History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 127

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 127

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After he had received his honorable discharge from military service, Lieut. Eagleson returned to Hopewell Township, where he engaged in farming and stock rais- ing, and to a moderate degree he has also been a breeder of Shorthorn cattle. Besides this, he has made a busi- ness of surveying, and is a director in the Citizens' National Bank. In his younger years he took a lively interest in politics and frequently was elected to county offices. He served three years as county treasurer and one term as county surveyor.

Lieut. Eagleson was married in 1864, to Miss Jennie M. Pyles, of Washington County, who died in January, 1875. She was a daughter of James and Ann Eliza (Smith) Pyles, the former a farmer of Hopewell Town- ship. They had four children born to them, namely : John, who resides at home; James P., who is a prominent attorney at Washington; and Margaret Smith and An- drew Stewart, both of whom reside at home. Lieut. Eagleson is a member of the East Buffalo Presbyterian Church, in which he has been an elder for over forty years. Formerly he was active in the Masonic fraternity. He is a lineal descendant of the Byers people who were pioneer settlers of East Finley, from 1780 to 1790, whose descendants have become prominent from Penn- sylvania to California.

CARL E. GIBSON, a prominent young attorney and a member of the well known law firm, MeIlvaine, Vance & Gibson, of Monongahela City, Pa., was born July 9, 1873, in Fallowfield Township, Washington Co., Pa., and is a son of Capt. James B. Gibson.

Carl E. Gibson spent his boyhood days on a farm in Carroll Township, attended the distiret schools of the township, afterwards graduating from the Monongahela

high school in 1891, having walked to and from school each day. He subsequently taught for six years in Alle- gheny and Washington Counties, then engaged in the lumber business for three years with his brother, J. D. Gibson. In 1899 he entered the Pittsburg Law School, and after his graduation entered the office of B. E. Taumbaugh, of Washington, Pa., for one year, and after being admitted to the Washington County bar in 1902, formed a partnership with Oliver S. Scott, with whom he was associated but a short time, their partnership being dissolved in the spring of 1903, after which the present firm, McIlvaine, Vance & Gibson was established. Mr. Gibson is a Democrat, and was a candidate for dis- trict attorney in 1908, and has served as city solicitor for Monongahela City since 1904. He is a director in the Monongahela City Trust Company, and the First National Bank of this city. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, the B. P. O. E., the Jr. O. U. A. M. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Gibson was married (first) September 25, 1895, to Mary Lamont, who died in November, 1899, leaving three children : Mary, Lois, and Ruth. He was married (second) on June 20, 1907, to Jean E. Wycoff, and they reside in a comfortable home at No. 309 Third street.

D. F. CALDWELL, a prominent dealer in real estate and fire insurance, with office in the Washington Trust Building, has been a resident of Washington during the past fourteen years. He was born in Mt. Pleasant Township, Washington Co., Pa., in 1851, and is a son of William Caldwell.

William Caldwell was born in County Down, Ireland, and was young at the time of his father's removal to the United States, the latter James Caldwell, purchasing a farm in Mt. Pleasant Township, Washington Co., Pa., in 1812. He died on that place the following year. Will- iam Caldwell spent the remainder of his life on that farm, except two years which were passed on a farm he pur- chased, located about six miles east of the old home- stead. He was a prominent citizen and a strong Aboli- tionist, being an important factor in the Underground Railway. He was captain of a military company in the early days and when the Civil War came on became cap- tain of a company of Home Guards. His death occurred in 1866, shortly after the close of the war.

D. F. Caldwell was reared on the old homestead and educated in the district schools and at Ohio Central College in Morrow County, Ohio, which he atended one year. He then returned to the farm and engaged in farming and sheep raising successfully until about the year 1895, when he moved to the borough of Washington. Here he embarked in the real estate and insurance busi- ness and has been very active ever since, buying and selling real estate extensively and handling rentals. He

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THOMAS M. REESE

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

handles many of the old and reliable fire insurance lines, and has a well established business in this branch. Mr. Caldwell has investments in various parts of the county and takes rank among the city's most substantial busi- ness men.

In 1885, he was married to Miss Sarah Elizabeth Mc- Donald, who was born in Beaver County, Pa., and was reared in Hancock County, W. Va. They are members of the Second United Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Caldwell has been an elder for a number of years.

