History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 146

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 146

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William E. Davis was reared in Washington County and obtained a common school education which was supplemented by a three-years' course at the Washing- ton-Jetterson College, a member of the Class of 1887, since which time he has been operating in the oil and gas fields of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, the company at present operating in Belmont and Colum- biana Counties, Ohio, also dealing largely in buying and selling coal lands.

In October, 1906, Mr. Davis married Cora Busbey, of Wheeling, W. Va., and they have one child, Virginia Bell. Mr. Davis is a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

HERMAN H. BEBOUT, a leading citizen of Canons- burg, chairman of the city Board of Health, for 35 years was a large farmer and stock raiser in North Strabane Township and still owns some 200 acres of valuable land there, which is richly underveined with coal. He was born in North Strabane Township, Washington County, Pa., Aug. 31, 1847, and is a son of Peter and Isabella (Cooper) Bebout.

Peter Bebout, father of Herman H., was born on Staten Island, N. Y., Feb. 28, 1782, and died in North

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Strabane Township Apr. 12, 1860. He was 21 years old when he accompanied his father, John Bebout, to Wash- ington County, the long journey being made with a four- horse and a two-horse wagon, as many of the household possessions as possible being brought to the pioneer home. The children of Grandfather John Bebout bore the fol- lowing names: William, Sarah, Isabel, Susanna, John, Mary, Israel, Elizabeth and Ira.

Peter Bebout was married (first) to a Miss Mckinney and to this marriage the following children were born: John, born in 1806; William, born Dec. 17, 1807; Peter, born Dec. 5, 1809; James, born Mar. 3, 1813; Israel, born July 22, 1815; Sallie, born Sept. 6, 1819, married John Martin and they live in Ohio; Eli, born July 3, 1821; and Elizabeth, born Aug. 27, 1823, married Samuel Thomas, who still lives, aged about 90 years. The first wife died in 1822. On Nov. 9, 1823, Peter Bebout was married (second) to Isabella Cooper, who was born on Yellow Creek, in Jefferson County, Ohio, Aug. 12, 1805, and died Mar. 6, 1889. To this marriage the following children were born: Mary Jane, born Aug. 27, 1825, married William Hays, of Chartiers Township, and both are now deceased; Susan, born Nov. 26, 1826, married William Bebout and died in July, 1909, in her 84th year; Ira, born Sept. 5, 1828, died in Monongahela City Nov. 24, 1904, married (first) Mrs. Jane Hamilton, and (second) Miss Annie Rainey, the latter of whom sur- vives; Margaret, born Aug. 31, 1830, married Cephas Cochran and died in North Strabane Township Feb. 10, 1858; David, born Sept. 3, 1832, married Dorothy Mc- Maury, whom he survives and resides at Canonsburg; Isabella, born Apr. 6, 1834, married John Crouch and died in 1894; Joshua, born July 5, 1836, married and died at St. Louis, Mo .; Stephen, born Oct. 21, 1838, married (first) Miss Cassandra Pool and (second) Mrs. Nancy McCathon; Martha Jane, born Jan. 18, 1841, died Feb. 25, 1842; Caroline F., born Jan. 29, 1844, married Joseph Manes, of North Strabane Township, and died Mar. 9, 1896; and Herman Haines, of Canonsburg. Mr. Bebout has preserved the old family records and can trace back to the birth of his grandfather, on Jan. 20, 1752, and to that of his great-grandfather, also John Bebout, who was born in Holland Aug. 25, 1729, and was brought to America in his infancy.

Herman Haines Bebout was brought up on a farm and went to school in North Strabane Township, attending what was known as the Scott school. He assisted on the farm and until he came to Canonsburg in 1890, was con- tinuously engaged in farming and stock raising, with the exception of one year of the Civil War, when he worked on the gunboat "Unqua," and was one of the leading agriculturists of his section. He is largely a self- made man, starting out on his own resources. Through business foresight and good judgment he has acquired

an ample fortune, making a large amount of this in deal- ing in live stock . He owns what is known as the Bell farm and also owns the Lyons farm, while Mrs. Bebout owns an interest in the old Dr. John McMillan farm. Mr. Bebout also owns the coal under his land and on the upper farm, the Lyons place, the coal has never been worked, it being one of the five farms remaining in North Strabane Township that has its coal unsold.

