Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 20

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 20

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Samuel M. Charlton was born in Washington, this county, in 1847, and received a liberal edu- cation in the schools of the borough. In boy- hood he learned the trade of tobacconist with Thomas Mckean, and followed same for fourteen years in his native town. In 1876 he opened a confectionery store on Main street, and in 1889 removed it to East Maiden street, where he has since continued. In 1871 Mr. Charlton was united in marriage with Eliza, daughter of William Hays, of Waynesburg, Greene Co., Penn. Her parents at one time lived in Washington county, whence they inoved to Greene county, where her widowed mother now lives; her father at one time was clerk of the courts of Washington county. To Mr. and Mrs. Hays were born children as follows: James, John, Eliza, Catherine, Margaret, George, Ella and Matilda. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel M. Charlton, viz .: Sarah Hedge and William Hays (both deceased), and Alfred W., Nannie E., Marion Elizabeth and Sabina Pearl, all living at home. Politically Mr. Charlton is a Republican, and, in religious connection, a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Washington.

W ILLIAM SMITH, who in his lifetime was one of the most prominent and enterpris- ing citizens of Washington borough, was a native of Beaver county, Penn., born near Darlington, August 15, 1800.

Until he was twenty years of age he worked on his father's farm, and in 1821, in company with his brother James, he came to Washington and opened a general store. The brothers remained in the borough about one year, and then removed to Philadelphia, where they engaged in the same bus- iness on Market street, on a more extensive scale. They met with success, but about the year 1825, owing to the failing health of James, the business was disposed of, and the brothers returned to western Pennsylvania, William locating in Union- town, where he once more embarked in mercantile business. In 1828 he returned to Washington and opened a store in a house where the Watson block now stands, south of the Public Square. The busi- ness from the very start proved a success. In 1835 he purchased from Rev. Thomas Hogue the north- east corner of Main and Beau streets, to which he

Williamthat

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moved his store. Prior to this he had bought of Judge Baird the "Round Corner." In 1861 he erected the magnificent brick and iron structure on the northwest corner of Main and Beau streets, known as the "Iron Hall." In 1853 he received his son William W. into partnership, the name of the firm becoming William Smith & Son, which yet remains. At an early day, Mr. Smith commenced a private banking business, which he also made a success, and on his retirement from active business life about the year 1867, the private banking house of William Smith & Son was firmly estab- lished.

While a resident of Uniontown Mr. Smith met Miss Wrenshall, of Pittsburgh, whom he subse- quently (1828) married in Steubenville, Ohio, to which union were born two children, of whom W. W., the present head of the business, survives; the other one was Fanny Fielding, who became the wife of Ferdinand Varro. In the fall of 1861, af- ter a long and painful illness, Mrs. Smith died, and her husband subsequently married, in Phila- delphia, Mrs. Newell (a widow) of that city, a daugliter of John Simes, one of the early citizens of Washington. Several years afterward, Mr. Smith, having retired from business, purchased a pleasant home in Philadelphia, to which he re- moved, and here his second wife died in the winter of 1886. He continued to reside in Philadelphia till the spring of the following year, when he re- turned to Washington, where he peacefully and painlessly passed away on Tuesday evening, July 12, 1887, in the eighty-seventh year of his age. Mr. Smith was in his younger life an adherent of the Covenanter Church, but while a resident of Washington he was an active member of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church. When he removed to Philadelphia he connected himself with the United Presbyterian Church, under whose banner he died.

W. W. SMITH was born August 15, 1830, in Washington, Penn., a son of William and Fanny (Wrenshall) Smith. His elementary studies were pursued in the preparatory department of Wash- ington College, under Prof. Robert Milligan, and in 1848 he entered the freshman class. After his graduation, in 1852, he commenced commercial life in his father's dry-goods store and banking office, becoming a partner in 1853, as already re- lated. Mr. Smith had studied law in the office of Robert H. Kuntz, but was not admitted to the bar, having exclusively devoted himself to the business upon which he had entered. During the Civil war he served as a volunteer aid-de-camp on the staff of Gen. U. S. Grant, both in the Southwest and in Virginia. On June 13, 1867, he married Miss Emma Willard MeKennan, daughter of Judge William McKennan, of the United States Court, of whom prominent mention is made elsewhere. To

this union were born two children: William Mc- Kennan, assisting his father in the management of his business, and Ulysses S. Grant, instructor of military tactics and calisthenics at Trinity Hall. The mother died in 1879. Among the many dis- tinguished guests present at the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Smith were Gen. U. S. Grant (who was a frequent visitor at their pleasant home), wife and sons, and of the General's staff were pres- ent Gen. Hilyer and Col. William Dunn.

