Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 72

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 72

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27, 1858, and Catherine F., born March 30, 1861, both of whom are yet living at home. Our sub- ject has a well-cultivated farm of 244 acres, which is considered one of the best in the township, and stands a solid witness to the thrift and prosperity of the owner. He has ever been foremost in all matters of public interest, and while an adherent of the Democratic party, has always voted for what in his opinion would result in good to the largest number, irrespective of party lines. His family are Presbyterians, though he himself is not a member of any church.

OHN S. PATTERSON, a well-known repre- sentative of one of the oldest, most influen- tial and prosperous families of Cross Creek township, is a lineal descendant of James Patterson, the earliest pioneer of the family name. James Patterson immigrated to America in 1728, settling in Little Britain township, Lancaster Co., Penn., where he was married and reared a family of ten children, of whom the sons were William, John, Samuel, James and Thomas.

William Patterson was born in 1733, and was `first married to Rosanna Scott, who bore him chil- dren as follows: Mary, Moses, Samuel, Thomas and James. The mother died April 5, 1769, and on April 10, 1770, William Patterson was again married, his second choice being Elizabeth Brown, and ten children were born to the latter union: John, Rosanna, William, Nathaniel, Rachel, Eliza- beth, Josiah, Hannah, Nathan and Eleanor. In 1779 the family removed to Cross Creek township, this county, settling on a farm now owned by R. M. Patterson. The father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He died June 29, 1818, and his wife passed from earth about 1828.

Nathan Patterson, a son of William and Eliza -. beth (Brown) Patterson, was born September 11, 1788, in Cross Creek township, this county, and on October 14, 1816, was married to Lydia Hous- ton. The young couple settled in Cross Creek township, and reared the following children: Dan- iel, William J., John, Nathan and Mary. The father of this family died in February, 1846, at the age of fifty-eight years.

William J. Patterson was born May 10, 1820, on the home farm, and passed his boyhood in at- tending to the agricultural duties. He began the milling business in early life, and always followed that vocation. He was first married on May 5, 1849, to Elizabeth Reed, of Washington county, and they had one child, Agnes A. Mrs. Patterson died August 17, 1857, in Iowa, and Mr. Patterson was afterward married to Eliza Snodgrass, of Al- legheny county, Penn., daughter of Robert Snod- grass, one of the pioneer lumbermen of that county. At this time he bought and moved upon the Pat- terson's Mills property. Four children were born

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to Mr. and Mrs. Patterson: Lydia H., Hannah M., Lizzie M. (a student in a seminary at Washing- ton) and John S. William J. Patterson was a life- long Democrat in politics, and in religious connec- tion was an elder in the Union Presbyterian Church of Patterson's Mills until 1876, when he withdrew from that body, and united with the Presbyterian Church at Independence, this county, of which he was also an elder. He died September 4, 1889, followed by his widow January 28, 1892.

John S. Patterson was born July 12, 1860, on the old Patterson homestead, where he remained, assisting with the duties of the farm and mill until he arrived at man's estate. His early education was received at the common schools. He then took a course at the Cross Creek Academy, and finally graduated from Duff's Commercial College of Pitts- burgh. On June 3, 1886, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Elizabeth Dunbar, daughter of William Dunbar, a resident of Cross Creek town- ship, this county. In political matters Mr. Patter- son has followed in the footsteps of his forefathers, and votes the straight Democratic ticket. He is an honorable and conscientious Christian gentle- man, who well merits the esteem in which he is universally held, and in religious faith is a mem- ber of and elder in the Presbyterian Church of Cross Creek.

R OBERT LAW PARK is descended from Irish ancestry. His great grandfather, Samuel Park, came from the North of Ire- land and settled in Lancaster county, Penn. He afterward married Margaret Marshall, who had crossed the ocean in the same ship, and they had five children.

John Park, son of Samuel and Margaret, was born December 18, 1758, and in 1777 came to Cecil township, Washington Co., Penn. In June, 1787, he married Sarah, daughter of Judge John McDowell, who resided in North Strabane town- ship, this county. Their children were ten in number. John Park died May 31, 1832, and Sarah, his wife, passed away April 6, 1857; their remains lie in the Chartiers graveyard.

William Park, son of John and Sarah, was born July 15, 1797, in Cecil township, Washington Co., Penn. In 1831 he bought some 300 acres of land in Peters township, Washington Co., Penn. On October 29, 1833, he was married to Jane Law, and they had seven children. William Park en- tered into his eternal rest November 6, 1870; Jane his wife, survived him till July 15, 1892; their re- mains rest in the Centre graveyard.

