Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Part 48

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 48

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On the 27th day of November, 1872, Mr. Smith married Mary E. Soles, a daughter of Hugh H. Soles of Braddock, Pa.

L. C. Smith in political matters acted with the Democratic party up to 1886, but since then has labored in the interests of the Pro- hibitionists. He is a strong temperance advo- cate, a member of the United Brothers church and a man of good judgment, untiring energy and business sagacity.

J FAMES B. SMITHI was born December 17, 1859, in Coultersville, Allegheny county Pa., and is a son of Michael D. and Lucinda (Painter) Smith. Michael Smith, his grandfather, a native of America, was by occu- pation a riverman and served during the civil war as a captain and was killed in battle. Michael D. Smith, who was born in 1835 in Allegheny county, was a pilot on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and came to his death by drowning in 1861. He was married to Lucinda, a daughter of George Painter of Allegheny county, Pa .. who bore him four children, of whom James B. is the third. When the late war broke out and the call of the Union for men went forth, all of George Painter's sons except one went to the front and fought gallantly under the " stars and stripes " for the preservation of the Union.

James B. Smith attended the public schools of Mckeesport and Tarentum, and learned the blacksmith trade with his step-father, Charles Slacker, which he has followed ever since. For four years he has been in the employ of the Penn Gas Coal Company at Penn station, which is abundant evidence of his industry and skill. Mr. Smith is a republican, and with his wife be- longs to the M. E. church, in which he has been steward and trustee. Ile is a member of Manor Council, No. 716, R. A. ; Manor Valley Lodge, No. 879, I. O. O. F. ; Penn Council, No. 106, Jr. O. U. A. M., and of the Order of Solon. In 1883 he instituted Irwin Lodge, No. 23, In- dependent Order of Good Templars at Irwin ; he is a zealous worker in the interests of temper- ance and sobriety. Mr. Smith, being of a genial disposition and an inveterate punster, is an agreeable and pleasant companton.

Ile was married January 17, 1884, to Priscilla, a daughter of Jackson Swonger of Westmoreland county, Rev. W. F. Connor of Irwin, performing the ceremony. They have had four children, three of whom are living: Minuie B., born April 18, 1886; Frank D.,

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born October 6, 1887 ; and Mary Emma, born September 9, 1889.

HARLES R. SMITHI, of Jeannette, a courteous, intelligent gentleman and the efficient cashier of the First National bank at that wonderfully prosperous town, is the youngest son of Jacob and Sarah (George) Smith and was born near Latrobe, Westmore- land county, Pa., November 20, 1850. Ilis grandfather, Henry Smith, was born and reared near Pleasant Unity during the latter half of the eighteenth century. Ile married Magdalena Richard, by whom he had ten children, six boys and four girls. One of their sons is Jacob Smith, who was born November 30, 1811, and whose life work has been farming. He is a democrat and a member of the Reformed church. On September 10, 1835, he married Sarah, daughter of Peter George. They had seven children, of whom five are living.

Charles R. Smith was educated in Latrobe public schools, Sewickley academy and Mercers- burg college. Leaving college, he determined upon a business career in life and accepted in 1871 the assistant cashiership of the Farmers' National bank of Greensburg. In 1875, when that bank became the Fifth National bank of Pittsburg, he entered the employ of the Penn- sylvania railroad and for three years was en- gaged in their Pittsburg and Philadelphia offices. In ISST his services were solicited by the "Greensburg Banking Company, " and accepting their offer he served them faithfully and effi- ciently until 1888. In that year he took a vaca- tion for the benefit of his health. In a few months he recovered his wonted state of health and in August, 1589, he became cashier of the " First National bank of Jeannette," which is one of the well-managed and prosperous fiscal corporations of Westmoreland county. This bank was duly incorporated under a national charter August 13, 1839, entered into business

under the most favorable auspices and has already taken its place among the permanent and leading banks of the county.

C. R. Smith is a director of the First National bank of Greensburg and the First National bank of Jeannette. He is thoroughly acquainted with the principles of successful banking, has had fifteen years of valuable ex- perience as cashier and director and is recognized in business circles as a correct business man and a good financier.

