Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Part 35

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 35

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HIOMAS A. BYGATE, a resident of West Newton, a man of good business qualifications and the skilled foreman of the large " Markle paper-mills," is a son of Joseph and Mary A. (Booth) Bygate, and was born November 10, 1850, at Barnesly, a mining and manufacturing town 'in the West Riding, York county, England. His grandfathers, By- gate and Booth, were natives of England, in which country they lived and died. His father, Joseph Bygate, was born in 1818, followed weaving for a livelihood in England and in 1853 came to Pennsylvania where he located at Mon- ongahela City, Washington county. He worked in a paper mill-at that place until 1864, then removed to West Newton, this county, where he remained for twenty-four years, and in 1888 went to Scottdale, where he now resides. He is a re- publican and a member of the M. E. church. Hle was married in England to Mary Ann Booth who died in 1886. They had four chil- dren : Rose A., wife of Levi Hixon, a blacksmith |

at West Newton ; Thomas A .; William Y., who is a jewelry and notion dealer at Scottdale, and George E., who died at an early age.

Thomas A. Bygate received his education in the public schools of Monongahela City and worked in the paper-mills of that place and West Newton. In 1879 he was made foreman of the paper-mill at the last named place. In 1881 he went to Tyrone, Pa., where he superin- tended the erection of a paper-mill for Morrison, Baer & Cass. The next year he returned to West Newton and resumed his position as fore- man of C. P. Markle & Son's mill, and served in that capacity until 1883. From 1883 to 1886 he was superintendent of Ingham, Mills & Co's paper-mills at Chillicothe, Ohio. In 1886 he returned to West Newton and again became foreman of Markle & Co's paper-mill and has held that position ever since.

November 4, 1875, Mr. Bygate was married to Harriet Emma Goldsmith, who was born May 29, 1855, and is a member of the M. E. church at West Newton. They have three children : Sarah M., born November 8, 1876 ; Harry G., born February 7, 1878, and Samuel R., born December 5, 1883.

Thomas A. Bygate has always been a repub- lican and is now serving as a school director of his borough. He is a member of the West New- ton Methodist Episcopal church and West New- ton Council, No. 521, Royal Arcanum. He owns a nice residence, understands thoroughly the manufacture of paper in its every detail and is an intelligent and courteous gentleman.

OIIN CAROTHERS, a comfortably situ- ated citizen of West Newton and who has been one of the most successful farmers of South Huntingdon township, is a son of James and Elizabeth (McClure) Carothers and was born in South Huntingdon township, Westmore- land county, Pa., January 18, 1832. Ilis pa- ternal grandfather, James Carothers, came from

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the eastern part of this State and settled on Sewickley creek in Sewickley township, this county. Ile was an industrious farmer, an okl line whig and after the the death of the Whig party became a stanch republican. His mater- mal grandfather, Richard MeClure, came from one of the eastern counties of Pennsylvania and located in Allegheny county, this State, where he was engaged in farming during the remainder of his life. His father, James McClure, was born in 1780 in Sewickley township, where he lived until his death in 1844. He was buried in " Sewickley Creek Presbyterian cemetery." Ile was a whig in politics and a member of the Presbyterian church. He was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Wood who bore him two daughters, and after her death he married Eliza- beth MeClure, by whom he had one child -- the subject of this sketch.

John Carothers received his education in the common schools of his neighborhood and was engaged in farming in South Huntingdon town- ship until 1887. He then removed to West Newton in order to secure better educational ad- vantages for his family than was afforded by the rural district schools. He immediately pur- chased a desirable lot in the borough and erected his present fine and commodious resi- dence.

Ile united in marriage in November 1870, with Martha J. Markle, who is a daughter of Jasper Markle, of West Newton. To their union have been born five children : Elizabeth M., Ellen B., Mattie B., Agnes M. and James II.

John Carothers is a republican in politics and although always interested in the success of his party and its measures, yet is no politician or seeker for office. He attends the Presbyterian church at West Newton, of which his wife is a member. Mr. Carothers owns a valuable farm of one hundred and fourteen acres of choice and well improved land in South Huntingdon town- ship, this county.

S AMUEL COLDSMITHI was born August 11, 1818, in Franklin county, Pa., near Chambersburg, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Croft) Coldsmith. Samuel Cold- smith (father) was a native of Franklin county, Pa., but removed to near Mt. Pleasant, West- moreland county, in the same State. He was a farmer by occupation and a member of the Ger- man Reformed church. His wife was Elizabeth Croft, who became the mother of ten children. She was also a member of the German Reformed church.

