History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 204

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 204

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Four years later, having used up all the timber on their farm, his father, in quest of more timber, moved to Mississippi, against the advice of August, who re- turned to Midway. Then in the fall of 1881 he joined his father in Mississippi and for the two following years worked in the cotton fields and at the timber business.

On July 4, 1883, the sanitary condition of that coun- try not being to his-liking, he returned and located in McDonald. He worked in the different mines for about two years, then secured a position in a grocery store in Shadyside, and was then with J. D. Sauters for about five years. Then in 1891 he opened up a clothing store, conducting it until 1902, when he started in his present business.

In July, 1887, Mr. Valentour was married to Miss Mary L. Chambon, a daughter of Louis and Adele (Baguet) Chambon. She died in 1892, leaving two children, Adele F. and Louis F., and in 1896 Mr. Valentour married Miss Marie C. Voye, a daughter of Joseph and Clemence (Re- bould) Voye. To this second union two children have been born, Marie J. and August F.

In politics Mr. Valentour has always been identified with the Republican party. Is a member of present Coun- cil and of numerous French and English speaking frater- nal organizations.

His father and mother, sister Mary, brothers Oliver and Victor are deceased. His sister Virginia resides in France and brother Joseph in Jackson, Miss., and brother Theophilis in Kentucky.

HARRY HAMILTON DAVIS, a prominent citizen of Washington, residing at the corner of Jefferson avenue and Chestnut street, has been identified with the oil and gas business ever since its discovery in Washington County. He was born in Washington May 18, 1860, on West Chestnut street, in the house that stood on the site of the present Y. M. C. A. building, a son of Dr. Robert W. Davis. The latter was born on the old Davis home- stead on the state road, six miles north of Washington, in 1832. He received his education at the public school and Washington College and graduated at Jefferson Med- ical College in 1855. He was married in 1855 to Mary

1226

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Ann Spriggs and they reared three sons-James S., who died in 1876 in his twentieth year; Harry H. and Robert W., both of Washington. The grandfather, Samuel Davis, was one of the earlier settlers of the county and for many years conducted the Davis Tavern, a well- known roadhouse between Washington and West Middle- town.

Harry H. Davis was educated in the public schools of Washington and at Washington and Jefferson College, graduating from the latter institution in the Class of 1882. He devoted one year to the study of medicine, and then went to Warren, Ohio, where he was engaged in business for two years. Then returning to Washington, he served three years as clerk in the county treasurer 's office.

In 1887 he became interested in the oil business, and for the past seven years he has been engaged in the gas business, being one of the incorporators of the Greens- boro Gas Company, a Pennsylvania corporation supply- ing natural gas throughout the several counties of West- ern Pennsylvania. For five years he has been at the head of the land department of this company.

In 1887 Mr. Davis was married to Miss Matilda Reed Wilkinson, of Washington, a daughter of Anthony M. and Margaret Robinson Wilkinson, who were both born in England. Mr. and Mrs. Davis had two children-both now deceased-an infant son, and a daughter, Ma Dessa Lula, who died December 27, 1901, at the age of eleven years. He and his wife are members of the Second Pres- byterian Church. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity and the B. P. O. E., NoN. 776.

JAMES M. PAXTON, a representative citizen and successful breeder of Holstein registered cattle, resides on his well improved farm of 178 acres situated in Char- tiers Township, Washington County, Pa. He is a mem- ber of an old and substantial pioneer family whose inter- esting history in Washington County dates back to 1782. He was born on a farm adjoining the one he owns, Sep- tember 9, 1868, and is a son of John G. and Anna (Mil- ler) Paxton.

The Paxtons came to Washington County from York County, the great-grandparents, John and Martha Pax- ton crossing the valleys and mountains on horseback and locating first in Canton Township. They later came to Chartiers Township and on their homestead their son, Thomas Paxton, was born in 1804. There he was reared and subsequently married Jane Mills, of Jefferson Coun- ty, Ohio. They had the following children: John G., father of James M .; George Mills, who died at the age of twenty-six years, unmarried; Samuel, who resides in Boone County, Iowa, who married Sarah Edgar; Mattie, deceased in 1884, who was the second wife of H. O. Mc- Knight, of Chartiers Township; Isaac N., a resident of

Chartiers Township, who married Mary McNary, and has two sons; Nancy, who married Thomas McCune, of Hope- dale, Ohio; Mary, who died aged twenty-three years; Thomas M., living on the old homestead, who married Nettie Ross; and Minnie, who married William Zeh, and resides near Monongahela City. The mother of the above mentioned family was born in 1816; both she and hus- band reached old age and died on the homestead farm.

