History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 141

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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ton County and in other parts of the state. He has never consented to be a candidate for any public office, but has worked loyally and effectively for his friends. He is financially interested in some local enterprise and is a stockholder and director in the Manufacturers' Light and Heat Company. He is a member of fraternal or- ganizations and is particularly prominent in the Masons and Elks, being a Knight Templar in the former body and holding the office of Past Exalted Ruler in the lat- ter. He was the representative to the grand lodge held at Los Angeles, Cal., in 1909. Mr. Eagleson is a mem- ber of the East Buffalo Presbyterian Church.

THE McKENNAN FAMILY-The Rev. William Me- Kennan, of Scotch ancestry, emigrated from the North of Ireland about the year 1730 and settled in the State of Delaware.

He was for many years pastor of the White Clay Creek Congregation and also of the First Presbyterian Church of Wilmington, Del.

He married a Miss Wilson, of Winchester, Va., and died in 1809 at the age of 94 years.

His son, William McKennan, was born in Delaware in the year 1758 and prior to the Revolution was a mer- chant of Wilmington. In 1776 he entered the Continen- tal Army as a lieutenant, afterwards being made cap- tain. He served throughout the war and retired at its close with the rank of colonel. He was also a member of the "Society of the Cincinnati," an organization founded by the officers of the Revolution at the close of the war. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Thompson, a niece of Gov. Thomas Mckean.

In the year 1797 Col. MeKennan removed to Wellsburg, Va., afterwards residing for a time at West Middletown, Pa.

Upon the election of Gov. McKean he received the appointment of prothonotary of Washington County and removed to the county seat in 1801, where he died in 1810 from the effects of wounds received at the battle of Brandywine. He was also one of the early promoters and a trustee of Washington Academy and Washington College.

His children were William, John Thompson, Thomas Mckean Thompson, David, James Wilson and one daughter, Anne.

John L. McKennan, the father of William B. Mc- Kennan, was born in Delaware and was educated at Washington Academy and Washington College. After graduating, he removed to Brownsville, Pa., where he engaged in business. He was also for many years cashier of the old Monongahela Bank of Brownsville. He married Harriet Bowman, a daughter of Jacob Bow- man, who came from Hagerstown, Md., at an early day and served as postmaster during the latter part of

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

President Washington's administration. He was also prominent in the business interests of Brownsville.

The children of John L. McKennan were Isabella L., Elizabeth L., Mary S., Jacob B., Anne B., and William Bowman.

William B. MeKennan was born in Brownsville, Pa., March 10, 1829. He was educated in the public schools of that town and later at Kenyon and Washington Col- leges. After leaving school he engaged in farming pur- suits, locating in Ashland County, Ohio, but returning to Washington County in 1853, and has since resided in North Franklin Township.

Mr. McKennan was married in 1854 to Miss Anna Quail, a daughter of David Quail, of Washington County ; she died in 1857.

Mr. McKennan's second marriage was to Adeline D. Ramsey, a daughter of Benjamin Ramsey, who grad- uated at Washington College in 1833 and afterwards practiced law at Portsmouth, Ohio. His father came from Franklin County and located near Washington in 1803.

Mrs. McKennan's mother was a daughter of Philip Doddridge, of Wellsburg, Va., whose father, John Dodd- ridge, of English descent, came from Maryland and was the first settler in Independence Township in 1773. Soon after he erected a defence from the Indians, which was known as "Doddridge Fort."

To Mr. and Mrs. McKennan five children have been born: John T., residing at home in North Franklin Town- ship; Martha R., married to Joseph F. Moore, of Pitts- burg; Thomas R., of Greensburg, Pa .; B. R. and May S., at home in North Franklin.

Mr. and Mrs. McKennan are members of Trinity Epis- copal Church, of which he is a vestryman.

In political sentiment he is a stanch Republican, and has served in some of the minor offices of the county.

S. M. ALLEN, postmaster at Primrose, Washington County, Pa., and the leading merchant of the village, was born in Hancock County, Ohio, Nov. 21, 1855, and is a son of D. G. and Sarah (McCandless) Allen, both of whom are deceased.

