Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 165

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 165

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tionate husband and the honest man." The House, on hearing of his death, Thursday, the 16th, sus- pended business, and the Governor and heads of departments were invited to attend the funeral. As a mark of respect his fellow-members wore crepe on the left arm for thirty days. They had inscribed on his tomb: "In memory of Gen. James Stevenson, of the House of Representatives. * *

** He was a native of the State and one of the heroes of '76. He served his country: his country honored him." Gen. Stevenson also served as major-general in the war of 1812.

JAMES STEVENSON ANDERSON was born in the year 1820, in Hopewell township, Washington Co., Penn. He received his early education in the sub- scription schools of the neighborhood. He came with his parents to Donegal township, where he assisted with the farm work. In 1847 he made a trip through the western States. He was married in 1856, to Mary E., daughter of John and Mary (Milligan) Miller, of Cadiz, Harrison Co., Ohio. John Miller was the son of John and Mary (Reed) Miller, the former of whom came to this country from the North of Ireland, the latter being a native of Pennsylvania. The children of James S. and Mary E. Anderson were John Benjamin, a teacher by profession, who received his education in the public schools, and in the Jefferson Academy, Can- onsburg, Penn., under Dr. William Ewing ( he commenced to teach at the age of seventeen years; in the summer of 1884 he was elected principal of the Canonsburg public schools, which position he held until the spring of 1891, when on account of failing health he resigned; he died October 4, 1891); Anna Eliza, deceased at the age of seven years; Mary Elizabeth, residing at home; William Frank, a contractor and rig-builder, living at Craf- ton, Allegheny Co., Penn .; Albert Reed, now in the State of Iowa; Jennie, deceased in infancy; Margaret Cook, living with her parents; and Charles, also at home and managing the work on the farm. In 1860 J. S. Anderson was chosen to succeed Capt. Cracraft as captain of the Claysville Blues, a company of Pennsylvania volunteers. Capt. An- derson was a commissioned officer in the Pennsyl- vania Militia for twenty-two years. After his marriage he located on his farm, west of Claysville and near the National pike, which is his present home. His farm, by care and cultivation, has be- come one of the most valuable in Donegal town- ship. He is now living a retired life. In politics he has always been an active Democrat. Capt. An- derson and his family belong to the U. P. Church at West Alexander, Penn., where he is also a mein- ber of the church's Session.

THOMAS LOVE ANDERSON was born July 6, 1822, on his father's farm, situated about one mile west of Claysville, along the National pike. Here his early life was passed, and here he received his

agricultural training and an education in the pub- lic schools. He was married November 30, 1864, to Celia Rachel, daughter of Alfred and Margaret Crump, of Millersburg, Holmes Co., Ohio. Three children were born to them: William Howard, Benjamin and Catharine Brownlee, all of whom are living and at home. After his marriage Mr. Anderson settled on a part of the old Stevenson tract, always his home. The farm is well improved, and its location makes it a valuable property. He was a successful farmer, a Democrat in politics, active in the interests of his party, and held differ- ent local offices. His family are members of the U. P. Church at Claysville, Penn., to which he be- longed at the time of his death.

Alfred Crump, the father of Mrs. T. L. Ander- son, was a native of Virginia, a wagon-maker by trade, and a soldier in. the war of 1812. Her mother was Margaret Walter, daughter of Peter Walter, of Baltimore, Md. After their marriage Mr. Crump and his wife moved to Ohio and settled on a farm near Georgetown, Columbiana county, afterward moving to Millersburg. Mrs. Anderson was the eighth of a family of ten children.

HARLES M. CRAIG. This highly respected gentleman, a native-born and lifelong resi- dent of Donegal township, is descended from vigorous and robust North-of-Ireland people, a race known the wide world over for their resolute and honest lives.

The first of the Craig family, in Washington county, to come to American shores, was James Craig, a native of Antrim, Ireland, where he mar- ried a Miss Martin, and the young couple then, set sail for the distant shores of Columbia. This was toward the close of the last century, and about the year 1800 they settled in Washington county, Penn., in West Finley township, where they reared an interesting family of sturdy children named, re- spectively, Hugh, Samuel A., James, Margaret, William, Ann and John. Here this honored pio- neer couple closed their eyes forever, after a life of honest toil and characteristic rectitude.

