History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 153

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1474

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James Taggart (3), son of James and Martha (Fergus) Taggart, and father of Charles L., was born on the homestead, Nov. 10, 1823. He subsequently came into possession of the family estate, on which he passed his life, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He received his education in the Notring Academy. Inheriting those forceful traits of character which had distinguished his pioneer ancestor, he became one of the township's lead- ing men, and at various times was called on to serve in township office, in which he always acquitted himself with credit. He voted with the Democratic party be- fore the Civil War, but in 1862 joined the ranks of the Republican party and served a term as county auditor. He was a member of the Upper Buffalo Presbyterian Church, was a trustee and led the choir for a number of years. His death took place in 1892, when he was about 64 years of age. He was married Oct. 20, 1857, to Margaret A., a daughter of James and Ann (Cockins) McBride, and to them were born the following children: James McBride, who married Jennie Maxwell; Annie F., who married F. W. Donaldson; Archibald A., who married Ella W. McCarrel; Urania B., who married Alexander Hamilton; and Charles L. The mother of the above family resides with her son, Charles L., on the homestead. On Oct. 2, 1909, she celebrated her 75th birthday, on which happy occasion there were present 22 of her grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and five of her children.

Charles L. Taggart grew to man's estate on the old home farm. He received his education in the district schools and at Buffalo Academy in Hopewell Township. Since leaving school he has given his close attention to the management of his large farm of 265 acres. He raises Aberdeen Angus cattle and the American Delaine sheep, keeping about 250 head of the latter, and is numbered among the most enterprising and successful agriculturists of this section. In 1907, at the Chicago International Live Stock Exposition, a show that was open to the entire world, he was awarded the grand champion prize for the best dressed steer carcass exhib- ited, although he had many skilled competitors. The steer was 16 months old and netted him $338. In 1909 he won a number of premiums at the same exposition and produced the highest priced yearling steer carcass, and the heaviest yearling steer carcass in the show.

Mr. Taggart married Miss Catherine E. Ryburn, who was born in Chartiers Township and is a daughter of

the late John Ryburn. They have five children: James L., Mabel M., Matthew L., Carl R., and Emma. Mr. Taggart and his family are members of the Upper Buf- falo Presbyterian Church.

CHARLES L. V. ACHESON, who, as district attor- ney of Washington County, Pa., has demonstrated the legal knowledge, the discrimination and sound judg- ment which a succesful. incumbent of this important office must have, was born in Washington County, Oct. 21, 1873, and is a son of James C. and Mary (Bureau) Acheson.

Perhaps no citizen in Washington County was better known or more respected than the late James C. Ache- son. He was born in the county, into a pioneer family, Feb. 13, 1824, resided in the same section all his life and died Apr. 20, 1895. He married Mary Bureau and they had five children born to them.

Charles L. V. Acheson completed the public school course and then entered Washington and Jefferson Col- lege, where he was graduated in the Class of 1894, after which he read law under the direction of Attorney Henry M. Donigan and was admitted to the bar in March, 1898. He immediately entered into practice in Washington County and soon won attention as an advocate, and confi- dence in his personal integrity. This led to his popu- larity and to his subsequent election in 1907 to the office of district attorney, with the duties of which he soon made himself familiar and has efficiently performed them ever since, without respect to creed, nationality or politics, having simply done his best according to the law. In his work he is supported by his able as- sistant, T. H. W. Fergus. Mr. Acheson is unmarried. He resides at No. 8 West Maiden street. He is a Re- publican.

WILLIAM ABBOTT, proprietor of Hotel Abbott and one of the leading citizens of West Monongahela, Pa., who has been a resident of Washington County since 1856, was born at Brooklyn, N. Y., Sept. 30, 1847, and is a son of John and Mary Abbott. John Abbott, who was a printer by trade, was a native of Brooklyn, N. Y., but subsequently removed with his family to Pittsburg, Pa., where he worked on the first newspaper printed in that city, and followed his trade until the time of his death in 1853. His wife was a native of Ireland, and they became the parents of three children: William; John, deceased, and Thomas, who lives in New Mexico. The mother of our subject subsequently married Adam Smith and in 1856 removed to Washington County, Pa. She . became the mother of four children by her second marriage, namely : Adam, James, Joseph and Mary Ann, who is the widow of Jacob Rolloson.

