Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 40

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 40

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Of him another friend (Rev. W. H. Lester, Sr. ) writes: "Mr. McDonald's ministry was marked by faithfulness in labors, and witnessed precious ingatherings. Thoroughly evangelical in spirit, and Biblical in his pulpit ministrations, his aim has been the conversion of souls and the building up of Christians in the faith. He has also been a self-sacrificing and faithful pastor, thus making full proof of his ministry. Seldom was his seat vacant in the church courts. In each of the con- gregations to which he ministered, he left the testi- monials of a truly devoted minister of the Gospel." And yet another friend thus says of him: "Rev. George McDonald inherited (as did also his wife) the sturdy character of their Scotch and Scotch- Irish ancestry, and in early life received careful religious training. At the age of twenty-one he m ide profession of his faith in Christ. At nine- teen years of age he entered on his classical course in West Alexander Academy, and after completing the full course of study, he was for some time actively engaged in the public school department; later was for two years and a half a teacher in the West Alexander Academy. In 1853 he commenced the study of theology under Rev. John McCluskey, D. D., licensed by the Presbytery of Washington in 1857, and was ordained by the Presbytery of St. Clairsville in April, 1860. Soon after licensure he took charge of the congregation of Beallsville, Ohio, of which he was the installed pastor till April, 1883, giving for most of that period a por- tion of his time to the congregations of Woodsfield and Powhatan as stated supply. In 1883 he was called to the church of Upper Ten Mile, Penn., where he labored more than seven years. He now resides in West Alexander, his native place, with his noble wife, who has always been a source of strength and comfort to him in his work. They were both fine singers, and led the choir of West Alexander Presbyterian Church for a number of years. Their musical talent was valuable to them, especially in the Sabbath-school, where they were always prominent and active, he as superintendent and Bible teacher, and she in charge of the infant department, until the loss of her hearing compelled her in later years to give up the work she so dearly loved. She had peculiar tact for winning and interesting little ones, and was never more at home than when surrounded by her little flock. Her mem- ory will always begreen in the hearts of the many she

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had taught, who will see her no more in this world. Her faithful sowing will cause many, besides her children, to rise up and call her blessed. Mr. McDonald was accustomed to instruct, free, the Sabbath-school and any others who wished, in music, and thus was instrumental in having ex- ceptionally good singing in the school. He was also very successful in training for special exercises, and had much executive ability. Always deliberate, being firm in his convictions and of unalterable purpose, with careful outlook, he seldom failed to accomplish what he undertook.

"His ministry was richly blessed with signals of Divine approval, by several revivals occurring under his pastorate. The influence of his preach- ing and example was for righteousness, in build- ing up a moral, God-fearing and Sabbath-loving people. Several ministers have gone out from under his pastorate. His labors, particularly in his first field, were arduous and exposing, but were performed cheerfully in honor of Him whom he served. The seed thus faithfully sown will bring forth fruit to be gathered by other reapers. He still takes delight in Evangelistic work, and re- joices in any opportunity to do service for the Master. He has been a faithful and unobtrusive minister of Christ, and is regarded universally, by those who know him, with marked esteem and love."

Rev. John McClusky McDonald, after complet ing his academic studies, entered the Northwestern Seminary of Chicago, Ill. (now the McCormick Theological Seminary), from which he graduated in April, 1866; was licensed April 13, 1865, by the Presbytery of Chicago; was ordained at Beaver Dam by the Presbytery of Winnebago, June 27, 1866. He has been a home missionary; labored at Winneconne (Wis.), Algona (Iowa), Waynesville (Ill.), Carleton, Belvidere, Hubbell and Hopewell Church (Neb.), and Ulysses and other points in Kansas, the last named being his present field of labor. He has been faithful in sowing the seed, and been cheered by the ingathering of precious fruit. Mr. McDonald was married April 25, 1871, to Janet Percy, of Ogdensburg, N. Y., and they have been blessed with six children: George Arthur, Kenneth Percy, Gilmer Byers, Raymond April, Rossmond May, and J. McClusky (the last named being deceased). Mr. McDonald takes a deep interest in public affairs. In politics he is a Republican, and, like Scotch-Irish generally, he could be nothing else but a Presbyterian.

ULIUS P. MILLER, attorney at law, Wash- ington, is a native of the county, having been born May 22, 1839, in Hopewell town- ship, and is descended from a stalwart North- of-Ireland family.

