Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 1

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. (Chicago) pbl
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 898

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Representative Citizens

JOSEPH LONG THISTLE, M. D., comes of a notable Scotch-Irish ancestry, many of whom were pioneer set- tlers in the Ohio Valley at the beginning of last cen- tnry, and all of them were thrifty and early acquired valuable real estate. His paternal grandfather, Samp- son Thistle, after marriage near Cumberland, Md., brought his bride, on horseback, to a clearing and cabin which he had previously prepared, about two miles above Fishing Creek on the Virginia side of the Ohio, where they lived to a ripe old age and brought up a family of eleven children. Dr. Thistle at present owns one-half of these ancestral lands of nearly 900 acres.

Archibald Thistle, one of these children and father of the object of this sketch, entered his brother's store, as a partner, at the age of 18, and when 28 years old started in a general mercantile business at Sistersville, continuing uninterruptedly until his death at the age of 78. He was the wealthiest and one of the most respect- ed citizens of his county. He was postmaster before, during and after the Civil War period, covering in all 25 years.

John MeCoy, the maternal grandfather of Dr. Thistle, married Sarah Wells, one of the 22 children of Charles Wells, whose home was in what is now Brooke County, W. Va. To each of 20 of these children who lived to maturity their father gave a good river-bottom farm, most of which he secured by patent from the state; others he bought from prior owners. To his daughters, Sarah (Wells) McCoy and Ruth (Wells) Birkhead, he gave the northern half of a valley, just midway between Wheeling and Parkersburg. In course of time these sisters decided to lay out a town site, one-half of which should be upon either side of the line dividing their farms. After much discussion as to a name for the place Sarah suggested the appropriate and unique name of Sistersville, and so it is to this day. The said John McCoy was delegate to the legislature sitting at Rich- mond, Va., for five terms from the founding of his county of Tyler in 1815 until 1822. Sarah ( Well-) Me-

Coy was one of the founders and ever a leading sup- porter of the Presbyterian Church in Sistersville, organ- ized in 1842, (and then a part of Washington, Pa., Pres- bytery,) until her death in 1888, at the age of 94 years.

In the fall of 1872 Joseph L. Thistle came from Sis- tersville, W. Va., where he was born in 1855, to Wash- ington and entered the preparatory department of Wash- ington-Jefferson College, and pursued the regnlar classical course, intending to be a physician, until impaired healthı compelled him to leave college soortly before the graduation of his Class of '78. Less than two years after his arrival here he united with the First Presby- terian Church, of which he was ordained a deacon soon after becoming a resident of the town some years later. While in college he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and of the Philo and Union Literary Society. After leaving college he was employed in surveying and engineering work, and in his father's store, until he en- tered Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, Sep- tember, 1884, after nearly two years of preparatory study, and received a diploma from this famous insti- tution in 1886, together with a gold medal, awarded in competition, for "the best thesis on a subject relating to obstetrics."

In 1879 he married Sarah Olivia Bell. daughter of John E. Bell, who occupied the offices of treasurer and prothonotary of this county, and was collector of in- ternal revenue at the time of his death. To Dr. Thistle and wife were born six children, four of whom are liv- ing,-Archibald, who conduets a jewelry business at No. 36 North Main street, and Helen S., Catherine R. and Mildred B., who reside with their father at No. 41 E. Beau street. For some years after marriage Mr. and Irs. Thistle lived at Sistersville. But, immediately after completing some post-graduate work, following graduation from medical college he removed his family to Washington, Pa., and has resided here ever since. This was during the hight of the oil excitement here and he soon had a good practice which he continued until

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

in the early nineties his father's failing health and added cares on account of oil and gas developments in Tyler County, compelled him to spend about one-half of the time away from home for the next ten years. His father died in 1896, leaving a considerable estate. After many years of great suffering from asthma, al- though relief was sought in many parts of the country, - Mrs. Thistle passed to her reward in February, 1906. She was most relieved at Mt. Lake Park, Md., and here a comfortable home was established in 1897, where the family have spent most of the hottest months for the last 12 years.

Iu 1893 Washington-Jefferson College conferred upon Dr. Thistle the honorary degree of Master of Arts. He is a director in the Washington Trust Company, and in the Washington Electric Light and Power Company be- sides being a stockholder in several other banks and corporations of this and neighboring cities.

