History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 138

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 138

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the regular army, dated July 6, 1812. He remained until the close of the war, having been promoted to surgeon in March, 1814. On the 21st of August, 1815, " Dr. Blair (late of the United States army) tenders his professional services to his friends and the public, and has just opened a neat assortment of Drugs and Medicines opposite the Branch Bank on Main Street, Washington."

At a meeting of the alumni of Washington Col- lege in 1856, one of the speakers said of him, " That distinguished anatomical teacher and operating sur- geon, the late Prof. William E. Horner, who was associated with him in the army, never failed, when speaking of his youthful companion, to eulogize his professional character in the strongest terms. And if proof to the truthfulness of that eulogy be needed, it is found in the fact that Dr. Blair was one of twenty medical officers retained on 'the military peace es- tablishment' of the United States in 1815. This offer, however, he declined, and settled in this place. Here he continued the practice of his profession until his death, May 26, 1830. Careless of reputation, he has left no written record of his surgical operations or medical experience ; and now, twenty-six years afterwards, the slab in the old graveyard which tables his age and death tells all that is known of his his- tory to the younger generations in this the scene of his life ; but a few older citizens, while they faintly recall a defect of his character, vividly remember Alexander Blair, the kindly gentleman and skillful physician."

Dr. John Wishart, a son of Dr. David Wishart, was born in Thornhill Parish, Perthshire, Scotland. In his youth he pursued a course of study in Latin and English, and later was placed under the care of Dr. Hill, of the University of Edinburgh. His maternal grandfather had emigrated to America, and Dr. David Wishart followed in July, 1796. After a tedious and dangerous voyage, being shipwrecked off Little Egg Harbor, he at last arrived safely. He was for a short. time at Hagerstown, Md., and upon the purchase of lands in Huntingdon County by Dr. David Wishart, the family removed to that place, and later to Bed- ford County, where Dr. David Wishart had an exten- sive practice. His son John worked on the farm, and studied medicine with his father. In 1806 he entered the University of Philadelphia, and after a full course graduated in the spring of 1808. He married Mary, a daughter of Robert Tate, Esq., and removed to Washington, and opened an office October 3d of that year, " at the house of Mrs. Dodd, nearly opposite the court-house," now the site of Hastings' hardware- store and the Washington Savings-Bank. His second wife was Martha, daughter of John Wilson, Esq., of Washington. He died June 19, 1864, in the eighty- fourth year of his age, leaving ten children, five by each marriage. He stood in the front rank of his profession, both as practitioner of medicine and sur- gery, and was called in consultation from great dis-

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tances. He was a man of strong convictions, resolute purpose, and took a leading part in all public affairs. He was one of the foremost in the promotion of edu- cational affairs, and took an active part in the estab- lishment of the system of public schools in 1835. He became one of the first directors of the schools, and also one of the trustees of the Washington Female Seminary throughout most of its history until his death, and was a part of the time president of the board of trustees. His daughter Jane became the wife of Judge A. W. Acheson. David Wishart was born in Washington, studied medicine with his father, practiced there and in Greene County until 1862, when he went into the army as lieutenant in the Twenty-second Pennsylvania Cavalry. After the war he settled in Washington, where he has since re- sided. Nancy resided in Washington ; Robert T. re- sides in North Strabane; Mary married the Rev. David Lowrie, of Beaver County, Pa .; Marguerite married Alfred Carter, an attorney of Cincinnati ; Dr. John W. Wishart studied with his father, graduated in the Pennsylvania University, and entered the army as surgeon of the One Hundred and Fortieth Regi- ment. After the war he settled in Pittsburgh, where he still resides and practices. The Rev. Marcus W. Wishart, of Erie, is also a son ; Ellen married Lucius W. Stockton, now of Philadelphia; Alexander, who is now in Mexico, is an engineer.

Dr. David G. Mitchell came to Washington in April, 1810, and advertised that for some years he had lived sixteen miles from Washington, on the road to Brownsville; that he had removed to Washington, and commenced the practice of " physic, surgery, and midwifery," the second door below McCammant's inn. He remained here many years, and died here. He was favorably known as a physician. He was elected president of the Western Medical Society in 1813-15. His wife was a daughter of Jacob Jennings, who was also a physician.

