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

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 20

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Mr. and Mrs. Holmes have one daughter, Sarah E., who resides with her parents. They reared two boys, Andrew L. Chapman and William Ramage, both of whom have reflected credit on them and give them the filial affection of sons. Andrew L. Chapman, who is now a preacher in the Disciples Church, stationed at Boise, Idaho, served for three years in the missionary field in Turkey. William Ramage is engaged in farming in Donegal Township. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes are members of the Presbyterian Church at Claysville, and in Octo- ber, 1909, Mr. Holmes was sent as a representative of the Zion United Brethren Church of Donegal Township to the Pennsylvania State Convention, where various re- ligious bodies met and discussed questions affecting Christianity in general. As a broad-minded, clear- headed, intelligent man, possessing the confidence and esteem of all who know him, this selection of Mr. Holmes was a judicious one and he took part in the deliberations of this representative body. He casts his vote with the Republican party, but has never accepted any public office except that of school director and he is now serv- ing in his twelfth year as a member of the school board of Donegal Township.

JAMES P. BROWNLEE, lawyer and merchant at Washington, Pa., and a prominent and useful citizen, was born in 1872, in North Strabane Township, Wash- ington County, Pa., and is a son of Milton .O. Brownlee and a grandson of Samuel T. Brownlee.

The Brownlee family belongs to the pioneer class of Washington County. The grandfather, Samuel T. Brownlee, was born after his father settled in Washing- ton County. He left few descendants as he died when only 28 years of age. His son, Milton O., was born on the family estate in North Strabane Township, in 1849, where he continued to live and was extensively engaged in farming and the sheep industry until 1905, when he

retired and moved to Washington, where he still resides.

James P. Brownlee obtained his early education in the township schools and then entered Washington and Jefferson College, where he was graduated in the class of 1897. From there he went to Pittsburg and became a student in the Pittsburg Law School, but in his senior year suffered from an illness that made necessary the postponement of his law studies. After he recovered from a rather severe siege of fever, he completed his law reading in the office of Attorney R. W. Irwin, and was admitted to the bar in March, 1901. He has ever since been engaged in the practice of his profession at Washington. In the fall of 1907 he formed a partner- ship with C. E. Penn, under the style of Penn & Brown- lee, in gents' furnishing goods, an enterprise which proved successful, and continued until February 1, 1910, when Mr. Penn retired, Mr. Brownlee continuing the furnishing business at No. 129 South Main street, where he is now located. He is also a stockholder in the Dunn & Connellsville Coke Company. As a citizen he has been unusually active, lending the weight of his influ- ence to promote public prosperity. He has served as a member of the school board and from 1904 until 1906 administered the law as a justice of the peace.

Mr. Brownlee is a member of the First United Presby- terian Church and officiates as the librarian of the Sun- day-school. He is identified fraternally. with the Elks and the Heptasophs.

HON. HENRY EATON, justice of the peace at Mid- way, Pa., and for three consecutive years burgess of the borough, is a member of one of the oldest settled families of Washington County, doubtless of Dutch ex- traction on the father's side and Scotch-Irish on the mother's side. One of the most prized relics is a Hol- land Bible, which was printed in 1570 and has been preserved with other family antiquities. Mr. Eaton was born in Smith Township, Washington County, Pa., Nov. 6, 1848, and is a son of William and Sarah (Russell) Eaton.

Both parents of Mr. Eaton have passed away and their remains rest in the Raccoon Cemetery, they being valued members for many years of the Presbyterian Church at that point. William Eaton was a farmer throughont his active life. He was a consistent member of the old-time Democratic party. Five children were born to William and Sarah Eaton, namely: Martha, who married Robert Stevenson; Rachel, now deceased, who was a public school teacher; Jane, deceased, who was the wife of E. J. Vogle; Henry; and Mary E., who died when aged 14 years.

