USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > Biographical sketches of leading citizens of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania > Part 22
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Judge Martin married Miss Jennie A. Andrews, daughter of Rev. J. K. Andrews of Bedford, Pa., and one child has been given them: Norman A., born Nov. 10, 1887. He erected a residence at No. 66 Milton Street, where he resides, and owns considerable real estate in various parts of the city.
Our subject attended the Westminster Col- lege, from which he graduated in 1881, went to Leavenworth, Kan., and studied law with Hon. Lucius Baker, U. S. Senator, and was there taken down with a severe attack of typhoid fever. Upon his recovery, he returned home, and taught mathematics one year in the Mc- Elaine Institute. He then entered the law office of D. B. & E. T. Kurtz of New Castle, and after having fully prepared himself, was admitted to the bar in the September term of the court of Lawrence County in 1883. A partnership was then entered into with S. L. McCracken, which was known as Martin & McCracken, and which continued until 1886, since which time Mr. Martin has been in practice alone and has rapid- ly risen before the people, both in his profession and in the field of politics, to which he is no stranger. He was a member of the common council from 1885 to 1889, and of the select council from 1890 to 1892. In 1892 he was ap- pointed judge, and served until January, 1893, and has since devoted his whole time to his pro- fession. Judge Martin, although a Democratic resident of a Republican county, has made him-
WILLIAM H. CHAMBERS is an esteemed citizen of Mahoningtown, residing on Liberty Street ; for many years past he has taken the lead in all brick and stone-masonry work in the borough and its environs. His parents, James and Margaret (Warwick) Chambers, were both natives of County Down, Ireland, the mother a daughter of William and Jane (Brennan) War- wick. William Warwick with his wife and fam- ily then born came to America in 1848, settling in North Beaver township, this county, where he engaged in farming, and lived to the age of seventy-five years; his wife survived his depart- ure many years, and lived to fill out ninety years, replete with many happy memories, and adorned with many deeds of kindness. James Chambers was two years old, when his parents, William and Mary (Hazlet) Chambers, immi-
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grated to the United States; they were natives of County Down. William Chambers took part in the Irish Rebellion in 1798, and had to make his escape to this country; in Ireland he was a stone-mason, but on coming to America he bought a farm in North Beaver township, and followed agricultural pursuits until his death. James Chambers, the father of our subject, learned the cooper's trade and followed it in his earlier years, but latterly followed farming, con- tinuing in that occupation until his death. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and thoroughly believed in the political principles advocated by the Democratic party.
William H. Chambers was born in North Beaver township, Lawrence County, on his father's homestead, Feb. 10, 1852, and remained at home until he was twenty years old, assisting in the farm work, and attending the district schools whenever he found opportunity. He then, at the age mentioned above, went to Youngstown, Ohio, and learned the trade of a mason both in brick and stone work, and as a journeyman mason worked three years in Youngstown and New Castle. In the spring of 1877, he began taking contracts for masonry work, and in 1880 came to Mahoningtown, where he has ever since been the leading con- tractor in his line of work. Among the largest contracts which he has taken and executed in a superior manner are the M. E. Church edifice, the new schoolhouse, and the bank building, all creditable examples of the mason's art. Mr. Chambers bears an excellent reputation for good, honest work, and he prides himself on the general satisfaction which has attended all his efforts. He is popular and well liked among
his neighbors and fellow-citizens, respected as a man of sterling worth and excellent judgment, and honored for his many services to the bor- ough and to the community at large in the inter- est of law, order and a sound morality.
Mr. Chambers was joined in marriage Oct. 22, 1879, in Youngstown, Ohio, to Ella Megown, who was born in Enon Valley, Law- rence County, a daughter of Samuel R. and Anna (Andrews) Megown, both of Scotch descent. Our subject's family is composed of four children, namely: Anna; Clifford; and the twins, Margaret and Elida. Both our subject and his excellent wife are members in good standing of the Presbyterian Church of Mahon- ingtown. Mr. Chambers is a loyal and earnest Democrat, and has served as justice of the peace four years, finally resigning from that position because of pressing work of a private nature, and has been a member of the school board for twelve years. He has a good standing in Masonic circles, and is a member of Lodge of the Craft, No. 433 of New Castle; and Delta Chapter, No. 170, R. A. M. of New Castle.
