History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 150

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 150

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594

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

sicked Democrats and Republicans to their stomachs' content. Dr. J. M. H. Gordon has long been a physician in Fayette County. Alonzo Linn, brother of Dr. Linn, a worthy member of your board, was one of Hazzard's scholars; he graduated at Jeffer- son College, studied divinity, was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Redstone, is now vice-president and Professor of Greek in Washington and Jefferson College, and is looked upon as one of the most learned Greek scholars in the nation. M. P. Morrison is your oldest resident physician, and if my eyesight does not deceive me, the frosty tinge noticeable on his head should remind him that it is not good for man to be alone. The mild and genial James P. Fulton is preaching to the pioneer sinners of Harper, Kan., after having served his Master in that capacity for over a quarter-century in the old Keystone State. Robert Officer is a successful business man in Balti- more, Md., and Uncle Abe Underwood is still a resi- dent of your city, and looks but little older than he did when a student in the old carriage-factory forty- one years ago.

"There, too, is my old friend Frank Manown ; he has seen the old log school-house, the old red house, the old brick house, the new brick house over the street, and the present palace. He claims to be one of the oldest resident scholars. His early education consisted in plying the oar at the old ferry. In his early days he was much engaged in mercantile and other pursuits, but for a long season his occupation has been that of a farmer and attending to the wants of those around him,-kind and generous to a fault. He and C. C. Johnson, of Pittsburgh, are the only survivors of those who occupied what was known as the bachelors' pew in the old Presbyterian Church at the foot of the hill. At the close of his day's labor he still can be seen in his regular walk over the bridge to spend a few hours with his friends in the city.

" A peculiar fondness for education has ever char- acterized the citizens of this city, and thus their early literary spirit gave them an advanced hold on the dominant idea of the present day. Let us not, then, mourn over the departure of ancient manners and customs, supplanted by the American idea. This is the motive-power of the present day. By it we have assumed a proud position as a nation among the con- stellation of states ; by it we have utilized the electric spark to annihilate time and space ; by it the late Col. Scott pushed the iron horse, freighted with human thought, from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof in eighty hours ; by it the Western wilds and sandy deserts have been converted into fields of ever- blooming flowers; by it we can signal the coming storm and tell what a day may bring forth; by it we have solved the problem of self-government, which defied the genius of sixty centuries ; by it we are re- minded that he only 'shall receive the blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his sal- vation who hath clean hands and a pure heart, who

hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity nor sworn deceitfully.'"

The New School Building .- As indicated in the foregoing address, the present elegant and commod- ious public school building of Monongahela City was dedicated amid appropriate ceremonies, Rev. Dr. E. E. Higbee, State superintendent of public in- struction, being present, July 1, 1881. Yet to arrive at a clear understanding of the matter in hand, i.e., the school building, to know of its inception, its orig- inators, promoters, and builders, we must turn back to a time prior to the date of its dedication by two years.

During the summer of 1879 it became evident to all residents of the town who were interested in edu- cational matters that the building then in use was wholly unfitted and inadequate for the purposes re- quired. To build an addition was proposed, but when it was ascertained that such an addition would cost about $4000, the matter relating to it was held in abeyance, and a temporary primary school with Miss Laura Smith as teacher was established "over the creek."

On the evening of the 4th day of March, 1880, however, a special meeting of the school board was held to take action regarding a proposed new school building. After a lengthy debate, which was partici- pated in by all the members present, viz. : Messrs. Sheplar, King, Blythe, Teeters, Williams, and Wil- son, it was unanimously resolved to erect a new build- ing "sufficiently large to meet the present demand with an eye to the future, said building to be large enough to have a hall' that will comfortably seat five hundred persons, with school-rooms on two floors." Thereupon a committee was appointed to examine grounds upon which to build, and on the 10th of March a committee consisting of Messrs. Williams, Blythe, and Sheplar was appointed " to visit build- ings in other places for the purpose of noting all the modern improvements," etc.

On the 18th of March following, the committee ap- pointed to examine properties upon which to build the new structure submitted an exhaustive report to the board of directors of the Monongahela City school district, in which, after relating the result of their ex- amination of lands of James O. Sheplar, Esq., of John Kennedy, Esq., and others, and after noticing propo- sitions made by some of the citizens to erect the pro- spective building in the First Ward, and of others to build it in the Third Ward, they proceeded to say,-

"In conclusion, on a full review of all the surrounding circumstances, some of which are set forth above, your committee unanimously recom- mend to the board the selection of the property of John Kennedy, Esq., with a small lot adjoining it on the east belonging to William and James Alexander, as the proper site for the erection of the additional building which the demands of the district have rendered necessary, and recommend the adoption of the following preamble and reso- lution :

" Whereas, It has for some time past been recognized by the present board, as well as by our predecessors of the last two or three years, that an urgent necessity exists for an increase in building accommodations

PUBLIC SCHOOL,

MONONGAHELA CITY, WASHINGTON CO., PA.

