and a man of great prominence. He was a Republican in his political
affiliation, and held a number of public offices, among them being those of
sheriff, state treasurer and commissioner general. It was one of his great-
est pleasures to breed fine horses, and those on his farm had a wide repft-
tation. He married Sarah McClain. The Irwins were one of the old
families of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Noss had children : Sarah J., married
A. McDonald; Mary, married W. C. Neel; Margaret, married J. W. Jack;
Nancy, married J. J. McCaslin; Frances, married William Klepper; Fanny,
died in infancy; Emma, married J. J. Ellis; William, deceased; J. Boyd,
deceased; Curtis C. (see forward).
(IV) Curtis C, son of Jacob J. and Anna (Irwin) Noss, was born
at the old Noss homestead, opposite Vanport, Beaver county, Pennsyl-
vania, April 9, 1858. He was educated in the public schools of Beaver
county, from which he was graduated, and was then sent to take a com-
plete course in Williams' Actual Business College in Pittsburgh. His
entrance into business life was as a pilot on a river boat, and he held the
rank of captain when he retired from this labor after about twenty-five
years. He touched at Pittsburgh, Louisville, and many other important
points and cities. Later he became a dealer in real estate, taking charge
of all of his own enormous interests and those of others. He was one of
the organizers of the Rochester Trust Company, and vice-president from
1902 until 191 1, when he was elected to the presidency, an office he is
still filling with remarkable executive ability. He has for many years
been greatly interested in the improvement of the Ohio river, and in 1902
called to his office a representative group of men and helped organize the
Dravo Waterways Association, having the improvement of the Ohio river
in view. He has been a member of the school board of Freedom, and a
director of the Rochester General Hospital. He was active in the councils
of the Republican party. He has laid out many lots in the town, and has
greatly increased the real value of the property. For many years he was a
member of the Beaver Valley Country Club, and he is also a member of
the order of Free and Accepted Masons, and is a Knight Templar.
Mr. Noss married, in 1891, Charlotte S. Stewart, who was born in
Beaver county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of E. Pentland Stewart. She
also is a granddaughter of Judge Pentland, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
her grandmother being Hannah Lacock, a sister of General Abner Lacock,
a former United States senator from western Pennsylvania.
4vAaiu, ^,%Mki
BEAVER COUNTY 1051
Samuel Mecklem, born in the eastern part of Pennsyl-
MECKLEM vania, came to Beaver county, with his young wife, and
located at Brush Creek, about the year 1800. They cleared
the land and converted it into a farm. His wife was Rachel McDaniel,
also born in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch-Irish descent.
They had children : William, see forward ; Gideon ; Jethran ; Smith ; Archi-
bald ; Rachel ; Sarah ; Eliza.
(II) William Mecklem, son of Samuel and Rachel (McDaniel) Meck-
lem, was a farmer at Brush Creek, Pennsylvania. He married Nancy
Strock, daughter of Mathias and Lydia Strock, of Brush Creek, Beaver
county, Pennsylvania, where the former was also engaged in farming.
Mr. and Mrs. Strock had children: George, David, John, Lillian, Nancy,
mentioned above; Catherine. William and Nancy (Strock) Mecklem had
children : Mathias, see forward ; Samuel, Rachel, Joseph, Lydia, John.
(III) Mathias Mecklem, son of William and Nancy (Strock) Meck-
lem, was bom in Merion township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, May 8,
1840. He was educated in the schools of Merion township, and at the
age of eighteen years apprenticed himself to Richard Hart, of North
Sewickley, Pennsylvania, to learn the trade of carpenter. He served two
years with Mr. Hart, after which he was employed in Indiana, by Henry
Allman, with whom he was for about two years. He then returned to
Pennsylvania, where he followed his trade, being in the employ of William
Kuntz, of Rochester, Pennsylvania, for several years. In 1867 he engaged
in business for himself as a contractor and builder, in which line he con-
tinued until his death, which occurred December 13, 1890. He erected
many houses in Beaver county, especially in Monaca and Rochester. Mr.