JAMES C. RANEY, a miller of the borough of Mahoningtown, was born in Youngstown, Ohio, Jan. 7, 1860, and is a son of Almon and Nancy (Bower) Raney. Almon Raney was a son of John D. and Jane (Parker) Raney, the latter a native of Edinburg, Pa., and a daugh- ter of James Parker, a native of Virginia, and a soldier of the Revolution, who lived to be up- wards of ninety years of age, dying in Edin- burg. John D. Raney was born in Coitsville,
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Ohio, in 1812, and passed away at the age of seventy-two years in Youngstown, Ohio, which city he had served as mayor, and was holding a commission as justice of the peace at the time of his death. During his residence in Edinburg, he served his district in the Pennsylvania Legis- lature. He was a miller by occupation, and fol- lowed milling in Edinburg and Youngstown, but had retired from active work several years previous to his death. He was of Scotch descent. Our subject's mother was a daughter of David and Mary A. Bower. David Bower kept a store on "The Diamond" 'in Mahoning- town, during the days of the canal, and lived to attain the age of sixty-three years.
James C. Raney was reared in Youngstown, Ohio, where he lived six or seven years of his boyhood, and in the various cities and towns in States west of Pennsylvania, where his father had resided during our subject's youth, working at civil engineering. The family lived succes- sively at Danville, Ill., Bloomington and Wash- ington, Ind., and New Lisbon, Ohio. He re- ceived the most of his schooling in New Lisbon, Ohio, where he lived for a considerable period with his grandparents, and then removed to Franklin. He learned milling under the super- vision of his uncle, Bostwick Raney, familiarly known to a large circle of acquaintances as "Doc," at Franklin Square, Ohio, where he resided some six years. In June, 1883, he came to Mahoningtown, and engaged with his uncle, James A. Raney, as miller.
Mr. Raney deserted the state of single bles- sedness to become a benedict in September, 1886, when he married, in Mahoningtown, Della Brock, daughter of Capt. John and Rebecca
(McMillan) Brock. Her mother was born in Beaver County, and was a daughter of William and Martha (Marquis) McMillan, the former a son of John and Eliza (Moore) McMillan, and the latter a daughter of David and Nellie Mar- quis. Mrs. Raney's father was born in Lanca- shire, Eng., in 1820, and was a son of James and Eleanor Brock. Mrs. Raney is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and warmly interested in all its benevolent work. Politics do not ap- peal very strongly to Mr. Raney, for his busi- ness has neved failed to claim his whole attention to the exclusion of all other interests; he is con- tent to exercise his franchise as a simple Amer- ican citizen, and as a supporter of the Republi- can party. He has been a stockholder in the Mahoningtown Bank since its organization, and is president of the school board.
WILLIAM H. LOCKE, a prominent citizen of Mahoningtown, and the leading tinsmith of the borough, was born in the city of New Cas- tle, Dec. 9, 1859, and is a son of William S. and Katharine (Floor) Locke. William S. Locke was a son of William H. Locke, one of the first settlers of the county, and a miller by trade; he lived to be sixty-four years of age. Our sub- ject's father was born in New Castle, June 16, 1828, and died June 15, 1888; when thirteen years old, he learned the tinsmith's trade at New Lisbon, Ohio, and from there in 1867 went to Pittsburg, working as a tin and coppersmith two years. From that city in October, 1869, he moved to New Wilmington, where he resided
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WICK W. WOOD AND DAUGHTER EDNA T.
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the rest of his life. From 1873 to 1881 he was proprietor and manager of the Central Hotel. In politics, he was a firm Republican, and socially he was a member of the I. O. O. F. He and his wife were members of the M. E. Church. She was born in Petersburg, Ohio, and was a daugh- ter of John and Margaret Floor; John Floor, a tanner by trade, lived to be about eighty years of age. There were born to our subject's par- ents three children, who were as follows: Mary Emma, the wife of E. B. Hunter of Franklin, Pa .; William H .; and Annie Margaret, who died at the age of eleven.
William H. was ten years of age when the family left New Castle, and moved to New Wil- high in the estimation of his fellow-citizens as a mington; his education was secured in the pub- lic schools of New Castle and in New Wilming- ton. When nineteen years old, he learned the tinner's trade in his father's shop at New Wil- mington, and in the spring of 1881 went into business for himself in that borough, and successfully conducted it until he disposed of it at a good figure in 1889; after the sale was completed, he worked for his successor. In 1891, he came to Mahoningtown, and opened up a tin-shop on Cherry Street, where he now has a well-established trade of large and constantly increasing dimensions; the business is becoming more valuable every day, and bringing to the proprietor the reward of well-directed and ener- getic toil.
