USA > Pennsylvania > Greene County > History of Greene County, Pennsylvania > Part 59
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A. G. CROSS, physician and surgeon, was born at Waynesburg, Greene County, Penn., July 23, 1823. He is a son of Robert and Mary (Syphers) Cross, natives of this State. His father was among the early settlers of this county. Dr. Cross was the youngest in a family of thirteen children. He was reared on the farm near Waynesburg and received his literary education in Waynesburg College. He studied medicine under Dr. Inghram of Waynesburg, and began the practice of his profession in 1857. The Doctor 'has had quite an extensive practice and is one of the oldest physicians in Waynesburg. He has also written considerably for the press. His writings, which have been mostly on theological subjects and open letters to Robert G. Ingersoll, have been widely read and extensively
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copied. In 1848 Dr. Cross married Miss Harriet, daughter of Jesse Rinehart, and they have a family of five children-Wilber F., Robert I., Jesse R., Marietta and Walter L. The Doctor and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has served as local preacher, class leader, steward, trustee and superin- tendant of the Sabbath school. He is a Democrat, and served one term as county treasurer. He is a Sir Knight Templar in the Ma- sonic Fraternity.
WILLIAM G. W. DAY was born in Waynesburg, this county, the 28th day of January, 1828, in a log house that stood on the lot adjoining the ground on which the Cumberland Presbyterian Church now stands. His father was Aaron D. Day, once well known in the county. He was a brick-maker by trade, carried on the business for many years, and many buildings, public and private, stand as mon- ments to his skill and industry. He was born in New Jersey and came to Pennsylvania, with his father, when a small boy and settled with the family in Morris Township, Washington County, and died in Waynesburg in June, 1863, aged seventy-five years: The pater- nal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, whose name was Moses Day, was born in Wales, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serving seven years, lacking three months, when at home on a fur- lough on account of a wound received at the battle of Bunker IIill. The subject of this notice spent his early life in the country home, where he attended the subscription school three months in the year, and later on was a student at Waynesburg College a part of two ses- sions; but bad health compelled him to abandon study and gave up his purpose of a college course and pursue a different life for the time. His first active business in life was in riding as constable for over two years, being re-elected to the office. He was among the first officers appointed under the Internal Revenue law, holding the position of storekeeper and gauger for about three years, having re- ceived his appointment in the winter of 1866. After this he was twice elected a member of the Town Council of the borough of Waynesburg, and for a number of years was a member of the board of trustees of Waynesburg College and one of the building commit- tee of the new building. In 1870 he purchased the Waynesburg Republican newspaper, organ of the Republican party of Greene County, and was editor and proprietor of the same for fifteen sue- cessive years thereafter, making a success in his new venture, and publishing, as admitted by all parties, the best newspaper ever before edited in the county. It was his paper that introduced the propriety and said the first word in favor of building a narrow-gange railroad to Waynesburg; and alone, withont encouragement and through much ridicule, he persisted for months in writing up the enterprise, and in personal efforts, until finally friends enlisted in the cause and
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the road was built. Mr. Day married Jane M., daughter of L. L. Miner, Esq., once one of the leading attorneys at the Waynesburg bar, and three children was the result of this union-a daughter, Marguerite, and two sons, Lawrence Minor and Lewis Edwin Mr. Day is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and a trustee of the church property at Waynesburg.
HARVEY DAY, a farmer and stock-grower of Franklin Town- ship, was born in Greene County, Penn., June 17, 1831. IIe is a son of Benjamin and Sarah (Tharp) Day, who were natives of New Jersey, and of German origin. His father, who was a successful farmer, came among the early settlers to this county, where he spent the remaining portion of his life. IIe died in 1861. Harvey is the sixth in a family of eight children. Having been reared on a farm, he naturally engaged in farming as his life work, and is now the owner of a well improved farm of 275 acres. Mr. Day is a selt- made man, having started out in life with very little means. Ile at one time met with a heavy loss by fire, in which his house and other buildings were completely destroyed. He did not yield to this dis- couragement, however, but soon replaced them with neat substantial buildings. In 1852 Mr. Day married Miss Louise, daughter of Nathan and Hannah (Carter) Bane, who were natives of Washington County, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Day's children are: Sarah E., wife of J. A. Maple; Hannah J., wife of E. C. Kelsey; Nancy A., wife of Elias Piatt; May E. and Charles Benton. Their parents are mem- bers of the Baptist Church at Ruff's Creek, l'enn. Mr. Day is a Democrat, and has served as county auditor and school director of his township. IIe takes a greatinterest in thoroughbred stock and has done mneh to improve the stock in Greene County. He is a man of strong will power and unusual energy, to which his success in life may be largely attributed.
