Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 94

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 94

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Williaîn Davis, grandfather of our subject, emi- grated from his native Scotland to America at an early day, and made a settlement in Washington county, Penn., where he passed the remainder of his life in farming pursuits. His children were Elizabeth (Mrs. Edward West), Thomas, Sarah (Mrs. William Moore), William, Samuel, Joshua and Rezin. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics a Whig of the old school.

Joshua Davis, son of this revered pioneer, was born October 6, 1787, in West Bethlehem town- ship, this county, and received but a limited edu- cation at the subscription schools of the neighbor- hood. He married Mary McNeelance, who was born November 22, 1785, and the following are the names and dates of births of their children: Will- iam, October 6, 1810; Lucinda, February 2, 1812 (married to James Smith); George, July 23, 1815; Eliza, May 25, 1822 (married to William Pease); Margaret A., July 28, 1825. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Davis made their home in West Beth- lehem township for a time, and then moved to Buf- falo township, where they remained until in their declining years they had to abandon farm labor, and make their final home with their son William. Here the father died October 10, 1864, the mother on June 6, 1871, and both are interred in Wash- ington cemetery. They were members of the Presbyterian Church; in politics Mr. Davis was originally a Whig and afterward, on the formation of the party, a stanch Republican.

William Davis, of whom these lines more par- ticularly refer, attended in his boyhood the rate schools of the neighborhood of his birthplace, and early in life commenced working on his father's farm in North Strabane township, where he re- mained until 1847. In that year, by careful hus- bandry he was enabled to buy a farm for his own account in South Strabane township, and since that time he has devoted himself to agriculture

Im Davis

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WASHINGTON COUNTY.

and the growing of Saxony wool, in both of which industries he has met with well-merited success, his flock of sheep numbering often 1,000 head. He owns now about 500 acres of the best land in the county. Mr. Davis has been three times married: first, on January 28, 1836, to Juliet Palmer, who bore him three children: George, John K. and Mary Elizabeth. This wife died October 11, 1841, and August 15, 1844, Mr. Davis married Phebe E. Moore, who died July 8, 1852. On September 23, 1853, Mr. Davis took for his third spouse, Mary, daughter of David Kerr, which union has been blessed with one son, William H., now a pro- gressive farmer. Mr. Davis, Sr., has held a num- ber of important township offices, and was for nine years a member of the poor board of the county, the duties of which he discharged in a manner highly creditable to himself and most sat- isfactory to his constituents. For several years he was director of the First National Bank of Wash- ington, in which he still is a large stockholder. He has long been a member of the Presbyterian Church of Pigeon Creek, in which for many years he was an elder. He is now an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Washington, Penn.

David Kerr, father of Mrs. William Davis, was born near Finleyville, Penn., a son of James Kerr, a native of Chester county, and descended from stalwart Scotch-Irish ancestry. In Chester coun- ty James Kerr married Lizzie Porter, and their children were Martha (Mrs. Alexander Bell), Mar- garet (Mrs. James Taylor), James, Joseph, Han- nah (Mrs. Thomas McVey) and David. The father carried on farming in Union township, this county, where he died in 1825, his wife following him to the grave in 1828. They were members of the Mingo Presbyterian Church, and in politics he was a Whig.

Their son David attended in his boyhood days the subscription schools of the vicinity of his home, proving an apt scholar and a good penman. On January 10, 1810, he married Sarah Varner, of Baldwin township, Allegheny Co., Penn., and the children by that marriage were John, James, Joel (in Pittsburgh), Cyrus (deceased), Howard, Mary (Mrs. William Davis), Willison, David and S. J. The father was called from his earthly labors and life work on the farm, October 9, 1865, the mother dying March 8, 1850, and both are buried in · Mingo Creek cemetery. They were members of the Union Church, in which he was an elder, and in politics he was a Democrat. He was a liberal contributor to all educational enterprises as well as matters pertaining to religion. Mr. and Mrs. David Kerr's home after marriage was in Union township until 1816, when they removed to Pigeon Creek, Somerset township, where they passed the remainder of their honorable lives.

D AVID V. DONLEY, a successful business man of Amwell township, is a grandson of John Donley, a farmer, who, in 1807, came from Hagerstown, Md., and located in West Bethlehem township, Washington Co., Penn. He was married to Sarah Horner, and they had four children: John (deceased), James, Homer (de- ceased) and Sarah (Mrs. Weir). The father of this family died in West Bethlehem township in 1837.

