has been a member of the Old Frame
Presbyterian Church for many years, and has been an elder in that church.
He was first married December 28, 1843, to Martha Vandervort of
Nicholson township. They had eleven children, eight of whom are living.
His wife being deceased, he married again November 10, 1870. Six children
were the issue of this latter marriage, four now living.
Mr Dils resided in his present home thirty eight years. Here his
children have been reared and he has assisted his grown up children to a
start in life. His sons are all farmers. Mr Dils is a gentleman of
excellent moral character, without reproach as a businessman. His
possessions are chiefly lands
p794
The Rev JAMES DUNLAP, DD, was born in Chester county, Penna, in 1774 [sic]
(probably should be 1744). He was graduated at Princeton, studied
theology with Rev James Finley, was licensed by the Presbytery of
Donegal, 1776 to 1781. He was ordained "sine titulo" by the Presbytery of
New Castle, and came West with his theological preceptor the same year.
In October, 1782, he received the first call which passed through the
hands of Redstone Presbytery. This call, which was from the churches of
"Delap's Creek" and Laurel Hill, he accepted but was never installed,
this formality being of more recent date.
Dr Dunlap remained pastor of both churches for seven years and of Laurel
Hill for fourteen years more, and near the close of this period was
stated supply at Tyrone for some part of his time. From 1803 to 1811 he
was president of Jefferson College and died in Abingdon, Penna, November
11, 1818, in the seventy fifth year of his age.
He was no doubt the finest scholar in the Presbytery. It is an
interesting fact that the two men who nursed this little church in the
wilderness were the first of the pioneer ministers whose talents and
scholarship were recognized by academic honors. In 1807 Dr Dunlap
received from Jefferson College its first honorary degree of "Divinitatis
Doctor" and the next year Mr Power's name was placed second on the list
now grown long.
p628
JOSEPH S ELLIOTT is the son of James Elliott, whose father, William
Elliott, came to Fayette County from Westmoreland County at an early day,
and had what is now called "the old Elliott homestead" in Jefferson
township, patented. His wife was Ruth Crawford. They had eleven children.
James was the fifth child and only son who grew to manhood and was born
in Jefferson township, April 25, 1785, and was a farmer.
June 3, 1813 he married Mary Cunningham of Rostraver township,
Westmoreland County. They had ten children: William Elliott; James C
Elliott; Edward J Elliott; Robert Elliott; Ruth Elliott; Mary A Elliott;
Joseph S Elliott; Alexander Elliott; Sarah R Elliott; and Marth Elliott,
all of whom grew to maturity.
Joseph S Elliott was born at the old Elliott homestead, Jefferson
township, Fayette County, Penna, April 18, 1827. His school education was
limited. His business education, gathered from observation and contact
with businessmen, is excellent.
He was married October 7, 1852, to Nancy J Forsythe. They have six
children: William F Elliott married Laura A Wells; Violette H Elliott
married to Joseph A Cook; Oliphant P Elliott; Ida J Elliott, Eva M
Elliott; and Gracie F Elliott.
Mr Elliott spent his early life upon his father's farm. In 1850 he began
work for himself upon the farm where he now resides and ever since has
been engaged in farming and stock dealing. He is a shrewd, energetic,
successful businessman, one of the real businessmen of the county. He has
no church record, but is a liberal supporter of all causes which he deems
worthy. His business status among those who know him is as good as need
be. He has held the usual township offices entrusted to businessmen in a
business township. His possessions are chiefly stock and lands.
He owns a thousand acres of as good land as there is in Western
Pennsylvania and all underlaid with bituminous coal except one hundred
and thirty two acres. He has made his own fortune with the assistance of
a most excellent wife. Mrs Elliott is a lady of rare general intelligence
and has a wider knowledge of the requirements of business life than have
most ladies, and has always eagerly united with her husband in his
various enterprises, while at the same time paying special attention to
domestic affairs.
