This series is based upon J. W. Jordans 1913 Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania. Only the structure and formatting have been changed for clearer presentation; the genealogical and biographical content has been preserved.
Showing 1–20 of 76 articles
The Dana Family of Bradford, Pennsylvania
This genealogical sketch traces the Dana family from French roots in Alsace to their settlement in western New York and later Bradford, Pennsylvania. It follows several generations, beginning with Anthony Dana and his children, then focusing on George Dana and his descendants, many of whom became farmers, hotel proprietors, oil producers, and other workers in the Bradford region. The account notes marriages, children, occupations, church affiliations, and places of residence, showing how the family spread across New York, Pennsylvania, the Midwest, and beyond. It also highlights the family’s close ties to the local oil industry and the broader immigrant experience.
The Eastman Family of Smethport, Pennsylvania
This genealogical sketch traces the Eastman family from Roger Eastman, who came from England to Salisbury, Massachusetts, in 1638, through successive generations in New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and Pennsylvania. It follows the line down to Luther Eastman of McKean County and his son John Boothe Eastman, a Smethport official and civic leader, while also noting related Squires ancestry through Evalyn Squires, John Boothe’s wife. Along the way, the account records births, marriages, occupations, military service, church connections, and local residences, offering a detailed family history tied to early New England settlement and later western Pennsylvania life.
The Seaward Family of Bradford, Pennsylvania
This genealogy traces the Seaward family’s origins from Amos Seaward of Almond, New York, through his son Joseph Stevens Seaward, who settled in Tarport, Pennsylvania, in 1843 and became a farmer and public official. It follows Joseph’s large family, including Levi Seaward, a Civil War veteran who later worked the family homestead and held local offices. The account also outlines the Cole family line connected by Levi’s marriage to Mary Jane Cole, with details on several generations, migrations, military service, occupations, marriages, and descendants in Pennsylvania, New York, and beyond.
The McCalmont Family of Franklin, Pennsylvania
This article traces the McCalmont line from its legendary Irish and Scottish origins to its establishment in Pennsylvania, where successive generations became prominent in the Franklin and Venango County area. It follows the family from early emigrants and frontier settlers through lawyers, judges, soldiers, and public officials, including Judge Alexander McCalmont, General Alfred B. McCalmont, and later descendants such as Samuel Plumer McCalmont and David Burnett McCalmont. Along the way, it preserves family traditions, Revolutionary-era service, pioneer recollections, and the family’s role in local civic, legal, and political life across the nineteenth century.
The Barr Family of Bradford, Pennsylvania
This genealogy traces the Barr family’s Pennsylvania roots from an early Lancaster County settlement near Quarryville, where Martin Barr built the notable stone residence known as the “Ark” in 1790. It follows several generations as the family moved westward into Butler, Crawford, Erie, and McKean counties, documenting farmers, colliers, coopers, merchants, and oil industry workers. The account gives special attention to Christian S. Barr of Bradford, whose steady rise through the Tide Water Pipe Company made him a respected local citizen, as well as to his wife, Elizabeth Ellen Marshall, and their daughter, Gretchen Freda Barr.
The Morrison Family of Smethport, Pennsylvania
This genealogical sketch traces the Morrison family line from Hugh Morrison, an immigrant from the North of Ireland, through several generations in Pennsylvania and New York. It emphasizes William Morrison, a prominent farmer of Pleasantville, and especially his son, Judge Thomas Anderson Morrison, whose Civil War wound, legal career, and judicial service in Venango, McKean, Potter, and the Pennsylvania superior court shaped the family’s public standing. The article also follows the Gardner and Rust lines connected by marriage, showing the ancestry of Helen Sophia Gardner Morrison and linking the family to early New England settlers, Revolutionary War service, and later…
The Hogarth Family of Smethport, Pennsylvania
This article traces the Hogarth family of Smethport through several generations, beginning with William Hogarth of Scotland and his son, Dr. Frederick William Hogarth, a physician and pharmacist who settled in McKean County after serving in the Civil War. It follows the family’s move from Scotland and England to Pennsylvania, highlighting Dr. Hogarth’s establishment of the county’s first drugstore and the continued prominence of his son, Leon Keating Hogarth, in Smethport civic and business life. The piece also connects the Hogarths to the Bennett, Powell, and Weaver families, outlining marriages, children, military service, and local ties across Pennsylvania and beyond.
