USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania > Part 41
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97
332
BIOGRAPHIES OF
in the State of Pennsylvania, and traces its lineage back for two hundred and fifty years through many preceding generations to the his- torie highlands of Scotland ere that kingdom became a part of Great Britain.
Dr. Hartman is a member of the Independent Order of Heptasophs, Loyalhanna Lodge, F. A. M., No. 275. and the Presbyterian church. In dental surgery he has made a specialty of fine gold work, such as gold crowns and delicate platings. Earnest and enthusiastic, he has always been a close student in his chosen pro- fession and has thoroughly studied its every detail. He is a good dental surgeon, a pleasant and affable gentleman. Hle is engaged in several business enterprises but does not allow any commercial matter to interfere with the duties of his profession or strictest attention to his many patrons.
EWIS A. HOKE, one among the oldest business men of Latrobe and its leading grocer, is a son of Henry and Sarah E. (Eyster) Hoke, and was born in McConnellsburg, Fulton county, Pa., March 22, 1838. Ilis father, Henry Hoke, was engaged for many years in the stove and tin business at MeCon- nellsburg, where he died in 1878, at eighty-four years of age. He was a prominent and success- ful merchant, a respected citizen and an elder in the Presbyterian church for over half a century. His wife was a presbyterian and passed away in 1842, aged forty-five years.
Lewis A. Hoke left MeConnellsburg when quite a boy and entered a store in Chambers- burg, where he remained until he was eighteen years of age. He then left Chambersburg and went west, where he engaged as a traveling salesman and collector with the wholesale clothing house of Roberts, Bradford & Co., locating at No. 81 North Main street, St. Louis, Missouri. He remained in their employ for several years and traveled over a wide area of
western territory in making sales and collections. In 1862 he returned to his native town where he formed a copartnership with D. B. Nace, under the firm name of Hoke & Nace, and engaged for two years in the general mercantile business. In 1864 Mr. Hoke sold out his interest to Mr. Nace and removed to Latrobe, where he, in con- nection with William Hoke, purchased the ex- tensive dry goods establishment of William S. Head & Bro., and was successfully engaged in the dry goods business for 15 years, at which time he concluded to devote his time and atten- tion to some special branch of the general mer- cantile business and selected that of grocery, provisions and house furnishing goods. He embarked in this line of business on a large scale and has been amply rewarded by a large and permanent custom in his section of the county. His business house is located at No. 214 Depot street and is next door to the post- office. It is commodious and well arranged to hold and display his large and excellent stock of goods, consisting of staple and fancy groceries, provisions and house furnishing goods of all kinds. Mr. Hoke is a member of Loyalhanna Lodge, No. 275, A. Y. M., the Royal Arcanum, Knights of Honor and Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is republican and member of the Presbyterian church.
On October 20, 1864, he was married to Laura M. Hloke, daughter of William Hoke, formerly of McConnellsburg but now living in Latrobe. They have three children living : George B., who is bookkeeper in his father's store, William II., who is assistant bookkeeper at the Derry coal works, and Emily M., married to Joseph Kelley, of Latrobe. Mary R. Iloke, another child, died April 16, 1873, aged five years, nine months and eight days.
In the grocery business Mr. Hoke is enabled to offer special advantages to his patrons and to fill all orders promptly and satisfactorily. His house is widely known and his reputation for honorable dealing is well established. He stands
333
WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
well as a citizen and is highly esteemed in the . J. MeGaughlin, of Pleasant Unity, and con- Presbyterian church of which he is an active | member, and of whose Sunday school he has been superintendent for over nineteen years.
RWIN N. HORRELL is the oldest son of John and Nancy Horrell and was born in Fairfield township, Westmoreland county, - Pa. His father, John Horrell, was a native of Pennsylvania ; for nearly forty years he lived in Ligonier working at the tannery business. He was a republican in politics and member of the M. E. church. In 1833 he married Mrs. Nancy Mckinstry, of Ligonier, whose maiden name was Nancy Potter, who was a native of Mary- land and who still lives in Ligonier at the ad- vanced age of eighty-nine, hale and well preserved. The father died in 1874 aged seventy-six.
