Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 231

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 231

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ESSE NICHOLLS. one of the self-made and prosperous agriculturists of West Beth- hem township, is a grandson of Rosmos Nicholls, who came from England at an early date. He settled in Hillsborough, this county, where he had a tavern for a number of years be- fore the National pike was built. He afterward bought the " Nicholls' place," a small farm south of Hillsborough, and after remaining there a time again took charge of a tavern in Hillsborough. in a building that is still used as a hotel. In a short time, however, he again returned to the farm, : where he remained the rest of his life. He was married to Mary Hall, of West Bethlehem town-

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hip, and their mioa was blessed with the follow- ng children: James, Stophon, William, Rose, Achison, Mrs. Sarah Kehor, Mrs. Margaret Sar- roant and Mrs. Betsey Trago, of whom Achison s the only one now living. Mr. Nicholls was a Democrat, and both he and his wife were members of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Nicholls died in 1840, and Mr. Nicholls in 1850.

Stephen Nicholls was born on the old home- tead in 1795, and obtained his early education in the common schools. Ho remained upon the home farm until he was forty years of age, driv- ing teams across the mountains and attending to the usual duties of the farm. In 1835 he mar- ried Margaret, daughter of Jacob and Mary Wise, of West Bethlehem township, and they had nine children: Jesse, Mrs. Mary Gregg, Mrs. Nancy Wilkins (deceased), Sarah Jane (deceased), Will- iam (deceased), Joshua (deceased), Maggie (de- ceased), Mrs. Catherine Binns and Hiram. Mr. Nicholls was a true Democrat, although not an active politician. He died in 1881, in his eighty- fourth year; his widow, aged seventy-six years, is still living.

Jesse Nicholls was born December 8, 1836, upoa the home farm. He received a partial education at the common schools, and at the age of fifteen years he began life for himself, working by the month. He was married February 4, 1858, to Margaret Taylor, and they had children as follows: Mrs. Sarah McCarthy (deceased), Lucy, Mrs. Emma Kinder (deceased), Laura, Samuel, Joseph, Ray, John and Maggie. Although his early opportuni- ties were few, Mr. Nicholls is an intelligent, well- read man, and beginning life with no capital save strong hands, a quick brain and a healthy body, he has, by dint of honest principles, hard work and economy, succeeded, with the aid and encour- agement of his wife, in securing a fine farm of 140 acres and a competence for his family. He is a Democrat, and has served several terms as supervisor of his township, but has been too busily engaged in his private business to give much at- tention to political questions. Mrs. Nicholls was a member of the M. E. Church. She passed away May 28, 1891, deeply mourned by her many friends and relatives.

P LANTS, CHRISTIAN and GEORGE, are representatives of one of the oldest and most prominent families of East Finley township. The earliest pioneer of that name, of whom any authentic account can be se- cured, was Christian Plants, from whom the pres- ent generation of the family trace their ancestry.

Christian Plants, who was of German descent, grew to manhood in eastern Pennsylvania, where he married Catherine Haines, and in 1796 they

moved to Washington county, Penn., locating at the foot of " Gallows Hill," near Washington. In 1806 ho settled in Finley (now East Finley) town- ship, on what is now called " Enlow fork of Wheel- ing creek," and on the farm afterward owned by his son Leonard. The children born to Christian and Catherine (Haines) Plants were Leonard, Solo- mon, George, Christian, Catherine, Maxwell, Eliza- beth, Hannah, Jacob, Mary, Daniel. John and an unnamed infant. Of these children the only one now living is Maxwell (a retired farmer residing near Cameroa, W. Va.). Mr. Plants farmed dar- ing the summer, and tanght school in the winter months. He lived to a good old age.

Leonard Plants was born March 22, 1797, on his father's farm near Washington, this connty. In 1806 he came with his parents to East Finley township, and passed his boyhood on the farm, en- during all the privations and hardships which are inseparable from the lives of pioneers. In 1815 he was indentured with Jesse St. Clair to learn the stone mason's trade, and after serving an apprenticeship of three years began to work for wages on the National pike, then building, and continued to follow his trade till 1880. On May 6, 1819, he was nnited in marriage with Elizabeth Barney, who died in 1826, leaving four children: Elizabeth, now residing in Wetzel county, W. Va .. wife of Stephen Hill; Christian; George, and one that died in infancy.

