History of Greene County, Pennsylvania, Part 63

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago : Nelson, Rishforth
Number of Pages: 908

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JOHN R. PIPES, clerk of the courts of Greene County, Penn., was born in Morrisville, Penn., March 25, 1855, and is a son of James and Elvira (Rinehart) Pipes. His parents were natives of Franklin Township, and of English extraction. His father, who was a farmer all his life, died September 5, 1881. The subject of our sketch was reared in Franklin Township, attended the common school and the Monongahela College at Jefferson, Penn. He first engaged in teaching as an oceupation, teaching in the winter for five years and mining coal in the summer. Mr. Pipes is a Democrat, and was elected to his present position in 1884. In 1882 he was united in marriage with Miss Melinda, daughter of William Piteoek, one of the early pioneers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Pipes have two children-Mary Emma and Daisy. Mr. and Mrs. Pipes are mem- bers of the Methodist Protestant Church, in which he has held many offices, and also served as superintendent of the Sabbath-school. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. His father was born in 1800 and his mothor in 1818. She is still living, making her home with John R. in Waynesburg, Penn.

D. B. PRATT, farmer and stock-grower, Waynesburg, Penn., was born in Franklin Township, Greene County, Penn., December 25, 1838. He is a son of William Pratt, also a prominent farmer in this township, who was born in Fayette County, Penn., October 13, 1814. His parents were James and Sallie (Boner) Pratt, also natives of Fayette County, and of English lineage. William Pratt owned a well improved farm of 200 acres in Franklin Township, where he died in 1874. Ile was a blacksmith by trade, in which he engaged until 1854 when he began farming. He spent most of his life in Greene County, where he was united in marriage, in 1838, with Miss Harriet, daughter of Joshua and Catharine (Livengood) Thomas. IIer father was born near Philadelphia, Penn., and was of Dutch ancestry. Mrs. Pratt was born in Center Township, this county. June 2, 1820, and was the seventh in a family of flfteen children. D.

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B. Pratt, the subject of this sketeh, is a man of tireless zeal and unusual energy, by means of which he has been very successful in his chosen pursuit, and owns a well improved farm of 175 acres. On August 25, 1870, he married Margaret, daughter of William and Sarah (Bodkin) Smith, who were of English and Irish lineage. Her mother was a native of Pennsylvania. Her father was born in New Jersey, and died in 1874. They were the parents of sixteen children, of whom Mrs. Pratt is the youngest. To Mr. and Mrs. Pratt have been born two sons William Harvey and Lindsley Inghram. Their mother is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Pratt is a Demo- crat and a member of the I. O. O. F. He has served as school director and auditor of his township.

ANDREW ARMSTRONG PURMAN, attorney and counselor at law, was born on Short Creek, in Ohio County, Virginia (now West Virginia), April 8, 1823. Ile is a son of John and Barbara (Burns) Purman. Ilis parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and of German and Scotch extraction. His father was a farmer and came to Greene County in 1833, settling on a farm in Richhill Township. Later in life he moved to Shelby County, Indiana, where he died in 1838. Ilis family consisted of nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the third son. A. A. Purman, Esq., the subject of our sketch, spent his early life with his parents on the farm, where he first went to subscription school. He was afterwards a student in a seleet school in Waynesburg, and at the founding of Waynesburg College he entered it as one of its first students. He began the study of law in Waynesburg in 1847, in the office of Hon. Samuel Clea- venger, and at the death of Mr. Cleavenger, 1848, finished the course with Lewis Roberts, Esq., and was admitted to the bar in May, 1849. Ile has devoted his life to the practice of his chosen profession. In 1856 Mr. Purman was elected district attorney, serving three years. In 1869 he was elected State Senator from Greene, Fayette and Westmoreland counties, and served in the session of 1871 as chair- man of the finance committee. IIe was elected in the year 1872, on the Democratic ticket, a delegate at large to the constitutional con- vention of 1872-1873, and served on the committee on legislation and corporation. Mr. Purman was a school director for fifteen years, and served for several years as a member of the borough council. IIe is a Democrat, and commenced public speaking for the party in 1844, for Polk and Dallas, has spoken in every presidential campaign sinee, and was offered the nomination for Lientenant-Governor of Pennsyl- vania in 1874. In 1865 he came within one vote of being nomi- nated President Judge of the Fourteenth Judicial Distriet. Mr. Purman was united in marriage June 26, 1856, with Miss Mary Ann, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Morris) Russell. Of their nine children seven are now living. They are Thamas R., John, a physi-

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

cian and surgeon; Lida, wife of B. R. Williams, of Sharon, Penn .; James J., a law student; Alexander E., Elizabeth M. and A. A. Jr. Mr. Purman's grandfather, James Burns, was a soldier in the Revo- Intionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Purman are members of the Baptist Church, in which he has held many official positions. IIe is and has been president of the board of trustees of Monongahela College at Jefferson ever since its organization in 1867.

