Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 199

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 199

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Ro Ho Crawford

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handsome competence, his farm comprising no less than 322 acres of superior land. In his political preferences he was a solid Democrat, but not an active one, his farm interests occupying his entire time and attention. He departed this life April 3, 1869, his widow in 1883, in her seventy-second year. Their children were R. H., Mary Emma, Sarah Melissa, James Josiah and Edwin Elijah. The last mentioned participated in the Civil war, serving under Col. William J. Palmer in Company K, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and died in Nashville, Tenn., February 12, 1863, aged twenty- two years four months nineteen days. James Josiah died July 29, 1862, aged thirteen years ten months fourteen days; Sarah Melissa married Robert Hawkins, and now resides at Newton Falls, Trumbull Co., Ohio; Mary Emma is the wife of Elmer R. Deems, of Washington, Penn.

R. H. Crawford was born October 28, 1837, on the farm he now owns in East Bethlehem town- ship, and in his boyhood attended the common schools of his district. He was reared to farm work under the able instruction of his father, and became, like him, one of the most successful agri- culturists of the county. On January 3, 1884, he married Miss Anna E., daughter of Casper and Sarah Ann (Griffith) Wyland, of Washington, Penn. Mr. Crawford is a Democrat to the back- bone, but in minor elections votes for the best man, regardless of party interests; he and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church. His farm covers 150 acres of prime land situated near the center of East Bethlehem township, where he carries on general farming, including stock raising -buying and selling-and has continually on the place a flock of about 150 sheep.

S AMUEL WALKER. The earliest record ex- tant of the Walker family, to which the sub- ject of this memoir claims relationship, is of one David Walker, a native of New Jersey, who married Elizabeth Elliott, of the same State. About the year 1772, the young couple settled near a little town called Burnt Cabins, Huntingdon Co., Penn. Ten children were born to · them, viz. : Alexander, John, David, James, Martha, Sarah, Mrs. Cree, Susan, Polly and Isa- belle, all now deceased.

Alexander Walker, eldest son of David, was born May 10, 1773, in Huntingdon county, and passed his boyhood on the home farm. In 1795 he came to Washington county, and located in Jefferson township, on the farm now owned and occupied by his son. Here he met.Miss Elizabeth Norris, who was born December 19, 1778, in this county, and October 26, 1800, they were married. They settled on the home farm mentioned, and Mr. Walker also managed a still-house, which was, at

that time, as important an industry as a mill of the present day. The names and dates of birth of the children born to them are as follows: Elizabeth, February 22, 1802; John, June 8, 1803; David, September 19, 1804; James, January 1, 1807; John N., June 24, 1808; Susanna, December 22, 1809; Alexander, June 21, 1811; Mary Ann, February 7, 1814; David S., July 6, 1816; Isabelle, November 17, 1818; Drusilla, February 16, 1821; and Samuel, April 18, 1823. The father died September 8, 1854, the mother on December 17, 1855. They were Presbyterians. Mr. Walker was a Democrat.

Samuel Walker was born in the house where he is now living, and was reared to agricultural pur- suits, attending the common schools of the neigh- borhood. On September 2, 1844, he was married to Miss Elizabeth H. Jerome, born June 10, 1825, in Ohio county, W. Va., daughter of John Jerome, a pioneer of that neighborhood. After marriage they settled on the lrome place, and cared for his aged father. After his death, the son became the legal owner of the 200 acres of productive land which is his present home. The names and dates of birth of the children born to Samuel and Eliza- beth H. (Jerome) Walker are as follows: Thomas P., July 22, 1845; Ophelia A., September 21, 1848; W. Scott, August 8, 1852; James J., September 6, 1855; Harriet Bell, April 9, 1858; and Alexander, February 16, 1862. In politics Mr. Walker was first a Whig, and afterward a Republican. He at- tends the Cross Creek Presbyterian Church, to which he gives a liberal support.

W ILLIAM S. GREGG. Among the early settlers of Washington county, Penn., whose deeds are an undying monument to their memory, were the ancestors of the well-known family, of which the sub- ject of this memoir is a worthy representative.

In 1790 three brothers-Henry, William and John Gregg-left Ireland, the country of their birth, for the shores of Columbia. After a voyage of sixteen weeks, they all came to Washington county, Penn., and settled in East Pike Run town- ship. Of these brothers William was the great- grandfather of our subject, and his son Henry se- cured a tract of 349 acres called "the Burning Mine," in East Pike Run township, now owned by a Mr. Duvall. This Henry Gregg served as a justice . of the peace in 1796. He was married to Jane Dow- ler, and they had children as follows: John, Henry, Thomas and Edward. The parents of this family died in 1834, in West Pike Run township. John Gregg, the youngest of the three who came to America in 1790, was twice married, his second choice having been Miss Nancy Gregg, a native of Ireland, to whom he was married in 1794. Their

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children were James, born August 8, 1795; Eleanor, born May 22, 1797; Andrew, born April 8, 1799; Mary. born September 8, 1801; Henry, born April 28, 1804: Sarah, born September 8, 1806; Ann, born November 9, 1808; John, born January 23, 1811; Margaret, born February 8, 1813; and Eliz- abeth, born February 11, 1815. The father died July 20. 1841, followed by the mother April 14, 1844. She was a member of the M. E. Church. The three brothers who first settled in America were all members of the M. E. Church, and in politics affiliated with the Whig party.

William Gregg, another son of the pioneer Will- jam, married Rutlı . who bore him the fol- lowing children: Henry, John, William, Andrew, Robert, Christina (wife of John Crow), and an- other daughter (who became the wife of a Mr. Jackman).

Robert Gregg, son of William and Ruth Gregg, was born in 1808, in East Pike Run township, Washington Co., Penn. He lived on the home farm during early life, and February 8, 1821, was married to Mary West, who was born in 1812, in this county. They were the parents of six children, namely: William S., West J., Robert J. (living in Coal Centre, this county), Matilda, Francis and Ruth A. The father was a practical, energetic farmer. In politics he affiliated with the Democratic party, and held various township offices. He died in 1874, and in 1890 the wife and mother was laid beside him. They were mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church at Coal Centre.

William S. Gregg was born July 4, 1847, in East Pike Run township, Washington Co., Penn., where his boyhood was passed. In 1872 he mar- ried Sarah J. Entes, who was born in 1852, in Washington county, a daughter of Joseph and Mary A. Lutes, representative of an old family. Four daughters were born to this union, namely: Nora, Estella J., Laura (deceased) and Mary A. (deceased). The mother, who was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Coal Centre, died in 1886. and in 1891 Mr. Gregg married Mrs. Mary E. (Wright) Newman, daughter of Isaac Wright. Her father was born in 1813, in Washington county. Penn., and was married to Mary J. Long, a native of this county, born in 1818. The following chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wright: Eliza (de- ceased); William H., a resident of Fayette county. Penn .; Luke, living in East Pike Run township; Samuel; Lizzie, wife of Samuel Worrell, a farmer of East Bethlehem township; Mary E., wife of William S. Gregg; Molissa; Matilda; Mary C .; Joseph; Thomas J. and John. Of this family the six last mentioned are deceased. The father passed his life on the home farm, where he died in 1885, having been preceded by the mother in 1859. In politics he is a Republican. In 1878 Mary E. Wright was married to John Newman, a native of

Washington county, Penn., and they settled in Beallsville, same county, where he carried on a general merchandise business, and died in 1885. Mrs. Newman was afterward married to William S. Gregg, and to the latter union one son, Harry, was born July 21, 1892. Mr. Gregg owns fifty- seven acres of highly-cultivated land, and conducts a general farming business. He is a member of the Coal Centre Presbyterian Church, while his wife is identified with the M. E. Society, at Coal Centre.

C ARSON, SMITH and JEROME G. Thomas Carson, great-grandfather of the subjects of this sketch, was born and married in Ire- land. Coming to this country, he located in Maryland, whence a few years afterward he moved to Fallowfield township, Washington Co., Penn., where he died on the farm now owned and occupied by Henry Carson. His children were Joseph, Thomas, William and John.

Thomas Carson, grandfather of subjects, was born in eastern Pennsylvania, and coming to Wash- ington county many years ago was married January 25, 1791, to Mary Gibson, a native of Kentucky. They settled on the farm in Fallowfield township, still owned by their descendants, and here he car- ried on agriculture, and followed shoemaking; also served as justice of the peace several terms. At one time, being pursued by Indians, he traveled seventy-five miles in one day, carrying his rifle, and thus escaped. He died in 1848, leaving the fol- lowing children: Elizabeth (wife of James Young); Thomas G. (married to Elizabeth Scott); Mary (wife of Jolin Grable); James S. (married to Dor- cas Redd); John B. (married to Sarah Scott); Ann (wife of John Grable); Charlotta (wife of John Carson).

