Chaptee Xxtiii
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CHAPTEE XXTIII. BIOGRAPHIES—SOUTH SIDE. Archibald Agnew, farmer, P. O. Sheffield, was born July 4, 1823, on a part of the old McCoy place, where his father then resided. His grandfather, Robert Agnew, was a native of Ireland, came to America, joined the continental army, and became one of the heroes of the revolution. He was captured, and taken to Quebec and confined on an English prison ship three months. After the war he went to Cannonsburg, Pa., and from there to the wilderness of Beaver county. He settled on Raredon's Run, lived here about fifty years, and died at the home of his son, William, aged eighty-five years. He was a member of the Old Seceder's church. His wife was Margaret Cornagy, who died young. They had three sons and three daughters. Of the sons William married Jane, daughter of David and Nancy (Shearer) McCoy. They had eiglit children, four of whom are deceased: John, Agnes, Esther and William. The last mentioned died in Libby Prison. Those living are Archibald, David, Jane and Samuel. William Agnew died at the age of seventy-eight years. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church; in politics a Democrat. Archibald Agnew, subject of this sketch, married Mary .J., daughter of John Purdy. Three children have blessed this union: James P. (died young), John C. and Margaret, the latter wife of John Greene. Mr. and Mrs. Agnew are active members of the United Presbyterian church. He is a Democrat and has held various township offices. Joseph Alexander, farmer, P. O. Seventy-Six, is a grandson of Robert Alexander, of Scotch descent, who came to Beaver county at an early day and settled near Seventy- Six, then in Hopewell township, and died there. His wife was Nancy Phillis, and they had nine children: David, Joseph, James, Alice, Nancy, Rebecca and Margaret reached maturity; Alice (Mrs. Gilbreth) and Rebecca (Mrs. Glaspey) are yet living. David married Mary, daughter of Jacob Phillis. David Alexander was a man well known throughout the country, was born Feb. 14, 1806, and died on the old homestead, July 20, 1869. His widow was born in 1804, and is yet living. He was a Democrat and held the office of constable for twelve years or more. He was the father of six children, Margaret A. (Mrs. Johnston), Jacob P., Joseph, Eliza A., James M. and David S. Of these Joseph married Louisa, daughter of James S. Alexander. They have two chil- dren: James Ray and David A. Of these James Ray is married to Anna Newingham, and has two children: Joseph S. and William. Mr. Alexander is a Democrat, and has served sixteen years as constable and assessor of Independence township. He owns a farm of eighty-two acres. Joseph Allen, farmer, P. O. Industry, is a native of Washington county. Pa., born in 1817, of Scotch-Irish descent. Eli Allen, a farmer and a native of the same county, married Sarah Griffith, by whom he had three sons and two daughters, the eld- est of whom, Joseph, father of our subject, also born in Washington county, was a farmer and boat builder. He married Annie Thompson, of Fayette county. Pa., and she bore him five children. Joseph, the third child, remained in his native county until 1866, when he came to Beaver county. He received a common-school education, and in early youth learned carpentering, which he afterward followed in connection with ship- building. For thirty-five years he was engaged on the river in various kinds of work on steamboats, as mate, engineer and captain. Retiring in 1878 he purchased the prop- 834 , BIOGEAPHIES SOUTH SIDE. 826 erty where he now resides, and devotes his attention to farming. He was married, in 1837, to Kebecca Jane, daughter of Kobert and Elenor Lyons, of Irish extraction, and they have five children: Ruth Auu (now Mrs. Reed), Florilla, (now Gallagher), 3[arga- ret Marie (now Mrs. Gormley). Joseph, at home, and Sarah Jane (now Mrs. Surles). Mr. Allen and family are members of the Presbyterian church; he is a Democrat. Benjamin Andekson, farmer, P. O. Murdocksville, Washington county, is a grand- son of Benjamin Anderson, of Scotch descent, but a native of Ireland. He first settled in Washington county, and later moved to Hanover township, Beaver county, where he died, aged about fifty-eight years. His wife was a Miss Campbell of an old Scotch family. They had eleven children, all born in Hanover township, of whom two are now living: Mrs. Betsey Shillito, of Beaver, and Mathew Anderson, of Hookstown. The others were John, Ella, Nellie, Mary, James, Edward, Benjamin, Robert and Beuoni. Of these John moved to what is now Bockstown, then known as "Anderson Still House," and carried on distilling and milling until about 1848, when he removed to Independence and continued milling for a few years, and then went to California, where he died in 1857, aged fifty-eight years. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of David Miller, and died young, leaving six children: Elizabeth, Benjamin, David M., Mary E., John and Samuel. Of these Benjamin and David M. accompanied their father to California. David lived awhile in Chili, South America, returned to Beaver coun- ty, studied medicine, and settled in Washington county. He was a surgeon in the late war. Benjamin left California and went to Honda, United States of Columbia, where he was superintendent of mining for an English syndicate. Pie remained for five years, super- intending from 100 to 150 natives, none of whom could speak English. He returned to Beaver county in 1877, crossing the Gulf of Mexico in a small boat. He owns 284 acres of land in Beaver county. In 1882 he went to Colorado in the interest of the Comstock Mining Company of Beaver, for whom he has made several trips. His wife is Orrie Burretta, daughter of David P. and Elizabeth (McDonald) Scott. James R. Anderson, farmer, P. O. Murdocksville, was born Aug. 30, 1830, on the old Anderson homestead settled bv his grandfather, William Anderson, a native of Ire- land. The latter married a widow Logan, who had one child, James Logan. William Anderson was shot through the shoulders by the Indians early one morning, but man- aged to escape to Fort Dillow, which place his wife and youngest child reached in the night, James Logan, aged six years, and William Anderson, aged two years. .James Logan remained with the Indians until he was twelve years old, and then made his way to Fort Mcintosh, but William Anderson never returned. Years afterward his children wrote to their uncle, Thomas Anderson, making inquiries about their white relatives and stating that their father had become a chief. Their descendants had been educated at Carlisle, Pa. William Anderson, the pioneer, had six children: William, Alexander, Thomas, David, Mrs. Robert Calvin and John. Thomas was twice married. His first wife, a Miss Patton, had ten children: Juliet, David, William, Esther, Angeline, Mary, Sarah, Armor, Clarissa and Matilda. His second wife was Jane, daughter of James Patton, a native of Maryland. She died April 9, 1881, aged ninety-one years, the mother of three children: Catherine J., James R. and Alexander H. The parents were members of the Hopewell Presbyterian church, which ]\Ir. Anderson helped to build, and of which he was for many years a trustee. James R. has been a successful farmer and owns 200 acres of land, a part of the old homestead. He has been twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Culley. She had one child, Ada ^I. who is the wife of Edward Inglefield. His present wife is Sarah, daughter of Peter Lance. She has four children: William T., Charlie B., Bertie J. and Ida May. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are members of the Presbyterian church: he is a Republican. John Anderson, miller, P. 0. Xew Shettield, was born Nov. 5,1531, in Washing- ton county, Pa. His grandfather, John Anderson, came from Ireland and settled in West Virginia in an early day. His son, Andrew, was born in "W^est Virginia and set- tled in Washington county. Pa., where he farmed until 1837: then removed to Raccoon township, Beaver county, where he died at the age of seventy-three years. He was a . 02b HISTORY OF BEAVER COUNTY. member of the old Seceder's church, in -which he was for some time an elder. In politics he was a Democrat. He was an excellent lifer, and was always on hand muster day. His wife, Hannah Wykoflf, died at the age of eighty-two years. Their children were Mary J., Nancy Ann, Margaret, Sarah, John, Catherine, James W., Andrew J. and William M. John was a farmer in Raccoon township until 1869, when he came to Hopewell township and engaged in milling. He first owned and operated a water and steam mill half a mile from New Shetheld, and in 1878, built the steam mill, which he has since operated in New Sheffield . He also has a farm of fifty acres . He was married, June 21, 1855, to Mary £., daughter of James and Margaret (^McCuone) Buchanan. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are members of the United Presbyterian church, of which he has been an elder many years. In politics he is a Democrat; has held many township ofBces, and is now justice of the peace Silas Aten, farmer, P.O. Frankfort Springs, is a son of Jacob and Eliza (Brown) Aten. His paternal grandfather was a native of Germany, settled in Hancock county, W. Va. , and raised a large family. Jacob and Eliza Aten had nine children.