Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Part 10

Author: Gresham, John M. cn; Wiley, Samuel T. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia [Dunlap & Clarke]
Number of Pages: 1422

USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania > Part 10

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R EV. C. R. DIEFFENBACHER, pastor of the First Reformed church of Greens-

burg, was born December 22, 1839, in Butler county, Pa., but reared at Woodstock, Shenandoah county, in the beautiful and historic valley of the same name in Virginia. The Dieffenbachers of this country are descendants of the old stock that emigrated from the Rhine country, Germany, about the close of the Revo- lutionary war, seeking a more quiet home in the New World. They were sturdy, honest, Christian people, who settled in Eastern Penn- sylvania, probably in Northumberland county. Rev. Jacob F. Dieffenbacher (father) was born in Montour county, this State, in 1800; was educated at Carlisle, Pa., and preached for many years in Virginia. He died in February, 1841, and although yet a young man had risen to prominence in the Reformed church-his chosen denomination. While in Virginia he was married to Dorothy C. Ilottel, whose father was George Hlottel, an early settler in the Shen- andoah valley, who was a wealthy planter, own- ing several thousand acres of land. The Hottels, who were of Hugeunot descent, were pioneers of the Shenandoah valley, having located there long before the Revolution, and when contests with Indians was a common occurrence. Rev. Jacob F. Dieffenbacher was the father of four sons, three of whom are clergymen of the Re- formed church. Of these children, Rev. D. S. Dieffenbacher is pastor of the First Reformed

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church, Altoona, Pa. ; Rev. E. H. Dieffenbacher has a charge at Pleasant Unity, this county ; and J. F. Dieffenbacher is a publisher of Pitts- burg.

Rev. C. R. Dieffenbacher received his pre- paratory education in the common and academic schools of Woodstock, Va., and in 1856 entered Franklin and Marshall college, from which he was graduated in 1860. In 1862 he completed his seminary course at Mercersburg, having studied under Drs. Schaff and Wolff. His first charge was at Kittanning, Pa., where, during his pastorate of two and one-half years, he established two new congregations-one at Kitt- anning and one at Eddyville. In 1865 he took charge of a new mission at Greenville, Pa., which was self-supporting at the end of six years, although he began work with only four- teen members. Remaining seven years longer, he, on April 1, 1878, succeeded Dr. N. P. Hacke, as pastor of the First Reformed church of Greensburg, to whose people he is still break- ing the bread of life. During the first five years of his pastorate at Greensburg the new church and parsonage were built at a cost of some $35,000, and the indebtedness of the con- gregation has been entirely wiped out. The membership has been doubled, now numbering about five hundred and fifty, and there has been a great increase in Christian activity. In the winter of 1888 Rev. Dieffenbacher collected and partly organized a congregation at Jean- nette, which is now under the care of Rev. N. HI. Skiles.

On September 9, 1862, Rev. C. R. Dieffen- bacher was united in marriage with Emma, a daughter of Gerhart and Mary (Erisman) Metz- gar, of Lancaster, Pa., and their union has been blest with five children, of whom three are liv- ing: Flora O. died March 31, 1888, aged thirteen years, and Lillie C. followed her to the grave on the fourth of the following month, at the age of twenty-one. Both were most excel- lent young ladies. Of those living, Nevin G. is

a machinist, and is now with Kelly & Jones, of Greensburg ; Mary Grace is the wife of Harry 'T. Wolfersberger, an employee in the office of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Phila- delphia ; and Emma Alberta at home.

HOMAS DONOHOE, one of Greens- burg's successful and reliable business men, was born in Carlo county, Leinster Prov- ince, Ireland, December 20, 1830. He is a son of Edward and Judith (Brennan) Donohoe, the former (a son of Henry Donohoe), was born in 1796, in county Carlow. Thomas Donohoe re- ceived his education in the schools of Ireland, which were then noted for thoroughness in the knowledge which they imparted. At twenty-one years of age he sailed for the United States, be- ing a wider field for individual effort and business than his native land presented to him. After landing at New York, he cast about him some time for a favorable situation and finally engaged at Blairsville, Indiana county, Pa., in the em- ploy of William Maho, who was engaged in the general mercantile business. After seven years of faithful service and valuable experience, he removed to Greensburg in 1858, where he be- came a partner of the firm of Donohoe & Maho. They were engaged in general mercantile busi- ness until 1886, when Mr. Maho withdrew from the firm, and a brother of Mr. Donohoe's suc- ceeded him. The firm name being Donohoe & Bro. Mr. Donohoe's brother died in 1878, and Thomas Donohoe continued the store until 1868, when he admitted Armor C. Trauger as a part- ner. In 1888 Mr. Trauger withdrew, and the present firm of Donohoe & Son was organized. In 1862 Mr. John Kuntz became a partner with Thomas Donohoe in the purchase and sale of grain, and this partnership still continues. Mr. Donohoe's early mercantile ventures were re- markably fortunate, while his later business in- vestments have been signally successful. His large mercantile business and extensive transac-

BIOGRAPIIIES OF

tions in grain did not fully engage his time, and in order to be constantly employed he became in- terested in the Alexandria coal works, of which he is superintendent at the present time.

