USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > Biographical sketches of leading citizens of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania > Part 3
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March 24, 1836, he was joined in holy wedlock with Miss Elizabeth Gibson, daughter of William Gibson; she was born March 19, 1815, and died April 12, 1839, leaving one son-James G., born March 1, 1839, a dealer in coal of New Castle. On Nov. 26, 1839, Mr. Fulkerson united his for- tunes with Miss Eliza Houk, daughter of John Houk. She was born May II, 1814, in Shenango township, this county. They have eight children: Rosaline, born September 7, 1840, died May 3, 1844; John C., Jr., born July 4, 1842, died Dec.
DR. JOSEPH L. COOPER.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
25, 1872; America V., born May 3, 1844, died Aug. 14, 1845; Aumala C., born Nov. 24, 1848, married M. C. Rose of New Castle, and had three children-Clara, Ralph, and Lenora; Len- ora C., born June 20, 1849, married R. P. Pomeroy of Wilmington, and has had four chil- dren-Mary C., John, and Diana and Lydia (twins); Sewell N., born Oct. 25, 1855, is a black- smith of New Castle; Ceylon W., born Jan. 25, 1859, is a machinist of New Castle.
DR. JOSPEH L. COOPER, one of the lead- ing and representative physicians of the city of New Castle, Pa., was born in Taylor township, Lawrence Co., Pa., two miles south of the city of New Castle, Feb. 13, 1861. He is a son of Robert L. Cooper, grandson of James Cooper, and great-grandson of Robert Cooper, who was born in County Down, Ireland, and came to this country about the year 1790, settling in Alle- gheny County, Pa., where he reared his family, and cared for their wants. James Cooper was born in Allegheny County, in 1796, and in 1843 moved to Lawrence County, where he died in 1861. He married Elizabeth McLester, who died at the age of seventy-six, and they became . the parents of seven children, three boys and four girls.
Our subject's father, Robert Cooper, was the second son in order of birth, and first saw the light of day in 1823. He came with his parents to Lawrence County, where he and his brother David bought a farm on Sheep Hill, just south of New Castle, paying $10 per acre for the tract
of 100 acres. It was not long before they ascer- tained that they had stumbled upon a very valuable piece of property, for underlying the whole farm is a bed of superior limestone of the best quality; up to the present time only about fifty acres have been worked and quarried, leav- ing a large fortune yet to be taken from the earth's bowels. The farm still remains in the hands of the Cooper family. Robert Cooper married Nancy A. Jackson, who with the follow- ing children survived him at his death in 1892: James H .; Elizabeth (Campbell); Leander; Dr. Joseph L., our subject; Charles O .; Mary (Cald- well); Maud (Davis); and Dr. Edwin S.
Dr. Joseph L. Cooper received a basis for advanced educational studies in the schools of New Castle, and finished his academic education in the State Normal School at Edinboro, Pa., and in Grove City Academy. In 1881, he became a medical student under Dr. Mont. Linville of New Castle, in whose office he remained two years; he then entered the Jefferson Medical Col- lege of Philadelphia, and graduated in the Class of 1884. He immediately began to practice and located for one year at New Springfield, Ohio, and then came to New Castle, where he has since practiced and established himself as one of the leading physicians and surgeons of the city.
Dr. Joseph L. Cooper married Miss Adella Hoover in 1887; she is a daughter of Ephraim Hoover of New Castle. Dr. Edwin S. Cooper is associated with his brother, our subject. He received his academic course at Grove City Academy, and studied medicine with his brother three years, completing his studies at W. U. of P., graduating in the class of 1896. Dr. Joseph L. Cooper is a member of the Lawrence County
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Medical Association, and was president of the same in 1896. He is one of the best surgeons in Western Pennsylvania, and his medical practice has grown very extensive, depending upon a reputation for skill and professional daring that is far above the ordinary. One case of a little girl, who was severely burned to such a degree that skin-grafting offered the only chance of saving her life, and restoring her to perfect health, was undertaken by our subject, who, after grafting many hundred pieces of skin, effected a complete cure, and added a world- renowned cure to the annals of modern medical science. He has also at the present writing a remarkable case of the same nature, which is daily yielding to this method of artificial skin- · growing, although the art is by no means a new one. It was believed for a long time to be un- successful.
We have ever enforced the point that our por- trait subjects should stand among the first in their several callings and professions, and so it is with considerable pride we present Dr. Cooper's portrait, an excellent likeness of a gen- tleman, who excels in his chosen profession and calling in life.
