Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 108

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II > Part 108

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On August 24, 1898, Mr. Donohue, was married to Miss Gertrude Darragh, who is a daughter of Hart and Lenora Darragh, residents of Philadelphia. Mrs. Dar- ragh is an artist of note. Mrs. Donohue completed her education in Paris, France, and is a pianist of more than usual talent. She is a member of the famous Tourist Club of Pittsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Donohue have four children, namely: Thomas H. Darragh, born June 26, 1899; Leonora Cecelia, born July 23, 1900; Wilson, born April 1, 1904; and John H., born May 7, 1909. Mr. Donohue and family are rigid Roman Catholics. As no church of that body has yet been erected at Avella, Mr. Donohue rents a hall and a priest comes out from Pittsburg once a month and holds services. In all that he does Mr. Donohue shows the consistency of a well- balanced man.

JOHN A. GAULT, farmer and fruit grower, who owns 106 acres of productive land situated in Union Township, Washington County, Pa., about two and one-half miles southeast of Finleyville, was born in Jefferson Township, Allegheny County, Pa., August 23, 1846. His parents were Andrew and Mary (Mowry) Gault.

Andrew Gault was born near Canonsburg, Washington County, where his father had settled as a pioneer. In early manhood, Andrew Gault moved to Allegheny Coun- ty and was there married to Mary Mowry, who was born in Jefferson Township. They moved from that section to Elizabeth Township and the first farm he bought was land on which part of Glassport now stands. In 1867 he moved to the farm on which his son, John A., resides, purchasing it from M. P. Patton. He remained here until the close of his life, dying in 1879, when aged seventy-nine years. His widow survived ten years, her age at time of death being seventy-one years. They had seven children: Christina, who is the wife of George A. Smith; John Alexander; Sarah J., who is the wife . of J. F. Kennedy; and Andrew (all living) and three who died at an early age.

John A. Gault, who is known to his friends as "Doc," grew to manhood on the farm he now owns, in the mean- while attending the district schools and later taking a commercial course at Duff's Business College, at Pitts- burg. After the death of his father, he and his brother, Andrew, came into possession of the farm and at a later date, John A. purchased his brother's interest. Since 18SO he has been successfully engaged in fruit growing. He is general agent in Washington County for the well known nurseryman, Nelson Bogue, of Batavia, N. Y.

On November 10, 1875, Mr. Gault was married to Miss

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Mary J. Pease, a daughter of William Pease, and they have had seven children:, namely: Mary E., who mar- ried John A. Dennis, and has two children, Helen and John Alfred; Donald L., who married Mary Hutchison, and has three children-John L., Dorothy and Andrew Russell; Emma C .; Olive E., who died at the age of twenty years; Nora V .; Jennie M., who married J. Frank Long and has one child, Gladys Ruth; and John Andrew, a stalwart youth of twenty years. In his political views, Mr. Gault is a Demoerat. He served sixteen years on the township school board and for four years on the board of managers of the Morganza Re- formu School, being appointed to this office by former Gov. Pattison. He is a man of standing in his com- munity and a representative citizen.

THE AMSPOKER FAMILY-Among the early set- tlers of Washington County was Jonas Amspoker. He with two brothers came from Germany. One brother settled in New York, one in Philadelphia and Jonas in York County, Pa. Afterward Jonas and. his wife eame to Washington County, Pa., and took by tomahawk right a parcel of land, partly in Washington County and partly in what is now Brooke County, W. Va., contain- ing between 200 and 300 aeres. The main part was in continual possession of Amspoker heirs for more than 100 years. They came in the year 1779.

His wife was Elizabeth Leeper, a lady of Scotch de- seent. A few years ago the Hon. David Rohrer Leeper, of South Bend, Ind., traced the Leeper lineage back to the year 1440 and procured a copy of their "eoat of arms."

