Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 127

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 127

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William Armstrong, whose name appears at the opening of this sketch, was born December 9, 1819, in what is now West Finley township, Washington Co., Penn., where he was reared to agricultural pursuits on his father's farm, his edu- cation being received at the subscription schools of the locality. In 1851 he was married to Mary M. Oldham, who was born in 1828, in Ohio county, W. Va., a daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Wylie) Oldham, of that county, and to this union the following named children were born: Jennie (now wife of John C. Hamilton, of Donegal town- ship), a son that died in infancy (unnamed), Lina (Mrs. W. F. Whitham), Milton B. (a farmer in Donegal township), Lizzie B. and William W. (both at home), Frank E. (who graduated from Washington and Jefferson College, and afterward attended the Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny, and the Union Seminary at New York; he is now a Presbyterian minister at Evanston, Wyo.), Celestine (a school teacher, living at home), Samuel O. (a farmer in West Finley township) and Irene M. (a college graduate, now teach- ing school, her home being with her parents). Mr. Armstrong in his younger days taught school, and after his marriage commenced agricultural pursuits on the old home farm in West Finley township, remaining there until 1866, in which year he came to Donegal township, settling on his present farm, situated about one and one-half miles south of West Alexander, and on which he has erected a neat and commodious residence. He and his wife are devout members of the Presby- terian Church at West Alexander; in his political preferences he is a lifelong Republican, and has served his township as school director for several years. The family are highly respected in the com- munity, and are all well-to-do, Mr. Armstrong him- self having made his life-work an eminent success.

J HOMAS H. BRUCE, an enterprising citizen of Buffalo township is a son of Henry, and grandson of George Bruce, who was born in Scone, Perthshire, Scotland, and never left the country of his birth. George Bruce followed the vocation of a weaver, and dur- ing the latter part of his life had charge of the

Forestry in his native heath. His wife was for- merly Helen Norwell, who bore him the follow- ing children, all of whom are now deceased: Robert, Agnes, Janet, Lillie, David, Margaret and Henry. Of these children, Robert and Henry im- migrated to America. Robert located in Pitts- burgh, Penn., and subsequently became president of the Western University of Pennsylvania. His descendants are now living in Pittsburgh.

Henry Bruce was born in 1788, in the parish of Scone, Scotland, and there grew to manhood, re- ceiving a common-school education, and learning the weaver's trade. He (as previously stated) afterward sailed to America, and first landed in New York, but immediately pushed westward, making a permanent location near Taylorstown, Buffalo township, Washington Co., Penn. He was then married to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Brownlee, and to them were born children as fol- lows: Henry (deceased in youth), Lizzie and Helen (both of whom grew to womanhood, but are now deceased), and Thomas H. Soon after his mar- riage, Mr. Bruce located on the farm now owned by his son, which is situated in Buffalo township, on the National pike, cultivated the land and also conducted a store. On his arrival in Washington county, Henry Bruce had scarcely any capital. and his later success was due wholly to his own efforts. He was an active and consistent member of the U. P. Church, to which he gave a liberal support. In political life he was a follower of the Free-Soil party while it existed, and afterward became a Republican. He departed this life in 1862, his re- mains being interred in Washington cemetery, His widow followed him in 1887.

OHN R. LEONARD, one of the best known and most prominent citizens of the borough of Washington, is a native of the county, having been born in Morris township, De- cember 7, 1821. He is of Teutonic descent, his great-grandfather, John Leonard, having come from Germany to America many years ago. John Leonard, grandfather of John R., was born in Ohio, where he married Nancy Huffman, of Wash- ington county, Penn., and one of their sons, John, became the father of John R. Leonard, the subject of this sketch. Grandfather Leonard died in Ohio.

John Leonard, son of John and Nancy (Huffman) Leonard, was born in Washington county, Penn., where he was reared and educated. He settled in Morris township, and here married Rebecca, a daughter of John Robertson, of same township, and ten children were born to them, as follows: Jesse, killed at Chattanooga, Tenn., during the war of the Rebellion; John R .; Ann, deceased wife of Jackson Delong; Abigail, married to Jesse De- long, and died in Ohio; Elizabeth, deceased wife

John R Leonard

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of Conrad Maloy; Emeline, who died at the age of four years; Benjamin F. and James W., both in Noble county, Ohio; Sarah, wife of Aaron Delong, in Portage county, Ohio; and Margaret, widow of James E. Ray, of Greene county, Penn. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Leonard remained in Mor- ris township a year or two. and then moved to Ohio, where they died, the mother in 1871, at the age of seventy-three years, and the father in 1872, aged seventy-seven years; he had been a soldier in the war of 1812.

