Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 81

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 81

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

quite a large amount ef improving te do in order to carry eu first-class farming and stock raising, all of the smaller structures having been put up by him, including sheep pens, wagon shed, hog pens and granary, and he also repaired and painted the farm residence both inside and out. Mr. Dinsmore raises eattle merely for butter purposes and his own use, but gives considerable atten- tion to sheep, keeping from 200 to 250 over winter.

Mr. Dinsmore was married May 29, 1884, to Miss Elizabeth Slater, a daughter of Rev. William and Mar- garet (MeClay) Slater, of Mt. Pleasant Towuship, and they have six children, namely : William S. C., Margaret, Robert MeClay, Martha Jane, Sarah Alice and Jehn Cameron, all of whom reside at home. Mr. Dinsmere has giveu his children good scheel and social advantages and they are intelligent and pleasant-maunered young people. Mr. Dinsmere and family belong to the Re- formed Presbyterian Church. In his views en public questions he is in accord with neither of the great pe- litical parties, usually casting his vote for the candidate, who, in his judgment, seems best qualified to exercise the duties of the office te which he aspires. Mr. Dins- mere has never accepted any office exeept that of scheel director and only that because of his interest in the town- ship sehools.

HENRY M. RIGGLE, one of North Franklin Town- ship's substantial citizens, farmer, fruit-grower and horseman, resides on his valnable estate of ninety-eight aeres, on which he has 1,000 fruit trees and 800 grape vines. He was born in what is now Seuth Franklin Township, Washington County, Pa., March 19, 1855, and is a son ef Abraham and Keturah (Van Kirk) Riggle.

Abraham Riggle, father of Henry M., was born in Amwell Township, Washington County, Pa., and is a son ef John Riggle, an early settler in that section, and was one of the boys whe wagoned over the meuntains in the early days. He owned a large farm near the National Pike. Abraham Riggle married Keturah Van Kirk, who was a daughter of Harry and Mary (Jelly) Van Kirk, old names in Washington County. Harry Van Kirk was well known in many seetions as he was a skilled stonemasen and eempleted contracts all ever the county in the early building days. Beth Abraham Riggle and wife are deceased and the two surviving members of their family are: Henry M. and Thomas, the latter of whom resides in Missouri.

Henry M. Riggle obtained his eduaction in the distriet schools of South Franklin Township and from early youth has been interested in all kinds of farm pursuits. At present he leases and has control of the Manufactur- ers' Light and Heat Company's farm, which is located a short distance from Washington en the turnpike road, consisting of 165 acres of land, which he devetes te farm-

ing and stock raising. He is much interested in raising fine stock and is a good judge of the same. At present he owns some full blooded English shire horses, which have many superier peints.

Mr. Riggle married Miss Flora Beeth, a daughter ef the late William Booth, of Merris Township, and five children have been born to them, namely: Elizabeth O., whe is the wife of M. H. Moore, of Washington, Pa., prior to her marriage was stenographer and capable boekkeeper; Laura M., who is a graduate of Washington Seminary in the class of 1907 and now resides at home; Eva, Ethel and Minnie; Leanna, who died in infancy ; and John F. L., at home. Mr. Riggle and family are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a trustee and also a member of the board of elders. In his political affiliation he has always been a Democrat. He has served in a number of public capacities and in all performed the duties ef offiee with fidelity. While ·residing in Merris Township for some years, he served there as assessor, sehool direeter and censtable and he has also been superviser at different times in the town- ship in which he lived.

SAMUEL G. MCFARLAND, sen of William and Mary, was born in Smith Township, December 11, 1830. He was graduated at Washington College in the class of 1857, and ordained minister by the Presbytery of Washing- ton in 1860. He was married May 3rd, 1860 to Jane E., daughter of John Hays, of Canensburg. In 1860, after a farewell meeting held in Raccoon Church, he sailed, June 5, for the mission in Petchaburi, Siam, eighty miles from Bangkek. There he organized twe churches. In 1879, at the invitation of the king, he toek charge of a school for Siamese boys of the higher classes, and became superintendent of education for the Siamese government. Four years from 1891, he was cen- nected with bureau ef compilation, preparing beoks fer the sehoels in the Siamese language. He translated four books of the Pentatuch, a large portion of the minor prephets, the Westminster Confession of Faith, treatise on the Christian Evidence, and a synepsis of church his- tory, a beek of sermens, and a large number of scientific books, ineluding geolegy, betany, bookkeeping and a Siamese dictionary. He returned to Canonsburg and died there April 26, 1897.

