Bios: Ca-Col 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
Cagey, Micheal Springhill 253
Call, Charles Washington 320
Cameron, A S Connellsville 419
Campbell, Edward, Judge Uniontown 149
Campbell, Emanuel Menallen 321
Campbell, G W Springfield 536
Campbell, Hugh, Dr Uniontown 149 - Picture only. No separate bio. See Judge Edward's.
Campbell, J R Springfield 539
Campbell, John M Uniontown 150
Campbell, John R Uniontown 150
Carothers, J P Georges 496
Carothers, John R Uniontown 150
Carr, E C Tyrone 321
Carr, John D Uniontown 241
Chalfant, W B Bullskin 539
Chatland, William Brnv & Bdgpt 253
Christopher, R D Luzerne 540
Clark, J A Springhill 254
Clark, R W, Dr Dunbar 420
Clarke, J W, Capt Washington 322
Clemmer, U L Redstone 497
Coburn, Harvey Uniontown 151
Cochran, C G Tyrone 322
Cochran, James Tyrone 323
Cochran, Mark M Uniontown 152
Cock, William Brnv & Bdgpt 255
Coffman, D R German 493
Colborn, W S Springfield 540
Coldren, John Washington 325
Coldren, W H Luzerne 541
Colestock, Joseph Dunbar 420
Colley, Abel Menallen 324
Colley, S W Menallen 324
Collins, John, Col Uniontown 155
Collins, J D Dunbar 424
Collins, L L Dunbar 423
p253
MICHEAL CAGEY, a well to do farmer of Springhill township, was born
February 2, 1811, in German township, Fayette county, Penna. He is a son
of Christian Cagey and Margaret Wall Cagey, both natives of German
township and of German descent.
Christian Cagey (father) was born in 1789 and died in 1838 at the age of
fifty eight years. He was a farmer and was a quiet and industrious citizen
of Fayette county.
Micheal Cagey Sr (paternal grandfather) came to his death while roofing
a house, falling from the roof and was instantly killed. He left a wife
and four children.
Elizabeth Wall Cagey (mother) was born in 1786, and died in 1869 at
the advanced age of eighty three years.
Micheal Cagey worked on his father's farm and attended the subscription
schools of that day until twenty one years of age. He was married on
February 17, 1842, to Miss Mary Bowers, daughter of Joseph Bowers of
Fayette county, Pa; he was a farmer and blacksmith. Of this union six
children were born: John Cagey, Joseph Cagey, Catherine Cagey, Harriet
Cagey, Susan Cagey and Jonathan Cagey. Two of these children are dead;
Joseph Cagey died March 30, 1868, and Jonathan Cagey departed this life
on June 6, 1876.
Mary Bowers Cagey was born December 21, 1810. She is still living
and is a consistent member of the Evangelical Lutheran church.
Micheal Cagey has followed farming for an occupation. He owns a farm of
eighty acres of well-improved land, and resides in a nice and comfortable
house which he built thirty eight years ago. He is a member of the
Lutheran church at Morris Crossroads, and is one of the worthy citizens
of Springhill township.
p320
CHARLES CALL (deceased) was born in Wood county, Ohio. His educational
advantages were limited on account of the scarcity of schools in the
section where he was reared.
His father, John Call, a native of Ohio, was a very prominent stock
dealer of his day. He bought horses, cattle and sheep in Ohio, and would
drive them to Baltimore to market. For many years he followed this
business. In about 1832 or 1833 he started from home with a drove of
horses destined for Baltimore, and was never heard of afterward. His
family removed to Pennsylvania and settled at Greensboro, Greene county,
Penna. As soon as Charles Call was old enough he went to work as a tender
boy in the glass factory operated at that place. He afterward learned the
glassblower's trade, and followed that business most of his life.
His mother belonged to the Minor family, who were of the earliest
families that settled in Greene county. Her brother, Theophilus Minor,
was a well known river man, and with him Charles Call ran on the river
for some time.
Charles Call was married to Miss Hannah R Lynn. They reared a family of
seven children. (For his ancestry see a sketch of Mr Lynn's family in
this book.) Mr Call was prominent as a Mason; he served several years as
justice of the peace of the borough of Belle Vernon; he had a remarkable
memory, could retain whatever he read. He was highly respected by all who
knew him; he was ever ready to help the needy and to minister to all who
were in distress; he died at Belle Vernon where he had lived for many
years; his wife died eleven years previous to his death.
p419
ALBERT S CAMERON, a faithful soldier and veteran teacher, was born in
North Union township, Fayette county, Penna, June 5, 1834, and is a son
of Hugh Cameron and Jane White Cameron
His grandfather, Alexander Cameron, emigrated from Scotland to near
Berryville, Mercer, now Clark county, Virginia, shortly after the
Revolutionary War. He had four children: Hugh Cameron, Moses Cameron,
James Cameron and Mary Cameron.
His father, Hugh Cameron, was born at Martinsburg, Virginia, in 1792,
was a farmer and shoemaker, and served as a soldier in the War of 1812.
Took part in the battle of Baltimore. He was at Fort McHenry when it was
attacked by the British, and it was in this fight that the Star-Spangled
Banner was written by Francis S Key; he was in several other engagements.
His wife was Jane White; they had born unto them fourteen children:
George W Cameron, soldier in the late war; Alexander B Cameron; Sophia
Cameron, widow of George Devan; William L Cameron (deceased); Hugh
Cameron, second lieutenant in the One Hundred and Forty second
Pennsylvania Infantry; James Cameron; Albert S Cameron; Daniel K Cameron,
soldier in the later war; Charles Cameron (deceased); Nancy A Cameron,
wife of John H Martin, county superintendent, Johnson county, Indiana;
Mary Cameron, wife of Martin B Pope; Eliza Cameron, wife of Miller
Dunaway; Margaret A Cameron, wife of T J Dobson; and Phoebe Cameron.
Mrs Cameron's father, George White, was a native of Ireland, emigrated
to Connellsville; he enlisted in the American army in the War of 1812 and
died during the war. He left four children: Phoebe Jane White; Margaret J
White; George White and Mary White.
Albert S Cameron was educated in the common and normal schools of
Fayette county. Leaving school he engaged in teaching, and taught one
term in Dunbar, two terms in Franklin, and afterwards taught several
terms in Connellsville.
In 1862 he went to Indiana and served two years as principal of Edinburg
school. After the war he served as principal of the Fairmont schools,
West Virginia. On the solicitation of the Connellsville school board in
1870, he accepted the vice principalship of the Connellsville schools and
served in that capacity until 1875. He was principal of the same schools
in 1876, and since 1876 he has taught four years in New Haven.
He enlisted in the war as sergeant in Company E, Two Hundred and Eleventh
Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry, was in the battles in front of
Petersburg, Hatcher's Run and Fort Steadman, and was seriously wounded at
Petersburg.
He was married June 27, 1861, to Miss Artemisia Brown, daughter of John K
Brown. Unto their union have been born three children: Lizzie Ann
Cameron, born April 13, 1862, deceased; Edgar Brown Cameron, born May 17,
1867; and Karl Lott Cameron, born December 15, 1868.
Leaving the teacher's profession he engaged as a book-keeper with James
Calhoun & Co, in the office of chief accountant of B & O R R, then with
John W Miner & Co and is at present with the Connellsville Fire Brick
Company.
He is a member of the General Worth Lodge, No 386, of I O O F, G A R , E
A U of I O of H, besides being a member of several temperance
organizations. He has been a member of the Methodist Protestant church
since 1851. He is a scholarly gentleman, and a live and highly respected
citizen.
p149
Judge EDWARD CAMPBELL, a leading lawyer of Western Pennsylvania, is a
son of Dr Hugh Campbell.
Dr Hugh Campbell was born at Uniontown, May 1, 1795, and was educated at
Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Penna, afterwards read medicine and was
graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania
in 1818. From 1815 to 1840 he was located at Uniontown in the practice of
medicine and was one of the leading physicians of Fayette county. He was
a fine scholar, a good linguist; ordained elder of the Presbyterian
church at Uniontown, and was until his death regarded as one of the
pillars of that church.
Dr Campbell, Rev A G Fairchild, Jesse Evans and Judge Nathaniel Ewing
were the pioneers of the temperance movement of sixty years ago in
Fayette county which banished whiskey from the merchant's counter, the
side board and the harvest field.
In 1860 he retired from the active practice of medicine and from 1865 to
1868 was Warden of the Western Penitentiary at Allegheny City. His father,
Benjamin Campbell, was from the famed highlands of Scotland, a
silversmith by trade, who came to Uniontown in 1780. A clock made by
himself over a hundred years ago is now in his grandson's law office.
The maiden name of Dr Campbell's wife was Rachel Lyon, a native of
Baltimore, a daughter of Samuel Lyon, born at Carlisle, Penna, and the
latter's father came to this country from Ireland.
Judge Edward Campbell, born at Uniontown July 24, 1838, was a law
student of Judge Nathaniel Ewing, and admitted to the Fayette county bar
September 5, 1859. He received his education at John Lyon's Academy and
Madison College at Uniontown.
When Beauregard's circling batteries opened fir upon Fort Sumter in 1861
and the country realizing the fact that a terrible war was at hand, among
the first who responded to the call of the federal government for troops
was Judge Campbell. He volunteered as a private in April, 1861, and
served in camp only during that summer.
At the expiration of this time he enlisted as a private in the 85th
Pennsylvania, was promoted October 21, 1861, to second lieutenant, to
captain May 15, 1862, major, September 6, 1862, became lieutenant colonel
of his regiment, October 16, 1863, and was honorably discharged from the
service November 22, 1864. He served three and a half years in the war
and won an enviable war record that reflected no discredit on the
firmness and bravery of that wonderful Scotch Irish race of which he is
descended. At the close of the war, he returned to Uniontown, opened an
office for the practice of law, where he has acquired a large and
lucrative practice and is recognized as an able lawyer.
