USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania > Part 31
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ORNELIUS M. JARRETT, a merchant of Scottdale, was born June 29, 1862, in Union township, Monongalia county, W. Va., and is a son of Thomas M. and Ellen (McShane) Jarrett. His grandfather, John Jar- rett, was born in 1780 in Ohio, and at the age of ten years was taken by his parents to Ken- tucky, where they were pioneers of the " dark and bloody ground " at the time when " The lovers of adventure began to pour themselves into the territory, whose delicious climate and fertile soil invited the presence of social man." In this country he grew to manhood, then re- moved to West Virginia where he passed the remainder of his life. He was a millwright by trade and built many mills in West Virginia and southern Pennsylvania. He died in 1840. Thomas M. Jarrett (father) was born in 1824 near Morgantown, W. Va. Ile learned the trade of nail making at which he worked until 1859, when he was appointed superintendent of the Laurel Iron Company near Morgantown, which position he held for seven years. During the next six years he followed farming and in 1873 removed to Tyrone township, Fayette county, Pa., where he continued to farm until 1886, at which time he removed to Scottdale. Ile was married in 1847 to Ellen, a daughter of Cor- nelius McShane, of near Morgantown, W. Va., and to their union have been born thirteen chil- dren, eleven of whom are living : Mary, Emma, Judge, Henry, Fannie, John, Cornelius, Lou, Walter, Oliver and Abner. Mr. Jarrett, who is an active republican and a member of the M. E. church, is still living at Scottdale. Ilis wife died March 29, 1882.
Cornelius M. Jarrett was reared in the State
of West Virginia. He assisted on the farm, attended the public schools and took a course at a business college. In 1886 he located at Scottdale and embarked in the mercantile busi- ness, which he still continues. He is a repub- lican and a zealous worker for his party ; be- longs to Fountain Lodge, No. 443, Knights of Pythias ; Scottdale Council, No. 102, Jr. O. U. A. M., and to the Knights of Maccabees
Cornelius M. Jarrett was married in July, 1889, to Laura A., a daughter of L. L. Cona- way, of Pittsburg, Pa.
AMES H. JONES, foundry boss of the Charlotte Furnace company at Scottdale, Pa., was born February 8, 1835, in Balti- more county, Maryland, and is a son of David and Eliza (Hunter) Jones. David Jones was born in 1795 in Wales, and in 1828 immigrated to the United States, settling in Baltimore, Md., where he continued for about eight years the rolling-mill work which he had learned in Wales. In 1836 he remc ed to Richmond, Va., where he also worked at his trade in the mills. In 1840 he migrated to Pittsburg, whence he re- moved after about two years to Hanging Rock, Lawrence county, Ohio, where he died in 1878. Mr. Jones married Eliza IIunter about 1823 in London, England, a native of that city, who bore him four children. Ile was an " old-line whig," but after the war a republican, though he took no active part in political matters. His wife died in Lawrence county, Ohio, in 1881.
James II. Jones was reared in Baltimore, Md., where he attended the public schools until seventeen years of age, when he started to learn engineering. Ile first had charge of a station- ary engine in the rolling-mills at Hanging Rock, Ohio; then for three years an engine on the B. & O. R. R. ; then for two years an engine in a mill in Pittsburg, and was with Jones and Mc- Laughlin for about three years. In 1864 he enlisted in the naval service in the Mississippi
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squadron and served until the close of the war, after which he was appointed inspector of en- gines in the Pittsburg yards. In 1867 he en- gaged with the Laughlin Blast Furnace Company of Pittsburg, and in 1878 removed to Scottdale, l'a., where he was with Everson, Macrum & Co. till their dissolution, when he was employed by the Charlotte Furnace Company of the same place, with which he still remains. Until a year ago he was an engineer, but was then appointed foundry boss, which position he now holds. He is a republican, and with his wife belongs to the M. E. church at Scottdale. He is a member of Col. Ellsworth Post, No. 209, G. A. R., and of Mt. Moriah Lodge, 360, I. O. O. F., both of Scottdale.
James II. Jones married in 1856 Lydia, daughter of John McGraw of Armstrong county, Pa., and to their union eight children have been born, of whom three are living: Lydia, the eldest, wife of John Ganett of Scottdale; Silas, and Alice, wife of John Stevens of Scottdale. Mr. Jones is an excellent man and a highly re- spected member of society.
a BRAHAM L. KEISTER, president of the First National cank of Scottdale and a manufacturer of Connellsville coke, was born in Tyrone township, Fayette county, Pa., September 10, 1852. Ilis father is of German descent as was his mother, whose maiden name was Stauffer.
