USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania > Part 4
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From Smull's Legislative Hand Book we compile the folowing names of members : 1860, J. W. Coulter and J. R. McGonigle ; 1861, James Taylor and J. R. McGonigle; 1862-63, Richard Graham and S. Wakefield; 1864, John W. Riddle and John Hargnett ; 1865-66, J. R. McAfee and James McElroy ; 1867-68, T. F. Gallagher ; 1869, A. C. Hamilton and James A. Hunter; 1870, J. F. Kreps and A. M. Fulton; 1871, A. M. Fulton and H. B. Piper ; 1872-73, A. Greenawalt and John Latta; 1874, James L. Toner ; 1875, Thompson McLean and H. B. Piper; 1877-78, W. J. K. Kline, William Donnelly and John Hugus; 1879-80, E. C. Leighty, J. S. Warden and A. M. Marker; 1881-82, R. S. Robinson, James S. Marshall and HI. C. Akerman ; 1883-84, Joseph Smith, J. A. Bennett and J. J. Bierer ; 1885-86, T. J. Williams, Mingo M. Dick and Robert Dudley ; 1887-88, James S. Beacom and Edward Calla- ghan ; 1888-89, George P. Blackburn, A. H. Mechesney and John G. Foight. Surprising as it may seem, Smull's Hand Book makes many glaring mistakes, and some of the above names and dates may be wrong.
We do not give lists of judges, sheriffs, etc., as they are to be found in Dallas' IIistory of Westmoreland county. At the present time Westmoreland county is in the Twenty-first Congressional District of Pennsylvania, and constitutes the Tenth Judicial and the Thirty- ninth Senatorial District. The county has ninety-four polling precincts and cast 19,676 votes în 1888.
The Press, as an institution, when it falls into the hands of men competent to make it discharge its duty fully and properly, is a most important factor in the advancement of any county. The pioneer of the Westmoreland county press was the Farmer's Register, which was established at Greensburg, in 1798, by a man by the name of McCorkle, and edited by John M. Snowden. It was democratic. The first federalist paper was the Greensburg Gazette, established in
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF
1818. From the first named paper the West- .moreland Democrat (see sketch of B. F. Vogel) traces its history, and from the other the Tribune and Herald traces the history of its press.
The Pennsylvania Argus was established in 1831 (see sketch of James M. Laird).
Frank Cowan's Paper ran from May 22, 1872 to 1875.
The Greensburg Press, a weekly Republican paper, and the Evening Press, a daily Indepen- dent paper, were established respectively May 18, and June 16, 1881. This consolidation is under the editorial management of James B. Laux. The Greensburg Daily and Weekly Record was established in 1886, by Darwin Mu- sick and D. P. Stahl (see their sketches). In 1888 the Greensburg Independent was founded by L. F. Armbrust (see his sketch).
The first paper at Mount Pleasant was the Democratic Courier, which was started in 1843, and the present paper at that place is the Journal.
The Latrobe Inquirer was issued in 1861, was succeeded by the Latrobe Advance, which was started August 6, 1873, and is now edited by C. B. Fink. Another paper is the Home News.
The Irwin Spray was founded August 20, 1875. Its successor was the Irwin Chronicle, which was issued in 1881. The present paper is the Irwin Standard.
The first newspaper of West Newton was The Weekly Cycle, which was published in 1855. The next paper was the West Newton Press. Its present paper is the Youghiogheny Times.
The newspapers of Scottdale are the Labor Tribune, established December 22, 1880 (see sketch of Hon. J. R. Byrne), and the Inde- pendent, founded September 10, 1888, by W. L. Kelley.
The News is the name of a sheet published at New Florence. The present press of the 6-county comprise three dailies and fourteen weeklies.
Churches .- Among the oldest religious de-
nominations in Western Pennsylvania is the Presbyterian. The oldest Presbyterian church organization in Westmoreland county is the Mt. Pleasant church, which was organized in 1775, and the first Presbyterian Sunday school was organized in 1817, at Greensburg. On April 1, 1889, the Presbyterian church membership in the county was five thousand two hundred and ten, and four thousand scholars were enrolled in their Sunday schools.
Reformed Church .- The first church was Harrold congregation, organized in Revolu- tionary days. In 1881 there were twenty-five congregations with a membership of three thou- sand and thirty-six.
Evangelical Lutheran Church .- Their first organization was Zion's church at Harrolds, about 1772. In 1881 there . were twenty-six congregations and three thousand eight hundred communicants.
