USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > Biographical sketches of leading citizens of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania > Part 24
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JOHN R. POTTER, alderman of the Fifth Ward of New Castle, and one of the city's enter- prising men, being an extensive dealer in real estate, and an insurance agent, was born in 1839, in Mercer township, Mercer County, this State, where his father lived at that time.
Our subject's father, Alonzo H. Potter, was born in Genesee County, New York State, where his father Hiram was numbered among the rep- resentative and progressive farmers. Alonzo H. came to Mercer County in 1844, and followed the business of driving stage from New Castle to Rochester, Pa., and to other points for several years, and then became a watchman at the Brown, People & Co.'s mills for a number of years. Later on he secured employment as one
of the machine hands, tending a wrought iron spike machine, until he entered the rolling-mills, where he worked until his death took place. His wife, Mary, was a daughter of Daniel and Mary Bowden; she died in 1890, aged about seventy years. The children born of this marriage who grew up to maturity were: John R., the subject of this personal mention; Mary, the wife of James Lester; Sarah, the wife of William Bran- nan; Margaret, the wife of James Gurney; and Samuel, who resides in Oil City, this State.
When our subject was five years old, his par- ents moved to New Castle, and the remaining years of his boyhood and youth were passed in the town of his present residence. At the age of eleven years he went into the factory to work at 25 cents a day to help support the family ; after a while his father became a little more independent and was able to send John to school, yet in the vacations he still continued his work in the fac- tory. His first employment there was in head- ing nail kegs, advancing from that position to that of feeder for the nail machines, continuing in that position for five years, when he became boss nailer, and had charge of the wrought iron nail machines until they were discontinued to make way for the wire nails. In 1877 he became interested in auctioneering, and being a practical salesman he opened a commission-house, where to-day he carries on a large business, the loca- tion being in the city of New Castle, opposite the Diamond. During his connection with the manufacture of nails, in 1859, he moved to . Youngstown, Ohio, and worked there at his trade until June, 1861, when he enlisted in the 84th Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf., but his offer of his services was not accepted, for in the years pre-
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vious he had met with an accident, the ends of his fingers having been cut off his right hand by being caught against the grind-stone. But he was not to be discouraged by any such draw- backs, and determined to go to the front in some capacity or another, and possessing musical ability, being a member of the local band, and a good snare drummer, he was accepted as a member of the 54th Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf., hold- ing the position of musician, and serving until September, 1861. When the band .was dis- charged, he moved to Sharon, Lawrence Coun- ty, and worked as boss nailer twelve years, but has since then made his home in New Castle. In 1892, he was appointed by Gov. Patterson as alderman, and has by re-election been con- tinued in that office up to the present time. He has also served as city assessor three years, and is president of the board of assessors. He is a Republican to the back-bone, and is chairman of the County Committee. In whatever capaci- ties he has been employed or in whatever way he has served his fellow-townsmen, he has never lost sight of the trust placed in him, and has discharged the duties that came to him in a sim- ple, conscientious manner, never with any at- tempt for show or effect. He is one of whom New Castle may well be proud, as an upright, honest man, who has made his own way in life, and can look everyone in the face, confident of never having wilfully injured anyone. He has dealt quite extensively in real estate, and has a finely fitted office at No. 134 South Mill Street, and resides on Sutton Street. He is a member of the local G. A. R. Post.
Mr. Potter married Miss Hannah Floor, daughter of John and Margaret Floor of New
Castle, and to them have been given six chil- dren, namely: Harry, who is in the U. S. Rail- road Mail Service, working between Pittsburg Pa., and Buffalo, N. Y .; Charles G., who is one of the leading jewelers and dealers in high grade silverware of Pittsburg, Pa .; Emma, who mar- ried H. Bollard of Indiana Co., Pa .; Cora M., the wife of C. B. Ransey of New Castle; Jennie S., who lives at home with her parents; and Wil- lie, a student in the high-school. In addition to the above interesting group of children, was born another, Ralph, who died at the age of seven.
