Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 43

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 43

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laid to rest in the "city of the dead." He had through grace finished his earthly course of seventy- five years, and even then was beholding the Lord's face, and was satisfied with His likeness.

His widow survived him until July 16, 1872, when she departed this life in her seventy-ninth year. She was greatly beloved in life, not only within her own large circle of relatives but by a still greater number, between whom and herself, during long and affectionate intercourse, ties had been formed which are stronger than death. The loveliness of her manners and disposition which made her girlhood so attractive, was thus carried into the responsible relations of wife and mother. She was equally at home among the refined and the lowly; modestly diffusing the light of her own genial spirit over all around her, and receiving back the largest rewards of confidence and love. Her words of encouragement and hope fell tenderly upon sorrowful hearts. As a daughter, sister, wife and mother, her affection, illustrated by her daily words and acts, wrote its own history upon the memories of those bound to her by those tender ties, which must prove as lasting as the soul. She was kind, tender and thoughtful in all that re- lated to the welfare and happiness of each and all of them. She was a mother in the fulness of love and care to a succession of orphaned children, chiefly nephews, nieces and grandchildren, which seldom finds a parallel, From the time of her marriage, down through the threescore years dur- ing which she had a home, there was no time when the blessings of that home were not shared by one or more of this class. In her time of greatest need, she always had somewhat to give, when the Mas- ter's cause appealed to her for help. In this, as in a multitude of other ways, did her unselfish preference of the good and happiness of others over any gratification of her own, appear.

Mrs. Baird was born and reared, as she also spent most of her life and died, on the same prem- ises. She was the fourth daughter of John Wil- son, Esq., who died in 1847, and Mrs. Catherine Wilson, who died December 15, 1857, who, with their firstborn child. immigrated from Ireland to this country in 1786. After a residence of three years in Philadelphia they settled in Washington, Penn., in 1789, and here, after a long life, they came to their rest among the dead. Of five sis- ters, all of whom lived to widowhood and advanced age, and were blended into closer union by means of common circumstances and experiences, three were called away within the brief space of seven- teen months. Mrs. Martha Wishart (widow of Dr. John Wishart), the second sister, died March 1, 1871, in the eightieth year of her age; on August 2, 1872, the eldest sister, Mrs. Mary, widow of David Acheson, fell asleep as she neared the ven-

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erable age of eighty-five years; Mrs. Margaret Wilson died July 21, 1876; Mrs. Catherine W. Todd, on January 5, 1877, and John K. Wilson on July 4, 1883.

M ORGAN HAYES, senior member of the firm of Hayes & Wilson, carriage makers of Washington, Penn., was born in Hart- ford county, Conn., March 13, 1820; re- ceived his education there and learned the carriage makers' trade in the town of Hartford.

Morgan Hayes settled at Washington, Penn., October 15, 1841, and in partnership with his brother and uncle (who had been keeping a hotel in the borough) established a carriage shop in rear of the court-house. Burned out there, the com- pany purchased the old Presbyterian church build- ing, now vacant and the property of the S. B. & C. Hayes estate. In 1871 the shop was established in the old Methodist church building, 54 North Franklin street, where business is now carried on. As a coincidence, it may be related that a brother in Columbus, Ohio (now of the firm of M. & E. K. Hayes), conducted an industry of the same nature in an old church building. In 1871 our subject formed a partnership with John S. Wilson, who had served an apprenticeship with him, for the manufacture of all kinds of carriages, buggies, spring wagons, etc., which has since continued with well-merited success. Politically, Mr. Hayes is a Democrat, in religion a member of the Second Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder. He is the oldest carriage maker in Washington, and built the first buggy in the county. He has in his possession a buggy he made in 1843, and sold July 3, that year; but some years ago he bought it back, and has exhibited it since at the county fair. This vehicle is now half a century old, is good and sound, and a venerable reminder of the days immediately following the "Hard Cider .Campaign." Some years ago, Rev. Charles Hayes published a vo- luminous work, on the Hayes family, at Westfield, N. Y., which is a standard genealogy back to 1640. It does not treat of the family before the Refor- mation.

0 LIVER M. LINTON is descended from an honored ancestry who came to Washington county at a very early period in its history. John Linton immigrated to America about 1682, and was apparently the first of the family to set foot upon American soil. An old family Bible, now in the possession of our subject, contains a record of five generations, and the first item in this record is the following: "Benjamin Linton, son of John and Rebecca, born 6th month, 10th day, 1703."

