History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 189

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 189

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The daughters of William McLain were Agnes, Hannah, Mary, Martha, Margaret, Eliza J., and Sarah.

Agnes was born Aug. 8, 1812. She is the widow of James Sawhill, and lives in Washington, Pa.

Hannah, born Jan. 14, 1814, the widow of Ira Blanchard, died in Claysville, Pa., March 5, 1882.

Mary, born Dec. 1, 1816, lives in Washington, Pa. Martha, born Sept. 21, 1818, died in June, 1880. She was the wife of Rev. Alexander McCarrell, D.D., who was pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Clays- ville, Pa., for thirty-five years previous to his death in 1881.

Margaret, born Feb. 15, 1822; is the wife of Robert McKahan, surveyor of Guernsey County, Ohio, where they reside.

Eliza J., born Feb. 11, 1826, died July 10, 1856. She was the wife of James Wright, deceased.

Sarah, born Dec. 7, 1830, is the wife of A. K. Craig, and lives near Claysville, Pc.

DR. GEORGE B. WOODS.

Dr. George B. Woods is of Irish descent, and was born in Centre township, Greene Co., Pa., Sept. 7. 1850. He obtained a good preparatory education in the common schools and Waynesburg College, in his , He was married in 1835 to Mary Stewart, who died in native county, and studied medicine with Dr. J. H. Pipes, then of Cameron, now of Wheeling, W. Va .. In 1872 he matriculated in the medical department of the University of Wooster, of Cleveland, Ohio, and was graduated M.D. in February, 1874. For one

year after graduating he was associated in practice with his preceptor. He then established himself in Dallas, W. Va., and remained four years. In the summer of 1880 he settled in West Alexander, where he has a growing practice. Dr. Woods has made his own way in the world, earning by teaching and in other ways the money necessary to defray the ex- penses of his literary and medical education. He knows the value of time, and the probationary years so often spent by young physicians in bewailing their misfortunes were utilized by him and spent in making himself more conversant with the medical and surgical science, as found in text-books, special treatises, and periodicals of the day. He is wedded to his profession, and does not permit outside matters to engage his attention. He was married in 1875 to Lizzie M. Lucas, of Waynesburg. . They have two children,-Lynn and Paul Woods.

DR. D. S. EAGLESON.

Dr. D. S. Eagleson was born in Hopewell township, Washington Co., Nov. 19, 1837. Having received a good education in the common schools and academy, he engaged in teaching, which he followed for several years during the winter months. In 1859 he com- menced the study of medicine with Dr. Erastus Be- mis, a native of Brattleboro', Vt., but at that time and for many years thereafter a resident of West Middle- town, Washington Co., Pa. After reading a sufficient time, he attended lectures at Jefferson Medical Col- lege, Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1863. He opened an office in Montgomery County, Ohio, and practiced in and near Dayton until the spring of 1867, when he removed to West Alexander, in his native county, where he opened an office and is now practic- ing. His time has been well employed, and he en- joys the confidence of the community. He clings to the Presbyterian faith, of which his father was a life- long minister. He was married Nov. 4, 1863, to An- nie J. Blaney, of Buffalo township, Washington Co., Pa. They have five living children,-Mary C., Laura I., Annie J., Nancy C., and Lizzie L. One of their children, Eva I., died Jan. 23, 1877, in her sixth year.

Dr. Eagleson's father, Rev. Dr. John Eagleson, was born near Cadiz, Ohio, Feb. 12, 1809; graduated at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1829; was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Steubenville at Beech Spring Jan. 8, 1833; commenced his minis- try in Upper Buffalo Church Jan. 19, 1834; was or- dained and installed pastor by the Presbytery of Washington Dec. 24, 1834; and died Jan. 23, 1873, having spent his life as a minister with the one charge.

1842, leaving three children,-Andrew S., David S., and William S. In 1843 he was married to his second wife, Mary Gordon, by whom he had five children, - Alexander G., Henry G., Jane G., Hannah G., and George G.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Rev. Dr. John Eagleson was a man whose character was wonderfully symmetrical. He was unselfish, seeking not his own aggrandizement, but God's glory. He knew his duty and did it. Piety like a silver thread ran through his entire life. He believed with all his heart in the scriptural character of the doctrines of his own branch of Christ's Church, yet always entertained a cordial feeling for those who differed from him. His readiness to maintain his own views of Christian doctrine with great firmness never impaired the fraternal and confidential rela- tions existing between himself and his brethren in the ministry of other churches. As he expected to commune with God's people in heaven, he took great pleasure in affiliating with them here upon earth.

