Bios: N - Q Surnames: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Marta Burns. marta43@juno.com USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ ______________________________________________________________________ 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 Neel, J T, Rev Luzerne 563 Neff, Dr G W German 515 Nemon, C B Stewart 564 Newcomer, Geo W MD Connellsville 585 Newcomer, J S Washington 368 Newill, T L Dunbar 463 Nicholson, J W Connellsville 465 Nicolay, O F M Stewart 564 Nixon, James Georges 516 Norcross, J F Connellsville 460 Norcross, William Redstone 517 Nutt, S R Jefferson 565 O'Connor, Patrick Dunbar 465 O'Neil, John Washington 368 Ong, John Washington 368 Osborn, A L Georges 518 Osborn, W W, MD Menallen 370 Parker, A M, Capt Bullskin 565 Parshall, William German 518 Patterson, L F Menallen 373 Patton, J G, Rev Brnv & Bdgpt 289 Paull, James, Col Dunbar 597 Pearsall, D H Brnv & Bdgpt 289 Pershing, D H Bullskin 566 Pfleghardt, John Sr Washington 373 Phillips, David Redstone 519 Phillips, Ellis, Dr Dunbar 466 Poole, W R, Dr Stewart 566 Porter, David, Dr Uniontown 209 Porter, George German 520 Porter, M E Tyrone 374 Porter, S E Dunbar 470 Potter, John B Stewart 567 Prentice, Andrew Uniontown 210 Price, Samuel C Uniontown 215 Provance, James Nicholson 520 Provance, Jesse, Capt Nicholson 521 N SURNAMES p563 Rev JOSHUA THOMAS NEEL, an able young minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, was born in Cumberland township, Greene county, Penna, January 17, 1857, and is a son of Aliff S Neel and Maria L Thomas Neel. Barnet Neel, his grandfather, was a blacksmith by occupation, and resided in Greene county, where he dealt in blooded stock and fine horses. His father was a soldier in the War of the Revolution. Aliff S Neel was born in Cumberland township, Greene county, Penna, where he died in the prime of life. By occupation he was a farmer. He married Miss Maria L Thomas, daughter of Joshua Thomas, a Greene county farmer, and to their marriage were born the following children: Martha L Neel, Elizabeth M Neel (dead), Joshua T Neel, and Remembrance H Neel. Reverend Joshua T Neel was educated in Greene Academy and Waynesburg College, and was graduated with high honors from the latter institution in the class of 1884. Leaving college he entered the United Presbyterian Seminary at Allegheny City, where he completed the course prescribed for a regular graduation. On account of the death of his father, he had to support himself, and at the same time earn the means to take his academic and professional courses in college. This he did by teaching, and taught eight terms in the common schools of Greene and one in Fayette county. Immediately after leaving the Seminary, he was installed as pastor of the Hopewell Cumberland Presbyterian church, one of the strongest and best supported churches of the Presbyterian faith in the county. He bears the honor of being the first regularly installed pastor of this church since its organization in 1832. During his three years' charge of this church, there have been seventy five additions to its membership roll. In May, 1886, he was married to Miss Rhoda Ann Gregg, daughter of Aaron Gregg of Carmicheal's, Greene county, Penna, and they have one child, Paul Vincent Neel. Rev Neel, in addition to his regular theological course of reading, still pursues his studies along the various lines of science and literature, and is a young and popular divine in Presbyterian circles of Fayette county. p515 GEORGE W NEFF MD was born in Masontown, Penna, December 19, 1845. His paternal grandfather, John Neff, was a native of Lancaster county, Penna, where he lived and died. George W Neff's paternal grandmother was a daughter of Major Williams of York county, Penna. George William Neff MD, father, was born in York county, Penna, opposite Columbia, studied medicine with Dr Bitner of Washington, Lancaster county, and attended Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia. He came west and was robbed of his money and a gold watch in crossing the mountain, the mode of travel being at that time by stage coach; he south employment in Pittsburgh but found none. He was referred to Dr Hugh Campbell of Uniontown and went there in 1834 and remained with him for two years. Immediately after he left Uniontown, Dr Campbell received a letter from Dr David B Rhoades of Masontown, one of the pioneers of the medical profession in Pennsylvania, inquiring for a suitable man as a partner. Dr Campbell at once referred him to Dr Neff who came to Masontown in 1836 and formed a partnership with Dr Rhoades under the firm name of Drs Rhoads & Neff. Dr Neff was married August 3, 1837, to Mary Ann Rhoades, second daughter of Dr Rhoades. The result of this marriage were seven children: Mary H Neff; George W Neff; William D Neff; John C Neff; Ida Neff and Harry G Neff. Dr Neff died August 18, 1874. His widow Mary A Neff died August 13, 1889. Dr David B Rhoades, maternal grandfather, was born in Allegheny county, Penna, November 5, 1793. He married April 3, 1817, Harriet E Tarr, daughter of Daniel and Frances Tarr of Westmoreland county, settled at Masontown in 1833, and died March 8, 1841, at Masontown. Dr George W Neff was educated at the common schools of the township and at Waynesburg. He began life as a school teacher and taught one term then began the study of medicine with his father, attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, during the session of 1869-1870 at the same college, and graduated in the class of 1870. At the time he attended lectures, Drs Dunglison, S D Gross, Joseph Pancoast, Lesley Wallace and Samuel H Dixon were professors of the different chairs in the school. He located at Masontown, in the practice immediately after his graduation where he has remained to the present time and has a very large practice. On November 14, 1872, he was married to Miss Loretta Parshall, daughter of Elias Parshall who resides at McClellandtown. They have four children: Hannah Matilda Neff, born February 12, 1875; Mary Ann Neff, born June 5, 1877; Loretta P Neff, born November 11, 1879; and Lizzie Neff, born March 21, 1882. Dr Neff is a republican and was elected to the Pennsylvania legislature session of 1887 and re-elected for the session of 1889. He was the first republican representative elected to the legislature on a straight party fight in this county. While in the legislature he was an active member, being placed on the committees of appropriations, education and committee of public health and sanitation, and was chairman of the latter. He made a strong effort for the passage of a bill requiring the State to adopt a uniform series of textbooks in the public schools but the various book syndicates and monopolies lobbied the bill to defeat. He is assistant surgeon of the Tenth National Guards of Pennsylvania. p564 CHARLES BERNARD NEMON was born in 1830 in Germany and came to the United States with his parents when he was two years old. He was the son of Charles Nemon, who had the following children: Catherine Nemon, Elizabeth Nemon, Caroline Nemon, Christina Nemon and Charles B Nemon. The subject of this sketch was raised by the father of Nicholas McCartney until Mr McCartney's death and afterwards by Nicholas McCartney who lived in Wharton township, Fayette county, Penna. He was educated in the common schools of Fayette county. In 1856 he engaged in milling and the cattle business in Ohio Pyle. In 1858 he went to Virginia and was engaged in superintending furnaces, first at the Cinton furnace and afterward at the ore mines at Franklin furnace, Preston county, Virginia. He was married to Rachel Morris, daughter of Harvey Morris, deceased, of Stewart township, and they have children as follows: William Nemon, Emily Nemon, Agnes Nemon, Annie Nemon, Luther Nemon, Alva Nemon, Millie Nemon, and Arthur Nemon. He was superintendent of the Dunbar furnace for two years. From Virginia he came to Mount Braddock as superintendent of the farm of W & J K Beeson and has been in their employ about seventeen years. Mr Nemon is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. p585 GEORGE W NEWCOMER MD. The medical profession, like every other profession or vocation of life, comprises men of various mental calibers, various degrees of natural adaptabilities and acquired equipment for its pursuit. While every practicing physician may justly, perhaps, be accorded some special merit, however slight, some valuable peculiarity which determined him in the choice of his profession, the history of medical practitioners as a craft goes to show that only now and then one is possessed of that enthusiastic love of medical science and that certain intellectual capacity to wisely apply in practice what he has learned by study, which win for him the popular confidence and not only achieve for him an extended practice but enable him to keep it and add to it year by year. Two thinks especially seem to conspire to such success, to be necessary to it in fact, namely keen insight into the nature or cause of disease or what medical men term scientific "diagnosis" and the profound forecasting of the course and event of a disease by particular symptoms, enabling the true physician to effectively apply and vary remedies from time to time as the need of them is indicated, and which they call prognosis. The skillful diagnostician and the like excellent prognoser, or prognostician, must unite in one physician if he be really able, and his success for a given period of years is the best possible assurance that the two do united in his professional character and determine his career, whoever he may be. Such a physician is Dr George W Newcomer of Connellsville who though comparatively a young man enjoys extensive practice, and stands correspondingly high in the confidence of the community, as is made evident by the fact that his "office hours" are crowded with patients and his town visitations and country rides out of office hours constant and laborious. Success like his is practical testimony of worth which cannot be gainsaid, the visible crown of merit. Dr George W Newcomer is on his paternal side of German descent; on his maternal side of Scotch Irish stock. His great grandfather, John Newcomer, was born in Germany and emigrating to America settled in Maryland, where the doctors's grandfather, John Newcomer Jr, was born. The latter came to Fayette county about 1790 and settled in Tyrone township on a farm on which the doctor's father, Jacob Newcomer, was born in 1809 and which he finally purchased, living upon it all his life, and on which the doctor himself was born. Jacob Newcomer, who died March 8, 1871, was the second of a family of eight children and the oldest son. On the 21st of September, 1830, he married Elizabeth Hershey of Allegheny county who was born April 22, 1812. Of this marriage were ten children, of whom George W Necomer is the seventh, and was born May 27, 1845. He was brought up on the farm until about thirteen years of age, working in summers and after he became old enough to work, and attending school in the winter seasons and devouring at home what books he could get to read. When arrived at the age above mentioned he was placed as a clerk in the store of his uncles, John Newcomer and Joseph Newcomer in Connellsville, where he remained till seventeen years of age, attending school winters. He then entered Pleasant Valley Academy, Washington county, where he passed two years, taking a partial course of classical studies. At nineteen years of age he commenced the study of medicine with Dr John R Nickel of Connellsville, one of the most eminent physicians of the region and at one time Professor of Anatomy and Surgery in the Physio Medical College of Cincinnati, now Institute. He continued with Dr Nickel during the usual period of medical office study and in due time took the regular course of medical lectures at the Physio Medical Institute of Cincinnati, from which institution he received his diploma, graduating February 7, 1867. He then