Fayette County Genealogy ProjectGADDIS GADDIS: (p. 26-30) (II) Robert, son of William Gaddis, was born in Frederick county, Virginia, near Winchester, about 1742. He came to Fayette county with his brother John, and in 1785 purchased two hundred and thirty-seven acres of land about two and a half miles northwest of Uniontown, on the Pittsburgh road, the tract adjoining the farm of his brother John, the settlement being known as Gaddistown. The survey was made to Robert Gaddis, April 19, 1788. He married, and had a son John. (III) John, son of Robert Gaddis, was born in North Union township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He was known as "Muddy Run John," to distinguish him from others of the same name, John being a favorite name in the family. He was a farmer all his life, in North Union. He was a member of the Baptist church, a strict observer of the sanctity of the Sabbath, and although living five or six miles from his church, did not miss a Sunday service for twenty-five years. On Saturday afternoon he and family would begin preparation for the Sabbath; no cooking was done that day, everything for Sunday meals being cooked on Saturday; no work of any kind, not even shaving or blacking boots, was allowed on the farm-nothing but feeding and watering the stock. His life was ordered on the strictest line of Christian duty and self-sacrifice; withal he was just and generous, hard working, but asking none to do more than he did himself. He married Rachel Davis, who was born in Franklin township, Fayette county. Children: 1. James, a farmer of North Union township. 2. Robert, of whom further. 3. Sison, married a distant relative, John Gaddis, known as "Redface John," a farmer of North Union. 4. Ansley, died unmarried. 5. Priscilla, married Thomas D. Dixson, a farmer of Menallen township, Fayette county. 6. Sarah, married Caleb Fry, a farmer near Smock, Fayette county. 7. Mary, married Caleb Campbell. Two other children died in infancy. (IV) Robert (2), son of John and Rachel (Davis) Gaddis, was born on the home farm in North Union township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in October, 1809, and died in 1895. Early in life he learned the trade of carder and fuller, leaving home when but a boy to work in the woolen mills at West Newton, Pennsylvania. He also worked in the mills at Dunbar, Uniontown and New Salem, all in Fayette county. In 1846 he abandoned his trade and bought a good farm in Franklin township, Fayette county, and engaged in its cultivation until 1889, when he moved to Uniontown. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a Whig, later a Republican, but during the past twelve years of his life acted and voted with the Prohibition party. He was a justice of the peace twenty years, and also served as school director. When the Confederate forces invaded West Virginia and had captured Morgantown, he joined with other citizens of Fayette county to repel an expected attack on Uniontown, but their services were not required. He often laughingly alluded to his service of "one day." He was held in high esteem by all who knew him and exerted an influence for good. He married Sarah Carter, born in North Union in 1812, died in 1887, daughter of Benjamin and Hannah (Leonard) Carter. Children: 1. Hannah, married Rev. Josiah Mamsell, born in England, came to the United States when a young man; now in his ninetieth year, a retired minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, residing at Upper Middletown, Fayette county. 2. James W., a retired farmer of North Union township; married (first) Mary Henshaw, (second) Anna Porter. 3. Alice, died unmarried. 4. Albert, of whom further. 5. Allen, now engaged in the dairy business in Baltimore, Maryland; married (first) Jennie Bentley, of Monongahela City, Pennsylvania; (second) Esther Freeman, of Baltimore, Maryland. 6. John, died in infancy. (V) Albert, fourth child of Robert (2) and Sarah (Carter) Gaddis, was born in Franklin township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, May 30, 1849. He was educated in the Bute district school, Madison Academy and the State Normal School, at California, Pennsylvania. His early life was passed on the farm, but after leaving school he taught two years (1866-67) in the public school. He then located in Monongahela City, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the grocery business, being senior partner of the firm Gaddis & Marsh. He continued there five years, then sold out to his partner and moved to a farm near Fayette City. For the next two years he cultivated a farm with his brother-in-law, Mr. Patton. In 1879 he removed to the farm in North Union township, where he now resides. He continued there seven years until 1886, then in partnership with Ami G. Thomas he bought the flouring mill in Uniontown that stood across the street from the present site of Baltimore & Ohio depot. In March of the same year Mr. Thomas died, and on July 3d following, the mill was totally destroyed by fire. This misfortune and complete disarrangement of his plans did not deter or dismay Mr. Gaddis. In the fall of 1886 he formed a partnership with his brothers-in-law, B. V. and Samuel W. Jones, and built the splendid mill now standing on Mill street, in Uniontown. In February, 1887, the mill was finished and until 1906 the firm of A. Gaddis & Company operated it with most gratifying results to the owners. Mr. Gaddis was chief manager, and during the last years of their existence were running at an annual business of $300,000. They controlled local markets and furnished the finest brands of flour then known. In 1906 they sold the mill and business to Hogsett & Hankins and dissolved partnership. In 1897 Mr. Gaddis assisted in the organization of the Second National Bank of Uniontown, and for several years served on the board of directors. In 1901 he was one of the principal organizers of the Citizens' Title & Trust Company, of which he has been president since organization. They opened for business in November, 1901, and have had a very prosperous existence, the last report showing deposits of $1,300,000, with a surplus of $250,000, and undivided profits of $15,000. Their capital is $150,000. This showing stamps the management as of the highest order, but Uniontown banks are proverbial for solidity and wise management. Mr. Gaddis devotes his principal energy to his institution, having offices in the bank building, where he can usually be found during banking hours. He has, however, many important interests not connected with finance. He is a director and vice-president of the Waltersburg Coke Company; director of the Prospect Coke Company; president of W. A. Stone Coal & Coke Company; director of the