USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania > Part 5
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a as assistant yard- master on the Baltimore & Ohio Rail- road. He subsequently entered the employ of the Pittsburg Gas Company and worked in the retort house for three months, when he was appointed weighmaster. After a time, he resigned, bought a team of horses and en- gaged in contracting. He worked very hard, and his business was flourishing, when he sold out to Minesinger Brothers eighteen years later. In the meantime he had become inter- ested in the brick works at Vanport, and he continued there until he removed to Monaca and, in partnership with his brother, operated the Welch Fire Brick Company. His brother, however, disposed of his interest and was suc-
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ceeded by Mr. J. H. Gloninger. He started with the old square kilns, but he has made improvements and added modern appliances until the concern outclasses all others in the locality. He was the first in the county to possess one of the celebrated English contin11- ous kilns, having 16 chambers and a capacity of 500,coo bricks. It is a great saving and is distinguished from all others in that while one part is under full heat, the others can be cooled off, emptied and filled. In connection with the works are 135 acres of clay land, to which an incline leads by way of a side entry. A new engine has just been put in to operate the incline, and the heavy grinding and crush- ing machines for manufacture. This firm makes a specialty in shapes, one contract call- ing for as many as forty different shapes. Be- sides the extensive grounds which they have under cover, there is a building 175x90 feet, another three-story building 112x60 feet, with dry tunnels carrying 90,oco bricks in the dry room, and having a capacity of 25,000 per day. The office at the works is located near the railroad, and the general offices and salesroom are located at Pittsburg. Fifty men are in the employ of the com- pany, and when the capacity of the works is doubled as is contemplated, the force of workmen will be largely increased. Mr. Welch is also a member of the firm of Welch, Gloninger & Maxwell of Welch, Pa., the town, which is named after our subject, being supported by the works.
He owns a fine residence in Monaca, which stands upon an elevation above the town and
is called Welchmont. It is a very handsome home, being constructed of buff brick after the owner's own plans, and it commands an excellent view of the surrounding country. Mr. Welch also owns a fine dairy farm of 354 acres in Borie township, containing 40 head of good Jerseys and registered Holsteins, and sells milk in Beaver Falls. He raises consid- erable grain and hay, but it is all fed to the stock. Politically, Mr. Welch is a strong Re- publican, but has never had the time to de- vote much attention to party affairs. In reli- gious attachments he is a Baptist, and, socially, is a Royal Arch Mason.
B ENJAMIN FRANKLIN, the subject of this sketch, is a prominent educa- tor of Beaver county, Pa., and has grown gray in the active service of that noble profession. He is a son of George and Jane (West) Franklin, and was born August 25, 1831, in Sherburne, Chenango county, New York. His mother died when he was very young, and the young lad was reared by a Connecticut family. The name of his foster- father was Orrin Harmon, who removed to Ohio when Benjamin was still very young. Mr. Harmon was a surveyor by trade and was in the employ of the Connecticut Land Company. Upon going west to Ohio, he settled at Ravenna, where the subject of our sketch obtained his primary education. This was supplemented by a three years' course at the academy at Ashtabula, Ohio, after which young Franklin completed the high school
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
course at Ravenna, and then took a finishing course at Tappan Seminary, his foster-father having a scholarship in that institution.
Mr. Franklin then began his life work for which he had spent many years in diligent preparation. He taught school two years, and then went to Beaver county, Pa., in 1856. After locating permanently in Industry town- ship, where he purchased property, he has fol- lowed his chosen calling almost uninterrupt- edly ever since. After teaching in Industry township for four years, he taught one year in Ohio township. In 1865, he was elected principal of the Fallston schools, where he re- mained four years by contract. At the close of that time, he was offered a larger salary at North Bridgewater and remained there four years. The people of Fallston then came for- ward and desiring his services, persuaded Mr. Franklin to return to Fallston by giving him a very substantial increase in salary over that received at North Bridgewater. So he returned to Fallston, and remained there for six years, but as it was his intention to be a candidate for county superintendent of Bea- ver County the following year, he did not ac- cept the Fallston school, but taught one term in Brighton township as involved a period of effort which would terminate before election time.
