Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 46

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 46

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In August, 1887, Dr. Bowes was married to Miss Flor- ence Louise MeCabe, a daughter of William Henry and Mary (Sheridan) MeCabe, of New York City, where Nirs. Bowes was educated.

STEPHEN B. DAY, a Civil War veteran and retired farmer of Washington, was horn January 19, 1842, in Morris Township, Washington Co., Pa., and is a son of Daniel and Lavina (Clutter) Day.

Daniel Day, who was born in Morris Township in 1814, was a son of Luther Day, a native of New Jersey and one of the pioneer settlers of Morris Township, Wash- ington County. Daniel Day always followed farming and stock raising in Morris Township, where he died in 1900, and was a man of public spirit and enterprise, al- ways taking an active interest in affairs which tended

toward the advancement of the community in which he lived. He was first united in marriage with Lavina Clutter, also a native of Morris Township, and they be- came the parents of two sons and four daughters, the latter of whom are all deceased. The two sons are: W. J. Day, who lives with our subject, and Stephen B., the subject of this sketch. Mr. Day formed a second union with Catherine Gantz, and they have two children living: Samuel L., who lives on the old Day farm in Morris Township; and Margaret, who is the widow of William Clutter, resides in Oklahoma.

Stephen B. Day grew to maturity in Morris Township, where he attended the common schools, and at the age of twenty years enlisted in Co. B, 22nd Pa. Cav., better known as the Ringgold Battalion, consisting of seven companies from Washington County. He served three years and two months in the Army of West Virginia, as a private, and although he once had a horse shot from under him, was never wounded, and after heing mustered out, returned home and taught school for several winters, and farmed during the summer months. Mr. Day has always followed farming and stock raising, making a specialty of sheep, often having a flock of 400 sheep. His farm, consisting of 236 acres, is located in Amwell Township, and although for the past seven years he has been a resident of Washington, where he owns a fine residence at No. 504 Jefferson avenue, he still continues looking after his farming interests.

Mr. Day was married in 1868 to Rebecca J. Closser, who was born and reared in Amwell Township and is a daughter of Daniel Closser, of Amwell Township .. Mr. and Mrs. Day have five children living: Ransom M., who resides on Donnan avenue, Washington; Margaret, who married Albert S. Crothers, of Taylorstown, died aged twenty-five years; Mary Lavina, who married James Dever, of Washington; Daniel C., who operates a farm in Canton Township; Herschel M., who is a civil en- gineer ; and Florence, at home. Mr. Day has always been actively interested in local politics, having served two terms as township auditor, judge of election, and as a director of the school board. He is a member of the State Grange, of which he is deputy for Washington County, and of Templeton Post, G. A. R. The family is identified with the Christian Church.

JOHN M. ALLISON, who is engaged in dealing in livestock, at Canonsburg, Pa., is one of the representa- tive business men of this section and has resided all his life in Washington County. He was born in Canton Township, June 18, 1862, and is a son of John Grimes and Mary (Rodgers) Allison.

The paternal grandparents of Mr. Allison, John and Annie Allison, were natives of Ohio, but they came to Pennsylvania and both died in Washington County. They

S. CAMERON BOWES, M.D.

JERARY

, . AND DE FOUNDATIONS.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

had three children: John Grimes; Thomas P., who died in Canton Township; and Elizabeth, who married Sam- uel Taggert.

John Grimes Allison was born in Harrison County, Ohio, and accompanied his parents to Washington County in boyhood. The family settled on the farm in Canton Township on which James C. Allison now resides. John G. Allison owned a farm of 120 acres and he carried on farming and also was a stoek dealer. His death was occasioned by an affection of the heart, September 2, 1898, when sixty-eight years of age. He married Mary Rodgers, who was also sixty-eight years of age at the time of her death, January 26, 1901. Both were laid to rest in the cemetery at Washington. They had five children, namely: James C., who lives on the old Allison farm which has been in the family for more than 100 years, married Mattie Lattimore, and they have one child, Mary; Annie, who married George Amos, and they live in Canton Township; John M., of Canonsburg; Margaret, who died November 26, 1882, aged eighteen years; and Etta, who resides at Washington, Pa.

John M. Allison received his education in the Cook district school in Canton Township, and when eighteen years old went to work on the farm and continued there until he came to Canonsburg. For two years afterward he was engaged in the transfer business, but for three years past he has been associated with Oliver Paxton in the livestock industry and the firm has prospered. In State and National politics, Mr. Allison is a Repub- Jican, but is liberal in his views in local affairs. He has been a member of the council of South Canonsburg for some time and takes a lively interest in all that concerns the publie welfare of his fellow citizens and the good name of his city.

