USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania > Part 10
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Mr. Dawes bought a desirable lot, a part of the Bradford estate, in New Brighton, and in
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WENZEL A. MIKSCH
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1887, erected an elegant modern brick home at No. 1332 Third avenue, which is complete in every detail and convenience. He was joined in hymeneal bonds with Katherine Tor- rance, a daughter of Francis Torrance, of Al- legheny City, and she died young, leaving two children : Frances L .; and Martha, deceased. Mr. Dawes formed a second alliance with Jean Waddell, a daughter of Thomas Waddell, of Jacksonville, Illinois. In religious belief he is a conscientious member of the Presbyterian church. He takes a deep interest in the af- fairs of New Brighton and has been identified with a number of worthy enterprises, being at the present time a director of a bank, and vice-president and director of the Beaver Val- ley Hospital. He is a man of pleasing person- ality and possesses a large circle of friends throughout the community.
ENZEL A. MIKSCH, a member of the American Glass Specialty Company, and a prominent citizen of Monaca, Beaver county, Pa., is a glass decorator of wide reputation, and has in re- cent years invented a new process which promises in time to revolutionize the art of glass decorating.
Mr. Miksch is a native of Bohemia, and re- ceived a good mental training in the public schools of that country. That being the greatest glass manufacturing center of Eu- rope, he adopted the trade of a glass worker, and learned every detail of the business in the most thorough manner. At the age of
twenty-one years, he came to America, in 1881, stopping first at East Liverpool, Ohio, for two months, and then removing to Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania. After remaining there for a period of eight months, he located at Monaca, and followed his trade there for three years. In 1885, he returned to Pittsburg, and for thirteen years was foreman of the Thomas Evans Company, in the glass decor- ating department. In the meantime, in 1889, he purchased ten acres of land in Monaca, Beaver county, and erected what is probably the finest house in that section, reflecting great credit upon his good judgment and ar- tistic taste. Since that time he has made his home there, although for some years his work was in Pittsburg. It was while working on paper weights that he made a remarkable dis- covery, and for a considerable period was en- gaged in developing it. In 1897, having per- fected his invention for the decoration of glassware, he became one of the organizers of the Metropolitan Glass Company of Mon- aca, manufacturers of advertising specialties- a concern with which he was connected until 1898. He then severed his connection with that firm and started his present venture, the American Glass Specialty Company, in part- nership with his brother, Charles Miksch. It is a novel invention, and marks a decided ad- vance in the art of decorating glass. As yet the invention is but two years old, and is meeting with great success. There are but two firms of this character in this country and our subject has the proud distinction of having started both. The building he now
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occupies was completed in 1898; it is a two- story affair. 26x90 feet, and embraces the main works, the furnace room, printing room, transfer room, and enamel room. The ar- ticles which they make require most pains- taking effort, and Mr. Miksch has attained a skill which approaches perfection. They have two kilns operated by natural gas, and a small test oven. Their goods find a ready market all over the world, and bid fair to supersede the old style of glass decorating. They have no trouble in disposing of their product, and have sales agents in all the large cities. Mr. Miksch is possessed of excellent business qualifications and has been very suc- cessful, owning his present location, the build- ing occupied by the Metropolitan Glass Com- pany, and the house in which he lives.
Politically, the subject of this writing is an aggressive Democrat, and has been president of the council for the past six years, but has now retired from active politics. He is a member of Germania Blue Lodge, No. 509, and Duquesne Chapter, F. & A. M., both of Pittsburg. A portrait of Mr. Miksch accom- panies this sketch of his life, being presented on a preceding page.
ILLIAM R. GALEY, of the firm of Galey Brothers, extensive oil pro- ducers, is a highly respected citizen of Beaver, Pa., and is well and favorably known throughout Beaver county. He was born in Porter township, Clarion county, De- cember 5, 1848, receiving in his youth an ex-
ceptionally thorough mental training in the public school. He began his career by work- ing upon his father's farm until he attained the age of twenty years, when he became an oil driller at Pleasantville, Pennsylvania. He has spent his entire life in the oil and gas bus- iness, being now quite extensively engaged in that capacity. He has operated oil wells in many counties not only in Pennsylvania, but also in Ohio, sometimes alone, and sometimes in partnership with others. He drilled the gas wells for, and helped to establish the Bridge- water Gas Co., in the Sheffield district, but subsequently sold his interest therein. He is one of the stockholders of the Beaver Na- tional Bank and was one of the prime factors in its organization. In 1891, Mr. Galey set- tled in Beaver, where he purchased a brick dwelling from A. Moore, and has since made his residence there, taking an active interest in the progress of his adopted town.
