Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 143

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 143

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his family on a fine farm; Levi, who owns a large farm (on which there is much oil), and lives on it (his children are all married; he married Miss Hannah Vanordstrand); Samuel, a bachelor, lives a rather retired life, spending the summer on his farm near Paris, Penn., and at his fine resi- dence near Natchez, Miss., where he went to live with an old aunt in his younger days (he saw pretty hard times during the war, and had a great amount of property taken); David, married to Miss Amanda Butterfoss, of Paris, Penn., settled near his old home, and raised a large family; James, the youngest son, married to Miss Mary McGuire, who had two daughters, and died on her way to Tennessee, where they were moving (he owns a small farm near Colliers, Va .; his daughters are both married, and he is alone).

David and Nancy, his wife, belonged to the M. P. Church until their death in 1845. In August David was a delegate to Conference, returned home, and but a few days after was taken ill with dysentery and died (he was a Jackson Democrat). Their children were Eliza, who married George Swearingen (they moved last to Ida county, Iowa, where he died and she is still living); John, mar- ried to Permelia Gardner, and living on the old Samuel Gardner home (their children are scattered, two being in Dakota, the rest near home; three are married, six single and two deceased); Samuel, married to Ruth Sharp (they belong to the Church of Christ); Edward is living on a part of the home farm, married to Rebecca Gardner (he has erected a fine house and other good buildings); S. S. has a part of the homestead, and resides on it; D. R. owns the farm of forty-seven acres, well improved land, where his father died.

M ISS ANN C. MARSHALL. The Mar- shalls of Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio are descendants of the four brothers- John, William, Thomas and Robert Mar- shall-who accompanied their sister Mary from Ireland to America, early in the second half of the eighteenth century. They were natives of County Down. John Marshall was married in Ireland to Nancy Kyle. They settled in Cross Creek township, Washington Co., Penn., but re- moved to Wayne county, Ohio, where some of their descendants still reside, others being found in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania.

William Marshall, the great grandfather of Miss Ann C. Marshall, married Mary Speers in Ireland, and to them five children were born: Thomas, William, James, Jane and Barbara. He came here before the Revolution to inquire into the condition of the country; but the war of the Revolution breaking out, he joined the patriots and fought for the right. After the close of the Revolution he

sent for his wife and children, and in 1783 they arrived at Philadelphia. That year the reunited family proceeded to Washington county, where they found a temporary home in the house of An- drew Russell, of Chartiers township, until they settled on the farm in Cross Creek township, now owned by A. V. Reed, later in that year. In 1788 William purchased 101 acres from David Vance at 15 shillings (or $1.87}) per acre (the same now owned by David Gault), and on this tract the fam- ily resided until the death of the mother in 1817, when he and his son James removed to Wayne county, Ohio, where the soldier and pioneer shortly after died. Of his children, Thomas was grand- father of T. M. Berryhill, of Hickory, Penn., and was married to Katie Hamilton, and whose de- scendants now reside in Ohio. James married Jane McNary, of Wayne county, Ohio, removed to Iowa, founded Marshalltown, and died there. Jane married John Moore, and settled near Bulger, Penn. Their children were William, John, Mary, Elizabeth, Nancy, Jane and Ellen. Barbara mar- ried Robert Glass, and settled with him near Liver- pool, Ohio. William, grandfather of Miss Ann C. Marshall, is referred to at greater length. Thomas Marshall, one of the immigrants, married Margaret Woodburn, settled for a time in Washington coun- ty, but removed to a point near New Athens, Ohio, where he died, and where many of his descendants now reside.

