USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania > Part 23
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Mr. Fair married Wildia McCracken. She was born in Armstrong county, in 1867, and is a daughter of James McCracken. One child, Margie Ethel, now brightens their home. She was born October 22, 1893. The subject of this narrative is a prominent stockholder in the Iron City Building & Loan Association. He is a Republican, but is too busy for poli- tical ambitions. He favors the Presbyterian church. Socially, he is allied with the Knights of Pythias. He is also a member of Glasgow Lodge, No. 485, F. & A. M., and is now passing through the chairs.
AVID G. PATTERSON, a progres- sive farmer of Beaver county, Pa .. was born in Darlington township, in this county, on November 26, 1859. He is a son of Rev. Samuel Patterson, who was a native of Ireland, but came to America in company with his brothers, when fourteen years old. He located in Allegheny, Pa., and there received his primary education. He pur- sued a clerical course in Allegheny Theologi- cal Seminary, and was ordained a minister in the United Presbyterian church. He was given a pastorate at New Galilee, in 1849, a charge he held all his life. He took advan- tage of the opportunities of the locality, and purchased a farm, which he also managed in connection with his professional duties. He had one of the best farms in the county, and raised considerable stock, making a specialty of sheep and dairying. The tract he bought
contained two hundred and seventy acres. Soon after purchasing, he made extensive im- provements, -- tearing down the old house and replacing it with a fine country home,-a large brick residence, which commands one of the finest views of the Little Beaver Val- ley. The out-houses are in keeping with the nice dwelling, and speak volumes for the in- dustry and progressive nature of the family. The buildings are large and constructed on modern plans, presenting an ornamental as well as comfortable appearance.
Mr. Patterson was always a busy man. In his younger days he taught school at the Dar- lington Academy ; he also conducted a school in the basement of his church at New Galilee, and had a private school on his own farm. Ilis business interests extended beyond that _ of farming ; he was a large stockholder in the Little Beaver Woolen Co., and was for many years president of the company. His politi- cal belief was on the side of the Republican party, but he constantly refused to accept any office. He was a public-spirited man and took an active interest in all things pertaining to the welfare of the community. He mar- ried Eliza J. Gilliland, a daughter of David Gilliland, a pioneer of Beaver county. They reared seven children: Jennie (McCready) ; John; David G .; Isabella; Robert; Samuel; and Ada.
David G. Patterson was a pupil of Darling- ton and Bridgewater academies. After re- ceiving his intellectual training, he returned to the farm and assisted his father in its man- agement. In a few years he and his brothers
GEORGE W. DINON.
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assumed the full care of the place, and he has continued in that connection until now. After his father's death the property was left to the heirs, but as yet the shares have not been al- lotted. The brothers operate a large dairy,- having at times as many as forty-five cows.
Mr. Patterson is a member of the U. P. church. His political affiliations are with the Republicans, and he has satisfactorily served as assessor, collector, and constable, for his townsmen. He is a stockholder in the cream- ery of his native place.
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EORGE W. DIXON, road master, master mechanic, and train master of the Pittsburg, Lisbon & Western R. R., whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, resides in a pleasant cottage in New Galilee, Pa., and has spent the whole of his active life in railroad service.
Mr. Dixon was born in Dalton, Luzerne county, Pa., March 26, 1852. He received a limited schooling there, being taken from school when ten years old. At that early age, he began to work on the railroad, carrying water for the section gang. When large enough, he commenced work on the section, and continued in that capacity until April, 1869. After spending one year on the steam shovel, he was employed the year following on the D., L. & W. R. R .; June 1I, 1871, he was placed in charge of the track gang on the New Jersey Midland R. R. The track under his care was thirty-seven miles long. A short
time afterward, he was appointed assistant road master on the same line.
