History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 173

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 173

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Mr. Wulf was married January 21, 1890, to Barbara Rauch, who was born in Germany, and they have two children : Margaret and Theodore, Jr. In politics, Mr. Wulf is an adherent of the Democratic party and has served one year as alderman, and he is fraternally a member of the F. O. E. No. 532 of Monongahela, of which he is president; the Turn Verein of Monongahela City and the German Beneficial Union of Donora. Mr. Wulf is a member and trustee of the Catholic Church.

WILLIAM JAMES MUNCE, a retired capitalist re- siding in a beautiful mansion situated at No. 223 Beau street, Washington, for many years, was one of Wash- ington County's most extensive and successful farmers and stock raisers. He was born in South Strabane Township, Washington County, Pa., in February, 1819, and is a son of Robert Munce.

Robert Munce was born in County Down, Ireland, and after coming to America, took up his residence in Washington County, in 1803, and was one of the earliest settlers in South Strabane Township. He found the land heavily timbered and right in the forest he built his own log house. He overcame the hardships incident to pioneer life and resided on his farm until his death at the age of fifty-four years. He married Mary Quail in Ireland and she accompanied him to the home in the wilderness of Washington County. She was left a widow with eight little children: Thomas, William J., Robert, Sarah, Mary, Margaret, Jane and Catherine. There are but two survivors, William J. and Catherine, the latter of whom married John McClane and they live in Texas. The mother was a remarkable woman and in spite of her many cares, she survived into advanced age, her death occurring when she was in her seventy-second year.

William J. Munce was only a boy when his father died. He grew to manhood on the farm and, as oppor- tunity presented, attended the country schools. He con- tinued to reside on one of his farms until 1889, when he retired to Washington and took up his residence in his beautiful home there. He retains the ownership of three farms, all valuable, well improved property, and,

although now past four-score years and ten, he still takes great pleasure in driving into the country and watching the progress made in the operating of these farms and the increase in his cattle and stock.

In 1857, Mr. Munce was married to Miss Elizabeth Miller, who was born in Ireland and accompanied her parents to America in 1854. To them were born nine children, namely : Robert L. and Samuel, are both farm- ers in Washington County; Russell lives in Charleston, W. Va .; James is a farmer in South Strabane Town- ship; Edward is in business at Harrisburg; Mary Eliz- abeth is the wife of Dr. Smith, of Uniontown, Pa .; and Miller, William and David, all three of whom are de- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Munce are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Washington.

CHARLES P. SPEERS, manager of the Clipper Sand Works, has been postmaster at Speers, Pa., since 1904 and was born Dec. 11, 1862, a son of Solomon and Anna Eliza (Walker) Speers. Solomon Speers, who founded and is the owner of the Clipper Sand Works, is one of the prominent and representative citizens of Speers. His grandfather settled on the present site of Speers between 1780-1790.

Charles P. Speers was reared at Speers, where he at- tended the local schools and since early boyhood has been identified with the Clipper Sand Works, of which he has for some years been the manager. Mr. Speers was united in marriage with Elizabeth Underwood, who is a daughter of Joseph Underwood, and they have three children : Ellen, Mary and Charles P., Jr. Mr. Speers is a 32nd degree Mason. He is a man of exemplary . life and one who stands very high in his community, enjoying the sincere regard of all.

JOSEPH H. SEAMAN, member of the well-known firm, Joseph H. Seaman & Company, one of the leading florists of Washington, Pa., was born in 1881, at Wash- ington, a son of H. U. Seaman, a prominent jeweler of Washington, who was also born in this city, and grand- son of Thomas Seaman, who was for many years engaged in the grocery business here, but later removed to Wheel- ing, where he also conducted a grocery store.

Joseph H. Seaman obtained his educational training in the public schools of Washington, and early in life learned the florist business. In 1896 he engaged in business with I. Shelby Crall, of Monongahela City, for . whom he was manager of the Washington store until 1901, at which time he bought out his employer, and continued the business under his own name until 1904. He then organized the Joseph H. Seaman Company, which is one of the leading florist establishments in Washington.

CHARLES P. SPEERS

CHARLES P. SPEERS, JR.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Mr. Seaman married in 1903, Francis Thompson, who was born in Meadville, Pa., a daughter of Sheldon E. Thompson, and they have two children: Homer T. and Joseph H., Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Seaman are members of the First Presbyterian Church. 'He belongs to the J. O. U. A. M., Improved Order of Red Men, fraternal order of Eagles and the Bassett Club of Washington.

