Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 104

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 104

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On August 21, 1907, Mr. Brock was mar- ried to Miss Ethel Runyon, who is a daugh- ter of Charles Runyon, who is manager of the Ellwood City Glass Company, at Ell- wood City.

GEORGE STROHECKER, one of New Castle's substantial citizens and leading contractors, has been a resident of this city for the past fifteen years and has had much to do with its material growth. He was born on a farm in Beaver County, Penn- sylvania, in 1842, and after completing his schooling he worked in a grist-mill.

It must often be a question with men who have attained success in any special line, how their future would have arranged itself had they not given years of their young manhood to the service of their country. From the mill, Mr. Strohecker entered the army when soldiers were need- ed, in 1862 becoming a member of the Third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, in which he served with the Army of the Cumberland until the close of the war. He

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

was honorably discharged and was mus- tered out August 4, 1865, having won pro- motion from the ranks to a sergeancy.

Mr. Strohecker began to work as a car- penter after he returned from the war and finally made this his life occupation. About 1893 he selected New Castle as his place of residence, although the demands of his work have taken him to other points at

times, but in 1901 the contracting firm of George Strohecker & Son was formed here and has developed into the leading con- tracting business of the city. On every side may be pointed out fine residences and substantial business structures which have been built by Mr. Strohecker, and among these may be named: The residences of Hugh Graham, Dr. Reed and George Law- rence; the Country Club House; the Mc- Williams Hotel, at Mahoningtown; the fine undertaking rooms of Dunn & Rice, and the Boyer, Wilson and Greer Blocks. These buildings all add to the beauty and sub- stantial appearance of the city.

In 1867, Mr. Strohecker was married to Margaret Francis and they have one child, F. H., who is associated with his father in business. F. H. Strohecker served through the Spanish-American War, as corporal of Company B, Sixteenth Penn- sylvania National Guards. He married Miss Katherine Cunningham, who is a daughter of J. C. Cunningham, and they have two children, Dorothy and Francis Crawford.

In politics Mr. Strohecker is a zealous Republican. He cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has sup- ported every candidate of that party since. He owns a beautiful residence at No. 162 Ray Street, New Castle.

JOHN HUTCHINSON, a venerated and respected citizen of Little Beaver Town- ship, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, has been a resident of the county for more than half a century. He was born in County Derry, Ireland, May 30, 1817, and

is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Booth) Hutchinson.

Thomas Hutchinson, father of John, was a stone mason in Ireland, in which country he lived all his life, dying at the age of forty years. His widow survived him, and died at the age of sixty years. They had the following children: Jane, who died in Ireland at the age of seventy-five years; John; Andrew, who died in Ireland at the age of four years; Adam, who followed his brother John to America, and located in Canada; Andrew, who lives in Canada ; Robert, of Canada; and Thomas, who re- mained in his native land.

John Hutchinson was reared in County Derry, and was but thirteen years of age at his father's death. Being the oldest son of the family, it devolved upon him to support the others, an arduous task, but one which was willingly performed. He worked by the month on the farm until 1847, then emigrated to America, leaving Belfast in March, on Captain Watt's sail- ing vessel, and landing in New York City after a five weeks' voyage. He immedi- ately located in Pittsburg, where for one year he drove a cart for James Mackerel, at the salary of $12 per month and board. He then drove a dray for John Parker & Co. some ten years, at better wage, and being economical as well as industrious, laid by a sufficient sum to purchase a small farm near what is the Workhouse, in Pitts- burg. There he lived for eight years, then sold out, and on March 25, 1866, moved to his present farm in Little Beaver Town- ship. He bought the John C. Wilson tract of 110 acres, which lies near the Ohio State line. The log cabin which was on the place at the time he settled there was crudely built, and in the winter snow drifted through the cracks to such an extent that when he walked across the floor, his foot- prints could be plainly seen in the snow. Mr. Hutchinson has followed general farm- ing with success, and the condition of his body and mind has been such that he has

RESIDENCE OF JOHN HUTCHINSON, LITTLE BEAVER TOWNSHIP.

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

been able to direct operations on the farm up to the present time, although his daugh- ter, Miss Mary Ann, has been of great assistance to him in looking after business affairs.

