Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 105

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 105

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marched them to headquarters and deliv- ered them up as prisoners. This sword is now preserved among the archives of the "Roundhead" Regiment.

Several days before the battle of Cold Harbor, when the tired soldiers were marching along a Virginia highway, in the wake of a Confederate force, Mr. Brest discovered a Confederate knapsack that had been discarded by its owner. On in- vestigation into its contents he found a small Bible, and this he preserved, and in- tending to send it home as a souvenir he placed it in his haversack. Being com- pelled to ford a river shortly afterward, he put it into his knapsack, in order to protect it from getting wet, and this care of the little volume proved to be the sav- ing of his life. When he entered the sub- sequent battle of Cold Harbor, the little book was in his knapsack, and after he was so cruelly injured and was lying help- less on the battlefield, with shells shrieking and exploding over him and rifle balls still doing their fatal work all around him, one of the latter struck the knapsack, just where it would have passed entirely through the helpless soldier's body had not the holy book caused it to glance off, leaving merely a flesh wound behind. As may be imagined, this Bible is one of the most valued possessions of his children. For eight months after his injury, Mr. Brest was confined to the Harwood Hos- pital, at Washington, D. C., and then re- turned to his little farm in Plaingrove Township.

On March 3, 1864, while on a furlough, Mr. Brest was married to Ruth Ann Rodg- ers, a daughter of Thomas Rodgers, of Plaingrove Township. To this union were born nine children, all of whom survive with the exception of the eldest and the youngest-Elden E., Harvey Taylor, Clar- ence O., Elmira E., Perry N., Scott Stan- ley, John E., Margaret L., and Blaine. Elmira E. married N. E. Rodgers, and has two children-Ralph Wesley and Treva Gertrude. Harvey Taylor married Cora

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B. Runkle, and had three children-Ora L., Harold Clyde and Frederick Stanley, the last mentioned being now deceased. Clarence O. married Minnie Odessa For- ney, and has three children-Ruth, Flora and Nuna Murl. Perry N. married Nettie MeFate, and has three children-Everett Eugene, Kenneth Lynn, and Charlie Le- verne. Scott Stanley married Mabel Vic- toria Leslie, and has one child-John Par- ker Leslie. John E. married Ida Mitchell, and has two children-Dorothy Pearl and Frances Leonora. Margaret L. married Charles Sylvester Meade, and they have two children-Charles Elden and Thelma Margaret.

Mr. Brest moved to Mercer County in 1868, purchasing a property on which he resided for some twenty-one years. In 1889 he bought his present farm in North Beaver Township, coming to it at that time, and here he has been engaged in gen- eral farming and fruit growing ever since. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Union Veteran Legion, and belongs also to the Protected Home Circle. In politics he is a Republican, and is one of the two men elected jury commis- sioners in Lawrence County, his co-worker being a Democrat.

DR. LOYAL W. WILSON has been practicing medicine in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, for the past seventeen years. After graduating he located at Wampum, Pennsylvania, at which place he practiced for a period of six years, after which he moved to New Castle, where he has been located ever since.

He is a graduate of the Western Univer- sity of Pennsylvania of the class of '91. Subsequent to his graduation, he was resi- dent physician for a short period in the St. Francis Hospital of Pittsburg.

Since coming to New Castle, he has taken a post graduate course at the New York Post Graduate Medical College and has given surgery his principal attention.

Dr. Wilson married Emma Weitz, a

daughter of Andrew Weitz of Wampum, Pa., in 1893. They have three children, Marie, Edna, and Paul. The family are identified with the Presbyterian Church.

Dr. Wilson is a son of John H. and Mary E. (Mehard) Wilson. Mr. Wilson was a farmer of North Sewickley, Pa., until shortly before his death, when he was elect- ed and served as County Commissioner of Beaver County. He died in 1892, his wife having died in 1889, while on the farm.

Fraternally, Dr. Wilson is a Mason of high degree and is also an Odd Fellow. Politically, he is a Republican and at pres- ent is a member of the Board of U. S. Pen- sion Examining Surgeons. He takes in- terest in public matters and lends his in- fluence to the promotion of public spirited enterprises.

THOMAS DUGAN, though now retired from active business life, is one of the best known residents of Ellwood City, in the development and advancement of which he for years took an active and leading part. He was born in England, July 3, 1834, a son of Samuel Dugan, who was a butcher, grocer, and hotel keeper.

