History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 137

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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HON. JOHN G. CLARKE

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

he has been an elder since 1864. Prior to that time he was a member of the East Buffalo congregation, of which he was made ruling elder when twenty-six years of age. He has always been very active in church work and has contributed liberally of his means to its sup- port and to the furthering of charitable undertakings.

CLARK C. POST, who, in association with his son, John L. Post, owns a valuable farm of 266 acres, situated in Blaine Township, Washington Co., Pa., was born in Morris Township, December 16, 1840, and is a son of William A. and Margaret (Lindley) Post, both natives of Washington County.

William A. Post was a son of Jeremiah Post, who came to western Pennsylvania from New Jersey and settled in Washington County when forests covered a large part of the land, making his home in what is now South Franklin Township. Jeremiah Post married a daughter of Dr. Charles Cracroft, that pioneer physician of Wash- ington County, who once was a prisoner with the Indians, but escaped. Nine children were born to William A. Post and wife and two of the sons-Jeremiah and Joseph M., were soldiers in the Civil War, Joseph M. being killed at the battle of Shiloh.

Clark C. Post is the only survivor of a once large and happy family that made the old farmhouse in Morris Township a place of domestic happiness, that went to the district schools in company and that sadly said fare- well to the two brothers when they went to the war from which one never returned. In 1866, Mr. Post was married and in the fall of 1870, he moved to Pottawato- mie County, Kas, taking up land on which he resided for thirteen years. From there he moved to near War- rensburg, Mo., sixty-five miles southeast of Kansas City, and remained there for ten years, after which he returned to Washington County and settled in West Finley Town- ship, on the old MeNay farm. From there, in the spring of 1907, he removed to Claysville, staying there until the spring of 1909, when he came to his present farm in Blaine Township. This has proved fine land for farming and stock raising and there is also probability of profit- able oil production here. In politics, Mr. Post is a Demo- crat and while living in Johnson County, Mo., he served a number of years as school director of Warrensburg Township. He is no longer actively concerned in political matters.

On December 26, 1866, Mr. Post was married to Miss Nannie R. McNay, of West Finley Township, Washing- ton County, a daughter of Smith and Jane (Bell) Me- Nay, her father being once a prominent citizen there. Two sons and two daughters have been born to them: Belle, Etta M., Frank S., and John L. Belle Post was born in Washington County, January 19, 1868, married S. F. Hunter, of Johnson County, Mo., and they have

six children: Oma Belle, Edna Lucile, Clark Calvin, Nannie, John Dale and Glen. Etta M. Post was born in Washington County, November 9, 1869, married Charles C. Post, of Allen County, Ohio, and they have two chil- dren: Helen R. and Clark L. Frank S. Post was born in Pottawatomie County, Kas., October 11, 1871, and is a practicing physician of Pittsburg, Pa., residing on Penn avenue. He married Clara Kirk, and they have two children: Frank S., Jr., and Lawrence Kirk. John L. Post was born August 21, 1874, in Pottawatomie County, Kas., married Bertha E. Sprowls, of West Fin- ley Township, and they have two children: Mary E. and Alice R. John L. Post is a graduate of the Missouri State Normal School and formerly was a teacher.

Mr. and Mrs. Clark C. Post are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Taylorstown.

ROBERT J. COOK, justice of the peace at McDon- ald, Pa., and a leading citizen, was born near London, England, June 16, 1844, and is a son of Robert and Emma (Benton) Cook, who never came to America. The father was a farmer. He was an excellent man and both he and wife were members of the Episcopal Church. . They had two children: Robert J. and William, the latter of whom is deceased.

Robert J. Cook was educated in England and remained there until he was twenty-five years of age and then came alone to America. His first year in the United States was spent on Long Island, N. Y., and from there he came to MeDonald, where he remained until 1879, when he returned to his native land. Mr. Cook resided in England eight years before he came back to McDonald and his fellow citizens venture to hope that the claims of the old country can never again outweight those of his adopted one, as he is a very popular citizen of McDon- ald. He understands several trades, brickmaking and picture-framing being included, but for some years he has found his time taken up with official duties. He was first appointed a justice of the peace in 1896. For thir- teen years he was elected clerk of the borough council and has also been burgess.

