Benjamin Junkin (1794-1880)

Benjamin Junkin (1794-1880)

Anna Mariah Agnew (1799-1892)

C9 Benjamin Junkin, born 09/19/1794. Died 07/01/1880. Married Anna Mariah Agnew on 01/18/1816. Born 7/7/1799, died 1892. Ten children.

The following personal sketch was written by Benjamin Junkin, published in his obituary:

I was born in East Pennsborough township, Cumberland county, six miles east of Carlisle, on the 19th day of September, 1794. My father was born in the same place (see Joseph Junkin I). Our family moved to what is now called Hope Mills, two miles south of the town of Mercer, in the year 1806. I was then about twelve years old. Remained with my father until I was about eighteen; went to Mercer to learn the trade of tanning; following the trade for some years; went east and worked at the trade in Carlisle in order to be proficient in my trade.

Returned home in 1815, and was married at Hope Mills to Ann Maria Agnew, by Rev. James Galloway (my brother-in-law) on the 18th of January, 1816. Miss Agnew was the daughter of Mr. Junkin's step-mother--his father's second wife.

I quit tannering and rented Hope Mills from my father, but sometime after father gave the mills to brother George, William and myself. I sold my interest in the mills and moved to Mercer; bought 280 acres of land at $4 per acre south of Mercer and built a cabin. I bored 270 feet for salt, but salt falling in price I abandoned the project and moved to Vanango county.

In 1826 I settled on land which was left us by Uncle John Junkin. The land had been leased, two sound log cabins thereon; puncheon floors, below and above a clapboard roof. We lived seven years there as happy as we ever did. I built a brick house which stands east of Emlenton four miles, in a village called after my wife-Mariasville. We lived on the farm 31 years, removed to Emlenton, lived there seven years and then moved to New Wilmington, Lawrence county.

In 1827 I was appointed a Justice of the Peace by John Andrew Shultz, Governor, and was elected several times, in all amounting to some thirty years I held said office. I was appointed Associate Judge in Clarion county by Gov. Pollock. Before I left Mercer county I was somewhat of a military man, and was Captain of a Light Infantry Company in Mercer, afterwards elected a Colonel of a regiment of eight companies of volunteers. After I went to Venango county they, although I was about fifty years of age, elected me to serve as Major of a battalion of volunteers.

When we went to Venango County we belonged to the Associate Reform Church, but there being no church of that denomination, we joined the Presbyterian. We did not like to give up the old psalms altogether but continued to use them in our family for some time, and even yet I would like the psalms were sung more than they are, (I don't care what version.) Old father McGara was our preacher, we met at a tent on our farm in the summer, and at Andrew Potter's in the winter, having no meeting house; we built a log meeting house on an acre I had given them, but it was entirely too small in a short time; we then built a good brick house which is yet occupied by Richland Congregation, it took 4,000 brick which I furnished as my share.

When we moved to Emlenton we organized a church with I think about 12 members. Alex. Crawford and I were elders. That church now supports a minister all the time. I was elected eldership to Richland Church in 1831; attended four General Assemblies, (1) Pittsburgh, 1835, Moderator, Dr. Phillips; (2) Philadelphia, 1837, Moderator, Dr. Elliot; (3) Louisville, Ky., 1844, Moderator, Dr. George Junkin; (4) Cincinnati, 1845, Moderator, Dr. Spring. Was present in Philadelphia when the new school men arose and adjourned, as they called it, the General Assembly to Mr. Bain's Church - brother George and I went to see them, and sat a while and listened to them. Dr. Elliot was moderator of the Old School at the time of the rupture, and he and I were present at the Union in Philadelphia (perhaps the only two who saw both scenes.)

I gave to build a church in Emlenton $59, also $20 to Clarion meeting house; $10 to a Lutheran Church in Jamestown, Clarion county; also an acre of land for a church in Elk township, Clarion county, and a number of other churches amounting, perhaps, to $50 or $60. Now I mention these things to show that we were never poor for being liberal to any religious objects. I also pay $25 for our present privilege.

We had nine children, six sons and three daughters : one son a minister, and three elders in the Presbyterian church; all were professors of religion. Two fell in the battle of the rebellion, our youngest George, at Fredericksburg, February 13, 1862 ; our second son Joseph B., May 12, 1864. We had five sons in the war of the Rebellion: Bingham was badly wounded, but spared and is now well.

Battle of Lake Erie

I has almost forgotten to state that I was out two trips to Erie as a soldier in the War of 1812; was four days on board Commodore Perry's fleet on Lake Erie. The last time, in August, Perry wanted some sixty riflemen. Brother John volunteered as captain, marched in front of the regiment, and there were about sixty went on board, and well do I remember the distinction made between Capt. Junkin and his brother Benjamin, he with the officers eating fat turkeys, and me lying on the deck all night on the hard plank. But I had one adventure that others had not. My bother could command what they call Side boys to take him on board any of the vessels and take over one or more with him; therefore I got to go on nearly all the vessels. I remember of seeing Com. Perry standing aloft with his glass watching the British fleet as they lay in sight no doubt with deep anxiety, but enough of this.

The British fleet was lying in sight. The two brigs of twenty guns each were got over the bar and the British ship moved off. On the 10th of September Perry sent his official report to the department, which read thus: "We have met the enemy and they are ours."

I am now receiving a pension of $8 per month for my service in the War of 1812.

D1 John Agnew Junkin, born 05/19/1817, died November 12, 1886.

D2 Rebecca Junkin, born July 8/9, 1819, died April 14, 1883; married Alexander P. Moore, born February 17, 1812, died November 8, 1891 in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania.

D3 Dr. James Galloway Junkin, born 02/13/1822 in Stubenville, Ohio; married March 23, 1850 Amanda Fitzallen Jenkins; was a surgeon.

D4 Rev. Joseph Buchanan Junkin, born 09/06/1823, died 05/12/1864, Battle of Spottsylvania; married 1845 Mary Josephine Baker, born January 11, 1821, died November 30, 1871. Joseph served as a missionary among the Indians, and as Union Chaplin in the 100th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry until his death at the Battle of Spotsylvania.

D5 Rev. Benjamin Oliver Junkin, born March 17, 1826, died October 11, 1899, in Los Angeles, California; married Mary Jane MacLean on 12/15/1858; Rev. Benjamin Oliver Junkin graduated from Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania in 1855. He graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary in 1858; ordained a Presbyterian Minister in 1860; he was a Presbyterian Minister in Westminster, Buffalo, Union and Hicksville, Ohio 1865-1869; Dexter, Iowa 1869-1872; missionary, Pennsylvania 1872-1875; pastor, Concord, Pennsylvania 1876-1880; Fairmont 1876-1883; evangelist, Los Angeles, California 1883- ;

D6 Eleanor Junkin, born August 16, 1828 at Marinsville, Pennsylvania, died January 13, 1910; married (1) William Russell; married (2) Rev. Joseph Mateer.

D7 A. E. Junkin, born 09/30/1830. (?)

D8 Bingham Findlay Junkin, born 12/12/1832. Died 05/15/1911. Married 02/27/1855 Mary Samantha Duff, born 12/1/1829, died 11/6/1921.

D9 Mary Elizabeth Junkin, born September 30 1830; married Dr. Seth Poppino ca. 1856.

D10 George Q. Junkin, born 06/11/1837, died 12/13/1862, Battle of Fredericksburg. Did not marry (More info from Ancestry.com).