Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 103

Author: Hazen, Aaron L. (Aaron Lyle), 1837- comp. and ed. cn
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1058

USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > New Castle > Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th > Part 103

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and was in the latter State when the Span- ish-American War was declared. He en- listed in Company L, Second Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until the war was over. In 1898 he engaged in business with his present part- ner, Mr. Campbell, at Coraopolis, and four years later the partnership was made per- manent and for two years he has been a resident of Ellwood City. This firm has done almost all of the work in their line for the Pittsburg Company and has had a con- tract with the Ellwood City Water Com- pany ever since it has been here. The large contract for the plumbing and gas fitting and also the installing of the sewerage sys- tem for the brewery at Aliquippa, Beaver County, was awarded to the firm of Camp- bell & Robel, and it completed the work in a most satisfactory manner. The business address of the firm at Ellwood City is No. 312 Fifth Street.

Mr. Robel is a member of the Presby- terian Church. He is a Mason, belonging to Ellwood Lodge, No. 599, and to the Knights of Malta, Coraopolis, and Aliquip- pa Commandery. In polities he is identi- fied with the Republican party.

A. D. NEWELL, member of the Select Council of New Castle, chief of the fire de- partment of Mahoningtown and a member of the fire commission of New Castle, has been in business as a general merchant, on the corner of Liberty and Wabash Streets, since 1903. He was born at Mahoning- town, January 3, 1858, and is a son of Archibald and Mary (Frisbee) Newell.

The grandfather, Archibald Newell, died in Ireland, and there the second Archibald was born and reared to the age of nine- teen years. He then crossed the Atlantic Ocean to Canada, later made his way to Pennsylvania and there became a member of the engineering corps that assisted in making the survey for the old Erie Canal. He later established his home at Mahon- ingtown, where he embarked in a general mercantile business, about 1841, being one

of the pioneers in that line in the village. While residing there he married Mary Frisbee, who was a daughter of Samuel Frisbee. Mr. Frisbee was of New Eng- land birth and was an early settler in Tay- lor Township, Lawrence County. He built the first substantial steamboat ever con- structed in Pittsburg, having been sent there by Robert Fulton. The Kate Fris- bee was originally intended for service on the Sacramento River, in California, and was taken there by a sailing ship around Cape Horn, but for some reason it was never devoted to that service, and after its return it was utilized for many years on the Lower Mississippi River. His second wife was Jane Davis, whose family owned all the land around the present village of Davisville, Allegheny County. Mr. Fris- bee owned a farm, purchased from a Dr. Pollock, which now adjoins West Pitts- burg, but he was not satisfied with the quiet of an agricultural life and shortly afterward returned to Pittsburg, where his activity continued until his death.

Archibald Newell was the leading mer- chant at Mahoningtown for many years. In 1870 he built the store building that his son, A. D. Newell, now occupies, and con- tinued in business for some ten years fol- lowing, when he retired. At this time his sons. A. D. and J. D. F. Newell, took over the business and three years later A. D. sold his interest. For a short time he lived in Colorado, but made no permanent investments there, and after his return to Pennsylvania he worked for his uncle, J. D. Frisbee, at Connellsville, for about eight years. In 1883 his brother, J. D. F. Newell, died and Mr. Newell took charge of the business. It has been reorganized, with I. R. Zaniser as a partner, and is now con- ducted under the firm style of A. D. Newell & Company.

Mr. Newell is the only survivor of the family of six children born to his parents. His father died at the age of seventy-six years and the mother when aged eighty- two years. She was well preserved and

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when almost eighty years of age did not hesitate taking a trip to California alone. Mr. Newell married Wilhelmina Lemley, who is a daughter of G. Lemley, who is vice-president and manager of the Youngs- town Carriage Works. They have one daughter, Elizabeth C.

Mr. Newell has been very active in pub- lic life and is a leading Democrat. He was postmaster at Mahoningtown during the second administration of President Cleve- land. In the spring of 1908 he was elected a member of the Select Council. He was the first man appointed chief of the fire department of Mahoningtown. Mr. Newell is a Knight Templar Mason.

CHARLES C. ROBINGSON, vice-presi- dent and manager of the New Castle Real Estate Company, has been a resident of New Castle, Pa., since August 4, 1904, and has been actively identified with the affairs of the city.

