Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 58

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 58

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Sunset Farm, On Buffalo's Creek, near Farmington, MARION COUNTY, W. VA., August 6th, 1868. 6

Again time in its remorseless flight has another time brought the anniversary of my birth. I am twenty-three (23) years of age and now, upon a close review of my past life, the question arises, Is the world any better for my being in it? Oh. how very unpleasant it must be to realize the awful fact that you have done nothing to alleviate the toils and sufferings or to advance the interests of your

fellowmen. I rejoice to feel that I am, in my weak way, attempting to serve God, and although very weak I pray to my Heavenly Father that my faith fail not, but that I may serve Him faithfully during life, and when my race on earth is over that I may be so happy as to reach Heaven and there in company with God and angels spend the countless ages of eternity.

I have spent most of this year at Uncle R. C. Snodgrass' in W. Va. I went to Amity, Pa., Aug. 19th, 1867. Taught school seven weeks. Left there Oct. 23rd, arrived at Un- cle's Nov. 6th, and was obliged to remain all winter as my limb was so very sore that I was unable to work. Remained until April 6th, 1868, when I returned home to Washington Co., Pa., and remained three weeks, and April 19th solemnly dedicated myself to God in the M. P. Church, J. D. Herr, pastor, and now desire to serve the Lord. Came back to West Va. and now expect to leave for home Aug. 31st. Have been reading law this year, and wish to finish Blackstone this fall.

In conclusion I wish to record my thanks to a kind Lord for having thus brought me safely through another year. I now consign myself for future life.

JAMES P. SAYER.

He was unfailing in his devotion to the church, and prompt in his attendance on all its services. As superintendent of the Sunday-school of the Methodist Protestant Church, of which he had been for years a consistent member, he was an in- defatigable worker, and when in charge of a Bible class, a better or more zealous teacher could not be found. At the close of the Sunday school on the Sabbath following the death of its superintendent, after some feeling remarks made by its (then) su- perintendent, M. Sharp, the following resolutions were presented and adopted :

Whereas, Our highly esteemed brother and fellow la- borer in the Sabbath-school, James P. Sayer, has been called from the sorrows and afflictions of this life to his Heavenly home; therefore,

Resolved, That in the death of Bro. Sayer we have lost an intelligent and devoted worker in our Master's vine- yard and one esteemed and loved by all who knew him. Resolved, That we endeavor to follow his wise counsel and so to live that we may meet him where sorrow and separation never come.

The members of the bar met and adopted min- ntes on the death of their respected and deeply lamented colleague, which were ordered spread on the records of the court. The following pertinent remarks thereon are from the pen of H. M. Dougan :

The memorial, just presented, embodies all of Major Sayer's history and character which was thought by the committee necessary to go upon the records of the court; much more might with propriety have been said of him, but to have said it would have made the report cumbrous and unsuited to the permanent tribute of affection and respect which the court directs to be placed among its records. It is proper that what was left unsaid be spoken of at this time.

Most of those who are here will recall Major Sayer's prominent characteristic in the conduct of legal business. While he was always courteous, and never took an ad- vantage of his opponent which he was not fairly and properly entitled to, he was always combative; with him the trial of a case before the court was a battle, and he " fought for his own hand." This was the natural con- duct of the man, for he was born a warrior. It was as

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natural for him to oppose, and fight while there was a chance to fight, that which he thought was wrong or which threatened to unduly interfere with the interests of his client, as it was natural for him to breathe. He did not, however, fight for the mere love of fighting, his sympathies must first be enlisted for the cause he repre- sented. Like all other lawyers, he was often on the wrong side of a case; but whether he was on the right or wrong side, his conduct was the same. His side was pre- sented to the court or to the jury with all the force that he could give to it.

