History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 124

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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D. S. Taylor, son of D. S. and Sarah (Oliver) Taylor, was born two miles northeast of Washington, Pa., Oct. 7, 1847, and his school days were spent in Smith Town- ship, having come to the present farm with his parents on Apr. 1, 1850, when they came back to Washington County from Adams County, Ohio. Mr. Taylor engaged in farming but became interested also in other enter- prises. He is secretary and treasurer of the Burgetts- town Publishing Company of Burgettstown, of which he is a large stockholder. He is also a stockholder of the Washington National Bank of Burgettstown, of which he was formerly vice president; has been either president or vice president of the Union Agricultural Association of Burgettstown since 1876, with the exception of four years, and for 15 years served as a justice of the peace

in Smith Township. In politics he is a Democrat. He attends the First United Presbyterian Church. He has always shown an interest in educational affairs and is serving as a member of the Smith Township School Board.

J. B. Taylor, son of D. S. and Sarah (Oliver) Taylor, was born in Smith Township, Mar. 30, 1857. He owns a one-half interest in 365 acres in Smith Township and is a substantial as well as a representative citizen. He spent his school days in Smith Township in which the family was reared and with his brother and one sister resides on the old homestead. The place is well im- proved and all the buildings now standing were erected by J. B. Taylor, as he learned and worked at the carpen- ter trade for 12 years. Owing to ill health he was obliged to give up his trade and since then nas been interested in contracting for steam heat and hot water systems at Burgettstown and in the vicinity. Like his older brother he is a Democrat but mixes little in poli- tics, his main desire being to see good men elected to office. He attends the First Presbyterian Church at Burgettstown.

JOHN H. MCCRACKEN, who is one of Washington's enterprising and wide awake young business men, is a member of the wholesale produce firm of McLeod & Mc- Cracken, the operations of which cover a wide radius of territory. Mr. McCracken was born at Wheeling, West Va., in 1878.

Mr. McCracken has been a resident of Washington for 22 years, coming here during his school period. After leaving his books he worked for four years in a grocery house and to the knowledge there gained by close atten- tion to the details of the grocery business may, in large part, be attributed his success when he embarked in the business for himself. Since 1899 he has been in the wholesale produce business and for two years conducted a retail grocery. In 1908 the present firm was organ- ized and it deals extensively in butter, cheese and eggs. The business has continued to increase in volume and the prospects of the firm are bright, dealing as they do in the necessary commodities of daily life, and having a practical knowledge of this line. In 1898, Mr. Mc- Cracken was married to Miss Minnie Holder, of Wash- ington, Pa., and they have one daughter, Elizabeth.

JOHN CUNNINGHAM, justice of the peace, member of the school board and owner of a magnificent farm of 532 acres, may justly be denominated a leading and representative citizen of Donegal Township, Washington Co., Pa., where he was born Oct. 25, 1863. His parents were John and Margaret (Heyburn) Cunningham.

The father of Mr. Cunningham, the late John Cun- ningham, whose death occurred late in the 90's, was

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

born in County Down, Ireland, July 24, 1829, and was a son of Peter and Dorothea (Wilkinson) Cunningham. Peter Cunningham engaged in farming to some extent, raised cattle and also worked at the weaving trade. All of his eight children with the exception of John, the firstborn, remained in Ireland. The latter learned the weaving trade from his father but never found the neces- sity of following it. In 1849 he came to America almost emptyhanded, but in a very short time his industry and other good qualities gave him recognition and in a few months he had entered into the employ of James Camp- sey, a large farmer in Washington County, Pa., and re- mained there for 14 years. In 1863 he married and for some years afterward rented land from Mr. Campsey, but by 1872 he was able to buy a tract of land, in Donegal Township, and lived there until 1881. He then moved on a part of the Heyburn tract, situated three miles northwest of Claysville, also in Donegal Township, and there resided until his demise. He was a man of ster- ling character, honest, upright and courageous. He gave support to the Presbyterian Church and in private life was unusually charitable and generous. On Sept. 17, 1863, he was married (first) to Margaret J. Heyburn, who was born in 1840, and died Dec. 25, 1879. Of their children the following survive: John, George, of Vienna, Pa .; Joseph E., of Donegal Township; and Amanda, now Mrs. Miller, of Donegal Township.

