Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 44

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 44

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Frederick W. Moore obtained his primary education in the local schools and then entered the West Virginia State Normal School at West Liberty, where he was graduated in 1889, after which he taught school for one term. He then engaged in agricultural pursuits and continued until he came to West Alexander, where he became also interested in his present business. He still overlooks his farm of 215 acres which lies in Ohio Conn- ty, W. Va., not far from West Alexander, on which he grows much stock, paying particular attention to the Delaine fine wool sheep, of registered stock. Dairy- ing has also been a successful industry carried on by Mr. Moore.

Mr. Moore was married to Miss Mary E. MeDonald, a daughter of the late Rev. George MeDonald, D. D., of West Alexander, a prominent Presbyterian divine who formerly had charge of a church at Prosperity. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have four children: Martha M., Mary E., Adda N. and John M. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are members of the Presbyterian Church at West Alexander, and for a number of years Mr. Moore sang in its choir. In polities he is a Republican. He is one of the most active and enterprising business men of this section and he is heartily in accord, also, with those who are seeking

the betterment of general conditions and providing for the continued prosperity of the borough.

JOHN MeBURNEY DONALDSON, who is associated with the Union Fidelity Title Insurance Company of Pittsburg, Pa., has been in the abstract business through- ont his entire business life. He was born in Ilanover Township, Washington County, Pa., in 1874, and is a son of James and Mary (Bigger) Donaldson.

On both sides Mr. Donaldson is a representative of old pioneer families of importance. Isaac Donaldson, the great-grandfather, came to America from the north of Ireland and in company with his brother, William, settled in Hanover Township, Washington County, Pa., in 1774. Richard Donaldson, son of Isaac, was born on the homestead there established, in 1799, and followed agricultural pursuits. The late James Donaldson, father of John M., was born on the homestead in 1826 and died in 1887, having been one of the leading farmers of the county. He married Mary Bigger, who was born in Robinson Township, Washington County, in 1834, and was a danghter of Samuel Bigger, who was also born there and was a son of Thomas Bigger, a native of Ireland, who came to Robinson Township in the same year that the Donaldsons located in Hanover Township.

John M. Donaldson was educated in the schools of Hanover Township and at Westminster College, grad- uating from that institution in 1898. He became asso- ciated with the Guarantee Title and Trust Company of Pittsburg and after a period of five years with that corporation, went to the Union Fidelity Title Insurance Company of Pittsburg.

In November, 1907, Mr. Donaldson was married to Miss Lanra Z. Mellvaine, a daughter of Z. J. Mellvaine, of Allegheny County, Pa., and they have one child, James Reed. Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson are members of the United Presbyterian Church.

SAMUEL CLARK SMITH, a leading citizen of Canonsburg, where he is engaged in handling his own real estate and that of other parties, bears a name that has been perpetuated in this eity in the title given to several beautiful avenues. These now eover what was once the farm and vineyards of the Smith family, a few years seemingly having changed the whole appearance of this now most desirable part of Canonsburg. Mr. Smith was born on what is now the corner of Greenside avenue and Pike street, Canonsburg, Pa., May 12, 1859. and is a son of Samuel and Mary Smith.

The grandparents of Mr. Smith were Christopher and Sarah (Stewart) Smith, residents of Conger, Washing- ton County, at the time of the birth of Samnel Smith, in 1806. He came to Canonsburg in the early thirties.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

By trade he was a tanner and he purchased a tannery that then stood in the village, on the present site of the Greenside Avenue United Presbyterian Church and con- ducted the same until 1875, when he sold to the church people. He died in the old home in 1903, in his 98th year. He was twice married, first to Mary Smith, who died while the six children were small, and second to Ellen Hanua, in Ohio, who survived him. The ehildren were as follows: Triphena, who is the wife of John Arnold; Annetta, who married Joseph Carter, of Canons- burg: Mary, who married Alvin Forsythe, of Canons- burg; George Van Eman Lawrence, who married Mar- garet G. Smith, and resides on West Pike street, Canons- burg; Sadie Stewart, who married William Cronch and resides in the old homestead; and Samuel Clark, who was the second in order of birth.

