History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 176

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 176

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Dr. Letherman owns the building now occupied by the Arlington Hotel, and was formerly used by him as a dwelling and office.

Dr. Letherman was united in marriage with Alberta Ward, who was born in Washington County, a daughter of James Ward, and died in 1895. They have one son, Ralph, who was killed in a coasting accident, February 8, 1905, when fourteen years of age.

JOHN H. SIMPSON, who has been a resident of Washington, Pa., for twenty-one years, resides at No. 234 West Wheeling street and carries on a large business as a contracting painter. He was born in Fulton County, Pa., in 1845, and is a son of Samuel Simpson.

The Simpson family is of Irish extraction. When young men, Robert and Jacob Simpson, brothers, the former of whom became the grandfather of John H. Simpson, left Londonderry, Ireland, to seek their for- tunes on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. They landed in Chester County, Pa., in 1790, when they sepa- rated and it is doubtful if they ever met again. In those early days transportation was difficult and mails were uncertain, hence communication between the brothers was infrequent. Robert Simpson settled in Lancaster County, but hearing that his brother Jacob had moved to Bedford County, he also moved there in 1822, but only to find that Jacob had moved to Washington County in 1820. Perhaps at this time Robert Simpson was in fail- ing health, as he died in 1824, at McConnellsburg, now the county seat of Fulton County, and possibly this was one reason that he sought to re-establish fraternal rela- tions. Robert Simpson left descendants. Samuel, one of his sons, followed farming in Bedford, now Fulton County, from 1822 until his death in 1897.

John H. Simpson remained with his father through his school period and after that started west, as did his grandfather before him. He resided at different points, and at Burlington, Iowa, learned his trade, one which he has followed more or less continuously ever since. In 1889 he came to Washington and here has become a leading business man in his line and a substantial and useful citizen.

At Clarinda, Iowa, in 1884, Mr. Simpson was married to Miss Kate M. Kahl, who was born and reared in Washington County, Pa., and is a daughter of Jonathan Kahl. Mr. and Mrs. Simpson have one daughter, Lyda C., who is the wife of. W. C. Radley, of Washington, Pa. Mr. Simpson is identified with the Odd Fellows, belong- ing to the lower branch and also to the Encampment.

THOMAS J. TOPE, general contractor, residing on his farm of fifty acres, situated in Cecil Township, Washing- ton County, where he is engaged in raising thoroughbred horses, was born in Hancock County, W. Va., April 27, 1862, and is a son of Jacob J. and Louisa (Lankfoot) Tope.

Jacob J. Tope was born in Hancock County, W. Va., December 9, 1818, attended school in Holliday's Cove, in Brooke County, and as soon as old enough took charge of the farm of 270 acres, 100 of which he cleared from the forest. His father had died when he was only three years old and thus heavy responsibilities were placed on his shoulders when he was yet young. He married Louisa Lankfoot, a daughter of Obadiah Lankfoot. She died March 5, 1905, surviving her husband from August 5, 1891. They were buried at Fairview, W. Va.

They had the following children: Alice, who is now deceased, was the wife of Thomas Stephenson; Anna, who married James Gillon, of Frankfort Springs, Pa .; George T., who died from an accident when four years old; James B., who is engaged in farming on the old homestead, married Mary McCrea; William J., who died in 1882, was an attorney at Omaha, Neb .; Mary V., who is the wife of Joseph Peterson, at Toronto, Ohio; John McC., who is engaged in a livery and feed business at Toronto, married Lucy Taff; Thomas J .; Idella, who died aged five months; Frank, who is a mill worker, mar- ried Laura Hutzson; Charles W., who resides at Bur- gettstown, married Amanda Chambers; and Ella C., who, married Clarence James, who is superintendent of the Kansas Oil and Gas Company, and they reside in East . End, Pittsburg. This large family was reared on the homestead in West Virginia, where the parents spent their lives. They were worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The father was a Whig in politics.

Thomas J. Tope was educated in the schoolhouse that stood on his father's plantation. When he reached man- hood he engaged in a livery business at New Cumberland

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

and from there went into the oil fields, first as a teamster and later became a contractor. In 1886 he married, and for two years afterward lived on a rented farm, then spent two years at New Cumberland as a livery man, lived one year at Scott's Siding, in Allegheny Coun- ty, and from that time until the spring of 1897, he en- gaged in contracting at McDonald and other points. He still makes contracting a prominent business activity. He then purchased his present farm and has built up a reputation for the fine horses bred here, shipping them to many different parts of the country.

