USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > Biographical sketches of leading citizens of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania > Part 40
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Capt. Grove began business along the lines of hardware and lumber. After the fire, Capt. Grove built a two-story building, 100x44 feet, the first floor of which is divided into two stores, one of which he rents to a clothing firm, and the other is used by his own stock of hardware, agricultural implements, paints, oils, glass, etc., the business being carried on under the name of Grove & Co. Capt. Grove is interested in the Ellwood Lumber County, and in the Gas Com- pany, and has ever been included among the first of those who labor to promote the interests of the city.
Our subject selected for a helpmeet Mary Elizabeth Leach, daughter of James Leach of New Lebanon, Pa. They have been blessed with the births of six children, of whom Leon V. is a physician in Anandale, Butler Co .; Net- tie became the wife of S. M. Matheny of Ellwood City; Clarence M. is associated with his father in business; Darwin C. has settled near Spokane, Wash .; Victor H. is also in his father's employ; and Leach A., who is a student in the Law De- partment of the Michigan State University.
Capt. Grove is a Republican, and has served on the school board of Ellwood City. He has an honorable and worthy career as a soldier of the Union, as he enlisted in the fall of '61 for three years in Co. B, 83rd Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf .; he received a discharge in the spring of 1862 on account of disabilities. In the same autumn he re-enlisted in Co. B, 140th Reg. as second lieu- tenant, and when the company was re-organized he was promoted to the first lieutenantcy, where he served until June 5, 1864, when he was com- missioned captain. His resignation, March I, 1865, was necessitated by a wound in the thigh,
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from the effects of which he has never recovered. It is a great and glorious thing to fight for one's country, to face death for the dear old flag, and if youths of to-day need lessons in patriotism let them listen to such soldier boys as Capt. Grove, who can tell them of want and woe, of war and final victory. Capt. Grove is a member of the Union Veteran Legion of New Castle, and has held offices in the Post, No. 251, G. A. R. of New Lebanon. He is a charter member of Ell- wood Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 559, and was for- merly a member of Lake Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 434. He is also a member of Mt. Calvary Lodge, No. 67, Knights Templar.
CHARLES MATTHEWS, Republican nom- inee for sheriff of Lawrence Co., Pa., was born in New Castle, of which city he is still a resident, Oct. 15, 1856. He is a son of Matthias and Anna (Brant) Matthews; the latter was born in London, England, and died in 1871. Matthias Matthews was born in Staffordshire, Eng., and passed away in 1888, aged eighty-five years. He came to the United States in 1827 or 1828 un- der contract to work in the iron mills, of which at that time there were but three in the whole country. He was a supporter of the Democratic party on political matters, and a member of the Episcopal Church. He was a son of John Mat- thews, a native of Wales, who married a Miss Bennett. Our subject's parents were married in New York City, where our subject's mother was a school-teacher. To them were born seven children, four boys and three girls, as follows: Joseph, a mill hand of New Castle; John, also a
mill hand of the same city; Susan, the wife of David Saunders of Cleveland, Ohio; Mary, who married Benjamin Garbett of Niles, Ohio, a mill hand; Emma, now deceased, the wife of William Mann of Vulcan Forge; James; and Charles.
When Charles Matthews was an infant of two summers, his parents moved to Niles, Ohio, where they lived five years, and since that time he has resided in New Castle. He attended school till he was about fourteen years of age, work- ing in the mills in the summer as soon as he was old enough, and going to school in the win- ter. At the age of sixteen years, he was appren- ticed to the trade of roll-turner in the iron mills, and when nineteen years of age attended the business college in the winter. In 1887, he em- barked in the shoe business one year, but was satisfied to give it up at the end of the year to re-enter the mills, where he had been urged to come. In November, 1894, he became business manager and treasurer of the Lawrence Guard- ian, and continued to hold the office until after the campaign of that fall, when the Guardian was consolidated with the Courant, and in the resulting corporation Mr. Matthews is still a director.
On Feb. 26, 1888, in New Castle, his nuptials were consummated with Miss Elizabeth Lutton, a native of New Castle, and daughter of William B. and Jane (Buck) Lutton. William B. Lutton was for many years city poor director and coun- ty commissioner; he died in 1889, aged sixty- five years; his wife survives him at the age of sixty-six. Three children, Charles, Marlen, and Helen, have been born to our subject and wife. They are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Matthews is a prominent Mason, and has
DAVID TIDBALL, ESQ.