595

MONONGAHELA CITY.

for the schools of the district, in order to secure the health of the pupils and the successful prosecution of their studies.

" And wherens, The property fronting one hundred and twenty-four feet on the north side of Chess Street, and running back one hundred feet towards Main Street, between Fourth Street and an alley adjoining the Lutheran Church, belonging in separate portions to John Kennedy, Esq., the Mesers. Alexanders, and estate of George Wallace, affords the most available and convenient site for such building ;

" Therefore resolved, That the president and secretary of this board are directed and instructed forthwith to institute the proceedings necessary under the act of Assembly to condemn the said property of Kennedy, Alexander, and Wallace for the use of the schools of this the Monon- gahela City school district, and for this purpose are instructed and authorized to sign the petition for viewers as required by law, and to employ and retain legal counsel, and to take and pursue such other steps as may be necessary to secure the legal appropriation of said land for the purposes as aforesaid proposed."

On motion, the foregoing report, including preamble and resolution, was adopted, the vote standing as fol- lows: President Sheplar, nay; Messrs. King, Wil- liams, Teeters, Blythe, and Wilson, aye. At the same time Thomas H. Baird, Esq., was retained as counsel for the board. At a subsequent meeting held March 23, 1880, Mr. Sheplar vacated his position as president of the board, and Mr. T. H. Williams was elected president pro tem. The president and secretary were then authorized to carry out the provisions of the resolution before quoted, to affix their names to the necessary papers, and to transmit the same to the Court of Quarter Sessions.

During the early part of April, 1880, Messrs. Drum & Steen, architects, of Pittsburgh, were employed to draft a preliminary plan of the proposed new building. Meantime Mr. T. H. Williams had inspected school buildings in various towns of Pennsylvania and New York, and the Messrs. Alexander had donated to the school board the small tract of land mentioned as re- quired for the new building. On the 26th of April following the committee on plans and estimates, viz., T. H. Williams, S. C. Wilson, and John Blythe, sub- mitted to the board the preliminary plans prepared by Messrs. Drum & Steen. These plans were those of the Oil City school building reduced. They were pronounced satisfactory and thereupon were adopted. The same committee was continued, and authorized to procure from the architects named permanent plans and specifications, to the end that contracts for the work of construction might be given out.

At a meeting of the board held May 4, 1880, a pe- tition, signed by some one hundred or more opponents of the new building, was presented, asking that bonds "be not issued and to withhold building at present." This petition was tabled by the votes of Messrs. Wilson, Williams, King, and Teeters, and a building com- mittee, composed of Messrs. T. H. Williams, S. C. Wilson, John Teeters, and John Blythe,1 was ap- pointed, of which Mr. Williams was the chairman. The permanent plans were received from the architects during the same month, and early in June it was de- termined to issue bonds2 to the amount of $17,300."

On the 7th of June, 1880, Mr. Sheplar resigned his position as president of the board of education, and Mr. Williams was at once elected to fill the vacancy. At the same meeting the bids sent in by various con- tractors were opened, and Messrs. Neel, Blythe & Co., of Monongahela City (being considered the lowest and best bidders), were awarded the contract of con- structing the building entire for the sum of seventeen thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars. The work of construction began soon after, and under the watch- ful eye of Mr. Williams, chairman of the building committee,3 and the superintendency of the architects, the contractors, with their accustomed energy, has- tened the structure towards completion. The keys were tendered to the president of the board on the 15th day of June, 1881, and on the 1st day of July following, as we have already shown, the building was formally dedicated to the purposes for which it was constructed.

This splendid edifice covers a ground plan seventy feet ten inches by sixty-four feet. Brick is the chief material entering into its construction, and its cellar and three lofty stories are surmounted by an orna- mented slate roof, crestings, and bell-tower. It con- tains ten well lighted, well ventilated rooms for reci- tation, varying in size from twenty-four feet by twenty- eight feet to twenty-four feet by thirty feet, and in the third or upper story a beautiful hall, which is used for school exhibitions, public entertainments, etc., thirty-five feet by seventy feet. The corridors are all spacious, the staircases wide and of easy gradients, and the desks, sittings, blackboards, etc., are of the latest and most approved types of school furniture. Steam is used for heating the building, gas for lighting, and sub- stantial iron fire-escapes are attached to the outer walls. In a word, it is a model building throughout, one in which all true Monongahelians should take a just pride, and, as possessors, they should ever honor and respect its originators and building committee.