Mr. Robingson is a native of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and was accorded superior educational advantages. After completing his common school training he attended Piersol's Academy, Western Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, and Washington and Jefferson College at Washington, Pa. His career in business began as secretary and treasurer of the Logan & Strobridge Iron Company, of New Brighton, Pa., in which capacities he served with marked ability for a period of fif- teen years. In 1904 he removed to New Castle and for a brief period engaged in the newspaper business. He then engaged in the real estate busi- ness on an extensive scale, and upon the incorporation of the New Castle Real Es- tate Company was chosen vice-president and manager of that organization. This concern has been the most active of any in the real estate business, buying and sell- ing many valuable properties in the busi- ness and residence districts of the city, platting sub-divisions and erecting build- ings for the purpose of sale.

Mr. Robingson is a director of the Dollar Savings Association, and as president of the New Castle Chamber of Commerce has done much toward the development of the city's best interests. He is a Thirty-second Degree Mason, and a member of the Ben- evolent Protective Order of Elks. Socially he is a member of the New Castle Club. He has been active in the Democratic party, working hard for the success of party prin- ciples. In religious attachment he is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of New Castle.

JERRY J. DUNN, chief engineer for the National Tube Company of Ellwood City, has many years of practical experi- ence in his line of work behind him. He was born September 30, 1874, at Marys- ville, Ohio, and is a son of J. M. and Har- riet (Snyder) Dunn.

The paternal grandfather, Henry Dunn, was formerly a resident of Knox County, Ohio. The father of Jerry J. Dunn is de- ceased, but the mother still survives. They had a family of three sons and two daugh- ters, namely: Park Snyder, a railroad man, lives at Havre, Mont .; Florence, wife of Clyde C. Broiler, resides at Marion, Ohio; Bertha, wife of Walter Hyde, resides at Volmer, Idaho; Henry, a railroad man, lives at Devil's Lake, North Dakota, and Jerry J.

Jerry J. Dunn received his primary edu- cation in the schools of Mt. Gilead, Ohio, and later took the scientific course at the Ohio State University, which he completed in 1904. He then entered the employ of the Hydraulic Press Manufacturing Company at Mt. Gilead, as a machinist, remaining for four years and from that time on until he accepted his present responsible posi- tion with the National Tube Company at Ellwood City, in 1905, he filled more or less important positions with the large con- cerns of the country. He worked as a ma- chinist with G. A. Gray, at Cincinnati; as a tool maker with the Shelby Cycle Com- pany at Shelby, Ohio, and with the Rib

PHILIP MCCONNELL.

MRS. ELIZABETH MCCONNELL.

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Manufacturing Company of Shelby; as formerly raised many cattle and produced butter for sale, but now, with the assis- draftsman with the Shelby Steel Tube Company at Shelby; as superintendent of tance of his son, utilizes his land in raising the tube works at Greenville, Pa., and after corn, oats wheat and hay. His six-room brick residence, together with the substan- tial barn, were on the place when he pur- chased it and they go far to make the place both attractive and comfortable. two years of efficient service there came to Ellwood City. The position he now fills as chief engineer includes all the Shelby plants.

Mr. Dunn was united in marriage with Miss Martha Denman, who was born and reared at Mt. Gilead, Ohio. She is a daugh- ter of John and Lillian (Horton) Denman. They have three children: Louise, John and Eric.

Mr. Dunn has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for many years and is identified with Lodge No. 206 at Mt. Gilead.

PHILIP McCONNELL, a successful farmer and reliable and respected citizen of Shenango Township, residing on his well improved farm of 107 acres, about forty-five of which are under careful culti- vation, was born September 20, 1837, in Shenango Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of William and Nancy (Carruthers) McConnell.

The father of Mr. McConnell was born in Mercer County, and was an early set- tler in Shenango Township. For some thirty years before his death, when aged eighty years, he lived in Allegheny Coun- ty. He was a farmer and stockraiser and an honest and industrious man through his active years. He married a daughter of William Carruthers, of Shenango Town- ship and they had children as follows: James, Philip, John, of Pittsburg; Wilson, Henry, of Butler County; Alexander, Hi- ram, of New Castle, and Maria. Of these all survive except James, Alexander and Maria.

Philip McConnell had but limited educa- tional opportunities when he was growing to manhood, but he learned to be a good farmer and has always devoted his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits. He settled on his- present farm on May 6, 1884, and

On April 15, 1858, Mr. McConnell was married to Elizabeth McConnell and they have had twelve children, the survivors being: Robert Elmer, who resides in Wayne Township; Mary, who is the wife of Charles McCready, of Allegheny; Jane, who is the wife of Philip McConahy; Eliza- beth, who is the wife of David Dunlap, of Homewood, Pa .; Margaret, who is the wife of Walter McCready, of Allegheny; Deli- lah, who is the wife of George Carnes, of Shenango Township, and Philip S., who resides in Shenango Township. Mr. Mc- Connell is a Democrat in his political views, but he takes no active part, his interest being more in the development of his land and the quiet enjoyment to be found around his own fireside. He is always ready, how- ever, to do a good citizen's duty, when public matters in the community demand attention.

