USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania > Part 18
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After closing up the business of the com- pany, Mr. Klein became secretary and treas- urer of the Co-operative Flint Glass Co., of Beaver Falls. That change occurred Janu- ary 18, 1892, and the position is still retained by him. He has charge of all the business of the company, and manages all their affairs. In business life, Mr. Klein is regarded as a man of extremely good judgment. He real- izes fully the many responsibilities which rest upon his shoulders, but performs the many daily duties incumbent upon him with a tact and ease that result only from long expe- rience. November 4, 1886, Marguerite Mc- Clelland, a daughter of William McClelland, of Shoustown, Pa., became the wife of Mr. Klein, and their union is blessed with three children, whose names are: Leta, now de- ceased; Madeline, born January 4, 1893 ; and Gretchen, also deceased.
Charles G. Klein, father of the subject of this record, was born in Baden, Germany, June 17, 1833. Early in life, he became ap- prenticed and learned the blacksmith's trade, which occupation he followed for some years. In 1853, Mr. Klein came to America, and located in Pittsburg, where he began working
at the trade of stove mounting, in Bradey & Sons Foundry, and remained with them until 1868. He then removed to Beaver Falls, Pa., and engaged with the Howard Stove Com- pany, where he is still busily employed. He was united in marriage with Catherine Kirsch, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany. Six chil- dren blessed their union, namely : Catherine, now deceased; Charles W., the subject of this sketch; Louis F .; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph M. Vanderwort, of Beaver Falls; Walter G .; and Lillian.
Charles G. Klein is foreman of the mount- ing department of the Howard Stove Com- pany. In his political views, he is in accord with the Republicans, but although an active worker for his party, he has never cared to accept office. In a religious connection, he is identified with the German Lutheran church.
For a man whose life has been as busy as his, the subject of this narrative has done much outside the sphere of his regular duties. It is a matter of general knowledge that in his official capacities, he has ever been all that the public could desire. By the corporation which he represents, he is trusted implicitly. On the social side of his nature, he possesses all those traits which win and hold the friend- ship of all who come within their influence. Mr. Klein is president of the Dime Savings & Loan Association of Beaver. Falls, and has been one of the directors ever since its organization ; he has been, since 1894, the sec- retary of the board of directors of the Colum- bian Building & Loan Association ; he is also president of the local board of the Union
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Dime Permanent Loan Association of Roch- ester, New York. Mr. Klein is an active member, and a trustee, of the United Presby- terian church. Fraternally, he belongs to the order of Elks. In politics, he is a stanch Re- publican. He was elected to the council in 1896, and re-elected in 1899. In 1898, he was chairman of that body.
OSEPH H. EVANS. This leading and representative citizen of Beaver, Pa., is well known as one of the most exten- sive oil producers in Western Pennsylvania. and has built up by energy and strict integrity an excellent reputation, and amassed a hand- some fortune. Mr. Evans is truly the archi- tect of his own fortune, and his present en- viable position is due wholly to his thrift, fore- sight, and good business methods. Few. men so completely hold the confidence and esteem of the public as he, and his standing is de- servedly high. He was born May 16, 1851, in Venango county, Pa., and is a son of John and Mary (Kiser) Evans.
John Evans left Westmoreland county, Pa., while still a young man, and located in Clarion county, where his marriage with Mary Kise .. occurred. Mrs. Evans is a daughter of Joseph Kiser and has proved herself a valuable aid to her husband in his various business enter- prises. John Evans was a very industrious man and for many years followed lumbering and rafting, becoming an expert river pilot. After amassing a considerable sum of money,
he purchased a tract of timber land and en- gaged in clearing it,-making the most he could from the lumber. This tract was situ- ated along the banks of Paint Creek, Clarion county, where Mr. Evans also built a saw mill and was occupied not only in manufacturing lumber from his own timber, but in doing similar work for his neighbors. His mill was largely patronized and he continued to oper- ate it until 1869, when he sold out and re- moved to Elk River, Sherburne county, Minn., where he purchased a fine farm and followed agricultural pursuits the remainder of his life. There his death took place at the age of sixty-five years. His widow still sur- vives him, and now resides in Clarion county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Evans in his business ven- tures prospered even beyond his expectations, and at the time of his death, the large and val- uable estate he left insured a competency to the family of loved ones left behind. The fol- lowing children were born to him and his de- voted wife, and they all grew to manhood and womanhood: Mrs. E. A. Clelland; Mrs. Emily Deekey; Mrs. Sarah J. Shaw; Mrs. Susan J. Wallace, deceased; Bradford; John Henry ; Joseph H., the subject of this sketch; Charles Wesley, deceased; and Harrison Lin- coln, also deceased.
