Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 67

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 67

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natives of West Virginia, and who, while cross- ing a railroad track were accidentally killed.

The paternal grandfather of Miss Gatts was a native of Washington county, Penn. After their marriage (the ceremony having taken place in Virginia) Mr. and Mrs. Chester first located on the home farm in Allen township, Washington county, but in 1878 he bought the 1078 acres of land which they now occupy, and where he has since followed farming. The children born to them were Avolena, living in Los Angeles, Cal. ; Raymond H .; Christian L .; Lydia May, deceased at the age of seven weeks; Blaine, and Neva, the last named being deceased. Mr. Chester takes an active interest in the success of the Republican party, and is a member of the "Harry Billingsley" Post No. 168 G. A. R., at California, this county. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church at Mount Tabor.

A LEXANDER MCCLEERY, one of the old- est native-born citizens of West Finley township, if not the oldest, was born July 28, 1820, and is of Irish descent.

His grandfather, John McCleery, was married in 1788 to Miss Jane Brooks, in County Down, Ireland, and December 15, 1789, they set sail from Londonderry for America, landing at New Castle, Del., February 13, 1790, after a long and perilous voyage of eight weeks and four days, during which they encountered a severe storm which threatened their destruction. They brought with them their eldest child James, who became the father of Alexander McCleery, and from Del- aware they proceeded to Winchester, Va. In Winchester they remained until late in the year 1799, when they emigrated to Washington county, Penn., and settled in Donegal township for several years, his last place of residence there being on the farm of Joseph Hupp (deceased), on the waters of Buffalo creek. While moving they spent their Christmas on the Alleghany mountains. The roads across the mountains were difficult to travel at that time, and when starting on their journey. from Winchester, they were weighed as freight and charged accordingly. John McCleery, grand- father of Alexander McCleery, continued to work at his trade of shoemaking and at farming. He and his wife were the parents of six children, namely: James (who as above stated was born in County Down, Ireland, October 15, 1789), Nancy, Betsey, Jane, Thomas and John, none of whom ever married except James and Thomas. The family continued to live where they had first settled on Buffalo creek, Donegal township, until the spring of 1818 (on August 26, 1816, the hus- band and father, John McCleery, died), in which year they removed to West Finley township, and

bought a tract of 106 acres of land entirely in the woods, built their cabin, cleared up a large por- tion of the land, and made a good living and some money besides. About the fall of 1848 they sold the farm and removed to the State of Illinois, set- tling in Adams county. (The farm they had settled on in West Finley township is at the present time owned and occupied by Mr. George S. Eckles). They are all now dead but Jane, who is over ninety years of age. Thomas McCleery and Miss Martha Lawson were united in marriage about the year 1823, and settled in Marshall county, Va. ( now W. Va.), and lived there till the fall of 1833, when they emigrated to Adams county, Ill. They reared four sons and seven daughters, some of whom are dead, the rest of them are mar-' ried and living in the West; the parents are both deceased.

James McCleery, father of Alexander McCleery, was reared on his father's farm to the life of an ag- riculturist, and his education was obtained at the subscription schools of the period. He and Miss Catharine Forbes were united in marriage March 24, 1818, and settled on the first day of the follow- ing April in West Finley township, on a farm he had bought the previous year, and which is now owned and occupied by Mr. John McCammon. Alexander Forbes (father of Mrs. James McCleery) and a Miss Boyd were united in marriage about the year 1774, in York county, Penn., and several years later they migrated to Washington county, set- tling first on the waters of Pigeon creek, Washing- ton county, afterward in Donegal township. They were the parents of four children: Mary, Catha- rine, Sarah and John. At this time there are none of the Forbes family living in Washington county, all having either died or moved to other parts. Our subject well remembers his mother telling about the insurgent army of the whisky insurrectionists. passing her father's house, when on their way to Inspector Neville's residence. They compelled her husband to go along with them, and he started with the crowd (some 500 or 600 men), but after proceeding several miles he observed that the men were traveling at loose ends, no military discipline being observed, and so decided to make his escape from among them. Accordingly, an opportunity presenting itself, being near the rear he slipped into the brush by the roadside, and laid down be- hind a log for some time till all stragglers had passed. He then sped homeward by a different route from the one he had come by, so as to avoid any straggler that might have lagged behind. The burning of Neville's house history says was done July 17, 1794, so Alexander Forbes and his wife must have first settled on the waters of Pigeon creek some time prior to that year.