Monongahela City, Dr. Halleck, of Pittsburgh, Dr. Joseph Conelly, of Pittsburgh, Dr. Alexander Ham- ilton, West Middleton, Dr. Matthew Clark, Dr. Wray Grayson, of Washington, and several others were stu- dents under him.

Dr. Robert Lane, a nephew of Dr. John Wishart, came from Bedford County about 1842, when a young man, and studied medicine with his uncle, and later opened an office in the building where Hughes' gro- cery-store now is, on Market Street near Chestnut. He married a daughter of Col. James Brice. He had a large practice and a number of pupils, among whom were Thomas Marshman, Samuel Ackleson, Samuel Potter, and J. R. Wilson. He sold his prac- tice in this section in 1853, and removed to Rockford, Ill., where he is now a banker.

John R. Wilson, son of John Wilson, was a native of this town. He graduated in 1842 at Washington College, and studied medicine with Dr. Robert Lane. He attended one course at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, then practiced a year in Claysville ; attended a second course, graduated in 1849, and opened an office in Washington and practiced until his death in March, 1873. He gained a wide prac- tice and was highly esteemed by his professional brethren, as well as the community in which he lived.

Dr. Samuel Murdoch was the second son of John Murdoch, who settled in what is now North . Strabane township in 1788. He was a graduate of Dickinson College, Pa. He studied theology under the direc- tion of Rev. John Anderson, D.D., of the Associate Presbyterian (now United Presbyterian) Church, and was the contemporary of Rev. Thomas Allison, Rev. Dr. Ramsay, and others. His voice failing him, he turned his attention to the study of medicine, and having fitted himself for that profession he was soon engaged in a large and successful practice in the borough of Canonsburg. In the year 1817 he removed to Washington and continued in active practice until about the year 1830, when he was admonished by ad- vancing years that rest and relaxation had become necessary. He then established a drug-store in the building where he resided, and which he erected on the lot now occupied by S. M. Templeton as a drug- store on Main Street.

Dr. James Stevens, a native of Connecticut, studied medicine with Dr. Cox, of New York. He came here about 1816, and opened an office where William Sher- rard lived, now owned by Jacob Miller. He married a daughter of David Redick as his first wife; a daughter of Nathaniel Breading, of Fayette County, as his second wife, and Mrs. Sarah Carrons, of Amwell township, as his third. He had no children who Dr. Murdoch was twice married. He died in Wash- ington in 1845, in the eighty-first year of his age. He has a daughter now living in Washington, the widow of the late Dr. Joseph Templeton. His only son, John S. Murdoch, a young man of great promise, a gradu- ate of Washington College and the Jefferson Medical School of Philadelphia, died suddenly before enter- ing upon the duties of his profession. reached maturity. His office in later years was on the ground where now stands the residence of Alex- ander Murdoch. He built the present residence of Mr. Murdoch, and lived there until his death, about 1863, at the age of eighty-four years. He was in ac- tive practice until seventy-nine years of age. He was plain, unassuming, of sterling integrity, firm, unwav- ering adherence to truth, cautious, intuitive, and yet Dr. Matthew Henderson Clark was a son of James Clark, of Brush Run, Hopewell township, and a grandson of the Rev. Matthew Henderson. His father died when he was but a lad, and left a widow heroic in his treatment of cases. His practice was extensive through nearly all the county, Dr. Le Moyne and Dr. Wishart being the only other physicians in that early day. Drs. King, Finley, and Biddle, of and six children. His mother was a woman of strong

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

influences thrown around him in his early home, as well as the struggles connected with the maintenance of the family, had much to do in developing in Dr. Clark those traits of character that led not only to success in his profession, but to his high standing in the community where he resided for thirty-eight years. He was educated at Jefferson College, Can- onsburg, and entered the office of Dr. James Stevens, of Washington, as a student of medicine, after which he entered the University of Pennsylvania, but did not complete the course at that institution. About 1839 he settled at Elizabeth, Allegheny Co., and practiced about a year. He then married a daughter of John Marshel, of Washington, and came to Wash- ington and opened an office and practiced till his death in 1878, at which time he was the oldest prac- titioner in the town.