Homer Donley, son of John, was born in Mary- land in 1807, and same year was brought by his parents to West Bethlehem township, Washington Co., Penn. He received a common-school educa- tion, and when yet a mere boy the duty of caring for his parents devolved upon him. He engaged in the milling business, and at the end of seven years purchased a farm of 110 acres, where he followed agricultural pursuits during the rest of his life. In 1827 he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Wilson, daughter of James and Sarah Wilson, of Somerset township, Washington county, and their children were: Mrs. Mary Jane Young, David V., Wilson, Mrs. Margaret Young, and Hannah. At the time of his death Mr. Donley was worth $30,- 000. He was a prominent citizen of Somerset town- ship, and a member of the Republican party.

David V. Donley was born February 8, 1842, in West Bethlehem township, Washington Co., Penn., and remained on the old home ten years, when the family removed to Somerset township, Washington county. In 1868 he was united in marriage with Emma Whitely, daughter of Peter and Mary Whitely, of Somerset township, and three children have been born to them, viz .: Lizzie, Walter and Everett. Mr. Donley remained at home two years after his marriage, and then rented a farm in North Strabane township, same county, where he resided two years. In 1872 he moved to Amwell township, this county, and purchased the farm of 117 acres which he has since lived upon; he also owns a fine farm of 110 acres, situated near Smithville, also in this county, and has been very successful in busi- ness. He was in the Civil war three years, having enlisted in 1862, in Company F, Eighteenth P. V. C., and took part in the battles of Gettysburg and the Wilderness, besides many minor engagements. Mr. and Mrs. Donley and their daughter Lizzie are members of the United Presbyterian Church. .

D ANIEL DAY. The Day family is num- bered with the old and influential citizens of Washington county, and of the many who deserve an honored mention in the an- nals of history, this gentleman is a prominent figure. His father, John Day, was born May 2, 1788, in Morris township, this county, and followed

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WASHINGTON COUNTY.

agricultural pursuits from early youth. He was a volunteer in the war of 1812-15 under Gen. Har- rison. When a young man he was united in mar- riage with Sarah Miller, a native of Amwell town- ship, Washington county, who bore him eleven children, namely: Eliza (deceased wife of George Wolfe), a resident of Nineveh, Greene Co., Penn .; Mary (deceased wife of John Brownlee), lived in Prosperity, Morris township, this county; Sally, widow of Robert Baldwin, of Morris township; J. Miller; Daniel, of whom a sketch follows; Harvey, of Lincoln, Neb. (was first married to Caroline McCallam, then to Mrs. Mary Harris, of Wheeling, W. Va.); Annie (deceased), was the wife of Elias Conger (deceased), then became the wife of Dr. Strouse, of Amity, Amwell township, this county; Abigail, wife of H. C. Swart, living in Washington borough; Cyrus, deceased at the age of eight years; Jessie and Mary, both deceased in infancy.

Daniel Day, son of John and Sarah (Miller) Day, was born January 12, 1824, in Morris town- ship, this county, and first attended school in a log cabin twelve feet square, which was erected on the home place. At the age of eighteen years he entered the employ of A. B. Wolf, a cabinet maker of Washington, Penn., with whom he re- mained two years, then passed several months in Pittsburgh, Penn. In 1846 he was married to Mary Bates, and in 1847 went to Waynesburg, Penn., where he opened a cabinet, furniture and under- taking establishment. In 1854 he sold out and entered a hotel in Waynesburg, which he con- ducted about eighteen months, then managed the "Old Mansion House " in Washington, Penn., in partnership with his brother Harvey, continuing in that business three years. In 1861 he enlisted, under Capt. Wishart, in Company K, Eighth Penn- sylvania Reserves. He joined the regiment at Washington, D. C., then went to Tenallytown, Md., where his regiment was encamped with others of the same division, remaining there about two months. During this time they were engaged in no active service, but were employed on picket duty and incidental work, although alarms were often heard along the Potomac line. In October they moved to winter quarters at Pierrepont (or Langley), Va., and in the spring entered active service. Mr. Day took part in the Seven Days' Fight before Richmond, Va., second battle of Bull Run, and entered Maryland with his regi- ment. His health failing, Daniel Day was then sent to the hospital, and afterward received an honorable discharge. After his return from the war in 1863, Mr. Day, in 1865, entered the furni- ture and undertaking business at Canonsburg, Penn., in which he has since continued.

