USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania > Part 22
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place for his extra service, in order to unite the two churches in one pastoral charge to support a pastor. Soon these churches were prepared to make a call for full time, and, his work in them being done, were placed in the hands of Rev. R. J. Cummings, D. D., with a salary of $1,000. Soon the church was able to build a fine new church edifice at New Shef- field, near the old church.
His next field of labor was the old dis- banded church of Concord, on Southern ave- nue, now Pittsburg, Pa. With eleven Christian workers and no Sabbath school, he commenced work and succeeded in build- ing and paying for a new church and Sabbath school rooms, and establishing a Sabbath school which enrolled two hundred and fifty pupils in four years, with a good library.
For ten and one-half years, Dr. Taylor was principal and chaplain to the Soldiers' Orphan School, and preached twice every Sunday. This was the great work which has made him famous as an organizer, educator and char- acter builder, and was done in connection with the Phillipsburg Soldiers' Orphan School, an institution practically established by his efforts. The labors performed by him in connection with this school will be briefly described at the close of this sketch.
On April 15, 1849, Dr. Taylor was united in marriage with Charlotte Thompson, a daughter of John and Mary Thompson, of Allegheny, Pennsylvania. This estimable and thoroughly educated lady and devoted wife, has been a valuable companion and assistant to him in filling his various charges. Their
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home was rendered doubly attractive and happy by the addition of the following chil- dren : Mary M. ; Charlotte E. ; James W. ; El- len S .; John T., and Harvey J. Mary M. is., the widow of C. Martin, a lawyer. They had three children, namely: William T., Erwin S., and Charlotte E. Charlotte E., the second daughter, now deceased, was the wife of T. L. Kerr. James W. is a machinist, of Beaver, Pa. Ellen S. is the wife of William J. Stewart. They have three children: William J .. Her- bert T., and Ethel T. Mr. Stewart is a stock- holder and superintendent of the Fallston Fire Clay Company. John T. is a capitalist and real estate dealer, of Monaca. He married Ida M. McDonald and has four children : Jean K., Vera, William G., Jr., and Ida M. Harvey J. married Hester L. Potter, and has two children : James S., and Harold A. Dr. Taylor owns, perhaps, the finest modern house in Beaver. It was built in 1897 and 1898, and is situated on East Third street. His former home was built in 1854, and is near his present residence. He also owns several other houses in Beaver. He values money for its use only ; he is regarded as a man of great wealth, all of which has been made in a legitimate business way, and not by spec- ulation, or the neglect of his professional call- ing. As early as 1847, he commenced mak- ing investments in real estate, and his close economy gave him means for any good in- vestment which his keen foresight pronounced good. He has always been a liberal giver, is public-spirited, and has assisted others to pros- perity. It was principally in this way that
his handsome competency was secured. His observation and experience are to the effect that moral character, integrity, temperance, courtesy, industry, economy, value of time, and public spirit are the highest way to suc- cess in life.
From boyhood, Dr. Taylor took strong grounds on the temperance, the Sabbath, and anti-slavery, as well as religious, questions. He felt from his anti-slavery views, as well as for the unity of the government, a deep inter- est in the Civil War, and immediately after the firing upon Fort Sumter (in fact, the same evening), he commenced recruiting for the conflict. He was deeply interested in the great work of the Christian commissions at home and in the field. The Beaver county commission, of which ex-Chief-Justice Agnew was chairman, placed Dr. Taylor in charge of the work in Beaver county. Dr. Boardman, the United States secretary of the commission, made the statement that Beaver county was the banner county of the Union in the ratio of its population to the amount raised. Dr. Taylor's labor in this capacity was entirely gratuitous. His enterprising spirit, courage and foresight prepared him to take the risk of progress and improvement.
The subject of this biography was one of the seven who met at the call of Mr. Nelson to organize the Beaver County Agricultural Society. He was also one of the principal organizers of the Beaver Female College and Musical Institute. With Prof. Blees, he was the first to publicly advocate the necessity for a county superintendent of public schools,
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and conducted the first teachers' institute for Hon. Thomas Nicholson, the first county superintendent of Beaver county. He and Mr. Mair, of Rochester, Pa., were the orig- inators of the Sabbath School Institute, and held the first institute in Rochester, and the second in the East Liberty Presbyterian church, Pittsburg. These annual institutes are now generally held. He was for years a member of the Prison Society of Western Pennsylvania.
