History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 104

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1474

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JAMES I. BROWNSON, member of the firm of Don- nans, Brownson & Miller, one of the leading law firms of Washington, Pa., has been in practice in this city throughout his professional career and has a wide ac- quaintance through the county. He was born at Wash- ington, Pa., in 1856, and is a son of Rev. James I .. Brownson.

Rev. James I. Brownson was a native of Franklin County, Pa., and in 1849 moved to Washington to accept the pastorate of the First Presbyterian Church, and he filled the pulpit of that church continuously for a period of 50 years, resigning Jan. 1, 1899. His death occurred July 4, 1899. He was an able, scholarly and conscientious man and lives in the memory of the people of this community.

James I. Brownson, Esq., was reared in Washington and was educated in the public schools and in Washing- ton and Jefferson College, from which institution he was graduated in 1875. He registered as a law student with Alexander Wilson and was admitted to the bar in 1878, since which time he has been in continuous prac- tice at Washington and with eminent success. He is a member of the Washington County and Pennsylvania State Bar Associations. He was president of the coun- cil of South Washington before it became a part of the city, and also served several terms as solicitor for Wash- ington County. He is a director of the Washington Trust Company; a member of the board of trustees of Washington and Jefferson College; a member of the Archaeological Institute of America; of the National

REV. JAMES I. BROWNSON

JAMES I. BROWNSON

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Geographical Society; and of the American Forrestry Association. In religious attachment, Mr. Brownson is a member of the First Presbyterian Church and is sec- retary of the Sunday school.

CHARLES FRANCIS LINN, M. D., superintendent of the Monongahela Memorial Hospital, is a native of Washington, Pa., where he was born August 20, 1874, and is a son of Alonzo and Rebecca E. (Fulton) Linn.

Prof. Alonzo Linn, the father of our subject, who was born in Butler County, Pa., came when a boy of twelve years to the vicinity of Monongahela where he was reared and later became an instructor in the Wash- ington-Jefferson College, in which capacity he served until the time of his death, September 24, 1901, at the age of seventy-four years. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Rebecca E. Linn, a resident of Washington, and four children: George Thomas, Andrew M., Harry H., and Charles Francis, our subject.

Dr. Charles F. Linn was reared in Washington, where he attended the Washington Preparatory School, later graduating from the college with the class of 1895. He then took a medical course at the University of Pennsyl- vania, from which he graduated in 1898 and spent the following year in the hospital at Pottstown. In October, 1899, he came to Monongahela City, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession, in which he has been highly successful, his office being located on Main street. He is a member of the Washington County, and the Pennsylvania Medical associations, and in poli- tics, is an adherent of the Republican party.

On November 15, 1908, Dr. Linn was joined in mar- riage with Henrietta L. McKennan, who is a daughter of Dr. Thomas McKennan, of Washington, and their residence is located on the corner of Chess and Third streets.

DAVID M. McCLOSKEY, one of the leading attorneys and city solicitor of Charleroi, Pa., who has been a resi- dent here for the past seven years, was born March 6, 1879, in Elk County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Frank P. and Jennie L. (Poland) McCloskey, both natives of the Wyoming Valley, near Wilkesbarre, Pa. The father of our subject is the manager of the Charleroi Real Estate and Insurance Company, and is one of the prominent business men of the city.

David M. McCloskey was born in Elk County, Penn- sylvania, where his parents were visiting at that time, but was reared at Lock Haven, Pa., where he attended the common schools and graduated from the high school at the age of seventeen years. He graduated from the New York University with the degrees of L. L. B. and L. L. M., was admitted to the bar of New York City, and for one year engaged in the practice of his pro-

fession in that city, but for the past seven years has been a resident of Charleroi, where he has been successfully engaged in the practice of law. He has for three years been city solicitor of Charleroi, is attorney for and director of many corporations, including the First Na- tional Bank of Charleroi, the Charleroi Savings & Trust Company, Mercantile Bridge Company, Charleroi Lum- ber Company, Walton Lumber Company, and others. Mr. McCloskey has his offices on Fifth street. He is affiliated with the Elks, is a Knight Templar, Mason, and belongs to the Mystic Shrine, and is identified with the University and the Duquesne clubs, of Pitts- burg. His religious connection is with St. Mary's Epis- copal Church of which he is one of the Vestrymen.

