History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 181

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 181

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Mr. Richardson married Ruth Crumrine, who was born and reared in Pike Run Township, a daughter of Will- iam and Matilda (McCarty) Crumrine, and is a cousin of Boyd Crumrine, the author of the last history of Washington County, and also of Superintendent Crum- rine, of the Washington County schools. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson are the parents of five children: Ethel, Isaac B., who married Cora Huffman, has one child, Norman; Wayne, who married Lucille McCormick, has two chil- dren, Delmas and William; Ross; and Charles. Mr. Richardson holds membership with the Methodist Epis- copal Church, of which he is a trustee, and served four years as superintendent of the Sabbath school.

JOSEPH F. BOYER, cashier of the First National Bank of Finleyville, Pa., is also a stockholder and di- rector of that concern and has been identified with the business and social interests of the borough for the past seventeen years. He was born November 24, 1858, on the old Boyer farm in Peters Township, Washington County, Pa., and is a son of John W. and Margaret J. (Townsend) Boyer, and a grandson of Samuel Boyer, who was of the pioneer settlers of Washington County.

John W. Boyer, who was born in Peters. Township on a farm, was one of the following children born to his parents : Peter .B .; James B., deceased; John W., de- ceased; Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of David Hig- bee, deceased; Amy, deceased, was the wife of L. B. Welsh, deceased; Lucinda, is the widow of David Hig- bee; and Nancy, who married E. T. Townsend. John W.

Boyer grew to manhood in Peters Township, where he subsequently engaged in farming and stock raising and became widely known through the county as a wool buyer. After his marriage he purchased a farm near Bower Hill, Peters Township, and there followed farming until 1865, when he disposed of that farm and purchased the John Boggs farm in Union Township, which he cultivated until 1883, when he removed to Finleyville, where he lived in retirement until the time of his death, June 26, 1906. He was one of the organizers and directors of the First National Bank of Finleyville, which was or- ganized in September, 1902. Mr. Boyer is survived by his widow, Margaret J. (Townsend) Boyer, who is a daughter of Joseph Townsend, of Peters Township, and four children : Joseph F., Samuel F., Charles L. and James H.

Joseph F. Boyer was quite young when his parents re- moved to a farm two miles north of Finleyville in Union Township, where he spent his youth and continued under the parental roof ,until 1892, when he engaged in the feed and hardware business at Finleyville for twelve years. He disposed of the business to B. B. Lytle and after working one year in the bank, succeeded his brother, Samuel F. Boyer, as cashier of that concern, of which he has also been a stockholder since its organiza- tion, and in January, 1903, became one of the directors. The First National Bank of Finleyville was established in 1902 with a capital stock of $25,000., and a surplus of $5,000, with the following officers: George C. Boggs, president ; C. Fritchman, vice-president; Joseph D. Easter, Jr., cashier. The bank is located in a fine brick building on the corner of Washington avenue and Extension street, and is under the management of the present of- ficers: A. H. Anderson, president; C. B. Troutman, vice-president, and Joseph F. Boyer, cashier.

Mr. Boyer is the owner of residence and business prop- erty at Finleyville, also has an interest in the home properties in Union and Peters townships, as well as having considerable real estate in the 19th Ward at Pittsburg. He is politically an active worker in the interests of the Republican party, has served as a mem- ber of the borough council, and for the past six years has been a member of the school board. His fraternal connection is with the Masonic order, belonging to the Commandery at Charleroi and the Syrian Temple at Pittsburg.

On February 18, 1885, Mr. Boyer married Sarah M. Herron, a daughter of John B. and Elizabeth J. Herron, and of their union have been born: Beulah B., M. Bess, and Sherman H. The family holds membership with the Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Boyer is a trustee.

THOMAS E. MCLAUGHLIN, owner and proprietor of a drug store at Midway, Pa., is a registered pharma-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

cist and has been located at this place since July 17, 1907, when he purchased from the C. A. Newcomb Drug Company. He was born August 25, 1878, in Westmore- land County, Pa., and is a son of John T. and Sarah E. (Ewing) Mclaughlin.

The father of Mr. MeLaughlin was born in Pennsyl- vania, a son of Thomas and Margaret MeLaughlin, and for a number of years has been in the general mercantile business at Elder's Ridge, Indiana County, Pa. He mar- ried Sarah E. Ewing, a daughter of Andrew and Eliza- beth Ewing. They had the following children: May, Thomas E., Mary, Margaret, Charles, Eva, John and Helen.

