USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania > Part 36
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a comprehensive line of goods, including all articles in general use and for which there is a demand. He has been decidedly success- ful and his customers come from all over the surrounding country. Mr. Bryan owns con- siderable property, including a tract of forty- five acres of good farm land one mile from town, a house and lot in town, and six acres in the outskirts.
In 1874, he was married to Isabella Swaney, a daughter of Thomas and Isabella Swaney, both of whom are now dead. This marriage resulted in the birth of the following off- spring: Mary, born in 1874, who lives at home; John, born in 1876; Thomas, born in 1878; Wallace, born in 1880; Joseph, born in 1883; Alfretta, born in 1886; Robert R., born in 1889; and Edward, born in 1896. Politic- ally, Mr. Bryan is a Democrat, and served as postmaster during the administration of Presi- dent Cleveland, and as justice of the peace for two terms. He was census taker of Inde- pendence township in 1882, and very satis- factorily performed his duty. He is also a member of the Beaver County Centennial Committee. Religiously, he is a faithful mem- ber of the United Presbyterian church.
AMES W. MCKENZIE, of the firm of Mckenzie Bros., leading contractors and builders in stone and brick, of Beaver, Beaver county, Pa., is a gentleman who has won the confidence and esteem of the citizens of that thriving borough. He is of Scotch ancestry, and was born near
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Beaver, in Brighton township, October 1, 1850, being a son of Jonathan, and grand- son of Joseph Mckenzie.
Joseph Mckenzie was born in Scotland, and came to America, settling with several other Scotchmen, in Vanport, which is just outside the corporate limits of Beaver. He bought a tract of land, which was almost en- tirely covered with timber, and, after clearing it, built a log house, and there reared his family. The farm is now owned by James Mitchell. Joseph Mckenzie was a soldier of the War of 1812. He died at the age of eighty, and his wife also died about the same time. They were buried in the old cemetery, in Beaver. Their children were as follows: Maria, who married Alex Donald; Prestly ; Hamilton; Sally, who married Robert Mc- Cabe; Jonathan; Hamilton ; Joseph; Kirsley ; Albert; Ellen, who married Ralph Russell; Emily, who married Oscar Conrod; and David. Emily is the only one now living, although the others grew to maturity,-the youngest of the family living until more than seventy-five years old.
Jonathan Mckenzie, the father of James W., was born on the farm, and at the age of sixteen years was bound out to his brother-in- law, Alex Donald, to learn the tanning trade ; the latter's tannery being the one subse- quently owned by General U. S. Grant's father, in the Western Reserve, Ohio. After attaining manhood, Jonathan left this trade and went back to Vanport, where he manu- factured lime, pottery and brick, and later began contracting for stone and brick build-
ings. Many of the buildings which he built are standing in Beaver at the present time, and show that the work was, for that time, of a high order. His sons, John and James, learned the trade with him, and he subse- quently took them in as partners, the firm name being J. Mckenzie & Sons. Mr. Mc- Kenzie met with a serious accident,-falling and breaking his hip,-which resulted in his death soon. afterward, at the age of eighty- five. He married Ann McCurdy, a daughter of Andrew McCurdy, and she died at the age of seventy-eight. They were both faithful members of the M. E. church, and are buried in the cemetery at Beaver, Pennsylvania. Their children were: William, who died at the age of sixty-three years; Joseph, of Can- ton, Ohio; John, of Beaver; Mary, the wife of J. M. Graham; James W .; and George, of Beaver.
James W. Mckenzie, whose name heads this sketch, assisted his father and became his partner, and after his father's death, he and his brother John conducted the business under the firm name of Mckenzie Bros. Lately, Andrew G. Mckenzie, a son of John, has also become one of the partners, and this firm is known to be the largest in their line, in Beaver. They have erected many modern and valuable houses, to the entire satisfaction of the owners. Among these houses are those of Rev. Dr. W. G. Taylor; Thomas F. Galey ; John Snyder; J. B. Kirtz; J. I. Martin; J. Childs; Mrs. J. S. Rutan; D. A. Nelson; A. S. Moore; D. W. Miller; W. S. Moore; and others. The subject of this sketch built him-
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self a fine residence on Raccoon street, which has every modern convenience. He married Mary French, a daughter of Captain Samuel B. French, of Beaver, and they have reared two children, the third child, Elsie, dying at the age of eighteen months. The others are Robert C., a graduate of Beaver College, and now a student in Effingham College, Effing- ham, Ill .; and Ralph, a student in the public school. Mr. Mckenzie is a strong Repub- lican, and has served six years as president of the board of education. The family are mem- bers of the M. E. church. The subject of these lines has many friends in the county, and is highly spoken of by all.
