Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 121

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 121

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In 1904 Mr. Carroll was united in marriage with Mary E. Ramsey, a native of Parkers Landing, and a daugh- ter of Harvey Ramsey, of Steubenville, Ohio. Mr. Car- roll is a member of the St. Jerome Catholic Church, and of the Knights of Columbus.

GUY HART,* oil producer, who has been a continu- ous resident of Washington since 1886, owns property here and takes an active interest in public matters, has been successfully engaged in oil producing for some years. Mr. Hart was born in Armstrong County, Pa., and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Robertson) Hart.

The parents of Mr. Hart were both born in Scotland. They both survive and reside with their son Guy, in Washing- ton, having reached advanced age.

Guy Hart was reared and educated in Armstrong Coun- ty and from youth has been more or less connected with the oil industry. He started first in the Butler field, and then came to the Washington oil territory and has been a heavy producer. At present, in association with his brother, Thomas Hart, he has twenty-two paying wells in Washington County. His fine residence at No. 90 Allison avenue, he built since coming to Washington, and resides there with his aged parents.

CHARLES H. SMITH,* a well known business man of Donora, Pa., who is engaged in roofing and cornice

1338

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

building, was born April 14, 1872, on his father's farm in Washington County, Pa., and is a son of Winfield and Anna (Croft) Smith.

Winfield Smith was born and reared on a farm near Beallsville, Washington County, Pa., and is a son of Henry Smith, a pioneer of Washington County, who died shortly after the close of the Civil War. Winfield Smith was one of a family of seven children born to his parents, namely: John, who died in the army; Taylor, also de- ceased; Winfield, our subject; Oliver; Josephine, de- ceased; Olive, deceased; and Mary, deceased. Winfield Smith married Anna Croft, a daughter of Henry Croft, and they now reside at Belleville, Pa. They had children as follows: Charles Henry; Ella, who is the wife of Charles Odbert; Harry; Nora, who is the wife of Gus Joker; Verne; Frank, deceased; Walter, Earnest, Will- iam, Estelle, Edna and Ray.

Charles H. Smith spent his early boyhood days on his father's farm, and when about fourteen years of age went to Washington, Pa., where he finished learning his trade as a sheet metal worker. He spent thirteen years in the employ of I. J. Dickson, after whose death he en- gaged in business for himself on Wheeling street, Wash- ington, Pa., where he continued for four years, on March 5, 1903, coming to Donora, where he first rented a shop on Third street. He subsequently erected a two-story business block on MeKean avenue just opposite the post- office, where his shop has since been located. Mr. Smith has established an extensive business throughout various cities of the Monongahela Valley, including Charleroi, Monongahela City, Monessen, Bentleyville, and other towns.

Mr. Smith was married in April, 1899, to Anna Mc- Gill, and they have one daughter, Edith. He is a Re- publican in politics, and is fraternally affiliated with the Royal Arcanum, the German Beneficial Union, the Pro- tective Home Circle, the I. O. O. F. and the F. O. E.

DAVID L. WILLIAMS, clerk of the county court of Washington County, Pa., an efficient, popular and oblig- ing public officer, has been a resident of Washington County since 1876, but his birth took place in Blair County, April 9, 1864. His parents were William D. and Cecelia (Jones) Williams, the former of whom died March 29, 1905. The family is of Welsh extrac- tion.

David L. Williams was educated in the public schools of both Blair and Washington Counties. He has been engaged in several lines of business, following coal mining for a time and newspaper work for a certain period. He carly identified himself with the Republican party and in 1906 was first elected to his present office and is serving in his second term. The office of county clerk is one that brings the incumbent in close touch

with people from all over the county and Mr. Williams has shown himself possessed of the ability, inclination and courtesy that makes a visit worth while and accel-, erates the transaction of business.

Mr. Williams married Miss Elizabeth Thompson and they have a very pleasant home which is situated at MeDonald, Pa. They are members of the First Presby- terian Church. Mr. Williams is a representative citizen and is largely a self-made man.

ADDISON L. DALLY,* agent for the Manufacturers' Light and Heat Company, at Midway, Pa., was born at Wheeling, W. Va., February 17, 1883, and is a son of Christopher Zug and Charlotte Elizabeth (Lineberger) Dally.

For twenty-two years the father of Mr. Dally has been in the employ of the Manufacturer's Light and Heat Company. He has been twice married, the first wife (mother of Addison L.) dying in 1885. Her burial was at Steubenville, Ohio. Mr. Dally was married secondly in 1892, to Sarah MeGee, and five children have been born to them, namely: Rebecca, in 1894; James C., in 1895; Christopher Z., Jr., in 1897; Harold B., in 1901; and Richard, in 1905.

