Bios: I-L Surnames: Bates, 1888: Biographical History of Greene County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Marta Burns. marta43@juno.com USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ______________________________________________________________________ Biographical History of Greene County by Samuel P Bates Nelson, Rishforth, and Co, Chicago, 1888 ______________________________________________________________________ INDEX Jackson, I R Jacobs, F G Johnston, A J Johnston, Columbus Jordan, Robert H Kendall, John C Kerr, Archibald Kerr, James Kerr, John C Kerr, William Knight, David Knight, Thomas Laidley, J B Laidley, Norval Laidley, Hon T H Leslie, John J Long, Eli Long, Milton Long, R S _________ p622 I R JACKSON, retired carpenter and contractor, was born in Cumberland Township, Greene County, Penna, April 19, 1824. He is a son of Stephen Jackson and Hannah Miller Jackson, natives of this county. His grandfather, a pioneer farmer, was born in Maryland. Mr Jackson, whose father was a millwright and carpenter, was the third in a family of five children. He learned the carpenter trade, in which he engaged in Cumberland Township for a period of thirty five years. He was united in marriage April 12, 1846, with Mary A Horner, daughter of R M Horner and Martha Murdock Horner. Mrs Jackson's parents are among the early settlers of the county. Of the seven children born to Mr and Mrs Jackson, only one survives: Emma C Jackson. The deceased are James J Jackson; Mary Ann Jackson; Louisa J Jackson; Alice L Jackson; Stephen T Jackson; and Margaret A Jackson, who was the wife of William Grooms and mother of two children, one of which, James A Grooms, is still living. Mr Jackson is a Democrat, and has served as burgess of Carmichaels Borough. He and his wife are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. p586 F G JACOBS, farmer, P O Rutan, was born in Greene County, Penna, November 25, 1832. His father, Daniel Jacobs, was born in New Jersey. His mother, whose maiden name was Hannah Rayle, is a native of Maryland. They were married in Greene County, Penna, where they still reside. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage, June 24, 1858, with Catherine Nelson, who was born in this county, February 14, 1832. She is a daughter of Samuel Nelson and Barbara Ranner Nelson. The former was born in Virginia and the latter in Greene County, Penna, where they were married and spent the remainder of their lives. Mr and Mrs Jacobs have seven children: Daniel Jacobs; Hannah Jacobs, wife of Melvin Headley; William R Jacobs; Barbara E Jacobs; Mary B Jacobs; Henry Jacobs; and Delia M Jacobs. In early life, Mr Jacobs taught school for a few years but subsequently devoted his time to farming. He owns about 225 acres of land where he and family live. Mr and Mrs Jacobs are zealous members of the Methodist Protestant Church. p586 A J JOHNSTON, farmer, Hunter's Cave, Penna, was born in Washington county, Penna, January 18, 1816. His parents were Andrew Johnston and Climena Conklin Johnston, the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Pennsylvania. After marriage they settled in Washington county, and in 1820 moved to Greene county and remained until their deaths. The subject of our sketch was united in holy bonds of matrimony December 9, 1847, with Phoebe McCullough, who was born in Washington county, April 3, 1817. Mrs Johnston is a daughter of Thomas McCullough and Sarah Dunn McCullough. They were also natives of Washington county, where they remained two years after their marriage, then moved to Greene county and spent the remainder of their lives. Mr and Mrs Johnston have four children: Sarah A, wife of William Heaton; George W Johnston; Andrew J Johnston; and Eliza A Johnston. Mr Johnston has been engaged in farmingand stock raising all his life, and owns about 400 acres of land—his home farm. Mrs Johnston and the children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. p586 COLUMBUS JOHNSTON, farmer, P O Rogersville, was born in Center township, Greene county, Penna, June 4, 1831. He is a son of Andrew Johnston and Climena Conklin Johnston who were natives of Washington county, but after marriage resided in Center township until their deaths. Columbus Johnston was united in marriage March 5, 1855, with Emeline Bane, who was born in Washington county, June 17, 1838. Mrs Johnston is a daughter of Nathan Bane and Hannah Carter Bane, who were also natives of Washington county, and moved to Greene county about 1844. His widow is still living and resides in West Virginia. Mr Johnston and his wife are the parents of four children: Nathan B Johnston; Lizzie A Johnston; Dora M Johnston; and Lewis B Johnston, deceased. Mr Johnston was reared on a farm and has made farming his business through life, and by strict honesty and industry has procured a nice home, consisting