Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 230

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 230

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C. NOBLE. The paternal ancestors of Thaddeus C. Noble were natives of Scot- land, and resided at North Woodside, near the city of Glasgow, where they were com- fortably situated. They were devout mem- bers of the Covenanter Church. The paternal grandfather, William Noble, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and took part in the battle of Brandywine. His wife was Miss Elizabeth Howe, a native of Lancaster county, where he lo- cated and lived on a farm. He died compara- tively young in life, leaving two sons, the young- est of whom, James Noble, was the father of the subject of this sketch. After the death of the husband, the widow and her sons resided for a short time at York, Penn., and then removed to a farm in Buffalo township, Washington county, where she continued to reside the most of her life. She died in Canonsburg, Penn., in the year 1851, in the membership of the Associate Reformed Pres- byterian Church.

The maternal ancestors of our subject were na- tives of Ireland, and lived for the most part in County Tyrone. Most of the family resided in the town of Dennaughey, abont thirty miles dis- tant from Belfast; and in the latter place others of

the family resided, and were generally engaged in mercantile pursuits. Robert Boyd, the maternal grandfather, was a man of business enterprise and influence. His wife was Margaret Latimer. The Boyds were members of an old established Pres- byterian Church, of Stewartstown, with which the family had been for many years identified, and in which one of their kindred had been pastor, and others elders. Meeting with reverses in their na- tive country, they decided to join the tide of emi- gration then coming westward, and accordingly embarked from Londonderry in June of 1801, in a sailing vessel, Capt. Blunt, commander; and after a voyage of seven weeks and three days they ar- rived at New Castle, Del., where they remained for a short time, and then permanently took up their residence in what is now Canton township, Wash- ington county.

Jane Boyd, daughter of Robert and Margaret Latimer Boyd, was the mother of the subject of this sketch. She was born in Dennaughey, Coun- ty Tyrone, Ireland, in the year 1793. Mrs. Dr. McCook, of Pittsburgh, and Mrs. Daniel McCook, of Steubenville, Ohio, whose family gained dis- tinction in the Mexican and late Civil wars, were her full cousins. She was married to James Noble, March 25, 1817, and resided for two years thereafter on a farm in Amwell township, attend- ing the Presbyterian Church at Lower Ten-Mile under the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Dodd: and afterward, about the year 1820, they removed to Claysville, where they continned to reside the re- mainder of their lives. James Noble, her hus- band, was born August 4, 1795, in that part of Lancaster county, Penn., which now comprises a part of Cumberland county, and died April 12, 1872. Mrs. Noble died October 16, 1872. Upon their removal to Claysville they united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, it being the only organized church there at that time, of which they continued members for upward of fifty years.

T. C. Noble, the subject proper of this memoir, was well 'and favorably known throughout the county, and his name suggests a prominent example of an active and useful life, covering a period of more than forty years. He was born in Amwell township, December 29, 1818, and was the eldest of eleven children, the most of whom are now deceased. He was, physically, very strong and active, and of a placid and amiable disposition. He was the possessor of splendid mental qualities, and early manifested a taste for learning, taking particular delight in mathematics, drawing and in reading biography, and his hand-writing was excellent. It had been both the desire and design of the father to afford his son the advantages of a liberal education, but upon the arrival of the proper time for entering upon such a course, the father's circumstances were such as to render the

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undertaking impracticable. Ho worked for eight- een months at cabinet making, and then com- monced teaching school. He taught tho Brown and MeMillan District Schools near his home for several terms, and then taught a private school in Claysville, and in the year 1839 he went to Win- chester, Scott Co., Ill., where he taught with suc- cess for a period of two years, when he returned to his home and accepted a clerkship in the store of George A. Cracraft, and subsequently filled a similar position in a store owned by his father and James Paden. While this engaged he employed his leisure in studying higher mathematics and surveying under the direction of E. G. Cracraft, who had been a cadet at West Point. In the year 1846 he was appointed Deputy Surveyor in Wash- ington county by Governor Francis R. Shank, for a term of three years, and at the expiration of the term, was re-appointed for a like term of three years. The office then becoming elective, he was nominated by his party and elected for another term. In 1857, under appointment authorized by an Act of the Legislature, Mr. Noble transcribed from the official records at Harrisburg, for the use of the county, all the drafts of original surveys not found in the record books. The surveys thus transcribed numbered twelve hundred, filling two large volumes. A Harrisburg paper spoke of this work thus: "This work has been done with an accuracy of detail and skillful beauty that does great credit to Mr. Noble, and they are said by the Suveyor-General to be the best executed drafts of survey ever made in the State, and will ever be preserved as an attestation of his compe- tency as a public servant." He surveyed during his life upward of two thousand farms in Wash- ington county and West Virginia, besides running many disputed lines and serving under appoint- ment of the Court as a road or bridge viewer, and in dividing townships for nearly every

