Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 42

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 42

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Lodowick McCarrel, whose name opens this biographical sketch, was born February 2, 1842, in Mt. Pleasant township, Washington Co., Penn., and received a liberal education at the schools of the locality, working also at times on the farm. Having decided to make the legal profession his life vocation, he entered Jefferson College, from which he graduated in 1867 in the classical course, and then commenced the study of law in the office of Montgomery & Gibson, Washington borough. In 1869 he was admitted to the bar of the county, commenced practice in the following year, and lias since continued with eminent success. Mr. Mc- Carrell was married July 25, 1876, to Lida, daughter of Robert Jackson, and to this union one son, Robert L., was born. In his political prefer- ences our subject is an active member of the Democratic party, and in religious sentiment he is of the United Presbyterian faith.

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OHN BAIRD, son of George Baird, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work, was born in Washington, Penn., July 16, 1816, and received his education in the public schools in the vicinity of his birthplace. In the earlier part of his life he was engaged in the com- mission business, which he conducted very suc- cessfully until he was appointed agent of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. in Washington, which position he held for many years up until nearly his retirement from active business

Mr. Baird was married twice, first time to Harriet N. Gilfillan, daughter of Dr. Gilfillan, of West Alexander, Penn. She died in 1852, leaving ing four children, of whom two are living, viz. : Mary M., of Leetsdale, Penn., and Susan C., widow of James C. Johnson, of Erie, Penn. For his second wife Mr. Baird married Harriet S. Clark, daughter of Joseph Clark, of Franklin township, Washington county, and to them seven children were born, as follows: Jane Wilson, wife of Moses Atwood, of Pittsburgh; Sarah, who died in infancy; George, engaged in the banking busi- ness in Pittsburgh; Joseph, also engaged in bank- ing, in Washington; William, connected with a glass company of Washington; and Eleanore and Katharine, both at home. On March 5, 1889, the father departed this life at the age of seventy-three. Politically he was a Republican, and in religion a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

H ON. JOHN BARCLAY FINLEY, a dis- tinguished citizen and business man of Monongahela, was born in the city of Phil- adelphia, Penn., November 17, 1845.

His grandparents came to western Penn- sylvania from Cecil county, Md., immediately after the close of the Revolutionary war, his grand- father having served in that war, locating first in Allegheny City, shortly after moving to a point eight miles west of Pittsburgh near White Hall and Sargents Hall, six miles east of Finleyville, or as it was then called " Rowgalley," where he had a sister married to James Barclay, who had also come from Cecil county, Md. John Finley was a farmer, and owned a body of land, on which Finleyville was built. Theoriginal tract on which the town was located was called " Mount Pleasant." and the warrant was taken out by John Wall, December 3, 1787, pur- chased by James Barclay, who sold the most of it to John Finley in 1788. It was named Finley- ville, in honor of John Finley. He and his wife had children as follows: William, born January 16, 1788, never married; Robert, March 27, 1790, never married; John, January 17, 1792; Jane, May 20, 1793; Sarah, April 19, 1795; Levi, January 3, 1798; Margaret, March 30, 1800; Isabel, March 11, 1802; Mary, November 28, 1804; James (father

of J. B. Finley), June 10, 1806, and Susan, June 23, 1808. Of these Margaret married a Mr. Bald- win; Isabel married a Mr. Cochran; Jane married Dr. Joseph Curry; Susan married a Mr. Curry; Mary married a Mr. St. Clair; Sarah, married a Mr. Neil. John Finley was a very large land owner in Washington county.

James Finley, father of subject, was born in 1806, on the old homestead six miles east of Finley on the Pittsburgh and Brownville road. He learned merchandising with his brother, Robert, who was the first postmaster of Finleyville. A short time after James went to Pittsburgh, where he entered a mercantile house, remaining here from the time he was twenty-five to thirty years of age, when he proceeded to Philadelphia, and from there traveled abroad. Returning to Philadelphia, he there engaged, in company with a partner, in the wholesale dry-goods business. In 1851 the firm failed, and had to close out the business at a great loss. Having saved from the ruin a small amount of money, he was enabled to open a general store at Finleyville. Here he remained several years, dying in 1857, at the age of fifty-one years. Mr. Finley was married to Miss Catherine O'Neil, who was born at or near Albany, N. Y., a daughter of John O' Neil. To this union were born seven children, viz .: James, who died aged seventeen; William P., who was but eighteen years old, when in May, 1862, he was killed at the battle of Will- iamsburg, Va. (he was a member of the "Friend Rifles," of Pittsburgh); John Barclay, our subject; Byron S., unmarried, and residing in Otley, Iowa (he and his mother, the latter now aged seventy- one years, and sister Florence E., reside together); Rowland W., who resides in Goodland, Kans. (he was county clerk two terms, going out of office in 1890; he owns a considerable body of land near the county seat, and also a flouring mill at Goodland; he married Miss Laura White, of Iowa); Florence E., mentioned above; Robert F., unmarried and residing in San Francisco, engaged in the erection of gas plants.