Samuel Clark Smith attended the public schools in his youth and worked on the home farm of 40 acres, which is now a part of the borough of Canonsburg. He de- voted much attention to fruit growing, particularly grapes, and Mr. Smith's handsome residence at No. 123 Vine street, stands where once was his father's vine- yard. Two other streets, Smith and Smithfield, were so named from the farm through which they were con- structed and in honor of the family. In 1880 the father of Mr. Smith began to sell off his property as the borough encroached on it and the sons turned to other industries than farming. Samuel C. worked for five years at gas fitting and for two years was connected with the borough electric light plant, after which he successfully condneted a bakery for eight years, finally disposing of it, having been made executor of his father's and also his father-in-law's estate. This led him into his present business and he is handling a large amount of valuable realty in Canonsburg and vicinity.

In the fall of 1878 Mr. Smith was married to Miss Mary Margaret Wilson, who was born May 13, 1859, at Canonsburg, being but one day younger than Mr. Smith. Her father was Matthew Wilson. They have had eight children, four of whom are living: Samuel Wilson, who married Ruth Borden and they reside on Vine street and have two children-Naomi Napier and Allen Borden ; Vern, who is the wife of Arthur Woolcroft, a resident of Canton, Ohio; Walter, who is a clerk in the office of the Fort Pitt Bridge Works and is a graduate of the Canonsburg High School; and Paul, who is also a grad- uate and is employed in the same concern as his brothers. Samuel Wilson Smith, the eldest son, has been identified with the Fort Pitt Bridge Works ever since his grad- uation from the Canonsburg High School, he and his brothers being well qualified and enterprising young business men. The four children now deceased were: Minnie, Ralph, Roy and one dicd unnamed.

In his political views,"Mr. Smith has ever been stanch

in his adherence to the principles of the Republican party. For nine years he has served in the office of assessor for the East Ward of Canonsburg. Both he and Mrs. Smith can remember when the present busy borough, with interests reaching out almost all over the world, contained bnt a few hundred houses. They are members of the Chartiers United Presbyterian Church.

WILLIAM J. WARRICK, florist, with fine green- houses located at No. 498 East Locust avenue, Washing- ton, Pa., is a representative business citizen of the city in which he was born, in 1861. His father is George M. Warrick, a man of high standing, who resides on E. Beau street, Washington.

William J. Warrick grew to manhood in his native place and was educated in her excellent schools. His en- trance into business was in the drug trade in which he continued for a time and then turned his attention to the grocery business in which he continued for 19 years. About 1903 he first became interested, to a limited de- gree, in his present business, but has not devoted his entire attention to it until within the past year, but in this time he has erected greenhouses which give him 30,000 square feet of glass and which are fully equipped with all modern appliances with which to conduct a first- class florist business. Combining a natural taste with business faculty, Mr. Warrick is meeting with success in his undertaking.

In 1882, Mr. Warrick was married to Miss Anna Po- land, a daughter of the late Henry Poland, and they have six children: George H., William J., Jr., Ray W., Earl J., Mildred Poland and Clifford. The two older sons are also in the greenhouse business. Mr. and Mrs. Warrick are members of the First M. E. Church. He takes no very active part in politics, desiring only the election of officers who will maintain good government.

WILLIAM THOMAS RABE, who owns a fine farm of 150 acres, lying just west of Donora in Carroll Town- ship, is the owner of the Donora Dairy, and has been a resident of Donora since 1905. He was born Sept. 16, 1865, on his father's farm in Carroll Township, and is a son of Hiram and Catherine (Frederick) Rabe.

Hiram Rabe was born in Carroll Township on the farm on which his father settled at an early period. He fol- lowed farming during the greater part of his life, but subsequently retired from business and removed to Mo- nongahela City, where he died in June, 1897, past 60 years of age. At the time of his death he was the owner of three tracts of farm land, namely, the old Eliza Grant farm of 125 acres at Eldora, which was laid out in town lots; the old Squire Butler farm of 150 acres, now the property of our subject; and the Rabe homestead of 125 acres in Carroll Township, now owned

RESIDENCE OF W. J. WINTERS, MT. PLEASANT TOWNSHIP

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

by David G. Rabe, his brother. Ihram and Catherine Rabe were the parents of the following children: Elma, married Stephen Tucker, both are now deceased; Vir- ginia, died in youth; Anna, is the wife of William Blackenbuehler, ex-mayer of Monongahela City; William Thomas, our subject; David G. and James A.

William T. Rabe was reared on the farm in Carroll Township, and attended the old Star district school. 1Je early in life began working on his father's farm, of which he became owner at the time of his father's death. lle then engaged in the dairy business, shipping milk to Homestead, Pa., but since the erection of the town of Donora has been running a retail wagon, and is the pioneer dairyman of Donera. He operates the business under the name of the Denora Dairy, sells an average of 100 gallons of milk per day, owns 20 head of cows and has milk shipped in from various surrounding points. Mr. Rabe has a portion of his farm laid out in town lets, which are in the hands of the Monongahela Land Company. About 1905, Mr. Rabe came to Donora, where he erected a fine 12-room residence, which is located on the corner of Eighth and Thompson streets.