HON. JOHN BIRCH, deceased, was once one of Wash- ington County's most prominent citizens, serving in many offices of responsibility and ably representing his district in the State Legislature of Pennsylvania. He was born near Shippensburg, Cumberland Co., Pa., Au- gust 5, 1810, and was a son of William and Elizabeth (Mitchell) Birch.

The paternal grandfather was John Birch and he was born in Ireland, but was of Scotch descent. He served twelve years as a soldier in the British Army. In his native country he married Jane Bright and in 1801 they emigrated to America, settling first in Cumberland County, Pa., but later moving to Amwell Township, in Washington County. By trade he was a weaver and dur- ing his lifetime it was a fairly profitable one. His chil- dren bore the following names: William, Valentine, James, Jane, John, David, Thomas and Ann.

William Birch, the eldest of the above family, became the father of John Birch. He was born at Belfast, Ire- land, February 3, 1788, accompanied his parents to Amer- ica thirteen years later and completed his school at- tendance in Cumberland County, Pa. He learned to weave and in his early business life was associated with a Mr. Campbell in the manufacture of cloth. In 1818 he moved with his family to Amwell Township, Wash- ington County, settling on a farm but removing two years later to a farm in Canton Township, four years

later to Buffalo Township, and in 1835 to Holmes County, Ohio. After the death of his wife, in 1844, he moved to Fulton County, Ill., but returned to Ohio and resided at Birmingham until his decease, April 20, 1879. In politics he was an Old-line Whig and in religion he was a stanch Presbyterian. He married Elizabeth Mitchell, who was born in Cumberland County in 1791, a daughter of John Mitchell, who, like John Birch, was of Irish birth but of Scotch ancestry. To William and Elizabeth Birch were born the following children: John, Mary, William, David, George Bright, Thomas L., Drusilla, Margaret J., Mitchell, Joseph and Elizabeth.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON-COUNTY

John Birch obtained his education in the common and subscription schools and when sixteen years old was ap- prenticed to John Sharp, a neighboring tanner, with whom he worked four years as an apprentice and one year as a journeyman. In 1832 he went to Claysville and after working for a short time for a local tanner, he opened a tannery of his own and conducted it for more than fifty years, at the end of that period retiring from active business. In politics he was a Jacksonian Democrat. Being a man of sterling integrity and pos- sessing intellect and education above the majority of his neighbors, was frequently called upon to accept official duties. In 1848 he was elected a county commissioner and served three terms in that office; in 1860, was census enumerator in his section; served five terms as a justice of the peace and finally was elected to the State Legis- lature by a majority of more than 100 votes, and that in a strong Republican county.

On May 5, 1835, Mr. Birch was married to Miss Har- riet Reed, a daughter of James Reed. She was born October 15, 1815, in Amwell Township, and died June 14, 1877. To this union were born the following chil- dren: George W. F., born February 26, 1837, is a graduate of Washington and Jefferson College and is a Presbyterian minister; Francis A., born April 26, 1840, a graduate of Washington and Jefferson College, died September 13, 1863; William T., born September 2, 1842, died February 4, 1864; Edward P., born February 1, 1845, died in 1847; Henry B., born January 9, 1849; John M., born July 7, 1851, was educated in Washington and Jefferson College; Elizabeth M., born June 1, 1854, married Rev. J. J. McCarrell, of Mckeesport; Thomas F., who is a prominent attorney at Washington; and Harriet J., who was born January 9, 1860, and married Frank T. Wray. On February 28, 1882, John Birch was married (second) to Miss Elizabeth Todd, of Beaver Falls, Pa. She was a daughter of Dr. Samuel P. and Susan (Kerr) Todd. Dr. Todd was a native of New York and his wife of New Jersey. He was a successful medical practitioner in New York for many years. Mr. Birch was a member of the Presbyterian Church and was a member of the board of trustees.

Thomas F. Birch, the youngest son of the late Hon. John Birch, was born May 18, 1856. After complet- ing the classical course at Washington and Jefferson College, he prepared for the law and was admitted to the bar and has been identified with a large amount of the important legal business in the county courts for years. His offices are 208-210 Washington Trust Building.

THOMAS SCOTT, one of the prominent agriculturists of Donegal Township, now operating an excellent farm of 102 acres, has been a resident of this township since 1888, and comes of an old and honored family of Scotch

extraction. He was born in Hopewell Township, Wash- ington Co., Pa., March 16, 1846, and is a son of Archi- bald and Margaret (Carlisle) Scott, the former a native of Hopewell Township and the latter of Carroll County, Ohio.

