History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 107

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century > Part 107

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Harry B. Simpson grew to manhood in Pittsburg,

where he obtained his educational training in the com- mon schools, after which he entered the employ of H. Lloyd & Sons Company, who were the pioneer iron man- ufacturers of Pittsburg. He was subsequently engaged with the Shoenberger Steel Works of Pittsburg, which position he resigned in 1902, when he came to Monon- gahela City as secretary and manager of the Monon- gahela Clay Manufacturing Company, which concern was organized by a Pittsburg company which sold the plant in 1903 to the present company, of which Samuel M. Downer is president; F. K. Alexander, treasurer, and H. B. Simpson, our subject, secretary and manager. The plant, which is finely equipped with the latest de- vices and machinery for brick-making, covers a tract of 14 acres, and is located about one mile south of Monon- gahela City on the M. W. branch of the P., V. & C. R. R. The company, whose offices are located in the Alexander Bank Building, employ an average of 50 men at the plant, where they produce 60,000 brick per day, manufacturing face brick, hollow brick and paving brick.

Mr. Simpson was united in marriage Nov. 25, 1895, with Bessie J. Hughes, a daughter of W. L. Hughes, of Pittsburg, and of their union have been born three chil- dren: Harold, Kenneth and Mildred. Mr. Simpson and family reside in a pleasant home located on the corner of Meade and Coal streets. Mr. Simpson is fraternally affiliated with the B. P. O. E. of Monongahela City, and his religious connection is with the Presbyterian Church. He is politically identified with the Republican party.

LODOWICK McCARRELL, deceased, for many years was a prominent member of the Washington County bar. He was born in Mt. Pleasant Township, Washington Co., Pa., Feb. 2, 1842, and was a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (McConnaughy) McCarrell.

His paternal grandfather, Lodowick McCarrell, was a native of Ireland, who, coming to America, in 1780, secured a large tract of wild land lying in what is now Mt. Pleasant Township, Washington County, his place of residence being near Ten-Mile and Hickory. Here this pioneer ancestor of our subject rounded out a long and useful life, dying in 1851, after he had passed his 84th birthday. A large part of his land had been cleared and made tillable by his own industry. Lodowick Me- Carrell was an elder in the Seceder Church. He married Martha Leman, who was a daughter of that old pioneer, John Leman, who shared with Andrew Eagleson, the honor of being the first settler in Canton Township. They had seven children, namely: John, Thomas, James, Andrew and Leman, all of whom died in mature life; Isabella, who was the wife of Isaac Hodgens, of Buffalo Township; and Elizabeth, who was the wife of John Cockins, of Mt. Pleasant Township.

y. M Finley

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Thomas McCarrell, second son of Lodowick and Mary (Leman) McCarrell, was born in Virginia, in 1801, but the greater part of his life was spent in Washington County, Pa., where he became a man of prominence. He was elected a county commissioner on the Democratic ticket in 1853. For five years he served also as associate judge and for seven successive terms was a justice of the peace in Mt. Pleasant Township. He was thrice married: first, to Esther McNary, who died in 1831; second, to Elizabeth McConnaughy, who died in 1859; and for the third time, to Margaret Martin, in 1863, who survived him many years, dying in 1890. The children of his first union were: Martha, who died at Hickory, in 1893; Margaret, who married Joseph Cowden and died in Cecil Township, near Venice; John, a physician at Wellsville, Ohio, who died in January, 1891; and James, who was a practicing physician at Allegheny, Pa. The children born to the second marriage were the follow- ing: David M., who was a physician and died in 1894 in Hickory; Leman, who resides on the old homestead; Alexander D., who is a minister in the United Presby- terian Church located at Trafford City, Pa., and Lodo- wick. Thomas McCarrell died in 1872. Like his father he had been active in the affairs of the Seceder Church.

Lodowick McCarrell, the direct subject of this sketch, spent his boyhood on his father's farm, attended the country schools, and later entered Washington and Jef- ferson College, where he completed the classical course. His father's prominence in public affairs served as a stimulus to his own ambition, and early in his school career, he decided to take up the study of law. Accord- ingly on leaving college ,in 1867, he entered the law office of Montgomery & Wilson, and in 1869 he was ad- mitted to the bar of Washington County, in the follow- ing year opening his law office in the borough of Wash- ington. He was soon recognized in the profession as a man of marked ability and his subsequent success was uninterrupted, his name being associated for years with much of the important litigation in the courts of the county. He was possessed of an engaging person- ality, which contributed much to his popularity both in his profession and in business and social circles. Al- though an active supporter of the Democratic party he took greater interest in the successful practice of law than in the strife for political honors. In the midst of his usefulness, he was called away on April 23, 1902, and was laid to rest in the Washington Cemetery.