On Nov. 4, 1869, Mr. Bebout was married to Miss Mary J. McMillan, a daughter of John McMillan and a great-granddaughter of Rev. John McMillan, the noted Presbyterian divine of Washington County. The father of Mrs. Bebout died in North Strabane Township. A brother, John Anderson McMillan, was killed in the army during the Civil War. Another brother, Thomas McMillan, is a resident of Bower Hill, Washington Coun- ty, and a sister, Rebecca, is the wife of James Speer, a prominent resident of South Canonsburg.

In 1890, Mr. and Mrs. Bebout came to Canonsburg to make their home in this city, erecting a house on West Pike street. Mr. Bebout subsequently sold that house and in 1894 erected his present solid brick ten-room handsome modern residence at No. 232 West Pike street, which is a beautiful home. For many years they were connected with the old Hill Presbyterian Church known as the Dr. John McMillan Church, but they have trans- ferred their membership to the First Presbyterian Church at Canonsburg. In politics, Mr. Bebout is a Prohibition- ist. He has given evidence many times of useful civic qualities and is serving in his second term as a member of the Board of Health and also has been a valued mem- ber of the city Council.

A. J. ZAHNISER, of the firm of Zahniser Bros. & Sten, manufacturers of oil well tools and general re- pairers, with foundry located at No. 70 Washington street, Washington, Pa., was born in Mercer County, Pa., Dec. 8, 1849, and is a son of Michael Zahniser, a repre- sentative of a family that was established in America as early as 1753.

A. J. Zahniser remained in his native place until he was 19 years old, completing his school attendance, and then went to Greenville, where he learned the machinist trade and remained at work there for seven years and three months. From there he went to Clarion County and entered the shops of the Pittsburg & Western Railroad, and being a reliable workman was retained as long as he would stay, a period of some seven years. By that time he wished to go into business for himself as a ma- chinist, and in February, 1866, he came to Washington, and here, in partnership with a Mr. Fink, established the firm of Fink & Zahniser, practical machinists. About 18 months later, Mr. Fink was accidentally killed. Mr. Zahniser, however, continued with the Fink Bros. in the

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

business for six years and then sold out. In 1893 the firm of Zahniser Bros. & Sten was established and years of prosperity have followed. In addition to conducting a repair shop, this firm manufactures oil well tools and also maintains an automobile garage, and, as agents, sell some of the leading makes of machines.

On May 18, 1872, Mr. Zahniser was married to Miss Sarah Mccullough, who was born in Mercer County, and they have five children, namely: Margaret, who is the wife of Prof. W. D. Brightwell, of Pittsburg; C. M., who is employed by his father; Mary, who is the wife of John C. Steel, of Washington; and Ida and Florence. The family attend the Third Presbyterian Church at Washington. Mr. Zahniser is identified with the A. O. U. W.

WILLIAM W. PAUL, who, for a quarter of a century has been engaged in the general mercantile business at Lone Pine, Pa., and is a representative citizen of Washington County, was born near Amity, in Amwell Township, Washington County, Pa., Dec. 27, 1843, and is a son of Philo and Sarah (Hughes) Paul.

Philo Paul was born also in Amwell Township, where his father, William Paul, had been a pioneer settler. Philo Paul followed farming in West Bethlehem Town- ship for some years prior to enlisting in the army, early in the Civil War, and was killed at the battle of Spottsyl- vania Court House. He married Sarah Hughes and she was left a widow with a family of children, namely: William W .; James M., who is now deceased; John A., who resides at Labratory near Washington; Daniel W., who also lives at Labratory; Alexander H. and David C., both of whom reside at Lone Pine; Benjamin F. and Abraham L., both of whom live at Washington; and Laura J., who is the wife of E. D. Day, resides at Amity.

W. W. Paul was about two years of age when his parents moved from Amwell to West Bethlehem Town- ship and there he grew to man's estate and secured the main part of his education at Pleasant Valley Academy, now Lone Pine. After he reached manhood he left the farm and learned the lumber manufacturing business, working in local sawmills and for 20 years carried on a sawmill enterprise at Lone Pine before he embarked in a mercantile business for himself. He was a clerk in the store of James Huston, the well-known early merchant at Lone Pine, and in 1882 opened up his own store. In politics he is a Republican and under that administration he was appointed postmaster at Lone Pine and served for four years. He has served in village offices and has done his full share in promoting the present prosperity of the town. He is one of the leading members and a deacon in the Lone Pine Christian Church.

Mr. Paul married Miss Phebe J. Egy, of Lone Pine,

and they have three children: Sadie L .; Nora J., wife of Frank Curry, of Donora, Pa., and they have two chil- dren, Hazel J. and Paul W .; and Dale W. During the existence of the lodge of Odd Fellows at this point, Mr. Paul was an active. member.