When six years old our subject came with his parents to Finleyville, Washington Co., Penn., at the common schools of which place he received his primary education, finishing with a course at the normal school in Monongahela City. Soon after leaving school he engaged as a clerk in the mer- cantile house of Alexander & Co., in that city, continuing with them in merchandising until 1865, when they disposed of their mercantile interests, and engaged exclusively in banking. Mr. Finley remained with them until 1870, when, the Peoples Savings Bank being established, he was made cashier. The bank was, in 1880, reorganized under the title of "The Peoples Bank," Mr. Finley being elected president, which position he contin- les to fill. He was one of the original organizers

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and promoters of the Monongahela City Gas Co., having been a director since its organization and treasurer since 1880; has been director of Williams- port Bridge Co. for a number of years, president since 1888, and he rebuilt it after the fire in 1884; he is a director, and for two years was president, of the Bellewood & Monongahela Natural Gas Co., and is also one of the principal stockholders of this company ; is also one of the incorporators of Monongahela Cemetery Association; is also presi- dent and principal stockholder of the Lawrence Gas Co. of New Castle, Penn., and of the New Castle Electric Co., and treasurer and principal stockholder of the City of New Castle Water Co .; president of and stockholder and director in the Broad Top & Cambria Coal Co .. and is a director in the Fifth National Bank of Pittsburgh. Polit- ically Mr. Finley is a Republican, and represented Washington county in the Legislature 1887-88, and was elected to fill the unexpired term of Hon. James K. Billingsly, 1889-90; served in the House of 1891, and resigned in April, 1892, in order to accept office as councilman so as to more effectively advocate improved streets and sewerage for Monon- gahela City; he had been a member of council be- fore, and president of councils three or four terms, also clerk of council a number of years. Mr. Finley is a prominent Freemason, having attained the thirty-second degree; is a Sir Knight Templar and member of the Shrine. He is a member of the Americus Club, and the Duquesne Club, of Pitts- burgh. He was a member of the Revenue com- mission of 1887 (along with M. S. Quay, John Faunce, W. Norris, James S. Graham, H. K. Boyer, Christopher E. Hydrick, Jerome B. Niles, Henry Palmer, Thomas V. Cooper, and others) to examine into the tax laws of the State and rec- oinmend State tax legislation. During the war of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company G, Eight- eenth Pennsylvania Militia, in answer to a call of Gov. Curtin in 1862, and was stationed near Hagerstown, Md. After Lee crossed the Potomac his regiment was ordered back to Greencastle and thence home.

Mr. Finley was united in marriage, February 21, 1878, with Miss Marguerite Bowman, who was born in Monongahela City, a daughter of Michael Bowinan. Mr. and Mrs. Finley are members of the First Presbyterian Church.

M RS. CLARA W. BAIRD, the widow of Andrew Todd Baird, is a daughter of Hugh W. Wilson, of Washington county, who settled in South Strabane township, on a farin his grandfather had purchased. The ancestry of this family in Washington county came' to America at an early day, and six generations have lived on the old home place estab- 13

lished in Washington borough, the representative of the fifth generation still living there. James Wilson came from Bedford county, Penn., in 1781, and purchased lot No. 291, where Smith's store now stands. He died in 1792 in the house he had built on the corner of Main and Beau streets. At his death his wife (name unknown) inherited by will the use of 200 acres of land adjoining the town until James, the youngest son, should be of age, when the farm was to be equally divided between James, Thomas and John. Hugh, the eldest son. had been provided for by certain property set off to him previously, a portion of which was the lot on Main street, near Maiden; and in addition to this property he purchased, in 1786, the lot on which Morgan's store now stands. This Hugh Wilson was the grandfather of Mrs. Clara Baird. He was thrice married; his first wife was Rachel Leet, born May 31, 1769, daughter of Isaac Leet. and sister of Maj. Daniel Leet, and by her he had children as follows: Rebecca, Margaret, Rachel and Hugh W. The mother of these children dying in 1788, Hugh Wilson married Margaret (Hamilton) Fleming, a widow with one daughter, Catherine, who afterward became the wife of John D. McFadden, jeweler, of Pittsburgh. By this wife Hugh Wilson had one daughter, Eliza, mar- ried to Rev. Thomas Swaim, of Philadelphia, who was pastor of the Baptist Church at Washington, Penn., from 1846 to 1850. After the death of his second wife Hugh Wilson married a Miss Spencer, an English lady, who survived him many years.

