USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > Biographical sketches of leading citizens of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania > Part 63
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MRS. ELZEDDA COVER,* a lady who has passed through many varied circumstances of life, is the widow of the late Hiram Cover, and a woman whose personality and agreeable traits are known to a large circle of friends and well- wishers about her home in Edenburg, Mahoning township, this county.
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Hiram Cover, the beloved husband of the subject of our sketch, was in his lifetime a man of influence and tried uprightness. He was a son of Jacob and Lydia Cover, and belonged to a family which had much to do with shaping the earlier history of this section.
Jacob Cover was by occupation a farmer. He settled in Mahoning township in 1841, where he bought a farm of 118 acres, and on this place he remained until 1865. In addition to this property he owned a farm in Pulaski township, one in Slippery Rock township, and still an- other in Douglas Co., Kansas, which farms he usually rented. In 1865 he removed to Poland, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his active life. Besides being an extensive land-owner, he was a heavy dealer in and shipper of sheep, cat- tle, horses, etc. His wife, the mother of Hiram, was a Miss Lydia Robb. His decease occurred Jan. 8, 1882, when he was aged seventy-seven years; his wife passed away May 15, 1891, aged `eighty-five years.
Hiram Cover was born in Mahoning town- ship in 1836. He settled on a farm of his fath- er's, which was called the Welsh place, and there spent his life, engaged in general farming. Be- coming owner of the place, he inaugurated and brought to perfection many great improvements. He had a high ideal of what a well-kept farm should be, and his farm came very near being a model of excellence. The house was enlarged and tastefully remodeled, outer buildings recon- structed, fine orchards set out, waste land re- claimed and brought under cultivation, and a hundred and one other things done, which re- quired constant effort, but which all tended to rendering the estate more productive, and to in-
creasing its value. A coal bank was found on the place and opened, and the whole place man- aged with a view of developing each latent re- source to the best advantage. In business mat- ters Hiram Cover was in every instance a man to be relied on. He was strict and careful in his accounts, insisting on his rights, and accord- ing to others what was justly their own. He was above all things a just man, and broad and fair in all his dealings. As a result of such characteristics success came to him, and at the same time the high respect and esteem of all who knew him. His sudden death, which came to him through blood poisoning from what seemed a very trifling hurt to his arm, was deeply de- plored by all the community. He was taken to his heavenly home April 4, 1895, after a very brief illness. He was in political matters af- filiated with the Republican party, and in church affairs was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mrs. Cover, our subject, was a daughter of good and respectable parents, Peter and Sarah (Cox) Shoaff. Her paternal great-grandparents were Peter and Catherine (Mink) Shoaff, who came into Ohio from a point near Baltimore, Md. Peter Shoaff, the elder, was a miller by occupation and lived to be seventy-five years old. He was twice married, and the children by his first wife were: Jacob; William; Katie; Peggie; Annie; and Elizabeth.
Jacob Shoaff, our subject's grandfather, was a miller and farmer of Shenango township. His wife was Catherine Cameron, by whom he had six children -- Betsey, Peter, Thomas, Jacob, An- nie, and James. Of these children Peter was the father of Mrs. Cover. He came into the
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world in December, 1807, on a farm in Mahon- the comforter and caretaker of her beloved mother. Mrs. Cover is now in a period of life that permits her to look backward over the long road she has traveled. Time and experience have been her teachers, and she is in a position to give the best of counsel to a rising genera- ing township. During the years of his early manhood he worked at shoemaking, but in 1834 he bought the William Cox farm of seventy-five acres in Union township; on this place, which is improved with many new buildings, he now resides at a hale and hearty old age. He wed- tion. She is of a very kindly disposition, and ded Sarah Cox, daughter of William Cox, and her gentle ways come from a heart full of genu- ine regard for all those whose privilege it is to belong to her wide circle of friends and ac- quaintances. to them a family of eight children were given, as follows: Elzedda; Hester Ann; William S .; James S .; Revilla; Samuel C .; Leander; and Warren L. The kind of a constitution which the Shoaff family possess is vividly shown, when it is stated that Mr. Shoaff, at the age of ninety years, can hitch up his horse, drive to the city and transact business; this is generally a weekly occurrence, for he is undeterred except by dis- agreeable weather. His faithful wife was taken from him when she was eighty-seven years of age.
