USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > Biographical review : v. 24, containing life sketches of leading citizens of Pittsburgh and the vicinity, Pennsylvania > Part 14
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EV. BRYAN BERNARD KILLI- KELLY, D. D., for forty-four years one of the prominent clergymen of the Episcopal church, and well known in the city of Pittsburg and the surrounding coun- ties, was born in Bridgetown, Barbadoes, January 18, 1804. He was the son of Gen- eral B. B. Killikelly, of the Governor's staff, Island of Barbadoes, West Indies, and his wife, Dorothy Bartell Killikelly. Dr. Killi- kelly's great-grandfather was the first of the . family in the West Indies.
General Killikelly was born in 1769, and
died about 1809. He began life in the British Navy, and at the capture of a French vessel he was so severely wounded as to be unsea- worthy, although the command of the vessel had fallen upon him, the superior officer hav- ing been killed. After this the English gov- ernment made him General and Paymaster in charge of the Barbadoes Island, and second only to the Governor, in case of whose absence he became Acting Governor. General Killi- kelly was a man of distinguished appearance, and was often taken for King George III. of England. He died in service. His wife, Dorothy, was a Baltimore lady by birth.
Educated by professors from the great Eng- lish universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Bryan B. Killikelly subsequently entered the ordnance department in the British military service, being in the office of the Duke of Wellington at the age of sixteen. He came to the United States in 1826, was naturalized soon after, and remained throughout life a loyal son of his adopted country. In 1831, in New York City, he commenced studying for the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal church, having charge at the same time of Old Trinity Parish School, Dr. (afterward Bishop) Wainwright, rector. At the outbreak of the cholera scourge in 1833, he labored with untiring zeal to alleviate the sorrows and pains of the suffering and the bereaved, and could not be induced to leave the city. Later in the same year he came to Pennsylvania; and on January 19, 1834, he received holy orders in St. John's Church, Lawrenceville, Pitts- burg, at the hands of the Right Rev. H. U. Onderdonk, Assistant Bishop of Pennsylvania.
He at once entered upon his ministry, being appointed rector of St. Paul's Church at Kittanning, Pa., and having charge also of St. Peter's Church in Butler. He soon after built Trinity Church at Freeport, Pa., and in
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1837 established in Kittanning a flourishing seminary for young ladies, which was endowed by the State. Resigning his charge in Butler to Dr. William White, he built a church in the wilderness, Wayne township, Pa., and named it, in memory of his native parish in Barbadoes, St. Michael's. His missionary labors in Western Pennsylvania were con- ducted on horseback ; and he was accustomed to ride through the country in all seasons, sometimes in winter weather so severe that he had to be lifted off his horse when reaching his destination.
In 1839 he entered the diocese of Bishop Kemper, in the State of Indiana, taking with him his wife, and settling in Vincennes at a salary of two hundred dollars a year, where he formed a congregation, and founded a church and a school, sacrificing a fine parish and an endowed seminary that was yielding a good income to answer the call for a missionary in the then Far West. So vigorous were his efforts to establish his church, and to draw the Protestant children from the Roman Catholic schools, that his life was endangered by the Romanists of the old French town. In 1841 he went to England to raise the funds neces- sary to erect a church building, and in three months returned with two hundred and thirty- three pounds. A lot was given by President William H. Harrison ; and St. James' Church was erected thereon, the first brick Protestant Episcopal church in the State. Dr. Killi- kelly remained in charge of the church seven years, and was elected Chancellor of the Uni- versity of Vincennes, having the degree of Doctor of Divinity conferred upon him. As a leader and instructor of young people he was greatly beloved, and a beautiful memorial cross has recently been erected to his memory in St. James' by his pupils, forty years after his resignation of the parish. From Vin-
cennes he went to the northern part of Indiana, at Delphi; but the malarial climate rendered him unfit for the performance of his duties, and he was obliged to leave the State. In 1843 he removed with his family to Grand Gulf, Miss., and while there was elected delegate from that diocese to the General Convention of 1844. His courage in the cholera of New York was equalled by his attendance upon the black scourge victims while a resident in Mis- sissippi. The climate proved too debilitating for him, and he returned to his old parish at Vincennes; but here after a few years his health again failed, and in 1849 he returned to Pennsylvania, and reopened his seminary at Kittanning, and resumed his missionary labors.
