Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 59

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 59

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Since that time Mr. Christman has devoted his time and attention to the real estate and insurance business, having offices in the Washington Trust building. He takes an active part and interest in all progressive meas- ures for the improvement of the city, and it was largely through his efforts that two of the local building and loan associations were organized here, through which many a poor man has been able to pay for a home. Some years ago he was one of the prime movers in the organ- ization of the Sons of Veterans Camp, which for a time was one of the prominent local societies. He was also for a number of years the efficient secretary of the Wash- iugton Board of Trade and is still a director in that organization.

Mr. Christman was first married to Miss Fannie M. Morgan, a daughter of the late Jacob Morgan, of Wash- ington. She died, leaving three children-Howard L., Frank, and Herbert, the two elder sons being residents of Washington and the younger of Morgantown, W. Va. Mr. Christman married for his second wife Miss Eliza- beth J. Morrow, daughter of the late Robert L. Morrow, also of this city. They have three children-Florence, Robert and Ronald, the two latter being twin sons. Mr.

Christman's father is still living at No. 21 West Prospeet avenue. His mother died about ten years ago.

JOHN W. MeLAIN, whose valuable farm of 200 acres lies in Cross Creek Township, Washington County, Pa., has been a resident of this township only since 1907, but has already been accepted by his fellow farmers and neighbors as a valuable citizen. He was born in West- moreland County, Pa., October 21, 1849, and is a son of David and Martha (Loop) MeLain.

David MeLain was a life-long resident and a prom- inent one of Westmoreland County. He was an extensive farmer and cattle raiser and the owner of a large amount of property, and for forty years he also carried on the manufacturing of paper. In politics he was a pro- nounced Republican and he served in all the local offices. His death occurred in 1881. He married Martha Loop and they had the following children: Sarah Ann, who is now deceased, was the wife of Daniel Fulmer, of West- moreland County; W. Annon, who was killed in 1862 while serving as a soldier in the Civil War; Francis M., who resides at Scottdale, Pa .; Melissa J., who married Jacob Zundle, resides in Westmoreland County; Joseph B., who is deceased; Mary Elizabeth, who married Sam- uel Wymer, lives in Westmoreland County; Henry A., who lives at West Newton; John W .; Martha E., who married John Baker, of Westmoreland County; and Han- nah E. and Nancy Caldwell, both of whom are deceased.

John W. MeLain attended the district schools of West- moreland County until he was about eighteen years of age, since when he has been interested in farming as his main business. He purchased his present property in 1898, and moved to it in 1907 and has made many im- provements here. He owns valuable tenant property at Mckeesport and until within a few years, when he sold out, was financially interested in a coal company in Ken- tucky and at one time held options on 10,000 acres of coal land but allowed them to lapse.

On May 23, 1872, Mr. MeLain was married to Miss Belle Elliott, a daughter of Alexander Elliott, of Alle- gheny County, Pa., and they have had the following chil- dren: Avery Laurence, who resides in Fayette County; David W., who resides with his father, both of these sons being married; Nannie B., who married H. H. Zel- lars, lives in Cross Creek Township; Lillie D., who lives at home; and Mary F., who married Edward Farmer, resides in Cross Creek Township. The mother of the above children died March 4, 1898. In 1901, Mr. Mc- Lain was married (second) to Miss Beatrice Bicknell, a daughter of S. A. and Libbie (Nelson) Bicknell, of Knox County, Ind. Mr. MeLain and family are mem- bers of the Olive Branch Baptist Church in Westmore- land County. He has never voted any other than the

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WILLIAM CROSBIE

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Republican ticket, and while living in Lostraves Town- ship, Westmoreland County, served many times in town- ship offices and was a representative citizen there.

M. F. WHITEHILL, one of Washington's substantial and representative citizens, who, for the past twenty years has occupied his present comfortable residence at No. 419 East Maiden street, was born in Clarion County, Pa., in 1854, remained there through his school period and first entered into business there.

Mr. Whitehill was yet young when he began his opera- tions in the oil fields. From the Clarion County fields he pushed forward into the MeKean County oil seetions and later worked in the oil regions of Allegheny County, N. Y. Hle was one of the first operators who took note of the richness of the Washington County fields and from then until the present has been identified with oil and gas developments here. He has also been interested in the Oklahoma fields and for three years past has also been operating in Illinois.

