History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 148

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 148

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MOSES RIDDELL ALLEN, one of Washington's es- teemed citizens, now living retired in his pleasant home at No. 129 North avenue, has spent a half century in Washington County. He was born near New Athens, Harrison Co., Ohio, July 19, 1842, and removed with his father to Burgettstown, Washinton County, in 1849. He is a son of John McMillan Allen and a grandson of Rev. Moses Allen.

The Allens were established in Washington County when the grandfather, Rev. Moses Allen, was born. He became a man of power in the Presbyterian ministry, and for twenty-two years served as pastor of the Rac-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

coon Presbyterian Church of Washington County. He married Catherine MeMillan, the youngest daughter of Rev. John McMillan, D. D., who was the first settled Presbyterian minister west of the Alleghany Mountains, coming to Washington County on August 25, 1775. His grandson, Moses Riddell Allen, preserves many of his old manuscripts, also his old watch, and an oil portrait. John McMillan Allen, son of Rev. Moses and Catherine Allen, married Margaret Ann Riddell, a daughter of Rev. John Riddell, who was pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Robinson Run, Allegheny County, for many years. To this marriage one child was born, Moses Riddell.

Moses Riddell Allen was educated in the public schools of Harrison County, Ohio, Franklin College and Cross Creek Academy, after which he engaged in teaching and farming. In 1881 he founded the "Burgettstown Call." at Burgettstown, Washington County, where he was sub- sequently elected burgess. He was elected clerk of the courts of Washington County in 1887 and re-elected in 1890, served also as census enumerator in 1880, and as a member of the school board, and also was a justice of the peace for a number of years. Mr. Allen still holds official position, being transcribing clerk of the Pennsyl- vania State Legislature of 1909.

In 1864, Mr. Allen was married to Miss Ellen M. Dougherty, of Burgettstown, a daughter of John and Abigail (Cannon) Dougherty, the latter of whom was a great-granddaughter of John Cannon, the founder of Canonsburg, Washington County. Mr. and Mrs. Allen, have had six children. The only survivor is Harper Rid- dell Allen, who is a ledger clerk in the Southwest Pipe Line Company of Pittsburg. Mr. Allen and wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church, in which he is a deacon. He has been an active member of the Im- proved Order of Heptasophs.

CHARLES VAN KIRK, one of Amwell Township's most substantial citizens, a large farmer and successful stock raiser, resides on his valuable farm of 250 acres, where he was born October 22, 1833. His honored parents were Capt. Joseph and Eliza (Corwin) Van Kirk.

Capt. Joseph Van Kirk, familiarly known as "Captain Joe," acquired his title on account of commanding a militia company in early manhood. He was a life-long resident of Amwell Township and was a prominent man in Washington County for many years, serving as a county commissioner and also as a director of the poor. His father, Jacob Van Kirk, was born in New Jersey, of Holland ancestry, and came from there among the early settlers to Washington County. Capt. Van Kirk was a strong supporter of the old Democracy and reared his sons in the same political faith. He survived until August 25, 1878. He married Eliza Corwin and three of their children survive: Charles; Ann, wife of John

Van Kirk, of Silver City, Iowa; and Sarah, widow of Joseph Van Kirk, of South Franklin Township.

Charles Van Kirk attended the district schools near his father's farm when opportunity offered, in his boy- hood, but in his youth work was considered beneficial for - growing lads and he early began to learn the details of agricultural labor. He has survived healthfully many of those who early left the free out-door life of the farm for the close offices of the city and his material success has been more than satisfactory. He owns farms and stock and has other valuable investments.

On October 23, 1873, Mr. Van Kirk was married to Miss Mary J. Mckinney, who was born in Amwell Town- ship, and is a daughter of Winder and Mary M. (Couch) McKinney, the parents both being natives of Washing- ton County. The grandfather, John McKinney was an early settler, coming from New Jersey and being of Scotch-Irish extraction. Mrs. Van Kirk has two sur- viving brothers and one sister: Benjamin F .; Catherine, who is the widow of Samuel Quail; and Abraham, all of whom live at Washington, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Van Kirk have one son, Allison, O., who resides at home. Mrs. Van Kirk is a valued member of the Liberty Methodist Episcopal Church at Van Kirk Station and is an active member of the Home Missionary Society.

R. W. PARKINSON, JR., one of the leading younger members of the Washington County bar and a resident of Washington for the past fourteen years, was born in 1872, in Morris Township, Washington Co., Pa., and is a son of Capt. R. W. Parkinson.