His children were as fellows: William H., whe died in Bangkok, leaving a wife and a daughter now residing in Alteona. Samuel Edwin Hunter McFarland, bern in Baugkok June 27, 1864, class of 1884 at Washington and Jefferson College, teacher in King's English schoel in Bangkok, author of a "Siamese Primer," "Lessons in English," who died unmarried, drepping dead from his bieyele near Canonsburg, August 8, 1895. The Smith- Premier typewriter was changed and adapted to the use

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of Siamese characters by him. He worked daily with the type-eutters in Syracuse, N. Y., assisting them in pre- paring the correct letters. This machine is the only one in use in Siam and the foreign legations of the Siamese government throughout the world. The use of this ma- ehine is very general in Siam and the business is now carried on by his only surviving brother, Dr. George B. McFarland, of Bangkok, Siam, formerly of the Wash- ington and Jefferson elass of 1887. Dr. George B. Me- Farland has several times revised the dietionary trans- lated by his father and it is now one of the leading dic- tionaries.

The only daughter of Samuel G. and Jane E. McFar- land is Miss Mary MeFarland, teacher, residing in Wash- ington, D. C.

ROBERT D. WYLIE was born August 23, 1840, in South Strabane Township, Washington County, on the farm and in the same house in which he now resides. He has a magnificent estate of 380 aeres. His parents were David and Harriet Belle (Simison) Wylie.

The Wylie family is of Scoteh ancestry and was found- ed in America by three brothers who came together to Pennsylvania, the great-great-grandfather of Robert D. Wylie settling in the western part of the State.

David Wylie, father of Robert D., was born near Wheeling, W. Va., in 1799, and died in South Strabane Township, Washington County, in 1879. In early man- hood he came to Washington and made his home with his nnele, Hugh Wylie, who was postmaster at Wash- ington. He made his nephew his assistant and they con- tinned in office during three administrations. At that time, during his term as postmaster, the United States mails were carried by coaches over the National Road east and west from Washington, D. C., and Washington, Pa., was the distributing office for both Pittsburg and Wheeling. After his first marriage, in 1828, David. Wylie settled on the farm on which he passed the re- mainder of his life. He began with 100 acres of wild land and this he not only eleared and put under eulti- vation, but added to it, and this same farm is now one of the most valuable properties in Sonth Strabane Town- ship. In early life he was a Whig and later became an ardent Republican. In his religious views he was a Presbyterian. For many years prior to his death he was a consistent member of Chartiers Presbyterian Church. He was a man of sterling character and his qualities are largely reflected in his large family of children. He was married first to Miss Euniee Hanna, a daughter of David Hanna, of Columbiana County, Ohio. She died after the birth of one daughter, who is now also deceased. On June 1, 1831, Mr. Wylie was married (second) to Har- riet Belle Simison, who survived until Angust 25, 1883. Her parents were Gen. Robert and Margaret (Sanderson)

Simison and she was the youngest daughter in a family of seven children. Gen. Simison was a native of Cuni- berland County, Pa. Ile was a Revolutionary soldier under Washington and was afterward sent west, during Washington's administration, to survey public lands in the State of Ohio, at which time he took up a large tract of land in what is now Columbiana County. He com- manded, as brigadier general, a division of the army de- tailed to keep the Indians in check, and on this expedi- tion died of a fever.

To David and Harriet Belle Wylie were born ten chil- dren, as follows: Tappan W., who died in 1871; Hugh II., who died in 1834; Simison R .; Edmund B .; Robert D .; William S., Catherine I. and James S., who were triplets and all now deceased; and Samuel S. and David Austin. Of these, Tappan W. attended Washington Col- lege for three years and was a soldier in the Civil War, meeting death in 1871 from an explosion. He married Nancy McClane, of Washington County. Simison R. attended Washington College for two years, after which he followed farming on the homestead. Edmund B. also attended Washington College for two years, in August, 1862, enlisted in 25th Iowa Vol. Inf. for service in the Civil War, and served until its close, under Gen. Sher- man. He was detailed to act as company commissary in the famous march through Georgia, from Atlanta to Savannah. Since 1865 he has operated his large farm in Jackson County, Iowa. He married Lizzie McConnell, of Beaver County and they have four children. Samuel S. graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in 1866, studied theology for two years at Allegheny, and one year at Edinburgh, Scotland, and in 1872 settled as pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Middle Springs, Pa., of which church he is still the pastor. He also served six months in the Civil War. He married Jane McCune, of Cumberland County and they have three chil- dren.

