History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 233

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 233

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James Linn, April 13, 1841. John Nesbitt, April 15, 1845.

Jonathan Martin, April 17, 1846. John Nesbitt, April 9, 1850. John Farley, April 17, 1851.

Ebenezer MeBirney, April 11, 1854.

John Zediker, April 10, 1855. Workman Hughes, April 10, 1860. Isaac Vance, April 10, 1860. D. L. Reynolds, April 17, 1866. D. L. Reynolds, April 10, 1871. John Zediker, April 19, 1872.

John Zediker, Feb. 7, 1874. D. L. Reynolds, Feb. 7, 1874. J. B. McBride, Jan. 28, 1874. R. D. Henry, March 16, 187G. Charles Schmidt, March 21, 1877. Samuel Garber, April 9, 1881.

Settlements .- Richard Yeates, a Virginian, re- ceived Virginia certificates for large tracts of land in what are now South Strabane and Franklin townships. An entry in the first survey book of Yohogania County of the year 1782 is as follows :

"In consequence of Three Certificates dated at Cox's Fort the 21st day of Feb'y, 1780, and Part of one other dated 9th day of Fel'y, 1780, granted by the Commissioners for Actual Settlements appointed to ad- just Claim to unpatented lands in the Counties of Yougliogena, Monon- gahela, & Ohio. Richard Yeates, assignee of William Riely, is entitled to Nine Hundred and two acres of land lying in Youghegonia County | aforesaid, sd. land lying on the Eastern branches of the Middle Fork of Shurters Creek. ... In testimony whereof, 1 have hereunto set my hand this 26th Day of Feb'y, 1780.

" THOMAS BOND, D. S. Y. C. "W. CRAWFORD, S. Y. C."

This land was adjoining lands of Capt. James Bu- chanan and Hercules Roney, both of whom received tracts of lands as assignees of Richard Yeates for one hundred and sixty-one acres of land. The entry in the survey book mentioned above, concerning the land of Capt. James Buchanan, is here given, and that of Hercules Roney is similar :

" In consequence of a certificate dated at Cox's Fort, Feb. 9, 1780, Granted by the Coms. appointed to adjust claims to unpatented Lands in the counties of Yohogania, Monongalia, and Ohio. Capt. James Buchanan, assignee of Richard Yates, is Intitled to one hundred and sixty-one acres of land on the waters of the middle fork of Shustees Creek.

" Signed Feby 26, 1780.

THOMAS BOND, D. S. Y. C.

" Ex'd., W. CRAWFORD, S. Y. C."

Richard Yeates was a zealous Virginia partisan. He resided for a time on what is now known as the Gabby farm in Franklin township. On this farm was built the jail of Augusta County, Va. It is supposed he removed to the lands in South Strabane. He com- menced the sale of his land in this county in 1783, and continued until 1788, when they were all dis- posed of.

Before the fall of 1787, Richard Yeates had re- moved from the county and the State, and nothing has been ascertained of his subsequent life.

Henry Taylor came to this section of the country from Cecil County, Md., about the year 1770, and set- tled on land he afterwards purchased. The first pur-

1 The justices who held jurisdiction in the territory of this township prior to 1840 are named in the list of justices given in the history of North Strabane.

952

Samevance

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SOUTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP.

chase of which there is any record is of one hundred and fifty acres on the Middle Fork of Chartiers Creek, " Bounded on the northeast by Robert Howelton's land, and on the path leading from Catfish Camp to Pittsburgh including his improvement." This deed or patent is signed by John Penn, Feb. 1, 1771. Tay- lor afterwards purchased other tracts, amounting in the aggregate to about seventeen hundred acres, all in what is now South Strabane. He married Jane White, and settled on the portion of land which afterward became the farm of John Smith, and now owned by George Davis. On this he built a cabin which was occupied by him for several years. His sons were Matthew, Henry, John, Joseph, and George; the daughters were Jane, Eliza, and Mary.

Matthew Taylor, the oldest son, was born on the farm, married Nancy Hutchinson, and settled on a part of the tract. He died June 19, 1852. They had ten children, eight of whom are living. Thomas re- sides in West Finley. George lives in Buffalo town- ship; Matthew on two hundred acres, a part of the old homestead. William lives in Washington. His son, J. Frank Taylor, is a member of the bar in Washington County. Henry, the second son of Henry, married Nelly Dagg; settled on a portion of the farm; later sold, and removed to Wheeling, where he died. The property is now owned by George Munce.

