Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 223

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 223

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traveled quito extensively, spending some time in the " Far West." Mr. Irwin is a Democrat, and although not an office-socker is one of the leadors of his party. He is a regular attendant of the United Presbyterian Church, of which he is a member.

W ILLIAM M. HORN. The family, of which the subject of these lines is a prominent representative, are of German ancestry, and located in this county many years prior to the Revolution. The first couple of the name, of whom we have a record, were Martin and Peggy ( Wilkins) Horn, who re- sided in Buffalo township, and reared a family of seven children.

John Horn, son of Martin and Peggy Horn, was born on the home farm in Buffalo township, and re- ceived a necessarily limited education. He grew to maturity amid the wild scenes of early civiliza- tion, and when a young man was married to Mary M. Gantz, daughter of John Gantz, an early resi- dent of Greene county, Penn. The children born to this union were as follows: Martin, George C., Jacob, Hugh, Isaac, Margaret, Elizabeth (Mrs. Price), John, Hannah (Mrs. Elvey), William M. and Maria (Mrs. Coogle), of whom Jacob, John and Margaret are deceased.

William M. Horn, son of John and Mary M. Horn, was born April 18, 1839, in Buffalo town- ship, Washington Co., Penn., where he was reared to agricultural pursuits, and received a good com- mon-school education. In 1861 he, in company with his brothers Hugh and Jacob, bravely shouldered his musket in defense of the "Stars and Stripes," enlisting in Company A (Capt. Armstrong), One Hundredth P. V. I. He was mustered into service August 28, 1861, at Pitts- burgh, Penn., and the company was first taken to Washington, D. C., thence to Beauport, S. C. He then participated in the following engagements: Port Royal, James Island, Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, the charge upon Fort Sanders at Knoxville, Tenn., Blue Springs, Ky., and siege of Vicksburg. Mr. Horn was at this time transferred to the army of the Potomac, and there fought in the battle of the Wilderness, North Anna river, Cold Harbor and Petersburg. At the last mentioned engage- ment he was wounded by a minie ball in the left shoulder. On August 28, 1864, he received an honorable discharge, and returned to the farm in Washington county, Penn. His brother Jacob died the day that his term of enlistment expired; Hugh is now living in Henry county, Iowa. On January 1, 1885, William M. Horn was united in marriage with Louisa, second daughter of John Clemens. The latter traced his genealogy back,

through many years, to an Englishman who em- igrated from his native land in a very early day, and taking up a large tract of land in Buffalo township, Washington county, became identified with the earliest history of the county. Among the sons of this early pioneer was one James Clemens, born in Washington county, and mar- ried to Hannah Walton, who bore him the follow- ing children: Jeremiah, born September 16, 1763; Christina, born January 21, 1765; William C., born January 30, 1767; Abram, born October 3, 1769; Aun, born October 5, 1771; Ruth, born March 26, 1773; John, born September 12, 1775; Parmelia, born April 10, 1777; James, born March 4, 1779; Hannah, born March 5, 1781; Ezekiel, born July 18, 1783, and Hester, born June 18, 1785.

William C. Clemens, son of James and Hannah Clemens, was born and reared on the farm in Buffalo township, Washington county. In early life he was married to Mary Wolfe, and their chil- dren were as follows: Dr. James Clemens, an emi- nent physician of Wheeling, W. Va., born May 26, 1795, died in 1845; Jacob, born November 6, 1796; Abraham, born September 7, 1798; Eliza- beth, born February 1,.1800; William, born April 25, 1803; John C., born December 28, 1804; Hannah, born October 30, 1806; Sabina, born November 6, 1808; Amos. born August 14, 1810; Jeremiah. born May 10, 1812; Delilah, born Feb ruary 6, 1815, and Hester, born July 2, 1818. Of this family Hannah is the only one yet living. The father was a farmer, and for many years was justice of the peace.

John C. Clemens, son of William C. and Mary (Wolfe) Clemens, was born on the old homestead in Buffalo township, this county. He was a pros- perous farmer and an enterprising citizen. When a young man he was married to Louisa, only daughter of John Hupp, a wealthy farmer, a brother of the eminent physician, Dr. Hupp, of Wheeling, W. Va. To this union were born seven children, viz. : James C., John Hupp (he was a member of Company A, One Hundredth P. V. I., and was killed at Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864), Isaac C., Veturia, Louisa (Mrs. Horn), Alonzo. Walton (who lives on part of the home place) and John. Alonzo W. owns part of the Clemens home- stead farm adjoining Mrs. Horn, on which are sev- eral good producing oil wells; there are also some good oil wells on Mrs. Horn's farm (what was once the Clemens homestead); there are in all twenty- four oil wells. Part of the farm is now owned by Mr. Werick and Mrs. Horn, Alonzo W. owning the rest. John C. Clemens, the father of this fam- ily, served for many years as justice of the peace; he was first cousin of Samuel Clemens, better known by the nom de plume of " Mark Twain."