term of court for thirty-three years. He possessed peculiar ability as an arbiter in the settlement of all manner of disputes, thus avoiding to those concerned much useless and expensive litigation. In the year 1855 he was de- feated for the office of Prothonotary by a very few votes, while the opposing party was largely in the majority. On this occasion Mr. Noble received almost the unanimous vote of his home township, Donegal. In the year 1879 he accepted the chairmanship of the Democratic County Vigilance Committee, and notwithstanding his party was greatly in the minority, he effected such a complete organization in the county as to elect the candi- date for Sheriff, the only office of importance to be filled that year. He was twice commissioned a Justice of the Peace-in the years 1874 and 1879. His standing in his party was such that he was at five different times nominated for offices by his

party without any solicitation on his part, and had been urged at other times to become a candidate for the Legislature, but always declined. He always attended primary elections, and was an intense believer in the personal fitness of candidates; that they should be both capable and conscientious.

Mr. Noble opened a general store in Claysville in the year 1849, in which business he continued without interruption for a period of twenty-five years, commanding a large patronage, and in which he was quite successful. Ho had had at different times as partners, L. C. Truesdell, a brother-in-law, Chester B. Abercrombie, and M. L. Stillwagen. For thirty-five years he had been en- gaged extensively in many kinds of business in the purchase and sale of lands for himself and others, in buying of wool to the extent of from thirty thou- sand to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars each year; having been the agent for the Harris Woolen Company, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, at different times, for upward of thirty years, and having bought for them continuously for twelve years previous to his death, enjoying the confidence and esteem of the company to an unusual degree. He had also bought at different times for many firms at Boston, New York, Brooklyn and other places. He had done much to foster the growth of the wool-growing industry in Washington county. His high standing and extensive acquaintance en- abled him to perform an important work in the matter of inducing a goodly number of manufact- urers to come into the county from time to time as purchasers of our wools, thus giving an impetus to the industry which did much in the way of creating a spirit of competition, having a tendency to main- tain both reputation and prices. He was the first to introduce to any considerable extent the first improved light-running harvesting machines in his own as well as some of the neighboring counties. He dealt extensively in hay and grain for the use of the Government during the late war. Besides his private business he had often filled many positions of trust, such as executor, admin- istrator, guardian, etc. And although so long en- gaged in many kinds of business involving multi- plied and varied transaction, he had never been a party to a suit in court.

He was for sixteen years a school director, and was an ardent advocate of advanced education. In the year 1854, Mr. Noble realized the fulfillment of an early conceived purpose to become the owner of a tract of land lying immediately west of Clays- ville, which he so well improved as to make it one of the many desirable Washington county farms, upon which he resided for twenty years previous to his death. The improvement and beautification of the New Cemetery at Claysville was a matter to him of much concern, he having surveyed and superintended the work of laying it out, and was

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president of the Board of Directors from its open- ing up to the time of his death. He was for a good many years a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, but afterward united with the Pres- byterian Church during the pastorate of the Rev. Alexander McCarrell, D. D. He was, for ten years, superintendent of the M. E. Sabbath-school, and, for six years previous to his death, superintendent of the Presbyterian Sabbath-school. He took a deep interest in all Sabbath-school work, and pos- sessed singular ability in the way of creating an interest in the matter of regular and prompt at- tendance, as well as in infusing a spirit of emula- tion into the routine exercises. He was foremost in every movement and enterprise which had for its object the advancement of the interests of his town and county; was active and efficient in every agency which had for its object the advancement of religion, morals and education. His deep sense of integrity and regard for truth was the basis of that confidence so universally reposed in him. He was public spirited, ever considerate for the wel- fare of others and liberal in his giving. He en- joyed the pleasures of his home and comforts of his family. In the hallowed circle of his home he was the central object of uncommon reverence and affection.

