History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 123

Author: Crumrine, Boyd, 1838-1916; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Hungerford, Austin N
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : H.L. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 1216

USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 123

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In 1830, Robert Rantoul Reed married the oldest daughter of Judge Thomas H. Baird. The children of this marriage were Ann Eliza, Alexander, Thomas, Janette, George, Ellen, Isabella, Colin, William, Joseph, and Charles. Alexander was a man of mark in the pulpit, an earnest, eloquent, attractive preacher of the gospel. His first charge was the Octorara, one of the long established churches of the Presbytery of

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Chester. From there he went to Philadelphia ; from thence to Brooklyn. In pastoral work he excelled, and in all the churches he served he is lovingly re- membered to this day. After his return from Europe he was called to Denver, where he died, at the age of forty-seven, after a brief but effective work there. His widow (Mary Watson) and children, are here in Washington. Thomas is an eminent physician in Philadelphia. William is preaching in Helena, Mon- tana. George, Colin, and Joseph are in business in Pittsburgh. All the daughters of this family died early. Robert died in the army of typhoid fever. George also was a soldier in the Federal army. Dr. Thomas was a surgeon in the Pennsylvania Reserves during the war. He married Miss Campbell, of Carlisle. George married Matilda McKennan, of this town; Colin, Miss Lord, of Mississippi ; William, Miss McKnight, of Pittsburgh. The widow of Dr. R. R. Reed is now over seventy, and living among children and sisters.

Marcus Wilson came to America from Coleraine, County of Londonderry, Ireland. He had four chil- dren,-John, James, Alexander, and Isaac. John, the eldest, married Catherine, daughter of Chris- topher Cunningham, in June, 1785, and in June of the next year Marcus Wilson and his family, includ- ing the wife of John and an infant son, Nicholas, emigrated to this country. Alexander settled in Phila- delphia. James came directly to the town of Wash- ington, where he lived until his death, in 1828, aged seventy years. John, with his family and his father, settled in Philadelphia, where they remained three years, and in 1789 removed to Washington. They started from Philadelphia with all their goods in a cart; on reaching Bedford the cart was abandoned, as bridle-paths were the only roads west of the moun- tains, and pack-horses were used. John was a cabinet- maker, and at once commenced his business in Wash- ington. He built a house and shop on the lot where A. T. Baird's store now' stands. He was elected jus- tice of the peace Feb. 1, 1799, and held the office until the infirmities of age compelled him to retire. He died March 16, 1847, aged eighty-five years. His widow died in December, 1857, aged eighty-eight years. They had twelve children, of whom Nicholas went South when a young man, and settled in Iber- ville, La. The second child, Mary, was born in Phila- delphia, Nov. 30, 1787, and came to this town with her parents. She married David Acheson, Oct. 30, 1805. She lived a long and useful life, and died Aug. 2, 1872, aged eighty-five years. Martha, the third child of John Wilson, was born in Washington, Feb. 18, 1790. She became the wife of Dr. John Wishart,

Baird, of Washington, Oct. 25, 1811. For several years they resided in various places, and in 1844 re- turned to Washington, where she died in 1872. John and A. Todd Baird, of Washington, are her sons.

Marcus, a son of John Wilson, was born in Wash- ington. When a young man he moved to Wheeling, where he died Aug. 1, 1837. Alexander Wilson, an attorney of Washington, is his son. John K. Wilson, also a son of John Wilson, and a native of Washing- ton, married Maria, the only daughter of David Shields and granddaughter of Maj. Daniel Leet. He was for many years a prominent merchant in Wash- ington, and lived in the house where he was born, on the east side of Main Street opposite the court-house. (The site is now occupied by Hastings' hardware-store and the Washington Savings Bank.) About 1830 he removed to Allegheny City, where he still resides. David S. Wilson, a leading attorney of Washington, is a son. Catharine, a daughter of John Wilson, be- came the wife of Andrew Todd, of Washington. Their son, Alexander Todd, is now an attorney in Washing- ton borough. James, the youngest son of John Wil- son, was born in 1806, and when a lad of sixteen years was killed by the falling of the chimney at the burning of a house on Maiden Street, Feb. 23, 1822.

