Joseph Junkin & His Family    

JOSEPH JUNKIN AND HIS FAMILY.  It was in 1805 that John and Joseph Junkin, sons of the subject of this memoir, came to Mercer County to commence improvements on a property purchased by the father in 1800. This property was about two and a half miles south of the county town, and is known as the Hope Mill property. In 1806, Mr. Junkin came out himself, bringing along with him the balance of a large family, consisting of wife, sons and daughters. In a biography of his son George it is related that at what is now the foot of Federal Street, in Allegheny City, dwelt a Mr. Robinson, who had threshed rye for him in Cumberland County, and who offered him the farm on which the central part of the city now stands, from the second bank to the foot of the great hill, for $4,000. Mr. Junkin was well convinced of the speculation offered him, had the money wherewith to purchase, and although preparations had been made for his reception at Mercer, on land already owned by him, would probably have closed with Robinson’s offer, had not his son-in-law, John Findley, who was then prothonotary, etc., of Mercer County, strongly dissuaded him from entertaining the proposition. The result was that Junkin prosecuted his journey to Mercer, contenting himself to remain in moderate circumstances, while Robinson retained his farm, and, by the proceeds derived afterward from the sale of lots from it, lived and died a millionaire. The subject of this sketch was a soldier of the Revolution, and the commander of a company in the battle of Brandywine, a few days after which, in a skirmish, he received a musket ball through his right arm, shattering the bone. The torture arising from the wound, or perhaps loss of blood, caused him to faint and lie as one of the dead when the enemy passed over the ground. A shower of rain falling on him in the evening he revived, and sought by crossing fields and woods to get outside of the British lines unperceived. Providence directed his steps to the kitchen door of the residence of a Quaker named George Smith, who met and gently pushing him back said, "Friend, thee is in great danger; my house is full of British officers, and there in my meadow is encamped a squadron of British horse; but I will try to save thee." He took the wounded Junkin to his hay-loft, but in a short time returned, saying that the British officers demanded hay, and that their soldiers would be presently there to take it, so another hiding-place must be found. The loft over the spring house was the next place, where a bed was made of some bundles of flax for his resting place. Mrs. Smith soon afterward supplied him with a supper of scalded bread and milk, and with some linen cloths, with which he dressed his wounds. Before daybreak his host routed him out, and leading him past the sentries of the British encampment, and giving a hunting-shirt to cover his continental uniform, pointed the way of Washington’s retreat. This was not to be the end of his trouble. Soon after sunrise he was captured by two dragoons dressed in English uniform, who compelled him to march forward between the heads of their horses. Their questions as to who he was, and to what brigade he belonged, he answered truly. They marched him along for about a mile, he in the meantime determining to attempt escape when they reached a piece of woods in advance. When within a short distance of the thicket at which he contemplated making the attempt his captors said, pointing the way, "You will find your regiment encamped in a field just beyond this wood— we are Americans in disguise." The enfeebled man sank to the ground from the revulsion of feeling caused by this declaration, but with the assistance of the perpetrators of this rough jest played upon him was soon enabled to rejoin his company. A horse was then procured for him, a saddle improvised out of a knapsack stuffed with hay, with a rope bridle, he made his way home, a distance of ninety miles, in three days. Mr. Junkin was a valuable acquisition to Mercer County. He had means to enable him to put up a fine grist mill, saw-mill, fulling-mill and a carding machine, besides building what at that time was perhaps the finest residence in the county, which was recently torn down. He soon took quite an active share in the public, affairs of the county, in both church and politics, and was very active during the War of 1812 in sustaining the administration. In politics he was a Democrat, and being a ready and strong writer, was frequently pitted against Benjamin Stokely, who was a Federalist in his political views. He was not an office-seeker, but in 1818 was appointed county treasurer. It was in the fall of 1812 that his wife accidentally fell through the hatchway in his flouring-mill, dislocating the spinal column, and causing her death in a few days afterward, on the 17th of September. He died in February, 1831. Both father and mother were Scotch-Irish, and devotedly attached to the religious views taught by Calvin, not only to the dry doctrines of that faith, but cherishing in their hearts the warm and fervent feelings of a sincere, evangelical piety that impelled to activity and industry in the cause of Christianity. Eleven of their children reached adult life and married. Two of their sons, George and David, became ministers in the Presbyterian Church. Two of their daughters, twins, were married to ministers, of the Associate Reformed Church, Revs. Galloway and Buchanan. Including these, with other sons and sons-in-law, and grandchildren, the Christian ministers among his descendants, in 1876, numbered no less than fifteen, and ruling elders, sixteen. But it was in Capt. John Junkin that the people of Mercer County, of that day, took the deepest interest. From his engaging manners, probity and talents he secured the esteem, confidence and respect of his fellow citizens, both young and old, to a very great extent. When Hull’s surrender threw Ohio and Western Pennsylvania into consternation, he was first lieutenant of the Mercer Blues, a rifle company composed of men drawn principally from Mercer and the eastern side of the county. This company determined to answer the call of their country by volunteering for six months. The captain, who was John Findley, for a domestic reason that reflected credit rather than discredit, could not then leave his home, and resigned his command. John Junkin was then made captain, and Walter Oliver, a brother-in-law, succeeded to his place as first lieutenant, Joseph Junkin, a brother, being ensign. This company was remarkable in many respects. With scarce an exception they were Presbyterians, and connected with some one or other of the organizations of that faith. In camp every tent, with the exception of two, in which the officers officiated occasionally, family worship was regularly kept up. They numbered eighty-four persons, wore their own uniforms, carried their own rifles, powder horns, shot pouches, tomahawks, knives, blankets, bibles and psalm books. They rendezvoused first at Pittsburgh, where they were joined by others, and thence, through the wilds of Ohio, their march was directed toward Fort Meigs. They were accompanied by another company from Mercer County, drawn from the Shenango and Mahoning region, commanded by Capt. Dawson. At Mansfield, Ohio, containing but a few log cabins, they rested a few days. This place was then considered in the Indian country, and the troops were cautious and careful in guarding themselves. On one occasion there was an alarm. Capt. Junkin had his men in line without delay, and while going among them to steady the ranks, and incite their courage, his sleeve was plucked by one of his men, John Feltsbarger, who whispered, "Capt. Junkin! Capt. Junkin! may I go back to turn my pone?" "Oh, yes, John; but get back as soon as you can," was the reply. John left his gun with a comrade, hastened to his tent, turned his pone so that it could be baked properly, and speeded back to his place in the ranks. On resuming his gun he said, "Now let them come on!" The incident afforded a great deal of fun afterward for his companions, but it was the act of a simple-hearted, coolheaded and brave man, who could be depended upon to do his duty whenever emergencies were to be met.