United Presbyterian Church .- Their first church was organized between 1775 and 1793. In 1881 they had twenty-five congregations and over two thousand communicants.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- The first Methodist preaching was at "Falls Settle- ment " in Rostraver township in 1785. Among the early ministers were : Revs. Isaac Conway, Valentine Cook and John Casper Wirsing, the latter a highly educated and famous local preacher. In 1881 there were sixteen stations and circuits within the county.
United Brethren Church was established prior to 1800, and eighty-one years later numbered seventeen churches with a membership of one thousand two hundred and ninety-five.
Mennonite Church has declined in numbers since its early introduction, and its membership is in East Huntingdon township.
Baptist Church .- Salem Baptist church was the fourth church of that faith organized in Western Pennsylvania, and its first meeting house was built in 1792. In 1881 there were seven strong churches in the county.
1
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Catholic Church .- Catholicity was founded at an early day in Western Pennsylvania, and in 1787 five German Catholic families settled near Greensburg. In 1881 there were ten parishes in Westmoreland county with a membership of three thousand eight hundred and two.
Protestant Episcopal Church was founded at Greensburg in 1818, and at Latrobe in 1852.
The Church of God, at Centre Bethel, Stonerville, this county, was organized in November, 1839, by Elder John Hickernell.
· Disciple Church was organized at Greensburg in 1489, and is under the pastoral care of Rev. A. M. Harvuot.
The A. M. E. Church was organized at Greensburg about 1873.
Schools -The old subscription schools of the county were as good as any of their class in the State, but to provide for a higher education than they afforded select schools and academies were founded at an early date. In these acade- mies many men of natural ability and fine scholarship taught languages and the higher branches. Greensburg Academy was built in 1810, and Westmoreland College was founded in 1849, and in 1871 was incor- porated as The Western Pennsylvania Classical and Scientific Institute. When the common school system was first introduced into the county it met with considerable opposition, but it soon became popular. The creation of the county superintendency was bitterly denounced by many, but all now realize its importance. We give below the names of those who have been elected to that office in Westmoreland county.
County Superintendents. 1854-1890.
1854. Rev. Matthew McKinstry, West New- ton.
1855. James I. McCormick, North Hunting- don township.
1857. J. R. McAfee, Latrobe.
1860. S. S. Jack, Pleasant Unity. 3 .
1863. S. S. Jack, Pleasant Unity.
1866. Joseph S. Walthour, Greensburg.
1869. Henry M. Jones, Salem township.
1872. Henry M. Jones, Salem township.
1875. James Silliman, East Huntingdon township.
1878. Jacob R. Spiegel, Greensburg.
1881. Jacob R. Spiegel, Greensburg.
1884. George H. Hugus, Salem township.
1887. George II. Ilugus, Salem township.
The first teachers' institute was the " West- moreland county Teachers' Association," which met on December 24, 1852, at New Alexandria. The " Westmoreland County Teachers' Insti- tute" has met annually since 1859. Of the number of common schools in the county since 1854 we have the following :
1866, 286; 1869, 312; 1871, 321; 1873, 329; 1875, 342; 1881, 398, and in 1888, 464; taught by 265 male and 205 female teach- ers. The schools of Westmoreland are in a flourishing condition. Greensburg, Latrobe, Irwin, West Newton, Mount Pleasant, Scott- dale, and Ligonier have fine graded schools and excellent courses of study.
From the subscription and common schools and academic institutions of Westmoreland county have gone forth many distinguished ministers, jurists, politicians, soldiers, and emi- nently successful business men.
Banks .- There is but little account pre- served of the early financial history of the county. The earliest bank of which we find any trace is the " Bank of Westmoreland " at Greensburg. It occupied the site of the present Barclay Bank and did business as early as 1816. The present banks of Greensburg are the Barclay Bank, founded in 1854 by Thomas Barclay ; the Greensburg Banking Company, which was organized in 1874 by Col. George F. Huff and several others ; the First National Bank, organized in 1881, and the Merchants' and Farmers' National Bank, which was also organized in 1881. The First National Bank
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF
of Mount Pleasant was founded in 1864, and the Mount Pleasant Bank was organized in 1878 by W. J. Hitchman and others. The Farmers' and Miners' Deposit Bank of Irwin came into existence in 1877. The Citizens' Banking Company of Latrobe began business in 1873, and the Banking House of W. S. Head & Son was organized at the same place in 1873. The Derry Deposit Bank was opened by Amos O. Caven. The Banking House of M. M. Dick was established in 1867, and the bank of Jeannette was founded in 1888. Banks are indispensable to business men and essential to the progress and prosperity of any town or
county. The fourteen flourishing banks of Westmoreland county furnish ample facilities for the transaction of the immense business of the county.