Z. C. RAGAN, of the firm of Ragan & Evans, editors and pro- prietors of the Waynesburg Independent, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, July 14, 1833, and is a son of Joab and Mary (Stull) Ragan. His mother was born in Kentucky, and his father in Beaver County, Penn. They were of Scotch-Irish descent. His father, who died at the early age of thirty-three, was a minister of the Methodist Pro- testant Church, and served as president of the conference. He was a self-made man and an able linguist, speaking and writing four languages. Z. C. Ragan is an only child. Ile was brought to Waynesburg in 1840, where he was reared, and partially educated in Waynesburg College. Early in life he learned the printing business, a calling he has followed the greater part of his life. He started a paper in Waynesburg in 1872, in company with J. W. Axtell, called the Waynesburg Independent, which has a circulation of over 3,000 copies per week. The financial success of the paper has been largely due to Mr. Ragan's untiring efforts. IIe was for seven years a member of the board of trustees in Waynesburg College, and is a prominent member of the Knights of Honor. In 1861 he enlisted in Company F, Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged in 1864. IIe served as Sergeant, and had charge of his company when it was mustered out. Mr. Ragan was united in marriage, in 1858, with Miss Anna M., daughter of Thomas Hill, a farmer of Greene County. Their children are-Emma L., a gradu- ate of Waynesburg College, and wife of W. S. Pipes; and Minnie E., a student in the college. Mrs. Pipes was for three years a teacher in Enfield College, Illinois. The family are members of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Ragan is an elder, and was superintendent of the Sabbath-school over eight years.

JAMES F. RANDOLPHI, a farmer and stock-grower of Frank- lin Township, was born in Jefferson Borough, Greene County, Penn., April 23, 1832. He is a son of Isaac and Sarah (Adamson) Ran- dolph, who came from New Jersey, their native State, and settled in Greene County, Penn., in 1795, on a farm where they spent the re- mainder of their lives. They reared a family of ten children, eight of whom grew to maturity. James F., the third in the family, was reared on the farm with his parents, and attended the district school. He has successfully engaged in farming as a business, and is the owner of some fine land in this county. In 1855 Mr. Randolph

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married Elizabeth, daughter of William Braden, who is an ex-associ- ate judge, and a prominent citizen of this county. To M .. and Mrs. Randolph were born eight children-Sarah M., wife of Smith Adam- son; Mary, wife of Isaiah Gordon; Rachel, wife of Jackson Pratt; Lucy, Isaac L., William, Lizzie and Thomas. Mr. Randolph is a Democrat. He and wife are prominent members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

J. A. F. RANDOLPH, insurance and real estate agent, Waynes- burg, Penn., was born in Jefferson Township, this county, March 18, 1851, and is a son of Abraham F. and Emily A. (Adamson) Ran- dolph, also natives of this county. Abraham F. Randolph was a son of James F. Randolph, a native of Middlesex County, N. J., and member of the Society of Friends. He came to Greene County, Penn., in 1795, and remained all his life on the farm where Abraham F. was born. The farm is still in possession of the family. Abra- ham F. and Emily A. Randolph were married in this county, June 18, 1833, where they died, the former December 8, 1866, and the latter March 9, 1885. They were the parents of four children, two of whom are living-William H. F. and James A. F. The deceased are an infant, and Sarah L., wife of C. C. Strawn. The subject of our sketeli was united in marriage, January 9, 1888, with Miss Emma F. Johnson, who was born September 26, 1859. She is a daughter of William R. and Minerva E. (Fleming) Johnson, the former a native of this county, and the latter of West Virginia. Mr. Randolph acquired his education in the common schools and Waynes- burg College. He remained at home until twenty-one years of age, then taught school for a period of five years. He first engaged in his present business in 1880. He represents some of the best in- surance companies of the United States, and also deals extensively in real estate. Mr. Randolph is a member of the board of trust of the Pennsylvania Synod of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and treasurer of the endowment fund for support of Waynesburg College. He and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. ·

He is at present eity clerk.