In October, 1872, Mr. Cook was married to Miss Ma- tilda Carson, a daughter of Robert and Jane (Bell) Carson. They were natives of County Antrim, Ireland, where Mrs. Cook was born. She is one of the following children born to her parents: Robert, John, William and Samuel; and Eliza, who married Henry Smith; Matilda, who became Mrs. Cook; Charlotte, who married A. B. Cochran; and Margaret, who married James Querns. The mother of this family is now in her eighty-ninth year, but the father is deceased.

Mr. and Mrs. Cook have had children, as follows: Robert, who married Agnes Dick; William; Em- ma, who married H. H. Forsythe; John, who married

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Isabel Hassell, of Belleville, Ill .; Herbert; Mary, who married John E. Brown; Matilda, who married Leo Buheit, died in September, 1909; and George and Samuel. Mr. Cook's family are members of the United Presby- terian Church. He is identified with the order of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, at Carnegie.

C. O. BRADEN, who is engaged in the transfer and general storage business at Washington, Pa., was born July 18, 1857, in Morris Township, Washington Co., Pa., and is a son of John Braden, who was born in Greene County, this State. His father came to this county in 1855 and was for many years engaged in farming, also dealing largely in stock and wool. In politics he was a stanch Democrat. His death occurred in 1896 in Washington County.

C. O. Braden was reared to maturity in Washington County, where he attended the common schools. At an early age he embarked in the mercantile business in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, after which he was for ten years a traveling salesman for a wholesale grocery house of Wheeling, West Virginia, and for the past eight or nine years has been successfully engaged in transferring and the general storage business. He also deals in flour in job lots.

In 1877 Mr. Braden was married to Emma Iams, who was born and reared in Washington County, and is a daughter of Thomas Iams, who lived near Amity for a number of years, and later moved to Arlington, Ill., where he died. The Iams family has been long estab- lished in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Braden have three children living, namely: Anna, wife of C. W. Minton, a resident of Washington, who is engaged in business at Pittsburg; Lucy Miller Braden, a stenographer, employed in the office of Murdock & Son; and Harry W., who is connected with the Dominion Natural Gas Company of Hamilton, Canada, and who married Nellie Covey, a native of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Braden is a member of the Second Presbyterian Church of Washington and one of the board of deacons. He is also a member of the improved order of Heptasophs.

ALEXANDER C. McCLURE, a member of the firm of B. F. McClure & Bro., proprietors of a hardware business at Burgettstown and one of the leading citizens, was born at Washington, Washington Co., Pa., June 3, 1849, and is a son of Dr. Robert and Eleanor (Ruth) McClure.

Alexander C. MeClure spent his school days at Wash- ington and Middletown and then came to Burgettstown and has been interested here in the hardware line ever since. In 1874, when his brother, B. F. McClure, bought the present location, he purchased an interest and the firm style has been B. F. MeClure & Bro., ever since.

On January 17, 1877, Mr. McClure was married to Miss Nannie Rankin, a daughter of John L. and Eliza- beth Rankin, and they have four children: Frankie, who married Rev. Harry Nesbit; Anna, who married Dr. William P. Patterson; Belle, who married C. S. Graham; and Elizabeth, who is at home. Mr. and Mrs. McClure are members of the United Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Republican but takes no very active parť in public affairs.

JAMES M. WALLACE, junior member of the promi- nent business firm at Midway, Pa., of Dickson & Wallace, dealers in hardware, lumber and builders' supplies, was born in Robeson Township, Washington Co., Pa., May 28, 1865, and is a son of Joseph and Sarah (McBurney) Wallace.

Joseph Wallace was born in Washington County and was a son of Robert and Mary (Walker) Wallace. This is the same Robert Wallace who, when a child between three and four years of age, with his mother, an older brother, and an infant in arms, were taken from their home, near Florence, Pa., by Indians, in the raid of 1782. Robert was the only one of the prisoners ever recovered, his father securing him in 1786. He carried, however, through life, a scar on one cheek, made with a tomahawk in the hand of an Indian squaw. It seems passing strange that there are those now living who have listened to tales from the lips of participants, of the days when men, women and children suffered from Indian attacks and fled from savages over these smiling farms and the sites of busy towns. Joseph Wallace followed agricultural pursuits, assisting his father in early manhood and later acquiring substance and re- sponsibilities of his own. He married Sarah McBurney and they both are deceased. She was a daughter of James and Catherine (Acheson) McBurney. The children born to Joseph and Sarah Wallace were as follows: James M .; Robert W .; Minnie J., who married W. H. Rutherford; Eleanor, who is deceased; John B .; and Margaret, who is the wife of Rev. J. D. Gibson, pastor of the Midway United Presbyterian Church.

