USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II > Part 47
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Robert Parkinson, Jr., was reared in Morris Township and attended the Sparta school until 1889, when he en- tered Waynesburg College, from which he was graduated in 1894. He then registered as a law student in the office of John W. Dorman at Washington, where he pursued his law studies for one year and then entered the law department of the University of Pennsylvania, at Phila- delphia, as a special student. He gave attention to com- mon law, pleading, evidence, torts and corporatiou law for one year and then returned to Mr. Dorman for an- other year, was admitted to the bar of Washington County. and on September I, 1895, commenced to prac- tice. He now has a substantial clientage and has been successful in cases before both the Superior and Supreme
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Courts. He has valuable business interests aside from his profession, one of these being the coal industry.
On May 30, 1900, Mr. Parkinson was married to Miss Birdie Flack, of Washington, who was born and reared in Buffalo Township and is a daughter of Salem Flack. Mr. and Mrs. Parkinson have two children: Naomi Jean and Odell Flack. They are members of the First Pres. byterian Church, in which Mrs. Parkinson was soprano soloist for a number of years. Mr. Parkinson is very much interested in Sunday school work, is a teacher in the Bellevue Sunday school and formerly was superin tendent of the Elm Street and also the Bellevue schools. Both professionally and personally, Mr. Parknison is hell in esteem.
SAMUEL L. HAZLETT, who, for over twenty con- secutive years was a member of the Independent School district in South Franklin Township, and during this timme frequently president of this public body, belongs to an old Washington County family. He was born in South Franklin Township, Washington Co., Pa., April 21. 1>63, and is a son of William and Margaret (Dicker- son) Hazlett.
The grandfather, Samuel Hazlett, was a very early settler in South Franklin Township and here William Hazlett was born and here he died, in 1900. He was a successful farmer and stock raiser and was a man of worth in every position in life. In his political senti- ments he was a Republican but he never sought political prominence, accepting only local offices which had refer- ence to the management of the school district in which he lived. He was a worthy member of the Presbyterian Chuch at Prosperity. Of the children born to his first marriage, the following survive: Jennie R., who is the wife of L. C. Hamilton, of Barberton, Ohio; Addison, who lives in Amwell Township; Caroline M., who is the wife of W. S. MeClenathan, of Amwell Township; Will- iam, who resides in South Franklin Township; and Sam- nel L., of Amwell Township.
Samuel L. Hazlett obtained his education in the public schools and during almost all his life has been engaged in farming and stock raising, making a specialty of sheep, at one time having as many as 400 in one floek. He remained on the old homestead farm for many years and for some years past it has been his own property. It is a valuable traet of 145 acres and it lies in a very desirable part of South Franklin Township. Mr. Hazlett continned to reside on his property until 1908, when he removed to Judge Chambers' Station, in Amwell Town- ship, on the W. & W. Railroad. This station which gives its name to the hamlet, was built on a part of the late Judge Chambers' land and it was named in his honor, he having been a very prominent citizen and an associate judge.
On October 21, 1896, Mr. Ilazlett was married to Miss Margaret Chambers, a daughter of tho late John Cham- hors, of Amwell Township and a granddaughter of the late Judge John C. Chambers, and to them have been born one daughter, Bessie M. Mr. Hazlett and family belong to the Presbyterian Church. He is a Republican.
1. F. BRISTOR, who is engaged in a real estate busi- ness at Washington, Pa., has been a resident of this city for the past twenty-one years and has been identified with many of the agencies that have contributed to her development. He was born in Richhill Township, Greene County, Pa., in 1856.
Mr. Bristor enjoyed excellent educational advantages in his youth and attended the high school at Cameron, W. Va., and later the Wind Ridge Academy. He then became interested in farming and continued his agri- cultural pursuits in Greene County until 1886, when he became a resident of Washington. For some seven years he engaged in teaching prior to embarking in his present real estate business, with which he combines fire insur. ance, and has established a reputation for reliability that places him with the leading business men of the city. In politics a Republican, he has frequently been elected to city offices on that ticket and served most efficiently as county auditor for three years and as a member of the school board for two years, being secre- tary of the latter body.
