Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 90

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 90

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).

1801. lle and his wife had a family of two sons and five daughters, of whom Mrs. Scott and her youngest brother are the only ones now living. She resides on the home farm. The children of Mr. and Mrs. John F. Scott were Francis E., Anna Laura, Charles Wilbert, Emma, Blanche Estella and Elza. The oldest and youngest of the family are successful teachers. All are now living except Emma.

Charles Wilbert Scott attended the Jefferson Town- ship schools more or less regularly until he was twenty- one years of age. Being of a somewhat mechanical turn of mind he then took a course in civil engineering through the Scranton Correspondence School and ap- plied himself so closely to study that he acquired a good theoretical knowledge of the science, of which he has made practical use in various ways. He also carries on farming and stock raising. His father having many interests, needed him at home and so he remained there, helping in all the building and repair work done on the place. The land is valuable and is favorably located and under Mr. Scott's excellent management is satisfactorily productive .. In politics, Mr. Seott is a Republican. He is a member of the Jefferson Township school board.

W. HARRY ARMSTRONG was born in West Finley Township, Washington County, Pa., April 28, 1876, and is a son of Winfield Scott and Kate (Gordon) Armstrong.

Winfield Scott Armstrong is one of Washington Coun- ty 's prominent citizens and was county treasurer during the years from 1900 to 1903. He was boru in Donegal Township, Washington County, Pa., August 13, 1847, and is a son of Samuel and Mary (Crowe) Armstrong. Samuel Armstrong was a son of James A. Armstrong, who was born in Ireland and who, when he first came to Pennsylvania, settled among the Alleghany Moun- tains and after his marriage, acquired a farm in Done- gal Township, Washington County. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. Winfield Scott Armstrong was a muem- ber of the 103rd Regt. of Pa. Vol. Inf. during the Civil War, enlisted for the one-year service. He married Kate Gordon of Donegal Township, Washington County, Pa., and they have two children, W. Harry and Flora G.

W. Harry Armstrong was educated in the public schools and Washington and Jefferson College, graduat- ing from this institution in 1900, as a civil engineer. After the completion of his college course he was em- ployed in the city engineer's office in Washington, and in 1904 was elected county surveyor of Washington Coun- ty on the Republican ticket, entering upon his duties January 1, 1905. He was again re-elected to this office in 1907, being endorsed by all political parties except the Socialist party. On January 1, 1906, he entered into partnership with George S. Chaney, forming the present firm of Chaney and Armstrong, civil engineers, of Wash-

1130

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

ington, Pa. This firm has conducted a general civil en- gineering business and has had a large practice. Since January 1, 1909, they have had charge of all road con- struction and bridge building for Washington County.

On September 16, 1905, Mr. Armstrong was united in marriage with Miss Ann M. Ritchie, daughter of the late Joseph G. Ritchie, of Chicago, Ill., formerly of Waynesburg, Greene County, Pa. Joseph G. Ritchie was one of the most prominent citizens of Greene County. He was a member of the Waynesburg bar and was elected district attorney of Greene County in 1864 but resigned before completing his term. He was the man who made possible the construction of the Waynes- burg and Washington Railroad and he personally su- perintended the construction of this road and was its first president. Mr. Ritchie was an earnest worker in everything for the improvement of his home town and served numerous terms in the Waynesburg council. He was married to Philinda Andrew, of Richland County, Ohio, who survives him. Mrs. Armstrong is the only child born of this union. In 1887 Mr. Ritchie moved to Chicago, where he had business interests. He died Jan- uary 27, 1891.

Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong have one child, Elizabeth G., born August 27, 1906. They are members of the Second Presbyterian Church of Washington and they reside at No. 440 East Chestnut street. In politics he is an active member of the Republican party and is a charter mem- ber of the Bassett Club.

ALEXANDER N. BOOTH, M. D., first vice president of the Bentleyville National Bank, and a prominent physician and surgeon of Bentleyville, who has been a resident here since June, 1889, was born May 5, 1864, at Prosperity, Washington County, Pa., and is a son of William and Catherine (Teagarden) Booth, both of whom are now deceased. Dr. Booth's grandparents, Joseph and Elizabeth (Furgison) Booth came from Ire- land carly in the last century, and settled on the tract of land on Ten-Mile Creek, near Prosperity, on which Dr. Booth was born. William Booth, the doctor's father, acquired the bulk of the old homestead upon which he lived until the time of his death. In early life he devoted a portion of his time to teaching in the public schools, and for a short time was engaged in merchandizing. Dr. Booth has the following brothers and one sister : Jesse S., of Washington, Pa .; Oliver R., a farmer, stock raiser and fruit producer near Van Buren, Pa .; Ezra C., a meat dealer of Washington, Pa., and Florella, wife of Henry N. Riggle, a breeder of fine stock on a farm in the Chartiers Valley, three miles from Washington, Pa.

