Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 132

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 132

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ceased). In politics he was a strong advocate of the principles embodied in the Republican party. In religion he held to the faith of his father who was a rigid Presbyterian. He died September 7, 1879, and was buried in Mingo cemetery, Union township.

William Denniston, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Caldwell) Denniston, was born February 11, 1838, near Thompsonville, Peters township. On August 19, 1861, he, with many other brave boys of Union township, in answer to their country's call, enlisted in Company I, First Pennsylvania Reserve Caval- ry, under Col. George D. Bayard. After return- ing home he remained on the farm until 1870, when he spent a year in the West. The father died in 1879. William and his brother Thomas have managed the farm, giving their attention princi- pally to stock raising.

Thomas Denniston was born May, 19, 1847. On August 14, 1884, he was married to Marian V., daughter of Isaac Lytle, Esq., of Gastonville. They, with their two children, Lawrence and Helen, live at the old home.

W ILLIAM COULTER, a wealthy and lead- ing citizen of Monongahela, was born No- vember 11, 1817, in western Pennsylva- nia. His father, James Coulter, was born in Ireland, and when but six years of age came with his parents to America. They first located in western Pennsylvania, then came to Williamsport (now Monongahela), Washington Co., Penn. When a young man James Coulter was married to a Miss Blakney, who lived but a short time, and his second choice was Nancy Nichols, who resided near Pittsburgh, Penn. She bore him children as follows: Raphael B. (deceased), Will- iam, James (deceased), and Robert. The father was a Whig and Republican in politics, and in re- ligious faith a member of the Presbyterian Church. He passed the remainder of his life in Mononga- hela, and was killed while hauling a load of fodder, having been thrown from a wagon, whereby his leg was broken above the ankle. He died in 1823, from the effects of the injury, at the age of sixty- nine years, and was followed to the grave by his wife in 1843.

William Coulter came to Monongahela in 1817, and received his education in one of the earliest subscription schools, which he attended during the winter season only. At the age of fourteen years he began working in a brickyard, where he re- mained three years. He then learned and com- pleted the carpenter and millwright trades, to which most of his time has since been devoted, having taken contracts in different portions of Washington county. In February, 1840, he mar- ried Rebecca, daughter of James Collins, of

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Monongahela. She died in 1856, leaving eight chil- dren, all now deceased. For his second wife Will- iam Coulter was married June 25, 1857, to Forbes, a daughter of William Stockdale, of Carroll town- ship, this county. Her father was born in County Down, Ireland, where he grew to manhood and was married to Jane Manown; they came to Amer- ica in 1811, and first settled on a farm in Alle- gheny county, Penn., afterward locating in Wash- ington county, same State. He followed farming all his life, and in politics he was a Whig. Will-

iam Stockdale died in 1851, in Washington county, Penn., having been preceded by his wife in 1834, who had borne him children as follows: Sarah, John, Rachel, Richard, Margaret, James, William, Eliza J., Forbes (Mrs. Coulter) and Robert. To the union of William and Forbes (Stockdale) Coul- ter the following children have been born: Sarah, William, Ella, Carrie, P. Sheridan and Robert, all living except William and Robert. Mr. Will- iam Coulter has been the architect of his own fortune, and has ever made the interests of the community identical with his own. In politics he was originally a Whig, and now votes with the Republican party, and he has served as a mem- ber of the council and school board.

HE SAMPSON FAMILY, who are among the most influential and wealthy citizens of Carroll township, were originally natives of Westmoreland county, Penn., where Will- iam Sampson was born in 1765. He was married in that State to Mary Nill (who bore him four children), and some time after his marriage the family came to Washington county, where the father died in 1815.

James Sampson, son of William and Mary Sampson, was born February 5, 1806, just above Webster, on the Monongahela river, in Westmore- land county, Penn. He came with his parents to Washington county in 1810, and in 1840 was mar- ried to Mary Grant, a native of the last named county. She bore him seven children, of whom are named William T., Harvey J. and John G. The mother died in 1888. James Sampson has carried on a distillery for twenty years in connection with farming, and now owns 1,250 acres of land. He was president of the People's Bank of Mononga- hela City for twenty-two years, and is one of the leading citizens of Washington county.