B. B. W. DENNY, hardware merchant, was born four miles west of Waynesburg, October 29, 1852. He is a son of M. W. and Jane (Luse) Denny, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English extrac- tion. His grandparents came from England to Ohio, then moved to Pennsylvania and were among the early settlers of Greene County. Mr. Denny's father, who died in 1875, was the owner of 800 acres of land, and was an extensive dealer in stock. His family consisted of four children, B. B. W. being the second. He was reared on a farm in Center and Jefferson townships, and received his education in Waynesburg College. He has been engaged in farming and stock-growing, and, in partnership with his brother, owns a hardware store in Waynesburg. He was united in marriage January 3, 1882, with Miss Alice, daughter of Samuel Melvin.
IION. J. B. DONLEY, an attorney of Waynesburg, Penn., was born at Mount Morris, this county. October 10, 1838. He is a son
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of IIon. Patrick and Margaret (Morris) Donley also natives of this county. Ifis ancestors were among the earliest settlers of Greene County, and have usually been farmers. Mr. Donley's great-grand- father was a captain in the Revolutionary war, and his grandfather Morris was a soldier in the war of 1812. His father was a farmer and merchant, and was a member of the State Legislature in 1861 and 1862, serving two terms. At the age of eighty-four years he still resides at Mount Morris, where he has spent many years of his life. Of his family of eight children Hon. J. B. Donley is the fourth. He graduated at Waynesburg College in 1859, when he went West and located in Abingdon, Illinois, having obtained a position as principal of schools. In 1860 he became professor in Abingdon College. When the war broke out Prof. Donley promptly enlisted under the first call of President Lincoln, but on account of the large number offering the company was not received into the service and disbanded, and Prof. Donley continued teaching until the summer of 1862, when he again enlisted and helped raise Company I of the Eighty-third Volunteer Infantry. When the company was organ- ized he was elected captain, being the youngest captain in the regi- ment. It was the Eighty-third Illinois Infantry that fought the rebels alone at the second battle of Fort Donnelson. This regiment was distinguished for the great number of large men within its ranks, and was among the best regiments organized in the State. Captain Donley was discharged in July, 1865, when he returned to his native county, and went to Albany, New York, and in 1866 graduated from the law department of the Albany University. In 1867 he was admitted to practice at the Waynesbnag bar, and was appointed register in bankruptey during the same year, holding the position until 1869, when he became a member of the Forty-first Congress, having been elected thereto in 1868. He votes the Re- publican ticket, casting his first vote for President for Abrahan Lincoln in 1860. IIe is president of the board of trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a member. He is also assistant superintendent in the Sabbath-school. Captain Donley is president of the Waynesburg Park Company. Hle is a prominent member of the Knights of Honor, and a Master Mason in the Masonic fraternity. He also belongs to the G. A. R. Post of Waynesburg. Captain Donley was married in this county, in 1871, to Miss Ellen W., daughter of Col. John II. Wells, a retired attorney of Waynesburg. They have three children -- Nellie W., Grace E. and Patrick. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
THOMAS E. DOUGAL, farmer, stock-grower and speculator, Waynesburg, Penn., was born in Washington County, Penn., May 23, 1845, and is a son of David and Elizabeth (Porter) Dougal. His
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mother was a native of Pennsylvania. His father, who was born in England, was a teacher by profession, to which he devoted most of his life, engaging a short time in farming and merchandising. Thomas was the oldest son in a family of eleven children, and enjoyed the advantages of a good education. He attended the schools in his native county, also the high school at Uniontown, Penn. He very naturally took np his father's profession, and engaged in teaching for ten years. He then engaged in farming and stoek dealing; has made a success of the business and owns 178 acres of land. Mr. Dougal has been a resident of Greene County since 1865-the year he was married. His wife's maiden name was Clarissa Wanee. Her par- ents were Thomas and Elizabeth Wanee, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Dougal were the parents of ten children-Elizabeth E., Isabella I., Thomas A., John S., David W., Anna L., Dora B., Archibald and Mary, twins, and Viola. Mr. Dougal is a Republican in politics, in religion a Presbyterian. Mrs. Dougal is a zealous member of the Methodist Church.
