Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 85

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 85

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John Patterson Clutter, the sixth child of John P. and Margaret (Andrew) Clutter, was born Jan- uary 23, 1854. He received a common-school education, and afterward attended Monongahela College, at Jefferson, Penn. After leaving college he taught school for a period of three years, when he began the operation of the mill, which he now successfully controls. Mr. Clutter married Jan- uary 3, 1880, Mary Alice, a daughter of Hamilton Penn, of Morris township, and to them have been born five children: Cleveland, Joanna Grace, Ber- nice Margaret, John H. and Emma, all of whom (except Cleveland, who died at the age of six months) are still living. Mr. Clutter is an ardent Democrat, and was elected county auditor in 1889, receiving the largest vote in his own township of any candidate before the people. Both he and Mrs. Clutter are members of the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church, at West Union, Penn. In addi- tion to his mill work he owns and conducts a farm.

OSEPH V. MANES, an influential and pros- perous citizen of North Strabane township, was born January 25, 1839, in Elizabeth township, Allegheny Co., Penn., the young- est son of Culbert and Susan (Vankirk) Manes.

Culbert Manes was born August 14, 1798, in Elizabeth township, Allegheny county, where he was married February 17, 1824, to Susan Alice Vankirk, a daughter of Samuel Vankirk, of New Jersey birth, who belonged to an old pioneer fam- ily. He took part in the battle of Brandywine, and several of his family served under Gen. Washington. He was married to Mary Price, of New Jersey, and their children were: Samuel, Joseph, John, Isaac, Thomas, William, Sarah, Betsy, Mary, Ruth and Susan (Mrs. Culbert Manes). Mr. Vankirk fol- lowed agricultural pursuits; in politics he was a Democrat. After the marriage of Culbert Manes, he located in Allegheny county, near Elizabeth, but in the spring of 1857 made a permanent settlement in North Strabane township, Washington county, where he engaged in farming. The following chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Culbert Manes: John P., born December 1, 1824; Mary J. (Mrs. Greer), born March 7, 1826; Samuel, born Janu- ary 9, 1828, died February 6, 1829; Margaret A. (Mrs. Lyon), born January 12, 1834, and Joseph V., born January 25, 1839. Mr. Manes' was a Democrat, and served his party in different capaci- ties. He and his wife were ardent members of the Presbyterian Church. He died August 5, 1889, having been preceded by his wife December 1, 1880.

Joseph V. Manes passed his early life in Alle- gheny county, Penn., where he obtained a common- school education, and when eighteen years of age came to North Strabane township. On May 8, 1862, he was married to Caroline Bebout, who was born January 29, 1844, daughter of Peter Bebout and granddaughter of John Bebout, who came from Scotland in an early day; and died in Washington county. Peter Bebout was a native of New Jer- sey, and was married to Isabella Cooper, who was . born August 12, 1805, in Ohio. They settled in Washington county, Penn., in an early day, and reared the following children: Mary J. (wife of William Hays), born August 27, 1825; Susan (wife of William Bebout, a retired farmer of Washing- ton county), born November 26, 1826; Ira, a re- tired farmer of Washington county, born Septem- ber 5, 1828; Margaret (wife of Cephas Cochran), born August 31, 1830, died February 10, 1858; David R., a retired farmer of Washington county, born September 3, 1832; Isabella (wife of John Crouch), born April 7, 1834; Joshua, born July 5, 1836; Stephen, born October 21, 1838 (deceased); Martha J. born January 18, 1841 (deceased Feb- ruary 25, 1842); Caroline S. (wife of Joseph Manes), born January 29, 1844; Hermon H. (a re-

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tired farmer and stock dealer of Canonsburg), born August 31, 1847. Peter Bebout was married twice, and was the father of twenty children. [There is no record of his first wife.] He had five brothers and four sisters. Mr. and Mrs. Bebout were con- sistent members of the Presbyterian Church.

To the union of Joseph V. and Caroline (Be- bout) Manes have been born children as follows: John J., born August 24, 1863 (married February 9, 1888, to Nannie Wallace, who bore him one child, Flora Myrtle, on March 10, 1889); Laura A., born February 18, 1865 (deceased September 29, 1867); William H., born January 17, 1868; James E., born November 22, 1869; Mary L., born April 14, 1872; Joseph, born November 21, 1875; Dora S., born April 15, 1878; Clyde A., born May 1, 1880; Charles C., born February 19, 1883; Os- car L., born May 7, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Manes have been identified with the history of the county many years, and have taken an active interest in all public enterprises. Mr. Manes has followed agricultural pursuits, and now owns a fertile and well-cultivated farm of 145 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Manes are consistent members of the Presbyterian Church.

