Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 93

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 93

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Sheldon B. Hayes received his primary educa- tion at the schools of Hartford (Coun.) and Wash- ington, and afterward attended Washington and Jefferson College, where he graduated in 1875. On June 21, 1889, he was married to Annie C., daughter of Adam H. Ecker, and two children, Antoinette and Marguerite, have been born to them. Mr. Hayes was engaged from 1875 in the business of carriage manufacturing and that of sash, doors, blinds, etc., established by his grandfather, but in 1890 he wound it up, and is now engaged in set- tling up its affairs, and attending to other busi- ness. He is a member of the State militia, being adjutant of the Tenth Regiment, and in politics is an active Democrat. Socially Mr. Hayes is an ad- vanced Freemason, having attained the thirty-sec- ond degree.

A LEXANDER C. McCOY, a prominent agri- culturist of Chartiers township, was born August 4, 1829, in North Strabane township, this county. His grandfather, John Mc- Coy, was a native of York county, Penn., where he was married to Mary McNary. In 1803 he purchased and moved upon an uncultivated farm in Chartiers township, Washington Co., Penn., which is yet owned by his grandson, Alexander C. John and Mary (McNary) McCoy were the parents of the following children: Esther, Jane, Margaret, Elizabeth, James and William. The father fol- lowed farming and stock raising. In religious faith he was a member of the Seceder Church, and in politics a Whig.

William McCoy was born in 1801, on the home place in York county, Penn., and was educated in the schools of Washington county, where his par- ents had settled soon after his birth. He was mar- ried to Martha, daughter of John Chambers, of South Strabane township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy first settled on the home place, and in 1867 moved to Canonsburg, where he died in 1870, leaving the following children: Alexander C., Mary (married to James Templeton), Sarah J. (wife of Rev. L. Y. Graham, D. D., pastor of a Presbyterian Church at Philadelphia), Abbie C. (wife of Rev. J. D. Shanks, D. D., pastor of a Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia), and Isa- belle (married to Rev. D. B. Rogers, also a minis- ter in a Philadelphia Presbyterian Church). The father was a man of strong religious convictions and a liberal supporter of the Chartiers U. P. Church, of which he was a trustee for many years. In politics he was a Whig and Republican; he served his township as school director, and often assisted in the settlement of estates.

Alexander C. McCoy passed his youth on the

home place in Chartiers township, and received his education at the public schools of Canonsburg. On February 28, 1867, he married Sarah J., daugh- ter of James Linn, of Washington, Penn. The first years of their married life were passed on the home place, and in 1891 they settled in Canons- burg. No children having been born to them, Mr. and Mrs. McCoy adopted Maggie Chambers, giv- ing her a good education. In 1891 she became the wife of Albert Sauer, of Canonsburg. Alex- ander McCoy is a very prominent stockman, and for many years has raised registered sheep and Shorthorn cattle. He is a member of the Western Pennsylvania Agricultural Association. Politically he votes the Republican ticket, and has served as school director. He is an earnest member of the United Presbyterian Church, of which he has been a trustee for nine years.

E ILMER R. DEEMS. This gentleman comes of German ancestry, the first of whom to come to Washington county being Mark Deems, his great-grandfather, who, while a resident of Maryland, served in the Revolutionary war, participating in the battles of Long Island, Brandywine and Trenton, In October, 1786, he came to Pike run township, this county, and took up a tract of 341 acres of wild land at the head waters of Pike run, naming it "Deems' Depend- ence," on a portion of which Wilbur A. Deems (a brother of Elmer) now lives. John Deems came hither with Mark, but did not remain long, remov- ing to Virginia, where he made a settlement on the Kanawha river, where his descendants still reside. Mark Deems died on this land April 14, 1814, his wife about the same time, judging from the follow- ing copy of receipt for wages, filed in the office of the county register at Washington, which receipt reads as follows: "April 27, 1814. Barbary House was employed by Mark Deems and his wife, in their last sickness, three weeks, $3.75. Received payment, Barbary House." They were the par- '

ents of children as follows: George, John, Adam, Mark, Jacob, Catherine (married to Nathaniel Jones, of Washington county), and Mary (married to Samuel Crow, also of this county), all of which are now dead. At the time of his death Mark Deems was owner of over 800 acres in West Pike Run township, which land on his demise was di- vided among his children. His personal property amounted to $1,985.32, a large amount for those early days.

