Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 110

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 110

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member of the German Lutheran Church at Mt. Prospect, also supporting the Mount Prospect Presbyterian Church in that village, which his chil- dren attend.

D W. MYERS, one of the leading young Re- publicans of West Bethlehem township, was born October 13, 1846, in that town- ship. He is a grandson of John Myers, who came from Germany to America at a very early day, and located in West Bethlehem town- ship, on Daniel's run; there he purchased a farm and passed the remainder of his life in agricultural pursuits. He married Elizabeth Conkle, and the following children were born to them: Mrs. John Letherman, Mrs. Speh, Mrs. Amos Walton, Mrs. John Hufford, Mrs. Thornton Young, John, Jacob, Henry and Stephen. In his political views Mr. Myers was a Whig; he and his family were all identified with the Lutheran Church.

Stephen Myers, father of subject, was born on the paternal farm, March 11, 1805. His early years were spent at home and in attendance of the common schools, where he acquired a good edu- cation. After leaving school he followed the drover business a few years, and in 1834 was mar- ried to Lucia Jenkins, a daughter of Nathaniel Jenkins, who lived in West Pike Run township, this county. Soon after his marriage Mr. Myers began business for himself, and in 1852 moved upon the farm of 127 acres which is now the prop- erty of his son Wilson. He was the father of five children: Mrs. S. C. Bane, Mrs. John Yorty, Eliza- beth C., D. W., and Edwin (deceased October 2, 1845), Mr. Myers was a successful business man, and was much interested in all matters pertaining to progress in education. He was a Republican, and his colleagues evinced their appreciation of his worth by electing him to the offices of assessor and school director, which positions he held with credit for many years. Both he and his family were members of the United Presbyterian Church. Mr. Myers passed from earth December 9, 1875, and was followed by his faithful wife September 17, 1882.

D. W. Myers, son of Stephen and Lucia, has spent his entire life upon the farm where he now resides, having moved there with his parents when but six years of age. He secured the foundation of a good education at the common schools, after- ward attending the Pleasant Valley Academy, which was followed by a year at Washington and Jefferson College. He has well profited by these advantages, and is now a well-read, intelligent man, one of the leaders in his county. After his edu- cation was completed, Mr. Myers began to work upon the home farm. On November 27, 1873, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of

J. D. Roberts, of Hillsboro, Washington Co., Penn. They have had four children: Nellie, born June 21, 1875, died September 17, 1875; Leona Irene, born February 4, 1877; Albert Emerson, born Feb- ruary 21, 1883; and Reno, born October 15, 1890, died December 1, 1890. Mr. Myers is a sturdy advocate of Republican principles. He has held the office of school director and assistant assessor of his township; in 1889 he was elected one of the directors of the poor for Washington county, for a term of three years, and re-elected in 1892. He has always taken an active part in all matters of interest to the county, and with his family is a member of the U. P. Church of Pigeon Creek, being a ruling elder in the same.

A LBERT MORROW, a representative of one of the most prominent families of Donegal township, and a son of Abraham Morrow, was born August 13, 1864, on the home farm in Donegal township, this county, and was reared to agricultural duties, attending, dur- ing the winter months of his boyhood, the common schools of the neighborhood. On April 16, 1891, he was united in marriage with Miss Gertrude Burig, daughter of Charles H. Burig, of Donegal township.

Albert and Gertrude (Burig) Morrow are resid- ing on a pleasant farm, situated near the home place. He is engaged in wool growing, and is already one of the most prosperous young farmers in the vicinity. In politics he is a member of the Republican party,

THOMAS MCGAHEY (deceased) numbered among the prominent and progressive farmers of North Strabane township, and was a member of an old and highly respected family, His grandfather, Andrew Mc- Gahey, was educated for the ministry, but owing to a difference in the churches to which his parents belonged, one a Covenanter, the other a Seceder, he declined to preach, and engaged in teaching. He taught the first select school of Braddock Fields, and there purchased a farm. He had one son and three daughters, all of whom reached maturity, viz .: Elizabeth (Mrs. William Powell), Mary (Mrs. Culberson), Ann (who was first married to Mr. Wilson, and afterward to Mr. Carruthers) and Hugh.

