Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 79

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 79

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D AVID McDONNELL. Among the influen- tial farmers of Hanover township, this gen- tleman deserves prominent mention. He is a son of Barnett McDonnell, whose father was Patrick Morgan McDonnell.

The last mentioned ancestor was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, where he married, and reared two daughters, Martha Jane (Mrs. John Jackson, of Hanover township) and Eleanor (wife of John Davis of Morgan county, Ohio). About 1794 this family came to America, and with his limited sav- ings, Patrick McDonnell purchased a small tract of land near King's creek in Hanover township. When the essential log cabin was erected, he began the work of felling the giant oaks. He served in the war of 1812, and participated in the historical Moravian massacre at Gnadenhutten, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio. The rude cabin was in due time sup- planted by one more commodious, which is yet stand- ing. He was a Catholic, but as there were no churches of that denomination in that wild country, his family were not reared in the Catholic faith. He and his wife lived to advanced ages, and are buried in the Florence cemetery. They were the parents of four children, the two youngest having been born in America, viz. : Barnett, of whom further mention is made, and one son who died in early childhood.

Barnett McDonnell was born in 1796, in Hanover township, Washington Co., Penn., where he at- tended the subscription schools and worked on his father's farm. In early life he married Nancy Kimble, who was born near Hickory, in this county. She bore him five children, namely: Elizabeth, widow of David Logan; John, a blacksmith, died at Steubenville, Ohio, when about thirty years of age; William, was never married, and died on the old place; George, went to Iowa in 1850, and was a soldier in the Rebellion (he died of typhoid fever in Tennessee); and Martin L., a cabinet maker, drowned in the Ohio river, at Steubenville, Ohio. The mother of these children died and was buried

at Florence. For his second wife Barnett McDon- nell was married to Ruth Jackson, a daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Russell) Jackson, of Hanover township. Their children were: Rezin (a farmer of Hanover township), Jackson (deceased), Samuel (a shoemaker, went to California during the gold fever and died there), Alexander (a farmer of Han- over township), David (our subject), Nancy( widow of Caleb Gretzinger, of Hancock county, W. Va.), Hannah (wife of Asa Owings, of Missouri) and James (living in Texas). The father passed his whole life on the home farm where his parents had settled. He died July 3, 1877, and was followed by his widow in 1879. Both are buried in the Florence cemetery. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, his second wife being identified with the Methodist Episcopal Society. In politics he was a Democrat, having held various offices in Hanover township.

David McDonnell was born March 25, 1838, on the old place which he owns. The old house in which he was born (built in 1812) is yet standing. He attended the schools of the day, also assisting with such work as could be done by a boy of his age. In early manhood he went to Steubenville, Ohio, to learn the trade of a shoemaker. After a short time he was transferred to Cadiz, Ohio, to complete his trade. Later he took a trip through the West, visiting the States of Iowa, Indiana and Illinois, but returning, resumed his trade at Cadiz, Ohio, and finally located in Hanover township, Washington Co., Penn. He married Elizabeth A. Criss, June 25, 1862. She was born December 25, 1840, in Hanover township, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Ryland) Criss. The great-grandfather of Mrs. McDonnell (one John Criss) was born in Germany. Among his children was a son, Jacob, who grew to manhood and reared a family of chil- dren, among whom was Henry Criss. The latter was born in 1815, and when a young man was married to Mary Ryland, a native of Maryland, who came to Washington county with her parents, Fredus and Elizabeth Ryland, when an infant. Mrs. McDonnell was the third in a family of eleven children born to Henry and Mary Criss.

