History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 194

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1474

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James Martin was born in York County, Pa., in 1792, and came to Washington County in boyhood. In 1821 he married Mary White and they had the following chil- dren: Peter B., Samuel, James, John W., Matthew, Mary Jane, Ebenezer H., Ann Elizabeth, Elizabeth M., William H., and Thomas J. After his marriage, James Martin operated à sawmill, and also engaged in farming, in South Strabane Township. He was a Republican in his political attitude, and both he and wife were worthy members of the United Presbyterian Church. In 1878 his wife died and his death followed in 1887.

Elizabeth M. Martin attended the country schools, completing her education at the Olome Institute at Can- onsburg. She was married to George Davis, who was a son of William and Juliet (Palmer) Davis. William Davis was born in West Bethlehem Township, October 6, 1810, and remained there until 1847, when he bought a farm in South Strabane Township. He was a man of considerable prominence in the county; for nine years was a member of the poor board and an elder in the First Presbyterian Church at Washington, and a direc- tor in the First National Bank of that place. He was

married (first) January 28, 1836, to Juliet Palmer, who died October 11, 1841, leaving three children: George, John K. and Mary Elizabeth. On August 15, 1844, he was married (second) to Phebe E. Moore, who died July 8, 1852. His third marriage, in 1853, was to Mary Kerr, and they had one son, William H.

After marriage, George Davis and wife located in Washington and there Mr. Davis became one of the lead- ing hardware merchants of the borough. He erected a fine residence on his farm of ninety-two acres, in South Strabane Township, just one-half mile east of Washing- ton, and that continues to be the family home. George Davis was a successful business man, and was esteemed by his business associates. He possessed the sterling traits of character that made him a valuable citizen and a good husband, father and neighbor. With his family he was connected by membership and was actively inter- ested in the First Presbyterian Church at Washington. Politically he was a Republican.

Five children were born to George Davis and wife: Mary E., Annie M. and Nettie T., who reside at home; Elizabeth M., who is the wife of John R. Stevenson, of Bellevue, Pittsburg, Pa .; and Nellie G., who died at the age of fifteen months. The death of the father of the above family occurred in 1902, and his burial was in Washington Cemetery.

ANDREW McDONALD, one of Nottingham Town- ship's most representative citizens, who, for more than forty years served in some public capacity in Washing- ton County, and is also one of the honored survivors of the great Civil War, resides on his farm of sixty-five acres, situated about eight miles northwest of Mononga- hela, Pa. Mr. McDonald was born on this farm, April 20, 1840, and is a son of John and Mary (Tish) Mc- Donald.

Andrew and Mary (Hair) McDonald, the grandparents, came to America from Scotland and settled in the Shen- andoah Valley, in Virginia, securing 400 acres of land. During his period of residence there, Andrew McDonald was a small slave holder. Later, as his family increased, he decided to provide different surroundings for them and in 1799 he sold his Virginia estate and in 1800 bought 200 acres of land in Washington County, Pa., on which he settled. He followed farming and stock raising and also operated a distillery, as was the very general custom at that time, and was considered one of the promi- nent and substantial men of his day. Both he and wife lived to be about seventy-five years of age. They had eight children, the two younger ones being born on the farm which the present Andrew McDonald owns. The family record reads: Esther, who was the wife of Abel Leyda; John; Elizabeth, who was the wife of John Gault; Mary, who was the wife of William Henry;

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Matilda, who was the wife of William Sauters; Eben; Gabriel; and Louisa, who was the wife of John Munn. All are now deceased.

John McDonald, father of Andrew McDonald, was born on his father's farm near Martinsburg, Va., and frequently told his children of the long trip made by wagon from there to Washington County, this being before the National Road was built. The way over the mountains was the old Braddock trail. He lived single until fifty years of age and then married Mary Tish, who was born at Frederickstown, on the Monongahela River, in which stream her father was accidentally drowned on the night of her birth. John McDonald and wife lived and died on the present farm, the former when aged sixty-four years. His widow survived him forty- four years, being seventy-seven years old at the time of her death. The following children were born to them: Andrew; Mary, who married Thomas Jennings; Nancy Jane and Edith, both of whom are deceased; Gabriel, who married Dessie Galley; John; Hiram, deceased who married Mira Patterson, of Nebraska; and Matilda, who married Robert Morton.

