Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 3

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 3

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J. W. Stepliens, whose name appears at the opening of this sketch, was born December 14, 1823, on the banks of the Monongahela river, at Lock No. 3, in Allegheny county, Penn., on a farm then owned by his father, afterward by his father's brother, Nathaniel, and by him sold to Hon. James G. Blaine, to whose estate it still belongs. When about six or seven years of age our subject's father purchased a farm and removed to Jefferson town- ship, Fayette Co., Penn., on which he subse- quently established the Fayette Nurseries, which he continued to carry on while he lived, our sub- ject assisting him in this business, except while absent at school. He was educated at the public schools and at Alleglieny College, Meadville, Penn.

In 1848 he left his father's home to engage in the foundry business with an uncle, Richard Miller, of Uniontown, Penn. While here he was married to Martha Jane Bentley, a daughter of Sheshbaz- zor Bentley, of Bentleyville, Washington Co., Penn. This Mr. Bentley was a descendant of an early settler in that region of country who married first a Miss Moore, a sister of Daniel Moore, a prom- inent citizen of Washington, Penn., and well known in his day by his connection and interest in the old stage coach lines of the National Road. Mr. Ben- tley's second wife (Martha Jane's mother) was a Mrs. Hannah Kenworthy (nee Hannah Cleaver). Shortly after his marriage J. W. Stephens sold out his interest in the foundry business to his uncle, and removed to Bentleyville, Penn., where he con- tinued to reside for many years, except two years he spent on a farm purchased by him in Allegheny county, same State. While residing here, farming has been his chief pursuit, but he was also engaged

WASHINGTON COUNTY.

for some years in merchandising. In the spring of 1889 he retired from all active business, and re- moved to Monongahela, where he now resides. John W. Stephens is the father of six children, two of whom died in their childhood -- the eldest (a daughter) in her fifth, and the youngest (a son) in his third year. Four sons are living: Franklin Moore, the eldest son, born November 2, 1854, was educated in the public schools, Mt. Union College, Ohio, Washington College, Penn., and subsequently, in the spring of 1887, graduated in the medical department of the Pennsylvania University, at Philadelphia. Immediately thereafter he was offered and accepted the position of resident phy- sician and surgeon in the Robert Packer Hospital, at Sayre, Bradford Co., Penn. Two years there- after he was chosen general superintendent of said hospital, which position he still holds. William Pusey, the second son, born May 2, 1857, was educated in the public schools, and remained on the farm with his parents until after arriving at full age. On February 8, 1881, he was united in mar- riage to Elizabeth J. White, daughter of John F. White, of Bentleyville. Soon after he engaged in merchandising, first in Bentleyville, and then re- moved to Monongahela City, where he continued for some years in business. He is now associated with two other brothers in the lumber business. Charles Edgar, the third son, born January 27, 1860, while yet in his "teens," went into Neal Blythe & Co.'s planing mill at Monongahela City, where he learned the carpenter's trade and worked for some years as a journeyman. In 1887 he bought an interest in said mill and business, and contin- ued therein as a partner for five years; when finding the firm was doing a losing business, he withdrew, selling out his interest to the firm at considerable sacrifice. A few months thereafter he and Thomas S. Neal, under the firm name of Neal & Stephens, entered as co-partners into the lumber business, and in a few months thereafter his brothers-William P. and Henry B .-- purchased his partner's interest, and the firm of Stephens Bros. was formed. Henry Bentley, the fourth and youngest son, born November 19, 1862, is now the junior partner of the firm of Stephens Bros.

In politics John W. Stephens has always been a Republican, joining it in its first organization, and attended its first convention, held in Pittsburgh in 1856. During the Civil war he was draft com- missioner, and made the first military draft for Washington county. In 1878 he was elected a member of the State Legislature by a flattering vote, his colleagues being Hon. Findley Patterson and Hon. John C. Messenger, Democrats. While an earnest Republican he has not been a place seeker. He and his wife have long been members of the M. E. Church. He is modest, honest, frank

and manly; a self-respecting Christian gentle- man, having the confidence and respect of an ex- tensive acquaintance.

