Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 137

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 137

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M. (deceased in youth) and William (a farmer). After his marriage Mr. McConnell located on the old Culbertson farm, lying about two miles southeast of Independence, where he resided until his death. He also owned the place now known as the " McConnell Homestead," and was a pros- perous farmer. Politically he was a Democrat, and filled many offices of trust. His widow, a most estimable lady, is now living on the home farm, and is a consistent member of the Lower Buffalo Presbyterian Church, with which her de- ceased husband was also connected.

E. W. McConnell was born August 2, 1849, on the place in Independence township, which was made a part of the homestead before the death of his father. His boyhood was passed in farm work, and receiving a common-school education, which was in supplemented by a partial course at Mount Union College, in Stark county, Ohio. He then taught school for some time in Elizabethtown, Ky., and afterward returned to his birthplace, where he has since resided. On October 6, 1881, he was united in marriage with Annie Gourley (who was born in 1862, in Brooke county, W. Va.), daugh- ter of James Gourley, a native of that place; and to their union have been born children as follows: James G., Annie M., Willard W., and William Cul- bertson, an infant son. Mr. McConnell erected a pleasant residence on the home farm adjoining the original tract owned by his father, and engaged in farining. He is one of the progressive men in his vocation; in politics he has been a Democrat, but at present is independent of any party connection. Both he and his wife are members of the Lower Buffalo Presbyterian Church.

W ILLIAM A. SMILEY. There are men in all communities whose influence is felt rather than seen; whose lives and char- acters, like the deep undercurrent of a mighty stream, have deeper, greater and weightier effects in moulding their surroundings and shap- ing the course of events, than others who in out- ward appearances may have an important showing in the affairs of the community. Among those quiet, earnest men, whose depth of character and firm uprightness of principles excite the admiration . of those who know them, is William A. Smiley, who comes of a long line of honored ancestors.

.William A. Smiley was born April 22, 1848, in Hopewell township, this county. His father, Caldwell Smiley, was a son of William Smiley, who was of Scotch ancestry, and came to America at a very early day. He was one of the first elders of Upper Buffalo Presbyterian Church, and with Robert Caldwell, in 1779 selected the site for the church. Prior to coming to Washington county, he had lived in York county, Penn. The

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personal appearance of Mr. William Smiley is thus described in "Old Redstone:" "He was a Scotch- man of strong mind, very shrewd, and extremely pious. His manners were somewhat blunt, and he had an integrity and honesty about him which would not allow him to connive at anything he thought to be wrong. He disliked everything which in any way set aside the claims of religion, and did not give it its proper place in the business of life or the enjoyment of the social circle." It is related of Mr. Smiley that where at one time the church of Upper Buffalo had been unable for some years to. pay the salary of Rev. James Smith, he volunteered to make the trip to New Orleans with a boat-load of flour. Although sixty-four years of age, he made the trip successfully, and from the proceeds of the sale of the flour paid the church debt. He died November 21, 1813, aged eighty-two years. William Smiley was the father of seven children, their names and dates of births being as follows: Margaret, in January, 1796; William, October 30, 1797; John, November 22, 1799; Robert, October 10, 1801; James, November 11, 1803; Samuel, November 28, 1805, and Cald- well, August 5, 1807. After a long career of use- fulness, Mr. Smiley passed away at the age of eighty-two years.

Caldwell Smiley, youngest son of William, was reared in Hopewell township, this county, and, after receiving a fair English education in the com- mon schools, engaged in farming. He was first married to a Miss Tweed, and after her death was united in marriage with Martha Smiley, daughter of Samuel Smiley, who bore him one son, William A. Caldwell Smiley wielded a strong influence in the community in which he lived. In politics he was a Whig prior to the formation of the Repub- licans, after which he became a strict adherent of the principles of that party. He possessed great determination and industry, and accumulated a handsome competence, the result of his own efforts.

