Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 25

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 25

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ASBURY B. CALDWELL- It is with a feeling akin to reverence that the people of Washington County re- call the life and deeds of the late Asbury B. Caldwell. Standing foremost in the business world, a leader among men, he added materially to the prosperity of the com- munity and aided in the development of resources lying dormant and undiscovered within the confines of the county. As founder and owner of the great store now conducted by the A. B. Caldwell Company, as president and principal stockholder of the Peoples' Light and Heat Company, as owner of the Leader Refining Com- pany and in the multitudinous interests he possessed in other enterprises, he achieved a success through his in- dividual efforts, foresight, sagaeity and good manage- ment, unparalleled in the history of Washington. Great man of affairs that he was, his life was a model of sim- plieity and domestieity, his greatest enjoyment eame from association with his family at his beautiful home in the borough, where his leisure hours were spent in relaxation from business cares in the study of Nature and the enlture of flowers, bis conservatory being the finest in Western Pennsylvania.

Mr. Caldwell was born in 1829 and was a son of James and Esther (MeCraeken) Caldwell, and a grandson of Samuel Caldwell, who was the first of the family to become established in Washington County, The Cald- wells are of Seoteh-Irish descent and they were among the earliest pioneers of Western Pennsylvania. Samuel Caldwell erected a cabin in the sparsely settled region now known as Buffalo Township, Washington County, and there lived in the woods, enduring and rearing his

family with privations known only to those very early settlers.

James Caldwell, father of the late Asbury 3. Cald well, was born in Buffalo Township, Washington County, Pa., in 1757, and there followed farming all his days. In connection with the tilling of his lands, he conducted a public house known as the Caldwell Inn, which was lo- eated on the "old West Pike." This place of refresh- ment was well known to the early travelers along that highway. In 1883, his son, Asbury B., erected a hotel on the same site and built on the same plan. In early manhood, James Caldwell was joined in marriage with Esther MeCracken, who was of a neighboring pioneer family, and they became parents of the following ehil- dren: Samuel, who died in Missouri; John, who died in Illinois; and Joseph, William, Asbury B. and Esther. James Caldwell died in 1839, at the age of 42 years, leaving his widow with the responsibility of rearing their six children. She proved equal to the task and to her motherly influence and teachings may be at- tributed the characters that were moulded. Her death occurred in 1875, when she was aged 75 years.

Asbury B. Caldwell was reared on the home farm and received but a modieum of sehooling, developing, how- ever, through his own efforts into a elear minded, in- tellectual mau. He was but 11 years of age when his father died and it became necessary for him, as well as his brothers, to contribute to their own support at a very early age. When 16 years old he went to Clays- ville, Washington County, where he engaged as a elerk for a time, then formed a partnership with a Mr. Still- wagon. Under the firm name of Caldwell & Stillwagon, they operated a general store for three years, when Mr. Caldwell sold his interest to his partner, and in January, 1852, moved to Washington. He there beeame manager of William Smith's dry goods store and continued with that employer for 12 years. In 1865 he resumed busi- ness on his own responsibility, opening up a store in the room now occupied by the A. M. Brown firm. A elose application to business and a judicious management of the same brought wonderful success and it was soon apparent that more commodious quarters must be se- cured and this led to his erection, in 1873, of one of the finest business bloeks in the borough of Washington, on Main street, opposite the Court House. Upon its com- pletion he filled his store rooms with a complete stock of dry goods, earpets, clothing and gentlemen's fur- nishings. It soon outstripped all competitors in point of size and quality and its immense patronage soon pushed the amount of sales to the six figure mark, an- nually. At the time of his death, Mar. 27, 1892, Mr. Caldwell was the only citizen in Washington paying a license of more than $100 per year. for general busi-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

ness, which is indicative of the magnitude which his es- tablishment reached.

Aside from his store, Mr. Caldwell turned his attention to various business enterprises. He was the pioneer in the development of the oil fields adjacent to Washington, and had ten producing wells in Buffalo Township. In 1891 be organized the Leader Refining Company, of which he was owner, and erected a refinery on the Balti- more and Ohio Railroad, seven miles west of Washington, which had a capacity of 400 barrels a day. He was one of the organizers and the principal stockholder of the People's Light and Heat Company, and served as presi- dent of the company from its inception until his death. He was also a director in the Washington County Fire Insurance Company.