In 1881, Mr. Whitehill was married to Miss Ellen Hess- ler, who was born near Meadville, Pa., and they have five children: H. H., L. L., M. F., Nina and Ellen, the eldest sou being engaged in the Illinois fields. Mr. White- hill has always been an active and interested citizen since taking up his residence at Washington and unostenta- tionsly has given support to many public enterprises of acknowledged value.

WILLIAM CROSBIE, to whom eredit should be given by the whole people of the United States, as one of the very first men who called publie attention to the great duty of preserving the forests of the country, has worked for many years with tongue and pen, to arouse the slumbering people who carelessly permit their great natural wealth to be taken from them. His appeal aroused public attention as far back as the adminis- tration of Gen. Grant, who was so impressed that he even sent a recommendation to Congress to create the office of Commissioner of Forestry, which found many advocates in the llouse, but was lost ,at that time, in the Senate. Mr. Crosbie is one of Washington's most valued citizens. He was born in July, 1832, in Lin- lethgowshire, Seotland.

At the age of 21 years, Mr. Crosbie came to America, his objective point being Washington County, Pa. After a few months spent at Canonsburg he came to Wash- ington and had charge of the Washington Nursery for one year, after which he returned to Canonsburg, where he engaged for five years in a nursery and fruit grow- ing business. He continued to be interested in agri- cultural work until Apr. I, IS68, when he returned to this eity in order to take charge of the Washington

Cemetery, a position he has held ever since. At that time the cemetery tract included less than 50 acres, where now there are 250 acres, a large part of which is still a primeval forest. According to Mr. Crosbie's arrangement, bits of forest relieve the burial spots, and this gives a dignity to Washington Cemtery that is not found elsewhere. He has made it a point, for many years, to keep adding a certain amount of ornamental vegetation, and in the spring of 1909 he made an ad- dition of 300 distinet plants to the already large col lection. In 1907 he put out a botanical arrangement which will ultimately add greatly to the interest and ornamentation of these carefully kept saered grounds. To the native oak trees, Mr. Crosbie has added eight distinct varieties of the oak family and among these is a redar of Lebanon, a eedar from the Himalaya Mountains, and a specimen from Japan. In 1907 he secured a fine collection from the Botanical Gardens at Washington, D. C. The cemetery directors have given Mr. Crosbie a free hand in his selection of plants and trees, and his knowledge, taste and judgment have qualified him for this position of confidence. In his youth he served an apprenticeship to a forester, in Scot- land, one who had received a gold medal from Prince Albert.

In experimenting with trees in Washington County, Mr. Crosbie follows exclusively the old Scotch methods. He keeps the stems of tender young trees covered with leaves to protect them from the heat of the sun. and in this way the result is a solid, all-round log when the tree has matured. He has been the recipient of several communications from the Congress of the United States in reference to his methods, and he has proved that he can grow superior lumber to any that can be found in American forests. Recently he was honored by being elected a member of the National Association of For- esters.

At Gate Honse, on Fleet, in the South of Scotland, Mr. Crosbie was married to Miss lane Hodder, and to them were born four sous and four daughters, namely : John aud David, both residents of Washington; Alex- ander, a minister, residing in New York City; Frank, a minister in Ohio; Susie, wife of George Bailey, re- siding at Pittsburg; Maggie, wife of Wallace Ely, re- siding in Washington County; Lyda, wife of Rev. Thomas Boone, of Washington; and Mary, now de- ceased. Mr. Crosbie was a member of the old Center Church of Canonsburg, later the United Presbyterian. For many years he has been an elder in the First United Presbyterian Church at Washington. For a long period he was interested in the Waverly Clan, of Pittsburg. He is a charter member of the Washington Historical Society and belongs also to the Taxpayers' Union, of

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Washington County. When he took charge of the ceme- tery it contained 800 graves. This "God's Acre" now contains about 8,000 quiet sleepers.

MILTON L. DAVIS, treasurer of the West Alexander Agricultural Society has been a resident of West Alex- ander, Pa., since the spring of 1909, coming from Ohio County, W. Va., where he had formerly been engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Davis was born in West Virginia, January 20, 1864, and is a son of Isaac and Celia (Gibson) Davis.

The paternal grandfather of Mr. Davis was William Davis, who was a very early settler in Donegal Town- ship, Washington County, Pa., and there Isaac Davis, his son, was born and reared, later moving to West Vir- ginia, where he subsequently married Celia Gibson, and of their children four sons and one daughter survive, namely : William E. and James W., both of whom live in Ohio County, W. Va .; Albert M., residing near War- ren, Ohio; and Sallie A., wife of John N. Chambers, and Milton L., both of West Alexander.

