Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 65

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 65

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John R. Sleeth obtained his education in the Smith Township schools. He learned his father's trade and dur- ing the winter seasons assisted him in the shop, while he devoted his summers to farm work. Until recently, when he found his health not so good as formerly, Mr. Sleeth has been very active and a man full of business, but at preseut he is taking things more easily and enjoying a season of needed rest. He takes no very active interest in public matters but casts his vote with the Democratic

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

party. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church at Hickory.

H. M. LACOCK, M. D., physician and surgeon, who is engaged in practice at West Finley, or Burnsville, where he is valued both in his professional capacity and also as a citizen, was born in Amwell Township, Washington County, Pa., January 31, 1875. His parents are Dr. Samuel A. and Flora (Slusher) Lacock, the former of whom now resides at Canonsburg.

H. M. Lacock attended school at Point Lookout, in South Franklin Township, and later became a student in the Canonsburg high school, from which he was creitably graduated, and then entered college at Meadville, Pa. His health gave out, however, and he was obliged to re- upon the study of medicine and spent four years in the turn home for a season. After recovering he entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where he was graduated at the end of that period, with his degree of M. D. After taking the State health board examination, in August, 1902, he settled at West Fiuley. He keeps in close touch with medical science all over the world by being identified with the leading medical organizations, including the Washington County, the Pennsylvania State and the American Medical societies. In addition to his general practice, Dr. Lacock is examiner for several old line insurance companies and several fraternal bodies.

On April 14, 1904, Dr. Lacock was married to Miss Maude W. Steele, a daughter of A. J. and Mary Steele, of West Finley, and they have one daughter, Helen. Dr. and Mrs. Lacock are active members of the Windy Gap Presbyterian Church, Mrs. Lacock being superintendent of the Sunday school. In a general sense, Dr. Lacock is a Democrat and at present is secretary of the Washington County School Directors' Association, but in all local matters, where national issues are not involved, he votes independently. He is interested in educational work and is serving as secretary of West Finley Township's school board. He is identified with the Odd Fellows at West Alexander.

THOMAS R. McMILLAN, who is engaged in agri- cultural pursuits on the old Lutten farm in North Stra- bane Township, Washington County, Pa., was born in 1861 in North Strabane Township, a son of Thomas and Ann (Lutton) MeMillan, and a great-grandson of Dr. John McMillan.

Thomas MeMillan, Sr., who was a lifelong resident of North Strabane Township, was a wagon-maker by occupation, and married Anna Lutton, of North Stra- bane Township. He resided near Hill Church until his death in 1867 at the age of 62 years. During the Civil War he enlisted in the famous Buck Tail regiment and drilled with the regiment three months, but was re-

fused by the enlisting officers at Scranton, Pa., on ac- count of disability. He was later made recruiting of- ficer for Washington County, and while in the discharge of his duties, he was shot from ambush one night and wounded in the right arm. He was the father of six children, three of whom are still living: Robert, who is foreman for a Brownsville Boat Building Company ; Lenora, who is the wife of William Fulton of Cam- bridge, Ohio; and Thomas R., the subject of this sketch.

Thomas R. McMillan grew up on the farm and was educated in the old Canonsburg Academy, now the Jefferson Academy. He was employed in the United States Reserve service for four years as storekeeper and gauger, from 1892 until 1895, since which time he has been engaged in farming the old Lutton farm in North Strabane Township. He enlisted as a private in Co. H, 10th Pa. Vol., in the Spanish-American War, and was promoted to the rank of corporal, receiving his discharge after 18 months service in the Philippines. Mr. McMillan is a Republican in politics, and the family are members of the Chartiers Presbyterian Church of North Strabane Township.

In 1892, Mr. McMillan was united in marriage with Ottie Ryan, who died in 1896, leaving one son, John. Mr. McMillan formed a second union Mar. 6, 1904, with Emma Palmer, a daughter of Thompson Palmer, of North Strabane Township, and they have two chil- dren: Leonora Irene, who was born Jan. 23, 1906; and Elizabeth Ann, who was born July 2, 1908.

JOHN McNARY, a representative business man of Canonsburg, Pa., a contractor in teaming and heavy haul- ing, street paving, etc., was born two miles south of Can- onsburg, in North Strabane Township, Washington Coun- ty, October 9, 1861, and is a son of Samuel and Margaret (Templeton ) MeNary.

