Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 5

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 5

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Ou Jan. 1, 1879, Mr. Jeffrey married Miss Jennie McCalmont, a daughter of John aud Mary Ann (Moore) MoValmont, of Mt. Pleasant Township, and they have five children, namely: Bessie D., who married C. M. Marquis, has a pleasant home in Cross Creek Township, and John R., Howard G., Clarence D. and Verner Lee, all reside at home. Mr. Jeffrey has given his children all the advantages in his power and his eldest son, Johu R., spent five terms at Grove City College, taking the engineering course. Mr. Jeffrey and wife are members of the Hickory United Presbyterian Church, of which he has been a trustee for a number of years. Like his father, he is a Republican and he has frequently been elected to township offiees and has served acceptably as an election inspector, as a school director and as road supervisor.

JOSEPH BRADFORD JOHNSON, a leading eitizen of Canonsburg, whose fine briek residence is located at No. 248 West Pike street, was born in North Strabane Township, Washington County, Pa., Sept. 26, 1842, son of John and Rebecca (Van Eman) Johnson.

John Johnson, father of Joseph B., was born in 1802, in North Strabane Township, where his father, Richard Johnson, had been a very early settler. A large part of John Johnson's life was spent at Canonsburg, where he died in 1884. He married Rebecca Van Eman, who survived him for about two years, dying at the age of 76. Her parents were Joseph and Mary (Logan) Van Eman. To John and Rebecca Johnson three sons were born, namely: Richard Van Eman, who served in the Civil War and now resides at Washington (he married Anna Lee, a danghter of William Lee of Cross Creek Village) ; Joseph Bradford; and John Gibson, now de- eeased, who is survived by his widow and three sons, who reside in Canonsburg.

Joseph Bradford Johnson had just completed his sophomore year at Jefferson College when, in 1862. he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Co. G, 140th Pa. Vol. Inf., and was attached to the Army of

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

the Potomac. He participated in the battles of Chan- cellorsville and Gettysburg, and in October, 1863, was transferred to the Signal Corps, in which division he served until he was captured by the Confederates, Oct. 28, 1864. The next three months and ten days of his life were passed most unpleasantly in the notorious Libby Prison, where he shared the hardships and sufferings of his unfortunate comrades who were confined there. Although paroled Jan. 22, 1865, he was unable to leave on account of ice in the river, and was thus compelled to remain until Feb. 5, 1865. He was then taken to Annapolis, Md., where he was given a furlough of 30 days. On its expiration he returned to the front, but by that time Gen. Lee had surrendered and the war was virtually at an end. He was honorably discharged at Washington City. He had escaped death and wounds, but during his imprisonment he contracted scurvy, which gave him trouble for a long time.

Mr. Johnson resumed his old occupations after he re- turned home and followed farming until 1900, purchas- ing his grandfather's farm half a mile above Houston, this county. This farm he bought from William Quail, who had purchased it from Jefferson Patton, who had secured it from Mr. Johnson's grandfather.

In 1867 Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Hannah Jane Crothers, a daughter of Samuel J. and Jane (Brownlee) Crothers. Three children were born to this marriage, namely: Ella Maud, who became the wife of Rev. Charles G. Williams, a Presbyterian minister, now in charge of the Hyde Park Church of Denver, and who has two children, Bradford Ralston and Jay; John Tracey, who still operates the home farm; and Charles Crothers, who is president of the Citizens' Trust Com- pany, of Canonsburg, and who married Miss Grace Hen- derson.

Mrs. Hannah J. Johnson died in October, 1897, and Mr. Johnson married Miss Anna M. Harper, April 4, 1900. Mrs. Johnson is a daughter of Robert J. and Eliz- abeth R. (Henderson) Harper. Her father, who resides in Canonsburg and is now 80 years old, was during his industrial period an engineer in the employ of the Penn- sylvania Railroad. Mrs. Johnson's mother was a daugh- ter of Matthew and Mary (Hutchison) Henderson, and a great-granddaughter of Rev. Matthew Henderson, a pioneer Seceder minister, who was among the early set- tlers of this section, coming here in the days of the Rev. John McMillen, or about the last decade of the 18th century. Mrs. Johnson's maternal grandmother, Mary (Hutchison) Henderson, was a daughter of John Hutchi- son, one of the early settlers of Canonsburg, the west end of the present town occupying the site of his farm. Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Harper had ten children, four of whom grew to maturity: Anna, Elizabeth, Ella and

Eva, the last mentioned being the wife of C. W. Camp- bell, of Canonsburg.