George Deems, grandfather of Elmer R., re- ceived as his share of his father's estate the farm now occupied by the heirs of Samuel Yerty. He married Miss Elizabeth Fisher, a lady of English birth, and the result of this union was the follow- ing named children: Mark F. (deceased), George (living in West Pike Run township), John (who

Elmer . Deems.

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died in Illinois), Jacob (living in West Pike Run township), Mary (deceased wife of David Jenkins, and the mother of Capt. George Jenkins, now of West Pike Run township), Catherine (who was married in Illinois to Jehu Graves, and died with- out issue), and Elizabeth (married to Samuel Heaton). The father of this family died in 1851, the mother a few years earlier.

George Deems, father of Elmer R., was born in 1819, in West Pike Run township, this county, where he was reared to agricultural pursuits, which have been his life vocation. He has been most successful in all his undertakings, and can justly claim a prominent place on the noble roll of self- made men of the county, as from the bottom rung of the ladder he has, unaided, worked his way up to the top. The first labor he was employed in was breaking stone on the National pike, and by indus- try and thrift he is now owner of four of the finest farms of his township. In 1846 he married Eliza Ann, daughter of John Sharp, who at one time owned a fulling mill on Little Pike run, near what is known as the White Hall school-house. When his daughter, Eliza Ann, was a small girl, Mr. Sharp moved to Holmes county, Ohio, where his wife died, and Eliza then came to Pennsylvania to live with her uncle, Lewis Baker, in West Pike Run township. To Mr. and Mrs. George Deems were born five children: Elmer R .; Mary, who died young; John J., in West Pike Run township; Harvey F., in Canton township, and Wilbur A., on the old home farm in West Pike Run. Mr. and Mrs. Deems built a new house on their farm, and here she died April 11, 1890, at the age of sixty- five years. Mr. Deems, now a man of seventy-three years, is yet living on the farm. Politically he was formerly a Whig and "Freesoiler," now a solid Republican; in religious connection he is a mem- ber of the M. E. Church, as was also his wife.

Elmer R. Deems was born in West Pike Run township, Washington county, January 16, 1849. He received a common-school education; attended Southwestern State Normal School at California, 1865, 1866, and Mount Union College, Ohio, in 1868; was a successful teacher in the public schools for several years, and since his marriage, in 1872, has followed the occupation of a farmer. He was too young to participate in the late war, but when there was a call for State troops, after the burning of Chambersburg, in 1864, he enlisted in Capt. Castner's company, being then fifteen years of age, but saw no service. In 1872 he married Emma, daughter of James S. Crawford, Esq., of East Bethlehem township, and of this union were born two children: Sarah C., in 1877, and Ernest, in 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Deems moved to the Shenan- doah Valley in 1875 (where Sarah was born), where they remained only two years, owing to the. preju- dice of the natives to Northern people. When

they returned they located in West Pike Run town- ship, and later moved to East Bethlehem township, where, in 1880, they built a comfortable home.

Mr. Deems has always been an active Repub- lican, and during the Presidential campaign of 1884 he organized the first Blaine and Logan club in the county. The East Bethlehem Cavalry, con- sisting of thirty-three members, being uniformed and equipped by August 1, it was during the cam- paign and as captain of this company, at Freder- icktown, on the evening of September 23, he was brutally attacked by a desperate Democrat tough, and although coming out victorious he received an almost fatal wound, which has rendered him inca- pable of performing manual labor. Thus com- pelled to abandon his occupation as a farmer, he entered the political arena, and in June, 1887, re- ceived the nomination for prothonotary, only lack- ing two votes of being nominated on first ballot, and in November was elected over W. A. Cracraft, the Democrat nominee, by a majority of 1,401. He has been an efficient and accommodating officer; as a high compliment for the satisfactory manner in which this most difficult of offices has been filled by him, he was, on the meeting of the Republican convention, in June, 1890, unanimously re-nomi- nated without opposition. He has been an efficient and accommodating officer, and was re-elected by an appreciative public. Since his election to the office of prothonotary, he has lived in the borough of Washington, on East Maiden street. Mr. Deems is a member of I. O. O. F., O. U. A. M., the F. & A. M. and Jacques De Molay Command- ery, Knights Templar, and is a member of the M. E. Church.