Although Mr. Caldwell through his own inherent quali- ties became one of the wealthiest men of Washington County, his gain did not remain a purely personal one, for no man did more to make Washington the flourish- ing and prosperous borough of the present than Asbury B. Caldwell. The residence, now occupied by his widow, at No. 140 East Wheeling street, was built by George Black ,and he purchased from Mrs. Martha Montgomery, and is unsurpassed in this city in its appointments and beauty. The broad, well-kept lawn and the magnificent conservatory were features in which he took keen de- light and to add to their attractions was his constant am- bition. He was a Democrat in politics, and although well informed on all matters pertaining to State and Nation, and believing it the duty of every man to go to the polls and cast his vote according to his principles, be never actively participated in political affairs. Honest and conscientious in all his transactions, vast as they were, his friends were numbered almost by bis acquaint- ances, and in sincere mourning his fellow citizens fol- lowed him to his last resting place in the beautiful Wash- ington Cemetery. As a neighbor and friend he had ever been cordial and sympathetic, and a kind heart prompted many charities, which were performed in a quiet and unostentatious manner, unknown to the public. He beld the affection and confidence of the people to a remarkable degree, and had he aspired to a public career, would have had the loyal support of his constituents.

In 1858, Mr. Caldwell married Miss Mary Lonkert, a lady of the highest type of womanhood, who also is of a prominent and respected pioneer family of the county. The following children were born to this union: Minnie C., who is the wife of Dr. George Warne, of Chicago, Ill .; George C., who died leaving a widow, Mrs. Addie Caldwell, who resides at No. 78 South Wade avenue, Washington; Mrs. Essie Humphrey, who resides at Mt. Vernon, N. Y .; Charles S., who resides at No. 54 West Maiden street, Washington, married Eleanor Baird; and Mrs. Katherine C. MeVey, who resides at No. 140 East

Wheeling street. The surviving children of Mr. Cala- well now compose the firm of the A. B. Caldwell Com- pany, which under the management of Mr. Charles S. Caldwell has maintained the prestige it enjoyed under his father's control.

JOHN RALPH MAXWELL, M. D., a physician and surgeon at Washington, a member of the staff of the City Hospital and a leading member of his profession here, is a representative of one of the oldest and most substantial families in Washington County. He was born in Mt. Pleasant Township, Washintgon County, in 1878, and is a son of the late Robert Graham Maxwell. The Maxwell family is of Scotch-Irish extraction, and James Maxwell, the great-grandfather of Dr. Maxwell, came to Washington County as a pioneer. His son, John Max- well, was born in Hopewell Township in 1810. He was a cabinetmaker by trade but later turned his attention to farming. The late Robert Graham Maxwell, son of John Maxwell, was born in Hopewell Township, in 1840, and engaged in farming and stock raising near Buffalo village. He died in 1881.

John R. Maxwell attended the public schools through boyhood and then entered Washington and Jefferson Col- lege, where he was graduated in the class of 1898, im- mediately afterward entering the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. On his completion of the course he was graduated from that institution in 1901. For a year subsequent thereto he was resident physician in Mercy Hospital at Pittsburg and from there, in 1902, he came to Washington. He devotes himself to general practice and keeps in close touch with tbe prog- ress made in his profession through his affiliation with leading medical organizations, including the Washington County and the Pennsylvania State Medical societies and the American Medical Association. He is an active citi- zen, taking much interest in good government and for some time has been a member of the school board.

Dr. Maxwell was married in June, 1906, to Miss Eliza- beth B. Patterson, a daughter of Josiah Patterson, who is one of Washington's esteemed retired citizens. Dr. and Mrs. Maxwell have two daughters, Florence Jane and Susan Mary. Dr. and Mrs. Maxwell are members of the Third Presbyterian Church at Washington.

ROBERT W. CRISWELL, justice of the peace, in Hanover Township. Washington Co., Pa., and the owner of two valuable farms, one containing ninety-seven acres and the other 132 acres, was born in this township, De- cember 7, 1838. His parents were William and Sarab (Wallace) Criswell.

The Criswell ancestors came to Washington County from the western shore of Maryland. The father, Will- iam Criswell, was born near Canonsburg, in Washington

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

County, and the mother belonged to the old Wallace family of Hanover Township. To William and Sarah Criswell the following children were born: Marie, who is now deeeased, was the wife of lackson MeCleland; Ilarriet, who is deceased, was the wife of Mahland H. Stokes; Robert W .; and Sarah A., who married R. S. Work. William Criswell was a hatter by trade but the latter part of his life was spent in a farm in Hanover Township, where he died, and his burial was at Florence.

