Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 4

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 4

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Cleveland stone. It is situated on East Wheeling street. In 1878 he was married to Miss Matilda M., daughter of the late James Watson, Esq., of Wash- ington. Politically, our subject is a Republican. He has been secretary of the Western Pennsyl- vania Agricultural Association for some fifteen years; the present association is some seven years old, only, and Major Happer has done much to place it among the best and most prominent in- stitutions of the kind in the State. Socially, he is a member of Templeton Post, G. A. R., and of the Loyal Legion, an association composed of army officers honorably discharged. Since the begin- ning of the oil industry in and around Washing ton, he has taken an active part in the develop- ment of the field.

S TEPHEN B. DAY. Artemus Day, the great-grandfather of this gentleman, was of Scotch-Irish descent, and served as captain during the Revolutionary war. He took part in several engagements under Gen. Washing- ton, and died about 1774, leaving Bethany Day, his widow, in New Jersey, with ten children, viz. : Axtell, Bethuel, Artemus, Luther, Daniel, Parme- lia, Lydia, Mary, Sarah and Phœbe. In 1789 Mrs. Day and her children bade adieu to their home, and moving west settled on the headwaters of Ten-Mile creek, in Washington county, Penn., where they toiled bravely for a livelihood until the war of 1812 began, when the fifth son, Daniel, enlisted as a soldier. At the close of the war he returned home and settled on Ruff's creek, Greene Co., Penn.

Luther Day, son of Artemus Day, was born in 1773 in New Jersey, came west with the family, and after remaining a few years was united in marriage with Mary Van Kirk. The young couple then settled near Sparta, Morris township, this county, where he engaged in the business then most common among the early settlers-farming and distilling. He followed this vocation till about 1833-34, when the tidal wave of a mighty reform spread over the country; the temperance cause swept everything before it, revivals of re- ligion were held in every church and almost every household; the whole land was roused, and Luther Day caught the inspiration. He signed the pledge, joined the church, burned his stillhouse and still- tubs, crushed to earth the worm so long harbored in his dwelling, and then became, as he ever after remained, an ardent worker in the cause of Chris- tianity and temperance. He began teaching school, which vocation he followed in the winters for many years, working on the farm in summer. Being a good reader, he was selected by the congregation of the Upper Ten-Mile Church to read sermons for them during the absence of a pastor, and in

WASHINGTON COUNTY.

this position aroused the members to fresh enthu- siasm. He died in 1875, leaving a family of seven children: William (who married Sarah Patterson, and. they were the parents of seven children); Daniel (wedded to Lavina Clutter); Priscilla (wife of Franklin McVay, had four children); Arvida (married to Elizabeth Baldwin, and they were the parents of five children); Lavina (wife of Demas Lindley); Maria (married to Ira Dille, and had three children); and Artemus (married to Eliza Day, a distant relative, and had one child).

Daniel Day was born in 1814 on the home farm, and at the age of twenty-three was united in mar- riage with Lavina Clutter, to which union were born six children. Mrs. Day died in 1855, and in 1861 he married Catherine Gantz, who bore him four children. Mr. Day had the following family: Children of first wife-Miranda (Mrs. L. W. Day), Priscilla (deceased), Stephen B. (subject), Wade J. (united in marriage with Ella Iams), Celesta (de- ceased) and Martha (wife of John Caldwell; she had moved to Aleppo township, Greene Co., Penn., and died leaving four children). Mr. Day's chil- dren by the second wife were: one that died in in- fancy; Samuel L. (married to Lizzie McCarroll); Margaret (Mrs. William Clutter), and Lavina. Mrs. Catherine Day died in 1887, leaving him a widower the second time. He now lives with his son, Sam- uel, on the farm where he was born.

