USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century > Part 120
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The parents of Mr. Thomassy came to the United States when he was but three years old and settled first at Smithton in Westmoreland County, coming from there to Allegheny County and then to McDonald. The father was a coal miner and he and wife were consistent mem- bers of the Catholic Church and reared the family in this faith. They had the following children: Desire; Cecelie, who is the wife of Seal Buggett; Anna, who is the wife of George Gillespie; Celeste, who is the wife of H. H. De Loche; Ida, who is the wife of Emil Robert; George; Julia, who is the wife of George Young; and Fernand A.
Until he was ten years of age, Mr. Thomassy was per- mitted to attend school at McDonald, but after that he accompanied his father into the coal mines and worked with him for five years. He then learned the baking trade and worked at that for eight years, when he was appointed a member of the police force at McDonald. He remained a police official for two years, when, in 1902 he went into the hotel business and conductet a
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public house for three years by himself and then took in August Valentour as a partner and continued several years longer. During these years both he and Mr. Valen- tour made judicious investments and together they own the opera house property and two other valuable business blocks. His oil interests are also of importance and he is numbered with the men of means in this section.
On May 12, 1909, Mr. Thomassy was married to Miss Marie La Vie, a daughter of Philip and Mary (Bess) La Vie. Mr. and Mrs. La Vie came to America from France and reside at McDonald. They are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. La Vie have the following children: Marie; Phillipine, who is the wife of T. D. Gladden; and George, Louis and Edward.
Mr. Thomassy casts his vote with the Republican party. He is identified with several French fraternal organiza- tions and belongs also to the Elks, Allegheny Lodge, No. 339; Knights of Pythias, Waverly Lodge, No. 145, and to the social order of the Moose.
ROBERT HORNER ROBINSON, an extensive real estate and insurance dealer, who has been a life-long resident of Monongahela City, Pa., was born here Novem- ber 22, 1869, and is a son of William T. and Margaret (Brown) Robinson.
William T. Robinson was born and reared in Colum- biana County, Ohio, and in 1852 came to Monongahela City with his father, Robert Robinson, who was a cattle dealer, and had become familiar with this section of the country through that business, and he later obtained a contract on the construction work on the B. & O. Rail- road in the Monongahela Valley and in Virginia, through his knowledge of this part of the country. Robert Rob- inson was the father of four children: William T., the father of our subject; Joseph; Samuel, deceased; and Lon. After locating at Monongahela City, William T. Robinson became a bookkeeper for the Culbertsons, who operated a general store and paper mill here, after which he embarked in the clothing business, in which he con- tinued several years, then with his brother Samuel, who was an expert cattleman, engaged in the meat and cat- tle business, shipping extensively to Pittsburg, and con- tinued in this business until the time of his death, May 30, 1891, at the age of 57 years. He married Margaret Brown, who survived him five years, and who at an early age came from Allegheny, Pa., to Monongahela City, with her father, William Brown, who built and operated the first saw and planing mill in Monongahela City. Six children were born to the parents of our subject: Ella, who is the wife of W. F. Story, of Cleveland, Ohio; Jennie, is the wife of C. A. Filson, of Wilkensburg, Pa .; William B., a resident of Sewickley, Pa .; Robert H., our subject; Albert K., a resident of Wilkensburg, Pa .;
Mabel, who is the wife of H. C. Williams, of Wilkens- burg
Robert H. Robinson was reared at Monongahela City, where he obtained his education in the common schools and later engaged in the meat business with his father, after which he operated a store across the river for the Watson Mining and Manufacturing Company for about six years, then opened and operated a store at Bunola for three years, and in 1897, at the time of the boom of coal lands in this section, went to Pittsburg, where he engaged in the real estate business for one year, during which time he closed several large contracts, thus gain- ing his start in the real estate business. He then re- turned to Washington County and took charge of the Star Coal Company for the Harbison Walker Refectory Com- pany, for whom he had purchased land while in Pitts- burg, and was sent by them to open their mine, of which he is still superintendent. Mr. Robinson is a director and was one of the organizers of the Monongahela Clay Manufacturing Company, and was one of the organizers and the first president of the Citizens' Gas Company. He is a Democrat in politics and has served three years as a member of the Monongahela City council, and in fraternal circles is affiliated with the B. P. O. E. of this city.