Hugh Craig, the eldest son of James Craig, was born in West Finley township, this county, and there was married to Martha Martin, by whom were born to him the following named children: Jane, who died after reaching adult age; James, de- ceased when nineteen years old; Martin, who died in October, 1828, at the age of fourteen years; Enos, who died in April, 1840, aged eighteen years; Charles M., the subject of this sketch; Mar- garet, who died at the age of twenty-one years, and one son and one daughter, both of whom died in infancy. Hugh Craig followed farming, and also his trade, that of shoemaking, in the township of his birth until 1829, when he moved to Donegal

C. M. Craig

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township, having purchased a farm about three and one-half miles northwest of Claysville. Here he passed the remainder of his days, dying in 1833.

Charles M. Craig, the subject proper of this biographical memoir, was born March 4, 1822, near Claysville, and at the common schools of the dis- trict received a fair education, which he afterward greatly improved by home reading and study. Early in life he began the arduous duties incident to the farm, and followed agricultural pursuits under the tuition of his father until the latter's death, when he took entire charge of the home- stead, living with his mother and sister, Jane, up to the time of their respective deaths, the mother dying in 1873, the sister in 1890. Mr. Craig has since made his home with a neighbor, whose farm adjoins his. For several years he has done no real work, but spends the greater part of his time in reading, of which he is passionately fond, and he keeps himself thoroughly posted on the issues of the day, political and otherwise. He has always been a great reader, an ardent lover of books, a keen observer of men and things; indeed, there is scarce a topic, either of the past or present, with which he is not familiar, and his conversation on all subjects is bright and of a most entertaining nature. At one time an Old-line Whig, he is now, and has been since the formation of the party, an enthusiastic Republican, and, whilst loyal to the cause, has always shunned political preferment.

OSHUA COFFIELD, another energetic de- scendant of pioneers who left the Emerald Isle to make a home in America, is a prosper- ous farmer of East Finley township, and a grandson of John Coffield, who was born in County Leitrim, Ireland, about 1757. He was one of five brothers who were famous for their physical powers, and had no equals in their native county for mus- cular strength. He was a man of massive frame, a splendid specimen of well-developed manhood. Mr. Coffield was married in Ireland, and had nine chil- dren. In 1798 he took passage on the ship "Happy Return," which was very filthy and carried all kinds of freight, but as he was a poor man the cheapest had to suffice. After the vessel was a few weeks out, drinking water became scarce, and before the voyage (which lasted three months) was ended, nearly one-third of the crew and some of the pas- sengers died, three of Mr. Coffield's children being among the number. At last the terrible journey was ended, and the family landed at New Castle, Del., near which place they lived for a time, doing farm work, but the father soon after died, and the five children (Arthur, Lawrence, James, Ann and Elizabeth ) were obliged to earn a living for them- selves and their widowed mother. By working their way, the family finally reached Washington

county, Penn., and first located near Washington borough, where they remained a short time, then came to East Finley township, and locating on the present farm of J. Wiley Patterson, the boys began to clear the land and make a home. The mother died in 1811, and the children (all except Arthur) grew to an adult age and married.

Lawrence Coffield was married in 1810, to Eliza- beth Rawden (who was born in 1773), whose par- ents came from Ireland in the same ship as the family of John Coffield. To their union were born children as follows: John (moved to Illinois and died in Adams county, in 1891); Joshua (subject of this sketch); Thomas (a farmer in Belmont county, Ohio, deceased in 1887); James, Jane and Elizabeth (all three deceased in infancy). After his marriage Mr. Coffield located on the home farm in East Finley township, where he resided until 1846, when his wife died, and he removed to Adams county, Ill., and there died in 1848.

Joshua Coffield was born in East Finley town- ship, this county, January 17, 1813, and passed his boyhood on his father's farm, receiving but a limited education, which he improved by cultivating his natural inclination for reading. After the death of his father he purchased the old "Rawden farm," on the head waters of Wheeling creek, which had been previously entered by his maternal grand- father. Mr. Coffield enjoys the esteem of all who know him, and though well advanced in years can do a day's work which would do credit to many younger men. Politically he was formerly a Whig, and is now a stanch supporter of the Republican party.

AMES WILSON, one of the leading citizens of Taylorstown, Penn., was born October 4, 1826, in Buffalo township, Washington Co., Penn., and is a grandson of William Wilson. The grandfather was born and married in Ireland, where his eldest child was reared, and the family afterward came to America. They remained in Philadelphia some time, then went to Dauphin county, Penn., where they remained until the death of Mr. Wilson. His children were James (a tailor and clothier in Philadelphia, Penn.), Eliza- beth ( Mrs. William Rogers) and William. After the death of her father Mrs. Rogers lived some time with her brother James, and finally accompanied her husband to Ohio, where she died.