Addison L. Dally completed the high school course and a commercial course at the Wheeling Business College, and then entered the employ of the Wheeling Gas Com- pany, continuing after it was merged with the Manufac- turers' Light and Heat Company. He has been with this company just one-half as long as his father and they both are numbered with the most faithful and effi- cient of the great army of employees.

On August 25, 1909, Mr. Dally was married to Miss Stella B. Barbour, a daughter of T. E. and Anna (Fran- cis) Barbour, residents of Martin's Ferry, Ohio. Mr. Barbour is a veteran of the Civil War. Mrs. Dally is a member of the following family of children: Etta; Ada; Lena, who is the wife of William Brand, and has one child, Donald; Gertrude, who is the wife of A. G. Henry, and has two children-Chester and Maud; and Stella B. and Francis. Mr. and Mrs. Dally attend the Presbyterian Church. Like his father, he is a Republican. Fraternally he is identified with Midway Lodge, No. 509, Knights of Pythias, of which he is master at arms.

R. N. EWING,* who is owner and proprietor of a blacksmith shop at Hanlin Station, Washington County, where he is doing a thriving business, was born at Frank- fort Springs, Beaver County, Pa., September 1, 1880. His parents, John S. and Mary Ann Ewing, reared a fam- ily of five sons and one daughter.

Mr. Ewing attended the public schools of Frankfort Springs until old enough to learn a self-supporting trade, when he entered the employ of William Dewitt and served

DAVID L. WILLIAMS

1339

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

under him until he became a competent blacksmith and general repair man. From there he went to Pittsburg, where he worked for eleven years, then was employed by David Boyd at Crothers, Pa., with whom he remained until he established his own business at Ilanlin Station, December 14, 1908.

On September 24, 1907, Mr. Ewing was married to Miss Margaret Elizabeth Haley, a daughter of Peter Haley, of Cliff Mine, Allegheny County, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Ewing are members of the Presbyterian Church at Hanlin Station. Ile is identified with Lodge No. 320, Knights of Pythias, at Carnegie, and the lodge of Odd Fellows at Imperial, Pa. He votes the Republican ticket.

GEORGE H. FREEBY,* who conducts a real estate brokerage business at Canonsburg, Pa., was born March 6, 1859, in this city, and is a son of John and Sarah B. (Neill) Freeby. The grandparents were natives of Ger- many and they were early settlers in Washington Coun- ty, where Grandfather Freeby died aged seventy-two years.

John Freeby, father of George H., was born at Wash- ington, Pa., and died at Canonsburg in 1859, at the age of forty-seven years. He was a tailor by trade. He married Sarah B. Neill, who died at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1889, aged sixty-five years. She was a daughter of Reynolds Christopher Neill whose father came from Ire- land and settled at Canonsburg in 1790, being a pioneer merchant there. He retired in 1830 and died in 1842.

George H1. Freeby was the only child born to his par- ents. In boyhood he attended the MeClelland School, in District No. 5, North Strabane Township, in the old house on the hill and later had better opportunities in the new building. He grew to the age of seventeen years on the old Neill farm south of Canonsburg, which has been known by that name since 1833. He was of a me- chanical turn of mind and bence left the farm and went to Washington, where be entered the employ of Harp & Wilson to learn the trade of carriage builder, working at that and other places. In 1885 he went to Fort Wayne, Ind., where he was a clerk in the freight department of the Wabash Railroad until 1902, when he returned to Canonsburg and here entered into the real estate business. He deals especially in coal lands and limestone and sand properties and does a thriving business.

Mr. Freeby was married in 1884, to Miss Agnes L. Pat- terson, of near Eighty-four, Washington County, a dangh- ter of David Patterson, the latter of whom is now en- gaged in farming near Barnesville, Ohio. Mrs. Freeby died in June, 1900, their one child, John G., having lived but four years. Mr. Freeby married for his second wife, Miss Ella Belle Jamison, a daughter of Obed E. Jamison, of Hoagland, Ind., the wedding ceremony taking

place there June 25, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Freeby are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He belongs to Canonsburg Lodge, No. 204, of Canonsburg, Knights of Pythias. In politics, he votes independently. He is a well known, reliable and representative citizen of Canons- burg.

