Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 215

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 215

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A LEXANDER W. GALBRAITH. Among the prosperous agriculturists and leading stock dealers of East Pike Run township, this gentleman is a prominent figure. He is a son of William Galbraith, who was born in 1812, in Ireland, and came with his parents to America when about twelve years of age. He had one brother-Robert, who married a Miss Smith- and one sister, who was married to a Mr. Shaw and lived in Ohio. He also had a half-brother- Thomas McBeath-who married and lived in Ohio. William Galbraith learned and followed the boat- building business for many years, but has devoted the latter part of his life to farming. He has been twice married, first time to Nancy Fry, who

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bore him five children, as follows: (1) Robert, who was twice married, first to a Miss Redd and after- ward to a Miss Reynolds; by his first marriage he had children as follows: Isaac, who married Miss Nesbit, Charles and an infant (both deceased); by his second marriage he has five children. (2) Noah, married to a Miss Wilson, and now lives in Delaware county, Ohio. (3) William (now de- ceased). (4) Cornelia, wife of William Walker, a resident of Kentucky. (5) Emmeline, married Frank Williams, and died in October, 1880; they had five children: Maggie (married to W. Sphar), Aaron, Samuel, Nancy and George A. Linn, the last named having been born July 4, 1880. Mrs. Nancy (Fry) Galbraith died many years ago, and Mr. Galbraith afterward married Mary Hill, by whom he had the following children: Samuel, Elizabeth, John, Alexander W., Mary F. (wife of J. Mozier), Thomas M., Dr. Stephen A. B., Etta, and one that died in infancy; of whom Elizabeth and Dr. Stephen A. B. are deceased. Of this family Elizabeth married Albert Wickerham, and died in June, 1890; they had the following chil- dren: Jennie, Robert, Nancy, Mary F. (married to John Mozier, June 5, 1889, and has two chil- dren: John Thomas and Lucinda). Dr. Stephen A. B. graduated at Washington and Jefferson Col- lege, 1886, graduated at Washington and Jefferson Medical College, 1889, died December 3, 1889. William Galbraith is a representative agriculturist of Carroll township. Politically he is an active worker in the ranks of the Democratic party, and has served as township clerk, assessor and school director, as well as in various other positions of trust. Mrs. Galbraith is a member of the Presby- terian Church of Monongahela.

The ancestry of Mrs. Mary (Hill) Galbraith can be traced back some five generations. Gideon Hill, maternal great-great-grandfather of Alex- ander W. Galbraith, came from England, and the great-grandfather, John Hill, located near where Lancaster, Penn., now stands, and where he lived till some time in 1774 or 1775, when he moved to west of the mountains, to Fort Pitt (now Pitts- burgh). He was there offered in exchange for a black horse five acres, forming the point between the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers; but he concluded there was no money in property there- abouts, so moved to Somerset township, and ob- tained a patent for a tract of land, "Government reserving all gold and silver ore," but saying nothing about oil and gas. This patent is dated 1778, and is now in the possession of our subject's uncle, Dr. S. E. Hill, of the same township. Greer McIlvaine, grandfather of Judge McIlvaine, owned the adjoining land, and these were the first settlers to locate in Somerset township. Dr. Hill has some relics of the past in the shape of an old conch shell or horn that used to be blown to scare 64