Stephen B. Day is the eldest son of Daniel Day, and was born in Morris township, Washington Co., Penn., January 19, 1842. He remained on the home farm until the Civil war began, and then, August 14, 1861, enlisted in Capt. A. J. Green- field's company, Ringgold Battalion, afterward. called Company B, Twenty-second P. V. C. He served thirty-eight months, and, though taking an active part in many engagements, was neither wounded nor taken prisoner; on one occasion, however, his horse was shot from under him, and several comrades were at the same time killed. After his return from the war he lived for some time in Morris township with his father, teaching school during the winters and working on the farm in the summers, till he was twenty-seven years of age. On December 17, 1868, he was united in marriage with Rebecca J. Closser, who has borne him six children: Ransom M., born April 30, 1870 (at the age of nineteen he entered the Southwest- ern State Normal School at California, Penn., and was graduated therefrom July 1, 1891; also grad- uated in the commercial course at the Duquesne College, Pittsburgh, June 22, 1892; on June 28 of same year he was married to Minnie H., daugh- ter of John Chambers, and granddaughter of ex- Judge Chambers, of Amwell township); Margaret I., born September 11, 1871 (at the age of fifteen she became a member of the Christian Church at Lone Pine; on September 28, 1892, she was united

in marriage at the home of her parents, by Rev. I. N. Fry, to Albert S., son of William B. Croth- ers, of Taylorstown, Washington Co., Penn.); Min- nie L., born May 20, 1873 (she also united with the church at an early age, and on December 24, 1891, was married at Cumberland, Md., by Rev. Miller, to James Dever); and Daniel C., born June 10, 1875, Herschell Mc., born August 17,. 1881, and Florence M., born June 29, 1887, all three at present living with their parents. The principles of Republicanism and temperance were instilled into the mind of our subject by his par- ents, and he has remained an earnest worker in the Republican party. After his marriage he re- moved to the farm in Amwell township owned by his father-in-law (Daniel Closser), where he now resides.

UDGE ALEXANDER WILSON ACHESON. This eminent jurist, who, during his long life, was identified with all the leading interests of Washington county and the town of Washington, was born July 15, 1809, in Phila- delphia, and died July 10, 1890, in Washington, Penn., "in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season."

The Achesons are of Scottish extraction. The family name originated most likely in the old cus- tom of adding to the Christian name that of the father, by way of distinction. At first the name was probably Archieson-thereby naming the son of Archie, an abbreviation of Archibald-the patrony- mic expressing the name of the ancestral chief, or head of the clan.

The Acheson family came originally from Gos- ford, Haddingtonshire, Scotland. One Archibald Acheson, who was educated to the law, became Secretary of State for Scotland, and was advanced to a baronetcy, obtained from King James I. of England large grants of land in several of the counties of Ulster, Ireland, which led to the per- manent settlement of the Acheson family in the northern part of that country. The forefather of the present generation in Washington county was John, a full cousin to Sir Archibald Acheson, and he, about the year 1604, accompanied the Gosford family from Scotland to Ireland, and settled in Glassdrummond, where the family has ever since lived. The family seat was in County Armagh, em- bracing the castellated town of Market Hill. In 1776 Sir Archibald Acheson, a lineal descendant of the Sir Archibald of King Jaines' time, was elevated to the peerage as Baron Gosford, and afterward became a viscount. His successor was created an earl in 1806, and, dying the following year, was succeeded by his son, Archibald Acheson, the late Lord Gosford, at one time Governor- general of Canada, who was made a peer of the

a IVAchesans

WASHINGTON COUNTY.

United Kingdom, under the title of Baron War- lingham, afterward changed to Baron Acheson. The Scotch and Scotch-Irish were, and are yet un- der certain conditions, remarkable for longevity, and the Acheson family were no exception. The great-great grandmother (Little) of Judge Alexan- der W. Acheson and his brothers and sisters is re- corded as having been born in 1658, and dying in 1778, aged one hundred and twenty years.

George Acheson, grandfather of Judge Acheson, born in 1724, died July 11, 1812, aged eighty- eight years, and his wife Elizabeth, born in 1728, died July 29, 1808, aged eighty years. They were married probably about the year 1754. He was for many years an elder of the Secession Church at Market Hill, of unblemished character. They were the parents of seven children-five sons and two daughters, viz .: George, John, Thomas, William, Hannah, Ellen and David. Of these, George followed his brother John to the United States as early as 1785; returned to Ireland and died there, a bachelor, at the age of eighty-nine years.

John was the first of the family toleave Ireland. He was married about 1782 to Mary Hogg, by whom he had two children: Jane and Hannah. He was employed by the United States Govern- ment in furnishing supplies to the army in the In- dian wars, and he carried on a mercantile busi- ness not only at Washington, but at several other important points. He died suddenly, in 1791, at the age of about thirty-five years, while crossing the Alleghany mountains on horseback, on his way to Philadelphia.

