Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Part 30

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 30

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John S. Frets, after receiving an ordinary education in the old subscription schools of his

day, in 1836 purchased a farm and for over fifty years he was successfully engaged in that pur- suit. In 1887 he retired from active business and removed to Scottdale where he at present resides. In 1835 he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of John Bear, of East Huntingdon. She was born in 1811 and died on August 21, 1889. To their union were born four children : Hannah, wife of Solomon Stoner, and resides near Stoner's; Henry B., born in 1838 and died while in the service of the Union army ; Daniel, born in 1841, died in 1872, and Adam B., born in 1845 and died in 1876. IIe is a re- publican in his political opinions and a highly respected member of the Lutheran church.

OBERT GARRETT, proprietor of the Eureka billiard parlor restaurant, of Scottdale, Pa., was born January, 1855, at Brownville, Fayette county, Pa., and is the son of William and Priscilla (Dorsey) Garrett. William Garrett, a native of Virginia, migrated to Centerville, Washington county, Pa., where he kept hotel for seven years, and thence to Brownsville, Pa., where he remained until his death in 1869. In Brownsville he was proprie- tor of the Monongahela house. He enlisted as a private in a company of Pa. Vols., under Capt. Smith of Brownsville, and was afterward pro- moted to the lieutenancy of his company. At the battle of BullRun he received a wound which disabled him and he returned home. He mar- ried Priscilla, a daughter of George Dorsey, of Washington county, Pa., and to them were born two children : Rebecca, wife of William Wall, of Morgantown, West Va., and Robert. Mrs. Pris- cilla (Dorsey) Garrett is still living at the age of fifty-four years and resides near Brownsville, Pa. Robert Garrett attended the public schools until fifteen years of age, when he went to learn the blacksmith trade with William Bird of Browns- ville. In 1876 he removed to Cook's Mills, Fayette county, Pa., where he started in the

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business for himself and remained for seven years. In 1883 he removed to Scottdale and bought a shop which he continued to run with remarkable success until April, 1889, when he rentod his place of business to Nicholas Keuft, who now has charge of the smithy.

Robert Garrett was united in marriage in 1877. Having no children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Garrett have adopted a child in whom they take great interest. Mr. Garrett is a democrat of the Andrew Jackson type, and like " Old Hickory " is an active and intrepid worker for the success of his party and the triumph of its principles. Ile is a man of good judgment and strong will, and follows the advice of Crockett, " Be sure you're right, then go ahead."

R. OBERT N. GAY, chief marshal and also constable of Scottdale, was born May 17, 1848, at Donegal, in Donegal township, Westmoreland county, Pa., and is a son of William B. and Martha (Speer) Gay. Ilis grandfather, Peter Gay, was a native of Franklin county, Pa., removed to Westmoreland county when but a young man and began farm- ing in Donegal township. Ile married Eliza- beth Hays, of the same township, and they had five children, none of whom are living. Peter Gay's father was born in England, immigrated to America and settled in Franklin county, Pa., where he remained during the remainder of his life. He was one of the very early settlers of | that county and was by occupation a tiller of the soil. William B. Gay was born in 1814 in Ligonie Valley, Westmoreland county, Pa. At the age of twenty-one he was elected justice of the peace, which office he continued to hold until his death in 1866, at the age of fifty-two years. Hle resided on his farm about one mile east of Donegal borough. He married Martha Speer ; to them were born eight children : Mary C., widow of James HI. Jones, now living at Donegal ; Freeman C., whose sketch appears else-

where in this work ; Peter, killed in the battle of Fredericksburg; William S., a resident of Centerville, Iowa ; John F., of Mansfield, Ohio; Ann N., of Greensburg, and Catharine L., wife of Edward Hann, of Braddock, Pa. William B. Gay was a political follower of Jackson and was an active. and influential worker for his party. He was a member of the Baptist church while his wife belonged to the M. E. church. Mrs. Gay died in 1882.

Robert N. Gay was reared amidst the rural scenes of Donegal township, in whose public schools he was educated and where he lived with his father, assisting him in farm work and general business until his death. Robert then took charge of the farm and ran it till 1883, when he sold it and removed to Donegal, where he built a hotel. This he ran for two years and then in 1887 removed to Scottdale, Pa., where he was deputy sheriff at Charlotte Furnace. In February, 1889, he was elected on an indepen- dent ticket constable of Scottdale borough, and in the same month was appointed chief marshal by the town council. Mr. Gay is an excellent citizen and a most agreeable companion.