Mrs. Day died a few years after her marriage, leaving three children: Frank, Ann E. (wife of Addison Ruton), and Oello (Mrs. Collins). Of this

family Frank is married to Myra V. Mills, of Alle- gheny City, Penn., and has two children: Emma M. and Daniel Day, Jr. On May 10, 1860, Mr. Day was married to Hester A. Johns, a native of Washington, Penn. Daniel Day is an active mem- ber of the Democratic party, and has served two terms as burgess of Canonsburg, and has been notary public for the past ten years. He and his family are members of the Episcopal Church.

D R. JOHN NELSON SPROWLS. The history of the Sprowls family in this country dates back to the close of the Revolutionary war, when John Sprowls, with his wife and nine children, left County Tyrone (or County Ferma- nagh), Ireland, for the United States, and made his home in Pennsylvania, near where Shippens- burg now stands, and in what was known as the "Horseshoe Bend." He afterward moved to Finley township, this county, and settled on what is now known as the William Sprowls farm, near Good Intent, where he and his wife lived till their death. From this parent stock sprung the Sprowlses of now East and West Finley townships.

John Sprowls, grandfather of Dr. J. N., was born in Ireland, and emigrated to this country with his parents. He was the third member in the family of nine children, Just prior to the re- moval of his parents and family from near Ship- pensburg to Washington county he was married to Margaret Graden. The Gradens came west with the Sprowlses, crossed the Ohio river and lo- cated near the present site of Steubenville, Jeffer- son Co., Ohio. John Sprowls and his wife settled on the farm where his son Alexander was born, and which he (Alexander) afterward bought and lived on until his death. After residing here for nearly eight years, John Sprowls and his family moved to the farm now owned by a grandson, Nelson Ealy, in East Finley township. Here the parents resided till their death. Their children were William, who lived and died a resident of East Finley township; Ellen, who married John Ealy, and lived and died on the old home place; Nancy who married John Rockyfellow; Alexander; James; Henry; Arthur; John; Nelson and Mary. The six younger sons bought land in West Finley township, near Burnsville, adjoining each other, where they resided until their death, excepting Arthur and Nelson, who remain as landmarks in the flight of time. This large family of ten chil- dren lived to own their own homes, and were en- terprising, industrious and influential citizens, al- ways foremost in educational and religious work.

John Sprowls, father of Dr. John N., was born in 1818 on the old place (now the Ealy farm) in East Finley township, the eighth in a family of

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ten children. His parents died while he was young, and as a consequence he was at an early age thrown on his own resources. He worked for some years for his elder brothers, eventually saving enough to buy a farm. By perseverance and in- dustrious habits he soon held a front rank with the young men of the neighborhood. He became a charter member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Windy Gap, and was a ruling elder for many years. Till his death, which occurred Au- gust 3, 1870, he was looked upon by the people as one of the stanch men of this part of the county. On April 5, 1850, he was united in marriage to Mary Ann McNay, who was born March 18, 1825; she is a woman of inestimable traits of character, who did much toward the success which crowned her husband's efforts. She survives him, and divides her time between the old farm, dear to her from the hallowed memories of the past, and visit- ing her children, of whom there were eight, as fol- lows: James M., born April 14, 1851; John Nel- son, born September 14, 1852; Isaac N., born February 20, 1854 (he graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and died February 20, 1882); Leroy M., born December 22, 1856 (also graduated from Jefferson Medical College); Anna M., born February 26, 1858; Clara R., born September 24, 1859; Alexander H., born April 29, 1861 (he studied pharmacy, and is at present en- gaged in the retail drug business at Elgin, Ill.), and Lucy E., born June 23, 1863, died September 6, 1881. All those living are married and have homes of their own. James M. (the eldest in the family) graduated from Waynesburgh College, read law and was admitted to the bar of Wash- ington county, and now resides in Washington, D. C.

Dr. John Nelson Sprowls was educated in the common schools and at Oberlin College (Ohio). He read medicine with Dr. Silas C. McCracken, of Claysville, this county, entered Jefferson Medical College in 1875, and graduated from that institu- tion in 1877. After graduating he practiced with his preceptor for one year, since when he has been following his chosen profession in Claysville. He takes a deep interest in his professional work, and keeps himself posted on all improvements and dis- coveries in medical science. When quite young he united with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and afterward with the Claysville Presbyterian Church, of which he is now a member. On March 7, 1878, Dr. Sprowls was united in marriage witlı Maggie M. McLain, daughter of Hon. Joseph R. McLain, and they have had three children: Joseph William, born May 6, 1882, who died November 27, 1884; John Wilson Irwin, born April 20, 1886, who died July 19, 1887, and George Milton, born October 3, 1888, who is the pride of his parents.

