USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II > Part 29
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Dr. Miller was married in 1901 to Miss Clara C. Brown, of Wooster, Ohio. He is a member of the First United Presbyterian Church.
WILLIAM CRAIG, one of Independence Township's substantial and respected citizens, who resides on his valuable farm of 200 acres, was born in Independence Township, Washington County. Pa., in 1847, and is a son of William Craig, Sr., who was one of the early set- tlers in this seetion. Other members of the family still surviving are his brothers, Robert and John S. Craig, both of whom reside in Hopewell Township.
William Craig had only the educational opportunities offered by the pioneer schools near his home, but of these he took advantage. He has followed farming and stoek raising all his mature life and is a representative man in this line in Independence Township. As time has gone
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by he has made many substantial improvements and his surroundings indicate a large degree of solid comfort. He has other investments and is a stockholder in the Pittsburg Light and Heat Company. He has given sup- port to the Grange movement and belongs to the organ- ization at Avella and is also a member of the Washing- ton County Agricultural Association; takes a good citi- zen 's interest in public matters in his township and has served two terms as school director. He votes with the Republican party.
Mr. Craig was married Oct. 14, 1884, to Miss Ada M. Nuzum, a daughter of Joel and Jane (Gillespie) Nuzum, of Ohio County, West Virginia, and they have five children: Pearl, who attended the Normal School at West Liberty, W. Va .; Helen, who was educated at the Normal School of Indiana, and Irene, Pauline and William, all yet students. Mr. Craig and family belong to the United Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder. The two older daughters are members of the church missionary society and are active in the work of this organization.
THOMAS STUART GRIER, one of the representative and substantial citizens of Canonsburg, to which place he came in 1907 from the old homestead in North Stra- bane Township, Washington County, was born in the old Grier home there, Oct. 5, 1870. His parents were James and Hannah (Van Eman) Grier.
The first of the Griers to come to America was Thomas Grier, who moved from Scotland to North Ireland, and from Belfast started for the long journey which landed him in the United States. He was followed a few years later by a brother, but in the immensity of the new country they lost each other. Thomas Grier settled first in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and moved from there to Cumberland, Pa., where he married and reared a fam- ily of twelve children.
James Grier, son of Thomas the pioneer, was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and died in 1833. Hc purchased 160 acres of land in North Strabane Township, and founded there the Grier homestead, which was in- herited by his son, James Grier. For that land he paid $10 per acre. He was married (first) to a Miss Espey, and after her death married Mary Stuart, of North Stra- bane Township.' To this marriage the following children were born: Samuel Stuart, who married a Miss Donald- son, and they both died in Columbiana County, Ohio; Thomas, who died in young manhood, was a Presbyterian minister; Guion, who died in North Strabane Township; David, who was a physician, married and lived and died in Illinois; Jane, who died when aged sixteen years; James, and several who died in infancy.
James Grier, father of Thomas Stuart, died Jan. 6, 1895, in the same house and on the same farm on which
he was born, in North Strabane Township, and was buried on his seventy-fifth birthday. He was a farmer during all his active life. He was married in IS58 to Hannah Van Eman, who was born in Cecil Township, Washington County, and died in January, 1906, in her eighty-second year. The parents of Mrs. Grier were William and Mary (Brackan) Van Eman and they had the following children: Thomas Brackan, who became a Presbyterian minister, married (first) Mary Fulton, and (second) Rachel Stuart, served a congregation at Maple Creek and died in South Canonsburg; Rebecca, who is the widow of John Donaldson, formerly of Georgetown, Ohio, lives in North Strabane Township; Jane, who mar- ried Simon B. Mercer, who was a professor in the Salts- burg Academy; Ann, a twin of Jane, who is now de- ceased, married Rev. Wilson Donaldson, a Presbyterian minister, who moved to a western State; Hannab, who became the mother of Thomas S. Grier, and James, who died young. The parents and the grandparents on both sides of the family were interred in the cemetery belong- ing to the Chartiers Hill Presbyterian Church, of which they all were worthy members.
Seven children were born to James and Hannah Grier, namely: Mary Van Eman, who died nnmarried, in 1886; Jane, who is the wife of John Neill, resides at Canons- burg; Sarah Ann, who resides at Cauonsburg; William J., who is also a resident of Canonsburg, married Mary Belle Rebout, and they have one daughter, Dorothy B .; Rebecca L .; Frances, and Thomas S., of Canonsburg.