Robert Marshall, born in Ireland in 1760, died in 1833. Coming to America in his youth, he en- listed in the Continental line at the age of sixteen years, in opposition to the wish of his mother, who protested solely on account of his youth. He served in six general engagements. At the age of twenty-three years he began to study theology un- der Rev. Graham, continuing under Rev. McMill- an, of Canonsburg, Penn., and was licensed to preach by the Redstone Presbytery. For some time he preached in what is now West Virginia; but in 1791 he removed to a point eight miles from Lex- ington, Ky., where he died. His first wife was a Miss McCandless. After her death he married Miss Glass. Descendants of Robert Marshall are found to-day in Kentucky. Mary Marshall, who married Robert Walker, settled in Washington county, and thence removed to Mar, Lawrence county. They were the parents of six daughters and three sons.

William Marshall, grandfather of subject, mar- ried Ann Crawford, daughter of Thomas Crawford (who died in June, 1783) and Judith Crawford- Cassell-Adams, nee Jones (born in 1742, died Oc- tober 5, 1839). Mrs. Crawford was married three times. From Thomas and Judith Crawford are descended the Stephensons, Marshalls, Creighs, Moores and many other extensive families settled in Washington county. Thomas was a son of Mar- garet Shearer, by her first husband - Crawford.

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It is related that on the return home of some of her family from the interment of the first corpse in Cross Creek graveyard, Mrs. Margaret Shearer inquired where the grave was made, and on being informed, exclaimed, throwing up her hands: "There is now a graveyard started, and I know I will be the next;" which prediction came true.

William Marshall, born December 11, 1769, died October 1, 1860, married Ann Crawford, born February 19, 1774, died October 27, 1860. Their children were Crawford (born in 1795, died in 1857); William (1797-1874); Thomas (1799-1890); Stewart C. (1806-1871); Elizabeth (1794-1838); Judith (1802-1863); Margaret (1808-1867); Ann Jones (1810-1877); Mary (1804-1878); Ruth (1812-1846); Louisa (1815-1852) and Barbara Jane (1818-1870). . Of these, Elizabeth married John Glass; to them one daughter was born, who married Douglass Geary, of Candor, Penn., where their son, Robert Geary, now resides. Judith mar- ried Ewell Canon; Margaret married William Aiken, who was born in 1799, died in 1868; Ann Jones married Thomas Wilson, who was born in 1806, and died in 1882; Louisa married John Dungan, while the other daughters never married. The father of this family, William Marshall, son of William, came from Ireland at the age of twelve years; was in the service against the Indians from March 1, 1792, to September 1, 1792, under Captains Samuel Smith and Robert Stephenson, stationed awhile at Yellow creek, and then at Coes. For this service he received a pension about 1837, and warrants for land. William, Jr., married Mary Linville, and died near Des Moines, Iowa, where his descendants still live. Stewart C. married Mrs. Ann M. Register (who had one son by first marriage, Wilson Register), and had four daughters: Elizabeth A., Louisa J. (married John M. Robertson), Susan Rebecca (married Pressly Leech), Sarah A. (married John C. Barnes, now of Fairfield, Iowa).

William and Margaret (Marshall) Aiken were married March 16, 1829, by Rev. Alex. Donnan, settled near Candor, where they resided until their deaths, and were buried at Centre church. A memorial window was erected to his memory in Midway U. P. church. Their sons are William Marshall, born October 22, 1832 (married Lizzie Elder, and has two daughters); Joseph Wilson, born December 29, 1845, died in 1892 (he married Lulu Crawford; they resided at Burgettstown, and had two children); Nancy married Samuel Jones (now deceased), and they resided at the old Aiken homestead, near Candor, Penn. (had two children -- Dellar and Frank); Ann married David Manson, of Burgettstown (their children are Fred, Robert, Mary, Ellen and Elizabeth, the latter of whom is a successful teacher of music and painting); Elizabeth married Benjamin R. McCarty, of Mid-

way (her children are Edward and Joseph); Louisa married William H. McPeak, of Hickory (they are the parents of one son, Robert Wilson McPeak). Ann and Thomas Wilson had children as follows: William Marshall, married Phebe, daugh- ter of Col. S. Magill, reside in northern Nebraska; Eleanor Ruth married A. W. Pry, near Hickory; Margaret Jane married Craig Tweed Bebout, re- moved to Caldwell county, Mo. (they have two sons and three daughters).