Census Statistics .- The total population of Westmoreland county at each United States census is as follows :
1790, 16,018; 1800, 22,726; 1810, 26,- 392; 1820, 30,540; 1830, 38,500; 1840, 42,699; 1850, 51,726 ; 1860, 53,304; 1870, 58,699; 1880, 78,036.
The population is now estimated between 125,000 and 150,000 people.
Samuel T. Wiley.
1
1909957
Biographies
Westmoreland County
Greensburg
1258118
ON. WELTY MCCULLOUGH, a man of great natural ability, of superior legal attainments, of earnest convictions, of rare independence, and who deservedly won and modestly wore the high honors of political life was the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. Welty Mccullough, with rare ability, well rep- resented the Twenty-first Congressional District from 1887 to 1889, and upon him was bestowed the compliment of being the handsomest man in the Fiftieth Congress.
Welty Mccullough was the eldest son of John and Eliza (Welty) Mccullough, and was born at Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pa., October 10, 1847.
The Mcculloughs and Weltys were two of the oldest, wealthiest and most highly respected families of Greensburg. The Mccullough fam- ily was planted in Eastern Pennsylvania prior to the war of the Revolution by John McCul- lough, who was of Scotch-Irish descent and emigrated from the north of Ireland. He had three sons : William, James and John. The eldest son, William McCullough (grandfather),
was born February, 1774, and died November, 1824. He was a resident of Cumberland county, this State, where he married Sarah McBride, who was born October 9, 1782, and died April 4, 1834. They reared a family of nine children. His second child was John McCullough (father), who was born October 12, 1803, near Neville, that county, and died at Greensburg, February 18, 1884. Ile removed in early life to Pitts- burg, where he remained but a short time. Ile then came to Greensburg, and, on May 13, 1845, married Eliza Welty, who died December 18, 1882. They had six children, of whom three are living. Eliza (Welty) Mccullough was the eldest daughter of Jacob Welty, a prosperous merchant, who was born September 16th, 1791, and whose wife was Jane Brady, a daughter of James Brady, first sheriff of Westmoreland county, and one of the old and honored pioneer settlers of Western Pennsylvania.
Welty Mccullough received his elementary education in the public schools of Greensburg, was prepared for college at Elder's ridge and Cannonsburg acadamies, entered Washington
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BIOGRAPHIES OF
and Jefferson college, where he remained from . 1866 to 1869, and then went to Princeton col- lege, from which far-famed and time-honored institution he was graduated in June, 1870. At college he was a diligent student, made rapid progress in his studies and won the esteem of his professors and fellow-students by his man- liness, generosity and kindness of disposition.
He read law with Judge James A. Logan and W. H. H. Markle, of Greensburg, was admitted to the Westmoreland county bar in May, 1872, and shortly afterwards to the bar of Allegheny county, Pa. After admission he rapidly built up an extensive practice, and the thorough knowledge of law which he possessed, and the consummate skill which he displayed in con- ducting important cases soon placed him in the front rank of the distinguished lawyers of Western Pennsylvania. He was in partnership with W. H. H. Markle at Greensburg from 1872 to 1883, and in 1889 he admitted John B. Steel into partnership with him, which lasted until his death. Ile had a large practice in Pittsburg, acted as solicitor for the Baltimore and Ohio railroad company, held a directorship in several other railroads, and was retained counsel for nearly all of the large coal, coke, and manufacturing companies of Westmoreland county.
His political career was short but highly honorable. In 1886 ho was elected to Congress from the Twenty-first district, then composed of the counties of Westmoreland, Fayette and Green. He had the honor of being the only republican who ever carried that strongly dem- ocratie district, and served in the Fiftieth Con- gress with satisfaction to his constituents of all parties, and with honor and credit to him- self. At the expiration of his term in Congress he returned to Greensburg and resumed his law practice.
On the 13th of June, 1872, he united in marriage with Ada B. Markle, of Greensburg. They were the parents of two children : Ilarry
Markle, now preparing for college at Media, Pa., and Eliza, who is three years of age. Mrs. Mccullough is a daughter of W. II. H. Markle, who was born near Millgrove, this county, Feb- ruary 3, 1823, and died from paralysis at the Girard Hotel, Philadelphia, December 18, 1883. He came of distinguished ancestry, of a sturdy stock that has made its mark in the county and State. (See sketch of the Markles.) He was. a son of Jacob and Catharine (Painter) Markle, and was married to Elizabeth Covode Goodwin, and when he died left one child, Ada B. (Mar- kle) Mccullough. He read law with Senator Cowan, was admitted to the bar in 1847, and was successively a law partner of Judge Clark, Judge Logan and Hon. Welty McCullough. He served as district attorney and collector of internal revenue, and was a man of integrity, geniality and kindness.