Andrew McDonald was only fourteen years old when his father died and thus heavy responsibilities fell upon him at an early age. He took charge of the farm and has always resided here and has devoted his land to general farming. In 1862, Mr. McDon- ald enlisted as a private for service in the Civil War, becoming a member of Co. E, in the celebrated Ringgold Cavalry, and on New Year's Day, 1864, was promoted to the rank of corporal and served faithfully until the close of the war. An extremely interesting diary covering one year of his war experience is found in the Washington "Reporter"' of date, Friday, August 17, 1900.

On May 17, 1866, Mr. McDonald was married to Miss Isabella P. Whitfield, who was born in Carroll Township, Washington County, Pa. Her parents were Nicholas and Fannie (Harding) Whitfield, pioneers in the western part of the State, the father having a mill on Mingo Creek. To Mr. and Mrs. McDonald eight children were born, all of whom are living and there are also a num- ber of grandchildren, the eldest being now seventeen years of age. The eldest daughter, Fannie, is the widow of H. Morrison, and she has the following children: Clarence L., Isabella P., Laura R., Andrew M. and Wal- ter E. Morrison. The second daughter, Laura P., married Elmer Myers and they have two children: Raymond and Sarah I. Myers. John Robeson, the eldest son, mar- ried Pearl Wesley and they have two children: Eugene and Paul McDonald. The second son is George C. The third son, Edward R., married Catherine Deddion, now deceased, who left one child, Florence E. McDonald. The fourth and fifth children of Mr. McDonald are sons, An-

drew and Joseph, the former of whom married Elizabeth McMillen, and they have one son, Harry McDonald. The youngest member of the family, Hattie Eldora, married Earl A. Dague, and they have one son, Merrill Dague. Two grandchildren are deceased.

Mr. McDonald is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He has been a life-long Democrat and his fellow citi- zens have shown their confidence in him by electing him to office almost since he first reached his majority. For forty years and two months he served the people and filled every township office except that of constable and for twenty-five years was a justice of the peace. This office he resigned in 1907 and was succeeded by Rev. E. F. Hyde.

WILLIAM PAUL, a prominent resident and success- ful agriculturist of North Franklin Township, Wash- ington County, has resided on his valuable farm of 120 acres since 1870, and devotes his large domain to general farming and special gardening. He was born in South Strabane Township, Washington County, Pa., June 19, 1834, and is a son of Huston and Nancy (Heckathorn) Paul.

Huston Paul was born in Amwell Township, Wash- ington County, and was a son of William Paul, who had settled there in his early manhood, coming from Eastern Pennsylvania. Huston Paul operated a grist and saw- mill. about five years after his marriage, not far from Amity, Pa., and then purchased a farm in South Stra- bane Township, located about one mile south of Wash- ington, and there engaged in farming during the re-" mainder of his life. His death occurred in 1887. In his early years he was a Whig, but later became a Repub- lican and at different times served acceptably in local offices. He married Nancy Heckathorn, who was born in Greene County, Pa., and of their children there are four survivors, namely: Hannah, who is the widow of John C. Hastings, resides at Washington; Catherine J., who resides on South Main street, Washington; Will- iam; and Nancy E., who also resides on South Main street, Washington.

William Paul attended the public schools of Wash- ington County in boyhood and afterward spent three years of study at Washington College, prior to its being merged with Jefferson College. He then entered upon an active agricultural life, the educational training he had received being beneficial in many ways. He mar -. ried Miss Martha Vance, who was born in South Stra- bane Township, a daughter of Samuel Vance, who was an early settler in that section and became a promi- nent citizen, the hamlet of Vance Station on the Balti- more and Ohio Railroad, in South Strabane Township perpetuating his name. To Mr. Paul and wife were born seven children, namely: Philo V., who resides in

WILLIAM PAUL

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Duquesne, Pa .; Samuel H. and Cary B., both of whom are now deceased; Isaac E., residing at Washington, is a member of the firm of Paul and Post, hardware deal- ers; and Mary R., N. Alice and Mattie, all of whom reside at home. Mr. Paul has given all his children educational advantages and the three daughters are graduates of the Washington Female Seminary. The family belongs to the Third Presbyterian Church at Washington. Mr. Paul is a type of the best citizenship of the county, public spirited, progressive and well in- formed on all the stirring affairs of the times. In his political views he is a Republican, but he has carefully avoided taking upon himself the responsibilities of office.