On January 5, 1893, Mr. Allison was married to Miss Etta Magill, a daughter of William T. and Mary Mar- garet (Marquis) Magill, of Hopewell Township. The father of Mrs. Allison now resides in Cross Creek Town- ship, aged sixty-nine years, but the mother died April 18, 1885, in her thirty ninth year. The children of Will- iam T. Magill and wife were: Chauncey Byron, who married Ella Dodds, is a Presbyterian minister residing at Troy, N. Y .; Mrs. Allison; Sarah Blanche, who mar- ried Rev. Donald Rankin Montgomery, of Cle Elnm, Wash .; Elder G., who married C. M. Hunter, of Monon- gahela City; Mary E .; Frank, who is a dentist in prae- tice at Washington; Bertha E., who married Louis A. Maxwell, of Buffalo village; and Harry M., who died on November 5, 1908, at the age of twenty-six years. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Allison were Samuel and Sarah Magill and they were early settlers in Cross Creek Township. The maternal grandparents were Will- iam and Letitia Marquis. Mr. and Mrs. Allison are mem- bers of the First Presbyterian Church at Canonsburg.

W. A. BAIRD, secretary of the Washington Trust Company, of Washington, l'a., and one of the city's en- terprising business men, was born at Washington, in 1868, and is a son of John Baird.

The Baird family is one of old established importance in Washington County. The late John Baird was born hero and was a citizen of large means and public use- fulness. He was identified with various business in- terests and was a large dealer in wool.

W. A. Baird was reared at Washington, and from the public schools entered Washington aud Jefferson College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1889. On the organization of the Dime Savings Company, he ac- cepted the position of assistant treasurer and when it was turned over, five years later, to the Title, Guarantee and Trust Company, he continued in the same capacity for four years. This financial institution was then merged into the Washington Trust Company, and since that time, Mr. Baird has been trust officer, secretary and assistant treasurer of this corporation. He is widely known in financial circles and is an astute man of business.

In 1898, Mr. Baird was married to Miss Sue B. Harvey, of Washington, and they have two children, George and Esther. Mr. Baird takes no very active part in politics, but uses his influence in support of good government. .

JAMES D. HUSTON, a prominent business citzen of Lone Pine, Pa., who has been engaged in mercantile pur- suits at this place and in other business enterprises, since 1869, and has also served some years as postmaster, was born at Washington, Pa., August 4, 1835, and is a son of Cyrus and Nancy B. (Ditto) Huston.

Cyrus Huston, father of James was born in Washing- ton, Washington County, and during his early married life resided at Washington and then moved to Pittsburg and there engaged in the brokerage business for a time, but subsequently returned to Washington, where he died in the '60's. The family was one well known there and the old Huston Inn was a landmark, the owner and pro- prietor being the grandfather, William B. Huston. Cyrus Iluston married Naney B. Ditto, who was born in Mary- land and died while back on a visit to her native State.

James D. Huston attended school at different points, at one time being a student of au academy in Knox County, Ohio, after which he accepted a position as clerk in a store at Washington and later worked in the same capacity in Pittsburg. In Isss he embarked in the mer- cantile business for himself, locating at Amity, Pa., where he conducted a general store until 1869. At that time he removed to Lone Pine, which name was accepted for the village which had been formerly called Pleasant Valley. The place was not unfamiliar to the general pub- lic as it was the site of the Pleasant Valley Academy. a somewhat pretentious educational establishment of that

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

time. In 1870, Mr. Huston became postmaster and con- tinued in office for some years, having previously been postmaster for a time at Amity, and he filled that office until President Cleveland's first administration. Mr. Huston is one of the older business men at Lone Pine, and he has been identified with much of the material progress made at the place. He has not sought political offices, but he has taken an active interest in the real development of the town and in his public efforts has endeavored to secure rules and ordinances which will en- sure it continuing the pleasant law-abiding section that it is. He casts his vote with the Republican party.

Mr. Huston, in April, 1860, married Miss Rosetta Hughes, a daughter of the late James Hughes, of Amity, Pa., and three of their five children survive, namely: Daisy, now Mrs. Huber and residing at Los Angeles, Calif .; Jessie B., wife of E. V. Kerr, residing at Wash- ington; and Harry H., a resident of Lone Pine, Pa. Mr. Huston is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is identified with the Odd Fellows, belonging to the lodge at Lone Pine.