Mr. Galey was joined in matrimony with Ida Nicholas, an accomplished lady of great force and sweetness of character. Mrs. Galey is a daughter of Charles and Isadore (How- ard) Nicholas. Her father was born in Ohio, and died in early manhood, leaving a widow and one little daughter, Ida, to mourn his untimely death. Mrs. Nicholas contracted a second matrimonial alliance, this time with Obi Olds, by whom she had one son, Herbert, now deceased. A second time she was de- prived of her companion and after a suitable period, married a third time, becoming the wife of William Fenton, to whom she bore three daughters : Minnie M .; Miranda I .; and
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Lydia A. Mrs. Fenton departed this life at the age of fifty-eight years.
To our subject and his estimable wife have been born two sons and two daughters, whose names are: Herbert Edgar; Willie; Etta Irene; and Charlana Mabel. The two sons died in infancy, and Etta Irene became the wife of Howard Atha, of Allegheny, Penn- sylvania. Charlana Mabel is the darling of the household, which she rules at will. She was born as recently as July 24, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Galey are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The subject of this sketch is a son of Robert and Margaret (Rogers) Galey, and grandson of Daniel and Margaret (Fulton) Galey. Daniel Galey was a native of Ireland and came to America in 1819, landing at Philadelphia, Pa., and set- tling in Maryland, along the Chesapeake Bay. There he accepted a position as manager of an extensive plantation, and was overseer of a large number of slaves. He continued to work in that capacity until cut off by death at about forty years of age. He was joined in matrimony with Margaret Fulton, who sur- vived him until she attained the advanced age of seventy-eight years. After the death of her husband Mrs. Galey and her children removed to Belle Vernon, Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania. Their son, Robert, is the father of the subject of this sketch.
Robert Galey was born in the Prov- ince of Connaught, Ireland, in 1811, and accompanied his parents to Amer- ica, when only eight years old. At the age of fourteen years, he was appren-
ticed to learn the blacksmith's trade, which he mastered in all its details, serving a full apprenticeship. He became quite skilled as a workman, made axes by hand and was considered an expert pattern maker. He started a small shop for himself, and by strict attention to his business accumulated quite a sum of money for those days. In 1835, he removed to Cherry Run, Clarion county, Pa., and purchased 100 acres of new land, which he cleared into fields for farming purposes. Later he sold out and purchased a larger tract of timber land at Red Bank, in the same county. He busied himself cutting his timber, which he sold to the operators of a charcoal furnace. Iron ore was also discovered on his land, in such paying quantities that by its sale, he not only paid off all his indebtedness, but was enabled to purchase three good farms along the Allegheny River in Perry township, Clarion county, Pennsylvania. During the Civil War, Mr. Galey was largely interested in raising sheep upon these farms; at one time he and his sons owned as many as 800 fine specimens. In 1867, oil was discovered on his farm, after which, for several years, he was largely interested in numerous oil wells. In company with his son John, he purchased Kink's Island, and put down a well that yielded an average of 75 barrels of crude oil per day for a period of four years. Another deal which was considered among his best investments, was the purchase of the Captain Clark farm in Washington county, for $17,- 000. Four years later he sold it for manufac- turing purposes, for the round sum of $40,000.
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Since then the place was sold for $100,000.
Robert Galey possessed a strong constitu- tion and was an active, energetic man with nerves of iron. He was a self-made man in the truest sense of the word, not only accumu- lating a large fortune but loaning considerable amounts of money and being very charitable. He was highly esteemed by all who knew him, and spent his last days at Belle Vernon, where his death occurred in June, 1895. He was twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Rachel Sparr, a daugh- ter of John Sparr, died at the early age of thirty-two years, leaving three sons as a legacy to her husband. Their names are: John H., who is a member of the firm of Guffey & Galey at East End, Pitts- burg, Pa .; Thomas F., of Beaver ; and Robert, also of Beaver. Some time after the death of his first wife, Mr. Galey married again. This time he was wedded to Margaret Rogers, who is still living. She is a daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Cook) Rogers, and was born December 25, 1822. Her father was born in Donegal, Ireland, was a son of George Rog- ers, and grandson of Oliver Rogers, who was born in England, but settled in Ireland, and, in his day, was said to be the tallest man in Europe. His son George visited America, but stayed only a short time, returning to Ireland, where he died. The latter's son, George Rog- ers, came to America in 1832, settling in Cla- rion county, Pa., where he engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, near Parker's Landing. His life was terminated by death at the age of sixty-six years, while his wife lived to be sev-
enty-two years of age. Their children were : Elizabeth; Jane; Sally; Margaret, mother of William R .; Rebecca; Letitia; William; and Mary.
