WORK, MAJ. GEORGE T. and SAMUEL C. History may be properly regarded as the biography of a few earnest, toiling, self-reliant men, who were courageous enough to stand by their convictions, possessing the requisite patience and energy to reach the goal for which they were striving. The lives of such men are worthy of record. and the name of Work is justly numbered among the progressive citizens of Washington County, who, overcoming all obstacles, have achieved a deserved success. George Work was born and reared in County Londonderry, Ireland. He followed the occupation of a weaver. On March 3, 1780, he was united in wedlock with Martha Dunlap, also a native of "Old Erin," and two children came to their union: Alexander, born February 11, 1781; and Jane, born May 9, 1783. A few years after their birth the father decided to seek a home in the New World, and on July 24, 1789, he and his family boarded the brig "Keziah," at Londonderry, Ireland. After a stormy voyage of eight weeks, they landed at Wilmington, Del. (one child a son, was born and died at sea). In 1795 they pushed farther westward in search of a cheap home, the long, tedious journey being made by wagon, the family finally arriving in Hopewell township, Washington Co., Penn. They located first on the Sam Davis farm, but soon afterward moved to the log cabin near Buffalo, and on May 24, 1802, they purchased the farm now known as the Work farm. He became a successful farmer. Three children were born after they arrived in America: Mary, November 8, 1790; James, September 12, 1792, and John D., November 14, 1794. The parents both died in this county, and their remains are lying in the Buffalo cemetery.
James Work was born in Wilmington, Del., and when three years old was brought by his parents to the farm in Hopewell township, this county, it being then a dense forest. He received a meager education in the subscription schools, and followed agricultural pursuits during his early youth. On February 7, 1822, he married Grizzilla, daughter of Robert Tweed, by his first wife, Elizabeth Wylie, daughter of Adam Wylie, and sister of Adam Wylie, M. D., and Andrew Wylie, D. D. By this union were born two children: Elizabeth Grizzilla, December 20, 1823 (who became the wife of Robert Denny, and died in Morrow county, Ohio), and George Tweed, born April 7, 1825. The mother of these children was called to her rest January 27, 1827, and July 3, 1828, James Work was married to Margaret Caldwell, a lady of Scotch descent, and the following children were the result of their union: Martha L., born June 1, 1829, died August 19, 1832; Agnes A., born November 17, 1831, wife of Robert S. Caldwell; Sarah J., born October 14, 1832, wife of William Denny, of Hervey county, Kans.; Mary B., born May 8, 1834, died August 14, 1834; Clarissa E., born November 8, 1835, died August 29, 1840; Samuel C., born July 16, 1838, married to Anna Donahey; Maria I., born August 11, 1840, married to William Morrow, October 1, 1889, and died January 8,1892; Margaret Emma, born October 26, 1842, wife of Joseph Rankin; Sophia M. A., born March 6, 1846, wife of William Smiley. James Work, the father, died September 26, 1868; his second wife, Margaret (Caldwell), died in December, 1885.
GEORGE TWEED WORK received a common-school education, and assisted his father on the farm until he was twenty-six years of age, excepting two winters in which he taught school in Harrison county, Ohio, and also occasionally working at the carpenter's trade. He then engaged in the lumber business, putting up the first steam sawmill in the vicinity. Excepting during the war he followed that business until 1889, since when he has given his time to farming. On September 19, 1850, he married Catharine Denny, daughter of Robert Denny, of Chartiers township, Washington Co., Penn., and their children were James Alexander, born August 1, 1851; Lydia Jane, born January 13, 1854, died by drowning June 29, 1854; Margaret Eliza, born February 15, 1856; John Dunlap, born August 17, 1858, died January 30, 1878; Grizzilla Mary, born February 13, 1861, became the wife of William Patterson May 11, 1882, and died December 28, 1886, leaving two sons George W. and John Vance Patterson; Emma K., born October 8, 1867; George Rankin, born October 7, 1870. Of these, James A. married Laura B. Logan January 28, 1880, and is now (1893) engaged in a lumber business in Sussex county, Virginia.