REVILLIAN T. WICK, of the firm of Wick & Fulkerson, leading restauranteurs of New Castle, was born in Butler County, Pa., Oct. 30, 1858, and is a son of Jeremiah C. and Ellen J. (Coovert) Wick, grandson of James and Mar- garet (McDonald) Wick, and great-grandson of John Wick, who came originally from New Jer- sey to Butler County, where he bought a large
tract of new and uncultivated land, which kept him busy for many years in clearing, living in the meanwhile in a log-house, which in the usual pioneer fashion he had erected at the first. He lived to the good old age of ninety years, was twice married, and reared a large family, but had only two boys by the first marriage-John and James.
Our subject's grandfather, James Wick, was born in New Jersey and assisted his father in clearing the farm, and served in the War of 1812, being stationed at Fort Erie. When he com- menced farming for himself, he secured a farm near Centerville, Butler Co., which was unim- proved, and almost entirely in timber; he first built a log-house, and then a frame house, when lumber became more plentiful. He also owned a grist-mill at Harlansburg. His death took place when he was aged eighty-two years; his wife passed over the River of Death into life eternal at the age of eighty. Their union was fruitful of the following children: John W .; James F .; Eliza; Eli; Maria; Julian; Mary; Jere- miah C .; James M .; Sarah E .; and Margaret.
Jeremiah C. Wick assisted his father on the farm until he attained the years of manhood, when he went to Brady's Bend, Armstrong County, and labored as puddler in the iron works for a few years, then after clerking in a grocery store for a short period he ran one on his own account six years in Buena Vista, But- ler County, and an equal space of time in Mar- tinsburg, the same county. In 1868, he came to New Castle, and worked as puddler a few years, and for the last few years has been actively en- gaged in the insurance business, representing the following companies: Metropolitan, Pennsyl-
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vania Mutual, and Prudential. In 1890, he built for his daughter Eva the residence at No. 120 Grant Avenue, where he has lived since; before then he lived in another house on Grant Avenue, which he had had erected. He married Ellen J. Coovert, daughter of Samuel Coovert, and to them were born six children, as follows: Ferdi- nand, who died at the age of two years; Revillian T., our subject; Annie Melissa married Willian McKee; Teresa Evelyn is a bookkeeper; Lillie Jane died at the age of fifteen years; Addie Zilla married Charles Gleisner of New Castle. Our subject's father is a stanch Republican, and an advocate of temperance. He is a member of the M. E. Church and of the A. O. U. W.
After finishing his schooling, Revillian T. Wick began clerking for Frank Tinswaite, remaining with him about one year. Hower Brothers having purchased the business of Mr. Tinswaite, Mr. Wick continued with them until they discontinued the business. He next en- gaged with J. Adam Hainer, remaining some- what over one year. His next engagement was with W. S. Emery, with whom he remained from 1876 to 1881. That year he formed a partner- ship with A. S. Pattison in the grocery trade, and after one year they dissolved partnership and Mr. Wick accepted a position as clerk with W. S. Emery, remaining till Mr. Emery's death. The store being purchased by Messrs. Kay and Wilkinson, Mr. Wick was with them one year. Sept. 2, 1891, in company with David P. Fulker- son, under the firm name of Wick & Fulkerson, he bought out the Maitland restaurant, and put in new furniture and utensils, imparting a clean, fresh appearance to the place, and furnishing it with a costly equipment, a sample of which may
be found in the range, which cost $150. That their restaurant at No. 10 Apple Alley has been a success is evidenced from the fact that they have the largest and most select patronage in the city, and have built up an enviable reputation for short-order meals.
Mr. Wick married Agnes Pattison, who was born Feb. 20, 1858, and was a daughter of J. Smith Fulkerson, grandaughter of William Fulkerson, and great-granddaughter of John Fulkerson, a native of Virginia, who came to this county. Mrs. Wick is a sister of our sub- ject's partner, David P. Fulkerson. Mr. and Mrs. Wick live in a fine home, located at No. 78 Elm Street, built by himself in 1892. Politically, Mr. Wick is a Republican. He is a member of the Junior Order of the United American Me- chanics and Woodmen of the World.
THOMAS F. MOREHEAD, a member of the firm of Knox & Morehead, the leading in- surance agency of the city of New Castle, office located in the Pearson building, was born in the city of his present residence Oct. 31, 1863.