On the death of Judge Gilmore in May, 1873, Governor Hartranft appointed
him President Judge of the District for the short period of less than one
year. He left the Bench carrying with him the good will and respect of
all for his kindness and courtesy in discharge of his high duties as
judge. His speeches made in important cases are of the characteristic
force and ability and as a constitutional lawyer he stands in the front
rank of leading lawyers of Pennsylvania. Courtly, suave in manner, pure
in conversation, and firm in his convictions of right, he is regarded
deservedly highly as a Christian gentleman and scholar.
p321
EMANUEL CAMPBELL of Menallen is a son of David Campbell, who came to
Fayette when young, and was married to Nancy Stewart; both died when
Emanuel was quite young.
Emanuel Campbell was born May 9, 1824, in Springhill township, Fayette
county, Penna. His mother died when he was four years old. He was bound
out to Col A M Hill of Dunbar township until twenty one years of age. He
learned of him the trade of a tanner and the business of farming. His
three brothers were bound out at the same time as himself, the two elder
to learn the trade of hatter, and the younger one that of saddler. He was
educated in the Dunbar township schools.
Emanuel Campbell has been married three times; his first wife, Lydia
Morgan, was born in Springhill township in 1825 and a daughter or Morris
Morgan, a brother of Colonel John Morgan. Her mother was Susan Stertz of
Springhill township. There were two children of this marriage: John
Morgan Campbell born June 15, 1850, married Lydia Miller, have four
children and live in Hopwood. The other child died in infancy. His first
wife died April 28, 1852.
On May 12, 1853, he married Miss Mary Ball, born in 1823, and was the
daughter of John H Ball of Dunbar township. Of this union, three children
were born, all living: Mary Elizabeth Campbell, born May 26, 1854,
married Job Frasher of Franklin township, and has one child; William
Hanna Campbell, born June 22, 1856, married Alice Murphy, they have three
children; Lydia Jane Campbell, born March 23, 1863, married Moses B
Porter of Franklin township, they have three children. Second wife died
June 18, 1865.
His third wife was Charity Ann Kindall of German township, widow of
William Kindall of the same township. She was the daughter of John
Sharpnack. (See sketch of William G Sharpnack.) They had four children,
one died in infancy: Martha Estella Campbell, born March 4, 1877; Sarah
Argosa Campbell, born September 23, 1879; and Ann Eliza Campbell, born
February 10, 1882.
Mr Campbell was elected poor house director in 1874, and has held all
the offices of his township except that of justice of the peace. He was
one of the first elders of the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Pleasant
View, and is at present an elder. He joined the church at East Liberty in
1849. He is a democrat.
His last wife's mother was a daughter of Jesse Antrim of German
township, who was one of the township's earliest settlers.
p536
Hon GEORGE W CAMPBELL. In our Republic, where offices of trust,
responsibility and honor are not hereditary, men generally attain to
eminence and distinction through their own efforts; among those, who are
thus carving out for themselves honorable careers, is George W Campbell
of Springfield township. He is a son of James Campbell and Rebecca
Kilpatrick Campbell, and was born in Springfield township, Fayette
county, Penna, May 18, 1853.
His father, James Campbell, was of Scotch-Irish descent and was born at
Connellsville, December 25, 1811. He learned the trade of carpenter and
removed to the pleasant little village of Springfield in 1849. He married
on November 2, 1840, Rebecca Kilpatrick, daughter of Squire Thomas
Kilpatrick, a prominent citizen of Connellsville. To their union were
born eleven children, namely: John Fletcher Campbell, September 12, 1841;
William Thomas Campbell (dead), October 12, 1842; Mary Elizabeth Campbell
(dead), March 23, 1844; James Robison Campbell, January 22, 1846; Sarah
Jane Campbell, November 3, 1848; Samuel Kilpatrick Campbell (dead),
January 22, 1850; Austin Livingston Campbell (dead), March 10, 1851;
George Washington Campbell, May 18, 1853; Phebe Ann Campbell, March 24,
1855; Joseph Rogers Campbell, March 14, 1856; Ellen Ethelda Campbell,
January 3, 1859.
John F Campbell and James R Campbell enlisted in Company K, Eighty fifth
Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry Volunteers. William T Campbell
re-enlisted, and was killed at the head of his company at Deep Bottom,
Virginia, August 14, 1864.
George W Campbell was reared in the village of Springfield, and received
his early education in the common schools of Springfield township. When
fourteen years of age, he became a clerk in the general merchandise store
of his brother, John F Campbell at Springfield. In 1876 he was admitted
as a partner by his brother, and remained as such until 1880, when he
bought out his brother's interest, and has continued successfully in the
mercantile business ever since. He carries a large stock of first class
goods, and has built up a large and substantial patronage. January 1,
1882, he established "The Mountaineer," an eight page monthly newspaper
which has a circulation of one thousand copies. It is a bright, newsy and
interesting sheet, welcomed and appreciated wherever it goes.
On August 11, 1880, he was married by the Rev Samuel Wakefield, to Miss
Ida M Sparks, daughter of H L and Helena Sparks of Indian Head, Fayette
county, Penna. Their union has been blessed with the following children:
Grace Campbell, born June 14, 1881; Clyde Campbell, born November 9,
1883; Kate Campbell, born September 6, 1885; and Benjamin Harrison
Campbell, born November 10, 1889.
George W Campbell, an ardent and enthusiastic republican, is well posted
on the living political issues of the day, and is an aggressive worker in
his party. He has served frequently as committeeman and delegate to
county conventions; was delegate to the republican state convention of
1883; and a member of the twenty fourth district congressional conference
of 1887-88. In the November election, 1888, he was elected a member to
the lower house Pennsylvania legislature from Fayette county. In the
session of 1888-89 he served as a member of the committee on public
buildings, mines and mining, accounts and manufacturing. During this
session, he introduced a "bill regulating the employment of foreign born,
unnaturalized male persons, and providing a tax of fifteen cents per day
on the employers of such persons. He introduced this bill in the
interests of home labor, and it was the theme of much speculation and
discussion in the press of the State.
p150
JOHN MORGAN CAMPBELL was born June 15, 1850, in Dunbar township, Fayette
county, Penna, and is the son of Emmanuel Campbell and Lydia Morgan
Campbell.
Emmanuel Campbell was born May 9, 1824, in Georges township, and was
married to Miss Lydia Morgan, daughter of Morris Morgan.
David Campbell was the name of the paternal grandfather of John Morgan
Campbell.
Morris Morgan was his maternal grandfather; he was a blacksmith by trade
and an old time democrat in politics. At an exciting election in 1812, a
Tory cried, "Hurrah for King George;" no sooner had he uttered the shout
than he was knocked down by the brawny fist of Morris Morgan. He was
afterwards a soldier in the War of 1812-1815 against England. He was a
brother of Colonel John Morgan, who represented this county in the
legislature for several terms. Morris Morgan married Susan Stentz of this
county.
John Morgan Campbell was reared on the farm, and was educated in the
common schools of Menallen township and at Waynesburg College, Penna. His
first business was that of tanning and farming and was a scientific
farmer. He engaged in school teaching for ten terms, a part of that time
he taught in Illinois, the remainder of it in the schools of the county.
He came to Hopwood in the year 1881, and engaged in the tanning business
and continued in the same for four years, when he embarked in the general
mercantile business in which he has been successfully engaged ever since.
He is energetic and enterprising, a good citizen, and is an active
member of the Patriotic Order of Sons of America, of the United
Benevolent Fraternity, and has been a Good Templar. He joined the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Pleasant View, and was superintendent
of the Sabbath School at that place a number of years and has served as
trustee of that church. He is now a member of the same denomination at
Uniontown, and has been superintendent of the Sabbath School there. He is
a democrat in politics and has held township offices although not an
office seeker. He was appointed postmaster at Hopwood by President
Cleveland.
He was married to Miss Lydia Miller, September 20, 1877, by Rev J P
Fulton, pastor of Dunlap's Creek Church. She was born February 5, 1854,
and her father, Warwick Miller, was born December 8, 1811. He married
Mary Moore, daughter of Aaron Moore of German township and died at the
advanced age of ninety six years.
To the marriage of J M Campbell and Lydia Miller have been born four
children: Ira Fulton Campbell, born August 29, 1878; Rolla Miller
Campbell, March 11, 1880; Mary Frances Campbell, December 1, 1882; and
Clarence Danley Campbell, February 10, 1888.
Mrs Campbell is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at
Uniontown.
p539
JOSEPH R CAMPBELL, postmaster at Elm, Springfield township, was born in
Springfield township, Fayette county, Penna, March 14, 1856. He received
his education in the common and normal schools of Fayette county, and was
married at Cumberland, Maryland, September 8, 1887, to Miss Lizzie
Kimmiel, daughter of George F Kimmiel of Somerset county, Penna.
In 1881 with his brother, Hon George W Campbell, he engaged in the
mercantile business at Elm, and are now doing a thriving business. Mr
Campbell is a young man full of energy and push, and is destined to make
his mark in the business world. He was appointed postmaster at Elm in
1889. He is an influential republican, and is a good worker in his party.
p496
JAMES POTTER CAROTHERS, one who stands high as a businessman and a
Christian gentleman, was born on Little Sewickley Creek, Westmoreland
county, Penna, March 8, 1826, and is a son of Samuel Carothers and Ruth
Elliott Carothers.
Samuel Carothers was born near Chambersburg, Penna, and emigrated to
Westmoreland county. He was a farmer and an elder in the Presbyterian
church at Sewickley. He was a democrat until Governor Ritner's election
and after that was a whig.
He married Miss Ruth Elliott. They had seven children: Catherine
Carothers, wife of Robert Finley, a prominent citizen of Redstone
township; Ruth Carothers, wife of John Penny of McKeesport; Matilda
Carothers, William Carothers, Jane Carothers, Eliza Carothers, married to
the late Jasper M Thompson, and James P Carothers.