In the year 1849 he was married to Miss Sarah M. Truesdell, whose parents had come to Wash- ington county from Bristol, Conn. They had ten children, three of whom are deceased: Thomas J., Charlotte J., and Elizabeth M. Of those surviv- ing, his daughters-Frances M., Harriet W. and Eleanor I .- are graduates of Steubenville (Ohio) Ladies Seminary. Of his sons, J. T. and T. C. are graduates of Washington and Jefferson Col- lege. J. H. obtained his education in the schools of Claysville, Trinity Hall, Washington, Penn., and Duff's College, Pittsburgh. Katherine M., on account of physical infirmities, has been unable to attend school. Mr. Noble died at his home near Claysville, November 29, 1882, the Rev. James L. Leeper, then pastor of the Presbyterian Church at that place, Rev. William H. Lester, D. D., of West Alexander, Penn., and the Rev. Henry Woods, D.D., of Washington and Jefferson College officiated at his funeral.

T. Clark Noble, son of T. C. and Sarah M. (Truesdell) Noble, was born on a farm near Clays- ville, Penn. His elementary education was ob- tained chiefly in the schools of his native town, but partly under the direction of his father, with whom he studied surveying. In 1879 he and his brother, James H. Noble, entered Trinity Hall, a school for boys established by Mr. W. W. Smith at Washing- ton, Penn., which was at the time under the rector- ship of the Rev. Samuel Earp, Ph. D., where he prepared himself for college. In 1881 he entered the freshman class of Washington and Jefferson

College, where he graduated with the highes honors in the class of ISS5. The year following his graduation he was an instructor at Trinity Hall, which was at the time under the rectorsbi of the Rev. Thomas Pitts, Ph. D. In 1887 he was elected adjunct professor of mathematics in Wash. ington and Jefferson College, in which position he continued for two years, at the expiration of which time he commenced the study of law under the direction of James I. Brownson, Jr., and was ad- mitted to the Washington county bar in the October term, 1891; and in the December following was admitted to practice in the several Courts of Allegheny county, at Pittsburgh, Penn., where he opened an office at No. 413 Grant street. Mr. Noble makes most careful preparation in all mat- ters relating to his profession, and all his work is ¿ characterized by thoronghness and accuracy.

While pursuing his law studies he occasionally did land surveying as well as some road and bridge engineering under appointment of conrt. He is a gentleman whose scholarship is of a high standard. Mr. Noble enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him. He makes his home in Allegheny City, where 'he attends the Central Presbyterian Church.

W H. WINFIELD. This gentleman repre- sents an English family who have ac- quired an enviable reputation as skilled musicians, of which art he is also a de- votee. William Winfield (the grandfather) was a native of England, being born at Woodville, in Lei- cestershire. He was a potter by trade, and spent the earlier part of his life in Stafford, a city largely engaged in the manufacture of white ware. He was married May 29, 1830, to Mary Harvey, at Ashby De La Zouch, and emigrated to America in 1842. They had children as follows: Thomas, Rosanna, William, Levi, Jonah, Albert, Harvey and Sarah. After the birth of their fifth child, Jonah, Mr. and Mrs. Winfield sailed with their family to America, where their three youngest children were born. They first landed in New York, thence proceeded to Zanesville, Ohio, thence to East Liverpool, afterward moving to Pitts- burgh, Penn., where they remained several years, and finally settled in the village of Granville, Washington Co., Penn. Mr. Winfield was an ex- pert performer on various musical instruments, excelled also in vocal music, and he organized an instrumental band at California, Penn., known as "Winfield's California Brass Band." In religious connection he was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and in political opinion he was a Democrat. He died June 4. 1866.