Our subject's great-grandfather, William Morehead, came from Westmoreland Co., Pa., and settled on a farm between New Castle and Mahoningtown, where he spent his remaining years in rural content. His son James was one of the family which he brought with him. William Morehead died at the age of seventy- two years, preceding his wife, Elizabeth Barnett, several years. Seven daughters and three sons were born to them. James Moreliead married
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
Catherine Henderson, a native of Armstrong Co., Pa., and to them were given nine children, as follows: William; Joseph; Samuel; John; Hugh H .; Selinda (McCleary); James; Eliza- beth (McKinley); and Harvey. James More- head lived to the age of eighty-two years, and his wife to the age of sixty-six. In their relig- ious beliefs and attachments, they strongly favored the Presbyterian Church. Mr. More- head was a supporter of the Whig party. He lived on the homestead between New Castle and Mahoningtown, and carried on pursuits which were of an agricultural nature.
Hugh H. Morehead, our subject's father, was born on the old homestead July 8, 1814. He received a district school education and at the age of seventeen took up the trade of brick lay- ing and plastering, and followed it a number of years, relinquishing it at last to engage with his brother Samuel in the leather business. They kept a store in New Castle until about the year 1864, drawing a large patronage their way dur- ing that time and being very successful finan- cially: in that year the business was closed out, and since then our subject's father has lived a rather retired life. He was a Whig and is now a supporter of Republican candidates and Re- publican principles. He was joined at the altar, Jan. 26, 1841, to Rachel Falls, daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Wilson) Falls of New Cas- tle, and their union has resulted in the following family of children: Maria M. (Harbison); Sarah C. (Cunningham); Ellen B. (Bard); Eva (Long); Mary (White); Fannie, deceased; Lizzie D .; and Thomas F. They accept the teachings and pre- cepts of the Presbyterian Church as their rule of life.
Our subject attended the High School of New Castle, finishing his education there, and then from 1876 to 1878 he was a clerk in W. H. Mc- Candless' store. In 1880, he began to clerk for the insurance firm of Harbison & Knox, and remained with them in that capacity until 1896, acquitting himself honorably and usefully in every department of his work. In 1896 he se- cured the interests of Mr. Harbison, and the firm is now widely known as Knox & More- head. They do the largest business in the insur- ance line of any firm in the city, representing as many as sixteen different companies. Mr. Morehead may be always counted on to help in furthering the election of Republican candidates and passage of Republican measures; although he is an active worker and extremely popular he has never accepted any office.
Mr. Morehead married Dorothy Taggart, daughter of John S. and Nancy J. Taggart, and they have two children-Rachel and Dorothy.
HON. DAVID W. AIKEN, one of Lawrence County's most representative men, and a leading agriculturist and fruit dealer of Shenango town- ship, was born in Wayne township, Lawrence County, Sept. 11, 1837. He is an eminent citi- zen of Shenango township, being both a man of large agricultural interests, and a man endowed with the qualities that make a successful legislator.
He is a descendant of David Aiken, and traces his ancestry back to his grandfather, William
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
Aiken, Jr., and to his great-grandfather, William Aiken. The latter was born in Ireland, where he passed the early years of manhood until he was attracted by the prospects in America, whither he came, bringing his family, one of whom was William, Jr., and settling near Balti- more, Md. After a period of years, he removed to Westmoreland County, Pa., which was the place of his death.
William Aiken, Jr., the grandfather, removed from Pennsylvania to St. Clairsville, Ohio, and there he was united in marriage to Miss Doro- thy Newell. The worthy couple was blessed with the birth of triplets, whom they named David, William and Dorothy. In 1801, William Aiken, Jr., returned to Pennsylvania, making his home in Wayne township, at that time a part of Beaver County, but now included in Law- rence County. In 1821, some time after the death of his wife, he married Miss Margaret Clark, and they lived happily together until her death in 1845. Immediately after his settlement in Wayne township, Mr. Aiken became inter- ested in the milling business, and built a carding- mill and also a saw-mill and grist-mill, being engaged in this line of work until his death at the age of eighty-three years.
David Aiken, father of the Hon. David W. Aiken, was born during the time of the family residence in Ohio, in 1800. He remained in Wayne township, where his father had located until 1845, when he obtained possession of a tract of land in Shenango township, this county, 267 acres in extent, and there he lived and farmed until his death. He was a Whig, and during his life-time served as assessor, and also as school director; he was a delegate to the first
county convention that was held in the county. The wife of Mr. Aiken was Martha Vance, daughter of James Vance of Slippery Rock township, and she was born in 1807, and passed away in 1883. Their children were: Martha; Dorothy (Van Horn); William N .; James W., who fell at the battle of Petersburg in defense of the Union; David W .; Isaiah W., who also served in the Federal Army, and who died from disease he contracted there; William H .; Sarah E. (Adams), deceased; Mary J. (Palmer), de- ceased; Margaret M. (Walton), deceased; and Isabella T., deceased. The family attended the United Presbyterian Church, where David Aiken, the father, took an active part in church affairs, and acted as trustee for many years, keeping up his interest until his death, which occurred March 1, 1860. He was a colonel in the State militia and was commonly known as Col. David Aiken.