J. W. MATHIAS, who is serving his first year as tax collector of the borough of Charleroi, Pa., has been a resident here for the past fifteen years, and was born August 4, 1874, a son . of Thomas W. and Elizabeth (Clapp) Mathias.

J. W. Mathias was reared in Pittsburg, where early in life he began working in a glass factory. In 1894 he came to Charleroi and became a glass worker in the Macbeth Glass Works, with which concern he remained five years. He then conducted the Walfred Hotel for five years, and in the spring of 1909 was elected to suc- ceed B. L. Parsons as tax collector of Charleroi, and assumed the responsibilities of that office on August 1, 1909. Mr. Mathias is a member of the fraternal or- ders of the Elks and Eagles and the Royal Arcanum.

Mr. Mathias married Pearl Geho, and they have three children: Thomas Walfred, William John and Jack.

THOMAS H. MYERS, of the firm of Haberlm & Myers, proprietors of a very large and complete hard- ware establishment at Bentleyville, occupying a com- modious building which they completed Apr. 1, 1909, has been a resident of this place since early in 1908. He was born on the old homestead farm in Washington Coun- ty, one and one-half miles south of Bentleyville, near Kammerer, the same on which his father was also born and reared, Apr. 20, 1882. His parents were J. A. and Harriet (Redd) Myers.

Both the Myers and Redd families were pioneer ones in Washington County and the latter at one time owned a large portion of the land on which Charleroi now stands. J. A. Myers sold his farm of 1071%, acres in 1908, and then retired to Charleroi, his wife having died in 1906.

Thomas H. Myers attended the country schools and remained on the home farm until he came to Bentley- ville. Here he entered into partnership with George Haberlin, a native of Butler County, and the firm has wonderfully prospered. They carry everything in the line of hardware, also buggies, wagons, harness and farm implements and also do a general plumbing busi- ness. They both are young and enterprising men and possess all the qualities necessary for continued pros- perity.

Mr. Myers married Miss Anna Mary Edgar, whose

death occurred Nov. 29, 1909, and they had two children born to them: Mary and Harriet.

O. W. AKINS, who is an extensive operator in the oil and gas fields of Ohio and Pennsylvania, is one of Washington 's leading citizens, and is financially interest- ed in various other enterprises in this community. He was born in 1855, in Warren County, Pa., where he grew to maturity, and at the age of twenty years entered the oil fields of Butler County, Pa., and has been an operator in the oil fields of Lima, Ohio, and Butler County, Pa., continuously since that time. Mr. Akins has been a resi- dent of Washington since early in 1893, and is at pres- ent more interested in the development of gas than oil. He is a member of the Ohio Fuel Company and is a stockholder in both the Washington Trust Company and the Union Trust Company.

Mr. Aikins, by his first marriage, had two children, namely : Carl C., who is employed by the government, and is now in Panama, was educated in the Washington and Jefferson Academy and the Washington Business College; and Juanita, who is a student at the Indiana State Normal School. In February, 1909, Mr. Akins married Sarah Jane Nutt, of Cleveland, Ohio.

Mr. Akins is a member of the Second Presbyterian Church of Washington.

HENRY MESTA, supervisor and one of the leading farmers of Union Township, Washington County, Pa., resides on a tract of 113 acres, where he carries on gen- eral farming in connection with dairying and fruit grow- ing. He was born Dec. 4, 1854, on the south side of Pittsburg, which was then known as Old Birmingham, and is a son of Henry Mesta.

Henry Mesta, father of the subject, was born in Ger- many, where he became a pattern maker by trade, and was a son of Henry Mesta, a miner, who was killed in the mines in that country. The name Henry has been given to the eldest son of the family for the past six generations. The father of our subject, who was of the fourth generation, came to this country at the age of 18 years, and located at South Pittsburg, Pa., where he worked in the Novelty Works in Diamond Alley until about 1858, when he purchased a small tract of land at Summit Park, Old Snowden Township, Allegheny Coun- ty, Pa. He erected a dwelling for the family, who cul- tivated the land, while he continued his work at Pitts- burg until 1875, when he removed to Leechburg, Pa., where his son, George Mesta, opened a foundry, which was later consolidated with the Robinson & Ray Foundry, and is now located at West Homestead, where it is operated under the firm name of The Mesta Machine Company. The father later moved to Castle Shannon, Pa., where he

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

died Dec. 19, 1889, at the age of 63 years. He is survived by his widow, who is the mother of the following chil- dren: Henry, our subject; Mary, who died at the age of 18 years; Anna, who is the wife of A. Wahr; George; Arelia, who married W. Hirth; Matilda, who died aged 12 years; and Charles, Amanda, and Fred.

