History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 187

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 187

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

1907-$74,606.86; June 23, 1908-$105,351.16; June 23, 1909-$144,159.63, and on October 1, 1909, over $200,- 000.00. The capital of the bank is $25,000, with a sur- plus of $6,000. It is interesting to note that since W. R. Stephens took charge as cashier of the bank, the de- posits and business of the bank have about doubled. Mr. Stephens is without doubt the youngest bank cashier in Washington County, and possibly in the State, and has a bright future in the banking business assured him.

Mr. Stephens married Cora V. Dills, of Uniontown, Pa., and they have one daughter, Alice Stephens. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

C. W. BENNEY, cashier of the First National Bank of Cecil, Washington County, Pa., and also treasurer of the road fund of Cecil Township, is well known in finan- cial circles both in Washington and Allegheny counties, and has had many years of banking experience. He was born in Allegheny City, Pa., January 23, 1862, and is a son of C. W. and Anna (Alexander) Benney.

The father of Mr. Benney died at Allegheny City in December, 1887. For many years he had been in the banking business there. He was a Republican in his political views, but neither sought nor accepted public office. He married Anna Alexander, who survived until March, 1900, and they rest in the beautiful city cemetery at Allegheny.

C. W. Benney was educated in the public schools of Allegheny City and Duff's Business College, and then went to Texas where, for four years, he engaged in deal- ing in stock. After he returned he entered the First National Bank, at Allegheny City, as a messenger, and continued to be identified with that institution until it closed, in 1903, a period of nineteen year. Mr. Benney has been cashier of the First National Bank of Cecil since 1906.

In February, 1888, Mr. Benney was married to Miss Cora B. Myers, who is a daughter of S. H. Myers, of Beaver Falls, Pa. They have a beautiful home at Wood- ville, Allegheny County. They are members of the First Presbyterian Church at Carnegie. In politics, Mr. Ben- ney is a Republican.

DAVID G. BAMFORD, president of the Midway Na- tional Bank and also president of the Crescent Flour Mills Company, at Midway, Pa., has been prominently identified with the interest of this borough for the past twenty-seven years, coming here in 1882. He was then a young man, his birth having taken place at Pittsburg, Pa., February 20, 1852, and his parents were Robert and Sarah (Gordon) Bamford.

The Bamford family is of Irish extraction, the parents of David G. Bamford having been born in the vicinity of

Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland. In the summer of 1848, they emigrated to America. Locating at Pittsburg. They lived there until the fall of 1852, when they moved to Noblestown, in Allegheny County. After a period of some two or three years they moved to Washington County, locating on the farm of Jacob George, near Primrose. In the fall of 1862, they moved to a farm in Robeson Township, where the remainder of the father's life was passed. He was a blacksmith by trade. He died on January 3, 1887, and is survived by his widow who resides with a daughter, Mary Elizabeth, in Midway. They were parents of the following children: David G., William, Robert, and Mary Elizabeth.

David G. Bamford attended the public schools of the neighborhood in which they lived and spent one year in the Mansfield Valley Academy, and then engaged in farm- ing until 1882, when he embarked in the flour and feed business at Midway, where his interests in this line be- came very important. Mr. Bamford was the organizer of the Midway National Bank at Midway, February 7, 1903, of which he was elected president, an office he has filled ever since, his associate officers being: A. J. Rus- sell, vice-president, and R. M. Donaldson, cashier. The directors of this prosperous financial institution are: D. G. Bamford, A. J. Russell, James Bell, R. M. Dickson, James M. Wallace, K. Noble McDonald, W. S. Russell, D. W. Smith, and R. M. Donaldson. In 1904 a modern bank building was erected and equipped in the most modern way for the successful prosecution of the bank- ing business.

In August, 1884, Mr. Bamford was married to Miss Mary A. Leonard, a daughter of Hugh and Sarah (Camp- bell) Leonard, residents of Allegheny County. Mrs. Bamford has two sisters: Grace, who is the wife of John H. Armstrong; and Anna. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bamford; Leonard G., who is a student at Washington and Jefferson College, in his senior year ; and Mary Elizabeth, who is in her senior year in the Midway high school. The family belongs to the United Presbyterian Church at Midway. Mr. Bamford was reared in the Democratic party but for the past twenty years has been a Prohibitionist.

J. CLIVE ENOS, M. D., who has been identified with the medical profession of Charleroi, Pa., since 1904, was born in Belle Vernon, Fayette County, Pa., September 30, 1881, and is a son of Dr. Joseph B. and Theresa (Nickel) Enos.