Thomas Marshall, father of subject, married Si- bella Campbell, who was a daughter of Jesse Campbell (1779-1858), a son of William Camp- bell (1739-1801), who was a soldier in the Revo- lution. William Campbell had a sister who mar- ried Andrew Ritchie, and settled in Cross Creek township. Jesse Campbell's wife was Sibella Mc- Clure (1777-1840). They had sons: William (married Mary Welch), Jesse (married Jones), Robert (married Mary McClure), John Mc- C. (married Sarah A. Puder), Edward (married Rusina Rankin). Of the three daughters: Sibella, Elizabeth married Daniel McGugin, of Knox county, Ohio, and Rebecca married her cousin, George Campbell; Sibella McClure's brothers were Richard, Andrew, Robert (father of R. B. Mc- Clure, Benjamin F. and Alexander McClure) and John. Her sisters, Margaret (married -Gal- braith), Rebecca (married James Ridgeway), Cath- erine (married Sloan). The McClures came from Ireland.

Thomas Marshall (born November 25, 1799, died October 30, 1890) was married January 30, 1834, by Rev. David Hervey, of Mt. Prospect Church, to Miss Sibella Campbell, who was born March 15, 1806, and died September 14, 1867; their children were Ann Crawford, born October 18, 1836, un- married; William, born January 16, 1839, married Harriet M. Noah (have one son, William) ; Hadassah Melissa, born March 2, 1840, married John Mil- ton Rankin, March 3, 1864 (settled near Hickory; removed in 1872 to a point near Elizabethtown, Hardin Co., Ky., where Mr. Rankin died June 6, 1873; the widow and family returned to Washing- ton county, and lived with her father, and at his death inherited part of the old homestead, where they still reside. Her children are John Taylor; Lincoln county, Neb .; Mary Sibella, a prominent teacher; Thomas Marshall, Dessa Elm Orlou, Will- iam Matthew Milton, who reside with their mother) ; Rosannah, born June 17, 1841, married February 9, 1860, to Hervey B. McIlvaine, removed to a point near Fort Scott, Bourbon Co., Kans. (her children are Frank Marshall, Nina Hervey, Sibella J., Dessa A., Mary Ellen, Cora C. and Thomas Lawrence); Mary Ruth, born September 20, 1842, died March 18, 1892 (she married May 10, 1860, William Perry, resided on the old Crawford Mar- shall farm; they have two sons: Thomas Marshall,

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married to Anna Armstrong, and residing near Washington, Iowa, and have children; and Will- iam Campbell, who resides with his father at the old home).

Miss Ann C. Marshall, a daughter of Thomas Marshall and Sibella Campbell, is one of the highly esteemed and most successful school teachers of Cross Creek township. She was born on the farm in Cross Creek township, which is now occupied by William Perry, and began teaching school in her early girlhood. She taught several years, and achieved an enviable reputation in her chosen call- ing, but retired from the profession on the death of her mother in 1867, and kept house for her father.

AMES B. BOYER was born February 25, 1822, in Butler county, Penn., and died July 9, 1889, in Monongahela City, respected by all.

His ancestors in this country were natives of New Jersey, in which State James Boyer (his grandfather) passed his early youth among the peaceful Society of Friends. When a young man he came to Pennsylvania, and purchasing a farm in Peters township, Washington county, was there married to Nancy, daughter of Col. William Blackmore. Five children were born to this mar- riage, namely: John, Amy, Samuel, Peter and Sarah (wife of Carvel Rigdon, brother of Rigdon, the Mormon preacher), none of whom are now living.

