Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 163

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 163

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M ATTHEW RYBURN, a well-known citi- zen of Chartiers township, comes of Scot- tish ancestry. His grandfather was James Ryburn, who was born in York county, Penn., of Scotch parents. He became a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serving from April 1, 1777, to April, 1780, when he received an honorable discharge; then coming to Washington county, Penn., bought a tract of land of one James Smith. He was married to Elizabeth Gordon, and their union was blessed with four children, namely: Matthew, Elizabeth, James and David. The father of this family died in 1826, and the mother lived with her children for many years afterward.

Matthew Ryburn (father of subject) was born in York county, Penn., and when ten years old came with his parents to Washington county. He was educated in the subscription schools of Char- tiers township, and in early manhood was married to Catherine Gordon, daughter of Thomas Gordon, of Buffalo township, this county. The young couple settled on the farm in Chartiers township where the widow of John Ryburn is now living, and the following children were born to their union: John (deceased December 17, 1888, was married to Rebecca Thompson, who is living on the old home- stead), Elizabeth (living with her brother Mat- thew), Matthew, Thomas (deceased September 4, 1851), Mary Jane ( wife of J. R. Smith, of Çanton township), Nancy and Catherine, twins ( the former deceased at the age of eighteen years, the latter when nineteen years old ), and James (deceased De- cember 9, 1863). The father of this family died in 1865, being followed by the mother, in June, 1884. He was a member of the Whig party.

James Ryburn, son of James Ryburn, married Mary Ann Bigley June 23, 1825. They moved to Heyworth, Ill., a few years after their marriage. John married Rebecca Thompson December 20, 1866, and the following children were born to them: Joseph, John, Katharine, Emma and Matthew.

Matthew Ryburn, whose name opens this sketch, was born September 6, 1822, in Chartiers township, this county. He was reared on the farm and edu- cated in the district schools of Chartiers township, afterward learning the cooper and carpenter trades. He is an expert cooper, having made twenty bar- rels in one day, and has followed various other occupations. He owns a good farm of 120 acres, and has erected about $5,000 worth of buildings upon the place, together with other improvements.

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Mr. Ryburn has achieved success by hard work, being now a prosperous business man. He belongs to the Republican party, and in religion is a mem- ber of the United Presbyterian Church at Cross Roads.

SAAC NEWTON CONNETT. Members of the Connett family have been important factors in the social and material history of Washing- ton county for nearly a century. The immedi- ate subject of this sketch, whose name appears at the opening thereof, was born in Morris township in 1826. Both his father, James Connett, and his grandfather, whose name was also James, immi- grated to Morris township from New Jersey in 1801. Upon locating in Morris township the senior James Connett, grandfather of subject, pur- chased what is known as the "Connett farm," six months after its entry, located one and one-half miles northeast of Prosperity. It is one of the best in that section. James Connett, Sr., was a weaver by trade, to which he gave his sole attention, and at one time he did all the weaving of linen and woolen goods in the southern part of the county. His death occurred in 1845.

James Connett, Jr., father of Isaac N., was born in 1797, in the town of the nativity of T. De Witt Talmage-Bainbrook, N. J. He remained with his father until about seventeen years of age, re- ceiving such an education as the times and sur- roundings afforded, which were by no means such as are enjoyed at present. After leaving the pater- nal roof, young Connett worked about in various places at sundry things until 1821, when he married Miss Rebecca Cary, a daughter of Henry Cary, who had removed to Washington county, from Morris- town, N. J., in 1802. Isaac Newton Connett was the second in a family of three children born to this union. His brothers, Henry and Oliver, died at the ages of four and nineteen, respectively. The father died in 1882, and the mother in 1872.

Educated to practical farm life, Isaac N. Connett has made farming his lifetime vocation. His suc -. cess attests to his energy and practical judgment. He has seen Washington county evolve from almost a wilderness to its present prosperous state. He speaks of hearing his mother tell of how, in the days of their early location there, travelers were actually compelled to construct their own roads in many instances. Mr. Connett was in 1847 united in marriage with Lucinda Lindley, of Morris town- ship. She is descended from a family of early pio- neers, who settled in Washington county as early as 1783, the first members having immigrated from New Jersey. Her grandfather was one of three brothers who were all Revolutionary soldiers, and who in later years came to Washington county and constructed a fort called Lindley's Fort, near where

