USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II > Part 7
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HON. JOHN A. MCILVAINE
THE NEW ORK PUBLIO' GRADY
LUND
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
The impression he made as incumbent of this office is well reflected in the comment of one of the leading newspapers of the county, which, although of opposite politics, said : " Mr. MeIlvaine has been the chosen officer to represent the people in all criminal prosecutions in this county for the past six years, and we but echo the sentiment of all conversant with the facts, when we say that he has discharged the trust with great ability and fairness. He is a hard worker and always had a knowl- edge of the facts, and was fully prepared to present them in a methodical and eonvineing way. Although a vigorous prosecutor, he was fair; and no defendant had just cause to complain of any undne advantage hav- ing been taken of him."
While serving in the office of district attorney, Mr. Mellvaine formed a law partnersip with M. L. A. Me- Cracken and the firm soon obtained a gratifying share of professional business. This connection lasted until Mr. MeIlvaine's election, on Nov. 4, 1886, to the office of President Judge of the 27th Judicial District, for a term of ten years. To this office he was re-elected in 1896, and again for a third term, in 1906, Owing to the great development in the oil and gas industries of this county, the volume of legal business has largely inereased since Judge Mellvaine first took his seat on the beneh, but it is the universal opinion among his brethren of the bench and bar that he has been fully equal to the responsibilities which have devolved upon him. But seldom have his rulings and decisions been reversed in the Supreme Court. Before his election to the third term a desire was expressed on many sides for his appointment to the Supreme Court Bench of the State, but he declared himself better satisfied to con- tinue in the position he now so ably fills.
On Dec. 17, 1874, Judge MeIlvaine was married to Miss Ada C. Shaw, of Philadelphia. No children have come to complete his household. He is an elder in the Second Presbyterian Church at Washington. He has been closely identified with educational movements and for many years was a member of the board of trustees of the Washington Female Seminary. He is a man of kind and genial manner and his unvarying courtesy is no mere mask, but the outward expression of a kind and generons heart, which finds pleasure in deeds of charity and benevolence.
JAMES C. RUSSELL, general farmer and dairyman, who has lived on his present fine farm which contains over 171 acres and is situated in Smith Township, Wash- ington Co., Pa., for the past 35 years, was born in this township, Nov. 5, 1847. His parents were John S. and Jane (Simpson) Russell.
John S. Russell, father of James C., was a native of Ohio; but for many years he followed agricultural pur-
suits in Smith Township, Washington County, where he died Sept. 15, 1879. His first marriage was to Jane Simpson, who died in 1853 and was buried at Raccoon Center. They had eight children: Eleanor, Cynthia, Mar- garet, Ophelia, W. S., Agnes, James C. and D. A. John S. Russell was married (second) to Mary A. Vincent and they had two children: Alice Jane and John V. The sec- ond wife is also deceased.
James C. Russell obtained his education in the common schools of Smith Township and afterward assisted his father on the home farm until he was 25 years of age. In 1874 he settled on his present farm, where he has done a large amount of improving, including the erection of all the buildings now standing. In 1888 he started into the dairy business, prior to that having been a large sheep grower. He operates his dairy with thoroughbred Jer- sey eows, securing 50 gallons of milk daily, all of which he has shipped to the same Pittsburg firm for the past 13 years. There is one gas well on the farm.
On November 21, 1872, Mr. Russell was married to Miss Eliza Jane Brimmer, a daughter of James Brimmer, and they have three children: John V., M. Jane and J. S. Mr. Russell and family are members of the Raccoon Presbyterian Church, of which he is treasurer. In poli- ties he is a Democrat. He is an interested eitizen of his township, pays a great deal of attention to the public schools and has served six years as a school director.
WILLIAM B. MURDOCH, who is associated with his brother in a wholesale florist and nursery business at Canonsburg, and is engaged in carrying on an enter- prise which was established at Pittsburg, prior to 1840, by his late father, James Murdoch, this being one of the oldest florist and nursery houses in western Pennsylvania. Mr. Murdoch was born in the city of Pittsburg, Pa., July 29, 1871, and is a son of James and Margaret (Bleakley) Murdoch.
