Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 154

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 154

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J OHN JAMES C. and K. NOBLE McDON- ALD, of Robinson township, are among the largest landholders in the northern part of the county. They are grandsons of John McDonald, who was born in Lishavanich, County Fermanagh, Ireland, April 30, 1730. John Mc- Donald emigrated to this country in 1773, and purchased a tract of land called Mt. Pleasant, on Robinson's run, now included in Robinson and Mt. Pleasant townships. In 1775 he settled on the Mt. Pleasant property, andafterward bought other lands adjoining Mt. Pleasant, called Blackberry Plain, Gooseberry Thicket, Highlands and Prim- rose Hill. He also bought large tracts in Alle- gheny and Beaver counties, and in West Virginia. All these lands were well located and are now very valuable. On April 28, 1778, he married Martha T. Noble, daughter of Col. Noble, who lived in Allegheny county, near Noblestown. They had six sons-Andrew and William (twins), John, James, Alexander and Edward-and four daugh- ters-Margaret, Martha, Elizabeth and Mary-all now deceased. The eldest son, Andrew, was a graduate of Jefferson College, studied for the min- istry, and was pastor of White Oak Flats Presby- terian Church for a number of years. The sur- viving children of Rev. Andrew McDonald are An- drew (a farmer), Abram (a boatman) and Mrs. Bryne. John, the third son of John McDonald, was a distinguished member of the Pittsburgh bar, and contributed by his wealth and public spirit to the early improvement of the city of Pittsburgh. He was a prominent real estate owner in that city, and built the old "St. Charles Hotel," at first called the "Exchange Hotel," where the "Ander- son House" now stands, and he was at one time president of the Bank of Pittsburgh. He married

and reared a family, still represented in Pitts- burgh. The remaining sons, William (twin of Andrew), James, Alexander and Edward, gave their attention to farming.

The four daughters, Margaret (wife of Dr. Glenn), Martha (wife of George Allison), Eliza- beth (Mrs. John Mitchell) and Mary (wife of Rev. William Nesbit), were more than ordinary women in mental endowment, usefulness and piety. Grandfather John McDonald died, in 1817, on his own farm, "Mt. Pleasant," Washington county, and was buried in Raccoon cemetery. He was a man of wealth as well as moral worth. He gave his aid in first organizing the Raccoon Church at Candor. James Cooke, maternal grandfather of the subjects of this sketch, was an officer in the Revolutionary war, and soon after the close of that struggle came to Cross Creek township, this county, where he purchased a large tract of land and passed the rest of his days. He married Martha McCombs, and descendants are still to be found in Cross Creek township.

James McDonald, better known as "Colonel McDonald," father of the subjects of this sketch, was the fourth son of John McDonald, and was born August 29, 1783. He received his education at a subscription school of the vicinity. His father gave him part of his Washington county lands- which were then a wilderness, and which he im- proved. On September 25, 1825, he was united in marriage with Juliana Cooke, daughter of James Cooke, who resided near Cross Creek village, this county. They had four children: Martha Malvina, Margaretta Jane (deceased July 24, 1874, aged forty-two years), John James C., and K. Noble. The mother, at the age of eighty-five years, April 29, 1881, passed from earth at the old home, where her surviving children now live. The father passed his entire life on this estate, dying on April 3, 1863, and was buried in the Raccoon cemetery. He was the owner at the time of his death of a large farm of 1,000 acres. In his political affilia- tions he was originally a Whig, then, on the organi- zation of the party, became a Republican, and was active in the interests of the cause, but no office seeker. At the beginning of the Rebellion of 1861, he was heard to utter these words: "This war will never be ended until every slave is free." He was noted through life for the possession of a strong, independent will, but was always found a ready and kind sympathizer for the afflicted and distressed. He was a regular attendant and lib- eral supporter of Raccoon Presbyterian Church, in which he was raised, and which his father aided in first organizing.