ONATHAN TAYLOR, a representa- tive of the thrifty agricultural class of citizens of Beaver county, resides upon his fine farm in Chippewa township, where his family has lived for many years. He is a son of Jonathan and Elizabeth Taylor, and was born May 30, 1855.
His grandfather was Joseph Taylor, who was born in Oldham, England, where he fol- lowed farming, holding several life leases, and owning considerable property. He came to this country and purchased the farm which forms a portion of that owned by the subject of this record. This he improved greatly and built new barns on it, one of them being 40x60 feet, in dimensions. He raised stock and shipped to Fallston and Brighton, attaining good results in that line. He and his wife, Jane, reared six children, as follows:
Jonathan, Andrew, John, Sarah, Mary, and Ann.
Jonathan Taylor was born in Oldham, Eng- land, and after attending the public schools there for some years, worked in a coal mine until he came to America with his wife. He settled near Pittsburg and took up coal min- ing, which he followed for a period of two years. His father then came to this country with the rest of the Taylor family, purchas- ing the old Britain farm of one hundred and fifty acres in Chippewa township, and he as- sisted him in cultivating the farm. Upon his father's death, he received a one-third interest in the property, and later bought the entire place. He established an enviable reputation throughout the country as a stock raiser and prize winner; his animals, while being very heavy, also presented a fine appearance. This was attained mainly by the excellent care which they received, and, not as many thought who unsuccessfully tried it, by overfeeding. Many adopted his system, but never quite reached the same standard. One of his chief and most commendable characteristics was his systematic manner of doing everything, and his never-failing promptness,-it being a proud boast of his that no man was ever dis- appointed in an engagement made with him. He and his wife, Elizabeth, were the parents of seven children: Susanna (Rhodes), a na- tive of England; Mary (Hooker); Joseph; J. H .; Jane (Smith); Elizabeth (Haley); and Jonathan, the subject of this biographical rec- ord. Politically, Mr. Taylor was a Repub- lican and served as road commissioner of the
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township. Religiously, he was a devout Episcopalian. He died in 1886, at the age of seventy-four years.
Jonathan Taylor was born on the old home- stead in Chippewa township, Beaver county, Pa., and obtained an elementary education in the district schools, after which he took up farming with his father. Upon the death of the latter, Jonathan inherited the farm with his brothers and sisters, but after the prop- erty had been leased for a year, he purchased it and began to improve the place. Like his father, he is a thrifty, energetic, and sys- tematic man, and everything to which he sets his hand is done in the best fashion possible. He erected a new wagon house, and greatly enriched the soil and improved it in other ways; he has always carried on general farm- ing and fruit raising, having a splendid or- chard of goodly size. He is a man who is everywhere held in the highest esteem, and is one of the number who have done much to elevate the standard of the farming element of Pennsylvania.
The subject of this sketch was united in hymeneal bonds with Mary Reed, who was born and educated in Chippewa township, and they are the happy parents of four children, namely: Bertha M. (McGaffic); Carl Reed, who was born in 1883; Nellie B., born in 1888; and Lester D., born in 1895. In political views, he was formerly a Repub- lican, but is now a stanch supporter of the People's party.
Mrs. Taylor is included in the membership of the United Presbyterian church.
J RANKIN MARTIN, who efficiently served as district attorney from 1884 to 1890, is one of the leading practi- tioners of the legal profession in Beaver Falls, where he ranks as one of the borough's promi- nent citizens. He was born in Darlington township, Beaver county, January 14, 1852, and is a son of James P. and Mary C. Imbrie Martin, being of Scotch-Irish descent.
He was reared on the homestead farm in Darlington township; after receiving a prelim- inary training in the schools of his native township, he pursued advanced studies at Darlington Academy and then in Westminster College. He remained on the farm until 1876, when he was appointed deputy sheriff under his father, serving in that capacity for three years.
In 1879, he entered upon the study of law with Agnew & Buchanan, and after a careful preparation was admitted to practice, Feb- ruary 6, 1882. His success was immediate and in 1883 he was elected to the office of dis- trict attorney, and served with such satisfac- tion that he was re-elected upon the expira- tion of his term. He has been a constant stu- dent, increasing his vast store of knowledge in the science of law by study and practical ex- perience, and today he ranks among the fore- most of the county's attorneys.