Capt. Parkinson was born in Morris Township, on the same farm on which he now resides, in 1835, and is a son of Robert Parkinson, who was one of the early set- tlers. Capt. Parkinson is a large farmer and sheep raiser and a heavy dealer in wool. He served one term in thé State Legislature and has acceptably filled a number of township offices. He was captain of Co. K, 16th Pa. Cav., during the Civil War, is widely known, and is one of the county's representative citizens.

Robert Parkinson, Jr., was reared in Morris Township and attended the Sparta school until 1889, when he en- tered Waynesburg College, from which he was graduated in 1894. He then registered as a law student in the office of John W. Dorman at Washington, where he pursued his law studies for one year and then entered the law department of the University of Pennsylvania, at Phila- delphia, as a special student. He gave attention to com- mon law, pleading, evidence, torts and corporation law for one year and then returned to Mr. Dorman for an- other year, was admitted to the bar of Washington County, and on September 1, 1895, commenced to prac- tice. He now has a substantial clientage and has been successful in cases before both the Superior and Supreme

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Courts. He has valuable business interests aside from his profession, one of these being the coal industry.

On May 30, 1900, Mr. Parkinson was married to Miss Birdie Flack, of Washington, who was born and reared in Buffalo Township and is a daughter of Salem Flack. Mr. and Mrs. Parkinson have two children: Naomi Jean and Odell Flack. They are members of the First Pres- byterian Church, in which Mrs. Parkinson was soprano soloist for a number of years. Mr. Parkinson is very much interested in Sunday-school work, is a teacher in the Bellevue Sunday school and formerly was superin- tendent of the Elm Street and also the Bellevue schools. Both professionally and personally, Mr. Parknison is held in esteem.

SAMUEL L. HAZLETT, who, for over twenty con- secutive years was a member of the Independent School district in South Franklin Township, and during this time frequently president of this public body, belongs to an old Washington County family. He was born in South Franklin Township, Washington Co., Pa., April 21, 1863, and is a son of William and Margaret (Dicker- son) Hazlett.

The grandfather, Samuel Hazlett, was a very early settler in South Franklin Township and here William Hazlett was born and here he died, in 1900. He was a successful farmer and stock raiser and was a man of worth in every position in life. In his political senti- ments he was a Republican but he never sought political prominence, accepting only local offices which had refer- ence to the management of the school district in which he lived. He was a worthy member of the Presbyterian Chuch at Prosperity. Of the children born to his first marriage, the following survive: Jennie R., who is the wife of L. C. Hamilton, of Barberton, Ohio; Addison, who lives in Amwell Township; Caroline M., who is the wife of W. S. McClenathan, of Amwell Township; Will- iam, who resides in South Franklin-Township; and Sam- uel L., of Amwell Township.

Samuel L. Hazlett obtained his education in the public schools and during almost all his life has been engaged in farming and stock raising, making a specialty of sheep, at one time having as many as 400 in one flock. He remained on the old homestead farm for many years and for some years past it has been his own property. It is a valuable tract of 145 acres and it lies in a very desirable part of South Franklin Township. Mr. Hazlett continued to reside on his property until 1908, when he removed to Judge Chambers' Station, in Amwell Town- ship, on the W. & W. Railroad. This station which gives its name to the hamlet, was built on a part of the late Judge Chambers' land and it was named in his honor, he having been a very prominent citizen and an associate judge.

On October 21, 1896, Mr. Hazlett was married to Miss Margaret Chambers, a daughter of the late John Cham- bers, of Amwell Township and a granddaughter of the late Judge John C. Chambers, and to them have been born one daughter, Bessie M. Mr. Hazlett and family belong to the Presbyterian Church. He is a Republican.

J. F. BRISTOR, who is engaged in a real estate busi- ness at Washington, Pa., has been a resident of this city for the past twenty-one years and has been identified with many of the agencies that have contributed to her development. He was born in Richhill Township, Greene County, Pa., in 1856.

Mr. Bristor enjoyed excellent educational advantages in his youth and attended the high school at Cameron, W. Va., and later the Wind Ridge Academy. He then became interested in farming and continued his agri- cultural pursuits in Greene County until 1886, when he became a resident of Washington. For some seven years he engaged in teaching prior to embarking in his present real estate business, with which he combines fire insur- ance, and has established a reputation for reliability that places him with the leading business men of the city. In politics a Republican, he has frequently been elected to city offices on that ticket and served most efficiently as county auditor for three years and as a member of the school board for two years, being secre- tary of the latter body.