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taken high orders; he belongs to the following organizations: Mahoning Lodge No. 243, F. & A. M., of which he is past master; Delta Chap- ter, No. 170, R. A. M., of which he is past high priest and trustee; Hiram Council, of which he is T. I. G. M .; Lawrence Commandery, No. 62, Knights Templar, of which he is past eminent commander. He was grand steward in the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in 1895-96. He was for- merly a member of the A. I. & S. W. He has served in both the common council and select council, and has been sent by his party as dele- date to State Conventions. While a member of the select council he served as chairman of the finance and fire committees and was a member of other important committees.
DAVID TIDBALL, ESQ. The gentleman named above has every claim for representation in this book, both from his birth and very long residence in New Castle, and also for his long public and semi-public service, in which he has ever been a prominent character in the history of the town. His age has already gone far beyond that allotted to the average man, and he is fast approaching the octogenarian mark, but still retains much of his youthful vigor, and full possession of his faculties. He was born in a log-cabin, situated on Pittsburg Street, New Castle, March 1, 1818, and is a son of John C. and Sarah (Squires) Tidball, the latter a daugh- ter of James Squires, a native of the State of New Jersey, who came to the western part of the State about 1800, and followed agricultural pur- suits. He was also a soldier of the Revolution.
The Tidball family is of Welsh origin, springing from four brothers, who came to America in 1716. Our subject's grandfather, David, was one of nine sons born to his parents, three of whom settled in Virginia, three in Ohio, one in Allegheny Co., Pa., and two, John and David. who came to New Castle.' David Tidball mar- ried Isabella McGowan, who was of Scotch ori- gin. He bought a farm in Lawrence County in 1806, and departed this life at the age of seventy- three. Our subject's father, John C. Tidball, was born in Allegheny Co., Pa., and followed the trade of a tanner, living to be about sixty years old.
David Tidball, the eldest of eleven children born to his parents, was reared in New Castle, and as it was before the time of free public in- struction, his education was secured in schools that were supported by private subscriptions. The only text-books in use were the Testament, an English reader, an introductory arithmetic, the old blue spelling book, and a United States history, not a very complete collection of text- books viewed from the demands of to-day, but they sufficed to give the fundamental principles of an education to many a boy, who with the smattering of an education thus obtained made a mark for himself in the world, and made him- self respected and admired by all who had the good fortune to become well-acquainted with him. When a young man, Mr. Tidball learned the tailor's trade, and later on was a clerk in Mr. Kissick's store. He was appointed post- master by Van Buren near the end of that Presi- dent's administration, and served some seven or eight months; he was again appointed by Presi- dent Tyler, and served a similar period. From
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1852 to 1856 he was postmaster under President Pierce. In August, 1867, he was again appoint- ed to the position by President Johnson, and served fourteen consecutive years, under all the Presidents till Garfield. From 1860 to 1865, he . served as justice of the peace. During all the years in which he held sway over the New Cas- tle postoffice, Squire Tidball was uniformly courteous and obliging, performing many little acts of accommodation for the patrons of the office, and requiring his employees to do the same. The same traits of character, that went to make him so well-liked as postmaster, made him popular as a host, when in 1882 he purchased the Leslie House, and conducted it successfully for the following seven years. He was known far and wide as one of the most popular landlords in Western Pennsylvania.
David Tidball, Esq., was married in 1854 in New Castle to Miss Martha Dixon, daughter of Charles and Nancy (Graham) Dixon, and to him and his well-beloved wife have been given eight children as follows: Mary, deceased; Charles, deceased; Frank, who was city clerk of New Castle for a time, but who is at present an offi- cial under the present administration; Nevin D., who is in the office of the Valley Steel Co .; Will- iam deceased; David, a clerk in a leading hotel of Pittsburg; Ella, the wife of Joseph Hays; and Martha. Mrs. Tidball and daughters are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject is a stanch Republican, though previous to the war he was an old-line Democrat. He is a member of Lodge of the Craft, No. 433, F. & A. M. of New Castle. His portrait accompanies this notice of his life, and may be viewed on a pre- ceding page.
JAMES R. MARTIN, a resident of New Cas- tle, who has been associated with the active and progressive men of the State in general indus- trial activity, is now practically retired from busi- ness. He was born at Bethel, Mercer Co., Pa., Dec. 16, 1848, and is a son of Thomas and Eliza- beth (Robinson) Martin, and grandson of Hugh Martin.