James Murdoch was born in Ireland and was a child when his parents brought him to America. He . was reared and spent his life at Pittsburg. In partnership with his brother, William Murdoch, he founded the busi- ness to which his sons, William B. and James B. Mur- doch, succeeded. James Murdoch died at Pittsburg, .January 25, 1893, when aged seventy-five years. He mar- ried Margaret Bleakley, who was born in Lawrence County, Pa., who still survives and resides at Coraopolis, Pa. To James and Margaret Murdoch there were born three sons and two daughters: James B., who resides at Canonsburg, married Sarah Sneathen; Frank C., who resides at Coraopolis Heights, married Anna Patterson, and is now a capitalist there, having formerly been a florist : Margaret, who is deceased; Esther, who is now deceased, was the wife of David K. Murdoch; and Will- iam B., subject of this sketch.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
William B. Murdoch attended the public schools at Pittsburg and then entered the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated in the class of 1896. He immediately went into the florist and nursery business, in partnership with his brother and they have developed it into one of the largest enterprises of its kind in this section. The firm was originally only a retail one, dealing mainly in cut flowers, with green- houses on Squirrel Hill and two stores in Pittsburg, but since coming to Washington County a wholesale business has been done exclusively. In the spring of 1902 they moved the business to Van Eman, where they have four steel-frame, modernly-constructed greenhouses with di- mensions of 30 by 400 feet, together with three smaller structures, this firm and one other being the only florists in western Pennsylvania to utilize the steel frame for their buildings. In addition to the large business done in the line mentioned, the firm is interested in oil pro- duetion in both Washington and Allegheny counties, while the three brothers have large real estate interests in Pittsburg and own also a farm of sixty acres.
At Sewickley, Pa., Mr. Murdoch was married, Septem- ber 21, 1899, to Miss Florence S. Murdoch, a daughter of Hugh J. and Rachel (Hutton) Murdoch. The father of Mrs. Murdoch was the publisher of the United Pres- byterian for many years, being a member of the well- known publishing firm at Pittsburg, of Murdoch, Kerr & Company. He died May 20, 1903, at the age of sixty- nine years, his wife having passed away January 29, 1898, aged sixty-two years. To Hugh J. and Rachel Murdoch the following children were born: James H., who is a physician engaged in practice at Allegheny, Pa. ; Hugh, who is a printer, resides at Pittsburg; David K., who is also a printer, lives at Sewickley; J. Floyd, who is a physician, resides at Sewickley; Frank S., who is an electrician, lives at Sewickley; Annie K., who is the wife of J. W. Arrott, Jr .; William E., who is deceased ; Susan J., deceased, who was the wife of Dr. S. F. Shan- non, formerly of Pittsburg; and Florence S., who is the wife of William B. Murdoch. Mr. and Mrs. Murdoch have one son, William B., Jr. They are members of Greenside United Presbyterian Church.
GEN. JOHN HALL, one of Washington County's most distinguished citizens, was born in Morris Town- ship, Washington Co., Pa., in 1832, and died in his native county, October 20, 1906. He was one of seven children born to Thomas and Catherine (Rainey) Hall. His father was born in County Down, Ireland, and emi- grated to America early in the nineteenth century, set- tling first in Virginia and later removing to western Pennsylvania.
John Hall received the education obtainable in the country schools of the time and later learned the tailor's
trade, going into business with his brother, James Hall, at Dunningsville. Some years later he removed to Will- iamsport (now Monongahela City) and engaged in the grocery business. In 1851 he was elected county treas- urer of Washington County and removed to Washington in 1852. From 1855 to 1856 he was in the employ of the Portage Railway Company (now the Pennsylvania) as a wood agent, having charge of the purchase of wood then used as fuel for the locomotives. During the years 1857- 8-9 he was proprietor of the Fulton House in Washing- ton, which stood on the corner of Main and Beau streets, and was at that time one of the best known hostelries in western Pennsylvania. In the winter of 1859 he turned the hotel over to his brother, Thomas M. Hall. In the same year he was elected transcribing clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Pennsyl- vania and was also appointed brigadier-general of the State militia. On 1861 he enlisted in the United States Army and went to Washington, D. C. During the last six months of 1861 he was President Lincoln's private secretary. Later he was commisioned commissary of subsistence by President Lincoln and assigned to Gen. Wessell's brigade, remaining in the service until the close of the war, in 1865, when he resigned.