A sister of Elizabeth Leeper married Alexander Smith, great-grandfather of the present · Alexander Smith, of near Eldersville, and took up the same farm now oeeu- pied by him.

Jonas Amspoker and wife had five children, who lived and married, two sons and three daughters: Sarah mar- ried a Mr. Jones and later Judge Fulton; Martha mar- ried a Mr. Burt; and Mary, the youngest of the family, married a Mr. Rippith, of Harrison County, Ohio. Three of Mary's children are still living. It is from Mrs. Delilah Lappin, of Leesville, Ohio, the youngest of her mother's family, that we have gathered these facts, She says she has heard her mother relate of her going around the eabin chimney one day when but four years old and seeing her brother, John, sitting in the ehim- ney corner erying very hard. She says, "John, what makes you cry so?" He replied : "Don't you know father is dead." This was July 6, 1796, and John was but six- teen years old and the eldest of the family. The mother died July 15, 1839.

The other son, Samuel, settled near Cadiz, Ohio; was married twice and had eight son and three daughters.

The sons were John, Alexander, Charles, Jonas, George, Albert, Webster and Theodore.

The older brother, John, was born January 1, 1780, and married Mary Ramsey, of near West Middletown, Washington County, who was born February 20, 1785. They had four sons-George, Jonas, John and Samuel --- and three daughters-Mary, Martha and Elizabeth.

John continued to reside on the home place till after the marriage of his sons George and John, when he turned the homestead over to them and came to a farm not far from Burgettstown, Pa. Afterward he gave that to his son Jonas and bought again on Harmon's Creek, Hanover Township. Jonas sold out in the fifties and located near New Concord, Ohio. He had two daugh- ters and four sons. The elder daughter was the first wife of J. B. (Tenan) of Burgettstown, Pa. The other daughter, Belle, married Benjamin Marshall, of New Coneord, Ohio. The sons are William, Jonas, James and Albert, all of Muskingum and Guernsey Counties, Ohio.

John's daughter, Martha, married Rezin Criss and lived in Ohio. Elizabeth married John McFarland and also moved to Ohio. Mary was unmarried and moved with her mother and a granddaughter (Mrs. Maria Hal- stead) to New Concord, Ohio. They left Washington County in the spring of 1858. The death of Mary Ram- sey Amspoker occurred July 26, 1880; she was aged ninety-five years five months and six days.

George Amspoker, son of John, had four daughters, no sons. Eliza married Zachariah Wheeler, of near Col- liers, Brook County, W. Va. Mary married Asa Dono- van, of near Fowlertown, W. Va. Caroline married Elijah Criss and Adaline married John Reasoner. The latter two live near Cambridge, Ohio.

John, Jr., had one son and two daughters. Clara mar- ried John Wells, of Washington County, and Emeline married a Mr. St. Clair, of near New Concord, Ohio. The son, John C., still lives on a part of the first traet of land, and has three daughters, Marie, Zelina and Helen. John's youngest son, Samuel, inherited the farm on Harmon's Creek.

Samuel was killed in October, 1857, leaving his widow with one son and five daughters. The son is Samuel Amspoker, attorney, of Washington, Pa., and he with John C., of Brooke County, W. Va., a full cousin, rep- resents the male line east of the Ohio River, as Samnel's family consists of two daughters, Clarissa and Ruth.

T. R. Strain bonght the Harmon's Creek farm in 1883, having married one of deceased Samuel Amspoker 's daughters. The farm was sold at sheriff's sale in Au- gust, 1905, to satisfy a small mortgage. It is now owned by H. G. Taylor, of near Burgettstown.

ROBERT ANDREW DONALDSON, a representative of one of the old and prominent families of Washing-

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. ton County, Pa., is a leading business man of Canons- burg, conducting a large grocery business in this bor- ongh. He was born at Canonsburg July 4, 1878, and is a son of Franklin Pierce and Emma Jeanetta (Arm- strong) Donaldson,

Franklin Pierce Donaldson was born at Canonsburg, .July 22, 1852, and still resides in his native place. His parents were Robert and Sarah (Brown) Donaldson, both of whom died at Canonsburg, and the former of whom was a bricklayer by trade.

