History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 142

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 142

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

When but six weeks old, the parents of Mr. Underwood moved to California, Pa., where they resided for five years prior to coming to Roscoe. His education was se- cured in the local schools. His brother, Thomas J. Un- derwood, was the first agent appointed at the railroad station at Charleroi, and Joseph H. assisted there to some extent and also around his father's mines and finally was permitted to go on the boats belonging to his father's company, and make the voyage to New Orleans, and he remained two years on the river, after which he took a business course at Curry University, Pittsburg, Pa., after a short time again at the mines he entered the First National Bank at Monessen, which was then the Monessen National Bank. He served as assistant cashier there and came from there in 1901 to accept his present position with the First National Bank of Roscoe, succeeding the late Oliver Miller.

Mr. Underwood married Miss Mary Spahr, who is a daughter of Henry C. and Hannah R. Spahr. The Spahrs are old residents of Roscoe, which was formerly known as Lucyville, having been so named in honor of Mrs. Lucy Spahr, Mrs. Underwood's grandmother, while its present name was given it in honor of Mr. Under- wood's own mother. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Underwood: Edwin Roscoe, Harriet Irene, and Mary Josephine. Mr. Underwood is a Knight Tem- plar Mason and also a Shriner.

A. CLARK WARNE, a representative citizen of Wash- ington, identified with a number of prospering enter- prises, has been connected with financial institutions throughout his entire business career and occupies a prominent position as treasurer of the Washington Trust. Company, at Washington, Pa. He was born in Notting- ham Township, Washington Co., Pa., in 1865, and is a son of Hiram and Elizabeth (Nicholls) Warne, and a grandson of Maj. James and Mary (Parkison) Warne.

Maj. James Warne, an officer of the Pennsylvania militia, and later distinguished in the War of 1812, was born in Forward Township, Allegheny Co., Pa., December

6, 1779, and died December 6, 1855. He attended the schools of Forward Township and later an academy at Uniontown. Subsequently he came to Washington County and accepted a position as clerk in a store at what was then Parkison's Ferry, but is now Monongahela. Later he became interested in boating, boat-building and trad- ing and his activities reached as far as New Orleans.

Maj. Warne was thirty-two years old, in 1811, when he was commissioned, by Gov. Samuel Snyder, a captain of light infantry in the 2nd Battalion, 53rd Pa. Militia. In the following year the governor accepted this regiment for service in the war with Great Britain then impending, and Captain Warne served in that official position until September 25, 1812, when he was commissioned major of the 1st Battery in the 3rd Regi- ment, commanded by Col. Snyder, and with that rank continued to serve until his honorable discharge, Decem- ber 31, 1812. He rendered faithful and efficient services and won merited honors.

After his return home, Maj. Warne, in association with his brother-in-law, William Parkison, built a glass factory, which was the first enterprise of its kind at Monongahela City, or Williamsport, as the place was then called. The two business men were interested together in other concerns and conducted a general merchandise business until 1825. After that Maj. Warne engaged in the peaceful pursuits of agriculture and resided on his farm, to which he gave the suggestive name of "Eden," until his death. The court records of his day show how frequently he was called upon to serve as administrator and executor but there are none available to indicate the many times when he was called upon by his neighbors to advise and adjust differences.

In 1805, Maj. Warne was married to Mary Parkison, who was the only daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Weaver) Parkison. The Parkisons, like the Warnes, were of English extraction. Joseph Parkison was born in 1740, near Carlisle, Pa., where he married Margaret Weaver, and this brought into the family a strain of thrifty, sturdy old Dutch stock. They had three sons and one daughter: James, David, William and Mary. Joseph Parkison came to what is now Monongahela City about 1768 and became a very prominent and useful citizen. He was one of the first named justices of the peace in the county, and some time between 1792 and 1796, he laid out Monongahela City. He built the first ferry, which was named in his honor, and at this point the first postoffice in this region was established. He was the patentee of the greater part of the land on which Monongahela City now stands, and for many years he conducted an inn as well as his store and ferry. To Maj. James Warne and wife were born the following children : Ammuzette, Margaret, Joseph P., James, David, Mary, Susan, Hiram and Eliza J.