William Abbott was about 5 years old when his

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

mother and father brought the family to Pittsburg, which at that time had but one railroad, and in 1856 they came to Washington County and located at Mingo, which is now known as River View. There Mr. Abbott was reared and shortly after the family located entered the coal mines, and continued a miner for 30 years, dur- ing which time he spent two years in the gold mines of Montana. He subsequently embarked in contracting and road building, which he still follows, and in partnership with Thomas B. Myers has built many of the roads of Washington County, and in 1903 he erected at West Monongahela, the Hotel Abbott, which is a 31-room brick building, and is located on the electric railroad. Mr. Abbott is a member of the B. P. O. E. of Mononga- hela City. He has served 18 years as a school director of Carroll Township and was instrumental in having the old log school-houses replaced by modern buildings, and has served 12 years as supervisor and in various other township offices.

On Dec. 25, 1870, Mr. Abbott married Elizabeth Hodg- son, and they have the following children: James, who married Lucinda Lode and has three children-Will- iam, Hodgson and Almeda; Addison; Mayme; Mar- garet, who is the wife of Warren Yohe, has one son, Lewis; John; Edward, who married Lillian Gee and has three children-Margaret, Elizabeth, and Kenneth; Joseph; Ody; Lottie and Elija, who died young.

W. W. SMITH, deceased, for many years was so actively identified with the leading business interests of Washington, Pa., as to be easily recalled by those who take pride in the achievements of the older generation and give them the credit due for the city's present pros- perity. He was born at Washington, Pa., Aug. 15, 1830, and was a son of William and Fanny (Wrenshall) Smith.

William Smith was born near Darlington, Beaver Co., Pa., Aug. 15, 1800, and grew to manhood on his father's farm. In 1821, with his brother, James T. Smith, he came to Washington and they established a general store and succeeded so well in their enterprise that they were led, one year later, to seek a wider field, which they found in Philadelphia. They established themselves in commodious quarters on Market Street in that city and continued there prosperously until the breaking down of James T. Smith's health caused them to sell their mer- cantile interests in Philadelphia, in 1825. William Smith then returned to the western part of the State and con- ducted a general store at Uniontown until 1828, in which year he again took up his residence in Washington. He opened a store shortly afterward, in the building where the Watson Block now stands, just south of the Public Square, and remained there until 1835, and then pur- chased the Rev. Thomas Hogue property at the north-

east corner of Main and Beau streets, into which he moved his store. Mr. Smith here carried on a very sat- isfactory business by himself until 1853, when he admit- ted his son, W. W. Smith, as a partner, under the firm name of William Smith & Son. Some years after the establishing of his store, he organized a private bank and this business was conducted under tse same firm name. In 1867, William Smith retired, leaving the management of these large interests to his son and part- ner, the latter having demonstrated superior business capacity. After his retirement, Mr. Smith moved to Philadelphia, where he purchased a pleasant home in which he resided until the spring of 1887, when he re- turned to Washington, where his death occurred July 12, 1887, when aged 87 years. He was possessed of large realty holdings, among them the Green Tree Corner, which he had acquired from Judge Baird at an early date, and the northwest corner of Main and Beau streets, on which, in 1861, he erected the magnificent brick and iron structure known as Iron Hall.

Mr. Smith was married (first) in 1828, to Miss Fanny Wrenshall, of Pittsburg, and they had two children: William W. and Fanny Fielding, the latter of whom be- came the wife of Ferdinand Varro. Mrs. Smith became an invalid and passed away in the fall of 1861. Subse- quently, in Philadelphia, Mr. Smith married a Mrs. Newell, a widow, who was a daughter of John Simes, an early resident of Washington, and she died in Phila- delphia during the winter of 1886. William Smith was a man of Christian life and character. In earlier years he was a member of the Covenanter Church, later, while living at Washington, united with the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church and after moving to Philadelphia, at- tended the United Presbyterian Church.