The MeNary family is of Scotch origin and the first representative in America was James MeNary, a shoe- maker by trade, who reached the United States, or the colonies as they were then denominated, and in 1760 settled in what is now Chanceford Township, York Coun- ty, Pa. There he purchased a tract of land from Samuel Esson, paying three pounds and ten shillings for the same, and in 1764 he bought a farm from Robert McCall, paying thirty-two pounds and ten shillings. He had four sons and one daughter: John, James, Thomas, David and Jane. Jane married a Mr. Robinson, of York Coun- ty. Subsequently, James McNary deeded a part of his land to his sons John and James. With his sons he was clected an elder in the Presbyterian Church, two of the sons serving as such in 1783, in the old Chartiers congre- gation. James McNary late in life removed to Hanover Township, Washington County, with his youngest son,

THOMAS R. MCMILLAN

R-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

David MeNary, where he died at the age of eighty-five years and he was buried at Harmon's Creek, now called Service's graveyard.

The father of Mr. MeNary was born in Washington County, on the MeNary farm in North Strabane Town- ship. llis mother was of Irish extraction, her maiden name having been Jane Edgar. Samuel MeNary died in 1898. llis widow survived until 1903. They were the parents of thirteen children, namely: Jane, who is the wife of George Black, of Washington; Margaret, who died aged twelve years; Mary, who is now deceased, was the wife of J. W. Pollock; Ann, who resided in Canons- burg; Belle, who married S. W. Berry, of North Strabane Township; Elizabeth, who married J. M. Kelso; Ella, who married William MePeake, residing near Bishop; Edward, who married Luella Morgan, resides at Honston- ville; David T., who married Almeda Clark, daughter of Cornelius Clark; John, who married Jennie Whitely, of Somerset Township; Joseph V., who married Mattie Pat- terson, resides in Washington; J. Martin, who married Lizzie Hess, resides in Washington; and Emma, who married O. I. Gilbert, is also a resident of Washington, Pa.

John MeNary attended school in North Strabane Town- ship until old enough to become useful on the home farm and he remained there until he came to Canonsburg and started a teaming business and opened up a feed store. In 1897 a fire destroyed his store since when he has been devoting his attention to heavy teaming and contracting and has done a large amount of the street paving for Canonsburg since that time and street contracting, in- eluding also railroad construction. In 1906 he built the first section of the interurban line from Canonsburg to Pittsburg and paved from Pike street to the tin mill in East Canonsburg. In the part of the contract which he had under his charge, on the street railway, he moved about 50,000 yards of dirt. He has accumulated con- siderable valuable real estate in Canonsburg, all of which he has acquired through his own industry. When he was only fourteen years of age he peddled milk through the borough, while living on the farm, in the meanwhile making plans which he later carried out, his foresight directing him into the lines for which he knew himself well qualified. During his twenty-five years of residence in Canonsburg he has been an active and useful citizen, ever ready to do his part in advancing the general wel- fare. He served very acceptably as a member of the council of South Canonsburg for two terms, his practical business ideas being recognized as most valuable in that body.

In 1884, Mr. MeNary was married to Miss Jennie Whitely and they have the following children: Myrtle Margaret, who is bookkeeper for the Notes Publishing Company ; Dora May, who resides at home; Curtis F.,

who is a student in Muskingum College; and Ernest T., who attends school at Canonsburg. Since he was twelve years old, Mr. MeNary has been a member of the United Presbyterian Church. In politics he is identified with the Republican party.

LLOYD S. IRWIN, D. O., who has been established in his profession at Washington since 1904 and during the five years of practice has brought the value of Oste- opathy as a means of healing to a large and constantly increasing clientage, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1875, and is a son of Z. T. and Sarah A. (Me- Carty ) Irwin,

The father of Dr. Irwin, who is now living retired at East Palestine, Ohio, was born in Washington County, Pa., in 1848. In early years he was a farmer in Wash- ington County, but for some twelve years of his active life was a general contractor and builder of streets. His father, Thompson Irwin, was one of the early settlers in .Washington County and the family has always been one held in high esteem.