Abraham L. Keister was reared on a farm until nearly seventeen years of age. Ile then entered the preparatory department of Otter- bein college, Ohio, and was graduated from this well-known institution of learning in 1874. Returning to his native State he taught the two years following a district school. The next year after his return from college he selected the law for a vocation. He was registered in 1875 as a law student at Uniontown, Fayette county, l'a., with the Hon. C. E. Boyle as his
preceptor and read under that eminent lawyer until the autumn of the succeeding year, when he went to Dayton, Ohio, and finished his legal studies under Judge Thomas O. Lowe of that city. In February, 1878, Mr. Keister was admitted to practice before the bar of the Supreme Court of Ohio. Immediately after his admission there he entered upon the active practice of his profession at Columbus, the capital of the State, and remained there in suc- cessful practice for three years. In 1881 his health had become so impaired by close applica- tion in the District and Supreme Court of Ohio that he was compelled to abandon the work of his chosen profession. In the same year he returned to his native State, and in 1882 he engaged in the manufacture of the celebrated Connellsville coke, in which business he is still interested. Ile is also interested in the First National bank of Scottdale, of which he is president. Mr. Keister has been president of the Scottdale Cemetery Association since its organization and incorporation in 1886. IIe has been a member of the Scottdale school board since 1888 and served as president of that body till November of that year, when he resigned the presidency on account of a pro- longed trip he was arranging for and shortly afterwards made through Southern California and the "Pacific Slope." Mr. Keister has alway been a republican in politics, is married and has been a permanent resident of his native State since 1881, and of Scottdale from the spring of 1886 until the present time.
'HEODORE C. KENNEY. Among the manufacturing interests that contribute largely to the success and prosperity of Scottdale is the foundry, machine-shop and en- gine-building business of Kenney & Co., which is deserving of special notice in the industries of the county as well as of Scottdale borough, and
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the credit of its successful establishment is due to the efforts of Theodore C. Kenney, the senior member of the above named firm. He is a son of John W. and Catharine (Keller) Kenney, and was born in Carnarvon township, Berks county, Pa. Ilis parents are natives and residents of the above county. His father, John W. Ken- ney, was born in 1821 and was employed in ore mining and mine engineering until a few years back, when he retired from active life. Ile is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, has served his township as school director and held various other local offices.
Theodore C. Kenney was reared in Carnarvon township and received his education in the com- mon schools. He learned engineering with his father, received an advantageous offer from Thomas Richards, a builder of blast furnaces, and accompanied him to southern Illinois where Mr. Richards made him his time-keeper and soon promoted him to be foreman on the con- struction of a large furnace. Ile held this latter position for eighteen months, then went into the machinery department and had charge of the blast engine and pumps for four and one-half years. Leaving Illinois, he came to Pittsburg where he was engineer for Laughlin & Co., and ran their blast engine for nearly two years. In October, 1872, he removed to Scottdale where he was employed by " Charlotte furnace com- pany " to take charge of the blast engine and machinery of their furnace. After remaining with this company for eight years he received a very good offer from an Ohio furnace company and went to Steubenville and assumed manage- ment of a blast furnace. At the end of five months he concluded not to move his family to Ohio, but to resign, return to Scottdale and en- gage in business for himself. This resolution was no sooner taken on his part than he carried it into immediate execution and returned to the latter named place. He formed a partnership with J. D. Hill, under the firm name of Hill & Kenney, and engaged in the foundry and ma-
chine-shop business. In August, 1880, they purchased the land on which to erect their foun- dry and machine-shop of Everson, Macrum & Co. They were successful as machinists and brass and iron founders, making specialties of coke-manufacturers' supplies, and kept a full line of brass and iron fittings, brass castings and machinery supplies. They employed twenty men and transacted a business of $40,000 per year until 1884, when Mr. Hill retired from the' business and A. K. Stauffer became his success- or in the firm, which changed in name to Kenney & Co. Since 1884 the works have been en- larged, new departments added to the business and the plant now covers over two acres of ground. The new firm has added to their business the manufacture of stationary steam en- gines and engine castings. They employ sixty skilled mechanics, build a large number of first- class engines every year and ship them west of the Mississippi river and south into the new iron manufacturing regions of Alabama, as well as supplying a large home demand and filling fre- quent orders from the north and east. It is estimated that this firm turns out yearly $75,000 worth of work. T. C. Kenney is a member of Marion Lodge, No. 562, A. Y. M., and the Independent Order of Heptasophs.