of 108 acres of land, where he and his family reside. He and Mrs Johnston are active members of the South Ten Mile Baptist Church. In politics he is a Republican. p740 ROBERT H JORDAN, farmer, born in Washington township, Greene county, Penna, is a son of Silas Jordan and Sarah McCormick Jordan. His parents were natives of Greene county, Penna, and of Irish and English lineage. His grandfather, John Jordan, was a pioneer millwright of this county. His father was also a millwright and carpenter. His family consisted of eight children of whom Robert H was the second. Robert was reared in Jefferson and received a common school education. Early in life he learned the carpenter trade, which occupation he followed for many years. He was twice married; his first wife, Harriet, daughter of John Daniels, was a native of Ohio. By this union there were three children, all of whom died young. Mrs Jordan died in 1873. Mr Jordan was afterward united in marriage in 1874 with the widow of Gideon John of Waynesburg, Penna. Mr and Mrs John's children were: F J John, druggist; R S John, a jeweler at Waynesburg; and Harry H John, at home in school. Their father was born in Washington county, Penna, and was of English extraction; he died in 1870. Mr and Mrs Jordan have one child: James Leroy Jordan. Mr Jordan is the owner of a farm of sixty eight acres. He is a member of the town council and president of the school board of Jefferson borough, also was at one time a member of the executive committee of Monongahela College. He is an upright temperance man, and one of the leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. p740 JOHN C KENDALL, furniture dealer, Jefferson, Penna, was born in Smithfield, Fayette County, Penna, April 26, 1840. His parents were Samuel Kendall and Pauline Custead Kendall, who were of German and English origin. His father was a Baptist minister; he died in 1872. His family consisted of twelve children, eleven of whom-nine sons and two daughters-attained the age of maturity. John is the oldest son, and was reared in Fayette county until ten years of age, when he came with his parents to Greene county. He went to school in Fayette county and at Waynesburg College; afterward returning to Fayette county where he learned the wagonmaker's trade, and followed it as a business for nine years. He taught school fifteen years, five years of that time in Illinois. In 1861 he married Catherine Grimm, daughter of John and Elizabeth Grimm, and by this marriage is the father of two children: Eva Kendall and John Kendall. The latter is a graduate of the Commercial College of Springfield, Illinois. Mrs Kendall died in 1866. In 1876 he was next united in marriage with Hannah B Ross, daughter of John Ross and Maria Loughman Ross. At the time of her marriage, Mrs Kendall was the widow of the late Thomas Johns, and the mother of one child, Albert Leslie. Mr and Mrs Kendall have two children: Paul Kendall and Samuel Kendall. Mr Kendall takes quite an active interest in educational matters, and is a member of the board of trustees of Monongahela College. They are both members of the Baptist church, in which Mr Kendall is a deacon, and has served as teacher and superintendent of the Sabbath School. p623 ARCHIBALD KERR, of the firm of Kerr Brothers, furniture dealers and funeral directors, Carmichaels, Penna, was born in Cumberland Township, September 22, 1851. He is a son of James Kerr and Eleanor Davis Kerr, natives of Greene County, and of Irish descent. His father is one of the prominent farmers of Cumberland Township. Archibald is the seventh in a family of eight children. He received a common school education, and early in life learned the cabinet makers trade. He worked by the day and job for eight years in Virginia and Pennsylvania, and in 1876 engaged in his present business at Garard's Fort, Penna, where he remained for two years. He then came to Carmichaels where he has always had the reputation of doing first class work. In 1873 Mr Kerr married Frances Clawson, daughter of James Clawson. Mrs Kerr is of English descent. They have a family of five children: Charles Kerr; Edward Kerr; Lida E Kerr; Jesse Kerr; Alexander Kerr; and Harry Kerr. Mr Kerr is a leading member of the M E Church, and his wife is a Cumberland Presbyterian. In politics Mr Kerr is a Democrat. He is a member of the town council, and belongs to the I O O F Lodge at Carmichaels, Penna. p623 JAMES KERR, farmer and stock grower, Carmichaels, Penna, was born in Washington, Washington County, Penna, March 31 1808, and is a son of Archibald Kerr and Mary Huston Kerr, who were of Irish and English descent. His mother was a native of Washington County, and departed this life in Greene County, Penna, in her eighty seventh year, and his father, a farmer and hotel keeper, was born in Ireland and died in Virginia in his eighty fourth year. He had a family of eight children of whom James Kerr was the fourth, and was reared on the farm in Cumberland Township. He attended the common school and chose farming as a business, working by the day and month to get a start in life. He drove hogs from Greene County to Baltimore for twenty five cents and two meals a day. He has ever practiced the most careful economy and strict integrity in all his dealings, and is now the careful owner of a valuable farm of 375 acres. Mr Kerr was united in marriage August 29, 1833, with Miss Ellen Davis, daughter of George Davis and Betsey Lowery Davis. Mrs Kerr was born in Greene County, April 1, 1813. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. Mr and Mrs Kerr have eight children, five living: David Kerr, Elizabeth Kerr, wife of Captain H H Cree; Alexander Kerr; Huston Kerr; and Archibald Kerr. The deceased are George Kerr, James Kerr and Willie Kerr. In politics Mr Kerr is a Democart. He has served as school director in the township. They are prominent members of the Presbyterian Church. p623 JOHN C KERR, manufacturer of saddle trees, was born in Carmichaels, Penna, December 28, 1832. He is a son of William Kerr and Elizabeth Curl Kerr, being the third in their family of eight children. He was reared in Greene County, and early if life learned his trade with his father, who still resides near Carmichaels, where John C Kerr has worked for many year. In 1859 Mr Kerr married Caroline Horner, daughter of Amos Horner. They were parents of two children: Mary Ellen Kerr, wife of John Bell; and Margaret Kerr, wife of John Mossburg. Their mother died in 1865. Mr Kerr was a second time united in marriage February 9, 1869, with Elizabeth Sharpnack, daughter of Henry Sharpnack and Elizabeth Rice Sharpnack. Her parents were of Welsh and English descent. Mr and Mrs Kerr have four children, all boys: William Henry Kerr; George S Kerr; Robert O Kerr; and Jesse F Kerr. Mr and Mrs Kerr are devoted members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr Kerr is a Republican, and has been a member of the town council of Carmichaels, where he has resided for over twenty five years. p622 WILLIAM KERR, manufacturer of saddle trees, was born in Washington County, Penna, September 12, 1803, and is a son of James Kerr and Elizabeth Boke Kerr, also natives of Washington County, and of Irish descent. His father was a blacksmith and reared a family of eight children. William wasthe third and received a common school education. He learned the saddle tree trade, and has made it the business of his life, most of which he has spent in Cumberland Township, where he was married in January, 1824. His wife was Elizabeth Curl, daughter of James Curl. Mr and Mrs Kerr are the parents of ten children, eight of whom are living. They are Mary A Kerr, wife of Elias Flenniken of Greensboro, Penna; Rachel Kerr, wife of James Flenniken; John C Kerr of Carmichaels; Lettie J Kerr, wife of Thomas Lucas; Elizabeth M Kerr, wife of William H Sharpnack; Sarah E Kerr, wife of Thomas Nutt; Hiram A Kerr and William W Kerr. Mrs Kerr died August 29, 1874, a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which Mr Kerr also belongs, and has been steward and class leader. In politics he is a Democrat. p587 DAVID KNIGHT, retired farmer, P O Oak Forest, Penna, was born in Greene County, Penna, October 24, 1818. His parents, James and Cassandra Knight, were natives of Greene County where they were united in marriage and remained till their deaths. David Knight was united in marriage June 6, 1839, with Mary A Fry. Mrs Knight was born in this county February 26, 1819, and is a daughter of John and Mary Fry. They were also natives of Greene County, but moved to West Virginia and resided there until their deaths. To Mr and Mrs Knight have been born nine children, seven of whom are living: Mary Knight; Joshua Knight; Cassie J Knight; Thomas J Knight; Lucy A Knight; Jemima Knight; and Harriet Knight. The deceased are Catherine and Eli Knight. Mr Knight has been successfully engaged in farming all his life, and owns about 134 acres of land. In politics he is a Democrat. The Knight family are pioneers of the county, and among its mostly highly respected citizens. p587 Thomas Knight, farmer, P O Rogersville, Penna, was born in Franklin Township, Greene County, Penna, November 27, 1820. His father and mother, James and Cassandra Knight, were natives of this county, where they resided until their deaths. Thomas Knight was united in marriage November 18, 1841, with Nancy Wood, who was born in Jackson Twonship, October 13, 1822. Mrs Knight was a daughter of Micajah and Jane Wood, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ireland. Both died in Greene County. Mr Knight by this marriage is the father of eight children, five of whom are living. Mrs Knight died March 3, 1863. On December 24, 1863, Mr