wolves away; a clock that has been in the family five generations, is still going and keeping good time; also a blue dish about as old as the clock. Grandfather Hill was married February 15, 1815, to Elizabeth Woodrow, a native of near Shippens- bnrg, Penn., and a relative of Judge Black, of the same place, or near there; Mary (Hill) (mother of subject), born March 5, 1825, and Dr. S. E. Hill, of Smithville, are the only ones living of the family of nine children born to this union, who were as follows: Abner, John and Mary, Rachel Jane, Samuel, William, Martha, Stephen A. and Eliza- beth; of these Martha and Elizabeth died in infancy. Dr. S. E. Hill married, December 10, 1869, Miss Sadie E. Long, of Pittsburgh, daughter of T. H. Long, and their family are: Pauline, Pearl and Zoe. Grandfather Hill and his father kept store when salt was $8 to $10 per bushel, and whisky was 35 cents per gallon; the salt was carried on pack saddles from east of the mountains. His father was one of the first members of Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church in the days of Dr. McMillan, Dr. Brown and others, when preaching was conducted in tents, and the men were wont to go to church with their rifles for protection against the Indians. He and his son (when the latter was a young man) were the contractors for the building of the old stone church, Mr. John Atkin- son being the carpenter. The same stones used for this church are now under the brick one erected near the same place, and in which services are at present held by Rev. Gilson. Gideon Hill was the second man buried in the present cemetery where there are now hundreds sleeping their last sleep. In old papers Pigeon creek was spelled "Pidgeon " creek.

Alexander W. Galbraith, the subject proper of this sketch, was born November 11, 1854, in Car- roll township, Washington Co., Penn. He re- ceived a liberal education at the common schools of the vicinity of his place of birth, assisting, in the meantime, in the various duties pertaining to the home farm. On February 6, 1884, he was united in marriage with Oella Bedall, a native of the county, born October 4, 1855, a daughter of John M. and Eliza J. (Jones) Bedall, both of whom were born in 1824, in Fallowfield township, Washington Co., Penn., the father on August 7, the mother on November 1. They were married January 25, 1855, and two children were born to them, viz .: Clara J. (of whom mention is made farther on) and Oella (wife of Alexander W. Gal- braith). Mrs. Alexander W. Galbraith's father was a lifelong farmer and stock raiser, and was very successful in business affairs.

Joseph Bedall, grandfather of Oella Galbraith, was born in New Jersey November 10, 1777, and died May 16, 1838. He came to Washington county when a young man and his brothers known

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to have come with him to this county were James (who lived and died on the farm owned by J. Keys Bedall (a grandson) in Fallowfield township), Levi (who owned the farm, now in possession of .J. P. Duvall, at the time of his death, where he spent most of his lifetime) and Benjamain (who `was a resident of Washington county, and was never married). There were also two sisters, of `whom no accurate account can be given. Joseph Bedall married Sarah Mccutchen, who was born December 18, 1788, and died November 20, 1844, married May 2, 1816, and they settled on the farm known as the "Bedall Homestead;" they had five children, viz .: (1) Mary Bedall, born Febru- ary 24, 1817, died April 24, 1860; (2) an infant, born June 28, 1818, died October 15, 1818; (3) Eliza Jane, born October 25, 1819, died January 20, 1851, married Joseph Morton, and both are de- ceased; (4) Hester, born April 26, 1822, died March 21, 1851; (5) John McCutchen, born August 7, 11824, died November 24, 1880. Hugh Mccutchen, the father of Sarah Mccutchen Bedall, emigrated to this country at an early date from Ireland. He was a merchant by occupation, and part of his "book accounts are kept in pounds, shillings and pence, one of the dates being June 12, 1781. He married Jane Mccutchen, who was of Scotch de- ·scent, and they had six children, of whom we have record of five: (1) Mary, married to William Baker, of East Pike Run township, and their children were as follows: Cassandra and Jane (de- ceased), Ellen (wife of William Young; they re- side in Kansas); (2) Sarah, married to Joseph 'Bedall; (3) Jane, never married; (4) Samuel, married to Melinda Furnier (they had two children, - James Shannon and Sarah Jane); (5) James, mar- tried to Jane Springer and lived near Tiffin, Ohio.

Clara J. (Bedall) Chalfant, sister of Oella Gal- braith, was born February 8, 1859, and married October 12, 1882, to C. A. Chalfant, who was born March 22, 1854, a son of Dr. H. S. Chalfant, of East Pike Run township. They have two children: Mary L., born February 10, 1886, and John Switzer, born May 5, 1891. They reside on the old Bedall homestead in Fallowfield township, "where Mr. Chalfant is engaged in raising sheep, horses and cattle. He votes the Republican ticket, and takes an interest in all public matters; he and his wife are members of the Ebenezer M. E. Church.