Thomas S. Grier was reared and educated in North . Strabane Township and continued agricultural pursuits on the old homestead until after his mother's death. When rich coal deposits were discovered on this land, contracts for its excavation and sale were made with the Pittsburg and Buffalo Coal Company and the work was carried on for some years before the surface land was sold. It is some of the most valuable land in Washing- ton County.
On Oct. 22, 1908, Mr. Grier was married to Miss Blanche Linn Boyle, a daughter of E. B. Boyle, of North Strabane Township. Mr. and Mrs. Grier are members of the Presbyterian Church.
THOMAS M. BEBOUT, a representative of a substan- tial old family of Washington County, Pennsylvania, residing in a beautiful home situated at No. 90 East Beau street, owns a valuable farm of 167 acres lying in Amwell Township, to which he gives much attention. Mr. Bebout was born in North Franklin Township, Wash- ington County, Pa., July 20, 1'62, and is a son of William N. and Susau (Bebout) Bebout.
William N. Bebout was born in Amwell Township, Washington County, Pa., Feb. 19, 1820. His father, Beden Bebout. moved on the farm which our subject now
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owns in March, 1795, and died there in 1867. The fam- ily is of Holland Dutch descent.
Beden Bebout, father of William N. Bebout, was born in Sussex County, New Jersey, Apr. 5, 1773, and came to Washington, Pa., in 1788, accompanied by his brothers, Alexander and William, tailors, all young men of thrift and industry. Beuen Bebont was a tailor for years. He was married Sept. 25, 1794, to Margaret Nemous, daughter of William Nemons, and they had thirteen children. In 1795 Beden Bebout bought the farm in Amwell Township which is now owned by his grandson, Thomas N. Bebout, and on that place he passed the re- mainder of his life, dying Feb. 20, 1867, at the age of ninety-five years. After he commenced farming he only worked at his trade iu the winter time, going to different houses in the neighborhood as was the custom of the time, the cobbler also making his rounds, and later eame the traveling dentist. All the early industries were ear- ried on on Mr. Bebout's place, his wife being as in- dustrious as himself. The cloth and linen she wove he would carry to Baltimore, where the product of her loom found a ready sale. William N. Bebout frequently was heard to say that until he was twenty-one years of age he never wore any garments that had not been woven and fashioned by his mother.
William N. Bebout attended the subscription schools in the neighborhood of his father's farm and assisted at home as his services were required, and after his mar- riage, in 1845, lived for fifteen years longer on the old farm. He then purchased a farm in Franklin Township. on which he lived for ten years and then sold it and bought a farm in Marion County, West Virginia. After residing there for eight years he disposed of that prop- erty and returned to Washington County and he and wife resided in Buffalo Township until 1888, when he pur- chased a comfortable home on East Beau street, Wash- ington, and in that both Mr. and Mrs. Bebout lived until the elose of life. His death occurred in 1897, but she sur- vived until 1909. They were members of the Second Presbyterian Church. In polities he was a Democrat and at various times he served acceptably in township offices.
On Sept. 25, 1845, William N. Bebont married Susan Bebout, whose grandfather was a second cousin of Mr. Bebout's grandfather. She was a daughter of Peter and Isabel (Cooper) Bebout, who settled in North Strabane Township, Washington County, in 1823. He was a soldier in the War of IS12. The following children were born to William N. and Susan Bebout: Alexander; Isabel; Margaret, who married H. L. Barnes; Elizabeth, who married Franklin Arnett; Frank J .; Nettie, who married George Ritchey; Flora, who married W. S. Noble; Thomas M., and Ida and Beden, the former of whom married Theodore Bell.
Thomas M. Bebout was six years old when his parents
moved to Marion County, West Virginia, and during their residence there he attended school and then accompanied them back to Washington County. Ile remained on the home farm in Buffalo Township until 1884, when he went into the hardware and agricultural implement business at Morgantown, West Virginia, and continued for two years, and then returned to the old farm in Amwell Township, on which his grandfather had settled in 1795. lle now owns that farm and resided there until 1905, when he took up his residence in Washington. He con- tinues to look after his farming and sheep raising, but no longer takes part in the actual labor.
In 1882 Mr. Bebout was married to Miss Martha E. Ziegler, and they have two children: Mary Belle and William N. Mr. Bebout and family are members of the Second Presbyterian Church at Washington. He is a member of the fraternal order of Eagles and the Royal Order of Moose, and belongs also to the Knights of Pythias, the lower lodge and the Uniform Rank.