William W. Smith, son of William and Fanny (Wrens- hall) Smith, enjoyed both educational and social advan- tages. Prior to 1848 he was a student in the preparatory department of Washington College, under Prof. Robert Milligan, and then entered the freshman class. After his graduation with the class of 1852, he entered active- ly into commercial life in his father's employ and in 1853 was admitted to partnership. He was a man of brilliant intellect and prepared for the bar although he never sought admission, finding his knowledge of law, however, to be of great value to him as his business interests accumulated. After the retirement of his father, in 1867, Mr. Smith continued the management of the establishments above mentioned and by his ability, caution and judgment added largely to the prestige they had already enjoyed. Later in life he was ably assisted by his two sons, who still conduct the banking house of William Smith & Son, which was founded by their grand- father.

In addition to the interests above commented on, Mr. ,

JAMES H. McBURNEY

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Smith was actively identified with various organizations of the borough, charitable and benevolent as well as busi- ness, and was deeply interested in matters pertaining to education. For years he was a member of the board of trustees of Washington and Jefferson College, and was proprietor and rector of Trinity Hall, a select boarding school for boys. This institution was established in 1879 in the building which Mr. Smith had used for 12 years as a private residence. It was built in 1857 and was purchased by Mr. Smith from Joseph MeKnight, in 1866. The boarding school scheme proved successful and from time to time it became necessary to enlarge the original building. A description of Trinity Hall, its exceptional advantages as a school, and its surroundings, may best be given in the tribute once paid it by Rev. Fred C. Cowper, of Amesbury, Mass .: "The school grounds contain 40 acres situated in a rich and beautiful hill country, 1200 feet above tide water, and surrounded by wide spreading maples, elms, lindens and evergreens, with orchards, gardens and vineyards, through which wind broad drives bordered by well kept lawns. There has never been sickness in the school. Delicate boys become strong and manly in its pure, health-giving at- mosphere. The morals of the place are pure; the tone elevating and refining. Under the present management, the household in all its departments is suitable for the sons of gentlemen, and has all the comforts of a refined home. It is a lovely spot indeed, favored by Nature, developed by the best skill of the landscape gardener, kept up by those who take pride in it; and fortunate is the boy who is permitted to spend his school days at Trinity Hall." This institution had its inception in the desire of Mr. Smith to have his own sons educated with- in the influences of their own refined home.

On July 13, 1867, William W. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Emma Willard McKennan, a daugh- ter of Hon. William McKennan, judge of the United States Court. Two sons were born to them, namely: William McKennan and Ulysses S. Grant. The former is a very prominent banker and financier at Washington. He married Miss Lucy Butler, of Columbus, Ohio, and their beautiful home is on Park Avenue, formerly Trin- ity Hall. Ulysses S. Grant Smith resides abroad, hav- ing been connected with the Diplomatic Service of the United States since 1903. The beloved wife and mother was removed from the happy domestic circle on Aug. 31, 1879, and from this crushing grief Mr. Smith never fully recovered. He was, however, a man of the highest Christian type and permitted no personal sorrow to in- terfere with his outside relations. For many years he was a very earnest member of the Episcopal Church, from 1853 until 1892 was its treasurer, and three times was called upon to represent the Diocese of Pittsburg in the General Convention of the church held at Boston, in

1877; in New York City in 1880; and in Philadelphia, in 1883. During the Civil War he served as a volun- teer aid-de-camp, on the staff of Gen. U. S. Grant, both in the Southwest and in Virginia, and between him and that great commander was cemented a personal regard, a token of which was given when, among the wedding guests of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, at their marriage, in 1867, General Grant, wife and sons, came in the capacity of friends. This friendship was maintained and family vis- its were exchanged through later years.

JAMES H. McBURNEY, president of the Canonsburg Milling Company, of Canonsburg, Pa., has been identified with the milling interests of this place for the past eighteen years. He was born near Midway, in Robinson Township, Washington County, Pa., November 2, 1860, and is a son of John R. and Elizabeth (Robb) McBurney.

