USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania > Part 21
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Henry Sechrist was born in Johnstown, Pa., July 18, 1840. He is a son of Henry, Sr., and Nancy (Flinchbaugh) Sechrist, and comes of good German stock. Henry Sechrist, Sr., was born in York county, Pa., in 1806. He was instructed in the public schools, and after- ward learned milling. He subsequently built a mill, which he conducted himself, carrying on a successful business for twenty years. He then moved to Cambria county, Pa., and rented a farm for a brief period. Removing to Indiana county, he rented another farm, but did not like the country, and moved again. This time he located in Allegheny county, where he followed agricultural pursuits for eleven years.
In 1860, he purchased a farm in Beaver county, and immediately occupied it. This
is the identical farm now occupied by the sub- ject of our sketch. It was then an improved farm of 140 acres, with a frame house and barns. It was much deteriorated, however, -- with buildings out of repair. Henry Se- christ's father rebuilt the house and barns and set about enriching the land. He set out fine fruit orchards and put many modern improve- ments on the place. His marriage was cele- brated in New York City, where he espoused Nancy Flinchbaugh. Mrs. Sechrist was a na- tive of York county, Pa., where she received a good scholastic training. She proved a worthy helpmeet to her husband in every way. Eight children were born to them, namely : Sarah (Scott); William; Jacob; Henry, the subject of this sketch; Susan (Mil- ler); Annie, who died in infancy; Mary, who never married; and Sylvester, who also died young. Henry Sechrist, Sr., was a prominent Democrat. He served as supervisor and as school director. Early in life he embraced the faith of the Methodists, but subsequently became a member of the United Presbyterian church, of which he served many years as trus- tee and steward.
The subject of this record was the recipient of a practical education while yet in Allegheny county. In 1887, he wedded Lizzie M. Dil- lon, a charming daughter of James and Bar- bara Dillon. Mrs. Sechrist was born, reared, and educated in Beaver county. One son, William L., born July 11, 1895, blesses their home and renders life more happy. In poli- tics, Mr. Sechrist is an ardent Democrat. He has served as school director and supervisor,
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has held many of the township offices,- . among them, that of treasurer. He favors the Methodist religion, and is trustee and steward of the church of that denomination. In fraternal associations. he is an active mem- ber of Meridian Lodge, No. 411, F. & A. M., . and of Harmony Chapter, of Beaver Falls. Such men as Mr. Sechrist are valuable acquisi- tions to any community.
APT. FRANK MARATTA is one of the oldest and most respected men in Beaver county, and makes his home at Rochester. He has owned many steamers during his life time, and has undoubtedly served as captain on more boats on the Ohio River than any other man in that section of Pennsylvania. He is a son of James and Elizabeth (Walker) Maratta, and was born in Beaver county, October 25, 1819. His father was also born in that county, but his grandparents were natives of France.
James Maratta, the father of Frank, took up the trade of a carpenter and later became a contractor, settling at Bridgewater, where his father before him had lived. He lived there the remainder of his life and died at the age of sixty-two years. His union with Eliz- abeth Walker resulted in the birth of the fol- lowing children: Caleb; Margaret ; Mahala : Peter; Frank, the gentleman whose name ap- pears at the head of this sketch: Cynthia; James ; Ann ; Mary ; Hines ; Daniel; and three others who died in infancy. Those who grew
to maturity are all respected citizens of the various communities in which they reside.
Capt. Frank Maratta started life as a pilot on the river, and became very skillful in that capacity on keel boats. He subsequently en- gaged as cook on a steam packet, run between Pittsburg and New Castle, Pa., but a man of his ability and ambitious nature does not re- main down long. He bettered his position as the opportunity presented itself, and be- came a captain of steamboats. He became owner of many boats and was interested in others. He built the Forest Rose at Cali- fornia, Pa., and the Paris and Princess at Freedom, all of which he ran a few years, and then disposed of to the government. He built the Champion, at Freedom, the Sunny Side, at Brownville, and the Mansfield. His next two boats, the Henry A. Jones and the Belle of Texas, after crossing the Gulf of Mex- ico, he sold at Galveston, Texas. He then built the Forest Rose No. 2, and the Leoni- das, which he ran before selling them. He was also part owner and captain of Scotia Packet; Ironsides; and was captain of the Alaska; Golden Eagle; Robert Burns; Bos- tonian No. 1 ; Bostonian No. 2; and the Alice Dean. After many years of the greatest ac- tivity, in 1890, he retired from the river. but is still financially interested in a number of enterprises. He was an organizer and a stockholder of the Conway Bank, and is pres- ident of the Big Beaver River Bridge Com- pany, and a director of the Brighton Bridge Company. He also served as councilman of the borough.
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Captain Maratta was united in marriage with Lydia Ransom, who was born in Jeffer- sonville, Ind., and was a daughter of James Ransom. She died in 1893, at the age of seventy-three years. The subject of our sketch formed a second marital union with Millie P. Seidell, a daughter of J. G. Seidell, of Scioto county, Ohio. In 1890, he built his present handsome residence in Rochester, having previously built what is known as the Dr. A. L. Shallenberger residence. He then erected another residence which he sold to William Moulds. At the advanced age of eighty years, Captain Maratta is enjoying ex- cellent health, having never been sick in his life until the spring of 1899, when he suffered from an attack of "la grippe." He is a man of good habits, never using tobacco or liquor in any form, and to this may be attributed more than anything else his wonderfully strong constitution. He is a man of pleasing personality, a clever conversationalist, and stands high in the estimation of his fellow men.
ILLIAM MOULDS, who has at- tained prominence throughout Western Pennsylvania as the general manager of the Rochester Tumbler Company, a firm employing the largest number of hands in the service of any concern in the borough, has been engaged in the manufacture of glass in various departments of the work for almost
a half century. He is a man of tried business ability, which, coupled with his years of ex- perience, has been an important factor in the thriving condition of the establishment with which he has been connected since its incep- tion. It is, unquestionably, the largest enter- prise of its kind in the world. Mr. Moulds is also president of the Olive Stove Works of Rochester, which occupies an important place among the manufacturing industries of that community. He was born near Milltown, County Antrim, Ireland, December 9, 1842, and is a son of John and Nancy (Henry) Moulds.
John Moulds was also born in County Antrim, Ireland ; upon coming to the United States he landed in New York City, but sub- sequently located at Steubenville, Ohio, where his wife had a brother and friends. On ar- riving here he was without a trade, but soon learned the art of glass blowing, which he followed nearly all of his life. During his last days he was engaged in packing, and was a man of remarkable activity up to the end,- dying in 1890, at the age of seventy-five years. He was a man of sturdy constitution and en- joyed fine health, having shaved himself just three days prior to his demise. He married Nancy Henry, a daughter of William Henry, and their children were as follows: William, the subject of this personal history; Samuel H., a record of whose life also appears in this work; Annie, the relict of Albert Albin, of Columbus, Ohio; Sarah, the wife of Eli Capers, of Steubenville, Ohio; Robert, who lives at Rochester; John, also a resident of
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Rochester; and Elizabeth, who makes her home at Steubenville, Ohio.
William Moulds left school at an early age, being eight years old when he was instructed in the art of mold-making for the use of blow- ing glass. He became a very skilled mechanic, and followed that line of work at his Ohio home until 1866, when he removed to Pitts- burg and there engaged at his trade. In 1872, he assisted in organizing the Rochester Tum- bler Company, which comprised the follow- ing prominent business men: H. C. Fry; G. WV. Fry; S. M. Kane; William Moulds; S. H. Moulds; Thomas Carr; William Carr; Thomas Matthews; John Hayes; J. H. Lip- pencott ; and Richard Welsh. Mr. Moulds and H. C. Fry went to Rochester and there purchased the ten-acre estate of A. Lacock, which was at one time a fine maple grove, and, later, partly used as a brick yard. They immediately broke ground and soon a fac- tory was built and in full operation, their suc- cess being manifest from the start. Misfor- tune (through fire) overtook them when they had been running for two years, but they re- built without delay and made many valuable improvements which greatly facilitated manu- facture, and greatly increased the output. At that time three new members were added to the firm, namely: George Searles, and Rob- ert and John Carr. The plant has grown to be the largest enterprise of its kind in the world, their shipments being directed to all parts of the United States, Canada, England (and other parts of Europe), South America, Africa, Australia, Mexico, China and Japan.