Franklin P. Donaldson learned the plasterer's trade in early manhood, but later went into the drug busi- ness and conducted a drug store at Canonsburg for twelve years. He has spent all his life here with the exception of four or five years passed at Huntingdon, Pa. He married Emma J. Armstrong, a daughter of Andrew Armstrong. She was one of ten children and her mother died when Emma was quite young. To Franklin P. Donaldson and wife three children were born, Robert Andrew, Mary Armstrong and William Armstrong. Mary Armstrong died when four years old and William Armstrong at about the same age.

Robert Andrew Donaldson attended the common schools and was graduated from the Canonsburg High School in the Class of 1898. He prepared for a busi- ness career by attending the Washington Commercial College, from which he was graduated in 1899. He was then employed for four years as bookkeeper by the Canonsburg Transfer Company, and for about the same length of time was bookkeeper and collector for W. J. Elliott, also of Canonsburg. On April 1, 1906, he em- barked in the grocery business at his present location, No. 16 West Pike street, Canonsburg, with a Mr. Ed- wards as a partner, the firm style being Donaldson & Edwards. Later, Mr. Donaldson purchased his partner's interest and has been alone ever since. He started out practically withont resources except those provided by himself and his sueeess has been the result of honest methods, reliable goods and a natural adaptability to the business. He has built up a large trade and in his line is numbered with the representative merchants of Canonsburg.

On June 18, 1902, Mr. Donaldson was married to Miss Olive B. Swan, a danghter of Samuel Swan, of Canonsburg, and they have two children, Ahna May, who was born on May 14, 1907; and Mary Armstrong, born January 5, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson are members of the Canonsburg Methodist Episcopal Church. He is identified with both the lower branch and the Uniform Rank of the order of Knights of Pythias.

FRED COOPER IRWIN, one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Nottingham Township, who is carrying on general farming on a well cultivated traet

of fifty-six acres, was born on a farm at Ginger Hill, Washington County, Pa., May 26, 1860, and is a son of David and Nancy (Cooper) Irwin.

James Irwin, the grandfather of Fred C. Irwin, came from Lancaster County to Washington County, Pa., and worked at his trade of cooper, having a shop at Monon- gahela, where his death occurred in his ninety-fourth year. He was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Porter and his second Mary Carson, and to this latter union there were born three children, Lewis, David and Sarah, all now deceased.

David Irwin was born at Monongahela, and there learned the trade of cooper in his father's shop. Sub- seqnently he became a farmer, but in 1856 he went to California in search of gold, making the trip over the plains and being gone for about five years. He then came back to his farm, but again made the trip, this time around the Horn, and was gone for two years. Selling his mining interests, he returned to Washington County, Pa., and purchased a farm at Ginger Hill, which is still in the family name, but later he went to Alle- gheny and was there engaged in business for twenty- eight years. He died at that place when sixty-seven years of age, his widow surviving him for some time and dying at the age of sixty-three years. She was a daughter of F. K. and Lydia (Townsend) Cooper, the former of Nottingham Township and the latter of Peters Township. The six children born to David and Nancy (Cooper) Irwin were as follows: Lydia E., who died young ; Joseph T .; Fred C .; Edwin J .; Anna, who is the wife of J. K. Hutchinson; and Stella, who is the wife of A. M. Chestnut.

Fred Cooper Irwin grew to manhood on the Ginger Hill farm, and learned the painter's trade, which he followed for twenty-five years. He then purchased his present farm from the Barclay estate. He carries on general farming and stock raising, and has been emi- nently successful in his operations. In polities a Demo- crat, Mr. Irwin was a member of the school board for six years, during five years of which time he was presi- dent of that body.