JAMES ELDER BARNETT was born at Elder's Ridge, Indiana County, Pa., which perpetuated his mother's family name. His father was Rev. John Mor- rison Barnett, D. D., whose ancestors came to this coun- try about 1700, the head of the family being John Bar- nett. One of his ancestors was mayor of Dublin, one served in the defense of Londonderry, and another was an officer in the Colonial Army and accompanied Wash- ington in the Trenton expedition.

His mother was Martha Robinson Elder, whose family belonged to the Stewart and Cameron clans in Scotland, coming to Dauphin County, Pa., about 1700, some of them later removing to Indiana County.

The Elder family settled at Paxtang in Dauphin Coun- ty where Rev. John Elder built the Paxtang Presby- terian Church, which is still standing.

Rev. John Elder held a commission as colonel dated July 11, 1763, from the governor of the Province, hav- ing command over all blockhouses and stockades from Easton to the Susquehanna. Prior to this he commanded the "Paxtang Boys."

Thomas Elder was attorney general of Pennsylvania and held a commission as lieutenant colonel in the militia.

The subject of this sketch was educated at Elder's Ridge Academy, Washington-Jefferson College and Co- lumbia Law School, graduating from college in 1882 and being admitted to the bar of Washington County in 1890 and of Allegheny County in 1899.

He took considerable interest in politics and in the fall of 1893 was selected on behalf of Washington Coun- ty to meet representatives from Beaver County to adjust the respective claims of these counties to priority in the ensuing Republican nomination of a candidate for state senate from the senatorial district composed of those counties. He served as deputy prothonotary of Wash- ington County under John W. Seaman and for several years as clerk to the county commissioners. July 1, 1895, he was appointed deputy secretary of the Commonwealth by Gen. Frank Reeder, which office he resigned Oct. 19, 1897. In 1899 he was named for state treasurer of Pennsylvania, elected by 110,000 majority and served the full term of two years.

He then resumed the practice of his profession and is a member of the law firm of Scandrett & Barnett, of Pittsburg, Pa.

In 1884 he enlisted in Co. H, 10th Reg., N. G. P., as a private and passed through the various grades of

JAMES E. BARNETT

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

service, being elected as first lieutenant in 1887, captain in 1890, major in 1893 and lieutenant colonel in 1897. In 1898 he volunteered with his regiment for the Spanish- American War. Realizing that the Philippines were to be the real center of interest and action, he secured per- mission from Col. Hawkins to try to get an assignment to that point and through the assistance of Senators Quay and Penrose, Deputy Attorney John P. Elkin, State Treasurer P. J. Haywood, Harry C. Fry of Beaver County and Second Assistant Postmaster General of United States W. S. Shallenberger, the Tenth Regiment was ordered to San Francisco to embark for the Philip- pines, leaving there June 15, 1898.

Lieut. Col. Barnett was ordered back to Pennsylvania by Col. Hawkins to recruit more men for the regiment. He established "Camp Hawkins" camp at Washington, Pa., and on July 10 reported in San Francisco to Brig. Gen. Charles King with 256 men and immediately had assigned to him the recruits for the First California, Second Oregon, First Colorado and First Nebraska, in all about 1,000 men. Under command of Gen. King he sailed about Aug. 1, 1898, for Honolulu with the Penn- sylvania, First Nebraska and First Colorado recruits. Here the expedition was side-tracked, but by order of President Mckinley to the Secretary of War, he was directed to proceed to his regiment at Manila, being in command of the transport Arizona, now Hancock, from Honolulu to Manila, reaching there Sept. 28, 1898.

He served with his regiment in the Philippine Insur- rection, taking part in the engagements of Attack on Manila, Chinese Hospital LaLoma, Caloocan, San Fran- cisco Del Monte, Tuliahan River, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Guiguinto and Malolos.

About April 14, the regiment was ordered to Cavite from Malolos, Col. Hawkins being made commander of that independent military district and placing Lieut. Col. Barnett in command of the regiment. Colonel Hawkins became sick and requested that Col. Barnett be made commander of the district which was granted by Gen. Otis with the proviso that he should also retain command of the regiment, thus entailing double duty. Under his command were the Peninsula and town of Cavite, the Island of Correggidor, two batteries of the First California Heavy Artillery, one battery of the Wyoming Light Artillery, four guns, one troop of Nevada Cavalry and the Tenth Pennsylvania . The command of this district was retained until embarkation for the United States July 1, 1899, and of the regiment until mustered out Aug. 22, 1899. He was in command of the transport Senator on the return voyage and as Col. Haw- kins was getting weaker he directed the regimental sur- geons to obtain instruments and embalming fluid at Yoko- hama. Col. Hawkins died two days out from this port

and by this precaution, his body was preserved for burial at home.