The Boardman Family of Derrick City, Pennsylvania
This genealogy traces the Boardman family from its English and colonial roots to its Pennsylvania descendants, with special attention to the line settled in Warren County. Beginning with early emigrants to New England, it follows several generations through Connecticut and New York before reaching Jared Boardman and his son Alphonso Marcellus Boardman of Derrick City and Bradford. The account includes family migrations, marriages, children, and occupations, along with public service, Civil War service, and religious and fraternal affiliations. It also provides a related Kay family line through Alphonso Boardman’s wife, Alice Kay, adding further context to the family’s Pennsylvania connections.
The Clark Family of Smethport, Pennsylvania
This genealogy traces the Clark family from its traditional origins in Devon, England, through early colonial Connecticut and into Bedford, New York, before later branches settled in Bainbridge, Sidney, Binghamton, and Smethport, Pennsylvania. It follows multiple generations of farmers, landowners, merchants, surveyors, and lawyers, noting marriages into the Smith, Phelps, Foote, and other families, as well as Revolutionary and Civil War service. The account highlights the family’s long connection to Presbyterian life, its acquisition of substantial landholdings, and the later prosperity of Joseph Foote Clark and his descendants in western New York and Pennsylvania.
The Houghton Family of Bradford, Pennsylvania
This genealogy traces the Houghton family from its ancient English roots through several generations in New England and Maine, emphasizing its descent from early colonial settler Ralph Houghton and the family’s longstanding prominence. It follows the line through James, Ephraim, Elisha, Moses, and later descendants, including the minister Rev. Moses Henry Houghton, who served congregations in several states and in Bradford, Pennsylvania. The article also connects the Houghton line with the Martin, Tuttle, and Estes families through marriage, providing dates, children, residences, occupations, and other family details that place the Bradford branch within a broader historical and genealogical network.
The Gorton Family of Smethport, Pennsylvania
This genealogy traces the Gorton family from Samuel Gorton, an English immigrant and outspoken defender of religious liberty in early New England, through successive generations in Rhode Island, New York, and Pennsylvania. It follows the family line from colonial leadership and military service to later occupations in farming, trades, and public office, ending with Sheridan (2) Gorton of Smethport, a lawyer, civic leader, and fraternal organization member. The article also includes the Eaton family line through Lucy C. Eaton, Sheridan Gorton’s wife, linking another prominent New England family to the Gorton descendants.
The Stull Family of Eldred Township, Pennsylvania
This genealogy traces the Stull family from John Stoll, an early Sussex County, New Jersey settler of Dutch origin, through several generations that moved into Pennsylvania. It highlights Captain Jacob Stoll or Stull, a Revolutionary War officer whose military service and later life in Elmira, New York, are well documented, then follows his son Joseph Stull to Eldred Township, McKean County, where the family established farms and local roots. Later generations include farmers, carpenters, merchants, teachers, and Civil War veterans, with descendants linked to nearby towns in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and beyond.
The Sanborn Family of Bradford, Pennsylvania
This detailed family history traces the Sanborn line from its early New England roots through successive generations in New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and Pennsylvania. It follows the descent from John Sanborn and Anne Bachiler to later descendants who became farmers, church members, soldiers, and community leaders, including the family’s connection to the founding of Sanbornton, New Hampshire. The narrative also moves into the Pennsylvania branch, highlighting Bijer and Marks B. Sanborn of Bradford and East Bradford, along with their children and grandchildren, and includes brief biographical notes on occupations, marriages, migrations, and public service.