MR. AND MRS. ELLSWORTH JACKSON AND FAMILY

803

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Hiram Warne, father of A. Clark Warne, was born in what is now Monongahela City, Washington Co., Pa., February 16, 1822. He was a small boy when his parents moved into the country and his education was acquired in the schools of the neighborhood. His subsequent suc- cess in life could not be attributed to any early advan- tages, but rather to his natural abilities which were brought into active play by his indomitable energy and perseverance. On December 2, 1856, he was married to Elizabeth Nicholls, a daughter of James and Rebecca (Devore) Nicholls, of Allegheny County, Pa. After their marriage they resided for a time on a farm in Som- erset Township, but later moved to Nottingham Town- ship and finally to their present home on the National Road just west of Washington. He was identified with the growth and improvement of different sections of Washington County and up to the time of his death, in 1896, was a man of influence in his community. He was a member of and an elder in the Third Presbyterian Church at Washington. His children, seven in number, bore the following names: James C., Flora R., William W., A. Clark, Boyd E., Howard F., and Mary Etta May.

A. Clark Warne was reared in Washington County and was educated in the public schools and at Washington and Jefferson College, being a member of the class of 1885. Upon the closing of his collegiate course, Mr. Warne turned his attention to business and entered the Citizens' National Bank at Mckeesport, remaining with that institution for six years. He then became cashier of the Farmers' and Mechanics' National Bank at Wash- ington and remained there until 1901 when it was ab- sorbed by the Washington Trust Company, a corporation organized through his efforts and of which he has been treasurer ever since. He was one of the building com- mittee during the erection of the Washington Trust building, a notable structure at Washington. In his political views he is a Republican, religiously he is a Presbyterian, being a member of the Third Presbyterian Church. He is a Knight Templar Mason.

ELLSWORTH JACKSON, one of Washington Coun- ty's representative and substantial citizens and a mem- ber of one of its oldest pioneer families, carries on gen- eral farming, owning ninety acres in Hanover Township, where he lives, and 126 acres situated in Smith Town- ship. He was born in Hanover Township, Washington County, Pa., about two miles distant from his present farm, May 24, 1854, and is a son of Andrew and Sarah (Campbell) Jackson.

Andrew Jackson, father of Ellsworth, was born in Hanover Township, Washington County, and was a son of Edward and Rebecca Jackson, and a grandson of Joseph Jackson, who was one of the first white settlers in this part of the county. Andrew Jackson married

Sarah Campbell, who was born in Smith Township, Washington County, and was a daughter of Launcelot and Margaret Campbell. To Andrew Jackson and his wife were born two children: Margaret Sylvania and Ellsworth. The former married Jonathan Tucker, Jr., and both are now deceased, their burial being at Wash- ington.

Ellsworth Jackson obtained his primary education in the district schools of Hanover Township, after which his parents placed him in a select school at Florence and from there he went to Frankfort, where he enjoyed academic training. Subsequently he took a commercial course at Duff's Business College at Pittsburg. Mr. Jackson has been interested in farming all his mature life and at present gives it all of his attention. He has, however, at different times been engaged in other lines of business and for a time was in partnership with a brother-in-law, at Burgettstown. He was one of the or- ganizers of the First National Bank of Burgettstown, in which he has ever since been a director. All of his 216 acres of farm land is valuable, much of it is well improved and on his Hanover Township farm he has six producing oil wells.

On October 17, 1877, Mr. Jackson was married to Miss Mary Agnes Anderson, who is the eldest child of John and Margaret (Jackson) Anderson, the others be- ing: William Albert, Joseph H., Anna Margaret and Harry. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have had eight children, as follows: Charles D., who met an accidental death at Denver, Col., was a physician; Vanie M., who is the wife of Fred S. Work, lives at Pittsburg; Anna Maud, who is the wife of Charles W. Hanlin, lives at Eldersville, Pa .; Eva May, who is the wife of Samuel Neely, lives in Hanover Township; Joseph Albert, who is a student at Duff's Business College, at Pittsburg; Andrew Roy, who assists his father; Laura Edna, and Oscar W., who are attending school at Florence. Mr. Jackson has given all his children educational advantages and several of them have been trained in the same institutions in which he himself was educated. Mr. Jackson and family are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder. He is also secretary and treasurer of the church cemetery association. He was reared to believe in the principles of the Republican party, but has never sought any public office, and when his fellow citizens in the township have thought to honor him by appointment to the same, he has declined to serve.

ENEAS COULSON, proprietor of the Columbia Hotel of Donora, and one of the directors of the Bank of Donora, was born April 6, 1846, in England, and is the only child of William and Isabell (Marshall) Coulson, both of whom were born and died in England. The

804

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

father was a native of northern England and was a shaft contractor in the mining districts of that country.