Isaac Connett now resides. This fort was at that time the strongest fortification between Wheeling (W. Va.) and Brownsville (Penn.). It withstood all the attacks of the Indians, the barricades never having in any part been broken down. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Connett have been born four children, all of whom are living, viz .: Flora Samantha, who married, in 1868, S. B. McVay, of Morris township; Hannah Rebecca, married, in 1872, to Joseph Shafer, of Knox county, Ohio, where they now reside; Sarah Cordelia, married, in 1879, to Wiley Parkinson, of Greene county, Penn. (Mr. Parkinson died in 1885, and Mrs. Parkinson now resides with her parents); Clara Bethany, the youngest, was married, in 1884, to Joshua Heironi- mous, of Madison county, Ohio (Mr. and Mrs. Heironimous now reside at Plymouth, Iowa, where he is telegraph operator in the office of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, which position he has held a number of years). Prior to 1884 Mr. Connett was allied with the Republican party, since which time he has given his influence and support to the Prohibition cause. In the sense of an office-seeker he is not a politician, though he takes an active interest in matters pertaining to the welfare of his county and community. A con- tinuous residence of fifty-eight years at the same place has proven him worthy of the esteem in which he is held.

OHN E. SPHAR. The Sphar family have been identified with the history of Wash- ington county for many years. Mat- tern Sphar was born in Switzerland, and, in company with two brothers and one sister, immi- grated to America at the age of seventeen years, about the year 1760. He first settled in Williams- burg, Va., and on April 21, 1767, took the oath of allegiance under Queen Anne. He was there married to Margaret Shively, and in 1780 came to Washington county, Penn., and purchased of one Colonel Cooke 200 acres of land on the Mononga- hela river, in what is now Washington county. He took an active part in the Whiskey Insurrection, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He died about the year 1822, leaving three children, namely : John, Mattern (who moved to Adams county, Ohio, thence to Indiana ), and Henry ( who lived in this county ).

John Sphar was born in 1777, in Loudoun county, Va., and when but three years of age came with his parents to Washington county, Penn. He received a subscription-school education in Allen township, and when a young man was married to Susanna Redd, a native of Washington county, and reared the following children: Mary, wife of John Shively, Guernsey county, Ohio; Jacob was first married to Susan Wood, who died, and he was

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then married to Charlotte Wilson; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Dunlevy; Daniel, married to Mary Speer, and lived in Kentucky; Ann, wife of William Spah, of Indiana; Barbara, wife of William Hol- lingshead; Mattern, married to Margaret Coyle, of Ohio; Sarah, widow of Joseph Beazell, Allen town- ship; Rachel, married to Robert Gailey, Clarion county, Penn .; John, married to Lucy Ann Scott, and Henry. Of this family, three are yet living: Sarah, John and Henry. The father voted with the Whig and Republican parties, and served as supervisor of the township. He and his wife were members of the Baptist Church. He died in 1856, having been preceded by his wife and mother in 1852.

John Sphar was born February 26, 1817, on the old place in Allen township, Washington county, Pennsylvania. In 1839 he was united in marriage with Lucy Ann Scott, daughter of Parker and Sarah (Carson) Scott, all of whom were natives of Fallowfield township. Her parents had twelve daughters, of whom Mrs. Sphar is the only one yet living. Mr. Sphar owns seventy-five acres of the old homestead, where he has followed general farm- ing. He cast a vote for William Henry Harrison, and since the organization of the Republican party has been an earnest supporter of that faction, hav- ing served as a member of the school board and also as supervisor. He is no less interested in religious than in political movements, having been licensed as an exhorter and class leader in the Ebenezer M. E. Church, with which his wife is also identified. The children of this influential family are as follows: Sarah, wife of William Rogers, of Fallowfield township; Parker S .; Henry, married to a Miss McElhaney, of Armstrong county, Penn .; James, deceased in his twenty-sixth year; John E .; Susanna, widow of Ephraim McKee; Gertrude, married to J. H. Redd, and Wesley, deceased at the age of nineteen years.

John E. Sphar, the fourth son of John and Lucy Ann (Scott) Sphar, was born December 27, 1849, in Allen township, this county. He received a district-school education, then attended one term at the college at California, this county. After leaving school he began to follow farming, and on October 29, 1872, was married to Sarah Jane, daughter of Cornelius and Harriet ( Phillips) McKenna. They were early settlers of Allen township, this county, where their daughter, Sarah Jane, was born. They moved to Ohio, but in the spring of 1873 Mr. and Mrs. Sphar settled on the homestead farm in Allen township, where they now are living. He is an ardent Republican. He assisted his father on the farm till 1887, when he became owner of part of the farm. While he was thus engaged, foreseeing in the near future the development of the coal lands for which the Mon- ongahela Valley is noted, he turned his spare time

to reading surveying. After some practice in land surveying and town plats, he was called to con- struct maps of coal fields. He drew the first map of the coal field that is now known as the Red Bird mine. Then followed the mapping of the extensive field now owned by the Laughlins, known by the name of Vesta Coal Mines. He also located the main gas line from the famous Parson Well in the Maple Creek gas field; then carved out and optioned some coal land for which he found ready sale, besides doing much other work, being the only surveyor in Allen township. He is a member of the Mt. Tabor M. E. Church and secretary of the Sabbath-school. The following children have com - pleted the family circle: Clark Herbert, at the age of nineteen is wire chief in the main office of the Western Union Telegraph Company, in Chicago; Nellie Ethel, Rena Maud, Eldora Belle, Gertrude, Lawrence Garfield, Jennie May, Evangeline, John McKenna, Russell Harrison, and Bessie Inez. Parker S. married a Miss Dunlevy, daughter of Andrew Dunlevy, of Washington county.

A NDREW BORLAND, a representative of one of the oldest families of Peters town- ship, was born November 12, 1793, in that locality. He grew to manhood on the home farm in Peters township, and when a young man, March 3, 1825, was married to Eliza- beth, daughter of Alexander McClure, a native of Ireland. They were the parents of the following named children: Alexander Mc. Borland, Mary (Mrs. Thomas McClelland), Rebecca ( Mrs. Arthur Hopper), Margaret A. (Mrs. John Bell), Elizabeth ( Mrs. J. R. McClure ), Sarah J. ( Mrs. John Wat- son), Andrew J., Catherine (Mrs. R. D. Henry), Rachel, Martha W. and James L. Borland. Of these children, Rebecca, Catherine, Martha and Rachel are deceased. Mr. Borland passed the first years of his married life in Peters township, Washington county, and afterward made a perma- nent home in South Strabane township. He was a successful business man, and took an active inter- est in all public enterprises or charities which were worthy of his aid. In politics he was a stanch Democrat, and was frequently elected to county offices by his party. In religious faith he was a leading member of the United Presbyterian Church. He died July 18, 1860, on the farm now owned by A. J. and J. L. Borland, and was mourned by a large circle of friends.

Andrew and James Borland were born on the home farm in Peters township, Washington county, and received a common-school education. In early youth they assumed the management of the home place in South Strabane, which they still own, transacting all business together. They are among the leading men of the township, and enjoy the 6

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esteem of all who know them. They have never married, and a sister, Margaret A., and her daugh- ter, Mary M. Bell, attend to the household duties. They have an excellent farm, and deal largely in stock. Both of the brothers are active workers in the Democratic party, of which they are members. The Borland family were among the organizers of the United Presbyterian Church at Peters Creek, and the brothers contributed liberally to the sup- port of the Pigeon Creek U. P. Church, of which they are members. .

A LBERT ZELT. Jacob Zelt was a native of Bremen, Germany, where the family were engaged in agricultural pursuits. But after many years of faithful toil in the land of his birth, the father at last came to the conclusion that success could be more easily won in newer fields, where there was less compe- tition and more freedom. No sooner was this de- cision made than his eyes turned to that Mecca of all oppressed children of the world-America- and in 1838 he emigrated to this the "Land of Promise."

The long and perilous journey was made in a sailing vessel, and, did space permit, we might tell of weeks of danger and suspense, ere the travelers arrived in safety at their destination. Jacob Zelt was then a boy of eighteen, and soon after the ar- rival of the family in America he went to Vir- ginia, where he was employed upon the public works for some time, and then came to Pittsburgh, Penn. After a year's residence there, he removed with his family to Washington county, Penn., where he passed the remainder of his life. In 1842, in Pittsburgh, Penn., he was married to Mary Bartz, and this union was blessed with the following children: William, John, Jacob, Lewis, Adam, Frank, Henry, Albert, Mary ( Mrs. William Hartman) and Ella (Mrs. Douglas McMurray). Politically, Mr. Zelt was a Democrat, and an active worker in his party. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, giving it a liberal financial sup- port. Beginning life for himself when a mere boy, with neither friends nor,money and a stranger in a foreign land, Mr. Zelt was in every sense of the term a self-made man, and his success in busi- ness, achieved as it was in the face of so many ob- stacles, should serve as a strong incentive to all struggling young men. Mr. Zelt passed from the scene of his labors May 10, 1882, to join the wife who had preceded him to the dark valley on Feb- ruary 15, 1879.

Albert Zelt, the subject proper of this memoir, was born December 7, 1860, in Washington, this county, where he has passed his entire life, and received his education at the schools of the borough. On June 25, 1884, he was married to

Elizabeth, daughter of Lewis Fleming, of Alle- gheny county, Penn., and the children born to them are John, born in March, 1886; Mary, born in December, 1889, and Harry, born in May, 1891. Mr. Zelt has always been an enthusiastic advocate of Democratic principles. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He and his brother are the proprietors of a mill which they purchased in 1887, and since they have assumed the management of the property it has been much improved in many ways. The present owners employ all the latest improved machinery, and have doubled the capacity of the mill, which was found to be essential in order to supply their customers, as their work is famous for its excellent quality. They are an en- terprising and progressive firm, and enjoy the con- fidence and respect of the entire community.

A H. ALLISON, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Chartiers township, is a native of the same, having been born here November 24, 1828, a son of Hugh and Jane (Gabby ) Allison, also natives of Wash- ington county.

John and Jane ( Brownlee ) Allison, grandparents of subject, were natives of the Highlands of Scot- land, emigrating to Washington county, Penn., in 1768. On April 5, 1786, they obtained a patent for 415 acres of land, and settled on the same, cultivating and adding to it until they had 640 acres. They were the parents of nine children, eight sons (all of whom died in Washington county, except Gavin, who died in Butler county, Penn.) and one daughter. They were as follows: John, deceased in 1804; Gavin, deceased; Archibald, de- ceased in 1835; William, deceased in 1764; James, deceased in 1810; Thomas, deceased in 1840; Ebenezer, deceased in 1812; Hugh, deceased in 1853, and Jane. The father of this family died in March, 1790, in Washington county; his widow survived him several years.

Hugh Allison, the father of subject, was born in 1773, in Washington county, Penn., on the farm in Chartiers township, and was reared to farm life. In 1791 he was married to Miss Jane Irwin, a native of this county, who bore him one child, Jane, who became the wife of George Morrison, and died in 1871, in Mattoon, Coles Co., Ill., leav- ing seven children. Mrs. Allison died in Wash- ington county in 1795, and in 1798 Mr. Allison was married to Miss Jane Brownlee, a native of Wash- ington county, who died in 1802, the mother of two children: Eliza, who married William Scott, and afterward moved to Guernsey county, Ohio, where she died, leaving seven children; and Ammi, who died in Washington county at the age of four- teen. In 1804 Mr. Allison was again married, this time to Miss Rebecca McBride, of this county. To

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this union were born the following children: Maria, who became the wife of Hugh Lee, and moved to Henderson county, Ill., where she died; Rebecca, wife of John C. Hanna, died in Washing- ton county, the mother of four children; Hugh and James, both deceased in infancy; John, mar- ried three times ( he moved to Henderson county, Ill., and died there, leaving a large family); Thomas, moved to Henderson county, Ill., and mar- ried a Miss Graham ( his death occurred in 1869, in Illinois); and one that died in infancy. The mother of this family died in 1818. In 1820 Mr. Allison married Miss Jane Gabby, a native of Washington county, daughter of James and Janet (Brownlee) Gabby, natives of Maryland, who came in an early day from Chambersburgh to Washington county, where they died. To Hugh and Jane (Gabby) Allison were born eight children, as follows: Jane G., born June 11, 1822, married to Joseph McNary, and residing in Chartiers town- ship, this county (they have nine children); James G., born September 18, 1824, married to Mary Gabby, and now residing in Nuckolls county, Neb. (he had a family of ten children, eight of whom are now living); Margaret, born March 11, 1826, widow of E. K. Rogers, residing in Washington county (she has six children ); Archibald H; Hugh Brownlee, born April 20, 1830, first married to Mary Jane Gabby, and they had five children, but one of whom is living (his second wife was Mrs. Oakison; he moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where he is now residing); one that died in infancy; Anna Hender- son, born June 27, 1833; and Ebenezer, born Au- gust 12, 1835, married in 1873 to Orpha Jane Hayes, and residing on a part of the old homestead. Mr. Allison was a man of robust health. He was an active worker in the United Presbyterian Church, and was chosen elder at the age of about twenty years. He attended all the synods and mectings of the Presbytery, and was present at the meeting that made slavery a question of com- munion; he was also an ardent advocate of the temperance cause. He was commissioned major in the State Militia. He was a Whig, active in politics, and held several offices of public trust in the township. He died in Washington county September 3, 1853, his wife surviving him until December 14, 1870.