In October, 1861, he married Cecelia Wise, daughter of Jacob Wise, of Greensburg. Their family consists of ten children, six sons, four daughters : Edward, Mary, Cecelia, Thomas, Ilenry, Richard, Agnes, John, Joseph and one whose name is not given.

Thomas Donohoe is a member of the Holy Roman Catholic church. He is a democrat, but he takes no active part in politics, as his entire time is required for the supervision and manage- ment of his different business enterprises. T. Donohoe & Son's general mercantile establish- ment, in the beautiful Opera Block on West Ot- terman street, Greensburg, Pa., is furnished with everything in that line of business that thirty- one years of experience has found necessary to provide for a large trade, while their stock is constantly kept full to supply every call made for anything kept by him. They carry full lines in dry-goods, notions, groceries, hardware, wood, willow and queensware, besides handling powder, dynamite and fuse. Mr. Donohoe is a leading, substantial and influential business man of Greensburg. IIe is one who has been em- phatically the architect of his own fortune.

FOIIN DORN, proprietor of the Dorn livery stables and a member of the Greens- burg brewing company and is a son of George and Elizabeth (Mayberry) Dorn, and was born on east Pittsburg street, Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, February 13, 1851. Ilis father, George Dorn, was a native of Germany (see his sketch in this volume), and his mother was born in that part of Westmoreland county included in the celebrated Ligonier Valley.

John Dorn was reared at Greensburg and re- ceived his education in the public schools. As

soon as he was of proper age to enter into busi- ness he engaged with his father at the Dorn livery stables.

In 1868 he withdrew from livery business, accepted a position in the planing-mill of Reed, Wilson and Company, and remained in their em- ploy for eight years. In 1877 he made a tour of nearly all the western States and continued to reside west of the Mississippi river for ten years. In 1887 he left the west and returned to Greens- burg.

In 1888 he entered into a partnership with his brother Louis and George E. Kuhns, under the firm name of the Greensburg Brewing Com- pany. Their brewery has a capacity of 5,000 barrels per year. They have a large local as well as an extensive general trade. In addition to his brewery interests he is the proprietor of the Dorn livery and feed stables at Greensburg. Ile keeps a "large stock of good horses, fine buggies and excellent carriages and is well pat- ronized by the traveling public. John Dorn is a conservative democrat, yet he firmly believes in the principles and usages of the Democratic party as laid down and practiced by Thomas Jefferson in the early years of the American Re- public. Mr. Dorn is a good business man, genial and affable, and is well liked in the large circle of his acquaintanceship.

EORGE DORN. In a pleasant little val- ley in northern Germany near the beauti- ful river Rhine, famous in German song and story is the ancestral home of the Dorns and birth-place of the late George Dorn, who was in after-life one of the most widely known business men of Greensburg. He was born on New Years Day in 1818, under the great con- federation of German States that formed an in- terregnum of the German empire from 1815 to 1835. IIe was carefully trained to habits of industry, honesty and economy and received his education in the rural schools of the Fatherland.

WESTMORELAND COUNTY.

At eighteen years of age he conceived the idea of emigrating to the new world in quest of more profitable employment than he could then secure in Germany.

In 1836 he came to Pennsylvania, where after a considerable struggle for work he ob- tained employment on the Philadelphia turn- pike. Although young in years, his excellent deportment and display of good judgment in the care of teams secured him the responsible position of stable manager at Turtle creek ; where he had charge of all the horses used on one section of the pike. After a few years services at the latter place he removed to Greensburg, where he as- sumed charge and was in control of the pike stables until the building of the Pennsylvania Central railroad. The railroad monopolized the trade and travel of the State, and the old pike, unable to enter into competitive rivalry, was soon abandoned as a public highway and be- came a local throughfare. In consequence of this great change in mode of travel Mr. Dorn engaged in a new line of business and accord- ingly opened a large livery stable at Greens- burg. As a liveryman he met with remarkable success. And with his usual energy, soon had one of the best livery stables in western Penn- sylvania outside of Pittsburg, which was largely patronized until his death in 1885. For over thirty years he was probably the most widely known and popular liveryman in his section of the State. Besides his livery Mr. Dorn was interested in various business enterprises of Greensburg and in the county. His long, suc- cessful and honorable career was brought to a close by his death on July 2, 1885. Ilis large circle of friends and relatives mourned his loss sincerely.