Dr. Taylor served as director of the Third National Bank, and also of the Germania Savings Bank, of Pittsburg, and is a trustee of the Western Theological Seminary, of Alle- gheny, Pennsylvania. He earnestly pressed the necessity for, and the claims of, the Pitts- burg & Lake Erie R. R., when that company was securing the right of way and stock sub- scriptions. He was also a director of the Freedom & Beaver Street Railway.
Dr. Taylor has a very large and well select- ed library ; books on theology, biblical criti- cism, commentaries, practical religion, con- troversial, a large reference library, works on metaphysical subjects, on science and philoso- phy, physiology, biography, history and many miscellaneous works. He has given at vari- ous times over 1,000 volumes to other libra- ries and individuals.
HISTORY OF PHILLIPSBURG SOLDIERS' ORPHAN SCHOOL.
This was a new and most difficult field which opened for the labors of Dr. Taylor. The county superintendents of Beaver, Alle-
gheny and Washington counties, together with Colonel Quay, recommended Dr. Tay- lor's appointment as principal, to open the first regular and exclusively soldiers' orphan school in Western Pennsylvania. Many friends of the Union and of the soldiers' orphans, knowing the Doctor's fitness for work of the kind, urged him to accept the trust. But there were very serious difficul- ties in the way, namely: The state would provide neither ground, buildings, books nor furniture ; the uncertainty of the necessary ap- propriations was another obstacle; it would require $20,000 for the purchase of farm, buildings, furniture, house supplies, school room, books, and apparatus, etc .; the small amount allowed each orphan for board, cloth- ing, schooling, books, etc., was insufficient. This amount was according to age,-for those under ten years of age, $115 per year, and for those from ten years of age to sixteen, $150 per year. This was all the allowance made to meet all demands, including those of teachers, employees and medical attention. The work of caring for one hundred and fifty orphans would require twenty assistants, to be paid, also, out of this amount.
These obstacles made considerable risk in the undertaking, but Dr. Taylor took the risk and succeeded. It was difficult to obtain a suitable location in the congressional district. At last the former "Water-cure," later used as a summer resort, was purchased. It was repaired and refurnished throughout, and was enlarged by a dwelling 34 by 44 feet ; girls' hall, 20 by 41 feet, with high ceiling,-the hall
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including laundry, bakery and additional cook room; an additional building, a school room, 27 by 44 feet ; a boys' hall, 24 by 46 feet ; and a chapel, 26 by 46 feet. In addition to this, 210 acres of land was purchased,-the plant costing in all $48,000. This amount was all furnished by Dr. Taylor. This made literally a family home.
The next difficulty was to obtain and train teachers and help for this new and peculiar work, which required some time and changes. All the buildings were handsomely and taste- fully furnished, as taste is essential to culture in girls and boys. The music rooms were carpeted with Brussels carpet and furnished with chairs, and a piano and organ, and the chapel was provided with an organ.
EDUCATIONAL.
The state prescribed eight grades as the ex- tent of the educational course. To this Dr. Taylor found he could add four grades of a mathematical and scientific course, and one- fourth of the orphans were able to finish these four grades. The average annual progress of the school, on examination of the state com- mittee, was one and five-eighths grades, while one-third made two grades, and an average standing of from 92 to 95. No one was pro- moted unless his or her standing was at least 75.
HYGIENE.
The laws of health and life were practically understood and carried out by Dr. Taylor, as the result shows. Food was given for bone-
making, muscle, nerve, and brain. All cloth- ing was fitted and adapted, perfect cleanliness of body, house, school rooms and work houses was required, and out-houses were thoroughly ventilated and supplied with an abundance of light. The following regulations were en- forced : Nine hours of regular sleep; two hours of moderate, but diligent, work on fixed details ; two hours of exercise, play or amuse- ment, and, for boys, one hour of military drill, morning and evening ; clean, warm feet ; good shoes with common-sense heels, fitted by Dr. Taylor personally. Thus six hundred orphans were cared for, and it may be men- tioned that two hundred of them required medical attention, on being received. Only four of the six hundred died in ten years, and three of these were incurables. All the rest, on examination by the state surgeon at the time of their discharge when sixteen years old, received the grading of "100," as to health,- with the exception of one thought to be in- curable, who was marked "95,"-and she is now in perfect health.
INDUSTRY.
