History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 170

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 170


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James Martin Templeton attended the public schools


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of Chartiers Township, after which he learned the paint- ing trade, with L. D. Smith of Canonsburg, and has fol- lowed the same for thirty-three years. He is one of the borough's best-known and most highly respected citizens.


In 1883 Mr. Templeton was married to Miss Harriet B. Cochran, a daughter of Samuel and Matilda Cochran, of Canonsburg. They have two daughters and one son: Ethel Matilda, Mary Elizabeth and Paul Cochran, the latter of whom is in the office of the Fort Pitt Bridge Works. Mr. Templeton and family are mem- bers of the First Presbyterian Church of Canonsburg. In polities he is a Republican and for three years he served acceptably as a member of the Borough Council. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum.


ANDREW NICHOLS, who is a prosperous general farmer in South Strabane Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, owns 126 acres of excellent land, situated within two and one-half miles of that city, and was born in Ireland and came to America in 1851.


On July 8, 1854, Mr. Nichols was married to Rachel Patterson, who died January 21, 1908. She was a daugh- ter of William and Jane (Kennedy) Patterson. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols had the following children: Martha; Anna, who married Samuel P. Farley; Edward; Sarah J., who is deceased; James; John, who married Jennie Johnston ; and Rachel, who is deceased.


After marriage Mr. Nichols resided in the city of Philadelphia for a short time and then came to a farm near Washington, later moving to the farm which he still owns. He had few improvements to make, as substantial buildings were on the place. Later he sold the coal. He. carries on general farming and stock raising. In politics he is a Democrat. With his family he attends the Second United Presbyterian Church at Washington. He is one of South Strabane Township's most highly respected citizens.


HON. HUGH J. GILMORE, one of Washington's highly esteemed retired citizens, whose beautiful mansion is situated at No. 297 East Beau street, has passed almost a quarter of a century here and has been closely associated with business interests and public affairs. He was born in German Township, Fayette County, Pa., April 11, 1830, and remained there until he came to Washington.


For a number of years prior to taking up his residence in this city Mr. Gilmore engaged in farming in Fayette County. He had been active in politics since early man- hood and was a leader in Democratic circles in Fayette County. Under the administration of the late ex-Presi- dent Cleveland he was a gauger in the United States revenue service in charge of a number of distilleries along the Monongahela River and later was engaged in


the grain business for some years prior to retirement. In the spring of 1883 Mr. Gilmore was elected to the State Legislature and served acceptably at Harrisburg and later filled many local offices at Washington with the greatest efficiency.


Mr. Gilmore was married October 3, 1867, to Miss Emily J. Weltner, and they have two daughters, Kate and Elizabeth S., both graduates of the Washington Seminary. The former is the wife of Frank E. Smith, who owns a large vineyard and farm in Washington County and is a dealer in mineral waters and resides on McKennan avenue, Washington. The younger daughter is the wife of Jacob U. Bumgarner, who is engaged in manufacturing in Washington, and they reside with Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore. Mr. Gilmore and family are members of the First Presbyterian Church at Washington.


JOHN M. MeILVAINE, who owns 77 acres of val- uable land in Mt. Pleasant Township, now lives retired after many years of successful agricultural labor, and has resided in the vicinity of Hickory since boyhood. He was born on Pigeon Creek, Somerset Township, Washington County, Pa., about two miles from Bent- leyville, Apr. 15, 1821, and was baptized there by Dr. John McMillen, the first minister of Washington Coun- ty. His parents were Garvin and Jane (Ferguson) Mc- Ilvaine.


The grandparents of Mr. McIlvaine were Greer and Elizabeth (Morrow) McIlvaine, both of whom were natives of Cumberland County, Pa. From there they came to Washington County and in 1780 settled in Som- erset Township. They were the parents of 16 children. Both died in Somerset Township and were buried in the Pigeon Creek Cemetery. They were members of the Presbyterian Church.


Garvin MeIlvaine was born and reared in Somerset Township and lived at home until his first marriage and then moved to a farm near Hickory which he bought, the farm now owned by Justus Giffin, in Mt. Pleasant Town- ship, and lived here during the remainder of his life. He died late in the sixties and both he and his second wife were interred at Mt. Prospect Presbyterian Church. He was a Republican in his political views and served in several township offices. He was a solider in the War of 1812. Garvin McIlvaine was married (first) to Jane Ferguson, a daughter of Robert Ferguson. She died in 1823 and was buried at Pigeon Creek, in Somer- . set Township. Four children survived her, namely : Lydia, who married John Phillips; William G., who married and moved. to Memphis, Tenn., where he died; Robert F., who married a Miss Finley, of Westmore- land County; and John M. The second marriage of Garvin McIlvaine was to Jane Bratton and eight chil- dren were born to that union, as follows: Harvey, Anna


JOHN M. MCILVAINE


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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Eliza, Joseph L., Isabel, Boyd, Mary Esther, James and Ellen.