Joshua Linton, son of the above-named Benja- min, by a second wife, nee Jane Cowgil, was born January 22, 1738, and was the great-grandfather of Oliver M. In early pioneer days he was a resi- dent of Bucks county, Penn., whence, in company with his three sons - Benjamin, Mahlon and Joshua, Jr. - he came to Washington county toward the close of the last century. [This is taken from data supplied by Prof. Edwin Linton.] Of these sons, Mahlon was born in Bucks county, at 9:30 o'clock, A. M., February 6, 1781, was reared to agricultural pursuits on his father's farm, after the fashion of those early times, and also learned the trade of weaving, both of which occupations he followed through life. After his arrival in Wash- ington county, he purchased, on March 10, 1789, seventy-six acres of wild land in East Bethlehem township, where he made a settlement, clearing his place of the primeval forest, and enduring the many hardships incident to pioneer life. On March 31, 1803, he married Ann Hilles, who bore him the following named children: Sarah, born August 14, 1804, died in 1873; William H., born April 30, 1806, died 1862; Samuel, born June 23, 1809, died 1864; Joseph, born January 28, 1813, died 1882; Mary Ann, born April 27, 1815, died 1882; Isaiah, born September 29, 1817, died 1891; Caroline, born August 21, 1820, died in girlhood, and Margaret, born September 21, 1825. The father died April 4, 1831, the mother following him to the grave June 21, 1838. He was a Whig in politics, and in his religious connection was a Quaker.

William H. Linton was born on the farm now owned by his son, Oliver M., in East Bethlehem township, and which has been in the possession of the Linton family ever since its purchase in 1789 by Mahlon Linton. He received his education at the subscription schools of the locality of his birth, and afterward attended Westland Academy. His brothers and sisters, who grew to maturity, all married and became scattered, but he continued to live on the old homestead, assisting his father in the duties of the farm, and at the latter's death he inherited the property. He was married Octo- ber 31, 1832, to Matilda, daughter of Benjamin Taylor, one of Washington county's early Quaker citizens. To this union were born children as follows: Eli, Caroline, Elizabeth Ann, Oliver M., William Hilles, Mary and Eliza, John Francis and Lawrence, all of whom are now deceased, except Caroline, Oliver M. and William Hilles, the last named being a resident of Salem, Ohio. The father by occupation was a farmer, shoemaker and broom maker; in politics he was a Republican, in religious faith a Quaker: he died March 29, 1862; the mother was called from earth September 17, 1869.

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graphical memoir, was born on the farm which he now owns, and of which he has been a lifelong resident, with the exception of three years (1882 to 1885) he spent in Centreville. He was educated at the common schools of his district, receiving at home a thorough training in the ardnous and manifold duties of a practical agriculturist, and has made farming pursuits, including threshing by horsepower, the vocation of his life. On October 26, 1865, he was married to Miss Philena Cleaver, who was born September 18, 1841, in Columbiana county, Ohio, daughter of Eli Cleaver, and this union was blessed with five children, viz .: Nora M., born August 19, 1867; Mary M., born August 2, 1869; Lizzie L., born September 10, 1871; Cora E., born April 3, 1873, and Eva O., born November 2, 1882. Of these the following named three all died in 1872 of diphtheria: Nora M., March 14; Mary M., February 15, and Lizzie L., March 12. Mr. Linton's farm, comprising ninety- three acres, in a high state of cultivation, is equipped with all modern improvements, and is devoted exclusively to general farming and stock raising. In his political preferments our subject is a Republican, and has served as judge of election.

OHN S. WILSON, of the firm of Hayes & Wilson, carriage makers, Washington, is a native of that borough, born in March, 1830. His grandfather, Matthew Wilson, was of Butler county, Penn., whence he removed to Morgan county, Ohio, where he carried on farm- ing, and died in 1845 at the patriarchal age of ninety years. . He was a Revolutionary soldier. His wife, a native of Ireland, bore him five children (all now deceased), one of whom came at the age of seventeen years to Washington, but did not remain long; another son and a daughter died in Ohio.

William Jackson Wilson, a son of Matthew, was born in Butler county, Penn., and when a lad came to Washington, where for many years he followed his trade, shoemaking. He was a very patriotic man, and held a commission as major in the militia. In 1862, then sixty years of age, he was desirous of enlisting in the active service of his country, but because of his white hair and beard he was rejected. Determined, however, to get into some regiment, he rejuvenated himself by dying his hair, and was then accepted, serving his country four years with as much zeal and activity as many a much younger man. When he reached the age of seventy-six, he departed this life, a stanch Republican in his political preferences, although prior to the Civil war he had been a Democrat. At one time in his life he was over- seer of the poor, serving eight years. Socially he

was connected with the I. O. O. F. and F. & A. M., and in religion he was a member of the M. E. Church. Mr. Wilson was married to Mrs. Mary Kimmons, nee Sprowls, a descendant of John Sprowls who came from England to this county about the time of the Revolution, settling in East Finley township. . To this union were born six children, as follows: George W., in Louisville, Ky. (for thirty years he was on the L. & N. railroad); Sarah is the wife of Morgan Hayes; John S. is the subject of this sketch; Mary (Mrs. Daniel Mowry) is deceased; Charlotte lives in Washington, Penn. The mother died at McConnellsville, Ohio, in 1841.