Samuel Coldsmith, September 5, 1844, became the husband of Sarah A. Longenecker, of South Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, Pa., and to them were born four children : Mary Adaline, who died in youth ; Harry B., a drug and hardware merchant, who married Adaline, daughter of Albert and granddaughter of Judge Bell, of West Newton, where Harry resides ; John W., who is engaged in the drug business at Tarentum, Allegheny county, Pa., and who is married to Annie Ralph, of Freeport, Arm- strong county, Pa., and Harriet Emma, wife of Thomas Bygate, foreman in the West Newton paper-mill.

Samuel Coldsmith in boyhood was bound-out to the service of Jesse Lippincott, a merchant of Mt. Pleasant, Pa., and consequently had but little opportunity for acquiring an education. Ile however received some instructions in the common schools of the place and learned the trade of saddle and harness making with a Mr. Eicher, at which he has been working from that time on. In the fall of 1840 he established himself in that business in West Newton, and re- alizing the truth of the old adage, "a rolling stone gathers no moss," he has remained in that town and in the same businesss ever since. He has a good trade and owns real estate in West Newton as a result of his industry and perse- verance. In principle Mr. Coldsmith is a pro- hibitionist. He has served his town as member of council and school board, and is an active

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member of the M. E. church, in which he is a trustee, treasurer, class leader and was for thirty-six years the able librarian of the Sab- bath school. Mr. Coldsmith belongs to the American Legion of Honor, is a kind husband, an indulgent parent and a social gentleman who merits the high standing he enjoys in his com- munity.

AMES W. COLLINS, an active and com- petent engineer and a resident of West Newton, is a son of William L. and Sarah (Glendening) Collins. He was born January 14, 1849, at Connellsville, Fayette county, Pa., of which town his father and grand- father Collins were natives. llis paternal grandfather, James Collins, was an expert and successful tailor of Connellsville. He was a strong member of the Baptist church and in political faith was a whig and afterwards a re- publican. llis maternal grandfather, William Glendening, was a native of Kentucky, who im- migrated to a farm in Dunbar township, near Connellsville, in the above named county. He was a steady and industrious citizen and served in the late civil war. His father, William L. Collins, was born in 1819 and reared at Con- nellsville, where he has always resided. lle learned the trade of tailor but afterwards studied and practiced medicine. He is an active worker in the Republican party, a prominent member of the Baptist church and married Sarah Glen- dening, by whom he had twelve children, one of whom is the subject of this sketch.

James W. Collins was reared at Connellsville where he was educated in the public schools of that place. He learned the trade of moulder which he followed for three years. In the mean- time having decided upon railroad engineering as a life-pursuit, he accordingly abandoned the moulding trade and went on the railroad in 1871. He has been an engineer upon the road ever since. In 1881 he removed from Connells-

ville to West Newton where he built and now occupies a very fine and tasteful residence.

On December 28, 1871, Mr. Collins was mar- ried to Annie Roland.

J. W. Collins is a member of the Brother- hood of Locomotive Engineers and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is one who believes in the principles of the Democratic party and has always supported its nominees. He under- stands well his present line of business and is re- garded as a safe and successful engineer.

L LEXANDER M. DICK, one of West Newton's best and most popular men, was born January 6, 1848, in Sewickley township, Westmoreland county, Pa., and is a son of John M. and Maria (MeClintock) Dick. His father was born near Wooster, Ohio, in 1809, and was by occupation a farmer ; he emi- grated to this county and settled in Sewick- ley township, where he continued farming and also kept hotel for a time. In politics he was a Jacksonian democrat and his chosen denom- ination was the United Presbyterian church. He married Maria McClintock, who bore him eight children : William, married to Isabella Tracy and now living in Iowa : Jonathan, at home ; Samuel, a miller by trade, married to Mary Croft, now a farmer in Kansas; Jane, wife of Ephraim Latta, of this county ; James M., living in Michigan ; Mary, wife of David A. Hunter, of West Newton ; Robert (deceased), and Alexander M.

