History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 145

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 145

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The parents of Mr. Titus were both born in Wash- ington County. The grandfather, John Titus, was an early settler here and the late Isaac Titus engaged in farming for many years in the same locality. Isaac Titus was a Republican and he served in public office, being a school director for many years and also was road commissioner. Of the five children born to Isaac Titus and wife, three survive and all reside in Donegal Township: Margaret J., John H. and Joseph.

John H. Titus attended the district schools in Don- egal Township and from youth has been engaged in farm pursuits. He is now the owner of the old Dickey farm, on which are a number of old and interesting landmarks of pioneer days, now in a state of disin- tegration. He is an excellent judge of agricultural con- ditions in his section and is largely interested in sheep raising, keeping on an average about 100 head.

On Oct. 25, 1888, Mr. Titus was united in marriage with Miss Laura V. McConn, who was born in West Virginia, a daughter of J. Wilkes McConn, and they have had three children, of whom one survives: Mary Florence, who was born Sept. 28, 1896. Mr. Titus is a Republican in politics and a Presbyterian in religious faith, attending church at West Alexander.

J. B. SHERRARD, one of the younger members of the Washington County bar, has already gained an as- sured position in his profession, although at Washington he has been compelled to enter into competition with able lawyers of many years standing. Mr. Sherrard was born Dec. 21, 1884, in Missouri, and is a son of Rev. R. M. Sherrard, who now lives retired at Washing- ton, to which city he came in September, 1901. He was born at Cambridge and for 25 years he was in the active ministry of the United Presbyterian Church.

J. B. Sherrard is a graduate of Washington and Jef- ferson College, completing his course in the Class of 1904. He at once entered the law department of the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, from which he graduated in June, 1908, and in the spring of 1909 vas admitted to the bar of Washington County, ever

since maintaining his law office at No. 333 W. T. Build- ing. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church. He takes an active interest in the affairs of the borough, giving promise of becoming a valuable citizen.

JEREMIAH S. WASHABAUGH, a successful hard- ware merchant of Canonsburg and at present serving as the president of the school board of South Canons- burg, was born in North Strabane Township, Washing- ton County, Pa., May 12, 1870, and is a son of Frank and Sarah Washabaugh.

The father of Mr. Washabaugh was born in Fayette County, Pa., near Mt. Pleasant, and came to Washington County when a young man and settled in North Stra- bane Township, where he acquired a farm. He was born Feb. 9, 1844, and died July 6, 1907. His father was Washington Washabaugh, a very early settler in Fayette County. The mother of Mr. Washabaugh was born in 1847 and still resides on the old homestead in North Strabane Township. To Frank and Sarah Washabaugh were born the following children: Lena, who married O. G. Ayres, of Eighty-Four, Washington County ; Mary, who married James Neill, Jr., a farmer near Canons- burg in North Strabane Township; Sarah, who married Everett Donley, a farmer near Eighty-Four; and Grace, who is a teacher in the public schools.

Jeremiah S. Washabaugh attended the schools in North Strabane Township and Jefferson Academy, thereby se- curing a teacher's certificate and after that he con- tinued to teach school through the winter seasons and attended school during the summer sessions until the spring of 1892, when he was graduated from the Cali- fornia State Normal School. His period of teaching covered ten years and during this time he became well and favorably known to other educators all over the county. For six years afterward he conducted a dairy. On Nov. 1, 1905, he purchased the hardware store at Canonsburg, then conducted by Samuel Munnell, and he has become one of the prosperous business men of this place, having a large and safe trade and carrying a full line of goods.

On Aug. 19, 1898, Mr. Washabaugh was married to Miss Georgia Taggart, a daughter of John and Martha Taggart, of Beaver Falls, Pa. Mrs. Washabaugh is a graduate of Geneva College and prior to her marriage taught school both in North Strabane and Cecil Town- ships. They have three daughters: Margaret, Ruth and Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Washabaugh are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Canonsburg. He is a Democrat in his political sentiments and served at one time as school director of N. Strabane Township.

RUFUS S. MARRINER, a well-known attorney at Washington, Pa., is one of the younger members of the

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Washington County bar and is recognized as one of the most able. He was born in Mathews County, Va., where he received his primary education, later attended school in the state of New York and in 1898 was graduated from the Belmont High School.

