USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > Biographical sketches of leading citizens of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania > Part 45
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In 1888, Mr. Cornelius was elected constable and tax collector, and has been continued in office ever since, and has also served as super- visor two years. He enlisted in 1862, August of
that year, in Co. D, 14th Reg. Pa. Vol. Cav., and in the following spring at Harper's Ferry, Va., he was thrown from his horse, and his left side sprained very badly, which accident left him in very poor health, and he has never been able to do very hard manual labor, or much of it at a time. He has a nice home at No. 15 Etna Street, and other property in other parts of the city. He has won the highest esteem of his fel- low-citizens for the strict integrity of his life, and for the conscientious manner in which he has discharged the duties of the various offices which they have chosen him to fill. He is a member of the K. of P. Lodge, and has filled all of its chairs; he is also a member of the G. A. R. Post, and of the United Workmen, Protected Home Circle, and Junior Order of American Mechanics. His wife is a member of the W. C. T. U., and of the Royal Templars. As a representative and well-known citizen of Law- rence County, the publishers of this biograph- ical work take pleasure in presenting Mr. Cor- nelius' portrait on a preceding page.
PHILIP J. WATSON, a large owner and operator in real estate, and actively identified with many of the leading inter- ests of New Castle, is one of that city's most active business men, and highly es- teemed citizens. He was born in Susquehanna Co., Pa., July 3, 1851, and is a son of Jeremiah Watson, who was born in 1812, and died in 1877. Our subject's father was a prosperous and well-to-do farmer and dairyman, and lived late in life in Windsor, Broome Co., N. Y. He
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married Pamela Rockwell, who was born in land Avenue. For himself he built a house and Yonkers, N. Y., and died in 1889, when over eighty years of age. The children born to Jere- miah and Pamela (Rockwell) Watson were as follows: Edward M. of Westfield, N. Y .; Henry L. of Portland, N. Y .; Albert S. of Westfield, N. Y .; Julia, the wife of C. N. Whitmore, Great Bend, Pa .; Elizabeth, the wife of D. D. Terrell of Franklin Forks, Pa .; and Philip J., whom we have the pleasure of presenting to the readers of this book.
At the age of seventeen years, Philip J. Wat- son left his home to seek his fortune, and with a determination to make a successful voyage, and to weather the storms that threaten the pros- perity of the ambitious young man, he set sail on the sea of business. When eighteen years old, he began teaching school winters, and doing car- pentry work in the summer time; in this way about four years were employed, his last teach- ing occupying most of his time throughout the year; one season he even taught eleven months out of the twelve. For several years he sold Vermont and Massachusetts granite for monu- mental and building purposes. He then became a salesman for the Appleton Publishing House of New York City for eleven years, and in the Encyclopedia Department. He was then asso- ciated with the Bankers' Loan & Investment Co. of New York City one and one-half years; dur- ing this time he was investing his surplus earn- ings in Buffalo real estate, which eventually be- came very valuable and brought him large profits. In 1892, our subject came to New Cas- tle, and purchased thirty-five acres of the old Mathew Irvin estate, which was a very rough and unimproved tract of land situated on High-
barn, and platted the remainder into building lots as an addition to the city, and on these lots, which are the choicest in New Castle, ten houses have been built; the new streets laid out by Mr. Watson were named by him Winter Ave- nue, Leasure Street, Garfield Street, Sheridan Street and Summer Street. His next venture in the real estate business exhibited more forcefully than ever his enterprising zeal in doing all he could for the welfare and growth of New Cas- tle; it was to buy Henry C. Fall's farm of 126 acres, and run through it Delaware Avenue and Neshannock Boulevard, and the streets named above, and to organize a cemetery association, which has, under the direction of a skilled land- scape architect, laid out and beautifully improved forty-two acres for New Castle's beautiful Oak Park Cemetery. He was instrumental to a large degree in getting the electric line of cars extend- ed through Highland Avenue, and is acting as trustee for the New Castle Electric Street R. R. Co. of the three hundred acre tract of land which he purchased under contract with the company at the north end of Highland Avenue, which property will be soon for sale in building lots. The cemetery mentioned above is known as Oak Park Cemetery, and our subject is the presi- dent of the association which controls it. He is president of the Y. M. C. A. of the city of New Castle, and an elder in the First Presbyterian Church, and is one of the trustees of the latter organization. Not only in business circles is he a leading figure, but also in church and society circles does he enjoy great popularity ; in his ele- gant home, seconded by his capable wife, he de- lights to entertain his associates and acquaint-
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ances and to live a happy, unrestrained life, un- burdened with any thought of injustice or wrong committed in all his prosperous career from al- most nothing to his present position of affluence and independence.