Archibald H. Allison was reared on the home farm, and received his education in the district schools of the county. For a while he taught school in Washington county, and studied under private teachers, but his life work has been agri- culture. Mr. Allison has made many improve- ments on the farm upon which he now resides. It consists of 125 acres of good land, in a fine state of cultivation, upon which he has built a substan- tial dwelling house and barn. Politically, Mr. Al- lison is an active Republican, and has held various

offices of trust in Chartiers township. He was in the convention that opposed "Know-Nothingism" in the county; is active in all that pertains to the public welfare, and is a prominent, enterprising man.

AMES HANNA was born October 3, 1836, in Washington county, Penn., a son of Hugh Hauna, who was born June 14, 1798. On March 31, 1825, Hugh Hanna was united in marriage with Dorothy Whitely, who was born May 22, 1801, and to their union were born eight children. The father died June 8, 1842, and the mother passed away June 11, 1858, and was buried in Brush Run cemetery.

James Hanna passed his early life at home, and at the age of seventeen years began to learn cabinet making, but abandoning this for the car- penter's trade, continued to follow the latter voca- tion until 1877. On September 1, 1870, be made choice of a bride in the person of Catherine, daugh- ter of George and Jane ( McMahon ) Johnston. To the union of James and Catherine Hanna the following children have been born: Hugh Willard (a school teacher), Mary Jane, George Johnston, and two that died in infancy. In 1868 Mr. Hanna bought sixty-four acres of land in North Strabane township, and to the original tract he has added thirty acres, which makes a very pleasant home. The family attend the Chartiers Presbyterian Church.

W ALTER DENNY, a son of Robert, and and grandson of Walter Denny, is one of the well-known and most highly esteemed citizens of his township. His grandfather was born in the year 1750, east of the mountains, and followed the occupations of a farmer and mil- ler. He was there married to Esther Maxwell, and in the year 1788 came to Washington county, lo- cating near Canonsburg. After several years he moved to a farm near Washington borough, where he passed the remainder of his life, and reared the following children: Catherine, Martha, Margaret, Esther, Eleanor, James, Robert and Walter, all of whom lived to an adult age. Mr. Denny died in the year 1802, and was followed by his wife in the year 1843.

Robert Denny was born in the year 1875, east of the mountains, and when but a child came with his parents to Washington county. He received his education at the rate schools, and in the year 1814, was united in marriage to Lydia ( who was born in 1795), daughter of James McMannis, and their children were Walter, Anne (Mrs. J. C. Sloan, of Hopewell township), Esther, James, Robert, Etiza- beth (these four are deceased), William and Cathe-

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rinc ( twins, the former living in Kansas, and the latter, Mrs. Work, of Buffalo township), and Lydia (widow of Alexander Work, of Harrison county, Ohio). After his marriage Mr. Denny located one mile and a half north of Washington borough, in South Strabane township. He then moved to Chartiers township, and there continued farming until his death, which occurred in the year 1832. His widow followed him in 1853. Politically he was a Democrat, and in religious connection a member of the Associate Reformed Church.

Walter Denny was born April 30, 1816, in South Strabane township, this county. He assisted his father on the farm, and received his education in the usual log schoolhouse. In the year 1842 he was married to Mary (who was born February 28, 1822), daughter of John Welch, of Chartiers town- ship. The children born to them were as follows: Mary Jane ( Mrs. Samuel Leper, of Beaver county, Penn.); Elizabeth Ann (wife of John Wilson, super- intendent of the County Home); Margaret L. (Mrs. J. G. Hanna); Sarah L. (deceased in infancy ) ; Sarah E. (deceased); Robert N. (deceased in infancy ); John W. and Laura ( Mrs. William Patterson, of Hopewell township) (twins); Samuel T. (a farmer of Hopewell township); Alice (Mrs. Marion Lig- gett, of Donegal township); Agnes; Cora (Mrs. Robert Buchanan ); and Martha (living at home ). After his marriage Mr. Denny first located in South Strabane township, and in the year 1849 went to Hopewell township, moving in 1875 to his present home, which is situated about one mile and a half west of West Middletown, near the boundary line of Hopewell and Independence townships. Mr. Denny has always been a farmer, but of late years has been enjoying a comparatively retired life in his elegant home. Politically he was originally a Whig, and a strong Abolitionist, then a Democrat, afterward a Republican, and now a Prohibitionist. He has never been bound closely to party lines, but has voted according to the dictates of his own judg- ment, and held various township? offices. He and his wife are members of the U. P. Church at West Middletown.

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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 163

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