WILLIAM H. CALVERT,* proprietor of the Charleroi Bottling Works, and manufacturer of all kinds of soft drinks, also bottles the Bowling Green and the Cambridge Springs mineral waters, and is identified with the Browns- ville and the Duquesne breweries. Mr. Calvert was born October 20, 1864, in Brownsville, Fayette County, Pa., and is a son of Enoch and Martha (Roland) Calvert, the . former of whom was a ship builder by trade.

Willianı H. Calvert was reared and educated in Browns- ville, Pa., where he subsequently entered the employ of Fred Robinson, with whom he remained three years. Ile then purchased the business from Mr. Robinson and con- tinued as manager of same for some time before dis- posing of it. In 1891, Mr. Calvert came to Charleroi, where he has since been successfully engaged in operat- ing the Charleroi Bottling Works, manufacturing soft drinks, bottling mineral waters from the springs at Bowl- ing Green and Cambridge Springs, two or three delivery wagons being required on the route during the summer months, while but one is run during the winter. Mr. Calvert is serving his second term as a member of the Charleroi Council, and is, fraternally, a member of the Elks, and the Royal Arcanum.

Mr. Calvert was joined in marriage with Anna Me- Kean, who is a danghter of Samnel MeKean, and of their union have been born three children : Jean, Enoch Arden and Alice.

WILLIAM SCOTT,* a retired farmer of Jefferson Township, who continues to reside on bis valuable es- tate containing 120 acres of excellent land, was born in Jefferson Township, Washington County, Pa., March 2, 1830, and is a son of Charles and Margaret (Cassidy.) Scott.

Charles Scott, father of William, was born in Ireland, and was quite young when he was brought to America by his parents, John and Fanny Scott. They settled on the farm in Jefferson Township, which is now owned by W. S. Cunningham. After their death Charles Seott bought the farm on which his son William was subse- quently born, which was a valuable property containing 255 acres, in two tracts. Ile married Margaret Cassidy, a daughter of John and Jane Cassidy, and they had eleven children, namely: Fannie, J. F., William, Cassidy, Robert, James, Jefferson, Charles W., Jane Ann, George and David. Charles Scott and wife were members of the Methodist Protestant Church, in which he was a

1340

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

ruling elder. Early in life he was a Whig but later identified himself with the Republican party.

William Scott obtained his education in the common schools of Jefferson Township, attending mostly in the winter seasons after he was old enough to be useful on the farm. Subsequently he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Company K, 140th Pa. Vol. Inf., and during his period of army service, which lasted two years and ten months, he escaped both capture and wounds. He returned to the old homestead and resumed farming and in 1868 was married. For one more year he lived on the home farm and then operated the White farm for three years, the Walker farm for two years, then engaged in farming for about five years in Virginia and then bought his present farm in Jefferson Township. Originally it contained forty-seven acres more, but as the latter was rich coal land he sold it and has no coal bank open at present. The place needed many repairs, and all the substantial buildings now in evidence, except the comfortable brick residence, were erected by Mr. Scott. He has taken no very active part in operating the farm since 1904, on account of rather poor health.

On March 4, 1868, Mr. Scott was married to Miss Rachel D. Headington, a daughter of John Headington. They have no children. Mr. Scott gives his political sup- port to the Republican party.

LEWIS GILLINGHAM TOMER,* who is the owner of the Union Pharmacy, which is located in the First National Bank building at Donora, Pa., is one of the prominent business men of this borough, and was born September 26, 1877, at Webster, Pa., son of Jacob and Harriet (Gillingham) Tomer.

Jacob Tomer was born and reared at Pittsburg, where previous to the Civil War he conducted a drug store for several years. During the war he served three years as hospital steward, and was mustered out at Gettys- burg, after which he located at Webster, Pa., where he served several years as justice of the peace. He was the owner of several traets of coal lands, and river boats, and later in partnership with Mr. MeKinley, established the Tomer & MeKinley Coal Company. Some years later, after disposing of his interests in this business, he re- tired to his farm in Westmoreland County, where he re- sided until his death, at the age of about seventy years. His marriage with Harriet Gillingham, who died in 1906, resulted in the following issue: Amelia, who is the wife of Dr. W. H. Lewis, of Donora, Pa .; Jacob, who resides on the home farm; Lewis G., the subject of this sketch ; Ella, who is the wife of H. P. Castner, of Donora; Laura V., who lives in Donora; and Mary J., also a resi- dent of Donora.

