USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > Biographical review : v. 24, containing life sketches of leading citizens of Pittsburgh and the vicinity, Pennsylvania > Part 27
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Having begun the study of medicine with his father and his uncle when quite young, Dr. Braun graduated from the Philadelphia Univer- sity of Medicine and Surgery in 1867, and is a licentiate of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky. He took a post-graduate course at the Alma Mater of his father and grandfather, the University of Heidelberg, in 1881, and at- tended the New York Polytechnic in 1884-85. Since the year 1867 he has practised at Alle- gheny, Cleveland, Pittsburg, and Cincinnati. At first he was a general practitioner, but for the past ten years he has given especial atten- tion to nervous and chronic diseases. He is connected with his brother, Dr. Edward L. Braun, in several business enterprises.
Dr. Braun belongs to the fraternities of Masons, Odd Fellows, Heptasophs, the Union Veteran Legion, and the G. A. R. In poli- tics he is a Republican, and he has served in several public capacities in Pennsylvania and Ohio. He has travelled much both in Europe and America, a pleasure that was much en- hanced by his command of several languages.
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On October 31, 1863, he married into a highly respected family of the South Side of Pittsburg. By this marriage he became the father of five children, of whom Edward and Emma are deceased. The others are: Kate, who has become a teacher of elocution; Will- iam, who married Miss Steele Smith, of But- ler, Pa., and has one child; and Harry L., who is a teacher of dancing and an author of musical compositions. A brave soldier, an enthusiastic physician, a successful business man, and a cultured and polished member of society, Dr. Braun is highly esteemed by all who know him.
LBERT W. NICHOLSON, a promi- nent member of the Masonic order in Pittsburg, was born in Carnegie, then Mansfield, Allegheny County,' May 5, 1859, son of William and Louisa (Williams) Nicholson. The father, who was born at Noblestown, Pa., in 1820, spent his boyhood in that place. He married a daughter of Washington Williams, one of the earlier steamboat carpenters of this section. After his marriage he settled on Dorrington farm, where he lived as a farmer for twenty-four years. Later in life he bought a farm at Woodville, and was engaged in the real estate business quite extensively until 1877, when he retired from active life. He and his wife now reside in Pittsburg. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Will- iam's brother, the late Thomas Nicholson, of Beaver County, was a member of the State legislature and the framer of the present school law. He was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln auditor of the war accounts, in which position he became well known. He com- pleted his task, but died immediately after- ward from the effects of the intense strain
caused by the arduous undertaking. The three children of William Nicholson were : Albert W., the subject of this sketch; Emma, who is at home; and Elmina, now Mrs. John F. Mckibben, of Pittsburg.
Albert W. Nicholson was educated at the public school of Woodville and the business academy of Professor R. H. Kelly. Up to this time his father intended to prepare him for the bar; but a change in the circumstances of the family threw him upon his own" re- sources, when he took a position in the rolling- mill owned by his uncle. Here he learned the heating business, being given the charge of a furnace. Five years later he was employed by the Park Brothers in the steel business; and on January 14, 1881, he became an employee of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. On the first day spent in the service of this rail- road he was assigned the duty of sweeper and baggage man. Afterward he was gradually promoted until he was given entire charge of one of the departments of the baggage-room at Union Station. On March 28, 1886, he was transferred to the ticket office, serving first as night clerk, then as day clerk, and finally becoming assistant in charge of the coupon window, a large amount of money and tickets being under his control. He holds his present responsible position by virtue of strict atten- tion to business. He has been active in poli- tics in the Republican party, has served on different committees, and is now secretary of the Wilkinsburg Republican Club. He was made a Master Mason in Washington Lodge, No. 253, F. & A. M., of Pittsburg, of which he is Past Master by service. He is also a member of the East End Chapter, R. A. M. ; of the Lodge of Perfection, and of different Masonic bodies of Pittsburg up to the Con- sistory, thirty-second degree; and is a Noble of Syrian Temple, Mystic Shrine.
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On December 16, 1884, he married Ida Mckibben, who, born in Pittsburg, a daughter of Robert Mckibben, spent her girlhood in West Salem, Ohio. They have lost one child. The four still living are: Jennie Louisa, Paul Brodrup, Robert Hays, and Leo- nore Elmina. Lilian Edna died in infancy. Since his marriage Mr. Nicholson has resided in Wilkinsburg, a suburb of Pittsburg. Both he and Mrs. Nicholson are members of the First Presbyterian Church there.