John, the third son, settled on a part of the estate now owned by William Berry. He married Mary Good, and after the sale removed to Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Joseph married, first, Ann Stewart, and, second, Mrs. White, a widow, and lived and died in the township. George W., the youngest son, settled on a portion of the farm, where he resided until his family had arrived at maturity and became scattered. He sold and removed to Pittsburgh, and later to Wheeling.

Of the daughters, Jane became the wife of Richard Dagg. They settled on the portion of the farm now owned by Joseph Miller. John W. Seaman, the present prothonotary of Washington County, is a grandson. Eliza married Dr. Layton. They removed to Waynesburg, Greene Co., and died there. Mary married Thomas Patton, who was a hatter. They settled in Washington, Pa., for several years, and emigrated to Ohio.

Henry Taylor was appointed a major of militia and a justice of the peace of Yohogania County ; and upon the erection of Washington County, in 1781, was elected a justice of the peace, October 15th, and ap- pointed by the Supreme Executive Council a justice of the peace and of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions, and later made the presiding jus- tice, a position he held until the office was abolished in 1791, and the Hon. Alexander Addison, a judge learned in the law, succeeded him. He died Oct. 8, 1801, sixty-three years of age.

William Huston was the first white man who settled

in the immediate vicinity of where the borough of Washington now stands. In 1774, Michael Cresap stopped at the house of William Huston at Catfish Camp, when on his way from Wheeling to Redstone. Huston's land was taken up on a Virginia certificate, and was surveyed to him as "Huston's Pleasure." On this farm he lived until the latter part of 1802. His will was made December 7th of that year. He had three sons, James, Dixson, and Hamilton, and four daughters, Ann, Jane, Peggy, and Polly. The farm was divided before the death of their father, Hamilton receiving a deed for two hundred and thirty acres. Ann married John Bollen, who was a shoemaker, and settled in Washington, Pa., opposite Joseph Huston's (who was a cousin of William) tav- ern on Main Street. Here they lived until 1811, when they moved to Amwell township. Mrs. Jane B. Prall, of Washington, is their daughter. Hamilton settled on the home farm. He had a son William, and Mrs. Samuel McFarland is a daughter. Jane Huston, daughter of William, married John Smith. Peggy married John Paxton, and Polly married Archibald Kerr. The old homestead and spring is now owned by Mrs. Henry Swartz, and part of the farm is now owned by Mrs. Nicholas Wade and others. The Wade extension is on part of the farm, and Wade Avenue passes through it.

Josiah and Hugh Scott, brothers and sons of Abram Scott, came to this county about 1771 from Peach Bottom, near where the Susquehanna River passes from Pennsylvania into Maryland. Hugh Scott settled in what is now Nottingham township, and Josiah on a piece of land in what is now South Stra- bane. He was born in 1735, and about 1760 married Violet Foster. The warrant for his land was not taken out until Sept. 21, 1784, and was surveyed on the 10th of September the next year. It was named " Oakham," and contained two hundred and ninety- nine acres, adjoining lands of Dorsey Pentecost, Samuel Workman, and Matthew Steen. On this farm he lived till 1819, when he and his son John and his wife and several others died of cholera. His children were Sarah, Alexander, Abraham, Mary, Betsey, James, Jane, Josiah, Hugh, Robert, Samuel, and John. Alexander married Rachel, the daughter of John McDowell, and settled on the old MeDowell farm in North Strabane township. A sketch of him and his family will be found in the history of that township in connection with the McDowells. Abra- ham married Rebecca, also a daughter of John Mc- Dowell. He became a Presbyterian clergyman, and was connected with Jefferson College. A sketch of this family will also be found in the history of the McDowell family. Mary, a daughter of Josiah, be- came the wife of William Cotton, and Betsey the wife of Robert Stephenson. John married Isabella, a daughter of Isaac Vance; they settled on the home- stead, and both died in 1819.

Isaac Vance was a son of John Vance, of Somerset

954

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

township, who died in 1796. Isaac was born Feb. 11, 1754, and came to this county with his father, On the 18th of November, 1803. he married Mary, daugh- ter of Henry Cotton. He purchased two hundred and fifty acres of land in Strabane township of Hugh Cotton, his brother-in-law, April 23, 1810, on which he settled and raised a large family. His wife died Nov. 9, 1830, and he survived her until Nov. 5, 1837, when he too died at the age of eighty-three years, leaving fourteen children, John, Agnes, Henry, Hugh, Isabella, Samuel, Mary, Hannah, Martha, Isaac, Rachel, Joseph, Margaret, and Lydia. John and Henry Vance settled on Pigeon Creek, on land their father had located there, and where their descendants now reside. Mrs. John D. Scott is a daughter of Henry. Isabella Vance married John Scott, a son of Josiah Scott; they settled on the Scott farm, and both died of cholera in 1819. Martha married David Riddle, and settled on Pigeon Creek, where their son now lives. Isaac settled in Allegheny County, and died in February, 1873. His son John owns the property. Mary married Samuel Davis, and settled on Pigeon Creek.