APT. J. A. M. SEITZ, of Jeannette, was born April 20, 1837, at Fite's Eddy, Lancaster county, Pa., and is a son of John and Julia W. (Hastings) Seitz. His grandfather, John Seitz, was a native of Ger- many, but in his younger days immigrated to America, settling in Lancaster county, Pa., where he followed the occupation of farming. John Seitz (father) was born in York county, Pa .; removed in 1838 to South Side, Pittsburg, where he died in 1852. He was by trade a wagon- maker, but at Pittsburg he was superintendent of shipping for a coal operator on the Mononga- hela river. Ile was married to Julia Hastings, a daughter of Simeon Ilastings, of Lancaster county, this State, whose ancestors were among the very early settlers of that county and who were of the sect call Quakers, or Society of Friends. Mr. Seitz was a successful business man highly esteemed by all, and in politics a whig though liberal in his views.

Capt. J. A. M. Seitz is the youngest of four children and received his education in the public schools of South Side, Pittsburg. Owing to his father's death in 1852, when Capt. Seitz was but fifteen years of age, he was obliged to make his own way in the world and began by study- ing in the evenings and attending night school. At the age of seventeen he went on the river and followed coal boating until the breaking out of the war (serving in the capacities of pilot

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and captain). In 1861 he enlisted in Co. B, sixty-second reg., Pa. Vols., recruited in Pitts- burg under Capt. J. W. Patterson. This regi- ment went into the service July 4, 1861, and with it Capt. Seitz served for more than three years. Hle was a staff officer two years and was then promoted to first lieutenant. At Gaines' Mill he was wounded though not severely and at Gettysburg he was seriously wounded by being shot through the left side. After the war he followed the river again until 1874, serving as pilot and captain ; the next year he traveled over the plains for his health. Returning east in 1880 he embarked in the grocery business, but was washed out by the the flood at Martin's Ferry, Ohio, in 1884. By no means dis- heartened he again started up in business, and in September, 1888, came to this county, locat- ing at Jeannette, where he erected the hotel he now occupies, which was the second structure built in West Jeannette. Capt. Seitz is one of the men, who, though running licensed houses, do not themselves imbibe. In politics he is a republican and frequently makes himself quite useful to his party. In Martin's Ferry he was one of the original trustees of the water-works but never aspired to political office. In religi- ous views he is liberal and contributes to all de- nominations, regardless of creed or color. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, in which he has risen to the rank of Knight Templar.

D B. SULLIVAN, of the firm of Sullivan & Roth, carpenters and builders, of Jean- nette, was born September 7, 1861, in Shenandoah Valley, Shenandoah county, Va., and is a son of Dempsey and Ellen ( Foley) Sul- livan. His grandfather, Timothy Sullivan, was born, lived and died in the land of Erin, where Dempsey Sullivan (father) was born, in county Kerry, and whener he immigrated to America about 1850, settling at Washington, D. C. Ile was engaged in the navy department, being a

soldier in the marine service, in which he re- mained until the close of the war. The contest having ended he went to Virginia, bought a plantation and began speculating and dealing in stock, which he still follows, though not exten- sively, as he is about sixty-five years of age. He is a republican and a member of the Cath- olic church. His wife was Ellen Foley, who came to this country with her brother when but six years of age. His brother, Daniel Sullivan, settled many years ago in Virginia, where his sons are now prominent republican politicians. Another brother, Patrick Sullivan, died from the effect of wounds received in the artillery service of the Federal government during the late war.

D. B. Sullivan received his education in the public schools of Virginia and the high school of Woodstock, that State. He learned the car- penter trade, serving an apprenticeship of four years, after which he engaged in the insurance business for two years as a special agent in the Mutual Life. Part of the time, however, he was contracting, and on the 19th of August, 1888, he located at Jeannette, where he was among the first arrivals. He did the finishing work on the numerous houses that were erected by the Land and Improvement Company, and is now contracting, doing a large and successful busi- ness in which he employs some twenty men. Mr. Sullivan, for prompt and regular attend- ance, was awarded a medal by Co. C, second Va. reg., State militia, of which he was for five years a member. In polities he is an active re- publican and in religious faith adheres to the doctrines of the Catholic church, of which he is a devoted and useful member.