John M. McIlvaine attended school both in Somerset and Mt. Pleasant Townships, these being mostly sub- scription schools. He remained at home helping his father, accompanying him when he moved to the differ- ent farms and finally becoming the owner of the pres- ent one, which he rented for a time before purchasing it. For many years he was a very active general farmer and dealer in sheep and wool and was considered an excellent judge of both land and cattle. On May 1, 1856, he married Margaret Ann Carter, who died Mar. 26, 1864, and was buried in the Hickory Cemetery. They had three children, namely: Anna Jane, who mar- ried William Small, of Washington, Pa .; Maria Belle, who is her father's loving companion and housekeeper; and William E., who married Anna Leech, who is a daughter of Pressly Leech, of Smith Township. Mr. McIlvaine is a valued member of the Presbyterian Church at Mt. Prospect. In former years he was quite active in public matters and at different times was elected to responsible township offices on the Repub- lican ticket. The first improved road in the township extends the entire length of his farm. He has lived through many changes of all kinds and his memory goes back to many interesting events in the history of this section of the county, with a number of which he was personally concerned. He has a wide acquaintance and is universally held in esteem.


JOSEPH A. MATCHETT, a well-known general farmer and highly esteemed citizen of Robeson Township, Washington County, Pa., who resides on a tract of ninety-seven acres, which is owned by his father, also operates a coal bank which is on the farm, and during the autumn of each year also operates a threshing and corn-husking machine. He was born May 14, 1866, in Allegheny County, Pa., and is a son of Samuel G. and Sarah A. (McBride) Matchett, well-known farmers of Allegheny County, and the parents of the following children: Alexander Lee; Joseph A., our subject; Mary Louise, who is the wife of Dr. F. M. Cain of Brushton, Pa .; John Kennedy, deceased; and Zula Estella, deceased. The paternal grandparents of our subject were John W. and Mary Ann (Scantlon) Matchett, and the maternal grandparents were David and Eleanor (King) McBride.


Joseph A. Matchett was reared on the farm in Alle- gheny County, Pa., and subsequent to leaving school engaged for a time in teaming, but has followed general farming during the greater part of his life, and is one of the best-known citizens of Robeson Township. Politic- ally Mr. Matchett is a Democrat, and is at present chairman of the board of road supervisors and also election judge. He is treasurer and a stockholder of the


Midwaay Mutual Telephone Company and auditor of the Oakdale Mutual Insurance Company.


In July, 1888, Mr. Matchett married Aldecenia Blanche Strous, a daughter of Josiah and Eleanor (Anderson) Strous, who were residents of Beaver County, Pa., and farmers by occupation. Mrs. Matchett has one sister, Emma J., who married J. Ray Reed, deceased; and one brother, Erret Delmar. To Mr. and Mrs. Matchett were born the following children: Zula Maude, who is a grad- uate of the Robeson Township High School; Neal Strous, who is pursuing a course of studies at the State Agricul- tural School; Eleanor Louise, who attends the Robeson Township High School; and Samuel D. C., who is attend- ing the common schools of the township. Mr. Matchett and family attend the Presbyterian Church at Candor, Pa.


JOSHUA DICKERSON, justice of the peace in South Franklin Township, Washington County, Pa., is a promi- nent, representative and substantial citizen of this sec- tion. He is a large land owner, having a valuable farm of 200 acres in South Franklin Township and a second farm of ninety acres, in Canton Township. He was born in South Franklin Township, January 3, 1845, and is a son of John and Mary (Adams) Dickerson.


John Dickerson, father of Justice Dickerson, was born also in Washington County and was a son of Joshua and Margaret (McPherson) Dickerson, the latter of whom was a daughter of Alexander McPherson, a native of Ire- land, who secured the patent from the government for a part of the land which is the family home in South Franklin Township. The paternal grandfather, Joshua Dickerson, was a prominent man in Washington County, serving in the State Legislature, also as clerk in the land office and. for a time was county surveyor. His father was Henry Dickerson, who was the founder of the family in Washington County and in all probability he was a Revolutionary soldier. The late John Dickerson spent his life in South Franklin Township. His occupation was farming. In politics a Republican, he frequently was elected by that organization to local offices, the duties of which he invariably discharged honestly. He married Mary Adams, who was born in Washington County and was reared on Brush Run in Hopewell Township. Her parents, Robert Adams and wife, came to this country from England, the voyage in a sailing vessel taking them six weeks. Of his children, one son, Joshua, alone resides in Washington County.