James M. Wallace attended the public schools of Robeson Township, and later Ingleside Academy at Mc- Donald, and subsequently took a commercial course at Duff's Business College, in Pittsburg. He then went back to the farm and remained there until 1895, when he came to Midway, formed his partnership with Mr. Diekson and has been actively engaged in business here ever since. He is an independent voter, not being identified with either of the dominating parties, and he is known to be a reliable dependable citizen.

In October, 1896, Mr. Wallace was married to Miss Minnie L. Cummins, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (McCalmont) Cummins. She is one of the following

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

family of children: Minnie L., William M., Jean M., R. Max, Mamie, Charles and Boyd, the latter of whom is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace have one son, Joseph W. They are members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church at Miller's Run.

WILHELM F. ALTEN, a prominent real estate and insurance dealer of Monongahela City, Pa., was born October 16, 1874, at Braddock, Pa., and is a son of George and Esther (Kremer) Alten.

George Alten was born and reared in Bremen, Ger- many, where his father, Heinrich Alten, was the pro- prietor of a large exporting and importing establishment, and of which city he and his wife Metta Alten, were lifelong residents. George Alten was born March 18, 1836, and when about 18 years of age came to America and after spending some years in Baltimore, Md., Ten- nessee, and Ohio, finally located in Pittsburg, Pa., where he engaged in the wholesale grocery business. He became a member of the firm of Watt, Lang & Company, one of the old established grocery houses of Pittsburg, and became one of the best known traveling salesmen on the Monongahela River and through Western Pennsylvania. He subsequently became identified with Allen, Kirk- patrick & Company, and Arbuckle & Company. He was first united in marriage with Rachael Norfolk of Monon- gahela City, their marriage being the first celebrated in the Methodist Church of that city. Shortly after his marriage he located at Braddock, Pa., where one year later his wife and infant son passed out of this life. He formed a second marital union with Esther Kremer of Uniontown, Pa., who died September 1, 1909, at the age of 59 years. Of their union were born the following children: Wilhelm, the subject of this sketch; and his twin, Margaret E., who is the wife of Thomas C. Farquhar; Alice Virginia, wife of Dr. Marcellus R. Meredith; Georgina, wife of William Alvin Allen; and Rachel A. George Alten died September 12, 1905.

Wilhelm F. Alten was eight years of age when his parents came to Monongahela City, where he attended the public schools and graduated from the High School with the class of 1891, after which he took a commercial course at Duff's Business College. After completing his education he was employed as a bookkeeper at Connells- ville, Pa., and in 1893 became associated with the James C. Lindsay Hardware Company of Pittsburg. After spending three years in the store, he was for ten years a traveling salesman for the same house, and in March, 1906, opened his present office in Monongahela City, where he has established a fine real estate and general insurance business.

Mr. Alten is fraternally affiliated with the Masonic order, being a Past Master of Henry M. Phillips Lodge, No. 337, F. and A. M., a member of Monongahela Chapter,

No. 249, R. A. M .; is Eminent Commander of Mckean Commandery, No. 80, Knights Templar, at Charleroi, and a member of Syria Temple A. A. O. N. M. S., at Pittsburg.

Mr. Alten was united in marriage in 1901 to Helena S. Hammond, second daughter of the late Dr. John D. and Maria A. Hammond, and they reside at No. 712 Chess street.

JOHN J. MARKEY, president and general manager of the National Wrought Iron Annealing Box Company, which was established about 15 years ago, was born September 13, 1864, in Wolverhampton, England, and when four years of age came to America with his parents, who settled in Indianapolis, Ind. Here he was reared and early in life was bound out by his parents with Sinker-Davis & Company, of Indianapolis, as a ma- chinist blacksmith. He remained with that concern for four years, when he entered the employ of the Big Four Railroad at Urbana, Illinois, where for three years he was engaged in making locomotive frames. He then entered the Chicago & Eastern Railroad shops at Dan- ville, Illinois, and while in their employ received a tele- gram from the Sinker-Davis Company asking him to take charge of their works at Indianapolis, in which capacity he served for three years, when he engaged in business for himself, establishing the Indianapolis Forge Works. In 1893 he established the National Wrought Iron Annealing Box Manufacturing Company at Anderson, for the manufacture of annealing boxes for tin plate and sheet mills and also galvanized baths. The plant in Washington was built in 1908. He is the patentee of the annealing box, being the first man in this country to produce welded wrought iron boxes, both tin plate and sheet annealing boxes. They are now in use in every plant of consequence in the country.