LUTHER M. REED, the youngest of ten children, born to John C. and Phoebe A. (Idd- ings) Reed, was born on the farm in Shenango township, where he now resides, Feb. 1, 1871. Being the youngest, it fell to his lot to remain at home with his father, and carry on the farm, after the latter was stricken with apoplexy, when Luther was still only a youth. He was his fath- er's right-hand man, caring for his personal wants, during the years he lingered, as well as taking upon himself the whole management of the farm. He was the only one of his father's children, who has not been a school-teacher, but it was not because of lack of ability, but because his duty called him into other fields of activity. His school days ceased at the age of sixteen years, a year after his father's affliction. All his life has been spent on the homestead, which he now owns and operates with the exception of a third of a year that he spent in the West, near the city of Galesburg, Ill. The portion of the
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homestead that fell to Luther comprises sixty- three acres of as fine land as lies within the boundaries of Lawrence County; it is peculiarly adapted to fruit-rasing, and the orchard planted by his grandfather, William Reed, never fails of a plentiful harvest.
Our subject's father was born in Shenango township, near the Center United Presbyterian Church, May 3, 1826, and remained a resident of that township until his death, engaged in the pursuits of agriculture, in which he was emi- nently successful. His death, which took place Jan. 28, 1895, was occasioned by a stroke of apoplexy which came upon him when plowing in the fields a number of years previous; the years intervening between the stroke and his final dissolution were passed in almost helpless- ness, his personal wants being attended to for the most part by his son, Luther M. He was an energetic man, and although somewhat short in his stature he accomplished with his indomitable will and extraordinary perseverance much more than me of larger frame and more robust con- stitution. He was ambitious to leave his chil- dren well provided for, and in doing so he exert- ed himself more than he ought to have done, and may be said to have really sacrificed himself for his children. There was no one in the coun- ty who stood higher in public estimation than did Mr. Reed, and his word was as good as his bond. So high an estimate was placed on him by his fellow-citizens, that favors are often ex- tended to his sons, because of their father's good name. His much-beloved wife, and hlepmeet through life, was Phoebe Ann Iddings, daugh- ter of Joseph and Hannah (Hoopes) Iddings. The latter was a native of Chester Co., Pa., of
Quaker stock, and descended from a sister of Sir Anthony Wayne; her father was Ezra Hoopes of Chester Co., Pa. Joseph Iddings was also born in Chester Co., Pa .; having re- ceived a good education when a boy, and having the benefits of a college course of training as a young man, he turned his attention to teaching, and was one of the first school-teachers in Law- rence County. He followed farming as an occu- pation in later years. He reared the following children: Mary, who is eighty-four years old; Mirabel, deceased; Hannah, who married Mar- tin Reno, deceased, of Shenango township, Lawrence County; Sarah, who became the wife of Hugh A. McKee; Elizabeth, deceased, who married James Leonard of Lawrence County, and now of the State of Michigan; Ann, de- ceased; Lavina, who married James Davis of Lawrence County; and Phoebe A., the mother of our subject. To John C. Reed and Phoebe A. Iddings were given ten children, as follows: William E., whose personal history appears else- where; Joseph, who is living in Sharon, and practicing medicine; Charles A., a leading phy- sician of the city of New Castle, whose biog- raphy appears on another page of this work; Hannah, deceased; Anna and Mary, twins, both of whom are deceased; Sarah J., the wife of Richard Wright of Taylor township; Lovina, who married William H. Weinschenk of Shen- ango township, the narration of whose life may be found elsewhere in this Book of Biographies; John W., deceased; and Luther M., the subject . of this sketch. Mrs. Reed, the widow of John C., makes her home with her daughter, Lovina, Mrs. William H. Weinschenk.
John C. Reed was a son of William and Anna
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(Cameron) Reed. The latter is living to-day at the age of ninety-two years, and is surprisingly active and vigorous both in body and mind for one of her advanced years; she has been granted the rare privilege of seeing a descendant in the fifth generation, her grandchildren being in their turn grandparents. She was born in Ma- honingtown, Feb. 10, 1805, and was a daughter of James and Betsey (Hendrickson) Cameron, the latter a daughter of Dr. Hendrickson, the first physician to settle in the county, coming here in 1797 with two other families from Penns- ville, N. J. Indians were numerous about this region, and Betsey Hendrickson received a severe fright from one of them, when she was driving the cows home from their pasturing ground; she was never sent alone on such an errand again. James Cameron was born at Shirleysburg, Pa., and was a farmer by occupa- tion; he departed this life in Shenango township, near New Castle, at the age of sixty-six years. He was a son of James Cameron, Sr., who came to Mahoningtown to see if he would like the place for a residence; the country suiting him in every respect, he returned to Shirleysburg, sold his farm, and started for Mahoningtown with the proceeds from the sale, with the intention of purchasing each of his sons a farm. As time passed by, and no word was received from him, inquiry was made along the route, which he was supposed to have taken, with the result that his horse and saddle were found, but his body was never recovered, nor was there any record of him ever found, but it was supposed that he was murdered and robbed for the money he carried in his saddle-bags. He was a soldier in the Revolution and served honorably till the close
of the war, after having once deserted and then rejoined the army.