OHN S. CLARK, an enterprising agricultur- ist of Buffalo township, is a son of Uriah Clark, who was born and reared in Claysville, Donegal township, Washington Co., Penn., where he received a good common-school ed- ucation. In early life he learned the trades of a machinist and cabinet maker. He was considered one of the best mechanics of the day, and could make almost any article of wood. . He was married in early life to Rosanna, daughter of Jacob Ely, of Buffalo township, this county, and at that time possessed scarcely a dollar, but he continued to fol- low his trades, and finally, by dint of economy and industry, accumulated a good property. He reared the following children: Christina, Thomas P., Catherine and Rosanna (twins), John S., Hannah Jane, Sarah M., Ann E. and Harriet L., all of whom are living, and residing in Washington county, Penn. After his marriage Mr. Clark con- tinued to work at his trade, until, after fifty years of toil, he bought 152 acres of land, lying in the northeastern part of Buffalo township, and passed

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the remaining years of his life in retirement. He was a man of strong will, and a citizen who merited the esteem in which he was held by the communi- ty. He was laid to rest in 1887.

John S. Clark was born October 1, 1840, in Claysville, Washington Co., Penn., and received his elementary education at home, where he re- mained until the opening of the Civil war. He en- listed August 15, 1862, under the Union flag, and was a member of Company C, Twenty-second P. V. C., Capt. G. T. Work, commanding. He was in the service three years, and took part in the en- gagements of Winchester, Cedar Creek, Antietam, and many others of less importance. He was mus- tered out on June 15, 1865. During the conflict Mr. Clark was injured so that he could never after- ward engage in manual labor. Soon after his re- turn to Washington county he was married to Sarah Bell, daughter of John and Isabel Mounts, of South Strabane township, this county, and they have had five children, namely: Anna Belle (wife of Joseph Pense, of Washington county), Clara, Margaret, Maria, and one son that died in infancy. Polit- ically, Mr. Clark is a Democrat. In addition to managing his farm he devotes much attention to stock raising.

AMES N. BEMIS, M. D. The Bemis Family, who are among the leading and cultured citizens of Hopewell township, were originally natives of the Green Mountain State. David Bemis was born and reared in Dummers- town, Vt., where he was married to Rhoda Sar- geant, who bore him children as follows: Erastus, Daniel (deceased), Samuel (a physician living near the home place in this county), and Horace (de- ceased). The father followed agricultural pursuits, and in politics was a worker in the Democratic party.

Erastus Bemis was born October 3, 1817, near the city of Brattleboro, Vt., and his early life was passed in his native State, where he received an elementary training in literary knowledge. Not content, however, with the educational opportuni- ties of the vicinity of his birthplace, he began to educate himself, and entered the profession of a teacher at an early age, following a course of study during his vacations. He afterward came to Washington county, locating on Pigeon creek, and later he entered the office of Dr. Emery, remaining there some time; then attended Dartmouth College one year, after which he entered the University of New York, graduating in 1842. On February 14, 1844, he was married to Ruth Mccullough, daughter of Isaac McCullough, who was born in Somerset township, Washington Co., Penn., a son of Patrick McCullough, a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and who at the age of eighteen years came to America, locating in Somerset township,

Washington Co., Penn., where he purchased 600 acres of land and made a permanent home. He (Patrick Mccullough) was married to Hannah Smith, and they reared the following children: James, Eliza- beth, John, Ebenezer, Mary and Isaac. The father was actively interested in religious work, and was the first elder of the Presbyterian Church at Pigeon Creek. He was an enterprising man, and in poli- tics voted with the Whig party.

Isaac Mccullough was born on the home farm in Somerset township, this county, receiving a rudi- mentary education in the public schools. While yet a young man, he was wedded to Margaret, daughter of William McMillen, by which union there were four children, viz .: William, Mary (Mrs. John Hattery), Ruth (wife of Erastus Bemis, M. D.), and James (a citizen of Chicago). Mr. Mccullough was a Whig and a Republican in politics, and in religious faith was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Pigeon Creek.

After his marriage to Miss Mccullough, Dr. Bemis settled in the village of Buffalo, Hopewell township, Washington county, where he practiced his profession five years, at the end of which time he removed to West Middletown, same county, where the remainder of his life was passed. He became one of the most successful and well-known physicians of the county, and in educational mat- ters was the peer of any citizen in his vicinity. Politically he was a Whig, and a leader in the Abolition party, taking also an active part in the " Underground Railway," of which West Middle- town was then a "station." In religious faith he was a leading member of the Presbyterian Church for many years, and he was an earnest temperance advocate. He died July 14, 1866, leaving three children: James N., Mary and David H.