WILLIAM MALCOLM DINSMORE, deceased, for- merly one of the best known and leading citizens of Can- ton Township, Washington Co., Pa., whose useful life was brought to a close in February, 1906, was born on the farm where he lived ever afterward, January 25, 1848. His father was William Dinsmore, his grand- father was John Dinsmore, and his great-grandfather was James Dinsmore, who was of Scotch-Irish parentage.

William Malcolm Dinsmore grew to man's estate on the present farm, which is now occupied by the fifth generation. The old ancestral home, of brick construc- tion, was built in 1810, and is one of the oldest residences in Washington County. The brick for the house was burned on the place in 1809. The frame work of the barn now standing was erected in 1818. Here William M. Dinsmore spent a happy life. He was a successful farmer and raised a large amount of good stock and was one of the leading sheep growers for many years, fre- quently owning 600 head at one time. He was a well informed man, having attended the country schools and also the high school at Buffalo and later kept posted on all current events of the country and directed his busi- ness and cast his vote intelligently. He was a Repub- lican in his political views and took an interest in public matters but was well content with his life as a farmer and desired no political favors. He was a liberal sup- porter of the Presbyterian Church of Buffalo village and served both as church treasurer and church trustee.

On November 10, 1875, Mr. Dinsmore was married to Miss Margaret J. Dinsmore, who was born in Hopewell 'Township, Washington County, and is a daughter of William W. and Mary J. (Maxwell) Dinsmore. The father was born in Mt. Pleasant Township and the mother in Hopewell Township, both being now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. William M. Dinsmore the following children were born: John Alvin, S. Adaline, R. Helen and Mary Daisy, the latter of whom is deceased. Of the above family, J. Alvin is the practical manager of this large estate, comprising 287 acres of very valuable land situated in Canton Township. He is well qualified, having attended the Pennsylvania State Agricultrual College, where he took a course in dairying. He is a wide-awake, progressive young man, imbued with modern ideas and

with the good judgment which assists him in succesfully carrying them out.

ROBERT F. STEVENSON, proprietor of the Steven- son Laundry, having the best equipped and most modern laundry plant in Washington, Pa., was born in Ligonier, Montgomery County, Pa., October 28, 1863, and was eight years old when his parents moved to Corsica, Jef- ferson County. In 1877 he accompanied them to Wash- ington, Pa. His father, now deceased, was the Rev. Ross Stevenson, D. D., who preached through the western part of Pennsylvania for over fifty years.

Robert F. Stevenson was educated in the public schools of Ligonier, Corsica Academy, Paris Academy and Jeffer- son Academy at Canonsburg. His first self-supporting work was done as an employe of the grocery house of J. A. Stewart & Company, of Chicago, Ill., where he re- mained for a year and a half, afterward going to the Wholesale Fertilizer Company, of the same city, and re- maining three years. In 1882 he returned to Washington, and in 1889 he started the Stevenson Laundry, on a modest scale, having five girls and two men as his full working force. The business prospered from the first and in 1901 Mr. Stevenson built on his present site. In 1905 he rebuilt, erecting his three-story brick building, on Washington street, the dimensions of which are 30 by 100 feet. Mrs. Stevenson has made a careful study of his business and has spared no expense in equipping his plant, every device and up-to-date machine being in use that will further the work and ensure satisfaction to the patrons. He gives constant employment to eighteen girls and eight men and has four laundry wagons.

In 1891 Mr. Stevenson was married to Miss Linda E. Leech, who was formerly principal of the Second Ward school of Washington . They have one son, Pressly. Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson are members of the Third Presby- terian Church, in which he is an elder. Politically he is a Republican, and fraternally, is identified with the Masons, Odd Fellows and Heptosophs.

THOMAS M. REESE, justice of the peace at Canons- burg and a thoroughly representative citizen, who is also engaged in the fire insurance and real estate business, was born at Briton Ferry, Wales, May 24, 1872, and is a son of John and Mary (Williams) Reese.

Both parents of Mr. Reese were born in Wales and they came to America with their children, in 1882, lo- cating at Pittsburg, where the father secured work in the steel mills. Two of his brothers, Evan and Charles, were already employed in industrial plants in that lo- cality. John Reese and family moved to Canonsburg, Pa., in 1883 and he has resided here ever since, with the exception of six months spent at Greenville, in Mer-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

cer County, Pa., in 1886, and was employed in the Canonsburg Steel and Iron Works until he retired. To John and Mary Reese were born three sons and four daughters, Thomas M. being the second in order of birth. The others are: Elizabeth Ann, who is the widow of George Forester, of Canonsburg; Jessie Mary, who resides at home; Keziah, who is the wife of Bernard L. Comerford, resides at Canonsburg; John Reese, Jr., who lives at home; David Charles, who is with the MeClin- tock-Marshall Construction Company, at Carnegie; and Edith, who resides with her parents.