Joseph H. Evans attended public school until he attained the age of sixteen years. Then he began manual labor by drawing oil in barrels, from Shamburg, to Pithole. Sub- sequently he went to Minnesota with his father, and engaged in the lumber business, as a partner in the firm of Chase & Pillsbury,
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of Minneapolis. The company contracted for lumber jobs and continued in that line of work until 1876, when Mr. Evans withdrew and re- turned to the Keystone State, settling in Elk City, where he formed a company, styled Kiser & Evans, leased his grandfather's farm, and began putting down oil wells. His first well yielded 125 barrels per day, bringing $4.25 per barrel, and proved to be one of the best wells in Clarion county. In 1877. Mr. Evans sold his interest in this enterprise and operated oil wells at Bradford, McKean county, Pa., until 1886. The following three years he was associated with Mr. Fitzgibbons. since which period he has been a member of the Devonian Oil Co., which consists of the following men: C. B. Collins ; J. R. Leonard : J. D. Downing ; and J. H. Evans. The com- pany owns some 300 wells in Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, all in suc- cessful operation. In 1882, Mr. Evans be- came associated with the Bradford Exchange, and speculated in oil some four years. He is a member of the Victor Oil & Gas Co .; the Superior Oil Co .; he is also a stockholder of the Beaver Mining Company.
Mr. Evans can be found at his office on the corner of Wood and Fourth streets, in Pitts- burg, where all his business is transacted. In 1890, he went to Beaver, Pa., and purchased a fine residence on College avenue. This res- idence was built by Mr. Tallow. After vis- iting many places in Western Pennsylvania, Mr. Evans wisely decided that the borough of Beaver, with its convenient location, its fine streets and splendid school, was the most suit-
able location to be found for a permanent home. In 1895, he purchased the corner lot of Wilson avenue and Third street, a very de- sirable location, and built one of the finest modern brick residences in this part of the state. The brick for this dwelling was manu- factured by the Alluma Shell Brick Com- pany, of which company Mr. Evans is a stock- holder; it does quite an extensive business in manufacturing all kinds of pressed brick. In addition to the property above described, Mr. Evans owns several lots and tenement houses in Beaver, and has taken an active interest in the progress and development of his adopted town.
The subject of this sketch sought and won for his life partner, Jennie Donaldson, a charming lady, of Knox, Pennsylvania. This happy union was blessed with one son, Harry C., and one daughter, May D., both of whom are students. Mr. Evans is a stanch Repub- lican, but never sought office ; he is a Mason of high degree, being a member of Beaver Lodge, F. & A. M .; a R. A. M., of No. I Commandery, Knights Templar, of Pitts- burg ; of the Consistory; and of Syria Tem- ple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Pittsburg. His beautiful home ever extends a hearty wel- come to his many friends, and all his circum- stances and surroundings are of the most de- sirable kind. In personal relations Mr. Evans is exceedingly genial and enjoys the utmost popularity. As a business man, he is broad and liberal, yet shrewd and far-seeing, as well. He is a good financier and manager, as his notable prosperity clearly evidences.
GEORGE W. MACKALL.
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EORGE W. MACKALL, who has acted in the capacity of prothonotary of Beaver county, Pa., for many years, is an active citizen of the borough of Beaver. He is interested in various enterprises in the town, including the well-known Beaver Sig- nal Manufacturing Company, and other con- cerns of equal note. He is of sturdy Scotch- Irish extraction, and was born in Green town- ship, Beaver county, July 12, 1842,-his par- ents being James and Mary (Foster) Mackall.
