History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 169

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 169

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Basil Lee Williams came from the vicinity of Lees- burgh, Va., in 1780, and settled upon the farm in this township which has since belonged to Alexander Summers, and is now the property of Robert Cruthers. Mr. Williams' wife was Arah Dorsey, and they had seven children,-Eleven, Garard, Ezekiel, Otho, Eli, Lawrence, and Arah. Ezekiel, Otho, Eli, and Law- rence all emigrated to the West, and all further trace of them has been lost. Garard married Ruth Clemens, and Arah became the wife of Dudley Evens, of Mor- gantown, and resided in West Virginia. Eleven Wil- liams married Christiana Clemens. Squire Abraham Williams was their son, and Mrs. Ruth Alvy, who was the first child born in Taylorstown, is the only living representative of the Williams family.

Nathaniel McDowell emigrated from Scotland to Ireland, and thence to America about 1758, and set- tled near Chambersburg, Pa. From there he removed about 1780 to the country west of the Monongahela, passing by way of Catfish Camp (where there was at that time but one house), and settled in the wilder- ness on land that is now the farm of Joseph Johnston, in Buffalo township. On the 6th of September, 1793, McDowell warranted the tract "Wolf Ridge," two hundred and two acres, which was surveyed to him October 4th of the same year. Its location was on Buffalo Creek, adjoining lands of Marshall, Elisha Heath, James McClean, and William English. After- wards he warranted and patented other lands in the vicinity. He died in 1826, at the age of eighty-eight years. Of his sons, Nathaniel and John emigrated to Wayne County, Ohio; Robert and James removed to Stark County, Ohio, and settled on adjoining tracts, there being no settlement near them, and at that time not a dwelling erected on the site of the present town of . Massillon. Joseph received the homestead (one hun- dred and sixty acres) by the will of his father, Na- thaniel. The daughters of Nathaniel McDowell were Elizabeth, wife of William Erwin; Letitia, wife of Hamilton Brownlee; and Sarah, wife of Samuel Neely.

Joseph McDowell lived on the homestead farm until his death in 1854. He had ten children, of whom but four survived him, and they are still living, viz .: Sarah A., Mrs. Ebenezer Graham, of Mercer County, Ill. ; John McDowell, living on the old Jacob

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Wolfe and Lawrence Strickler property (three hun- dred and forty-eight acres); Nathaniel McDowell, who taught the Science Hill School in 1840, now a clergyman of the United Presbyterian Church at In- dianola, Iowa ; and Robert McDowell, living in Madi- son County, Iowa. John, the only one of the children of Joseph McDowell who remains a resident of Wash- ington County, is one of the leading agriculturists of the county. He is a member of the State Agricultural Society, and largely and actively interested in every- thing pertaining to the advancement of that noble industry.

Charles McRoberts, Jr., was born in this township in 1774. His father, Charles McRoberts, Sr., came from Scotland to this section and settled on Buffalo Creek. Two Virginia certificates were issued to him, dated June 6, 1780, upon which he located two tracts of land. The first tract, " Mount Ararat," contained three hundred and ninety-nine acres, was bounded by lands of Thomas Gilliland, Kenneth McClellan, James and William McRoberts, and was surveyed to him Oct. 22, 1786, by Robert Woods, surveyor of Ohio County, Va. The second tract, "Buffalo Point," embraced three hundred and six acres, ad- joined the lands of David and Joseph Williamson, Kenneth McClellan, and his own other lands, and was surveyed to him Oct. 23, 1786. Charles McRob- erts, Jr., was a man universally respected, and during his life was one of the most useful men of his county. He died May 29, 1857, in the eighty-fourth year of his age.

Nathaniel Templeton received a Virginia certificate Feb. 8, 1780, which gave him a body of land, "to in- clude his settlement made in the year 1776." The name of the tract was "Independence." It was sit- uated in Buffalo township, and after Nathaniel Tem- pleton's death his widow, Isabella Templeton, rode to Harrisburg and obtained the patent upon it. They had no children, and Mrs. Templeton sold the prop- erty to John Lawrence. In 1811 he sold it to his son, John Lawrence, Jr., who held it in his possession until his death. He was a tanner, and conducted that business for more than sixty years. He was pro- nounced one of the most singular men of his day, and when he purchased the farm of his father, who removed from the place and left him in possession, he was still a bachelor. He afterwards married, but had no children. His property was divided among his relatives, and the original Lawrence tract is now owned by Samuel Woodburn.