Thomas E. MeLaughlin was educated in the public schools of Indiana County and Elder's Ridge Academy, and after four years in the latter institution, entered the Western University of Pennsylvania, where he was graduated as a pharmacist. He came then to Midway and established himself here, where he not only carries a large line of pure drugs, but also has a stock of the various articles found on sale in every first-class drug store of modern times.

On September 12, 1906, Mr. MeLaughlin was married to Miss Matilda Sneller, a daughter of Louis and Nancy Sneller, the former of whom died in Wisconsin, when Mrs. McLaughlin was a child. Mr. and Mrs. McLaughlin have one daughter, Emmaline, who was born May 16, 1908. They belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Republican. Fraternally he is con- nected with Garfield Lodge, No. 604, F. and A. M., at McDonald; and Silver Lodge, No. 382, Knights of Pythi- as, at Ford City, Pa.

DAVIS ELLSWORTH GAMBLE, a representative business man of Monongahela City, Pa., dealing in grain, mill feed and agricultural implements, was born in Wash- ington County, Pa., February 15, 1865, and is a son of the late John and Mary A. (Tinkey) Gamble.

John Gamble was born in Nottingham Township, Washington County, Pa., and was a son of Aaron Gam- ble, who was born in Ireland and came to this section in its early days of settlement. He reared a large fam- ily and the following names have been preserved: John, Joseph, William, Aaron, Samuel, Andrew, Margaret and Elizabeth. In his young manhood, John Gamble taught school for several years. He was the only member of his family who identified himself with the Republican party and he was elected and served as clerk of the county courts. Afterward, for thirteen years, he served as steward of the Washington County Home, and after resigning this position, he bought 300 acres of farm land in North Strabane Township. He carried on farm- ing and stock raising there until his death, which oc- curred in 1886, when aged sixty years. He married Mary

A. Tinkey, also a native of Washington County, who survived him but two years. To them were born six children, namely: James Sloan; John R .; Elizabeth, widow of Levi Winnett; William W., Davis Ellsworth; and Anna M., wife of Thomas Allen.

Davis E. Gamble was quite small when his father moved to North Strabane Township and his earliest recollections are of the farm on which he grew to man- hood. He attended the district schools and helped in the farming and later came into possession of 132 acres of the homestead. He continued to cultivate this land for a few years and then rented it out and came to Mo- nongahela City in 1895. Subsequently he sold his farm to M. Wilson, of Canonsburg. Mr. Gamble carried on a feed and implement business alone for three years and then admitted Joseph Lytle to partnership, three years later buying the latter's interest, and has con- tinued the business at No. 309 West Fourth street ever since. In 1906 he built the large elevator on the corner of Seventh and Railroad streets. In addition to his grain, feed and implement business, Mr. Gamble is a director of the First National Bank of Monongahela City.

On February 18, 1903, Mr. Gamble was married to Miss Letitia Bell Ross, who is a daughter of Joseph L. and Hannah A. (Bell) Ross. The former was born on his father's farm in Amwell Township, Washington County, in 1834, a son of Joseph Ross, and a grandson in the Revolutionary War, and later established the Ross of Samuel Ross, who was born in New Jersey, served family in Washington County. The maternal grand- mother of Mrs. Gamble was Elizabeth Barnard, a grand- daughter of Gen. Andrew Lewis, a Revolutionary patriot. The father of Mrs. Gamble was reared on the old Ross homestead in Amwell Township and in his boyhood at- tended the typical old log school-house of pioneer days. In the fall of 1861 he married Hannah A. Bell, who died in 1906, aged fifty-seven years. They had five children: William S., Letitia B., David B., Isaac Thomas and Mary C. Mr. Ross subsequently bought a farm of 140 acres, located in West Bethlehem Township, Washington County, on which he lived for many years, selling it in 1890, and retiring to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gamble. Formerly he was a prominent figure in Republican poli- tics and in 1883 he was elected county commissioner and served until 1887. For some sixteen years he was in business at Pittsburg.

Mr. and Mrs. Gamble have a very attractive home at No. 624 Cole street, Monongahela City. They are members of the First Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Republican and he is serving in the Select Coun- cil. Fraternally he is a member of Washington Lodge No. 164, A. F. & A. M., and of Monongahela Lodge No. 455, B. P. O. E.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

WILLIAM McPEAK, a leading citizen of Cecil Town- ship, resides on his valuable farm of 100 acres, which is situated on the Cecil and McDonald road, one mile west of the former place, was born on this farm Feb- ruary 7, 1841. His parents were James and Jane (Coch- ran) MePeak.