William Reed, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, in June, 1803, and came with his parents to Lawrence County in 1806. He learned the wheelwright's trade, and worked for a time in New Castle. In 1829, he bought a farm in Shenango township, on which there was a small clearing and log-cabin; here he followed his trade, and cleared his farm, which to-day is one of the very best in the coun- ty; the soil of it is peculiarly adapted to fruit- growing, and it often results that his orchards will be bearing when surrounding ones are bar- ren of fruit. He passed away in the very prime of his life, attaining only the age of forty years. He was a son of John and Margaret (Lutton) Reed, the latter a daughter of Ralph Lutton, who married a Miss Martin. John Reed was born in Ireland, and upon coming to America settled first in Zanesville, Ohio, from which lo- cality he moved in 1806 to Lawrence County, settling in Shenango township on the stream now known as Snake Run; he, too, died at the age of forty years, while his wife Margaret lived to be ninety-two years old. He was a weaver in Ireland, and followed that trade in America until he took up farming as a means of obtain- ing a livelihood, and securing an independence. His father, Michael Reed, never left the Old Country, but lived and died in the north of Ire- land.
Luther M. Reed was married in New Castle, Feb. 18, 1891, to Lizzie McMillin, who was born in New Castle, a daughter of J. Clark and Lydia J. (Morrow) McMillin. Our subject's wife's mother was born in Shenango township, and
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was a daughter of Hugh and Margaret (Young) Morrow, the former a farmer throughout life, living to the age of eighty-four years. J. Clark McMillin was born in Shenango township, Nov. 3, 1847, and was a son of Joseph and Mary ' (Mouk) McMillin, the latter a native of West- moreland Co., Pa., and daughter of Daniel Mouk, who was a blacksmith by trade and reached the age of eighty years. Joseph Mc- Millin was born in Westmoreland Co., Pa., in 1814, and died at the age of sixty-nine, his death resulting from a runaway accident. He was a farmer the most of his life, although he learned . the tanner's trade early in life, but gave it up, as the employment was uncongenial to him. He was a son of John McMillin, who came from near Philadelphia. J. Clark McMillin was reared in Shenango township, and when sixteen years of age ran away from home, and enlisted in Co. K, 50th Reg. Pa. Vol. Inf., serving nine months until the close of the war, and taking part in the battles of Hatcher's Run, Petersburg, and Ft. Steadman. To Mr. and Mrs. Reed two children have been born, as follows: Norma N .; and Nettie I. Mr. Reed is a Republican in his politics, and has served on the election board. He is a charter member of New Castle Lodge, No. 404, Knights of Pythias. Mr. Reed has inherited many of the manly qualities that so distinguished his worthy father, and is rapidly attaining a high place n the estmation of his fellow-citizens, as a conscientious, energetic young man, who chooses to walk in the path of integrity because he knows it to be the only satisfactory method to win the true esteem of those with whom he has dealings in a business and also in a purely social way.
ALBERT B. WHEILDON. This enterpris- ing, wide-awake young man has acquired for himself a prominent position in the business in- terests of Ellwood City and Lawrence County, and is closely identified with the commercial life of the city and its vicinity as the manager and superintendent of the Ellwood Lumber Co. He was born Dec. 5, 1868, in Mercer County, where his father, Jacob Wheildon, was a mechanic. Our subject is a busy man, and lack of proper opportunities prevented him from furnishing a biography in minute detail, so we will have to dismiss the subject of his ancestry and his father's life with the few foregoing remarks.