Zachariah Cox came to this township from Berkeley County, Va., where his residence was near the mouth of Buck Creek. He was married to Miss Fry before leaving Virginia, and upon arriving here settled upon seventy-five acres of land at the head-waters of Buffalo Creek, which was surveyed to him in 1822. The land adjoined the tracts of Governor Joseph Ritner, John De Garms, and George Andrews, and the survey-book shows the improvements to have been commenced

upon it in October, 1784. The tract now belongs to Uriah Clarke. Zachariah Cox lived upon it until his death at eighty-five years of age. He had a family of twenty-one children. Benjamin, John, and Zacha- riah, Jr., removed to Washington County, Iowa, and died there. Henry married Hannah, a daughter of John Wolf, of Canton township. All the family re- moved to other parts.

James Clemmens, with his wife (who was Hannah Walton), and their servants and slaves, crossed the mountains in a wagon and settled in Buffalo township, on the waters of Buffalo Creek. The tract of land " Rural Swain," which was secured on a Virginia certificate, was surveyed to Mr. Clemmens June 13, 1785, and is still held in the family, William Clem- mens, a great-grandson, owning it. The children of James Clemmens were twelve, six sons and six daughters. William married Polly and Abraham married Elizabeth Wolf, daughters of Jacob Wolf, and all lived in this township. Jeremiah, who was a surveyor, married Mary Hawkins, of Kentucky. Hannah, who went to attend school in that State, married there, and Ruth, who became Mrs. Garard Williams, also emigrated there. James and Pamelia went to St. Louis, Mo., where they both married and settled. John Clemmens married Polly Fleck, daughter of John Fleck. He was a general in the war of 1812, and his widow became the wife of Dr. John Steele. One of his sons, a second John Clem- mens, married a Miss Ewing, of Ohio. Ezekiel re- moved West. Christiana became Mrs. Eleven Wil- liams, of Taylorstown. Nancy was the wife of Thomas Craig, and died in this county, and Hester Clem- mens was the wife of James Clelland. Dr. James Clemmens, a noted physician of Wheeling, W. Va., was a descendant of this family.

John McWilliams came from Ireland to this coun- try, locating in this township on "Lion's Bush," a tract of land granted him on a Virginia certificate, and surveyed Sept. 19, 1785. His wife was Jane Taylor, a daughter of Robert Taylor, the founder of Taylorstown, and their family numbered seven chil- dren. Of these John married Elizabeth Clelland; Margaret married William Noble, and both emigrated to the State of Ohio; Hannah married John Reed; and Sarah married James Reed, the latter couple making their home in East Finley township; Jane became Mrs. Berkley McLain, and resided in this township, while Mary, who married Thomas Hemp- hill, removed to West Liberty, W. Va. Wallace Mc- Williams took for his wife Nancy Clelland, and they had four children. He was one of the foremost men of Buffalo township, and was greatly interested in the cause of education. He was a general in the old militia days, represented his district in the State Legislature, and held many county offices during his life. He owned the original McWilliams property, but it is now in the possession of William Knox. The McWilliams family from first to last were strong

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Presbyterians. Of Gen. Wallace McWilliams' chil- dren, John died single, Jonathan resides in Claysville, Mrs. John A. Fleck resides in this township, and the other daughter, Mrs. Stephen Caldwell, lives in Don- egal township.

Col. David Williamson was one of the notable men of this vicinity, as his name is well known in connec- tion with the " Williamson expedition," and in 1787 he was elected sheriff of Washington County. He lo- cated in Buffalo township at an early day, and took up several tracts of land, most of which seems to have been secured in the names of other persons, and all were taken upon Virginia certificates. "Neptune's Delight" contained three hundred and ninety-seven acres, was situate on a branch of Buffalo Creek, and was surveyed to Samuel Williamson June 14, 1785. " Williamson's Grove" had four hundred acres, was on Buffalo Creek, adjoining lands of John Smith, Wal- ter Summers, and Thomas Irwin, and was surveyed to John Williamson, Sept. 19, 1785. " Wild-Cat's Den" was the tract of four hundred acres surveyed to Eleazer Williamson, June 17, 1785, and was also located on the waters of Buffalo Creek. A fourth tract, rightly named " Dispute," contained three hun- dred acres, and was surveyed to Col. David William- son, Feb. 21, 1788. The title of the northern portion of this tract, involving one hundred and forty-seven acres, was disputed by Thomas Brownlee. Still another body of land was in the possession of Col. Williamson, a four-hundred-acre tract, which now lies within the limits of Independence township, upon which Col. Joseph Scott lives. The farm upon which Col. Williamson himself resided is located in this township, and was the one which was seized by George Hamilton and sold to James Glover. The patent for this tract was not granted for many years, but it was finally taken out by John McPherson, who now owns it. Upon this place Col. Williamson had a triple log cabin, each part twenty by twenty feet in size, and all three connected. The logs of one part of this old house are still standing, and are ten or twelve inches in diameter. The old spring-house built by the owner still stands under the shadow of a large oak, both that and the dwelling being constructed in the pre- vailing architectural style of the early settlers.

