History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 225

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 225

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Township. In the spring of 1907 he came to Claysville, where he has resided ever since, but he still retains his land. He is a Republican in politics and has served four years as a school director in Donegal Township.

Mr. Montgomery was married to Miss Grace Clark, of Washington County, and they have one son, John N., who is employed as bookkeeper for the Pennsylvania Bridge Company at Claysville. Mr. Montgomery and family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and are among the most respected residents of the borough.

THOMAS D. GLADDEN,* who is one of the repre- sentative citizens of McDonald, Pa., where he owns val- uable real estate, is also proprietor of a well improved farm of 158 acres which is situated in Cecil Township. He was born in Allegheny County, Pa., January 13, 1882, and is a son of James R. and Sarah A. (McConnell) Gladden.

The father of Mr. Gladden was a farmer for a num- ber of years and then retired to McDonald, where he engaged in the mercantile business for some time prior to his death, which occurred in 1898. His widow sur- vives and makes her home with her son, Thomas D., who is the youngest of the family, the others being: Mary, who is the widow of James Crane, and lives at Jamestown, N. Y .; and Joseph, who is engaged in lead and zinc mining in Illinois.

Thomas D. Gladden attended the public schools in Washington County and then took a course of two years at Trinity Hall, Washington, after which he assumed agricultural duties and has made farming the main busi- ness of his life. In June, 1904, Mr. Gladden was mar- ried to Miss Louise La Vie, who is a daughter of Philip and Mary (Bess) La Vie, residents of McDonald. The other children of the La Vie family are, Wilt, George W., Marie, Louis and Edward. Marie is the wife of F. A. Thomassy. Mr. and Mrs. Gladden have three chil- dren, James Donaldson, George Douglass and Richard Louis. In politics Mr. Gladden is identified with the Democratic party. With his family he belongs to the Presbyterian Church.

JOSEPH NOBLE YOHE,* who is engaged in con- ducting a meat market at Monongahela City, Pa., has been a lifelong resident of this city, having been born here November 17, 1862, a son of David and Martha J. (Porter) Yohe. He is a grandson of Daniel Yohe, a native of Germany, and one of the early settlers of Washington County, Pa.

David Yohe, who was born at Valley Inn, Carroll Township, Washington County, Pa., was reared on the farm and later engaged in the grocery business at Mo- nongahela City, which was then known as Williamsport.

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During the years 1867 and 1868 he was the only Ger- man-speaking merchant in the Monongahela Valley and had the entire trade of the German element. Mr. Yohe continued in the grocery business throughout his entire active career. He passed out of this life at the age of seventy-three years. He was united in marriage with Martha J. Porter, who comes of the old Porter family, which was one of the prominent pioneer families of Washington County. David and Martha Yohe became the parents of the following children: Clemmons; Catherine, deceased; Joseph N., our subject; Edward, deceased ; and Charles A.

Joseph N. Yohe was reared in Monongahela City, where at an early age he began working in the old brick yard. He later became a clerk in the store of G. T. Scott, with whom he remained until his death, and then spent eight years as a clerk in the grocery store of A. D. Scott. About 1877 he purchased the meat market con- ducted by Samuel T. Robinson in the Nelson Building, where our subject continued the business with success until 1895, when he removed to his present location on the east side of Main street, in 1903 purchasing the building from William Blackenbuhler.

Mr. Yohe was married in August, 1882, to Fannie Berry, who died two years later, leaving one daughter, Blanche Lee. On November 16, 1890, Mr. Yohe con- tracted a second marriage with Lillian Wilson. Mr. Yohe is fraternally affiliated with the B. P. O. E., the Knights of Pythias and the Jr. O. U. A. M., all of Mo- nongahela City, and is one of the four living charter members of the latter order. He has never drawn a sick benefit. Mr. Yohe is an active worker in the in- terests of the Democratic party, and his religious con- nection is with the Presbyterian Church.

WILLIAM WINTON WILLIAMS,* who for the past three years has been manager of the California Plumbing & Builders Supplies Company, which was established at California, Pa., by his father in 1900, was born at Belle Vernon, Pa., and is a son of James P. and Maggie B. (McKean) Williams.

James B. Williams was born in Belle Vernon, Pa., and was for many years a steamboat captain on the Monongahela River, and in 1896 located at California, Pa. He continued on the river until 1900, when he established the California Plumbers & Builders Supply Company, of which he was manager until the time of his death at California, in 1905. James B. Williams married Maggie B. McKean, a daughter of Samuel Mc- Kean, of Fern Cliff, Pa., and they became the parents of the following children: S. E. Fleming, of California, Pa .; Nellie; William W., the subject of this sketch; Florence; Beatrice; Cora, and one deceased.

