History of Franklin County Pennsylvania United States of America

Our database does not include an historic photo for Franklin County Pennsylvania, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!

Biographies:

James Potter, soldier, was born in Tyrone, Ireland, in 1729; son of John Potter, who immigrated to America with his wife and children in the ship Dunnegall, landing at New Castle, Del., in 1741, and settled in 1746 in what became Cumberland county, Pa., in 1750, and was high sheriff of the county in 1750, 1754 and 1755. James Potter was commissioned ensign in Lieut.-Col. John Armstrong's battalion. Feb. 17, 1756, and was wounded in the expedition against Kittanning, Sept. 7, 1756. He was promoted lieutenant, 2d battalion, Oct. 23, 1757; captain, Feb. 17, 1759, and in 1764 commanded three companies on the northern frontier. He removed to Sunbury, Pa., in 1769; was appointed a justice of Northumberland county in 1772, removed to Union county, and settled in Penn's Valley in 1774. He was elected colonel of the upper battalion of Pennsylvania patriot militia, Jan. 24, 1776, and commanded a battalion in the battles of Trenton, Dec. 26, 1766, and Princeton, Jan. 3, 1777, being wounded at Princeton. He was promoted brigadier-general of Pennsylvania militia, April 5, 1777, and commanded a brigade at Brandywine and Germantown. He also served on the outposts of Washington's army at Valley Forge; during the summer of 1778 he assisted in repelling Indian invasion in Penn's Valley, and in July, 1779, he removed to Middle Creek, Pa. He was a member of the supreme executive council in 1780, vice-president of Pennsylvania in 1781, and was defeated as president by John Dickinson. He was appointed major-general of Pennsylvania militia, May 23, 1782, and was a member of the council of censors in 1784. He was married, first, to Elizabeth Cathcart; secondly, to Mrs. Mary (Patterson) Chambers. He died in Franklin county, Pa., in November, 1789.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Charles Thomas Campbell, soldier, was born in Franklin county, Pa., Aug. 10, 1823. He received his education at Marshall college. At the outbreak of the Mexican war, in 1847, he entered the army as 2nd lieutenant in the 8th U. S. infantry, and was promoted to the rank of captain in August, 1847, and was mustered out of the service in 1848. He was elected a member of the lower house of the Pennsylvania legislature in 1852. In the civil war he was commissioned colonel of the 1st Pennsylvania artillery, May, 1861, and transferred to the 57th infantry in December of the same year. At Fair Oaks he had his horse shot under him and received two severe wounds. He was taken prisoner with his whole regiment, but turned upon his captors and succeeded in carrying two hundred of them into the Federal lines as prisoners. His wounds prevented any further active service, and he was promoted a brigadier-general on March 13, 1863, and removed to Dakota.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Samuel Wylie Crawford, soldier, was born in Franklin county, Pa., Nov. 8, 1827; son of the Rev. Dr. Samuel Wylie and Jane (Agnew) Crawford. He was graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1646 and from the medical department in 1850. He entered the U.S. army as assistant surgeon, serving in Texas and Mexico, 1851-57, and Kansas, 1857-60. In 1860 he was stationed in Charleston harbor and made one of the brave garrison that defended Fort Sumter, being in command of a battery during the bombardment. He was transferred to Fort Columbus, New York harber, on reaching that city in April, 1861. In August, 1861, he was commissioned major, 13th U.S. infantry, and in 1862 was made brigadier-general in the volunteer army. He was conspicuous at Winchester, and at Cedar Mountain he lost one half of his brigade. At Antietam he succeeded to the command of General Mansfield's division and was severely wounded in the action of that day. He commanded the 3d division of the 5th army corps, made up of the Pennsylvania reserves, at Washington, D.C., early in 1863, and led them in the hattie of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863. He was with the army of the Potomac in all the operations under General Grant till the surrender, and won promotions at the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Petersburg and Five Forks for conspicuous bravery, his brevets reaching that of major-general, U.S. volunteers, and brigadier-general in the regular army in 1865. He was mustered out of the volunteer army in 1866 and served with his regiment. He was promoted colonel of the 16th U.S. infantry in February, 1869, and was afterward transferred to the 2d infantry. In February, 1873, he was retired with the rank of brigadier-general, by reason of disability consequent to his wounds. He was made a member of the Geographical society of Mexico in 1858; a fellow of the Royal geographical society of Great Britain in 1879; a member of the Historical societies of Pennsylvania and New York, and a member of the military order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He received from the University of Pennsylvania the degree of. LL.D. in 1867. He died in Philadelphia, Pa:, Nov. 3, 1892.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Franklin County Pennsylvania

Biographies:

Local History and Genealogy Links: