Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 151

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 151

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William Beazell learned the shoemaker's trade, which he has followed in connection with farming. On May 6, 1830, he married Susan West, a native of Fallowfield township, this county, and they have had seven sons and three daughters, viz. : Leander N. (deceased, served three years in the

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army), Elmira, R. West, Luke P., Margaret E., Mary L., William H., John S., R. W. B. (de- ceased) and Samuel. Mr. Beazell owns ten acres of land located four and one half miles from Mo- nongahela City. He has filled almost every public office in Fallowfield township.

Luke P. Beazell was born January 19, 1839, on the home farm in Fallowfield township, and first attended the common schools, completing his edu- cation at Monongahela City, Penn. In 1861 he enlisted in Company D, Seventy-ninth Regiment, P. V. I., under Captain McBride; they were first sent to Louisville, Ky., and took part in the battle of Perryville, then marched into Tennessee, and fought at Stone River; from the latter place they followed Bragg to Chickamauga, and after that engagement returned to Tennessee, taking part in the battles of Lookout Mountain and Mis- sionary Ridge. At this time Mr. Beazell re-enlisted, and being assigned to the same division, joined in the contest at Buzzards Roost, Ga. ; then remained with Sherman until the capture of Atlanta, after- ward accompanying him in his famous march to the sea. Luke P. Beazell also fought in the battle of Bentonville, where his division had to confront Johnston's entire army, and, finally, participated in the grand review at Washington, D. C. He was promoted during Sherman's raid to the rank of lieutenant, and July 12, 1865, received an hon- orable discharge. After the war Mr. Beazell re- turned home to Washington county, and opened a planing mill at Monongahela City. On August 30, 1866, he was married to Josephine, daughter of John McCrory, and she has borne him the fol- lowing children: Effie, Harry, Albert, Lillie, Josie May, Bessie and Bertha; of this family Harry. Lillie and Bertha are yet living. After his marriage Mr. Beazell opened a saw and planing mill at Coal Centre, and then conducted a tannery business for three years. He afterward opened a meat market, which he kept for twenty years, and is now a partner in and superintendent of the California Glass Company, dealing also in agricultural implements. In political matters he votes with the Republican party, and has held many borough offices; he has served for fourteen years as trustee of the Southwestern State Normal School at California. He is a member and trustee of the Disciple Church. Socially he is a member of Harry Billingsley Post, No. 168, G. A. R., hav- ing joined the post as a charter member in 1867.

W ILLIAM C. ANDERSON, a prominent business man of Claysville, is a native of this county, born April 5, 1831, on the Stevenson farm in Donegal township.

He is a son of Benjamin Anderson, who was born in 1789 in Ireland, and came with his parents

to America and to Washington county, Penn., where his boyhood was passed on the pioneer farm. In the war of 1812 he was captain of a company of drafted infantry, First Regiment of Pennsylvania Militia, and was afterward promoted to the rank of colonel. In 1816 he was married to Margaret Cook, daughter of Gen. James Stevenson, a civil engineer of Pennsylvania, who was born July 25, 1755; he was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was taken prisoner by the British and con- fined in a prison ship. To Benjamin and Marga- ret C. Anderson were born eight children: Ann Eliza, Mrs. John Moore, of Buffalo township, who died at the age of thirty-five years; James Steven- son, a farmer of Donegal township; Thomas Love, who died March 7, 1892; Nancy Jane, deceased at the age of nineteen; Catharine, Mrs. Jonathan Brownlee, of Buffalo township; William Cook; Mary Melila, deceased at the age of nineteen, and John, who died when seven years old. Col. An- derson passed the first five years of his married life on the old home farm, situated about three miles west of West Middletown, in Hopewell town- ship. He then moved to Donegal township, set- tling about one mile west of Claysville, along the National pike, where he owned 250 acres of land, which became his permanent residence. He was a stanch Democrat, and, besides holding different township offices, he was elected county commis- sioner in 1836. He was brigade inspector of Washington county for seven years. Col. Ander- son and his wife were members of the South Buffalo United Presbyterian Church. He died in 1861, Mrs. Anderson in 1875.