HARVEY J. SAMPSON was born April 21, 1850, in Carroll township, Washington Co., Penn., and was reared to agricultural pursuits. On February 17, 1876, he married Miss Jennie B. Yorty, a native of Westmoreland county, Penn., and daughter of John and Nancy (Brewer) Yorty, prominent citi- zens of Carroll township, now deceased. Harvey J. and Jennie B. Sampson are the parents of the

following children: Bertie O., born June 17, 1877; Grace L., born September 19, 1879; James E., born April 11, 1881; Ada E., born August 4, 1885; Frank H., born February 20, 1888, and Ethel J., born September 8, 1890. Mr. Sampson is a very progressive and enterprising citizen, and, polit- ically, affiliates with the Republican party. He owns 276 acres of land in Carroll township, and breeds some of the best trotting horses in Wash- ington county.

R EV. WILLIAM R. M'KEE, the earnest and well-known pastor of the United Pres- byterian Congregation of Robinson, traces his lineage back to one Joseph M'Kee, a native of the North of Ireland, who immi- grated to this country near the close of the last century, and located on a farm in Jefferson county, Ohio. His wife was a Miss Ramsey, of that county, and tothem were born nine sons and two daughters. Two of their sons are still living: Joseph (a min- ister in Los Angeles, Cal.), and Ralston (a farmer near Mansfield, Ohio). Mr. M'Kee was a promi- nent citizen of eastern Ohio, being called to serve as a member of the first Legislature of the State of Ohio, and as associate judge of Jefferson county for a number of years. He was also a ruling elder in the Associate Presbyterian Congregation of Mount Pleasant, Ohio, for many years. He died at the advanced age of ninety-five.

James M'Kee, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born February 6, 1800, and reared on the home farm in Jefferson county. When a young man he followed the profession of teaching for some time. He was able to take a class in arith- metic as far as through the '" Single rule of three," corresponding to the first case of proportion in modern text books. This was as far as classes in common schools were usually taken in arithmetic in those days. On February 27, 1821, he was married to Miss Susanna Ramsey, who bore him one daughter, Jane. The mother died April 18, 1822, and for his second wife Mr. M'Kee married Miss Martha Humphry, who was born November 3, 1791, in Ohio county, W. Va. She was a daughter of Robert Humphry, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and among the many engage- ments in which he participated are mentioned: Bunker Hill, Brandywine and Germantown. Shortly after the close of the war he was married, and the young couple settled in what was then the wilds of Virginia, within the bounds of what is now known as Ohio county, W. Va., but near to the Penn- sylvania line. They were many times compelled to flee from their home to the fort, for safety from the Indians, the last time when the infant daughter Mar- tha was three weeks old. Mr. Humphry laid out the village of West Alexander, Penn., on one of his

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farms, calling it for his wife, whose maiden name was Jane Alexander. Five children were born to the union of James and Martha M'Kee, viz. : Rob- ert and John (who both died in boyhood), Joseph (a physician of Denver, Colo.), James A. (for twenty- seven years pastor of the U. P. Congregation of Wheeling, five miles south of Claysville in this county, now of Emporia, Kans. ) and William R. The father and mother both died in Washington, Iowa, the former Angust 1, 1873, the latter March 17. 1866.

William R. M'Kee was born in Ohio county, W. Va., September 13, 1832. His father's family removed to Ohio, settling when he was seven years old on a farm near Wooster, Wayne county. Here they lived until he was sixteen, and then removed to Harrison county, Ohio, near to New Athens, the seat of Franklin College, from which institution he graduated September 8, 1854. After spending one year in teaching he commenced the study of medicine, but, before completing the course, aban- doned it, and entered the United Presbyterian Theological Seminary of Xenia, Ohio, where he graduated in the spring of 1859, and was licensed to preach the Gospel April 19, 1859, by the U. P. Presbytery of Wheeling, in the city of Wheeling, W. Va. During his ministry of thirty-three years he has had but two charges, both substantial country congregations. His first settlement was in the congregation of West Hebron, Washington Co., N. Y., where he was ordained and installed, September 19, 1860. Here he remained until the fall of 1867. On April 30, 1863, he was united in marriage with Miss Frances Lytle, of Xenia, Ohio. Her father was born and reared in Mifflin, Penn. On April 15, 1821, he married Miss Fannie Smart, of Huntington, Penn., a granddaughter of Rev. John Smart, who came to this country from Scot- land in 1761, and a sister of Revs. J. P. and John G. Smart, well-known ministers of the U. P. Church. To them were born John S. (long a wholesale dry-goods merchant of Dayton, Ohio), David and James P. (boot and shoe merchants of Cincinnati, Ohio), Robert (of the Second National Bank, Xenia, Ohio), Rachel Mary, J. Smith, Mar- garet Jane (deceased), and Frances. When Frances was six years old the family removed to Ohio, settling on a farm in Greene county; after- ward they located in Xenia, where she graduated from the Union Female Seminary, an institution conducted for several years under the superintend- ence of Mrs. Hannah, of Washington, Penn. To Mr. and Mrs. M' Kee have been born three daugh- ters: Martha Luella, Etta Lytle (Mrs. D. J. Mc- Cabe, Coraopolis, Penn.) and Emma Jane (de- ceased).

