Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 11

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1540

USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families > Part 11

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Since the foregoing was penned Dr. Hamilton lias rendered useful service as a leading contributor and editor of the " History of the Presbytery of Washington." It is probably on account of his work in these lines that he has recently been elected a member of "The American Society of Church History," and also of "The American Historical Association."

Dr. Hamilton was married January 28, 1858, to Miss L. Louisa, daughter of Isaac Beeson, of Mt. Braddock, Fayette Co., Penn. Their eldest son, Dr. Isaac Beeson Hamilton, who is a graduate of Washington and Jefferson College, and of the University of Pennsylvania, practices his profession in Arizona. Another son, Rev. William Beeson Hamilton, also a graduate of Washington and Jefferson College, and of Princeton Theological Seminary, is a missionary of the Presbyterian board, stationed at Chinanfu, China. Another son, Joseph Hamilton, who recently graduated in Washington and Jefferson College, is now engaged in the study of theology, and has been licensed by the Presbytery of Washington. The youngest child, Louis Pennock Hamilton, is a student in Washington and Jefferson College. Three daugh- ters-Mary Kennedy, Margaret Ferguson and Eliza Lowrie-complete the family circle. All the daughters are graduates of Washington Female Seminary.

JOHN HAMILTON, seventh child of Joseph Hamil- ton, is the present proprietor of the Ginger Hill farm. He has also added to it the two farms adjoin- ing which constituted the homestead of his grand- uncle, Hon. John Hamilton. He was born September 25, 1828, in Williamsport (now Monon- gahela), Washington Co., Penn. When twelve years of age he was taken with his father's fam- ily to the Ginger Hill farm, where he has since resided continuously. On February 12, 1867, he was married to Elizabeth T. Purviance, of Pitts- burgh, Penn., and one daughter has been born to their union, Elizabeth, who is pursuing her studies in Pennsylvania College for Women at Pittsburgh. Mr. Hamilton's farm, comprising some 400 acres of fertile land, is situated in Carroll township, four miles from Monongahela, and is one of the most beautiful country seats in western Penn- sylvania. In political opinion Mr. Hamilton is identified with the Republican party, and in religion is an adherent of the Presbyterian Church.

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OTHER DESCENDANTS OF WILLIAM HAMILTON. Be- sides those already mentioned, two other sons of William and Magdalena Hamilton resided for sev- eral years in Washington county, and afterward removed elsewhere, as follows:

William, fifth child, born 1782, .came west in 1803, locating at Ginger Hill, and the year follow- ing was married to Elizabeth Lafferty. In 1816 they moved to Harrison county, Ohio, and subse- quently to Delaware county, in same State. He died in 1859. Morgan Clifford Hamilton, of Al- leghieny, Penn., is a grandson by a deceased son, William, and so far as known is the only living descendant.

George, tenth child, born 1792, was the last of the family, and came west. He was married March 17, 1817, at Hunterstown, Adams Co., Penn., to Nancy, daughter of James Dowley. They removed to Washington county in 1827. They were members of the Seceder Church in Somerset township, of which Rev. Bankhead Boyd was pas- tor. In 1837 they removed to Mercer county, Penn., where the mother died in 1857 and the father in 1860. Of their seven sons and five daughters, all are living but one-the eldest. All the daughters and nearly all the sons are members of some branch of the church. Six of the twelve have each seven children living. The grandchil- dren number sixty-six in all. A very large pro- portion of these descendants are thrifty and moral persons.

WILLIAM FERGUSON, whose daughter Margaret was married to Joseph Hamilton, was one of the prominent citizens of Washington county in his day. He came from near Chambersburg, Frank- lin Co., Penn. In 1796 he purchased from Jacob and Michael Book [Bauch] a tract of land "De- vises," in Somerset township, the same containing 296 acres, for which he paid 888 pounds sterling. He was married before coming west to Sarah Lig- gett, and they brought with them several children. He was for many years a ruling elder in the Pres- byterian Church of Pigeon Creek-a man of fine personal appearance and more than average intel- ligence. Three of his daughters were married to Presbyterian ministers: Martha to Rev. Michael Law; Rachel to Rev. Samuel Ralston, D. D .; and Isabella to Rev. John Reed. Other daughters were married: Margaret to Joseph Hamilton, Sarah to Col. George McHenry, and Florence to James Macauley. These last two families moved west half a century ago. One son, Matthew, moved to Ohio early in the century. He was a Presbyterian elder there for over fifty years. Another son, Benjamin, moved to Springfield, Ill., in the "thirties." His descendants are there still. The names of remaining sons were Robert, Sam- uel and William. Many elders and wives of min- isters are descendants. One grandson, James Ral-

ston, died just after completing his preparations for the ministry at Allegheny Seminary, March 24, 1835. Rev. W. F. Hamilton, D. D., of Washington, Penn., and his son Rev. W. B. Hamilton, mission- ary in China, are respectively grandson and great- grandson. Toward the close of his life Mr. Fer- guson entrusted his farm to the care of two sons, and removed to Williamsport (now Monongahela), to be under the care of daughters residing there. He died in 1833, aged eighty-seven, his widow a few years subsequently. They were buried at Williamsport.