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Mr. Watson won as his wife and sharer of his joys and sorrows Miss Nellie C. Comstock, daughter of Abner Comstock, who was a very popular farmer and business man of Windsor, N. Y., and won the esteem of his large circle of intimate acquaintances. Our subject's marriage has been blessed with five children, who are as follows: Arthur C., born July 11, 1881; Ruth A., May 7, 1883; Phillip J., Jr., May 24, 1886; John R., Dec. 27, 1890, and Frances Dorothy, July 26, 1897.
H. IRA CUNNINGHAM, a well-known no- tary public of Wampum and a farmer by occupa- tion, was born in Shenango township, Oct. 12, 1843, and is a son of Joseph M. and Isabella (Wilson) Cunningham. Our subject's father was born on the home farm about 1813, and followed agricultural pursuits largely throughout his life, dying in 1843, when our subject was but a few weeks old. He had taken Masonic orders, and was a member of the State militia.
The grandfather of our subject was Benjamin Cunningham, whose wife was Margaret Morton, who came of an old English family. Benjamin was born in Westmoreland County about 1768, and departed this life in 1843, having followed farming as a means of securing a livelihood, and providing for his family.
The mother of H. Ira, was Isabella Wilson in her maiden days, and was a native of Wayne township, Lawrence County; she was a daughter of William and Christiana (Van Gorder) Wilson; the latter was born in Germany, removed with her parents to America when she was nineteen years of age, and died at the age of seventy-four. William Wilson, grandfather of Mr. Cunning- ham on his mothers's side, was a Scottish High- lander, who came to America when a youth of sixteen summers, and was very successful in farming. He was a captain in the War of 1812. He responded to the final roll-call in 1864, his age being eighty-six years. He was a Demo- crat in his politics, and served his township as supervisor and as school director.
H. Ira Cunningham when only a lad of twelve began to earn his own living and face the stern realities of life; he drifted into various employ- ments, and seemed to take after the typical Yan- kee, for he was a jack-of-all-trades, and was very handy in several lines of work. He labored on farms and in the mines, and for a time was cook in a restaurant. During this period of indecision in regard to his future, Fort Sumter was fired on, and the call for volunteers was issued. Mr. Cunningham was among the first who enrolled their names in the service of the Union, and en- listed at Pittsburg on Sept. 22, 1861. At the expiration of his first term, he re-enlisted at New Brighton in April, 1864, and served until July 24, 1865, when he was mustered out as a cor- poral. He was a sharpshooter for a great part of the time he was a soldier and was wounded three times in that service. He was again wounded in the battle of Weldon Railroad on Aug. 19, 1864, and was obliged to leave the regi-
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ment on sick leave for a matter of several months. Shortly after his return, on Dec. 25 of the same year, he was wounded while on the picket line before Petersburg.
On resuming the life of a civilian, Mr. Cun- ningham worked for a time in a nut factory until Dec. 26, 1867, when he married and settled on a farm in Shenango township near the borough of Wampum, where he has since resided. He espoused Louisa J. Wilson, whose parents were John I. and Elizabeth (Munnell) Wilson. John I. Wilson's father, James Wilson, was probably the first white child born in Slippery Rock town- ship, that event occurring in 1803. Mrs. Wilson lived to attain the extreme age of ninety-two years; her father, James Munnell, was a soldier in the War of 1812. Louisa J. Cunningham, our subject's first wife, bore her husband two chil- dren, of whom Charles C. is the elder; he lives in Wampum and is in business with his father-in- law, William Braby. The other child, Effie, is deceased.
Mr. Cunningham in the years since the war has devoted himself chiefly to farming, although he has worked at paper-hanging, and became an expert in that line. He is a genial, whole-souled man, who is not only respected, but cordially liked by all who know him. He is a good citi- zen of sterling worth, active in matters of public interest and always ready to do what he can to promote the general welfare-in short, he is the kind of man that is needed in every community. On Aug. 28, 1878, were celebrated his second nuptials, the bride being Ella Wilson, a younger sister of his first wife. This union has resulted in one son, John I., who is yet at home, attending school. Mrs. Cunningham is a con-
sistent and valued member of the Presbyter- ian Church.