Henry Eaton attended the district schools in Smith and Robinson Townships and secured a teacher's certifi- cate, attended the Normal School at Carnegie for two

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IION. JAMES S. STOCKING

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

terms and Oakdale Academy for two terms and secured a permanent certificate. For many years he gave the larger part of his time and attention to teaching, carry- ing on his educational work both in Allegheny and Wash- ington Counties. In 1875 he came to Midway, where he and Mrs. Eaton successfully taught terms of school and he also served for three years as principal of the Me- Donald schools, Mrs. Eaton being first assistant. In polities he is a Democrat and on many occasions has been shown the appreciation which his fellow citizens have felt for him, being elected to numerous offices of honor and responsibility. For three years he was treas- urer of Robeson Township and for the same length of time a member of the township school board. For four years he had charge of the Black Diamond coal mine and store belonging to his father-in-law, Thomas Tay- lor. After the exhausting and closing down of the Black Diamond mine he opened a general store of his own in Midway, Pa., which was a success in every particu- lar. After conducting his store for three years he was appointed postmaster during the late ex-President Cleve- land's second administration. He then sokl out his store, put in a new and expensive office and gave to the department and patrons a service that was so satisfac- tory that at the close of his term he was asked to retain the office. To this request he replied, "No, thank you, to the victor belong the spoils." For three years Mid- way found in him an able executive head and since then, and for the past 27 years, has been serving in the office of justice of the peace and has a real estate and insur- ance office.

In January, 1882, Mr. Eaton was married to Miss Mattie E. Taylor, a daughter of Thomas Taylor and Sarah (Bailey) Taylor. Mrs. Eaton's brothers and sis- ters are: Eliza, who married Joseph Taylor; Joseph A .; Lilly A .; James M .; and Laura, who married Robert Perry. Mr. and Mrs. Eaton have two children: Amy T. and Henry T. Amy has a good and lucrative position in the city of Pittsburg. Henry T. Eaton, after grad- uating from the common schools and the Pittsburg Academy, entered the University of Pittsburg and is now in his second year. Mr. Eaton is identified with Richard Vaux Lodge No. 454, F. & A. M., at Burgetts- town, Pa.

J. MOSS MCCOLLUM, architect, who has been a resident of Washington, Pa., for 24 years and is inter- ested in a number of the city's prospering enterprises, is a member of the prominent firm of MeCollum & Dow- ler, with offices at Pittsburg. He was born at Amity, Washington County, Pa., in 1864, and is a son of Elias and Sarah (Moss) McCollum.

Elias MeCollum was born in the old MeCollum home-

stead at Amity, in 182s. De owned farunng land, but devoted his whole mature life to general contraring, in the line of building, and continued active in business until within one year of his death, when he retired to his farm. Ile married Sarah Moss, who was born in Washington County, in December, 1531, and still sur vives, residing on her farm near Amity. They had three children, namely: Harvey, who operates the home farm; Ella, who is now deceased; and Jennings Moss. the subject of this sketch.

J. Moss MeCollum was reared on the home place and was educated in a private academy at Amity, and then learned the carpenter trade, at which he worked until he was 24 years old. From boyhood he had displayed unusual ability in the line of his present work and in 1889 he gave himself up to the study of architecture and for 12 years remained with W. E. Ely, a well-known architect. He later moved his own office to Pittsburg and does business under the firm style of MeCollum & Dowler. There are many fine struetnres at Washington and other points, of which he has been the architect. This city is somewhat noted for its fine schoolhouses and convent buildings, and Mr. McCollum was the de- signer and architect of almost all. He was the architect of the Washington Trust Company building, an example of taste and dignity in building that has excited uni- versal admiration. He also has to his credit the new First National Bank of Columbus, the Braddock Na- tional Bank of Braddoek, Pa., a fine new hotel build- ing at Pittsburg, together with schools, churches and publie buildings all over the country, the cost of which ran into hundreds of thousands of dollars. He has been able to combine stability and beauty, utility and dignity, and he has few superiors in Western Pennsyl- vania.

In 1892, Mr. MeCollum was married to Miss Nora Patterson, a daughter of Speer Patterson, of Wyland Station, Pa., and they have three daughters: Elinore, Mildred and Dorothy. The family belong to the Second Presbyterian Church. The beautiful family home is situated at No. 513 East Beau street. Mr. MeCollum takes a good citizen's interest in civic matters and has served efficiently in the city council. He is a member of the Union Club of Pittsburg.

HON. JAMES S. STOCKING, one of Washington County's most active and prominent citizens, who has been identified with public affairs and with business in- terests in this section of Pennsylvania ever since the Civil War, in which he rendered patriotic military service. was born at Washington, Pa., December 4, 1839, a son of Julius and Mary ( Phillips) Stocking. Mr. Stocking ean boast of both old Dutch and "Mayflower" Pilgrim

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

ancestry. His paternal ancestors were from New York, and those on the maternal side came to Washington County from Massachusetts.