Henry Mesta was seven years old when his parents removed from Pittsburg to the farm in Old Snowden Township, Allegheny County, Pa., and was there reared and educated in the local schools. After his marriage he rented a farm in Allegheny County, then cultivated a tract of land which his father purchased at Library, for three years, and in 1885 bought and located on his pres- ent farm of 113 acres in Union Township, having pur- chased the same from the Salsbury estate. All of the buildings, with the exception of the house, which he re- paired, were built by Mr. Mesta. For the first nine years after locating here he engaged extensively in dairy- ing, shipping to Pittsburg, then for 15 years ran a dairy wagon to Finleyville, and since January, 1909, when he disposed of his route, has been shipping cream to Pitts- burg. Mr. Mesta also makes a specialty of fruit grow- ing in connection with his farming and dairy interests.

On Feb. 27, 1879, Mr. Mesta was married to Catherine Knoedler, a daughter of Jacob Knoedler of Allegheny County, Pa., and to them have been born: Henry ; Jacob, who married Elsie Anderson and they have one son; Edward D .; and George, Rosina M., Anna C., Lewis W., and Frank A. Mr. Mesta is identified with the Re- publican party, and was elected supervisor of the town- ship in 1906.

EDWARD VANCE KYLE, M. D., a prominent mem- ber of the medical profession of Washington, Pa., was born in Jefferson County, Pa., in 1869, and there was reared and obtained his education in the Corsica Acad- emy. He taught school for five years, then entered the medical department of the Baltimore University, from which he graduated in 1896, after which he returned to Jefferson County, where he was successfully engaged in the practice of medicine for 12 years. He served seven years as coroner of Jefferson County, and had just com- pleted the first year of his third term, when he came to Washington. He was largely instrumental in the elec- tion of the first Republican Mayor of Baltimore, Md., that had been elected in 35 years. He is a member of the Jefferson County Medical Society, of which he held office a number of years, and is also a member of the Washington County, the Washington Post-Graduate, and the Pennsylvania State Societies, and of the American Medical Association. Dr. Kyle is a member of the staff of the Washington City Hospital.

He belongs to the 1st United Presbyterian Church of

Washington, and is a member of its board of trustees. Socially he is affiliated with the Bassett Club of Wash- ington.

In 1894, Dr. Kyle married Vesta Park of Washington, Pa., and they have one daughter, Lulu Temple Kyle.

JAMES H. HIGBE, postmaster and proprietor of a general store at Gastonville, Pa., has been a lifelong resi- dent of Washington County, and was born Aug. 29, 1851, on a farm in Union Township, and is a son of Henry and Maria (Atcheson) Higbe.

Henry Higbe was born in 1819, on a farm in Union Township, and inherited part of the same after the death of his father, Benjamin Higbe, who was one of the early settlers of the county and the owner of a large tract of land in Washington and Allegheny Counties. Henry Higbe, like his father, engaged in agricultural pursuits all his life on the home farm, where his death occurred in May, 1873. He was united in marriage with Maria Atcheson, who is still living, and to them were born the following children: James H .; Elizabeth, deceased ; Susan C., deceased, was the wife of George Martin, de- ceased; Newton W., and Ethel B., who is the wife of Henry Sebolt.

James H. Higbe grew to manhood on the homestead farm, part of which he subsequently inherited, and in 1894 came to Gastonville, where for a short time he conducted a meat market, after which he opened his present general store, which he operates in connection with his duties as postmaster, which position he has filled since December 1, 1898. Mr. Higbe makes his home at Gastonville with his aged mother. He is a Re- publican in politics.

FRANK RIVA, who is the proprietor of the Frank Riva Clothing and Shoe Store located at 524 Fallowfield Avenue, Charleroi, Pa., where he also conducts a steam- ship agency, has been a resident of Charleroi since De- cember 22, 1896, and is one of the wealthiest citizens of the city. He was born Feb. 8, 1871, in the northern part of Italy, and is a son of John Riva. He was reared in Italy, and at the age of 11 years began learning car- pentering and cabinet-making, and when about 18 years of age went to London, England, where he worked for five years in a cabinet and piano factory. He then came to America, located at Philadelphia, and there en- tered a factory, and in 1895 came to Charleroi, where he was united in marriage with Josephine Brusa, a daugh- ter of Angelo Brusa, who was one of the early settlers of Charleroi. After his marriage he returned to Phil- adelphia for about 18 months, and then came to Char- leroi to remain permanently. He established the steam- ship agency, and subsequently opened the present shoe

HAMILTON R. POST

RESIDENCE OF HAMILTON R. POST, SOUTH FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP

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and clothing store, later bought and rebuilt his present business block, and is recognized as one of the most suc- cessful business men of Charleroi.

