Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 164

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 164

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AMES PRIGG, now retired from active work, is a worthy representative of a family long and favorably known in Canton township, of which he is a native, having been born in 1822, a son of Samuel Prigg, a sketch of whom appears in that of William Prigg, elsewhere. Our subject was reared to farm life almost from the cradle, and in his boyhood, during a few weeks in the winter time, attended the subscription schools, which were situated at a great distance from his home; and although his educational advantages were extremely limited, yet his opportunites for learning in the school of practical life were abun-

dant. At an early day Mr. Prigg commenced life for himself as an agriculturist, and with the aid of his faithful wife he has met with well-merited suc- cess, being now the owner of 250 acres of well- improved land, besides a fine dwelling house in the borough of Washington, whither he and his wife moved in 1885, and where they are now living re- tired, enjoying the fruits of their industry.

On September 9, 1852, James Prigg was united in marriage with Nancy C., daughter of Joseph and Nancy Mountz, of this county, and the children born to them were: Ellen A. (deceased), Oliver J. and Laura ( Mrs. John H. Wilson). The family are all Presbyterians and prominent in church mat- ters. Politically, Mr. Prigg has been a lifelong Democrat, and has ever manifested a deep interest in the welfare of his township and county, where he is recognized as a leader in the community.

E NOCH D. PRIGG, one of the best-known native-born farmers of the county, is a son of Samuel and Hetty (Day ) Prigg. He was born November 11, 1817, in Canton township, and from very early life experienced little else than hard work on his father's farm, varied occa- sionally during the winter season by a few weeks' attendance at the nearest subscription school, to reach which entailed a long journey through the deep snow, often in the teeth of a piercing wind. The schoolhouse was an old log cabin, the floor made of puncheons, seats of undressed slabs sup- ported by wooden pegs, while the writing desk was simply a slab extending across the room, and placed so high that the younger scholars could scarcely reach it. The fireplace was a huge affair at one end of the room, the generous fire being replen- ished by the older students usually during the noon hour. The other medium for keeping the boys " warm," the indispensable " birch," was under the immediate care of the dreaded dominie himself, who considerately kept it in a condition of clironic "pickle." Leaving school at an early age, our subject commenced his life-work in earnest, but true to his filial instincts remained at home with his parents, until his assistance was no longer necessary. He then, in company with his brother William, purchased a farm, which they worked on shares and greatly improved, until they bought another tract, when they divided their property, the old home place falling to Enoch's share.

In June, 1858, Mr. Prigg married Matilda M., daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth M. Daniels, and the children born to them are: Andrew, who mar- ried Miss Thomasene Elwood; Sarah ( Mrs. Charles Taylor); Belle ( Mrs. Elmer Longdon ); Lottie ( Mrs. James Lacock ), and Morgan. Mr. Prigg owns 385 acres of land in Canton township, and is a member of a company owning large areas in the " Sunny

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South." In politics he has always been an enthu- siastic Democrat, but in county and township elec- tions votes for those whom he thinks will best serve the people, irrespective of party considerations. He is a liberal and useful citizen, one who unaided has made his own success.

When a small boy Enoch frequently accompanied his father across the mountains, assisting him to the Baltimore market, whither he went to sell horses, he being a large dealer for those early times, and at the same mart Enoch witnessed the sale of negro slaves.

B ENJAMIN FARABEE. Foremost among the successful farmers of Morris township, Washington county, stands our subject. He is a self-made man in every particular, hav- ing acquired the wealth he now possesses by indus- try and strict integrity.

