History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 138

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 138

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On October 25, 1893, Mr. Pyles was married to Miss Esther Thompson, a daughter of Russell and Martha (McCarty) Thompson. To Mr. and Mrs. Pyles six chil- dren have been born, all bearing pleasant names and liv- ing up to them as bright, intelligent, engaging young people: Myra, Wilma, Roland, Lyle, Helen and Miller. Mr. Pyles and family belong to the United Presbyterian Church. In politics he is an independent thinker. Fra- ternally he is identified with Garfield Lodge, No. 604, F. and A. M., at McDonald, Pa.

JOSEPH S. DANLEY, who for the past six years has been living in retirement in Washington, Pennsyl- vania, owns a fine farm of 134 acres in Buffalo Township, and was for many years one of the leading farmers of Washington County. He was born in 1849 in East Finley Township, and is a son of William Danley, whose father emigrated to this country at an early period and was one of the pioneers of Washington County.

Joseph S. Danley was reared in his native township and obtained his education there and in Greene County, after which he located in Buffalo Township and em- barked in farming and stock raising. Six years ago he built a fine residence at No. 496 Allison avenue, Wash- ington, where he has since continued to reside, while he continues to look after his farming interests.

Mr. Danley was married in 1885 to Marietta Bur- roughs and their children are: Harry B., Thomas, Ma- tilda, Joseph, and Mary. Mr. Danley and family attend the Third Presbyterian Church of Washington.

J. A. RUSSELL, who is engaged in business at South Burgettstown, Pa., conducting a meat market and a gen- eral store, is one of the representative citizens and is

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serving as auditor of the borough. He was born in' Muskingum County, Ohio, February 11, 1856, and is a son of Alexander and Margaret Ann (Atchinson) Russell.

J. A. Russell moved from Ohio to Mt. Pleasant Town- ship in 1864, and remained on the farm until 1876, when he came to Burgettstown and assisted his father in the mercantile business until 1884, when he embarked in busi- ness for himself. From that date until 1904 he con- ducted a butchering business and dealt in first class meats and met with so much success that he was en- couraged to broaden the scope of his business and added groceries, flour and feed to the commodities he handles. Mr. Russell has conducted his business along those lines which have attracted custom to him and he has proved that custom once honestly gained is seldom lost. He has seen Burgettstown develop along every line during his more than thirty years of residence here, and as an active and loyal citizen he has given support to the various movements which have contributed to the general wel- fare. In his political views he is a Republican and has served on the borough Council and school board for a number of terms, and on that ticket he was elected audi- tor of the borough.

In 1884, Mr. Russell was married to Miss Agnes J. Scott, a daughter of R. K. Scott, and they have four children: Frank M., who married Mary Smith, a daugh- ter of James Smith, has one son, Wilfred B .; Lillian Etta, who married F. M. Welch; and Jennie Myrtle and Robert Alexander, both of whom are at home. Mr. Rus- sell and family are members of the United Presbyterian Church, of which he has been treasurer for several years.

JOHN A. FLACK, one of Buffalo Township's promi- nent and enterprising citizens, president of the town- ship school board and a leader in public matters, was born in Buffalo Township, Washington County, Pa., Jan. 19, 1869, and is a son of Salem and Margaret (Farrar) Flack.

Salem Flack was born in Ohio, in 1824, and died in Buffalo Township, Washington County, in 1903. He was a son of Samuel Flack, whom he accompanied from Ohio to Buffalo Township in infancy, the family bring- ing its belongings into what was then a wild region. The grandparents of John A. Flack died in Buffalo Township. Salem Flack married Margaret Farrar, who was born in Washington County, Pa., Sept. 15, 1833, and resides at Washington, where she still enjoys the society of her friends and continues in good health. Three of their children survive, namely : Samuel L. and John A., both of Buffalo Township; and Jennie A., who is the wife of R. W. Parkinson, a prominent attorney at Wash- ington. One daughter, Sarah V., is deceased.

John A. Flack has resided in Buffalo Township all

his life, obtaining his education in the public schools and since attaining manhood having the management of a large property. He owns 145 acres of fine land and raises abundant crops, cattle and sheep, making a specialty of wool growing, keeping a flock of 150 head of a fine variety of sheep and making this industry very profitable. Mr. Flack is an active citizen, taking a deep interest particularly in the public schools. He has consented to serve on the school board for a num- ber of years and the value of his advice and services have been acknowledged by his election to the presidency of this body. In politics he is a Republican and he has served also as inspector of elections in Buffalo Town- ship.