John Cunningham, the eldest of the above family, was reared and attended school in Donegal Township and - from early youth has been interested extensively-in farm- ing and stock raising. He devotes special attention to sheep raising and makes this industry profitable. Fol- lowing in the steps of his father, he is a stanch party Republican and gives loyal support to its policies. In local matters he is very closely concerned at all times, serving on school and highway boards as the best way to better the conditions of both, and the esteem in which he is held is shown in the fact that he is serving his second term as justice of the peace.

On Mar. 21, 1900, Mr. Cunningham was married to Miss Bertha R. Noble, who was born in Buffalo Town- ship, Washington County, and they are members of the Prebyterian Church at Claysville, of which he is a trustee.

WILLIAM BOYLE HOUSTON, a leading citizen of Canonsburg, Pa., and president of the First National Bank of Houston, the latter city standing on what was once his grandfather's farm, was born at Canonsburg, Washington Co., Pa., and is a son of David Clark and Louisa B. (Sweitzer) Houston.

The Houston family in America traces its lineage back to the Highlands of Scotland, even to the days of the gallant William Wallace. In Renfrewshire, Scotland,

the old baronial halls still stand and the head of the family still commands his vassals. Early in the 17th century members of the clan migrated to North Ireland and the name is a familiar one in Counties Donegal, Lon- donderry, Tyrone and Antrim. It was from North Ire- land that three brothers of the name of Houston crossed the Atlantic Ocean, between 1725 and 1730, and settled in what is now Lancaster County, Pa. They increased in numbers and prospered and eventually scattered into other parts of the Union and no record of the family would be complete without mention being made of that old Texan hero, Gen. Sam Houston. "The History of Lancaster County" has rightly regarded this family as one of its most interesting and distinguished and many important facts and much data concerning it may be obtained by consulting this publication.

John Houston lived on a farm in Lancaster County, facing the Delaware Water Gap station, on the Penn- sylvania Railroad, and he had six sons and two daugh- ters born there. Five of these sons: Daniel, John, Will- iam, James and Thomas, were soldiers in the Revolu- tionary War. After its close, Daniel Houston took up his residence in Franklin County, Pa., removing later to Washington County, settling in what is now Cross Creek Township. He was accompanied by his son, Daniel Houston, who was born in Franklin County but whose subsequent life was spent in Washington County, where he became a more than usually useful citizen. He early entered into the business of buying and shipping such commodities as wool, flour and pork, loading boats at the mouth of Cross Creek and delivering at New Orleans. In the face of dangers long since eliminated from all river traffic in the United States and in spite of hard- ships of all kinds, Mr. Houston made many successful trips to the South and from many of these walked the whole distance home. In his business dealings he was considered honorable and upright, and of his personal characteristics, his contemporaries speak with the utmost kindness and admiration. He always adhered to the old Seceder Church in his religious views and he gave a site for the erection of a church edifice. It is still standing and now belongs to his grandson, William Boyle Houston.

In addition to the personal business enterprises men- tioned, Daniel Houston was concerned in others of a more public nature, through which many of his fellow citizens were more or less benefitted and accommodated. He was one of the organizers of the old Franklin Bank of Washington, now the First National, was the largest stockholder and its president. He was also a trustee of Jefferson College at Canonsburg and gave encourage- ment to educational effort wherever he was able. He was one of the most liberal contributors to the project of building the Chartiers Railroad, giving, it is said, the sum of $6,000. Although the first railroad enterprise

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

remained ineffective for many years, the arousing of the people and the contributing were not lost factors when the Pennsylvania Railroad Company subsequently com- pleted the contract.

Daniel Houston married Betsey Clark, a daughter of David and Hannah (Baird) Clark, a family of Scotch extraction, and to this marriage three children were born, one son and two daughters, both daughters dying in childhood.

David Clark Houston, the father of William Boyle Houston and the only son of Daniel and Betsey (Clark) Houston, was born on the old farm of his father in Inde- pendence Township, Washington Co., Pa., and died at Canonsburg, May 27, 1888, in his seventy-third year. He obtained an excellent education, completing his studies at Jefferson College. Early in manhood he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits which he con- tinued until other demands on his attention in relation to his large inheritance of property induced him to retire. Together with his father he served continually as a director of the First National Bank of Washington from its organization, was a trustee of Washington and Jefferson College, a trustee of Jefferson Acadamy, presi- dent of the Oak Spring Cemetery Company and a mem- ber of a number of charitable boards. He was active in securing the Chartiers Valley Railroad as was his father, whose example he followed in many public-spir- ited movements. For many years he was a valued and honored member of the Chartiers United Presbyterian Church.

