USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > Biographical review : v. 24, containing life sketches of leading citizens of Pittsburgh and the vicinity, Pennsylvania > Part 11
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William H. Kirk received his preliminary education in Pittsburg, attending the public schools and the academy. Afterward he grad- uated from the Western Pennsylvania Medical College with the class of 1891. Since that time Dr. Kirk has been busily employed in his chosen work. Besides attending to his extensive private practice, he is surgeon of the Pennsylvania Railway Company, oculist at the Allegheny Free Dispensary, physician to
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the Pittsburg Free Dispensary, and physician and oculist to the South Side Hospital. He is a member of the Pittsburg Academy of Medicine, the Allegheny County Medical So- ciety, the American Medical Association, the South Side Medical Society, the Pittsburg Obstetrical Society, and the University Club.
On March 31, 1892, Dr. Kirk was united in marriage with Miss Lucy Fleming, daugh- ter of Willison and Catherine (Cox) Fleming. His only child is James Fleming. Dr. Kirk adheres to the Presbyterian creed, in which he was reared. In politics he is a thorough Re- publican, and he served for one term of three years on the Morse Subdistrict School Board. He has been associated with the Good Fel- lows organization for some time.
R ALPH MINEART, one of the fore- most photographers of Pittsburg, was born October 1, 1872, in Browns- ville, Fayette County, son of John R. Mine- art. The father is the worthy represent- ative of one of the early German families that were pioneers of this State, and did much toward clearing and developing it. He is now living retired in Brownsville, the posses- sor of a comfortable competency acquired in his active years by conducting a general mer- chandise store in that place. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary C. Can- non, five' children were born, namely: Harry, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Frank, a merchant tailor, who is carrying on a thriving business in Brownsville; Claude, who is a photographer in Pittsburg; Carrie, now the wife of T. Edward Rooke, of Allegheny; and Ralph, the subject of this sketch.
Ralph Mineart grew to manhood in his na- tive town, obtaining a practical education. In early manhood he became familiar with the | ity to remember his original tongue. He : :-
details of his present profession, for which he seems to have been naturally adapted. He has been remarkably successful in catching the most desirable and characteristic expres- sions from the faces of his sitters. In isce he started in business on his own account : Pittsburg, and in 1895 he opened his present handsome and elegantly equipped studio ::: Pittsburg at 232 Fifth Avenue. His acknow !- edged skill has gained him an extensive ;3- tronage among the more prominent people of the city and its suburbs.
Mr. Mineart was married August 16, 1892. to Miss Emily, daughter of R. T. Rodney. of Allegheny. Both he and Mrs. Mineart are active members of the First Christian Church of Allegheny. In politics he is a Republican ; and he belongs to the fraternal organizatica, the Maccabees.
LMER ELLSWORTH FULMER. PH. M., a rising young lawyer of Pitts- burg, was born in South Strabane township, Washington County, January 2. 1861, son of Wesley and Jane (Couch) Fl- mer. He is of German ancestry; and the name, which, no doubt, was originally V :- mer, has been anglicized into its present f .: .. His great-grandfather, John Fulmer (fr -: . moved from Lancaster County across the Alte- ghany Mountains, and, after residing for some time in Westmoreland County, settled ::: what is now known as Bellfield, in the city : Pittsburg. John Fulmer (second), the graz !- father, who was born in Lancaster County. as- companied his parents to Western Pensa - vania when a small boy. In Pittsburg, having previously used the German language excl :- sively, he was soon able to speak Eng : and in his later years he admitted his inas !:-
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lowed agriculture during his active period, and died in 1873 or 1874, aged about sixty- nine years.
Wesley Fulmer was born in Baldwin town- ship, Allegheny County, in 1837. When a young man he learned the blacksmith's trade, which he afterward followed for a short time. Then he gave his attention to fruit raising and market gardening. He is now residing in Scott township, where he takes an active interest in political and educational matters, and has served as a member of the School Board. Ile is connected with the Masonic fraternity and the Senior Order of United American Mechanics. His wife, Jane, whom he married in February, 1860, was a daughter of Simon Couch, of Scott township. The first representatives of the family came to Pennsylvania with Braddock's army from Virginia, to which they returned some time after the Fort Duquesne disaster. These an- cestors settled at what is now known as Bethel township, and erected a stockade, then called Couch's Fort. Mrs. Wesley Fulmer died in 1874. She was the mother of five children, three of whom died in infancy. The survi- vors are: Elmer E. and Frank H. Wesley Fulmer is a member of the Methodist Protes- tant Church.