Mr. and Mrs. Riva are the parents of the following children : Adelmina, Edmund, Caroline, Frank, Mary, Ena, Victor, and Dora, the last named dying during the summer of 1909, at the age of two years and six months.

HAMILTON R. POST, one of South Franklin Town- ship's public-spirited men and reliable and substantial citizens, who is now serving in his second term as a. member of the township school board, owns one of the fine farms of this section, which he devotes to general farming and stock raising. Mr. Post was born in South Franklin Township, Washington County, Pa., Mar. 23, 1856, and is a son of Stephen Post, a former resident of South Franklin Township, whose death occurred Aug. 31, 1909.

The late Stephen Post was born in what is now South Franklin Township, Washington County, Aug. 23, 1824, a son of Samuel and Nellie (Day) Post, both natives of Washington County. The Post family was established in Washington County by the father of Samuel Post, who probably was born in Ireland. Samuel Post died when his son Stephen was small, and the latter was reared by his mother and gained his education in the schools of Morris Township, afterward engaging in farming and stock raising, mainly in South Franklin Township. For many years he was a man of prominence here, taking an active part in the township's develop- ment and government, and served several terms in the office of road supervisor. He was one of the liberal supporters of the Upper Ten Mile Presbyterian Church at Prosperity, of which he was an elder for a half century. Stephen Post was married (first) Oct. 3, 1850, to Elizabeth Wier, daughter of Joseph Wier, of Wash- ington County, and they had two children, both of whom are deceased. He was married (second) May 15, 1855, to Anna Ringland, daughter of Col. Thomas Ringland, and one of their children survives, Hamilton R., of South Franklin Township. His third marriage took place on Mar. 21, 1861, to Sarah Tucker, a daugh- ter of John Tucker, and three children were born to that union, namely: John N., who resides in South Franklin Township; Frank B., who is in the hardware business at Washington and is a member of the firm of Paul and Post; and Mary I., who is the wife of A. L. Lindley, of South Franklin Township.

Hamilton R. Post was educated in the schools of South Franklin Township, and through life his main interests have been centered here. From boyhood he has been familiar with farming and stock raising and his long experience makes him very successful. He de- votes quite a large amount of attention to growing wool

and has 500 sheep and also horses and cattle. He has 177 acres in the farm on which his son Homer S. Post lives, and Mrs. Post is the owner of the Demas Lind- ley farm of 272 acres, which was willed to her by her uncle, Demas Lindley, by whom she was reared, as she was but ten days old at her mother's death. In 1905, Mr. Post purchased a tract of 20 acres, on which for- merly stood the blacksmith shop of William Manor, and here, in 1906, he erected a fine modern, two-story and a half brick residence, which is one of the most attractive rural homes in this part of the county.

On Oct. 16, 1879, Mr. Post was married to Miss Sarah A. Lindley, a daughter of the late Cephas Lind- ley, of South Franklin Township, and they have had five children: Demas L., Homer S., Grace L., Lovina A. and Frank W., the last named residing at home. Demas L. lives on the old home place. Homer S. resides in South Franklin Township. He married Miss Effie Pipes, a daughter of Thompson Pipes, and they have one son, Stephen Hubert Post. Grace L. married Mar- tin Elliott, of South Franklin Township, and they have one son, Donald Post Elliott. Lovina A. married Bird Grey, of South Franklin Township, and they have one son, Ralph H. Grey. Mr. Post has the satisfaction of having his children all settled near him and thus is able to enjoy their companionship. For many years he has been a deacon in the Bethel Presbyterian Church at Van Buren, for a long time previously having been a member of the Upper Ten Mile Presbyterian Church. In polities he is identified with the Democratic party to a large extent, although his views on temperance lead him to also consider the claims of the Prohibition party.

ALEXANDER J. CULBERTSON, D. D. S., who has been a resident of Washington, Pa., for the past twenty- five years, during which time he has been successfully en- gaged in the practice of dental surgery, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., where he was reared and edu- cated. He graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Dentistry of Philadelphia, with the class of 1885, after which he immediately came to Washington, where he has since been established in the practice of dental surgery.

In 1891, Dr. Culbertson was united in marriage with Etta Ruple, who comes of one of the old established families of Washington County, and of their union have been born two sons, James B., who is a student at the Indiana State Normal, and Alexander J.

Dr. Culbertson is a member of the First Presbyterian Church. He belongs to the Improved Order of Hepta- sophs at Washington.

