USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > Biographical sketches of leading citizens of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania > Part 64
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Our subject's education was obtained in the. schools of Hickory township, and the early years of his manhood were spent in the coal mines. Later in life he learned the butcher's trade in his father's shop, and has followed that line of busi- ness steadily and successfully ever since. He kept a meat market in Hickory township, this county, fifteen years, and one in Sharon, Pa., for fifteen years, which market he still runs, his son Frank having it in charge. Mr. Dach con- ducts the business himself in his New Castle meat market.
In 1867 Mr. Dach was married to Margaret Seigler of Sharon, Pa., and to them have been given eight children, as follows: Elizabeth, who married Michael Snydenwind of Sharon, Pa., and they have four children, Ollie, Mike, Mary, and Charlie; Mary, the wife of John Weisen of Sharon, Pa., who has borne her husband one child, Ludwig; Clement, who married Mary Zimmer of Sharon, and has one child, Ludwig;
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Annie, who married John Knapp of Sharon, Pa., and ihas two children, Ludwig and Teressa; Frank; Katherine, who married Lewis Houk of Sharon, Pa .; Margaret; and Teressa. Mr. Dach belongs to the Sharon Lodge of the Protected Home Circle. He is a Catholic in his religious views and attachments.
JAMES F. STEWART,* a model farmer and one of the most progressive men of North Bea- ver township, was ushered into this world Oct. 13, 1832, at a point in Liberty township, Trum- bull Co., Ohio. He was a son of Robert and Rebecca (McClellan) Stewart ..
Robert Stewart, the father, spent his earlier days in Huntingdon Co, Pa., where he was born. He later removed to the then far west and car- ried on farming in Illinois and Ohio; accumu- lating means he purchased the Poland Mills of Poland, Ohio, which he conducted with success until retirement from active business. He then settled at Brookfield, Ohio, where he died, aged eighty-four years. His faithful wife reached about the same age. Their children were: John E., now a well-known physician; Mary K .; Will- iam A .; Jane; Robert M .; Rebecca E .; Cephas M .; James F .; Allan G .; Ellen Amanda; and Sa- rah L.
James F. Stewart received a good education and took a course in dentistry; this profession he followed with success for several years, prac- ticing at points mainly in Illinois and Ohio. About this time there began to be wonderful de- velopments in the photographers' art. Mr. Stewart, always drawn by anything of a techni-
cal nature, became interested in and finally en- tered this profession. During the late war he spent all of his time in photographic work, mak- ing a specialty of military pictures; thousands of photographs, that are preserved and cherished to-day of husbands, sons and sweethearts who never came back from the war, were the handi- work of Mr. Stewart. Many of these pictures, it is safe to say, are more prized by their owners than their weight in gold.
In 1865 Mr. Stewart had saved from his ef- forts a comfortable sum, with which he came to North Beaver township and bought the Marshall tract of seventy-five acres; this land was almost entirely covered with forest and second-growth timber. He began to clear his property, and from time to time added more land until he is to-day the owner of 127 acres of as fine soil as the sun shines on. It is all under a high state of cultivation, and is managed according to the best modern agricultural methods. In 1891 Mr. Stewart put up a new and spacious barn, fitted up with all the conveniences and improvements a practical mind could suggest; in 1893 a large and handsome residence was erected. The orch- ards on his place are worthy of note and com- prise apple, plum and peach trees, together with many other fruits, all in full bearing. Such neat- ness and painstaking care is employed here that a stranger coming in sight of Mr. Stewart's abode would think he was approaching some summer-resort, where the landscape architect had been allowed full sway. It has been a prin- ciple of Mr. Stewart's to do well whatever he laid his hands to. The beautiful estate of which he is the master proves that he has lived up to his ideal. His farm is well-stocked and he main-
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tains a choice dairy of his own, although he is a patron of and a stockholder in the creamery. A portion of his estate, which is underlaid with limestone, he leases to the Bessemer Limestone Co., whose property adjoins his.
James F. Stewart wedded Miss M. Jane Mar- shall, daughter of James Marshall of North Bea- ver township. Though three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stewart but one survives, C. Allan, who at the present writing is a student at Canfield College in the State of Ohio. Of the two who died, James was taken when an infant and Frank F. at the age of twenty-one years.