Politically, Mr. Cunningham is a solid Re- publican, and endorses the principles of that party with conscientious fidelity. In March, 1897, he was made a notary public in and for Lawrence County. He was poster and folder in the State Senate for several terms, and in 1891 he served as postmaster of that body. In Wam- pum borough he has acted as street commis- sioner. Mr. Cunningham's good fellowship and popularity is evidenced by his memberships in different secret societies. He is a Mason, and a member of both the blue lodge and chapter, affiliating with Mahoning Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 243, of New Castle. In the Odd Fellows order, he belongs to the Subordinate Lodge, the Encampment and the Grand Lodge, in which he has been a representative. He is a secretary of Wampum Lodge, No. 865, I. O. O. F .; a mem- ber of Lawrence Encampment, No. 86, of New Castle; and served as deputy Grand Master from 1882 to 1892. In the A. O. U. W., he holds a membership in Welcome Lodge, No. 65, of Wampum, and represented that lodge in the grand lodge. He is also a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, being as- sociated with the Council in Wampum. As an old soldier he takes a great deal of pleasure in renewing old war associations, and has a mem- bership in Wampum Post, No. 381, G. A. R .; he has been commander for nine years and is one of the leading spirits of the local organization.
In April, 1897, Mr. Cunningham was elected to the office of burgess, a position he is to re- tain four years.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
PROF. WILLIAM N. AIKEN of New Cas- tle, Pa., for many years the efficient superinten- dent of public schools of Lawrence Co., Pa., and now interested in life insurance business, was born in Wayne township, now a part of Law- rence County, but formerly in Beaver County, Jan. 12, 1834. He traces his ancestry back through David Aiken, William Aiken, Jr., to William Aiken, who was the first of the family to settle in America. Our subject's great-grand- father, William Aiken, was born in Ireland, where he spent the years of his early manhood until he was attracted by the glowing accounts he had heard of this country to take up his home in a foreign land, and to grow up with the coun- try with a chance equal to that of any other young man of industrious habits and energetic disposition. He brought his family with him, among whom was William Aiken, Jr., to a place near Baltimore, Maryland, where he lived a number of years, removing from there at last to take up a residence in Westmoreland Co., Pa., which was the place of his death.
William Aiken, Jr., did not long remain in Pennsylvania after attaining his majority but re- moved to St. Clairsville, Ohio, where he met Dorothy Newell and won her hand in marriage. This worthy pair was blessed with the birth of three children, triplets, all of whom grew up to maturity and married and raised families. David was the father of our subject. William married Martha Smiley of Wayne township, and they had two children, William and Margaret. The other one of the triplets, Dorothy, married Dan- iel Thomas, and has five children: William, John, Elam, David, and Sarah. In 1801, Mr. Aiken returned to Pennsylvania and took up a
residence in Wayne township, and immediately after his settlement there he became interested in the milling industry, and built a carding mill, saw-mill and grist-mill, and was quite busily en- gaged at this work in connection with some farming until his death at the advanced age of eighty-three years. In 1821, some time after the death of his first wife, he married Miss Mar- garet Clark, and they lived happily together with nothing to mar the calmness of their lives until her death in 1845, leaving him then to walk the path of life alone. In religious matters Mr. Aiken was a Presbyterian, having been elder many years. Politically, he was an adherent of the old Whig party.
David Aiken, the father of our subject, was born during the time of the family residence in Ohio in 1800. He remained in Wayne township, whither his father had removed since his birth and located, until 1845, when he obtained pos- session of a tract of land in extent 267 acres in Shenango township. Here he farmed until his death, being very highly respected among his neighbors as a very prosperous man, and as one of more than ordinary ability. He was a Whig, and he served as assessor, as school director, and as a delegate to the first county convention ever held in Lawrence County. His wife, Martha, was a daughter of James Vance of Slippery Rock township, and was born in 1807, and died in 1883. Their children were: Martha; Dorothy, wife of Robert Van Horn of Slippery Rock town- ship; William N., our subject; James W., who fell in the engagement at Petersburg; David W., who married Marian Young, and has four chil- dren, Bell M., Frank, Mary, and Dora; Isaiah W., who served in the army, and died from dis-
GEORGE G. PRYOR.