JOHN V. H. COOK, a leading citizen of Canonsburg, where he is identified with numerous important interests, was born on his father's farm situated on the Washing- ton and Pittsburg turnpike road, in Chartiers Township, Washington County, Pa., May 25, 1837. His parents were Samuel R. and Mary (Hughey) Cook.

The Cooks came to Pennsylvania from New England, where the family was founded by English settlers prior to the Revolutionary War, in which they participated. The paternal grandfather, John M. Cook, was a soldier in the War of 1812.

Samuel R. Cook was born in 1804, in Amwell Town- ship, near Ten-Mile village, Washington County, Pa., and in the following year was taken to Knox County, Ohio, by his parents. There his father took up government land and lived during the remainder of his life. Of his children, Samuel R. was the oldest, the others hearing the following names: Matilda, Amy, Abigail, Mercer, Alpheus, Isaac Newton and Joseph A., all born in Ohio and all now deceased. In 1824, Samuel R. Cook came to Canonsburg as a student in Jefferson College and there- after made his home in Washington County. He taught school for several years and then went into the coal busi- ness, in which he continued to he more or less interested during the whole of his active life. He died in 1887, at the age of eighty-three years. He married Mary Hughey, who died in 1845. There were three sons and four daugh- ters born to them: Nancy, who is now deceased, was the wife of James L. McClelland, of Canonsburg; Ann, who married Alexander Small, deceased, did not long survive her husband; John V. H .; Sarah, who is the wife of John Donaldson, of Canonsburg; Elizabeth, who is

the widow of Henry Sheaff, lives at Canonsburg; Samuel R., who was a member of Co. D, 10th Pa. Res., in the Civil War, was killed by guerillas at Manassas Junction; and Joseph A., who lives in Westmoreland County, Pa.

By the time John V. H. Cook was thirteen years of age, he was considered old enough to begin working in the coal mines and his school days then closed. He con- tinued work in the mines in Washington County all through his youth with the exception of one year, 1875-6, that he spent on a farm situated between Richmond and Danville, Va. When the call sounded over the country for soldiers to come to the front to suppress rebellion, Mr. Cook was one of the earliest to respond, enlisting on April 27, 1861, in Co. D, 10th Pa. Res., and he hon- orably wore the Federal blue through over three years of faithful service. He participated in many frightful bat- tles, including Fredericksburg, Richmond, Antietam and Gettysburg and was in the battle at Drainesville, in the winter of 1861, where the Union forces gained their first encouragement. He carried out of the army the mark of but one slight wound although on several occasions he came so near to death, that his clothing, even his stockings, were pierced with bullets. He was honorably discharged and mustered out in June, 1864. Mr. Cook is a valued comrade of Paxton Post, G. A. R., at Canons- burg.

After his military duties were thus honorably and pa- triotically performed, Mr. Cook returned to Canonsburg and engaged in the coal business and in mining until 1902, retiring from that industry then and taking up real estate interests. He has various valuable invest- ments, being a director in the Citizens' Trust Company at Canonsburg; is interested in the North Strabane Water Works Company, of Canonsburg, and also with the Cecil Improvement Company of this place, in which he is a director, and he was one of the organizers of the Tin Plate Mill at Canonsburg. A frugal, abstemions and in- dustrious life, has brought its natural results.

Mr. Cook was married (first) to Miss Sarah J. Cole- man, a daughter of Jacob Coleman, who moved from Washington County to Carroll County, Ohio. She died in March 1905. To this union were born five sons and four daughters. Rowley M. married Miss Clara McNary, a resident of Washington and they have one son, George. Samuel C. married Miss Emma Brown. They reside in Washington and have three children: Paul P., Adaline and Olga Jean. John married Nina Sefton in the West and now resides at Meadowlands. George H. was acci- dentally killed on the railroad. Willis died in infancy. Elizabeth resides at home. Mary married John Cornell and they live in Ohio and have one son. Riley Cook. Catherine, unmarried, is a practicing physician at Can- onsburg. Anna married J. Stanley McMichael, an en- gineer, and their home at present is in Idaho. They have

JOHN V. II. COOK

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

two children: Coleman and Francis. In 1907, Mr. Cook was married (second) to Miss Elizabeth Weaver, a native of Canonsburg and a daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth Weaver. The family home is a handsome residence that Mr. Cook built on West College street.