As I stood by his coffin, the thought that was chiefly in my mind was that we were about to bury one who had been a fine specimen of the patriotic young American manhood of thirty years ago. In the years from 1861 to 1865 hundreds of the spirited youth of this county cheer- fully left their homes to encounter the hardships and dangers of service in the Union army; of all of them, none rendered better service in his sphere than did Ser- geant Sayer. He remained in the army but a little more than a year, and in that brief time he showed that he was as patriotic and brave as any man in it. I have heard his conduct at Chancellorsville spoken of in words of high commendation by his comrades. When Gen. Hancock asked for volunteers to go npon an important and very dangerous errand, Sayer was among the very first to step forward. In time of battle, the ordinary dnty required of a soldier in the ranks is arduous and dangerous, but the chivalric conrage of our deceased friend was displayed at Chancellorsville, when he with a few equally worthy and brave comrades saved Lapeine's Maine battery from capture after all the officers and men of it had been dis- abled, and the horses all killed by the fierceness of the enemy's fire. At the great battle of Gettysburg he was wounded five times; one of his wounds caused the very great disability of which the members of this bar had al- most daily vision; and I do not doubt that the injuries re- ceived at this battle were the cause of the distressing malady which brought his life to an early close. He was, notwithstanding his combative disposition, a man of great modesty; but he was very proud of his army rec- ord. Of a record such as he had, it was right that he should be proud. Under circumstances which tested one's courage, constancy and devotion, he had shown himself to be a soldier worthy of the cause for which he fonght. His name will not live in history as one of the great heroes of the war; but so long as life lasts to those who knew of him in that great army, the history of which confers an immortality of honor on all who belonged to it and faithfully did their dnty in it, he will be remem- bered as one of the humble and modest heroes of those splendid bnt dangerous days which witnessed the wicked but futile attempt to destroy free government on this continent.

He was one of the most courageons and manly men I ever was acquainted with. When he became certain that he was stricken with a mortal disease, he retired from public view, and calmly awaited death in the quiet of his own honse. For him death had fewer terrors than it has for most; he had too often faced it in his boyhood to be afraid in his matnrer age, and, like the Great Commander for whom he had so much admiration and respect, he died as he had lived, fearlessly.

The rich joyousness of summer and the solemn gloom of winter are now alike to him; the recollection of the mighty events in which the part he bore was highly hon- orable, will never again thrill his breast: the call to duty here, which he had ever obeyed with all the alacrity of his soldierly nature will not again receive from him the wonted response; his army comrades and the members of this bar will never again hear the genial and cordial greeting of this true-hearted and loyal gentleman; but when those who knew him recall his patriotic. unobtru- sive, helpful and altogether worthy life, his memory will

be thought of as something to be dearly loved and ten- derly cherished.

His memory .- He had a remarkable memory. He could give the day and date of almost every event which came under his observation from the time he was four years of age till his last sickness. He could tell the kind of weather that occurred on each day through all these years. A prominent merchant of Washington who noted in his diary the changes of weather for each day in the year, at one time called Mr. Sayer into his office and questioned him on each day of the year for some four years, and his descriptions corresponded in every particular with the diary. Mr. Sayer took great pleasure in spending an evening with his old schoolmates and reminding them of all their tricks and the various events that once occurred in the schoolroom. The failure of his mind and mem- ory were among the most notable features of his speedy decline. Punctuality .- Mr. Sayer was al- ways on time. He would allow nothing to keep him from meeting his engagements. In inspect- ing the National Guard of Pennsylvania he was never known to miss a train or disappoint a com- panv. This was characteristic of him from his childhood. An engagement might extend over months, yet at the time of meeting it he would not vary a minute. Benevolence .- Mr. Sayer was a very benevolent man: He always remembered the poor; and was a stanch friend and helper of the church and all its benevolent enterprises. He was a willing supporter of every good cause. Will power. - Mr. Sayer's success in life was largely due to his will power. If he decided upon a certain course, bodily sufferings. and seemingly insurmountable difficulties never seemed for one moment to check him. When in the hospital suffer- ing from his wounds, the attendant physician told him that he would not live till morning; he replied that he intended to return home in the morning and so he did. The doctor said his will power alone bore him through. This was characteristic of him till his deatlı. In his last sickness hispains at times were almost excruciating, yet he would bear them with scarcely a change of countenance.

The funeral services of Maj. James Patterson Saver were held at his late residence in North Franklin township, on Monday following his decease, and were participated in by several clergy- men, the funeral address proper being made by Rev. Mr. Conway. The members of the G. A. R. and of the bar attended in a body to the cemetery. The hearse was followed by a large cortege of friends. At the grave imposing ceremonies were performed, and the impressive service conducted by G. A. R. comrades. The choir sang one of his favorite hymns; "Abide with me," and as the body was lowered into the unfeeling clay. the bugler sounded the call for "Lights out," the

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chaplain delivered a short touching address, and benediction was pronounced, and the assembled multitude mournfully turned from the last resting place of a brave soldier, a kind father, a loving husband and a useful citizen.