S AMUEL ALEXANDER (deceased). The ancestors of this well-known citizen were numbered with those heroic pioneers, the story of whose lives is ever new. That "truth is stranger than fiction " is amply proven when we read the thrilling adventures and hair- breadth escapes of those who gave to us our fair homes, by sacrificing in many cases all that was dearest to their own happiness. Men of iron, firm in the line of duty wheresoe'er it called, never flinching though the next moment might be their last-women who with tearless eyes could, like the Spartan mother, send their best-beloved to victory or death-such were the ancestors of the Alex- ander family.

Samuel Alexander was born in the Emerald Isle of Scotch-Irish parents, and was a soldier in the British army. His children were Joseph, Samuel and Thomas, the latter born March 13, 1758. This family emigrated to America some time during the first part of the seventeenth cent- ury, settling in Maryland. Joseph was born at Chadd's Ford, Md., in 1766, and about the year 1785 came with his brothers, Thomas and Samuel, to Washington county, Penn. In March, 1786, they took out a patent for 400 acres of land on Millers run, which was then included in Washing- ton county, now in Allegheny county. Some time after this purchase Joseph sold his interest in the land to his brothers and purchased, of one Mercer, a farm near Canonsburg. Descendants of the Mer- cer family may be yet living in Florence, Penn.

In early life Joseph .Alexander was married to Elizabeth West, who was born June 7, 1777. To this marriage were born five children, two sons and three daughters, namely : Mary (Mrs. Mahood), Samuel, Elizabeth (Mrs. Dickson), Dr. J. W. Alex- ander. of Canonsburg, and Susan (Mrs. Quail), all now deceased. The father of this family died March 23, 1828; the mother on September 3, 1866.

Samuel Alexander, second child of Joseph and Elizabeth (West) Alexander, was born June 3, 1811, on the home farm near Canonsburg, North Strabane township, Washington county. On Jan- uary 24, 1860, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Logan Van Eman, a daughter of Joseph and Isabella Logan Van Eman. The first child born to this union was a son that died in infancy; the second was a daughter, Mary Elizabeth, who was born May 21, 1863, and died December 10, 1889. The father was called to enter the silent land October 2, 1874, and Mrs. Alexander is now residing in Canonsburg, though yet retaining pos- session of the old homestead in North Strabane township. This family were Presbyterians, as were all the families of the connection in past genera- tions as far as known.

S A. McCALMONT. This gentleman belongs to a prominent pioneer family, who were identified with the early history of Pennsyl- vania. John McCalmont was born in Lan- caster county, Penn., and there married Mary Proudfit, a native of the same place. The young couple came to Washington county, and settled in Mt. Pleasant township, where the wife died. He was there married to Mrs. Margaret (McKee) Moore, who died on the farm now owned by their grandson.

John McCalmont, son of John and Mary (Proudfit) McCalmont, was born in 1818, in Mt. Pleasant township, and on April 15, 1842, was united in marriage with Mary Ann Moore, born January 7, 1822, in the same township, a daughter of John and Margaret (McKee) Moore. The father who was a lifelong resident of this county, was killed in 1834 while attending the raising of the U. P. church in Hickory. His widow some years after married this same John McCalmont. John and Mary A. (Moore) McCalmont celebrated their golden wedding June 14, 1892, and on March 10, 1893, he was called to his rest. Their family are as follows: Margaret N., (yet living with her parents), John H. (sketch of whom follows), S. A. (of whom further mention is made), J. Andrew (first married to Anna Harsha, deceased, then to Hester Felinghuyson ; is a U. P. minister at Dexter, Iowa), W. A. (married to Emma, daughter of Rev.

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W. A. McConnell, of Hickory, this county), Mary A. (wife of John P. White, of Mt. Pleasant town- ship), Jennie E. (Mrs. R. G. Jeffrey, Cross Creek township), and Rev. D. T. (married to Lelah Donaldson; is a U. P. minister at Glade Mills, Butler Co., Penn). The father had been an active worker in the Republican party, and he and his wife were members of the U. P. Church at Hickory, this county.