In June, 1874, Mr. Dixon commenced work on the New York Central R. R. and had charge of laying the tracks of the third and fourth lines on the Rochester and Syracuse division. The following year, however, he was induced to return to the New Jersey Mid- land R. R., where he was placed in charge of 87 miles of track. He remained on that road until 1881 ; at that time he went to Warren, Pa., and accepted a position as superintendent of a construction train on the Western New York & Pennsylvania R. R., between War- ren and Salamanca. He held that important post until 1882. His next move was to en- gage with the road with which he is still con- nected. He was first superintendent of track- laying and overseeing the building of the road. When the road was completed, he was ap- pointed superintendent, which position he held until 1887. Later, the road changed hands and Mr. Dixon remained as conductor. In 1893, he was appointed to his present im- portant position as roadmaster, and has the entire charge of building tracks, bridges, loco- motives, and everything outside of general of- fice work. He is also master mechanic and train master. The subject of this record is a son of B. D. and Ruth A. (Calvin) Dixon, and grandson of John and Christiana (Ire- land) Dixon.
John Dixon descended from an old Con- necticut family. When a young man he lo- cated in Luzerne county, Pa., where he bought 100 acres of land. He followed farming all
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his life. His union with Christiana Ireland resulted in the birth of a large family of chil- dren, of whom Mr. Dixon's father was the second born. B. D. Dixon, this gentleman, was born in Dalton, Luzerne county, Pa., in October, 1826. After attending the public school, he learned how to till the soil, and followed that line of occupation until 1857, when he began railroad work. After working in the carpenter gang for a short time, he was promoted to be section foreman, and then to be supervisor, in charge of the track-laying gang. Ruth A. Colvin became his wife. She was a daughter of George Colvin, and was also born in Luzerne county, in 1824. Seven children resulted from this union. They are: Mary, now deceased; Caroline (Waldron) ; Emily M. (Latimer); George W., the subject of this biography; Florence A. (McCullom) ; Frank; and John, who died in infancy. In politics, B. D. Dixon was a Democrat. Re- ligiously, he was an active member of the Baptist church. He died in 1885, but is still survived by his widow.
George W. Dixon was joined in marriage with Margaret A. Poole, a fascinating daugh- ter of William Poole. Mrs. Dixon was born in Morris county, N. J., May 10, 1856, and re- ceived her mental training in the public school. Her marriage resulted in the birth of eight children, namely: Caroline A. (Beeson) ; Georgiana (Harris); Frank D .; Mary (Mc- Cowin) ; Howard G. ; Irene, a student ; Nellie ; and Cornelius. Mr. Dixon is faithful to the interests of the Republican party. He has served as school director and as a member of
the council. He is a faithful member of the M. E. church. Socially, he is a member of Meridian Lodge, No. 411, F. & A. M., at Darlington, Pennsylvania.
OHN LAUGHLIN, a prosperous gro- cery merchant in the little town of Glasgow, Beaver county, Pa., is justly regarded as a power in that place. During the whole of his active business career in their midst, the citizens of Glasgow have felt his enterprising spirit in all movements to ad- vance the welfare of the community. Mr. Laughlin is a native of Beaver county, where his birth occurred in 1834. He is a son of Robert Laughlin, a native of the same county. and grandson of Thomas Laughlin, a worthy pioneer. His great-grandfather was Thomas Laughlin, who married Sarah Simpson in 1765, and they had five sons, as follows: Thomas; James; Robert ; John ; and William. After receiving a limited education in the public schools, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch entered upon his career as cabin boy on the river. Shortly afterward, however, he rose to the position of steward, and was employed in that capacity with Charles Hurst, the well-known steamboat man of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. In 1856, he resigned his position and went west to seek his fortune in California. After locating in Sacramento City, he established claims of his own and engaged in gold mining. In this venture, his fortune varied, although on the
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whole he was fairly successful. After working his claims diligently for three years, Mr. Laughlin returned to the Keystone State, and invested considerable money in the Laughlin Steamboat Company. He acted as steward on one of the numerous boats owned by that company, and his brother was captain of the same boat. Our subject subsequently sold his interest in that company, resigning his posi- tion at the same time. He then accepted a position with the Brown Company, and re- mained in their employ until 1873. Mr. Laughlin then retired from river life, having followed that occupation fully twenty-five years.