John R. McBurney, father of James H., was born in Robinson Township, Washington County, on the same farm on which his father, James McBurney, was born and lived. The first wife of James McBurney was a sister of Samuel Atcheson, of near Hickory, the latter of whom died recently and was a well known citizen. The second marriage was to Catherine Lindsay. The first of the McBurneys in Washington County, came from McBurneys Mills, Ireland. John R. McBurney was mar- ried in early manhood to Elizabeth Robb, who died on the old Midway homestead in 1893. Her parents were George and Janet (George) Robb, who were farming people in Cecil Township, near Venice. They were both reared in Washington County. George Robb died in his native county but his widow died after moving to Iowa. John R. McBurney died in July, 1896, aged sixty-six years. They had the following children: James H .; George Robb, who is a minister in the Covenanter Church is lo- cated in Kansas, and he married Mary Houston, of Blanchard, Iowa; Elmer, who is a Christian Science prac- titioner residing at Oakland, Cal., married Elizabeth Scott; Kate W., who for five years has been a medical missionary at Tak-Hing-Chau, China, a noble woman, at the present writing (1909) is visiting her home in Wash- ington County; M. R., who is an osteopathie physician located at Los Angeles, Cal., married Mary White, of Beaver Falls, Pa .; Jean George, who is deceased; Jean George (2), who is also a missionary and physician as is her older sister, carries on her work in the same part of China; and W. J., who is a minister of the Covenanter Church, settled at Fair Grove, Mich., married Minnie Wylie, of Concord, Ohio.

James H. McBurney, of Canonsburg, was educated in the public schools near his home and at Ingleside Acad- emy, at McDonald, and in 1881 was graduated from Duff's Business College at Pittsburg. He remained at home and assisted in the cultivation of the farm for sev-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

eral years and then went into the mill of Robbins and Bamford, at Midway, and remained there for five and one-half years. In 1891 he came to Canonsburg and pur- chased the mill that was then operated for thirteen years by himself and his former employers, the firm name being Robbins, Bamford & McBurney. At a later date Mr. McBurney organized the Canonsburg Milling Company. He stands very high in the business world and he enjoys also the respect and esteem of those with whom he comes into contact socially.

In 1894, Mr. McBurney was married to Miss Sadie Scott, a daughter of James and Eliza (Thompson) Scott, of Beaver Falls, Pa., and they have five children: Mary Lois, John R., James Glenn, Elizabeth Margaret and Jean Scott. The pleasant family home is situated at No. 125 Belmont avenue, Canonsburg. Mr. McBurney is a mem- ber of the Miller's Run Covenanter Church.

J. EDGAR & GEORGE W. COATSWORTH are the owners of the Coatsworth Grocery and Meat Market, which was originally established at California, Pa., in 1898, by a brother, Jonas C. Coatsworth, who carried on the business until the time of his death in 1901. In July, 1901, our subjects took charge of the business, which was then principally a meat market, and was then located in a small frame building on Wood Street, just opposite their present store, which is located in a two- story brick building which they erected in 1905. Since taking charge of the business the Coatsworth Brothers have gradually increased their stock in groceries and now carry a full line of groceries and provisions in con- nection with their meat market, and do their own slaughtering and dressing of meats.

J. Edgar Coatsworth was born Mar. 25, 1865, in Monongahela City, Pa., and George W. Coatsworth was born Apr. 11, 1875, at California, and they are sons of Thomas and Fanny (Lowstutter) Coatsworth, who came to California with the family in 1874. The father died in October, 1907, and is survived by his widow, who is the mother of 11 children, eight of whom were reared to maturity.

J. E. Coatsworth was reared in California, where he attended the local schools, and subsequently spent two years in the employ of the Westinghouse Machine Com- pany at Wilmerding, Pa., returning to California in 1901 after the death of his brother, Jonas. He was united in marriage with Kathryn Savage, and they have two children : Alice and Mary. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., the Royal Arcanum, and the Bankers' Life Insur- ance Company.

George W. Coatsworth was reared and educated at California, Pa, and married Sarah Rossell, and they have two children, Glenn and Harriet. He also is affil-

iated with the Odd Fellows and the Bankers' Life Insur- ance Company.

THOMAS McKENNAN, M. D., deceased, who, for a period approaching a half century, was one of the lead- ing men in the profession of medicine in Washington County, was born in the borough of Washington, Pa., May 21, 1825, and was a son of Thomas Mckean Thomp- son and Matilda (Bowman) McKennan.