On May 5, 1886, Mr. Tope was married to Miss Flor- ence B. Anderson, a daughter of John and Lydia Ander- son, of Hancock County, W. Va., and they have one son, Edward C. The latter married Helen Williams, and they have two children: Donald J. and Stewart Edgar Tope. Mr. Tope and family belong to the Presbyterian Church . at McDonald. He is identified with the Republican party and is serving acceptably in his second term as road supervisor of Cecil Township. He is a valued mem- ber of the Union Agricultural Association at Burgetts- town.

JOHN A. RAY, president of the Washington National Bank of Burgettstown, Pa .; of the Farmers' National Bank of Hickory, Pa .; and Lincoln National Bank of Avella, Pa .; and vice-president of the First National Bank of Washington, Pa .; of the Farmers' and Miners' Bank of Marianna, Pa., and of the Dexter Coal Com- pany, is one of the leading financiers of western Penn- sylvania. Mr. Ray was born at Greensburg, Westmore- land County, Pa., June 2, 1865, and is a son of James and Elizabeth (Smith) Ray.

John A. Ray obtained his education in the public schools of Greensburg. Almost in boyhood he learned telegraphing and worked as a telegraph operator for seven years, and for eleven more years was connected with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, being train despatcher for seven years and chief train despatcher and division operator for four years of this time. For eight succeeding years he served in the capacity of real estate agent for the Pittsburg-Buffalo Company. Mr. Ray has been prominently identified with the banking interests of this section for a prolonged period and his careful, conservative management of large financial in- stitutions, has secured to him the confidence of capital- ists as well as the people of small means, who have given practical support to those institutions with which his name is associated.

Mr. Ray is affiliated with the Republican party. He was reared in the Episcopal Church.

CHARLES JOHN METZGER, deceased, was one of Union Township's most highly respected German-Amer-

ican citizens and was well and favorably known all through western Pennsylvania. He was born in Ger- many, November 13, 1852, and died on his farm in Union Township, Washington County, Pa., October 27, 1906.

The parents of Mr. Metzger were Frederick and Bar- bara Metzger, who lived on their own large farm near Wittenberg, Germany. After the mother died the father married again and to the two marriages he had twenty- two children born to him, the seven of the first union being: Michael, Fred, Charles, George, Rose, John and Caroline. Three of these came to America-Charles, Fred and Caroline. Fred died at Youngstown, Ohio. Caroline is the wife of Valentine Laubenheimer and lives at Pittsburg.

Charles J. Metzger lived to manhood in his own land. He attended school, helped his father on the home farm and also learned the butchering trade. When he came to America he located at Pittsburg, embarking in the meat business, and for eleven years operated a butcher shop on Penn avenue, near the union station in that city. For fifteen years afterward he was established in the meat business at Duquesne Heights, Pittsburg, after which he came to Washington County and bought 155 acres of good farm land from William Adams, in Union Township. This farm, with the exception of three acres subsequently sold, is still owned by his family. He was an excellent business man and he also had a wide circle of personal friends. He was identified with a number of fraternal organizations, including the Red Men, the Odd Fellows and the United Workmen, and was also a member of the German Beneficial Union. He was a Republican but never desired any political favors for himself.

Mr. Metzger was married' September 20, 1876, to Ur- sina Punchera, and the following named children were born to them: Fred, who died at the age of twenty- seven years; Amelia, Charles, William, Lillie and Carrie. Mrs. Metzger was born on a farm in Switzerland and is a daughter of Adam P. and Amelia (Caspar) Puncher, both of whom were natives of Switzerland, in which country the mother died. Adam J. Punchera was a son of Jacob Punchera, the latter of whom was a preacher. Adam Punchera learned the trades of baker and con- fectioner and followed the same in different parts of the world. Although he spoke seven languages, he never learned English. The last twenty-one years of his. life were spent in the home of his daughter, where he died aged seventy-six years. His six children were: Cather- ine, who married Peter Streamer, still lives in Switzer- land; Ursina; Jacob, who lives in Louisiana; and three who died in infancy. Mrs. Metzger came to America all alone, when a girl of fifteen years. She found em- ployment at Pittsburg, and lived six years with Mrs. James Klauss and then was with Mrs. Isaac Gooken-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

heimer until she married Mr. Metzger. Mrs. Metzger is a highly esteemed lady, hospitable, kind hearted and very capable.