Irwin N. Horrell was reared principally at Ligonier where he attended the common schools. He served an apprenticeship of three years learning the boot and shoe trade with William Ashcom. At the close of his apprenticeship ' he married Miss Sarah Ritter, of Ligonier and worked at his trade in that place until the war broke out, when he enlisted for nine months in Co. G, one-hundred and thirty-fifth Penna. Vols. and participated in all the engagements in which his regiment took part. After being dis- charged at the expiration of his time he went to Pittsburg and was engaged for some time in making cartridges for the United States govern- ment. In 1864 he again enlisted, this time in the United States Signal Corps, and was on FOIN W. HUGHES, M. D. A gentle- man of high repute in his profession and a leading physician and surgeon of Latrobe as well as a man greatly esteemed in the various walks of life is Dr. John W. Hughes. He is the fourth child of Samuel B. and Mary ( Wilson) Hughes and was born near Corsica, Jefferson active duty until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged at Washington and returned home. During his last term of service his wife and babe died (two of his children had died before), leaving him but one surviving child-a daughter. He with his 1 child remained in Ligonier working at his ; county, Pa., in March, 1838. The Hughes trade. In 1865 he was married to Miss M. , are of Scotch-Irish descent and were among the
tinued working at the shoe trade in Ligonier until 1876, when he removed to Latrobe and become foreman of Whiteman & Denman's boot and shoe factory where he remained for seven years. In 1884 Mr. Horrell and Mr. II. P. Hartley formed a co-partnership under the firm name of Horrell & Hartley and em- barked in the retail boot and shoe business. In 1885 Mr. A. Shumaker and Mr. M. B. Collins were admitted into the firm which was then reorganized and became the celebrated " Latrobe Manufacturing Company." Before the close of the year Mr. Collins withdrew from the firm; in 1886 a further division of the firm took place, Mr. Hartley taking charge of the retail, Mr. Shumaker the whole- sale business and Mr. Horrell taking entire charge of the manufactory. From 1886 until the present time Mr. Horrell has continued to manufacture hand-made boots and shoes suc- cessfully ; he ships his goods over a wide area of territory besides furnishing the home trade. I. N. Horrell is a member of Loyalhanna Lodge, No. 950, Knights of Honor, and of P. A. William Post, No. 4, G. A. R. ; is a repub- liean in politics and a member of the M. E. church. Mr. Horrell is a pleasant and ac- comodating gentleman and stands at the head of a worthy and successful industry of Latrobe, that is well known throughout a wide section of country by its popular brand of " Latrobe Manufacturing Company's hand-made boots and shoes."
334
BIOGRAPHIES OF
early settlers west of the Allegheny mountains. William Hughes (grandfather) was a farmer and in early life married a Miss Barnett. She was a member of the Barnett family who lived near the site of New Derry, Westmoreland county, and were noted presbyterians. Samuel B. Hughes (father) was born near Latrobe and died in 1874, aged sixty-five years. He was engaged in merchandising and lumbering at Punxsu- tawney and Brookville, Pa. He was a repub- lican and a member of the Cumberland Presby- terian church. About 1828 he was married to Mary Wilson, by whom he had five children.
Dr. John W. Hughes received his education in the common schools and Glade Run academy. Hle read medicine with Dr. A. J. Johnson, of Jefferson county, and attended lectures at the "College of Medicine and Surgery " of Cin- cinnati, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1862 and 1863. After graduation he entered the service of the United States as assistant surgeon, but was soon promoted to surgeon of the fifth Pennsylvania cavalry and served until the close of the war. Returning from the army he located in 1866 at Leechburg, Armstrong · county, Pa., for the practice of his profession, but only remained one year and then went to Blairsville, Pa., where he was surgeon for the Pennsylvania railroad besides enjoying a large practice for over fifteen years, In 1884 he re- moved to Latrobe and practiced successfully until the present time. Besides his large general practice he gives special attention to the eye, car and nose, throat and the treatment of catarrh and in those specialties is building up a fine practice. In 1865 Dr. Hughes took a com- plimentary and special course at Jefferson Medical college, Philadelphia, and in 1883 he attended special medical courses at the above named institution and the University of Penn- sylvania. He is a member of Loyalhanna Lodge, No. 275, F. & A. M., Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and P. A. Williams Post, No. 4, Grand Army of the Republic.
Dr. Hughes' first wife was Anna Torrence, daughter of Hon. James Torrrence, of Punxsut- awney, Pa., whom he married July 5, 1865, and who died in 1870, leaving him two sons : James, born May 18, 1866, who is a clerk in the office of the Pittsburg & St. Louis railroad at Pittsburg, and Samuel B., born January 13, 1868, and now reading medicine with his father. Dr. Hughes' second and present wife, Jennie E. (Zimmers) Hughes, whom he married January 4, 1877, is a daughter of Jacob Zimmers of Blairsville, Pa. By the second union he has two children : Bessie, born January 28, 1879, and John Jacob, born January 10, 1884.