He was joined in the bonds of matrimony in New Wilmington, April 14, 1881, to Isabella B. Beveridge, who was born near Edinburg, Scot- land, a daughter of Robert and Ann (Hender- son) Beveridge. Robert Beveridge in Scotland before coming to this country was interested in
mines, and after becoming a resident and citizen of Pennsylvania was interested in the mines of Mercer County. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Locke: John S .; George W. deceased; and Clara I. The family are mem- bers and regular attendants of the M. E. Church of Mahoningtown. Mr. Locke is a member of the New Wilmington Lodge, I. O. O. F .; Ama- zon Lodge, Knights of Pythias, No. 336, of Ma- honingtown; and Excelsior Lodge, No. 121, Protected Home Circle of Mahoningtown. Both in New Wilmington and Mahoningtown Mr. Locke has taken an intelligent and active inter- est in local matters of interest, and has stood man of excellent judgment and progressive ideas. In New Wilmington he served in the borough council, of which he was secretary; in Mahoningtown he has served efficiently to the general satisfaction of men of all classes as a member of the school board.
WICK W. WOOD, the subject of this sketch, was born in Greenville, Mercer Co., Pa., Dec. I, 1858, his father being Capt. William W. W. Wood, who was shot at the first battle of Fred- ericksburg, dying one month afterwards from the effects of the wound at Douglass Hospital, Washington, D. C .; William W. W. Wood was captain of Company G, 145th Reg. Pa. Vol. Inf. Our subject's mother, Mrs. Nancy (George) Wood, who died in 1873 in New York, was a daughter of Clinton George, deceased, who re- sided near Leech's Corner, about four miles
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from Greenville. The Wood family originated in England, but came to the English Colonies in America sometime early in 1700. A history of the family for 200 years or more has been kept, which shows that the Wood family in America sprung from Sir Peter Wood, who lived in the middle of the seventeenth century, and who was an admiral in the British navy.
Wick W. Wood and his mother resided in Greenville after the war, but after some years he moved to New Castle and made his home with his uncle, A. W. Phipps, until Sept., 1871, when he went to Mercer, Pa., to school. Leaving school in January, 1874, he entered the office of the New Castle Guardian to learn the printing trade. Concluding his apprenticeship at the trade, he became a newspaper writer, and has been connected with the local press for twenty years or more. For one year he was editor and owner of the New Comerstown (Ohio) Index, a weekly newspaper, but sold out the business and was employed on the different newspapers of Columbus, O. He returned to New Castle in 1884, and was employed on the New Castle News in various capacities until 1888, when in September of that year he became the city edi- tor of the New Castle Daily and Weekly Courant, which is now known as the Courant- Guardian. He still retains the position. Mr. Wood with William Douthitt, ex-sheriff of Law- rence County, was connected with the Ellwood
Clinefelter of New Castle. Mrs. Wood was born Dec. 8, 1863, and the couple have one child liv- ing, Miss Edna Treadwell Wood, who was born in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 13, 1884. Mr. Wood has a large acquaintance in the county, and has made a success of his business. The portraits of Mr. Wood and daughter, Edna T., appear on a preceding page.
CHARLES H. SANKEY is one of the suc- cessful farmers as well as law-abiding and respected citizens of Shenango township, and resides on his farm near the center of the town- ship, on which farm his birth took place Dec. 2, 1846. His parents were James and Jane (Savors) Sankey, the latter a native of Enon Valley, this county, and a daughter of John Savors, a farmer of Lawrence County. James Sankey was born in Neshannock township in 1800, and departed this life in 1886. His father, "Aikey" Sankey, came from the east of the mountains at a very early day, settling here in the wilderness as it was then. He had served in the War of the Revolution, and he lived to be a very old man.
Our subject was reared on the farm where he was born and where he has spent his whole life; the house in which he was born stood at the foot of the hill, and this continued to be his home Opera House as manager for the year 1895. He. for many years, at length moving from it to a is also the correspondent of the Pittsburg Dis- patch, Commercial, Gazette, Post, and represents a large number of newspapers in various parts of the country. He was married Sept. 5, 1880, to Miss Tade Clinefelter, a daughter of George
dwelling he had built half-way up the hill near the spring. A few years since he erected a com- modious and well-appointed residence on the summit of the hill not a furlong from his birth- place. His life has thus been spent from the
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very beginning to the present time on the home- stead, and that it has been a happy one, un- troubled by oppressing cares or burdened by troubles, is shown by his youthful and robust appearance. The farm consists of fifty-eight acres, splendidly situated, with numerous springs to provide water for domestic purposes and for the use of the stock. He gives his principal attention to growing small fruits for the city markets, but also carries on general farming quite extensively.
