USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania > Part 24
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terest in the progress of Rochester, and was one of the original promoters and stock-hold- ers of the Olive Stove Works and of the Heat & Light Company. He is president of the Keystone Tumbler Co., of which a descrip- tion is given elsewhere.
Mr. Conway married Thalia Bentel, a daughter of Philip Bentel, of Freedom, Bea- ver county, and to them have been born two children, namely: Lilian M., married to N. F. Hurst, of Rochester, Pa. ; and Charles B., who is his father's assistant,-he married Emma Pfeiffer, a daughter of Benjamin Pfeiffer, of Rochester, Pennsylvania. Mr. Conway is widely known throughout the county, and wherever he goes he makes many friends, and keeps them. In politics, he is an active Democrat, and has served in the borough council and as school director. He is a Mason, and a member of the Presbyterian church. He was one of the promoters of the project to build the Masonic block at Rochester.
ICTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY. Another of the many manufacturing establishments for which Beaver county is noted is that of the Victor Mfg. Co., where cast-iron, enameled bath-tubs are made.
There are but about a dozen concerns of this. character in the country, the principal ones being in Pittsburg and vicinity. The officers of the Victor Mfg. Co. are: J. F. Bruggeman, president; John Rebman, Jr.,
HERMAN F. DILLON.
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secretary and treasurer; and F. D. Cook, manager of tlie works. The works are lo- cated in Aliquippa, Beaver county, Pa.
The company has a fine site of 31/2 acres of land lying between the P. & L. E. R. R. tracks and the Ohio River. Their plant comprises foundry, pickling and cleaning shop, enamel- ing boiler and engine rooms, and warehouse and office. They have had success in mar- keting their product, and have always had suf- ficient orders to keep the works running steadily. Their plant, with exception of ware- house and office, was destroyed by fire in May, 1898, since which time the manufactur- ing has been carried on in temporary buildings.
The Victor Mfg. Co. was organized in 1896, through the agency of William C. Degelman,, of Pittsburg, who for two years was general manager. Mr. Cook, the present manager, is from New York, and, before engaging in the bath-tub manufacturing business, had been interested in the making of enameled adver- tising signs. Mr. Cook is an independent Republican, in politics, and, fraternally, a member of the Royal Society of Good Fellows.
ERMAN F. DILLON. The gentle- man whose name heads this sketch, and whose portrait is shown on the preceding page, has for many years been one of the active and influential residents of Beaver Falls, Pa., and it is in terms of highest praise that his fellow-citizens speak of him.
Having long been one of the leading business men of that thriving borough, he has done much to promote high business standards, and in every sense of the word has been an exem- plary citizen, one of whom the people are justly proud. Mr. Dillon was born in Beaver, November 2, 1856, and is a son of Henry N. Dillon.
Henry N. Dillon, the father of Herman F., was born in Big Beaver township, Beaver county, Pa., in 1824. He was a pupil in the district schools of Beaver county, and after farming for a time upon his father's estate, moved to Beaver and engaged in the teaming, hauling and general contracting business. In 1884, he removed to Beaver Falls, and went into the wholesale oil business, which he fol- lowed during the remainder of his active life. In early years he was a Whig, but on the formation of the Republican party, he cast his vote with that organization, and gained quite a local fame by virtue of his personal association with Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Dil- lon was an active and aggressive worker in his party, but never sought office. He was a liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was united in marriage with Mary A. Supplee, a daughter of the late Will- iam Supplee, who was for many years a resi- dent of Beaver county, having come from Chester, Pa., in 1839.
The father of the subject hereof died in March, 1892, and his death was greatly mourned by all in the community. The Dil- lon men are all of large size, and are well- known for that physical trait.
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Herman F. Dillon received his early mental training in the common schools of Beaver, and in Beaver Academy, and when fourteen years of age removed, with his parents, to Ohio township, his education being com- pleted in that district. When but sixteen years old, he went to Pittsburg, where he was placed in full charge of a milk depot and route, owned by Jesse Smith, of Smith's Ferry, Pennsylvania. After two years he re- turned to Beaver county and went into the oil business at Island Run, where he be- came a general contractor. He remained
there until January 1, 1882, and then accepted a position with the Beaver Falls Gas Com- pany, for which he worked until 1885, when he was appointed superintendent of the entire plant. He continued with this company un- til 1897, when other business interests and political duties made it necessary for him to resign.