Dr. Clark was a physician of the highest integrity, of most genial manners, assiduous in his attentions upon all, rich or poor, who called for his professional services. He pursued his profession with zeal and earnestness. Taking an active part in all public im- provement, he stood in the front rank as a citizen. He was an active member of the board of trustees of Washington Female Seminary, a member of the board of directors of the First National Bank for ten or fifteen years, president of the Washington Cemetery for eighteen years, an elder in the United Presbyte- rian Church, and for many years its treasurer. He died June 3, 1878, aged sixty-five years. His widow is still living. James R. Clark, of Washington, is a son.

The following is a list of resident physicians in Washington at the present time, 1882: Thomas Mc- Kennan, Wray Grayson, J. W. Sackville, G. A. Dougherty, F. A. Whittlesey, A. S. McElree, J. A. Mckean, H. S. McKennan, W. R. Thompson, H. Enoch, John Kelly, George Kelly, Joseph H. Little, J. W. Stockton, and J. M. Maurer. The last named is the only representative of the homoeopathic school. He is a native of Pottsville, Schuylkill Co .; re- ceived his education at Baltimore ; studied medicine under Dr. Malcolm McFarland, Professor of Clinical Surgery in Hahnemann Medical College, Philadel- phia, from which he graduated in 1874. He com- menced practice in Baltimore, and soon after settled in Pottsville. In 1877 he located at Washington, Pa. Although the practice of homeopathy in Wash- ington County was almost unknown, yet Dr. Maurer has met with good success, and his practice is steadily on the increase.

character, and by her frugality and energy was en- i borough was formed on the 4th of April, 1815, by a abled to keep the farm and educate her children. The ! number of citizens assembled at the Presbyterian Church in pursuance of previous notice. James Brien was appointed president, and Obadiah Jen- ? nings secretary. It was resolved to form "an asso- ciation for the suppression of vice and immorality." A constitution was adopted, which among other things provided that stated meetings should be held on the first Monday of May, August, November, and Febru- ary in each year at the Presbyterian meeting-house in the borough of Washington. A tent-meeting was held on the 1st of May in that year, at which time officers were elected as follows : Alexander Reed, president; Thomas H. Baird, secretary ; John Neal, treasurer ; and Obadiah Jennings, councilor. Five resolutions were passed, the second of which is as follows :

" Resolved, That the tavern-keepers on the different leading roads, to a distance not exceeding ten miles, be notified that this society are resolved to have the laws vigorously enforced against wagoners and others who violate the Sabbath, and that they be requested to give this information to all wagoners coming to or from Washington."

Similar societies were formed at West Middletown, Cross Creek, and other places in the county. They were kept in force a few years and then discontinued.

The Western Abolition Society was organized Jan. 26, 1823, at the court-house in Washington, by a number of citizens of Washington County, who by common sympathy were united in the idea that the holding of any part of the human race in bondage was a crime, and that negro slavery was a blot upon the fair fame of the republic. At the meeting held

Dr. John S. B. Koontz was a native of Washington, and a son of George Koontz. He studied medicine , at the time named, for the purpose of organization, with Dr. F. J. Le Moyne, and commenced practice ! the Rev. Obadiah Jennings was called to the chair, about 1850, which he continued till his death, March 26, 1863.

and the Rev. J. Graham was chosen secretary. An address was delivered by the Rev. Andrew Wylie, after which a constitution was adopted. It was " Re- solved, That Messrs. Freeman Brady, James Burgin, John Vance, John McCoy, William Lindley, Wil- liam McGinn, John Cleaver, Samuel England, Wal- ter Maxwell, Andrew Sutton, Thomas Mckeever, Thomas McCall, Dr. Jonathan Leatherman, John Reed, Ephraim Estep, Joseph Kerr, and Joseph Stevenson be a committee to secure copies of the con- stitution and obtain signatures." Fifty names were enrolled at this meeting. No further account of the society is obtained. The ideas that were then ex- pressed took deep hold on a portion of the commu- nity, and the principles there enunciated were also moving the people in different parts of the country, and societies were being formed for the same purpose.