With the aid of his excellent and well edu- cated wife, his constant and efficient assist- ant, who was the recipient of a remarkable domestic training in all the branches of house- keeping and household economics, Dr. Taylor was able to originate a system of industrial de- tails of labor, and to have recitations daily in classes under competent teachers, for thirty days in each department. By this method each girl in the institution, without losing a
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recitation in school, acquired an intelligent system and practical knowledge of the do- mestic work, such as scrubbing, washing, ironing, house-cleaning, dining-room work, cooking, baking, mending, darning, plain family sewing and fine dressmaking, all of which work was subject to the daily inspec- tion of either Mrs. Taylor or the Doctor. Every room and department was open for the scrutiny of visitors daily, except Sunday, from 8 a. m. to 5 p. m., and all visitors were furnished with a guide to accompany them. All the surroundings and training in the work department were designed to form and con- firm habits of system, to instil industry, refine the tastes and manners, and give beauty and ease to the person. These results can not be secured without regular habits of industry. The effects of this culture and training mani- fested themselves everywhere-in private. in public, at church, and in their success and in- fluences in after-life.
MORAL, RELIGIOUS, AND GENERAL INSTRUCTION.
Dr. Taylor had a Bible class of all the scholars and employees of the institution, and also of his own family. He preached Sabbath morning, he taught the Sabbath school in the afternoon, and lectured in the evening on . religious biography, Bible history, and archae- ology. During the week, he also gave table talks each day,-talks about ten minutes in length on some subject, historical, moral, or economical,-on government, on passing events, or on incidents that occurred in school.
In addition to this, teachers of the institu- tion were required, in evenings and on the Sabbath, to read, for the benefit of the schol- ars, an average of seventy-five volumes per year. By this method, their intelligence was increased, and their conscience educated to become the guiding and controlling motor of their lives and conduct. Dr. Wickersham, state superintendent of public instruction in Pennsylvania, in writing to Dr. Taylor about the institution, said: "I read, twice a year, the history of the fifty boys and girls you wrote at my request, and it seems to me you have found out the true secret of elevating our race." Each teacher was required to be a model to the scholars. Dr. Taylor's success in giving education, culture, self-control and good habits to his scholars, is commented on in the report of Prof. Beamer's lecture in the M. E. church ; he said, in conclusion : "In my entire experience as a public lecturer, travel- ing through the United States, Canada, and Europe, I have never seen such perfect de- velopment of the physical organization as there is in the entire body of the children of the Phillipsburg Soldiers' Orphan School, un- der the care of Dr. Taylor, and as is presented tonight by the one hundred and fifty boys and girls here present. I have never seen in my experience on both continents, such per- fest discipline and order as is here shown to- night by these attentive children, whose happy countenances testify that this discipline is the result of proper government, and not of fear. As a soldier of the war that made them orphans, I am happy to meet them, and
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thrice happy in seeing their home, their train- ing, their education, and their preparation and prospects for usefulness in life."
ATTHEW NICKLE. The Book of Biographies of Beaver County would certainly be incomplete if mention were not made of the gentleman named above, a highly respected citizen and one of the wealthiest farmers in the county. His life has been one of industry, and he is now spending its declining years in the happy enjoyment of the fruit of his toil, on the old family homestead in Green township. He was born on July 7, 1822, in Hanover town- ship, Beaver county, and is a son of David and Mary (Morrow) Nickle. David Nickle, the father of Matthew, came from Scotland, in 1820, and located in Hanover township, Beaver county, Pa., upon the farm on which the latter was born. He purchased that prop- erty and lived upon it two years, and then for a time rented another farm. He bought a farm in the northern corner of Hanover township, consisting of one hundred acres, which was left to his son, David, and is now owned by a son of the latter. He erected a fine house and barns, and cleared most of the land, devoting the closing period of his life to sheep-raising. He died in March, 1847, aged sixty-six years, and his wife died in 1872, at the age of seventy-two. While a resident of Scotland he married Mary Morrow, and five children were born to them before com-
ing to this country, namely: James ; George; William; David; and Elizabeth. Thereafter three children were born: Matthew; Alex- ander; and Margaret. They are all deceased but the subject hereof.