John R. Leonard, whose name opens this memoir, was but an infant when his parents moved to Ohio, where, in Warren and Trumbull counties he learned the trade of a carpenter, at which he worked some forty-six years. On July 5, 1845, he returned to Washington county, Penn., and settled on a farm in Morris township, which he operated, at the same time carrying on his trade. He built many of the best houses in that and East Finley townships, be- sides some in Greene county, on the boundary line. On January 22, 1846, Mr. Leonard married Miss Matilda, daughter of Stacy Farabee, of Morris township, and two children were born to them, both of whom died in childhood, the one at the age of five years, and the other at the age of six months. Mrs. Leonard was called from earth June 3, 1891, and March 16, 1892, Mr. Leonard was united in wedlock with Mrs. Henrietta Farabee, widow of Benjamin Farabee (deceased in November, 1884), by whom she had three children, as follows: Laura Belle, who was twice married, first to Simeon Clarke, and after his death to William Chambers; John Franklin and Homer. Mrs. Leonard was born in Allegany county, Md., a daughter of Aaron and Rachel (Coleman) Hixenbaugh. She is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church.

On September 22, 1869, Mr. Leonard came to Washington borough, taking up his residence in the house where he is yet living, and which he had built. Here he continued at his trade until his final retirement, doing a great deal of contract work, besides building some eight houses for him- self in various parts of the borough. In 1847 he joined the M. E. Church, Mt. Zion, but a few years ago he identified himself with the Methodist Protestant Church, of which he is now trustee, class-leader, assistant superintendent of Sunday- school, and a teacher of the Bible class. At the time of his joining Mt. Zion Church, there were forty- five members, and when he visited it last winter he found he was the only one living of those forty-five. Politically he is a lifelong Democrat. Mr. Leonard is a typical self-made man, having risen by sheer industry, perseverance and economy, from compar- ative poverty to a condition of enviable affluence, and is highly respected in the community in which he lives, now enjoying the income of his hard- earned competence.

ILLIAM ALLISON CONKLIN. The history of the development of any new country affords interesting illustrations of zeal and rigid determination, so essen- tial to the successful prosecution of a difficult undertaking.

Of this Captain John Conklin, one of the old pioneers of Washington county, presents a striking example, and his numerous descendants of the present day possess the same characteristics in no small degree. Capt. John Conklin was born in Morris county, N. J., September 30, 1763. In 1784 he married Elizabeth Mills, a native of the same county, who was born March 29, 1766. In November, 1790, with his wife and three daughters, he started for Washington county. It is hard to realize the difficulties of that journey by wagon. The route was a very hilly one, the grading steep, rendering it necessary to make frequent stops in ascending a hill, in order that the team might rest. These rests necessitated the services of "a blocker " to follow the wagon, and place a block behind a wheel when a stop was made. This duty devolved upon Mrs. Conklin. In many instances, to render this assistance she left the youngest child at the foot of the hill, and the wagon having reached the sum- mit, she would return and carry the child. Arriv- ing at the glades in the mountains, they were com- pelled to stop three or four months on account of Mrs. Conklin's illness. Then, renewing their journey, with their four children, on horseback, and leaving all behind except what clothing they could carry on two horses, they arrived in Wash- ington county in May or June, 1791. Capt. Conk- lin purchased 440 acres of land, near Sparta, on the south fork of the north branch of Ten-Mile creek, the present property of W. A. Conklin. Here he devoted his energy to the improvement of

the place, which was made to yield a good income. Capt. Conklin died July 12, 1824, having given to the country a family of twelve children-eight daughters and four sons-all of whom married, forming twelve families of eighty-four children ;. 'sixty-six of the grandchildren married, all but about seven having families, some very large ones.