R. F. DOWNEY, attorney and counsellor at law, was born in Waynesburg, Penn., May 18, 1849. Ile is a son of Robinson and Catharine (Inghram) Downey, who were of Scotch-Irish descent. Ilis father came to Waynesburg in 1837 and studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1839, and was a successful practitioner and business man. He dealt largely in real estate, having erected many of the best buildings in Waynesburg. He died in 1874. Mr. Downey was a member of the Baptist Church, of which he was a liberal supporter. For many years he edited a paper in Waynesburg. He was one of the earliest and strongest friends of Waynesburg Col- lege, never neglecting an opportunity to further the interests of that institution. Ilis children were all students in the college and, with one exception, are graduates of the school. Mr. Downey was one of the most respected and best beloved of Greene County's citizens. Ilis children are R. F., John J., who died in the army, Emma (deceased), F. W. and Kate. R. F. Downey, the subject of this sketch, was reared in Waynesburg and edneated in the college, where he gradu- ated in 1867. He then studied law with his father, and was admit- ted to the bar in 1871. He has been a successful practitioner, devot- ing his entire time to his profession.
J. W. ELY, physician, Waynesburg, Penn., was born in Whiteley Township, this county, September 24, 1855. He is a son of George and Mary (Warriek) Ely, who were natives of Washington County and moved to Greene County in 1840. Mrs. Ely departed this life December 30, 1887. Dr. Ely remained on the farm with his parents until he was eighteen years of age, at which time he began teaching school through the winter, and going to school during the summer months. Ile acquired his education in the select schools and
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Waynesburg College. The Doctor was married, June 23, 1878, 10 Luey, daughter of Godfrey Gordon, of Waynesburg. Mrs. Ely was born August 9, 1857. They have one child, Mary R., born August 11, 1880. In August, 1878, Dr. Ely opened a store at Garard's Fort, and in April of the next year he moved his store to Newtown, Penn., where he received a large patronage. On June 22, 1879, his store and entire property was destroyed by fire; but not being easily discouraged, he began the study of medicine with Dr. Sheibino, of Waynesburg, and graduated at the Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1882 with high honors. He then returned to Waynesburg, and took Dr. Sherbino's place in the practice and has secured a lib- eral patronage in the county, being its only homeopathic physician. He is a Republican, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JONAS ELY, farmer and stock-grower, Waynesburg, Penn., was born in Washington County, Penn., August 28, 1823. He is a son of Jonas and Euphen (Wilson) Ely, who were of Ger- man and Scotch extraction. Ilis mother was also a native of Washington County. His father, who was a farmer and stock- grower, was born in Berks County, Penn., and came to (freene County in 1843. Ile settled near Waynesburg on the farm now owned by J. A. J. Buchanan, Esq. Mr. Ely reared a family seven children, of whom Jonas is the sixth. He received a com- mon school education in Washington County, where he remained on the farm with his parents until their death. His father died in 1863 and his mother in 1860. Mr. Ely has been successful as a farmer, and is the owner of 384 acres of land. In 1870 he bought his present farm, to which he moved in 1875. The following year he erected one of the finest honses in Franklin Township, where he now resides. Mr. Ely was united in marriage in Greene County, in 1845, with Miss Elizabeth, daughter of William and Margaret (Milligan) Ilill, who were of English and Irish origin. Mrs. Ely's father was born in Franklin Township in 1798. To Mr. and Mrs. Ely have been born three children-William and Jonas, farmers; and Belle, who is the wife of Jonathan Funk, Esq., of Waynesburg, Penn. Their mother is a consistent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Ely takes great interest in the seltools of the county, and has served seventeen years as school director. He has also been for several years secretary of the Green County Agricultural Society. In politics he is a Repub- liean. Jonas, his second son, was born October 15, 1848, and is a successful farmer. In 1878 he married Miss Alice, daughter of Madison Saunders, of Waynesburg, Penn.
W. W. EVANS, of the firm of Ragan & Evans, editors and proprietors of the Waynesburg Independent, was born in Marshall
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County, W. Va., February 8, 1851. His parents were Walter and Sarah (Roberts) Evans. His father was of Welsh extraction and born in Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. Evans were married in Marshall County, where they remained a short time and then moved to Iowa. Here Mrs. Evans' health began to fail and they re- turned to Virginia, where she died in 1854. When an infant Mr. Evans was carried on horseback by his parents from Baltimore to Marshall County, W. Va. Mr. Evans' second wife was Susannah Hutchinson (nee Francis). She is still living. Mr. Evans died Jannary 3, 1882. He was the father of fourteen children, twelve of whom are living. W. W. Evans, the subject of our sketch, was uni- ted in marriage, April 29, 1874, with Miss Mary, daughter of W. T. E. and Mary (Stull) Webb. Her father was a native of Wheeling, W. Va., and her mother of Louisville, Ky.