Mr. Stewart in politics is a Republican. He spends a great amount of time and energy in caring for his estate, yet withal he is a man of affairs. He finds time to keep abreast of modern thought and advancement. Very little which is new escapes his keen observation. He is wide- awake to the interests of the township, State and Nation. He is a member of the Westfield Pres- byterian Church, and an upright, consistent, re- liable citizen.
JOHN D. BROWN,* a prominent business man of New Castle, and a dealer in agricultural implements, buggies and wagons, fertilizers, etc., and also conducting a prosperous transfer and storage business, with warehouse located at 165 South Mill Street, was born in the neighboring township of Union Sept. 1, 1859. He is a son of John and Esther (Sankey) Brown; the latter was born in Union township, and was a daugh- ter of James and Nancy (Cox) Sankey; James
Sankey was a son of Ezekiel and Jane (Cubbi- son) Sankey, and Nancy Cox was a daughter of Joseph Cox.
John Brown, our subject's father, was born near Pulaski in 1859, and died at the early age of twenty-eight years. He made a business of dealing in horses, shipping them to the eastern markets; in politics he was a Republican. His parents were Nathan and Rebecca (Willy) Brown; the former was a stone-mason by trade, and died in 1874, aged seventy-five years.
John D. Brown was reared in Union town -- ship, attending what was known as the Sankey School until he was eighteen years of age. For the next two years he worked on a farm, and then for two years was employed in the saw-mill of Young Bros. During the past seventeen years Mr. Brown has owned and operated through the summer season a threshing ma- chine, with which he has traveled over a large part of Lawrence County. Since 1892 he has been dealing very largely in agricultural and farm implements, handling some of the most re- liable and standard makes, and is patronized very well by such agriculturists as come to New Castle for their supplies, because of his wide ac- quaintance. On Jan. 1, 1897, Mr. Brown opned a large storage house at 165 South Mill Street, and entered the draying and hauling business in addition to his agricultural implement business, and it has proven in its short trial to be a profit- able enterprise.
Mr. Brown was joined in the bonds of mat- rimony June 2, 1885, with Olive A. Echols, a native of Tipton, Missouri, and a daughter of. John Echols, and three children now bless their home: Archie B .; Merrill; and Dwight. Mrs.
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Brown is a member of the Baptist Church, but the family generally attend the .United Presby- terian Church. Politically, Mr. Brown is a Re- publican, and has served on the election board and the board of education. In the community at large he exerts a powerful influence as a su- perior man of business, and as one who has ever thrown his influence in maintaining a high order of morality in public affairs.
KINSEY JORDAN,* a representative farmer of Lawrence County, and an esteemed resident of Washington township, made up his mind early in life that the most honorable as well as useful vocation possible for a man to enter was that of agriculture. That he has never changed his mind is best evidenced by the fact that he . still continues to follow his chosen calling as one of the best farmers in his section of the county. He was born in Washington township Oct. 22, 1833. Mr. Jordan comes from good old Penn- sylvania stock, and from a family of which the various members have been in the habit of doing well in life. The founder of the family, Henry Jordan, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Germany, but came, when a young man, into Washington township, and out of the wilder- ness made a home for himself and succeeding generations. The best prosperity those days could give fell to his lot, and he became a solid and well-to-do citizen of his chosen section. A home, at the time one of the best in the town- ship, he erected on his estate, and his broad acres, by incessant toil and excellent manage-
ment, were brought to a splendid state of pro- ductiveness. He lived a long and useful life, at- taining the age of ninety-two years. His wife bore him these children, who were reared in the teachings of the Baptist Church: Elizabeth; Margaret; John; Henry; Ann; Mary; George and Daniel, twins; Mercy; and Michael. His. po- litical leanings were toward the Democratic party.
George Jordan, one of the twins, was the father of the subject of this writing. He was born on the home farm in Washington town- ship, and was brought up in pioneer fashion. As soon as he was able, he purchased a tract of 100 acres near the ancestral home, which was only partly improved. Soon he built thereon a house and outbuildings, and as time passed, by hard labor, he redeemed the whole place and ren- dered it an estate of which he might well be proud. Ditches were put in, waste places made productive, good fences set where needed, and all the multiplicity of things which take the time of the good farmer were in turn attended to. On his perfected property Mr. Jordan lived to the good old age of seventy-two years. During life he was, like his father, a sturdy follower of Jef- fersonian Democracy. In religious lines he fa- vored the teachings of the Baptist denomination. To him and his wife, who was a Miss Prudence Daniels, nine children were given, named in or -- der as follows: Elizabeth; Mary; Susan; Sarah; George; Henry; Kinsey, our subject; and John V.