Mr. and Mrs. William M. Horn reside on eighty-

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five acres of the Clemens farm, part of the old homestead, and he also owns part of the old home- stead containing 125 acres, on which he was born and raised, and on which is an extensive stone quarry, leased to the Pittsburgh Stone Company, and he realizes a handsome royalty. Mr. Horn gives his attention to farming and stock raising. In politics he votes with the Republican party.

A BSALOM ASHBROOK. Simeon Ashbrook, the second in his father's family, in the or- der of their birth, was a blacksmith by trade, and during twelve years of his life lived in Augusta township, Carroll Co., Ohio, where he worked at his trade. Before re- moving thither he married Emma Sherah, of Buf- falo township, Washington Co., Penn. Returning to Pennsylvania, he spent the remainder of his life in Washington county. To Mr. and Mrs. Ash- brook six children were born: Mary, Absalom, Ann, Margaret, Nancy and Amy, of whom only two are living, Amy (widow of John Wolfe) and Absalom (who was born November 26, 1818).

Absalom Ashbrook's opportunities for obtaining an education were very limited. He learned the blacksmith's trade with his father, whom he assisted in the shop at an almost incredibly early age. He followed the trade until 1879, since which time he has given his attention to man- aging his farm work. In 1844 he married Sabina Elliot, who was born May 24, 1828, a daughter of William Elliot, of Morris township, and to their union came the following children: Simeon, born April 4, 1846, died in 1883; Jemima, born June 30, 1847, died when quite young; William, born October 3, 1848 (he was twice married-+first to Ella Weir, and, after her death, to Ella Day); Amy, born August 1, 1850, married Will Stallar, of West Finley township; Nancy Ann, born March 1, 1852, married James Stallar, of East Finley township; Jackson, born October 31, 1853, married Lizzie Loafman, and now resides in Burnsville: Mary Margaret, born May 8, 1855, died in 1880; · Alexander, born October 1, 1856, is a carpenter by trade, and resides with his father; Abraham, born March 26, 1858, resides with his father, and assists in the farm work; Absalom, born January 13, 1861, married Lizzie Mcclellan, of East Finley township, and resides in that township; John N., born January 18, 1863, died at the age of two years; Robert E. Lee, born March 13, 1865, is a prominent physician of Wheeling, W. Va., and Sabina, born July 16, 1871, resides at home. Mr. Ashbrook is a Democrat in politics, and both he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

R ICHARD M. MOUNTS, a worthy repre- sentative of one of the oldest families of the county, and a prominent citizen of Franklin township, of which he is a na- tive, was born July 10, 1836. Richard Mounts, his grandfather, was a native of Maryland, and at the age of sixteen came to Washington county, arriving in 1773, when there were but few settlers in its forest wilds. His wife was Mary Keley, who was born on the broad Atlantic when her parents were crossing from Ireland to the shores of Columbia. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Mounts settled on a small farm near what is now the thriving city of Washington, and commenced life in a very primitive and humble way. Their little log cabin was furnished with home-made stools in lieu of chairs, a table to cor- respond, while the bedstead was so ingeniously fixed to the walls in one corner of the room as to require only one leg. But they lived " far from the madding crowd," contented and happy in the enjoyment of life. The children born to this hon- ored pioneer couple were William, Mary, Jennie (the widow of George Boyd, and the only one liv- ing), John, James, Matilda, Richard R., Joseph and Martha. When Mr. Mounts first started out in the world to fight his own way he was under age; and in order to compensate his father for the loss of his services from that time until his coming of age, he paid him the sum of £15. His political sympathies were with the Federalists; he was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Richard R. Mounts, father of subject, was born in what is now called West Washington, then known as Rankintown, this county, and passed his boyhood and youth assisting his father on the farm, his education being necessarily meager, all the schooling he received having been acquired when other duties were less pressing. When a young man he and his brother purchased the land in Franklin township now owned by our subject, which they improved, and where for a time they kept bachelor's hall until the marriage, in 1835, of Richard R. with Margaret, daughter of William and Sarah Johnson, of Lancaster county, l'enn. Of this union were born four children: Richard M., Sarah (Mrs. William Weir, of Franklin town- ship), William, who died in 1863, and James A., of Franklin township. They remained on the farm just referred to the rest of their lives. He died November 5, 1878, at the age of sixty-six years, his wife in May, 1887, when aged sixty seven years. Mr. Mounts was one of the hardest working men in his township, and was deservedly success- ful, as well as popular. All his life he took an active part in politics, having been first a Whig, and afterward, on the organization of the party, a straight Republican. For some time he was a

