History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 164

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 164

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

946

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

The grandfather of Mr. Miller was born in Ireland and accompanied his father to Washington County, and settled in Mt. Pleasant Township, near Hickory. The father of Mr. Miller was born and reared here and be- came one of the leading men of this section. His death occurred in 1888. His widow survives and resides on the homestead with her son, Frank W., who is unmarried. To John M. Miller and wife five children were born, namely : Catherine, who married John C. Baine, and they have four children-Edith, John, Agnes and Donald; Frank W .; Janet, who died in July, 1904, was the wife of John Hood and she is survived by one daughter, Janet Miller Hood; and Ralph and Harry, both of whom are civil engineers, the former of St. Louis and the latter residing at Terre Haute, Ind.

Frank W. Miller attended the public schools at Hickory and then entered Washington and Jefferson College, after which he spent some eight years working on the North- ern Pacific Railroad. After he returned to Mt. Pleasant Township, he bought the interests of the other heirs in his grandfather's homestead and immediately began to make improvements. He built a handsome residence and a substantial barn and other farm buildings and in a short time had the whole estate in condition to till profit- ably. The coal underlying has been sold to the Pitts- burg Coal Company, and Mr. Miller has one gas well on the place. He raises quite a large amount of cattle, of mixed grade, which he keeps for sale, finding an easy market. In his political views he is a Democrat and is serving as road supervisor in Mt. Pleasant Township, his present term expiring in January, 1910. With his mother he attends the Mt. Prospect Presbyterian Church.

THOMAS DENNISTON, one of the substantial farm- ers of Washington County, Pa., in equal association with his brother, William Denniston, owns a farm of 225 acres in Union Township and a second farm of 125 acres in Peters Township and resides on the Union Township property. He was born on this farm, May 11, 1847, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Caldwell) Denniston.

William Denniston, grandfather of subject, came from Ireland to this country prior to the Revolutionary War, to which cause he later gave his services, and after the close of same located in Chester County, Pa., where he married Elizabeth Wilson. He afterwards brought his family across the mountains on pack horses to Allegheny County and settled in what is now Bridgeville, Pa. His death occurred at Thompsonville, Pa. Eight children were born to William and Elizabeth Denniston, namely : Nancy, who married a Mr. Thompson; Abigail; James; Mrs. Patterson; Mary, wife of William Gilmore; Sarah, wife of Isaac Boyce; Thomas; Samuel; Joseph, Will- iam, all deceased.

Samuel Denniston was born in 1796, at Bridgeville,

Allegheny County, Pa., and about 1838 came to Thomp- sonville, Washington County, where he was married to Elizabeth Caldwell, whose father was one of the pioneers of the county. In the spring of 1838 he purchased a farm in Union Township, locating on same the following year, and died here in 1879, aged 84 years. His mar- riage with Elizabeth Caldwell, who died in 1850, result- ed in the following issue: Witnam, who served in the Civil War in Co. I, 1st Pa. Cav .; John W., who died in infancy; Mary J .; Elizabeth, who married Frank Hus- ton; Thomas; and Sarah, deceased. Samuel Denniston married (second) Elizabeth Applegate, of Allegheny County, Pa., and to them were born two children: James and Rachel, both now deceased.

Thomas Denniston has always lived on the home farm, where for many years he was extensively engaged in gen- eral farming and stock raising. After the death of his father, he and his brother William, bought out the other heirs, and have operated the farm together. The land was originally granted to Capt. Gabriel Cox of the English army, who here erected an outpost for protection from the Indians, known as Cox Station. Many land grants have been signed here. Capt. Cox subsequently sold the land to Richard James, who divided it between his sons, Robert and William, the latter of whom sold his interest to the father of our subject.

On August 14, 1884, Mr. Denniston married Marian Virginia Lytle, a daughter of Isaac and Eliza J. (Gas- ton) Lytle, the latter of whom is still living, and they have had two children: Laurence and Helen M. Mr. Denniston is a Republican.

REV. WILLIAM D. FRIES, pastor of St. Jerome Catholic Church, at Charleroi, Pa., with which he has been identified since February 1, 1905, is one of the most honored and beloved members of the clergy in Washington County, over which he is widely known. Father Fries was born in Armstrong County, Pa., in a little village no longer standing, which had been built around the Colwell charcoal furnaces, February 22, 1870, and is a son of Matthias and Anna (Marshall) Fries.

