USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Bridgeport > Hart's history and directory of the three towns, Brownsville, Bridgeport, West Brownsville also abridged history of Fayette county & western Pennsylvania > Part 26
USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > West Brownsville > Hart's history and directory of the three towns, Brownsville, Bridgeport, West Brownsville also abridged history of Fayette county & western Pennsylvania > Part 26
USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Brownsville > Hart's history and directory of the three towns, Brownsville, Bridgeport, West Brownsville also abridged history of Fayette county & western Pennsylvania > Part 26
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
JAMES H. GRAY was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, October 15, 1844, and is the son of John S. and Catharine S. (Izer) Gray. When he was yet quite young his parents moved to West Brownsville where he re- ceived his carly education. On leaving school, he learned the trade of ship carpenter and worked at that business with John S. Pringle. Pringle & Axton and with S. S. Brown in Pittsburg, till December 1897, when he quit ship- building and went into the grocery business in which he is still engaged on Front Street, Bridgeport. Pa.
He served as school director from 1894 to 1899 and was again elected in
303
A. M. Sargent - Geo. L. Stewart
1902 and is still serving in that capacity. He also served as health officer for Bridgeport from 1898 to 1902.
In 1866 Mr. Gray married Miss May E. Wood, daughter of Aaron and Eliza (Stewart) Wood. To this union there was born one child, George M. Gray. Mr. Gray's first wife died and m 1886 he married Hattie Weston, daughter of John and Gertrude (Scholl Weston. They have one child, a daughter, Edna G. Gray.
ACKISON M. SARGENT of Bridgeport, is a son of James and Isabella Sar- gent. He was born January 10, 1860, in Zollersville, Washington County, Pa. In 1881 he came to Bridgeport, and engaged for two years in the grocery business. After selling his grocery he began teaming.
In the spring of 1885 he engaged in the livery business, in the stable owned by E. H. Bar; it burned in 1886. In 1887 Mr. Sargent erected in Bridgeport a large livery stable. It was one of the finest livery stables in the country, was well stocked with a large lot of excellent horses, and was furnished with a large number of fine carriages and buggies. The site was purchased by the Monon- gahela Railroad Company when that road was built through Bridgeport and the building was removed. Mr. Sargent then erected a still finer building farther up Dunlap's Creek where he still continues business. The upper story of this new building is fitted up as a billiard and pool room and is one of the finest in the Monongahela Valley. Mr. Sargent is now serving his second term as councilman.
August 26, 1881, Mr. Sargent married Miss Ella Allen, a daughter of Oliver Allen, a farmer residing near Brownsville. They have one child, Annie M., now the wife of Ray Rush.
GEORGE L. STEWART was born in Bridgeport, Fayette County, Pa .. August 17, 1851 and has made his home here ever since. He is a son of James and Sarah (Leaman) Stewart and received his education in the Bridgeport schools.
After leaving school he entered the carriage painting shop of J. N. House in Washington Pa., and learned the trade of carriage painting at which he continued for twenty-four years, principally in Bridgeport. He is now con- tracting house and sign painter and is both successful and popular.
Mr. Stewart is a Republican and while always interested in matters politic, has not aspired to office and has held no office outside of the municipality in which he lives. Here, however, he has frequently been selected by his neigh- bors and friends to do public duty, having served for some time as councilman and for the last ten or eleven years as member of the school board.
He married Miss Mary Elizabeth MeIntire, and to them have been born four children, Robert J., Hazel D., Floc and May Agnes Fleming.
WILLIAM DELANEY is a son of Daniel and Bathia (Redman) DeLaney, and was born in Bridgeport March 10, 1866. He received his early education in the Bridgeport schools and worked at marble cutting with the firm of T. S. Wright from 1883 to 1894. From 1896 to 1899 he was a partner with his brother Chas. R. Delaney in the steam laundry that stood on High
301
A. D. Lockhart --- J. S. Lindy
Street near the Cumberland Presbyterian church, which was destroyed by fire in 1899.