William Winton Williams is one of the rising and

successful young business men of California, and for the past three years has been the manager of the busi- ness established by his father in 1900, the business being owned by himself and the other members of the family. Mr. Williams holds membership with the Jr. O. U. A. M. and the Royal Arcanum.

B. B. FIGLEY,* a substantial citizen of Burgetts- town and the junior partner in the firm of J. C. Fulton & Co., dealers in flour, grain and feed, at this place, was born at Steubenville, Ohio, February 13, 1879.

Mr. Figley was educated in the schools of Hanlin Station and Burgettstown, Washington County, and im- mediately after leaving school, entered into his present business connection. The firm owns two warehouses and he has a separate interest in one of them. He is also a stockholder in the Burgettstown National Bank.

On May 24, 1898, Mr. Figley was married to Miss Bertha M. Karns, a daughter of A. D. Karns, and they have three children, Thelma, Helen and John. Mr. and Mrs. Figley are members of the First Presbyterian Church. He votes with the Democratic party, but is in no sense a politician, merely an active, upright citizen, who has the best interests of his town at heart.

H. J. McLAUGHLIN,* secretary and superintendent of the Star Brewing Company, at Washington, is a resident of twenty years standing, but he was born at Butler, Pa., in 1879.

Mr. Mclaughlin was ten years old when he came to Washington and here he obtained his education. Imme- diately after leaving school he became associated with the Star Brewing Company, entering the offices as a clerk and through the intervening positions has ad- vanced until he was made secretary and superintendent in 1906. The business done is one of large volume and employment is afforded many men.

On November 26, 1902, Mr. MeLaughlin was married to Miss Eleanor Boyd, a daughter of the late Jesse Boyd, and they have three children, Mary Ellen, Margaret Al- marine and John Henry. Mr. Mclaughlin and family are members of the Roman Catholic Church. He is identified with the order of Eagles.

SAMUEL J. CLOKEY,* a prominent farmer of North Strabane Township, comes of a family long established in this township. He was born on his present farm and is a son of Joseph and Jennie (White) Clokey.

James Clokey, his great-grandfather, came to Wash- ington County in 1812 and bought the George Van Eman farm of 310 acres. The stone residence on the farm was erected by Mr. Van Eman in 1805, and has been occupied by the Clokey family until the present year, when the new brick residence was erected by the

JAMES SIBERT GROUP

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

subject of this sketch. The farm has always descended from father to son, and Samuel Clokey, a son of James, and grandfather of the present owner, was owner of the farm for many years. The village of Clokeyville, which onee contained a tavern, postoffice, blacksmith shops and stores, was named in his honor, and a postoffice was established about 1860 and continued until 1902 with Joseph Clokey, father of Samuel J., as postmaster. The next owner of the farm was Joseph Clokey, who was married in 1878 to Jennie White, and resided on the homestead until his death September 18, 1904. His wife died in 1885, leaving three children-Ethel R., who married Shirley McBurney, of Washington, Pa .; Eliza- beth A., who resides on the homestead; and Samuel J., subject of this sketch. Joseph Clokey married the second time in 1887, Lucille E. Toynbee, of Brownsville, Pa., who still survives him and resides on the homestead.

Samuel J. Clokey, who was educated in the common schools and at a business college at Washington, Pa., succeeded to the Clokey farm at the death of his father, and has been a successful farmer and stockman, making a specialty of Red Polled cattle and Black Top Merino sheep. Mr. Clokey was married January 10, 1909, to Maude Munce, a daughter of Miller and Elizabeth Munce, of North Strabane Township. Mr. Clokey is a Repub- lican in politics and the members of the family hold membership with the Pigeon Creek United Presbyterian Church.

JAMES SIBERT, a respected and esteemed resident of Washington, Pa., residing at No. 142 West Wheeling street, is a member of W. F. Templeton Post, G. A. R., having served as a soldier in the Civil War. He was born in Greene County, Pa., in 1833, and was three months old when his parents moved to Amwell Township, Washington County. They were Isaac and Phebe (Tress- ler) Sibert, farming people. Three of their five chil- dren reached maturity, namely: James; George, a farmer in West Bethlehem Township; and Nancy.