Robert Law Park, son of William and Jane, was born May 11, 1847, and was married February 12, 1874, to Mary McClelland. They, with their two children, reside on a part of his father's origi- nal purchase in Peters township.

A BRAM ELLIOTT, one of the prosperous and enterprising farmers of Morris town- ship, was born April 20, 1817, near the place where he now resides. William Elliott, a native of Maryland, located near the present residence of Abram Elliott, about three miles west of Prosperity, in the early days of the county. He reared a family of seven children, of whom William Elliott, the father of Abram was one. William Elliott, Jr., married Jemima Winget, and to their union nineteen children were born, of whom three sons and four daughters are living, as follows: Luther, living near West Alexander; William, living in Kansas; Mrs. Emeline Mont- gomery, living in East Finley township; Mrs. Mar- garet Montgomery, also living in East Finley town- ship; Anne, also in East Finley township; Mrs. Salvina Ashbrook, living in Morris township, and Abram.

Abram Elliott was reared on his father's farm. and his only education was received at the district schools. At the age of seventeen he learned the trade of cabinet-maker, at which he worked at Washington, West Alexander, Monongahela City and other places, for a number of years. For the past twenty-five years however, he has given his attention to his farm, where he was reared. He was married in 1840 to Mary Ashbrook, who was born in 1815, a daughter of Simon Ashbrook, of Buffalo township. To their union one child has been born, Jemima, who was born August 24, 1843, and still makes her home with her parents. Though not an active politician, Mr. Elliott is a strict adherent to the principles of the Democratic party.

SAAC C. AILES, who is a member of one of the oldest families of Pennsylvania, is of early Welsh ancestry. Stephen Ailes was born and passed his whole life in Chester county, Penn., where his son Amos was born in 1751, and grew to manhood. In early life Amos Ailes was mar- ried to Ann, daughter of Joseph Brown, a farmer of Chester county, Penn., and soon after they came to Washington county, locating on a tract of land in East Pike Run township, which had then been in the possession of Joseph Brown for about two years. At the time Amos Ailes settled upon it, the place was an unbroken wilderness, inhabited only by wild beasts and wandering Indians. Two young girls named Scott were killed by the Redmen about this time, and Mrs. Ailes shot a deer in her door- yard soon after their arrival. In this wild forest home children were born to these pioneers, and reared, as follows: Joseph, Stephen, Aaron, Mary (wife of Eli Gause), James, Sarah (wife of John Waites), Isaac and Amos. Mr. Ailes was a Whig in politics, and in religion a member of the Society of Friends. He died in February, 1835, and was

Respectfully yours Isaac & Ailes

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WASHINGTON COUNTY.

buried by the side of his wife in the Westland cemetery in East Bethlehem township, Washing- ton county.

Isaac Ailes was born March 21, 1794, on the home farm in East Pike Run township, Washing- ton county. He attended the Union school-house, which was one of the first erected in East Pike Run township, and built over a century ago. On May 24, 1824, he was united in marriage with Nancy, daughter of Nathan Coleman. Mr. Cole- man was born and reared in eastern Maryland, where he was married to Elizabeth Duncan. In 1802 they came to West Pike Run township, Wash- ington Co., Penn., and a few years later moved to Ohio. Their children were Sophia (wife of Elisha Mayhorn), Maria (married to Nathan Rice) and Nancy (wife of Isaac Ailes). After their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Ailes settled on the home place where they passed the rest of their lives. He was a Whig and Republican, and in 1840 was elected justice of the peace, holding that office until 1850, also serving as school director several years. He was an energetic, enterprising man until rheumatism compelled him to retire from active work and spend the last twenty-eight years of his life an in- valid. He died February 28, 1874, having been preceded by his wife in August, 1872, and they were buried in the home cemetery. Mrs. Ailes was a devout Methodist, while Mr. Ailes was reared in the Quaker faith. Their children were born as follows: Ann (wife of Samuel Sickman), Jane (mar- ried to Wesley White), Matilda (wife of William Stockdale), Isaac C., and Stephen H. (deceased).