Lewis G. Tomer was reared on the farm near Webster and after obtaining an elementary education in the com-

mon schools of that place, entered the pharmaceutical department of the Ohio Normal University at Ada, from which he was graduated in 1901. He then located at Donora, where, in partnership with J. P. Castner and J. S. Culbert, he opened a drug store in a small room on Meldon avenue. He later moved to the present loca- tion of the Indiana Hotel and while there Mr. Castner disposed of his interests to our subject and Mr. Culbert. In 1903 Mr. Tomer purchased Mr. Culbert's interest in the business, and has since been located in the First Na- tional Bank building, where he bas carried on the business alone and has been highly successful. Mr. Tomer holds membership with the Masons and the B. P. O. E. He is re- ligiously identified with the Presbyterian Church, and politically is interested in the success of the Republican party.

ROBERT ARTHUR,* proprietor of the Arthur Boiler Works, with plant at No. 69 Washington street, near Chestnut, has an experience in his line of business cover- ing a period of thirty-two years. He was born at Toron- to, Canada, in 1866.

Mr. Arthur obtained his schooling in his native city and there started to learn his trade, completing it' after he came to Pennsylvania. Mr. Arthur has been a resi- dent of Washington for about eighteen years and for a number of years he was foreman in the Ryan Boiler Works. Recently he leased his present quarters, put them in first-class shape and does all kinds of repair work. He also owns a half interest in the Alvin Restaurant.

Mr. Arthur married Miss Anna Elizabeth Amslor and they have seven children. With his family he belongs to the Catholic Church. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Maccabees. He is a well known and re- spected citizen.

R. KIRK RICHARDSON,* a representative business man of California, Pa., junior member of the real estate and insurance firm of Myers & Richardson, was born at Bentleyville, Washington County, Pa., December 26, 1873, and is a son of William Mortimer and Ella (Newkirk) Richardson.

The Richardson and Newkirk families are old and prominent ones in this section of Washington County. The father of Mr. Richardson, whose death occurred in 1905, was widely known as a hotel man. He conducted a hotel at Bentleyville from 1878 for several years; and at Coal Center from 1893 until 1896, when he came to California, and operated the Arlington Hotel for some years. His widow survives.

R. Kirk Richardson attended the local schools during his boyhood and spent one year in the California Normal School, following which he entered Mt. Union College, at Alliance, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1893.

LE TRY

THOMAS FERGUS

1343

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

For five years afterward he was identified with various newspapers, including the "Observer," at Washington, and the "Mirror," at Charleroi, having an interest in the latter journal. lfe then came to California to assist his father in the hotel business, the health of the latter beginning to fail. He soon was recognized as a man of ability and enterprise and in 1900 was elected chief bur- gess of the borough and served until 1903. Prior to 1905, when Mr. Myers and Mr. Richardson fermed their present partnership, they had been associated in ether business enterprises, and their connectien is one of per- sonal regard as well as business. The firm of Myers & Richardson succeeded that of Mitchell & Myers, Mr. Mitchell retiring in 1905. A large business is done by this firm and both men are valued citizens. They are Republicans in their political views and at preseut Mr. Myers is a member of the Council and Mr. Richardson is borough elerk. The latter was connected with the Pennsylvania State exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis.

Mr. Richardson was married to Miss Harriet Gebo, a daughter of Samuel M. Geho, of Coal Center, Pa. She is a graduate of the California Normal School and prior to her marriage was a popular teacher at California and also at Coal Center. They have one daughter, Harriet Eleanor. They are leading members of one of the pleasant social circles of this cultured little borough.

THE FERGUS FAMILY, one of the old and honor- able families of Pennsylvania, is of Scotch extraction. Samuel Fergus was born in Scotland and after reaching America, came to Adams County with his family of four children. He married Mary Paxton and they had the following children born to them: Hugh, whe was mar- ried first to Martha Gilfillin, and secondly to Nancy Callmary; Mary, who married Andrew Hart, of Somer- set Township, Washington County, and afterward lived at Canonsburg; Margaret, who married Thomas Max- well, of Finley Township, Washington County ; John P., who married Maria Hart, a daughter of David Hart; Martha, whe died when young; Thomas, who married Elizabeth Roberts, a daughter of Dickinson Roberts, who was once county surveyor and sheriff of Washing- ton County; and Sarah, who married Hugh Fergus.

Samuel Fergus located on a farm one mile distant from the present Fergus family farm in South Strabane Township, taking up 150 acres of land. He was a Whig 'in politics. He was identified with the Seceder Church. Both he and wife were buried in Oak Grove Cemetery at Canonsburg.

