USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > Biographical sketches of leading citizens of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania > Part 43
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Dr. Mehard clings to the traditions of his fathers, and is a true-blue Republican. He is a member of three fraternal orders: Mahoning Lodge of New Castle, No. 243, F. & A. M .; Wampum Lodge, I. O. O. F .; and Wampum Lodge, No. 240, Knights of Pythias. In his civic relations, our subject performs whatever duties fall to him in a cheerful, obliging man- ner, and is ever ready to exert himself in fur- thering the prosperity of his town or the county.
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FRANK A. BLACKSTONE, a very success- ful and able attorney-at-law of New Castle, Law- rence County, is a son of Samuel Blackstone, grandson of James Blackstone, and great- grandson of Samuel Blackstone, Sr., who lived just north of New Wilmington in Mercer Co., Pa. James Blackstone, one of four sons born to Samuel Blackstone, Sr., was born in Mercer County, and early in life moved to Greenfield, where he lived, engaged in agricultural pursuits, the remainder of his life, dying at the age of eighty. His life-companion, Nancy Waugh, lived to be over eighty years old and bore him the following children: Thomas H .; Samuel, our subject's father; John; and Hannah (Zahnizer).
Our subject's father was born near Green- field, Mercer Co., Pa., in 1826. He located on a farm near the Blackstone homestead, and lived there all his life, dying Sept. 16, 1881. He mar- ried Susanna Keiffer, who was a native of North- ampton Co., Pa .; she was taken to her long home in 1893 at the age of sixty-six years. Their religious principles and rules of life were those advocated by the Presbyterian Church. Three children were born to them, as follows: Frank A .; Nannie L .; and J. Norman.
Frank A. Blackstone was born in Mercer County, Sept. 15, 1853. His common school education was obtained in the district schools, and he was advanced at the State Normal and at Westminster College, graduating from the latter institution in the class of 1881. The expenses of his college education was partly borne by the salary he received from teaching eight terms of school in the vicinity of his home. He studied law under Col. O. L. Jackson, and was admitted to the bar of Lawrence County in 1883. He re-
mained in the Colonel's office about five years, while that gentleman was in Congress, and in 1888 he opened an office for himself in the Clen- dennin Block, later moved to the Woods Block in 1890, and in 1891 came to his present loca- tion at No. 72 Pittsburg Street. Politically he is a Democrat. He was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the Western District in 1885; he was admitted to the bar of Mercer County in 1888; to the bar of Allegheny County, in 1893; and to the bar of the Courts of the Interior in 1890.
DR. JOHN A. BLAIR, secretary of the Law- rence County Medical Society, and a leading member of the medical circles of New Castle, was born in Washington township, this county, Oct. 7, 1855, and is a son of John and Ellen (Guildoo) Blair of Mercer Co., Pa.
James Blair, the grandfather of Dr. Blair, was a native of Pennsylvania, and followed the hon- orable calling of an agriculturist all the years of his life that he was engaged in laboring. To him and his wife were born the following chil- dren: Robert; James; Irvin; Alex .; William; Margaret; and Polly. In their religious belief they were Methodists.
John Blair, Jr., was also a farmer by occupa- tion, as was his father before him, and followed it the latter part of his life, his younger years being spent at the trade of a cabinet-maker; his death occurred March 9, 1891, when he was aged sixty-seven years. He was a Methodist in his religious attachments. There were given to him and his wife the following children: Mar-
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tha; Lovina; John A., our subject; Emma; Lor- No. 230; Sons of Veterans, Oscar L. Jackson endo; Mary; and Joseph. Martha married Rob- Camp, No. 249; and is also a member of the tribe of Ben Hur. ert Ryhal and has one child, Maud. Lovina mar- ried John Phillip of New Castle, Pa. Emma mar- ried John Dann. Mary became the wife of John Ward.
