USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania > Part 33
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until middle age, when he went into the iron business.
Henderson Gorsuch, father of the subject of this record, was born in June, 1833, in Hunt- ingdon county, Pa., where he was reared, re- ceiving a limited education in "book learning" in that county, and also in Blair county. In early manhood, he lived at Springfield, Blair county, where he, too, learned the trade of a blacksmith, thereby following the same in- clinations as his father. Henderson also learned the art of making axes entirely by hand. He held an important position at the Springfield furnace for a period of three years, as master mechanic, and subsequently ac- cepted a similar position at the Martha fur- nace. At a later period, he discontinued work- ing about machinery, and engaged in the transfer business,-taking contracts for gen- eral hauling. Being frugal and industrious, he soon saved considerable money with which he purchased a fine farm. He then moved to Roaring Spring, and built himself a fine resi- dence, blacksmith and carriage shop, and con- ducted this business the balance of his life.
In his political views, Henderson Gorsuch was, in early life, an ardent Republican, but later became a strong Prohibitionist and a great temperance worker. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for the twenty-five years preceding his death, and was a class leader and trustee of that de- nomination. His demise occurred February II, 1896, and his life was considered well and nobly spent. His wife was Elizabeth Gates. She proved to be a most helpful companion,
and assisted in rearing a family of nineteen children, one of whom was Samuel Clarence, the subject of these lines.
Samuel C. Gorsuch attended the public schools, after which he partly learned the blacksmith's trade, and then acquired the trade of puddling, in the Cambria Iron Works, at Johnstown, Cambria county. He then learned heating at Tyrone. and subsequently went to Beaver Falls, where, after working for about a year and a half. he became a heater, and assisted in building the plant of the Amer- ican Steel & Wire Co. there, from which he was transferred to that company's plant in Rankin, where he has charge of the heating department.
In his political action he has always fol- lowed the leadership of the Republican party, but has had no political aspirations. whatever. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, of Beaver Falls, and also of the I. O. O. F. lodge. He was joined in marriage with Harriet McClellan, a lady with many graces. Their marriage occurred October 15, 1883. Mrs. Gorsuch is a daughter of James McClel- lan, and is a native of Blair county, Pennsyl- vania. Seven bright, attractive children came to bless their home; their names and ages are as follows: Alpha, born March 26, 1885 ; Nel- lie, born January 22, 1887; Clarence, born September 19, 1889; Clifford, born June 27, 1891 ; Hazel Belle, born January 9, 1893, and deceased September 13. 1893 ; Olive, born No- vember 3, 1895; and Forest, born June 17, 1899.
The subject of this sketch and his family are
JOHN McFARREN BUCHANAN.
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regular attendants of the Methodist church and contribute liberally to its support. By careful and judicious management he has been able to acquire a snug competence,-due en- tirely to his own efforts,-while at the same time, he has gained for himself a reputation for honesty and uprightness in all his dealings.
OHN McFARREN BUCHANAN, son of Thomas C. Buchanan, and Eliza A. Mayhew, his wife, was born near Florence, Washington County, Pennsylvania, April 25, 1851. His father dying of cholera, June 18, 1852, on the overland route to Cali- fornia, his mother removed to Fairview, Vir- ginia (now West Virginia), in 1856, near where her father, John Mayhew, was living. Our subject remained here with his mother and sister, Georgiana, until June 1, 1858, when he was taken by a paternal uncle, Jo- seph K. Buchanan, to his home in Hanover township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where he attended the district school and worked in vacation upon the farm of his uncle.
In the fall and winter of 1864-65, he at- tended The Collegiate Institute, East Liberty, Pennsylvania, taught by Rev. J. P. Moore, a brother-in-law of his uncle above-named. In the winter of 1866 he recited in the evenings to Thomas Nicholson, Esq., a famous teacher and well known citizen of Frankfort Springs. In April, 1867, he entered Washington and Jefferson College, then under the presidency of Rev. Jonathan Edwards, D. D. Mr. Bu-
chanan was aided in his efforts by his uncle, Joseph K. Buchanan, and by his mother, and by tutoring and teaching and the like through college, graduating in the class of 1869. On December 1, 1869, Mr. Buchanan was en- tered as a law student in the law office of Sam B. Wilson, Esq., one of the most eminent lawyers that ever graced the Beaver Bar, and was admitted to the Bar September 2, 1872, the committee being Edward B. Daugherty, Frank Wilson and E. P. Kuhn, all now de- ceased.