Samuel, a son of Isaac, settled on the homestead in Strabane township, where he died. Of his chil- dren, John remained on the homestead, where he now lives; William settled on the Scott farm, and died there ; Isaac located in Carlisle, where he now resides ; Joseph became a Presbyterian minister and located at Carlisle, but .on account of ill health returned to the homestead and died when still a young man.

Thomas Dill emigrated to this country from Ire- land and purchased land in Strabane township, a part of which he afterwards sold to Henry Wilson, who married his daughter Jane. Matthew Dill, a son, married a daughter of Alexander Cunningham, of Washington, Pa., with whom he engaged in the mer- cantile business in that place.

Henry Wilson, a native of Ireland, came to this country about, 1800, and married Jane, a daughter of Thomas Dill, and purchased a portion of his farm, on which their son, Matthew Dill Wilson, now resides. Jane, a daughter of Henry and Jane Wilson, married Lewis Guttery, and now lives at Moundsville, W. Va. Samuel J. Wilson, also a son of Henry Wilson, grad- uated at Washington College, became a Presbyterian minister, and for several years was located at Pitts- burgh. He is now president of the Allegheny Theo- logical Seminary at Allegheny City. Elizabeth, a daughter of Henry Wilson, became the wife of John Paxton, of Canonsburg. This son, the Rev. John Paxton, was for several years pastor of a Presby- terian Church in Washington, D. C., and now pastor of the Forty-second Street Church in New York City. Thomas B. Wilson, also a son of Henry, was a Pres- byterian minister, and located in Xenia, Ohio, where he died, leaving a widow and two sons, both of whom are Presbyterian ministers, one located near Pitts- burgh, the other near Downingtown, Pa.

On the 8th of April, 1786, Nicholas Little received a warrant for a tract of land in Strabane township, which was surveyed to him on the 10th of September, 1786. It contained three hundred and ninety acres, and was named "Littleton." Nicholas and his brother Moses, who were natives of Ireland, emi- grated to this country and came to this county about 1781. The descendants of Nicholas are now living in Cecil township. Moses Little settled on land ad- joining John and William Colmery, and now in pos- session of D. L. Reynolds. His children were David, John, Margaret, Nancy, Moses. David settled on the home farm, lived a bachelor, and died there. John learned the trade of a printer, and lived and died in Pittsburgh. Margaret became the wife of Zachariah Reynolds, and resided about two miles east in the town- ship; their descendants are living on the farm. Nancy married - McMurtry, and settled in Pittsburgh. Moses married Nancy, daughter of Joseph Harris, of Amwell township. They settled on an adjoining farm, where he lived and died. They had six chil- dren,-Emeline is unmarried ; Margaret became the wife of Samuel Melvin, of Waynesburg, Greene Co .; John H., adjoining the home farm; Leroy W. be- came an attorney-at-law, resided in Washington, Pa., and died in 1872; Dr. J. H. Little resides in Wash- ington, and Moses owns the home farm, but resides in Washington, Pa.

Robert Doak came from Harrisburg before 1780 and settled on land which was surveyed June 2, 1785, con- taining four hundred acres, named " Doak's Plain." Patent for it was obtained Sept. 17, 1790. He died in 1803, and left two sons, Robert and William, and one daughter, Jean, who was the widow of John Boggs, and at this time the wife of James Neal. The heirs sold to Robert Henry one hundred and thirty- five acres, March 28, 1803, and the same date two hun- dred to William Doak, and to John McMillen seventy acres ; later, and in 1805, Robert Doak sold other land to John McMillen and Robert Hazlett. William Doak lived on his farm till his death in 1857, aged ninety- four years. He came to this section of country with his father, and settled on the farm where he and his father lived and died. He used to relate that they were driven from the place several times by the In- dians, and once remained away two years.

James Wilson purchased of Richard Yeates two hundred acres of land, Oct. 28, 1783, where he resided in his latter days. It descended lo his son Hugh, who was long a resident of Washington, Pa., and re- tired to this farm near the borough of Washington, where his son, Hugh W. Wilson, was born. The latter married Frances M., daughter of Thomas Bar- low, in 1817, and settled on the farm his grandfather had purchased. They had two sons,-Edward P. is now of Cincinnati, James W. resides on the home farm. Clara became the wife of A. Todd Baird, and resides in the borough of Washington.