On February 18, 1877, Mr. Bristor was married to Miss Virginia Houston, and they have five children, namely: Emmett A., who is circulating manager of the "Observer" and "Reporter," morning and evening daily papers at Washington; Olive M., who is the wife of Otto F. Dague, who has a home on Allison avenue, Washington, and is connected with the auditor 's office of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Pittsburg; Nannie E., for- merly a teacher in the new Seventh Ward school, is now the wife of Byron Post, who maintains a home on Allison avenue, Washington, and is assistant purchasing agent for the Pittsburg Gage and Supply Co .; Nellie Virginia, who is a member of the junior class in the Washington high school; and Ethel Grace, who has completed the eighth grade work in the Third Ward school. Mr. Bristor and all his family are members of the First Christian Church, in which he is a deacon and is also vice-president of the official board.
JOHN PAXTON, deceased, was well known to the citizens of Washington County, Pa., where he lived all his life. He was for many years engaged in butchering and stock dealing, and was a very prosperous business man. His family is an old one of the county, dating back to the year 1782, when his father, John Paxton, Sr., arrived from York County, Pa.
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John Paxton, Sr., was a native of York County, as was also his wife, who in early life made the journey across the mountains to Washington County, on horseback. They were married here, and some time after located on a farm in what is now Canton Township, a part of which is now owned by the Paxton brothers, and here they lived until their respective deaths. They were the parents of the following children: Thomas, who married Jane Mills, had eight children-John G., Samuel, Martha, Mary, Nancy, Isaac, Thomas and Minnie; Eliza, who became the wife of John Nesbit and lived on a farm in Chartiers, where both died without issue; Isaac Samuel, who mar- ried a Miss Harsha, had two sons and one daughter; and John.
John Paxton, Jr., was born in Canton Township, Wash- ington Co., Pa., September 10, 1810, and was young when his parents moved to Chartiers Township. There he spent his youthful days in work upon his father's farm, and at the age of sixteen years went to Washington Borough, where he learned the trade of a saddler and harness maker, which he followed exclusively until 1856. He then embarked in the butchering and stock dealing busi- ness, which he followed with uninterrupted success for many years. He was a man of unusual energy and busi- ness sagacity, and everything to which he turned his hand brought forth results. It is said that when a small boy, he and a sister raised a crop of oats, threshed them with a flail, and carried them on horseback to Washing- ton, where they were sold. It was ever thus with him, an eye to his opportunities and the energy and ability to avail himself of them. He was reared to hard work, and even in the days of his advanced age he was not content to be idle and enjoy the fruits of his years of toil.
John Paxton was joined in marriage with Mrs. Eliza- beth (Wilson) Power, a daughter of Henry and Jane (Dill) Wilson, who lived on a farm in South Strabane Township. The father of Mrs. Paxton was born in Ireland. Her mother, Jane (Dill) Wilson, was a daughter of Thomas Dill, the latter of whom was a minister. Mrs. Wilson had one sister, Mrs. Doke. The Wilsons were of the Presbyterian faith. Mrs. Paxton was born December 10, 1809, and was one of six children born to her parents, as follows: Dill, who was a farmer; Mathew, a saddler and harness maker; Thomas, who graduated from Jefferson College and then studied the- ology, became a Presbyterian minister, married Mar- garet Sanders, of Baltimore, and they had two sons, Morris and Calvin D., both of whom are Presbyterian ministers; Samuel J., who was a graduate of Washing- ton College and Allegheny Theological Seminary, was at the time of his death professor of theology in the latter institution, and had three children-Robert D., who was a lawyer; Catherine and Jane; Jane wbo became the
wife of Louis Guthrie; and Elizabeth, who first married Mr. Power and subsequently became the wife of John Paxton. As a result of her first marriage, Mrs. Paxton had two daughters: Margaret and Anna. Margaret Power became the wife of Thomas Bell, who went to California in 1852, during the gold fever, and died there in 1855. She died June 6, 1889, leaving a daughter, Anna Bell. Anna Power became the wife of David Hart, and for some years they made their home with William H. and Oliver L. Paxton, in Canonsburg.
John and Elizabeth (Wilson) Paxton became parents of nine children, as follows: Wilson N .; Thomas Pax- ton, who was a member of Co. D, 10th Pa. Vol. Inf., enlisting in April, 1861, was killed while doing picket duty at Spottsylvania, May 9, 1864; Mary Jane Paxton, who died January 24, 1890, unmarried; John R .; Will- iam Hosack Paxton, who is a prominent business man of Canonsburg; Oliver L., who was born March 23, 1848, and became a man of affairs at Canonsburg; Mary E., who married Rev. W. F. Conner, a Methodist minister of Johnstown, Pa., and has two daughters, Mabel and Bessie; and Mathew H. Paxton.
