History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 161

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 161

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Mr. Dally was married (first) July 4, 1882, to Miss Nannie Lineberger, of Wheeling, W. Va., who died two years later, leaving a son, Addison L., who is a capable business man, being in charge of the Ohio Valley Gas Company, at Midway, Pa. Mr. Dally was married (sec- ond) to Miss Sarah R. Magee, who was born at Wheel- ing, W. Va., a daughter of Richard and Rebecca (Elder) Magee. The Magees had seven children, only four of these surviving, namely: James T. and Andrew J., both of Wheeling; Richard G., of Parkersburg; and Mrs. Dally. To Mr. and Mrs. Dally have been born six chil- dren: Rebecca Isler, James Crosby, Christopher Zug, Jr., Harold Brown, Richard A. and Robert W. Mr. and Mrs. Dally are members of the First Presbyterian Church. Mr. Dally is prominent in the order of Knights of Pythi- as, having been identified with this fraternal body for years and being a member of Lodge No. 114, the Uni- form Rank and the Endowment Rank, and also to Zane Lodge, Shields of Honor, all of Wheeling.

GEORGE B. SPROWLS, wholesale and retail dealer in agricultural implements, together with paints, oils, hardware, vehicles and other goods, is one of the repre- sentative business men of Claysville, Pa., and a leading citizen in the public affairs of the borough. He was born in East Finley Township, Washington County, Pa., March 5, 1862, and is a son of Simeon and Mary (Mont- gomery) Sprowls.

The founder of the family to which Mr. Sprowls be- longs, was John Sprowls, a native of Ireland, who emi- grated to America and settled in what is now East Fin- ley Township. He was succeeded on his estates by his son, James Sprowls, who led a purely agricultural life and in turn was succeeded by his son, Simeon Sprowls, who also spent his life in East Finley Township.

George B. Sprowls attended the schools of his native township and later a private normal school at West Fin- ley, going from there to Washington and Jefferson Col- lege, at Washington, where he was graduated in the class of 1884. Before entering into business he taught a term of school and then combined farming with dealing in vehicles and agricultural implements, and succeeding well in his merchandising, in the fall of 1890, came to Clays- ville and established his present store in February, 1891. He does an annual business of over $100,000 and carries an immense stock, including in addition to the goods above mentioned other necessities for the farm and home. He handles the McCormick binders and mowers; fertiliz-

ers; Oliver chilled plows; grain drills; engines and threshers; gas fittings, stoves and ranges; cooking uten- sils; bicycles, paints, oils, varnishes, hardware, vehicles, machine repairs, buggies, carriages, and farm wagons; harness and saddles; whips, robes; wood and force pumps; lime and cement; woven wire fencing and sew- ing machines.

Mr. Sprowls was married to Miss Carrie A. Stillwagon, of West Finley Township, a daughter of A. J. Still- wagon, a well known citizen. They have six surviving children, namely : Harry V., Lena F., George B., Thomas Roy, Helen G. and Margaret. Mary M. is deceased.

Mr. Sprowls is not only one of Claysville's most pro- gressive business men, but he has identified himself with all the interests of the place and his fellow citizens have learned to value his example and advice. He gave them an excellent administration through one term as burgess, has served usefully on the school board and for fourteen years has been a notary public. He is well known over Washington County. In politics he is a Democrat.

EDWARD H. TAGUE, oil producer and driller, has been a resident of Washington, Pa., for a quarter of a century and has been identified with the oil industry dur- ing almost the entire period of his business life. He was born at Brady's Bend, Armstrong County, Pa., in 1864, son of John and Rose Ann (Devine) Tague, both born in Ireland and now live at Ford City, Pa.

When sixteen years of age, Mr. Tague went to Dubois, Pa., and for a short time was employed there by a coal mining company, after which he became interested in the oil industry, first in Clarion County, Pa., then at Macks- burg, Washington County, Ohio. From the latter place he came to Washington County, Pa., and drilled one of the first gas wells, which was located at Hickory. He continued in the oil and gas development of Washington County and later enlarged the scope of his work, taking in West Virginia, working in Hancock and Brooke coun- ties, and Greene County, Pa., and Jefferson County, Ohio, in all of which he is a large operator. He is a stock- holder in the Real Estate Trust Company of Washington.

Mr. Tague was married in 1898 to Miss Jane Dennison, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Gunn) Dennison, who live at Claysville, Pa. The family home is at No. 564 East Maiden street, Washington. Mr: Tague is identified with the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, being a member of the Uniform Rank in the latter organization.