On July 25, 1876, Mr. McCarrell was married to Miss Lida Jackson, a daughter of Robert Jackson, and to them one son was born, Robert Lodowick. The latter is a prominent figure in the financial circles of Wash- ington, having served for several years as assistant cashier of the First National Bank, and being at the present time auditor of the Washington Trust Company,

an office he has filled since May 18, 1908. He married Miss Elizabeth McClane, a daughter of Wilson McClane, a resident of Washington County. They have one daugh- ter, Jane Dinsmore. They reside in one of Washing- ton's handsome residences, at No. 345 East Wheeling street.

WILLIAM F. WHITHAM, president of the West Alexander National Bank at West Alexander, Pa., is one of the representative men of Washington County, where his interests are numerous, and he is also a vet- eran of the great Civil War. He was born in Ohio County, W. Va., Oct. 11, 1843, and is a son of George D. and Rachel (Faris) Whitham.

The Whitham family is of English extraction. Joseph Whitham, the grandfather, was deemed an old resident of Ohio County, W. Va., when William F. was a youth, and both his parents were born and reared there.

From the schools of his native place, William F. Whitham became a student in what was known as the West Alexander Academy, and then entered into an agricultural life. His father died in 1861, and on Aug. 14, 1862, Mr. Whitham left the farm and enlisted in Co. D, 12th West Va. Vol. Inf., and served until his honorable discharge in June, 1865. During much of this time he was attached to the Army of West Vir- ginia, which later became the Army of the James, and during the whole winter before the surrender of Rich- mond, he was with his regiment in front of that be- leaguered city. He is a valued member of James Noble Post No. 348, G. A. R., at West Alexander, of which he had the honor of being elected the first commander. Mr. Whitham returned to his farm industries and for a number of years gave much attention to raising fine stock and in particular to breeding sheep for wool. In 1902 he came to West Alexander and since August, 1907, has been president of the National Bank at this place, which is regarded as one of the sound and solid finan- cial institutions of the county.

On June 2, 1892, Mr. Whitham was married to Miss Nina Armstrong, who was born in what is now West Finley Township, Washington Co., Pa., and is a daugh- ter of the late William Armstrong. Mr. and Mrs. Whit- ham are members of the Presbyterian Church at West Alexander, in which he is a ruling elder. In his views on public questions he is soemwhat independent, although nominally a Republican.

FRANCIS MARION FINLEY, a highly esteemed member of one of the prominent old families of Union Township, Washington County, Pa., now lives retired at Finleyville, a pleasant town which was named to do honor to Gen. Robert Finley, an uncle of Dr. Finley, who was its founder and first postmaster. Dr. Francis

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

M. Finley was born in Union Township, on the banks of the beautiful Monongahela River, Mar. 7, 1833, and is a son of Levi and Rachel (Neal) Finley, and a grand- son of John Finley.

John Finley was probably born in Ireland and he came very early to Allegheny County, Pa., where he acquired large tracts of land and also much land in Union Town- ship, Washington County. He married Margaret Roland and they had sons and daughters, the former bearing the following names: Robert, James, William, John and Levi.

Levi Finley, father of Dr. Finley, was born in a log house on his father's farm in Allegheny County, and he, like his father, led an agricultural life. He came to Washington County in early manhood and is accorded the credit of being the first coal miner in this valley, taking the coal from a mine of his own, at Limetown, and later he became a coal operator on a much larger scale. After the death of his eldest brother, Robert Finley, he moved to the home in Finleyville, which is now the property of Dr. Finley. He married Rachel Neal, who was reared at Mckeesport, Pa., and they both died in Finleyville and were interred at Mingo. They had the following children: Melissa, who is the widow of Capt. H. B. Wallace; Miranda, who married Rev. W. W. Laverty and both are deceased; John, who is now deceased; Francis M .; and Rachel, who is deceased, was the wife of John Collins.

Francis Marion Finley was small when his parents moved to the Huston farm in Union Township, and from there to Finleyville, and here he attended school and later went to Washington College, from which he was graduated in 1854. He decided to study medicine and prepared for college under Dr. C. W. Townsend, of Union Township, entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and was pursuing his studies there when his father died. This recalled him home and he then took charge of the home farm of 250 acres, and to its cultivation he devoted the remainder of his active years.