Thomas came in 1794, and settled in Washing- ton, Penn., with his brother David, and spent his whole life here. In 1809 he built the mansion house on the main street in Washington, Penn., where he resided till his death. In the war of 1812 he was a commissary-general; he died in 1815.

William never left Ireland, but spent all his life at Glassdrummond, in the old homestead. He died unmarried some time prior to 1840.

Hannah was married in Ireland to James Shields, and had four children before coming to the United States in 1800.

Ellen was married in Ireland to Joseph McCul- lough, and shortly afterward (1790-91) they came to the United States and to Washington; but owing to misfortune they removed to Kentucky where they died not long afterward.

David Acheson, the youngest in the family, was born about the year 1770, and received a tolerably thorough English education. In the spring of 1788 he left Ireland to join his brothers, John, George and Thomas, in this country. Arriving in Washington, he immediately went into business with his brother John, who gave him an interest 2

in his contracts with the United States Govern- ment for furnishing Indian supplies, and cavalry and pack horses for the use of the army. He was constantly employed in mercantile transactions, from 1788 to 1791, when he commenced the study of law with James Ross, then a distinguished lawyer of Washington (afterward U. S. Senator from Pennsylvania); but this he subsequently abandoned, having resolved to again embark in business with his brother Thomas, which partner- ship was successfully and harmoniously conducted during their joint lives. He and his brothers, John and Thomas, owned several large stores in the western country-one at Washington, one at West Liberty (W. Va.), one at Muddy Creek, Greene Co. (Penn.), one at Cincinnati (Ohio), and one in the then Spanish province at Natchez. Some of their stores were opened as early as 1784, and for many years had a large trade from the Ohio country. In 1805 David Acheson was appointed eastern purchasing agent for the firm, which occasioned his removal from Washington to Philadelphia. In 1795, while in his twenty-fifth year, he was elected by the Republican party to represent Washington county in the State Legis- lature, and was re-elected in 1796, 1797 and 1804, respectively.

Early in the year 1799 David Acheson was united in marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Young, of Philadelphia, Penn. She died February 27, 1800, leaving an infant daughter, Eliza Young, who afterward became Mrs. Wood- ward. In November, 1802, he visited the old country, remaining about six months in England and Ireland. On October 31, 1805, he was united in marriage with Mary, daughter of John Wilson, of Washington, Penn., a native of Ireland, and they immediately made their home in Philadel- phia, returning to Washington in 1815, he having practically retired from business. The children of this family were born as follows: John (who died in 1833 in Arkansas), Alexander W. (of whom special mention will be presently made), Catherine (deceased wife of William V. Davis, of Lancaster county, Penn.), David (who died in 1826), Mary Jane (married to Joseph McKnight, of Pittsburgh, Penn., and died in 1843), Margaret, William (died in 1873 in Armstrong county, Penn.), George (who died in 1881), James C. (a prominent merchant in Washington, Penn.), Ellen (wife of Rev. Dr. Brownson), Marcus W. (who was judge of the district court of western Pennsylvania for ten years, and succeeded Judge McKennan as circuit judge) and David (living in Pittsburgh, Penn.).

After his return to Washington, Penn., David Acheson erected his elegant home where Jonathan Allison is now living. Mr. Acheson entered busi- ness at Washington, but some investments in real estate having failed, he soon retired from active

WASHINGTON COUNTY.

life. In 1840, then over seventy years of age, he made another trip to Ireland, returning to America two years later. In 1848 he was seized with a par- alytic stroke, but lingered until December 1, 1851, when death relieved him; his widow passed away August 2, 1872, aged eighty-five years. The fol- lowing obituary notice appeared in one of the papers: "He was an accurate and close ob- server of public and political affairs, as connected not only with our own Government, but with the prominent nations of Europe, of the diplomacy of which, as well as of their policy, there were but few private men of his day, retiring and unobtru- sive as he was, who better understood or could more accurately delineate. His judgment and conclusions, which were always deliberate and well matured by his deep-thinking, strong mind, were valuable and very highly esteemed by those acquainted with him, whether in public or private life. Thus, during the period of vigorous man- hood, he enjoyed a most extensive popularity and influence in the State of Pennsylvania particularly, and with many of her most distinguished indi- viduals, in her political party history and govern- ment, he was on the closest terms of intimacy; hence his opinions and counsels were always much sought after and greatly valued. As a private friend and in social life Mr. Acheson was a man of ardent and sincere attachments, and where personal effort or labor were needed he never faltered or shrunk by reason of apparent difficulty or threat- ened danger, ever ready and willing to serve his friends at whatever responsibility or personal risk by day or night, at home or abroad."