James Wilson came from Burnt Cabin, Bedford Co., Pa., in 1781, and purchased lot 291, where Smith's store now is. On it he erected a log house, and on the 3d of October, at the first term of court in Wash- ington County, he was licensed to keep a tavern. Later, he bought lot 21 (where Charlton's confec- tionery-store now is), on the east side of Main Street. This lot was purchased on a certificate. In 1792 he passed his title to his son Hugh. A deed had pre- viously been made to Hugh (Aug. 15, 1786). A house was built on this lot, which at that time was the largest in the town, and in it the shows that visited the place and various amateur performances were held. Dr. J. Julius Le Moyne first opened his drug-store in this house. After his removal, Mrs. Baker's Female Semi- nary was located there until her removal, in 1815, to a house on Maiden Street. James Wilson lived in the house he built on the corner of Main and Beau Streets until his death, and his widow lived there several years after. He died in 1792, and by his will left to his wife, Margaret, the use of two hundred acres of land adjoining the town until James, the youngest son, should be of age; then the farm was to be divided equally between James, Thomas, and John. Hugh, the oldest son, had been provided for by property set off to him previously, among which was the lot on Main Street near Maiden. The house left to his youngest son, James, but it later came into possession of Hugh Wilson, by whom it was owned many years. A daughter (Matty) of James Wilson became Mrs. Bryson. James, the youngest son, was a coppersmith, and lived in the town several years.

of Washington, in October, 1827. They remained in ; and lot where James Wilson, Sr., lived and died was Washington. She survived her husband seven years, and died in March, 1871, at the residence of her son Marcus, in Allegheny County. Margaret, another daughter of John Wilson, married William Wilson, of Philadelphia, and lived and died in that city. Jane also a daughter of John Wilson, married George . Of the other sons, except Hugh, nothing is known.

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Hugh Wilson, in addition to the property obtained from his father, purchased of James Marshel, in 1786, the lot on which now stands Morgan & Hargreaves' store. He opened a store on lot 21 before 1795, and was a merchant many years. He married for his first wife Rachel (daughter of Isaac Leet and sister of Maj. Daniel Leet), by whom he had five children,- Rebecca, Margaret, Rachel, Hugh W., and Eliza.

Rebecca became the wife of James Blaine, who in 1809 opened a dry-goods store next door to Hugh Wilson. Later, he purchased the stone house built by David Bradford. In this house they both lived and died, leaving no children. He was elected justice of the peace in 1817, and served three terms. He was also county treasurer from 1815 to 1817. Margaret, the second daughter of Hugh Wilson, became the wife of John Marshel, the son of Col. James Marshel. He was sheriff of the county in 1835, and before the expiration of the term was appointed cashier of the Franklin Bank (now the First National). This posi- tion he retained till 1857, when he resigned, and re- turned to a farm near Washington, where he died. Mrs. Dr. Matthew H. Clark, of Washington, and Mrs. S. A. Clark, of Pittsburgh, are his daughters. Rachel, the third daughter of Hugh and Rachel Wilson, be- came the wife of Richard Harding, and settled first in Alabama and later at Wheeling. Mrs. Harding now resides at Philadelphia with her daughter, Mrs. Rebecca Harding Davis, well known to the public as an authoress. Mrs. John L. Gow, of Washington, is also a daughter of Mrs. Harding.

Hugh W. Wilson, the only son of Hugh and Rachel, settled in South Strabane, on the farm his grandfather purchased, and where his father built the residence in which James W. Wilson, the son of Hugh Wilson, now lives. Hugh Wilson, after the death of his first wife, married Margaret Fleming, a widow, with one daughter, who afterwards became the wife of the Rev. John McFadden, of Pittsburgh. By the second wife he had one daughter, Eliza, who became the wife of the Rev. Thomas Swain, of Phila- delphia, who was pastor of the Baptist Church at Washington, Pa., from 1846 to 1850. After his resig- nation as pastor of the church they returned to Phila- delphia. After the death of Margaret, the second wife, Hugh Wilson married a Miss Spencer, an Eng- lish lady, who survived him several years.

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Ohio River and settled at Bayou Sara, La., where he remained till his death. He erected the stone house on Main Street, now owned by Mrs. R. Harding, and lived there during his residence in Washington. He was a brother-in-law of Judge John McDowell and Judge James Allison.

Van Swearingen was a resident of Fayette County from about 1774 to 1781, when he was chosen sheriff of Washington County, and for several years there- after was identified with its interests. He purchased large tracts of land in all parts of the county. He was a resident of the town of Washington while he was acting in an official capacity, but it is not known that he owned any property in town. His only daugh- ter Drusilla became the wife of Samuel Brady, the famous Indian fighter and scout. Later in life he removed to Brooke County, Va., where he died Dec. 2, 1793, in the fifty-first year of his age. He was a brother of Andrew Swearingen, of Chartiers town- ship.