JOHN R. McNARY, carpenter of the Meadowlands Coal Company of Washington, Pa., was born in 1869, at Arden, South Strabane Township, Washington County, Pa., a son of J. D. McNary, and he was reared and educated in his native township.

In 1895 he came to Washington where he has since continued to reside. He was for some time engaged in the oil business, but for the last ten years has been associated with the Meadowlands Coal Company, of which he is at present carpenter.

Mr. MeNary was married in June, 1892, to Hattie Mor- gan, who was born in Chartiers Township, a daughter of John and Sarah Jane (Martin) Morgan, and of their union were born two children; Ralph Edwin and Mary Eleanor.

John Morgan, who was born in 1821, in Washington County, and died in February, 1907, came of one of the prominent pioneer families of the county, and was, dur- ing his active career, engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock raising in Chartiers Township. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan were the parents of seven children: Hattie, the wife of our subject; Anne, married J. C. Barre, of Wash- ington, Pa .; Belle, wife of George C. Patch, of Houston, Washington County; S. M. Morgan, of Washington; John, a resident of Washington; Ella, wife of Newton Carlisle, of New Hickory, Pa .; and Frank, who lives on the old homestead in Chartiers Township. Mr. and Mrs. McNary are members of the First United Presbyterian Church.

ROBERT EUGENE BYERS, vice president of the First National Bank of Monongahela City, Pa., and one of the leading druggists of the place, was born Aug. 15, 1848, at Fayette City, Pa., and is a son of Robert C. and Emily F. (Churchman) Byers.

Robert C. Byers, a native of Armstrong County, Pa., came to Washington County with his parents, who set- tled on land on Peters Creek, and when about 14 years of age, came to Monongahela City, where he engaged in tailoring, at which he worked for many years. He sub- sequently engaged in the drug business at Fayette City, Pa., from 1854 until 1860, when he removed to Belle Vernon, Pa., where he conducted a drug store until 1872, at which time he came to Monongahela City, and established himself in the drug business in partnership with his son, Robert E., the subject of this sketch. In 1882 he sold his interest to his son and lived in retire- ment at Monongahela City until the time of his death, Aug. 31, 1899, at the age of 80 years. He married Emily F. Churchman, a Quaker, and a native of Dela-

ware, who came to this county alone, and on horseback, and of their union were born the following children: Albert, deceased; Josephine, deceased wife of Isaac Bailey, also deceased; Emma, who is the wife of John Furnier; Robert Eugene, our subject; William C., a physician; Theodore M .; and Isaac E., deceased.

Robert Eugene Byers was reared at Fayette City, Pa., where he attended the common schools, and at the age of 13 years began working on a farm, for one dollar a week and his dinners. In 1860 he entered his father's store at Belle Vernon as a clerk, and in 1870 came to Monongahela City and embarked in the drug business in partnership with his father, who came here in 1872. The business was conducted under the firm name of R. C. Byers & Son, and in 1872 their store was de- stroyed by fire. That same year they erected the Byers block, which is located on the corner of Fourth and Main streets, and in 1882 our subject purchased his father's interest in the business, and has since been the sole owner. Mr. Byers was one of the organizers, and is the vice president of the First National Bank of Monongahela City, which was established in 1901; is president of the Bellwood and Monongahela City Gas Company, which he was instrumental in organizing in 1885, and is also president and one of the organizers of the West Monongahela Gas Company, which was estab- lished in 1894. Fraternally he is a Mason and is a charter member of the B. P. O. E., at Monongahela City. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been treasurer since 1879.

On Oct. 12, 1870, Mr. Byers was united in marriage with Josephine C. Camp, a native of New Jersey, who came to this county with her parents, Benjamin and Rachael Camp, who are still living in Monongahela City.

MELCHIOR FEHL, respected citizen and successful general farmer of Cecil Township, Washington County, Pa., resides on his valuable farm of ninety-seven acres, situated two and one-half miles northwest of Canonsburg. He was born in Germany, February 8, 1869, a son of Melchior J. and Mary (Jost) Fehl. His parents remained in Germany, where his father subsequently died.

In 1884, when sixteen years of age, Mr. Fehl came to the United States and located in Cecil Township, and his first work was done on the McDonald farm, on the Cecil Township line. Six years later he married and lived for seven months afterward on the Cook farm and then rented a farm near Noblestown, but later returned to Cecil Township and operated the Slater farm until he purchased his present place in 1903, of John R. Slater. He has a fine property although the coal had all been sold before he bought the farm. There has never been an oil or gas lease on the place. He has done a large amount

ROBERT EUGENE BYERS

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

of improving and some building, repairing the structures then standing and, in 1903, erecting his commodious barn, the dimensions of which are 36 by 48 feet. He keeps about fourteen milch cows and owns some thor- oughbred cattle. Mr. Fehl is a very industrious, prac- tical man and has great reason to feel proud of the ad- vancement he has made since he came to America as a poor boy.