Joshua Dickerson grew to manhood on the old home- stead and in the country schools he laid the foundation of an education which subsequent reading, study and experience have contributed to make an unusual one, fit- ting him not only for the ordinary duties of life but also for honorable public positions. His two large farms are devoted to general cultivation and stock raising.


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Mr. Dickerson was married (first) to Miss Sarah Cham- bers, a daughter of the late Judge J. C. Chambers of Amwell Township, who was associate judge of Washing- ton County, and to that union was born one son, Lewis B., who is a resident of South Franklin Township. Lewis B. Diekerson married Miss Elizabeth Sayres of Canton Township, her parents being natives of England. Judge Dickerson was married (second) to Miss Nancy J. Pipes, a daughter of Stephen Pipes of South Franklin Town- ship. They are members of Bethel Presbyterian Church at Van Buren.


ALBERT S. JONES, a representative citizen of Som- erset Township, Washington County, Pa., owns and oper- ates in partnership with his brother, Frank A. Jones, a very valuable farm of 274 acres. The township line passes through the farm, making fifteen acres a part of Fallowfield Township. This land lies six miles southwest of Monongahela City and four miles north of Bentley- ville.


Both Albert S. and Frank A. Jones were born on this farm, the former in 1854 and the latter in 1858. The parents were William McC. and Sarah (Fulmer) Jones, the birth of the father also being on this farm, where the grandfather, William Jones, had settled when he came to Washington County from Maryland, in 1790, three years after the first settlements had been made in the township. Grandfather Jones spent the rest of his life on this farm, dying in 1865, when within forty days of having lived out a century. He purchased the land from a Mr. Morrison, who had the original patent from the government. It is a matter of pride with the Jones family that this land has never been out of the family since.


William Mc. Jones was reared on this farm and resided here until five years before his death, when he moved to Monongahela City, where more comforts could be pro- vided for him, then a very aged man, and there his life closed, in his ninety-second year. Other members of the family have also been distinguished for longevity, one of his sisters, Ruth Jones, living to the age of ninety-four years. The mother of Albert S. Jones was born in Allegheny County, Pa., where she was living at the time of her marriage. There were eleven children born to William Mc. Jones and wife, and eight of these are living. The mother of this family died at Monongahela City when aged 69 years.


Albert S. Jones and brother were reared on the home farm. The former lives in Union Independent School District, which he has served as a director for twenty years. The present board is made up of the following representative citizens: J. S. Gamble, president ; W. L. MeIlvanie, secretary ; and Albert S. Jones, James Sum- ney, Joseph Kamerer and Melvin Oller. Mr. Jones was


married to Miss Frances Van Eman, and they have four children : Edith, Hazel, Mary and William. Mr. Jones has three brothers and four sisters, namely: Leonidas Fulmer, a soldier of the Civil War, who lives in the Soldiers' Home at Dayton, O .; William, who lives at Homestead, Pa .; Frank A., unmarried, who is associated with Albert S. in farming and stock raising; Mrs. Mary Patton, who lives at Homestead; Mrs. Margaret Grable, who resides at Monongahela City; Mrs. Kate McMillen, who lives at Washington; and Miss Flora, who lives at Monongahela City.


JOHN H. PICKETT, agent for the United States Express Company, located at No. 171 South Main street, Washington, Pa., has been identified with the express business almost from boyhood. He was born at Wash- ington, Pa., in 1866, and is a son of John Pickett, a well-known resident of this city.


John H. Pickett was educated in the public schools of Washington and his first work was done on the plat- form, for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and after four years there he was promoted to be driver, when this road established their delivery system at Washington. Three years were passed in that capacity and he made an excel- lent record, never failing in the delivery of the large amount of express that came into his hands during that time. The United States Express Company then bought out the Baltimore & Ohio and Mr. Pickett was appointed agent for the new company and has continued such ever since, now rounding out his period of thirty years in the business, and not once during all that period has his name been off the pay roll. He has an able and trust- worthy assistant in his sister, Miss Mary Pickett, who has been cashier for the company for twenty years. Mr. Pickett is interested in real estate in this section and also in the Hazel Atlas Glass Company. He takes an interest in local politics to some degree, but has never consented to hold any office himself. He is a popular official, possessing the affable manner that the public so often vainly looks for in railroad and other officers who have necessary relations with it. Mr. Pickett is a member of the Catholic Church.