Thomas Winfield, son of William and Mary (Harvey) Wintield, was born in England and emi-

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grated with his parents to America. He learned ind followed the pottery trade with his father at Granville, whore his father built a pottery as soon as he settled there. He was first married to Martha Imlay, who died leaving two children, W. H., and John (deceased). For his second wife Thomas Winfield was married to Margaret Poster, who has borne him six children, two only of which Mary and Annie) are living. In 1862 the family moved to Canada, where he is now engaged in the grocery business. While a resident of this coun- try ho affiliated with the Democratic party in pol- ities; in religion he was a Cumberland Presbyte- rian while in the United States, but united with the Methodist Church since moving to Canada,

W. H. Winfield, son of Thomas and Martha (Imlay) Winfield, was born December 12, 1854, in Granville, Washington Co., Penn., and received his early education in the common schools and at the Southwestern State Normal School at Cal- ifornia, Penn. He then attended Eastman Na- tion Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., graduating in 1883, paying his own expenses by teaching music. In 1884 he opened his present drug store in California, in which he has met with well-merited success. Since 1884 Mr. Winfield has managed the finances of the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church at Coal Centre, Penn., with which he is identified, and was one of the building com- mittee that attended to the erection of their pres- ent house of worship; he has also been trustee and treasurer of the church, and has been director of the choir for fifteen years. In political opin- ion he is a Democrat, was elected to the position of township clerk, and is now serving as a member of the school board and secretary of the same. On August 19, 1889, Mr. Winfield was married to Donnetta Newkirk, daughter of Henry and Olive J. (Richardson) Newkirk, of Bentleyville, Washington Co., Penn. Miss New- kirk graduated at the Southwestern State Normal School at California, Penn., in 1877. Besides be- ing a teacher of marked ability, Mrs. Winfield is also a musician, and is a lady of many other ac- complishments, and of excellent family. Since his marriage Mr. Winfield has resided at corner of Third and Union streets, California, Penn., where his drug store is also located.

S OLOMON WEAVER comes of German an- cestry, the earliest of whom to immigrate to this country was Adam Weaver, who, with his son John, located in Washington county, Penn. Here the latter purchased 400 acres of land one mile north of Fredericktown on Fish Pot run, in East Bethlehem township.

John Weaver received a somewhat limited edu- cation, but by close observation of men and things,

and attentive reading, gained a largo amount of general information, becoming a very intelligent citizen. In 1788 he was married to Catherine, daughter of Martin Spoone, and the following children were born to them: Adam (deceased in 1860); Sarah, who married C. Michener, of Seneca connty, Ohio, and is now ninety years of age; Jacob; Martin, a farmer of Seneca county, Ohio; Daniel; Mrs. Elizabeth Ault, who resided at Orville, Wayne Co., Ohio; Mrs. Catherine Huffman; Mrs. Mary Smith; John; Joseph, deceased in 1890, and Margaret. Of this family are yet living Sarah, Martin and Margaret. The parents died on the home farm in East Bethlehem township.

Adam Weaver, son of John and Catherine Weaver, was born in 1807 on the home place in East Bethlehem township, Washington county, where he passed an uneventful boyhood. He was married to Elizabeth Swartz, a member of a Ger- man family, and the young couple began life in a pioneer log cabin, surrounded by heavy forests, and there endured the usual privations of frontier life. As years passed by their industry was re- warded, the wild rough cabin home gave place to a more commodious dwelling, and golden grain waved in the breeze where the stately monarchs of the forest had but lately reared their lofty heads. Children came to bless their home as follows: John, Daniel, Elizabeth, Jacob, Solomon, Sarah and Adam. The father was called to his eternal rest January 17, 1867, having been preceded by Mrs. Weaver January 26, 1838. They were mem- bers of the Methodist Church.

Solomon Weaver, son of Adam and Elizabeth Weaver, was born January 3, 1823, on the old homestead where he is yet living in East Bethle- hem township. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, but was an extremely delicate youth, weighing at the age of twenty years but eighty pounds, being now, however, a large man. His education was secured after he had attained a ma- ture age, and he has well improved each opportu- nity. Mr. Weaver has always been an agriculturist, and, having never married, his maiden sister Sarah, who was born December 29, 1825, keeps house for him.