G ENERAL JAMES B. RUPLE is descended from German ancestry, who emigrated from the Fatherland to this country at a very early date. Baltis Ruple, grandfather of James B., came from Morris county, N. J., to Washington county, where he died in 1795, the year following his arrival. His residence was in Philadelphia during the Revolutionary war. He had been twice married, his second wife being a Miss Anna McCollum, who bore him the following named five children: James, David, Elizabeth, Mary and Margaret; the children by his first mar- riage were Ruth, John and Samuel. Both families are now all deceased. The widowed mother sub- sequently married Maj. Charles Cracraft, who had been an Indian warrior upon the frontier in the dark days, and who had been their captive upon more than one occasion.

Col. James Ruple, the eldest son of Baltis and Anna (McCollum) Ruple, was born February 18, 1788, in New Jersey, and was consequently about six years old when he came to this county with his father. He received a fair educational training at the subscription schools of the period, and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, which he followed in Washington county; some years before his death he commenced the manufacturing of brick, and continued the business until the year before his death. In 1809 he married Diana Goodrich, a native of New York (near the Con- necticut line), daughter of Jesse Goodrich, whose ancestry came to America in 1648. Two brothers Goodrich emigrated from England in that year, one of whom, at the instance of a relative whose heir he was, started to return, but was lost at sea; the other brother, John, settled in Connecticut. Jesse Goodrich came to Washington county in the early part of this century. To Col. and Mrs. James Ruple were born twelve children, of whom the fol- lowing is a brief record: Elizabeth is the deceased wife of John Ruth, of Washington county; James B. is the subject of this sketch; Minerva is the widow of Henry M. Bristor, and now lives in Ohio; Joseph C. died recently in this county ; Dr. Samuel H. is in Illinois; Sarah is the deceased wife of William Acheson; Rebecca, married to Rev. L. P.

Streator, Anna, married to John D. Braden, and John, are all living in Washington; David, Henry and Ruth are deceased. The father died January 8, 1855, the mother in 1885, aged eighty-six years, less one month. James Ruple served in the war of 1812-15, as adjutant of a Pennsylvania regi- ment, and was assigned to service on the Niagara

WASHINGTON COUNTY.

frontier, but his health becoming impaired, and his regiment having disbanded, he returned home. In 1814, when the city of Baltimore was attacked by the British, he set out to aid in its defense in com- mand of a company, but before reaching his desti- nation was recalled, together with the rest of the forces from Washington county. After the close of this war he was promoted to colonel in the uni- formed militia, and commanded a regiment for many years. In his political preferences he was a Jackson Democrat. From 1817 to 1820 he served as coroner. From 1828 to 1835, and from 1839 to 1842, he was clerk of the county courts.

Gen. James B. Ruple was born June 3, 1812, in Washington, Washington Co., Penn., and is consequently now (March, 1893) over fourscore years old, but is hale and hearty, well preserved, both physically and mentally. When a boy he had to do his share of work at times when not attending the subscription schools of the, then, village. At the age of twelve he commenced to assist his father in the shop, who in addition to his regular business was making fanning mills. The times were then, and had been for many years, very dull, money scarce and all kinds of business depressed. Wheat dull at 25 cents a bushel; oats, 10 to 12 cents; flour, 75 cents a hundred weight (112 pounds); eggs, 2 cents a dozen; country-cured hams, 2} cents a pound; with other products and labor in the same proportion-the result of a tariff for revenue only. The woven-wire screens for the mills required the cash to purchase them in Pittsburgh, which was a very heavy draft upon a small business, and he determined to try its manufacture at home. The apparatus he con- structed for that purpose proved a success, and he aided his father in weaving the wire for the mills. In 1826, after years of depression, business revived generally, and money began to circulate rather freely. The wire manufacturing increased by the making of rolling screens for flouring mills, sieves, riddles, and to which he added the making of wire rat and mouse traps, fenders for fireplaces and other articles, and it became a fairly remunerative business. In fact, he earned while a boy, nearly a man's wages. But "there is no rose without its thorn "-when fourteen years of age young Ruple became afflicted with a disease which left him par- tially crippled for several years.