Mr. Dorn was married to Elizabeth Mayberry, of Ligonier, this county. They had six child- ren, of whom four are living: George was book- keeper for Lewis Tranger many years, and died in 1872 ; Julia, wife of Dr. Z. T. Waugaman (see his sketch) ; Jacob, who died when a young

man ; John, one of the owners of the Greens- burg brewery (see his sketch); Harry M. and Lewis T., who is a partner in the Greensburg brewery company.

George Dorn at the time of his death was worth over $100,000. He was a self- made man, acquiring his wealth by honest in- dustry and frugality. Ilis business obligations were always promptly met and his contracts honorably fulfilled.

In 1881 he sold the lot where the present jail building stands. He was a strong democrat, was a useful member of the Evangelical Lutheran church and a man noted for his charity to the poor. Ile was a very good linguist ; could speak with fluency and ease the German, French and English languages.

George Dorn was popular and well liked both as a citizen and business man, on account of his generous nature and sterling integrity.

His life was one of activity and event. IIe was a self-made man ; he enjoyed none of the educational advantages of the present era ; nevertheless, he was a man of varied information, endowed with a strong mind and was the hewer, out of his own fortune and the honest architect of his own fame.

UDGE LUCIEN W. DOTY. It is a mat- ter of regret that in this age of steam and electricity business cares or unholy am- bitions cause some to forget their lineage and to sink their regard for family in the mire of sel- fishness. To such persons Macauley refers when he says, " A people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants." Lucien W. Doty, President Judge of the Courts of West- moreland county, was born July 18, 1848, at Mifflintown, Juniata county, Pa. The Doty family is one of the oldest in the United States ; Edward Doty, a native of England,

BIOGRAPHIES OF

being one of the " pilgrims " who, fleeing from bigotry and oppression, crossed the Atlantic in the Mayflower. One of his sons was Captain Samuel Doty, a surveyor, whose son, David Doty, a physician of Sharon, Conn., was Judge Doty's great-grandfather. Dr. Ezra Doty (grandfather), was a distinguished physician, a member of the Masonic fraternity, who organ- ized the first Masonic lodge at Mifflin, Pa., and an active worker in the interests of the old Democratic party. He was born in Sharon, Conn., and moved to Mifflintown, Pa., in 1790. IIe was elected to the State Senate of Pennsyl- vania when the seat of government was at Lancaster, Pa. He married Rebecca North, a daughter of Caleb North, who was of English origin and lived in Perry county, Pa. To this union were born two sons and one daughter, Eliza, who married Andrew Parker, of Mifflin, a distinguished lawyer and member of Congress. Edmund S. Doty (father) was born August 22, 1815, at Mifflin Pa., and died December 24, 1884. He received a collegiate education, studied law, was admitted to the bar in Mifflin- town in 1839, and practiced his profession for forty-five years. In 1843 he was married to Catharine Wilson, of Juniata county, by whom he had nine sons and one daughter, all of whom, save one son, who died in infancy, are living. Mr. Doty was one of nature's noblemen, bright and well developed intellectually, upright and courteous, modest and charitable in the true sense of the term. As a lawyer he stood at the head of his profession, scrupulously honest and conscientious, careful and reliable as a counsel- lor, able and eloquent as an advocate. In poli- ties he was an earnest democrat, and believing in the principles of that party was always ready and willing in national and state issues, to lend his voice, pen and vote in furtherance of its success. The only time he asked for the suffrages of his fellow-citizens was in 1854, when he was a candidate for the Senate against Hon. James M. Sellers. The Know-Nothing

whirlwind of that year engulfed him in defeat, and he never again would accept a nomination. It was as a Christian, however, that the charac- ter of Mr. Doty shone forth most conspicuously. lle was from carly life connected with the Pres- byterian church, in which he was for many years an active worker and a ruling elder. Ilis pro- fessions were earnest and sincere, his life was one of piety and devotion, and his death a most triumphant one.