Thomas Fergus was born in South Strabane Town- ship, Washington County, November 4, 1802. He re- ceived a district school education and before his mar- riage taught singing school. He was married to Eliz-

abeth Roberts, May 31, 1831, and they had the follow- ing children: John, born April 17, 1832, who married Nancy Jane Doak, died in 1906; Mary Ann, born Septem- bre 24, 1833; Susan, bern October 18, 1835, who died De- cember II, 1843, and was buried in the old Dutch Ceme- tery at Washington; Hannah, bern November 18, 1837. who died May 23, 1904; Maria, who was born March 24, 1839; Isabel, born March 5, 1841, who was married .Jan- uary 7, 1885, to Robert G. Mowery, who died March 3, 1906, and was buried at Washington; Samuel P., born August 17, 1843, who died June 8, 1900; Addison R., born March 31, 1846, who was a clerk in a drug store at Washington; and Sarah M., who was born September 26, 1849.

Samuel P. Fergus, above mentioned, enlisted during the Civil War in Co. C, 140th Pa. Inf., was wounded at Gettysburg and taken to a hospital at Philadelphia. While in that city he attended a military school, and when he was able for service was appointed first lieu- tenant of Co. C, 27th Reg., U. S. C. troops, and sent to North Carolina. His regiment was the first to enter Fort Fisher when it was captured. He remained in the army until the close of the war. He was married first to Mary Patterson, who died at the same time as did their only child, Anna, and mother and babe were buried together. He afterwards married Margaret L. Weir.

Thomas Fergus operated a tannery before his mar- riage. In 1839 he moved to the present farm, of fifty- two acres, which then contained about eighty acres, twenty-three acres having since been sold. He engaged in general farming and sheep raising, frequently having 500 head. The coal on the land has been sold, but there are three good oil wells in operation. Mr. Fergus was a Republican for many years of his life and be was fre- quently called upon to serve in township offices, being auditor, supervisor and school director at different times. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church at Pidgeon Creek and his wife belonged to the United Brethren Church. His death occurred April 16, 1894, and his burial was in the Washington Cemetery. He had survived his wife for many years, her death taking place April 28, 1851.

FLORIMON LAWRENCE DESCUTNER,* a repre- sentative business man of McDonald Borough, who is senior member of Descutner Brothers, doing business as the MeDonald Tea Company, at No. 125 East Lincoln avenue, was born in Belgium, July 11, 1875, and is a son of Pierre Joseph and Catherine Descutner.

The parents of Mr. Descutner were natives of Belgium. and on coming to this country settled in MeDonald Bor- ough, Washington County, Pa., where the mother still survives, the father having passed away in 1906. He was a director of mines in his native country, and fol-

1344

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

lowed that occupation at MeDonald. He and his wife were the parents of children as follows: Myria, the wife of Leandor Thibaut; Sebastian; Emma, the wife of J. B. Masquelier ; Florimon Lawrence; P. E .; Zephiriene, the wife of Jules Hainaut; E. F .; J. E .; Arthemisia and Harry.

Florimon L. Descutner accompanied his parents to this country as a lad, and his education was secured in the common and high schools of McDonald. His first em- ployment was in the mines at McDonald, where he worked for about five years, and he then began clerking at the Bazaar store. In August, 1898, he decided to go into business on his own account, and with his brothers, P. E. and E. F. Descutner, he purchased a one-room build- ing for $25 and moved it to the center of the town, where a business was established on a very small scale, as the McDonald Tea Company. . This business has since ex- panded until it now includes a full line of all kinds of household supplies, and necessitates the use of six horses in making deliveries. Florimon L. Descutner is the man- ager of the business, and has proved himself an able business man, although all three brothers are known to possess more than average commercial ability. Their trade has extended rapidly and still continues to branch further out into the surrounding country as the quality of the firm's goods and their honest methods of doing business become more widely known.

In April, 1897, Mr. Descutner was married to Lilly Masquelier, also a native of Belgium. Mrs. Descutner has five brothers, namely: Eli, Zachariah, Julian, J. B., a contractor and shoe merchant of MeDonald, and Jules. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Descutner : Eva, Raymond and Rena. In political matters Mr. Des- cutner is a Republican. Fraternally he is connected with the Loyal Order of Moose, Lodge No. 30, at McDonald. He and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church.

WILLIAM WARD INSLEY, M.D.,* a prominent homeopathic physician of Donora, who has been engaged in the practice of medicine in this borough since August, 1901, was born March 21, 1875, at Pittsburg, Pa., and is a son of John C. and Margaret (Frederick) Insley.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 121

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