On October 18, 1869, Mr. M'Kee was installed pastor of Robinson Congregation, by the Presby- tery of Frankfort. Here he has remained to the

present time, February, 1893, a period of twenty- three and one-half years, being, we believe, the longest present existing pastorate, with one excep- tion, in all those parts of Pennsylvania and West Virginia bounded by the Pan Handle Railroad and the Ohio river. This charge has been no sinecure. Being almost ten miles long from north to south and seven miles wide from east to west it has given him almost incessant labor, and yet he believes that few pastors have found fields of labor affording them a higher degree of pleasure than has he. In this field he has met with a good degree of success. While no great revivals have marked their career, yet there has been a steady growth in numbers and efficiency. Although situated entirely in the country, and in a community where almost all the families are in connection with some church, with but little emigration into it, but subject to the usual depletion by death, emigration from it, and especially that drain of our young men to the cities, which is telling so fearfully on all of our country churches, it has increased in membership from 110 to 200. Never in all these years has there been a deeper sympathy or more cordial feeling than ex- ists between this pastor and his people to-day, and never has his work, and theirs with him, been more efficient for good than it is to-day. It is pleasant to close this sketch with such a record, and we but echo the wish of especially the Chris- tian people of this county, that the days of one so long and favorably known among us may yet be many, and that his last days may be his best days, both in usefulness and in happiness. ·

M RS. JOANNA BOONE is a daughter of Samuel K. Weirich, now a resident of Washington borough, and the widow of James M. Boone, to whom she was united in marriage April 23, 1863.

James M. Boone (deceased) was born March 29, 1829, in Washington county, Penn., a son of James M. and Margaret (Miller) Boone, who were of Irish descent. He passed his youth on the farm, where he received a good education. He inherited and also acquired habits of sobriety and industry, to which much of his success in life was due. After his marriage to Miss Weirich, he lived in Canton township, Washington county, until 1871, when he removed to the place in Buffalo township, which is situated on the line of the B. & O. R. R., Chartiers Station. Mr. and Mrs. Boone had the following children: Mattie, Edwin, Susie, Anna, Emma (wife of David Moore) and Maggie (who is married to Robert W. Davis, of Canton township, Washington county, son of Dr. R. W. Davis). The unmarried children are living on the home farm with their mother. James M. Boone was esteemed by all who knew him, being a devout

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Christian man, benevolent, almost to a fault. He believed that an abundance of worldly goods is in- trusted to some men by the Creator for the purpose of doing good, and that "he that giveth to the poor, lendeth to the Lord"-a Bible precept to which he strictly adhered. The truth of a com- panion saying: "Cast thy bread upon the waters, and after many days it shall return to thee," was forcibly illustrated in the life of Mr. Boone. He had an abundance of property which was acquired by industry and enterprise, and the advancement of the Master's cause was ever uppermost in his mind. His earnest efforts in the church will long be remembered. Some men are practically dead even while existing, and others, though their "tenement of clay " has crumbled to its primitive dust, yet live in the lives and hearts of others, ex- erting a powerful influence for good. We do not exaggerate the simple truth when we affirm that James M. Boone was a good example of the latter class, and none can estimate the good inculcated by his life on both the present and future of Wash- ington county. He passed away December 23, 1891, after a protracted illness of three months.

W S. THOMPSON, a prominent farmer of Mt. Pleasant township, is a son of Allen Thompson, who was a son of Allen Thomp- son, a native of eastern Pennsylvania, who, when a young man, came to Washington county. About the year 1812 Allen Thompson (1) was married to Martha Lindsay, and, settling on the farm in Mt. Pleasant township adjoining the pres- ent home of W. S. Thompson, passed his life in the county. His wife died in 1871.