EORGE S SUTTON, M. D., of Jean- nette, was born October 22, 1855, in Elizabeth township, Allegheny county, Pa., and is a son of Joseph and Sabina (Shields) Sutton. His paternal grandfather, John Sut- ton, was a native of England and immigrated to

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America, settling near West Newton, this county. He was a cabinetmaker by occupation, and married Amy Budd, a member of the old Budd family, which is so well-known in West- moreland county, by whom he had five children, of whom four grew to maturity, one of them being Dr. Lewis Sutton, of West Newton. Joseph Sutton (father) was born in 1821 near West Newton, this county, and successfully fol- lowed farming until his death, which occurred in 1865. In politics he was a republican and an abolitionist, giving liberally of his means to support the cause of anti-slavery. He took a deep interest in the cause of education and did much in support of the common school system. The religious denomination of his choice was the Raptist church, in which he was a deacon from the time he reached maturity until his death. Hle married Sabina Shields, a daughter of John Shields, who was the first saddler in Elizabeth, a town on the Monongahela river, and whose wife was the first milliner there. Mr. and Mrs. Shields were married in North Ireland, the land of their nativity, but when young immigrated to this country, where Mrs. Shields died. Her husband returned to Ireland on a visit and died while there.

George S. Sutton, who is of English descent, was educated in the public schools, California State normal, Canonsburg academy, Chambers- burg academy and Mount Union college and graduated from its medical department in 1880. After practicing two years in Arkansas he re- turned to Pennsylvania and entered Jefferson Medical college of Philadelphia, from which he graduated in 1883. He then came to this county and practiced at Mendon with his uncle, Dr. Lewis Sutton, for five years. The last two years he spent at West Newton, and on October 24, 1889, located at West Jeannette, erecting a dwelling-house and a drug store building corner Second street and Penn avenue. Dr. Sutton is actively engaged in the practice of his profession and enjoys a large and increasing patronage.

He is a republican but does not neglect his business to attend to political affairs ; is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., the Jr. O. U. A. M., the Patrons of Husbandry and belongs to the Masonic fraternity-the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery.

Dr. George S. Sutton on January 17, 1884, was united in marriage with Josephine, a daughter of Josephine and Catharine (Shupe) Hough, of near Smithton, this county. Mrs. Sutton is a qualified assistant in the drug busi- ness and attends to the store while her husband follows his profession.

OSEPH THEOBALD, an enterprising lum- ber dealer of Penn station, was born Octo- ber 5, 1850, in St. Ingbert, Bavaria, and is a son of Franz and Anna Theobald, who had six children, Joseph being the fourth.

Joseph Theobald left the European continent at the age of eighteen years and came to Amer- ica, making the long journey alone and landing on the shores June 17, 1869. He remained in New York but a few days and then went to Pittsburg, where he did his first work in this country, mining coal for two years. In 1871 he removed to Penn station and continued in the mines four years longer, at the expiration of which time he went to hotel-keeping as propri- etor of the " Thomas House," which he ran for twelve years. In 1887 he began to deal in lumber and take contracts for building. He is in the same line yet and is succeeding remark- ably well. During the summer of 1888 and 1889 he built more than two dozen houses and does an annual business of tens of thousands of dollars. Mr. Theobald owns considerable prop- erty in Penn and is one of the progressive men of the place. He has always been an unswerv- ing democrat, an active and influential worker in the interests of his party. He is a member of William Penn Lodge, No. 52, A. O. U. W., in which he has taken an active part.

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Joseph Theobald in 1872 was married to Au- gusta, a daughter of Gotleib Thomas, of Penn station, and they have six children : Augusta, born December 11, 1878; Anna, born Decom- ber 16, 1876; Lena, born August 9, 1879; Joseph, born November 11, 1882; Henry, born September 8, 1886, and Thomas, born December 8, 1888.

DWARD J. VINTON, proprietor of the Merchant's Hotel at Jeannette, was born November 8, 1849, in Youngstown, Ohio, and is the only son and child of William T. and Margaret (Jones) Vinton. Thomas Vinton (grandfather) was a native and citizen of South Wales, where he was manager of an iron works at Dowles. Later in life he came to America and built at Palmyra one of the first blast-furnaces erected in the State. Ilis cousin, John Vinton, a Baptist minister was also a manager of iron works, having charge of twenty-one blast-furnaces in Wales. John J. Vinton (uncle) is now engaged in the iron business at Findlay, Ohio. William T. Vinton was born in South Wales and immigrated to the United States when about twenty-two years of age. He was a graduate of London college and in this country followed book-keeping and the teaching of music. His wife, who died in 1884 and by whom he had one child, was a native of South Wales but a resi- dent of Mercer county, Pa., at the time of her marriage.