Alexander N. Booth, the youngest of his father's family, was reared on a farm near Prosperity, attended

the common schools of that village and Waynesburg College. In 1884 he began reading medicine with Dr. E. H. Carey, of Prosperity, then entered the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, from which he gradu- ated in 1887, and since that time he has been engaged in the practice of medicine. He located first at West Union, Pa., and in June, 1889, came to Bentleyville, where he enjoys the confidence and esteem of his friends and fellow citizens and commands a large and lucrative practice. He is physician and surgeon of the Acme Mines of the Pittsburg-Westmoreland Coal Company at Bentleyville. He is a Knight Templar Mason and be- longs to McKean Commandery No. 80 at Charleroi, Pa., and is also an Odd Fellow. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder. For eighteen years he has been a member of the Bentleyville school board and has been president of the board for the past ten years. Professionally he is identified with the Washington County Medical Society, the Pennsyl- vania State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.

Dr. Booth was united in marriage with Mary Leah French, September 26, 1889, who is a daughter of Capt. J. C. and Sevilla (Vaile) French, the former of whom is 'second vice president of the Bentleyville National Bank. Dr. and Mrs. Booth have had three children: William French Booth, who died at the age of six months; Sevilla, and John C., who are now acquiring an education.

JOHN B. MANIFOLD, a representative citizen of South Strabane Township, Washington County, Pa., who devotes his thirty-three acres of excellent land to general farming and dairying, was born in Chartiers Township, November 6, 1859, and is a son of Joseph and Arabella (Roberts) Manifold.

The Manifold family came to Washington from York County, Pa., where both the father and grandfather of John B. Manifold were born. Benjamin Manifold, the grandfather, brought his family to Washington County when his son Joseph, who was born in IS09, was about eight years old. He grew to manhood here and married Arabella Roberts, who probably was born in Washing- ton County. They reared a family of nine children, three of whom survive: Isabella, the fourth in order of hirth, who resides at Washington; Annie, who married Samuel Farrley, and John B. Those deceased were: Re- becca, who married Thomas Boone; Mary, who was mar- ried first to a Mr. Oakson and (second) to an Allison; Ada; Joseph; Elizabeth and George. The last named was burgess of Washington, Pa., at the time of his death, a very prominent citizen. The old family home was in South Strabane Township and there the parents of the above family died when aged about seventy-eight

ALEXANDER N. BOOTHI. M.D.

1- TE EM YORK DIZI LIBRARY

. STOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.

1133

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

years. They were members of the Second Presbyterian Church at Washington.

John B. Manifold obtained his education in the dis- triet schools, attending in Chartiers and North and South Strabane Townships, afterward assisting his father on the farm. He later conducted a meat market for a time in Washington. He lived on the farm which is now the site of the present village of Manifold, a traet of eighty- six acres, until 1896, when a disastrous fire burned the residence and everything in it, including his elothing. The barn was the only building saved. He came then to his present farm and operates a dairy, selling his milk by wholesale. On the other farm rich coal deposits were found and the coal was sold to the Robinson & Pat- terson Coal Company and the village which now stands there was named in honor of the Manifold name.

In November, 1891, Mr. Manifold was married to Miss Mayme Barber, a daughter of James R. and Mary (Kel- ley) Barber, who spent their whole lives in Washington County. They were members of the Christian Church and were buried in the cemetery at Claysville. Mr. and Mrs. Manifold have two children: Leila and John F., both of whom attend school. Mr. Manifold and family are members of the Second Presbyterian Church at Washington. He is a Republican in his political views and has served several times in township offices.

WILLISON KERR VANCE, attorney-at-law, of Mo- nongahela City, Washington County, Pa., a member of the well known law firm of MeIlvaine, Vance & Gibson, was born in California, Washington County, Pa., on May 30, 1871, and is a son of Joseph B. Vance and Rachel (Devore) Vance, both of whom are descendants of pio- neers of Somerset Township, Washington County, Pa.