William C. Anderson was reared and educated on the home place in Donegal township, and at the age of fifteen years commenced clerking for Joel Truesdell, with whom he remained two years. He then entered into partnership with James G. Noble, of Claysville, and two years later went to Cameron, W. Va., remaining with William McCon- aughy for three years. In 1856 he dissolved partnership with Mr. Noble, and passed one year with Samuel Prother, in Wheeling, W. Va. In 1856 William C. Anderson was married to Eliza, daughter of John Simpson, of Wheeling, W. Va., and they had the following children: Dr. John B., Sara (Mrs. William H. Lester), Mary, Dr. Thomas (a physician in Mansfield, Penn. ), Robert and William. Of these children, Mrs. Lester was a missionary in Santiago, Chili, S. A., but died after a few years' work in the service of her Master, beloved by all both for her beauty of character and person. Her only son, Harold, ar- rived in this county in January, 1893, making his third trip to and from his Southern home, at the age of eight and one- half years. His language is Spanish, which he speaks and writes fluently with the language of his father and mother. He will

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remain to continue his education in the United States. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Anderson engaged in general merchandise in West Alex- ander, Donegal township, and ten years later came to Claysville, where he bought out Schrontz, Martin & Brokman, and is still conducting the business. His success is due to his own efforts, and he is one of the leading men of Claysville. Politically he is an active member of the Demo- cratic party. He and his family are among the leading members of the Presbyterian Church.

SAAC LYTLE. Robert Lytle was born in Scotland, his family removing to Ireland when he was fifteen years old. Being dissatisfied he ran away from home at that age, and came to America, locating in Westmoreland county, Penn .; which was on the extreme border of civiliza- tion. He there grew up to manhood, and married Anne Mason, adopted daughter of Joseph Markle, formerly governor of this State. Her own parents had been massacred by the Indians, and their house burned to ashes, she and a little brother witnessing the sad scene from a distance and un- observed by the Indians. They ran to the nearest settlement, which was that of Mr. Markle, and be- ing alone and friendless in the world, he immedi- ately adopted them as members of his own family. After the marriage of Robert Lytle to Anne Mason they came to Allegheny county, Penn., and patented 415 acres of land on the waters of Peters creek. The tract was called Littleton, for which the patent was granted December 11, 1784. To them were born fourteen sons and one daughter, of whom are named, Samuel, Robert, David, John, Joseph, George, Isaac and Abraham (twins), Benjamin, William and Elizabeth (afterward Mrs. Holcroft), none of whom are now living.

Joseph Lytle was born in 1790, at the old home- stead in Allegheny county, Penn. He married Margaret Murphy, of Washington county, and re- moved to Mercer county, same State, but after some years returned to the old homestead in Alle- gheny county. Joseph died leaving five children, viz .: Benjamin, Anne, Sarah, Isaac and Mary, Isaac being the only surviving member of the family at this time.

Isaac Lytle, the subject of this sketch, born May 25, 1824, removed with his widowed mother to Washington county when he was about seventeen years of age. Shortly afterward he took charge of a store for Graham, Gilfillan & Co., on the Mo- nongahela pike, viz., Myers'. Remaining there a year, he removed the stock of goods to Brownsville, and enlarging the business remained there one year, which was in 1845. On December 31, 1846, Isaac Lytle was married to Eliza Jane Gaston, daughter of William Gaston, of Gastouville, Wash-

ington county. After their marriage he gave his attention to farming, in 1858 purchasing and lo- cating the farm on which they now reside, at Gastonville, Washington county. Squire Lytle (as he is generally called) is a stanch member of the Democratic party, and served as justice of the peace from 1860 to 1865. He is steward and trustee of the M. E. Church, with which he is identified. The children of this family are nine in number, viz., Frances D., Marian V., James Warren, Susan E., Robert C., William Gaston, Harry M., Ethel W. and George Herbert, all of. whom are living.

A N. HATHAWAY, a prominent citizen and prosperous agriculturist of Franklin town- ship, was born June 14, 1856, on the farm of his father. Jacob Hathaway, the first of the family name of whom there is any anthentic record, was born in Pennsylvania, and in early life came to Washington county, where he made the first improvements in the vicinity, sur- rounded by fierce animals and roaming Indians. Here the following children were born to him: Jacob, Richard, Thomas, Benjamin, Joseph, John, and one daughter, who was captured by the In- dians when a child and adopted by them. On ar- riving at womanhood she was married to one of the tribe, and she passed the remainder of her life with the children of the forest. Mr. Hathaway was connected with the church from the date of its earliest organization, and in politics he was a Fed- eralist.

John Hathaway, son of the pioneer Jacob, was born in Morris township, Washington Co., Penn., and attended the rate schools of that period. In early manhood he was united in marriage with Electa, daughter of Timothy Lindley, and she bore him two children: Jackson and Benjamin Frank- lin. After their marriage the young people re- mained for a time on the home farm, and in 1838 moved to Greene county, Penn., where they re- sided until 1844, when they came to Washington county, and about one year afterward moved to the village of Ten Mile. For his second wife John Hathaway married Selena Bratton, and the chil- dren born to this union were Jane Ann (Mrs. Ja- cob Yoders) and James. Politically Mr. Hatha- way was a Whig, taking an active interest in the affairs of his party. The family were members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Hathaway died at the home of his daughter at an advanced age.