Milton L. Davis grew to manhood in Ohio County, in boyhood attending the public schools and later attended Waynesburg College one year. He also graduated from Frazier's Business College at Wheeling, W. Va. He then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and suc- cessfully carried on farming, dairying and stock raising for some years.

Mr. Davis married Mrs. Annie P. Chambers, widow of W. D. Chambers and daughter of James Alexander, late of West Alexander. Mrs. Chambers had one son, Roy A. Chambers, who resides at West Alexander. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are members of the United Presbyterian Church at West Alexander, he being a member of the board of trustees.

ALBERT ZELT, member of the well-known firm, Zelt Brothers, manufacturers of flour, and dealers in all kinds of grain, hay and straw, etc., at Washington, Pa., was born in 1858, in Washington, and is a son of Jacob Zelt, a native of Germany, who came to Washington when a young man, and was identified with the grain and mill- ing business the rest of his life.

Albert Zelt was reared and educated in Washington, and in 1887, in partnership with his brother, Adam Zelt, purchased the Wilson & Warrick mills, since which time he has been successfully engaged in business as men- tioned above. Mr. Zelt is one of the progressive and en- terprising business men of the city and also has inter- ests in other prospering enterprises of this locality.

In 1885, Mr. Zelt was joined in marriage with Eliza- beth Hood Fleming, a native of Allegheny County, Pa., and they have had the following children; John W., who is employed in a drug store in Philadelphia; Mary Mar-

tha, now wife of Minor H. McClain; Harry Earl; Albert Ralph; and Mildred Lenora. Mr. Zelt is affiliated with the Third Presbyterian Church, of which he is a member of the board of elders.

ROBERT E. ORR, a leading citizen of Peters Town- ship, Washington County, where he successfully carries on general farming and dairying on his valuable farm of seventy-nine acres, is serving in his second term as a member of the township school board, of which he is treasurer. Mr. Orr was born in Upper St. Clair Town- ship, Allegheny County, Pa., and is a son of William and Harriet (Myers) Orr, the former of whom died in 1907, the latter still residing on the homestead. They had six children, the eldest of these, Robert E., being born in 1863.

Robert E. Orr was reared in his native township and obtained a common school education. Prior to 1902 his time was mainly spent as a farmer in St. Clair Town- ship, but in that year he bought his present farm in Peters Township, on which he has since resided. This was the old MeCabe farm, the old homestead farm of his wife's people.

The MeCabe family is one of the best known in this section of Washington County. Its founder, William McCabe, was born in Ireland and came to Washington County and settled in Peters Township, in 1783. His son, Joseph E. McCabe, was born in 1790, and married Margaret Fife. He operated one of the first distilleries in the county and was also a colonel of militia during a period of residence in Allegheny County. He died Feb- ruary 5, 1870, his wife having died July 29, 1831.

John MeCabe, son of Col. Joseph E. McCabe, was born in Allegheny County, August 16, 1816, married Sarah, daughter of Robert Thompson, and became the founder of the Peters Township branch of the McCabe family. He died in October, 1895, and his wife, September 14, 1879. Their children were: Robert T., Joseph, Cather- ine and John. Joseph McCabe married Emeline Espy, daughter of James Espy, of Allegheny County, and he resided in Peters Township until 1902, when he removed to Castle Shannon, Allegheny County. His wife died July 26, 1904. Their children were: Sarah M., who married J. M. McMurray ; Susanna, who married William Hultz; Frances, who married Frank Phillips; Laura B., who married Walter Wedemeyer; Mary B., who married Samuel Fife; Josephine, who married Howard Kerr; John S., who resides in Allegheny County; and Annie C., who is the wife of Robert E. Orr.

In November, 18SS, Robert E. Orr, was married to Miss Annie C. MeCabe, and they have three daughters and one son: Emma L., who is a popular teacher in Nottingham Township; and Mary B., William H. and Sarah J., all of whom live at home. Mr. Orr and family

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

are members of the Center Presbyterian Church of Peters Township, in which he has been an elder for five years. In his political views, Mr. Orr is a Republican. Ile is recognized as one of the representative citizens of Peters Township.

EDWARD CULBERTSON, whe dees a very satisfac- tory business as a flerist and greenhouse gardener, at Washington, and is established at No. 403 Chestnut street, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., June S, 1845, and remained on the home farm until he was twen- ty-one years of age.

