USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II > Part 21
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A. M. Armor attended the schools of Hanover Town- ship when he was young and then commenced to help his father on the farm and has owned land ever since he reached man's estate. His farms in Hanover Town- ship are well improved and he put up all the buildings now standing. He has almost all of the land free of timber, having cleared 45 acres himself. There may be coal deposits, but he has never experimented for them, but he has eight oil and gas wells that are of value. During the whole of his active life he carried on general farming.
Mr. Armor was married (first) Oet. 26, 1865, to Ann Maria Moreland, a daughter of John Moreland, who died Mar. 17, 1880. Her burial was in the Hopewell
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Cemetery. He was married (second) to Mrs. Rebecca A. MeChskey, who died May 22, 1908. No children wero born to either marriage, but his second wife bad une daughter, Mary W., by her first marriage, who re- sides with Mr. Armor. Both wives were most estimable women, Mr. Armor is a member and an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Burgettstown and before leaving his farm was an older in the lebron Church. In politics he is a Democrat and served three terms as assessor of Hanover Township and many terms as a school director. He is a stuckholder in the Burgettstown National Bank. The Armor family is one of the old and substantial ones of the county and its men have been noted for their usefulness to their communities and for their general good citizenship.
DAVID R. MeNARY, one of the most highly esteemed and respected citizens of Robeson Township, whu, for 23 years has been a valued resident of MeDonald, where he now lives retired, was born on his father's farm in Cecil Township, Washington County, Pa., where East Canonsburg is now located, Mar. 27, 1831. His parents were JJoseph and Elizabeth (Van Volkenburg) MeNary.
The parents of Mr. MeNary are both deceased. The father was twice married, nine children being born to the first union and six to his marriage with Elizabeth Van Volkenburg. Of the latter family, David R. Me- Nary was the second in order of birth, the others being: Elizabeth, who is now deceased, was the wife of James Templetun; William M .; Levinia, who married John Wesby; George; Sarah, who married Milberry Douglass; and Nancy, who married Alexander McCloy.
David R. MeNary remained on the home farm until he was 21 years of age. He first attended the Oram school in Chartiers Township, when his teacher was John Curry, who afterwards established Curry Institute at Pittsburg. After leaving home, Mr. MeNary attended this institute eondneted by his old preceptor and then took a three-year scientific course at Jefferson College. Later he attended two terms at the State Normal School at Millersville, coming under the direct instruction of Prof. J. P. Wickersham, who not only organized that school, but who became the first state superintendent by executive appointment. Subsequently, Mr. MeNary grad- uated from Duff's Commercial College at Pittsburg, and for several years was engaged successfully as a school teacher and during 1858-59 was postmaster at Munn- town.
During the Civil War, Mr. MeNary was employed in the building of government boats at the works at Soho, Pittsburg, and assisted in the construction of the Maneyunk and the Umque, used on the southern Missis- sippi River. He also served for eight years as freight agent on the Panhandle Railroad, at Sturgeon, a station
then called Willow Grove. For some years he has been devoting the larger part of his time to looking after valuable realty that he owns at McDonald.
On Oct. 4, 1859, Mr. MeNary was married by the Rev. James Sloan, then pastor of the Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church, to Miss Mary A. Munn, who was born at Muuntown, Pa., Mar. 5, 1839. This town was named for her grandfather, Samuel Muun, who was a large land owner, possessing several entire sections. The burden of paying taxes, however, was so great, that he traded one section of land for one ewe lamb, and it is thought probable that this was the first Merino sheep introduced here, the beginning of an industry that has made Washington County one of the greatest sheep growing counties in the United States. Her parents were John and Louisa (MeDonald) Munn. She has one brother, Samuel A., and one sister, Matilda. To Mr. and Mrs. McNary the following children were born: Ida Mary, who is the wife of Thomas Grant, of Sheri- den, Pa .; Elizabeth Ora, who is the wife of Stewart C. Gailey, of Columbus, Ohio; John and S. A., both resid- ing at Sheridan; and Clara, who resides at home. Mr. and Mrs. MeNary have but recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of their wedding and the pleasure of the occasion was dimmed by no absent faces, all the children of the family being living, together with 13 grandchil- dren and one great-grandchild. More than usual in- terest was shown in this celebration on account of the prominence of the participants. Kindred came from far and near, while friends and neighbors manifested a desire to participate in the festivities and to take the opportunity of showing their regard.