JOHN H. McCALMONT was born December 21, 1844, on the old farm in the southern part of Mt. Pleasant township, near Mt. Prospect church. He is the second child of John and Mary Ann (Moore) McCalmont, whose history is given in these pages. He attended the Rankin and Cherry Valley dis- trict schools during his boyhood, and in March, 1865, enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Tenth P. V. I., was mustered into service at Pitts- burgh, Penn., and assigned to the Second Corps, Army of the Potomac. He served till the close of the war, took part in the Grand Review at Wash- ington and Bailey's Cross Roads, and was dis- charged in 1865, at Arlington Heights. After the war the soldier garb was exchanged for the attire of a farmer, and he began working in the harvest field.

On February 27, 1879, he married Elizabeth, daughter of William and Rachel (May) McConnell, all three natives of Cecil township, this county. In 1883 her parents moved to Hickory, where the mother died January 9, 1887. In 1881 Mr. and Mrs. McCalmont settled on their present farm, which contains 132 acres of well-cultivated land. For the past five years he has been engaged in the dairy business, milking from eighteen to twenty cows per day. He is actively identified with the Republican party, and both he and his wife are members of the' Mt. Pleasant U. P. Church, at Hickory. They have two children, Wilbert and Rachel May.

S. A. McCALMONT (whose name opens this sketch) was born December 22, 1846, on the home farm in Mt. Pleasant township, and received his education in the district schools. On September 28, 1875, he was married to Mattie A. Jeffrey, who was born in Cross Creek township, this county, daughter of Robert and Eliza (Russell) Jeffrey. The father was born in Canton township, the mother in Chartiers township, and after their mar- riage they settled in Cross Creek township. Mr. Jeffrey commenced life a poor boy, but accumu- lated a good property; his wife died in January, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. S. A. McCalmont began mar- ried life in Mount Pleasant township, where she died November 7, 1877. Mr. MeCalmont is an act- ive member of the Republican party, and a mem- ber and trustee of the United Presbyterian Church at Hickory.

AMES P. McCALMONT. The genealogy of the prominent family of which this gentleman is a worthy representative can be traced to one William McCalmont (then spelled McCam- mont), who was a native of Lancaster county, Penn., and served seven years in the Revolution- ary war. A relative, the famous Maj. James Mc- Cammont, had charge of forty troopers when Gen. Washington crossed the Delaware, and was a dis- tinguished officer throughout the Revolutionary war. William McCammont and his relatives were very prominent workers in the churches of the Cumberland Valley, in eastern Pennsylvania. He came to Cross Creek township, Washington county, soon after the close of the Revolutionary war, and was buried in this county; but little, how- ever, is known concerning his life.

His son, John McCalmont, was born in 1781, in Lancaster county, Penn., and was married to Mary Proudfit, of York county. In 1808 he and his wife crossed the mountains on horseback with their only child James. They located about one mile west of Hickory, in Mt. Pleasant township, Wash- ington county, where he followed the blacksmith's trade, also being a successful farmer, and rapidly accumulated property. At the age of sixty years he retired from active work. He was a perfect type of the hospitable, generous-hearted, social pioneer, always glad to welcome friends at any time. He died in 1859, and was buried in the Hickory U. P. cemetery, of which church he was a member. In politics he was a Whig originally, and later a Republican. John McCalmont was twice married, and his first wife bore him the fol- lowing children: James, Nancy (never married), Mary (wife of John Henderson, Mt. Pleasant town- ship), David (a farmer of Mt. Pleasant township), John (living in Mt. Pleasant township, was married April 15, 1842, and on June 14, 1892, celebrated his golden wedding; he died March 10, 1893, and was buried March 13), Alexander (a retired citizen of West Middletown, Penn.), Eliza (Mrs .. Samuel Moore, of Mt. Pleasant township) and Sam- uel (deceased at the age of twenty years). Alex- ander is the only living member of this family. The mother died and was buried in Hickory ceme- tery, and for his second wife John McCalmont was married to Mrs. Margaret (McKee) Moore, a wid- ow lady, who bore him no children, and survived him seven years. She was buried in the Hickory cemetery.

James McCalmont (son of John) was born Jan- uary 29, 1807, in York county, Penn., and was but a child when he crossed the mountains with his parents to Washington county. His education was received in the log cabin schools of Mt. Pleasant township, and his boyhood was passed on the farm of his father, where, as the eldest son, a consider-