Mr. Culbertson then left home and for a few years was engaged in a sawmill and lumber business in Somerset County, after which he moved to Washington, where, for a quarter of a century he was engaged in a transporta- tion business. He then turned his attention to green- house gardening, which has proved beth interesting and profitable. He has excellent facilities on East Chestnut street and has 4,000 feet in his greenhouses under glass. He produces some choice flowers, but gives the larger part of his time to the growing of plants and to the raising of early vegetables.

While living in Somerset County, Mr. Culbertson was married to Miss Cinda Newman, whe died in 1899, five children surviving her, namely: Ella J., who is the wife of E. S. Hay, of Somerset County, Pa .; Mary J., who is the wife of Dr. Harry Gerow, of Newark, N. J .; Thomas A., who resides on Long Island, N. Y .; and Emma Jane and Todd B., both of whom reside at home. Mr. Cul- bertson formed a second union with Miss Carrie A. Weaver, who was a native of Pennsylvania, but had been a resident of Tacoma, Wash., some sixteen years prior to her marriage. Mr. Culbertson is a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Washington.

SIDNEY S. KELLY, whe conducts an undertaking establishment at Donera, Pa., also deals extensively in grain, hay, feed, etc., and has been a resident of Donera since the organization of the town in 1901. He was born May 2, 1873, was left an orphan when very young, and was reared on the farm of Peter Whitmire in Oakland Township, Butler County, Pa., and during the last five years of his residence there took entire charge of the farm, which contained 240 acres. In 1899 be became a traveling salesman fer Jackson and Mitchell, of Butler, Pa., selling farming implements and machinery for a short time, then took up dressing toels in the oil fields of Butler County and West Virginia, after which he entered the Pittsburg School of Anatomy from which he subsequently graduated. Mr. Kelly then entered the employ of M. A. Berkimer, a well-known undertaker of Butler, Pa., and in 1901 came te Donera, where he es- tablished an undertaking establishment, later forming a

partnership with C. J. Comfort, who was the first furni- ture dealer te locate at Donera, and ran a furniture store in connection with the undertaking establishment. Mr. Kelly erected his present place of business on MeKean avenue in 1904, and when he first established the grain and feed business on Meldon avenue, was in partnership with Albert Lytle, who was later succeeded by R. M. MeMahon, whose interest in the business was purchased by our subject, July 29, 1907, since which time he has been sole owner of the grain and feed business.

On October 4, 1905, Mr. Kelly was united in marriage with Minnie L. Whitmire, who is a daughter of William Whitmire, deceased, of Butler County, Pa., and they have one son, William S. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly are active mem- bers of the United Presbyterian Church. He is a mem- ber of the Pennsylvania Undertakers' Association, the 1. O. O. F., Castner Lodge, No. 1I, of Donera; the En- campment at Monongahela City; the Knights of Pythias, No. 226, of Donora, of which he is Chancellor Com- mander; the Improved Order of Heptasephs, Conclave No. 900, of Donora; the Knights and Ladies of Hener, No. 2418; and the German Beneficial Union of Donora.

CHRISTOPHER ZUG DALLY, SR., whe fills the of- fice of inspector for the Natural Fuel Company, a sub- sidiary of the Manufacturers' Light and Heat Company, at Washington, Pa., and resides in a beautiful heme at No. 170 Highland avenue, has been identified with the life of this city for ten years. He was bern en the south side of Pittsburg, Pa., September 14, 1857, and is a son of Addison B., Sr., and Drasillia (Isler) Dally.

The late Addison B. Dally, Sr., was engaged for years in manufacturing in Pittsburg. He reared a family of twelve children, the survivors being the following: Charles A., of Carnet, who is centraeting agent with the Manu- facturers' Light and Heat Company; Samuel C., who is in business at Beaver Falls, Pa .; Addison B., Jr., who is general manager and superintendent of the Manufac- turers' Light and Heat Company at Pittsburg; Mary R .. who is the widow of Archie Holliday, resides at Crafton. Pa., and Christopher Z.

Christopher Zug Dally was reared in his native city and was educated there and at Mt. Washington. His first experience in the working world was in the nail mills at Pittsburg, operated by Zug & Co., of which his father was superintendent and part owner. He remained in the nail mills from 1877 until 1880, in the latter year going to Wheeling, W. Va., and worked in the shops of the Riverside Nail and Iron Co., until 1887. Mr. Dally then returned to Pittsburg and for one year was con- nected with the Carnegie Sheet and Tin Mills, for twe succeeding years was with the Wheeling Natural Gas Company before he moved there, where he resided for ten years and still maintains his connection with that

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

company, it having been absorbed by the Manufacturers' Light and Heat Company, it buying out all the tributory companies. Mr. Dally is general inspector for all the plants of the company in Washington and surrounding towns, his years of practical experience making him in- valuable.