John A. Blair received his early mental train- ing in the schools of Pennsylvania and Missouri, in which States his parents had been residents at various times in his boyhood. When he became a young man, he returned to Pennsylvania and entered the State Normal School at Edinboro, Pa., and, after receiving a thorough training in that institution, he taught in the district schools for four years, and in 1881 read medicine with Dr. Mont Linville, the well-known physician of New Castle, for one year. He then became a student in the Jefferson Medical College of Phil- adelphia, Pa., and graduated from that excellent medical school in 1890. He also took a special course in the treatment of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat at the same college, remain- ing there one year for that purpose. In Febru- ary, 1891, he located in New Castle, Pa., where he has met with commendable success in his prac- tice, which he has taken great pains to extend. His office practice is large and lucrative and claims a considerable share of his time. After two years' practice he spent some time in the hospitals in London and Liverpool, England. He is a member of the Lawrence County Medi- cal Society, and is at present its secretary. He is a firm Republican. Socially, he is a mem- ber of Shenango Lodge, No. 195, I. O. O. F .; Knights of Pythias, New Castle Lodge, No. 404; Protected Home Circle, New Castle Circle, No. 5; Knights of the Maccabees, New Castle Tent,
In 1891, Dr. Blair united his fortunes with those of Luella Muntz, daughter of Jacob Muntz of Centerville, Butler Co., Pa., and to them have been given to rear two children: C. Hugh and Victor J. Dr. and Mrs. Blair are members of the M. E. Church, and are held in high esteem in that organization as efficient workers.
In 1897, Dr. Blair spent two months traveling through the Western States, to the coast in Cal- ifornia up to Washington. He came home by the way of Nebraska, where he purchased a ranch and herd of cattle, which he left in the charge of his brother Lorendo, who is living there.
HENRY B. RENO. Of the prominent citi- zens of Lawrence County the gentleman whose name heads this sketch occupies a po- sition of consequence. He is descended from the old and well-known family of that name. His parternal grandfather, Fran- cis Reno, who was an Episcopal clergy- man, was born in New Jersey, Feb. 7, 1757. Jesse, the eleventh child of Francis and Lydia Reno, was born in 1807, and Henry B. Reno, the present scion of the family, began his life Sept. 21, 1833.
The grandfather, Rev. Francis Reno, was born in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, in 1758, and settled near Rochester, Pa. His wife was Lydia." Savors, born Sept. 16, 1764. A numerous fam- ily came to be reared under their fostering care:
REV. MOSES C. ALEXANDER.
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John; Elizabeth; Charles; Lewis; William; cially adapted to business life, and oversees his Nancy; James; Thomas; Francis; Susan; Jesse; and Lydia. Rev. Reno was a man of strong con- viction of principles, and by his position was enabled to do much good in the community.
Jesse Reno was born, as before stated, in 1807, and after some time spent in school, he learned the tanner's trade, and divided his time between that trade and farming after he settled in Jeffer- son township, Mercer County. He rose to be a personage of considerable importance and was a life-long Republican, his first vote going for John C. Fremont for President; although he was versed and active in politics, he did not pose as an office-holder. Jesse Reno stood before the hymeneal altar with Elizabeth Bebout, a daugh- ter of Peter Bebout, and ten children were the result of this union: Abner L .; Henry B .; Fran- cis A .; Catherine J .; Lydia A .; John L .; Addie E .; Rebecca M .; Perry A .; and Luella M. In matters of religious interest, the family was at- tached to the M. E. Church.
Henry B. Reno was sent to school to acquire the rudiments of an education. He was engaged in agrarian pursuits when in 1854 he went to Iowa and spent two years, and in 1856 went to California, remaining there until 1871, when he returned to Pulaski township, and associated himself with his brothers in the manufacture of Reno's French umber filler. The umber is mined on the farm owned by Mr. and Mrs. Reno, and the product is sent over the United States and Canada. This quality of umber is used throughout the States and Canada for vari- ous purposes, but is chiefly employed in filling in coach, car and locomotive work, and is also used to some extent in safe work. Mr. Reno is espe-
mill and a large farm where stock is raised. He is a stirring active character, and has depended on himself to build his financial credit, with the satisfactory result that he has reached a flattering degree of success.
On Oct. 7, 1880, Mr. Reno entered into a mar- riage contract with Mary E. Hey, a daughter of John Hey of East Brook, Pa .; she was born in Bath, N. H. Mr. and Mrs. Reno are faithful and consistent members of the M. E. Church, where they have a large circle of warm friends. Mr. Reno holds a membership in the A. O. U. W. of Pulaski, where he is a leading light.