In politics, Mr. Cook is identified with the Republican party, but he is liberal in his views. He is a leading member of the Methedist Episoepal Church, having united with this body fully fifty-two years ago, and he is serv- ing as a trustee and steward. He numbers almost all the good people of Canonsburg as his acquaintances and among these he finds a wide circle of friends, many of whom have known him from boyhood.

WILLIAM DONLEY, manager of the Donley Briek Company, an important business concern of Washington, Pa., has been identified with the brick business through his whole business career. Aside from business, Mr. Don- ley is also a representative citizen of Washington County. He was born at Washington, August 23, 1869, and is a son of S. B. Donley.

William Donley was reared and educated at Wash- ington. Immediately upon leaving school he engaged in brick manufacturing and has become so well known in this line of work that he has won the reputation of an expert and has visited many sections of the United States in order to test clays and soils and give advice on brick manufacturing. For two years he was the man- ager of the Washington Briek Company and for eight years has been manager of the Donley Briek Company. In matters of a publie nature, Mr. Donley has been more or less prominent in the city of Washington for a num- ber of years. He is a Democratie leader and in 1908 was his party's choice of candidate for mayor, of East Wash- ington.

In 1889, Mr. Donley was married to Miss Elizabeth Archibald, who was born in Mercer County, Pa., and is a daughter of the late J. W. Archibald. Mr. and Mrs. Donley have three children: John R., who is a graduate of the Washington high school; and Claud W. and Juan- ita. With his family he belongs to Trinity Episcopal Church, for five years has been a member of the board of vestrymen, and for two years junior warden. He is identified with the Masons and is a past officer of the order of Heptasophs.

ABEL W. SHIPE, whose fine farm of 108 acres lies in a desirable section of Amwell Township, Washington Co., Pa., is one of the well known residents of this neigh- borhood, his birth having taken place in Amwell Town- ship, September 26, 1839, and his interests having al- ways been rested here. His parents were George W. and Elizabeth (Moninger) Shipe.

George W. Shipe was born in Washington County,

Pa., a son of John Shipe, who came as an early settler to Amwell Township from the vicinity of Philadelphia. Subsequently he went as a soldier in the War of 1812 and was killed there when his son George was young. The latter spent his life in Washington County and be- came a man of standing in Amwell Township, at times serving in school offices and taking part in township dis- cussions and business of a publie nature. In polities he was a Whig. He married Elizabeth Moninger, who was boru in Coshocton County, Ohio. They were both worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of their children the following survive: Abel W .; George W., who lives in South Strabane Township; Emma D., who is the widow of Jacob Beck and resides at Wash- ington; Elizabeth, who married George Guthery, lives in South Strabane Township; Belle, who married Robert Darlington, lives at Washington; and Elzena, who mar- ried Frederick Kenemond, of West Virginia.

Abel W. Shipe had but few educational opportunities in his youth and in large measure is a self-educated man. He was early started to work on his father's farm and when eighteen years of age was capable of judging and buying stock as advantageously as old men in the busi- ness, and for many years he devoted a large portion of his effort to dealing in livestock. For some years, however, he has engaged exclusively in farming.

On March 6, 1862, Mr. Shape was married to Miss Sarah J. Watson, a daughter of the late William Watson, of Amwell Township, and to them seven children have heen born, as follows: Orlando G., who lives in South Strabane Township; William F., who lives at New Castle, Pa .; Sheldon G .; Wiley; Etta B., who is the wife of John McCarty, of Washington County; Alice, who is the wife of Wilbert Donley, of Hopewell Township; and Lulu, who is the wife of Daniel Day, of Washington County. Mr. and Mrs. Shipe are consistent and active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Shipe has been a trustee for twenty years. He has never been much concerned about political matters and has never accepted any office but that of school director, in which he served acceptably for two terms.

MOSES RIDDELL ALLEN, one of Washington's es- teemed citizens, now living retired in his pleasant home at No. 129 North avenue, has spent a half century in Washington County. He was born near New Athens, Harrison Co., Ohio, July 19, 1842, and removed with his father to Burgettstown, Washintgon County, in 1849. He is a son of John MeMillan Allen and a grandson . of Rev. Moses Allen.