His paternal great-grandmother, then a widow

with sixteen sons, came from the shores of Erin to those of Columbia, and established a new home in Washington county, Penn., where she died. One of the sons, Patrick Miller, bought, in 1810, the first piece of land in Hopewell township, where he carried on farming the remainder of his life, dying in 1830. He was the first superintendent of the Upper Buffalo Presbyterian Sabbath-school. He was married to Margaret Templeton, and they had children as follows: Thomas, of whom mention is made further on; Margaret, wife of Col. Mc- Nulty; Hannah, married to James Montford, of Washington county, which family is extinct (James Montford, son of James and Hannah, was captain of the company in which our subject served during the Civil war, and afterward he was appointed assistant assessor of Internal Revenue); Eliza, married to Rev. James Marquis; Mary, who never married, and Matthew-all deceased.

Thomas Miller, on leaving school, attended Washington College and Indiana University, graduating from the latter institution in 1831, when he went to Lexington, Ky., where he taught school for a time, and then moved to Missouri, having been persuaded to proceed thither by a prominent Missourian, James S. Rollins, who had been a fellow-student of his at both the college and university. Here Mr. Miller founded a school which afterward developed into the University of Missouri, at Columbia, Mo. On account of im- paired health he set out on a trip to Mexico, but died on the Plains, and was buried in New Mexico, at Round Mound.

Matthew Miller, father of our subject, was a farmer by occupation, and in 1838 was married to Mary McNulty, by whom he had two children, Julius P., and a daughter that died in infancy. In 1843 the father died at the age of thirty years, and the mother married again, the result of this second union being three children; she died March 23, 1890, aged seventy-six years, and is buried in Washington cemetery,

Julius P. Miller was but four years old when his father was called from earth, and in the follow- ing year (1844) he was taken to West Middletown, where he attended the common schools, subsequent- ly taking a course at an academy in West Virginia. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in Company A, One Hundredth P. V. I., serving three years, chiefly with the Ninth Army Corps. In 1870 he was ap- pointed deputy collector of Internal Revenue, for Washington county, serving until 1872, when, at. the State election, he was elected prothonotary of the county, taking the office in January, 1873. He was re- elected in 1875. During his second term in the prothonotary's office, Mr. Miller studied law, and in October, 1879, he was admitted to the bar, since which time he has been successfully practicing his chosen profession in Washington, of

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which city he has been a resident since 1870. In November, 1864, Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Hamilton, daughter of Dr. A. C. Hamilton, a practicing physician in the borough of West Middletown, and to this union ten chil- dren were born, viz .: Horatio H. (cashier of the First National Bank of Claysville), Mary Emma, Harry M., Julius P., Martha S., Charles F., Anna B. and Ulysses Grant, all living in the county, and two unnamed that died in infancy. In politics Mr. Miller is a stanch Republican.

HOMAS MCKEAN, one of the retired suc- cessful merchants of the borough of Wash- ington, is a native of the county, having been born September 14, 1820, in Amwell township. The first of the family to come to Washington county was Robert Mckean, father of the above, who was born February 12, 1795, in County Tyrone, Ireland. In 1815 he came to America by way of Canada, landing at Montreal, thence proceeding to Washington, this county, where he lived until 1820, in which year he moved into Amwell township, on a farm, and in 1828 re- turned to Washington borough. In 1832 he started on a trip to Philadelphia, but died of cholera while on the way. In 1817, soon after coming to Washington county, he married Mrs. Mary McClintock, formerly Mrs. McGowan, who had several children by her first husband, all now deceased. By her second marriage there were four children, viz. : Mary, who was a Presbyterian missionary to the Creek Indians at Tallahassee, In- dian Territory, and died there January 21, 1861; Thomas, our subject; Alexander, who died in Washington, Penn., March 27, 1890, and whose family are still living here; and Sarah, who died in infancy. The mother was called from earth March 17, 1867, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years, at the time living with her son Thomas.

Thomas Mckean, of whom this sketch chiefly treats, was eight years old when the family came to live in the borough of Washington. He re- ceived his education partly at the schools of his native township, and partly in Washington, and learned manufacturing tobacco and cigars, which he carried on, wholesale and retail, for forty-five years, opening out for his own account September 25, 1843, and retiring from same in 1888. His original stand was the room now occupied as the office of the Washington Reporter. At his retire- ment he was about the only man in Washington who was in business there when he commenced in 1843. On March 14, 1844, Mr. Mckean married Fannie Jane, daughter of Samuel Snodgrass, a farmer who came from Lancaster county, Penn., at an early date, He died of cholera at West Alexander, this county, in 1832, and his wife in

Washington borough, in 1840. They were the parents of three children, as follows: Fannie Jane; Mary Margaret, now the widow of John V. Wil- son, a carpenter of Washington, who died July 2, 1876; and William, who died in March, 1846.