Allen Thompson, son of the pioneer Allen, was born in February, 1824, on the home farm in Mt. Pleasant township, where he remained during his boyhood. In 1848 he was united in marriage with Mary Jane Griffith, who was born in June, 1827, in Chartiers township, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Boone) Griffith. Samuel Griffith was born in Maryland, and when a boy came with his parents to Buffalo township, this county. He was married in Chartiers township to Elizabeth Boone, a native of Delaware, and settled in Chartiers town- ship, this county, where he died in 1869 at the age of seventy years. In 1888 his wife was laid to rest by his side. They were both members of Miller's Run Presbyterian Church. In 1849 Al- len Thompson and his young wife came to Mt. Pleasant township, settling in 1852 on the home farm, which was then owned by one Guthrie. Three children were born to this conple: Nancy M. (mar- ried to James Kerr, of Chartiers township, this county), W. S. (subject of this sketch) and Martha Elizabeth (wife of Hamilton Crawford, of North Strabane township). The father followed carpen-

tering and farming in Mt. Pleasant township, afterward moving to Cecil township, this county, where he died in 1853. He was a member of Miller's Run Presbyterian Church. In 1872 his widow (who is yet living) was married to William Hays (a native of Chartiers township), who died in April, 1881.

W. S. Thompson was born February 22, 1851, in Mt. Pleasant township, this county, and was educated in the McNary's district school in Char- tiers township. In 1878 he was married to Mat- tie Henry, a native of Cecil township, and daugh- ter of Samuel and Martha (McConnell) Henry, also natives of Cecil township, this county, who died many years ago. After his marriage W. S. Thompson remained in Chartiers township until 1880, when he bought eighty-two acres of land in Mt. Pleasant township, where he has since resided; he has made many improvements, and erected a good house and barn upon the farm. His wife died in 1883, leaving two children to mourn her death: Lizzie M. and Mattie Henry. In 1885 Mr. Thompson was united in marriage with Belle Bar- nett, a native of Chartiers township, daughter of Ephraim Barnett. The latter was born and reared in Chartiers township, this county, and was mar- ried to Sarah Willard, a native of Cecil township, this county. They lived in Chartiers township, where Ephraim Barnett died in 1876; his widow is yet living on the homestead.

W. S. and Belle (Barnett) Thompson have had one child, Boyd Barnett. Mr. Thompson is a Republican, but casts his ballot for the best man, regardless of party preferences. In religious con- nection he and his wife are members of Miller's Run Presbyterian Church, in which he is a ruling elder.

S TEPHEN D. MILLER, a well-known citi- zen of Amwell township, is a son of Joseph Miller, whose father emigrated from Ire- land, and located in Greene county, Penn., where Joseph was born February 1, 1791.

Joseph Miller learned the carpenter's trade, cabinet making and undertaking, and in the course of his wide experience in the latter vocation was called on to bury the remains of Rev. Solomon Spaulding, who wrote the romance entitled "Man- uscript Found," on which, it is claimed, the "Book of Mormon " was founded. In the war of 1812 Joseph Miller became a member of Capt. William Patterson's military company, and was sent to. Black Rock, on the Niagara river. He saw no active service, but remained there with his com- pany until they were ordered into winter quarters, when the volunteers returned home on furlough, and Mr. Miller's company traveled on foot through southern New York to Amwell township, Washing-

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ton county. It was a toilsome and adventurous journey, over several feet of crusted snow, at times guided only by a narrow Indian trail, traveling twenty-eight miles, one day, with no human habitation in sight. Joseph and a comrade were obliged to carry, besides their own burdens, an- other brother who was sick; but they finally arrived home the day before Christmas, after having been thirteen days on the route. On March 4, 1813, Joseph Miller was married to Parmelia Harris, of Amwell township, Washington county, and then began work on the farm in the same township, which is now owned by George Swart, in 1816 mov- ing to the farm now owned by A. J. Swart. Joseph and Parmelia Miller had the following named children: Nehemiah, Mulvina (deceased), William (deceased), John F., Benjamin (deceased), Tunis and Stephen D. Mr. Miller owned a farm of forty-two acres near the village of Ten-Mile, in Amwell township, and was considered a good busi- ness man. In politics he was formerely an Old- line Whig, afterward becoming a Republican. He was an elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which he and his wife were members for many years. Mrs. Miller died in 1862, and Mr. Miller followed her, April 12, 1885, in his ninety-fifth year.

Stephen D. Miller was born August 29, 1833, in Morris township, Washington Co., Penn., and acquired but a meager education in the public schools of the neighborhood, which, however, he made a good practical use of. On August 11, 1853, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Baldwin, of Amwell township, and their children were as follows: John F., born December 11, 1854, died January 11, 1855; William, born March 28, 1860, was killed June 29, 1870; Emma Frances, born March 20, 1864; Phoebe Jane, born Decem- ber 25, 1865; John B., born January 1, 1870; and Thomas and Elizabeth (twins), born October 10, 1872. The mother of this family dying October 22, 1872, Mr. Miller married, April 30, 1873, Sarah McCracken, who bore him the following children : Herbert McCracken, born February 18, 1874; Clark H., born November 16, 1875; Effie Z., born December 20, 1877; Myrtie Iona, born April 24, 1879, and Melville D., born March 2, 1882.