Mr. and Mrs. McDonnell began wedded life in Hanover township, where he followed his trade. On March 22, 1865, he enlisted at New Brighton, Penn., in Company E, One Hundred and Third P. V. I. His services were needed but a brief time, for as the command was en route to North Carolina, Johnston surrendered, and June 25, 1865, he was honorably discharged, and returned to his native county. He then located on a small tract of land lying one mile northwest of Florence, and there followed his trade, giving some attention to farming. By economy he prospered, and in 1879 moved to the old McDonnell homestead, where he was born and has since resided, devoting

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his entire attention to agriculture. Since he has taken possession of the old place it has undergone a wonderful change; a handsome new residence, furnished with natural gas for heating and lighting in every room of the house, makes a very con- venient and pleasant home. Mr. McDonnell is a leading citizen, respected by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance. In politics he is a Democrat, but not a strict partisan, as he has fre- quently voted for men of different political opinion, when he deemed them most worthy of the position. He has held various offices in the township with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his con- stituents. Both he and his wife are members of the M. E. Church. The children of this family are Henry B., professor of chemistry in the State Agricultural College of Maryland; also a graduate. of Pennsylvania State College, and College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons, in Baltimore, Md. He mar- ried Miss Julia B. Magruder, of Baltimore. Wesley C. is an expert penman, and a teacher in the pub- lic schools, holding a State certificate. He is now studying music at Scio College, Ohio. Milton E. is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State College, Curtis C. is now attending college at College Park, near Washington, D. C. Fred V. is living at home.

OHN S. NICHOLL, a successful farmer of Nottingham township, is a son of Samuel and grandson of Sampson Nicholl. Sampson Nicholl was born in 1750 in Ireland, and came to America in 1775. He entered with all his heart into the Revolutionary struggle, and fought seven years for his adopted country. After the war he managed a pack train, and finally settled on a farm in Somerset township, Washington Co., Penn., where he died.

Samuel Nicholl was born May 24, 1816, on a farm in West Bethlehem township, Penn., where his boyhood was passed. On July 2, 1845, he married Miss Rachel Donney, who was born, Sep- tember 20, 1817, in Fayette county, Penn. The following children were born to this marriage: John S., Frank D., Jane, Mary, Julius S., Robi- son and Josephine (deceased). The father was a farmer all his life, and took an active part in the affairs of the township. He died April 1, 1889, and the mother is yet living with her children.

John S. Nicholl was born July 26, 1846, on the old homestead in West Bethlehem. In 1867 he began life for himself, and was married September 3, 1867, to Sarah J., daughter of John Dague, a well-known agriculturist of this county. They have had five children, but two of whom are now living: John S. R. and Frank H., at home with their parents. Oscar L., Rachel J. and Sarah Jane are dead. Some years ago Mr. Nicholl dealt ex- tensively in sheep, buying them in the East, and

shipping to points in the Western States. Sarah Jane Dague Nicholl was born January 12, 1847. She was the youngest daughter of John Dague, Sr. His father came from Germany. John Dague, Sr., was born in West Bethlehem October 4, 1807, died February 13, 1888. He married Annie Huffman, daughter of Joseph Huffman. She was born in 1811, died June 2, 1847, leaving eleven children: Catherine, Joseph H., Henry, Elizabeth, Susanna, Louis, Mahala, Maria, John, Jr., Martha and Sarah J. Dague, all living except Maria.

SAAC SHELBY CRALL, the well-known ex- tensive gardener and florist, was born Novem- ber 19, 1826, at Belle Vernon, Fayette Co., Penn., a son of Charles and Hannah (Gaskell) Crall, both natives of that county.

Isaac Crall, father of Charles Crall, was born, reared and married in Little York, Penn., his wife being Elizabeth Bush, who bore him children as follows: Barbara, John, Catherine, Elizabeth, Charles, Jesse and Mary. He was a farmer in York county, whence he moved to Fayette county at an early day with his family. Mr. Crall was here engaged as bookkeeper at the Redstone Furnace. From Fayette he went to Cumberland county, where he was a jailer, and as the prison was con- structed simply of posts and chains, a guard was necessary all the time. Finally he engaged in the butchering business in Fayette county, where he died. He was a Democrat, and a member of the Moravian Church.