REV. MOSES C. ALEXANDER. The min- isterial profession in Lawrence County includes among its members as earnest, learned, and able Christian gentlemen as may be found in any part of the State. The early history of this section is inseparably linked with the history of the early churches, which came into being as soon as there were a few of the same mind who could gather together and worship their Maker as their consciences dictated. The excellent moral tone that is so evident in all the circles of so- ciety and among all classes is directly traceable to the influence of the Christian organizations of all denominations that have indeed performed a worthy work in rearing generations that fear God and love their fellow-men. Rev. Moses C. Alexander, the gentleman whose name is the title of this life review, and whose portrait ac- companies this sketch on the opposite page, is
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the beloved and esteemed pastor of the Unity Baptist Church of Harlansburg, Pa., and as such exerts a powerful influence for good in his own community in Scott township and in regions contiguous to his own residence and field of work. His preparation and consecration for the work of winning and bringing souls under the Standard of the Cross dates farther back than his own birth, for his father and grandfather be- fore him were both zealous workers in the Mas- ter's vineyard.
Our subject was born in Cecil Co., Md., Jan. 24, 1859, and was a son of Rev. John T. and Annie E. (Sherwood) Alexander, and grandson of Rev. William T. Alex- ander. The latter was a native of Eng- land and came to America before his mar- riage in the latter part of the eighteenth cen- tury, and settled in the northern part of the State of Maryland, where he was mainly en- gaged in following pursuits of an agricultural nature, especially in the late years of his career. He was educated for the ministry, and as an ex- pounder of the blessed truths of the Gospel he passed the years of his early manhood. He was an intelligent, far-seeing man, and in his business affairs was very fortunate, accumulating a hand- some property, and being considered a very prosperous and well-to-do gentleman for that time. He married Margaret Sleigal, a native of Ireland, and to him and his wife were born the following named children: William J .; Robert E .; George W .; James A .; Justus; Rev. John T., our subject's father; Mary A .; and Julia D. His death took place in 1801, when he was aged about seventy-eight years. His wife crossed the River of Death to join those gone on before in
1812, when she had attained an age of seventy- five years. Our subject's grandfather was a min- ister of the M. E. faith.
Rev. John T. Alexander was educated in the common schools of his native town in Mary- land, and after completing his elementary educa- tion pursued a further course in theology in Dickinson College, located in York Co., Pa., in the vicinity of Harrisburg. His ordination took place when he was twenty-five years of age in 1842, and he preached thereafter the remainder of his life, his death occurring July 7, 1868. He belonged to the Baltimore Conference of the M. E. Church, and became very prominent in relig- ious circles, especially of his native State. His first charge was in Harford, Harford Co., Md .; his second in Elk Neck, Cecil Co., Md .; his third in Towson, Baltimore Co., Md .; his fourth in Bal- timore City, Md., where he was pastor of the old Fayette Church. He was then transferred into northeast Maryland, but finally returned to Elk Neck, where his demise took place. His wife, Annie E., was a daughter of Phillip F. and Mary (Ward) Sherwood of Baltimore, Md. Their union resulted in the children whose record is given below: Charles P. is deceased; John T. married Louisa A. Shallcross of Cecil Co., Md .; Horatio S. married Myram Jenny of Cecil Coun- ty, and has three children: Walter, Frederick, and Annie B .; Alonzo F. is deceased; Joseph R. married Mary Leithead of Philadelphia, Pa., and has a family of three, consisting of Mary E., Bes- sie C., and Smith T .; James A., now deceased, married Susanna Baldwin of Harford Co., Md .; Annie E. became the wife of Joseph Coslett of Cecil Co., Md., and bore him this family, Grace L., Roy E., John T., Albert J., Florence M., and
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Ruth M .; Alonzo I. is unmarried; Moses C. is a large amount of work, because of the great the subject of this personal history; Rev. Aaron amount of experience that he has had in religious circles. Broad in his views, sincere and out- spoken in his attitudes on living questions that concern the life and welfare of the people, and zealous and earnest in all that he sets his hand and his heart to, he is a man whose influence is felt on all sides, and one who will leave a lasting impression on his community. I. married Catherine McNealy of Greene Co., Pa., and their children number three, Edward E., J. Clark, and Nora H .; Mary L., the young- est of the family, is now deceased. Mrs. John T. Alexander still survives her husband and enjoys a contented life, full of manifold blessings, at the home of her son, Rev. Moses C. Alexander.