Hon. Lucien W. Doty attended the public schools of Mifflin, prepared for college at Tus- carora and Airy View academies, and in 1866 entered the Freshman class at Lafayette college, Easton, Pa., from which institution he graduated in 1870, taking one of the three equal honors and delivering the Latin salutatory. After teach- ing school one year as assistant principal of the Newton Collegiate Institution of New Jersey, he in 1871 entered his father's law office and was admitted to practice in the courts of his native county in September, 1872. In 1875 he was admitted to the Philadelphia bar, where he practiced until 1879. In January, 1881, he came to Greensburg and was admitted to the bar at the ensuing May term. In 1886 and in 1888 he served as chairman of the Democratic county committee, and in 1887 he visited Europe, where he traveled through many noted and his- toric places. In 1889 he was nominated for President Judge by the Democratic party of Westmoreland county, and in November was elected over A. D. McConnell, the republican candidate, by a plurality of 2,079.

Judge Doty was married October 2, 1873, to Anna E. Moore, daughter of Samuel Moore, of Easton, Pa., by whom he had three children : Catharine, Helen and Edmund S. He, together with his wife, is a member of the Presbyterian church of Greensburg, of which he has been a trustee for some years.

Judge L. W. Doty is an able attorney, an eloquent advocate, and in his judicial capacity is energetic, prompt, upright and thoroughly

WESTMORELAND COUNTY.

unbiased. Ile is finely cultured, modest and unassuming, in every respect a thorough gen- tleman.

OHIN DUNIIILL, a resident of Greensburg and one of its experienced, energetic and reliable business men, is a son of Richard and Mary (Hawley) Dunhill, and was born in Yorkshire, England, October 28, 1860. Richard Dunhill was a potter by occupation. Ile was a member of the Congregational church and the Liberal party of Great Britain. He owned large pottery interests and married Mary Hawley, by whom he had five children. Ile was the son of a well-to-do farmer, who was quite prominent in his county. His maternal grandfather, George Hawley, was a prominent liberal and congre- gationalist. He was very prosperous in his business enterprises and owned an interest in several potteries.

John Dunhill was educated in the old and noted grammar school of Rotherham and passed the preliminary examination for Cambridge University, which would have admitted him as a student of any of the learned professions of Eng- land. He served as a book-keeper for John Brown & Co., of Sheffield, for a short time, and at twenty-one years of age crossed the Atlantic to seek his fortune in this country. He landed at New York, where he remained a few weeks and then removed to Pittsburg. After a resi- dence of three months in the Iron City he obtained the position of book-keeper for the Hecla Coke Co., Ltd., at their works in this county, and was afterward appointed postmaster at the same place and served seven years. On April 1, 1889, he located in the " Press " building, on West Otterman street, Greensburg, and engaged in the steamship and railroad ticket business. He also represents several reliable insurance companies. He furnishes steamship tickets and foreign exchange at New York city rates and railroad tickets to all points westward at reasonable prices.

On September 23, 1881, he united in marriage with Martha A. Croft, daughter of James R. Croft, of Settle, Yorkshire, England. They have two children : Trixie B. and Leone T.

John Dunhill has prosecuted his present busi- ness with his usual characteristic energy, and his success has been commensurate to his efforts. Hle has established a permanent and paying business whose proportions are continually in- creasing. Mr. Dunhill is a man whose business ability, education and experience, well fit him for any commercial enterprise in which he may engage, and in which his energy and perseverance would inevitably win him substantial and lasting success. ITis leisure moments from business have been improved by reading, and he is well informed upon many subjects of general import- ance and public interest.

HARLES F. EHALT was born at Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pa., December 31, 1858, and is a son of Jacob Ehalt, who was born in Wurtemberg, Bavaria, July 8, 1821. About thirty-eight years ago he came to Greensburg, and for fifteen years was engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1851 he built the hotel known as the Station House, on the present site of the Union hotel. In 1870 he completed the Union hotel, now owned by his heirs. In 1852 he was married to Lydia A., daughter of Samuel Coshy, of Westmoreland county. They had seven chil- dren of whom Charles F. was the third born. Jacob Ehalt was a stanch democrat and a member of the Catholic church, as was also his wife. Ile was for many years engaged in the hotel business, and died October 4, 1885. His house is one of the oldest licensed hotels in the country ; he was never refused a license by the court and was a man of the strictest integrity.

Charles F. Ehalt was educated in the public schools of Greensburg and at Saint Vincent college. Ile succeeded his father in the hotel

BIOGRAPHIES OF

business, which he is successfully conducting at the present time. Ile is a democrat and a mem- ber of the Catholic church. He was married to Mary, daughter of J. Ruffner, of Derry town- ship, on October 2, 1888.

