Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 123

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 123

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Gen. Jackson, throughout his eventful administra- tion. During the struggle of that great and good man with the Bank of the United States, while others faltered and many yielded to the seductive influences of that corporation, Col. Ringland stood firm. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church for some years before his death, which oc curred January 7, 1869, at Grandview, Ill., when he was aged eighty-six years.

William Ringland, third son of William, in 1826 married Mary Bane, of north fork of Ten- Mile creek, Washington county, Penn. Had four children: two sons-Isaac B. and Henry W .- and two daughters-Harriet and Mary V. All moved to Marshall county, Iowa, about 1856. Of these children, Isaac B. married, in 1857, Mary A. Evans, of Marshall county, Iowa; had two sons and three daughters: William, Harvey, Emma, Mary Eva and Margaret. Of these William died in infancy. Harvey is at school in Minnesota, studying pharmacy. Emma married H. F. Will- son, in 1878, lives in Wayne, Neb .; have had two. children, one living, Homer. Mary Eva married C. E. Smith in 1881; live in Correctionville, Iowa; no children. Margaret married R. E. K. Mellor in 1883; live in Wayne, Neb .; have four children -William, Mabel, Mary and Zoa. Henry W., second son of William and Mary (Bane), died un- married in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1867, aged' thirty-five years; buried in cemetery at Boone, Iowa. Harriet L., first daughter of William and Mary (Bane), married Samuel Munnell in 1860; had five children; four died in infancy, one living: Mary R. Munnell, who is attending school in Chicago, Ill. Harriet L. died in 1871, aged forty-one

years. Mary V., second daughter of William and Mary (Bane), in 1859 married D. M. Moninger, a successful farmer and stock raiser of Marshall county, Iowa, where they now reside; had four sons and one daughter: William R., John H., Frank B., Harry W., and Anna M .; of these, William, in 1887, married Mary H. Kellogg, of Grinnell, Iowa; have one daughter, Margaret; live in Marshall county, Iowa. John H. and Frank B. were drowned in the Iowa river near their home, in 1887. Anna M., a handsome little girl, died at the home of her grandfather, John Moninger, in Washington county, Penn., in 1870, aged three years. Harry W. lives at home with his parents, unmarried.

Maj. James Ringland, fourth son of William, was born in County Down, Ireland, in June, 1791, came to this country with the family in the sum- mer of 1795; June 26, 1828, married Sarah, daughter of James Stockdale, who also emigrated from Ireland about the same time. On being duly elected and returned, he was commissioned major of the "First Battalion of the Washington and Greene Vanguards" (a regiment of volunteers

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of the militia of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- vania), by the Governor on August 3, following, for the term of seven years. Major Ringland joined the Lower Ten-Mile Presbyterian Church about 1830, of which he was a faithful member until his death, which occurred May 12, 1871, when he was aged eighty years. Sarah Ringland, wife of Major James, was born near Zollarsville, Washington Co., Penn., in 1796; joined the Pres- byterian Church at Amity in 1830, and died Octo- ber 31, 1878.

William Ringland, son of James, left Washing- ton county in September, 1862, located in Marshall county, Iowa, for a number of years. Then set- tled in Boone, Iowa, about 1866, where he now * lives; owns a warehouse and lumber yard in Boone; was married to Miss Delia M. Swaine June 9; 1870; have had eight children: one died in infancy; James, Edmund Alleman, Guy Jay, Josiah Allen, Cady Stockdale, Annie Mary and Elsie Sarah, who are all at home with parents. George S. Ring- land, son of James, went west in the fall of 1855; spent about one year in southern Iowa; then set- led in Fort Dodge, Webster Co., Iowa, where he re- mained until the commencement of the Civil war. In 1862 he assisted in organizing a volunteer cavalry company, which joined the Eleventh Penn- sylvania Cavalry Regiment under Col. Harlin, in which he served for three years in eastern Vir- ginia and North Carolina, during which service he was promoted to the captaincy of his company. After the close of the war, in 1865, he returned to Fort Dodge; about 1868 was married to Miss Anna A., daughter of Woolsey Wells, of Fort Dodge, for many years an attorney there; has one child, Jennie, now taking a course in Wellesley (Mass. ) College. Captain Ringland is now engaged in the manufacture of plaster of paris and in banking. Mathew B., son of James, unmarried, remained at the old home all his life; died November 23, 1881. Elizabeth J., only daughter of James, married H. H. Conger, in November, 1863; now lives adjoining her birthplace; has three children: George R. (who married Miss Emma Casy in September, 1890), H. Hershel and Omar D. Of these Dr. George R. Conger is now located at Taylorstown, Washington Co., Penn., in the practice of medicine. H. Her- shel and Omar D. live at home with their parents. Josiah, youngest child of James, now owns and lives on the farm which his grandfather, William Ringland, bought of William Clutter, August 25, 1795, the same summer they came to America. Has Edwin and Eva Young living in the house with him; though unmarried, still has hope that Cupid may yet come his way, and tarry with him through his remaining years.