HON. JONATHAN ALLISON, deceased, who was one of Washington 's most prominent citizens, formerly presi- dent of the Allison Land Company and vice-president of the Citizens' National Bank of Washington, for many years was active in the development of Washington County and its resources. He was born in Chartiers Township, Washington County, Pa., February 3, 1828, and was a son of Thomas and Mary (Johnson) Allison. His death occurred December 17, 1908. He was of Scotch descent, his ancestors having left Scotland for North Ireland at an early day because of religious per- secution. His grandfather, James Allison, was born in Ireland and emigrated to America in colonial days, and was one of the very earliest pioneers of Washington County, settling in the woods in 1773, and was a very important factor in its early development.

Jonathan Allison received an elementary education in the district schools of Chartiers Township and this was supplemented by a course in Jefferson College, which institution he entered at the age of seventeen years. He continued his studies there for two years, when, on ae- count of the death of a brother, it was necessary for him to return home and for a number of years afterward he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. He purchased a farm of 148 acres from William Hopkins, which was situated about one mile from his birth place, and after a residence there of eight years, bought a part of his grandfather's old farm, from the Andrew Allison estate. It was on this farm that his grandfather, late in the eighteenth century, had discovered coal, which was the first found in Washington County, and he mined some for use in blacksmithing, hauling it a considerable dis- tance and selling it then for twenty-five cents a bushel. It was not until some years later that it was used for house fuel, and not until the advent of the Chartiers

Valley Railroad, in 1872, that it was mined on an ex- tensive scale. With the construction of the railroad, Jonathan Allison saw the opportunity of developing the rich underlying vein, and he soon had operations under way that supplied the borough of Washington with bitu- minous coal, sold quantities at other near points and also shipped to lake ports, even as far as Chicago. He continued his activities in the ocal business until 1891, employing some fifty men at the mines and shipping millions of bushels per annum. In that year he sold out to J. V. H. Cook & Sons, of Canonsburg, Pa., and retired from the coal business. In 1887 he moved his place of residence to Washington, purchasing the old Acheson homestead at No. 101 South Wade avenue, where his widow now resides. He entered actively into the affairs of the borough, and in 1886 became identified with one of its most substantial financial institutions, the Citizens' National Bank, of which he was one of the original stockholders, and later its vice-president.

On April 7, 1857, Mr. Allison was united in marriage with Miss Margaret G. Gabby, and to them were born the following children: Mary, who died at the age of four years; Maggie, who died at Canonsburg, was the wife of William Dickson; Albert; Thomas, who is de- ceased; Edward and William, twins, the former of whom is a practicing physician, a graduate of the Pittsburg Medical College; John B., who is teller in the Citizens' National Bank of Washington; Ralph, who is a well known attorney at law, practicing at Butler, Pa .; and Jennie. Of the above family, William Allison was drowned in 1881, on his way home from school, by acei- dentally falling from a foot log while he was crossing a creek.

In his political affiliation, Mr. Allison was a Whig until the organization of the Republican party, since which time he was one of its adherents. He was elected to the office of school director the year he east his first ballot and served in that capacity for many years. In 1872 and 1873, he served his township as justice of the peace, but resigned that office to accept that of State Representative, to which he was first elected in 1872, serving two terms in a manner which gained him the approval and good will of his constituents. During his tenure of office he was the only representative in the General Assembly from Washington County. He was long recognized as a man of exceptional ability and Washington County gladly accords him a place among her representative men.

WILLIAM ATEN, a prosperous farmer and life-long resident of Robeson Township, Washington County, Pa., with the heirs of his brother, John Aten, owns a farm of 123 acres, and comes of one of the old established families of the county. He was born March 1, 1842, a

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

son of Aaron and Mary ( MeMinn) Aten, who wero the parents of six sons; William; Andrew and John, both deceased, were twins; Ilcury, Robert, and James, and z daughter, Elizabeth, who died when twenty months old. The parents of our subject, who were farmers by occu. pation, were members of the Presbyterian Church at Cuador, where they were buried.

William Aten is of Holland Dutch extraction and his paternal grandparents were William and Jane (Smith) Aten, and the maternal grandparents were Andrew and Elizabeth MeMinn. William Aten attended the common schools of the township for a short time and early in life began working on his father's farm, which was pur- chased by his grandfather, William Aten, in 1803, and after the death of his father, he and brother John, purchased the land from the other heirs. John Aten, brother of our subject, also resided on the farm until the time of his death, and was united in marriage with Mar- garet A. Bailey, a daughter of William and Mary Ann (Springer) Bailey. He is survived by his widow and five children : Mary Frances, Aaron, Earl Bailey, George and John, all of whom live on the farm with William Aten, our subject. Mr. Aten is one of the substantial farmers of the township, and possesses the esteem and respect of his fellow men.