According to the report of Mr. T. H. Williams, chairman of the building committee, the total expen- ditures for grounds, construction, furnishings, etc., were as follows :

Paid John Kennedy for 100 feet square of ground. $3,213.67 250 00

Damage to tenants on same.

Wallace estates for one lot .. 65.97

$3,529.64

Neel, Blythe & Co., of Monongahela City, for the entire com-

pletion of the building ..... 17.750.00

Kelly & Jones, of Pittsburgh, for steam-heating apparatus ...... 2.536.27

Keystone School-Church Furniture Co., for the entire seating of the building.

2,700 00

Mitchell, Vance & Co., New York, for chandeliers.

220.00

Solomon Meredith, for one 75 bbl. cistern

75 00

Wm. Nelson & Sons, for stone buttresses.

125.00

Drum & Steen, architects,

230,00

$27,165.01

ning sixteen years and bearing six per cent. interest, were sold to the banking-house of Alexander & Co. at a premium of three per cent. Again, on the Ist day of April, 1881, $6000 in six per cent. bonds, run- ning twenty years, were sold to the same firm at a premium of seven per cent., making a total bonded indebtedness of $23,300.

" After the induction into office of new members of the school board, June, 1880, the building committee was composed of Messrs. Williams Linn, Wilson, and Beaver.

1 Mr. Blythe resigned soon after, and Dr. King was appointed to fill the vacancy in the committee.

2 On the 30th day of June, 1880, bonds to the amount of $17,300, run-

596

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

TEACHERS! OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SINCE 1860. 1860 -A. J. Buffington, principal; Misses Weller, Lockhart, Griffith, and Meloy, assistant teachers.

1SC1 .- William G. Fee, principal ; Misses Mary Lindsay, Lockhart, Kate Clemens, Josie Griffith, and Foster, assistant teachers.

1802 .- B. M. Kerr, principal; Misses Mary Lindsay, Lockart, Josie Grif- fith, Emily Beebe, and Mrs. B. M. Kerr, assistant teachers.

1863 .- Mr. Tombaugh, principal; Missos M. Lindsay, Emily Beebe, Kate Clemens, Bell Williams, and Sarah McCalmont, assistant teuchers.

1864 .- J. M. Milligan, principal; Misses S. McCalmont, Kate Clemens, Sarah Milligan, Lizzie Young, and Sarah Freeby, assistant teachers. 1805 .- J. M. Milligan, principal; Misses Sarah Milligan, Sarah Freeby, Kate Clemens, and Bell Williams, assistant teachers.

18GG .- J. M. Milligan, principal ; Misses Sarah Freeby, O. L. Carroll, Kate Clemens, Rachel Norfolk, R. J. Moore, aud Horner, assistant teachers.

1807 .- J. M. Milligan, principal; Misses Warrick, Carroll, Kate Clemens, Pauline Markell, Kate Collins, and Curry, assistant teachers.

1808 .- R. N. Lights, principal ; Misses Kate Clemens, Pauline Markell, Kate Collins, M. E. Davidson, Ann E. Scott, assistant teachers.

1869 .- J. P. Taylor, principal ; Misses Fannie Hart, C. M. Wall, Pauline Markell, Kate Collins, Mary Coulter, and Nannie Scott, assistant teachers.

1870 .- J. P. Taylor, principal; Misses Fannie Hart, Kate Clemens, Pau- line Markell, Kate Collins, Mary Coulter, and Nannie Scott, assist- ant teachers.

1ST1 .- J. P. Taylor, principal; Misses Kate C. Collins, Kate Clemens, Pauline Markell, Nanuie Scott, Mary Coulter, and Kate Mullen assistant teachers.

1872 .- George E. Hemphill, principal ; assistant teachers the same as previous year.

1873 .- George E. Hemphill, principal ; Misses Sue O'Brien, Annie Mar- tin, Pauline Markell, Nannie Scott, Mary Young, and Kate Mullen, assistants.

1874 .- George E. Hemphill, principal ; Misses Pauline Markell, Nannie Scott, McClure, Kate Mullen, Sadie Powers, and Emma Wilson, as- sistaut teachers.