James McPeak was born at the foot of MePeak Hill, in Maryland, October 23, 1800, and when three years old was brought to Washington County, Pa., by his parents, who settled in Mt. Pleasant Township, near Hickory. After his school days were over he worked on the farm and also learned the carpenter trade. He settled on the farm his son William owns, following his first marriage and died here, October 23, 1880, and his burial was in the Venice Cemetery. He was a good man, a faithful member and an elder in the United Presbyterian Church, having served previously as an elder in the old Seceder Church. He located on this farm in 1836 and went to Canonsburg to cast his vote, which was with the Republican party after its organi- zation. He was an intelligent and public-spirited citizen and through his efforts secured much better mail service than had been previously afforded this section, also suc- ceeded in having a polling place installed in Cecil Town- ship, and was one of the early promoters of the church at Venice. For many years he was one of the leading sheep raisers of this section. He served honestly and intelligently in numerous township offices and was known all over the county. He was married (first) in 1833 to Jane Douglass, a daughter of John Douglass, who left one daughter, Mary, born in 1835, who died November 2, 1860. He was married (second) in 1838, to Jane Cochran, a daughter of Samuel Cochran, who lived near Robinson's Run, and six children were born to this union: Samuel, born July 18, 1839, died in 1907, and was buried in Melrose Cemetery, Bridgeville, Pa .; Will- iam; Sarah, who married J. R. Dinsmore, residing near Hickory, in Mt. Pleasant Township; Elizabeth, who is the widow of D. L. McConnell; David, who was born April 26, 1846, died in 1909, and was buried in the Venice Cemetery; and Martha, who married J. F. Maw- hiney, lives in Cecil Township. The mother of the above children was born in September, 1810, and died June 27, 1885, and her burial was in the Venice Ceme- tery.

William MePeak engaged in farming as soon as his period of school attendance was over and has always continued in the same line, although he lived in Canons- burg from 1892 until September 27, 1905, when he re- turned to the farm. He has improved the farm build- ings and has everything very comfortable about him. During the Civil War, he was out for nine months as a soldier in the State Guards, but his company was never called into battle.

On December 18, 1866, Mr. McPeak was married (first) to Miss Abigail Hickman, a daughter of Stewart Hickman, of Allegheny County. She died September 9, 1896, and was interred in the Venice Cemetery. Two sons were born to this marriage: Stewart J. and Wilbert H. Stewart J. MePeak was born May 20, 1868, and died March 14, 1903. He was a graduate of Duff's Business College and went into business as a merchant at Venice, but sold out there and started a general store at Jeanette, Pa., where he was engaged at the time of his death. He was an admirable man in every way and was an elder in the United Presbyterian Church at that place. In 1894 he married Ida B. Carlisle, a daughter of Robert Carlisle, and one son was born to them in July, 1895, who bears the name. of Wilmer R. The second son of Mr. MePeak, Wilbert H., was born Feb- ruary 4, 1875. He was educated in Jefferson Academy at Canonsburg and college at New Wilmington, being graduated from the latter institution, and then studied theology in the United Presbyterian Seminary at Alle- gheny City. His first charge to which he was sent in April, 1901, was at Port Huron, Mich. In 1906 he moved to Mercer, Mercer County, Pa., where he has charge of the Second United Presbyterian Church. He was mar- ried May 28, 1903, to Madge Conway, of Butler County, Pa., and they have two children: Helen, born in March, 1904; and Martha, born in May, 1907.

William McPeak was married (second) September 22, 1897, to Miss Ella MeNary, a daughter of Samuel Me- Nary, of North Strabane Township. Mr. McPeak is a leading member of the Venice United Presbyterian Church and for several years has been superintendent of the Sunday-school. He has identified himself with the Prohibitionist party.

R. M. ALLISON, who does a large business at Hick- ory, Pa., as a hardware merchant, has been established in this place since September, 1907. He was born in Beaver County, Pa., December 11, 1857, and is a son of Joseph and Agnes (Noals) Allison.

R. M. Allison attended the public schools of Beaver and Washington Counties and then went into the busi- ness which he has continued to be engaged in ever since. His first hardware store was conducted at Imperial, Pa., which he sold prior to coming, to Hickory, in April, 1907. He has commodious quarters, his storeroom having dimensions of twenty-two by sixty feet, and he carries a large stock which includes, in addition to all kinds of hardware, agricultural implements and wagons and bug- gies. His trade comes from all over the county, he having established and maintained a reputation for honest, stable business qualities. In December, 1909, he en- larged his business and took into partnership William Denny, of Cecil Township.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Mr. Allison was married in July, 1882, to Miss Amanda Porter, who, at death, left two children: Lena and Win- field. He was married (second) in November, 1887, to Miss Martha Connell, a daughter of Joseph Connell, of Beaver County, and they have six children: Connell, Willard, Jeanette, Raymond, Margaret and Scott. Mr. Allison and family attend the Presbyterian Church. He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for twenty-eight years, holding the offices of choir leader, Sunday-school superintendent, trustee, treasurer and el- der. In politics he is a Democrat.