HARRY T. GHRIST, funeral director and embalmer, who has been engaged in business at California, Pa., since 1901, is a native of this borough, bern January 23, 1875, and is a son of Alfred B. and Allio V. (Phil- lips) Ghrist.

Alfred B. Ghrist was born and reared in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and was a son of James Ghrist, of Jefferson Township, Fayette County. James Ghrist and his sons were all atone masons, brick masons and contractors, and in 1871 they came to California aad ia 1872 erected the dormitory of the State Normal School. Alfred B. Ghrist was married after coming to California, to Miss Allie V. Phillips, a daughter of Everett Oxley Phillips. Sho was born and reared in Greene County, Pennsylvania, and still survives. Alfred B. Ghrist died in March, 1909.

Harry F. Ghrist attended the borough schools and later the State Normal School at California, leaving this in- stitution in 1892, in his junior year, and then learned the art of photography, in 1894 taking charge of the Rodger gallery here, which he condueted for two years. He then started to learn his present business and pre- pared for the same by an experience of six years with S. W. Craft. In December, 1901, in partnership with Frederick S. Gleason, under the firm name of Ghrist & Gleason, Mr. Ghrist went into undertaking and sinee 1905 has been alone, Mr. Gleason retiring in that year in order to accept the position of director of music in

the public schools of Schenectady, New York. Mr. Ghrist is a qualified embalmer and he has provided every neces- sity and facility for funeral directing. As an honorable business man ho stands Ingh in the estimation of his fellow citizens. He is the local health officer of the East Pike Run and Allen townships.

Mr. Ghrist was married to Misa Emma Aston, a daugh- ter of Thomas Aston. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He ia identified fraternally with Piko Run Lodge, No. 491, Odd Fellows; with the F. O. E., at Brownsville; the Royal Areanam, and Col. A. 1 .. Hawkins Council, No. 334, J. O. A. M.

ROBERT R. HAYS, who is president of the Farmers' National Bank of Hickory, Pa., was born near Bur- gettstown, Washington County, Pa., and is a son of James S. Hays, who died at Burgettstown in 1907, in the eighty second year of his age, and was interred at Fairview Cemetery, by the side of his wife, who had died two years previously. They were members of the First Presbyterian Church of Burgettstown.

Mr. Ilays was educated in the Burgettstown schools, MeDonald Academy and Washington aad Jefferson Col- lege, graduating with the degree B. S. at the latter in the class of 1902. He then registered as a law student under the late Joseph Hays, at Pittsburg, and then as- sisted in organizing the Farmera' National Bank of Iliekory, Pa., and settled at Hickory where he is engaged in banking. He is one of the town's substantial citizens.

On July 11, 1906, Mr. Hays was married to Miss Jennie C. MeMurray, a daughter of Capt. II. B. MeMar- ray, and they have one daughter, Evelyn Jean. Mr. and Mrs. Ilays are members of the Presbyterian Chareh. In politics he follows in the footsteps of his father, being a stanch Democrat. IFe is identified with the Masonic fraternity and retains membership in his Greek letter society of college days.

W. K. GALBRAITH, deceased, was a prominent resi- dent of Canonsburg for many years, where he served under several administrations as postmaster, for a long period was also a maa of affairs in Washington County. He was born in Cross Creek village, Washington County, December 12, 1858, and was a son of James A. and Mary A. (Bebout) Galbraith, and a grandson of William and Isabella (Weleh) Galbraith, the latter of whom came to Washington County after their marriage in Scotland and settled in Smith Township.

W. K. Galbraith was reared at Cross Creek and Bur- gettstown, his parents removing to the latter place when he was ten years old. Ile attended the graded schoola and was graduated from the high school with the class of 1878. and then entered the recorder's office, his father being recorder of Washington County at that time.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

After the expiration of his father's term he continued in the office as clerk for a year and then located at Canonsburg. There he conducted a tobacco store for eight years, after which be was in the employ of the Central Grain Elevator Company of Pittsburg until 1890. In that year he was first appointed postmaster at Canons- burg and later was made assistant county treasurer, in which office he served two terms. After retiring from the treasurer's office he was again appointed postmaster and was so serving when his death occurred on Septem- · ber 25, 1906. He was an honest and capable official and he was respected by his fellow citizens and esteemed by his friends.