In November, 1898, Mr. Rabe was united in marriage with Louisa (Elliott) Nutt, a daughter of William Elliott, of Fayette County, Pa., and the widow of J. E. Nutt, by whom she is the mother of three children: Sarah, who is the wife of John S. Culbert; Ruth, whe married Vernon Pollett; and Randolph. Mr. and Mrs. Rabe have one son, William Lewis. In politics Mr. Rabe is identified with the Republican party, has served two years as road supervisor of Carroll Township, and in February, 1909, was elected a member of the Donera Couneil. He holds membership with the Royal Arcanum Lodge, the Modern Woodmen and the Jr. O. U. A. M., all of Monongahela City, and the F. O. E. of Denera ..

W. J. WINTERS, who conducts a hardware store and a blacksmith and carriage repair shop at Bulger, is one of the representative business men of this prosperous little town. He was born May 14, 1859, in Mt. Pleasant Township, Washington County, Pa., and is a son of W. G. and Mary (Bartholomew) Winters.

W. J. Winters spent his school days at McDonald and in Mt. Pleasant Township and afterward engaged in farming for four years. Having natural mechanical skill, he decided to take advantage of it and then went to Jefferson County, Ohio, where he learned the black- smith trade, at which he worked in Mt. Pleasant Town- ship, Cross Creek Township, at Oakmont and Hickory and then came to Bulger, where he has been established in his present quarters for the past fifteen years. In addition to the satisfactory business he does at this place, Mr. Winters has other interests and is a stock- holder in a gold mine in New Mexico and is also interest-

ed in the development of 255,000 acres of land in the same country, where a company with large capital and bright prospects are raising hemp and rubber plants. Mr. Winters is identified with the National Horseshoers Association and is the local treasurer. In his political sentiments he is a Republican and at present is serving as a school director of Smith Township.

In October, 1880, Mr. Winters was married to Miss Anna M. Wilson, a daughter of James Wilson, and they have two children : Cora May and Harry E. The family belongs to the United Presbyterian Church of Midway.

P. G. KENNEDY, city tax collector of Washington, Pa., and identified with large real estate interests here, has been a vigorous and useful citizen of the city in which he was born, June 22, 1850. He is a son of Peter Kennedy, who came to Washington County about 1820. During the Civil War he entered the service together with three of his sons, one of whom, James Kennedy, was the first man to enlist in 1861 from Washington County. Peter Kennedy served in Co. K, Pa. Res., of which he was first orderly sergeant; one son was a mein- ber of the 98th Ohio; another of Co. A, 100th Pa., and the third, of the 154th Pa. Vol. Inf.

P. G. Kennedy was reared at Washington and ob- tained his education in the city schools. He learned the carriage-trimming trade with S. B. & C. Hayes, serving a full apprenticeship, and for 25 years after- ward was connected with the firm of Hayes & Wilson, on Franklin street. For three or four years he acted as solicitor for C. V. Harding in a real estate and in- surance business. Mr. Kennedy was one of the organ- izers of North Washington, now the Sixth Ward, and was president of that borough for four years before it was taken into the city preper. He has served also about five years as a member of the city Council, re- signing his seat when he was elected tax collector on Feb. 16, 1909, for a term of three years. He is in- terested in the North Washington Land Company and in several other business enterprises.

On Nov. 21, 1877, Mr. Kennedy was married to Miss Elizabeth Wilkinson, whe was bern at Uniontown, Pa., and they have had four children, namely: William U., James B., Sarah R. and Harriet W. Both sons were members of Co. H, 10th Reg. Pa. Vol. Inf., in the Spanish- American War and they saw service in the Philippines. The older daughter died when 12 years of age. The younger is the wife of C. W. Simpson, of Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy are members of the M. P. Church at Washington, of which he has been a trustee. ITis only fraternal connection is with the Royal Areanuni.

JAMES HI. SUPLER, one of Claysville's substantial retired farmers, who has been a resident of the borough

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

since April, 1908, still retains his valuable farm of 120 acres, which is situated in Donegal Township. Mr. Supler was born near Beallsville, in Washington County, Pa., Mar. 18, 1850, and is a son of Thomas and Mar- garet (Hill) Supler.