James P Carothers was brought up and educated as all farmers' sons were
at that time, on the farm and in the subscription schools until sixteen
years old when he learned tanning. He engaged in tanning at Mill Grove,
Westmoreland county, until 1854 when he removed to his present residence
where he has been engaged in tanning for over thirty years near
Fairchance.
In 1848 he was married to Mary Thompson, a sister of Hon Jasper M
Thompson. They had five children: William Carothers; Leah Carothers, wife
of Robert Harvey, now of New Mexico (formerly of London), is a bookkeeper
and ex-reporter of the legislature for that Territory; Ruth Carothers,
wife of Millard Scholl, in lumber and planing mill business at West
Newton; Jasper Carothers, married to Flora Belles of Ohio, and resides in
Kansas; and Cyrus Carothers, deceased.
After the death of his first wife, he was married to Miss Fannie E
Smith, daughter of John Smith and Lydia Bedford Smith of Georges
township, both of Scotch descent and natives of New Jersey, and a niece
of Rev Dr A G Fairchild.
J P Carothers has carefully and honestly acquired a competency of this
world's goods, but has never neglected the calls of charity or suffering
humanity. He is a republican, has served as school director, and is
recognized as an active and effective worker in the ranks of the
republican party. He is a member of the Presbyterian church at
Fairchance, of which he is an honored elder and trustee.
p150
JOHN RICHEY CAROTHERS was born April 23, 1855, in Sewickly township,
near West Newton, Westmoreland county, Penna, and is the son of William E
Carothers and Caroline Taylor Carothers, the latter a daughter of Isaac
Taylor of Allegheny county, who had been an old hotel keeper and farmer
on the National Road.
William E Carothers, subject's father, was born on the homestead farm in
Westmoreland county, and removed in 1865 to the well known James Veech
farm in Fayette county, which he purchased and where he now resides. This
farm, containing 200 acres, is underlaid with a nine foot vein of coking
coal. He also owns a farm of 286 acres in North Strabane township,
Washington county. He is a farmer and stock dealer to some extent, a
strong republican and a much respected member of the Presbyterian church.
Samuel Carothers, subject's grandfather, was an old and reliable citizen
of Westmoreland county where he was born.
John R Carothers was reared on a farm and was educated in the common
township and the Uniontown public schools.
On December 8, 1881, he married Miss Anna M Craft, daughter of 'Squire
James W and Caroline E Craft. 'Squire Craft was a son of David Craft and
grandson of George Craft who came to Redstone township in 1771, and
purchased the old Craft homestead one mile east of Merritstown.
James W Craft was born February 13, 1807, and died February 20, 1880. He
married his cousin, Caroline E Craft, in 1847. They had nine children,
seven of whom are living: Ellen L Craft, wife of Samuel Colvin; Loretta
Craft, wife of Sheriff Joseph O Miller; Hester B Craft, wife of Dr H W
Brashear; Richard N Craft, married to Rebecca Nutt; Hayden R Craft,
married to Laura B Colley; Annie M Craft, wife of subject, born September
17, 1860, and Jesse Benton Craft. Mr Craft was a justice of the peace for
thirty years, and was greatly missed after his death.
J R Carothers is engaged in farming and stock dealing. He is a
prosperous farmer, an intelligent citizen and an active republican
worker. He served two terms as school director in South Union township,
and was elected poor house director in 1888 on the republican ticket for
a term of three years.
p321
EDWARD C CARR of Dawson is the son of John Carr and Agnes Miller Carr.
John Carr, his father, was a native of Ireland, and came to the United
States in 1845, at the age of eighteen; first located at Philadelphia,
thence to Greensburg, and had horses and carts working on the grade of
the P R R. From there he removed to Layton, Fayette county, where he
lived for thirty three years and died there November 9, 1888, at the age
of sixty one years. From the time he came to Layton till his death, he
was a section foreman on the B & O R R. He was a member of the Catholic
church. His wife was Agnes Miller, born in Scotland, and came to the
United States with her parents when but two years old. She is still
living and resides at Layton.
Edward C Carr was born February 1, 1855, at West Newton, Westmoreland
county, Penna, but was reared at Layton and attended the common schools
of that neighborhood. In September, 1872, at the age of seventeen, he was
made a section foreman of the B & O R R and has held that position ever
since. In 1876 he was married to Miss Lila Carson of Perry township,
daughter of James Carson, a farmer of that township. They have two
children living: Willy B Carson and Bertha B Carson.
In October, 1885, he removed to Dawson, and has made that place his
home to the present time. Mr Carr is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church, and is a member of the B & O R R relief department. He is a
democrat, elected by his party to the borough council, and is now a
member of that body.
p241
JOHN D CARR, one of the most enterprising and public-spirited men of
the county, was born near Recreation Park, Allegheny county, Penna, December
16, 1849. His father was the largest and most successful market gardener
in his day, of Pittsburgh and Allegheny county. The information that
enables the envied steward of the county home to outdo all our farmers
with farm products and vegetables was gathered during his boyhood days on
his father's extensive farm. "I have hoed the cabbage, cared for the
corn, and picked potatoes on the very ground now known as Recreation
Park," remarked Mr Carr recently, and his wonderful display at the late
county fair would indicate that his early training had been improved by
time.
On reaching man's estate, Mr Carr was apprenticed to a marble cutter.
He learned the trade thoroughly and was recognized as a skillful mechanic.
He assumed the charge of, and became superintendent of the Pittsburgh
Marble Works of W W Wallace, the largest establishment of its kind in
Pennsylvania, holding this position until 1783. In the same year he came
to Fayette City and started in the marble business on his own account. He
met with great success, and his work was rapidly securing a reputation,
when in October, 1884, his shops were destroyed by fire.
In January, 1885, he was elected Steward of the County Home, his
excellent management of this trust has been faithful, sensible and
humane. His efforts have always been directed in the interest of the
taxpayers of Fayette county, and no fair man of either political party
has ever accused him of being dilatory in the discharge of his duties.
His official career has ever been open to the most rigid investigation,
and he has always been able to rise above party prejudice in the
management of his important charge.
A more eloquent tribute to a faithful servant could not be written than
the official letter appended:
State of Pennsylvania
Committee on Lunacy, the Board of Public Charities
Office, Number 1224 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia
A J Ourt, MD, Philadelphia, Secretary
January 8, 1887
John D Carr, Esq, Steward Fayette County
Almshouse, Uniontown, Penna
My Dear Sir:
I have just learned that some changes have been made in your Board of
Directors. This, I hope, will not interfere with your re-appointment to
the position you have so creditably filled. In my official visits to your
county home or almshouse, I have observed with pleasure the tidy
appearance of the inmates and their cheerful and contented disposition,
indicative of the interest you have always manifested in our several
interviews for the welfare and comfort of the indigent poor under your charge.
The cleanliness of the apartments of the inmates and of the institution
in general, have not, I am sure, escaped the notice of the humane and
Christian gentlemen who constitute your board, and will compare favorably
with any almshouse in the State.
I have taken the liberty of writing you at this time these few lines of
commendation as an expression of my appreciation of your unexceptionable
abilities as a steward, and also to assure you it will give me great
pleasure to be informed of your re-election to a position the duties of
which yourself and wife have conscientiously discharged,
Very truly yours.
Ands J Ourt
The Pittsburgh TIMES of yesterday contains this notice: "It is expected
that Governor Beaver will this week name the commission of three to
revise the poor-laws of the State, in accordance with an act of the late
legislature. There is considerable speculation regarding the make-up of
the commission. Already half a hundred names have been sent to His
Excellency. A gentleman, one posted in charitable affairs, gave it as his
opinion yesterday afternoon the Commission will be composed of R D
McGonnigle of this city; John D Carr of Fayette county; and James Hall of
Northumberland county. The annual convention of poor directors of the
State will be held in Altoona early next month, and it is probable the
commission will hold their first meeting in that city at that time.
McGonnigle and Carr are recognized as authority in poorhouse matters."
He was elected on the democratic ticket, and took charge of the Asylum in
April, 1885. As noticed previously, he was re-elected in 1889 and is the
present incumbent. He served ten years as school director while at
Fayette City, and was secretary of the board during that time with the
exception of one year. He served also as a member of the borough council
for several years.
In 1871 he was married to Miss Amanda M Cook of Fayette City, a daughter
of James M Cook, then a farmer of the county, who now resides in
Michigan. They have seven children living; the eldest, Woods N Carr, for
a few years past the brilliant young editor of the Uniontown NEWS, was
born February, 1871, and is now attending school preparatory to entering
the profession of the law. The other children are: John D Carr, Jr,
Charles H Carr, Walter Russell Carr, Edna E Carr, Ethel C Carr, and Katie
B Carr.
John D Carr's parents, Nicholas Carr and Catherine Burns Carr were
natives of Ireland, who came to America when quite young and were married
in this country. Nicholas Carr was a man of strong mind and fine business
qualifications. He did a large business as a drover and cattle dealer,
and died in 1879 at the age of sixty nine years. His wife died in 1868 at
the age of forty five years.
John D Carr is a member of the Masonic Order, the Knights of Pythias, and
of the Royal Arcanum. He is P M of Masons, and member of the Grand Lodge
of Pennsylvania.
John Carr possesses great force, energy and determination, and has that
thorough-going disposition which takes right hold of great projects with
both hands, and drives into thick and thin in spite of all obstacles and
opposition, and generally accomplishes whatever he undertakes.
In politics he is truly democratic and solely a democrat from instinct.