AMES MCILVAINE, Cashier of the First National Bank of Washington, Penn., was born February 28, 1809, near the town of Lewes, in the State of Delaware, the third son of John and Sarah (White) McIlvaine. His parents and grandparents were natives of the State of Delaware, and were descended from Scotch- Irish ancestry. The family name is first mentioned in the records of Ayrshire, in Scotland. In 1315 Edward Bruce (brother of Robert) led a large force into Ireland, with the purpose of driving out the English troops. Great numbers of his soldiers remained in that country, and founded what is known as the "Scotch-Irish" race, many of whom emigrated to America in Colonial times, and among them came the ancestors of the McIlvaines.

To the parents of the subject of this sketch were born ten children-six sons and four daughters- and he is the only surviving member of the family. In 1813 his parents came to Washington county, and settled in East Pike Run township, near the residence of Mrs. McIlvaine's brothers. The follow- ing year they moved to Connellsville, in Fayette county, Penn., where they passed the remainder of their lives, the mother dying in 1835, aged fifty- seven years, and the father in 1851, aged seventy- nine.

James McIlvaine received his education in Con- nellsville, and after leaving school was employed as merchant's clerk and bookkeeper until a short time prior to his marriage in 1833, when he com- menced business on his own account. He became a partner in the Fulton Foundry Company, and sub- sequently, in connection with his brother-in-law, established the Eagle Foundry, and they were the first persons in Fayette county to manufacture coke from bituminous coal, which they made in limited quantities, and only for use in their own foundry. (The making of coke as an article of trade was not commenced until five years later). He was, also, at the same time engaged in merchandising, in which he continued for some years after leaving the foundry. He then removed to his farm near Connellsville, and was for some time engaged in- agricultural pursuits. Early in 1843 Mr. McIlvaine

James In Avaine

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changed his residence to Uniontown, in Fayette county, and was for six years a writer in the office of the Prothonotary. While thus engaged the office of the Coroner of the county became vacant by a resignation, and as some important cases were pending in which the Sheriff was concerned, he yielded to the earnest request of the Court and Bar, and agreed to accept the office, and serve until the next election, and upon their application to the Governor he was duly commissioned. During his brief term of office, it became his duty, owing to the legal disability of the Sheriff to act, to sell several valuable farms, and it is believed no similar case can be found in the records of Fayette county.

In 1849 he returned to Connellsville, and for the next three years was largely employed as an auditor of the accounts of trustees, guardians, ex- ecutors and administrators, and making distribu- tion of proceeds of Sheriff's sales etc., nearly the whole of that business having been entrusted to him by appointment of the Court upon request of Gentlemen of the bar. Of the numerous reports and decisions made by him while serving in that capacity, not one was ever reversed. In one case was an appeal taken from the Court below to the Supreme Court, and it was affirmed by that tribu- nal. In 1852 he removed to Brownsville, in the same county, having accepted the appointment of Teller in the Monongahela Bank, but next year he proceeded to Philadelphia, having received and accepted a pressing invitation to be Cashier in the office of the Assistant Treasurer of the United States, which at that time was located in the U. S. Mint. While engaged in the duties of this office, he received a cordial and flattering request to come to Washington and be Cashier of the Franklin Bank. Having signified his willingness to accept the office, he was unanimously elected, and arrived in Washington April 12, 1857, and was " unknown by face " to all the officers and directors of the bank, and to every business man in the town. The Franklin Bank of Washington was a State institution, incorporated in 1836; was char- tered as the First National Bank of Washington in 1864, and re-chartered in 1884.

Upon his arrival in Washington Mr. McIlvaine took rooms in the " Fulton House " (now " Hotel Main "), then under the management of Gen. John Hall, and although there have been many changes of landlords, he has for a period of thirty-six years remained in the same house and occupied the same rooms. During this extended period of service he has filled the position he occupies with fidelity and honor, and now, in the eighty-fifth year of his age, his head is well covered with hair of almost snowy whiteness, his person is erect and well-preserved, he walks with a firm and alert step, and is actively engaged in the duties of his office. In earlier life he took an interest in local military 4

affairs, and bore in succession commissions as Major and Colonel, and is still familiarly addressed by the latter title. Throughout the whole of his long and busy life, every position he has been called to fill, without an exception, came to him unsolicited and unsought. Politically he is a life- long Democrat, holding his opinions firmly but unobtrusively. For more than fifty years he has been a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and a liberal supporter of its interests and insti- tutions, both at home and abroad.