A lesson for the young men of Fayette County may be gleaned from Mr
Elliott's career in the fact that he began with but little means and
contrary to Horace Greeley's well known advice to young men, refused to
"go west," he holding that a dollar earned here in a settled country is
worth two wrought out in the far West. So he settled down in Jefferson
township, and went into debt in the purchase against the judgment of his
neighbors one and all, of the "Tark farm," feeling that if he could not
make a great sum of money on it he could at least so manage as to make on
it a good practical savings bank which would on sale render up whatever
deposits he might make into it; and by extreme industry, by tact in
management, and by possessing himself of and applying the best arts of
agriculture under a system of mixed farming, including the raising of
sheep for their fleeces, etc, demonstrate that Fayette County is as good
a land as any in the West, or anywhere else, to stay at home in and grow
up to fortune.
p628
WILLIAM ELLIOTT was born in Jefferson township April 5, 1814, and died
July 21, 1878. He was of Scotch Irish stock and was educated in common
schools and Georges Creek Academy. He was married April 12, 1837, to
Eliza Jane Conwell of Luzerne township. They had eight children: James
Stokely Elliott married to Jane Wood; Annie Mary Elliott married to
Robert R Abrams; George Craft Elliott, deceased; Margaretta Davidson
Elliott; Matilda Florence Elliott married to William Craft; Virginia Bell
Elliott married to William P Allen; Sarah Emma Elliott married to Frank V
Jeffries, and is dead; and Louisa Searight Elliott, unmarried.
Mr Elliott was born on the old Elliott homestead about a mile from where
his family now resides, to which place he moved in 1837 and led the life
of a farmer the rest of his years. He held a number of township offices
and was collector of internal revenue for Fayette County, receiving his
appointment in 1862. He and his wife joined the Presbyterian Church soon
after their marriage. Mr Elliott was a successful businessman. He was
honest and enjoyed the respect of his neighbors. He left his family in
very comfortable circumstances. He had but little if any aid when
starting out in life, and gathered what he had and which his family now
enjoy by his own energy and management.
p332
EBENEZER FINLEY Jr is a prominent citizen of Menallen township, and a
member of one of the best known and most reliable families of Fayette
county. He is a grandson of the scholarly and able Rev James Finley who
was the first minister to plant the banner of Presbyterianism west of the
Alleghenies.
Ebenezer Finley Jr was born in Fayette county, Penna, October 24, 1804,
and is the son of Ebenezer Finley Sr. His mother's name was Violet Lowry.
His grandfather, the Rev James Finley, was a native of Cecil county,
Maryland, came to Fayette county in 1765 on a missionary tour and to seek
out land locations for his sons. He made a second trip in 1767 and a
third trip in 1771 when he purchased a large tract of land on Dunlap's
Creek. He was instrumental in bringing thirty four Presbyterian families
from Maryland into Fayette county and establishing five churches of his
religious faith in Southwestern Pennsylvania. He had charge of Rehoboth
church in Westmoreland county, Penna, in 1783, and died in 1795 having
faithfully spent a long life in the service of his Divine Master.
Ebenezer Finley Sr when fourteen years of age came from Maryland to
Fayette county, labored on the farm, and had a perilous adventure with
Indians near Fort Wallace while serving as a soldier on the frontier.
He erected one of the first saw mills and grist mills in the county, and
was a prominent and useful citizen till his death in 1849, aged eighty
eight years. He now sleeps with his four wives in Dunlap's Creek
graveyard. Four of his sons: Ebenezer Finley Jr; Robert Finley, deceased;
and Eli H Finley settled on different parts of the Finley estate.
Ebenezer Finley Jr was raised on a farm and received but the limited
educational privileges of his boyhood days. He was married on February 9,
1826, to Miss Phebe Woodward, daughter of Caleb Woodward, a skillful
mechanic who came from Chester county, Penna. They had ten children:
Caleb W Finley, born January 15, 18??, died April 13, 1877; Ebenezer L
Finley, born October 2, 1828, died September 10, 1849; Robert F Finley,
born May 29, 1830; Evans Finley, born August 16, 1832; Elijah V Finley,
born July 10, 1834, died November 25, 1859; James G Finley, born April
16, 1836; Phebe Jane Finley, born July 25, 1840; Albert W Finley, born
March 23, 1843; John Huston Finley, born April 7, 1847; and Violet
Finley, born April 18, 1849.
The oldest son, the Rev Caleb Woodward Finley, was pastor of the
Presbyterian church at London, Madison county, Ohio, for twenty one years
where he died in 1877. Robert Finley is living in Colorado. Phebe Jane
Finley married John Thomas Porter and they now reside in Alco, Alabama.
