Bios: REV. JOHN A. BAILEY,: Lawrence County, Pennsylvania ________________________________________________________________ Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lawrence Co transcribers. Coordinated by Ed McClelland Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm _____________________________________________________________ Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens Lawrence County Pennsylvania Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897 An html version with search engine may be found at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/lawrence/1897/ _____________________________________________________________________ REV. JOHN A. BAILEY, [p. 483] the revered pastor of the United Presbyterian Church of Mt. Jackson, Pa., was born near Candor, Washington Co., Pa., May 22, 1835. His great-grandfather, Alexander Bailey, was a Highlander, living near old Billie Castle, Scotland; on account of his pronounced religious views, he was driven from his native country, and settled in the north of Ireland, where he lived with his family a few months, and then emigrated to America, taking up his residence in Carlisle Barracks, Cumberland County. There he lived until about 1773, when he moved farther west to Washington Co., Pa., where he died at the age of ninety-seven. It is a rather curious fact that his wife lived to be one hundred and seven years old, thus exceeding his own very advanced age by ten years. The names and years of the births of their children as found in the old family register are as follows: Matthew, born 1749; William, 1752; Ann, 1753; Mary, 1755; Jeanette, 1758; Alexander, 1761; James, 1763; and John, our subject's grandfather, who was born Sept. 24, 1765. John Bailey took up the occupation of farming, and lived on his farm in Washington County all his life, dying at the age of eighty-seven. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Gailey, married him June 18, 1799, and lived to enjoy sixty-seven happy years of life. Their children were: Jane; Matthew; Nancy; James; Marguerite; Alexander; Mary; John; Ann; and William. Matthew Bailey, the father of Rev. John A., was born in Washington Co., Pa., and married Ann Smiley, daughter of William and Sarah (Brownlee) Smiley. He inherited a farm adjoining his father's estate, and became a very progressive and well-to-do man, following general farming all of his days, his death taking place when he was aged seventy-five years. For many years he occupied the responsible position of elder in the Associate and United Presbyterian Church. His wife was taken to the world beyond in her seventy-seventh year. Their children included these members: Rev. John A.; William S.; Sarah; Alexander; James P.: Margaret; Samuel M.; and Matthew C. Rev. John A. Bailey passed his early years on the farm, and perfected by hard work that rugged manhood that has descended to him from his Highland great-grandfather. When nineteen years of age, having already completed the course of studies required in the district schools, he entered the Westminster College, from which he graduated July 7, 1859. Immediately thereafter, he became a student in the Allegheny Seminary of the United Presbyterian Church of Allegheny City, Pa., where he took a full theological course of four years, and was licensed to preach the Gospel Sept. 3, 1862, by the Lake Presbytery of the United Presbyterian Church, and was ordained and installed June 23, 1863, as pastor of the churches at Sheakleyville and New Vernon, Mercer Co., Pa., and continued over that charge for six years, giving entire satisfaction as a teacher of the Gospel, and proving his ability as a winner of souls to the Standard of Christ by increasing the membership of the churches in large measure. He was then called to Sidney, Shelby Co., and to Wellsville, Columbiana Co., Ohio, and on Jan. 1, 1883, assumed the duties of pastor of the U. P. Church at Sharon, Pa., where he officiated until Nov. 8, 1892, when he came to Mt. Jackson, and began his work in the U. P. Church with one hundred and twenty-five members, and by his earnest efforts has increased the membership to one hundred and sixty-six. The church was organized about 1820 or 1822, and the first church home was erected in 1825; this structure was replaced with a frame edifice in 1857, in dimensions 40x50, which is still occupied, and is located a half a mile south of the village. Mr. Bailey has also been instrumental; in beautifying and remodeling the parsonage. He is a man of great power, of exceptional organizing ability, and merits well the esteem in which he is held; he is popular among all classes, the rich and the poor and the old and the young, for he has always a friendly greeting ready for everyone, and ever looks on the very brightest side of life. His