Matthew Ritchie's first appearance in the county was under an appointment from the State of Virginia in the year 1777, to tender the oath of allegiance to the people in the counties of Yohogania, Monongalia, and Ohio. On the 24th of December, 1781, he was appointed sub-lieutenant of the county ; elected rep- . resentative in 1782, '83, and '84; justice of the Court of Common Pleas of the county in 1784; and on the 5th of December, 1789, was appointed with Presley Neville as deputy surveyor of a part of Washington County. He purchased of George Washington the tract of land known as "Washington's lands," in Mount Pleasant township. He resided in Washing- ton, where he was engaged in merchandising, and so continued till his death. He was also engaged with his brother John, and David Bruce, in merchandising in Burgettstown. He died in 1798 at Washington, and left the property in Washington to his wife Isa- bella and to his brothers, Craig Ritchie, of Canons- burg, and John Ritchie, of Washington, and the lots and store in Burgettstown to his brother Craig. He owned the following lands in equal shares with Pres- ley Neville : One tract on Saw-Mill Run, one hundred acres on Robinson Run near Gabriel Walker's, one tract on King's Creek, and one adjoining Old Blaziers of three hundred acres, and three tracts owned in equal shares by Neville, Ritchie, and Charles Morgan.

David Bradford was the son of James Bradford, Alexander Cunningham was a native of Donegal, Ireland. He emigrated to this country about 1783, and in May of 1784 purchased on certificate lot No. 18 in Washington, on which later the Globe inn was built, and now occupied by John Allen's confection- ery-store. Later, he purchased lot 275, where A. B. Caldwell's store now stands. On this lot he built a store-house and dwelling, and opened a store which he kept during the remainder of his life. He also bought the Yeates tract of land that is now in Frank- lin township. Later this tract came into possession who settled in North Strabane township. He was a native of Maryland, and came to this county in 1781 ; was admitted to the bar in 1782, and appointed deputy attorney-general the next year. When the convention of the four western counties met at Pitts- burgh, Sept. 7, 1791, he was one of the three repre- sentatives from Washington County. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1792. He was active in inciting the people to the Whiskey Insurrection. When the amnesty proclamation was issued, Brad- ford was one of the few excluded. He fled down the | of Alexander Reed, and it is now owned by William

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Paull and Hiram Warne. Mr. Cunningham married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Scott, and lived in the house on lot 275, where his death occurred in 1806. His children were all born here. Jane, the eldest, became the wife of Matthew Dill, son of Thomas Dill. He was engaged in business with his father-in-law from about 1803 till the death of Mr. Cunningham. Samuel, the second child, was born Oct. 8, 1788, and when twenty-one years of age married Maria, daugh- ter of David Morris, on the 26th of March, 1811. She died a short time after marriage, and on the 23d of March, 1815, he married Sarah, daughter of the Rev. Lyman Potter, of Steubenville. After this marriage he removed to a farm now owned by Wilson McClean, where he lived six years and then returned to town. He had been a merchant in town before going to the country, and on his return entered the store of Alex- ander Reed as a clerk. He was county commissioner in 1830, and sheriff from 1832 to 1835. Upon the organization of the Franklin Bank in 1836 he was appointed teller, and remained as such till failing health compelled him to resign. He died on the 17th of May, 1875, leaving an adopted daughter, Miss Rebecca Cunningham, now a resident of Washington. The residence of Samuel Cunningham was the house - now occupied by A. T. Baird on Maiden Street. Of the other children of Alexander Cunningham, Thomas F. studied law and was admitted to the bar in Wash- ington County. He removed to Mercer County, Pa., where he became prominent as a lawyer, and was elected a member of the State Senate. He died many years ago, leaving numerous descendants. John Cun- ningham, a son of Alexander, studied medicine with Dr. James Stevens, of Washington; practiced at Florence, Hanover township, and is now living at an advanced age in Wooster, Ohio. Two daughters of Alexander Cunningham, Elizabeth and Sarah (twins), married and settled in Butler County, Pa. Alexander Cunningham, Jr., settled in Nashville, Tenn., where he became a banker, and is still living. William, the youngest son of Alexander, married Miss McClure, a niece of John Hoge, and settled in Butler County, Pa.

