USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > Biographical sketches of leading citizens of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania > Part 48
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Our subject was born in Duquesne borough, Allegheny Co., Pa., now Bennett, near Pitts- burg, July 4, 1852, and is a son of Joseph and Jane (Davis) Ingham, both natives of Wales.
The father of our subject came to the United States in 1840, and settled near Pittsburg, and worked in and managed the iron mills of Spang, Chalfant & Co. of Etna, Pa., a suburb of Pitts- burg, from 1840 to 1890. By trade he was a puddler. His wife, Jane, was a daughter of William and Elizabeth Davis of Pittsburg, Pa., who came to this country from Wales in 1840 with their family of children, among whom was our subject's mother. Six children were born to our subject's parents, as follows: William, who married Laura Freeman of Sharpsburg, Pa., and had four children-Joseph, Nellie, Charles, and Jane, deceased; Gershum B .; John G., who married Anna McConville of Steubenville, Ohio, and has one child, Martha J .; Gomer E .; George, who married Bella Howells of Etna, Pa., who bore him one child, Herbert S .; and Elizabeth, who resides with her father at Etna, Pa. Our subject's father is hale and hearty for one of his years, and recently spent three months in Europe, visiting his native home in Wales. In his political belief he is a steadfast Republican, and held the office of school director in his own town in Allegheny County. Socially he is an Odd Fellow. In religious matters he is a Bap- tist, and for many years has been a deacon in that church.
Gershum B. Ingham was educated in the schools of Pine Creek, now Etna, Pa., and then in the academy of Sharpsburg, Pa., and subse- quently in the Western University of Pennsyl- vania in Pittsburg. He then worked four years on a farm for his father, after which he entered Duff's College of Pittsburg, Pa., from which in- stitution he graduated in 1872. In the fall of that year, he went to Harmony, Indiana, where
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he became assistant superintendent of a blast furnace, owned by the Indianapolis Rail Mill Co., of which the late Vice-President Hendricks was a leading figure. In 1874, Mr. Ingham went to Jackson, Ohio, where he engaged in the buying of iron ore for the Tropic and Star Fur- nace Co. of Jackson, Ohio. In the following year he entered the employ of an Oil Well Supply Co., and represented it in the oil region of Penn- sylvania until 1878, when he engaged in the ice business in Etna, Pa., on his own account, re- maining in that business until 1881. In that year he ventured in the stone business, in which he has proved so uniformly successful. In busi- ness circles, his word is good as gold and his integrity goes without question; an indorsement from him carries its full meaning.
On Jan. 17, 1878, the marriage ceremony was performed that united our subject and Miss Caroline Loeffler in the lasting tie of matrimony ; Mrs. Ingham is a daughter of Martin and Matil- da Loeffler, the former of Heidelberg, Ger- many, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania. Seven children have graced our subject's mar- riage: Albert G .; John; Merle; Aquilla; Edith; Jane M .; and Paul H., deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ingham are members of the Baptist Church of New Castle, Pa. Our subject's politics are fam- iliar to those who are at all acquainted with him as being Republican. Socially, he is an Odd Fellow of Wampum Lodge, No. 865 of Wam- pum, this county; Knights of Pythias, Wampum Lodge, No. 440; and Royal Arcanum, Penn Council, No. 420, of New Castle, Pa. As one of Lawrence County's representative business men, we place the portrait of Mr. Ingham in this Book of Biographies.
HIRAM K. HARTSUFF, deceased, a well- known and universally respected citizen of New Castle, was born in Mercer Co., Pa., and was a son of Zechariah Hartsuff, who was an old set- tler of Mercer County, following agricultural pursuits throughout his life. He married Mary Pierce, daughter of John Pierce, and there were born to them seven children: Stewart; Lewis; Ebenezer; John; Hiram K .; Sarah (Woods); and Melissa (Scott). They were United Presby- terians and Methodists in their religious beliefs. The mother of our subject died before middle age had silvered the hair.
Mr. Hartsuff came to New Castle forty-five years ago and took up the trade of blacksmith- ing, learning his trade under the instruction of Mr. Clark. He operated a shop for himself in New Castle for a number of years, and then ac- cepted a position as blacksmith in a glass fac- tory, where he remained many years. He then rented the farm where the family now lives, and started a milk dairy which he was operating at the time of his death.
