USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania > Part 20
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R. A. Rankin was reared on a farm, received his early education in the common schools of his native township, and in September, 1875, en- tered Jefferson academy at Cannonsburg, Wash- ington county, Pa., Rev. Wm. Ewing, Ph. D., then being principal. In early life he learned those great truths, that there is no royal way to success and that honest toil of hand and brain is the surest road to success. Treasuring up these important lessons he chose a life vocation and resolved not to be unsuccessful so far as earnest and continued effort could avoid failure. So in 1879 he commenced the study of medicine, but after six months of close application and careful reading, he was compelled to abandon the pro- fession of his choice on account of impaired health. He returned home to recruit his broken health and engaged in farming for nine years. January 7, 1889, he was appointed chief clerk in the prothonotary's office at Greensburg, and has served creditably in that position ever since.
On June 20, 1889, he was united in marriage to Belle M. Finley, daughter of Thomas G. Fin- ley, of Rostraver township, this county, and a great granddaughter of Rev. James Finley, D.D., one of the pioneer ministers of western Penn- sylvania and the founder of Rehoboth and Round Hill churches.
In politics R. A. Rankin is an active republi- can and has held the offices of assessor and tax collector in Rostraver township, this county. Ile is a member of Webster Lodge, No. 70, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and Greens- burg Conclave of the Improved Order of Hepta-
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sophs. Mr. Rankin has faithfully devoted his time and attention to the many duties of his responsible position. He is efficient and well- liked as a public official, and is a member and trustee of Rehoboth Presbyterian church, one of the oldest Presbyterian churches west of the Allegheny mountains.
B ENNETT RASK, one of the leading merchant tailors of Greensburg, was born in the Province of Kristianstad, Sweden, at the town of Orkened, March 21, 1846. Ilis father, Bengt. Rask, a native of the same country, was born in 1813, served in the regular army of Sweden and was a corporal in a company of cavalry. His wife was Nilla Nich- olson, by whom he had five children, two sons and three daughters. Matteson Rask (grand- father) was a farmer by occupation.
Bennett Rask was educated in the public schools of his native town ; in the same place he learned his trade of cutting and tailoring and followed it there for six years. In June, 1867, he immigrated to America, came direct to Greens- burg, and for about four years was in the employ of Nelson Graff. In 1871 he opened in busi- ness for himself and has prospered from the start. In the last four or five years he has far surpassed his expectations, employs on an aver- age fifteen tailors in the various departments of his business ; he enjoys the full confidence of his many customers, and is recognized as one of the leading tailors of this section of Pennsyl- vania. He is a republican, a member of the Second Reformed church of Greensburg, of the Royal Arcanum and A. O. U. W. He was married August 8, 1871, to Rhoda Traugh, a daughter of Henry Traugh, of Mt. Pleasant township. To their union have been born seven children, of whom five are living: Henry Pierson, born July 3, 1872; Oscar Carl, No- vember 29, 1883; Daisy B., April 20, 1875; David Atkinson, September 22, 1878, and
Alfred Bennett, September 14, 1887. The two deceased were Jenny Mary and Rhoda Arsina.
D ANIEL REAMER, an old and highly respected resident of Greensburg, was born on his father's farm two miles south of Greensburg, November 15, 1815, and is a son of Jacob Reamer. The Reamer family is of German origin and has always been noted for its industry and thrift. Henry Reamer (grand- father) came from Berks county and settled at an early day in Westmoreland county. IIc married and had three children : Jacob, John, who went to Ohio, and a daughter. Henry Reamer lived to an advanced age and died about 1856. IIe had one brother who remained in the East, and among whose descendants are the Reamers of Pittsburg, who are engaged in the candy manufacturing business. Jacob Reamer (father) was born and reared in Westmoreland county, where he followed farming and operated a distillery. He was a democrat and a member of the Reformed church. He was twice married ; his first wife was a native of this county, by whom he had seven children, of whom the youngest is the subject of this sketch. IIis second wife was Sallie Kemp, who bore three sons and three daughters, all of whom are living.
Daniel was only nine days old when his mother died. IIe attended school in the old school house ; his teacher was Governor Geary's father, who was a fine teacher and good discip- linarian. At sixteen years of age, after com- pleting the " Western Calculator " arithmetic at school he left home and learned the trade of tanning with Lewis Harrold. IIe followed tan- ning and farming for many years. He spent nine years at Mt. Pleasant, and in 1850 came to Greensburg where he followed butchering in connection with his tanning business for some time. In 1885 Mr. Reamer retired from active business. Hle differs from his family in politics ; they are all democrats while he has always been
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a republican. In 1887 he was elected director of the poor and in 1889 was re-elected. Ile is a member of the United Brethren church.