On November 13, 1884, Mr. Galbraith was married to Miss Mary E. Munnell, a daughter of James Munnell, and they became the parents of the following children: James Lloyd, Katherine H., William K., Jr., Bella, Frank S. and A. Sheldon. Mr. Galbraith was succeeded as post- master by his oldest son, James Lloyd, who was born September 21, 1885, and was appointed postmaster Octo- ber 29, 1906. The late W. K. Galbraith was a member and liberal supporter of the United Presbyterian Church, to which his family also belong. He was a Republican. The family home is at No. 115 East College street, Canonsburg.

DAVID W. RASEL, president of the Farmers' Na- tional Bank of Claysville, Pa., and for many years a representative business man in Washington County, was born in West Bethlehem Township, Washington County, Pa., December 23, 1859, and is a son of Frederick Rasel, who was an early setler in West Bethlehem Township and spent the remainder of his life there.

David W. Rasel is in large measure, a self-made man. He enjoyed many educational advantages, but he pro- vided the larger number of these for himself. He start- ed to teach school when only sixteen years of age, leav- ing the home farm about that time, and he attended the Pleasant Valley schools, the State Normal School at California, Pa., and Thiel College, in Mercer County, succeeding in graduating from the latter institution in 1882. Thus prepared he devoted himself to educational work for twenty terms of schools and during this period was principal of the West Alexander High School for four years. In 1898 he entered into the mercantile busi- ness at West Alexander and later was bookkeeper for the South Pittsburg Iron Works at Claysville, since known as the Pennsylvania Bridge Company. In 1905 he embarked in a general hardware business at Claysville and in the same year became president of the Farmers' National Bank at this place, of which he was one of the organizers and has continued one of the directors. He is an able and astute business man and although his

interests are numerous, he holds them well in hand and enjoys to the fullest extent the confidence of his fellow citizens. He is active in the Democratic party and has served in local offices and for one year was president of the borough school board.

Mr. Rasel was united in marriage with Miss Jennie G. Hayburn, of Claysville, and they have one son, David M. Mr. Rasel is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Claysville and one of its elders. Mr. Rasel's promo- tion in life makes an interesting story because it tells how certainly industry, perseverance, courage and integ- rity are rewarded.

LESLIE G. MARPLE, a successful young business man of Canonsburg, who is a member of the well known grocery firm of Marple & Hamilton, was born in Wheel- ing, W. Va., August 10, 1884, and is a son of Benjamin and Hannah Jane (Van Eman) Marple, natives of West Virginia and for the past fourteen years residents of Canonsburg, Pa. Benjamin Marple, who has now reached his seventy-sixth year, has devoted his life to gardening. His wife is now fifty-five years old, and they have been the parents of ten children, namely: Monroe A., su- perintendent of the Ohio County Home, who married Nannie Garvin; Ella, deceased, who was the wife of Homer Little; George, who died young; John W., en- gaged in the mercantile business in Canonsburg, who married Mary E. Moore; Alvin, deceased; Melvin R., connected with the Philadelphia Gas Company, who mar- ried Margaret McCloy; Mary, who is the wife of Mr. Holmes, of Fairmont, W. Va .; James, deceased; Leslie G .; and Russell, who is a draughtsman for the Fort Pitt Bridge Works.

Leslie G. Marple received his education in the public schools of South Canonsburg, after leaving which he spent nine years in the employ of the Canonsburg Pot- tery, in the meantime learning the trade of pressman. On March 15, 1909, he succeeded his brother, John W. Marple, in the grocery firm, which since that time has been known under the style of Marple & Hamilton, This place of business is situated at the corner of College and Jefferson streets, and has a large patronage among the residents of the community. Both of the young partners are progressive and enterprising, and endeavor to give to their customers the full worth of their money, and as this manner of doing business is appreciated, the firm has prospered accordingly.

On August 17, 1905, Mr. Marple was united in mar- riage with Ida F. McCartney, daughter of Enocb and Mary McCartney, of Canonsburg, and one daughter, Florence E., bas been born to the union. Mr. and Mrs. Marple are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Canonsburg. He is a Republican.

JOHN HI. MURDOCH

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

JAMES P. BRADEN, attorney at law, with office at No. 108 South Main street, Washington, Pa., is a repre. sentative of one of the old families of Western Peun- sylvania, one which has bad many distinguished mem- bers. lle was born at Washington, October 8, 1871, and is a son of John D. and Anna C (Ruple) Braden.