John S. Wilson received his education at the public schools of his native place, and learned the trade of shoemaker with his father, at which he worked three years. Preferring, however, the carriage-making business, he bound himself as an apprentice to S. B. & C. Hayes, of Washington, in that line, and served four years, after which he worked as a journeyman, part of the time in Wheeling, W. Va. In 1859 he went "across the plains" to California, with oxen, the journey occupying six months, and he has still in his pos- session a diary he kept, containing an interesting account of his trip from the time of his leaving home to his return in 1865. About that year he again went to Wheeling, where he remained several years, and then, finally, returned to Washington, where, in 1871, he entered into partnership with Morgan Hayes, for the manufacture of all kinds of carriages, buggies, spring wagons, etc., under the firm name of Hayes & Wilson, which has since continued with unqualified success. In 1868 Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Harriet Woodward Kimball, of Wheeling, W. Va., a native of White Mills, Penn., and whose parents are now deceased. No children have been born to this union. Polit- ically Mr. Wilson sympathizes with the Demo- cratic party, but in voting he invariably uses his judgment, casting his ballot for "the right man for the right place;" socially he was at one time a member of the I. O. O. F. He is a typical self- made man, having attained success by his own individual efforts. Enterprising to an eminent degree, he takes a lively interest in all measures tending to the welfare and prosperity of his city and county. He is a stockholder in both the Glass Works and the Tube Works in Washington.

0 F. LYON, a resident of Amwell township, Washington Co., Penn., is of Scotch-Irish descent. His great-great-grandfather, Na- thaniel Lyon, emigrated from the High- lands of Scotland to this country in the early part of the eighteenth century, and settled near Morris- town, New Jersey,

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Nathaniel Lyon had five sons: Ezekiel, Nathan- iel, Benjamin, Stephen and John. These brothers all immigrated to western Pennsylvania, and for a time remained at, or near, what is now Browns- ville, Fayette county. Here Ezekiel, the eldest, built a woolen mill and manufactured cloth for many years. Nathaniel, the second son of this family, immigrated to Ohio in the early days, and settled on the Muskingum river. Stephen, the fourth son, was a cripple and worked at the trade of tinsmith. The fifth son, John, settled in Virginia, at or near the flats of Grave creek, and there lived and died.

Benjamin Lyon, third son of Nathaniel, and great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in 1752 near Morristown, N. J., where he had his home until after the Revolutionary war, in which he served during the entire conflict. He was married in 1777, while a soldier, to a Miss Wilcox who, with her father, mother and one brother had started from London, England (the father, Mr. Wilcox, during a storm while they were crossing the ocean, was drowned). The mother, Mrs. Wilcox, with her two children, reached this country safely, and settled in Phila- delphia. After the war, Benjamin Lyon immi- grated to Western Pennsylvania, and settled on a farm at the headwaters of Mingo creek, about one mile north of Dunningsville, Washington Co., Penn. This farm was for many years owned by Andrew Crouch (deceased), and is now owned by his son, John Crouch. The original mansion house and home of Benjamin Lyon, on this farm, is still standing; it is a frame building, and was built by his own hands, he being a mechanic. He lived on this farm until the death of his first wife in 1801. She was buried in a graveyard on the adjoining farm, known for many years back as the "Todd farm." Benjamin Lyon, soon after the death of his wife, sold out and moved to Smith Creek, Greene Co., Penn., where, in 1812, he married the Widow Rogers, and by her had one son (Mathias), born June 9, 1813 (now living in Chilli- cothe, Mo.). By his first wife he (Benjamin Lyon) had children as follows: Betsy, born April 27, 1778; Phœbe, born November 10, 1781; Sabia, born December 9, 1783; Nancy, born March 30, 1787; Noah, born March 27, 1790; William, born March 9. 1795; and Joanna, born December 13, 1800. Religiously, Benjamin Lyon was a Baptist, and was very strong in the faith. He died in 1836, at the age of eighty-four, and was buried on the Thomas Smith farm, two miles from Waynes- burg, Pennsylvania.