James Sibert grew up in Amwell Township, attended the district schools and helped his father in farming and stock raising and later learned the carpenter trade and subsequently combined both. He gave considerable at- tention to raising Merino sheep. In 1862 he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Co. D, 140th Pa. Vol. Inf., under Capt. Silas Parker. After a period of hard service he became ill and was discharged for disability. He was never wounded, but for eighteen months after his return, his emaciation was such that he could only be moved in his bed, with the sheets. He recovered slowly but subsequently regained his normal health and re- sumed his former occupations.

Mr. Sibert was married (first) to Elizabeth Dalrymple, who died in 1879. Eight of the ten children born to

that union still survive, namely: James, who is a farmer in Illinois; John C., who is a farmer in Amwell Town- ship; Isaac, who resides at Scenery Hill; Miller, who lives in Washington; Sarah Jane, who resides at Waynes- burg; Maggie, married, who lives in Ohio; and Louise, who is the wife of Frank Guyman, of Larke, Pa. Mr. Sibert was married (second) to Eliza Jane Zimmerman, who died in April, 1903. Of the eight children born to the second union, four survive, as follows: Charles, re- siding at Washington; Elizabeth, wife of A. F. Ballen- tine, a glass blower with the Hazel Atlas Glass Co., of Washington; Martha, wife of Clyde Williard, tinner, at Washington; and Russell, who is also with the Hazel Atlas Glass Company, of Washington. Mr. Sibert is one of the pillars of the Baptist Church known as the North Ten-Mile Church.

ALLISON AARON ROWE,* a leading citizen of Canonsburg, who is identified with oil production, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., four miles north of Greensburg, March 21, 1858, and is a son of Simon P. and Mary (Portzer) Rowe.

The parents of Mr. Rowe were both born in West- moreland County. The father was of English ancestry and lived in Westmoreland County all his life, dying in 1901, aged sixty-six years. The mother was a daughter of Josiah Portzer, who was a native of Germany and was an early settler in Westmoreland County. She sur- vived until her eightieth year, dying September 12, 1909. Four children were born to Simon P. and Mary Rowe, namely: Wilson; Josephine, who is now deceased (mar- ried first Charles Weaver, and second, Jerry Linn) ; Allison A .; and Emma, who is now deceased, who was the wife of William Tate.

Allison Aaron Rowe attended school at Franklin, Pa., and when seventeen years of age entered the oil busi- ness, beginning at the bottom and learning every de- tail. He worked first at Bradford, Pa., then returned to Franklin for some years and served as superintendent of the Pennsylvania Natural Gas Company until it sold out to the Philadelphia Company. For fifteen years he was superintendent of the same with office at Canons- burg and since then has been an oil operator. He has been very successful in his undertakings in this direction and has large oil interests both in Ohio and in West Virginia. He has been a resident of Canonsburg for twenty-two years and is thoroughly identified with the best interests of the city, being a loyal and public- spirited citizen.

Mr. Rowe married Miss Annetta Adams, a daughter of James and Susan (Waldron) Adams, the latter of whom survives, being now in her eighty-ninth year. The Waldrons came to America from Holland in 1650, and came early to Pennsylvania. The father of Mrs. Adams

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served under Commodore Perry in the War of 1812. The Adams family came to Canonsburg about the time of the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Rowe are members of the Presbyterian Church at Canonsburg. He is identi- fied with the Elks and politically with the Republican party.

J. N. SPROWLES, M. D.,* physician and surgeon and one of Claysville's most valued citizens, has been in continuous medical practice in this place since 1877 and is numbered among the leading medical men of Washington .County. Dr. Sprowles was born in West Finley Township, Washington County, Pa., September 14, 1852, and is a son of John and Mary A. (McMay) Sprowles.

The Sprowles family was established in West Finley Township by the grandfather of Dr. Sprowles, who was a native of the north of Ireland. John Sprowles, father of the doctor, was born after his parents settled in Washington County. His life was devoted to agriculture and his death occurred some years since. He married Mary A. McMay, who was born in Greene County, Pa.

The boyhood of Dr. Sprowles was spent on his father's farm. He attended the public schools and in order to provide for his medical course, upon which he resolved early, he worked on the homestead and taught school, exercising prudence and economy until he gained his ambition. He was a student for a short time at Oberlin College and later entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from which famed institution he was grad- uated March 10, 1877. At that time Claysville seemed to offer a promising field for a young practitioner and here he settled and ere long had formed the pleasant ties of friendship with its good people and had gained a satisfactory practice, and these conditions have not only continued but increased. He would be missed, in- deed, should anything remove him from the people with whom he has been so closely associated for thirty-two years. He is a valued member of the Washington County Medical Society, of which he has been president, and belongs also to the Pennsylvania State Medical Society and to the American Medical Association. He is the local surgeon for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at this point.