The early education of Mr. Alexander was re. ceived in the schools of Cecil Co., Md .; he grad- uated at the West Nottingham Presbyterian Col- lege in 1880, and during the two following years attended the Louisville Theological Seminary, from which institution he received his degree in 1882. His first pastorate was at Mount Rocky, Chester Co., Pa., where he remained one year, after which he filled out a year's service in the church at Wrightsdale, Lancaster Co., Pa. He then removed to Welsburg, Brook Co., W. Va., where his pastoral duties detained him for two years. In 1887, he moved to Wheeling, W. Va., where he was ordained a minister of the Baptist faith, after which he accepted a call to the Har- vey Church of Greene Co., Pa. In 1889, he moved to Columbia, N. J., where he labored in the field until 1891, when he returned to Wheel- ing, where he took the last course in bible theol- ogy. Now thoroughly equipped as a minister of the Baptist persuasion he returned to Colum- bia, N. J., where he remained until 1895, when he came to Harlansburg, Pa., and took charge of his present pastorate, in which he has been very successful and has had his zealous efforts for the good and betterment of the community crowned with the best of results. His work is well planned, and he is able to get through with
On April 28, 1897, Mr. Alexander led to the altar Mary B. Davis, daughter of George L. and Mary (Boone) Davis of Glasgow, Cambria Co., Pa., and made her his wife. They live in a pleas- ant home where they delight to entertain their parishioners and to extend a hearty welcome to all who honor them with their presence.
WILLIAM C. MARTIN, living near Volant in Washington township, Lawrence Co., Pa., be- longs to the younger generation of men who have taken upon their shoulders the responsibil- ity of caring for the broad acres of sunny hills and fertile dales, that their sires and their grand- sires hewed out of the all-covering wilderness. Lawrence County has been developed at a rapid rate since the nineteenth century came into being, and all the ground that was once gained has been well held with never a backward step. Mr. Martin, the subject of this history, first saw the light of day in Wilmington township, Nov. 15, 1846. He attended the schools of his native place, and as soon as he arrived at suitable years, he began his chosen vocation of tilling the soil. He labored first in Wilmington township, and
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later on he partly bought and partly inherited his present estate, where he is to-day residing, a prosperous, careful and worthy representative of Nature's noblest calling.
Mr. Martin's grandfather came to this country in 1805, and settled on the farm, where his de- scendants now live and prosper, and departed this life there at the advanced age of eighty-two, having followed agricultural pursuits all of his life. The original farm comprised over 400 acres, and was splendidly situated. Our sub- ject's grandfather made many marked improve- ments in the property, the large brick house being one of special note. He married a Miss Agnes Martin, and to them seven children were given: Mary; Elizabeth; Thomas; George; David; John; and James. Politically, Mr. Mar- tin was a Democrat, and in religious matters was a Seceder.
James Martin, the father of William C., re- ceived a good education in the district schools, and when a young man inherited from his father the farm in Washington township of 126 acres. He held this place for five years, during which time he put it in first-class shape, and was able to realize handsomely from it, when he finally disposed of it to his son, William C. Through- out his life he was a prominent citizen, and took a live interest in all affairs of a public nature. On the question of human slavery, he was a pro- nounced Abolitionist, and his voice was ever raised in behalf of the black slave. He was a sincere Christian gentleman, and was for years an elder in the United Presbyterian Church. He left this world at the age of sixty. He married a daughter of John Mills of Mercer County. They had nine children, by name: William C.,
our subject; John M .; Mellisa; Amanda; Agnes; Elizabeth; Norman; Joseph; and Eva.
William C. Martin has followed through life the main pursuit of general agriculture, but his specialty, however, has been that of raising fine stock, and he is one of the men who has made Lawrence County famous on that score. His wife, Emma, is a daughter of Henry Humphrey of Mercer County, and she has made him a happy father by the births of seven children, all living, as follows: William O .; Harvey E .; Lu- ella; John C .; James W .; Ada; and Thomas. Another daughter, Nettie, was taken from them at an early age.
Mr. Martin is in all matters of a progressive and liberal turn of mind. What he has to do he performs in a thorough and systematic manner. He is a strict adherent to the principles of the Republican party, and along the lines of relig- ious activity favors the Presbyterian Church. He has never been found wanting in the elements that go to make up the most valuable kind of man and citizen.