Joseph B. Enos was born in 1852, at Connellsville, Fayette County, Pa., a son of Jonathan and Mary Enos, who came from Somerset County, Pa., in 1835, and lo- cated in Connellsville, where Jonathan conducted a black- smith shop and foundry until the time of his death. Joseph B. Enos was reared in Connellsville and gradu-

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ated from a medical college at Cincinnati, Ohio, after which he embarked in the practice of medicine with his father-in-law, Dr. John R. Nickel, at Connellsville, Pa., continuing for two years. He then lived for a time in Belle Vernon, but in 1878 was elected to the chair of anatomy and physiology at the Medical Institute at Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and served in that capacity until 1886, when he went to Pittsburg. He returned to Connells- ville in 1889, where he engaged in practicing medicine until 1894, then came to Charleroi, where he continued the practice of his profession, in which he was highly successful, until the time of his death in October, 1904. Dr. Joseph B. Enos married Theresa Nickel, a daughter of the late Dr. John R. Nickel, of Connellsville, and they reared two sons: F. W. Enos, who is now in Panama, and J. Clive Enos, the subject of this sketch.

Dr. J. Clive Enos was seven years old when his parents removed to Connellsville, Pa., where he was reared and attended the local schools. He graduated from the Char- leroi high school in 1899, and the following year en- tered the University of Maryland at Baltimore, gradu- ating with the class of 1904, and in August of that same year received a diploma from the State Board of Medical Examiners. He immediately located at Charleroi and was associated in the practice of medicine with his father until the latter's death.

Dr. Enos was united in marriage with Hilda Brown, a daughter of Edmund Brown, who is assistant to the vice- president of the Pittsburg Plate Glass Company, and one of the prominent citizens of Charleroi, and they have one son, Edmund Brandt Enos.

LEWIS HALLAM, deceased, who was prominent among the early business men of Washington, Pa., was a representative of one of the old colonial families of English origin. He was born in Washington County, Pa., and was a son of Joseph and Mary (Zediker) Hallam.

The history of the Hallams in America dates back to 1770, when William and Henry Hallam came from Eng- land and joined a colony at Hagerstown, Md., at that time severing all allegiance to the mother country and cementing their loyalty to the colonists' cause by becom- ing members of the Patriot Army in the War of the Revolution. It is related that at the battle of German- town, William Hallam was taken captive and was brought into the presence of a British officer, who, with the in- solence of his station struck the Patriot soldier in the face with his sword, a cowardly action which the latter resented by firing his musket into the officer's body. He then made a dash for liberty which proved successful. He continued in the army until the close of the war and then settled with his family in South Carolina. His brother, Henry Hallam, became a resident of Virginia, and from these settlers came all the Hallams now in

the United States and among their descendants have been numbered men of eminence. From this stem came Presi- dent James K. Polk, Governor Helm and Senator Hallam, of Kentucky, E. B. Bristow, who was a member of the cabinet of President Grant, John Hallam, the jurist and historian of Arkansas, and many others of distinction.

The Hallams prospered in their localities and grew in numbers as well as substance. Henry Hallam had four sons who joined the tide of immigration that flowed west in 1795. They were: William, Henry, John and An- drew and they settled in what is now Smith County, Tenn. With them went Rachel, a daughter of William Hallam, the Revolutionary hero, she having married her cousin, William Hallam. These sons of Henry Hallam became important factors in the development of that new country, were personal friends and enthusiastic sup- porters of Andrew Jackson and made honorable records for themselves.

Joseph Hallam, father of Lewis Hallam, was born in Franklin Township, Washington County, Pa., his parents having previously settled there, bringing with them from Tennessee a number of their slaves attached to their household. Joesph Hallam grew to manhood on the farm and then moved to Washington Borough, where he be- came proprietor of the old Valentine House, which later became the Allison House. He married a member of the Zediker family in Washington County, and they had the following children: Lewis, John, George, Joseph, Levina, Elizabeth, and the wife of Hamilton Todd. All are now deceased. Joseph was a sympathizer with the South during the Civil War, and removed to that section of the Union.

Lewis Hallam learned the blacksmith trade in his youth and to a large extent followed the same all his life. In early days he conducted a transportation line over the 'National Turnpike Road from Baltimore to the Ohio River, and he had the reputation of owning the finest teams that ever traveled that road. Until the Civil War broke out he conducted a blacksmith business at Washington and then secured a contract to manufacture wagons for the U. S. government, which business neces- sitated his residing at Wheeling, W. Va. After the war closed he returned to Washington and continued to work at his trade during the remainder of his active life. His death occurred November 27, 1876.