EDWIN AUGUSTA GWIN, postmaster and general merchant at Moravia, Law- rence County, Pennsylvania, has been a life long resident of North Beaver Town- ship, where he was born on a farm, May 4, 1856. He is a son of James and Cather- ine (Leslie) Gwin, and a grandson of Ar- thur Gwin, who was a native of County Down, Ireland, and came to this country at an early age.

James Gwin, the father, was born near Mt. Jackson, North Beaver Township, where his father had located on a farm. He followed the trade of a carpenter, which he learned in early manhood, and in addition carried on farming. He died in December, 1906, at an advanced age, his wife preceding him to the grave many years, dying in September, 1888.

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

Edwin A. Gwin was reared on the farm and attended the district schools. In ad- dition to working on the farm he learned the carpenter trade, and has been engaged in carpenter work since 1877, making a success of it, as he has of everything to which he has turned his attention. He established a general store in the building he now occupies, in January, 1900, and carries a complete stock of general mer- chandise, dry goods, groceries, and such articles of hardware for which there is a demand in a small town. In May, 1906, he was appointed postmaster of Moravia, in which capacity he now serves.

Mr. Gwin was united in marriage with Miss Mary Hill and they have had three children, as follows: Wilfred, Edwin Lee, and David Chester. Until June 14, 1908, this little family was un- divided, but on that date occurred one of those sad tragedies that bring grief both to a home and a community. David Chester Gwin, the youngest son, a bright, promising youth of fifteen years, five months and sixteen days, was drowned while swimming in Beaver River, not far from his home. His whole happy life had been spent at Moravia, where he was well known and universally esteemed.

JOSEPH CHALLIS, postmaster at Hazel Dell, general merchant and leading citizen, was born in County Essex, Eng- land, March 2, 1854, and is a son of George and Elizabeth (Jarvis) Challis.

The parents of Mr. Challis came to America in 1872, two years after their son Joseph had reached here, and they settled in Allegheny County, near Sewickley, where the father engaged in farming. They lived for many years afterward, the father dying at the home of the above named son, in Hazel Dell, in 1905, aged eighty-one years. The mother survived until 1908 and died on the homestead in Sewickley, aged sixty-six years. Their family con- sisted of the following children: Harry G., a resident of Sewickley ; Daniel W., en-

gaged in contracting, a resident of Sewick- ley ; Joseph, residing at Hazel Dell; Emily, wife of George Smith; James, foreman of a pottery plant at Lisbon, Ohio; David, a locomotive engineer, residing at Alle- gheny ; Thomas, an electrician, residing at Newark, New Jersey; and Minnie, de- ceased, was the wife of William Emmett.

Joseph Challis was sixteen years of age when he left his native land and crossed the Atlantic Ocean to Canada. He re- mained in the Dominion but a short time, making his way to Pittsburg, where he sought employment. For the following five years he worked industriously at what- ever he found to do in that busy city and then went to Wampum, in Lawrence Coun- ty. There he engaged in quarrying, coal mining and other industries for about eight years, after which he went to Wayne Township and there found steady and re- munerative employment at mining and quarrying. In 1898 he came to Hazel Dell and in the following year embarked in the general mercantile business, beginning as one of the earliest business men but with small capital. He has grown with the town that his energy has helped to develop and now stands as one of the most substantial citizens. In 1899 he was appointed post- master, being the fourth postmaster of the borough, and has continued in office until the present.

In 1876, Mr. Challis was married (first) to Miss Louisa Newton, who died in 1895. They had three children: George; James, who resides with a family, at Hazel Dell; and William, who has one daughter, Ger- trude, lives at Hazel Dell. In 1897, Mr. Challis was married (second) to Miss Sarah Woods, who is a daughter of John B. Woods, of Venango County. They have one daughter, Lois Minnie, who was born December 15, 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Challis are members of the Presbyterian Church of Ellwood City. In politics he is identi- fied with the Republican party. Mr. Chal- lis has shown in the gradual but steady advance of his fortunes the persistency of

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his sturdy ancestry and the methods which he has followed in his business he also ad- vocates when he takes part in the public affairs of his town. He was a useful mem- ber of the first town council and has shown his hearty interest at all times by co-oper- ating with his fellow citizens for the gen- eral welfare.