DR. J. C. BROWNLEE.

Dr. J. C. Brownlee is the third son of Ebenezer and Eliza (Davidson) Brownlee, of West Finley town- ship, Washington County, where he was born Feb. 9, 1854. He was prepared for college in the common schools and in West Alexander Academy, under the tutorship of Rev. W. H. Lester. In 1873 he entered the freshman class of Amherst College, where he re- mained one year. He then entered Cornell Univer- sity, and took a special course of two years, devoting his time mainly to the departments of natural his- tory and chemistry, preparatory to entering upon the study of medicine. In the fall of 1876 he entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City, and attended the course of lectures for that year. He returned home in the spring of 1877, and during the winter of that year taught school, his health not permitting him to return to lectures at that time. During the summer of 1878 he was principal of the West Alexander Academy, and illness after the close of his term prevented his attending lectures that year. After his recovery he practiced with Dr. Marshman, of Dallas, W. Va., where he remained until the fall of 1879, when he re-entered Bellevue Medical College, from which he was graduated M.D. in the spring of 1880. In addition to the regular course of the college, he took special courses on " dis- eases of the eye, physical diagnosis, and surgery." Soon after his return home he opened an office and began practice in West Alexander. He is well up in a knowledge of the most approved and latest methods of diagnosis and means of relieving human suffering. He is a member of the Washington County . Medical Society, of the Presbyterian Church, and of the Young Men's Christian Association, in which he takes the greatest interest, having filled the offices of president and secretary of the same, and having been a delegate to their international convention held in Cleveland in May, 1881.

JOSEPH FINLEY MAYES.

Charles Mayes, grandfather of Joseph Finley Mayes, was of Scotch descent, and was born in Adams County, Pa. He married Margaret Finley, of the same county, about the year 1773, and in the year 1786 migrated to Washington County, Pa., and settled upon a farm near West Alexander, where he lived until his death, March 1, 1823, aged seventy-eight years. The children of Charles'and Margaret (Fin- ley) Mayes were Elizabeth, born March 26, 1774; James, born June 3, 1775; Isaac, born March 6, 1777 ; Charles, born June 22, 1779; John, born May 12, 1781; Samuel R., born Aug. 23, 1783, he died in in- fancy, and the next son was Samuel R., born Aug. 12, 1785; Margaret, born Nov. 20, 1790; Mary Fin- ley, born April 18, 1793; Jane, born Nov. 15, 1795. The last named is the only one of the family now living.

Isaac Mayes, the third in the above list, spent his early life in farm labor, and while he superintended and directed the working of his farm during the last thirty-three years of his life, much of his time and attention of that period was given to the discharge of the duties of the office of justice of the peace, to which he was appointed Dec. 6, 1811, and which he held until his death July 16, 1844. He was a man of correct business habits, and left a systematic register of all his official transactions. Among the interesting items recorded is this, that during his terms of office he married nine hundred and thirty (930) couples. He was upright, kind, and faithful, a good man. He was married Nov. 25, 1813, to Elizabeth Alexander, who died April 16, 1816, leaving one child, Joseph Finley Mayes.

He married his second wife, Elizabeth King, Nov. 25, 1818. She died July 2, 1872, in her eighty-eightlı year. By this marriage there were five children,- Margaret M., who died in 1830, aged eleven years; Sarah S., who is the wife of Dr. Edward P. Hale, of Wichita, Sedgwick Co., Kan .; Kate W., who is the wife of Joel Truesdell, of West Alexander, Washing- ington Co., Pa .; Rebecca R., who died in 1825, aged six years; and Samuel R., who died in infancy in 1827.

Joseph Finley Mayes was born in West Alexander, where he now resides, Aug. 25, 1814. He obtained his education in the district school and the academy of his native village. After leaving school he en- gaged in farming, which was his chief business until 1874. Since that date he has been busied with the duties of his office, that of justice of the peace, to which he was first elected in 1862, and in which he has been continued by successive elections ever since. He was elected to his fifth term in this office in Feb- ruary, 1882. In politics he is an ardent Republican, and carnest in his efforts to promote the principles of his party, but is esteemed by his political opponents, as is evidenced by the fact that he has at times been elected to the position which he now fills by the com-

WILLIAM MCLAIN.