SAMUEL L. WICK, an enterprising and prosperous merchant of Wurtemberg, Lawrence Co., Pa., was born in Butler Co., Pa., Sept. 11, 1859, and began his education in the district schools, when he arrived at a suitable age. He continued his studies in Grove City College in Mercer Co., and finding himself well adapted to educational work, and fonder of teaching than of the routine work of the farm, he took up that calling, and for fourteen years devoted his ener- gies to planting the seeds of knowledge in youth-
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ful minds, his field of labor lying in Butler Coun- raising, and chiefly to breeding a fine grade of ty. Finally, when even teaching became irk- Short-horn cattle. He retained possession of this farm, and was active in carrying on the work un- til his death at the age of fifty-one. His wife, Mary, was a daughter of Andrew Turke, a native of Butler County; she bore him these children, eleven in number: John; Sarah; Perry; Jennie; W. S., Jr .; Samuel L., whose biography is given above; Wesley E .; Martha; Ada; Emma; and Myra. Our subject's grandfather was John Wick of Westmoreland Co., Pa., who was a har- dy farmer, and attended to the duties of his farm up to a few months before his death at the age of seventy-seven. some to him, a fine business opportunity pre- sented itself, and he left the work in which he had been engaged for so many years, and entered upon a mercantile career in Wurtemberg, where he is at present conducting a well-appointed general store that has proved quite a money- maker. That Mr. Wick has been so successful is due to his ability to anticipate the wants of the community and to supply almost their every need in a courteous, urbane manner that gives offense to none, and attracts those who would find an agreeable salesman. He is perfectly ac- quainted with business forms and methods, for before he undertook teaching he had received instruction in Duff's Commercial College in Pittsburg, Pa. He chose for his wife Elizabeth Fisher, daughter of Solomon Fisher of West JOHN B. HAZEN is a well-to-do real estate dealer and farmer of Hazel Dell, Wayne town- ship, Lawrence Co., who was born in North Se- wickley, Beaver Co., Pa., Feb. 13, 1835. He was a son of John and Elizabeth (Caldwell) Hazen, and a grandson of Joseph and Martha (Burdick) Hazen. Liberty, Pa., and she is the mother of one son, Charles. The family are members of the M. E. Church, and may be found among its most regu- lar attendants and most earnest supporters. Mr. Wick is a thorough Republican, believing that the protection of home industry is of advantage to the business circles of the land. He has not had reason to regret his change of occupation, as mercantile life offers many inducements to the man who is wide-awake and alert to the main opportunity.
Mr. Wick's father was William S. Wick, who was bound by close ties to Butler Co., Pa., for there he first saw the light and there he passed the years of his boyhood and then of his man- hood. He purchased land near what is known as the "Old Stone Tavern," and established him- self thereon, paying especial attention to stock-
His grandfather, Joseph, followed farming as a means of securing a livelihood, and served in the War of 1812 at Fort Erie. The grandpar- ents, who lived to a good old age, surrounded themselves with this family: Benjamin; Daniel; Louis; Peter; John; Polly; Eunice; and Sarah.
The fifth son of the foregoing family, John by name, was born in North Sewickley, Beaver Co., Pa., and inherited the homestead, as it had de- volved upon him as the youngest son to care for his parents and remain at home; to the orig- inal tract of land, he gradually added plot after
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plot as circumstances would permit until he owned 300 acres. He raised stock to a great extent, and in all his farming used advanced, progressive methods. At the age of fifty-five he was attacked with quick consumption, and he yielded his life in the struggle. His wife, when fifty-eight, succumbed to the same dread disease. Of their children, Martha died in infancy and Joseph's demise occurred at the age of seven- teen; James B. settled in Iowa; Andrew lives on the homestead; John B. is the personage of chief interest in this sketch; Mary Ann married T. Gil- lespie; and Samuel and Theodore died in child- hood. Mr. Hazen was a strong Democrat and held several of the township offices.
John B. Hazen took charge of the farm at seventeen, and was very successful in its man- agement. After attaining his majority he served a number of years as constable. On April 22, 1857, Mr. Hazen was joined in hymeneal bonds to Sarah M. Beatty, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Mahard) Beatty of Beaver County. Mr. Beatty was a carpenter and boat-builder, and af- ter his wife's early death he moved to Clayton, Iowa, where he engaged in farming and made that State his home until his death at sixty years. Of his children, William and Mary dying in in- fancy, Mrs. Hazen alone grew to adult years. After the marriage of our subject and wife, Mr. Hazen occupied the homestead, and still owns the farm; he was twice burned out, but each time he rebuilt. In 1862, Mr Hazen enlisted for three years' service in Co. B, 14th Reg. Pa. Vol. Cav., and received a thigh wound at the Battle of Chambersburg, and that is the reason for the pension he receives. Indeed, he had many nar- row escapes in his service as a cavalryman, his
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