PHILIP A. COOPER, an honored veteran of the Civil War and a highly respected citizen of South Franklin Township, devotes his excellent farm of eighty-six acres to farming and gardening, being yet in the enjoyment of vigorous health, although he has passed his seventieth birthday. He was born in South Franklin Township,

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Washington County, Pa., February 12, 1839, and is a son of Jonas and Sarah (Axtell) Cooper.

Both parents of Mr. Cooper were born in Washington County, his father, Jonas Cooper, on the present farm, where his exemplary life was spent and on which he died on his birthday, May 30, 1893, when aged seventy-nine years. His father, Ephraim Cooper, was born in New Jersey and was five years old when his father, Moses Cooper, who was the great-grandfather of Philip A. Cooper, started to pilot his family across the country to Washington County, Pa. However, he never reached the place in which he had hoped to secure a goodly portion of land which his family might enjoy, for sickness fell upon him and he died at Uniontown, Pa. The widow had no other prospect than reaching Washington County, and she continued on her way with her children and reached Amwell Township in 1777. One of her sons, Nathaniel, secured a patent from the government for almost 400 acres of land and the farm owned by Philip A. Cooper, is a part of that original tract.

Jonas Cooper married Sarah Axtell, and of their family of children the following survive: Philip A., of South Franklin Township; Emeline, who is the widow of the late Joseph Riggs, of Morris Township; David Alva, who is pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Amity, Pa .; and Sarah J., who is the widow of the late Ira B. Baldwin, of Decatur County, Kan. For many years the late Jonas Cooper operated a tannery in connection with his farm industries. He cast his vote with the Republican party and was a man who kept well informed on all that went on in the world outside the home environment.

Philip A. Cooper attended the schools of South Frank- lin Township and his first independent business was tan- ning, which he folowed both before and after his long term of service as a soldier. He enlisted in August, 1862, in Co. C, 140th Pa. Vol. Inf., which became a part of the Army of the Potomac and of the 2nd Army Corps, and during a large portion of his term of service, his division was under the command of General Miles. He participated in the battle of Chancellorsville and for some time thereafter was detailed for hospital duty. After his return to his regiment he saw much steady fighting and was in the thickest of it at Todd's Tavern and at the siege of Petersburg, and took part in the struggles which led up to the surrender of Gen. Lee, at Appomattox, at which time he had a place on the firing line. Mr. Cooper was honorably discharged on May 31, 1865, and returned then to Washington County. Com- pany C participated in some of the hardest fighting of the war and of its original 110 men, twenty-seven gave up their lives. As long as Luther Day Post, G. A. R., at Prosperity, was sustained, Mr. Cooper was identified with it.

Mr. Cooper married Miss Ellen Slusher, a daughter of the late Michael Slusher of Amwell Township, and they have had five children, namely: Addie M., who mar- ried Herbert Conklin, of Prosperity, and they have five children-Herbert E., Lucile L., Philip W., Adella B., and Daunice M .; Ashton C., who resides in Kansas; Nora, who is the wife of James Pipes, of South Franklin Township; Howard D., who lives on a part of the old homestead, and married Mary Bainer; and Lewis C., who lives at Colorado Springs, Col., on account of his health. Mr. Cooper's views on the subject of temperance are well known and in casting his vote for public officials, he demands that they work for the success of the Pro- hibition party.

MITCHELL DOUGLASS, one of Peters Township's substantial farmers and representative men, was born in Bethel Township, Allegheny County, Pa., and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Wright) Douglass.

The Douglass family of Peters Township, of which Mitchell Douglass is the oldest representative, is of Scotch origin. The pioneer of the family in Western Pennsylvania was one John Douglass, who settled at an early date in Allegheny County. His son, Thomas Doug- lass, was born in Bethel Township in that county and died there in 1893. At one time he was the owner of the farm in Peters Township, Washington County, that now belongs to his son, Mitchell. He married Mary Wright, a daughter of John Wright, the latter of whom died in Bethel Township, Allegheny County, in January, 1897, at the advanced age of ninety-five years. To Thomas and Mary Douglass six children were born, namely: Susan- nah, unmarried, lives on the home place; Jane, wife of Joseph Patterson; Maria L., wife of W. C. Davis; John, residing on the old homestead in Bethel Township; Will- iam, also residing in Bethel Township; and Mitchell, of Peters Township.