George W. Mackall's grandfather was Ben- jamin Mackall, a native of northern Ireland, who, at the age of twenty-one years, was com- missioned a captain in the Colonial Army, and served throughout the major part of the War of Independence. He came to Georgetown, Beaver county, in 1802, and was there en- gaged in farming; his wife was Miss Rebecca Dawson, by whom he reared a family of six children, as follows: Jane; James; Thomas; Nellie ; John D .; and Samuel. James Mackall was born at Point-of-Rocks, Md., January 16, 1788. In 1817, he bought two hundred and forty-four acres of land and began agricultural pursuits; he made all the present improve- ments upon this land, and was recognized as an enterprising anl progressive farmer. He was a Whig and a Republican in politics and served as county commissioner. Religiously, he was a member of the Episcopal church. In 1815, he married Mary Foster, a daughter of Thomas Foster; she was born November 7, 1797, and died November 22, 1860,-her husband dying August 20, 1874. Their union was blessed by the following children :
Thomas; Rebecca; Benjamin; Phoebe; Jane; John D .; Mary ; Samuel; James; Sarah Ellen ; and George Washington. Rebecca married Jesse Kinsey ; Benjamin wedded Mary Dolby ; Phoebe was the wife of Milton Calhoun ; Jane was joined in wedlock with James Mackall; John D. married Harriet A. Cornell; Samuel, a farmer of Green township, Beaver county, married first Sarah Harvey and had three chil- dren,-she died and he married Jennie Daw- son ; James, of Georgetown, Pa., married Sid- ney A. Miller ; Sarah Ellen wedded Harrison Dawson; and George Washington is the sub- ject hereof. He has but two brothers living,- James and Samuel.
George W. Mackall attended the public schools, and at fourteen years of age became a clerk in a store at Hookstown, Beaver county, for John Sterling ; he later accepted a like position with Joseph Hall, and then with M. L. Christler. Like many other boys of his day, he was fond of river life,
and accepted
a
position
as
cabin -
boy on one of the boats that plied up and down the Ohio River; after several years of this life, he became a second-mate, but becoming tired of that life, he engaged in boating coal down the river, for a period of six years; he then became a contractor for oil drilling in Ohio township and vicinity, after which he conducted a store at Glasgow, Pa., and also served as justice of the peace of that village for five years. In 1887, he went to New Brighton, Pa., and became connected with the publication of the Tribune. In August, 1892, he was elected to the office of
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prothonotary of Beaver county, which made it necessary for him to come to Beaver, where he has since resided. Mr. Mackall discharged the official duties of that position in such a thorough manner that he was re-elected. Since the closing of his term, he has been liv- ing in retirement. He is a stockholder in the Beaver Signal Manufacturing Company ; he resides in a fine house, situated at the end of Fourth street. The subject of this sketch participated in the War of the Rebellion, hav- ing enlisted, in 1863, in Company H, 56th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf .; at the expiration of his term he became a member of Company H, 5th Reg., Heavy Artillery ; at the close of the war, he had been promoted to be a sergeant.
Mr. Mackall was wedded to Miss Mary Jane Calhoun, who was born in 1845,- a daughter of James and Eliza (Gamble) Cal- houn. Her father was a ship carpenter, and was born in Allegheny county, Pa., but spent most of his life in Beaver county, building boats. He was the father of the following children: Seraphina S., the wife of D. S. Hamilton; Nancy Ann, deceased; Ellen, first wedded to J. McKee, and later to D. A. Jolly ; Lucinda, the wife of Abner Martin ; Priscilla, wedded to John Laughlin; Peggie Ann, de- ceased; Isabella, deceased, and Elizabeth, twins,-the latter wedded to John Strain ; Wil- liam G., deceased; Mary Jane, the wife of the subject hereof; and Arvilla, the wife of S. L. Dawson. Mr. and Mrs. Mackall are the par- ents of three children: Howard C .; Mary Eliza; and George Raymond. Howard C. served as deputy prothonotary for his father,
and was married to Roberta Waterson; one child, Mary Addie, has been born to them. Mary Eliza is the wife of Wilbert W. Knowles, clerk for the P. & L. E. R. R., and has a son, Duane M. George Raymond is attending Beaver College. Mr. Mackall is a member of the E. M. Stanton Post, G. A. R., No. 208, of New Brighton ; of the Sr. O. U. A. M., No. 301 ; and of the Elks, of Rochester, No. 283. Religiously. Mr. Mackall and family are mem- bers of the Methodist church. Mr. Mackall's portrait is shown on the opposite page.
LEXANDER F. REID, a very promi- nent merchant of Beaver county, has an excellent store at New Galilee, carrying a complete line of groceries. hardware, boots and shoes, hats and caps, household furnishings, drugs, agri- cultural implements, and, in fact, almost any article for which there is a de- mand. He is a man of enterprise, and his continued efforts to accommodate the citi- zens of the borough, and the courtesy which he extends to his patrons, have won for him public favor. He is a native of Ireland, having been born in Belfast, November 15, 1838, and is a son of William and Maria (Findlay) Reid.