returned to Connellsville and opened an office for the practice of medicine which he there pursued for about five years, and then upon the call of friends, he removed to Mount Vernon, Ohio, to take the practice of Dr James Loar who was about to remove farther West. Dr Newcomer remained in practice at Mount Vernon till the spring of 1874 when at the urgent request of his old preceptor, Dr Nickel who in a few weeks thereafter died, he returned to Connellsville where he has ever since remained. Aside from the practice of medicine the doctor has engaged more or less in real estate speculating with excellent results. Dr Newcomer is in politics an ardent republican and though he does not claim to have done his country great service during the war of the Rebellion, it may be mentioned here that he studied republicanism in the field for about three months in war times, being then a member of Company B of the Fifty fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, a three months regiment, organized about the time of the battle of Gettysburg but in which battle it did not participate the company at that time being mustered in at Pittsburgh and awaiting equipments. But shortly afterwards it was sent with other companies to attempt the capture of the "Morgan raiders" in Ohio, and succeeded in cutting off Morgan at Salinesville in that State, a good lesson in politics, the doctor thinks. p368 JOSEPH S NEWCOMER, a prominent merchant of Fayette county and one of the enterprising citizens of Morgan, was born in Upper Tyrone township, Fayette county, Penna, March 22, 1839, and is a son of Uriah Newcomer and Frances Smith Newcomer. His grandfather, Abraham Newcomer, was descended from a Newcomer family of eastern Pennsylvania, was a native of what is now Upper Tyrone township and was a farmer by occupation. His father, Uriah Newcomer, was born in 1799 and died at the age of fifty two years. He was an extensive farmer, a republican, and a leading member of the Mennonite church. His wife, born in 1803 and died in 1853, was a daughter of Jacob Smith, a farmer. Joseph S Newcomer was raised of a farm and obtained his education in the common schools. In 1861 he enlisted in Company B, Eighty fifth Pennsylvania Infantry Volunteers, and was engaged in the battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, the sieges of Morris Island and Petersburg, and many other battles of the war and was honorably discharged, October, 1864, at Pittsburgh, Penna. Leaving the Union service he spent a short time in the "oil region" of Pennsylvania and then returned to Tyrone township. I 1866 he engaged in merchandising at Morgan's Station on the Mount Pleasant Branch of the Pittsburgh & Connellsville Railroad. Since 1866 Mr Newcomer has steadily built up a very flattering trade in his business at Morgan. His present commodious stockroom is filled with a large and well selected stock of fancy and staple dry goods, groceries, hardware and notions. He has large interests in central Kansas real estate, etc, etc. In 1868 he was married to Miss Mary A Stacy, daughter of William Stacy, a farmer of Connellsville township. To their union have been born three children: Bertha S Newcomer, born 1870, died 1882; Frank S Newcomer and Nora F Newcomer. Joseph S Newcomer is a republican and has served his township as auditor and treasurer of the school board. He is a member of the K of P, I O O F, and Heptasophs. Mr Newcomer stands deservedly high as a businessman and as a citizen. He is a member of the Disciple church. p463 THOMAS L NEWILL, a prominent teacher and valiant soldier of the Civil War is a son of Joshua S Newill and Catherine Latta Newill, and was born in Mt Pleasant township, Westmoreland county, Penna, July 20, 1847. His grandfather, Stephen Newill, was a native of Scotland where he married Annie Thompson, came to Maryland in 1771 and subsequently removed to Westmoreland county where he reared a family of four children and afterwards died there. His father, Joshua S Newill, was born in Westmoreland county, Penna, October 16, 1814. He was a school teacher and subsequently engaged in farming. He is an ardent republican and a member of the Presbyterian church. His first wife was Catherine Latta, daughter of Samuel Latta of near Stauffer Station, who was born in England. After her death he married Christina Hoffman, daughter of John Hoffman. By his first wife he had two sons and two daughters; by his second wife four sons and two daughters. A son by his second wife, Frank Newill, was a soldier in the regular army and while in the service in Washington territory in 1887, at the risk of his life saved an Indian chief's daughter from drowning and received a full beaded suit from the old chief as a reward for his bravery. Thomas L Newill attended the common schools until fourteen years of age when he ran away from home and entered the Union army. He enlisted in Company F, Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was mustered out as an orderly sergeant, July 20, 1865. He was in the battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Deep Bottom, Malvern Hill, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Mine Run and Spottsylvania Court House. At the last named battle on Sunday, May 8, 1864, he was wounded in the leg which was amputated on the Tuesday following while on the battlefield. The remainder of his time he spent at Stanton and Chester hospitals in Washington City. He was previously wounded in the hand by a ball at Gettysburg. In 1865 Mr Newill attended the Sewickly Academy and subsequently attended several normal schools. He taught in 1865 the Franklin school in Bullskin township, and since then has taught continuously excepting three years. September 19, 1870, he married Miss Mary A Smith, daughter of Samuel Smith of Perry township. They have one child: Cora Newill born May 19, 1872. He is a republican, served as county commissioner from 1882 to 1885 and served five years as justice of the peace in Perry township. He has lived in Dunbar township since 1878 and is called the "champion fox hunter" of his locality. He is a member of William Kurtz Post No 104, G A R Connellsville, and is recognized as a first class teacher and useful citizen. p465 JAMES W NICHOLSON, farmer, dairyman and florist of Connellsville, is a son of Christopher Nicholson and Louisa Funk Nicholson and was born in Monongalia county, Virginia, (now West Virginia) in 1841. His father, Christopher Nicholson, was a native of England, but in early life came to Monongalia county, Virginia, and was engaged in school teaching and milling until his death in 1862 at seventy five years of age. His mother, Louisa Funk Nicholson, was a native of Monongalia county, Virginia, where she died in 1871 at the age of seventy five years. James W Nicholson was trained to farm work and attended the primary schools of Virginia. At an early age he engaged in farming and continued in that business until 1860 when he removed to Uniontown, this county, where he remained for sixteen years. In 1876 he came to Connellsville, but soon moved to his present farm. For the last six years Mr Nicholson has been engaged in dairying with very satisfactory results. In 1871 he was united in marriage to Miss Martha Rutter, an estimable woman of Upper Middletown. Her father, Benjamin Rutter, was a farmer. J W Nicholson has a very good farm, containing seventy five acres of land well adapted to farming and dairying purposes, and has established a dairy upon this land, complete in all its equipments. In political belief he is a democrat, and has served as school director of Connellsville township. In religious matters he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr Nicholson has turned his attention in late years to the art of the florist, and his efforts in that direction have been entirely successful. He keeps constantly on hand at Connellsville a large and well assorted stock of plants, as well as an abundant supply of fresh and choice cut flowers. He is an industrious citizen and deserving of the success he is achieving. p564 OLIVER F M NICOLAY was born August 4, 1853, in Springfield township, Fayette county, Penna, reared upon a farm and was educated in the common schools of the county and at Waynesburg College. At the age of nineteen he commenced teaching school in Fayette county where he taught nine years and during the summer months was engaged in farming. In January, 1876, he married Martha Williams, daughter of Daniel Williams of Fayette county. They have five children: Minnie Nicolay; Homer B Nicolay; Roxanna Nicolay; Roy V Nicolay; and Arvilda Nicolay. Mr Nicolay served as school director for one term and was made secretary of the board. In 1887 a new post office was established at the residence of Mr Nicolay, which was named for him and he was appointed postmaster. Mr Nicolay still holds to his early habits as a scholar and corresponds with the county papers. His parents were Henry Nicolay and Catherine May Nicolay. His father was born in Somerset county, Penna, in the year 1824. His mother was of German Irish descent and was born in Fayette county, Penna, in 1825. Their family consisted of three children: Ellen Nicolay; Oliver F M Nicolay, the subject of this sketch; and Anna Nicolay. Mr Nicolay is a staunch democrat and is a zealous worker for the party in Stewart township. Mr Nicolay's grandfather, John Nicolay, was born, lived and died in Somerset county, Penna. He was a farmer. Mr Nicolay is an earnest Sunday school worker and the schools under his supervision have always been very interesting. He is widely known for his genial hospitality. From: "Eric E. Moon" archon1@erols.com Oliver F M Nicolay is my great great grandfather. Roxana Nicolay married Charles Pierce Moon they had children but I only know the name/info for Vincent Moon, my grandfather. p516 JAMES NIXON, a well known citizen of Fayette county and ex-county commissioner, was born in Georges township, Fayette county, Penna, December 3, 1828, and is a son of Judge Samuel Nixon and Hannah Davis Nixon. His paternal grandfather, William Nixon, was born in New Jersey in 1745 and settled near Fairchance at what was afterwards called "Nixon's Mills." At the time of the Whiskey Insurrection he operated a distillery on the site of the present one owned by D J Johnson. He was a democrat of the old school and died in 1801. His maternal grandfather, James Davis, was a native of Georges township and served in the Revolutionary War. His father, Honorable Samuel Nixon, was a farmer and in early life operated a carding machine. He was an active and influential democrat, represented Fayette county in the Pennsylvania legislature in 1828 and 1829, and was appointed Associated Judge of Fayette county by the Governor of Pennsylvania in 1828 and served on the bench in 1841. He was justice of the peace for many years, served acceptably as a judge, and was a prominent and useful man in Fayette county during his life. He was born in 1789 and died May 28, 1859. He had nine children: Jane Nixon; Keziah Nixon; Eliza Nixon; Dorcas Nixon; Mary Ann Nixon; William D Nixon; Ayres Nixon; Sarah Nixon; and James Nixon. James Nixon, son of Judge Samuel Nixon, was reared on a farm and acquired a good practical education. He has always been engaged in farming and hotel-keeping. On October 28, 1852, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J Zerley of Nicholson township and the daughter of Samuel Zerley and Keziah Griffith Zerley. Mr Nixon has eight children: Dorcas Nixon, wife of Herman Custer of Fairchance; Hannah Phebe Nixon, married to A G Bradley, postmaster at Masontown; Mary J Nixon, wife of Robert Goldsboro, druggist at Fairchance; William S Nixon, married Rhoda Dawson and is a farmer in Georges township; James Nixon Jr of Fairchance, married Frances Nedley; Sarah K Nixon, wife of Richard Goldsboro of Fairchance; Charles B Nixon and Alice Nixon. James Nixon has always been a very active worker in the democratic party. He served as county commissioner from 1885 to 1888 and while favoring