1873 .- George E. Hemphill, principal; Misses Pauline Markell, Nannie Scott, Kate Mullen, Emma Wilson, Mattie A. Gunn, and Sadie Pow- ers, assistant teachers.

1876,-Joseph Jennings, principal ; Misses Lucy V. Dorsey, Mary E. Parry, Kate Mullen, Anna M. Ruple, Sadie Powers, Millie Bentley, and Mittie Collins, assistant teachers.

1877 .- Joseph Jennings, principal ; Misses L. O. Hart, Anna M. Ruple, Kate Williams, Kate Mullen, Sadie Powers, Millie Bentley, and Amy Ammons, assistant teachers.

1878 .- Joseph Jennings, principal ; Misses Millie Bentley, Lida Gregg, Sadie Powers, Amy Ammons, Kate Mallen, and Kate Williams, as- sistant teachers.

1879 .- Joseph Jennings, principal; Misses Kate Williams, Kate Mullen, Sadie Powers, Kate Smith, Della Fell, Millie G. Bentley, and Graham, assistant teachers.

1880.º-Joseph Jennings, principal ; Misses Kate Williams, Kate Mullen, Lillie Lemasters, Della Fell, Sallie Graham, and Millie G. Bentley, assistant teachers. At the same time Miss Laura Smith was em- ployed to teach the school " over the creek."

1881 .- Joseph Jennings, principal; Misses Bell Herford, room No. 11; Jeanette L. Brownlee, No. 10; Clara C. Berger, No. 9; Lillie Le- masters, No. 8; Della Fell, No. 7; N. J. Johnston, No. 6; Sallie Graham, No. 5; Laura M. Isler, No. 4; Millie G. Bentley, No. 3; Laura Smith, No. 2; and J. M. Williams, No. 1, assistant teachers.

1 Until the completion of the present school building the colored school was a separate institution, and among its principal teachers dur- ing the years here indicated were Benjamin F. Crouch, J. A. Bryan, and Miss Jennie Adams.

º The female teachers employed during the term beginning in Sep- tomber, 1880, were required to pledge themselves not to get married during the term.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

WILLIAM J. ALEXANDER.

William J. Alexander, one of the founders and now senior member of the banking-house of Alexan- der & Co., Monongahela City, Pa., was born April 16, A.D. 1820, on a farm in Rostraver township, West- moreland Co., distant about six miles from the town above mentioned.

In the year 1828, when the subject of this sketch was eight years of age, his father, Joseph Alexander, removed with his family from the farm in Westmore- land County to Williamsport, now Monongahela City, in Washington County, and entered into the mercan- tile business, afterwards living there until the time of his death, June 20, 1871, with the exception of two years between April 1, 1829, and April 1, 1831, during which interval he resided in Cookstown, now Fayette City, Pa.

When a youth William J. Alexander obtained such an education as was furnished by the common sub- scription schools of that day. At an early age he was engaged in business with his father, and had almost the exclusive management of the business after he was nineteen years of age.

In the spring of 1843 he became junior partner in the firm of J. Alexander & Son, which copartnership continued until 1850, when the present firm of Alex- ander & Co. was organized.

Prior to the spring of 1864 the firm of Alexander & Co. conducted the dry-goods business in connection with banking. Having disposed of their dry-goods' interests, the attention of the firm has been since de- voted exclusively to the banking business.

In the year 1844, William J. Alexander was married to Eliza Morrison, daughter of Mrs. Margaret Mor- rison (widow of John Morrison), who, at an advanced age, is still living (1882) with her son, M. P. Morri- son, M.D., in the old homestead in Monongahela City.

From the period of his earliest manhood the subject of this brief sketch has been more or less identified with nearly every practical project suggested for ad- vancing the material, educational, and moral interests of the community in which he has lived.

Throughout the great Rebellion he was prompt and earnest in the performance of all the duties which de- volved upon him as a citizen, opposed to disunion and loyal to the old flag. He was elected captain of Com- pany G of the Eighteenth Regiment Pennsylvania Militia, an organization called out by Governor Cur- tin to meet an exigency of the war. He accepted the position tendered to him, and served with his company and regiment on the borders of Pennsylvania and Maryland during the last days of the memorable campaign which closed by the repulse and defeat of the rebel forces under Lee at South Mountain and Antietam.

At the present time Mr. Alexander is president of

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MONONGAHELA CITY.

the Select and Common Councils of Monongahela City, president of the school board, president of the Monongahela Gas Company, treasurer of the Wil- liamsport Bridge Company, treasurer of Monongahela Cemetery, and for about forty years he has been con- tinuously a member and officer in the Presbyterian Church of Monongahela City.