Robert N. Gay and Miss Clara B. Stewart were married in 1867, and have had six children, four of whom are living : Elmer N., with H. C. Frick & Co .; Ralph O .; Anna and Ida. Mrs. Gay is a daughter of Thomas B. Stewart, of Berlin, Somerset county, Pa., and is a loving wife and devoted mother. Mr. Gay is a demo- crat, and a member of the K. O. T. M.

FOHN C. GEYER, a progressive young business man and manager of the well known " Geyer House," of Scottdale, was born in Juniata township, Bedford county, Pa., Novem- ber 2, 1863, and is a son of the late Henry G. and Catherine (Redinger) Geyer. The Geyers are of German lineage, and the progenitor of the American branch of the family arrived in the province of Penn some time between the close of

James Grantham

l'auto by Springor.

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the French and Indian war and the opening of the Revolutionary struggle, in which he served as a soldier under Washington. After the close of the war for Independence he settled in Phila- delphia. Ile was the father of Coonrod Geyer (grandfather) who was born in the "City of Brotherly Love" and emigrated in early life to Berks and afterwards to Bedford county, Pa. Ilis chief employment was teaming between Cumberland, Md. and Wheeling, Va., (now W. Va.) on the National Road or old pike. A heavily loaded wagon passed over his foot and from the effects of the injury thus received he died at his home in Bedford county, in the sixty- fourth year of hisage. Henry G. Geyer (father) was born at Reading, Berks county, Pa., May 4, 1833, and reared on a farm. He received his education in the common schools. At an early age he came with his parents to Bedford county where he was engaged in farming until 1873. In that year he removed to Scottdale and engaged in hotel keeping. Meeting with good success in that line of business he resolved to embark permanently in that pursuit. In 1882 he erected a large frame hotel, now known as the " Geyer House " and successfully conducted it until his death, December 11, 1884. He was the first landlord at Scottdale to obtain license after the passage of the local option law. He came to Scottdale shortly after it was laid out ay a town, and if his life had been spared a few years longer he would have been very prominent in its later growth and development. He was un energetic, stirring man who was successful in his business ventures. Ile was an officer in the German Reformed church, of which he had been a highly respected member for over twenty- one years. On January 2, 1563, he married Catherine Redinger, and they had seven children, four sons and three daughters, Mrs. Geyer was born in Bedford county in 1841. She is now with the assistance of her sons conducting the " Geyer House."

At ten years of age John C. Geyer came

with his parents from Bedford county to Scott- dale, where he attended the common schools for five years. In 1878 he entered the Scottdale rolling-mill where he learned the trades of roll- ing and boiling, and worked as a roller and boiler for six years. Since the death of his father he has been engaged in assisting his mother in the management of the "Geyer House," which is one of the leading hotels of the borough. Itis well arranged and fully equipped to meet the wants of the traveling public and receives a very liberal patronage.

On January 24, 1884, he was united in mar- riage with Laura A. Milliron, daughter of Samuel Milliron, of New Stanton, this county. They have three children, two sons and one daughter: Daisy M., Grover Cleveland and John C.

J. C. Geyer is a member of Scottdale Lodge, No. 885, and White Star Encampment, No. 286, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Fountain Lodge, No. 443, Knights of Pythias and Scott- dale Council, No. 102, Junior Order of United American Mechanics. He is a past officer in the K. of P. and Junior Mechanics and twice rep- resented the latter at their State council once at Harrisburg and the other time at Erie. He is a democrat in politics, a member of Trinity Ger- man Reformed church at Scottdale, which was organized July 20, 1873, and well qualified for the business in which he is engaged.

AMES W. GRANTIIAM, of the firm of Ruth & Grantham, proprietors of the Westmoreland planing mill, at Scottdale, was born September 13, 1852, in Middleway, Jefferson county, Va. (now W. Va.), and is a son of John S. and Lucy Ellen (Sharff) Grantham, both of whom are natives and residents of Shen- andoah Valley, that State. John S. Grantham is engaged in the furniture and undertaking busi-

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ness which he has successfully carried on in the same place ever since he was a young man. Ile now occupies the same building in which he learned his trade and is one of the most widely known and highly esteemed men in his section. Both he and his wife are members of the Southern M. E. church. Mr. Grantham is a democrat and has held all the various offices of his borough.