The two sons, John James C. and K. Noble, live on the home farm with their sister, and carry on farming, giving their attention to raising fine stock, more particularly horses, making roadsters a specialty. They are Presbyterians, and in politics have always been Republican.

James. IlDonal

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WASHIINGTON COUNTY.

R ALPH VANKIRK. Of the first families in Washington county, none are more prom- inent than the Van Kirks. John, Henry and-Van Kirk, natives of New Jersey, came to this county, and settled in Amwell township. John first left his native State, and on December 10, 1785, purchased of Abner Howell a tract of 359 acres in this county, which was pat- ented February 26, 1792. Herc he lived until his death, which occurred in 1797, when the farm was divided between his three sons, Jacob, Henry and Joseph. He left four sons and three daughters, who were born in New Jersey: Sarah, Jacob and Henry being the children of his first wife; and Jo- seph, Elizabeth, John and Catherine were children of a second marriage. Henry Van Kirk, the second of the three brothers, purchased a tract of 260 acres of land which was known as " Red Thorn Bottom." On this farm he lived and died, leaving six chil- dren, namely: William, Gideon, Arthur, Henry, John and Mary, all of whom were born in New Jersey, and William remained there. Arthur, the second son of Henry Van Kirk, learned the trade of a cabinet-maker, and after his marriage to Eliza- beth Parkinson, settled in Amwell township, where the following children were born: Asher, Edward, Ralph, William, Lucretia, Emma and Sarah.

Ralph Van Kirk was born December 27, 1815, and married Sarah Cooper, November 11, 1841, a daughter of Sylvanus Cooper, of Franklin town. ship. To Mr. and Mrs. Van Kirk were born the following named children: Charles, Addison (who died in infancy), Jennie and Ella (who lives at home with her mother). Charles married Elizabeth Gamble, daughter of Levi Gamble, of West Beth- lehem township, and to them was born one daugh- ter, Dora (who died of typhoid fever March 20, 1883, at the age of fourteen); Jennie married George McElree, of Franklin township. They have two sons: Hiram Winnett, Ralph Alexander, and one daughter, Nellie Brown. Mr. Van Kirk was for six years director of " Washington County Home," which office he filled with much credit. He was one of the leaders of the Republican party in his neighborhood, and commanded the esteem of all who knew him. An honest citizen, an earnest Christian and member of the Methodist Church, he was a leader in the community. Mr. Van Kirk was called to his " long home" in January, 1890, deeply mourned by all.

Sylvanus Cooper, named above, is descended from John Cooper, who emigrated from Buck- inghamshire, England, in 1635, and settled at Lynn, Mass. Four years later he located at Southampton, L. I., whencc the family spread out to other settlements. Zebulon, the father of Sylvanus, born in New Jersey, emigrated to Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he married Mary White. To them were born four 46

boys and four girls. Sylvanus was born December 27, 1789. In 1812 he married Mary Bryant, a lady of noble character and a cousin of William Cullen Bryant. He had twelve children. Zebu- lon, the oldest, married Sarah Nicely, and resides in Iowa. He has nine children. David married Hanna Dille. They have ten children. He died in Memphis, Mo., of paralysis. Charles married Sarah F. Daychurck, of New Brunswick, N. J. He was a minister of the Presbyterian Church. His last charge was at South Centerville, N. Y. He had three children. John married a lady in' Texas, and resides in Carrollton, Mo. Five chil- ren were born to them. Catharine married Har- vey Gamble. Their late home was in Winfield, Iowa, where they both died. They had four children. Jane married Thomas Hanna. They have five children. She has been dead for sev- eral years. Mary married John Atkinson. They had four children. She died at the residence of her son Charles in Missouri. Sarah married Ralph Van Kirk, of Washington county. She has three chil- dren living: Charles, Jennie and Ella. Addison died in infancy. Elizabeth married Nelson Day. Three children were born to them. She now re- sides in Iowa. Caroline married Gallatin Vaile and they reside in Rochelle, Ill. They have five children. Henrietta, the youngest, lives in Carrollton, Mo. Sylvanus Cooper died at the residence of his son, Zebulon, in Winfield, Iowa, on April 10, 1873, at the age of eight-four years. His wife died August 9, 1846, at the age of fifty- three years.