William Wilson (father of our subject) was born March 18, 1789, in Dauphin county, Penn., and in early life learned the wheelwright trade, which he followed both in Dauphin and Washington counties. He enlisted in the war of 1812, and took part in the battle of Baltimore, serving until the close of the war, then came to Washington county, Penn., and purchased a small tract of land in

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Buffalo township, on which he made a permanent home. On October 10, 1822, he was married to Rachel, daughter of James Keer, of Buffalo town- ship, and the following children were born to them: Elizabeth, Jane, James, Margaret (Mrs. Thomas Hodgens), John M., Mary (Mrs. George M. Warick), Emily, Rachel and William. Mr. Wilson was an enterprising citizen; in politics he was a Democrat, and served faithfully in various township offices. In religious connection he was an active member of the Presbyterian Church at Claysville, this county, of which he was a trustee. He died April 27, 1869, having been preceded by his wife August 2, 1848.

James Wilson passed his youth on the home place in Buffalo township, and received a good common- school education. At the age of twenty years he went to Philadelphia, and studied ornamental work, remaining there several years, then came to Taylorstown, this county, where he has since resided. On June 4, 1855, he was united in marriage with Rebecca J., daughter of Jesse Wilson, of Bridgeport, Ohio, and children have been born to them as follows: William ( who died in youth), De Forest, Kate (Mrs. A. T. Anderson), Ellen (Mrs. Robert Knox), Ida (Mrs. N. A. Sutton), Rachel and Susan Gertrude. The family are mem- bers of the United Presbyterian Church at Taylors- town, of which Mr. Wilson is an elder and liberal supporter. He is engaged in painting; in politics he is a stanch Democrat and an able worker, and has held nearly all the township offices, being for fifteen years connected in various ways with the school board.

T HE MARTIN FAMILY. This well-known and time-honored family will become extinct in Washington county with the death of Rebecca Martin. Their genealogy can be traced to one John Martin, a native of County Armagh, Ireland, who was married to Mary McClave. They were faithful disciples of the Protestant faith, and their old Bible, which was printed in 1695, is yet in the possession of the family.

Robert Martin, a son of John and Mary (Mc- Clave) Martin, was born about 1768, in County Armagh, Ireland, and there married Nancy Burris, who was born about 1773, in County Down, Ire- land. The young couple came to America in 1794, landing at Philadelphia after a long, rough voyage. They made a temporary location in Lan- caster county, then west to Venango county, Penn., where their hard-earned savings were invested in 400 acres of land, which he purchased in all good faith, only to discover, when too late, that he had bought of some unscrupulous rascal who had no title to the property. This tract has since devel-

oped into one of the finest oil-producing territories in the United States. After spending a large sum of money in attempting to prove his title, Mr. Mar- tin was obliged to resign himself to the loss of the whole, and leaving Venango county, descended the Allegheny river. The family then resided at Pittsburgh a short time, but finally located on a sınall farm in Hanover township, this county, where their remaining days were passed. Robert Martin died in 1823, followed by his wife several years later. Their children were: John (referred to be- low), Mary (never married, deceased at the age of eighty-three years), Ellen ( unmarried, died in her eighty-second year), Robert, James (unmarried, lived in Hanover township), Thomas (a resident of Ritchie county, W. Va.), Agnes (deceased in youth), Samuel and Rebecca (twins). Of this family Rebecca is the only one living.

Robert Martin (son of Robert and Nancy (Bur - ris ) Martin ) grew to manhood on the home place, and in 1828 was married to Elizabeth, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Grant) Hanlin. To this union seven children were born, viz .: Nancy, Eliza- beth (of Paris, Penn.), William (deceased at the age of twenty-eight years), James (a farmer of Jefferson county, Ohio), Thomas H. (living in the West), Samuel (deceased, a farmer of Jefferson county, Ohio), and John L. ( who died in Jefferson county, Ohio). Of these children the eldest daugh- ter, Nancy, was born in 1830, and in early woman- hood was married to David Parkhill. He was born in 1833, in County Antrim, Ireland, and coming to America when but sixteen years of age, followed the vocation of papering and plastering. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Parkhill, three of whom are living, viz .: Lizzie M. (of Paris, Penn.), John C. (an electrician of Wellsville, Ohio), and W. J. (an employee of the Pittsburgh Car Service Association). The father died in 1872, fol- lowed by his wife in 1878, and both are buried in the Mooretown cemetery, Jefferson county, Ohio. Robert Martin (father of Mrs. Parkhill) died in 1864, followed by his wife in 1872. Their remains are interred in the Mooretown cemetery, Jefferson county, Ohio.