Mrs. Hartsuff's grandfather, William Kyle, was a well-to-do farmer of Lawrence County. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Chambers, there were born ten children, as follows: Eliza; Sarah; Margaret; Martha; Jane; Mary Ann; Robert; Alexander; John; and Agnes. Mr. Kyle departed this life at the age of ninety years, and his wife fell into that last sleep that knows no waking this side of the grave at the age of eighty-seven. Robert Kyle, the father of Mrs. Hartsuff, married Miss Anna Reed, a native of Lawrence County, and to them were given eight children, namely: Jane; Ag- nes; Elizabeth; William; Michael; Sarah; Mar-
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guerite; and a child that died in infancy. The union of our subject and his wife was blessed with the birth of ten children, who were named: Albert; Robert; Hiram; Edward; Harry; Velma, deceased; Aggie; Theresa; Carrie and Anna. The family are United Presbyterians in their re- ligious attachments and beliefs. Mr. Hartsuff was a Democrat, and always faithful and true in his party obligations.
GEORGE W. JOHNSON, who, we are proud to say, is the largest dealer in limestone in the world, is also proprietor of the Arethusa Iron Works, and City Roller Mills, and a manufac- turer of sheet iron and steel, and flour, feed, etc. Mr. Johnson is a thorough business man, and the career, which he has made for himself, and which has brought him wealth and those things that wealth bestows, is worthy of imitation in every particular, for he has strictly adhered to the upright principles which enter into the busi- ness life of every really successful man, and his business methods are open to the most critical inspection. Among the citizens of New Castle he occupies a high place, and it is with pride that they point him out as one of the most enterpris- ing of its many energetic citizens.
Our subject was born near Clarksville, Mer- cer Co., Pa., in 1847, on a farm, like the greater share of the leading men of to-day, and was a son of John Smith Johnson, and grandson of John Johnson, Sr. Our subject's grandfather was also a native of the Keystone State, and was known as a prosperous farmer. His son followed in his
footsteps. Our subject's father was born and raised on the farm in Mercer County, and later worked at mining for a considerable length of time. His wife, who was stricken low at thirty- nine years of age by an attack of typhoid fever, bore him seven children, who were as follows: Jane; George W .; Salvina; Frank, deceased; Hannah; William, deceased; and Joseph S., who died at an early age. Our subject's father was aged sixty-seven years at his demise. He was an active partisan of the Democratic party, but never ranked among the aspirants for office.
George W., at the age of ten years, entered the employ of Wilson, Lean & Co., at Clinton, Pa., working at mining, and clerking in the compa- ny's store, in fact, doing whatever a bright young lad with willing hands and thoughtful beyond his years could do, and at the age of fifteen, so faithful and conscientious was he in his efforts to do the best he knew how, that he had entirely gained the confidence of his employers, who ac- cordingly even at that early age gave him charge of several departments, and so he continued un- til he had full charge of the large general store, holding the position of manager until 1871, when his ambition led him to enter greater fields of labor, and make his mark in the world. With this idea of a larger and increased field of use- fulness in view, Mr. Johnson with A. R. Lee, and William Patterson, formed a partnership, styling it the Lee, Patterson, Johnson Co., and entered upon the lime business at Wampum, Lawrence County, continuing in the manufac- ture of that material and in its traffic for a time, when our subject bought out his partners, and operated the business alone. Later on, he be- came associated with Green, Marquis & Co., and
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in 1880 located in New Castle, where they en- 24, 1868, is a graduate of Meadvile College, Class gaged in business under the firm name of Mar- of 1890; he then spent three years engaged in civil engineering and mining in Colorado, and in 1893 became associated with his father in the management of the iron plant. Charles H., born July 9, 1870, graduated from the Massachusetts School of Technology in 1893, followed mining and engineering in Colorado also, and in 1895 became associated with his father, having charge of the limestone business. quis & Johnson; since 1889, Mr. Johnson has been alone in business, and to-day we find him among the most representative and prosperous of the citizens of New Castle, employing over 450 men, and although a thorough business man, he has always been very charitable and kind to the poor and needy, and respects the lowly la- borer as much as those who occupy high and mighty positions.