When more advanced in years he became a clerk in one of the county offices, in which capacity he served for a time. In 1832 he went to Greenbrier county, Va., where he engaged in the manufacture of fanning mills. After closing that business early in the winter of 1835-36, at the request of Mr. John A. North, clerk of the court of appeals of the Western District of Virginia, he took a situation in his office for a few months, and returned to Washington in the spring. Upon his return he accepted a clerk-

ship in the postoffice, which was at that time one of the heaviest distributing offices in the country. The long hours of labor and the close confinement induced him to leave it in the summer and engage in carpentering, which he followed until the en- suing winter. Shortly after, he went South, to Louisiana, where he was much pleased with his prospects, but in the summer he was seized with the malaria, so prevalent in that section, and was compelled to return to the North. In the fall of that year (1837), in company with T. B. Bryson, he engaged in cabinet making; in the summer of 1838, the disease he contracted in the South still affecting him, he was obliged to withdraw from the business on account of his health. Having been appointed to a clerkship in the office of the Sec- retary of the Commonwealth, he proceeded to Harrisburg in January, 1839, and served under Gov. David R. Porter until 1845.

Prior to the expiration of his term of clerkship he had bought a one-half interest in the Washing- ton Examiner, a weekly newspaper, and for four years was connected with that journal as partner of T. W. Grayson. In 1852 he was appointed deputy sheriff by John McAlister, sheriff of the county, doing most of the business of the office for three years, after which he was for two years act- ing prothonotary of the court of common pleas for W. S. Moore, during the latter's illness; in 1857 he was elected to the office, was reelected in 1860, serving, in all, eight years. Gen. Ruple was originally a Democrat, but in 1854 he left the ranks of that party and identified himself with the Re- publicans. In February, 1867, he was appointed, by President Andrew Johnson, Assessor of Internal Revenue for his District (24th Pennsylvania), in which incumbency he served four years, since when the aged gentleman, so much honored in his county, has lived retired, except in local munici- pal positions, wearing his well-earned laurels with dignified modesty. In his military connections, the General was, in 1836, elected captain of a vol- unteer company, and in 1846 was appointed, by Gov. Shunk, one of his aids with the rank of lieu- tenant-colonel, a position he filled during the lat- ter's governorship. In 1855 he was elected and commissioned a general in the militia.

On September 24, 1839, General Ruple was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A., daughter of Charles Mayes, one of the old settlers of the county. The last male member of the Mayes family to pass away was the far-famed Squire Joseph F. Mayes, of whom it is said that during his official lifetime he united in wedlock more than 2,000 couples. To the General and his wife were born seven children, as follows: Charles M. (a sketch of whom follows); James Goodrich, district passenger agent for the Pennsylvania Company, at Pittsburgh, Penn .; Virginia, widow of Rev. J.

WASHINGTON COUNTY.

J. Jones (she now resides in Washington, Penn.); Anna M., living with her parents and engaged in mercantile business (she taught school for near- ly twenty years); Frank W., in Columbus, Ga., with the Central Railroad; Katharine, wife of Will- iam M. Thompson, a farmer in Fayette county, Penn .; and Etta M., wife of Dr. A. J. Culbert- son, in Washington. Our subject and his faithful wife have lived in the same house since 1852, in which year it was built. He became a member of the I. O. O. F. in 1841, and in 1852 was elected grand representative to the Grand Lodge of the United States, being the first representative in that body from the western part of the State. In 1843-44 he was D. D. G. M. of the Harrisburg district, and of the Washington district in 1845- 46-47-48. In 1848 he was entered a F. & A. M.