Dr. Irwin was reared in Columbiana Connty and was a student in the East Palestine high school, later gradu- ated from Mt. Hope Academy and then entered Mt. Union College, which he left in his junior year. For the one year following he taught school, in the meanwhile considering the claims of the various schools of medicine and selecting the American School of Osteopathy, at Kirksville, Mo., where this modern manner of healing was established as a system by the venerable Dr. Andrew Taylor Stilt, who still survives. After his graduation, in 1904, Dr. Irwin located at Washington and here has built up a large and remunerative practice, in many cases gaining patients whose ailments have defied the skill of other capable practitioners of au older school. He is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, the Pennsylvania Osteopathie Association and the West- ern Pennsylvania Osteopathie Society, of which he was treasurer for two years.

In 1901, Dr. Irwin was married to Miss Carolyne Chamberlain, of East Palestine, Ohio. He is a member of the Second Presbyterian Church, is a Knight Templar Mason and stilt remains identified with the Alpha Tau Omega college fraternity. He belongs also to the Atlas Club of Kirksville and to the exclusive Bassett Club of Washington.

THOMAS CAMERON MeKINLEY, superintendent of the American Window Glass factory at Monongahela City, Pa., was born February 12, 1876, near Philadelphia, Pa., and is a son of William and Mary (Cameron) Me- Kinley, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Scotland. The parents of our subject were married in Scotland and after the birth of their three eldest

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

children came to the United States and located near Philadelphia, where the father died in 1906 at the age of seventy-two years. The mother still resides near Phil- adelphia, and is the mother of the following children: John; Jennie; Elizabeth; Margaret, who is the wife of Arthur Arry; Mary; Thomas C., our subject; and Anna, who is the wife of William Jones.

Thomas Cameron Mckinley spent his early boyhood days near Philadelphia and at the age of fourteen years went to Belle Vernon, Pa., where he became a roller boy in the glass factory of L. R. Schmertz & Company, with whom he learned the trade and remained seventeen years. He then went to Genette, Pa., where he became foreman for the same firm, which was succeeded by the American Window Glass Company, and in 1906 came to Monongahela City as superintendent of the company's plant here, which covers a tract of five acres, and gives employment to 250 men. Mr. MeKinley has always taken an active interest in baseball and during the summer months, when the glass works are shut down, usually plays first base for some of the professional or semi- professional teams, and in 1906 was manager of the Dayton, Ohio, team, which he brought from a "tail- ender" to one of the first division teams, and resigned as manager to accept his position as superintendent of the American Window Glass factory, and since coming to Monongahela City has organized a strong team in this city.

Mr. MeKinley was married October 29, 1905, to Cath- erine Kuhn, a daughter of Samuel and Jane (Ross) Kuhn, both deceased, and they have three children: William, Alfreda and Thomas.

In fraternal circles, Mr. MeKinley is affiliated with the Masonic order of Charleroi, and the B. P. O. E., and Modern Woodmen of Monongahela City, and in poli- ties is a Republican, and is at present a school director in Carroll Township. The family resides at New Eagle, Pa.

SAMUEL THOMPSON, since 1899, has been proprie- tor of the Hotel Haley, a large three-story frame build- ing, which was erected in 1896 by Henry Haley, at Ros- eoe, Pa., and for the past eighteen years has been identi- fied with the hotel business at various towns in Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties, Pa. He was born September 8, 1871, near Brownsville, Pa., and is a son of George and Martha (Franks) Thompson. The father, a distiller by occupation, died in 1901, in Fayette County, Pa.

Samuel Thompson was reared in Fayette County, Pa., and began his business eareer in the hotel business, which he has followed continuously for eighteen years. He was united in marriage with Anna Litman, a daughter of George W. Litman, Jr., deceased, who was proprietor of

a hotel at Uniontown, Pa. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson: Frank, who is bookkeeper for the Pittsburg Coal Company; and Helen, Samuel, Mary, David, Nellie, Fred, Maud and Bessie.

Mr. Thompson holds membership with the Eagles and the Royal Order of Moose.

DAVID MeDONNELL, whose fine farm of 150 acres is situated in Hanover Township, Washington County, Pa., was born on this farm, Mareh 25, 1838, and is a son of Barnet and Ruth (Jackson) MeDonnell, and a grandson of Patriek MeDonnell, who was born in Ireland.