Dr John Huston Finley was killed at Streator, Illinois, November 16,
1883, in a railroad collision. Violet Finley married Dr C D Chalfant and
resides at Streator, Illinois.
Albert W Finley, the seventh son, was educated in the common schools,
Dunlap's Creek Academy and Duff's Business College, Pittsburgh, Penna;
taught school for two years and has since been engaged in farming. He
married on July 18, 1872, Emma Mosier, a daughter of William L Mosier of
Georges township, and granddaughter of John De Ford, one of the pioneers
of Fayette county.
A W Finley early in life became a member of the Dunlap's Creek
Presbyterian church, and has been for some time a ruling elder in the
Presbyterian church at New Salem, where he now resides.
In 1876 Ebenezer Finley Jr and wife celebrated the golden anniversary of
their marriage and their sixty third anniversary February 9, 1889. He has
been identified with the temperance cause in Fayette county for over half
a century, and for forty years has been president of the New Salem
Temperance Society.
On August 13, 1834, he was elected a ruling elder in the Dunlap's Creek
Presbyterian church and has served as such ever since. He has been a very
useful man in Fayette county, settled thirty eight estates, written sixty
four wills, seventy one deeds, has been executor, administrator, guardian
and assignee. He served three years as poor house director, and in 1841
was elected school director in Menallen township.
Mr Finley is implicitly trusted by all who know him; his word is as good
as his bond. He and his wife are a hale, hearty, well preserved old
couple, although past their four score years. He is well versed in the
local and early history of Menallen and adjoining townships, and is
highly respected by his neighbors for his many good qualities of head and
heart.
p628
WILLIAM FORSYTH was born in Jefferson township, Fayette County, Penna,
August 28, 1790, died July 20, 1878, of Scotch Irish stock. He was
married September 18, 1828, to Jane P Steele, daughter of John Steele of
Jefferson township. Jane died January 24, 1882.
They had eight children: John Forsyth born July 2, 1820, died September
4, 1852: Eli S Forsyth married Kate E Wood; Nancy J Forsyth married to
Joseph S Elliott; William Johnson Forsyth married to Lizzie R Baily;
Elizabeth D Forsyth married to Isaac T Crouch; Mary A Forsyth married to
Louis S Miller; James S Forsyth married to Mary E Morton; Ruth A Forsyth
married to W Frank Hough.
Mr Forsyth was engaged in farming all his life. He was also a coal
merchant and was successful in all his business. He was a model farmer.
He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church at Brownsville
where he held the office of elder. When Little Redstone Presbyterian
Church was organized about 1840, he was chosen a ruling elder there and
continued in that position until his death. He was an exemplary
Christian, respected and beloved by all who knew him. He was quiet,
unostentatious and benevolent.
His grandfather, William Forsyth, settled upon the Forsyth homestead in
1775. He came from the Eastern Shore, Maryland. The farm was known as
"Wolves' Harbor." He had eleven children. William's father, Eli Forsyth,
was one of the younger. He was born about 1770.He married Jane McKee who
emigrated from Ireland when about seventeen. They had eleven children,
William Forsyth being the oldest.
p773
LEBBEUS BIGLOW GANS was born in Springhill township, Fayette County,
Penna, March 31, 1825. He is the fifth son of William and Magdalene Gans
whose parents were among the early settlers of Southern Fayette County.
William Gans parents migrated from Germany on account of religious
persecution and settled near Antietam, Maryland, and in the year 1785
came to Springhill township, and pre-empted the beautiful tract of land
near Morris Cross Roads on which they lived and died, now owned by L B
Gans.
Magadalen Custer, wife of William Gans, was the daughter of George
Custer who was a first cousin of General George Washington, they being
sisters's children. He was the fourth son of Paul Custer and his mother
was Sarah Ball, daughter of Col Joseph Ball of Lancaster County, Penna.
Her sister, Mary Ball, was married to Mr Augustine Washington by whom she
had six children, the eldest being the renowned commander in chief of the
Revolutionary army and the first President of the United States.
George Custer was born in Philadelphia, Penna, December 3, 1774, and
died on his farm in Georges township, Fayette County, Penna, in 1829,
aged eighty five years and two days. He was a large healthy man with
abundant means, and was the father of fifteen children.