In 1833 Col. McIlvaine was united in marriage with Miss Cornelia A. Norton, of Connellsville. She was born in Connecticut, and, when an infant, her parents removed to Louisiana, where her father bought a plantation, and, following the custom of those times, purchased slaves and became a planter. After his decease, the widow and children came to Pennsylvania, and settled in Connellsville. Col. and Mrs. McIlvaine had no children. After a happy married life of forty four years, Mrs. Mc- Ilvaine, who was the last survivor of her father's family, died in 1877, and her remains are in- terred in Washington Cemetery. As expressive of her life and character these words of Holy Writ are inscribed upon her memorial window in the Episcopal Church-" Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

R ALSTON WILLIAMS. The history of a nation may be read in the biographies of its people, which saying implies that the individual who has a pedigree to record and perpetuate in the pages of biography serves his country well. The following carefully compiled genealogical record of the Williams family is taken almost verbatim from the original manuscript:

PEDIGREE OF WILLIAMS FAMILY. "Josiah Will- iams, our great-great-grandfather, was of Welsh descent. He married Phobe Rodgers, a descendant of 'John Rodgers the martyr' who was burned at the stake, and left a wife with nine small children and one at the breast. Their children were: Ezekiel Williams, born October 4, 1733; Elizabeth Williams, born June 14, 1736; David Williams, born September 10, 1739; John Williams, born May 21, 1743; Phebe Williams, born September 3, 1746; Ichabod Williams, born January 14, 1749, and Aaron Williams, born May 2, 1753, in Sussex county, N. J. He, the seventh child, came to Pennsylvania a pioneer; he had many trials and difficulties from the Indians. [See History of Western Pennsylvania. ] The family were often pursued by the Indians, and fled from their home on Turtle creek, Westmoreland Co., Penn. Had their houses burned. They then moved to Peters creek, Washington Co., Penn., where they spent the remainder of their days.

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"Aaron, this seventh child of Josiah Williams, was a millwright by trade, and was a noted hewer; he hewed the timbers for the first fort ever erected at Wheeling, Va., to defend themselves from the Indians. He also was one of the men who took possession of Fort Duquesne, or Fort Pitt, as it was called at the point where Pittsburgh now stands. He erected a mill on Peters creek, Wash- ington Co., Penn., one of the first in that country. He was married June 5, 1780, to Elizabeth Coe, born March 9, 1761, near Elizabeth, New Jersey. She was the youngest of fourteen children, and she was noted for her fervent piety. She was very much concerned in the time of the Revolutionary war. Two of her brothers were in arms and in battle; some of her friends were taken prisoners by the Indians. This devoted sister and mother would go out in the evening and spend the whole night in prayer for the success of our army, and would return to the house in the morning and say with a grateful countenance: 'The Americans will prevail yet.' Of her the exclamation was made: .The chariot of the American army and the horse- man thereof." She always had a place for secret prayer to which she constantly resorted, and spent much time praying there, even to the close of her life, which ended June 19, 1847, when she was aged eighty-six. Her husband, Aaron, and her- self were laid to rest in the little cemetery of the Presbyterian Church of Mingo, Washington Co., Penn. Of the remainder of Josiah Williams' and Phebe Rodgers' children we have no particular his- tory. Ichabod, the sixth child, went down the Olio river with eight children. The eldest was seventeen. It was about the year 1766 or 1767 they went down the Ohio river.

" Aaron Williams, the aforesaid seventh child, and his wife Elizabeth (Coe) had two children; they were Phebe Williams, born April 9, 1781, died 1855; Benjamin Williams, born February 3, 1783, died September 2, 1860, aged seventy-seven. Phebe married William McDonald, and lived at Logstown, opposite Economy, Penn., eighteen miles below Pittsburgh. Their children were: (1) Elizabeth (called Betsey); (2) Matilda; (3) Pattie (Martha); (4) John; (5) Aaron Williams McDonald; (6) Polly(Mary)married-Douds; (7) Alexander; (8) William, married Miss Shane; (9) Peggy (Margaret) married J. C. Richie; (10) one dead. The afore- said William McDonald, Sr., husband of Phebe Williams, was a great trader in cattle, etc., became involved in debt, and at length became deranged.