Father Fries recalls little of those early surroundings, as his father soon afterward removed to Kittanning, Pa., where he worked at his trade of blacksmith. The youth obtained his early schooling there and having graduated from High School entered St. Vincent Seminary at La- trobe, Westmoreland County, to prepare for the priest- hood, where he spent nine years. His first appointment after leaving St. Vincent was to St. Leo Catholic Church at Allegheny, where he served as assistant priest from 1897 until 1901. He was then transferred to the mining town of Smithton, in Westmoreland County, and for ten months he had charge of two churches, one at Smithton and one at West Newton. He was then transferred to

SAMUEL MUNNEL

949

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Sugar Creek Township, Armstrong County, where also two churches claimed his spiritual care, and his minis- trations were continued there until early in 1905, when he came to St. Jerome, at Charleroi. He has a large congregation here and an assistant was deemed necessary, resulting in the appointment of Rev. Thomas A. Connors, who joined Father Fries on August 1, 1909. St. Jerome is in a very flourishing condition, both as to its spiritual and temporal affairs. While Father Fries carefully and gently guides his people in their spiritual duties, he possesses also the executive ability which enables him to regulate the practical details that serve to yearly increase the advantages the church can afford them.

SAMUEL MUNNEL, a leading citizen of Canons- burg, who has long been active in all matters pertain- ing to the growth and prosperity of this place, for some years has been engaged in the manufacture of cement blocks and in handling builders' supplies. He was born in South Strabane Township, Washington County, Pa., Mar. 27, 1832, and is a son of Samuel and Nancy (McQuistion) Munnel.

The father of Mr. Munnel was born also in South Strabane Township and lived and died on the same farm, surviving until 1881, when he was in his 86th year. His parents, the grandparents of Samuel Mun- nel of Canonsburg, were John and Jane (Wallace) Munnel and were among the first settlers to come to South Strabane Township. They were natives of Ire- land and when they established the old homestead in South Strabane Township, their only neighbors were Indians. The McQuistion family was also an early one in this section and was brought into special prominence in pioneer times on account of the killing of Mrs. Mun- nel's sister, Mrs. Margaret Wigton, with her five chil- dren, by a drunken Indian, near Slippery Rock, in 1841. That was one of the not uncommon tragedies of the frontier. Mrs. Munnel died at Canonsburg, in 1892, aged 86 years.

To the parents of Mr. Munnel were born the follow- ing children: Isabella, who never married, survives at the age of 84 years; John, who died at Waynesburg; Robert, who resides with his family at Washington; Sarah Jane, who was the wife of George Taylor, lives in South Canonsburg; Samuel; Thomas, who died when aged 18 years; William, who died in childhood; Cath- erine, who is the widow of John Herron, resides at Washington; Mary, who is the widow of Adam Hall, lives on the South Side, Pittsburg; and Charles, who moved to Illinois after his marriage and died there.

Samuel Munnel attended the district schools of South Strabane Township and remained on the home farm until he was 17 years of age and then learned the car- penter trade and later conducted a saw-mill in South

Strabane Township for a few years, moving from there to North Strabane Township, where he continued in the same business for 25 years. After coming to Canonsburg he embarked in the ice business, which he conducted for 15 years and for 16 years also had a hardware store. For the last few years he has given his attention to the tile manufacturing industry and deals also in all kinds of builders' supplies. He is one of the older business men and enjoys the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens to a degree that may be called universal.

In 1860, Mr. Munnel was married (first) to Miss Harriet L. Ringland, a daughter of William Ringland, of Amwell Township. She died in 1870, leaving one daughter, Mary. Mr. Munnel was married (second) to Miss Nannie Crawford, a daughter of Andrew Craw- ford, of Peters Township, Washington County, and to this union were born the following children: Martha, who married James Rittenhouse, has three children- Catherine, Frank and Ella Duff; Nannie E., who mar- ried Robert B. Johnson, has three children-Samuel R., Robert and Annie; Eva May, who married Henry Wolfe, has two children_Elizabeth and Margaret; and Samuel Duncan, who resides at home. Mr. Munnel and family are members of the Presbyterian Church at Canonsburg. Mr. Munnel has been a lifelong Democrat.

WILFRED CAMERON, treasurer of the Washington school board and an active business citizen who has made Washington his home since 1889, was born in 1854, near New Castle, Pa. He was educated in the schools of Lawrence County and learned the plastering trade, which he followed until he came to Washington.