Lebbeus Biglow Gans received a common school education and is a farmer
by profession. He has been twice married. His first wife, Elizabeth J
Ramsay, was the daughter of James C Ramsay Esq, whom he married January
6, 1848, and by whom he had three children: one son who died in infancy;
and two daughters, both living. The elder, Dorcas Anna Gans, is married
to T F Protzman, a merchant at Morris Cross Roads, Penna. The younger,
Elizabeth J Gans, is married to W Morgan Smith of Mount Pleasant,
Westmoreland County, Penna.
His first wife, Elizabeth J, died March 25 1857. He married his second
wife, Emily S Goe, daughter of Henry B Goe of Allegheny City, October 15,
1868, by whom he has three sons and one daughter.
Mr Gans is an active, thrifty businessman. In addition to the homestead
which has always been considered the standard in making real estate
assessments in the township, he owns one hundred and thirty four acres
immediately adjoining it on the east, making in all three hundred acres,
which is the best farm in southern Fayette County.
The farm is well improved and in an excellent state of cultivation. This
farm is noted for its extensive maple sugar orchard containing about two
thousand trees, which yields an average annual income of eight hundred
dollars. In late years Mr Gans has not made a specialty of agriculture
but is engaged in grazing stock.
Mr Gans is a member of the Presbyterian church and is held in high
esteem by his neighbors and fellow citizens. In all his business
relations he is remarkable for candor and integrity. His domestic and
social relations are of the most pleasant and agreeable character. He
lives in good style, enjoys life, the society of home and friends, and
the fellowship of the community.
p765
JACOB GANS was an early settler of Springhill, emigrating hither from
Virginia with a large number of other hardy adventurers more than a
century ago. Little is to be said of him except that he lived and died in
Springhill, and left an untarnished character as well as a numerous
progeny in this part of Fayette County. To sketch all of his descendants
would be to write the biography of a large portion of the citizens of the
township Ann Gans, a granddaughter of his, married. Mr Arnold and lives
or did live on Ten Mile Creek in Greene county. Susanna Gans, another
granddaughter, married Jeremiah Burchinal, one of the most respected
citizens of Springhill, and is now living, at a very advanced age, on
Grassy Run west of the old Springhill Furnace property
p488 Bullskin Township, Fayette County, Penna
GRAFT GHOST, or GOST, was a German who served as a soldier in the French
and Indian War in 1755 and later was with the garrison at Fort Ligonier.
Having obtained a knowledge of this country from his experience in the
army, he came to Westmoreland as a settler, working at his trade, bell
making. At the instance of Colonel Meason, he opened a shop near the
latter's residence, where he made bells and sharp edged tools until he
had accumulated $2200 in Continental money, which proved worthless just
about the time he was ready to invest in land. This misfortune obliged
him to begin life anew, but in time he secured from Meason 126 acres of
land in Bullskin, and lived near where is now the home of George Adams.
There he died in 1808.
His only child became the wife of John Highlands, who died on the Gost
homestead in 1826, leaving five daughters; these married: Christiana
Highlands married Jesse Atkinson; Mary Highlands married Robert Fleming
and yet resides near the old home; Catherine Highlands is the wife of
Christian Shank; Lavina Highlands of Washington Kelley; and Sarah
Highlands married George Brown, moving to Ohio.
p652
GIBSON
The progenitor of the Gibsons of Luzerne Township, Fayette County, was
one JAMES GIBSON, who migrated from Ireland in 1770, and located in
Chester County, Penna, and engaged in farming. He followed his vocation
until 1776 when he entered the Continental army and served until the
surrender of Cornwallis. After the surrender he found that two of his
brothers were soldiers in the British army, having been pressed into the
service by the mother country. At the close of the struggle they settled
in Virginia, and their descendants nearly all reside there.
James Gibson's home continued in Chester County until 1790, when he
emigrated to Southwestern Pennsylvania, and settled upon a farm in
Luzerne township, where his son Alexander Gibson afterwards lived and
died, and which is now in possession of Mr Oliver Miller.