MRS. SARAH J. POTTER, widow of James Potter, who resides on her well-improved farm of fifty acres, situated in South Strabane Township, Washington County, Pa., is one of the most highly esteemed residents of this section and the center of a large and prominent family. She was born in Ireland, in March, 1829, and is a daughter of William and Jane (Kennedy) Patterson.


Mrs. Potter came to America in 1850, when about twenty years of age and resided in the city of Philadel- phia until her marriage to James Potter, which took place May 17, 1853. He was also born in Ireland and


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was a son of Andrew Potter. By a previous marriage to Mary Milligan he had two children: Jane and Rachel, the latter of whom married George Long. To James and Sarah J. (Patterson) Potter the following children were born: Sarah, who married James Ferguson, of Philadelphia; Andrew; Mary Ann; Elizabeth, who mar- ried David Ross of South Strabane Township; Louisa, who married M. L. Crouch, lives in Chartiers Township; Nannie; Thomas; James; and William, who is deceased. Mrs. Potter has fifteen grandchildren and nine great- grandchildren.


While living in Philadelphia James Potter worked first as a weaver and later was employed in an oilcloth factory, after which he worked for eighteen years in a nursery. Then in 1863 he came to the present farm of fifty acres and immediately started to improve it. He built a new house and repaired all the buildings, made a comfortable home and provided a good living for his family. He was an enterprising and industrious man and was the first party who ever started to serve milk daily in the city of Washington. At first he carried the milk from his cows from house to house and at each door measured it out to the buyer. In this way he laid the foundation for a good trade which later was carried on with belter accommodations. Mr. Potter's death occurred May 6, 1905. Mrs. Potter and family attend the United Presby- terian Church at Washington.


ROBERT VANCE STEWART, M. D., a prominent young physician of Monongahela City and a lifelong resi- dent of Washington County, was born April 18, 1879, on a farm in Buffalo Township and is a son of John W. and Margaretta (Caldwell) Stewart.


John W. Stewart, who was born and reared on the old home farm in Buffalo Township, died in 1905, and was a son of John W. Stewart, Sr., who was one of the pioneer settlers of Washington County. He followed farming throughout his active career and married Margaretta Caldwell, a native of Washington County, who is still living on the home farm in Buffalo Township. They reared the following children: Robert Vance, the subject . of this sketch; Irene, who married Charles Young; John Lloyd; and Edna.


Dr. Robert V. Stewart was reared on the farm in Buffalo Township, where he attended the district schools. He later attended a preparatory school at Washington, graduated from the Washington-Jefferson College in 1901 and subsequently entered the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1905. He then devoted eighteen months to hospital work, after which he engaged in the practice of his profession in Allegheny County for six months. In the spring of 1907 Dr. Stewart came to Monongahela City and opened an office in the Alexander Bank building, where he has since been located


and has acquired an extensive and lucrative practice. He is a member of the Pennsylvania State Medical Asso- ciation and the Washington County Medical Society and is one of the staff of the Monongahela Memorial Hos- pital. He belongs to the B. P. O. E. of Monongahela City. In politics he is identified with the Republican party.


On July 7, 1909, Dr. Stewart was united in marriage with Amelia Ammon, who is a daughter of Cornelius and Amelia Ammon, and they reside in a comfortable home on Chess street. Dr. and Mrs. Stewart are members of the United Presbyterian Church.


DAVID E. SLOAN, M. D., one of the prominent physi- cians of Charleroi, who, in connection with his general practice, makes a specialty of the eye, ear, nose and throat, has been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession in this city since 1897, and his office and laboratory, which are located in the Masonic Temple, are equipped with the latest medical apparatus, including an X-ray machine. He was born on a farm in Salem Town- ship, Westmoreland County, Pa., September 1, 1864, and is a son of John and Prudence (Bucannan) Sloan.


The Sloan family has been established in Westmoreland County, Pa., since the time of the Revolutionary War, the grandfather and father of our subject both having been born in Salem Township. John Sloan was born in 1828, a son of James Sloan, and was a farmer by occu- pation. His death occurred in June, 1909, and his wife passed away in 1904.