A ARON STRAUS, a successful merchant and farmer of Donegal township, now retired from active life, is a native of Bavaria, Ger- many, where he was born July 12, 1809, a son of Myer Straus. He received a public- school education in his native country, and then learned the butcher's trade, which he followed in Bavaria but a short time, as he soon thereafter sailed from Bremen for the shores of America. After a voyage of fifty-eight days the vessel landed at New York, and Mr. Straus at once proceeded to eastern Pennsylvania, where he worked in various capacities for some time. In 1844 he came to Donegal township, Washington county, and locat- ing in West Alexander, followed the butchering business for eleven years. At the expiration of that time he embarked in general merchandise, opening a store, where he soon obtained an exten- sive custom, building up one of the largest country trades in the county, and so continued until failing health compelled him to retire, in 1866.

In 1844 he was married to Hannah E. Lyle, who was born August 16, 1825, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Arison) Lyle. Of the chil- dren born to this union, Rosa M. is the wife of J. D. Schaeffer, a lawyer of Allegheny county; George A. resides in Donegal township; Louisa A. is the wife of Dr. T. J. McKee, of Allegheny, Penn .; Jo- seph A. resides on his father's farm in Donegal township: Lizzie M. is the wife of G. W. Lewis, of Ohio county, W. Va., and Daisy V. is the wife of D. F. Lewis, of Ohio county, W. Va. After retir- ing from mercantile life, Mr. Straus purchased a farm lying half a mile west of West Alexander, and erected a commodious and comfortable dwell- ing, to which he moved. He is one of the many prosperous and enterprising citizens which Ger- many has bequeathed to the United States. Heis a member of the Democratic party, and is ever willing to assist in any public enterprise, but makes no pretensions to active political work.

F RANK J. L. WILEY. William Wiley, father of the subject of this sketch, was born near Winchester, Va., in 1794. and in 1806 came with his mother, Mary Wiley, to Washington county, where he followed his trade, that of bricklayer, and died in 1869.

He was one of the early Abolitionists of the county. His wife, Martha Harbison, to whom he was married in 1817, was born near Freeport,

Armstrong Co., Penn., in 1800. She was a daugh- ter of John and Massy Harbison, who were among the first settlers of Butler (then Allegheny) county, Penn., and who were married at Brownsville, Washington Co., same State, in 1787, the result of their union being eleven children, two of whom were killed before their mother's eyes by Indians, as related elsewhere in this volume, where is also given an account of the capture by the savages of Massy Harbison and her children, and her marvel- ons escape from her captors. Edward White,

father of Massy, was a soldier in the Revolution, while John Harbison, her husband, was an Indian scout or spy. Massy was a good rifle shot, and during attacks by the Redskins on the blockhouse, which was within sight of her home, she would seize her rifle and do her part in driving off the invaders.

Edward White moved from New Jersey to Brownsville after the Revolution. To Mr. and Mrs. William Wiley were born eleven children, as follows: John (deceased); Martha (deceased at the age of sixteen years); Elizabeth (deceased in in- fancy); Thomas, in Washington; Henry (deceased); Maria (deceased), married to William Warwick; Frank J. L., the subject proper of this sketch; William C., in Washington; Ellen, wife of William R. Donaldson, in Wheeling, W. Va .; Jane, de- ceased wife of Capt. Fred. Rainbow; and Annie (Mrs. Adam Harbison), in Canonsburg, Penn. The mother died at Wheeling, W. Va., in 1882, at the age of eighty-two years.

Frank J. L. Wiley was born in Washington, Penn., of which fair city he has been a lifelong resident. He received his education at the public schools of the borough, and learned the trade of plasterer, which he still follows. Politically he has been an active Republican, and has held various offices of trust, such as borough council- man, judge of elections, etc. Socially he is a Freemason, and in religion a member of the M. E. Church.

