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BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA

clearings of a sturdy pioneer. With characteristic industry and energy he set about the task of clearing out a farm and the founding of a home, upon which homestead he spent the remainder of his days. Coming to this country during the formative period of our government, the various theories of government and party principles were hotly discussed, and Thomas Jefferson was the political idol of a large following of worshipers, he became a staunch democrat, and adhered steadfastly to that party all his life. He was a devout Presbyterian, and stood high in Masonic circles.     His marriage with Mary McClain resulted in the birth of seven children, all of whom are deceased. They were James, who did honorable service for his country in the War of 1812, and afterward settled in Black Lick township, this county, where he held honorable place among his neighbors, and served as a justice of the peace; William, who emigrated to the state of Iowa and followed farming; Elizabeth, who married Jacob S. Ambough, who was also a soldier in the War of 1812; John, the father of the older members of the family; Daniel W. and Dr. John C., of South Fork; George, died young; David, died young; Catherine, and Alexander, who was a farmer near the old homestead of the family at Armagh, and with whom Catherine lived.     John Luke (father) was born in Indiana county, and attended the subscription schools of the vicinity of Armagh which were noted as being in advance of those of other sections of the country at this period. He was diligent and industrious in his studies, and secured an equivalent of a good common-school education, and for a number of years followed teaching.     After his marriage, or about 1828, he, with his wife, with no other possessions than a

strong arm, a stout heart and unyielding courage, removed into the virgin forests of Black Lick township, this county, and there founded a home and cleared to cultivation one of the finest farms in the township. Prior to 1860 he was a democrat, but, upon the issues of that campaign, became a republican. His wife died in 1858, fourteen years prior to his death in 1872, and he made his home with his children at Riter's Furnace, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. In 1871 he was afflicted with a stroke of paralysis, but through kind nursing and good medical attention, was supposed to have entirely regained his health in 1872, when in August of that year he started afoot for Summerhill, to visit his son, Daniel W., who then lived at that place. On account of sickness, or some unknown cause, he lost his way and never reached his destination. As soon as it became known that he was missing, the alarm was given, and hundreds of people scoured the woods diligently searching for him; he was not found until twelve days had elapsed, when he was found quietly sleeping the sleep that knows no waking on a rude bed of leaves and moss he had hastily constructed by a log, only a short distance from his old home.     His marriage with Charlotte George resulted in the birth of the following children: N. G., who, after attending Meadville College, joined Erie conference as a Methodist preacher; Mary, widow of the late Philip W. Pringle, of Summerhill, this county; James, deceased: Elizabeth deceased, was the wife of William C. Ellis, of Iowa; Dr. John C., whose sketch follows; Charlotte, wife of Patrick Bremen, of McKean county, this State; Daniel W., whose sketch follows; Catherine wife of Hugh Roberts, Jacob, William, and David, deceased.

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