In November, 1874, Mr. Buchanan received the Democratic nomination for District Attor- ney in the strong Republican county of Bea- ver and was elected by 94 votes, and in 1877, was re-elected by 303 majority. During the six years of office, Mr. Buchanan never had an indictment quashed nor amended in a sin- gle word; nor did he have a grand jury sit Over two days at a time,-the Quarter Ses- sions Court and Grand Jury then sat at the same time. Since that time Mr. Buchanan has enjoyed a large and lucrative practice. He is president of the First National Bank, Beaver, Pennsylvania, and of the Beaver Val- ley Traction Company, the Beaver & Vanport Electric Street Railway, a director in the First National Bank, Rochester, Pennsylvania, in the Bridgewater Bridge, Sharon Bridge, New Brighton Water Company, The Valley Elec- tric Light Company and in various other com- panies. He is also attorney for the Pennsyl- vania Company. Mr. Buchanan has taken an active part in keeping Beaver County to the front in every good work. He is a member
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of the First Presbyterian Church of Beaver and active in its councils.
In 1896, Mr. Buchanan was the nominee of the Democratic party for Judge of the Thirty-sixth Judicial District of Pennsylvania, and received the largest vote ever received by a Democrat in that District, but failed in the election in this strong Republican district.
The ancestor of this branch of the Buchan- ans first in the country was Walter Buchanan, who was of Scotch-Irish origin, and emigrated to America from the northern part of Ireland. settling in Little Britain township, Lancaster County. Pennsylvania, in 1745. He was a farmer up to the time of his death, which oc- curred in Lancaster County, in 1790; his re- mains lie buried in the Churchyard of Little Britain Presbyterian Church in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was active in church and state, and was one of the signers to the petition found on page 310, Vol. 3-2 Ser., Pennsylvania Archives. The home of Walter Buchanan was blessed with three sons and three daughters, namely: Gilbert ; John; James ; Jeannette; Mary ; and Sarah. Gilbert, the eldest, settled near Poland, Ohio, and be- came a tiller of the soil. John, the second son, settled near Paris in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and also followed the occupa- tion of a farmer. He was a member of the Associate Presbyterian Church, and served as elder of that denomination. His remains lie buried in the Associate Burial Ground at Paris, Washington County, Pennsylvania.
James, the third son, was the great-grand- father of our subject. In 1791, he located in
Hanover township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, about two miles from Florence. James was born May 23, 1761, in Little Brit- ain township, above-named. He served for some months as a member of Captain James Morrison's Company, Porter's Battalion, in the Revolutionary War, and died on the twenty-fifth day of November, 1823. He mar- ried Margaret Ross, a relative of George Ross, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Mrs. Buchanan was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. and was born March 23. 1769, a native of Chester County, Pennsylvania. a member of the Associate Presbyterian Church. She sur- vived her husband for thirty-five years. passing away July 20, 1854, and her remains now lie buried in the Presbyterian Churchyard at Slippery Rock, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania. This highly esteemed and worthy couple reared the following children: Eliza- beth, born April 5. 1789, and died September 24. 1855,-she became the wife of John Mitch- ell, and now lies buried in the United Presby- terian Churchyard at Sharon, Ohio; Walter. born July 14, 1791, and died July 19. 1869, is buried at New Brighton, Pennsylvania : Han- nah, born October 21, 1793, and died March 6, 1866,-she married John Smith, and is buried at Sheakleyville, Pennsylvania; Nancy. born January 1, 1796, died October 26, 1873,-she became the wife of Hugh Smith, and is buried at Duncanville United Presbyte- rian Church, Crawford County, IIlinois ; John, grandfather of our subject, will be mentioned later; James, born May 29, 1800. and died February 19, 1840; Moses Ross, born Octo-
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ber 6, 1803, and died at De Witt, Iowa, July 22, 1878; Joseph Smith, born October 31, 1806, a graduate of Jefferson College and a minister in the United Presbyterian Church for nearly fifty years, died March 31, 1887, at De Witt, Iowa; Margaret, born January 29, IS08, and died June 17, 1876; Mary, wife of Mr. Caldwell, was born May 9, 1813, and died June 18, 1893; and George Black, born Sep- tember 14, 1815.
