Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 8

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 8

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Nancy Hutchinson and to them were born eleven chil- dren, William Henry Harrison, father of Ion. James E., being the fifth in order of birth. Ile was born in South Strabane Township, Washington County, Pa., in 1830, and his education was obtained in the district schools and at Washington and Jefferson College, which latter institution he attended for several years. At home he was taught all the duties pertaining to the management of the farm and there lie remained until 1866, when ho moved to Washington in order to afford his children better educational opportunities. He there embarked in a general fresh and salt meat business, which included pork packing and stoek buying. His successful business career was brought to a close by his untimely death when aged but 55 years. Ile was a man of sterling character and was respected and esteemed by all who knew him. He gave his children every advantage in his power and received from them the loving vener- ation of dutiful descendants. In polities be was an earnest supporter of Republican principles, not for any advantage that would accrue to him, but because he believed in their soundness. He was a liberal suporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church and its benevolent enterprises and was a consistent member for many years. In 1850, he married Miss Jane E. Jones, a daughter of Charles E. and Sarah (Judson) Jones, both of whom were born in England. They came to America in 1827, locating at Washington, where Mr. Jones followed ear- pentering and contraeting. Mrs. Sarah Jones died in 1871, and Charles E. Jones in 1883.

To William H. H. Taylor and wife six children were born, as follows: Edward M., James Franklin, Emma, Alice, William Nelson and Susan Jane. Edward M. was graduated in 1872 from Washington and Jefferson Col- lege and afterwards from the Boston School of Divinity. He is now pastor of the Tremont Methodist Episcopal Church at Boston, Mass. He married Mary Bradford, a descendant of Gov. Bradford of the Plymouth Colony. Emma, the oldest daughter, married the late John A. Hall, who was assistant postmaster at Washington for

many years. Alice died when aged II years. William Nelson graduated from the Poughkeepsie Business Col- lege and now resides in East End, Pittsburg, and is a vice president and manager of the National Lead and Oil Company and a director of the Commonwealth Trust Company of that city. He married a daughter of Stephen Crump. Susan Jane is the wife of Dr. J. M. Maurer, of Washington. The mother of the above family, although now advanced in years, enjoys good health and continues to reside at the old town home of the family which is situated on West Wheeling street.

James Franklin Taylor received a good English edu- cation in the public schools of Washington, to which place he came with his parents when about 12 years old.

580

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

He then became a student in the preparatory department of Washington and Jefferson College and remained until the end of the junior year at which time he left college, intending to return after a year's recuperation. How- ever, after he realized that his old classmates had grad- uated and gone from the institution in the meanwhile, when his vacation was over he decided to take up the study of law at Washington and for this purpose entered the office of Hon. Boyd Crumrine, in 1876. On Oct. 15, 1879, he was admitted to the bar and returned to Mr. Crumrine's office as an assistant and remained asso- ciated with him until 1883, in which year he was elected district attorney. His popularity and efficiency were proved by his re-election to the office for another three- year term. He was secretary of the Republican County Committee, and in 1882 was elected its chairman. He served also as assistant burgess of Washington for one term. On Jan. 1, 1891, he formed a law partnership with Winfield MeIlvaine, which connection lasted for a number of years, the firm being one of the strongest combinations of legal talent in the county.

On June 24, 1895, Mr. Taylor was appointed judge of Common Pleas, by Gov. Hastings. He was elected Ad- ditional Law Judge of the 27th Judicial District, in November, 1895, for a ten-year term, and was re-elected to the same position in November, 1905. His record on the bench has shown him to be possessed of all the req- uisite qualifications for the judgeship, these including quick intelligence, a broad and discriminating mind and an absolute sense of fairness and impartiality that en- ables him to give to each side of a case full and equal consideration. His uniform courtesy has rendered him popular with the members of the bar and there is little doubt that history will record his name as one of the ahlest jurists of Washington County.

Judge Taylor was married in September, 1884, to Annie Walton, the eldest daughter of Rev. Richard L. Miller, D. D., pastor of a Methodist Episcopal Church in Pittsburg. They are parents of four children: Alice, Woodward, Virginia and Gladys. In December, 1907, Alice was married to Clifton F. Brittain, of Crofton, Pa. In Feburary, 1908, Virginia was married to Carl D. Schultz, of Pittsburg. Judge Taylor and family enjoy a comfortable home in the neat brick residence at No. 375 East Maiden street.