The Ellwood Lumber Co. is officered as fol- lows: E. Carlton of Cleveland, Ohio, president; Louis Heller, Youngstown, Ohio, vice-presi- dent; L. F. Phillips, secretary and treasurer; and Albert B. Wheildon, manager and superinten- dent. The company, which manufactures lum- ber for contract woodwork, was established in 1894, and the plant was built on a part of the Nye farm, located on Franklin and Highland Avenues, with a frontage of 208 feet on Frank- lin Avenue, 205 on Highland Avenue, 295 feet on Railroad Street, and the same on the alley. On the same lot there is also a two-story dwell- ing house and office. The mill is supplied with steam power, which is generated in a fifty horse- power boiler, and harnessed for service in an engine to correspond; the machinery is like what is generally found in mills of the sort- machines for planing, moulding, resawing, etc. The mill employs five men and sometimes more, and since Mr. Wheildon assumed the manage- ment in 1896, the business has increased in vol- ume to a surprising extent, not even warranted
HENRY S. BLATT.
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by the large amount of building going on in where they seem to spring up during the night. Ellwood City.
Mr. Wheildon's previous business experience has fitted him for his present position, as he be- gan to deal in lumber when a young man, hav- ing charge of a mill in Mercer County, where he still owns some real estate. Associating him- self with T. J. Wright, he built several houses, which he sold to new residents, and cleared a comfortable sum of money. He is a patriotic citizen of Ellwood City, and a firm believer in the city's continued growth and prosperity, and as an evidence of his belief we need only point to his valuable real estate investments in building- lot property, located in advantageous positions. He is a Republican and likes to discuss politics when he has time to talk, but, to use a modern term, he is too much of a "hustler" to be looking for an office to come his way. Mr. Wheildon chose for his wife Lolla Marsteller, daughter of James Marsteller of Fredonia, Mercer Co., Pa., and they have four interesting children-Will- ianı Clarence, Florence L., Lillian, and Stanley Elwood.
HENRY S. BLATT. Business men, repre- senting every line of trade and many manufac- turing interests have been drawn by the super- ior advantages offered and the bright prospects of Ellwood City to locate within its limits, and to invest heavily in its many and varied legitimate channels of trade and industry. It is seldom that an eastern city is founded and developed in the space of a decade, while cities of mush- room growth are frequently found in the West
Ellwood City, thanks to its projectors and to the solid substantial type of its leading citizens, has a permanent foundation in its commercial interests. It is not a city that has seen its best days, but is one of the most thriving of all the cities of Western Pennsylvania. Among its foremost business men, who regard its future as undimmed by any chance or likelihood of retro- gression, is Henry S. Blatt, the subject of this biography, whose portrait appears opposite.
Mr. Blatt is now in the very prime of middle life, as he was born Aug. 26, 1845, in French Creek township, Mercer Co., Pa. Jonas Blatt, his father, was a son of Peter Blatt, who lived in Snyder Co., Pa., for a number of years, and then removed to Mercer County. Like many of the early settlers, our subject's grandfather worked at a trade, besides doing farm work, being a wagon-maker. After rearing his family, Peter Blatt died at sixty-seven years of age, his wife passing away to join those gone before at the age of seventy-two. Mrs. Blatt's maiden name was Rachel Beidler. The children born to them were-Edwin, Daniel, Absalom, Catherine, Peter, and Jonas.
Jonas Blatt was born in Snyder County, where he learned the wagon-maker's trade, and after the family removed to Mercer County, car- ried on an extensive business in Sandy Lake. His life was passed in uneventful toil on the home- stead, as he always found his duty close at hand. He was an able, intelligent man, thorough- ly respected by his neighbors, and he might have filled more official positions than he did, had he been willing to accept them; as it was, he was content with being a school director and burgess
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of Sandy Lake borough. He married Anna Grove, daughter of Abraham Grove, and four children were born to them-Rachel, Henry S., Catherine and Isabel. Mrs. Blatt was taken to her well-earned rest at the age of sixty-eight, and four years later she was followed by her hus- band. Mr. Blatt was a person of quiet tastes, and did not care for convivial gatherings, being a member of only one fraternal society, the I. O. O. F. The family, as might be imagined from the seclusion and retirement of the home, was governed by strict observance of the rules of right living, the young people being surrounded by strong religious influences. Youth is the time to mold plastic minds, and the seed in this case fell on good ground, resulting in continued adherence to the Lutheran Church.