Our subject's grandfather came from Berks Co., Pa., to North Beaver township, Lawrence Co., Pa., in 1829, with seven sons and one daugh- ter, using five horses and one wagon to trans- port his personal effects and property. The overland route, by which they came, took them many days and even weeks, and as the youngest child was but three years old, their emigration was filled with many trials. He bought a farm in the wilderness at what has since been known as Westfield Church, Lawrence Co., and there he followed farming the remainder of his life, dying in 1859, aged about seventy-five years. His wife passed away in 1868 or 1869, aged eighty- one years. Their children were: Thomas; Hugh; Samuel; Seth; George; Catherine; John; and David. The three latter are single and live on the old homestead.
In 1836, Thomas Martin with his brother Hugh bought a tract of land near the home- stead, in Bethel, Mercer County, and built there a log-house; later on they divided the land and farmed separately until 1861, when our sub- ject's father sold his property and bought a farm at Hillsville, Mahoning township, this county, where he died July 23, 1867; he was born in 1809. His wife, who was a daughter of James L. Robinson, died in 1895, lacking one month of being an octogenarian. By Thomas Martin's
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first marriage with Miss Ann Johnson, who died at the age of twenty-two, two children were born: Samuel, a citizen of Iowa, and Robert of the State of California. The following children blessed his second mariage: John S. of Hills- ville, Lawrence County; James R., the subject of this short biography; Mary S., now deceased, who was the wife of John Gailey; Cyrus L. lives on the homestead; Annie Elizabeth married William Gilmore; Permelia J. married E. Miller of Springfield, Ohio. Our subject's father was a Whig and then a Republican, and served the town of which he was a resident in various of its offices.
James R. Martin secured an education, which was fair for that time, in the schools of Hillsville, and until he was thirty-two years of age re- mained on the homestead, and then bought a farm of his own, and besides carrying on general farming he did a large business in the buying and shipping of horses to Eastern markets. After a number of years' residence there, he, in 1889, be- cause of his wife's serious illness, moved to New Castle, and, besides supervising the farm, dealt in coal, lime and cement under the firm name of J. R. Martin & Co., for three years, when he sold out. At the present time he is practically retired, with the exception of the work he still puts in the management of his farm, and in look- ing after his interests in limestone. In 1890 he built a handsome residence at No. 125 North Mill Street, and also owns a tenement which is located on the same lot.
In 1880 Mr. Martin married Miss Durette Whiting, daughter of John Whiting. She died Dec. 30, 1890, aged thirty-six years, leaving one daughter and two sons: Verna L., born April 2,
1882; Chauncey J., Jan. 3, 1884; and Freddie L., Nov. 15, 1885. As his second helpmeet our subject married Mrs. Genevieve Hazen, widow of Oscar M. Hazen, who left one son, Roy W. Hazen; Mrs. Martin is a daughter of Hiram Watson. Mr. Martin uniformly supports the Re- publican party. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and Past Grand of the same; and of the En- campment, and Past High Priest of that.
WILLIAM H. REYNOLDS, deceased, who was in his life a leading tin and coppersmith of New Castle, was born in the above town Aug. 5, 1812, and died Aug. 29, 1880. He was a son of Joseph Reynolds, who married a Miss Inbody, who was of German origin. Our subject's grandfather, Reynolds, came from England dur- ing the last century.
Our subject learned the trade of a tin and cop- persmith in Mercer County, when a young man, and was engaged at the occupation of smithing all his life. Mr. Reynolds was a Demo- crat to the backbone, as are his sons; he served as president of the select council for the city of New Castle, as school director and as poor di- rector. Under President Buchanan's adminis- tration, he served as postmaster. He was a member of the K. of P., Fidelis Lodge.
William H. Reynolds was married in New Castle to Susan H. Squier, who was born in New Castle, April 10, 1823, a daughter of Anthony and Mary (Hudson) Squier. Anthony Squier was probably born on the site of New Castle, Jan. 18, 1796, and in the early days of the set- tlement kept a tavern in a building on Washing-
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ton Street, which was one of the best and most substantial structures in New Castle at that time. He died Feb. 27, 1837. He was a son of James and Lydia (Reynolds) Squier. James Squier was a soldier of the Revolution, enlisting at the age of eighteen, May 28, 1778, at Monmouth, N. J .; he received a pension from the govern- ment. He was born in England, Jan. 7, 1760, and died in 1848 in New Castle. Mary Hudson, Mrs. Reynolds' mother, was a daughter of Will- iam and Susanna (Gray) Hudson.