There is none of the demagogue in his nature, nor of the "rule and ruin"
policy. He believes in no "milk and water" politics, but on the contrary
is aggressive and favors hewing close to the line, letting the chips fall
wherever they may. He is of that class of men who, whenever and wherever
placed as representatives of the people's interests, are always true to
the trusts reposed with them, regardless of consequences.
p539
WILLIAM B CHALFANT, a prominent and experienced physician who is now
located at Pennsville, was born on a farm in Jefferson township, Fayette
county, Penna, January 17, 1835, and is a son of Walter B Chalfant and
Mollie Budd Brown Chalfant. His father was born in Fayette county, Penna,
and his mother was a native of New Jersey.
His paternal grandparents, Chads and Margaret Chalfant, as the name
indicates, were of French origin, their ancestors having emigrated to
this country in Penn's colony.
Dr Chalfant was reared on his father's farm until the age of eighteen
years, when he entered California Seminary, now S W P Normal School. For
three years he taught winter terms in the common schools, and attended
summer sessions at the seminary. In 1856 he entered the office of his
brother, Dr Charles B Chalfant, at Belle Vernon, as a student of medicine
and remained with him until November, 1859, when he attended lectures at
Western Reserve Medical College of Cleveland, Ohio.
He began the practice of medicine in March, 1860, at Donegal,
Westmoreland county, Penna, but in October following removed to Bolivar,
same county, where he remained one year.
From Bolivar he went to Youngstown and practiced until May, 1864, when
he removed to Whitely, Greene county, Penna, and remained seven months.
Leaving Whitely in December, 1864, he went to Brownsville, and was in
active practice there until April, 1867, when he removed to his present
location at Pennsville and where he has been engaged until the present
time in the successful practice of his profession.
In June, 1860, he was married to Ellen E Fowler, daughter of John and
Elizabeth Fowler of Westmoreland county, Penna. To them were born seven
children, of whom five are living: Mollie Chalfant, (Mrs Edgar L Boyd);
Anna B Chalfant; John Fowler Chalfant; Ethel Winonia Chalfant; and Vivian
Mellon Chalfant.
Dr Chalfant has belonged to several secret societies. He is a member of
the Methodist Episcopal church, and since his membership in 1860 has held
all the offices of that church. He is a member of Fayette County Medical
Society, and also of the Fayette and Westmoreland Medical Association.
p253
WILLIAM CHATLAND, a worthy citizen of Brownsville, where he has resided
for the last thirty five years and is one of the foremost businessmen of
the place, having been engaged in the baker business ever since he came
to Brownsville in 1854.
At present he is carrying on an extensive cracker manufactory in
partnership with his son-in-law, George W Lenhart, and under the firm
name of Chatland and Lenhart. They have the reputation of making the best
water cracker in the market.
William Chatland was born at Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, England,
June 9, 1811. His father, William Chatland, was a citizen of Meriden, a
borough six miles north of the city of Coventry and in the same shire. He
died in London in 1819 in the forty first year of his age. The mother of
the subject was named Priscilla Green, a native of Brier Hill, Staffordshire,
England. She died in 1814 when her son was but three years of age.
Mr Chatland was given in charge of his grandmother who died when he was
ten years old. His uncle, Joseph Chatland, a prosperous baker, then took
charge of him till he was thirteen years old when he was apprenticed to
learn the trade of a baker with David Claridge, who was at that time a
famous baker in the city of Coventry.
When through his apprenticeship he spent ? and one half years in London
where he was employed in two first-class houses. He then returned to
Coventry, established himself in the bakers business and was married to
Miss Elizabeth Manton, daughter of William Manton, a farmer of Berkswell,
Warwickshire. He remained here about six years when he migrated to the
United States with his wife and three daughters and arrived in New York,
April 20, 1844.
Shortly after landing he left for Pittsburgh on the old "Bingham Line,"
remained a short time in Pittsburgh and finally settled at Washington,
Penna, where he lived for about eight years and carried on the bakery and
confectionary business.
In 1852 he organized a company of fifteen persons and went overland
to California. In Sacramento he bought out a bakery and operated it with
success, but was compelled by sickness to quit the country. He now
returned to Washington, Penna, where he had left his family, not being
satisfied with the outlook for business at that place, he removed to
Brownsville in 1854 and established himself in business in the full line
of his trade. For eighteen years he continued alone in the business, when
Mr Lenhart became his partner.
Mrs Elizabeth Chatland, his wife, died in Brownsville, January 28, 1874,
in the sixty first year of her age, leaving three daughters: Elizabeth
Chatland, the eldest, married Theodore Bosler, a son of Dr Bosler of
Mechanicsburg, Penna, now living at Dayton, Ohio; Miss Mary Ann Chatland,
the second daughter, resides at home with her father; Sarah Chatland is
the wife of George W Lenhart.
Mr Chatland was raised in the faith of the Church of England, and he
and his family are members of the Protestant Episcopal church. He is now a
vestryman in the church at Brownsville, and has been for many years past.
Since 1848 Mr Chatland has been a prominent member of the F and A M.
He was District Deputy Grand Master for Pennsylvania for fifteen years;
District Deputy High Priest for sixteen years; Eminent Commander of St
Omer's Commandery, No 7, of Brownsville for about eighteen years and is
proud of his record as a Mason.
p540
REILY D CHRISTOPHER, one of Luzerne's useful citizens, was born in 1826
in Luzerne township, Fayette county, Penna, and is a son of Bernard
Christopher and Mary Reily Christopher, the former a farmer and a son of
Bernard Christopher, Sr, who was also a farmer of the same township. The
latter was a daughter of Dennis Reily, a farmer of Luzerne.
Reily D Christopher was educated in the subscription schools of German
township. Leaving school he engaged in farming till 1863 when he began
operating a grain threshing machine. From that time to the present he has
been continuously and successfully engaged in threshing grain. Some years
ago he abandoned the old horse power machine, and now runs and operates
one of the latest improved steam threshers in the country. He does a
large amount of work in Luzerne and adjoining townships. His only
brother, John T Christopher, enlisted in the late Civil War and died at
New Berne, North Carolina.
He was married to Eliza Roberts, daughter of Isaac Roberts. They have
ten children: Bernard Christopher (dead); Mary F Christopher, wife of J L
Christopher; William Christopher; Isaac N Christopher, married Hettie
Ensley; Ellazan Christopher, married W Christopher; Susanna Christopher,
married Josiah Honsaker; Hettie Christopher, wife of Jacob Johnson;
Hannah Christopher, wife of William Johnson; Elliott Christopher and
Thomas Christopher.
Reily D Christopher owns a valuable farm of 127 acres of land which is
among the best in Luzerne township. He is a republican, a good citizen,
and a successful businessman, and has served as road supervisor.
p254
JOHN A CLARK was born January 29, 1842, near Morgantown, Monongalia
county, West Virginia, is the oldest son of William F Clark and Sarah A
Batton Clark, a daughter of John Batton of Springhill township, who was a
strong democrat and a good farmer.
His father, William F Clark, was born in Virginia, March 21, 1814. He
clerked in his father's store until he attained his majority, when he
went to Mobile, Alabama, and engaged with his brother in the mercantile
business. Six years later he came to Springhill township, leased a farm
and engaged in farming, but soon removed to West Virginia where he
followed the same business for eleven years, and then returned to
Springhill where he purchased property.
In 1870 he visited Missouri and three years later removed to that State,
but soon left and located in the Nehema Valley, Nebraska, where he now
resides, and is engaged in the mercantile business. He is a
well-preserved old gentleman needing neither glasses nor a cane.
He was married to Sarah A Batton. Their union was blessed with eight
children. She died in 1865.
His paternal grandfather Clark was a Virginia merchant and owned a large
number of slaves.
John A Clark attended common schools of Springhill township, and spent
some time in the subscription schools of Virginia. He took two courses in
the Southwestern Pennsylvania Normal School, one in the summer of 1863,
the other during the following summer, and followed teaching in the
common schools for four years. From 1867 to 1871 he was engaged in
cultivating his farm near Morris Cross Roads.
In 1871 he engaged in the lumber business, having a saw mill near Morris
Cross Roads. Eighteen months later he went into partnership with his
father-in-law and they erected a saw mill at Crow's ferry on Cheat river.
In 1874 he began the erection of a planing mill at Point Marion. In 1881
he attached a saw mill, and the whole structure was terribly wrecked by a
cyclone that struck it on March 24, 1887. The next day he began to
rebuild the mill and repair his dwelling house that had been badly
damaged.
When rebuilt he operated the mill until the flood of July 10, 1888, came
and swept his mill buildings of their foundations and badly damaged the
machinery. He is now preparing to build a mill on the opposite side of
the river on a site above the high water mark.
Mr Clark was married October 11, 1886, to Miss Martha Dillner. Of this
union three children were born: May Clark, Charles Clark and an infant
which is dead.
January 18, 1882, Mr Clark was married a second time to Miss Elizabeth
Dunham and by this marriage has one child: James Daniel Clark.
Mr Clark in politics is a democrat and in religious belief a Methodist
Protestant. He is of German-French and Irish-Scotch descent.
p420
ROBERT W CLARK, MD, of Dunbar whose great grandfather, Robert Clark,
emigrated from Londonderry, Ireland, to the United States in 1775 and
settled in Lancaster county, Penna. He was a farmer and died in that
county in 1850, upon the same property taken up by his father. His wife's
name was Miss Scott, daughter of a Scotch Irishman. They had eight
children: William Clark, Thomas Clark, Robert Clark, James Clark, Mary
Clark, Jane Clark, Nancy Clark, and Margaret Eliza Clark.
His father, Alexander Scott Clark, was born in 1815 and was a member
of the Silver Grays Home Guards during the War of the Rebellion.
He married Isabella Jane Neeper, daughter of James Neeper, a native of
Lancaster county, Penna. He engaged in farming until he retired from
active business. They had twelve children: Letitia Clark; Robert W Clark;
James Clark; Lindley Clark, who is an engineer now in the interior of
Africa, foreman of a diamond mine for a New York company; Laura J Clark;
Harry S Clark; and Anna B Clark.
