Luzerne 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.

David BREADING Biographical Sketch

David Breading, who was the son of .Tamos and Ann Breading, was one of the early settlers of Fayette County, moving thereinto in 1794 from Lancaster County, Pa. He entered the army as a private in 1776, and passed the winter at Valley Forge, and was afterwards made an officer of the commissary department, wherein he continued during the remainder of the war of the Revolution, except for a short time while he was aide-de-camp to Gen. Maxwell in the battle of Monmouth, during which Mr. Breading was witness of a notable incident in the military career of the " Father of his Country." While the battle was progressing, Gen. Maxwell, thinking that the division general, Lee, was not conducting his forces as he should, sent Breading to Gen, Washington, then in a distant part of the field, to inform him of the state of affairs. Washington on receiving the dispatch asked, "Young man, can you lead me to Gen. Lee?" Breading replying, "Yes, general," Washington promptly said, "Well, you lead and I will follow," and soon Breading became witness of the severe reprimand which, as is well known, Washington bestowed upon Lee, curses and all.

In 1785, Mr. Breading married Elizabeth Clark, of Lancaster County, Pa., and moved to Luzerne township, Fayette Co., in 1794, as above noted. He had a large number of children, the majority of whom died of yellow fever, at about the same time, in Vincennes, Ind. The only surviving member of David Breading's family is Maj. Clark Breading, who resides at Uniontown, and at whose death, he having no male issue, the name of Breading of this stock will become extinct. Maj. Breading has a daughter, Mrs. Dr. O. E. Newton, of Cincinnati, Ohio.

James E. BREADING Biographical Sketch

JAMES E. BREADING. James E. Breading, son of Judge Nathaniel and Mary Ewing Breading, was born at Tower Hill farm, Luzerne township, Fayette Co., Pa., Oct, 19, 1789. While quite young he entered on his long career as a merchant at New Haven, in his native county, then the centre of the largest and almost the only iron interest west of the mountains. Thence he removed to Brownsville, and there pursued the same Hue of business until the death of his father made it necessary for him to take charge of Tower Hill farm in 1822. He removed to Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1829, where, in connection with his brother-in-law, George Hogg, and William Hogg, the uncle of George, both of Brownsville, he embarked very largely in the wholesale trade of groceries and dry-goods. Herein, by his recognized character for honesty and integrity and his fine business capacities, he was eminently successful, and secured the confidence and respect of a large community with which he had business relations. He retired, however, some years before his death to enjoy that rest in the evening of his days to which his long life of activity entitled him.

Mr. Breading was connected with the commissary department during Gen. (afterwards President) William H. Harrison's campaign against Tecumseh and his braves. He was for many years connected with a large mercantile establishment in St. Louis as a silent partner, holding the most responsible position in the house.

In 1821, Mr. Breading married Elizabeth, daughter of William and Mary Ewing, and died without issue in Allegheny City, Nov. 19, 1868, his wife surviving him. His remains were interred in Allegheny Cemetery.

Mrs. Elizabeth Ewing Breading, his widow, now in the eighty-fourth year of her age, resides at Emsworth, a few miles west of Allegheny City, on the Fort Wayne Railroad, where she passes her venerable years in affluent domestic quiet, her life being now given, as her earlier days were in a great measure expended, in literally doing good, and commanding the affection of all who know her.

Judge Nathaniel BREADING, Biographical Sketch

Among the immigrants into Fayette County at an early day was Judge Nathaniel Breading, a man of strong character and of peculiar note in his times. His grandfather, David Breading, was of Scotch descent descent, and was born near Coleraine, Londonderry Co., Ireland, and coming to America settled in Lancaster County, Pa., about 1728, bringing with him his family, of whom was his son James, the father of Nathaniel Breading.

Nathaniel Breading, son of the above-named James and Ann Ewing Breading, was born March, 1751, in Little Britain township, Lancaster Co., Pa. Being given a fine classical education, he took charge of an academy at Newark, Del., and afterwards taught school in Prince Edward County, Va.

We next hear of him serving in the army of the Revolution under his future father-in-law, Gen. Ewing, commissary of the Pennsylvania line, while the army was encamped at Valley Forge during the hard and gloomy winter of 1777. Having married Mary Ewing, he removed his family to Tower Hill farm, Luzerne township, Fayette Co., in 17S4. During 1785 he was appointed one of the five justices of the peace, who were the sole judges in the Court of Common Pleas for some years, until Judge Addison was appointed president judge, on which event Mr. Breading was appointed associate, and continued such until his death. After the close of the war he was chosen as one of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, with whom was lodged all the executive power of the State. This office he held about five years, until the adoption of the new constitution of 1790 providing for the election of a Governor.

At an early day Judge Breading did much to develop the infant trade between the western counties of the State and New Orleans by sending annually to that market a flat-boat laden with flour and whiskey, at that time almost the only articles of production and export, though as he was early engaged with John and Andrew Oliphant in the furnace business, they occasionally included salt- and sugar-kettles, hollow-ware, etc.

