USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II > Part 125
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T. C. BEBOUT, one of the leading funeral direetors of Washington, Pa., who has been a resident here since 1893, was born at Amity, Washington County, Pa., in 1858. He is a son of James A. and Elizabeth Jane (Sharp) Behout and a grandson of Nemmons Bebout, who was one of the pioneers of Washington County. James A. Bebout was a native of Amwell Township and was engaged as an undertaker and cabinetmaker at Amity during the greater part of his life. He was a member of Co. D, 140th Pa. Vol. Inf., and was killed in the second day's battle at Gettysburg, during the Civil War.
T. C. Bebout was reared at Amity, where he attended the public schools and early in life learned the black- smith trade, at which he worked for about eighteen years. In 1893 he came to Washington, where he and his uncle, M. Sharp, engaged in the furniture business, to which they later added an undertaking establishment, operating under the firm name of M. Sharp & Company. Seven years later the firm was succeeded by Hallam & Bebout, which partnership continued for five years, when it was dissolved, Mr. Bebout retaining the
undertaking establishment, of which he has been sole owner since. Mr. Bebout is one of the progressive and publie spirited citizens of Washington, and is in- terested in other enterprises of this city, as well as hav- ing an interest in considerable real estate of this city.
Mr. Bebout was first married to Mary A. Gaus, who died in 1888, and they had two sons, James M. and N. Raymond, both of whom are associated with their father in the business. He formed a second marital union with Elizabeth VanDyke. They are members of the Methodist Protestant Church, and Mr. Bebout is fraternally a mem- ber of the K. of P., I. O. O. F., Tribe of Ben Hur, and the Home Guards of America, U. S. Grant, No. 80. Mr. Bebout has served as a member of the borough council.
JAMES H. ROBB,* who resides on a farm of sixty acres, located about one mile from McDonald, Pa., has for many years been one of the substantial farmers of Robinson Township, and was born on his present farm in the old stone house which was erected by his grand- father in 1813. He is a son of James and Ellen (Henry) Robb. His parents were farmers of Washington County and their children were: Elizabeth, the deceased wife of Henry C. McEwen; Margaret, who died aged seven- teen years; James H., the subject of this sketch; Will- iam S., who served three years in the Civil War, enlist- ing in August, 1862; George; and Jane Ellen, who is the wife of James Moorehead.
James H. Robb was reared on the home farm and at- tended the common schools of the township, but early in life began working on the farm. He followed agri- culture until about ten years ago, since which time he has been engaged chiefly in carpentering. Mr. Robb is a Republican in politics, is one of the school directors of Robinson Township, and has served a term of three years as road supervisor.
February 11, 1868, Mr. Robb was united in .marriage with Elizabeth Bell, a daughter of Richard Bell, who was one of the prominent farmers of Entram, Ohio. The following children were born to her parents: Henry; Alexander, who was a United Presbyterian minister; John; James; William; Jennie, deceased wife of Snow- den Linn; Martha, deceased; Amanda, who married a Mr. Boyd; Margaret; and Elizabeth, (Mrs. Robb) who is now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Robb were born three children : Clyde B .; James Henry, Jr., who is engaged in the oil business in California, Pa .; and Martha Jane, who is the wife of Arthur Smith. Mrs. Robb passed out of this life in September, 1904, and was buried in the Hilldale Cemetery, which is located on the Robb farm. She was a devoted member and earnest worker in the United Presbyterian Church. Mr. Robb is also a mem-
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
ber of the United Presbyterian Church at MeDonald, Pa. Mr. Robb has three producing oil wells in operation on his farm.
E. G. MeGREGOR,* postmaster at Burgettstown, Pa., has spent almost his entire life in this pleasant borough and is known to almost every resident. Ile was born at Florence, Washington County, Pa., June 6, 1875, and is a sou of S. C. and Sara Jane (Culley) McGregor. The father of Mr. MeGregor was of Scotch aneestry. He was born at Noblestown, Allegheny County, Pa., but later moved into Washington County, where he became a man of both business and political prominence, serving as county treasurer. Ile engaged in merchandizing first at Noblestown, subsequently at Florence and still later at Burgettstown. His death occurred at the latter place in April, 1903. He married Sarah Jane Culley, a daugh- ter of Robert and Amelia (Grant) Culley. She died in March, 1902.
