Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 43

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 43


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John Marshman, engaged in farming in his earlier married life and continued to make that his main busi- ness until 1851, when he turned his attention to car- penter work and coopering and continued at the same until within a short time of his death, which occurred. December 24, 1880. During this time he lived in Char- tiers, Franklin and Donegal townships. He was a man of fine character, a leading member of the United Breth- ren Church, in which he filled many official positions. Deeply opposed to slavery, he became an Abolitionist, and later identified himself with the Republican party. He married Julia A. Jay, who died August 24, 1882. Four children survive these dear parents: Mrs. Jane M. Rodgers, Mary, Thomas J. and Martha N., all residing in Donegal Township. Two are deceased: Elizabeth, who was the wife of Washington Snodgrass, died Feb- ruary 8, 1868; and Margaret, who died September 9, 1842.


Mrs. Rodgers attended what was known as the Jolly District School, in Franklin Township, in her girlhood. In 1859 she accompanied her parents when they moved to Donegal Township and since 1868 she has resided on her present farm, with the exception of a short period folowing the death of her husband, when she lived at Claysville. She was trained in housewifely arts by a careful mother, and on June 13, 1872, she was united in marriage with John Rodgers, who became one of Donegal Township's most valued citizens.


John Rodgers was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, October 31, 1813, and was a son of Charles and Susan (McMullen) Rodgers. They also were natives of County Tyrone, Ireland. They came to America and to Washing- ton County in ISI7, locating in Donegal Township. The first wife of Charles Rodgers died in ISIS, and he was married again in May, 1826, and settled on the farm which Mrs. Rodgers now owns, which has never since been out of the possession of the family. At this time the late John Rodgers was about thirteen years old and he grew to manhod here and attended the district schools. He had a very intelligent mind and throughout his life was fond of reading and at all times kept well posted on the current events of the day. He was a successful farmer and stock raiser and left an unincumbered estate


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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


to his widow. His nature was kind, his manner genial and his presence was always welcomed in any gathering in his neighborhood. He died October 22, 1886, after two years of paralysis. Mrs. Rodgers has been a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Claysville since 1864


ALEXANDER J. STEWART, secretary and treas- urer of the Vester, Stewart & Rossell Company, dealers in lumber and all kinds of mill work, located at Nos 51- 61 South street, Washington, Pa., is a representative business man of this eity. He was born in South Stra- bane Township, Washington Co., Pa., in 1867, and is a son of Jacob Stewart.


The father of Mr. Stewart is a retired citizen of East Finley. He was born in 1833, in Greene County, Pa., and from there came to Washington County at the be- ginning of his business life. Ile embarked in the manu- facture of healing salves and liniments and is the pro- prietor of a well known medicament, the Stewart salve.


Alexander J. Stewart was reared and educated in his native township. When sixteen years old he came to Washington and learned the carpenter trade and was with the firm of J. F. Vester & Son for seven years. He then entered into partnership with D. C. Vester and H. B. Rossell and the business was conducted as Vester, Stewart & Rossell until 1903, when it was incorporated under the style of Vester, Stewart & Rossell Company.


A general contraeting business is done in all kinds of mill work ineluding the firm's specialties, and they main- tain large lumber yards. Employment is given to a big force and the pay-roll is a feature that is of importance in considering the general prosperity.


In 1888, Mr. Stewart was married to Miss Ida A. Sliffe, of Wheeling, W. Va., and they have one daughter, Doro- thea S. Mr. Stewart and wife are members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the various Masonie bodies at Washington, Blue Lodge, Chap- ter and Council, and has passed all the chairs in the Washington lodge of Odd Fellows and ranks as colonel in the Patriarch order, at present being chief of staff for Gen. A. B. Andrews, State commander. Mr. Stewart has always been a progressive eitizen and is a useful member of the Washington Board of Trade. He is treas- urer and a member of the board of directors of the Re- tail Lumber Dealers' Association of Pennsylvania. He is serving in his second term as a member of the board of directors of The Widow and Orphans' Home, at Ben Avon, Pa.


LOUIS DE HAVEN DONALDSON, M. D., physician and surgeon at Canonsburg, Pa., was born at St. Peters- burg, Clarion Co., Pa., August 24, 1873, and is a son of


Joseph B. and Maria M. (Adams) Donaldson, both of old families of this section of Pennsylvania.