Benjamin Farabee is a son of Thomas Farabee, whose parents emigrated to this country from En- gland in the early part of 1700, settling in Bucks county, Penn. Thomas Farabee had five brothers and one sister. Their names were as follows: Joseph, John, Samuel, George, Benjamin and Jane. The last named brother and sister settled in South Carolina, where they died. Thomas Farabee mar- ried, in Bucks county, Jane Coffey, a native of that county. He, being attracted with the fertile hills and valleys of Washington county, emigrated thither with his four brothers, at about the same time (being about the year 1800), each purchasing land, Thomas owning what now forms a part of the immense tract of our subject. The wife of Thomas Farabee died in 1836 at the age of fifty-six, and Thomas Farabee died in 1849, aged seventy-six years. To their union were born the following children: Jane (Mrs. Stephen Craft), Mary ( Mrs. Charles Bogue), Sarah (Mrs. Daniel Robison), William ( who died in Athens county, Ohio), Stacy D. (in Washington county, Penn.), Samuel D. (in Missouri), Thomas D. (in Washington county, Penn.), Nancy (Mrs. Dr. Doddridge ), and Benja- min, the only member of the family now living. Mrs. Bogue had three children; Mrs. Robison nine; William eight; and two of the latter's sons-Spen- cer and Thomas-are practicing physicians in Ohio; Stacy D. had three children, as had also Mrs. Dod- dridge; Samuel D. had three children, one son --- Harvey-who was a valiant soldier and officer in the Civil war, serving as captain and major, re- turning home at the close of the struggle. Benja- min Farabee was born in 1822, and was first mar- ried to Phobe Day in 1842, who died in 1849 without issue. In 1856 he married Margaret Mc- Kerrihan (Bane), a good Christian woman and an earnest church worker, who died March 10, 1889, aged fifty-eight years. Mr. Farabee afterward mar-

ried, on March 18, 1891, his present wife, an esti- mable and refined Christian lady, Miss Mary E. Imlay, daughter of John F. Imlay, of East Pike Run township, Washington county.

Mr. Farabee has been variously connected in church relations, having been a class-leader, and teacher in the Sunday-school for more than twenty- eight years, and superintendent a part of that time, and is at the present time teacher of a Bible class, also holding the office of steward and trustee. The Mount Zion M. E. Church has the liberal support of Mr. Farabee in the way of contribution to all its various demands. He is a true and loyal friend to the Church of his choice, and is appreciated as a useful, intelligent and pious citizen in the com- munity in which he lives. His health has been somewhat impaired by an attack of la grippe a few years ago, which necessitates his comparative re- tirement from active farm work. Politically he has been a lifelong Republican.

OHN H. VAN KIRK is a representative of the family of that name in Franklin township. His grandfather, Joseph Van Kirk (1), was a native of the State of New Jersey, which had long been the home of his ancestors, but in early youth he came to Pennsylvania, and located in what is now South Franklin township, Washington county. Joseph Van Kirk (1) was united in mar- riage with a Miss Beabout, and there were born to them the following children: Eben, Reuben, Osee, Sarah, Christina and Joseph (2). Mr. Van Kirk passed the greater part of his married life on the farm, but some years before his death he sold his farm, and with all his family except his son, Joseph (2), removed to Wayne county, Ohio, which in those days (1824) was considered the "Far West."

Joseph Van Kirk (2) was born April 14, 1807. His early life was spent on the farm, consequently he had but limited means and opportunities for an education. In 1825 he was married to Nancy Hagerty, and there were born to them four children, all of whom died in childhood except Christina. She lived to womanhood, and was married to Colin Dickerson, but about one year after she died, leaving one son, Joseph Dickerson, who now resides in Champaign county, Ill. Mr. Van Kirk was mar- ried (the second time) May 11, 1837, to Martha Adams, who was born May 11, 1805, and to this union there came four children, viz .: Joseph A. (sketch of whom appears further on); Sarah Mar- garet, born March 24, 1842; John H. (of whom a brief sketch follows); Mary Ellen, born February 14, 1848, died in 1854. Of these, Sarah Margaret was married to Silas Tharp, of Amwell township, Washington Co., Penn., December 4, 1873. Joseph Van Kirk had, as already intimated, but a limited

Benjamin Farabee

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education, but by diligent use of such means as were at his command, he succeeded in fitting himself for all the numerous duties which devolved upon him from time to time. Possessed of a good memory, and a taste for reading, he was well- informed and well up with the times in which he lived, always ready to give aid in money or influ- ence for the promotion of improvements for the public good. He was a shareholder in the first railroad built in the county, know as the "Hemp- field Railroad," and also in the Chartiers Valley Railroad, and was a stanch supporter and share- holder of the Upper Ten-Mile Plank Road Co., which he served for many years as manager, and for several years occupied the position of president of the company. He was frequently called to serve his fellow-citizens in different offices in his township, all of which duties he performed with conscientious fidelity. In religion he was a Pres- byterian, uniting with the Church of East Buffalo in 1853, soon after which he was chosen to the office of ruling elder, a position he filled acceptably until the close of the pastorate of Rev. William P. Aldrich; he afterward united with the Second Presbyterian Church of Washington, Penn., and was a member of this church at the time of his death, which occurred May 8, 1870; his funeral service was conducted by his pastor, Rev. Henry Woods, D. D. Having no capital to begin business save willing hands and a strong will, he nevertheless succeeded in securing a competence, which enabled him to spend his last years in comfort and content- ment. His first land purchase adjoined the farm formerly belonging to his father,and here he built his home, and lived until he was called to his final rest.