After the death of his wife he married Sarah, the

Huston Paul

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SOUTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP.

granddaughter of Col. Presley Neville, by whom he had one son, Neville, now living in Cincinnati.

Robert Henry took up a tract of land on a Virginia certificate received in February, 1780. It was sur- veyed as "Redstone," containing three hundred and thirty-three acres. On the 21st of November, 1793, he purchased one hundred and eighty-nine acres of Craig Ritchie, and on the 3d of May, 1799, he pur- chased one hundred and seventy-nine acres of Thomas Kerr (who inherited the tract of three hundred and thirteen acres called " Witches' Haunt" of his father), and on the 28th of March, 1803, he purchased one hundred and thirty-five acres of the heirs of Robert Doak. These four purchases made an area of eight hundred and thirty-six acres. He married Ann, a daughter of Nicholas Little, and had two sons, Nicho- las and Joseph, and two daughters, Isabella and Peggy. Joseph married a daughter of David Zediker, and emigrated to Richland County, Ohio. Nicholas mar- ried Margaret, a daughter of John Zediker; they settled on the Henry homestead, where he lived and died April 24, 1838, leaving four sons, Robert, John, Lewis, and Joseph, and one daughter, Mary. Robert remained on the homestead, where he still lives. John located on the William Gibson tract. Lewis was in the United States army, and was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness, and died a few days after, May 24, 1864. Joseph died when about twenty- one years of age. Mary, the daughter of Nicholas and sister of Robert and John, married Nathaniel White, and settled near Hickory, in Mount Pleasant township. Isabella, a daughter of Nicholas Henry, Sr., married Lewis Zediker, and settled in Beaver County. Peggy, the youngest daughter, married Benjamin Gray, and emigrated to Ohio.

Thomas Woodward settled in the county about 1785, and took out a warrant for land April 27, 1786. It was surveyed' on the 22d of May following, and named " Indian Camp," containing four hundred and five acres. A part of the tract afterwards came into the possession of Col. James Dunlap, who laid out a town upon it called Williamsburg, and opened a tav- ern, then having for its sign "Mount Vernon." After 1818 this passed to Jonathan Martin, and was called Martinsburg, and still later to George Pancoke, and the place is now known as Martinsburg and "Pan- coke." .

The name of Lodowyck Smith does not appear on the survey books, but he was located in this township, ou land adjoining Alexander Kerr, in March, 1786. In 1796 he opened a tavern on the farm, which was kept by him till his death in 1817. His will bears date in 1816, by which he left his wife the mansion house and one hundred acres during her life, and to his children each a portion of the tract. He had seven daughters and two sons,-Catharine, Margaret, John, Susannah, Christina, Julia, Mary, Elizabeth, and Lewis.

Catharine married David Zediker; they came into

possession of ninety acres, which was sold, and is now owned by B. B. Zediker, and removed to Ohio. Mar- garet married John Zediker, and settled on the Zedi- ker farm, a portion of which was given to them by her father. John also lived on a portion of the farm. Susanna married Dickinson Roberts; they resided on part of the farm. He was sheriff of Washington County in 1817. Their children were Elizabeth, who married Thomas Fergus, and settled in South Stra- bane. Mary married Lewis Valentine. Leonard settled on the Little farm, and Lewis in Waynesburg. Christina Smith married Samuel Munce; they settled on the homestead and had two children, of whom one married Adam Beck, whose heirs now own the prop- erty. Julia Smith married William Helms, and set- tled at Amity, in Amwell township. Mary Smith married James Guttery, and settled on part of the Smith farm, now owned by their son George. Eliza- beth Smith married Jacob Koontz, a son of Michael Koontz, of Washington ; the portion of the farm they owned is now owned by Robert Zediker. Lewis Smith, a son of Lodowyck, settled on the portion left him and died there, leaving it to his son Lewis. It is now owned by the heirs of John Zediker, Jr.

John and David Zediker were Germans, who came to this township, where they both married daughters of Lodowyck Smith. John married Margaret, and David married Catharine. The latter received of her father forty-five acres of land, and Margaret ninety acres. David and Margaret soon after sold their land and removed to near Richland (now Mansfield), Ohio, where he took up a large tract of land, and raised four sons, each of whom he gave eighty acres.

John Zediker, his brother, purchased lands of Thomas Kerr, adjoining, and lived there many years, raised a large family of children, and finally went West, leaving his family here. Of these Lewis mar- ried Margaret, the daughter of Nicholas Henry, and lived on the Zediker homestead, where he died, leav- ing five sons and five daughters. His son John lives in the east portion of the township, and is a justice of the peace. Robert lives on the Jacob Koontz property. Nicholas lives in Martinsburg, and B. B. Zediker on the homestead, and also owns the portion left to David Zediker. John, a brother of Lewis, and son of John Zediker, lived on the portion of land his father bought of Thomas Kerr, and his heirs are still in possession.