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able amount of work fell to his share. In early youth he took charge of the home farm, and in 1835 was married to Sarah McBurney, who was born in 1811, near Midway, in Washington county, a daughter of John and Sarah (Hunter) McBurney. The following children were born to James and Sarah McCalmont: Mary A., Mrs. Samuel Fisher, of Columbiana county, Ohio; Elizabeth J., wife of John H. Miller, of Mt. Pleasant township; John A., a farmer, of Robinson township; James P., whose sketch follows; Sarah H., wife of W. B. Mc- Clure, an expert civil engineer of Los Angeles, Cal .; David A., a farmer, of Robinson township; Robert Mc., an agriculturist, living near Xenia, Ohio; Esther A., wife of Rev. Joseph McNab, a U. P. minister, of Tingley, Iowa: and Kate, married to Rev. J. A. Shrader, a U. P. min- ister, of Butler county, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. McCalmont resided on a farm in Mt. Pleasant township for three years after their marriage, and in 1839 removed to Robinson township, this county, purchasing the farm of Rev. Moses Allen, where they lived many years. James McCalmont was a scientific farmer and an extensive wool grower, giving considerable attention and study to the im- provement in quality and length of that staple, and meeting with signal success. He was a leader in the Associate Church, and in 1839 was elected as an elder in the Burgettstown Church, where he remained until 1863. He then transferred his membership to the newly-organized Centre U. P. Church, in which he was installed as elder, hold- ing that office until his death. In politics he was a Whig and Republican, and was a very strong Abolitionist. Although his party was hopelessly in the minority in Robinson township, he was chosen to fill nearly every local office; he was sec- retary of the local division of the first temperance society organized in his neighborhood; was the first road commissioner under the new system, and was elected squire two terms. A true and faithful friend, and an honored citizen, he passed to his rest October 31, 1890, with the words: "The old man is worn out. I am at peace with my friends, my family and my God." His wife had preceded him in 1879, and both are buried in the Centre cemetery, near Midway.

James P. McCalmont was born November 18, 1842, near Candor, Washington Co., Penn., and received a very fair education, considering his limited opportunities, the greater part of his time being devoted to farm work. On August 22, 1867, he was united in marriage with Mary C. McFar- land, who was born December 29, 1844, daughter of Samuel and Jane (Van Emman) McFarland, of Robinson township. The children of this family are as follows: Luella, Sarah J., Samuel J., Jo- seph M., John E. and Robert V. All are living and at home. After his marriage James P. Mc-

Calmont resided in Mt. Pleasant township four years, then located in North Fayette township, Allegheny county. In 1875 he came to Hanover township, Washington county, and settled on the " John McConnell " farm, where he has success- fully followed general farming, stock raising and dairy business. He has an excellent, practical education, and is a progressive man. In 1868 he was elected an elder of the U. P. Church at Cen- tre, and in 1876 became a member of the Paris U. P. Church, with which his wife and four eldest children are identified. Politically he is a Repub- lican, and is in sympathy with the Prohibition doctrine.

W ILLIAM H. HILL is a descendant of Joseph Hill, who was the first of the Hill family to settle in Washington county. He was an Irishman, and first came to Maryland in 1774, thence moving to West Bethlehem township, he settled on Plum run, west of Beallsville, and took up 600 acres of land. The Indians at this early date were so numerous and hostile that he was obliged to abandon the tract, and go east for a time; upon his return later he was not molested. Here he lived the remainder of his days, dying upon the farm in about 1820. He was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Ackley, and his second a Miss Margaret Joy. From these marriages thirteen children were born: Joseph, married to Mary Jamison; James, married to Ann Hill; Thomas, married to Rachel Speers; John, married to Nancy Sargeant; Margaret, wife of James Beatty; Elizabeth, wife of John Welsh; Sarah, married to John Sargeant; Benjamin, mar- ried to Delilah Notestine; William, married to Narcissa Beatty ; Atkinson, married to Miss Reemer; Rebecca, who became Mrs. William Freeman; Eleanor, married to William Hawkins, now living in Kansas; and Henry, a bachelor, who removed to Ohio. Politically Joseph Hill was a Federalist and a Whig.

James Hill was born on the old home place, March 21, 1777, and spent his whole life there. He received a fair education in a country school, but was a great reader, and possessed a good mem- ory. At twenty-one years of age he engaged in farming, and cleared up the home tract of 160 acres. On October 20, 1797, he married Annie, daughter of Robert Hill. To them eight children were born, viz. : Joseph, Margaret, Nancy, John, Fanny, James, Stephen and Robert. The last died January 29, 1893. To each of them he presented a good farm. Joseph, Mrs. Richard Morton, Stephen, Mrs. Henry Weaver, James, Fanny, Robert and John are all gone. Mr. Hill was first a Whig and then a Republican. He was an earnest Bible student, and a deacon of the Baptist Church for

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many years, which office lie retained until a year prior to his death, which occurred in 1861. Mrs. Hill always remained in the Church of England. She died November 12, 1856, and both are buried in the family burying-ground.