D. MAJOR BELL, M. D., a trusted physician and sur- geon engaged in the practice of his profession at Clays- ville, Pa., was born at Midway, Washington County, Pa., Dee. 7, 1875, and is a son of James and Jane (Major) Bell.
The parents of Dr. Bell both reside in the old home at Midway. They were born in North Ireland. The ma- ternal grandfather, David Major, at one time lived in Smith Township, Washington County, Pa., but later moved to Carlton, Kas., where he still resides.
Dr. Bell attended school at Midway, at Oakdale Acad- emy, and completed his purely literary training at Duquesne College at Pittsburg, after which he entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where he was graduated in 1903. He located first at Camden, N. J., and from there came to Claysville and here has built up a very substantial practice. He is a member of the county and state medical societies and also of the American Medical Association.
Dr. Dell married Miss Jennie Russell, a daughter of J. C. Russell, of Bulger, Pa., and they have two children : James R. and Gladys. He has long been prominent in Masonry, having attained the Thirty-second degree. He is a member of Trimble Lodge, No. 117, F. and A. M., at Camden, N. J .; of Chapter No. 19, Van Hook Couneil, of Camden, and of Cyrene Commandery, No. 7, Knights Templars, at Camden, and belongs also to Excelsior Con- sistory there. During the Spanish-American war he was a member of Co. C, 14th Pa. Vol. Inf. Dr. Bell uot only stands high in his profession, but ranks with the most valued citizens of Claysville.
JOSEPH W. BYERLY, who is now living retired at MeDonald. Pa., was for many years identified with the
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
milling business in Washington County as one of the proprietors of the Roller Mills. Mr. Byerly was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, Aug. 8, 1830, and is a son of David and Harriet (Clark) Byerly.
David Byerly, who was a farmer all of his life, died at Plumville, Indiana County, where both he and his wife were buried. They had the following children: Samuel and Levi, who are deceased; Joseph W .; Mary Jane, who is deceased; Sarah, deceased, who was the wife of Daniel Rareigh; Hannah, who is the widow of John Walker, and Florinda, who is the widow of Isaac Howard.
Joseph W. Byerly attended the common schools of Fayette County, after leaving which he engaged in farm- ing on the home place until he was 21 years old and then went to learn the milling business, in which he continued throughout the remainder of his active life, a period covering 55 years. He was in partnership with C. R. Potter as owner of the Roller Mills for 40 years, and after disposing of his interests in this line retired from active life and has since lived quietly at MeDonald, where he owns considerable real estate. He is a Demo- crat in politics, as was his father before him, and he and his wife are consistent members of the Presbyterian Church at McDonald.
On Oct. 1, 1862, Mr. Byerly was married to Rachel Ellen Potter, daughter of Joseph R. and Margaret Pot- ter, and three children have been born to this union: Clarence E., an oil producer of California; Mary Agnes, wife of J. W. Wallace, and Joseph W., in the mercantile business at Pittsburg, Pa.
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J. H. KURTZ, a representative business citizen of Washington, Pa., a member of the Kurtz & Ramsey Monument Company, is a representative of one of the oldest families of Juniata County, members of which colonized Kurtz Valley prior to the Revolutionary War. Mr. Kurtz was born in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, July 17, 1863.
When seventeen years old Mr. Kurtz went to Lan- caster, Pa., and began to serve an apprenticeship as marble and granite cutter and completed his trade at Newport, in Perry County. Since then he has been employed in some of the largest shops in the country, learning important details and different methods so that he can claim an all round education in his special line of work. In 1903, when he came to Washington, h'e entered the shops of the Howarth Marble and Monu- mental Works, and after the death of Mr. Howarth he managed the plant until in April, 1809. Then, in asso- ciation with U. B. Ramsey, he formed the present com- pany. They are so equipped that they can do all kinds of marble and granite work and they have every reason to expect a prosperous business career.
In 1889 Mr. Kurtz was married to Miss Louisa Keru, of Shamokin, Northumberland County, Pa., and they have had four children born to them: Earl, Hazel, Carl and Marian, a band of bright and intelligent public school students. Mr. Kurtz and family are members of the Jefferson Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church and he is the much beloved superintendent of the Sunday. school. He is a member of the beneficiary order of Pro- tected Home Circle.