Robert W. Criswell was mainly educated in select schools at Florence and after he put aside his books he assisted his father on the farm until he entered the Federal army as a soldier for the suppression of the rebelliou. He enlisted on September 13, 1861, in Co. A, S5th Pa. Vol. Inf., and served until November 22, 1864, serving all that time without a single furlough. He participated in the battles of Williamsburg and Fair Oaks and at the latter was wounded in the right side by a musket ball. He was placed in a hospital at White House, Va., from which he managed to escape in ten days and made his way back to his regiment. He also partieipated in the siege of Charleston on Morris Island in 1863. From that time on he saw very hard service and took part in some of the fiercest fighting that dis- tinguished his regiment as one of the most courageous bodies of men in the whole army. His immediate com- mander was Gen. Quiney A. Gilmore. He escaped with- out further injury and at the end of his term of enlist- ment was honorably discharged and returned to the home farm.

On May 4, 1865, Mr. Criswell was married to Miss Harriet L. Tucker, a daughter of David and Sarah (Watt) Tucker, both natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Criswell was the third born in a family of eight children, the others being: Angelina, who is deeeased; Mary E .; John W., who was killed during the Civil War, in the battle of the Wilderness; R. C., David S., Lemuel J., and Sarah J., who married Dr. Graham.

To Mr. and Mrs. Criswell two children were born: John T. and Sallie B. John T. was born February IS, 1866, and died November 6, 1902. Sallie B. was born August 2, 1869, and died January 7, 1908. She married Charles S. Ewing and they had two children: Robert Harley and Charles Wayne. Mr. and Mrs. Criswell are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Hanover Township. Like his late father, Mr. Criswell is a Repub- lican. In 1900 he served acceptably as township census enumerator. lle is a valued member of W. S. Bradley Post, No. 286, G. A. R., at Burgettstown.

ROBERT M. EAGLESON, M. D., physician and surgeon at California, Pa., has built up a substantial practice here and has become identified with the leading interests of this college town. He was born in Mercer

County, Pa., January 25, 1870, and is a son of John and Margaret (Clark) Eagleson.

Dr. Eagleson was reared in Mercer County and ob- tained his primary education in the local schools and afterward attended the Edenburg State Normal School, and Grove City College. Ile spent the following three years in teaching school, remaining in Mereer County during two years of this time and spending the third year in Lawrence County. During this period he had completed his preliminary medical studies and then entered the medical department of the Western University of Pennsylvania, at Pittsburg, and from that institution he was graduated in the class of 1897. Ile immediately entered into practice at Cross Creek, Washington County, remaining there until August, 1899, when he established himself at California, where his professional ability has been recognized and appreciated.

Dr. Eagleson was married to Miss Ella Lytle, who is a daughter of Joseph Lytle. He is identified with the fraternal order of Elks and he belongs also to various medical organizations.

LIEUT. A. S. EAGLESON, a leading eitizen of Can- ton Township, Washington Co., Pa., and a surviving veteran of the great Civil War, to which he devoted three years of his early manhood, was born in Hopewell Town- ship, Washington Co., Pa., in March, 1836, and is a son of Rev. John and Mary (Stewart) Eagleson.

Rev. John Eagleson, D. D., who was a very prominent clergyman of the Presbyterian body in Pennsylvania, for many years, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, on the same day that witnessed the birth of Abraham Lincoln, and in many respects their characters were similar. In IS29 he graduated from Jefferson College at Canonsburg, later from the Western Theological Seminary and before coming to Washington County, in 1833, he had been licensed to preach. He was a man of religious zeal and of scholarly attainments and for forty years was pastor of the Upper Buffalo Presbyterian Church. His death occurred January 23, 1873. He was married (first) to Mary Stewart, and three children were born to that union, namely: A. S .; David S., who became a physician and is now deceased; and William S., who is a Presby- terian minister, residing at Columbus, Ohio. The second marriage of Dr. Eagleson was to Mary Gordon, and five children were born to them: Alexander G., who is a Presbyterian minister residing in Guernsey County, Ohio; Hlenry G., who is a farmer residing at Midway, Washing- ton County, Pa., Jane G., now deceased, who was the wife of Samuel D. Blaney, of Taylorstown; and Hannah and George, both of whom reside near West Liberty, Ohio County, W. Va.,