Mrs. Cover was wedded to her husband when both were in the first flush of young manhood and womanhood. All through his thrifty life she stood faithfully by his side, and was all that a true wife should be. His hardships were hers, and when prosperity came she accepted it as a good woman ought to. Five children blessed their home, of whom four are alive and fulfilling well their allotted destinies. They are by name: Bion Willis; Leon O .; Isa May; and Zella Grace. Bion Willis, the eldest of the family, was joined in marriage with Elizabeth Smith, and resides in Edenburg; their family consists of: Bessie; Fare; Ruby; and Guy. Leon O. married and resides on the adjoining farm. Isa May became the wife of Mr. G. Matthews and has a family of four children. Zella Grace is at home, and is
J. LESLIE MYLAND* is the leading baker and confectioner of the city of New Castle, with place of business and residence at Nos. 9 and II South Mercer Street. He was born in Cleve- land, Ohio, April 2, 1861, and was a son of Will- iam and Sarah Myland. The mother died re- cently aged seventy-five years. William Myland was a painter by trade, having served his appren- ticeship in England; he emigrated from England to Canada, and moved thence to Cleveland, where he died in 1877.
Our subject was reared in Cleveland and at- tended the schools of that city until fifteen years of age, and then finished his education in Ober- lin College, from which he graduated and re- ceived his diploma and degree in 1879. At To- ledo, Ohio, he learned telegraphy, and as a tele- graph operator was stationed at various times at London, Ont., Toronto, Winnipeg, Kingston, Ottawa, Hamilton, St. Thomas, Detroit, New Orleans, Frankfort, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Knoxville, Austin, New York, Rockwell City, Ia., Davenport, Great Forks, S. D., Minneapo-
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lis, Duluth, and St. Louis. After coming to New Castle he met and married on October 22, 1888, Mrs. Maggie Wright, widow of Charles Wright, who was the proprietor of a small bakery, which employed but one helper. The bakery, thus coming into Mr. Myland's hands, has under his skilful and energetic management grown to such an extent, and so large a business and patron- age has been developed, that it now requires five bakers to make up the daily product and five drivers and wagons to deliver it. When Mr. Myland began supervising the work there was a demand for only from twenty-five to thirty loaves a day, and only that many were produced; now, from twelve to thirteen hundred loaves of bread are baked daily. A great deal of shipping is done, and eight or ten of the surrounding towns are largely supplied with bakery goods. The product of the bakery is quite varied, consisting of thirteen varieties of bread, and of over one hundred varieties of cake. In addition to the bakery proper and the select line of confection- ery, Mr. Myland carries a large stock of fine groceries.
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Mr. and Mrs. Myland have had two children; the eldest died in infancy, unnamed; the second, Carl Wesley, is the pet and joy of the house- hold. Of Mrs. Myland's first marriage with Charles Wright, one child was born, Laura Edna Wright. In politics Mr. Myland is a strong Re- publican. He is a popular man and has never suffered for lack of friends. Socially, he is a member of a number of organizations, such as Knights of Pythias, Fidelis Lodge No. 460, of which he is a trustee; Royal Arcanum; K. O. T. M .; Royal Templars; Sons of Temperance; and of the I. O. O F.
THOMAS J. FULMER,* who is engaged in manufacturing brick in Ellwood City, Pa., and who is considered one of the foremost citi- zens of Wayne township, Lawrence County, was born Jan. 12, 1856, at Pittsburg, Pa. He is a son of respected and honored parents, Robert and Martha J. (Susanna) Fulmer. Our subject's father was a merchant of Johnstown, Pa., but later in life moved to East Pittsburg, where his death took place.
The subject of this writing began when he was very young to make his way in the world, and found his first employment as a clerk for a merchant, after which he spent considerable time in Colorado and Kansas. In 1892 he bought five acres of the Elijah G. Matheny farm, which was a part of the Nye estate; this prop- erty has been under cultivation for a longer pe- riod than many other of the farms of the town- ship. Mr. Fulmer, having thoroughly tested the adaptability of the soil, found it perfectly suitable for brick manufacturing, and at once entered upon his plan to establish a brick-yard of large dimensions. He built a kiln and man- ufactured brick for building and sidewalk pur- poses; the business offered such inducements to capital, that in 1892 the Ellwood Brick Co., Lim- ited, was organized, and the business has since been conducted under that name. In addition to the manufacturing and dealing in brick, the Ellwood Brick Co., Ltd., deals in coal, hand- ling the following popular varieties: Youghiogh- eny Gas, Beaver Valley and Anthracite. The kiln turns out 300,000 brick per year, and large shipments of this product are sent to outside markets, although Ellwood City has liberally pa- tronized the industry, and most of the buildings
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in the place are formed from this native product. The material is excellent and of the best, with a supply that is almost unlimited, consequently the company is able to make bricks of superior quality and fill the largest orders.