In 1845, he married Lavina Fisher, daughter of Jacob Fisher of Mt. Pleasant, by whom he had one son, Jacob, who served in the eleventh Pa. Vols., and is now engaged in the oil business in Franklin county, Pa. Mrs. Reamer died, and on June 25, 1850, Mr. Reamer united in marriage with Mary Crooks, daughter of Samuel Crooks. By the second marriage he has four children : Herman, a dentist of Pittsburg, Pa .; Daniel Jr., an attorney at law of Toledo, Ohio ; Katura, wife of Franklin Welty, a carpet mer- chant of Allegheny city ; and William D., a fine sketch artist and a law student with Atchin- son & Peoples.
COVODE REED, a prominent young re- publican leader of Westmoreland county, and a grandson of one of Pennsylvania's most celebrated Congressmen, is a son of James M. and Anna (Covode) Reed, and was born at No. 228 Twelfth street, in the city of Philadel- phia, December 31, 1857. James M. Reed (father) was born in Neville, Cumberland county, Pa., in October, 1818. Ile removed to Lock- port, Westmoreland county, Pa., where he en- gaged in the mercantile business. In 1855 he married Anna Covode, daughter of Hon. John Covode (see his sketch). To their union were born five children, three sons and two daughters, all living. Mr. Reed is a prominent republican and in 1884 was nominated by his party and elected treasurer of Westmoreland county. Ile served acceptably as a county official, is an up- right citizen and a ruling elder in the Presby- terian church at Fairfield.
J. Covode Reed was educated in the common schools of Westmoreland county, Fairfield acad- emy, Philadelphia public schools and Chambers- burg academy. Leaving school, he became a storekeeper and railroad agent at Lockport,
where he served very faithfully and acceptably until 1884. In that year he assumed charge of the county's treasurer's office for his father and conducted it carefully and satisfactorily during the entire term. His unswerving republicanism, his correct business methods and ability to or- ganize and manage large or extended business interests led to his selection as present chairman of the republican county committee of West- moreland county. Since his election to this important position he has given largely of his time and attention to the management of the re- publican forces in the last political campaign.
POHIN RIAL, prothonotary of Westmore- land county, a wounded veteran of the late great civil war and a courteous gentleman, was born in Perry township, Lawrence county, Ohio, June 10, 1842, and is the only son of John and Mary A. (Zook) Rial. John Rial is of Scotch-German descent. Ilis paternal great- grandfather, David Rial, came from Scotland and settled in New Jersey, where he died Au- gust 1, 1780. One of his sons was Isaac Rial, who was born in Somerset county, New Jersey, about 1765. He served in the Revolutionary war, married Ann Devore, of French descent, and died in Lawrence county, Ohio, March, 1837. He was the father of John Rial, Sr., who was born October 6th, 1807, in Somerset county, New Jersey, and removed to near Mon- ongahela city, Washington county, Pa., in 1818. In 1835 he married Ann Zook, daugh- ter of Solomon Zook, a resident of Washington county, but a native of eastern Pennsylvania. They were the parents of four children : Mary, who married Robert D. Clark, of Philadelphia ; Catherine, wife of Joseph Miller, of Van Wert county, Ohio ; Elizabeth married H. C. Cloud, of Missouri, and John Rial, Sr. died in 1847, and his wife, Mary A. Rial, died in Reynolds county, Mo., August 4, 1884.