The subject of this sketch is a member of Chapter No. 1, of the Union Veteran Legion, at Pittsburg. He is interested in several business enterprises and is a di- rector of the Citizens' Trust Company, of Canonsburg. For many years he has been united with the Central Presbyterian Church and is now serving as one of its elders. His opinions on public questions make him a strong supporter of the Republican party.

JOHN MeCLAY, deceased, once a substantial farmer and respected resident of Canton Township, Washington Co., Pa., was born there in 1809 and was a son of Samuel and Sarah (McClellan) MeClay.

Samuel MeClay was born in Ireland and from that country he came to America in boyhood, making the long voyage in a sailing vessel. He found a home and employment in Chester County, Pa., where he subse- quently married Sarah MeClellan, who was also a native of Ireland. Some years after their marriage they came to Washington County and established their home in Canton Township, where Samuel McClay died in 1838 and his widow in 1842.

John McClay grew up on the home farm in Canton Township. His schooling was limited, there being few advantages offered the children in Canton Township at that day. He was, however, gifted with a large amount of practical good sense, had the energy that enabled him to overcome many obstacles and in the course of years he became one of the township's most prosperous citizens. He was for many years a director in the First National Bank of Washington. Mr. McClay was married (first) April 26, 1838, to Miss Jane Smith, who died shortly afterward. He was married (second) Sept. 15, 1841, to Miss Jane Welch, a daughter of Robert Welch, and they became the parents of four children, namely: Sarah, widow of W. A. Morrison; and William W., John H. and Robert H. In 1857 he married Sarah Taggart and after her demise, he was united to Mar- garet Brownlee, who was a daughter of James Brown- lee, a pioneer of Washington County. He was identified with the Covenanter Church until 1858, when he be- came connected with the United Presbyterian. Early in life he was a Whig, later became a Republican, but in the closing years of his life the cause of Prohibition claimed his allegiance. He died in January, 1895, on his farm in Canton Township.

J. B. HENDERSON, proprietor of the Valley Stock Farm, which contains 236 acres, situated in Smith Township, Washington County, was born in Chartiers and is a son of James L. Henderson.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Mr. Henderson's carly school days were passed in Chartiers Township and Canton Township, both in Washington County, and later he took a commercial course in Duff's Business College at Pittsburg, after which he settled down to farming with his father. After marriage, in 1892, he located in Washington and began to deal in stock and finding profit in the business has continued until the present. In 1901 he settled on his farm in Smith Township, where he made all the im- provements which became necessary when he went ex- tensively inte the stock business. He has two sets of farm buildings and erected one set after taking charge of his property. This is known as the Valley Steek Farm, where Dorset sheep and Holstein cattle are bred from imported stock. He exhibits his fine stock at different points yearly and made a noted showing at the Chicago International Exposition in 1905.

In November, 1892, Mr. llenderson was married to Miss Lulu Buchanan, a daughter of J. S. Buchanan, of Hickory, Washington County, and they have one sen, James Raymond, who is attending school in Smith Township. Mr. Henderson and family are members of the First United Presbyterian Church at Burgettstown, in which he is an elder. In polities he is a Republican and at different times he has been elected to important township offices, serving at present as commissioner and formerly was a justice of the peace. He is one of the county's best known representative and reliable citi- zens. In his efforts to improve the grade of stock in Washington County, he has benefited all these whe de business in the same line.

GEORGE W. RISBECK, Burgess of Charleroi, Pa., who deals in real estate in a general way, and has charge of a large insurance ageney, has been a resi- dent of Charleroi since 1902. He was bern Oct. 25, 1869, en a farm near Brownsville, Fayette Ce., Pa., and is a son of John M. and Naney J. (Hess) Risbeck.

George W. Risbeck was reared on his father's farm, and after completing his education, which was obtained in the district schools and the Merrittstown Academy, he taught the district schools of that locality for nine years. He then worked four years in a hardware store in Brownsville, Pa., and since coming to Charleroi in 1902, has been engaged in the real estate and fire in- surance business, having established a business of his own three years ago, making a specialty of fire insur- ance, although he also handles life, health and accident insurance. He represents the Pittsburg Underwriters; the Westchester Fire; the Williamsburg City Fire; the Hamburg-Bremen and the Travelers' Insurance Com- pany, a life, accident and health company. Mr. Ris- beek has been a notary public for about four years,

and his offices are located at No. 427 Mckean avenne. In polities he is a Democrat, and bas been burgess ef Charleroi since March 1, 1909.