John G. Paxton, who is one of Chartiers most respected citizens, was born on the old Paxton homestead, August 18, 1836. He devoted his active years to general farm- ing and stock raising. Mr. Paxton is still hale and hearty in appearance and of mental vigor, showing few indi- cations of the passage of time. He was married in April, 1863, to Anna Knox Miller, who was born in Mt. Pleasant Township and died February 22, 1872. Her people were of Scotch-Irish ancestry and her parents were John and Margaret Miller. Four children were born to this marriage: George Grant, who married Miss Mary McNary, daughter of John C. MeNary, of Canons- burg; James Miller; Lillie, who married James McPeak, of Carnegie, Pa .; and John Graham, editor of the Kent Courier, of Kent, Ohio, who married Amy Gisenger, of Ohio. John G. Paxton married for his second wife, Ellen, daughter of William Cameron, of South Strabane Township. Of this marriage three children are living, William C., Jennie A. and Emma. Mr. and Mrs. Paxton are members of the Houston United Presbyterian Church.

James Miller Paxton attended the Wilson school in Chartiers Township when a boy, later was a student in Jefferson Academy at Canonsburg, and still later attend- ed the Iron City Business College at Pittsburg. He re- mained on the home farm, engaged actively in farming and stock raising until in February, 1896, when he came to his present property, one which formerly belonged to Andrew Miller and which for ninety years was in the Miller name. In 1904 Mr. Paxton erected his comfort- able residence and made other improvements as his agri- cultural operations increased and his stock industry be- came a more and more important feature. He ships all his milk to Pittsburg. He has found the Holstein cattle the most satisfactory and has given a large amount of attention to breeding fine specimens, has exhibited at many fairs and expositions, and at the St. Louis Exposi- tion he received five prizes on seven head of his cattle.

In 1892 Mr. Paxton was married to Miss Mary Rus- sell, a daughter of William and Margaret (Thompson) Russell, of Mt. Pleasant Township. The father of Mrs. Paxton died December 26, 1894, at the age of sixty-nine years. The mother died in January, 1892, aged sixty- three years. They were born in Mt. Pleasant Township. The paternal grandfather, Andrew Russell was born in Cecil Township, Washington County, in 1777, and died in 1861. He married Anna McClelland, who died February

1227

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

17, 1868. The children of Andrew Russell and wife were: James, Alexander, Robert, Andrew, William, John, Eliza, wife of Robert Jeffrey; Jane, wife of Samuel Lee; Ann, and one who married a McCall. The mother of Mrs. Paxton was a daughter of Joseph and Margaret Thompson, who had also three sons. The parents of Mrs. Paxton had children as follows: Mary, who is the wife of Mr. Paxton; Joseph, who died aged thirteen years; Annie, who died March 4, 1881, aged twenty-one years; Maggie, who died November 13, 1881; L. A., who mar- ried Mattie Kelso, died March 7, 1908; W. Frank, who married Jennie Galbreath, and resides at Bridgeville, Pa .; and Robert L., proprietor of a hotel at Cadiz, Ohio, who married Maria Wright, of Bridgeville. Several children died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Paxton have had the following children : Margaret Ellen, born October 10, 1893; Ralph Russell, born December 17, 1896; Ruth Anna, born March 30, 1901; Mary Emma Jean, born November 9, 1905, who died September 1, 1907; and Lois Amy, born November 14, 1909, who lived only five weeks. Mr. and Mrs. Pax- ton are members of the Houston United Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Republican.

C. J. BUTLER, justice of the peace at Cokeburg, Pa .. where he is engaged in the business of brick manufac- turing, was born near Brownsville, Fayette County, Pa., February 6, 1858, and is a son of Thomas and Lavina (Bell) Butler.

The great-grandfather of Judge Butler came from Dunboyne, County Meath, Ireland. His name was Thomas Butler and it is registered among the early residents in Chester County and also on the rolls of the Patriot Army, for he served in the Revolutionary War on the Amer- ican side, while ten of his brothers and cousins were his comrades.