Thomas M. Reese began work in the Canonsburg iron and steel plant when he was 13 years old, having attend- ed school prior to this both at Pittsburg and Canons- burg. He worked continuously for the same company until 1902, with the exception of one and one-half years when he was serving as a soldier in the Philippine Islands. He was a member of Co. H, 10th Pa. Vol. Inf., and spent one year in the Island of Luzon, and was mustered out of the service on Aug. 22, 1899. For about one year, Mr. Reese then served as a clerk in the office of the Fort Pitt Bridge plant, in 1904 embarking in his present business.

Mr. Reese has been an active citizen, a strong sup- porter of law and order and his efficiency has been recognized on many occasions. In 1898 he was elected borough auditor for a term of three years, but resigned at the end of two years on account of being elected a member of the Council, in 1900, for three years, and served as the president of that body for one year. In 1903 he was elected burgess of Canonsburg and served most acceptably to all concerned, until 1906, when he was elected to the office of justice of the peace, for a term of five years. On May 3, 1890, to gratify a mili- tary ambition, he made application for a cadetship at West Point, but just about that time he was accidentally and severely burned and although his examination se- cured him the place of alternate, the scar left by the burn prevented his appointment. In many ways it seemed an unjust discrimination and was a great disap- pointment as he had prepared himself for the rigid ex- amination by diligent study. However, other avenues of usefulness opened up and his fellow citizens prefer to have his advice and help at home rather than the credit to them he might have earned as a soldier.

On Sept. 26, 1906, Mr. Reese was married to Miss Jennie M. Halpin, a daughter of Robert and Mary (Higgins) Halpin, of Moundsville, W. Va. They have two children: Thomas Halpin, born July 23, 1907; and John Paul, born in June, 1909. Mr. Reese was reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

With all classes Mr. Reese is a popular citizen. He has always been sympathetic with the working class and during the years when he was closely identified with the

steel and iron industry as an employe himself, he a so- ciated himself with the great Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers, where his qualities soon made him a leader. As such he represented the local body in the National conventions of the association, in 1893-94-95-98 and 1900, 1902 and 1904. On many oe- casions his calm judgment assisted in solving perplexing questions and in bringing peace where there might have resulted war.

JAMES M. DINSMORE, a prosperous and highly re- spected farmer, who owns 172 acres of valuable land, lying along the Washington and Wellsburg road, in Hopewell Township, Washington Co., Pa., was born September 1, 1853, in this township and has spent his life here. His parents were William Wilberforce and Mary (Maxwell) Dinsmore.

The Dinsmore family came among the pioneers to Washington County. The great-grandfather, James Dins- more, came to America in 1798 and probably settled then in this section. Both parents of Mr. Dinsmore have passed away and their remains rest in the Upper Buffalo Cemetery. They had the following children: Margaret J., who is the widow of Malcolm Dinsmore, of Canton Township; Hattie A., who is the wife of Luther Law- ton, of Hickory village; James M., of Hopewell Town ship; Benjamin F., who resides in Canton Township; Mary L., now deceased, who was the first wife of J. O. Ely; Robert A., who is a dentist in practice at Cleveland, Ohio; and Emma R., who is the second wife of J. O. Ely.

James M. Dinsmore has been engaged in agricultural pursuits almost since boyhood. His education was ob- tained in the district schools. He owns a fine tract of land, one that has been made very productive through his careful tillage. His surroundings all indicate thrift and comfort.

Mr. Dinsmore was married November 18, 1880, to Miss Flora Donaldson, a daughter of Robert S. and Rachel (Walker) Donaldson, of Mt. Pleasant Township, and they have an exceedingly intelligent family, all members of which have been given superior educational advan tages. The eldest daughter, Grace W., is a highly culti vated young lady and talented in musie which she teaches. She attended Blairsville College for two years. Mary J., the second daughter, is a graduate of the Wash- ington High School. Robert Edwin is a graduate of Van Orden's Business College at Washington, and Will- iam Lloyd, who attended the University of Pennsyl- vania for one year. All yet reside under the home roof. The family belongs to the Upper Buffalo Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Dinsmore has been an elder for a number of years. Mrs. Dinsmore is much interested in the church missionary work. Mr. Dinsmore takes only

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the interest of a voter in politics. He is a Republican and frequently has been importuned to accept offices, but has always declined such honors.