Mr. Marriner then became a student in Washington and Jefferson College, where he was graduated in 1903. After two years in the Pittsburg Law School, he was admitted to the Washington County bar in October, 1908, immediately afterward locating at Washington. He looks after the interests of the Willet Oil Company and of the Isaac Willet's estate.

Mr. Marriner belongs to the Bassett and the Wash- ington Golf Clubs. His office location is at No. 16 East Wheeling street.

FREDERICK W. MOORE, a representative business man of West Alexander, Pa., dealing in hardware, im- plements, seeds in season, paints, oils and builders' sup- plies, has been established in this borough since March, 1903. He was born in Ohio County, W. Va., June 20, 1870, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Reed) Moore.

William Moore, now deceased, was born in Ireland, and came to America with his father, Thomas Moore, in 1826. They settled in Ohio County, W. Va., and Thomas Moore lived to the unusual age of 103 years, and was the oldest person ever interred in the West Alexander Cemetery.

Frederick W. Moore obtained his primary education in the local schools and then entered the West Virginia State Normal School at West Liberty, where he was graduated in 1889, after which he taught school for one term. He then engaged in agricultural pursuits and continued until he came to West Alexander, where he became also interested in his present business. He still overlooks his farm of 215 acres which lies in Ohio Coun- ty, W. Va., not far from West Alexander, on which he grows much stock, paying particular attention to the Delaine fine wool sheep, of registered stock. Dairy- ing has also been a successful industry carried on by Mr. Moore.

Mr. Moore was married to Miss Mary E. McDonald, a daughter of the late Rev. George MeDonald, D. D., of West Alexander, a prominent Presbyterian divine who formerly had charge of a church at Prosperity. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have four children: Martha M., Mary E., Adda N. and John M. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are members of the Presbyterian Church at West Alexander, and for a number of years Mr. Moore sang in its choir. In politics he is a Republican. He is one of the most active and enterprising business men of this section and he is heartily in accord, also, with those who are seeking

the betterment of general conditions and providing for the continued prosperity of the borough.

JOHN McBURNEY DONALDSON, who is associated with the Union Fidelity Title Insurance Company of Pittsburg, Pa., has been in the abstract business through- out his entire business life. He was born in Hanover Township, Washington County, Pa., in 1874, and is a son of James and Mary (Bigger) Donaldson.

On both sides Mr. Donaldson is a representative of old pioneer families of importance. Isaac Donaldson, the great-grandfather, came to America from the north of Ireland and in company with his brother, William, settled in Hanover Township, Washington County, Pa., in 1774. Richard Donaldson, son of Isaac, was born on the homestead there established, in 1799, and followed agricultural pursuits. The late James Donaldson, father of John M., was born on the homestead in 1826 and died in 1887, having been one of the leading farmers of the county. He married Mary Bigger, who was born in Robinson Township, Washington County, in 1834, and was a daughter of Samuel Bigger, who was also born there and was a son of Thomas Bigger, a native of Ireland, who came to Robinson Township in the same year that the Donaldsons located in Hanover Township.

John M. Donaldson was educated in the schools of Hanover Township ana at Westminster College, grad- uating from that institution in 1898. He became asso- ciated with the Guarantee Title and Trust Company of Pittsburg and after a period of five years with that corporation, went to the Union Fidelity Title Insurance Company of Pittsburg.

In November, 1907, Mr. Donaldson was married to Miss Laura Z. MeIlvaine, a daughter of Z. J. MeIlvaine, of Allegheny County, Pa., and they have one child, James Reed. Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson are members of the United Presbyterian Church.

SAMUEL CLARK SMITH, a leading citizen of Canonsburg, where he is engaged in handling his own real estate and that of other parties, bears a name that has been perpetuated in this city in the title given to several beautiful avenues. These now cover what was once the farm and vineyards of the Smith family, a few years seemingly having changed the whole appearance of this now most desirable part of Canonsburg. Mr. Smith was born on what is now the corner of Greenside avenue and Pike street, Canonsburg, Pa., May 12, 1859, and is a son of Samuel and Mary Smith.