The Donaldson family is of Scotch origin and the name has been a familiar one in the annals of Canonsburg for generations. The great-great-grandfather, James Don- aklson, was born in Midholm, Scotland, November 17, 1756, and died at Canonsburg, Pa., April 4, 1842. He was a cabinetmaker by trade and in 1798 made the burial casket for John Canon, the founder of Canonsburg. John Donaklson, the great-grandfather, was born in March, 1784, a native of Earlstown, County Roxborough, Seot- land, and he accompanied his parents and two brothers to America between 1794 and 1798. Robert Donaldson, son of John, was born at Canonsburg, where he died No- vemuber 11, 1871, aged 60 years. He married Sarah Brown, who was born March 9, 1813, and died February 27, 1893.


To Robert and Sarah (Brown) Donaldson were born the following children: Mary, who married James R. Patton, died in 1905, aged sixty-nine years; John, who married Sarah Cook, resides at Canonsburg; Jane, who married C. R. MeCloy, survives him and resides at Can- onsburg ; William, who resides at Fort Wayne, Ind., mar- ried Annie Ferguson; Joseph, who is the father of Dr. Donaldson; Robert, who is engaged in farming in Peters Township, married Catherine Weaver; Franklin, who resides at Canonsburg, married Emma Armstrong ; Ellen, who is the wife of John J. Miller, resides at Canonsburg; George, who resides at Canonsburg, married Mary Hollis- ter; and Harry, who married Ella Porter, of MeKees- port.


Joseph B. Donaldson, father of Dr. Donaldson, was born at Canonsburg, December 15, 1845, and died April 1, 1907. After completing his school course at Canons- burg he went to Clarion County and was engaged in the drug business there from 1869 until 1874, when he moved to Carnegie and from there, in the spring of 1876, re- turned to Canonsburg and started a drug store in this city whieb he continued to eondnet until the close of his life. On October 30, 1872, he was married to Miss Maria M. Adams, who still survives. She was born in Wash- ington County, Pa., and is a daughter of James M. and Susan (Waldron) Adams, the latter of whom still sur- vives being now in her eighty ninth year. Her people, the Waldrons, came to America from Holland in 1647, and her father was with Perry 's squadron in the War of 1812. James M. Adams died in May, 1898, aged seven- ty-nine years. He conducted a store and was postmaster at Venice, Pa., prior to 1868, when he retired to Canons- burg. To .James M. Adams and wife nine children were born : Maria M., mother of Dr. Donaldson; one that died in infaney; John, a resident of Cleveland; Thomas H., a resident of Indianapolis; Albert, a resident of Alle-


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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


gheny City ; Abraham A., residing at Canonsburg ; James, residing in the West; Emma, wife of Rev. J. H. Ralston, a Presbyterian minister; and Annetta, wife of A. A. Rowe, of Canonsburg.


To Joseph B. Donaldson and wife the following named children were born: Louis De Haven, who is in suc- cessful medical practice at Canonsburg; Mary, who is the wife of Edgar Leitzell, of Johnstown, Pa .; Susan; and Laurence, who is in the employ of the Pittsburg Coal Company as assistant bookkeeper.


Louis D. Donaldson attended the common and high school as well as Jefferson Academy at Canonsburg and later Washington and Jefferson College at Washington. In the fall of 1895 he entered Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia and was graduated from that noted in- stitution in the Class of 1899. In the following year he entered into practice and has been located at Canonsburg ever since. Dr. Donaldson is a member of the Washing- ton County and the Pennsylvania State Medical organi- zations. He was married to Miss Olive Alexander, who died May 1, 1907. She was a lady of attractive per- sonality and many virtues. Her father, U. D. Alexander, was a resident of Chicago. Three children survive her : Alexander, Margaret and Louis.


GEORGE T. HALLAM, one of Washington's repre- sentative citizens, who, for eighteen years has been a member of the city council, has been identified with the Hallam Construction Company as superintendent, ever since this important business concern was organized. He was born at Washington, Pa., December 25, 1850, and is a son of Lewis and a grandson of Joseph Hallam. Joseph Hallam established the family in Washington and was one of the pioneer hotel keepers here. Lewis Hallam was born at Washington and for many years con- ducted a blacksmith ousiness.


George T. Hallam was reared and educated at Wash- ington and then learned the blacksmith business in his father's shop and worked at that trade for fifteen years. When the Hallam Construction Company was organized he became superintendent and in that position has been concerned in a large amount of construction work, in- eluding street and road building, excavating and stone work, the territory covered being all this section of the State. A particularly fine piece of work was the brick paving on some of Washington's main streets.