Lewis Hallam married Rosanna Tegarden, who was born in West Finley Township, Washington County, and died in advanced age in August, 1891. To this marriage eleven children were born, namely: Lavina, now de- ceased; Elizabeth, now deceased, was the wife of Hon. J. S. Stocking; Sophia, who is the widow of George E. Parshall; Joseph; George T .; Rosanna; Lewis F .; Fin- ley B., who was formerly a well known attorney at Wash- ington; John W., who is president and general manager

MAURICE H. NOBLE

MRS. MARY T. NOBLE

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

of the Hallam Construction Company at Washington; Charles F., who also is identified with The Hallam Con- struction Co., and resides in his comfortable home at No. 214 Locust street, Washington; and Robert H., who is a prosperous merchant of the same city.

In early days Lewis Hallam was a supporter of the Whig party, later became an Abolitionist and when the Republican party was organized, became identified with it, but never accepted any political office. He was a man of high standing in his community and was respect- ed by his fellow citizens and esteemed and valued by a large circle of friends. His descendants are representa- tive people of this section of Pennsylvania.

JOHN L. MeGOUGH, auditor of Hanover Township, Washington County, is a prominent farmer and stock raiser, operating 227 acres, in which he has a one-third interest. He was born in Jefferson Township, December 25, 1860, and is a son of Robert and Mary Ann (Lee) McGough, and a grandson of Robert and Mary (Provines) McGough.

The MeGough family is of Irish ancestry and the grandparents were early settlers in Washington County. The father of John L. McGough had educational advan- tages afforded him and he partly prepared for the pro- fession of civil engineer, but later became more inter- ested in farming, coming from Jefferson Township and settling on the present farm in 1861, on which he con- tinued until his death in October, 1880. He had many fine herds of cattle of his own raising. He married Mary M. Lee, who was a daughter of John and Jane Ann Lee. . She remained a widow for some years after his death, and then married J. C. Riddle and now resides at Steu- benville, Ohio. The children born to Robert and Mary Ann McGough were John L., of Hanover Township; Will- iam W., a carpenter at Steubenville, Ohio; Mary, wife of William Anderson, of Jefferson Township; and Samuel B., who died in youth. Robert McGough was a Demo- crat in politics. He attended the Presbyterian Church.

John L. McGough was but one year old when he was brought to Hanover Township, and his life has been pleasantly and usefully passed here. He attended the public schools through boyhood and when twenty years of age, having lost his father, the responsibilities of life first touched him, and being the eldest of the children the management of the farm fell to him. It has never been divided, there being three heirs, and he rents all the land and successfully cultivates it. He devotes at- tention to stock raising and has something of a reputa- tion for fine cattle.

On September 25, 1884, Mr. McGough was married to Miss Belle Stephenson, one of the following family of children born to David and Rachel (Noah) Stephenson,

farmers of Jefferson Township: John R .; Belle, who be- came the wife of Mr. McGough; Nannie, who married James Jackson, of Hanover Township; Nettie, who mar- ried C. E. Fulton, of Calgary, Canada; Mollie, who mar- ried Harvey Linn, deceased; and Dora, who married William Criss, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. McGough have two children, a son and daughter: Vance L., who mar- ried Ethel Fulton and lives in Ohio; and Elsie D., who remains with her parents. Mr. McGough and family are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. In poli- tics he is a Democrat.

MAURICE HOWARD NOBLE, proprietor of Hotel Noble at New Eagle, Washington Co., Pa., has been a resident here since 1883, and was born April 14, 1847, in County Durham, England, a son of James Noble, a glass worker of that locality.

Maurice H. Noble was reared in his native country, where he learned the glass blowing trade and married Mary Thoburn, a daughter of Robert E. Thoburn, and subsequently came to the United States with his wife and four children, locating first at Zanesville, Ohio, where they lived for two years, and then went to West Monongahela, Washington Co., Pa., where he entered the employ of a glass manufacturing concern, which was in- strumental in bringing him to this country. In 1903 he erected the Hotel Noble, a brick structure containing thirty rooms, at New Eagle, Pa., and has resided here continuously since that time. Mr. and Mrs. Noble are the parents of the following children: Thomas D., also a glass blower, who married Minnie Boalo, has one child, Thomas; Elizabeth, who is the wife of W. J. Walsh, has two children, John G. and Ralph M .; Maurice H., Jr., formerly a glass blower, but now engaged in the manu- facture of ice cream, at which he has been occupied for six years, married Sarah Ann Holmes, and they have two children, Audrey and Dorothy; Mary A., married Charles E. Buildet; James, who is deceased; Laura N., who is the wife of R. E. White, has two children, Robert E. and James N .; John George; Ralph D .; Morten Black, who is deceased; and two girls who died in infancy. Mr. Noble is a Republican in politics.