HARRY WINFIELD BLACK CANNON, attorney- at-law, has been engaged in the practice of his pro- fession since 1906.

Mr. Cannon was born in the old Black homestead in the Twenty-second Ward of Pittsburg, in 1881, and was there reared. After completing the prescribed course in the public schools, he entered Washington and Jeffer- son Academy, and later Washington and Jefferson Col- lege. He completed a law course in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Mich., graduating with the Class of 1906. After spending some time in the West, he located in 1908 at Washington, Pa., where he has since practiced very successfully. During his short resi- dence here he has gained a high position at the bar.

In June, 1908, Mr. Cannon was married to Miss Eleanor Aiken, of Washington, Pa. Fraternally, he is a member of Braddock Lodge, B. P. O. E.

BENJAMIN M. TALBOT, editor and manager of The Enterprise, a weekly newspaper, and The Bur- gettstown Publishing Company, at Burgettstown, Pa., is an enterprising young business man, one whose suc- cess in journalistic work indicates that he has found the right channel for his activities. He was born at Denver, Colo., Jan. 15, 1891, and is a son of Robert H. Talbot and wife, the former of whom died Sept. 28, 1902, and the latter of whom is a resident of Bur- gettstown, Pa.

Mr. Talbot attended school at Denver. At the age of 14 years, after coming to Washington County, Pa., he en- tered the Record office at McDonald, where he learned the printing trade, coming later to The Enterprise at Burgettstown, where, after some months, he was ad- vanced to the position of editor and manager. The Enterprise is an independent weekly journal, among the oldest established in the county, and as it has no political bias is acceptable as a purveyor of news to every citizen and finds its way into the majority of the homes of the town and adjacent country. Mr. Talbot is a member of the First United Presbyterian Church at Burgettstown.

HARRY L. WILLIAMS, a busy practitioner of the Washington County bar and a member of the reliable and able law firm of McIlvaine & Williams, was born in 1871, in Fallowfield Township, Washington County, Pa., and is a son of David N. and Julia (Greenlee) Williams.

Francis H. Williams, the grandfather of Harry L., built the old stone house in Washington County in

which the latter was born, and it is one of the old land- marks and is still occupied by a member of the family. Francis H. Williams was one of the earliest settlers in Fallowfield Township and there his son, David N. was born, in June, 1840. David N. Williams is a large farmer and an extensive breeder and dealer in sheep, and resides within sight of the old place, although on his own farm. He married Julia Greenlee, a daughter of John Greenlee, of Clarksville, Greene County, and they had four children, namely: Harry L .; John A. and William J., twins, the latter of whom is deceased; and Charles E. John A. Williams served in the 10th Pa. Vol. Inf., in the Spanish-American War. He now is engaged in farming in Nottingham Township, and Charles E. is a farmer in Fallowfield Township.

Harry L. Williams attended the Washington County schools and the California State Normal School, subse- quently teaching school for some years and during this period did a large amount of private law reading. Later he graduated from Duff's Business College and then entered the law department of the University of Michi- gan, at Ann Arbor, and was graduated in 1893. He did not enter into practice, however, for several years. In 1900 he was admitted to the Washington County bar and later to all the state courts and ever since has commanded a very satisfactory practice. He has been a very active and interested citizen and in 1905 he served as chairman of the Citizens' Organization, and also served acceptably for three years as burgess of East Washington.

On April 6, 1904, Mr. Williams was married to Miss Anna Blanche Weir, a daughter of Robert E. Weir, of Morris Township, Washington County, and they have one child, Julia Inez. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are mem- bers of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Wash- ington. He is identified prominently with the Elks and is past exalted ruler of the local organization.

JAMES M. COLLINS, manager of the Pittsburg Gro- cery Company at Canonsburg, was born at Uniontown, Fayette County, Pa., Dec. 27, 1880, and is a son of James and Mary E. (Bryson) Collins.

The parents of Mr. Collins reside at Uniontown, where the father is superintendent of the jail and court house. They reared the following children: Ada, residing at home; Belle, wife of George S. Daugherty, of Pittsburg; John, residing at Pittsburg; Charles, a resident of Uniontown; James M., of Canonsburg; M. R., residing at Pittsburg; and Clara, Edna, Loma and Dorothy, all residing at home.