The Gillett Family of Smethport, Pennsylvania
This article traces the Gillett family line from French origins through several generations in New England, Vermont, New York, and beyond, with particular attention to the descendants who settled in western Pennsylvania. It follows Jonathan and Martin Luther Gillett, then provides a detailed account of Dr. James Selah Gillett’s education, Civil War service, medical career, and family connections. The piece concludes with the life of Mellville Gillett, whose work in engineering, natural gas, electricity, and Ohio politics led him to Smethport, where he established his home and continued his business and civic interests.
The Johnson Family of Bradford, Pennsylvania
This genealogy traces the Johnson family from Captain Edward Johnson, an early New England settler, through successive generations to the Bradford, Pennsylvania branch. It follows the family’s migration from Massachusetts and Vermont into Pennsylvania, highlighting descendants who served as farmers, civic leaders, ministers, and military officers, including Lieutenant Ezekiel Thomas Johnson, a Civil War veteran and later Bradford oil businessman. The article also connects the Johnsons with the Sawyer, Rogers, and Bayley families, showing the interwoven New England roots that shaped the family’s history. Along the way, it records marriages, children, and notable public service across multiple generations.
The Holmes Family of Smethport, Pennsylvania
The surname Holmes is of ancient English origin and most of the American families of the name are descended from three brothers, emigrants, who came to New England before 1650. (I) Francis Holmes Francis Holmes, immigrant ancestor of the line following, was an inhabitant of Stamford, Connecticut, as early as 1648. His will dated September 6, 1671, is recorded in Fairfield, Connecticut. In it he mentions wife Ann and four children. Children of Francis and Ann Holmes (II) John Holmes John, second child of Francis Holmes, was born in England. He married, 1659, Rachel Waterbury, of Stamford; ten children. Children…
The Green Family of Smethport, Pennsylvania
This genealogy traces the Green family from its English origins to settlement in Pennsylvania, focusing on William A. Green and his descendants in Smethport and nearby communities. It outlines William’s arrival in the United States in 1872, his work and family life, and the later career of his son Samuel Green as a carpenter, contractor, and community member in McKean County. The account also connects the Greens to the Taylor and Provin families through marriage, recording children, residences, occupations, and other family relationships across several generations, with many descendants moving to Pennsylvania, Washington, Illinois, and other states.
The Corwin Family of Smethport, Pennsylvania
This genealogy traces the Corwin line from Matthias Corwin, who came from England to New England in the 1630s and settled on Long Island, through successive generations that remained prominent in Southold and later in Pennsylvania. It follows the family’s movement from colonial Long Island to McKean County, highlighting farmers, carpenters, merchants, and Revolutionary War service. The account gives details on marriages, children, property ownership, military experiences, and local civic life, with special attention to Benjamin Corwin of Smethport and his descendants, including Franklin Corwin and Ghordis Burdette Corwin.
The VanDyke Family of Smethport, Pennsylvania
This genealogical sketch traces the VanDyke family from its Dutch origins and early American tradition to several generations in northwestern Pennsylvania. It follows Augustus VanDyke and his descendants, including machinist Abram VanDyke and his children, many of whom lived in Bradford, Oil City, Kane, and nearby towns. The article also profiles Rev. William Elmer VanDyke, whose career led from store clerk and supply company manager to Episcopal ministry, including service in Smethport, Kane, Pittsburgh, and Osceola Mills. Alongside family marriages, occupations, and children, the piece preserves a detailed record of the family’s ties to local history and church life.
The Gleason Family of Smethport, Pennsylvania
This genealogical sketch traces the Gleason line associated with Smethport, Pennsylvania, beginning with early New England ancestry and moving through Amos Gleason and his son Ira Sylvenus Gleason, who established the family’s presence in McKean County. It describes Ira’s harness business, civic service, and church involvement, then follows his son Ralph Corwin Gleason, a photographer and local official. The article also details Ralph’s marriage into the Ryan family, including the military service and New England roots of Harriet Marsh Ryan. In addition, it presents a substantial Stanton lineage, linking the family to colonial Connecticut, frontier settlement, and later migration into…
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