History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 197

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 197

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G. W. LENHART, general farmer and thresher, re- siding in South Strabane Township, Washington County, Pa., was born in Allegheny County, Pa., February 17, 1876, and is a son of William and Dora (Andrews) Lenhart.

William Lenhart was born in Germany, in January, 1842. He came to America when fourteen years of age. He worked as a farm hand and then learned shoemaking and worked for three years at that trade, after which he drove a milk wagon for almost a year and afterward learned the cooper's trade and worked at the same for six years, in Pittsburg. Mr. Lenhart then learned the plasterer's trade and has followed the same ever since, in the meanwhile acquiring a small farm and dividing his attention between farming and plastering, He was mar- ried first to Dora Andrews, who died in Washington County and was buried at Lone Pine. They had five children : Elizabeth, who is now deceased; Emma, who is the wife of William Graham, and resides on a farm of thirty acres, in South Strabane Township; G. W. and Dora. In 1882 William Lenhart was married to his second wife, Margaret Nestice, who died in 1892 and was buried in the West Bethlehem Cemetery. William Lenhart has been a member of the Lutheran Church since he was fourteen years of age. Both he and son, G. W., cast their vote with the Republican party.

G. W. Lenhart attended the public schools in West Bethlehem and Amwell Townships. After his school days were over he engaged in farming and also operates a threshing machine through the neighborhood during the season. He is a member of the West Bethlehem Lutheran Church. The Lenharts are highly respected citizens and are known as industrious, honest and law-abiding men of the community.

CHARLES L. FOX, a well known, successful and popular teacher, who is in his second year at the Daisy- town School, in West Pike Run Township, was born on the Galbraith farm, in East Pike Run Township, this county, December 15, 1882, and is a son of John C. and Mary A. (Smith) Fox.

John C. Fox was born in Fallowfield Township, Wash- . ington County, Pa., a son of Josiah Fox, a native of Ire- land. He married Mary A. Smith, who was born in East Pike Run Township, a daughter of Rev. Asbury Smith, a minister of the M. E. Church. She was a school teacher before she married. Both parents of Charles L. Fox survive and reside on their farm of twenty-five acres, which lies in the northwestern corner of East Pike Run Township and extends into West Pike Run, about three and one-half miles northwest of Cali- fornia.

Charles L. Fox was reared on the home farm and ob- tained his education in the White Pigeon school, the Southwestern State Normal School at California, where he passed three years, and the summer Normal School at Claysville, Pa., where he enjoyed a year of study. He · found himself then not only well equipped for educational work, but also taking pleasure in it and this combination of knowledge and natural adaptation, has resulted in his meeting with success wherever he has accepted school work. He taught for one term in the Knott school in East Pike Run Township, two terms in the Beadal school, several years at White Pigeon and then came to Daisy- town. He continues to reside on the home farm with his parents, who are leading people in this section. Mr. Fox is identified with the Masonic fraternity.

JOSEPH M. PAINTER, general farmer and dairy- man, who owns seventy-two and a half acres situated five miles east of Washington, Pa., in South Strabane Township, is a representative citizen of this section. He was born in Virginia, in 1852, and is a son of Absalom and Eva (Ludwick) Painter.

Absalom Painter was a native of Virginia and lived there until 1864, when he moved to Washington County, Pa., and settled at Scenery Hill. Later he moved to near Pigeon Creek, where he continued to reside until his death, at the age of fifty-five years. He was buried in the cemetery of the United Presbyterian Church there.

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He married Eva Ludwick, a daughter of Daniel Lud- wick, and they had six children: Sarah, who married James Barnett, of Zollarsville; Joseph M., Elizabeth, wife of William Gordon, who was accidentally burned to death at Washington, Pa .; Mary, who married George Amos, of Zollarsville; Sidney, who married Willis Me- Cartney; and an infant that died unnamed. The mother of the above mentioned family lived to the age of sixty- five years and her burial was also in the Pigeon Creek Cemetery. Absalom Painter served for three years in the Civil War and was neither wounded or captured.

Joseph M. Painter was twelve years of age when he came to Washington County. He attended school in West Bethlehem Township and later in Somerset Town- ship. He then engaged in farming, working by the month until his marriage, in 1879. Afterwards he rented a farm on Pigeon Creek in Somerset Township for one year moving from there to near Clokeyville, in North Strabane Township, where he lived five years. Five more years were passed on a farm in South Strabane "Township and then he located near Mt. Pleasant Church and for a time worked by the day on a fruit farm. In April, 1906, he bought his present farm from Mills & Porter, it being valuable land for farming and pastur- age, although the coal had been previously sold. He has done quite a large amount of improving and has repaired all his buildings and put them in substantial shape. He carries on general farming and keeps some high grade cattle for butter purposes. He has made his own way in the world and what he owns he has ac- quired through his own industry and good management.