strict economy in county expenditures yet advocated liberal provisions and ample appropriations where actually needed for the benefit or important for the material progress of Fayette county. Mr Nixon is proprietor of the Nixon House at Fairchance which was erected in 1882 and is a fine three story frame building containing nineteen rooms and furnished throughout in a tasteful manner. He is a good citizen, a useful businessman and a pleasant gentleman. p460 JOHN F NORCROSS, the leading merchant tailor of Connellsville, as well as of Fayette county, was born at California, Washington county, Penna, December 17, 1856, and is a son of Joshua Norcross and Nancy Mason Norcross. The name of Norcross is abbreviated from Northcross, a locality in the Highlands of Scotland. About 300 years ago the Northcross family removed to Glasgow and changed their name to Norcross. A century later some of them came to America and founded the American branch of the Norcross family. William Norcross, grandfather of J F Norcross, was born July 17, 1768, and came from Mt Holly, New Jersey, to Fayette county about 1790. One of his sons was Joshua Norcross, born November 29, 1810, and died at Brownsville, May 11, 1887. He was a member of the C B church and by occupation a bridge builder. His wife was Miss Nancy Mason, daughter of Robert Mason, who died July 8, 1887, in the seventy second year of her age. John F Norcross was reared principally at Brownsville where he attended the common schools, and learned the trade of merchant tailor with his brother Charles D Norcross. In 1884 he succeeded his brother Charles D, who died in that year, at No. 780 Pittsburgh Street, Connellsville, in the merchant tailoring business. His patronage has rapidly increased until at present, and is now the biggest tailoring establishment in the county. The large assortment of broadcloths, suitings, vestings and piece goods are from English, German, French and domestic looms. He carries as full lines of styles in suitings and pantaloons as any house in Philadelphia and New York, having 1,000 styles in cloths and more than 400 styles in pantaloon patterns. He is a reliable citizen and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is said to be doing a business of $20,000 per year. The following has been written of him and his business: "Mr Norcross is a native of Fayette county, a born genius in the art of cutting, a man of push, energy, sound judgment and unquestionable skill, and highly deserves the full measure of success that invariably follows energy and ability well applied." p517 WILLIAM NORCROSS is fourth in number of eight children born to his parents. He was born in Rostravor township, Westmoreland county, Penna, September 23, 1817, and is a son of Charles and Mercy Norcross. The former, who was born in Westmoreland county, Penna, March 18, 1791, was by occupation a blacksmith, and worked three miles from Fayette city. He was married to Mercy Wheatley in 1809. She was born in Fayette county, Penna, January 30, 1791. Charles Norcross died in 1844; his wife died in 1850. William Norcross, the founder of this branch of the Norcross family, in Fayette county, was a blacksmith by trade, a native of New Jersey, and came to the county and settled near Brownsville in 1793. His wife was a Miss Taylor, also of New Jersey. William Norcross' maternal grandfather, John Wheatley, was born, lived and died in Fayette county, Penna. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm in Westmoreland county; was first married to Louisa Snyder, June 8, 1843, who was a daughter of Nicholas Snyder of German descent. She died, and his second wife, Rachel Mastin, was a daughter of Levi Mastin of Washington county, Penna. Of three children, two are living: J E Norcross married Jane Hugh of Brownsville, Penna. Mr Norcross is a substantial democrat, and a good citizen, and is a highly respected member of the Baptist church. His farm containing about 143 acres of good land, contains rich deposits of coal and limestone. He began life poor and penniless, but by his industry and careful management, has accumulated considerable property. p565 STEPHEN RANDOLPH NUTT, an influential citizen and farmer of Randolph township, is a son of Joseph and Ann Randolph Nutt, and was born in Washington township, Fayette county, Pa, September 24, 1828. His grandfather, William Nutt, came from New Jersey to Fayette county, about ten or fifteen years after the close of the Revolution, in which his oldest brother, Adam Nutt, served as a scout. William Nutt married a Miss Craig; she died and left two children: Joseph Nutt and Sarah Nutt. After her death, he married Miss Rebecca Cope, by whom he had one son, William Nutt. His father, Joseph Nutt, was a blacksmith, but during most of his adult life he was engaged in farming. He was born in Washington township in 1793, removed to Jefferson township in 1831, and went for his health to Coxe's Bar, California, in September, 1851, where he died in December of the same year. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and married a Miss Ann Randolph. She was born in 1808 and died in 1867. Her father, Stephen Randolph, was born in New Jersey, was a boat builder, came to Fayette county and engaged in farming. Stephen R Nutt came with his father in 1831 to Jefferson township and attended the common schools for several winters. Attaining his majority he engaged in farming, and has continued prosperously in that line of business to the present time. In 1850 he married Miss Sarah J, daughter of Joseph and Annie Wells. Mr and Mrs Nutt have seven living children: Ruth L Nutt, Rebecca W Nutt, Margaret M Nutt, Edwin J Nutt, Jennie Nutt, Paul R Nutt, Charles H Nutt. Three and one half miles northeast of Brownsville on the Uniontown and Greenfield road, Mr Nutt controls 247 acres of good and well-improved land. He is a true republican and has held several times the offices of school director, assessor and township auditor. S R Nutt is a member of the Redstone Presbyterian church and one of the foremost men of the township. All his methods of business are honorable, and he enjoys the respect and esteem of his neighbors. O SURNAMES p465 PATRICK O'CONNOR, a native of Ireland and a citizen of Dunbar township, is a son of Peter O'Connor and Mary Murtha O'Connor, and was born in County Cavan, Ireland. Peter O'Connor, was born in County Monahan, Ireland; he was a farmer by occupation and married Miss Mary Murtha, daughter of Thomas Murtha and Allice Carroll Murtha, both natives of County Cavan. Peter O'Connor was a highly respected farmer and citizen. His father, John O'Connor, married a Miss McCluskey of County Cavan where they both lived and died. Patrick O'Connor was educated in the excellent schools of his native county and in 1871 embarked as a seaman on board the ship Sapphire at Liverpool, bound for Calcutta along the eastern coast of Hindustan. On this trip he was sixteen months at sea. He made a second voyage to Hindustan in the capacity of seaman and was a sailor on board a vessel that visited Hong Kong, China, and Baker's Island in the South Pacific. His next employment was a year's clerkship in Liverpool. From there he went to County Durham in the North of England and was engaged in the coke business for six years. He emigrated from County Durham to Broad Ford where he was employed for some time in the coke business when he engaged with the Cambria Iron Company of Dunbar township and was in their employ for four years. Leaving the iron business he rented the Rogers farm, and after three years of successful farming he concluded to engage permanently in that business, and accordingly purchased his present farm. In 1876 he was married to Miss Mary Catherine Hart of County Durham, England. Unto their union have been born seven children: Thomas O'Connor; Mary O'Connor; Arthur O'Connor; Patrick O'Connor, deceased; Elesia O'Connor; Bernard O'Connor; and John H O'Connor. With his farming interests, he is engaged in the dairy business. Mr O'Connor is a successful farmer, a well-respected citizen, a good businessman, and thoroughly energetic in any enterprise in which he engages. p368 JOHN O'NEIL was born in 1815 in Allegheny county, Penna, and is the son of John O'Neil. John O'Neil Sr was born at Carlisle, Penna. His father was a devout Catholic who came from Ireland to America previous to the War of the Revolution. He died and was buried in a Catholic cemetery. His widow and children embraced the Protestant faith and joined the Methodist Episcopal church. John O'Neil Jr received an elementary education in the subscription school of Allegheny county and was variously employed until 1848 when he engaged in the coal business. In 1887 he purchased the Fayette City Coal Works and operated the same until his death March 12, 1889. July 22, 1837, he was married to Margaret Caven, daughter of James Caven of Washington county, Penna, who lived three years beyond the age of a nonegenerian. Of their union were born six children: Sarah O'Neil, dead; Samuel O'Neil; Elizabeth O'Neil, dead; Denny O'Neil; James O'Neil; and John W O'Neil. Denny O'Neil is in the coal business in Tennessee. Samuel O'Neil was married in 1866 to Miss Martha Lloyd of Huntingdon county, Penna. They have eight living children. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and also belongs to the American Mechanics. He ranks high as a businessman and stands well as a citizen. Samuel O'Neil, James O'Neil and John W O'Neil are operating the Fayette City Coal Works and are doing a splendid business, considering the disadvantages under which they have labored. In July 1888, their works were swept away by a flood. At present they employ 160 miners; their daily output of coal is 15,000 bushels. The necessary arrangements are now being made by them to largely increase the capacity of these works and will be among the most important coal mines in Western Pennsylvania. John O'Neil Jr was a man of sterling integrity and deservedly popular; he began business with but little capital but acquired a fortune and lost most of it by reverses. He enjoyed the confidence of his associates and the respect of the public generally. During the strikes, the men in his employ remained at their work and always sustained and defended the course he pursued. During the late war, he sought out and gave unsparingly of his means to the families of Union soldiers and lived to see the country again reunited and prosperous. He was a member of church and for fifty years his house was a home for ministers of the Gospel. The CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE said: But few men of his time were more extensively or more favorably known by the people of Pittsburgh. He was a patriot without boasting, a Christian without cant. His loyalty and devotion to country and church alike made him popular. With all his public duties and repeated acts of beneficence, his immediate home circle was the center of his influence and the recipient of his thought and sweetest affection. p369 JOHN ONG was born in Fayette City in 1834 and attended school until the age of nine years when he went into the glass factory as a errand boy. At the age of fourteen he began work as a glassblower at which he has worked at various places in Pennsylvania ever since. His father, Alexander Ong, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was quite active in advancing the interests of the glass business when that great industry was in its infancy in Pennsylvania. John Ong's mother was Catherine Abbott, a daughter of Jeremiah Abbott, who was one of the early settlers of the county. Mrs Catherine Ong is still living, and is in the seventy fourth year of her age. In 1856 the subject of this sketch was married to Miss Mary Lynn, daughter of Denton Lynn of Fayette county. They have had no children but have reared and educated five children, whose names are as follows: William Chess, Harry Safoot, Celia Safoot, Amelia Safoot and May Safoot, who are all children of Mrs Ong's sister. John Ong was a private in