Julius Stocking, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born near Auburn, N. Y., from which place he came in 1835 to Washington. Here, in the following year, he married Mary Phillips, whose father had set- tled in Washington County in 1800. Three children were born of this union: Alfred, Mary and James Stevens. Julius Stocking subsequently moved to Rockport, Ind., where he died in 1870, aged 68 years. His widow sur- vived him for four years.

James Stevens Stocking attended the local schools until he was about twelve years of age, after which, until he enlisted for service in the Civil War, in 1861, he was variously employed and was entirely self-supporting. He responded to the first call of President Lincoln for troops, and after serving through his first enlistment of three months, in Co. E, 12th Pa. Vol. Inf., he re-enlisted and served two years and eight months in the 100th Pa. Vol. Inf., this being the noted "Roundhead" regiment. Again he re-enlisted, this time as a veteran, contracting to serve three years longer but the loss of his arm neces- sitated his discharge January 10, 1865. Mr. Stocking not only gave four full years to the service of his country, but also his good left arm, which was left on the battle field at Hatcher's Run, October 27, 1864. From the ranks Mr. Stocking had been continuously promoted for gallantry, and when he was mustered out it was with the rank of first lieutenant.

Mr. Stocking returned to Washington and in 1871 he was appointed to the office of United States store keeper. In the following year he received the unanimous nomina- tion at the Republican county convention, for county clerk, to which office he was easily elected, and in 1875 he was re-elected to the office, with an increased majority. Later he turned his attention to journalism and from October 17, 1879, to October 17, 1882, he was one of the editors and proprietors of the "Washington Observer," owned by Stocking & Acbeson, during this period increas- ing its circulation and making it one of the strongest Republican organs of the State. Ill health, resulting from the injuries received in the army, caused him to sell his newspaper interests. His fellow citizens manifested fur- ther their appreciation of his character and services by electing him, in the fall of 1888, to the State Legislature, and by re-electing him in 1890 to that position.

In the following year he was made superintendent and assistant chief of the seed room in the seed division of the Agricultural Department, at Washington, D. C., a po- sition which came to him almost as a surprise, as he had never solicited it. The duties pertaining to this office he satisfactorily performed as long as he retained it.

In 1884, after his return to his native place, he em- barked in a real estate business, and shortly afterward he platted the beautiful addition to Washington known as Kalorama. In 1887, in association with B. F. Hassan, he platted and later disposed of another desirable addition, Woodland. He continued actively interested in realty, and in 1888, with James Kuntz, L. McCarrell and E. F. Acheson, he platted the Weaver farm, naming this prop- erty West End. In the following year, the Shirles Grove property also came under their management and subse- quently they purchased from the Morgan estate a plat of ground which they platted under the name of the "Mor- gan Addition to East Washington." One of these addi- tions was so attractive and desirable that the time came when it was made into a separate borough, bringing into existence West Washington. Subsequently, in connection with John W. Donnan, James Kuntz, Jr., A. G. Happer, David Iseman, L. McCarrell, Thomas Allison and Dr. MeCleary, the Gordan farm of 220 acres was purchased and platted, upon which some of the most prominent manufacturing plants in the vicinity of the borough are situated. This plant contained 1,500 lots, 1,100 of which have been disposed of to date.

These additions offer a delightful location for home seekers and favorable opportunities for the establishing of business concerns. Mr. Stocking's name is indis- solubly connected with this prospering section of Wash- ington. He now mainly confines his energies to attend- ing to the affairs of the West End Land Company and the Gordan Land Company, being manager of the former and treasurer of the latter organization.

Mr. Stocking was married (first) on January 4. 1866, to Mary Elizabeth Hallam, who died February 2, 1881. Three children were born of this marriage, Hugh, Harry and Maud. On March 17, 1883, Mr. Stocking married for his second wife Miss Mary Josephine Robinson, of Coshocton, Ohio, whose death occurred September 2, 1907. She was a great-granddaughter of General Robinson, who acquired 3,000 acres of government land in the Mus- kingum Valley, Ohio.

Mr. Stocking is quite a traveler, having been in nearly every state in the Union, also two provinces of Canada. He bas been in every country in Europe with the ex- ception of four, and has also visited nortbern Africa and the Holy Land. In 1909 he was a member of the Clark excursion party, which made a trip around the world, visiting all prominent foreign countries.