Hugh McGahey was born in the North of Ire- land, and was of a Scotch-Presbyterian family. When a child he came with his parents to America, settling in Allegheny county, Penn. Hugh Mc- Gahey was a man of refined mind and sterling principle, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was married, in Allegheny county, to Miss

Thomas M Harry

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Margaret Hannah, who was born in that county, a daughter of David Hannah, and their union has been blessed with two sons: Thomas (born Feb- ruary 1, 1812) and David (born October 17, 1813, and died in infancy). Mr. McGahey died some years after his return from the war of 1812, and was buried in the cemetery at Dr. Herren's Church, in Pittsburgh. Several years afterward his widow married Robert McElroy, and by this marriage had four children, viz .: John (born September 5, 1824, and died unmarried), Sarah (born December 13, 1826, and married to John Groove), Maria (born June 7, 1829, and married to Eli Myers) and Robert G. (who was born August 2, 1832, and married Elizabeth Donnell). The mother died in April, 1833. David Hannah (father of Mrs. Mc- Gahey, who was afterward Mrs. McElroy) was a prosperous farmer, of Scotch ancestry. He settled on a farm near "Braddock Fields," in Allegheny county.

Thomas McGahey, subject of sketch, was born near Turtle Creek, Wilkins township, Allegheny county, February 1, 1812, a son of Hugh and Margaret (Hannah) McGahey. Mr. McGahey married Miss Martha Sample, who was born March 27, 1812, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Wallace Sample. They were both members of the Presbyterian Church, and were buried in Oak Spring cemetery, Canonsburg. Five children were born of their marriage, viz. : Elizabeth Mary (of Canonsburg, unmarried), Hugh (who died in childhood), James (who died in childhood), Mar- garet Anna (living in Canonsburg, unmarried) and Thomas McGahey.

James Sample emigrated from the North of Ireland, and after reaching America settled in Pennsylvania, when yet a young man. In 1804 he was married in Cumberland county, Penn., to Elizabeth Wallace, who was born March 19, 1785, and was nineteen years of age at the time of her marriage. She was a daughter of John and Eliza- beth (Eliot) Wallace, of Cumberland county, Penn., the former a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Sample moved to Pittsburgh, Penn., then called "the backwoods " by people in Cumberland county. He had money, and located on Coal hill (now Mt. Washington), where he engaged in farming. At a later date he came to this county, and lived a few years in Washington, then moved to Allegheny county, and rented a farm where Wilkinsburgh now stands. He died on a farm in Versailles township, near Turtle Creek. Ten children were born of their marriage, viz. : John (who died unmarried), Elizabeth (Mrs. William Mitchell), James (who married Rachel Dougherty), Mary (Mrs. George Mitchell), Martha (Mrs. Thomas McGahey), William (who married Hannah Dunbar), Adam (who died in childhood), Nancy (Mrs. Robert 33

Wiley), Samuel (first married to Margaret Jordan, and afterward to Eliza Thompson) and Rosanna (who died in childhood).

Thomas McGahey was born January 24, 1854, and was educated in the select schools of Wilkins- burgh. He came with his parents to North Stra- bane township in 1874, and after his father's death conducted the farm for his mother and sisters. On April 2, 1889, Mr. McGahey married Miss Minnie T. Brown; she was born in Fairview, Todd Co., Ky., daughter of Milton D. and Sarah A. (Daniel) Brown. Her parents were both members of the M. E. Church. Her father was raised on a farm, taught school, was admitted to the bar, and is now city judge in Hopkinsville, Ky. After their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. McGahey came to Canonsburg, Penn., where he owns a handsome residence. They are members of the M. E. Church of Canonsburg, and he is one of the most prosperous men in that borough. In politics he is a Republican. One child has blessed their union, Arthur F., born June 15, 1890.

R M. GEE'S SONS. The members of this family are of English descent. The pio- neers of the family in America were Moses, William and Joshua Gee; but from Moses Gee this special branch is descended. He emigrated with his brothers and landed at Plym- outh, Mass. John, the grandson of Moses, was a millwright. He died at Wilkesbarre, Penn., at the age of one hundred and five years, and with the honor of service in the Revolutionary war.

Samuel Gee, son of John (who had fifteen chil- dren, most of whom settled in Pennsylvania and New York), was born and reared in New York State, where, when a lad, he learned the mill- wright's trade-a trade he followed in New York and Pennsylvania. He married Hannah Hopkins (a niece of Stephen Hopkins-the tenth signer of the Declaration of Independence). They had thir- teen children, among whom were John, James, Ransom M., Sylvester and Ruth. Samuel settled with his wife at Painted Post, Penn., where he con- structed the first turbine water-wheel in that sec- tion, and where he was known as an uncompromis- ing Democrat and Presbyterian.