To William H. Reynolds and his wife were born five children, namely: Mary, who married T. J. Garvin, who is engaged in the livery busi- ness on Apple Alley, New Castle, they have seven children; Grace died in infancy; Addie; Charles L., a tinsmith of New Castle, who mar- ried Anna Gaston, has three children, his sketch appears elsewhere in this Book of Biographies; William H., Jr., married Ella Brown, deceased, and is the father of one child.
DANIEL BITNER of No. 182 Croton Ave- nue, New Castle, is a blacksmith by trade, and is now employed in that capacity in the Law- rence Glass Works of the above city. Although very well along in years, his birth occurring Jan. 25, 1825, he is hale and hearty, and able to swing the sledge with as much vim and precision as many who are scores of years his junior. He is a son of Jacob and Anna (Calhoun) Bitner. Jacob Bitner, a soldier of the War of 1812, whose birth occurred about 1797, was American born, but of German parentage, his mother hav- ing been born and reared in the old country.
Jacob Bitner learned the blacksmith's trade, and in early life worked in Allegheny City, and Pitts- burg. When our subject was about four years of age, Jacob Bitner came to Lawrence County; of his four boys and four girls, Daniel and his brother Barnet are the only survivors. As the older boys grew up, the father took them into his shop, desiring to teach them his trade, and keep them at home with him, but each in his turn became dissatisfied, and looked for other fields of labor. At last when all the older sons had left him, the father took Daniel into the shop at the early age of twelve years, just as soon as he was able to swing a sledge, and from that time on to the end of what might have been called his school-boy days he remained in his father's shop, and thought no more of going to school again. As he grew up he continued to work in his father's shop in Croton, and upon his father's death in 1847, he succeeded to the business, and many years thereafter found him laboring at his forge in Croton. Then for some eight or ten years he was engaged in the grocery business in the same village, and then returned to his trade. For the past fifteen years he has been employed in the shops of the Union Glass' Co., and latterly of its successor, the Lawrence Glass Co.
On Jan. 18, 1847, Mr. Bitner was married to Hester Baker, with whom he has lived fifty hap- py years, and gathered about him a contented family of children and grandchildren. Mrs. Bit- ner is a daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Rigby) Baker, the former a pensioner of the War of 1812. To Mr. Bitner and his wife have been given five children: Martha Jane, deceased; Jacob Baker, a blacksmith, now living in Fair-
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mount, Ind .; Mary Ann, who married J. D. Har- vey of New Castle; Roseltha M., who married E. E. Hartsuff of New Castle; and Hannah, who died in infancy. His religious attachments bind him to the M. E. Church. Politically, he is a Republican, and in respect to his social connec- tions, he is an Odd Fellow, and a member of the A. O. U. W. He has a pleasant home in Croton, near the scene of his life-work, where he will spend his declining years, surrounded by his friends and descendants.
JAMES J. COOK. It is always a matter of interest to review the lives of early settlers, and to note from the study of their careers the pro- gress time had made in their surroundings while silvering their hair and implanting furrows of care on the forehead. The gentleman, whose name occurs above, a retired resident of New Castle, although a native of Darlington, Beaver Co., Pa., has been a citizen and one of the prom- inent men of the city of New Castle for the greater part of his life. Although practically re- tired, and living in comfortable circumstances, he has been long connected with the public life of the city and county as court crier.
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Mr. Cook was born in Darlington, Beaver Co., Pa., Sept. 10, 1828, on the anniversary of Com- modore Perry's victory over the British on Lake Erie. His father, Benjamin Cook, also a native of Chambersburg, Pa., was born in 1794, and died in 1845; when but a youth he served in the War of 1812, and was an intimate friend of Bird, who was executed for overstaying his furlough
at a critical juncture. The execution was not so much for the gravity of the offense, but the time required strict discipline, and a terrible example must be held up before all in order that they per- form their duty. Mr. Cook always regretted the action of the military authorities in this matter, and thought the sentence too severe. Our sub- ject's father learned the wood-working trades, and became an expert carpenter, joiner and cab- inet-maker. Later in life he entered into mer- cantile life, and owned and conducted a large general store in Darlington; he was so successful in this venture, that he established a branch store at Clinton, which also proved very profit- able. His early demise at the age of fifty-one cut short a very promising career, but such is the uncertainty of life, the best, the fairest, and the noblest seem to succumb earliest to the final summons. Mr. Cook was a Presbyterian in his religious views, and in his politics was an old- line Whig of the deepest dye. He was ever active in politics, a good manager, and hard worker for his friends and their principles, but would never accept any office himself at the gift of the people. He married Susanna Johnson, daughter of Andrew Johnson of Beaver Co., Pa., and to them were born six children, as follows: Mary, deceased; Andrew Johnson; John C .; James J., our subject; Martha A., deceased; and Emeline, deceased.