Margaret Ringland, first daughter of William, married William Ferguson, and had one son, Henry, who married Nancy Young, and had a large

family; moved to Clark county, Ind. Nancy Ring- land, second daughter of William, married Moses Braddock, and removed to Hancock county, Ind., near Greenfield. Catherine Ringland, third daugh- ter of William, married James Andrew; moved to Morrow county, Ohio, where James Andrew died; the widow and children returned to Pennsylvania; they had seven children: George, Hindman, Thomas R., Eliza Ann, Prudence, Mary and Sarah. Of these, George Andrew died before he became of age. Hindman married Ann Minton in 1855, and had eight children: James E., Lee H., M. W., Bell (who died when a child), Inez P., Florence, Annie M. and Osee B. Hindman Andrew died Feb- ruary 19, 1884, near Lindley's Mills, Washington Co., Penn. Thomas Andrew went West about 1855, and married there; now lives in Spring Hill, Iowa; has three sons and two daughters living. Eliza Ann married Ira Andrew, and has one son and two daughters living. Eliza Ann Andrew died the day her brother Hindman lay a corpse. Mary and Sarah went West about 1857. Mary married Mr. Bataw, in Illinois; now live with a daughter in In- dianapolis, Ind .; have two daughters living. Sarah died unmarried. Jane Ringland, fourth daughter of William, married John Bane about 1830; had seven children: George, Mary, Thomas, Margaret, Addison, Ann and Nancy. Of these, George mar- ried twice and had a large family; names of wives and children not known. Thomas married Susan Collins, of Charleston, Ill .; no children. Mary married Mr. Enlow, who died leaving two small children, son and daughter; she still lives, a widow, at Stockton, Coles Co., Ill. Margaret married Mr. Nuby; had some family; she died some years ago. Anna married John McKinley; she is a widow with four children, two boys and two girls. Nancy married Mr. Ball. Addison married; name of wife unknown. Mary Ringland, fifth daughter of William; unmarried; lived with her brother James; died May 25, 1829. Elizabeth Ringland, sixth daughter of William; unmarried; quite handsome; died February 6, 1825, aged twenty-four years.

W ILLIAM WHERRY. Among the public- spirited and successful citizens of Som- erset township, the gentleman whose name opens this biography takes a prominent position. He was born July 2, 1815, and is a son of John, and grandson of James and Sarah (McConel) Wherry. The grandparents were na- tives of Chester county, Penn., and after their marriage settled on 400 acres of land in Washing- ton county, where a family of eleven children were reared. The grandfather died in March, 1807, on the home farm, and was followed to the grave by his widow in the same year.

John Wherry, the second child of James Wherry,

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was born in 1776, on the farm in Washington county, and attended the subscription schools of the neighborhood. He followed farming and stock raising, and in early life was wedded to Elizabeth Welch, who bore him the following named children: William, Mary, James, John, Eli, Stephen, Ellen, Elizabeth and Margaret. Of this family, William and Mary are the only living members. The father was a Whig, and, in religion, he and his wife were members of the Baptist Church. He died in 1831, being followed by his widow in 1866, in her eightieth year.

William Wherry passed his early years on the home farm, where his grandparents had also passed the greater part of their lives. He has always lived on the place of his birth, and having never married, his maiden sister Mary has managed the household affairs, and been a companion to him since the death of their mother. Mr. Wherry owns 600 acres of land, all in one farm, which is highly cultivated. Last year he shipped 10,000 pounds of wool, in which product he deals extensively. He is a Republican.

M RS. NANCY GILLESPIE, a cultured and highly-esteemed lady of Jefferson town- ship, this county, was born October 3, 1815, near West Middletown, Hopewell township, Washington county. She is a daughter of Abraham Leggett, whose father, Sut- ton Leggett, was born in Maryland, and in early life was united in marriage with Hannah Green, a native of the same State, who bore him the following named children: Benjamin, John, Sutton, Jesse, Elijah, Ellen, Mrs. Pervard, Abraham and Nathan. In 1794 the family moved to Pennsylvania, locat- ing in Washington county, near West Middletown.