On September 10, 1890, Mr. Markey married Hannah Redfern, who was born and reared in Indianapolis, and to them have been born the following children: John (de- ceased), Edward and Paul. Mr. Markey is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and is fraternally affiliated with the B. P. O. E.

JAMES JOHNSTON VAN EMAN, deceased, who was one of Canonsburg's prominent citizens for years, a leading business man and active in public affairs, was born in North Strabane Township, Washington Co., Pa., in 1848, and died at his home on West College street, Canonsburg, April 18, 1909. His parents were Samuel Logan and Martha (McConnell) Van Eman.

The Van Eman family came originally from Holland, the first representatives who reached Pennsylvania being George Van Eman, who was born in Holland, a son of Nicholas Van Eman, September 12, 1753. He settled

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

as a pioneer in North Strabane Township, Washington Co., Pa., not far distant from the present town of Clokeyville. He married Rebecca Scott and they had the following children: Nicholas, George Scott, Jane, An- drew, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Joseph, Garrett, William, Sarah, Abraham and Hannah. In 1810 the father of this family moved to Stark County, Ohio.

Joseph Van Eman, son of George and Rebecca Van Eman, was born in North Strabane Township, December 12, 1790, and in the course of time acquired several farms in Cecil Township, one of these being situated where the Van Eman Station on the Chartiers Railroad is now located. He died on the latter farm and was survived by his widow, formerly Isabella Logan, and a family of children, one of whom, Samuel L., was the father of the late James Johnson Van Eman. Joseph Van Eman served as a director of the Poor for Wash- ington County and frequently was appointed adminis- trator and executor of estates, enjoying the fullest confi- dence of his fellow citizens.

Samuel Logan Van Eman was born in Cecil Town- ship, Washington Co., Pa., July 20, 1816. On September 28, 1847, he married Martha McConnell, who was born in Cecil Township, in 1826, a daughter of James and Sarah (Phillips) McConnell. To Samuel and Martha McConnell were born children as follows: James John- ston; Belle M., who was born in 1850, married John N. Brown, a son of Rev. A. B. Brown, D. D., at one time president of Jefferson College; Sadie E., who married Samuel A. McCalmont of Houston; and Joseph Scott, the latter of whom died in infancy. Samuel Logan Van Eman died in 1891 and was survived five years by his widow. They were members of Center Presbyterian Church of Peters Township, in which he served for thirty-five years as a ruling elder. He was a man of sterling character and, like his father, was frequently entrusted with business pertaining to the settlement of estates.

James Johnston Van Eman was born on the old farm near Van Eman Station and his education was obtained in the common schools and at an academy at Elder's Ridge, in Indiana County, and he completed his literary studies by taking a course at Washington and Jefferson College at Washington. After leaving school he con- tinued on his father's farm and as an individual enter- prise, went into the business of buying and selling stock and continued until after his marriage, in 1871. Then he went into the mercantile business, opening a store at Thompsonville, in Peters Township, which he conducted for six years, when, on account of failing health, he re- turned to the farm. Five years later he again entered mercantile life, opening a store at Pittsburg, for the sale of agricultural implements, and continued the same for two years, and then came to Canonsburg and em-

barked here in the hardware business conducting it sue- cessfully up to the close of his life. The business is continued by his son, S. L. Van Eman, who had been the junior partner in the firm of J. J. Van Eman & Son. During his business period at Pittsburg he was a member of the firm of Brown, Gillespie & Van Eman, and when he removed to Canonsburg, the business style at first was Brown & Van Eman, in 1897 the change being made to J. J. Van Eman & Son.

James J. Van Eman married Miss Margaret S. Espy, who was born in Upper St. Clair Township, Allegheny Co., Pa., and is a daughter of John and Margaret (Smith) Espy. The Espy family is of Scotch extraction. To this marriage were born four sons and three daugh- ters. John Espy, and Ernest, both died in 1895. The survivors of the family are: M. Etta, who is the wife of J. G. Hopper, a furniture dealer at Canonsburg; Samuel Logan, who succeeded his father as proprietor of the hardware business; Martha Maud, who resides with her mother at Canonsburg; Nellie E., who is the wife of Robert L. Grant, a merchant on E. Pike street, in partnership with J. F. Morgan, under name of Morgan & Grant, Canonsburg; and James Jay, who is a student in the Canonsburg High School. Mr. Van Eman was a member of the Central Presbyterian Church in which he was a ruling elder and superintendent of Sunday school since the organization of the church, a period covering twenty years, and is one of the original twenty-nine organizers of the church.