Mecklem was a Democrat in his political belief, and very strongly partisan,
devoted to his party. In his fraternal relations he affiliated with the Knights
of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in the latter order
also belonging to the Daughters of Rebekah. He married Mary Eliza
Hunter, daughter of John and Ellen (Wines) Hunter, their marriage taking
place March 9, 1862. Their children were: i. Nancy, born February 12,
1863 ; married Charles Musser, and had : Mary, Ada, John, Beula, Jennie,
deceased; Bella, deceased; Thomas, Charles. 2. Eliza, born July 9, 1865,
now deceased; she married Joseph Ecofif; they had one child, Vetta, now
deceased. 3. Addison, bom August 13, 1867, died young. 4. Child, twin
of Addison, died at birth. 5. William John, mentioned below. 6. Joseph,
twin, mentioned below. 7. Sarah, born November 17, 1872, twin; she
married D. L. Shanor ; children : Mae, Paul, Wayne. Lee, Anderson, Edith.
8. Rachel, born May 14, 1875; married (first) Sherman Fletcher, January
12, 1896; they had one child. Pearl. Sherman Fletcher died in 1900; she
married (second) Anderson Davidson, October 16, 1901 ; they have chil-
dren: John, Margaret, Anderson. 9. Samuel, born March 6, 1882, died
young. ID. Lester O., bom May 7, 1886, see forward.
(IV) William John Mecklem, son of Mathias and Mary (Hunter)
I052 PENNSYLVANIA
Mecklem, was bom September ii, 1870. He was educated in the public
schools of Rochester, and commenced work with his father when he was
sixteen years of age, and so continued until his father's death. He then
finished his trade with Saul Bennett, and then entered the employ of Isaac
Barto, for whom he worked for the next year. He then went to Pitts-
burgh and worked two years. Then he entered the employment of the
Phoenix Glass Company as head carpenter, which position he held for
twenty years, when the firm of Mecklem Brothers was organized, of which
he is a partner. He does the buying and selling for this concern, which
under his able and efficient management is very successful. He is a
Republican in his political affiliation. His fraternal orders are: United
Order of American Mechanics, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Daugh-
ters of Liberty, Daughters of Rebekah, and Apple Tree Camp, No. 5,
Woodmen of the World. He is a member of the Methodist church, in
which he is an enthusiastic worker, and a member of the official board.
He also served on the school board four years.
William J. Mecklem married, September 8, 1896, Ida Youngling, who
died in 1910. Their children were: i. Arietta Mae, who was educated
in the public schools of Monaca and at Duff's Business College, of Beaver,
and is now bookkeeper for Mecklem Brothers. 2. Roy Henry.
(IV) Joseph Mecklem, son of Mathias and Mary (Hunter) Mecklem,
was bom in Rochester, Beaver county. Pennsylvania, November 17, 1872.
He was educated in his native city, and from early years became familiar
with the contracting business. For a number of years he was associated
with his father, and in 1893 established himself in business independently,
conducting it alone until February i, 1913. The firm of Mecklem Brothers
was then organized, this including his brothers, William J. and Lester O.
They are general contractors and dealers in builder's supplies, and they
have the most prosperous lumber yard and mill in that section. Their
place is located in North Rochester, and they have done much of the city
construction work, among the buildings erected by them being the Wahl
and Doyle building, the Eagle building, the City building, and the Method-
ist Episcopal church. Mr. Mecklem is a Democrat, and while he gives
earnest attention to all matters of public import, he has never desired
to hold public office. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church,
and a steward ; and of the following fraternal organizations : Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, Patrons of the Home Circle, Knights of the Golden
Eagle, Workmen of the World, and Apple Tree Camp, No. 5, Woodmen
of the World. Mr. Mecklem married, March i, 1891, Lily F., daughter of
Jackson Brewer, and they have had children : Hazel A., Arthur J., Charles
C, Helen A., all of whom attend school.