The grandfather and father of Mr. Butler were farm- ers and he remained on the farm until old enough to en- gage in brick manufacturing and worked in yards in several parts of the State. In 1900 he came to Coke- burg and established a brick industry here. He owns property at different points, having three town lots at Marianna, Pa., and two lots at Wabash Park, a new railroad station in Westmoreland County, in addition to his holdings at Cokeburg. He has been an active citizen, taking a hearty interest in all public affairs and is identified with the Republican party. He has served as borough assessor and for several years has been jus- tice of the peace.

On January 6, 1877, Mr. Butler was married to Miss Nora B. Williams, a daughter of Calvin Williams, of Fayette County, and they have had six children, namely : Olive L., who married William Poorman, and lives at New Stanton, Westmoreland County. (By an earlier

marriage to A. M. Gallagher, she had two children- May and William Gallagher); Emma B., who married J. B. Sell, who is in the real estate business at Young- wood, Pa., and has two children; Anna May, who married Dr. W. E. Errett, of New Station, and has one child, Helen Errett; Charles C., who married Bertha Fry, of Greensburg, Pa .; Mary Ethel, who resides at home; and Edith, who died when two years old. Judge Butler is identified with the Masonic fraternity.

WILLIAM McGREGOR, one of Monongahela City 's representative citizens, who, for many years was identi- fied with business interests here, has recently retired from active participation in commercial life and proposes to now enjoy the ease which industry and prudence in earlier life has made possible. He was born on his father's homestead in Nottingham Township, Washing- ton County, Pa., October 4, 1837, and is a son of William and Jane (McCormick) McGregor.

The father of Mr. McGregor was born at Chambers- burg, Pa., in 1794, a son of Daniel McGregor, who moved to Washington County in 1800 and settled on Mingo Creek, in Nottingham Township, where he died in ad- vanced age. At that time, 1800, the country was but sparsely settled and the older William McGregor re- membered when many Indians came to his father's pio- neer farm. He was the oldest of his parents' seven chil- dren and he soon became of use to his father, and later operated a tannery on Mingo Creek, together with cul- tivating a part of the home farm which came to him by inheritance. He married Jane McCormick, who died when their son William was three years old. Their other children were: Margaret, now deceased, who was the wife of Noah Myers, who is also deceased; Mary, de- ceased, who was the wife of Richard McClelland, also deceased; Daniel, who is deceased; Jane, deceased, who was the wife of Thomas McDonough, also deceased; Mar- tha; Rachel, who is deceased; and Benjamin Franklin, the youngest.

William McGregor was deprived of his mother in his infancy but he had older sisters who assumed his care, sent him to school in boyhood and in 1858 encouraged him to attend commercial college at Pittsburg. In 1860 he left home and went to Illinois and for three winters taught school in Tasewell County, during the summers engaging in farming. In 1865 he returned to Wash- ington County, Pa., and in September, 1866, he was mar- ried to Miss Maria Jane Raimey, a daughter of James Raimey, of Nottingham Township. Mrs. McGregor died in August, 1894. Five children survived her, namely : Nancy; Nora; James R., who married Mary Pollock, has three children-James, Josephine and Campbell; Eliza- beth; and William A., who married Mary Mullen and has one son, William.

1228

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

After his marriage, Mr. McGregor continued his farm- ing operations until 1873, when he moved to Mononga- hela City and engaged in the shoe business in the King building, later moving to the Swickert building, and still later removing to the Brown building. In 1877 he bought a block on Main street and moved to it in 1878, which continues to be the location of the business. Mr. McGregor then expanded somewhat, adding clothing to his stock of merchandise, and subsequently took his two sons into partnership. They proved capable and reliable business men and in August, 1909, Mr. Mc- Gregor turned over his responsibilities to them. His long and prosperous business career had been accom- plished along legitimate business lines and at all times he had enjoyed the confidence of the public and the respect of his competitors. Mr. McGregor was one of the organizers of the First National Bank and was a director of the same until July, 1909, when his son, J. R. McGregor, took his place. In politics, Mr. Mc- Gregor is a Democrat and in 1888 he was his party's candidate for the State Legislature. He has served in local offices and has been a useful member of the school board.

JOHN S. HUTCHISON, whose well improved farm of 129 acres is situated in Mt. Pleasant Township, Wash- ington County, Pa., two and one-half miles southeast of Hickory, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, April 13, 1861. His parents were Joseph and Lucinda (Cummins) Hutchison.