In September, 1869, Dr. Finley was married to Miss Emeline Thompson, who died in 1907. They had one son, Frank H. Following in the footsteps of his honored father, he also studied medicine and is a graduate of the college of Physicians and Surgeons, at Baltimore, Md., but he has never entered into active practice. His home is with his father and he is interested in the manage- ment of the farm. Dr. Finley, the elder, is identified with the Republican party.

JAMES F. SPEER, a leading citizen of Canonsburg and an honored soldier of the late Civil War, who has served two terms as commander of Thomas Paxton Post, G. A. R., and has also been post quartermaster for six years, has had his home in this section of Washington

County almost all his life. He was born in Chartiers Township, Washington Co., Pa., three miles from Canons- burg, and is a son of Robert and Nancy (Harsha) Speer.

The father of Mr. Speer was born in Peters Town- ship, Washington Co., Pa., Sept. 18, 1806, and was a wool carder by trade. One of his brothers, Thomas Latta Speer, was a minister and preached at the Cross Roads Presbyterian Church. Another brother, James, lived and died in the old homestead in Peters Township. One sister, Mary, married Paul Matthews, another sister, Jane, married Richard Black and she died in Pittsburg, while the third sister, Deborah, married a Mr. Wells. He married Nancy Harsha, who was born in Chartiers Township, Washington County, May 3, 1813, and died Feb. 17, 1903. She was a daughter of Thomas Harsha, who was a very early settler in Chartiers Township. At that early day one of the common farm industries was distilling and Mrs. Speer remembered that in her girl- hood she could stand on the porch of her home and count the smoke going up from 13 distilleries. She was one of a family of 13 children and became the mother of seven. Thomas Speer, born Oct. 5, 1839, died Nov. 19, 1861. Jennie Speer, born Aug. 3, 1841, married William Patterson, Aug. 22, 1860, and they reside in Cecil Township. James F. Speer, born Aug. 12, 1843, resides at Canonsburg. Robert Speer, born July 14, 1845, enlisted in Co. G, 140th Pa. Vol. Inf., and died in the service, during the Civil War, Feb. 19, 1865. Stewart Speer, born Apr. 15, 1847, went to Missouri and there married a Miss Barmer and died there Apr. 14, 1873. He is survived by two sons, Stewart and Edward. the former of whom lives at Carthage, Mo., and the latter at Kansas City. Alexander Speer, born Aug. 22, 1849, married Eliza J. Wallace and resides at Canons- burg. Catherine Speer, born May 13, 1852, married Joseph Templeton and resides in North Strabane Town- ship. The father of this family died June 11, 1853.

James F. Speer attended the old Fee School in Char- tiers Township, which was a typical pioneer temple of learning, having slab seats, puncheon floor and plenty of ventilation. During one winter, when he was about nine years old, he attended the MeNary subscription school. He remained on the farm until the opening of the Civil War, when in answer to the call of the President every town, village and country side sent its quota to swell the ranks of a loyal people. The Speer family con- tributed two sons, Robert and James F., both of whom were wounded and only one of whom ever returned.

Mr. Speer enlisted in 1861 in Co. B, 85th Pa. Vol. Inf., enlisting for three years. At the battle of Fair Oaks, a struggle covering seven days, he was first wounded, and at Deep Bottom, he was shot through the shoulder, and all through the whole period of service un- til he was honorably discharged on Aug. 16, 1864, he

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bore himself in the face of daily danger, as a brave and loyal soldier. He participated in many of the severest struggles which subsequently brought about the triumph of the Union arms and crushed rebellion and a recital of these brings to the mind of every student of history and true American citizen, the terrible price that was paid for the present peace, the fruits of which are enjoyed not only by the descendants of the old veterans who fought for it, but also by those who often seem forgetful how it was secured. Mr. Speer took part in the battles of Fort Wagner and Fort Gregg, Yorktown, Fair Oaks, Seven Pines (seven days of battling) Jones Ford, Harrison Landing, Suffolk, Black Water, South West Creek, Kingston, White Hall, Goldsboro, Folly Island, Morris Island, White Marsh Island, Charleston, Bermuda Hundred, Strawberry Plains, Chapin's Farm, Deep Bottom, Petersburg and Appomattox. He was cor- poral, sergeant and sharp-shooter.

Mr. Speer returned to Washington County and learned the bricklaying trade and followed the same until 1901. In 1881 he erected his present handsome residence at Canonsburg where he is one of the representative citi- zens. He has been a life-long Republican. At different times he has been elected a member of the town council and during one term was president of the same.