William Reid, the father of Alexander F., was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1797, and there he received his intellectual training and adopted the occupation of a farmer, which he followed throughout his life. He was joined in the holy bonds of matrimony with Maria
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Findlay, a daughter of William Findlay, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and they reared the fol- lowing children: Eliza (Reed) deceased ; John, whose business was that of a linen ship- per; William, who is living a retired life in Pittsburg; Jane (Little), deceased; Anna (Williams); Maria, deceased; Alexander F .. the gentleman whose name heads these lines ; Charles, who has charge of a department in a linen manufacturing establishment ; and Rus- sell, whose death occurred at the early age of ten years. Religiously, Mr. Reid was a Pres- byterian. He was called into the unknown world, in 1857, at the age of sixty years.
Alexander F. Reid, after completing his mental training in the public schools of Ire- land, served a four years' apprenticeship in a grocery and hardware store. In the year of 1863, he came to America and landed in New York City; but a short time thereafter, he re- moved to Pittsburg. He subsequently worked in Sharpsburg about two years, and in 1870 located in New Galilee, Beaver county, Pa., where he engaged in business for himself,- renting a place for about eight years. In 1878, he built his present store, a two-story build- ing, with dimensions of 80x24 feet, in addi- tion to which there is a warehouse and a base- ment. In this he conducted his store in a very successful manner until 1883. His wife's health having failed in that year, Mr. Reid re- moved with his family to California, and re- mained there two years, during which time he became a competent druggist and con- ducted a drug store. Upon returning to New Galilee, in 1885, he resumed business in
his former location, and has since conducted one of the neatest and best arranged stores in that section. Being a man of exceptional business qualifications, and having had wide experience in his business, he realizes the wants of his customers and satisfies them in every way consistent with his own interests. He is a stockholder in the Rochester National Bank. He has the respect of his fellow-citi- zens to a high degree, and they are proud to acknowledge themselves his friends.
In 1865, at Sharpsburg, Alexander F. Reid was united in marriage with Mary E. Henry, a daughter of Wilson and Eliza (Garvin) Henry, and a granddaughter of William Henry. William Henry was born in Ireland, and when a child, came to this country with his parents, where they bought a tract of land in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. They cleared this land of its timber, and erected log houses and barns. William acquired prop- erty of his own, engaged in lumbering and also worked on the river. He followed that and farming all of his life. He married Miss Borland and they reared five children, of whom Wilson was the second. Wilson Henry. the father of Mrs. Reid, attended the schools of Westmoreland county, Pa., and dur- ing his youthful days worked in the mines and on the river. He rented a farm near Sharps- burg for some years, and then bought one of two hundred acres, in 1863. He moved upon it in 1870, and was extensively engaged in dairying, fruit growing and general farming, which he continued throughout his active life, and became a very prosperous man. He was
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a Republican in politics. Religiously, he was a Presbyterian, and was ruling elder for a number of years. Mr. Henry married Eliza Garvin, a daughter of Joseph Garvin, and they reared eleven children, as follows: Samuel, an insurance agent at Beaver ; Joseph G. (de- ceased), a railroad agent all of his life ; William (deceased), a farmer and mis- sionary of West Virginia; Sarah J. (Hodil); Mary E., the wife of the subject hereof; Rev. Benjamin C., D. D .. who was graduated at Washington and Jeffer- son College, and received the degree of D. D. from Princeton University, and who has been a missionary to China for twenty-five years,- returning home but twice; Nancy G. (Wet- zig); Eleanor (Brown); Wilson, a fruit grower in California ; James S., a journalist in Washington, D. C .; and Anna M., who is now living at home.
Mrs. Reid was born at Turtle Creek, Pa., attended the schools of Sharpsburg, and was a pupil of Sharpsburg Academy. She was mar- ried in 1865, and they reared eight children. as follows: Anna M .; Jane E .; William H .; Charles W .; Agnes Eleanor; Alexander R .; James McArthur; and Benjamin Clair. Anna M. (Schueler) was born September 12, 1866, graduated at Geneva College, and finished her education in a private institution in Cali- fornia, under Prof. Conklin. Jane E., born January 29, 1869, attended the public schools and also completed her intellectual training under Prof. Conklin ; she married a Mr. Mil- ler. William H. was born April 1, 1871, and died in February, 1877. Charles W. was
born August 13, 1874, and died February 9. 1877. Agnes Eleanor was born June 10, 1876, attended the public schools, and then took a course in Slippery Rock Normal School, from which she was graduated, in 1895. She then taught for two years in the borough schools, and entered the School of Designing, where she had the honor of win- ning the class medal,-a high testimonial to her skill and talent. In 1896, she was obliged to give up her studies on account of ill-health. Alexander R. was born July 19, 1878, and is studying medicine, being a member of the graduating class of 1901. James McArthur was born May 20, 1881, and is a student in the preparatory department of Geneva Col- lege. Benjamin Clair was born October 16. 1884, and is attending the public schools.