Robert Galey's second marriage resulted in the birth of the following offspring: William R., subject of this sketch; Samuel, a dealer in oil at East End, Pittsburg; Daniel, also a dealer in oil, residing at Parker, Pa .; Rachel, wife of Thomas Grant; James G., of Beaver, also in the oil business; David H., superin- tendent of the Sewickley Gas Co .; and Laura G., wife of Lieut. Charles Farnsworth,-Mrs. Farnsworth is now deceased, and left one son. Robert.
Our subject is a man of sterling worth, of upright dealings, and is a useful member of the community, who has contributed his share to the enterprise and thrift of Beaver. He gives liberally of his means to worthy chari- ties, and assists in many ways to elevate the moral and social life of his community.
RANCIS L. BANKS, deceased, was well known in Beaver Falls as a valuable and enterprising citizen, and he was worthy the respect and esteem accorded him bv the residents of that borough. He was a machinist by trade, and for many years served in the capacity of superintendent of the hard- ening department of the Great Western File Works of Beaver Falls. He was a son of Francis and Maria (Barton) Banks, and was born in New York City, July 19, 1825.
On the Banks side, the family is of English
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origin, and the grandfather, William Banks, was a native of London, England. His son Francis resided in New York City and was there engaged in business all his life. On the maternal side, the great-grandfather was Henry Barton of Hollandish extraction, and he was a soldier in the War of Independence, lived in Hackensack, N. J., and owned a num- ber of slaves.
Francis L. Banks was reared in New York City and there also obtained his elementary training ; in his younger days he was engaged in the book-binding business in that city, but subsequently drifted into the file business. Upon coming to Beaver Falls he was ten- dered the position of superintendent of the hardening department of the Great Western File Works, which position he accepted and faithfully performed the duties of that respon- sible office until his retirement about the year 1891. Mr. Banks was prominently connected with different fraternities; he was at one time grand templar of Pennsylvania, was a mem- ber and secretary of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and was also a member and secretary of the Royal Arcanum. Politically, Mr. Banks took an energetic part in the organization of the Republican party in this vicinity, but though active in party affairs, he never sought political distinction. In his re- ligious action he was a consistent member of the Episcopal church, and was also a senior warden many years; he was also a great worker in the Brotherhood of St. Andrews. His demise took place at his home in Beaver Falls, February 18, 1899, and his death was
deeply deplored by his family and his friends, who knew him as a dutiful citizen and friend, a kind neighbor, and a loving father and hus- band.
Mr. Banks was joined in marriage with Miss Mary Culver; she was born April 3, 1827, and died January 20, 1889. She was a daughter of Daniel Culver, a native of New York City, and he traces his ancestral history back to 1632; the Culver family is one of the oldest families in New England, and her grandfather was in the Revolutionary War. Mr. and Mrs. Banks were the parents of one daughter, Gertrude Kendall, the wife of Wil- liam H. Chandley. Mr. Chandley is engaged in plumbing, gas and steam fitting, and also contracts for the laying of water works sys- tems. He is located in Beaver Falls, where he has already established a large patronage. To Mr. and Mrs. Chandley have been born a family of seven children: Henry Banks; Gertrude May; Sarah Winifred; Mary Ivy; Anna Drusilla ; Georgia Caroline; and George Francis, deceased.
EZEKIAH HULME is the efficient and well-known sexton of Grove Cem- etery, New Brighton, Pa., and he has been in charge of the same for the past score of years. He was born in Lancaster- shire, England, February 23, 1844, and is a son of Mark and Mary (Flindle) Hulme.
Mark Hulme was born in England, and there he continued to reside until his death in 1863, pursuing his vocation as a hat maker,
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which he had learned during his boyhood days.