After the death of his mother, which occurred May 6, 1848, William A. Smiley was taken into the family of his uncle, where he remained, at- tending school, until eighteen years of age, when the failing health of his father obliged him to re- turn and take charge of the home farm. On Octo- ber 1, 1875, he was married to Miss Linnie A. Work, daughter of James and Margaret (Caldwell) Work, of Hopewell township, residing near Buffalo vil- lage. After his father's death, Mr. Smiley pur- chased the farm upon which he is now residing, containing 108 acres. He gives special attention to the raising of sheep, hogs, horses and cattle, and the usual farm products. The children born to William A. and Linnie A. (Work) Smiley are: James C., Austin Vincent, William A., Viola M., Harold H., Elsie Belle, and one child deceased in

infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Smiley are members and regular attendants of church and Sabbath-school of the Upper Buffalo Presbyterian Church.

YSANDER PATTERSON, a well-known surveyor in Washington county, Penn., was born March 19, 1820, on the farm in Cross Creek township where he is yet living. He is a grandson of Thomas Patterson, and a son of William and Margaret (Lyle) Patterson, the latter of whom was a daughter of Hon. Aaron Lyle. Lysander Patterson attended the English Depart- ment of Washington College, under the tuition of Hon. John L. Gow, and also enjoyed the advan- tage of private lessons from the renowned mathe- matician, Prof. John Armstrong, who was then teaching in Franklin College, New Athens, Ohio. After leaving school he returned to farming and surveying.

On March 27, 1845, Mr. Patterson was united in marriage with Elizabeth M., daughter of David Wallace, of Allegheny county, Penn. Mr. Patter- son owns ninety-four acres of the old homestead, where his father first made a settlement. He is a stanch Democrat, and has served for many years as township auditor and justice of the peace.

OHN BAVINGTON McBRIDE was born on the farm on which he now resides in North Strabane township, Washington Co., Penn., March 15, 1837.

He received a good primary and more ad- vanced education at the common schools of his district, supplemented by an extended course of study at Jefferson College, then located at Canons- burg, this county. Indeed it may be truly said of him that he has been a life student, a diligent and thoughtful reader of selected books that furnished the best food for the mind, keeping himself posted in the current literature of the times, a close ob- server of men and things, and thus trained he has always been ready to take a leading part in all ques- tions and enterprises of interest to the community. In his political predilections he is a leading Dem- ocrat and a strong advocate of "clean politics." He has held with characteristic ability various township offices. Without solicitation on his part he was nominated for the Legislature in 1869, and again in 1890. In both contests he led his col- leagues, and although in a strongly Republican district, was defeated in both contests by less than 100 votes. He was one of the corporators of and is a stockholder in the "Oak Spring Cemetery Company," located near Canonsburg, Penn. Mr. McBride has been twice appointed, by Gov. Patti- son, a member of the board of managers of Mor- ganza Reform school, and takes a special interest

hu B. Mc Bride

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in the common schools in his community, having been for many years identified with their manage- ment, believing this to be the children's golden op- portunity. He is a zealous worker for their suc- cess, and in touch with such methods and appli- ances as will elevate and ennoble the schools.

Mr. McBride's ancestral history is an interesting one. The great-grandparents of the present gener- ation of the most numerous family of Washington county McBrides were natives of near Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland, where they lived and died. The great-grandfather's name was Nathan- iel McBride and the great-grandmother's maiden name was Hamilton. The grandfather's name was James McBride, and the grandmother's maiden name was Sarah Sprowls; both were natives of Ireland but were married in this country. Na- thaniel and some other brothers never came to this country. James McBride, when twenty-three years of age, came to America with his brothers, Isaac and Samuel, about 1772, and settled first on what was afterward taken up and known as the " Washington lands " on Miller's run, Washington Co., Penn. Soon after their settlement here, Gen. Washington, at the suggestion of his agent, Capt. William Crawford, had a survey made of these lands, and on July 5, 1775, a military patent was issued to Washington for 2,813 acres, from Lord Dunmore, Governor-general of Virginia. In the meantime they, with other settlers, made im- provements on said lands, believing, as Col. George Croghan, an Indian agent, told them, that Wash- ington had no right there and advised them to re- main. Washington's journal shows that on Sep- tember, 19, 1784, "he came to the settlement," but having learned that they were a religious people deferred his visit until " Monday, Septem- ber 20, went early this morning to view the land and to receive the final determination of those who lived upon it." . " Having obtained a pilot near the land, I went first to the plantation of Samuel McBride, who has about five acres of meadow and thirty acres of arable land under good fencing, a logged dwelling house with a puncheon roof and stable or small barn of the same kind. The land rather hilly but good, chiefly white oak. . : . Next James McBride's three or four acres of meadow, twenty-eight acres of arable land, pretty good fencing, land rather broken but good, white and black oak timber mixed, a dwelling house and barn-of middling size-with puncheon roofs." His journal further shows that they with Thomas Biggert and nine others were ejected from their improved lands in 1785. Samuel McBride and family, with his brother Isaac, a bachelor, went to Mahoning in eastern Ohio. James McBride, with Thomas Biggert and several others of those ejected, settled in what is now Robinson township, Washington Co., Penn. These sturdy pioneer set- 41

