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BIOGRAPHIES
History of Mercer County,
Pennsylvania
Its Past and Present
including
Its Aboriginal History; Its Early Settlement and Development;
A Discription of Its Historic and Interesting Localities;
Sketches of Its Boroughs, Townships and Villages;
Neighborhood and Family Histories; Portraits
and Biographies of Pioneers and Representative
Citizens; Statistics, etc.
--
Also A Condensed History of Pennsylvania
- ILLUSTRATED -
Published: Chicago, Ill.:
Brown, Runk & Co., Publishers
1888
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Greenville -
CHARLES A. MILLER,
physician and surgeon, was born in New
Castle, Lawrence Co., Penn., Aug. 3, 1857,
and is a son of William W. and Adela
(Moffet) Miller. The former was
born in New York State, and removed with his
father, Almon F. Miller, to the
vicinity of New Castle, Penn., more than
fifty years ago, where the father yet
resides. William there grew up
and married Adela Moffet, a native of
New Hampshire. In 1862 he enlisted in
the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth
Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was killed at
Chancellorsville May 3, 1863, leaving a wife
and two sons to mourn his loss.
Charles A. was the eldest, and
subsequently went to live with his
grandfather. He was educated in the
public schools of Lawrence County; read
medicine under Dr. J. W. Covert, of
New Castle, Penn., and graduated at Pulte
Medical College, Cincinnati Ohio. He
began practice in 1882, and in the spring of
1885 came to Greenville, where he has since
practiced his profession. Dr.
Miller is a member of Hahnemann
Medical Society, of Cincinnati, and is the
only Homoeopathic practitioner between the
towns of Mercer, Sharon and Meadville. He
was married Dec. 13, 1876, to Miss Cally
Bell, of Lawrence County. Two
children have been born of this union, one
of whom is deceased. Politically Dr.
Miller is a Republican, and belongs
to the Masonic fraternity, A. O. U. W. and
P. H. C., and is the local medical examiner
for the two last mentioned societies.
Source: History of Mercer County,
Pennsylvania, publ. Chicago, Ill. by Brown, Runk
& Co. - 1888 - Page 818 |
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Sharon -
FREDERICK P. MILLER, general grocery
dealer, was born near Hermitage, Hickory
Township, Dec. 8, 1860, and is a son of
Matthias and Catherine (Foltz) Miller,
natives of Bavaria, Germany, mention of whom
will be found among the sketches of Hickory
Township. Our subject grew up on the
old homestead and received a district school
education. He worked on the farm and
subsequently looked after his father’s store
at Hermitage. From 1877 to the spring
of 1886 he assisted his father in the store
and post-office at that point. In
September, 1886, he opened his present
grocery, which he has since operated.
Mr. Miller was married June 8,
1886, to Miss Maggie, daughter
of Jacob Dresch, deceased, of Sharon.
She has borne him one son, Arthur J.
He is a Republican and a member of the P. H.
C., and both he and wife belong to the
German Reformed Church.
Source: History of Mercer County,
Pennsylvania, publ. Chicago, Ill. by Brown, Runk
& Co. - 1888 - Page 743 |
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West Selem Twp.
-
FREEMAN L. MILLER,
farmer, post-office Greenville, was born in
Trumbull County, Ohio, Oct. 17, 1848, and is
a son of Jeremiah and Salome (Smith)
Miller, the former a native of Mahoning
County, Ohio, and his wife of Lehigh County,
Penn. They were married in Mahoning
County, and reared four children: Augusta
A., Freeman L., Laura A. and Felley M.,
all of whom are living. The parents
were members of the Evangelical Association,
and died in Trumbull County, Ohio, the
father Mar. 18, 1877, and the mother May 9,
1884. Freeman L. grew up in his
native county, attended school at
Farmington, Ohio, and taught in that county
two terms. He was married Dec.
29, 1869, to Miss Olive
Craig, of Trumbull County, Ohio, who
bore him one son, Claudius E.
In 1874 he came to Mercer County, where
Mrs. Miller died, at Shenango,
Jan. 10, 1878, in the Evangelical faith. Mr.