Robert D. Wylie first attended the common schools of his native distriet and in 1857 entered the Washington Union School, where he was a student for two years. In 1859 he entered the preparatory class at Washington College and continued his studies there without inter- ruption, until he was graduated in September, 1863. being fifth in his elass. For four years he taught both ancient languages and mathematies in his alma mater, as professor pro tem. In 1868 he gave up teaching in order to enter upon the study of law. He became a stu- dent in the office of Attorney Alexander Wilson, but, owing to continued ill health, in large measure brought on by protracted intellectual effort. he finally gave up his ambition in that direction and returned to the home farm, where he has been actively engaged in agricultural pur- suits until the present.

By the will of his father, he was left 138 acres of the

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homestead, subject to widow's dower, and legacies amounting to $3,000 and about $1,000 of debt to pay off. This was the situation of R. D. Wylie's finances in April, 1879. By careful planning and exercising con- stant prudence and economy, all these claims were liqui- dated in a few years. Since that time, being encouraged and ably assisted by his wise and faithful wife, he has been able to erect new farm buildings and add to the original farm by purchases on three sides until now the farm contains 380 acres in a compact body, all paid for.

During the period 1880-1885 he was a contributor to the pages of the agricultural papers, on topics affecting the interests and welfare of farmers. He was quite suc- cessful in a number of contests, where awards were made by committees, as conducted by "National Stock- man," of Pittsburg, Pa. Owing to press of business on the farm, he was compelled to abandon literary work. And now in recalling the many events of a busy life, while there are some that he would now recall, if possible, yet he looks forward with serinity: committing all his ways to a merciful Creator.

On June 14, 1882, Mr. Wylie was married to Miss Margaret E. Walker, the youngest daughter of Jonathan Walker, of Butler County, Pa., and they have three chil- dren living, and one daughter died in infancy. His children are: Walker . M., Leila M., and Nora Grizella. Mr. Wylie is a member of Chartiers Presbyterian Church and Mrs. Wylie is a member of the Lutheran Church. Politically he is a Republican and for years has been active in township and county affairs, and in 1905 was elected a member of the board of county commissioners, by a majority of 1,609 in a very hard-fought campaign, in which a large body of Republicans deserted the regu- lar party ticket, on which Mr. Wylie was regularly nom- inated, and, joining the Democrats, formed the Citizens' Party and nominated a ticket which they supported strenuously.

During his term in the commissioner's office, he ad- vocated the building of improved roads under the act of 1905, Pensylvania Laws, but at the same time built roads in the county under act of 1895, known as Flinn Road Act, up to the limit allowed by act. During his term as commissioner, there were put under contract or completed roads as follows: Washington and Middle- town, five miles; Burgettstown and Florence, two miles; Lone Pine and Washington Road, five and one-half miles; Houston and McConnell's Mill Road, two miles; Bealls- ville Road, three miles; Taylorstown Station Road, one mile; Washington and Meadowlands Road, two miles; Finleyville to county line, three miles; Dry Run Road, three miles ; and Burgettstown to Cross Creek Road, two miles.

HON. FRANK CRAVEN, who has been identified

with the Southwestern State Normal School, located at California, Pa., as superintendent and controller of the building and grounds, for some fifteen years, in the sum- mer of 1909, was elected to be also business manager of the school. Mr. Craven was born and reared in Wash- ington County.

Mr. Craven left school when but fourteen years of age, having attended the Normal School at California for a time, and then took upon himself the responsibility of self-support. He secured a position in the railway department of the United States mail service, on the run between Pittsburg and Harrisburg, and later em- barked in the mercantile business at California, which he continued until he accepted the responsible offices he now holds. From early manhood he has been interested in politics and has been a prominent factor in the ranks of the Republican party for years. He served as a rep- resentative in the State Legislature through three terms, being elected first in 1905, serving in the special session of 1906, and again in 1907. In this session he led the memorable fight over the so-called Craven Local Option Bill.

Mr. Craven was united in marriage with Myrtilla West. Margaret, a daughter, is a graduate of the South- western State Normal School at California, and also a graduate of the Women's College, at Baltimore, Md. She is a teacher in the former institution. Kate, a younger daughter, is a student in the Southwestern State Normal School. Mr. Craven is a member of the Royal Arcanum and has passed through all the offices in the local lodge of this organization.

DEMAS LINDLEY, deceased, for many years was one of the leading agriculturists of South Franklin Town- ship, and was a representative of one of the prominent old families of Washington County. He was born in Morris Township, August 9, 1818, and was a son of Benjamin and Jerusha (Cooper) Lindley.