WILLIAM A. KERN, superintendent of the Steel Car Forge Works, at Ellwood City, is numbered with her best and most substantial citizens. He was born Decem- ber 12, 1863, in Shenandoah County, Vir- ginia, and is a son of Henry and Catherine (Bowman) Kern.

Both parents of Mr. Kern were born and reared near Woodstock, Virginia. The father was a cabinetmaker by trade and he also owned a farm in Shenandoah County. The father died in 1891 and was survived by the mother until 1894. They had the following children: Isaac, who resides in Virginia; Milton, who died at Washington, D. C., in June, 1907; James, who still lives on the old home farm; Albert, who is a master mechanic in the Studebaker Wagon Works at South Bend, Indiana; George, who is foreman of the drop forge depart- ment of the Oil Well Supply Company, at Oil City, Pennsylvania ; Mary C., deceased, is survived by her husband, George W. Wick; Jane, who is the wife of John Sweeney, of Woodstock, Virginia; Rachel, who is the wife of Silas Beohm, of Wood- stock; and Ella, who is the wife of John W. Copp, of Fisher's Hill, Virginia.

William A. Kern attended the common schools of his native county until he was about seventeen years of age and for two more vears worked on the home farm. His natural inclinations, however were in a dif- ferent direction and he finally left home and went to Westville, Ohio, and with J. H. Baker, then of that place, learned the blacksmith trade. In 1894, Mr. Baker es- tablished the business which is now con- ducted as the Steel Car Forge Works. Mr. Kern accompanied Mr. Baker to Ellwood

City and worked in his forge as hammer- man for four years and later became fore- man. In 1897, when the Baker Forge Com- pany was bought out by the Steel Car Forge people, Mr. Kern continued with the firm and ever since the change has been superintendent, and for six years has been general superintendent, efficiently bearing all the responsibilities attached to this position. This immense industry gives employment to 700 men and is one of Ell- wood City's most important enterprises.

In 1887, Mr. Kern was married to Miss Mary E. Modesitt, who is a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Modesitt, of Page County, Virginia. They have one daugh- ter, Edna, who is a student in Beaver Col- lege, at Beaver, Pennsylvania. Mr. Kern has been a resident of this city for the past fourteen years and for three years has oc- cupied his handsome residence at No. 221 Spring Avenue. In politics he is a Re- publican. He is a member of the order of the Golden Eagles.

DAVID G. DUFF, president of the Ma- honing Lumber Company of New Castle and a prominent and substantial citizen of Lawrence County, was born in Mahoning Township, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania, August 27, 1849, and is a son of Alexander and Sarah P. (Wallace) Duff.

William Duff, the grandfather, was one of the early settlers in Mahoning Town- ship, and on his farm near Hillsville, his son, Alexander Duff, was born. The lat- ter was reared to manhood there and then engaged in a general mercantile business at Hillsville, first in partnership with An- drew Patterson and later with William Williams. He died in 1861. He married Sarah P. Wallace, who was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Of their children but the one son survives.

David G. Duff was reared in Mahoning Township and obtained his education in the public schools near his home and at Poland Seminary, at Poland, Ohio. Prior to moving to New Castle, in the nineties,

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he engaged in a mercantile business at Hillsville, being associated with E. M. Burk, the firm name being Burk and Duff,

which continued for two years. Since coming to New Castle, Mr. Duft has main- ly given his attention to the lumber in- dustry. The office of his company is lo- cated on the corner of Swansea and Wayne Streets, in the Seventh Ward. He is a Re- publican in his political proclivities and has been an active worker in public affairs ever since locating in this city, and has served as a member of the borough coun- cil.

Mr. Duff married Clarissa MeDonald and they have three children : Rosa B., who is the wife of Dr. Charles Williams of Sharon, Pennsylvania, and the mother of one son, Frank; Lillian E., residing at home; and Charles W., the latter a book- keeper for the Mahoning Lumber Com- pany. He married Alice Morris, a resi- dent at the time of Youngstown, Ohio, but a native of New Castle, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Duff are members of the Second United Presbyterian Church at New Cas- tle, in which he is an elder.

JOHN P. LOCKHART, attorney at law and a member of the prominent law firm of Akens, Wilkison, Lockhart and Cham- bers, has been engaged in the practice of his profession at New Castle for a number of years. He was born in Hickory Town- ship, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, in 1877.

Mr. Lockhart belongs to an old family of the county. His grandfather, John Lockhart, was an early settler and his name appears on early county papers as a citizen of substance. His son, the late William E. Lockhart, father of John P., was born in Pulaski Township, October 6, 1832, and died in Hickory Township, in 1902. William E. Lockhart was a promi- nent farmer and useful citizen. In politics he was identified with the Republican party.