In 1880, Mr. Martin was married to Anna Eakin, daughter of John R. Eakin, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work. They are the proud parents of three interest- ing children: Helen, Margaret and Mary. In religious attachments and fellowship, they
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are devout members of the United Presbyte- rian church. Politically, our subject is a stanch Republican.
HARLES W. WRIGHT, superintend- ent of the Aliquippa Steel Works, is the youngest man in the country oc- cupying a position of that kind in a plant of such magnitude, and has established a rep- utation throughout Western Pennsylvania in that capacity.
The Aliquippa Steel Company was organ- ized in 1892, and has been the means of trans- forming what was a small country way-sta- tion into one of the most important manufac- turing towns in Beaver county. Although the town is but seven years old, it is now a borough ; it possesses excellent natural advan- tages, located, as it is, in the great Beaver Valley. The officers of the company are as follows: Joseph G. Vilsack, president ; J. C. Russell, vice president; C. A. Fagan, secre- tary and treasurer; Alexander Thomas, gen- eral manager; and Charles W. Wright, super- intendent. The general offices are located at No. 512-513 Times Building, Pittsburg, and the plant covers fifteen acres of land at Ali- quippa. They manufacture open hearth and crucible steel, taking the pig iron and manu- facturing the finished product ; they make tool steel for all purposes,-principally for circular saws, disks and cross cut saws (surpassing in this every other firm in the country), agricul- tural blades, and for round and hexagonal tools. The plant consists of three buildings
and a boiler house, which is constructed of corrugated steel, with seven immense boil- ers of the latest and most serviceable pattern, which feed the 500 horse-power engine. The dimensions of the three buildings are respect- ively as follows : 210 feet x 40, 230 x 40; and 160 x 40. The works employ three hun- dred and fifty men, and run all of the time, a feature which is of material benefit to the bor- ough. They have in use the six-ton steam hammer, a machine of stupendous power, which has revolutionized the manufacture of steel. They also operate numerous heavy shearing machines, punches, and several fur- naces, using gas fuel from a well on the grounds. The subject of this biography was not yet thirty years of age when he was called to assume the responsibilities of superintend- ent of these works, and having had a thor- ough training, he understands the business in all of its phases. He has displayed wonder- ful ability in the manner of handling the large force of men under his direction,-not only getting their best efforts, but gaining their good will, as well. He possesses the confi- dence of his employers to a marked degree, and is held in the highest esteem by his em- ployees. A young man of enterprise, he has worked his way from the lowest step in the business to his present enviable position, and his future life presents a bright prospect.
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Charles W. Wright was born in Pittsburg, Pa., December 23, 1868, and was intellectu- ally trained in the public schools of Pittsburg, graduating from the high school with the class of 1885. He at once went to work in
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the mill of Park Bros., beginning at the bot- tom, and continued in their employ for eight years, as general mill clerk. He acquired a thorough knowledge of the business that made his services valuable, and then resigned to accept the position of assistant superintend- ent of the Aliquippa Steel Company. His efforts in that capacity met with such favor that, four years after, he was promoted to the general superintendency, which he now holds. He is gifted with the eye of an expert in judg- ing the quality of steel,-deciding at a glance with as much accuracy as a chemical test would determine it,-thus saving time and expense. Mr. Wright resides in East End, Pittsburg, Pa., where he has many friends.
He was united in marriage with Catherine Clark, a daughter of Dr. H. H. Clark, the well-known physician, and they have two chil- dren : Bessie, born in 1893; and Catherine, born in 1897. Politically, he is a Republican, but is too busy to participate actively in parti- san affairs. He is a member of the order of the Royal Arcanum.
ANIEL R. CORBUS, postmaster and tax-collector of New Brighton, Pa., ranks among the most promi- nent and popular citizens of Beaver county. He was born in Beaver, September 29, 1839, and attended public schools until he attained the age of twelve years, when he was forced to work out as chore-boy on a farm, for several years. He afterwards entered the Lownsend
Wire Mills and learned wire-drawing, which le followed for forty-two years, with the ex- ception of the time spent in actual service dur- ing the Civil War. In 1870, Mr. Corbus was elected coroner of Beaver county, and hield that office until 1876. He was also elected tax-collector in 1894, and has been re-elected every year since; he is now serving his sixth year in that capacity. October 1, 1898, Mr. Corbus was appointed postmaster of New Brighton,-succeeding William Wallace. The office ranks in the second class, and its earliest record is the appointment of B. B. Chamber- lain, as postmaster, Marchi 12, 1849. He was succeeded by O. Waters, December 23, 1852 ; he was succeeded by C. H. Higby, July 7, 1853; he was succeeded by John Glass, April 16, 1857; he was succeeded by Isaac Covert, July 12, 1859; he was succeeded by John C. Boyle, March 13, 1861 ; he was succeeded by Mrs. E. B. Cuthbertson, January 24, 1869; she was succeeded by Walter S. Branden, March 1, 1886; he was succeeded in March, 1892, by A. J. Bingham, who was in turn suc- ceeded by William Wallace.