Mr. Flack was married to Miss Elizabeth Ashbrook, who was born in Buffalo Township, a daughter of Simon Ashbrook, of Washington, and they have had five chil- dren: Nellie Margaret, Milton Luther and John Salem, who survive. Charles Ivan and a babe are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Flack are members of the East Buffalo Presbyterian Church, in the faith of which they were reared by pious parents.

JAMES S. FORSYTHE, secretary and treasurer of the Washington Brick Company, and owner of a farm of 250 acres in Amwell Township, is one of the repre- sentative citizens of Washington County. He was born in Brownsville, Fayette County, Pa., in 1845 and ob- tained his education in the schools of Brownsville and Pittsburg. During the early part of his life he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, but later embarked in the mercantile business at Redstone, Pa., where he was located until the spring of 1882. He then came to Washington County and bought his present farm in Am- well Township, where he resided for eight years, when he came to Washington and engaged for a time in the brokerage business. He was one of the organizers of the Washington Brick Company, of which he has been secretary and treasurer since its establishment, about nine years ago. He is a member of the board of direc- tors and secretary and treasurer of the S. B. Reese Lum- ber Company, operating in Kentucky, and whose main office is located in Washington. Mr. Forsythe still re- tains his farm of 250 acres in Amwell Township.

In 1876 Mr. Forsythe was united in marriage with Mary E. Morton, a daughter of Rev. George Morton, now deceased, who was a Presbyterian minister of Phila- delphia and of Scotch descent. Mr. and Mrs. Forsythe have four children, namely : Lilian S., a graduate of the Washington Seminary, and wife of Frank C. Lewis, of Washington; Jesse H., a graduate of the Washington and Jefferson College; Raymond D., a civil engineer working on the state roads, who graduated with the class

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of 1907 at Washington and Jefferson College; and Robert N., a student. Mr. Forsythe is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

DAVID G. GRAY, the practical miller at the D. G. Bamford roller mills and a stockholder in the D. G. Bamford Milling Company at Midway, Pa., was born in Greene County, Pa., Nov. 29, 1864, and is a son of Thomas T. and Margaret (Vanata) Gray.

The parents of Mr. Gray reside at Coshocton, Ohio, where the father is in the ice business. Of their chil- dren, David G. is the second born, the others being: George M., Willis, Archibald, Thomas and John.

David G. Gray attended school regularly until 14 years of age and then went to learn the milling business and has been connected with it ever since and is a thorough- ly experienced man. He has been identified with the present company since 1884, working for six months as an oiler, then for seven years as assistant miller and ever since as chief miller. This plant is one of size and importance and its products find a ready sale over a wide territory . The equipments are modern in character and Mr. Gray is master of the technical part of the business and has experienced helpers, the result being the pro- duction of the finest grades of mill products.

In 1887, Mr. Gray was married (first) to Miss Helen Pyles, who died July 4, 1906, and her burial was in the Candor Cemetery. He was married (second) to Miss Isabel Herd, a daughter of Robert and Margaret Herd, retired residents of Midway. They have the following children : Margaret, Jean, Anna, John and Neil. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are members of the United Presbyterian Church. In his political views, Mr. Gray is a Pro- hibitionist.

JOHN B. DONALDSON, M. D., one of Washington County's leading physicians and surgeons, who has been actively engaged in practice at Canonsburg, Pa., for more than thirty years, was born in Marshall County, West Virginia, Aug. 1, 1848, and is a son of Dr. David and Ellen (Boyce) Donaldson.