Ransom M. Gee was born in 1818, in Elmira, N. Y., where he was reared and educated. At the age of fourteen years he. commenced to learn har- ness-making with a brother-in-law at Williamsport, Penn., with whom he lived, having left the paternal roof at that early age. When eighteen years old he moved to Massachusetts, and there learned the trade of marble cutter with his brother John, and when twenty-one years old he opened a shop in that line at Elmira, N. Y., where he remained un- til 1847, in which year he went to Waupun, Wis.,

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and after three years' residence there, he proceeded to Allegheny county, where, in West Newton and elsewhere he carried on his trade until 1852, when he came to Monongahela and opened a shop in the first ward, near the present river bridge, and here carried on a prosperous marble and granite busi- ness until his death, March 27, 1890; he was also a contractor for the building of bridges from 1853 to 1857. He married Mary M., daughter of Sam- uel Gangwere, a native of Pennsylvania, of German ancestry, and whose children were Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary M. and Samuel. Mr. Gangwere was by trade a millwright, in politics a Democrat, in relig- ion a Baptist. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ransom M. Gee were as follows: Oris D. (Mrs. William Oliver), Joseph L. (deceased), William R. (deceased), William M., John R. (deceased), Alex- ander (deceased), Charles W., Ada L. and Samuel M. The mother died September 11, 1885. Mr. Gee was a Democrat, and held various offices of trust in the city of his adoption; was a school di- rector, and always took an active interest in every- thing tending to the prosperity of his section. He was for many years a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but during the later years of his life, of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and was a vestryman of St. Paul's. Mrs. Mary M. Gee was a Baptist.

WILLIAM M. GEE was born in Pennsylvania March 18, 1845, and received a liberal education in the schools of Monongahela, where his parents settled in 1852. He was employed in the river traffic as far as New Orleans, and became a licensed pilot on the Monongahela river, which he followed ten years. On November 10, 1869, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Ulery, of this county, and their children were Ransom M., Charles W., Mary, Jacob, Alfred D. and Lillie, all now deceased except the last named.

CHARLES W. GEE was born in Fond du Lac coun- ty, Wis., October 23, 1849, and received his edu- cation at the public schools of Monongahela. On March 9, 1876, he married Rosanna, daughter of Jonas Weygandt, of Carroll township, this coun- ty, and their children are as follows: Two that died in infancy, Desdemona, Theodore P., Charles F., Benjamin F., Sarah, and John R., the latter deceased.

SAMUEL M. GEE was born September 29, 1856, in Monongahela, his education being received at the public schools. On April 11, 1878, he married Emma, daughter of Thomas Wilson, and their children are William T., Ada L., Nancy D., Zilla H. A., Bessie L. and Margaret L.

Since the death of Ransom M. Gee the firm has been known as R. M. Gee's Sons, and they conduct the largest works of the kind in the Monongahela Valley, carrying a full line of marbles and granites

besides a complete assortment of iron fence work. The brothers are all Democrats and members of the Episcopal Church and M. E. Church.

H ENRY C. SWART, the subject of this notice, was born November 8, 1825, and was the fourth child of Philip and Asenah (Walton) Swart.

He was born in Amwell township on the home farm near Amity, and was raised to the life of a farmer, receiving his education in the old log schoolhouse, with its slab benches for seats. In his early manhood he dealt in stock, mostly hogs and horses-driving through on foot to Cumber- land, Md., and shipping thence to Baltimore, Md., by railroad. He relates seeing, on one of his trips east, a lot of thirty slaves, driven along the Na- tional pike to Baltimore market, all chained and in charge of two men. On August 26, 1852, he married Miss Abigail, daughter of John and Sarah (Miller) Day, of Morris township, and they went to housekeeping on his father's farm, where they resided until he purchased, in 1857, the farm which he still owns, one mile south of Amity, formerly known as the Patterson farm. To them were born two children: John D. and Laura B .; the son, having married, still remains on the farm; the daughter, now married to a Mr. Horn, a lawyer, lives at Denver, Colo. On August 22, 1862, Mr. Swart enlisted in the Amity company, raised by Capt. Silas Parker, which afterward became the famous Company D, of the 140th P. V. I. He served faithfully, never missing a roll call. He participated in the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Spottsylvania, as well as in a number of lesser battles and skirmishes. On May 12, 1864, at the battle of Spottsylvania, after hav- ing been under fire every day for a week, he re- ceived the terrible wound which made him a cripple for life. In this same battle Mr. Swart had two brothers, John and Amos, the latter killed during the fight. His brother, A. J., was wounded in the battle of Gettysburg. Thus it will be seen that there were four brothers who enlisted and entered their country's service, all of whom left their farms and comfortable homes in the care of wives and children. After Mr. Swart was wounded he lay on the field from 4 o'clock A. M. until evening, when he was taken to a field hospital, and during the night was loaded into an army wagon and taken, with others, to Fredericksburg, a distance of some fourteen or fifteen miles, over .a .very rough road on a fearfully dark night, during which his sufferings were intense. To escape falling into the hands of the enemy, the trip had to be taken. After remaining at Fredericksburg some two weeks, the wounded were taken by trans-