The surviving children of David and Mary Acheson, for the first time after a lapse of over thirty years, all met at the old homestead in Wash- ington, on the occasion of the death of their mother. Her funeral took place August 4, 1872, and the day following they repaired to the graves of their parents, in Washington cemetery, and there agreed that they, and the survivors of them and the last survivor, would annually revisit the graves of their parents on the 31st of October, the anniversary of their marriage.

Alexander W. Acheson came to Washington with his parents when he was about five years old, and it was ever afterward his home. He received his primary education in the log school house on the "Fulton House" lot where Mckay & Co. had, some years ago, their news depot, in Washington, and he well remembered in after years the day when school took a recess to see the soldiers pass through the town on their return from the war of 1812, the company which passed by being the " Ten Mile Rangers." On leaving school he attended Washington College, graduating therefrom in 1827, after which he studied law with William Baird, brother of Judge Baird. In June, 1832,

Mr. Acheson was admitted to the bar, and after a short time spent in the West commenced the prac- tice of his chosen profession in Washington, Penn. For several years he was in partnership with Isaac Leet, who died in 1844, and in 1849 Mr. Acheson formed a partnership with David S. Wilson, under the firm name of Acheson & Wilson, which con- tinued until the senior partner was elevated to the bench in 1866. He was four times appointed dis- trict attorney, before that office was made elective, and was thus honored by three governors of the State-Wolf, Porter and Shunk. He twice re- signed the office, and was again appointed; this and the judgeship are the only offices he ever held. In his younger years he was an ardent Democrat, took an active part in politics, and was several times chairman of the county committee. He was tendered the nomination for Congress and State Senate by that party several times, but always de- clined and devoted himself exclusively to his pro- fession, in which he was eminently successful. Along in the " fifties " the Judge changed his pol- itics. He would not vote for Buchanan, though he had been a personal friend of his father's, who had served in the Assembly with him. In 1860 he voted for Lincoln, and during the war his voice was raised for the Union in every town and town- ship in the county. Though physically unable to go to war himself, he sent five sons who saw more or less service in the field, one of them, Capt. David Acheson, of the One Hundred and Fortieth, being killed while in command of that gallant regiment at Gettysburg.

The Judge was always an ardent temperance man, and when on the bench strictly enforced the laws against liquor selling. He was a conscien- tious, hard-working and able judge. His opinions were seldom reversed by the supreme court, and comparatively few appeals were taken from his de- cisions. He practiced law in the courts of Wash- ington county for a period of fifty-seven years, and in 1885 he received the degree of LL. D. from Parsons College, Iowa. He served several terms as deputy attorney-general for Washington county, and one term as president judge. At the close of this term he renewed the practice of law, asso- ciating with him his son, Marcus C., and nephew, James I. Brownson, Jr. He was widely known as a distinguished citizen of the county, a public- spirited man, and a leading member of the bar. He was an active layman in the First Presbyterian Church (preferring that position to an eldership, which was frequently offered him), a trustee of his alma mater, and with rare zeal and fidelity served as director of several financial institutions, which have been identified with the growth and prosperity of the country.

In 1836 Judge Acheson was united in marriage with Miss Jane, daughter of Dr. John Wishart, of

WASHINGTON COUNTY.

Washington, and they had children as follows: Dr. John W. (now deceased), who served as a major in the Union army; Mary, deceased wife of Dr. William R. Childs, of Pittsburgh; Capt. David, who was killed at Gettysburg: Alexander W., at one time a captain in the U. S. army, now a practicing physician in Denison, Tex. ; Joseph M. (deceased); Marcus Cunningham, an attorney at law, Washington; Martha W., living in Washing- ton, Penn .; Ernest F., of the Washington Ob- server, and H. M., a prominent physician in Wash- ington, Penn. The father of this family died in 1888.