Mitchell Douglass was reared on the homestead in Bethel Township and there attended the public schools. His life has been devoted to farm pursuits and he has resided on his present property in Peters Township since 1869. In early manhood he married Miss Mary Ann Kerr, a daughter of James and Jane Kerr, old residents of Peters Township. Mr. and Mrs. Douglass have one daughter, Jane, who married C. R. Simpson and they reside on the homestead. Mr. Douglass votes with the Republican party. With his family he belongs to the Peters Creek United Presbyterian Church.

ALEXANDER MURDOCH, JR., who has been identi- fied with the drug trade ever since he went into business, is a well known and popular citizen of Washington, Pa., and was born on Main street, in this city and is a mem-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

ber of an old and representative Scotch family of this section. His father is Alexander Murdoch, a well known resident.

Mr. Murdoch was educated in the Washington schools and at Washington and Jefferson College. Immediately after leaving the latter institution he became an em- ploye of a drug firm and has continued such until the present, being now associated in this relation with his brother-in-law, S. M. Templeton, who conducts the large drug store at No. 33 North Main street, Washington. Mr. Murdoch has shown great adaptability in his chosen line of work and enjoys the confidence of his fellow citi- zens. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Washington. His residence is at No. 269 North Main street, Washington, having lived on this street during his whole life.

CHARLES B. TROUTMAN, president of the council of Finleyville, Pa., and manager of the Finleyville Plan- ing Mill Company, came to this borough in 1883 and has been prominent in public and business life here ever since. He was born at Creston, Wayne County, Ohio, November 9, 1866, and is a son of Adam and Amanda (Hilde- brand) Troutman.

The late Adam Troutman, father of Charles B., was born in Somerset County, Pa., in 1828, and died on his farm near Carnegie, Pa., in 1901. He was a blacksmith by trade and conducted a shop at Mt. Savage, until the opening of the Civil War, when he raised a company and was first lieutenant of Co. G, 54th Pa. Vol. Inf., through a first enlistment, and on February 22, 1862, re-enlisted and served until his honorable discharge on March 2, 1865. He was a brave and capable soldier, and his military record is one of which his children have reason to be proud. After the war was over he went into the hotel business at Pittsburg and there are many who can recall when he was proprietor of the old Rush House, near the Union Station. Before he had set- tled at Pittsburg, he lived for a short time in Ohio, and after his active years had passed he retired to his farm near Carnegie. He married Amanda Hildebrand, who was also born in Pennsylvania and her death preceded his own. They had six children: John, who resides at Creston, Ohio; Emma, who is the wife of Harry Ficker- son, of California; Charles Buchanan; Howard E., who is connected with the Eagye & Troutman Company, auto- mobile dealers, Chicago; Sidney A., who is secretary of the Finleyville Planing Mill Company; and Stella, who died when aged sixteen years.

Charles B. Troutman was an infant when his parents settled at Pittsburg and he spent his school period there. When sixteen years of age he went to Ohio where be began his apprenticeship to the carpenter trade, which he completed at Pittsburg, and from there he came to

Finleyville, his first work here being done on the con- struction of the Pittsburg & Chicago Gas and Coal Com- pany's house, at Gastonville. He then worked as a con- tractor for C. F. Thompson, who later sold his business to F. M. Finley, who later sold to Mr. Troutman and his partner, William Happer. For three years the firm of Happer & Troutman continued and then Mr. Troutman sold out to Mr. Happer and bought a one-third interest in his present firm, the style at that time being Jones Bros. & Co. The business was later purchased by C. Fritchman and S. A. Troutman, Mr. Charles B. Trout- man during all this time being the practical manager of the bsuiness. Later it was organized as the Finleyville Planing Mill Company, with C. Fritchman as president ; S. A. Troutman as secretary; and C. B. Troutman as manager. The company owns 1,100 acres of land in Min- eral County, W. Va., which they purchased for a hunting reserve, and they own large timber tracts convenient to their saw mill at Patterson Creek, W. Va., in addition to their planing mill at Finleyville. They do a general contracting and builders' supply business, in all their enterprises having the able business ability and discre- tion of Mr. Troutman at their command.

On January 1, 1893, Mr. Troutman was married to Miss Anna Vandergrift, and they have three children: Mabel, Clarence and Grace. Their handsome residence is situated on Washington street, Finleyville.