John Buchanan, grandfather of our subject, was born on the twenty-eighth day of May, 1798, in Hanover township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, was a farmer, purchas- ing a farm just across the line in Virginia, where he spent the remainder of his life, and where his death took place, May 6, 1830; his remains lie buried in the Presbyterian grounds in Fairview, West Virginia. He married Margaret Chambers, a daughter of Thomas Chambers, a native of Scotland, who came to America as a Scottish soldier in Cornwall's Army. Mr. Chambers settled in Hanover township, in 1789, on a farm which is now owned by our subject. Mrs. Buchanan sur- vived her husband four years, dying July 25, 1834, at the age of thirty-one years. This worthy couple left four sons, orphans, to mourn the loss of their parents; James, born in 1824 and wedded Mary A. Craig; Thomas Chambers, father of our subject, heretofore mentioned; John F., born in 1828, and twice married,-his first wife being Jane Greenfield, his second, May Elligood; and Joseph Kerr, born in 1830 and married Martha T. Bigger.
ARRY CALHOON, district attorney of Beaver county, Pa., ranks high among the members of the legal profession of the county, and is a much re- spected citizen of the borough. He was born at New Brighton, September 15, 1862, and is a son of John and Nancy (White) Calhoon, grandson of Robert and Elizabeth (Scott) Calhoon, and great-grandson of Andrew Calhoon.
Harry Calhoon attended the public schools of New Brighton, taking a finishing course at Geneva College. After this he began the study of law, reading in the office of J. R. Harrah in the evenings, and working through the day in the manufacturing department of the foundry of Logan & Strobridge. He fin- ished reading law in the office of Thompson & Martin and was admitted to the bar, in 1892. He immediately began the practice of his profession in New Brighton. It was not long before his worth became known and brought him lucrative returns; being active and energetic, cases in which he is interested are pushed to a speedy termination, as his efforts are very rarely lacking in the elements of success. About the year 1893, he was elected solicitor of New Brighton; he was elected district attorney of Beaver county, Pa., in 1898,-in which capacity he now serves.
In 1896, Mr. Calhoon married Florence Deitrick, a daughter of Frederick A. Deit- rick, a worthy citizen of New Brighton. He and his wife live in a handsome residence re- cently purchased by him; it is modern in de-
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sign, very convenient and attractive, and was built by R. E. Hoop.
Andrew Calhoon, great-grandfather of the subject hereof, was a native of County Derry, Ireland. He came to America about the year 1785, while still a single man. For the first few years, he lived in New York City in a log house, which contained one of those his- toric old fire-places. The usual custom was to draw a huge back-log to the door of the cabin ; after the laborious task of getting it through the door, it was rolled into the capacious fire- place, which it completely filled for a time,- smaller logs being gradually burned in front of it. Some of the back-logs were so large that it was not necessary to replace them for several days. During the latter part of his life, Mr. Calhoon used frequently to speak of the change in New York City, and to com- pare it with its early condition. He died in 1864, at the remarkable age of one hundred and three years. After leaving New York City, Mr. Calhoon settled in Chester county, Pa., and later in Washington county, where he followed agricultural pursuits, and accu- mulated some money. In the year 1800, he purchased one hundred acres of land where Kennedy Calhoon now resides. There in the forest, he built a log house so substantially that it is still standing, being used as a store- house. He set out orchards, cleared the for- ests into fine fields, and spent his closing years upon that farm. While in the East, Mr. Calhoon was joined in marriage with Mary Kennedy, who bore him the following children: Robert; James K .; and John S.
The young wife and mother was called from her earthly home before her children attained manhood. Mr. Calhoon contracted another matrimonial alliance,-his second wife being Mrs. Rogers of South Beaver township. No issue was the result of this marriage. John S., the youngest son, inherited the homestead, and it still remains in the possession of his descendants.
Robert Calhoon, grandfather of Harry, in early life learned the carpenter's trade, and located in Brighton, now Beaver Falls. He built many houses, barns, etc., in that vicinity, and in adjoining counties, and also assisted in building the boat called the "Aaron Burr." He won an enviable reputation as a mechanic and builder, in his day. In 1848, he settled in New Brighton, where he served as jus- tice of the peace, member of the borough council, and as burgess. He was a member of the Old School Presbyterians. His death was caused by consumption, and occurred April Ist, 1859, when aged fifty-four years. His marriage with Elizabeth Scott, of Dar- lington, Pa., was celebrated in 1828. She survived her husband until she attained the age of seventy-four years.
Their union resulted in the following off- spring: Mary Jane, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Thomas, whose death occurred as recently as 1898, at the age of sixty-five years; John C., father of the sub- ject hereof; and Margaret, who died young.