OBERT M. EWING, a promising young member of the legal fraternity in Pittsburg, who was born Janu- ary 31, 1868, near Saltsburg, Indiana County, is a worthy representative of an old family of this State. His grandfather, John Ewing, a lifelong resident of Armstrong County, came of Scotch-Irish ancestry, a fact that accounts for his active mental power and habits of in- dustry and thrift.
James H. Ewing, one of the five children of John, was born, bred, and educated in Arm- strong County. Soon after attaining his ma- jority, he established himself as a farmer in Indiana County. In the pursuit of agriculture he was very successful, and became an impor- tant factor in advancing the industrial and educational interests of his adopted town and county. He is now living retired from active pursuits at Saltsburg. His wife, Eleanor J. Rhea Ewing, born and reared in Armstrong County, was a daughter of Isaac Rhea, who also came of Scotch-Irish descent. He was engaged in general farming in his native county until his death, at the age of seventy years. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Hart, five children were born. Born of the union of J. H. Ewing and Miss Rhea were twelve children, of whom eight are
living. These are: Elizabeth M., who is the wife of J. A. Hawk; the Rev. J. C. R. Ewing, D. D., who is a missionary in India; John A., now an attorney at Leadville, Col .; Ira C., a prominent business man of Pittsburg; the Rev. Arthur H., who is also a missionary in India; the Rev. Joseph L., the pastor of the Presbyterian church at Aspinwall, Pa. ; Rob- ert M., the subject of this sketch ; and How- ard, who lives with his parents. The father has been a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian church for many years, and both parents are among the most valued members of that so- ciety. It was their ambition to so educate their children that the latter might be enabled to make the best possible use of their talents.
Robert M. Ewing grew to manhood on his father's farm in Westmoreland, receiving his education in the district schools, at a private academy in the adjoining town of Saltsburg, and in Washington and Jefferson College, of Washington, Pa. After teaching school for a time, he turned his attention to the study of law, and in July, 1892, was admitted to the bar of Indiana, Pa. A few months later he came to Pittsburg; and in June, 1893, he was ad- mitted to the Allegheny County bar. He at once opened an office in the Yoder Building at Pittsburg; and, in the short space of time that has since elapsed, he has acquired a lucrative practice and won for himself an assured posi- tion among the younger attorneys of the city. A close student and an energetic worker, while quiet and unassuming in his manner, he is justly popular among his acquaintances.
On June 14, 1894, Mr. Ewing married Miss Anna S. Davis, daughter of McLain and Caro- line (Mahan) Davis, of Indiana, Pa. Soon after this happy event the young couple took possession of the beautiful residence built by Mr. Ewing at 411 Biddle Avenue, Wilkins- burg. In politics Mr. Ewing is an adherent
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of the Republican party, and he is a member and the secretary of the Wilkinsburg School Board. Both he and Mrs. Ewing are active members of the Presbyterian church, which he serves in the capacity of Deacon.
J OHN GRIPP, a prominent public offi- cial of Pittsburg, was born in this city, July 28, 1856. His parents, John C. and Elizabeth Gripp, were natives respectively of Prussia and Alsace-Lorraine. The father, who emigrated to the United States when a young man, and followed the trade of boiler- maker, had charge of Thomas Thorn's works for many years, and at one time was foreman of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company's works. He died in 1873, and his wife in 1893. They had ten children, of whom seven are living, namely: Catherine, the wife of David Brubach, of Allegheny; Sophia, the wife of Henry Reismeyer, a grocer of Pitts- burg; Louisa, a resident of this city; Eliza- beth, the widow of John Kleppner; Jacob, a boiler-maker in this city; Charles, a brass finisher; and John, the subject of this sketch. A twin sister of John died in infancy, and Frank died of small-pox at the age of ten years. The other child was a twin sister to Charles.