Jolın B. Carson (father of subjects) was born April 25, 1802, on the old home place on Pigeon creek, Fallowfield township, Washington Co , Penn., where he grew to manhood. He was mar- ried to Sarah Scott, who was born December 6, 1813, a daughter of Parker Scott, Esq .. a farmer by occupation, and owner of 700 acres of land; in addition to general agriculture, he was a heavy dealer in sheep and horses. Mr. Carson after marriage located on the Pigeon Creek farm, now occupied by his son Smith, but in the spring of 1846 he moved to Maple creek, on the farm his son, Jerome G. now Jives on. He died January 27, 1872, and September 17. 1887, his wife passed away, leaving the following children: Newton (who was a real estate dealer, also founder of West Belle Vernon, and died December 24, 1888), Mary (wife of Jackson Carson, of Fallowfield township), Smith (a farmer living on Pigeon creek), Lewis (living in West Pike Run township), John B. (who

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resided in Allen township until the spring of 1893, when he moved to Ohio), Jerome G. (on the home farm), and Sarah J. (now deceased). Mr. Carson voted the Democratic ticket, and served in various offices. In religion he and his wife were members of the Baptist Church. He served as major in the old-time militia.

SMITHI CARSON was born October 16, 1836, in Fallowfield township, Washington Co., Penn. He remained on the place up to the time of his mar- riage, which occurred in May, 1873, with Miss Amanda McMillan, who died on March 6, 1877, leaving three sons: Charlie M., Barkley M. and Mack R. She belonged to the M. E. Church. Mr. Carson married, October 17, 1880, for his second wife, Miss Elmira, daughter of William Blythe, and they are living on the old homestead, where they are engaged in farming and stock raising. The Carsons are generally Old-school Baptists and Democrats.

JEROME G. CARSON was born November 19, 1852, on the ancestral acres in Fallowfield township, and is the youngest son in his father's family. He at- tended the common schools during boyhood, and has always followed farming and stock raising. On November 4, 1875, he was united in marriage witlı Isabelle Fry, daughter of Noah and Lydia (Hill) Fry, the former of whom was a native of Fallowfield township, the latter having been born, reared and married in West Pike Run township. Noalı Fry died in 1884, having been preceded to the grave by his wife several years. Mr. and Mrs. Carson began married life on 100% acres in Fal- lowfield township, where they are yet living. He has erected a good residence on the place. and does a profitable business in general farming. in- cluding stock raising. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party, and in religion he is a mem- ber of the Disciple Church, of which his wife is also an adherent. Children have blessed their union as follows: Lydia May, Joel (deceased in 1885), Alonzo, Val and Norman F.

C OLONEL JAMES T. KIRK, who was born at Canonsburg, Penn., September 21, 1825, died at Washington, same county, December 7, 1886. He was reared and educated at Canonsburg, and there established a merchant tailoring house, which he carried on successfully until 1851, when he moved to Washington, and opened a similar business there, in a store which occupied the site of the present A. B. Caldwell store. Prior to the outbreak of the Civil war, he was a member of the "Jefferson Light Guards," of Canonsburg, which disbanded in 1860, or early in 1861. The call of April 15, 1861, for troops, led to the reorganization of the guards, and as Mr. Kirk was a lieutenant in the old command, so now

lie was elected captam of the new organization. Gov. Curtin accepted the company, and confirmed the selection of Mr. Kirk as captain; but on the arrival of the men at Pittsburgh, April 27, 1861, the quota of Pennsylvania was filled, and the guards were ordered to return. On May 7, follow- ing, the command was again ordered to Camp Wilkins, and there, on June 19, the members en- listed for three years, and the name " Jefferson Light Guards " was lost in that of Company D, Tenth Regiment of the Reserve Corps, which was mustered into State service June 19, and organized June 21, 1861, the date on which Capt. Kirk was promoted to lieutenant-colonel. On July 1 the regiment occupied Camp Wright, on the Allegheny river, proceeded to Harrisburg on the 18th, was received into the United States service on the 21st, moved to Baltimore on the 22d, and to Washing- ton, D. C., on the 24th. On August 1 the ad- vance to Tenallytown, Md., was entered upon, and from that date to muster-out, on June 11, 1864, the regiment participated in all the brilliant affairs of the brigades to which it was attached. On the resignation of Col. McCalmont, Lieut .- Col. Kirk was commissioned colonel May 15, 1862, and gal- lantly led the command from Mechanicsville, June 26, 1862, to Fredericksburg Church, April 30, 1864. Before the regiment was ordered to the Peninsula, the people of Canonsburg presented their first cit- izen with a sword and horse in recognition of his services in the army. During the battle at New- market Cross Roads. Col. Kirk received a sunstroke; at the second Bull Run, the Colonel was shot through the side, while commanding the Third Brigade, and at Gaines' Mills he was also wounded. After being sunstruck he returned home, but was again with the command at Manassas Junction the night before the battle. Owing to his wounds and the poor condition of his health, lie resigned October 18, 1862, and retired with honor from the service. On returning to Washington, Penn., lie served as assistant provost-marshal until the close of the war.