The eldest son, John, grew up, always having close friends. He married, in 1820, Jane Andrew, a quiet, kind and loving wife and mother. Two years after he moved west to a quarter section of land, given to him by his mother, on the west bank of Little Darby creek, now opposite West Jef- ferson, Madison Co., Ohio. Here he lived until his death, October 26, 1873. He reared a family, and lived to see four out of seven children married well. John was a great hunter, and was soon known for hundreds of miles around by that class of people through the wilderness of central Ohio. All strangers or friends were so cordially wel- comed by him that they soon were his loving

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friends. As soon as his visitors rested, John would order his best team and rig, suitable for the occasion, and rations for each, and off they would go, until all parties were satisfied.

Two years after her husband's death, Mrs. Conklin married Caleb Lindley. Mr. Lindley lived about ten years, and the widow returned to the old homestead, and lived with her son William, hardly knowing what sickness was, until she died sud- denly August 16, 1852.

William Conklin, born July 4, 1810, was the youngest of this family of twelve children. He remained with his father until the latter's death. Then, being fourteen years of age, he was bound to John Griffith to learn the shoemaker's trade. Having served his term, he worked as a journey- man shoemaker at different places in Ohio, until 1835, when he returned and settled on his farm in Washington county, where he dwelt until his death, June 25, 1880 (he died within a few feet of the log cabin where he was born), in a brick mansion, built in 1862. He was a farmer. As a justice of the peace, for ten years he filled the office with credit to himself and satisfaction to the people. On March 2, 1838, he married Catherine, born May 16, 1818, a daughter of Jacob and Abi- gail Ross, of Greene county. Jacob was one of the prominent drovers of the time and section. Jacob Ross' parents, John and Elizabeth Ross, were the first owners of the tract of land on Ruff's creek, near Jefferson, Greene county. John died in 1813, and was buried on the farm, there being no graveyard. He owned slaves, and frequently had serious trouble with the Indians. Jacob Ross, her father, donated the land for the first grave- yard, and lot for the first church (Baptist) that was built in that section of the country. It still stands, enclosed with the old stone wall. Timothy and Rachel Ross settled on a tract four miles west. (John and Timothy were no relation, but of the same name). On this farm the Indians found a man and his two sons clearing a lot for corn. They shot and scalped two of them, one son escap- ing to the fort. This was the last murder by the Indians in that section. Timothy Ross died on one of his farms, near Shinstown, Monongalia Co., W. Va., aged eighty-five years. Mr. Ross was one of the first Campbellites in this part of the country. He often rode his big sorrel horse, " Mose," to Bethany, Brooke Co., W. Va., to hear Elder Alexander Campbell preach. Elizabeth Ross died at the home of her son William, in Ohio, in 1834, aged almost one hundred years. Jacob Ross died in 1856. Abigail Ross, Catharine's mother, died July 2, 1881. With remarkable eyesight and strength, she was out overseeing her farms in Richhill township, Greene Co., up to a few days before her death.

To William and Catharine Conklin nine chil-

dren were born: Phebe Jane, born December 2, 1838, married, April 2, 1868, to Cephas Meek (he died on his farm on Ruff's creek in Greene Co., leaving a widow and one son); William Allison is the subject proper of this sketch; Benjamin Frank- lin, born September 12, 1841, taught school for sev- eral terms, read medicine, attended Jefferson Med- ical College, Philadelphia, and the following winter graduated from the Western Reserve Medical College, Cleveland (he settled in Fayette City, Penn,, and in 1871 married Millie J. Kelley, of Salem, Ohio. He was the father of one child, now the wife of Guy W. Boudinot, of Cleveland, Ohio. He practiced medicine until his death, January 18, 1873. He was one of the most prominent and successful physicians in the Monongahela Valley). Thomas H. Benton, born May 25, 1844, died June 1, 1845; Cinderella, born March 27, 1847, married Noah D. Sowers, February 17, 1881, and resides in Vermilion county, Ill .; Gleason P., born March 29, 1849, married, January 1, 1879, to Victorine Wilson, daughter of James Wilson, of Franklin township (they reside near West Union, Greene Co., and are the parents of six children); one who died in infancy; Ophelia Belle, born February 6, 1853, married, in 1875, to Ross McClain (they reside in Greene county. She is the mother of seven children, all living); Catharine Ivagenia, born July 4, 1856, married March 7, 1888, to George E. Mann (they reside in Vermilion county, Ill. She is the mother of one child, Chloe); Ross M., born August 4, 1861, received a common-school educa- tion, attended college a number of terms, and graduated at Duff's Commercial College, Pitts- burgh (he went to McPherson, Kans., in 1884, where he taught school four years, and married Madeline Burwell, of McPherson, May 28, 1888. Shortly after they moved to Oregon, where he has been principal of the Roseburg College ever since, and in which his wife is an instructor).