In 1877, Mr. Hailam was married to Miss Jennie Mc- Bride, who is a daughter of Wilham McBride, of Wash- ington, and they have two children: Bessie, who is the wife of Charles N. Zahniser, of Washington; and Don, who assists his father.


JESSE ADDISON SPROWLS, M. D .. president of the Bank of Donora, and one of the prominent phy-


sicians of Donora, Pa., was born ou a farmi in West Finley Township, and is a son of Clinton and Anna Mary (Wallace) Sprowls, and a grandson of Henry Sprowls, who located in West Finley Township at a very early period.


The Sprowls family was founded in West Finley Town- ship at a very early period by seven brothers and two sisters, namely : William, Alexander, Henry, grandfather of subject; Arthur, James, John and Nelson. The sis- ters died early in life. Henry Sprowls was one of the progressive and prosperous farmers of the township. He married Mary Stollar of East Finley and reared a family of ten children: George, Clinton, Mary, Jemima, deceased; Elmira, Margaret, Daniel, Jeannette, Riley and Morgan. Clinton Sprowls was born in 1849 on the home farm in West Finley Township, where he lived until 1899, when he moved to Jefferson, Greene County, Pa., where he and his wife reside on the old Maj. Me- Dowell homestead. He married Anna Mary Wallace and of their union were born the following offspring: Jesse Addison, the subject of this sketch; Nora, who is the wife of Charles Allum; Forest M .; Jennie L., who is the wife of J. K. Bush; James L .; Franklin L .; Eva, who is the wife of Samuel Nickles; John, Della, Stan- ley, Opal and Okal, twins.


Dr. J. Audison Sprowls received his, educational train- ing in the schools of West Finley Township, after which he taught school three years, and in 1893 entered the medical department of the University of Pittsburg, from which he graduated in 1896. He first located at Clarksville, Pa., where he spent five years in the practice of his profession, and in 1901 came to Donora, where he has since been located with offices at rooms 1 and 2 in the Postoffice Bloek. He is president of the Bank of Donora, of which he became a director in 1906, is second vice president of the Donora Light & Chemical Company, a director in the Donora Improvement Com- pany and is a member of the Washington County Med- ical Society. Dr. Sprowls has always taken an active interest in the affairs of the Republican party, and served three years as chairman of the school board of which he is still a member. In fraternal circles he affiliates with the Masons.


On Nov. 26, 1896, Dr. Sprowls was united in marriage with Nora Sampson, a danghter of A. B. Sampson, and they have one daughter, Mary E., who was born Jan. 7, 1898.


JAMES C. EWING, a lawyer with offices in the Washington Trust Building, is one of the best known professional men of Washington, Pa., and is also identified with a number of commercial enterprises. He was born at West Liberty, W. Va., Jan. 31, 1860, and is a son of Dr. George C. Ewing, and a grandson of James Ewing.


C. M. LINDLY. M. D.


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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


A brother of his grandfather, Maj. John II. Ewing, was a prominent early restent of Washington, l'a.


Dr. George C. swing was born in Fayette County, Pa., and attained much prestige there as a practitioner of medicine. Just prior to the Civil War he moved to West Liberty, W. Va., and during the war rendered valuable service to tho Union cause as a surgeon in the 15th Pa. Vol. Inf. After leaving the service, he located at Uniontown, Fayette County, where he practiced until 1866, when he died of diphtheria contracted from one of his patients.


After his father's death, JJames C. Ewing was reared in the home of his paternal grandfather. In 1876 he entered the preparatory department of Washington and letterson College, in which institution he was enrolled five years. Ile was graduated in ISS1, after which he entered the field of journalism on the staff of the Greensburg Press, with which publication he remained oue year. He was then identified with Wallace's Monthly in New York City, a magazine of high stand- ing at that period. In 1856, he returned to Washington. Pa., and registered as a law student in the offices of MeCracken & Mellvaine. In the spring of 1887, he was admitted to the Washington County Bar and opened an office in Washington, where he has since been in con- tinuous practice. As one of the most able counsellors at the bar, he represents many of the leading citizens and business concerns of this vicinity, and practices in all the courts, and is a member of the Washington County Bar Association. Mr. Ewing is a meoiber of the Improved Order of Heptasophs, with which he has been affiliated many years. He is a member of the Second Presbyterian Church, in which he has been an elder some 20 years.


C. M. LINDLY, M. D., one of the representative eiti- zens and leading physicians and surgeons of Washington, Pa., is a descendant of one of the earliest English fam- ilies in America, as well as in Washington County.