John G. Noble was born May 31, 1889, at West Mo- nongahela, Pa., and obtained his educational training at the Knox school at Pittsburg, Pa. In September, 1908, he and his brother, Ralph D., opened a grocery store and meat market in the building adjoining their father 's hotel, and carry on an extensive business in the borough of New Eagle and vicinity.

On December 1, 1902, Mr. Ailes was chosen assistant secretary of this corporation. He took an active part in the organization of the banks at Roscoe and Donora,

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and has been president of both institutions since 1902, cess of that party, but has accepted no public offices ex- and is also a director in the First National Bank of

JOHN W. AILES, president of the First National Bank of Donora, Pa., and a leading financier of South- western Pennsylvania, was born on a farm in East Pike Run Township, Washigton County, Pa., near California, in 1855, and is a son of Nixon and Martha (Deems) Ailes.

Both parents of Mr. Ailes were born and reared in. Washington County, and the mother still survives and resides in honored age, at California. The father was a farmer for some years near Brownsville, Pa., but later went into the railroad service and died at Alliance, Ohio. They had three sons: John W .; Stephen, residing at California, Pa .; and Carl, who died in early manhood.

John W. Ailes was reared on the home farm near Brownsville, and at Brownsville, and attended school un- til fourteen years of age, when he went to work in the Brownsville boat yards, under John S. Pringle, where he remained two years. By that time he had decided upon a business rather than a mechanical career and after completing a commercial course in a Pittsburg college, entered the Brownsville Deposit and Discount Bank, of which he became teller and continued in that relation to the institution as long as it existed. When the Na- tional Deposit Bank was organized he was elected teller and continued to serve in that capacity until May, 1881, when he bought an interest in the Alps Coal Company, of California, Pa. For eighteen years, or until its ab- sorption by the Monongahela River Consolidated Coal and Coke Company, he served as treasurer and general manager of this company, also as treasurer and general manager of the Crescent and California Coal companies. California, and of several trust companies. His advice is frequently sought by large interests and his attitude in relation to financial matters is closely noted by finan- ciers.

At present Mr. Ailes is most actively engaged as treas- urer and general manager of the Crescent Coal Company of Pittsburg, a corporation shipping rail coal and ope- rating three mines fully equipped.

Mr. Ailes married Miss Mary Axton, a daughter of Baltzer and Mary (Leclere) Axton, and they have had five children: Gertrude, who is the wife of Edwin Latchem, cashier of the First National Bank of Wilson, Pa .; Herbert, who is secretary and treasurer of the H. C. Fry Cut Glass Company, of Rochester, Pa., married Margaret Minford, and they have three children-Mary, Leo and John W .; Warren, who died at the age of sev- enteen years; and Oliver and Helen. The beautiful family home is situated at No. 324 Highland avenue, Donora, Pa. Mr. Ailes is identified with the Masons and Elks. Politically a Republican, he has sought the suc-

cept those concerned with the public schools of which he is a director.

WILLIAM M. BURLEY, burgess of California, Pa., and owner of the California Marble and Granite Works of that city, was born December 23, 1871, on a farm near Philippi, Barber County, W. Va., and is a son of James C. and Virginia A. (McIntosh) Burley, who still reside. on the old home farm near Philippi. The father was for many years a manufacturer of stone ware and pot- tery, and is a native of Zanesville, Ohio. The mother is a native of Parkersburg, W. Va.

William M. Burley was reared on the farm and at an early age began learning the art of manufacturing pot- tery and stone ware, with his father, but when seventeen years of age entered the employ of J. L. Koon, of Phil- ippi, W. Va., with whom he learned stone cutting and monument work, and in 1896 went to West Belle Vernon, Pa., where he became superintendent of their plant in that town. Two years later he came to California, Pa., where he established the California Marble and Granite Works, in which his success has been continuous.

In politics Mr. Burley takes an active interest in the affairs of the Republican party, and since March 1, 1909, has been serving as burgess of California, having been elected to that office in February, 1909, on the Republi- can ticket. He has been a member of the council, and previous to his election as burgess, served as president of that body. He is affiliated with the B. P. O. E., No. 494, of Charleroi.