In May, 1875, Mr. Franklin was elected county superintendent over M. L. Knight, the incumbent at that time. At the close of his first term of three years, he was elected again to the same position. After his second term had closed, Mr. Franklin did not teach for
some time, but purchased a store in Fallston, and engaged in mercantile pursuits, with the assistance of his sons, for a period of five years. At the end of that time, Mr. Frank- lin accepted a school at Smith's Ferry, being offered special inducements to take it and dis- cipline it. After spending one year there, he taught at Freedom for a year, at College Hill near Geneva College, for two years, at West Bridgewater for two years, in a graded school at Pulaski, in an independent school district for two years, and then returned to West Bridgewater for two terms. Subsequently he retired to his farm in Brighton township and superintended its affairs until 1898. In the autumn of that year he accepted the charge of the school which he is now teaching in Brighton township. For thirteen years, Mr. Franklin served on the board of examiners, and assisted in examining applicants for teacher's certificates. In 1876, he conducted the examination of the Phillipsburg Soldiers' Orphan's School for the state. He also made a creditable showing of school work at the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia in 1876, receiving the strong commendation of the authorities who passed upon the work. Mr. Franklin has assisted in examinations at the State Normal, at Edinboro, and also at Indiana State Normal Schools. Politically, our subject is a Republican and has always followed that party to victory or defeat.
Mr. Franklin chose for his life partner, Martha Reed, a lady of rare intellectual at- tainments, who bore him two sons, Orrin H., a successful dentist, a sketch of whose life is
SAMUEL M. KANE.
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also found in this publication ; and Milo O., a machinist in the employ of the Union Drawn Steel Works. The subject of this narrative and his wife are devout worshippers in the Presbyterian church. Mr. Franklin has been elder and trustee of that denomination for fif- teen years. He is still serving in that official capacity, and for nine years was superintend- ent of the Sabbath School.
J OHN C. BATES, a gentleman who has, for years, been one of the most enter- prising citizens of Rochester, Beaver county, Pa., has for a long period been iden- tified with the Rochester Tumbler Works. He is a son of William and Mary Jane (Thompson) Bates, and was born in Steuben- ville, Ohio, in 1848.
William Bates, the father of John C., was also born at Steubenville, Ohio, and through- out his entire life was engaged as a brick con- tractor. He died in his native town at the age of sixty-five years. His union with Mary Jane Thompson, who was born at West Brownsville, and is now living at the ad- vanced age of seventy-four years, resulted in the birth of three children: John C., whose name heads these lines; William, and George.
John C. Bates, the subject hereof, learned the trade of glass making when a boy, at Steu- benville, and from there he went to Wheeling, West Virginia, where he continued at that oc- cupation until he removed to Pittsburg. He plied his trade in the latter city until 1877, when he came to Rochester, which has since
been his home. He assisted in the Rochester Tumbler Works, and still efficiently serves in that capacity. He is a man of excellent judg- ment, and has so conducted his affairs that he is rated among the prosperous citizens of the community. He bought a vacant lot on Penn street, known as the Lloyd property, and upon this he erected a handsome, modern house. In this he resided for years, but he now makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. S. M. Kane, whose residence is on the oppo- site side of the same street.
John C. Bates was united in marriage with Ida Cotton, of Pittsburg, and four children blessed their home, namely: Virginia, the widow of Samuel M. Kane, a record of whose life follows this paragraph; Bertha, deceased ; John Emmett, and Georgella. Mr. Bates is liberal in his religious views. Socially, he is a member of the Odd Fellows' Lodge and Encampment, and the A. O. of M.
SAMUEL M. KANE, deceased, who was a man of sterling worth, and one of the influen- tial citizens of Beaver county, was an organizer of the Rochester Tumbler Works, and general manager thereof up to the time of his demise. He was born May 1, 1839, in Steubenville, Ohio, and as his father died when he was a child, Samuel was thrown upon the world to battle for himself at an early age. Being of an energetic disposition, he grasped what op- portunities were his to obtain an education, at the same time finding employment at glass manufacturing. He was ambitious and in- dustrious, and progressed rapidly, acquiring great skill as a workman. Early in life he
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
went to Pittsburg, as many of his associates did, and accepted a larger and more profit- able position. He availed himself of every opportunity for advancement, with foresight and sound judgment, and became one of the organizers of the company which built and operated the Rochester Tumbler plant, of Rochester, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Kane became its general manager, and under his skillful guidance, the business increased to a wonderful extent, and the works were soon shipping to every state in the Union, and to foreign markets. Today this concern is the largest establishment of its kind in the world -for which development much credit is due to Mr. Kane. He possessed a keen insight in business affairs, and identified himself with numerous enterprises which not only bene- fited him in a financial way, but were of mate- rial advantage to the borough and county. He was a director of the First National Bank of Rochester, president of the Rochester Im- provement Company, a stockholder and di- rector of the Rochester Electric Light Plant, and a supporter of other business ventures. He erected an attractive home on Pennsyl- vania street in Rochester, overlooking the beautiful Ohio Valley, and being one of the finest in that locality. It is well arranged and chastely furnished, and its interior appoint- ments reflect much credit upon the refined taste of Mrs. Kane.