The Supler family is one of the oldest in Washington County and its founders were John Supler and his wife, Rachel (Kirk) Supler. The former was born Nov. 30, 1757, and the latter Aug. 13, 1767. They came to Don- egal Township when the land was a wilderness and the pioneers had to build a block house to ensure them from the savage attacks of the Indians. John Supler the second was the grandfather of James H. Supler and the father of the late Thomas Supler. The latter was born in Washington County, Pa., and died Feb. 15, 1886. Like his father and grandfather, he was a farmer and raiser of cattle and sheep. The first John Supler served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Thomas Supler married Margaret Hill, who was also born in Washing- ton County. Of their six children, but one survives.

James H. Supler grew to manhood in Donegal Town- ship and attended school there and at West Alexander, after which he engaged continuously in farming and stock raising until he retired to Claysville.

On Dec. 29, 1875, Mr. Supler was married to Miss Elizabeth Bryans, who was born in Ontario, Can., near Port Stanley. Her parents were William and Margaret (Bamford) Bryans, who were born in Ireland and were married at Toronto, Can. Mrs. Supler was 9 years old when she moved with her parents from Canada and they settled first at Wheeling, W. Va., and later moved to Moundsville, where she was educated. Her grandfather on the paternal side was also Irish, but on the maternal side was of an old Scotch family named Howe. To Mr. and Mrs. Supler four children were born, namely: Harry William, who is associated with his youngest brother, in the mercantile business at Claysville, married Grace Danley, a daughter of H. P. Danley, of this place, and they have one daughter, Evelyn G .; Bessie M., who is the wife of Frank Lindsay, of Claysville; Minnie M., who resides at home; and James Walter, who is the junior member of the mercantile firm of Supler Brothers, at Claysville. James H. Supler is nominally a Republican but he is a thinking, reading man and occasionally exer- cises his own judgment when casting his ballot. Mrs. Supler is a member of the Presbyterian Church at West Alexander and belongs also to that roble organization, the W. C. T. U., at Claysyule

WILLIAM E. DAVIS, of the firm of Davis & Haw- kins, extensive operators in the oil and gas fields of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, who also deal largely in buying and selling coal lands, is one of the leading citizens and substantial. business men of Wash-

ington, Pa. He was born in 1866 in Washington County, and is a son of John K. Davis and comes of one of the oldest established families in Washington County, which was founded by William Davis, a native of Scotland, who was the great-great-grandfather of our subject. Joshua Davis, great-grandfather of our subject, was born in West Bethlehem Township Oct. 6, 1787, and obtained his education in the subscription schools of the neigh- borhood. He followed farming for many years in West Bethlehem Township and died in Buffalo Township Oct. 10, 1864. William Davis, grandfather of our subject, was born in South Strabane Township Oct. 6, 1810, and there attended the subscription schools of the neighbor- hood. Early in life he began working on his father's farm in North Strabane Township, where he continued until 1847, when he purchased a farm in South Strabane Township, where he gave his attention to farming and sheep raising, his flock often numbering 1,000 head, and acquired a large tract of land, having at one time 500 aeres. He took an active interest in all local politics and held various township offices, having been for nine years a member of the County Poor Board, and was for several years a director of the First National Bank of Washington . He was for many years a member and an elder of the Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church and later an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Wash- ington. John K. Davis, father of subject, was born in Washington County, in 1840, and spent his entire life engaged in farming and stock raising, passing away in 1897.

William E. Davis was reared in Washington County and obtained a common school education which was supplemented by a three-years' course at the Washing- ton-Jetterson College, a member of the Class of 1887, since which time he has been operating in the oil and gas fields of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, the company at present operating in Belmont and Colum- biana Counties, Ohio, also dealing largely in buying and selling coal lands.

In October, 1906, Mr. Davis married Cora Busbey, of Wheeling, W. Va., and they have one child, Virginia Bell. Mr. Davis is a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

HERMAN H. BEBOUT, a leading citizen of Canons- burg, chairman of the city Board of Health, for 35 years was a large farmer and stock raiser in North Strabane Township and still owns some 200 acres of valuable land there, which is richly underveined with coal. He was born in North Strabane Township, Washington County, Pa., Aug. 31, 1847, and is a son of Peter and Isabella (Cooper) Bebout.