B ENJAMIN CHUBBIC is descended from an early family of North Strabane town- ship. His grandfather, also named Benja- min Chubbic, was a sailor, and in early life was married to Bathsheba Harvey. In 1811 he retired from sea-faring life and settled with his fam- ily in Washington county, Pennsylvania.

Harvey Chubbic was about six years of age when his parents moved to Washington county, Penn., where his early life was passed. In 1833 he was united in marriage with Mary Ann Runey, who bore him children as follows: Elizabeth (wife of William Watson), Robert (deceased), Benjamin (of whom further mention is made), and Margaret (married to James Auld, of Ohio). Mrs. Chubbic died soon after the birth of her youngest child, and for his second wife the father was married to Rebecca Grable. To this union there was born one son, Philip. The father was a successful business man, and won his way to fortune by tire- less industry. In politics he was a Republican. He died August 4, 1890, the wife and mother having passed away two years before.

Benjamin Chubbic now owns and resides upon the old homestead. Like his father, he advocates the principles embodied in the Republican party. The family are all members of the Chartiers Pres- byterian Church. He is unmarried.

E G. EMERY, one of the successful farmers of Mt. Pleasant township, is a son of Dr. Boyd Emery, and a grandson of Walter and Jane (Blakney) Emery. Walter Emery was born in Ireland, and coming to America in early manhood was married to Jane Blakney. They settled in Canonsburg, this county, where he followed the trade of a shoemaker. During a heavy storm the public bridge in the town was en- dangered, and while assisting in the attempt to save it Mr. Emery was drowned. His widow was afterward married to Squire Duncan, of Smith . township, and died about 1865 in Florence, this county.

Boyd Emery was born in 1805, in Canonsburg, this county, and reared and educated in his native town. He graduated from Jefferson College, standing second in his class, and afterward stud- ied medicine at Canonsburg under Dr. Leather- man. He then entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and after receiving his degree, set- tled near Dunningsville, this county, where he passed his life, practicing medicine. He was married to Anna Graham, of Cross Creek town- ship, and the following children were born to their union: E. G. (subject of this sketch), Martha G. (Mrs. W. G. Kammerer, of Chicago), James A. (living in Somerset township, this county), Boyd (a physician and surgeon of Somerset township), Will-

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WASHINGTON COUNTY.

iam H. (living on a part of the homestead in Somer- set township) and Anna M. (Mrs. James H. McNary, of Nottingham township). Dr. Emery practiced continuously for fifty-five years, and was a popular and skillful physician. He was an active member of the Republican party, and in religious connec- tion he and his wife were members of the Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church. He died in 1886, having been preceded by his wife in 1874.

E. G. Emery was born September 7, 1842, in Somerset township, near Dunningsville, this county, and received his education at Hoges Summit Acad- emy. He enlisted at Canonsburg August 13, 1862, in Company G, One Hundred and Fortieth P. V. I., for three years, or during the war, and was mustered into the service at Pittsburgh, Penn. He was assigned to the army of the Potomac, under Gen. Hancock, and took part in the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spott- sylvania, Petersburg, Mine Run and the other principal engagements participated in by the army of the Potomac. E. G. Emery was in thir- teen different battles, and took part in the Grand Review at Washington, D. C. He received an honorable discharge in 1865, at Pittsburgh, Penn., and then returned to Somerset township, this county. On December 13, 1865, he was married to Miss Mar- tha Ann Hamilton, who was born November 4, 1844, in Nottingham township, Washington Co., Penn. She was educated at Washington Female Seminary. She is a daughter of the late Alexander Hamilton, who was a prosperous farmer and ruling elder in Pigeon Creek congregation for a number of years, holding the position up to the time of his death.

After his marriage E. G. Emery settled in Somerset township, and. in 1868 purchased 188 acres in Mt. Pleasant township, to which he moved the same year, and has since been engaged in farming and stock raising. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Emery, namely: Cora G. (Mrs. William L. McIlvain, of Somerset township), . Lillie A. (wife of John M. White, of Cross Creek township), William H., Teresa, Boyd A., Myrta and Walter V. Mr. Emery is an active politician in the Republican party, and is interested in all matters of local importance. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church of Mount Pros- pect, in which he is a deacon.