J. FREMONT COLVIN, a retired farmer residing at California, Pa., where he holds the office of street com- missioner, has been a resident of the borough since May, 1905. He was born on a farm in Fallowfield Township, Washington County, Pa., September 22, 1856, and is a son of Abraham and Christina (Frye) Colvin, and a grandson of Stephen Colvin, who was one of the early settlers of Fallowfield Township.

J. Fremont Colvin obtained his education in the schools of his native township and the State Normal School at California, Pa. He taught school for seven winters while devoting his summers to farm industries and after that until he retired to California, devoted himself en- tirely to farming and stock raising. He still owns his farm in East Pike Run Township, also owns property in the borough, and recently erected a commodious frame house near his own handsome residence on Fourth street.

Mr. Colvin married Miss Hattie Jackman, who was born, reared and educated at California. She is a daugh- ter of Barnard and Ruth (Lilley) Jackman. Her brother, W. S. Jackman, who died in 1907, was dean of the School of Education of the University of Chicago. He was as- sociated for many years with Dr. Parker in the Cook County Normal School. When Mrs. Emmons Blaine founded the School of Education in connection with the University of Chicago, Mr. Jackman became identi- fied with it. He was a graduate of the State Normal School at California, also of Meadville College, Pa., and of Harvard University. Mr. and Mrs. Colvin have one son, Wilbur E. Although Mr. Colvin is retired from farm life he is still a very active citizen and has served two years in his present office and during this time many important improvements have been made as a result of his supervision and excellent judgment. He is a representative of two of the oldest families of Fallowfield Township, both of his grandfathers, Stephen Colvin and Abraham Frye, having been pioneers and men of importance to this section in their day.

NOAH THOMPSON, coal operator, who runs a coal pit at Gastonville, Pa., has been a resident of Washing- ton County since 1882. He was born near Liverpool, England, April 19, 1857, and is a son of William and Mary (Ashcroft) Thompson.

William Thompson and wife passed their lives in England. He was a man of ample means before his death, owning a department store in the town of Bolton, near Liverpool, having previously been a coal miner. He married Mary Ashcroft, who survived him some years. They had nine children, namely: John and Sarah, twins, the former of whom is now deceased; Noah, William, James, Mary, Eliza, Enoch, and George, deceased. Noah was the only one of this family to establish his home in America.

Mr. Thompson was only ten years old when he began work in the coal mines, and he continued as a miner in England until October, 1881, when he sailed for America. The coal mines of Pennsylvania attracted him, and after reaching Mckeesport, he at once went to work in the Stone coal mines. While engaged there he mar- ried and in 1884 came to Gastonville. He bought his coal and residence property from Joseph Gaston. It was a good investment and he soon had a coal pit opened and later bought more coal property from J. M. Curry. He gives employment to several men and his output is 40,000 bushels of coal a year. He is recognized as a very good business man and in the choice of property and other ventures has shown admirable business fore- thought and judgment. He lost his first residence by fire, April 4, 1887, but has replaced it by his present comfortable house, which contains nine rooms and which was completed in August, 1887. He also built four other houses which he rents out.

At Pittsburg, Mr. Thompson was married to Miss S. Barnes, and they have had nine children: Mary Alice, W. Earl, Anna, Lillian, John E., Sarah J., Noah, Margaret and Mildred, the two latter twins. Anna died aged twenty years and Mildred, when aged five years. In politics, Mr. Thompson is a Republican and he has served with efficiency in township offices.

C. M. LINN, who is carrying on agricultural operations on a fine farm of 160 acres, located on the Canonsburg and Cecil Road, three miles north of Canonsburg, was born in North Strabane Township, Washington County, Pa., May 5, 1861, a son of James and Ellen (Pollock) Linn, and grandson of Matthew Linn.

James Linn was born in North Strabane Township, where he attended the common schools. He then went to farming in that locality, in 1877 removing to Hopewell Township, where he carried on farming operations until his death in March, 1895, when sixty-seven years old. He

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

was buried in the Washington Cemetery. In early life he was a member of the Chartiers United Presbyterian Church, but later transferred his membership to the North Buffalo Church of the same denomination. He was a Democrat, but never aspired to public office, preferring to give his whole time and attention to his farm. He and his wife were the parents of six children, as fol- lows: Laura Loretta; John P., residing near Washing- ton, Pa., who married Nora Weaver; C. M., residing in Cecil Township, who married Jennie Anderson; W. H., residing in Canton Township, who married Lena Dougherty; Charles Finley, and James Bartley, residing in Hopewell Township.