Dr. Hughes is a republican, a member and trustee of Latrobe Presbyterian church and president of the " Citizens' National bank of Latrobe." He is an able and skillful physician and surgeon and is well read on all subjects re- lating to medicine, while his attention is ever engaged and enlisted in any movement calcu- lated to benefit, advance or elevate the medical profession. Dr. John W. Hughes is an active member of the Westmoreland county Medical Society and Pennsylvania State Medical Society. He is enrolled in the American Medical Asso- ciation and holds membership in the Inter- national Medical Congress.
D R. AMERICUS COLUMBUS KEEP- ERS, a skillful and successful dentist and a prominent citizen of Latrobe, was born October 27, 1848, at Connellsville, Fay- ette county, l'a., and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Shaw) Keepers, both of whom were natives of Connellsville. Joseph Keepers (grand- father) was born October 6, 1795, at Connells- ville, where he was engaged in the hotel busi- ness for a number of years and where he died October 16, 1830. His wife was Elizabeth laven, who was also born at Connellsville, February 11, 1798. The Keepers family was one of the very oldest in Connellsville and
335
WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
raised six children : Annie, wife of John Rob- bins : Mary, wife of Jonathan Enos ; Eliza, married to Jonathan Newcomer; Catharine, wife of John Kurtz, all four residing at Con- nellsville ; Isaac M., of Latrobe; and Joseph, Jr. Joseph Keepers (father) was born Decem- ber 19, 1822, was reared at Connellsville, where he learned the blacksmith trade and where he made his home until 1870, at which time he removed to Newark, N. J., and engaged in the mercantile business, which he has successfully continued ever since. He has been a member of the M. E. church for fifty-five years, and was for a quarter of a century the efficient superintendent of the Sunday-school at Con- nellsville. Ihis wife was Miss Elizabeth Shaw, born August 15, 1824, and to their union were born nine children : Joseph T., born September 15, 1844; Alice M. ; Americus C., born Octo- ber 27, 1846; Ira, born May 4, 1851; Henry L., born April 18, 1853; William M., born March 26, 1856 ; Isaac M., born June 11, 1858; Frank, born November 4, 1860; and Charles B .. born April 20, 1867.
Dr. A. C. Keepers was reared at Connells- ville, l'a., attended the public schools, and then learned the trade of machinist in the B. and O. car shops. Growing tired of this labor, how- ever, he began studying dentistry with Dr. Wil- liam Mullen, of Dawson, Fayette county, l'a., and finished with Dr. J. Crane, of Newark, N. J. After a thorough examination he began practising in 1873 at Dawson ; removed shortly to Berlin in the adjoining county of Somerset, thence in 1876 to Latrobe, where he has con- tinued ever since in the practice of his chosen profession. Ilis practice in this town has always been a large one and his work gives excellent satisfaction. Hle procures all the latest appliances as soon as they are introduced and is thoroughly prepared to do all kinds of dental work. He is one of the leading dentists in the county and his success is well merited. Dr. Keepers was elected burgess of Latrobe in
1886 on the republican ticket and served with credit to himself, satisfaction to his constituents and profit to the borough. Ile has been a member of the A. Y. M. since 1877, and of the Northwestern Masonic Aid AAssociation of Chicago, Ill., carrying in it a $3,500 life insur- ance policy. He is a leading member of the M. E. church, a genial companion, a devoted husband and father, an excellent business man and a far-seeing, public-spirited citizen.
Dr. A. C. Keepers united in marriage Feb- ruary 13, 1871, with Mary E., a daughter of Isaac and Lydia Cochran, of Dawson, Pa., and they have been blessed with but one child, a son, whom they have named Isaac J. Keepers.
TAMES Q. LEMMON, M. D., a student of high standing in his classes at school and who graduated with high honors from a J leading medical college, is now a prominent and successful physician of Latrobe. Ile is a son of Nathan W. and Margaret (Quinn) Lemmon, and was born in Fairfield township, Westmore- land county, Pa., January 28, 1852, and in 1858 with his parents removed to Derry town- ship. Ilis paternal grandfather, Thomas Lem- mon, was born in 1786 in eastern Pennsylvania and emigrated to Fairfield township. where he followed farming for a livelihood. He was a life-long member of the United Presbyterian church and died in 1863. His maternal grand- father, James Quinn, was born and grew to manhood in county Derry, Ireland. In 1817 he embarked on a vessel bound for America and which went to pieces on the stormy coast of Labrador, where he had to swim one-half mile through a heavy and rough sea to reach the shore. It was supposed that the captain wrecked the vessel to obtain a heavy insurance which he had secured on her before sailing. James Quinn lost all his personal effects by this ship- wreck ; worked his way from Labrador to West- moreland county, where by thrift, economy
336
BIOGRAPHIES OF
and prudence he acquired considerable landed possessions before his death, which occurred in 1868. He was born in 1797 and his span of life had stretched beyond man's allotted three- score and ten years. His father, Nathan W. Leummnon, was born in 1820 in Fairfield town- ship, this county, and is remarkably well pre- served and active for his years. He is an exten- sive farmer, a strong democrat, has served as school director and is a man of good reputation and a member of the United Presbyterian church, of which his wife is also a member.