ALEXANDER HAMILTON, a prominent citizen and successful agriculturist of Hopewell Township, resides on his very valuable farm of 230 acres, on which he was born, in September, 1863, and is a son of Robert and Mary (Anderson) Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton is the eldest

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

of three children, the others being: Benjamin and Mary, the latter of whom is the wife of George D. Scott, re- siding in Hopewell Township, Washington County, Pa.

Robert Hamilton, the great-grandfather of Alexander, camo from Ireland and located in Canton Township, Washington County. ITis son, Alexander Hamilton, grandfather of the present Alexander, came to the farm which the latter owns, in Hopewell Township, and lived here until his death. He married a member of the old Smiley family. Tho second Robert Hamilton, father of our subject, lived on this farm until within a few years of his death, which occurred in Buffalo.

Alexander Hamilton attended the public schools with more or less regularity until he was 20 years of age and then turned his full attention to farming and stock raising. He carries on his work in a scientific manner and along modern lines. He raises a large amount of registered stock, having Aberdeen Angus cattle and thoroughbred Duroc hogs. Before they are marketed, his cattle and stock present so beautiful a picture as they are browsing or feeding in the rich pastures where they have been raised, that no painting of a rural scene hanging in any celebrated gallery cau compare with this bit of Nature. Mr. Hamilton has productive fields and abundant orchards and is justly numbered with Hope- well Township's substantial and prosperous citizens. In 1893 he was married to Miss Urania B. Taggart, a daughter of James and Margaret Taggart, residents of Canton Township, Washington County. They have six children: John A., Robert, Mary M., Fannie, Florence G. and James T. They all are in school and will be given the best of educational advantages. Mr. Hamilton and family are members of the Presbyterian Church in which he is a trustee. Iu politics he is a stanch Repub- lican and at different times has held township offices. He is general manager and one of the board of directors of the Buffalo Telephone Company.

WILLIAM H. RICHARDS, who, for the past five years has been in charge of the Standard Tin Plate Company, of Canonsburg, Pa., as general manager, is a man thoroughly experienced in this line of business and is well qualified also for executive work. He was born in Staffordshire, England, Mar. 16, 1858, and is a son of William and Sarah (Sheldon) Richards. On the paternal sice he is of Welsh extraction and on the ma- ternal, of English ancestry.

Mr. Richards came to America in April, 1873, when 15 years old, and had then been a worker in the steel and tin plate mills for four years. He secured employ- ment at Leechburg, Armstrong County, Pa., and re- mained there for three years, going then to the mills at Mckeesport, where he worked until 1879, when he came to Canonsburg. Here he engaged in the sheet

iron business as assistant superintendent and roller. In 1902 he went to New Kensington, where he was put in charge of the erection of the Goldsmith and Lone- berg Tin Plate Company plant and had charge of the same, and was also in the employ of the American Tin Plate Company and remained at New Kensington for ten years, when he was transferred to the Demler plant of the American Sheet and Tin Plate Company, at Mc- Keesport, as general superintendent. Ile remained there until ho came to Canonsburg again, in order to take charge of the Standard Tin Plate Company as manager. He is a stockholder in this enterprise, which is the largest concern in the line of manufacturing, at Canons- burg. The business is one of great importance and the payroll is the largest in the city.

The Standard Tin Plate Company of Canonsburg was organized in 1892, with local capital, the capital stock being originally $300,000. In 1908 the majority of the stock was transferred to the Standard Tin Plate Com. pany. Since the erection of the plant in 1892 it has been enlarged and now eovers 20 acres and is modern in every particular. It has on its payrolls 800 employes and makes a specialty of the manufacturing of black plate and tin plates. W. H. Richards is the general manager, and Louis Follett is secretary.

In August, 1878, Mr. Richards was married to Miss Annie Lewis, a daughter of Mark and Sarah Lewis, then of Mckeesport, but a native of Wales. Mr. and Mrs. Richards have four children, namely: W. B., who is employed in the Standard Tin Plate Works as a roller, married Miss Lulu Pollard, of Canonsburg; Mark James, who is also identified with the Tin Plate Works in an official position, married Miss Mollie Williams; and Bertha May and Roy W., the latter being yet a student. The family home is situated on Pike street, Canons- burg. In polities, Mr. Richards is a Republican and has always taken an intelligent interest in the political affairs particularly relating to his place of residence, served several terms on the Council iu Canonsburg, and while living at New Kensington, served as a member of the town Conucil. He belongs to Canonsburg Lodge No. 297, F. & A. M .; to the Elks, at New Kensington, and to the Royal Arcanum at Canonsburg. In his official position, Mr. Richards enjoys deserved popularity with his great army of employes. While a strict disciplinarian, he is a man who can recognize merit wherever he sees it and possesses the tact, judgment and discretion which must be the qualities a snecessful manager of men must lave.