Company E, One Hundred and Fifty Five Pennsylvania Volunteers, but was only out about nine months when he was discharged for disability. He was with his regiment at the battle of Fredericksburg. Jeremiah Abbot, maternal grandfather, was one of the earliest settlers of the county. Before coming here he owned a large farm east of the mountains (on the present site of Harrisburg). He was an extensive land owner before he emigrated West; he also followed blacksmithing and was the first man to do blacksmithing at Cookstown, now Fayette City. John Ong is a member of the G A R and K of L. p518 ANDREW LYNN OSBORN is a native of Georges township, Fayette county, Penna, and was born December 19, 1835. He is a son of the Rev Andrew G Osborn and Jane Lynn Osborn, the former a well known patriotic minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and the latter an estimable woman and native of Somerset county. The paternal grandfather, Joseph Fowler Osborn, came from Orange county, New Jersey, to Fayette county and settled in Georges township about 1800. He was a soldier in the Ware of 1812 and his ancestors were natives of Kilkenny, Ireland. The maternal grandfather, Alex Lynn, was born in Beaver county, removed to Somerset county and served as a soldier in the War of 1812. The hatchet he carried through that was is in the possession of A L Osborn. Rev Andrew G Osborn was born and reared near Fairchance. His public conduct was above suspicion and his patriotism is deserving of admiration. His family consisted of twelve children: Alexander Osborn served in the Seventeenth West Virginia; Joseph Osborn; Dr William Osborn of Pleasant Unity was drafted, hired a substitute and in less than a month afterward went out as a surgeon of Thirteenth Pennsylvania cavalry; Sarah A Osborn, wife of Samuel Robinson, a woolen manufacturer of Greene county, Penna; Andrew L Osborn; Margaret J Osborn; Dr Wilkins W Osborn, served in the Fourteenth Pennsylvania cavalry; Henry M Osborn; and Isaac B Osborn, twins, served in Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry; Milton K Osborn and Louisa Osborn, killed by an explosion of oil in 1852; and Mary Virginia Osborn of Upper Middletown. For a full history of Rev A G Osborn, his fine ministerial and magnificent war record, see sketch of Dr W W Osborn. Andrew L Osborn was educated in the common schools and has always been engaged in farming in Georges township. He is an extensive lumber contractor for the Fairchance Furnace Company and has acted successfully in that capacity for several years. He enlisted in Company E, Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry and was in eighteen battles besides numerous skirmishes, several daring raids and man fatiguing marches. He was mustered into the service of November 23, 1862, as a corporal and was honorably discharged as a sergeant May 30, 1865. On December 4, 1867, he was married to Miss Mary E Wood, daughter of John C Wood. they have five children: William Osborn; Louisa Osborn; Ella Osborn; Presley Osborn; and Arthur Osborn. In politics Mr Osborn and his brothers are uncompromising republicans. He has served as school director in a democratic township, and is now central committeeman of Georges township. Mr Osborn is a member of the G A R at Uniontown, a member of the Presbyterian church, and is an intelligent and upright man. p370 WILKINS W OSBORN MD of Upper Middletown, was born and reared near Fairchance, Fayette county, Penna. He is the seventh child born to the marriage of Andrew G Osborn and Jane Lynn. His paternal grandfather, Joseph Osborn, was of Scotch Irish descent and came to Fayette county in an early day from Orange county, New Jersey. The maiden name of his wife was Jane Luckey to whom he was married in about 1790. His father, Rev Andrew G Osborn, was the fourth son of his parents and on April 26, 1826, he was married to Miss Jane Lynn, a daughter of Alexander and Margaret Lynn of Somerset, Penna, both of English descent and were born near the city of Philadelphia. They were life long believers in the doctrine of , and strong in the faith on which the Church of England was founded. Dr Osborn's maternal grandfather, Alexander Lynn, served as a soldier in the War of 1812 and afterwards died at Somerset, Penna. Rev Andrew G Osborn's education was received in the ordinary subscription schools and later at Madison College. He was ordained as a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian church in 1833 and faithfully served and earnestly preached to various congregations for many years. Among some of his charges were at Hopewell, Harmony, New Salem, Masontown and East Liberty. Being Loyal to the cause of the Union during the dark days of the rebellion, he tendered his services to the Federal government, and was accordingly appointed chaplain of the Fourteenth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry. He joined this regiment at Harper's Ferry late in the fall of 1863 and from that time until May, 1865, he was on the field administering alike to the physical as well as the spiritual wants of the soldiers. Possessing some knowledge of medicine and surgery, he dressed the wounds of many soldiers in camp and on the field. He was admired and beloved wherever known for his many manly qualities, clear head and generous disposition. After a lingering illness of a disease contracted from exposure while in the army, on October 19, 1868, passed peacefully to rest. He was the father of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, and what is most remarkable seven of his sons were soldiers in the war and fought bravely for a reunited country and the preservation of the Union. Dr Wilkins W Osborn, whose name heads this sketch, spent his boyhood days on his father's farm and received his education in the ordinary schools of the neighborhood. On September 19, 1862, he joined Company E Fourteenth Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry Volunteers as a private soldier and faithfully served throughout the war and was honorably discharged on May 30, 1865, at Alexandria, Virginia. Returning home he entered the office of Dr F C Robinson at Uniontown as a student of medicine and concluded his studies with his brother, W F Osborn, MD, at Mount Pleasant, Penna. He attended lectures at the medical department of Ann Arbor University, Michigan, and subsequently at the Western Reserve Medical College, Cleveland, Ohio. On March 3, 1868, he began the practice of medicine at Upper Middletown where for over twenty years he has been most successfully engaged in the active practice of his profession. By close application to his work and careful study of standard medical literature and periodicals, and having been a hard student and a man of naturally strong mind, he has become one of the prominent and successful physician of Fayette county. He has for several years been an active and leading member of the Fayette County Medical Society. As Doctor Osborn is as yet unmarried, his youngest sister, Miss Virginia Osborn, presides over his home at Upper Middletown, which is a model of neatness, elegance and comfort. For many years he has been one of the trustees of the Presbyterian church of which he is an honored and useful member. He believes in the old adage: that "character is the key that unlocks the door to success," and has governed his life accordingly. He is well informed in current literature of the day and is always ready to lend a hand toward the advancement of any cause calculated to elevate the standard of culture, the advancement civilization and the betterment of the condition of society. He is a liberal contributor to the current medical literature and science of the times. He possesses fine business ability, is a leading member of the Presbyterian church, and from a social and moral standpoint his reputation both as a gentleman and physician is first class. P SURNAMES p565 Captain ARTHUR M PARKER, a veteran of the War of the Rebellion and a successful and energetic businessman, is a son of Orris Parker and Mary McKean Parker, and was born at Stoneham, Oxford county, Maine, June 10, 1842. Orris Parker was born at Bath, Maine, in 1809. He was a personal friend of Hon James G Blaine and General Neal Dow, and materially aided the latter in securing the passage of the celebrated Maine liquor law. He married Miss Mary McKean of Irish descent. His father was Joseph Parker of English parentage and born at Bath, Maine. Joseph Parker was a soldier of the war of 1812, was descended from one of the earliest pioneers of the "Pine Tree State," and died at ninety eight years of age. Captain Arthur M Parker was educated in the public schools of his native village. In the dark days of 1861 he and three of his brothers were among the first to respond to President Lincoln's call for 75,000 men. He enlisted in the First Maine Volunteers and served three months; re-enlisted and served two years in the Tenth Maine, when he entered the Twenty ninth Maine Veteran Volunteers, and served until honorably discharged, June 23, 1866. Captain Parker entered the service as a private, was promoted or orderly sergeant, became lieutenant while in charge of Darlington jail, South Carolina, and was commissioned captain of Company G, Twenty ninth Maine, October 10, 1865. He was in twenty seven engagement, was at Second Bull Run, and was with Phil Sheridan in the valley and at Lee's surrender. While making a cup of coffee one evening, he stooped down and was struck in the head by a rifle ball, which made an ugly wound. Captain Parker was one of fifty orderly sergeants who were detailed as an escort to the funeral of President Lincoln. At the close of the war Captain Parker, after visiting his old home, emigrated west to Kingwood, West Virginia, where he was married to Miss Sabina H Beavers, October 29, 1868. After a few years he removed to near Moyer and is now actively, successfully and extensively engaged in the lumber business. In politics he is a republican. He is an honest upright citizen and is highly respected by his neighbors. p518 WILLIAM PARSHALL (deceased), a prominent and influential citizen of Uniontown, and for thirty six years a well known member of the Fayette county bar. He was born in the house now occupied by his widow, in German township, Fayette county, Penna, September 14, 1821, and was a son of Elias Parshall and Hannah Matilda Grove Parshall. The founder of the Parshall family in the United States came from England, and bought Gardiner's Island, near New York City. He willed this island to his children, a son and a daughter; the latter married a Mr Gardiner, and they bought her brother's interest in the island. This brother removed to Riverhead on Long Island. He had three sons: John Parshall, James Parshall and Elias Parshall; the first two settled somewhere up the North river. Elias Parshall who married Polly Young, was a sea captain and inflicted considerable damage on British shipping during the Revolutionary War. One of the captain's sons, Elias Parshall Sr, learned the trade of shipbuilder and removed to New Jersey, where he married a Miss Tingley, and subsequently came to Brownsville in about 1800. He was a strong and earnest working Baptist and died in German township. His son Elias Parshall, father of William Parshall, was born in Morris county, New Jersey, in 1797, and came to Fayette county when three years of age. He married Miss Hannah Matilda Grove, daughter of Jacob Grove and Mary Brown Grove, both natives of Shepardstown, Maryland; the former was a tanner and settled in Masontown. Elias Parshall was a farmer of German township where he owned a large body of very fine land; was very courteous and hospitable and died in 1882. William Parshall was reared on a farm and educated at Rector, Virginia, and Washington, Penna. He studied law with Gen Joshua B Howell of Uniontown, and was admitted to the Fayette county bar September 7, 1847. Mr Parshall, however, gave part of his attention to farming in German and Nicholson townships until 1875, when he removed to