James M. Collins received his education in the public schools and at Madison Academy, at Uniontown. He began his business life as an employe of the grocery firm of George S. Daugherty & Co., of Pittsburg, where

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

he remained for six years, coming to Canonsburg on June 1, 1904, and since then has been manager of the Pittsburg Grocery Company. His experience of eleven years in this line has made him thoroughly acquainted with the demands of the trade as well as a competent judge of commodities and of the best and most eco- nomical way of handling the same. He is numbered with the successful and popular business men of Canons- burg.

In Pittsburg, Mr. Collins was married to Miss Cath- erine Dornberg, a daughter of Herman Dornberg, and they have three children: Harold, Ruth and Kenneth. Mr. Collins and family are members of the Baptist Church. In politics he is a Republican. He belongs to Chartiers Lodge No. 297, F. & A. M .; Lodge No. 893, Odd Fellows; Lodge No. 204, Knights of Pythias, and to the Sons of Veterans, his father having been a soldier in the Civil War.

J. OLIVER PRIGG, a retired farmer of Canton Township, Washington County, now residing at 192 Jefferson avenue, Washington, Pa., was born Oct. 12, 1854, in Canton Township and is a son of James and Caroline (Mounts) Prigg.

James Prigg was born in Washington County in 1820, a son of Samuel Prigg, who was one of the earliest set- tlers of Washington County. James spent his active life in general farming and stock raising, the last ten or twelve years of his life being passed in Washington, where he died Dec. 13, 1895. He was a Democrat in politics. He married Caroline Mounts, who was born in this county and comes of one of the oldest families in this locality. They were the parents of the follow- ing children : J. Oliver, the subject of this sketch; Laura, who married Stephen Halpin of Washington, Pa .; and Amanda, who died at the age of 14 years.

J. Oliver Prigg was reared and educated in his native township, and was there engaged in farming and stock raising until two years ago. He then came to Washing- ton, where he has since lived in retirement, although still managing his farming interests in Canton Town- ship, where he owns two tracts of land-the homestead farm of 1181/2 acres and an additional farm of 751/2 acres on the Taylorstown Road.

On Jan. 13, 1881, Mr. Prigg was united in marriage with Della Weir, a daughter of William C. and Sarah (Mounts) Weir, and a granddaughter of Adam Weir, who was one of the pioneers of Washington County. Mr. and Mrs. Weir were the parents of the following children : William J .; Mamie C., who married J. C. Hale of Oklahoma; and Della, the wife of the subject of this sketch. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Prigg, namely : Minnie Maud, who married C. Vance Linn, and resides with her parents; and Harry Cleveland, who

resides on the homestead farm in Canton Township. He married Cora Elizabeth Mounts, and they have a son, Le Roy Mounts Prigg, born Sept. 6, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Prigg are members of the Third Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Prigg is also a member of the Brotherhood.

JAMES STEPHENSON, whose death occurred on May 7, 1904, was one of Hanover Township's esteemed and respected citizens for many years. He was born in Jefferson Township, Washington County, Pa., Jan. 9, 1825, and was a son of Thomas and Isabel (Martin) Stephenson.

The late James Stephenson obtained the usual edu- cation of the country boy when he was young and very early became acquainted with all the necessary details of farm life. He was a quiet, industrious, capable and good man, doing his duty to his family, his neighbor- hood and his country. Through his good management he acquired an excellent farm of 66 acres on which he placed many improvements and this property, unin- cumbered, belongs to his widow and children. He was identified with the Republican party. With his wife he belonged to the Methodist Protestant Church at Elders- ville. He was one of a family of eight children: John, James, David, Margaret, Isabel, Cyrus, Nancy and Thomas.

On Jan. 23, 1868, James Stephenson was married to Mary C. Crossland, a daughter of George and Mary (Iker) Crossland. They never lived in Washington County, their home being at Connellsville, in Fayette County, where Mrs. Stephenson was born, her mother dying at her birth. Her father survived but six months. She was reared by her paternal grandparents, who were Richard and Rebecca Crosslands. Mrs. Stephenson re- sides on the farm in Hanover Township and is a lady who has a wide circle of friends. To Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson the following children were born: James, who married in the far west and has two children- Mary and James; Charles T. and William M., twins, the latter of whom is deceased; George, who operates the home farm; Ada Belle, who married Theodore Mc- Ewen, has one son, Raymond McEwen; Nannie Viola, who married James Anderson, has had two children; John Oscar; Harry Bemis; Minnie Wilda, who married John R. Wilson; and Mary Margaret, who is a teacher in Smith Township.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 127

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