Isaac C. Ailes was born December 4, 1834, in East Pike Run township, Washington Co., Penn., and attended the home schools during his boyhood, afterward taking charge of the home place. On February 6, 1855, he was united in marriage with Margaret M., daughter of Jacob Snyder, who was a son of Nicholas Snyder. The latter was a native of Westmoreland county, Penn., where he grew to manhood, and was married to Eva Hough, who bore him the following children: John, Jacob, Mary, Charlotte (wife of Joseph Krepps), William, Henry, Joseph, David, Louisa (wife of William Norcross), James and Margaret (married to Harvey Seymour). The father of this family was a Democrat in polit- ical opinion, and in religious faith a member of the Lutheran Church. Jacob Snyder was born in 1804, on the home place in Westmoreland county, where he was reared and educated. He was mar- ried to Hannah, daughter of Thomas Stockdale, a native of Washington county, Penn., born Novem- ber 15, 1808, and to their union were born eight children, namely: Stockdale, Allen (deceased), Amy A. (deceased), Margaret M. (wife of Isaac C. Ailes), Charlotte (deceased), William, Louisa (wife of Philip Smith) and Deborah A. (deceased wife of Caleb Porter). Soon after his marriage Mr. Sny-

der moved to a farm in Fayette county, same State, where the remainder of his life was passed. Politically he voted with the Democratic party, and in religion was a member of the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church, of which he was an elder for forty years.

Isaac C. and Margaret M. (Snyder) Ailes began wedded life on the home place in East Pike Run township, where they are yet living. They have had five children, as follows: Allen H. (married Jenna A. Chester, March 21, 1877, and the same year they moved to the State of Missouri; she died August 21, 1881, and he died November 21, same year, leaving one son, Renald, who, when about two years old, was sent to his grandparents on the home farm); Anson A. (married to Lizzie M. Ly- tle, of Allegheny county, Penn., and they reside on the home farm); Rilla A. (deceased); Irena (mar- ried to James H. McCrory, and living on an ad- joining farm; they have four sons: Ralph A., Al- bert J., Clarence H. and Ira C.); and Luella (re- maining at home). Mr. Ailes is a stanch mem- ber of the Republican party, and has served his township for twelve years as township auditor. He has been president of the California National Bank since its first organization, August 6, 1891, with William H. Binns as cashier. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, giving it liberal support, and has been Sunday-school super- intendent at the Union schoolhouse near the home place.

R W. DODDS, an energetic and prosperous young farmer of Donegal township, is a native of Washington county, Penn., born September 12, 1858, in Independence, In- dependence township.

His grandfather, John Dodds, was born in 1771, in County Donegal, Ireland, and when but a mere boy ran away to sea, first becoming an apprentice on a British merchantman bound for India. He followed a sailor life for some time, but at length became tired of adventure, and when ashore one day while his ship was in the harbor of Philadel- phia, he concluded to remain on land, and did so. He afterward entirely abandoned "a life on the ocean wave," and deciding that a home in the for- est wilds offered superior attractions to "a home on the rolling deep," he came west, walking the entire distance from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, Penn. On his arrival in the latter city he en- gaged in the river trade with Malcolm Leech, taking merchandise to New Orleans, which at that time was a good market, the return journey to Pittsburgh being made on foot. After steam power was applied to river navigation, this practice was abandoned, and he did but little in that busi- ness after 1836. In 1818 John Dodds was united

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positions of trust. His first office was that of jus- tice of the peace, to which he was four times re- elected; in 1848 he was elected county commis- sioner, serving three years; in 1860 he was one of the census enumerators; in 1875 he was nominated and elected representative to the State Legislature, receiving a flattering majority of over one hundred votes in a Republican county. Mr. Birch and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he has been trustee and a liberal sup- porter for years.

N ATHAN ROSEBURG TANNEHILL, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Char- tiers township, and breeder of Registered National Delaine Merino sheep and Regis- tered Jersey cattle, was born October 13, 1847, in Chartiers township on the farm where he now resides, and in the same house where he and his children live and were born.

His grandparents, John and Catherine Tanne- hill were natives of County Antrim, Ireland. John Tannehill, in company with three brothers-Nathan, Adamson and James-came from Ireland to this country, and were soldiers in the war of the Revo- lution. John settled in Washington county and here dying was buried in Oak Spring cemetery in Chartiers township.