On January 15, 1885, Mr. Irwin was married to Mar- garet Barclay, the daughter of James and Sarah (Caster) Barclay, and their children are James, Mina, Charles, Hallie, Joseph, Robert, Clyde, Clifford and Lee Roy.

JOHN CLARK FREMONT MILLER, a representa- tive citizen of Chartiers Township, Washington County, Pa., and a member of one of the old and prominent families of this section, resides on his farm of ninety- seven acres and is extensively engaged in raising thor- oughbred Holstein and Guernsey cattle. He was born on an adjoining farm December 26, 1856, and is a son of Thomas and Jane (Reed) Miller.

NELSON II. BOYD

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Andrew Miller, the grandfather, came from Ireland to America in 1812, bringing his parents, Thomas and Sarah Miller and accompanied by his brother Thomas and his three sisters, Sarah, Margaret and Mary. They all settled in Mt. Pleasant Township, Washington Coun- ty, l'a. Andrew Miller was married in Ireland to Sarah Steele, a sister of Rev. James Steele, who, for many years was a Presbyterian minister at Strabane, Ireland. After settling in Mt. Pleasant Township Andrew Miller engaged in farming which occupation he followed for many years there and then moved to Chartiers Township, where he died in 1853, at the age of seventy years. His widow died in 1856 at the home of her daughter in Mt. Pleasant Township. Andrew Miller was a leading Dem- oerat in his neighborhood and he was a valued member of the Associate Church. Four children were born to Andrew Miller and his wife: James, who died in 1844, and was an attorney at Wooster, Ohio; Thomas; Andrew, who died in Allegheny County, Pa .; and Jane, who was the wife of Andrew Russell, of Chartiers Township.

Thomas Miller, father of John (. F. Miller, obtained his education in an old log schoolhouse on Chartiers Creek and afterward he gave his time and attention to agricultural pursuits and was long numbered with the successful farmers and stock raisers of Washington County. He was born in Mt. Pleasant Township Octo- ber 15, 1815, and died at Canonsburg, to which city he retired in 1875, erecting there a handsome residence. In his early political life he was a Democrat, but left the ranks of that party on the slavery issue. His first presidential vote was cast for Martin Van Buren, then for William Henry Harrison. He was a delegate from Canonsburg to the first National convention of the Re- publican party which was held at Pittsburg in 1856. In 1884 he cast in his lot with the Prohibition party and was a delegate to the convention that nominated Hon. T. M. T. MeKennan to fill the vacancy in Con- gress caused by the death ot Hon. Joseph Lawrence. Mr. Miller refused publie office on many occasions and declined to accept the nomination of his party for the State Legislature at the first county Republican con- vention.

On May 17, 1843, Thomas Miller was married to Annie Reed, who died in March, 1858. She was a daugh- ter of David Reed, of Cecil Township, Washington Coun- ty. Seven children were born to that marriage: An- drew S., David Reed, J. Martin, John C. F., Almira, Elizabeth and Sadie J. Andrew S. Miller, a member of the bar of Pittsburg, was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War. He married Elizabeth A. Reed, a daughter of Alfred Reed, a banker, of Allegheny City. David Reed Miller, a prominent minister in the United Presbyterian Church and for years editor of

the "United Presbyterian," was educated at West- minster and Monmouth Colleges. Hle first married Mary S. Wyley and afterwards Annie Cathcart. J. Martin Miller, a prosperous farmer in Chartiers Township, was educated in the district schools and Washington and Jefferson College. After his marriage he purchased the home farm in Chartiers Township and is interested in raising Holstein cattle and Delaine Merino sheep. In IS75 he married Mary B. Stewart, a native of Belmont County, Ohio, a daughter of John Stewart. Mr. Miller was elected a ruling elder in the Chartiers United Pres- byterian Church in 1886. Almira Miller, who is now de- reased, was the wife of Rev. W. T. McConnell, who is pastor of the Turtle Creek United Presbyterian Church. Elizabeth Miller died at the age of ten years. Sadie J. Miller is also deceased. She was the wife of W. H. Ritchie, of West Point, Ky. On November 20, 1860, Thomas Miller was married (second) to Elizabeth Linn. She was born in South Strabane Township, a daughter of James Linn. There was no issae to this marriage and she survived her husband for about eighteen months.