The Arethusa Iron Works, built originally in 1873, and rebuilt by our subject in 1895, is locat- ed on Center Street, covering the greater portion of ten acres, and has the following excellent equipment for the manufacture of iron and steel; one double and four single puddling furnaces; four squaring shears; eleven trains of rolls; one squeezer, for sheet iron and steel. The works use natural gas and coal, and have an annual capacity of 15,000 gross tons; W. L. Johnson, our subject's oldest son, is the general manager.
Mr. Johnson also owns and operates lime quarries at Hilltown, New Castle, the product of which is known as Bessemer limestone. He also quarries at Franklin Forge and Tyrone Forge. In addition to his other interests in the lime- stone industry, he is manager of the City Roller Flouring Mills, which turn out 150 barrels of flour per day. Mr. Johnson must also be includ- ed among the extensive real estate owners of New Castle, for, having confidence in the future growth of the place, he does not hesitate to in- vest heavily in landed property.
Mr. Johnson married Elizabeth Ann Osborn of Lawrence County, and has two children, both of them sons. William L., the elder, born Oct.
JACOB MUMBAUGH, an engineer on the W. N. Y. & P. R. R., in whose employ he has been for the past twenty-one years, resides at No. 6, Croton Avenue; he was born in Erie, Pa., Oct. 29, 1845, and is a son of Nicholas and Cath- erine (Rupert) Mumbaugh, both natives of the Rhineland, Germany. Catherine came to this country with her parents, the grandfather ac- companying them also; she died in 1885, at the age of sixty-three. Nicholas Mumbaugh emigrated from Germany in 1841, and after coming to the United States lived for the first six months in Buffalo, N. Y., the Queen City of the Lakes, and from there went to Erie, Pa., where he lived five years, during which period our subject was born. From Erie he moved to Youngstown, Ohio, where he continued to re- side until his death in 1890, at the age of seventy- three years. Our subject's father was a man of excellent parts, and was finely educated, being. an especially good linguist, conversing fluently in French, German, English, and Spanish. Pro- fessionally, he was a bookkeeper, but was also
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skilled and well-versed in all phases of landscape gardening. Of eleven children born to him and his wife, nine survive, most of whom live in Youngstown, Ohio.
Of this family of eleven, Jacob was the second in order of birth. He was an infant when his parents moved to Youngstown, and in that town he grew up, and received a public school educa- tion until he was thirteen years of age, when he began driving a team, at which occupation he was engaged for four or five years. He then had a little taste of railroad life, serving one year as a brakeman. He next served an apprentice- ship of a year and a half in the bolt works in Youngstown, and continued with the firm as journeyman one year, when he went to Pitts- burg and worked at his trade five years. Be- coming seriously ill, he returned home, where his sickness and convalescence kept him sixteen months. Upon recovering his accustomed health in 1867, he accepted the position of fire- man on the Westerman railroad, where he re- mained two years, after which he came to New Castle to be the engineer for the New Castle Coal & Mining Co., with whom he remained nearly seven years. Then after a very short em- ployment in the oil country, he was engaged by the W. N. Y. & P. R. R., Aug. 16, 1876, as an engineer on its lines, and ever since has had his name on that company's pay-rolls. The long term of service testifies to the estimation in which he is held by his employers.
Mr. Mumbaugh was married in Sharon, Pa., March 17, 1871, to Mary E. Skiles, a native of Sewickley, Pa., and a daughter of William and Susan (Smith) Skiles. Mrs. Mumbaugh is a member of the M. E. Church. In his politics, our
subject is a liberal Democrat, and is always ready to vote for a man of another party, if he thinks that by so doing he can elect a better man. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Oil City Division, No. 173; Knights of Pythias, Western Star Lodge, No. 160 of New Castle. He has been in but one very severe accident, and that occurred seven miles north of New Castle, but he was fortunate enough to escape without serious injury, other than a shaking up and a few cuts.
THOMAS COX, an extensive land-owner and progressive citizen of Wilmington town- ship, Lawrence Co., Pa., is a descendant of one of the men who, coming into this country when it was comparatively uninhabited by white men, with wide forests covering what are now fertile and productive plains, infused their energies and ideas of thrift into the very life of the commu- nity. That Lawrence County is to-day one of the leading counties of the Keystone State, in all things that count for true prominence, is primar- ily due to the sort of men who founded it. That it maintains its pristine dignity and enjoys unex- celled prosperity is because the sons of those older men have the true kind of material in their composition.