Nathan Tannehill, father of Nathan Roseburg Tannehill, was born near Miller's run, some two and one-half miles from Noblestown, and received his education in the common schools of the dis- trict. On February 26, 1828, he was married to Jane Orr, and April 6, following, they moved to the old homestead farm in Chartiers township, where they passed the remainder of their useful lives, and where their children, nine in number, were born as follows: Nancy, September 2, 1829 (she married Robert Sample, and they live in Washing- ton, Penn.); Mary Ann, July 27, 1832 (died Octo- ber 11, 1833), Jane, January 8, 1834 (widow of Moses McKeag, and residing in Washington, Penn.); John Orr, January 25, 1836 (married Maria Wilson, and they live at West Alexander, Donegal township, this county); Mary Ann, May 31, 1838 (married Robert G. Taylor, and died in 1876); James, September 24, 1840 (resides near Canonsburg, Penn.); Nathan R., May 16, 1844 (died November 12, 1844); Nathan R. (subject of these lines), and Emeline, June 17, 1850 (she died September 15, 1851). The father of this family, who was a prominent man in his township, died September 18, 1878, in the eighty-seventh year of his age, the mother following him across the dark river May 2, 1880, when in her seventy- fifth year.

Nathan R. Tannehill was educated in the com- mon schools, and graduated from Duff's Business

College, in Pittsburgh, Penn. He was married No- vember 7, 1877, to Miss Mary C. Sample, who was born in West Finley township, Washington Co., Penn., a daughter of Robert and Mary Elizabeth (Burns) Sample, both also natives of West Fin- ley township. Robert Sample was a son of David Sample, who came from County Derry, Ireland, and settled in what is now West Finley township, this county. Elizabeth (Burns) Sample was a daughter of David Burns, who was a son of Robert and Catherine (Sutherland) Burns, latter a daugh- ter of George Sutherland, and both of whom were over seventy years of age at the time of their death. Mr. and Mrs. Nathan R. Tannehill after their marriage took up their permanent home on the farm in Chartiers township, which was willed him by his father. They have three children: Robert Nathan, born November 14, 1880; James Smiley, born July 24, 1883, and Newton Alexander, born September 23, 1886. The parents are members of the Chartiers U. P. Church at Canonsburg. Mr. Tannehill is a member of the National Delaine Merino Sheep Association, and is recognized as a leader among the agriculturists and stock breeders of the county. He owns 185 acres of well-culti- vated land-112 in one tract and seventy-three in another. In his political affiliations he is a stanch Republican.

D AVID HIGBEE. The earliest ancestors of the Higbee family in America were two brothers, who left England about 1680, ac- companied by an aged father who died on the passage. The brothers, with their families, settled on Long Island. They had left England on account of religious persecution, and they be- longed to the class called Puritans or Nonconform- ists. Two sons of one of these brothers settled in New Jersey, one, named Peter, near New Bruns- wick; and the other, whose name was Abijah, near Princeton.

Peter Higbee was born about 1690, and married about 1721. He had seven sons and one daughter, of whom five sons died early; the surviving sons were named Obadiah and Abijah. Obadiah was born in 1732, and was married to Anna Brown November 13, 1762. He settled in New Jersey, and, as also his father, was a farmer. He had no son old enough to do military duty during the con- tinuance of the Revolutionary war, but two young men raised by him entered the army and did good service, while he acted at times as a courier for the Continental armies. In 1784 he sold his farm in New Jersey, and moved to Washington county, Penn. Wishing to look around before purchasing, he rented from Henry Magner a farm near what is now called Finleyville, formerly Rogue Alley. He had accepted, in a large measure, Continental

David Higbee

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WASHINGTON COUNTY.

currency for his New Jersey farm, and this became worthless before he purchased, entailing a very serious loss, and making it necessary for him to rent for some years. Nothing daunted, he perse- vered, and in about ten years was able to buy a farm in Allegheny county, near Castle Shannon.

Obadiah and Anna Higbee had eleven children, six sons and five daughters, their names and dates of birth being as follows: Mary, December 1, 1764; Sarah, February 12, 1767; Abigail, July 1, 1769; Stephen, July 5, 1771; Joseph, November 25, 1773; Benjamin, April 11, 1776; Rhoda, January 4, 1779; William, January 7, 1781; Obadiah, February 11, 1782; Anna, June 1, 1786; Samuel, March 29, 1791. Of this family all lived to have families of their own, except William, who died in his first year. Mary and Sarah remained in New Jersey at their grandfather's (Mary married Edward Riggs, and moved to Allegheny county, Penn., near Li- brary; Sarah married Abijah Applegate, and lived near Heightstown, N. J., where numerous descend- ants are still to be found); Abigail married Major Edward Wright, and settled in Lawrence county, Penn., near Mt. Jackson; Stephen settled near Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio; Joseph remained on the old homestead, which is still owned by his son James; Benjamin settled near Finleyville, Wash- ington Co., Penn., where he died at an advanced age, leaving a numerous family (some of his de- scendants occupy a part of his old farm yet); Rhoda married a Mr. Hull, and settled on the Shenango river in Mercer county, Penn .; Anna mar- ried Mr. Fletcher, and settled in southern Ohio; Samuel settled in southern Ohio.