Matthew Nickle was born on the first land purchased by his father and continued to live with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-three, although previously to that time he rented and cultivated a farm owned by his father. Upon his father's demise he became possessed of a portion of his estate, and has since made his home upon it. During the oil excitement, he leased his property, and realized large returns. He is a self-made man in every particular, as a boy being industrious and ambitious. He improved his condition in life steadily and grew to be one of the most influential agriculturists in the district, own- ing at the present time some five hundred and fifty acres of rich farm land. In 1867, he erected a handsome residence. which is well- arranged and appropriately furnished, and also put up fine barns and out-buildings. While he has attained more than ordinary success in his life's work, he has at all times been most liberal with his money,-lifting many of his less fortunate fellow men to their feet when in distressing circumstances. He is of a modest and retiring disposition, and would have his charitable acts overlooked. but his numerous friends, who have known him so well for many years, delight in telling of his generosity. Being a man of good char- acter and pleasing habits, and a clever con- versationalist, he is very popular.
WILLIAM IRWIN BEBOUT.
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In 1847, he married Margaret Patterson, by whom he had nine children, four of whom are now living, namely: Thomas F., who lives on the home farm ; Alexander, who lives in Liver- pool, where he is employed as a clerk in Rob- ert Hall's lumber yard; Margaret R., who lives with her father ; and William, who, when an infant, was adopted by Alexander and Mary Scott, of Ohio. Mrs. Nickle was called to her eternal home in 1868, and Mr. Nickle formed a second union, with Jane Hall, nee Bigger, who is also deceased. Politically, Mr. Nickle was formerly a Democrat. but is now a supporter of the Prohibition party. He is an elder of the U. P. church, and it was through him that the present fine church of that denomination was erected.
ILLIAM IRWIN BEBOUT, pro- prietor of a large general store in Darlington, Pa., whose portrait we present on the preceding page, has been found at the same stand for the past twenty-seven years. He deals in drugs, hardware, gro- ceries, harness, paints, house furnishings, tin, granite, and enamel ware. Mr. Bebout was born in Mercer county, Pa., July 25, 1843. He is a son of Ellis and Olivia (Campfield) Be- bout, and grandson of Peter Bebout.
Peter Bebout was a native of Green county, Pa., but at an early date removed to Mercer county, where he bought two hundred acres of wild land. After clearing a portion of it, he built a house and barn, and followed farm- ing all his life.
Ellis Bebout, father of the subject hereof, was born in Mercer county, where he received his scholastic training. He afterward assisted his father on the farm; one hundred acres of the homestead farm were given him as his share of the estate. He married Olivia Camp- field. Olivia was born in Mercer, where she was also educated. The following seven chil- dren were born to them: John C., who was killed in the army when twenty-one; Wesley S., a merchant in Mercer county; William Irwin, the subject of these lines; Al- fred S., a retired merchant; Andrew J., a merchant, of Pittsburg, Pa .; Eliz- abeth Jane (Hewett); and Mary A. Ellis Bebout was a Whig. He was a member of the M. E. church, of which he was Sunday school superintendent for years. He died in 1852, at the early age of thirty-eight years, and was survived by his widow until 1896 when she, too, crossed the river of death.
William Irwin Bebout was mentally in- structed in the public schools, which he at- tended constantly until he attained the age of seventeen years. He then enlisted in the Union Army, September 2, 1861 ; he entered Company B, 76th Reg., Pa. Zouaves, and participated in the following battles: Pocotal- igo, Fort Wagner and Strawberry Plains. He was engaged in the siege of Petersburg, in Butler's and Grant's campaigns in Virginia, in connection with the Mine Explosion, and other historical events. He was honorably discharged November 30, 1864. He was severely wounded by a gun shot at Fort Wagner, July 11, 1863. He was in the hos-
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pital at Hilton Head for about nine months. While there, he was treated not only for his wound, but for lung and heart ailments and for neuralgia. At Botany Bay Isle, he was treated for laryngitis for several weeks. Mr. Bebout's brother, John C., was in the same company, and was killed while on picket duty at James Island, June 15, 1862.
Mr. Bebout was joined in marriage April 2, 1872, with Margaret M. McConnell. Mrs. Bebout was a native of Mercer county. Pa., where she was born, February 8, 1847. She was a daughter of Henry and Julia A. (Bruce) McConnell. Her primary education was re- ceived at her native place. Afterward, she entered Edinboro State Normal School, from which she hoped to graduate. Ill-health pre- vented this, however, compelling her to leave the institution. To Mr. Bebout and his ami- able wife, one child, Anna Maude, was born; her birth occurring in Darlington, in Sep- tember, 1873. After preliminary schooling she took a finishing course at Darlington Academy. From the time of the death of her beloved mother, in 1889, Anna Maude kept house for her father until her marriage with Mr. S. S. Leiper, of Darlington.