James Gibson was married to Margaret Lackey in 1792. They had six
children, of whom Alexander Gibson, the subject of this sketch, was the
third. He was born June 8, 1797. His early life was spent upon his
father's farm, and he received his education in the country schools of
that period. He began to work for himself at the age of twenty years,
engaging in wagoning from Wheeling to Baltimore, and in 1820, changed his
route to and from Baltimore to Nashville, Tennessee. Here he, in company
with Levi Crawford, now living in Luzerne township, spent two years
trading with the Cherokee Indians. In 1823 he returned to Pennsylvania,
sold his team, and purchased a farm.
On the 24th of June 1824, he was married to Mary Hibbs of Redstone
township. To them were born six children, four of whom are living, viz:
James G Gibson, married first to Mary Rodgers. They had two children-John
A Gibson and Mary R Gibson. Mary died in 1860.
He was married again June 25, 1867, to Rebecca J Haney. Margaret J Gibson
married to William H Miller; Mary A Gibson married to Oliver Miller. They
have two children, Albert G Miller and Emma V Miller. Albert M married to
Alice Frey. They have one child, Nellie.
The most of Alexander Gibson's active business life was spent in farming
and stock-dealing. He was industrious, a good manager, and accumulated
enough property to give each of his children a fair start in life. He
never sought political preferment. He was prompt to perform what he
promised, and was highly esteemed by his neighbors. He was eminently a
man of peace, and never had a lawsuit in his life. He was for man years
an active member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and his Christian
life challenged the respect of those who knew him. He died July 12, 1875,
and his remains rest in the Hopewell cemetery. His wife, Mary, died
January 25, 1876.
p588
REUBEN HAGUE of Smithfield is of English stock and was born April 16,
1809. Of his ancestors we have no special account save that they were
Quakers; but his maternal grandfather was a farmer of some note, of whose
history the legend has been preserved that he plowed in the forenoon the
field of Brandywine whereupon the famous battle took place in the
afternoon.
Mr Hague has resided in Fayette County sixty five years. He was educated
in the common schools and is a bricklayer by trade and has worked in all
parts of Western Pennsylvania. When he started out in life for himself at
eighteen years of age, he had only a "quarter" and a "fippenny bit" in
his pockets, in all thirty one cents. He helped lay up the first brick
dwelling in Allegheny City.
He was once a cavalry officer in the Virginia militia and has served as
a school director of his township for nearly twenty years. For over fifty
years he has been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and has
for a long time been an elder therein. He is a rigid temperance man and
has been a constant worker in the cause of temperance since he became
twenty years of age. He never spent but three cents for whiskey for his
own use. He cannot be turned from his course by the taunts an jeers of
wine bibbers.
Mr Hague is possessed of one of the best fruit orchards in Fayette
County. His property consists mainly of real estate. Whatever criticisms
the liquor loving portion of the community may indulge in over his
extreme but consistent observance of abstinence from intoxicating
beverages, his neighbors say no harmful words of him.
February 14, 1836, Mr Hague married Mary Swan, who died July 1st of the
same year. Feb 14, 1839, he married again, being united to Mary Lemley.
Of this marriage there are six living children: Samuel Hague; Rebecca
Ellen Hague who married William Booth; Emily Hague; Frances Hague;
Jeffries Hague; and Snyder Hague. The second Mrs Hague having died, Mr
Hague married a third time, November 27, 1862, his wife's maiden name
having been Jane Abraham. A son, James A Hague, is the issue of this
marriage.
p697
HARDIN
The brothers JOHN HARDIN and MARTIN HARDIN have already been mentioned
as among the first settlers in the Monongahela Valley. All of Martin
Hardin's family afterwards removed to Kentucky and became prominent
citizens of that State. They are mentioned in Marshall's HISTORY OF
KENTUCKY in which it is stated that Martin Hardin, who was the father of
the somewhat famous Colonel John Hardin of Kentucky, emigrated from
Fauquier County, Virginia, to Georges Creek in Fayette County, Penna,
within what is now Nicholson township when his son John was twelve years
old. That was in 1765. Not long after their arrival on Georges Creek
there came Indian troubles and the situation of the settlers became
precarious and alarming, but they held their position and did not abandon
their possessions as was the case with many other settlers.
The location of John Hardin Sr was upon a tract of land called "Choice"
containing three hundred and nineteen and a quarter acres and allowance.