Mr. Hutchinson was first married to Mary Ann Winton, who died leaving two children: Thomas, who died in December, 1907; and Lettie, wife of William Dickson, of Philadelphia, by whom she has five chil- dren: Robert, Samuel, John, Lydia and Jane. His second marriage was in 1843, to Miss Mary Johnson, who died in Pitts- burg, leaving four children: Henry, who died in the army in 1862 and was a mem- ber of Campany B, Seventy-seventh Regi- ment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry; Andrew, who married Maria Moore and had three children-Mary Jane. Oscar L. and Isa; Margaret, who died at the age of three years; and Mary Ann, who keeps house for her father and assists him in his business cares. Mr. Hutchinson's next marriage was with Mary Ann Werhan, who died on the home farm in Little Bea- ver, June 18, 1885. He is an unswerving Republican in politics, and has filled many of the township offices. His first vote was cast for General Scott, of the Whig party, in 1852, and he voted for Fremont in 1856, for Lincoln twice, and it is his expectation to vote for Taft in 1908. Religiously, he and his daughter are members of the United Presbyterian Church. On his nine- ty-first birthday anniversary, he was hon- ored with a post-card shower by his many friends, and was the recipient of 206 cards, a silent testimonial of the esteem in which he is held by his friends and neighbors.

JACOB CORRELL KEITH, formerly and for many years a respected and es- teemed citizen of Ellwood City, where he was engaged in business, was not only one of its early settlers, but also one of its most useful and public-spirited men. He was born April 9, 1863, in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and was a son of John and

Margaret J. (Lightner) Keith. His death occurred August 26, 1908, at his home in Ellwood City.

The parents of Mr. Keith were both born in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, and moved to Mercer County in 1841. The father engaged in farming there until his death, in 1869, when aged thirty-nine years. His family consisted of three sons and two daughters, namely : Mrs. H. S. Butler, re- siding at Mercer, Pennsylvania; J. L., who is engaged in the carriage manufacturing business, is connected with the Keith-Kerr Carriage Company, of Mercer and Sharon; Mrs. Montgomery Black, who resides at Sharon; William M., who is also connected with the Keith-Kerr Company, and Ja- cob C.

Jacob Correll Keith obtained his educa- tion in the public schools of Mercer Coun- ty. When seventeen years old he entered the employ of R. J. McClain, who conduct- ed a store at Indian Run, and remained with him for two years, going then to A. P. Burwell & Brother, in the mercantile busi- ness for one year, and spent one year af- terward in Allegheny, and then began his apprenticeship and learned the jeweler's trade at Mercer. After three years of study and practice he purchased the jew- elry store of W. T. MeBurney, of Sandy Lake, and engaged in business there for three years and then moved to New Cas- tle, where he conducted a jewelry business until March 15, 1896, when he located at Ellwood City, before any public improving had been done. His business grew with the town, and it was largely through his dis- play of public spirit and enterprise that rapid improvements followed one after the other, until few places of its size in Law- rence County can offer more substantial inducements either for the establishing of business concerns or for the selection of a home.

In 1890 Mr. Keith was married to Miss Nancy J. Vath, who is a daughter of Lewis and Elizabeth (Lutton) Vath. Mr. and

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

Mrs. Keith had three children: Clair V., ty, Ohio, November 15, 1852, and is a son surviving, and Elizabeth and Margaret, of Adam and Elizabeth (Nesbitt) Showers. twin daughters, deceased. Mrs. Keith is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which Mr. Keith also belonged. In local matters Mr. Keith took an inde- pendent stand, but in State and National affairs he cast his vote with the Republican party.

CAMPBELL V. PRICE, one of the most enterprising of the younger generation of agriculturists of Wayne Township, comes of prominent families of Butler County, who were early settlers there. He was born in Chewton August 30, 1886, and is a son of William E. and Emma A. (Brown) Price. His grandfathers, Simon Price and Camp- bell Brown, the latter of whom located on the place where Campbell W. now lives, came to this section as pioneers. The his- tory of the former family is given in the sketch of William E. Price on another page of this volume.

Campbell V. Price was reared in Wayne Township and has lived here nearly his en- tire life. His educational training was ac- quired in the Mt. Hope, the Ellwood City High School, and the Hopedale schools, after which he turned his attention to farming, and is cultivating the home place, and has resided in the house he now occu- pies since November, 1907. Industrious and energetic, he has met with much suc- cess in his work and stands high in the good will and confidence of his fellow men.

September 11, 1907, Mr. Price was unit- ed in marriage with Miss Iva McQuiston, a daughter of Philip and Electa McQuis- ton, of Chewton. They also are members of the Presbyterian Church at Slippery Rock. Politically he adheres to the prin- ciples of Democracy.