Mr. Plants afterward married Fannie Barney (a sister of his first wife), and she died in January, 1874, leaving the following children: Jesse and Leonard, farmers in East Finley township, this connty; Mary Jane (widow of Andrew Stoller), also a resident of East Finley township; Hannah (wife of Daniel Plants), residing in Morris township. Washington county; John B. (a farmer and mason), residing in East Finley township; Marga- ret (wife of Nathan Stoller), also in East Finley township; Martha (Mrs. John Nickerson), in east Finley township; Daniel, in Kansas, and Cather- ine, Fanny, Nancy, Adolphus H. and Christina (all five deceased). On July 23, 1874, Mr. Plants was married to Nancy L. Miller, and to this union one daughter, Catherine L., was born. Mr. Plants began life one of the " poorest boys imaginable," but his physical and mental strength, combined with energy and business tact, surmounted all obstacles to success, and gave him a considerable property, much of it being in lands, which he superintended and improved during his later years. Politically he was first a Jacksonian Demo- crat, then a strong Abolitionist, and finally a Re- publican. In 1840 he united with the U. P. Church, to which he always contributed liberally. His widow and daughter are living on the old home.

CHRISTIAN PLANTS was born April 22, 1822, in East Finley township, Washington Co., Penn., and

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passed his boyhood on the farm, receiving but little school education, as his parents were poor and required his assistance on the farm. He re- mained at home with them until twenty-three years of age, when he learned the gunsmith's trade, having a natural inclination for mechanical work; he also did cropping on his father's farm. On November 26, 1846, he was united in marriage with Rosanna Marshall, born July 19, 1824, a daughter of John and Nancy (McWherter) Mar- shall, of East Finley township, and she bore him three children: Leonard Martin (who died at the age of eight years) and twins, born August 7, 1861, one of whom died unnamed; the other, Robert Blachly, is a prosperous young farmer of East Finley township, residing on his father's farm; he is married to Lizzie A. Sprowls, daughter of John and Hannah (Reed) Sprowls.

After marriage Mr. Plants successfully followed the trades of watchmaker, gunsmith and stone mason, although he never served an apprenticeship at any of them, but made a practical application of his general knowledge. He has always owned some land, and has farmed on a limited scale. He is at present actively engaged in general mer- chandising, which he has followed several years. Mrs. Plants united with the U. B. Church in early life, and died in that faith January 24, 1886. Mr. Plants is also a member of the U. B. Church at Fairmount, and contributes liberally to its support. He has given valuable aid toward the development of Washington county, assisting to place her in her present position, among the foremost counties of the Keystone State. In politics he has always been a Democrat.

GEORGE PLANTS was born July 13, 1824, in East Finley township, this county, and received a lim- ited education in the common schools, which he has made the nucleus to a valuable store of general knowledge. At the age of eighteen he began to learn the mason's trade with Powers Bros., of Claysville, and served an apprenticeship of three years with them, receiving the very modest com- pensation of $12 a year. At the age of twenty- one he began life for himself, $8 in debt, but he had learned the trade, and industry soon brought success. On June 1, 1848, he was united in marriage with Mary (Goues) Seeman, of East Finley township, and the following children have come to them: Franklin (deceased April 10, 1850), Ethelinda B. (deceased), McFarlin, Mary, Eliza- beth, Clarissa (deceased), Leonard (deceased), William S., an infant son (deceased). Joseph L., Nathan C., Nancy and an infant daughter. Since his marriage Mr. Plants has farmed and followed his trade. He is a man of exemplary habits, and has acquired a comfortable competency. In pol- itics he has always been a Republican. He and

his wife are members of the U. B. Church, and he was for twelve years a trustee of the church at Fairmount.

EVI DAGUE. Among the many prominent and honored old residents of West Betble- hem township, none stands higher in the estimation of his neighbors than the above- named gentleman.

He is the only living son of John Dague, a na- tive of Maryland, born in 1788, who, when a boy, along with his brother, was brought across the mountains placed in pack-saddles, which were thrown upon the back of a mule. His father set- tled in West Bethlehem township, where John grew to manhood, and married Catherine Horn, who was born in Germany, and became one of the @ first settlers of Washington county. To them were born the following children: Jacob, Jobn, Samuel, Henry, Levi, Dewalt, George, Catherine, Elizabeth, Annie and Lavina, all of whom are now dead except Levi and Annie.