C YRUS G. ARNOLD, a leading citizen of Hanover township, traces his ancestry to one Samuel Arnold, who was born in County Down, Ireland, about ten miles from Newry, and the same distance from Banbridge.

When a young man he was there married to Margaret Glass, who bore him the following chil- dren in Ireland: Nancy ( married to William An- derson ), and Mary (died of " king's evil"). Some time during the latter part of the eighteenth cen- tury this family came to America, and made their first permanent location in Allegheny county, Penn., where other children were born, namely: John (of whom a sketch follows); Margaret (wife of John Stewart, Noblestown, Allegheny county, Penn.); Jane ( Mrs. John Moore), and Elizabeth (married to Hugh Glenn, died in Richland county, Ohio). Samuel Arnold and his wife died in Allegheny county.

John Arnold (the father of our subject) was born August 19, 1800, in Allegheny county, Penn. He received a meager education in the schools of that period, and worked on his father's farm until he was a boy of sixteen or seventeen. He then

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WASHINGTON COUNTY.

began to learn the trade of a saddler (which at that time was a very lucrative vocation), working under his brother-in-law, John Stewart, at Nobles- town, Penn. In 1821 he was married to Mary Cavitt, who was born in 1805, in Allegheny county, Penn., daughter of George Cavitt, a native of Franklin county, Penn., whose father, Patrick Cav- itt, was born in Ireland. After his marriage John Arnold located ten miles west of Pittsburgh, along the Pittsburgh & Steubenville Pike, in Allegheny county. He finally secured a small tract of land, to which he added by patient industry and toil. They remained in Allegheny county twenty-five years, and in 1846 removed to Hanover township, Washington county, Penn., along King's creek, where he continued to follow farming. In politics John Arnold was a Whig and Republican. At an early age he made the good confession in the Union Church, and in 1854 was elected elder in the King's Creek Associate Reformed Church, which position he held until his death, November 20, 1863. His widow survived him until January 29, 1880, when she was laid by his side in Frankfort cemetery. She also was connected with the same church as her husband, and when the United Presbyterian Church was organized, united with that Society. They were the parents of the following children: George C. (a U. P. minister), born February 19, 1825, deceased December 1, 1863; Margaret (wife of Robert Ramsey, Beaver county, Penn.), born November 1, 1826; Samuel, born October 11, 1829, deceased December 2, 1849; John (living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa), born February 23, 1832; William T., born December 2, 1833; Agnes (Mrs. B. F. Mevey, of Allegheny, Penn.), born June 24, 1836; J. G., born November 9, 1839, deceased June 5, 1857; Cyrus G., whose name opens this sketch, born September 5, 1842; and J. Lee (living in Chi- cago ), born January 23, 1850.

Cyrus G. Arnold was born on the home place in Allegheny county, Penn., and moved with the family to Washington county, Penn., where he at- tended the public schools and passed his youth at home. In 1867 he was married to Mary G. Black, · a native of Hanover township, this county, daugh- ter of James Black. Their children were John H., born November 4, 1867; Mary C., born February 23, 1870, and Grizzie B. (deceased in infancy). The mother died in 1872, and was buried in Paris cemetery. For his second wife Cyrus G. Arnold selected Nannie L. Mc Whirter, of Mercer county, Penn., daughter of John McWhirter. This wife died in 1883, the mother of four children, Will- liam K., Vesta, Margaret E. (born July 10, 1882,) and Nannie L. (born August 25, 1883), of whom Vesta died in infancy, and Nannie L. is living with her grandparents in Mercer county, Penn.