From an early age, Elmer Ellsworth Ful- mer desired a liberal education. He acquired the rudiments in the public schools of Scott township. After the death of his mother he went to live with his grandmother in Wash- ington County, where he continued bis studies. Here he labored in the summer sea- son in order to earn the means necessary to pay for his tuition at Oakdale Academy. Later he taught school and by carefully sav- ing his earnings he managed to complete his academic course and enter the Western Uni- versity of Pennsylvania. From this institu-
tion he graduated in 1887, with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. Then, taking up a law course, he entered the law office of Miller & McBride in Pittsburg as a law student, sup- porting himself in the meantime by clerical work in the county treasurer's offices. He was admitted to the bar by examination in 1891. On October I of the same year he en- tered on his profession in Pittsburg, where he has already acquired a profitable general law business. In 1893 he received the degree of Master of Philosophy from the Western Uni- versity.
Although Mr. Fulmer is an active Republi- can, and takes a prominent part in party work, he is not an aspirant to public office. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Western University Alumni Association, and is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member and the Rul- ing Elder of the Presbyterian church at Oak- dale.
UNT MILLS BUTLER, the station master of the Union Station in Pitts- burg, was born at Northampton, Mass., May 20, 1834, son of Edward and Car- oline H. (Butler) Butler. His grandfather, Simeon Butler, is stated to have been a printer, bookbinder, and bookseller in 1775, and to have been the first to print letter-heads for the United States Senate. Simeon was also Se- lectman of Northampton, where he was much respected. He died in 1848.
Edward Butler, born in Northampton in 1798, was there given his business training in his father's book-store. In early manhood he went into the general notion business for him- self in the city of New York, and was en- gaged in that business until he was burned out by the great fire of 1836. After this reverse of fortune he turned his attention to shipping,
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HUNT M. BUTLER.
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and for some years acted as supercargo for the firm of Grinnell, Mintun & Co., buying goods for them in China. In 1847 he started the manufacture of sewing-silk in Mansfield, Conn., his factory being one of the first of the kind in the country. In this industry he thereafter continued until his death, which occurred in 1849. He married a daughter of Thomas Butler, who was a prominent attorney of Pittsfield, Mass., and no relation in any way. Of this union ten children were born, namely : Thomas, the first-born, who died in infancy ; Sarah, who married James E. Cald- well, a jeweller of Philadelphia; Edward, who was cashier of the Exchange National Bank of New York at the time of his death in 1865; Theodore H., who has the tastes of his grand- father, and does a large book business in Phil- adelphia; Hunt M., the subject of this sketch ; Harriet, who married the poet, T. Buchanan Read, and resides in Germantown, Philade !- phia; Robert M., who died in Australia after a thirty years' residence in that distant land; Mary Hunt, who married James J. Reeves, a prominent attorney-at-law of Bridgeton, N. J. ; Caroline Hyde, who married W. C. Duyck- inck, of New York, a retired business man who is now residing in Morristown, N. J. ; and Franklin Delino, the youngest, who died in Pittsburg in 1875, at the age of twenty-six. The mother lived with her daughter in Phila- delphia after the loss of her husband, and died there in 1893. They were both members of the Unitarian church.
Hunt M. Butler first went to school in Northampton and later to the Hopkins Acad- emy at Hadley and the Williston Seminary at Easthampton, Mass. He then went to sea before the mast, making a number of voyages, including two to China, and gradually rising until on his last voyage, made in 1860, he was second mate on the ship "Flying Eagle." On
retiring from the sea he went into the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, first as brakeman. Afterward he became conductor on a passenger train, and in 1864 he was made station master of the Union Station. This position he has most efficiently filled for the past thirty-three years, handling thousands of trains yearly, without a single accident to passenger or property.
Mr. Butler's first marriage was contracted with Rebecca E., a daughter of General C. F. Jackson, who was killed at Fredericksburg, November 12, 1863. She died in March, 1873. Her children were: Charles B., Wal- ter R., Rebecca J. Rebecca is now the wife of Harry Sellars. In November, 1873, he was united to Emma K. Laufman, by whom he had two children. These were: Harry L., the ticket examiner of the Union Station; and Theodore H., who died in infancy.