John C. F. Miller, the youngest of the family, obtained his education in the local schools and then took a busi- ness course at Duff's Commercial College at Pittsburg, Prior to settling down to an agricultural life, Mr. Miller was interested in other industrial lines. In 1901 Mr. Miller came to his present farm, it being the one on which Rev. Isaac and Rev. Smith, as well as Dr. George P. Hays, were reared, the latter of whom was at one time president of Washington and Jefferson College. He has made some improvements, erecting his present commo- dious residence in 1907. He takes much interest in developing his fine stoek and owns herds that are very valuable from every point of view.

In 1892 Mr. Miller was married to Miss Anna M. Ross, who is a daughter of M. P. and Auna Jeanette (Pollock) Ross, who resides at Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have two daughters: Anna Violet and Velma Jean. Formerly Mr. Miller was identified with the Chartiers United Presbyterian Church, but is now a member of the Houston Church. In politics he is a Republican, but has no political aspirations.

NELSON HOMER BOYD, postmaster at Finleyville, Pa., for many years has been a representative business man in this section and has held his present office since July, 1908. He was born in Elizabeth Township. Alle- gheny County, Pennsylvania, November 1. 1947, and is a son of John and Jane ( Weddle) Boyd.

The parents of Mr. Boyd spent their entire lives in Elizabeth Township. They had a family of nine chil- dren : George, John. Joseph, James. Nelson Homer, Eliza, Robert, Nancy Jane, and Mary Elizabeth. The

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four survivors are: John, Robert, Nelson H., and Naney Jane, the latter of whom is the wife of C. A. Walker of MeKeesport, Pa.

Nelson H. Boyd attended the district school near his father's small farm and blacksmith shop, in Elizabeth Township, until he was near seventeen years of age, when he began to teach school and taught very accepta- bly to patrons and pupils for ten terms. He then be- came part owner in a general store in partnership with his brother, John Boyd, and subsequently bought a farm of 100 acres iu Washington County and operated it for three years. Returning then to Allegheny County, he spent the next five years there and during that time served one term as a justice of the yeace. In 1882 he came to Finleyville and entered the employ of a well- known coal operator, Henry Floersheim, with whom he continued for eighteen years. When the government started the free delivery system, Mr. Boyd entered the service for ten months. In 1901, in partnership with his brother, Robert Boyd, he went into the grocery busi- ness at Finleyville, which they conducted until 1906. In all his different business connections Mr. Boyd has re- tained the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens through his ability and integrity, and his appointment as postmaster was acceptable, to many who were not of the same political faith as himself.

On June 8, 1871, Mr. Boyd was married to Miss Lu- cetta Fritchman, of Westmoreland County, and they re- side on Marion avenue, Finleyville. They have three children: Francis M., Charles N., and Henry C. The eldest son married Jean Kerr and they have the follow- ing children: Lucetta, Marion, Martha, Helen, Arthur and James.

JOSEPH ROLAND CURRY, one of the leading citi- zens of Gastonville, Pa., who deals in real estate and insurance, is also a notary public and has practically been a lifelong resident of this borough. He was born October 7, 1848, at Finleyville, Pa., and is a son of Joseph M. and Mary Jane (Campbell) Curry.