At Washington, Pa., in 1840, David Houston was mar- ried to Louisa B. Sweitzer, who was born at Browns- ville, Pa., and died at Canonsburg, in 1887. Her father was Dr. Lewis Sweitzer, a native of Pennsylvania who secured his medical education in France. Dr. Sweitzer and wife were the parents of a large family and among them were many distinguished members and a family of daughters as noted for their personal beauty as the sons were for their mental gifts. To David Houston and wife there were born three sons and three daughters, namely: Elizabeth, who resides at Canonsburg; Mary, who is now decaesed, was the wife of Rev. William F. Brown, whose father was president of Jefferson College and his grand- father of Washington College; Harriet, who died when aged twenty-two years; Louis, who died when aged twen- ty-four years; William Boyle; and Daniel, who died when aged three years. There are two survivors of this family: William Boyle and Miss Elizabeth.

William Boyle Houston was reared in a cultured home where the means were ample for every demand of life and his wishes were more or less consulted as to the direction his educational efforts should take. He at- tended Jefferson Academy, with which his family had been so closely identified for so long a time, and then,

in preparation for an active business life, took a course at Duff's Commercial College at Pittsburg. Like father and grandfather his talents have been brought to light as a financier. They were the organizers of financial institutions which have become solid ones of this sec- tion and Mr. Houston, in 1902, organized the First National Bank of Houston, which is recognized as one of the leading and conservative banks of Washington County. To the interests of this bank Mr. Houston de- votes much of his time and he is also interested in look- ing after both his own and his sister's important invest- ments and large amount of property. Both he and Miss Elizabeth Houston are members of the United Presby- terian Church. He was brought to Canonsburg by his parents in 1875, and he resides here during all but the win- ter months, spending these in Florida.

CHARLES MAYNARD REA, whose well cultivated farm of 120 acres lies in Cross Creek Township, Wash- ington Co., Pa., not far distant from the village of Rea, which perpetuates the name of his family, an old and prominent one in this section, was born on this farm No- vember 6, 1865. His parents were Charles and Cather- ine (Cook) Rea.

William Rea, the great-grandfather of Charles M. Rea, was born in Northampton Co., Pa., September 13, 1762, and came from there to Washington County, in 1789, shortly afterward settling on what is now the farm of his great-grandson, in Cross Creek Township. William Rea taught school one winter one and one-half miles west of Hickory, in Mt. Pleasant Township and then bought the above farm which has remained in the family into the fourth generation. He was a justice of the peace for Cross Creek, Hopewell and Mt. Pleasant town- ships for a number of years and was one of the foremost men of this section. In 1794 he was one of a committee of three representative men appointed and sent by the whiskey insurrectionists to meet the U. S. Army corps detailed to suppress the insurrectionists and had much to do with the final adjustment of difficulties. He died September 28, 1835, aged 74 years. His wife was Jane Mason and among their children was William Mason Rea, grandfather of Charles M. He was born on this farm March 16, 1790, and always lived on the place.

Charles Rea, father of Charles H., was born on the present farm, April 25, 1834, and died October 12, 1900. He was a son of William Mason and Elizabeth (Camp- bell) Rea. His whole life was spent on his farm in Cross Creek Township. On November 27, 1856, he was married to Catherine Cook, a daughter of A. C. and Mary (Campbell) Cook, of Wayne County, Ohio, where Mrs. Rea lived until her marriage, since when she has lived on the old Rea homestead. Charles Maynard was the fifth child and eldest son born to the above mar-

HON. CHARLES A. BENTLEY

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

riage, the others being: Mary E., wife of John N. Smiley, of Smith Township; Ida F., wife of William C. Marshall, of Oakdale, Pa .; Winnifred E., widow of William H. Buchanan, of Independence Township; Effie L., wife of Harry C. Scott, residing in Pittsburg; Jennie E., wife of D. W. Cummings, of Cadiz, Ohio; Tamar C., deceased, was the wife of Harry S. Lee, of Cross Creek Township; Ella Elberta, wife of Walter E. Cozins; and Iva V., wife of Lester Donaldson, of Columbus, Ohio.

