Menallen Pennsylvania Biographical Sketches

Transcribed by Jeffrey Tooley

Luzerne Township, Pennsylvania Biographical Sketches extracted from the History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania With Biographical Sketches Of Many Of Its Pioneers And Prominent Men, Edited by Franklin Ellis. Illustrated. Philadelphia: L. H. Everts & Co., 1882.

James ALLISON Biographical Sketch

James Allison, without whose biography the history of Menallen township, and particularly of the village of Searight's, would be incomplete, was born near Laurel Hill, in Fayette Co., Pa., Dec. 22, 1801. His parents lived and died in that neighborhood, and their remains were buried in the Laurel Hill graveyard. In early life James Allison moved from the locality of Laurel Hill, and settled on Redstone Creek, Fayette Co., Pa., and learned to be a fuller of cloth under William Searight, in whose family he ever afterwards made his home. When William Searight bought the homestead on which is the village of Searight's, James Allison moved with him to it, where he lived and died. He was born to no other inheritance than that of a noble character and good name, and was in early life thrown upon these his only resources. He held the responsible oflice of commissioner of the county from 1837 to 1840, and, as was the case in all his business transactions, acquitted himself creditably and honorably. He also held the office of justice of the peace for many years, and was postmaster at the village of Searight's from the time of the establishment of the office in 1845 until within a very short time of his death, having filled the longest continuous term of oflice of any postmaster in the State, and perhaps in the United States. So long and so very attentively did he occupy this position that he became a part of the town, thought to be entirely indispensable. He was a conscientious and consistent member of the Episcopal Church, and was for very many years senior warden of Grace Church, Menallen. He was married in early life, and his wile died shortly after their marriage. He had no family. The life of James Allison is well worthy of imitation. It was straightforward, unfaltering, unchequered, and uneventful. His habits were extremely plain, simple, sensible, sober, temperate, and industrious. His manner was free, open, friendly, frank, and courteous. His character was a perfect light-house of honesty, truthfulness, and uprightness. So highly was he esteemed for these qualities, it became a common saying in the surrounding community of which he was a part that "If Jimmy Allison says it is so it must be so;" or, "If Jimmy Allison did so it must be right." These sayings still reverently linger in the memories of his old neighbors. He died suddenly on July 4, 1881, of a congestive spasm, to which he was subject. His remains were interred in Grace Church burial-ground on July 5, 1881. The Rev. R. S. Smith, rector of St. Peter's Church, Uniontown, and Grace Church, Menallen, officiated at his funeral, and in the course of his remarks said that he had known James Allison intimately for twenty years, and for that period had been his personal friend, and he knew of nothing in his life and character that he would have blotted from the book of remembrance. Notwithstanding it was mid-harvest, and the weather was extremely hot, Grace Church was crowded by neighbors and friends to witness the funeral rites of James Allison — an honest man — "God's noblest work."

Hugh GRAHAM Biographical Sketch

Hugh Graham died at his home in Menallen township, May 19, 1S79, aged eighty-three years. He was born in the northern part of Ireland in 1796, and was of Scotch extraction, his father and mother having been born in Scotland. His education was received in the "pay schools" of Ireland. At an early age he learned the carpenter's trade in all its branches. When twenty-two years of age he emigrated to America. He stopped in Philadelphia for a short time, and was there in the employ of Stephen Girard, for whom he built some of the finest houses then in Philadelphia. He then moved to Pittsburgh, thence to Uniontown. Here he remained and worked at his trade for a number of years, building some of the finest houses in the county, among which are the Gallatin house of Springhill township, now owned by Mrs. John L. Dawson; the residence of Col. Samuel Evans, of North Union, the dwelling occupied by Judge Willson, the fine house on Main Street, Uniontown, formerly owned and occupied by the late Judge Nathaniel Ewing, etc. In 1822 he was married to Margaret Black, an estimable woman, of Menallen township. They lived together for fifty-two years, she dying about five years before her husband. They had eight children, — Catharine and William died young; Jacob married Caroline Gaddis, and is a farmer; Albert Gallatin graduated at Jefferson College, read law, and practiced in Jonesboro, Tenn.; he was also editor of the Jonesboro Union, and is now dead. Margaret married L. B. Bowie; Thomas Baird, who attended Emory and Henry College, near Abingdon, Va., read law and graduated from the Lebanon Law School of Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tenn., and practiced in Tennessee, Missouri, and at Pittsburgh, Pa., for several years. He is now engaged in farming. Hugh died when eighteen years of age; Jennie G. married William Thorndell, deceased.