After the war, President Grant appointed Gen. Hall deputy United States marshal for western Pennsylvania. He served for three years and succeeded the Hon. Alex- ander Murdoch as marshal. President Grant reappointed him, in his second term, and he was successively ap- pointed to this position by both Presidents Arthur and Hayes, serving in all twelve years as marshal and deputy marshal. During the administration of President Hayes, on one occasion when Gen. Hall was the guest of honor at a reception and dinner given by President and Mrs. Hayes, he was accorded the honor of escorting Mrs. Hayes out to dinner. Gen. Hall and President Hayes were united closely in the bonds of friendship.
After his retirement from public service, Gen. Hall engaged in farming and breeding fine Shorthorn cattle, on the old Wiley and Montgomery farms in Canton Town- ship, near Washington. He was tendered the nomination for governor of Pennsylvania by the late Senator Quay and "Bob" Mackey, who were then in control of State polities, but declined the honor, and Gov. Hoyt was nom- inated and elected. Later, Gen. Hall disposed of his farm and, following the death of his wife, formerly Miss Nancy Jones, of Somerset Township, lived a retired life at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. C. Wiley, where his death occurred.
Gen. Hall was an earnest, consistent Christian and for many years was a member of the First Methodist Epis- copal Church of Washington, having borne an active part in the construction of the splendid edifice on East Bean street occupied by the congregation. At the time of his
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
death he was president of the board of trustees, To Gen. Hall and wife were born four children: J. Add, John A., Robert T., and Belle, who became the wife of W. C. Wiley. At the time of his death his daughter, Mrs. Wiley, and one son, J. Add, were living.
During his long term in public office, Gen. Hall was brought into contact with hundreds of people, both in a business and social way, and it is probable that no man of his time had more friends. His genial manner, his strict integrity, his uniform courtesy and his ever pres- ent desire to aid those who required assistance, so stamped his personality upon all people who knew him, that it may be safely said that he was one of the most highly esteemed men of his time.
SAMUEL H. JACKSON, postmaster at Claysville, Pa., a very popular government ofheial, has served in this capacity since 1897, having been appointed during the first administration of President MeKinley. Mr. Jaekson was born at Claysville, Pa., April 10, 1951, and is a son of Oliver P. and Louisa (Cooper) Jackson.
The father of Mr. Jackson was born in Bedford Coun- ty, Pa., and later lived in Somerset County, coming from there to Claysville in the early thirties. He married Louisa Cooper, who died in 1873, whom he survived until 1889. Her father, Samuel Cooper, operated one of the first blacksmith shops at Claysville. Postmaster Jack- son has one brother and two sisters residing in Clays- ville, namely: Chester B .; Alice A., wife of Buchanan Allendar; and Nora, wife of Oliver Martin.
Samuel H. Jackson obtained his education in the pub- lic schools at Claysville and his subsequent life has been spent in associations which have largely contributed to the broadening of all his faculties. From early man- hood he has been more or less connected with public affairs in his county and State and in his own eity has served in municipal bodies and has been president of the school board. His first government office was that of store keeper and gauger and for a time he was sta- tioned at Monongahela City and Allenport. In 1890 he was the choice of the Republican party as its candidate for county clerk but failed of election. In 1885 he was elected a jury commissioner of Washington County and served with the utmost efficiency for three years. He has always been an active Republican and wields a large amount of influence. In 1892 he was elected to the office of justice of the peace, and subsequently was elected for a succeeding term. Owing to his appointment as postmaster, October 1, 1897, he did not serve out his second term as justice.
The Claysville postoffice is carefully conducted and the rights of the patrons and their convenience aeknowl- edged and consulted. Mr. Jackson has as his assistant,
his daughter, Mrs. James Smith, a lady who enjoys with him the esteem and good will of the public.
Mr. Jackson married Miss Mary A. Litle, a daughter of William Litle, of Washington County, and formerly of Buffalo Township, and they have had nine children born to them, namely: May, who is the wife of E. E. Lindley, of Homestead, l'a .; Blanche E., who is the wife of Edward Clem, of Indianapolis, Ind .; Gertrude, who is the wife of llomer Griffith, of East Finley Town- ship; Cecelia, who is the wife of JJames Smith, of Clays- ville; William O., who resides at Pittsburg; James R., who lives in New Orleans, La. ; and Eva and Winifred, both of whom reside at home; and Mrs. Melvin, of Claysville. Mr. Jackson and family are affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is serving as a trustee. The handsome new church edifice of this denomination was dedicated July 4. 1909, and Mr. Jackson was chair- man of the building committee that so satisfactorily at- tended to the financial affairs during its construction.
