The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume IV FERGUSON, Robert Gracey, educator, was born at Dry Run, Franklin county, Pa., Feb. 16, 1842; son of James and Mary A. (Doyle) Ferguson. He was graduated from Jefferson college in 1862 and served in the U.S. army as 2d lieutenant in the signal corps, 1863-64. He was licensed to preach by the presbytery of Monongahela, April 12, 1865; was ordained pastor by the presbytery of Big Spring, Oct. 17, 1866, and was pastor of the United Presbyterian church at Mercersburg and Cove, Pa., 1866-74, and at Butler, Pa., 1874-84. In 1884 he was elected president and professor of mental and moral science at Westminster college, New Wilmington, Pa., which institution is under the direction of the United Presbyterians. The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume VI KERR, Robert Floyd, educator, was born at Sugar Grove, Ind., April 12, 1850; son of Andrew J. and Nancy (sayers) Kerr; grandson of Samuel and Nancy (Gwynn) Kerr, of Harrisburg, Ohio, and a descendant of John Kerr of Franklin county, Pa., who was of Scotoh-Irish ancestry. His father was a farmer and Robert received his preparatory education in the country school, and was graduated at Indiana Asbury (De Pauw) university A.B., 1877, A.M., 1880. He was superintendent of schools for Newton county, Ind., 1878-79, and in 1879 went to Japan, where he was professor of English and mathematics in Too Gijuku college at Hirosaki, 1879-81. On his return in 1881 he engaged in business as a civil engineer and in 1885 was appointed professor of political economy and principal of the preparatory department in Dakota Agricultural college, then just established. In 1889 he became professor off history and political science in the State Agricultural college of South Dakota, at Brookings, S.D. The winter of 1891-92 he spent in Europe studying the economic and social problems of the capital cities. In addition to his class-room work he made contributions to current literature in the line of social science. The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume VI LAHM, Samuel, representative, was born in Leitersburg, Md., April 22, 1812; son of John Lahm, a native of Germany, a mechanic, innkeeper and farmer. Samuel left home in 1830, and went to Franklin county, Pa., where he became a clerk, but returned home on condition that his father should allow him to attend school. In two years he acquired a good English education and taught school. He attended Gettysburg academy and Washington college, Pa., for a short time, and in October, 1835, he settled in the practice of law at Canton, Ohio. He was master of chancery, 1837-41; prosecuting attorney for Stark county, 1841-45; state senator, 1842-44; brigadier-general in the state militia; an unsuccessful candidate for representative in the 29th congress and a representative in the 30th congress, 1847-49. He was married in 1838 to Aimira Webster, daughter of Daniel Brown of Portsmouth, N.H. After his service in congress he retired from active politics, gave up his law practice on account of a failure in his voice, and devoted the remainder of his life to farming and sheep raising. He died in Canton, Ohio, June 16, 1876. The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume VII MACLAY, William, representative, was born in Lurgan township, Franklin county, Pa., March 22, 1765; son of John and Jane (Dickson) Maclay, and grandson of Charles and Eleanor (Query) Maclay and of David and Catherine (Greenlee) Dickson. He was married, Dec. 22, 1789, to Margaret, daughter of Alexander Culbertson. He was a member of the Pennsylvania assembly in 1807 and 1808; a representative in the 141h and 15th congresses, 1815-19, and was an associate judge for the district composed of Adams, Cumberland and Franklin counties. He died in Franklin county, Pa., Jan. 4, 1825. The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume IIV POTTER, James, 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. The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume IX SCOTT, Thomas Alexander, railroad president, was born in London, Franklin county, Pa., Dec. 28, 1824; son of Thomas Scott, the keeper of "Tom Scott's Tavern" on the old limestone turnpike from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. He attended the country schools in winter, worked on the farm in summer, and served as clerk in stores