Mr. Smith was elected treasurer of the Episcopal Church in 1853, holding said office until 1892; was three times representative of the diocese of Pitts- burgh in the general conventions of the church, held respectively in Boston (1877), in New York (1880) and in Philadelphia (1883), and for many years has been one of the board of trustees of Washington and Jefferson College. He is pro- prietor and Rector of Trinity Hall, a select board- ing school for boys in Washington, Penn. He is the owner of much valuable business property in Washington borough, including the well-known "Iron Hall" block; of numerous fine farms in the county ; lands in Florida and West Virginia, be- sides valuable residence property in Philadelphia.

TRINITY HALL.

In 1866 Mr. W. W. Smith became owner, by purchase, of this fine property where he resided until the death of his wife. The school was es- tablished in 1879 by Mr. Smith, mainly in order that his own sons should be instructed at their home. The original building was erected in 1857 as a private residence, owned and occupied by Jo- seph McKnight, and, since its purchase by Mr. W. W. Smith, who occupied it as a private residence for over twelve years, it has been greatly enlarged from time to time, as the growth of the patronage of the school demanded. The Rev. Fred C. Cow- per, of Amesbury, Mass., pays the following trib- ute to the excellency of Trinity Hall and its sur- roundings: "The school grounds contain forty acres situated in a rich and beautiful hill coun- try, 1,200 feet above tide water, and surrounded by wide-spreading maples, elms, lindens and evergreens, with orchards, gardens and vine- yards, through which wind broad drives bordered by well-kept lawns. There has never been sick- ness in the school. Delicate boys become strong and manly in its pure health giving atmosphere. The morals of the place are pure; the tone elevat- ing and refining. Under the present management. the household in all departments is suitable for the sons of gentlemen, and has all the comforts of a refined home. It is a lovely spot indeed, favored by nature, developed by the best skill of the land- scape gardener, kept up by those who take pride in it; and fortunate is the boy who is permitted to spend his school days at Trinity Hall."

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WASHINGTON COUNTY.

EORGE ARMSTRONG LINN, M. D., for well nigh a quarter of a century has prac- ticed his profession at Monongahela, where, and in the neighborhood, he has, as a skill- ful and successful physician, established a reputation second to none in the county. He is a native of the Keystone State, born in Butler county December 8, 1831. He is the son of Dr. George and Elizabeth (Gibson) Linn, a sketch of whose lives is given in the biography of Prof. Alonzo Linn.

The subject proper of this sketch received his education at the common schools of his native place, and at Morrison's Academy, at Mononga- hela. He then commenced the study of medicine and entered Jefferson Medical College, in Phila- delphia, where he completed a full course, grad- uating in 1869. Dr. Linn at once located in Monongahela, and has since been one of the lead- ing physicians of that city and surrounding coun- try. On June 12, 1861, the Doctor married Frances, daughter of Joseph Wall, of Allegheny county, whose wife was Frances Allen, daughter of David Allen, His father was Garrett Wall, whose wife was a daughter of Capt. Sparks, of the regu- lar army. One daughter has been born to Dr. and Mrs. Linn: Hannah A., wife of Homer H. Swaney, of Pittsburgh. Our subject and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church of Mononga- hela. In politics he was a Whig, and, since the organization of the party, a Republican. He has served on the school board of his adopted city. He is self-made and self-educated, a man of excel- lent literary taste, and well acquainted with scientific questions, germane to his profession and otherwise.

J OHN W. SEAMAN, junior member of the well-known firm, Mitchell & Seaman, dealers in general hardware, etc., Washington, is a native of the borough, born in October, 1841. The family came from New Jersey, and tradition says that the first to bear the name was a waif picked up, no more than alive, on the sea- shore, and given the name "Seaman." Joseph Seaman, great-grandfather of our subject, came to Washington, this county, in 1785, and died here; a blacksmith by trade, his shop stood on the site where is now the high school. Jacob, grandfather of J. W., a mason by trade, and who kept tavern for many years at Amity, Amwell township, was inarried to Lydia Jones, daughter of an early comer to the county; she was a native of Philadelphia, and when a girl migrated to this county, where she had several sisters living. Jacob Seaman and wife had a family of five children, viz. : JohnW., who died in Washington, leaving a widow and children;

Alexander and James are also dead, leaving chil- dren, and Thomas (all were residents of Washing- ton county); and Mary, who died in infancy. The father of this family died about the year 1831.