Charles Crall, father of Isaac Shelby Crall, was born in November, 1800, in Cumberland county, Penn. He was reared in Fayette county, at the subscription schools of which he received a fair educational training. He learned the trade of blacksmith, at which for a time he worked in Washington county, near Monongahela City; he also ran boats on the river between Pittsburgh and Morgantown, besides a ferry at Monongahela City. In 1822 he married Hannah, daughter of Budd Gaskell, a native of Trenton, N. J., a son of Samuel Gaskell, also of New Jersey birth, who served in the Revolutionary war under Washington, and was an intimate friend of Gen. Budd. His wife was Miss Lucretia Hayes, who bore him four children : Budd, Morgan, Lucretia and Ruth. Samuel Gaskell was a farmer by occupation, and his death occurred at Belle Vernon, Penn. He had removed to Ohio, but on the decease of his wife returned to Pennsylvania. In his church connection he was a Free-will Baptist. Budd Gaskell was reared in New Jersey, and when a young man removed to Fayette county. He was married to Hannah Davis, of that county, and the children born to them were the following: Samuel, Elizabeth (Mrs. Jacob Vorhes), Jesse and Amy, all

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deceased; Mary (Mrs. Samuel Mattocks), Hannah (Mrs. Charles Crall), Morgan (married to Sabina Lane), Henry (married to Elizabeth Crall), Ann (wife of William Thatcher), Abraham (married to Sarah Jacobs), Mezula (wife of James McKean), I. Shelby and Owen. Mr. Gaskell was a Democrat, and in religion a member of the Free-will Baptist Church. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Crall made their new home in Belle Vernon, where he was employed in a boatyard for some time; then moved to Crawford county, same State, from which, after a residence of two and one-half years, he came to near Monongahela City where he conducted a black- smith shop, etc., as already related. He died here June 22, 1881, a prominent member of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church, in which he was an elder, but later in life he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. The children born to him were Budd (deceased), Isaac Shelby, Louisa, Lucinda, Cassie, Elizabeth, Mezula, Samuel, Etta and Belle.

Isaac Shelby Crall was for the most part reared and educated in Monongahela City. When twenty- six years old he went to New York, and there took steamer for California, but on February 27, 1852, the vessel was wrecked off the Mexican coast. In that country he remained six weeks, and then pro- ceeded, again by water, to his destination. He was engaged there as superintendent of The Ameri - can Hydraulic Mines, and was one of the first to blast rock under water. He conducted a large mine there for twenty-four years, in the course of which time he made six ocean trips and two by overland route. On his final return home, in 1873, he embarked in his present industry, having, in 1868, bought the farm where he now carries on a lucrative business. On January 10, 1861, Mr. Crall married Sarah E., daughter of James Somer- ville, of Jefferson county, Penn., and three chil- dren have been born to them: Charles S., Maud A. (Mrs. Harry Griffith) and James S. Politically Mr. Crall is a Democrat, and in his church con- nections he is a Presbyterian.

H IRAM SWART, the wealthiest land-owner in Amwell township, and one of the most prominent retired agriculturists of Wash- ington county, is a native of Greene county, Pennsylvania, born February 12, 1812. He is a grandson of the noble old pioneer, Philip Swart, who emigrated from Germany to America, locating finally, during the early part of the pres- ent century, in Amwell township, this county, where he took up what is known by the family as the "old home farm" of 315 acres. He had two children, Jacob and Susie (Mrs. Phillips), and died about the year 1811. His wife survived him many years, passing away at a ripe old age.

Jacob Swart, son of Philip, was born near the old home in Amwell township, and was educated at the local schools of his early day. He was married to Sarah Evans, of Amwell township, and the chil- dren born to this union were Dorothy (Mrs. Mus- tard), Philip, David, John, Polly (Mrs. Huston), Henry, Abraham, George, Hiram and Charlotte. Jacob Swart died in 1815, on the old home farm; his wife on June 11, 1846. He was an excellent business man, during his comparatively short life accumu- lating much property and left a fortune; an unim- peachable witness to his characteristic energy and sound judgment, owning at the time of his death six farms aggregating one thousand acres of land. Politically, he was a Whig, and he was respected and esteemed by all who knew him.