Dr. James Q. Lemmon was reared in Derry township and attended the common schools of his neighborhood and Latrobe. He completed his education at the " Pennsylvania State col- lege," in Centre county, where he took a special course in classical studies and in the leading branches of mathematical, natural and physical science. In chemistry, especially, he made rapid progress and became very efficient. In 1878 and 1879 he read medicine with Dr. J. Y. Dale of Centre county, and in September, 1879, entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, where he attended three winter and two spring courses of lectures. He was graduated with second honors in a class of 159, of whom 117 were graduated March 15, 1882. After graduating he removed to Latrobe and entered upon the practice of medicine. Although comparatively a young man he enjoys a good practice and stands well as a physician in his section of the county.
Dr. Lemmon was married, June 27, 1883, to Martha Steele, youngest daughter of James Steele, of Unity township. They have one child, who is named George S.
Dr. Lemmon has one of the finest brick resi- dences and the most handsome office in West Latrobe ; both are heated throughout by steam. Measured by success and popularity in his com- munity, Dr. James Q. Lemmon rightfully enjoys the reputation that he has honestly won of being
a skillful and well qualified physician. He is a democrat, member of the United Presbyterian church and the owner of a very fine literary and medical library.
® OLLIS LOVELY, a prominent member of the Union Labor party and propri- etor of a well established boot and shoe store at Latrobe, is a son of Peter and Julia (Laforner) Lovely, and was born at Westford, Vermont, February 21, 1855. His parents were natives of Canada, emigrated to Vermont in 1847 and ten years later removed to Marl- boro, Massachusetts, where Peter Lovely died in 1872, aged fifty-two years. He was an ex- pert carpenter, a good citizen and a faithful member of the Catholic church. ITis widow was born in 1823; she is a member of the Catholic church and continues to reside at Marlboro, Massachusetts.
At two years of age Collis Lovely was taken by his parents from the " Green Mountain State" to the "Bay State." By reverses of fortune after removing to Massachusetts they were placed for a time in straightened circum- stances and could only afford him but one term in the highly-lauded free schools of New Eng- land. He left the school to go upon the shoe bench. After learning his trade he began to study at night, and in the course of time with- out a teacher became reasonably proficient in the common branches. He continued to work at his trade in Massachusetts until 1878 when he came to Pittsburg, worked four years and then pushed down the Ohio river to Cincinnati, where he labored at his trade for three and one- half years. March 1, 1885, he came to Latrobe and worked steadily at his trade until December 1, 1888, when he opened a boot and shoe estab- lishment and has continued successfully in that line of business until the present time. He is ener- getic, persevering and hard working, and has been remarkably successful for his limited opportunities.
337
WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
On September 26, 1875, he was united in marriage with Margaret McMahon, daughter of James and Sarah ( Bowes) McMahon, of Queens county, Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Lovely have three children : Peter A., Charles C., and Mary A.
Politically Mr. Lovely is a member of the Union Labor party and has been quite promi- nent in the county, district and State conven- tions of his party. He was made a delegate several times to State conventions of the Labor party in Pennsylvania and is a member of the Knights of Labor. He has a convenient and well arranged store at No. 213 Main street, Latrobe, carries a very fair and well-selected stock of boots, shoes and rubbers and is build- ing up quite a good trade.