Judge Taylor is a Republicau and was chosen a presi- dential elector at the Republican State Convention in 1908. He has been connected in various ways and at different times with the general progress and business interests of the county. He was one of the first directors of the Citizens' National Bank and one of its original stockholders, and was one of the three members of the building committee appointed on the erection of the said bank. For a number of years he has been a trustee of

Washington and Jefferson College, and he now is presi- dent of the General Alumni Association of said college. While a student there he was a prominent member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and has never lost interest in that society.

JAMES J. HOTT, who is superintendent of the Char- leroi Brewery, which is a branch of the Independent Brewing Company, of Pittsburg, Pa., was burgess of Charleroi from 1906 until March 4, 1909, and is identi- fied with various leading business enterprises of this city, and is well-known throughout the county. He was born April 10, 1861, on a farm in Hardy County, W. Va., and is a son of John H. and Eliza Jane (Saville) Hott. When a lad of six years his parents removed to Raw- lings Station, Md., and thence to Frostburg, Md., where the father died in 1894, and the mother in 1904.

James J. Hott was practically reared at Frostburg, where he attended the common schools. On June 1, 1888, he came to Pennsylvania and located at Connellsville, where he engaged in the piano, sewing machine and organ business until 1891, when he came to Charleroi, where he carried on the same business for two years. In May, 1893, Mr. Hott became proprietor of the Hotel Redd, which he conducted until May 1, 1896, at which time he purchased the Hotel Clement, of which he was proprietor for a period of six years. He disposed of his interest in the hotel in April, 1902, and embarked in the real estate and insurance business, and for the past three years has been superintendent of the Charleroi Brewery. Mr. Hott is also president of the Charleroi Real Estate Agency, is a director of the Bank of Charleroi, also of the Telephone Company, and is vice-president and a director of the Adena Mining Company, of Adena, Ohio.

Mr. Hott served five years on the Charleroi council, of which he was president two years. He is a charter member of the Elks at Charleroi. On March 31, 1909, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Hassinger.

ALBERT DAVIS SCOTT, one of the oldest merchants of Monongahela City, Pa., and a life-long resident of this locality, was born in April, 1844, and is a son of John and Hannah (Davis) Scott.

John Scott was born in 1798, in Maryland, and in 1800 was brought by his parents across the mountains in a pack saddle and located in Washington County, Pa., near Monongahela City. His father, James Scott, was a carpet weaver by trade and died at Millsboro. John was reared in Washington County, where he learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed many years. In 1835 he drove a six-horse team across the mountains car- rying merchandise, our subject having in his possession an old invoice, showing one load of five tons. John Scott spent his entire life within ten miles of Monon-

WASHINGTON HOSPITAL, WASHINGTON

CITY HOSPITAL. WASHINGTON

YOUNG LADIES' SEMINARY. WASHINGTON

PENNSYLVANIA DEPOT. WASHINGTON

Y. M. C. A. BUILDING, WASHINGTON

UNION TRUST COMPANY. WASHINGTON

URK

TRY

. NE D. T'ONS.

583

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

gahela City and died in 1890 in his ninety-second year. Ile was first united in marriage with Hannah Davis, who came here from Ohio, and of their union were born ten children, most of whom died young: Amanda, deceased ; Cassie, married William Boyde, both deceased; Rebecca, deceased; Anna, deceased; Albert Davis, the subject of this sketch, was the only son, who grew to maturity.

Albert D. Scott was reared near Monongahela City, attended the district schools of that locality three months each year until seventeen years of age, when, owing to the poor eirenmstances of the family, he started ont in life for himself, working at all kinds of odd jobs, spend- ing some time in the brick yards, and also worked on the river. He managed by much hard labor to lay aside a little money, and when the Civil War broke out, he and two neighbor boys, James and Kerr Cassner, started a meat wagon through this part of the country. The rattle were butchered at the Cassner farm, which was located on the present site of Donora, Pa .. and the meat peddled along the river. In 1858 he entered the employ of David H. Williams, who was a farmer of Mononga- hela City, with whom he formed a partnership the fol- lowing year, and with whom he continued in business about ten years. They were among the unfortunates (luring the panie of 1573 and dropped the meat business. About 1878, they opened a grocery store in Mononga- hela City, in our subjeet 's present store, but during the following winter lost money by giving credit, and finally dissolved partnership, dividing their stock, etc. Mr. Scott remained in the old location and opened his pres- ent store on a eash basis and as business has increased has enlarged his store room and added to his stock, now carrying a complete line of groceries, fine china, cut glass, lamps, ete.