Hugh, Samuel, and James Workman came to this county about 1781. They all purchased lands outside the borough, but Hugh, about 1789, built a tannery on the lot now owned by William Smith and Mrs. Clark. His house was where the depot of the Hemp- field Railroad now stands. He carried on the busi- ness many years, which was finally transferred to his son Samuel, who, in 1837, sold it to David Wolf. Hugh Workman died in 1843, aged eighty-four years. He had three sons, Hugh, James, and Samuel. Hugh

ture from 1828 to 1830, and secretary of the land- office under Governor Wolf. He died in 1841. Wil- liam Workman, of Washington, is a son of Samuel. Margaret, a daughter of Hugh Workman, became the wife of William Sample, the owner and editor of the Reporter. They settled in Washington, where she died. Another daughter became the wife of Samuel Hughes. They settled in South Strabane, on the farm where John Little now lives.

Michael Kuntz emigrated from Germany to Amer- ica, and settled in Lancaster County, where he lived several years. While living there his wife died, leav- ing a son John. He married a second wife, by whom he had two sons, George and Jacob. In the spring of 1788 he came to Washington, bought the lot on which Vowell's drug-store now stands, and built a cabin upon it, and lived there that year, and in the fall returned to his home, where he remained during the year 1789. In the spring of the next year, when his son John was seven years old, he removed his family to Washington. In 1791 he was licensed to keep a tavern, and kept it one year. He was a mem- ber of a Lutheran Church in Lancaster County, and in 1792 rode to his old residence to be present at the dedication of a church at that place. He died the next year after his return, July 10, 1793, leaving three sons, John, George, and Jacob. John and George were both hatters, and opened shops in Washington. They were both in business in 1808, and were still in business in 1838. Henry Kuntz, a son of John, kept a book-store many years in Washington. The only descendant of John now living is Miss Sarah J. Kuntz. George opened a shop where Alexander Mckinley now lives. In 1814 he bought the lot on Wheeling Street, and built the residence where his widow still lives. He married a daughter of Henry Westbay, of Canonsburg, and by her had five sons. Michael, James, and Stephen are now well-known residents of Washington borough. Jacob Kuntz, the youngest son of Michael, was a nailor, and worked in a shop where Sharps' building now is. He married the daughter of Ludowyck Smith, and later in life he removed to the farm inherited by his wife. Mrs. John Zediker, of South Strabane township, is å daugh- ter of Jacob Kuntz.

Thomas Stokely, who in 1781 was captain of a militia company in Westmoreland County, soon after came to this county, and purchased a large quantity of land, especially in the southwestern part of the county. He was frequently mentioned in the old records as " Thomas Stokely, Land Jobber." He was elected a member of the House of Representatives in 1792, started a tannery on the corner of College and Maiden : and State senator in 1794. He was in the war of 1812. Streets, but died early, and it passed to other hands. James also died when a young man. Samuel, in 1819, assumed the editorial management of the Reporter, while his brother-in-law, William Sample, was acting as prothonotary. He was treasurer of the county in 1822, sheriff from 1824 to 1827, member of Legisla- During his residence in Washington he lived in a house on Wheeling Street, on the lot now occupied by the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He moved from Washington to Brownsville, and later to Coon Island, Washington County, where he died, and was : buried with military honors, Col. James Ruple with

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his company from Washington attending. At his death he was in possession of all the lands he had bought, and was one of the largest land-owners in the country. His son Samuel was educated at Washing- ton College, studied law, and settled in Steubenville, Ohio, where his descendants live and own the Wells' property. His daughter also married and settled there.

Alexander Addison came from Ireland to this county in 1784 or 1785 as a licentiate of the Presby- tery of Aberlow, Scotland. The Presbyterian Church of Washington extended to him a call on the 20th December, 1785, which he accepted, and he continued to reside here both as pastor and judge of the courts (to the latter of which he was appointed in 1791) for ten or twelve years. Later he resided in Pittsburgh. He purchased the " Washington lands" of Matthew Ritchie, and sold a portion, and the remainder was sold by his widow. Mrs. Addison lived in Washing- ton after her husband's death many years. He died Nov. 27, 1807. His son Alexander became an at- torney of Washington County, and died from the results of an injury he received at the burning of Thomas M. T. McKennan's office in February, 1822 .. More extended mention will be found of Judge Ad- dison in connection with the bench and bar of the county.

Col. James Marshel, a settler in Cross Creek town- ship, purchased lot No. 90 of David Hoge on a certificate, receiving his deed from Mr. Hoge in Feb- ruary, 1785. This lot was where Morgan & Har- greave's store now stands. He sold it the next year to Hugh Wilson. He lived in the town during the terms of the various offices he held of county lieu- tenant, register, recorder, and sheriff. In 1794 the military headquarters were upon the lot he then lived on, and the United States forces were encamped on the college grounds.