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ports and hospital boats to Washington, D. C., where he was placed in Lincoln hospital, and where he remained some ten days. He then received a leave of absence from the War Department to re- port when able at nearest army hospital, and was brought home to his family on a hospital stretcher in the latter part of June. Although given the best attendance, Mr. Swart suffered terrible agony for several months, and when only partially able, after an absence from hospital of about ten months, reported personally to a hospital at Pitts- burgh, Penn., the following April. Remaining there about a month until his application could be acted upon, he received from the War Department an honorable discharge, returned to his home and family, but will ever bear the marks of suffering, and the scars of war. He has never since been able to do any physical labor. but successfully managed his farm and farm work until the spring of 1872, when he retired and moved to Washing- ton, Penn., in order that his children might have better educational advantages.

In 1859 Mr. Swart made a profession of relig- ion, and united with the Methodist Protestant Church at Amity. For nearly thirty-five years he has been a zealous, Christian worker, his member- ship still remaining with the church at Amity, in which he filled several important positions, repre- senting it in the Pittsburgh Annual Conference for five or six years, and in 1884 was one of the lay representatives of the Pittsburgh Conference to the General Conference at Baltimore, Md. In early manhood he was a Whig, casting his first presiden- tial vote in 1848 for Zachary Taylor. Upon the organization of the Republican party he united with it, and voted for Gen. Fremont in 1856, in which party he continued until 1884, in which year he joined the temperance cause, and voted for the Prohibition presidentialcandidate. From his youth up he has been a strong advocate of temperance, and now, having a political party in the great work of temperance, rejoices that he is in the fight, hav- ing enlisted under its banner there to remain dur- ing the war on the liquor traffic. In addition to Mr. Swart's severe wound in the hip, received at Spottsylvania, he received a slight injury on the side of the nose which has never healed, and has slowly worked its way into the eye until the sight . of that eye is entirely gone, the other being also weakened, so that he is no longer able to read.

Mr. Swart's father, Philip Swart, was the eldest son in the family of ten children of Jacob and Sarah (Evans) Swart. Philip was born in 1797, and died in 1876; Asenah, his wife, was born in 1798, and died in 1870. The ancestry of this nu- merous family is traced to Philip Swart, a native of Germany. His children were Jacob (before men- tioned) and Susan, who married John Philips, of Greene county, Penn. Mrs. Abigail (Day) Swart

was born in 1831, and is still a well-preserved woman. Her father, John Day, was born in 1788 and died in 1871. During the war of 1812, he served in a cavalry company. His wife, Sarah (Miller) Day, was born in 1794, and died in 1837. Henry C. Swart and his amiable wife now live in a comfortable home in the suburbs of Washington, where they enjoy the fruits of their united labor.

AMES NEELY is a native of Cooley Parish, County Tyrone, Ireland, and the eldest child of Charles and Elizabeth (McGinnis) Neely. Charles Neely was born in 1782, in County Tyrone, Ireland, and in early manhood mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of James McGinnis. She was born in 1792. Nine children blessed this mar- riage, viz .: James, Catherine (deceased in youth), John (deceased in Philadelphia), Ann (unmarried, living in Allegheny, Penn.), Elizabeth (wife of Robert Pringle, in Mercer county, Penn.), Charles (in Allegheny, Penn.), William (a member of the U. S. Army for seven years, and of the Seventh Infantry U. S. A. during the war. He was twice wounded before Richmond, one shot piercing his right lung, from the effects of which he died two years later), and twins, who died in infancy. The father was a linen weaver by trade, following that business in connection with farming. In 1845 they came with two children, William and Eliza- beth, to America, and joined those who had pre- ceded them to Mercer county, Penn. The father passed away in 1856, followed by the mother the next year.

