Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Part 8

Author: Gresham, John M. cn; Wiley, Samuel T. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia [Dunlap & Clarke]
Number of Pages: 1422

USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania > Part 8

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office, and then went to Illinois, where he was engaged in the grocery business for one year. In 1865 he returned to his native State, where he was appointed through the influence of Judge Pettis as mail route agent on the Farmers' rail- road. He served in that capacity until the Pennsylvania railroad company purchased the railroad. Leaving the mail service in 1862, he became a grain dealer, and engaged in boating on the old canal. In March, 1868, he came to Greensburg and was engaged for one year as a carpenter and one year as a huckster. From 1871 to 1879 he was a partner with C. Cribbs at Greensburg, in the tobacco business. In 1880 he was with Joseph Bowman in the mercantile business. From 1882 to 1889 he owned and conducted a wholesale and retail grocery on Main street, Greensburg. In 1889 he became proprietor of his present book and stationery store on Main street. He has a fine room and carries in stock a full line of standard works, school, miscellaneous and blank books, fine stationery, magazines, popular volumes of fiction and school supplies. By courteous attention to the public and fair deal- ing he has secured an ample share of public patronage. He has dealt and is considerably interested in real estate.

On November 28, 1867, he was married to Mary E. Bowman, daughter of Joseph Bowman, who is a leading merchant of Greensburg. They have had six children, of whom one son and two daughters are living: Henrietta, born Septem- ber 20, 1876; Lurine B., December 10, 1879, and Curtis Bowman, March 11, 1882.

Lucian Clawson is unswerving in his allegi- ance to the democratic faith of his fathers, and has always been actively engaged in the in- terests of the Democratic party. In 1875-76 he served as deputy sheriff of Westmoreland county, and June 8, 1889, he was nominated at the democratic primaries for sheriff of the county. He had nine hundred majority over his highest competitor at the primary election, and in No-

BIOGRAPHIES OF

vember was elected by 1,062 majority over Col. John R Oushler. In all campaigns, local, state or national, he has always taken an active part. Defeat never dampens his ardor or exercises any depressing effect on his efforts. His record as a public official was satisfactory. His business qualifications and accustomed energy well fit him for the discharge of public duties.

J. CLAWSON, one of the leading gro- cers and tobacco dealers of the enter- prising town of Greensburg, was born in Bell township, Westmoreland county, Pa., March 13, 1841, and is a son of James and Sarah (Alcorn) Clawson. His paternal grandfather, Peter Clawson, was a native and farmer of Westmoreland county, and was descended from a Clawson family of Holland. He married Barbara Ringle, daughter of a large land-holder in Sewickley township. She lived to be quite aged; her death occurred about twelve years ago. Ilis father, James Clawson, was born in August, 1812, in Bell township. He is a prosperous farmer, a democrat and an influential member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. He married Miss Sarah Alcorn, of near Saltsburg, Pa., and eight children were born unto them, of whom five sons and one daughter are living. Mrs. Clawson's father, Michael Alcorn, came from Ireland to near Saltsburg, Pa , at thirteen years of age, and was a firm believer in the teachings of the Presbyterian church.

O. J. Clawson was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools and Saltsburg academy, and in 1862 removed to Illinois, where he was engaged in merchandising for twelve years. In 1873 he returned to his native county and was engaged for seven years in business at Helena, a station on the W. P. railway. In 1879 he removed to Greensburg, and successfully engaged in his present large and prosperous wholesale and retail grocery and tobacco trade. Ilis establishment is ample in size, well arranged,

and heavily stocked with a fine assortment of staple and fancy groceries and choice tobaccos and segars. Mr. Clawson owns real estate in Bell township, besides considerable real estate in and around Greensburg. He is president of the Westmoreland Mutual Insurance Company and his business interests are chiefly in this county. He is an active and successful business man, honorable and fair in all his dealings, and is especially deserving of the success he has achieved.

P ATRICK CONDON, a resident of Greens- burg and a soldier in the Army of the Potomac, from Falling Waters and Bull Run to Appomatox Court-House, was born in county Limerick, Ireland, in 1840, and is a son of John and Catherine (O'Connor) Condon. His paternal grandfather was a native of Ireland, where he was extensively engaged in farming. Ilis farm is now managed by one of his sons. John Condon (father) was a drover and farmer in Ireland, where he dealt in fat cattle and man- aged a large farm. He came to the United States in 1844, became a railway foreman, and eventually moved to Canada, where he pur- chased a farm near St. Thomas, in Belgian county, upon which he resided until his death, which occurred in 1856. Ile was an active and successful business man. His wife was Cather- ine O'Connor, a daughter of William O'Connor, who was a wealthy farmer in Ireland, and held some position under the British government. Mr. and Mrs. Condon were the parents of five sons and six daughters, of whom seven are living.