James W. Grantham was reared in the beau- tiful and now historie Shenandoah Valley, where he learned the trade of cabinet-making with his father, with whom he continued to work until 1872, when he came north to Con- nellsville, Fayette county, Pa. During the next decade he worked at the carpenter's trade, one year at Connellsville, one at Mt. Pleasant and eight at Madison ; part of this time he was also engaged in contracting. In 1882 he went to West Newton, where he remained three years as a contractor and builder and then removed to Scottdale and carried on the same business until 1888, when he purchased the interest of W. L. Stoner (deceased) in the Westmoreland planing mill. This is the pioneer mill of Scottdale, having been established in 1873. It is fitted up with modern machinery and appliances and run by an engine of forty-horse power. The firm are also contractors and builders, and are now erecting the new public school building and the U. B. church of Scottdale. They have built some of the finest buildings in the county, both public and private. Mr. Grantham is a skillful mechanic and occupies a high position as a .. in- telligent and responsible man of business. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the U. B. church; he is a prohibitionist and an earnest advocate of correct religious principles.

James W. Grantham was married in No- vember, 1875, to Julia A., daughter of Wil- liam Shrader, of Madison, this county, and to them have been born six children : Lucy, Lizzie, Rankin, John, Joseph Plummer and James.

LARK GRAZIER, secretary of the Scottdale Iron and Steel Company, limited, and one of the progressive busi- ness men of that stirring borough, is a son of David and Nancy (Buck) Grazier, and was born in Warrior's Mark township, Huntingdon county, Pa., April 26, 1849. His grandfathers, John Grazier and John Buck, were respectively farmers of Huntingdon and Centre counties, this State. The former died when only thirty years of age. The latter was born in Lancaster county, subsequently removed to Centre county, was of German descent and a member of the Dunkard or German Baptist church and died in 1866. His father, David Grazier, was born in 1819 in Huntingdon county, where he has always resided. For many years he was en- gaged extensively in farming and stock raising, but of late years he has practically retired from active life. IIe is an esteemed member of the United Brethern church and a highly honored citizen.

Clark Grazier was reared on his father's farm and received his education in the common schools of Huntingdon county. In 1869 he mi- grated west to Iowa where he was engaged four years in teaching. In 1873 he returned to Pennsylvania and embarked in the clothing and merchant tailoring business at Tyrone, Blair county, Pa. He there met with reasonable suc- cess, remained until 1880, when he removed to Scottdale, where he engaged in his present busi- ness of merchant tailoring and gent's furnishing goods. After three years of successful trade lis health became impaired when he went to Edens- burg, the county seat of Cambria county, Pa., where he remained one year. When he was in a manner restored to perfect health he returned to Scottdale. From 1884 to 1887 he continued successfully in merchant tailoring. In 1887 the plant and property of what is known as the Scottdale Iron and Steel company, limited, was to be sold, and Mr. Grazier realizing the ad- vantage of retaining these works at Scottdale,

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sought to organize a home company to purchase them. Starting with courage and determina- tion that has always been the great secret of his success, he soon effected the organization of a company with sufficient means to purchase the old iron works. They were established in 1872 when the rolling-mill was erected. The foundry was added in 1875. As soon as the new com- pany organized Mr. Grazier was elected secre- tary and treasurer, but finding that the two offices engaged too much of his time he soon re- signed the treasurership and has retained the sec- retaryship until the present time. The Scottdale Iron and Steel company, limited, comes promin- ently to the foreground as the largest and most important industry of Scottdale. The works are supplied with all the late machinery and appli- ances for the manufacture of sheet-iron and steel. The members of the company were all unacquainted with the business in which they embarked but they have been wonderfully suc- cessfully in prosecuting the business. Their works have never stopped a day since starting and they have rapidly gained trade and reputa- tion up to the present time. Their ample re- sources, practical experience, skilled workmen and first-class work warrant them enduring success for the future. . They employ three hundred men, have a monthly pay-roll of $17,- 000 and transact a yearly business of over half a million dollars.

On August 26, 1873, Mr. Grazier was mar- ried to Juliet Guyer, of Huntingdon county, a daughter of Rev. George Guyer, a minister of the M. E. church. They have five children, three sons and two daughters : George D., Etnel J., Mabel, Albert E. and Frank.