In 1885 he accepted a call to All Saints' Church, Paradise, and Christ Church, Lea- cock, Lancaster County, Pa., and at once en- tered heartily into the work of his new field, enlarging and beautifying the churches, and establishing a young ladies' boarding and day school, which added fifty members to All Saints' parish. His services as rector of the school were free, and its success was largely due to his personal supervision. In 1857 he established a missionary station for services to be held every Sunday at Gap Mines, Oc- torara Hills, and preached to the people there in a shop or often in the open air. He soon raised funds to build a beautiful stone church, which was called Grace Church, the miners and farmers giving their time and labor as their contribution. The corner-stone was laid by the late Bishop Bowman, and the building was consecrated in the following year by Bishop Bowman and Dr. William B. Stevens. The parent churches, All Saints' Church and Christ Church, contributed nobly to maintain- ing the services of the Sunday-school. The prosperity of the three parishes was materi-
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ally checked by the outbreak of the Civil War. Its young men were called away, and the rev- enue became reduced; and Dr. Killikelly, no longer young, began to feel the duties of so large a field more than he could compass. His parishioners were scattered through ten townships, covering an area of twenty-four square miles; and he travelled over a thousand miles a year in his carriage on pastoral duties.
In 1863 he was again earnestly recalled to take up his educational and missionary work in Kittanning; and reluctantly resigning his parishes in Lancaster County, where he had made lifelong and tenderly cherished friend- ships, he returned to close his ministry where he had commenced it, in Western Pennsyl- vania. The last service and the last com- munion at which he officiated were at St. Paul's, Kittanning. During the Easter ser- vice of 1877 he was taken ill; and eleven days later he passed away, after having bade an affectionate farewell to his bishop and to the many friends who came to see him. As a preacher he was eloquent and forcible. A man of broad and tender sympathies, kind and gentle to all, he was well fitted by nature to offer consolation to those in trouble or sorrow.
In 1835 Dr. Killikelly was united in mar- riage with Mary Meech, daughter of Robert Brown, Esq., an extensive land-owner residing in Kittanning and an active member of St. Paul's Church. Mrs. Killikelly survived her husband for fifteen years, dying in 1891, be- loved and honored by all who knew her. Dr. and Mrs. Killikelly had four daughters and two sons. One son, Robert Brown, died in infancy. The daughters are: Jane Roach ; Anna Isaacson, wife of Captain Thomas H. Carpenter, U.S.A .; Sarah Hutchins; and Mary Margaret, now Mrs. H. G. Morse. Miss Sarah H. Killikelly, F.S.Sc., is the well-known author of a most interesting book,
"Curious Questions," which won for her a fe ?- lowship in the Society of Science, Letters. and Art, London. The son, Bryan Bernar: Killikelly, Jr., took holy orders, and became assistant pastor of the beloved Phillips Brow . of Trinity Church, Boston, and later rector of St. Philip's, Philadelphia. His death, Octo- ber 16, 1887, in the full strength of his man- hood, was mourned by a wide circle of friends. He left a son, Bryan Bernard, third.
OHN E. SHAW, A.B., secretary c: the Lake Erie & Ohio Ship Canal Com- pany, was born in North Versailles township, Allegheny County, Pa., February 8, 1857, and now makes his home in Pitts- burg. The son of John and Martha (Smith Shaw, he represents the fourth generation of his family in this country, his great-grandpar- ents having come over from County Down, in the north of Ireland, when his grandfather, David Shaw, was only eight years old. They settled in Juniata County, Pennsylvania.
After his parents' death David Shaw re- moved to Allegheny County about 1786, and settled on the Monongahela River in North Versailles township, opposite the present town of Duquesne. He accumulated by paten: grant and purchase over two hundred acres of land, the farm upon which his son, Joh= Shaw, and his grandson, John E. Shaw, were born. Said property is still held by the heirs of John Shaw. David Shaw married Decem- ber 16, 1788, Jane Ekin, from the eastern par: of the State in York County, born in 1764 Mrs. Jane E. Shaw lived to be one hundred and two years old, dying in 1866, and remem- bered perfectly up to the time of her death the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which occurred in her twelfth year. Shorti; after Mr. David Shaw's marriage a raid . :
Limi.
JOHN E. SHAW.
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1 Indians was threatened from the Allegheny River district. Sending his young wife to the block-house at the point of the Youghio- gheny and Monongahela Rivers, he organized a company of men, who went up the river and repelled the Indians. David Shaw was a prominent citizen as well as a successful farmer, and held various public offices. He was a devout member of the United Presbyte- rian church, being probably one of the foun- ders of the church at Turtle Creek, and was a Whig in politics. He died in the year 1834. Mr. John E. Shaw still has in his possession the deed which gave to his grandfather the title to the farm.