Dr Clark was born in Lancaster county, Penna, August 2, 1848, educated
in the schools of the same county and Chestnut Level Academy. He prepared
himself to enter LaFayette College, but was prevented on account of
failing health. He read medicine with Dr A M McMillen at Lebanon, Ohio;
graduated in medical department at Ann Arbor, Michigan; and at the
University of Pennsylvania in 1872. He went to Winfield and practiced
about two years when he came to Dunbar in 1873 where he has since
resided.
In 1886 he married Ellen N Schell of Somerset, Somerset county, Penna,
daughter of J J Schell, a retired banker of Somerset. They have one
child: Robert W Clark.
Dr Clark is a member of the Fayette County Medical Association, of the
Pennsylvania State Medical Society, and has twice served as a delegate to
the State Medical Association. He is a member of the Knights Templar, of
the Masonic order, of the Royal Arcanum, and Jr O of A M.
Dr Clark is the nominee of his party, the republicans, for coroner of
the county; for the office he is eminently qualified. He is esteemed very
highly as a gentleman, physician and surgeon by the people who know him.
p322
Captain JOSEPH W CLARKE was born July 21, 1825, in Clarksville, Penna.
He was reared on a farm, attended the subscription schools until sixteen
years of age, when he went to Brownsville and in two years learned
engineering sufficiently well to obtain the position of assistant engineer
on a steamboat. He was soon promoted to chief engineer, he next became
pilot and in a short time thereafter was a captain or master. He owned
seven steamboats: Tempest, two Clippers Leader, Tiger Sam, Charley
Clarke, Sampson, Baltic and Petrel.
He was one of the most prominent coal operators on the Monongahela
River, at the time he owned the Tremont, Clipper and Rostraver mines. He
operated the sand works at Belle Vernon for two years.
He was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Reed, daughter of Joseph Reed
and Mary Round Reed, natives of England. Her grandfather, Richard Reed,
at the time of his death left over one hundred descendants behind him.
Captain Clarke and his wife were the parents of eleven children: Mary A
Clarke, wife of W C Byers, M D, of Pittsburgh; Sarah N Clarke, wife of I
E Byers; Amy A Clarke, wife of Prof W D Rowan; Martha J Clarke, deceased;
Cora A Clarke, deceased; Virginia Clarke, Charles W Clarke, and John F
Clarke.
Captain Clarke was a correct and successful businessman, attentive to the
wants of all who traveled with him, was well-liked wherever known, and
was a most highly respected gentleman.
He died at his residence near Belle Vernon July 3, 1889, was followed on
the 5th of July to his last resting place in the Belle Vernon cemetery by
a large number of sorrowing friends and relatives.
p497
UPTON LAWRENCE CLEMMER, MD, of Redstone, deceased. The late Dr Upton
Lawrence Clemmer, one of the most prominent and highly respected
physicians of Fayette county, was the eldest son of Lewis Clemmer and was
born in Allegany county, Maryland, November 16, 1816.
His father was a native of Maryland where he married Miss Christina
Butler, daughter of Rev Gideon Butler, and later removed to Pennsylvania.
He was a saddler and harness maker by trade, and after the death of his
wife he married Polly Lowie of Uniontown where he died in 1866. One of
his sons is G G Clemmer, a banker in Iowa.
Dr Clemmer received his early education at New Geneva, where he began
the study of medicine at the age of sixteen years under the tutelage of
Dr J J Steele, a prominent physician of the county. He attended lectures
at the Reformed Medical College and after four years' practice, graduated
in medicine in 1846.
He began the practice in Preston county, West Virginia, thence to
Grandville, Monongalia county, West Virginia, and subsequently removed to
Smithfield, Fayette county, where he continued successfully in the
practice for eighteen years. From Smithfield Dr Clemmer removed to
Brownsville, and was there engaged in the successful practice of medicine
till his death, May 25, 1888.
On November 14, 1839, he was married to Miss Adelia H Massey, daughter
of Wilfred Massey of West Virginia. They had twelve children, of whom
eight are living: George B Clemmer, born September 20, 1842, married
Fannie Garred, April, 1875; Carolina A Clemmer, born July 14, 1852;
Valonia V Clemmer, born November 10, 1854; Dora M Clemmer, born April 19,
1858; Elizabeth W Clemmer, born September 11, 1861; Pearl M Clemmer, born
December 30, 1862; Lawrence B Clemmer, born July 31, 1865; and Adelia B
Clemmer, born June 10, 1869.
Dr Clemmer served as an assistant surgeon in the Union army at
Parkersburg, West Virginia, in 1864; was the inventor of the celebrated
"Clemmer's Anti-Dysenteric Cordial," and the renowned "Clemmer's Little
Liver Pills. "
He was a democrat, had been an Odd Fellow for fifty two years and one of
the founders of Gallatin Lodge at Smithfield. He had served as coroner of
Fayette county and member of the Pension Examining Board. At the time of
his death he owned ten acres of valuable land heavily underlaid with coal
and lime. He was a man of strictest integrity and high medical ability,
and was a man who lived up to his convictions of right.
p151
HARVEY COBURN, a prominent citizen of Fayette county, and a gallant
soldier of the War of the Rebellion, is a son of Captain James Coburn and
Sarah Moody Coburn, and was born near Kingwood, Preston county, Virginia
(now West Virginia) August 19, 1823.
Captain James Coburn was a brave and efficient officer and commanded a
company that rendered good service in the War of 1812. After the close of
that war, he married Miss Sarah Moody, daughter of Robert Moody of
Harrison county, West Virginia. Captain Coburn was an energetic
businessman, engaged in various business enterprises, and was a member of
the old and highly respected Coburn family so widely settled about
Masontown, Preston county, West Virginia. The West Virginia family spell
their name Cobun. The Cobuns came to western Virginia prior to 1790.
Harvey Coburn was educated in the old log school houses under the
Primary School System of Virginia. His first business in life was
farming, which he abandoned temporarily for a clerkship in his father's
store at Fairfield, Harrison county, Virginia. Later he removed to
Fayette county and engaged in farming.
October 1, 1850, he was married by Rev H A Hunter to Miss Susan
Jeffries, daughter of Nathan Jeffries. She was born June 26, 1822, and is
a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have had six children,
four of whom are living, namely: Mary Coburn, born April 22, 1852, wife
of William G Freeman; Sarah E Coburn, born September 24, 1854, has been a
successful teacher for sixteen years, and is now teaching in Dunbar
borough; Millard F Coburn, born September 22, 1856; and Samuel H Coburn,
born December 27, 1862.
Harvey Coburn enlisted February 8, 1864, in Company K, or Battery K,
112th Regiment, Pennsylvania Line or Second Heavy Artillery. He did his
duty faithfully as soldier until May 20, 1864, when he was caught and
crushed between two logs at Ft Ethan Allen. The surgeons told him that he
could not life, but having a wonderfully strong constitution and a
determined will, he survived his injuries and got well.
He is a successful farmer, a good citizen, and has been a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church for many years. Politically, Mr Coburn is a
staunch democrat, and although living in a republican township and never
asking for office, has been twice elected road supervisor.
p322
CLARK G COCHRAN, the leading and prosperous liveryman of Dawson, Penna,
is a son of Isaac Cochran and Lydia C Merrell Cochran, and was born in
Lower Tyrone township, Fayette county, Penna, February 17, 1852.
Isaac Cochran, grandson of Samuel Cochran, was born at what is now
Dawson, June 22, 1821. In early life he engaged in flat-boating coke and
a few years later in coke manufacturing. As agent for Alfred Howell he
laid out the town of Dawson in 1857, and has been agent for the sale of
its lots ever since. He is a democrat, Free Mason, and large land holder.
In 1851 he married Miss Lydia Merrell, daughter of Abraham Merrell.
They have three children: Lizzie J Cochran, wife of M Keepers, dentist at
Latrobe; Sarah J Cochran, wife of Dr McKay of Fayette city, and Clark G Cochran.
Clark G Cochran received the advantages of a common school education
and at twenty one years of age he became superintendent of the coal works,
now known as the Jackson mines. From 1877 to 1884 he was engaged in
farming in Dunbar township, and then removed to his present beautiful
farm near Dawson in Lower Tyrone township.
In 1873 he married Mary L Given, daughter of Robert T Given, a
prominent citizen of Dawson. They have seven children: Maud Cochran, Millie
Cochran, Isaac E Cochran, Robert Cochran, Clark G Cochran Jr, Lydia
Cochran and Edward Cochran.
Clark G Cochran has the finest livery, feed and sale stables at Dawson,
and are well equipped with all facilities for the accommodation of the
traveling public. The stock consists of eighteen head of horses and a
large number of fine carriages and buggies. He is a democrat, a member of
K P, and Junior Mechanics. He is one of the enterprising and live
businessmen of Dawson.
p323
JAMES COCHRAN, of Scotch Irish descent, and one of the prominent and
substantial businessmen of Fayette county, is a son of Isaac Cochran and
Rosanna Sample Cochran, and was born in what is now Lower Tyrone
township, Fayette county, Penna, January 15, 1823.
His grandfather, Samuel Cochran, was a Revolutionary soldier and came
from Chester county to Fayette county in 1789. He purchased a large tract
of land in Lower Tyrone township of Captain Joseph Huston. He reared a
family of seven children: Samuel Cochran; James Cochran, died at ninety
four years of age; Thomas Cochran; John Cochran; Isaac Cochran; Mordica
Cochran and Esther Cochran.
His father, Isaac Cochran, born in Chester county, Penna, was a
prominent farmer and a member of the Presbyterian church. In 1822 he
helped drill on Dickerson's Run, the first salt well in Fayette county.
Isaac Cochran died in 1862 at seventy years of age. His wife was Rosanna
Sample, whose father, Eziel Sample, was a Westmoreland county farmer of
Scotch Irish descent and a native of Scotland.