EWIS GREENLEE, a farmer and harness maker of West Pike Run township, was born July 27, 1814, in West Bethlehem township, Washington Co., Penn. He is a son of Samuel Greenlee, who was born in 1777, in Delaware, and when but a small boy came with his parents to a farm in Fayette county, Penn. Samuel Greenlee passed his youth in Fayette county, and there learned the shoemaker's trade, which he fol- lowed in connection with farming. When a young man he was married to Nancy Gance, who was born

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in 1779, in Fayette county, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Greenlee were the parents of thirteen children, namely: John (a farmer of Greene county, Penn.), James (also an agriculturist of Greene county), Benjamin (living on the old homestead in West Bethlehem township, Washington county), Daniel (a farmer of West Bethlehem township), Anna (widow of Lemuel Cooper, of Licking county, Ohio), Lewis (subject), Elizabeth, Susan, Mary, Margaret, Jacob, George and Albert. Of this fam- ily the seven last named are deceased. About 1812 Mr. Greenlee came with his family from Fay- ette county, and located permanently on the place in West Bethlehem township, Washington county. He began life as a poor boy, but by constant in- dustry succeeded in accumulating a good property. He was an eager reader of current literature. He took an active part in public matters, and in poli- tics voted with the Democratic party. He and his wife were members of the Disciple Church.

Lewis Greenlee remained on the home place un- til about sixteen years of age, then served an ap- prenticeship of five years with Peter Flick, of Bentleyville, Washington Co., Penn., at the har- ness and saddle-maker's trade, and after learning his trade traveled from place to place for about five years. In 1843 he was married to Ann Eliza Kerr, who was born in 1820, in Taylorstown, Washington Co., Penn., a daughter of James Kerr, a member of a pioneer family of this county. James Kerr learned and followed the blacksmith's trade at Taylorstown, Penn., for many years, finally moving to Greene county, where he and his wife died. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Kerr were born as follows: Mary, widow of Alfred Gregg, living in Greene county, Penn .; Ann Eliza, wife of Lewis Greenlee; Archibald, a farmer of Greene county; Margaret, Rachel, Sarah, Emily and Isabelle, of whom the three first mentioned are yet living.

To the union of Lewis and Ann Eliza (Kerr) Greenlee three children have been born, namely: Virtue, widow of John Jenkins, of West Pike Run township; Mary W., widow of Morris Taylor, liv- ing in Ohio, and James, a miller of West Pike Run township. After his marriage Mr. Greenlee settled in Carmichael's, Greene county, and suc- cessfully followed the harness and saddlery busi- ness for about fourteen years. He then moved to Centreville, Washington county, continuing in business there until 1869, when he bought the forty-acre farm whereon he now resides, and has since devoted 'some time to agricultural pursuits. He votes the Republican ticket, has served five years as justice of the peace in West Pike Run township, and has also tilled the position of anditor. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church at Beallsville, Penn., in which he has been class- leader for thirty years.

C EPHAS GARRETT, one of the mos prominent citizens of West Bethleben township, than whom none deserves mord prominence, as an agriculturist, in the pages of this volume, is a native of the township. born July 14, 1842, near the farm whereon he now resides. He is a son of Samuel and Deliah (Grable) Garrett, and a great-grandson of Peter Garrett, whose son Nicholas was born in Maryland in 1779. Here the latter was married to Mary Ann Baumgardner, and thence, about the begin- ning of the present century, they removed to Washington county, Pennsylvania.

Cephas Garrett passed his boyhood days in at- tending school and assisting his parents upon the farm. He was employed for about eighteen months at carpentering; but, his elder brothers leaving the farm, he was obliged to return to agri- [ culture, and never completed learning the trade. During the early part of the Civil war Mr. Garrett enlisted in the service of the United States, but was not allowed to serve, as he had not yet attained - his majority. On May 24, 1866. he married Lyda Horn, daughter of John Horn (deceased), of West - Bethlehem township, and to them have come the following named children: Alice, born March 25, 1871, and Samuel, born May 1, 1879, both residing with their parents. When Mr. Garrett and his industrious wife began life they possessed nothing worthy of mention, but their united efforts were crowned with success, which is now apparent in ; their well-kept farm, consisting of sixty acres of highly-cultivated land, upon which, in 1883, he ! erected a neat and handsome dwelling, besides making many other improvements. Mr. Garrett . is modest and retiring, not at all disposed to thrust himself forward, and possesses the respect, esteem and admiration of all who know him. His honesty and integrity have won a high place for ; him in the community. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and, though not an office-seeker, is one of the counselors of his party. Both he and Mrs. Gar- rett are members of the Lutheran Church.

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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 230

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