In his political views, Mr. Van Eman was a Republican. On many occasions he was invited to accept positions of trust and responsibility by his appreciative fellow citizens, and served as mayor of the city and also as president of the School Board. He was to some degree a capitalist, owning a large amount of valuable realty at Canonsburg, together with a fine farm of 140 acres situated in North Strabane Township, within two miles of this place.

JOHN W. HALLAM, whose place is among the fore- most business men of Washington, Pa., being president of the Hallam Construction Company, president of the Gardner Steam and Gas Engine Company and vice presi- dent of the Union Trust Company, is a native of Wash- ington, born Feb. 24, 1859, a son of Lewis and Rosanna (Tegarden) Hallam.

John W. Hallam's educational opportunities were meager and when only ten years of age he began to earn his own support by acting as a clerk in a clothing store, where he continued until he was 14 years of age. He then embarked in business for himself, starting a gro- cery store at wasnington, and notwithstanding his youth he successfully conducted it for a period of three years and then sold out to advantage. He then spent

JOHN W. HALLAM

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a year in travel, in the South and West, gaining many new ideas during this time which later proved of benefit to him. When 20 years old he began contracting at Washington, securing a number of contracts for public improvements which the borough had in contemplation, and the successful and satisfactory manner in which he completed these laid a sound foundation upon which his present extensive business has been built. His specialty has been contracting in stone foundations, in paving and sewer construction. From its beginning up to the pres- ent time when it has assumed enormous proportions, the business has always been under the direct management of Mr. Hallam, although, at times, he has been associated with other practical men. When the Hallam Construc- tion Company was organized, he was made president and general manager. This is one of the best known con- cerns in its line in Washington County and in adjacent counties it also presents a fine showing. Mr. Hallam has been financially interested in other business undertakings and is closely identified with their management. He is a man of notable public spirit and has done much to aid in the prosperity of the borough and has served as one of the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce, and for a number of years served most use- fully as a member of the borough Council.

On Feb. 25, 1887, Mr. Hallam was married to Miss Kate H. Brady, a daughter of Benjamin and Rebecca Brady, of Washington, and they have two children: Harold Herbert and Helen Estelle. In politics he is a Republican and he was elected to his first public office just after reaching his majority. In 1896 he was elected to the office of treasurer of Washington County, and served three years, during which time the new court house was under course of construction. He has fre- quently served as delegate to State conventions, and is a member of the Republican State Committee. He belongs to the Heptasophs and the Junior Order of United Amer- ican Mechanics. Personally, Mr. Hallam is a man of sterling character and is notably temperate in all things. He takes a justifiable pride in the fact that he has never tasted liquor or indulged in tobacco in his life.

SAMUEL H. PYLES, manager of the D. G. Bamford Milling Company, at Midway, Pa., of which he is also a stockholder, was born at Midway, Washington Co., Pa., January 29, 1871, and is a son of Joshua and Nancy (Pyles) Pyles.

The parents of Mr. Pyles are both deceased. During his active years the father was a farmer but lived re- tired for some years before his death. He was a man of considerable prominence in Robeson Township where he served for fifteen years in the office of justice of the peace and was also tax collector. He married Nancy Pyles and of their children Samuel H. is the youngest,

the others being three daughters, namely: Helen, who is now deceased, was the wife of David Gray; Mary, who is the wife of Oliver Dyhar; and Laura, who is deceased.

Samuel H. Pyles secured academic training in the well known Ingleside Acadamy at McDonald and later took a commercial course in Duff's Business College at Pitts- burg and became so proficient that he was engaged as an instructor at the college, where he remained for eighteen months. He then returned to Midway and was book- keeper for the Midway Gas Company for four months and in 1894 came to the Bamford Milling Company in the same capacity. In 1905, when Mr. Bamford became president of the Midway Bank, Mr. Pyles, on account of his fidelity and business efficiency was appointed man- aged of the mill business and has been most satisfactory in this position ever since. The business shows a healthy growth and the improvements brought about by Mr. Pyles have added to the efficiency of the mill without increasing the outlay.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 137

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