Since 1876 Mr. Vance has lived in Monongahela City, where he was reared and attended school, graduating from the Monongahela High School in 1889, after which he taught school in Union Township. In 1893 he entered the department of law of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, from which he was graduated in 1895. He then returned to Pennsylvania, where he read law with the law firm of MeIlvaine & Wurzell, at Pittsburg, and was admitted to the Allegheny County bar in 1896, where he practiced until 1899, although he continued to make his residence in Monongahela City. In 1899 Mr. Vance was admitted to the Washington County bar and shortly afterward formed a partnership with Charles G. Mell- vaine for the practice of law in Washington County. The firm of Mellvaine & Vance continued until 1903, when Carl E. Gibson became a member of it, and the firm name was changed to Mellvaine, Vanee & Gibson.

In 1894, Mr. Vance was united in marriage with Har- riet L. Sampson (youngest danghter of Adam Coon Sampson and Letitia S. Sampson), and to this union two

children have been born, namely, Willison Kerr 'Vance, Jr., and Adam Sampson Vanee. Mr. Vance and his tam- ily reside in Thomas street, Monongahela City.

JAMES S. BUCHANAN, who is one of Washington County's representative agriculturists and stockmen and one of its most substantial citizens, owns 407 acres of valuable land in Mt. Pleasant Township, 236 acres in Smith Township, together with three acres of town prop- erty at Hickory, to which pleasant village he retired in 1898. He was born in Mt. Pleasant Township, Wash- ington Connty, Pa., April 1, 1838, and is a son of Thomas and Jane (Smiley ) Buchanan.

Thomas Buchanan, father of lames S., died May ", 1871. He was born in Chartiers Township, Washing- ton County, Pa., and after he completed his school at- tendance, learned the carpenter trade and followed it for several years. Ile acquired hundreds of acres of land and became an extensive farmer and stock raiser and bought and sold wool. He married a daughter of James Smiley and four of their children still survive. He and wife were members of the United Presbyterian Church at Hiekory. She died March 23, 1885. In poli- ties he was a Democrat.

James S. Buchanan attended school in Mt. Pleasant Township and later Duff's Business College at Pitts- burg, after which he took up farm duties at home and after his marriage, carried on mixed farming with .J. L. Henderson, now of Washington, Pa. They were the enterprising young stockmen who first introduced the Dorset sheep and Holstein cattle into this section. They experienced mmeh opposition before they proved the superiority of the latter for both beef and butter quali- ties. A traveler now finds few farms in Washington County, that make any pretentions to being modern, that do not have at least a few of these excellent cattle in their herds. In other ways Mr. Buchanan has shown his progressiveness. He took up the first oil lease in Mt. Pleasant and Cross Creek Townships for the Niagara Oil and Gas Company and spent a whole winter in this work. In 1898 he retired from the farm, leaving his many interests there in charge of his son, Herbert Bnchanan, who is entirely capable.

Mr. Buchanan was married June 13, 1861, to Miss Martha L. MeCarroll, a daughter of Andrew McCarroll, and they have three children: Beulah W., who is the wife of Dr. Campbell, of Sheridan, Pa .; Herbert, who mar- ried a daughter of J. Reed Lyle; and Lum, who is the wife of J. B. Henderson. Mr. Buchanan and family are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Hickory. In polities he is a Democrat, doing justice to his distinguished name. He has been a prominent citizen both in public and business life in Mt. Pleasant Township for many years and during twenty-six of these he served as a justice of the peace.

1134

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

HUGH A. DAY, farmer and stock raiser in Morris Township, Washington County, resides on his valuable farm of 260 acres on which he was born, April 24, 1854, and is a son of John Miller and Elizabeth Day.

John Miller Day, the late father of Hugh A. Day, was born on the farm now owned by the latter, in 1821, and died here in 1904, aged eighty-three years. He followed farming and stock raising all bis life and was a man who succeeded in his undertakings. He was a deacon in the Presbyterian Church at Upper Ten-Mile for many years. In 1843 he married Elizabeth Hanna, who was born in 1818 and died in 1872. Of that marriage two sons and three danghters survive, namely: Hugh A .; Martha, who married John N. Wier; Ella, who married William Ash- brook; Lizzie, who married Allen Mowl; and John M., who married Margaret Wier. The father married (sec- ond) in 1874, Mary Wise McKenna, who survived him two years.

Hugh A. Day was reared on the farm he now owns and has spent almost his entire life here. He was in Eldorado, Kas., during the year IS79, but in the follow- ing year returned to Washington County. He has fol- lowed farming and stock raising as his chief employ- ments and has done well. His land is doubly valuable as it is underlaid with coal of the Pittsburg and Free- port veins.