Mr. Risbeck was married in 1895 to Annie VanKirk, of Fayette County, I'a., and they have one child, Hallie, who is 13 years of age. He is fraternally, a member of Charleroi Lodge No. 494, Benevolent Protective Or- der of Elks, and has been secretary of his lodge for the past five years, and is also a member of the Royal Ar- canum and the Maccabees.

GEORGE T. WALKER, a member of the firm of Walker & Slater, is one of Washington's representative citizens, identified with many of her large business en- terprises and for years prominent and useful in public life. Mr. Walker was born at Washington, in 1854, and is a son ef Thomas Walker and a grandson of George Walker.

George Walker was born in Ireland and came to Washington County among the hardy early pioneers. His son, Thomas Walker, was born in Washington County, in 1822, and was one of the carly contractors and earnest politicians of Washington, and through his energy and public spirit, became a man known over a wide territory.

George T. Walker was reared and educated at Washing- ton; graduating from her High School in the class of 1870, following which he attended Washington and Jef- ferson College for two terms. After he completed his education, he learned bis trade with his father and in 1885 was admitted to partnership, under the style of Thomas Walker & Son, this being terminated by the deatlı of his father in the following year. In 1887 the present firm was established, C. M. Slater becoming a partner, and this is now the oldest and one of the most prominent contracting firms in Washington, in the general line of mill werk. Mr. Walker is a director in the Union Trust Company; is president of the Wash- ington Ice Company; is treasurer of the Capitel Paint, Oil and Varnish Company, and is a stockholder in sev- cral other enterprises. Mr. Walker has been very ac- tive in local polities for a number of years and his use- fulness and efficiency have been proved during the time he has held public offices. He has served acceptably en the School Board, in the city council, of which he has been president, and also served one term as burgess. He is a Thirty-second degree Mason and belongs alse to the Elks. For a number of years he has been united with the First United Presbyterian Church.

THOMPSON MARTIN DOUGLASS, a representa- tive business man of MeDenald, now conducting and managing a milk, butter and egg business at this place,

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

was born near Venice, Washington Co., Pa., Mar. 9, 1848, and is a son of Robert and Nancy (Thompsou) Douglass.

Robert Douglass was a citizen of Washington County all his life. He was a stone mason by trade and as- sisted iu the construction of many buildings, walls and bridges all over this section. He married Nancy Thomp- son and they had four children, namely: Eliza Jane, who is now deceased; John Allen, deceased; Sarah, who was the wife of William Scott, is also deceased; and Thompson Martin, the youngest and the only survivor. The parents were members of the United Presbyterian Church.

Thompson Martin Douglass attended school until he was about 14 years of age, when he learned the trade of a stone mason and Mr. Douglass followed this trade for about ten years. He then went into the bakery business at MeDonald, in which be continued until 1900, when he retired for four years.

In 1905 he entered into the milk, butter and egg business, in which he has since been engaged.

On Oct. 18, 1871, Mr. Douglass was married to Miss Julia MeCausland, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Flake) MeCausland. The MeCauslands came from Butler to Washington County and they were parents of the following children: Beatrice, deceased, was the wife of L. B. Quinn; and John, Catherine and Julia. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Douglass, three of whom died in infancy. The survivors are: Robert, a foreman for the Nocola Building Company of Pitts- burg; John A., who is engaged in the practice of medi- cine at McDonald; Bessie, who is the wife of M. S. Moorhead, a furniture dealer at McDonald, and Leon, who is a druggist. Mr. and Mrs. Douglass are members of the First United Presbyterian Church at McDonald. In his views on public questions, he is a Prohibitionist.

Dr. John A. Douglass of the above family, was born at Allegheny City, Jan. 12, 1874. He was educated in the public schools at McDonald and Ingleside Academy, going from there to Duquesne College and in 1892 en- tered Hahnemann Medical College, at Philadelphia, where he was graduated in 1896. He has built up a very substantial practice at McDonald.

HARRY BROWN SIMPSON, who is secretary of the Monongahela Clay Manufacturing Company, extensive manufacturers of various kinds of brick, has been ideti- fied with the business interests of Monongabela City since 1902. He was born Feb. 20, 1877, at Pittsburg, Pa., and is a son of James M. and Sarah C. (Brown) Simp- son, the former of whom died in 1902, at Pittsburg, where for many years he was engaged in the real estate business. The mother is still living.