Mr. Sankey was married in New Castle, March 13, 1867, to Miss Amanda Connors, daughter of Michael and Esther (Smith) Con- nors, and of this union five children have been born: John, who married Elizabeth Rosbery, and is in business in New Castle; William P., who is farming with his father; Maude Marie, the wife of Henry A. Anderson, a carpenter re- siding in New Castle; Essie May; and Edna Curll. Mrs. Sankey and her daughters are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Greenwood. In his politics, Mr. Sankey is a conscientious Republican, and votes to uphold the principles of that party with the convictions of a man who believes he is right, and dares to maintain his stand; he has served his native township as school director and as assessor. He is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
Mr. Sankey has just opened a valuable coal mine, located about one-quarter mile from his residence, and within 100 feet from the highway. The vein is about twenty-four inches thick, of as fine a quality of coal as can be found in West- ern Pennsylvania, and he finds ready sale for the same in New Castle, Pa.
ALEXANDER HOUGH, foreman of the Dilworth Paper Co. of New Castle, Pa., was born in Fayette Co., Pa., May 4, 1847, and is a son of Lewis and Francis (Regan) Hough, both natives of Westmoreland Co., Pa.
Our subject's grandfather, Peter Hough, was born in Grant Co., Pa., and was a farmer by occupation, but also operated a still for many years of his life. There were a number of chil- dren born to him and his wife, of whom Lewis, our subject's father, was the youngest of seven sons. Peter was a stanch Democrat, and a member of the Methodist Church.
Lewis Hough was educated in the district schools of South Huntington township, and was engaged at farming all his life, and was con- sidered by his neighbors and those best acquainted with him to be very successful in his work and might well have been called prosper- ous for his day. He was originally a Democrat, but latterly voted the Whig ticket. He married Frances M. Regan, daughter of Alexander Regan of Westmoreland Co., Pa., and eight children blessed their union, namely: Sampson, deceased; Louisa; Alexander, our subject; Cath- erine; Henry; Fannie; Isa; and Louis. The fam- ily were faithful to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject's father departed this life in 1882, aged sixty-five years, and his life-long helpmeet followed him across the River of Death to the other shore in 1891, when aged seventy- one years.
Our subject's education was limited to what he was enabled to obtain in the district school of his native township; he worked on a farm until 1862, when he engaged in the manufacture of paper in West Newton, Pa., having charge
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of the mill for fifteen years. In 1882, Mr. Hough moved to Beaver Falls, Pa., where he superin- tended until 1888 a paper mill for the Dilworth Paper Co. In 1888, he came to New Castle, and is employed as superintendent or foreman of the company's mill there; Mr. Hough is one of the stockholders in the company. They manu- facture sack and express paper. Although not active in politics, and no seeker after political honor and emolument, he votes the Republican ticket and contents himself with thus having per- formed his duty.
In 1872, Mr. Hough married Martha Bales, daughter of Thomas J. Bales of West Newton, Pa. This union has been blessed with four chil- dren, namely: Laura; Blanche, deceased; Nora; and Kurney. The family favor the Presbyterian Church, of which Mrs. Hough and daughters are members in good standing. Our subject is a member of the Royal Ancanum of New Castle.
ISAAC P. DEAN, a member of the promin- ent grocery and commissison house of Dean & Wyrie of the city of New Castle, was born in Scott township, Lawrence County, Sept. 25, 1852, and is a son of Zechariah and Sarah (Dean) Dean, and grandson of Jacob Dean. Our subject's grandfather and his grandmother, who was a Miss Lovell previous to her marriage, were natives of Maryland, where they were mar- ried, and whence they came to Scott township, this county, where they bought a farm about two miles from where the village of Harlansburg is now located. Their first years of residence in
their new home were spent in true pioneer fash- ion, living in a log-cabin, and being occupied the greater part of the time in clearing the land, and in making such other improvements as would enable them to secure a reasonably fair subsistence from the virgin soil, and to lay up a little for a rainy day. As times grew better, and the country became more settled, their worldly condition noticeably improved, and they were soon able to discard their log-cabin for a brick dwelling, which Mr. Dean constructed from brick made on his own farm, which farm is now owned by his son, Simeon. They reared their children there, and passed their last years in peaceful content, and in the enjoyment of the many blessings vouchsafed to them by an All- wise Providence. Their children were named: Simeon; Isaac; Enoch and Amon; Zechariah; Anthea; Mary; Sarah Ann; and Mrs. Braden, who died many years ago.