John P. Lockhart obtained his prelim-

inary education in the local schools in Hickory Township and then spent three years at an academy at Volant, and four years in Westminster College, where he was creditably graduated in the class of 1899. He then entered the office of Judge Hazen, at New Castle, where he completed his law studies and was admitted to the bar on September 1, 1902. He continued in practice alone until April, 1907, in the office of Judge Hazen, and then entered into partnership with three associates, the firm now doing a large business under the style of Akens, Wilkison, Lockart & Cham- bers.

Mr. Lockhart is a member of the Law- rence County Bar Association. He takes an active interest in politics and works hard for his friends in political campaigns.

On July 5, 1905, Mr. Lockhart was mar- ried to Miss Agnes Hazen, who is a daugh- ter of Nathan Hazen, and they have one child: Frances M. He is affiliated with the First United Presbyterian Church. He belongs to the order of Odd Fellows at New Castle.

WILLIAM BROWN HAMILL, one of North Beaver Township's leading citizens, residing on his valuable farm of 150 acres, which he devotes to general farming and stock raising, was born on this same farm, December 14, 1854, son of James and Lydia Jane (Silliman) Hamill.

James Hamill was born and reared on this farm and was a son of John Hamill, who came here from the eastern part of Pennsylvania with the pioneers about 1801. James Hamill cleared up the larger part of the farm which his father left un- cleared, and cultivated and improved the property. He married a daughter of Thomas Silliman, a man of Scotch-Irish birth, who came very early to North Bea- ver Township. They had children as fol- lows: Mrs. Mary Crawford, Rosana Ham- ill, Mrs. Martha Mckean, Mrs. Minerva Hope, Mrs. Anna Swisher, William Brown, Mrs. Estella Howe, and Thomas Baker.

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The last named was born in 1862 and died in California in early manhood. He was known in the neighborhood as "Colonel." In 1892 the mother of this family died and a month later the father was killed by a vicious bull, the former passing away on May 5 and the latter on June 9, 1892.

William Brown Hamill was reared on the home farm and obtained his education in the country schools. In 1884 he was married to Margaret Elizabeth Hayes, who was born and reared in North Beaver Township, and is a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Clark) Hayes. They have three children : James Edwin, who married Jane Hope, and has one child, Florence Muriel, and Colonel Thomas and Mary Hayes, who reside at home.

Mr. Hamill has devoted himself to agri- cultural pursuits and has met with very satisfactory returns. From 1878 until 1900 he was engaged in a milk and dairy business in Allegheny, but has discontinued that industry. He is a man of reading and culture and with his family he spent three years traveling through California, Utah, Arkansas and Colorado. He is prominent in the order of Odd Fellows, being a mem- ber of Park Lodge, No. 916, Allegheny, and of Allegheny Encampment, No. 101. He belongs also to Lorena Lodge, No. 198, Knights of Pythias; Allegheny Council, No. 228, of the National Union, and to Triumph Lodge, No. 101, of the Protective Home Circle. Mr. Hamill and family be- long to Westfield Presbyterian Church.

RICHARD E. BROCK, master me- chanic of the Standard Works of the Na- tional Tube Company, at Ellwood City, occupies a very responsible position, hav- ing charge of the erection and maintenance of all the machinery for the largest seam- less tube plant in the world. Mr. Broek is yet a young man, his birth having taken place April 25, 1875, in Madison County, Ohio. His parents were Henry R. and Mary (Bentzel) Brock.

Mr. Brock obtained his education in the

schools of Yellow Springs and then en- tered the Shelby Rib Works to learn the machinist trade, working there for over three years. He went next with the Springfield Steel Tool Company, Spring- field, Ohio, and continued there for three years, subsequently worked at Dayton and in other cities, including Philadelphia and Washington, D. C. For eighteen months he worked in the gun works at the Wash- ington navy yard. Subsequently he was employed at Worth Brothers, steel plate manufacturers, at Coatesville, Pa. In March, 1905, he started in as foreman for the Shelby Steel Tube Company, at Green- ville, Pa., in the first year was promoted to be general foreman and remained there until June, 1906, when he came to Ellwood City and to the Standard Works as master mechanic. During the two years that he has resided here he has won golden opin- ions for his ability in his chosen field of work, and many warm friends have been . added to his acquaintance.

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 103

Author: Hazen, Aaron L. (Aaron Lyle), 1837- comp. and ed. cn Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co. Number of Pages: 1058

Author: Hazen, Aaron L. (Aaron Lyle), 1837- comp. and ed. cn
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1058