Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 3

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 3

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Thomas Scott, the grandfather of Thomas, was a na- tive of Lancaster County, Pa., from whence he came in 1812 with his parents to Washington County, settling in the woods of Hopewell Township, where his life was spent in agricultural pursuits. His son, Archibald, who died in May, 1908, also devoted his active life to farm- ing and stock raising, and was a prominent man in his day, serving as road supervisor and constable for a num- ber of years. Of the children born to him and his wife the following survive: Thomas; Rachel A., widow of Lemuel Liggett, of West Middletown, Pa .; Elizabeth J., widow of John Shaler, of Donegal Township; Isabella, wife of John A. Kerns, of Pittsburg; James A., of Can- ton, Ohio; and Sarah M., of Wheeling, W. Va. Two children, Mary and Alvina, are deceased.

Thomas Scott received his education in the district schools of his native township, and as a youth worked on his father's farm. His entire life has been spent in agricultural pursuits, and since 1888 he has carried on operations in Donegal Township, having located on his present fine farm in 1903. He has been successful in his efforts, and is ranked among the leading farmers of his township.

Mr. Scott was married to Clara A. Barr, who was born in Buffalo Township, Washington Co., Pa., daughter of the late James Barr, formerly a well known citizen of Buffalo Township. To Mr. and Mrs. Scott the follow- ing children have been born: Joseph W., of Claysville, Pa .; Anna B., the wife of W. M. Rice, of Claysville; Fannie L., the wife of George Shaler, of Donegal Town- ship; William C., of Claysville; Rosa, wife of Alva Gar- rison, residing in Ohio County, W. Va .; Mary J., wife of Clinton Curtis, of Donegal Township; James A., residing in Ohio County, W. Va., Robert W., also of Ohio County ; Ella, wife of Frank Howard, of Donegal Township; Ruth A., wife of Thomas Scott, of West Finley Town- ship; and Adda, deceased.

Mr. Scott has served two terms as school director in Donegal Township, and is known as a very public-spirited citizen. He is a member of Hopewell Lodge, No. 504, I. O. O. F., at Claysville, Pa., and he and his wife belong to the Christian Church. Mr. Scott was born on the farm on which the first Christian church in the United States was built, on Brush Run, Hopewell Township.

HAROLD ALEXANDER HAMILTON, a progressive and enterprising young business man of Canonsburg is the junior member of the grocery firm of Marple & Ham- ilton, one of the newer business concerns of the city.

519

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

He was born at Linden, North Strabane Township, Wash- ington Co., Pa., and is a son of dames A. and Anna R. (Sumney ) Hamilton.

James A. Hamilton, father of laroll A., was born in 1857, in Nottingham Township, Washington County, and is a son of dames A. and Lucy ( Bushyager) Hamil- ton, who were originally of Butler County. James A. Hamilton the second, is a prosperous farmer in North Strubane Township. He married Anna R. Sumney, a daughter of William B. and Ruth (Gamble) Sumney, and they have tive children, namely: Eva A., who is the wife of Philip Templeton, of Oakmont; Harold Alexander; Wallace G., who is a farmer in North Stra- bane Township, married Angelina L. DeVore; and Ilallie W. and James Wray, both of whom reside at home.

Harold Alexander Hamilton received a good public school education, leaving his books in 1902, after gradu- ating from the Washington Business College. He worked on the farm and at the carpenter trade for some eigh- teen months and then turned his attention to merehan- ilising, on March 15, 1909, becoming a partner with Les- lie G. Marple, under the firm name of Marple & Ilamil- ton, the two young men succeeding John W. Marple. The business is in a prosperous condition and the up-to-date manner in which it is conducted, together with the fine line of goods carried, has secured the liberal patronage of the public. Politically, Mr. llamilton is a Repub- lican. He is a member of the Fairview Presbyterian Church. He belongs to a family noted for its longevity, his paternal grandparents living to be eighty-two and eighty-one years, respectively, and his maternal grand- parents to be ninety and eighty-two years.

HUGH LEE, SR., a highly respected retired citizen of near Burgettstown, Pa., who formerly carried on large agricultural operations in Cross Creek Township, where he still retains the ownership of two valuable farms ag- gregating 220 acres, was born in Cross Creek Township, Washington Co., Pa., in the residence now occupied by his brother. W. Craig Lee, July 11, 1837. His parents were Maj. William and Jane (Craig) Lee.