John C. Calhoon attended public school until his fifteenth year. Just previous to his sixteenth birthday, he became apprenticed
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to learn the harness maker's trade. He served his time with James W. Baker, of New Brigh- ton, completely mastering the trade, and in 1894, went into business for himself, at New Brighton. In 1861, he became employed in the Arsenal in Allegheny, and continued for three and one-half years, working on saddles and harness for the U. S. government. He built his present residence and shop at New Brighton, where he is now located, in 1859, and has engaged in the manufacture of har- ness, and in custom work ever since, keeping a separate salesroom of harness supplies, blan- kets, etc. On July 17, 1883, Mr. Calhoon received a patent for the "Calhoon Improved Truss" which he had previously invented, and which has been a great success. The use of this truss has effected many permanent cures. Mr. Calhoon put only the best of materials in these articles, and has built up quite a repu- tation for that line of goods, although he has not advertised them very extensively. The tidings of a cure effected by one of them are soon transmitted to another sufferer, and thereby his trade is increased. He makes various kinds of trusses to suit the require- ments of each separate case. Mr. Calhoon is a man of sterling worth and is esteemed by all who know him. His life has been unusually successful, from a financial standpoint. Hc was a county commissioner when the present court house was built, has also been a mem- ber of the borough council, and is now serv- ing his third term as justice of the peace. He chose for his life companion Nancy White, a daughter of Harvey White. Mrs. Calhoon
was born in 1841, and died in 1867, at the early age of twenty-six years,-leaving the following children: Thomas, a prominent confectionery dealer in New Brighton, who married Emma Sheehan, and has one child, Eleanor; Harry, whose name heads this sketch; Edwin, a lumber dealer, in New Cas- tle, Pa .; Robert, a molder by trade, who mar- ried Elva Guntner; and Harvey, who is asso- ciated with his brother. Mr. Calhoon married a second time. Miss Ellen McDaniel became his wife; they are both members of the Methodist church, of which he is a trustee and class leader. In politics, he is a Republican.
Harry Calhoon, the subject of this nar- rative, by good management and careful methods has won success in his profession, and also has a large circle of friends in private life. He is a member in good standing of the Masonic fraternity, the American Me- chanics, and the Royal Arcanum. Like his father, he worships with the Methodists.
EORGE E. SMITH, ex-county commissioner of Beaver county, has seen many years of public service. He was formerly engaged in mercantile pursuits and his record as a public servant is clean and altogether in harmony with the integrity of his successful business life. Mr. Smith is es- teemed and respected by thousands of ac- quaintances, as one of nature's noblemen, and is a man of whom Beaver county may well be proud. He was born in Westmoreland township, Cheshire county, New Hampshire,
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February 24, 1841. In his youth, he attended the local schools, where he obtained a good practical education. He went west, to Bea- ver county, Pa., in 1865, and worked for a period of three years on the Pennsylvania Railroad. The following year was spent by the subject of this sketch in a store at Sharon, Pa., after which he was engaged in a similar way, for two years, at Beaver Falls. Mr. Smith then decided to discontinue business pursuits, and try a new venture ; accordingly, in 1871, he began to run a general delivery, which he conducted very successfully for twenty years; he then turned it over to his son, Thomas A. Smith, in order to give his atten- tion to the duties of the office of county commissioner. This change occurred in 1891, when Mr. Smith was appointed to fill the va- cancy caused by the death of John Wilson. After filling this unexpired term of one and one-half years, Mr. Smith was elected to a full term of three years, which expired January I, 1897.
Mr. Smith is known as a stanch, uncom- promising, and aggressive Republican, to all who are familiar with his political views. He has been a hard worker in the Republican cause, and occupies an influential position in his party organization.
Our subject is a member of the Beaver Valley Lodge, No. 478, F. & A. M .; of Har- mony Chapter, No. 206, R. A. M .; and of Lone Rock Lodge, No. 222, Knights of Pyth- ias. In 1868, Mr. Smith led to the altar Margaret White, an accomplished daugh- ter of Thomas White, of White town-
ship, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. One son, Thomas A., blessed this union, and is now succeeding his father in the general de- livery business. The subject of this sketch, who is one of a family of fourteen children, is a son of Hiram and Olive (Arnold) Smith, and a grandson of Benjamin Smith.
Benjamin Smith was a native of the North of Ireland, where he was also reared and edu- cated. In early manhood, he came to Amer- ica and settled in Westmoreland township, Cheshire county, N. H., where he spent the remainder of his life.
