Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 210

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 210

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MATTHEW S. WARNE was born December 16, 1859, on the home farm near Monongahela City. He received his education at the public schools, and was one of the first graduates from same; later he at- tended Allegheny College at Meadville, Penn. In early manhood he opened a hardware store in Monongahela City, afterward moving to Wichita, Kans .. where he continued in the same business. In 1891 he returned to Monongahela City, and has since resided on the home place. On November 25, 1884, he was married to Mattie, daughter of Lewis Staib, of Monongahela City, and she has borne him three children, viz .: Lewis, Edith and Blanche. Mr. Warne is a member of the Demo- cratic party.

W ILLIAM A. BARRY, a leading merchant of West Alexander, is a son of Jacob A. Barry, who was born in Beverly, Mass., near Boston, where he passed his youth. Jacob A. Barry received a superior literary and musical education in Boston, and then came to Pennsylvania, where he accepted a position in the female seminary at Kittanning. He there met and was soon after married to Harriet Newton, of Westmoreland county, Penn., and the young couple made a home in Columbus, Ohio, where he was engaged in teaching music. The children born to their union were: Josephine A. (deceased), William A., George A. (U. S. land register at Eau Claire, Wis.), and Mary E. S. (deceased in youth). Of this family, Josephine A. was married to W. W. Young, who then engaged in the lumber busi- ness at Philadelphia, and was afterward appointed

general agent of ticket offices on the Pennsylvania lines, which position he held until his death, the result of an accident. In 1845 Mr. Barry entered into partnership with a Mr. Goodall, organizing the firm of Goodall & Barry, for the manufacture of pianos, etc., and they carried on an extensive business. Mr. Barry started with a boatload of pianos down the Ohio river, but was suddenly taken ill on the way, and died at Marietta, Ohio, where he was buried. The widow and family came to Wheeling, W. Va., where she was after- ward married to A. D. Bedillion, a citizen of that town, and they then removed to Pittsburgh, Penn. Mr. Barry served as major in the Seminole war in Florida. In politics he was a Whig; in religion a member of the Episcopal Church.

William A. Barry was born January 8, 1844, in Beverly, near Boston, Mass., and was reared and educated in Pittsburgh, Penn., and Wheeling, W. Va. At the age of sixteen years he enlisted in the Independent Light Artillery, Battery E, known as "Knapp's Light Battery." They were sent to Point of Rocks, Md., went with Banks down the Shenandoah Valley, and were under Pope at the second battle of Bull Run, also at Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and at Culp's and Power's Hill. He re-enlisted in 1864, as a veteran, and served until the close of the war. His regiment joined Sherman at Northville, and they were in the fight at Lookout Mountain; then followed Sherman to the sea, participating in all the battles of that campaign. At Atlanta Mr. Barry was made orderly to Gen. John A. Reynolds, with whom he remained until the close of the struggle.

On August 30, 1870, Mr. Barry was united in marriage with Sarah M., daughter of John Reed, of West Finley township, Washington county, and the following children were born to them: John A., Hattie R., Robert B. and Mary L. After his return from the war, Mr. Barry took up his home in Dallas, W. Va., where he was postmaster for eight years. He also conducted a general store, which he finally sold, and then moved to Barnes- ville, where he remained one year; then returning to Dallas, he reopened his store, and remained in business two and one-half years. In 1874 he opened a store at West Alexander, this county, which he conducted eight years, and then pur- chased the hardware business he now owns. He has also carried on an extensive picture-enlarging business for several years, having in his youth learned painting. In politics Mr. Barry has al- ways been a Republican, and has filled the offices of burgess, treasurer, member of the council, and school director. He has served for three terms as commander of James Noble Post, of which he was the originator and organizer. In religions faith he is an active worker in the Presbyterian Church.

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P ARKER S. JOHNSON was born March 9, 1840, in West Pike Run township, Wash- ington Co., Penn. He is a son of Thomas Johnson, who was born in October, 1807, in Maryland, where he grew to manhood, and was captain of a steamboat on the Monongahela river for several years. When a young man Thomas Johnson was married to Nancy Scott, a native of Fallowfield township, Washington Co., Penn., and she bore him three children, viz. : John, a car inspector for the Chartiers Railroad Co., living in Pittsburgh, Penn .; Barnett, a resident of Kansas City, Mo., and Parker 'S., whose sketch follows. The mother died in 1841, and in 1851 Thomas Johnson was married, for his second wife, to Dorcas Frew, a native of West Pike Run town- ship, and daughter of Alexander Frew, a pioneer settler of Washington county. She died in 1855, and Mr. Johnson was then married to Mary Crow, a native of Allen township, this county, and daughter of Jacob and Ann Crow. To this union was born one son, William, now in the grocery bus- iness at California, Penn. The father was a mem- ber of the Republican party, and served for sev- eral years as constable of West Pike Run township, but devoted his principal attention to personal matters. He died September 19, 1885, at Cali- fornia, Penn., where Mrs. Johnson is yet residing.