On February 18, 1877, Mr. Bristor was married to Miss Virginia Houston, and they have five children, namely: Emmett A., who is circulating manager of the "Observer" and "Reporter," morning and evening daily papers at Washington; Olive M., who is the wife of Otto F. Dague, who has a home on Allison avenue, Washington, and is connected with the auditor's office of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Pittsburg; Nannie E., for- merly a teacher in the new Seventh Ward school, is now the wife of Byron Post, who maintains a home on Allison avenue, Washington, and is assistant purchasing agent for the Pittsburg Gage and Supply Co .; Nellie Virginia, who is a member of the junior class in the Washington high school; and Ethel Grace, who has completed the eighth grade work in the Third Ward school. Mr. Bristor and all his family are members of the First Christian Church, in which he is a deacon and is also vice-president of the official board.

JOHN PAXTON, deceased, was well known to the citizens of Washington County, Pa., where he lived all his life. He was for many years engaged in butchering and stock dealing, and was a very prosperous business man. His family is an old one of the county, dating back to the year 1782, when his father, John Paxton, Sr., arrived from York County, Pa.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

John Paxton, Sr., was a native of York County, as was also his wife, who in early life made the journey across the mountains to Washington County, on horseback. They were married here, and some time after located on a farm in what is now Canton Township, a part of which is now owned by the Paxton brothers, and here they lived until their respective deaths. They were the parents of the following children: Thomas, who married Jane Mills, had eight children-John G., Samuel, Martha, Mary, Nancy, Isaac, Thomas and Minnie; Eliza, who became the wife of John Nesbit and lived on a farm in Chartiers, where both died without issue; Isaac Samuel, who mar- ried a Miss Harsha, had two sons and one daughter; and John.

John Paxton, Jr., was born in Canton Township, Wash- ington Co., Pa., September 10, 1810, and was young when his parents moved to Chartiers Township. There he spent his youthful days in work upon his father's farm, and at the age of sixteen years went to Washington Borough, where he learned the trade of a saddler and harness maker, which he followed exclusively until 1856. He then embarked in the butchering and stock dealing busi- ness, which he followed with uninterrupted success for many years. He was a man of unusual energy and busi- ness sagacity, and everything to which he turned his hand brought forth results. It is said that when a small boy, he and a sister raised a crop of oats, threshed them with a flail, and carried them on horseback to Washing- ton, where they were sold. It was ever thus with him, an eye to his opportunities and the energy and ability to avail himself of them. He was reared to hard work, and even in the days of his advanced age he was not content to be idle and enjoy the fruits of his years of toil.

John Paxton was joined in marriage with Mrs. Eliza- beth (Wilson) Power, a daughter of Henry and Jane (Dill) Wilson, who lived on a farm in South Strabane Township. The father of Mrs. Paxton was born in Ireland. Her mother, Jane (Dill) Wilson, was a daughter of Thomas Dill, the latter of whom was a minister. Mrs. Wilson had one sister, Mrs. Doke. The Wilsons were of the Presbyterian faith. Mrs. Paxton was born December 10, 1809, and was one of six children born to her parents, as follows: Dill, who was a farmer; Mathew, a saddler and harness maker; Thomas, who graduated from Jefferson College and then studied the- ology, became a Presbyterian minister, married Mar- garet Sanders, of Baltimore, and they had two sons, Morris and Calvin D., both of whom are Presbyterian ministers; Samuel J., who was a graduate of Washing- ton College and Allegheny Theological Seminary, was at the time of his death professor of theology in the latter institution, and had three children-Robert D., who was a lawyer; Catherine and Jane; Jane who became the

wife of Louis Guthrie; and Elizabeth, who first married Mr. Power and subsequently became the wife of John Paxton. As a result of her first marriage, Mrs. Paxton had two daughters: Margaret and Anna. Margaret Power became the wife of Thomas Bell, who went to California in 1852, during the gold fever, and died there in 1855. She died June 6, 1889, leaving a daughter, Anna Bell. Anna Power became the wife of David Hart, and for some years they made their home with William H. and Oliver L. Paxton, in Canonsburg.

John and Elizabeth (Wilson) Paxton became parents of nine children, as follows: Wilson N .; Thomas Pax- ton, who was a member of Co. D, 10th Pa. Vol. Inf., enlisting in April, 1861, was killed while doing picket duty at Spottsylvania, May 9, 1864; Mary Jane Paxton, who died January 24, 1890, unmarried; John R .; Will- iam Hosack Paxton, who is a prominent business man of Canonsburg; Oliver L., who was born March 23, 1848, and became a man of affairs at Canonsburg; Mary E., who married Rev. W. F. Conner, a Methodist minister of Johnstown, Pa., and has two daughters, Mabel and Bessie; and Mathew H. Paxton.

