USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania > Part 4
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Samuel Hazen, grandfather of the subject hereof, was born at Peter's Creek, Washing- ton county (now Allegheny county) Pa., August 27, 1791. He wedded Eliza McDan- iel, a daughter of Jethro McDaniel. "Grand- ma" Hazen was born in 1798, and passed away at the age of forty-nine years. Samuel Hazen began his career by working on his
father's farm. He subsequently built a woolen mill at Wurtemberg, and carried on the manu- facture of woolen goods in connection with farming. So successfully did he manage this enterprise that before his death he became the owner of several farms. He assisted in organizing the Baptist society, of which he was a member. His homestead farm was early known as the "Leverance Farm." His deathi occurred September 7, 1855, having been previously deprived of his beloved com- panion, in 1847. Their most happy union was blessed with the following children: Na- thaniel; Mary Ann, wife of H. K. Alter; Re- becca, wife of A. Cavin ; Hannah, wife of J. C. Thompson; Margaret, wife of John Thomas ; Nathan, father of the subject hereof; Samuel, who died at the age of twenty-two years; and Smith M., who married Mary A. Ney. After the death of his first wife, Samuel Hazen con- tracted a second matrimonial alliance, in this instance with Elizabeth Ann Thompson, who bore him one daughter, Ruth, and who died September 7, 1855, the same day upon which her husband died.
Nathan Hazen, father of Christopher C., was born in North Sewickley, now Frank- lin, township, December 15, 1829. He won for his wife, Mary Judith Zeigler, a daughter of Abraham Zeigler. Mrs Hazen still sur- vives her husband, whose death occurred July 29, 1898, at the age of sixty-eight years. Christopher C.'s father purchased a farm, that upon which Thomas J. Powell now resides, which he afterwards sold, and purchased an- other in North Sewickley township. This
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latter farm was only partially improved, and is still a portion of the estate. Upon this farm the elder Mr. Hazen replaced the old log house and barns with convenient and sub- stantial buildings, in 1851, and six years later he built a handsome, large house. After clearing the land, he was occupied in farm- ing until about 1875, when he purchased the Dr. Withrow property, in North Sewickley township. He then practically retired from active labor, with the exception of keeping a store and officiating as postmaster. He also served as supervisor and as auditor. He was a very active, energetic man, accumulating a fine property, and upon his death left a large estate for distribution among his children, who are as follows: Christopher C., the sub- ject hereof; Elizabeth Eliza, who became the wife of Stewart Thompson, and is now de- ceased; Mary, wife of Dr. W. O. Morrison, of Struthers, Ohio; Maggie H., wife of Dr. C. H. Knoblett, of Ohio; Ida, wife of Hon. J. Sharp Wilson, of Beaver; and F. Lily, who is devoting her life to her aged mother.
Christopher C. Hazen was born in North Sewickley township, Beaver county, Pa., De- cember 20, 1851. After attending public school he took a course at North Sewickley Acad- emy. He graduated from Lewisburg Univers- ity, now known as Bucknell College, in 1874. He assisted in working his way through col- lege by teaching a part of the time, which profession occupied his attention before and after his graduation. After his marriage, the subject of this record conducted his father's farm for some time, making a specialty of
stock-raising, breeding some very fine horses, and keeping a choice dairy. Mr. Hazen be- gan his public life in 1885, when he was elected county auditor of Beaver county, serving six years. In 1891, he was elected county treasurer of the same county, serving in that capacity for three years. In 1897, Mr. Hazen became a stockholder in, and secre- tary for, the S. Barnes Manufacturing Com- pany, which responsible and lucrative posi- tion he still retains and seems especially fitted for.
Mr. Hazen engaged in farming for a period of twenty-one years, discontinuing it in 1896, when he purchased a fine residence in New Brighton. This residence was known as the Judge Andrew Duff place, having been built by that gentleman. It is a fine, modern house, surrounded by beautiful, spacious lawns, and is picturesquely situated on the heights overlooking the business portion of the city. Our subject was joined in wedlock with Laura H. De Frain. Mrs. Hazen is a daughter of Jacob and Susan (Boon) De Frain, and formerly resided in Lewisburg, Union county, Pennsylvania, being a gradu- ate of a young ladies' grammar school of that place. Mr. and Mrs Hazen are rearing a large and exceedingly interesting family, of whom they are very proud. Their children's names are as follows: Edith Irene, born November 13, 1875, who served as assistant to her father while he filled the office of county treasurer ; Mabel Edna, born March 12, 1877; Edna Blanche, born June 6, 1879; Clara Floy, born June 7, 1881 ; Amy Anna, born July 10, 1883;
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Harry Wilford, born October 19, 1885; Frank Harrison, born November 23, 1887; Nathan De Frain, born December 5, 1889; Harold Herbert, born October 20, 1872, and whose little life flickered out on July 21, 1873; and Thomas Ross Hennon, born June 18, 1898.