P. M. Mount

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member of the North Buffalo Presbyterian Church, and afterward united with the one nt Washington.

The early life of Richard M. Monnts was passed alternately in school and in assisting his parents on the farm, agricultural pursnits being his life voen- tion. He now owns a fertile form of 200 acres, under a high state of cultivation and equipped withi nll modern improvements and several commo- dious buildings. On October 23. 1873, Mr. Monnts married Charlotte, dnnghter of Robert Chambers, of Franklin township, and the children born to this union are Robert, Kntie and Millie. In politics Mr. Mounts is a Republican. He and his family attend the services of the Buffalo Church.

W ILLIAM NELSON. There is probably no citizen of Washington county who is better or more favorably known than the gentleman above named. He is univer- sally esteemed by those who have the pleasure of his acquaintance, and no better evidence of his worth can be given to the public than in a record of his personal history. His father, Peter Nelson, was a native of Yorkshire, England, and is yet remembered by his old neighbors as a man of sterling merit. Peter Nelson followed the stone mason's trade in connection with farming, and about the year 1812 visited America, intending to find a home in the United States. The unsettled condi. tion of the country discouraged him from emigrat- ing at that time, and he finally returned to Eng- land, where he died leaving six children, viz. : John, Peter, Mathew. William, Mary and Betsey. Of this family Mathew and Peter are living in Eng- land, John, Mary and Betsey are deceased.

William Nelson, son of Peter, was born March 1. 1810, on a place twenty miles from Leeds, in Yorkshire, England. His youth was passed in as- sisting with the farm work, for like many other healthy, active boys, he cherished a decided antip- athy for books, and found ample but useful exer- cise on the farm for his superabundant vitality. He also learned the weaving trade, but devoted most of his boyhood to overseeing a large flock of sheep, his home having been near the Scotch moors, where sheep raising was the principal industry. When he grew older young Nelson was employed at cutting stone, and while in that business cut some of the stone ties used in constructing the first railroad in England. The stone was hauled to Ripton, sixteen miles distant, and conveyed by canal to Newcastle. Some years prior to 1849 William Nelson married Grace, daughter of John Renard, both of whom were natives of England. In 1849 the young couple embarked on an Ameri- can-bound vessel, and sailed for the New World. He had then by closest economy managed to save

about $500 from n sulnry of 50 cents per day, and upon arriving in Allegheny county, Penn., he rented a farm nenr Webster, Westmoreland county. He soon afterward moved to Elizabeth, same State, and invested his savings in a coal enterprise, which failed after a short season of prosperity. This disaster left our young hero ponniless and a family dependent upon him for support, but with the in- vincible spirit of a true Englishman he proceeded to begin life anew. He moved to a small log cabin in the woods near Mckeesport, which was known as the "wooden-windowed house," glass having been an unattainable luxury, then secured employ- ment with a threshing machine, and traveled through the country, receiving for his services $1 per day and board. Soon afterward, through the assistance of friends who had discovered his ability and worth, he was enabled to rent 450 acres of land known as the "White Oak Level." He farmed this place very successfully for about four years, then moved to a place near Elizabeth town- ship, and one year later bought a small farm of one Gibson, on "long-time payments." , He soon sold this place at a good profit to the former owner, and rented a large farm, whose proprietor required the tenant to give first-class references. This con- dition was easily complied with, as every one was glad to give a helping hand to the enterprising young man, and recommendations were given him by the most prominent citizens of Mckeesport. The contract for this place was made in such lib- eral terms that Mr. Nelson saved quite a sum of money, $1,000 of which he invested in a coal bank, and again lost the entire amount, but was not as destitute as before, having accumulated other property one mile south. In 1861 he removed to a farm in McLean county, Ill .. taking with him one car load of sheep and one of horses, and after arriving in Illinois he bought three car loads of hogs, but after a time he lost about 300 head by cholera. He remained there three years, then be- coming discontented made a sale, returned to Pennsylvania, and resided in Westmoreland county about six months. At the end of that time he pur- chased his present farm on the Monongahela river, just within the limits of Monongahela. For this place he paid $11,000, giving $1,000 cash, and the remainder in annual payments, which he succeeded in clearing after years of economy and constant toil. To-day his property is valued at about $20,- 000, and he conducts a stone quarry in addition to general farming. In political opinion Mr. Nel- son is one of the strongest supporters of the Re- publican party, and takes the deepest interest in all matters tending to improve his adopted country, which he loves with all the ardor of a native-born citizen. He and his wife were members of the Church of England. They have had eight children,