Eneas Coulson was reared in England, where he later worked in the mines until 1879, when he brought his family to America, and located at Roscoe, Pa., in 1881, and moved to Courtney on a tract of timber land, and worked in the mines until 1901, when he came to Donora, and opened his present hotel, where he has met with much success. Mr. Coulson was married July 20, 1867, in England, to Mary Barnes, and they are the parents of the following children: Isabella, who is the wife of Alexander Gray, of Roscoe, Pa .; William, who mar- ried Mary Jane Gillie, of Courtney, Pa .; Thomas, who is a resident of Roscoe; Jennie, who married Jesse Me- Clary, of Monongahela City; James, who married Allen Ann Gillie, of Courtney, and his twin, John, who is de- ceased; all of whom were born in England; Elizabeth, who is the wife of George A. Watkins, of Donora; George B., deceased; Robert, and Harry, all four born in this country. Mr. Coulson is identified with the Republican party in politics; has been a director of the Bank of Donora for the past three years; and is fraternally a member of the Masonic order, and the F. O. E.

R. C. BUCHANAN, a representative citizen of Wash- ington, Pa., who conducts a real estate and insurance business at the corner of Jefferson and Wiley streets, has been a resident of this city since 1901. He was born in 1864, in Independence Township, Washington Co., Pa., and is a son of David and a grandson of David Buchanan.

The first David Buchanan was one of the early pioneer settlers of Washington County, establishing his home here in 1825. His son, David Buchanan, was born in Inde- pendence Township, in 1829. The latter became a man of much substance, owning farming lands and engaging extensively in wool growing, frequetly having as many as 900 head of sheep in his pastures at one time. He was prominent also in the public affairs of the county. He survived until 1901.

R. C. Buchanan attended the public schools in Inde- pendence Township, and Jefferson College, at Canons- burg, and later spent one year at Bethany College, West Virginia. He then turned his attention to farming and stock raising, particularly sheep, and continued as long as he remained on the farm, which he still owns. He has other interests and is a stockholder and secretary and treasurer of the Union Block Company. In addition to representing many of the leading insurance companies of the country, Mr. Buchanan handles a large amount of valuable realty and serves also as a notary public. In politics he is a Republican and at the recent primary election he was nominated for the office of director of the poor, by a majority of 740 votes, over four opponents. He has served acceptably as a member of the school

board, and has continually shown that he has the best interests of the city at heart.

Mr. Buchanan was married June 19, 1884, to Miss Clara Denny, of Independence Township, and they have six children, as follows : Fannie and Mary, both of whom are competent teachers; and Nellie, Hazel, Helen and Howard, all students. Mr. Buchanan and family are members of the United Presbyterian Church. He belongs to the order of Modern Woodmen.

JAMES F. BLAYNEY, who is one of West Alexan- der's most respected retired residents, came to this pleas- ant borough in 1893 from his farm of ninety acres, which he still owns, situated in Ohio County, W. Va. Mr. Blay- ney was born in that county, October 24, 1831, and is a son of Charles and Nancy (Farris) Blayney.

Charles Blayney was born in Ireland and was twelve years old when his parents brought him to America and the family settled and remained in Ohio County, W. Va. There Charles Blayney was reared and in early manhood he married Nancy Farris, of that county. Their sur- viving children are: James F. and Mrs. Martha Mc- Donald, widow of Rev. George McDonald, of West Alex- ender.

James F. Blayney obtained his education in the sub- scription schools in West Liberty District, Ohio County, of which he later in life became one of the school di- rectors. He remained at home and helped his father until the latter's death in 1860, and continued to follow farming and stock raising for many years thereafter, but in 1893 he retired from hard labor and came to his present comfortable home in West Alexander. He has been a very useful citizen here, serving three years on the borough council and taking a deep interest in the growth and progress of the place and its institution.

Mr. Blayney was married (first) to Miss Margaret Atkinson, who was born and died in Ohio County. One of their two children survives, this being Dr. Charles Blayney, who is a prominent physician at Damascus, Ohio. Mr. Blayney was married (second) to Miss Linda R. Gilfillan, who was born in Pennsylvania. They have one daughter, Mary Elizabeth, who is the wife of Robert D. McCleery, of West Alexander. In his political views, Mr. Blayney is a Republican, his father having been a Whig. He is a leading member of the West Alexander Presbyterian Church, and since 1880 has been an elder in the same.

HOMER CRUMRINE, one of Washington's leading citizen 's, an extensive dealer in real estate and engaged also in the insurance business, was born in Morris Town- ship, Greene Co., Pa., in 1861, a son of William and a grandson of John Crumrine, the family being an old and representative one in the county.