Mr. Butler is one of the supporters and a regular attendant of the Highland Presbyterian Church Home on Highland Avenue. He was made a Mason of Milnor Lodge, No. 287, in 1867, and Master in 1871, and belongs to Zurabubel Chapter, A. O. U. W., the Royal Arcanum, and the Knights of Honor. He is a member of the P. R. R. Veterans' Associa- tion, and of the P. R. R. Relief Association.
ILLIAM ALLEN SIPE, an attor- ney-at-law, actively engaged in the practice of his profession at 435 Diamond Street, Pittsburg, Pa., is a Pennsyl- vanian by birth, having been born in Fulton County, near Harrisonville, July 1, 1844. On the paternal side he is of German extrac- tion, his grandfather, Conrad Sipe, having been a descendant of one Conrad Sipe, who came from Alsace, or Lorraine, and was one of the earliest settlers of the United States.
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Conrad was born in that portion of Bedford County afterward called Fulton, and there spent his life of sixty-eight years engaged as a blacksmith and farmer. He was a man of resolute character. Temperate in his habits and benevolent, he was a strong Methodist in religion. He reared four sons and one daugh- ter, his son, George W. B., having been the father of William Allen.
George W. B. Sipe was reared in Bedford County, where as a young man he was em- ployed in agriculture. He subsequently be- came a prosperous merchant of Fulton County, where he died in 1890, seventy-four years of age. Of his two marriages the first was con- tracted with Martha Ann Tanner, who was one of the seven children, four sons and three daughters, of Jacob Tanner. Mr. Tanner, born in Maryland, who came of Scotch-Irish ancestry, was a Methodist throughout his life. One of his sons is still living, being a prominent business man of Shepherdstown, W. Va. Mrs. Martha Ann Sipe died when but thirty years old, leaving six children, five of whom are yet living These are : William A., James B., Mary F., Anna D., and George W. Mary F. is the wife of Henry Spangler, and Anna D. is the wife of R. W. Cook. The mother was an earnest Christian and a member of the Methodist church. The father's second wife, Mrs. Sarah Steever Sipe, bore him five children, of whom the sole survivor is Etta. He was a Presbyterian in religion.
William Allen Sipe was reared on the pa- rental homestead until fourteen years old, assisting in the labors of the farm and attend- ing the district school. He subsequently entered Cassville Academy, in Huntingdon County, graduating therefrom in 1862. Then he began to read law in the office of the Hon. R. M. Speer, the father of the present secre-
tary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, and was admitted to the bar August 5, 1865. Mr. Sipe began the practice of his profession in Huntingdon, where he remained twenty months. The succeeding two years were spent in Indianapolis, Ind. In October, 1868, he located in Pittsburg. Here he has built up a substantial practice, which is con- fined almost entirely to the civil courts. For the past two years his home has been at 287 Federal Street, Allegheny. He had pre- viously resided on the farm for ten years. Mr. Sipe served in the late war for a few weeks; but, being a delicate lad, he was sent home before seeing much active service. He has always been a firm Democrat in politics, and has taken a prominent part in local affairs. He was a member of the national legislature twice. On the first occasion he was chosen to serve out the unexpired term of Alexander Craig in the Fifty-second Congress, and on the second occasion he served for a full term in the Fifty-third Congress. The district which he represented had then, and has now, a popu- lar majority of five thousand five hundred; and he ran three thousand votes ahead of President Cleveland. In 1891, when the Court of Com- mon Pleas, No. 3, for Allegheny County was established, a petition signed by some four hundred brother lawyers was presented to the governor of Pennsylvania, urging the appoint- ment of Mr. Sipe to a judgeship in this court ; but, failing to secure the appointment, he withdrew as a candidate for nomination when his nomination by the Democratic County Con- vention was assured, to permit the nomination of J. M. Kennedy, who had been appointed by the governor to fill the position until January I following. While serving his last term in Congress, Mr. Sipe, while opposing the free coinage of silver, favored bimetallism. At various times, in addition to other property,
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he has had large holdings in real estate in this and other localities.