Christopher C. Hazen and his family are active members of the Baptist church, of which denomination Mr. Hazen has served as deacon. Socially, our subject is a member of St. James Lodge, No. 457, F. & A. M., is past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, and attended the Grand Lodge sessions for two years; he is also a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. Mr. Hazen is a most pleasant and agreeable gen- tleman, numbering his friends by the score, and it is with pleasure that we are able to an- nounce that his portrait accompanies the fore- going outline of his life.
OHN WYLIE FORBES. The family of which the gentleman whose name heads this biography is a worthy rep- resentative, have resided in Beaver county for more than a century and have contributed their share toward the building up and main- tenance of its present flourishing condition. Mr. Forbes is well known throughout this vi- cinity as a man of high business principles, a dutiful citizen, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of a host of acquaintances. He was born near Moravia, Lawrence county, then Beaver county,-the date of his birth being
December 29, 1835,-and he is a son of David and Elizabeth (Wylie) Forbes.
On the paternal side of Mr. Forbes' ances- tors, the family was of Scotch-Irish extraction. and William Forbes, his grandfather, was the first of the Forbes family to locate in this vicinity, which he did about 1798. He took up a large tract of land and pursued the voca- tion, of a farmer. The father of the subject of this sketch was born in 1798, and was but six months old when his parents moved to this county. He at first carried on farming but later began dealing in grain, his field of oper- ation being along the old Erie canal. He died in February, 1861. In politics, he was a Dem- ocrat of the Jeffersonian type and took an active part in local affairs. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, of which he was also an elder. His union with Eliza- beth Wylie resulted in the birth of nine chil- dren : William, deceased; John W., Rebecca, Elizabeth, Benjamin, Nancy, Robert and Alice, all deceased ; and Amanda. On the ma- ternal side of the family, the ancestors of John Wylie Forbes were Scotch, and his grand- father was John Wylie.
The subject of this narrative was elemen- tarily trained in the schools of his native dis- trist and further pursued his studies at West- minster College, after which he spent a year and one-half teaching school in the state of Kentucky. Cwing to his father's illness, he returned home and took charge of his busi- ness. His mother died in 1861. In 1870 he settled in Beaver Falls, where he worked at different vocations. He embarked in mercan-
HON. IRA F. MANSFIELD.
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tile pursuits, and in 1888 sold out, and oper- ated a foundry. The latter enterprise he con- tinued until 1892, when the Standard Gauge Steel Company was organized and he was made vice-president of the plant, a position he occupies at the present time. Mr. Forbes is a director and treasurer of the Champion Saw and Gas Engine Company of Beaver Falls. In February, 1865, the subject of our sketch enlisted in the cause of the Union in Company G, 78th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., and served throughout the remainder of that ter- rible struggle.
Socially, Mr. Forbes is a prominent mem- ber of Post No. 164, G. A. R.
ON. IRA F. MANSFIELD, an ex- tensive owner of coal mining interests about Cannelton, Pa., whose active furtherance of many well-known enterprises places him among the foremost of the prom- inent and progressive business men of Beaver county, resides in a handsome home in Bea- ver, at the corner of Elk and First streets. He is a son of Kirtland and Lois (Morse) Mansfield, and was born in Poland, Ohio, June 27, 1842.
He is descended from Revolutionary stock, being a great-grandson of Captain Jack Mansfield, who served through that war as a captain, and after its close lived in retirement, -having served sixty years in the Second, Fourth and Sixth Connecticut regiments. His son, Ira Mansfield, was the grandfather of the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch.
Kirtland Mansfield, the father of Ira F., was born in Wallingford, Conn., and early in life went to Poland, Ohio, where for many years he was engaged in mercantile pursuits. Later he removed to Philadelphia, Pa., where he lived the remainder of his life. He was joined in the bonds of wedlock with Lois Morse, a daughter of Elkanah Morse, an early settler of Poland, Ohio, where he built the first oil, woolen and grist mills. In 1849, he moved to California, where he died. After the demise of her husband, Mrs. Mansfield returned to Poland, Ohio, with her son, where he was reared under the influence of a kind mother's love.