JONES FAMILY. William Jones sailed from the port of Baltimore in 1769 (his son William being then six years old), and the vessel was never after- ward heard from. The son, William Jones, was born May 3, 1763, at Ellicott's Mills, Md., and died March 14, 1863. He was married April 23, 1789, to Elizabeth McClung, who was born No- vember 24, 1769, and died January 27, 1829. About 1791 they emigrated from Maryland to

Washington county, Penn., near Ginger Hill, six miles from Monongahela, where they settled on a farm on which they passed the remainder of their days, and which farm is still owned by a son, William McKendree Jones. They had twelve children, viz. : (1) John Jones, born in Maryland May 23, 1790, died July 16, 1875; was twice mar- ried, first time to Rachel Frew; second time to Margaret Blaine, who was born October 12, 1805, and died October 29, 1890. By his first marriage he had the following children: William, married to Miss West; James, married to a Miss Cleaver; Elizabeth, married to David Ritchie; Joseph, mar- ried to a Miss Watkins; David, married to Miss Phillips; Samuel V. Cook (deceased), married to Miss Gregg; Mary, married to Manuel Stoody. By his second marriage Mr. Jones had two chil- chen: Rachel and Jennie. (2) Elijah Jones, born in Maryland, November 20, 1791, died June 15, 1855; was married to Mary Warren, and their children were William, married to a Miss Frye; Eliza Jane, married to John M. Bedall; Margaret, married to John S. Carson; James, married to a Miss Van Voorhis; Wesley, married in the West; Isaac, married to a Miss McIlvaine; Noah, mar- ried to a Miss Frye. (3) Mary Jones, born No- vember 1, 1793, died August 15, 1856, married March 8, 1819, to Joseph Alexander, who was born April 1, 1795. (4) Ruth Jones, born September 4, 1795, died January 22, 1892. (5) Delilah Jones, born February 14, 1797, died July 22, 1882; married to James Mills, who was born in 1801, died May 23, 1878, and their children were William (deceased); Andrew Bascom, died May 14, 1888, married to - Deering; Mary, married to a Mr. Dalby; Rebecca, married to Rev. Dr. Watkins; James, married; Charles S .; Wilbur Fisk, married. (6) Jesse Jones, born December 24, 1798, died February 11, 1888, married Eleanor Frew, and their children were Alexander (de- ceased); Jackson (married to Miss Black); Eliza- beth, married to Rev. Mr. Snyder; Charles, mar- ried; Carrie B., married; Nancy, married to a Mr. Rankins (now deceased); Jesse, died June 21, 1888; Ellen, married to Mr. McDonald, now de- ceased; others have been lost sight of in the West. (7) Samuel Jones, born August 25, 1800, acci- dentally killed June 14, 1867; was twice married, first time to Jane Fell, and for his second wife to Mary Thomas; the children by his first wife were William, married to a Miss Sheplar; S. Fell, mar- ried to a Miss Thomas; Mary, married to a Dr. Watkins, both deceased; and James, married to a Miss Finley. By the second marriage Mr. Jones had children as follows: Elizabeth, Melissa, Retta, Amanda, Homer, Luther, John and Celia. (8) Rebecca Jones, born March 8, 1802, died July 3, 1838; married Andrew Mills, and they had one child, James Mills, editor of the Pittsburgh Post,

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who married Elvira Alexander. (9) Rose Ann Jones, born May 4, 1804, died in September, 1870; married Francis Hull Williams, and their children were Elizabeth (married to Greer McIlvaine), El- mira, John W., William, David, James and Har- vey. (10) Elizabeth Jones, born January 15, 1806, died in September, 1830; married James McCauley, and their children were Ann Eliza and Mary. (11) Ann Jones, born April 22, 1808, died June 30, 1889; married John Hess, born in 1818, died in 1883, and their children were John, Eliza- beth, Westley, Alcinous, Amanda and Maggie. (12) William McKendree Jones, born October 29, 1809, married Sarah Fulmer, who died in 1886; their children were Leonidas, Mary, Edward, James Mills, Margaret, Kate, Snyder, Albert, Florence and Rose.