Jackson Hathaway was born in Morris township, this county, and was educated in the common schools of the neighborhood. On May 11, 1848, he was married to Martha, daughter of James Gor- don, of Washington county, and they have had seven children: William, John, Lenard, Daniel,

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Nelson, Sarah and Mary. In politics Mr. Hatha- way was formerly a Whig, and is now an active Republican.

A. N. Hathaway, the subject proper of this mem- oir, received a liberal common-school education, and in early life he commenced business for him- self. On December 26, 1882, he was married to Belle, daughter of Jacob and Jenny Yoders, of Greene county, Penn., who were the parents of seven children, viz .: Anna, Maggie, William, John, David, Newton and Minnie. To the mar- riage of A. N. and Belle (Yoders) Hathaway the following children have been born: Clarence, Mat- tie, Frank and Eddie. Mr. Hathaway has always been a Republican, prominently identified with the party. He purchased his present residence in 1889, and now owns one of the best farms in his vicinity.

OHN F. SCHRONTZ, a typical self-made business man, and a prominent agriculturist of Washington county, whose highly im- proved farm of 200 acres, in South Strabane township, is situated one mile from Washing- ton borough, is a native of the county, having been born in Amwell township March 2, 1828. His grandfather, John Schrontz, a native of Wurtem- berg, Germany, was a merchant tailor of consider- able repute in the Fatherland. In 1804 he came to the United States with his family, and for a short time they had their residence in Harmony, a small town in Beaver county, Penn. From there they moved to Hamilton county, Ohio, where they remained one year, and then came to Washington county, where the grandparents passed the remain- der of their days.

They had two children. John F., father of our sketch, being the elder. He was born in Wurtem- berg, Germany, in the year 1781, and there learned the tailor's trade, which he followed in his native land until he was about twenty-one years of age, when he set sail for America, the voyage occupying about three months. Landing in Baltimore, Md., he sojourned but a few days, and then came to Washington county, Penn., where he remained a few days, and then proceeded to Harmony, Beaver county, soon after which he entered 160 acres of land in Hamilton county, Ohio. This property he soon afterward exchanged for a farm in West Beth- lehem township, this county, which in a few years he sold, and in 1817 purchased a homestead in Am- well township, where he ended his days; he bought another farm in the same township, which he also retained. In 1811 Mr. Schrontz married Eliza- beth, daughter of Jacob Schidler, and the children born to this union were Catherine (wife of Zebulon Ferrell), Regina (wife of Thomas Baldwin), George, Jacob (living in Ohio), Eliza (wife of John Feath erland), Ann (wife of David Friend), and John F.

The mother of this family dying in 1839, Mr. Schrontz married, in 1842, for his second wife, Sarah Titus, of Buffalo township, this county, who bore him one child, Frank T. The father was called from earth in 1863, aged eighty-two years, a mem- ber of the Disciple Church, of which society at Pleasant Valley he was one of the organizers, from which time he was an elder and one of its most zealous supporters. In politics he was a Whig, and was a leader and counselor in the party.

John F. Schrontz passed his boyhood at the home of his birth, receiving at the subscription schools of the locality a liberal education, which was greatly improved by after reading on his part. For several years he was engaged in farming. After leaving the place of his birth in 1864, Mr. Schrontz resided in Amwell township some years, and then moved to Union township, remaining there one and one-half years, and thence proceeded to Allegheny county, same State, where he was in business twelve years; then came to Somerset township, this county, thence to Middletown, re- maining two years; thence to West Bethlehem township, and from there after a year's stay to Amwell township; here he remained one year, and then proceeded to Claysville, in which village he was in business four years, at the end of which time he came to his present place in South Stra- bane township. On February 12, 1861, Mr. Schrontz married Nancy, daughter of Samuel Blackmore, of Peters township, and the children born to this union are Frederick (living in Tully, N. Y.), Annie, Charles, Lizzie and Emma. The mother of this family dying in 1874, Mr. Schrontz married on May 11, 1875, Nancy Griffith, daugh- ter of John Griffith, of East Finley township, this county, and their children are John F. and Clark. The family are all members of the Disciple Church, in which Mr. Schrontz has been an active worker; politically he has always been a zealous adherent of the Republican party.

AMES, JOHN and JOSIAH BLYTHE are sons of William and Mary S. (Marshall) Blythe, the former of whom, a farmer by occupation, was born on the old family farm in Fallowfield township, Washington Co., Penn., in 1800.