Ira F. Mansfield received a good mental training in the common schools of his native place, and in Poland College, where he was a schoolmate of President William McKinley. At the early age of fifteen years he went to Pittsburg and learned the trade of a molder, but returned to Poland, and in August, 1862, enlisted in Company H, 105th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf.,-being the first to sign the roll. He was promoted to be orderly sergeant, then Ist lieutenant, and for conspicuous bravery at the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge he was breveted captain and was as- signed as a quartermaster of the Fourteenth Army Corps. He was with Sherman in his memorable March to the Sea and up through the Carolinas, and participated in the grand review at Washington, in May of 1865. He is a man of very methodical ways and of a very observing nature, and during his service kept a diary, and a record of his many inter-
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esting and exciting experiences. This he has written out, and, being an artist of superior talent, he has finely illustrated it with pen pictures, and also with many fine photo- graphs, taken in recent years,-all of which make a beautiful and valuable volume. In October, 1865, he leased of Mrs. Edwin Morse, the Cannel coal mines of Cannelton, Beaver county, Pa., and in 1870 bought them outright. He has since owned and operated them, and now owns 357 acres, through which veins run which are from ten to fifteen feet thick. The daily output varies from one hun- dred to two hundred and fifty tons, and the facilities for shipping are of the best,-the mines being located on a branch of the Penn- sylvania railroad. Mr. Mansfield also built a general store there and operated it for a num- ber of years, but it is now managed by C. W. Inman and known as the Cash Store. He also erected a fine opera house and furnished it in elegant style. The postoffice, which was established in the town in 1872, is located on the first floor of his building, and for many years he served in the capacity of postmaster. He bought and rebuilt the Morse homestead, and possesses a very fine farm, one hundred and eighty acres of which is devoted to fruit raising ; he has 5,000 peach trees and a large number of pear, cherry and quince trees. He is also interested in the Gulf Company, the Bituminous Company, and the Captain A. Hicks Company,-coal operators. He is a man of wonderful energy and general business ability and his many ventures have resulted in great financial success. In 1887, he moved
to Beaver, purchasing the Hum and Singleton property at the corner of Elk and First streets, and there he has erected a very handsome modern brick home, which overlooks the beautiful valley and the Ohio River.
Mr. Mansfield has traveled extensively throughout the United States and is well versed in the current events of the day. He has a fine collection of mounted speciments in bot- any, especially ferns and orchids-from Bea- ver county,-and all are illustrated on sep- arate pages, in natural colors,-this being the work of his mother. In politics, Mr. Mans- field is a stanch Republican, and was elected a member of the state legislature from Bca- ver county in 1880, 1893, 1895. and 1897,- serving his constituents faithfully and well. He was a school director of Cannelton and Beaver, and takes an earnest interest in all matters of an educational nature. He is vice- president of Beaver College, and Beaver Musi- cal Institute, and is president of the board of trustees of Greers College of Darlington. He is vice-president of the First National Bank of Rochester, is a stockholder and director of three building and loan associations, and of several bridge and street railway companies ; he is a director of the P., L. & W. R. R., of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and of the Valley Electric Plant.
The subject of this memoir was united in marriage with Lucy E. Mygatt, a daughter of Dr. E. Mygatt, who was born in Danbury, Conn., and was a practicing physician and sur- geon of Poland, Ohio, when Mr. Mansfield was married, in 1872. Three children have
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blessed this union, as follows: Kirtland My- gatt, Mary Lois, and Henry Beauchamp. So- cially, he is a member, and commander of, Post No. 473, G. A. R .; past master of the following lodges of the Masonic order, being a thirty-second degree Mason; F. & A. M., R. A. M., and K. T .; is past grand of the Odd Fellows Lodge; and past commander of the Knights of Pythias ; he served as aide-de-camp on Gen. H. H. Cummings' staff. In a relig- ious connection, he is a member and elder of the Presbyterian church. and has served as superintendent of the Sunday School. A por- trait of Mr. Mansfield is presented, in connec- tion with this sketch.
RS. MOLLIE F. RANDOLPH, who sprang from a very prominent family of Beaver county, is the widow of George F. Randolph, who, it will be remembered, was drowned in the disas- trous flood at Johnstown in 1889, whither he had gone upon a visit. He was one of the most highly respected men of Beaver Falls, and his sad death came as a severe shock not only to his family but to the citizens of the borough, among whom he had a large circle of friends.