LEXANDER EICHIER, lawyer, at Greensburg, was born at New Stanton, Hempfield township, Westmoreland county, Pa., November 24, 1851, and is a son of John S. Eicher, who was born in Pleasant Unity, Pa., July 25, 1823. He was one of the best auctioneers in the county and a leading democrat in politics ; he was elected treasurer of Westmoreland county in 1869. This was the only time he ever offered himself as a candi- date for an office. He is a man of decided con- victions, whose word is good as his bond and who was never known to forget a favor or for- sake a friend. He was married to Mary, a daughter of John Pool, of Hempfield township, in 1850. She was born in 1833 and died on February 14, 1861. Jacob Eicher (grandfather) was a son of Abraham Eicher, who was of French- German descent. Jacob Eicher was born at Hagerstown, Md., in 1800, and was married to Sallie Slonecker, of Fayette county. She was a member of the family of John Sloneeker, and a woman of great beauty and rare intelli- gence. Jacob Eicher was a mill-wright by trade and an active member of the Baptist church.

Alexander Eicher has been the sole architect of his own fortune. He received only the ad- vantages of a common school education, and on leaving the school-room he became a sales clerk in various general stores for seven years. In 1870 he was appointed deputy in the register and recorder's office of Westmoreland county, which position he filled very satisfactorily for six years; three years with C. F. Warden and three years with John M. Laird. In 1877 he became a clerk in the office of A. A. Stewart. In this office, during his spare moments, he

applied himself to his books, afterward read law and was admitted to the bar on July 30, 1880. HIe remained in Mr. Stewart's office until Stew- art's death, July 3, 1881. He has succeeded in building up a paying practice in the courts of the county. On October 4, 1873, he was mar- ried to Mary Ella, a daughter of Archibald McClelland, of Ireland. To their marriage have been born six children : Ward, Alexander, John S., Mary, Elinor and Romayne. He is a member of Knights of Honor, A. O. U. W., Royal Arcanum, Chosen Friends, National Union, and is a member of the Christian church, as is also his wife.

HIARLES FALK, one of Greensburg's leading clothiers, was born in Aachren, at the town of Duren on the river Ruhr, Germany, July 21, 1833. His father, Leo Falk, was married to Julia, a daughter of Simon Wal- lach. To them were born eleven children, four of them sons, of whom Charles Falk is the sec- ond. He attended school in Duren, worked at the business of butchering with his father until 1858, when he enlisted and served three years in the German army. On October 18, 1865, he was married to Sarah, a daughter of Leo Sander of the same district in Germany. They have had seven children: Maurice, born December 15, 1866, is now a traveling salesman for J. Klee & Co., New York and Pittsburg, and was married to Laura Kline Orlinger, of Allegheny ; Carrie, born April 13, 1868; Leon, born December 12, 1869; Matilda, born October 28, 1871 ; Sigmund, born August 4, 1873; Jessie, born April 28, 1876 and Amy, born October, 19 1883. In 1865 Mr. Falk came to America and located in Allegheny City, thence to Irwin in 1871 and engaged in merchant tailoring and ready-made clothing business, which he most successfully carried on for a period of fifteen years. . On leav ing this business he engaged extensively in buy- ing and selling stock at East Liberty for two

WESTMORELAND COUNTY.

years. In 1886 he engaged in the clothing business again, this time at Mt. Pleasant ; he continued in business there until April, 1889, when he removed to Greensburg and is now rec- ognized as one of the successful merchants of the place.

ARRY H. FISHER, one of Westmore- land county's prominent and leading teachers and professor of mathematics in the High school, of Greensburg, was born at Mendon, South Huntingdon township, Novem- ber 15, 1866, and is a son of Philip and Reb- becca (Carey) Fisher. Philip Fisher is a son of John Fisher and was born in Westmoreland county. At fourteen years of age he became an apprentice to learn the trade of blacksmith and has followed that trade ever since, except two years which he spent in farming. He is a demo- crat from principle, a member of the United Presbyterian church, in which he has served for several years as a local officer, and an honest man who commands the respect of his neighbors. He married Rebecca Carey, daughter of Jacob Carey, who came from New England and settled in Mt. Pleasant township, where he was engaged in farming for several years before his death. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have had five children, of whom four are living : William, a machinist of Mansfield, Ohio ; Melinda J., wife of Joseph Mathias of Manor station ; Harry H. and one whose name is not given.

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Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Part 10

Author: Gresham, John M. cn; Wiley, Samuel T. cn Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia [Dunlap & Clarke] Number of Pages: 1422

Author: Gresham, John M. cn; Wiley, Samuel T. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia [Dunlap & Clarke]
Number of Pages: 1422