Hugh W. Wilson, the only son of Hugh and Ra- chel (Leet) Wilson, was born in Washington, Penn., February 22, 1812. On April 25, 1837, he was married to Frances Emma, daughter of Thomas and Frances Anica (Preble) Barlow, of Allegheny, and their children were: Edward Preble, born April 25, 1838, now living in Cincinnati, Ohio; James Blaine, born November 25, 1839, now living in Washington, Penn .; Clara the subject proper of this sketch; and Frances Emma, who died in infancy. The mother died February 12, 1845, at the age of twenty-seven years, and Mr. Wilson married, Sep- tember 9, 1847, Sarah Neville, niece of General Neville, and by her he had two children: Neville Craig, born October 30, 1850, died January 1, 1887, and Rebecca Blaine, born September 12, 1853, died February 16, 1877. The mother of these children departed this life September 30, 1856, aged thirty- six years, and the father on May 13, 1862, at the age of forty-nine years. By occupation he was a farmer, and during the later years of his life he followed fruit growing, also kept a greenhouse. His death was sudden, caused by over exertion in rapid walking, which produced internal rupture. For thirty years he was a deacon in the Baptist Church.

On June 8, 1865, Clara Wilson was united in

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marriage with Andrew Todd Baird, by whom she had seven children; viz .: Frances Emma, Jane Cunningham, Anica Chambers, George (deceased at the age of five months), Andrew Todd (deceased when aged ten and one-half years), Hugh Wilson and Susan, the survivors all living with the mother on Maiden street, Washington.

Andrew Todd Baird was born in 1831, at the home of his grandparents in Washington, Penn., but was taken to Ripley, Ohio, where he remained until 1836, thence moved to Wheeling, W. Va., in which city be lived till 1844, there receiving a part of his education. At the age of seventeen (1848) Mr. Baird graduated at Washington and Jefferson College, where he took a classical course. For a time he studied law with his uncle, but for some reason abandoned it. He learned telegraphy, and in 1851 had charge of the telegraph office at Wash- ington, but resigned to enter his father's store. In 1860 he became a partner with his father, and on the latter's death succeeded to the business. For twenty years (1868 to 1887) he was treasurer of Washington and Jefferson College; was treasurer of the First Presbyterian Church sixteen years (1869 to 1885) and at the time of his death the church was out of debt; for thirty years he was librarian of the Sunday-school. Mr. Baird had joined the church in 1856, and lived the life of a true Christian. He was a most conscientious man and gave liberally of his means to all deserving charities and beneficent institutions, and on June 6, 1856, he commenced to devote one-tenth of his income for that purpose. He was a stanch Repub- lican, at all times standing firmly and conscien- tiously by his political opinions. After marriage he and his wife took up their residence on Beau street, in the borough of Washington, remaining there until 1871, moving twice before 1875, when they took possession of the present home of the family. Here Mr. Baird died March 25, 1887, at the age of fifty-five years, six month.

EORGE BAIRD. This gentleman was a typical specimen of the vigorous and hearty Scotch-Irish race from which he claimed descent.

His grandfather, John Baird, came to America, as a soldier under Gen. Braddock, and shared with him the memorable defeat on the Monongahela, July 9, 1755. He is said to have lost his life in the disastrous battle of Grant's Hill, in 1758, before Fort Duquesne (now Pittsburgh). His widow with her infant son, Absalom, continued to reside in the home he had established for them in Chester county, Penn. But on arriving at a suitable age, this son was sent to the famous academy at Pequa, in Lancaster county, then con- ducted by that eminent educator, Dr. Robert