The children born to (2) Elijah and Mary (War- ren) Jones were as follows: (1) William, born in Fallowfield township, married Miss Eliza Jane Fry, and afterward moved to Brighton, Washing- ton Co., Iowa, and still resides there; their chil- dren are as follows: Samuel W., married to Rachel, daughter of Manuel Stoody, of this county; Mary. married to Mr. William Hide, of Washing- ton county, Iowa; Henry, married to Miss McCain; Irilla Jane, married; Amy, married to Mr. John- son; Josephine, married; Della (now deceased), married to Mr. Hedge. (2) Eliza Jane, married to John McCutchen Bedall, as already mentioned. (3) Margaret, married to John S. Carson, both de- ceased (their children were eleven in number, as follows: Isaac, married to Miss Fry; Cornelius, married to Miss Beazell; John C. (now deceased), married to Miss Raymond; Henry, married, to Miss Furnier; Robert F., married to Miss Odvert; Mary Elizabeth, deceased; Van Curtis, deceased; Margaret M., married to I. N. Carson; Caroline Jane (now deceased), married to J. W. Carson; Noah T., married to Miss Sprowls; and Joseph, married to Miss Greenlee). (4) John Wesley, married to Jane Davison, in Logan county, Ohio, and now living near Linneus, Linn Co., Mo .; they have nine children, viz .: Margaret J., mar- ried to George Hide, of Brighton, Iowa; Ara- belle, married to a Mr. Watterhouse, in Iowa; Ella, married to a Mr. Hossick; James, married and living in Iowa; John C., living near Linneus, Mo. ; Annie Neal, also living near Linneus, Mo., Helen, Hester and Isaac Willfred (unmarried and living at home). (5) James Jones (now deceased) married Miss Van Voorhis and had children. (6) Noah, married to Mary Frye, and their children are nine in number, as follows: John T. K., married to Miss Gamble; Florence C., married to Miss Brad- ley, in Missouri; Annie M., married to Mr. Huff- man; Mortimore, married to Miss Huffman (now deceased); Eunice, married to Warren Gibson; and Frank, Bert, Noah King, Lilley, all four un-

married. (7) Isaac Warren, married to Mary Agnes McIlvaine; their children are as follows: Dora B., married to William Morrow; William, unmarried; Isaac L., married to Miss Rettig; McIlvaine, Harry and Mary A., all three unmarried.

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander W. Galbraith reside on 222 acres of well-cultivated land in East Pike Run township, upon which a pleasant dwelling was erected in 1888, and a frame barn 46x60 feet, completed in 1892. He is extensively engaged in raising sheep, horses and cattle. Politically he votes the Democratic ticket, and he takes an inter- est in public matters. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Ebenezer M. E. Church. They have one son, Wilbur, born August 12, 1891.

A LEXANDER GAULT. The prominent and representative family, of which this gentle- man was a meinber, are influential citizens of Nottingham township. Alexander Gault was born in 1797, on a farm in Washington county, Penn., where his youth was passed in the usual duties of farm life. On December 8, 1825, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Wilson, who bore him five children, namely: James, Edith, Sarah (deceased), John W. (who enlisted in Com- pany K, P. V. Cavalry, and died in the service De- cember 7, 1862) and Alexander (deceased). The mother of these children died, and Mr. Gault was afterward married to Jane Flack, who was born in 1807. The children of this marriage were as fol- lows: Robert, Mary J. and Addie, of whom Addie is the only one yet living. The father owned about one hundred and fifty acres of land. He died in 1872, followed by the mother February 15, 1887. Of the children now living, James owns a part of the old place, and two unmarried daughters (Edith and Addie) each own and manage 100 acres of the old homestead.