Wilson N. Paxton, oldest son of John and Elizabeth (Wilson) Paxton, was graduated from Jefferson College in 1856, and then went to the South and engaged in school teaching. He returned to Canonsburg and took up the study of law; after his admission to the bar in Allegheny County, he engaged in practice at Pittsburg until the Civil War was in progress. In 1862, he enlisted in Co. G, 140th Pa. Vol. Inf., and served three years as second lieutenant, and was mustered out of the service with the rank of captain. He was taken prisoner on the second day of the battle of Gettysburg, and for twenty months was incarcerated in Libby and other prisons. He was united in marriage with Miss Emily J. Newkirk.
John R. Paxton, fourth child of John and Elizabeth Paxton, was a member of the junior class in Jefferson College at the commencement of the Civil War, and in 1861 he enlisted in Co. G, 140th Pa. Vol. Inf., under Capt. Frazier, who had been a professor in Jefferson College. Mr. Paxton served until the close of the war, and then re-entered Jefferson College, from which he was graduated with honors. He subsequently attended and was graduated from Allegheny Theological Seminary and Princeton Theological Seminary, after which he was ordained to the ministry. His first charge was at Church. . ville, Md., after which he was stationed successively at Harrisburg, Pa., Washington, D. C., and New York City. He was united in marriage with Mary L. Lindsay, of Allegheny, and they became the parents of four chil- dren.
William Hosack Paxton, the fifth child of John and Elizabeth Paxton, was born March 9, 1846, attended school with his brothers and sisters and went to work
GEORGE L. JOHNSON
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
when fifteen years of age at the butchering and live stock business. On April 1, 1861, he entered Jefferson College as a student, but when Fort Sumter was fired on and three of his brothers enlisted for the war, he gave up his idea of securing a collegiate training and went home to assist his father in supporting the family. lIe developed business faculties before unsuspected. In 1875, with a half dozen associates, he started a savings bank at Canonsburg, there being no organization of that kind prior to this, and he has been connected with the banking business ever since and at present is president and a member of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Canonsburg. In 1883 he became in- terested in the Canonsburg Steel and Iron business and is serving in the office of treasurer of the Canonsburg Steel & Iron Works Company. In 1885, he was one of the five original promoters of the Manufacturers' Na- tional Gas Company, a concern that at first bad a capital of $300,000, which has been increased to $25,000,000. For the last twenty years, Mr. Paxton has been interested in oil production. He and his brother Oliver, with Capt. David Hart and wife, reside at No. 68 East Pike street, Canonsburg.
Mathew H. Paxton, youngest child of John and Eliza- beth Paxton, was born in 1854, and attended Jefferson Academy. He subsequently attended Lafayette College at Easton, Pa., and upon leaving that institution was appointed an assistant paymaster of the United States Government under Maj. Kcefer, the duties of which position necessitated his travelling through the northwest and southwest parts of this country. He resigned this position because of his dislike for travel and located at Walla Walla, Wasb., where he owns land and is extensive- ly engaged in the real estate business. He there served three terms as county- assessor and appraiser. Prior to lorating in that city, where he was married, he was sta- tioned for a time at Newport, Ky.
John Paxton and his estimable wife were consistent members of the Presbyterian Church. She died Oeto- her 29, 1858, and was survived by him many years, he dy- ing December 24, 1890, at the advanced age of eighty-one. They were representative people of the time when the latch string was always out, and hospitality was extended alike to neighbor, friend and stranger.
GEORGE L. JOHNSON. dealer in real estate and mortgages at Canonsburg, Pa., is a representative of an old Washington County family, which, through intermar- riage, is also connected with other old and representative families. He was born in Cross Creek village, Cross Creek Township, this county, and is a son of John Gib- son and Anna K. (Morrison) Johnson.
The paternal grandfather, John Johnson, was born in 1802, in North Strabane Township, Washington County,
where his father, Richard Johnson, had been a very early settler. A large part of the life of John Johnson was spent at Canonsburg, where be died in 1864. Ile mar- ried Rebecca Van Eman, who survived him for about two years, dying in her seventy-sixth year. Her parents were Joseph and Mary (Logan) Van Eman. To John and Rebecca Johnson three sons were born, namely : Richard Van Eman, who now resides at Washington, Pa .; Joseph Bradford, who was a soldier in the Civil War and now resides at Canonsburg; and John Gibson, father of George L.