Mr. Painter was married October 30, 1879, to Miss Sarah Greenley, a daughter of John and Mary (Bala- tine) Greenley, of Morgan Township, Greene County, Pa. They have had three children: Elizabeth, who mar- ried J. R. Dawson, lives near Scenery Hill, and has one daughter, Katherine; Katherine, who married Edward Dishes, of Washington, and has one daughter, Mary Eliz- abeth; and Albert, who died when seven years of age and was interred in the Pigeon Creek Cemetery. Mr. Painter and family are members of the Pigeon Creek United Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Re- publican and has served in the office of road supervisor of the township for some time.

HENRY LOUTTIT was mine inspector of the first bituminous district of Pennsylvania for a period of twenty-three years, having resigned January 16, 1909. He has been a resident of Monongahela City since 1885. He was born in Ludwith, County of Durham, England, November 1, 1849, and is the son of James and Margaret (Cummings) Louttit.

James Louttit was reared in his native country, Eng- land, and learned the ship builder's trade at Sunder-

land, England; afterwards he became master of the freighters "Active" and "Thomas Baker," respectively. In 1851 he came to America and entered the employ as a boat builder for the Walkers at Elizabeth, Pa. His wife and family shortly followed him to this country. Subsequently they removed from West Elizabeth to Rock Run, from there to Pollock & Lees, and later to Baker- town, Pa., where his death occurred September 11, 1860.

James Louttit married for his second wife Margaret Cummings, who was also born in the County of Durham, England, and who died in 1895 at Struthers Station, Ohio. Of this union there was one child, Henry, the subject of this sketch. By a former marriage James Louttit had six other children, namely: John M., Will- iam, Margaret, Mary, James and Jane, all now deceased except Margaret, who is the widow of Thomas Innes. Margaret lives at Paris, Bear Lake County, Idaho.

Henry Louttit was nearly three years old when he accompanied his mother to America, the voyage lasting seven weeks, being made in the sailing vessel. At the age of thirteen years he entered the mines as a trapper, receiving 25 cents a day for attending two doors and a ventilating furnace. He was afterwards employed as a miner, driver and dayhand. In 1872 he removed to West Elizabeth, Pa., mining coal at this place until 1877, when he accepted a position as night watchman at the Black Diamond mine, near Monongahela City, and was there promoted through the various grades of em- ployment from watchman, roadsman, mine foreman to superintendent, and finally returned to coal mining in the same mine.

Mr. Louttit received but a limited amount of- school- ing in his youth, but has devoted much time to reading and study, especially on mining and kindred subjects. After his marriage he attended a select school. - In 1881 he attended the examination for the office of Inspection of Mines, passing, and making an average of 93%, and in 1885 he again took the examinations, making an aver- age of 87 7-10, which was the highest percentage at- tained by any of the contestants, with the exception of one candidate who passed.

A few months afterward another examination was held, in which he made a percentage of 97 7-10 which was the highest average received at that time, and was ap- pointed a mine inspector the same year.

On May 20, 1907, Mr. Louttit opened the Ideal . Theatre, which is in the fullest sense of the word an ideal vaudeville house, and is now under the manage- ment of his son, J. Harry Louttit. The interior as well as the exterior is very attractively and artistically designed, and the seating capacity and arrangement is highly satisfactory. The vaudeville acts and the mov- ing pictures are always new and up to date, and the management insists upon good, clean conduct, both on

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HENRY LOUTTIT

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

the stage and in the audience. The house has been highly successful from the beginning and will doubt- less be equally prosperous in the future under the Louttit management.

Mr. Louttit is a member of the following orders, namely: Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Free and Accepted Masons and Royal Arcanum ; he is past chancellor of Justus Lodge No. 395 and past master of Henry M. Phillips Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M. He is a Republican in politics and has served twelve years as member of the school board of Monongahela City, Pa., has been president of the school board, is at present the secretary, was elected as school director again on the 15th of the present month for the fifth term.