Charles M. Rea attended school with more or less regularity until he was eighteen years of age, and since then has given the larger part of his time and atten- tion to agricultural pursuits. He is a practical and suc- cessful farmer and he also raises a large amount of as fine stock as is produced on any farm in Cross Creek Township. In his political views he follows the teach- ings of his late father, who was a stanch Republican, and at different times he has served acceptably in town- ship offices and is numbered with its most reliable men. He was elected vice-president of the Washington County School Directors' Association, in which capacity he is still serving. Mr. Rea is unmarried and lives with his mother on the homestead. They are members of the Cross Creek Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder and has been a trustee for a number of years.

HON. CHARLES A. BENTLEY, member of the Pennsylvania Legislature, and a conductor on the Ells- worth branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, was born July 11, 1860, and is a son of Samuel B. and Minerva (Rabe) Bentley.

Samuel Black Bentley was born and reared in Monon- gahela City, Pa., and was a grandson of Samuel Black, who was one of the early settlers of Washington County and owner of over 1,500 acres of land. Samuel B. Bent- ley spent almost his entire life in this locality and died at the age of 68 years. He was a trader by occupation, buying and selling wool extensively. He was first united in marriage with a Miss Graham, after whose death, he married Minerva Rabe, and they had the following chil- dren: Millie, a resident of Monongahela City; Frank, deceased; Charles A., the subject of this sketch; Harry K., ex-mayor of Monongahela City; and Mary, who mar- ried B. L. Ross, who is clerk of Monongahela City. Mr. Bentley served three years in the Civil War as quarter- master of the 140th Pa. Vol. Inf. and was a member of the G. A. R.

Charles A. Bentley obtained his educational training in the common schools of Monongahela City and early in life learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked several years. In 1881 he began working on the Penn- sylvania Railroad, first as brakeman, and since 1890 has been conductor, now serving in that capacity on the Ellsworth branch. He is also interested in the coal and

lumber business in this city, and with the exception of & few years spent in Pittsburg, has always been a resident of Monongahela City.

Mr. Bentley is a Republican in politics, has served two terms in the city Council, and was elected to the State Legislature in 1907, being re-elected in 1909. He is fraternally a member of the O. R. C. of Pittsburg; the B. P. O. E. of Homestead, and the Masonic order of Charleroi.

In 1888, Mr. Bentley married Margaret Rees, a daugh- ter of David Rees, of Pittsburg.

LOUIS RIETSCH, a member of the well known firm of Rietsch Brothers, general stone and brick contractors of Washington, Pa., has been a resident here for the past twenty-one years. He was born in France, March 25, 1867, and there became a bricklayer and stone mason by trade. At the age of twenty-one years he came to America and located for two years at Hartford, Conn., after which he came to Washington, where he worked at his trade until the present firm of Rietsch Brothers was established. They carry on a general contracting business in stone and brick work and road building, and are practically engaged in doing all kinds of general contracting, ranking high among the leading contractors of Washington. Mr. Rietsch is a stockholder in the Real Estate and Trust Company of Washington; he has served as a member of the city council of South Wash- ington, and also as a member of the council of Washing- ton Borough, participating actively in local politics. Mr. Rietsch is a member of the Catholic Church.

JOHN N. WALKER, one of Jefferson Township's most prominent citizens, serving in the office of justice of the peace and being also treasurer of the school board and treasurer of the road fund, has followed farming all his mature life. He was born in Cross Creek Town- ship, Washington Co., Pa., January 3, 1849, and is a son of John N. and Anna (Vance) Walker.

The parents of Mr. Walker were both natives of Wash- ington County, the father of Jefferson Township, a son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Norris) Walker, who came from New Jersey. The mother was born in Smith Town- ship and was a daughter of William and Rachel (Pat- terson) Vance. She died in 1870 and was survived by her husband until 1882. They were worthy members of the Presbyterian Church. They had the following chil- dren : Rachel V., who married Robert S. Donaldson; Alexander E., who resides at Burgettstown; William Vance, who is deceased; James A., who lives at Murray, Neb .; Elizabeth, who married John Lawton, died Octo- ber 23, 1909, lived in Kansas; Hannah G., who married J. P. Reed, lives in Kansas; Mary M., who married J. Edgar Rankin, deceased; Virginia A .; John N .; Joseph