The first of this branch of the Lee family was Hugh Lee, who came from Ireland to America in 1789, and they first settled in the vicinity of Canonsburg. He later purchased 219 acres of land of William MeFarren in Cross Creek Township, this land being known as Holmes ' Victory. James Holmes made settlement in 1774, and received a Virginia certificate in 1780. A part of the tract was sold in 1808 to William MeFarren, and he sold it to Hugh Lee as above related, and this traet is still owned by the Lee descendants. This pioneer lived here until his death about the year 1815, and his remains Jie in the old burying ground at Cross Creek. He and his wife Mary had a family of five sons and three daugh-

ters, one of whom, a son, Hugh Ler, who was born in Ireland, was three years of age at the time of the arrival of the family in this country. He was the only one of the children to remain at home and at their deaths he became the owner of the home farm. He mar- ried in 1804, Hannah Orr, who was from Hollidays Cove, W. Va., and they had a family of ten children. He re mained on the home place until his death in 1837, and was survived many years by his widow who died in 1882, in the ninety-fifth year of her age. She was the last of the original members belonging to the Church of Cross ('reek at the settlement of Rev. John Stockton, D. D.

Maj. William Lee was born on the home place in ('ross Creek Township, in 1807, and his entire life was passed on this place, engaged in agricultural pursuits. lle held a commission as major in the State militia from Gov. David R. Porter. He was an elder in the Cross Creek Presbyterian Church from 1858 until his death, his father and grandfather also having been elders of that church before him. Ile was married in 1836, to Jane Craig, eldest daughter of llon. Walter Craig, of Cross Creek. They became parents of six children, three sons and three daughters, namely: Hugh Lee, subject of this record; Elizabeth Mary, widow of Hon. John N. MeDonald; West Anna, deceased wife of R. V. Johnson, of Washington, Pa .; W. Craig Lee, who lives on the old home place; Hannah, widow of Samnel Sturgeon; and John S., who lives in Cross Creek Township. The death of Maj. William Lee occurred in 1888, and he was buried in the cemetery in Cross Creek, as was his widow, whose death occurred in 1890. Their golden wedding an- niversary was celebrated in 1886.

Hugh Lee, the direct subject of this sketeh, attended the district schools and then took a business course in Duff's Commercial College, at Pittsburg, where he was graduated. From the age of twenty-two years he has been interested in farm pursuits. For many years he gave much attention to the sheep industry and found it profitable. lle was one of the organizers of the Wash- ington National Bank at Burgettstown and is a large stockholder. In his carly political life he was a Whig, but when the Republican party was organized he became identified with it. On many occasions, Mr. Lee's fellow citizens honored him by eleeting him to responsible town- ship offices and he frequently served as a member of the board of education, as supervisor and judge of elections and for four years was school treasurer.

In October, 1868, Mr. Lee was married to Miss Marian E. Stockton, who died in 1892. She was a daughter of Rev. Dr. John and Naney (Clark) Stockton, of Cross Creek Township. They had two children: Nancy E. and Alvin C. Mr. Lee's only daughter resides at home. She attended school at Pittsburg and is a graduate of the Hollidaysburg Ladies' College, where she excelled in

550

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

drawing and painting. The only son is one of the lead- ing physicians and surgeons of Mansfield, Ohio. He attended the district schools and Grove City College, where he was creditably graduated and then entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where he gradu- ated with honors and was selected by his class as class poet. He remained as an interne in the Philadelphia Hospital for a year, and then took a post-graduate course in surgery. In 1900 he located at Mansfield and his advancement in his profession has been steady and sub- stantial. He there married Miss Hattie Niman and they have a little daughter of three years with the name of Marian. Mr. Lee and family attend the Presbyterian Church.

MAJ. ANDREW GARDNER HAPPER, a prominent resident of Washington, who has an honorable record for service in the Civil War, has been extensively en- gaged in the real estate and insurance business in that borough since 1871. He has been closely identified with the important interests of the county, has a wide circle of acquaintances, and stands high in the estimation of his fellow citizens. He was born in Union Township, Washington Co., Pa., August 15, 1839, and comes of a family which has long been established on American soil and in Washington County. He is a son of John Arrell and Violet (Gardner) Happer, and a grandson of Baptist and Ann (Arrell) Happer.