Benjamin Lindley was a son of Levi Lindley, who came from near Mendham, N. J., with his brothers, Caleb and Demas, about 1780, and they became the first set- tlers of Morris Township, Washington County.

Demas Lindley, son of Benjamin, was reared in Mor- ris Township and remained there until his marriage, in 1842, to Lovina Day, a daughter of Luther Day. They commenced married life on a farm in Buffalo Township, where they resided for four years and then settled on the farm in South Franklin Township, which continued the family home. There Mrs. Lindley died, April 8, 1889, after forty-seven years of happy wedded life. He sur- vived his beloved companion for several years, dying December 6, 1902. The burial of both was in the ceme- tery at Prosperity. No children were born to them but they bestowed parental care and affection on a niece,

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Sarah A. Lindley. The latter is now the wife of Ham- ilton R. Post, and they reside in South Franklin Town- ship, at Van Buren.

In carly years of manhood, Mr. Lindley was a Whig but upon the organization of the Republican party he identified himself with that political organization. He was always active in the affairs of the community and for a time served as school director and also as assessor. Both he and wife were faithful members of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church at Bethel.

HIOMER L. CLARK, M. D., a retired medical practi- tioner of Washington, Pa., who is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens, was born in 1863 at Seenery Hill, West Bethlehem Township, Washington County, Pa.

Dr. (lark was about ten years old when his parents came to Washington, where he was reared and attended the Washington and Jefferson College. He graduated from Waynesburg College with the class of 1882. Previ- ous to graduation he had registered as a student of medi- cine. He spent one year at the Bellevue Medical College of New York, and in 1885 graduated in medicine from the University of Maryland, and first embarked in the practice of medicine at Morgantown, W. Va., where for three years he made very satisfactory progress. He then came to Washington, where he associated himself in practice with his father with whom he continued until about five years ago, when, owing to ill health, he was compelled to retire from active work.

On June 25, 1882, Dr. Clark was joined in the bonds of wedlock with Emma Louise Sypher, of Waynesburg, a lineal descendant of Capt. James Seals of Revolution- ary fame, and of their union have been born the fol- lowing children: Lucy A., a teacher in the Washington Public schools; Paul L., who is employed in a grocery store; Byron, who is a student at Washington and Jef- ferson College, and Homer and Benton. Dr. Clark holds membership with the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Washington.

WILLIAM R. MeKEAN, a florist and one of the high- ly esteemed citizens of Charleroi, Pa., comes of that branch of the MeKean family, which at one time owned a large amount of the land npon which the present site of Charleroi is located. Ile was born December 23, 1857, at Ingram, Allegheny County, Pa., and is a son of Robert and Jeanette (Caird) MeKean.

Robert MeKean was a gardener and truck farmer during his active career, and was a large land owner, having at one time a traet of 220 acres, which lie in the heart of the borough of Charleroi, and also owned the Thomas Red and William MeMahon farms, which also form the present site of Charleroi. He was for some time engaged in truck farming at Mansfield, Allegheny

County, then came to Washington County, January 1, 1866, and located on the farm which he purchased in the previous year. Here he engaged in truck gardening on a large scale until the town of Charleroi was laid out, when he disposed of his land to the Charleroi Land Com- pany, retaining about fifty-one acres, one of which our subject now resides upon, the remaining fifty acres lying on the hill, being on the other side of Fifth street. Rob- ert MeKean died October 24, 1893, and his wife died April 29, 1890. They were the parents of eight children : James S., who died April 29, 1900, was a prominent banker, president of the Union Trust Company of Pitts- burg, and served as postmaster of that city for four years; William, who died aged three years; John C., who is a resident of Charleroi; William R., the subject of this sketch; Andrew C., who lives at Charleroi; Agnes (Mrs. Stewart) and Robert A., both of whom reside at Pittsburg; and Mary, who married C. F. Thompson.

William R. MeKean was reared on his father's farm, where he assisted his father in gardening and has for years been owner of a floral establishment, his green- houses being located on the corner of Third and Lincoln streets. He was united in marriage with Ada Maguire, a danghter of Howard E. and Mary (Atkinson) Maguire. She was born and reared in Greenville, Mercer County, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. MeKean have two children; James S. and Mary Jeanette. Mr, MeKean is a Knight Tem- plar Mason.

JOHN M. RAAB, president and organizer of the J. M. Raab & Brother Hardware Company, extensive deal- ers in hardware and farm implements at Midway, Pa., and a representative citizens of the borough, was born in Mt. Pleasant Township, Washington County, Pa., Oc- tober 31, 1863, and is a son of Martin and Elizabeth (Lutz) Raab.