Abraham Leggett was born in 1787, in Mary- land, and was about seven years of age when his father moved to Pennsylvania. He was reared to agricultural life, and educated in the schools of the period. When a young man he married Miss Nancy Dempster, and six children were born to their union: Lemuel, Sutton, Jesse, Nancy, El- len, and an infant, unnamed.

Nancy Leggett was born on the home farm near West Middletown, Penn., and grew to woman- hood, assisting in the household duties and attend- ing school in the neighborhood. In 1838 she be- came the wife of John Gillespie, and a few years later happy voices called her "mother,": little feet pattered through the house, for her home was brightened with four little ones, called by the fol- lowing names: Wesley A., Sarah Ellen, Mary Ann and Hester Ann. The two last named have been laid to rest, and on May 19, 1885, the hus- band and father passed away, leaving his widow to the comfort of her two remaining children. Mr.

and Mrs. Gillespie started in life together with lit- tle of this world's goods, but industry and pa- tience have accomplished much. A beautiful home, surrounded by 200 acres of fertile land, gives ample evidence of the prosperity of the fam- ily. Mr. Gillespie was a stanch member of the Republican party. Mrs. Gillespie is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Independence, this county.

OSEPH HENDERSON, a worthy representa- tive of one of the oldest families of Wash- ington county, and one of its best-known and most highly respected citizens, was born June 3, 1817, in Chartiers township, Wash- ington Co., Penn., a son of William Henderson, a native of eastern Pennsylvania.

William Henderson married a Miss Patterson, and had children as follows: Samuel, born Janu- ary 29, 1784; John, born November 18, 1785; William, born January 10, 1788; Martha, born June 30, 1789; Hugh, born April 2, 1791; Thomas, born March 22, 1793; James, born De- cember 18, 1794; Nancy, born in March, 1798, and Elizabeth, born August 28, 1801. The mother of this family dying, Mr. Henderson married, for his second wife, Mrs. Elay (Seffrey) Kain, widow of Jacob Kain, by whom she had children as follows: Jacob, born in October, 1797; Agnes, born August 13, 1799; John, born May 31, 1801; Sarah, born August 4, 1803, and Mary, born June 22, 1805. To the marriage of William Henderson with Mrs. Elay Kain, there came a family of five children, viz. : Matthew, born June 26, 1810; Ealy, born May 31, 1812; David F., born November 9, 1814; Joseph, born June 3, 1817, and Jennie, born Jan- uary 15, 1822. In July, 1842, the father was called from earth, and was interred in the cemetery at North Church, Buffalo township. In politics he was an active Whig, and in religion a member of the Seceder Church. From the time of his coming to Washington county he was a resident of Chartiers township, where he successfully carried on farming and coopering. Mrs. Elay Henderson died in 1865.

JOSEPH HENDERSON, whose name opens this sketch, passed his early life in his native township, where he received his education. On October 12, 1841, he was united in marriage with Rebecca, daughter of James Laird, by whom he had one son, James L., a sketch of whom follows. This wife dying May 12, 1853, Mr. Henderson married in May, 1859, Anna B., daughter of James Stewart, of Chartiers township. Our subject is a member of the United Presbyterian Church at Washington, and since 1871 has been an elder and office-holder in the church at Cross Roads. He is now living retired in Washington.

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JAMES L. HENDERSON, son of Joseph and Re- becca (Laird) Henderson, is a native of Washing- ton county, born in Chartiers township, March 6, 1844. His boyhood was passed on the home place until he was seventeen years old, when he en- listed in August, 1861, in Company B, First Virginia Cavalry, serving with distinction under Gens. Shields and Sheridan. When the regiment was mustered out he returned home, and entered Duff's Business College, from which he was gradu- ated with high honors. On December 15, 1866, he was married to S. Jennie, daughter of John and Sarah (Harsha) Shaw, and the children born to this union are: Joseph B., Sarah R., Frank T., James L., and Earnest G. Mr. Henderson is extensively engaged in stock dealing and raising, and is one of the best-known importers of sleep and cattle in his section; he owns one of the finest herds of cattle ever introduced into the county, one which he has collected regardless of labor and expense. In his political predilections he has always sup- ported the Republican party, but close application to business has prevented his accepting political preferments. He has taken an active interest in educational matters, both in Chartiers and Canton townships, and is now serving his fourth term as school director. Mr. Henderson and his family are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Washington.