D. T. McCONNELL, a leading citizen of Cecil Town- ship, whose valuable farm of 100 acres is situated one-

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half mile southwest of Bishop, Pa., was born March 4, 1847, on this same farm, which has been in the McCon- nell name for some 115 years. His parents were David and Sarah (Campbell) McConnell.

Alexander McConnell, the grandfather, purchased the farm alluded to from a Mr. Black, during the whiskey insurrection, and in turn it became the property of David McConnell, father of D. T., whom it is believed was born after the family came to Cecil Township. David McConnell cultivated this land until his death, which occurred in June, 1873. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church and was one of the founders of the church at Venice. He married Sarah Campbell, a daughter of John Campbell, residing near McDonald, and they had ten children: David, Alexander and Jane, all of whom are deceased; John; Margaret; Elizabeth; Isabella; Alexander, who still lives on the old place; David T. and Sarah. The mother of this family died in April, 1881, and both she and husband were interred in the church cemetery at Venice.

D. T. McConnell has been engaged in farming ever since his school days were over and the condition of his land testifies to his thoroughness as an agriculturist. He still has about ten acres in valuable timber. No tests have ever been made for oil or gas.

Mr. McConnell married Miss Ella Jane Wallace, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Craig) Wallace, na- tives of Ireland who came to America and lived in Alle- gheny County. Mr. and Mrs. McConnell have had seven children: Harry Alexander, Mary, Margaret, George E., Thomas C., Elizabeth, John F., and Ella Jane. George E. is deceased. The father of Mr. McConnell was long a member of the church at Robinson's Run, in Allegheny County, but the latter has always been connected with the United Presbyterian Church at Venice. He is a Democrat but has never sought nor desired public office of any kind.

WILLIAM SIMPSON, general merchant at Elrama, Pa., has been a resident of Washington County since 1866. He was born in Scotland, April 5, 1848, and is the only child of William and Margaret (Harper) Simp- son, both of whom were born and reared in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

In 1866 the Simpsons came to America and settled in Washington County, Pa., at Limetown, now known as Shire Oaks. The father was a merchant and in search of a desirable location, shortly afterward moved to Mc- Keesport, Pa., where his death soon occurred, following that of his wife.

After the death of his parents, William Simpson re- mained at Mckeesport for ten years, during which period he operated a ferry, and then returned to Washing- ton County and accepted the management of the Cliff

Mine Company store and served as ticket agent at White Mills for the P. V. & C. Railroad and later the Pennsylvania road which bought out the other line, and continued the store there until in November, 1906. He still has in his possession a pass issued by the old P. V. & C. R. R., one of the few probably preserved. In 1906 he embarked in his present business enterprises at El- rama, and in addition to carrying a full line of general merchandise, is agent for the leading steamship lines. He has the distinction of being the pioneer merchant of the place and retains customers who dealt with him as far back as 1876. He has been in business for himself since 1889.

In November, 1876, Mr. Simpson was married to Miss Sarah Greenhalgh, a daughter of Robert Greenhalgh, a well known coal operator of this section. Mrs. Simpson died in 1905, leaving two children: Sallie, who married Thomas A. Pritchard, has one child, Robert S. Pritch- ard; and John C., who married Nellie Campbell and has two children: William and Iva. Mr. Simpson has been a member of Advance Lodge of Odd Fellows since 1876 and for twenty-five years has been secretary of this body. In polities he is a Republican.

ALBERT E. THOMPSON, M. D., one of the represen- tative physicians and leading citizens of Washington, Pa., was born November 16, 1873, in Washington, Pa., and is a son of Dr. William R. Thompson, one of the leading physicians of Washington.

Albert E. Thompson was reared in Washington, and after a preliminary education graduated from the Wash- ington and Jefferson College with the class of 1895, after which he entered the medical department of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, from which he graduated in 1898. He was then resident physician of the Western Pennsylvania Hospital of Pittsburg for one year, since which time he has been located in Washing- ton, engaged in the practice of his profession, and is recognized as one of the rising young physicians of the city. He is treasurer of the Washington County Medical Society, is a member of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, also the College of Physicians of Pittsburg, and the Washington Post-Graduate Society, and is a member of the surgical staff of the City Hospital of Washington. Dr. Thompson has always taken an active interest in local politics, has served two years as physician of the Washington County Home, and two years as physician to the County Jail. Socially, he is a member and vice-presi- dent of the Bassett Club; fraternally, a member of the Eagles, of which he has served as physician; and re- ligiously, a member and a deacon in the Second Presby- terian Church of Washington.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 173

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