They ship from three to ten carloads per day, and have a monthly output of 150,000 dozen of blown goods and 150,000 dozen of pressed, giving employment to twelve hundred per- sons. T'hey have their own dynamos, and the factory is equipped with 1,000 incandescent lights. They also have their own ice house and water works, containing a tank with a capacity of 3.100 gallons. The firm at the present time is organized as follows: H. C. Fry, president; William Moulds, general manager; S. H. Moulds, assistant manager ; J. H. Fry, secretary; and Clayton Vance, treasurer. Mr. Moulds has also been closely identified with other business interests about Rochester,-prominent among them being the Olive Stove Works, of which he is presi- dent. He has taken an active interest in the progress of the borough, and has made many friends throughout this section by the honor- able manner in which he conducts his affairs.
He was united in matrimony with May Jane, a daughter of Captain John Wallace, of Steubenville, Ohio, and they have three chil- dren: Mary W., widow of H. B. Shallen- berger, of Rochester; John W., deceased; and Jessie Agnes. Mr. Moulds resides in a fine home on West Adams street, and has served in the council for two years. Fraternally, he is a member of the Odd Fellows and Masonic orders. He served in the Civil War, enlisting in 1864, as a corporal in Company C, 157th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. Religiously, he is a mem- ber of the Baptist church. We present a por- trait of Mr. Moulds on another page, in proximity to this.
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HARLES M. HUGHES is the pres- ent popular and efficient cashier of the Beaver National Bank; he has had a broad and useful experience in this line of business, as he has been connected with various banking institutions almost contin- uously since his early manhood. Our subject is a man of fine business ability, is a favorite in both business and social circles, and he al- ways lends his influence in favor of such enter- prises and measures as he deems best for the advancement and prosperity of the borough, county, state and country at large. He was born in Lima, Ohio, May 24, 1856, and is a son of Richard T. Hughes. Richard T. Hughes was a farmer in carly life, but later .conducted a mercantile store at Lima. He was county treasurer of Allen county, Ohio, for a period of four years. He died March 7, 1879, at the age of fifty-one years.
Charles M. Hughes was intellectually trained in the public and high schools of Lima; at the age of eighteen years, he ac- cepted his first bank position. that of clerk in the First National Bank, of Lima, Ohio; two years later he became assistant cashier of the Allen County Bank, of Lima,-remain- ing in that capacity until 1881. In that year he returned to the First National Bank, of Lima, and became cashier of that institution. Having spent a life of indoor occupation up to this time, Mr. Hughes decided to seek some open air exercise, and accordingly, in 1894, he resigned his position in the bank and en- tered the employ of the Mutual Life Insur- ance Company as traveling agent out of
Cleveland, Ohio. In 1896, Mr. Hughes re- turned to his former occupation,-accepting a position as cashier of the Beaver National Bank, succeeding cashier Fred Davidson. This bank is practically a new institution, hav- ing thrown open its doors to the public July I, 1896; it has a capital stock of $100,000.00 and is one of the most solid banks in the county. The officers of the Beaver National Bank are J. R. Leonard, president; E. K. Hum, vice- president ; C. M. Hughes, cashier; and Will- iam P. Judd, assistant cashier. In 1895, a handsome brick and stone building was crected for the bank; in the center of the building is the large safe and vault, and also the deposit drawers; in the rcar is the di- rectors' room, while in the front is a private office; the interior is finished with quartered oak, presenting a very neat appearance, and the building throughout is heated with hot water and lighted by both electric lights and gas.
Mr. Hughes was married June 18, 1878, to Miss Katherine M. Colbath, a daughter of J. A. Colbath, of Lima, Ohio, and they are the proud parents of three children, namely: Clarence L., corresponding clerk in the Columbia National Bank, of Pittsburg, Pa .; Margaret, who is a student at Beaver College ; and Dorothy. Fraternally, our subject is a member of the F. & A. M., of Lima, Ohio, No. 205; Chapter No. 49; Shawnee Com- mandery, No. 14, and is past commander of the same ; he is also a member of the K. of P. lodge, of Lima, Ohio. Religiously, he and his family are Presbyterians. During the
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short period Mr. Hughes has been a member of the community, he has, by his courteous manners and superior business ability, won hosts of friends, who greatly esteem and re- spect him for his sterling worth; he is well read and intelligent, and fulfills all the obliga- tions of a dutiful citizen.