Mr. MeNary has been a useful citizen and has served on the borough council. He is a member of Garfield Lodge, F. & A. M., at MeDonald and of Cyrus Chapter at Carnegie. He is a member of the Session of the First Presbyterian Church.
J. W. MANON, D. D. S., one of the prominent dental surgeons of Charleroi, Pa., who has been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession in this city since September, 1897, was born Nov. 3, 1869, at Van Buren, Pa., and is a son of William A. and Hannah (Chadwick) Manon, the former of whom was a black- smith by trade, and died in 1904. The mother is still living, and is a resident of Pittsburg.
J. W. Manon was reared at Van Buren, where he at- tended the common schools and learned the blacksmith trade, after which he ran a shop at Lagonda for one and one-half years. He then attended the State Normal School at California, Pa., after which he taught sehool in South Franklin and Independence Townships. Wash- ington County, for three years. He then took a course in dental surgery at the Pennsylvania Dental College at.
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Philadelphia, from which he graduated in the spring of 1897, and in September of that same year came to Char- leroi, where he has offices over Piper's drug store. He has won the esteem and confidence of the public, and the professional success which he has gained has been well merited. Dr. Manon is the owner of the Manon Build- ing, containing four flats, and office rooms, on Fallow- field avenue, and is also the owner of several other val- uable properties in Charleroi. He served from 1906 until June, 1909, as a member of the school board, of which he was secretary during the years 1906-07, and was president of that body during the last year of his membership. He is fraternally a member of the Masonic order, and his religious connection is with the Washing- ton Avenne Presbyterian Church.
Dr. Manon married Orpha P. Grim, who was born and reared in Greene County, Pa., and came to Washing- ton County, with her father, Harvey Grim, who settled near Old Concord. Three children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Manon: J. Paul, who was born Oct. 25, 1899; Irene Elizabeth, who was born July 10, 1903, and Virginia Mae, who was born May 11, 1909.
WILLIAM A. McKAY, who is engaged in the whole- sale manufacturing of ice cream, at Washington, Pa., with plant at Nos. 7-9 Sumner street, is a leading citi- zen and representative business man of the place. He was born at Washington, Pa., May 21, 1869, and is a son of G. W. and Susan Elizabeth (Pease) Mckay.
Mr. Mckay is a representative of some of the oldest and most honorable of the Washington County families. His maternal great-grandfather, Andrew Pease, was probably one of the first settlers in the county, and his son, Andrew Pease, was a . man of great prominence in pioneer days. His daughter, the mother of William A. Mckay, was born in 1843 and still survives, residing with her only surviving child. On the paternal side the grandfather was William Me- Kay, who was one of the earliest cabinetmakers to settle near Washington. His son, the late George W. McKay, was born near Claysville, Washington County, and during his active years worked at the shoemaking trade. His death occurred in 1909. Mrs. MeKay was one of a family of nine children and is one of the six survivors, the others being: Zachariah, who lives in Indiana; Maria C., who married George W. Teegarden, lives in Illinois; Rebecca Ellen, who lives in Washington County; An- drew J., who lives on the old Pease homestead; and J. C. C., who is a resident of Washington County.
William A. MeKay was reared and attended school at Washington and during his early manhood engaged in clerking, later embarked in a restaurant and con- fectionary business, and in the spring of 1897 started
his present enterprise. He does a large wholesale busi- ness and has also an excellent retail trade.
Mr. McKay was married in 1892, to Miss Emma J. Miller, who is a daughter of Simon P. Miller, of Greens- burg, Pa., and they had two daughters: Mildred A. and Lilly Irene. The beloved wife and mother died Novem- ber 12, 1908. Mr. MeKay and daughters are members of the Second Presbyterian Church. He belongs to the Eagles and the Maccabees.
REV. THOMAS PATTERSON, deceased, for many years was one of the ablest preachers in the Pittsburg Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he was admitted in 1866, and remained a faithful mem- ber of that body until the time of his death, which oc- curred while he was, as he himself would have wished it, in the performance of his ministerial duties. The mes- sage came to him while attending a conference session, at Bellevue, Pa., and he passed quietly away on Friday evening, October 8, 1909.
Thomas Patterson was born June 3, 1835, near Ten Mile, Pa., and was a son of John and Jane (Simpson) Patterson. John Patterson was born in Ireland and when he emigrated to America, came to Pennsylvania and settled on a farm near Marianna, Washington Co., Pa., which remained in the family until after the death of one of his sons, Samuel Patterson, who lived and died there, aud it is now the property of the Pittsburg-Buffa- lo Coal Company.