Hiram Smith, father of the subject hereof, was born in New Hampshire in 1800. He was reared and trained to agricultural, pur- suits, and while not in school did such work as usually falls to the lot of a farmer's boy. This discipline was just the kind needed to make him understand all the details of farm work, which he followed all his active days, spending his last three years in retirement at Walpole, N. H., where his death occurred, in 1875.
His wife was Olive Arnold, a daughter of Thomas Arnold, of Cheshire county, New Hampshire. Mrs. Smith crossed the dark river into the light beyond, at the age of sixty- three years, after rearing a family of fourteen children, viz .: Ralph; Caroline (Scott); Mi- randa (Roberts); David; Charles; Sarah (Hale); Phineas; Adeline (Angier) and Au- gusta, twins; Laura; George E., the sub- ject of this sketch; King; Elizabeth, and a child that died in infancy. Hiram Smith was a firm friend of education, and in his politi-
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cal affiliations was a Democrat. Both he and his wife entertained broad, liberal views as to religion, but preferred the Universalist church.
Our subject is a man who, wherever, he is known, is respected for his sterling qualities. He has, like all men, had opportunities, but unlike many men, he has made the most of them. He takes a broad, comprehensive view of life, in this respect being very similar to his honored father. He has knowledge of many other interests than those with which he is intimately connected, and in all matters, his judgment is known to be sound. He is heir to a good name and that good name he proposes to hand down to posterity without tarnish.
ILLIAM W. HAYS, a prominent blacksmith of Fairview, Pa., was born in Beaver Falls, Pa., November 10, 1849.
He learned black- smithing with his father, with whom he worked sixteen years. He has lab- ored all his life at his chosen trade,-a trade which has been followed until the pres- ent day by each succeeding father and son, through many generations of the family. Mr. Hays is a son of Adams and Barbara (Lang- necker) Hays, and grandson of Adams and Sissin (Stephens) Hays.
The grandfather of William W. was born in Carlisle, Eastern Pennsylvania. He learned blacksmithing under his father. In those early days all kinds of machinery were made
by blacksmiths, and were merely fitted by ma- chinists. He also learned to make sickles. He wedded Sissin Stephens, and they reared a large family of children, as follows : Martha ; John A .; Eliza; Thomas Calvert; Sissin ; Be- linda; Adams; Caroline; Sallie Adams; Mar- garet ; and William.
William W. Hays' father was one of the younger members of the family. After he had learned blacksmithing from his father, he, in company with two of his brothers, moved to Beaver county. He then started into busi- ness in old Brighton, which is now Beaver Falls. He did all kinds of smithing (includ- ing tool dressing), on the Ft. Wayne R. R., and later on C. & P. R. R. His first work on the railroad was done when the line was single-tracked. Forty years later, in 1898, he did similar work on the same road when it was double-tracked. His marriage with Barbara Langnecker resulted in the birth of twelve children. Barbara was a native of Germany, and was brought to America when only three years of age. The names of their children are: William W., the subject hereof ; Charles L .; George W .; Fanny (Lomax) ; Frank, deceased; Sissin; Mary (deceased ; Samuel B .; Harry P .; James J .; John R. ; and Annie, who died at the tender age of nine years. George W. is manager for Butler & Jackson, in Rochester, Pennsylvania.
The father of William W. located in Fair- view in April, 1859, and built a shop where the latter is now doing business. He carried on blacksmithing there until 1893, when he retired from active life. In 1892, the old shop
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was torn down and was at once replaced by a new one, 24 by 40 feet. The elder Mr. Hays is a consistent member of the Episcopal church, which he joined in 1874. He served as vestryman. In politics, his sympathies are with the Republican party. He has always voted for that party's candidates, and has worked hard for its success, but would never accept office. The mother of the subject liereof died in December, 1892. The father still survives.
William W. Hays learned his trade when nails, horse shoes, and almost everything in that line were made by blacksmiths. He ac- quired all the peculiar features of the art from his father. Mr. Hays has been twice married, and is now a widower. His first union was contracted with Nancy A. Cochran. Nancy was a daughter of John and Jane Cochran, and was born at Egypt (now Midway), Wash- ington county, Pa., where she also received her primary education. This was supple- mented by a thorough course at Oakdale and at Cannonsburg, with a finishing curriculum at Mansfield, where she graduated. She then followed the profession of teaching, which occupied her attention for several years. She taught just back of Sewickley, in Allegheny county, and was successful to a marked de- gree. She bore her husband four children, viz .: Hallie J. (Stoner), who now resides in Youngstown, Ohio; Ross, who died in in- fancy ; Oliver A. ; and Edward Otto.
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