In 1887, the subject of our sketch built his present store in Glasgow, and started a gro- cery. Glasgow is located on the C. & P. R. R. near the Ohio River, and is the terminus of the C. & P. branch railroad, recently constructed to New Lisbon, Ohio. Mr. Laughlin went into busi- ness there during the oil excitement, and the place at that time boasted of five hundred inhabitants. The oil interests of the place were, however, then on the decline, and the town has gradually gone back to its present state. It is simply another illustration of the rise and decline that has characterized so many oil towns. But during all the fluctuat- ing fortunes of the town, our subject has re- mained at the same old stand where he has ever enjoyed a fair patronage. In addition to handling a fine line of staple and fancy groceries, he has also a choice stock of no- tions, patent medicines, hardware, confection-
ery, flour and feed; he deals also in tobacco and cigars.
July 19, 1860, Mr. Laughlin was united in marriage with Priscilla Calhoun, a charm- ing daughter of James Calhoun, a well-known boat builder. Priscilla was born in Beaver county, where she also received her scholas- tic training.
To the subject of this biography and his esteemed wife, have been born five children, all of whom received a practical education in the district schools. Their names are : Charles D., a plumber ; James O., a gauger in the employ of the Standard Oil Co .; Bertha M. (Childs); William, a prominent plumber in Rochester, Pa .; and Abner L., who is also an expert plumber. Mr. Laughlin takes an active interest in the affairs of his town and is a prominent member of the Republican party. He has served as councilman and as school director. He resides in a fine resi- dence, beautifully located on the bank of the Ohio River. Mr. Laughlin worships at the M. E. church of which he is steward. He is exceedingly popular.
AMES R. CAUGHEY, a miller resid- ing in Darlington, Pa., on the ances- tral homestead, was born in the same house which he now occupies, March 22, 1831. He is a son of James Caughey and a grandson of Samuel Caughey.
Samuel Caughey was born in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, and went west to Bea-
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ver county, settling near Hookstown, about the beginning of the present century. In 1810, he moved to the farm where the subject of this memoir now lives. About that time the Land Population Company began their attempt to dispossess the settlers of their land. This, naturally, caused alarm and indignation among the people. Finally, one member of the Company was shot by an irate settler, and when the Company realized what a hornet's nest they had brought about their ears, they were forced to sus- pend operations. When Samuel Caughey settled in Darlington, that place con- tained only one or two buildings. It was then called Greersburg, and is the oldest town in that section of the Keystone State. The old academy, which was built 'in 1802, was then only eight years old. It is now used as a depot by the P. L. & W. R. R. Company. Few settlers had then located in the district, and roads were far from numerous. The one extending in front of the residence of the subject of these lines was then the old stage line between Pittsburg and Cleveland, long before the advent of railroads in that vicinity.
Mr. Caughey owned forty acres of land and, in 1812, built a grist mill, run by water power. This was one of the first mills in Beaver county, and was in the family for three gener- ations. It was operated until 1870, James R. Caughey's grandfather having spent all his life as a miller. He and his good wife reared five children, namely: Betsy (McGeorge); Polly (Hanna); Hetty (Duff); Samuel; and James.
James Caughey, father of James R., was born in Octoraro, Pa., in 1782, and received the greater portion of his mental instruction in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. After leaving school, he assisted his father until the War of 1812 broke out. He took an active part in that conflict, serving under General Harrison at Fort Meigs. On returning from the war, he assisted his father in the milling business. Upon the death of that beloved parent, the mill became the property of James and his brother Samuel. They operated it in partnership until James purchased the inter- est of his brother. At first the mill was of the old-fashioned stone process type. and later had the Burr process. All kinds of grain and feed were ground. The capacity of the mill was 20 barrels of flour and 150 bushels of chop daily. James Caughey was largely self-educated, but made the most of his opportunities, and was known to be a well-informed man. He was a discriminating reader and a clear thinker. He enlarged and enriched the library left him by his father. He was an Abolitionist of the most intense type. He was executor and ad- ministrator for several estates in the district, and served as school director and supervisor. He and his family were in accord with the Reformed Presbyterian faith. Margaret Johnston became his wife. She was reared and educated in Beaver county, and bore her husband four children, namely: S. G .; James R., the subject of this sketch; Margaret, de- ceased; and Jane, who still prefers single blessedness.