Knight married for his second wife, Miss Edna Sellers, who was born in Center Township, October 30, 1829. Her parents were Christopher Sellers and Nancy Johnson Sellers, both natives of Pennsylvania who departed this life in Greene County. Mr Knight and his wife have two children, one living. Mr Knight is a cabinet maker by trade, but has been engaged in farming for many years. He owns 212 acres of good land. p624 J B LAIDLEY, physician and surgeon, Carmichaels, Penna. Among the best known physicians in Greene County is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He is a son of Dr Thomas H Laidley and Sarah Barclay Laidley, and was born in Carmichaels, August 21, 1830. The Doctor's father was also a prominent physician, and practiced in Carmichaels and vicinity for over half a century. His grandfather, Thomas Laidley, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and his maternal grandfather, Hon Hugh Barclay, was a member of the Pennsylvania State Legislature in 1804. The doctor is the second in a family of twelve children, ten of whom are now living. He received his education at Greene Academy and subsequently studied medicine at the medical department of the University of Wooster, at Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated March 1, 1856. He then returned to Carmichales where he has practiced continuously except during a part of the years 1861-1862 when he surved as Surgeon of the Eighty fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. In 1859 he was united in marriage with Mary E Galbraith, daughter of William Galbraith, who was for many years a prominent physician of Jefferson, in this county, where Mrs Laidley was born. They have three living children: William Galbraith Laidley; Edmund Wirt Laidley; and John Collier Laidley. Dr and Mrs Laidley are members of the M E Church in which he has been an official member since he united with the church. He has been school director for thirty years and has been known as a friend of education. He is a member of the GAR Post No 265 of Carmichaels, Penna. p624 NORVAL LAIDLEY was born in Cumberland Township, this county, May 4, 1829. He is a son of T H Laidley, being the oldest in their family of twelve children. He was reared in Carmicheaels, receiving his education in the old Greene Academy. Early in life he learned the saddler's trade, serving an apprenticeship in Carmichaels, where he soon engaged in the business for himself and continued therein for twelve years. He afterwards started a general store in company with his younger brother, A D Laidley, to whom he sold his interest in 1876 and left him the sole proprietor of their merchandising establishment. p625 Hon T H LAIDLEY was born in Carmichaels, Penna. He is a son of Dr Thomas H Laidley, who was among the most prominent physicians of Greene County. Mr Laidley was the seventh in a family of eleven children. He was reared in Carmichaels, attending the Greene Academy. He learned the trade of tinner and followed it as a occupation for eight years. He subsequently clerked on a boat on the Monongahela River for a period of eight years. He married Sarah W Flenniken, daughter of John W Flenniken. Her father was a descendant of the early pioneers of this county. Mr Laidley is the father of three children: Hettie Laidley; Thomas H Laidley Jr; and Albert Laidley. Mr Laidley is a Democrat, and has taken considerable interest in the politics of his county. He served as county auditor for several terms. He also represented his county in the State Legislature two terms, at the close of which he engaged in the mercantile business. He is a Presbyterian of which church his deceased wife was also a member. She died in 1885. p839 JOHN J LESLIE, farmer and stock grower, born in Richhill township, December 3, 1836, is a son of Samuel Leslie and Sarah Jones Leslie who were respectively natives of Ireland and Pennsylvania. His father worked on public works during his early life, but devoted his time to farming after coming to Greene county in 1834. He settled on a farm in Richhill township, remaining there until his death in 1869. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was reared on a farm in his native township where he attended district schools. He took up farming as his occupation and has made it a success, owning at present 153 acres of land, well-stocked and improved, where he now resides near Harvey's Penna. Mr Leslie was united in marriage in Greene county, Penna, in 1869 with Miss Nancy A Bebout, daughter of Spencer Bebout. They were the parents of four children, two now living: Florence Leslie and Samuel S Leslie. Mrs Leslie died in 1877. In 1879 Mr Leslie was again united in marriage; his second wife was Mary G Post, daughter of Munson Post. They are the parents of one child, Robert P Leslie. Mr Leslie is a member of the Christian Church. In politics he is a