Kinsey Jordan, of whom this sketch is written, obtained his education in the schools of his na- tive town. After his school days were over he worked on the home place for several years.
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Then his father bought for him the farm of 100 acres where he now lives. The fine house and barns, which stand on this property, are marks of his own industry. When Mr. Jordan came to this place he found it only partly cleared. He completed the task; in time set out extensive orchards, which are to-day in excellent bearing; and in every way possible toiled to make his por- tion of this green earth worthy of its surround- ings and its master. Raising of fine· stock has been a specialty with him, and his pastures have time and again contained some of the best herds to be seen in many a days' journey. Sheep and swine of fancy and standard breeds, and Clydesdale horses have been his most successful ventures. He has a small though well-con- ducted dairy.
Mrs. Elizabeth (Orr) Jordan, our subject's wife, was a daughter of John Orr, a native of Mercer Co., Pa. As a result of this marriage six children have come into the world, and they are all living with one exception. They were born in the following order: Mary Ella; James M .; Margaret Jane; William J .; Prudence J., and George H. Mary Ella, the eldest, is the wife of James Collins. James 'M. married Dora Sea- ton. Margaret Jane was the wife of Willis Dean, but died, leaving one child, Mamie F. William J. is wedded to Anna Vaseloer and is the father of one child, Harry. Prudence is single, and is working in Rhodes' store in New Castle; she is a graduate of Volant Business College. George H. is now at home; he has attended the same business college as his sister Prudence.
Mr. Jordan, following out the traditions of the family, is a devoted adherent of the Democratic party. His family has been raised in the teach-
ings of the Baptist Church, and are regular at- tendants. Our subject is a good citizen in every sense of the word as well as a good farmer. For two years he faithfully filled the office of asses- sor, and has been called upon many times by his appreciative townsmen to perform duties of a public nature. He is a believer in education, is in touch with modern progress, and is on all matters a thoughtful and considerate gentleman. Of his chosen calling he has made a uniform success, and is now reaping the justly earned rewards of a life well spent.
HON. ROBERT A. TODD .* This promi- nent and public-spirited citizen of Ellwood City, Lawrence County, has charge, as agent of the Pittsburg Co., of the largest and best-defined real estate business in the county. He stands high in the estimation of his fellow-townsmen, and merits the highest words of praise for his labors in behalf of Ellwood City. In the spring of 1891 he became a resident of this enterprising and wide-awake borough as assistant manager of the Pittsburg Co., and rendered valuable ser- vice in the opening and laying out of the present borough. In 1892 he took charge of the real estate for the same company, and still serves them in the same capacity. In 1892 he was elected the first justice of the peace of Ellwood City on the Republican ticket and held that po- sition for the space of one year, when he re- signed in favor of J. J. Kelley, the present able incumbent of that office. In 1896 he was elected to represent Lawrence County in the State As- sembly for the year 1897. On his own account
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he is largely interested in real estate, owning at present four fine dwellings in the western part of Ellwood City, in addition to his own elegant residence on Pittsburg Circle.
Mr. Todd was educated in the common schools of Freedom township, Blair Co., Pa., where he was born April 18, 1861. His prelimi- nary education completed, he took a course in Prof. Stewart's Academy of Hollidaysburg, Pa. He then drove a delivery wagon for William Anderson of East Freedom for a number of years, in which time he had saved quite a neat little sum of money that enabled him to make a start in business for himself. With his half- brother, I. C. Adam of East Freedom, he con- tracted to break ballast for the Pennsylvania Co.'s road-bed between Roaring Spring and the Bloomfield Mines, a distance of five miles; the two young men were very successful in their venture, and each cleared a handsome sum of money in return for their pains and labors. He then engaged with the Rodman Furnace Com- pany, with whom he remained about one year, being located at Rodman, Blair Co., Pa. After this he turned his attention to agricultural pur- suits on the home farm, where he remained four years. His next employment was as shipping- clerk for the Hollidaysburg Nail & Iron Co .; two years marked his connection with this com- pany, and he then went to Beaver Falls, and be- came shipping clerk for the Hartman Steel Co. After being in their employ in Beaver Falls two years, he represented the house in the southwest, with headquarters at Kansas City, for two years, and then returned to Pennsylvania to take the position of assistant manager of the Pittsburg Co. at Ellwood City.