In regard to one member of the family, Henry S. Blatt, his story begins with his boyhood days that were spent in the district school; the train- ing received there was followed up with a course of instruction at the New Lebanon Academy. His business career opens with the manufacture of carriages and wagons at Sandy Lake in 1863. Mr. Blatt continued in business in that place until 1871, when he started a store, with the firm name of H. S. Blatt & Co., the company with a few changes being known now as J. J. Blatt & Co. The business having proven profitable and yielding of good returns, in 1889 he added to it a hardware business, having bought the stock of the Parker Hardware Co.
In 1891, Mr. Blatt came to Ellwood City, and, associating himself with Capt. Abraham C. Grove, built a handsome brick block and opened a large hardware store. The size of the stock necessitated building a warehouse, and this was
not only done, but the firm made further ar- rangements to handle lumber. In October, 1891, they suffered a severe loss by fire, and they dissolved partnership. Mr. Blatt, with his natural enterprise and good management, put up a temporary building, and was ready to transact his customary business inside of thirty days. The next year he built a large brick block, 160x144 feet, three stories high; the ground floor is used for his hardware business and a drug store, the second floor for offices, and the third floor makes an excellent hall for large gatherings.
Mr. Blatt deals in hardware, but his store also includes a stock of paints and oils of all grades. The lumber business is still carried on with rea- sonable success by Mr. Blatt. He is one of the chief promoters of Elwood City's growth, and this fact is fully attested by his having bought and sold some 200 houses. He is still interested to a large extent in real estate, as he owns a number of houses and lots. He owns stock in the First National Bank of Ellwood, being its vice-president, and one of its directors. Our subject has other lucrative investments in the Weldless Tube Mfg. Co., the Gas Co., and in the Iron Foundry. Varied as these ventures are, they are controlled with ease by the forceful, executive mind of Mr. Blatt. His home is on the corner of Seventh Street and Crescent Ave- nue, and it fully accords with its owner's pros- perity and good taste.
Mr. Blatt chose for his life-companion Han- nah McClure, whose parents were James and Hannah McClure of Lake township, Mercer Co., Pa. Mrs. Blatt is a lady of much refinement, and is fitted in every respect to preside over the
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home. James J., the second son, is general manager of the J. J. Blatt Co.'s hardware store at Sandy Lake, Mercer County. Charles H. is interested in Ellwood City and Sandy Lake, Pa. William R. is a popular dry goods clerk of Ell- wood City. Catherine alone remains at home with the parents, for Frank was called by death at the age of seventeen, just when a bright future was opening out before him.
Henry S. Blatt has had little time to devote to office-holding, but he made an excellent school director, for he thoroughly appreciated the work of that position, and was alive to the importance of educational advantages. As jus- tice of the peace, he was a man of charitable judgment and correct decisions. During 1875- 76, Mr. Blatt was in the State Legislature, ful- filling his obligations satisfactorily and return- ing at the expiration of his term to private life and to the demands of his busness. In view of his public spirit, Mr. Blatt was eminently well chosen to be burgess and councilman of Ell- wood City. His social acquaintances are num- bered by the score, and he is sure to find con- genial company in the circles where he holds a membership. He is a brother in Ellwood Lodge, No. 559, F. & A. M. He was a charter mem- ber and past master of Mt. Royal Chapter, R. A. M., and is also a member of Mt. Calvary Lodge, Knight Templars, and of Zemzem Tem- ple of Erie, Pa. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. of Sandy Lake, and also of the Royal Templars of Temperance and K. of H. of the same place. He had held offices in all these organizations, which shows the esteem in which he is held. Wherever Mr. Blatt goes, he is wel- comed as a royal good fellow.
ANDREW F. WEIR, an honored resident of Shenango township, where he is engaged in carrying on farm operations four miles south of the city of New Castle, was born May 15, 1849, in Harmony, Butler Co. He is a.son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Kepler) Weir. Our subject's mother was born in Germany about 1817, and passed to the green fields beyond the swelling flood to enjoy the welcome plaudit of "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord," when about forty-five years old. Frederick Weir was born in Wales about 1804, and came to this country when a young man in search of a fortune; he served in the Mexican War, and died March 25, 1889. Of his first marriage with Elizabeth Kep- ler, five children were born as follows: Kather- ine, deceased; Elizabeth, the wife of Henry Herman of West New Castle-Katherine and Elizabeth were twins; Louise; Andrew F., the subject of this brief narration; and McMichael, who is living somewhere in the West. He was a second time married, his second wife being a Mrs. Holland, by whom he had one son, George, now a resident of Rochester, Pa.
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