Smith, where, by thorough study, he prepared himself to enter upon a course in medicine .. The outbreak of the American Revolution found him a physician ready for practice, and opened to him a fine field of professional energy and of patriotism as an army surgeon, a capacity in which he served his country until 1781, when his regiment was dis- banded under an act of Congress. Returning to Chester county, he settled in Kennett Square, and there practiced medicine until November, 1786, when he removed to Washington, Penn. In his new sphere, Dr. Baird, besides practicing his pro- fession, soon reached eminence as a leader in the community, as indicated by the various offices he successively held, viz. : justice of the peace, county lieutenant, brigade inspector, member of the State Senate, and then of the House of Representatives, sheriff of Washington county and trustee of Wash- ington Academy, the germ of the present Washing- ton College. He died October 27, 1805, leaving four sons, viz .: John, who followed him in the medical profession, but died early; George, the subject of this memorial, and Thomas H. and Will- iam, both of whom became eminent and successful lawyers, the former also a distinguished judge. His first wife, Susanna (Brown), was called from earth November 16, 1802, about three years before his death, and his second, Margaret (Darrah), fol- lowed his remains to the grave in the year suc. ceeding their marriage.

George Baird, the second son of Dr. Absalom Baird, was born in Kennett Square, Chester Co., Penn., October 28, 1785. He was taken by his parents to their new home in Washington at the age of eleven months, and here he grew up into the bodily and mental strength which ever charac- terized him amidst the peculiar advantages of a com- munity whose first settlers possessed unusual cult- ure and transmitted it to their posterity. Reared carefully amidst the best influences of a Scotch- Irish Presbyterian home and community, the text- ure of his youthful character was wrought after that superior fashion. The death of his father left Mr. Baird an orphan of just twenty years. He had simultaneously or alternately, been for some time pursuing classical and mathematical study at Washington Academy, and preparing for the prac- tice of medicine in his father's office. During the summer of 1805, he had enjoyed the instruction of the Rev. Matthew Brown, who in the spring of that year had become both pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Washington, and principal of the academy. Dr. Brown had in the academy, as as- sistant, Mr. David Elliott (afterward Rev. Dr. Elliott), the successor of Dr. Brown both in the pastorate of the church and the presidency of the college. The retirement of Mr. Elliott after a year of service to resume his studies as a candidate for graduation in Dickinson College, at Carlisle,

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Penn., was simultaneous with the transition of Washington Academy into the college under the charter of 1806. Mr. Baird took his place as tutor, and efficiently discharged the duties of the posi- tion for a year. The serious bereavement which imposed upon him a large share of the support of the family, also compelled the abandonment of a future prosecution of collegiate studies, and, what was still worse, of his medical studies also. This was much regretted, in view of his special classical taste and capacity, and a corresponding want of adaptation to ordinary trade. But "necessity knows no law." The aspiring student must needs abandon his books and come down to the stress of

business. He did this with cheerful submission and characteristic energy, ever holding the confi- dence of the community in which he lived, but not with the degree of success with which we may well suppose the pursuits of his preference and longing might have been crowned. His first important venture, along with his brother-in-law, Nicholas Wilson, in the form of a boat-load of flour for the market at New Orleans, was a disastrous failure, on account of the intervening depression of prices. Subsequently he was engaged in business for a brief season at St. Genevieve, Mo., and also at Nashville, Tenn. But returning to his home in Washington, popular favor expressed itself in his election, in 1811, to the office of sheriff of Wash- ington county, for the term of three years, re-elec- tion being forbidden by law in the case of that office, unless after a lapse of time. During the same years, as for the two previous years, the office of deputy attorney general was filled by his brother Thomas H. Baird, who likewise was president judge of the district composed of Washington, Fayette and Greene counties for a continuous pe- riod of twenty years, beginning with 1818, Dur- ing the years 1816-24, William Baird, the young- est brother, was deputy attorney-general. These facts abundantly attest both the energy of these brothers and of their hold on the public confidence.

Two important events in Mr. Baird's life were closely associated with his election as sheriff in 1811. One of these was his marriage, and the other his union with the Presbyterian Church of Washington, by public profession of his faith. On October 25, 1811, two or three weeks after his election, he and Miss Jane, daughter of John and Catherine Wilson, of Washington, were happily united for life by Rev. Dr. Matthew Brown. The union was a thorough blending of mutual love and devotion, of ever increasing strength, until No- vember 2, 1860, when on the verge of a half cent- ury the husband's death separated them for a little while. Very shortly after his marriage and the assumption of the duties of his office, Mr. Baird took the vows of a Christian upon himself and sat

down beside his beloved bride at the communion table of the Lord.