John Rial at eight years of age, by the death
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of his father, was thrown upon his own resources. Ile lived with an English family by the name of Cole until he was eighteen years of age and was sent by them to the common school, where he obtained a plain but practical education. On June 1, 1861, at Mount Vernon, Ohio, he en- listed in the fourth reg., Ohio Vols., as a member of Co. B., commanded by Capt. H. B. Banning, who afterwards became a prominent member of Congress from Ohio. Mr. Rial served three years in the Army of the Potomac. Ile was under Burnside at Fredericksburg, Ilooker at Chancellorsville, Meade at Gettys- burg, and marched and fought through the " Wilderness " down to Cold Harbor, where in the thickest of the fight he was struck by a ball in the right knee. His wound was of so serious a character as to require amputation, and of such a nature that very few have ever recovered who were thus wounded. He fortunately re- covered, but remained in the hospital until July 5, 1865. On account of wounds remaining unhealed, he was mustered out of the service June 21, 1864. Leaving the hospital, he went to Philadelphia and learned telegraphy. On November 4, 1867, he was appointed manager of the Western Union office at West Newton, which position he filled very creditably for twenty years. In 1888 he was nominated by the Re- publican party for prothonotary of Westmore- land county. He received a plurality vote of five hundred and seventy-three on nomination and was elected by a majority of three hundred and fifty-six votes. He took charge of the prothonotary's office on January 7, 1889, and has been successfully engaged ever since in the discharge of the many and important duties.
On October 22, 1874, he was united in mar- riage to Lizzie M. Smith, daughter of William T. Smith, of West Newton. To their union have been born five children, four sons and one daughter : William S., born July 14, 1876; David W., June 12, 1880; Mary A., April 3,
1882; George A., November 3, 1884, and James II., June 24, 1887.
Politically Mr. Rial is a republican, whose ad- herenceto the principles of the Republican party dates back to his boyhood years. As a private citizen of the county he was always an active worker in his party ; as a public official he has conducted the business of his office in a straight- forward and satisfactory manner to all parties. John Rial is a member of Joe Markle Post, No. 57, Grand Army of the Republic, West New- ton Council, No. 521. Royal Arcanum, and En- campment, No. 5, Union Veteran Legion. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a member of its board of stewards.
FOHN C. ROBINSON, a member of the Westmoreland county bar in successful practice, was born in Hempfield township, Westmoreland county, Pa., December 17, 1859, and is a son of Jacob R. and Catherine (Stouffer) Robinson. George Robinson (grand- father) was born in 1788. He was a whig and republican in politics, engaged in farming and store-keeping, was a Methodist in religious views and a leader in the work of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife was Susanna Brinker, and their family consisted of eight children. Jacob R. (father) is a native of Hempfield township; he was born in 1832, reared on a farm, attended the limited schools of his boyhood days, and was engaged in farm- ing for a livelihood. He is a republican, has never sought any office but takes a deep inter- est in the success of his party, and has served several times as a member of the republican county committee. In 1854 he was married to Catherine Stouffer, daughter of John Stouffer. She died in 1869 and left seven children. In 1879 Mr. Robinson married Josephine Wor- cester, by whom he has one child.
John C. Robinson received his early educa- tion in the common schools of his native town-
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ship. Ile attended the Indiana Normal school for one term, afterwards the State Normal school at California, Washington county, Pa., and after five terms there he was graduated in the class of 1882. Hle subsequently returned and took a course in the scientific department of the same college. After teaching seven terms in the common schools of Hempfield township he entered the profession of law. Ile registered as a student at law in February, 1885, with L. W. Doty, lately elected judge of the Tenth judicial district. Mr. Robinson was admitted to the Westmoreland county bar December 17, 1887. In January, 1888, he opened a law office in Greensburg, where he has continued successfully in the practice of his pro- fession until the present time. He is an active republican, always interested in political affairs and served as secretary of the republican county committee in 1886, 1887 and 1888. Mr. Robinson is a genial gentieman and promising lawyer.
OMER S. SEMBOWER, one of Greens- burg's leading and substantial tin and hardware merchants, is a sou of William II. and Jennie (Junk) Sembower, and was born in Fayette county, Ohio, January 10, 1862. William II. Sembower is a native of Fayette county, Pa., where he has spent the greater por- tion of his life and has been engaged at his trade of carpenter. He is a son of Adam Sembower, was born August 13, 1829, and married for his first wife Sarah Minor, by whom he had two children. She died, and he was married to Jennie Junk, daughter of Thomas Junk, of the same county. To the second union were born ten children, of whom two are dead. He en- listed in Co. K, 116th reg., Pa. Vols., served for eighteen months and was engaged in several severe battles, in one of which he was slightly wounded. For the last sixteen years he has been foreman of Laughead, Modisette & Co.'s
planing mill and wood-working factory, which is one of the largest and most important of the manufacturing establishments of Uniontown, Pa. He is a leading member of and has held all the local offices in the Methodist Episcopal church of the above named place. In politics he was a republican until a few years ago, when he enrolled in the ranks of the Prohibition party, in which he is rather active to-day.