CHARLES M. RUPLE, Esq., was born June 14, 1840, at Harrisburg, Penn., where his father was serving as clerk in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of the State.

He was four years old when his parents came with their family to Washington county, and here lie received his primary education at the common schools of the neighborhood, after which he at- tended Washington (now Washington and Jeffer- son) College, leaving, however, without graduat- ing. He graduated at the common schools, and was the valedictorian of his class, under A. M. Gow, who was then principal. Mr. Ruple then entered the office of the prothonotary in Washing- ton, where he remained till the spring of 1864. While in said office he cominenced the study of law with Robert H. Koontz, then a prominent at- torney of Washington, and later he acted as dep- uty-prothonotary for a time. He then removed to Beaver county, same State, where he was clerk in the office of Capt. John Cuthbertson till May 1, 1865. Returning to Washington, Mr. Koontz having in the meantime died, he renewed the reading of law under the preceptorship of Boyd Crumrine, and was admitted to the bar of Wash- ington in 1866. In the same year he was ap- pointed, by Governor Curtin, a notary public, holding the office until 1883, when he was elected a justice of the peace, and re-elected in 1888. Up- on the expiration of his term in 1893, he formed a law partnership with T. Mc K. Hughes, Esq., under the firm name of Hughes & Ruple. For some five years prior to this election to the office last spoken of, he was deputy clerk of the courts.

In April, 1877, Squire Ruple was married to to Miss Lide J. Moore, of Monongahela City, daughter of David Moore, who died there in 1867 -in fact Mrs. Ruple is the only member of the Moore family now living. No children have been born to Squire and Mrs. Ruple. Our subject is a stanchi Republican and an earnest worker for his party. In 1887 he was a candidate for the office

of prothonotary in the convention, but was de- feated. He has been borough auditor several times, and until the election of Judge McIlvaine he had served as clerk for the "return judges " almost from boyhood. In 1874, under the new law, he was chosen assistant to the court, and served as such up to the end of Judge Hart's term.

R OBERT W. CRISWELL. Perhaps there is no better-known citizen and farmer in Hanover township than the gentleman whose name opens this sketch. He is the son of William, whose father was George Criswell. The latter was a native of western Maryland, and in early days came west in company with two brothers to find a suitable place for locating. His two brothers selected Venango county, Penn., and George settled near Canons- burg, Washington Co., Penn., where he married, and reared a family of six children, namely: Robert, lived to an adult age and died in Hanover township; William, of whom further mention is made; John, a carpenter by trade, died in Canonsburg when a young man; James, lived in Guernsey county, Ohio, and died near Cambridge, and two daughters, whose names are not given. The parents died in Cecil township, this county, where their latter days were passed. Very little is known concerning them, as they died when the children were young.

William Criswell was born August 25, 1792, near Canonsburg, Cecil township, Washington Co., Penn. The "battle of life" began rather early with the members of this family, who met with inany rebuffs. William was desirous of earning an honest living, and deciding to learn a trade, signed articles of agreement with an old hatter in Canonsburg, with whom he completed his trade, and worked there a short time afterward. In 1817 he came to Briceland's Cross Roads, now known as Florence. The place then contained only four houses, and here he began a prosperous business for himself. About 1819 he was married to Sarah Lyle, who bore him the following chil- dren: Maria (deceased wife of Jackson McClelland), William (deceased, a hatter by trade) and Harriet (married to Mahlon S. Stokes, of Beaver, Penn., now living at Bryn Mawr, a beautiful suburb of Philadelphia, Penn.). The mother died, and in 1837 Mr. Criswell married for his second wife Sarah, daughter of Robert Wallace, who bore him two children, Robert W. and Sarah A. (Mrs. R. S. Work, of Florence) .. After his location in Flor- ence, Mr. Criswell devoted his entire time to his trade, and being an expert mechanic, work was plenty. In 1855 he abandoned his trade and began farming upon a small piece of land, which he had previously bought, lying a short distance