In 1900 he was unanimously elected colonel of the reorganized Tenth Regiment and unanimously re-elected 1905, resigning in 1907. Under his command the regi- ment maintained its efficiency and took part in the Anthracite Strike in 1902, being stationed at Shamokin. Out of deference to the memory of Col. Hawkins, Lieut. Col. Barnett refused promotion to the rank of colonel of the Tenth Regiment in the United States service. After the earthquake and fire at San Francisco, he inaugurated the movement by which the members of the Tenth Regi- ment through the generosity of their friends in their respective company towns, were enabled to send approxi- .mately $10,000 to their stricken benefactors, the people of San Francisco.

H. B. ROSSELL, president of the Vester, Stewart & Rossell Company, dealers in lumber and manufacturers of all kinds of building material and general contractors, with planing mill at No. 61 South street, Washington, Pa., has been a citizen here for almost a quarter of a century and has large interests. He was born in Morris Township, Washington County, Pa., in 1856, and is a son of Martin Rossell, who died during the boyhood of his son.

H. B. Rossell was mainly reared in Amwell Township, where he went to school through boyhood. He early, however, began to take care of himself and worked on farms in different sections and also as a day laborer until he was about 20 years of age. He then went into the sawmill business and continued for about four or five years, when he learned the carpenter trade and worked four years with the Holder Brothers at Beallsville. By this time he was an excellent workman and after a short period spent at Waynesburg, he came to Washington, where he secured work at his trade with Julius Rush and later with J. W. Vester. After an association of three years with the latter the firm of Vester, Stewart & Rossell was established, and a general partnership was main- tained until 1905, when the business had so enlarged in volume that it was found desirable to have it incor- porated. Since then the business name has been as at present, The Vester, Stewart & Rossell Company, Mr. Rossell being president of the concern.

In December, 1881, Mr. Rossell was married to Miss Hannah Holder, who was born in West Bethlehem Town- ship, Washington County, and is a daughter of William Holder, one of the early contractors and bridge builders of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Rossell have four chil- dren: William Martin and Charles Henry, both residing in Alberta, Canada; and Mary Jeanetta and Lillian Ro- main, both residing at home. Mr. Rossell and family

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

are members of the First Baptist Church, of which he is a trustee. He belongs to National Lodge No. 81, Odd Fellows, to the Encampment and to the Rebeccas. With his partners he has membership in the Retail Lumber- men's Association. Mr. Rossell is a notable example of self-made man and is one of Washington's self reliant and successful business citizens.

ELMER R. DEEMS, who has been a resident of Wash- ington, Pa., since 1887, owns 260 acres of fine, well im- proved land in the Western Reserve, Ohio, and also 320 acres of equally fine land in the southeastern part of Washington County, Pa., and the borough of Deemston was named in his honor. He was born in West Pike Run Township, Washington County, Pa., in 1848, and is a representative of one of the county's oldest families.

Mark Deems, great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a Revolutionary soldier and participated in the battles of Cowpens and Brandywine. Shortly after the close of the war, he came to Washington County, Pa., and took up about 600 acres of land on the head waters of Pike Run, which he called the Deems' Dependence. His son, George Deems, was born in Washington County, as was the latter's son, George, Jr. George Deems, Jr., father of the subject of this record, was born in West Pike Run Township, in 1819, and lived to reach an ad- vanced age, dying about the year 1897. He engaged in farming and sheep raising on an extensive scale and was well known over the county.

Elmer R. Deems was reared in his native township, and received a superior educational training in the South- western Normal School and at Mt. Union College in Ohio. He engaged in teaching some nine years, and followed farming until his removal to the borough of Washington, and with the exception of three years spent in the Shen- andoah Valley has always resided in the county. He enlisted for service in the Union Army when sixteen years old, but saw no service. In 1887, he was elected prothonotary of Washington County, and assumed the duties of office on January 1, 1888. He was re-elected to that office in 1890, and in all served six years in a most creditable manner. Upon leaving that office he was for a time engaged in the mercantile business, but finally established a real estate and insurance business which is unexcelled in volume in the county.