In December, 1869, Mr. Scott was united in marriage with Rebecca Ammon, who was born and reared near Monongahela City, and they have had a family of five children: Anna Retta, wife of S. C. Markell; Mary, is the widow of lohn Oehrle and has one child, John Albert Scott Oehrle; Albert T., married Mable Collard, and has two children, Amanda R. and Robert K .; Judson K., who is manager of his father's store; and John, who died aged seven years. Mr. Scott's residence is located at No. 408 Cole street. He is a director of the Standard Real Estate Company of Donora, Pa .: is identified with the Democratic party in politics, and religiously, is a member of the Baptist church.

JAMES A. GALBRAITH, deceased, formerly was a representative citizen of Washington County, at one time filling the office of recorder of deeds, and at the time of his death was a resident of Canonsburg. where he was an extensive dealer in grain and farm machinery. He was born on the old Galbraith homestead, in Smith

Township, Washington Co., Pa., and was a son of Will iam and Isabella ( Welch) Galbraith.

William Galbraith was born in Scotland. lle mar: ried Isabella Welch, a native of Ireland and they then came to America, soon after locating on a farm near Burgettstown, in Smith Township, Washington County. William Galbraith died in 1860. For several years he was a justice of the peace and was a man of much local prominence. For many years he was a ruling elder in the United Presbyterian Church at Burgettstown. His nine children bore these names: Matthew, James A., Robert, John, William R., Jane, Margaret, Elizabeth and Isa- bella.

The late James A. Galbraith was reared on the home farm and attended the district schools to such good pur- pose that by the time he was eighteen years of age he was prepared to teach and continued in that profession for several years. From teaching he turned his atten- tion to merchandising and served as a clerk in a store at Cross ('reek village for twenty-one years. From there he moved to Burgettstown, where he opened a hardware store and conducted it until 1875, when he was elected recorder of Washington County and then moved to Washington, where he lived until his term of public office expired when he settled per- manently at Canonsburg, going into the grain and implement business there. He was a man of honesty and ability and left a name to his children of which they are proud.

James A. Galbraith was married to Miss Mary A. Be- bout, of Cross Creek, and to them were born the fol- lowing children: Aaron, who married Dora Chambers; Belle, now deceased, who was the wife of Charles Hard- ing; W. K., formerly postmaster at Canonsburg, who is now deceased; Elizabeth, who is the wife of S. A. Crosier ; Robert, who married Anna Coleman, is engaged in the drug business; and Nettie, who married Joseph Thomp- son. Mrs. Galbraith still survives and lives among her old friends, residing at No. 27 Sonth Central avenue, Canonsburg.

ROBERT ALLISON MANSON, a well known eitizen of Canonsburg, whose whole life, with the exception of several years, has been spent in Washington County, was born in Mt. Pleasant Township, February 18, 1857. His parents were John and Emeline (Allison) Manson.

The paternal grandparents of Mr. Manson, lived and died in Beaver County, Pa. They had the following children: James, John, Robert, David, Buchanan, Jane and Agnes, all of whom are deceased except James, who resides near Hickory and has almost reached bis nine- tieth year. The maternal grandparents, Samuel and Mary Allison, moved from Beaver County to Hickory, Washington County, where both died. They had the

584

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

following children: James, Joseph, Samuel, John, Mary, Elizabeth, Margaret, Belle and Emeline. James Allison resides in Washington State, aged about seventy-five years. Mary married Alexander McCalmont; Elizabeth married David Cummings; Margaret married Robert Cowden; Belle married James Coulter; and Emeline married John Manson. Mrs. Cummings and Mrs. Manson are the only survivors. The latter, now in her seventy- first years, resides at West Middletown.

The father of Mr. Manson was born in Beaver County and came to Washington County and settled in Mt. Pleas- ant Township in early manhood and there engaged in farming until his death, in 1869, aged forty-eight years. He was survived by six children, namely: Robert Alli- son; James Buchanan, who lives on the old homestead in Cross Creek Township, near the line of Hopewell, married Emma, daughter of Alexander McCalmont; John Franklin, who is a pattern maker in the bridge works at Canonsburg, married Mollie Meneely, who is now de- ceased; Mary Emma, now deceased, was the wife of J. Frank Brownlee and they lived on a farm in Hopewell Township; Samuel, who is a carpenter by trade, resides at West Middletown with his mother; and Harry Elmer, who died in 1907, is survived by his widow, formerly Lillie Myers, who resides at Los Angeles, Cal.