James N. Bemis was born June 20, 1845, in Hopewell township, this county, where he was reared. He received his elementary training in the common schools, which was supplemented with a course at Washington and Jefferson College. He . then entered Ann Arbor Medical College, remain- ing one year, after which he took a course at Belle- vue Hospital Medical College, graduating in 1870. Dr. Bemis began to follow his profession in West Middletown, this county, where he and his brother David have secured a lucrative practice. On Sep- tember 7, 1876, he married Dora, daughter of A. C. Chapman; she died in July, 1877, and for his second wife Dr. Bemis was united in marriage, in September, 1884, with Jennie B., daughter of John Brownlee. Three children have blessed their union: Newton (deceased), Ruth and Janet. In his political preferences Dr. James N. Bemis is a stanch Republican.

David H. Bemis, M. D. (a brother by the double tie of blood and profession), was born June 17, 1852, in Hopewell township, this county, and at-

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tended the common schools, also Washington and Jefferson College, retiring in his junior year on account of poor health. Afterward he took a course at the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, from which he graduated in 1879. He is a skilled physician, and an intelligent and energetic citizen. In politics he votes the straight Republican ticket.

R. KELSO, a well-known citizen and enter- prising agriculturist of Mt. Pleasant town- ship, is a son of George M. Kelso, whose father was Mark Kelso.

The Kelso family are of Irish descent, and Mark Kelso, after his marriage to Elizabeth Ewing, came to a farm in Allegheny county, Penn., where he remained for some time, and in 1818 bought an improved farm, which became his permanent home. His wife died many years before him, leaving the following children: Mary (Mrs. John Cowden), living in Mt. Pleasant township; Jane, married to George Robb; Esther, deceased in 1888; Elizabeth, deceased in 1884; George M., the father of our sub- ject; John, married in Ohio, had one child, Ameri- cus, who died some years ago; James, Martha and Letta Ann (mentioned below). Of these children, James Kelso was first married to a Miss Elder, who bore him children as follows: William E., Mark, John, Elizabeth and Lucinda; the mother died, and for his second wife James was married to Jane Mil- ler, and they had three children: Margaret, Alice and Miller; this wife also died, and Mr. Kelso then made a third choice in the person of Mrs. Cathe- rine McMillan, who bore him two children, viz., James and Samuel George. The father of this family died in Allegheny county, two years after the decease of his last wife. Martha Kelso became the wife of Phineas Kelso, of Lawrence county, Ohio, and four children were born to them, as fol- lows: Mark (who entered the service in Lawrence county, and was killed in battle), Elizabeth, An- drew and John. Letta Ann was married to John Gregg, of North Fayette township, Allegheny Co., Penn., the following children being born to their union: Elizabeth, Mark, Edward, Mary, Levi and Esther (twins), Clara, Emma and Ellsworth.

George M. Kelso, son of Mark and Elizabeth (Ewing) Kelso, was born April 6, 1806, in Alle- gheny county, Penn., in 1818 coming to Washing- ton county with his parents. The family settled on a farm now owned by J. R. Kelso, where George M. grew to manhood. On March 28, 1838, the latter was married to Maria Rankin, who was born December 22, 1813, in Mt. Pleasant township. The young people settled on the home farm, where their lives were passed. George M. Kelso and his wife were formerly members of the Robinson's Run Union Church, afterward uniting with the United Presbyterian Church at Venice. He died

March 27, 1879, his wife being laid to rest July 30, 1878. They were the parents of nine children: an unnamed infant (deceased); Mary Jane; Lizzie E. (wife of David R. P. Springer); Mark; Abigail Lavina (deceased); Abigail Lavina (living on the home farm); J. R., subject of this sketch; Will- iam James, and Maggie A. Of these children, Lizzie E. was married February 19, 1878, to David R. P. Springer, a native and resident of Robinson township, and to this union were born two chil- dren, one of whom, Charley Ross, is living (Mr. Springer died August 29, 1887); Mark Kelso was married, October 19, 1871, to Elizabeth Cornelius Allison, a native of Allegheny county (they have had seven children, three of whom are living: George and Alexander (twins) and Mark; the father is a farmer of North Fayette township, Allegheny Co., Penn.); William James was mar- ried May 11, 1882, to Miss Ella Finley, of Pitts- burgh, Penn. (they reside in Cecil township, this county, and have one daughter, Mary Elsie).