John Happer, great-grandfather of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, was born in 1745, and died August 25, 1818. He was married March 17, 1778, to Margaret Patton, who was born in 1753 and died May 12, 1839. They had the following children: Andrew, born February 15, 1779; Agnes, born February 21, 1781, died August 23, 1850; Baptist, born July 15, 1783, died July 4, 1833; John, Jr., horn January 14, 1786, died August 8, 1808; Jane, horn May 16, 1789, died November 24, 1791; Samuel, born June 14, 1791, died April 30, 1812; and Jane, the second of the family to bear that name, was born September 11, 1793, and died November 26, 1819.

Baptist Happer was married September 27, 1808, to Ann Arrell, who was born in Pennsylvania, February 9, 1784, and died at Mt. Hope, January 19, 1848. Their children were: Sarah, horn September 11, 1809, became the wife of Rev. Thomas Galt and lived in Sangamon County, Ill .; John Patton, horn March 16, 1811; Samuel, born April 13, 1812, married Sarah Curry; John Arrell, born October 1, 1816; Andrew Patton, born October 20, 1818, married Elizabeth Ball; James Edward, born Feb- ruary 2, 1821, married Mary Gardner; and Mary Jane, horn June 12, 1823, married David Breading Arrell.

John Arrel Happer was married May 10, 1838, to Miss Violet Gardner, who was born March 24, 1818, and they

lived in Union Township, Washington County, on the old homestead until their respective deaths, he dying in 1890. The issue of their union was: Andrew Gardner, our subject; Anna Margaret, born October 14, 1841, who became the wife of Rev. John J. Beacom, a Pres- byterian minister of Allegheny County, Pa .; Mary Belle, born October 12, 1843, became the wife of Dr. George Chessman also of Allegheny County; James Breading, born June 25, 1846; Francis A., horn January 10, 1848, married Emily Foster and lives in Mobile, Ala .; Oliver Paulinus, born May 22, 1850; Sarah Elizabeth, born March 12, 1853; John Wilner, horn January 23, 1858; and Ella Blanche, horn February 19, 1860.

Maj. Andrew G. Happer received a superior education- al training in the district schools and Washington and Jefferson College, in which he matriculated in 1859. Be- fore the completion of his college course, his patriotism led him to forego his ambitions as a student, and in August, 1861, he enlisted in Co. K, 1st Pa. Vol. Cav. He was mustered into the service as a private, Septem- ber 6, 1861, and on March 11, 1862, was transferred to Co. G, 11th Pa. Vol. Inf., with the rank of first lieu- tenant; was promoted to captain of Co. I, of the 11th Pa. Vol. Inf .; and was honorably discharged November 7, 1865, with the rank of major. He was in many of the most important engagements of the war, and through- out his service was with the Army of the Potomac. Among the most important battles in which he participated may be mentioned the following: Thoroughfare Gap, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, the Wilderness, each one of which claimed its hundreds of victims. At Antietam, Maj. Happer was slightly wounded but nevertheless kept in the ranks, but was more seriously injured at the battle of the Wil- derness, on May 5, 1864, when he was not only taken captive by the enemy hut received a wound from a bul- let which his body carries to the present day. Upon receiving his honorable discharge from the army he re- turned to Washington County and shortly afterward was appointed assessor of internal revenue, and, during his period in office, from 1866 until 1871, he resided in Mo- nongahela City. He then returned to Washington where he has since lived, engaging at that time in the real es- tate and insurance business which he has continued and at present is the largest dealer in realty in Washington County. He is a director in the Washington Trust Com- pany and has other interests, having been active in de- veloping the oil fields in the vicinity of Washington, and has always done his full share and more in advance- ing the welfare of the community.

In 1878, Maj. Happer was married to Miss Matilda M. Watson, a daughter of James Watson, deceased, who for many years was a resident of Washingon. Maj. and Mrs. Happer occupy one of Washington's finest resi-

THOMAS JEFFERSON DUNCAN

553

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

dences, a magnificent structure of Cleveland stone, which he erected at No. 130 East Wheeling street. In politics, Maj. Happer has been a consistent Republican. Credit is given him for the success that bus attended the West- era Pennsylvania Agricultural Association, of which he was secretary for many years and in which he was deeply interested. He is an honored member of Templeton Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and of the Loyal Legion.