The expiration of Mr. Baird's term of office was followed, after a short interval, by his election in January, 1816, as a member of the House of Rep- resentatives at Harrisburg. to fill the vacancy oc- casioned by the death of Gen. James Stephenson. He at once took his seat and vigilantly discharged his duties as a legislator. Retiring then to private life, he engaged in mercantile business, which through several changes, and with varying fortune, he pursued until 1829, when his financial embar- rassments culminated in bankruptcy. The trial was in every way severe, and its experience bitter, but conscious integrity and an unblemished repu- tation sustained his wounded spirit. It was under the necessity which followed this reverse of fort- une, that Mr. Baird in 1830 removed to the neigh- borhood of Ripley, Ohio, and took charge of a farm and a mill belonging to his brother-in-law, Rev. Andrew Todd, of Kentucky. Here, too, his life for six years was one of both struggle and heroic endurance, as well as of success least equal to his expectation. In 1836 another change was made responsive to an invitation of his wife's brother, Marcus Wilson, to join him in the dry- goods business at Wheeling, Va. But their ar- rangements had scarcely gone into effect when Mr. Wilson's death precipitated another. Alone he then entered into the grocery business, though he was, of course, put under unexpected stress. Yet he pushed his way with assiduous earnestness and established a trade which produced a comfortable living. So he continued until 1844, when the in- creasing infirmities of Mrs. Baird's aged parents at Washington, made a call of filial duty to return to that place and take charge of them. Concurrent with this was the inducement of a better oppor- tunity to educate his younger children. At Wheel- ing he had not only been reasonably prospered in business, but his family had formed strong ties of friendship, which still bind them. Their relations with the First Presbyterian Church of that city, during the seven years of their continuance, were most cordial and satisfactory. Especially was their union close with the venerable pastor, Rev. Henry R. Weed, D.D., and his family. The re- moval to Washington was the last change. En- gaging in the same business as at Wheeling, Mr. Baird prosecuted it with vigor, having the efficient help of his youngest son, Andrew Todd Baird, during the last twelve years of his life. That son succeeded him at his death, and soon, by his com- bined skill and energy, rose to the front rank of business men, a place which by common consent he held up to his death. The return of Mr. Baird to Washington was speedily followed with renewed tokens of confidence from a community which well

The

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knew his worth. He was at once elected a trustee of Washington College, and so continued through the remaining seventeen years of his life. This was but a return to a position which he had before held for twenty consecutive years, commencing with 1812, under the presidency of Dr. Matthew Brown. During all of this latter period he acted as collector and a portion of it as treasurer of this institution. In this, too, his youngest son was his assistant, and succeeding to the financial trust was in full charge of the resources of the board until his death in 1887. In 1848 he was chosen to the office of justice of the peace, and discharged its duties for five years. But the office which he most of all valued was that of ruling elder in the Pres- byterian Church of Washington, to which, after election by the people, he was ordained and in- stalled October 3, 1847, along with James Boon, Joseph Henderson and Dr. Robert R. Reed. In that sacred office he was ever discriminating, con- stant and true to duty, and during most of the time was the efficient clerk of the Session. His appre- ciation by the ministry and eldership beyond his own particular church, may be inferred from his unanimous appointment by the Presbytery of Washington, as one of its commissioners to the General Assembly, which held its sessions in Nash- ville, Tenn., in May, 1855.

The character of Mr. Baird was very marked. In him seeming opposites were wonderfully blend- ed. Decision even sometimes to sternness if not bluntness, was joined with a tenderness of heart seldom surpassed. He was brave to utter fear- lessness in avowing and maintaining his convic- tions, and yet modest, diffident and deferential to the judgment of those in whose wisdom and truth he confided. He would suffer loss rather than forsake a principle or betray a friend. He was not slow to maintain his own rights with a heroic spirit, but he was ever more ready to forego his own ease and interest in doing a kindness. No parent more strictly exacted obedience, whilst no one could exceed him in a father's sympathetic love, He was solicitous for the spiritual welfare of the young. an earnest teacher in the Sabbath- school, and, during several periods, its superintend- ent. He loved the sanctuary with its sacred word and ordinances. The family altar never fell into neglect in his home, nor did the religious in- struction of his children. With his last breath he uttered affectionate words of parting to his beloved wife and children, as well as fit counsels to all that came to his bedside. His expressions of good will toward his fellow-men were hearty, and his prayers for the coming of the Lord went up be- fore him to the heavenly throne. On November 2, 1860, he breathed out his life in the sweet peace of Christ, and two days later his body was gently

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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 42

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