Resuming a business life, Col. Kirk and his brother George became landlords of the old "Man- sion House," on Main and Chestnut streets, which they conducted for several years. Subsequently he established a gents' furnishing and notion store, on Reed's corner (now occupied by the Pittsburgh Dry Goods Store), and carried on that business until 1876, when he sold his interests therein, and, practically retired from mercantile life. During the decade preceding his death he worked at his trade occasionally. He was the first captain of Company H, Tenth Regiment, Pennsylvania N. G., and that company turned out to take part in his funeral on December 9, 1886, which was carried out under direction of William F. Templeton Post, G. A. R., No. 120, the burial ritual being

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observed, Major Vankirk delivering the eulogy. Col. Kirk married Miss Mary Jane Swan, a sister of Editor William Swan, and both made their home at Canonsburg. The children born to that mar- riage are as follows: William M. (deceased); George W., residing at Tyrone, Penn. ; James C., a resident of Washington, Penn .; Samuel W., residing at Johnstown, Penn .; and Edwin T., a resident of Pittsburgh, Penn. The mother, now seventy years old, resides with her son, James C., in Washington.

George A. Kirk, the father of Col. Kirk, was the pioneer of the family in Washington county. To his marriage with Jane Bell Thompson eight chil- dren were born, of whom the following named are living: Harriet, now Mrs. Boyd Crumrine, in Wash- ington; Mary and Lizzie, also in Washington; Robert T., in Canonsburg, and William H., a physician of Doylestown, Penn. Each member of the family fills a place in the history of the State, while the late Colonel fills one in the history of the Nation. The American ancestor of the family was married in Londonderry, Ireland, in 1796, came to the United States shortly thereafter, and after a stay east of the mountains, arrived in Washing- ton county and settled on the Pentecost lands. In 1811 he moved to Canonsburg, where he pur- chased a house and lot. In 1813 he and two neighbors went East with a band of horses, and at the "South Mountain House " disappeared. Some days after his body was found in the mount- ains; but it will never be known whether he was lured thither by robbers, or met death while pursuing his journey in the night-time. One of his sons, George Kirk, was postmaster at Canonsburg, Penn., from 1851 to 1859, when he died.

NO. C. BANE was born in Amwell township, Washington Co., Penn .. on Wednesday, the 6th day of November, 1861. He is the oldest son of Aaron and Mary W. Bane. He has one brother, Albert G. Bane, and one sister, Edith Bane. His father is a farmer. His ances- tors were Scotch Quakers, and the first branch of the family to come to America settled in Penn- sylvania, before the Revolutionary war.

The early life or boyhood days of Bane were spent upon his father's farm. During the winter seasons he attended the public schools of the dis- trict, completing his common-school education in March of 1876. On the 22nd day of May, 1876, he began a course of study at Hoge's Summit Acad- emy, at that time taught by Prof. John C. Messen- ger. He rode on horseback, six miles across the country, from his home, to attend this school, for a period of four years, completing his studies there in the early part of the year 1880. He obtained at this school the rudiments of a classical and scientific education.

In September, 1880, he entered Washington and Jefferson College, where he took a special course, completing his studies in that institution, with the class of 1882. Between the years 1882 and 1886 he spent his time upon his father's farm, devoting his leisure moments to reading and the study of shorthand. On the 23rd day of November, 1886, Bane was registered as a student at law, at the Washington County Bar. He devoted the succeed- ing three years to the study of his chosen profes- sion, supporting himself in the meantime by the practice of shorthand, in which he is an expert.

On Monday, the 13th day of January, 1890, he was admitted to the bar. He at once commenced the practice of his profession in Washington. He has, from the very beginning of his practice, met with well merited success. He is to-day one of the leading young lawyers at the Washington County Bar.

Bane is an enthusiastic Democrat. Ever since his admission to the bar, he has been conspicuous as an ardent and successful party worker. He was elected Chairman of the Democratic County Com- mittee of Vigilance, of Washington County, in 1891, and re-elected in 1892. Washington Coun- ty, at the time he was first elected Chairman of the Vigilance Committee, was one of the strongest Re- publican Counties in Pennsylvania, but by his perseverance, and his abilities as an organizer, Bane has placed it among the doubtful counties. His skill as a political manager is recognized by his own party, and feared by his opponents in the opposing party. This fact has made him the most prominent among the politicians of the county. Beyond local politics, he has figured extensively in the politics of the State. He has been several times a delegate to State Conventions of his party, where he has always taken an active part. Bane is a member of the Jacques de Molay Com- mandery, No. 3, Knights Templar.