tlers felt that they were not justly treated by Gen. Washington, believing that they were entitled to their lands by improvement of them according to the custom of the country. Ejected from these homes which they had literally hewed out of the forest, defeated but not disheartened, they again entered the forest to carve out for themselves new homes. James McBride selected 240 acres, and in 1785 secured a patent under the name of "Pump- ton " from the receiver-general's offices of Penn- sylvania, which patent contained this unique clause: " Reserving only the fifth part of all gold and silver for the use of the commonwealth, to be delivered at the pit's mouth free of all charges." This tract was owned successively by his sons, William and Alex- ander, and is now owned by his grandson, John C. McBride. Another grandson, William, now owns and lives upon a part of the " Washington lands" in Mt. Pleasant township. It is said that the Mc- Bride settlements were on the land now owned by Luther Morgan in said township.

Mr. McBride's family was one of the three that first formed the organization of the Associate Pres- byterian Church of Clinton, Rev. William Wilson, pastor. James McBride died October 6, 1827, aged eighty-four years, his wife died March 6, 1838, aged eighty-one years, and both are buried in the Clinton Church cemetery. They had an issue of ten sons, as follows: Nathaniel, died in 1860, aged eighty-two years; Francis, James and John were at their deaths aged fifty-nine, sixty- nine, and eighty-eight years, respectively; Mat- thew Hamilton, born in 1787, died March 12, 1871, aged eighty-four years; Samuel died in 1877, aged eighty-seven years; Isaac died aged eighty- three years; David died aged seventy-two years; William, born 1797, died October 22, 1878, aged eighty-one years; Alex., born in 1800, died Novem- ber 20, 1885, aged eighty-five years. By the help and industry of this large family of boys Mr. McBride accumulated a large estate, about eleven hundred acres of land, which he divided among his children.

Matthew H. McBride was born in Robinson township, Washington Co., Penn., and received as liberal an education as the schools of his day af- forded. For a time he taught the district school, and worked on the farm. He was by his father's will made one of the executors of the estate. He was married March 12, 1834, to Mary Bavington, daughter of Capt. John and Ruth (Mckinnon) Bavington, one of the pioneer families of Smith township.

CAPTAIN JOHN BAVINGTON was born February 2, 1750, and was married to Ruth Mckinnon about the year 1785. On February 22, 1786, he took out a patent called "Mill Town," containing 404 acres near the east branch of Raccoon creek .. Soon after this he built a grist-and saw-mill,

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which did the grinding and sawing for many miles around. He built a cabin on the hillside about a quarter of a mile east of the village of Bavington. Later he built a house on the part of the farm near the village of Bavington, where he lived until his death, which occurred June 23, 1810, under the following sad circumstances: He was on his way to Steubenville with a four-horse load of flour, and when crossing the Ohio river at Kelly's Ferry, near the mouth of Harman's creek, the stamping of the horses loosened the planks of the bottom of the boat, letting in the water till it sank, and both Capt. Bavington and the ferryman were drowned. Capt. Bavington's body was recovered, brought home and buried in the Cross Roads (now Florence) cemetery. He left a widow and five sons: Daniel, Charles, Henry, John and Thomas.