The father of Mr. McDonnell, Barnet McDonnell, was born on the Atlantic Ocean, while his parents were on the voyage to America. His father secured the present farm from a man by the name of Burnside, who had originally entered the land from the government, and he was the second owner of a farm that remains yet in the possession of his descendants. Barnet McDonnell spent his life on the place and engaged in farming and stock raising. For a number of years he served in the office of justice of the peace and he was also an elder in the United Presbyterian Church. He was married (first) to Naney Kimball, and they had three children: George, William and Elizabeth, all now deceased, Elizabeth hav- ing been the wife of David Logan. He was married (second) to Ruth Jackson and she also died on this farm and they both are buried in the Florence Cemetery. The following children were born to the second union : Rezin, Jackson, Samuel and Alexander, all now deceased; David; Nancy Ann, deceased, who was the wife of Caleb Gretzinger; Hannah, now deceased, who was the wife of Asa Owings; and James K. Polk, who was named in honor of President Polk, for whom the father of the child had great admiration.

David MeDonnell attended school as regularly as coun- try boys usually do, up to the age of fifteen years and then his father apprenticed him to a shoemaker and he thoroughly learned that excellent trade and worked at it for twenty-five years, in Hanover Township. In the spring of 1879 he returned to the farm, his father having died July 3, 1877, and took possession and has resided here ever since.

Mr. McDonnell had been a soldier in the Civil War, enlisting in the 103rd Pa. Vol. Inf., Mareh 22, 1865, and on account of hostilities ceasing, he was discharged July 13, 1865. For many years he continued agricultural operations and still is the active manager of his property, his sons all having become professional men and each has made an honorable place for himself in the outside world. Mr. McDonnell has improved his property, build- ing a very comfortable and commodious house when he settled down here.

In June, 1862, Mr. MeDonnell was married (first) to

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Elizabeth Ann Criss, who died March 25, 1899. She was a daughter of Henry and Mary ( Ryland) Criss, prom- inent farmers of Hanover Township. To this marriage the following children were born: Henry B., who is a chemist at College Park, MId., near Washington, D. C .; Wesley C., who is a school teacher and a justice of the peace in Hanover Township; Milton Earl, who spent two years in study in Germany, is a chemist with the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company at Altoona, Pa .; Curtis Criss, who is a chemist at Washington, D. C., and Fred V., who is a mechanical engineer in the employ of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company, at Toledo, Ohio. On October 8, 1903, Mr. McDonnell was married to Elenora Milligan, a daughter of John and Eleanore Tucker, who were farm- ing people in llanover Township.

Mr. McDonnell is nominally a Democrat but he exer- cises his own judgment very frequently when he casts his vote, putting the man before the party. He has served in local office and made an excellent road com- missioner. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

WILLIAM G. THEURER, who is district manager of the National Telephone Company of Pennsylvania, with office at No. 207 Washington Trust building, Washing- ton, has been a resident of this city for the past eight years. He was born in 1874, at Greensburg, Westmore- land County, Pa.

Mr. Theurer enjoyed many educational advantages in youth and early manhood, and spent four years at Wash- ington and Jefferson College. He then entered the em- ploy of the Bell Telephone Company, in the Pittsburg office and spent two years in the contracting department, when he was put in charge of the Johnstown District, then the Dubois District, and in December, 1901, took charge of the Washington District Bell Telephone Com- pany. He remained with that concern until 1908, when he went with the Western Electric Manufacturing Com- pany, leaving there in July, 1909, to accept his present position with the National Telephone Company of Penn- sylvania. His rise in his profession has been rapid and substantial. He is interested in other business enter- prises as a stockholder and is classed with the progressive and successful business men of this city. He has been more or less active in politics ever since he was eighteen years of age, when he attended his first Republican State Convention, held at Harrisburg. He has never wished office for himself, but always desires to work for good government and to advance the interests of his friends.

In 1904, Mr. Thenrer was married to Miss Minnie M. Stahl, of Johnstown, Pa., a daughter of John Park Stahl, formerly of the Cambria Steel Company, now in the contracting business. They have one daughter, Bar- bara Ann. Mr. and Mrs. Theurer are members of the

Evangelical Lutheran Church, He still retains member- ship in his Greek letter society and belongs to the Alumni Association of Washington and Jefferson College, Pitts- burg District. While at college Mr. Theurer took an active part in athletics, playing four years uu the foot- ball team, being captain in 1898; and three years on the baseball team, being its captain in 1897-8. Since leav- ing college, he has followed both teams closely, helping to coach them at various times.