(IV) Lester O. Mecklem, son of Mathias and Mary (Hunter) Meck-
lem, was born in Rochester, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, May 7, 1886.
He received his education in Rochester, and learned the carpenter's trade
with his brother Joseph. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
BEAVER COUNTY 1053
church, and a trustee, and also of the Workmen of the World and the
United Order of American Mechanics, and Apple Tree Camp, No. 5, Wood-
men of the World. For some time he has been a member of Mecklem
Brothers, mentioned above. Mr. Mecklem married, January 6. 1904, Bessie
Young, born near Alton, Illinois, daughter of Henry J. Young, whose
occupation is that of glassblowing. They have one child, Paul Henry.
Mary (Hunter) Mecklem was a daughter of John Hunter, who was
born near Unionville, Pennsylvania ; married Ella Wines, bom near Little
Washington. Enoch Hunter, father of John Hunter, was of Irish descent
and married Mary Musser, who had German ancestors. He settled near
Unionville at an early date and there reared his family. William, a brother
of Enoch Hunter, was active during the Civil War, was confined in Ander-
sonville prison, and was liberated when almost dead. Another brother,
Abel Hunter, lost a leg at the battle of the Wilderness.
Johnston is an old Scotch name, a modification of the
JOHNSTON English name Johnson, and wherever this spelling is
found it marks its bearers as of Scotch descent. It is
very widely represented in this country, especially in Pennsylvania, by
descendants who came from the north of Ireland, and are known as the
Scotch-Irish.
(I) James A. Johnston, probably born in Beaver county, Pennsyl-
vania, was a plasterer and farmer by occupation, and died at the early
age of thirty-four years. He married Mary Jane Rhodes, born in Chippewa
township, Beaver county, a daughter of Smiley and Lydia (Strain)
Rhodes, whose ancestral history will be found at the close of this sketch.
Children: George, who was burned to death at the age of three years;
William Ross, who was graduated from the Medical College of Cincin-
nati, Ohio, followed special lines of medical work in the hospitals of New
York City for a time, and is now engaged in private practice.
(II) Frank Howard Johnston, son of James A. and Mary Jane
(Rhodes) Johnston, was born in Chippewa township, Beaver county, Penn-
sylvania, June 13, 1869. His early education was acquired in the public
schools of his native township, after which he attended the normal school
at Ada, Ohio. Having served his apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade he
followed this occupation for a period of eight years, and then became a
fireman on the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie railroad. During the course of the
twenty years he was connected with this company he was advanced to the
responsible position of engineer, an office he filled with ability. In 1904
he was appointed engine dispatcher and has held that position up to the
present time. He also has important business interests, being senior part-
ner in the firm of Rhodes & Johnston, dealers in building materials at
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Order of Mechanical
Engineers, the Free and Accepted Masons and the Brotherhood of Loco-
motive Engineers, Division No. 148. Mr. Johnston married, September
1054 PENNSYLVANIA
19, 1893, Elizabeth Vandevort, born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, but
residing in Missouri at the time of her marriage. Children: Dorothy
May and Mary Mabel, also two who died in infancy.
(The Rhodes Line.)
(I) Zachary Rhodes commences the history of this family in Rhode
Island. He was born in 1603, and settled in Rehoboth in 1643. I" 1644,
with other settlers, he signed an agreement forming a town government.
In 1646 he left Rehoboth, crossed the river and bay to Rhode Island, and
with others settled at Pawtuxet, where he became a large owner of land.