Miller was again married Dec. 14,
1880, to Miss Mary A., daughter of
George S. and Mary Eisenhart, who
settled on the farm where our subject now
lives in 1851, and where both died. He
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and his wife of the Reformed.
Politically he is a Republican, and belongs
to the Masonic fraternity. Mr.
Miller was a telegraph operator for
fourteen years, three years at Fredonia and
eleven at Shenango, but gave up that
business in the spring of 1888, and has
since devoted his attention to farming and
stock raising, being interested in a stock
farm in Nebraska.
Source: History of Mercer County,
Pennsylvania, publ. Chicago, Ill. by Brown, Runk
& Co. - 1888 - Page 1192 |
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Findley Twp. -
HUGH MILLER, deceased,
was born Nov. 4, 1812, in Pittsburgh, to
John and Elizabeth (Montgomery) Miller.
The parents came to this county at an early
day. Hugh Miller was a
brother of the late William Miller,
father of Hon. S. H. Miller, and
William Miller of the First
National Bank of Mercer. Hugh
married Adaline Wilson, and
had one son, Wilson, whose sketch
appears in East Lackawannock Township.
He was married a second time, to Nancy J.
Courtney, a daughter of Thomas
Courtney, who is mentioned in the sketch
of Thomas Courtney. Hugh
Miller lived in Pine Township until
1868, when he moved to the farm where his
widow now lives. By his last marriage
he had seven children: Catharine,
born Jan. 22, 1844, married William
Sullivan Mar. 26, 1800, and died Jan.
13, 1874; Thomas C., born Aug. 16,
1845, lives in East Lackawannock Township;
J. M., born in 1848, is the owner of
the old home place, and one of the most
respected citizens of the township; David
A., born July 8, 1849, and died Aug. 6,
1868; Mary E., born Jan. 19, 1852,
died Sept. 5, 1871; Nancy R., born
July 1, 1855, died June 11, 1876; and
James, born Aug. 23, 1869. Hugh
Miller died Feb. 11, 1875. He
was a member of the Second Presbyterian
Church, and had been an efficient township
official at various times. He was a
Republican, and was possessed of a
remarkable memory, having been able to
recall incidents profusely for years back
without reference to a diary.
Source: History of Mercer County,
Pennsylvania, publ. Chicago, Ill. by Brown, Runk
& Co. - 1888 - Page 967 |
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Mercer -
J. C. MILLER, attorney, was born Oct.
27, 1855, in Wolf Creek Township, this
county. His parents, James and
Lodusky (Baker) Miller, were born, the
former in Findley Township and the latter in
Venango County, Penn. The father died
in January, 1888. Our subject attended
the common schools until he was fourteen
years of age, when he went to a select
school at Grove City. He taught in the
common schools for eleven years, beginning
at the age of fifteen. In 1874 he
entered Westminster College at New
Wilmington, Lawrence Co., Penn. He
began reading law with James A. Stranahan
in
1878. Judge Mehard was also
one of his instructors in the study of his
chosen profession. In 1882 he was
employed by County Prothonotary S. C.
Simonton, Jr., where he remained until
May 1, 1885. Feb. 14, 1884, he was
admitted to the bar of Mercer County, and
has practiced ever since. During
William Jack’s term as county
clerk Mr. Miller acted as
second deputy clerk. He was the
Democratic nominee for the office of
prothonotary of Mercer County in 1888.
He has always taken a deep interest in
politics, having been chairman and secretary
of the Democratic county committee. He
is serving as a member of the school board.
Source: History of Mercer County,
Pennsylvania, publ. Chicago, Ill. by Brown, Runk
& Co. - 1888 - Page 687 |
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Cool Spring Twp. -
JOHN MILLER, deceased,
was born Nov. 18, 1829, in Fairview
Township, Mercer County. He was a son
of William Miller and a
brother of Hon. S. H. Miller,
of Mercer. He was brought up at rural
pursuits, and was married to Mary E. Tait
in 1854. She is a daughter of
Samuel and Rebecca (Smith) Tait.