JOSEPH W. RAY .- The subject of this sketch, Joseph W. Ray, is the eldest son of James E. and Margaret (Leonard) Ray, and was born May 25, 1849, in Morris Township, Greene County. His father, who is now (July, 1888) in his eightieth year, was born in Morris County, N. J., and his mother in Trumbull County, Ohio. His parents, immediately upon their marriage, settled in Washing- ton County, Penn., but removed therefrom April 1, 1849, to a farm in Greene County, where they have ever since resided. They gave him the advantage of sneh educational facilities as the common schools of that time and section afforded. At nineteen years of age he secured employment as a teacher, a calling to which he devoted

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

several years. In 1871 he became a student of Waynesburg Col- lege, and was graduated by that institution in the class of 1874. Abont this time he commenced the study of law, and was admitted to the bar of his native county in June, 1876. Two years later, or April 1, 1878, having associated himself with H. B. Axtell, Esq., they opened an office in Waynesburg, under the firm name of Ray & Axtell, since which time he has been actively engaged in the prac- tiee of his profession. He was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the State in 1883. In politics Mr. Ray is a Republican. Ile was chairman, for three years, of the Republican County Com- mittee of Greene County. He has represented the county in a State Convention, and was an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention of 1880. He has twice been the nominee of his party for office. In 1884 he ran for Congress against Hon. Charles E. Boyle, the Democratic candidate, in what was then the twenty-first district, composed of the counties of Fayette, Greene and West- moreland. Although defeated by 2,500 votes, this was much the smallest Democratie majority the district ever gave, up to that time. In 1886 he was nominated for the State Senate, in the fortieth sena- torial district, composed of Fayette and Greene counties, having for his Democratie competitor Hon. Thomas B. Schnatterly. The official returns gave Mr. Schnatterly 8,438 votes, and Mr. Ray 8,256 votes, a reduction of the usual Democratic majority of more than 2,000 in the distriet to 182. Mr. Ray was married May 18, 1878, to Miss Henrietta Iams, a daughter of the late Thomas Iams, of Morris Township, Greene County. Since their marriage they have resided in Waynesburg, and have four children, two girls and two boys.

WILLIAM RHODES, farmer, Waynesburg, Penn., who was born in Franklin Township, July 12, 1818, is a son of William and Nancy (Rinehart) Rhodes, who were of German extraction. Ilis father was a native of this county, and a farmer all his life. The Rhodes family have usually been farmers. William Rhodes is an only child. He was born in a house where the poor-house now stands. The subject of this sketch received his early education in the district schools of Franklin Township. He has been a successful farmer, and owns 300 acres of good farming land. He remained on the farm with his parents until 1852, when he married Miss Jane, daugh- ter of William and Elizabeth (Shull) Shriver. Her parents were natives of this county, and of Dutch and Irish lineage. To Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes were born seven children-Lizzie, Rettie J., wife of Rinehart Gwynn; George F., Belle II., Ida D., Willie B. and Char- ley. Mr. Rhodes is steward in the Methodist Church, is a member of the Masonie fraternity and the I. O. O. F. The following sketch of William Rhodes' grandfather will be of interest to many readers: William Rhodes was born at Newport, R. I., about 1759. He went

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to sea at sixteen and remained a sailor for sixteen years. With many vicissitudes his career seems checkered. From his manuscript jour- nals we find him a prisoner in the French prison from 1778 to 1780, and on his very next voyage from London in May was recaptured, but liberated through the influence of American friends, as an Amer- ican citizen. In October of 1780 he sailed for Barbadoes with a large fleet of merchant ships, convoyed by ten line of battle ships. The next year he was once more captured by the French and again liberated. Again he was a prisoner in New York, being captured by the English, and exchanged after five months' confinement. In 1784 he was wrecked off Cape Cod, and the following year (1785) he heard for the first time of the Ohio settlement. About 1787, his father dying, William Rhodes' attention was directed to the settle- ments west of the Alleghany Mountains, and on the 18th of January, 1788, reached the old Redstone Fort (now Brownsville) in Fayette County. After peddling, and keeping store at Jackson's Fort (then Washington County), he bought, in 1791. a plantation (where his son, James R. Rhodes, now resides), married and began farming. In his own words: "Settled for life, I hope. Here I began jogging for life and family, not in the least discouraged in my new profession." The manuscript is rather amusing and interesting, illustrated by draw- ings of his own, of ships, scenery, women, men, birds, fishes and animals, according to the fancy of this backwoods artist.