Wilson N. Paxton, oldest son of John and Elizabeth (Wilson) Paxton, was graduated from Jefferson College in 1856, and then went to the South and engaged in school teaching. He returned to Canonsburg and took up the study of law; after his admission to the bar in Allegheny County, he engaged in practice at Pittsburg until the Civil War was in progress. In 1862, he enlisted in Co. G, 140th Pa. Vol. Inf., and served three years as second lieutenant, and was mustered out of the service with the rank of captain. He was taken prisoner on the second day of the battle of Gettysburg, and for twenty months was incarcerated in Libby and other prisons. He was united in marriage with Miss Emily J. Newkirk.

John R. Paxton, fourth child of John and Elizabeth Paxton, was a member of the junior class in Jefferson College at the commencement of the Civil War, and in 1861 he enlisted in Co. G, 140th Pa. Vol. Inf., under Capt. Frazier, who had been a professor in Jefferson College. Mr. Paxton served until the close of the war, and then re-entered Jefferson College, from which he was graduated with honors. He subsequently attended and was graduated from Allegheny Theological Seminary and Princeton Theological Seminary, after which he was ordained to the ministry. His first charge was at Church- ville, Md., after which he was stationed successively at Harrisburg, Pa., Washington, D. C., and New York City. He was united in marriage with Mary L. Lindsay, of Allegheny, and they became the parents of four chil- dren.

William Hosack Paxton, the fifth child of John and Elizabeth Paxton, was born March 9, 1846, attended school with his brothers and sisters and went to work

GEORGE L. JOHNSON

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

when fifteen years of age at the butchering and live stock business. On April 1, 1861, he entered Jefferson College as a student, but when Fort Sumter was fired on and three of his brothers enlisted for the war, he gave up his idea of securing a collegiate training and went home to assist his father in supporting the family. He developed business faculties before unsuspected. In 1875, with a half dozen associates, he started a savings bank at Canonsburg, there being no organization of that kind prior to this, and he has been connected with the banking business ever since and at present is president and a member of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Canonsburg. In 1883 he became in- terested in the Canonsburg Steel and Iron business and is serving in the office of treasurer of the Canonsburg Steel & Iron Works Company. In 1885, he was one of the five original promoters of the Manufacturers' Na- tional Gas Company, a concern that at first had a capital of $300,000, which has been increased to $25,000,000. For the last twenty years, Mr. Paxton has been interested in oil production. He and his brother Oliver, with Capt. David Hart and wife, reside at No. 68 East Pike street, Canonsburg.

Mathew H. Paxton, youngest child of John and Eliza- beth Paxton, was born in 1854, and attended Jefferson Academy. He subsequently attended Lafayette College at Easton, Pa., and upon leaving that institution was appointed an assistant paymaster of the United States Government under Maj. Keefer, the duties of which position necessitated his travelling through the northwest and southwest parts of this country. He resigned this position because of his dislike for travel and located at Walla Walla, Wash., where he owns land and is extensive- ly engaged in the real estate business. He there served three terms as county assessor and appraiser. Prior to locating in that city, where he was married, he was sta- tioned for a time at Newport, Ky.

John Paxton and his estimable wife were consistent members of the Presbyterian Church. She died Octo- ber 29, 1858, and was survived by him many years, he dy- ing December 24, 1890, at the advanced age of eighty-one. They were representative people of the time when the latch string was always out, and hospitality was extended alike to neighbor, friend and stranger.

GEORGE L. JOHNSON, dealer in real estate and mortgages at Canonsburg, Pa., is a representative of an old Washington County family, which, through intermar- riage, is also connected with other old and representative families. He was born in Cross Creek village, Cross Creek Township, this county, and is a son of John Gib- son and Anna K. (Morrison) Johnson.

The paternal grandfather, John Johnson, was born in 1802, in North Strabane Township, Washington County,

where his father, Richard Johnson, had been a very early settler. A large part of the life of John Johnson was spent at Canonsburg, where he died in 1884. He mar- ried Rebecca Van Eman, who survived him for about two years, dying in her seventy-sixth year. Her parents were Joseph and Mary (Logan) Van Eman. To John and Rebecca Johnson three sons were born, namely : Richard Van Eman, who now resides at Washington, Pa .; Joseph Bradford, who was a soldier in the Civil War and now resides at Canonsburg; and John Gibson, father of George L.