James Hill, Jr., was born November 27, 1810, on the homestead where his youth was spent. He received the usual education of those early days, became a well-informed man, a good scholar, and taught school several terms. In 1830 he engaged in farming on the place where his son now lives, following this occupation very successfully all his life; he added sixty acres to the 100 which he owned, thus making a valuable farm. He was mar- ried April 14, 1831, to Charlotte, daughter of William Horner, of Fayette county, and the follow- ing children were born to them: Mrs. Cynthia Weaver (deceased); Mary Jane (deceased); Mar- garet Ann and William Horner. Mr. Hill was school director of his township for twelve or fifteen years, and also filled several different offices in the township. He did a great deal of business in set- tling estates. He was a Whig and Republican in politics, and his religious views leaned toward the Baptist Church. He died October 1, 1890.

William Horner Hill, the only son of James and Charlotte (Horner) Hill, was born July 3, 1841,on the old farm, and has always remained there. He began his education in the common schools, but his health failing, was compelled to give up study when young; but he has been a great reader and is especially interested in works of history and sacred literature. He began business on the farm with his father, having an equal share in the profits, and has since been very successful, still retaining the old farm of 160 acres. Mr. Hill is a Repub- lican, but is inclined to independent views regard- ing men and political parties. He and a sister are members of the Methodist Church.

R OBERT T. BARBOUR, a retired farmer of Hanover township, is a native of Jeffer- son township, this county, and a grandson of Abraham Barbour, who was the first member of this family to locate in Washing- ton county.

Abraham Barbour was born of English parents in 1775, in New Jersey, and was there married to Jane Moore, a native of that State, whose parents were also of English extraction. Soon after their marriage this young couple, with Mr. Moore and family, started to seek a home in western Penn- sylvania. The party came together across the mountains in a large, six-horse wagon, which con- tained the passengers and their entire stock of worldly goods. When coming down hill, in the absence of a lock, the men would cut down a small tree, attaching it to the rear end of the vehicle to

drag on the ground and hold back the wagon. Other teams having adopted the same scheme, huge piles of such material were soon collected at the foot of the steep hills. On arriving at West- moreland county, Penn., William Moore and his family concluded to remain there, and made a lo- cation in that vicinity, but Abraham Barbour and his bride went farther west, locating in the terri- tory then called Cross Creek township, but which is now Jefferson township. Here he bought a farm by making a small cash payment, and in or- der to pay the amount of his indebtedness then began the traffic of packing salt over the mount- ains, bringing it from Winchester, Va. He would start with his two or three horses and so many sacks of feed, leaving the grain at various places along the road, and on the return trip would feed his horses at the same places. This business proved a profitable one, for he was soon freed from debt, and devoted the remainder of his life to "tilling the virgin soil." In politics he was a Democrat, and was one of the highly-respected citizens of Jefferson township. He died in 1858, and his wife passed away in 1859. The children of this family were born as follows: Cornelius, a deceased farmer of Knox county, Ohio; a daughter, died in early youth; John, whose sketch follows, Jane, deceased wife of George Stewart, of Knox county, Ohio; Eleanor, widow of William Allen, is living in Knox county, Ohio, and Abraham (a farmer of Knox county, Ohio).

John Barbour was born in 1800, in Jefferson township, having been reared to manhood on the home farm and educated in the rude schools of the period. In 1824 he was married to Elizabeth Moore, who was born in 1803 in Muskingum county, Ohio, a daughter of John Moore. `The following children were born to the union of John and Elizabeth Barbour: John M., a farmer of Jefferson township; Cornelius, a farmer of Hanover township; Sarah J., Mrs. T. M. Patterson, of Pat- terson's Mills; Robert T., the subject of this sketch; . Abraham, a farmer of Jefferson township, and Fanny M., a maiden lady of Jefferson township. The parents passed their first years of wedded life in an old log cabin in Jefferson township, this building being afterward supplanted by a comfort- able dwelling. He was a successful farmer, and in politics a lifelong Democrat, having held several offices in Jefferson township. His death occurred June 30, 1873, and February 19, 1892, his wife was laid by his side in Cross Creek cemetery.

Robert T. Barbour was born January 14, 1829, in Jefferson township. He grew to manhood on the farm, and was educated in the rate schools. He married Mary E. West, April 27, 1853. She was born May 18, 1838, in Harrison county, Ohio. Her mother dying when Mary was an infant, she was reared to womanhood by an aunt, Eleanor

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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 85

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