The grandparents of Mr. Smith were Christopher and Sarah (Stewart) Smith, residents of Conger, Washing- ton County, at the time of the birth of Samuel Smith, in 1806. He came to Canonsburg in the early thirties.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

By trade he was a tanner and he purchased a tannery that then stood in the village, on the present site of the Greenside Avenue United Presbyterian Church and con- ducted the same until 1875, when he sold to the church people. He died in the old home in 1903, in his 98th year. He was twice married, first to Mary Smith, who died while the six children were small, and second to Ellen Hanna, in Ohio, who survived him. The children were as follows: Triphena, who is the wife of John Arnold; Annetta, who married Joseph Carter, of Canons- burg; Mary, who married Alvin Forsythe, of Canons- burg; George Van Eman Lawrence, who married Mar- garet G. Smith, and resides on West Pike street, Canons- burg; Sadie Stewart, who married William Crouch and resides in the old homestead; and Samuel Clark, who was the second in order of birth.

Samuel Clark Smith attended the public schools in his youth and worked on the home farm of 40 acres, which is now a part of the borough of Canonsburg. He de- voted much attention to fruit growing, particularly grapes, and Mr. Smith's handsome residence at No. 123 Vine street, stands where once was his father's vine- yard. Two other streets, Smith and Smithfield, were so named from the farm through which they were con- structed and in honor of the family. In 1880 the father of Mr. Smith began to sell off his property as the borough encroached on it and the sons turned to other industries than farming. Samuel C. worked for five years at gas fitting and for two years was connected with the borough electric light plant, after which he successfully conducted a bakery for eight years, finally disposing of it, having been made executor of his father's and also his father-in-law's estate. This led him into his present business and he is handling a large amount of valuable realty in Canonsburg and vicinity.

In the fall of 1878 Mr. Smith was married to Miss Mary Margaret Wilson, who was born May 13, 1859, at Canonsburg, being but one day younger than Mr. Smith. Her father was Matthew Wilson. They have had eight children, four of whom are living: Samuel Wilson, who married Ruth Borden and they reside on Vine street and have two children-Naomi Napier and Allen Borden ; Vern, who is the wife of Arthur Woolcroft, a resident of Canton, Ohio; Walter, who is a clerk in the office of the Fort Pitt Bridge Works and is a graduate of the Canonsburg High School; and Paul, who is also a grad- uate and is employed in the same concern as his brothers. Samuel Wilson Smith, the eldest son, has been identified with the Fort Pitt Bridge Works ever since his grad- uation from the Canonsburg High School, he and his brothers being well qualified and enterprising young business men. The four children now deceased were: Minnie, Ralph, Roy and one died unnamed.

In his political views, Mr. Smith has ever been stanch

in his adherence to the principles of the Republican party. For nine years he has served in the office of assessor for the East Ward of Canonsburg. Both he and Mrs. Smith can remember when the present busy borough, with interests reaching out almost all over the world, contained but a few hundred houses. They are members of the Chartiers United Presbyterian Church.

WILLIAM J. WARRICK, florist, with fine green- houses located at No. 498 East Locust avenue, Washing- ton, Pa., is a representative business citizen of the city in which he was born, in 1861. His father is George M. Warrick, a man of high standing, who resides on E. Beau street, Washington.

William J. Warrick grew to manhood in his native place and was educated in her excellent schools. His en- trance into business was in the drug trade in which he continued for a time and then turned his attention to the grocery business in which he continued for 19 years. About 1903 he first became· interested, to a limited de- gree, in his present business, but has not devoted his entire attention to it until within the past year, but in this time he has erected greenhouses which give him 30,000 square feet of glass and which are fully equipped with all modern appliances with which to conduct a first- class florist business. Combining a natural taste with business faculty, Mr. Warrick is meeting with success in his undertaking.

In 1882, Mr. Warrick was married to Miss Anna Po- land, a daughter of the late Henry Poland, and they have six children: George H., William J., Jr., Ray W., Earl J., Mildred Poland and Clifford. The two older sons are also in the greenhouse business. Mr. and Mrs. Warrick are members of the First M. E. Church. He takes no very active part in politics, desiring only the election of officers who will maintain good government.

WILLIAM THOMAS RABE, who owns a fine farm of 150 acres, lying just west of Donora in Carroll Town- ship, is the owner of the Donora Dairy, and has been a resident of Donora since 1905. He was born Sept. 16, 1865, on his father's farm in Carroll Township, and is a son of Hiram and Catherine (Frederick) Rabe.