Thomas Scott, the grandfather of Thomas, was a na- tive of Lancaster County, Pa., from whence he came in 1812 with his parents to Washington County, settling in the woods of Hopewell Township, where his life was spent in agricultural pursuits. His son, Archibald, who died in May, 1908, also devoted his active life to farm- ing and stock raising, and was a prominent man in his day, serving as road supervisor and constable for a num- ber of years. Of the children born to him and his wife the following survive: Thomas; Rachel A., widow of Lemuel Liggett, of West Middletown, Pa .; Elizabeth J., widow of John Shaler, of Donegal Township; Isabella, wife of John A. Kerns, of Pittsburg; James A., of Can- ton, Ohio; and Sarah M., of Wheeling, W. Va. Two children, Mary and Alvina, are deceased.

Thomas Scott received his education in the district schools of his native township, and as a youth worked on his father's farm. His entire life has been spent in agricultural pursuits, and since 1888 he has carried on operations in Donegal Township, having located on his present fine farm in 1903. He has been successful in his efforts, and is ranked among the leading farmers of his township.

Mr. Scott was married to Clara A. Barr, who was born in Buffalo Township, Washington Co., Pa., daughter of the late James Barr, formerly a well known citizen of Buffalo Township. To Mr. and Mrs. Scott the follow- ing children have been born: Joseph W., of Claysville, Pa .; Anna B., the wife of W. M. Rice, of Claysville; Fannie L., the wife of George Shaler, of Donegal Town- ship; William C., of Claysville; Rosa, wife of Alva Gar- rison, residing in Ohio County, W. Va .; Mary J., wife of Clinton Curtis, of Donegal Township; James A., residing in Ohio County, W. Va., Robert W., also of Ohio County ; Ella, wife of Frank Howard, of Donegal Township; Ruth A., wife of Thomas Scott, of West Finley Town- ship; and Adda, deceased.

Mr. Scott has served two terms as school director in Donegal Township, and is known as a very public-spirited citizen. He is a member of Hopewell Lodge, No. 504, I. O. O. F., at Claysville, Pa., and he and his wife belong to the Christian Church. Mr. Scott was born on the farm on which the first Christian church in the United States was built, on Brush Run, Hopewell Township.

HAROLD ALEXANDER HAMILTON, a progressive and enterprising young business man of Canonsburg is the junior member of the grocery firm of Marple & Ham- ilton, one of the newer business concerns of the city.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

He was born at Linden, North Strabane Township, Wash- ington Co., Pa., and is a son of James A. and Anna R. (Sumney) Hamilton.

James A. Hamilton, father of Harold A., was born in 1857, in Nottingham Township, Washington County, and is a son of James A. and Lucy (Bushyager) Hamil- ton, who were originally of Butler County. James A. Hamilton the second, is a presperous farmer in North Strabane Township. He married Anna R. Sumney, a daughter of William B. and Ruth (Gamble) Sumney, and they have five children, namely: Eva A., who is the wife of Philip Templeton, of Oakmont; Harold Alexander; Wallace G., who is a farmer in North Stra- bane Township, married Angelina L. DeVore; and Hallie W. and James Wray, both of whom reside at home.

Harold Alexander Hamilton received a good public school education, leaving his books in 1902, after gradu- ating from the Washington Business College. He worked on the farm and at the carpenter trade for some eigh- teen months and then turned his attention to merchan- dising, on March 15, 1909, becoming a partner with Les- lie G. Marple, under the firm name of Marple & Hamil- ton, the two young men succeeding John W. Marple. The business is in a prosperous condition and the up-to-date manner in which it is conducted, together with the fine line of goods carried, has secured the liberal patronage of the public. Politically, Mr. Hamilton is a Repub- lican. He is a member of the Fairview Presbyterian Church. He belongs to a family noted for its longevity, his paternal grandparents living to be eighty-two and eighty-one years, respectively, and his maternal grand- parents to be ninety and eighty-two years.

HUGH LEE, SR., a highly respected retired citizen of near Burgettstown, Pa., who formerly carried on large agricultural operations in Cross Creek Township, where he still retains the ownership of two valuable farms ag- gregating 220 acres, was born in Cross Creek Township, Washington Co., Pa., in the residence now occupied by his brother, W. Craig Lee, July 11, 1837. His parents were Maj. William and Jane (Craig) Lee.