On April 6, 1869, Mr. Louttit was united in marriage with Catharine Kistler, daughter of William and Sarah Kistler. They have three children, namely: Anna, who is the wife of John Atchison and the mother of one child, Henrietta; William K., who married Mayme An- derson; and Harry, already mentioned, who married Anna Clonan and has two children-Catharine and Henry.

Mr. Louttit's residence is located at 314 Second street, which he purchased from the Keller estate in 1906.

W. G. RONEY, who has resided on his valuable farm of 102 acres, situated in Hopewell Township, Washington County, Pa., for a quarter of a century, was born in Monroe County, Ohio, October 14, 1848, and is a son of Samuel and Mary (Sutherland) Roney.

The parents of Mr. Roney resided at West Alexander, Washington County, for a number of years prior to mov- ing to Monroe County, Ohio, from which place they sub- sequently returned to Washington County. They had the following children: Mrs. Elizabeth McKee, now de- ceased; Mrs. Belle Orr, now deceased; William George, of Hopewell Township; Margaret, widow of John Ham- ilton; John L., residing at Scio, Ohio; Samuel, residing in Cross Creek Township; and Mary C.

W. G. Roney attended the district schools and later the West Alexander Academy. Since the age of twenty- one years he has been interested in farming, although for four years after his marriage he followed lumbering also, in West Virginia. He returned then to the home farm for two years, later rented farming land in Inde- pendence Township for two more years, and in 1884 purchased his present place. Here he has met with suc- cess in his agricultural undertakings and has a farm well stocked and finely equipped as to machinery and build- ings.

Mr. Roney was married February 22, 1875, to Miss Emma Terrill, a daughter of Jeremiah and Martha (Hemphill) Terrill, of Ohio County, W. Va., and they

have had five children, all of whom are now living, ex- cept one, Georgia. The survivors are: Mary Martha, who married Charles Brown, of Hubbard, Ohio; Laura J., who ilves at home; Sarah, who married Joseph Castner, of Hubbard, Ohio; and Paul, who resides at home. Mr. Roney and family are members of the Presbyterian Church at Buffalo, in which he served for some time as an elder. Mrs. Roney is a member of the Women's Missionary Society. In politics he is a Republican and for a long period he has been honored by his fellow citizens with election to the leading township offices, and he has served acceptably as school director, tax collector, supervisor and auditor.

O. E. RUSSELL, postmaster at Cokeburg, Pa., where he is also engaged in a dairy business, was born at Wil- gus, Lawrence County, Ohio, July 21, 1870, and is a son of J. C. and Mary ( Hamilton ) - Russell. Mr. Russell operates a dairy for J. A. Tombaugh, who owns a farm of 115 acres adjoining Cokeburg, and formerly he was manager of a store at this point, being so engaged for three years and two months. Cokeburg is a comparatively new postoffice, Mr. Russell being the first postmaster; he was appointed in 1906.

In early manhood Mr. Russell was 'married to Miss Myrtle J. Ingle, who died June 21, 1907, and was buried at Scenery Hill. She was a daughter of George W. Ingle, and the mother of the following children: Rosa May, who is a capable assistant to her father; and Verda Esta, John Edward, Elmer Lester, Lorain and Oscar Raymond. Mr. Russell married for his second wife, Mary Evans. He and his family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church.

GEORGE SCOTT CHANEY, civil engineer and sur- veyor by profession, at Washington, Pa., has attained a high degree of success during his brief business career and is at present county engineer for Washington County, having entered on the duties of that office Jan- uary 1, 1909. He was born in Donegal Township, Wash- ington County, in 1878 and is a son of George W. Chaney (deceased) and a grandson of James Chaney, who was one of the early settlers of Washington County.

George W. Chaney, also, was born in Donegal Town- ship, the year of his birth being 1835. He was one of the leading citizens of the county, always active in Re- publican politics and for many years one of the fore- most wool merchants in the county.

George S. Chaney received an early educational train- ing in the public school of West Alexander, supplement- ed by a course in Washington and Jefferson College, from which institution he was graduated in the Class of 1900. He also took a post-graduate course at Cornell University. For two years Mr. Chaney was engaged as

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instructor, one year as teacher of mathematics and physics in Washington and Jefferson Academy, and one year as assistant instructor in civil engineering and mechanical drawing in Washington and Jefferson Col- lege. He then became associated with John M. McAdam in general engineering work and in 1903 was elected city engineer of Washington, which position he held for two terms. Later he and W. Harry Armstrong formed a partnership under the firm name of Chaney & Arm- strong. They were the engineers employed in the con- struction of the local branch lines of the Washington and Canonsburg Railway and they do an extensive engi- neering business of all kinds. At the present time they have charge of all the road and bridge work of the county. Mr. Chaney is a Republican in politics and has always been more or less active in political affairs.