E. G. MeGregor was educated at Burgettstown and then went into his father's store, assisting him until 1902, and closing out the business after the father's death. Since April 1, 1901, Mr. McGregor has been postmaster at Burgettstown and has made a very good impression as a public official.
On November 18, 1903, Mr. MeGregor was married to Miss Ada L. Dowden, a daughter of D. J. and Caro- line (Garrison) Dowden, and they have two children, J. Bradley and Mary Edna. Mr. and Mrs. MeGregor at- tend the First Presbyterian Church. Fraternally he is a Mason, having passed the chairs in Richard Vaux Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 654, Burgettstown. He belongs also to Silver Cliff Lodge No. 300, Knights of Pythias, and to William S. Bradley Camp No. 96, Sons of Vet- ·erans. In politics he is a Republicau and has kept in close touch with the local leaders of the party for a num- ber of years.
FRANK J. EGAN,* proprietor of the National Plan- ing Mills, with extensive lumber yards at Claysville, has been identified here since 1900, when he purchased the interests of R. G. Porter. Mr. Egan was born in Don- egal Township, Washington County, Pa., February 15, 1866, and is a son of John and Mary A. (Kinsley) Egan.
The father of Mr. Egan was born in Ireland, came to America in early manhood and married Mary A. Kinsley, who was born in Washington County, Pa. Her father was James Kinsley, a well known railroad con- tractor. It was he who built the West Alexander Rail- road tunnel on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
Frank J. Egan was reared in Donegal Township and attended school there, afterward working on a farm until he was twenty-two years old, when he learned the car-
peuter's trade. Subsequently he went into his present business, coming to Claysville as noted above, in 1900. Ile has here a large and well equipped plant. In his mills he works one planer, one band-saw, one rip-saw, one cut-off-saw, one joiner, one molder, one dado ma- chine, one sash and door machine, one sash-boxing ma- chine and one sash and door machine. These machines represent a large amount of capital, all being of best quality and thoroughly modern construction. He has supplied the lumber and fixtures for many of the best constructed buildings at Claysville, an example being found in the beautiful and appropriate fittings of the Farmers' National Bank. Ile manufactures sash, doors and other building material, including poplar siding for building purposes and he employs on an average from six to eight men in the plant and lumber yard. He also handles lumber, coal, sand, gravel and brick, doing a large business in all lines. There are few busier or more progressive business men in Claysville than Mr. Egan. He has other investments than those mentioned and is one of the directors in the Farmers' National Bank, of which he was also one of the organizers.
Mr. Egan was married to Miss Julia O'Brien, who was born in Buffalo Township, Washington County, and they have four children: John F., Mary M., William J. and Julia M. Mr. Egan and family are members of the Catholic Church. In polities he is a Democrat and at different times has served in public offices, being a very useful member of the borough Council for several terms. He is one of the representative business men of the place.
JOHN TUCKER,* one of Hanover Township's best known citizens, was born on his valuable farm of seventy óne acres, situated in this township, in 1849. He is a son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Johnston) Tucker, and a grandson of Jonathan Tueker.
Mr. Tueker's parents, who came to Washington County from another part of the State, died in Hanover Town- ship. They were very worthy people, Jonathan Tucker being a farmer. Their children were as follows: Mar- garet, who died young; John, whose name appears at the head of this sketch; David, who went to the West some forty years ago aud has not been heard of for the past ten years; Rachel, now deceased, who was the wife of James Neely; Sarah, who married Steward Hanlin ; Margaret (2d), who married James Bruce; and Alfred, Hudson, Wesley and Cora, all of whom reside in Han- over Township.
John Tucker is a successful farmer and stock raiser and has been engaged in that business continuously since his school days ended. He has spent his life up to the present time in Hanover Township, owning valuable land here. The discovery of oil on his property has also
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
served to increase his income. He has four producing wells which flow seven barrels of oil daily. Mr. Tucker is a Republican in his political principles. He is always ready to perform any duty that good citizenship de- mands, except to serve in public office, to which he has such a repugnance that he asserts he would pay a fine rather than be compelled to recede from his determination in this respect.