The warrant for this tract was dated April 17, 1769. It was surveyed May
22d of the same year. On this tract he made his residence and lived on it
till his death.
Martin Hardin located a tract named "Harbout" of three hundred and
seventeen and a quarter acres and allowance, warranted April 17, 1769,
and surveyed the 22d of May, 1770. He emigrated to Kentucky in or soon
after the year 1780. His son John Hardin, afterwards Colonel John Hardin,
went to Kentucky in that year and took up lands for himself and friends
in Nelson County in that State, but returned to Fayette County and
remained here six years longer before he finally removed to Kentucky.
In Dunmore's War of 1774 John Hardin Jr served with a militia company
as an ensign. In the Revolution in the year 1776 he joined the Eighth
Pennsylvania Regiment and became a lieutenant in one of the companies.
In December, 1779, he resigned and returned home to Georges Creek,
declining the proffered promotion to the rank of major in the new
regiment. In 1784 he received the nomination for sheriff of Fayette
County, and was returned to the Executive Council as one of the two
candidates receiving the highest number of votes.
On that occasion and under those circumstances General James Wilkinson
asked the Council to commission Hardin as sheriff in a letter addressed to
President Dickinson of the Council (Penna Archives x. 610)
dated November, 1784, and running as follows:
"...On the present return of the Election for Fayette County, Major John
Harden stands second for the Sheriff's Office; permit me briefly to state
to your Excellency this man's merit without detracting from that of his
competitor. Mr Harden served in the alert of the Army under Generals
(then Colonels) Morgan and Butler in the Northern Campaign 1777. His rank
was that of a Lieutenant, and I can, as the Adjutant General of the Army
Gates, assert that he was exposed to more danger, encountered greater
Fatigue, and performed more real service than any other officer of his
Station. With Parties never exceeding 20 men, he in the Course of the
Campaign made upwards of sixty Prisoners, and at a Personal Rencounter in
the rear of the Enemie's position, he killed a Mohawk express & brought
in the dispatches which he was conveying from General Burgoyne to the
Commanding Officer at Ticonderoga with the loss only (indeed) of a Lock
of Hair, which the Indian's Fire carried away. It is sufficient for me
Sir to testify his merits; the Justice which characterizes your
administration will do the rest."
In 1786 he removed his family to the new settlement in Kentucky, where
his father and brothers had preceded him. In the same year he volunteered
under George Rogers Clark for the expedition against the Indians on the
Wabash and was appointed quartermaster. He was afterwards engaged in the
succeeding Indian campaign in Ohio and Indiana, and rose to the rank of
colonel. He was killed in the campaign against the Miami villages in the
fall of 1792. A son of his was killed February 23, 1847, at the battle of
Buena Vista under General Taylor in Mexico.
Miss Martha Hardin, a granddaughter of John Hardin Sr, now living in
Nicholson township, Fayette County, Penna, in her eighty sixth year,
gives the following account of the family of which she is a member:
The Hardins, she says, came originally from France. John Hardin Sr,
Martin Hardin and Lydia Hardin, who became Mrs Tobin, were brothers and
sister. John Hardin Sr married Isabella Shubranch by whom he had eleven
children: John Hardin; Absalom Hardin; Henry Hardin; Nestor Hardin;
George Hardin; Cato Hardin; Hector Hardin; Mary Ann Hardin; Miriam
Hardin; Matilda Hardin; and Alice Hardin. He died in Fayette County and
his wife survived him many years.
Martin Hardin married Elizabeth Hoagland, by whom he had seven children
besides Colonel John Hardin. Martin Hardin emigrated from Fayette County,
as before mentioned, to Kentucky and lived in that latter State until his
death, though he revisited his old home in (then) Springhill township,
and the narrator recollects that when she was a little girl she saw him
here on one of those visits. All the Hardins of Kentucky, she says, are
his descendants.
Lydia Hardin, sister of John Hardin and Martin Hardin, married Thomas
Tobin, from which marriage came the family of Tobins of Fayette County.
p785
HUSTON
Near the year 1772 Captain JOSEPH HUSTON with is family came from Peach
Bottom, Virginia, to this vicinity and settled upon a tract of land
containing two hundred and seventy seven acres, for which he took out a
warrant in 1786. His wife was Margery Cunningham, the eldest sister of
Barnett Cunningham who followed them thither within a year or two. Upon
the land which he located, Capt Huston built a cabin for his family,
wherein they lived prosperous and contented.