The subject of this biography is a devout Presbyterian, and is very active in church work, having been a ruling elder since 1883. He is a trustee of the church. Politically, he is a Republican.
ALTER C. JONES is one of the most prominent and popular young business men of Beaver county, and is esteemed and much respected by the citi- zens of Beaver Falls, where he is recognized as a valuable member of that community. He has always been connected with various iron and steel industries, and has gradually worked his way up to his present high position,-that of general superintendent of the American
DR. JOHN J. ALLEN.
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BEAVER COUNTY
Steel & Wire Company, in which capacity he has efficiently served since April, 1898.
Mr. Jones was born in Zanesville, Ohio, and obtained his elementary education at Newark, Ohio, which was supplemented by a course of study in the schools of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. In 1888, he accepted a posi- tion as general shipping clerk and assistant to the superintendent of the old Braddock Wire Company, of Rankin, Pa.,-living in Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania. He remained in the service of that company until the year 1895, when he was transferred to the position of secretary of the Consolidated Steel & Wire Company at Beaver Falls, Pa., which company was the owner of both plants. Mr. Jones occupied that position until April, 1898, when he was promoted to general superintendent of both the office and the mills, and now has charge of all the business transacted at the great plant in Beaver Falls. This immense plant covers twenty-three acres of ground, upon which are five main buildings, with the following departments,-rod, wire, barbed- wire, galvanizing, and nail,-and when in full operation, gives employment to about nine hundred men. Mr. Jones commands the re- spect and good-will of the many employees under his supervision, as well as the confi- dence and esteem of his superior officers; he is a very energetic young man, full of busi- ness, thoroughly understands all lines of the iron industry, and is fully competent to fulfill all the duties of his present high position.
Mr. Jones formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss Ruth Mattern, of Pittsburg, Pa.,
and their home has been blessed by the birth of one son, Robert. He is a faithful member of the Royal Arcanum and of the Heptasophs.
D R. JOHN J. ALLEN, a gentleman of high educational attainments, and a well-known educator for many years, has achieved particular success in the field of medicine, having a large and lucrative practice in Monaca and vicinity. He is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Wiley) Allen, and was born in County Meath, Ireland, February 22, 1859.
Robert Allen, the father of John J., was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and was the youngest son of a family of thirteen children. He was fortunate in his boyhood, as he was given a good education to fit him for the sta- tion of a country gentleman. After his mar- riage and the birth of the subject of this sketch, the family met with reverses, and he came to the United States, settling in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. He was joined in marriage with Elizabeth Wiley, who was born and educated in County Meath, Ireland, and they became the parents of three children : John J., the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this narrative; Robert H., a farmer by vocation; and Emily K. W. (Moore). The two last named were born after Mr. Allen moved to this country.
Dr. John J. Allen, who was three months old when he was brought to this country by his parents, has risen to a high station in life
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entirely through his individual efforts. A series of adverse events prevented his family from giving him an education, and at the im- mature age of eight and one-half years, he left home to seek a livelihood. obtaining a position on the farm of D. W. Scott. He was very ambitious and remained with him until he was nineteen years of age. working upon the farm during his summer months and attending school during the winter. Dis- satisfied with the life he was leading, and feel- ing confident that better things were in store for him if he would but strive for them, he became impressed with the necessity of a good education. He gave up farming and entered Piersol's Academy, taking a normal course in order to fit himself for a teacher's work. He was subsequently a teacher in the New Sewickley township schools, for one year, principal of the schools of Industry, for two years, and then principal of the North Ward School of New Brighton, for two years ; at the same time he was instructor in the night school,-working hard and conscientiously. Giving up teaching for the time being, he entered Geneva College, at Beaver Falls, tak- ing an eclectic course, during which time he competed for a permanent state certificate, and was successful. He was elected principal of the Glenfield schools of Allegheny county, Pa., and at the same time finished a business curriculum in Curry University of Pitts- burg,-also serving as bookkeeper in the music store of Mellor & Hohne. This is but one evidence of the industrious life he has led, but with eyes fixed upon the distant goal,
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