Homer S. Sembower attended the public schools of Uniontown, Pa., and learned the trade of tinner at that place with I. W. Miller. IIe has followed tinning as his regular business ever since starting out in life for himself. In 1885 he removed to Greensburg, where three years later he formed a co-partnership with John Keefer in the tin and hardware business. They carry a large and varied assortment of tin, sheet-iron and copper ware, stoves, ranges and house furnishing goods, and make a specialty of roofing and spouting. Mr. Sembower is a republican and takes a rather active part in be- half of the interest of that party. Ile is a member of Greensburg Council, No. 44, Royal Arcanum, and the Y. M. C. A. He is a good workman in his line of business and an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
On May 23, 1888, Mr. Sembower united in marriage with Anna S. Arter, youngest daugh- ter of Dr. Daniel A. Arter, of Greensburg. One month after marriage the spirit of his young bride left its tenement of clay and passed from time into eternity.
S AMUEL W. SHAW, a member of the board of commissioners of Westmoreland county, Pa., was born in Salem township, same county, September 8, 1852, and is a son of Samuel and Rebecca J. (McQuaid) Shaw. The Shaw family is one of the oldest in the county, the great-great-grandparents of Samuel W. Shaw having emigrated in 1762 from Dauphin county to what was then called the "back woods,"
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where they settled within two miles of old Han- nastown, which afterward became the county seat and an historic spot, though at that time comparatively unknown, containing even ten years later not more than a dozen log cabins roofed with clapboards, very few being more than one-story in height. Moses Shaw (great- great-grandfather) was a pack-saddle maker, and made all the pack-saddles used by Gen. Anthony Wayne when he went west to fight the Indians. He married Margaret Patterson, a native of Lancaster county, and they had five children : David, Sarah, Margaret, Alexander and John. John Shaw (great-grandfather) was married to Sarah Shaw (a cousin) who bore him two chil- dren : Samuel and Martha. . These children had a half-sister, named Jane Spear, who died Sep- tember 2, 1888, in her eighty-sixth year. Samuel Shaw (grandfather) was born July 11, 1784, and died June 30, 1851. Ile was mar- ried on Wednesday, February 27, 1811, to Mary Caldwell, a native of Franklin county, born June 6, 1788, and died January 22, 1834. Rev. Samuel Porter, first minister of " Old Congruity " officiating. They had seven children : Eliza, who married James Steel, Oc- tober 27, 1836, and died May 4, 1878; Nancy Johnston ; John, born April 6, 1816, died August 8, 1885; Samuel ; Mary Harvey, who died December 25, 1838; Josiah C., who mar- ried Martha, youngest daughter of Jacob Tosh, of Ligonier Valley, May 26, 1875, and who is the second oldest teacher in Westmoreland county, having taught forty-six years, and Alexander Sterrit, married to Eliza, a daughter of Alexander Shaw, of Washington township. Samuel Shaw (father) was born in Salem town- ship, April 29, 1819, and he died March 10, 1889. By occupation he was a teamster and farmer, and also owned a coal-bank from which he delivered coal throughout his neighborhood. For a number of years he kept a hotel in Salem, and in addition he dealt considerably in horses. In politics he was an " old line whig," but on
the formation of the Republican party became a member of that organization. Mr. Shaw was an excellent citizen, industrious and energetic, but too good-hearted to accumulate much wealth. He was married June 22, 1843, to Rebecca Jane, a daughter of Daniel McQuaid, and they had six children : Daniel M., Mary I., Samuel W., Rebecca J., Margaret E., and Kate E. All are living except Rebecca, who died February 2, 1877. Samuel Shaw died September 12, 1873, and his widow is living on the old homestead in Salem township. On the maternal side the ancestors originally belonged to Ireland, but afterward crossed to Scotland, whence they immi- grated to America, locating in Westmoreland county, Pa., where they were among the first settlers. Daniel McQuaide (grandfather) resided in Salem township, and married Isabella, a daughter of Thomas Kirkwood.