Mr. Dillon was one of the promoters of the Beaver Falls Improvement Company, a so- ciety formed of public-spirited men, whose object was to attract manufacturing interests to that town. He is a promoter and director of the River View Street Railway Company and also a promoter and director of the People's Building & Loan Association,- a most substantial organization which had its inception in 1884,-and is also a mem- ber of the Tribune Publishing Company, printing a daily and weekly newspaper at Beaver Falls, and doing also a large business in job printing. Mr. Dillon is one of the stockholders in the Beaver Falls Water Com-
pany, which was started by several public- spirited men for the purpose of supplying the town with pure water at a much lower rate than had previously prevailed. Too much credit can not be accorded to this company, as the relief from the oppression of the old water company has been a great blessing to the people of Beaver Falls. Mr. Dillon is a Republican of the strongest type, and was elected to the council, the first term, in 1893, and served until 1897, when he resigned his seat to accept the office of register and recorder. The subject of this sketch cast his first vote for President Garfield, and has been active in politics ever since. For many years he was a member of the county committee, serving as its secretary and treasurer, and was also chairman of its executive committee. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has always been a most faithful supporter. He is a member of sev- eral fraternal organizations, namely: Glas- gow Lodge, No. 485, F. & A. M., of which he has been a member twenty-one years ; Har- mony Chapter, of Beaver Falls; Pittsburg Commandery, No. I, of Pittsburg; Beaver Falls Lodge, No. 293, K. of P .; Rochester Lodge, No. 283. B. P. O. E .; Walnut Canip, of Beaver Falls, Woodmen of the World ; Beaver Falls Tent. No. 53, K. O. T. M.
Mr. Dillon married Jennie M. Kerr, a daughter of John Kerr, of Darlington. She was born at Darlington, in 1853. and pursued a course of study in Darlington Academy, afterwards teaching school until her marriage. The children which resulted from this union
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are: Herman Ross, born in Beaver Falls, who is now a student; Blanche V., born in Ohioville; and Walter E., a student, born in Beaver Falls.
R OBERT G. YOUNG, a well known lumber merchant of Beaver county, is located at New Galilee and deals in all kinds of building materials, sashes, doors, blinds, mantels, inside finishings, shingles, agricultural implements, barbed and galvan- ized wire fencing, and also does considerable business as a slate-roofer. He is one of the substantial business men of that section and is everywhere respected as a citizen of worth and influence. He is a son of Robert and Jane (McAnlis) Young, and was born April 4. 1845, in Big Beaver township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania.
Peter Young, his grandfather, was born in Ireland, where he was educated and spent the early part of his life. He came to America. located east of Pittsburg, Pa., and entered the employ of Captain Crawford, a hero of the Revolutionary War. He subsequently went to Saw Mill Run, and in the year 1800 re- moved to Beaver county, where he purchased from Mr. Wylie, the original patentee, a farm of 100 acres of wild land. He built log sheds and a log house, and at that time there were but three white families in the district. Indians were very numerous, and many in- teresting stories are related in connection with adventures and encounters with them. Mr. Young remained on the farm the re-
mainder of his life and successfully confronted the many difficulties and hardships to which the early pioneers were subjected. He reared the following children: John, a farmer ; Wil- liam; Algeo; Nancy (Wright); Elizabeth ; Rebecca; James, a practicing physician of Westmoreland county ; and Robert, father of the subject hereof.
Robert Young was born in Beaver county, Pa., in 1803, and was reared on the old home- stead farm, receiving such an education as cir- cumstances would permit. He learned farm- ing and assisted his father until the latter's death, when he succeeded to the home prop- erty. This he greatly improved by erecting new buildings, clearing the land and raising an orchard. He was an Abolitionist, and then a Republican, in politics. He was a consist- ent member of the Presbyterian church, and for twenty years served as elder. He died in 1862, at the age of fifty-nine years. His union with Jane McAnlis resulted in the following issue : James M., who died at the age of fif- teen years ; Margaret ; Susan (Patterson); W. J., a farmer; Robert G., the subject of this biographical record; Hamilton A., a farmer ; and Lizzie.