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

P. and Franklin P., both of whom are deceased; and Cynthia C., who married Samuel Wilson, deceased.

John N. Walker was reared on a farm and enjoyed few educational advantages in his youth, his present fund of knowledge having been mainly acquired through ju- dicious reading and association with intelligent people. While he has made farming his business in life, he has not confined his attention to agricultural pursuits. From early manhood he has been active in politics and for a number of years has been a Democratic leader in this section. For the past three years he has been a member of the Democratic County Committee, a very strong party organization, and he has been a delegate to both State and National conventions. He enjoys very fully the confidence of his fellow citizens and fills offices of honor, trust and responsibility.

In February, 1895, Mr. Walker was married to Miss Ella Boles, who is a daughter of John L. and Margaret Boles, the former of whom died in 1894. Mrs. Boles still lives on the homestead in Jefferson Township. To John L. Boles and wife the following children were born: Mary, who married Robert Bloomingstock; Ella, who became Mrs. Walker; Thomas E., who resides in the city of Chicago; John J., who lives at Eldersville, Pa .; and H. P., who lives with his mother. Mr. Walker is identified with the Masonic lodge at Burgettstown.

ARTHUR DAY, who has been proprietor of the Hotel Arthur at Charleroi, Pa., for the past three years, was born at Haverhill, Mass., in 1865, and is a son of John W. Day. He was reared and educated at Haverhill, Mass., where he subsequently ran a restaurant until about 1900, when he came to Charleroi, Pa., and that same year erected part of his present hotel building, which is a modern two-story brick building, containing twenty rooms, and here ran a restaurant for three years. In 1906 he completed the building, as it now stands, and has since conducted an up-to-date hotel.

Mr. Day was united in marriage with Beatrice Frost, of Portland, Me. He is fraternally affiliated with the Elks and the Eagles.

JOHN P. LINN, justice of the peace, in the borough of Burgettstown, has been engaged in business here for a number of years, dealing in lumber and builders' sup- plies. He was born in Franklin County, Pa., September 11, 1863, and is a son of William A. P. and Elizabeth (Proudfit) Linn.

The father of Mr. Linn was born in Franklin County, Pa., June 27, 1838. He married Elizabeth Proudfit, a daughter of John L. Proudfit. Six children were born to them: John P., William B., James P., Robert F., living, and Edmund L. and Arthur G., both dead. He engaged in farming in Franklin County until 1882, when

he came to Smith Township, Washington County, where he resided until 1900, when he retired and moved to Burgettstown, where he died March 7, 1907. His burial was in Fairview Cemetery, of which his son, John P., is a director. His widow survives and resides at Burgetts- town. William A. P. Linn was successively an elder in three churches-the church in Middle Spring, Cumberland County, Pa .; the Florence Presbyterian Church, and later the Burgettstown Church, in all of these, by precept and example, testifying to his Christian faith and zeal.

John P. Linn attended the public schools of Franklin County and the State Normal School at Shippensburg, Cumberland Co., Pa., later taking a business course in the Eastman Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., returning then to Washington County and entering into the lumber business at Burgettstown, with a partner, under the firm name of Armour & Linn. When Mr. Armour retired, Mr. Linn and brother, William B., con- tinued the business, adding builders' supplies to their stock. They are representative business men of the place.

On September 30, 1879, Mr. Linn was married to Miss Sarah A. Cole, a daughter of Thomas Cole, and they have eight children: Thomas C., Elizabeth, William, Gertrude, Alice, Mary, John, Jr., and Elsie. Mr. Linn is a stockholder and director in the Burgettstown Na- tional Bauk. He was reared to respect the principles of the Democratic party and has always been more or less active in politics, and at one time was his party's candidate for the State Legislature. With his family he belongs to the First Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the school board and he belongs to the Masons and the Odd Fellows.

WILLIAM H. McENRUE, reporter of the Common Pleas Court of Washington County, Pa., was born Sep- tember 29, 1875, in Washington, and is a son of William H. McEnrue, who was for several years one of the prom- inent lawyers of Washington. His father was born in Cambria County, Pa., in 1844, and was for several years engaged in the practice of his profession at Wheeling, W. Va., after which he came to Washington, was ad- mitted to the Washington County bar and embarked in the practice of law. He continued until the time of his death, August 15, 1877.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 124

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