"Benjamin Williams, brother of the aforesaid Phebe (Williams) McDonald, and the son of Aaron W. and Elizabeth (Coe) Williams, was, as afore- said, born February 3, 1783, at Peters creek, Washington Co., Penn., married Elizabeth Reid; died September 2, 1860, aged seventy-seven years. He was a ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church

at Mingo, a trustee of Jefferson College at Canons- burg, Penn., and a director of Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny, Penn. He contributed much to benevolent purposes, and his residence on Peters creek, Washington Co., Penn., was a great resort for preachers, and hence was called 'The Preacher's Home.' His wife, Elizabeth Reid, was born near Winchester, Va. When James Hair, a physician, moved from east of the mountains with his family, she came with them to Pigeon creek, Penn. She was noted for her piety. She lost her mother at nine years of age. She was brought up in the family of a friend, William Wilson, Esq., a merchant of Jarretstown, Va. She was a woman of eminent piety, and took a special interest in ed- ucating young men for the ministry, being a mem- ber of a society of women organized for the purpose of assisting in the education of poor and pious young men at Jefferson College. Her father, Reid, was once sheriff of the county in which he lived, in Virginia .. He had three daughters and one son, Joseph. After the death of his wife Mr. Reid broke up housekeeping and placed his daughters with friends, but took Joseph, the youngest child, with him, and went to live with a brother. He seems to have led a wandering life, as he came only occasionally to see his daughter, Mrs. Benja- min Williams (the Elizabeth Reid aforesaid), at Peters creek. His son Joseph Reid (old Uncle Joe) resided sometimes in the family of Benjamin Williams, and afterward went to his sister's (Mrs. Mounts) at Hillsboro, Ohio. He finally died at the home of another sister, Jane, at New Albany, Ind. He was never married.

"The children of the aforesaid Benjamin Will- iams, and his wife Elizabeth Reid, were Aaron Williams, born November 20, 1807, died December 31, 1878, aged seventy-one (he was a graduate of Jefferson College, was an eminent scholar and teacher and preacher; had charge of Ohio Uni- versity at Athens, Ohio; was principal of the Edgeworth Female Seminary; he wrote a history of the Economites [vid. ]; also author of 'Woman In The Bible,' a commentary; he married Jane Herron, daughter of the Rev. Francis Herron, D. D., who was for forty years pastor of the First Pres- byterian Church, Pittsburgh, Penn .; Aaron Will- iams' children were: Elizabeth, Addie, Francis, Mary Herron, Luther Halsey, and Harriet Preble). The other children of Benjamin Williams and Elizabeth Reid were (2) Joseph, born October 17, 1809, who died in infancy; (3) Moses Allen Will- iams, born September 26, 1811, who was twice married but had no children; (4) Samuel Ralston, born October 8, 1813, who died June 13, 1869, at Lexington, Ky. (he married Mary Louisa Chapelle; he was a professor of natural sciences in Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Penn., afterward principal of Sayre Female Institute, Lexington, Ky. His

WASHINGTON COUNTY.

children were: Kate, Lizzie, Charles, Newton. Lulu and Ella); (5) Eliza Williams, born Novem- ber 23, 1815, died February 25, 1877 (she mar- ried Hugh H. Morgan, of Bridgeville, Allegheny Co., Penn.); (6) James B. Williams, born Febru- ary 21, 1818, married Lucinda Philips, who died September 6, 1848; he again married Martha Pollock. His children were Lucinda Mary, Will- iam Allen, John Kiddoo, Laura Belle, Benjamin Howard, Harlan Reid and Elmer Tower; (7) Mary Jane Williams, born October 23, 1820, mar- ried Rev. S. J. Reid, and died of yellow fever at Horn Lake, Miss., October 4, 1878 (her four chil- dren all died young of diphtheria in Mississippi); (8) Maria R. Williams, born March 18, 1823, mar- ried William Wilson, of Snowden township, Alle- gheny Co., Penn .; her children were: Lewis Benjamin Williams, Sarah Lorena, Ada Mary, Fremont Samuel.

" The other children of Benjamin Williams and his second wife, Sarah Ralston, were: (1) Benja- min Williams, Jr., died in childhood; (2) Rachel Ferguson Williams, married William Reese Craig- head (her only child was Clara Belle Ashton Craig- head); (3) Ralston Williams, married Sarah Gas- ton November 18, 1857; (4) Joseph Hamilton Williams, married July 30, 1868, to Helen M. Barrett; (5) Sarah Margaret Williams; (6) Martha Ralston Williams, and (7) Isabel Reid, who died in young womanhood."