S. S. RINEHART, merchant, Waynesburg, Penn., son of Samnel and Mary (Zook) Rinehart, was born in this county February 16, 1848. His mother was also a native of this county, and his father was born in Ohio. They were of German and Irish extraction. His father was a farmer and coal miner, and reared a family of nine ehil- dren, of whom the subject of this sketch is the fourth. He was reared in Franklin Township, attended the common schools, and in early life learned the harness maker's trade. He engaged in that business in Waynesburg until 1872, when he commeneed clerking in a store. He was employed as a salesman until 1878, when he began business for himself at Morrisville, Penn., and has met with. success. Mr. Rinehart was united in marriage October 7, 1872, with Mary Ella Lippencott, a native of this county. Their children are-Mattie, Nettie, Eddie HI. and Hermon. Mr. Rinehart is a Democrat in polities.

JAMES R. RINEIIART, Professor of Languages in Waynesburg College, was born at Woodsfield, Monroe County, Ohio, in October, 1832, and is a son of Simon and Hannah (Morris) Rinehart, natives of Greene County, Penn. His father was of German and Irish ex- traction. Prof. Rinehart's great-grandfather, who was a farmer, was among the early settlers of this county, and was killed by the Indians. His grandfather, Barnett Rinehart, was born September 8, 1777,

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in this county. His maternal grandparents were natives of Mon- mouth County, New Jersey, and were of Scotch and German descent. The Rinehart family have, as a rule, been farmers and very success- ful in business. Several members of the family have entered the professions and have met with unusual success. Prof. Rinehart's father was a blacksmith by trade. He was clerk for the county commissioners for several years, and also served as justice of the peace. He reared a family of four children, of whom the Professor is the third. IIe was educated in Greene County, graduating in the regular classical course at Waynesburg College. He then took up the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1857. IIe began the practice of his profession in Clinton, Illinois, and after a short time went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he remained until 1860, then re- turning to Greene County, Penn. In 1887 he accepted his present position as instructor in Waynesburg College, and has filled the same continuously since that time. Prof. Rinehart was married in 1873 to Miss Ida, daughter of IIon. Patrick Donley, of Mt. Morris, Penn. Their children are-Patrick Donley and Margaret Morris. The Professor is a member of the Masonic Fraternity.

PROF. A. I. P. RINEIIART, superintendent of the public schools of Waynesburg, Penn., is among the prominent instructors of the county, and a man of marked ability as a teacher. He was born in Franklin Township, this county, April 17, 1860, and is the son of William and Elizabeth (Porter) Rinehart, who were of English and German descent. His parents were natives of Greene County, and descendants of its early settlers. Ilis father was a farmer, and of his family of nine children Prof. Rinehart is the oldest. Ile re- ceived his early education in the common schools and afterwards took a regular course in the Edinboro State Normal School, graduating in 1883. He has since engaged in teaching as a' profession, and his work has been confined to Greene County, with the exception of two years that he was principal in the High School at Freeport, Arm- strong County, Penn. In 1885 he was elected to his present position of principal of schools in Waynesburg. During vacation he has frequently instructed other teachers of the county. In 1888 he taught a very successful term in Jackson Township, his pupils being principally those who had themselves been teachers. Prof. Rinehart is a genial, pleasant gentleman, and is held in high esteem by the teachers of Greene County.

J. G. RITCHIE, Chicago, Illinois, was born in Cumberland Township, Greene County, Penn., June 27, 1834. IIis parents were Col. Newton J. and Anna (Gwynn) Ritchie, natives of Pennsylvania, both now deceased. They were the parents of four children, of whom two are living -- Mrs. William Smith and the subject of this sketch. He was united in marriage February 10, 1876, with Miss Philinda

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Andrew, who was born in Richland County, Ohio, April 18, 1847. Her parents were William and Mary J. (McConnell) Andrew, the former a native of Washington County, Penn., and the latter of Vir- ginia. Mr. Andrew departed this life in 1850, and his widow in 1863. They were the parents of five children, four of whom are living, viz. : Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Bonar; Louisa, wife of John Chambers; Mary J., widow of Dr. F. M. Denny, and Mrs. J. G. Ritchie. The deceased was James A., who was killed in the late war. Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie are the parents of one daughter-Anna M., born in Waynesburg, Penn., February 19, 1878. Mr. Ritchie acquired his education in the common schools and Greene Academy at Carmi- chaels, Penn. He subsequently taught for a number of years, then read law with E. M. Sayers. After his admission to the bar he practiced in partnership with A. A. Purman, Esq. Mr. Ritchie served as District Attorney for Greene County, after which he en- gaged in the hardware business for five years with his brother-in-law, William P. Smith, in Waynesburg. He next turned his attention to the W. & W. R. R. enterprise, in which he took an active interest and was one of those most instrumental in procuring the road to Waynesburg. He served as first president of the road, was also superintendent, and is still one of the directors. In 1887 he went to Chicago, and in company with J. S. Wolf, has been engaged in the real estate business. He and his wife own property in Greene County, Penn., Richland County, Ohio, and in Chicago. They are consistent members of the Presbyterian Church,