JOHN E. SHOWERS, residing in his pleasant home at No. 65 Smithfield Street, New Castle, still retains his valuable farm of 105 acres in Mahoning Township. He was born near Lowellville, Mahoning Coun-

The father of Mr. Showers was born in Eastern Pennsylvania, and settled in Ma- honing County, Ohio, in early manhood, where he married Elizabeth Nesbitt. Their surviving children are: John, the only son; Sarah R., who is the widow of Ferdinand Book, resides in Mahoning Township; and Rosanna, who is the wife of Nelson Mc- Bride, resides at Youngstown, Ohio. For twenty years before his death, Adam Showers resided in Mahoning Township, Lawrence County. He was ever a repre- sentative citizen and he is recalled with feelings of respect and esteem. He was a worthy member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. In his political views he was a Republican.

John E. Showers was sixteen years of age when he accompanied his father and family to Mahoning Township, and here he grew to man's estate. His education had been secured in the schools of Mahon- ing County. For many years Mr. Showers followed farming and dealing in live stock, residing on his valuable farm in Mahoning Township until April, 1908, when he re- moved to New Castle, and since then has occupied his comfortable residence on the corner of Smithfield and Etna Streets.

On April 4, 1878, Mr. Showers was mar- ried to Melissa Kelly, who was born in Ma- honing Township, November 28, 1855, and is a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Rob- inson) Kelly, both of whom were born in Mahoning Township. Samuel Kelly was a son of Andrew Kelly, who was an early settler in this part of Lawrence County. Mrs. Showers is one of a family of three children and the only survivor, a brother, James A. and a sister, Sarah M., being de- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Showers are mem- bers of the United Presbyterian Church at New Castle. In politics he is a Repub- lican. He has ever been a man of public spirit, and has taken a good citizen's in- terest in working for the advancement of his neighborhood.

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ALFRED H. THOMPSON, market gardener in Shenango Township, was born at New Castle, Lawrence County, Penn- sylvania, September 9, 1860, and is a son of James and Sarah (Bailes) Thompson.

James Thompson was born in Inniskil- len, in the North of Ireland, and from boy- hood had a strong desire to come to Ameri- ca, but never found his opportunity until he reached manhood. For a time he lived in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and then moved to New Castle, where he worked as a master teaser in the glass house, where he was engaged when the Civil War broke out. He then enlisted in the Union army, becoming a member of Company K, One Hundredth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- teer Infantry, and served three years and eight months. While his good fortune was in never being wounded, his health was impaired to such an extent that upon his return to the glass-house work he found he was no longer able to labor as formerly. For a number of years he was employed by the city of New Castle as street inspector and spent one year in con- nection with public work in Sharon. In 1886 he moved with his family to Shenango Township, where he followed farming. He married a daughter of Samuel Bailes, of Beaver County, and five of their children reached maturity, namely : John, deceased; James C., of Shenango Township; Alfred; Margaret, wife of Ellis E. Reno, of Slip- pery Rock Township, and Roxie, deceased. The parents were members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church.

Alfred H. Thompson attended the public schools of New Castle, after which, until 1888, he spent the larger part of his time in work in a paper mill. Then he came to Shenango Township and followed farm- ing until 1902. He makes a specialty of growing celery, but raises all the leading vegetables, a large number being ready for the market in advance of the season. He has met with much success in his venture and has satisfactorily proved what can be produced on a small acreage when careful

attention and intelligent methods are made use of.

Mr. Thompson married Mary Gibson, who is a daughter of James Gibson, of Slippery Rock Township, and they have four children, all at home: James, Roxie, Lillie and Virgie. The family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. In poli- ties he is affiliated with the Democratic party.

J. L. THOMPSON, cement contractor at New Castle, with his place of business at No. 263 East Long Street, is a substantial and representative citizen of this section. He was born in Pulaski Township, Law- rence County, Pennsylvania, December 23. 1845, and is a son of the late David Thompson.

David Thompson was born in 1818 on the old family homestead in Pulaski Town- ship, where his father had settled as a pioneer, and he died on the same farm, in 1891, aged seventy-three years. He fol- lowed farming through all his active life. He was a worthy, exemplary, esteemed citizen. In early life he was a Whig and later a stanch Republican. His father, George Thompson, was born in Scotland and secured his land from the Government as early as 1800.