In 1904 the subject of this record was married to Edith A. White, of Canonsburg, Pa., and they have one son, Joseph L. Chaney. Religiously they are members of the Third Presbyterian Church. Mr. Chaney was one of the charter members of the Bassett Club and is still affiliated with this organization.

JOHN SHONTS, a member of the firm of Bane & Shonts, who conduct a general store at Granville, in East Pike Run Township, a place formerly known as Wilna Postoffice, has been engaged here since 1885. He was born on a farm in Mt. Pleasant Township, Westmore- land County, Pa., July 6, 1846, and is a son of James and Mary (Campbell) Shonts.

James Shonts was a farmer in Westmoreland County until about 1852, when he moved to Granville, in Wash- ington County. The family resided there until John Shonts was twenty-two years old, when removal was made to Allen Township, where the mother died in 1882 and the father in 1896. They had six children: George, who was accidentally killed in a coal bank, in 1885; Elvira, deceased, who was the wife of A. W. Bane, for- merly a partner in business with Mr. Shonts; Susan, deceased, who was the wife of James A. Dowler; Ellen, deceased, who was the wife of David Troy; Mary, also deceased, who was the wife of Henry Hammond; and John, who has never married.

In 1885 John Shonts came to Granville from near Speers, in Allen Township, and bought an interest in the general store conducted by Arthur W. Bane, who had started the business in 1876. Mr. Bane died in the fall of 1905 and was succeeded by his son, L. C. Bane, the business being continued as formerly. A general stock is carried, including flour and feed and a very satis- factory business is done, the proprietors enjoying the confidence and friendship of residents over a large terri- tory. Mr. Bane holds the office of checker weighman with the Vesta Coal Company.

W. A. McCALL, M. D., who has been engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at West Zollarsville, Pa., since October, 1904, and who has thoroughly gained the esteem and confidence of the people, was born in Butler County, Pa., October 8, 1878, and is a son of J. P. and Mary (Snyder) McCall. The parents of Dr. McCall reside in Franklin Township, Butler County, Pa., where his father is a farmer. The latter is one of the old members of the Muddy Creek Presbyterian Church there, of which he has been a trustee for years.

Dr. McCall attended the Franklin Township schools in his boyhood and later entered the Normal School at Slippery Rock, where he was graduated in the Class of 1897. He then taught school in Butler County for three years and during that time did his preparatory reading in medicine. Later he entered the medical department of the University of Pittsburg and was graduated in the Class of 1904, immediately locating at West Zol- larsville. He is a member of the Washington County and Pennsylvania State Medical Societies. He is identi- fied with the Masonic fraternity.

In April, 1905, Dr. McCall was married to Miss Valera Thompson, a daughter of James M. Thompson. To Dr. and Mrs. McCall a daughter was born on July 21, 1906, who was named Dorothy. Both Dr. McCall and wife are members of the Muddy Creek Presbyterian Church. Like his father, Dr. McCall is a Republican.

W. H. GRIFFITHS, president of the Griffiths Char- coal, Iron and Tin Mills of Washington, which was established in 1901 and is the only plant in the United States which manufactures charcoal iron exclusively, and covers an area of twenty-one acres, was born in 1854, in Staffordshire, England, and at the age of fourteen came to America and located in Pittsburg, Pa., where he remained until about 1869, when he came to Wash- ington. Three years later he returned to Pittsburg, where he engaged in tin plate manufacturing, and was the first to establish that business in Allegheny County, continuing there until 1895, when he came to Washing- ton, where he has since been prominently identified with the manufacturing interests of this community. He established the Washington Steel and Tin Plate Mills, which went into operation in 1896 and which, in No- vember, 1898, were sold to the trust, which in one year's time dismantled them. In 1899, Mr. Griffiths built and put into operation the Tyler Tin Plate Mills, which were the first independent tin plate mills built in this county after the others had been disposed of by the trust. This he sold in 1901, when he established the Griffiths Char- coal Iron and Tin Mills, where he carries on an ex- tensive business and manufactures a material greatly superior to any other of its kind on the market. The manufacture of charcoal iron is a difficult and compli- .

W. H. GRIFFITHS

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cated process, and a great amount of this product is furnished to the United States government for building purposes. Roofs put on from tin manufactured at the Griffiths plant, are guaranteed for twenty years. The plant gives employment to about 225 men, and is one of the substantial industries of Washington.