Levi Dague, the subject proper of this sketch, was born in West Bethlehem township, Washing- ton Co., Penn., May 27, 1815. His boyhood was spent in assisting in the work of the farm and at- tending school in the old log schoolhouse, of which he has a very distinct recollection, and describes minutely. After attending the German school two years, he married Rachel, daughter of Abraham Mowl, who, about the beginning of the present century, emigrated from Germany to America, set- tling in Washington county. Mr. and Mrs. Dague have the following children: Abraham, John Adams, Adelina, Solomon, Eliza Jane, Emery and Clark, and of these all except Abraham reside in Washington county. Mr. Dague has always voted the Republican ticket, and has held many offices of trust. Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and command the respect of all.

OHN ELWOOD CRUMRINE is one of West Bethlehem's most prominent farmers. His grandfather, John Crumrine, emigrated from Germany about the beginning of the present century, to Washington county, Penn., and here married. They reared the following children: John, William, David, George, Abraham, Lucinda, Sally, Polly, Susan and Marin, of whom George, David and Polly are deceased, the remaining chil- dren being all residents of this county.

George Crumrine was born in 1814, on his father's farm, situated on Daniel's run, in Bethle- hem township. He learned the carpenter's trade, and was considered one of the most skillful work- men of his time. In 1861 he built the present

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house of his son John, with no assistance but that of his boys, and to day it stands a silent but eloquent witness of his skill. He received his education at the subscription school, a small log cabin with slab seats and desks and other primitive furniture. In IS4- he married Miss Mahala Barnett, daughter of James Barnett, of Washington county, and she bore him the following children, all of whom are living: James Le Roy, Eveline, Lucy, Dora, Julia, Dellu and John Elwood.

John Elwood Crumrine was born April 4, 1858, and on February 2, 1882, he was married to Emma, daughter of John Myers, of West Bethle- hem township. Their union has been blessed with the following children: Warren, Leslie, Ethel and Grayson, all living. Mr. Crumrine is a young man of more than ordinary intelligence, and pos- sesses the esteem and cordial friendship of ull who know him. Politically his views are Demo- cratie, and he is one of the leading men in his party, while Mrs. Crumrine is as famous for her gracious hospitality, as is the name of her husband, in his circle of business acquaintances, a synonym for enterprise and honor.

W ILLIAM P. IRWIN. This gentleman, one of Carroll township's most respecta- ble and reliable citizens, claims descent from honorable Irish ancestry, one Will- iam Irwin having emigrated from Ireland to Amer- ica many years ago, settling on a large tract of land in Chester county, Penn. He was a pioneer agriculturist, and passed the remainder of his life on the farm where his children were born.

James Irwin was born in Chester county, Penn., and in 1827 came to Washington county. He was dependent upon his own exertions for a livelihood, and learned the cooper's trade; then began farming in Carroll township, Washington Co., Penn. He married Jane Morton, a resident of Chester county, Penn., and daughter of James Morton. Mr. and Mrs. Irwin were the parents of four children, all of whom are now deceased. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics he affiliated with the Democratic party.

William P. Irwin, whose name introduces this biography, was born October 12, 1815, in Chester county, Penn. His father owned forty acres of land in Carroll township, Washington Co., Penn., which William P. bought, also purchasing a lot in Monongahela City, where he erected a house. In 1850 our subject married Eliza Jane, daughter of Benjamin Dickey, a resident of Fallowfield town- ship. After purchasing his father's farm of forty acres, Mr. Irwin continued to save his earnings, and finally bought an adjoining tract of seventy acres, upon which a handsome house and other buildings have been erected. He has been en-

gaged in general farming and stock raising. Po- litically ho votes with the Democratic party, and in religion ho is a member of the Episcopal Church. He has had four children, namely: Mary Jane and Margaret (both deceased), Benjamin D., who man- ages the farm, and William Porter, also living at home.

W ILLIAM FORGIE is a Canadian by birth, a Scotchman by descent. His grand- father, Francis Forgie, a son of Scotia, probably of the Highlands, as he spoke the Gaelic dialect, was a soldier in the British army, and on his retirement from the service joined the Irish constabulary. He married a Miss McClelland, and they both died in Ireland, the parents of five sons, named respectively: Sam- .uel, William, Thomas, Francis and James, of whom the four youngest immigrated, in 1824, to Canada, making a settlement on the Bay of Quinté, in Has- tings county, upper Canada (now Ontario). From Montrenl to their new home they poled np the St. Lawrence what was known as a "Durham scow." The nearest mill to their place of settlement was at. Kingston, some sixty miles east, and thither they had to take their wheat in sacks slung over the back of an ox, they walking alongside, and as there were at that time no roads they had to be guided by the sun to their destination. Of these stalwart young men, William followed limbering, and was drowned while rafting in the Moira river, which empties into the Bay of Quinte (he had crossed the ocean several times).