life-partner, with whom he was united in marriage bonds Oct. 19, 1860, was before her marriage Belle Porter, a daughter of John M. and Isabella (Guy) Porter. She was born in Mahoning township, this county, but passed the most of her years of young womanhood at Clarksville, Mercer County. It affords us great pleasure in being able to present the portrait of Mr. Bailey which appears in connection with this sketch on a preceding page. HENRY C. ALBORN [p. 81] is a representative farmer of Shenango township, and resides on his farm on lot No. 65, Donation Land, Shenango township, about four miles south of the city of New Castle. Mr. Alborn comes from the German Fatherland, that proud old empire which has contributed to the United States so many of the best and most substantial citizens of the country. He was born in the village of Fuerstenhaagen, Nov. 7, 1839, and is a son of Augustus and Christiana (Elias) Alborn. Our subject's mother was born near Fuerstenhaagen, where her parents lived and died. Augustus Alborn was a miller when a resident of Germany. He set sail from Bremen for America in August, 1846, and after a long sea voyage of fifty-one days in a sailing vessel, he landed at Baltimore, Md. From that city he came direct to Pittsburg, and thence to Beaver County to the home of kinsfolks, who had preceded him to the New World which was so rich in promise to the Old World emigrant. After living two months with relatives, Mr. Alborn purchased a farm of fifty-five acres in Franklin township, Beaver County, and with true German thrift soon began adding to it, first by a purchase of ten acres, and then by a subsequent purchase of forty acres adjoining, making altogether a farm of 105 acres. Later on, he bought another farm of fifty acres near by, and took up his residence on the latter farm, renting his former home, but still cultivating the land. His death occurred in December, 1885, when he was aged seventy-eight years. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church. Henry C. Alborn, the eldest of five children, three of whom were born in Germany, was seven years old, when his parents came to America. He was sent to school in Beaver County, and continued to be a quite regular pupil until he was seventeen years of age, from which age until he was twenty-two years old he remained under the parental roof, and worked for his father. He then began life for himself, renting at first a farm from his father in Perry township, Lawrence County, which he operated for three years. He then bought seventy-five acres in Franklin township near his father, where he lived and labored for ten years. In 1874 he bought his present farm of ninety-six acres in Shenango township, on which are standing a fine brick house and substantial outbuildings. Mr. Alborn devotes his time and attention to general mixed farming, and to the manufacture of cider, having a large steam-power press in a convenient location on the homestead. He has planted choice trees, kept fences and buildings in excellent repair, and everything in and about the premises betokens the existence of thrift and prosperity. He is favored with a good, physical constitution, and combines strictness of moral principles with energy and decision of character, winning honorable success in business, and securing a competence as a product of personal industry and good judgment put forth in a field wisely selected. On March 14, 1861, Mr. Alborn was joined in marriage with Miss Caroline Young, who was born in the village of Deutchweiler, Rheinfahls, Baiern, one of the provinces of Germany, and was a daughter of John and Mary (Mueller) Young, the latter a daughter of George Jacob Mueller, a tailor by trade, who lived and died in Germany. John Young came to the United States in 1852, sailing from Havre, April 3, and reaching New York City in twenty-six days. He came direct to Beaver County, where an uncle had preceded him, and for the first year after his arrival rented a house, and worked at what his hands could find to do, becoming acquainted with the American language and American customs in the meantime. In 1853, he bought a fifty-six acre tract of land and began improving it; this continued to be his home until his death in 1858, when aged fifty-two years. Of a family of four born to her parents, Mrs. Alborn was the third in seniority. Our subject's union with his estimable wife, has resulted in six childrenÑMary Amelia, deceased; Caroline, the wife of Rev. Ivan Dietrich of Allegheny City, to whom she has presented four childrenÑTheodore, Hilda, Luther, and Herman; Charles F., whose sketch appears elsewhere in this Book of Biographies; Henry; Tillie; and Frank. Mr. and Mrs. Alborn with their family are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Alborn is a Democrat in politics.