Mr. Fulmer purchased two lots on Spring Avenue in 1894 and erected two brick dwelling- houses, and in addition has two vacant lots ad- joining. He served three years as secretary of the school board, and is noted for his thorough interest in the growth and development of the city in every way possible. Mr. Fulmer chose Miss Nellie Early to share his lot in life, and he is to-day one of those enterprising men worth knowing, who have by their own efforts suc- ceeded to comfortable and easy circumstances. Mr. Fulmer is considered one of the best citizens of his community, and is conscientiously filling all the duties of a kind neighbor.
WILLIAM H. BUCHANAN,* a popular young man of Mahoningtown, well thought of in railroad circles, being at present the station agent at Lawrence Junction, was born in Alle- gheny City, Pa., May II, 1866, and is a son of Andrew W. and Sarah (Highlands) Buchanan, the latter a native of Perrysville, Pa., and a daughter of Robert Highlands of Scotch descent. Andrew Buchanan was born in Alle- gheny Co., Pa. His parents both died when he was quite young, and threw him on his own re- sources, at the same time practically depriving him of the knowledge of the ancestry of the fam- ily, which he would have otherwise possessed,
and which would have proven so valuable in this connection. He was reared and cared for by an uncle, who did the best he could for the homeless orphan until the lad was able to make his own way. Arriving at a suitable age he learned the carpenter's trade in Pittsburg, and followed it throughout the years that he spent in that city. On removing to Mahoningtown in 1871, he took up the pursuit of farming and continued to follow it successfully and with profit until his death in New Cas- tle in 1892. In the family of our sub- ject's parents there were eight children, the fol- lowing six of whom survive: Jane, who married Christopher Hoover of New Castle; Margaret, who married Charles Stapf of Wampum; Mar- tha; Alexander H. of New Castle; Mary, who married Joseph Mehard; and William H., the young man whose name heads this sketch.
William H. Buchanan was five years of age when the family moved to the farm in North Beaver township, near Mahoningtown, and con- sequently his recollections do not extend back to the home in Pittsburg to any great extent; he went to school in the district school, in the borough schools of Mahoningtown, and finished his education with a course at the high school in New Castle. In 1888 Mr. Buchanan began his railroad life in the telegraph office, and since that time his rise has been regular and sure. When he was thoroughly qualified he was as- signed to the yard office at Lawrence Junction, where he remained until August, 1893, when he was promoted to the station agency at Law- rence Junction, a position he is still filling with satisfaction to his employers. Being reliable and steady, quick to learn and prompt to act, it is
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only a question of time, or when a vacancy oc- curs, for him to receive the due recognition for his services in the interest of the company.
Mr. Buchanan is an enthusiastic devotee of the wheel, and employs his spare time in taking trips on the excellent roads of the county, storing up energy and health, which are so necessary for complete business success. The Presbyterian Church has the good fortune to number him among its members, for he is an earnest worker in every legitimate line of action. He is a mem- ber of the Pythian Order, affiliating with Ama -. zon Lodge, No. 336, of Mahoningtown.
HIRAM C. SHIRA,* a respected citizen of Mahoningtown, is a trusted and efficient em- ployee of the Pennsylvania R. R., serving that company as its car inspector at Lawrence Junc- tion. He was born in Butler Co., Pa., Nov. 14, 1860, and is a son of Robert C. and Mary A. (McCoy) Shira, to whom were born four chil- dren: William McC., deceased; Theodore McA .; Alfred C .; and Hiram C.
Robert C. Shira was born in Parker township, Butler Co., Pa., May 4, 1824, and during the War of the Rebellion helped to support the flag of the Union. He is a Republican, politically. His wife was born in Harrisville, Pa., and was a daughter of Hon. Hiram C. McCoy, who mar- ried a Miss McCallen. Hiram C. McCoy served in the State Legislature of Pennsylvania, and left a creditable record, untarnished and unstained by any disreputable act. His father, Thomas McCoy, was born at Harper's Ferry, Va., of Irish
parentage, his father having been born on the "ould sod."