OHN GOURLEY, a retired argriculturist, having his residence in the borough of Clays- ville, comes of stalwart Scotcli-Irish ancestry, noted for their indomitable perseverance, sound judgment and characteristic probity. His grandfather, Robert Gourley, a native of the Em- erald Isle, at an early day came to the United States, where he married, and reared a family con- sisting of the following named children: Thomas, James, Robert, Mary (Mrs. James Jones), Nancy (Mrs. Thomas Dunn) and Mrs. Dunlap.

Of these, Robert was born near Greensburg, Penn., in 1800, where and in Donegal township, this county, his boyhood was passed. He lived on a farm in the latter township, which property came to be known as the "Gourley homestead." Here he was married to Margaret Roney, who bore him the following named nine children: Alexander, Susanna and Robert (all deceased), Ann Eliza, ' John, Thomas, Sarah J. (wife of Rev. N. L. Laferty), Catherine (Mrs. James Feather) and James. The father successfully carried on farm- ing operations in Donegal township until 1859, in which year he moved to Warren county, Ill., where he died, July 29, 1883, and the mother in Febru- ary, 1884. They were members of the Presby- terian Church, and in his political predilections Mr. Gourley was a wide-awake Democrat.

John Gourley, the subject proper of this bio- graphical sketch, was born January 17, 1834, in Donegal township, Washington Co., Penn., and there received his education as well as early lessons in farm work. At the age of eighteen years he went to Warren county, Ill., where he followed farming until 1862, and then removed to Done- gal township, this county, and has here since re- sided. He lived on his farm until 1865, when he removed with his family to Claysville, where he has since resided, and where he owns one of the most handsome residences of the village. On March 13, 1860, he was married to Mary J., daughter of John Marshall, a member of one of the oldest families in Buffalo township, and the children by this union were Adele (wife of George M. Gray) and Mary (now deceased). The family are members and strong supporters of the Presby- terian Church at Claysville, and are much respect- ed and esteemed. Politically Mr. Gourley was a Democrat till 1880, since when he has voted the Prohibition ticket, and he is recognized as a pro- gressive, honorable and loyal citizen.

T HOMAS MILLER, a retired agriculturist and one of the oldest and most highly re- spected citizens of Canonsburg, was born October 15, 1815, in Mt. Pleasant town- ship, this county. Andrew Miller, his father, came from Ireland to America in 1812, bringing his wife, his parents (Thomas and Sarah Miller), and their children-Andrew, Thomas, Sarah, Mar- garet and Mary. These children all settled in Mt. Pleasant township, where many of their de- scendants are now living. Andrew Miller was mar- ried, in Ireland, to Sarah Steele, a sister of Rev. James Steele, who for many years was a Presby- terian minister at Strabane, Ireland, where his son, Frederic Steele, attorney at law, now lives. After his arrival in Mt. Pleasant township Andrew Miller commenced farming, an occupation he con- tinued many years, and then, some forty years ago, moved to Chartiers township, where he died in 1853, at the age of seventy years. After his death, his widow lived with her daughter in Mt. Pleasant township, dying there in 1856 at a very advanced age. Andrew Miller was a prom- inent Democrat in his day, and held various of- fices of trust in his township and county, such as director of the poor. He was a member of the old Associate Church. Of their marriage four chil- dren were born, viz .: James (who was an attorney in Wooster, Ohio, and died in 1844), Thomas (our subject), Andrew (who died in Allegheny county, Penn.), and Jane (widow of Andrew Russell, re- siding in Chartiers township, with her daughter Mrs. Homer Wilson).

Thomas Miller received the rudiments of his

Thomas Miller

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education in an old log school-house on Chartiers creek, and his first day's attendance was indelibly fixed on his memory by his being an eye-witness to the singular freak of a snake climbing up the wall of the house. He had a thorough, practical training in all the departments of agriculture, which was his life vocation, and in 1875 retired from act- ive labor. On May 17, 1843, Mr. Miller married Annie, daughter of David Reed, of Cecil township, Washington county, and the following named chil- dren were born of their union: Andrew S. (who served in the Union army in the defense of his country, and is now an attorney in Pittsburgh), David R. (a United Presbyterian minister in East Palestine, Ohio), J. Martin and John C. (both on the farm in Chartiers township), Almira (wife of Rev. W. T. McConnell, of Des Moines, Iowa), and Sarah Jane (Mrs. W. H. S. Ritchie, of West Point, Ky.). Mrs. Miller died in March, 1858, and No- vember 20, 1860, our subject married Elizabeth, daughter of James Linn, who was born in South Strabane township, this county. No children were. born to this union. In 1875 Mr. Miller built the elegant house in Canonsburg, into which he and his faithful wife moved the same year, and in which they now live, calmly awaiting the summons that shall call them from earth. They are lifelong members of the U. P. Church, in which he has been an elder for about forty-five years. Polit- ically Mr. Miller was originally a Democrat, but left the ranks of that party on the slavery issue, and united with the old Whig party; he first voted for Martin Van Buren, then for William Henry Harrison. He was a delegate from Canonsburg at the first National Convention of the Republican party, held in Pittsburgh in 1856. In 1884, with a sense of duty to his fellow-men and to his God, he enlisted under the Prohibition banner. Al- though earnest and most conscientious in his polit- ical associations Mr. Miller has, nevertheless, con- sistently refused office. At the first Republican county convention he declined to become the nom- inee of his party for the State Legislature. He was a delegate to the Congressional Convention that nominated Hon. T. M. T. McKennan to fill the vacancy in Congress through the death of Hon. Joseph Lawrence, in 1842. Mr. Miller's old farm in Chartiers township, comprising 250 acres of highly improved land, is now owned and worked by his sons, J. Martin and John C. Miller.