The Donaldson family was founded in the United States at a very early day, when all this broad expanse of mighty country was looked upon by older civilizations as only colonies. From Ireland came David Donaldson, the great-grandfather, who is known to have settled in Maryland about 1751. From there he came to Washing- ton County, remaining for a time at Gastonville, and then moved into Allegheny County, where he probably died. His son, William Donaldson, married Elizabeth Morrison and they both died in Allegheny County. In that county the late Dr. David Donaldson, father of Dr. John B., was born in 1820 and died in that county in 1883, at the age of sixty-three years. He married Ellen Boyce, who was

also born in Allegheny County and died in 1872, aged forty-five years. Her people came to America from North Ireland and died in Allegheny County, her parents being John and Elizabeth (McCabe) Boyce. Dr. David Donaldson was twice married. His children were: Annie, who is a teacher in the schools of Alabama; Ulysses, who resides at Bridgeville, Pa., a railroad man and also a dealer in real estate; William Robert and Henry, both of whom reside at Canonsburg; Mary, who married John Ralston, resides near Galveston, Tex .; Charles Cotter, who is engaged in newspaper work, and John B., of Canonsburg.

John B. Donaldson was educated in the common schools, at Bethel Academy and the Western Reserve University, of Cleveland, Ohio, and was graduated from the medical department of that institution in 1872. He located for one year at Mt. Lebanon and then moved to Bridgeville, where he practiced medicine for five years. In 1878 he came to Canonsburg and ever since has been identified not only with the professional life of the place but has become one of the interested and useful citizens. He has taken a prominent part in the medical affairs of Washington County, for several years serving as secretary of the county organization, and belongs also to the State and to the American Medical Associations. In his politi- cal views he is a Republican. His earnestness and activ- ity as a citizen have been frequently recognized and he has many times been elected to important civic offices, serving as burgess and as a member of the council, and also on the School Board. During 1889-1890 he was a member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, where he proved his quality as a public-spirited citizen. He has led a busy life and has had many responsibilities, but his clear record shows that he has been equal to any de- mand made upon him.

Dr. Donaldson was married to Miss Elizabeth S. Foster, of Bridgeville, who is a daughter of Walter and Maria (Sill) Foster, and they have had six children, as follows: Walter Foster, who is a graduate of the Northwestern University at Chicago, is a medical practitioner, resid- ing at Pittsburg; Nellie Boyce, who married Paul C. Little, lives at Carnegie, Pa., and they have two daugh- ters, Elizabeth and Helen; Maria, who died in 1906, was the wife of J. R. Dunn, an attorney at Pittsburg; John Paul, who is cashier of the Central Trust Com- pany of Pittsburg, married Elsie Kelso, of Bellevue, and they have one son, John Paul, Jr .; Samuel Foster, a resident of Pittsburg, where he is connected with the city health department; and David Halsey, who is a mem- ber of the Class of 1910, in the Canonsburg High School. Dr. Donaldson owns a handsome residence at Canons- burg. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and he belongs also to Chartiers Lodge No. 297, F. & A. M., at Canonsburg.

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R. W. MASON, purchasing agent for the Joseph Seep Purchasing Agency, of Washington, was born Oct. 7, 1865, at Centerville, Washington County, Pa. When he was five years old his parents moved to Pittsburg, where they resided until 1876. They then came to Washington, where Mr. Mason was for a time cash boy for William Smith & Sons, bankers of this city. He then attended the old Union Schools of Washington for two years and subsequently became a messenger boy for the West- ern Union Telegraph Company for about two years. He then became weighmaster in the coal office of V. Harding, which position he retained one year, at the end of which time he accepted a position as telegrapher with the B. & O. Railroad, with whom he remained three years. In January, 1886, Mr. Mason became identified with the Southwest Pennsylvania Pipe Line Company, with which he remained in various departments until October, 1902, when he was made purchasing agent for the Joseph Seep Purchasing Agency.

On June 5, 1889, Mr. Mason was united in marriage with Nellie Wright, of Washington, Iowa, and they have three children -E. Wright Mason, district plant chief of the Bell Telephone Company, with headquarters at Monongahela City; Mabel J., a student in the Washing- ton High School; and Robert W., also a student in the Washington High School.

Mr. Mason is a Republican in politics and was for three years a member of the school board, during which time he served one year as secretary of the board. He was for two years treasurer of The Washington Borough. He is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church and is fraternally affiliated with the Masonic order, be- longing to the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council and Com- mandery and is past officer in all those bodies except the Council. He is also a member of the Royal Arcanum and Improved Order of Heptasophs.

