History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 114

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 114

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In 1841, the late Abraham Morrow was married to Miss Jane DeFrance, who was born on Raccoon Creek, in Washington County, June 19, 1821. Her father was Alli- son DeFrance. Seven children were born to this mar- riage, the eldest of whom, Cyrus Morrow, is one of the county's leading citizens and at present is register of wills. Four others survive: Salem, Permelia Ann, Perry and Albert. Ellen died when aged twelve years and a son passed away in infancy.

WALTER G. CRAMER, editor and sole owner of the Burgettstown Herald, which newspaper he founded in 1908, is one of the enterprising and progressive young business men of Washington County. He was born at Curwensville, Clearfield, Co., Pa., March 20, 1877, and is a son of Eli and Mary J. (Stansberry) Cramer. The father died February 1, 1899, and was buried at Cherry Tree, in Indiana County, Pa., in which county the mother still resides.

Mr. Cramer's great-grandfather was in the Revolution- ary War, his grandfather in the War of 1812, and his father in the Mexican and Civil Wars.

Walter G. Cramer was educated in the schools of In- diana County and then learned the printing trade with

his brother, at Burgettstown. He remained in Burgetts- town until about 1896, when he went to Pittsburg, where he worked a couple of years on the "Chronicle-Tele- graph." Returning to Burgettstown in 1898, he again took up work on his brother's paper, the "Enterprise," an independent weekly paper, published here. In 1906 the brother sold the "Enterprise"' to a stock company. Mr. Cramer was editor and manager until 1908, when he founded the "Herald," and has ably edited it and man- aged its business affairs ever since. It is a paying prop- erty and its subscription list is constantly increasing. Mr. Cramer has other investments and is a stockholder in the Washington National Bank of Burgettstown.

On October 16, 1898, Mr. Cramer was married to Miss Hettie I. McCabe, a daughter of John D. and Charlotte McCabe, and they have two children: Herbert W. and John S. Mr. and Mrs. Cramer are members of the West- minster Presbyterian Church. He belongs to Lodge No. 1145, Odd Fellows, at Burgettstown, and also to Silver Cliff Lodge, Knights of Pythias.

GEORGE BLOOMINGSTOCK, a citizen of Blaine Township, Washington Co., Pa., is serving as president of the board of road supervisors and is also a member of the school board. He devotes his farm of 105 acres to gen- eral agriculture and stock raising. He was born in Buffa- lo Township, Washington County, January 18, 1855, and is a son of Martin and Margaret (Horne) Bloomingstock.

The father of Mr. Bloomingstock, who died several years since, was born in Germany, but the mother is a native of Pennsylvania and is one of the venerable resi- dents of Buffalo Township. Of their family of six chil- dren the following survive: George, of Blaine Town- ship; Robert, of Washington County; Samuel, of Canton Township; and John and Elton A., both residing at Wash- ington. In politics, Martin Bloomingstock was a Demo- crat. He was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church.

George Bloomingstock was reared in Buffalo Township, where he attended school and then learned the carpenter trade. For a number of years he engaged in carpenter and building work and put up many fine buildings in his day, but since 1893 he has given the larger part of his attention to farming. He continued to reside in Buf- falo Township until 1907, when he came to Blaine Town- ship and has lived here ever since. He owns very pro- ductive land and takes much interest in its cultivation.

In 1875, Mr. Bloomingstock was married to Miss Anna McQuay, a daughter of William McQuay, formerly a res- ident of Canton Township, and they have three children : Ina M., William aid Sarah W. Mr. Bloomingstock and family attend the United Presbyterian Church at Tay- lorstown. Wherever he has lived since reaching manhood, Mr. Bloomingstock has been an active citizen and has done his part in bringing about good government. He

MR. AND MRS. CHARLES A. BINGHAM

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votes with the Democratic party but when it comes to matters of general benefit, he puts party feeling aside and lends his influence to what he believes to be right and this has brought him the confidence and friendship of his fellow citizens in general. He has served accept- ably in township offices both in Buffalo and Blaine Town- ships.

CHARLES A. BINGHAM, a leading business citizen at Burgettstown, formerly a member of the board of health and borough auditor, was born at Frankfort, Beaver Co., Pa., February 6, 1863, and is a son of Dr. Agnew John and Margaret (Nicholson) Bingham.