In 1782 the father accompanied Colonel Crawford upon his expedition
which proved so disastrous. Before leaving home he gave to the township a
piece of land which has always been known as the Cochran graveyard. Soon
after returning from the Crawford expedition, Capt Huston died and his
remains were the first to be carried to the cemetery for which he had
made provision, and where so many of those ancient families now lie.
William Huston, the oldest son of Captain Joseph Huston, was born east
of the mountains in 1754. He was but a boy of eighteen when his father
crossed the range to make his home upon the western side. April 14, 1791,
he warranted twenty seven acres of land adjoining that of his father, the
survey being made April 30th of the same year.
William Huston had two sons, William Huston Jr and Joseph Huston, who
both lived and died upon the old place. William Huston Jr had three sons:
Lewis Huston, Eli Huston and Boyd Huston. The first two are still living
in Tyrone township. Joseph Huston, the second son of William Huston Sr,
had a daughter Kersey Huston, who became the wife of James Cochran,
usually called "Little Jim" and their home is upon the old Huston homestead
John Huston, a son of old Captain Joseph Huston, was born in 1757, while
the family still lived upon the east side of the mountains. He was at one
time a resident of Dunbar township, afterwards he kept a tavern in
Uniontown and later went to Kentucky where he died. His son, John Huston
Jr, or Judge Huston, was born in Dunbar and went to Kentucky with is
father. When nineteen years old he returned to Tyrone, his father's home,
and entered the employ of his uncle, Joseph Huston, as a clerk in the
Huston Forge and Old Redstone Furnace. He afterwards became possessor of
the property and conducted it until his death.
Agnes Huston, a daughter of Captain Huston, was born in 1760 and was the
wife of Joseph Cunningham. They lived and died in the town of Tyrone,
leaving many descendants. Sarah Huston, another daughter, married Mr
Nesbitt, and with him removed to Kentucky. Joseph Huston, son of Captain
Joseph Huston, was born in 1763. During his younger years, he led a
roving life, but after reaching maturity settled in Uniontown, where he
built the first brick house the place boasted, and where he was elected
sheriff of Fayette County in 1790. Later he purchased land on Redstone
Creek in North Union and built a forge. In 1804 he became proprietor of
the Redstone Furnace, which he operated until his death in 1824 His wife
was a daughter of John Smilie.
p439
ISAAC JACKSON, MD, was born in Menallen township, Fayette County, Penna,
on the 13th day of March, 1821. He was educated at Madison College,
Uniontown, studied medicine under the direction of Dr Smith Fuller of
Uniontown, attended lectures in Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia,
receiving the degree of MD from that institution in March, 1847, and
located in Brownsville the same year, continuing in active practice up to
the present time.
He has also been engaged for several years in the drug business, having
been at different times a member of the drug firms of W F Simpson & Co,
Jackson & Armstrong, and J Jackson. He held for several years the office
of examining surgeon for pensions under the United States government. In
politics he has always been a Democrat, taking an active part in the
affairs of that party and was once a candidate for the State Legislature.
He is a member of the order of Freemasons, also a member of the
Presbyterian church, and of the Fayette County Medical Society. He has
been twice married. One of his sons, Duncan C Jackson, Esq, is a member
of the Allegheny County bar; another son, Dr John Jackson, is practicing
medicine in West Virginia.
p458
Captain ADAM JACOBS of Brownsville is of German extraction. His
grandfather, Adam Jacobs, emigrated from Lancaster county at an early day
into Allegheny County and there carried on farming on Turtle Creek, near
Braddock's Field, eleven miles east of Pittsburgh for several years, and
then moved to Brownsville where he entered into merchandising which he
conducted until his death which occurred in 1818.
He had but one son who lived to maturity named after himself, Adam
Jacobs, and who was born in Brownsville, December 3, 1794, and was
educated at the subscription schools and at Washington College and became
a merchant and on the 16th of January 1816, married Eliza Reiley,
daughter of Martin Reiley of Bedford, Bedford County, Penna. He died June
29, 1822, leaving two children, Adam Jacobs; and Ann Elizabeth Jacobs,
long since deceased.