In 1900 he commenced working for the Hamburger distillery and is still engaged with them. Mr. DeLaney is a Republican but has never taken a very active part in politics. ' In the spring of 1904 he was elected assessor to succeed L. C. Waggoner.
ALEXANDER DUNCAN LOCKHART is a son of John S. and Margaret (Neblo) Lockhart and was born in Jefferson Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, March 2, 1846. He received his education in the little brick schoolhouse in the village of Luzerne and has followed farming and vegetable gardening most of his time.
Mr. Lockhart is a Repubilcan and is at present a member of the school board and also a member of the board of health.
JOHN STANLEY LINDY is the son of John and Christine (Mathues) Lindy and was born in Bridgeport, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1844. He was educated in the Bridgeport schools and has followed carpentering most of his time. He is a Republican but has never aspired to office though he is now serving as street commissioner of Bridgeport.
In 1882 he married Miss Catharine Willard, daughter of Samuel and Leatha (Hamilton) Willard. To this union were born William and Peria Alice.
REV. RICHARD HENRY BUMRY is a native of King George County, Virginia, and was educated for the ministry in Howard's University, Washington, D. C. He is now pastor of the A. M. E. Church in Bridgeport and is a well-posted man and a leader of his people.
While Rev. Bumry is a Republican, he has never sought political pre- ferment, devoting all his time to the ministry, but without solicitation on his part, he was last spring elected a member of the board of education for one year.
February 20, 1884, in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, he married Miss Jennie B. Hogan, and to this union there have been born four children, Richard H., Arnold A., William C., and Julia.
ELI COPE is a son of Israel and Susan (Patton) Cope and was born in Jefferson Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, April 24, 1856. Mr. Cope is of English descent his remote ancestors having come from Wiltshire, England, with William Penn in 1681 or 1682. Oliver Cope, who came over with William Penn, had before coming, bought about five hundred acres of land from Penn, in the eastern part of the state and it is from Oliver Cope that all the Copes of Pennsylvania seem to have descended. Eli Cope, the direct subject of this sketch is of the sixth generation of the Cope family and the 1,137th member of the Cope family in direct descent from Oliver.
30.
Robert Buffington - Win. Levy
Eli Cope received his education in the Poplar Hill stone schoolhouse in Jefferson Township, and remained on the farm until he was 26 years of age. In 1877 he was elected constable of Jefferson Township and served four years, He was also appointed tax collector to fill an unexpired term, in Jefferson Township, in 1879.
Mr. Cope moved to Bridgeport May 18, 1900, and was elected chief of police on that day, in which capacity he is still rendering efficient service. In 1901 he was also elected tax collector which position he also holds at the present time. He is also both truant and health officer.
On February 22, 1882, he married Miss Lizzie Belle Lee, daughter of Frank and Mary (McDonald) Lee of Brownsville. To this union there have been born eight children of whom three are dead. The names of the living are, Israel, Paul, Clyde D., Russell Thornton, and Ruth.
Mr. Cope is an active, energetic and popular citizen and is a terror to evil doers in Bridgeport and along the Monongahela river, where he knows almost every erook and they make it a point to steer clear of him.
ROBERT BUFFINGTON was born in Bridgeport, Fayette County, Pennsyl- vania, in 1839 and was educated in the Bridgeport schools. He is the son of John and Pauline (Reynolds) Buffington. In 1859 he entered the printing office of W. K. Marshall where he learned the printer's trade. He also worked in the printing office of Seth T. Hurd. He afterwards followed the river for fifteen years, serving as steamboat clerk and as Adams Express messenger. In 1883 he commenced merchandising.
Mr. Buffington has held the office of borough clerk, inspector of elections and various other offices. He is at present auditor of Bridgeport. He is a Republican with strong temperance proclivities, and takes an active interest in public affairs.
In 1871 he was married to Miss Maggie A. Porter, daughter of John and Sarah (Nimon) Porter. They have two children, William P. Buffington of the Pittsburg Coal Company at Belle Vernon, Pa., and Robert E. Buffington of Wilmerding. Pa., employed at the Westinghouse works in East Pittsburg.