James and Catharine McCleery were the par- ents of six children, as follows: John, Alexander,

Alexander Ableery

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James (who died when eight years old), Joseph, Thomas and Jane. Of these John married Sarah Irwin in 1844, and emigrated to Fairfield, Iowa (he and his wife are now both deceased); Joseph married Sarah Patterson in 1855, and in 1870 moved to Marshall county, Iowa, thence to Holt county, Neb; Thomas married Sallie Davidson, and lives in West Finley township; Jane, on May 12, 1851, married Henry Giles, who died in West Finley township in October, 1875 (she is now living in Claysville, Washington Co., Penn.). The parents continued to live where they first settled and there the father died October 28, 1859, aged seventy years, the mother on May 27, 1864, aged seventy- seven years.

Alexander McCleery, the subject proper of this memoir, was reared to the vocation of a farmer. The first school he attended was in a vacant cabin, prepared for a school-house by cutting out a log on each of the three squares nearly the whole length of the square (the chimney or fireplace being on the other square), and greasing paper and pasting it to the logs above and below the opening to allow light for the school. The seats were made of small chestnut logs, flattened on the top for the scholars to sit on, which were supported by two- inch pins in the under side, thereby making the seats as high as a chair. At that cabin he attended two terms of five months each, with five or six weeks' vacation between terms of school, and at no school thereafter did he make as good progress. He got all his schooling at the common schools- first at subscription schools, afterward at the free schools.

They did not have school every winter. After the two terms in the cabin, people interested in schools concluded to build a new school-house by voluntary labor, and the work was parceled out in about this order: one man was to hew two logs, another four logs, another seven, and so on, accord- ing to the number of scholars each had to send; a cabinet maker, named Daniel Sutherland, for his share made the door and window-sash, and laid the floor; stone masons built the chimney for their part-so there was no money paid for anything except the glass and nails. The work moved slowly, and it was about the fourth winter before school opened in the new building. School was held in this building seven winters on the subscription plan, when the free-school system was adopted, which caused another halt in the schools for sev- eral years, or until enough taxes were collected to build a new frame school-house. After the new house was built, Mr. McCleery attended four terms, and got through all the branches taught in common schools at that time.

When nearing his twenty-third year, Mr. Mc- Cleery left his father's home, and for three years

labored on the farm of James Davidson, West Finley township; and on the latter's death the fam- ily employed him to manage the farm and stock, in which capacity he worked five years. On March 13, 1851, Alexander McCleery and Miss Mary Davidson (eldest daughter of James Davidson) were united in marriage, and on the 24th day of the same month they moved to the farm on which he has ever since resided. Their family numbered four children, namely: William D. (now a prac- ticing physician in Hanovertown, Columbiana Co., Ohio; is married to Miss Lida Brown, and they have three children-two girls and one boy), James (married to Miss Lula Sutherland, of West Alex- ander, Penn., and living on his farm in Hopewell township; has two children-one boy and one girl), Henrietta (married to R. G. Buchanan, of West Virginia; they are living in Ohio county, W. Va .; they have five children-four girls and one boy) and Robert D. (still at home, unmarried). The mother of these children died March 31, 1866, and Mr. McCleery married, October 5, 1870, Miss Lizzie Ackley, daughter of Joshua Ackley, of Greene county, Penn. She died December 7, 1871, leav- ing a young daughter, then two months old, named Mary Lizzie, who is still living at home with her father.

. The McCleerys all belonged to the old Whig party until after the Harrison campaign of 1840, when the Anti-slavery question arose, at which time they joined the Abolition party, and so remained until the Republican party made known its princi- ples, since when they have voted and worked with the latter.

Alexander McCleery united with the Free Pres- byterian Church in 1851, and remained with it until it disbanded in 1868, after which he united with the Presbyterian Church in West Alexander, in charge of Dr. W. H. Lester, and has been one of the elders for a number of years. He has been repeatedly called to fill the various township offices: served four full terms as justice of the peace (his successor is his brother Thomas), and served one term as county commissioner of Washington county; of late years he has had to decline the office on ac- count of increasing deafness. Mr. McCleery has suc- ceeded in his financial affairs beyond his early expectations, and is the owner of 282 acres of land, where he now lives. His son, Robert D., has 103 acres which he aided him to pay, making a total of 385 acres in a square tract, beside 170 acres in Hopewell township, Washington county, he paid $65 per acre for, and which he has deeded to his two sons, James and Robert D .; James owns it all at this time, and lives on the farm. Mr. McCleery spent a considerable amount of money sending his older children to college; but with all his liberal outlays he is entirely free from debt.