The subject of this biography lived in Butler County the first seven years of his life, and then the family moved to New Castle, where he at- tended the schools till the age of sixteen. When eighteen years old, he worked in a meat market, located on the south side of Washington Street, for two years, and in the following year went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he labored at the carpen- ter's trade, working the two succeeding years for the W. N. Y. & P. R. R. in the bridge and construction department. From that time until 1884 he served as car inspector for that company at Stoneboro, Mercer County, this State. He then resigned, came to New Castle, and served in the same capacity for the P. & W. R. R. for the space of a year, after which he again en- tered the employ of the W. N. Y. & P. R. R., and worked for that company as car inspector in the yards at New Castle until Jan. 22, 1888, when he accepted a position as car inspector for the Pennsylvania R. R. at Mahoningtown, where he is pleasantly located at present.
Mr. Shira was married at Sandy Lake, Mercer Co., Pa., Oct. II, 1884, to Agnes Spence, who was born near Ahoghill, County Antrim, Ire- land, one of ten children born to her parents, of whom the following four survive: Agnes (Mrs. Shira); John; Isabel; and Thomas. Her father, William Spence, came to America in 1866, and the family followed a year later; his death oc- curred Dec. 23, 1892, at the age of forty-eight years. He was a business man, and lived first in Hoytdale, where he kept store many years. His parents were John and Isabel Spence. Mrs. Shira's mother was Agnes Craig, daughter of
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Thomas and Agnes (Campbell) Craig. To Mr. and Mrs. Shira have been born three children: Lucy F., who died Jan. 2, 1894, at the age of eight years, five months and eleven days; Lee L .; and an infant, son, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Shira are members of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject is a Republican in regard to his po- litical principles, and has served two years in the borough council of Mahoningtown.
JOHN F. PITTS,* the well-known and pop- ular postmaster of Mt. Jackson, and a mem- ber of the firm of Pitts Brothers & Miller, manu- facturers of wagons, carriages, etc., is one of the leading men of this part of the Keystone State. He first saw the light of day in North Beaver township Feb. 8, 1852. His parents were Daniel and Susan (Miller) Pitts.
John F. Pitts comes from true pioneer stock. His great-grandfather, Michael Pitts, was born in good old Berks Co., Pa., lived for a time in Lancaster County, and came into North Beaver township among the very first of the white set- tlers. He selected a spot in the western part of North Beaver township, a locality in which his descendants have ever since been the leading landowners. With his family this hardy pioneer camped down in the wilderness, took up three hundred acres of land, and with his own strong arm and trusty ax proceeded to build himself a home of rough logs; here he lived to a good old age, leaving when he ceased this life four worthy sons, Michael, William, John, and David, to per- petuate his good name. Of these sons, John was the grandfather of the subject of this article.
John Pitts was born in Lancaster County but came into this section with his father. He set- tled and cleared a good farm near Zion Church in North Beaver township in 1789, wedding a Miss Annie Painter. By saving and thrifty . methods he became the owner of over three hun- dred acres of land, and was known on all sides as a sturdy, upright and valuable citizen. He died at the age of seventy-eight years, his wife surviving his departure but a short time. Eight children were born to them, all but two of whom lived to be adults, and were named: Adam, Da- vid, John, Annie, Catherine, and Daniel. The latter was the father of John F. Pitts.
Daniel Pitts was born in North Beaver town- ship at the same place where the subject of our sketch later came into the world. He early learned the blacksmithing trade, which he ad- vantageously followed the greater part of his life. He was also an expert butcher and his ser- vices were in great demand all over the town- ship. To this day the old shop grounds show the marks of his steady industry, and mutely tes- tify how hard he labored to perform faithfully and well whatever it fell to his lot to do. He was married to Susan Miller, with whom he lived happily until death claimed him in 1865. The widow still survives him, living at the old home- stead. They gathered about them this family of children: John F .; Samantha Jane, now de- ceased; Alfred, who is on the home farm; Cath- erine, deceased; Lewis H., now in business with John F .; and Mary Eliza, deceased.