This family of Shaws has been identified with the history of Westmoreland county ever since it was formed. Moses Shaw was in the fort during the battle of Hannastown, and the remains of both him and his wife lie buried in the old graveyard at that place. Their two sons, Alexander and David, were among the bravest defenders of the place and escaped with their lives, though the destruction of Hannas- town was complete. On the day this town was burned, July 13, 1782, Martha, grandmother of Samuel Shaw, Sr., was riding toward the fort for her life, when she met a neighbor who begged for her horse to go for help. The old lady gave him the animal, walked to the fort and escaped the tomahawk of the Indians ; but the neighbor rode off to the Sewickley settlement out of dan- ger and did not return for two weeks. Mar- garet Shaw, a sister of David Shaw, one of the heroes of the "Hannastown war," was in the fort on the day of the battle, and under the random fire kept up by the savages ran to rescue a child from danger, when a bullet from an Indian rifle struck her in the breast, piercing her left lung. For fourteen days she
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suffered untold angony before death came to her relief.
Samuel W. Shaw was educated in the public schools and New Salem academy and entered the profession of teaching. He taught seven terms in Salem borough, part of the time as principal, serving one year as principal of Salem academy. Having taught seventeen terms in Westmoreland county, Mr. Shaw entered the political arena, and in 1887 was nominated by the Republican party for commissioner, receiving 2,474 votes and having a majority of 774. At the general election he received 7,786 votes, while the next highest republican candidate on the county ticket had but 7,583 votes, and the leading candidate on the republican State ticket polled only 7,646 votes in Westmoreland county. Ile is an affable gentleman and makes an excel- lent official. He was married October 17, 1889, to Winnie M., a daughter of George R. Young, of Salem township.
RANK SHEARER is one of the enter- prising business men and the leading butcher of Greensburg. He is a native of Europe's mountain-walled republic-Switzer- land, lle is a son of Victor and Lizzie (Alle- man) Shearer and was born in Basle, canton of Basle, Switzerland, May 11, 1830. Victor Shearer was a prosperous baker of Basle. He was a devoted member of the Catholic church, always strict in the discharge of his religious duties and never allowed a press of business or call of pleasure to interfere. Ile married Lizzie Alleman, a native of an adjoining province. They had six children, of whom four,are living.
Frank Shearer was raised in Basle, one of the capitals of his native canton and now a city of 61,000 inhabitants. He served an apprentice- ship of nearly three years with a leading butcher of Basle, His tuition was his services and several hundred francs. He has papers and recommendations that certify to his being a |
skilled and graduate butcher of Switzerland. Seeking for a less cramped field of labor than that afforded by Europe at that time, he sailed for the United States and landed in New York on June 7, 1858. He soon came west to Pitts- burg where he remained a few days, and then repaired to Greensburg where his brother Joseph, a fine architect and a good mechanic, was en- gaged in business. After his arrival at the latter place he was immediately employed by a Mr. Reamer for whom he worked several months. Leaving Mr. Reamer, he engaged in the butcher- ing business for himself and has since been en- gaged in that business. In 1863 he went to Oil city, Venango county, Pa., where he en- gaged in the butchering business and slaughtered on an average of sixty head of cattle per week for four years. In 1867 he sold out his Oil City butchering establishment and realized a hand- some profit on his original investment in the buildings ; he also received a large sum of money to allow the purchasers to use his name and sign for a few months. Since 1867 Mr. Shearer has given his attention to the supervision of his extensive and lucrative butchering busi- ness at Greensburg, and is justly entitled to the liberal patronage he receives.
Ile was married June 9, 1854, to Mary Smith, daughter of Jacob Smith, a wealthy German farmer of Hempfield township, and a native of Lancaster county. Mr. and Mrs. Shearer had five children, four sons and one daughter. Two of the sons, Edward and John, are living, married and are successful business men. They are engaged with their father in business. The daughter, Anna, was a nun, a "Sister Evange- list," and died several years ago in Omaha, Ne- braska. Mrs. Shearer died in 1873, and Mr. Shearer was re-married on June 11, 1874, to Mary McDermott, daughter of Patrick MeDer- mott, who is a railroad contractor. By his second marriage he has four children, two sons and two daughters : Roderick Mack, attending school ; Victor, Mary and Constance M.
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Frank Shearer, aside from his regular busi- ness, has invested largely and profitably in real estate. He owns two large and well improved farms and one hundred and thirty valuable lots. Hle is a democrat from principle and a strict member of the Roman Catholic church. Hle has a good education which he received under the thorough school system of Switzerland. He is as active as many a man at forty, and enjoys the best of health on account of never indulging in the excesses of American living. Frank Shearer is a man of fine personal appearance, prominent in his town, well known in the county and has acquired considerable wealth by his thrift, honesty and economy.
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