Mr. Day married Miss Anna M. Andrew, daughter of the late Hindman Andrew, also of Morris Township, Washington County, and they have had four children: John Miller, Hugh Paul, Fred Russell and Anna Lenore, the latter dying at the age of one year. Mr. Day, like his late father, has served many years as a deacon in the Upper Ten-Mile Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the board of directors of the Farmers' Mn- . tual Telephone Company of Morris Township, and in many ways is one of the township's representative men. He is a well-known auctioner as was his father before him, and has made many sales, not only in this but in other states.

C. K. FRYE, president of the Bentleyville National Bank, of Bentleyville, Pa., and also proprietor of the C. K. Frye & Son general store, in the same borough, has been engaged in business here for more than twenty years and is one of the representative men in this sec- tion of Washington County. He was born on a farm in Fallowfield Township, Washington County, Pa., about one mile from Bentleyville, August 2, 1862, and is a son of Samuel and Jane (Smith) Frye.

Samuel Frye, who was a veteran of the Civil War, died in April, 1905. He was born in Fallowfield Town- ship and his business in life was farming. He was a loyal and patriotic citizen and in the second year of the

great Civil War, when his son was but an infant, he enlisted in Co. F, 18th Pa. Vol. Inf., of which he was commissioned corporal, remaining in the service until the close of the war. He participated in forty-four battles, escaping injury, and on his return to peaceful pursuits, he resumed farming. In the ensuing year he was so injured by a fall from an apple tree, that he lost his leg and suffered more or less from this accident all his subsequent life. His widow survives.

C. K. Frye was born on the home farm in Fallowfield Township, but came to Bentleyville when a year and a half old. He has been identified with the interests of this place ever since, taking an active part in its business affairs. Embarking in the mercantile busi- ness, he 'conducted a general store by himself until his only son reached manhood, when the latter was taken into partnership. Since then the firm has been known as C. K. Frye & Son. In May, 1906, the leading busi- ness men of the place began to feel the need of a local bank and accordingly they organized the Bentleyville National Bank, of which Mr. Frye was unanimously selected president. The office of vice president has been filled ever since by Dr. A. M. Booth. The first cashier was J. P. Neel, who was succeeded by T. F. Wickersham, and he was succeeded by the present incumbent, W. R. Stevens. The bank is in a very flourishing condition.

In 1888 Mr. Frye was married to Miss Mattie B. Mc- Elhinny, a daughter of John F. McElhinny. They have one child, Oliver M., who married Miss Lulu Phennicie, and has a son, Oliver William. Mr. Frye is a Repub- lican in politics, and fraternally he is identified with the Odd Fellows.

E. N. PHILLIPS, funeral director and embalmer, at Hickory, Pa., where he owns valuable property and has a beautiful residence, was born in Robeson Township, Allegheny County, Pa., May 2, 1869, and is a son of Jonathan and Margaret (Glass) Phillips.

The parents of Mr. Phillips were well-known farming people of Robeson Township. They are both deceased, the mother passing away in 1894, and the father in Sep- tember, 1902, he having reached his eighty-third year.

E. N. Phillips was graduated in the Class of IS89, from the Pittsburg Academy and afterward, for about five years, engaged in teaching school in Allegheny Connty. He then embarked in the undertaking business at Coraopolis, Allegheny County, which he continued there for eight years. He is a graduate of the Pittsburg Embalming School. He came to Hickory in March, 1907, and already is known all through this part of the county and has received calls from a number of the large bor- oughs. He has a finely equipped place of business here, has two funeral cars and handles the best of funeral fur-

1135

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

nishings. Ile has all the appurtenanees carried and made use of by the modern funeral director, is moderate in his charges and quiet and courteous in all matters.

On June 15, 1893, Mr. Phillips was married to Miss Elizabeth E. McCormick, a daughter of John D. Mc- Cormick, and they have had five children: Anna Mar- garet, Everett, Mildred, John M. and Harold, all sur viving except the eldest. For a short time after mar- riage, Mr. and Mrs. Phillips lived at Ingram before mov- ing to Coraopolis and subsequently coming to Hickory. Mr. Phillips owns sixteen aeres on the southwest side of the town, on which his fine brick residence is being completed. He plans to utilize a part of his land in poultry raising. Hle is a member and an older in the United Presbyterian Church at Hickory. In his views on public questions, he is a Prohibitionist.

HON. JOHN H. GASTON, a prominent resident of Finleyville, Pa., of which town he was the first burgess, serving in that honorable office for nine consecutive years, is a retired farmer and a veteran of the Civil War. He was born on the old Gaston farm, in Union Township. Washington County, Pa., October 31, 1839, and is a son of Joseph S. and Jane ( Hindman) Gaston.