John H. Van Kirk was born on the home farm in South Franklin township, Washington Co., Penn., July 12, 1844. On November 21, 1872, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret J. Noble, a resident of Buffalo township, Washington county, and they have had five children, as follows: One, a daughter, born February 2, 1876, died in infancy; Mary V., born February 10, 1877; Robert N., born December 17, 1878; Mattie Bell, born March 24, 1881, and Sarah Margaret, born March 17, 1884.

JOSEPH A. VAN KIRK was born August 29, 1840, on the home farm in South Franklin township. His youth was here passed, and in attending the common schools, until he attained his majority. On October 22, 1863, he was married to Sarah E. Van Kirk, who was born October 14, 1842, a daughter of Captain Joseph Van Kirk, of Amwell township, Washington county.

After marriage they settled on a portion of the farm, where they continued to reside and where the following children were born to them: Clarence B., December 20, 1865; Charles, October 29, 1869, and Joseph B., August 29, 1871. Mr. Van Kirk was well-informed in the current topics of the day;

he was an ardent worker in the ranks of the Demo- cratic party, and was chosen at different times to fill positions to which he was elected; in religious belief he was a Presbyterian, having united with the church of East Buffalo in his youth, but after- ward transferred his membership to the Second Presbyterian Church of Washington, Penn., of which he was a member at the time of his death, which occurred April 14, 1883.

OSEPH ADAMS was born in Ireland, May 27, 1770, and died June 2, 1832. He was married in 1793 to Martha Moore, who was born November 12, 1768, and died Septem- ber 29, 1828. There were born to them five sons and three daughters: the sons were James, Will- iam, Robert, John and Joseph, all of whom removed to Perry county, Ohio, after the death of their parents, and none of them are now living except Joseph, who removed to Sigourney, Keokuk Co., Iowa; the daughters were Margaret, Mary and Martha, of whom, Margaret was married to Samuel Mustard, and to them were born nine children, four sons and five daughters. The sons are now all dead; the youngest was a prominent minister of the United Presbyterian Church, and died in Wal- ton, Kans., in August, 1890; two daughters, Mar- garet G. and Esther Jane, still in Claysville, Wash- ington county, and are esteemed for their social- qualities and upright Christian characters. Mary Adams was married to John Dickerson, and to them were born two children: Margaret and Johsua; Margaret died in early womanhood, while Joshua is living in South Franklin township, Washington county, one of its respected citizens. Martha Adams was married to Joseph Van Kirk, May 11, 1837.

Joseph Adams and his wife, Martha Moore, came from Ireland in the same ship, but did not know each other until after they arrived in America, al- though the vessel was thirteen weeks making the voyage. They were Presbyterians; and members of the Church of Upper Buffalo at the time of the pastorate of Dr. Anderson. Their children were early in life instructed in the doctrines of their re- ligion, and some of them. were able to ask and an- swer every question in the Shorter Catechism without the aid of a book. These early impressions were so stamped on their memories that it bore much fruit during their lives, as they all possessed high regard for truth and morality, and with them carried an influence for all that was good and pure; in fact, their religion was to them their com- fort through life and triumph in death. Joseph and Martha Adams settled in Buffalo township, Washington county, where they spent their re- maining years, and after death their bodies were laid to rest in the cemetery of Upper Buffalo, Washington county, Pennsylvania.

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J OHN V. HANNA, a worthy and honored rep- resentative of one of the oldest families of Washington county, is a native of the same, having been born January 6, 1829, in Morris township.