William Smith, a native of Ireland, came to this county and settled for a time on Mingo Creek, and July 25, 1807, purchased one hundred and nine acres of land of Nicholas Vaneman, where he settled and died. His children were Ann, Sarah, Margaret, Maria, James, and William. Ann married Joseph Caldwell, of Hickory, where he was a merchant. Later he moved to Butler County, Pa. Sarah married Rob- ert Hanna, and moved to Ohio. Margaret remained single, and died in the township. James settled near Washington, Pa., but died soon after settlement.

956

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

William married Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew Vaneman, and settled first in Somerset township, where he remained eight years. He then bought the mill property in South Strabane township, which he still owns. He owns property adjoining in Somerset and South Strabane townships. He now lives near the line and in Somerset township, and his son Wylie in the old Andrew Vaneman homestead in this town- ship.

Hugh, Samuel, and James Workman came to this country about 1781 and settled near Washington, Pa. They were all engaged at different times in the expe- ditions against the Indians. Hugh and Samuel were tanners. Hugh took up his residence in the borough of Washington, where he followed his occupation. Samuel took out a warrant for a tract of land dated Sept. 2, 1785, and which was surveyed May 13th the next year. It was called "Paphos," and contained three hundred and fifty-eight acres. He opened a tavern in 1796, and kept it till 1812. The load owned by James Workman is now owned by Huston Paull, and that owned by Samuel is now owned by Mrs. Templeton. James Workman also purchased of Henry Woods, July 22, 1796, eighteen acres (a part of the John McClure tract), and on the 20th of Jan- uary, 1801, he purchased land of William Huston, a part of the tract called " Huston's Pleasure."

A Methodist Church or class was organized in this township about 1840. Their meetings were first held in the school-house. About five years later they erected a neat frame church, in which services were held until about 1867, when it was thought best to change the location, and a frame building was erected on the north side of the National road, about six and a half miles east of Washington borough, outside of this township. The chapel, at first known as Providence ' Chapel, upon its removal to its present location be- came known as Davidson's Chapel, and is at present under the pastoral care of the Rev. R. S. Wolf. Upon the site of the Providence Chapel now stands the Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church, under the care of the Rev. W. F. Hamilton.

Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church .- This church was organized July 2, 1872. Its edifice is in 1 South Strabane, five miles east of Washington. For the first few years of its existence it was supplied with preaching successively by Rev. W. Ewing and Rev. George Fraser, D.D. Since April, 1875, its pulpit has been filled by Rev. W. F. Hamilton. Its ruling elders have been Isaac Dager, William Pees, and Robert Munnell, ordained July 2, 1872, and John B. Herron and John Herron, ordained Feb. 11, 1877. The last named is now acting. Isaac Dager died Dec. 4, 1876. The others have removed out of the bounds. At its organization twenty-eight members were en- rolled; its present membership is forty-four. One of the active instruments in the establishment of this church was the venerable Mrs. Jane Dill Wilson, who died June 20, 1877, at an advanced age. She was the

mother of Rev. Thomas Wilson, deceased, and Rev. S. J. Wilson, D.D., LL.D., professor in Western Theological Seminary. Among her grandchildren are Rev. Maurice B. Wilson, Emsworth, Pa., and Rev. Calvin D. Wilson and Rev. John R. Paxton, D.D., both of Washington, D. C. She was a person of remarkable force of character and most devoted piety.

Schools were taught in the township in the early days by subscription, in the same manner as in other townships. At the time of the passage of the school law in 1834 there were living in the township 245 persons liable to school tax. The amount raised for school purposes in 1835 was $201.88. Unlike some of the other townships in the county, this township accepted the provisions of the law, and raised in 1836 $401, and received from the State $66.39. In 1837 the whole amount received was $404.47. The town- ship was divided into seven districts, which remained as they were laid out until about 1875, when another district was made. In 1863 there were 237 pupils ; in 1873, 221; and in 1880 the number was increased to 333. In 1863 the receipts for school purposes were $1035.20; expenditures, $995; in 1873, receipts, $1995.18; expenditures, $1723.92; in 1880, receipts, $4419.49; expenditures, $4120.97.

PREHISTORIC PIPE.

Prehistoric relics have been found in various places in South Strabane township. A cut is here given of a pipe made doubtless by a people whose occupancy preceded that of the Indians whom the first white settlers foun l here. It was found near the United

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 233

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