Alexander Seaman, son of Jacob, was born in the borough of Washington in 1813, and received his education at the subscription schools of the place. He was brought up to the trade of mason, which he followed in early life, but abandoned for mercantile pursuits. About the year 1849 he opened out a grocery store in Washington, which he carried on for several years with considerable . success. About 1837 he married Jean Dagg, daughter of Richard Dagg, of Strabane township, and granddaughter of Henry Taylor, a pioneer farmer of that township, coming to the county when the woods were still teeming with wild ani- mals and hostile Indians; he was the first presi- dent judge of the county, and a prominent factor in the early politics of the State. To Alexander and Jean (Dagg) Seaman were born five children, three of whom grew to maturity, viz .: Mary, wife of Samuel Taggart, of Chartiers township; John W., and Margaret, wife of Joseph M. Spriggs, grocer, Washington. The parents both died in the borough in 1880, the mother in August, the father in November. Until 1860 he had been a Democrat, but after that date voted under the banner of the Republican party.

John W. Seaman received his education partly at the common schools of his native borough, sup- plemented by a partial course at Washington and Jefferson College. At the age of fourteen years he entered his father's store as clerk, remaining until 1874, in which year he was appointed deputy prothonotary, filling the incumbency four years; from 1878 to 1881 he was out of office, but in the latter year he was elected prothonotary, serving six years. In 1888 he entered into partnership with J. K. Mitchell in general hardware, house furnish- ings, etc., under firm name of Mitchell & Seaman, the business being one of the most successful and extensive in that line in the county. In 1869. Mr. Seaman married Louise Mills, of Washington, daughter of Andrew Mills, who, about 1830, came from the North of Ireland to Washington county. To this union seven children, all yet living, were born, named as follows: Nellie, James Alexander, Alice M., Jean D., Harry E., John T. and Mar- garet Louise. Mr. Seaman in his political prefer- ments is a Republican, and has held with charac- teristic ability many offices of honor and trust in the county. He is secretary of the Mechanics Building & Loan Association, and of the Mutual Building & Loan Association. He is a promi- nent and influential member of the First M. E. Church, and superintendent of the Sunday-school of same.

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C OL. J. B. R. STREATOR is a native of Washington county, born March 12, 1856, at Lone Pine, where his father, Rev. Lyman Pierce Streator, was conducting an academy at the time. The latter was born in Portage county, Ohio, and was educated for the ministry of the Christian Church.

In 1842, being then twenty-two years of age, he came to Washington county, Penn., where he preached for a time at Pancake, and then moved into Washington borough in 1870. In the mean- time, in 1859, the family had proceeded to May's Lick, Ky., where they remained until the breaking out of the Civil war, when they returned to this county. At Lone Pine Mr. Streator founded an academy, which he kept for some time. In Wash- ington county he married Miss Eliza, daughter of Jonathan Martin, to which union were born five children: Martin Lyman, pastor at Helena, Mont. (he is working for the Woman's Board Home Mis- sions); Jonathan M., who formerly was a minister in Florida, but has now charge of the Ocala public schools, same State; Alexander Campbell, a physi- cian in Washington, a sketch of whom follows this; Frank W., in the employ of A. B. Caldwell, Wash- ington, Penn .; and Charlotte, deceased wife of Robert McDonough. The mother of these chil- dren dying, Mr. Streator married April 3, 1855, Rebecca Ruple, who was born in Washington, Penn., in 1827, a daughter of James Ruple who performed efficient service in the war of 1812-15. By this marriage there was one child, James B. R., the subject of this memoir. In 1866 Mr. Streator removed to Philadelphia, where he preached for six months; thence went to Braddocks Field, Penn., where, in the capacity of State Evangelist, he worked for the State Missionary Society. In May, 1867, he returned to Washington county, and is now a resident of South Strabane township. Polit- ically Mr. Streator was for many years a consistent Democrat, but of late he has been standing in the van of the Prohibition party; socially, he is a Knight Templar.