Francis Forgie, father of our subject, became a farmer. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Mulholland, a Methodist minister in Ireland, where he died (his widow immigrated to Canada with her only son-who was drowned in the St. Lawrence- und four daughters, Eliza, Rebecca, Mary and Elizabeth, and lived to an advanced age, dying an earnest Christian, devoted to her faith). After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Francis Forgie continued to reside on their farm in Canada. They were the parents of six children, viz. : Isabella. married to Thomas E. Bell, of Peterboro county, Ontario; John and James, in Pittsburgh; Mary J., wife of John McCaw, of Hastings county, Ontario; Will- iam, the subject of this sketch, and Thomas Ed- ward, who died when young. The mother of this family died in 1854, and in 1862 the father mar- ried a Miss Ramsey, who bore him two sons: Frank (working with his half-brother, William), and Samuel C. (deceased). She died in 1868, a member of the M. E. Church; the father passed away in 1887 at the age of seventy-seven years.

William Forgie, the subject proper of this memoir, was born March 17, 1850, in the township of Thurlow, county of Hastings, Ontario, and his

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education was received at the common schools of the neighborhood of his birthplace. Until twenty years of age he worked on the home farm, and then proceeded to Red river, in the "Northwest," along with the troops sent out to quell the Riel rebellion of that year. He and a neighbor, William Mc- Cready, had been comrades in the Argyle Light Infantry, of Belleville, Ontario, and when volun- teers were called to suppress this rebellion, they joined the First Ontario Rifles. In the "North- west" they served two years, and had a taste of the winters out there, which were remarkable for their severity. In 1873 Mr. Forgie came to the United States, making his first home here at Parker's Landing, on the Allegheny river, where he was employed as an oil producer, in which, during the twelve years he was engaged in the business, he met with varied success. In 1886 he came to Washington, where for a time he contin- ued his oil speculations, and in 1887 he embarked in the manufacture of oil and gas well rig irons, cants, arms and pins, etc. He also turns out a large number of the far-famed and most useful sand reel and tool-wrenching jack (of which he is the patentee), vast improvements on anything of the kind hitherto made, and which add very materially to the convenience and profit of the trade.

In 1876 Mr. Forgie married, in Parker's Land- ing, Miss Henry, who died in September, 1878, leaving a six months-old son, who followed his mother in September, 1879. Our subject married, in 1889, Miss Ida Belle Lytle, daughter of Robert Lytle, of Donegal township. The family resi- dence, which Mr. Forgie recently built, in Wash- ington, is situated on Hall avenue. Politically he is a Republican, in sentiment a free-trader: while in Canada he was an Orangeman and a Presby- terian, and he is still an ardent advocate of Prot- estant rights and religious principles.

FRANKLIN P. SCOTT, M. D., a promi- nent and successful physician of Mononga- hela, was born December 26, 1839, in Somer- set township, Washington, Co., Penn., a son of John Scott, whose father, William Scott, was a farmer of Washington county, and died in North Strabane township, in politics a Democrat and in religion a member of the Presbyterian Church.

John Scott was born on the home place in Washington county, Penn., and attended the public schools, afterward teaching for several years. He married Lydia, daughter of George Pees, a tombstone cutter, and who also followed farming. John Scott and his wife settled in Somerset township, this county, and afterward moved to Washington borough, where they died. They had the following children: Mary, George,

Franklin P., Lydia J. (deceased wife of Lewis Dague), Sarah E. (since deceased). William J. (living in Washington county, Ohio), Jolın R., and Winifred (both living in Ford county, Ill.). Mr. Scott voted with the Democratic party, and for several years, in Somerset township, served as justice of the peace, also for a time as associate judge. He was a member of and elder in the Presbyterian Church in Somerset township, and on removing to Washington borough, united with the U. P. Church at that place, in which he was an elder until his death.

Dr. Franklin P. Scott passed his earlier boyhood in Somerset township, where he received his primary education at the common schools. After the family removed to Washington borough, he at- tended the public schools there, and then taught for four years, afterward studying the langnages under John Messenger. He then entered the of- fice of Dr. Boyd Emery, at Dunningsville, Penn., and in 1859 attended Jefferson Medical College. Upon leaving that institution he took a course at the University of Louisville, graduating from there in 1871, and in 1889 he took a degree at the Medico Chirurgical College of Philadelphia. Dr. Scott first began the practice of his profession at Mount Morris, Greene Co., Penn., where he re- mained for three years, and in 1863 removed to Claysville, Donegal township, this county. In 1877 he came to his present home in Monongahela, and is now enjoying a highly Incrative practice.