Samuel Boyer, son of James and Nancy Boyer, was born in 1791, in Peters township, Washing- ton Co., Penn. He attended the subscription schools of the neighborhood, then taught several terms in Beaver county, Penn. On February 8, 1821, he was united in marriage with Mary Boyer, who was born April 10, 1800, died November 16, 1853, a daughter of Leonard Boyer, of Bethel township, Allegheny Co., Penn. Samuel and Mary Boyer resided in Beaver county, Penn., for six years after their marriage; then returning to Washington county, lived on the old home place six years. They finally bought and moved upon what is now the Higbee farm, adjoining the old homestead, where they died, the father July 18, 1878, in the eighty-seventh year of his age, leav- ing children as follows: James B .; Peter, living near Library, Allegheny county; John W., a re- tired farmer of Union township; Elizabeth, de- ceased wife of David Higbee; Nancy, married to E. T. Townsend, of Peters township; Amy, de- ceased wife of D. Welch, of Limetown, and Lu- cinda, second wife of her brother-in-law, David Higbee.

James B. Boyer was reared to agricultural pur- suits on the home farm, and received his education

at the subscription schools of his native township. On August 24, 1853, he married Mary, daughter of Henry Pomerene, of Allegheny county, Penn., and to this union were born two children: Mary E., married to Samuel Cook, and Melinda. After mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Boyer took up their residence on a farm in Peters township, whereon they re- mained several years; then removed to Allegheny county, where they made their home until 1873, in which year they returned to Washington county, and in Monongahela City prepared to pass the re- mainder of their lives, where Mrs. Boyer is yet living. Mr. Boyer was a typical self-made man, one who by industry, prudence and judicious economy made a success, and when he died he was one of the largest property owners in the city. He was enterprising, and at all times strove to advance the interests of his locality. An ardent Repub- lican, he for several years was a member of the Mo- nongahela City Council. Consistent in his church connection, he was a prominent adherent of the Baptist faith. His wife is also a member of the Baptist Church.

D AVID M. BOYD, a well-known and popular citizen of West Middletown, is a grandson of David Boyd, whose father, John Boyd, was born in Ireland. This John Boyd came to America when but a lad, and settled in Cumber- land county, Penn., where he was married to Mary Urie, who bore him four children: David, John, Sarah and Rhoda.

While John Boyd the pioneer was on a business trip to the house of Stewart, his children were all captured by the Indians, and his wife scalped and killed. The husband and father, on returning to his little home, found his cabin in flames, and the mutilated body of his wife lying upon the ground. The children were nowhere in sight, and the agonized father, after a frantic but almost hope- less search, gave up the quest and mourned them as dead. Meanwhile the little ones had been car- ried off by the Indians. The son John and the two daughters were never heard from afterward, but David was taken to Fort Du Quesne in 1758. He was then returned by the old Indian who adopted him, and remained with his father at Car- lisle, Penn. As may be supposed, the young man had little love for the Redskins who had so wan- tonly destroyed the home of his boyhood, and he became an active soldier in the Indian war. He enlisted under Washington, and served through the entire contest, being present at the surrender of Burgoyne and, later, at that of Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781.

After the close of the war David Boyd returned to Cumberland county, Penn., and was there mar- ried to Elizabeth Henderson, who bore him chil- ren as follows: James, John, Thomas, David, Will-

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iam, Nancy, Sarah, Elizabeth and Nellie. David Boyd and his family came to Washington county in 1787, and settled on the farm now occupied by W. W. Dinsmore. In politics Mr. Boyd was first Jacksonian Democrat, afterward an ardent a Whig. He was an active politician, and served as justice of the peace twenty-five years. He was for many years a member of the Buffalo Presbyterian Church of Hopewell township. He died in 1830.

John Boyd, father of subject, was born in 1784, in Cumberland county, Penn., but was reared and educated in Hopewell township, this county. In early life he was married to Asenath, daughter of Eleven Williams, of Buffalo township, and the following children were born to them: Hester (married to Ellis Jones, and moved to Missouri), David M., Christiana (married to Amos Clemens), Elizabeth (Mrs. Dr. McCabe), Sarah (Mrs. Cox, of Kansas City), Caroline (widow of John Dougherty), Parmelia (died in 1853, wife of Hugh Wilson), James (died in 1842), Nancy J. (wife of Hugh Clark, of Wheeling, W. Va.), John Q. A. (mar- ried to Eliza Black) and Asenath (Mrs. John Canon). Mr. Boyd served in the war of 1812. In early life he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed many years, and also kept an hotel eight years. He took an active part in public affairs, and was an ardent Republican, serving as justice of the peace twenty-five years. He died in 1866, his wife in 1868, and both lie buried in the Union Grove cemetery.