His widow and eldest son, Daniel, were ad- ministrators of the estate, and the property was divided. Daniel obtained the homestead and mill property; later he sold the mill property to James Clark, Sr., and went to Illinois. Charles purchased mill property near Murdocksville, lived therefor a time, and then migrated to Ohio. Henry lived and died comparatively young at the home- stead. John received his portion of the estate in money, and went to Oregon. Thomas received the east portion of the farm now owned by D. Stewart McBride, and which was rated as one of the best farms in that part of the county. During the palmy days of the "Steubenville Pike," Thomas kept a public house for many years, it being about midway between Pittsbugh and Steubenville; there being quite a traffic between these two places made it a good place for the accommodation of the public. He was a good and public-spirited citizen. In 1855, when the Pittsburgh & Steubenville Rail- road was first projected, he took an active part in securing it, and was a liberal subscriber to its stock, although the road was not located near his farm. He lived upon this farm until his death, which occurred about the year 1863. His children nearly all died during their minority; only one daughter, Eliza, now is living.

Capt. Bavington had five daughters: Nancy married Matthew Hartford, a millwright who built the Bavington mill; Elizabeth married Charles B. Patterson, and they settled near Bavington, where both died; Sarah married a Mr. Backhouse, who owned a farm eight miles below Pittsburgh, now owned by the "Pennsylvania Insane Asylum " at Dixmont (here she was killed August 27, 1851, by a passing train on the Pittsburgh & Ft. Wayne Railroad); Catherine married J. Burns, and lived and died near Clinton, Allegheny Co., Penn .; Mary married Matthew H. McBride, March 12, 1834, and settled in North Strabane township. The Bavington family is now entirely extinct in Smith township.

To Matthew H. and Mary (Bavington) McBride were born three children, viz .: James Hamilton (who died October 23, 1862, from wounds received while in the service of the State that year), John Bavington (our subject), and Samuel Bruce (who graduated at Jefferson College in 1861, and who at the call of his country then enlisted in Company G (Capt. Frazer), One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers; he was se- verely wounded at Fredericksburg, and was subse- quently discharged on account of this disability; as soon as his health permitted, he resumed his theological studies, and was licensed to preach by Chartiers U. P. Presbytery; he now resides near Sewickley, Allegheny Co., Penn.). In 1824 Mr. McBride and his brother, David, bought the home- stead in North Strabane township, which they jointly held until November 3, 1835, when Mat- thew bought David's interest in the farm. This farm is located in what is known as the "Rich Hill section," three miles south of Canonsburg, and one mile from Johnson's Station, C. V. R. R. Immediately after buying David's interest, Mr. McBride with his wife permanently located on the farm, bringing up their children to manhood. Here the parents died, Matthew H. McBride, Sep- tember 12, 1871, aged eighty-four years, his wife February 12, 1873, aged seventy-six years. They were members of the Associate (now United Pres- byterian) Congregation of Chartiers, where the venerable Dr. James Ramsey, so long ministered. Mr. McBride was an old-school Democrat, but never made himself prominent in politics. In educational matters, however, and in every other question claiming the earnest consideration of thinking men, he took a deep interest, and he served as school trustee in his township for many. years. He was a progressive farmer and successful stock raiser.

After his parents' death, J. B. McBride ob- tained full control of the farm, and on May 1, 1873, he was married to Alice, daughter of Maj. James S. Scott, of Washington county, Penn. An interesting family of six children have come to brighten their home, as follows: James Scott, John Bavington, Charles Cubbage, Samuel Bruce, Mary Alice and George Wallace. The mother of these children dying November 17, 1884, Mr. Mc- Bride wedded on June 28, 1887, Frances Emma Jones, of Canonsburg, Penn., whose parents were Ephraim Jones, of Jones Ferry, Pittsburgh, and Mary E. Rambo, of Covington, Ky. By this union there is no issue. The family are members of and liberal contributors toward the Chartiers U. P. congregation, Canonsburg, Penn., and enjoy the respect and esteem of the entire community. Mr. McBride is extensively engaged in general agricult- ure and stock raising. He is noted as a thorough and successful farmer in a region celebrated for

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its good farms and its model farmers. Like his father, he has devoted much of his income to the improvement and adornment of his farm, and as a result he has now one of the most desirable and best improved farms in this section of Washing- ton county. In all his undertakings he has met with well-merited success, a success due to his per- severance, sound judgment and progressive enter- prise.