The parents of Mr. Raab were of German ancestry and the father was a well known farmer in Mt. Pleasant Township for a number of years. Both he and wife were good, Christian people, worthy members of the Ger- man Lutheran Church. They were parents of the follow- ing children: John M .; Elizabeth, who married J. F. Stroble; Mary, who is deceased; Frank W., who is in partnership with is eklest brother, in the hardware busi- ness; Catherine, who is the widow of J. H. Winters; and two that died in infancy.

John M. Raab's school days ended when he was thir- teen years of age, his services then becoming valuable to his father on the farm, and he remained there engaged in farming and stock raising until he was twenty-seven years of age, and after that continued on a rented farm for seven years. In 1901, in partnership with his brother. Frank W., he embarked in the present business at Mid- way, which has proved a profitable one. The firm han-

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dles all kinds of general hardware and farm implements of every description and it has a wide acquaintance through the farming districts around Midway, enjoying a large trade on account of reliable goods and honest methods of disposing of them.

On April 8, 1896, Mr. Raab was married to Miss Alice Winters, who is a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Gamble) Winters. Her parents had the following chil- dren: J. H., who is deceased; Alice; Catherine, who is the widow of Frank Jones; William; Agnes, deceased, who was the wife of E. H. Hartman. Mr. and Mrs. Raab have three children: Thomas Martin, Carl Robert and Zelda Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Raab are members of the United Presbyterian Church. In politics, as was his late father, he is a Democrat.

NICHOLAS VEESER, president and general manager of the Acme Brewing Company of Bentleyville, Pa., of which he was the promoter and organizer, has been a resident here since July, 1907. He was born December 22, 1861, in the southern part of Germany, and is a son of Valentine and Alice Veeser, the former of whom was a miller by trade.

Nicholas Veeser was about ten years old when his parents came to the United States, and they located in Wisconsin. There he was reared and subsequently entered the Brewers' Academy at Chicago, from which he graduated in 1896, since which time he has served as brew master in various parts of the country, including San Francisco, Denver, and Peru, Ill., where he was located for five years, after which he had charge of the Char- leroi Brewing Company at Charleroi, Pa., for five years. He then came to Bentleyville, where he promoted and sold stock for the Acme Brewing Company, of which he has been president and manager since its organization, with John P. Kosters, of Charleroi, as secretary and treasurer. The erection of the brewery was begun Sep- tember 6, 1906, and was completed June 15, 1907, the first brew having been put out on July 2, 1907. They employ from twenty-five to thirty men in the brewery, bottling house and on the wagons, and ship to Donora, Charleroi, Monessen and various other towns, sending out from eight to ten wagons daily.

Mr. Veeser was united in marriage with Augustina Zihmer. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythi- as and the Eagles.

ALANSON RITNER DAY, a contract painter and decorator of Monongahela City, who was elected an al- derman in 1907, was born April 5, 1873, in Colorado, and is a son of Rev. Alanson R. and Lydia M. (Cort) Day.

Rev. Alanson Ritner Day was born at Sparta, Morris Township, Washington County, Pa., and is a son of William Day, who engaged in farming near Sparta, and

for many years operated a sawmill during his early life. He was one of six children born to his parents, namely : Alanson; Theo; Alvina; Howard, deceased; Ida, and Edith, deceased. Rev. Alanson R. Day was reared on his father's farm in Morris Township and graduated from Washington and Jefferson College and the Alle- gheny Theological Seminary, after which he surveyed and completed a map of Washington County. After his marriage he moved to the West, making the trip from Kansas to Colorado in covered wagons, and about 1861, established the First Presbyterian Church of Denver, which was the first church of any denomination founded in that city. He subsequently preached in various parts of the West, finally locating in Milwaukee, Wis., where he was admitted to the bar, but never embarked in the practice of law. In 1887, Rev. Day came to Pennsyl- vania and located at Homestead, Allegheny County, for two years, then moved to Monongahela City, where he resided four years, and is now living in retirement in Huntingdon County, Pa., having built a church at Saxony. He was united in marriage with Lydia Margaret Cort, who was a graduate of Washington and Jefferson College, and of their union were born the following children: lda, married H. C. Sutman; Edith, is the wife of Ed- ward Sheriff; Clara, married John Buckley, both are deceased; Ella, married A. H. Findlay; Ruth, married Fred Hague; Anna (Mrs. W. O. Scoonover) ; Alanson Ritner; Flora (Mrs. Joseph B. Searle) ; and two who died in infancy. Mrs. Day passed out of this life in Monon- gahela in 1901, at the age of sixty-five years.

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Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 81

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