HON. JOHN N. MeDONALD, deceased, who served in the State Legislature from Washington County, Pa., in 1853 and 1858, and held many other positions of honor, trust and responsibility, was long a representative citizen of his county and a respected resident of Me- Donald. He was born in Robeson Township, Washing- ton County, Pa., Feb. 10, 1820. His education was ob- tained in the subscription schools. On Oct. 29, 1862, he married Elizabeth M. Lee, a daughter of Maj. William Lee, of Cross Creek Township, and they had the fol- lowing children born to them: Edward, Jane Craig, Mar- garet, William Lee and J. Nesbit.
In his early years of manhood, Mr. McDonald was a Whig, hnt later identified himself with the Republican party and became a man of wide influence in its ranks. In addition to serving in the Legislature, he was a dele- gate to the Union State Convention, in 1856, and a rep- resentative delegate in 1876 and again in 1880 and once again in 1884. For many years he was a member of the board of directors of Washington and Jefferson College. He was deeply interested in schools and religious bodies and formerly was a trustee in the First Presbyterian Church at Candor, but in 1886 he became an elder in the First Presbyterian Church at MeDonald. His death occurred May 23, 1889, and his burial was in Raccoon Cemetery.
Edward MeDonald, the eldest son, was born on the old homestead at McDonald Jan. 11, 1864, and in 1884 was gradnated at Washington and Jefferson College. He then took charge of the home farm in partnership with his father, and carried on farming and stock rais- ing until April, 1892, when he was elected president of the First National Bank at MeDonald.
This bank was organized June 15, 1892, with a capital stock of $50,000. Its president was Edward McDonald; vice president, W. B. Moorhead; cashier, G. S. Campbell; and assistant cashier, Miss Ida V. Steen. The directors were: W. B. Moorhead, Samuel Shane, J. R. Gladden, J. D. Sauters, D. Campbell, P. Hoey, Samuel Sturgeon, J. Hunter and Edward McDonald. The present officers are the same as at first with the exception that J. D. Sauters is vice president in place of W. B. Moorhead, deceased. The present board of directors are: Edward
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
MeDonald, J. D. Sauters, G. S. Campbell, C. Ferguson, .N. G. Cook, Mel Moorhead, J. N. MeDonald. Samuel Shane and D. Campbell.
WILLIAM W. THOMPSON, an unusually prosperous agriculturist of Independence Township, where he owns a fine farm of 174 acres, was born in Cross Creek Town- ship, Washington County, Pa., Mar. 6, 1858, and is a son of James and Mary A. ( Provines) Thompson.
The farm owned by Mr. Thompson is a very oldl settled one, being taken up under the oll Doddridge patent. which bears the date of 1785. This patent included what is now property belonging to the Thompsons, the Mur- docks, the Carls, the MeConnells and the Manchesters, and is recorded at Richmond, Va., as at that time both Pennsylvania and Virginia elaimed this territory. On the Thompson farm at one time was a block-house which was erected for a refuge from the Indians. In one corner of the farm is an abandoned cemetery which is the site of what was once known as Old Chapel, an edifice erected by the early Methodists, probably in 1790, and it was used as a place of worship until 1866, when it was no longer suitable for that purpose and is now used as a sheep-house. In the old cemetery, now overgrown with briers and underbrush, one may find tombstones in memory of those who passed away in 1790, 1793, 1804, 1812 and later.
The above farm was the property of the father of its present owner and came to the latter by will. Mr. Thomp- son has two brothers and one sister, namely: John L., who is a farmer and resides at West Middletown; J. F., who resides in Washington, Pa., and Dorcas A., who re- sides in West Middletown.
William W. Thompson attended the common schools and then turned his attention to farming and stock raising and since the death of his father has resided on his present place. This land was covered with valuable timber and from this alone Mr. Thompson realized $3,000. He is an excellent manager and shrewd business man, has progressive ideas, keeps thoroughly posted and is numbered with the substantial and representative men of Independence Township.
In 1892 Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Alice M. Vanee, a daughter of Robert B. and Mary R. (MeCleary) Vanee, of Independence Township. The widowed mother of Mrs. Thompson lives at Independence. They have three children: Bertha and Alice, who are students in the Independence high school ,and Howard. -
WILLIAM C. LEET, M. D., who has been a promi- nent member of the medical profession of Washington, Pa., since 1865, was born in 1838 about three miles north of Washington, and is a son of William V. and Elizabeth (Fullerton) Leet, and a grandson of Isaac Leet, who
was born Mar. 13, 1753, in New Jersey, and was one of the earliest settlers of Washington County.