Fayette Real Estate Company; president of the Uniontown Building & Loan Association; director and vice-president of the Uniontown Grocery Company; president of the Gaddis Coal Company, which owns fifteen thousand acres of coal land in Monroe county, Ohio: director of the Belton Coal Company. Mr. Gaddis is thoroughly sound and conservative as a banker, and as a business man progressive and ever on the alert. As an executive he is wise and careful, safeguarding the interests committed to him with a conscientious judgment that rarely misleads him. He is a strong Prohibitionist, having cast his fortunes with that party over a quarter of a century ago. While others have faltered and turned back, he has courageously adhered to his principles and may fitly be termed one of the "Old Guard" that "dies but never surrenders." He became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at the age of seventeen years, and has ever since been an active, consistent member. He was sent as a delegate to the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church held in Chicago, Illinois, in 1900. This was a well deserved honor to a faithful Methodist. He is fraternally an Odd Fellow, and a member of the Royal Arcanum. Mr. Gaddis maintains his residence at the old farm in North Union township, but each day finds him at his desk in the bank building, 17 West Main street. Mr. Gaddis married, October 25, 1871, Esther Jones, born in North Union township, daughter of John and Jane Jones (see Jones). Children: Jane Carter, and an infant, died at birth. (II) John Gaddis, second son of William Gaddis (q. v.), was born in Frederick county, near Winchester, Virginia, in 1743, died April 12, 1827. The date of the coming of John Gaddis is given as 1785, but this is the date of his land warrant in North Union township, and he had been in the county at a date as early as 1780. He settled in North Union township in 1785, where he purchased about three hundred acres of land with an allowance of six per cent for roads. The tract joined that of his brother Robert, giving the locality the name of "Gaddistown." His warrant was dated February 7, 1785, and a patent was granted March 30, 1786. He purchased a tract of forty and a half acres adjoining "Gaddistown," which he named "Oxford," and another of sixteen acres called "Cambridge." Warrants for these were issued March 6, 1794. He was one of the first justices of the peace and a member of the Great Bethel Baptist Church of Uniontown, a prominent active worker holding the office of deacon. He survived his wife, Sarah, twenty-five years, she dying January 7, 1802. Children: Thomas; Jonathan, died 1793; William, removed to the west; Jacob, farmed a part of the old homestead; John, of whom further; Mary, married James Allen and lived in Franklin township; Anna, died in 1799; Elizabeth, married and lived in Wilmington, Ohio; Priscilla, married Thomas Barton and lived in Menallen township, where she died during the winter of 1880-81, aged ninety years; Sarah, removed west with her brother William; Ruth, married and lived in Wilmington, Ohio. (III) John (2), son of John (1) and Sarah Gaddis, was born in North Union township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, September 5, 1788, died there February 2, 1868. He was a farmer and stock dealer of North Union township all his active years, and a member of the Bethel Baptist Church. He married (first) Sarah Barton, died in North Union township, August 9, 1849; (second) Sisson Gaddis, died in Uniontown, October 6, 1882. Children of first wife: Henry W., of whom further; Harvey; Alfred M.; Levi; Harriet, married Ellis Baily; Ruth A., married John D. Smith, resides in San Diego, California; Joseph Barton, resides in Frankfort, Indiana; all others deceased. Children of second wife: Thomas Barton, now of Uniontown, Pennsylvania; Eli Cope, resides in San Diego, California; Fannie G., married Lucien Carson, resides in Cadiz, Ohio; Jennie, married Hanson Rutter, resides in Uniontown, Pennsylvania; Ella, married John H. Clark, resides in Uniontown. (IV) Henry W., eldest son of John (2) and Sarah (Barton) Gaddis, was born in North Union township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, January 3, 1817, died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 28, 1896. He was educated in the public schools, and devoted his entire business life to farming and stock dealing, owning a good farm in South Union township. He was also a director of the National Bank of Fayette County. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian church. He married Ruth Anna Springer, who died in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, February 5, 1892, aged sixty-two years, daughter of Levi Springer, a farmer of North Union township, who died February 14, 1862, aged eighty-four years. Her mother was Catherine (Conden) Springer, who first married a Mr. Todd, was also a native of Fayette county, Pennsylvania. The sisters of Mrs. Ruth Anna Gaddis were: Catherine, widow of John Fuller, resides at Perryopolis, Pennsylvania; Priscilla, married D. O. Cunningham, of Pittsburgh, and died aged thirty-one years. John O. Todd, issue of the first marriage, and a half-brother of Mrs. Gaddis, died in 1907, aged eighty-four years. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Gaddis; 1. Levi Springer, of whom further. 2. Sarah Kate, married Colonel Henry E. Robinson, of the United States army, now residing at No. 28 Charles street, Uniontown, Pennsylvania. (V) Dr. Levi Springer Gaddis, only son of Henry W. and Ruth Anna (Springer) Gaddis, was born in South Union township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, February 2, 1850. He spent his early years at the home farm and attended the public school. He prepared at Madison Academy at Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and entered Washington and Jefferson College, of Washington, Pennsylvania, whence he was graduated, class of 1869. Having decided upon a medical profession he entered Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, whence he was graduated M.D., class of 1873. He was resident physician at Dixmont Hospital for the Insane for two years, then established in practice in Uniontown, where he still continues. He is highly regarded as a skillful practitioner and commands a most generous patronage. He is vice-president and director of the National Bank of Fayette County, and interested in other Uniontown activities. He is a Republican in politics, and for fourteen years served on the borough school board. He is a member of the Masonic Order, the Royal Arcanum and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His clubs are the Laurel and Uniontown Country. Source: New York |