J. L. Thompson remained on the home farm assisting in its cultivation and at- tending the country schools until he enlist- ed for service in the Civil War, entering Company G, Seventy-eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, attached to the Army of the Cumberland. He was honorably discharged in September, 1865. He came then to New Castle, where he learned the cabinet-making trade, working about one year at the same before he began contracting, following the latter line for five years, after which he made a specialty of cement contracting, in which he has been interested for about ten years. He is a large owner of valuable real estate in New Castle and five of his houses bring in an excellent rental.

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

On October 7, 1868, Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Josephine Reynolds, a daughter of John F. Reynolds, and they have six children, namely: Mary Olive, who is the wife of F. A. Crowe, who is en- gaged in a dairy business near Cambridge Springs ; Howard J. T., who is engaged in a grocery business at New Castle; Charles R., who carries on a dray business in this city ; Almeda, who is the wife of A. C. Pat- terson, who is chief of the police force at Brownsville, Pa .; and Florence E. and Margaret E., both of whom reside at home.

Mr. Thompson is active in local politics and has served for five years as a member of the City Council. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, Post 100, at New Castle.

BERT STREALY, who conducts a plumbing business at No. 233 Sixth Street, Ellwood City, has resided in this place for the past fifteen years. He was born in Ma- honing County, Ohio, September 2, 1881, and is a son of Jacob S. and Sarah (Mains) Strealy.

The father of Mr. Strealy was born in 1851. For some years he has been man- ager of a hardware store at Ambridge, Pa., where he is a well-known citizen. His fam- ily consisted of three daughters and two sons, namely : Blanche, who is the wife of Cornelius Cleary, of Zelienople; Grace, who is the wife of J. C. Wardman, of Ell- wood City; Elsie, residing at Youngstown, Ohio, and Bert and Alonzo, both of Ell- wood City. The mother of the above men- tioned family is deceased.

Bert Strealy learned his trade after he left school, with the Blatt Hardware Com- pany, of Ellwood City, where he has been in business for himself for the past two years. Mr. Strealy is a practical plumber and attends to his contracts himself, tak- ing pride in doing satisfactory work and pleasing his customers. As a natural con- sequence he is kept constantly busy.

On January 14, 1908, Mr. Strealy was married to Miss Clara Ellen Cole, who is

a daughter of William Cole, of Wayne Township. Mr. Strealy's residence is at Hazel Dell. In politics he is affiliated with the Republican party. He is a member of the order of the Knights of the Golden Eagles and also of the Sons of Veterans, being entitled to membership in the latter organization on account of the services of his grandfather, John Seamans Strealy, who served in the Union army during the Civil War and later died at Youngstown, Ohio.

CLYDE GIBSON, a member of the Lawrence County Bar, and a resident of New Castle, is a son of Isaac T. and Jen- nie W. (Woods) Gibson, of Wilmington Township. He received his education in the public schools of Wilmington Town- ship and later entered Westminster Col- lege, from which institution he graduated with the class of 1902. He then attended the Law Department of the University of Pennsylvania, after which he continued his preparation for the legal profession in the office of Hon. Aaron L. Hazen, of New Castle, being admitted to the bar on July 2, 1906, since which time he has practiced at New Castle, maintaining an office in the Lawrence Savings & Trust Company Building. He is a member of the Law- rence County Bar Association. In relig- ious attachment he is a member of the Sec- ond United Presbyterian Church.

JOHN KIRKHAM, a representative business citizen of Ellwood City, who, for the past fifteen years has been operating his coal mine, on the outskirts, is not only one of the early settlers but one of the most substantial residents of the borough. He was born in North Staffordshire, England, November 3, 1850, and is a son of John and Ann Kirkham.

Mr. Kirkham was reared in his native land which he left in 1879 and after reach- ing America, came to Beaver Falls, Penn- sylvania. He resided there for eighteen months and then went to Carbondale, Kan-

MR. AND MRS. JOHN P. BREST.

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sas, where he engaged in mining for four- teen months and then returned to Beaver Falls, where he continued to reside until he came to Ellwood City in 1893, when the infant town was but two years old. He opened up a coal bank on the edge of Ell- wood City, which has proved of fine depth and quality and for the past thirteen years he has supplied coal to the Pittsburg Com- pany and the Pennsylvania and Lake Erie Railroad Company. At his mine Mr. Kirk- ham gives employment to from seven to eight men.