On October 31, 1867, Mr. Sipe married Miss Clara E. Dorland, a daughter of John M. and Jane (Snurr) Dorland. She died August 13, 1870, leaving one daughter, Nellie, who is now the wife of David L. Ful- ton, the Commissioner of Highways in Alle- gheny City. Mrs. Clara E. Sipe was a woman of most estimable character and a faithful member of the Presbyterian church. In November, 1873, a second marriage united Mr. Sipe to Miss Mary Matchett, a daughter of Richard and Margaret Hutchinson Match- ett, of Allegheny City. The children of this union were: Mabel Allen, George Tanner, Paul Bernard, Margaret Hutchison, Miriam Burchard, and William A. Sipe, Jr. None of the daughters lived long. The three sons have been given a college education. George T. is devoting his attention to general busi- ness ; William has adopted the profession of the law; and Paul B., who has developed remark- able musical talent, after a thorough training by the best Pittsburg teachers, is completing a musical education under celebrated instructors in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Sipe and their three sons are members of the Presbyterian church.
EV. JAMES WRIGHT WITHER- SPOON, pastor of the Fifth United Presbyterian Church of Allegheny, Pa., is a native of Washington County, this State. He was born near Florence, May 4, 1834, son of Joshua and Jane (Hooper) Witherspoon. His maternal grandfather was John Hooper, a farmer who was born near Clinton in Allegheny County, and died at the age of seventy-six at Fort Wayne, Ind. His paternal grandfather was John Witherspoon, who was born near Paisley, Scotland, whence
he removed to the north of Ireland. Later, in order to escape the exorbitant taxes levied by the landlords, he came with his wife and child to America, settling at first in New Jersey and subsequently in Washington County, Pennsylvania, where both he and his wife lived to a good age. Their family con- sisted of four sons and one daughter.
The Rev. Mr. Witherspoon's parents were both born in Pennsylvania, his father in Washington County and his mother in Alle- gheny County ; and both are buried near where the father was born. Their children were: John; Elizabeth, who was Mrs. William Gil- liland, now deceased; William; the Rev. James W. ; and Samuel. Joshua Witherspoon was a farmer. He died April 16, 1856, aged fifty-six years. He was for many years an El- der in the United Presbyterian church, and his wife was a devoted member of the same body.
James Wright Witherspoon was reared on his father's farm, and his early education was obtained in the district schools. Entering the first preparatory class at Westminster College in September, 1854, he was graduated in June, 1859. For three months before his gradua- tion, he had taught in the academy at Mead- ville; and he continued teaching for three months after. In the fall of 1859 he entered the United Presbyterian Theological Seminary at Allegheny, and the three following terms were spent in the Theological Seminary at Xenia, Ohio.
On April 16, 1862, he was licensed by the United Presbyterian Presbytery of Frankford, Pa., and preached during that summer. Ile graduated from the seminary in March, 1803: and in April of that year, exactly one year from the time he was licensed, he accepted a call from the united charge of the congregations of Ohio and Raccoon in New Scottsville and New Sheffield, respectively. On the first Sunday
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in the following May he preached his first sermon as pastor of this new charge, and in September he was ordained and installed.
He was married on October 15, 1863, to Miss Annie Monroe, daughter of George and Martha Monroe, of Xenia. Mrs. Witherspoon died January 19, 1895, having been the mother of seven children, all sons. The two eldest died in infancy. The five now living are : James, Walter, Ralph, Monroe, and William Cuyler Witherspoon. James Witherspoon is a graduate of Westminster College and a practising physician, living at 104 Buena Vista Street, Allegheny; Walter graduated from the medical department of the Western University of Pennsylvania in March, 1897; Ralph is a clerk in the First National Bank of Allegheny; Monroe is a Junior in West- minster College; and William C. has just completed his studies in the public school of Allegheny.
The Rev. Mr. Witherspoon was pastor of his first charge from May, 1863, until December, 1866, when he came to Allegheny to his pres- ent charge, then a small mission band. Dur- ing the thirty years in which Mr. Witherspoon has labored here, he has had the pleasure of seeing the church increase until it now has a membership of between six hundred and seven hundred persons. For the past twenty-seven years Mr. Witherspoon, in addition to his pastoral duties, has served as corresponding secretary of the Board of Freedmen's Missions of the United Presbyterian Church. The duties of this position have required him to visit the various missions in the South every year, and he has arranged for the purchase of land and has fixed the location of nearly all of these missions. During the same period, also, he has been Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Allegheny for the Presbyterian Church, and for more than twenty years has been secretary of the Board of Trus-
tees of Westminster College and a member of the permanent Committee on Finance of that institution. As a citizen he has been active and has taken an interest in the industrial and educational problems of the city. He was a member of the Board of Control of Public Schools for eight years, and a portion of that time was chairman of the Committee on the High School. It was during this period that the high school was established, and to Mr. Witherspoon belongs the honor of having introduced the first motion for a high school.