Hiram Rabe was born in Carroll Township on the farm on which his father settled at an early period. He fol- lowed farming during the greater part of his life, but subsequently retired from business and removed to Mo- nongahela City, where he died in June, 1897, past 60 . years of age. At the time of his death he was the owner of three tracts of farm land, namely, the old Eliza Grant farm of 125 acres at Eldora, which was laid out in town lots; the old Squire Butler farm of 150 acres, now the property of our subject; and the Rabe homestead of 125 acres in Carroll Township, now owned

RESIDENCE OF W. J. WINTERS, MT. PLEASANT TOWNSHIP

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

by David G. Rabe, his brother. Hiram and Catherine Rabe were the parents of the following children: Elma, married Stephen Tucker, both are now deceased; Vir- ginia, died in youth; Anna, is the wife of William Blackenbuehler, ex-mayor of Monongahela City; William Thomas, our subject; David G. and James A.

William T. Rabe was reared on the farm in Carroll Township, and attended the old Star district school. He early in life began working on his father's farm, of which he became owner at the time of his father's death. He then engaged in the dairy business, shipping milk to Homestead, Pa., but since the erection of the town of Donora has been running a retail wagon, and is the pioneer dairyman of Donora. He operates the business under the name of the Donora Dairy, sells an average of 100 gallons of milk per day, owns 20 head of cows and has milk shipped in from various surrounding points. Mr. Rabe has a portion of his farm laid out in town lots, which are in the hands of the Monongahela Land Company. About 1905, Mr. Rabe came to Donora, where he erected a fine 12-room residence, which is located on the corner of Eighth and Thompson streets.

In November, 1898, Mr. Rabe was united in marriage with Louisa (Elliott) Nutt, a daughter of William Elliott, of Fayette County, Pa., and the widow of J. E. Nutt, by whom she is the mother of three children: Sarah, who is the wife of John S. Culbert; Ruth, who married Vernon Pollett; and Randolph. Mr. and Mrs. Rabe have one son, William Lewis. In politics Mr. Rabe is identified with the Republican party, has served two years as road supervisor of Carroll Township, and in February, 1909, was elected a member of the Donora Council. He holds membership with the Royal Arcanum Lodge, the Modern Woodmen and the Jr. O. U. A. M., all of Monongahela City, and the F. O. E. of Donora.

W. J. WINTERS, who conducts a hardware store and a blacksmith and carriage repair shop at Bulger, is one of the representative business men of this prosperous little town. He was born May 14, 1859, in Mt. Pleasant Township, Washington County, Pa., and is a son of W. G. and Mary (Bartholomew) Winters,

W. J. Winters spent his school days at McDonald and in Mt. Pleasant Township and afterward engaged in farming for four years. Having natural mechanical skill, he decided to take advantage of it and then went to Jefferson County, Ohio, where he learned the black- smith trade, at which he worked in Mt. Pleasant Town- ship, Cross Creek Township, at Oakmont and Hickory and then came to Bulger, where he has been established in his present quarters for the past fifteen years. In addition to the satisfactory business he does at this place, Mr. Winters has other interests and is a stock- holder in a gold mine in New Mexico and is also interest-

ed in the development of 288,000 acres of land in the same country, where a company with large capital and bright prospects are raising hemp and rubber plants. Mr. Winters is identified with the National Horseshoers Association and is the local treasurer. In his political sentiments he is a Republican and at present is serving as a school director of Smith Township.

In October, 1880, Mr. Winters was married to Miss Anna M. Wilson, a daughter of James Wilson, and they have two children: Cora May and Harry E. The family belongs to the United Presbyterian Church of Midway.

P. G. KENNED1, city tax collector of Washington, Pa., and identified with large real estate interests here, has been a vigorous and useful citizen of the city in which he was born, June 22, 1850. He is a son of Peter Kennedy, who came to Washington County about 1820. During the Civil War he entered the service together with three of his sons, one of whom, James Kennedy, was the first man to enlist in 1861 from Washington County. Peter Kennedy served in Co. K, Pa. Res., of which he was first orderly sergeant; one son was a mem- ber of the 98th Ohio; another of Co. A, 100th Pa., and the third, of the 154th Pa. Vol. Inf.

P. G. Kennedy was reared at Washington and ob- tained his education in the city schools. He learned the carriage-trimming trade with S. B. & C. Hayes, serving a full apprenticeship, and for 25 years after- ward was connected with the firm of Hayes & Wilson, on Franklin street. For three or four years he acted as solicitor for C. V. Harding in a real estate and in- surance business. Mr. Kennedy was one of the organ- izers of North Washington, now the Sixth Ward, and was president of that borough for four years before it was taken into the city proper. He has served also about five years as a member of the city Council, re- signing his seat when he was elected tax collector on Feb. 16, 1909, for a term of three years. He is in- terested in the North Washington Land Company and in several other business enterprises.