John Gripp received his education in a Ger- man school and in the graded and high schools of Pittsburg. His first employment for wages was as clerk in the office of Mr. Kreuter, a magistrate in the Third Ward. He afterward served in the same capacity under Mr. Kreu- ter's successor, Magistrate Burke. His next employment was that of clerk in the registry department of the Pittsburg post-office, from which position he was afterward promoted to that of superintendent. He resigned the lat- ter office after a time to become clerk for
Mayor Andrew Fulton, and a year later he was elected Alderman. Since then he has been twice re-elected Alderman, and at the last two elections his candidacy was indorsed by all parties. While an Alderman he was selected as Deputy Mayor by Mayor Fulton. After the passage of the new city charter he was appointed Magistrate, a position which he held for five years. During the late labor riots, in the exercise of his official functions he did much toward restoring peace to the city. His disposal of the cases of many parties charged with rioting or inciting riot was sustained by the Supreme Court. He is very prominent in the Republican party or- ganization, having served as chairman and secretary of the City and Executive Commit- tees. He has also attended either as a dele- gate or alternate, several national, State, and district conventions. Some time ago he was his party's candidate for the office of Registrar of Wills and Deeds of the Orphans' Court.
On May 1, 1884, Mr. Gripp wedded Emma C. Walk, of Rochester, Beaver County. They have had three children ; namely, Corenna W., Raymond, and John. John died in November, 1892, aged seven years. Mr. Gripp is con- nected with Pittsburg Council, Order of American Mechanics, the Royal Arcanum, the Macchabees, and the Protective Home Circle. Both he and Mrs. Gripp attend the German Lutheran church.
SCAR A. CONSTANS, the division freight agent of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at Pittsburg, was born No- vember 23, 1862, at Columbus, Ohio, son of John W. and Amelia (Hoskot) Constans. The father, who was born and educated in France, in his young manhood came to the United States, settling in Columbus, Ohio.
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Here he embarked in the wholesale leather trade, and had built up a large and prosperous business when he died in 1875. He was mar- ried at Fairfield, Ohio, to Miss Amelia, daughter of Frederick Hoskot. She survives him, and resides in Pittsburg. Eight chil- dren were born of their union, namely: John F., a resident of this city and an employee of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company ; Minnie A., who is the wife of W. O. Beckley, of St. Louis, Mo. ; William, who died when young ; Carl A., of this city, who is connected with the C. & N. W. R. R. ; Oscar A., the subject of this sketch; Guy W., of Pittsburg, and Leslie H., who are both connected with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad; and Grace M., the wife of Thomas W. Mosser, of this city. The mother belongs to the Presbyterian church, of which the father was an official member.
Oscar A. Constans acquired a practical edu- cation in the common and high schools of his native city. For some years after the comple- tion of his studies, he had charge of a Colum- bus abstract office. Resigning that position, he accepted one in the ticket department of the Baltimore & Ohio Railway Company, under J. C. Lanius, division ticket agent at Columbus, with whom he continued until 1883. In May, 1884, Mr. Constans became the private secretary of C. S. Wight, who was then assistant general freight agent of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company in the same city. When Mr. Wight, on May 22, 1885, was transferred to Pittsburg and pro- moted to the office of general freight agent, Mr. Constans accompanied him as secretary, in which capacity he served until 1891, when he was appointed chief clerk to Mr. Wight. In these subordinate positions he made him- self thoroughly conversant with the details of the freight business, becoming well qualified
for the important office which he is now so ably filling. This city is one of the largest and most prominent freight points on the Bal- timore & Ohio system, needing a large clerical force and many agents, all of whom, number- ing one hundred or more, are under the super- vision of Mr. Constans.
Mr. Constans was married July 19, 1893, to Miss Flora H. Schille, daughter of Peter and Sophia (Green) Schille, of Columbus, Ohio. Both Mr. and Mrs. Constans are members of the First Presbyterian Church. Mr. Constans is also connected by membership with the Im- proved Order of Heptasophs, belonging to the Pittsburg Conclave, No. 89.
ON. JONAS ROUP MCCLINTOCK, M.D., a former wealthy and distin- guished citizen of Pittsburg, was born on "The Diamond," Pittsburg, January 9, 1808. His father, John McClintock, emi- grated from Ireland in the early part of the century, and after a short stay in Philadelphia came to Pittsburg, where he kept the Iron City Hotel at the foot of Fifth Avenue. He married Miss Elizabeth Roup, daughter of Jonas, one of the earliest settlers of Pittsburg, and a few years later bought one hundred acres at the corner of Fifth and Penn Avenues, known as Point Breeze, there devoting him- self to agricultural pursuits until the time of his death. He was a strong Democrat, but was never an aspirant for public office. He had one son, Jonas, named for his grandfather Roup, and two daughters: Martha, who mar- ried George Grier; and Fannie, who married the Rev. J. G. Fulton, of Tarrytown.