Col. David Williamson married Miss Polly Urie, a daughter of Thomas Urie, one of the earliest set- tlers of Hopewell township. Their family of four sons and four daughters were John, Samuel, Robert, David, Jane, Sarah, Mary, and Lavina, and all are now dead. John and David never married. Sarah · married Hugh Stewart, of Marshall County, W. Va. Robert married Rachel Sharp, of Ashland County, Ohio, and Samuel Williamson married Mary Mc- Comb, daughter of Robert McComb, near West Mid- dletown, in Hopewell township, and lived on the Youghiogheny River, near Buena Vista. Mary Wil- liamson married John Smiley, and had two children, Addison and Emeline. The former has been county

superintendent of schools in Cooper County, Mo., where he resides. Emeline Smiley became the wife of William Rose, who entered the Union army, where he was promoted to the rank of major. They also live in Missouri. Lavina was the youngest daughter of Col. David Williamson. She became the wife of Joseph McNulty, by whom she had three sons and three daughters, who married as follows: David W. married Caroline Trimble, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Caleb J. married Miss Smith, also of Ohio, and William W. married Mrs. Matilda C. Ranick, of Columbus, Ohio. She now resides in Sedalia, Mo. Lavina J. became the wife of Joseph Vincent, youngest son of Dr. Vincent, of Harrison County, Ohio. Annie M. married David M. Boyd, of West Middletown, in this county, and Harriet N. married John D. Vail, of Livingston County, Ohio, and now resides in Chicago. Jane Williamson, the eldest daughter of Col. David Williamson, married Caleb MeNulty, and lived and died in West Middletown, Hopewell township. Her daughter Mary became the wife of Nathan Miller, and had one son, Julius P. Miller, who is an attorney, and has been prothonotary of Washington County for six years. He is a resident of Washington bor- ough.

Mrs. Miller's husband dying, she was married to Hon. Thomas Mckeever, who for ten years was asso- ciate judge of this county, He died in 1866, and his widow now lives in Bellaire, Ohio. The McKeevers were identified with the early settlement of Hopewell township. Caleb J. McNulty was the youngest son of Jane Williamson and Caleb McNulty, and while he was yet a young man he removed to the State of Ohio, where the Democratic party elected him to the State Legislature for several years. He entered the political field again as the Democratic candidate for Congress from Knox County, running against Colum- bus Delano, and was defeated by twelve votes.' At the next session of Congress he was made clerk of the House of Representatives. He had previously married Miss Caroline Converse in Columbus, Ohio, a lady of great beauty and accomplishments. Their only child was a son, Rob Roy McGregor McNulty, who was educated at Jefferson College, in Washing- ton County. He studied and graduated in theology in Allegheny City, and is now rector of an Episcopal Church in Massachusetts.

Col. William McNulty was the eldest son of Jane and Caleb McNulty and grandson of Col. David William- son. He lived for many years in West Middletown, where he was born, but some five years ago sold his property and went to Boonville, Cooper Co., Mo., where he died a year since. He had six sons and four daugh- ters. Caleb, the eldest, is a physician, practicing in Midway, in this county. Patrick H. and Addison are living in Boonville, Mo. Thomas died in Alle- gheny City in 1880, and Frank is employed in a ma- chine-shop in Allegheny City. Charles is a minister in the Presbyterian Church at New Philadelphia,

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Ohio, and Jane, who married Dr. Isaac Horn, is a widow, living at Wicksville, Ohio. Mary C. McNulty married the eldest son of Rev. Samuel Tygart, and lives in Allegheny City, and Annie, her sister, resides with her.

Col. David Williamson died in 1814, and was buried in the old burial-ground in the borough of Washing- ton.