WASHINGTON COUNTY.

west of Florence, and making two additional purchases, soon owned a pleasant place. In 1865 he returned to Florence, and led a retired life until his death, which occurred June 1, 1881. His remains were laid to rest in the Presbyterian cemetery, by the side of his wife who had passed away in about 1854. Prior to 1832 Mr. Criswell was a Democrat. About that time Andrew Jack. son took part in a duel, which incident served to change the political views of Mr. Criswell, and he joined the Whigs, remaining with them until the Republican party was formed, when he joined their forces, and remained one of their number until his death.

Robert W. Criswell, whose name opens this sketch, was born December 7, 1838, on the same farm in Hanover township where he is now living. His boyhood days were passed in farm work and carpentry, of which he had secured a general knowledge. His early education was received in the common schools, afterward attending a short time at the high school. On September 13, 1861, he enlisted at Florence, in Company A, Eighty- fifth Regiment, P. V. I. He first went to Wash- ington, Penn., tlience to Washington, D. C .; and was for some time at Camp Good Hope, on the east branch of the Potomac river, assisting there in the construction of fortifications. In 1862 he was with Gen. McClellan, along the Peninsula, and at the close of the Peninsular campaign, Com- panies A and F were detached, and sent to Point Lookout for guard duty at the hospital near the mouth of the Potomac river. In January, 1863, he rejoined his regiment at New Berne, N. C .; in February went to South Carolina, taking part in the siege of Charleston, and capture of Fort Sum- ter and Morris Island. He was wounded May 31, 1862, at the battle of Fair Oaks or Seven Pines, having also participated in the battles of White Oak Swamp and Malvern Hill. In April, 1864, was returned to the army of the Potomac, taking part in the. later operations around Petersburg. He was detailed at Portsmouth, Va., October, 1864, on the "first exchange of 10,000," and received an honorable discharge December 22, 1864, at Pittsburgh, Penn., having served the full time from the date of his enlistment, and having taken no furloughs. He returned to his native county, and on May 4, 1865, was married to Harriet L. Tucker, born in 1841, the third daughter of David and Sarah (Watt) Tucker, of Hanover township. Mr. and Mrs. Criswell have had two children: John T. and Sarah B., both of whom are living at home. Their parents first located on the farm where they are now residing, which is one-quarter of a mile west of Florence, this county. In 1873 they moved to Allegheny City, Penn., where he worked at car-building in the P. Ft. W. & C. R. R. shops, then entered the employ of the Allegheny

Car & Transportation Company at Wilkinsburgh and Swissvale. He then returned to Hanover township, this county, and for some time lived with his father-in-law, David Tucker, entering into a partnership with Resin C. Tucker in carpentering and contracting. In April, 1876, he again located on the home place in Hanover township, where he has since resided, devoting his attention to general farming and stock raising. Mr. Criswell is a fine conversationalist and well posted on current topics, having an excellent and retentive memory. In politics he is one of the leading advisers and coun- selors of the Republican party, having served as assessor, and was a census enumerator of the Eleventh District. Mr. Criswell is also a member of the Capt. Campbell Post, No. 286, Burgetts- town, G. A. R. He is one of the most active mem- bers of Tucker's M. E. Church, holding several important offices, and is one of the substantial workers of the congregation.

M AJOR ANDREW GARDNER HAPPER. This gentleman, so widely and reputably known in Washington county, in connec- tion with insurance and real estate inter- ests, traces his ancestry to about the middle of the last century.