About 1889 Mr. Cameron embarked in the bottling business, his products being only soft drinks and these of every kind. He has a modern plant and does a . large business. Since establishing himself here and in- vesting his capital, Mr. Cameron has willingly performed every duty that good citizenship requires. He has al- ways taken much interest in the school question and his eight years of service on the board have been of great usefulness to the city.

In 1887 Mr. Cameron was married (first) to Miss Eliz- abeth Kissinger, of New Castle, who died in 1899, leav- ing one son, John W., who is now engaged in the bottling business at Canonsburg. In 1901, Mr. Cameron was married (second) to Mrs. Anna Nicholas, formerly of Lehigh County, Pa., but at the time of her marriage re- siding at Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Cameron have three children: Wilfred P., Marie Martha and Helen Eliza. Mr. Cameron and wife are members of the First Metho- dist Episcopal Church at Washington. He is a Knight Templar Mason and an Odd Fellow.

950

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

REV. BRAINERD F. HEANY, who has been pastor of the Lower Buffalo Presbyterian Church since May, 1906, was born in Thompsonville, Washington County, Pa., May 22, 1877, and is a son of Rev. Ezra S. and Esther (McClelland) Heany.

Rev. Ezra Heany, who was a native of Bucks County, Pa., for 30 years, was a well-known minister of the Presbyterian denomination in this part of the State. He was a graduate of Lafayette University and the Western Theological Seminary. He married Esther McClelland, and both are now deceased, being buried at the Center Presbyterian Cemetery. They were the parents of the following children: Jesse W., residing in Pittsburg; John M., cashier of the Bank of Bridgeville; Norman C., a business man of Pittsburg; Bainerd F .; and Frank M., a New York business man.

Brainerd F. Heany attended the district schools of Allegheny County, and was graduated from Jefferson Academy, Canonsburg, in the Class of 1896; from Wash- ington and Jefferson College in the Class of 1903; and from the Western Theological Seminary of Pittsburg in 1906, since May of which year he has been pastor of the Lower Buffalo Presbyterian Church at Independence. His congregation is composed of many of the old fami- lies of this section.

On November 13, 1906, Rev. Heany was married to Margaret C. Thomson, daughter of Alexander and Mar- garet (McKellar) Thomson, who came from Scotland to the United States in 1892 and located in Pittsburg. To this union there has been born one son, Paul Alexander, October 29, 1908.

H. B. CARROLL, vice president of the West Alexander National Bank, at West Alexander, Pa., and a substantial and leading citizen, was born in what is now known as East Finley Township, Washington County, Pa., October 8, 1845, and is a son of John and Rebecca (Danley) Carroll.

The father of Mr. Carroll was also born in East Fin- ley Township and was a son of James Carroll. The Car- roll family records show that it is of Scotch extraction and that it settled in East Finley Township before the Indians had left these parts.

H. B. Carroll was ten years old when his parents moved from East Finley to West Finley Township, and in the latter section he grew to manhood and for many years followed an agricultural life there. In 1906 he came to West Alexander, where he has resided ever since. He has been a director in the West Alexander National Bank ever since its organization and since 1906 has been vice president of this institution. He is interested in other business enterprises, being a member of the firm of Lewis and Carroll, whose large dealings in real estate have marked them as successful and progressive as well

as honest men. In politics, Mr. Carroll is a Republican and while residing in the country he served in various township offices.

Mr. Carroll married Miss Ida M. Underwood, who was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, but was practically reared in West Finley Township. Her father was the late Clark M. Underwood, of Monongahela City. Mr. and Mrs. Carroll have had seven children, namely: Charles E., who is engaged in the practice of dentistry at Knoxville, Pa .; Jeanette, who is the wife of Ralph Rooney, of West Alexander; Harriet R., who is the popular assistant cashier of the West Alexander National Bank; Grace, who is a successful teacher at West Alexander; Beatrice, who lives at home; Stanley, who is now deceased; and Blaine B., who lives at Mckees Rocks, Pa. Mr. Carroll and family attend the Presbyterian Church,

WILLIAM A. LA ROSS, M. D., who enjoys a large and substantial practice at McDonald, Pa., has been located in this borough ever since he entered upon the practice of medicine, in 1891. He was born in Lehigh County, Pa., and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Hess) La Ross.

The father of Dr. La Ross died at Allentown, Pa., in February, 1908, aged eighty-three years. The mother survives and still resides there. In the immediate vi- cinity of Allentown live the following brothers and sis- ters of Dr. La Ross: Mrs. Tilghman Yeager, Milton H. K. La Ross, Charles W. La Ross, Mrs. Robert R. Ritter, Mrs. M. H. Koch and Mrs. Wallace H. Marsteller. Two brothers-Dr. Henry M. and Richard L. La Ross-died at the ages of thirty-four and eighteen respectively.