WILLIAM LEVY, one of our most prominent and popular merchants, is a son of Jacob and Bella (Hersell) Levy and was born in Poland June 10, 1866. He received his education in the schools of Pittsburg, and has followed the mercantile business all his life always meeting with flattering success.
After clerking a year for J. M. Gusky in Pittsburg, Mr. Levy came to Brownsville in 1886 and commenced business for himself. How well he has succeeded, everyone here and along the Monongahela Valley knows.
Mr. Levy is a pleasant and affable gentleman and thoroughly understands the art of catering to the wants of the large list of patrons that have been drawn to his famous store. He is now serving as a member of the board of education of Bridgeport.
In 1890, in New York City, he married Miss Nellie Miller, and to them have been born four children, namely, Jessie, Bennie, Julius and Dorothy.
306
C. J. Miller - John Thompson
RINARD REECE BULGER is a son of Jesse and Mary (Scott) Bulger and was born in Bridgeport, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, August 27, 1863. He received his education in the Bridgeport schools and after leaving school he accepted a position in the dry goods store of O. R. Knight. This was in 1876 and he continued with Mr. Knight five years. He then commenced learning the tailor trade under Geo. Campbell and finally bought out his employer in 1883. He has since been in the merchant tailoring business continuously except the year 1888 when he was in the minstrel business he being an expert musician and one of the founders of the famous Bulger Band.
While Mr. Bulger has never aspired to political preferment, he was last spring clected a member of the board of education of Bridgeport for a term of four years.
February 24, 1892, Mr. Bulger married Miss Kate Shellenberger. They have three children.
CALEB JOHNSON MILLER was born in Menallen Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, September 23, 1841, and is a son of Hiram and Mary (Johnson) Miller.
Mr. Miller received his early education in the common schools of his neigh- borhood and afterwards attended the California State Normal and Union College at Alliance, Ohio. He followed farming until 1881 since which time he has been engaged in the mercantile business.
In 1887 he was elected school director in Dunbar Township and served continuously there till 1899 when he was first elected school director of Bridgeport having moved to town. He is now serving his third term in Bridgeport.
January 10, 1866, Mr. Miller married Miss Hannah Moxley, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Springer) Moxley and to this union there have been born two children, S. Clyde Miller and Edna May Miller.
JOHN THOMPSON is a son of Daniel and Lucinda (MeCullick) Thompson. and was born in New Geneva, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, February 15. 1855. He received his education in the schools of Sandy Hollow and in Brownsville whither his parents had moved.
Mr. Thompson followed coal mining until about three years ago when he was elected constable of Bridgeport Township, where he is still serving efficiently.
In February 1877 Mr. Thompson married Miss Sarah Reiser, daughter of Daniel and Mary Reiser of Upper Tyrone Township, Fayette County. Pennsylvania. This union has been blessed with eight children, Edward, Ella, Anna, Della, Cora. John A., Chester F., and Mary.
History of West Brownsville
WHERE LOCATED- THE STORY OF INDIAN PETE A STRANGELY WORDED CONVEYANCE- LAID OUT BY EPHRAIM LYON BLAINE, FATHER OF JAMES G. BLAINE-INCORPORATED IN 1849-FIRST AND PRESENT BOROUGH OFFICIALS-ARRIVAL OF THE PITTSBURG, VIRGINIA AND CHARLESTON SOME OF WEST BROWNSVILLE'S FIRST AND PRESENT INDUSTRIES.
West Brownsville is connected with Brownsville and Bridgeport by the wooden bridge across the Monongahela river. This bridge is a covered wooden structure 630 feet long in three spans and was completed in 1833 at a cost of about $50,000
WHERE LOCATED.