M. STRINGER. This enterprising citizen is a native of Fayette county, Penn., son of John and Mary (Brown) Stringer. The father was a prominent farmer and lifelong citizen of Fayette county, Penn., where he passed his entire life, and died in 1874 at the age of sixty-seven years.

G. M. Stringer was born in 1818 on the farm in Fayette county, Penn., and in early manhood came to Washington county. He was a hard-working and economical young man, and was soon enabled to purchase a small tract of land in Carroll town- ship. He now owns seventy-six acres of very fine land, upon which many improvements have been made. In early life he was united in marriage with Delilah Sprowls, who bore him the following children: Mary E., who died June 6, 1880, at

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the age of thirty-one years; Louisa, deceased July 25, 1867, aged twenty; William, residing in Ore- gon; Elmira, deceased; Eliza, deceased; and Mary, wife of John Williamston, living in Ohio. The mother of this family was called "over the river" June 18, 1876, when in her fifty-fourth year. Mr. Stringer is a member of the Republican party, and in religious faith is connected with the Lutheran Church.

W ILLIAM A. McCLAY, one of the repre- sentative citizens of Canton township, was born September 9, 1846, on the farm now occupied by his brother, J. F. Mc-

Clay.

His grandfather, Samuel McClay, was a native of Ireland, and immigrating to America wlien a child of ten years, finally settled in Chester county, Penn., and there married Sarah McClellan, a resi- dent of the same county, whose parents had also immigrated to America. Mr. and Mrs. McClay afterward removed from Chester to Washington county, where he bought and with the aid of his children began work upon a large tract of land. The children born to this union were: Margaret (Mrs. Robert Dinsmore), Elizabeth (Mrs. William Morrow), John, David, Robert, William and Sarah Jane. The entire family were active and zealous members of the Covenanter Church, and a majority of their descendants are true to the faith of their ancestors. In politics, Mr. McClay was active to the interests of the Whig party. After an event- ful and useful life he died in 1838, his wife follow- ing him to the grave in 1842, leaving a comfort- able property to their heirs.

David McClay, father of subject, was born June 11, 1811, on the home farm in Canton township, this county, where his youth was passed amid the rudest of pioneer surroundings, his education con- sisting of hard lessons in the school of toil and privation, but, when thoroughly mastered, those lessons proved of greater value to the young pio- neer than does much of our "cramming methods" benefit the modern student. By dint of close ob- servation and practical common sense, Mr. McClay soon surmounted these early obstacles to success, and became a prosperous and well-informed man. On January 31, 1840, he married Margaret McEl- roy, and settled upon the farm now owned by his son, J. F., where the following children were born: James (deceased in infancy), James (wlio enlisted in the W. Va. Cavalry, and died February 25, 1862, from disease contracted in the service), William A., Nannie (deceased), Samuel, David (deceased) and J. F. Mr. McClay was, in politics, an active Republican; in 1855 he united with the U. P. Church at West Middletown, then under the ministry of Isaac Everett, but later he became a

member of the church at Washington. He died April 5, 1887, leaving to his heirs about four hun- dred acres of land.