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ease contracted there; William H., who married Mary Gemmel of Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Pa .; Sarah E. (now deceased), who became the wife of James Adams, and bore him two chil- dren, Henry W. and William N .; Mary J. (now deceased), who married Harvey Palmer of Shen- ango township and had three children, David, Hugh, and William; Margaret M. (now de- ceased), who married Milton Walton of Slippery Rock township, and left him with the care of three children, William D., Jesse, and James H .; and Isabella T., deceased, a twin sister of Mar- garet M. The family were regular attendants of the United Presbyterian Church, where David Aiken, the father, took an active part in church affairs and for many years acted as trustee. In his political belief he was a Whig, but upon the formation of the Republican party he joined the ranks of the new organization. His death oc- curred March 1, 1860.
Prof. William N. Aiken was educated in the district schools of his neighborhood, and took an advanced course at Westminster College, which was located at New Wilmington, Pa., and gradu- ated from that institution in 1861. Immediately after his graduation he accepted a position as teacher, and taught in the public schools of the city of New Castle several years. In 1869, he was elected superintendent of schools of Law- rence County, a position he held intelligently and to the great good of the educational interests of the county until 1878. He was also city superin- tendent of the New Castle schools from. 1884 to 1887. Since that time he has been engaged in the life insurance business, representing as its agent the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance of New- ark, N. J. In politics, he sides with the Repub-
licans, and casts his vote in support of Republi- can candidates.
On April 6, 1865, he married Margaret M. Laughridge of Youngstown, Ohio. Their mar- riage has been blessed with two children: Mar- tha R., a teacher in the public schools; and Will- iam L. The family are United Presbyterians in their religious attachments.
GEORGE G. PRYOR, editor and proprietor of the Courant-Guardian, the leading paper of this section of the State, was born in Philadel- phia, Pa., Sept. 10, 1859. When he was about six years of age, his parents moved to the banks of the Rhine of America, the noble Hudson, a few miles below Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and in that locality our subject's boyhood and young manhood were spent, and the basis of an educa- tion was laid that has proved its excellence by the rapidity with which Mr. Pryor has arisen to the front rank of newspaper editors.
On Jan. 1, 1890, in company with F. W. Cor- son, he purchased the New Castle Courant, and in 1894 secured the entire control; with the re- cent growth of New Castle, Mr. Pryor has been a leading factor, and his paper has flourished and prospered. March 23, 1896, the Guardian, a daily and weekly newspaper of New Castle, was consolidated with the Courant under its present name, Mr. Pryor retaining the editorship and control of the paper. The Courant-Guard- ian wields a great influence in the community, a result due in an unusual measure to Mr. Pryor's strong personality and unremitting efforts. It is fearless and outspoken, is a firm believer in
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
and an adherent of a greater New Castle, and by its consistent and persistent course has done much in building up the city, securing public improvements, and stimulating private enter- prise.
In 1880, Mr. Pryor was married to Jenine S. Scofield, daughter of Thomas and Mary Scofield of Reading, Pa., and they have two children, Edith and Willis. He has an elegant residence in one of the best sections of the city, with a well- stocked library, in which he is a hard student, although prominent in the social affairs of the city. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and an earnest worker in the Sunday School. His life is a busy one, filled with social functions and business duties, and his success shows him to be one of those fortunate individuals capable of a vast amount of hard work. Mr. Pryor's portrait accompanies this sketch, and may be found on a preceding page.
WILLIAM C. WOODS of Fayetteville, Wil- mington township, Lawrence Co., Pa., is an ex- cellent representative of the artisan class of our population who in their chosen lines have full well kept pace with the steady growth and pro- gress of this section in every line. Mr. Woods is a member of that craft, which has, since the dawn of history, made the working of wood and iron an industry to be proud of. No art requires a steadier arm, a truer eye, or more experienced and riper judgment than does that of shaping the reddened metal into the thousand and one
forms of usefulness which make it of inore real utility to mankind than either silver or gold.