During the troublous times of the Whiskey Insurrection Judge Breading, as a law-abiding citizen, used all his influence in maintaining the laws taxing whiskey, notwithstanding these laws were destructive to his interest and so obnoxious as to create a rebellion which could be suppressed only by the strong arm of military force. So strong indeed was public opinion against the excise laws that large amounts of Judge Breading's property were burned by the insurgents. He, in connection with Edward Cook and John Oliphant, was a delegate from Fayette County to a convention of gentlemen which met at Pittsburgh, Sept. 7, 1791, to take measures in regard to suppressing the Whiskey Insurrection.

Judge Breading was commissioned by the State, March 5, 1785, to survey all the lands then recently purchased from the Indians north and west of the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers to Lake Erie, as also to assist in running the lines between Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ohio.

We recur here to the days of Judge Breading's early manhood to note that he purchased the Tower Hill farm, before referred to, in 1783, buying at that time the tomahawk right of one McKibben, who had taken it up and was then living upon it, and " paid out the land" to the State in 1784, and immediately moved upon it, and in 1790 built thereon a stone house, which is in perfect preservation, and is now in the possession of one of his grandsons, George E. Hogg. Judge Breading lived continuously in this house after its erection, and died therein.

Judge Breading was very enterprising, and aside from various other important operations he, in company with others, built at Brownsville, in 1814, a steamboat named the " Enterprise," which was the first steamer built at Brownsville, and which, after making a number of trips to Pittsburgh, was sent down the river to New Orleans and never returned. In 1810 the same persons built a second steamer.

Nathaniel Breading died April 22, 1822, his wife, Mary Ewing, surviving him, and dying Aug. 31, 1845, aged seventy-eight years. Their children, now all deceased, were George; Mary Ann, intermarried with George Hogg; James E., who married Elizabeth Ewing; Sarah, who married Dr. James Stevens, of Washington, Pa.; Harriet, who was the wife of Dr. Joseph Gazzam; Caroline Margaret, who married Dr. Joseph Trevor, of Connellsville and Pittsburgh, Pa. ; Elizabeth, who married Rev.Wm. B. Mcllvaine ; William E., a lawyer, who died in the twenty-fifth year of his age; and two children who died in infancy.

Nathaniel Breading and his wife Mary, as also his father, James, and his wife, Ann Ewing, were interred in the Laughlin burying-ground, two and a half miles east of Brownsville, in sight of the National road.

Benjamin COVERT, Biographical Sketch

BENJAMIN COVERT. The progenitor of the Coverts in the United States was one Abraham Covert, who came from Holland to the colonies about 1707. Of his family nothing is now known except that he had a son Abraham, who raised a family of eight children, — four sons and four daughters. The sons were Abraham, Isaac, John, and Morris. These four sons in time became widely separated. Abraham remained East, while the others sought their fortunes in the West. John settled north of Pittsburgh. Morris first lived in New Jersey, and there married a Miss Mary Mann. After his marriage he moved to Col. Cresap's estate on the Potomac, in the State of Maryland, where he resided some years. About the year 1780 he moved to Fayette County, Pa., and located about three miles west of Beesontown, now Uniontown, where he purchased a farm of three hundred acres for eight hundred and fifty dollars, on the old Fort road leading to Redstone Old Fort. Here he lived and died, and raised a family of eleven children, — six sons and five daughters. The oldest son, Joseph, married Nancy Borer, of Harrison, Ohio, where he lived and died. The second son, Abraham, married C.ithariiie Black, and they removed to Harrison County, Ohio. The third son, John, married Amy Doney, and lived on the Mouongahela River, in Luzerne township, Fayette Co., and died in his ninetythird year. The fourth sou, Morris, was an itinerant Methodist preacher. He married Nancy Purcell, of Chesapeake Bay, and died near Clarksburg, W. Va., aged about sixty years. Jesse, the youngest son, married Henrietta Gibson; resided principally in Fayette County, Pa., and died at the age of fifty-five. Benjamin Covert was born July 10, 1799, on the old homestead, where he grew to manhood. He married Abigail Randolph, and removing to Harrison County, Ohio, in 1820, settled on the Stillwater, and there resided until 1830. Two of his children, Richard and Marv, were born there. He next removed to a farm on Short Creek, in the same county. There he remained three years, and there his youngest daughter, Elizabeth, was born. He then moved to a farm in Luzerne township, Fayette Co., Pa., which he purchased from George Custer. It contained two hundred and fourteen acres, and cost him two thousand six hundred and fifty dollars. Here he has resided for forty-eight years, doing good as the Lord prospered him, "by helping to build churches in the Bend and at the Landing, and sustaining the ministers of his church, as well as contributing to the support of others." He has been an ardent Methodist for sixty-four years. His father and mother were Methodists, as were also his brothers and sisters. They are all dead, having lived and died meek and humble Christians. He alone of the family survives, in his eighty-third year.

His children are Richard, who resides on the old homestead; Mary, married to D. H. Wakefield, of Jefferson township, Fayette Co., Pa.; and Elizabeth, married to Joshua Strickler, of Luzerne township. With but little intermission he has held an office in the church during the entire time of his membership. His start in life was a strong constitution. He has always been noted for his sobriety, indomitable energy, frugality, and rectitude of purpose.