Patrick Condon was brought by his parents to America in 1844. After his father's death he worked on the farm for three years, when his mother removed to Clinton county, Pa., where she carried on the farm business until 1863. In April, 1861, Mr. Condon enlisted in the Union army. He was a member of Co. B,

WESTMORELAND COUNTY.

eleventh Reg. Pa. Vols., fought in the first battle of the war, served a three-months term, was promoted to corporal, and re-enlisted for three years. When his second term of enlist- ment was out he enlisted again at Cedar Moun- tain, and served until September, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. He fought in eighteen battles, besides being in numerous skirmishes, and was wounded in the left arm in front of Petersburg while on skirmish duty at night. He kept a diary while out in the army and recorded the daily events of his military life. After the close of the war he engaged for several years in carpentering and lumbering, but was obliged to quit that business on account of his wounded arm In 1881 he opened his pres- ent billiard parlor at Greensburg.

In 1881 Mr. Condon married Mary Brannon, who died in 1883 of consumption, by whom he had two children : Catharine J. and Mary B., the former died when eight days old, the latter still lives. Ilis second wife was Mary A. All- britian, who bore him one child, a son, John S. Mrs. Condon and her child both died of typhoid fever in 1886, and Mr. Condon in 1888 mar- ried his third wife, Elizabeth Dehart, who has also one daughter living, Maggie B. Dehart. She is of a very old and respected family of Indiana.

In politics Mr. Condon is not a strict party man. Ile is a member of the Catholic church of Greensburg. Ile is energetic and enterpris- ing, and has accumulated considerable means, and a man who always lives up to his word.

YRUS P. COPE, the popular proprietor of the Grant House, of Greensburg, and a lineal descendant of Oliver Cope, who came over with William Penn in 1681, is a son of George and Anna Mary (Eisaman) Cope, and was born eight miles southwest of Greensburg, in Hempfield township, Westmoreland county, Pa., June 30, 1838. The Cope family of West-

moreland county trace their ancestry back to Oliver Cope, who came over with William Penn in 1681, in which year he erected in Chester county his log house, still standing in 1863. One of his descendants was the paternal grand- father of the subject of this sketch, who was a native of Lancaster. county, Pa. He married Susan Snyder and removed to Westmoreland county at an early day. He was an industrious and thrifty Quaker and cleared out a large and valuable farm. George Cope (father) was born on the home farm in 1797 and died in 1841. Ile followed farming and wagoning on the old pike. He was a man of energy and push and had accumulated considerable property at the time of his death. He was a democrat, a mem- ber of the Lutheran church, and married Anna Mary Eisaman, daughter of Michael Eisaman, by whom he had six children : Henry, of Manor Station ; Maria, wife of Jacob Long, who died about 1874; Annie, wife of Eli Reck ; Catherine and George M., who died at an early age, and Cyrus P.

Cyrus P. Cope attended the common schools and Mt. Pleasant college. Leaving college, he taught school for some time and then made an extended tour of the "West." Returning to this county he was engaged in the stock busi- ness at Greensburg for about twenty years. He ran the Eagle Hotel, of Pittsburg, for one year, and in 1868 opened the Grant House, of Greens- burg, which he has successfully conducted ever since. ITis hotel is eligibly located on the corner of Pittsburg street and Pennsylvania avenue.

He united in marriage on November 3, 1869, with Sarah J. Cribbs, a daughter of Capt. George Cribbs (sce sketch of C. Cribbs.) Their children are: Laura B., Abbie A., Elma J., James II., Harry E., Horace C., Vitor, George, Hilliard C., Anna Mary, Roy Thomas and Oscar M. Mrs. Cope's mother was a great- granddaughter of Beatrice (Guldin) Byerly, who was born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, the

BIOGRAPHIES OF

home of Col. Bouquet, " who escaped Pontiac's confederates and bore her tender babes through the wilderness (at night) from Bushy Run to Ft. Ligonier in 1763, and who was a blessing to hundreds of pioneer settlers by her deeds of Christian charity.

In politics Mr. Cope is a republican. He is a member of the Second Evangelical church of Greensburg, and Centennial Lodge, No. 100, A. O. U. W.