His reason for leaving Massachusetts appears to have been of a religious
nature, as records show that he refused to comply with the Massachusetts
law which sought to compel him to contribute for the support of preach-
ing. In religious sentiment he was an Independent or Baptist. Without
doubt he was banished from the colony because of his peculiar views, but
he became a man of strength and influence in the community in Rhode
Island. From 1664 until 1665 he was treasurer of the town of Providence,
and at the same time was a member of the town council. In 1658 he was
admitted a freeman. He was a member of the general court at Portsmouth
in August, 1659, and in 1662 and 1663. In 1661 he attended as commis-
sioner from Providence the general court at Newport, and was appointed
member of a committee to adjust difficulties existing between Massa-
chusetts and Rhode Island, and was also appointed, with Roger Williams
and others, to draw up and sign an address to His Majesty, King Charles
II. In March, 1663-64, as deputy from Providence, he attended the gen-
eral assembly of Rhode Island, held at Newport, and also in 1665. In
1653 he with five others, signed an address to the court assembled in Boston,
asking that Pawtuxet might be dismissed from the government of the
Massachusetts Colony. He made his will in 1662 and died in 1665. In
1646 Zachary (or Zachariah) Rhodes married Joanna Arnold, born Febru-
ary 27, 1617, died in 1692. Children: Jeremiah, born June 24, 1647;
Malachi ; Zachariah ; Elizabeth ; Mary ; Rebecca ; John, of further mention ; '
Peleg.
(II) John Rhodes, fourth son and seventh child of Zachary and
Joanna (Arnold) Rhodes, was bom in 1658, died August 14, 1716. He
was admitted a freeman in 1681, at a meeting of the general assembly at
Newport, at which time he was a resident of Warwick. In 1700, at a
meeting of the general assembly held at Newport, he was elected general
attorney for the Colony of Rhode Island. In 1702-03-04 he was a deputy
from Warwick to the General Assembly, and in 1707 he was elected clerk
of the general assembly. He married (first) February 12, 1685, Waite
Waterman, born in 1668, died in 1711. He married (second) Sarah ,
born in 1653, died March 30, 1730. Children: i. Zachariah, bom at Scit-
uate, Rhode Island, November 5, 1687; married (first) Mary Randall,
(second) Mary Sheldon. 2. John, born in Warwick, November 20, 1691,
died in 1776; married (first) Catherine, a daughter of Lieutenant Charles
BEAVER COUNTY 1055
and Catherine (Green) Holden, (second) Mary Whipple. 3. Mercy, twin
of John, 4. Joseph, bom September 25, 1693, at Providence ; married Mary
Arnold. 5. William, born July 14, 1695 ; married Mary Sheldon. 6. Phebe,
born November 30, 1698; married (first) Anthony Holden, (second)
Samuel Aborn. 7. Resolved, born May 22, 1702; married Mary Greene.
8. WaitJ born December 16, 1703; married Abraham Sheldon.
Waite (Waterman) Rhodes was a daughter of Resolved and Mercy
(Williams) Waterman. The American progenitor of the Waterman family
was born in England in 1590, came to America in 1629, and was of Salem,
Massachusetts. He was one of the seven persons to whom Roger Williams
deeded land in Providence, and in 1639 was one of the original twelve
members of the First Baptist Church. He was one among those who signed
an agreement in 1640 for a form of government. In 1655 he was made a
freeman and served, respectively, as commissioner, juryman and warden.
He died in 1673, and his wife, Bethia, in 1680. Their children were:
Mehitabel, Waite, Nathaniel and Resolved.
Resolved Waterman, son of Richard and Bethia Waterman, was born
in 1638, died in 1670. He served as deputy to the general court in 1667.
He married, in 1659, Mercy Williams, born in 1640, remarried after the
death of her first husband, and died in 1705. Children: Richard, bom in
June, 1660; Mercy, 1662; John, 1666; Resolved, 1667; Waite, who mar-
ried John Rhodes, as above mentioned.
Roger Williams, father of Mercy (Williams) Waterman, and grand-
father of Waite (Waterman) Rhodes, founded the Colony of Rhode Island
in 1636. He was born in South Wales, about 1598, and was a son of
William Williams, of Conwyl Parish, He died at Providence, Rhode
Island, in 1683. He married, in 1632, Mary Warnard, who died in 1676.