The Gaston family originated in France and during the days following St. Bartholomew, escaped to Scotland. Later, three brothers of this family crossed the Atlantie Ocean to America and then separated, one loeating in Massachusetts, a second seeking the milder climate of North Carolina, while the third was attracted to eastern Pennsylvania. The latter was the great-grandfather of John H. Gaston, and it was his son Samnel who founded the Washington County branch. He acquired three farms in Union Township, near Finleyville and the place now bears the name of Gastonville, having been named in his honor. He died in this village when aged eighty-six years. His eight children bore, respectively, the following names: Chattie, who became the wife of Robert Donaldson ; Peggy, who married Thomas Perry; Sarah Jane. who married James Estep; and Mrs. MeClain, John, William, Joseph S. and Samuel, all of whom are deceased.

Joseph S. Gaston was born on the old home farm at Gastonville and spent his life there, devoting himself to farming and stork raising. He married Jane Hindman and they had the following children born to them: Sam- uel; Sarah, now deceased. who was the wife of Ralston Williams; Margaret, now deceased, who was the wife of William Penny, also deceased; Mary Jane, deceased, who was the wife of Alfred Huffman; Elizabeth, who is the widow of James Pope; John H .; and Joseph S. and William, both of whom are deceased. Joseph S. Gaston was a man of much prominence in Washington County. In polities he was a stanch Republican. For forty five years he served in the office of justice of the peace and

was twice elected county commissioner, his death taking place while he was serving his second term.

.John H. Gaston spent a contented boyhood and youth on the home farm, attending the district schools when he could be spared, and when yet young was entrusted with such duties as hauling produce to Pittsburg, prov- ing a eapable and reliable helper to his father, and re- mained at home until 1861. He was one of the first farmer boys of this section to take up arms in defense of his country when Rebellion threatened to dissolve its unity, enlisting in Co. I, Ist Pa. Vol. Cav. The hard- ships of the service he endured for two years, when his health broke down and he was honorably discharged in 1863. He participated in many important battles, in- eluding Drainesville, Strasberg, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain and the second Bull Run, and during the entire period of his service was never absent from duty. He re- turned to the home farm, married and in 1867, with wife and three children, went to Iowa and settled on a farm in Lucas County, where he lived for eighteen years, and then moved to Kansas, settling at Neosho Falls, in Woodson County. For three years he followed shipping stock from that point and later spent two years in the stock yards at Kansas City. In 1889, Mr. Gaston came back to Washington County and shortly afterward built his com- fortable residence on Washington street, Finleyville. He immediately interested himself in the public affairs of the place in which he had determined to make his per- manent home and through his energy and public spirit contributed largely to the advancement and prosperity of the town.

In September, 1864, Mr. Gaston was married to Miss Sarah A. Frye, a daughter of West Frye, and they had three children born to them, the one survivor being the eldest daughter, Wilhamena, who is the wife of Samuel Lindsay, of Finleyville. West F., the one son, died at the age of thirty-two years. Sarah, the youngest ehild, died aged six years. In politics, Mr. Gaston is a Repub- liean. He is a valued member of Major Gaston Post No. 544, G. A. R., of Gastonville.

J. NEWTON IJORN, a highly esteemed citizen of South Strabane Township, Washington County, now liv- ing retired on a farm of seven aeres, owns another farm containing 148 aeres, which is situated in West Bethle- hem Township, near Zollersville. Mr. Horn is also an honored survivor of the great Civil War. He was born in Amwell Township, Washington County, Pa., February 17, 1840, and is a son of Nicholas C. and Margaret (Wright ) Horn.

Nicholas C. Horn, father of J. Newton, was a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Closser) Horn, who lived on their farm of 125 acres in Amwell Township. They were probably members of the Christian Church. They had

1136

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

three sons: Isaac, Nicholas C. and John, and three daugh- ters, one of whom died young. Nicholas C. Horn was born in Amwell Township and spent his life there. Owing to the early death of his father he had few school advantages, but he nevertheless became a man of stand- ing in his community and was frequently elected to office on the Democratic, ticket. He was a member of the Amity Presbyterian Church. He married Margaret Wright, who died at the age of seventy-eight years and his death followed when sixty-four years of age. Their burial was in the Amity Cemetery. They had three chil- dren: James, who died in boyhood; J. Newton; and Henry W., the latter of whom is a retired farmer living in Amwell Township. He married Mary J. Condoit of the same township.

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 90

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