MORGAN ROSS, dealer in wagons, carriages and harness, Waynesburg, Penn., was born in Center Township, this county, February 22, 1844. Ile is a son of Peabody Atkinson and Maria (Matthews) Ross. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch-Irish origin. His father was for some time a manufacturer, but devoted most of his life to farming. His family consisted of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the oldest living. Until he was twenty-one years old Mr. Ross remained on the farm with his parents in Center Township, where he attended the district school. In 1865 he came to Waynesburg and learned the carriage and wagon-maker's trade, subsequently engaging in that business until 1883, the year in which his first wife, Maggie Throekmorton Ross died. Mr. Ross has one child, Charles, born July 4th, 1879. He was married the second time in 1885. Mr. Ross is a Democrat, and a member of the I. O. O. F.

JOSEPH B. ROSS, manufacturer, of the firm of McGlumphy & Ross, Waynesburg, Penn., was born in Dunkard Township, Greene County, Penn., January 24, 1844. His parents, Thomas and Eliza (Bailey) Ross, were natives of Fayette County, and of German origin. His father was a cabinet-maker by trade, to which he devoted the

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carly part of his life. In later years he retired to the quiet of the farm, where he spent the remaining portion of his life. His family consisted of five children-three daughters and five sons, of whom Joseph B. is the second. He was reared in Cumberland Township, where he attended the common schools and early in life learned the manufacturing of woolen goods. He was employed in that business at Clarksville, Penn., until 1873, when he bought land near Waynes- burg and engaged in farming from 1876 to 1879. Mr. Ross was then proprietor of a grocery and meat-market for two years, when he bought the old planing-mill and started his present business. In 1873 Mr. Ross married Susan, daughter of Samuel Luse, a prominent and snecessful farmer of Franklin Township. They have three children-Charles L., Walter S. and Franklin. Mr. Ross is a Re- publican. His grandfather, Thomas Ross, was one of the pioneers of Greene County.

HON. ABNER ROSS, ex-Senator, is a merchant by ocenpation. Ile was born in Washington Township, this county, March 30, 1838, and is a son of Benjamin and Hannah (Jolins) Ross, also natives of this county. His grandfather, Timothy Ross, was among the carly pioneer farmers of the county. Mr. Ross is the fourth in a family of twelve children, eight of whom grew to maturity. Ile was reared on the home farm, and his early education was obtained at an Academy in Fayette County, Penn. He afterwards spent some time in Waynesburg College. Mr. Ross chose farming as a business in which he engaged until he was elected sheriff of the county in 1870. He held that office for three years, then engaged in the mercantile busi- ness in Waynesburg until 1884, when he was elected State Senator and served two years, was elected to fill the inexpired time of Senator Patton. He has since continued in the boot and shoe busi- ness which he established in 1882. In 1863 Mr. Ross married Margaret l'., daughter of Isaac Mitchell. Mrs. Ross is also a native of this county, to which her grandfather came at an early date and lived to the advanced age of ninety-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Ross are the parents of four children-Albert Lee, Benjamin F. and Isaae Wilbert. Jennie E. died July 14, 1885, aged fifteen years. Mr. Ross is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.

J. H. ROGERS, photographer, was born December 11, 1831, near the place where the Union depot now stands in the city of Pitts- burgh, Penn. Ilis parents are James R. Rogers, born in 1805, and Sarah O. Rogers, born in 1812. They were both natives of Pen- sylvania. They were married in 1830, afterward settling in Pitts- burgh where they remained for six years. Mr. James Rogers was a carpenter and contractor and resided in several different towns after leaving Pittsburgh. He resided for a time in Bealsville, Penn.,

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History of Greene County, Pennsylvania, Part 63

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Chicago : Nelson, Rishforth Number of Pages: 908

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago : Nelson, Rishforth
Number of Pages: 908