& DGAR COWAN, L.L.D., a Senator in Congress, and one who lived a life emi- nently useful, highly honorable and patri- otic, was the most distinguished man in political public life that Westmoreland county ever pro- duced. Senator Cowan was on the maternal side of Scotch-Irish extraction, and was born in Sewickley township, Westmoreland county, Pa., September 19, 1815. The immigrant, Hugh Cowan, settled at an early day in Chester county, Pa., where Captain William Cowan, the grand- father of the Senator, was born on Christmas day, 1749. Ile was a man of large stature and vigorous mental powers and served as a captain iu the Revolutionary war.

In the family of his grandfather Edgar Cowan passed the early years of his childhood. Senator Cowan owed nothing to birth or fortune to fit him for his distinguished career in after-life, but he had an unquenchable thirst for know- ledge, and during boyhood read every book he could obtain. At sixteen years of age he went to Allegheny county, Pa., where he taught school for six months, then engaged for a time in rough carpenter work, help build the West New- ton bridge and ran a keel-boat, whereby he earned a little money and entered Greensburg academy. Completing the academy course, he taught several terms of school, and in 1838 entered Franklin college, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1839, as valedictorian of his class. In 1871 his alma mater conferred upon him the degree of L.L. D.

Ile read law with Hon. Henry D. Foster, and was admitted to the Westmoreland county bar in February, 1842. Ile opened an office at Greens- burg, where his commanding talents and superior legal attainments soon secured him a large and lu- crative practice. Ile was always employed in the most important cases which came before the courts, and was generally successful in the suits he brought or defended, although often opposed by the best legal talent of the State. In 1855 he made a most masterly defence of Ward and Gibson, who were indicted for murder, and by his consummate skill, great eloquence, and ex- tensive knowledge of criminal law secured an acquittal, where nothing but conviction was ex- pected and demanded by the public. In the suc- ceeding year he prosecuted Corigan for murder and secured a verdiet for conviction, although the prisoner was ably and stubbornly defended by Hon. Henry D. Foster and Col. Samuel Black, of Pittsburg.

Specially qualified by natural ability and well fitted by a classical education and a thorough knowledge of constitutional law for political lead- ership, he soon became conspicuous as a speaker at political meetings in his own county. Ile was originally a Jackson democrat but joined the whigs in 1840, and in 1856 supported " Fre- mont in preference to Fillmore and Buchanan, the former of whom represented know-nothing- ism, and the latter indifferentism to the extension of slavery into the territories." In 1860, on account of the Kansas troubles, he united with the conservative republicans and was elector on the Lincoln and Hamlin ticket. In January, 1861, Edgar Cowan was elected to the United States Senate, taking his seat on the fourth of March, 1861. In view of the war he laid down for his own guidance five rules from which he never swerved :

1. That the North should not violate the con- stitution in coercing the South.

2. That there were two elements to be concili- ated; the Democratic party in the Free States,

WESTMORELAND COUNTY.

and the Union men of the Border and Confed- erate States.

3. That Congress should confine itself to pro- viding sufficient revenue and raising armies.

4. That the war should be waged according to the rules of civilized warfare.

5. That the war was made to suppress a re- bellion and not to make a conquest of the Con- federate States. In pursuance of these rules he spoke and voted against legal tender, confisca- tion, national banks, tenure of office, reconstruc- tion, Freedmen's Bureau and civil rights. IIe also opposed test oaths and negro suffrage. IIe was the author of the $300 clause in the conscrip- tion act, and by having the Steubenville bridge raised prevented the destruction of the lumber and coal trade of western Pennsylvania on the Ohio river. When elected to the senate he was unknown except in south-western Pennsylvania, but he was soon recognized at Washington city as a leading lawyer, a fine classical scholar, and as fully abreast in science and philosophy with the best thought of the time. His speeches were earnest, eloquent and logical, and he was soon known throughout the land as one of the intel- lectual giants of the United States senate. In describing Mr. Cowan, the poet, N. P. Willis, said: "Of his powerfully proportioned frame and finely-chiseled features, the Senator seemed as naturally unconscious as of his singular readi- ness and universal crudition." He well main- tained the prestige and honor of Pennsylvania and the press throughout the Union during his senatorial career spoke in the highest terms of him as a man of great ability, wonderful elo- quence, earnest conviction and noble indepen- dence. When .his senatorial term ended in 1867, he returned to Greensburg and was en- gaged for several years in the practice of his profession.