Robert G. Young obtained his elementary education in the schools of Beaver county and received an excellent business training in the Iron City Business College, of Pittsburg, in 1867. He learned the trade of a carpenter after spending some time as a bookkeeper in New Castle, Pa. He plied his trade in the states of Iowa and Missouri, until 1870, when he returned to Beaver county and became a
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contractor. In 1882, he started in business as a lumber dealer, being the first in the locality to take up that line of trade. His yard is located near the Ft. Wayne tracks at New Galilee, and there he carries all kinds of sawed lumber, in addition to the articles enumerated above. He is also an exporter in walnut logs, selling to various foreign mar- kets. He owns a fine home, and a small farm in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania.
In 1876, Robert G. Young formed a matri- monial alliance with Lucy Wallace, who was born in Lawrence county, and is a daughter of John and Margaret Wallace. Seven children were born to them, as follows: Clarence, who is in partnership with his father, and is a grad- uate of the Beaver Falls high school ; Maggie ; Rutherford J .; William Harvey; Mary E .; James G .; and Kenneth W. Personally, Mr. Young is a genial man, of public spirit, and is very popular locally. He is an earnest church worker, having built the Presbyterian church, and has been an elder since 1894. He is very liberal in his contributions toward its sup- port. He is, politically, a Republican.
ORENZO C. KIRKER, a veteran of our Civil War, is a much respected citi- zen of Beaver Falls, where he has been engaged in the carpentering business for many years. He is a son of John S. and Elizabeth (Rutter) Kirker, and was born in that part of Beaver county which now forms a part of Lawrence county, August 21, 1843.
Ilis grandfather was Robert Kirker. a na- tive of this county, but his entire life was spent in Butler county, Pennsylvania. The father of Lorenzo C. was born in Butler county, Pa., but came to Beaver county early in life, where he resided during his remaining days. His occupation was that of a shoe- maker, at which he was quite successful. He belonged to the old state militia, in which he was a major.
The subject of this writing was reared in Lawrence county, Pa., and obtained his ele- mentary education in the public schools of his native district, and then took up the carpen- tering trade, which he made his principal oc- cupation. Prior to 1880. he resided in New Castle, Pa., where he was employed in a plan- ing mill, but in that year he became a resident of Beaver Falls, where he has since lived. He engaged in the grocery business soon after coming there, but gave it up and resumed his former occupation. Mr. Kirker is quite prominently known throughout this vicinity, and enjoys the reputation of an honest, up- right and conscientious citizen. When the Civil War broke out, our subject laid aside all plans for the future, and went to the aid of the Union, enlisting July 14, 1861, in Company H, 9th Reg. Pa. Reserves for a term of three years. He was wounded at the battle of An- tietam, in September, 1862, and was taken to the German Reformed Church Hospital at Frederick, Md., where he remained six months; upon recovering, he again joined his regiment, with which he remained until he was honorably discharged at Pittsburg, Pa.,
ABRAHAM WEST.
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May 12, 1864. While with his regiment, he took part in the battles of Dranesville; Me- chanicsville; Miner's Hill; Savage Station; Malvern Hill; Second Bull Run; South Mountain; Antietam; Gettysburg; and in many small skirmishes.
Politically, Mr. Kirker is a prominent Re- publican of the community, and is now serv- ing as judge of elections. February 5, 1865, he was joined in marriage with Miss Jean- nette Cunningham, and they reared six chil- dren : Evelyn L., the wife of C. B. Jolley, of Beaver Falls; Cecilia, the wife of Charles D. Garrett, also of Beaver Falls; Flora A .. the wife of John Richards, of Beaver Falls; Harry V. (wedded to Jeannette Craig, of Afton, N. Y.), who is engaged in carpenter- ing with the subject of our sketch ; Rosa, who is the wife of A. C. Bellis, of Beaver Falls, and Edward L., who also works with his father at the carpenter's trade.
A BRAHAM WEST, deceased, who was for many years one of the foremost farmers of Marion township, was a descendant of an old and highly respected family of Beaver county. He was a son of Peter and Agnes (Boyd) West, and was born in New Sewickley township, Beaver county, Pa., in 1825.
Peter West, the father of Abraham, was born in West Virginia and, in 1805, removed to Beaver county, Pa., with his parents. He rented a farm in Franklin township, but later bought one known as "The Knob," in New
Sewickley township, where he lived and farmed for a period of twelve years. He then purchased a tract of four hundred acres in Marion township,-a portion of which is now owned by Mrs. West,-and upon this he erected a fine brick residence. He died there in 1865, and his wife, whose maiden name was Agnes Boyd, died in the year of 1879.