William Lyon (grandfather of O. F. Lyon) was born March 9, 1795, in Nottingham township, Washington Co., Penn. He was married September 7, 1816, to Elizabeth Hathaway, who bore him eight children, viz. : Morgan Lyon, born July 17,

1817; Thomas Harvey (residing at Linden, Wash- ington Co., Penn.), born September 4, 1819; Har- rison (deceased), born December 24, 1821; Jack- son (deceased), born October 17, 1824; Louisa (Mrs. Horner, deceased), born May 27, 1827; Richmond (deceased), born January 28, 1829; Perren (residing at Orange, Cal.), born May 10, 1832; and William Sealy (residing at Rochelle, Ill.), born February 26, 1835. He lived in Greene county for a short time, then bought a gristmill on Ten Mile creek, Washington county (now known as Lindley's Mills), which he owned and operated until 1842, when he sold out, and with his wife and children moved to Clark connty, Ind., where he remained until the fall of 1844, when, on account of sickness of nearly all his family, and death of two of his sons (Harrison and Jackson), he returned to Pennsylvania and located at Beck's Mills, three miles east of Canonsburg, Washing- ton county, where he died November 9, 1845; Elizabeth Lyon, his widow, died April 10, 1864.

Morgan Lyon (father of O. F. Lyon) was born July 17, 1817. His education was obtained at common schools, and for some time he taught school in his own neighborhood; when not teach- ing he worked with his father in the mill. On November 25, 1838, he was married to Clarissa Jane McVey, who bore him nine children, viz. : Oscar F. (whose name opens this sketch); Emma A. (Mrs. Samuel Bane, deceased), born September 17, 1841; Elizabeth A. (Mrs. Evans Bane, re- siding in Moniteau county, Mo.), born March 22, 1844; Harvey R., born September 9, 1846, was a soldier in Company K, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, war of the Rebellion (now residing in Denton, Tex.); William A., born January 13, 1849 (was a soldier in Company K, Sixteenth Pennsyl- vania Cavalry, died at Alexandria, Va., June 1, 1864, of wounds received in action); David H., born October 1, 1851 (died in infancy); Sarah L .. born March 29, 1855 (residing in Moniteau county, Mo.); Clara J. (Mrs. Hoge), born Decem- ber 12. 1858 (residing in Chillicothe. Mo.), and James M. (residing in Burlington, Iowa), born January 4, 1861.

For a number of years Morgan Lyon followed droving, buying stock in Ohio and western Penn- sylvania and driving it across the mountains to the Eastern cities. In 1862 he opened a store of general merchandise at Lone Pine, Penn., and at the same time and place owned and operated a coal mine. Here he continued in business (which proved to be very profitable) until 1869, when be sold out and moved to Moniteau county, Mo .. and purchased the farm upon which he lived until his death. Politically, he was a Whig, and after the organization of the party he became a Republican, being always interested in public affairs, and in- tensely loyal. He was especially earnest in pro-

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moting the welfare of the public schools, was a great reader, well posted on the general topics of his time. He was always an earnest believer in the Christian religion, and died strong in the faith, January 29, 1891.

Clarissa Jane Lyon (mother of O. F. Lyon) was born May 20, 1820, a daughter of Stephen and Amy McVey, who were of Scotch-Irish origin, and whose ancestors were among the early settlers of western Pennsylvania. Mrs. Lyon had four brothers and three sisters, viz .: Silas (deceased). Harvey (residing at Washington, Penn.), Franklin, a carpenter (deceased), Charles (a soldier in the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, war of the Re- bellion), Sarah Waddell (residing at Millsboro, Penn.), Ann Vorhees (deceased), and Amy, living at West Union, Penn. Mrs. Lyon was always a con - sistent, Christian woman, a devoted wife and mother. Forgetting self, she lived and toiled solely for the good of her family and those around her. She and her husband were formerly mem- bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, but in later years both united with the Christian Church. She is still living on her farm (left by her husband) in Moniteau county, Mo.