Her mother survives, and is the daughter of
Furgus and Agnes (Gifiin) Smith. Furgus
Smith was born in County Derry, Ireland,
in 1763, and immigrated to Westmoreland
County, this State, in 1783, where he
married Agnes Giffin, a native
of Westmoreland County. He came with
his wife to Mercer County in 1801 or 1802,
and settled for a short time in the forks of
the Shenango, and in 1808 they located on
the farm now owned by Charles
Vernon, where he died Jan. 1, 1853, and
she July 15, 1854. They were the
parents of eight children: Eleanor,
married Alex. McCullough;
Martha, married William
Stinson; Hannah, died young;
John, Nancy, married Rev.
James McKean; Rebecca, married
Samuel Tait, and had four
children: William B., Samuel W.,
Mary E. and Furgus S.; Mary,
Amelia T., married Henry
Burton. Samuel Tait was a
son of the distinguished Rev.
Samuel Tait, the founder of the
old Cool Spring Church. He died in
1837, and his widow survives at the ripe old
age of eighty years. Mrs.
Miller reared only one, an adopted,
child, whose name was changed by law to
Anna G. Miller, and who was married Oct.
12, 1887, to J. C. North.
Mrs. Miller is a consistent
member of the Presbyterian Church, in the
faith of which her husband died Sept. 21,
1871. Mention of the Tait and
Miller families will be found
elsewhere.
Source: History of Mercer County,
Pennsylvania, publ. Chicago, Ill. by Brown, Runk
& Co. - 1888 - Page 983 |
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Hickory Twp. -
MATHIAS MILLER, post-office
Hermitage, was born Oct. 4, 1820, in
Bavaria, Germany. In 1850 he
immigrated to this country, and settled at
Greenville, remaining there only one year,
when he changed his location to Hickory
Township, and for eighteen years he was
engaged in the coal mines of that vicinity.
He then purchased a farm at the same place,
and engaged in agricultural pursuits.
In October, 1877, he purchased the
mercantile business, at Hermitage, of J.
W. Ormsby, and at the same time he
received his appointment as postmaster of
that office, which position he still fills.
Mr. Miller was married in 1847
to Miss Catherine Foltz, of his
native town, and
by this marriage they have eight children:
Jacob, who is engaged in business at
Sharon; Catherine, Mrs. Charles
Doerr, of Sharon; Augustus,
Mary, Frederick P., who is
engaged in the grocery business in Sharon;
Mathias, engaged in farming with his
father; Maggie and Lizzie.
Mr. Miller is a member of the
German Reformed Church.
Source: History of Mercer County,
Pennsylvania, publ. Chicago, Ill. by Brown, Runk
& Co. - 1888 - Page 870 |
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East Lackawannock
Twp. -
MONNIE MILLER, farmer,
post-office Hoagland, was born Mar. 6, 1809,
in Somerset County, Penn. In 1839 he
was married to Leah Mishler,
daughter of Peter and Susan (Berky)
Mishler, of Holmes County, Ohio.
In 1841 they settled in East Lackawannock
Township on land which he purchased of the
estate of his father, containing 225 acres,
and known as the Levi Griffith
farm. There were twelve children
born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller: David, Jacob
C., Ann, wife of Philip Bruch,
of Indiana; Fanny, wife of Henry
Yarian, of East Lackawannock Township;
Benjamin, Nannie, Elizabeth, wife of
W. W. Johnson; Mary, wife of
William B. Roupe; Zachariah H., married
Sadie A. Virtue; Susie, Phoebe and
John are dead. In politics Mr.
Miller is a Democrat.
Source: History of Mercer County,
Pennsylvania, publ. Chicago, Ill. by Brown, Runk
& Co. - 1888 - Page 896 |
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Findley Twp. -
ROBERT MILLER, farmer,
post-office Mercer, was born March 26, 1853,
to James and Sarah Miller, the
parents of William, John, Jane, Albert,
Mary, Elizabeth, Samuel, Robert, James
and George. James Miller
married Sarah, a daughter of
William and Mary (Davile) North, natives
of England, who came to Cool Spring Township
in 1819. Mention is made of them in
Cool Spring Township. James died in
1872, and his widow survives with her son on
the old farm in Findley Township. Our
subject was educated in the country schools,
and was married in l880 to Mary J.