Uniontown and formed a partnership with G W K Minor. From this time until his death July 4, 1883, he continued in the active practice of his profession. In April, 1864, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha Hawks, a native of Orleans county, New York, and a daughter of Jonathan Hawks and Clarissa Pease Hawks, who were natives of Massachusetts and New York respectively, the former a soldier in the War of 1812, the latter a daughter of Dr Jacob Pease who was secreted by a Frenchman and escaped death in the Indian massacre at Detroit in 1812. To Mr and Mrs Parshall were born five children: William Parshall and Emily Parshall, living, and Louisa, Delafield and Vesta, deceased. William Parshall owned the home farm of 190 acres of choice land and a Springhill farm of 192 acres. He was large and portly, and was noted for open-handed hospitality. He was an active republican, but never thirsted for public office; a constant student, and well versed in the law, he had a good practice at the time of his death. p373 Luke F Patterson, a successful farmer and proprietor of the Star Flouring Mills of Menallen township is a son of Sidney Patterson and Martha McCoy Patterson and was born in Franklin township, Fayette county, Penna, March 10, 1843. Sidney Patterson was a native of New Jersey and was born December 12, 1803. He came to Fayette county with his father, Safety Patterson, who settled in Franklin township. Sidney Patterson engaged in farming and married Miss Martha McCoy, born in 1803. Luke F Patterson is of Irish descent; he was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. Leaving school he turned his attention to farming and has continued in that business until the present time. In 1871 he married Miss Mattie Leighty. She died October 1, 1881, and left one child: Norman Patterson, born April 29, 1879. Mr Patterson, for his second wife married Miss Lizzie Snider, daughter of John Snider. To them was born one child: Andrew Snider Patterson, born January 1, 1889. Luke F Patterson purchased the Star Flouring Mills in Menallen township and has successfully operated them up to the present time. Their capacity is twenty barrels per day, which barely supplies his large and increasing home and county trade. For twenty five years he has been a member of I O O F and K of P. Mr Patterson is a democrat of the Jeffersonian type. He believes implicitly in the time honored principles of the democratic party, and is always found working in its interests. He is an influential and prominent citizen of Menallen township. p 289 Rev JOSEPH GALLOWAY PATTON, the pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian church of Bridgeport, is a son of Stephen Patton and Susanna P Galloway Patton, natives of Washington township, Fayette county, Penna; the former born in 1805 and residing on his farm two and one half miles from Fayette city, Washington township, in the eighty fifth year of his age. For sixty years he has been a devoted member of the Presbyterian church, a carpenter and cabinet-maker by trade, and has served as school director. Rev Patton's grandfather was by occupation a farmer, a native of Washington township, Fayette county, Penna. His father, a New Englander by birth, came to Fayette county and settled in Washington township in 1790, making the Patton family among the earliest here. Susanna P Galloway died in the seventy fourth year of her age. Her father, Robert Galloway, was a miller and farmer of Washington township, of Scotch-Irish extraction, and died at the age of forty five. Rev Joseph G Patton was born on a farm in Washington township, Fayette county, Penna, September 11, 1861, and at the age of sixteen years entered the normal school at California, Penna, which he attended for two years, and during vacations taught school in Tyrone township. In 1880 he went to Waynesburg College, was graduated in 1883, taking a classical course and in 1886 he received from this college the degree of A M. In the fall of 1883 he entered the Union Theological Seminary, New York City, and was graduated from there in May, 1886. During his term of theological study he did mission work at the Covenant Presbyterian chapel, Brick church, Presbyterian chapel and the Home for Friendless Women. He preached in the Congregational Church at Roxbury, New Hampshire, during first vacation in his seminary course, and during second vacation for the Cumberland Presbyterian mission, Connellsville, Penna. He was called to the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Old Concord, Washington county, Penna, in the spring of 1886, and to the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Bridgeport in the fall of 1888. Rev Patton, besides attending to his duties as pastor, contributes as a writer to the Cumberland Presbyterian Review, Sunday School Gem, Missionary Banner, Missionary Record, and has just finished a life of Jesus: "In Thesi." p597 Col JAMES PAULL. James Paull, who lived in Fayette county from childhood to old age and was one of its prominent and most honored citizens, was born in Frederick, now Berkeley county, Virginia, September 17, 1760, and in 1768 removed to the West with the family of his father, George Paull, who then settled in that part of Westmoreland county that became Fayette; his location being the Gist neighborhood in the present township of Dunbar which was the home of James Paull during the remainder of his long life. Judge Veech says of him that "early in life he evinced the qualities of heart and soul calculated to render him conspicuous, added to which was a physical constitution of the hardiest kind. Throughout his long life his bravery and patriotism like his generosity knew no limits. He loved enterprise and adventure as he loved his friends, and shunned no service or dangers to which they called him. He came to manhood just when such men were needed." In the early part of his life James Paull was much engaged in military service and in it his record was that of a brave, honorable and efficient soldier and officer. His military experience began in 1778 when as a boy of eighteen years he was drafted for a tour of duty in the guarding of Continental stores at Fort Burd on the Monongahela under Captain Robert McGlaughlin. Three years later in 1781 he was made a first lieutenant by Thomas Jefferson, Governor of Virginia, and in that grade served with a company raised largely by his efforts, and which formed a part of the expedition which went down the Ohio under General George Rogers Clarke on a projected campaign against Detroit. Upon the failure of that expedition he returned on foot through the wilderness from the Falls of the Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky, to Morgantown, Virginia, and thence home, being accompanied by the men of his own command and also the officers and men of Major Isaac Craig's artillery of Pittsburgh. In 1780 he served a short tour of duty as a private soldier at Turtle Creek above Pittsburgh and at its close joined, still as private, the expedition of Colonel William Crawford against Sandusky. The story of the hardships and perils which he met in that disastrous campaign and the manner of his almost miraculous escape from the savages... Again in 1783 and 1784 he was engaged in frontier service against Indian incursions along the southern border of the State. In 1790 he served in the grade of major and lieutenant colonel under General Harmar in the unsuccessful campaign of that officer against the Indians in Maumee county and in this as it all his military service, he acquitted himself most honorably. This was the end of his military experience. Having married he settled down to the comforts of domestic life and the pursuits of agriculture in which he was eminently successful. He reared a large and most respectable family, seven sons: James Paull; George Paull; John Paull; Archibald Paull; Thomas Paull; William Paull; and Joseph Paull; and one daughter, Martha Paull who became the wife of William Walker. He had some concern in iron manufacture and was occasionally in middle life a down-river trader. But he was a lover of home life with its quiet cares and enjoyments. He was never ambitious for office and the only one he ever held was that of sheriff of Fayette county from 1793 to 1796. Captain Paull was a man of perfect and unquestioned integrity and truth and of the most generous and heroic impulses. He died in Dunbar township, July 9, 1841, aged nearly eighty one years. p289 DANIEL H PEARSALL is a son of Daniel Pearsall and Sarah Hingley Pearsall. He was born at South Staffordshire, England, August 4, 1852. Daniel Pearsall was a miner in England where he died. His wife came to America in July, 1880, and eight years later died at Brownsville in the sixty fourth year of her age. Daniel H Pearsall attended the pay schools of England until thirteen years of age when he learned the trade of puddler. After five years experience as a puddler, he came to the United States, locating at Saw Mill Run in Allegheny county and engaged in mining for seven years. In 1877 he removed to California, Washington county, and continued in coal mining for one year. After eight years hard labor by prudence and economy he acquired a small sum of money. He invested this money, assisting to organize the Knob Coal Company. The Knob Coal Company was organized in February, 1878, leased and operated for five years. The coal bank is one mile north of West Brownsville. In 1882 with fifteen others he bought the bank and christened it The Knob Coal Works. They are well equipped with the latest machinery for mining, breaking, screening and shipping of coal. Daniel Pearsall and Samuel Pearsall now own eleven of the sixteen shares. The company employs from 125 to 150 men and their yearly output is about one million and a half bushels of coal. This coal is of a superior quality, and is principally shipped to Cincinnati, Louisville and New Orleans. In 1882 he was elected by the company to take charge of their general store at Bridgeport and as such he still continues. His brother, Samuel H Pearsall, now manages the coal works. He came from England in 1859 and resides in West Brownsville. In 1872 D H Pearsall married Miss Tillie Leadbater of Sand Creek, Allegheny county, Penna. They have four children: Henrietta Pearsall; Eva Pearsall; Sarah Pearsall; and Minnie Pearsall. He is a K of P, a member of the Royal Arcanum and K T. The colleries are strong factors of American progress, and D H Pearsall is a notable example of a self-made man who has risen from a humble beginning to a prominent position in the colliery business of Pennsylvania. p566 DANIEL H PERSHING was born on the old Pershing homestead in Bullskin township, Fayette county, Penna, May 25, 1831. His father, Abraham Pershing, was born October 21, 1796, in Derry township, Westmoreland county, Penna. He was engaged in farming which he continued to follow till his death. His wife's maiden name was Barbara Troxel, daughter of John Troxel of Westmoreland county, who emigrated from Lebanon county, Penna, in 1806. Daniel H Pershing is of German descent, was educated in the common schools of the county, and subsequently attended college at Mt Pleasant, Westmoreland county, now know as the Mt Pleasant Institute. Leaving college he engaged in teaching and taught for eight years, when he began farming in connection with the work of surveyor of land. On October 18, 1860, he was married to Amanda Miller, daughter of Isaac Miller of Lebanon county, Penna. To their marriage have been born twelve children, nine of whom are living: Nevada Pershing, born March 14, 1863, wife of Jacob Atkinson of the township; Louisiana Pershing, December 18, 1864, wife of John H Seman of Westmoreland county; Minnesota Pershing, December 31, 1866; Idaho Pershing, February 7, 1869; Missouri Pershing, April 27, 1871; Aba Pershing, March 26, 1873; Stewart Pershing, April 25, 1875; Ira Sankey Pershing, March 2, 1877; and Emerson C Pershing, May 1, 1879, all born in Bullskin township, Fayette county, Penna. Daniel