Hon. David W. Aiken, whose history is chronicled here, was the fifth child of David and Mary (Vance) Aiken, and came with the family from Wayne to Shenango township, where he passed the early years of his life, and at matur- ity engaged in farming. In 1861, he enlisted for a period of three months in Co. F, 12th Reg. Pa. Vol. Inf., and in 1864 he re-enlisted in Co. I. 6th Battalion Pa. Heavy Art., where he was al- most immediately promoted from his position as private to the rank of fourth sergeant, which promotion was followed in a short time by an- other to the rank of second lieutenant, which office he held until he was mustered out June 16, 1865.
In 1869, Mr. Aiken was married to Mary A. Young, daughter of James and Margaret (Scott)
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
Young of Perry township, and took up his resi- dence on the homestead, a half of which had been apportioned to him from his father's es- tate. Here he has lived since that time, devot- ing himself to farming and fruit-raising, in which he has attained a satisfactory degree of success, for during the season of 1897, the crop from his apple trees amounted to over 1,000 bushels. Mr. Aiken's family consists of: Martha B., who married J. Barcklay Gibson; J. Frank; Dora M .; and Mary E., and they attend the United Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Aiken possesses the keen instinct of a politician, and, with the happy faculty that char- acterizes a man of Irish-American origin, he succeeds in holding his own, and in winning others to his side. Shortly after passing his majority, he was elected constable and collec- tor, and served in this capacity for five years. He has held various township offices, and in 1870 he was appointed to take the census in six townships of Lawrence County. Mr. Aiken de- rives his title of "Honorable" from his service in the State Legislature, where he had the priv- ilege of representing his district during the years of 1873-74, 77-78 and 79. He has been a justice of the peace since 1885, receiving succes- sive commissions in 1890, 1895, and 1896. He is a member of Princeton Post, G. A. R., and has served as quartermaster. On account of his success in political affairs, Mr. Aiken is often chosen as a delegate to county and state con- ventions, and his career as a farmer and as a loyal follower of the "Stars and Stripes" places him among the foremost men of Lawrence County. He also was school director twelve years, not missing a meeting in all that time.
JOHN ELDER, one of the best-posted men in the early history of Lawrence County, now living in honored retirement in the city of New Castle, was born at Slippery Rock, this county, Sept. 2, 1820, and is a son of William and Dorcas (Wilkin) Elder, and grandson of John Elder, who was born in 1755 in the northern part of Ireland, and was a son of Thomas Elder, a Scotchman.
John Elder, our subject's grandfather, came to the United States in 1802, and settled in Slip- pery Rock, now Scott township, this county, and bought a farm, now owned by the McCracken estate, where he lived until his death at the age of eighty-five. His wife, who was Nancy Rose of Bedford Co., Pa., also possessed a very strong constitution, and lived to enjoy ninety-five sum- mers. Fifteen children-ten daughters and five sons-were born to them, and all of them grew up to maturity.
William Elder, son of the foregoing, settled about three miles from the old homestead, and engaged in farming, afterwards keeping a gen- eral store at Harlansburg, drawing all his supplies by team from Pittsburg, forty-one miles away. In the War of 1812 he served as a volun- teer. Besides his mercantile life, he cleared up . a good farm, or was engaged in doing so, and while raising the frame for a barn was caught by a falling timber, and killed in 1828. His wife lived to the age of fifty-two years. . Of the nine children born to them, Hannah, the wife of J. E. McConnell, John, the subject of this sketch, and Mrs. Robert Peoples are the only ones living to-day. After the death of William Elder, our subject's mother married as her second husband James Brown.