Ralston Williams was born in Nottingham town- ship, Washington Co., Penn., where he was reared. His education was received at the public school of the district held in a dilapidated little log cabin, the text books used therein being of a very primitive nature, and the attendance thereat limited to about three months in the depth of win- ter. In Nottingham township he remained till 1854, in which year he removed with his parents to Carroll township, in the same county, to a farm now owned by Capt. Gibson. Here Ralston re- mained until the death of his father, when he moved to Union township, adjoining Carroll to the north, making his residence there for some seven years. From Union township, at the end of that time, he proceeded to Cumberland township, Greene county, whence, after two years' sojourn there, he came to Monongahela, where he has since resided.

Prior to coming to Monongahela City Mr. Williams was engaged in farming and stock raising, and after leaving the farm he engaged as an insur- ance solicitor, which vocation he followed some years, when he was appointed agent. He enjoys an extensive and safe business in both fire and life insurance, as representative of the following com- panies: Armenia, of Pittsburgh; Ætna, of Hart- ford; American, of Philadelphia; Farmers, of York; German American, of New York; Fire

Association, of New York; Niagara, of New York; National, of Hartford, and Mutual Life Insurance Company, of New York. He also conducts a real estate business, and in all his transactions enjoys the confidence of his patrons.

On November 18, 1857, Mr. Williams was mar- ried to Sarah H., daughter of Joseph Gaston, of Gastonville, Penn., and the children born of this union were H. H., Margaret L., Jane M., Belle M., Charles G. (a minister and pastor of Cross Creek Presbyterian Church, of Washington county, Penn.) and Sarah (deceased). The mother of this family died November 29, 1868, and Mr. Will- iams married, June 28, 1871, Orpha L. Carroll, of California, Washington Co., Penn .; she was a teacher in the normal school. By this last mar- riage one child, Samuel R., was born, but died at the age of seven years. Mr. Williams is a stanch Republican, and a Presbyterian, of which church he has been a member since sixteen years of age, and an elder in the same about twenty years.

H ON. ALEX K. CRAIG. Success in any of the pursuits of life usually challenges the admiration of the world. It matters not whether in the profession of law, medicine or literature, or in the theological domain, in the military or civil life, or mercantile pursuits, it is the one distinguishing and distinctive character- istic of all business transactions. While not now a member of any of the acknowledged professions, the subject of these lines has, nevertheless, in his sphere of labor and activity distinguished himself as an active, energetic business man, and demon- strated the fact that to the man of merit belongs the full measure of success and worldly prosperity.

Alex K. Craig was born in Buffalo township, Washington Co., Penn., February 21, 1828, a son of Hugh and Hannah (Henderson) Craig, the latter of whom was a daughter of John Henderson, of Washington county. His grandfather, Alexander Craig, a native of County Down, Ireland, when a young man emigrated with his parents to the United States, and on the same vessel came also, with her parents, a Miss Martha Kerr, to whom, soon after landing, he was married. They made their first settlement in Canton township, this county, when the place was an unbroken forest, teeming with wild animals, and frequented by the Indian on his hunting expeditions. This tract of land they improved, in 1813 sold it, and then came to Buffalo township, where they passed the re- mainder of their busy lives. The children born to this pioneer couple were eleven in number, viz .: James, Margaret (Mrs. Thomas Carroll), Arthur, Hugh, Jane (Mrs. John Harmon), John, Alexander, Ebenezer, Martha (Mrs. William Burns), Eleazer and Ann (Mrs. Hugh McClelland). The parents

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were active members of the Associate Reformed Church, and in politics Mr. Craig was a Democrat.

Hugh Craig, son of the above, was born in 1795, in Canton township, this county, where, and in Buffalo township, his boyhood and youth were passed, the subscription schools of the locality pro- viding him with such mental pabulum as those early days afforded. He was a great reader, how- ever, and was well posted in general topics. In 1821 lie was married to Hannah Henderson, and they made their home on the old Craig farm until the day of their death. The children born to them were Martha (Mrs. J. W. Darby), John H., Mar- garet A., Alex K., Hugh K., Joseph F., William F., Hanna R. (Mrs. Joseph McGuffin) and Thomas B. The father died November 18, 1854, the mother November 24, 1856. Mr. Craig was a Jeffersonian Democrat, and held several prominent offices in both township and county. He was a justice of peace for years, and also school director; in 1841 he was elected county commissioner, serv- ing three years. In 1852 he was elected a mem- ber of the State Legislature, and served one session. He was a recognized leader in his party, and was a strong supporter of the free-school system. One of the earliest members of the Presbyterian Church at Claysville, he was a substantial supporter of the same, and for several years an elder.

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Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 11

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1540

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1540