Welty Mccullough had won his way into public confidence by his honorable and useful labors in Congress, but in the very prime of life, with the certainty of a distinguished political career before him, he was stricken down by the hand of death. On the morning of the thirty- first day of August, 1889, in his forty-third year, between midnight and day-dawn, standing on the margin of the river, he wrapped his man- tle about him and
" With the silent boatman Crossed to the other shore."
His remains were entombed in the St. Clair cemetery, and from the eloquent and impressive funeral discourse pronounced on that sad occasion by the Rev. Morehead we extract : " Welty McCullough was endowed by his Crea- tor with a strong physique, a handsome face, and talents of a high order. Few indeed have been more highly favored. He would not feign a friendship he did not feel, nor climb to place and power on the shoulders of people whom he de- spised. He was honest in his expression of opin- ion and had been more popular had he been less sincere. The circle of his friends was not very
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
wide, but those who were in it were most devoted. A sun has set at noon-day. One whose infancy and youth were crowned with as strong and tender a mother-love as ever fell upon a human heart-whose manhood was blessed with the love it sought and all that do- mestic happiness which grew out of it, and one whom the world was pleased to honor now lies all unconscious. Into this Gethsemane, where whitened lips drink grief's bitter cup, may the love of Christ come to help them say ' Thy will be done.'"
The bar of Allegheny county passed highly eulogistic resolutions of the worth and merit of Welty Mccullough, and the Westmoreland county bar recorded its tribute to his memory in warm and glowing terms of admiration and respect. The press of this county spoke in appropriate terms of his honorable and success- ful career. The great Commonwealth of Penn- sylvania has never been lacking in eloquent orators to speak at the bar, in the pulpit and through the press, of the virtues and services of her prominent and distinguished sons, and this duty was willingly rendered and well per- formed for Welty Mccullough, who in high official place worthily maintained the ancient renown and the lofty faith of Pennsylvania.
ON. HIENRY S. ACKERMAN, ex-mem- ber of the Pennsylvania House of Repre- resentatives, a leading music dealer of Greensburg and a popular citizen of this county, was born in Unity township, Westmoreland county, Pa., April 9, 1845, and is a son of Henry and Catherine (Smith) Ackerman. His paternal grandfather, Philip Ackerman, came from Germany to Westmoreland county, where he married Christina Reed and settled in Unity township, on the farm now owned by his grand- son, Philip Ackerman. His father, Henry Ackerman, was born on his father's farm, Feb- ruary 2, 1801. Ilis occupation was farming,
in which he met with good success. He was a life-long democrat, cast his first presidential ballot for General Jackson, never desired office, but served once as school director. He was a constant member of and frequently served as a local officer in the Lutheran church at Youngs- town. He owned a good farm, enjoyed the respect of his neighbors, and lived to the ad- vanced age of eighty-four years. His death occurred April 5, 1885. In 1828 he married Catherine, a daughter of Joseph Smith, of Derry township. They were blessed with nine children, all of whom are living in Westmore- land county, except one daughter, who resides in Kansas.
Henry S. Ackerman attended the common schools of Unity township. Ile left the farm and agricultural pursuits and learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed for nine years. In 1879 he opened a music store opposite the Zimmerman House, at Greensburg, this county, and has built up a large trade in Westmoreland, Fayette and Indiana counties. He has four men constantly in the field canvassing for his excellent pianos, fine organs and other first-class musical instruments. Mr. Ackerman also hand- les the White sewing machine.
He was married on January 15, 1880, to Mollie C. Weaver, who is a daughter of William Weaver, of Mt. Pleasant township, this county. They have no children.
Henry S. Ackerman has always been an active democrat, and is recognized as an energetic and efficient worker for his party and its success. In 1880 he was nominated by the democrats of Westmoreland county as a candidate for the Legislature and was elected. His course of ac- tion while serving in the Legislature was straight- forward and highly honorable. He neither neglected the interests of his constituents nor was unmindful of the needs of the State. IIe introduced some measures of a political character which was promptly voted down by the repub- lican majority. Mr. Ackerman is a member of
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BIOGRAPHIES OF
the Lutheran church. He is genial, accom- . modating and popular. Ilis remarkable energy is a large and prominent factor of his signal success in business.