The grandfather of Thomas Cox bore the same name as his esteemed grandson, the sub- ject of this history. The older man was born in England, the son of sturdy and thriving par- ents. His early education was received in the English schools. When still a young man, stirred by that British spirit which has made the
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Anglo-Saxon race the power it is in all countries by its colonists, he came to this side of the water with his young wife, and located near Pittsburg, buying a farm on which he remained sixteen years. He then went to Lorain, Ohio, where he remained until his death at eighty-six years of age, occupied in agricultural pursuits. He gath- ered about his fireside seven children: William; Joseph; Robert; John; Thomas; Sarah; and Catherine. This family was reared under the goodly influence of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics the boys were Republicans, and all became worthy and reliable citizens.
William, the eldest son, was the father of our subject. He was born near Yorkshire, England, and came with his father and mother to this coun- try. After finishing his education, he went into the salt business, owning and operating a salt works for many years. Being drawn toward ag- ricultural pursuits, he finally leased the salt plant, and bought a farm of 125 acres near Pitts- burg, which he successfully conducted for sev- eral years. He then leased the farm, and moved to Homestead Pa. His first wife was Hannah Ford, daughter of Joseph Ford, and this union resulted in eight children, who were as follows: Sarah; Catherine; Joseph; Elizabeth; Thomas, the subject of this writing; William; George; and Robert A. A few years after the death of his first wife, Mr. Cox was united in wedlock with Anna Whittaker, and to them one child, John F., was born. Mr. Cox lived in Homestead un- til his eighty-sixth year, when the inevitable summons came, and he obeyed the call. Polit- ical and religious matters were on the same lines as in his father's home before him.
Thomas Cox was born Jan. 1, 1837, on the old
farm in Allegheny Co., Pa. His first training was in the home and in the excellent schools of his native section. As soon as he had attained the requisite strength, he began working on the home farm for his father, continuing to be em- ployed in this manner until he was twenty-four years of age, when he came to Lawrence Coun- ty. At that time he married and bought a farm of 125 acres. To this tract of land, which was very little improved when he took possession of it, he has been constantly adding everything in his power that would bring it up to his idea of what a model farm should be, so that now Mr. Mr. Cox has 215 acres of most fertile soil, all carefuly looked after and brought into the high- est state of cultivation. Good, substantial build- ings, splendid orchards, wide-reaching meadows, and golden fields of waving grain all show Mr. Cox to be a farmer who loves his work, and ap- preciates fully the importance of that calling which furnishes to mankind the real necessities of life. Mr. Cox has a shrewd, discriminating eye for good stock, and in his pastures graze some of the best specimens of high-grade ani- mals that may be seen in many a day's journey. The orchards on his farms are in full bearing,and produce about every variety of fruit that can be successfully raised in this latitude.
The beloved wife of Mr. Cox, whose maiden name was Anna Layton, is now dead. She bore to her husband three children, named: Ida M., Anna C., and John W. Ida M., became the wife of Frank McClure, and they have two children, Thomas Z. and Francis L. Miss Anna is living at home and keeping house for her father. John W. married Susan Foster, and has one son, Law- rence F.
JOHN JORDAN.
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Mr. Cox has through life been an all-around, valuable citizen. He has served his townsmen in various offices faithfully and well, having at one time and another been supervisor, school director, collector, auditor, and judge and in- spector of elections. Whatever he does, whether for himself or for the public, he believes in per- forming to the best of his abilities. Carelessness or laxness have no place in his make-up. He has reared his family in the M. E. Church, and his boys like himself are all good Republicans. The inhabitants of this section of the State all know Mr. Cox as an honest, reliable, and pro- gressive citizen, and respect him accordingly. His prosperity is due mainly to his own indus- try and to the care he has taken of the worldly goods entrusted to his judicious management. He is a very approachable man, and is always a willing listener to anything that tends toward human progress and enlightment.