Col. James B. R. Streator attended the public schools of the vicinity of his birth, and afterward Washington and Jefferson College, one year. He then read law in the office of I. Y. Hamilton, and in October, 1877, was admitted to the bar of Washington county. He practiced his profession in Washington until the formation of the Peoples Light & Heat Company, when he was chosen secretary and general superintendent of same, and he has since taken an active interest in the oil and gas development in the county. In July, 1877, Col. Streator married Emma, daughter of John McCoy, late of South Strabane township, where her widowed mother is yet living. Of this union seven children have been born, as follows: Jolin McC., Rebecca, Jane, Emma, Bessie, James B. R.

and L. P., all at home except John, Bessie and L. P., who are deceased. Col. Streator has been a straight Democrat from early youth. Socially, he is a member of the F. & A. M. On January 25, 1881, the Colonel enlisted in Company H, Tenth Regiment N. G. P .; June 19, 1882, was promoted to adjutant, and August 8, 1887, was further pro- moted to lieutenant-colonel, which rank he still holds. During the time of the riots in the coke regions he went with his regiment there, remain- ing on the spot and at the Morewood Works six- teen days.

ALEXANDER CAMPBELL STREATOR, M. D., was born February 20, 1848, in South Strabane township, Washington Co., Penn. When he was nine years of age his parents moved to Bethany, W. Va., and thence to Indiana, where they remained until 1851, when they returned to Washington county, at which time their son, Alexander C., was thirteen years old. He attended the high school, and afterward Washington and Jefferson College, from which he was graduated in 1866. Having decided on making the medical profession his life work, he at once, after graduation, commenced the study of medicine under the preceptorship of his uncle, Dr. David G. Streator, of Bedford, Ohio; but on ac- count of declining health he was obliged to aban- don reading for a time. Regaining his health, he renewed his medical studies, this time with Dr. Thomas McKennan, and then, in 1882, took his degree of M. D. at Cleveland Medical College. For a short time afterward he practiced his pro- fession at Belle Vernon, Penn., and then came to the borough of Washington, where he has since remained in general practice, meeting with emi- nent success. In 1877 Dr. Streator was united in marriage with Miss Ann Eliza, daughter of William Birmingham, of Pancake, this county, and four children blessed this union, viz. : Sarah Eliza, Virginia Birmingham, Helen Mechenor and Hugh Henry. On April 2, 1891, at the age of forty-two years, the wife and mother was gathered by the Grim Reaper from the bosom of her loving family. Politically the Doctor is a stanch Repub- lican, but not a partisan; socially he is a member of the Royal Arcanum and National Union.

RAHAM S. CAMPBELL, cashier of the First National Bank of McDonald, Penn., is descended from a well-known family of this county. John Campbell (the great- grandfather of Graham S.) was a native of York county, Penn., and moving to Washington county about 1778, located on a tract of 191 acres, called "Fumanah," in Cross Creek township. His family consisted of six sons and three daugh- ters, namely: John, William and James (all of whom moved to Belmont county, Ohio), David, Charles and George (these remaining in Cross

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Creek township, where some of their descendants are yet living), Grace (wife of Maj. Benjamin Bay, moved to Ohio in 1812), Elizabeth (married to William Rea) and Mary (Mrs. William Fulton, living in Mt. Pleasant township). The father died in 1813, and was laid to rest in the cemetery at Cross Creek. George Campbell grew to man- hood on the home farm, in Cross Creek township. He was united in marriage with Elizabeth Rea, who bore him the following children: John, Jane,.William, Mary, Samuel, George W., Eliza- beth, Esther, James and Georgetta. Mr. Camp- bell followed agriculture all his life. In politics he was a Whig, and in religion a member of the Presbyterian Church at Mount Prospect.

George W. Campbell was born September 26, 1826, and passed his youth on the home place. In early manhood he was married to Charlotte, daugh- ter of James Wilson, of West Pike Run township, and the young people resided in Cross Creek town- ship until 1867. They then came to Midway, Robinson township, and in 1869 built the Midway Hotel, of which he was the proprietor until his death, having previously followed farming and stock raising. In politics he was formerly a Whig, then became an active worker in the Republican ranks, having held various township offices. For many years he was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Mount Prospect, then at Cross Creek, finally uniting with the church at Candor, this county. He died September 4, 1885, leaving the following children: Wilson S., Graham S. and Elida (Mrs. W. H. Baldwin), two others, Johnetta and Mary, having died in infancy.