ROBERT STEVENSON, an enterprising farmer and dairyman residing on a farm of sixty acres in Robeson Township, Washington Co., Pa., was born July 16, 1837, on his present farm, and is a son of Robert and Sarah (Geary) Stevenson, and a grandson of William Steven- son. The parents of our subject followed farming all their lives, and died on the home farm and were buried at Candor Cemetery. They were the parents of two chil- dren, Sarah, who makes her home with her brother, Robert, who is the younger.

Robert Stevenson attended the district schools of Robeson Township unlil fifteen years of age, when he went to work on the farm and has since been engaged in farming and dairying on the old home place.

Mr. Stevenson was married April 8, 1869, to Martha Aten, a daughter of William and Sarah (Russell) Atea, who were well known farmers of Washington County, Pa., and the parents of the following children: Martha; Rachel, deceased; Jane, the deceased wife of Ephrtam May, 1908, was born January 16, 1881, in Washington, Voegle; Henry, who lives at Midway; and Elizabeth, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson are the parents of the following children: Marietta, who lives at home; Sarah; Martha, married Charles Farrar and has one child, Robert; and John A., who is engaged in farming in Washington County, Pa.

Mr. Stevenson is a Republican in polities, and served one term as assessor of the township. The family at- tends church at Candor.

IINGHI E. FERGUS, a well known and able attorney of Charleroi, Pa., who has been a resident here since Pa., and is a son of Samuel P. and Margaret (Weir) Fergus.

The Fergus family originally came from Scotland and settled in Huntington County, Pa., where they attained considerable prominence. Samuel P. Fergus was born in Washington County, east of Washington, and was a son of Thomah Fergus. He was for many years one of the prominent farmers of the county, but subsequently re- moved to Washington, where he engaged in the oil busi ness unlil the time of his death ia June, 1900. His widow is still living and a resident of Washington, Pa.

ITugh E. Fergus obtained his educational training in

the public schools of Washington and the Washington. Jefferson College, from which he graduated in 1900. He then entered the Inw department of the Western l'niversity of Pennsylvania, now known as the Um- versity of Pittsburg, and graduated in law in 1907, and in July of that year, embarked in the practice of law at Washington, where he continued until May, 1908. He then came to Charleroi, and has since been located at No. 511 Fallowfield avenue.

Mr. Fergus is one of the able and rising members of the legal profession of Charleroi, and possesses to the fullest extent tho confidence and esteem of his fellow men.

THOMAS JEFFERSON DUNCAN, whose activity in the affairs of Washington, Pa., during the 34 years of his residence in that city, has made him a prominent figure in the eye of the pubhe, is a man of many parts. As an educator, lawyer and financier he has been success- ful, displaying those qualities of leadership and character which mark the highest type of citizenship. Ile is, at the present time, (A. D. 1910), senior member of the well-kaown law firm of Duncan, Chalfant & Warne, with office at No. 80 South Main street, and is president of the Real Estate Trust Company.

Mr. Duncan was born at Bridgeport, Fayette County, Pa., Feb. 11, 1845, and is a son of Hoa. Thomas and Priscilla (Steveas) Duncan, both of whom were of pioneer families in that county. His paternal grand- father, Arthur Duncan, was of Irish birth, but of Scotch descent, and after being engaged in the struggle for Irish freedom against England, left his native land for America late in the 18th century and took up his resi- dence in Fayette County, Pa., where he was employed at his trade as an iron worker at the forge of Dr. Stevens. There Hon. Thomas Duncan was born and in said county lived through a long and honorable career. IIe was, in early life, active as a politician and fre- quently was called into service as a publie official, serving some years as commissioner of Fayette County, and for ten years as one of the judges of its courts. The ‹leelining years of his life were spent at the old home at Bridgeport, where he died at an advanced age. He married Priscilla Stevens, whose death occurred in 1873 at the age of about 66 years. Iler father, Dr. Beajamin Stevens, emigrated from Maryland to Fayette County, Pa., at an early date and occupied a position of promi- nence in the community. In addition to caring for a large practice, he established and operated an iron forge. Thomas and Priscilla Duncan became parents of the following children: Sophia, deceased wife of W. HI. Laning; Elizabeth, widow of William Worrell; Dr. W. S. Duncan, a physician and surgeon of wide repu-

554

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

tation, who died in 1892; Arthur Duncan, who died in early manhood; and Thomas Jetterson, whose name heads this sketch.