763

DONEGAL TOWNSHIP.

bined vote of all parties. He is a clever gentleman, with good natural and acquired business ability, and has the confidence and respect of a large acquaintance. His "book" shows at the present date, July 23, 1882, that he has performed the marriage ceremony for two thousand and thirty-nine (2039) couples, for which much-enjoyed and well-performed duty he has re- ceived in fees $6387.84. Twenty dollars ($20) is the largest fee he has ever received, ninety cents ($0.90) the smallest, and but five or six of this large number have failed to pay something. His marriage-list includes representatives from various parts of the United States. The fact that his office is near the State of West Virginia, in which a marriage license is required before the important rite can legally be performed, doubtless brings to him many who desire to enter wedded life. Others go because of his reputation for knowing and doing his duty well.

Mr. Mayes is a member of the Presbyterian Church, as were also his father and grandfather. He was mar- ried Nov. 30, 1854, to Cassandra R. Jacob, of Ohio County, Va. She died Feb. 15, 1872, leaving one child, Lizzie A. Mayes, who died Dec. 24, 1879.

Joseph was married to his second wife, Carrie D. Agnew, of Wheeling, Dec. 18, 1874. She died Nov. 27,1877.

He was married to his present wife, Rettie R. Bare, Nov. 22, 1881.

JAMES McQUOWN.

Thomas McQuown, a gentleman of Irish descent, married Mrs. Margaret Galloway, by whom he had two children, Margaret and James. Margaret mar- ried William Davidson.

James McQuown was born in Washington County, Sept. 24, 1784, and died in 1864. His father died when he was ten years of age, and he was thus early thrown upon his own resources. He learned the car- penter's and cabinet-maker's trades, which he followed for many years. He studied surveying, in which he became very proficient, and he at one time held the office of county surveyor. The latter years of his active life were spent in farming. The chief ambi- tion or desire of his life was to accomplish whatever he undertook, and to excel in his work. His deter- mination and native intellectual capacity, disciplined by reading and observation, were the mainsprings of his success. He was a member of the Associate Re- formed Church in early life, and afterwards of the United Presbyterian Church. In politics he was a Whig, afterwards a Republican, advocating the prin- ciples of the latter long before the party was organ- ized. He was married Sept. 29, 1805, to Sarah Mc- Gaw. They had ten children,-Isabella, Margaret, Delilah, Thomas, Sarah, James, Jane, Elizabeth, John, and Agnes. But two of the children, Sarah and James, are now living.

DRS. J. N., I. N., AND LEE M. SPROWLS.

These three physicians are of Irish stock. Their grandfather, John Sprowls, came from County Ty- rone, Ireland, to America near the close of the last century. Their father, whose name was also John Sprowls, was born in East Finley township in 1818, and died Aug. 8, 1870. He learned the business of farming, and followed it successfully all of his life. He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for many years, a. charter member of the Windy Gap Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and an elder in that organization for a long time. He was married in 1850 to Mary A. McNay. Their chil- dren were J. M., J. N., I. N., Lee M., Annie M., Clara B., A. H., and Lucy E.

Dr. J. N. Sprowls was born in West Finley town- ship, Washington County, Sept. 14, 1852. His literary education was received in the common schools and Oberlin College, Lorain County, Ohio. After leaving college he read medicine with Dr. Silas C. McCracken, of Claysville. In September, 1875, lie entered Jeffer- son Medical College, Philadelphia, from which he graduated in March, 1877. After graduating he pursued the practice of his chosen profession with his preceptor for one year. He then established himself in his own office. He takes a great interest in every- thing that affects the efficiency and standing of him- self and his profession before the public. In his youth he joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and afterwards united with the Presbyterian Church, of which he is now a member. He was married March 6, 1878, to Maggie M. McLain, of Claysville. They have one child, Joseph William Sprowls, born May 6, 1882.

Dr. I. N. Sprowls was born in West Finley town- ship, Washington County, in 1854, and died in Feb- ruary, 1882. In his youth he worked on the farm with his father, attending the common schools, from which he was advanced to Waynesburg and Mount Union Colleges, where he completed his literary education. His medical studies were under the direc- tion of Dr. W. L. Grim. He attended the usual courses of lectures, and graduated M.D. from Jeffer- son Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1879. In the same year he opened an office in Burnsville, where he practiced until his death in 1882. He was thoroughly in love with his profession, and is gratefully remem- bered by his family and medical brethren.

Dr. Lee M. Sprowls was born in West Finley town- ship, Washington County, Dec. 22, 1856. He received his education in the common schools and Mount Union College. He began his medical pupilage under his brother, Dr. I. N. Sprowls (deceased), of Burnsville, and graduated from Jefferson Medical College in March, 1882. Immediately after graduating he opened an office and began practicing in Burnsville.