James Cochran remained on the farm until he became sixteen years of age,
when he left home and engaged on boating on the Monongahela river,
carrying sand, rock, cinders and such like, to Pittsburgh. In 1842 he
with his brother and uncle manufactured and boated to Cincinnati 12,000
bushels of twenty four hour coke, made at what is now the Fayette Works.
It was the first Connellsville coke ever sold for money.
Since 1842 Mr Cochran has continued in the manufacture of coke, has a
large interest in the Spring Grove Works and the Fayette Works. He is
interested in the Jackson, Franklin and Clinton mines, and is also member
of a company owning over 1,200 acres of bituminous coal lands in Dunbar
township.
On February 24, 1848, he married Miss Clarissa Huston, daughter of
Joseph Huston and Mary A Hazen Huston. They have had eleven children, of
whome six sons and one daughter are living.
James Cochran for over twenty five years safely piloted boats down the
dangerous channel of the Youghiogheny river. One writer has said of him
that he "is one of the most remarkable of the self-made men of Fayette
county, a man of clear understanding, of great energy, indomitable will,
but of a generous nature, tender-hearted withal, and in short a fine
example of hearty, robust manhood. "
p152
MARK MORDECAI COCHRAN. Among those who have cast their fortunes with
their native county, and who might worthily be placed in the van of young
professional men of the county is Mark M Cochran, a rising young lawyer
of the Fayette county bar. He is a son of Mordecai Cochran and Susanna
Welsh Cochran, and was born at the old Cochran homestead, Tyrone
township, Fayette county, Penna, July 13, 1854; and is the youngest of a
family of thirteen children, of whom three died in infancy, three after
middle age, and seven who are now living.
His father, Mordecai Cochran, was born on the old Cochran homestead in
Tyrone township, October 8, 1797, where he lived until his death December
29, 1880. He was among the first to engage in the manufacture of
Connellsville coke, and the first to introduce it in the Cincinnati
market.
In 1843 he with two nephews, Sample Cochran and James Cochran, floated
two boats loaded with coke to Cincinnati, and after a favorable test sold
the same to Miles Greenwood, a prominent foundryman of that city. It was
the first Connellsville coke ever sold for money, and thus being
enthusiastically reassured of the value of this product, he and his
nephews returned home, determined to push forward the industry, which
they afterward did most successfully. They and their sons became
prominent in the business, and so remain up to the present time.
Samuel Cochran, the paternal grandfather of M M Cochran, was born in
Chester county, Pennsylvania, August 24, 1750, and was a son of John
Cochran, a Scotch Irish Presbyterian, who had emigrated from the north of
Ireland, and settled in Chester county about 1745.
February 12, 1776, Samuel Cochran, as a private soldier, enlisted in the
War of the Revolution in a company commanded by Captain Samuel Hay; his
company belonged to the Sixth Pennsylvania Battalion. He re-enlisted the
following year with Captain Hay, this time with the Seventh Pennsylvania
Regiment. He did hard service at Paoli, Brandywine, Germantown and Valley
Forge. At the close of the war he went to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and
there married Esther John, daughter of Daniel John, the latter a
prominent Quaker and the grandfather of Gideon John, the last named
elected sheriff of Fayette county in 1832.
Samuel Cochran came "West" and located in Fayette county in 1789, for a
while in the "Washington Bottoms" near the present day site of
Perryopolis, remaining there until the spring of 1792 when he removed to
Tyrone township and purchased a farm of Captain Joseph Huston of 300
acres. On this tract of land he built a primitive log cabin, but he soon
replaced it by a more commodious structure, and in 1811 he erected the
large barn recently rebuilt by his grandson, Lutellas Cochran.
Besides being a splendid farmer, Samuel Cochran was a practical surveyor
and a consistent member of the Tyrone Presbyterian church up until his
death, July 2, 1837. His children were: Samuel Cochran Jr, James Cochran,
John Cochran, Thomas Cochran, Isaac Cochran, Mordecai Cochran, and Esther
Cochran, wife of John Strickler, the latter an only child by a second
marriage. He devised his farm to his two sons, Mordecai and James.
The other sons of Mordecai Cochran were: James W Cochran, known as "Big
Jim," Alexander C Cochran, and Lutellas Cochran. They all engaged early
in making coke with their father and boated it down the river. In 1867
they purchased their father's plant on the Youghiogheny river and
afterwards entered into partnership with W H Brown of Pittsburgh,
enlarging their original plant "Sterling" and in 1871 built a large coke
plant on Hickman Run, called Jimtown, in honor of the managing partner,
James W Cochran. This farm of Brown and Cochran were the largest coke
producers at that time in the state; but in 1873 the partnership
dissolved on account of the death of two of its member, W H Brown and
Alexander C Cochran. The affairs in a few years thereafter were settled
by the surviving members of the family.
M M Cochran grew to man's estate on the old farm in Tyrone township. He
was educated at Bethany College, West Virginia, from where he graduated
in 1875. He immediately entered the law office of Hon C E Boyle as a
student-at-law and was admitted to the bar June 5, 1877, and has
successfully continued in the practice of law ever since.
In 1883 he was elected by his party-the democrats-district attorney of
Fayette county, the duties of which responsible office he discharged with
fidelity to the interests of the people and with honor to himself for a
term of three years. In 1881 he was elected a member of the board of
trustees of Bethany College, his alma mater, and in this position he has
ever since continued to serve.
January 1, 1879, he was married to Miss Emma J Whitsett, daughter of Dr
James Estep Whitsett of Bethany, West Virginia, but now of Perry
township, this county. Two children have blessed their union: Percy B
Cochran and Emma Cochran. In 1880 Mr Cochran with his two brothers, James
W Cochran and Lutellus Cochran, and H S Darsie purchased a fine field of
coking coal in Georges township, and are the present proprietors of the
same.
He took a leading part in the construction of the excellent bridge at
Dawson, that spans the Youghiogheny river, being one of the original
corporators and directors of the company. Mr Cochran is mild and
unassuming in manner, yet firm and determined in whatever he undertakes.
He neglects nothing which tends toward developing the material resources
of old Fayette.
p255
WILLIAM COCK, one of the successful businessmen of Fayette county and
the efficient manager of the Eclipse Flouring Mills, is a son of John
Cock and Jane Faucett Cock, and was born in the borough of Bridgeport,
January 5, 1841.
John Cock was a native of Hohue, County Westmoreland, England. He was
apprenticed to John Davison March 16, 1824, by his father, H Cock, to
learn the trade of joiner, house carpenter, cabinet and wagon maker. He
served seven years as an apprentice.
In 1832 he came to Albany, New York, and in the following year removed
to Brownsville, where he engaged in a machine shop and foundry with his
uncle, William Cock, the maker of the first iron plow manufactured west
of the Allegheny Mountains.
John Cock in 1846 entered into partnership with Leonard Lenhart, and
engaged in building steamboats from 1846 to 1858, and during that period
built over one hundred boats. He retired from active life in 1858, and
died in 1875 aged seventy five years.
Thomas F Cock, a fine mechanic and an extensive boat builder, was born
at Bridgeport August 14, 1833. He was educated in the common schools of
Bridgeport and West Brownsville. He learned the boat building business
with Cock & Lenhart, and in 1858 in connection with D D Williams, bought
the firm.
The new firm, Cock & Williams continued till 1865 when they sold out.
They built fifty one boats. In 1872 Thomas F Cock and his brother, H B
Cock, bought out the firm of Cock, Hutchinson & Williams. They continued
successfully in the boat building business until 1880. For the last nine
years Thomas F Cock has not been actively engaged in business beyond
having an interest in the Brownsville & Geneva Packet Line.
In 1854 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Snyder, daughter of Henry
Snyder, a ship carpenter of West Brownsville. They have four children:
Jane Cock, John W Cock, Christian O Cock, and Henry B Cock.
Thomas F Cock served as captain of the steamboat Messenger in 1872. He
is a member of the Masons, Odd Fellows, American Mechanics, and is a
republican and a member of the Episcopal church. He is a prudent,
watchful businessman and a useful citizen. He resides in a comfortable
and beautiful home in Bridgeport.
William Cock learned the trade of a machinist with John Snowdon & Sons.
From 1863 to 1870 he was a member of the firm of J Herbertson & Co
machinists and foundrymen. From 1871 to 1887 he was in the mercantile and
grain business. In 1887 he became a partner in the Eclipse Milling
Company and is now its president and general manager. These mills have
the roller process and capacity of fifty barrels per day.
He was married to Miss Harriett Lenhart, who died in 1869, leaving one
child, a daughter, Jane Cock. In 1872 he married again to Margaret Mason,
daughter of Harrison Mason. They have two children: Mary E Cock and
William F Cock.
William Cock is a republican, has served thirteen years as a councilman
and five years as a school director. He attends the Episcopal church, and
is one of Bridgeport's enterprising businessmen.
p493
DAVID R COFFMAN, a leading farmer, was born in German township, Fayette
county, Penna, February 5, 1834, and is a son of Andrew Coffman and Mary
Dunaway Coffman, the former a native of Lancaster county who settled near
McClellandtown, the latter was born at Clarksburg, West Virginia.
David R Coffman received a plain education in the common schools of his
native township. Leaving school he engaged in farming and has continued
at it most successfully up to the present time.
On October 9, 1856, he was united in marriage to Mary Poundstone,
daughter of George Poundstone. Their union has been blessed with seven
children, born and named as follows: Amy Ellen Coffman, October 1, 1857,
wife of Winfield Johns; Larry Jasper Coffman, June 8, 1860, married Miss
Lizzie Grove, daughter of Reuben Grove of Luzerne township; George
Ellsworth Coffman, February 10, 1863, died December 5, 1864; Isidore L
Coffman, November 13, 1864, a machinist in Uniontown, Penna; Ulysses W
Coffman, November 8, 1869; Effie Verdie Coffman, April 30, 1874; Clara
Oris Coffman, March 4, 1876; and Lena Dell Coffman, October 16, 1877.