Dr. La Ross attended the public schools at Allentown and then entered Muhlenberg College, but left that in- stitution in his freshman year in order to enter the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was graduated in 1891, and immediately lo- cated at MeDonald. For four years he was in partner- ship with Dr. G. H. Cook, but since then has been alone. He is identified with the leading medical organizations of the county and State and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens and brother practitioners.

On September 18, 1895, Dr. La Ross was married to Miss Rosina E. Moorhead, a daughter of William B. and Margaret (Johnston) Moorhead. They have had four children : Margaret, Rosina, William and Miriam, the lat- ter of whom died at the age of three years. Dr. and Mrs. La Ross are members of the First United Presby- terian Church at McDonald. In his political affiliation he is a stanch Democrat.

J. B. McMURRAY, M. D., specialist in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, is one of Washington's leading men of science; he has been located in this city

951

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

since the spring of 1904, and during the past five years has built up an extensive practice. He was born in Inde- pendence Township, Washington County, Pa., in 1878, and is a son of the late William B. McMurray.

William B. McMurray was born in Washington Coun- ty, Pa., in 1846 and died in 1881. He was a son of John McMurray, who was born at West Alexander, Wash- ington County, and whose father was John Samuel Mc- Murray. The last mentioned was a native of Scotland, who in the year 1800, came to America with his brother Peter, settling in Pennsylvania. The brother located in the Shenandoah Valley, Va., and the descendants of both are now numerous and are distributed over the entire Union.

The paternal grandmother of Dr. McMurray (wife of John McMurray) was a daughter of James Boyd, a not- able pioneer of Washington County, who in 1881 died at his home in Independence, this county, at the vener- able age of ninety-nine years, and whose career is well worth a somewhat extended mention here as illustrative of the conditions which prevailed in the days of the early settlement of this region. To do this adequately, we shall have to go back a little farther-to the year 1764, at which time there stood in the woods of Cum- berland County, Pa., not far from the site of the pres- ent town of Shippensburg, two rude cabins, which were the homes of two pioneers, and which were about a mile apart. One of these was that of John Boyd (grand- father of James), and the other that of John Stewart. On the 10th day of February, 1764, when John Boyd was at the house of his neighbor Stewart, a band of marauding Indians burned this house. John Boyd hur- ried home to give the alarm, well knowing the danger to his own house and home, when he discovered his cabin in ashes, and his wife and three children-two boys and a girl-had been carried away by the Indians.

It seems that two Indians has straggled from the band that burned Stewart's house, and had surprised and captured David and his young brother while they were gathering bark at some distance from the house. They then entered the cabin and took what they want- ed, took prisoners the mother and daughter, set fire to the house and destroyed it. The mother not being able to travel, the savages took her into the woods a short distance from her home and murdered her. David was only about six years of age when he witnessed this tragedy, and he was compelled to carry the scalp of his murdered mother with him-a circumstance which he never afterwards could forget.

After the massacre of Mrs. Boyd the Indians sepa- rated, one squad taking with them David and the others his brother and sister, after which he never saw them again.

On arriving at the Indian camp he had to undergo

the usual ordeal of "running the gantlet," which con- sisted of running a certain distance between two files of Indians, including women and boys, each of whom tried to hit him as he went by, with a club or other weapon, and this he had to do for some time every morning. Noticing that one of the Indian boys seemed especially desirous of inflicting punishment upon him, he determined to resent his savage attacks and accordingly the next time he was called on to run the gantlet, he carefully noted his enemy, and on reaching him gave him a blow that sent him staggering. This pleased the chiefs and many of the older braves, and the former, declaring that he would make a good Indian, relieved him from submitting to the ordeal any further. Hence- forth he became a favorite with the band. He was adopted by one of the chiefs as his son and also, with the usual ceremonies, as a member of the tribe, and re- mained with the Indians subsequently for three years and six months, during that time suffering many hard- ships and meeting with various adventures. About this time, as the result of Bouquet's expedition, there was a general delivery of white prisoners to their friends by the Indians, and the old chief who had adopted David, being now well advanced in years and expecting soon to be called to the "Happy Hunting Grounds,"' finally deter- mined to take the lad back to Cumberland County and deliver him to his relatives, if they could be found. He accordingly carried out this intention, though David, who had become much attached to him, wept bitterly at being obliged to part with his protector.