Peter Bebout, father of Herman H., was born on Staten Island, N. Y., Feb. 28, 1782, and died in North

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Strabane Township Apr. 12, 1860. He was 21 years old when he accompanied his father, John Bebout, te Wash- ington County, the long journey being made with a four- horse and a two-horse wagon, as many of the househeld possessions as possible being brought to the pioneer home. The children of Grandfather John Bebout bore the fel- lowing names: William, Sarah, Isabel, Susanna, John, Mary, Israel, Elizabeth and Ira.

Peter Bebout was married (first) te a Miss MeKinney and to this marriage the following children were born : John, born in 1806; William, born Dee. 17, 1807; Peter, bern Dec. 5, 1809; James, born Mar. 3, 1813; Israel, bern July 22, 1815; Sallie, born Sept. 6, 1819, married John Martin and they livo in Ohio; Eli, born July 3, 1821; and Elizabeth, bern Aug. 27, 1823, married Samuel Thomas, who still lives, aged about 90 years. The first wife died in 1822. On Nov. 9, 1823, Peter Bebout was married (second) to Isabella Cooper, whe was born on Yellow Creek, in Jefferson County, Ohio, Aug. 12, 1805, and died Mar. 6, 1889. To this marriage the following children were born: Mary Jane, born Aug. 27, 1825, married William Hays, of Chartiers Township, and both are new deceased; Susan, born Nov. 26, 1826, married William Bebeut and died in July, 1909, in her 84th year; Ira, born Sept. 5, 1828, died in Monongahela City Nov. 24, 1904, married (first) Mrs. Jane Hamilton, and (second) Miss Annie Rainey, the latter of whom sur- vives; Margaret, born Aug. 31, 1830, married Cephas Cochran and died in North Strabane Township Feb. 10, 1858; David, born Sept. 3, 1832, married Dorothy Me- Maury, whom he survives and resides at Canonsburg; Isabella, born Apr. 6, 1834. married John Crouch and died in 1894; Joshua, born July 5, 1836, married and died at St. Louis, Mo .; Stephen, born Oct. 21, 1838, married (first) Miss Cassandra Pool and (second) Mrs. Nancy MeCathon ; Martha Jane, born Jan. 18, 1841, died Feb. 25, 1842; Caroline F., born Jan. 29, 1844, married Joseph Manes, of North Strabane Township, and died Mar. 9, 1896; and Herman Haines, of Canonsburg. Mr. Bebout has preserved the old family records and can trace back to the birth of his grandfather, on Jan. 20, 1752, and to that of his great-grandfather, alse John Bebeut, who was born in Holland Aug. 25, 1729, and was brought to America in his infancy.

Herman Haines Bebout was brought up on a farm and went to school in North Strabane Township, attending what was known as the Scott school. He assisted on the farm and until he came to Canonsburg in 1890, was con- tinuously engaged in farming and stock raising, with the exception of one year of the Civil War, when he worked on the gunboat "Unqua," and was one of the leading agriculturists of his section. He is largely a self- made man, starting out on his own resources. Through business foresight and good judgment he has acquired

an ample fortune, making a large amount of this in deal- ing in live stock . He owns what is known as the Bell farm and also owns the Lyons farm, while Mrs. Bebout owns an interest in the old Dr. John McMillan farm. Mlr. Bebout also owns the coal under his land and on the upper farm, the Lyons place, the coal has never been worked, it being one of the five farms remaining in North Strabane Township that has its coal unsold.

On Nov. 4, 1869, Mr. Bebout was married to Miss Mary J. MeMillan, a daughter of John MeMillan and a great-granddaughter of Rev. John MeMillan, the noted Presbyterian divino of Washington County. The father of Mrs. Bebout died in North Strabane Township. A brother, John Anderson McMillan, was killed in the army during the Civil War. Another brother, Thomas McMillan, is a resident of Bower Hill, Washington Coun- ty, and a sister, Rebecca, is the wife of James Speer, a prominent resident of South Canonsburg.

In 1890, Mr. and Mrs. Bebout came to Canonsburg te make their home in this city, erecting a house on West Pike street. Mr. Bebout subsequently sold that house and in 1894 erected his present solid brick ten-room handsome modern residence at No. 232 West Pike street, which is a beautiful home. For many years they were connected with the old Hill Presbyterian Church known as the Dr. John MeMillan Church, but they have trans- ferred their membership to the First Presbyterian Church at Canonsburg. In polities, Mr. Bebout is a Prohibition- ist. He has given evidence many times of useful civic qualities and is serving in his second term as a member of the Board of Health and also has been a valued mem- ber of the city Council.

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Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 44

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