Mrs. Randolph was born in Allegheny, Pa., February 14, 1863, and is a daughter of Major F. and Sally K. (Smith) Scott. Major Scott, who during his life was probably one of the best known men of the country, was born near Uniontown, Fayette county, Pa., September 21, 1832, and after receiving an education, he
learned the trade of a saddler and harness maker. In 1856, he removed to Allegheny, Pa., and accepted a position as passenger conductor on the Fort Wayne R. R., where he remained for many years, thus becoming acquainted with nearly all the prominent busi- ness men of Western Pennsylvania. Discon- tinuing the railroad business, he bought the St. Charles Hotel in Pittsburg and conducted it for one year, but finally disposed of it and bought the Sourbeck Hotel in New Brighton. Later he retired from the hotel business, and engaged in the wholesale candy business in Beaver Falls, being very successful. When the Fort Wayne R. R. Company built their new depot in Beaver Falls, he was offered the position of passenger agent to take effect upon the completion of the building. This he accepted and was so arranging his busi- ness affairs that he might take charge, when he was taken sick and died, just one week prior to the opening of the new depot. Major Scott married Sally K. Smith, who was born in Uniontown, Pa., October 27, 1832, and five children blessed their union, Mrs. Randolph being the only child now living.
Mollie F. Scott was one year old when in 1864, her parents moved to New Brighton, and five years old when they located at Bea- ver Falls, where she was given a good educa- tion. She has always taken an active interest in educational and church matters, and was a member of the church-the choir, and organ- ist, for nine years. She is an entertaining conversationalist and an accomplished musi- cian and singer, and has always been popular
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in social circles. She possesses exceptional business qualifications and very cleverly man- ages the property in which she and her mother live on Ninth street, and the brick res- idence adjoining, these being the estate left to her care by her father. On the maternal side of the family, she is descended in the fourth generation from General Douglas, who attained fame in the Revolutionary War. Her father was a Democrat in politics and served as school director. He was a member of the Methodist Protestant church, and fra- ternally belonged to the Franklin Lodge, F. & A. M.
George F. Randolph, the deceased husband of the subject of this sketch, was born in Johnstown, Pa., and was a son of Richard Fitz and Emma A. (Boggs) Randolph. He was descended from Edward Randolph, cap- tain in the Revolutionary War, who was a farmer in the heart of Philadelphia. His land was situated on Fifth and Randolph streets, the latter street being given his name because it cut through his farm. He was a strict adherent to the Quaker faith. He reared thirteen children.
George F. Randolph, a son of Edward, was born in Philadelphia and during his active business career operated a general store there, but in his latter days, lived in retirement. He was the father of Edward Randolph, the grandfather of our subject, who was a gradu- ate of Harvard University. For a time he de- voted himself to the practice of medicine, but at a later date read law and was a successful attorney. He was united in marriage with
Frances McShane, a daughter of a prominent Philadelphia merchant and they reared three children: George Fitz; Richard Fitz; and Charles Fitz.
Richard Fitz Randolph, the father of our subject's husband, was educated at a private academy in Chester county, Pa., but when seventeen years old, he went to Cambria county, to learn the steel trade with the Cam- bria Steel Company. He remained with them until 1884, when he moved to Beaver Falls and accepted a position in the steel and wire nail-mill, a part of the time being assist- ant manager. He subsequently accepted a position with the Beaver Falls Saw Company, with whom he continued for six years. He was united in marriage with Emma A. Boggs. a daughter of Senator Boggs of Hollidays- burg, Blair county, where she was born, and they reared five children, as follows: George F .; Francis Fitz; Harry Fitz; Richard Fitz; and Charles Fitz. Mr. Randolph is a Republican, and in religious faith is an Epis- copalian.
George F. Randolph, deceased, was edu- cated in the public schools of Johnstown, and also took a course of study in a private insti- tution. After completing his education, he went to work in the offices of the Cambria Iron Company and gave satisfaction to his employers. Resigning in 1883, he was of- fered and accepted a position in Beaver Fa'ls, with the Carnegie Company, and was given entire charge of the nine-inch mill, including the rollers and men. In 1889, while still in their employ, he paid a visit to his birth place,
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and it was while there that the calamity oc- curred which startled the whole world, in which he with hundreds of others lost their lives. He was a loving husband and a fond father, and it was indeed a sad bereavement to his devoted wife and their children. His union with Mollie F. Scott resulted in the birth of two children : Mary F., born Novem- ber 17, 1885; and Helen F., born December 1, 1886. Politically, he was a supporter of the Republican party. In a religious con- nection he was an attendant of the Method- ist Protestant church.