William V. Leet, who was a farmer and one of the early surveyors of Washington County, was born Mar. 18, 1787, in Washington County, and his wife, who in maiden life was Elizabeth Fullerton, was born July 26, 1800, also in Washington County. They wero the parents of six children: Naney M. and Elizabeth, both of whom are deceased; Isaae C., who is a civil engineer and a resident of Kansas; Daniel W., who is an attorney of Milwaukee, Wis. ; William C., and Sarah lane, a resident of Washington, Pa.
Dr. Leet was educated in the academy at Buffalo, Pa., and the Washington Iligh School, after which he began reading medicine in Washington, and in 1865 entered! upon the practice of his profession at Washington, being associated with his preceptor during the first three years. Since 1868 he has been alone and has made many personal and professional friends, and has always en- joyed an extensive and lucrative practice, but for the past four years has been gradually withdrawing from practice.
Dr. Leet has been a member of the Presbyterian church for many years and is fraternally affiliated with the Masonic order. He was joined in marriage Jan. 20, 1891, with Annie L. Howe, who died Apr. 30, 1904. Apart from his medical attainments Dr. Leet is ingenious, having patented several useful inventions, and made a number of very fine violins. Ile has almost completed a small book of beautiful poems, not yet published.
J. J. OSBURN, general farmer in Smith Township, where he is operating his valuable farm and meeting with much success, is a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, and was born in Robinson Township, Dec. 15, 1834. His parents were James and Martha (Me- Kennet) Osburn.
The father of Mr. Osburn was born in Ireland and he was brought to America by his parents, who settled in Westmoreland County, where he was reared. Ile mar- ried Martha MeKennet and they moved to Robinson Township, Washington County, where he died when his eldest son, J. J., was eight years old. He was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. There were two other sons: G. W. and R. C., the latter of whom is deceased. The parents were buried in Miller's Run Cemetery.
J. J. Osburn obtained his education in the schools of Robinson Township and when quite young began to perform farm duties and has devoted the larger part of his life to agricultural pursuits. Following his mar- riage he resided for some years on a farm of 138 acres in Robinson Township, in which he has a one-third in-
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
terest, and then purchased a farm of 110 acres near Dinsmore, and while still owning that, bought the one on which he now resides, subsequently disposing of the other, and is now cultivating 100 acres in Smith Town- ship.
On July 5, 1866, Mr. Osburn was married to Miss Elizabeth MeAdam, who died Feb. 17, 1909, and was laid to rest in Fairview Cemetery. She was a woman of . exemplary life and beautiful character. Eight children mourn the loss of a devoted mother, namely: Cora R., who married J. V. Sutherland; Eva E., who married Johu B. Blockhard; Nora B., who resides with her father; Ida, who died young; Ida (2), who lives at home; Oscar L., who married Chess Ackleson; Alvin C., who married Alma Blanchard; Noland C., who lives in California, and Ralph E., who lives at home. Mr. Osburn and family are members of the First Presbyterian Church at Burgettstown. In his political views, Mr. Osburn is a Republican and in both Robinson and Smith Townships has been an active party worker and has been recognized as a useful citizen. During three terms he was president of the Election Board in Robinson Town- ship and has served on the school board, and during his term as road commissioner the public highways in his district were carefully looked after.
C. E. PENN, who is engaged in the merchant tailoring business at Washington, Pa., and is also manager of the Sanitary Cleaning and Dyeing Works at No. 133 South Main Street, has been identified with the business inter- ests of Washington since 1901 and formerly was a mem- ber of the highly successful firm of Penn & Brownlee, of this city. He was born near Ninevah, in Greene County, Pa., in 1875, and is a son of Hamilton Penn, who is a well known resident of Dunn's Station, Washington County.
C. E. Penn was reared in Washington County and from the country schools entered Washington and Jeffer- son College as a student and after leaving there went to Pittsburg, where for five years he was in the tailoring and ready-made clothing business. In 1901 Mr. Penn came to Washington and for three years conducted a merchant tailoring establishment by himself, but in 1904 he admitted E. E. Bottenfield as a partner, under the firm style of Penn & Bottenfield. Later he pur- chased Mr. Bottenfield's interest, about the same time adding to his stock and making his leading line men's furnishings. In 1907 James P. Brownlee became a part- ner and the firm style became Penn & Brownlee. On Feb. 1, 1910, Mr. Penn severed his connection with this firm and embarked in the merchant tailoring business for himself. Mr. Penn is a progressive and energetic busi- ness man and has other interests. He was one of the
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