Samuel Martin, son of Robert and Nancy ( Bur- ris) Martin, and twin brother of Rebecca, was born October 24, 1811. He was naturally inclined to mechanical life and learned several trades, but evinced his good judgment by purchasing from the other heirs a small farm of his father's, to which he added other land and on which he made various im- provements. He carried on a mercantile business for a short time at Knoxville, Jefferson Co., Ohio, but soon returned to his farm in Washington coun- ty, Penn. He accumulated a good property by his own efforts and loaned some money. Politi- cally, he was a prominent member of the Demo- cratic party, having served as 'squire until he

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resigned the office. In religion he was a member of the United Presbyterian Church until his death, August 13, 1879.

REBECCA MARTIN, daughter of Robert and Nancy (Burris) Martin, has never married, and is living on her brother's farm (which was bequeathed to her), with two representatives of the two generations following her own-Miss Lizzie Martin (a niece of Rebecca Martin) and Miss Lizzie Parkhill (a niece of Lizzie Martin), who have charge of the farm, which they conduct with signal success. Although Miss Rebecca Martin has passed through the joys and sorrows of four score years, she is yet an active woman, easily calling to mind events which oc- curred when she was a child.

John Martin, son of Robert and Nancy (Burris) Martin, married Mary Williamson in 1819, and moved to Jefferson county, Ohio. To this union eight children were born, of whom five are living: Mrs. Jane Warren, Mrs. Margaret Warren, both of Iowa; Mrs. Mary White, of California; Rev. J. W. Martin, of Mt. Perry, Ohio, and Dr. Samuel Mar- tin, of Sealkote, India. Thomas Martin, son of Rob- ert and Nancy (Burris) Martin, married Miss Catharine J. Moates, of Ritchie county, in 1854, to whom one son was born, Robert H., a clerk in the War Department, Washington, D. C.

J OHN MCCORKLE (deceased). The subject of this biographical sketch was a son of Thomas McCorkle, who was born and raised in Adams county, Penn., and there married Esther Terrell, a resident of the same county. They moved to Washington county, Penn., in the year 1810, purchasing a large farm in Cross Creek township. Their family consisted of six children, namely: Robert (died unmarried), Margaret ( Mrs. Thomas Ritchey), John (the subject of this sketch), Frances (died unmarried), Jane (wife .of Charles Phillis) and Thomas (who married Margaret Welch), all dead. The father followed farming, and in politics voted the Democratic ticket. He was a ruling elder of the Associate, now United Presby- terian Church, at West Middletown.

John McCorkle was born June 4, 1803, in Adams county, Penn., and removed when quite young with his parents to Washington county, where he was reared and educated. He was first married Janu- ary 14, 1834, to Mary McCorkle, of Somerset town- ship, Washington Co., Penn. They had one son, Thomas B. Her death occurred May 25, 1836, and on May 12, 1842, he chose for his second wife Mary, daughter of David B. Hay. David was a son of John Hay, who was born in Scotland, and there married, in 1777, Anna Burns, a near relative of the famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns. The following children were born to John and Anna (Burns) Hay: John, Alexander, James, Ephraim

and David B., Jane ( Mrs. John McKimman ), Anna (Mrs. Thomas Struthers), Catherine ( wife of Rob- ert Braden ), Elizabeth ( Mrs. James Harper ), Mary ( wife of Archibald Harper).

The family emigrated to America, but during the voyage two sons died and the ocean was their winding sheet. After arriving in America they first settled in Lancaster county, Penn. Then the family settled permanently on Miller's run, in Cecil township, where they lost two more sons in youth, immediately after their settlement. Mr. Hay was a Democrat, and in religion a ruling elder of the Seceder Church for many years. David B. Hay was born in 1785 in Lancaster county, Penn., and received his education at his home in Washington county. He was united in marriage, in early life, with Mary, daughter of Patrick Mccullough. Their children were Anna (Mrs. Henry Donnell), Mary (wife of John McCorkle), Elizabeth, Jane ( Mrs. Robert Scott) and Hannah (died in infancy). The father followed farming. Politically he was a Democrat, and served as justice of the peace for several terms. He was a member of the Associate Reformed Church until his death in 1873, in his eighty-seventh year. He was preceded to the grave by his wife, who died in 1865, being then eighty- one years of age.