ANDREW RUSSELL JEFFREY, a publie spirited and substantial citizen of Cross Creek Township, where ho owns a valuable farm of 172 acres, for many years carried on large argriecultural operations there and then moved his family into Washington. He was born in Cross Creek Township, Washington ('o., Pa., March 17, 1853, and is a son of Robert and Eliza (Russell) Jeffrey.
A. R. Jeffrey obtained a district school education. When twenty years of age he became a farmer and con- tinued in agricultural pursuits for a number of years, paying considerable attention to stock raising, making a specialty of hogs and sheep. He divides his time pleas- antly between his eity and his country homes.
On September 30, 1850, Mr. Jeffrey was married to Miss Clarinda Hutchinson, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Jobs) Hutchinson, residing near Taylorstown. They have had four children, all of whom were afforded every educational advantage. Anna Louethel, the eldest. resides at home, and is the capable bookkeeper for the Washington Glass Manufacturing Company. Elsie ME. is deceased. Bertha G. and Hazel also live at home. The former is one of the four qualified pharmacists from Washington County, who passed the examination held at Pittsburg. in the fall of 1908.
Mr. Jeffrey and family attend the Third Presbyterian Church at Washington, having formerly been members of the United Presbyterian Chureb at Hiekory, in which Mr. Jeffrey was a trustee at different times. He has been a Republican ever since he cast his first vote. On many occasions he was nominated to different township offiees, but his liberal views on public improvements and his known advocacy of good roads and superior schools, prevented him being supported by the majority
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
of the tax payers. He has the satisfaction, however, of knowing that his standards are those recognized by the most worthy type of good citizens.
JAMES FINDLEY BOYD, oil producer, with interests in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, has been iden- tified with the oil industry since 1889. He was born near Sandy Lake, Mercer Co., Pa., September 30, 1865, and is a son of Barber and Isabel (Burrows) Boyd, and a grandson of Thomas and Nancy Boyd and of George and Mary Burrows.
The father of Mr. Boyd was a farmer through all his active years and he and wife still live in Mercer County. In politics he is a Democrat and both he and his wife are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They reared the following children: Guy F .; Sylvester B .; James Findley; Nannie, who married George Eckles; Mary, who married M. D. Haggarty; Walter F .; Lina E., who married Frank Osborne; and Newton G.
James Findley Boyd went from the public schools of Mercer County to McElwaine Institute, a preparatory school at Lebanon, Pa., and after four years of close study was most creditably graduated there. Later he attended the State Normal School at Edinboro and sub- sequently taught school for five terms in Mercer County. He then turned his attention to the oil industry, a business which was assuming large proportions in Penn- sylvania, and after spending two years in Warren County he came to Washington County, in which he has ever since made his home. Formerly he was rig-builder and also forman for the South Penn. Oil Company, but is now individually interested.
On September 14, 1899, Mr. Boyd was married to Miss Marian Oldfield, a daughter of Joseph and Marian (Simpson) Oldfield, who are residents of McDonald. Mr. and Mrs. Oldfield have the following children: Thomas, Robert, Emma, Marian, Elizabeth and Joseph. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is an Independent. He served three years in the borough council, but otherwise he has not filled political office. He is both a Mason and an Odd Fellow, in the former fraternity being a member of Garfield Lodge at McDonald and of Chartiers Com- mandery, and has attained to the thirty-second degree. Mr. Boyd is one of the well-known and representative citizens of Washington County and through many years of experience, has become an authority concerning the oil industry.
WILLIAM WYLIE, who, for the past twenty years has followed his profession, that of a civil engineer, at Washington, maintaining an office at present at No. 131 Jefferson avenue, was born November 10, 1859, in Can- ton Township, Washington Co., Pa., where he spent his early life, and is a son of Robert, a grandson of William
and a great-grandson of Robert Wylie, all of whom have been identified with Washington County.
The first of the family to locate in Washing County, as a pioneer, was Robert Wylie, who came directly from Ireland in 1761, and became a strong civilizing person- ality. His son, William Wylie, was born in Canton Township, September 25, 1800, and engaged in farming and merchandising. His son, Robert Wylie, was also born in Canton Township, August 25, 1830, and still resides there, occupying a farm adjoining the old Wylie homestead and still interested in farming, wool buying, and oil production.