On January 17, 1895, while crossing the railroad near the factory, Mr. Kane was run down by an engine and killed. It was the saddest accident that ever befell the borough
of Rochester, and cast a heavy gloom over the entire community. Every citizen mourned as for a brother, and there was universal com- miseration. He had been a kind, loving hus- band, and a true and faithful friend.
Fraternally, Samuel M. Kane was a thirty- second degree Mason; a member of the Knights Templar and Scottish Rites lodges of Pittsburg; the R. A. M. of Rochester; a charter member and past grand master of the Lodge and Encampment, I. O. O. F .; a Woodman of the World; Royal Templar ; he belonged to the Junior Order of United Amer- ican Mechanics, of which he was an honorary member. He was also the organizer of the Order of Rebecca, at Rochester. Religiously, he was a devout member, and trustee, of the Baptist church. A portrait of Mr. Kane pre- cedes this sketch.
TEPHEN MOLTHRUP, an organ- izer of the Standard Gauge Steel Works, one of the most prosperous and important of the industries of Bea- ver Falls, is efficiently serving as super- intendent of the plant. He was born in Loudonville, Ohio, December 10, 1863, and is a son of James C. and Rosanna (Rust) Molthrup, and grandson of William Molth- rup.
William Molthrup was of Scotch-French descent and was born in Vermont, where he lived for some years, having acquired an edu- cation and a knowledge of the trade of shoe-
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making there. He removed to Erie, Pa., where he followed his trade for some time, and then went to Ohio where he spent the balance of his life. He married a Scotch lady and they had two children: Amanda, who was single ; and James C., the father of Stephen.
James-C. Molthrup was born in Vermont, April 4, 1822, and received his education in the public schools there and at Erie, Pa., where he was taken by his parents when very young. He learned the trade of a founder and machinist and worked for many years in the shops of the Pennsylvania R. R. at Al- liance and Crestline, Ohio, continuing in their employ until after the close of the War, when he went into business for himself at Loudon- ville. Remaining there until 1887, he moved to Beaver Falls and after following the busi- ness of a pattern maker for some little time, he went to live a retired life at the home of our subject until his death. He was married to Rosanna Rust, who was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., March 30, 1829, and was a daughter of Stephen Rust. The following children blessed this union : Amanda ; Stephen, who died in infancy; Helen (Bea- vers); Ida (Underwood); Mary (Chapel) ; Stephen, the subject hereof; James, who died young ; and William, whose trade is that of a machinist. Before the War Mr. Molthrup was a Democrat, but at that time joined the ranks of the Republican party, of which he was an unswerving supporter until his death. Religiously, he was a Methodist and was a trustee of the church.
Stephen Molthrup received his educational
training in the public schools of Loudonville and Perrysville, Ohio, after which he entered the shops of his father and learned the trade of a machinist. He moved to Beaver Falls in 1886, to accept a position in the shops of the Carnegie Steel Company, and for six years he continued in their employ, after which he was employed by the Union Drawn Steel Company. One year later he went to Pitts- burg, Pa., but after a short stay returned to Beaver Falls and re-entered the service of the Carnegie Steel Company. In company with nine others, he was active in the incor- poration of the Standard Gauge Steel Com- pany and became a charter member of the concern. He was chosen as one of the direc- tors and accepted a position as machinist. Be- ing a man of many years' experience and possessed of excellent business qualifications, he was the man above all others to superin- tend the work of this plant, and he was soon placed in charge. The firm has an estab- lished reputation for the excellency of its work, for which much credit is due Mr. Molthrup, and it ranks to-day among the leading business enterprises of Beaver Falls. The works covers an area of 300x100 feet, and they employ a large force of men. The offi- cers are as follows: A. Rasner, president ; and J. W. Forbes, vice-president; and the direc- tors are: Messrs. Stephen Molthrup, Ray- mer, Dinger, Gilland, Bevin, Forbes, Reed, and William Molthrup.
Mr. Molthrup was joined in marriage with Ellen M. Miller, a daughter of Philip Miller, and they have a daughter, Helen. Politically,
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Mr. Miller is a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Odd Fellows' Lodge.
RS. MARY ANN BALDWN is the esteemed widow of the late Marcus M. Baldwin, who was for several years one of the prominent business men of Beaver Falls. He was born in New York City in 1821, and was the son of Gabriel Baldwin, whose parents came to this country, from England.
Marcus M. Baldwin received his education in New York City, and learned the trade of a ship carpenter. He moved to Pittsburg, and went to work at his trade on the river, re- maining there for some years, when he moved to Fallston, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. There he took up the carpenter trade, work- ing as a journeyman for some time. In part- nership with another man, he accepted a con- tract, and after they had completed the work, found that there was a profit of forty dollars to each. With this small capital of $80, they - decided to continue, and with hard work, good business ability, and untiring energy, they at last worked themselves to the top, and were known as reliable business men. Their first office was on Sixth street, and the partnership beginning under such peculiar circumstances lasted until the death of Mr. Baldwin, which occurred in 1886. He was a man of splendid abilities and of sterling integ- rity, and was highly respected by all who knew him. He served in the Civil War,
answering to the call for volunteers, and was a member of Battery B, Pittsburg Artillery. He was a firm Republican, and took an active interest in the party, serving as a member of the council, and as school director. He was one of the first business men in the county, and a member of the Presbyterian church.
The subject hereof, Mary Ann Baldwin, is a daughter of Henry and Harriet Mortley. Henry Mortley was born in Kent, England, in 1812, and learned the trade of a marble cutter. following this until his marriage, when he came to America, in 1834. He settled in New York City, and remained there for sev- eral years. He was a very good workman, having served seven years' apprenticeship in England, where he was always given a high grade of work. During his later life, he moved to Ohio and continued working for some time, when he met death in a very sad manner, accidentally drowning in the Hock- ing River. His wife, Harriet Mortley was born in Hastings, Sussex County, England, and came of a good English family. She was married when but nineteen years old, and although she lived to be eighty-one years of age, she never ceased to mourn her husband's untimely death.
Mrs. Baldwin, the subject of this biography, was mentally trained in the public schools and later learned the trade of dress-making, an occupation which she followed until her mar- riage. She became the mother of eight chil- dren, as follows: Harriet (Pratt); Victoria (Pritchard) ; Bessie ; Caroline ; Charles, a con-
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HON. HARTFORD PERRY BROWN.
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tractor; Ralph Vernon, a contractor; Doro- thy; and Marcus R., a clerk. She is greatly loved by all and has hosts of warm friends. She is a member of the Episcopal church, and is ever willing to lend aid to any worthy cause.
A ON. HARTFORD PERRY BROWN, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, is one of the most prominent and enterprising citizens of the town of Rochester, and takes an unusual amount of interest in the growth and pros- perity of his adopted town. He is interested in many local enterprises, being president and general manager of the People's Electric Street Railway, secretary and general man- ager of the Beaver Valley Traction Company, and secretary and treasurer of the Rochester Heat & Light Company; he is also identi- fied with several other important undertak- ings. He was born on a farm in Raccoon township, Beaver county, Pa., August 7, 1851, and is a son of Oliver Hazard Perry Brown, and a grandson of Amasa Brown.
The original emigrant of the Brown family was Peter Brown, who was of English origin, and who came to America on the Mayflower in 1620. His grandson, George Brown, was born in 1696, and was a farmer by occupa- tion; he died in Colchester, Conn., February 5, 1765. He married Elizabeth Wells, April 12, 1730, and they reared the following chil- dren: Elizabeth, born in 1731 ; Darius, born in 1733; Charles, born in 1734; Lydia, born
in 1736; Hannah, born in 1738; two who died in their infancy; Ezra, born in 1744; Jesse, born in 1746; Oliver, born in 1748; and Amasa, born in 1750. The next in line was Jesse Brown, who was born in Col- chester, Conn., February 2, 1746, but in early life went to Utica, N. Y., where he owned and operated a saw-mill; he was also a builder of boats. In 1770 he was first married to Abi-
gail Parke, a native of Norwich, Conn., and to them were born nine children, namely: Bernice, born in 1772; Levi, born in 1773; Nathaniel, born in 1775; Amasa, the grand- father of Hartford Perry; Jeremiah, born in 1780; one who died in infancy; Jesse, born in 1784; Parke, born in 1786, and George, born in 1792. His second union was with Mrs. Marion Drew, by whom he reared two children, Abigail, born in 1808, and John, born in 1812. Amasa Brown was also born in Colchester, Conn., the date of his birth being September 12, 1777. He worked with his father, learning the trade of a boat builder, in which he became a skilled mechanic. As an agent of Aaron Burr, he went to Beaver county, and, in 1806, was made master builder at Bridgewater. Large flatboats were built, which were used to convey produce down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Amasa Brown was killed, in 1829, while launching one of these boats. He wedded Eleanor Vankirk, and to them were born six children: Milton ; John; Hannah; Oliver H. P .; Mary; and Jesse.