On Dec. 10, 1868, Mr. Speer was married to Miss Rebecca E. MacMillan. She is a daughter of John and Mary (Mitchell) MacMillan, a granddaughter of John and Mary MacMillan, and a great-granddaughter of the noted Dr. John MacMillan. Her parents were married January 1, 1835. The father died Aug. 23, 1890, aged 79 years. The mother of Mrs. Speer died in November, 1890, aged 80 years. The father, John MacMillan, was married (first) to Elizabeth Fulton, in March, 1833.

The grandfather of Mrs. Speer was also John Mac- Millan and the grandmother was Rebecca Anderson. He was married three times and was the father of ten chil- dren. Grandfather John MacMillan was born in North Strabane Township, Washington County, in 1787.

Rev. John MacMillan, the grandfather of Mrs. Speer, was a man very prominent in the history of Washing- ton County. He was one of the earliest pioneer preach- ers to push westward and take upon himself the hard- ships of a preacher's life in the wilderness beyond the Allegheny Mountains. He was born at Fog Manor, N. J., Nov. 11, 1752, and graduated from Princeton College in the fall of 1772. He was licensed to preach in 1774 and came to Washington County and settled in North Strabane Township in 1778, but owing to the hostility of the Indians at that time, was not accompanied by his family, but they subsequently joined him. He died in 1833 at the age of 82 years. He married Catherine Brown. His parents were William and Margaret (Rea) MacMillan, the former of whom was born in 1717 and

died July 2, 1792, and was buried at Chartiers Hill Presbyterian Church. The first wife of William Mac- Millan died in 1768 and he married the mother of Samuel Miller, the latter of whom was associated for several years with Rev. John MacMillan in conducting Jefferson College. Mrs. Speer has one sister, Mrs. H. H. Bebout, residing at Canonsburg.

Mr. and Mrs. Speer had six children born to them, namely: Mary Loretta, who was born Sept. 27, 1869, married William P. McConnell, of North Strabane Town- ship, and they have three daughters and one son-Myrtle, Agnes, Gaynes, Hazel and Earl; William L. Speer, who was born Sept. 13, 1871, resides at Allegheny City, mar- ried Etta Glass and they have one son, Howard; Minnie Orella, who was born Oct. 25, 1875, married John E. Hill, and they live at Azusa, Cal., and have one son, Speer Hill; Nancy B., who was born May 29, 1878, died Aug. 19, 1880; John Mack, who was born Mar. 30, 1881, resides with his father, married Annie O. O'Roak, and Cora P., who was born Mar. 25, 1884, married Thomas McKowan and they reside in Canonsburg. They have one son, Thomas MeKowan. Mr. Speer and family be- long to the First Presbyterian Church at Canonsburg.

PERRY LIGGETT, one of Hopewell Township's most respected citizens, who has resided on his farm of 15 acres for the past 46 years, was born in Independence Township, Washington Co., Pa., Sept. 5, 1837, and is a son of Jesse and Hanna (Westlake) Liggett. The par- ents were farming people. They had the following chil- dren: William A., deceased; Elizabeth, wife of Fletcher Westlake; Lemuel, deceased; Perry, Mary Jane (Cun- ningham), and Albert.

Perry Liggett attended the public schools in his boy- hood and has devoted his whole life to agricultural pur- suits and still takes an interest in cultivating his farm. In 1862 he married Miss Rachel Vance, a daughter of James and Susan (Walker) Vance and they have had the following children: Elmer, who resides in Hopewell Township, married Ola Craft and they have seven chil- dren-Charles Vance, Deana Blanche, Quentin P., Perry B., Rachel G., Matthew B. and Minnie Ola; Frank, who carries on business in Ohio, married Lucy Liggett and they have a son, Charles C .; and Ray, who resides at home and is engaged as a teamster. He married Maggie Burkhart, and they have seven children: Hilda M., Ralph P., Fred V., Ashley C., Stanton R., Beatrice and Vir- ginia B.

Mrs. Liggett is a member of one of the old county families. Her brother, Robert Vance, is deceased, but her sister, Elvira, survives and is the wife of James Dodds. Mr. and Mrs. Liggett have lived here almost a half century and they have seen many changes take place, many old families wiped out and many modern

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

improvements made, such as were never even imagined in the early days. They have a wide circle of friends. Mrs. Liggett is a member of the United Presbyterian Church at West Middletown.