S. M. Allen first attended the district schools in Jeffer- son County, Ohio, and then entered college at Hopedale, in Harrison County, and also spent some time at an edu- cational institution in Carroll County. He secured a teacher's certificate and for two years engaged in teach- ing in Jefferson County, and for eleven years after his marriage, resided on a farm in Carroll County, coming to Primrose in 1889, where he has resided ever since. For 15 years he was railroad agent for the P., C. & St. L. R. R. and for eleven years has been a merchant and postmaster. He was elected a justice of the peace short- ly after coming here and is one of the best known men

in this part of the county, having been active in so many lines. He also has some oil interests in Mercer County, Pa., but is mainly concerned with affairs in Washington County.

Mr. Allen was married in Washington County Apr. 3, 1878, to Miss Sarah Ann Crawford, a daughter of Mat- thew Crawford, and they have four children: Cora, who is the wife of F. L. Bone, of Newark, Ohio; Grace, who is the wife of J. C. Strain, of Washington County; T. G., who is in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad; and Marie, who still goes to school. Mr. Allen and family attend the First Presbyterian Church at Mc- Donald. He has been a Republican since he cast his first vote.

THOMAS R. HART, oil producer and one of the rep- resentative business men of Washington, Pa., was born in 1865 at Brady's Run, Armstrong County, Pa., a son of William J. and Elizabeth (Robertson) Hart. His parents were both natives of Scotland, the father com- ing to America with his parents when three years old, being for many years a contract driller in the oil fields. He died in 1887. The following children were born to the parents of our subject; James, deceased; Jennie, who married W. C. Hayes, of Dayton, Ohio; John, of Pittsburg; William, a resident of Washington; Jeanette, the widow of Harry Templeton, residing in Washington ; Guy, a resident of Washington; Thomas R., the subject of this sketch; Lilly, who lives in Washington; and Bessie, who married M. Day, of Washington.

Thomas R. Hart was reared in Armstrong County and early in life began working in the oil fields as a driller. He later became an operator and since coming to Wash ington in 1886, has been prominently identified with the development of oil in this county. He and his brother Guy now have 20 producing wells in operation in this county. Mr. Hart owns two fine residences in this city, both on West Chestnut, his residence number being 684 West Chestnut street.

In 1896 Mr. Hart was joined in marriage with Emma McDaniel, who is a daughter of A. J. McDaniel, a re- tired farmer of Washington. They have two children, Donald Robertson and Loyal Thomas.

ISAAC NEWTON MILLER, a representative and substantial citizen of Buffalo Township, who has resided on his present magnificent farm of 252 acres since March, 1889, here carries on large farming operations and raises cattle and sheep. He was born in West Beth- lehem Township, Washington Co., Pa., June 29, 1863, and is a son of John H. and Sarah A. (Hatfield) Miller.

The parents of Mr. Miller were both natives of Wash- ington County. The father met an accidental death in May, 1900, on a west-bound passenger train on the

THOMAS PARRY

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at the Taylorstown Station. At that time he was a resident of Washington County, Ohio, and his presence in Pennsylvania was as a visitor. He married a daughter of R. Hatfield, who, at one time resided near Amity, in Washington County. Six of their children survive, namely: Louisa, widow of Thomas Lynch, who lives in Ohio; Flora, who is the wife of Willard Starling, of Guernsey County, Ohio; Isaac New- ton; John M., who resides at Knoxville, Tenn .; Sadie E., who is the wife of Joseph Reed, of Washington County, Ohio; and Della, who is the wife of James Lynch, of Washington County, Ohio.

Isaac Newton Miller was quite young when his par- ents moved from West Bethlehem Township to Morris Township, and he lived there, attending school when- ever he could be spared from home, until he was 20 years old. He then went to live with John H. Van Kirk, a well-known citizen of South Franklin Township, with whom he remained for eleven years. During the first two winters there he attended what was known as the Dickerson school. Mr. Miller made the most of his op- portunities, being thrown on his own resources when quite young. Through force of character he grew to industrious, self-respecting manhood and won warm friends. Within a few years after reaching maturity he married Miss Elizabeth Miles, a daughter of the late Elijah Miles, of Buffalo Township, and six children have been born to them, Grace V., John H., Harry N., Ruth E., Henry C. and Ralph L. Mr. Miller is num- bered with the substantial men of his township. He is a practical farmer and stock raiser and yearly has a large income from his well managed enterprises. He is a Republican in politics and has served acceptably as road supervisor and at all times is ready to do his part in township matters, as becomes a good citizen. With his family he belongs to he Presbyterian Church at Clays- ville, in which he is an elder.