In 1842 Senator Cowan married Lucy Oliver, daughter of Col. James B. Oliver, of West New- ton, who died in 1873 at the advanced age of ninety-three. To Senator and Mrs. Cowan were

born three children : Elizabeth, widow of J. J. Hazlett, who was a member of the Greensburg bar; Dr. Frank Cowan, a member of the bar and a physician, an author of several works of high literary merit and a gentleman of extensive scientific attainments, a world's traveler who has made the circuit of the globe and James B. O., whose sketch is given in this volume.

On August 31, 1885, his spirit passed calmly and peacefully from earth. In the old St. Clair cemetery at Greensburg is a plain but costly monument, on one side of which is the simple inscription-Edgar Cowan. Nothing more is needed, for his ability, integrity, courage and patriotism has written his epitaph in the mem- ories of the people of his native county for all time to come, and the story of his life has passed into the history of his country.

. AMES B. O. COWAN, of Greensburg, is the second son and youngest child of the late Senator Edgar Cowan (whose sketch appears at length in this volume), and was born in Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pa., October 2, 1846. Ilis mother, Lucy (Oliver) Cowan, was a daughter of Col. James B. Oliver, a prominent citizen of West Newton. James B. O. Cowan was reared at Greensburg, receiving his education in the public schools of his nativo town and in Greensburg academy, which was chartered in 1810. After leaving school he worked at the " art preservative of all arts" in the printing office of the Greensburg Democrat, and for several years engaged in the pursuit of his trade at Greensburg, working on the Democrat and several other papers. IIe did not engage permanently in the printing business or take control of any paper, as a large portion of his time and labor was required for the management of his father's farm. For the last ten years of the life of his father (who was nearly blind) he was his constant companion, doing nearly all his reading, writing and office work.

BIOGRAPHIES OF

In 1863, when Lee invaded Pennsylvania and the Confederate cavalry leader, Gen. Jolm II. Morgan, was on a raid through Indiana and Ohio, Gov. Curtin called for 50,000 men to de- fend the State. Among the first to respond to the call was Mr. Cowan, who enlisted in Co. C. (raised in Greensburg), fifty-fourth regiment, State Militia, and was elected corporal. The fifty-fourth regiment was organized in Pittsburg July 4, 1863, and aided materially in Morgan's capture ; it helped to guard the fords of the Ohio river between Ohio and West Virginia, at some of which Morgan had hoped to escape into West Virginia. Near Warrenton the Confederate chieftain tried the position of the fifty-fourth regiment, but did not deem it prudent to ven- ture an attack. After participating in this short campaign, that terminated with the capture of Morgan, Mr. Cowan returned with his com- pany to Pittsburg, where he was honorably mustered out of the service August 17, 1863. Mr. Cowan, who is a pleasant, sociable and in- telligent gentleman, devotes the most of his time to the supervision and improvement of the home farm.

J L. CRAWFORD, M. D. The medical profession is one of the most important professions of the world, and in the his- tory of medical practitioners as a craft it is a matter of record that many of them are specially qualified, entertain an enthusiastic love for their noble calling and are eminently successful in the practice of medicine. Of this worthy class of physicians is Dr. J. L. Crawford, of Greensburg, who was a brave officer in the Army of the Po- tomac and is a leading physician and surgeon of Westmoreland county. He was born near Marchand, in North Mahoning township, Pa., October 20, 1842, and is a son of Allen and Nancy (Brown) Crawford. Allen Crawford, son of Moses Crawford, was born in 1804 near Centerville, in the Ligonier valley. He was reared on a farm and received only a meager

education, which that period and the surrounding circumstances would allow his parents to give him. Ile followed farming and lumbering. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, a democrat in politics, a straightforward, thorough- going man in business and died in 1872. His wife was Nancy Brown, of Indiana county, Pa. They had nine children, four sons and five daughters, of whom the daughters are all dead.

Dr. J. L. Crawford received his literary edu- cation in the common schools and Marion and Indiana academies. Leaving school, he served four years in the Army of the Potomac. In 1868 he entered the office of Dr. Alter, at Par- nassus, and read medicine. He attended one course of lectures at Michigan University and in 1869 matriculated in Jefferson Medical college, at Philadelphia, from which time-honored insti- tution he was graduated March 7. 1868. After graduating he went to Saltsburg, Indiana county, Pa., where he practiced medicine until 1875, when he entered Belle View Hospital, New York city, and remained one year in the study of spe- cial subjects in surgery and anatomy. In 1876 he removed to Greensburg, where he has been actively engaged in the successful practice of his profession ever since.

In 1868 Dr. Crawford was married to Zeruiah Griffith, of East Mahoning, and after her death in 1872 he was married June 4, 1884, to Mary Baer, daughter of Adam Baer, of Greensburg.