David R Coffman owns one of the most valuable farms in German township,
containing 180 acres of land, and is underlaid with heavy veins of coal
and limestone. He also owns a farm of 150 acres in Wharton township. He
is a prominent member of the K of P at Uniontown, and an influential
member of St Jacob's Lutheran church. He is a democrat, a thorough going
businessman, and is one of the county's most successful farmers.
p540
WALTER S COLBORN is a son of David L Colborn and Julia Dull Colborn.
He was born in Somerset county, Penna, October 6, 1860.
David L Colborn was born in Somerset county, April 3, 1827, and is the
son of Sylvester Colborn. David L Colbron was married December 9, 1850,
to Miss Julia Dull, daughter of George Dull of Springfield township. Unto
this union were born eight children: Lafayette Colborn, Lavena Colborn,
Willis Colborn, George Colborn, Walter S Colborn, Jackson Colborn, Annie
Colborn, and Sylvester Colborn.
George Dull, maternal grandfather, was a native of Somerset county until
1836, at which time he located in Springfield township. In 1868 came to
Springfield township, this county, was educated in the common schools of
Fayette county where he learned the trade of carpenter with William
Shearer. Afterwards he engaged in the furniture business which he has
successfully pursued at Mill Run for the past three years. He also
started in the same business on August 3, 1889, at Vanderbilt, Penna.
July 8, 1883, he was married to Miss Susan Kern, daughter of George
Kern, by the Rev W W Hickman of Uniontown. Their union has been blessed
by two children: Eva Lena Colborn, born May 9, 1884, and David L Colborn,
born February 6, 1889.
Mr Colborn is a democrat and delights in the success of his party; he
also took an active part in the prohibition amendment campaign that was
voted on and defeated June 16, 1889. He is a member of the Indian Creek
Baptist church. Mr Colborn is a good workman, and deserving of the
liberal encouragement that he receives.
p325
JOHN COLDREN was born January 20, 1822, in Washington township, Fayette
county, Penna, was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools.
At the age of 21 years, he bought one half of the Red Lion store on
Redstone Creek, engaged in merchandising for one year when he bough half
interest in Arnold's Mills located a short distance from Fayette City,
and operated them up to a year ago when he sold the property, and is at
present engaged with a mill company at Fayette City.
He was married March 4, 1863, to Lurena Gould, a native of the county, a
daughter of John Gould and Jane Trainor Gould, the former a native of
Maine, and was one of the pioneer school teachers of the county.
John Coldren had no children of his own, but has raised two adopted
ones: Frank Bean and Minnie Sample. Minnie married Robert W Hall.
Mr Coldren and wife are members of the Disciples church. He is a member
of the F & A M, and owns a comfortable home containing ten acres of
ground near Fayette City. He has held several township offices, and is a
sober, industrious and upright citizen.
His parents were Jesse Coldren and Anna Stephens Coldren. His father was
born in Maryland and removed from there with his parents to Virginia, and
subsequently while he was yet a young man to Pennsylvania. He learned
scythe and sickle making with Samuel Cope. Anna Stephens was the
daughter of Levi Stephens. The Coldren family were originally Quakers.
p541
WILLIAM HENRI COLDREN (deceased). William Henri Coldren, a young lawyer
of bright promise, was born on the property now owned by George Hogg in
Luzerne township, Fayette county, Penna, and is a son of Jesse Coldren,
who was born in Menallen township and is now a resident of Uniontown.
William H Coldren was reared on a farm, received his education at
Dunlap's Creek Presbyterial Academy and at Kittanning. Her served as
assistant bookkeeper at Fairchance Furnace for a few months, but soon
abandoned commercial pursuits for the legal profession. He read law under
the late Daniel Kaine of Uniontown and was subsequently admitted to the
practice of law in the courts of Fayette county. In a short time after
being admitted he removed to Pittsburgh, and entered upon the active
practice of his profession. He was employed as attorney for the
Pittsburgh & Western Railroad and in addition to attending to the
business of this railroad company, he was at the same time building up a
large and paying practice in the State and county courts. After eighteen
months of successful practice, he died in Pittsburgh, January 16, 1883.
On June 21, 1876, he was united in marriage in Redstone township by Rev
J T A Henderson to Miss Charlotte L Craft, a daughter of Elijah L Craft
of Redstone township. His widow, an excellent woman, survives him and
resides in Redstone township on property once owned by J N Craft.
In political faith Mr Coldren was an active, earnest and prominent worker
of the republican party. In religious belief he was a zealous and useful
member of the Presbyterian church of Pittsburgh. He was an influential
member of the Royal Arcanum and was ever ready to work in lodge or
church, public gathering or private enterprise. Of good personal
appearance, he was courteous and affable, he was logical in argument, but
brief and forcible in expression. He was cut down by death in the very
opening of what promised to be a long and honorable career of usefulness
and success.
p420
JOSEPH COLESTOCK, a highly respected citizen of Dunbar township, is a
son of Jonas Colestock and Margaret Seese Colestock, and was born at
Connellsville, Fayette county, Penna, June 13, 1808.
His grandfather, John Colestock, was born in Saxony, Germany, and in
1740 came to York county, Penna, where he afterwards married Miss Julia
Foist. They ad two sons: John Colestock and Jonas Colestock and two
daughters.
Jonas Colestock was born in York county, Penna, in 1765, and was a
captain in the militia for fourteen years. In 1787 he married Margaret
Seese, and had the following children: Elizabeth Colestock; Margaret
Colestock, Charlotte Colestock; Susan Colestock, widow of William
McCormick, and living at Uniontown in the eighty sixty year of her age.
Mrs Colestock's father, Jacob Seese, was a native of Lorraine province,
France, now a province of Germany. He was of noble birth and well
educated, especially in the languages, but being of a military turn of
mind became an officer in the French army. He came to America during the
Revolution and held a command under General Sullivan in the latter's
expedition to avenge the Wyoming massacre.
About 1783 he settled in Westmoreland county, where he encountered
many hardships of Indian warfare. His wife was Mary Foible of Bavaria,
Germany, who was the mother of four sons: Micheal Seese, Martin Seese,
Christopher Seese and Rudolph Seese.
Joseph Colestock was reared and educated at Connellsville, learned the
hatting trade but never followed it. He clerked at Donegal and then for
John Gray; taught school at Uniontown for several years; was a merchant
in Springfield township for some years; came to Dunbar township in 1867
and engaged successfully in his present business of farming.
In 1837 he was married to Isabella Spears/?Speers, daughter of William
and Margaret Spears of Uniontown. They have the following children:
Margaret Colestock, wife of James F Imel, a lumber merchant of Crawford
county; Lieutenant John Colestock, married Miss Jane King, served in the
Eighty fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, was distinguished for bravery,
never flinched in battle, was promoted to corporal and was in line for
captaincy when the war closed; Minvera Colestock, wife of Matthew
Patterson of New Haven; Mary Colestock, wife of Thomas Pyles of
Hagerstown, Maryland; Louisa Colestock; Joseph Colestock married Miss
Zanie White, and lives in Butler county; Samuel Colestock, dead; David H
Colestock and Anna B Colestock.
Joseph Colestock is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and
gives his time chiefly in the superintendency of his farm.
p324
ABEL COLLEY, a prominent citizen of Menallen township and a prosperous
merchant at Haddenville, was born November 27, 1842, on the "Old Colley
Homestead" in Redstone township, Fayette county, Penna, and is a son of
Levi Colley, born in Redstone township on a farm now owned by Mr Sawyer
near Searights, Penna. He was an industrious farmer and a very successful
businessman, and was married to Lydia C Colley, daughter of George
Colley, who was the sole owner of the "Colley Homestead."
To this union were born three children, two of whom are living: George W
Colley and Abel Colley.
Levi Colley died February 28, 1884 in Menallen township, was a devout
Christian and member of the Disciple church. His widow still survives and
lives with her two sons. His grandfather, Abel Colley, was a hotelkeeper
where S W Colley now lives. He was industrious and accumulated
considerable wealth. He died in Menallen township.
Abel Colley received his education in the common schools of Menallen
township, and has been principally engaged in farming up to the spring of
1887 when he engaged in the mercantile business at Haddenville. He had
the post office established there June 16, 1887, and was appointed first
postmaster, the office he now holds. He has a profitable and paying
business, which is constantly increasing.
On September 25, 1862, he was married to Sarah Miller, daughter of
Warwick Miller, the latter now of North Union township, and was the
former owner and operator of "State Flouring Mill" in Menallen township.
Abel Colley is the father of five children, four of whom are living;
William S Colley, born February 7, 1864, and married Jennie E Courtney of
Menallen township; Orlando Colley, born March 12, 1866, is now the owner
and proprietor of "Clinton House Livery Stable" at Uniontown; Brown
Colley, born April 14, 1868, has been a teacher and is now in the employ
of the publisher of this book; and Sarah Allie Colley, born August 24,
1873.
Abel Colley owns two good farms in Menallen township, and takes great
interest in both farming and stock-raising. He is an influential
democrat, and by that part was elected county auditor in 1877, the duties
of which he filled creditably to himself and the party that elected him.
He is a member of the Disciple church, and a very successful businessman.
p324
SEARIGHT W COLLEY, a son of Abel Colley and Nancy Noland Colley, was
born January 11, 1828, in Redstone township, Fayette county, Penna. His
grandfather, Peter Colley, was born on board the ship crossing the ocean
from Ireland to America.
Abel Colley Sr was born March 11, 1792, in Redstone township, on what is
now the Dempsey Woodward farm, was a well-to-do farmer, and owned one
thousand acres of land. On January 10, 1811, he married Nancy Noland,
daughter of William Noland. They had five children, three sons and two
daughters, of whom but one, Searight W Colley, is living.