John S. Hutchison attended the Plum Run district school in Harrison County and then helped on the home farm until he was eighteen years of age and then learned the carpenter's trade. In 1880 he came to Wash- ington County and after marriage settled in Mt. Pleas- ant Township as a farmer and later at Houston, For four fine modern houses and sold them all. In April, sixteen years he worked all through this section as a carpenter, later becoming also a contractor. He built 1906, he came to his present farm, the coal on which had been sold before he bought the land. There are two gas wells on the place, one of these having been drilled twenty-five years ago. Mr. Hutchison has 120 acres of his land under cultivation, seven acres still timbered and the remainder he devotes to pasturage, keeping 100 sheep. He has greatly improved the property, building a new barn and repairing all other buildings. In poli- ties he is a Democrat and while residing at Houston he served five years as a member of the council.

On December 10, 1885, Mr. Hutchison was married to Esther A. Cowden, a daughter of John and Louisa (Scott) Cowden, both of whom are deceased. Mrs. Hutchison was born on the present farm February 16, 1865. She attended "Moore's School," in this vicinity, and later

went to Canonsburg Jefferson Academy. Mr. Codwen's death occurred on the present farm, September 29, 1909, when he was aged eighty-two years, his wife having passed away eleven years previously. They were members of the Venice United Presbyterian Church and their burial was in the cemetery belonging. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchison have had three children: John C .; Jennie, who died in 1898; and Joseph, who died in 1893. Both of these children were laid to rest in beautiful Oak Spring Cemetery, at Canonsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchi- son are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Houston.

D. M. DONEHOO, a prominent and highly respected citizen of Washington, who deals extensively in real es- tate, has been a resident of this city for about forty years, and was born July 6, 1840, in Cross Creek Town- ship, Washington County, Pa. He is a son of William and Rebecca (Wilson) Donehoo, the former a native of Allegheny County, who came to Washington County about 1835, was one of the early cabinet makers and under- takers of Cross Creek Township. William Donehoo was one of the prominent citizens of Cross Creek Township, and in 1860 was census taker for the five northern town- ships of Washington County. He married Rebecca Wil- son, who was born in Allegheny County, and of their union were born four children, two of whom died in in- fancy, the others being Henry W., whose death occurred August 13, 1902, lived on the old homestead at Cross Creek, and carried on the undertaking business estab- lished by his father in 1836, and D. M. Donehoo, the sub- ject of this sketch.

D. M. Donehoo was reared in Cross Creek Township and obtained his educational training in the common schools and the Cross Creek Academy, after which he was for some time engaged in farming and undertaking. In the fall of 1869 he was elected prothonotary of Wash- ington and came to this city, where he served three years in that capacity, when he was elected justice of the peace, which position he held continuously for thirty years, and since leaving the office has refused the nomination for same. He has always taken an active interest in politics, and is identified with the Democratic party. He has served eleven years on the Washington school board. Mr. Donehoo belongs to the Second Presbyterian Church, of which he is a member of the board of deacons.

Mr. Donehoo was married in 1869 to Agnes McFar- land, who was born and reared in Cross Creek Township, and two children were born of their union: Henry A., who died aged twenty-one years, and J. F. Donehoo, one of the leading physicians of Washington.

J. FRANK DONEHOO, M. D., one of the leading physicians of Washington, Pa., whose offices are located

. . . ...

J. FRANK DONEHOO, M. D.

D. M. DONEHOO

ـوعبر

1231

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

in the Washington Trust Building, was born June 21, 1869, in the village of Cross Creek, Washington County, Pa., and is a son of D. M. Donehoo, a prominent citizen of Washington. Dr. Donehoo graduated in 1890, with a degree of A. B., from the Washington-Jefferson Col- lege, and four years later the degree of A. M. was con- ferred upon him by the same college. In 1893 he graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, after which he was resident physician for the Mercy Hospital of Pittsburg one year. He then spent one year in Europe, studying medicine at Vienna and Berlin, and upon his return to Washington entered upon the practice of his profession, having been associated with Dr. J. Y. Scott since June, 1900. Dr. Donehoo also took a post-graduate course in Polyclinics at Philadelphia. He is a member of the Academy of Medicine of Washington and is also a mem- ber of the county and state medical associations and the American Medical Association. Dr. Donehoo was on the medical staff of the Washington Hospital from its or- ganization until 1898, since which time he has been a member of the surgical staff and is surgeon for the Street Railway Company of Washington.

In 1897 Dr. Donehoo was united in marriage with Alice Adams, of Washington, and to them have been born three children: Laura Belle, Alice and Agnes. He is a mem- ber and an elder of the Second Presbyterian Church. Fraternally he is affiliated with the order of Heptasophs.