James P. Braden wns educated in the Washington schools and Washington and Jefferson College and was graduated from that institution in the class of 1895 and was admitted to the bar December 31, 1900, having com- pleted his law course after he returned from serving as a soldier in the Spanish-American War. For that serv- ice he enlisted in the Tenth Pa. Volunteer Infantry, as a private and was advanced to be sergeant of his company. After ho was honorably discharged at San Francisco, August 22, 1899, he immediately returned to Washington. lle has built up a very satisfactory practice and is num- bered with the ablest of the younger members of the Washington bar.

Mr. Braden was married to Mrs. Anna L. Schaulis, and they have one littlo daughter, Rebecca. Their beautiful home is located at No. 218 West Wheeling street, Wash- ington.

JOHN H. MURDOCH, president of the Union Trust Company of Washington, Pa., and a prominent lawyer at the Washington County bar, has been an important factor in the business activities of this borough. He is a member of one of the oldest families of the county.

John Murdoch, his earliest ancestor in this country, was born in Scotland, but just prior to the Revolutionary War was recorded as a resident of Carlisle, Pa. In 1778 he moved to North Strabane Township, Washing- ton County, and from that time the name of Murdoch has been honorably connected with Washington County history.

Alexander Murdoch, third son of John, was born at Carlisle, Pa., in 1770, and was 8 years of age when brought by his parents to Washington County. In early manhood he purchased the Canonsburg milla, to- gether with a large traet of adjoining land. He pos- sessed the commercial instinct and even at that early day carried on business enterprises successfully that older men had not yet thought of. He conducted both a mill and saddlery and loaded flat boats which he floated down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans, where he found a market and then he returned on horseback, traversing hundreds of miles of wilder- ness. In 1809 he was appointed prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County, and then it was that he took up his residence in the borough of Washington, in 1822 erecting a house which in later years became a part of the Hotel Main. He served as prothonotary until 1819, after which he engaged in mer-

cantile pursuits until 1823, when, with his fuinily, he moved to what was known as the Morganza Tract 400 acres of land situated two miles from Canonsburg- which he bought in that year. There he spent the re- mainder of his days, dying in 1837. Ilis widow sur. vived him until 1863, dying at Canonsburg. In 1803 Alexander Murdoch married Elizabeth Henderson, a daughter of Rev. Matthew Henderson, of Chartiers Township, and to them were born eleven children, of whom tho following grow to maturity: Mary M., widow of IIon. J. L. Gow; John R., Mrs. Sarnh B. Musser, Mrs. E. W. Wilson, Esther Ann, Alexander, Jr., and James.

Alexander Murdoch, the second, the father of John II. Murdoch, was a successful lawyer at Washington, and for some years was in partnership with his brother- in-law, Hon. J. L. Gow. In April, 1961, he was ap- pointed United States marshal for Western Pennsyl- vania, by President Lincoln, and was subsequently re- appointed and served two years. In March, 1869, Presi- dent Grant appointed him to the same office, one which he filled with entire efficiency until he resigned it in December, 1972. He was a man of brilliant talent and was held in high esteem by his fellow citizens. Ile died April 14, 1903, in the 89th year of his age.

John H. Murdoch has been a resident of Washington all his life up to the present time. He is the third child of Alexander and Eliza Huey Murdoch. Ile was grad- vated from Washington and Jefferson College in 1869 and was admitted to the bar in 1874. Under the firm style of John H. Murdoch & Son, Mr. Murdoch is asso- ciated in the practice of law with his son, Edgar B., who was graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in 1896 and was admitted to the bar in 1999. The firm is a representative one at Washington and maintains offices at No. 86 North Main street. Mr. Mur- doch has also many other interests, owning a large amount of valuable realty and serving as president of the Thorneyeroft Land Company and treasurer of the Murdoch-Baldwin Oil Company. He has been president of the Union Trust Company since its organization, and is president of the Washington County Fire Insurance Company, having succeeded his father in that capacity at the time of the latter's death. He has been a mem- her of the board of trustees of Washington Seminary for many years, taking an active part in its work. He is one of the directors of the Pittsburg Life & Trust Company of Pittsburg and a member of the finance committee of the company. He is also president of the Waynesburg Water Company of Waynesburg. Pa., and vice president of the Citizens' Water Company of Wash- ington.

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Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 1

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. (Chicago) pbl Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 898

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. (Chicago) pbl
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 898