O. F. Lyon, eldest son of Morgan and C. J. Lyon, was born December 1, 1839, in Morris township, Washington Co., Penn. At the age of two years he went with his parents to Indiana, re- turning with them to Pennsylvania when he was about five years old, and settling in North Stra- bane township, Washington county. Here he re- mained, going to school in the winter time, and working on the farm in summer. At the age of seventeen he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until the opening of the war of the Rebellion. when he enlisted, September 16, 1861, in the first three-years' call, in Company A, Eighty-fifth P. V. I., serving until November 22, 1864. He was with Gen. McClellan in the Pen- insular campaign of 1862; with Gen. Foster's ex- pedition from Newberne, N. C., via Atlantic Ocean to Hilton Head, S. C., January, 1863; with Gen. Gilmore, in the Department of the South, during 1863; with Gen. Butler, around Petersburg and Richmond, Va., in - 1864. He participated in the siege of Yorktown, battles of Williamsburg, Savage Station, Fair Oaks and Black Water. Va .; siege of Morris Island, and Fort Wagner, S. C., sometimes called the Sixty- one-days' fight; White Marsh Island, Ga .; Ber- muda Hundred, Ware Church, Appomattox, Straw- berry Plain, Deep Bottom, Chapin Farm, Va., and others. At Fair Oaks his life was saved by his belt clasp, which was struck and broken through by an ounce minie ball. After his return from the war Mr. Lyon entered the store of his father, and on February 18, 1866. was united in marriage with Catharine Ferrel. The following children

have been born to them: Jennie C., born May 26, 1867 (educated at Oberlin, Ohio, and now teacher of music at Braddock, Penn.); Emma A., born August 17, 1869 (graduated at Bethany Col- lege (W. Va.), and is now missionary in Nankin, China, under the control of the Foreign Mission- ary Society of the Christian Church); Ella L., born June 7, 1872 (graduate of the Washington Business College and teacher of stenography and typewriting); William M., born October 20, 1874, and Sherman L., born December 12, 1883, both students.

Soon after his marriage Mr. Lyon engaged in farming and stock-raising, and in 1872 purchased the farm upon which he has since lived. He is an active Republican, and has served two terms as justice of the peace in Amwell township. He and . his family have for many years been members of the Christian Church, and are prominent in the community.

HE WISE FAMILY. This family, which set- tled at an early day in the southeastern part of what is now Washington county, Penn., were of German extraction. Adamı Wise and his wife, the progenitors, were natives of Rhenish Hesse, a province of Hesse Darmstadt, and lived near the river Rhine, where his ancestors carried on the business of mnilling and distillation of wine. He and his wife, excited no doubt by the wonderful reports which were spread far and wide of the opportunities afforded the emigrant for bettering his condition of life in the New World, set sail with their first born child (Andrew, born May 7. 1748) from Rotterdam, in the ship " Hamp- shire," Thomas Cheeseman, captain, and touching last at Falmouth, England, landed at Baltimore, Md., in July, 1748, the vessel after some delay proceeding to Philadelphia, where it arrived Sep- tember 7 following. Adam Wise and family first settled on Pipe creek, in Carroll county, Md., at or near the site of Frederick City, where helived about twenty-two years, and was engaged in' the busi- ness of milling, distilling and farming, at which he prospered and was well to do. Shortly after March 10, 1763, when his son Adam, Jr., was born, his first wife died. After a suitable period of mourning had elapsed, the elder Wise consoled himself for the loss by taking another wife - a German lady - and a few years after, his no- madic spirit having revived, he closed out his busi- ness in Maryland, and started with his family, now numerous, in search of a new home in the wilds of western Pennsylvania (making the long and tedi- ous journey over the mountains in wagons), and settled on North Ten Mile creek, probably about the year 1770, if not earlier. This section of country was then known as "The Wilderness of

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Ten Mile" and was very sparsely settled. Only four years before this the first white settlement within the present limits of Washington county had been made near the junction of Ten Mile creek with the Monongahela river, and about four miles down the stream from the point where Adam Wise selected his new home. The selection was judiciously made. Perhaps nowhere in Wash- ington county could he have found a more invit- ing site for a homestead. On a commanding emi- nence overlooking the beautiful valley of Ten Mile he built his cabin home. He must have been a man of cultured and refined taste, as a family tradition states that he was largely influenced in selecting this location by the picturesque land- scape here presented to his view, and more particu- larly by the groves of white pine growing in this locality-a feature of natural scenery very rare in Washington county. Here he located a tract of land, then in Westmoreland county, comprising about 400 acres, by what was called a "tomahawk improvement; " that is, he blazed the trees around his boundaries. The tract lies on the north side of North Ten Mile creek, about two and one-half miles from its junction with the south branch, and about four miles from the Monongahela river. This tract he named "The Fishery," for the reason that the finny tribe was very numerous at this point in the waters of Ten Mile, and it was patented March 19, 1785, under that name, by his son Peter Wise, who inherited it, the warrant having issued June 26, 1785. The delay in taking out a patent was occasioned by the disturbed state of the country caused by the Revolutionary war, and also owing to the death of the original proprietor, which oc- curred before its close.

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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 43

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