WILLIAM M. RUSSELL, owner and proprietor of the Mt. Pleasant Valley farm containing 175 acres, which is situated in Mt. Pleasant Township, Washington County, Pa., two miles north of llickery, at the head waters of the North Branch of Raccoon Creek, is a man who is admired by his neighbors for his business ability and honored and esteemed by them for his personal qualities. He was born on his farm in Mt. Pleasant Township, May 1, 1851, and is a son of Andrew, a grandson of Andrew, and a great-grandsun of Andrew Russell.

The interesting history of this family begins with the great-grandfather, Andrew Russell, who was born in Scotland in 1732. He married Isabel Mays, who was born in Ireland, and together they crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1758, and found a home near Oxford, in Ches- ter County, Pa. They had ten children and they lived in Chester County until after the birth of the youngest and then decided to move into Washington County, se- leeting the land near Canonsburg which has ever since, a period of 127 years, remained in the Russell name. This moving from one county to the other was a great under- taking for those days. The Alleghany Mountains lay between and all the household goods had to be packed on the backs of horses to transport, and even then many of the necessities had to be left behind. The family safely reached the new home, which was established near Westland, in Washington County, and the Russells have belonged to Washington County ever since, for years having been numbered with the best of its citizenship. There were three sons and seven daughters in the family and they were named as follows: Alexander, Robert, Andrew, Polly, Jane, Peggy, Hannah, Ibby, Liddia and Betsey. Thus there were sons to cultivate the land, while the father could also work at his trade of black- smith. He was a typical Scot, stern, persevering, thrifty and religious, and the picture in words has come down to the present generation of the sturdy old man walking a distance of ten miles in order to attend church and sitting through the whole day in order to enjoy both services, and deeming this no hardship, but, on the other hand, a privilege. He was one of the founders, probably. of the Chartiers Church at Canonsburg. His political opinions were those then entertained by the Whig party. His wife died May 5, 1802, and be survived until June

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20, 1814. They were interred in the Canonsburg Ceme- tery.

Andrew Russell (2), son of Andrew, was born Janu- ary 30, 1777, and died March 2, 1861. He married Ann McClelland, a daughter of James and Jane McClelland, and they had thirteen children. The eldest, Andrew, died at the age of five years and the sixth in order of birth was named Andrew. The others were: an infant daughter who died unnamed; Jane, James, Isabel, Ann, Elizabeth, Alexander, Robert H., John, Nancy and William. After their marriage, Andrew and Ann Russell settled on the homestead and spent their lives in Chartiers Township. He was a member of the Chartiers Church at Canons- burg and was an elder in the same from 1832 until 1861.

Andrew Russell (3), son of Audrew and also grand- son of Andrew Russell, and father of William M. Russell, was born December 31, 1814, was reared on the old homestead farmu on which he lived until his marriage, when he settled on the farm now owned by William M., and spent the remainder of his active life here, his death occurring April 25, 1891, when aged seventy-six years, three months and twenty-five days. At Houston, on April 18, 1839, he was married to Jane Miller, who sur- vived until March 23, 1900, dying at the age of eighty- three years, five months and sixteen days. Both are buried at Hickory. The maternal grandparents of Will- iam Russell were Andrew and Sarah Miller, natives of Ireland, who came to America in 1812. They located near Hickory in Washington County. To Andrew and Jane Russell the following children were born: Sarah Jane, Andrew J., James H., Thomas A., Letitia A., Will- iam M., Isabella M., Robert A., Doret M., and an infant, unnamed. The parents of this family were worthy mem- bers of the United Presbyterian Church and during one period the father attended the church at Noblestown, riding there and back each Sabbath on horseback. He was a Republican in his political views and he served his township acceptably as tax collector and road supervisor.

William M. Russell attended the district schools in Mt. Pleasant Township in his boyhood, after which he assisted his father on the home farm and has continued here ever since. After the place came into his posses- sion he made many improvements and repairs and has sound, substantial buildings. He devotes a large part of his attention to raising sheep and cattle, keeping 200 head of the former and a herd of excellent grade of the latter.

On May 27, 1887, Mr. Russell was married to Miss Anna Agnew, a daughter of Johnson Agnew. She died May 4, 1899, and was interred in the Mt. Pleasant Ceme- tery. Three children were born to that marriage: John- son, who is attending high school at Hickory; Anna, who is at home ;and Andrew McElroy, who is deceased. Mr. Russell was married (second) September 24, 1903, to

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Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 65

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