Democrat. He takes an active interest in school affairs, and has served on the school board of the township where he now resides. p741 ELI LONG, deceased, was born April 28, 1821, near Khedive P O on the farm now occupied by his heirs. His father and mother were Richard and Mary Long, who were natives of Pennsylvania, were married in the eastern part of the state, and came to Greene county where they settled and remained until their deaths. Mr Eli Long was united in marriage October 25, 1853, with Sarah Pryor, who was born in Belmont county, Ohio, July 27, 1831, daughter of Joshua and Susan Pryor, now deceased. To Mr and Mrs Long were born four children, two of whom are living: Lizzie L Long and Albert C Long. The deceased are Vincent P Long and Della Long. Mr Long was reared on a farm and made a great success of farming and stock dealing, possessing at the time of his death, October 1, 1881, 560 acres of land which is now owned and managed by his son and daughter. Mrs Long departed this life August 27, 1886. She and her husband were faithful members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of which the son and daughter are also members. p626 MILTON LONG, farmer and stock grower, P O Khedive, was born in Cumberland Township, January 29, 1838. He is a son of Jerry Long and Lucretia Stephens Long, also natives of this county. He comes of a long line of farmers of whom his father was one of the most prominent and also eminently successful as a cattle dealer in the West. Mr Long is the third in a family of six children; he attended the common school of his district, remaining on the farm until 1861, when he enlisted in Company F, First Pennsylvania Cavalry and served his country three years. He passed through the engagements of Gettysburg and Fredericksburg and was also in the Battle of the Wilderness. When he came home from the army, he went to Page County, Iowa, and engaged in buying and shipping stock to Chicago, Illinois. After remaining there for a period of eight years, he returned to Cumberland Township where he has since been engaged in his present occupation and owns 330 acres of well improved land. In 1872 he married Mary E McClelland, daughter of Robert McClelland who died in 1859. Her mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Weaver; she was of German and English descent. Mr and Mrs Long have one child: MABEL LONG. In politics Mr Long is a Republican, he is a member of the G A R, and he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Source of this obit, unknown: Miss MABEL LONG, native of Greene County and longtime resident of Waynesburg, died Sunday, March 24, 1957, at Burbank, Calif., where she had made her home for several years. Miss Long was born near Khedive, a daughter of the late Milton and Mary McClelland Long. She graduated from California State Normal, now California State Teachers College, and taught school for several years thereafter at Davenport, Iowa. She then returned to Greene County and made her home with her parents on East Lincoln Street, Waynesburg. She left Waynesburg again after their death. A number of cousins reside in Greene County. Burial was in Inglewood, Calif. p625 R S LONG, stock dealer, farmer and stock grower. The subject of this sketch was born in Greene County, Penna, October 24, 1835. He is a son of Jerry (Jeremiah) Long and Lucretia Stephens Long, who were natives of this county and of English origin. His father was reared on a farm where he spent the early part of his life. He afterwards made a specialty of stock growing, in which he dealt quite extensively in the West, and succeeded in accumulating a handsome fortune, being at the time of his death in 1863, the owner of 1300 acres of well improved land in Greene County, and extensive stock interest in the West. He was married in his native county and all of his six children were born in Cumberland Township. They are as follows: Milton Long; Elizabeth Long, wife of Corbly Garard; Mary Long; R S Long; W S Long, Sarah A Long, wife of James Stephens; and Nancy V Long, wife of Wallace Eicher. Richard Long was reared on the farm and attended the common school. In business he has very closely followed the example of his father, and has met with about the same success. At the age of twenty two, he went West and engaged in buying stock, of which he made heavy shipments from Iowa to Chicago. He deals principally in sheep and cattle, and of the latter owns at present 900 head in company with others in the West. His home farm consists of 261 acres of land, well stocked and improved. He was married December 4, 1861, to Miss Phoebe C Bailey, daughter of J K Bailey, and they are the parents of three children: J C Long; D Annie Laurie Long; and Lucretia V Nellie Long. In politics Mr Long is a Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which he is one of the leading officers.