On Nov. 21, 1877, Mr. Kennedy was married to Miss Elizabeth Wilkinson, who was born at Uniontown, Pa., and they have had four children, namely: William U., James B., Sarah R. and Harriet W. Both sons were members of Co. H, 10th Reg. Pa. Vol. Inf., in the Spanish- American War and they saw service in the Philippines. The older daughter died when 12 years of age. The younger is the wife of C. W. Simpson, of Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy are members of the M. P. Church at Washington, of which he has been a trustee. His only fraternal connection is with the Royal Arcanum.

JAMES H. SUPLER, one of Claysville's substantial retired farmers, who has been a resident of the borough

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

since April, 1908, still retains his valuable farm of 120 acres, which is situated in Donegal Township. Mr. Supler was born near Beallsville, in Washington County, Pa., Mar. 18, 1850, and is a son of Thomas and Mar- garet (Hill) Supler.

The Supler family is one of the oldest in Washington County and its founders were John Supler and his wife, Rachel (Kirk) Supler. The former was born Nov. 30, 1757, and the latter Aug. 13, 1767. They came to Don- egal Township when the land was a wilderness and the pioneers had to build a block house to ensure them from the savage attacks of the Indians. John Supler the second was the grandfather of James H. Supler and the father of the late Thomas Supler. The latter was born in Washington County, Pa., and died Feb. 15, 1886. Like his father and grandfather, he was a farmer and raiser of cattle and sheep. The first John Supler served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Thomas Supler married Margaret Hill, who was also born in Washing- ton County. Of their six children, but one survives.

James H. Supler grew to manhood in Donegal Town- ship and attended school there and at West Alexander, after which he engaged continuously in farming and stock raising until he retired to Claysville.

On Dec. 29, 1875, Mr. Supler was married to Miss Elizabeth Bryans, who was born in Ontario, Can., near Port Stanley. Her parents were William and Margaret (Bamford) Bryans, who were born in Ireland and were married at Toronto, Can. Mrs. Supler was 9 years old when she moved with her parents from Canada and they settled first at Wheeling, W. Va., and later moved to Moundsville, where she was educated. Her grandfather on the paternal side was also Irish, but on the maternal side was of an old Scotch family named Howe. To Mr. and Mrs. Supler four children were born, namely: Harry William, who is associated with his youngest brother, in the mercantile business at Claysville, married Grace Danley, a daughter of H. P. Danley, of this place, and they have one daughter, Evelyn G .; Bessie M., who is the wife of Frank Lindsay, of Claysville; Minnie M., who resides at home; and James Walter, who is the junior member of the mercantile firm of Supler Brothers, at Claysville. James H. Supler is nominally a Republican but he is a thinking, reading man and occasionally exer- cises his own judgment when casting his ballot. Mrs. Supler is a member of the Presbyterian Church at West Alexander and belongs also to that noble organization, the W. C. T. U., at Claysville

WILLIAM E. DAVIS, of the firm of Davis & Haw- kins, extensive operators in the oil and gas fields of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, who also deal largely in buying and selling coal lands, is one of the leading citizens and substantial business men of Wash-

ington, Pa. He was born in 1866 in Washington County, and is a son of John K. Davis and comes of one of the oldest established families in Washington County, which was founded by William Davis, a native of Scotland, who was the great-great-grandfather of our subject. Joshua Davis, great-grandfather of our subject, was born in West Bethlehem Township Oct. 6, 1787, and obtained his education in the subscription schools of the neigh- borhood. He followed farming for many years in West Bethlehem Township and died in Buffalo Township Oct. 10, 1864. William Davis, grandfather of our subject, was born in South Strabane Township Oct. 6, 1810, and there attended the subscription schools of the neighbor- hood. Early in life he began working on his father's farm in North Strabane Township, where he continued until 1847, when he purchased a farm in South Strabane Township, where he gave his attention to farming and sheep raising, his flock often numbering 1,000 head, and acquired a large tract of land, having at one time 500 acres. He took an active interest in all local politics and held various township offices, having been for nine years a member of the County Poor Board, and was for several years a director of the First National Bank of Washington . He was for many years a member and an elder of the Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church and later an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Wash- ington. John K. Davis, father of subject, was born in Washington County, in 1840, and spent his entire life engaged in farming and stock raising, passing away in 1897.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 145

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