Parker S. Johnson, son of Thomas and Nancy (Scott) Johnson, attended the public schools, and passed his youth on the home place, where he was born. On September 26, 1860, he was united in marriage with Ruth A. Cooper, who was born August 31, 1842, in West Pike Run township, Washington Co., Penn. She is a daughter of Lemuel and Sarah (Krepps) Cooper; her mother was a native of Maryland, and when a small child came with her parents to Pennsylvania. Lemuel Cooper was a native of Washington county, born February 4, 1797, near Amity. He learned the fuller's trade and conducted a woolen mill on West Pike Run creek, afterward devoting his at- tention to agriculture. He died in 1882; Mrs. Cooper passed away in 1868. Lemuel Cooper was twice married, first time on September 21, 1820, to Mary Morton, by whom he had eight chil- dren. This wife died in 1840, and in 1841 Mr. Cooper married Sarah Krepps, to which union there were born four children, of whom only Ruth A., is now living.

Parker S. and Ruth A. (Cooper) Johnson re- side on a farm of 102 fertile acres, to which his principal attention is given. He is identified with all progressive movements in his locality, and votes with the Prohibition party. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church. One daughter has been born to their union, namely: Sarah S., wife of Columbus I. Long, a carpenter and farmer of Morgantown, West Virginia.

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

John Sphar was born in 1777, in Loudoun county, Va., and when but three years of age came with his parents to Washington county, Penn., where he received a subscription-school education in Allen township. When a young man he was mar- ried to Susanna Redd, a native of Washington county, Penn., and they settled on a farm in Allen township, and reared the following children: Mary, wife of John Shively, of Guernsey county, Ohio; Jacob, first married to Susan Wood, who died, and he was then married to Charlotte Wil- son; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Dunlevy; Daniel, married to Mary Speer, and lived in Kentucky; Ann, wife of William Spah, of Indiana; Barbara, wife of William Hollingshead; Mattern, married to Margaret Coyle, of Ohio; Sarah, widow of Joseph Beazell, of Allen township; Rachel, married to Robert Gailey, of Clarion county, Penn. ; John, married to Lucy Ann Scott, and Henry, whose name opens this sketch. Of this family three are yet living, viz .: Sarah, John and Henry. The father voted with the Whig and Republican parties, and served as supervisor of the township. He and his wife were members of the Baptist Church. He died in 1856, having been preceded by the wife and mother in 1852.

Henry Sphar was born in 1820, on the old home- stead in Allen township, Washington county, and was the youngest child in his father's family. He attended the log-cabin school of the period, fur- nished with puncheon floor, slab seats, and other meager articles. On November 5, 1843, he was united in marriage with Margaret, daughter of William and Ruth (Jackman) Gregg, early pio- neers of Washington county. Mrs. Sphar died May 28, 1844, leaving one son, William G., who is married to Ruth Gregg, and is living in Allen township; he has three children: Annie Bertha, George Henry, and Maggie Pearl. On June 15, 1847, Mr. Sphar married, for his second wife,

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Mary Jackman, a native of East Pike Run town- ship, and daughter of Dixon and Elizabeth (Phil- lips) Jackman. Mr. and Mrs. Sphar are living on a farm in Allen township containing 100 acres of land, and he makes a specialty of raising fine Spanish Merino sheep, also keeping a good grade of cattle. In political opinion lie is a Republican, and is a member of the school board. He and his wife are active workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Mount Tabor.

G EORGE MCCULLOUGH TENAN. A rec- ord of the substantial and intelligent citi- zens of Washington county would be most incomplete were the names of this repre- sentative family not included. They were among the large number of pioneers who emigrated from Ireland during the past century.