Abraham West, the subject of this sketch, always lived upon the home farm, the original property being divided upon the death of his father, and Abraham receiving two hundred and fifty acres. He carried on farming and was extensively.engaged in sheep-raising and dairying,-in late years shipping the milk to Allegheny. He died on July 30, 1897, and his death was universally mourned, as he was everywhere respected as a man of true worth and influence in the community. Since his demise, Mrs. West, aided by two of her sons, has carried on the farm with good results. They still continue to ship the milk to Alle- gheny, and have a herd of twenty-two cows. Their farm is mostly flat land, and is very productive, being unexcelled in that vicinity.
Abraham West, on March 6, 1860, was joined in wedlock with Mary Jane Sowash, who was born in Brighton township, Beaver county, and is a daughter of Frederick So- wash. The latter came from Mercer county to Beaver county when a young man, and was a stone mason by trade. This union resulted in the birth of seven children, as follows: Vir- ginia (Wilson) ; William B., a fireman on the Fort Wayne R. R., who lives at Allegheny; Clinton P., a farmer in Butler county ; Joseph
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F., deceased; Abraham G., who is living at home; Charles, who lives in Zelienople, But- ler county ; and John F., who is at home. Poli- tically, our subject was an active supporter of the Democratic party. We take pleasure in presenting his portrait, which appears on a preceding page.
OHN HENRY LOWRY. As one of the representatives of the agricul- tural class of citizens of Beaver county. we take great pleasure in presenting the life record of the gentleman named above, one of the most progressive and influential farmers in North Sewickley township. He was born on Main street in Allegheny City, Pa., and is a son of John and Sarah (Wagoner) Lowry.
John Lowry, the father of our subject, was born in the vicinity of Harrisburg, and was a young man when he removed to the city of Pittsburg. He was a bridge blacksmith by trade, and many old landmarks are stand- ing, today, as monuments of his skill. The old covered bridge at Beaver Falls, and, in fact, nearly all of the covered bridges built in that region during his time, are the result of his workmanship. In the spring of 1857, he moved to North Sewickley township, where he bought a farm of one hundred acres. Prior to this, however, he had given up his trade, and for some years had been a station- ary engineer in the city of Allegheny. After his removal he devoted all his time to farm- ing, and when he purchased his property it was an unbroken piece of timber, but before
his death most of it was cleared. He was a very industrious man and at the time of his death was in comfortable circumstances, finan- cially. He was united in marriage with Sarah Wagoner, and their happy home was blessed by the birth of eight children, as follows: David E .; Martha Jane, the widow of A. J. Steele; Elizabeth Ann. deceased; John Henry, the subject hereof; Lucinda V .. the wife of William Chaney, who resides at Conway. Pa. : William J., who resides at the home of Jolin Henry Lowry; and two who died in early childhood. Politically, Mr. Lowry was a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and was elected to a number of the township offices.
The subject of this writing was but nine years of age when he removed with his father from Allegheny, where he had attended the common schools, to North Sewickley town- ship. He continued to attend the public schools, acquiring a good intellectual train- ing. and has lived on the farm, coming into full possession of it upon his father's demise. He has very successfully managed his affairs, and since buying an additional hundred acres of land, has as fine a property for agricultural purposes as Beaver county contains. He em- ploys only the most approved methods of farming and has more than one thousand dol- lars' worth of improved machinery. His land is exceedingly rich with coal, having a five- foot vein, but is mined by outside parties, this being a source of considerable income to Mr. Lowry. He is a man of exceptionally strong character, a true friend and a devoted hus-
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band and father. He has many friends and acquaintances throughout this section of the state, who respect him as a man of influence and true worth to the community.
On September 2, 1882, Mr. Lowry was united in marriage with Elzena Fombell, of North Sewickley township, and three children are the issue of their union, as follows: Myr- tle; Lulu; and John Roy. Politically, Mr. Lowry is a Democrat of the sturdiest type, and has been the incumbent of all the town- ship offices. In a religious connection, he and his wife are conscientious members of the Presbyterian church.
ENERAL J. S. LITTELL, ex-
sheriff of Beaver county, now a representative farmer of Big Beaver township, Beaver county, Pa., is a descendant of 'Squire William Littell, an old Revolu- tionary hero, and one of the early settlers of Beaver county. 'Squire William Littell was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1740. He attended the public schools of Belfast and came to America while still a young man. He wedded Elizabeth Walker, who was also a native of Ireland. They reared nine children, namely : Elizabeth (Reed); Jane, now deceased; Mary (Todd) ; Alice (Sharp); Agnes; James; Will- iam, father of the subject hereof; David; and Thomas.