The first of this branch of the Lee family was Hugh Lee, who came from Ireland to America in 1789, and they first settled in the vicinity of Canonsburg. He later purchased 219 acres of land of William McFarren in Cross Creek Township, this land being known as Holmes' Victory. James Holmes made settlement in 1774, and received a Virginia certificate in 1780. A part of the tract was sold in 1808 to William McFarren, and he sold it to Hugh Lee as above related, and this tract is still owned by the Lee descendants. This pioneer lived here until his death about the year 1815, and his remains lie in the old burying ground at Cross Creek. He and his wife Mary had a family of five sons and three daugh-

ters, one of whom, a son, Hugh Lee, who was born in Ireland, was three years of age at the time of the arrival of the family in this country. He was the only one of the children to remain at home and at their deaths he became the owner of the home farm. He mar- ried in 1804, Hannah Orr, who was from Hollidays Cove, W. Va., and they had a family of ten children. He re- mained on the home place until his death in 1837, and was survived many years by his widow who died in 1882, in the ninety-fifth year of her age. She was the last of the original members belonging to the Church of Cross Creek at the settlement of Rev. John Stockton, D. D.

Maj. William Lee was born on the home place in Cross Creek Township, in 1807, and his entire life was passed on this place, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He held a commission as major in the State militia from Gov. David R. Porter. He was an elder in the Cross Creek Presbyterian Church from 1858 until his death, his father and grandfather also having been elders of that church before him. He was married in 1836, to Jane Craig, eldest daughter of Hon. Walter Craig, of Cross Creek. They became parents of six children, three sons and three daughters, namely: Hugh Lee, subject of this record; Elizabeth Mary, widow of Hon. John N. McDonald; West Anna, deceased wife of R. V. Johnson, of Washington, Pa .; W. Craig Lee, who lives on the old home place; Hannah, widow of Samuel Sturgeon; and John S., who lives in Cross Creek Township. The death of Maj. William Lee occurred in 1888, and he was buried in the cemetery in Cross Creek, as was his widow, whose death occurred in 1890. Their golden wedding an- niversary was celebrated in 1886.

Hugh Lee, the direct subject of this sketch, attended the district schools and then took a business course in Duff's Commercial College, at Pittsburg, where he was graduated. From the age of twenty-two years he has been interested in farm pursuits. For many years he gave much attention to the sheep industry and found it profitable. He was one of the organizers of the Wash- ington National Bank at Burgettstown and is a large stockholder. In his early political life he was a Whig, but when the Republican party was organized he became identified with it. On many occasions, Mr. Lee's fellow citizens honored him by electing him to responsible town- ship offices and he frequently served as a member of the board of education, as supervisor and judge of elections and for four years was school treasurer.

In October, 1868, Mr. Lee was married to Miss Marian E. Stockton, who died in 1892. She was a daughter of Rev. Dr. John and Nancy (Clark) Stockton, of Cross Creek Township. They had two children: Nancy E. and Alvin C. Mr. Lee's only daughter resides at home. She attended school at Pittsburg and is a graduate of the Hollidaysburg Ladies' College, where she excelled in

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

drawing and painting. The only son is one of the lead- ing physicians and surgeons of Mansfield, Ohio. He attended the district schools and Grove City College, where he was creditably graduated and then entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where he gradu- ated with honors and was selected by his class as class poet. He remained as an interne in the Philadelphia Hospital for a year, and then took a post-graduate course in surgery. In 1900 he located at Mansfield and his advancement in his profession has been steady and sub- stantial. He there married Miss Hattie Niman and they have a little daughter of three years with the name of Marian. Mr. Lee and family attend the Presbyterian Church.

MAJ. ANDREW GARDNER HAPPER, a prominent resident of Washington, who has an honorable record for service in the Civil War, has been extensively en- gaged in the real estate and insurance business in that borough since 1871. He has been closely identified with the important interests of the county, has a wide circle . of acquaintances, and stands high in the estimation of his fellow citizens. He was born in Union Township, Washington Co., Pa., August 15, 1839, and comes of a family which has long been established on American soil and in Washington County. He is a son of John Arrell and Violet (Gardner) Happer, and a grandson of Baptist and Ann (Arrell) Happer.

John Happer, great-grandfather of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, was born in 1745, and died August 25, 1818. He was married March 17, 1778, to Margaret Patton, who was born in 1753 and died May 12, 1839. They had the following children: Andrew, born February 15, 1779; Agnes, born February 21, 1781, died August 23, 1850; Baptist, born July 15, 1783, died July 4, 1833; John, Jr., born January 14, 1786, died August 8, 1808; Jane, born May 16, 1789, died November 24, 1791; Samuel, born June 14, 1791, died April 30, 1812; and Jane, the second of the family to bear that name, was born September 11, 1793, and died November 26, 1819.