To Mr. and Mrs. Evans have been born three children -- Wilbert W., Erma, and Jesse (deceased). Mr. Evans remained on a farm until twelve years of age, when he went with his parents to Moundsville, W. Va., his father having been elected to the office of recorder of Marshall County. At the age of fifteen he began learning the printer's trade and has since been engaged in that business. In 1872 he purchased the Moundsville Reporter, which he owned for a period of seven years. He came to Waynesburg in 1880, and purchased a half inter- est in the newspaper of which he is now associate editor and pro- prietor. Mr. Evans is a member of the Knights of Honor and the Royal Areanum. When sixteen years of age he united with the M. E. Church, of which his wife is also a member.
J. M. FUNK, lumber dealer, Waynesburg, Penn., was born in Richhill Township, this county, February 5, 1846. He is a son of Jacob and Mary (McGlumphy) Funk, of German and Irish de- seent, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Greene County, Penn. His father was a farmer, and died in Waynesburg in 1884. J. M. Funk is one of a family of three children-all boys. Ile grew to manhood in Waynesburg, and chose farming as his chief pursuit. When twenty years of age, however, he learned the carpen- ter's trade, serving the regular apprenticeship of three years. In 1872 he established himself in business in Waynesburg and, although he met with a serious loss by fire, May 25, 1881, which amounted to some ten thousand dollars, he immediately rebuilt and is now owner and proprietor of a planing-mill, in which a large number of men are employed the year round. He does contracting and building, and has a number of substantial residences in Waynesburg. In 1878 Mr. Funk married Miss Belle, daughter of Jonas Ely, a prominent farmer of Franklin Township. Mr. and Mrs. Funk are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is a Democrat, and has
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served as a member of the town council and of the school board in the borough. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F.
J. C. GARARD, Esq., prothonotary, Waynesburg, Penn., was born in Greene County. Ile is a son of Justus and Emeline (Mestrezat) Garard, also natives of this county, and of French and English deseent. The family were among the earliest settlers of the county, Mr. Garard's great-grandfather being the Rev. John Corbly, one of the pioneer Baptist ministers. His grandfather Garard was a farmer, and Justus Garard, his father, was a cabinet-maker and en- gaged in that business for years at Mapletown, Penn. The subject of our sketch was reared in Monongahela Township, where he re- eeived his early education in the common schools. He afterwards spent some time in the State Normal School at California, Penn., and Wayesburg College. After leaving college he taught school un- til 1878, when he was elected elerk of the courts of Greene County and served six years. Mr. Garard was elected prothonotary in 1884 and re-elected in 1887, and has filled that office very acceptably. 1n polities he is a Democrat. He was married in Fayette County, Penn., in 1879, to Miss A. B. Schroyer, at Masontown, Penn.
CAPTAIN JOHN ADAM GORDON, farmer and stock grow- er, Waynesburg, Penn., was born in Whiteley Township, Greene County, June 16, 1816. Ilis parents were May !: - and Susan (Shriver) Gordon, who were of Irish and German extraction. His father, who was a farmer all his life, was a native of West Virginia, came to Greene County, Penn., in 1796 and settled in Whiteley Township. His family consisted of ten children. John Adam was reared on the home farm where he received his early edneation, and subsequently attended Greene Academy at Carmichaels, Penn. He devoted four years of his life exclusively to teaching and also tanght abont twenty winter terms, spending the summer months in farming, which he has made his chief pursnit. In 1880 he bought his present farm and moved to Franklin Township, where he built a neat and substantial residence in 1887. Mr. Gordon has been twice married; first, in 1842, to Miss Rebeeea, daughter of John Crawford, of Carmichaels, Greene County. Mrs. Gordon died in 1853. Of their five children only two are living-Rebecca, and Rev. M. L. Gordon, D. D., now a missionary in Japan. The deceased are B. Jennings, who died when a child; John Crawford, who was a prominent physician at Waynesburg; and William Lynn, a teacher, who died in Michigan in 1886, he taught in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and Charleston, S. C., and was principal of a college in Austin, Texas at his death. Mr. Gordon's second wife was Miss Margaret, daughter of Ephraim Crawford, of Fayette County, Penn. They are the parents of five sons : Thomas J., a farmer; Solomon, Robert who died in childhood; Edgar C. and James R. Mr. Gordon has the distinction of being
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the first superintendent of public schools in Greene County, to, which position he was elected in 1856, and was re-elected in 1860. When the war of the Rebellion broke out he resigned and assisted in rais- ing a company, which formed part of the Eighty-fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers (Col. Howell's). It was Company G, of that organization. Mr. Gordon was elected First Lieutenant of said company, and served in that capacity until Capt. I. M. Abraham was promoted to Major of the regiment; was then commissioned Captain by Gov. A. I. Curtin, of Pennsylvania, serving in all three.