West Brownsville, as has been stated, lies on the west bank of the Monon- gahcla river directly opposite Brownsville and Bridgeport and in the shadow of what was for many years known as " Indian Hill," from the fact that the land was first conveyed to Indian Pete in 1769. It seems that William Peters, more familiarly known as "Indian Pete," formerly lived in the Youghiogheny Valley adjoining lands of a German named Philip Shute, but did not get along well with his Teutonic neighbor whereupon he wrote the government that he could not get along with the d -- d Dutchman and wanted to change his location. According to the records, the government granted his request and he settled on Indian Hill. The tract contained 339 acres. Further evidence that Indian Pete settled here about this time is in the records of the Virginia courts where in 1775, Michael Cresap is granted the " right to keep a ferry over the Monongahela from his house at Redstone Old Fort to the land of Indian Peter. Boyd Crumrine in his history of Wash- ington County says that during the spring of 1784. Neal Gillespie, a native of Ireland and the great-grandfather of James G. Blaine, purchased the Indian Hill property and in proof of this publishes the following curious instrument, found in Book B, vol. i, p. 406 office of the county recorder .
INDIAN PETER'S WIDOW'S CONVEYANCE.
"March ve 3. 1784.
"Memorandum of a Bargain mead Between Marey Petters and William oldest son and Neal Gillespey, the agrement is thos, that we the above do bargain and scal to sead Neal Geallespie the Tract of land which we now
308
James G. Blaine's Father
High Water in West Brownsville, July 8, 1858
poses and all the tenements and boundries of said Land at fort five shillings pr. Acker the tearm of Peaments the 15th of next October fower hundred Pounds to be Paid in money or moneys worth for this Peament two ton of Iron at teen pence Pr pound and one Negro at Preasment of two men, one hundred pound more to be pead at the same time of this Preasment or Else to Draw In trust for one Year, the Remainder of the Purches money to be Pead in two Peaments-First in the (year) 1786, the Next the year 178S. Each of these Peaments to be mead in October 15th the above Bound marey Petters and william Petters asserts to meak the said Neal Gillespee a proper Right for said land for which we have seat our hands and Scals.
(Signed)
John Ma Cortney.
her "MAREY XHI PETTERS. mark.
"John Nixon.
his "WILLIAM XIX PETTERS. mark.
"Acknowledged before THOMAS CROOKS Feb. 25, 1786."
309
When and by Whom Laid Out
Birthplace of Hon. James G. Blaine, West Brownsville
JAMES G. BLAINE'S FATHER.
After several transfers of the property it, or a large portion of it, fell into the hands of Ephraim Lyon Blaine, the father of Hon. James G. Blaine, who, after graduating at Washington College, married Maria, the daughter of Neal Gillespie. He located his residence on the bottom lands fronting the National Pike, on the premises now occupied by J. D. S. Pringle. Later he built the stone house, at the lower end of the town and known as the Blaine House where the Hon. James G. Blaine was born.
WHEN AND BY WHOM LAID OUT.
In 1831, Ephraim L. Blaine laid out the original plat of West Brownsville which at first contained 103 lots sixty fect wide and varying from 93 to 270 feet deep. This variation was caused by the steep hillside that in some places was closer to the street than at others, the streets running parallel with the river. James L. Bowman, some years later, laid out what is known as "Bowman's Addition to West Brownsville," which lies directly north of the original plat. It contained 61 lots cach 60 feet wide and 151 feet deep. The population of West Brownsville, did not increase very rapidly, however. till after John S. Pringle bought quite a block of the Blaine property and established his hoat yards that afterwards became so justly famous.
310
When Incorporated
WHEN INCORPORATED.
West Brownsville was incorporated as a borough in 1849 and the first borough clection was held in October of the same year. At this election the following officers were elected: Joseph Taylor, Burgess; John S. Pringle, Leonard Lenhart, Elisha Griffith, Elisha A. Byland, and Joseph D. Wood- fill, councilmen; Greenbury Millburn, high constable; Thomas McDonald and Robert Wilson, judges of election; Fayette Hart, inspector; William White and George Gehoe, clerks.