MARCUS CUNNINGHAM ACHESON, eminently a leader in the legal profession, during his lifetime has been engaged in pursuits wherein success depends upon the matured judgment and practical concep- tion that comes from experience, observation, read- ing and reflection. He was born in Washington, this county, January 11, 1844, and received a liberal education at the common schools of the borough and at Washington College. He read law with his father, and was admitted to the bar of Washington county in December, 1869. He was associated with his father in the practice of his profession from January, 1877, to October, 1889. In February, 1891, he received the appointment of administrator to the estate of the late John Mc- Keown, oil operator, and gave bonds to the enor- mous amount of $3,000,000, being the largest bond ever given in this county. Upon this most responsible and arduous duty Mr. Acheson entered, not with the impulsive or capricious flight of genius, but under the firm and steady propul- sions of sound, practical common sense, and so closely and systematically did he apply himself to the herculean task, that on October 10, 1891, he filed his first account, and his second and final one in January, 1892, paying out the whole assets of the estate, amounting to about sixteen hun- dred thousand dollars. This was within fifteen months of the date of his appointment as admin- istrator, and receiving his discharge from the duties of the trust May 26, 1892.

Mr. M. C. Acheson was married August 16, 1871, to Pamelia, daughter of John L. (of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this volume) and Mary H. Murdoch Gow, and two children have been born to them-Mary Gow, December 9, 1872, and Arch- ibald, August 30, 1877.

Mr. Marcus C. Acheson is a close observer of men and things, and his naturally quick and keen perceptive faculties he has improved and re-en- forced by extensive travel in this country as well as in the mother land, having made three trips across the broad Atlantic. He is a man of fine physique, genial in his manner, and enjoys robust health. He has a pleasant home, is liberal of his means, but is characteristically modest and unob- trusive in all his acts, both public and private.

ERNEST F. ACHESON was born September 19, 1855, in Washington, Penn. He was a member of the class of 1875 of Washington and Jefferson Col- lege. He read law with his father, and after be- ing admitted to the practice of law, he found that journalism was more congenial to his tastes. and purchased the Washington Observer in 1879. He made it a straight Republican newspaper, and under his direction it has become one of the lead- ing newspapers west of the Alleghanies, with in- finence throughout the State. The Observer is now published daily and semi-weekly.

"Identified with the progressive element of the Republican party, Mr. Acheson's newspaper for years advocated the system of representation recommended and finally adopted at the State con- vention of 1891, providing for representation in State, district and county conventions, with the actual Republican vote cast as the basis thereof. It is a singular fact that his advocacy of this plan of popular representation, which is manifestly fair, caused the defeat of Mr. Acheson as the party can- didate for Congress in 1892 in the Twenty-fourth District of Pennsylvania. A little county, which was a small part of the district, demanded a wholly disproportionate number of delegates in the dis- trict convention which nominated Mr. Acheson for Congress. This was properly refused, and a dis- astrous revolt followed, instigated by disappoint- ed leaders. During the fourteen years of Mr. Acheson's control of the Observer, he has been in- terested in politics. During the years in which he personally conducted the campaigns, the county of Washington, which has been classed as doubtful, became reliably Republican, with pluralities rang- ing from fifteen hundred to two thousand. In 1884 Mr. Acheson represented his district at the Chicago convention as a devoted follower of James G. Blaine.

" Mr. Acheson is a Presbyterian, a man of cor- rect habits, thoroughly sincere and loyal in his friendships. In 1882 Miss Janet B. Stewart, of West Middletown, Penn., became his wife. They have four bright children, and in his home Mr. Acheson finds all the rest and recreation from the demands of his profession and business and pol- itics.

"As a writer Mr. Acheson is admirably equipped. Thoroughly familiar with a fine library-chiefly historical-and intelligently informed on current events, Mr. Acheson writes with ease, dignity and strength. If mathematical proof is to be ad- duced, Mr. Acheson has the statistics at hand, carefully gathered and verified, and he presents his array of figures with confidence born of knowl- edge. Mr. Acheson's impulses are patriotic. He believes in his own town, his own county, his own State and his own country, with faith unfal- tering."

WASHINGTON COUNTY.

R EV. ADOLPHUS F. ALEXANDER is one of the best known and most popular clergy- men of Washington county, an earnest Christian and thorough gentleman. His genealogy may be traced back through the centuries to an influential family of Scotland, of whom one John Alexander was a member.

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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 4

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