A. S. Eagleson attended the Hopewell Township schools and Buffalo Academy. and afterward taught school for

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

several years. The outbreak of the Civil War determined his career for the three succeeding years, for he enlisted in 1861, in Company K, Sth Pa. Reserve Vol. Corps, which was identified with the Army of the Potomac. He par- ticipated in many of the most important battles of that period, including: Mechanicsville, the seven days fight- ing in the Peninsula, the Second Battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Battle of the Wilderness, and Spottsylvania Court House, and he participated in the skirmishing and long and weary marching that fell to the soldier's lot. He gained promotion for bravery and at one time received a painful wound. He is identified with W. F. Templeton Post, No. 120, G. A. R., at Washington, of which he is past commander. Lieut. Eagleson, with tender emotion, recalls many of his brave comrades who shared hardships with him and remembers with especial affection the gallant tent-mate who carved for him the keystone watch charm he wears with pride, while the Sth Regiment was camping on the battlefield of Antietam.

After he had received his honorable discharge from military service, Lieut. Eagleson returned to Hopewell Township, where he engaged in farming and stock rais- ing, and to a moderate degree he has also been a breeder of Shorthorn cattle. Besides this, he has made a busi- ness of surveying, and is a director in the Citizens' National Bank. In his younger years he took a lively interest in politics and frequently was elected to county offices. He served three years as county treasurer and one term as county surveyor.

Lieut. Eagleson was married in 1864, to Miss Jennie M. Pyles, of Washington County, who died in January, 1875. She was a daughter of James and Ann Eliza (Smith) Pyles, the former a farmer of Hopewell Town- ship. They had four children born to them, namely : John, who resides at home; James P., who is a prominent attorney at Washington; and Margaret Smith and An- drew Stewart, both of whom reside at home. Lieut. Eagleson is a member of the East Buffalo Presbyterian Church, in which he has been an elder for over forty years. Formerly he was active in the Masonic fraternity. He is a lineal descendant of the Byers people who were pioneer settlers of East Finley, from 1780 to 1790, whose descendants have become prominent from Penn- sylvania to California.

CARL E. GIBSON, a prominent young attorney and a member of the well known law firm, MeIlvaine, Vance & Gibson, of Monongahela City, Pa., was born July 9, 1873, in Fallowfield Township, Washington Co., Pa., and is a son of Capt. James B. Gibson.

Carl E. Gibson spent his boyhood days on a farm in Carroll Township, attended the distiret schools of the township, afterwards graduating from the Monongahela

high school in 1891, having walked to and from school each day. He subsequently taught for six years in Alle- gheny and Washington Counties, then engaged in the lumber business for three years with his brother, J. D. Gibson. In 1899 he entered the Pittsburg Law School, and after his graduation entered the office of B. E. Taumbaugh, of Washington, Pa., for one year, and after being admitted to the Washington County bar in 1902, formed a partnership with Oliver S. Scott, with whom he was associated but a short time, their partnership being dissolved in the spring of 1903, after which the present firm, MeIlvaine, Vance & Gibson was established. Mr. Gibson is a Democrat, and was a candidate for dis- trict attorney in 1908, and has served as city solicitor for Monongahela City since 1904. He is a director in the Monongahela City Trust Company, and the First National Bank of this city. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, the B. P. O. E., the Jr. O. U. A. M. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Gibson was married (first) September 25, 1895, to Mary Lamont, who died in November, 1899, leaving three children: Mary, Lois, and Ruth. He was married (second) on June 20, 1907, to Jean E. Wycoff, and they reside in a comfortable home at No. 309 Third street.

D. F. CALDWELL, a prominent dealer in real estate and fire insurance, with office in the Washington Trust Building, has been a resident of Washington during the past fourteen years. He was born in Mt. Pleasant Township, Washington Co., Pa., in 1851, and is a son of William Caldwell.

William Caldwell was born in County Down, Ireland, and was young at the time of his father's removal to the United States, the latter James Caldwell, purchasing a farm in Mt. Pleasant Township, Washington Co., Pa., in 1812. He died on that place the following year. Will- iam Caldwell spent the remainder of his life on that farm, except two years which were passed on a farm he pur- chased, located about six miles cast of the old home- stead. He was a prominent citizen and a strong Aboli- tionist, being an important factor in the Underground Railway. He was captain of a military company in the early days and when the Civil War came on became cap- tain of a company of Home Guards. His death occurred in 1866, shortly after the close of the war.

