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John Lincoln Stockdill
JOHN LINCOLN STOCKDILL, a prominent farmer and large landowner of
Mahonmg township, Armstrong county, was born there April 15, 1861, on the farm
where he still resides, in what is known as the Cove. This family has been
settled in the county for almost a century, and its members have been noted
for their high-principled, earnest, useful lives, as desirable associates in
all their social and business relations. The English name of Stockdale (Stockdill,
Irish), is derived from “stock,” fixed, and “dale,” town
or place, i. e., fixed town or seat. It is an ancient Norman name, brought to
England when the Conqueror came. In 1379 we find William and Johannes de
Stockdale, from whom it is supposed the Stockdales of England, the North of
Ireland, the United States and elsewhere are descended. King James desiring
that the escheated counties in the North of Ireland be peopled with English, a
branch of this family took land there and gave up all claim to titles and
interests in England, as did the Musgraves, St. Clairs and others, whose names
underwent similar mutations, becoming Musgrove, Sinclair, etc., as Stockdale
was changed to Stockdill.George Stockdill, grandfather of John L. Stockdill, was a native of County
Donegal, Ireland, born Oct. I, 1784, and was of Scotch Irish extraction.
Coming to the United States in June, 1822, he arrived soon after in Kittanning
and first made a settlement in Franklin township, Armstrong Co., Pa. In 1829
he purchased a tract of 103 acres in Mahoning township, which he cleared and
improved, and there he made his home until his death, which occurred July 9,
1857, when he was seventy-three years old. He was a Whig in politics, and in
religion a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church. On March 16, 1809, he
married Margaret Clark, who was born in 1785 in County Donegal, Ireland, and
died Jan. 9, 1871, aged eighty-six years. They had a family of nine children,
five sons and four daughters, namely: James; Mary Ann, who married George
Reedy; Thomas; William; Margaret, who married Joshua Foster; Elizabeth, who
married Peter Zimmerman Rebecca, who married John Foster; Joseph, and George.
Joseph and George succeeded to the ownership of the homestead, and George
bought his brother’s interest in 1861.George Stockdill was born June 26, 1827, In Franklin township, Armstrong
county, and passed practically all his life upon his father’s homestead, dying
there May 9, 1872, in his forty-fifth year. Though he passed away in his prime
he had accomplished much, he and his brother Joseph having added to their
original land holdings until they had 220 acres, upon which they made many
improvements, and in 1861 George purchased his brother Joseph’s interest in
his farm. In 1859 he erected the fine brick residence now occupied by his son
John L. Stockdill. Like his father he was a member of the Protestant Episcopal
Church, and in political sentiment he was a Republican, and he held several
local offices of trust. He was a charter member of the I. 0.0. F. lodge at
Putneyville. He married Martha Elizabeth Foster, like himself a native of
Armstrong county, who was born Aug. 7, 1826, daughter of Thomas and Catherine
(McCauley) Foster, who were born in lreland and on coming to Pennsylvania
settled in Armstrong county, being pioneers and highly esteemed residents of
what is now Wayne township. In the early days they raised their own flax and
wool, and wove it into cloth for their clothing. Mr. Foster was a member of
the Protestant Episcopal Church in Wayne township. He and his wife had eight
children, four sons and four daughters. Seven children were born to Mr. and
Mrs. George Stockdill, namely: Margaret C., born Nov. 25, 1849, died Aug. 21,
1861; Mary Jane, born Sept.30, 1867, married Jacob Milton Spence, a farmer of
Wayne township; Martha E. is deceased; Margery F., born Dec. 11, 1856, married
Rev. Joseph P. Calhoun, a Presbyterian minister, now of Knoxville, Tenn.;
Rebecca E. is deceased; John L. is mentioned below; George W. L. died in 1869.John Lincoln Stockdill was reared to manhood on his father’s farm and has
always resided there. He had the advantages afforded in the local schools, the
public school at Oakland and Glade Run Academy, and acquired a thorough common
school education. After leaving school he taught for one term, but farming has
been his life work and he has been highly successful in his chosen line. He
was willed a share in the homestead and purchased the interest of the other
heirs in the property, to which he has added another fifty acres, now owning
270 acres in one tract, which he keeps under excellent cultivation. His
enterprising nature is apparent in everything he undertakes. He not only
engages in general farming, but owns and raises fine stock, and buys and sells
teams. Recently he erected a fine barn at a cost of three thousand dollars,
and he is also making extensive improvements about his dwelling, all the
surroundings of this fine property showing his interest and good judgment. The
place is well equipped with modern machinery, and no detail essential to its
management is neglected. Mr. Stockdill has been chosen to various township
offices, the ability with which he has conducted his own affairs winning him
universal confidence among his fellow citizens.On Sept. 26, 1882, Mr. Stockdill was married to Annie 0. Alcorn, daughter
of Thomas and Martha (Reed) Alcorn, farming people of Wayne township, and
member of one of the old families of Armstrong county. Three children have
been born to this union: Thomas Merrill, born Feb. 18, 1888, was educated at
Little Washington, Butler county, and at Dayton, this county, taught school
for seven terms, and is now clerking for the W. B. Thom Hardware Company at
Tarentum, Pa.; the other two, Dessie E. and George Preston, the latter born
Aug. 29, 1899, are at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Stockdill are
members of the Presbyterian Church at Goheenville. He is a Republican in
politics, and socially belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees (New Bethlehem
Lodge, No. 170) and is a Scottish Rite Mason, having attained the
thirty-second degree in the latter fraternity; he holds membership in New
Bethlehem Lodge, No. 522, F. & A. M., Coudersport Chapter, R. A. M., and
the Temple, A. A. 0. N. M. S., at Coudersport.Source: Pages 613-614, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and
Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed October 2001 by Laurel Black Morris for the Armstrong County Beers
Project
Contributed for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
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