In recalling the life and services of men of unusual prominence in any walk of life, it is interesting to in- vestigate into their ancestry and to trace the natural inheritance of ability. Dr. McKennan came of Revolu- tionary stock. Probably his great-grandfather, Rev. William McKennan, was a native of Ireland. He came to America in 1730 and settled at Wilmington, Del., where he had charge of a Presbyterian church for a pro- tracted period. His son, Col. William McKennan, was born in Delaware, in 1758. He took part in the Revo- lutionary War, was one of the officers in the Patriot army at the battle of Brandywine, where he was severely wounded, and endured the privations of the memorable winter at Valley Forge. Although he survived his army exposure, he died from the effects of injuries received, after he had become a resident of the borough of Wash- ington, to which place he came from Charleston, W. Va., in 1801. He married Elizabeth Thompson, who was a niece of Governor Thomas Mckean, of Pennsylvania, who was also one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The third son of this marriage was Thomas Mckean T. McKennan, who was the father of the late Dr. McKennan.

Hon. Thomas Mckean T. McKennan was born at Newcastle, Del., in 1794, and from early boyhood evinced unusual mental ability, graduating from Washington University when but sixteen years of age. He wisely chose the profession of law and when twenty-one years old he was admitted to the bar. Honors were bestowed upon him thick and fast. He served as deputy-attorney- general of Washington County for three years; in 1831 became a member of the National House of Representa- tives, where he completed four full terms and in 1842 completed the unexpired term of Hon. Joseph Lawrence. In 1840 he was chosen a presidential elector; in 1848 was made president of the Pennsylvania Electoral Col- lege, and in 1850, President Fillmore appointed him a member of his cabinet, as secretary of the interior. This honorable and high public office Mr. McKennan re- tained but a short time, resigning its honors and emolu- ments in order to resume active practice, give more at- tention to congenial literary pursuits and to assist in de- veloping industries and furthering enterprises for bene- fitting his own State and section. After his return to

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

private life he became president of the Hempfield Rail- road Company, a position he was filling at the time of his death, which took place at Reading, Pa., July 9, 1852. In 1815 he had married Matilda Bowman, who was a daughter of a prominent merchant of Brownsville, Pa. Mrs. McKennan died in March, 1858. Eight children were born to the above union.

The late Dr. Thomas McKennan was the fifth member of his parents' family. He was reared in the midst of the most fortunate surroundings for the development of his unusual abilities. Wealth and social prestige both were his. In 1842 he was graduated at Washington College, immediately after which he entered upon the study of medicine, and in 1846 he was graduated in this science, at the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadel- phia. After a year's service as an interne, in the charity institutions of that city, he located in Allegheny, where he engaged in practice until 1851, when he settled per- manently at Washington. Here he became eminent and through the many continuous years of medical and surgi- cal work, met with such professional success as to make his name a household word over a large part of Wash- ington County. He was never desirous of political honors, although stanch in his adherence to the principles of the Republican party, but on many occasions he permitted his name to be used on educational and benevolent boards. For many years he served as a trustee of Wash- ington and Jefferson College; was a trustee of Washing- ton Seminary and a valuable member of the school board of the borough of Washington. He was interested in benevolent organizations of all kinds and was a member of the board of managers of the Pennsylvania Reform School, lending his influence and professional knowledge to the solving of many of its most complex problems.

In 1854, Dr. McKennan was united in marriage with Margaret M. Stockton, who still survives, residing at No. 42 East Maiden street, Washington, Of their family of twelve children, a number survive, one son, Dr. Thomas M. T. McKennan, perpetuating the name and profession- al success of his late father.

ALBERT FOSTER MCILVAINE, a dealer in a gen- eral line of tinware, roofing and heating apparatus, at Canonsburg, Pa., is a representative citizen and success- ful business man. He was born in Somerset Township, Washington County, Pa., and was three years old when his parents, John and Margaret (Horner) MeIlvaine, moved to North Strabane Township.

The grandfathers on both sides were natives of Wash- ington County, both the MeIlvaines and Horners having come among the earliest pioneers. John McIlvaine, the father, died in 1887, when aged forty-one years, from the direct result of a cold contracted while he was serving as a soldier in the Civil War. He married Margaret Horner,

and they had three children: Albert Foster; Maud, who died in infancy ; and Harvey Carson, who resides at Lin- den, Washington County. He took a business course in Duff's Commercial College, and now is a farmer, He married Irene Washabaugh, a daughter of W. B. Wash- abaugh, and they have had three children: Calvin and Lloyd, both of whom survive; and Margaret, who is de- ceased. The father was a physician.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 153

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