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namely: Mathew (deceased), Mary Ann, William, John (all of whom were born in England), Thomas (deceased), Ellen, George and Maggie (who were born in America).

J OHN N. WEIR, a representative well-to-do citizen of Franklin township, is a native of the same, having been born on his father's farm June 26, 1844. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, being a grandson of Samnel Weir, who in the latter part of the eighteenth century came with a brother from Scotland to this country, the family finally making a settlement in Washington county, Penn. In the fall of 1813 he purchased, of John Sargent, 200 acres of wild land on Ten Mile creek, to which he afterward added 180 acres. He was married to Margaret, daughter of John Clark, and they then settled on the Stephen Post farm, where they passed the remainder of their days. The names of the children born to them are: Joseph, Adam, Thomas, Jane, Mary, Elizabeth, Rachel and Sarah (the latter married to a Mr. Rettig), all now deceased. Mr. Weir was a lifelong farmer, eminently successful in his vocation. For many years he was a consistent Presbyterian, in which faith he died; in politics he was an active Demo- crat.

Adam Weir, son of Samuel and Margaret (Clark) Weir, was born in Franklin township, this county, May 27, 1801, where he passed his boyhood and yonth in working on the farm and attending, dur- ing the winter months, the subscription schools of the neighborhood. On December 1, 1825, he was united in marriage with Sarah Carter, who bore him the following named children : Margaret, Jane, William and Henry B. On May 19, 1836, Mr. Weir took, for his second wife, Phoebe Tucker, and the children by that union were Samuel H. (de- ceased), John N., Sarah and Phoebe D. On May 14, 1850, he was married to Mrs. Cynthia Kane, daughter of Mathias Minton and widow of C. C. Kane, and one son was born to them, Adam, Jr., who married Ella, daughter of Thomas Hanna, of Morris township. and one danghter, Lell, living in Pittsburgh. Adam Weir, Sr., came in 1840 to the present residence of his widow and youngest son, and made many improvements thereon. At his death, which occurred July 15, 1866, he was the owner of a large farm, the accumulation of a lifetime of hard work. He was an active and lib- eral supporter of the Presbyterian Church, as well as of all public enterprises, and was universally re- spected.

John N. Weir passed his earlier years on the farm, for a time attending the schools of the neigh- borhood, and though he was obliged to leave school at an early age, he continued to spend his leisure time in study. On November 28, 1867, lie

was united in marriage with Martha M., daughter of J. Miller Day, and to their union were born the following named children: Edna L., Nellie S., Bessie L. and Mattie D., the last named dying at the age of eight months. In politics Mr. Weir is a Democrat, taking an active interest in the affairs of his party. He and his family are interested in church work.

T HOMAS HENRY CARSON, M. D. Wash- ington Carson was born in 1815, on the home farm in Fallowfield township, this county. In March, 1843, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Allman, a prosperous farmer of Washington county.

The first of the Allman family to arrive in this county was William, who was married in Maryland to Hannah Thomas, a native of that State, and after their marriage they came hither, making a settlement in West Pike Run township, where they passed the remainder of their pioneer lives, the husband dying first. They were the parents of eight children: Sarah, Elizabeth, Hannah, James, John, William, Henry and Heyman, of whom Henry became the father of Mrs. Washington Car- son. He was married to Nancy, daughter of Alex- ander Hopkins, of West Pike Run township, and the young couple then made their home in that township, passing away in after years within three months of each other. The following children were born to them: Haman (in West Pike Run township), Elizabeth (Mrs. Carson), William (in Indiana county. Penn.), Alexander (in Youngs- town, Ohio), Henry (deceased), Sarah Ann (de- ceased wife of John Johnson), Nancy (wife of T. C. Hopkins, in Washington county). To the union of Washington and Elizabeth (Allman) Carson were born children as follows; Nancy (wife of Peter Miller, of Hillsborough), T. H. (subject), Margery (deceased wife of Levi Winnett), Johanna (deceased wife of William Blythe), Frances and Elizabeth (both at home), and Hopkins (deceased at the age of fourteen years). Mr. and Mrs. Carson al- ways resided on the home place, which contains 220 acres of land, and he also owned 168 acres in West Pike Run township. He died May 27, 1889; his widow is yet living on the farm.