John Gibson Johnson was born in North Strabane Township, Washington County, and died at Canonsburg, in 1902, at the age of fifty-four years. He was a dealer in stocks, bonds and real estate and in association with John L. Cockins, laid out the Cockins and Johnson plan of lots in South Canonsburg and continued active in business until the close of his life. He married Anna K. Morrison, who was born in Chartiers Township, a daugh- ter of William Morrison. Her father was a pioneer resi- dent of Chartiers Township whose ancestors came with the influx of Presbyters from Scotland prior to 1689. The family name Morrison had belonged to a clan in Scot- land from an early period. James, father of William, inherited that portion of the homestead upon which his father lived and died. After the formation of Wash- ington County he was commissioned as a captain of a company organized to defend the settlers against savage foes. He was also a member of the first board of trustees of the Cnartiers Presbyterian Church. The portion that William inherited is still in the possession of his grand- children, James G. Morrison and Anna K. (Morrison) Johnson and his great grandson, George L. Johnson.

Mrs. Anna (Morrison) Johnson had four sisters: Sarah, Mary, Margaret and Elizabeth, all now deceased. Mrs. Johnson was the youngest of the family and she and her brother, James G. Morrison, who resides at Washington, are the only survivors. To John Gibson Johnson and wife four children were born, of whom three now are living: George L., William M. and Ernest Q., all resi- dents of Canonsburg.

George L. Johnson first attended school in Canonsburg, later entered Jefferson Academy there, and subsequently was a student in Washington and Jefferson College at Washington, completing his school attendance in 1899. For the seven following years he was engaged in the furniture business with the firm of Thomas & Co., at Pittsburg, since when he has been interested in the real estate business at Canonsburg, where the family has re- sided since 1893. He handles lots and makes investments, doing a regular real estate and mortgage business. Mr. Johnson is a capable and successful business man. He is a member of the Young Men's Tariff Club, of Pitts- burg. He takes no very active interest in politics, but

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

votes with the Republican party. In religion he is a United Presbyterian.

DAVID C. VESTER, one of Washington's leading citizens, vice-president of the general contracting and lumber firm of Vester, Stewart & Rossell, was born in 1855, in Amwell Township, Washington Co., Pa., His 'venerable father, John F. Vester, celebrated his ninety- fifth birthday on November 14, 1909. He was born in Germany and came to Washington County in 1844, fol- lowing the cabinet-making trade at first. Later he went into a general contracting business which he continued through his active years.

David C. Vester was about one year old when his parents came to Washington and after completing his school attendance he learned the carpenter trade with his father, with whom, and a brother, he was associated for a number of years. About 1889 he entered into a partnership with Stewart & Rossell, the firm becoming Vester, Stewart & Rossell, in a general contracting busi- ness. Later a planing mill was bought and lumber yards purchased and still later the interests of the concern were increased by the addition of coal, lime, cement and builders' supplies. Of this firm, H. B. Rossell is presi- dent; David C. Vester, vice-president, and A. J. Stewart is secretary and treasurer. Mr. Vester has many addi- tional business interests.

In 1877, Mr. Vester was married to Miss Sarah E. Fleming, of Fairmont, W. Va., and to them have been born the following children: Nellie, who is the wife of George Mosely, a druggist at Pittsburg; Mary, who is the wife of Simon Hamilton, a railroad man; Gertrude, who is bookkeeper for the firm of Vester, Stewart & Rossell; Anna B., who is also connected with this com- pany; David M., who is a machinist with the Atlas Glass Company; Frederick, who is in the employ of the firm of Vester, Stewart & Rossell as a carpenter; and Hazel, Bryan, Stewart and John W., Jr. Mr. Vester's family attend the Presbyterian Church. He has always been actively interested in public affairs, particularly those pertaining to city and county. He has served three terms in the city council from the Fourth Ward and he was chairman of the Democratic City Committee in 1908 when that party elected both its mayor and treasurer. Mr. Vester has been an Odd Fellow for thirty- one years and has the first veteran jewel presented to any member of the order in Washington. He is identified with National Lodge, No. 81, and is also a member of the Encampment, of which he is at present scribe. He has served as district deputy grand master of the lower branch and also as deputy of the Encampment. He is a charter member and treasurer of Hancock Lodge, No. 231, Knights of Pythias and for three years was colonel of the Sixth Regiment Uniform Rank. He is also a

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 148

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