John Shaw, son of David, was born in 1806. He spent his boyhood days at the old home- stead, which is opposite Duquesne, and fronts on the beautiful Monongahela River, and re- mained here until he began life for himself as a farmer. He did an extensive and success- ful business in this line until 1869, when he sold coal under the farm, the land having been found to contain valuable coal deposits, and retired from agricultural labors. He removed to Stewart's Station in Westmoreland County, where he lived until 1884, when he took up his residence at 211 Locust Street, the house adjoining his son's estate in Allegheny City. He died two years later, mourned by a large circle of friends. While not actively engaged in politics, John Shaw was a loyal member of the Republican party, and always voted the Republican ticket. He and his wife were de- voted members of the United Presbyterian church; and as far back as John E. Shaw, the son, can remember, his father was one of the Elders of that organization, at first in the old church at Turtle Creek until he left the farm, then in the Stewart's Station church until he came to reside in Allegheny. John Shaw married on February 27, 1838, Martha Smith,
of North Huntington township, Westmoreland County. She was born in 1817, near Cham- bersburg, Pa. Her parents were early Penn- sylvania pioneers. Since her husband's death Mrs. Shaw has returned to Stewart's Station, and is now living with her daughter almost in sight of the old stone house in which she was married, and which is still standing on the Pennsylvania Railroad, about a mile and a half from Stewart's Station. Six of Mrs. Shaw's seven children are living, namely : Jane, the wife of Dr. S. S. Stewart, of Alle- gheny; Mary, wife of David S. Stewart, of Stewart's Station; Martha, wife of Joseph Cort, of Jeannette; David, now residing in Pocomoke City, Md., and engaged in farming ; John E., the subject of this sketch ; and Eula, wife of William Campbell, of the well-known dry-goods firm of Campbell & Smith.
John E. Shaw received his early education at Pleasant Hill School-house, which was near where East Mckeesport is located. Coming to Pittsburg in 1865, he fitted for college at Newell Institute, and, entering Yale in 1869, was graduated in the class of 1873. His room-mate at Yale was the present Governor of Colorado, the Hon. A. W. McIntire, for- merly a Pittsburg boy; and among his class- mates were Mr. Alexander, United States Minister to Greece, and a number of men who are working in foreign mission fields. In 1875 Mr. Shaw was graduated at Columbia Law School, New York City, and in the same year was admitted to the New York bar and to the Pennsylvania bar by examination. He was engaged in the practice of law until ISSI, when he became connected with the oil inter- ests of Western Pennsylvania. In 1886 he became an active member of the Petroleum Exchange, and assisted in the revision of its charter, making it a stock exchange as well as an oil exchange. He was president of this
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corporation for two years, and later engaged in a wholesale glass business as well as retain- ing his interest in oil stock. On January I, 1890, Mr. Shaw withdrew from the glass busi- ness, which is now continued under the name of R. P. Wallace & Co. In partnership with his brother, and under the firm name of David Shaw & Co., Mr. Shaw carried on a very pros- perous real estate business until 1894, han- dling large acreage properties, such as coal lands and business blocks in the city. On account of the financial depression he discon- tinued this business in 1894.
In December, 1893, Mr. Shaw read an arti- cle in the Review of Reviews on the Manches- ter Ship Canal, and this awakened his interest so much that he began to examine into the proposed plan of digging a canal from Lake Erie to the Ohio River. After some months of careful study he became entirely convinced that the scheme was feasible, and that it would be of an immense commercial impor- tance, not only to the manufacturing interests of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio, but to all the sections of country in the river basin connected with the Great Lakes. Per- sonally he was interested to do something for his own city. He recognized that the avenue of wealth and prosperity for Pittsburg lay in the direction of cheap transportation for manu- factured products along the line of the great- est movement of their tonnage. He believed that the new water-way connecting the Great Lakes with the Ohio, and linking the waters of the Gulf of Mexico to those of the St. Law- ence, would prove not only of local but of na- tional importance. The result of this study of the question and the consequent conviction was the preparation of a paper read before the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce in April, 1894, pointing out a practical plan of pro- cedure.