THOMAS PARRY, proprietor of the Parry Hotel, at Elrama, Pa., was born in England, May 10, 1854, and is a son of Thomas and Caroline (Feridon) Parry.

The parents of Mr. Parry were English born and reared. The father was a miner and met his death in his native land. The mother subsequently married Alfred Townsend. She died at Charleroi, Pa., in 1907, aged 79 years. The family came to America in 1867, and Mr. Townsend died three months later. He left one child, Mary E., who first married Daniel Swaney and later became the wife of L. Dale. The parents of Mr. Parry had five children: Thomas, Herbert, William Henry, C. Samuel and Mary E., the two survivors being Thomas and C. Samuel.

Until he was nine years old, Thomas Parry was permit- ted to attend school but after that he had to work hard

in the mines. He was thirteen years of age when the family came to America and to Pennsylvania. The death of his step-father made it all the more necessary that he should keep at work, and for six years he labored in the Butler and Allegheny county mines, locating then at the Pleasant View mine in the latter county. There he and his mother bought a house and one acre of land and he kept this as his home while he worked in different mines in the surrounding neighborhood for five years. After he married he continued with his mother for a short time and then built a double house at Shire Oaks, with the intention of occupying a part of it, but changed his mind before he moved there. He then bought 121/2 acres of land which had a log house, situated at Lobes Run, in Union Township, and lived there for eighteen years, in the meanwhile erecting a comfortable frame residence. He still owns that property. Later he built a hotel on the land at Shire Oaks where his double house stood and he conducted a licensed public house there for ten and one-half years, when he sold out all his property in that vicinity to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Mr. Parry then built his fine brick hotel at Elrama, in 1906, which is of modern construction, contains nineteen rooms, with conveniences. His reasonable rates of $1.00 per day, 50 cents for lodging and 35 cents per meal, have met with the approval of the traveling public and he has the satisfaction of knowing that a guest once entertained at his hotel will be sure to endeavor to re- turn. Hs is a business man of most excellent judgment and has acquired considerable property in Union Town- ship, owning three dwellings besides his hotel at Elrama and the old Samuel Ineman farm containing 131 acres.

On July 4, 1879, Mr. Parry was married to Eliza Jane Edwards and the following children have been born to them: Caroline, who is deceased; Fannie, who was ac- cidentally drowned at the age of sixteen years; Samuel and Thomas, who are associated in business with their ' father; Mildred, who married David Artley, has two children-Grace and Eliza Artley; Eliza Jane, Mary, George, John and Caroline, all of whom are at home; and Joseph and William, both of whom are deceased.

Mr. Parry is a Republican but he has never accepted any public office except that of school director, in which he served three years. He is identified with Monongahela Lodge, No. 337, F. and A. M., and Chapter No. 249; the Elrama Lodge of Odd Fellows, No. 697, and the Parker's Ferry Encampment, No. 175, at Monongahela.

FREDERICK G. NASER, one of Washington 's repre- sentative citizens, capably filling the important office of street commissioner, was born at Washington, Pa., Jan- uary 17, 1847, and is a son of Frederick and Catherine (Naser) Naser.

The parents of Mr. Naser were born in Wurtemberg,

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Germany. Frederick Naser came to Washington County Pa., about 1840 and for some forty years was a leading gardener here. He married Catherine Naser and to them were born eleven children, ten of whom still survive, eight being residents of Washington County, one of Day- ton, Ohio, and one of the State of Washington. All are doing well, having been reared to habits of industry and frugality by excellent, hard-working parents.

Frederick G. Naser attended school in boyhood and helped his father in his gardening work until he started out for himself. He went into the teaming business and followed it more or less continuously for a quarter of a century, when he was elected to the office of street com- missioner. After thus serving several years he moved out of the borough and then worked on the street car lines out of Washington, and he was the man who turned the first furrow in the ground where the Washington & Canonsburg Railroad was subsequently built. He also started the work on the Cherry Valley Railroad. In the spring of 1909 he was again elected street commissioner of Greater Washington, and is now efficiently performing the duties of that office. Mr. Naser owns property in Washington and built his own handsome residence at No. 503 North Main street.

In 1872, Mr. Naser was married to Miss Elizabeth I. Hall, who was born in Ohio. They have five children - James F., Robert R., Pearl, Elizabeth, and Charles Ed- ward, all residing at home. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Naser is an Odd Fel- low, belonging to both the subordinate lodge and the Encampment.