After his first marriage Mr. Miller began work in a sawmill, disposing of which he worked the Evans farm three years, and in 1867 purchased the farm of eighty-five acres where he has since resided, en- gaged in general agriculture, and also following the undertaking business; by industry and good man- agement he has been most successful. In politics he has been a Republican ever since the formation of the party, having voted for John C. Fremont, the first candidate in that party for President. He has been treasurer of the school board twelve

years, and is now road commissioner. Mr. Miller and the greater part of the family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

S AMUEL C. IMHOFF, one of the young and energetic farmers of Canton township, was born August 16, 1863, upon the farm where he still resides, and which was also the birth- place of his father. Very little is known of the grandfather of our subject, except that he was a native of eastern Pennsylvania, and died in middle life, leaving the following children: George, William, Henry, Samuel and two daughters. Samuel Imhoff was born December 30, 1816, and although receiving but a limited education, he pos- sessed a strong mind which easily grasped the knotty problems of life, and came from each con- test fresh and vigorous, ready for another battle. In early manhood he went to California, and re- mained there six years. He was married to Mary J. Stewart, a resident of Canton township, and she bore him only one child, Samuel C. Mr. Imhoff was originally a Whig, later becoming an active worker in the Republican ranks; in religious faith he was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He died in December, 1874, and was followed by his wife March 22, 1881. They both rest in the Upper Buffalo cemetery.

Samuel C. Imhoff attended the common schools of the neighborhood during his minority, and when old enough assumed the management of the farm, upon which he has always lived. On Jan- uary 28, 1886, he married Emma J., daughter of James Smiley, of Cross Creek township, and they have two children: Mary S., born November 21, 1886, and James C., born May 19, 1889. He is an energetic supporter of the Republican party, and, with his family, is a member of the United Presbyterian Church of North Buffalo.

B H. WINGET (deceased) was a native of Washington, Washington Co., Penn., born November 24, 1818. His father, Moses Winget, removed in an early day from New Jersey to Washington county, Penn., where he purchased land and reared a large family, giving them such educational advantages as the neighbor- ing schools afforded. Reared under these auspices, young Mr. Winget began life as a farmer, which vocation he followed during the whole of his life. By dint of energy and economy he had amassed a comfortable fortune at the time of his death.

He was married February 28, 1838, to Miss Matilda, a daughter of William Garrett, who moved from Maryland in the early days to Har- rison county, Ohio, and thence to Lancaster, Ohio,

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where Mrs. Winget was born. To the union of B. H. and Matilda Winget were born twelve children, seven of whom are living, as follows: Caroline M., Theodore, Mary E., Osborne, Florella A., Steven and Clara. Mr. Winget died in 1878, and Mrs. Winget and the family still reside on the farm, which is located just outside of Sparta, in Morris township.

A W. MILLER. Among the representative and prosperous agriculturists of Chartiers township, A. W. Miller is prominently identified. His grandfather, Andrew Miller, was born and reared in Ireland, where he was married to Sarah Steele, and came to America about 1800. He first located on the road from Hickory to Canonsburg, on a farm in Mt. Pleasant township, and then moved to a place one mile and a half northwest of Hickory, this county, afterward settling on the farm on the north fork of Chartiers creek, which is now occupied by our subject. Their children were James, Thomas, Andrew and Jane.

James Miller was born in 1812, in Mt. Pleasant township, this county, and was reared on the home farm. He attended Jefferson College, and after graduating read law in Washington with Hon. Isaac Leet, being admitted to the bar in 1840. In the same year he was united in marriage with Mary Watson, who was born in 1820, in Canonsburg, daughter of John Watson, a native of Pennsylva- nia. After his marriage Mr. Miller moved to Wooster, Ohio, there following his profession, and taking an active part in the politics of Wayne county, Ohio. He was a member of the Seceder Church, afterward uniting with the United Presby- terian Church. After his death, which occurred in 1844, Mrs. Miller returned to Mt. Pleasant township, this county, then moved to Houstonville, where she is now residing. She is the mother of two children: A. W., and Mary E. (wife of A. T. Haft, of Houstonville).

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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 132

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