William A. McClay, the oldest living son of David McClay, passed his earlier years on the home farm in Canton township, this county, receiving a lim- ited education, but as he possesses a retentive memory, and is an indefatigable reader, he has, notwithstanding the privations of youth, become one of the most intelligent men in his township. On May 19, 1869, Mr. McClay was married to An- nie, daughter of Jonathan Swisher, a prosperous farmer of Putnam county, Ill., and the young couple immediately settled on the home place, where they have since resided. After the death of his father Mr. McClay and his three brothers di- vided the property among themselves without re- course to legal aid-an excellent example-and William still retains the portion allotted him, to which he has made many fine improvements. The house is of the " L" style, 36x32. The barn, which was erected with only the assistance of his children, is a commodious structure, and the well-cultivated farm affords still another evidence of the thrift and enterprise of the owner. The union of Mr. and Mrs. McClay has been blessed with three chil- dren: Harry, William and Elmer. In politics Mr. McClay is the stanchest of Republicans, and for many years has filled the office of judge of elec- tions in his township. The family are liberal sup- porters and earnest members of the Disciple Church at Washington, and are ever foremost in all enter- prises pertaining to the welfare of the people.

C HARLES HOWARD TRUSSELL, a pros- perous, wide-awake farmer, is a representa- tive of one of the oldest and most prominent families of Franklin township, where he was born June 25, 1848.

His grandfather, Charles Trussell, was of Vir- ginian birth, born near Harper's Ferry, where the family had resided many years. Before leaving his native State he was married to Sarah Fleming, a resident of the same place, and soon thereafter the young couple came to this county, making a settlement in the western part, having cut for themselves a home in the forest wilds, where they passed the remainder of their lives in unremitting, patient toil and hardship. They were consistent members of the Baptist Church. Their family were: Manson (deceased), Paden, Elizabeth (mar- ried to Jobn Brownlee), Margaret (Mrs. John Henderson, of Claysville), Ann (deceased), Jane (married to Nelson Sprowls). William (in Kansas), John (in Dallas, Va. ) and Charles H.

Charles H. Trussell, father of Charles Howard, was born October 15, 1822, in Marietta, Ohio, where he was reared to agricultural pursuits and

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educated in the schools of the neighborhood. On September 10, 1845, he was married to Lydia, daughter of Joshua Dickerson, of Franklin town- ship, and here spent the remainder of their lives, Mr. Trussell dying January 15, 1849. Mrs. Trus- sell now lives in Claysville. He was a lifelong, ardent Whig, and a man of strong but generous opinions. He was the father of two children: Charles Howard and Joshua D., the latter of whom was educated at Washington and Jefferson College, where lie graduated, since when he has been engaged in teaching, and he is now principal of the Claysville public schools; in 1880 he was wedded to Hattie Selby, of Buffalo township, who has borne him one child, Howard L.

Charles Howard Trussell passed his life chiefly at the home of his grandfather, Joshua Dickerson, on the farm where he now lives. He was early in- ducted into the mysteries of agriculture, and has managed a farm with signal success ever since coming of age. On November 2, 1871, he was married to Sarah (daughter of John Finley, of East Finley township, who is now eighty-two years old), and soon thereafter they settled in their present home in Franklin township, the farm hav- ing been greatly improved by him since coming to it. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Trussell are: Clara Edna, Mary Matilda and Lewis B. The entire family are members of the Presbyterian Church at East Buffalo. In politics Mr. Trussell is an intelligent Republican (as is also his brother, Joshua D.), and has always taken an active part in educational developments in his section.

ARRETT COVENTRY. Prominently identi- fied among the representative and substantial farmers of Hanover township, stands the gentleman whose name opens this sketch. His ancestors were natives of Ireland, the land which has given to America many of our best families, among whom is the name of Coventry.

John Coventry was born in 1750, in County Don- egal, Ireland, where he learned the trade of a weaver, and when a young man was married to Martha Brown, who was born in 1754. Some years after their marriage this young couple sailed to America, and after landing and securing a tem- porary home, their household effects were moved thence in a churn, the only child living being carried by the parents. John Coventry joined the Conti- nental army, taking an active part in the struggle for Independence, and undergoing the terrible suf- ferings which were the common lot of those heroic patriots. Long and difficult marches were made, their only food consisting of cold potatoes. After the war money was scarce, and the most common articles sold for fabulous prices. A little dress. which was purchased for a son cost $60 in Con-

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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 215

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