Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Washington Blair MENDENHALL
Colonel Washington Mendenhall was an energetic, active and prosperous citizen of Coatesville, PA. His first fifteen years were spent on a farm but the restless spirit of the boy sought other avenues for his future and for two years he was employed in the store of Thomas Ferguson at Bartville. In 1846, he visited Midway as the guest of John Dripps and made the acquaintance of Joseph D Valentine, who kept a general store in the Midway House. He became a salesman in that store and at once identified himself with the life of the community. Midway was the important part of the town then, with its railroad station, its tannery, foundry and stores. The entire population of the two towns was about five hundred people.
The next year, with faith in the future of the east end, he obtained a position in the general store of H G Thomas, Esq. In 1850 in conjunction with Hon. W B Morrison, Washington purchased the store of Mr. Thomas, the firm being Morrison & Mendenhall. A building had been erected for these young men which later became the store of Mr. Yocum. In a few years Washington bought this building and the dwelling house on the east. The firm built the double house east of the Union office on Chestnut Street and the residence at 125 Chestnut Street where he resided for one year. Fo rfive years Washington was the sole proprietor of the store. In 1856-7 the new firm was Mendenhall & Harlan, the junior partner being Hon. A D Harlan.
In 1858, disposing of his property on Main Street, Washington operated a lumber and coal yard at Second Avenue and the P. R. R. While there he was the Adams Express Agent, the first for the town. The receipts were about five dollars per month. At that time he built the residence at 247 Main Street and lived there for many years. In 1859, he was a salesman in the wholesale house of Fred Paxson & Co, of Philadelphia. The next year here-purchased his old store and stock in Coatsville and entered into a partnership under the firm name of Mendenhall & Morrison. This continued until Washington entered the army. In the meantime the store had been improved and enlarged until it was the largest store in Coatesville.
At the outbreak of the war he was active in organizing one local company for service. He was himself a member of Capt. Myers' Continental troop. His friendship with Hon. George H Stuart made him a member of the ChristianCommission and he cared for the wounded and dying soldiers on thebattlefield of Antietam and in the hospitals at Harrison's Landing.
In Nov 1862, he was appointed by President Lincoln, as a paymaster in theUnited States Volunteer service. His first station was Fort Leavenworth,KS. From there trips were made to Fort Riley, KS, Fort Kearney and Omaha, NE and the Black Hills, SD. There were no railroads and these distant points had to be reached by stages of ambulances guarded by soldiers. On one of his trips to Omaha bandits attacked the paymaster with the purpose of looting the money chest which contained $250,000. One soldier wa swounded.
His next station was at St. Louis, MO from which city he paid troops at Memphis, Vicksburg and Iuka, MS. At Iuka the Confederates shelled the paying party and a colonel was killed. On his first trip to Vicksburg, the steamer, Ruth, on which were a number of paymasters and about $2,500,000 in currency, was burned and twenty-eight lives lost. Later he was stationed at Washington, DC and paid in the Army of the Potomac and in 1866 he was at Harrisburg paying the discharged soldiers. He was himself honorably mustered out of services in that year. He was made a Brevet Lieutenant Colonel by President Johnson for faithful and meritorious service.
Returning to Coatesville in partnership with Hon. A D Harlan, the firm plotted and sold the large portion of land east of Sixth Avenue and north of Main Street. He built and occupied for twenty-seven years the residence at 535 Main Street. In 1867, Washington was chosen secretary and treasurer of the American Sewing Machine Company. The next year he became its president.
In early life Washington was a Democrat and his influence among his party friends was so great that he visited Harrisburg, with other citizens, to secure a charter for the Bank of Chester Valley, in which they were successful. He was a delegate to the Republican County Convention which nominated Hon. Washington Townsend for Congress and of the State Convention which nominated Hon. John W Geary for Governor. With Hugh E Steele he was largely instrumental in securing the right of way for the Wilmington & Northern R. R. He was one of the founders of the Gas Company and a directo rat the time of his death. In early life he was one of the originators and amember of the Coatesville Brass Band, the only one at the time in Chester County.
He early became a member of the Presbyterian Church. He had great respect for the ministry and he rejoiced when his son entered it. In Philadelphia he was a member of the Union League, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion and Post 2, GAR and for many years was a director of the Southwestern National Bank.
Colonel Mendenhall was deeply attached to Coatesville and during his business career there, he was one of the most progressive citizens. After his business life had been transferred to Philadelphia he continued to make Coatesville his home until 1892 when enfeebled health would not permit him to make the daily ride from the city.
Colonel Mendenhall was liberal in contributing to all objects for which an appeal was made. He did it quietly and without any ostentation. The editor of a local paper told him of the needs of Christian work at Rock Run and a check for one hundred dollars was handed to him for the work. At another time when money was needed for the worthy poor he handed in his check for two hundred and fifty dollars. The public agencies such as the band, the fire department and the earlier YMCA work were liberally supported and the poor were never turned away empty handed from his door.
Colonel Mendenhall had been sick of heart disease since the winter of1897, but his sickness did not assume a dangerous form until August. A cottage at Atlantic City was taken and under the tonic atmosphere of the sea he improved. The sudden and unexpected death of his wife brought on a relapse, and he grew weaker until he was confined to the house ten days before he died. An hour before he passed away a letter from an old friend in Washington was read to him and quietly and painlessly he fell asleep.
The services in the church were conducted by Rev. S. H. Leeper, pastor of the church, and Revs. H C McCook, DD, of Philadelphia and James Roberts,DD, of Ambler, PA. The choir sang, "He Leadeth Me" and "Shall We Gather At The River." The services at the grave were conducted by Brandywine Post,GAR. The floral tributes were extensive and beautiful. A silk flag was on the casket and the body was afterward wrapped in it. His remains were brought to Coatesville for burial. Funeral services were held in the Presbyterian Church. Interment was in Fairview Cemetery.
| HOME | EMAIL | SURNAMES |
Return to The Pennocks of Primitive Hall website.
The information in this database may contain errors. If you find any questionable data, or if you have something to add my findings, please feel free to e-mail me by clicking on the "E-MAIL" link above. Thank you!
Page built by Gedpage Version 2.21 ©2009 on 07 July 2020