And it may be stated, in conclusion, that Mr. Alex- ander has been eminently successful as banker and merchant; avoiding questionable speculation and "splendid financiering," he has acquired wealth by careful observance of sound rules, and the employ- ment of approved methods in the management and details of legitimate business.

HON. GEORGE V. LAWRENCE.

Hon. George V. Lawrence, farmer and politician, was born in Washington Co., Pa., Nov. 13, 1818. His grandfather, John Lawrence, an Englishman by birth, emigrated to America at an early day, and settled near Hunterstown, Adams Co., Pa. There he married Sarah Moffitt, by whom he had ten children, -three sons and seven daughters. John died about the year 1786, and three years afterwards (in 1789) his widow Sarah moved with her family to Washing- ton County, Pa., and settled upon a farm lying upon the head-waters of Pigeon Creek. The three sons of John and Sarah Moffitt Lawrence were John, Samuel, and Joseph, named in the order of their ages. John settled in Beaver, Beaver County, Pa., when a young man, and became a prominent and useful citizen. He was twice elected to the State Legislature from that county. He afterwards moved to Delaware County, Ohio, where he died. Samuel followed his brother to Beaver County, and settled upon a farm near the town of Beaver. He was for nine years prothonotary of that county, and was twice elected to the State Legislature, serving in that body with his younger brother Joseph, who was at the same time the mem- ber from Washington County. Samuel died about the year 1828. Joseph Lawrence was born in Adams County, Pa., and when three years of age was carried on horseback upon his mother's knee to Washington County, where he was reared and spent his life. He was eminently a self-made man, having never attended school but three months, it being necessary for him in early life to support himself, and to assist in support- ing his mother and sisters, by manual labor. He was a good reader and thinker, a careful student of men and passing events, and eagerly seized upon every opportunity for improving himself. He became a member of a debating society, in which he was asso- ciated with Hons. Jonathan Knight, John Sloan, Drs. Joseph and Jonathan Lethermain, Rev. Abner Leon- ard, William Walsh, Esq., and others, and he always regarded the training of that organization of the greatest value to him. His first prominence was in connection with the Pigeon Creek Presbyterian

Church, of which he was a member. He was ap- pointed by the session of that church to prosecute the Rev. Andrew Gwynn, the pastor. This he did before the Session, Presbytery, the Synod, and the General Assembly. He managed the case in a manner which won for him the admiration, and secured to him the friendship, of many of the clergy of that denomina- tion. When a young man he was elected major, by which title he was long known, in the State militia, which position he held for a time. In 1818 he was elected to the State Legislature, and served contin- uously until 1826, being Speaker of the House during the sessions of 1820 and 1822. In 1826 he was elected to Congress, and was defeated for the same office in 1828. In 1834 he was elected to the State Legislature; re-elected in 1835, and in 1836 was elected State treas- urer by the Legislature. In 1838 he was a candidate for Congress, and was defeated by seventeen votes by the Hon. Isaac Leet, whom he in turn defeated in 1840. He died of typhoid fever in Washington, D. C., April 17, 1842, and his remains were interred in the congressional burial-ground. He was a man of un- usual public spirit, popular manners, happy tempera- ment, real ability and worth, and a forcible and logi- cal speaker. His good qualities were recognized by those who knew him, his opinions sought, and his judgment accepted to a remarkable extent.

He was twice married. His first wife, Rebecca Van Eman, died in 1824, leaving four children,- Joseph, who died in 1842; George V .; Sarah (Car- thage, Mo.), the widow of Ard. Moore; and Samuel, who died young. His second wife was Maria Bucher, daughter of Judge Bucher, of Harrisburg. She died in 1861, leaving five children,-John J., now (and since 1873) living a retired life in Allegheny City, Pa .; James K., educated at the military academy at Harrisburg, was appointed captain in the regular army, served during the war of the Rebellion under Gen. Sykes, was badly wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg, but recovered and served until the close of the war, was afterwards with his division in Texas, resigned, and now lives in Jefferson County, Pa. ; William C. A., educated at Washington College, read law with Hon. John Kunkle, was admitted to the Harrisburg bar, was elected to the State Legis- lature from Dauphin County in 1857, 1858, and 1859, was Speaker of the House during the two latter ses- sions, and died of consumption in 1861; Samuel, educated in Washington County and Harrisburg, was a successful civil engineer for many years, was elected to the State Legislature from the Warren district in 1861, and died at Warren in 1864; Susan, the wife of Myron Sanford, of Erie, where they reside.

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 150

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