At the first meeting of council which was held October 23, 1849, James Moffit was appointed clerk of the council to serve for the term of one year, and at a subsequent meeting held November 13, 1849, John Whitmer was appointed street commissioner, and D. D. Whitmer treasurer.
PRESENT BOROUGH OFFICIALS.
The present officers of the borough are,
BURGESS: Chris Snyder.
COUNCIL: Byron Moffitt, Pres .; David French, David J. Provinc., Harry
Chamberlain, Wm. Snyder, Wilber Dwyer.
SECRETARY COUNCIL: Edward Gregg.
TREASURER: National Deposit Bank.
ASSESSORS: James Fulton. J. W. Harrison, eleet.
AUDITORS : E. R. Axton, C. E. Morgan, John Bakewell, John Kaufman. TAX COLLECTOR: James Fulton.
STREET COMMISSIONER:
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE: J. D. S. Pringle, Chas. E. Eckles.
SCHOOL DIRECTORS: Thomas Moffitt, Pres .; Edw. Gregg. Secy .; George Young, David French, Edward Baird.
ARRIVAL OF THE P., V. & C. RAILROAD.
After the boat-building industry West Brownsville's next step to prom- inence was when the P., V. & C. Railroad reached it in 18SI. It is a branch of the Pennsylvania road and was built by that company. This was the first railroad to penetrate this section of the country, and closely followed the banks of the Monongahela river from Pittsburg to West Brownsville, a distance of 63 miles from Pittsburg, by the river, and as the road closely follows the river, the distance by rail is virtually about the same. The advent of this road made of the erstwhile quiet town of West Brownsville, a busy and popular point, and added much to the revenue of the Mononga- hela Bridge Company, as all passengers and freight coming to Brownsville or Bridgeport by rail were compelled to come across the wooden bridge, while all passengers and freight from these points had to cross it in going. This continued for about 22 years till the P. & L. E. and the Pennsylvania Railroads jointly built the Monongahela Railroad from Redstone Je. through Brownsville and Bridgeport.
The post office was established in 1850 with Frank Dawson postmaster. Present postmaster is Bennett Moffitt who was appointed in 1896.
311
Some of West Brownsville's Industries
Hon. E. F. Acheson. Congressman Twenty-fourth District
SOME OF WEST BROWNSVILLE'S INDUSTRIES.
¡ Aubrey & Son's extensive plaining mills are now among the leading indus- tries of West Brownsville. This industry was established by Aubrey, Cromlow & Coon, about the year 1855 The members of the firm were Thos. Aubrey, Oliver C. Cromlow and E. N. Coon. In 1867 Mr. Aubrey sold out to his partners and went west. Mr. Cromlow died in 1871 and Mr. Coon soon after went into bankruptcy. Robert Mckinley, assignee, sold the property to Ada Jacobs and James Reynolds, but in 1873, Mr. Aubrey returned from the west and again came into possession of the mill shortly afterwards. Under the firm name of Aubrey & Son, the business has been successfully conducted ever since. In June, 1883, the plant was burned entailing a loss of about $12,000, but was immediately rebuilt.
In 1881 Porter & Elwood had a sawmill in West Brownsville and did much sawing for Aubrey & Son. They continued the business for many years and met with exceptional success.
· Biographies of Borough Officials (West Brownsville)
JAMES WILLIAMS was born in East Bethlehem Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1844. He is a son of Joseph and Mary (Hann) Williams and was raised on his father's farm receiving his education in the common schools of East Bethlehem Township.
August 16, 1861, at the age of 16 years, he enlisted in the Washington Cavalry which was afterwards known as Company B of the Ringgold Battalion and later as Company B of the 22d Pa. Volunteer Cavalry. He served till the close of the war and then returned to the farm where he remained about seven years when he went to railroading. He secured a position as a freight engineer and continued to pull the throttle on the P., V. & C. until June 6. 1903. He then opened up a grocery store in West Brownsville in which business he is still engaged.