By the marriage of Thomas and Fannie J. Mc- Kean, there were ten children, of whom the follow- ing is a brief record: Mary Ellen is married to Rev. J. C. McClintock, and lives in Burlington, Iowa; John A. is a physician at Washington, this county; Maria is the wife of Hon. W. J. Davis, of Goshen, Ind .; William is in Grand Rapids, Mich., a traveling salesman for J. V. Farwell & Co., of Chicago; James is married to Jennie D. Ackelson, and lives at Abilene, Kans .; George is teller in Wells, Fargo & Co.'s bank at San Fran- cisco, Cal. ; Annie is the wife of Rev. W. P. White, a Presbyterian minister at Germantown, Penn .; Elizabeth is the wife of Homer U. Seaman, jewel- er, Pittsburgh, Penn .; Thomas C. is clerk in a gents' furnishing business, Pittsburgh, Penn., and Ber- nard is an insurance agent at No. 135 Broadway, New York.

Mr. McKean is one of the well-known citizens of Washington. His place of business and home, No. 164 and 166 South Main street, was built by him in 1854, and he has lived on the Square ever since coming to the borough. Politically he is a Re- publican, and has served as school director six years, and secretary during that time. For twen- ty-seven years he has been a trustee and treasurer of the Washington Female Seminary. Forty years ago he was a member of the Sons of Temperance, and continued so until they disbanded. Since 1846 he has been a member of the First Presby- terian Church, of which he was trustee for twelve years, and since 1864 has been an elder. For forty years he was secretary and treasurer of the Sunday-school. He has been a director of the First National Bank of Washington for more than thirty years, and is now the vice president of that financial house. Mr. McKean was interested in the establishment of a board of health for his bor- ough, which prompted him, without compensation, to keep a complete record of the deaths in Wash- ington and vicinity, including names, ages and causes of death; commencing June 20, 1850, and up to January 1, 1893, a record of 3,240 deaths has been made by him.

S TEPHEN L. BLACHLY, M. D., one of the oldest and most skillful practitioners in Washington county, is descended from a long line of distinguished men, eminent in the profession; but among this galaxy of brilliant medical lights we must look in vain for one whose skill in any case surpassed that of his descendant, the gentleman of whom we write, who is not only

by Fitch

S. L. Blackly

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an ornament to the modern school of medicine, but a worthy and honored representative of a race of expert physicians.

Dr. Ebenezer (1) Blachly, the first physician in the family, was a son of Aaron and Mary (Dodd) Blachly, and lived in Huntington, Suffolk Co., Long Island. His children were: Elizabeth, Eben- ezer (2), Joseph, Benjamin and Daniel, of whom Ebenezer (2), born in 1709, entered his father's profession, and married Hannah Miller, who bore him the following children: Francis, Zopher, Eben- ezer (3), Miller, Sarah, Cornelius, Mary and Marcy. The son Ebenezer (3), born in 1735, was a surgeon in the Revolution. He married Mary Wickham, and they had twelve children, five of whom were also physicians. He died in 1805, and his son Eben- ezer (4), born in 1760, entered the war of the Rev- olution before he had reached the required age, and took an active part as surgeon throughout the con- flict, after which he married Elizabeth Spencer, and reared a family of nine children: Nancy, Ebenezer S., Henry W. (father of subject), Mary J., Juliana, Bayard P., Eliza, Joseph W. and Oliver; with the latter two their mother passed the declin- ing years of her life.