Hezekiah Hulme also learned the hatter's trade, and upon his arrival in the United States in 1868, he remained in Lewiston, Maine, a short time, and there took up his former occupation. He then made a trip to Denver, Colo., and after prospecting in the West, he returned East and first located in Mercer county, Pa., and later, in Beaver county, where he has ever since continued to reside. He first settled in Beaver Falls, where he worked at cutlery, but in 1879, he was given charge of his present position. The Grove Cemetery was incorporated March 19, 1859, and the grounds were dedicated to the purpose of burial October 13, 1859; thirty- two acres were first purchased adjoining Block House Run, and later, twenty-seven acres were added thereto. The cemetery is lo- cated on the east side of New Brighton, near Braeburn Hillside stream, and is commonly known as Oak Hill; beautiful drives and walks are laid out through the grounds, which con- tains many fine oak, hickory, ash, and elm trees. There is also an attractive variety of shrubbery, which is always kept in excellent trim by Mr. Hulme and his assistants; there are two entrances to the cemetery, one on Grove avenue and the other on Nineteenth avenue, better known as the north entrance. Mr. Hulme occupies a neat cottage near the Grove street entrance, and his assistant also resides near that entrance. By the faithful performance of his duties the subject of this sketch has gained for himself the esteem and
good-will of not only the members of the cor- poration, but of the citizens of New Brighton and vicinity.
Mr. Hulme was first united in marriage with Sarah Chadwick, a daughter of George Chadwick, and a native of England; she died at the age of twenty-five years, leaving one son, George, who is also deceased. His sec- ond wife is Matilda Swift, a daughter of James Swift, of Liverpool, England, a contractor and builder, who died at the age of fifty-five years, in Cheshire, England. Mr. Hulme is a faith- ful member of the I. O. O. F., of which he is also past grand ; and a member and past chief patriarch of the Encampment. In religious views, he is inclined to favor the Episcopal church. In politics, he is a Republican.
R ICHARD SMITH HOLT, a leading attorney-at-law of Beaver, Pa., and one of the ablest lawyers in Beaver county, is a member of the law firm of Wilson & Holt. Mr. Holt was a pupil in the public school and in Peirsol's Academy at West Bridgewater, after which he attended the State Normal course at Edinboro, Pa., work- ing his way through college by teaching, which profession he followed for some time after his graduation. After teaching for six years, he began to study law under the late Samuel B. Wilson, Esq. After his admission to the bar in 1888, he entered upon the prac- tice of his profession, and after the death of his preceptor he became a law partner of George Wilson, the son of Samuel B. Wilson.
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Since then the firm has been Wilson & Holt.
For a man whose life has been as busy as his, Mr. Holt has done much outside of his regular duties. He is now serving his sixth year as a member of the city council. He is deeply interested in educational matters, and has served as a member of the school board. He is a prominent and active member of the American Mechanics.
Mr. Holt purchased a vacant lot near the corner of Fourth and Market streets upon which he built a handsome residence in 1892 and 1893. When his day's work is done, and he retires to his home. he is pleas- antly greeted by his accomplished wife, and five unusually bright and interesting little ones, of whom both Mr. and Mrs. Holt are extremely proud. Mrs. Holt was, before her marriage, Sarah Eveline Brunton, a daughter of William A. Brunton, a sketch of whose life will be included as a part of this narrative. Their children's names and ages are as fol- lows: Beulah G., born January 20, 1886; Mary Jane, born January 19, 1888; Elizabeth Wilson, born April 6, 1890; Margaret Anna, born September 22, 1892 ; and Sarah Eveline, born in May, 1898.
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Richard Smith Holt is a son of Samuel J. and Mary Ann (Taylor) Holt, a grandson of William Holt, a great-grandson of Thomas Holt, Jr., and a great-great-grandson of Thomas Holt, Sr. The family is of English origin.
Thomas Holt, Sr., removed from the east- ern part of Pennsylvania to Mifflin county, Pa., settling at McVeytown, Oliver township,
where he owned 600 acres of land. He was joined in wedlock with Elizabeth Mitchell, a daughter of John and Jane (Ross) Mitchell. Their union was blessed with numerous off- spring, namely: Thomas, Jr., who married Elizabeth Walker; John, who married Sarah Mellikin; William; Elizabeth, wife of John Magee; Mary, wife of Jacob Yost; Jane, wife of John McClintock; Dorcas, wife of Mr. Stackpole; Eleanor, wife of Francis Windell; and James, who was killed by the Indians.
Thomas Holt. Jr., was a farmer, and lost his beloved wife not many years after their marriage. He went to Trumbull county, Ohio, where his death is supposed to have occurred, as all trace of him was lost. Only two children were born to him and his wife, and they were twins: William Humphrey and Dorcas,-born in 1806. Dorcas became the wife of James Critchlow.