R. A. RUSSELL, whose business is that of contract- ing carpenter, at South Burgettstown, to which place he came in 1893 with his family and who in 1907 erect- ed his fine residence, is one of the leading business men in his line in this section. He was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, Oct. 22, 1853.

Mr. Russell was brought to Washington County in boyhood and attended the Concord and Rankin schools in Mt. Pleasant Township, also a select school at Hickory and later Muskingum College. He then assisted his father on the farm and also learned the carpenter trade and later went into contracting.

Mr. Russell was married in February, 1888, to Miss Agnes Jennie Welch, a daughter of M. R. Welch, and they have three children: John E., who is a student at Athens University, Athens, Ohio; Mary Belle, who is a student in the State Normal School at Slippery Rock;

and Wilda M., who attends the Burgettstown school. Mr. Russell and wife are members of the First United Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Republican. He is an active and useful citizen, taking an interest in all that pertains to the general welfare of the town. He is serving in his sixth year as a member of the borough Council.

REV. THEODORE B. NOSS, Ph. D., deceased, al- though best known to the people at large as an educator, was also a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, an extensive traveler, an author of note, a philanthropist, a man with varied business interests kept well in hand, and was the largest property owner in the borough of California, Pa., which for years had been his chosen place of residence. The death of Dr. Noss, which occurred Feb. 28, 1909, was a distinct loss to the whole country and an almost irreparable one to his community, with the leading affairs and the higher life of which he was so closely identified.

Theodore Bland Noss was born on his father's farm near Waterloo, Juniata County, Pa., May 10, 1852, and his parents were George and Isabella Noss, and his grandfather, from whom he undoubtedly inherited his physical appearance and much of his perseverance and tenacity of purpose, was Rev. John Coulter, a noted preacher of the Presbyterian faith, who filled one charge for 30 years. When the parents of Mr. Noss moved from near Waterloo to a little settlement named later in honor of his father, Nossville, he was quite young, but was 18 years old when they removed to the Shenan- doah Valley, in Virginia. They had ten children, and two daughters and one son died in infancy. One son died of consumption, when aged 20 years, and a daughter, Mrs. Belle Goshorn, died in 1906. The survivors are: Mrs. Jennie Hoy, and Mrs. Rachel Lineburg, both of Montandon; Mrs. Annie Widney, of Lindon, Kas .; and Mrs. Clara H. Park, also of Montandon.

Theodore B. Noss was reared by a father who had very practical ideas and fixed beliefs that amounted to stern convictions. The boy worked faithfully on the farm and in the tannery, neither occupations affording him any mental stimulus, in fact being distasteful in the extreme. He was permitted to attend the little academy at Waterloo, when work was not pressing at home, but when he expressed a desire to enter some larger educa- tional institution, he was offered no assistance by his father. This attitude, however, was largely due to the fact that an older son had died at school, when away from home, a victim of consumption, and the stern, but loving, father could not bring himself to send a second son to what he believed a similar fate. Thus Theodore pursued his studies and acquired his education under a handicap, but he was too large minded to blame his father and

The short

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trusted to time and his own perseverance to accomplish his ends. The first money he earned was by teaching a country school across the State line, in Maryland, and this money he used to take a course in the Normal School at Shippensburg, Pa., and when it did not cover the total expense, it was his father who gave way and supplied the balance and enabled him to remain until he was gradu- ated, he having apparently recognized his son's ability.

Immediately after graduation, Mr. Noss was apopinted principal of the Shippensburg high school, which was then rated as one of the most advanced in the State, and after satisfactorily filling that position, he was called to Dickin- son Seminary, at Williamsport. There he taught more advanced studies and also continued his own in prepara- tion for his entrance into Syracuse University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1879. A por- tion of his time was devoted to his first trip to Europe. After graduating at the above university, from which he received his degree of A. M., in 1882, and of Ph. D., in 1884, he was invited by Prof. George P. Beard, then principal of the Southwestern State Normal School, at California, to accept a position as one of its instructors, which he accepted and very shortly afterward was made vice-principal and remained in authority here until 1882. Dr. Noss then accepted a call to what was then the Pitts- burg Female College, but conditions were not congenial, and he returned to his former position in the Normal School. In the spring of 1883, Prof. George P. Beard resigned and Dr. Noss was immediately elected as his successor and he continued principal of the California, Pa., Normal School from that time until his death, de- voting his time, his energy, often his means, to further his ideals in connection with this great school.