His grandfather had come to the county at a very early day, married, reared a family, and died after a long life of usefulness as a pioneer farmer. His children were John V., Hugh, James, Eleanor, Martha and Nancy. Of these, James was brought up from boyhood to agricultural pursuits, his edu- cation being received at the common schools. When a young man he served a full apprenticeship to the trade of wheelwright, which he afterward followed in his own and neighboring counties. Soon after finishing his apprenticeship he was married to Phobe, daugher of Benjamin Day, and the results of this union were the following named children: Benjamin A. (who died in Washington county), Hugh (died June, 1892, in Carroll county, Ohio), Rebecca, John V. (the only one of the family now living), Samuel and James M. (the latter deceased in Washington county in 1872). James Hanna removed to Carrollton, Ohio, where he followed his trade many years and died. His widow afterward returned to Washington county, having in the meantime been married to Joseph Weir. She died in the fall of 1881. Mr. Hanna was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

The youth of our subject was passed on the home place of his stepfather, with whom he re- mained until old enough to start out in life for himself (which he did at an early age), his edu- cation being secured at the common schools, which he attended a few months each year. He com- menced life as a hired man on the farm, and by hard work and economical habits finally succeeded in purchasing a portion of the home place, thus step by step plodding on until now he is one of the solid men of his township; he has resided on his present place eighteen years. Mr. Hanna en- listed August 16, 1862, in Company K, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served three years, being discharged in June, 1865. Politically Mr. Hanna has always been a strong Democrat, and has held various township offices; in religious faith he is a liberal supporter of the Presbyterian Church.

H ENRY CAIN, an old and successful farmer of Donegal township, is a son of Thomas Cain and grandson of John Cain, the latter of whom, a native of Ireland, in early man- hood immigrated to America, locating in Maryland, where he was united in marriage with Mary Means. About the year 1785 he came to Greene county, Penn., where brothers of his wife had located a year or two before. Here the fol- lowing children were born to him: Thomas, Dennis,

John, Nancy, Mary, Elizabeth and Catherine, all now deceased. John Cain, the father of this fam- ily, was among. the early pioneers of Greene county, and shared the hardships and dangers of frontier life. He died about 1830, and his widow then returned to her native Maryland, passing the remainder of her life among her relatives.

Thomas Cain, the eldest in the above-mentioned family, was born in 1784, in Maryland, and, when a young child, was brought by his parents to Greene county, Penn. Almost every farmer oper- ated a distillery in those days, and the youth of Thomas was passed in assisting in that work, and in the farm duties. He was naturally an apt and intelligent boy, and his meager educational oppor- tunities were thus supplemented; he was also a mechanical genius, and made good use of almost any tool. In 1812 he was married to Mary Montague, who was born in 1784, a daughter of Henry and Rosanna Montague, who left County Tyrone, Ire- land, in 1792, and after a stormy voyage of eleven weeks and three days, landed at New Castle, Del. They first located in eastern Pennsylvania, and soon afterward began the long journey to Ken- tucky, of which State they had heard so many glowing descriptions. But the severe winter of 1793 set in when the travelers had reached Wash- ington county, so they concluded to remain there till spring, and made a temporary stop in Canton township. During this interval they met an old frontiersman who had been in Kentucky, and knowing the hostile disposition of the Indians at that time, he advised this family to remain in Penn- sylvania. Mr. Montague took the advice, and pro- ceeding a few miles farther west, made a permanent home in Donegal township, near the present post- office of Coon Island. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Cain were born the following children: Henry (deceased at the age of ten years), Nancy (de- ceased wife of James Reynolds ), Rosanna ( married Patrick Reynolds, and died at a good old age), John (farming in Donegal township), Thomas (also farming in Donegal township), and Henry (our subject). Mr. Cain lived in Greene county for some time after his marriage, and in 1824 came to and made a permanent home on the old Montague farm, near Coon Island, Donegal town- ship, Washington county. He was an industrious and successful man, respected by all who knew him. He died in 1837, his widow on March 17, 1860.

Henry Cain, the youngest son of Thomas and Mary (Montague) Cain, was born February 25 1825, on the farm where he is now living, and which is located about one mile northwest of Coon Island, in Donegal township. When he was twelve years of age his father died, and the farm was then managed by the elder sons, with what little assistance young Henry could give, In 188%

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our subject was married to Bridget Ryan, who was born December 1, 1848, a daughter of Martin and Mary ( Fitzpatrick) Ryan, residents of Washington, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Cain have no children. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising on the old home place, and has met with well- merited success. Politically he was formerly a Whig, and is now a Democrat. He and his wife are both devout members of the Catholic Church.