Dr. Henry Wickham Blachly was born in Pater- son, N. J., April 17, 1786. He first studied medi- cine with his father, finishing in New York City, and finally settled in Washington county, Penn. On January 9, 1806, he married Hannah Loveridge, who bore him twelve children: Ebenezer S., a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, Philadel- phia, who practiced thirty years in Waynesburgh, Greene Co , Penn. (he was twice married, first time to Martha Hanna, who bore him five children, and after her death he married Elizabeth Allison; but one of his children grew to maturity-Byard Mil- ton Blachly, M. D., who practiced for about thirty years in Waynesburgh, Greene Co., Penn., where his father practiced); Milton Blachly died at the age of sixteen; Eveline Blachly married Dr. Will- iam B. Porter (they died leaving three children --- two daughters and one son, John H. Porter, who was a physician and died soon after completing his medical studies); Maria J. Blachly married Dr. Lu- tellus Lindley, of Connellsville, Fayette Co., Penn. (she died leaving one son, Dr. Henry B. Lindley, of Perrysville, Allegheny Co .. Penn.); Stephen L. (subject of sketch); Eliza Blachly married John Milton Lindley (he died leaving three children: Byard, a banker and lawyer in Winfield. Iowa; Col- lin M., a physician in Zollersville. Penn., and Sarah); Oliver B. Blachly married Ellen Cracraft, by whom he had five children: Byron, Henry, Oli- ver, Marv and Howard (his second wife was Ella Hunt); Joseph Warrin Blachly was a physician who practiced successfully in his native county for a number of years (he was married to Eliza Min- ton, by whom he had four children: Maria, Ella,

Joseph Warrin and Frank, a physician practicing at Clarksville, Penn.); Lucilla Caroline Blachly married T. N. Day, and their living children are: Henry B., Homer (a physician practicing at Avoca, Iowa), and Cora L .; Harriet Newel Blachly mar- ried Harvey Lindley, and their children are: Henry B. (who married Sarah Van Kirk), Ann Eliza (mar- ried to Sal. Cozad), Oscar, Howard and A. Lincoln; Henry W. Blachly, a physician who practiced for many years at Cavett, Ohio, died in 1889 (his wife was Caroline Cracraft, and they had two children : Mary, married to Dr. Emerick, and Henry W., a lawyer of Van Wert, Ohio); Hannah Louisa Blachly, the youngest of the family, never married, and lives at Sparta, Penn. The father of this family died at the age of sixty-two years, having practiced medicine forty years in Washington county; the mother passed from earth in 1887, on her ninety- seventh birthday, and they are buried at Pros- perity.

Stephen L. Blachly, the subject proper of this memoir, was born December 11, 1815, in Sparta, Washington Co., Penn, He read medicine with his father till twenty-two years of age, and on ac- count of the prevalence of smallpox at that time was called upon to begin an active career before his preparatory study was fully completed. He was educated at Washington College, and later re- ceived his degree from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. On January 9, 1840, he was united in marriage with Sarah, daughter of Benjamin Lind- ley, who was of Puritan descent, and to this union were born five children, viz. : two died in infancy ; Mary Minerva, who has been twice married, first to Stephen J. Day, and after his decease to S. Mc- Vey, of Sparta; Henry Spencer, a druggist in Waynesburgh, Greene county, Penn., and Dr. Oliver L., in Sparta, who married Anna, daughter of Rev. John Sherrard. Mrs. Blachly died No- vember 25, 1857, and July 28, 1859, Dr. Blachly married Maria, daughter of James and Margaret Wade, of Fayette county, Penn. Dr. Blachly has resided in the same place over fifty years, and while engaged in general practice has become a skilled surgeon, and has always had an extensive practice; he has frequently been president of the Washington County Medical Society, of which he is one of the oldest members, and is also censor for the Eighth District of the State Medical Society of Pennsylvania, also a member of the American Medical Association, and the Alumni Association of Jefferson Medical College. He has always had a very extensive practice, and he retired from active life in 1890. Physically he enjoys good health. He is about five feet ten inches in height; weighs 190 pounds; is erect in stature; and has become a very strong man by exercise, and care, though he was not robust when young. His father was about the same height, but weighed 160 pounds, The

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Doctor never used intoxicating liquor; in his youth he commenced smoking, but gave it up. He has been a member of " Upper Ten Mile " Presbyterian Church fifty-eight years, and has been an elder in same thirty-five years.

AMES HERRON was born September 18, 1829, in North Strabane township, this county, and is a son of Joseph Herron, whose grandfather was a native of Ireland, and came with his family in an early day to America. His son James was born in County Down, Ireland, and came to America in the latter part of the last century, locating in North Strabane township, Washington Co., Penn., on the farm now occupied by his descendants. He was married to Rachel Reed, a resident of Ohio, who bore him children as follows: Charles, John, William, James, Robert, John, Joseph, Thomas and Rachel. Mr. Herron was an active Democrat, and in religion was a member of the Seceder Church.