Graham S., son of George W. and Charlotte (Wilson) Campbell, was born September 14, 1860, on the home farm, in Cross Creek township. His early literary training was secured at the common schools, afterward attending the Ingleside Academy, at McDonald. At the age of eighteen years he en- tered the employ of J. D. Sauters, of McDonald, Penn., with whom he remained eleven years. He then opened a real estate and insurance office, in which business he was successful. On the or- ganization of the First National Bank of McDon- ald, he disposed of his business and accepted the position of cashier, which position he now holds. On December 18, 1884, he led to the marriage altar Annie, daughter of Addison Foster (deceased), formerly of Pittsburgh, Penn., and their children are George, Verner, Ross and James. Mr. Camp- bell possesses the confidence of the community, and is a very successful man. In 1890 he was elected justice of the peace, being an active mem ber of the Republican party. He and his family are earnest workers in the First Presbyterian Church at McDonald, in which he is now mem- ber of the Session and superintendent of the Sab- bath-school.

丁 HOMAS C. M. STOCKTON, M. D., a cult- ured gentleman and physician of Washing- ton county, is a son of the late Rev. Dr. John Stockton, whose ancestors came from England to America prior to the Revolution, settling in New Jersey. Thomas Stockton (grand- father of subject) was born in New Jersey, and coming to Washington county, Penn., in early manhood, was married to Miss Sarah Graham of this county. The children born to them were Polly, Sarah (Mrs. Gordon), Robert, Thomas and John.

John Stockton (father of subject) was born No- vember 18, 1803, in Washington county, Penn., and was reared to manhood on his father's farm near Washington. He was a student at Washing- ton College, graduating therefrom in 1820, and then entered the Theological College at Princeton, N. J. On June 20, 1827, he was ordained in the Cross Creek Church of Washington county, and preached regularly for that congregation until June 20, 1877, proclaiming the "glad tidings of the Gospel " for over fifty years. Although many times offered a more lucrative position, in which he would seemingly have a wider scope, his only answer to such propositions was: "I have started with my people here, they are my children, and I will live and die with them, and be buried among them." In 1831 he was united in marriage with Nancy Clark, daughter of James Clark, a promi- nent farmer of Franklin county, Penn., and six children came to bless their union, namely: Thomas C. M., James C. (a physician living in West Philadelphia), John P. P. (a minister of West Unity, Williams Co., Ohio), Robert W. G. (deceased in infancy), William (a graduate of Mus- kingum College), and Marion E. (wife of Hugh Lee, a prominent farmer of Cross Creek township). William entered the Civil war as captain in the One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment P. V. I., at- tached to the Second Corps, and served for some time as colonel of his regiment, although never promoted to that rank. After the war he went to North Carolina, soon afterward dying from an attack of typhoid fever.

Thomas C. M. Stockton was born May 30, 1832. He was a close student from early boyhood, and at the age of twelve years entered the Cross Creek Academy, afterward taking a course at Washing- ton College. After his graduation the young man returned home and taught in Cross Creek Acad- emy. for six or seven years, and then one year in Muskingum College. In 1862 he began the study of medicine under Dr. Dickson, of Pittsburgh, with whom he remained one year, afterward at- tending one year at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. At this time, the war of the Re- bellion being in progress. he joined the Union army as assistant surgeon of the Eighty-third

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Regiment, P. V. I., serving until the close of the struggle, when he re-entered Jefferson Medical College. In 1866 he graduated, and same year entered upon his professional duties in Cross Creek village.

On June 4, 1863, Dr. Stockton was married to Miss Anna, daughter of the late Hampton Kerr, of Cross Creek village, and they have had two chil- dren: Jennie, born September 7, 1871 (was a stu- dent at Wilson College, and graduated in June, 1892), and Hampton Kerr, born September 23, 1882 (a bright, affectionate child, possessing an in- telligence far beyond his age, he was the hope and pride of the parents in their declining years; but when three short years of the little life had passed, God called this flower to the "eternal gardens," leaving a void in the family circle which can be filled by none other. The dread disease, scarlet fever, was the messenger sent by the Angel of Death, and though the years were few, that life has left a blessed memory that will never die). Dr. Stockton has been very successful in his chosen calling. He is a consistent member of the Pres- byterian Church at Cross Creek village, over which his father had presided for so many years. Polit- ically he was formerly a Whig, and since the or- ganization of the party has been a Republican.

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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 20

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