On April 28, 1874, he was united in marriage to Emma J. Gant, of Pittsburg, a daughter of Joseph Gant. They have five living chil- dren, four sons and one daughter: Joseph C., John F., William M., Charles Morgan and Janet M.
Politically he is a republican and has served as councilman and school director of Scottdale borough. Mr. Kenney is patient, persevering, reliable, prompt, honorable and energetic. Ile has never been tempted into any speculative ven- ture but has quietly pursued a conservative and safe course in business, and has built up an in- dustry that reflects lasting credit upon himself and is a great factor in the rapidly increasing prosperity of Scottdale.
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ACOB S. LOUCKS, an enterprising farmer near the progressive little borough of Scott- dale, is a son of Martin and Nancy (Stauf- fer) Loucks. Martin Loucks, also a farmer, was born in Bucks county, Pa., in 1798. At the age of two years he came with his father, Peter Loucks west, to Fayette county and settled in Tyrone township, but soon came to Westmore- land and located in East Huntingdon township on a farm, where he resided until his death in 1825. The estate was then purchased by the afore-mentioned son, Martin Loucks, on which he continued to live until his death in 1860, leading a most exemplary life. He was presiding minis- ter in the Mennonite church for over thirty years and was a man of great energy, strong convictions, aggressive for the right; these qualities made him successful in his calling and as a business man. Nancy Stauffer, his wife, was a daughter of Abraham Stauffer, who, like the Loucks, was of German descent. She was born in 1803 and was a highly respected mem- ber of the same church as her husband. To their marriage were born eight children, three daughters and five sons.
Jacob, S. Loueks was born at the old home- stead farm, East Huntingdon township, West- moreland county, Pa., in 1829. Ile remained on the farm until he became of age, attending the ordinary subscription schools of the neighbor- hood. In 1854 he removed to the old Snyder farm south of Scottdale, where he has since lived.
In 1853 he was married to Mary, daughter of John Saylor, of Milford township, Somerset county, Pa. Eleven children was the result of this marriage, two of whom died in infancy. Hle and wife are both members of the Mennonite church at Stonerville, of which he is one of the trustees.
Ile is a stanch republican and has been elec- ted to various local offices by that party. The Loucks were among the first pioneers who set- tled East Huntingdon township and one of its most highly esteemed and respected families.
TOSEPH McCULLOGII was born August 12, 1850, in Ireland, and is a son of James and Mary Jane (Hamilton) McCullogh. James McCullogh was born in the " Emerald Isle" and came to the United States in 1835 when but eighteen years old, locating in the "City of Brotherly Love," but afterwards re- turned to Ireland, where he died in 1882 at the age of sixty-five years. Ilis wife was Mary Jane Hamilton, of Canada, who died in 1881, being sixty-one years of age.
Joseph McCullogh spent his boyhood days in the land of Emmett, whose schools he attended, and came to Philadelphia, Pa., at the age of eight years, where he learned the plasterer's trade, at which he continued to work in that city until twenty years of age. He followed the same occupation in Pittsburg for two years, and in 1873 located at Scottdale, where he has ever since resided and engaged in contracting for plastering. Being an exceptionally fine work- man he has succeeded in gaining an excellent reputation and a large and growing business. Mr. McCullogh is a member of the K. of P., the I. O. O. F., the F. and A. M., and attends the Presbyterian church. He has twice served in the council of the borough of Scottdale, having been elected on the republican ticket. Believing in the measures of the Republican party he labors actively in their support. En- ergetic, careful and economical, he has accumu- lated a goodly share of this world's goods and owns valuable property in his adopted town. Two of his brothers, James and Francis, served in the Civil war; his brother Francis served four and one-half years in the Navy depart- ment and now resides in Philadelphia; his brother James served six months in the late war but afterwards died in Philadelphia of small-pox.
Joseph McCullogh was married in 1880, to Maggie, a daughter of John Klingensmith, now of Scottdale, but formerly of Armstrong county, Pa. They have three children : Rebecca, born
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April 2, 1882; Annie, December 11, 1883, and Josie, August 5, 1887.