In 1890, Mr. Kirkham was married to Mrs. Ellen (Richardson) Jones, who was a daughter of James and Sarah Richard- son. Mr. and Mrs. Kirkham had one son, Joseph. By her former marriage, Mrs. Kirkham had three children: Alice, who is the wife of Samuel Alleman, of Ham- bridge; and Lucy and Enoch, both resid- ing at home. Mrs. Kirkham died Febru- ary 3, 1891. She was a most estimable woman. Mr. Kirkham attends strictly to his business and takes no very active inter- est in politics, his vote usually being cast for the best man according to his own judgment. He is well known and his busi- ness standing is high.

JOHN PARKER BREST, a represen- tative citizen of North Beaver Township, and an honored veteran of the Civil War, resides on his valuable farm of fifty-three acres, which is situated in the Second pre- cinct. He was born in Plaingrove Town- ship, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, Au- gust 14, 1840, and is a son of David and Catherine (Remley) Brest.

The grandfather, Andrew Brest, was a soldier in the War of 1812. Subsequently he came from Westmoreland to Mercer County, where he reared a family, ac- quired property, and finally passed away. David Brest, father of John P., was born and died in Mercer County, although he was a resident of Lawrence County for a number of years, including the period of the Civil War. The Brest family has been

one of noted patriotism, and a number of the brothers of David Brest, as well as three of his sons, were soldiers in the serv- ice of their country during the Civil War. Washington, Andrew, John and Nathaniel, uncles of John P. Brest, all were brave soldiers, three of them being members of the Fifty-seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, at the battle of Get- tysburg, and one a member of the One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment, Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry. Washington Brest, whose name is inscribed with those of other heroes on the monumental shaft erected in the National Cemetery at Get- tysburg, fell at Gettysburg, and his re- mains lie in an unknown grave. His name is also inscribed on the Soldiers' Monu- ment at New Castle. Two brothers of John P. Brest, Louis Francis and David W., were both members of Company E, Fifty-seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and both were wound- ed, though not mortally, at the battle of the Wilderness. All these soldiers, includ- ing John Parker Brest, suffered greatly in the service, but all lived to return home with the exception of Washington.

John Parker Brest was reared and edu- cated as a farmer boy, in Plaingrove Township. He had just reached his ma- jority and had made plans for his future which had nothing to do with the battle field, when the Civil War broke out, and he immediately began preparations to go to the front as a soldier. On August 27, 1861, he enlisted first, becoming a member of Company E, in the famous One Hundredth "Roundhead" Regiment, which made such a noble record for courage and efficiency. The commander of his company was the brave Captain Bentley, and Mr. Brest con- tracted to serve as a private for three years, although at that time the general opinion was that the struggle would not be protracted for so long a period. That this hope was soon shattered, our coun- try's records show. After the conclusion of his first enlistment, Mr. Brest re-en-

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

listed in the same regiment and same com- pany, in December, 1863, agreeing to serve for three more years. He participated in seventeen battles, many of these being the most important ones in the whole war. His regiment was not at Gettysburg, at that time being at an equally dangerous point, Vicksburg, Miss. He was in every engagement in which his regiment took part until on June 2, 1864, when he was so seriously wounded at the battle of Cold Harbor that the field surgeon found it necessary to amputate his shattered left leg, on the following day. At the previous battle, at Spottsylvania, his company had lost thirty-nine men of its one hundred, six being mortally wounded and the rest terribly injured, all of the officers down to the corporals being among the victims. Promotions were made from the ranks, and Mr. Brest was made a corporal, but his own injury so quickly followed that he never served in that capacity. He had well earned promotion. When the battle was raging and the captain called for volun- teers to go out on the vedette line, a post of the greatest danger, from which even an ordinarily brave man shrank, John P. Brest was one of the first to volunteer, and when the order to charge was given, he was one of the leaders to break into the Confederate line. Other occasions came for him to show his mettle as a soldier, and on no occasion did his officers or com- panions ever find him lacking in courage. At the battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864, his brigade was massed and his regi- ment was ordered to charge on the enemy who had captured the first line, and it was the "Roundheads" who swept the Con- federates back to the bushes, and Mr. Brest was one of the very first soldiers to cross the line and make the opening for the brigade who took possession of the enemy's works. This was the occasion when, through pure courage, he made a notable capture, that of an armed Con- federate lieutenant and a private, and at the point of the lieutenant's own sword he

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 104

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