in Waynesboro, Bridgeport, and Mercersburg. He was clerk to the toll collector at Columbia on the state road, 1841–47; chief clerk to the collector of tolls in Philadelphia, and in 1851 entered the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad. He was general-superintendent of the mountain district, with headquarters at Duncasville, 1852–57; general agent of the Pittsburg office, 1853–55; general superintendent of the entire line as successor to General Lombaert, 1855–59; and vice president, 1859–61. He was appointed on the staff of Gov. Andrew G. Curtin, and in 1861, with the aid of the U.S. troops, opened the new line of railway from Washington to Philadelphia. He was commissioned colonel of volunteers May 3, 1861, and was put in control of all government railways and telegraphs. He was assistant secretary of war under Secretary Cameron, 1861, and under Secretary Stanton, until May, 1862. He utilized the transportation of the northwest and of the western rivers for the benefit of the U.S. army. On Sept. 24, 1863, he accepted a government commission to repair the railroads and superintend the transportation of the 11th and 12th army corps sent through Nashville to General Rosecrans at Chattanooga, and he served as assistant quartermaster general on the staff of General Hooker. He was chosen president of the western division of the Pennsylvania railroad in 1861, president of the Pennsylvania Company, the agency through which the Pennsylvania; railroad obtained leases of connecting roads to the west and of the "Pan Handle Route" 1871. He was also the president of the Union Pacific railroad, 1871–72, and of the Pennsylvania railroad, 1874–80, resigning in 1880, on account of failing health. He was the founder and first president of the Texas Pacific railroad. He died in Darby, Pa., May 21, 1881. The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume IX SHUNK, Francis Rawn, governor of Pennsylvania, was born at the Trappe, Montgomery county, Pa., Aug. 7, 1788; son of John and Elizabeth (Rawn) Shunk; grandson of Francis and great-grandson of Casper Shunck, who immigrated from the palatinate of the Rhine, Germany, about 1715, and of Caspar Rawn, a native of the same palatinate. He was employed on his father's farm from early boyhood: was largely self-educated, attended a local school in the Trappe and taught school, 1803–12, at the same pursuing a course of study and working at home in the summer. He was clerk to Andrew Porter, surveyor-general of Pennsylvania, at Harrisburg, 1812–14; studied law under Thomas Elder of that city, and served in the defences of Baltimore, Md., in 1814. He was admitted to the bar in 1816; was an assistant and subsequently chief clerk of the state house of representatives, 1822–29; secretary of the board of canal commissioners of Pennsylvania; and secretary of state under Governor Porter, 1838–42. He practised law in Pittsburg, Pa., 1842–44, and was elected Democratic governor of Pennsylvania for two terms, serving from 1845 to July 9, 1848, when he resigned on account of ill health. He was married, Dec. 14, 1820, to Jane, daughter of William Findlay, governor of Pennsylvania, and Agnes Irwin, both of Franklin county, Pa. Their son, William Findlay Shunk, was chief engineer of the elevated roads, New York and Brooklyn, and author of: "A Practical Treatise on Railway Curves" (1854); "The Field Engineer" (1881), and their grandson, Capt. Francis Rawn Shunk, was graduated from the U.S. Military academy in 1887, and on July 5, 1898, was assigned to the battalion of engineers. Governor Shunk died in Harrisburg, Pa., July 30, 1848. [p.363] The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume X THOMPSON, John, representative, was born in Franklin county, Pa., in 1777. He studied medicine and practised in New Lisbon, Columbiana county, Ohio; served as a representative in the Ohio legislature, 1816-17; as state senator, 1814-16 and 1817-21, and was a Democratic representative from the sixth district of Ohio in the 19th, 21st, 22d, 23d and 24th congresses, 1825-27, 1829-37. He died in New Lisbon, Dec. 2, 1852. Sincerely, Sharon Lantzy Wygant SSchu22739@aol.com Surnames: Anderson, Hasselor, Kingston, Lamer (Leamer, Lehmer), Lantzy (Lenzi), McAnulty,McCullough, McLane (McLain,McLean, McLene), O'Cain Patton, Robertson/Robinson, Shankle, Simpson, Sitter, Steen, Stuchell, Thompson (Thomson), White, Wygant.