Robert A. Manson attended the McCarrel's district school in Mt. Pleasant Township, also the Limestone Lane school. After he was eighteen years of age he devoted himself to farm work for six years and then learned the carpenter trade, working for five years with Samuel McFadden, in Cross Creek Township and after- ward worked in different places until his marriage, when he moved to Washington, and two years later from there to Ingram, and two years after that returned to the farm and remained there for seven years. He then re- sumed carpenter work, locating at Imperial, in Alle- gheny County. His wife died there March 4, 1900, aged thirty-seven years, and on November 15, 1902, he left Imperial and came to Canonsburg and has continued working at his trade in this city ever since.

Mr. Manson was married (first), September 30, 1885, to Miss Ida Jane Morrison, a daughter of James and Mar- tha Morrison, and they had four children: James Russell, who was born October 9, ISS6, is connected with a pot- tery at Newell, W. Va., married Pearl Smith, and they have one child, Eugene Devid; Robert Harold, who was born May 27, 1890, works on a farm; and Emma Ber- nice, who was born September 5, 1893, and Martha Agnes, who was born November 30, 1895, both attend school. Mr. Manson was married (second) December 31, 1891, to Miss Mary E. MeNutt, a daughter of William and Nancy (Weaver) McNutt. Mr. and Mrs. Manson are members of the First Presbyterian Church at Canonsburg. He is a Republican.

JOHN LEAMON PATTERSON, who, for fifteen con- secutive years has been a member of the Hopewell Town- ship school board, and has acceptably filled other town- ship offices, resides on his valuable farm of 100 acres, in Hopewell Township, Washington Co., Pa., on which he was born, May 30, 1859. His parents were John and Jane (McClelland) Patterson, both of whom are now deceased. They had four sons: James T., Thomas M., William H. and John L., all of whom survive except the eldest.

John Leamon Patterson obtained his education in the public schools and since the age of nineteen years has been engaged in farming, being associated with his father until the latter's death, in 1880, since when he has been in charge. He devotes his land to the growing of grain and hay and to grazing, each year raising a large amount of fine stock, his unusual success being the result of accurate knowledge and excellent judgment.

In June, 1886, Mr. Patterson was married to Miss Mollie M. McElroy, a daughter of Alexander McElroy, and they have had the following children: Jennie L., who was born February 16, 1887, is a popular teacher ; John, who is now deceased; James and Mary, both of whom attend high school; Homer and Hazel, twins, and Robert, Lillian and Hugh. Mr. Patterson and family belong to the United Presbyterian Church at North Buf- falo, in which he is an elder and for a number of years was a trustee. Mrs. Patterson is interested in church missionary work. The whole family is one held in very high esteem in Hopewell Township.

Mr. Patterson has always upheld the principles of the Republican party. He has frequently been elected to office by his fellow citizens and at times has been judge of elections and also supervisor. In June, 1909, he was re-elected a member of the school board, on which he has already served for an unusual period. He owns stock in the Buffalo Telephone Company.

W. B. LINN, a member of the firm of Linn Bros., lum- ber dealers, at Burgettstown, Pa., and part owner of a valuable farm of 192 acres, situated in Smith Township, Washington County, was born on his father's farm in Franklin County, Pa., June 28, 1867.

Mr. Linn remained on the home farm until he was fifteen years of age, attending school first in Franklin, later in Cumberland and still later in Washington coun- ties, and took a business course at the Iron City Com- mercial College at Pittsburg. He then went into the lumber business at Burgettstown and the firm was first known as Armour and Linn, but later became Linn Bros. After his marriage he continued to reside at Bur- gettstown until 1900, when he moved to Mckeesport, where he resided until August 16, 1909, when he returned to Burgettstown, never, in the meanwhile, having dis-

585

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

associated himself with the lumber firm of Liun Bros. While at Mckeesport he was president and treasurer of the National Lumber Company of that place and con- tinued in those offices until 1908.