Daniel R. Corbus was united in marriage with Cornelia Fairman, a daughter of Cap- tain William Fairman, of Pittsburg. They have one son and one daughter, namely : Wil- liam, and Thankful. William is a brakeman on the railroad, and makes his home in Perry, Iowa. He married Margaret Brown, and now has two children, Chester and Lucian. Thankful is her father's able assistant in the postoffice. The subject of this sketch is a son of John S. and Eliza (Reeves) Corbus, and a
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grandson of John and Betsey (Skillinger) Corbus. The original name of the family was Corbustria, and they descended from the early French Huguenots. John Corbus spent his early life in the state of Maryland, south of Baltimore. Later in life, he went west to Ohio, with Messrs. McIntyre and Zane, and assisted those gentlemen to survey and lay out the town of Zanesville, Ohio,-where he fin- ally settled. He conducted a hotel there for many years, and the building which he occu- pied is still standing. Tradition says his hotel was famous for its clean floors and its good meals. In those days beds were almost un- known in country inns or hotels,-it being customary for each traveler to carry his own blanket and, wrapped therein, to sleep on the floor near the old fireplace. Mr. Corbus died when about the age of forty-two years. His wife was Betsey Skillinger, of George's Run, near Cumberland, Maryland. She bore him the following children : John S., Rosa, Tina, and Eliza. Some time after the death of Mr. Corbus, the widow contracted a second mar- riage. She became the wife of Mr. World, by whom she had several children.
John S. Corbus was born at Zanesville, Muskingum county, Ohio, and, while still a young man, went to Fallston, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. In 1824, he began learning the art of making scythes, under the instruc- tions of a Mr. Blanchard. They were then made by hand, but several years afterwards machinery took the place of the hand-work, and then Mr. Corbus withdrew from the busi- 11ess, and learned the trade of wire-drawing
in the factory of Robert Lownsend, at Falls- ton. He followed the latter business during all of his active days. In 1836, or 1837, he purchased a lot on what is now the corner of Fourth avenue and Thirteenth street, and upon this site he built a substantial brick dwelling in which he spent the closing years of his life,-dying at the advanced age of eighty-five years. His remains lie buried in the Grove cemetery. His beloved wife, who was Eliza Reeves before her marriage, also attained a good old age, passing to the life beyond the grave, at the age of eighty-three years, and being buried by the side of her husband. Seven children were born to them; Mary J., wife of Hugh Irwin; John, of Bea- ver Falls; Thankful, wife of Dr. Louis Jack; Elizabeth, who came to her death by drown- ing in childhood; Margaret, wife of Richard Irwin; Daniel R., the subject of this sketch ; and Jesse M., who resides at New Brighton.
April 17, 1861, Daniel R. Corbus enlisted in the New Brighton Rifle Company for a short time, but later re-enlisted as a private in the Ninth Pa. (Pittsburg) Rifles, and served in the battle of Dranesville, the Seven Days' Battle before Richmond, and the second Battle of Bull Run. Then sickness compelled him to enter the hospital; after recovering his usual health, he participated in the battles of Fred- ericksburg and Gettysburg, and was honor- ably discharged, May 4,- 1864. He re-enlisted in the 17th Reg., Pa. Vol. Cavalry, and served until the successful termination of the war. Mr. Corbus is a member of the Union Veteran Legion, No. I. He is a member and past
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grand, of I. O. O. F. lodge, and is past royal patriarch of the encampment, having also rep- resented that body in the grand lodge of the state; he is also a member, and past comman- dei, of the Knights of Pythias. He has taken a fitting and active interest in his borough, serving in the council for several years, and having charge of the fire department. In 1894, he was elected tax collector for a term of three years.