The father of Mr. Bingham was a well known physi- cian and surgeon in Beaver County and was a practi- tioner at Murdockville and Frankfort. His death oc- curred in 1866, at Candor. He married Margaret Nichol- son, who was a daughter of Hon. Thomas and Rebecca Nicholson. Hon. Thomas Nicholson was a very promi- nent public figure in his day, serving in many high offices. He was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and at the time of death was State treasurer. He survived until 1872 and his death and burial were at Frankfort. The parents of Mr. Bingham were members of the Presbyterian Church. Dr. Bingham was identified with the Democratic party but was not an active politician.

Charles A. Bingham was the only child of his parents. He was given many advantages and his education was acquired in Quishacoquillas school, in Mifflin County, in the Canonsburg Academy and in the Paris Academy. From the latter institution he went into business life, working for several years as a clerk in the shoe store of Henry Hull, at Washington, and later in the same capa- city was employed by W. M. Laird, at Pittsburg, be- coming then a salesman for the wholesale firm of Laird & Ray, and still later for Bingham & Co., and after- ward for Lyons & Butterfield. With his many years of practical experience, Mr. Bingham felt himself thorough- qualified and prepared for doing business for himself, and in 1902 he came to Burgettstown and has met with such gratifying success that he has remained ever since. His stock includes shoes and men's and ladies' furnish- ings.

On November 21, 1894, Mr. Bingham was married to Miss Anna Weber, a daughter of John B. and Katherine Weber. He attends the First Presbyterian Church at Burgettstown. In politics, Mr. Bingham is a Republican and he has always been an active and earnest citizen. He is a member of Burgettstown Lodge, No. 454, F. and A. M., and of J. K. Moorehead Conclave, No. 82, of the Order of Heptasophs, at Pittsburg.

CHARLES LLOYD HARSHA, M. D., one of Canons-

burg's representative citizens, who has been successfully engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in this city since 1904, was born in Chartiers Township, Wash- ington Co., Pa., November 12, 1876. His parents were Thomas and Jane (Welch) Harsha.

Dr. Harsha's immediate ancestors have been of Wash- ington County for several generations and the families are well represented through this section of Pennsyl- vania. His father followed an agricultural life for many years and then retired with his wife, to Washington, where he died in 1891, at the age of seventy-eight years. He was survived by his widow until 1904. Of their fam- ily of nine children, Dr. Harsha is the youngest, the others being as follows: Mary, who is the wife of J. G. MePherson, resides at Philadelphia; Margaret, who is now deceased, was the wife of J. N. Grimes; J. W., who is a prominent minister of the United Presbyterian Church, in Pittsburg, Pa., a graduate of Franklin Col- lege, married Dola Cable; Ella, who resides at Phila- delphia; Curtis, who is the wife of Robert Evans Steele, resides in Hutchinson, Kas .; Thomas Clark, who is a farmer in Chartiers Township, married Harriet McCaf- fery; Robert, a graduate of Franklin College, who is now pastor of the United Presbyterian Church of Tay- lorstown, married Margaret Pollock; Nettie, who resides at Pittsburg; and J. V., who is a practicing physician at Mckeesport, Pa., is a graduate of the Pittsburg Uni- versity.

The boyhood of Dr. Harsha was passed on his father's farm, but he early discovered that his tastes and natural inclinations were all in the direction of a professional career and his studies were accordingly pursued with this end in view. After graduating with honors and re- ceiving the degrees of A. B. and A. M., from Washington and Jefferson College, in 1897 and after serving as in- structor of Latin in the Washington high school for one year, he entered Jefferson Medical College at Philadel- phia and from that grand old institution, to which hun- dreds of eminent medical men look back with affection, he was graduated in 1903. In the following year he entered upon practice at Canonsburg and here has found appreciation of his medical and surgical skill and is recognized as one of the ablest practitioners of the city. He is a member of a number of medical organizations, including the county, State and American Medical As- sociations.

On June 17, 1909, Dr. Harsha was married to Miss Lucile Greer, a daughter of C. M. and Margaret (Clark) Greer, of Canonsburg. Mrs. Harsha was educated at the Pennsylvania College for Women. Dr. Harsha re- tains his membership in the Nu Sigma Nu and the Alpha Omega Alpha fraternities of his college, in which he took an active part during his collegiate course. In politics he is a Republican. With his wife he is a member of

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the United Presbyterian Church. They enjoy an attrac- tive home at No. 222 West Pike street. They are more or less interested in the pleasant social life of the city and have a wide circle of personal friends, many of these having known them from childhood.