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W ILLIAM MASON CAMPBELL ranks among the first of the prominent and suc- cessful business men of Cross Creek town- ship. The pioneer of the family of whom he is a prominent member was one John Campbell, who about 1780, came from York county, Penn., to this county, finally settling on a farm of 191 acres in Cross Creek township. In those early days the Redmen yet roamed through their native forests, looking with jealous eye and lowering brow upon the pale-faced intruders. Of the many traditions rife concerning the adventures of John Campbell, the following is told: While he was mowing a small meadow near his house, a sudden and pecul- iar noise broke the silence; turning hastily he discovered several Indians advancing toward him. He fled to the house, the Indians in hot pursuit, but managed to get inside and bar the door before they could overtake him. He then opened fire on them through the windows and succeeded in driv- ing them away. On March 31, 1772, John Camp- bell was married to Miss Mary Hammond, a native of York county, Penn., and to this union children were born as follows: Ann, March 27, 1773; Gris- elda, February 19, 1775; John, January 30, 1777, William, August 11, 1779; James, November 9, 1781 (these three sons settled in Belmont county, Ohio); David, March 25, 1784; Charles, October 31, 1786; George, June 5, 1789 (the latter three remained in Cross Creek township); Mary, Feb- ruary 4, 1792, married to William Fulton, of Mt. Pleasant township; and Elizabeth, October 9, 1793, wife of William Rea, all now deceased. The father died August 13, 1807, aged sixty-three years, the mother on March 18, 1817, aged sixty-four years.

Charles Campbell was born and reared on the home farm in Cross Creek township, and in his boyhood received a common-school education, which was afterward supplemented by current reading. In early life he learned the carpenter's trade, but a few years later devoted his attention to tilling the soil. On February 22, 1810, he was maried to Miss Esther Mason, also a native of Cross Creek township, and after their marriage the young people settled on the home farm. They reared children, whose names and dates of birth are here given: Lucinda, January 9, 1811; Mary, February 27, 1812; Elizabeth, August 7, 1813; John, July 23, 1815; William Mason, November 10, 1816; Louisa, February 25, 1818; David, March 20, 1820; Hannah, April 10, 1822; and Easter, July 23, 1824. Of these but one survives, William Mason. The father of this family died June 4, 1832, the mother having passed away February 1, 1825, aged about thirty-five years. They were both members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he was an elder many years. He was a man of considerable ability as a writer in his day.

William Mason Campbell was born on the old

homestead which was patented in 1787 by his grandfather, who had taken out a warrant in 1785. He attended the schools of the day, then held in rude log cabins erected for that purpose, the only light afforded coming through window-panes made of greased paper. In September, 1842, Mason Campbell (as he is usually called) married Isabella Ramsey, of Buffalo township, this county, and one son came to their union, David, born November 14, 1851 (he studied at Oakdale Academy, and is now a professional teacher of Mckeesport, Penn.). The mother died a few days after the birth of her son, and was interred in the cemetery at Mt. Prospect, this county. On January 3, 1856, Mr. Campbell was united in marriage with Annie E. McIlvaine, of Mt. Pleasant township, who bore him the fol- lowing children: William C., born October 28, 1856, Mary E., born March 30, 1858; Jennie, born February 6, 1860 (wife of Edward McNary, of Ingram, Penn.); Charles L., born February 15, 1862 (a practicing physician of Hickory, this county); John L , born August 11, 1864 (a farmer and ranchman of Wyoming); Annie L., born July 17, 1867 (wife of Robert Farar, a merchant of Hickory, Penn.); James C., born March 18, 1870 (a student in the mercantile college at Mckeesport), and Alexander M., born June 22, 1874 (living on the home farm). Soon after his marriage Mr. Campbell settled on the farm of 186 acres of fine land in Cross Creek township, where he is now engaged in farming and stockraising, usually keep- ing about 300 sheep. Politically he has always been a stanch Republican, and has held many township offices, notwithstanding the fact that his township is strongly Democratic. In religious faith Mr. Campbell has been a member of the Mt. Prospect Presbyterian Church since a young man, and has been an elder in same for about forty years.