The Washington Anti-Slavery Society was formed on the 4th of July, 1834, of which society Joseph . Henderson was elected president. Of the organization of the society and the action taken no further mention

Societies .- "The Moral Society" of Washington . is made. On the 4th of July, 1835, the first anniver-

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sary was held in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the officers elected for the year were Dr. F. J. Le Moyne, president ; Dr. J. Templeton, vice-president ; Samuel McFarland, secretary ; George K. Scott, treas- urer; Rev. William Kenney, Patterson Scott, Samuel Hazlett, James Reed, Robert Latimore, and Samuel Mount, managers. At this meeting Alexander Swee- ney, Dr. Joseph Templeton, and Dr. F. Julius Le Moyne were appointed a committee to prepare an address for the next meeting. This meeting was held in August, the same year, and the address was deliv- ered. It was ordered published in Our Country, in which paper it appeared on the 13th of August, and occupied five columns. The first proposition defines the object of the society, viz. : "The entire abolition of slavery throughout the whole of the slave-holding portions of the United States."

The formation of this society, and the attempt to disseminate its principles, roused a violent opposition, which showed itself first in the holding of public meet- ings in Washington, at which resolutions were passed denouncing the abolition movement and those engaged in it, and afterwards in an evident determination to suppress free speech in Washington, at least so far as concerned the enunciation of anti-slavery doctrines. This determination broke into open violence in June, 1836, the facts of which are as follows : The Rev. Sam- uel Gould, who was traveling through the country speaking upon the subject, was advertised to address the people of Washington. A meeting was called to be held in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church (now the Disciples'), on West Wheeling Street. Warning had been given before the meeting that the Rev. Mr. Gould would not be allowed to speak on the subject of the abolition of slavery as proposed. Upon this knowledge Dr. F. J. Le Moyne procured two or three stalwart friends, who though not in sympathy with the speaker were in favor of free speech. These men took their station at the steps of the pulpit. After the speech had commenced a young man, one of the leaders of the mob, came up the aisle with a paper in his hand. Dr. Le Moyne stepped out to meet him, and demanded to know what he wanted. He replied, " That man must cease speaking, and the paper in my hand is a notice to that effect." He insisted upon de- livering it, and Dr. Le Moyne informed him that he could not do so. He still insisted, and the doctor told him he should pass over him first; he then turned and went out amid hooting, howling, and shuffling of feet. After he retired an attack was made upon the building. Stones, bricks, and eggs were thrown through the windows. The ladies who were in the room were placed close to the wall. No one was hurt, however, and the speaker proceeded with his address to the close amid great uproar. At the con- clusion a hollow square was formed of the friends of the lecturer and those in favor of free speech, with the speaker in the centre. In this way they marched, the mob swaying back and forth around them, as far

as the building now occupied by William S. Bryson, when the square became broken by the rushing mob. A door was kindly opened in that building on the north side and the friends went in, when they re- formed and came out of the store door on Main Street (leaving the mob for the time at the other entrance), and passed down on the west side of Main Street, and down Maiden Street to Dr. Le Moyne's residence, which they reached in safety, and the speaker passed in. Much loud talk and riotous disturbance ensued on the outside before the mob dispersed. On the next day Dr. Le Moyne commenced proceedings against several of the parties, but they were finally dropped.

On the 24th of the same month succeeding the action of the mob, a meeting was held, John R. Griffith, chief burgess, in the chair. After speeches by the Hon. Thomas H. Baird and Thomas McGiffin, a committee composed of Judge Baird, Thomas Mc- Giffin, and John G. Brady, Esqs., were appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the meet- ing. They reported the following, which were adopted :

" Whereas, The late violence and irregular consequences which have resulted from the attempt of certain abolition agents in intruding their opinions upon the public in this place are calculated to alarm our citi- zens for the peace and order of our community and the supremacy of the laws, and whereas it is necessary to vindicate our society from inju- rious imputations in relation to the past, and also to provide means of 1 prevention for the future, therefore

" Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting it is unwise and highly inexpedient to intrude upon the people of this county, and particularly of this borough, by public addresses the peculiar and offensive doctrines maintained and urged by the agents of the Abolition Society.

" Resolved, That any further movements of the kind will be received with disapprobation, as calculated to disturb the peace of our society without presenting the least hope of probable or even possible good.

" Resolved, That this meeting express the most decided reprobation of all tumultuous and disorderly acts in endeavoring to prevent the aboli- tion movements that are evidently so offensive to the great mass of our population."