In June, 1901, Mr. Robinson was married to Maude Heslep, who is a daughter of John Heslep, and they have two sons, Robert and John.
ISAAC W. BAUM, solicitor for Washington County and a lawyer of high standing, with offices in the Wash- ington Trust building, has been a resident of Washing- ton for the past fifteen years.
Mr. Baum was born in Dauphin County, Pa., in 1870, and received a good common school education in that county. In 1890, he registered for the study of law in the office of Judge Criswell, of Franklin, Pa., and in 1894 was admitted to the bar of Franklin County, and in the following year he was admitted to the bar of Washington County, before which he has since practiced. He takes an active interest in political affairs and is at present county solicitor under appointment of the county commissioners. He also is secretary of the MeKeown Oil Company.
In 1896, Mr. Baum was married to Miss Jane Best of Clarion County, Pa., and they reside in a comfortable home in Washington. Fraternally he belongs to the Elks.
ALEXANDER G. ADAMS, one of the representative citizens and successful farmers of Independence Town- ship, Washington Co., Pa., is carrying on agricultural operations on a property which was originally owned by his grandfather, John Adams, and which has been in the
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family name for more than 100 years. Mr. Adams was born March 27, 1863, on the farm on which he now lives, and is a son of Alexander H. and Lucinda J. (Crouch) Adams.
Alexander H. Adams, who was a farmer all his life in Independence Township, for many years was an elder in the Lower Buffalo Presbyterian Church, and took a great interest in its work. He and his worthy wife were the parents of the following children: Caroline, the wife of George Keenan; Ruth, residing with her brother; Maria, the wife of Thomas Mccarthy, of Independence Township; Orlinda, living in Washington, Pa .; Martha, the wife of John Adams, of Independence Township; Lulu, the wife of Henry F. Carl, of Independence Town- ship; Mary, wife of Norris McCain, of Missouri; and Alexander G.
After attending the common schools of Independence Township, Alexander G. Adams went to work on the home farm, on which he has resided all of his life. He has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and his 123-acre farm has been brought to a high state of cul- tivation. He is a Republican in his political views, and is now serving his township as road supervisor. The family belongs to Lower Buffalo Presbyterian Church.
In 1889 Mr. Adams was married to Hattie J. Keenan, daughter of George and Annie (Tilton) Keenan, and to this union there have been born six children, namely : William Paul, born June 27, 1891; Jane Mary, born March 26, 1895; Laura B., born March 8, 1899; John A., born May 14, 1901; Martha M., born October 21, 1904; and Orlando C., born October 7, 1909.
WILLIAM H. DUNLAP, burgess of Canonsburg, whose handsome home is situated at No. 124 West Cel- lege street, is a worthy representative of an old family of Washington County, of Irish extraction.
He was born in Cecil Township, Washington Co., Pa., May 15, 1855, and is a son of John and Priscilla (Point- er) Dunlap, the former of whom died in 1902, aged seventy-six years. The latter, at the same age, is a resi- dent of Canonsburg.
William H. Dunlap grew to manhood in Cecil Town- ship and was educated in the public schools and Jeffer- son Academy. After leaving school he engaged in farm work and continued to live in Allegheny County for six years after his marriage. In 1886 he came to Canons- burg and embarked in the retail grocery business and conducted the same very successfully for six years. The confinement, however, told on his health and for a time he put aside business cares, accepting about the same time a position on the school board in the East Ward, to which he gave attention for twelve years. He then changed his residence to another ward and resigned from the board, of which he had been a valued member. On
March 3, 1909, he entered into office as burgess of Can- onsburg, having been elected on a platform calling for the enforcement of the law, and his administration promises to be all that the most ardent and zealous citi- zen can ask. Since coming to this borough, Mr. Dunlap has been very active in the affairs of the Methodist Episcopal Church, being a trustee, a member of the of- ficial board and superintendent of the Sunday school.
On December 25, 1878, Mr. Dunlap was married to Miss Sadie McConnell, a daughter of Charles and Annie (Mor- row) McConnell. They have one daughter, Mamie, who is the wife of John W. Schaufele, who is in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, traveling daily between Pittsburg and Canonsburg.
JAMES W. GRIMES, a well known and popular em- ploye of the National Bank of Claysville, at Claysville, Pa., has been identified with the institution since Janu- ary, 1903. He was born in Ohio County, W. Va., Octo- ber 2, 1867, and is a son of John and Martha (Post) Grimes.