William Blythe was a son of James Blythe, a native of the North of Ireland, whence, in company with his brothers, John and Harry, he emigrated to America. James settled on the farm that yet remains in the family, in Fallowfield township, this county; John near what is now Fayette City, Fayette Co., Penn., while Henry went to Ohio, thence to the South. They were all Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. William married Mary S. Mar- shall, a native of Cross Creek township, Washing-

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ton county, born in 1809, a daughter of James K. and Rebecca (Hanover) Marshall, the father a na- tive of Ireland, whence, when but a child, his parents brought him to this country, and to Cross Creek township, this county. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and for his services to the Govern- ment was given a warrant for 160 acres of land. He and his wife were Presbyterians of Scotch-Irish ancestry.

Mr. and Mrs. William Blythe were the parents of eight children -five sons and three daughters - viz. : James. Alexander F. (who died in June, 1840, aged seven years), John, Emeline (who died in 1848, aged twelve years), Elmira (married to Smith Carson, and residing on their farm in Fal- lowfield township), Josialı, William F. (who was a soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted, when eighteen years of age, in the Sixth Heavy Artil- lery, Two Hundred and Twelfth Regiment P. V .. and died in November, 1864, of fever incurred through exposure in the field; he was unmarried), Harriet A. (married to Morgan Redd; they reside on their farm in Ohio). The mother died in Sep- tember, 1863, the father on January 31, 1883. He was the owner of 300 acres of land in Wash- ington county, and 320 in the West.

JAMES BLYTHE, eldest son of William and Mary S. Blythe, is a prominent contractor, builder and lumber dealer in Monongahela. He was born No- vember 9, 1831, in Fallowfield township, Washing- ton Co., Penn., on the old homestead farm, which he now owns, and which was the property of his father and grandfather before him. He remained on the farm until he was twenty years old. when he came to Monongahela and followed the trade of a carpenter. On March 20. 1856, he was married in Monongahela to Miss Elizabeth Butler, who was born on her father's farm in Carroll township, three miles southeast of Monongahela, a daughter of Ira R. and Mary (Boyd) Butler, the former born in Chester county, the latter near Havre-de-Grace, Md. Mr. Butler was a Quaker, and was descended from the followers of William Penn. The latter gave 1,000 acres to the family ancestor in Chester county, and a lot in Philadelphia, which latter is still in the possession of the family. The late Gen. Benjamin F. Butler was of the same family. In 1859 James Blythe moved to the old homestead farm in Fallowfield township, which he purchased in 1869. In 1876 he engaged in the lumber busi- ness under the firm name of Foster, Blythe & Neel. In 1884 he moved into Monongahela, where he has since resided. He and his wife have had children as follows: William H., burgess of Char- leroi, and engaged in real estate and farming (he married Miss Joanna Carson, who died in 1871, and they had one daughter, Millie); Ira R., a farmer owning a farm near Scenery Hill, Bethle- hem township (he married Miss Josephine Carson,

and they have five children: Cora, Luella, Alpha, James and Russell); and Mary A., residing with her parents. Mr. Blythe is a member of Henry M. Phillips Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He is a Repub- lican, and has held various offices of trust, includ- ing president of the select and common councils. In October, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth P. V. I., serving until July, 1863, and was first sergeant of his company. Mr. and Mrs. Blythe are members of the M. E. Church, and rank among the leading citizens of their town.

JOHN BLYTHE, third son of William and Mary S. Blythe, was born on the old farm in Fallowfield township. He is a prominent architect and lum- ber merchant of Monongahela. He has been twice married, first to Miss Martha Pierce, by whom he had four children, only one of them surviving, Lorena, a thoroughly accomplished and well-edu- cated young lady. She spent one year in an art school in Paris, France, and now resides in Mo- pongahela. Her mother died in 1867, and Mr. Blythe then married Miss Lavina Campbell, by whom he has two children, Harry and May.

JOSIAH BLYTHE, fourth son of William and Mary S. Blythe, was born on the old home farm in Fal- lowfield township. When he was a youth his father purchased a farm in Carroll township, this county, to which Josiah removed, and has here since resided. At the death of his father he bought the interest in this farm of the remaining heirs. In 1872 he married Miss Nannie S. Teeters, of Monongahela, a daughter of Abraham and Fanny S. Teeters, and to this union have been born six children, as follows: William J .. Minnie C., Lulu V., Sallie E., Laura V. and Norman B., all yet living under the parental roof. Mr. Blythe is a thorough French scholar, speaking the lan- guage fluently, as well as reading and writing it. He is a Republican, and takes an active interest in all political matters. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Church. He is engaged in gen- eral agriculture, including stock raising, and makes a specialty of Poland-China swine. He is also interested in other fine stock, including fancy poultry, turkeys and geese, of which he breeds many fine specimens of different varieties.