Dr. Joseph Curry, who was born April 14, 1778, was one of the prominent pioneer physicians of this section of Pennsylvania, and died July 6, 1861, at his home place at Curry Station, Allegheny County, Pa. His marriage with Jane Finley, a daughter of John Finley, who laid out the town of Finleyville, Pa., resulted in the birth of the following children: John Finley, de- ceased; Joseph Moore, deceased; William E., deceased; Sarah, now past ninety years of age; Mary Jane, de- ceased; Susan, deceased; Margaret; and Isabelle.

Joseph M. Curry, who was born in 1813 in Snowden Township, Allegheny County, Pa., was a graduated phy- sician, but never practiced his profession. Early in life he engaged in the mercantile business at Finleyville,

where he commanded an extensive patronage, and was one of the most successful business men of the borough. He made two trips yearly to Philadelphia, where on each occasion he purchased stock, making payments yearly. He carried an extensive line of goods and it was said by his friends and patrons that it was impossible to ask Joe Curry for anything he didn't have in stock. On one occasion some friends wishing to test him, called for an ox-yoke, when, much to their surprise, he produced one from his ware-room, having purchased it shortly be- fore at a public sale. About 1855 Mr. Curry removed to Gastonville, Pa., where he continued in the mercantile business for about fifty years, after which he lived in retirement until the time of his death in 1896. The business was carried on for several years afterwards

by his son George. He was married in 1846 to Mary Jane Campbell, who was born in 1826 in Union Town- ship, Washington County, Pa., and of their union were born the following children: Robert C., who died in in- fancy; Joseph Roland, William H., Edward C., George A., Frank M., Mary Jane, Lydia Belle, who is the widow of Dr. W. J. Gamble, of Gastonville, Pa., and Robert C.

Joseph R. Curry was about six years old when his par- ents removed to Gastonville, Pa., where he was reared. His educational training was obtained in the township schools, the old Southwestern Academy at California, Pa., and at the Iron City Business College, Pittsburg. About 1872 he removed to Darlington, Beaver County, Pa., where he operated a general store until 1878, then went to Missouri, where he engaged in farming on a tract of 160 acres, which he still owns, and in 1880. re- turned to Gastonville, where he has since dealt in real estate and life insurance. Mr. Curry is now serving his second term as notary public, is a Democrat in politics and was elected by that party justice of the peace in 1910.

Mr. Curry was first united in marriage with Jane Elizabeth Cook, who died in Missouri, leaving three chil- dren : Maude, is an instructor in the Pittsburg Academy ; Edith, residing at home; and Alice, who is a teacher in the Pittsburg Academy. She and her sister both taught some time in the Washington County schools. Mr. Curry subsequently married Frank D. Lytle, who is a daughter of Isaac Lytle.

CHARLES A. McDONALD, who successfully operates his farm of II2 acres, situated in Cecil Township, ad- joining Venice Station, has also other business interests, being superintendent of the South Pennsylvania Oil Company, and for fifteen years has bred fine trotting and work horses, having registered Percheron stock. He was born in Tyrone City, Pa., March 27, 1868, and his par- ents were John and Susan (Barraknan) McDonald. His father died in Allegheny County when Charles was six

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years old. His mother resides at Petrolia, in Butler County, Pa.

Charles A. McDonald attended school in Butler Conn- ty, but had no superior advantages, beginning industrial life in the oil fields when quite young. In 1888 be went to Murdocksville, Washington County, as field foreman, and from there to McKee's Rocks, remaining at the lat- ter place for some seventeen years. In 1908 he bonght his present valuable property and has established a first- class stock farm, giving the larger part of his attention to raising high grade trotting horses and fancy poultry. He has invested a large amount of capital and his stock is attracting much favorable notoriety, it being superior to any found in this section. Mr. McDonald is a stock- holder and a director in the Peoples National Bank at McDonald, and a stockholder also in the First National Bank at the same place. For three years he has been a director of the Burgettstown fair board. In politics he is identified with the Republican party. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and belongs to the Elks. He is one of Cecil Township's most enterprising business men and has been elected the second term for supervisor in this township.

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Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 108

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