Hiram Swart, of whom this sketch more partic- ularly relates, was brought by his parents to Ten- mile creek, . Washington county, Penn., and was here reared after the manner of most farmer boys of his early day; his educational training being received in the primitive schools of his locality. The first property owned by him consisted of 160 acres of land in Amwell township, representing his share of 315 acres deeded by his mother to him and his brother Philip; and he afterward purchased the latter's portion. To this nucleus of 315 acres he, from time to time, by industry, hard work, indefatigable energy and careful thrift, added, until now he is the possessor of over one thousand acres of prime farm land.

Mr. Swart has been thrice married. His first wife was Miss Charlotte McGinnis, to whom he was married December 6, 1845, and of this union one child, Henry Clay, was born September 2, 1846. At the close of the war of the Rebellion he left his home, since which time he has not been heard from. Mr. Swart's wife dying October 25, 1846, his second marriage was in 1851, to Margaret Keys, and two children were born to them: Sarah Ann, born October 12, 1853, died June 8, 1891, and Jacob, born February 3, 1856, died at the age of six weeks. The mother of these children died March 16, 1856, and December 1, 1859, Mr. Swart was married to his present life companion-Mary, daughter of Enoch and Mary (Goulden) Hastings, who were natives of Virginia, coming to Pennsyl- vania and locating at Washington about 1815; they were the parents of nine children, Mary being born June 13, 1832. Five children have come to gladden the home of Mr. and Mrs. Swart, as fol- lows: Mary Emma, born September 14, 1860; Allison Dupont, born October 11, 1862; David Henderson, born October 7, 1864; William Hiram, born January 21, 1869, and Margaret Vance, born November 28, 1871.

Mr. Swart has ever been in sympathy with the principles of the Whig and Republican parties. He and his amiable wife have long been members

Hiram Swart

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of the Presbyterian Church. During a continuous residence of three-quarters of a century in the beautiful region where he has had his home, Mr. Swart has necessarily seen many important changes, improvements and developments around him, and now, near the close of a useful, industrious and honored life, he has left the farm and removed to Washington, Penn., where he expects to peacefully end his days. It may be truthfully said of him that he stands as one of the few remaining links between the pioneer days of hardships and trials and the mighty present, teeming with wonderful achievements, and foreshadowed by the possibili- ties of still greater triumphs in the future.

A ARON THOMAS GREGG. In the year 1836 there arrived in Monongahela (then called Williamsport) two brothers, Nimrod Alfred Gregg and Aaron Thomas Gregg, both natives of near Brownsville, Fayette Co., Penn., the former born April 15, 1813, the latter July 26, 1815.

They were house plasterers by trade, which they carried on for some time after coming to Monongahela, but Nimrod abandoned it and entered into mercantile business with Hampton Kerr, with whom he remained for a time, after which he moved to . West Newton, Westmoreland Co., Penn., where he carried on a grocery and drug business up to the time of his death, which was brought on by consumption. He married Mary Jane Hamil- ton, of Monongahela, who died in Adair county, Iowa, leaving three children: Margaret, Harriet and Aaron Thomas; Mrs. Gregg was a daughter of Joseph Hamilton, an innkeeper, in Monongahela.