ABEL M. EVANS was a lifelong resident of Amwell Township. His father, Joseph Evans, was an early and well known settler and was one of the founders and an elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in this

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

section. Abel M. Evans was an extensive farmer and besides being a man of ample fortune, was also a leader in all matters concerning the general welfare of his community. He served for many years as justice of the peace and as an administrator of estates. He was also county commissioner for one term. The Evans family has always been attached to the Presbyterian faith and Abel M. Evans was one of the elders of the church of that denomination at Ten-Mile. He married Elma Baker, a member of a prominent family of the county, and six of their children now survive, namely : Nathan B., residing at Ten-Mile, this county; Elizabeth S., wife of A. B. Sampson, of Washington; Lucinda J., widow of John T. Reynolds, residing at Ten-Mile; E. Baker, living at Washington, D. C .; Vietorine C., wife of James E. Wood, of Waynesburg; and William M., of Ten-Mile.

Nathan B. Evans was born near Baker's Station, in Amwell Township, Aug. 21, 1843, and removed with his parents to Ten-Mile in 1857 and was educated in the local schools. On Aug. 22, 1862, he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Co. D, 140th Pa. Vol. Inf., 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomae. He was honor- ably discharged from the service in June, 1865. He was six months a prisoner after the second day of the Gettysburg battle. He then returned to his parental home on Ten-Mile and to the farm which has been his home ever since.

Mr. Evans has always taken a deep interest in edu- eational matters, has long served on the township sehool board and has been its president. He is president also of the board of trustees of Waynesburg College. He is an elder in the Ten-Mile Presbyterian Church and has also been active in Sunday-school work, for years serv- ing as superintendent of that school. He is a member of Philo Paul Post, G. A. R., of Amity. This Post has become almost extinct because of the death or removal of members, nearly all of whom went into the Civil War from the Amity neighborhood.

RANSOM M. DAY, a contraet driller and one of the representative business men of Washington, was born in 1870 in Amwell Township, Washington County, Pa., and is a son of Stephen B. Day, a prominent citizen of Washington County.

R. M. Day was reared in Amwell Township, where he attended the common sehools, afterwards taking a course at Duquesne College, and later graduating with the class of 1891 from the State Normal School at California, Pa. He then taught school for four years, after which he spent, five years in Pittsburg as assistant superintendent of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Com- pany, since which time he has been engaged in contract drilling for different coal companies in Western Penn-

sylvania, and is at present drilling in Guernsey County, Ohio, for the Cambridge Collieries Company. Mr. Day is a stockholder in various enterprises of this locality, and is one of the publie spirited and enterprising men of Washington.

In 1892, Mr. Day was joined in marriage with Minnie Chambers, who comes of one of the old established families of Washington County, and is a daughter of John Chambers of Amwell Township. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Day: Earl C., Clark E. and Harold R. Mr. Day is a member of the First Christian Church.

A. M. ARMOR, a retired farmer of Hanover Town- ship, residing at Burgettstown, owns very valuable farm- ing lands in Washington County, consisting of two farms aggregating 165 acres, which are situated in Hanover Township. He was born in that township Oet. 30, 1833, and is a son of James and Naney (MeCandless) Armor.

The grandfather of Mr. Armor was the first of the family to come to Washington County and he entered 400 acres of land for himself and 400 acres for a brother. His son, James Armor, was born in Hanover Township and resided on the same farm until his death, that being the land seeured by his father, Thomas Armor. It is now divided into three portions, 141, 165 and 138 acres each, all owned by three sons of James Armor and all adjoining. James Armor was a leading citizen of Hanover Township and served in many publie capacities. He was a Democrat and on the Democratie tieket was elected township assessor and road super- visor, the duties of which he performed with the greatest care, honesty and faithfulness. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church. He was twice married, (first) to Margaret Wilson, who, at death left four children : Johu, Thomas, Margaret Ann and an infant. Her burial was in the Florence Cemetery. His second mar- riage was to Nancy MeCandless, a daughter of Alex- ander MeCandless, and they had five children, namely : A. M., James R., William S., Jennie and George P.

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

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