805

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

John Crumrine was the founder of the family in Wash- ington County, coming at an early day and bringing with him his habits of New Jersey thrift. He settled in West Bethlehem Township, where his son, William Crum- rine, was born. The latter was a farmer in early life but later engaged in the mercantile business and for seventeen years he conducted a store at Lindley Mills. His death occurred in his native county, at Dunn's Sta- tion.

Homer Crumrine was quite small when his parents moved to Lindley Mills. He was reared and educated in the public schools of Washington County, after which he engaged in farming and stock raising and also did a large business in buying, selling and shipping horses, cattle and sheep. In 1902 he came to Washington and since then has given his time mainly to dealing in real estate, and in looking after his own large interests. He owns a fine farm in Harrison County, Ohio, considerable land in the vicinity of Washington, oil properties, and gold and copper mines in Arizona. He is president of the Arizona-Colorado Copper Belt and Gold Mining and Milling Company. Mr. Crumrine is a man of acknowl- edged business foresight and his undertakings generally succeed.

In 1884, Mr. Crumrine was married to Miss Fannie G. Dunn, a daughter of James M. Dunn, of Morris Town- ship, Greene Co., Pa. To this marriage have been born the following children: Donetta; Wilmot, who is a stu- dent in the dental department of the Pittsburg Univer- sity; Earl, who is a student in Washington and Jeffer- son College; James, who is likewise a student in this college; and Oma, Homer, Jr., and Fannie D. Mr. and Mrs. Crumrine are members of the Second Presbyterian Church of Washington.

JOHNSTON R. BOWERS, superintendent of the North Strabane Water Company, at Canonsburg, Pa., and a representative citizen, was born in the borough of Kit- tanning, Armstrong Co., Pa., January 7, 1843, and is a son of George and Mary (Given) Bowers.

The father of Mr. Bowers was a tanner by trade and this he followed in Armstrong County, where he died in 1873, aged fifty-six years. The mother of Mr. Bowers survived for many years longer, her death taking place in 1901, when in her eighty-seventh year. They were parents of ten children, namely: Johnstone R., of Can- onsburg; Nancy, who is the widow of John Conard, re- sides at Wilkinsburg, in Allegheny County; Robert, who died in 1854; Henry, who resided in Armstrong County, died in 1905; Chambers, who is a resident of Kittanning; Mary, who died in 1878, was the wife of John Hare; Edward and George, twins, are both deceased; and Sarah, who is the wife of John Starr, resides at Par- nassus, in Allegheny County.

Johnston R. Bowers attended the district schools for fourteen winters, in early youth, and then became a boatman on the Allegheny River and spent some years on the water prior to 1862, when he enlisted for service in the Civil War then in progress. He became a member of the 14th Pa. Vol. Cav., under Col. James H. Schoon- maker, and served faithfully for three long years, par- ticipating in sixty-five battles of the war, including Get- tysburg and Fisher's Hill. He was within forty feet of the gallant Gen. Philip Sheridan when he started on the famoius ride through the Shenandoah Valley. For twen- ty months Mr. Bowers did scout duty, a very dangerous part of a soldier's work. He was ever at the post of duty, but was so favored by good fortune that he re- turned to his home practically unharmed. For several years following he worked in the oil refining business in Armstrong County. On February 2, 1872, he entered the service of the Kittanning Water Company, and has been in the business ever since, going from Kittanning to Butler, and from there to Warren, Pa., and then to Kane, Pa., from there to Indiana, Pa., and then to Washington, Pa., then to Monongahela City, later to Duquesne, Pa., and from there to Connellsville, and to Canonsburg in 1901. He was superintendent of the works while at Duquesne and has been superintendent ever since coming to Canonsburg. His many years of experience has made him a very valuable man in this particular line.

Mr. Bowers was married to Miss Ann V. Ogle, of Kit- tanning, Pa., a daughter of Banner Ogle, and they have had eight children, namely: Mary, who died at Warren, Pa .; Maud, who is the widow of William Morrison; Har- riet, who is the wife of Thomas Lee, of Wilkinsburg; George, who is engineer at the water works pumping sta- tion at Canonsburg; Elsie, who is the wife of William Cocain, an engineer on the Pennsylvania Railroad; John- ston R., who is employed at Mckeesport, Pa., married Rose Bane; Susan, who is the wife of Carl H. Edwards, of Ravenswood, Va .; and Anna, who resides at St. Jo- seph, Mo. Mr. Bowers cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln and has never since voted with any but the Republican party.