John and Mary ( Hay ) McCorkle had no children. He was an active and progressive citizen. Politi- cally he was a Democrat, and religiously a ruling elder in the U. P. Church until his death on July 18, 1863. Mrs. Mary McCorkle, his widow, re- sides at West Middletown.

EROY WOODS DAY, one of the successful farmers and stock raisers and influential citi- zens of Morris township, is a native of Wash- ington county, born in this township, April 24, 1833. He is the youngest of a family of five children born to Lemuel Fordham Day and Nancy Jordan Day.

The family is an old and well-known one of English descent, and can be traced to the nobility of that country. Of the five children born to Lem- uel F. and Nancy Day, two died in infancy. The others are as follows: Stephen F., born July 22, 1827, left Washington county in 1852, and died March 6, 1892, in Nebraska. He was never mar- ried. He left a large landed estate to his brother, L. W. Day, and his niece, Cora B. Minton. Eliza, born April 7, 1831, was married in 1852 to Dr. Artemas Day, of this township, and became the mother of one child, Cora Bell, who married S. D Minton. Mrs. Day died in 1864. Leroy Woods Day received such an education as was afforded the country youth of that day, and was reared to a practical knowledge of farm life, which he has turned to good account. He resides on the valua-

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ble tract of land lying about one-half mile north of Sparta, which has been in the possession of the Day family for more than fifty years. He gives much attention to sheep-raising, to which his place is especially adapted, and he is one of the most successful wool-growers of this county. Through some means, which he attributes to the lay of the land and the breed of sheep, his stock has never been infected with those diseases which so ma- terially lessen the profits of most sheep raisers.

Mr. Day was married April 27, 1855, to Miss Miranda Vankirk Day, a daughter of Daniel Day, of Morris township, to which union there have been born eight children, all of whom are living except the eldest, Horace Mann, who was born De- cember 27, 1856, and died November 12, 1857. Charles Sumner, born February 2, 1858, married October 21, 1880, Miss Sarah M. Auld, of Greene county, Penn., a daughter of John Auld; Stephen Ellsworth, a graduate of the Normal School at Cali- fornia, and also of Washington and Jefferson College, class of 1892, was born August 8, 1861, married Annie M., daughter of Theodore Day, July 21, 1892, and now resides at Washington, Penn .; Edward Sullivan, a vocal and instrumental musician, and dealer in musical instruments, was born February 7, 1865, and married Josie, daugh- ter of Shepherd Kerns, December 24, 1891; Lemuel Clarence, born July 15, 1867, graduated with the class of 1892 from the State Normal School at Edinboro; Howard Woods, born December 5, 1869; Hilliard Daniel, born November 15, 1872, and Minor Harold, born February 28, 1876. The family is an accomplished one, and especially gifted in music. They have among their own members a sextet brass band, and their musical performances are of the most creditable character. In August, 1862, Mr. Day enlisted in Company D, One Hun- dred and Fortieth Regiment P. V. I., in which he served until honorably discharged, on account of disability, in January, 1864, at which time he was third corporal. In politics he is a Republican, and in religion both he and Mrs. Day are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Old Con- cord. Mr. Day is also a member of Luther Day Post, No. 395, G. A. R., and is at present Post Commander.

N ELSON VAN KIRK, a prominent con- tractor and builder, and a well-known citi- zen of Washington, is a native of the county, born in Amwell township, January 30, 1823, a son of William and Margaret (Bollen) Van Kirk, the former of whom was also a native of that township. The grandfather, William Van Kirk, came from New Jersey to this county, along with other early settlers, bought land which he improved, and died here. He was the father of ten children, none of whom are now living.

William Van Kirk, father of our subject, received his education at the subscription schools of his native township, and learned the trades of cabinet- maker and carpenter, which he successfully carried on in Washington borough (whither he had come in 1828) until 1838, in which year he moved to a farm in South Strabane township. He was married to Margaret Bollen, a native of the county, who bore him ten children, of whom five grew to maturity, viz .: Ann Eliza, who died at the age of twenty-five years; Matilda, widow of John Charters; Nelson; Harvey J., an attorney at law, and Mar- garet, wife of Stephen Reppert, residing in Ken- tucky. In 1862 the father died, aged sixty-five years, and in March, 1875, the mother passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Charters, in South Strabane township, at the age of eighty-four years. Mr. Van Kirk had served as associate judge for several terms.

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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 165

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