D R. F. M. FINLEY. The Finley family are numbered with the earliest pioneers of Washington county, and are of Scotch origin. John Finley was born in the " land of the mountain and the flocd," whence in early days he emigrated to America, first settling in Maryland, whence he moved to Pennsylvania, and took out a patent for 1.000 acres of land in Alle- gheny county. He was married in Maryland to Mar- garet Rowlands, who bore him the following chil- dren: William, John. Robert (who was a general in the militia), Jane (Mrs. Curry), Margaret (Mrs. Baldwin), Isabelle (Mrs. Cochran), Mary (Mrs. St. Clair), Susan (Mrs. Wilson), Levi, James and Sarah (Mrs. Neal), all of whom have passed away.

I. M Finley

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The father was a Democrat in politics, and in religion a member of the Presbyterian (Dr. Mar- shall's) Church. Both parents died on the farm in Allegheny county.

Levi Finley, son of John and Margaret Finley, was born in 1798, on the home place in Allegheny county, Penn., and his youth was passed amid the scenes of pioneer life. He received bis primary education in the subscription schools, and afterward attended Jefferson College for two years, when he returned to the old place, remaining there until 1830. When yet a young man he was married to Rachel Neal, a native of Allegheny county, and the following children were born to their union: Mar- garet, Melissa J. (wife of Baldwin Wallace), Susan M. (wife of Rev. W. W. Loverty), John A., F. M., and Rachel Narcissa (deceased wife of John S. Collins). Mr. and Mrs. Finley resided two years in Greene county, Penn., on a farm at Rice's Landing. They then returned to Union township, Washington county, and bought the Huston and Fawcett farms, where they remained eight years, selling a large quantity of coal. They finally bought the farm of 500 acres in Union township, adjoining Finley- ville, and lived in that village, which was then called " Row Galley," but nicknamed "Rogues' Alley." The name was then changed to Finley- ville, where for thirteen years Mr. Finley managed a hotel in the old stone house, which is yet stand- ing. In politics he was a Whig and Republican, and in religious faith was a member of the Mingo Presbyterian Church. He died June 21, 1861, his widow in 1887.

Dr. F. M. Finley was born March 27, 1834, in Union township, Washington Co., Penn., and was educated at the common schools and in private academies, entering Washington College in 1850. He graduated in 1854, and then entered Jefferson Medical College, but was compelled to return home on account of sickness, and there remained after the death of his father. He was married, Sep- tember 23, 1869, to Emmeline, daughter of John Thompson, and they have one son, Francis H. Dr. Finley is a Republican, and has been a member of the school board for years. He is connected with the Presbyterian Church of Finleyville, to which he gives a hearty support.

SRAEL L. WOOD. Washington county of to- day owes her position among the foremost counties of Pennsylvania to the presence within her borders of such energetic men as the one whose name opens this memoir.

Israel Lane Wood is a son of Thomas Wood, and grandson of William Wood, a native of Maryland, having been born near Deer Creek, in that State, where he was married to Margaret Mitchell, and moving thence to Greene county, same State, set- tled near Waynesburg. At that time, and many

years afterward, the Indians were so troublesome that the white settlers were obliged to cross east of the mountains time and again, in order to escape the onslaughts of the Indians, returning when peace would be reestablished. These journeys were made on horseback, as a wagon could not have followed the narrow trails which were the only passages across the mountains. During one of his temporary residences in Greene county, Mr. . Wood heard that Indians were near, and he again fled across the mountains, but his neighbors disre- garded the warning, and pursued their work of clearing the forest. Three or four of them, feeling thirsty, started to a spring near by, and while drinking heard the report of a rifle. Each know- ing that his neighbor had no gun, naturally inferred that the Indians had come, and fled for his life; but by the time one had run two or three hundred yards, he was discovered by the Indians, and then came a fearful race. The Redmen were steadily gain- ing on the poor fugitive, and his only hope was an almost impossible one-if he could only cross Ten Mile creek he would be safe. But the bank was a rocky precipice, thirty feet high, and a broken limb would probably be the result of the leap, sure to be followed by capture, then death at the stake, or by the more merciful tomahawk. But time was precious, and with a swift glance at the bottom of the high bank, he sprang from the rock, and fortunately landed unhurt, saved from his pursuers at last. When the Indians no longer made their terrible raids through Washington and Greene counties, Mr. Wood took up his permanent home in the latter, where he reared the following children: Michiga, Isaac, Thomas, Edward, Will- iam, Mary, Nancy and Elizabeth, all of whom grew to maturity, but are now deceased. Mr. Wood died in 1808, his widow surviving him until 1845.