Alexander M. Dick was reared in the rural atmosphere of Sewickley township, and after leaving the common schools was engaged for more than three years as manager of the store of A. Wagoner, of Bell's Mills. In 1872 he traveled in eastern Pennsylvania and later in the same year went to West Newton, entering the store of S. C. Weimer, in which he remained thirteen years as general clerk. In August, 1885, he was appointed postmaster at West Newton by

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President Cleveland, and has filled the position efficiently and satisfactorily. In connection with the post-office he has a book and station- ery store. In 1882, together with Dr. J. II. Richey, of West Newton, he purchased the "Old Oliver Farm " and laid out what is now called Collinsburg (just below West Newton), which is now quite a nice-sized village. Mr. Dick is an uncompromising democrat and takes an ag- gressive part in political affairs. He has served as school director of his borough and is secretary of the board of trustees of the United Presbyte- rian church, to which his wife and daughter also belong. He is secretary of the West Newton gas company. Bright in intellect, above re- proach in character, agreeable in society, courte- ous and prompt in business, and quick yet care- ful in action, A. M. Dick is one of the men who will push his way to the front in spite of the obstacles in his way ; he was not " born great," neither has he had " greatness thrust upon him ;" but whatever success has been his he has "achieved ; " what he is he has made himself ; he is the architect and builder of his own fortune.

A. M. Dick was married December 25, 1873, to Mary C., a daughter of John C. Benford, of near Madison, this county, and they have two children : Ada M., born November 13, 1875, and Mary E. C., born February 14, 1880.

ILLIAM C. GALLAGHER, of West Newton, was born January 29, 1835, in Somerset county, Pa., and is a son of William and Eleanor (Campbell) Gallagher. ITis grandfather, Daniel Gallagher, was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, and immigrated in 1796 to the United States, locating at Baltimore, Md., whence he subsequently removed to Hag- erstown in the same State. At the latter place he married Elizabeth Bonbright and with her went to Somerset county, Pa. John Campbell, maternal grandfather, was a native of Somerset

county and joined the army in the war of 1812, but failed to return and has never since been heard of. William Gallagher (father) was born in Jenner township, Somerset county, August 3, 1803, and died 1882 in Latrobe, this county, to which place he had removed in 1850. He was a farmer and engaged in agricultural pursuits until within a few years of his death. He was originally a democrat, but after the election of President Polk he became a whig, and upon the formation of the Republican party he identified himself with that organization. He married Eleanor Campbell, who bore him five sons and four daughters, of whom four sons and two daughters are living.

William C. Gallagher attended the common schools of his boyhood days and afterward be- came a practical distiller. During the fourteen years he followed this work he was nearly all the time in the employ of Thomas Moore at what is now known as Guffey's station. After he quit the distilling business and while he lived at Shaner he began working at the carpenter trade, at which he continued until 1884 ; he also carried on the undertaking business at Shaner. In 1884 he removed to West Newton where he has ever since been engaged exclusively in un- dertaking, and has been favored with a large business in the town and surrounding country. Mr. Gallagher is a republican in political prin- ple and has served five years (1880-1885) as justice of the peace in Sewickley township. Both he and his wife are members of the M. E. church in which he is a trustee and class leader. For twelve years he has been connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and is now a member of the Victor Lodge, No. 95.

William C. Gallagher was married December 9, 1858, to Christiana L., a daughter of John Steck (deceased), of near Greensburg, and they have five children : Sarah Ellen, wife of Charles Fellabaum, of Shaner, this county ; Alice Re- becca, Ida Jane, John L. and Eleanor C.

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B ALTHAS GETCHEY, an enterprising drilling a salt well and succeeded in finding some salt water and also struck a quantity of gas which they utilized for a number of years in boiling the salt water. Mr. Getchey was thus the first man to use natural gas in this part of the country for manufacturing purposes ; and he believes that this gas came from the same belt that has since been supplying gas in such vast quantities. Mr. Getchey has acquired a fair competency in life and deserves the success he has achieved by industry, honesty and sobriety. Politically he is a democrat and has served his borough as councilman and school resident of West Newton, was born Feb- ruary 10, 1821, in Durwangen, Kingdom of Wurtemburg, Germany, and is a son of Balthas and Elizabeth (Hauser) Getchey. His father was born in Wurtemburg in 1773, was first married to a Murtz, and to them was born one child. Mary, who is now dead. After the death of his first wife he married a second time and to them were born two children, Joanna and Jacob F., both of whom have since died. Jacob F., came to America in 1837, settled in South Hunting- don township, this county, and engaged in farm- 1 ing. He was married in 1845 to Mary Yont, this , director. IIe is a member of the Lutheran county. Ilis widow still lives in the southern church, is treasurer of the board of trustees, with West Newton Lodge, No. 440, I. O. of O. F., and never received one cent for relief ; has been its treasurer since 1876 and is a member of the Encampment branch of same order and its treasurer since instituted at West Newton. part of the county near West Newton. Balthas . and for thirty-seven years has been identified Getchey, father of the subject, was married at third time to Elizabeth Hauser, and to them were born one child, Balthas Getchey. After the death of his third wife he was married a fourth time to Catharine Speidtel. He only enjoyed this fourth marriage but a short time. He died in 1837.