Searight W Colley was reared on a farm, and received his education in
the subscription schools. On November 26, 1858, he was married to Miss
Catherine Smouse by the Rev Samuel Wilson. They have two children: Laura
Belle Colley, born February 12, 1860, married Hayden R Craft of Redstone.
To their marriage were born Elizabeth and Ellen, at home. They were
educated in the common schools and at the Pittsburgh Female College, at
which Laura Belle carried away the honors at the musical contest.
Catherine Smouse Colley was born in Wills creek valley, Maryland,
January 31, 1838, and is a daughter of Samuel Smouse of Brownsville
township, who was born February 19, 1810, in West Virginia and died May
24, 1884. He married Elizabeth Troutman, born in Martinsburg, West
Virginia, March 23, 1814, and died April 24, 1874. They had six
children: Ellen Smouse, wife of Colonel E Bierer of Hiawatha, Kansas;
Catherine Smouse; Daniel T Smouse; Anna Smouse, wife of George W Seaman;
John L Smouse of Texas; and Ada Smouse, wife of John Buckley.
Mr Colley is a farmer and owns 142 acres of valuable land in Menallen
township. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and belongs to
Fayette lodge No 228 of Uniontown. He is a democrat and has served as
jury commissioner for one term. He is one of Menallen's esteemed
citizens, and is a member of the Presbyterian church of New Salem, of
which his wife is also a member.
p155
Colonel JOHN COLLINS, one of the prominent and popular attorneys of
Fayette county bar, is the gentleman whose name stands at the head of
this sketch. His career has been a long life of public service and public
usefulness. He is a good citizen, a safe lawyer and a Christian
gentleman.
Colonel John Collins was born in Connellsville, December 7, 1815. He is
the son of James Collins and Huldah Tharp Collins.
Colonel Collins' father was a native of Westmoreland county, a tailor by
trade, who came to Connellsville in 1814 and did a large business until
his death in 1841. His grandfather Collins was from Ireland, and was a
Westmoreland county farmer until his death. His mother's maiden name was
Hulda Tharp; her father, Moses Tharp, stopped in Fayette county on his
way from New Jersey to the Miami country in Ohio. He died after being in
this county about one year.
Colonel Collins was raised in Connellsville, and received a common
school education. He learned the tailor trade and continued that business
some time after his father's death. He had a natural disposition to the
law, and a strong inclination for it, but before he was ready to pursue
the study of the legal profession, he was elected register and recorder
of the orphan's court of Fayette county, Penna, overcoming a large
standing democratic majority. He served as register and recorder from
1854 to 1857, the duties of which responsible office he discharged with
fidelity to the interests of the people and with honor to himself.
In 1857 he was admitted to the bar, and after practicing tow years he
was taken up by the republican party and elected to the lower house of
the state legislature. He served two terms, serving as chairman of the
committee on railroads, and during his second term was on the judiciary
committee.
He was elected a member of the Pennsylvania constitutional convention of
1872. His popularity enabled his political party, although in the
minority, to elect him as herein before stated.
When quite a young man, he was commissioned colonel of a Fayette county
militia regiment by Governor David R Porter. The command of this
regiment, he held for nearly seven years.
Colonel John Collins was united in marriage in 1840 to Miss Eliza
McDonald of Brownsville who died in 1852. Her father, Hugh McDonald, was
a weaver by trade, and came from Ireland. He was married again in 1855 to
Elizabeth Caldwell, who is still living.
Colonel Collins has six children living, namely: Mrs Sally Ann Bryson,
James Collins and David F Collins, Mrs Belle Mouck, Mrs Lide Reisinger,
and Mrs Mary Mitchell.
He owns fifty acres of land adjoining the Borough of Uniontown, and was
acquired by honest by honest and judicious management such a sum as to be
well fixed in life in his old days.
p424
JOHN DUDLEY COLLINS was born in Kent county, Maryland, April 29, 1813,
and is a son of James Collins and Sarah Dudley Collins.
James Collins, father, was born in Maryland, October 17, 1777; served in
the War of 1812 in the commissary department; was married to Sarah Dudley
February 17, 1807, and the following children were born to them: William
Collins, born December 5, 1807, died in Kansas, October 24, 1888; James
Collins, born April 20, 1810, still living; Louisa Collins, born May 19,
1816, married William Patterson in October, 1834, who died March 8, 1838.
There were two children born to them: James C, who died in the forty
ninth year of his age, and Emeline, died young. Her second husband was
James Parkhill. From this marriage three sons are living: William, David
and John D. Louisa died in October, 1886. Edwin born in 1819, died in
1854, and Emeline born in March, 1822, died when quite young.
William Collins, the paternal grandfather of John D Collins, was born in
1762 in England, came to America, settled in Kent county, Maryland,
married a Miss Gail, and they had four sons: William Collins, John
Collins, George Collins and James Collins.
Nicholas Dudley, maternal grandfather, was born in England and came to
America, settled in Maryland, married and had the following children:
Benjamin Dudley, Nicholas Dudley, Francis Dudley, Elizabeth Dudley, Mary
Dudley, Sarah Dudley (the mother of John D Collins), and Samuel Dudley,
who came to Pennsylvania and lived the last thirty years of his life with
J D Collins and James Collins. He died the 25th of May, 1889, in the
eighty seventh year of his age.
John D Collins was educated in the early subscription schools, born on a
farm and came to Fayette county, Penna, in 1822 with his father and
settled near East Liberty on a farm known as Fort Hill where he and his
brother James now live. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian
church, has been a trustee and held other offices in the church.
He was married on May 24, 1850, to Agnes Stoner, daughter of Christian
Stoner, (who was) born in Bedford county, Penna, and moved to
Westmoreland county where he was married to Anna Stauffer; afterwards
moved to Fayette county where they raised a family of twelve children,
six boys and six girls.
There was but one child born to them, a daughter who died when young.
They are widely known for their charity; no one is ever turned away empty
handed.
p423
LUTELUS LINDLEY COLLINS, a progressive farmer of Dunbar township, is
a son of William Collins and Eliza Cox Collins, and was born near East
Liberty, in Dunbar township, Fayette county, Penna, April 7, 1838.
His great grandfather, William Collins, was born in England in 1762 and
came to Kent county, Maryland, where he married a Miss Gail and had four
sons: William Collins, John Collins, George Collins and James Collins,
from whom are descended the large Collins posterity of today.
James Collins, the grandfather, married Sarah Dudley; removed from
Maryland to Fayette county, Penna, in 1822 and settled in Dunbar township
on a farm known as Fort Hill.
William Collins, father of L L Collins, was born December 5, 1807;
married Miss Eliza Cox, daughter of Joseph Cox, August 28, 1833. The
following children were born to them: George W Collins, June 25, 1834,
died in 1837; Joseph R Collins, April 9, 1836, died quite young: James C
Collins, August 20, 1840, served three years in the Civil War, Fifteenth
Pennsylvania Cavalry; William H Collins, February 13, 1843, served nearly
four years in the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, promoted to captain of
his company with the Army of Cumberland, in a number of battles and raids
and was at the capture of Jefferson Davis; Susan E Collins, October 21,
1845, married William Parkhill of Franklin township; Sarah L Collins,
April 24, 1848, died young; Eliza Alice Collins, October 24, 1849,
married Clay Shaw of Connellsville. They are the children of Eliza Cox
Collins who died July 22, 1851.
William Collins again married Mary B Stone of Knox county, Ohio, October
1, 1851, and to them were born the following children: Mary A Collins,
July 20, 1852, married Henry Ackley of Kansas; John E Collins, May 26,
1854; Alonzo D Collins, May 18, 1857; Ida M Collins, July 20, 1858,
married John Smith of Kansas; Margaret O Collins, August 17, 1862, died
young; Charles E Collins, December 4, 1864.
William Collins was always found on the side of morality and right.
He was a public spirited and highly respected citizen. He was a member of
the Cumberland Presbyterian church at East Liberty. He moved to Kansas in
December, 1882, where he lived pleasantly surrounded by seven of his ten
children, and died October 24, 1888, reaching the ripe age of over four
score years. His six sons were, by request, his pall bearers to the
grave.
Lutelus L Collins was educated in the common schools and at Chesterville
Seminary, Ohio. In 1857 he went from Fayette county, Penna, to Kansas
where he helped seat the first free state legislature at Lecompton in
1858. He afterwards went overland to California where he worked in the
gold mines of Nevada county. On December 5, 1862, he went from San
Francisco to Panama on a Pacific mail steamship, crossed the isthmus from
Panama to Aspinwall by railroad, from there to New York on the steamship
Aerial which was chased on the route by the celebrated Confederate
cruiser, the Alabama.
In August, 1864, he enlisted in the Sixth Regiment of Pennsylvania Heavy
Artillery for the defense of Washington City; was soon detailed as clerk
at headquarters, DeRussey's division, and served in that capacity until
mustered out of the service June 13, 1865, at Washington. He returned to
Fayette county, and has been engaged in farming and stock business ever since.
On November 5, 1863, he married Miss Anna Stoner, daughter of Christian
Stoner and Mary H Shallenberger Stoner. Their union has been blessed with
nine children, two died in infancy, born and named as follows:
Mary E Collins, September 21, 1864, died May 18, 1882; George A Collins,
November 10, 1866, married Lizzie Leighty, daughter of William Leighty of
Ohio; John W Collins, August 18, 1868; Blanche Collins, April 20, 1871;
Curte C Collins, October 26, 1876; Ken H Collins, February 19, 1881; and
Florence Collins, March 22, 1886.
L L Collins bought the farm where he now lives from his father. He is a
good farmer, raises good stock, and everything about the farm is kept in
good condition; has served as school director; is an elder in the C P
church at East Liberty, and a member of the William Kurtz Post 104, G A R
at Connellsville.