The Allens were established in Washington County when the grandfather. Rev. Moses Allen, was born. He became a man of power in the Presbyterian ministry, and for twenty-two years served as pastor of the Rae-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

coou Presbyterian Church of Washington County. He married Catherine McMillan, the youngest daughter of Rev. John MeMillan, D. D., who was the first settled Presbyterian minister west of the Alleghany Mountains, coming to Washington County on August 25, 1775. His grandson, Moses Riddell Allen, preserves many of his old manuscripts, also his old watch, and an oil portrait. John McMillan Allen, son of Rev. Moses and Catherine Allen, married Margaret Ann Riddell, a daughter of Rev. John Riddell, who was pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Robinson Run, Allegheny County, for many years. To this marriage one child was born, Moses Riddell.

Moses Riddell Allen was educated in the public schools of harrison County, Ohio, Franklin College and Cross Creek Academy, after which he engaged in teaching and farming. In 1881 he founded the "Burgettstown Call." at Burgettstown, Washington County, where he was sub- sequently elected burgess. He was elected clerk of the courts of Washington County in 1887 and re-elected in 1890, served also as census enumerator in 1880, and as a member of the school board, and also was a justice of the peace for a number of years. Mr. Allen still holds official position, being transcribing clerk of the Pennsyl- vania State Legislature of 1909.

In 1864, Mr. Allen was married to Miss Ellen M. Dougherty, of Burgettstown, a daughter of John and Abigail (Cannon) Dougherty, the latter of whom was a great-granddaughter of John Cannon, the founder of Canonsburg, Washington County. Mr. and Mrs. Allen, have had six children. The only survivor is Harper Rid- dell Allen, who is a ledger clerk in the Southwest Pipe Line Company of Pittsburg. Mr. Allen and wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church, in which he is a deacon. He has been an active member of the Im- proved Order of Heptasophs.

CHARLES VAN KIRK, one of Amwell Township's most substantial citizens, a large farmer and successful stock raiser, resides on his valuable farm of 250 acres, where he was born October 22, 1833. His honored parents were Capt. Joseph and Eliza (Corwin) Van Kirk.

Capt. Joseph Van Kirk, familiarly known as "Captain Joe,"' acquired his title on account of commanding a militia company in early manhood. He was a life-long resident of Amwell Township and was a prominent man in Washington County for many years, serving as a county commissioner and also as a director of the poor. His father, Jacob Van Kirk, was born in New Jersey, of Holland ancestry, and came from there among the early settlers to Washington County. Capt. Van Kirk was a strong supporter of the old Democracy and reared his sons in the same political faith. He survived until August 25, 1878. He married Eliza Corwin and three of their children survive: Charles; Ann, wife of John

Van Kirk, of Silver City, Iowa; and Sarah, widow of Joseph Van Kirk, of South Franklin Township.

Charles Van Kirk attended the district schools near his father's farm when opportunity offered, in his boy- hood, but in his youth work was considered beneficial for growing lads and he early began to learn the details of agricultural labor. He has survived healthfully many of those who early left the free out-door life of the farm for the close offices of the city and his material success has been more than satisfactory. He owns farms and stock and bas other valuable investments.

On October 23, 1873, Mr. Van Kirk was married to Miss Mary J. Mckinney, who was born in Amwell Town- ship, and is a daughter of Winder and Mary M. (Couch) MeKinney, the parents both being natives of Washing- ton County. The grandfather, John MeKinney was an early settler, coming from New Jersey and being of Scotch-Irish extraction. Mrs. Van Kirk has two sur- viving brothers and one sister: Benjamin F .; Catherine, who is the widow of Samuel Quail; and Abraham, all of whom live at Washington, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Van Kirk have one son, Allison, O., who resides at home. MITS. Van Kirk is a valued member of the Liberty Methodist Episcopal Church at Van Kirk Station and is an active member of the Home Missionary Society.

R. W. PARKINSON, JR., one of the leading younger members of the Washington County bar and a resident of Washington for the past fourteen years, was born in 1872, in Morris Township, Washington Co., Pa., and is a son of Capt. R. W. Parkinson.

Capt. Parkinson was born in Morris Township, on the same farm on which he now resides, in 1835, and is a son of Robert Parkinson, who was one of the early set- tlers. Capt. Parkinson is a large farmer and sheep raiser and a heavy dealer in wool. He served one term in the State Legislature and has acceptably filled a number of township offices. He was captain of Co. K, 16th Pa. Cav., during the Civil War, is widely known, and is one of the county's representative citizens.

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Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 46

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