Mr. Dugan's early youth was passed in his native land, but being of an enter- prising spirit and not finding there suffi- cient opportunities, on arriving at matur- ity he set out for America, and after land- ing in this country, went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he secured employment in the rolling-mills as a heater. Subsequently he went to Pittsburg, where after four years of similar employment, he took charge of the old English Hotel. This position he held for many years, becoming widely known to the traveling public as a genial and capable host. After a long period of service in that capacity, he was thinking of retiring permanently from active business employment, when his attention was at- tracted to the rapid and prosperous growth of Ellwood City, then an infant municipality, but giving promise of a bright future. Seeing a good business op-

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portunity, he came here and invested in real estate, in 1893 erecting a fine brick block at No. 948 Lawrence Avenue, con- taining a double store 66x60 feet in dimen- sions. In the following year Mr. Dugan fitted up the building as a thoroughly mod- ern and well appointed hotel, which was known as the Dugan Hotel, and of which he continued as the proprietor until his re- tirement finally from active business life. In addition to this block he is the owner of a number of tenements and a quantity of valuable real estate, and is numbered among the most prosperous residents of the city, to the development of which he has so notably contributed.

Mr. Dugan is a steadfast Republican in his political principles, but above all things he is a champion of law, order, and high moral principle in all social and business relations. According to this standard he has always lived, and while not a member of any religious denomination, he is in ac- cord with the fundamental principles of Christianity, recognizing fully the true brotherhood of man. He is enjoying the fruits of his years of industry in an ample competence, which frees his mind from business cares, and in a hale and hearty vigor, despite his years, which is the re- sult of a careful and well spent life. He has the esteem of a wide circle of friends and an acquaintance that extends to al- most every part of the country, and of the pioneer business men of Ellwood City few better deserve commemoration in these pages. Mr. Dugan's wife, like himself, was of English extraction, her father, George Rowley, having been a native of England. Mrs. Dugan died July 1, 1907.

CHARLES W. DAVIS, M. D., physician and surgeon, residing at No. 306 North C'edar street, Mahoningtown, has been lo- cated in this pleasant village since 1895. Ile was born in Shenango Township, Law- rence County, Pennsylvania, September 29, 1866, and is a son of James and Levinah (Iddings) Davis.

The parents of Dr. Davis were farming people residing in the vicinity of Eden- burg, Lawrence County. Their children were reared on the home farm and attend- ed the country schools. Charles W. sub- sequently enjoyed four years at the State Normal School at Edenboro, where he was creditably graduated in 1890. During this long period of study he taught winter terms of school and for two years follow- ing his graduation, he continued to teach. In 1892 he entered the Western Pennsyl- vania Medical College and was graduated there with his medical degree in 1895. He immediately located at Mahoningtown, where he has built up a large and lucrative practice. He keeps abreast of the times and has perfected his knowledge of medi- cal science by attending the New York Polyclinic College for post graduate work. He is a member of the Lawrence County Medical Association.

Dr. Davis married Sarah_M. Booker, a daughter of Thomas Booker, of Shenango Township, and they have one son, John V.

Dr. Davis is a charter member of Lodge No. 1118, Odd Fellows, at New Castle, and belongs to the order of Knights of Pythias at Mahoningtown.

MICHAEL V. KELLY, justice of the peace of Ellwood City, was formerly en- gaged in agricultural pursuits in Butler County, but since locating here has con- ducted a confectionery business. He was born in Venango County, Pennsylvania, November 27, 1847, and is a son of David and Sarah (Kellerman) Kelly.

The parents of Mr. Kelly were both na- tives of Butler County where the family of ten children was born and reared. The father died in his old home there and the mother passed away in Ellwood City, some years later. Their children were as fol- lows: Leo, who died in infancy ; Theodore, who was accidentally killed in 1883; Mary Susan, who died in 1871; Michael V., of Ellwood City; Andrew L., who lives in Clarion County, Pennsylvania; James B.,

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who died aged eight years; Matilda, who died in infancy; Elizabeth A., who is the wife of Thomas Patterson, of Ellwood City; David F., who met death while en- gaged in lumbering in Forest County, Pennsylvania; and Jacob Joseph, who re- sides in Butler County.

Michael V. Kelly attended the district schools in Butler County, during his boy- hood and later spent two years at a Sem- inary connected with the Catholic Church, in which faith he was carefully reared. After leaving school he taught in Butler County for several years and then engaged in farming until 1900, when he came to Ell- wood City. During his period of residence here Mr. Kelly has become a well known, prosperous and useful citizen, and in Feb- ruary, 1908, he was elected a justice of the peace, an office for which he is thoroughly qualified. Mr. Kelly is identified with the Democratic party. He belongs to the con- gregation of St. Agatha's Roman Catholic Church at Ellwood City.