C. M. Linn attended the common schools of North Strabane Township, after leaving which he went to work for John B. McConnell, in whose employ he continued for eight years. After leaving Mr. McConnell he went to house keeping (after marriage) on the adjoining farm -the Robert Johnston farm-where he resided for thir- teen years, moving then to his present property in Cecil Township, where he has since resided. He has remodeled and improved his farm, raises sheep and high grade cat- tle, and has one of the best properties in this part of the township. He is a stockholder in the Citizens' Trust Company of Canonsburg. A Republican in politics, he has been road commissioner for seven years, and he is a member of the First United Presbyterian Church of Can- onsburg, of which he was a trustee for several years.

Mr. Linn was married to Jennie Anderson, daughter of John W. Anderson, and two children have been born to this union: Mary Estella, who married J. C. Hick- man; and Clarence Marvin, who is attending common school.

JAMES G. HOPPER, a member of the prominent business firm of Hopper Bros., funeral directors and furniture dealers at Canonsburg, Pa., was born in South Fayette Township, Allegheny County, Pa., and is a son of John and Margaret (Morgan) Hopper.

The paternal grandfather, Samuel Hopper, was born in the north of Ireland and came to Lancaster County, Pa., early in the nineteenth century, where he married Eliza Barclay and they then moved to Allegheny County. They had the following children: Nancy, who married Alexander Fitch; Eliza, who married Thomas Campbell; Mary, who married James Wallace; Robert, who was a farmer in Allegheny County, and died there, having mar- ried Abigail Hickman; Arthur, who died in Washing- ton County (married Betsey Middlesouth) ; John, who married Margaret Morgan, and died in Allegheny Coun- ty; Andrew, who married a Miss McCowan; James, who died as the result of an accident; and Samuel, who died in 1849, from yellow fever, while serving as captain on a steamboat on the Mississippi River.

John Hopper, father of the Hopper Bros., of Canons- burg, was born in 1820 and died in September, 1896, at the age of seventy-eight years. His life had been de- voted to agriculture. He married Margaret Morgan, who died in 1877, at the age of fifty-four years. Their family consisted of the following children: Annie E., S. Morgan, Wesley J., James G., Arthur J., Harry B. and Billingsley M. Annie E., who is now deceased, was the wife of William F. MeKenery. Her death occurred in Westmoreland County, at West Newton, in 1897, and she was survived by four children, John, Margaret, Arthur and Harry. S. Morgan Hopper resides on a farm in South Fayette Township, Allegheny County. He married Etta Shane, a daughter of Henry Shane, of Alle- gheny County, and they have three children, Margaret, who is the wife of Elmer Bock; Harry, who married Pearl Osborn; and Grace, who married Ramsey McWhin- ery, of Cecil Township, Washington County.

Wesley J. Hopper, who is a member of the firm of Hopper Bros., at Canonsburg, was educated in the pub- lic schools and Oakdale Academy. He was associated formerly with his brother, James G. Hopper, in business at Bridgeville, and accompanied his two brothers, James G. and Arthur J., to Canonsburg, in 1904.

Arthur J. Hopper was born in South Fayette Town- ship, Allegheny County, attended the public schools there and Duff's Business College at Pittsburg, and prior to accompanying his two brothers to Canonsburg, in 1904, conducted a general store at Oakdale, Pa., for twelve years. He married Miss Jennie V. McMullen, a daugh- ter of Joseph and Ellen- McMullen, of Sistersville, W. Va. Mrs. Hopper was born in the State of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Hopper have one daughter, Helen.

Harry B. Hopper died in April, 1897, unmarried. He was a traveling salesman for the Hydraulic Power Com- pany, of Mt. Gilead, Ohio. He was a well educated and successful business man. Billingsley M. Hopper was educated in the public schools and at Oakdale Academy, and is now assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Oakdale. He married Miss Lottie Leopold, a daughter of Henry Leopold, of Oakdale.

James G. Hopper grew to manhood in South Fayette Township, Allegheny County, Pa., and remained on the home farm until he went into a livery and undertaking business at Bridgeville, where he continued until he came with his two brothers, Wesley J. and Arthur J. Hopper to Canonsburg, in March, 1904. These three brothers comprise the firm of Hopper Bros., one which stands very high commercially. They purchased the business of Alexander Speer when they came to this city, enlarged its scope, fitted up handsome and appropriate quarters and have done a large business here. They are practical, reliable and energetic men and enjoy the full confidence of the community, individually as well as collectively.