In April, 1886, our subject was married to his present wife, Nettie M. Savage, daughter of Will-

iam and Jane (Duncan) Savage, who was born in Allegheny county, Penn. The children of this marriage are Cyrus D., born May 7, 1885; James S., born July 25, 1887; and Edna Jane Cavitt, born May 31, 1890, all of whom are living. Mr. Arnold took charge of the home place on King's Creek after his first marriage, and has ever since resided there. He has given his attention to farm- ing and stock- raising, and is a prosperous agricult- urist. He is well versed in questions of local and general interest, and is a leader in church matters, being an elder in King's Creek United Presby- terian Church, with which his wife is also connected. Politically, he is a supporter of Republican doc- trine, and is much interested in the success of his party.

OSEPH COATSWORTH. This enterprising gentleman is a native of the County of Dur- ham, England, where he was born July 12, 1842. His father, Joseph Coatsworth, was also born and reared in that English county, and was there married to Sarah Allison, who bore him seven children, Ann, Thomas, Margaret, Joseph, William, Sarah and John. Mr. Coatsworth was an expert lead-ore miner, and investigated its different branches in his native country. He con- cluded that America offered opportunities for his family, and emigrated in 1853, and followed coal- mining at Pittsburgh, Penn. A few years later he purchased a farm in Carroll township, but finally removed to Monongahela City, where he died in 1861. He was a strong supporter of Whig and Abolition principles, and upheld his views with tenacity. He was connected with the primitive Methodist Episcopal Church, but on coming to America united with the Methodist Episcopal So- ciety of Monongahela City, of which he was a most conscientious member.

Joseph Coatsworth came with his parents to America when but a lad, and passed his minority in Washington county, Penn. In 1872 he opened a grocery store, and engaged in the coal business at California, afterward conducting a grocery at Mo- nongahela City. He finally abandoned the grocery and opened a butcher shop, where he is now doing a very good business. On May 4, 1864, he mar- ried Trovillo, daughter of Washington Eckles, for- merly of Westmoreland county, Penn. Mr. Eckles was born in that county, where he learned the car- penter trade, and coming to Washington county, finally settled at Monongahela City many years ago. He was married to Eleanor Mumbower, a native of this county, who bore him the following children: Alfred, Jefferson, Artilissia, Amanda, Amzi, Tro- villo, Floral, Ida and Ira. Mr. Eckles was a Demo- crat, and in religion a member of the Cumberland . Presbyterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Coatsworth

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WASHINGTON COUNTY.

are the parents of seven children, namely: Anna V. (wife of L. T. Claybaugh), Charles W., J. W., May, Kate G., Bessie and Eva. Mr. Coatsworth is an active member of the Democratic party, and has served the borough as councilman.

Jonas Crowthers, who came to this country from Yorkshire, England, in 1850, married a daughter of the late Joseph and Sarah Coatsworth, Sr., in 1854. To them were born: Joseph B., W. H., J. J., Sarah, Thomas A. and R. C., Jonas and Lee, all nearly grown to manhood and womanhood in this county. On coming to the United States, Mr. Crowthers engaged in coal-mining, and being an expert mi- ner, soon became an operator in and shipper of coal, in which business he has been very successful.

AMES M. McMURRAY, one of the prosper- ous rising young agriculturists of Donegal township, comes of that rugged Scotch-Irish race, of whom it is said that wherever mem- bers of it are gathered together there are sure to be found men of large character, imbued with the fundamental principles that abide in the race-love of civil and religious liberty. Samuel McMurray, his paternal grandfather, was born about the year 1762 in County Down, Ireland, and was there married to Margaret Brown, who was born in 1765, also a native of Ireland, by whom there were seven children, all born in Donegal township, Washington Co., Penn., as follows: James, Ann, Eliza, John, Margaret (married to John Rees), Mary (married to John Erskine), and Jane (married to Samuel Barr), all now deceased, John being the last of them to "cross the river." After his mar- riage Samuel McMurray and his wife came to the United States, landing in Philadelphia, whence they proceeded to Washington county, same State, settling on the farm in Donegal township, which our subject now owns. Here he passed the re- mainder of his busy life, dying February 18, 1849.