ENNIE A. MORGAN. From time immemo- rial it has been the custom of all nations to extol, in story and in song, the valor of those who have performed gallant deeds in time of war, but it has been left to civilized nations to commemorate that truer manliness, that nobler courage, which enables men to live uprightly and deal justly, seeking no preferment or approval save that of God and their own consciences. In heat of battle, men long trained in the grim trade of war, without forethought oft achieved most daring deeds. Shall the soldier hero receive a greater tribute of respect than one who silently, uncom- plainingly takes up his burden and fights back the thousand adverse fates that seek to block his path- way to success ? Shall we wreathe the laurel and rear the beautiful arch for the one, and bury the memories of the other in the tomb that enshrines his mortal dust ? Civilized-Christianized human- ity cries out against it. The deeds of a good man should live after him, and in these days of wide dissemination of thought, the transmission of the story from father to son is inadequate. Perpetu- ate his deeds, and thus perpetuate his influence. The pioneers of Washington county possessed such noble characteristics that not one whit of their lives' record should be lost. The old residents of Washington county look back over a long and uni- formly prosperous period, which is attributed to the mode of life of the people. No county in the State has been more favored, and no county in the State can exhibit better public institutions than this; and this condition of affairs can be traced to the efforts of the people who first settled the county, founded and fostered its religious and edu- cational institutions, and directed its political ca- reer. It has been said that the pioneers of Wash- ington county were a God-loving people, whose first thought upon entering the wilderness was to erect an altar to His worship, and from whose cab- ins rose at morn and eve the voice of praise, thanksgiving and appeal. Such were the founders of Washington county, and such were the ances- tors of the subject of this sketch.

Miss Jennie A. Morgan's (of West Middletown, Penn.) maternal grandfather, William Greer, came to America when western Pennsylvania was still a wilderness. William Greer was born and reared

in Ireland. Emigrating about the time he became of age, he settled in Lancaster county, Penn., where he was afterward married to Jane Graham. About the year 1805, William Greer and family (a child having been born in Lancaster county) pushed westward into Washington county, locating near Noblestown, where they remained until 1836. They then removed to Hopewell township, and in 1845 settled in West Middletown, where he died in 1852. William Greer is described as a man of medium height, and of delicate rather than robust form. His constitution being shattered by the effects of fever and ague, he was an invalid for many years, but was cheerful and patient, having a kind dis- position and a pleasant word for all. He was very modest in demeanor, and withheld himself from publicity, but was very active in promoting Church matters, holding membership in the Grove United Presbyterian Church. He was a man of unusual intelligence, and an insatiable searcher for infor- mation. Being for many years unable to work, he found his chief diversion in books, and his solace and comfort in his family and Church. . Five chil- dren were born to William and Jane (Graham) Greer: Margaret (married James Maxwell, and resided in Hopewell township until her death in 1870); Jane (lived in West Middletown until her death, which occurred in 1890); Elizabeth (men- tioned below); John (left home and died when a young man), and Mary (wife of James France, of West Middletown, where she died in 1866). Of these children, Elizabeth Greer was born Febru- ary 5, 1810, on the home place, and in 1832 was married to Billingsley Morgan, a native of Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania.

Billingsley Morgan was born in 1811. He was a son of Hugh Morgan, who came with his parents to western Pennsylvania, settling on the old Mor- gan tract about twelve miles below Pittsburgh, when. the county was very new, and secured their land by "tomahawk right." The times were un- settled, and the Indians very hostile, the settlers having to take refuge in the forts and blockhouses to escape being massacred. Billingsley received a common-school education, and after his marriage, in 1833, opened a shoe store in West Middletown, Penn., where he remained until his death in March, 1836. He left two daughters-Jane A. (the subject of this sketch) and Margaret (deceased at the age of three years). At the time of his death Mr. Mor- gan was too young to have obtained great promi- nence in his community, yet he was regarded as a young man of extraordinary promise, and enjoyed the esteem of those with whom he was associated, possessing a bright, cheerful disposition, and fight- ing the adversities of life with smiles. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Morgan was a member of the United Presbyterian Church at West Middletown. She was left alone to care

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for and educate her children while yet very young, but she performed every duty toward them, and at the same time her influence was felt in every de- partment of church work. Her devotion and piety were remarkable, and she was ever ready to assist in every plan for forwarding the course of moral- ity. She passed away August 14, 1872, her death being a severe blow to the entire community, and it was said of her that " a true Christian woman had gone home."

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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 137

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