Thomas Gregg, grandfather of Nimrod Alfred and Aaron Thomas Gregg, was a son of Samuel Gregg, a native of Ireland, who married Elizabeth Alford, both dying in Loudoun county, Va. The names, dates of birth, etc., of their children are as follows: Thomas, October 25, 1743, died in Fayette county, Penn., in 1821; Priscilla, September 8, 1745; John, October 14, 1747; Rebecca, February 24, 1749; Ruth, April 23, 1752; Israel, March 2, 1754; Ann, May 5, 1756, died in Greene county Penn., July 20, 1817; Samuel, April 18, 1758; Aaron, June 17, 1761 (he served as an officer in the American army twelve years; was present at St. Clair's defeat, . and participated in Gen, Wayne's great victory at the battle of Fallen Timbers on the Maumee river, August 24, 1794; he died in 1803 at Fort Adamson on the Missis- sippi); Elizabeth, born April 15, 1863. Of this family, Thomas married Amy Gregg, and they settled in Fayette county, Penn., on Dunlap's creek, one mile from Brownsville. Amy Gregg's people settled in Greene county, same State, near the town of Carmichael's, and being Quakers in- 24

termarried, as was their custom. One record says that John Gregg and some of his children settled in Greene county, Penn. His children were Mary, Hannah, Amos, Amy, George, John Richard (died in Greene county November 15, 1812), Lydia, and Rebecca (who was married to Frank Geaton, and moved to Vincennes, Ind., where they died). Of these, Mary married a Mr. Nixon; Amos married Priscilla Gregg; Amy married Thomas Gregg; George married Ruth Gregg; Richard married Ann Gregg. The Greene county Greggs were of Scotch descent.

When Thomas and Amy (Gregg) Gregg settled in Fayette county, Indians were still hostile to the whites, making raids on the settlers, and the latter, including the Greggs, had often to flee to Ricket's fort, near where Merrittstown now stands. Thomas Gregg and wife were in the fort when a man named Morgan was attacked by two Indians a short distance from the blockhouse; Morgan killed both the Redskins, and the soldiers of the fort skinned the dead bodies, and tanned the hides to make sword belts. The children born to Thomas and Amy Gregg were: (1) Samuel, (2) John, (3) Nimrod, (4) Thomas, Jr., (5) Ruth, (6) Mary and (7) Dinah. (1) Samuel married Margaret Ball, and their children were Noah, Israel, John, Thomas, Minerva, and Priscilla; Samuel was a trader on the river to New Orleans; his children moved to Circleville, Ohio. (2) John married Margaret Allen, and had three sons-Carlton, Ashton and Thomas; John died in Fayette county; they then located at New London, Ohio; Margaret died at the patriarchal age of one hundred and four years. (3) Nimrod married Katie Johnson, and had children- Bani, Elihu, Zilla and Lizzie, of whom the sons are deceased, the daughters married and settled in Ohio. (4) Thomas, Jr., married Mary Miller, and had two sons: Nimrod Alfred and Aaron Thomas; Thomas, Jr., started to cross the mountains with a team, in 1815, but at Emmitsburg, Md., he was taken sick and died; his widow afterward married Capt. George Gregg, of Greene county, Penn., and by him had one daughter that died young; the mother was carried off by a fever in 1819, while a resident of Bridgeport; her father and mother were in Ricket's fort at the time Morgan killed the two Indians, as already related. (5) Ruth married David Wood, of Winchester, Va., and had seven sons who grew to maturity-Addison, Thomas, Joseph, John, Samuel, David and Jesse- of whom Samuel lives in Bridgeport, Fayette Co., Penn., and is the father of Charles B. Wood, M. D., of Monongahela. (6) Mary married Judge Igna- tius Brown, and moved to Lebanon, Ohio. (7) Dinah married John Gregg, and had the following named children: George, Amy, Caroline, Mary, Harriet, Harmon. George died in Fayette county, the rest moved to Ohio. There are two accounts

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about Thomas and Amy (Gregg) Gregg's move- ments: one states that they went to Fayette county from Chester county, Penn., while the other avers that they moved from the Shenandoah Valley, Va. Samuel and Elizabeth (Davidson) Miller came from Chester county, Penn., near where the battle of Brandywine was fought.