Baptist Happer was married September 27, 1808, to Ann Arrell, who was born in Pennsylvania, February 9, 1784, and died at Mt. Hope, January 19, 1848. Their children were: Sarah, born September 11, 1809, became the wife of Rev. Thomas Galt and lived in Sangamon County, Ill .; John Patton, born March 16, 1811; Samuel, born April 13, 1812, married Sarah Curry; John Arrell, born October 1, 1816; Andrew Patton, born October 20, 1818, married Elizabeth Ball; James Edward, born Feb- ruary 2, 1821, married Mary Gardner; and Mary Jane, born June 12, 1823, married David Breading Arrell.

John Arrel Happer was married May 10, 1838, to Miss Violet Gardner, who was born March 24, 1818, and they

lived in Union Township, Washington County, on the old homestead until their respective deaths, he dying in 1890. The issue of their union was: Andrew Gardner, our subject; Anna Margaret, born October 14, 1841, who became the wife of Rev. John J. Beacom, a Pres- byterian minister of Allegheny County, Pa .; Mary Belle, born October 12, 1843, became the wife of Dr. George Chessman also of Allegheny County; James Breading, born June 25, 1846; Francis A., born January 10, 1848, married Emily Foster and lives in Mobile, Ala .; Oliver Paulinus, born May 22, 1850; Sarah Elizabeth, born March 12, 1853; John Wilner, born January 23, 1858; and Ella Blanche, born February 19, 1860.

Maj. Andrew G. Happer received a superior education- al training in the district schools and Washington and Jefferson College, in which he matriculated in 1859. Be- fore the completion of his college course, his patriotism led him to forego his ambitions as a student, and in August, 1861, he enlisted in Co. K, 1st Pa. Vol. Cav. He was mustered into the service as a private, Septem- ber 6, 1861, and on March 11, 1862, was transferred to Co. G, 11th Pa. Vol. Inf., with the rank of first lieu- tenant; was promoted to captain of Co. I, of the 11th Pa. Vol. Inf .; and was honorably discharged November 7, 1865, with the rank of major. He was in many of the most important engagements of the war, and through- out his service was with the Army of the Potomac. Among the most important battles in which he participated may be mentioned the following: Thoroughfare Gap, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, the Wilderness, each one of which claimed its hundreds of victims. At Antietam, Maj. Happer was slightly wounded but nevertheless kept in the ranks, but was more seriously injured at the battle of the Wil- derness, on May 5, 1864, when he was not only taken captive by the enemy but received a wound from a bul- let which his body carries to the present day. Upon receiving his honorable discharge from the army he re- turned to Washington County and shortly afterward was appointed assessor of internal revenue, and, during his period in office, from 1866 until 1871, he resided in Mo- nongahela City. He then returned to Washington where he has since lived, engaging at that time in the real es- tate and insurance business which he has continued and at present is the largest dealer in realty in Washington County. He is a director in the Washington Trust Com- pany and has other interests, having been active in de- veloping the oil fields in the vicinity of Washington, and has always done his full share and more in advanc- ing the welfare of the community.

In 1878, Maj. Happer was married to Miss Matilda M. Watson, a daughter of James Watson, deceased, who for many years was a resident of Washingon. Maj. and Mrs. Happer occupy one of Washington's finest resi-

THOMAS JEFFERSON DUNCAN

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

dences, a magnificent structure of Cleveland stone, which he erected at No. 130 East Wheeling street. In politics, Maj. Happer has been a consistent Republican. Credit is given him for the success that has attended the West- ern Pennsylvania Agricultural Association, of which he was secretary for many years and in which he was deeply interested. He is an honored member of Templeton Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and of the Loyal Legion.

ROBERT STEVENSON, an enterprising farmer and dairyman residing on a farm of sixty acres in Robeson Township, Washington Co., Pa., was born July 16, 1837, on his present farm, and is a son of Robert and Sarah (Geary) Stevenson, and a grandson of William Steven- son. The parents of our subject followed farming all their lives, and died on the home farm and were buried at Candor Cemetery. They were the parents of two chil- dren, Sarah, who makes her home with her brother, Robert, who is the younger.

Robert Stevenson attended the district schools of Robeson Township until fifteen years of age, when he went to work on the farm and has since been engaged in farming and dairying on the old home place.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 104

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1474

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1474