Jonas Roup Mcclintock, his only son, pre- pared for college in the Pittsburg schools, and graduated from Western University under Dr. Bruce and Dr. Black. After studying with
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Dr. Holmes, an early resident of Pittsburg, he took his degree of Doctor of Medicine at the Baltimore Medical School, and for a few years after graduation engaged in the practice of his profession. He at once became very popular in the city, and, being elected Mayor when but twenty-eight years of age, was called for many years the "boy Mayor of Pittsburg." He was three times elected Mayor, and during his administration made the first attempt to improve the boat landings at the water front. Finding that he could not do justice both to his political and his professional duties, he gave up his medical practice, and devoted his entire attention to the needs of the city. In 1840 he was appointed, by President Van Buren, Melter and Refiner of the Mint at Phil- adelphia; and he spent seven years there, then resigning his position to return to his former home. He served several terms in the House of Representatives, and was subsequently chosen State Senator, his colleague being Judge Wilkins. After three terms of service in the Senate, Dr. McClintock lived retired from public life, and engaged in the iron busi- ness in Pittsburg, also spending a large por- tion of his time in superintending his farm at Point Breeze, now known as the Mcclintock place, and where he died November 27, 1879. He had been an officer in the State militia, and was first Captain of the Duquesne Grays.
Dr. McClintock married January 24, 1839, Rachel B. Graham, daughter of Major William Graham, a pioneer settler of Pittsburg and a soldier in the War of 1812. Major Graham came from Ireland, and was a carpenter and builder in the early days, many of the old- time homes still standing being erected by his hand. His title of Major was received in the militia. He was a splendid rider and commander of a troop of horse. He married Ann Ball, who was born on "The Diamond,"
where her father kept a hotel. Major Gra- ham owned a house on Fourth Avenue, where the Dollar Savings Bank now stands. He had seven children, and his daughters all married into the fine old families of Pittsburg. Eliza Graham married A. McN. Sample; Mary married George McCandless; Maria married Abram Horbach; Martha married first W. F. Jones, and after his death became the wife of M. G. Cushing; Olivetta married Mr. George Singer, at whose residence the father died. The mother, Mrs. Ann B. Graham, died in 1861. An only son went to Califor- nia in 1849, and died there early in life.
Mrs. Rachel B. McClintock has four chil- dren surviving, namely : Elizabeth, now Mrs. E. H. Miles, of Huntington; John, who is in business in the city ; James; and Jonas R., Jr. The family have always been stanch supporters of the Presbyterian church. They assisted largely in the building of the Point Breeze church edifice on Penn and Fifth Avenues.
EV. W. J. HOLLAND, PH. D., D. D., LL. D., son of the Rev. Francis R. and Eliza A. (Wolie) Holland, was born at Bethany, a Moravian mission station in Jamaica, W.I., on August 16, 1848. His father, a Moravian clergyman, was prominent in his denomination in educational work. His mother was born at Bethlehem, Pa. By both parents he traces his lineage back to the earli- est settlers of this country. One of his mater- nal ancestors preached the first sermon in the English language upon Manhattan Island. Another took part with George Whitefield in founding the Philadelphia Academy, from which has since sprung the University of Pennsylvania.
W. J. Holland received his elementary edu- cation at Salem, N.C. From 1863 to 1867
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he studied at the Moravian College at Bethle- hem, Pa. He graduated at Amherst College, Amherst, Mass., in 1869, after which he took a complete theological course in the Princeton Theological Seminary, graduating in 1874. Beginning in 1874, he was the pastor of the Bellefield Presbyterian Church in the city of Pittsburg until 1891. Since the latter year he has been the Chancellor of the Western University of Pennsylvania. He received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from Washing- ton and Jefferson College, that of Doctor of Divinity from Amherst College, and that of Doctor of Laws from Dickinson College and the New York University. He is a member of many learned societies in America and Europe, was the naturalist of the United States Eclipse Expedition to Japan in 1887. He was also appointed to the same position on the United States Eclipse Expedition to Africa in 1889, but owing to domestic affliction was unable to accompany the party. He has trav- elled extensively in Europe and in the New World, and has written voluminously upon natural history topics. Over eighty articles from his pen have been published in the pro- ceedings and transactions of learned societies in this country and Europe.