Dr. J. L. Crawford, at nineteen years of age, enlisted as a private in Co. A, sixty-first regt. Pa. Vols., August 21, 1861. He was shot in the left arm at " Fair Oaks" May 31, 1862, and was honorably discharged on account of his wound. After remaining at home for a year he re-enlisted May 7, 1863, as second lieutenant of second l'a. regt., and was wounded in the side. His third enlistment was as second lieutenant of Co. C, thirty-second regt., U. S. C. T. He en- listed September 7, 1864, and was wounded in the right foot. In 1864 he became adjutant of 206th Pa. Vols. and was struck in the left shoulder

Jo Crawford

Christ Cribs -

WESTMORELAND COUNTY.

by a rifle ball. The close of the war brought his eventful military career to an end. He had enlisted four times, held four commissions and was wounded in four different fights. He was honorably mustered out of the service June 25, 1865.

Dr. Crawford is an ardent republican and takes an active part in political campaigns. He served as pension examiner under President Arthur's administration and was recently re-ap- pointed to that position. He owns a large and extensive library, whose choice volumes treat of every department of medicine and extend be- yond professional subjects into the domain of science and art. He frequently attends the leading medical schools of the United States for a few days at a time in order to familiarize him- self with their latest teachings and discoveries. Active, vigilant and progressive, he stands in the front rank of the medical profession of south- western Pennsylvania and enjoys a large and ex- tensive practice. Ile is an extensive contribu- tor to medical journals and some of his articles have been widely copied. His military record is an enviable one. His comrades in arms bear testimony that as an officer he was popular with his men and never asked them to go where he dared not lead .; that as a soldier he was faithful in the discharge of duty and in time of battle was always found in the thickest of the death- ful fray, and that he was one of the bravest of the many brave soldiers which Westmoreland county sent into the field during the late war. Dr. J. L. Crawford has been called upon at dif- ferent times to address public assemblages and has always acquitted himself with credit. Several of his Decoration day orations are said to be models in style and thought.

IIRISTOPHER CRIBBS, register al. . re- corder of Westmoreland county and a pop- ular and obliging public official, is a son of the late Capt George and Jane (Skelly) Cribbs, G

and was born at Cribbs "Old Stand," Hemp- field township, Westmoreland county, Pa., De- cember 30, 1847. The Cribbs family traces its ancestry back to Alsace-Lorraine, now a west province of Germany and known as Elsas-Loth- ringen. Christopher Cribbs' (great-grandfather), Lieut. John Cribbs, served in the Revolutionary war and was killed at St. Clair's defeat, Novem- ber 4, 1791. His paternal grandfather, Chris- topher Cribbs, was a native of Hempfield town- ship, a potter by trade, and married Mary M. Silvis. Ilis maternal grandfather was William Skelly, of Adamsburg, Pa., who was born in Ireland and emigrated to America when about 12 years of age. Ile was a member of Capt. Markle's infantry company of Westmoreland county, which served in the war of 1812. Mr. Skelly was called out, but resigned on account of ill health, and his place was taken by his brother- in-law, Joseph Byerly. William Skelly married Mary Byerly, daughter of Jacob Byerly, who had served three years in the Revolutionary war and whose father, Andrew Byerly, was one of Col. Bouquet's scouts at " Bushy Run." Andrew Byerly was one of 18 scouts sent out on the morning of that battle, and was one of but six who were not killed. Ile married Beatrice Guldin, who came from Canton Berne, Switzer- land, which was the birth-place of Col. Bouquet. Capt. George Cribbs (father) was born on the Cribbs homestead, April 15, 1820. When the late civil war broke out he was among the first to respond to President Lincoln's call for troops. Ile was commissioned captain of Co. I, eleventh l'a. Vols., August 21, 1861, which was re- cruited at Greensburg and mustered into the ser- vice at Harrisburg, Pa., September 20, 1861. Capt. Cribbs participated in the battles of Cedar Mountain, August 9, 1862, Rappahannock Station, August 21, 1862, Thoroughfare Gap, August 21, 1862, and was mortally wounded at Second Bull Run, August 30, 1862. IIe died at Columbia College Hospital, Washington City, September 20, 1862. Capt. George Cribbs was

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Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Part 8

Author: Gresham, John M. cn; Wiley, Samuel T. cn Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia [Dunlap & Clarke] Number of Pages: 1422

Author: Gresham, John M. cn; Wiley, Samuel T. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia [Dunlap & Clarke]
Number of Pages: 1422