Francis Lindly came from England about 1639, and settled in New Haven Colony, Conn., moved to, and be- eame one of the founders of Newark, N. J., in 1666, and died about 1704. His son John, born about 1668, died October 27, 1749, was buried at Morristown, N. J., hekl several offices in Newark.


John Lindly, son of the preceding John Lindly, born about 1693, died March 9, 1750, buried at Morristown, N. J., was an elder in the Presbyterian Church at Mor- ristown, and was appointed in 1739, one of the first judges of the court of Morris County, N. J., serving until his death. His wife was a deseendant of Governor Rob- ert Treat, of Connecticut.


Levi Lindly son of the last named John, was born in Morris County, N. J., April 27, 1731, moved to Wash-


ington County, Pa., September, 1788, having been pre- ceded by his brother Demas in 1773. llis brother Caleb also came about the same time; they became large land owners on the middle fork of Ten Mile Creek, now Mor- ris Township.


William Lindly, youngest son of Levi Lindly, was born in New Jersey October 12, 1786. Ile was a justice of the pence many years, administered many estates, and at the time of his death in IS55, was one of the directors of the por, of Washington County.


John Milton Lindly, father of Dr. Lindly, and son of William Lindly, was born in Morris Township October 27, 1x14. and at the time of his death in 1858 held the olce of county surveyor of Washington County. He married Eliza Blachly, daughter of Dr. H. W. Blachly. who was educated in New York City, and settled in Washington County about 1805. Their children are: B. B. Lindly, attorney at law and banker, at Winfield, Iowa; Sarah, who married R. R. Thomas, of Dunn's Station. Washington County; and C. M. Lindly. the subject of this sketch.


B. B. kindly married Clariet Hanna. Their children are: John Milton Lindly, who is cashier of a bank and secretary of the Iowa State Pharmaceutical Association, and lane, both living at Winfield, Iowa; and Sarah, who married R. R. Thomas. Their children are: Mabel, at home; and Lindly W., married, and living at Dunn's Station, Pa.


Dr. C. M. Lindly was born in Morris Township, Wash- ington County, in 1846, attended the district sehools and a local academy. His studies were somewhat inter- rupted by his anxiety to become a soldier, to do his part in the suppression of rebellion, and when only seven- teen years of age he enlisted in Co. K, 16th Pa. Vol. Cav., which was attached to the Army of the Potomac. He served during the eighteen elosing months of the Civil War and was present at the surrender of Gen. Lee at Appomattox. The young soldier returned then to peace- ful pursuits and for a time engaged in farming but later entered upon the study of medicine, subse- quently entered the Baltimore College of Physicians and Surgeons and was there graduated in the class of ISS6. Dr. Lindly immediately entered into practice, living for one year at Ten-Mile and moving then to Zollarsville, where he practiced continuously for twelve years and for six additional years was located at New Wilmington, Pa. During all this time his praetiee had been general in character but he then went to Philadelphia and took a polyelinie course in the Polyelinie College and Wills Eye Hospital of that city and since then he has made a specialty of diseases of the eye, nose and throat. He is a member of both county and State medical organizations and of the American Medical Association.


In 1870, Dr. Lindly was married to Miss Flora Horn


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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


and they have one daughter, Bernice. They are members of the Second United Presbyterian Church at Washing- ton. In addition to being of pioneer ancestry, Dr. Lindly is of Revolutionary stock on both sides of the family and on the maternal side the Revolutionary hero was a noted surgeon. Dr. Lindly is identified with the G. A. R.


JOHN H. TITUS, one of the representative citizens of Donegal Township, who has been living on his pres- ent farm since 1888, is a member of one of the early pioneer families of this section, and was born in Don- egal Township, Washington County, Pa., Apr. 2, 1849, and is a son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Hayborn) Titus.


The parents of Mr. Titus were both born in Wash- ington County. The grandfather, Jobn Titus, was an early settler here and the late Isaac Titus engaged in farming for many years in the same locality. Isaac Titus was a Republican and he served in public office, being a school director for many years and also was road commissioner. Of the five children born to Isaac Titus and wife, three survive and all reside in Donegal Township: Margaret J., John H. and Joseph.


John H. Titus attended the district schools in Don- egal Township and from youth has been engaged in farm pursuits. He is now the owner of the old Dickey farm, on which are a number of old and interesting landmarks of pioneer days, now in a state of disin- tegration. He is an excellent judge of agricultural con- ditions in his section and is largely interested in sheep raising, keeping on an average about 100 head.