William Allison Conklin, born March 28, 1840, received a common-school education, and taught a number of terms. He attended a commercial college, and then chose a farmer's life. He has always been a hard worker, and is possessed of more than ordinary intellect and culture. A genial disposition, which is only found in those who are temperate, characterizes him. He never uses strong drinks or tobacco; never has been known to swear an oath under the most trying circumstances; has always been kind to the poor, true to his word and firm for his rights. His widowed mother, kind, gentle and affectionate, lives with him on the old place, which has been handed down from father to son for three genera- ations. He has been a member of the M. E. Church for over twenty years, and has served as superintendent of Sunday-school, steward and trus- tee. He is a Democrat, who seeks not office, but is

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always found working for the man best fitted for the office. No one rejoiced more heartily than he did over the results of the elections of November 8, 1892.

W ILLIAM W. JACKMAN, one of the old- est citizens of East Pike Run township, is a native of the same, having been born December 10, 1814. He is a son of Will- iam Jackman, whose father was Robert Jackman, a native of Ireland.

Robert Jackman came, when a young man, to America with three brothers, and located in Wash- ington county. In March, 1784, he obtained from the Pennsylvania land office a warrant for the land now the sites of the towns of California and Coal Centre, on the waters of Pike run. These tracts were surveyed and enrolled in Patent Book No. 15, page 255. The tract on the east side of the creek was called "Allybar," and that on the west side, "Ararat." Robert married Sarah Whittiker, and afterward Ann Dixon. Of his nine children, two were born to the first wife and seven to the last wife. They are named as follows: Robert (born May 16, 1772), Henry (born August 7, 1774, married Sarah Sphar), Ruth (born May 7, 1779, married William Gregg), Sarah (born May 15, 1781, married Joseph Nealan), Samuel (born February 8, 1784), William (born January 4, 1786, married Nancy Steele), Dixon (born April 5, 1789, married Elizabeth Phillips), John (born January 5, 1792, married Miss Stockdale), James A. (born September 1, 1794). Many members of this family finally settled in Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. The father died in Washington county, and was buried in the cemetery at California.

William Jackman was married to a daughter of William Steele, and she bore him one son, Will- iam. For his second wife Mr. Jackman selected Ann Wilkins, a native of Washington county, and they had two children: Ann (wife of William Reeder) and William W. The father followed farming all his life until drowned in the Mononga- hela river.

William W. Jackman received a limited educa- tion in the subscription schools of the home neigh- borhood, then at the juvenile age of twelve years began life for himself. He worked at various oc- cupations, and at the age of eighteen took a boat- load of coal down the river to Maysville, Ky .; con- tinued in that business for several years, also act- ing as pilot for boats to Louisville, Ky. In 1839 he was married to Ruth, daughter of William Mor- gan, one child having been born to their union, Louisa, wife of Alexander Carlisle. The mother died a short time after the birth of this daughter. For his second wife William W. Jackman married Eliza Jane, daughter of William Miller, a resident

of Greene county. To this union nine children were born as follows: Leroy, Dora, Arabella, Lena (deceased wife of Charles Minehart), Albert, William E., Calvin, Santford and Louis S. Of these, Leroy, William E. and Louis S. are living. After laying out the town of California, and before the lots were sold, William W. Jackman joined the advance army of " Argonauts" from "the States" in "'49" for the Sacramento Valley, Cal., for which the Pennsylvania town was named. In 1849 Mr. Jackman, in company with Job Johnson, Abram Fry, George Hornback, Samuel Ashmade and John Woods, purchased 311 acres in East Pike Run township, laid out the town of California, and di- vided the upland tract among themselves, the share of Mr. Jackman being fifty acres. He has been a Whig and Abolitionist in politics, and is deeply interested in educational progress, having been a prime mover in the Southwestern State Normal School at California, to which he has con- tributed largely.

S AMUEL GEORGE is descended from an early pioneer family of Hibernian ancestry. Robert and Christiana George were natives of Ireland, where they were married, and soon afterward immigrated to America. In 1772 they settled on a farm in Mt. Pleasant township, this county, where he died many years ago. His widow survived him twenty years, making her home with her son John George, of Washington county, Penn.