The following children were born to John and Jane Patterson : Catherine, who was born January 25, 1812, married James Wherry; Rebecca, who was born Decem- her 6, 1813, married John Bumgardner and they lived at Amity, Pa .; Elizabeth, who was born September 8, 1815, married Levi Hopkins; Jane, who was born April 1, 1817, married Palmer Baker; Sarah, who was born July 16, 1819, married Levi Dawson; Andrew, who was born Mar. 20, 1821; John, who was born Feb. 1, 1823, never married; Samuel, who was born Dec. 15, 1824; Ann, who was born in January, 1827; Mary, who was born Dec. 5, 1828, is the widow of Joseph Siebert and resides at Washington, being the only surviving member of the family ; Thomas, who was the youngest, was, as stated above, born in 1835. Through intermarriage the Pat- terson family is connected with many other leading fami- lies, both in Washington and in Greene Counties.
Thomas Patterson was educated in the public schools and in Waynesburg College, his studies from early youth being directed along theological lines. While still at college the great Civil War was declared and with the loyal enthusiasm of youth he determined to do his part in the suppression of rebellion. He enlisted in the famous Ringgold Cavalry regiment, which was after-
REV. THOMAS PATTERSON
B
STOR, LENO I_DEN FOUND : TOP-
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wards organized as the 22nd Pa. Cav. and at this time he was chosen as chaplain of the regiment. Ile con- tinued in the army until the end of hostilities and was mustered out of the service in October, 1865, his regi- mient then being known as the 3rd Pa. Prov. Cav. IIe participated in many of the severest engagements of the war, among which was the battle of Winehester, or Cedar Creek. Years afterward, Rev. Mr. Patterson would glow with enthusiasm in speaking of the gallant Gen. Sheri- dan, his commander, who turned defeat into vietory on that day. llis own victories, in an entirely different way, were no less wonderful and there are many now living who can testify to the triumphs secured for them by him, as commander of spiritual forees.
After he returned from the army, Mr. Patterson com- pleted his theological studies and was admitted to the Pittsburg Conference. For 35 years he preached con- stantly at regular appointments, until failing bealth prevented his accepting such work. In all his years of ministry he served every appointment to which he was assigned for the full time limit. He served five years at Waynesburg and also was pastor of the churches at Johnstown, Leechburg and Canonsburg. On the last Sabbath of his life he conducted the service of Holy Communion at Canonsburg, in the church building which was erected during his pastorate there. He was not only a deep thinker and earnest student and a courageous supporter of what he deemed his ministerial mission, but as a man he was kind hearted, tactful and naturally sympathetic. He thus commanded both the intellects and the hearts of his people.
Thomas Patterson was united in marriage with Miss Emma Virginia Black, a daughter of James A. and Sarah (Steel) Blaek, of Greene County, Pa. The father of Mrs. Patterson is living, aged 87 years, a son of James H. Black. The Black family has been prominent- ly identified with public affairs in Greene County. When the great-grandfather, Benjamin Black, was a member of the State Legislature, he was the youngest serving in that body. It was Charles A. Black, a young attorney of Greene County, who compiled the first school laws of Pennsylvania. The venerable mother of Mrs. Pat- terson also survives. She was born near Philadelphia. Her father was James Steel, a miller by trade, of Quaker extraction. Ile lived for a short time in Fayette County, Pa. His death was occasioned by an attack of cholera. One daughter, Miss Mary Patterson, survives and resides with her mother at Canonsburg.
ADAM COON SAMPSON, deceased, was one of the leading business men of Monongahela City, and was one of the organizers of the Peoples Bank, now the Monon- gahela City Trust Company. He was born at Long Run, Allegheny County, Pa., a son of Thomas and Anna
(Coon) Sampson, and died May 10, 1872, at the age of 19 years. During his early life he engaged in the in- surance business, having a general agency through the western portion of Pennsylvania, and in 1871, with James Sampson, J. B. Finley and others, estab- lished at Monongahela City the Peoples' Bank, of which he served until his death as president, with James Sampson, as vice president, and J. B. Finley, cashier. In fraternal circles be held membership with the I. O. O. F. and the Masons, and his religious connection was with the Presbyterian Church. Politically, he was a Republican.