GEORGE W. BUXTON, a substantial business citizen of Independence, Washington Co., Pa., where he is car- rying on a prosperous general store enterprise, was born in 1865, in West Virginia, just across the river from Steubenville, Ohio, and is a son of James and Eleanore (Noah) Buxton.

The Buxton family, which is well known in Pennsyl- vania, was founded by Jacob Buxton, the great-grand- father of George W., who came as a young man to the United States from Germany. His son, Amos Buxton, was a stone mason by trade, and spent all of his life within a few miles of Independence, becoming well and favorably known as a master of his trade. James Bux- ton, father of George W., was born in Brooke County, W. Va., and came to Independence Township when nine years of age, following farming here up to the time of his wife's death in 1905, and since that time making his home with his son George W. James . Buxton married Eleanore Noah, and they had two sons: George W., and John C., the latter also residing in Independence.

George W. Buxton was educated in the common schools which he left at the age of seventeen years to engage in farming with his father, and so continued until 1901, in which year he commenced operating a coal bank, fur- nishing coal to the Wabash Railroad for two years. He then came to Independence, buying the store of T. J. Adamson, and he has continued in this business to the present time, keeping a full line of groceries, dry goods, hardware and shoes, and having a large trade in his community. The building which he occupies was erected by his grandfather in 1848, and testifies to the latter's skill as a workman.

On December 27, 1898, Mr. Buxton was married to Mary C. Adams, daughter of Joseph P. and Florence Adams, of Independence, and there have been three chil- dren born to this union: Glen W., in March, 1901; Flor- ence, in July, 1905; and James, in July, 1907.

Mr. Buxton is a trustee of the Independence Methodist Church, and his wife has been greatly interested in the work of this denomination. Although a Democrat in national matters, Mr. Buxton has been independent in local affairs, voting rather for the man than the party. He is the present township auditor, it being his third term in this office, and he has also served two terms as township elerk. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Mutual Telephone Company of Independence, and is to be found in the front rank when any movement calculated

to be of benefit to his community is being agitated by his fellow citizens.

JOSEPH CARSON, deceased. The Carsons of Ohio County, W. Va., have always enjoyed high standing in that section and one of the representative and worthy members was the late Joseph Carson, who was born on the old family home place there, August 21, 1801, and was a son of Richard and Elizabeth (Irwin) Carson.

The family originally moved from Scotland to County Tyrone, Ireland, and from there emigrated to America, where the family has been established for more than 200 years. Richard Carson, the father of Joseph Carson, was a native of Pennsylvania. In the latter part of the eighteenth century he removed from Dauphin County, Pa., from the vicinity of Harrisburg, to Ohio County, Va., where he purchased the farm which later became the possession of his son Joseph. Richard Carson was a soldier in the War of 1812 and his death occurred at Delaware, Ohio, while on his way home from that war. He married Elizabeth Irwin and they had the following named children born to them: Abner, John, Nancy, Joseph, David, Elizabeth and Irwin. His widow subse- quently became the wife of William Faris.

Joseph Carson, the third son, was young when he was left fatherless. He was reared on the home farm and gained. sufficient education in the subscription schools and through his own efforts, to enable him to teach school and for several years before settling down to an entirely agricultural life, he engaged in teaching in his native county. He was a man of marked ability and his public spirit was shown in his efforts to better his community and to develop a spirit of progress, at all times exerting an influence in the direction of education and religion. He lived a long and useful life and died on the farm on which he was born, July 20, 1887.

In 1828, Joseph Carson was united in marriage with Miss Anna Brown, a daughter of William Brown, of Ohio County, and they had the following children born to them: Elizabeth, who married Robert Criswell; Hannah J., who married Harvey J. Milligan; Richard; Mary A., who married David M. Boggs; Sarah; William; Almira S. and Harriet, both of whom are now deceased; Vincent B. and John I., the last named being a very prominent citizen of Washington, Pa., and a leading member of its able bar. Joseph Carson was an old-time Democrat and was a man of party influence in his day and for some years he served as a justice of the peace. For more than a quarter of a century he was an elder in the West Alex- ander Presbyterian Church.

MRS. SARAH J. NOBLE, whose valuable farm of forty-two acres is situated in Donegal Township and is

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devoted to general agriculture, has resided in the village of Vienna, Pa., since 1907. She was born near Utica, N. Y., January 14, 1836, and is a daughter of Matthew and Julia (Kennedy) Lavey.