JACOB WEIRICH, a leading citizen of Buffalo Town- ship, Washington Co., Pa., where he owns 150 acres of valuable land, is serving in his second year as a mem- ber of the School Board and is also treasurer of the School Tax Fund of Buffalo Township. It was in this township that he was born, May 24, 1860, son of Israel and Sarah (Thompson) Weirich, both of whom were born in Washington County.

Israel Weirich was born in Canton Township and was a son of Jacob Weirich, who was three years old when his parents brought him to Washington County, settling in that section which is now known as Franklin Town- ship. This family originated in Germay and Jacob has been a favorite name in every generation. Israel Wei- rich died in April, 1908, when in his seventy-second year. He married Sarah Thompson, and of their children the following survive: Jacob; James E., who lives in St. Paul, Minn .; William R., who lives in Canton Township; Charles B., who is a resident of Philadelphia; Howard R., who lives in Minnesota; Henry W., who makes his home et Goldfield, Nevada; and Albert A., who lives in Canton Township. The father of the above family was

prominent in the public affairs of Canton Township dur- ing the larger part of his life. He served in numerous local offices, such as road commissioner and school direc- tor, and was highly considered for his honesty as well as efficiency. In his earlier years he was a ruling elder in the United Presbyterian Church in Buffalo Township and later served in the same capacity in the Third Presbyte- rian Church at Washington.

Jacob Weirich was two years old when his parents moved from Buffalo to Canton Township and there he grew to manhood. The township schools were rather superior ones and in them Mr. Weirich obtained a fair common school education. His entire business life has been taken up by agricultural activities and his main interests have been the careful tilling of his fields and the raising of fine stock. He has found it profitable to make a specialty of growing sheep and ordinarily has from 150 to 200 head.

Mr. Weirich married Miss Anna Logan, a daughter of Samuel Logan, of Buffalo Township, and they have four children : Ralph M., Harry R., Sarah H. and Esther H. The family attends the East Buffalo Presbyterian Church in which they are much valued, and Mr. Weirich is one of the church trustees. In politics, like his father, he is a strong Republican. His fellow citizens have demon- strated their confidence and esteem by electing him to offices of responsibility.

HARRY A. EATHERTON, superintendent of the Findlay Clay Pot Company, at Washington, and one of the stockholders and directors, is one of the city's most progressive and enterprising young business men. He was born in Putnam County, Ohio, in November, 1881.

Mr. Eatherton was mainly reared at Findlay, Ohio, where he obtained his education. He has been identi- fied with the clay pot industry during the whole period of his business life, beginning as office boy in the Find- lay Clay Pot Company, at Findlay. In December, 1901, he came to Washington and took charge of the office of the company here and was later made superintendent of the Washington plant.

Mr. Eatherton was married in December, 1903, to Miss Eunice V. Houser, who was born and reared in Ohio, and is a daughter of Rev. F. M. Houser, a minister of the Methodist Church. Mr, and Mrs. Eatherton have one son, Clarence Z. They are members of the Jefferson Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church and he is active in Sunday-school work. He is also interested greatly in . the Y. M. C. A., and is a member of its board of direc- tors at Washington.

FIELDING FRASHER, one of the leading architects and building contractors of Washington, who has been a resident of this city since 1898, was born Jan. 4, 1854,

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

in Fayette County, Pensylvania, and when about 18 years of age went to Pittsburg, where he served an apprentice- ship in carpentering. After the death of his mother in 1876, he returned to the home farm in Fayette County, and worked at his trade until 1879, then went to Pitts- burg and engaged in contracting and building and for the past 25 years has been engaged as an architect in connection with his general contract business. He came to Washington in 1898, where he has since continued his residence, and has erected many structures all through this section of the State, including the building for the Struthers Coal & Coke Company; a large building for the Pittsburg & Buffalo Coal Company of Canonsburg; the Thaddeus Stephens School building of Pittsburg; the Snowden building in Brownsville and was superintendent of construction of the Union Trust Co, building on 4th Ave. in Pittsburg, Pa., and numerous fine residences in this section of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Frasher was married Mar. 19, 1884, to Miss Oc- tavia Jones, of Pittsburg, and they have two children: Jean W. Frasher, who graduated with honors from the Washington Seminary, is now engaged in teaching; and Earl Frasher, who was educated in Washington, and is at present with Rutan Russell, an architect of Pittsburg.