In 1860 Dr. Scott was married to Amelia, daugh- er of Samuel Pugh. of Mercer county, Penn, whose wife was formerly a Miss Vanghn. One child was born to the union of Dr. and Amelia Scott-Emma L., a graduate of the Washington Female Seminary. She is now the wife of W. L. Gaston, and the mother of two children, Mernie and Franklin S. In 1865 Dr. Scott married, for his second wife, Jennie A., daughter of Stephen Corkle, of Claysville, this county, and they have one danghter, Anna R., a graduate of the Female Col- lege and Conservatory of Music at Pittsburgh. After her graduation Miss Scott was elected a member of the Faculty. Dr. Scott is a hearty ad- vocate of the principles embodied in the platform of the Democratic party, and in religion is a mem- ber of the M. E. Church, of the board of trus- tees of which he has served as a member for sev- eral years.

M RS. SARAH D. HAWKINS is a daughter of Henry Myers, a native of Maryland, born in 1808. He married Elizabeth Drake, who was born March 14, 1820, also in Maryland, and they had children as follows: Sarah D. (Mrs. Hawkins), Eli (a farmer in West Bethlehem township), Mary I. (living with

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her brother Alva on the old homestead), and Walter (living in Washington county). The father of this family was a successful farmer; in politics he voted with the Republican party. He died September 13, 1890, and the mother followed him January 29, 1891. She was a member of the Lutheran Church. Of the children of this family, Sarah D. was born August 22, 1844, in Wost Bethlehem township, this county, and on January 12, 1865, was married to Joseph H. Hawkins, a record of whose grand- father, William Hawkins, will be found on page 379.

John Hawkins, father of Joseph H., was born ou the old homestead in this county, and received his education at the subscription schools. On December 10 1829; ho was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Young, who bore him three children, namely: William (deceased), Samuel A. (farming in Somerset township), and Joseph H. (deceased). The mother died April 26, 1834, and for his second wife Mr. Hawkins married Susanna Farmer, who was born August 31, 1807, in Columbiana county, Ohio, and the following children came to their union: Jerusha N., born July 23, 1837; Sarah (wife of Milton Patterson, living in Beallsville, Penn.), born March 3, 1839; John W., born October 4, 1842; Mary E. (married to Joseph H. Rogers, of Somerset township), born December 1. 1844; Martha J. (wife of James M. Miller, of Allegheny county, Penn.), born February 17, 1847, and Rebecca, born February 3, 1850 (deceased). The father was a prominent farmer; he was an active member of the Republican party, serving his township in various offices. He died April 17, 1880, being preceded by the mother October 1, 1876.

Joseph H. Hawkins was born April 26, 1834, in Somerset township, this county, grew to manhood on the home farm, and attended the district schools of the neighborhood. After his marriage to Miss Sarah D. Myers, the young couple settled in Somerset township, where two children were born to them, viz .: Jennie N., born May 13, 1866 (died August 4, 1888), and Shannon, born March 9, 1875. Mr. Hawkins was actively interested in all progressive movements, and politically he voted with the Republican party.

丁 HOMAS M. WILEY, senior member of the well-known furniture firm, in Washington, of Thomas M. Wiley & Son, is a native of the borough, born in October, 1824. His grandfather, who was a Virginian by birth, was married to Elizabeth Tannehill, daughter of a Maryland planter, who at the time of the Revolu- tion was loyal to England. William Wiley, father of Thomas M., a bricklayer by trade, married Martha, a daughter of Massy Harbison, who 69

was the mother of eleven children, two of whom were killed by the Indians within view of their mother, who was captured by them, and whose wonderful escape from captivity is related else- where. William Wiley had born to him children, as follows: John and Martha (both deceased), Thomas M., Henry, Maria, Frank, Ellen, William and Annie (all in Washington).

Thomas M. Wiley received his education at the public schools of his native town, and while a boy learned the trade of cabinet maker. In 1850 he paid a visit to California, where he remained two years. In 1855 he commenced the business of cabinet making on his own account, in Wheel ing, W. Va., where he remained ten years, at the end of which time he returned to Washing- ton and opened a small store, from which devel- oped his present mammoth establishment. In 1876 he received his son, James C., into partnership, and in 1878 he erected his present handsome block, on Main street, all now occupied as a furniture store.

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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 231

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