T. H. Carson, whose name introduces this biog- raphy, was born October 26, 1853, on the home place in Fallowfield township, already referred to. He attended the Southwestern State Normal School at California, Penn,, and afterward took a medical conrse at the University of Pennsylvania, gradu- ating in 1884. He then began the practice of his profession with Dr. J. Y. Scott, of Washington (at that time in Bentleyville, this county), remaining one year, at the end of which time, his father

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being an invalid, and his brother Hopkins having been killed by an accident, our subject abandoned for a time his professional career, and returned to the farm. He now has charge of the old home place, which is situated eight miles south of Monou- gahela, and four and one-half miles west of Char- leroi, and in connection with farming and stock raising he has been in the real-estate business in Charleroi, where he still has interests.

Ou September 14, 1892, Dr. Carson was united in marriage with Ada, daughter of John H. and Virtue Jenkins, of West Pike Run township, and of an old family in the county. Her father died in 1876: her mother is yet living in West Pike Run township. Their children are Anna (wife of Prof. Hall, of the Southwestern State Normal School), Ada (Mrs. Dr. Carson), Walter (a farmer in West Pike Run township), and Louise, Margaret and Roy (living with their mother). Dr. Carson and his mother are members of the Methodist Church, and in his political preferences hie votes the Demo- cratic ticket. Squire Henry Carson, the paternal great-grandfather of Dr. Carson, lived for years at the homestead where the latter now resides, the farm having been in the family possession ever since. It was patented from the Government by John Hull, from whom Henry Carson purchased it.

[Further record of this family will be found in the sketch of Jackson and Alexander S. Carson, elsewhere in this volume.

S AMUEL MUNNEL is descended from an old and prominent pioneer family of Wash- ington county. John Munnel was the first ancestor of the family name to settle in America. He and his wife settled in South Stra- bane township, this county, where they died, hav- ing reared eleven children.

Samuel Munnel, the father of subject, was born in 1795, in South Strabane township, this county, and in early manhood was united in marriage with Nancy Equiston, of Butler county, Penn. The young people settled on the home farm, where children were born as follows: Isabelle (living in Canonsburg), John (deceased), Robert (a resident of North Strabane township), Sarah Jane (widow of George Taylor, of Washington borough), Sam- uel (whose sketch follows), Thomas (deceased in his eighteenth year), William (deceased in infancy), James (living in Crafton, Penn.), Catherine E. (wife of John Herron, of South Strabane township), Mary E. (Mrs. Adam Hall, of South Strabane township) and Charles (deceased; his son is a book- keeper in the Reform School at Morganza). The father was a Democrat, and in religion a member of the Presbyterian Church. He died in 1881 at the age of eighty years, and his widow passed away in March, 1891, at the home of her son Samuel.

Samuel Munnel was born on the home farm in, South Strabane township, this county, where his youth was passed. He then learned the carpen- ter's trade, which he followed three years, working for Hugh Reynolds, at $25 a year. He made a trip to the West, and returning to Washington county purchased a sawmill in South Strabane township, conducting same twenty-five years. He afterward bought another mill in North Strabane township, and a portable sawmill. In 1869 he came to Canonsburg, continuing in the mill busi- ness, and for the past fourteen years has been en- gaged in the ice business. In 1860 Samuel Mun- nel was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Ringland. Her uncle, Thomas Ringland, was Speaker of the House of Representatives. Mrs. Munnel died a few years after her marriage, leav- ing two children, one that died and Mary Ring- land. For his second wife he was married to Nancy E., daughter of Andrew Crawford, and a native of Peters township, Washington county, who bore him four children: Martha, Nannie, Eva and Samnel, all living at home. In 1886 he entered the hardware and building business in partnership with H. W. Taylor. During the war Samnel Mun- nel was a member of the State militia. In politics he has been a Democrat, serving in various town- ship offices, and in religion is a member and trustee of the Presbyterian Church. His home is situated in the west end of Canonsburg.

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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 223

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