ROBERT M. EDWARDS, of the hardware firm of R. M. Edwards & Son, leading merchants in that line at Canonsburg, was born at St. Clairsville, Belmont County, Ohio, Feb. 1, 1856, and is a son of William and Mary (Nolin) Edwards, the former of whom died in 1864.

Robert M. Edwards was left fatherless when but eight years old and was reared on a farm near St. Clairsville, where he attended school. On Mar. 1, 1874, he went to Wheeling and there entered the employ of McGee Bros., tinners and roofers, and remained with that firm for five years. In the spring of 1880, he embarked in business for himself at Union Port, Ohio, where he contiuned for · six years and then went to Wellsburg, and from there, in August, 1886, came to Canonsburg. Here he accepted the position of foreman for J. J. Vau Eman and later J. J. Van Eman & Son. In January, 1904, he went into business under the firm name of R. M. Edwards, and three years later, when he took his son into partnership, the style became as at present, R. M. Edwards & Son. This firm commands a very large trade, its territory being the surrounding towns, Washington Borough, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. A full line of stoves and stove hardware is carried and hot air systems placed and roofing done.

In 1881, Mr. Edwards was married to Miss Elizabeth Rittenhouse, of Union Fort, Jefferson County, Ohio. Her parents were Thomas and Catherine Rittenhouse. They have one son, Clarence, who is his father's partner and resides at home. Mr. Edwards is a member of the

Methodist Episcopal Church and belongs to its official board. In politics he is a Republican but has never accepted any other office than school director. His beau- tiful home is situated at No. 336 West College street, Canonsburg.

JOHN M. DUNN, one of Washington's most public spirited citizens, for six years county commissioner of Washington County, and for a long period identified with real estate, oil and gas interests in this section, was born in Greene County, Pa., in 1857, and was brought to Wash- ington County by his parents, when one year old.

John M. Dunn was reared to the age of seventeen years in the little hamlet now known as Dunn's Station, leaving the schools there to enter Waynesburg College. After completing his collegiate course he embarked in a mercantile business at Des Moines, Iowa. Three years later, when his father's health broke down, he was re- called to Washington County to assist his parent in clos- ing up several estates of which the latter had charge, and to take over the management of the farm. Here he remained for several years, in the meanwhile dealing ex- tensively in wool and stock. In 1895 he was elected chairman of the Republican County Vigilant Committee, and in the following year was elected a county commis- sioner of Washington County. Mr. Dunn proved a very valuable member of the board of commissioners and it was during his incumbency that the magnificent court house and jail were completed, there being no finer in the State. Since his term of office expired, Mr. Dunn has given his attention to the oil ad gas industry and to dealing in realty. He was a member of the company that drilled the famous Fonner Gusher, a well that pro- duced 1600 barrels a day; also the Lohr well which pro- duced more than 2000 barrels per day, as well as many other large producers located in Washington and Greene Counties, Pa., and in West Virginia.

In December, 1882, Mr. Dunn was married to Miss Anna Ross, of Jefferson, Greene County, and they have four children : Allan Ross, a civil engineer, who is with the Pennsylvania system and is located on the Logans- port, Ind., Division, graduated from Washington and Jef- ferson College in the class of 1906; Laura I., who is a graduate of the Washington Seminary; John H., who is a student in the Junior year at Washington and Jeffer- son; and Anna, who is a student in the Washington Seminary. Mr. Dunn and family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is a Republican, but irrespective of this fact, he served for almost nine years as a member of the school board at Dunn's Station, a Democratic stronghold, and resigned to accept the office of county commissioner, carrying his township each time he was a candidate for the latter office. He has been foremost in all enterprises organized to better the

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condition of the people of his community, and in no way was his genuine good will more definitely shown than in his donation of land to the city for park purposes. This led to other donations for the same object until now Washington has one of the finest natural parks in this section of the State. In generous spirit and with broad and enlightened views, Mr. Dunn has also contributed to churches, schools and charities.

JOSEPH H. UNDERWOOD, Jr., cashier of the First National Bank of Roscoe, Washington County, Pa., was born at Milesville, Allegheny Co., Pa., January 29, 1878, and is the youngest child of Joseph and Ellen (Roscoe) Underwood.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 141

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