The parents of Mrs. Noble were both born in Ireland. After coming to America they resided successively in various parts of New York State, and finally settled at Utica, where the father died when his daughter Sarah (Mrs. Noble) was but three years old. Mrs. Lavey re- mained a widow for a time and then married Robert Dougan and the family then came to Washington County, settling first at West Alexander. Later they moved to Claysville and there both Mr. and Mrs. Dougan died, the latter in her sixty-fifth year. Robert Dougan served as a soldier in the Civil War.

Mrs. Noble was sixteen years old when the family came to West Alexander, and on February 6, 1855, she was married to James Noble. He was a native of Ireland and was a son of James and Rosa Noble, who spent their lives in that country. In early manhood James Noble crossed the Atlantic Ocean to Canada, and from there came to West Alexander, where he was engaged for a time in the boot and shoe manufacturing business. In August, 1861, he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering the 1st W. Va. Cav., and serving in Gen. Rosecrans' command. On March 14, 1862, he was killed by bushwhackers while on a scouting expedition. He was a favorite with his comrades and they all were united in their deep grief over his sad fate. The G. A. R. Post of West Alexander is named in his honor. Besides his widow, Mr. Noble left three fatherless children, all of whom have been carefully reared by their mother. The eldest, Eva K., is a successful teacher in the public schools at Frederickstown, Pa .; William E. and Mary E. both reside at Vienna with their mother. Mrs. Noble and her children are members of the Presbyterian Church at West Alexander, but Mr. Noble belonged to the M. E. Church. There are few better known or more highly respected ladies in the community than is Mrs. Noble, who, for al- most 40 years was the toll-gate keeper on the National Road about two miles east of West Alexander. During this long period she was faithful to her duties and main- tained the dignity and self respect which the importance of the position demanded.

MISS MARY M. SMITH. There are few family names in Independence Township, Washington Co., Pa., that are recalled with more respect than that of Smith, the first bearer of the name here being Nathaniel Smith, who was the grandfather of Miss Mary M. Smith, who owns and resides on the fine old homestead farm of eighty-seven acres. Miss Smith was born on this farm, in 1847, and her parents were William and Mary (Cres- well) Smith.

Nathaniel Smith was born in Ireland and he came to this section of Washington County when there were comparatively few settlers here. He was a man possess- ing more education than his neighbors and also had the qualities which commanded the respect and confidence of the community and he was frequently called on to write wills and deeds, to preserve records, act as admin- istrator and perform other duties which usually fall to the leading citizen. He was a practical surveyor and followed this profession in addition to cultivating his farm. This farm originally was a part of the old Philip Doddridge tract, for which he obtained patent from the commonwealth. This farm subsequently came into the possession of Miss Mary M. Smith, his only grandchild. She has sold that property, with the ex- ception of the old home and two acres of land, to a coal company.

William Smith, father of Miss Mary M., was a well known school teacher and there are many of the elder residents of Independence Township who can recall him as such. He at that early day had to furnish the school- house in which he taught. His death occurred in 1855 and his burial was at Mt. Hope. He married Mary Creswell and they had two children: Mary M. and Will- iam Sidney, the latter of whom died in 1874. In 1857, Mrs. Smith was married (second) to John H. White, and they had one daughter, Esther J., who resides with her sister, Miss Mary M. The mother survived until 1891, and her burial was at Wellsville, Ohio.

John H. White was born in West Middletown, where his father, Thomas White was a blacksmith. The latter moved with his family to what now is the Stewart farm in Independence Township, on which he burned the brick out of which the house which now stands was built. When John H. White was first married he went to house keeping in a house which stood where the Wabash road now runs. He later moved to West Virginia, and was a farmer there. After the death of his first wife there, he was married to Mrs. Smith.

Miss Mary M. Smith attended school at Fallen Tim- ber and then entered Muskingum College, Ohio, where she was subsequently graduated. For two years after- ward she taught school, in Delaware County, N. Y., and then returned to Wellsville, Ohio, where her mother joined her after the death of Mr. White. In 1896, Miss Smith returned to take personal charge of the old home- stead, which she has capably managed ever since, raising cattle and hogs together with grain, hay and fruit. Miss Smith and her sister are both members of the United Presbyterian Church of West Middletown and both are active workers in the Missionary Society. Miss Smith is very highly esteemed and is noted for her kindness of heart and charitable impulses as well as for her excel- lent judgment in the management of her estate.

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HON. JOHN W. WILES, burgess of McDonald, Pa., and a prominent citizen of this borough, was born at Parkersburg, W. Va., November 27, 1866, and is a son of Samuel J. and Mary J. (Summers) Wiles.

