Posted on: Venango Co. Pa Biographies Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Pa/VenangoBios/347 Surname: Singleton, Anderson, Nickerson, Thompson, Ramsdale, Moffet, Jewel, Smith, Marshall ------------------------- Venango County Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People, Vol II, Chicago, J.H. Beers & Co.,1919. Pages 975 - 976 Wilbur E. Singleton, of Franklin, is a member of a respected family of almost one hundred years standing in Venango County, founded here by his grandfather, John Singleton, who came to this section in 1820 from Pittsburgh, Pa. He first located at Franklin, and until well on in middle age was there engaged as a manufacturer of brick and bricklayer, taking contracts for such work. He built the first brick house in the city, though such structures were rare in that day, there having been but four brick houses there in 1848. Having purchased a farm in French Creek Township, this county, on the Mercer road, he settled there upon his removal from Franklin, and thereafter followed farming in connection with brick work and the operation of his coal bank, having opened up the Singleton coal bank, now known as the McElhaney Coal bank. His death occurred when he was sixty-eight years old, and he is buried in the old Park cemetery. [Franklin Pioneer Cemetery records indicate that stones have not been located for John or Letitia at this cemetery] His wife, Letitia (Anderson) died at the age of seventy-four years. They were the parents of the following children: Eleanora, Elizabeth, Anderson, William P., Mary, Milton and Sarah, all now deceased. William P. Singleton, son of John and Letitia Anderson Singleton, spent most of his life as a farmer in French Creek Township, being but twenty-one years old when he settled on the tract on the Georgetown Road where he remained until his death, at the age of seventy-nine years. The property comprised about one hundred acres, and he made an excellent living. He married Elizabeth Nickerson, who lived to the age of eighty years, and they are buried in the Franklin Cemetery. Six children were born to this marriage, namely: Alvin who married Alice Thompson, and both are deceased; Nettie married George Ramsdale, and they live at Franklin, Pa.; Wilbur E. is next in the family; Milford J., who lives on the old homestead in French Creek Township, married Jennie Moffet; Loretta married Milo Jewel, and is living in the Third Ward, in Franklin; Bert married Elizabeth Smith and resides at Fairmount, Indiana. Wilbur E. Singleton was born in 1856 in French Creek Township, and was reared on the old home place there, acquiring his education in the local schools. He took his grandfathers calling, learning the trade of stone and brick mason, which he followed regularly for a period of thirty-five years, for some years engaged in contracting. He still does occasional work in this line. On November 13, 1894, Mr. Singleton married Elizabeth Marshall, daughter of William Marshall, of Butler county, Pa. They have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Singleton are members of the Methodist Church of Franklin, and she is particularly interested in its work and enterprises, being highly esteemed in the congregation as she is in every other association of life. Transcribed by a non-family member.