Mr. Dally was married (first) July 4, 1882, to Miss Nannie Lineberger, of Wheeling, W. Va., who died two years later, leaving a son, Addison L., who is a capable business man, being in charge of the Ohio Valley Gas Company, at Midway, Pa. Mr. Dally was married (sec- ond) to Miss Sarah R. Magee, who was born at Wheel- ing, W. Va., a daughter of Richard and Rebecca (Elder) Magee. The Magees had seven children, only four of these surviving, namely: James T. and Andrew J., both of Wheeling; Richard G., of Parkersburg; and Mrs. Dally. To Mr. and Mrs. Dally have been born six chil- dren: Rebecca Isler, James Crosby, Christopher Zug, Jr., Harold Brown, Richard A. and Robert W. Mr. and Mrs. Dally are members of the First Presbyterian Church. Mr. Dally is prominent in the order of Knights of Pythi- as, having been identified with this fraternal body for years and being a member of Lodge No. 114, the Uni- form Rank and the Endowment Rank, and also to Zane Lodge, Shields of Honor, all of Wheeling.

GEORGE B. SPROWLS, wholesale and retail dealer in agricultural implements, together with paints, oils, hardware, vehicles and other goods, is one of the repre- sentative business men of Claysville, Pa., and a leading citizen in the public affairs of the borough. He was born in East Finley Township, Washington County, Pa., March 5, 1862, and is a son of Simeon and Mary (Mont- gomery) SprowIs.

The founder of the family to which Mr. Sprowls be- longs, was John Sprowls, a native of Ireland, who emi- grated to America and settled in what is now East Fin- ley Township. He was succeeded on his estates by his son, James Sprowls, who led a purely agricultural life and in turn was succeeded by his son, Simeon Sprowls, who also spent his life in East Finley Township.

George B. Sprowls attended the schools of his native township and later a private normal school at West Fin- ley, going from there to Washington and Jefferson Col- lege, at Washington, where he was graduated in the class of 1884. Before entering into business he taught a term of school and then combined farming with dealing in vehicles and agricultural implements, and succeeding well in his merchandising, in the fall of 1890, came to Clays- ville and established his present store in February, 1891. He does an annual business of over $100,000 and carries an immense stock, including in addition to the goods above mentioned other necessities for the farm and home. He handles the McCormick binders and mowers; fertiliz-

ers; Oliver chilled plows; grain drills; engines and threshers; gas fittings, stoves and ranges; cooking uten- sils; bieyeles, paints, oils, varnishes, hardware, vehicles, machine repairs, buggies, carriages, and farm wagons; harness and saddles; whips, robes; wood and force pumps; lime and cement; woven wire fencing and sew- ing machines.

Mr. Sprowls was married to Miss Carrie A. Stillwagon, of West Finley Township, a daughter of A. J. Still- wagon, a well known citizen. They have six surviving children, namely: Harry V., Lena F., George B., Thomas Roy, Helen G. and Margaret. Mary M. is deceased.

. Mr. Sprowls is not only one of Claysville's most pro- gressive business men, but he has identified himself with all the interests of the place and his fellow citizens have learned to value his example and advice. He gave them an excellent administration through one term as burgess, has served usefully on the school board and for fourteen years has been a notary public. He is well known over Washington County. In polities he is a Democrat.

EDWARD H. TAGUE, oil producer and driller, has been a resident of Washington, Pa., for a quarter of a century and has been identified with the oil industry dur- ing almost the entire period of his business life. He was born at Brady's Bend, Armstrong County, Pa., in 1864, son of John and Rose Ann (Devine) Tague, both born in Ireland and now live at Ford City, Pa.

When sixteen years of age, Mr. Tague went to Dubois, Pa., and for a short time was employed there by a coal mining company, after which he became interested in the oil industry, first in Clarion County, Pa., then at Maeks- burg, Washington County, Ohio. From the latter place he came to Washington County, Pa., and drilled one of the first gas wells, which was located at Hickory. He continued in the oil and gas development of Washington County and later enlarged the scope of his work, taking in West Virginia, working in Hancock and Brooke coun- ties, and Greene County, Pa., and Jefferson County, Ohio, in all of which he is a large operator. He is a stock- holder in the Real Estate Trust Company of Washington.

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Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 59

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