He resided in the neighborhood of his former home for about 18 years, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and also married and became the head of a family. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Silver Spring, in Cumberland County, under the ministrations of Rev. William Waugh.

About the year 1786 he removed with his family to Washington County, and purchased a farm some three miles east of West Middletown, on the Washington road, and became a pioneer settler of this western country and one of the organizers of the Presbyterian Church at Up- per Buffalo. His ashes lie in the beautiful cemetery at that place near those of his beloved pastor, Rev. Dr. Anderson.

In the spring of 1782, near the spot where 18 years before the Boyd cabin was destroyed, there was born into the family of David Boyd, a son James, who, when four or five years of age, removed with his father to Washington County. In 1796 he became a resident of Wellsburg and subsequently was intimate with the business men of that place and of Brooke County generally. In the early days of flatboating on the Ohio River, he was one of those who, loading their boats at the landing here, would float them down to New Orleans, and return on foot through

952

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

what was known as "The Wilderness." He was also, before the days of macadamized roads, engaged in wagon- ing to and from Philadelphia.

About the year 1800 he purchased a small farm in what was then Hopewell Township (now Independence Township) and in 1805 bought from Robert Wells the farm on which he long afterwards resided and which he still owned at the time of his decease. He was from his early years a member, and for many years a ruling elder, of the Presbyterian Church at Lower Buffalo, of which he was also a strong supporter. He attained the great age of ninety-nine years, dying in 1881. His de- clining years and their accompanying frailties, were soothed and made more endurable by the kindly minis- trations of his pastor, the Rev. Mr. Reed, whom he held in great respect. He was also the recipient of many kind attentions from his friends and neighbors. His funeral services, conducted by Rev. David Hervey-himself eighty years of age-were largely attended, the procession being over a mile in length-and thus was severed one more notable link in the living chain uniting a recent genera- tion with those of pioneer days.

The direct subject of this sketch, J. B. McMurray, was educated in the public schools of Washington County, and in the Ohio University, at Athens, Ohio. He sub- sequently matriculated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, where he was graduated in 1901. For three years he was engaged in general practice at Houstonville, and during that time was physician and surgeon for the Midland and Pittsburg Coal Company. He later took a course at the Polyclinic Post-Graduate School and Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, after which he located in Washington, Pa., where he has since confined his practice to diseases of the ear, eye, nose and throat.

Dr. McMurray was married first to Miss Bird V. Han- na, who was a daughter of J. G. Hanna, of Independence, Washington County, Pa. She died leaving a son, Boyd Hanna. Subsequently Dr. McMurray married for his second wife, Miss Minnie Scheu, of Washington, Pa., and of this union there is one son, John Scheu. The family are members of the Third Presbyterian Church of Washington. Dr. McMurray is a Knight Templar Mason, and is also a member of the Bassett Club of Washington.

LUTHER MARTIN MORGAN, a leading agriculturist of Mt. Pleasant Township, now serving in the office of road-master, was born on the farm on which he lives, which contains 179 acres and lies two and one-half miles east of Hickory, Pa., September 18, 1853. His parents were Robert M. and Mary (Martin) Morgan.

The father of Mr. Morgan was born on a farm on the

Washington and Hickory Road, about four miles from Washington, Pa., in 1818, and died at Canonsburg, in 1891, where he had lived retired for ten years. After he married he bought a small farm on the eastern line of Mt. Pleasant Township, Washington County, but sub- sequently sold that and purchased the farm his son, Luther Martin, now owns, a property which has interest- ing historic associations, it having once belonged to George and Martha Washington. Robert M. Morgan im- proved the property and converted it into an inviting homestead, rearing here his family of six children in great comfort and during many years performing every duty devolving upon him as a leading and substantial citizen of his community. He was a Democrat in his po- litical opinions. At different times he served as school director and also as township supervisor. After retiring to Canonsburg his life was a quiet one but he had many friends among the older residents. He married Mary Martin, a daughter of Samuel Martin, of Chartiers Town- ship. Her death occurred in 1889 and both were in- terred in the Miller's Run Cemetery. They were mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church at that point, he being an elder in the same. They had the following children: Nancy Jane, who resides at Canonsburg; Anna M., who married John Cockins, of Canonsburg; Ellen and Emme- line, both of whom are now deceased; Luther Martin and Sarah, twins, the latter of whom married R. D. Ham- ilton, of Chartiers Township; and twin children who died in infancy.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 164

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