Mr. Graham held several important township offices; was also director of the Poor Board. In all public positions he discharged his duties well. He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for a number of years. Although his early opportunities for education were limited, he by careful study during his spare moments stored his mind with a vast fund of useful knowledge. He possessed a retentive memory, and having once learned a fact he was able to repeat and detail it with the ease and grace of the true gentleman. He was a great admirer of the poet Burns, and could repeat from memory probably more of his poems, in their Scotch dialect, than any man who ever lived in Fayette County. He was ever ready with the Psalms of David and sacred lyrics learned at his mother's knee. He was especially noted for his retentive memory, his genial Irish wit, his great physical ability, honesty, charity, and industry. Mr. Graham was reticent in regard to his charities; in other words, modest, apparently not letting his left hand know what his right hand did. Like all generous, really strong men, he was never boastful, and was quiet in demeanor. Probably no man exceeded him in a due sense of all the proprieties of life and society. He suppressed all scandalous tongues that wagged in his presence, carrying out practically the maxim, " Let no evil be spoken of another."

Robert JACKSON Biographical Sketch

Robert Jackson was born in Menallen township, upon the farm where he now resides, Oct. 11, 1831. He is of Irish descent, and was educated in the common schools. He learned the business of farming, and has always been engaged in it. He was married Nov. 7, 1867, to Catharine Murdock, of Pittsburgh, Pa. They have no children. He has never held any office, and never sought one, and is not a churchmember. His father left him a small legacy, to which he has added yearly by good farming.

His father Zadock Jackson, was born in the same townsship, and was a farmer. He married Lydia Woodward. They had a family of eight children, only three of whom grew up. Robert is the eldest. Zadock the father, died May 7, 1861, aged fifty-six; Lydia, his widow, is still living. Mr. Robert Jackson is a modest unassuming man. He has a good farm, and enjoys the respect of his neighbors. He takes delight in his business, does all his work well, and is noted for his hospitality, charity, and industry. Mr. Jackson is a Republican in politics.

Jeremiah PEIRSEL Biographical Sketch

Jeremiah Peirsel was born in what is now Perry township, March 4, 1787, and died in Menallen township, Nov. 20, 1880. He was of Welsh descent, and educated in the common schools. He was married to Mary Beal, of Menallen township, in 1810. They had twelve children, seven sons and five daughters. He was always a farmer, and located upon the farm where his son Samuel now resides in 1824, and remained there until his death. He was an exemplary member of the old Redstone Baptist Church for more than sixty years. He never held a political office; never had a lawsuit; never had any difficulties with his neighbors. His long life was due in a measure, no doubt, to his amiable disposition. He had all the good qualities that usually attend a lovable disposition. He belonged to a long-lived family. The average age of himself, brothers, and sisters is eighty years.

His father, William Peirsel, came to Fayette County from Chester County, Pa., early in life. He married Grace Cope. They had eight children. Jeremiah was the third. William died in 1848, supposed to be over one hundred years old. Grace died in 1854, aged ninety-four.

Seven of the children of Mr. Peirsel are living, — Elizabeth, married to James McLaughlin; Samuel, married to Maria Radcliffe; Jeremiah, Jr., who married Melvina N. Frasher, and has one living son, Isaac F., who has received a liberal education, is a farmer, and is married to Mary Hormel, and has one cliild, Arthur L. Peirsel, the only grandchild of Jeremiah, Jr. The other four children are Sarah, married to Henry Frasher ; Anne, married to Jacob Grant; William, married to Catharine McKay; and Uriah, married to Dettie Swayne. One of his sons, Levi, was killed in the late war at the battle of Petersburg.

For a great part of her life the wife of Mr. Peirsel was seriously afflicted by mental maladies, and he took the utmost tender care of her, never being heard to complain of his unhappy lot.

Jeremiah Peirsel, Jr., well maintains the goodly name he bears, is industrious and thrifty, and in the enjoyment of a comfortable home and a competency, which he has acquired through his own energy and business sagacity. He, like his father, has the confidence of his neighbors, and if not so gentle and retiring as his father it is because the latter was extremely so.