Joseph Herron was born, January 2, 1797, on his father's farm in North Strabane township, and received a common-school education. On January 3, 1824, he was united in marriage with Margaret, daughter of Daniel Hastings, of Somerset town- ship, and the young couple made their permanent home on the old farm, where the following chil- dren were born and reared: Rachel, born Decem- ber 15, 1824; Robert, born September 30, 1826; James, born September 18, 1828; John, born July 24, 1830; Sarah (Mrs. Jonathan L. Peese), born April 22, 1833; Joseph, born December 8, 1834; Margaret A. (Mrs. Robert Munnel), born October 4, 1837; and Elizabeth M. (Mrs. John Herron), born October 6, 1842. In politics Mr. Herron was a Democrat, and served as judge of elections and school director, and was also a lieutenant in the militia. In religious connection he was a member and liberal supporter of the Seceder Church. He died January 25, 1852, and his wife on March 18, 1854. Both are buried in the U. P. cemetery at Pigeon Creek.

James Herron was born on the farm where he now resides, and attended the common schools until almost twenty-one years of age. He then commenced learning the carpenter's trade, which he followed several years in North Strabane and adjoining townships. On June 23, 1865, he was united in marriage with Emma, daughter of John Barr, a native of Ireland, who came to America with his parents when but twelve years of age. He was a son of John Barr, also a native of Ireland, and who was there married to Margaret Dickey, who bore him children as follows: William, John, Robert, Mary (Mrs. Andrew Jackson) and Margaret (Mrs. Robert Patterson). The father of these children immigrated to America in an an early day,

locating with his family in Somerset township, Washington Co., Penn., where the remainder of their lives was passed. He was a Democrat in his political preferences, and in religion a member of the Seceder Church.

John Barr passed his youth on the home farm in Somerset township, and was there married to Elizabeth, daughter of James Smith. Their chil- dren were John A., James S., Margaret D. (Mrs. James Rankin), Emma (Mrs. James Herron), Sarah J. (Mrs. William Pollock) and William A. In politics Mr. Barr was a Democrat, and served many years as justice of the peace. He was' a member and one of the founders of the U. P. Church at Pigeon Creek, and served as an elder for years. He followed agricultural pursuits.

After his marriage Mr. Herron settled on the home place in North Strabane township, where he has followed farming and stock raising. He and his family are members of the U. P. Church at Mt. Prospect. In politics he is a Democrat, and has served as school director and judge of elec- tions. He is an enterprising and popular citizen.

OSEPH S. HUNTER, a member of one of the oldest and most prominent families of Washington county, Penn., is a grandson of James Hunter, who was born of Irish par- ents about 1788, in eastern Pennsylvania. On June 21, 1810, James Hunter was united in mar- riage with Eleanor Garrett, and they reared the following family : Margaret (deceased), born April 12, 1811; Susan (deceased), born October 24, 1814; Elizabeth, born April 13, 1818 (widow of Robert Marshall), living in East Finley township, this county; James J. and William G. Mrs. Hunter died, and on March 29, 1827, Mr. Hunter was mar- ried to Sarah Clark, of Buffalo township, this county, who bore him two children: John Clark, born December 24, 1827, and Sarah Ann, born October 6, 1830, both now deceased. This wife also died, and November 2, 1848, Mr. Hunter was married to Jane Welsh, who died in 1888. Soon after his first marriage he located in Buffalo town- ship, Washington county, following farming and distilling until 1839, when he settled on the farm in East Finley township which is now the prop- erty of his son, James J. Hunter, where he died in the year 1858.

James J. Hunter was born October 26, 1820, in Buffalo township, Washington Co., Penn., and came with his father's family to East Finley town- ship, where he began life in 1843, doing farm work for others, and cropping on his father's place. On October 19, 1845, he was married to Jane, daughter of Thomas Hutchisson, of East Finley township, and three children were born to them: Joseph S., born June 24, 1846 (farming in Frank-

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lin township); Thomas H., born June 14, 1848 (a farmer of East Finley township); and James C., born June 30, 1852 (a resident of Brilliant, Jef- ferson Co., Ohio). The mother of these children died in 1853, and on November 13, 1860, Mr. Hunter was united in marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of Gilbert Marshall, and the following children have been born to them: Mary E., born March 27,1862; Jane A., born September 12, 1863, and Florence M., born July 27, 1865. After his first marriage Mr. Hunter lived in West Finley township, but finally (in 1861) settled in East Finley township, where he now resides. In politi- cal relations he is a Republican, and in religion he and his wife are members of the United Presbyte- rian Church of East Finley township.

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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 40

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