Oliver Hazard Perry Brown was born in Phillipsburg, Pa., now called Monaca, June
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
10, 1820. He learned the boat building trade, which he followed for many years, and after accumulating wealth, he moved to Rac- coon township, Beaver county, where he be- gan the life of a farmer. This latter occupa- tion he continued for eighteen months, and then returned to boat building. settling at Freedom, Pennsylvania. He built three large boats; the first was named Commo- dore Perry, which was at that time the best boat on the river; the second was Parthenia ; and the third was known as Hardtimes, which, singularly, earned more money than any boat which plied the river at that time. The latter vessel was used in conveying cot- ton from the valley of the Chattahoochee River to Apalachicola Bay. In 1865, he gave up boating, and, in 1866, he bought the prop- erty of J. Ranson, on the corner of Vermont and West Adams streets, Rochester, Pa.
There he resided, until his death, on November 18, 1892. His wife
was Mary McCombs, who was born July 9, 1820, and whose death occurred June 20, 1889. The following children were born to this happy union: Hartson Philmore, born in 1840, and died in 1841; Amanda Eleanor,
born in 1842, and married to Samuel R. Campbell, of Beaver Falls; Mary, born in 1844, and died in 1846; Amasa, born in 1848, and died in 1849; Hartford Perry; and Par- thenia, born in 1856, and died in 1863. Cap-
tain O. H. Perry Brown was one of the found- ers of the banking house of John Conway & Co., in 1871; he was a charter member of the Rochester Heat & Light Company, and
one of its directors until his death.
The subject of this memoir was born in Freedom, Pa., and received his early mental training in the schools of that town, and at Rochester Academy, and Beaver Seminary. He prepared himself for Yale College under the private instruction of Drs. C. C. Riggs and J. W. Scott-the latter having been pres- ident of Jefferson College, Washington, Penn- sylvania. In 1872, Mr. Brown accepted a po- sition as bookkeeper in the Second National Bank at Pittsburg, and was subsequently pro- moted to be teller; resigning his position in the bank, however, he entered West Point Military Academy as a cadet from that dis- trict. He afterward became a partner in the general mercantile business of Hon. Samuel J. Cross -- the firm name being known as S. J. Cross & Co. In 1878, Mr. Brown sold his interest therein to John Davis. Then, in company with James Rees and Simpson Homer, he built the steam boat called Car- rier, but in 1884, sold his interest in this boat, and embarked in mercantile pursuits alone. In 1886, he was elected to the legislature from this district, and consequently relin- quished his store. In 1888, he was re-elected to the legislature ; in 1888, and while a mem- ber of the House, he introduced the Ship Canal bill, secured its passage and an appro- priation of $10,000, with a commission, which made a survey of the Lake Erie and Ohio River Ship Canal, in 1889. In May, 1887, he assisted in the organization of the Roch- ester Heat & Light Company, of which he was made secretary, and, later, treasurer. The
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gas of this company is nearly all produced in Beaver county, and during the winter of 1898, a million cubic feet per day was used. Mr. Brown was one of the promoters of the Peo- ple's Electric Railway, which was opened to the public in August, 1892; the line is four miles in length, extending from the Rochester junction of the Traction Company to Free- dom and St. Clair, and running four cars daily. He was elected president of this en- terprise, and, July 1, 1897, he was made man- ager. He is a stockholder in the Beaver Valley Traction Company Railway, and in 1892, was made secretary and general manager, a position which he resigned in 1895, but was re-elected in 1899. He is also a stockholder in the Sharon Bridge Com- pany, the People's Insurance Company of Pittsburg, and was formerly a stockholder in the J. Conway banking house.
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