James Langley and his brother, who settled in Erie County, Pa., came from Market Hill, Ireland, to this county and town about 1790, where the Achesons (with whom they were acquainted) had previously located. James purchased of the Hoges lot No. 93, on Main Street, just above the Valentine House, and where his grandson, John Lockhart, now lives. On this lot be built a log house, in which he lived and opened a store. Later this house was removed to the lot of Col. James Ruple, and a frame building was erected (on the site of Mr. Lockhart's store), which he used as a store. In 1818 he built the brick house now the residence of Mr. Lockhart, which was used as a store and dwelling. In 1860 the frame building was removed and the present store erected. The counters now in Mr. Lockhart's store have been used through four generations,-James Langley, his sons, Henry and James Langley ; John Lockhart, his step- son, and now by John W. Lockhart and his son, James L. Lockhart. James Langley left two sons, James and Henry, who both lived bachelors and died · daughter, viz .: William, John T., Thomas M. T.,

here. The wife of James Langley, Sr., was the widow of William Lockhart, of Beaver County, Pa., having four children, one of whom, John, was in business with his stepfather from 1810 to 1820, when he re- moved to Illinois; James Langley died in 1830. James and Henry Langley succeeded their father in business. Henry was prominent in the Baptist Church, and later in the Church of the Disciples.

Isaiah Steen came to this town about 1794 and pur- chased a lot on East Beau Street of John Hoge, on which he afterwards erected a house that was known for many years as "Castle Crack," now owned and occupied by Maj. John H. Ewing. He was for many years a " manufacturer of Windsor chairs." His chil- dren were John and a daughter, both of whom were gifted in drawing and painting. For many years specimens of their skill were in the houses of the early families. Isaiah Steen lived here till his death, at an advanced age.

Joseph Huston, a cousin of William Huston, built the stone house long known as " The Buck" tavern, and commenced keeping public-house in 1796, and so continued till his death, in 1812. He left a widow and three sons-Cyrus, Joseph, and Hamilton-and four daughters-Sally, Isabella, Elizabeth, and Polly. Cy- rus settled here, followed the trade of cabinet-maker, and died here. Joseph and Hamilton now reside in Ohio. Sally became the wife of James Meetkirke, son of William. He was a chair-maker, and lived and died here. Elizabeth married William Oliver, a hatter, who lived here many years, but while on a trip to the East disappeared, and was never again heard of. Polly became the wife of Zachariah Reynolds, who was for a time clerk in the prothonotary's office, and finally settled on his father's farm in South Strabane.

Capt. William McKennan was a son of the Rev. William McKennan, a Presbyterian clergyman of New Castle, Delaware, where William was born in 1758. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Thompson and niece of Governor Thomas Mckean. At the breaking out of the Revolution he was a mer- chant, which business he gave up and joined the Del- aware line (" Blue Hen's Chickens") as captain of a company, and served during the war, receiving a wound at the battle of Brandywine. After the war he returned to his home and remained a number of years. In. 1798 he removed to Charlestown (now Wellsburg, West Va.}, and in 1800 to Washington County, Pa. He was appointed in 1801 prothono- tary of the county by Governor Mckean, and re- moved from West Middletown, where he resided, to the county-seat, where he lived the remainder of his days. He held the position of prothonotary during Governor Mckean's administration, which was till 1809. He was also a trustee of Washington Academy and Washington College. His death occurred in Jan- uary, 1810, at the age of fifty-two years, leaving a widow (who died in 1839) and five sons and one

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

David, James W., and Ann E. William, the eldest son, was educated at Washington College, became a teacher, and emigrated to Ohio, where he died. John T. was educated at Washington Academy, became cashier of the Monongahela Bank of Brownsville, Pa., and died Sept. 18, 1830, while on a visit at Reading, Pa. Thomas M. T. McKennan was also educated at Washington College. He entered the office of Parker Campbell as a law student, and was admitted to the bar in the twenty-first year of his age, on the 7th of November, 1814. At the next June

guardian of the college. Two of his sons, Judge William McKennan, of the class of 1833, and Dr. Thomas McKennan, of the class of 1842, have served in the board of trustees. His youngest son, John, graduated in 1851, and another son, Jacob B., was for a time a student in the college.

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 123

Author: Crumrine, Boyd, 1838-1916; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Hungerford, Austin N Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : H.L. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 1216

Author: Crumrine, Boyd, 1838-1916; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Hungerford, Austin N
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : H.L. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 1216