John Gibson Johnson was born in North Strabane Township, Washington County, and died at Canonsburg, in 1902, at the age of fifty-four years. He was a dealer in stocks, bonds and real estate and in association with John L. Cockins, laid out the Cockins and Johnson plan of lots in South Canonsburg and continued active in business until the close of his life. He married Anna K. Morrison, who was born in Chartiers Township, a daugh- ter of William Morrison. Her father was a pioneer resi- dent of Chartiers Township whose ancestors came with the influx of Presbyters from Scotland prior to 1689. The family name Morrison had belonged to a clan in Scot- land from an early period. James, father of William, inherited that portion of the homestead upon which his father lived and died. After the formation of Wash- ington County he was commissioned as a captain of a company organized to defend the settlers against savage foes. Ile was also a member of the first board of trustees of the Chartiers Presbyterian Church. The portion that William inherited is still in the possession of his grand- children, James G. Morrison and Anna K. (Morrison) Johnson and his great grandson, George L. Johnson.
Mrs. Anna (Morrison) Johnson had four sisters: Sarah, Mary, Margaret and Elizabeth, all now deecased. Mrs. Johnson was the youngest of the family and she and ber brother, James G. Morrison, who resides at Washington. are the only survivors. To John Gibson Johnson and wife four children were born, of whom three now are living: George L., William M. and Ernest Q., all resi- dents of Canonsburg.
George L. Johnson first attended school in Canonsburg, later entered Jefferson Academy there, and subsequently was a student in Washington and Jefferson College at Washington, completing his school attendance in 1899. For the seven following years he was engaged in the furniture business with the firm of Thomas & Co., at Pittsburg, since when he has been interested in the real estate business at Canonsburg, where the family has re- sided sinee 1893. He handles lots and makes investments, doing a regular real estate and mortgage business. Mr. Johnson is a capable and successful business man. He is a member of the Young Men's Tariff Club, of Pitts- burg. He takes no very active interest in politics, but.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
votes with the Republican party. In religion he is a United Presbyterian.
DAVID C. VESTER, oue of Washington's leading citizens, viee-president of the general contracting and lumber firmi of Vester, Stewart & Rossell, was born in 1855, in Amwell Township, Washington Co., Pa., His venerable father, John F. Vester, celebrated his ninety- fifth birthday on November 14, 1909. He was born in Germany aud came to Washington County in 1844, fol- lowing the cabinet-making trade at first. Later he went into a general contracting business which he continued through his active years.
David C. Vester was about one year old when his pareuts came to Washington and after completing his school attendance he learned the carpenter trade with his father, with whom, and a brother, he was associated for a number of years. About 1889 he entered into a partnership with Stewart & Rossell, the firm becoming Vester, Stewart & Rossell, in a general contracting busi- ness. Later a planing mill was bought and lumber yards purchased and still later the interests of the concern were increased by the addition of coal, lime, cement and builders' supplies. Of this firm, H. B. Rossell is presi- dent; David C. Vester, vice-president, and A. J. Stewart is secretary and treasurer. Mr. Vester has many addi- tional business interests.
In 1877, Mr. Vester was married to Miss Sarah E. Fleming, of Fairmont, W. Va., and to them have been born the following children: Nellie, who is the wife of George Mosely, a druggist at Pittsburg; Mary, who is the wife of Simon Hamilton, a railroad man; Gertrude, who is bookkeeper for the firm of Vester, Stewart & Rossell; Anna B., who is also connected with this com- pany; David M., who is a machinist with the Atlas Glass Company; Frederick, who is in the employ of the firm of Vester, Stewart & Rossell as a carpenter; and Hazel, Bryan, Stewart and John W., Jr. Mr. Vester's family attend the Presbyterian Church. He has always been actively interested in public affairs, particularly those pertaining to city and connty. He has served three terms in the city council from the Fourth Ward and he was chairman of the Democratic City Committee in 1908 when that party elected both its mayor and treasurer. Mr. Vester has been an Odd Fellow for thirty- one years and has the first veteran jewel presented to any member of the order in Washington. He is identified with National Lodge, No. 81, and is also a member of the Encampment, of which he is at present seribe. He has served as district deputy grand master of the lower branch and also as deputy of the Encampment. He is a charter member and treasurer of Hancock Lodge, No. 231, Knights of Pythias and for three years was colonel of the Sixth Regiment Uniform Rank. He is also a
charter member of the Eagles and was president of the Washington lodge and was its representative at the na- tional meeting at Milwaukee. Mr. Vester additionally is a charter member of the Red Men and a charter mem- ber of the Royal Order of Moose, instituting that lodge and being its representative to the grand lodge. He belongs also to Chestnut Ridge Grange, Patrons of Hus- bandry. For twelve years Mr. Vester was a member of Co. H, 10th Pa. N. G. at Washington, commanding his company for several years and when he resigned was its first duty sergeant.