Balthas Getchey (subject) was reared and educated in Germany, where he learned the trade of cabinet-making in Wurtemberg, and at the age of nineteen went to Switzerland and worked at his trade there until he was twenty- one, when he was compelled to return home to arrange for German militia. Ile was drafted, paid four hundred guilders, or about one hun- dred and sixty dollars for a substitute, after which he returned to Switzerland and remained until 1844, when he started with companions down the Rhine to Rotterdam, thence to Havre, France, where they took a vessel for America. After being on the ocean for forty-two days he was landed at New York. He soon worked his way to Westmoreland county, and after working at his trade at various points settled at West Newton in 1849 and commenced to carry on the cabinet-making and furniture business, where he has ever since remained in the same business. In 1845 he, with his brother, Jacob F., began

Balthas Getchey (subject) was married in 1849 to Anna Barbara Keck of South Hunting- don township, and to their union have been born five children, two of whom have died (Frank Lucas and Anna M.). Jacob F. is a carpenter now working at the West Newton planing-mills, where he has been ever since they were built ; was married March 3, 1879, to Jennie Frew. Like his father he is a stanch democrat. Eliza- beth Catharine was married November 28, 1877, to Edmund P. Campbell and resides in West Newton, Pa. Lucy E. was married March 27, 1884, to George L. Croushore and resides in the same place.

OLGMON GOODMAN, a man of good business ability and a successful dry-goods merchant of West Newton, is a son of Lazar Goodman and was born in Russia in 1861. Ile emigrated with his father in 1874 from Rus- sia to the United States and located in Pittsburg, Pa. He remained in the " Iron City " for four

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years and then returned to the " Dominions of the Czar." After a second residence in Russia of four years he again crossed the Atlantic and came back to Pittsburg, where he was engaged in business until 1887. In that year he re- moved to West Newton and opened his present dry-goods and clothing establishment. Hle car- ries a full line of everything usually found in a dry-goods store and is constantly increasing his stock to accommodate his numerous customers.

On May 31, 1887, Mr. Goodman united in marriage with Tillie Miller, a daughter of Max Miller, who is a well established merchant of Pittsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Goodman have one child, a son, who is named Abie.

In political opinion Mr. Goodman is a repub- lican. Ile is a member of the Hebrew church.

D ANIEL E. HAMILTON, a descendant of two old and substantial families of the county, and one of the proprietors of the West Newton carriage factory, is a son of Robert and Eliza (Greenawalt) Hamilton, and was born near Millsboro, in Sewickley township, West- moreland county, Pa., June 7, 1861. (For paternal ancestry see sketch of A. C. Hamilton.) Robert Hamilton was born in Sewickley town- ship, this county, March 7, 1815. His life- work was farming, and in 1863 he removed to Clinton county, Iowa, where he died August 13, 1869. On March 4, 1847, he married Eliza Greenawalt, who was born April 9, 1826, and died July 27, 1867. They had seven children : Emily J., wife of Samuel Baer, farmer of Clinton county, Iowa; Samuel C. married Lizzie Brooks and is farming in Clinton county, lowa ; Caleb F., farmer of Sewickley township; Joseph F. and Daniel, of West Newton ; Mary F. and George E., who died in infancy.

llis maternal grandfather, Daniel Greenawalt, was a grandson of Jacob and Martha (Brenne- man) Greenawalt, who were natives of Lancaster

county, Pa., and settled in an early day in Sewickley township, where they reared a family of nine children. Daniel Greenawalt was born September 3, 1796. He was an earnest mem- ber of Salem Baptist church, founded in 1792 and eight miles distant from his home. His wife was Emily Squibb, who was born near Con- nellsville, Pa., September 4, 1798, and was a daughter of Caleb and Ann Squibb. Daniel Greenawalt settled on one hundred and ninety-six acres of land at Browns Ferry, on the Youghi- oghney river, where he died March 9, 1838, and his widow survived him until April 26, 1868. They had five children : Martha, widow of Col. J. B. Copeland, who died in Andrain county, Mo .; Angelina, widow of Dr. O. HI. McAlister, of McAlistersville, Pa .; Capt. Caleb and George E., who died in infancy. Capt. Caleb Greenawalt married Mary M. Bell December 7, 1864, and was run over and killed by a train of cars on December 20, 1883, in front of his own home. ITis death cast a gloom over the whole neighborhood. IIe enlisted on July 6, 1861, as second lieutenant of Co. F, twenty- eighth regt. Pa. Vols., and was promoted to a captaincy. He served under Gen. Tyndale at Harper's Ferry both as an officer and spy, was with Gen. Banks, and then was trans- ferred to Gen. Sherman's army, fought at Atlanta and led his company in the "march to the sea."