David George was born on the home place in Mt. Pleasant township. In early life he was married to Nancy Scott, who bore him children as follows: Betsey (deceased), Christy (deceased), Margaret (wife of John Roney), Nancy (deceased in 1888, wife of William Connor), Robert and Mary (twins), the former living in Allegheny, Penn., and Samuel (of whom a sketch follows). Mr. and Mrs. George were members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Chartiers township for many years. He died February 7, 1856, and his wife in 1857.

Samuel George was born September 19, 1828, on the home farm in Mt. Pleasant township, re- ceiving his education in the district schools of the neighborhood. On December 24, 1866, he was united in marriage with Christiana, a native of Mt. Pleasant township, daughter of John and Jane (Slater) George, who were of Irish descent, and natives of Allegheny county, Penn., moving to Mt. Pleasant township, Washington county, in an early day. Her father died in Beaver Falls some years ago; her mother is yet living in Beaver Falls.

Samuel and Christiana George settled on the farm where they now reside, containing 190 acres of excellent land. Their children are Jennie Slater, Annette Mary, John D., Harrison, Lizzie,

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Emma, Maggie M. and Willie L. In religious faith Mr. and Mrs. George are members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.

AMES M. CHANEY, a prosperous and well- known farmer, is a native of Donegal town- ship, Washington Co., Penn., and a son of James Chaney, whose father Abraham was born in Maryland, and married in his native State. The last named came to Washington county in the latter part of the eighteenth century, and located in Donegal township, where his family was reared.

James Chaney was born on his father's farm in 1806, and passed his boyhood in the usual farm duties, receiving a very meager education. He be- gan life at an early age, and had many hardships to contend with. He made rails for George Wilson, of West Alexander, receiving for his work 25 cents per hundred, which he was expected to spend at the store of his employer. He could get a yard of muslin for 25 cents, or was obliged to make 300 rails to buy goods enough for one shirt. On March 25, 1831, Mr. Chaney was married to Su- sanna McMillan, who was born in 1805, daughter of John McMillan. They had the following family: Thornton, born December 20, 1831 (deceased August 1, 1880); Mary, born August 9, 1833; George W., born November 15, 1835 (living in West Alexander, Penn.); James M., born Novem- ber 6, 1837; Sarah, born October 12, 1839 (de- ceased in 1879); John, born January 18, 1842 (deceased in youth); and Barnet B., born March 1, 1844 (a farmer of Donegal township). For some time after his marriage Mr. Chaney resided on a farm about two miles south of West Alexander, Donegal township. He afterward moved to Coon Island, same township, where he resided several years, and in 1853 purchased and moved to a farm about two miles north of West Alexander, where he lived and worked on the farm until his death. Mr. Chaney's success in life was wholly due to his own efforts. In politics he was formerly a Whig, and afterward a Republican. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church at West Alexander. He died in February, 1879, having been preceded by his wife in 1874.

James M. Chaney was born in Coon Island, this county, and passed his early years on the home farm, receiving a common-school education. On October 13, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Fourteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, and served till the close of the war. He took part in the engagements at White Sulphur Springs, Va., Beverly, W. Va., Droop Mountain, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, and numerous other minor conflicts. On June 5, 1865, he was honorably discharged, and coming home worked on his father's farm.

On February 6, 1868, he was united in marriage with Pamelia, daughter of Andrew and Pamelia (Gilfillan) Alexander, also of Donegal township, and seven children were born to them: Fannie (wife of John Gibson, a wholesale grocer of Wheeling, W. Va.), Jennie (wife of Prof. John M. Oliver), Andrew M., James, Susanna, John H. and Maggie Grace, all living at home. 'After his mar- riage Mr. Chaney first located a quarter of a mile east of West Alexander. In 1874 he purchased the "Joseph Alexander" farm, situated about three and a half miles north of West Alexander, in Donegal township. He is engaged in farming on this place, and deals largely in stock. Polit- ically he is a Republican, and though he has been elected to numerous township offices, he is not a politician. Mr. Chaney is an enterprising and progressive farmer. In religious connection he and his wife are both members of the Presbyterian Church.

N ATHANIEL NEELY. In the first rank of the intelligent and prominent farmer citi- zens of Washington county stands the sub- ject of this sketch.

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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 127

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