James J. Cook was reared until his eighteenth year in his native town, attending district school and the academy at Darlington until he was fourteen, following that up with a summer term in a school at Atwater, Ohio, where his sister, a teacher, induced him to go for a time in the hope that his somewhat feeble health might be im-
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proved .. His health for many years was not of the best because his work at the trade of a tailor commenced when he was very young, and thus withheld from him many of the sports and good times that go as far toward building up the young frame. While still a lad of eight or nine years, instead of playing with other boys of his age in some healthful exercise, he would fre- quently work in the shop of a friendly tailor when there was anything he could do. From time to time he learned new things about the trade and more was entrusted to him, so that at the age of fourteen when he was apprenticed, he was really more proficient than many of the jour- neymen tailors of the place. He served two years as an apprentice under James Murray. In 1846, he came to New Castle, and after working there six months more as an apprentice, was given piece work, and then earned and saved enough to go into business for himself. This he did with John Blevins, the present city treasurer, and they were so associated until 1850, when Mr. Cook, seeing a good opening in his native place where there was then a large amount of railroad con- struction, opened a clothing store and tailoring establishment in Darlington, which he conduct- ed until 1856. In the following year, he removed to New Castle, where he went into partnership with John Williams, and opened a store and tailor shop, but owing to the ill health of both partners, it was deemed advisable by Mr. Cook to go to other parts for a change of environment, climate, temperature or whatever was needed. Mr. Williams decided to remain, and so after invoicing their goods, Mr. Cook left for Ohio, where health steadily improved, while Mr. Will- iams lasted but a few months At last it became
apparent to our subject that indoor work was not suited to him, and so he secured a place on the police force of New Castle, and rose to the position of chief of police, was then elected tax collector and was finally seated in the mayor's chair. Having purchased a fine farm of ninety acres north of New Castle, he devoted his spare time to its management, and the two years he resided there were two of the happiest years of his life.
For fifteen years, Mr. Cook served as court crier, and although he cared little for the posi- tion, it was at the request of his friends and fam- ily that he retained the office. Mr. Cook was a member of a New Castle Lodge of the I. O. O. F., but is not actively connected with the or- ganization at present. He is a strong Republi- can, and has always been since its organization, previously voting the Democratic ticket.
July 25, 1849, Mr. Cook was married to Mary E. Whitten, a native of Warren, Ohio, daughter of Oliver Whitten, a native of the State of Maine, who married Lavinia Percy, a daughter of Jos- eph and Lavinia (Reynolds) Percy. Joseph Per- cy was a soldier of the Revolution, and of Eng- lish descent, his brother who remained in Eng- land being John Lord Percy of the English no- bility. Of a family of six children born to Oliver Whitten, Mary E., the wife of our subject, was fifth. The union of our subject and wife has re- sulted in five children as follows: Charles W., who married Miss Lou Swall, and has four chil- dren, Edith, Mary E., James P., and Eber D .; Mary Lovan; Susanna J .; Albert J .; and Edward Percy. Mrs. Cook and her daughters are mem- bers of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of New Castle.
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GEORGE W. GAGEBY.
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GEORGE W. GAGEBY, master-mechanic of the Shenango Valley Steel Co., was born in Johnstown, Pa., Sept. 14, 1839, and is a son of Robert Gageby, and grandson of James Gage- by, who was born in Londonderry, Ireland, and came to this country about the time the colonists were having their memorable dispute with George III. over their conceived right to govern and care for themselves. Soon after landing on the soil of the New World, he took one of the important steps in life, and was joined in mar- riage with Janette Scroggs, also a native of the Emerald Isle; they settled at Fairfield, West- moreland Co., Pa. Like the patriotic son of old Ireland that he was, he bore no love toward King George and his red-coated soldiery, and so with an earnest zeal to serve well the country of his adoption he enlisted in the Continental Army, and served through the rest of the war. When the colonies had at last effected a peace bought with blood, and hostilities ceased, he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and followed the occupa- tion of a farmer the rest of his life. These seven children were born to them: Allen, who went to Virginia; David, who became a citizen of Indi- ana; James, who also became a resident of the Hoosier State; Neal, who moved to Iowa; Jane (Elder), who remained in Westmoreland Coun- ty; John; and Robert, our subject's father.
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