James Tenan was born in 1758, in County Londonderry, Ireland, of Scotch-Irish parents. Soon after the close of the Revolutionary war, the young man crossed the ocean to America, locating in the State of Pennsylvania. He was married near the town of Octoraro, Lancaster county, to Jane Brown, and there they remained until 1785, when they purchased and settled upon a small tract of land in Smith township, Washington county. Here children were born to them, and reared as follows: John, Robert, James, William, Mary and Moses. Mr. Tenan (who then spelled his name Tynan) in politics affiliated with the Democratic party, and in religion was an early member of the Associate Church. He died in 1840, having been preceded by his wife in 1836.

James Tenan was born in 1796, in Smith town- ship, this county, and received his education in the subscription schools of the home neighborhood. In 1829 he was united in marriage with Margaret Mccullough, daughter of George and Agnes Mc- Cullough. The Mcculloughs came from Little Britain township, Lancaster Co., Penn., to Wash- ington county, Penn., about 1786, making a set- tlement in Smith township, two miles north of Burgettstown. He was one of the original pro- prietors of the land, having been the one to get out a patent for same. George Mccullough was a farmer, and died in 1811, in a very old age, on the farm in Smith township where he had located, having been preceded to the grave by his wife. She was the mother of the following children: Christiana, who married James Wilson, and died at the age of ninety-eight years, in Mahoning, county, Ohio; Elizabeth, who married Thomas Mc- Cullough, and died in Ohio; Jane, married to James McNall, and died in Findley township, Allegheny Co., Penn., at the age of ninety-eight; Mary, who married James Brown, and died in Allegheny county when ninety-six years of age;

Susan, who died unmarried, aged ninety -six years; Margaret, who married James Tenan, and one who died in infancy. George Mccullough was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church at Florence. The old McCullongh homestead is now in the posses- sion of the Tenan brothers, they having inherited it. George Mccullough had a brother who served in the Revolutionary war.

James and Margaret (McCullough) Tenan passed their married life on the home place in Smith township, and to their union two sons were born, viz. : George Mccullough and James Brown. Mr. Tenan was liberal in his political views, and voted with the Jacksonian Democrats. In religious faith he was a member and liberal supporter of the Associate Church at Burgettstown until his death, which occurred April 1, 1859.

George Mccullough Tenan, who has been a life- long farmer, was born December 2, 1830, in Smith township, this county, and passed his boy - hood in attending the common schools of the vi- cinity. On February- 24, 1863, he was united in marriage with Martha I., daughter of Deacon Whittaker, who was born on the farm where Mr. Tenan is now living, and was married to Jane Moore; their children were Martha I., Elizabeth (wife of J. B. Cunningham), Mary, Samuel and Jane, all now deceased. In politics Mr. Whit- taker was formerly a Whig, but in 1850 he became a Democrat. In religion he was first a Methodist, then united with the Presbyterian Church.

After their marriage George and Martha I. Te- nan located in Smith township, this county, then resided in Pittsburgh two years, and from there came to the home farm of Mrs. Tenan. Here Mrs. Tenan died May 11, 1891, aged fifty-four years twelve days, and is buried in the U. P. cemetery at Burgettstown. They had two children: Jennie L. (wife of Oliver Perrine, of Mingo Junction) and Effie S. Politically George M. Tenan was a Democrat, but in 1863 became a worker in the ranks of the Republican party, and he has served in various township offices, though desiring no po- litical preferment. In 1876 he was elected justice of the peace, and in 1892 commenced a fourth term of five years. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church at Burgettstown, this county.

A DAH WINNET is descended from English ancestors, his grandfather, William Win- nett, having been born in Liverpool, Eng- land. He was kidnapped in early boyhood, and carried to the American colonies, where he was bound out until twenty-one years of age. On arriving at mature age he came to Washington county, Penn., where he was married to Sally, daughter of John Strange. Both father and daugh- ter were natives of England, and early settlers of

e 1

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WASHINGTON COUNTY.

Wilmington, Del. Mr. Winnett took a patent for a tract of land in Washington county, Penn., and made a home in what is now Fallowfield township.