- On Oct. 25, 1888, Mr. Titus was united in marriage with Miss Laura V. McConn, who was born in West Virginia, a daughter of J. Wilkes MeConn, and they have had three children, of whom one survives: Mary Florence, who was born Sept. 28, 1896. Mr. Titus is a Republican in politics and a Presbyterian in religious faith, attending church at West Alexander.


J. B. SHERRARD, one of the younger members of the Washington County bar, has already gained an as- sured position in his profession, although at Washington he has been compelled to enter into competition with able lawyers of many years standing. Mr. Sherrard was born Dec. 21, 1884, in Missouri, and is a son of Rev. R. M. Sherrard, who now lives retired at Washing- ton, to which city he came in September, 1901. He was born at Cambridge and for 25 years he was in the active ministry of the United Presbyterian Church.


J. B. Sherrard is a graduate of Washington and Jef- ferson College, completing his course in the Class of 1904. He at once entered the law department of the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, from which he graduated in June, 1908, and in the spring of 1909 was admitted to the bar of Washington County, ever


since maintaining his law office at No. 333 W. T. Build- ing. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church. He takes an active interest in the affairs of the borough, giving promise of becoming a valuable citizen.


JEREMIAH S. WASHABAUGH, a successful hard- ware merchant of Canonsburg and at present serving as the president of the school board of South Canons- burg, was born in North Strabane Township, Washing- ton County, Pa., May 12, 1870, and is a son of Frank and Sarah Washabaugh.


The father of Mr. Washabaugh was born in Fayette County, Pa., near Mt. Pleasant, and came to Washington County when a young man and settled in North Stra- bane Township, where be acquired a farm. He was born Feb. 9, 1844, and died July 6, 1907. His father was Washington Washabaugh, a very early settler in Fayette County. The mother of Mr. Washabaugh was born in 1847 and still resides on the old homestead in North Strabane Township. To Frank and Sarah Washabaugh were born the following children: Lena, who married O. G. Ayres, of Eighty-Four, Washington County; Mary, who married James Neill, Jr., a farmer near Canons- burg in North Strabane Township; Sarah, who married Everett Donley, a farmer near Eighty-Four; and Grace, who is a teacher in the public schools.


Jeremiah S. Washabaugh attended the schools in North Strabane Township and Jefferson Academy, thereby se- curing a teacher's certificate and after that he con- tinned to teach school through the winter seasons and attended school during the summer sessions until the spring of 1892, when he was graduated from the Cali- fornia State Normal School. His period of teaching covered ten years and during this time he became well and favorably known to other educators all over the county. For six years afterward he conducted a dairy. On Nov. 1, 1905, he purchased the hardware store at Canonsburg, then conducted by Samuel Munnell, and he has become one of the prosperous business men of this place, having a large and safe trade and carrying a full line of goods.


On Aug. 19, 1898, Mr. Washabaugh was married to Miss Georgia Taggart, a daughter of John and Martha Taggart, of Beaver Falls, Pa. Mrs. Washabaugh is a graduate of Geneva College and prior to her marriage taught school both in North Strabane and Cecil Town- ships. They have three daughters: Margaret, Ruth and Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Washabaugh are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Canonsburg. He is a Democrat in his political sentiments and served at one time as school director of N. Strabane Township.


RUFUS S. MARRINER, a well-known attorney at Washington, Pa., is one of the younger members of the


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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Washington County bar and is recognized as one of the most able. Ife was born in Mathews County, Va., where he received his primary education, later attended school in the state of New York and in 1898 was graduated from the Belmont Iligh School.


Mr. Marriner then became a student in Washington and Jefferson College, where he was graduated in 1903. After two years in the Pittsburg Law School, he was admitted to the Washington County bar in October, 1908, immediately afterward locating at Washington. He looks after the interests of the Willet Oil Company and of the Isaac Willet's estate.


Mr. Marriner belongs to the Bassett and the Wash- ington Golf Clubs. His office location is at No. 16 East Wheeling street.


FREDERICK W. MOORE, a representative business man of West Alexander, Pa., dealing in hardware, im- plements, seeds in season, paints, oils and builders' sup- plies, has been established in this borough sinee Mareb, 1903. He was born in Ohio County, W. Va., June 20, 1870, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Reed) Moore.


William Moore, now deceased, was born in Ireland, and came to America with his father, Thomas Moore, in 1826. They settled in Ohio County, W. Va., and Thomas Moore lived to the unusual age of 103 years, and was the oldest person ever interred in the West Alexander Cemetery.




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