In 1886, Mr. Griffiths was united in marriage with Elizabeth Scott, of Pittsburg, and they have reared four children: Mary, married W. S. Kearney, who is cashier of the Glassport Bank of Mckeesport, Pa .; Elizabeth, married J. R. Eriser, of Washington; Jessie and Addie. Fraternally Mr. Griffiths is affiliated with the B. P. O. E. order.

DAVID GEORGE JONES, secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Pittsburg-Buffalo Company, of which he was one of the organizers, the general offices of which are in Pittsburg, with many branches at other points, is not only identified with this enormous com- bination of labor and capital, but is concerned in many other enterprises and is closely connected with the lead- ing financial institutions in Washington County. His chosen home is at Canonsburg, Pa., where he gives at- tention to matters of social, commercial and artistic interest and also to all that relates to the well-being of the borough at large and to the comfort and safety of the great army of employes who are dependent in large measure on the wisdom of his business judgment and the vital force which enables him to carry out plans, which ultimately bring work and wages to them.

David George Jones was born at Green Oak, West- moreland County, Pa., not far from Mckeesport, Au- gust 4, 1871, and is a son of James and Anna (Ivil) Jones. -

James Jones, the father, was born in Wales, in 1835, and came to America in 1858, landing on the shore of Maryland. He was then twenty-three years of age and was a blacksmith and a miner and in search of work walked over the Allegheny Mountains into Washington County. He enlisted in the Union Army and served in the Civil War. His first experience as employer and operator in the mining business was when he leased the Osceola mines and later purchased the Grant mines, at Carnegie; the Ivil mine at Monongahela, in 1882; and in 1889 he became half owner of the Catsburg mine at Monongahela City. In the latter year he organized the. Rostraver mine. In 1896 he admitted his sons to a busi- ness partnership, forming the firm of James Jones & Sons and this firm purchased the coal business, steamers and barges of the T. M. Jenkins Company. The firm, continued in the coal mining and transporting business 4 until 1899, when the Monongahela Coal Company pur- chased their holdings and at this time James Jones re- tired from the firm.

To James and Anna (Ivil) Jones, the latter of whom was born in England, the following children were born: John H., Thomas P., William I., David G., Harry P., Mary, Rachel E. and Stella. The five sons were the or- ganizers of the Pittsburg-Buffalo Company. Miss Rachel E. resides at home. Mary is the wife of William Hol- sing, of Canonsburg. Stella is the wife of Joseph Vitchestine, who is land agent for the Pittsburg-Buffalo Company.

David George Jones has been familiar with the min- ing industry since he was nine years of age. He was then a school boy and it was his task to enter the mines after school term was over for the year and perform allotted tasks suitable to his age, and thus he learned all the details of the business in which he is so im- portant a factor at present. His father afforded him a business training later on and his first official duties were in the line of bookkeeping and attending to the banking business in relation to his father's interests. Nevertheless he became thoroughly acquainted with the whole mining business in all its practical ways, believing that he could thus better take his place among the large operators as he foresaw such a future was awaiting him. When he attends a convention of mine operators this knowledge has frequently surprised his associates. He has always had the interests of his employes at heart and is particularly well qualified to judge of their dan- gers, their work and their efficiency from having once been a miner himself. He is known to be an indefati- gable worker and in times of great stress, when a new mine has been opened or, perhaps, some accident has been unavoidable, he has been known to keep twenty hours at work without rest.

As stated above, the five sons of James Jones founded and organized the Pittsburg-Buffalo Company, which is one of the best managed concerns of its kind in America. The company opened up the Marianna mine and have more than a dozen mines in full operation and afford thousands of men with remunerative employment, in their mines and offices. The coal output is enormous and at every branch point prosperity is present for all con- cerned. As general manager of this vast business, David George Jones has great responsibility resting upon him, continually testing his capacity as a leader in the busi- ness world. His other interests are scarcely less im- portant .. He is a director of the Citizens Trust Com- pany of Canonsburg; a director of the First National Bank of Burgettstown; a director of the First National Bank at Finleyville; a director of the First National Bank of Wilson, Pa., and is president of the Farmers and Miners Bank of Marianna; president of the Dexter Coal Company of Brilliant, Ohio; president of the Ray- land Coal Company of Rayland, Ohio; vice president of the Big Coal Company of Dorothy, W. Va .; president of

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 197

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