For twenty-five years he lived on Henderson Street, Nunnery Hill, and then moved to his present residence at 153 Buena Vista Avenue. At the beginning of his ministry here the congregation worshipped in a small brick chapel on the corner of First and East Streets, and remained there until 1870. In 1869, on a lot on the corner of Irwin Avenue and Fill- more Street, given for the purpose by Mr. John Taggart, an old and wealthy citizen of the Second Ward, the foundations of a new building were laid; and early in 1870 the superstructure was erected. Preparatory to entering the new building, a Sunday-school was opened in the Theological Seminary on the corner of North Avenue and Buena Vista Street, with ten teachers and fifty pupils. In October the church was finished, and the school was moved into it the second Sunday of that month. The main audience room was finished during the winter; and it was dedi- cated for public worship on the second Sunday of April, 1871, having cost, including the furnishings, twenty-six thousand dollars.
1 'AMUEL CHARLES PEARCE, a well-known politician of Pittsburg, was born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, February 5, 1863, son of Harry and
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Mary (Volster) Pearce. The grandfather, Samuel Pearce, also a native of Newcastle, was engaged in mining. He was a member of the Baptist church. His son, Harry, the only member of the family who left England, was born December 27, 1838. Harry grew up in Newcastle, and was educated there. After serving his time as apprentice in min- ing, he was made assistant superintendent of a large colliery. He married Mary Volster, a daughter of Charles Volster, who belonged to an old family of Newcastle, and there lived and died. To this union two children were born while the parents were in England --- Samuel Charles and Sarah. Sarah is now Mrs. William Anbalink, of Pittsburg. In 1866 Mr. Pearce brought his family to Pitts- burg. A month later he went to Ridgway, Elk County, to open up a coal mine for the Philadelphia Fuel Company, acting as their ,superintendent, having charge of all the larger works of the company, and residing there until 1869. He then resigned to enter the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad Company as an expert to explore for coal in Wyoming Territory. Successful in this en- terprise, he opened up three different mines, and was occupied in Wyoming until 1873. While there he owned a share in a gold mine found in the Black Hills, but sold it when about to return East. He was next engaged in the hotel business in several towns of Western Pennsylvania. He now owns hotel property in Allegheny City, where he has re- sided during the past five years. He has al- ways been an ardent Republican and protec- tionist. Four children were born to him in this country, namely : Harry, Jr., who died in 1895 at the age of twenty-six; Thomas A., who married, and resides in Allegheny; Jo- seph C., who holds the position of cashier in his brother's office; and Rhoda, who is at
home. Both parents are members of the Bap- tist church.
Samuel Charles Pearce first went to school in Tarentum, where the family resided during his father's absence in the West. On com- pleting the course of the public school, he became a moulder in the employ of the Stand- ard Manufacturing Company of Allegheny. The heavy work and the dampness connected with this occupation obliged him to give it up" after a time. At the age of twenty-one he entered the Curry Institute, taking both the regular and the business courses. After grad- uating from this school, he started a small general country store at Springdale. Meet- ing with success from the start, he in time acquired a very profitable business, and became the proprietor of a large establishment. I !! health compelled him to sell out in 188 ;. From the time he cast his first vote Mr. Pearce has taken an active and influential part in the politics of the county and State. A member of the Republican party, he served on the local committee, and represented his town in different conventions. On May 1, 1888, he went into the treasurer's office with William Hill, the treasurer, as a temporary arrange- ment. By the next treasurer, John A. Bell, he was appointed cashier to the county treas- urer. In this position he handled yearly from: two to three millions of dollars. While s employed he was made Director of Schools, i: which capacity he still serves. He has been for three years the secretary of the Sche: Board, and is now its treasurer. At the close of Mr. Bell's term Mr. Pearce was appointed Mercantile Appraiser for the county. Uy the expiration of his term in that office : : became cashier again under County Treasurer Brown, till Mr. Brown appointed him to his present lucrative position, which he has ah !. filled for the past two years. He has beet
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