David M. Boyd, son of Johnand Asenath (Will- iams) Boyd, was born March 23, 1810, at West Middletown, Hopewell township, and there re- ceived his early education. On May 10, 1844, he was married to Eliza Boyd, who bore him three children: Cassius, Ruth and Thomas. The mother died in 1865, and on May 3, 1866, Mr. Boyd was united in marriage with Anna MeNulty, of Colum- bus, Ohio, who died in 1887. In early life he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed twenty-five years, and was then (1853) appointed postmaster at West Middletown, He held that position eight years, and has since followed mer cantile business. Politically he was a Democrat from 1845 to 1861, but upon the organization of the Republican party became a member of it. He has held all the political offices of the borough, has been a member of the school board for twenty years, and justice of the peace twenty-five years. In religion he was formerly a member of the M. E. Church, but is now connected with the Presby- terian Church of Buffalo.

S AMUEL S. ROTHWELL, one of the oldest residents of California, this county, was born February 21, 1815, in East Bethlehem township, Washington Co., Penn., and is de- scended from an English family who came to

America at an early day. Peter Rothwell, his grandfather, was born, reared and educated in Delaware, and was there married to Hannah Gregg, who bore him the following children: Isaac G., born near Wilmington, Del., November 27, 1780; Jared, who married Sarah Jackman, of East Pike Run, Washington Co., Penn. ; and Samuel. Peter Rothwell, who was a farmer in Delaware, came to Washington county about the year 1800, locating in Webster, where he remained some years, later removing to Columbiana, Ohio; after some years spent there he finally went to Adams county, Ohio, and settled on Brush creek, where he and his wife died of cholera.

Isaac G. Rothwell was reared in the State of Delaware and Washington county Penn., receiv- ing a fair common-school education. While yet a boy he commenced an apprenticeship at the build- ing trade with Daniel Johnson, at old Beason- town, now Uniontown, remaining with him un- til he had completed his apprenticeship. He then took up his residence in Centreville, build- ing the first house there in 1820; he also erected the first tavern in the place. Here he followed his trade some ten years, and then removed to East Pike Run, where he purchased a farın, built a resi- dence thereon and remained three years. His home was in Greenfield, Washington Co., Penn. ; his wife died October 27, 1844, in Greenfield, Washington Co., Penn., and he then removed to Adams county, Ohio, whence, after a sojourn of about three years, he returned to his old home in Delaware, and there died, August 22, 1846, and was buried in the cemetery connected with the Presbyterian Church, in which the grandfather of Judge McKennan preached for over forty years. In 1813 he had married Mary, daughter of Benjamin Kenney, a native of Maryland, where he was married Septem- ber 17, 1789, to Elizabeth Blair, who bore him the following named children: Margaret, Mary, John, James, Wesley, Rebecca and William. Mr. Ken- ney was in politics a Whig and Abolitionist, in re- ligion a member of the M. E. Church, having been among the first to attend the Taylor church. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Isaac G. Rothwell were Samuel S .; Elizabeth, wife of Lemuel Beazell; Hannah, Mrs. George Hornbake; Sidney, Mrs. James Chapman; John, who served in the war of the Rebellion; Jared; and Margaret, wife of John R. Powell; all dead but Samuel S. The mother of this family died October 27, 1844. Isaac G. Rothwell was first a Whig, and afterward an out- spoken Abolitionist; in his church preference he was a Methodist.