In this paper Mr. Shaw suggested that a provisional committee be appointed to raise funds to make a thorough survey, and demon- strate to the public the practicability of the project, and secure the necessary State legisla- tion whereby a corporation could undertake to build it, and the national legislation by which the government should, when found de- sirable, assume control of it and make it a free water-way. Acting upon the suggestion, the Chamber of Commerce appointed a com- mittee; and work has been going forward from that time to the present. The plan has been approved by some of the most eminent survey- ors of the country, and the necessary State legislation has been secured. There is also a bill pending before Congress, asking for a na- tional charter for a corporation to build the canal. About thirty-five thousand dollars has been expended by the committee so far in the work, and they are now about to issue their report to the public. Mr. Shaw was appointed a member of the committee; and, when the members met for organization, he was chosen secretary. Upon him largely has devolved the raising and expenditure of funds.
On April 5, 1877, Mr. Shaw married Miss Jeannette L. Miller, daughter of William and Jean S. Miller. Prior to his death in 1887 Mrs. Shaw's father was proprietor of the great Duquesne Forge, which did a large amount of heavy forging for the government. Mr. Miller came from Scotland to this country when Mrs. Shaw was about six months old, sailing in the great clipper "Dreadnaught," the fastest sailing ship ever known. He lo- cated first at Cold Spring, N. Y., but soon came to Allegheny County. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw have three children: John S., who is with the Telephone Company of Pittsburg; Jean S., a student at the Indiana Normal School; and Hugh Campbell Shaw. Until
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1896 Mr. Shaw resided in Allegheny, but in that year he removed to Pittsburg.
. Mr. Shaw is well known as a religious man, and, like his father and grandfather before him, is a devoted member of the United Pres- byterian church. He has been connected with that body since his boyhood - first in the old Turtle Creek church, where his carly home was, then in the church at Stewart's Station; and upon his removal to Allegheny he and his wife united with the Fourth United Presbyterian Church of this city, Dr. James Fulton, pastor. In 1885 Dr. Fulton estab- lished the Montgomery Avenue Mission, where services were held in the evening and a Sunday-school in the afternoon for the chil- dren, the object being to bring in the children of non-church-going parents. Mr. Shaw was chosen superintendent of this Sunday-school, and held the office as long as his residence was in Allegheny City. At the closing exercises of the school, June 30, 1896, prior to the sum - mer vacation, Mr. Shaw was presented by the teachers and officers with a handsome library table, containing an appropriate inscription on a silver plate inserted in the wood-work. Upon taking his residence in Pittsburg, Mr. Shaw joined the Sixth United Presbyterian Church of the East End. He is now engaged in teaching a Bible class in the Sunday-school connected therewith, and he has been elected a Ruling Elder in said church.
AMES L. HAINES, of the firm T. K. Ray & Co., wholesale shoe dealers of Pittsburg, was born here, November 17, 1857, son of Samuel and Martha (McCammon) Haines. The father, who was born in Mill- vale borough, this county, July 6, 1824, and there spent his boyhood, after learning the trade of carpenter came to Pittsburg, and has
here worked at that calling since. Still vig- orous, he and his wife are counted among the oldest members of the old Fourth Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Martha Haines is a daughter of John McCammon, of Columbiana County, Ohio. She has four sons: John, living in Pittsburg; Robert, a resident of Braddock ; James L., the subject of this sketch; and George, who is still at home.
After leaving school at the age of thirteen years, James L. Haines was employed as an errand boy by Albree & Co., one of the oldest firms in the city. His first knowledge of the shoe business was attained at the age of seven- teen in a wholesale house, with which he had been twelve years when the firm gave up busi- ness. His next employment was that of man- ager in the shoe department of a large store. He resigned this position subsequently to join T. K. Ray and James W. Reed in the present business of T. K. Ray & Co. This was in the fall of 1894, when the firm became the proprietors of the business previously con- trolled by Laird & Ray at the same place on Liberty Street. The entire building of eight stories is occupied by the firm; and they em- ploy three salesmen, besides an office force of cight men.
On June 7, 1888, Mr. Haines married Miss Louise Rush, of Allegheny. They have two sons -- Arthur Samuel and Walter Roy. Both Mr. and Mrs. Haines are members of the Pres- byterian Church of Wilkinsburg, where they now reside. Made a Mason at McCaudless Lodge, F. & A. M., of which he is Past Mas- ter, Mr. Haines belongs to Duquesne Chapter ; to the Ancient Scottish Rite; to the Lodge of Perfection, of which he is Past Junior War- den; to the Princes of Jerusalem, Rose Croix, Pennsylvania Consistory, Nobles of the Mys- tic Shrine, and Knights of Mystic Chain; and he has received the thirty-second degree. He
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is also one of the charter members of the An- cient Essenic Order, Pennsylvania Senate, No. 950.