William EWING Biographical Sketch

WILLIAM EWING. William Ewing, one of the early day eminent men of Fayette County, was born May 19, 1769, in Peach Bottoms, York Co., Pn. He was the son of George Ewing, who was a brother of the Rev. Dr. John Ewing, of Philadelphia, a great scholar and an able minister of that period, and for many years professionally connected with the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Ewing was a man of great scientific attainments, and was commissioned to run the southern line of Pennsylvania.

William Ewing who for some time resided with his uncle, Dr. John, and under his direction had made considerable progress in studies, including that of medicine, following his brother Naihaniel (afterwards of Vincennes, Ind.) and his two sisters, who preceded him by about two years, left York County, and came as a surveyor into Fayette County abont !790, when he was about twenty-one years of age, and took up a tract of land and built thereon a house in which he lived, and wherein he died in 1827.

He married, in 1791, Mary Conwell, daughter of John Conwell and Elizabeth Stokeley (her family perhaps coming from New Castle, Del.), a woman of great spirit, natural talent, and energy. She became the mother of a large family, widely scattered and occupying influential positions in society. Their children were Hon. George Ewing, born Feb. 27, 1797 (afterwards of Houston, Texas); Judge Nathaniel Ewing, born July 18, 1794, of Uniontown ; Hon. John H. Ewing, born Oct. 5, 1796, of Washington, Pa.; James, born April 18, 1807, of Dunlap's, Creek, Pa.; Mrs. Elizabeth Breading, born July 9, 1799, and Mrs. Maria Veech, born Aug. 22, 1811, of Emsworth; Mrs. Ellen J. E. Wallace, born Jan. 23, 1819, of Allegheny City; Mrs. Louisa Wilson, born March 8, 1802, of Uniontown; Mrs. Mary Ann Mason, born Feb. 24, 1816, of Muscatine, Iowa; and Caroline, born April 20, 1804, and who died in infancy.

William Ewing was one of the early settlers of the Dunlap's Creek district, Fayette Co., together with other of the now "old families" who came from York and Lancaster Counties, — the Breadings, Conwells, Crafts, Davidsons, Finleys, Hackneys, Peterses, Wilsons, — all associate names well known among the early inhabitants, and in these times also.

William Ewing and his son, John H., of Washington, constructed the National road between Hillsborough and Brownsville. He was appointed by the Governor of the State a justice of the peace, and held that ofBce with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the public until the constitution of the State made it elective.

He was a man of strong mind and excellent judgment, together with great physical strength; an active and enterprising business man, who kept up close relationships with the prominent characters of his day. He was a Federalist in politics, and often took an active part, especially in the Ross and McKean campaign of 1800.

William Ewing died Oct. 21, 1827, of what perhaps would now be called typhoid fever. He lies buried in the Conwell family graveyard, on the old homestead farm of Jehu Conwell, and is remembered as one of those substantial, honorable, public-spirited men of whom the community was justly proud.

Alexander GIBSON Biographical Sketch

ALEXANDER GIBSON. The progenitor of the Gibsons of Luzerne township was one James Gibson, who migrated from Ireland in 1770, and located in Chester County, Pa., and engaged in farming. He followed his vocation until 1776, when he entered the Continental army and served until the surrender of Cornwallis. After the surrender he found that two of his brothers were soldiers in the British army, having been pressed into the service by the mother-country. At the close of the struggle they settled in Virginia, and their descendants nearly all reside there. James Gibson's home continued in Chester County until 1790, when he emigrated to Southwestern Pennsylvania, and settled upon a farm in Luzerne township, where his son Alexander afterwards lived and died, and which now in possession of Mr. Oliver Miller. James Gibson was married to Margaret Lackey in 1792. They had six children, of whom Alexander, the subject of this sketch, was the third. He was born June 8, 1797. His early life was spent upon his father's farm, and received his education in the country schools of that period. He began work for himself at the age of twenty years, engaging in wagoning from Wheeling to Baltimore, and in 1820 changed his route to and from Baltimore to Nashville, Tenn. Here he, in company with Levi Crawford, now living in Luzerne township, spent two years trading with the Cherokee Indians. In 1823 he returned to Pennsylvania, sold his team, and purchased a farm. On the 24th of June, 1824, he was married to Mary Hibbs, of Redstone township. To them were horn six children, four of whom are living, viz.: James G., married first to Mary Rodgers. They had two children, -John A. and Mary R. Mary died in 1860. He was married again June 25, 1867, to Rebecca J. Haney. Margaret J., married to William H. Miller; Mary A., married to Oliver Miller. They have two children, Albert G. and Emma V. Albert M., married to Alice Frey. They have one child, Nellie.

The most of Alexander Gibson's active business life was spent in farming and stock-dealing. He was industrious, a good manager, and accumulated enough property to give each of his children a fair start in life. He never sought political preferment. He was prompt to perform what he promised, and was highly esteemed by his neighbors. He was eminently a man of peace, and never had a lawsuit in his life. He was for many years an active member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and his Christian life challenged the respect of those who knew him. He died July 12, 1875, and his remains rest in the Hopewell Cemetery. His wife, Mary, died Jan. 25, 1876.