The father of our subject, also Robert Todd by name, received his education and was reared in his native town in Berks Co., Pa. His fond- ness for figures led him to adopt the occupation of a bookkeeper, and that vocation claimed all the active years of his life. He was considered to be an expert in his line, whose equal could not easily be found. His capacity for work was truly extraordinary, and in this respect his son is his worthy successor. His business ability was far above the average, and was kept in proper paths by the strictest principles of integrity. He was originally a Whig in his political belief and at- tachments, but later in life he transferred his al- legiance to the Democratic party, and held the Federal office of postmaster in Roaring Spring, Blair Co., Pa., and also in East Freedom of the same county he was similarly honored. He was a well-educated man, chiefly so through his own exertions and tastes, and held the esteem and respect of all who knew him, for although he was very decided in his opinions he was ever a gentleman in the expression of them. He mar- ried Henrietta Hammond, a daughter of Joshua Hammond, a prominent and respected forgeman of Freedom township, Blair Co., Pa. Four chil- dren were born of this union, who were as fol- lows: Robert A., our subject; Andrew J., an agent of the Singer Sewing Machine Co., with headquarters at Altoona, Pa., who married Mat- tie Pierce of Altoona; Nettie M., who married James Morse of Beaver Falls, Pa., and has one child living, Russell; and one who died in in- fancy. In his religious belief our subject's father was a Presbyterian and held office without a break for a long term of years in the church as trustee. He died May 17, 1868, aged sixty-four
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years. Mrs. Todd still survives, and is living and enjoying fairly good health at the home in Freedom township, Blair County.
Socially, Hon. Robert A. Todd is a Mason, and belongs to Ellwood Lodge No. 599, in which he is master mason. He is also a mem- ber of Glen Park Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 1016, and of the Jr. O. U. A. M., No. 463, Rock Point Council. On June 7, 1887, he joined himself in matrimony with Mary Graham, daughter of Al- exander Graham of Beaver Falls, Pa., and to them have been born two children: Rollin S., born Feb. 9, 1891; and one that did not survive the period of infancy. Mrs. Todd in her relig- ious belief is a Methodist, and is a member of the M. E. Church of Ellwood City.
JOHN W. CAIN,* conductor on the Pennsyl- vania R. R., residing at 366 State Street, New Castle, was born in St. Louis, Mo., Aug. 2, 1859, where he lived the first two years of his life. His grandfather, John Cain, came to America from Ireland in 1827, and settled in Sugar Grove, Warren Co., Pa., where he died in 1888, aged eighty-two years; he was engaged in agricultural pursuits during the latter years of his life. His son, Frederick Cain, came with him to this coun- try in 1827, and followed mining as an occupa. tion; he was killed in a mine accident in the west Jan. 10, 1861. He married Jane Johnson, a sis- ter of George W. Johnson, one of the leading manufacturers and limestone dealers in the coun- ty, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. The grandfather of our subject's
mother, John Johnson, Sr., was a prosperous farmer of Pennsylvania, of which State he was a native. Her father, John Johnson, Jr., was born and raised on the homestead in Mercer County, and followed farming and mining for a livelihood. Of his seven children, Jane was the eldest, and George W. the next in order of birth. After her husband's death our subject's mother returned to Pennsylvania from St. Louis, and lived four years at Hoytdale, where she married Frank Robinson. From there the family moved to West Middlesex, where our subject, who was the elder child born to his parents, the younger being his sister, Myrtle W., lived until seven- teen years of age, attending the schools of that place. He then learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he worked two years, and then came to New Castle, where he worked one year for his uncle, George W. Johnson, in his quarries. Throughout the following year, he was fireman on the quarry locomotive. About this time John W. Cain took a business trip to the west to his native city and to Belleville, Iowa, and on his return to New Castle worked for the J. P. With- erow Co. two years in their boiler works. He then secured employment as brakeman on the Pennsylvania Co.'s lines, and in one year was ad- vanced to the post of conductor, which he held three years. Since August, 1891, he has been yard conductor and car inspector for the same company.