They had children: Mary, born in 1633; Freeborn, 1635; Providence, 1638;
Mercy, who became Mrs. Waterman; Daniel, born in 1642; Joseph, 1643.,
(V) William Rhodes, great-grandson of John and Waite (Waterman)
Rhodes, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, March 18, 1749. He
must have come to Beaver county, Pennsylvania, prior to 1774, as he was
married there in that year. He was a Whig in political opinion. He married,
January 29. 1774, Elizabeth Maginn..
(VI) William (2) Rhodes, son of William (i) and Elizabeth
(Maginn) Rhodes, was bom January 10, 1788, died April 17, 1853. His
entire life was spent in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he was active
among the pioneer settlers of that section. His death occurred in what
is now Chippewa township. He owned about one hundred acres of land,
a large portion of which he cleared, and in 1826 he served in the office
of overseer of the poor in Chippewa township, as is stated in a document
now in the possession of his grandson, Robert J. Rhodes. He married,
January i, 1806, Margaret, bom April 2, 1871, died May 25, 1855, a
daughter of Andrew and Catharine Elizabeth (Mercer) Eberhardt, and a
niece of General Hugh Mercer, of Revolutionary fame. Children: i.
I056 PENNSYLVANIA
Jonathan, born September 30, 1806, died December 18, 1893 ; married Jades-
sah Powers Cross. 2. Milton J., born April 16, 1808, died February 8,
1882 ; married Sarah B rittai n. 3. Smiley, of further mention. 4. Margaret
Ann, born December 30, 1812, died March 2, 1903; married John Brittain.
5. William, born September 25, 1814, died November 28, 1883 ; married
(first) Mary Maria Baird, (second) Eliza Isabel McMillan, (third) Mary
Jane Whann. 6. Joseph Andrew, born December 3, 1816, died May 24,
1842; unmarried. 7. Robert Mann, born November 17, 1820, died Febru-
ary 21, 1902; married Emeline Powell.
(VII) Smiley Rhodes, son of William (2) and Margaret (Eberhardt)
Rhodes, was born March 20, 1810, died May 3, 1867. He married, April
27. 1841, Lydia Strain, born August 30, 1819, died June 10, 1869. Chil-
dren: I. Mary Jane, who married James A. Johnston (see Johnston I).
2. Benjamin Franklin, married (first) Martha Isabelle Wilson, (second)
Susanna Cunningham. 3. Nancy L., married Wallace Fields. 4. George
S., deceased. 5. Joseph Frazier, married Harriet Francis LittelL 6. Anna
Eliza, married William Cosgrove. 7. Matilda Emma, deceased. 8. Clar-
issa M., deceased. 9. Maurice Ellsworth, married Laura A. Reed.
The Anderson family of this review came to the United
ANDERSON States toward the end of the eighteenth or the beginning
of the nineteenth century.
(I) John Anderson came from Ireland, his native land, to the United
States, and settled in West Virginia. His son, Andrew (II), was born in
West Virginia, and when he had attained manhood, migrated to Washing-
ton county, Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in farming until 1837.
He then removed to Raccoon township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where
he died at the age of seventy-three years. He was a member of the old
Seceders' church, in which he was an elder for some time. In political
matters he was a Democrat. He was gifted as a musician, being an excel-
lent fifer, and was never known to fail on muster day. He married Hannah
Wykoff, who died at the age of eighty-two years. They had children:
Mary J., Nancy Ann, Margaret, Sarah, John, Catherine, James W., Andrew
J.. William M.