A LEXANDER T. FORSYTH, a prom- inent citizen of the borough of Baden, Beaver county, Pa., is a contractor of wide reputation, and has built many of the principal buildings in that section of the county. He was born in Allegheny county, Pa., in 1829, and received the ordinary in- struction of the public schools.
Although his educational advantages were limited, he made the best of his opportun- ities, and has acquired a good degree of prac- tical knowledge by close observation and reading. He was taken from school at an early age to learn a trade, but continued to learn what he could in private. There were six children in the family, and they all studied out of the same old arithmetic. He adopted farming and followed that line of work until he reached his twentieth year, when he learned the trade of a carpenter, which he fol- lowed until 1852. He then removed to Beaver county, and subsequently to Wheel- ing, West Virginia, where he worked in a sash and door factory until 1861. Owing to the central situation of Wheeling, there was a division of sentiment on the war question,
which resulted in a depressing effect on all kinds of business. He then began contract- ing for himself at Baden, Beaver county, Pa., and has since been one of the most prominent men of that place. His first contract was to build the Lutheran church, in which he has always been a most earnest worker, and he has since had the contracting of all the prin- cipal buildings in that locality. He recently completed a church in Braddock, Pa., and now has a school building in course of con- struction at Remington, Pa. He is also agent for Dr. Daly, of Pittsburg, and has the man- agement of his real estate interests in this dis- trict. He has always been a popular citizen of the borough, and served in the first council after its incorporation. He has since served as school director and councilman, and was burgess for four years. He was then elected justice of the peace, an office he is now filling for his third term. He has always given good satisfaction in this capacity, his aim being rather to keep people from litigation than to increase his own revenues by promoting it. That his policy is appreciated was forcibly demonstrated at the last election. He ran on the Democratic ticket, and out of a voting list of 100, he only received an opposing vote of seven. This is all the more remarkable when the fact is taken into consideration that the county is strongly Republican.
Mr. Forsyth was united in marriage with Sarah J. Romigh, and they became the par- ents of three children, namely: James F., a foreman in the tin-plate mill; William Taylor, now working in the oil fields; and Walter A.,
REV. WILLIAM G. TAYLOR. D. D.
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who is with Jones & Company, of Pittsburg. Mrs. Forsyth died on her thirty-eighth birth- day, and the subject of our sketch subse- quently formed a second union, with Mary J. Sickles, to whom have been born three chil- - dren: George, weigh master in the tin-plate mills; Alma; and Margaret. Mr. Forsyth is a very active member of the Lutheran church and for thirty-seven years was superintendent of the Sunday School. He is also a deacon of the church.
R EV. WILLIAM G. TAYLOR, D. D., of Beaver, Pennsylvania, whose por- trait appears on the opposite page, has done as much to advance the edu- cation, elevate the morals, and give prosperity to the people under his charge as any other man in Western Pennsylvania. It is appro- priately and truly said of him that "he loves to undertake things others are afraid to touch, and with pluck, tact, labor, patience and per- severance, succeeds." His intellectual iacul- ties are uncommonly clear, forcible, and pow- erful, rendering him a superb organizer; his reasoning is clear and right to the point. He possesses the happy faculty of making deep thoughts so plain that even the uneducated think them simple truths; he is preeminently adapted to treat of moral and religious sub- jects, and is a natural theologian, minister, Sabbath school and Bible class teacher. In fact, he is an expounder of moral truths, and is peculiarly fortunate in making appro- priate and happy illustrations. These char-
acteristics of Dr. Taylor make him a natural educator of the young. He is not a bargain driver, but is capable of prompt and instant comprehension of the facts involved in active business matters of any kind, and is most likely to succeed. He is a keen judge of human nature, and can lay, plans and think for others, attending to a great variety of affairs simultaneously, with rapidity and ease, and apparently without the least confusion. Dr. Taylor is of Scotch-Irish origin, and is a son of James and Margaret Taylor. He was born at Pittsburg, Pa., March 3, 1820, and had nine brothers, six of whom died in infancy. The other three lived to advanced age; one, a half brother, was Rev. J. B. Walker, D. D., an author of note; the other two were successful and prominent manufacturers and merchants of Pittsburg, for over forty years. Dr. Taylor also had three sisters who reached old age.