He has been secretary since January, 1887, of Marion Lodge, No. 562, F. and A. M., and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Ilis merchant tailoring establishment is well known for its fine work and large stock of plain and fashionable goods, carefully selected to suit the tastes of all. A large and extensive patron-

age compilments his efforts to please the public as a merchant tailor. Clark Grazier is thoroughly and prominently identified with the best interests of Scottdale; he has been zealous and successful in promoting its prosperity and is deeply interested in its future welfare. Ilis efficient services in organizing the Scottdale Iron and Steel Company and his successful career so far, as its secretary, attest his good ability as a business man.

AMES H. GREEN, a prominent photo- grapher and artist in crayon and oil por- traits, is the youngest living son of John and Louisa (Howell) Green, and was born at Bilston, a mining and manufacturing town of Stafford county, England, in 1854. His parents were born and reared at the above mentioned place, where they were married in 1842. They had twelve children, of whom six are living : William, at Mckeesport, Pa .; Edward, at " Bell Hill," Scotland; John, in Wheeling, West Va .; James II., Polly and Emma, residents of Scot- land. John Green was born in 1821, became a sheet-roller in iron mills and came from England to Scottdale in 1879. Ile worked for ten years in the iron works at that place, was popularly known as "Father Green," and died in Oc- tober, 1879. Ilis widow, who was born in 1824, resided with her son, the subject of this sketch.

James II. Green was reared at Bilston and worked in the iron works at that place for some time. At seventeen years of age he entered a photographic gallery, where he assiduously pur- sued the study of photography for eight years. In 1879 he immigrated to Pennsylvania, located at Scottdale and labored in the iron works until 1886. In that year he became a member of the present photographic firm of Green & Johnson.

In 1873 he was married to Sophia, daughter of Abraham Parfitt of Pansnit, England. To their union have been born nine children, of

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whom four are living : Mary J., John E., Nellie V. and Violet.

James II. Green's business partner, Joseph Johnson, was born in North Hamptonshire, England, in 1834. He is a son of Joseph John- son, Sr., came to this country in 1865, located in Pittsburg in 1866 , where he worked in the rolling mills for fourteen years ; came to Scott- dale in 1880, removed to Blair county, Pa., in 1885, returned to Scottdale in 1886 and entered into partnership with Mr. Green. He married Elizabeth Grubb in England, who died in 1870, leaving no children. In 1886 he married Char- lotte Hill. He is a good business man, a re- publican aud a member of the A. Y. M., Chosen Friends and Knights of Pythias.

With the advantage of wide experience and long and careful study James HI. Green well de- serves the reputation he has gained as a photo- graphic artist. He was very successful in taking views of the Johnstown flood, and his photo- graphie establishment is fully equipped for turn- ing out first-class work. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church. Mr. Green is a member of Knights of Pythias and A. Y. M., and has been remarkably successful in his pres- ent line of business.

ILLIAM K. HERBERT, an enterpris- ing citizen of Scottdale and one of the leading butchers and senior member of the firm of Herbert & Brother, is a son of Joseph and Amanda (McFadden) Herbert, and was born in Bullskin township, Fayette county, Pa., April 1, 1850. Joseph Herbert was born in the above mentioned township in 1824. He followed farming in Fayette county until 1865, when he removed to near Jacob's Creek church, this county, and was a farmer and stock raiser in that neighborhood for eighteen years. In 1884 he retired from active life and removed to Scottdale, where he now resides. He is a re-

publican and member of the United Brethren church. He was married to Amanda, daugh- ter of Charles McFadden, of Fayette county, Pa. They had five sous and four daugh- ters, of whom six are living : John J., who lives near Chautauqua, Tenn .; William K., Albert II., Charles R., and Eliza, widow of B. F. Oglevee, residents of Scottdale, and Minnie, wife of D. S. Artman, of Connellsville, Pa. Mrs. Herbert was a member of the United Brethren church and died in 1864.