AMES STEVENSON AND THOMAS LOVE ANDERSON are descended from that sturdy people known as the Scotch-Irish race. Their ancestry lived originally in Scotland, and were of the Covenanter faith. To escape religious per- secution, they fled their native land and settled in County Donegal, Ireland. Here the great-grand- parents of James S. and Thomas L. lived and reared a large family: George, Matthew, Benjamin and a daughter-Mrs. Scott, her son John, a merchant, settled in Baltimore, Md .- being among the number.

Benjamin, their grandfather, was married in 1780, to Nancy Love, of County Tyrone, Ireland, where they became the parents of six children: William, Thomas, Benjamin, George, Jane and Nancy, none of whom are now living. Grand- father Anderson followed the blacksmith trade in Ireland, and in 1792 he sailed with his family to America, accompanied by his brother Matthew and family. After a long and tedious voyage of over thirteen weeks, during which time little George was seized with a fatal disease and his body buried in an ocean grave, the family landed in New York. They proceeded to Washington county, Penn., and settled on Brush run, in what is now Hopewell township, the neighborhood being then very thinly settled. Mr. Anderson continued to work at his trade while the sons attended to the duties of the home farm. Here he died in 1827, his wife having been called home a short time before. Of their children, William settled in Harrison county, Ohio, where he married Melila Thompson; Thomas was a river trader, and died in New Orleans; Jane be- came the wife of Holstin Bartleson, of Hopewell township; Nancy married John Daugherty.

Benjamin Anderson, their father, was born in Ireland in 1789. He came with his parents to Washington county, where his boyhood was passed on the pioneer farm. At the outbreak of the war of 1812, he was made captain of a company of drafted infantry, which entered the service under the command of Gen. Richard Crooks, whose bat- talion was a part of the First Regiment of Penn- sylvania Militia, which was assigned to duty in the West under Gen. William Henry Harrison. About the close of the war Capt. Anderson (afterward raised to the rank of a colonel) returned home, and

in 1816 was married to Margaret Cook, daughter of Gen. James Stevenson. To them were born eight children: Ann Eliza ( Mrs. John Moore, of Buffalo township, deceased at the age of thirty- five), James Stevenson (farmer of Donegal town- ship), Thomas Love (died March 7, 1892), Nancy Jane (deceased at the age of nineteen ), Catharine (Mrs. Jonathan Brownlee, of Buffalo township), William Cook (merchant, Claysville, Penn. ), Mary Melila (deceased at the age of nineteen ) and John (died when seven years old). Col. Anderson passed the first five years of his married life on the old home farm, located about three miles west of West Middletown, in Hopewell township. He then moved to Donegal township, settling about one mile west of Claysville, along the National pike, where he owned 250 acres of land, and which be- came his permanent residence. He was brigade inspector of Washington county for seven years. In politics he was a stanch Democrat, and besides holding different township offices, he was elected county commissioner in 1836. Col. Benjamin An- derson and his wife were both members of the South Buffalo U. P. Church. He died in 1861, Mrs. Anderson in 1875.

Mrs. Margaret Cook Anderson's father, Gen. James Stevenson, a civil engineer, was a native of Pennsylvania, born July 25, 1755. The place of his birth is not definitely known, but his boyhood home was in Letterkenny township, Cumberland county. Though scarcely more than a boy at the outbreak of the Revolution, he enlisted in the struggle for independence, endured the hardships of the Colonial soldier on the field, suffered the misery and want with fellow-prisoners in the hole of an English prison-ship, where the greater num- ber of his companions starved to death; and bore as the evidence of close encounter, the scar of a saber-stroke on his head. About the year 1787 he came west and settled on the Dutch fork of Buffalo creek, in what is now Donegal township, Washing- ton Co., Penn., where he owned some 600 acres of land. In 1791 he was married to Catharine Bonar, the daughter of a pioneer neighbor, born Novem- ber 7, 1766. Their children were Margaret Cook, John, Ann, Mary, Elizabeth, Catharine and Nancy. Gen. Stevenson for several years held the office of justice of the peace. He was twice elected State senator from Washington county, and also served five sessions in the House of Representatives. He died during the last session, and is buried in the cemetery at Harrisburg. His obituary, on record at the State capitol, is in part: "Died December 20, 1815, Major General James Stevenson, member of the House of Representatives from Washington county. In him were united the venerable and worthy citizen: the firm and enlightened patriot: the soldier and officer of the Revolution: the gen- erous friend and the indulgent father; the affec-

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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 164

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