On February 4, 1890, Mr. Fehl was married to Miss Barbara Kress, a daughter of Christian and Catherine Kress, the former of whom died in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Fehl have four children: Henry, Catherine, Carl and Harry. They are members of the German Reformed Church. Mr. Fehl casts his vote with the Republican party.

ELMORE A. WILLETS, who has been interested in oil development in Washington County from the time of the opening of the Smith Pool until the present, is financially identified with some of Washington's most important business enterprises and also with those at other points. He was born in Pennsylvania, and is a son of Isaac Willets, who was one of the pioneer oil operators in the Washington field.

Mr. Willets was graduated from Yale University, in the class of 1884, with the degree of Ph. B. In January, 1886, he came to Washington, giving his father assistance for a time and later succeeding to his interests and re- sponsibilities. For twenty-three years he has been a stockholder in the Citizens' National Bank, and is a stockholder in the Washington Electric Light & Power Company, and a director in the Real Estate Trust Com- pany, all at Washington. He is also president of the State Bank at Belmont, N. Y .; a director in the Citi- zens' National Bank of Wellsville, N. Y .; a director in the Buffalo Commercial Insurance Company, of Buffalo, N. Y., and in other lesser concerns. His club member- ship is also large and influential. He belongs to the University Club of New York City; the St. Anthony Club of New York City; the Pittsburg Club and the Pittsburg Country Club, both of Pittsburg.

HENRY C. SPHAR. No family in Allen Township, Washington County, Pa., is better known or more highly esteemed than that of Sphar, which was a pioneer one in this section. A representative of this well known family now residing at Roscoe is found in Henry C. Sphar, who was born on his father's farm, about three miles from his present home, February 4, 1844, and is a son of John and Lucy Ann (Scott) Sphar.

It was the grandfather, John Sphar, who came first to Allen Township and acquired the land which subsequent- ly became so valuable. John Sphar the second, father of Henry C., was born on the old home farm and later

became the owner of 100 acres of fine land. In the course of time, owing to railroad extension and other developing causes, this land became particularly well adapted as the site of a town, and Henry C. Sphar gave the land on which the railroad built the first station, the nucleus of the present thriving place, and John Sphar named the hamlet Lucyville, in honor of his wife, Lucy Ann (Scott) Sphar, who was a native of Washington County. The station and hamlet grew into a village, and into a prosperous town, and in the course of time ab- sorbed more and more of the Sphar farm, and when a postoffice was established the name of Roscoe was given it.

Henry C. Sphar owns forty acres of the old farm which lies in the Second Precinct, and he lives in a com- fortable and commodious brick residence, which was erected by a Mr. Griffith, in 1804, on the farm, about two miles distant from the old farmhouse in which Mr. Sphar was born. He attended the district schools and followed farming for some years. In October, 1868, he was married to Miss Hannah R. McElhiney, who was born and reared in Armstrong County, Pa. In 1869, Mr. and Mrs. Sphar moved into their present residence and have lived here ever since. He devotes considerable time to the growing of fruit and has the reputation of raising the finest grapes produced in Washington County. He is a director in the First National Bank at Roscoe.

Mr. and Mrs. Sphar have seven children: Alberta, Edwin F., Sarah, Mary, Lucy, Robert Argyle and Will- iam. Alberta married Thomas Eagye, and they reside at Charleroi, Pa. Edwin F. has been a leading business man at Roscoe since 1897. He was born in the old brick residence mentioned above, February 18, 1871, was reared and educated at Roscoe and married Annie Anderson, who was born and reared at California, Pa. In 1897 he erected a large feed store and grain warehouse and also operates a grain elevator. Sarah, who is a gradu- ate of the University of Chicago, is superintendent of the kindergarten department of the public schools of Rochester, N. Y. Mary married Joseph H. Underwood, Jr., of Roscoe. Lucy is a teacher in the Roscoe schools. Robert Argyle is a graduate of the Philadelphia School of Pharmacy and is a student in the class of 1910 at the Philadelphia Medical School. William resides at home and is a graduate of Duff's Commercial College of Pittsburg. Mr. Spbar and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Roscoe, in which he has been a steward and also a trustee for forty years.