JUDGE WILLIAM D. WALLACE.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
Our subject attended the public schools, and in 1836 became a clerk for John Wilson at Har- lansburg, and later engaged in farming. In 1847, as partner of Michael Jordan, he took charge of the store, and in 1850 served as county auditor, and in 1860 filled the position of pro- thonotary for six years. For twenty-five years he was actively identified with the educational interests of the town, being a member of the school board for that length of time, and also overseer of the poor. In 1860, he sold his store at Harlansburg, and removed to New Castle, and in 1866 purchased the Dr. Whipple farm of 150 acres, located at the east end of Court Street. A portion of this he has reserved for his private needs, and on that section in 1873 built the large frame residence, which stands there to-day; the rest of the property has been divided up into building lots, many of which have been sold. He has also dealt largely in other real estate. From the period of his first residence in New Castle he has been classed among the first citi- zens and most enterprising business men. He was one of the first stockholders and one of the founders of the New Castle Agricultural Works, which were erected in 1870, and were devoted to the manufacture of Lawrence mowing machines, reaping machines, and sulky horse rakes; a very extensive business was enjoyed for two years, · until the plant was destroyed by fire in 1873.
Our subject's wife, Eliza, daughter of James P. Elliott, was born in 1829, and has borne him six children, who are as follows: Margaret, who married S. B. Marshall; William J., of Warren Co., Pa .; Lillie, who married Judge J. W. Mc- Kinley of Los Angeles, Cal .; Mary lives at home; John is the teller of the National Bank of
Lawrence County; Hannah D. died in her youth. Mr. Elder commenced to exercise his franchise as a Whig, but on the formation of the Republican party immediately transferred his allegiance thither. He is a member of the Pres- byterian Church, and has been since 1863, in that year also becoming a charter member of the Union League. Although quite advanced in years, he bears his years with grace, and few men of sixty years are so active. He is sound in his judgment, a great reader, and because of this habit of always being posted on current events, he is never unprepared to engage with an adversary in debate, and he has ever proved himself no mean antagonist, and is never con- tent without a complete victory. His opinions on the live question of the day are not put for- ward without due deliberation, and are then respected and valued on every hand.
JUDGE WILLIAM D. WALLACE. Social and political position in the United States is not dependent, as in most of the Old World mon- archies, on titles or on long lines of family ances- tors, but is rather based on a man's own achieve- ments-if a person has estimable qualities he will be well thought of. A self-made man, one who owes his success in great part to his own individual efforts, is the type of a man, of whom we Americans are pardonably proud, perhaps because his struggles against adverse circun1- stances and a comparatively humble beginning to success and honor so nearly resemble the life of our own nation. Among the brilliant number
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
of self-made men of whom Lawrence County boasts, we would be extremely unwilling to pass by without due mention the name of the subject of this sketch, William D. Wallace, Esq., present judge of the courts of Lawrence County, who, because of his splendid fight to have the bill passed by the Legislature, making Lawrence County a separate judicial district, was elected to the judgeship thus created on Nov. 6, 1894.
Judge Wallace is a son of the late Dr. James J. Wallace, one of the most eminent practition- ers of medicine in this county, and was born in New Castle, May 15, 1857. Our subject's whole life has been spent in Lawrence County; he graduated from Westminster College in 1881, and was a very popular young man among students and faculty as a bright student and a leader in athletic sports. Having chosen the law as a profession, he studied the fundamental principles of legal procedure and jurisprudence in the office of Messrs. Dana & Long of New Castle and was admitted to practice in 1882. Professionally, his life has been marked by a high sense of justice, a keen sympathy for the poor and oppressed suitor, and a plainly shown im- patience at that public clamor which now and then usurps the place of public justice and de- mands a victim without much heed as to the question of guilt or innocence. When he be- came judge he gave up a large and increasing practice, which was becoming very profitable.
On the bench he has a graceful, dignified bearing. His rulings and opinions are delivered firmly, dispassionately, and with evident full in- tent to treat the case fairly and impartially. He is alike courteous to the youngest attorney and to the oldest member of the bar.
In his political attachments, Judge Wallace is a Republican. He first came prominently before the public eye through stumping the county on various issues. He attracted attention and many favorable comments as he debated with vigor or made convincing arguments on some cause or other. His mind works with the smoothness of machinery; his perceptions are clear and exact. His literary style is simple and unstudied, dis- liking and avoiding all attempts at display, and having a marked distaste for verbosity. Cool and cautious, and in purpose independent and bold, no man gains an advantage of him by a personal assault, for he will strike back upon the weak point of his adversary with unerring aim and relentless force. Like all men who have been in public life, Judge Wallace has undoubt- edly made his enemies, but never cherishes a hard feeling toward another, so that when he greets his bitterest foe without the slightest appearance of enmity, his friendliness frequently heals the breach and causes his opponents to become his warmest friends.
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