The Mercer County men did not get away from Mansfield without disaster. One of Capt. Dawson’s men, John Gibson, of Mahoning Township, died from disease on the 20th of November, at Wooster, and on the night before they left Mansfield, the 28th, a violent storm arose, by which an oak tree was blown down on one of the tents, killing Jeremiah Ralston, breaking a thigh for Samuel Patterson, dislocating a limb for Jacob Poole, dangerously wounding John Bean and slightly William Beatty and William Clark, all of the Dawson company.

In garrison at Fort Meigs Capt. Junkin and his company were assiduously attentive to their duty as soldiers, taking good care, also, that their Christian duties were not neglected in the camp-life they were leading. On one occasion, while some of the Virginia troops were pitching quoits on a Sunday for amusement, Capt. Junkin found a few of his men among the spectators. He spoke to them kindly, saying: "Boys, what would our pious relatives at home think if they heard that we were thus dishonoring the Sabbath day? Let us retire, so that we may give no countenance to the desecration." They all followed him from the ground. The attention of the commanding general, Harrison, was soon arrested by the way in which Capt. Junkin performed his duties, and he appointed him to the command of a perilous expedition, having for its object the capture of the British vessel, the "Queen Charlotte," then supposed to be lying ice-bound near to Malden. Capt. Junkin had authority to pick his own men, and he took all of them from his own and Capt. Dawson’s company. It was expected that a considerable quantity of military stores would be found in the vessel, and the party took with it hand-sleds for the removal thereof, if successful. The lake was reached, the ice traversed until the situation of the vessel was seen, when the party found a quarter of a mile of open water between them and the desired prey. They had no boats, and were constrained to return without other effort to effect the object for which they had started. The return was perilous. The ground swell that prevented their reaching the vessel, after their passage forward, had opened the ice in their rear, but not to such a great extent that in the use of the planks carried on their hand-sleds they could bridge the chasms, and thus escape the perils threatened in the breaking up of the ice on the lake before they reached the shore.

