http://books.google.com/books?id=bZl4AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA57&lpg=PA57&dq=%22Dutton+Shannon%22+fallowfield+pa&source=bl&ots=TE-BHOp3m7&sig=8Pe3VMmlNbqp1UD_AkH8fMUUk-M&hl=en&ei=nLoXTq2-GdG_gQf7j6XzDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAw#v=snippet&q=200&f=false The old and new Monongahela, By John Stogdell Van Voorhis, 1893, Pittsburgh pg. 81 William J. Markell Died at his late residence in Monongahela City, Saturday Dec. 3, 1892. He was b. in 1824, Greensboro, Greene Co, PA, second son of William and Eliza Markell. The family came to Monongaheal City in 1830. In 1842 William went into the general merchandise store as clerk, then kept by his brother, John S. Markell. He remained in that capacity until 1847. In that year he went into the glass business for one year and then went on the Muskingum River as clerk on a steamer, but he soon afterwards accepted the captaincy of an Ohio River packet, and boated in that capacity for 10 years, closing as part owner and Capt. of the Hartford and Endeavor respectively. Mr. Markell went west in 1858, and was as far out as Pike's Peak, and in other parts of the then new silver country. Mr. Markell was postmaster of this place from 1857 to 1860, and was succeeded by R. M. Clark at the election of Mr. Lincoln. After his return from the west he engaged in the tobacco business, then he was clerk at Mr. Kern's store, in the People's Bank building, and in 1875 in partnership with Elijah Harrison he purchased the distillery at Mingo, which they operated in partnership for several years, when Markell bought the Josiah Taylor distillery and brewery, which he operated alone for several years. Another of our older citizens sleeps with the dead. A man whose 62 years residence in our city had made him one of the best known among the business men of the town. As postmaster under President Buchanan, his official life was characterized by probity and courtesy. Socially Mr. William J. Markell was full of humor, he always saw the pleasanter side, and the quiet chuckle of his fun pointed many a joke. He was a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, of the Masonic lodge, and was by political faith a Democrat of the Jacksonian kind. He had been over the sea twice, and seemed to enjoy telling of his observations in Europe, as well as of the haleyon days of his steamboat life, and the experience of his trip to Pike's Peak in the early 60s'. He was m. twice, first in 1852 to Margaret Dougherty, by whom he had 4 sons, William, Edward, Charles and Lewis, all of this city. After his wife's death he again married, in 1880, to Mary Kern, by whom he has two children, Eliza and Norman Keys Markell. In his later life Mr. Markell had suffered from the prostration of a paralysis. His family has been tender and kind, his wife a loving minister at his bedside in all the hours of his illness and suffering. Historical Address Delivered by J. S. Van Voorhis, MD, Nov. 15, 1892, on the 100 Anniversary of Monongahela City, PA. http://books.google.com/books?id=bZl4AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA57&lpg=PA57&dq=%22Dutton+Shannon%22+fallowfield+pa&source=bl&ots=TE-BHOp3m7&sig=8Pe3VMmlNbqp1UD_AkH8fMUUk-M&hl=en&ei=nLoXTq2-GdG_gQf7j6XzDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAw#v=snippet&q=200&f=false Gives history, Abraham Decker, original land claim, VA entry, patent No. 3783, Aug. 26, 1769. 1770 Parkisons arrived from the East .... selected the Decker plateau .... five Parkison brothers: Joseph, Thomas, James, Benjamin, and William. The Deckers had their primitive cabin very near a spring and on what was in 1892 the Van Voorhis homestead on Pigeon Creek. There is more here on the history of what became Monongahela City. On the death of Joseph Parkison, the Monongahela Patriot of April 29, 1834, published in Williamsport, states: DIED - In this borough on Monday night, Apr. 28, 1834, at the advanced age of 94, Mr. Joseph Parkison. Mr. P. was well known to many as the original proprietor of this place, from whom it received the name of Parkison's Ferry. Although his death was long looked for, it has cast a gloom over our citizens. The following testimony of respect from our town authorities, to the memory of the deceased, was handed in a few moments before our paper went to press. Tribute of Respect Whereas, we have learned with deep regret of the death of our aged and esteemed fellow citizen, Joseph Parkison, the original proprietor of this town, Therefore Resolved, That as testimony of respect to the memory of the deceased, we will attend his funeral this afternoon at 4:00, and that it be recommended to the citizens generally to attend on said occasion. By order of the council of the borough of Williamsport. Aaron Kerr, President John Bausman, Sec. The philology of the name would indicate that Joseph Parkison was of English descent, but of his early history we have very little information. He was b. in 1740, 7 years before Gen. Washington visited W. PA, and 15 years before Braddock's defeat on the Monongahela River. He immigrated to this region in the 30th year of his age. He settled here at a time when the spirit of the Revolution was quietly pervading the American heart. He laid out his new town in perfect faith of the greatness and perpetuity of the new nation born at the close of the war of Independence. He d. after seeing his town arise from a wilderness to take a proud position among the flourishing villages in W. PA. In early life Parkison was a tall, bony, muscular man, dressed rather fashionable in the costume of his day, with knee buckles and shoe buckles, such as these. In his older days he wore side whiskers, and the well known que of the times. Some of the older citizens can recall him changed to an old, bent in form man, sitting on the porch, trembling with nearly a century of years and waiting the summons to pass through the gate to the beyond. Instead of neglect marking his grave, the citizens should long since haver erected over it a monument in commemoration of his deeds of daring in establishing the town in a wilderness, now a garden of ever blooming flowers. In 1833 the name of the postoffice was changed to Williamsport, and Apr. 1st, 1837, it took the name of Monongahela City - it ought to have been Parkison City. We have failed to obtain from the department the name of the first postmaster at Parkison's Ferry, but it is conceded that as Joseph Parkison was instrumental in obtaining the office, he must have been appointed postmaster, and, in addition, from the fact that he had a store in connection with his inn. .... The mail in Parkison, Hailman and White's time was carried on horseback by post-boys, as they were called. ..... Although the town had been incorporated for 9 years, yet it never had severed its connection with Carroll township ..... (Sep. 30, 1834) There are many names and families mentioned throughout the presentation of Mr. Van Voorhis between the pages through to pg. 116, where now W. Monongahela is covered .... then .... pg. 117 - Monongahela Only. pg. 118 - the Monongahela City Methodist Episcopal Church, and the many names affiliated with this church origin and body .... to pg. 125 .... to Ministers Who Have Served, Official Members, pg. 128, Sunday School, pg. 130 to pg. 135.