John Grimes, father of James W., was born in Done- gal Township, Washington County, on the old family estate, and was a son of John Grimes, the latter of whom settled at an early date in Donegal Township, three miles north of Claysville. He acquired about 500 acres of land and 127 of this yet belongs to the Grimes family. Both father and grandfather were farmers. The former died January 14, 1908. He was a worthy member of the United Presbyterian Church.
James W. Grimes was mainly reared on the family farm in Donegal Township. He was educated in a pri- vate school in Donegal Township, the Normal School at Claysville and the West Middletown Academy, and after- ward for several years he taught school in Washington County. He has been an active and useful citizen of Claysville, serving in the borough council and also as a director in the Independent school district and for a sea- son was secretary of the board. In politics he is identi- fied with the Republican party.
Mr. Grimes was married to Miss Elizabeth Hayburn, a daughter of James Hayburn, formerly a well known resident of Donegal Township, and they have two chil- dren: John L. and Margaret R. Mr. Grimes and wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Clays- ville, of which he is treasurer.
T. H. W. FERGUS, assistant district attorney of Washington County, Pa., and a leading member of its bar, has been a resident of Washington Borough for some twenty-one years. He was born in 1879, in South Strabane Township, Washington Co., Pa., and is a son of Samuel P. and a grandson of Thomas Fergus.
The Fergus family originated in Ireland but has been in America for many generations and in Washington
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County since 1802, established here by the great-grand- parents of T. H. W. Fergus, who came from Hunting- don County when their son Thomas was a babe. The late Samuel P. Fergus, was born in Washington County in 1840 and died in 1900. He engaged in farming until 1885, when he was elected county treasurer of Washing- ton County and served in that office until his death. He was also interested in oil development in the county.
T. H. W. Fergus attended the township schools until prepared for college and then entered Washington and Jefferson College, where he was graduated in the class of 1900. For about two years after leaving school he followed surveying, and then began to teach and for some years followed that profession, a part of the time in his alma mater, and for one year was principal of the Cross Creek Academy. During these years he read law by himself and then entered the office of Attorney J. M. McBurney, where he completed his preparation for the bar and was admitted to practice, in 1904, in all the courts of the State. He is a leading Republican and for two years served on the Republican County Committee being its chairman for one year. He has filled local of- fices very acceptably to the public, was auditor of East Washington Borough and is now assistant district at- torney.
Mr. Fergus is a member of the Heptasophs, the Elks and the Bassett Club, being one of the organizers of the latter. He belongs also to the Washington County Bar Association. For many years Mr. Fergus has been a member of the Second United Presbyterian Church and has served as an officer in the Sabbath school. He has a wide circle of friends; professional, political and per- sonal.
R. C. VANCE, general farmer, who owns 134 acres of excellent land, situated partly in Smith and partly in Cross Creek Township, was born in Cross Creek Township, Washington Co., Pa., on the place on which he resides, June 19, 1850. His parents were Allison and Margaret (Campbell) Vance.
Allison Vance was born in Smith Township, Washing- ton County, but later resided in Cross Creek Township, where he had 160 acres of land, and he engaged in farm- ing until he was thirty-eight years old. He married Mar- garet Campbell, whose death preceded his own, he sur- viving until 1892. They were worthy members of the Cross Creek Presbyterian Church and they were buried in the Cross Creek Cemetery. They were parents of six sons and one daughter.
R. C. Vance attended the public schools during boy- hood and then turned his attention to farming and rais- ing fine stock. Since his marriage he has resided on his present farm, which is situated one mile northeast of Cross Creek and within five miles of Burgettstown. He
has done all of the improving that gives his farm so fine an appearance. He breeds Shorthorn cattle and a su- perior grade of sheep, having about 125 of the latter ready for market annually. Mr. Vance also enjoys the income from thirteen oil and gas wells situated on his property.
In March, 1875, Mr. Vance was married to Miss Mary E. McGough, a daughter of John McGough, of Colum- biana County, Ohio, and they have four children, namely : Homer C., who married Miss Sarah B. McNelly; Martha J., who married J. W. Reed; and Margaret Mary and Oscar C., both of whom reside at home. Mr. Vance and family attend the Cross Creek Presbyterian Church. Like his father, Mr. Vance is identified with the Republican party but is not active in political life. He is one of the substantial men of this section and is a stockholder in the Burgettstown National Bank and the Washington National Bank and also the Pittsburg Building and Loan Company.