Archibald Brownlee had four sons,-John, Archi- bald, Jr., William, and James,-all of whom took up land in this section. Some of them had four- hundred-acre tracts, and others larger ones. James warranted three hundred and ninety-nine acres March 1, 1785, under the title of "Squirrel Hill," which was next the lands of James Clemmens and John St. Clair. He built himself a hut, covered with earth, in which he lived while making a clearing upon his property. This hut was very near the spring in the vicinity of the South Buffalo Church. James Brown- lee's first wife was Martha Shearer, and their chil- dren were three sons and three daughters, the sons being the oldest. They are all dead save Martha Brownlee, the youngest daughter. She was married to James Brownlee, and resides in Washington, her husband having died nine years ago. James Brown- lee was left a widower, and married for his second wife Mrs. Elizabeth Muncey. She was a daughter of Herman Greathouse, who, with his friends Holliday and Edgington, located very early just in the edge of · West Virginia. Mrs. Brownlee remembered very well when the Virginia and Pennsylvania State line was surveyed. By this second marriage of James Brown- lee there were four children, one son and three daughters. The son, William J. Brownlee, emigrated to Missouri, where some of his descendants now re- side. Others of his family are in Steubenville, Ohio. Elizabeth Brownlee became Mrs. Henry Bruce, and resides on the National road near Claysville. Susan married Richard McClelland, and her descendants live in Franklin township. Rachel Brownlee married Dr. George Davidson, of West Alexander.

James Ross and John Wood warranted a four-hun- dred-and-fourteen-acre tract of land Sept. 30, 1785, which was surveyed November 22d of the same year, as " Three Forks," and patented July 18, 1786. The land lies in both Buffalo and Donegal townships. It is bounded on the south by the lands formerly be- longing to Col. David Williamson, on the east by the Brush Fork of Buffalo Creek, and the northern boundary is formed by Buffalo Creek, between the mouth of Brush Run and Buck Run. The main branch of Buffalo Creek runs through this property. The portion within the limits of Buffalo township is owned by James Kuntz, John J. Stewart, and D. S. Wilson, and William Smith and Mr. Cunningham ! have possession of the part in Donegal township. The tract "Three Forks" passed from James Ross and John Woods to Andrew Moore, who, on the 22d October, 1799, conveyed to Perry McCoy two hundred

and sixty-seven acres. Upon his death, in 1821, the one half of the farm was bequeathed to Daniel Mc- Coy, on which he then lived, the other part (the homestead) was bequeathed to Joseph McCoy. He left the sons mentioned above and two daughters, Elizabeth (Mrs. Winters) and Mary (Mrs. Guy).

Daniel McCoy conveyed the one hundred and thirty- five acres left him by his father to William Garrett on the 17th of November, 1827. Joseph McCoy re- tained the one hundred and thirty-six acres (the home farm), and purchased also the Garrett farm, one hun- dred and thirty-five acres ; the Bryant farm, of one hundred and forty acres, a part of which David Bryant had purchased of David Williamson in 1804; and the Noble or Buchanan farm, of eighty-four acres, containing in all four hundred and ninety-six acres. This property is now out of the family.

William Wolf came to Buffalo township at an early day and made a settlement, but seems to have been driven away by the Indians. On Feb. 27, 1786, he warranted a tract of land called "Wolf's Hollow," located on the waters of Buffalo Creek, containing three hundred and eighty-five acres. This land was surveyed later, and attached to the survey is an affi- davit, showing that "the above William Wolf was driven from the above place through force or fear of the Indians, during the late war, and his place was left without inhabitants."

The property in question is that now owned by the heirs of William Price, and upon it William Wolf passed all but the very last part of his life. His chil- dren were five sons and three daughters,-William, Peter, Simon, Christopher, John, Mary, Elizabeth, and Susan. Mary Wolf married James Skiggins, and was killed by the Indians while living in a block-house in Ohio. Elizabeth never married, but passed her life in this township, and at Wheeling, Va., dying at the latter place. Susan became the wife of Leonard Dick- inson, and removed to Ohio. William Wolf, Jr., was a cooper, and lived and died in Washington. Peter was a cabinet-maker, and lived in Washington. Simon Wolf, who was born May 23, 1793, was a cooper. He settled in Washington and died there, at the residence of his son-in-law, William F. Dickey, Oct. 9, 1879. Chris- topher Wolf settled in Buffalo township, about seven miles from Washington, on the Wheeling pike. The place was formerly owned by one Huffman, and a man named Wilson once kept tavern there. Christopher Wolf was a contractor of bridges on the National road from Washington to Cumberland, and later was stationed at Zanesville, Ohio. He is now in Missouri. John Wolf, who was present at Hull's surrender, in 1812, located at Wheeling, Va., and died there. Wil- liam Wolf, Sr., for a short time before his death, lived in Washington. He died at the advanced age of ninety years, and was buried in Buffalo township, his funeral services being attended with all the honors due a brave soldier.