WILLIAM S. McCLENATHAN, a successful farmer and stock raiser, residing on his valnable estate of 150 acres of well improved land, was born on his present farm in Amwell Township, Washington Co., Pa., Jannary 9, 1858, and is a son of John and Rachel (Carter) Mc- Clenathan, the former of whom was born in Amwell Township and spent the larger part of his life here en- gaged in farm pursuits and died on the place now owned by his son, William S., in 1878. His father was also John McClenathan and he was the first of the family to come to this part of Washington County and almost all of his children located permanently in Amwell Township. He came directly to this township from England, with two brothers, but the descent is Irish. The McClenathan family has always been an agricultural one and among it have, in every generation, been found men of the right quality to elect to offices of trust and responsibility in their communities. John McClenathan the second, was no exception to the rule, and he proved a useful citizen of Amwell Township. He was twice married. The mother of William S. McClenathan was born at Hart's Mill, in Amwell Township and was a daughter of John Carter, Esq., a pioneer settler and for many years a justice of the peace. The following children of John MeClenathan survive: Mary E., who is the widow of John C. Van Kirk, late of Amwell Township; Thomas F., who lives in California; John C., who is a prominent physician at Connellsville, Fayette County, Pa .; and William S. John McClenathan was a liberal supporter of the Presbyterian Church at Amity.
William S. MeClenathan has been a continnous resident of Amwell Township and since his school days has de- voted himself to farming and stock raising. On April 6, 1886, he was married to Miss Caroline M. Hazlett. daughter of William Hazlett, now of South Franklin Township, and they have three children: John W., Harold W. aud James P. Mr. MeClenathan is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Amity and is also asso- ciated with the Union Chapel at Sunset, of which he was one of the founders and in which he served some years as Sunday school superintendent. He is a Prohibitionist in his views on public questions.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
SAMUEL R. FENNER, paying teller of the Wash- ington Trust Company, of Washington, Pa., who, since coming to this city some eight years back, has made both business and personal friends by the score, was born at Ashley, Luzerne Co., Pa., and was educated at Wilkes barre, in the same county.
Mr. Feuner first started in business as an employe of the New Jersey Central Railroad, at Ashley, where he remained for two years. In 1901 he came to Washington and was associated with the Perfection Glass Company until September, 1907, when he came to the Washington Trust Company, with which he has been identified ever since, serving in different positions until, in April, 1909, he became paying teller of this institution.
Mr. Fenner attends the Second Presbyterian Church. He is a member of Washington Lodge, No. 164, F. and A. M .; of the Junior Order of American Mechanics, and he belongs also to the exclusive Bassett Club, at Wash- ington.
WILLIAM B. RISBECK, proprietor of Hotel Law- renee at Donora, Pa., who has been a resident of Donora, since October, 1905, was born on the old home farm in Red Stone Township, Fayette Co., Pa., March 6, 1871, and is a son of John M. and Naney (Hess) Risbeck.
John M. Risbeek was born in Germany and when three years of age came to this country with his parents, John Lott Risbeck and wife, who first located in Fayette County, Pa. In a short time they removed to Iowa, where they spent five years. The family then returned to Fay- ette County, Pa., where the father engaged in agrieul- tural pursuits and died on the farm on which he had resided forty years. John M. Risbeek, was married in Fayette County, Pa., to Naney Hess, a daughter of Mat- thias Hess, who was one of the early settlers of Fayette county, and of their union were born three children: George W., who is a resident of Charleroi, of which he was elected burgess in February, 1909; William B., our subject ; and Walter L., who resides at Star Junction, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Risbeek are still residents of Fayette County.
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