Mr. Williams has been a school director for fifteen consecutive years with the exception of last year and then he filled, by appointment, an unexpired term and was again elected at last spring's election. He has served as president of the school board for six years. Mr. Williams is a staunch Democrat.
At Brownsville, Pennsylvania, January 15, 1866, he married Ella Britton, daughter of George and Catherine (Laird) Britton.
DAVID W. FRENCH was born in West Brownsville, Washingon County, Pennsylvania, October 5, 1874, and received his education in the West Brownsville schools. He is a son of Daniel W. and Louisa (McGill) French, and since leaving shool has followed the trade of joiner and house carpenter at which he has been very successful.
Mr. French is a Democrat and has served as judge of elections a number of times and is at present both a member of the borough council and of the board of education.
THOMAS H. MOFFITT was born in West Brownsville, Washington County, Pennsylvania, January 31, 1836, and was educated in the West Brownsville schools. He is a son of James and Eliza (Bennett) Moffitt.
Mr. Moffitt has conducted a carriage-making establishment in West Brownsville most of his life, being in the same business in Pittsburg for a short time. Mr. Moffitt has served many terms as judge of clection and as a member of the borough council, and is now serving his twelfth year as president of the school board.
313
Geo. H. Young - E. R. Axton
He married Miss Louise Axton, and to this union there have been born eight children, Charles now at Clairton; James A. now at Duquesne; Edgar B., now at Bridgeport, Conn .; Lydia, now Mrs. R. M. Flannegan, of West Brownsville: Albert C. of Bridgeport, Pa .; Archie T. now in Pittsburg .; Wilbur S., at home; Jennie Louisa, now the wife of William Liston of West Brownsville.
GEORGE H. YOUNG was born in Wellsburg, W. Va., April 8, 1849, and was educated in the Wellsburg schools. He is a son of H. H. and Jane A. (Adams) Young and has been a passenger conductor on the P., V. & C. since 1873.
Mr. Young is a Republican but has never aspired to public office though his fellow-townsmen elected him a member of the school board and he has served in that capacity for the past two years.
January 18, 1872, Mr. Young married Miss E. V. Porter in Pittsburg. She is a daughter of John V. and Mary B. (Barr) Porter. They have five children, H. H., George L., Lyda C., Luetta M., and Edith B.
EMMETT RYMAN AXTON, one of West Brownsville's most prominent young men, was born in the old brick house on the banks of the Monongahela river to the rear of the house where Andrew Axton now lives, and which was formerly used for a ferry house for the old Krepps ferry, on the West Brownsville side of the river. He was born November 14, 1874, and was educated in the West Brownsville schools, graduating in 1891. He is a son of Andrew K. and Sarah (Pringle) Axton, and was associated with his father in the famous Axton & Pringle boat yards of West Brownsville, from the time he left school till March 1, 1904, when he and his brother-in-law, Wm, Britton, of Washington, Pa., formed a partnership and bought the Hotel Swingle of George M. Swingle, changing the name of this popular hostelry to the Hotel Lewis. They at once overhauled the house from basement to attic making it one of the most neat and commodious hotels in Washington County's capital.
While living in West Brownsville he served two terms as borough auditor. March 25, 1895, he married Nellie, daughter of David J. and Margaret Kathe- rine (Sisley) Province, of West Brownsville. They have two children, Cramer and Katherine.
CHARLES E. ECKLES is a son of J. H. and L. J. (Reeves) Eckles and was born in Belle Vernon, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, February 23, 1845. Subse- quently his parents moved to Bridgeport and it was in the Bridgeport schools and Bridgeport High School that he received his education.
Mr. Eckles enlisted in the army when but a mere boy and served during the war of 1861-3 being promoted to the rank of captain of Company K, 199th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, at the age of twenty. Since the war Mr. Eckles has served as engineer, carpenter, and bookkeeper, now being with the Aubrey Lumber Co., in the latter capacity. He is a Republican but has never aspired to office though he was elected at the late spring election as justice of the peace for West Brownsville where he resides.
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