D. F. Caldwell was reared on the old homestead and educated in the district schools and at Ohio Central College in Morrow County, Ohio, which he atended one year. He then returned to the farm aud engaged in farming and sheep raising successfully until about the year 1895, when he moved to the borough of Washington. Here he embarked in the real estate and insurance busi- ness and has been very active ever since, buying and selling real estate extensively and handling rentals. He

THOMAS M. REESE

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

handles many of the old and reliable fire insurance lines, and has a well established business in this branch. Mr. Caldwell bas investments in various parts of the county and takes rank among the city's most substantial busi- ness men.

In Is$5, he was married to Miss Sarah Elizabeth Mc- Donald, who was born in Beaver County, Pa., and was reared in Hancock County, W. Va. They are members of the Second United Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Caldwell has been an elder for a number of years.

WILLIAM MALCOLM DINSMORE, deceased, for- merly one of the best known and leading citizens of Can- ton Township, Washington Co., Pa., whose useful life was brought to a close in February, 1906, was born on the farm where he lived ever afterward, January 25, 1848. His father was William Dinsmore, his grand- father Was John Dinsmore, and his great-grandfather was James Dinsmore, who was of Seoteh-Irish parentage.

William Malcolm Dinsmore grew to man's estate on the present farm, which is now occupied by the fifth generation. The old aucestral home, of briek construc- tion, was built in 1810, and is one of the oldest residences in Washington County. The brick for the house was burned on the place in 1809. The frame work of the barn now standing was erected in ISIS. Here William M. Dinsmore spent a happy life. He was a successful farmer and raised a large amount of good stock and was one of the leading sheep growers for many years, fre- quently owning 600 head at one time. He was a well informed man, having attended the country schools aud also the high school at Buffalo and later kept posted on all current events of the country and directed his busi- ness and cast his vote intelligently. He was a Repub- liean in his political views and took an interest in public matters but was well content with his life as a farmer and desired no political favors. He was a liberal sup- porter of the Presbyterian Church of Buffalo village and served both as church treasurer and church trustee.

On November 10, 1875, Mr. Dinsmore was married to Miss Margaret .J. Dinsmore, who was born in Hopewell 'township, Washington County, and is a daughter of William W. and Mary J. (Maxwell) Dinsmore. The father was born in Mt. Pleasant Township and the mother in Hopewell Township, both being now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. William M. Dinsmore the following children were born: John Alvin, S. Adaline, R. Helen and Mary Daisy, the latter of whom is deceased. Of the above family, J. Alvin is the practical manager of this large estate, comprising 287 aeres of very valuable land situated in Canton Township. He is well qualified, having attended the Pennsylvania State Agricultrual College, where he took a course in dairying. He is a wide-awake, progressive young man, imbued with modern ideas and

with the good judgment which assists him in succesfully carrying them out.

ROBERT F. STEVENSON, proprietor of the Steven- son Laundry, having the best equipped and most modern laundry plant in Washington, Pa., was born in Ligonier, Montgomery County, Pa., October 28, 1863, and was eight years old when his parents moved to Corsiea, Jef- ferson County. In 1877 he accompanied them to Wash- ington, l'a. llis father, now deceased, was the Rev. Ross Stevenson, D. D., who preached through the western part of Peunsylvania for over fifty years.

Robert F. Stevenson was educated in the public schools of Ligonier, Corsica Academy, Paris Academy and Jeffer- son Academy at Canonsburg. ITis first self-supporting work was done as an employe of the grocery house of J. A. Stewart & Company, of Chicago, Ill., where he re- mained for a year and a half, afterward going to the Wholesale Fertilizer Company, of the same city, and re- maining three years. In 1882 he returned to Washington, and in 1889 he started the Stevenson Laundry, on a modest scale, having five girls and two men as his full working force. The business prospered from the first and in 1901 Mr. Stevenson built on his present site. In 1905 he rebuilt, erecting his three-story briek building, on Washington street, the dimensions of which are 30 by 100 feet. Mrs. Stevenson has made a careful study of his business and has spared no expense in equipping his plant, every device and up-to-date machine being in use that will further the work and ensure satisfaction to the patrons. He gives constant employment to eighteen girls and eight men and has four laundry wagons.

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Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 25

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