RICHARD G. MILLER, a member of the law firm of Donnans, Brownson & Miller, leading attorneys at Wash- ington, Pa., with offices at No. 63 South Main street, was born June 25, 1878, at Elizabeth, in Allegheny County, close to the Washington County line, and is a son of Rev. Charles W. Miller. Dr. Miller is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, now living retired at Washington.

Richard G. Miller enjoyed the intellectual surroundings of a refined home through boyhood. He was carefully educated, attending the South Western State Normal

806

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

School at California, Ohio, and graduating with the class of 1894, later attending Mt. Union College at Al- liance. He then entered the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he took a partial course in law and then came to Washington, hav- ing previously registered in the office of Judge Taylor. Mr. Miller later entered the office of Donnans & Brown- son, where he completed his studies and was admitted to the bar in 1906. He immediately entered into practice as a member of the above firm and has been qualified in both the Supreme and Superior Courts of the State.

In 1909, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Lucy Don- nans, a daughter of Alvan Donnans, a leading attorney at Washington. Since early manhood he has been active in politics, always being identified with the Republican party. He has been secretary or assistant secretary of the Republican County Committee in 1904-5-6 and 1907 and in 1908 he was a member of the Republican Execu- tive Committee and in 1909 was elected chairman of the Republican County Committee. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Socially he is identified with the exclusive Bassett Club, of which he was presi- dent in 1908. He has personal, social and professional qualities of a high order.

J. WINFIELD REED, who has been vice president of the Washington National Bank of Burgettstown, since the organization in November, 1903, and since 1905 has been cashier, is interested in several other financial institutions in Washington County, of which he is a representative citizen. He was born in Cross Creek Township, Washington County, Pa., Jan. 30, 1878, and is a son of J. M. K. and Mary P. (Tucker) Reed.

The father of Mr. Reed was one of Cross Creek Town- ship's leading men. In his earlier years he taught school and later was an extensive farmer. For a quar- ter of a century he was a justice of the peace in Cross Creek Township, was frequently elected to local offices and was a man whose judgment and integrity were never questioned. In politics he was an old-time Democrat. His death occurred on Feb. 25, 1899, and his burial was in Cross Creek Cemetery. He married Mary P. Tucker, a daughter of David and Mary (Patton) Tucker. She survives and continues to reside on the old homestead in Cross Creek Township and still at- tends the Presbyterian Church, of which she and hus- band were early supporters.

stockholder in the Farmers' National Bank of Hickory and a stockholder and director in other institutions.

On Oct. 28, 1908, Mr. Reed was married to Miss Martha J. Vance, a daughter of Robert C. and Mary (MeGough) Vance. He is a member of the Cross Creek Presbyterian Church. In politics, like his late father, he is a strong Democrat. He is a director of the Cross Creek Cemtery. Fraternally, Mr. Reed is identified with the leading organizations, belonging to Richard Vaux Lodge No. 454, F. & A. M., and to Chartiers Com- mandery No. 78, Knights Templar, of Carnegie, Pa .; to Lodge No. 1154, Odd Fellows, of Burgettstown; and to Silver Cliff Lodge No. 300, Knights of Pythias.

MONTGOMERY J. ZAHNISER, secretary of the Washington Foundry and Manufacturing Company, one of Washington's successful industrial concerns, was born in Mercer County, Pa., in 1868, and is a son of Michael Zahniser and a member of a family that has been prominent for years in the manufacturing line in Wash- ington County.

Montgomery J. Zahniser remained in Mercer County until he had completed his school attendance and was nineteen year old when he came to Washington, where he learned the machinist trade with the firm of Fink & Zahniser, entering their works in 1887. Later he worked for two years in a machine shop at Waynesburg and then went to Pittsburg and for two years was with the Pitts- burg Garage & Supply Company. After leaving the . Pittsburg shops, he became a member of the firm of Zahniser & Sten, at Washington, and continued there until 1902, when, with his brother, M. R. Zahniser, he_ established the Washington Foundry and Manufacturing Company, its business being general foundry work. This company occupies two buildings, one being 100 feet square, and the other 30 by 60 feet, three stories high. Mr. Zahn- iser was married to Miss Minnie C. Caldwell, a daughter of Joseph Caldwell, and they have two children: Sarah and Margaret. Mr. Zahniser and wife are members of the Third Presbyterian Church, in which he is a deacon. He is a solid, reliable citizen but has never been particu- larly active in politics.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 142

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