Robinson, a daughter of Andrew
Robinson, of this township. She
died in 1881, the mother of one child,
Jennie. He was again married, to
Harriet M. Calvin, and by her had one
child, Alice. His last wife is
the daughter of Jonathan and Jane
(McCullough) Calvin, the former of whom
was born in Beaver County, in 1809, to
Stephen and Mary (Grosscost) Calvin.
Jonathan came to this county in 1837,
and his children are: Alexander,
Emeline, Martin L., Mary,
the wife of Alexander Donaldson;
James W., Lizzie, Harriet, William, Samuel,
and Stephen and John N.,
who both died young. Robert
Miller, our subject, settled where he
now lives in 1880. He is an
enterprising farmer, a stanch Republican,
and he and his wife are members of the
Second Presbyterian Church. He has
served as school director for three years,
is deeply interested in education, and is
building up a good library for himself and
family.
Source: History of Mercer County,
Pennsylvania, publ. Chicago, Ill. by Brown, Runk
& Co. - 1888 - Page 967 |
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Cool Springs Twp. -
S. G. MILLER, farmer, post-office
Mercer, was born Mar, 4, 1820, to Robert
and Nancy (Dean) Miller. The
parents came to Mercer County in 1833, and
settled on a rented farm for five years,
when they became able to purchase a farm in
Wolfe Creek Township, where they lived a
number of years, but finally moved to Butler
County, where they died. Their
children were: Robert, Mary, S. G., Nancy
and James A. Our subject
attended school in the country, and began
for himself when twenty years of age, with
just 10 cents, with which he bought a
handkerchief. He hired to Matthew
McLean for $10 per month to labor on a
farm. Ten years later he bought a farm
in Wolf Creek Township where he remained for
twenty-six years, and in connection with his
farm labor ran a huxter wagon through the
oil regions for three years. He was
married in 1850 to Eliza Cross,
daughter of Samuel and Letitia
Cross, and has had no children.
She died in 1878, and he was again married,
to Minerva Emerson, a daughter
of Ira and Delia (Chapman) Emerson.
They came to Cool Spring Township in
October, 1877, and bought sixty acres of
good land where they now reside. He is
a Republican, and has been assessor and
collector four years. He and wife are
members of the First United Presbyterian
Church of Mercer. They have reared two
children: Mary Moore, who
married M. C. Holland, and George
W. Gathers, born Oct. 13, 1861, son of
B. W., and Rosannah (McMullen) Gathers,
both of whom died when George was
young. George married Lottie
B., a daughter of William and
Elizabeth Chambers, and has one child,
Leslie M. He farms with Mr.
Miller as a partner.
Source: History of Mercer County,
Pennsylvania, publ. Chicago, Ill. by Brown, Runk
& Co. - 1888 - Page 984 |
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Mercer -
HON. S. H. MILLER,
attorney, was born in Cool Spring Township,
Mercer Co., Penn., and is a son of
William Miller, one of the
pioneers of this county. He attended
the common schools of his native township
until he was twelve years of age, when he
entered Westminster College, New Wilmington,
Penn., from which institution he was
graduated in 1860. He became the owner
of the Mercer Dispatch in 1862, and edited
and published that journal until 1870.
He read law with Hon. Samuel
Griffith, and was admitted to the Mercer
bar in the fall of 1870. He at once
entered upon the practice of his chosen
profession, and to-day ranks among the
leading attorneys in Northwestern
Pennsylvania. He was elected in 1880
as Congressman for the Twenty-sixth
Pennsylvania District, composed of Mercer,
Butler and Crawford Counties, and served in
the Forty-seventh and Forty-eight
Congresses, from 1881 to March 4, 1885, with
credit and ability.
Source: History of Mercer County,
Pennsylvania, publ. Chicago, Ill. by Brown, Runk
& Co. - 1888 - Page 686 |
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Cool Spring Twp.