H Pershing is a prohibitionist in politics, has 370 acres of fine land in Bullskin township, and is otherwise well-fixed in life. He owns some ten houses and lots in St Pleasant (?) and three in Bullskin township. He is a successful businessman, and is held in high esteem by his neighbors. p373 JOHN PFLEGHARDT Sr was born in Bavaria, Germany, August 22, 1823, and is a son of Louis L Pfleghardt and Anna B Price Pfleghardt. The former was a shoemaker, shipwrecked and drowned coming to American in 1836 on the ill-fated Frederick William; the latter is also deceased. John Pfleghardt Sr until thirteen years of age received a thorough training in the German schools; he then learned the trade of shoemaker and continued in it until 1848 when he left his native land for America. He worked for six years at trade in New York City and in 1854 removed to Fayette City. Here he began in the boot and shoe business in which he is still engaged. In 1850 he was married to Miss Charlotte Bodendorfer who came from Germany with her brother in 1849. Nine children have been born unto them: John H Pfleghardt in Nebraska; John N Pfleghardt; Louis L Pfleghardt, dead; Mary E Pfleghardt; William B Pfleghardt; Louisa Pfleghardt; Benjamin F Pfleghardt; Anna C Pfleghardt, wife of John A Wilson. John N Pfleghardt, son, was born December 26, 1855, and learned the shoe business with his father. He married in 1878 Miss Anna C McCrory, daughter of James McCrory, and she died in September of the same year. In 1880 he was united in marriage to his present wife, Miss Ida M Beatty, daughter of William Beatty. They have four living children: Louis H Pfleghardt; Charles W Pfleghardt, dead; William E Pfleghardt; Elsie Pfleghardt and Opal Pfleghardt, twins. He is associated with his father in the shoe business and belongs to the I O O F and K M C, denominationally is a Methodist with his wife. Mr Pfleghardt Sr carries from three to five thousand dollars worth of stock in the boot and shoe business and is doing the best business of any other of the kind in his section of the county, Mr Pfleghardt Sr is an F & A M, K of P and belongs to the Equitable Aid Union, and in company with his wife is a Lutheran. He is a successful businessman and is one of the solid and influential citizens of Fayette City. p519 DAVID PHILLIPS, deceased, was one of the foremost farmers of his township. He was born on the old "Phillips homestead," in Redstone township, Fayette county, Penna. He was the son of Benjamin Phillips, an enterprising and industrious farmer of Redstone township. Benjamin Phillips was a son of Benjamin Phillips Sr, an ex Revolutionary soldier. Banjamin Phillips Sr came from New Jersey to Jefferson township prior to 1800. He was a common laborer but being a man of energy, he acquire means sufficient to purchase what is now the old Phillips homestead farm in Redstone township. He died in 1831 aged eighty five years. David Phillips was reared on a farm and received his education in the common schools. Leaving school he engaged in farming and stock raising until his death February 13, 1881. He was married to Miss Matilda Ann Brown, daughter of David Brown of Menallen township. Mr Brown was a prosperous farmer and prominent citizen of his township. To Mr and Mrs Phillips were born three children, two of whom are living: Charles J Phillips, born October 25, 1862, married Harriet, daughter of John Risbeck; and Della P Phillips, born July 12, 1878. David Phillips was a strong democrat and a successful farmer. His farm consisted of 213 acres of good land and passed at his death into the hands of Newton Chalfant. Mrs Phillips now resides on the old "Ryan place" in Menallen township. During his life Mr Phillips was held in high esteem by all who knew him. p466 ELLIS PHILLIPS, MD, a prominent physician of New Haven, was born in North Union township, Fayette county, Penna, August 31, 1843, and is a son of Ellis Phillips who was born November 12, 1798, near West Brownsville, Washington county, Penna. In 1824 Ellis Phillips married Phebe Lilley, daughter of Thomas Lilley, and afterward removed to a farm in North Union township, Fayette county. Their children were eight in number, five sons and three daughters, of whom Dr Phillips is the youngest. Solomon Phillips, paternal grandfather, was born in Delaware and married Martha Nichols of Wilmington. He came to Washington county, Penna, in about 1786. Dr Ellis Phillips at the age of sixteen went to Madison Academy at Uniontown, remained for two years when he entered Washington College and was graduated in the class of 1864. He entered the office of Drs Smith and J M Fuller of Uniontown in the study of medicine, attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and from there was graduated in 1867. Between courses of lectures he practiced at Upper Middletown but after his graduation he located at New Haven where Dr J K Rogers became his partner; the partnership lasting until Dr Rogers's death in 1870. He then associated himself with Dr J J Singer; the partnership after several years dissolved. Since that time Dr Phillips has practiced alone. He has never aspired to political honors although he has held the offices of school director, town councilman and president of the board of pension examiners. May 16, 1872, he was married to Ada A McIlvaine of New Haven, daughter of Robert McIlvaine who was born in Washington county, Penna, and early in life removed to New Haven. Dr Phillips has two sons and one daughter living: Ada Josephine Phillips; James McIlvaine Phillips; and Arthur Morton Phillips. At the close of his partnership with Dr Rogers he returned to Philadelphia and took several special courses of study: one on diseases of the eye and ear under Dr George C Harland, the celebrated specialist. Immediately after his marriage he made a trip to Europe accompanied by his wife. He remained in Europe some time and was instructed in the celebrated Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, then came to London where he studied diseases of the eye at the Royal Eye Infirmary; but owing to a severe attack of illness he was obliged to return home in about four months. He resumed his general practice at New Haven until 1883 when he went to New York City and entered the offices of Dr Mittendorf as a student of diseases of the eye, taking also a special course of instruction in diseases of the throat. He began his special studies of throat diseases under the instructions of Sir Morrel Mackenzie of London, and was among the first physicians to introduce the use of the ophthalmoscope and the laryngoscope successfully in this section of the State. Of his specialties Dr Phillips is the pioneer of Fayette county. Dr Phillips is an eye and throat specialist of note and reputation, but he does not, however, confine his practice to those specialties alone. In addition to a large and lucrative general practice, he is building up a fine practice in his specialties and his patients are from all parts of the country. p566 Dr WILLIAM R POOLE comes of old Virginia stock on both sides of his family. His great grandmother was born in Loudon county, Virginia, April 22, 1796. Removed to Fayette county, Penna, in 1819 settled in Georges township, thence to Franklin township, and died in 1887. Her husband, John Arrison was born in 1787, and served in the War of 1812. John and Catherine Arrison were the parents of twelve children; at the time of their death they had seventy grandchildren; 140 great grandchildren; and 25 great great grandchildren. Samuel Arrison, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Loudon county, Virginia, and was married to Margaret Minks, a native of Fayette county, Penna. They had four children: Jane Arrison, Melvina Arrison, Rachel Arrison and Mathilda Arrison. His paternal grandfather, Philomen Poole, was born in Eastern Virginia. He learned the tailor's trade and served in the late war, and died of disease contracted while in the service. He had seven children: Lewis R Poole (father of William R Poole) was born March 5, 1837, learned the blacksmith's trade and came to Fayette county. He married Melvina Arrison in June, 1859. He served in the Civil War, enlisting in 1862 in the Fourteenth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served to the close of the war. He fought in the battles of Bull Run, Antietam, Rocky Gap, and was on Salem Raid, and at the Battle of Winchester, and has been practicing medicine since 1867. He and his wife were the parents of seven children: William R Poole, Samuel Poole, Wylie W Poole, Charles N Poole, Melvina Poole, Martha L Poole and Margaret Poole. William R Poole was born April 28, 1860, near Brownsville, was educated in the common schools of the county, and at a normal institution in Virginia, and taught school for one term. He read medicine with Dr N W Truxal of Brownsville. Attended medical lectures at Ann Arbor and graduated from American Medical College of Ohio in 1879, and has since been engaged in the successful practice of medicine. He was formerly a member of the Virginia Medical Association. On January 26, 1879, he was married to Miss Mary E Truxal, daughter of Dr N W Truxal. They have five children: Emma L Poole, Lewis R Poole, Ivanora Poole, Edgar Poole (deceased) and Clara Poole. p209 DAVID PORTER, MD. One of the most eminent physicians of Southwestern Pennsylvania, distinguished alike by his classical learning and his medical skill, was Dr David Porter, deceased. He was born in the city of Wheeling, West Virginia, March 17, 1794. His father, William Porter, was a fine teacher at Washington, Penna. He was quite prominent in the "Whiskey Insurrection," and removed to Wheeling, Virginia, now West Virginia, in 1794 to escape arrest. He remained in Wheeling for four years when he accompanied William Darby, author of Darby's Universal Gazetteer, to Louisiana. Mr Darby was employed by the government to make a very important survey in Louisiana. William Porter accompanied him on his trip south and while there contracted yellow fever and passed away. At the age of six years Dr Porter was adopted and made heir by Captain William Woolsey, who commanded a privateer during the Revolutionary War, and whose commission is now in the possession of Mrs David Porter of Uniontown. Captain Woolsey was an old friend of Dr Porter's father and owned a very fine farm in Rostraver township, Westmoreland county, near the Fayette county line. Dr Porter received his knowledge of the languages under Gad Tower, an excellent classical scholar and superior teacher of his day. On attaining his majority, Dr Porter chose medicine as his life vocation, and began the study under Dr Louis Marchand and subsequently attended lectures in Baltimore. Leaving Baltimore he practiced two years at home when he attended a course of lectures at Philadelphia, where he was taught by the celebrated Dr Benjamin Rush, and was graduated from Jefferson Medical College. After graduating he practiced in Rostraver township, then at Brownsville, and from Brownsville he removed to Pittsburgh where he secured a large practice but soon left Pittsburgh on account of his wife's declining health; he returned to Rostraver. He practiced in Rostraver for thirty years and in 1869 removed to Uniontown where he died September 22, 1875, at the age of eighty one years. Dr Porter was married to Miss Lucinda Jennings, November 9, 1820. She was the daughter of Rev Obadiah Jennings of Washington, Penna. Unto this union were born three children: Obadiah Jennings Porter was a physician and died of consumption, March 5, 1860; William Findlay Porter, who went to Texas in 1858 for his health and died with consumption; and Margaret Woolsey Porter who married Levi Johnson, June 5, 1845, died in April, 1888 near Belle Vernon where they owned a country seat. Dr Porter was happily married a second time to Miss Rebecca Miller, a daughter of John Miller, deceased, an esteemed citizen of Uniontown. The result of this last marriage was one daughter: Ada A Porter, who was a graduate of Mantua Seminary, Philadelphia. Returning to Rostraver after her graduation, she brightened the home circle with her presence but a short time when she passed away. The sadness brought over their threshold by her departure was the cause of her parents leaving their beautiful Westmoreland home and locating at Uniontown. The opinion of Dr John Dixon, an eminent physician of Pittsburgh, was that "Dr Porter was fifty years in advance of his age," and the opinion was correct. He wrote ably on medical subjects before medical journals were common, and after they came into general use he contributed valuable articles to their columns. He always enjoyed a large practice, and was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him. His judgment was clear and decisive, and the ablest physicians called him in consultation. Aside from his valuable professional labors, the virtues of his life, his superior mind, his intelligence and philanthropy fully entitle him to honorable and commendable mention in this work. p520 GEORGE PORTER was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, October 21, 1836. He was educated at Dunlap's Creek Academy in Redstone township, and was engaged in farming in German township for seventeen years. In 1879 he purchased property in McClellandtown and began the mercantile business in that town and has since continued. He owns and operates a farm near McClellandtown. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Parshall, the daughter of Elias Parshall, who was a native of German township, and was at that time a large landowner, farmer and stock raiser of the county. They have the following children: Elizabeth Porter married to George A Hogg of Ironbridge, Westmoreland county, is engaged in the iron business in Pittsburgh. Mr Porter is a member and elder in the Presbyterian church at McClellandtown. His parents were Edward T Porter and Elizabeth Wilson Porter. Their children were named: James H Porter, now living in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is engaged in farming; Edward T Porter, deceased; and George Porter, the subject of this sketch. His father Edward T Porter was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, and removed to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he engaged in merchandising until his death in 1849. His mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Wilson; she was married a second time to Eleazer Robinson of Uniontown, Penna. By this union she had the following children: William L Porter of Uniontown; and Mary E Porter, wife of Dr A P Bowie of the same place. Mr Porter's paternal grandfather, George Porter, was a native of Chillicothe, Ohio, where he lived and died. James Wilson, grandfather, was a native of Lancaster county, Penna, born in 1764, and came to Fayette county when twelve years of age. He was married twice: the first time to Miss Mary H Robb; the second time to Miss Elizabeth Lowrie; was a large landholder and lived on his farm near McClellandtown till his death. He was one of the early justices of the peace of German township, having succeeded his father-in-law Andrew Robb to that office. He served from 1807 to 1840 when he became paralyzed. Several of his first wife's children, Dr William Wilson, Andrew Wilson, and Sarah Yandes were raised in Indiana. John Wilson of German township, deceased, served as justice of the peace, and was an upright useful citizen; was a son by the second wife. Rev Alexander Wilson and Dr William L Wilson of Washington county, Penna, are grandsons. p374 MOSES E PORTER, a leading druggist, was born July 14, 1854, and is a son of Samuel S Porter and Mary A Smith Porter. Moses Porter, grandfather, was born in Allegany county, Maryland, near Frostburg, January 10, 1804. April 20, 1826, he married Emily Wade, daughter of Henry Wade and Sarah McKenzie Wade. To them were born fifteen children, of whom eight are living: Margaret Rebecca Porter, Gabriel Ellis Porter, Samuel Smith Porter, James Dennis Porter, George Wesley Porter, Elisha Porter, Lydia Porter and Lutellus Lindley Porter. Moses Porter owned a farm and farmed in Tyrone township, where he died June 10, 1880, and was buried on the farm. Emily Wade Porter, the grandmother, was born in Allegany county, near Cresap town, Md, August 12, 1810, and is now living with her daughter, Lydia, on the homestead farm. Henry E Smith, maternal grandfather, was born in Westmoreland county, Pa, March 28, 1803; was married to Margaret Barr, June 1, 1826, and had nine children of whom five are living: Nathan Smith, Mary Ann Smith, Elizabeth Kennedy Smith, Jane Smith and Nancy Smith. He owned two adjoining farms in South Huntingdon township: the Sample farm and the homestead farm. He died January 17, 1888, at the advanced age of nearly eighty five, and was buried in the Scottdale cemetery. Margaret Barr Smith, maternal grandmother, was born in Westmoreland county, Pa, February 19, 1800. She died December 30, 1872, and is buried in the graveyard at Tyrone church. Gabriel McKenzie Porter, great grandfather, was born in Baltimore, September 17, 1776, came to Allegany with his parents in 1782, married Rebecca Frost of Frostburg, by whom he had five children: Jane Porter, Josiah Porter, John Porter, Moses Porter, and Margaret Porter. He died April 20, 1842, and is buried in the graveyard on the Porter farm. Rebecca Frost Porter, great grandmother, was a daughter of Josiah Frost and a native of Allegany county, Maryland. He father owned the land where now stands the town of Frostburg, and built the first house in the place. He was a contractor on the "Old Pike." Nathan Smith, maternal great grandfather, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1770; obtained his education in the city of Dublin. He sailed from Movill Bay in 1793, was thirteen weeks on the water, had yellow fever; the ship, commanded by Captain Powell, was quarantined; he was sent to the hospital at Philadelphia, recovered, came to Lancaster county, Penna and taught school. He came to Fayette county, near Connellsville, where there was a forge owned by a Quaker; clerked at Alliance Furnace on Jacob's Creek; married Margery Irwin, daughter of Henry Irwin, January 29, 1801, by whom he had six children: Henry E Smith, March 28, 1803; Anna Foster, March 26, 1805; James H Smith, May 5, 1807; Rebecca Morrow, January 8, 1812; Eleanor McCurdy, June 1, 1814; Nathan Smith Jr, October 15, 1820. In 1809 he purchased the farm now owned by Henry E Smith's heirs, and remained on it until 1822, when he exchanged it to his son Henry E Smith, for a farm now owned by Samuel McCurdy's heir in East Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, on which he remained during the latter part of his life. He died March 25, 1850, in his eightieth year and is buried in Tyrone churchyard. Margery Irwin Smith, great grandmother, was born August 2, 1776, probably in Lancaster county, Penna. She was a stout woman, a good harvest hand, and would remain at home with her children while her husband would cross the mountains and bring salt for himself and neighbors on pack-horses. She and her husband were members of the Presbyterian church, died May 18, 1867, and is buried in the graveyard at Tyrone church. John Porter Jr, great great grandfather, was born in Baltimore. He married a Miss Nancy McKinzie, and was the first of the name who settled (1782) in Allegany county, Maryland. He first purchased a farm near Mt Savage, supposed to be in Maryland, but afterward found to be in Pennsylvania; on this account he sold it, and purchased another farm near Mt Savage. He subsequently sold this farm and settled on one near the Eckhart mine, where he died in 1810. His children were respectively: Micheal Porter; Samuel Porter; Thomas Porter; Gabriel Porter, the great grandfather of Moses E Porter; Henry Porter; Moses Porter; John Porter and Nellie Porter. The first six were born in Baltimore, the latter two on the Pennsylvania farm. Nancy McKinzie Porter, great great grandmother, was born about 1746, and was the daughter of Moses McKinzie, who was murdered and robbed near Cumberland after having sold a farm, on his return home. She had a baby brother Moses who served through the Revolutionary War as a drummer boy, enlisting at fourteen years of age. James Smith, maternal great great grandfather, was married to Anna Huston. They lived in County Tyrone, Ireland, on a farm called "Sheep Hill." They had six children: Samuel Smith, James Smith, Robert Smith, William Smith, Nathan Smith and Elisabeth Smith. She never emigrated, was married to a Mr Ritchie. James Smith emigrated to this country with his son Robert Smith and family in 1796, and settled in South Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, Pa, on a farm now owned by William Collor's heirs. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, died March 12, 1803, and was buried at Tyrone churchyard. His wife, Anna Huston Smith, died in Ireland in 1776. John Porter Sr, great great great grandfather, was a native of Gloucestershire, near Bristol, England. He made himself obnixious to the party in power by singing a song of his own composition which was very uncomplimentary to the reigning monarch, George I; on account of this he was obliged to flee the country. He came to American about 1715, settled in Baltimore county, Maryland, and was born about 1690. Moses E Porter was brought up on a farm at Porter's Gap, in Upper Tyrone township, attended the common schools of that district until he attained his majority. At the age of twenty two he went to Moingona, Boone county, Iowa, where he served an apprenticeship of three years in a drug house. In 1880 he returned to Pennsylvania and opened a drug store at Dawson, where he has been engaged in the same ever since. He has succeeded in building up a good trade, and now has the best drug store in the place. He was married April 11, 1883, to Miss Belle Stacy, daughter of William Stacy and Elisabeth Strickler Stacy of Broad Ford, Pa. They have two children: Earl S Porter and Don S Porter. He is a member of the Senior Order of American Mechanics, is a good citizen, full of enterprise and pluck. p470 SAMUEL E PORTER, a well and favorably known druggist of Vanderbilt, is a son of Samuel S Porter and Mary Ann Smith Porter, and was born in Tyrone township, Fayette county, Penna, April 25, 1863. His father, Samuel S Porter, came from Maryland when quite young. He received a good education and engaged in teaching for sixteen years. After the breaking out of the "Great Rebellion," he enlisted as a private in Company B, Sixteenth Regiment Volunteer Cavalry, and by successive promotions attained to the rank of second lieutenant under General Sheridan in Second Maryland Volunteers. He participated at Gettsyburg, was in several other battles and was honorably discharged in September 30, ____. Samuel S Porter and Mary A Smith were married February 19, 1852, at Wesley Chapel near Scottdale, Westmoreland county, Penna, Rev John Covert officiating clergyman. Their family consists of six children living and three dead, all born in Fayette county, Penna: Margaret E Porter, April 17, 1853; Moses E Porter, July 14, 1854; Mary Alice Porter, October 16, 1855, died September 29, 1856; Rachel Jane Porter, December 28, 1856, died February 28, 1858; Ella Porter, born August 24, 1858; Nathan S Porter, born December 31, 1859, died June 13, 1870; Alcinda E Porter, born February 1, 1862; Samuel E Porter, born April 25, 1863; and Hettie Porter, born September 7, 1866. Samuel E Porter was raised on a farm in Upper Tyrone township, Fayette county, Penna, and was educated in the common schools of that district with the exception of two or three winters that he attended a common school in South Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county. At the age of nineteen years he engaged as a clerk with his brother, Moses E Porter, a druggist of Dawson. Learning the business he opened a drug store at Dawson with Dr George, George being a silent partner. In the spring of 1885 he closed his business at Dawson, removed to Vanderbilt and established his present drug store. Within the last year he has erected a good store building, which is one among the finest drug rooms in the county. He keeps a full stock of drugs, medicines and proprietary remedies, together with a good assortment of everything generally called for in an establishment of this kind. In less than five years he has built up a large and remunerative business. In October, 1886, he married Miss Della Jenkins, daughter of Milo Jenkins and Anna Smith Jenkins of Preston county, West Virginia. They have two children, both sons: Van Dale Porter and Milo Smith Porter. S E Porter is a member of Boone Castle, No 125, Knights of the Mystic Chain, and Vanderbilt Counsel, No 104, J O of U A M. He is a young, active and energetic businessman. p 567 JOHN B POTTER, one of the highly respected citizens of Stewart township, was born in Fayette county, Pa, November 30, 1828. He is the son of Samuel and Sarah Leonard Potter, the latter a daughter of Mahlon Leonard, who was a native of New Jersey. To their union were born the following named children: Mary A Potter, John B Potter, Elizabeth Potter, George P Potter, Julian Potter, Samuel Potter, Amos Potter, Sarah Potter and Thomas Potter, all living. John Potter, the grandfather of John B Potter, was born in New Jersey, in a very early day emigrated from that state to Pennsylvania, and settled in what is now known as "Jockey Hollow" in Henry Clay township. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Callaham. John B Potter received the meager advantages afforded by the common subscription schools of his day. He is at present time engaged in the milling business and has served several times in township offices. During the war he was drafted, but upon examination was rejected on account of the loss of three of his fingers. In 1855 he was married to Miss Tamson Harvey of Wharton township. To them have been born eight children: Arthur F Potter, Elmyra Potter, Cora Potter, Anaddo Potter, Lorena Potter, Erma D Potter, Dalton Potter and Hampton L Potter. p210 ANDREW PRENTICE. In 1817 the "National Road" was projected to cross the Alleghenies to bind more closely the East to the West. It was built from Washington City west into Indiana. The road was commonly called the "Old Pike" and drivers on it were known as "Pike Boys." Andrew Prentice, the oldest "Pike Boy" now living in Fayette County, was born on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, Pa, September 11, 1815, and was brought from his native city by his parents to Uniontown in 1817. He attended Madison College, and at twenty years of age commenced driving a six horse team from Uniontown to Baltimore. He afterwards drove one of his father's teams from Cumberland, Maryland, to Wheeling, taking him nine days to make the trip. He hauled bacon from Wheeling to Cumberland, and often hauled tobacco from Little Washington on his trips to the East. His return loads were chiefly made of store goods, and his Conestoga wagon generally bore from sixty five to seventy five hundred-weight of whatever he transported over the road. He was one of the best drivers on the "Old Pike," and after fourteen years service, from night driving and great exposure, he was compelled to leave the road; but during this period of time, he never lost anything, and never made but one mistake, for which he was docked $40. Leaving the Pike, he was next employed by Mrs Seaton to take charge of the Seaton Hotel (now the Jennings House); and when she sold out four years later, Andy Prentice went to the National Hotel on Morgantown Street, and for two years managed the National, also the stage office for Colonel Samuel Elder, and remained in the same capacity for one year with his successor: Hon Joshua Marsh. Some of the "Old Pike Boys" who are still living in the county, and associates of Mr Prentice, are: Philip Johnson (colored), Wm Worthington, John Snider, Peter Frasier, James Smith, Ellis Woodward, and George McGlaughlin, aged ninety-eight, ninety-one, seventy-two, seventy-three, seventy-two, seventy-four and sixty- eight, respectively. In 1856 Mr Prentice rented a store room on Morgantown street, and carried on a grocery store for thirteen years when he sold out and opened another grocery store which he ran for seven years. He retired after twenty years of hard work in that business. As a driver, a hotel manager and a grocer, he was always known as being strictly temperate and honest. He was a successful businessman and accumulated considerable wealth. Andrew Prentice has always helped the churches, the needy and worthy poor, and has aided in all good causes. When the country stood aghast at the Johnstown horror and in the same moment rallied and poured in its contributions, Andrew Prentice headed Uniontown's list of contributors with $200, the largest individual contribution made in the county. He has been for half a century on the subscription roll of the Presbyterian Banner, published in Pittsburgh; when he was in Pittsburgh in 1887, the publishers of the Banner presented him with a nicely bound copy of a work entitled, "The Gist of It, or a Philosophy of Human Life," by the Rev Thomas E Barr, A B. The volume was given as an expressive token of esteem they held for Andy Prentice and his long and earnest support of their paper. He is a son of Thomas Prentice and Isabella Laisk Prentice. Thomas Prentice's father was a native of Scotland, and came to this country while yet a young man, and married in Philadelphia a young lady native of that city. Thomas Prentice was a hard worker, a good businessman, and temperate and abstemious in his habits. He helped to make the National road, and kept two or three teams running all the time. He hauled a large amount of coal, and was engaged in the manufacture of brick used in the construction of the older churches and brick buildings of Uniontown. Thomas Prentice's wife was a Presbyterian and passed to the unseen world on February 27, 1842, at the early age of forty two years. Thomas Prentice followed her in 1869, having reached his eighty fifth milestone along the rugged pathway of life. Thomas and Isabella Laisk Prentice have six children, namely: Andrew Prentice; Elizabeth Prentice (died young); Isabella Prentice, wife of John Crossland; Jane Prentice, wife of W K Cooper, and dead; Thomas Prentice married Elizabeth Brownfield; and Henry Prentice (dead). In 1825 he shook hands with LaFayette when that renowned general was making his triumphal tour through the country; he has also shook hands with Andrew Jackson, at the time the general stopped overnight at the Eagle House with his slaves, on his way to Washington to be inaugurated president; of Henry Clay, Hayes, Curtain, Grant and Blaine; and he is thankful to his maker that he is as "true blue" republican as ever grew. He has been a commendable member of the Presbyterian church since June 1, 1841, joining under Rev Joel Stoneroad, and is now one of the landmarks of Uniontown. p215 SAMUEL C PRICE, a prominent citizen of South Union, is a son of Joseph Price and Anna Clemment Price. He was born two and one half miles from Ohiopyle, in Stewart township, Fayette county, Penna, May 24, 1830. His father, Joseph Price, was born near Fredericksburg, Virginia, in 1786. His occupation was teaming; he drove on the old Braddock road, afterwards for a while on the National road, but subsequently engaged in farming. His wife was Anna Clemment, a sister of Samuel M Clemment. He was a strong whig and an ardent supporter of Andrew Stewart and a warm admirer of Henry Clay. His death occurred April 18, 1861. Samuel C Price spent his early years on a farm, educated in the common schools and at Dunlap's Creek Academy. He was married in 1877 (?1857) to Miss Priscilla J Fearer, daughter of James Fearer, a farmer of Preston county, West Virginia. His son, Frank Price, was born August 6, 1858, and married Miss Emma Fearer. Unto this latter union were born two children: Charles Marion Price, born March, 1879, and Minnie Belle Price, born November, 1881. Samuel C Price taught thirteen terms of school on Pennsylvania, and three terms in Illinois. He was a successful teacher, maintaining strict discipline and securing good progress. He next engaged in farming and in connection with his farming operated a large brick yard. He takes considerable interest in educational matters and is a strong friend to the common schools. He is a republican from principle, and has held all of the various township offices. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and is a man of enterprise and energy, deserving of the success he has won. p520 JAMES M PROVANCE, was born in Nicholson township, Fayette county, Penna, March 23, 1849, was reared on a farm, and attended common schools. At the age of thirteen he commenced to make his own living as a decksweeper on a steamboat, which he followed for one year, when he shipped as deck hand, after which he worked as a fireman for some time. He was engaged upon the river for about ten years, when he engaged in mining coal. Afterwards he learned the trade of stone mason. In 1872 he was married to Miss Mary M Romesburg, a daughter of Adam Romesburg, who was a native of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. Mrs Provance died September 4, 1887. To this union were born five children: Alfrida Provance, Isa D Provance, Della Provance, Harry B Provance and James L Provance. Alfrida Provance is married to Daniel Davis of Fayette county. Mr Provance owns a comfortable little home in New Geneva, Theron Provance, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Fayette county, Penna, owned a small farm and had a comfortable home. His father, Joseph Y Provance, was one of the early settlers of western Pennsylvania, and was a large landowner. He was of English birth, came to America and settled in Pennsylvania before the Revolution, and took part in that war. He was the father of twenty seven children. p521 Captain JESSE PROVANCE is of English descent and commanded the first steamboat that ever ascended the Monongahela River to Fairmont, W Va. He is a son of David Provance and Agnes Hartly Provance, and was born near New Geneva, in Nicholson township, Fayette county, Penna, August 13, 1819. His grandfather Provance owned the celebrated "Provance Bottoms," which are broad flats extending along the Monongahela River from the mouth of Jacob's Creek down to the mouth of Catt's Run. They are said to be the most productive tracts of land in western Pennsylvania. Mr Provance's ancestors "were noted for their size and muscular powers, as well as love of all athletic sports." His father David Provance was a native of Nicholson township; he was a good farmer and a quiet, orderly man. He had sixteen children, of whom five sons and three daughters are living. Captain Jesse Provance was reared on a farm and attended the subscription schools then in existence. In 1839 he went on the Monongahela River and engaged as a hand on steamboats and flatboats. In 1864 he left the river, engaged in the hotel business in New Geneva, and has continued in that line of business up to the present time. He is now the proprietor of the Provance house, and is well prepared to accommodate the wants of the traveling public. In 1840 he was married to Miss Hester, daughter of Benjamin Miller; she died in 1845, leaving three children: Elizabeth Provance, Joseph Provance (dead), Malinda Provance (dead). In 1848 Mr Provance married again; his second wife was Miss Nancy, daughter of John McCann. Unto this union were born twelve children, of whom seven are living: Sylvanus Provance, Minor Provance, Stewart Provance, Lazier Provance, Amadee Provance, Frankie Provance and Fannie Provance. Captain Jesse Provance has always been an industrious and hard working man. He was the possessor of a remarkably good constitution which has been very much impaired by excessive hard labor early in life. He has many good qualities of head and heart, and is a kind and obliging gentleman. Q SURNAMES NONE