On January 19, 1896, Mr. Linn was married to Miss Alice Betts, a daughter of P. B. and Jane (Galbraith) Betts. Two children have been born to them, William B. and George P., beth of whom died in infancy. Mr. Linn is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of MeKeesport. In politics, he is an active Democrat and he has served three terms as school treasurer of Bur- gettstown, and fer three years has been treasurer of the Union Agricultural Association. Mr. Linn is a member of the Masonic order and is a substantial and represen- tative citizen of Washington County.

JAMES M. McBURNEY, a well known citizen and prosperous lawyer of Washington, Pa., was born in that borough March 7, 1858, and is a son ef Ebenezer and Mary (Maxwell) MeBurney. The family has leng been established in America and was a pieneer one in Wash- ingten County.

James MeBurney, the great-grandfather of James M., married Mary McGoffin and they had six children : Mary, whe married John McAuley ; Martha, who married James Matthews; Jane, whe married John Gillespie; and Alex- ander, Joseph and James.

James McBurney (2), son of James, was born in Washington County, Pa. He was an officer in the Penn- sylvania militia and resided en a farm in South Strabane Towship, which is now owned by the Zediker family. He was the father of the following children: Ebenezer, James, Joseph, Mrs. Eliza Hawkins, Mrs. Martha Wat- son, Mrs. Sarah Thompson and Mrs. Catherine Gault.

Ebenezer McBurney was born in Mercer County, Pa., in 1814, and obtained his education in the subscription schools. He learned the carpenter trade in Washington and subsequently erected many of the substantial struc- tures ef the growing borough. Some years prior to his death he went inte the business of moving buildings, suc- ceeding in whatever he undertook on account of being a man of energy and capacity. He thus acquired much more than a competency but lost the greater part of his fortune through his generosity and his seeming inability te disappoint a friend when he sought his signature as security. Until the outbreak of the Civil War he was a Democrat but later became and continued a Republican. Although a hearty sympathizer in the cause of the Union, his age and physical condition were against his enlisting, an accident having made his acceptance impossible. His loyalty and his sterling character were recognized, how- ever, and he was appointed and served as provost mar- shal of his district and later was commissioned a private detective for the county under district attorneys Ralph

McConnell and J. F. Taylor, and served as such for six years. Ilis death occurred September 12, 1889, at the age of seventy-five years. He married Mary Maxwell, a daughter ef Thomas Maxwell, whe was a hatter by trade and had come to Washington County from Wheeling, W. Va. Mrs. McBurney preceded her husband to the grave by six months. Twe of their eleven children died in infancy. The others were: IIelen, whe married Je- seph Shaw; John F., Alexander F., James M., and George M .; Kate M., who married George M. Haldeman; and Mary and Margaret, the former of whom died aged six- teen years and the latter aged twenty-one years. Eben- ezer MeBurney was an active member of the Seceder Church for years but was dropped from the church rell because of his joining the order of Odd Fellows.

James M. McBurney received his preliminary educa- tion in the public schools and in the preparatory depart- ment of Washington and Jefferson College, and later entered the collegiate department of that institution and was graduated in 188I. Fer one year after leaving col- lege he was principal of Mckeesport Academy, in asso- ciation with Rev. Robert M. Russell, after which he re- turned to Washington and prepared for the practice of law in the office ef Hon. H. J. Vankirk, completing his studies under attorney John W. Donnan. Since his ad- mission te the bar of Washington County, in 1885, and te the supreme court of the United States, on February 2, 1893, he has been in continuous practice and has at- tained a high degree of success in his profession. He maintains offices in the Washington Trust building, Nos. 315-317.

In 1889, Mr. McBurney was married to Miss Annie S. Reckers, a daughter of J. B. Reckers, of Washington, Pa., and they have two children: Ernestine D. and Bernard R. The family residence is a comfortable and attractive one situated at Ne. 122 North Wade avenue. He is a Republican of the independent type in his po- litical views. Always interested in educational matters, he has served many years as a schoel director. As far back as 1876, Mr. MeBurney united with the United Presbyterian Church and is an elder in the same, and has tanght an adult class in the Sabbath Schoel almost con- tinuously since he graduated from college.

MILTON C. IRWIN, a leading citizen ef Buffalo Township, serving as a member of the beard of super- visers, and following farming and steck raising as an occupation, was bern in Washington County, Pa., Feb- ruary 28, 1873, and is a sen of William C. and Mary (Dye) Irwin.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 8

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