James R. Caughey received his primary in-
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struction in the public schools, and later grad- uated from the academy at Darlington. He then assisted his father in the milling busi- ness and became an active partner. His pro- gressive nature made him quick to note and take advantage of any improvement in ma- chinery. He put in steam power in 1856, and doubled the capacity of the mill. August 28, 1861, he enlisted in the "Roundhead," or Icoth Reg., Pa. Vol. Infantry. He was sec- ond lieutenant of his company, and was as- signed to duty in South Carolina, under Gen- eral Sherman. Exposure and the southern climate, caused him to contract malarial fever, and he was sent home as unfit for further service. As soon as he recovered his health he again assumed his duties at the mill, which he continued to operate for years afterward. In 1876, he sold this mill and purchased a portable saw mill. For ten or twelve years he conducted that successfully, but finally sold it and started a chop mill, which he still runs.
In 1865, Mr. Caughey was joined in mar- riage with Mary A. Johnston, an attractive daughter of Andrew Johnston. She was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. Three chif- dren, Paul, James G., and George, blessed this union. Paul learned blacksmithing, and is now working in the silver mines of Idaho. James G. is a competent engineer, and holds a good position in the silver mines in New Mexico, being employed in a stamping mill. George died at the age of twenty-one years.
The old house occupied by the subject of this sketch was built in 1820, and is still in a good state of preservation. He built the
present barns, and now does a little farming also. In politics, he works hard for the suc- cess of the Republican party, and has been supervisor for three terms. He cares noth- ing, however, for political distinction, and is not an office-seeker. He is an ex-member of the G. A. R., and unites in worship with the Reformed Presbyterians.
ILLIAM A. GARTSHORE, a progressive and enterprising citizen of Aliquippa, Pa., whose portrait is shown on the preceding page, is superintend- ent of the J. C. Russell Shovel Company, one of the most flourishing establishments in Beaver county. It was one of the first plants to locate at Aliquippa, which is admirably sit- uated in the famous Beaver Valley and on the . Ohio River,-extending to the tracks of the P. & L. E. R. R. It was organized in 1892 by the gentleman named above, with others. The following are the officers: J. L. Cooper, president; William A. Gartshore, vice-presi- dent; E. H. King, secretary ; and J. J. McKee, treasurer. They manufacture shovels and drain tools of all kinds, which are shipped to all parts of the country.
The process of shovel manufacturing is a very interesting one, and these works are of a modern type, the latest machinery and im- proved methods being employed under the personal supervision of Mr. Gartshore, who has had many years of experience in that line. In the main building, whose dimensions are
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240x80 feet, all of the shovels are made. A solid bar of steel is heated and passed between rollers of great power, and there the first rough shape is made; it is then pickled, placed in proper dies, where it is cut and trimmed to the proper shape, and then taken to the ma- chine which forces the handles on, and rivets them in place. They are then polished, taken to the shipping room, and thence sent to all parts of the world. While this meagre de- scription makes the process appear simple, the opposite impression is conveyed upon a visit to the factory. There the ponderous machin- ery with its immense fly wheels, rapidly revolv- ing rollers, gigantic presses, and intricate ma- chinery of various kinds, compels a respect for the shovel, which was not felt before seeing this useful implement in the course of manu- facture. Adjoining the mill is the machine shop, with its full equipment, and on its other side is the drying room which is used to dry handles. Mr. Gartshore, the gentleman in charge of this important plant, is a man of wide experience in his business. He is held in the highest esteem by the men under his su- pervision, and by his associates, and he de- ports himself toward everyone with the great- est kindness and consideration.
The subject of this sketch was at one time a trusted employee of Hubbard & Company, of Pittsburg, Pa., and had charge of their shovel works, for a period of eight years. He faith- fully discharged his duties to the best of his ability, and it was with regret that they per- mitted him to resign, in 1892, when the J. C. Russell Shovel Company was organized. He
became vice-president, and a director, of the company, and has put forth his every effort to make the venture a successful one.
In September, 1888, Mr. Gartshore was united in marriage with Miss Laura Dunhorn, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. They have two children,-Laura and Park.