(Ill) John, son of Andrew and Hannah (Wykofif) Anderson, was
born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, November 5, 1831. He was a
farmer in Raccoon township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, until 1869,
when he came to Hopewell township, and there engaged in milling. He
first owned and operated a water and steam mill half a mile from New
Sheffield, and in 1878 built the steam mill at New Sheffield, which he
operated for a number of years. He also was the owner of a fine farm
of fifty acres. He was a Democrat, and worked earnestly in the interests
of his party. He held a number of township offices, among them being
that of justice of the peace, an office he filled many years. Devout and
sincere in his connection with the church, he served for many years as
BEAVER COUNTY 1057
an elder in the United Presbyterian church. Mr. Anderson married (first)
Mary Elizabeth Buchanan, born February 24, 1836, died February 8, 1890.
He married (second), November 14, 1898, Elizabeth L. (Eachel) McCoy,
widow of James McCoy.
Samuel Eachel, father of Mrs. Anderson, was born June 28, 1814,
and was a farmer at Clinton, Pennsylvania. He married Isabel , and
had children: , born February 22, 1835, died young; Harriet, born
January 11, 1836; Mary Ann, born December 2, 1837; Margaret Jane, born
August 2, 1840; Elizabeth L., of further mention; Charles, born October
23, 1845; Sarah Matilda, born May 26, 1847; Yolande, born October 24,
1849; twin of Yolande, both died young; Louisa Ellen, born August 3, 1853.
Elizabeth L., daughter of Samuel and Isabel ( ) Eachel, was
bom September 15, 1842, married (first) James McCoy, and had children:
Samuel, a farmer and oil producer near Weston, West Virginia; Eliza-
beth, married Samuel Schiller, a farmer near Petersburg, Ohio; Maude,
married Ernest Douthitt, of South Heights, Beaver county, Pennsylvania.
Elizabeth L. Eachel married (second) John Anderson, and now lives in
New Sheffield, Pennsylvania, in the house which he built when he first
came to that town.
The name of Edwards is one which has gained distinction
EDWARDS in this country as well as in Wales from which country all
bearing the name have sprung. Among the most noted of
this family is the Rev. Jonathan Edwards, the eminent divine.
(I) Joseph Edwards was born at Swansea, Wales, and emigrated to
America at the age of fifteen years. He located at New Castle, Lawrence
county, Pennsylvania, where he worked in the rolling mills all the active
years of his life, and died at the age of seventy years. He married
Leonard, and they became the parents of children: David, James, Hannah,
Sarah, Mary, Margaret, John W.
(II) John W. Edwards, son of Joseph and (Leonard) Edwards,
was born at New Castle, Pennsylvania, in September, 1846. The public
schools of his native town furnished him with a substantial education, and
he worked in the rolling mills all his life. He took an active interest in the
public affairs of the community, and gave his political support to the Re-
publican party. Mr. Edwards married Mary, a daughter of Silas Stevenson,
of New Castle, Pennsylvania, and they had children : Charles B., born in
1873, died young; Joseph S., of further mention; Gertrude, died young;
John H., born January 15, 1871, was graduated from the high school of
New Castle, then matriculated at the College of Pharmacy of the University
of Pittsburgh, and for a number of years after his graduation from this
institution he was employed as a prescription clerk in a drug store ; he then
became bookkeeper at the Standard Fire Clay Works, a position he is still
filling; he married Mae Foulke, and has children: Jane Estella and Ruth.
(III) Joseph S. Edwards, son of John W. and Mary (Stevenson)
I058 PENNSYLVANIA
Edwards, was born at New Castle, Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, August
25, 1875. He received his education at the public schools of Terra Haute,
Indiana, the public schools of Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, and was a
graduate of the New Castle Business College. For about nine years he was
employed as a bookkeeper, then in 1902, in association with James Garrett,
organized the Standard Fire Clay Works, of which he is the secretary and
treasurer. The plant is located in Fallston borough, and they manufacture
fire brick, the daily capacity being twenty thousand bricks, and the capital
stock is valued at thirty-five thousand dollars. He is the treasurer of the
Diedrick Glass Works, a corporation which was organized in 1914 for the
decoration of glassware, and which has now constructed a new plant at