On March 7, 1878, Dr. Sprowles was married to Miss Margaret M. McLain, a daughter of Hon. J. R. McLain, of Claysville, and they have one son, George M., who is a student at Washington and Jefferson College. Dr. Sprowles has always given hearty support to Republican policies. He is a Presbyterian and belongs to the United Presbyterian Church at Claysville.

ROBERT P. STEVENSON, justice of the peace at Burgettstown, Pa., and a representative citizen of Wash- ington County, of which he was auditor for two terms,

was born on his father's farm in Smith Township, Wash- ington County, Pa., October 24, 1851. His parents were John and Harriet (Smith) Stevenson.

John Stevenson was a man of prominence in Wash- ington County for many years. His father was one of the early settlers in Smith Township, where he was born, November 15, 1804. He attended Jefferson College and then taught school, subsequently following the milling business and also becoming a civil engineer. He was elected a justice of the peace and was looked up to by his fellow citizens as a leader. In 1856 he wrote the orig- inal constitution, which is still in use, without change, for the Union Agricultural Association of Burgettstown, and in the same year took up his residence in this bor- ough. In his early political convictions he was a Whig, but later thoroughly identified himself with the Repub- lican party. He served in numerous local offices and one term as county auditor. He married Harriet Smith, a daughter of Robert Smith, of Bloomfield, Ohio, and they had eight children, there being three sons yet living. The death of John Stevenson occurred August 7, 1862, and his grave may be found in the old Presbyterian Church Ceme- tery at Burgettstown. He was a man of sterling char- acter and many stories are yet told of his honesty and methods of dispensing justice in his official capacity. His widow still survives and lives at Burgettstown.

Robert P. Stevenson spent his school days in Smith Township and in early manhood started to teach school and finding pleasure, inspiration and profit in the work, continued in the profession for a period not less than thirty years, six of which were spent in Allegheny County. To fill up his time between school terms, Mr. Stevenson began writing up fire insurance and now has a good busi- ness in that line. In 1886 he organized the Normal School at Eldersville. For two years he served as president of the Agricultural Association and is now its secretary, and he is also clerk of the borough Council and its treas- urer. He has numerous other official positions, being sec- retary of the school board, secretary of Fairview Ceme- tery Association and secretary of Lodge No. 1145, Odd Fellows, at Burgettstown. He is also agent for the Pittsburg and Erie Coal Company, is a stockholder and director in the Burgettstown National Bank, has many and almost constant duties as justice of the peace, and together with all these is auditor of the First Presby- terian Church and teaches in the Sunday school. Mr. Stevenson is past grand master in the Odd Fellows lodge at Burgettstown, is senior warden in the Masonic lodge, and is a member of the order of Rebecca and also of the Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a Repub- lican. He is a man of strong and reliable character and in no way is this more clearly proved than the confidence which his fellow citizens have shown in continually elect- ing him to offices of trust and responsibility.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

MATTHEW C. HERRON,* general superintendent of the Catsburg and the Black Diamond Mines at Monon- gahela City, was born May 25, 1858, on a farm in Alle- gheny County, Pa., son of Thomas and Sarah Jane (Cane) Herron.

Thomas Herron, who was born and reared in Ireland, came to this country when a young man, and located near Pittsburg in Allegheny County, where for thirty years he was superintendent of the Fort Pitt Coal Com- pany. He was married at Boston, Mass., to Sarah Jane Cane, who was also born and reared in Ireland, and of their union were born seven sons and two daughters.

Matthew C. Herron was reared on his father's farm in Allegheny County, and attended the district schools until about sixteen years of age, when he began working in the mines and has been employed at mining ever since. He was for two years superintendent of the En- terprise mine for I. V. H. Cook, and when the Pittsburg Coal Company was organized became foreman of their mine, also serving in that capacity at the Allison mine and elsewhere. In 1908 he came from the Camden mine and accepted a position as general superintendent of the Catsburg mine and the Black Diamond mines along the Monongahela River, making his residence in the large house which the company owns at Catsburg.

On January 4, 1883, Mr. Herron was united in mar- riage with Sarah Jane Carroll, who was born at Coal Bluff, Washington County, Pa., a daughter of John Car- roll, who was one of the early merchants at Riverview, Pa. Of their union were born the following children: John, who married Jennie Welch and has three children, Irene, Cecelia and Ruth; Mary, Matthew, Margaret, Will- iam, Frances, Edmond, Agnes, Joseph and Irene. In politics, Mr. Herron is identified with the Republican party. He belongs to the B. P. O. E. at Monongahela City and the Knights of Columbus at Monessen, Pa. His religious connection is with the Roman Catholic Church.