JOHN GRABLE McCORMICK, a retired farmer and an honored and esteemed. citizen of Bentleyville, Pa., who is familiarly known in that borough as "Uncle J. McCormick," was born June 11, 1839, on a farm about two miles from Bentleyville, Pa., and is a son of John and Juliana (Grable) McCormick.

John McCormick, father of our subject, was a farmer who dealt extensively in livestock, which he made his principal business. He was born in Muntown, Washing- ton County, Pa., a son of John McCormick, a native of Ireland, who came to this country at a very early period and settled on the farm on which John G. McCormick was born. The father of our subject died in Somerset Township in 1887, and the mother died in 1845.

John Grable McCormick was reared by his grand- mother, his mother having died when he was a lad of six years. Mr. McCormick has been a life-long resident of Somerset Township, and in 1892 came to Bentleyville and settled on land which his father had purchased in 1880, and upon which his brother, Albert McCormick, had been residing. This farm our subject subsequently sold in town lots. Mr. McCormick resides in a fine large frame house which he had built in 1906.

In 1869, Mr. McCormick married Susan Dickerson, a daughter of Joshua and Belijah (Lafferty) Dickerson. Mrs. McCormick was born and reared in Harrison County, Ohio, where she was living at the time of their marriage. They have one child, Juliana, who married John A. Wright, and she has two children: J. McCormick Wright and Mary Salome Wright.

Mr. McCormick is a stockholder in the Acme Brewing Company of Bentleyville; is a stockholder and director in the Farmers' and Miners' National Bank, and a stock- holder in the Bentleyville National Bank.

BYERS BROS., general merchants at Pleasant Grove, East Finley Township, Washington County, Pa., have been established at this point since 1901, and through their business capacity and honorable methods, have built up a large business, attracting trade from all this section of Washington County. The firm is made up of L. Henry and T. Franklin Byers.

The parents of the Byers brothers were David R. and Catherine L. (Vansyoc) Byers. The father was a farmer, carpenter and at one time operated a sawmill. His death occurred in 1889 and his burial was in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery. He married in early manhool and his children were as follows: L. Henry, T. Franklin, Sarah L., John Addison and William, the only survivors being L. Henry and T. Franklin.

L. Henry Byers was born in East Finley Township, Washington County, in 1867, and until he was twenty- two years of age, attended school quite regularly from boyhood, completing his course with one term at Buffalo and two terms in the Normal School at Claysville. He then engaged in farming and continued until 1901, when he embarked in his present mercantile enterprise at Pleas- ant Grove. He is an active citizen of his township and village and has served as register, assessor and school director at different times. In politics he is a Demo- crat.

In 1890, L. Henry Byers was married to Miss Sadie J. Clutter, a daughter of Christopher W. and Elizabeth (Sanders) Clutter, of East Finley Township, and they have had two children, Robert C. and Minnie V., both of whom are now deceased. They are members of the Presbyterian Church.

T. Franklin Byers was born in East Finley Township in 1869. He attended the public schools until he was eighteen years of age and then went to work in the sawmill and was otherwise occupied until he joined his older and only brother in the present mercantile business at Pleasant Grove.

ALBERT ERDELYI, who conducts the Foreign Ex- change Bank, which is one of the leading banking in- stitutions of Donora, Pa., has been a resident here since 1901, and is one of the prominent and influential busi- ness men of the town. He was born May 3, 1877, in Hungary, a son of George and Mary Erdelyi, and in 1883 came to America and located at Braddock, Pa., where he was foreman of the tool department at the Braddock mills until 1901, then came to Donora, Pa., and became foreman of the tool room at the American Steel Mills. During his two years' service with this company he was elected a member of the Donora council, on the Republican ticket, and in 1904 he and John Wainer purchased from Archer Cline, his present bank- ing interests, which they operated until 1906, when Mr. Erdelyi bought his partner's interest in the business, and has since been sole owner of the Foreign Exchange Bank of Donora. Mr. Erdelyi is a most thorough, pains- taking and obliging banker, carrying on an extensive business with all classes, the foreign element and the native, and most readily provides for his patrons, let- ters of credit, drafts and checks, and exchanges foreign

WILLIAM McC. DINSMORE

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

money into money of the United States, or money of the United States into foreign money. He also sells steam- ship tickets to all parts of the world. Mr. Erdelyi has served for the past four years as a notary public, is also interested in fire insurance and real estate, and owns the business block on Mckean avenue where his bank is located, and also other property in Donora.