Harry B. Simpson grew to manhood in Pittsburg,

where he obtained his educational training in the com- mon schools, after which he entered the employ of H. Lloyd & Sons Company, who were the pioneer iron man- ufacturers of Pittsburg. He was subsequently engaged with the Shoenberger Steel Works of Pittsburg, which position he resigned in 1902, when he came to Monon- gahela City as secretary and manager of the Monon- gahela Clay Manufacturing Company, which concern was organized by a Pittsburg company which sold the plant in 1903 to the present company, of which Samuel M. Downer is president; F. K. Alexander, treasurer, and H. B. Simpson, our subject, secretary and manager. The plant, which is finely equipped with the latest de- vices and machinery for brick-making, covers a tract of 14 acres, and is located about one mile south of Monon- gahela City on the M. W. branch of the P., V. & C. R. R. The company, whose offices are located in the Alexander Bank Building, employ au average of 50 men at the plant, where they produce 60,000 brick per day, manufacturing face brick, hollow brick and paving brick.

Mr. Simpson was united in marriage Nov. 25, 1895, with Bessie J. Hughes, a daughter of W. L. Hughes, of Pittsburg, and of their union have been born three chil- dren : Harold, Kenneth and Mildred. Mr. Simpson and family reside iu a pleasant home located on the corner of Meade and Coal streets. Mr. Simpson is fraternally affiliated with the B. P. O. E. of Monongahela City, and his religious connection is with the Presbyterian Church. He is politically identified with the Republican party.

LODOWICK MeCARRELL, deceased, for many years was a prominent member of the Washington County bar. He was boru in Mt. Pleasant Township, Washington Co., Pa., Feb. 2, 1842, and was a son of Thomas and . Elizabeth (MeConnanghy) MeCarrell.

His paternal grandfather, Lodowick MeCarrell, was a native of Ireland, who, coming to America, in 1780, secured a large tract of wild land lying in what is now Mt. Pleasant Township, Washington County, his place of residence being near Teu-Mile and Hickory. Here this pioneer ancestor of our subject rounded out a long and useful life, dying in 1851, after he had passed his 84th birthday. A large part of his land had been cleared and made tillable by his own industry. Lodowick Me- Carrell was an elder in the Seceder Church. He married Martha Leman, who was a daughter of that old pioneer, John Leman, who shared with Andrew Eagleson, the honor of being the first settler in Canton Township. They had seven children, namely: John, Thomas, James, Andrew and Leman, all of whom died in mature life; Isabella, who was the wife of Isaac Hodgens, of Buffalo Township; and Elizabeth, who was the wife of John Cockins, of Mt. Pleasant Township.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Thomas MeCarrell, second son of Lodowick and Mary (Leman) MeCarrell, was born in Virginia, in 1801, but the greater part of his life was spent in Washington County, Pa., where he became a man of prominence. lle was elected a county commissioner on the Democratic ticket in 1853. For five years be served also as associate judge and for seven successive terms was a justice of the peace in Mt. Pleasant Township. He was thrice married: first, to Esther MeNary, who died in 1\31; second, to Elizabeth MeConnaughy, who died in 1559; and for the third time, to Margaret Martin, in 1863, who survived him many years, dying in 1890. The children of his first union were: Martha, who died at Hickory, in IS93; Margaret, who married Joseph Cowden and died in Cecil Township, near Venice; John, a physician at Wellsville, Ohio, who died in January, 1891; and James, who was a practicing physician at Allegheny. Pa. The children born to the second marriage were the follow- ing: David M., who was a physician and died in 1894 in Hiekory: Leman, who resides on the old homestead; Alexander D., who is a minister in the United Presby- terian Church located at Trafford City, Pa., and Lodo- wick. Thomas MeCarrell died in 1972. Like his father he had been active in the affairs of the Seceder Church.

Lodowick MeCarrell, the direct subject of this sketch, spent his boyhood on his father's farm, attended the country schools, and later entered Washington and Jeť- ferson College, where he completed the classical course. His father's prominence in public affairs served as a stimulus to his own ambition, and early in his school career, he decided to take up the study of law. Accord- ingly on leaving college ,in 1867, he entered the law office of Montgomery & Wilson, and in IS69 he was ad- mitted to the bar of Washington County, in the follow- ing year opening his law office in the borough of Wash- ington. He was soon recognized in the profession as a man of marked ability and his subsequent success was uninterrupted, his name being associated for years with much of the important litigation in the courts of the county. He was possessed of an engaging person- ality, which contributed much to his popularity both in his profession and in business and social eircles. Al- though an active supporter of the Democratie party he took greater interest in the successful practice of law than in the strife for political honors. In the midst of his usefulness, he was called away on April 23, 1902. and was laid to rest in the Washington Cemetery.