Obadiah Higbee, son of Obadiah and Anna Hig- bee, married Sarah Phillips, daughter of Joseph Phillips Esq., who came from Wales. They set- tled in Upper St. Clair township, Allegheny Co., Penn., eight miles from Pittsburgh, and they had eleven children, five sons and six daughters: (1) Jesse, the oldest son, born August 18, 1808, and still living in Iowa, had eight children-six living and two dead; three live in Iowa, one in Missouri and two in Kansas. (2) John, born February 4, 1810, died in 1832 leaving no family. (3) Joseph P., born May 23, 1812, settled on a part of his father's farm, which he occupied until his death, September 25, 1892; he had four children-one `son and three daughters; his son John is an active partner of the firm of Bryce, Higbee & Co., largely engaged in glass manufacturing, Pittsburgh, Penn. ; two daughters also survive him: Mrs. Kelso and Mrs. Lesnett. (4) Anne Higbee, born August 18, 1814, married Samuel Blackmore, grandson of Samuel Blackmore, one of the pioneer settlers of Washington county; one daughter survives them, Mrs. Galley. (5) Mary, born August 25, 1816, married Josiah Phillips, a grandson of Rev. David Phillips, the first pastor of Peters Creek Baptist 22

Church; Josiah's death occurred about one year after their marriage; one daughter survives him; about eight years later the widow married James Boyer, a son of one of the pioneers of Washington county. (6) Obadiah, born December 21, 1818, married Eliza Riggs, and after a short stay in Pennsylvania settled on a farm in Iowa, near Iowa City, where he lived up to within three or four years of his death, when he moved into Iowa City, remaining there until his death, which occurred March 11, 1890; he had five children: Caroline, D. Webster, Sarah, Obadiah F. and Lizzie, all living but Caroline. (D. Webster is a prominent lawyer of Iowa; Obadiah F. is a physician of more than ordinary ability residing at Shireoaks, Union township, Washington Co., Penn.); (7) Sarah, born December 10, 1823, married Richard Phillips, and they had seven children, viz. : Obadiah H. and Alex- ander C., preachers of the Gospel in the Church of Christ; three daughters married, viz. : Mary E. Phillips, Sarah A. Wood and Abigail Lightcap, and two children deceased, Ettie and (8) Abigail, born May.28, 1827, married N. S. Gay, of New York, and they live on a plantation in east- ern Virginia, near Spottsylvania C. H .; they have three children living and married, viz .: Amy E. Pendleton, Sarah H. Wilson and Mary B. Smith; two sons are deceased-Obadiah and George. (9) Elizabeth, born August 12, 1830, married Hilery T. King, of Illinois, near Moro, where they lived for some time on a farm, thence removing to Davis county, Iowa, where she died October 30, 1886, leaving three sons: Obadiah H., Ulyssus Grant and William, the two former being preachers of the Gospel. (10) Susannah was born December 20, 1833, and died in 1835.

(11) David Higbee was born October 1, 1821. His schooling commenced in a log school-house furnished with slab benches, and boards resting on pins driven into the wall served as writing desks; teachers were paid by subscription and boarded around among the patrons. He attended public school after that system was introduced, also Bethel Academy for a time. After teaching school a short time, he took charge of his father's farm. He lived with and took care of his parents up to the time of their death, his mother dying January 17, 1865, and his father June 6, 1866. He was married November 13, 1851, to Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Samuel and Mary Boyer, and they had four children: Mary, Sarah, Anna Elizabeth and Oba- diah Carson. Of these, Sarah (now Mrs. Scholes) and Obadiah Carson are living, the others being dead. The mother of these children died July 23, 1862, and on August 30, 1865, Mr. Higbee was married to Lucinda B. Boyer, and removed to Peters township, Washington Co., Penn., March 6, 1867, where he still lives. By his second wife he had six children, all still living, their names in the

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order of their birth being: Elizabeth B., John Newton, Della L., Ella Dora, Amy V. and David. A small part of the early portion of this history is traditional, but as Mary Higbee alias Mary Riggs, with whom the writer was intimately acquainted, lived for some years in the family of her grand- father, Peter Higbee, who was a son of one of the brothers who came to this country from England, it will be seen that the mediums of communica- tion are few and direct. The Higbees, especially the earlier generations, were tall, active and long- lived. Their occupation generally was farming, and the majority of them were Baptists.

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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 72

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