764

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

DR. WILLIAM L. GRIM.

Dr. William L. Grim, who is of Scotch descent, was born in Richhill township, Greene Co., Pa., Aug. 19, 1839, and is the son of Armstrong and Mary A. (Scott) Grim. His life until twenty years of age was spent upon his father's farm. He then taught school for two years. Aug. 20, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, One Hundred and Sixtieth Regiment, and served until his discharge, July 1, 1865. Aug. 1, 1865, he en- tered the office of Dr. S. C. McCracken, of Burnsville, Washington Co., Pa., as a student of medicine. He remained with him two years, and then attended a course of lectures in Cleveland Medical College. He returned to Burnsville, bought out his preceptor, and began practicing, which he continued until 1874, when he again went to Cleveland, attended another course of lectures, and graduated the following spring. He returned to Burnsville, where he has since been practicing with fair success, Like most rural prac- titioners, he engages in general practice. He is a member of the Baptist Church. He was married Feb. 11, 1869, to Lizzie A. Litman, of Fayette County, Pa. Their living children are John E., William E., Jesse E., Sturgis G. Outside matters do not attract him. He gives to those things only such time as becomes the good citizen. His father's family con- sists of nine children, all of whom are living. The doctor is the second son, and fourth in the order of birth. .

. DR. JAMES W. TEAGARDEN.

Dr. James W. Teagarden, of German descent, was born in Greene County, Pa., Aug. 14, 1850, and is the second son of Hamilton and Sarah A. (Burns) Tea- garden. His literary education was obtained in the common schools and academies. When fifteen years of age he began teaching school, which he followed for eleven years. In 1876 he entered the office of

Dr. W. L. Grim, of Burnsville, where he prosecuted the study of medicine for nearly two years. In 1877 he matriculated in Cleveland Medical College, from which he received his degree in 1879. For one year after graduating he practiced at Crane's Mills, in his native county. He then settled in Burnsville, Wash- ington Co., as the partner of his preceptor. He enjoys a good general practice. He has been a mem- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for fifteen years, and is a rigid temperance man." was mar- ried, Oct. 26, 1881, to Hattie N. Crow, of Greene County, Pa., oldest daughter of Michael and Sarah J. Crow, of Richhill township.

DR. WILLIAM DENNEY.

Dr. William Denney, of Claysville, was born in Jefferson, Greene Co., Pa., Oct. 28, 1851. He re- ceived his primary education in and near his native village. In the autumn of 1864 he went to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where he studied for four years in the Mount Pleasant Seminary, under the direction of his uncle, Rev. E. L. Belden, who was principal of that institution. He then entered the Wesleyan Univer- sity of Iowa, where he studied for about two years. In 1870 he returned to his native town of Jefferson and engaged in school-teaching, which he followed in different parts of Greene County until 1876. He then entered regularly upon his medical studies, which he had been pursuing during his vacation in teaching, in the office of his uncle, Dr. B. W. Denney, of Garard's Fort, Greene Co., Pa. He afterwards entered the Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, in which he took the progressive course, and from which he graduated in the spring of 1879. In June of that year he established himself in Claysville, where he has since practiced. Professionally and socially he is esteemed by the community. He was married March 3, 1881, to Lucinda, third daughter of John and Sarah Bell, of Morgan township, Greene Co., Pa.

EAST BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP.

OF the thirteen original townships into which Washington County was divided immediately after its erection in 1781, the second on the list was the township of Bethlehem, which embraced the present territory of East and West Bethlehem and a part of that of East Pike Run township. The old township of Bethlehem continued, with its original boundaries, for nine years from the time of its erection.

In 1788 a petition, dated August 29th of that year,

and numerously signed by inhabitants of Bethlehem and Fallowfield, was presented to the court praying that a new township be formed from parts of the two townships named. The court took no immediate action on this petition, and it was finally rejected.

At the September term of the court in 1788 there was presented "A Petition of a number of the In- habitants of Bethlehem township, in the County of Washington," praying the court to "Cause our

765

EAST BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP.

Township to be Divided Centerably and laid out in two distinct townships, which we would recom- mend as follows (to wit) : Beginning at Petter Drake's, and thence a straight line to Wise's Mill, which has been ever accounted Centerable."