AMUEL LEVINE, a gentleman who by means of the superior facul- ties with which he is endowed by na- ture, has worked his way from a lowly sta- tion in life to one of prominence in his com- munity, is proprietor of the leading general store in Aliquippa, Hopewell township, Bea- ver county, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Levine was born in Poland, Russia, in 1861, and got his education there in the public schools, after which he assisted his father, who was a commission merchant, until he was old enough to go into business for himself .. He came to this country in 1886, landing in the city of New York with but twenty cents. Thrifty and ambitious, he immediately set to work, and what he has since acquired has been due exclusively to his own industrious efforts. It is a boast which he may well feel proud to make, that he has never worked for another, but has always been his own "boss." Re- maining in New York City but two months, he went to Troy, N. Y., and purchased a horse and wagon,-becoming an itinerant mer- chant. He carried the thousand and one things for which there is a demand in the
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country, and worked up a very successful bus- iness, at which he continued until he settled in Aliquippa, when that town was first started. He has a splendid business and the most com- plete line of merchandise carried by any dealer in the county. He purchased the two-story building which he now occupies, and has di- vided it into three departments. The left wing is a fully stocked shoe store in the front, and the rear is used as a ware room. In the rear of the main store is the grocery depart- nient, and in front, the dry goods department. He is a man of great enterprise, and has en- deavored to equip his store with every article which his customers may demand, having a comprehensive line of dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, hats and caps, hardware, house furnishings, notions, carpets, oil cloth, jewelry, tobacco and cigars, feed and seeds, millinery and gentlemen's furnishings, china and glassware, wall paper and tinware. He built his store seven years ago, and added the shoe store annex later. His efforts to please the people are being rewarded, as his patron- age is steadily increasing, and he is rapidly earning for himself the title of the most pro- gressive merchant in the borough. Besides this business, in which he employs five hands, he owns valuable building lots in Aliquippa. He has erected another two-story frame build- ing adjoining the old one,-the first floor, 50x 20 feet, being used as a dry goods store, and the second floor, 58x24 feet, being devoted to the purposes of a public hall.
In 1889, Mr. Levine and his wife, Rebecca, were married, and they have five children, two
of whom are attending school. Fraternally, he is a member of the order of Odd Fellows. In politics, he is always ready to exercise his privilege as a citizen, but has never sought office.
OHN CONWAY, president of the John Conway Banking Co .; president of the Keystone Tumbler Co., and at one time a leading dry goods merchant of Rochester, Beaver county, Pa., is, today, one of the most influential men in that thriving borough, and is notable for sound judgment and sterling in- tegrity. He has been a very successful busi- ness man, and his opinion in all matters per- taining to business and financial questions, is of great worth. Mr. Conway was born in Economy township, Beaver county, Pa., March 27, 1830, and is a son of Michael and Mary (O'Brien) Conway.
Michael Conway was born in County Kerry, Ireland, and came to America in 1825. He located in Economy township, and bought 230 acres of partially cleared land on the bank of the river. There he built a log cabin, and later a frame house. The farm is now owned by John Conway and his sisters. He made many improvements on the place, and it became one of the best kept and most prosperous farms in that section. He mar- ried Mary O'Brien, who died at the age of seventy-eight, her husband dying when sixty- six years old. Their children were as follow : Abigail, deceased, who was the wife of James McGuire; Thomas, deceased, who was a
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farmer; James, attorney, who married Jane Sheldon, served as captain in Company H, 139th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, and later died from the effects of the wound; John, the subject of this biography; Joanna, who married Peter Ivory, of Perrysville ; and Mary, the widow of William Emery, of Indiana.
John Conway, whose name heads this sketch, was reared on the farm, and attended the common schools and the college of Vin- cennes, Indiana, and then returned home, and became a clerk in a dry goods store at Pitts- burg, where he remained for one year. He was then a clerk for eight years on a steam- boat on the Ohio River when he returned to Rochester. In 1856, he opened a dry goods store in New Castle, Pa., and after two years spent in that place again came to Rochester and bought the building at 749 West Madison street, which was built, in 1848, by Bonbright and Irwin. There he started a dry goods store, in 1857, and was very successful, continuing in the business until 1871. His store was the principal one in Rochester at that time. In 1871, he closed out, and established a general banking business, the company being com- prised of the leading men in Rochester. Grad- ually Mr. Conway bought. out the interests of his partners, until, at this time, he is the sole owner of it. The bank was built by Bon- bright and Irwin. but purchased from J. H. Whisler. The subject of this sketch has built and sold many fine residences in Beaver county, and has dealt quite extensively in real estate. He has always taken an active in-
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