Our subject's father was born on the home- stead, and was given fifty acres of land to make a start in life, to which he added 100 acres of land, adjoining the original tract. He was a very hard worker, his over-exertions probably bringing on his death at the age of fifty-eight with consumption; his whole attention seeming- ly being given to the improvements of the land, it is no great wonder that he accomplished so much as he did, and made his farm one of the most productive as well as finely equipped farms in the township. His wife is still living. Their children were: Mary J., deceased, who married R. C. G. White; Isaac P., the subject of this nar- ration; Jacob J., who is a large and successful grocer of New Castle; and Benjamin F., an attorney of New Castle.
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Our subject was apprenticed to the harness- making trade, and served three years, but dis- liking that occupation he entered into the gro- cery business with R. C. G. White, under the firm name of White & Dean, continuing in that connection until 1883, when the partnership was dissolved. He was then associated with J. A. Hineman in the grocery business at Har- lansburg. After this our subject bought the homestead, and carried on farming seven years, acquiring an enviable reputation as a model farmer; he still owns the farm, which he rented in 1891, and came to New Castle, where with J. H. Preston he carried on a commission busi- ness at No. 74 Pittsburg Street. Jan. 1, 1897, he bought a one-half interest in the business of R. W. Wyrie, and at their store on Walnut Street, New Castle, under the firm name of Dean & Wyrie, they not only attend to the wants of large retail patronage in groceries, but they also do a large business in handling coun- try produce, making a specialty of butter and eggs.
Mr. Dean married Louise Gillespie, daughter of John Gillespie of this county, and Scott town- ship, and to them have been given five children, as follows: Florence, who married Henry Klee of New Castle, and has two children, Edmond and Catherine; Charles, who marrried Josephine Pile and has two children, Louis and Dorothy, is shipping clerk in Dean's wholesale house; Herbert, a clerk of New Castle, married Minnie Smith, and has one child, Helene; Blanch is a bookkeeper; Ezma is a student. Mr. Dean has been school director and town treasurer and is a member of the Order of Knights of Pythias.
DAVID S. MORRIS, one of New Castle's prominent, leading attorneys, and a large owner of real estate, was born in Meadville, Pa., and is a son of Levi L. and Nancy (McKnight) Mor- ris, and a grandson of David and Ann Morris- his father's birthplace being near Cardigan, Wales. About the year 1800 our subject's grandparents emigrated from their native shores and settled first on a farm, near Utica, N. Y., re- maining there until 1813, when they came to Crawford Co., Pa., and bought a farm near Meadville, where they spent the remainder of their years, and reared their family of children. David Morris was a volunteer in the War of 1812. He was of a very progressive nature, and provided liberally for his family of nine children, who all grew up to worthy men and women, re- spected members of the communities in which they spent their lives, and proud of their Welsh ancestry. David Morris and his noble wife both lived to a good old age, the husband dying at about eighty-five years of age. The children were named as follows: John; Levi Lewis; Richard; David; Elenor; Mary; Martha; Ann; and Jane.
Levi L. Morris received a good old-fashioned training in the schools of the day, learned the carpenter's trade, and settled at Meadville, Pa., where he became a contractor, and was engaged in the building industry, until his health failed and he went South to recuperate. Between the years 1836 and 1838, he took the contract for the Court Houses in Yazoo and Carroll Coun- ties, Miss., and completed the work with entire satisfaction. He was taken sick with a fever at Carrollton, and died at the age of forty. His wife lived to be eighty-five years old, and was the
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mother of five children as follows: David S .; Mary J .; Phoebe E .; James L .; and John F.
David S. Morris attended the Allegheny Col- lege, from which he graduated in 1843, and then became a student in the law office of Hon. H. L. Richmond of Meadville, but instead of finishing his preparation for the practice of his profession, he became interested in manufacturing, and with Anthony Henderson, under the firm name of Henderson & Morris, built and conducted at Croton, Pa., the first window glass manufactory west of Pittsburg, in 1848. This company was re-organized under the name of Croton Glass Co., Limited, employing about 200 men; in 1854, our subject retired from that line of business, and sold all his interest in the plant. During this time, the company also ran a general store where Brown & Hamilton's store is now. In 1855, Mr. Morris was appointed by the government as mail agent to California, but soon decided to re- turn and finish his legal studies; acting upon this determination, he was accordingly admitted to the bar in 1856 at New Castle, and since then has practiced alone, with the exception of three or four years in the eighties, when he was asso- ciated with Albert Harbison. His practice has been general, and has extended into every de- partment of law and jurisprudence.
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