JOSEPH T. ALTON, an energetic young business man of McDonald, Pa., who is chief clerk and a pay- master of the McDonald division of the Pittsburg Coal Company, was born at Titusville, Pa., January 2, 1882, and is a son of Edward and Rose (Harrigan) Alton. His paternal grandparents were Joseph F. and Susan (Sison) Alton, and those on the maternal side, Thomas and Mary (O'Shea) Harrigan. Mr. Alton's great uncle, George D. Alton, was the first white boy born in what is now the city of Dunkirk, N. Y.
Reared in a log cabin, after reaching maturity he made the brick and built the first brick house in Dun- kirk. This house was recently torn down to make room for a more modern structure, and the bricks were car- ried away by residents of the city for relics.
Edward Alton, who is a machinist by trade, is now living at McDonald, and of his children Joseph T. is the eldest, the others being: Mary, the wife of J. E. McDonald; Cassius E. and Clarence Daniel.
Joseph T. Alton attended the public schools of McDonald, leaving high school in his senior year to enter the employ of the Pittsburg Coal Company. It was not long before his services to the company were rewarded by promotion, and he has risen steadily until he now holds the position of chief clerk and paymaster of the McDonald division, which consists of five mines.
On September 4, 1907, Mr. Alton was married to Catherine Austin, daughter of M. J. and Mary (Mc- Nerney ) Austin, residents of McDonald. Mrs. Alton has a brother, William J., and a sister, Nellie. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Alton: George G., June 28, 1908.
Mr. Alton is fraternally connected with Chartiers Council, No. 875, Knights of Columbus, and the Macca-
John M Stockdale
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
bees at McDonald. He is a Republican in politics and has served as auditor of McDonald. He and his wife at- tend the Catholic Church.
JOHN M. STOCKDALE was for many years a resi- dent of Washington, Pa. He was born August 28, 1824, on the homestead in Morris Township, Greene County. His grandfather, James Stockdale, came from the north of Ireland to this country in 1787, expecting to return after seeing the new land of promise, but having ex- hausted his funds in traveling he determined to make enough money to pay his passage back home, the Fates, however, had decreed otherwise, before this was accom- plished he met Miss Weir, who afterwards became his wife and he gave up all thought of recrossing the seas to his native land. This young couple established them- selves in what was then Washington (now Greene) Coun- ty in 1790 and to them were born one son and three daughters. The mother died in 1823 and the father died in 1840 at the age of eighty-six.
Their son, William Stockdale, was born in 1792 on his father's farm where with the exception of a period of service in the War of 1812, he spent all the seventy-one tranquil years of his life and died there in 1863. His wife Hannah, a daughter of John McQuaide of Wash- ington County died in 1873, being seventy-six years of age. They had seven children, James, John M., Robert, Thomas R., Mary, Isabella and Sarah. He was a fairly prosperous man for his day and with the commendable family pride of an intelligent gentleman, he spared no pains in preparing his children to enter with credit upon the duties of life, he sent his sons and his daughters to pursue their studies in the neighboring schools and col- leges of Waynesburg, Washington and Canonsburg.
John M. Stockdale was the second child of William and Hannah Stockdale, his childhood was spent on the farm. He was prepared for college at Carmichael's academy and he graduated from Washington College in 1849, immediately afterward entering the law office of Hon. T. M. T. MeKennan and was admitted to the bar in 1852. The following year he became owner and editor of the Waynesburg "Messenger," the only Democratic newspaper in Greene County. In 1854 he was elected to the State Legislature and served two terms, then, being a victim of inflammatory rheumatism, he decided to go west, hoping to shake off this enemy to his well-being and it was during this search for health and recreation that he became connected with extensive business matters in Iowa. He located in Fort Dodge, a frontier town, which was fortified for protection against the Indians and in 1857 by appointment of President Buchanan he became register of the government land office there. That year was a notable period in his early life, in April, he
was married to Pattie Clark, the beautiful daughter of Abner and Patty Evans Clark of Ten-Mile Valley, Pa. She was born June 22, 1833, on the farm where her mother and grandfather were born and which was "taken up " as government land by her great-grandfather and has ever since belonged to some member of the family. She was one of eight children, "the family was prominent in the county and this home filled with these brothers and sisters was a center where was dispensed a large, hearty and wholesome hospitality".