Mr. Troutman has many large business interests. He is vice-president of the First National Bank of Finley- ville, and is president of the Sportsmen's Association of Cheat Mountain, W. Va., which controls a hunting reserve of 64,000 acres, in Pocahontas County, and is also presi- dent of the Marion Game and Protective Association, a local organization. His activities in borough affairs have been constant and beneficial. He is a member of the school board and for a long period has been a member of the council, of which he has been president since 1908. He is a Mason of high degree, belonging to the Blue Lodge at Monongahela City, and to Chapter, Coun- cil and Consistory, at Pittsburg.

CEPHAS T. DODD, M. D. There is no name in all Washington County held in higher esteem than that of Dodd. Its enterprise, its ability and its religion have all produced interesting and valuable pages of history to this section and one of those who worthily bears the name is Dr. Cephas T. Dodd, who has been actively en- gaged in the practice of medicine in South Franklin Township since 1881. He was born April 24, 1854, and is a son of Dr. Elias and Margaret (Bradford) Dodd and a grandson of Rev. Cephas Dodd.

The first of the name to appear in New England was Daniel Dodd, who came from the British Isles to Con- necticut in one of the early sailing vessels. From him

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

descended Stephen Dodd, who, in turn, became the father of Daniel Dodd. The latter had three sons, Stephen, Daniel and John. Stephen Dodd (2), son of Daniel, was born at Guilford, Conn., in 1703, and in early life moved to New Jersey, locating first at Newark and later mov- ing to Mendham. Of his children two became of im- portance to Washington County, coming to this border- land as pioneers.

Thaddeus Dodd, son of Stephen (2) was born at New- ark, N. J., March 7, 1740. In early youth he evidenced a strong inclination for serious study and showed much talent and originality, excelling all his comrades and schoolmates in his acquirements. On July 18, 1764, he was converted during the progress of a great revival, and in his thirty-first year he entered Princeton College and was graduated in the autumn of 1773. At the time of the celebration of the Ten-Mile churches in Washing- ton County, August 28, 1879, Rev. James Allison, D. D., submitted so interesting a record of this great and good man that a part of it may be advantageously incorporated in the present biography. Dr. Allison said in part :

"Soon after graduation he went to Newark, N. J., where he married Miss Phebe Baldwin, and entered upon the study of theology, under the direction of Rev. Dr. Mc Whorter. One year later he removed to Morristown and continued the same line of study under Rev. Dr. Johns, who had been his first instructor in Latin. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New York. Through the winter of 1776-77 he suffered from a severe attack of inflammatory rheumatism, but in the month of March, though still feeble, he started upon a journey to the West. After preaching in parts of Virginia and Maryland, he crossed the mountains, visited the settle- ments on George's Creek, Muddy Creek and Dunlap's Creek and then came to Ten-Mile, where he remained until August, preaching in private houses, in the woods and in Lindley's and Bell's forts. After his return to the East he was ordained by the Presbytery of New York as an evangelist. Shortly after this he left New Jersey with his wife and three-year-old daughter and a young son, and accompanied by two brothers and their families, arrived early in November at Patterson's Creek, Hampshire County, Va., with the intention of pushing still farther west."

Dr. Allison describes the confusion and alarm aroused about that time by savage Indian attacks and explains why the companions of the evangelist did not accom- pany him at that time. He then continues :

"In a few days he crossed the mountains alone, reached Ten-Mile, preached in the forts and baptized the chil- dren, safely returning to his family. It is not known that he visited this place again until the fall of 1779, when he brought his family with him. He resided first near the Lindley's, in what is now Morris Township. On

November 22, 1786, he took a patent for 400 acres of land in Amwell Township and there made his permanent home. In 1782 he opened a classical and mathematical school especially designed to prepare young men for the ministry and this he continued for three years. In 1789 he became principal of an academy at Washington, Pa. On August 15, 1781, the first Presbyterian Church was organized, in 1785 the first church building was erected."

Dr. Allison gave many more interesting recitals up to the time of the lamented death of Dr. Dodd, which oc- curred from consumption, May 20, 1793. He was one of the men of history in western Pennsylvania.

Rev. Cephas Dodd, grandfather of Dr. Dodd, of South Franklin Township, was born in Amwell Township, Wash- ington County, Pa., in 1789. He was both a minister and a physician and in the latter capacity practiced over a wide territory. As pastor he succeeded his honored father and ministered to the Ten-Mile congregation at Amity. He died January 16, 1859, a worthy son of a worthy father. In 1805 he married Ruth Flenniken and they became the parents of the following children: Jane, Sarah, Thad- deus, Cornelia, Eliza, Hannah, James, Cephas and Elias F.