The parents of Mr. Wiles were also natives of West Virginia and the father died there March 4, 1909, and his burial was at Petroleum, He was engaged in oil development. In politics he was a Republican, and he and wife were worthy members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Of their four children, John W., is the eldest, the other being: Dora, who married W. S. Day- huff; Lafayette; and Lina, who married F. M. Powell.

John W. Wiles spent but a short time in school, en- tering the oil fields when young and he has continued in the oil business ever since, at the present time having an interest in over 100 wells in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania. He has been a very active, progres- sive and useful citizen of McDonald and his fellow citi- zens testified to their confidence and esteem by electing him burgess on February 16, 1909.

In 1906, Mr. Wiles was married to Miss Elizabeth Copeland, who is a daughter of Jacob and Nancy Cope- land, who were farming people in Harrison County, Ohio. Mrs. Wiles has four brothers: William, John, Jacob and George. The one son of the family bears the name of Robert.

Burgess Wiles is identified with Garfield Lodge, No. 604, F. & A. M .; No. 605, Odd Fellows, both at McDon- ald; and Lodge No. 831, Elks, at Carnegie. Mr. Wiles is manager of the McDonald baseball club, having a love for athletic sports and especially for the great American game.

W. R. McILVAINE, vice-president of the Washington Trust Company, of Washington, Pa., and for the past twenty years identified with many of the important busi- ness interests of city and county, was born in 1845, in Somerset Township, Washington Co., Pa., and is a son of the late William McIlvaine.

The MeIlvaine family came to Washington County as early as 1780 and has increased and prospered here ever since. The father of Mr. McIlvaine was born in Somer- set Township in 1805, and his whole life was passed in Washington County, where, for many years, he engaged in farming and stock raising.

W. R. McIlvaine obtained his education in the schools of his native county and resided on the farm on which he was born until he was forty-five years old, following farming and wool growing. After taking up his resi- dence at Washington, he became interested in the natural gas industry and was one of a number who formed a company under the name of the Relief Gas Company, which was subsequently bought by the Manufacturers' Gas, Heat and Light Company, Mr. MeIlvaine continu-

ing an interest in the same. He is second officer in the Washington Trust Company and was chairman of the building committee that erected the fine six-story bank building, a handsome structure with dimensions of 80 by 135 feet. In addition to being a thoroughly experi- enced and practical business man, Mr. McIlvaine is an active citizen and many of the movements which have contributed to the greatest welfare of the city, have had his approval in their inception and completion.

In 1868, Mr. McIlvaine was married to Miss Sarah E. Hamilton, who was born in Nottingham Township, of a prominent old Washington County family. They have three children: Nora Irene, who resides at home; Will- iam Alexander Hamilton, who is an attorney at Wash- ington; and John Addison, who is a member of the faculty at Mt. Airy Institute for the Deaf. Mr. Mc- Ilvaine and family are members of the Second Presby- terian Church of Washington.

DUNNING HART, residing at No. 654 Maiden street, . Washington, Pa., is a member of an old settled family of Pennsylvania. He was born in Washington County, Pa., November 30, 1836, and is a son of David and Margery Dunning Butler Hart, she being the second wife of David Hart. They had three children, namely: Mar- garet, who married Willison Kerr, is deceased as is also her husband; Dunning; and Eliza Harper, the latter of whom married Ard M. Hosack, and lives at Scenery Hill, Washington County.

The Hart family in America sprung from Nathan Hart (1), of Scotland. He came across the waters and settled on Muddy Run, Adams County, Pa., about 1730, which is about all that is known of his family except that he had two sons: Nathan Hart (2) and Micah Hart, the last named afterward settling near Norwich, Ohio.

Nathan Hart (2) in 1769, married Margaret Monteith and they lived in Muddy Run, Adams Co., Pa., and to them were born four children: David, in 1775; Jane, in 1777; Margaret, in 1782; and Mary, in 1785. Of these, Jane married John Kerr and lived and died near Gettysburg and had four children. Margaret married Nathaniel Paxton, in 1804, and removed to Somerset Township, Washington Co., Pa., in 1812. The numerous Paxton families throughout the norther part of Wash- ington County, Pa., and parts of Ohio, are descendants of Nathaniel and Margaret (Hart) Paxton. Mary mar- ried Smith Mccullough, of Pigeon Creek, Washington Co., Pa. Nathaniel Hart (2) died in 1787, on Muddy Run, Adams County. His wife, Margaret (Monteith) Hart, died in 1785, leaving the four children orphans.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 114

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