W HITE H. WILSON is a worthy represent- ative of a pioneer family of Washington county. He is a son of James Wilson, whose father, Thomas, was a son of Thomas Wilson. The latter was of Irish birth, and in 1749 located on little Chartiers creek, Washington county, Penn. He was married to Hannah Brown, who died in 1830; he died in 1833.

Thomas Wilson, son of Thomas and Hannah (Brown) Wilson, was born in 1787, and was a farmer and stock dealer. In 1810 he married Es- ther McCorkle, who was born in eastern Pennsyl- vania, and they became the parents of nine chil- dren, namely : James, Mary (wife of Leonard Weaver, a resident of Beallsville, Penn.), Margaret (wife of Samuel Graves, both deceased), Hannah (wife of White F. Hopkins, both deceased), Jane (deceased),

yours truly W. H. Wilson

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Esther (deceased wife of Samuel Thompson), Eliz- abeth (wife of George L. Thompson, both deceased), Thomas C. and Robert (both deceased), whereby it will be seen that James and Mary are the only survivors. The father of this family died in 1859, followed by the mother in 1864; both were mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics he voted with the Democratic party.

James Wilson, the eldest son of Thomas and Esther (McCorkle) Wilson, was born February 26, 1811, in Washington county, Penn. He attended the schools of the neighborhood, and was reared to farming. In 1831 he was nnited in marriage with Mrs. Elizabeth (Horn) Falconer (who was born in 1801, in Washington county, Penn.), widow of Samuel Falconer, to whom she had borne two chil- dren: Thornton (deceased) and Eliza J. (wife of Thomas H. Howden, a farmer of West Bethlehem township). Mrs. Falconer was a daughter of Da- vid and Anna (Black) Horn, early settlers of this county. To the union of James and Elizabeth (Falconer) Wilson children were born as follows: Esther A., wife of George Kinder (deceased), who was a farmer of West Bethlehem township; Char- lotte W., widow of G. W. Campbell, since married to A. J. Buffington, of Salem, Henry Co., Iowa; Jacob, a farmer of West Pike Run township; Asenath, wife of J. P. Wilson, of La Salle county, Ill .; Thomas H., a farmer of Clay county, Ind. ; White H., whose name introduces this biography; David, deceased; Elizabeth, married to Valentine Crumrine, of East Bethlehem township, Washing- ton Co., Penn .; and Margaret, married to Joseph K. Horn, living in Portage county, Ohio. The mother died May 7, 1887, at the age of eighty-six years; she was a member of the M. E. Church. The father is yet living in West Pike Run town- ship, at the age of eighty-two years; he has always voted with the Republican party.

White H. Wilson was born October 12, 1839, on the home place in West Pike Run township, Wash- ington Co., Penn. He attended the public schools, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. On De- cember 24, 1863, he was married to Maria Deems, who was born in 1840 in West Pike Run township, a daughter of Mark F. and Margaret (Baker) Deems, the former of whom was a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Deems were the parents of the following children: Joshua (a farmer in Colorado), G. W. (a resident of Beallsville, Penn.), Samuel P. (living in Nebraska), Elizabeth (wife of Joseph Hawkins, a farmer of Somerset township) and Maria (wife of White H. Wilson). The mother died in 1864, fol- lowed by the father in 1880. Both were members of the M. E. Church. To the union of White H. and Maria (Deems) Wilson four children have been born, namely: Samuel C., a grocer of Allegheny, Penn .; Clara, wife of John T. Baker (they have one child, Lewis V.); Lelia D., wife of J. F.

Yorty (they have two children, Maud E. and Paul A. ), and Maggie D., still at home. Mr. Wilson in 1892 was elected a justice of the peace in West Pike Run township for the term of five years. He and his wife are members of the Oak Grove Pres- byterian Church, of which he is a trustee.

M ARTIN RANKIN is of Hibernian ancestry, his grandfather, John Rankin, having been born near Belfast, in County Down, Ireland. He was married in the old country, where his only son, John, was born and reared to manhood. The latter was mar- ried to Miss Kate Martin, a native of the same place, and the young people (accompanied by the elder Rankin) then immigrated to America. John and Kate (Martin) Rankin located on a farm of eighty acres in Allegheny county, Penn., where children were born to them as follows: Mary J., Charlotte, Ellen, William, John A., Andrew, Ed- ward, Joseph and Martin.

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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 199

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