The life of Dr. Noss was one of continued usefulness but his death had many sad features. Apparently in the best of health, in company with is wife and several per- sonal friends, Dr. Noss started to attend an educational meeting at Chicago, in which he was much interested. A slight chill developed son after the party started and his illness grew as the journey continued, a condition that greatly alarmed Mrs. Noss, whose tender care had pre- served his life in a similar attack, some two years previ- ously. By the time the great city was reached he was seriously ill but was hastened to the Auditorium Hotel and the best medical skill summoned to his aid. Weakened tissues from his previous illness perhaps, could not be strengthened in time to save his life and ere few of his hundreds of friends and loving pupils knew that he was sick the announcement of his death was flashed to them. All through the funeral ceremonies, California was a city of sadness, grief was pictured on every countenance, men turned from their ordinary pursuits and little chil- dren were told that a good man had passed from earth. It is but fitting to mention that people of distinction in

different walks of life came to do honor to his memory and many of these accompanied the mourning family to his last resting place in the Monongahela Cemetery.

On May 17, 1883, Dr. Noss was united in marriage with Miss Mary Graham, and she survives with their two children: Mary, who was born March 20, 1886; and Theodore, who was born April 4, 1896. Mrs. Noss and daughter are at present members of the Normal School faculty. In 1889, Dr. and Mrs. Noss, with their little daughter spent six months in Europe and visited many interesting points. In 1893 they again went to Europe, with congenial friends, and together they pursued special studies at the University of Berlin and at Jena Univer- sity. The third trip they took abroad together was dur- ing the school year of 1906-7, when they spent eight months as students in the Sorbonne University of Paris, concluding with a visit to the University of Heidelberg. Apparently at that time, Dr. Noss was just as eager for knowledge as was the farm boy of long before, propping up his school book before him on the plough or tan vat.

Dr. Noss was a local preacher in the Methodist Epis- copal Church and was a lay delegate to the General Con- ference in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1896. He was an active member of the National Educational Association, a mem- ber of the National Educational, Council also president of the Normal department of the same, in 1899. He was the author of a number of serious works, all more or less educational, which will perpetuate his fame as a literary man. In private life he was cultured, diplomatic, friend- ly, sympathetic and courteous. His interests at Califor- nia included a directorship in the People's Bank.

JAMES HODGENS, deceased, who spent practically the whole of his long and useful life in the vicinity of Taylorstown, Pa., was born at that place, Sept. 29, 1829, and was a son of Isaac and Isabel (McCarrell) Hodgens.

The Hodgens family was one of the earliest to settle in Buffalo Township, Washington County, and genera- tion after generation it prospered and sent forth sons and daughters who became respected members of so- ciety. The family originated in Ireland, the grand- father, Thomas Hodgens, coming to America from County Armagh, in 1807, then being a man of family, and in the spring of 1808, he bought a farm in Buffalo Township, near what is now Taylorstown, then but a scattered hamlet. He died in 1821. He was one of the founders of the Christian Church in this neighborhood.

Isaac Hodgens, son of Thomas, and father of the late James Hodgens, was born in County Armagh, in 1794, and accompanied his parents to America. He completed his education under a preceptor whose classes he had attended in Ireland, this being Alexander Campbell, who established what is now Bethany College, W. Va. Isaac

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Hodgens had the startling experience of being carried off by a war ship that attacked the vessel in which the family was journeying to America, but subsequently was restored unharmed to his family. He was a man of unusual strength of mind, served some years as county commissioner, and for a time one of the associate judges of Washington County. A great admirer and follower of Andrew Jackson, he subscribed to that leader's po- litical principles. His fellow citizens recognized his superiority and elected him to offices of the highest responsibility. He was active in the militia of early times, and reached the exalted rank of major gen- eral. In 1822 he married Isabella McCarrell, also of Irish extraction. They resided on the old home- stead in Buffalo Township until 1835 and then moved into Taylorstown, but later purchased a farm that ad- joined the village and there the remainder of their lives were spent. Isaac Hodgens died in 1860 and was sur- vived 12 years by his widow. They had eleven chil- dren, the larger number of whom grew to maturity.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 138

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