-
WILLIAM MILLER,
deceased, was born in Wolf Creek Township
(now Pine Township), Mercer County, Mar. 15,
1801. His father, John
Miller, was born near Glasgow, Scotland,
immigrated to the United States in 1789 or
1790, and set locks on the Union Canal in
the eastern part of Pennsylvania. In
1792 he removed to Pittsburgh, and cut stone
for the first courthouse built in Allegheny
County, and for many years afterward
furnished cut stone for building purposes.
The deceased removed with his parents to
Pittsburgh in 1806, and in 1817 the family
again settled in Wolf Creek Township, and in
1824 he located on the Magee farm, in
Fairview Township (then Cool Spring) . Here
he remained until 1834, when he settled on
the farm in Cool Spring Township now owned
by Mrs. Mary Miller and A. S. Reed,
and carried on farming in connection with
merchandising and the manufacture of potash
until 1865, from which year until 1874 he
lived in Venango County, and then resided in
Allegheny County until 1884, when he came to
Cool Spring Township, there lived until
December, 1887, when he established his home
in Jonestown, N. Y., where he died Nov. 17,
1888. He was a ruling elder in the
Presbyterian Church for many years. He
served a term as county commissioner, one as
county auditor, and was postmaster at
Petroleum Centre, Penn.
Source: History of Mercer County,
Pennsylvania, publ. Chicago, Ill. by Brown, Runk
& Co. - 1888 - Page 983 |
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Greenville -
WILLIAM H. MILLER, horseshoer, was
born in Newburg, Orange Co., N. Y., Oct. 29,
1845, and is a son of Elmer and Alice
(McCormick) Miller, the former a native
of Orange County, N. Y., of Connecticut
stock (his father being a soldier of the
Revolution), and his wife a native of
Ireland. Elmer Miller died in
Chicago in 1852, and his widow returned to
Newburg, N. Y. and now resides in Cleveland,
Ohio. Our subject grew up in the East,
and learned the horseshoer’ s trade in New
York City, after which he spent three years
on the road shoeing and treating horses.
In 1872 he located in Greenville, where he
has since principally made his home.
He was married Sept. 23, 1875, to Lovisa,
eldest daughter of the late William Laird.
Politically Mr. Miller is a
stanch Republican, and a member of the P. H.
C. He is a local writer of some note
on political and other subjects, and many of
his articles have recently appeared in the
local press.
Source: History of Mercer County,
Pennsylvania, publ. Chicago, Ill. by Brown, Runk
& Co. - 1888 - Page 818 |
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East Lackawannock
Twp. -
WILSON MILLER, farmer,
was born July 22, 1838, in Pine Township, to
Hugh and Adaline Miller, the latter a
daughter of John and Elizabeth (Rambo)
Wilson. John Wilson was
born in Westmoreland County. The
children of Hugh Miller and Adaline
were: Infant, died small, and
Wilson. Mrs. Miller
died in 1840, and our subject lived with his
grandmother Miller and daughters,
Nancy and Mary, until about 1844,
when he was taken home by his father, he
having married again. Wilson
Miller began learning carpentering in
1857 with William Lamar, of Pine
Township, which he followed until 1885, when
he bought a farm of seventy-four acres, and
devotes his principal time to its
cultivation. He was married to
Margaret J. McCord, daughter of
Matthew and Margaret (Nelson,
a niece of Daniel Nelson)
McCord. Mr. and Mrs.
McCord had seven children: Mary,
John, Margaret J., Harriet,
Matilda, Ida and Della. Our
subject has ten children: Albert K.,
married Mina, daughter of J. G.
Gilfillan; Clarence G., attending
a Presbyterian seminary at Chicago; Harry
M., married Ida Vanhorn;
Lillie J., Addie M., Mary F.,
Bessie, John, Maud A.
and Carl. Mr. and Mrs.
Wilson are members of the Second
Presbyterian Church of Mercer. He is a
Republican.