He was joined in marriage Feb. 2, 1886, in New Castle, to Sarah Hammond, daughter of James and Nancy (Nealey) Hammond; her father was born in Allegheny Co., Pa., at Woods Run, near Pittsburg, and followed the occupa- tion of a farmer, living to be 75 or 76 years of
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
age. He was a veteran of the late war, and for five years, at the end of which period he served in Co. I, 140th Reg. Pa. Vol. Inf., taking worked in the engine house in the employ of the railroad. From June 28, 1887, to May, 1890, he was fireman, and since the latter date has been engineer. He is well thought of by his superiors, and is very popular among his asso- ciates. part in the battles of Bull Run and Gettysburg. Mrs. Cain is a sister of Harvey C. Hammond, a yard conductor on the Pennsylvania R. R., whose personal history may be found elsewhere in this volume. Our subject and wife attend the M. E. Church. Mr. Cain is a Democrat in his political attachments, and is a member of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen.
JOSEPH D. PITZER,* an engineer on the railroad, living in Mahoningtown, his birth- place, was born Oct. I, 1859, and is a son of John D. and Katherine (Glasser) Pitzer. John D. Pitzer was born in Ohio, probably about 1830. Commencing his life-struggle as a quar- ryman, he was for a long time employed as fore- man in the quarries near Mahoningtown, and finished his career as a farmer; he had previously been a boatman on the canal. He was a son of Michael K. Pitzer, who moved to Pike Co., Mo., and died there. Our subject's mother was born in Wittenberg Germany, and was four or five years old when she was taken with the rest of the family by her parents to America. She was . a daughter of Martin Glasser, who served as a soldier under Napoleon Bonaparte; he lived to be eighty years of age, and passed away at Wur- temberg, Wayne township, this county.
Joseph D. Pitzer, who was the eldest of six children, was reared in Mahoningtown, and at- tended private schools until he was eighteen years of age. He then worked in the quarries
He was married in Union township March 8, 1882, to Margaret Buchanan, daughter of John- son Buchanan, whose wife was Miss Eliza Burns. To Mr. and Mrs. Pitzer have been born two children: Gertrude and Ethel. Mrs. Pitzer is a meniber of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject is a Republican in his political views, and a very pronounced and emphatic man in advo- cating those principles which he believes to be just and right. He is a member of the F. & A. M., Lodge of the Craft, No. 433, of New Castle.
MRS. LIZZIE ANN PADEN* is a business woman of Mahoning township, Lawrence Coun- ty, who is spoken of wherever she is known with the greatest amount of respect and approval. She is the widow of Samuel M. Paden, who was in his day a representative citizen and a leading farmer of Lawrence Co., Pa.
Mr. Paden was a son of the eminent Rev. S. K. Paden of Pulaski, a preacher who was cele- brated throughout Western Pennsylvania for his piety and learning. Mr. Samuel M. Paden, at his marriage with the subject of our article, set- tled down on the old Paden homestead in Pu- laski township. This farm was one of the very best in its locality, and on it Mr. Paden success-
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
fully followed general farming for a long term of years. In 1886 he sold the place so long his home with the intention of retiring from active labors; shortly after this, while on a visit in the West, he was taken ill with spinal meningitis, and died at Carbondale, Ill., May 30, 1886. Mr. Paden was thought very much of by a large cir- cle of friends, and his death in a distant part of the country was mourned by all. He was at all times very active and energetic in all the affairs of life, social or otherwise. In politics he was an enthusiastic Prohibitionist. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Paden, and they are: Cora May and Foster Spurgeon.
Mrs. Paden comes from rugged English stock. Her father, John Hawley of Mahoning town- ship, was born near Herefordshire, England, Jan. 5, 1827, and was brought to America when a lad of fourteen by his father, Matthew Haw- ley. The latter was a son of Matthew and Eliza- beth (Pitt) Hawley. Matthew Hawley, the se- nior, was a butcher by trade and lived in the west part of England. The younger Matthew learned his father's trade, and followed it during his residence in the Old Country. He was mar- ried in England to Elizabeth Margin, who "be- came the mother of John Hawley, and through him the grandmother of the subject of this per- sonal history. Matthew Hawley arrived in America in 1841, and first made his home in the State of Ohio. The country in which he took up his home was quite hilly. Happening to make a visit to the western part of Mahoning township, Lawrence County, he saw a place that suited him better than did the Ohio home. This Pennsylvania farm of 117 acres he purchased front William Strain, and at once settled upon
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