ADAM WAGNER, who is president of the First Na- tional Bank of Cecil, Pa., and proprietor of the largest bakery establishment of the place, has done much to advance the business interests of this town and stands as one of its foremost citizens. He was born in Ger- many, December 5, 1856.

Mr. Wagner came to Cecil in April, 1903, where he erected a suitable building and opened his modern bakery, which he has continued and now supplies a large propor- tion of the town with its choicest bakery goods. He was one of the founders of the First National Bank, which was organized December 27, 1903, and has been the president of this successful financial institution ever since. In every way Mr. Wagner has demonstrated un- usual business ability and has also conclusively shown his deep interest in the place in which he has chosen to make his home and rear his family. He is identified with the Republican party and for two years has been chairman of the local organization.

In Germany, Mr. Wagner was married to Miss Magda- lena Klein, and they resided there until after the birth

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

of five children, coming then to Federal, Allegheny Coun- ty, where the two younger ones were born. They are: Valentine, Lena, Nicholas, Julia, Mary, John and Katie. With his family, Mr. Wagner belongs to the Roman Cath- olic Church.

WILLIAM S. ARMOR, whose farm of 148 acres has four producing oil wells and is a valuable section of Hanover Township, Washington County, Pa., was born on this farm, April 24, 1838, and is a son of James and Nancy (McCandless) Armor.

James Armor was also born on this same farm and his parents were Thomas and Jennie (Moore) Armor. He followed farming and stock raising all his life. He was twice married (first) to Mary Wilson and three children were born to them: John, Thomas and Margaret Ann, the latter of whom married James Donaldson. He was married (second) to Nancy McCandless, who was born in Allegheny County, and was a daughter of Alexander and Margaret (Rickets) McCandless. She also is de- ceased, and both James and Nancy Armor were laid to rest in the Hopewell Hebron Cemetery, in Allegheny County. To the second marriage five children were born, namely : Alexander M., James R., William S., Jane, and Philip George. Jane became the wife of Samuel Wither- spoon.

William S. Armor attended the district schools in Han- over Township more or less regularly until he was eigh- teen years of age, only during the winter seasons, how- ever, and then attended a select school at Murdocks- ville for a time. His business has been farming and it is one he thoroughly understands. His farm is an an- cestral one, being a part of the 800 acres which belonged to the founder of the Armor family in America. This was Thomas Armor, who was born in Scotland and when he came to Washington County entered 400 acres for himself from the government and 400 more for a brother. The latter died and that 400 acres was also inherited by the heirs of Thomas Armor. They still have the old deed and members of the family have ever since owned the land. Mr. Armor is a Democrat. On several occasions he has consented to serve as school director and he has also been judge of elections and road superintendent. He is an honorable, upright man and is held in high es- teem by his fellow citizens.

On June 14, 1864, Mr. Armor was married to Miss Sarah E. Moreland, a daughter of David and Jane (Mc- Candless) Moreland, who were farming people in Fayette County. Mr. and Mrs. Armor were cousins and hence have the same grandparents. She was the third born in a family of four children, the other being: Agnes Hus- ton, who married William Scott; Margaretta Jane, who is deceased; and William A. married Catherine Hood. To Mr. and Mrs. Armor the following family has been

born: Mary Agnes; James Moreland, who married Adella Royer; Clement MeKaig, who married Elizabeth Wyant; William George, who married Irene Fraizer, and has one son, Kenneth McCandless; Cora Jean, and Thomas 'Edgar, married to Anna Wilson Barton. Mr. Armor and family belong to the Frankfort Presbyterian Church.

CAPT. HENRY D. WILKINS, who died March 13, 1904, at California, Pa., was for nearly forty years' cap- tain of vessels on the river, and was also prominently identified with other business interests of this locality. He was born May 8, 1832, in Greenfield, now Coal Cen- ter, Pa., a son of Reuben and Bethsheba Wilkins. He was reared and continued to reside at Greenfield until the spring of 1850, when he went to the gold fields of the State of California, where he remained three years, then returned to Pennsylvania for a short time, after which he again made a trip to California. Three or four years later he returned to Pennsylvania and took up boat build- ing at Coal Bluff, Pa., following that line a number of years, then became a coal-barge floater, running to Louis- ville, Ky. He subsequently engaged in steamboating which he followed for about forty years, during the greater part of which time he served as a captain. In 1894 he purchased a grocery store at California, which has always been under the management of his sons, Fred T. and Khramer. Capt. Wilkins continued on the river until 1901, after which he retired from active business and spent his remaining days at California until the time of his death.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 187

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