Mr. Stockdale took his bride to his new home in the west where, as also in their later places of residence, her rare charm of manner, her ready wit which left no sting, her gracious Christian character, won her a place in the hearts of an ever widening circle of friends. Mrs. Stock- dale survived her husband seven years and on May 28, 1904, died in their home on. East Wheeling street, Wash- ington, Pa., where their only child, Miss Elizabeth C. Stockdale, now resides.
In 1863, while yet a resident of Fort Dodge, Mr. Stock- dale was nominated for the State Senate of Iowa, but declined the nomination. In 1864 he was an elector on the McClelland ticket. During his residence in Iowa he dealt extensively in real estate, having bought and sold more than 200,000 acres of land as the records show, but the Civil War so depressed land values throughout the West that for the time real estate became a hazardous investment and in 1865 he removed to Baltimore, Md., where he engaged in the wholesale drug business as a member of the well known firm of Stockdale, Smith & Co. He also owned a petroleum oil refinery there until the Standard Oil Company by methods now well known crushed out all competition.
In 1881 Mr. Stockdale and his family moved to Wash- ington, Pa., where for several years he published the "Review " and "Examiner." In 1884 he received the nomination for Congress on the Democratic ticket in the district which embraced Washington, Beaver and Law- rence counties. A year earlier be secured a State charter for the transportation and use of natural gas for light and heat, a company of enterprising citizens was or- ganized and the development of oil and gas in the im- mediate vicinity of Washington was the result. His activities along this line aided materially in the develop- ment of the resources and added largely to the pros- perity of the borough.
His mind was well stored with knowledge, he had read widely and had great ability as an extemporaneous speak- er. He was honorable and hated injustice, he loved law and order and was an earnest champion of the people's rights. There were no neutral tints in his political colors he was ever an ardent Democrat, believing thoroughly in his party and its principles. He was a Christian and a
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member of the Presbyterian Church from early life. He enjoyed much success, he bore reverses with dignity and composure, he "was equal to either fortune."'
He retired from active life "as he felt the evening shadows coming on" and died September 17, 1897 at his home in Washington.
DEMAS E. LINDLEY, cashier of the Farmers' and Miners' National Bank of Bentleyville, Pa., with which he has been identified since March 14, 1908, was born April 28, 1872, on a farm in South Franklin Township, Washington Co., Pa., a son of Benjamin Clifford and Miranda V. (Patterson) Lindley, both of whom are living in Washington County. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Cephas Lindley, and the maternal grandfather was Wilson Patterson of Franklin Township.
Demas E. Lindley remained under the parental roof until nineteen years of age, attended the district schools of Franklin Township and took a private course with the Rev. Fisher, after which he took a business course at Washington, Pa. He first began his business career as a bookkeeper for Mr. Neff, a plumber of Washington, with whom he remained but two months, when he accepted a position with the First National Bank of Canonsburg, Pa., with which he was identified from April, 1892, until October, 1905, when he resigned because of ill health, and accepted a clerical position at the mines in West- moreland County, Pa. On March 14, 1908, he became cashier of the Farmers' and Miners' National Bank of Bentleyville, of which Joseph A. Herron, of Monongahela City, Pa., is president, and T. A. Hetherington, a farmer of Somerset Township, is vice-president. The directors of the bank are : J. A. Herron; T. A. Hetherington; Joseph Underwood, of Roscoe, Pa .; W. F. Richardson, of Bentleyville, Pa .; W. H. Murray, a farmer of Somer- set Township; J. E. Richardson, of Bentleyville; Julian Grable, of Fallowfield Township; W. H. Wilson, of Clover Hill; A. B. Richardson, of Somerset Township; and J. G. McCormack, of Bentleyville. The bank was organized in the fall of 1906, after which the present building, a fine large three-story brick, was erected, and the bank was open for business March 14, 1908.
Mr. Lindley married Blanch Ashbaugh, a daughter of William Ashbaugh, of Westmoreland County, Pa., and they have seven children: Lois, Zella, Freda, Clifford, Lloyd, John Willis, and Gladys. Mr. Lindley affiliates with the Elks and the Eagles.
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