William Wylie, of Washington, went from the Canton Township schools to Washington and Jefferson College and later took a commercial and mathematical course in the Iron City Business College at Pittsburg. For a time he was then associated with his father in the wool busi- ness but since has given his entire attention to his pro- fession, now residing at No. 131 Jefferson avenue.
He is competent in every line, his work including mining engineering, bridge, railroad and water works construction, having served as chief engineer in planning and constructing many systems of electric railways, water works and coal works. He also designed and built thirty of the first solid concrete bridges in the county, and he has designed many successful structures for the companies which have employed him, that later became standard and were adopted and copied by other engineers at every chance. For the past three years Mr. Wylie has been in the employ of the county commissioners in bridge and highway work as county engineer. He is a director in the Real Estate Trust Company and a stockholder in the Pittsburg Coal Company and in several other finan- cial institutions.
On June 16, 1885, Mr. Wylie was married to Miss Mary W. Gist, who was born August 27, 1861, and is a daughter of J. C. Gist, of Brooke County, W. Va. Through the Revolutionary heroes, Christopher Gist, and Isaac Heaton, she is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. They have three children: Eliza- beth Beall, born October 6, 1887, a graduate of the Washington Seminary; Clara Virginia, born November 21, 1891, a student at the Washington Female Seminary ; and William Clark Gist, born January 24, 1898. Mr. Wylie and family are members of the First United Pres- byterian Church at Washington.
ROBERT A. GEARY, owner of a tract of 247 acres in Robeson Township, Washington Co., Pa., operates a dairy in connection with farming, which he has followed all of his life, and was born March 2, 1838, on the old Richard Donaldson farm in Washington County, and is a son of R. D. and Maria (Glass) Geary, and a grandson of Alexander and Elizabeth Geary, who came to this
8NCI1 2
HON. JAMES F. TAYLOR
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
county in 1806 and purchased land for six dollars an acre. R. D. Geary was a farmer and school teacher and his union with Maria Glass resulted in the birth of five children, all of whom are deceased but our subject. Mrs. Geary died about 1843 and he subsequently married Naney Fulton, by whom he had three children: Samuel; Mary, who married Eli Wilkison; and Maria Jane.
Robert A. Geary was reared on the farm and received but a limited amount of schooling as he was obliged to assist with tho farm work at an early age, and started to plow wheu ten years old. Mr. Geary has always fol- lowed farming and purchased his farm from his father and his heirs, his original purchase consisting of 119 aeres, to which he added later and now has 247 aeres. He has erected a fine modern home and rebuilt the barns and other buildings, aud has two producing gas wells on the farm, but has never tried for oil.
Mr. Geary was married January 17, 1867, to Jane King, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Cooper) King, who were farmers of Washington County, and the parents of the following children: Margaret; Jane, wife of our subject; Anna; Martha, deceased; and William J. No children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Geary but they have reared three children, namely : Charles; Catherine, who is the wife of William Woods; and Bessie, who married R. R. Cummins. The family holds membership with the Midway United Presbyterian Church.
HON. JAMES F. TAYLOR, Additional Law Judge of the 27th Judicial District and one of the best known members of the legal profession in Washington County, was born in South Strabane Township, Jan. 15, 1854. His parents were William Henry Harrison and Jane E. (Jones) Taylor, and he is a descendant in the fourth generation of Henry Taylor, who came to Washington County from Cecil County, Md., some time prior to the year 1780. This pioneer of great prominence was the great-grandfather of Hon. James F. Taylor. He was the first president judge of the Washington County Courts, serving first from Oct. 2, 1781, to Oet. 1, 1783; lie served a second term Sept. 30, 1788, to Sept. 22, 1791. He was one of the most trusted agents of the govern- ment during the Whiskey Insurrection, and at that time was general of the militia. His commission signed by Gov. Thomas Mifflin is now in possession of the subject of this record, as is also the commission of Henry Tay- lor as first president judge.
Matthew Taylor, one of the family of eleven children born to Henry Taylor and Jane White Taylor, his wife, was the oldest daughter of John White, and the grand- father of James F., came into possession of the old homestead in South Strabane Township, Washington County, and followed farming through life. He married
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