William Winnett was born in September, 1761, on the home farm in Fallowfield township, Wash- ington Co., Penn. When a young man he was married to Rachel Young, who was born in 1766, in Washington county, a daughter of Lot Young, a pioneer farmer of Washington county. William Winnett was a cooper and farmer, and at one time owned 1,000 acres of land, but afterward suffered severe financial reverses. He and his wife were members of the Baptist Church. He died in 1861, followed by his wife in 1866, both becoming cen- tenarians. The children of this hardy couple were born as follows: John (who died in 1886, in Guernsey county, Ohio), Benjamin (a blacksmith, who died in Guernsey county, Ohio), William (drowned in Brush creek about 1830), Nathan (a blacksmith, who died in 1884, in Illinois), Thomas (a cooper by trade, moved West and died August 15, 1891, in Walla Walla, State of Wash- ington), Lot (deceased in November, 1890, in Fal- lowfield township), Laban (deceased in March, 1889), Sally (wife of James Smiley), Polly (un- married, deceased in 1888), Naomi (deceased wife of William Ward, of Guernsey county, Ohio), Rhoda (deceased wife of Noah Hardrock), and Adah.

Adah Winnett, youngest child of William and Rachel Winnett,' was born in 1824, on the old place in Fallowfield township, Washington Co., Penn., and has always resided on the home- stead. In 1849 he was united in marriage with Ellen Williams, a native of East Pike Run town- ship, this county; her mother (Ruth Williams) was born in Maine, and settled in East Pike Run town- ship many years ago, where she died in her eighty- fifth year. The home farm, which has been in the possession of the Winnett family for one hundred and fifty years, contains seventy-three acres of well- cultivated land. Adah Winnett is an ardent mem- ber of the Republican party, and in religious faith he and his wife are connected with the Ebenezer M. E. Church. The following children have been born to their union: Rachel. born March 24, 1850, died De- cember 23, 1855; William, living in East Pike Run township, born March 29, 1851; Samuel, born February 7, 1854, living in Allen township; Mil- ton A., born June 8, 1856, living in East Pike Run township; Henry T., born June 8, 1858, living in Greene county, Penn. ; Benjamin C., born October 6, 1860; John J., born October 31, 1862, died in infancy; Addison M., born September 1, 1864, living on the homestead; Titus F., born May 14, 1869, died in his eighteenth year, and Mary R., born May 11, 1871, who was married April 27, 1891, to John H. Winnett, of Washington county, Pennsylvania.

S B. RICHARDSON is a prosperous agricult- urist, enterprising citizen and patriotic ex- soldier of Fallowfield township.

Richard Richardson, father of subject, was born in 1810, in Washington county, Penn., and was a lifelong tiller of the soil. But in times of peace are soldiers trained for future service, and in that simple rural life his children gained the physical and mental power so especially necessary to success on the field of battle, whether the war- fare be amid scenes of common every-day worldly strife, or in bloody carnage for "God and home and native land." Richard Richardson was united in marriage with Eliza Niblake, a native of this county, and she bore him the following children: Olive J., Josephine, Melvina, William M., S. B., Hannah, and Elnora (the last named being de- ceased). Mr. Richardson owns 300 acre+ of prime land. He is one of the most useful men in his community, and has filled various local offices.

S. B. Richardson was born in 1845, in Fallow- field township, Washington Co., Penn. In 1864 he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-second Volun- teer Cavalry (Ringgold Battalion), and served until the close of the war. He participated in all the engagements of his division, and at the battle of Cedar Creek was wounded in the left leg. After the war he returned to Washington county, and for two years was engaged in the hotel business at Coal Centre, then worked two years in a steam tannery, afterward engaging in mercantile life for one year. In 1886 he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Bigler, a native of this county, and she has borne him one daughter, Adair. Mr. Richardson has served his township in many ways; in 1890 he was appointed to take the census, and at present he is assessor and constable of Fallow- field township. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson reside on a pleasant farm lying one mile from Bentley- ville, and eight miles south of Monongahela.

H IRAM WARNE, one of the representative self-made prosperous agriculturists of Franklin township, is descended from a stalwart family who came from eastern Pennsylvania, settling in Allegheny county, same State, at an early day.

Maj. James Warne, father of Hiram, was born in Allegheny county, and when yet a young man moved to Washington county, locating in Monon- gahela City, then called "Parkison's Ferry" (years before Joseph Parkison had laid out part of the town and named it " William's Port " ), where he was married to Mary, daughter of Joseph and Margaret Parkison. Here he was engaged in various pursuits, being connected among other in- dustries with ship- building, glass-blowing and in general merchandising, in all of which he was

Hiram Warne

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eminently successful. Some time in 1825 or 1826 he retired from business, and moved onto a farm near town, where he died in 1856, and his wife in 1865. The children born to them are as follows: Amnzette, Margaret, Joseph P. and James (both in Washington county), David, Mary and Susan (all three deceased), and Hiram and Eliza J. (the latter living in Missouri). Major Warne was a loyal Democrat of the Jeffersonian stamp, and was a fearless as well as an able exponent of the party. From his youth he had been connected for many years with the Presbyterian Church, but in ad- vanced life he united with the Methodist Epis- copal Society.