Edward J. Vinton was educated in the pub- lic schools of Ironton. Ohio, and at the age of nineteen years had charge of a pair of rolls in the iron works at Bedford, Pa., having first worked in the iron works at Johnstown. In 1871 he embarked in the wholesale confectionery business, which he quit to engage in contracting for the building of bridges, masonry, etc. In the midst of his business at Johnstown he went to Jeannette November 1, 1888, and immediately erected the Merchant's Hotel on Third street,

at that new and thriving " glass city." Mr. Vinton is now building four store-rooms on the corner of Third street and Clay avenue and owns valuable lots in the borough. He is one of Jeannette's active and enterprising citizens. In politics he is a republican and formerly took a prominent part in the political affairs of his county. He served as burgess and treasurer of his borough, Millvale and was a highly re- spected citizen of Cambria county. He is a member of K. of H., Royal Arcanum and of the Mystic Chain and the Maccabees.

Edward J. Vinton was married July 30, 1873, to Sarah, daughter of William Reese, of Johns- town, Pa., by whom he has had seven children : William T., born June 21, 1874, and now cashier in Haines & Company's store, at Jean- nette; Gertrude, born April 4, 1877 ; Edgar Lawrens, born July 16, 1879; John J. (de- ceased), born September 7, 1881; Margaretta (deceased), born November 20, 1882; Romig. born March 16, 1885; and Mary, born July 31, 1887. Margaretta, the fifth chuld, was one of the unfortunate victims of the terrible flood at Johnstown, which caused thousands of hearts to bleed for those who were near and dear to them.

B R. WALTHOUR was born November 1, 1846, in Hempfield township, near Manor Station, Westmoreland county, Pa .; he is a son of Joseph and Eliza (Wentling) Walthour. Ilis grandfather, Jacob Walthour, was one of the old settlers of Penn township, and at one time owned the tract of land on which Harrison City now stands. He was a farmer, and married Barbara Knappenberger. Joseph Walthour, one of his sons, was born December 25, 1817, in Penn township and died August 27, 1867. Ile was a successful farmer and at his death owned a fine farm which he acquired by his own efforts. He was a democrat of the Jacksonian type and an active worker for his party's success. He was identified with the Lu-

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theran church at Adamsburg and was highly esteemed by his neighbors, being a man of de- cided views and convictions. He united in marriage with Eliza, a daughter of D. D. Wentling, of Adamsburg, who was born in 1825 and who bore him ten children, of whom but four are living: Frank P .; Lydia Ann, wife of S. P. Waugaman, a dentist of Mckeesport, Pa .; Josephine, who is at home with her mother; and Benjamin R.

B. R. Walthour was educated in the public schools and began life as a farmer. Upon ar- riving at manhood he learned the carpenter's trade which he followed for ten years. In August, 1877, he opened a livery stable at Manor; in 1880 built the fine new barn which he now occupies, and keeps a complete stock of everything pertaining to his business. He is a democrat, not because his forefathers were, but because he believes in the great principles it has taught from the time of Jefferson down to the present. He is a member of Manor Lodge, No. 90, A. O. U. W., and of Trovilla Council, No. 158, Jr. O. U. A. M., in which he takes an active interest.

B. R. Walthour was married September 24, 1874, to Sarah J., a daughter of David Rankin, of Grapeville, this county, who was born April 6, 1854, and their union has been blessed with four children : Gertrude Florence, born July 14, 1875; Howard C., born January 16, 1880; Edna, born December 12, 1883; and Josephine, born March 27, 1887.

EWIS C. WESTBROOK was born March 27, 1852, in Huntingdon, Pa., and is a son of Levi E. and Rosanna (Derer) Westbrook. His grandfather, Levi Westbrook, was a native of the same county, where he followed the trade of cradle making in Huntingdon. He was a successful business man and an old-time democrat. Levi E. West- brook (father) was also born in that county in

1812, where he still lives, having retired from active work. He, too, was a cradle-maker, and quite successful in the affairs of life. Hle is a democrat but never aspired to political office ; having received a thorough education he is a fine scholar and a man of liberal views and decided convictions. He was married to Ros- anna Derer, by whom he had ten children, of whom five are living.

Lewis C. Westbrook was educated in the public schools and began business life at Altoona, serving an apprenticeship as a bricklayer with the P. R. R. From there he went to Tyrone, Pa., and engaged in contracting for brickwork which he has continued ever since. He went to Jeannette about May 1, 1888, and purchased the first lot and erected the first house in West Jeannette, the only brick structure now there ; he is at present engaged in tank building for the Chambers & McKee Company. In politics he is independent, casting his ballot for the men he believes best fitted for the positions to which they aspire. He is the pioneer of West Jean- nette and an enterprising, reliable man ; he is a member of the Masonic Fraternity and of the I. O. O. F. Mr. Westbrook is a fine workman ; he was foreman in the erection of the new jail building at Greensburg; was the contractor for the outer wall of the Reformatory and warden's residence at Huntingdon, Pa., and has done much work in this and other counties.