James Neely was born November 11, 1813, and learned the linen weaver's trade under the parental roof. In 1841 he accompanied an uncle, John Neely, to America. They embarked at London- derry, Ireland, on the good ship "North America," commanded by Capt. William Baker, bound for Philadelphia. On landing in America, they pro- ceeded to Hanover township, Washington Co., Penn., and soon afterward moved to Mercer county, Penn., where some relatives were living. Here James Neely married Catherine, daughter of John Walford, who was of German parentage. She was born in May, 1811, in Mercer county, Penn., and married Mr. Neely March 10, 1842. For a short time the couple lived with Mr. Walford, then moved upon a small farm. James Neely afterward worked on the Pennsylvania Canal, but finally resumed agricultural pursuits, in Mercer county, Penn. In 1855 he purchased 180 acres of woodland in Sugar Creek township, Venango Co., Penn., which he cleared and cultivated. In 1865 he sold this place, and coming to Hanover township, this county, bought 128 acres of land for $10,000. This tract is situated one mile west of Florence, on the Steubenville & Pittsburgh

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pike, where he has since resided. Beginning life as a poor boy, Mr. Neely has amassed a good prop- erty, and has become prominent in farming and stock raising. In 1888 he was called to Ireland on business, and visited, perhaps for the last time, the scenes of his boyhood, returning on the same vessel on which he made the outward voyage, the "Alas- ka." Politically Mr. Neely has always been a Dem- orat, and in religious faith he and his wife are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. They have been wedded over fifty years, and have reared the fol- lowing named children: John W., an oil operator of Ohio; Elizabeth, wife of Solomon A. Dow, of Corry, Penn .; William C., deceased, in 1888, in Chattanooga, Tenn .; James Mc., deceased in in- fancy; James M., a farmer of Hanover township; and Catherine J., living at home.

OHN GARRETT, a well-known and prosper -. ous agriculturist and stock raiser of West Bethlehem township, was born February 16, 1825, upon the farm adjoining the one where- on he now resides. He is a grandson of Peter Garrett and son of Nicholas, who was born in Maryland in 1779, and there married Mary Ann Baumgardner. Thence, about the commencement of the present century, they removed to Washing- ton county, Penn. The children born to them were as follows: Elizabeth, Rachel, Mary Ann, Lydia, Catherine, Susan, Sarah, Jacob, Peter, Sam- uel, John and William.

John Garrett received his education in the sub- scription schools of the neighborhood, and in early boyhood received a thorough training in farm life. On April 1, 1852, he was united in marriage with Margaret, daughter of John Watson, and by her had one child, Franklin Pierce, who assists on the farm. The young mother died at his birth, and in 1854 our subject married Miss Lavina, daughter of David Morrow, of North Strabane township, this county, by which union there were born eight children: four died in infancy; Thomas now resides upon a farm adjoining that of his father; Lydia and Sadie are now married and living in Ohio; Elizabeth lives at the parental home. Mr. Garrett owned and operated one of the first threshing ma- chines built in the county, and has given almost his entire attention to threshing ever since. In 1869 he, unfortunately, caught his left hand in the machine, and it was ground to a pulp, rendering amputation necessary. Mr. Garrett is a thorough Democrat, and has been elected to many offices of trust by his fellow-citizens, who appreciate his ability. He now owns a fine farm, consisting of 260 acres of well-cultivated land; while upon the hillsides and meadow browse nearly 200 sheep and other stock.

P. LAWTHER. The beginnings of this family in America post-date the close of the Revo- lution by nine years. James Lawther, Sr., born in Ireland, March 15, 1769, married Jane Shaw in 1790, shortly after sailed for the young Republic and settled in Virginia, where they resided for twenty-one years before removing to Pennsylvania (in 1812). Here the pioneer died on his farm December 23, 1821. Of their eleven children, Alexander Lawther was the ninth in order of birth. He was born June 22, 1808, and on May 8, 1844, married Nancy Smith (born March 7, 1814), a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Smith, of Richland county, Ohio. He died March 19, 1878, leaving a widow, now living. Of the five children born to this marriage, Ellen C., born Sep- tember 2, 1845, married Robert Cunningham, of Jefferson township, April 25, 1889; Mary J., born December 10, 1847, died August 7, 1870; J. P. Lawther is the subject of this sketch; Thomas B. was born August 2, 1852; and James A., born No- vember 8, 1854, died October 2, 1863.

J. P. Lawther was born March 10, 1850, reared to farm pursuits on the paternal acres, and on August 24, 1876, married Eliza, daughter of James Black, of Hanover township. One daughter was born to this marriage: Nancy, who is yet living. The mother died March 30, 1888, and was buried in Paris cemetery. For his second wife, J. P. Law- ther married, February 25, 1890, Amy Price, of Orange township, Carroll Co., Ohio, who was a daughter of Benjamin Price. After his marriage they located on the present farm, having since been engaged in general farming, stock raising and the dairy business. Mr. Lawther is an admirer of fine cattle, and has a specially fine lot of Devons on his farm. He is a progressive citizen, which the many improvements on his farm, such as the new house and barn prove. In politics he is a Democrat.

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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 110

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