SOLOMON GORDON, a retired farmer and-stock grower who was born in Whiteley Township, April 2, 1801, is a son of John A. and Cassandra (Holland) Gordon. The former was a native of Mary- land and the latter of West Virginia, where they were married. They were the parents of seven children, the youngest of whom is Solomon. His father, who was a farmer, came to Greene County in 1795 and located in Whiteley Township, where Solomon grew to manhood. The subject of this sketch has been for many years a successful farmer in Franklin Township. He was united in mar- riage the first time, in 1824, with Sarah Inghram, who was a de- scendent of one of the pioneer families in this county, and died in 1858. They were the parents of five children -- Elizabeth, wife of R. Huss; William I., a farmer who owns two hundred acres of land; Adam, superintendent of the poor farm; James, and John who was a soldier in the war of 1861 and died in the army. Mr. Gordon married for his second wife the widow of George B. Willison. Her maiden name was Sarah Mannell. In politics Mr. Gordon is a Democrat.
HON. BASIL GORDON, Associate Judge of Greene County, Penn., was born in Whiteley Township, this connty, December 27, 1822. Ile is a son of Mark and Susan (Shriver) Gordon. His mother was born in Greene County and his father in Virginia. Both were of German extraction. Ilis father came to Greene County when a child, and was a farmer by occupation. Basil was the fourth in a family of ten children. He was reared on a farm in this county, and educated in Greene Academy at Carmichaels, Penn. Mr. Gordon has made farming his occupation and has been very successful. He was united in the holy bonds of matrimony, May 20, 1847, with Mariar, daughter of Arthur Inghram, and they are the parents of five children, viz., John A., a farmer; Susan, Virginia, wife of Thomas Montgomery; Josiah and Alice. The Judge is trustee in the M. P. Church. He has served as township auditor, superintendent of the poor and school director.
HON. JOHN B. GORDON, deceased, was born in Whiteley Township, Greene County, Penn., December 4, 1798. IIe was a son of John A. and Cassandra (Holland) Gordon, natives of Virginia,
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where their marriage ceremony was performed. They moved to Greene County, Penn., about 1795, and remained until their demise. Mrs. Gordon departed this life in 1805 and her husband in 1816. John B. Gordon, the subject of this sketch, was the fifth of a family of seven children, of whom only one, Solomon, survives. July 12, 1847, Mr. Gordon was united in marriage with Miss Delilah Inghram, a native of Franklin Township, this county, where she was born April 23, 1821. Mrs. Gordon is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Rinehart) Inghram, who were also natives of this county. Mr. Inghram died in 1845 and Mrs. Inghram in 1864. To Mr. and Mrs. Gordon were born five children, four of whom are living, viz., Lizzie I., George W., Lncy E. and John B. The de- ceased is Carrie L. George W. was united in marriage with Helen Scott, and they are the parents of two children-Lucy D. and Carrie L. Hon. John B. Gordon was reared on a farm and received in- structions from his father in the art of husbandry, which honorable occupation -- in connection with raising stock for the markets --- he followed until his death. At that time he owned one thousand acres of land in Greene County. IIc, in common with many of the in- habitants of middle and western Pennsylvania, had a passion for military life. He was elected Major of the Forty-sixth Regiment of militia, held the office for seven years and took much pride in dis- charging its duties. Mr. Gordon served his fellow citizens in civil as well as in a military capacity. Having been elected to. the office of county commissioner in 1825, he served two terms; and was a member of the House of Representatives in 1847 and 1848. Mr. Gordon departed this life December 28, 1876, and by his death the county lost a good citizen, and his family a kind father and husband.
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