W ILLIAM MARTIN, a prosperous farmer and substantial citizen of Smith township, is of Irish descent. James Martin, his grandfather, was born in Ireland, where he was married, afterward coming to America, and locating permanently in Jefferson township, Alle- gheny Co., Penn., where they lived to an advanced age. The children born to this pioneer couple were: James (who was a shoemaker of Holmes county, Ohio), John (a former resident of Ohio), Robert (who lived in Ohio), Ann (first married to David Canada, then became Mrs. Deerfield, and re- sided in southern Indiana) and William. All of this family are now deceased, there having been thirteen children, of whom those named lived to a mature age.

William Martin was born July 4, 1802, in Jef- ferson township, Allegheny Co., Penn., and re- ceived a common-school education. He learned

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the carpenter's trade, passing his earlier life in the pursuit of that vocation, and assisting with the farm duties during the busy season. On March 9, 1826, he was united in marriage with Jane Walker, who was born October 6, 1800, in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, but came when a small child with her parents to Washington county. The children of William and Jane (Walker) Martin were as fol- lows: Nancy, born March 5, 1827 (first married to William Figley, now the wife of Robert Deerfield, of Nebraska); Margaret, born September 6, 1829, (Mrs. James Arbuckle, of Pine Run, Jefferson township, Allegheny Co., Penn.); John, born De- cember 19, 1831 (deceased September 13, 1851); William (mentioned below), born September 24. 1833; Morgan, born March 28, 1835 (drowned July 11, 1848); Eliza J., born March 4, 1837 (deceased October 17, 1870); Prudence Ann, born May 30, 1840 (Mrs. Joseph Castor, of Union township, Wash-

ington county); Robert J., born November 19, 1843 (deceased January 12, 1864), and Perry A., born September 11, 1846 (a carpenter of Union township, this county). After his marriage the father of this family first settled near Finleyville, Washington county, and followed the carpenter's trade, also making grain cradles. In 1855 he lo- cated in Jefferson township, Allegheny county, where he died March 11, 1874, and October 1, 1884, his wife was laid to rest beside him. In poli- tics he was a life-long Democrat, although politi- cians of other parties made frequent attempts to change his views. He and his wife were highly respected members of the community.

William Martin was born in Union township, this county, was reared on his father's farm, and educated in the country schools. On September 4, 1862, he was united in marriage with Kate, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Bebhanna) Shep- ler, born November 8, 1835, in Snowden town- ship, Allegheny Co., Penn. The children born to William and Kate Martin are as follows: John A., born September 3, 1863 (living on a farm near Oakdale, Allegheny Co., Penn.); Sarah, born March 14, 1865 (Mrs. William Snyder, of Snowden town- ship, Allegheny county); Mary (Mrs. S. H. Watters, a farmer near Oakdale, Allegheny county); James S., born July 2, 1869 (living at home); William, born February 9, 1871 (living with his parents); Jane, born March 20, 1874 (deceased August 15, 1877), and Thomas S., born July 26, 1878 (deceased June 4, 1879). Mr. and Mrs. Martin first settled in Jefferson township, Allegheny county, then moved to Snowden township, same county, remain- ing there some time. In 1881 he located near Finleyville, Union township, this county, and in 1886 settled on a part of the old " Phillis tract," one of the oldest farms in the county, lying about one and a half miles west of Bulger, in Smith township. It was the first piece of land in the

county for which a genuine title was made out. Mr. Martin is a successful farmer and gives con- siderable attention to dairying, and by industry combined with careful management, has amassed a competence. He began life with little capital save the valuable inheritance of good principle instilled by his father, but since his marriage has had the assistance of a good business manager in the per- son of his wife, who superintends her household with careful economy. Politically William Martin has always been a Democrat, and in religion he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church of Burgettstown.