Hiram Warne was born February 16, 1822, in what is now Monongahela City, Washington Co., Penn., and was a small boy when the family moved into the country. His education was more of a business than a literary nature, and the suc- cess he has made in life is due entirely to his own natural abilities, brought into active play by in- domitable energy and perseverance. On Decem- ber 2, 1856, he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of James and Rebecca (Devore) Nichols, of Alle- gheny county, Penn., the latter of whom was a daughter of Moses Devore, of the same county. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols were parents of the follow- ing named children: Mary, Lucinda, Samuel, William, Catherine, David, Harvey, Sarah, James, Nancy, Rebecca, Elizabeth and Martha J. Polit- ically Mr .. Nichols was a Whig, and in religion a Presbyterian. After marriage our subject and his wife located on a farm in Somerset township, thence moved to Nottingham township, and finally came to their present pleasant home. Their union has been blessed with the following named chil- dren: James C., Florence, William W., Allen C., Boyd E., Howard F. and Mary Etta May. Mr. and Mrs. Warne and daughters are all members of the Third Presbyterian Church of Washington, in which he is an elder, and he assisted in the building of the Second and Third Presbyterian Churches. In his political connections Mr. Warne was a Democrat until 1860, when he united with the Republican party, of which he has since been a consistent member.

HE CLELAND FAMILY were natives of Ireland, the first of whom to immigrate to America was one William Cleland, a native of County Down, Ireland, where he had married Elizabeth Cleland (it is not known whether she was a relative or not) and was a farmer. In 1820 the family-then consisting of the parents and three children, John, Robert and Sarah Jane-sailed for America. After a stormy passage of sixteen weeks they landed at Baltimore, Md., when sickness entered the family; strangers

in a strange land, with no friends, and their little hard-earned savings spent, their condition was most pitiable, but with undaunted courage the father persevered, resolved that his wife or little ones should never suffer, so long as God gave him strength to provide, and after some search ob- tained employment as a watchman on a vessel. Fortune soon began to smile on the brave pioneers, the sick recovered, and the cloud of darkness rose from their sight. As soon as sufficient capital was saved, the family started on the long journey to Brooke county, W. Va. On arriving at Pittsburgh, Penn., a pause was made, employment secured and the financial exchequer replenished. They then pro- ceeded on their way, and made a location in Brooke county, W. Va., where they remained but a short time, afterward removing to Washington county, and settling in the southern part of Hanover township, this county, near Hanlin Station, where the parents died, having passed their lives in instilling principles of enterprise and progres- sion into the minds of their children, which aided them to succeed in later years. Of the children, Sarah Jane was married to James Hindman; Rob- ert was a farmer, and lived to see his seventieth birthday, and John.

John Cleland was born January 6, 1806, in Ire- land, and was but a lad of fourteen years when he came to America. His education was limited, as he had a great deal of hard work to do, and was thus deprived of an opportunity for extensive learning. He learned the trade of a stone mason, following that business for some time. In about 1837 he was married to Rebecca Hindman, who bore him the following children: A son, deceased in infancy; William; Samuel, who died in West Virginia; Elizabeth, married to Robert Cleland; Catherine, Mrs. Edward Hindman; Robert; and Rebecca, Mrs. J. J. Andrews, of Hanover town- ship. In 1851 the mother of this family died, and was buried in Warsaw, Coshocton Co., Ohio. Mr. Cleland afterward made a second choice in the person of Susanna (Scott) White, widow of Moses White. After his marriage John Cleland resided in Hanover township, this county, thence moving, about 1846, to Coshocton county, Ohio, where he cleared up a farm, which he soon sold at a good profit and then took another from which he also realized a handsome profit. After disposing of these farms, he returned to Washington county, locating in Hanover township about one and one- fourth miles northeast of Florence, and there passed his remaining days. Year by year new additions were made to his lands, and he owned nearly 500 acres at the time of his death, which occurred December 19, 1876. His life was a prac- tical demonstration of the old axiom, "Where there is a will, there is always a way." Mr. Cle- land was a very successful man, and the fact could

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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 210

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