William Humphrey Holt located in Brigh- ton township, Beaver county, Pa., about 1833, as the tax receipts of 1834 show that he paid taxes on a farm previously purchased by him. This farm is now the property of S. R. Work- man. Later, Mr. Holt sold that farm and bought one which Samuel Johnson now owns. Still later, he purchased a farm just west of the Samuel Johnson farm, and upon it he spent his closing years. Upon all his farms he made improvements, and the last one pur- chased by him is still owned by his heirs. He laid down the burden of life in 1877, while his wife lived until 1896, when, at the age of ninety-three years and two months, she passed away. Mr. Holt was a very public-spirited
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man and served as supervisor of his township and as school director, and was elder and class leader of the M. E. church. Six children were born to him and his worthy wife, namely: Mary, who first became the wife of Socrates Small, and after his death wedded George Triess; Thomas Fritz, who married Margaret J. Fritz ; John Wesley, who died in infancy ; Samuel Jacob, the father of our sub- ject ; Dorcas, who also died in infancy; and Rachel Ann, wife of John Hogue.
Samuel Jacob Holt, father of our subject, was born in Brighton township, Beaver county, and was reared on a farm. When grown, he followed the occupation of teaming until he purchased a farm in Brighton town- ship, upon which he lived until 1898, when he abandoned farming and retired to Beaver, Pennsylvania. His whole life has been spent in agricultural pursuits, in which he has been successful to such a marked degree that he not only still owns his farm, but also property in Beaver and Vanport. In his political views, the elder Mr. Holt follows the leader- ship of the Republican party. He was united in marriage with Mary Ann Taylor, whose life was terminated by death in 1898, at the age of sixty years. Their children were : Wil- liam H., who married Carrie R. Hamilton, and is a prosperous farmer of Brighton town- ship; Richard Smith, the subject of this life- review ; Thomas Fritz, who was twice married, -Annie Merton being his first wife, and Re- becca McCollough the second one, and who is a stone mason at New Castle; Elizabeth Jane, and Jefferson, were the next two, who
both died in infancy; Mary, wife of Dr. James H. Shoemaker of East Liverpool, Ohio; Frank R., D. D. S., a successful dentist of Beaver, Pa .; and Clyde. a teacher and law student of Beaver.
Richard Smith Holt first saw the light of day in Borough township, Beaver county, Pa., on December 15. 1860. He is still a young man and his friends predict great things for him in the future.
William A. Brunton, father-in-law of our subject, was born in Green township. Beaver county, Pa. He is a son of John and Margaret (Alexander) Brunton, and grandson of William Brunton. William Brunton was of German nationality, and was a farmer by oc- cupation. Little is known of him except that he located in Green township, and lived to be about seventy-five years of age. His wife, Barbara, lived to be about eighty-five years old, and bore her husband eleven children, as follows: John; Joseph; Thomas; Henry; William; Elizabeth; Sarah; Rachel; Rebecca ; Nancy ; and Mary Ann.
John Brunton, father of William A., inher- ited a part of the homestead farm, and fol- lowed the quiet and peaceful life of a farmer all his days. He died at about fifty years of age, but his wife, who was a daughter of Stephen Alexander, lived about seventy-seven years. Their children were: Mary ; William, father of Mrs. Holt; Elizabeth; Sarah; and Barbara.
William A. Brunton bought out all the heirs and became owner of the homestead, which he sold later and embarked in the gro-
JACOB PFLUG.
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cery business at Shippingport. This he con- ducted for twelve years, and then returned to farming, which he continued until 1887, when he removed to Beaver, Pennsylvania. Since then he has been interested in other pursuits. He was joined in marriage with Mary J. Vazey, a daughter of Francis Vazey. One son and six daughters blessed their union. They were named: John; Sarah E., wife of Richard Smith Holt; Margaret; Lalla Belle; Estella E .; Daisy F .; and Barbara E.
William A. Brunton enlisted in 1862 in Company H, 140th Reg., Pa. Vol., as a pri- vate. The principal battles in which he took part were: Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. At the latter he was wounded in the knee and leg, which prevented his walking for three years. He now draws a pension from the U. S. Government, and is a valued member, of the G. A. R., Post No. 47 ; he also belongs to the I. O. O. F. Few men so completely have the confidence of the public as has Mr. Brun- ton, and his standing is certainly well merited.
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