J. MARTIN MILLER, son of Thomas Miller, was born November 27, 1848, on the farm above men- tioned. He grew to manhood under the parental roof, and was educated in the schools of Chartiers · township, then taking the freshman and sophomore years at Washington and Jefferson College. In 1875 he was united in marriage with Mary B. Stewart, a native of St. Clairsville, Belmont Co., Ohio, and daughter of John Stewart, who was 37

born in Pennsylvania, and when a young man moved to Belmont county, Ohio. In 1832 he was married to Ann Bell, a native of the same county, and they settled on a farm in Ohio, where their children were born and reared. He was ruling elder for sixty years in the U. P. Church at St. Clairsville, Ohio. He died in February 1892, aged eighty-seven years, and the faithful wife was laid to rest beside him three weeks later, having passed through eighty years of life. The Stewart family are of Scotch origin, and trace their ancestry to Robert Bruce, of historic fame. They first settled in Pennsylvania, afterward moving to Ohio.

After his marriage to Mary B. Stewart, Mr. Miller bought the old homestead, consisting of 150 acres of land. He has since carried on general farming, including the raising of Holstein cattle and Delaine Merino sheep. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have had six children, viz .: Anna Bell, born No- vember 7, 1875, died at the age of eight years; Stewart, born July 3, 1877; Lena Alice, born August 16, 1879; Karl Martin, born September 6, 1882; Edna Bruce, born December 11, 1886, and Mary Bell, born June 29, 1892. J. Martin Miller is a Republican, and in religious connection he and his wife are members of the Chartiers U. P. Church, Rev. W. B. Smiley, pastor, of which he was elected ruling elder in 1886.

AMES T. PATTERSON, a leading citizen of Burgettstown, was born April 9, 1851, a son of John Patterson. His grandfather, James Patterson, was born in County Down, Ireland, receiving his early education in his native land. At the age of fourteen years he came with his parents to Washington county, Penn., and settled in Canton township, on the farm now owned by John McClay, erecting their cabin home in the wild new country. At the age of twenty-six years, James Patterson was married to Mary Miller, a native of Chartiers township, and after their mar- riage the young couple settled on the farm in Hope- well township, now owned by Lemon Patterson (a grandson). Politically, James Patterson was first. a Federalist, then a Whig, and next an active worker with the Abolitionists. He was among the earliest members of the Seceder Church at North Buffalo, his parents being also members of that denomination. He was a member of and elder in the church for fifty years, holding that office at the time of the coalition of the Seceder and Union Churches. He was successful in business matters. having made his own way in the world. He died in 1868, in his ninety-second year, and was buried by the side of his wife in North Buffalo Cemetery. They were the parents of the following children: Alexander, Thomas, Margaret (Mrs. Samuel Leper), Elizabeth (wife of James Richmond), Jane (mar-

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ried to James Armstrong), James, David, Mary (Mrs. Taggart), John and Martha.

John Patterson, son of James and Mary (Miller) Patterson, was born on the home farm in Hope- well township, this county, receiving his train- ing in a school which was held in the upper story of a log spring house. He was married in Feb- ruary, 1850, to Jane, daughter of Thomas McClel- lan, and they continued to reside on the old place until his death. John Patterson was a Whig and an Abolitionist, afterward becoming a Republican, being an active politician, and much interested in school matters, having served as director for years. He was formerly a member of the Seceder Church, and afterward united with the U. P. Church at North Buffalo, contributing liberally to the support of that denomination. Mrs. Patterson is yet living, making her home with her son Lemon. The re- mains of Mr. Patterson were interred in the ceme- tery at North Buffalo.

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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 123

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