Mr. Sampson was first united in marriage with Mar- garet Williams, after whose death he married Fanny Moore, who also died, and on Nov. II, 1862, he married Letitia S. Manown. They became the parents of the following children: Anna Kuhn, deceased, married Dr. William Boyde, deceased; Sarah Manown; Letitia, mar- ried Edward Brubaker, and died, leaving one son, Henry, who was reared by her mother, Mrs. Sampson, and he is a graduate of Bliss College of Washington, D. C., and is engaged as an electrical engineer at Donora, Pa .; Adam Coon, deceased, married Annetta Yohe, by whom he had two children, Lois and Adam Coon; and Harriet L., who is the wife of Attorney W. K. Vance, has two children, Willison K. and Adam Sampson.
Letitia S. (Manown) Sampson, widow of our subject, was born May 16, 1832, on her father's farm just across the Monongahela River, and is a daughter of James and Cassandra (Devore) Manown. James Manown was born in County Down, Ireland, and in 1798 came to America with his parents, Richard and Abigail (Smith) Manown, who settled near Round Hill, then Westmoreland County, and now known as Allegheny County, and was one of five children born to his parents: Peggy, who is the wife of Robin Bailie; John; William; James, father of Mrs. Sampson; and Richard. James Manown married Cas- sandra (Devore) Elliott, a daughter of David Devore, who was the first to obtain a license to run a ferry be- tween Monongahela City and the bridge on the other side of the river. He married the widow of George Elliott, who was drowned while trying to save their son Burnsides. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott also had a daughter, namely, Patience, the deceased wife of Benjamin Davis, who is also deceased. Iler union with James Manown resulted in the birth of the following children: Frank- lin, deceased; Eliza, deceased, married .1. Vankirk, also deceased; Nancy Ann, deceased, was the wife of John Thirkield, deceased; Cassandra, deceased wife of Alfred Thirkield, also deceased; Dr. James II. Manown, of West Virginia; Harriet P., widow of James Moore; Sarah, deceased; Letitia, widow of Adam Coon Samp- son, our subject ; and three who died in childhood.
Mrs. Sampson was reared on her father's farm and
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obtained her educational training at the township schools and a private school at Monongahela City, after which she graduated from the Washington Seminary with the class of 1852. She was united in marriage with Mr. Sampson in 1862 and since his death has continued to reside in the family residence which was erected by him in 1863, and which is located on the corner of Main and Fifth streets. Mrs. Sampson is held in high esteem by a large circle of friends, among whom she has spent the greater part of her life. She is a member of the Presby- terian Church and was for a number of years president of the Missionary Society.
ROBERT S. FLANEGIN, general merchant and post- master at Woodrow, Washington County, Pa., and also agent for the Wabash Railroad at this point, was born in Mt. Pleasant Township, Washington County, Sept. 30, 1873, and is a son of Robert and Esther Flanegin and is the youngest of their family of children, as fol- lows: Emma J., who married W. S. Noah, resides in Mt. Pleasant Township; Agnes E., who is now deceased, was the wife of William Philips; and E. Harriet, who is the wife of J. H. Gorman, of Canonsburg.
Robert S. Flanegin attended the public schools of Mt. Pleasant Township and continued and completed his education at the academies at Hickory and Buffalo. When 18 years of age he became a farmer and continued an agricultural life for several years, after which he went to Woodrow and there entered the employ of C. M. Marquis as a clerk for a time and then went back to the farm, but when J. S. Buchanan bought the store from Mr. Marquis, he installed Mr. Flanegin as manager. Mr. Buchanan subsequently went out of business and Mr. Flanegin secured the location and opened up a store of his own. Where others had practically failed he suc- ceeded and is now starting on his fourth year with the brightest of prospects. He has a reputation for busi- ness honesty as well as capacity and a liberal patronage is accorded him from the adjacent country. In 1905 he was appointed postmaster and the business of the office has grown to be so important that on Oct. 1, 1909, a money order system was installed. He is also the accommodating ticket agent for the Wabash Railroad and in every way is a popular citizen of this community.
Mr. Flanegin was married in October, 1896, to Miss Georgia A. Holmes, a daughter of John and Mary Holmes, of Hopewell Township. They are members of the United Presbyterian Church of Hickory. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a stockholder in the Hickory and Woodrow Telephone Company.
S. GILLMORE DICKSON, who conducts a fire insur- anee business at Canonsburg, being one of the leading men in this line in the borough, was born in Washing- ton County. Pa., in the old tollgate house two miles east
of this place, near Morganza Station, Feb. 29, 1864. His parents were William and Margaret J. (Ferguson) Diekson.