Aaron Thomas Gregg, the subject proper of this sketch, learned the trade of plasterer with George D. Stevenson, in Uniontown, Penn. In 1841 he married Catherine, daughter of Joseph Caldwell, for many years an innkeeper in Monon- gahela, and they had eleven children-seven sons and four daughters-of whom one son, Joseph Caldwell, died in his tenth year; those now living are (1) Idesta Fidelia, (2) George Alfred, (3) Eliza Jane, (4) William Thomas, (5) David Swartz, (6) Charles Carroll, (7) Catherine Leilla, (8) Mary .Cooper, (9) Albert Miller, and (10) John Caldwell. Of these (1) Idesta Fidelia married Lewis Bollman, and they moved to Bloomington, Ind. (they had one son, Charles Harvy, who died at Way Cross, Ga., and his father died in Bloomington; the widowed mother is now at her father's); (2) George Alfred and (6) Charles Carroll are married and live at Chehalis, Wash .; (3) Eliza Jane is at home, unmarried; (4) William Thomas married Lenora Fell (they have no children; he collects toll at the Monongahela river bridge); (5) David Swartz is single, and now lives in Monongahela; (7) Cathe- rine married John L. Kirk, powder agent at Sharps- burg, Penn. (they have three children, one son and two daughters); (8) Mary Cooper married William I. Beaver, and they live in San Bernardino, Cal. (they have two sons and one daughter); (9) Albert Miller married Lilly Le Masters, and they have five little daughters; (10) John Caldwell is a lieutenant in the Sixteenth Regiment United States Army, now stationed at Fort Douglas, Utah (he went to West Point in 1883, and graduated in 1887).

Aaron Thomas Gregg served as adjutant and major of the Thirty-seventh Regiment Pennsylva- nia Militia; in 1855 he was elected a justice of the peace, serving five years; in 1859 he was elected colonel of the Second Regiment Uniformed Mili- tia. Third Brigade, Seventeenth Division; in 1862 he aided in recruiting Company E, One Hundred and Fortieth P. V. I., served at its captain till after the battle of Chancellorsville, and was honor- ably discharged at Falmouth, Va., June 3, 1863, on account of age and consequent disability. Mr. Gregg is a Republican, and in 1873 he was elected an alderman of Monongahela, and served five years. He belongs to the M. E. Church; has been a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F. since 1853, and is a member of the G. A. R. Post, No. 60, and of the Loyal Legion. Mr. Gregg taught school two winters (1839 and 1840) near Monongahela. In 1849 he crossed the Plains to the California gold mines, in

Capt. Ankrim's company, which left Pittsburgh March 15, 300 strong, on the steamboat "Con- signee," Captain Lockwood. He started with mule teams from St. Joseph, Mo., and was gone two years.

OHN S. WILGUS was born at Perryopolis, Fayette Co., Penn., October 28, 1823, a son of John and Diadamia (Dannelly) Wilgus, the former of whom was born in New Jersey, September 12, 1786.

Samuel Wilgus, grandfather of John S., was also a native of New Jersey, where he was reared and educated. He married Miss Rhoda

who bore him four children: William, James, Edmund and John. He died in his native State.

John Wilgus, father of John S., was educated at home by his mother, and by close application to books, became, considering his inferior advantages, a remarkably good scholar. He afterward moved to Perryopolis, Penn., of which place he was one of the first justices of the peace, an office at that time of no inconsiderable importance. In the political movements in his section he took a deep interest, and he was prominent in his party, first as a Democrat and later as a Whig; in church con- nection he was also active as a life member of and local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Society. In New Jersey he had married Diadamia, daughter of Joseph Dannelly, who came to Pennsylvania with Mr. Wilgus in 1806. The children born to this union were Joseph, Lorenzo D., Melissa, Louisa, Charlotte, Emily, John S., Diadamia, Rhoda and Hulda. Mr. Wilgus died in Pennsyl- vania in October, 1871. While a resident of Perry- opolis he read medicine and law, and for several years practiced as a physician. He was the first one to suggest the building of the Union Pacific Railroad in a letter to James K. Polk, then Presi- dent of the United States.

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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 79

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