On July 25, 1876. Mr. MeCarrell was married to Miss Lida Jackson, a daughter of Robert Jackson, and to them one son was born, Robert Lodowick. The latter is a prominent figure in the financial eireles of Wash- ington, having served for several years as assistant eashier of the First National Bank. and being at the present time auditor of the Washington Trust Company.

an office he has filled since May Is, 1908. He married Miss Elizabeth Met lane, a daughter of Wilson Mcclane, a resident of Washington County. They have one daugh- ter, Jane Dinsmore. They reside in one of Washing- ton's handsome residences, at No. 345 East Wheeling street.

WILLIAM F. WILITHAM, president of the West Alexander National Bank at West Alexander, Pa., is one of the representative men of Washington County, where his interests are numerous, and he is also a vet- eran of the great Civil War. He was born in Ohio County, W. Va., Oet. 11, 1543, and is a son of George D. and Rachel (Faris) Whitham.

The Whitham family is of English extraction. Joseph Whitham, the grandfather, was deemed an old resident of Ohio County, W. Va., when William F. was a youth, and both his parents were born and reared there.

From the schools of his native place, William F. Whitham became a student in what was known as the West Alexander Academy, and then entered into an agricultural life. His father died in 1861, and on Aug. 14, 1862, Mr. Whitham left the farm and enlisted in Co. D, 12th West Va. Vol. Inf., and served until his honorable discharge in June, 1865. During much of this time he was attached to the Army of West Vir- ginia, which later became the Army of the James, and during the whole winter before the surrender of Rich- mond, he was with his regiment in front of that be- leaguered city. He is a valued member of James Noble Post No. 348, G. A. R., at West Alexander, of which he had the honor of being elected the first commander. Mr. Whitham returned to his farm industries and for a number of years gave much attention to raising fine stock and in particular to breeding sheep for wool. In 1902 he came to West Alexander and since August, 1907. has been president of the National Bank at this place. which is regarded as one of the sound and solid finan- eial institutions of the county.

On June 2, 1892, Mr. Whitham was married to Miss Nina Armstrong, who was born in what is now West Finley Township, Washington Co., Pa., and is a daugh- ter of the late William Armstrong. Mr. and Mrs. Whit- ham are members of the Presbyterian Church at West Alexander, in which he is a ruling elder. In his views on publie questions he is soemwhat independent, although nominally a Republican.

FRANCIS MARION FINLEY, a highly esteemed member of one of the prominent old families of Union Township, Washington County, Pa., now lives retired at Finleyville, a pleasant town which was named to do honor to Gen. Robert Finley, an unele of Dr. Finley, who was its founder and first postmaster. Dr. Francis

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

M. Finley was born in Union Township, on the banks of the beautiful Monongahela River, Mar. 7, 1833, and is a son of Levi and Rachel (Neal) Finley, and a grand- son of John Finley.

John Finley was probably born in Ireland and he came very early to Allegheny County, Pa., where he acquired large tracts of land and also much land in Union Town- ship, Washington County. He married Margaret Roland and they had sons and daughters, the former bearing the following names: Robert, James, William, John and Levi.

Levi Finley, father of Dr. Finley, was born in a log house on his father's farm in Allegheny County, and he, like his father, led an agricultural life. He came to Washington County in early manhood and is accorded the credit of being the first coal miner in this valley, taking the coal from a mine of his own, at Limetown, and later he became a coal operator on a much larger scale. After the death of his eldest brother, Robert Finley, he moved to the home in Finleyville, which is now the property of Dr. Finley. He married Rachel Neal, who was reared at Mckeesport, Pa., and they both died in Finleyville and were interred at Mingo. They had the following children: Melissa, who is the widow of Capt. H. B. Wallace; Miranda, who married Rev. W. W. Laverty and both are deceased; John, who is now deceased; Francis M .; and Rachel, who is deceased, was the wife of John Collins.

Francis Marion Finley was small when his parents moved to the Huston farm in Union Township, and from there to Finleyville, and here he attended school and later went to Washington College, from which he was graduated in 1854. He decided to study medicine and prepared for college under Dr. C. W. Townsend, of Union Township, entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and was pursuing his studies there when his father died. This recalled him home and he then took charge of the home farm of 250 acres, and to its cultivation he devoted the remainder of his active years.

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Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 5

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