JOHN JORDAN is one of the representative and foremost agriculturists of Washington town- ship. He is a member of a family which has had a most important part in the transformation of this section from the wilderness of ninety-five years ago into the broad acres of grain fields, and the wide-spreading meadows of the present. From almost the beginning of its history, Washington township has known and respected the name of Jordan, and it is probable that the progeny and descendants of those sturdy ances- tors will live on the ancestral acres for many many years to come.
Henry Jordan, born and educated in Ger- many, but early transplanted to American soil, was the founder of this family. He came to this land when a young man; fought against the British in the War for Independence, and wend- ed his way into Washington township, where he found a suitable spot, and located a home. His wife, Elizabeth, bore him ten children: Eliza- beth; Margaret; John; Henry; Ann; Mary; George and Daniel, twins; Mercy; and Michael. Henry Jordan and his family favored the teach- ings of the Presbyterian Church, which they at- tended whenever circumstances would permit and an opportunity presented itself. In politics, he was a firm believer in the principles of the Democratic party, and an especial admirer of Thomas Jefferson.
Henry Jordan, the younger, and father of our subject, was a resident of Baltimore, Md. He followed his father into the new country, and as soon as he was fitted to strike out for himself, he bought a farm of 200 acres, where John Jor- dan now lives and carries on agricultural opera- tions. This tract was similar to the surround- ing places, in that it was mainly covered with virgin forest, so Mr. Jordan was compelled by the exigencies that make the sustaining of life dependent on labor to release the fields from the bondage of the forest, and sow them to grain. He hewed away at the woodland giants and in time built the old home which now stands a relic and landmark on one portion of the es- tate. The faithful wife, who followed Henry Jordan through his long and busy life was a Miss Anna Anderson, daughter of Alexander Ander- son, a native of Ireland. To Mr. Jordan and his wife were given eight children, who were born
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in this order: Alexander; Elizabeth; Margaret; Henry; Anna; Catherine; John, our subject; and Sarah. Mr. Jordan both in political and relig- ious matters followed his father.
John Jordan, of whom this biography is writ- ten, became a member of his parents' family April 13, 1830, being born on the farm he now owns and upon which he now resides. He passed his boyhood days in the district school and at work on the home place; as time passed on, and his respected father was laid to rest, our subject inherited the homestead. He now holds 206 acres of very fertile and well-conditioned land. Mr. Jordan* at his earliest opportunity erected the fine new house, barns and outbuild- ings, which to-day grace and add value to his property. He set out new and carefully-selected orchards, which have come into prolific bearing, and made what other improvements his complete knowledge of good methods could suggest. The raising of high-grade stock has always claimed his attention to a greater or less degrce, and he is rated a very careful and experienced breeder, any stock coming from his place being sure to possess the characteristics Mr. Jordan claims for it, and needing no certificate of merit. Mr. Jor- dan has all in all spent a very busy life, and one which has borne fruits commensurate with the intelligent efforts he has ever put forth. His wife, the dearly beloved companion of so many happy years of married existence, was taken from him by death Jan. 30, 1892, at the age of fifty years. She was Margaret A. Young, daugh- ter of Samuel Young, a native of Ireland. Mr. Jordan's influence has been felt in many ways in his native town through his connection with various societies. He has been a steady sup-
porter of the Democratic party, and has held many places of trust of a public nature, among them the offices of assessor, auditor, overseer of the poor and judge of election. The Presbyter- ian Church numbers him among its regular at- tendants and most liberal supporters. In social circles he is well and favorably known, having a disposition and manner, which bring him friends everywhere. Living on an estate, the pleasant surroundings of which are due mainly to his own efforts and good taste, he is enjoying a life of well-earned prosperity and contentment. It gives us pleasure to present his portrait on a pre- ceding page in connection with this brief out- line of his life.
GENERAL WILLIAM A. CLARK is with- out question the most widely known citizen of Wilmington township, Lawrence Co., Pa. He is a comparatively young nian, but his life has been crowded with events of importance, which have followed one another in close succession. His fair reputation is known not only throughout the entire eastern part of the Keystone State, but his connection with vital human interests has given him a national fame.
General Clark comes from a race that has con- tributed as many great men to the pages of his- tory as any people on the face of the earth. Any man who has Scottish blood coursing through his veins is bound to feel that courageous thrill and dauntless energy that is the heritage of the sons of the men who gathered around the stand- ard of William Wallace, and who placed their own Stuart on the throne of England.
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