At the same term of court another and more nu- merously-signed petition was presented of inhabit- ants of Bethlehem township, praying the court "to lay us off into two Distinct Townships, as nigh of an cqual siz. >> possible," and recommending a division line, "Beginning at the mouth of Daniels' Run, thence with a straight course to Adam Weaver's, .. which has always been allowed to be the Central house, thence with a straight course to Thomas Hill's, tavern-keeper."

Both petitions had the same object, the division of Bethlehem into two townships, and differed only as to the division line asked for. But the first-mentioned petition secured the favorable action of the court ; the division was ordered in accordance with the line indicated in it, and on the 18th of January, 1790, the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania con- firmed the decree of the court, erecting from the ter- ritory of old Bethlehem township two townships, "the easterly part to be called East Bethlehem." It appears that for more than a half-century there- after the status of the townships was satisfactory to the inhabitants; but at the November term of the. Court of Quarter Sessions in 1842 a petition was pre- sented "of sundry Inhabitants of East Bethlehem" for a new township to be formed from off the southern side of said township to be called " Plum Run," and to be bounded by a line " commencing near the mouth of Fish Pot Run, to intersect the West Pike Run township line near the Toll-Gate on the National road, east of Bealsville." On this petition the com- missioners reported adversely May 27, 1843, and their report was confirmed by the court. In the same year the boundary line between East Bethlehem and East Pike Run was changed by an order of court, giving to the last-named township a small part of the terri- tory of East Bethlehem. Again, in August, 1861, the line between East and West Bethlehem was slightly changed, leaving East Bethlehem with its present area and boundary lines. The township's boundaries are as follows : On the north, against East Pike Run and West Pike Run townships ; on the east and south- east by the Monongahela River, separating it from Fayette County ; on the south by the Monongahela and by Ten-Mile Creek (which last-named stream separates it from Greene County) ; and on the west by the township of West Bethlehem. All the streams of the township of any importance are mentioned in the preceding description of its boundaries.

Early Settlements .- The first white settlers within the territory of Washington County were Everhart Hupp, George Bumgarner, and Abraham Teagarden, and all these located in the vicinity of the mouth of Ten-Mile Creek. Everhart Hupp and George Bum-

garner came together in the year 1766 from Culpeper. County, Va., and each made a settlement, as stated, in the southern part of the present township of East Bethlehem, Hupp's land was about two miles from the mouth of Ten-Mile Creek, on the north side. He took up several large tracts,-one known as "Hupp's Regard," containing three hundred and eighty-seven acres, which was granted him June 3, 1769, on war- rant No. 3318, and surveyed April 7, 1784; another tract, called "Hupp's Bottom," having two hundred and ninety-five acres, was given him on a Virginia certificate, and described "as including his actual settlement made in the year 1769." Everhart Hupp's wife was Margaret Hupp, and their children were George, Philip, Michael, Frank, Rezin, John, Henry, David, and Margaret. The sons Philip and Michael were in the war of 1812, being members of the com- pany of Adam Wise, which went out from Frederick- town the latter part of that year. Philip Hupp after- wards married Phebe Johnson, and emigrated to the West. Rezin married Mahala Harris, and lived on Fish Creek. John's wife was Hannah Homer, and their home was near Clarksville. David followed the trade of stone-mason for several years. Both he and his brother Henry died of fever. The sons Michael and Frank married, and lived in Washington County. George Hupp was the oldest son and child of Everhart Hupp. He died in 1854, leaving a family of seven children, six daughters and one son. The son, George Hupp, Jr., now lives on a part of the original tract. Hiram Homer also owns a portion of the early home- stead. The land of Everhart Hupp was near the present village of Millsborough, and he lived upon it until his death, which occurred in 1824. Some of the stones which formed the chimney of his early cabin home are yet to be seen upon the part of the farm now in the possession of Mr. Homer.

George Bumgarner, who came to this section with Mr. Hupp, located upon land adjoining that of his fellow-pioneer. He had but one child, his son Jesse, who was born in what is now Washington County, June 6, 1768. Jesse Bumgarner married Elizabeth Dolby, and at his father's death inherited all his estate. His children were Joseph, Jesse, Abraham, George, Elizabeth, Rachel, Delilah, Susan, and Hannah Bum- garner. Very many of the descendants of George Bumgarner still reside in this county. Mrs. Eliza- beth Phillips is a grandchild, and Jesse Phillips and Jesse Bumgarner are great-grandsons. Mrs. O'Brian, Mrs. Dolby, and Mrs. Coon, who all live in or near the village of Millsborough, and Rev. Jacob B. Mc- Cormick, of Grafton, W. Va., are lineal descendants of the Bumgarner family.

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 189

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