Dr. David E. Sloan spent his early boyhood days on the home farm, and the house in which he was born, built in 1804, is still standing, as is also the old barn, which was built in 1816. When about fifteen years old he entered the Academy at Delmont, Westmoreland County, and after completing his studies there taught for two years in Delmont. In 1882 he went to Colorado, return- ing to Westmoreland County in 1888, entering the med- ical department of the Western University of Pennsyl- vania, from which he graduated in 1903. He then spent one year in the St. Francis Hospital at Pittsburg, after which he was assistant demonstrator of anatomy at the Western University of Pennsylvania for four years, dur- ing which time he was also engaged in general practice in the Twelfth ward of Pittsburg, Pa. Dr. Sloan. took a postgraduate course in the New York Post Graduate Medical College in 1904.


Dr. Sloan was united in marriage with Genevieve Alex- ander, and they have one daughter, Genevieve. Dr. Sloan resides in a comfortable and commodious residence at No. 601 Shady avenue.


J. F. BALDWIN, a representative business man of Washington, of which city he has been a resident for


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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


twenty-two years, conducts a meat business at No. 98 North Main street and enjoys the distinction of being the oldest dealer in his line in this city and one of the leading ones. He was born on the old McClain farm in South Franklin Township, Washington County, Pa., in 1853, and is a son of Cephas D. and Martha Thompson (Jamison) Baldwin.


The grandfather, Francis Baldwin, was one of the early settlers in Washington County and his burial was the first in the old Bethel churchyard at Van Buren. Cephas D. Baldwin was born in South Franklin Town- ship in 1833, followed farming all his life and died in 1885. He married a daughter of Francis Jamison and they had seven children born to them, the three survivors being: J. F .; T. H. B., who resides at Iowa City, Iowa; and Tacy, who is the wife of Philip Homer, of South Franklin Township.


J. F. Baldwin remained on the old home farm until he was thirty-five years old, coming to Washington in April, 1888, and immediately embarked in the meat busi- ness, which he has continued ever since. He has some other interests, one of these being dealing in high-class light harness horses.


On June 6, 1877, Mr. Baldwin was married to Miss Sarah Jane Myers, who was born in East Finley Town- ship and is a daughter of W. B. Myers. They have two children: Alice Winona and Rachel Thompson. The former, who is a graduate of the Washington Seminary, is a popular teacher at Washington. The latter is the wife if Rev. J. C. Wilkinson, who is president of the Baptist College at Milltown, Ga. Mr. Baldwin has been an earnest and useful citizen and is widely known and universally esteemed.


JOSIAH Q. COOPER, farmer and blacksmith, whose valuable tract of twenty-one acres of land is situated in South Strabane Township, one and one-half miles north of Washington, was born at Washington, Pa., May 30, 1832, and is a son of John and Beulah (Fisher) Cooper.


John Cooper was probably born in the vicinity of Strasburg, Lancaster County, Pa., for he came from there to Washington, Pa., and for many years afterward con- ducted a blacksmith shop. Subsequently he acquired a farm of fifty-four acres, Mr. Cooper's twenty-one-acre tract being a part of the same. He was a strong Demo- crat in his political opinions and religiously was inclined to accept the doctrines advanced by that great religious leader, Alexander Campbell. His death occurred in 1884, when he was eighty-two years of age, and both he and his wife were buried in the Washington cemetery. She was a daughter of William T. Fisher of Philadelphia. They had six children, Josiah Q. being the oldest. The others were: Mary Ann and Eliza Jane, both now deceased; Margaret Ellen, who is the wife of John Mc-


Guffin, of Washington; Sophia H., who is the wife of Samuel Weaver, of Canonsburg; Emma K., who married (first) Enoch Young, and after his death P. O. Vaale, and they reside at Sheridan, Ore.


Josiah Q. Cooper attended the Dagg and other district schools in South Strabane Township. In 1849 he began to work at the blacksmith trade and also engaged in farming until he settled on his present farm, when he gave his entire attention to it for some seven years. When he built a shop on his own land it was more for the accommodation of his neighbors than a desire to return to his trade, but he still works at his forge with old-time vigor and exactness and has considerable cus- tom. In addition to his farm he owns three lots and two houses in Washington, finding no trouble in renting this property. In politics he is a Democrat and several times has served as judge of elections and in the office of township assessor. He has been a member of the Mechanics' Institute since youth and belongs also to Lodge No. 81, Odd Fellows, at Washington. There have been military heroes among his kindred, his grandfather having been a veteran of the War of 1812 and relation- ship also existing with Gen. U. S. Grant, the great war President of the United States.




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