L. FRANK BAKER,* president of the Baker & Jack- man Company, who carry on an extensive real estate, loan, investment and insurance business at California, Pa., was born May 12, 1869 on a farm in West Pike Run Township, Washington County, Pa. and is a son of Louis F. and Mary (Dorsey) Baker. The mother of our sub- ject died in April, 1892, and the father is a resident of California, Pa.

L. Frank Baker attended the district schools of West Pike Run Township and remained on the home farm until May, 1900, then came to California, where on Jan- uary 1, 1900, he had established in partnership with Mr. Jackman their present real estate and insurance business. The company which is known as the Baker & Jackman

Company is incorporated with a capital stock of $35,000 with L. Frank Baker as president; C. H. Drum, vice president; Mr. Jackman, treasurer; and Richard Haw- thorne, secretary.

Mr. Baker was joined in marriage with Emily F. Johnston, a native of Ireland, who came to Washington County, Pa., at the age of eleven months, with her father and mother, Thomas Johnston and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have two children, Robert and Harold. He holds membership with the Elks and the Masons, and is recog- nized as one of the leading business men of California.

GEORGE A. THOMPSON,* secretary of the Wash- ington school board and an active business citizen, has been identified with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Pipe Line Company for nearly a quarter of a century, hold- ing a position as gauger. He was born, reared and edu- cated in Erie County, Pa., before coming to Washing- ton, in 1887, he taught school.

Mr. Thompson takes an active interest in civic af- fairs and has rendered useful service in connection with educational matters, being now in his third year as a member of the school board, of which he is secretary; he also served one year as treasurer of that body. For many years he has been prominent in the Masonic fra- ternity, belonging to Sunset Lodge No. 623 and is past master of the same. He belongs also to Washington Chapter No. 150, being high priest of this chapter; is a member of Jacques DeMolay Commandery No. 3; also of Washington Council No. 1, Royal and Select Masters, and of the Grand Lodge at Philadelphia.

In 1889 Mr. Thompson was married at Washington to Miss Emma MeQuay, of this city, and they have a daughter, Ruth. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are members of the Second Presbyterian Church at Washington.

OLIVER S. SCOTT,* an able young attorney of Mo- nongahela City, Pa., whose offices are located in the Alexander Bank Building and the First National Bank Building at Donora, Pa., was born November 9, 1870, at Monongahela City, Pa., son of George T. and Mary (Lindsay) Scott. He is a grandson of Moses Scott, who was one of the early settlers of Washington.

George T. Scott was born in Washington, Pa., and previous to the Civil War came with his parents to Mo- nongahela City, where for many years he was engaged in the grocery business. He married Mary Lindsay, who was born and reared in Washington, Pa., and is still living, a resident of Monongahela City. She is a daugh- ter of Oliver Lindsay, one of the pioneers of Washington County, and was one of the early school teachers of Monongahela City. George T. Scott and his wife were the parents of four children, namely : Luella M .; Oliver

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Stansberry, the subject of this sketch; George W .; and Mary L., who is the wife of Joseph A. Huffman. Mr. Scott died in 1880.

Oliver S. Scott grew to manhood at Monongahela City, where he attended the common schools and the high school. During his senior year in the latter he entered the office of the county prothonotary as a clerk and was subsequently made deputy prothonotary under E. R. Dean. After spending five years in that office, he fol- lowed in the real estate and insurance business until 1896, during which time he prepared for the primaries of law, which he took in 1896. He disposed of his real estate and insurance business, and in 1898 was mustered in the 10th Pa. Vol. Inf. as battalion adjutant and sec- ond lieutenant. During his service in the Spanish-Amer- ican War, he was stationed at Manilla for almost one year (lacking eleven days), and was made regiment adjutant with the rank of first lieutenant. At the close of the war he returned to Washington County and en- tered the office of MeCracken & Bacon, prominent at- torneys of Washington, Pa., and under their preceptor- ship, was admitted to the bar January, 1901. That same year, he opened his present offices at Monongahela City and Donora, Pa., and has since been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession. Mr. Scott, who is a Republican in politics, has served two terms as treasurer of Monongahela City, and is at present solicitor for Donora. He holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is fraternally affiliated with the Masonic order. He resides at No. 506 Main street.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 225

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