LEXANDER JAMES BARTON, an attorney-at-law of Pittsburg, was born in that city, March 19, 1852, son of James and Jane W. (MacGregor) Barton. His grandfather, Robert Barton, a native of Dumfries County, Scotland, came to this country when the National Road was building, and was employed on that work in the capacity of an engineer. The father, who was born in Pittsburg, October 10, 1816, after receiving a common-school education, learned the car- penter's trade with Roseberg, one of the well- known contractors of that time. He worked for some years as a journeyman, afterward en- gaging in business for himself. For some years before his death he lived on a farm in Harmarville, Allegheny County. He was a Republican, and on one occasion was a candi- date for associate judge against the late Judge Park. His wife, Jane, was a daughter of James MacGregor, of Penn township. They had four children, namely : James, who died in infancy ; Alexander James, the subject of this sketch; William W., of whom there is no special record; and Mary, now the wife of William J. Arbuckle. The father died in the year 1892. He had been for many years a trustee in the United Presbyterian church, of which both he and his wife were members.
Alexander J. Barton attended the public schools of Pittsburg, pursued his study of the classics under a private tutor, and took a course in book-keeping at the Iron City Busi- ness College. Subsequently he registered as a law student in the office of his uncle, John Barton, and in due time was admitted to the bar in 1875. Two years later he opened an office of his own, and has since carried on a
most successful practice, principally in the civil courts. Lawyer Barton was counsel for Joseph P. Splane in the well-known manda- mus case, in which the Supreme Court decided the act of May 19, 1887, regulating admission to the bar in Pennsylvania, unconstitutional.
On September 7, 1876, Mr. Barton married Miss Isabella F. Leitch, daughter of James Leitch, of Allegheny City. Their children are: James Lowrie, Paul C., and Harry Elliott. Both parents are members of the North Presbyterian Church of Allegheny City. Mr. Barton was made a Mason at Ionic Lodge, No. 525, of Allegheny City, January 16, 1882. He is now a Past Master ; a mem- ber of Duquesne Chapter, No. 192; of Pitts- burg Commandery, No. 1 ; of Allegheny Coun- cil No. 38, of which he is P. T. I. G. M. ; and of Pennsylvania Consistory. He also belongs to Security Lodge, No. 703, Knights of Honor; and to Federal Council, No. 108, Royal Arcanum, of which he is Past Regent.
ON. GEORGE WILSON, of Pitts- burg, the president of the Humane Society of Western Pennsylvania, and one of the ex-mayors of the city, was born July 7, 1816, in Baltimore, Md., son of Rob- ert and Esther (Armstrong) Wilson. The father, who was born in Ireland of Scotch- Irish parentage, came to this country about the year 1814, and located in Baltimore. In 1818 he came to Pittsburg, which was then very small and gave no promise of the size and importance it has since attained. By working at his trade of millwright he maintained his family in good circumstances. Both himself and his wife died shortly after their arrival in Pittsburg. They had six children, four boys and two girls.
After the death of his parents George Wil-
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son, still in his childhood, was taken charge of by his sister, Mrs. Margaret Marshall. His attendance at school was much curtailed by the necessity that compelled him to com- mence earning his living as soon as possible. Brief as that period was, it was marked by an incident that he recalls with pleasure to this day. In 1825, on the occasion of General Lafayette's visit to Pittsburg, George Wilson was one of the schoolboys drawn up on Wood Street in two lines between which the Genera! passed, and, further, was one of the few boys with whom the General stopped to speak and shake hands. Not long after, he went to work in the tobacco factory of William Diller, who was one of the earliest manufacturers of to- bacco in the town. In due time he acquired a full knowledge of the trade, after which he was not only able to maintain himself, but to save some money. Under the firm name of Wilson & Fullerton he and John Fullerton opened a store on Liberty Street in 1838. After a few years Mr. Wilson started in busi- ness alone, and conducted it with much suc- cess for many years. He is now a director of the People's Savings Bank, of the Duquesne National Bank, and of the Citizens' Insurance Company. On coming of age he began to take an active interest in politics. Possessed of much natural ability and a studious habit, he soon became conversant with the leading topics of the day. Beginning in 1844, when he was first elected, he served in the City Council for several years, representing differ- ent wards. He also served for some time in the Select Council, and was a director of the public schools for a prolonged period. When it was first proposed to establish che high school, Mr. Wilson took a firm stand in favor of the project, although it was strongly op- posed by many of the most influential citizens. In 1859 he was elected Mayor, and he dis-
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