ILLIAM JOSEPH MCDOWELL, A. M., M. D. Of the learned professions neither is more important or opens a wider field of usefulness than that of medicine, which has always numbered among its practition- ers many of the most intelligent and cultured men in every community, State and Nation. Of the young and progressive physicians of this county is Dr. William J. McDowell, a student of the University of Leipsic, Germany, who has prac- ticed his profession successfully for six years in Philadelphia, the anthracite coal regions of this State and at Scottdale. He was born in Buffalo township, Washington county, Pa., on the eighth day of February, 1860, and is a son of John and Sarah W. McDowell. John McDowell is a son of Joseph McDowell, who was a son of Nathaniel McDowell, who immigrated from Scotland and thence to county Down, Ireland, and thence to America in 1758.
Sarah W., wife of John McDowell, was daughter of William Brownlee, of Scotch descent.
John McDowell was born March 9, 1820, in Washington county, Pa., where he was reared on a farm and received his education in the common schools. At an early age he engaged in farming and stock-raising which he has followed ever since as his principal business. He has so thoroughly studied and so well understands the principles of successful farming that he stands to-day as one of the prominent and foremost farmers and stock-raisers of Washington county, which has a national reputation for first-class farms and fine merino sheep. He is a member of the State Agricultural Association, the National Woolgrowers' Association and presi- dent of the Pennsylvania State Fair Association.
In 1844 he married Sarah W., daughter of William Brownlee, Washington county, who died February 14, 1860. There were six
children, three boys and three girls. John Mc- Dowell is a stanch republican from principle. He is a prominent and successful farmer, an in- telligent and thorough-going business man and a useful and influential citizen.
Dr. William J. McDowell was reared on his father's farm in Washington county, Pa. He attended the common schools until he was fourteen years of age, then entered Washington and Jefferson colleges, from which time-honored institution he was graduated on the twenty-sec- ond of June, 1881, and received the degree of A. M. in 1884. Having acquired a thorough edu- cation he turned his attention to medicine as his chosen vocation of life. In order to have the advantages of European medical science he en- tered in July, 1881, the medical department of the world-renowned University of Leipzig (English, Leipsic) Germany, where he studied for two years. He then returned to America and attended Jefferson Medical college of Phila- delphia, from which celebrated institution he was graduated in the class of 1884. After his graduation in Philadelphia he practiced for one year in that city and then removed to the an- thracite coal regions of Pennsylvania, where he located at Trevorton and obtained a good practice. In August, 1887, he left Trevorton and came to Scottdale, where he has engaged ever since in the active practice of his chosen profession.
In Philadelphia, on November 10, 1884, Dr. McDowell united in marriage with Mattie Beat- rice Williams, a daughter of L. C. Williams and born in Richmond, Virginia, September 19, 1860. They have no children.
Dr. W. J. McDowell is a republican in politics. He is a genial and affable gentleman, a well-read and skillful physician and a thorough and classical scholar.
- ATHANIEL MILES, general manager of Charlotte Furnace Company and a prominent citizen of Westmoreland county, was born in Pittsburg, Pa., June 27, 1852. Ile
79. I Dowell
Photo by Springer.
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
is a son of Edwin and Sarah E. (Jones) Miles, both natives of Chester county, Pa. Edwin Miles was born in 1812 and in 1840 removed to Blair county, Pa., where he was connected for many years with the " Juniata Forge and Iron Company." From Blair county he re- moved to Pittsburg where he has resided ever since. Mr. Miles has always been engaged in the rolling-mill and furnace business and for the last seven years has been the efficient chairman of the " Charlotte Furnace Company," limited. Ile has been throughout life and is to-day not- withstanding his advanced years an active, ener- getic and successful business man. He is one who amid all the cares of business has preserved an unsullied reputation for honesty, integrity and morality and has ever valued highly the cause of religion. Ile is a regular attendant at and a liberal contributor to the Sandusky street Baptist church, of Pittsburg.
Nathaniel Miles was reared in Pittsburg. He was educated in the Western University of Pennsylvania, from which institution he gradu- ated June 28, 1870. Leaving college, he de- sired to obtain the benefit of a thorough and practical business training before engaging in any commercial pursuit for himself. With this end in view he entered the large and widely known wholesale and retail grocery house of Ar- buckle Brothers of Pittsburg. He remained with them for three years, during which period he familiarized himself with every minor detail of their vast business enterprise as well as studying the general principles upon which it was founded and the methods by which its great volume of daily transactions was conducted. Specially qualified for business life by his three year's services with Arbuckle Brothers, he re- moved in 1873 to Scottdale and became book- keeper and assistant manager of " Charlotte Furnace Company." limited. After ten years of efficient service in this position he was made general manager and has served satisfactorily as such ever since. Since 1874 Mr. Miles has
served as secretary and treasurer of the "Greenlick narrow gauge railroad," which con- neets with the Mount Pleasant branch of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. From July, 1888, to July, 1889, he was treasurer of the Scottdale Water Works Company.