WILLIIAM J. DULANEY, chief of the police de- partment of Washington, Pa., and part owner of the Gasten & Dulaney market and grocery on Highland ave- nue, has been a resident of Washington for the past twenty-three years. He was born in 1877, in Greene County, Pa., and was about nine years of age when his

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parents came to Washington, where he was reared and learned the tinner's trade, at which he worked for about twelve years. In 1904 he became a member of the Wash- ington police force and two years later succeeded Alex- ander Rankin as chief of that department, in which ca- pacity he is still serving. In 1898, Chief Dulaney en- listed in Co. H, 10th Pa. Vol. Inf., and served with the company and regiment through their campaign in the Philippines. Upon his return from the Philippines, he re-enlisted in the company and has been promoted through the various offices of the company, serving as corporal, sergeant, second lieutenant, is the present first lieutenant, and at the last annual encampment of the campany was acting captain, and on November 22, 1909, was elected captain. Chief Dulaney has always taken an active in- terest in local politics. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and fraternally is affiliated with the Eagles, the Knights of Maccabees, and the Modern Maccabees.

In August, 1900, Mr. Dulaney was united in marriage with Isabelle Carter, and they have four children: Harry, Charles, Bertha, and Frances.

SAMUEL CONNER, a highly esteemed retired farmer of Cecil Township, who is the owner of a tract of 187 acres of fine farming land situated one and one-half miles north of Canonsburg, and a second property of eighty-seven acres northeast of Venice, was born near Primrose, in Cecil Township, Washington County, Pa., March 10, 1840, son of John and Margaret (Edgar) Con- . ner.

Samuel Conner, the grandfather of Samuel Conner, came from Maryland to Pennsylvania at an early day, and settled in Washington County, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying in his sixty-fifth year, and being buried at Candor Cemetery, where his wife, who had died when their son John was but a small boy, was also laid to rest. They were members of the Presbyte- rian Church at Raccoon, in Smith Township. Mr. Conner was a Democrat in politics. He married a Miss Graham and they had three children who lived to maturity, name- ly: John, William and Sarah, and probably two or three who died in infancy.

John Conner, father of Samuel Conner, received his education in the schools of Cecil Township, where he was married to Margaret Edgar, daughter of Adam Edgar. They had a family of five children: Samuel, Sarah Jane, Abigail, Adam and John, of whom Samuel and John survive. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Conner resided for a time in Cecil Township near the homestead and then went to the farm near Primrose where their son Samuel was born. In April, 1844, he purchased the farm on which Samuel now lives, and lived here until his death. He was a carpenter by trade, and followed that occupation until he located on this place. They were

faithful members of the Greenside Avenue United Pres- byterian Church at Canonsburg. In politics Mr. Conner was a Democrat. He died July 29, 1892, Mrs. Conner having passed away February 14, 1890, and both were buried at Spear Spring Cemetery.

Samuel Conner attended the Cecil Township common schools, after leaving which he commenced farming on the old homestead, to which the family had come when he was four years of age. He continued to operate this tract until 1905, when his sisters died and he retired from active pursuits. He has two oil wells in operation and others are being drilled, and he also sells coal from his property to the National Mining Company.

Mr. Conner is a member of the Chartier United Pres- byterian Church. In political matters he is a Democrat, but he has never cared for public preferment, although he may always be found at the polls on election day, doing his full duty as a public-spirited citizen.

STEPHEN COLVIN RICHARDSON, deceased, who was long known in the vicinity of Clover Hill as a pros- perous farmer and merchant, was born at Bentleyville, Washington County, Pa., in 1840, son of Shesh B. Rich- ardson, who was a member of one of the oldest settled families in Washington County. Mr. Richardson re- ceived a practical education in the schools of his native county, and, as already intimated, his industrial career was one of activity along agricultural and mercantile lines, and was a successful one. He was a veteran of the Civil War, having served three years in Co. D, in the famous Pennsylvania regiment known as the Ringgold Cavalry. He settled at Clover Hill in 1867 before his marriage, and there the greater part of his life was spent. On his retirement from active business in 1901 he removed to Washington, where he passed his remain- ing years, his death taking place in 1906. He was an earnest member of the Jefferson Avenue Methodist Epis- copal Church, and served on its official board. Mr. Rich- ardson was a citizen of sterling character, wise, just, kind and charitable. He was highly esteemed by those who knew him, and his death aroused sincere sorrow in many hearts.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 176

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