ROBERT W. IRWIN, senior member of the prominent law firm of Irwin & Wiley, with offices at Nos. 415-418 Washington Trust Building, Washington, Pa., is a lead- ing member of the Washington County bar. He was born in West Finley Township, Washington Co., Pa., Apr. 25, 1858, and is a son of Ephraim and Margaret (Richey) Irwin.

Both paternal and maternal grandparents of Mr. Irwin were born in North Ireland and they came to Washing- ton County early in the nineteenth century. Ephraim Irwin, father of Robert W., was born in Washington County, followed agricultural pursuits and lived a long and honorable life. He married Margaret Richey and they became the parents of the following children: Eliz- abeth, who married W. J. Meloy; Esther A., who married Jonas Mills; William R., J. B., Robert W., Sadie M. and an infant son, deceased.

Robert W. Irwin was reared until his 16th year in West Finley Township, working on the farm and attend- ing the district schools. He then accompanied his par- ents to Buffalo Township, Washington County, and two years later to Cross Creek. In 1877 the family settled permanently in Hopewell Township. Although Mr. Ir- win cheerfully performed the duties required of him on the home farm during youth and early manhood, the end he kept constantly in view was the acquisition of knowl- edge and the subsequent entrance into professional life. He commenced to teach school in the fall of 1875 and while his winters were thus employed, his summers were usually given up to study. He attended the Claysville and Alexander Normal Schools and also paid some at- tention to the classics. It is remembered that he was especially interested in the debating societies and ex- celled the other earnest and serious-minded young men of his class in his lucid reasoning and his powers of oratory. These gave indication of the success which has so notably advanced him in his profession, for probably the Washington bar has no more eloquent pleader than Mr. Irwin.

In November, 1877, Mr. Irwin entered upon the study of law in the office of Attorney Boyd Crumrine, and was admitted to the bar on June 15, 1881, since which time he has been continuously engaged in practice at Wash- ington. Upon the retirement of Judge Acheson from the bench, at the latter's request a partnership was formed with Mr. Irwin and during the several years' continuance of the firm of Acheson & Irwin, the com- bination was considered one of the strongest in the county. Later Mr. Irwin associated with him James

A. Wiley and A. T. Morgan, both being men of recog- nized legal standing. Mr. Irwin has met with much success in his practice which has been general in char- acter, and his name has been identified with a large amount of the litigation of importance in the county for a number of years.

On Dec. 24, 1884, Mr. Irwin was married to Miss Carrie N. Fowler, a daughter of William Fowler, of Westmoreland County, and a niece of William Smith, a prominent citizen of Smithville, Washington County. To Mr. and Mrs. Irwin were born the following children: Nellie May, Earl Wilson, Ray Wilson, Frances Margaret, Leona, Edith and Robert, the survivors being Nellie May, now being Mrs. A. B. Loucks; Frances Margaret and Edith. Mr. Irwin and family have an attractive home, its location being No. 85 Highland avenue. They are members of the First Presbyterian Church. Fra- ternally, he is an Elk and a Knight Templar Mason. He is a leading Democrat of Washington County.

CULBERT M. GREER, of Canonsburg, Pa., who is connected with the real estate department of the Pitts- burg Coal Company, at Pittsburg, was born on Squirrel Hill, Allegheny Co., Pa., Mar. 20, 1853, and is a son of Wesley and Mary Jane (Manes) Greer.

The father of Mr. Greer was born in Pittsburg, Alle- gheny County, and died when aged 62 years. The mother was born in Elizabeth Township, Allegheny Co., Pa., and survived her husband for a long period, passing away in January, 1906, when in her 80th year. They had two sons, Culbert M. and Wesley. The latter married Miss Annie Foster, of Bridgeville, Allegheny County, and they reside at Canonsburg.

Culbert M. Greer left school when 18 years of age, having attended Jefferson Academy and Washington and Jefferson College. He then left the home farm and for the following eight years was engaged in a hardware and implement business, and when he disposed of that, he returned to the farm in Cecil Township, where he went into the registered stock business. He became a well-known and reliable breeder of Holstein and Guernsey cattle and also trotting and draft horses, and owned some of the finest stock in Washington County. In 1899 he began optioning coal for the Pittsburg Coal Company, and perhaps has purchased more valuable coal properties than any man ever connected with the com- pany. His business judgment is almost faultless and his tact and diplomacy are also recognized factors. Mr. Greer owns a large amount of property located in dif- ferent sections, valuable farm land in Chartiers Town- ship and realty in Canonsburg. He has been a resident of Washington County since he was 10 years old, and he has lived in the vicinity of the borough of Canonsburg since 1862. His business interests are many, varied and

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 107

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