William Dickson was born in Ireland and in early manhood, about 1856, came to America, made his way to Pittsburg and later joined an uncle who was living at Canonsburg. He soon found work in the mill of James Berry and later was employed on the farm of Israel Haines in North Strabane Township, and also operated the farm of William Martin, now deceased, who was for many years president of the First National Bank. On Oct. 4, 1859, he married Margaret J. Fer- guson, who was born on East College street, Canons- burg, a daughter of Thomas Ferguson, a stone mason, who died in 1864. Both William Dickson and wife sur- vive and they reside at Canonsburg. Eight children were born to them, four sons and four daughters, namely: Thomas F., residing at Bower Hill; Lizzie M., wife of G. A. Crumm, a rural mail carrier, at Canonsburg; S. Gillmore; William Martin, residing at Canonsburg; Cora A., Margaret P. and Ada B., residing at home; and Alvin H., employed at the Fort Pitt Bridge Works.
S. Gillmore Dickson attended the local schools, then engaged in farming, after which he was employed for four years at the Pennsylvania Reform School at Mor- ganza, and in 1895 he came to Canonsburg and em- barked in the fire insurance business. He represents a number of the leading companies and through his care- ful and close attention to all risks and his promptness in settling all losses, he has built up an excellent busi- ness.
In 1898, Mr. Dickson was married to Miss Emma Hess, of Chartiers Township, and they have two children: Agnes J. and Mary E. Mr. Dickson and wife are mem- bers of the Central Presbyterian Church of Canonsburg. In polities he is a Democrat. Mrs. Dickson prior to her marriage, made her home with her great-uncle, Adam Edgar, of an old Washington County family. He died at Canonsburg in June, 1902, at the age of 82 years.
AARON K. LYLE, superintendent of the Highland Glass Company Factory No. 1, and identified with other business enterprises at Washington, Pa., has been a resi- dent of this city for ten years. He was born in Smith Township, Washington County, Pa., in 1870.
Capt. William K. Lyle, father of Aaron K., was born in Washington County, in 1833, and for a number of years engaged in farming and stock raising in Smith Township. He served with gallantry in the Civil War and was captain of his company. He was active in pub- lie affairs in Washington County and for six years was superintendent of the Children's Home. In 1905 he re- tired to Crafton, Allegheny County, where he now re- sides. He married Jane A. Cooke, who is now deceased,
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and five of their children still survive, namely : Josephine, who is the wife of C. A. Dally, of Allegheny County ; Harriet, who resides with her father; Wilfred C., a eivil engineer employed by the government, at present being on the Tennessee River; Janet, who resides with her father at Crafton; and Aaron K.
Aaron K. Lyle was reared in Washington County and was educated in the public schools and Oakdale Academy, at Oakdale, Allegheny County. His first business en- gagement was with the Washington Carbon Company, where ho remained five years and then accepted a po- sitien with the Highland Glass Company, starting in as a packer and shipper and rising step by step, until, in 1906 he was made night superintendent. lle is recog- nized as a capable, reliable man in a position that re- quires technieal knowledge as well as executive ability. During the Spanish. American War, Mr. Lyle served as a member of Co. C, 14th Pa. Vol. Inf.
In 1901, Mr. Lyle was married to Miss Mary Belle Galbraith, who was born in Smith Township and is a daughter of the late William Reed Galbraith, who was a leading merchant at Burgettstown for ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Lyle have one son, Aaron K., Jr. They are members of the Second Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Lyle is a deaeon. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow, and is identified with both lodge and Encampment.
LEMAN CARSON, one of the large wool growers of Blaine Township, Washington County, who also devotes his land to general farming and stock raising, has over 100 acres and this is the old homestead on which he was born, it then being in Buffalo Township, Mar. 26, 1849. His parents were Thomas and Mary (Wright) Carson.
Both parents of Mr. Carson were born in Washington County and both are now deceased, the father's death occurring on Jan. 15, 1865, and the mother's on Jan. 5, 1886. They are survived by four children: Rachel, who is the widow of Henry C. Noble, resides at Clays- ville, Pa .; Isaae, who lives in Missouri; Samuel W., Buffalo Township, and Leman, of Blaine Township.
Leman Carson was reared on the old place and se- cured his education in the schools of the neighborhood. He is numbered with the successful agrieulturists of the township and does a large amount of business in wool, raising the Merino sheep for this special purpose. He also has several produeing oil wells. Mr. Carson is a director in the Farmers' National Bank of Claysville. In politics, he is a Demoerat. For a number of years he has been a member of the Presbyterian Church at Clays- ville, in which he is an elder.
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