Mr. Erdelyi was the organizer of the St. Dominic Roman Catholic Church, a $52,000 edifice, located on the corner of Thompson and Sixth streets, which is one of the finest buildings in Donora. The Rev. Father Filcorn has charge of the church, which has a membership of 1,200, and the school has over 200 pupils enrolled. Mr. Erdelyi also organized the Beneficial Society, and the National Slavonic Society, insurance organizations, and is president and the organizer of the Slavonic Republican Club, which has a membership of 250. He is fraternally a member of the Knights of Pythias of Donora.

Mr. Erdelyi was married November 10, 1894, to Mary C. Carnak, who was born in Europe, and they have six children : Helen, Agnes, Rose, Albert, Ralph, and Syl- vester.

E. L. COLLIER, M. D., vice-president of the First National Bank at Roscoe, Washington County, Pa., and a leading physician and surgeon of this borough, was born on a farm in George Township, Fayette County, Pa., February 17, 1870. His parents were William C. and Mary A. (Longanecker) Collier.

Dr. Collier was reared on the home farm and attended the local scohools until he was seventeen years of age. He then entered the University of West Virginia, at Morgantown, and from there the Kentucky School of Medicine, at Louisville, Ky., graduating at the unusually early age of twenty-two years. He was accepted as an assistant by his uncle, Dr. Longanecker, at Fair Chance, Fayette County, Pa., with whom he remained for two years, during that time gaining much experience. From there he came to Roscoe, January 1, 1895, and has here built up a substantial practice, based upon medical skill. He has taken a hearty interest in the affairs of the borough as well as in the professional organizations of county and state, being identified with local medical societies and also the American Medical Association. When the First National Bank was organized at Roscoe, Dr. Collier was made vice-president and has served as such since 1900. He has served six years on the school board, and was on the board when the present school edifice was built, which is one of the finest in the county.

Dr. Collier married Miss Lillian Frances Dorman, of Allegheny City, Pa., and they have two daughters: Pau- line and Marcella. Dr. Collier is a thirty-second degree Mason.

WILLIAM McC. DINSMORE, one of Washington County's representative citizens and men of substance, owns two valuable farms, one of 265 acres, all in one block, situated in Mt. Pleasant Township, and the other, of 160 acres, situated near McConnell's Mills, in Char- tiers Township. Mr. Dinsmore was born near Taylors- town, Washington County, Pa., October 12, 1843, and is a son of Robert and Margaret (McClay) Dinsmore, and a grandson of James Dinsmore.

James Dinsmore was probably born in either Scotland or Ireland. A sheepskin deed in the possession of his grandson, William McC. Dinsmore, shows that he pur- chased land in what was called Caanan, in Allegheny County, Pa., twelve miles from Pittsburg, November 21, 1786. He lived on that farm for several years and then sold it and moved near Buffalo village in Mt. Pleasant Township, the farm now being in the Cook name, its owner, before marriage, having been a Dinsmore. James Dinsmore met with an accidental death, being thrown from a horse. He, was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Buffalo and Mt. Lebanon, and so strict was he in the observance of his religious duties that on many occasions he walked the entire distance of eight miles in order to attend the services at the Mt. Lebanon Church. He left an estate of 130 acres to his widow, who survived to the unusual age of ninety-three years.

Robert Dinsmore was the oldest of the children of James and Hettie (Byers) Dinsmore, the others being : William, John, Alexander, James, Elizabeth, Rebecca and Sarah. He had few educational advantages, it being necessary for him to give his father much assistance on the farm. After his marriage he lived near Taylors- town for one year and then moved into Chartiers Town- ship and lived near Houston for six years. In 1851 he moved to the old farm of 292 acres situated in South Fayette Township, Allegheny County, and lived there un- til the time of his death, in 1880. In early manhood he united with the Presbyterian Church but later became a United Presbyterian and his burial was in the cemetery belonging to the Venice Church in Cecil Township. He was a Republican in his political connection. He married Margaret McClay, a daughter of William McClay, and they had three children: James, Sarah Jane and Will- iam McClay. The mother of the family died in 1876.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 181

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