Mr. Tucker married Miss Malissa Porter, a daughter of Joseph and Nancy (Fullerton) Porter, farming people of Hanover Township, both now deceased. They had three children, John, Malissa and Clark. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker have one daughter, Laura. The family belong to the Presbyterian Church.
JOHN N. SNYDER,* who is a prosperous business man at Bentleyville, Pa., where he conducts a confec- tionery store and ice cream parlors, has been a resident of Washington County for thirty years and has been a leading citizen of Bentleyville since 1901 and very closely identified with its material progress. He was born at Laurel Point, Monongahela County, W. Va., May 30, 1851, and is a son of John E. and Julia (Hess) Snyder.
The father of Mr. Snyder was a farmer in West Vir- ginia, where he died in 1877. His widow then came to make her home with a son in Washington County, and subsequently died at his home.
John N. Snyder was reared near Morgantown, West Virginia, and early displayed musical talent and to such a degree that when fourteen years of age he began to teach vocal music and continued for twenty-five years. He attended school at Morgantown and also kept up his musical studies, becoming a pupil of the well known Prof. W. H. S. Wilson at the Normal School at Zoar Church, Monongahela County, West Virginia. He was 27 years of age when he came to Centerville, Washington County, and the teaching of music, in which he was very successful, was his chosen profession and leading interest until he came to Bentleyville. He purchased a building which had previously been used as a blacksmith shop and thoroughly remodeled it and made a modern and conve- nient store of the premises, and conducts his business in this now attractive building. He also owns two resi- lence buildings at Bentleyville and has other interests. Some six years ago he purchased seven acres of land in the borough, which he laid out in town lots and improved, and he was mainly instrumental in having a bridge built over be creek which connects these lots with the town, making this a very choice place for residence. He shows an interest in all that concerns the welfare of the town and its citizens and has standing as a reputable and sub- stantial business man.
Mr. Snyder married Miss Belle Hamer, who was born in Fayette County, Pa., a daughter of Wellington Hamer,
a native of England. They have five children: Elvie, who married Ada Garrett, has one son, Charles; Elroy, who married Bertha Heinbaugh, has one son, Herman; and Blanche, James Russell and John .Edgar. Mr. Snyder is the leader of the choir of the First Presbyte- rian Church at Bentleyville, in which he is an elder.
CHARLES F. THOMPSON," president of the Web- ster, Monessen, Belle Vernon and Fayette City Railway Company, of Monessen, Pa., and vice-president of the Mercantile Bridge Company, has been a resident of Charleroi, Pa., since 1890, when the town was laid out. He was born on the old Thompson farm in Union Township, Washington County, Pa., January 7, 1862, and is a son of W. W. and Violet P. (Patton) Thomp- son. The father died in Union Township and the mother still survives.
Charles F. Thompson remained on the home farm until he was eighteen years old, in the meanwhile ob- taining a public school education in Union Township. He became interested in a general store at Finleyville, where he remained four years, and during this time also was concerned in lumber, oil and gas. When he came first to the new village of Charleroi, he formed the C. F. Thompson Lumber Company, which he sold in 1897, but in 1900 he was one of the organizers of the Donora Lumber Company when that town was laid out, and continues his relationship with that concern, being its president. He is also a director in the Charleroi Bank. Since June, 1904, the Webster, Monessen, Belle Vernon and Fayette City Railway Company has been in opera- tion, it being but partly organized when Mr. Thomp- son's company purchased it. This company operates also the West Side Electric Street Railway. These are large business enterprises, their success depending upon . their solid financing and able managing.
Mr. Thompson married Miss Mary E. MeKean, a daughter of Robert Mckean. He is a Thirty-second degree Mason, a member of Syrian Temple, Pittsburg, and of the Commandery at Charleroi. He is identified also with the Elks. While not an active politician, Mr. Thompson always takes an interest in the election to public office of representative, strong, vigorous and fear- less men.
GEORGE COOK McPEAKE is an extensive dealer in real estate, fire, life and accident insurance, at Canons- burg, and, perhaps, more than any other one man, has contributed to the building up of the material interests of this city, where he was born October 2, 1862, and is a son of Henry C. and Martha (Bacon) McPeake.
The MePeake family was founded in Washington County by the grandparents, Thomas and Mary Anne (Updegraff) MePeake. Thomas McPeake came from
GEORGE COOK McPEAKE
AUG 1 7 1965
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