Elias F. Dodd was born December 1, 1823, in Amwell Township, Washington County, Pa. He inherited many of the qualities that made both father and grandfather men far above the average and, in turn, he gained per- sonal distinction for himself. In 1841 he entered Wash- ington College and was graduated in 1848, then studied medicine and entered upon practice in 1853, marrying in the same year and settling in Franklin Township, Washington County, where he continued his professional work for over a half century. He was identified with the Washington County Medical Society and was numbered with the most able exponents of the science of medicine in all this section. Covered with professional honors and bearing the weight of eighty-five prolific years, he passed out of life on September 8, 1908. Dr. Dodd was gifted with a natural talent for music and was a fine performer on musical instruments, especially the violin and organ, with which he frequently banished the sorrows that some- times weighed him down, when all his care and skill could not keep the inroads of disease from proving fatal. He also found recreation in looking after his agricul- tural affairs to some extent. He married Margaret Brad- ford and four children were born to them, there being two survivors: Cephas T. and Samuel B., the latter of whom resides also in South Franklin Township.

Dr. Cephas T. Dodd was reared on his father's estate and received his literary training in Washington and Jefferson College and through private tutors. He pre- pared for a career as a physician, entering the Cleveland Medical College for this purpose and was graduated from that well known institution, in 1881, its change of name to the Western Reserve University not affecting its effi-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

ciency as a great medical school. He was associated in practice with his late father until the latter retired. Dr. Dodd was married June 30, 1881, to Miss Ella C. Pat- terson, who was born in South Franklin Township and is a daughter of the late James W. Patterson who, for many years, was an extensive stock and wool dealer in this section. Dr. and Mrs. Dodd have had two sons: John A. and Frank C., the latter of whom is deceased. In 1908 the former graduated from Washington and Jef- ferson College and is now a student of medicine at the Western Reserve University. Dr. and Mrs. Dodd are members of Bethel Presbyterian Church of South Frank- lin Township.

In politics, Dr. Dodd is identified with the Republican party. His activity as a citizen has been directed in sup- port of good laws and his influence in his community has been felt in its better education along the lines of sani- tation and other health producing conditions. He is a valued member of a number of the leading scientific or- ganizations of the country and is active in the Washing- ton County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania State Med- ical Society and the American Medical Association. He is interested in business outside his profession to some extent, this including ownership of lands and a director- ship of the Union Trust Company at Washington, Pa.

REV. JOSEPH A. BURGOON, pastor of St. Alphon- sus Catholic Church at McDonald, Pa., and one of the borough's most esteemed clerics, was born ot Latrobe, Westmoreland County, Pa., April 20, 1871, and is a son of Silas and Rachel (McHugh) Burgoon.

Silas Burgoon was a quiet, industrious man who worked at the millwright trade. He died at Latrobe, April 30, 1905. His widow survives and lives with her son, Rev. Father Burgoon. They were the parents of the follow- ing children: Cecelia, who married George W. Grier, and lives in Chicago; Richard L .; Alice, who is now de- ceased, was the wife of Joseph Ruffner; Mary, who re- sides with her mother and brother; and Theresa, who married Frank P. Smith, lives at Latrobe.

Joseph A. Burgoon in his boyhood attended both the public and parochial schools at Latrobe. In 1887 he en- tered St. Vincent's College near Latrobe, as a student, and spent five years in the classical department and then entered the seminary department and spent two years in the study of philosophy. He continued his studies until he won the degree of B. A., after which he spent three years in the study of theology, gaining his degree of M. A. On June 26, 1897, he was ordained to the priest- hood at the same institution of learning, by Rt. Rev. Richard Phelan, a holy man, who was then Bishop of the Pittsburg Diocese. Father Burgoon's first appointment was as assistant to Rev. Father Bradley, at St. Kiern's Church, on 54th street, Pittsburg, and he continued there

eighteen months when he was transferred to St. Thomas' Church, at Braddock, where he was assistant to the Very Rev. John Hickey. After four useful years there, Father Burgoon was sent to McDonald, and he served two charges, Nobelstown and McDonald, for three years. These are now two separate congregations. Father Bur- goon's character is of that fortunate blend of faculties which make him an excellent executive and also a power in his ministry. He posseses social instincts which make him a valued and beloved member of several fraternal organizations together with innumerable church bodies. He belongs to the lodge of Elks at Braddock and to the Duquesne council of the Knights of Columbus.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 161

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