John McMurray, the fourth child born to Samuel and Margaret (Brown) McMurray, first saw the light in 1804 in Donegal township, this county, and here his boyhood days were passed on his father's farm, his education being received at the somewhat primitive subscription schools of the period. In 1852 he was married to Margaret Boyd, who was born May 12, 1813, in Hopewell township, this county, a daughter of James Boyd, and to this union were born two children, viz .: William (deceased), who was a farmer in Inde- pendence township, and was married to Kate Arm- strong, and James M. After his marriage John McMurray settled on a farm in Donegal township, near where his son now lives, situated about one mile east of West Alexander, and here followed general farming up to the time of his death, which occurred February 7, 1867, after which event his

widow removed to the borough of West Alexander, where she is still living at a ripe old age. He was a prominent Republican, and held numerous town- ship offices. As a farmer he was eminently suc- cessful, being possessed of superior business capacity and sound judgment, and by the time of his decease he had accumulated considerable prop- erty.

James M. McMurray was born December 13, 1854, on the farm he now owns and lives on, in Donegal township, and where he received all his · instruction in agriculture, his education in the meantime being received, during the winter months, at the common schools of the district. On the death of his father he moved to West Alex- ander with his widowed mother, and after a resi- dence there of about three years returned to the farm, where he has since remained, successfully following his life work. On September 27, 1877, Mr. McMurray was married to Augusta Slater, who was born November 3, 1857, a daughter of David Slater, of Ohio county, W. Va., and by this union there are two children: Lizzie A., born July 1, 1878, and James W., born July 14, 1881, both living at home with their parents. In his political. predilections Mr. McMurray is a Repub- lican, and has held several township offices, such as school director, but does not waste time on poli- tics. He is progressive and popular, and has a bright future before him.

S TEPHEN APPLEGATE, than whom there is no more enterprising citizen in the county, was born in Allegheny county, Penn., May 5, 1825. He is a grandson of Benjamin Applegate, the place of whose birth was eastern Pennsylvania, where he was reared and educa- ted, and whence, in 1767, he migrated to this county, settling near the Monongahela river, in what is now Forward township, Allegheny county, where he patented a tract of 400 acres of land, subsequently entirely improved by the family He came in the spring of 1767, and, having made a clearing, seeded it to corn, then returned home, but when he again came, in the fall, he found bears had destroyed the entire crop. He was one of the earliest members of the U. P. Church in this sec- tion, their place of worship being known as the "Henderson Meeting House," and he was one of the most active and progressive of the earlier pioneers.

Vincent Applegate, son of Benjamin, was born in Allegheny county, Penn., where he was edu- cated, trained to farming pursuits, and where, on the old home farm, he passed his entire life. He married Riodosha Harker, of Virginia, and their children were Richard, Delilah (Mrs. Abraham Applegate), Harvey, Elizabeth, Josiah, Harrison,

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WASHINGTON COUNTY.

Rebeeea ( Mrs. Gideon Wall), Keziah ( Mrs. Jacob Conklin), Eli and Stephen. The father died Au- gust 3, 1839, the mother September 3, 1859. They sleep in the family burying-ground. They were members of the Henderson U. P. Church; in poli- tics he was an active Whig.