ILLIAM C. MACMILLAN, a skillful druggist and proprietor of the oldest and largest drug house of Latrobe, is a son of Matthew C. and Lovinia (Fetter) MacMillan and was born in Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland county, Pa., October 29, 1849. Matthew C. MacMillan was born January 13, 1815, in Fa- yette county, Pa., and died at Latrobe Novem- ber 27, 1883. He was a character to beget and inspire confidence in the worth of man. He was not rich but commanded respect and reverence by his honor and uprightness. He was one who was fitted by his calm, judicial mind for weighing men and motives, testing the truth or falsity of theories with marvelous skill. He left a widow and six children, his death being the first in the family. Ilis oldest and youngest daughters were married to Methodist ministers : Rev. John C. High and Rev. W. A. Richards. llis mother was drowned when he was quite small, and while yet a boy he went to live with Charles McGlaughlin, a blacksmith, of Unity township, this county. He learned the black- smith trade, followed it a short time, moved to Mount Pleasant and during his residence
there served as justice of the peace, and was an express messenger for some time on the Pennsylvania railroad. He afterwards moved to Lycippus, engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, where he was also postmaster. During the war of the rebellion he moved to Latrobe, where after a short time he bought a drug store and continued in the drug business until his death in 1883. In 1839 he married Lovinia Fetter. of Unity township, who was born March 30, 1818. He had brothers named Thomas, John and William and a sister named Nancy Jane. Thomas and Nancy are still living.
"William C. MacMillan received his educa- tion in the common schools and Allegheny college at Meadville, Pa. After teaching school and assisting his father in the drug store for some years he went to Philadelphia and other eastern cities, where he completed his pharma- ceutical education, acquiring a large and varied experience in the dispensing and compounding of medicines, and in the filling of physician's prescriptions, thus attaining to a high degree of proficiency in the business and practice of pharmacy in all its relations. Returning to Latrobe he became a partner with his father in the drug business, the firm name being Mac- Millan & Son. Upon his father's death he suc- ceeded to the entire business of the firm and the establishment became known by its present title of MacMillan & Co's family drug store."
"On May 19, 1874, he was married to Mary E. Craig, daughter of John C. Craig, who is a descendant of an early settled family of the county. Mrs. MacMillan died in 1887 leaving four children : May, Daisy, Willie and Pearle. Mr. MacMillan was married in 1888 to Nannie M. Craig, a sister to his first wife."
" The old family drug store of MacMillan & Co. is located at No. 809 Ligonier street, William C. MacMillan being the proprietor. In 1889 he erected a two-story brick addition, greatly adding to the beauty, comfort and con- venience of his already large store-room and
338
BIOGRAPHIES OF
almost doubling its size. Since enlarging his place of business he has been continually en- larging and adding to his stock the very best goods obtainable, his desire being to please the most exacting in quality, variety and price, thus keeping his the leading apothecary, book and stationery store in Latrobe. In drugs, blank- books, school books, stationery, etc., his busi- ness has been constantly increasing. 'This great increase in his business obliging him to enlarge both building and stock, may be attri- buted (at least in part) to the great care he exercises in buying : his efforts to please cus- tomers with goods of the very best quality for the price, giving his entire personal attention to his business, employing only temperate, intelli- gent, careful salesmen and having an aim, motto, guarantee and belief which he has made founda- tion stones in the business he is building. He enjoys the deserved reputation of being a careful, competent as well as conscientious druggist, and well deserves the confidence, large patronage and prosperity that he now enjoys."
ILLIAM L. MELLON, the efficient and energetic superintendent of the " West- moreland and Cambria Natural Gas Company" at Latrobe, was born in Unity township, Westmoreland county, Pa., April 14, 1859, and is a son of Samuel A. and Mary A. (Steele) Mellon and a grandson of Armour Mellon, who was a native of county Tyrone, Ireland. Armour Mellon was born in 1783, mar- ried Sarah White in 1808 and immigrated to the United States in one month after his marriage. Hle settled on a farm near Crabtree in Unity township, which is now in the possession of the subject of this sketch, and was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits until he passed into the dream- less sleep on March 23, 1855. He was a man of superior intelligence and ability for his posi-
reader and a clear thinker. His thoughts took a theological turn and he could discuss " pre- destination" and " free will," which afforded the chief bone of contention between the cal- vinists and methodists of his neighborhood, with such logical acumen that even the best read of the ministers found it difficult to antago- nize him upon these subjects. His only son, Samuel Armour Mellon, was born March 6th, 1826, and retained the homestead farm. He was noted for his intelligence, his industry and his honesty. For these and his many other commendable qualities of head and heart he was highly esteemed by the wide circle of his friends and acquaintances. He married Mary A. Steel, October 26, 1848, who was a daughter of a neighboring farmer and who died August 22, 1866. Mr. Mellon died in the prime of life, leaving three sons and three daughters : Armour, Thomas, William L., Lizzie, Maria and Anna. They were all born to the inheritance of a good name and have a just reputation for intelligence, energy and industry.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.