OHN SMITH ACHESON is a prosperous citizen of Mt. Pleasant township, and a worthy representative of an early pioneer family. His grandfather, Matthew Reed Acheson, was an early settler of Mt. Pleasant township; he settled on the farm yet owned by his descendants, and passed his life on the old place. His son, Matthew Reed Acheson, was born in Mt. Pleasant township, and in early manhood was

married to a young lady whose name is not known. She died, and Matthew was afterward united in marriage with Nancy Smith, a native of Smith township. In 1846 they settled on the old farm, where children were born as follows: Elizabeth Martin (wife of John H. Buchanan, deceased in 1875), Sarah Lavina (wife of Samuel F. Hart, of Hickory, this county), John S. (residing in Mt. Pleasant township), Margaret Jane (deceased in 1872, wife of William Ray) and Matthew (engaged in farming and stock raising on the home place). The father was a member of the U. P. Church at Hickory, and died many years ago, his wife sur- viving him for some time.

OHN CALVIN FRENCH is the youngest son of George M. and Mary (Porter) French, and was born in Washington county, Penn., October 10, 1836. His mother died when he was less than three years old, and his early childhood was spent with relations in Fayette county, same State. At the age of twelve years he returned to his father's home, where he remained about four years, and then became an inmate of the family of William Lindley, Esq. He was a boy of all work during the summers, attending the district school in the winter; thus circumstances denied him the advantage of a thorough education, which he so much desired.

At the age of nineteen he accepted a position in the mercantile house of Robert Porter, at Ritchie C. H., W. Va., and at the end of one year's service he associated himself with three others in a co- partnership, and embarked in the hoop and stave trade at points on the B. & O. R. R., east of Parkersburg, Va. This company erected and operated the first establishment for the manufact- ure of oil barrels in that region after the develop- ment of the Kanawha oil field. The sudden break- ing out of the war of the Rebellion destroyed the business of the company, and caused heavy finan- cial losses. In closing up the affairs of the com- pany, Mr. French found himself possessed of little else save good health, and a settled conviction that duty demanded that he should contribute him- self .to his country's service. Seeking an inter- view with some of his associates who had not been induced by political intriguers to cast their lots with the cause of secession, an arrangement was secretly entered into by which he and six others like-minded met at an agreed point on the night of June 14, 1861, and made their way to St. Mary's, the nearest point on the Ohio river, a dis- tance of sixteen miles, in time for the morning boat going to Wheeling, where they arrived on the morning of June 16, 1861. Proceeding at once to "Camp Carlisle " on the island, they enlisted in a company which afterward became Company E,

J.C. French

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WASHINGTON COUNTY.

Second Virginia Infantry. Thus it appears that the subject of this sketch was one of seven who first represented Ritchie county, Va., in the Union army.

After serving as private soldier, duty sergeant, and orderly sergeant through all the vicissitudes of the first fifteen months of the war, and having been left in command of the company at the second battle of Bull Run (one of the two commissioned officers present being killed and the other severely wounded), an unusual compliment was shown him, as no commissioned officer was assigned to the company until September 9, 1862, when he was commissioned second lieutenant and assigned to Company H. On December 3, same year, he was 'commissioned first lieutenant, and assigned back to Company E. For some time he was assigned to the command of Company B, while that com- pany was detached from the regiment at an out- post. While in command of a portion of the forces which made a dash upon the enemy at the Rocky Gap affair on August 26, 1863, he received a severe wound near the left knee, the thigh bone being fractured and the joint distorted, which has meas- urably disabled him ever since. Having been rescued from falling into the hands of the enemy by his comrades, and having been conveyed by ambulance a distance of more than a hundred miles to Beverly, Va., he was kindly sheltered and nursed by Mrs. Jonathan Arnold, a sister of the famous Confederate chieftain, "Stonewall " Jack- son, until he was sufficiently recovered to visit his old home in Pennsylvania. After his return to his regiment he was commissioned adjutant, and served in that capacity until his command was mustered out. The following is copied from the · regimental history compiled by Frank S. Reder, Esq., editor of the Beaver Valley News, who was a comrade of Mr. French: "There was no braver officer in the regiment, and Lieut. French deserves special mention for his gallant conduct at the second battle of Bull Run, and for his splendid leadership in the extreme advance, in the dash where he was wounded at Rocky Gap."

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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 94

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