E. ALLSHOUSE, an attorney-at-law, is a great-grandson of Henry Allshouse, who was a native of the province of Alsace- Loraine, a much disputed territory lying be- tween France and Germany, and by right of conquest and treaty at various times it was an- nexed to both, but at that era was under the dominion of France, although the language and customs were those of the Germans. IIe came to America and settled in New Jersey prior to the Revolutionary war, in which heroic struggle for liberty and independence he served as a soldier throughout almost the entire contest ; having been carried to England a prisoner, he effected his escape and returned to witness the success of the Colonists, and to see their efforts crowned with victory and independence in the cause of right. He then came to Pennsylvania, settled in this county, and purchased a large tract of land just north of the present town of Jeannette. Here he resided and became prominent in the county and a conspicuous figure in politics, being elected to the State Legislature, term after term, for upwards of twenty years. He was twice married, his first wife's name being Truxel, from whom sprang several children, one of whom was Isaac Allshouse (grandfather). After a life well spent he died at the age of eighty- eight years. Isaac Allshouse followed the vo- cations of tailoring and teaching school. His wife was Margaret Miniam, a lady of French ex- traction, beautiful and refined, and much es- teemed in her neighborhood. To this union were born four sons and five daughters. Isaac Allshouse died at the age of sixty-eight years, but his wife lived to the ripe old age of ninety years. Henry Allshouse (father) was born in Hempfield township, October 29, 1816. Ar-
riving at his majority, he pursued the occupation of a farmer till 1879, when he engaged in the mercantile business at Ludwick. In religion he was a Lutheran and a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran church of Greensburg, and in politics an ardent adherent to the prin- ciples of the Republican party. Ilis wife was Elizabeth Kunkle, daughter of John Kunkle, a highly respected farmer of Hempfield township and one of the earliest settlers in the county. Her mother was Sarah Williams, whose parents were likewise pioneers of the county. To this union were born twelve children; Lovina, wife of J. J. Croushore ; William, who for many years was an oil operator is now engaged in the mer- cantile business ; Sarah, wife of George W. Croushore, a successful tanner of Grapeville station ; John, husband of Elizabeth MeCutch- con, of Franklin, Pa., and engaged in the oil business ; Mary, wife of D. S. Keefer; Eliza- beth, wife of George Hantz; Catharine, wife of John D. Stahl; Charles E., student-at-law ; Elmer E., attorney, and Harriet S., wife of Joseph H. Weaver.
E. E. Allshouse was educated in the common schools and Greensburg seminary, taught school for two years, after which he began the study of law in the office of McAfee, Atkinson and Peoples, was admitted to the bar December, 1887, and since then has been engaged in the practice of his profession.
S AMUEL ALLWINE was born on his father's farm in Salem township, West- moreland county, Pa., February 27, 1820, and is a son of Jacob and Catharine (Smith) Allwine. His paternal grandfather was born near Lebanon, Pa., where he followed the occupation of farming all his life. Jacob All- wine (father) was born in Lebanon county, Pa., in 1771, and came to Westmoreland county in early days, when Hannastown was yet the county-seat. Ile followed agricultural pursuits
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
and distilled some in winter. He believed in the principles of the Democratic party and was a faithful and devoted member of the Catholic church. Hle married Catharine Smith, by whom he had seven children. After her death he married a Miss Stevenson in 1835, but to this union no children were born. Jacob Allwine departed this life at the age of eighty-three years in 1854.
Samuel Allwine, after leaving the subscrip- tion schools of his youthful days, learned the blacksmith trade in Greensburg, at which he worked for thirty-five years, at the same time carrying on wagon making. He then engaged in the the livery business, and contracted on the S. W. P. R. R., for some four years. He pur- chased the hotel now known as the Zimmerman Hlouse, which he enlarged and improved, until it is now one of the best hotels in the county. Owing to industry and business ability Mr. Allwine has succeeded in amassing considerable wealth. He is a stanch democrat, and has served twelve years as burgess of the borough of Greensburg. He is a devout and useful member of the Catholic church and is one of the substantial citizens of the county.
Samuel Allwine was married June 22, 1843, to Elizabeth, a daughter of Samuel Allshouse, and they have had six children, of whom three are living: Samuel, a baker of Greensburg; Henry, living at home ; and Cordelia, who mar- ried B. B. Zimmerman, for many years pro- prietor of the Zimmerman House.
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