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James G. Hopper was married (first) to Miss Margaret H. Robb, who died in 1893. She was born in North Fayette Township, Allegheny County, and was a daugh- ter of John Robb. She was survived by one daughter, Dorothy M. Mr. Hopper married secondly Miss Etta Van Eman, a daughter of J. J. and Margaret (Espey) Van Eman. The Hopper brothers are numbered with the substantial men of Canonsburg and they also own considerable valuable real estate in Allegheny County.

CHARLES CLINTON CRACRAFT, M.D., a gen- eral practitioner of medicine, located at Claysville, Pa., enjoys a reputation for ability and skill that extends over Washington County and beyond, was born in Wash- ington County, Pa., April 9, 1856. His parents were Archibald C. and Sarah J. (Bell) Cracraft.

On the paternal side, Dr. Cracraft comes of English ancestry and Revolutionary stock. On the maternal side the ancestry is Scotch, Irish and Welsh. Archibald C. Cracraft was born in South Franklin Township, Wash- ington County, Pa., and was a son of William Cracraft, an early settler there, who was a son of Dr. Charles Cracraft, who was a major-surgeon in rank, during his service in the Patriot Army.

The Cracrafts came originally from Yorkshire, Eng- land, settled in the New World in what is now the State of New Jersey, later emigrated to western Pennsylvania and about 1783 settled in Washington County, Pa., on the headwaters of Ten-Mile Creek. They were pioneers, being among the earliest settlers of this region. The land comprising the Cracraft farm and now owned by the Cracraft heirs, viz., Dr. C. C. Cracraft, W. A. Cracraft, Esq., brothers, and Mrs. George B. Darrah, a sister, is an original tomahawk claim blazed by one Atkinson, a brother-in-law of Maj. Charles Cracraft. Maj. Cra- craft took up a similar claim farther down the creek and before proving up the claims the brothers-in-law traded claims and Maj. Cracraft took title in the upper tract known as the Pheasant's retreat and this tract of land has remained in the Cracraft name ever since and is one of the few instances in which land in Washington Coun- ty, Pa., remains in the name of the original patentee. (The subject of this sketch has heard his grandfather, William Cracraft, say that the last white man killed by the Indians in Washington County was killed on the Cracraft farm a short distance from where the dwelling house now stands.)

Maj. Charles Cracraft served with honor and distinc- tion as surgeon and major during and to the end of the Revolutionary War and was honorably discharged at Pittsburg. The government had no funds to pay the dis- charged soldiers and he received in lieu of pay a grant of the land on which the city of Detroit, Mich., now stands, but he thought so little of its value that he never

even went to see it, and never proved up his claim, in- stead settling in Pennsylvania. The Cracrafts are and always have been civil, law-abiding citizens, ready at all times to serve their country in any capacity, civil or military, and while not being office seekers, have fre- quently been called upon for public service.

William Cracraft, the grandfather of our subject, served for ten years as justice of the peace and in that time never tried a case, being uniformly successful in settling all his cases peacefully and to the satisfaction of the litigants. So successful was he that he earned the title of peacemaker. Elbridge G. Cracraft, an uncle was at one time a cadet at West Point and later, in 1845, was elected to the State Senate from Washington Coun- ty. William A. Cracraft, a brother, is serving his fourth consecutive term as school director and his third con- secutive term as justice of the peace.

Charles Clinton Cracraft was reared in what is now South Franklin Township, in his boyhood attending the local schools and doing his full share of work on the home farm. He taught school in 1875-6, and later (1877) entered Washington and Jefferson College, class of '80. Afterwards he taught school for two years in South Franklin Township and during this time began his pre- liminary studies in medicine. He subsequently entered the office of the late Dr. George A. Daugherty, at Wash- ington, remaining with him from March, 1879, until pre- pared for Jefferson Medical College, where he was grad- uated in 1883, a member of one of the largest classes that ever proudly departed with diplomas from that old and honored medical school, numbering 228 graduates. Dr. Cracraft began his practice at Midway, in Washing- ton County, later practiced for several years at England village and still later at Denver, Col. While at Denver he was a member of the faculty of Gross Medical Col- lege, as a specialist on throat diseases. In 1894 Dr. Cra- craft came to Claysville and has here built up a large and lucrative practice and he is numbered with the leading men in his profession in Washington County. He is a valued member of the Washington County Medical So- ciety and a frequent contributor to its literature. He belongs also to the Pennsylvania Medical Society and to the American Medical Association.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 194

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