Ile was married August 9, 1884, to Jennie C. Overholt. They have three children : Roy Overholt, Edwin and Eugene. Mrs. Miles is a daughter of Henry S. and Abigail (Carpenter) Overholt. Henry S. Overholt was born in 1810 and died in 1870. His father, Abraham Over- holt, "the immediate progenitor of the large family bearing his name in Westmoreland county, and who made that name a household word, not only in western Pennsylvania but in almost every region of the country, was descended from immigrant Martin Overholt," who came from Germany to Bucks county, Pa., during the early part of the eighteenth century. Abraham Overholt was "never known to disappoint a creditor seeking payment, was gentle to his em- ployes and straightforward in all his dealings." Ile was the first discoverer of coal in his section of the county, was a public-spirited citizen and earnestly advocated the present common school system of Pennsylvania when its adoption was a topic of discussion.
Nathaniel Miles was a member of the San- dusky street Baptist church, 1876 till 1882, Since then has been a member of the Scottdale Baptist church and is now serving as one of its trustees. On account of his business ability and sterling integrity his fellow citizens have several times elected him to a seat in the bor- ough council when matters of more than com- mon interest were to come before that body.
OSEPHI CALDWELL MORROW, one of the successful business men of Scottdale and probably the best auctioneer in the State of Pennsylvania, is a son of John C. and Elizabeth (Sheppard) Morrow and was born in
L
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BIOGRAPHIES OF
East Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, Pa., December 31, 1851. His great- grandfather, Samuel Morrow, was a native of county Tyrone, Ireland, immigrated to Adams county, Pa., prior to the Revolutionary war and subsequently removed to Westmoreland county. From him and two of his brothers, who fought in the war of the Revolution, descended the Morrow family. The Morrows are widely scat- tered over this county and in the western and south central States of the Union. Samuel Morrow had a son, James Morrow (grandfather), who settled in South Huntingdon township, where he married and reared a family of thirteen children. One of these children is John C. Morrow (father), who was born March 6, 1825, and is a resident of Mount Pleasant. On April 22, 1847, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Paoli and Catherine (Tarr) Sheppard. Paoli Sheppard was a soldier of the war of 1812 and the flute that he carried while in the army is now in the possession of the subject of this sketch. Catherine Sheppard, a woman of much intelligence, was a daughter of IIon. Gasper Tarr, who was a son of a Revolutionary soldier and a relative of Christian Tarr, a Pennsylvania member of Congress. The Tarr family was a noted one for their intelligence. Paoli Shep- pard was a son of Henry L. Sheppard, of Mas- sachusetts, a Revolutionary soldier whose father was drowned in Boston bay. Paoli Sheppard was a blacksmith by occupation ; he was noted for his extraordinary physical strength and ex- treme good nature and was an industrious and prudent citizen. He was over six feet in height and weighed two hundred and seventy pounds. His sons were all large and fine look- ing men and all followed the trade of their father.
John C. Morrow reared a family of four sons and four daughters. One of the sons is Paoli S. Morrow, a well-known lawyer of Uniontown, Pa. John C. Morrow is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and an active demo-
crat. Hle has held all the township offices, served from 1878 to 1876 as director of the poor for Westmoreland county, and in 1885 was nom- inated by a majority of four for county com- missioner and was ouly defeated by a majority of four when the remainder of the republican ticket was elected by eight hundred majority.
J. Caldwell Morrow received his education in the common schools of Westmoreland and Allegheny counties and Madison Normal school. From ten to twelve years of age he resided with James Hutchinson, then rejoined his parents, who had previously moved to Buena Vista, in Allegheny county, Pa., and at sixteen years of age began teaching in order to procure the means with which to complete his education. Ile taught the first school in Scottdale borough. After six years teaching, in 1872 he engaged in his present principal business of auctioneering. Ile deals in real estate, is a partner of J. M. Wood in two stores, one at West Newton, this county, and the other at Rochester, Beaver county, Pa., and is also interested in another store at Sutersville.
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