Adam Jacobs is the subject of our sketch and was born January 7, 1817.
He received his early education in the pay schools and at about sixteen
years of age was apprenticed to G W Bowman to learn coppersmithing and
remained with him for four years. He then went into the business for
himself and in a year or two afterwards took to steamboating until 1847.
He was at this time and had been for years before engaged also in
building steamboats, and from 1847 forward prosecuted steamboat building
vigorously at times having as many as eight boats in a year under
contract. He built over a hundred and twenty steamboats before
practically retiring from the business about 1872, since which time he
has, however, built about five boats for the Pittsburgh, Brownsville, &
Geneva Packet Company and other contracts.
Captain Jacobs was also engaged in merchandising with all the rest of
his active business from 1843 to 1865 and may be said to be still
merchandising for he has a store at East Riverside. Since about 1872 he
has spent his time mostly in Brownsville in the winters and at his
country residence, "East Riverside," Luzerne township on the Monongahela
River during the summer seasons.
On the 22nd of February, 1838, Mr Jacobs married Miss Ann Snowdon, born
in England in 1816, a daughter of John Snowdon and Mary Smith Snowdon who
came from England and settled in Brownsville in 1818, where Mr Snowdon
soon after started the business of engine building and carried it on till
disabled by age. Mr and Mrs Snowdon both died in advanced years, and were
buried in the Brownsville Cemetery where a fine monument marks the place
of their repose.
Mr and Mrs Jacobs have had ten children, eight of whom are living: Mary
Jacobs, wife of William Parkhill; Adam Jacobs Jr married to Laura Myers
of Canton, Ohio; Catharine Jacobs, wife of S S Graham; John N Jacobs
married Sarah Colvin; Caroline S Jacobs, wife of John H Bowman; Anna
Jacobs, wife of Joseph L McBirney of Chicago, Illinois; Martin Reiley
Jacobs, now residing in Colorado; and George D Jacobs.
p604
The late DAVID JOHNSON of German township was born in Rockingham County,
Virginia, March 5, 1786, and came with his father, Peter Johnson, and the
family into Fayette County when David Johnson, who was the eldest son,
was quite young. They settled in German township He was educated in the
subscription schools of the times, worked on his father's farm and
learned the art of weaving, and remained at home till the time of his
marriage to Mary Magdalena Bixler of German township, June 27, 1809,
whereafter he took up his residence with his father-in-law for one year,
and then purchased a farm, still in the hands of relatives of his, near
Uniontown whereon he resided for six years, and selling the farm to his
brother, Jacob Johnson, bought the "Yauders farm" near Masontown upon
which he lived the rest of his days.
He was the father of nine children, eight of whom were living at the
time of his death, which occurred May 24, 1860. All the eight children,
six boys and two girls, were also married at the time of the father's
death. Mrs Johnson died some three years before her husband and both were
buried in the private burying ground on the Newcomer farm, adjoining Mr
Johnson's original farm and which he owned at the time of his death and
which his daughter Frances Johnson, Mrs John Young, now owns.
Mr Johnson and his wife were members of the Mennonite Church. Mr Johnson
was in early life a whig in politics, but became a Republican. He was not
an ardent politician and never sought office . It is said of him that "If
David Johnson was not an honest man then there are no honest men..."
Mr Johnson owned about sixteen hundred acres of land, the most of which
is underlaid with the nine feet vein of bituminous coal and left to each
of his children a farm of about two hundred acres of land, with house and
outbuildings thereon, upon which severally the surviving children are
still living in prosperous circumstances
Mr Jacob Johnson, the son of David Johnson, and the next to the last
born of his children, and who perhaps more especially than the rest
supplies the place of his father in the world, left the old homestead
farm whereon for a long number of years he had wrought, just prior to his
father's death, and moved upon "the Middle Run farm" in the same
township, to which he has made many additions by purchase until his
present landed estate covers about a thousand excellent acres.
He married in 1852 Elizabeth Knotts, a native of Virginia. They have had
five sons and two daughters. Four sons and two daughters are now living
and residing with their father, and being industrious and faithful
children are adding to the worth of the already valuable homestead farm.
Mr and Mrs Johnson are members of the Mennonite Church.