John Happer, born in 1745, died August 25, 1818, married March 17, 1778, Margaret Patton, who was born in 1753 and died May 12, 1838. Their children were: Andrew, born February 15, 1779; Agnes, born February 21, 1781, died August 23, 1850; Baptist, born July 15, 1783, died July 4, 1833; John, Jr., born January 14, 1786, died August 8, 1808; Jane (1), born May 16, 1789, died November 24, 1791; Samuel, born June 14, 1791, died April 30, 1812, and Jane (2), born Septem- ber 11, 1793, died November 26, 1819.

Baptist Happer married, September 27, 1808, Miss Ann Arrell, a native of Pennsylvania, born February 9, 1784, and died at Mt. Hope, same State, January 19, 1848. Their children were: Sarah, born September 11, 1809; John Patton, born March 16, 1811; Samuel, born April 13, 1813; John Arrell, born October 1, 1816; Andrew Pat- ton, born October 20, 1818; James Edward, born February 2, 1821, and Margaret Jane, born June 12, 1823. Of these Sarah married Rev. Thomas Galt, and lived in Sangamon county, Ill. (she had six children); Samuel married Sarah Curry, of Albany, Whiteside Co., Ill. (they had seven chil- dren); Andrew Patton married Elizabeth Ball, and is a resident of Canton, China (they had seven children); James Edward married Mary Gardner, and lived in Sangamon county, Ill. (she had six children); Margaret Jane married David Breading Arrell, and resides in Whiteside county, Ill. (she had eight children).

WASHINGTON COUNTY.

John Arrell Happer married May 10, 1838, Miss Violet Gardner, who was born March 24, 1818, and they made their home in Union township, this county, where they shared life's joys and sorrows till death separated them. The names and dates of birth of their children are as follows: Andrew Gardner, August 15, 1839; Anna Margaret, Octo- ber 14, 1841; Mary Belle, October 12, 1843; James Breading, June 25, 1846; Francis A., January 10, 1848; Oliver Paulinus, May 22, 1850; Sarah Eliza- beth, March 12, 1853; John Wilner, January 23, 1858; and Ella Blanche, February 19, 1860. Of these Anna Margaret married Rev. John J. Bea- com, a Presbyterian minister of Allegheny county, Penn. ; Mary Belle married Dr. George Chessman, a physician of Allegheny county, Penn .; Francis A. married Emily F. Foster, and lives at Wash- ington D. C. The father of this family died in 1890, aged seventy-four years; the mother is living with one of her sons on the old homestead in Union township.

Andrew Gardner Happer was born in Union township, Washington Co., Penn., August 15, 1839. At the common schools of the district he received a thorough general literary training, and in 1859 he entered Washington College, where he was engaged in his studies when the Civil war broke out, abruptly interrupting his deep drinking at the "Pierian spring." In August, 1861, fired with innate patriotism, he enlisted in Company K, First P. V. C., from which, in March, 1862, he was transferred, with rank of first lieutenant, to the Eleventh P. V. I., serving till November 7, 1865, when he was honorably discharged with the rank of major. Throughout his entire term of service he was on duty along the Potomac, and partici- pated in the following battles: 1862-Thorough- fare Gap, August 28; Second Bull Run, August 30; Chantilly, Va., September 1; South Mountain, September 14; Antietam, September 17; Fred- ericksburg, July 1 to 3 .- 1864-Wilderness, May 5 to 7. At Antietam he was slightly wounded, but kept the ranks; at the battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864, he was struck with a bullet (which he still carries) and was taken prisoner. Major Hap- per's war record is as follows: Mustered into Company K, First P. V. C., September 6, 1861; promoted first lieutenant, Company G, Eleventh P. V. I., March 11, 1862; promoted captain Com- pany I, of same regiment, in March, 1864. After his discharge from the army, Major Happer returned to Washington county, where he received the ap- pointment of assessor of inland revenue, holding office from 1866 to 1871, his residence being, during the term, in Monongahela City. On retiring from this, he at once embarked in the real estate and insurance business in Washington borough, where he has made his home since 1870. His residence, one of the handsomest in the place, is built of

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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 3

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