Jacob Wolf was a German, who followed the occu-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

pation of farmer, and was also a justice of the peace. He must have located in this township as early as 1785 or 1786, as documents of that date are on file bearing his signature. The records of his property, however, show it to have been warranted April 23, 1793, and surveyed eight months later. It was two hundred acres of land, called " Wolf's Grove," situ- ated on Buffalo Creek, and is now owned by John McDowell. Jacob Wolf was a very eccentric man, and invariably, after performing a marriage ceremony in the capacity of justice of the peace, he would thrust his hands into the pockets of his gown with the inter- rogatory, "Now, where ish mine dollar?" He had a family of seven,-two sons and five daughters. John's wife was Mary Devore, and Jacob, Jr., married Pris- cilla Martin, and removed to Ohio. Mary and Eliza- beth Wolf married two brothers named Clemmens ; Rossannah became Mrs. Shearer and went West, and Margaret married John McGaw and removed to Ohio. The last-named couple took their wedding dinner, April 15, 1799, at the house of Eleven Williams, in Taylorstown. Servenia Wolf, Jacob Wolf's other daughter, became the wife of Hugh H. Brackenridge, whose name was familiar to all residents of Washing- ton County, and who owned a large tract of land in Buffalo township at an early date, the same now in the possession of William Ely, David Clark, and the Gantz heirs.

Among the many forts or block-houses which dotted the wilderness in those uncertain times, Wolf's Fort was one of the first built. It stood about five miles west of the present borough of Washington, and in- closed the cabin of Jacob Wolf. To this fort Pris- cilla Peak or Peck crawled upon her hands and knees after being scalped. She was confined to her bed with a fever when the Indians broke in upon the family, and seeing the hopelessness of escaping, some one threw a quilt round her and told her to fly. She only had strength sufficient to reach a pig-sty, where she stopped for breath. While leaning over the fence an Indian discovered her and scalped her. Being hotly pursued by the whites he did not tomahawk her, and in this condition she reached Wolf's Fort. She recovered, her head healed, but she always wore a black cap to conceal her loss. A Miss Christianna Clemmens and Lydia Boggs were chased into this fort, and only escaped capture by outrunning their pursuers. Miss Boggs was afterwards captured and carried across the Ohio River, but effected her es- cape and returned to her friends, having forced her horse to swim the river. Another incident relating to the history of this fort was recounted, in later years, by William Darby, who, when a child, came with his parents to this vicinity in December, 1781,-the elder Darby evidently intending permanent settlement here, but being driven away by Indian alarms. Mr. Darby in his narrative says, "We remained in Mr. Wolfe's house until February, 1782, while my father was preparing his cabin, into which we finally entered,

but not to rest. In fifteen or twenty days after en- tering into our log cabin, Martin Jolly came running breathless to tell us that a savage murder had been committed but ten miles distant. In two hours we were in Wolfe's Fort. From the fort my parents re- moved to Catfish [Washington], and spent the re- mainder of 1782, and to April, 1783, on the farm of Alexander Reynolds, recently owned by Dr. F. J. Le Moyne."

Another fort was Taylor's Fort, near the site of Taylorstown. It stood on a knoll on the bank of Buffalo Creek, the property being now owned by James Hodgens, Esq.

Alexander Hunter came from Ireland in 1789 to Washington County, bringing his family with him. His son, William Hunter, was born in this township in 1803, and at this writing is seventy-eight years of age. Alexander Hunter was a carpenter by trade, and many years ago built a house in Brownsville, Fayette Co., for Col. Clark. About the time the house was finished Clark failed and could not pay for the work. He was running a woolen-factory at Clarksburg, and turned over some sheep to Hunter in lieu of the money he could not pay. Mr. Hunter bought out Col. Clark's business, bought and sold sheep, increased his flocks by purchases and the natural increase, and finally became quite largely engaged in the growing of wool. For many years Mr. William Hunter was engaged in the wool interests with his father, Alexander Hunter, and has continued it since the death of the latter. William Hunter is himself an old man now, having been in this business for more than sixty years, and of late much of the management of the business has devolved upon his son.

James and Isaac Carson were two brothers who came into this township and located land. On a Virginia certificate James Carson took up the tract called "Eagles Nest," for which the board of prop- erty granted him a warrant of acceptance Sept. 11, 1790, and the patent was received eleven days later. On Feb. 18, 1808, James sold one hundred acres of the land to his brother Isaac, and they continued to live together. It is the property now occupied by Neman and Samuel Carson. James Carson married Rebecca Hill, and they had several children. Their son Adam married Rebecca Wilson, a daughter of Charles Wilson, and now resides near Claysville, in Donegal township. The daughter, Mary, is Mrs. Peter Myers, of this township.

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 169

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