Thomas Wood, son of William Wood, was born in 1782, in the State of Maryland, and coming to Greene county, Penn., took an active part in the dangers and privations incident to pioneer life. In 1807 he was united in marriage with Anna Ran- dolph, who was born in 1785, a daughter of James Randolph, of Greene county, Penn., who had emi- grated from New Jersey, and their children were James (a retired citizen of Waynesburg, Penn.), William (a retired farmer of Illinois), Nancy (liv- ing with her brother James in Waynesburg), Lucinda (residing in Florida), Osborne (who died of cholera in 1848), Margaret (a resident of Waynes- burg), Clarkson, died in Missouri, and Elizabeth, living in Monongahela City, this county. Mr. Wood was a successful and prominent farmer of Greene county, where he was at one time sheriff. In 1842 he moved to Illinois, where he remained for some time, finally proceeding to Missouri, where he died in 1846, followed in 1848 by his widow.

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Israel Lane Wood, the subject proper of this sketch, was born April 18, 1814, in Greene county, Penn., and received but a limited educa- tion, as he had early in life to assist his father on the farm. When eighteen years of age, he learned the trade of a tanner, following same seven years. In 1839 he was married to Minerva Sargent, of Waynesburg, Greene Co., Penn., and they had the following children: Jesse E. (residing on his father's farm in East Finley township), Margaret Ann (living with her parents), Catherine Mary (deceased in infancy), Elizabeth (living with her parents), Thomas C. (deceased at the age of fif- teen years) and William (deceased when thirteen years of age). In 1840 Mr. Wood moved to his father-in-law's farm, in East Finley township, near the Greene county line, and in the immediate vicinity of Simpson's Store postoffice, where he has since resided, and now owns one of the finest farms in the township. "Squire " Wood, as he is called, was always a Democrat, until in recent years he joined the Farmers' Alliance. In 1855 he was elected justice of the peace, which position he filled many years. On August 21, 1861, he en- listed in the First West Virginia V. C., serving three years, and taking part in the engagements at Blue Gap and Blooming Gap, the figlit at Cedar Mountain, and in the second battle of Bull Run, all of which engagements were in Virginia. Soon after the last named battle he was injured by a stroke of lightning, and lay for months in hospital at Philadelphia. Receiving his discharge, he re- turned home, September 24, 1864, and has since farmed on the place whereon he had first located. Mrs. Wood is a member of the Disciple Church.

OHN A. LETHERMAN, M. D. When we pause to compare the relative value of each profession to general humanity, there is none superior, and few that are equal to that of a true physician. His opportunities for good are unlimited by sect or creed, as in the case of the clergyman, and, when so disposed, those who possess the art of healing the body can also bring messages of peace to the weary mind or storm-tossed soul, exhausted in the battle of life. The noblest instances of disinterested heroism have been found in the ranks of this profession, which is filled with those who have braved for the sake of suffering humanity the most horrible forms of death. Unlike the soldier on the battle-field, their heroism is seldom the result of an excited impulse or heated passion, but in the silent watches of the night, with no blare of trumpet, or thrilling war cry to inspire their courage, these patient martyrs give their lives as willing sacrifices to relieve the pain of their fellow creatures, It is both a useful and deeply interesting task to trace

the history of such unselfish lives, and following the spring to its fountain head, we find in the an- cestry of our leading men the various traits of character which have combined to give us the leaders of to-day.

John Letherman (the grandfather of Dr. John A. Letherman) was a native of Maryland, and coming to Washington county, Penn., was there married to Christina Myers. The young couple settled on a farm in West Bethlehem township, this county, and reared the following children: Demas M., Joseph, Sarah (wife of H. Richardson), Lydia (married to Solomon Tombaugh), Lncy (wife of Byron Clark) and Jane (wife of Mathias Tombaugh). The grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1812, and in political opinion first affili - ated with the Whig party, afterward becoming a Republican. He was an organizer of the Brethren (or Dunkard) Church in West Bethlehem town- ship.

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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 58

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