OGER COPE is one of the persever- ing, enterprising and successful law- yers at the bar of Beaver county. He has, by virtue of his energy and ability, impressed himself upon the borough of Beaver Falls, and has achieved marked success for a young man. He was admitted to the bar in 1881 and took up his permanent residence in Beaver Falls, where he opened an office for the practice of law. He was born in Fairfield township, Columbiana county, Ohio, Decem- ber 8, 1850, and is a son of Samuel D., grand- son of Jesse, great-grandson of John, great- great-grandson of John, who was a son of Oliver Cope, the first representative of the family in this country, he having emigrated from England.
Jesse Cope was born in Fayette county, Pa., and in 1802 located in Columbiana county, Ohio, where he followed farming. He was a Quaker. His wife was Margaret
Dixon, and they became the parents of eight children: Ellis; Samuel; Hiram; Elizabeth (Irwin); Mary (Taylor); Ann; Hannah, and Lucinda. Jesse died aged fifty-six years. Samuel D. Cope was born in Fairfield town- ship, Columbiana county, Ohio, May 5, 1815, and was reared and trained to agricultural pursuits, which he followed throughout his active career. In 1878, he retired to Leetonia, Ohio, where he has since resided. He was joined in marriage with Alice Rogers, a daughter of John and Phoebe Rogers of Columbiana county, and she passed from this earth in 1864 aged forty-eight years. Their children were named as follows: Rufus is practicing law in Chicago, Ill .; Mary Etta (Piersol), deceased; E. Cyrena (Rogers); F. Eudora, who resides at Leetonia, Ohio; Roger; Emma A., deceased; Jeanette, de- ceased; Amanda F., who lives at Oakland, Cal .; and Alice, who also resides at Leetonia, Ohio. Roger Cope's father was formerly a Republican, but is now a Prohibitionist ; dur- ing the Civil War he was a strong anti-slavery mar
Roger Cope attended the public school of his native town and Mt. Union College, Ohio; he then taught one year in his native county and one term at Georgetown, Illinois. Having a desire to fit himself for the bar, he began studying with his brother Rufus, who was practicing in that town ; subsequently he took a course of lectures at the University of Michi- gan, from which institution he was graduated in 1881. During his legal studies he applied himself with intelligence, vigor and energy,
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and thoroughly familarized himself with the theory and practice of law, as his subsequent progress well testifies. Upon graduation, Mr. Cope immediately established himself in busi- ness at Beaver Falls, and he has many influ- ential and valuable clients, whose interests are looked after with fidelity and a great amount of success.
Mr. Cope was wedded June 28, 1894, to Mary C. Mercer, a native of Columbiana county, Ohio, and they have one child,- Rue Alice. In politics, the subject of our sketch is a stanch Republican; socially, he is a K. of P.
AMES H. WELCH, proprietor and general manager of the Welch Fire Brick Company of Monaca, Pa., one of the oldest, best equipped and busiest of the manufacturing plants in Beaver county, is a man of great energy and enterprise. His career has been one of the greatest activity, having worked his way from a lowly station in life to a position among the most prominent business men of this section of the state.
In 1878, Mr. Welch started the Welch Fire Brick Company at Monaca, soon after the opening of the P. & L. E. R. R., and began the manufacture of the celebrated "W" fire brick, fire bricks of all kinds for mills, furnaces, locomotive tile, cupolas, and buff- building brick,-being the first in the vicinity to turn out that style of brick. He ships the product to every section of the country, and the buff brick used in Madison Square
Garden in New York City. was procured from this establishment. He has also owned works at Vanport, Pa., and is a member of the firm of Welch, Gloninger & Maxwell of Welch, Pennsylvania.
James H. Welch was born in Red Brook, Monmouth, Eng., in 1846, on the 7th of June, and received his intellectual training in the public schools of Monmouth, which he attend- ed until he reached the age of twelve years. He then went to work in a grocery store and continued until he was seventeen years old. Being an intelligent appearing youth of fine physique, he was appointed platform in- spector and ticket collector at Ross Station, and later joined the Cheltenham police force. This comprised his occupation until within two days before he left England, in 1867, when he came to America set- tling in Pittsburg, Pa., where he se- cured position
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