The subject of this memoir inherited a part of his father's lot on Fourth avenue, and erected a handsome brick residence upon it, which he now occupies. His political affilia- tions are with the Republican party, and he is universally esteemed by all who have the pleasure to know him. In business life Mr. Corbus is worthy and straightforward; in social circles, he is a true and firm friend ; he has fulfilled the duties of his office with credit and honor,-having fine natural abilities adapting him to even a higher and more diffi- cult position.
ILLIAM H. FORBES is super- intendent of the Keystone Axle Company, which is located at Mora- do, Beaver county, and the offices of this large plant are at No. 200 Telephone Building, Pittsburg, Pa. The method used in the mak- ing of axles by this company is called the roll- ing process, and it is the only company in the world that uses that method, all others using the hammer process. This process has at- tracted much attention throughout the world
and the subject of this sketch is to give an ex- hibition of the process to an audience of rail- road and steel experts from Paris. Mr. Forbes was born at Warren, Pa., June 18, 1857, and is a son of William and Martha (Shaw) Forbes, both residents of Warren county, Pennsylvania.
He attended the public schools of Warren and then learned the trade of a carpenter, and later the millwright trade. He completed his mechanical trade at the Richmond Locomo- tive Works, at Richmond, Va., after which time he spent several months working in the round house of the Nickel Plate Railroad at Bellevue, Ohio. His next position was at Chicago, Ill., where he became foreman of the U. S. Rolling Stock Company; when that plant failed in 1890, he found employment in the large greenhouse of G. W. Miller, the largest florist of Chicago. In the spring of 1891 he was employed by the Standard Oil Company as fuel expert, being engaged in teaching the people how to burn fuel oil. Jan- uary 1, 1892, Mr. Forbes became master me- chanic of the Chambers & McKee Glass Works, at Jeannette, Westmoreland county, Pa., remaining with that company three years and three months. He then went into busi- ness on his own account as mechanical adviser at No. 210 Bissell block, Pittsburg. After two years of this line of business, sickness com- pelled him to make a change, and after a year of recuperation, on February 22, 1897, he accepted a position as master mechanic of the company with which he is now con- nected. July 10, 1897, he again resumed his
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position with the Standard Oil Company as fuel expert, being assigned to the eastern states, and making a specialty of glass works. He returned to the Keystone Axle Works January 12, 1898, becoming superintendent of the works. The plant is 80 by 200 feet, and the company make railroad car-axles for the Pennsylvania Railroad and for many other railroads throughout the country. Al- though the rolling process is thought by many to be impossible, it has so far been pro- nounced by experts to be a decided success. Mr. Forbes is the third superintendent of this large plant, and is the only one who has made it successful.
Mr. Forbes was wedded to Miss Eva Ran- dall, of Jamestown, N. Y., and six children have been born to them: Maude, Thomas, Francis, Alma, Edward, and Edna. The sub- ject of this sketch is a member of the Latter Day Saints, of which sect he is an ardent sup- porter, and whose headquarters are at Lamoni, Iowa.
HARLES A. TREIBER, the leading plumber and contractor of Beaver Falls, Beaver county, Pa., and an active member of the firm of Treiber & Co., has for many years been one of the most prom- inent men of the town, and is looked upon by all as a man of great worth and sterling business principles. In all business dealings he is honest and upright, as the large number of contracts which he receives goes to prove. He was born in Beaver Falls, in 1861; is a
son of John Treiber, and grandson of Jacob Treiber.
Jacob Treiber was a native of Germany, and during all his active business life held an important position under the German govern- ment as inspector of forests, having a large territory under his supervision. John Treiber, the father of Charles A., was born in Germany in 1830, received his schooling in his native city, and graduated from one of the famous universities of the country. He came to America and followed the trade of paper bleaching, which he had learned in his native country. After working at this for many years in Latrobe, Pa., he was induced by the firm of Frazier & Metzger, to move to Beaver Falls, which he did in 1886. He was in the employ of this firm for twenty-five years. In 1852 he was united in marriage with Matilda Day, who was born in Beaver Falls in 1830, and received her schooling in that town. They reared four children, as follows: Charles A., the subject of this sketch; James, baggage- master on the Fort Wayne R. R .; Catherine, now Mrs. Elliot, living in Pittsburg; and Jeannie, now Mrs. Couch, of Kent, Ohio. In politics Mr. Treiber was a Democrat. He belonged to the Lutheran church. Fraternal- ly, he was identified with the I. O. O. F. and K. of P. His death occurred in 1889.
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