S AMUEL MCFARLAND (deceased) was the son of Samuel McFarland, who was born in Northern Ireland, and was married to Jane Fulton. He (the father) emigrated to America about the year 1793, first living in or about Philadelphia, Penn., then coming to Wash- ington, Penn., and settling in Smith township. On April 6, 1804, he bought 159 acres of land of Thomas Glass, and on September 3, of the same year, purchased 102 acres of Ephraim Chidester.

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He settled upon the former piece of land, and his family were all born and reared there. The farm remained in the family name until about the year 1890, when the heirs of his son Thomas sold it to Maxiel Work. The children of Samuel McFarland are now all dead except Andrew. The son Will- iam settled upon one of his father's farms, near the home place. John settled on another farm, sold it and removed to Ohio. David, a Presbyte- rian minister, was married to Amanda Reed, first located in Peoria, Ill., then at Santa Fe, N. M .; then at San Diego, Cal., and finally be- came a missionary to the Indians, and died at Lapwai, Idaho; his widow afterward went into the Alaska mission field, being the first woman there. Joseph went to California during the gold. fever of 1849, and died there. Thomas lived on the old home farm until a few years before his death, then removed to the borough of McDonald. in the same county, where he died in December, 1886. Andrew spent most of his life in Cross Creek village, Washington county, then removed to Burgettstown, and thence to Missouri, where he is living with his son. Mary never married, but died in the household of her brother Samuel in 1859. Catherine married Thomas Farrar, and died in 1880 at the residence of her daughter in Peoria, Ill. Jane married James Farrar, and afterward died in Ohio.

Samuel McFarland, the subject of this sketch, was born June 11, 1812, in Smith township, Washington Co., Penn., and all his life was spent in that township and the adjoining one of Robin- son, except the year 1872, when he lived in the city of Allegheny. On May 25, 1837, he was united in marriage with Jane Van Eman, who bore him children as follows: Margaret, born January 28, 1838; William Van Eman, born March 11, 1840; Sarah Caroline, born Angust 12, 1842; Mary Catherine, born December 29, 1844; John Wiley, born August 23, 1848, and Joseph Fulton, born August 11, 1850. Of this family, Margaret mar- ried Thomas Donaldson, of Candor, December 18, 1862, and had nine children, of whom three are now living: Joseph, John and Frank. William Van E. married Jane Dunbar, of Steubenville, Ohio, and to them were born three children: Olner, Charles and Ira (Olner died when three years old, in Washington county, Penn .; William then moved with his family to Sumner. Wash .. where he still resides; his wife died in 1893). Sarah Caroline married October 21, 1868, W. C. Aiken, an elder in the Centre U. P. Church, of Midway, Penn. (their children were Joseph and Samuel; the mother died April 3, 1873, and two years later little Samuel died). Mary Catherine married Au- gust 22, 1867, James P. McCalmont, of Paris, Washington county, an elder in the U. P. Church, and they had born to them six children: Luella,

Jennie, Samuel, Joseph, John and Robert. Rev. John Wiley was married in 1883, at Ft. Wrangle, Alaska, to Margaret Dunbar, of Steubenville, Ohio (they gave a few years of mission work at the McFarland Home, Ft. Wrangle, Alaska; at their own request they were transferred to the Hoonyah Mission, Alaska, where they still labor, the first and only missionaries in that far-off region; their children were Edna and Harry Seward, the last named dying of diphtheria in his third year, and buried in the Hoonyah Mission cemetery). Joseph F., now an attorney at law in Washington, Penn., was married in 1882 to Mary A., daughter of Rev. James and Katherine Ranken, and their children are Samuel Audley and Joseph. Mrs. Jane Van- Eman McFarland died August 24, 1853, and, for his second wife, Samuel McFarland was married May 22, 1861, to Matilda Duncan, who was killed by a run-away team April 23, 1865. On Decem- ber 25, 1866, Mr. McFarland was married to his third wife, in the person of Margaret Bingham, and by this union, one son, Albert Agnew, was born January 6, 1872. Mr. McFarland was a farmer, but during the last sixteen years of his life, was retired from active business, and during all the years of his activity he was a constant suf- ferer; he was a member of the Presbyterian Church from early manhood, contributing liberally to its support, and was interested in all its work. In politics he was an unswerving member of the Democratic party, but was not an active politician, and never asked for any office. He died June 29, 1889.

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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 151

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