Mr. Woods was in one sense born in the busi- ness. His father, Eli Woods, was for years one of the most reliable and best known wagon- builders of this section. The grandfather, Chas. Woods, was a native of the Emerald Isle, who came to America when a young man, and by means of those powerful levers to success-in- dustry and thrift-made for himself a good name wherever he resided. His son, Eli, born in Mif- flin Co., Pa., was given a good education, and for a number of years, before attaining his major- ity, followed agricultural pursuits. Next he was employed in a brick yard, where he became fam- iliar with the principles and essentials that gov. ern that industry. Being impressed with the needs of the people for proper conveyances, and- having a liking for work of a mechanical nature, he commenced to learn the trade of a wagon- maker at the shop of his step-father, which trade he had in three years' time fully mastered. He was now of age and the possessor of a remunera- tive trade, so he rented a shop and started out in the struggle of life at a point in Mifflin County. As his business grew, and he found that he could handle work in a larger field, he purchased the property now occupied by the subject of this sketch at Fayetteville, building thereon a house, barn and shop. Here he held a splendid trade for many years, employing in the various lines as many as seven hands. Those were the days in which good work prevailed. Every piece, either iron or wood, that went into a wagon, was shaped by the trusty hand of a competent work- man. The timber used was from the best selec- tion of the forest and well seasoned. Many of
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
the first jobs built at the old shop are in use to- day. Eli Woods married Margaret Dull, daugh- ter of George Dull of Center Co., Pa., and to then seven children were born: Howard; Ed- win W .; Emma H., deceased; Mary; William, our subscriber; George M .; and Charles E. The family was reared in the precepts of the Presby- terian Church, of which Mr. Woods has been a life-long member, and still at his advanced age attends quite regularly. The political views of Mr. Woods have been Republican. His patriot- ism stood the severest test possible, when in 1864 he put on the blue uniform, shouldered his mus- ket, and went away to the front. He enlisted for three years or during the war, and was mus- tered out at its close in 1865. He served under Capt. Joe Camp, and when in the service received -disabilities, which entitled him to a small pen- sion, which the Cleveland era of economy took away for a short time along with many other pensions at the expense of our veterans.
William C. Woods, the subject of this history, was born in Fayetteville, April 21, 1858. His first schooling was received in the local educa- tional institutions of his native town. At the completion of his studies in the schools, he went into his father's shop and learned how to build wagons, becoming skilled in every branch of the work. Liking the blacksmithing part of the trade best, and seeing a more remunerative career in it, he turned his attention more to that line, and as a result has built up the best busi- ness of its kind in this locality. Mr. Woods now conducts a general blacksmithing business, being prepared on short notice to turn out anything that can be shaped on the anvil in the best style of modern workmanship. Anything that comes
from his shop, be it the tiniest bolt or the heavi- est truck tire, is known to be well and faithfully made. He employs only the best of help, and all the work is carried on under his immediate supervision.
Mr. Woods was happily united in marriage to Miss Maggie Mercer, daughter of Hon. Lyle Mercer, and two children have come to their household to bless the union; Florence R. and Mary E. they are named. Following the family traditions, Mr. Woods is in religious matters a Presbyterian, and in politics a Republican. He is in more ways than one a valuable citizen. With business acumen of the highest order, he unites a broadness- and liberality of mind that makes him popular and influential. Having an educa- tion much above the average, and being a well- read man, in close touch with all that is transpir- ing, he is a citizen whose opinions are sensibly grounded. He is public-spirited and believes that the best way to honor ancestry and to be re- membered with deep feeling and reverence by posterity, is to live each day's life in the best manner within one's power.
FREEMAN R. HESS is a citizen of Eden- burg, Mahoning township, who has as wide a circle of friends and acquaintances as any man in his part of the county. This is due to two things: first, to his courteous and genial ways, and secondly, to his having for twelve years past occupied the post of agent for the Pittsburg & Lake Erie R. R. at their Edenburg station. Mr. Hess came into the world April 24, 1858, at a
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
point in Red Stone township, Fayette Co., Pa. He received his early education in the public schools, finishing at Brownville Academy. At the age of nineteen, he went to Versailles, Ohio, where he learned telegraphy. But a short time was occupied in rendering him proficient in the art of cutting the electric current into intelligible dots and dashes. Railroad work was the field that seemed to offer the best inducements, and he occupied positions in turn at Avilla, Ind., Myersdale, Pa., and Lowellville, Ohio, in each of which places the young operator left scores of friends. While working at the key, Mr. Hess had learned all the intricate routine duties that fall to the lot of the railway operator, and was equally at home in flashing an order over the wire, filling out a perplexing ticket account at the end of the month, or in making notes for some anxious shipper. In 1885, Mr. Hess was offered the place of station agent and operator at Edenburg by the P. & L. E. R. R., which posi- tion he accepted, succeeding Mr. E. E. Gorley. This office he has held ever since to the satisfac- tion of the company and to the gratification and profit of the community at large.
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