During his connection with the Western University, besides attending to his executive duties, Dr. Holland has lectured upon zoology and botany, and has given instruction in inter- national law and political economy. . He was the first president of the Academy of Science and Art of the city of Pittsburg. He is vice- president of the Board of Trustees of the Western Theological Seminary. He was one of the original commission appointed by Mr. Carnegie to erect the Pittsburg Carnegie Li- brary, and he is a trustee of the fund estab- lished by Mr. Carnegie for the promotion of art and science in connection with his munifi-
cent gift to the city. Recently he has taken a very active part in the deliberations of the commission appointed by the Mayor of Pitts- burg to examine the water supply of the city and to suggest methods for the filtration and purification of the same.
OȘIAH N. BOGGS, M.D., for many years a prominent physician in Alle- gheny, was born December 5, 1828, in Anderson Court-house, S.C., son of Josiah N. Boggs. His paternal grandfather, who, com- ing of Scotch-Irish ancestry, was born and reared in Maryland, settled in South Carolina, fought as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and died from the effects of a snake bite while in the army. Grandfather Boggs reared a large family of children, all of whom, with the exception of his son Josiah, lived to an advanced age.
Josiah N. Boggs, Sr., resided in South Carolina until some years after his marriage. In 1834 he removed to Perry County, Ala- bama, near Uniontown, and there purchased a large cotton plantation, which he successfully carried on until his death in 1842, at the com- paratively early age of forty-one years. The first of his two marriages was contracted with Jane Eliza Miller, daughter of John Miller, a native of England. John Miller printed the celebrated Letters of Junius in 1769, in conse- quence of which he was obliged to flee his native land. His entirely honorable silence regarding the identity of Junius has left the world an historical enigma that will most probably never be solved. After coming to America, he turned his attention to farming, in which he was afterward engaged until his death. Of the ten children born to Josiah N. Boggs and his wife, two, besides Dr. Boggs, are living, namely : Francis L., of Knoxville,
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Tenn. ; and Jane, the wife of the Rev. Mr. Walker, of Texas. After the death of his first wife Josiah married Mrs. Mary Burnett Brown, of Virginia. Both of the Doctor's parents were old-school Presbyterians.
Dr. Boggs was but six years of age when his parents removed to their Alabama plantation. Here he obtained his elementary education from a private instructor. In 1842 he be- came a student in Hopewell Academy; and later he attended Madison College, near Mar- ion, Ala. Subsequently he read medicine with Dr. James Kent, of Selma, Ala., after- ward entering the Medical College of Atlanta, Ga., from which he graduated with an honor- able record in 1861. In August of that year he enlisted in Company D, Fourth Alabama Volunteer Infantry. Shortly after he was de- tailed as a physician, and served in that ca- pacity until January, 1862, when he was appointed assistant surgeon at the Banner Hos- pital in Richmond, Va. A few months later he was transferred to the Third Alabama Hos- pital of the same city, and was there until December, 1863, being then assigned to duty on the Third Division of Camp Jackson, then located near Hollywood Cemetery in Rich- mond. In March, 1864, he was promoted to the Surgical Reserve Corps of the Army of Virginia, and subsequently served as surgeon in all the battles fought between Grant and Lee and between Sheridan and Early. After the war Dr. Boggs then opened an office in Richmond, Va., where he was engaged in practice until October 18, 1865. Coming then to this country, he located first in Pitts- burg, where he continued his professional labors from November 9, 1865, until April, 1879. Then he moved to his present home in Allegheny, where he has built up an ex- cellent practice. Many years ago he became an Odd Fellow and a Mason. By his indus-
try and good management he has acquired a comfortable fortune, including an interest in the Bonatarre Railroad Transportation Com- pany, of which one of his sons-in-law is the president.
On July 9, 1863, Dr. Boggs was married to Miss Virginia P. Graves, of Richmond, Va., a daughter of Thomas W. and Ann (Wyatt) Graves. His children are: Thomas G., Jo- seph C., Anna C., and Edna Lee. Thomas was at one time connected with the Memphis Appeal, but is now chief insurance agent of the Tennessee and south-western territory of the Philadelphia Title and Trust Company. He married Olie, daughter of Judge Clapp, of Memphis, Tenn., and is now a resident of that city. Joseph C., who is practising medicine with his father, married Miss Alberta Bonny, of Baltimore, Md. ; and they have two children - Mildred and William. Anna C., the wife of Dr. E. S. Montgomery, of Pittsburg, has one child, Virginia. Edna Lee is the wife of William K. Kavanaugh, of St. Louis, and has two children living - Josiah Boggs and Sarah. While the Doctor does not belong to any relig- ious organization, Mrs. Boggs is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Pitts- burg, Pa.
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