Lewis C. Westbrook, on the 14th of October, 1870, was united in marriage with Rebecca Morgan, a daughter of Wm. Morgan, late of Blair county, Pa., who is a farmer and a highly respected citizen of that county. The only child of this union is a daughter, Ida, who was born in 1873 and who is at home with her parents.

S AMUEL WALTHOUR. Much of the history of any country clusters around its leading characters; so in a county the history of the carly settled families whose de-

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scendants dwell among us furnishes a record at once unique and valuable. Such a family we have now under consideration. Samuel Wal- thour, one of its living representatives, was born at Manor, Westmoreland county, April 15, 1815, and is a son of Christophel and Catharine (Drum) Walthour. His great-grandfather, a native of Germany, immigrated to this country and settled in Lancaster county, whence he removed to what is now North Huntingdon township, this county, about 1750. Where the town of Manor now stands Christopher Wal- thour in 1785 built a flouring mill which is still in running order. He had a son born in Lan- caster county prior to 1750, whom he named Christopher Walthour in honor of himself. After the family had settled in this county young Christopher married Dorothy, daughter of Abraham Lenhart, of Allegheny county, Pa., and settled in the neighborhood of Manor, where his son Christophel was born in 1792. At the age of about twenty Christophel enlisted for service in the war of 1812, but owing to some cause now unknown failed to get into the ranks.

Ile married Catharine, daughter of Philip Drum, of Franklin township, who bore him seven children, three of whom yet survive : Christophel C., who is married to Miss Davis, of this county, and resides in Armstrong county ; Lewis, a resident of Mckeesport, whose wife was Jane Probst, of Greensburg, and Samuel.

Philip Drum, the maternal grandfather of these sons, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and in fact all the Drums were of a military character. One of the descendants is Adjutant-General Drum, formerly of Greens- burg but now of Washington, D. C., and another is Simon Drum, now Mayor of Alle- gheny City.

Samuel Walthour was a school-boy in the days when unsurmountable difficulties lay across the path of the poor boy who wished to journey up the educational hill. The county school-

houses were built of logs covered with clapboards and absolutely without comforts. Young Wal- thour had to walk four miles through mud and snow for the privilege of attending even these rude and uncomfortable places of learning. With but little education, therefore, he began life for himself as a farmer and huckster. IIe continued in this calling six years and since then has been engaged in milling and grain- dealing, as well as farming and stock-raising. He has a grain-house at Manor and owns five farms containing nine hundred acres. Mr. Walthour has been very successful in business, as he began life a poor boy and lived through all the panics of the century. He is an active member and supporter of the Lutheran church and in politics is a stanch democrat. Mr. Walthour is a remarkably well-preserved man for one of his age who has performed so many and so arduous labors. His integrity, business capacity and intelligence are beyond question, and he is a citizen of whom not only Penn township but the whole county may feel justly proud.

Samuel Walthour married Mary, daughter of Abraham Shuster, of Penn township in 1835, and to them were born three children, all of whom are living : Elizabeth, Susan and Samuel, Jr. Susan is the wife of Joseph Schoder, who lives in East Liberty ; Samuel, Jr., married Mary, daughter of Philip Klingensmith, of Salem township and resides at Manor.

Samuel Walthour, whose first wife departed this life April 27, 1887, has taken unto himself a second. The wedding ceremony was per- formed August 29, 1889, the bride being Sophia, daughter of Paul Good, of Penn town- ship.

S HI. WEAVER, a remarkably successful and well educated business man and the general manager of the Jeannette Planing Mill Company, was born on Poplar street, Alle- gheny City, Pa., December 9, 1859, and is a

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son of Capt. Charles and Susan (Craig) Weaver. His father, Capt. Charles Weaver, was born in Adams county, Pa., in 1822. In 1849 he came to Pittsburg, where he engaged in his present business of contracting on brick and stone work. He enlisted in one of the Pennsylvania volun- teer regiments during the late war, was promoted from Second Lieutenant to a Captaincy and served until his regiment was discharged. Ile married Susan Craig, of Butler county, Pa. They have had five children, of whom four are living. Capt. Weaver is a republican from principle, an advocate of " high tariff" and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Ile has erected several fine buildings in Jean- nette and is a successful business man.

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Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Part 48

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