The father of the subject hereof was one of the Irish patriots who settled in Pittsburg, in 1798. He was a druggist, and was most anxious to have William G. succeed him in that business, and began training his son while yet in childhood for that purpose. James Taylor was ambitious, however, beyond his strength; and his career was cut short by death in August, 1827. Thus the education and training of William G. was left entirely to his mother.
Mrs. Taylor, although a woman who pos- sessed only the common education of those days, had a vigorous and poetical mind, plenty of good common sense, devout piety, and im- plicit trust in God. She was a strict discipli-
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narian, and rigidly enforced the rules of obe- dience, industry and study. She believed that the youth should have plenty of work, study, and play,-leaving no time for idleness, and bad habits. These inculcations developed, in time, into the fixed habits, the untiring in- dustry and studiousness and the unconquer- able energy, which characterized Dr. Taylor in his manhood. During the intervals be- tween school-terms he was kept at work in some business house from the time he was nine years old, and at a later period in life he always found employment readily in such concerns, during his college and seminary va- cations. He loved to teach and excelled in discipline ; his versatility of talent, education, and training, fitted him for the ministry, the educator's task, and for the arena of business.
Dr. Taylor left the manufacturing and mer- cantile life in Pittsburg, in which he was en- gaged as a partner and business manager, to finish his education, and to prepare himself for the ministry, with the view of laboring among the churches which were unable to pay a full salary or were broken down, or involved in some kind of difficulty. For this unusual department of church work he felt that he had an especial adaptation, and his invariable suc- cess proved that he was not mistaken in his calling.
The subject of this biography graduated at Jefferson College (now Washington and Jef- ferson) in 1847, and took a full course in the Western Theological Seminary, from which he graduated in 1849. He was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery of Pitts-
burg, in April, 1848, and was ordained by the same presbytery as an evangelist in April, 1849, with a view of laboring among the broken down, feeble churches, or those un- able to support a pastor, or working in new fields.
He was invited to become assistant-editor of the Prairie Herald Publishing Company, of Chicago, Illinois. This company published two religious weeklies, and worked off on their small power press two dailies, and one monthly, and two quarterly, journals. In connection with the company was a book- store, in which Dr. Taylor found additional employment ; he also assisted the pastor of the Third Presbyterian church in his pastoral duties as the latter was in feeble health. The intense labor occasioned by his various duties, together with an attack of chills and fever, finally broke down his health and he sought rest in assuming charge of a small New Eng- land congregation; but the chills and fever continued and at last compelled him to go back to Pittsburg, his native city.
On his return, he commenced his work on unbroken ground, at Mt. Washington, on the hill above South Pittsburg, assuming charge of that field, in April, 1851. There a good Sabbath school was organized, and the foun- dation laid for a flourishing church. About that time, the Presbyterian church of Beaver, having declined from one hundred and ninety- six members to forty-two, gave Dr. Taylor a call, for half time. He accepted the charge, devoting his full time, however, as that was necessary in order to insure success. A
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neighboring church of three hundred mem- bers, all active, zealous workers, was gath- ering into its folds, as many as possible who formerly belonged to the Presbyterian church. But under the labors of Dr. Taylor and his faithful few, a reaction took place in favor of the old church, its edifice was handsomely re- paired, and in the course of four years its con- gregation and membership were increased one- half, and a good Sabbath school was organ- ized. The church of Tarentum had been in trouble for several years, and needed special labor; there was some discord, and difficulty in raising the salary, although for only half time, as the Bull Creek church raised the other half,-the same minister serving both flocks. The calls for Dr. Taylor to assume these charges being unanimous, were ac- cepted by him, and he entered upon his work. Soon harmony was restored and a missionary point at Natrona was added to this field. In four and a half years, each of these churches was enabled to command the full services of a pastor, and one of them was able to build a parsonage. This ended the necessity for Dr. Taylor's labors in that sphere.
His next field was at Mount Carmel, Penn- sylvania. This church had been without a pastor for twenty years, and lacked unity, and ability to support a pastor half of the time. Commencing in May, 1861, Dr. Taylor gave his full attention to this charge, restoring harmony, and very soon bringing the church into better condition; he remained there for four years. In 1865, the pastor of North Branch church left, and Dr. Taylor took that
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