In 1872, Mr. Deems was married to Miss Emma Craw- ford, of East Bethlehem Township, Washington County, and they have two children, Sarah C. and Ernest A. Deems. The latter, who was educated in the public schools, is in the government service, and is quarter- master at Pedro Miguel, in the Canal Zone; he has been in that position for two years and has about 200 men under his supervision. Mr. Elmer R. Deems spent some time visiting his son in the Canal Zone, and experienced

a most instructive and enjoyable trip. He and family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Knight Templar Mason, and a member of the Junior Order United American Mechanics. He was one of the organizers of the old order of Knights of Balaam, the object of which was music, mirth and amusement, they having at one time a membership of over 600, and from reports given by early members of the order the object was realized in plenty. It was one of the early orders of Washington County and has passed out of being.

CAPT. ROBERT FINLEY BOYD, who was for many years a captain on the river, has been a resident of Do- nora, Pa., since October, 1901, and was born Dec. 26, 1849, near Baird, Carroll Township, Washington County, Pa., and is a son of William and Cassandra (Scott) Boyd and a grandson of William Boyd, Sr.

William Boyd, Sr., was one of the earliest settlers of Monongahela City, Pa., and came here from east of the mountains by the way of Brownsville, Pa., and on the canal. He was the father of eight children, namely : Park, William, Robert, John, James, Reese, Mrs. Mc- Cullough and Barbara. William Boyd, father of subject, was born at Monongahela City, in 1826, and spent his entire life in the vicinity of that city and at Lock Four, where his death occurred in March, 1861 . His boyhood was spent on his father's farm, and he subsequently ran on the packets between Pittsburg and Brownsville, which was the route covered by the Moorehead Packet Com- pany, by whom he was employed. He married Cassandra Scott, who lived to an advanced age, and was a sister of A. D. Scott. Nine children were born to William and Cassandra Boyd, namely: Robert Finley Boyd, our sub- ject ; John, who was killed Oct. 4, 1882, at Iron City, Pa .; Mary Ann, the deceased wife of Samuel Insley; Noah, a resident of West Columbia; William, of Fayette County, Pa., and four who died in childhood.

Capt. Robert F. Boyd was reared in Carroll Township, where he obtained but a limited amount of schooling, and at an early age entered the mines, where he worked from 1862 until 1872, then became a deckhand on the boat Grand Lake, which ran on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. He also spent some time on that boat as lamp trimmer and in 1874, when the boat was sold, became mate on Grand Lake Boat No. 2, serving in that ca- pacity until 18 months later, when the boat was sold. He then served as mate nine years on the Joe B. Williams, a 220-foot boat with a 52-foot beam, which was built- in 1875, at Freedom, Pa., and ran between Pittsburg and New Orleans, and is still in service and is one of the largest vessels on the river. He then served three months as mate on the Tom Reese and six months as mate on the John A. Wood, after which he was captain of the S. L. Wood for over eight years, and after she was sold

ELMER R. DEEMS

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

spent one year as captain on the Harry Brown, which blew up the following year. He then returned to the John A. Wood as mate for a few months and in 1898 retired from the river and returned to his home in West Co- lumbia, where, in 1885, he had purchased land on which he had erected three houses. When the town of Monessen was laid out, he purchased property there, opened a restaurant, which one year later he rented to W. W. Elliott and returned to West Columbia, now Donora, and when Donora was laid out, purchased three lots during the first day of the land sale. He erected his present six-room residence on the corner of Thompson and First streets, and in 1901, after disposing of his West Colum- bia property to the Union Improvement Company, pur- chased three 40-foot lots on MeKean and First streets, where he has since erected five dwellings.

On Nov. 4, 1883, Capt. Boyd was joined in the bonds of wedlock with Lucy E. Brown, who was born in Pitts- burg, Pa., and is a daughter of William and Eliza (Parkens) Brown, natives of England, and they have one son, Grover W. Boyd. Capt. Boyd is a Republican in politics.

CAPT. GEORGE C. BARR, foreman of the Hazel At- las Glass Company's Factory No. 2, of Washington, Pa., is one of the enterprising business men of the city. He was born in 1876, in Butler County, Pa., and is a son of George L. Barr. At the age of 9 years he came with. his parents to Washington, Washington County, Pa., where he was reared and received his educational train- ing, graduating from the Washington and Jefferson Col- lege in 1900. After completing his education he first engaged in merchant tailoring at Washington for a period of six and a half years, at the end of which time he became associated with the Hazel Atlas Glass Com- pany of Washington as foreman, in Hazel Factory No. 2, in which capacity he is still serving.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 146

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