Samuel S. Rothwell attended the common schools, and so apt a scholar was he that he soon found himself capable of teaching school, a voca- tion he followed for many years. He learned the trades of cabinet maker and builder, and followed

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both in California for a period of about forty years, many of the first houses in the place having been erected by him. On December 22, 1835, he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Adam Ashcroft, a native of England, who when about twenty-two years of age came to the United States, locating near Webster, in this county. By trade he was a machinist, and he made the cotton-carding-ma- chine used in Brownsville; after moving from place to place, in and around Washington county, Mr. Ashcroft proceeded to Ohio, and resided near the town of Crestline, until the death of his wife, when he returned to Washington, and for about ten years made his home with Mr. Rothwell (his son-in-law), after which he revisited Ohio, and there died at the age of ninety-six years, and was buried. Mr. Ashcroft was a well-educated and enterprising man; politically he was a Whig origi- nally, and then on the formation of the party be- came a Republican; in religion he was a prominent member of the M. E. Church, in which he was a local preacher. After his marriage, Samuel S. Rothwell made his home at what is now known as Coal Centre, in this county, until 1849, in which year he moved to the borough of California, where he now lives. His children are J. W. (a photog- rapher, in Washington, Penn.), Mary E., Sidney, Sarah C., Andrew L. (who was a teacher in Coal Centre, but is now in West Brownsville), Isaac N. (an artist, in San Antonio, Tex.), Charles Sumner and F. J. Le Moyne, the last two named being de- ceased. Mr. Rothwell was originally a Whig, and afterward an Abolitionist; in 1854 he was a dele- gate to the first Republican convention held in Pittsburgh. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and in 1840 was licensed as a local preacher, in which capacity he still serves with encouraging success.

B ENJAMIN F. GREENLEE, one of the prosperous agriculturists of West Bethle- hem township, is a native of the same, born July 12, 1825, on the old homestead set- tled by his father. He is a son of Samuel Green- lee, who was born, about the year 1787, in Dela- ware, of German parentage.

Samuel Greenlee, father of Benjamin F., was born and reared in Maryland, his boyhood being passed in attending the schools of the neighbor- hood of his home, and helping on his father's farm. When yet a young man he moved with his parents to Fayette county, Penn., where he was further in- structed in agricultural pursuits under the precep- torship of his father. He was married to Nancy Gantz, after which he removed to Washington county, buying here 130 acres of land, now owned and cultivated by his son, Benjamin F. This land, which was then a forest and thicket, has all been

cleared, and is to-day one of the best farms in West Bethlehem township. To the union of Sam- uel and Nancy (Gantz) Greenlee were born chil- dren as follows: Elizabeth, George, Jacob, Lewis, John, James, Susanna, Mary, Margaret, Benjamin F., Daniel, Albert and Anna, six of whom are still enjoying the blessings of life, viz .: Lewis, a farm- er, of East Bethlehem; Anna, now Mrs. Cooper, a widow, living in Ohio; Jolin and James, residing in Morgan township, Greene county; Daniel and Benjamin F., both in West Bethlehem township.

Benjamin F. Greenlee received in his boyhood such education as was obtainable at the schools of those early days. He learned farming, which he has since followed on the homestead, where he still resides. In March, 1854, he married Rebecca Bigler, daughter of Michael Bigler, of German lineage, and their children are: Nancy, wife of James A. Gass, of Morgan township, Greene Co., Penn .; James, living at home with his father, mar- ried to Sadie Imes, daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Johnson) Imes, old settlers of West Bethlehem; Henderson, a prominent business man of McKees- port, Penn., and Minnie, wife of William Woods, residing in Homestead, Penn. Mr. Greenlee built the residence in which he lives, making many im- provements, and there prevails about the homelike place an air of thrift and enterprise. There are 140 acres of his farm, all fine land, upon which he raises various kinds of stock, besides cereals and root crops. Politically Mr. Greenlee is a solid Democrat, and one of the influential advisers of the party in his vicinity. He is respected and esteemed by all who enjoy his acquaintance.

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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 143

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