Daniel Hamilton received his education in the Western Pennsylvania Classical and Scien- tific Institute of Mt. Pleasant. He went with his parents to Iowa and after their death re- turned to Westmoreland county, where he made his home with his uncle, Capt. Caleb Greenawalt. He was engaged from 1883 to 1889 in farming and dairying on the " Brown's ferry farm " at Buena Vista, where he now owns one-half inter- est in two hundred and seventy-eight acres of land. In September, 1889, he purchased a half interest in the carriage factory and machine shops of J. F. Hamilton at West Newton, and

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is now actively engaged in carrying on the ex- tensive business of these carriage works. Daniel E. Hamilton is a working member of the Mars Will Baptist church, a warm friend of the com- mon schools and an activo republican, who has served as school director and held various other local offices. He has always been diligent in the pursuit of his business and is ever ready to support any movement or enterprise calculated to benefit the community in which he lives.

AMES HAMILTON, who is a resident of West Newton, was for many years a success- ful woolen manufacturer of southwestern Pennsylvania. IIe is a son of James, Sr. and Catharine (Clark) Hamilton and was born near Cannonsburg, Washington county, Pa., December 2, 1804. James Hamilton, paternal grandfother, was a native of Ireland, lle im- migrated to America and settled near Cannons- burg, Washington county, l'a., where he died on his farm in 1806. John Clark, maternal grand- father, was a native of New Jersey who emi- grated to Pennsylvania and settled in Washing- ton county, this State, where he died in the year 1806. He was a farmer by occupation, served in the Revolutionary war and was engaged in the battle of Monmouth. James Hamilton. Sr. (father) was born in county Down, Ireland, and came to this country with his father when quite a young man. Hle settled in Washington county, where he resided till his death in 1820. Ile married Catherine Clark and reared a family of four sons and four daughters, of whom the only one now living is the subject of this sketch.

James Hamilton attended the schools of his native county and after attaining his majority embarked in the manufacture of woolen goods. In 1829 he came to Rostraver township, this county, where he was engaged for eighteen years in manufacturing woolen goods. In the spring · of 1847 he removed to West Newton, became collector for the Youghiogheny Navigation com-

pany and collected the principal part of the money with which that company built the locks and dams of the Youghiogheny river from West Newton to Pittsburg. Ho was then mude agent by the same corporation and was stationed at West Newton for three years ; was appointed postmaster under Prest. Lincoln in 1861 and served till 1869. Since then Mr. Hamilton has lived a retired life.

In 1838 he united in marriage with Jane, daughter of John Patterson. To their union was born one child, James P. Hamilton. He married Jennie A. Luker, of Allegheny City, and was a prominent merchant of West Newton from 1860 until his death, February 21, 1885. Ile had two children : Bert L., born October 5, 1867, and died December 14, 1883, a very promising young man ; Alfonso F., born Feb- ruary 4, 1873, and is now living with his wid- dowed mother with the subject of this sketch.

James Hamilton is a republican and before that party came into existance he was a whig. IIe has served as burgess and councilman of West Newton and has held all the other offices of his borough. Mr. Hamilton has been a trus- tee for thirty-five years and is now president of the board of managers of the West Newton Cemetery Association. He is a prominent, in- fluential and useful member of the Presbyterian church and one of the most highly respected citizens of the borough.

F OSEPH FRAZIER HAMILTON, a young and enterprising business man of West Newton, was born at Buena Vista, on the Youghiogheny river, Westmoreland county, Pa., September 15, 1857, and is a son of Robert and Ann Eliza (Greenawalt) Hamilton. His great-grandfather, Robert Ilamilton, was one of six brothers who emigrated from Ireland to America about the close of the Revolutionary war. Robert Hamilton was a weaver and set- tled in 1782 in what is now Sewickley township.

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Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Part 35

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