John F. Pitts received his early educational training in the Martin School. In 1870 he be- gan to learn carriage-building and wood-work- ing at Canfield, Ohio; he spent three years there,
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serving out his apprenticeship. On his return home in 1873 he bought out the business of D. I. Hill at Mt. Jackson, secured the old school- house, which was earlier used as a church, raised it and placed a basement underneath. He then began on quite a large scale the manufacture of lumber and heavy wagons, trucks, drays and car- riages. He continued to conduct the fast in- creasing and developing business until 1887, when his brother Lewis H. became associated with him. In 1890 Mr. O. L. Miller was admit- ted to the firm, and the present style of Pitts Brothers & Miller adopted. Besides running an extensive manufacturing and repair business, this enterprising firm handles a full line of farm- ing implements. By fair dealing and' upright methods from the very inception of the enter- prise an interest has been built up that is second to none in volume in this section. They employ several men during their busy seasons.
The subject of our article owns and occupies a fine residence, which is located on the site where Mr. Henry built the first house erected in Mr. Jackson. Besides his heavy business inter- ests, Mr. Pitts owns a great deal of other prop- erty, and is held in high esteem as one of Mt. Jackson's responsible men. The wife of our sub- ject was a Miss Louise Mollenkopf, a daughter of Daniel Mollenkopf of North Beaver township; six children have resulted from this marriage: Rena, Hattie, Laura, Warren, Harrison, and William. Mr. Pitts is a man of wide experience and broad attainments. He finds time to look after his business enterprises, and to look after other affairs that concern him, political, social and religious. He has always been an earnest adherent of the principles of the Republican
party, and has held many local offices in the gift of his fellow-townsmen. In the councils of his party he is prominent and influential. As a trib- ute to his reliability and high standing he was recently, appointed to the postmastership of Mt. Jackson, an office he is conducting to the satis- faction of all. He is an active member of the Knights of Pythias, and is a past chancellor of the same. In religious matters Mr. Pitts's prin- ciples are in accord with the rules of life laid down by the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fair- minded, well-posted on all matters, upright in all things, Mr. Pitts is a citizen whose name stands at all times for what is best and noblest.
EDWIN D. MOORE,* a leading jeweler of the city of New Castle, was born in the above place. He was brought up and educated in New Castle, and at the age of eighteen started for himself, serving an apprenticeship as a jeweler; he was soon a competent workman, and, posses- sing considerable means, he opened a jewelry store in New Castle, and now occupies a store at the corner of North Mercer and East Falls streets. Pleasant and engaging in his manners, and a general favorite because of his honorable and liberal way of dealing with all of his cus- tomers, he has built up a large and flourishing trade.
Our subject is a son of Jacob B. Moore, grandson of Adam Moore, and great-grandson of John Moore. Adam Moore followed the pur- suits of agriculture for a livelihood. He married Elizabeth Book; his death took place at the age of thirty-five; his widow survived him many
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years, being finally laid to rest at the age of sixty-five. Their children were: John R .; Jes- sie; Jacob B .; Adam, Jr .; and Leander.
Jacob Moore was a nailer by trade and fol- lowed the same in the nail mills of New Castle much of his life. He married Jemima Cotton, and the children born to them were: Eva A. (Brown); Edwin D., our subject; Lucy M. (Thalimer); Alfred C .; and Howard F., de- ceased. The family were Presbyterians in their religious belief, and our subject's father was a Republican politically.
Edwin D. Moore married, in 1882, Lizzie Armstrong, daughter of J. H. Armstrong of New Castle. Our subject is a member of a local lodge F. & A. M., and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias organization. The family are firm in their attachment to the Presbyterian Church.
LUDWIG DACH,* formerly a prominent business man of Sharon, Pa., with interests of an important nature still located there, but now a citizen of New Castle, Pa., where he is engaged in the meat business on Washington Street, was born in Germany Nov. 24, 1842, and is a son of Clement and Elizabeth (Hengle) Dach, both of whom were born in Germany and lived there many years of their lives.
Clement Dach came to the United States in 1844, and settled in Mckeesport, Pa., where he remained until 1849, when he removed to Shar- on, Pa., where he resided up to the time of his death. He was a butcher by trade, having
learned it in the Old Country, but on coming to this land he engaged in work as a coal miner until 1864 when he resumed his original trade, and kept a meat shop until 1889, when he died, aged seventy-nine years. He was very success- ful in his ventures, and knowing well the secret of accumulating wealth, he became known as a prosperous tradesman. He was a stanch Demo- crat, politically. To him and his wife were born nine children, of whom only three are living: Ludwig, our subject; Bulgaria, who became the wife of Felix Hafley of Indiana; and Mary, who married Nicholas Klaser. They were faithful communicants of the Catholic Church. Our sub- ject's mother lived to be sixty-nine years old, departing this life in 1883.
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