Thomas Jefferson Duncan attended the graded schools of his native town, after which he studied under the tutelage of E. N. Hartshorn, a gentleman of scholarly attainments, who afterward became a professor in Mt. Union College, at Mt. Union, Ohio. At the age of 18 years our subject began teaching school in Wharton Township, a mountainous region of Fayette County, and after one season thus engaged entered Mt. Union College to continue his intellectual training. The year of 1864 marked a bitter contest in that institution between fac- ulty and students as to the authority of the former over the literary societies, and the result was some of the undergraduates were dismissed from the institution. Others, resenting the summary action of the faculty, voluntarily withdrew, and among the number was young Duncan, who with a friend, now the Rev. John H. Hart- man, entered Vermillion Institute, at Haysville, Ohio, a flourishing academy under the guidance of Rev. Sanders Diefendorf. Before the completion of his second year in the academy, his health failed and he was obliged to re- turn to his home and recuperate. In the spring of 1866 he was sufficiently recovered to enter Washington and Jefferson College, at Washington, Pa., from which in- stitution he was graduated with the Class of 1868. Dur- ing his senior year he had served as teacher in the pre- paratory department of the college, and upon graduation was asked to accept a position as one of the instructors in the institution, but declined. His class was one of the largest ever sent out by his alma mater, and its enrollment included the names of many who attained dis- tinction in the various walks of life, among them: Prof. D. J. MeAdam, Hon. H. J. Eckly, S. B. Fisher, James S. Moorhead, Rev. T. J. Sherrard, Rev. L. M. Gilleland, and Hon. W. B. Sutton. Upon leaving college he was chosen superintendent of schools in his native town, and during the two years he served in that capacity dis- played such ability as an instructor and executive as to attract attention and gain for him recognition in more important and remunerative fields. He was next elected to the office of superintendent of schools at East Liverpool, Ohio, and while there effected a complete reorganization of the school system. The success of his work during the two years he remained there added largely to his reputation, but he resigned in order to prepare himself for the legal profession, his studies along that line having been begun while in college, in the office and under the direction of I. Y. Hamilton, Esq. The fall of 1872, however, found him back in the ranks from which he had so recently withdrawn; this time located at Pittsburg as principal of the schools of the 15th and 17th Wards of that city. The progressive

system of instruction he employed the decorum of his pupils in the various school rooms, and the success of his methods, were such as to excite comment and admiration and to bring many visitors from other schools. He was an enthusiast in all that pertained to educational mat- ters, became an active member of the College of Prin- cipals, a frequent instructor of Teachers' Institutes of Pittsburg and surrounding counties, a lecturer at the Teachers' Association, and an occasional contributor to the press on educational topies. Notwithstanding the great demand on his time by the duties of his position, Mr. Duncan, during his four years in Pittsburg, con- tinued his preparation for the profession of law and in the fall of 1875 was admitted to practice in the courts of Washington County. He subsequently was admitted to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and the various courts of the United States, as his business demanded. He embarked in practice at Washington, Pa., in 1876, and almost immediately gained public recognition by his activity on the stump during the memorable cam- paign in which Tilden and Hayes were rival candidates for the presidency . A forceful speaker, alert, resonrce- ful and of discriminating mind, he appealed to the reason of his audience, which he never failed to impress. The zeal and energy expended in the interests of his clients brought success and a more extensive clientage, and the condition soon existed where he was retained, on one side or the other, in much of the important liti- gation which came before the courts of the county. He has a large and well selected library of legal lore, works so essential for the preparation of briefs in appealed cases, a branch of his professional work in which he has been unusually successful. Although he has always been active in political campaigns, working hard for the sue- cess of his friends, he has steadfastly refused to run for office since the first year of his practice, when he was Democratie nominee for district attorney. In 1888, he was strongly importuned to run for Congress and in his refusal went to the extent of telegraphing the Democratic Convention of the 24th Congressional Dis- triet. After a two days' session in which his wishes were disregarded, he was nominated amid great enthusiasm of the delegates who believed his candidacy would bring party success at the polls. A committee of notification was appointed, consisting of James H. Hoover, of Fayette County; Joseph A. Skelly, of Allegheny; James Smith, of Greene; and John P. Charlton, of Washing- ton. Notwithstanding the flattering outlook for his election, Mr. Duncan, upon meeting with the committee, again voiced his refusal to accept the honor, assigning reasons of a personal and private character arising chiefly from a desire to devote his energies to the wel- fare of his family and business affairs. He prepared a letter of declination which was widely published and

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 3

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