THOMAS SHAW, a substantial citizen of Chartiers Township, Washington County, Pa., who resides on the farm on which he has spent a busy and useful life, owns 200 acres of as fine land as may be found in this section for agricultural and grazing purposes. He was born here September 20, 1844, and is a son of John and Sarah (Harsha) Shaw.

The paternal grandfather was Joseph Shaw and he founded the family in Chartiers Township and was the original owner of the land, purchasing it in 1796 when it was mainly covered with native timber. He had three sons and two daughters. One son, William, moved to the West. Another son, James, located in Harrison Coun- ty, Ohio. Rebecca married a Mr. Johnson and died in Harrison County, Ohio. Jane married a Mr. Sprowl.

John Shaw, father of Thomas Shaw, was born on this farm in 1804, passed his life here and died in 1879, when aged seventy-five years. He was an elder in Cross Roads U. P. Church for quite a number of years. He married Sarah Harsha, whose mother was a McMillen, and to them were born thirteen children, some of whom died when small. William D., one of the older sons, has re- sided in Adams County, Iowa, for thirty-five years and there owns some 700 acres of land. During the Civil War he was a soldier and served in Co. A, 85th Pa. Vol.

Inf. Joseph resides at New Concord, Ohio, and he also was a soldier in the Civil War, a member of Co. A, 85th Pa. Vol. Inf., and never for any cause was absent from his post of duty during his term of enlistment. He mar- ried Helen, a daughter of Ebenezer McBurney. James was the third son to enter the service during the Civil War and he served three years as a member of Co. B, 1st W. Va. Cav., and became a veteran. He was twice married, first to Mary Boyce and second to a Miss St. Clair. Theodore went to the West in early manhood and is a prominent physician of Denver, Col. He also has served in the Colorado Legislature. Sarah Jane, now deceased, was the wife of J. L. Henderson. Harriet S., also deceased, was the wife of D. W. Beddow. John died in early manhood and Harrison, who was younger than Thomas, died in boyhood.

Thomas Shaw received the usual country school edu- cation in his boyhood and when his older brothers went into the army and later made homes for themselves in the West, a large part of the farm work fell on him and he has always remained on the old place. He still car- ries on general farming and stock raising and has a large herd of registered and graded cattle but no longer engages as formerly in the extensive breeding of regis- tered Holstein cattle, Shropshire sheep and Chester White hogs. He has a dairy business and supplies the Arden mines with milk, as he has done for the past five years.

Mr. Shaw was married (first) in November, 1876, to Miss Hallie Grounds. She died June 24, 1879. Mr. Shaw was married (second) March 16, 1881, to Miss Jennie Agnew, a daughter of E. J. Agnew, of Mt. Pleas- ant Township. Mr. Shaw has four children: W. L., who lives at home, being unmarried; Sarah Ann Gertrude, who is the wife of Paul C. Tarr, of Turtle Creek, and has one surviving child, Paul C .; Frank A., who is engaged in the merchant tailoring business at Waynesburg, Pa., and Elizabeth Edna, who is a teacher at the Arden mine school and resides at home.

Mr. Shaw was taught from boyhood to believe in the justness of the principles of the Republican party. He is a member and for some years has been an elder in the Cross Roads United Presbyterian Church.

ROBERT CAMPBELL MeILVAIN, a retired farmer and stock raiser of Somerset Township, Washington County, Pa., who resides in the old home place in which he was born, November 8, 1827, recently divided. his estate of 400 acres of farming land among his children. His parents were Greer and Jane (Campbell) McIlvain.

The MeIlvain and Campbell families originated in Scotland. The grandfather, Greer MeIlvain, came to Washington County from Cumberland County at an early day and his son, who bore his name, was born in Somer- set Township, October 11, 1793. The second Greer

1232

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

McIlvain purchased the farm on which his son, Robert C. McIlvain lives, in 1826, and resides here until his death, June 6, 1889. He married Jane Campbell, who was born in Franklin County, Pa., and was brought to Washington County by her father, Robert Campbell, in girlhood. Her death ocurred September 18, 1871.

Robert Campbell McIlvain was reared on the present farm and has practically spent his life here, always re- taining it as his home. In early manhood he passed one winter in Illinois, and during the winter of 1904-5 he and wife visited their daughter, Mrs. Dr. Woods, in her home in the State of California. His interests for many years were mainly agricultural and he was a successful farmer and stock raiser.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 204

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