At the end of the time for which the Pennsylvania troops had volunteered their services there seemed to be a necessity for their continuance. At the expiration of their engagement the Virginia troops left Fort Maiden, and the Pennsylvanians determined to remain until the army preparing for the recapture of Detroit could be brought up by Gen. Harrison, which detained them another month. In the end Capt. Junkin returned home with every man in his company with whom he left Mercer. His indefatigable and tender care for the health, morals and comfort of his men, as well as his industry in perfecting their military drill and knowledge, not only made him a very valuable officer, but so endeared him to his men and fellow citizens as to cause his idolization among them as long as he lived. His mother’s death, caused by accident, occurred but a few days before his march, and while absent his wife, who was a daughter of Hon. William Findley, of Westmoreland County, also died, so that his domestic afflictions while in the service of his country were very great.

The succeeding summer Capt. Junkin went to aid in the defense of Erie and the vessels preparing for Com. Perry. The British fleet paraded itself before the mouth of the harbor for several days, and the difficulty was to get the American fleet over the bar at its entrance and out to sea. Perry, as soon as over, called for volunteers from the landsmen for his first cruise, and Capt Junkin, along with fifty others from this county, whose names are mentioned elsewhere, promptly placed themselves on board his vessels. The cruise lasted four days, without sighting the enemy, when the fleet returned to port. A reinforcement of sailors, that had in the meantime arrived at Erie, enabled the commodore to dispense with his Mercer County volunteers.

It is quite probable that on the report of Gen. Harrison a captain’s commission in the regular army was afterward tendered him by the General Government, and so, also, an unsolicited nomination for the Legislature by the Democrats. Whether he thought the country was in more need of soldiers than legislators, or that he was better qualified for the field than a legislative hall, is unknown, but he declined the civil and accepted the military promotion. He was directed to open a recruiting office in Mercer, and was rapidly getting his company filled out when a malignant fever broke out in the barracks. More mindful of the health and comfort of those under his care than of his own safety, he gave such a personal attention to the sick that the disease was contracted by himself, resulting in his death on the 27th of April, 1814. The writer, then a lad of about eight years, well recollects the public sorrow on that occasion, for the praises of Capt. Junkin, without detractors, were in the mouths of all. Old and young, men and women alike, respected and loved him for the tender care he so uniformly exercised over those under his command, as well as for the engaging manners, high talents and unbending probity that marked his intercourse with his fellow citizens. He was buried with military honors from a house that stood on the Kline corner of the public square. The muffled music, playing a mournful measure, led the way, followed by the military, and then the body borne by pall-bearers, the relatives and a large number of citizens closing the procession. After the corpse had been lowered to its resting place, and the usual religious observances performed, a file of soldiers on each side fired blank cartridges into the grave, after which the unmuffled drums struck up a lively measure, when the procession reformed and returned to the place of starting. Capt. Junkin left but one living child behind him, a daughter, who afterward became the wife of William M. Francis, of Wilmington, Lawrence County, who not many years back so well and ably represented Mercer and Lawrence Counties in the State Senate.

Other sons of Joseph Junkin became eminent, particularly George, who had been devoted by the thoughts and prayers of his parents in early life to the gospel ministry. He was the founder of several educational establishments, the greatest and most permanently successful of which was LaFayette College, at Easton, Penn., that now rivals all the other great schools of the country. He was very prominent in the Barnes’ conflict in the Presbyterian Church, in 1833, being, in fact, the prosecutor on that occasion, and which finally resulted in a split in the church, now happily reunited. When the Civil War broke out Dr. George Junkin was president of the Washington and Lee University at Lexington, Va. Two of his daughters had married Virginians, professors in the Military Institute, Col. Preston and Maj. (Stonewall) Jackson. They took the side of their State, he, that of the Federal Government. He abandoned his post as president of the university, and came north, and when the war was over Gen. Lee was elected to the vacancy. In 1862, while the war was raging, he delivered an address on the 4th of July to the people of Mercer. Fifty years before, after the War of 1812 commenced, he had addressed the Mercer Blues at a 4th of July celebration held on the farm of John Findley, near town. He died in 1868.

Dr. D. X. Junkin, the youngest son of the family, also arose to considerable distinction as a Presbyterian divine, and died at New Castle. He was a very elegant and ready writer, logical and strong in argument, and devoted to the cause of Christianity.— Garvin.

History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present : including its aboriginal history, its early settlement and development, a description of its historic and interesting localities, sketches of its boroughs, townships and villages, neighborhood and family histories, portraits and biographies of pioneers and representative citizens, statistics, etc. : also, a condensed history of Pennsylvania. Chicago, Ill.: Brown, Runk & Co., 1888.  Read this book on line - Free Trial  Search Hundreds of 1880s-1890s Pennsylvania County History Books for biographies and historical information on your ancestors.  View the book page images on line and print them out for your genealogy file!  Free Access to the old history books - plus birth & death records, census images and ALL other records at ancestry.com.