J. R. Kelso, son of George and Maria (Rankin) Kelso, was born on. the farm where he is now residing, receiving his literary education in the schools of Mt. Pleasant township. Mr. Kelso has always followed agricultural pursuits on the home farm of 189 acres, his sister keeping house for him. He devotes considerable attention to stock raising, and has been successful in all his business under- takings. He is a member of the U. P. Church at Venice, this county, and in politics votes the Republican ticket.

D AVID McCLAY (deceased) was born De- cember 28, 1854, a son of David and Mar- garet (McElroy) McClay, and was for many years one of the prominent men of his town- ship. His boyhood was passed upon the home farm, and during the winter months he attended the district school, completing his education (as far as text-books were concerned) at the age of fourteen. But in those few years he had acquired that which is of far greater value than technical facts, an intense thirst for general knowledge, which increased in proportion to the informa- tion he had obtained. On January 23, 1873, he married Martha J. Paxton, daughter of Samuel and Martha Paxton, of Chartiers township, this county. Mr. McClay at once brought his bride to the old home farm, where they remained till 1877, when their present pleasant home was erected, to which they removed. The children born to this union were: Maggie E., James B., Albert J., Ralph S., Frank, and Earl (who died young). Mr. Mc- Clay was a stanch Republican, and took a deep interest in the political questions which occupied the attention of his party. He served as school director many years, and was one of the warmest

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friends of education to be found in the community. At an early age he united with the Disciple Church, and was ever one of the most active, devoted and conscientious members of that body. He was a man of fine physical development, and had always been an utter stranger to any form of ill health, until, stricken down by a fatal fever, he passed away, after a few weeks of suffering, October 27, 1889. A useful life was his, cut down in its very prime; a true friend and kind father was called away, and he was laid to rest in Washington cemetery, deeply mourned by his family and many friends.

S AMUEL C. McCLAIN, the oldest living representative of his family, was born Feb- ruary 26, 1850, in Franklin township, Wash- ington Co., Penn., near the habitation of the first settler of the township, and is of Scotch-Irish descent.

John McClain was born in Ireland, which had been the home of his ancestors for many years, and in 1779 came to America, settling in Washing- ton county, Penn., the following year. Soon after his arrival in this country Mr. McClain was mar- ried to Rachel Tucker. The young people began their pioneer life in the usual log cabin, where they lived for many years, and reared the follow- ing children: Sarah, Elizabeth, James, Simeon, John and William. Mr. McClain was one of the organizers of the Whig party in his vicinity, and in religious faith he and his family were mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. He was laid to rest near the new home, by the side of his wife who had preceded him.

James McClain, son of John and Rachel (Tucker) McClain, was born on the home farm in Franklin township, and attended the schools of those days. In early manhood he was married to Nancy Miller, a daughter of Benjamin Miller, of Greene county, Penn., and the young people im- mediately began housekeeping on the farm, which Mr. McClain continuel to own until his death. To Mr. and Mrs. James McClain were born chil- dren as follows: Sarah J. (Mrs. Morris Weir), Samuel (subject of this sketch), Martha (deceased), B. F., Flora (Mrs. Clark), and Addie (deceased). He was a liberal contributor to public enterprises, and a quiet but most efficient worker in all pro- gressive movements. He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and in politics was formerly a Whig, but after the organization of the party became an active Republican, although he never held political office. On April 23, 1888, he passed away, and his remains were laid by the side of his wife, who died February 28, 1881.

Samuel C. McClain passed his youth on the old home place, and in early life took an active interest

in the management of the farm. In 1880 he was united in marriage with Clara, daughter of J. C. Chambers, of Amwell township, Washington county, and they have one son and four daughters: Ella, Morris, Mary, Nettie and Grace. Mr. Mc- Clain has always been a Republican. He is yet engaged in farming, owning the old Jolly farm near Jolly school-house. .

B. F. McClain, youngest son of James, and brother of Samuel C. McClain, also resides on and owns the home farm, and is a stanch Republican. He is unmarried.

W ILLIAM DAVIS, a leading representative and highly esteemed citizen of South Strabane township, is a native of the county, having been born October 6, 1810, in West Bethlehem township.

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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 93

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