Source: History of Mercer County,
Pennsylvania, publ. Chicago, Ill. by Brown, Runk
& Co. - 1888 - Page 896 |
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Sharpsville -
J. A. MONTGOMERY, farmer, post-office
Indian Run, was born Nov. 14, 1823, in
Jamestown, Penn., to James and Elizabeth
(Andrews) Montgomery, natives of County
Antrim, Ireland, who came to Jamestown,
Penn., in 1822, and later to Springfield
Township. Here the father died in
1857, and his widow in 1880. They had
Mary, married Samuel Smith;
Elizabeth, married James English;
J. A.; Margaret, married E.
W. Love; Nancy M., died in 1850,
and James. The parents were
members of the United Presbyterian Church.
Our subject obtained his education by
walking nearly three miles to a log cabin
school-house, where he experienced all of
the ancient ways of school instructions.
He was married, Nov. 27, 1849, to Jane
Akin, daughter of Andrew and
Rachel (Adams) Akin, natives of
Westmoreland County, Penn., and early
settlers of Lawrence County, where she was
residing when married. She was born
Oct. 7, 1823, died June 25, 1882, and was a
consistent member of the Second United
Presbyterian Church of Mercer. He is a
member of the same church. He settled
at marriage where he now lives, on his farm
of ninety- two acres, which is the result of
his own labors. His children were
seven: Melissa, married Noble Cozad,
of Mercer; Mary, teaching in
Washington Territory; Andrew A.,
Jennie, Anna, Emma,
married A. B. Carter, a merchant at
Indian Run, and William J. He
is a stanch Republican, and one of the
enterprising men of the township.
Source: History of Mercer County,
Pennsylvania, publ. Chicago, Ill. by Brown, Runk
& Co. - 1888 - Page 940 |
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Pine Twp. -
M. J. MONTGOMERY, farmer, post-office
Grove City, is a son of James C. and
Nancy (Irwin) Montgomery, of Wolf Creek
Township, was born in that township in 1840,
receiving his education at the public
schools, and in 1860 ho engaged in oil
operations, which he followed for four
years. In 1864 he moved with his
parents to Wolf Creek Township, and farmed
for his father until 1866, when he was
married to Nancy Kerr, daughter of
Thomas and Jane (McKee) Kerr, of this
Township. They have four children:
James Luther, Jennie, Edna and Thomas.
Our subject removed to his present farm in
1867, and has held the office of school
director, supervisor, etc. , of the
township, and he and family are members of
the United Presbyterian Church of Grove
City. He has been an elder of said
church for the past ten years. John
C. Montgomery, farmer, post-office
Harrisville, Butler Co., Penn., is the
second son of James C. and Nancy (Irwin)
Montgomery, of Wolf Creek Township, and
was born in that township in 1843. He
received his education at the public
schools, and has always been engaged in
farming. In 1869 he married Miss
Emeline Coleman, daughter of Samuel
and Mary Ann (Patterson) Coleman, of
Wolf Creek Township. They have four
children: Mary A., Jessie A., Estella V.
and an infant. In 1870 he
purchased his present farm, and has since
been a resident of Pine Township. He
and family are members of the Presbyterian
Church in Venango County, of which he is a
trustee.
Source: History of Mercer County,
Pennsylvania, publ. Chicago, Ill. by Brown, Runk
& Co. - 1888 - Page 1036 |
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Fairview
Twp. -
WILLIAM R. MONTGOMERY, druggist, a
son of Charles and Elizabeth (Custard)
Montgomery, was born in 1836 in Mercer
County, and was reared and educated at
Sheakleyville, Penn. Early in life he
entered the employ of T. G. Van Lew,
a merchant of Sheakleyville. In 1862
he was appointed county commissioner’s
clerk, filling the position for some six
years. He then engaged in his present
business. He was elected in 1880 a
member of the State Legislature. He
has also filled the office of councilman of
Mercer. He married in 1858 Miss M.
E. Powell, of Crawford County, Penn.,
who died in 1876, leaving three children:
Alexander L. R. , Charles L. and
Minnie A. He married for his
second wife Miss Rebecca Nelson, and
by this marriage they have
one child, Nellie. Mr.
Montgomery is a Republican.
Source: History of Mercer County,
Pennsylvania, publ. Chicago, Ill. by Brown, Runk
& Co. - 1888 - Page 999 |
Nathan Morford |
(Portrait found on page 151) |
NOTES:
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