Three days after this meeting the citizens of West Middletown called a meeting "for the purpose of taking into consideration the disorderly and disgrace- ful acts which were done in the borough of Washing- ton." Thomas McCall was called to the chair, and James McFadden was made secretary. On motion of Thomas Mckeever, Esq., a committee composed of Thomas McCall, John C. Hanna, Dr. John Ramsey, Col. D. McGugin, and James Thompson were ap- pointed to draft resolutions and report at the next meeting. Pursuant to adjournment the meeting as- sembled the next day, and passed resolutions con- demnatory of the violence committed in Washington, and of the action of the subsequent meeting at the county-seat. Among the resolutions were the fol- lowing :

" Resolved, That this meeting, in consideration of the high reputation of our fellow-citizens of Washington for morality and order, view with regret and regard with decided disapprobation the late riot in that place. " Resolved, That this meeting view mobs and riots (be the pretext what it may) as a strong evidence of the degeneracy of morals and patriotism, subversive of order, of law, and of liberty, and tending to anarchy and confusion.

" Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting the preamble and reso- lutions, taken in the aggregate, introduced into and adopted at a late

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

meeting of some of the citizens of Washington subsequent to the late riot as proscriptive in their nature, disorderly in their tendency, and by no means calculated to correct morbid moral sensibility, the first part of the third resolution to the contrary notwithstanding, and are disap- proved by this meeting.

" Resolved, That this meeting highly approve of the resolution intro- duced by Mr. Reed and adopted by the Colonization Society of Wash- ington County at one of these late meetings, as in our opinion breathing the sentiments of every true philanthropist."

The accounts of the two meetings were given in the columns of Our Country of date June 30, 1836, and were followed by a notice of the annual meeting of the Anti-Slavery Society, to be held at the house of Dr. F. J. Le Moyne, at which time an election of officers would be held and "addresses may be ex- pected."

The annual meeting was held, and was " composed of ladies and gentlemen of the highest respectability." The following resolution was offered by the Rev. Samuel Gould : " Resolved, That because slavery is an outrage upon humanity, disgraceful and dangerous to the country, and diametrically opposed to the letter and spirit of the Bible, every philanthropist and pa- triot and Christian is called upon to aid in its exter- mination." Mr. Gould addressed the audience for about an hour in support of the resolution, after which it was passed unanimously. Other resolutions and speeches were made, and the resolutions of the meet- ing at West Middletown were read and adopted. The officers elected at this meeting were Dr. F. J. Le Moyne, president; Samuel McFarland, corresponding secretary; William Cornwell, recording secretary ; George K. Scott, treasurer; Col. Daniel McGugin, Henry Enlow, Esq., Alexander Sweeney, Joseph Mc- Dowell, Col. John McCoy, Dr. John White, Samuel Hazlett, Stephen Parcell, Rev. Alexander Donnan, Thomas J. Odenbaugh, Esq., Samuel Vance, and Dr. Stephen Smith, managers; James Reed, Thomas Mc- Keever, Esq., Alexander Gordon, Esq., Samuel Mount, and Robert Latimore, executive committee.

Trouble was expected from the opposition at this meeting, and Dr. Le Moyne had prepared about a dozen hickory clubs, which were placed conveniently, and men who were advocates of free speech were de- termined to use them if necessary. The meeting was held in the yard east of Dr. Le Moyne's house, and the feeling in the assemblage was intense and serious, but during the reading of the Declaration of Inde- pendence by Mr. Luther Day, a man who was in the crowd and a leader among the opposition, but who could neither read nor write, and thinking abolition doctrine was being read, burst out with, "Stop that : we don't want to hear any more of that d-d stuff!" This completely broke down the seriousness of the opposition, and the better part from this time took no part in any violent demonstration.

On the 15th of July, 1836, Mr. Gould was at Wil- liamsport, and after meeting went to the house of a respectable citizen to pass the night, at which time the house was mobbed because of his presence there. The people of the town were indignant at this out-

rage, and called a meeting the next day to take action in the matter, and while not coinciding with the views of the speaker, they reprobated the principles that assailed the liberty of free speech.

Dr. Le Moyne " became one of the most aggressive of the Anti-Slavery party, and at the same time an opponent of the American Colonization Society, which he believed was established in the interests of American slavery. He became so prominent a par- tisan that in 1841 he was the candidate of the Abo- lition party for Governor of Pennsylvania. Of course he had no expectation of being elected, the object of the campaign being to create a political balance of power that would ultimately control the other parties. At the next election, in 1844, he was again a candidate, and also in 1847.

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 138

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