At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, General Littell's grandfather held a clerkship in the army (being private secretary to Gen-
eral George Washington), and served in that capacity throughout the war. His brother, James, was a soldier, and served under the illustrious Washington until the war was ended. A letter written in Fort McIntosh in 1779, by James to William, is still in the pos- session of the subject hereof, and is in a good state of preservation. It proves James to have been a good scholar. After the war, William went to Beaver county, Pa., where he took up a large tract of land in Hanover township. This tract was all wild land. Set- tlers were few, and wild game was abundant. William Littell made a clearing and built a large hewed-log cabin upon it,-also building a barn. He was appointed "Squire" by the governor of the state,-a position which he filled until the time of his death, in 1819. He died aged seventy-nine years.
William Littell, Jr., father of General Lit- tell, was born upon the old homestead in Hanover township, in 1794. He attended the district schools, after which he taught for several years. He was joined in marriage with Cynthia Smith, a daughter of John and Nancy (McClure) Smith. Mrs. Littell was born in Adams county. Twelve children were the result of this happy union. Their names are: J. S., the subject of this sketch; Eliza (Robertson) ; Rebecca (Calhoun) ; Maria (Ew- ing); Nancy (Ewing); Cynthia, wife of J. Mc- Henry; William M., who died in infancy; a second William M .; David; Washington ; James M .; and Henry. The wife of William Little, Jr., died in 1853. Our subject's father was a farmer by occupation, and lived many
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years on the old homestead farin. He sold this, however, and bought 155 acres near Beaver. His farm products were disposed of in Beaver and vicinity. He served in the War of 1812, and was ordered to duty on Lake Erie. While crossing the Ohio Swamps. he contracted the measles which nearly proved fatal. In poli- tics, he was first a Whig and later a Repub- lican, but had no aspirations to office. He belonged to the Seceders' church.
General Littell was the recipient of a good scholastic training, which he obtained by at- tending district school. He subsequently. learned surveying, although he never followed that profession. He taught school for three terms in Beaver county. In 1845, his mar- riage with Mary Calhoon was solemnized. Mary was born in Raccoon township in 1821, and was a daughter of Richard and Sarah (Moffet) Calhoon. She was called away from her earthly home, August 1, 1897. Seven children were born of this union, viz .: Richard W .; William P .; Robert C .; Isidore S. (White); Harriet (Rhodes); Joseph; and Isabell. Richard W. served three and one- half years in the 76th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., as drummer boy (this being his father's regi- ment). William enlisted in the 6th Reg., Ohio Cavalry, and had some narrow escapes. On one occasion he was sent to the hospital. Joseph, the youngest son, resides on the farm with his father.
After his marriage, General Littell engaged in blacksmithing for ten years. He then bought the first portable saw mill ever used in Beaver county, which he operated for one
year. In 1853, he joined a militia company, of which he was elected captain. He was afterward appointed brigade inspector of the 19th division. In the fall of 1861, he re- cruited a company for the 76th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., and was chosen captain, and was ordered to the South. From a volume entitled "Mar- tial Deeds of Pennsylvania," the following extract is taken: "Brig. Gen'l. J. S. Littell fought with his company of the 76th Pa. Vol. Inf., at James Island, and a few days later at Morris Island. He also took part in the first and second assaults on Fort Wagner, where he led his company with great bravery." On Morris Island, General Littell had charge of the entire regiment for thirty days. On the first of July, 1862, he was severely wounded, but continued to fight and would not give up, although suffering great pain. The next morning, he received a serious wound in the right arm and side.
The attack on Fort Wagner was very dis- astrous, as it resulted in the loss of almost one-half of the regiment. On May 31, the subject of our sketch was promoted to be lieutenant colonel. The very next day he was again wounded, a ball passing through both thighs. After remaining in the hospital for some time, he was removed to his own home. His recovery was slow. On August 17, he was promoted to a colonelcy, and, the fol- lowing January, sailed with the expeditions under Generals Butler and Weitzel, and later served under General Terry in the attacks on Fort Fisher, which commanded the approach to Wilmington. In the midst of an engage-
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