At thirteen years of age William K. Herbert went to Dunbar, Pa., where he worked for Joseph Paul for five years. In 1868 he went from Dunbar to Pittsburg, learned the trade of bricklayer and worked at bricklaying for four years. In 1872 he removed to Scottdale where he worked steadily at his trade until 1888. In that year he and his brother Albert; under the firm name of Herbert & Brother, engaged in butchering and have continued successfully in that business ever since. Their convenient and commodious meat market is on Pittsburg street. By strict attention to business and honorable dealing they have built up a large and substan- tial trade. W. K. Herbert has made a thor- ough study of butchering and gives his personal attention to every detail of his slaughter yard and meat market. He is a member of Fountain Lodge, No. 443, Knights of Pythias, Council, No. 102, Jr., O. U. A. M., 209 Conclave, Im- proved Order of Heptasophs and the Equitable Aid Association, 316.

On November 26, 1874, he was united in marriage with Belle Strickler, a daughter of Joseph Strickler, of Fayette county, Pa., and their union has been blessed with five children : Ilarry, born in 1875; Frank, born in 1877; Edwin, born in 1880; Joseph, born in 1883, and Jennie, born in 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Her- bert are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

In politics W. K. Herbert is a republican and one of Scottdale's useful citizens.

Photo by Springer.

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NOCH A. HUMPHRIES. The cele-

brated Connellsville coke region embraces

about one hundred and twenty square miles of territory, in which is manufactured two-thirds of all the coke produced in the United States. Out of its vein of pure soft coal is made the best coke that has ever been placed in the markets. The total product of Connellsville coke is now over five million tons yearly, and one of its reliable and well-known manufacturers is Enoch A. Humphreys, of Scottdale. He was born in South Staffordshire, in the western part of England, September 21, 1852, and is a son of Reuben R. and Ann (Guy) Humphries, natives of the above-named place. Reuben R. Humphries immigrated in 1868 to Washington county, Pa., where he re- sided a few months and then removed to.Scott- dale. He remained here a short time and then went to Blair county, this State, where he pur- chased a farm and engaged in farming until 1889. In the fall of 1889 he returned to Scott- dale, where he now resides. Mr. Humphries has always been active, industrious and thor- ough-going, a member of the United Brethren church, and now in the fifty-ninth year of his age.

Enoch A. Humphries was reared and edu- cated in South Staffordshire, England, until sixteen years of age. At that age he accom- panied his parents to Washington county, where he was employed for about one year in a mer- cantile establishment at Monongahela city. From 1871 to 1874 he was engaged in teaching vocal and instrumental music. He was very success- ful in giving music lessons on the organ and piano and can play well on any horn belonging to a band. In 1875 Mr. Humphries began his successful business career in the world-renowned Connellsville coke region as superintendent of the Charlotte Furnace Company's coke works at Scottdale. For eleven years he filled this position with credit to himself and satisfaction to his employers. During this long term of

service he devoted himself so assiduously to the discharge of his duties that he became thor- oughly acquainted with all the details of coal- mining and coke manufacture. In 1886 he re- signed his superintendency to engage in the coke trade. He purchased a farm underlaid with coal of B. F. Newcomer, of Upper Ty- rone, Fayette county, Pa. To this farm, just across the Westmoreland county line, he added the coal interests of W. A. Keifer, in an ad- joining tract of land in this county, and upon these lands he erected the Humphries coke works. In August, 1889, he purchased the coke plant at Watt station, near Dunbar, Fay- ette county, Pa., and is now successfully oper- ating both plants, containing one hundred and three ovens. Ile is favorably known as a reli- able and energetic operator in his line of busi- ness. With the extension of the steel and iron trade of the future will come an increased de- mand for coke, and the fact has been duly ap- preciated by the late heavy investors in Con- nellsville coal lands, and Mr. Humphries' present prosperous works give promise of largely in- creased production whenever future trade will warrant. He already supplies several large manufacturers and furnace owners with a su- perior article of desulphurized Connellsville coke, and is perfecting arrangements to enlarge his plants and increase his number of ovens.

In 1875 he was married to Esther Wiley, daughter of Sampson Wiley, of Upper Tyrone township, Fayette county, Pa., and sister to James W. Wiley, of Everson, Pa. They have four children living, one son and three daught- ers : Georgia, Mary, Anna and Leigh Chester.

E. A. Humphries is a republican in politics, has served as a member of the town council of Scottdale and is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity. Ile is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, superintendent of its Sunday school and is always interested in every meas- ure promotive of the prosperity of either the school or the church. Mr. Humphries belongs

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to that class of self-made men who invariably achieve success in whatever they undertake. Ile is highly esteemed for his fine executive ability, his correct business methods and honest dealing with the public.

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Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Part 30

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