When the Civil war began, and soon after the firing of Fort Sumter, George T. Work, acting for a number of volunteers, offered a company of cavalry to Gov. Curtin, but was refused for reason that no cavalry were needed at that time. Soon after the first battle of Bull Run the same company elected W. W. McNulty captain, and again offering their service were accepted and ordered into camp. On the way there Mr. Work was appointed orderly sergeant, and on the final organization of the company became second lieutenant; soon after, the captain having resigned to accept promotion he became first lieutenant, and in November following became captain. The company meanwhile being attached to the First P. V. C., by order of Maj.-Gen. Stoneman, chief of cavalry, army of the Potomac, as captain of Company I, First P. V. C. he commanded a squadron at the battle of Drainesville, and participated in other minor engagements; was under Gen. McDowell in his movement to the Rappahannock, until his regiment was ordered to join Gen Fremont in the Shenandoah Valley, and was with his column in advance at Mt. Jackson, having participated in all the marches and skirmishes of his regiment up to that time. Here he was prostrated by malarial fever, and sent by Surgeon D. Stanton to Douglass Hospital, Washington City, June 5, 1862. Having, by advice of the hospital surgeon, tendered his resignation, he was discharged for disability July 25, 1862. On his way home he called on Gov. Curtin, and received authority to recruit two companies of cavalry, or more if he could get the men. As soon as able to ride, he began recruiting, and uniting his efforts with Capt. John Keys succeeded in enlisting two cavalry companies, besides sending many men to infantry and artillery regiments, and was again mustered into the U. S. cavalry service as captain of Company C, Ringgold Battalion, September 6, 1862. By the addition of other companies this battalion was raised to a full regiment in February, 1863, and Capt. Work was commissioned first major Twenty-second P. V. C., in which rank he served till the close of the war, participating in all the marches, scouts, and battles of the Shenandoah Valley campaign, until he was wounded near Harrisonburg, September 27, 1863. His immediate command was the extreme right of the line in each of the general movements of the Union forces in 1864, in the Valley. At his own request he was mustered out in July, 1865, by reason of close of the war, and in August following took an agency as superintendent of an oil company operating in West Virginia. This enterprise proved disastrous to the company, and especially to their agent, whose sanguine temperament led him to rashly put all he was worth, and more, into it. Much broken in health, he returned home, and again took up the business of lumbering and milling, which he diligently followed when able until 1876, when he received the Republican nomination for sheriff, and was elected, his term commencing January 1, 1877, and ending January 1, 1880. This term was noted for the serious disturbances among the mines of the Monongahela river, and on the Panhandle Railroad. The sheriff's prompt action in arresting those charged with riot, and at the same time organizing such a posse comitatus as he thought necessary to preserve the peace and enforce his authority, had the desired affect; and what at times assumed most threatening proportions passed off without serious conflict, and the prompt (though mild) sentences imposed by the courts preserved Washington county from any serious trouble from that source since. For his conduct of this affair, the sheriff received the thanks of the best citizens regardless of party, also the compliments of Gov. Hoyt. But what gave him even more pleasure than this was the presentation to him by the miners and their friends of a very handsome cane, suitably inscribed, and presented at a public meeting of the citizens of California and vicinity. This cane is still one of his most cherished possessions. The history of this affair demonstrates the possibility of a sheriff effectually quelling riot and preserving the peace, by the prompt use of the power given him by the laws, without using any military force other than the "power of the county," at all times subject to his control for that purpose. Although retired from the more arduous duties of agricultural life, Maj. Work yet supervises the cultivation of his large farm. He possesses some literary gifts, which he sometimes exercises in correspondence for various papers.
Maj. Work, now nearing the close of life, desires us to conclude this sketch by tendering to his many comrades of the G. A. R. and all others, his most sincere thanks for the many words and acts of kindness received at their hands, and asks their kind remembrance in the future.
SAMUEL C. WORK was born in Hopewell township, on the same farm where he is now living, and received a common-school education. On August 13, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, First Pennsylvania Cavalry, and being assigned to the army of the Potomac took part in most of the engagements participated in by that division of the army; was wounded August 14, 1864, six days after the expiration of his term of service, while in command of a squadron, and he received an honorable discharge September 9, 1864. He then returned to Washington county, and on February 8, 1865, was united in marriage with Sarah A., daughter of W. R. Donahey, of Buffalo township, of whose family a sketch follows. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Work were as follows: James E., born June 16, 1866; William D., January 15, 1868; Luretta M., May 27,1869; Harry A., March 16, 1871; Ora P., October 12, 1872; Nellie A., March 2, 1875; Harvey B. S. R., April 25, 1879; Samuel C., May 10, 1881; George R., November 11, 1884; and John Calvin, November 24, 1886. Of these children, Harry A. died May 16, 1872, and James E., June 19, 1892, leaving a daughter, Mary Elvalena (he was married November 20, 1890, to Miss Mattie Stewart, of Canton township, daughter of William Stewart).
Mr. and Mrs. Work have always resided on the home farm, a valuable and well improved piece of property. He has followed farming and stock raising with marked success, and is one of the foremost breeders of Spanish Merino sheep of the Delaine type. He is an enterprising and progressive agriculturist, ever ready to adopt modern methods, provided they are conducive to the best results. Mr. Work is one of the most ardent supporters of education in both Church and State; and to his perseverance and energy there now stands the Buffalo Academy, it being the third academy erected in this part of Hopewell township. Politically he is an enthusiastic supporter of the doctrines embodied in the Republican platform, being a counselor of that party, and has held several township offices. He and his wife and five of the elder children are members of the Presbyterian Church at Buffalo village, under the pastorate of Rev. T. A. Anderson.
Text taken from page 850 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]