OHN L. McGOUGH, one of the representa- tive and prosperous young farmers of Han- over township, is a descendant of a well- known pioneer family. His grandfather, named Robert McGough, was born in Ireland, and when a young man came to America, first locating in Jefferson township, Washington Co., Penn. He there married Mary P'rovines, a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, who came to America with her parents in early girlhood. To this union were born children as follows: William, went to Jeffer- son county, Ohio, where he died; John, of Colum- biana county, Ohio; Mary Ann, widow of E. S. Campbell; Robert, of whom a sketch follows; Sarah (Mrs. Absalom Mccullough) and Rebecca, widow of James Neil, Wellsville, Ohio, twins; Samuel of Wellsville, Ohio, and Andy (deceased). The only capital of Robert McGough was a good supply of energy and industry. Year after year saw his possessions increase, and at the time of his death he owned six farms, with which he gave all his children a good start in life. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religion he and his wife were members of the U. P. Church at Burgettstown. They were buried in the Burgettstown U. P. cemetery.

Robert McGough, son of Robert and Mary (Provines) McGough, was born in 1831, in Jeffer- son township, and received a good education. He partially learned the surveyor's profession, but de- voted most of his life to farming. In 1860 he was married to Mary M. Lee, daughter of John Lee, of Jefferson township, who bore him the following children: John L., William W. (a carpenter of Steubenville, Ohio), Mary (wife of William An- derson, of Jefferson township) and Samuel B. (deceased in youth). After his marriage Robert McGough lived for some time with his father in Jefferson township, and in 1861 came to Hanover township, locating on the farm where he died in October, 1880, and was buried in Burgettstown. He was an excellent judge of cattle, and devoted con- siderable attention to that department of agricult- ure. In politics he affiliated with the Democratic

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party-and held various offices in the township. After his death Mrs. McGough resided for seven years on the old home farm, then removed to Steu- benville, Ohio, where she is living.

John L. McGough was born December 25, 1860, in Jefferson township, having been but an infant when his parents removed to Hanover township. He was reared to manhood on the farm which is his pres- ent home, receiving a common-school education. On September 25, 1884, he was married to Belle Stephenson, who was born May 14, 1860, a daugh- ter of David and Rachel (Noah) Stephenson, of Jefferson township. To this union two children were born: Vance L. and Elsie D. Mr. and Mrs. McGough have always resided on the home place, following farming and stockraising. The spirit of progression, so characteristic a trait in the lives of father and grandfather, is equally marked in the acts of John L. McGough. Politically he is a Democrat, and in religion both he and his wife are members of the M. E. Church.

W P. FULTON, a prosperous and well- known liveryman of Canonsburg, is a grandson of William Fulton, whose par- ents were of Scotch-Irish descent, and first located in Baltimore, Md., wheremany of the family yet remain. The branch of which William was a member finally settled in Smith township, Wash- ington Co., Penn. He was born in Maryland, and was a young man at the time the family moved to the county. He was married to Mary Campbell, whose parents were also pioneer settlers of Wash- ington county, and the young people settled on the old homestead in Mt. Pleasant township, this county. They were both members of the Mt. Prospect Pres- byterian Church.

George Fulton, a son of William and Mary (Campbell) Fulton, was born on the home farm in Mt. Pleasant township, where his early education was received. When a young man he was united in marriage with Jemima J., daughter of Benja- min and Rebecca Pinkerton. He always followed agricultural pursuits on the old place, where his children were born as follows: David, Minerva (wife of John Christie), W. P., Greta O. and Lulu M. The father took an active interest in all public movements, and voted with the Democratic party. In religion he was a member and liberal supporter of the Mt. Prospect Presbyterian Church. He and the wife of his youth lie side by side in the Mt. Prospect cemetery.

WV. P. Fulton was born August 10, 1865, on the old home farm in Mt. Pleasant township, this county, and attended the neighboring schools. In 1888 he took a trip West, remaining one year in Nebraska, then returning home settled in Hickory, this county. In March, 1891, he purchased the C.

R. McCloy livery establishment, which he is now conducting. He is an active politician of the Democratic party, a progressive citizen and ener- getic man.

AMES PROVINES, a well-known farmer of Jefferson township, was born February 13, 1816, on the farm which he now owns. He is a son of William Provines, whose father, John, was born and reared among the hills of Scotland, where he was married, and whence, a few years later, he moved to Ireland. William, the son of John Provines, was born in Scotland, and came with the family to Ireland when a boy. He was there reared to agricultural pursuits, and was mar- ried to Rebecca Hemphill, a native of Ireland. William Provines remained in Ireland about ten years after his marriage, and there his three eldest children-Mary, Samuel and Andrew-were born. In 1812 the family came to America, locating in Washington county, Penn., where children were born as follows: John, Robert, Margaret, James, Sarah, Jane and Rebecca.

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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 67

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