After the war, the subject of this sketch engaged in farming for one year and then for several years was a carpenter. He subse- quently clerked awhile for his brother, who was a druggist. In 1872, he purchased Dr. Ball's business and started a drug store at his present location in Darlington. At a late date he added the lines previously mentioned, and enjoys a liberal patronage. As a business
man he is exceedingly popular. In politics, Mr. Bebout is a Republican. He has served in the borough council for several terms, and is still a member of that honorable body. He is in accord with the United Presbyterian church. Fraternally, he is enrolled as a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., of Sharpsville, Penn- sylvania.
J. FAIR, the genial proprietor of a large general store at Smith's Ferry. Ohio township, has perhaps one of the best arranged and splendidly stocked country stores in Beaver county. Pennsyl- vania. Some time ago, Mr. Fair purchased the general store of T. L. Minesinger, at Smith's Ferry, and has since carried on a very successful business. This store is orderly in all its arrangements, and contains a large and very complete stock of groceries, hardware, house furnishings, cutlery, patent medicines, feed, dry goods, notions, boots and shoes, hats and caps, clothing, gent's furnishings. crockery, harness, ploughs, harrows, and all kinds of farm implements. Mr. Fair is spe- cial agent for Johnston's Harvester Com- pany's machinery, and carries in stock a thousand and one things necessary in a coun- try store.
S. J. Fair was born in Armstrong county. Pa., in September, 1866. He is a son of Philip and Nancy J. (Gregg) Fair, and grand- son of John and Susannah (Christman) Fair. John Fair was born in Armstrong county, Pa .. in 1804. He was a descendant of a prom-
WILLIAM A. GARTSHORE.
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inent German family, that settled in Arm- strong county in early days. They bought a good-sized farm of forest land. After making a clearing, they built a log house and barns ; a part of this farm,-240 acres of improved land,-was left to the different members of the family. John Fair was instructed in the schools of his native county, but, as was un- avoidable in those early days, his schooling was limited. However, he made the most of his opportunities. He learned the art of till- ing the soil on the old homestead, which he eventually owned. His marriage with Susan- nah Christman resulted in the birth of four children, namely: William; Philip; Cham- bers, who was killed in the Civil War, while serving as drummer; and Susannah (Yerty). John Fair followed general farming until his death, in 1888.
Philip Fair, father of the subject of this biography, was born February 26, 1832, in Armstrong county, Pa., one-half mile from the birthplace of S. J., his son. He became a very fair scholar and after leaving school, learned the trade of a stone mason. He worked for his father until he attained the age of twenty-four years. He then bought a farm of sixty-five acres which he cultivated, but still continued to live with his parents until his marriage, in 1860. He was joined in matri- mony with Nancy J. Gregg. Nancy was born May 2, 1840, and was a daughter of George Gregg. Eight children resulted from this union, viz : Harvey, a blacksmith; George, a merchant; Annie (Hellam); S. J., subject of this sketch; Charles, an engineer;
Ross, Barney, and Claude, the last three be- ing engaged in mercantile pursuits. After his sons grew up, Philip Fair left the care of the farm to them, and worked at his trade as stone mason. He followed that business as a contractor for about fifteen years. He was a Republican, but had no ambition for office. He was a member of the Lutheran church, of which he was an elder for fifteen years. His death occurred May 4, 1898.
S. J. Fair attended public school and be- came quite proficient in all studies required in a business course. He assisted his father on the farm during summers, and acted as clerk in the general store of his uncle, John Fair, during the winter months. This was con- tinued until his twenty-first year. He then fol- lowed contracting and building at Leechburg, Pa., in partnership with one of his brothers. For two years they were very successful. Mr. Fair then sold his interest to his brother and retired from this line of work. In company with his brother George, he bought property and started a bakery and confectionery store. One year later, our subject sold his interest to his brother. Mr. Fair then went to Wil- liamsport, Lycoming county, Pa., and started a similar store, which he conducted for three years. In 1892, he sold his store in Williams- po:1 and moved to New Brighton, Pa., where he opened a grocery store. He did a success- ful business there for over two years, but fin- ally sold out. He then invested in a dwelling house in New Brighton, which he rents. Soon after he purchased his present store and removed to Smith's Ferry.
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