Stephen Applegate was reared on the farm where he was born; his edueation was, necessarily, very limited. For some years after his marriage he re- mained on the home place, and in 1873 came to Monongahela City, where he has since resided, re- tired from aetive life. On October 29, 1846, he . was married to Minerva, daughter of James Ap- plegate, also a native of Allegheny county, whose wife was Rachel (Holderaft), and children as fol- lows: Elsie ( Mrs. Samuel Dennison), John, Eliza- beth, Rachel, Harriet J. and Minerva (Mrs. Stephen Applegate). James Applegate was a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, in polities a Whig, in re- ligion a Baptist. Our subject and wife have had one ehild, Josephine, married to Moses Colvin, and their children are Minnie, Mary and May. Mr. Ap- plegate was originally a Whig, but a Republican since the formation of the party. He is a repre- sentative, self-made man, one who has attained success by his own efforts, industry, perseverance and thrift.

A MOS PATTERSON. The Patterson family, of which the subject of this sketch is an honored member, eomes of direct English descent, now several generations removed. Robert Patterson, a native of New Jer- sey, the great ancestor of the family in Washing- ton county, in 1794 eame from York (now Adams) county, Penn., to this county, with his family, locating in Morris township. The trip was made in wagons, at that time an undertaking of no small magnitude. The names of Robert Patterson's ehil- dren are Joanna, James, Timothy, William, John, Robert, Polly, Abigail and Peter.

John Patterson, son of the pioneer Robert, was born in 1782, in York (now Adams) county, Penn .; he married Mary Enlow, a daughter of Elliott En- low, who removed from Maryland to East Finley township, this county, prior to 1800. To this union twelve children were born, eight of whom lived to maturity, as follows: Elliott, Rachel, James, Phoebe, Amos, John, Jesse and Aaron. Of these children are now living: Amos (our subjeet), John (in Greene county, Penn.), and Aaron (in Mereer county, Ill. ).

Amos Patterson was born in 1816, and received the limited educational advantages which the neigh- boring sehools afforded. In 1843 he was married to Harriet Cooper, who was born in 1821, a daugh- ter of John Cooper, of Morris township, this county, and to their union have been born three children: John A., born in 1846, died in 1853; Clara, born in

1855, married to S. L. Day; Mary Elizabeth, born in 1864, at home with her father. Mrs. Patterson died August 20, 1889. Mr. Patterson has been re- markably sueeessful as a farmer, and has accumu- lated valuable property. He is a life-long Democrat, and a member of the Baptist Church at Pleasant Grove.

OSHUA WRIGHT was born May 4, 1822, in Peters township, where he lived continuously until 1859, when he moved into Washington borough, in order to give his children a thor- ough education.

Joshua Wright, great-grandfather of the subject of this memoir, came with his brother James from the Cumberland Valley, and settled about 1765, in Nottingham township, this county, on Peters creek. They obtained a tract of land containing over 800 acres (near what is now Finleyville ) from Indians, part of which land still remains in the family, Joshua, the great- grandson, having 210 acres of it. In 1779 the great-grandfather bought of his brother James all his share of their joint purehase, and our subject has in his possession the quit-claim deed for same, in which the following words oceur: " I quit-claim to my brother against all save God Al- mighty, who being maker of the Universe, I eannot quit-claim against Him." After he had part of this land cleared and a erop put in, he returned to Har- risburgh and married Charity Sauns, daughter of John Harris, for whom Harrisburgh was named. In October, 1776, Joshua Wright was one of the justiees of the peace in Youghiogheny county, and ex-officio judge of the court. He presided over the court in April, 1777, and was also through the Crawford expedition in 1782. After this sale, James Wright went to Kentucky, where he was killed by the Indians. In 1783 Joshua Wright, while on his way with two other men to New Or- leans with a boat-load of provisions, was attacked by the Indians, who shot the two companions, and Wright, bravely defending himself to the last, shot several of the Redskins with his own musket and those of his slain companions. Overpowered by numbers, however, he was finally captured, and taken to a point near Sandusky, Ohio, where he was made to " run the gauntlet," and was burned at the stake. It was supposed he was decoyed to this tragieal fate by Simon Gerty, the white renegade from Fort Pitt. He left three children: Lydia, Enoch and Agnes.

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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 154

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