JACOB FREDRICK, a representative farmer of Union Township, who settled on his present place in the fall of 1904, where he has been very successfully engaged in growing fruit, was born April 22, 1865, in Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John and Margaret (Beyer) Fredrick.

Both parents of Mr. Fredrick were born in Germany and both came single to the United States. After they were married they lived for a time at Pittsburg and then located permanently in Butler County, where they acquired property and reared a family, six of whom survive, namely : Christena, who married James Bolton, lives in Butler County ; Annie D., who mar- ried Henderson Brandon, lives in Butler County ; John A., who resides at Beaver Falls; Carrie, who married Levi Slater. lives in Butler County ; and Henry C., who remains in Butler County.

Jacob Frederick was reared in his na- tive county and is indebted to her public schools for his excellent education. On

December 17, 1890, he was married in Al- legheny County, to Julia L. Pearce, who was born in that county and is a daughter of Ambrose and Jane (Albright) Pearce. Mrs. Fredrick's father was born in Eng- land her mother in Pennsylvania. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fredrick, namely: Essie M., Ross R., Blanche P. and Grace I. Prior to coming to Union Township, Mr. Frederick fol- lowed the blacksmith trade in Shenango Township, for some years. He is a capable, industrious man and always stands well with his neighbors, wherever he lives. Both he and wife are members of the Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church. He is an ar- dent advocate of temperance and votes with the Prohibition party.

GUY E. SEILER, superintendent of the Pennsylvania Power Company of Ellwood City and a live factor in the advancing im- portance of this great industrial concern, was born in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, June 2, 1875, and is a son of George H. and Salome ( Frederick) Seiler. The parents of Mr. Seiler moved to Dau- phin County, Pennsylvania, in 1880, and they now reside at Swatara Station. The son was educated in Dauphin County and remained at home until 1892. In that year, Guy E. Seiler entered the employ of the Lebanon & Annville Street Railway Com- pany and remained two years. He then en- tered the employ of the Boston Construc- tion Company, of Boston, Mass., and continued with that concern until 1896, when he became connected with the Gen- eral Electric Company, of Schenectady, N. Y. Here he remained until 1905, when he came to Ellwood City and accept- ed the important position of superintend- ent of the Pennsylvania Power Company.

On December 20, 1905, Mr. Seiler was married to Ella L. Thomas, of Charleston, W. Va., and they have one son, Car- Iyle. With his wife Mr. Seiler attends the Presbyterian Church. Their pleasant home is located at No. 204 Fourth Street, Ell-

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wood City. In his political views, Mr. Seiler is a Republican. Fraternally he is a Mason and a member of the Improved Order of Red Men.

WILLIS L. CAMPBELL, of the general contracting firm of Campbell & Young, at New Castle, has been a resident of this city for twenty-nine years and has taken an ac- tive part in its different lines of develop- ment. He was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, March 6, 1860, and is a son of J. J. V. Campbell.

The late J. J. V. Campbell was born in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, February 1, 1837, and died at New Castle, in 1899. For many years he was engaged in a con- tracting business in this city. His father, Alexander Campbell, came to America from Scotland and was a pioneer settler in what is now Lawrence County. On March 8, 1818, he married Miss Cornelia A. Cov- ert, who was a daughter of Garret Covert and Ellen (Black) Covert. These are all old names in the county. On August 29, 1859, Joseph J. V. Campbell married Mary Morrow, and they had eight children, as follows: Willis L .; Thomas A., born in 1861, residing at Volant, Lawrence Coun- ty; Addison A., born in 1864, residing at Morgantown, Virginia; Laura Belle, wife of Joseph K. Knoll, residing on a farm in Lawrence County; Joseph H .; Sarah Emma, and Cornelia, both deceased; and Newton L., born in 1871, residing at New Castle, is a member of the fire department of this city.

From the age of fourteen years to nine- teen, when he came to New Castle, Willis L. Campbell lived in Armstrong County, and from 1880 to 1886, he worked in the rolling mills. Since then he has been en- gaged at work at his trade of carpenter, and since the spring of 1887, has been en- gaged in contracting, and for the past four years has been associated with James S. Young, under the firm style of Campbell & Young. This competent firm has done a great amount of important building in New

Castle, among the most important, per- haps, are the following structures: Ter- race Avenue School Building; Croton Avenue and Oak Street School Building; the Reformed Presbyterian Church; the Euwers Block on Neshannock Avenue; the Odd Fellows Building on the same street ; the beautiful chapel in Graceland Ceme- tery, and many others. Mr. Campbell is a substantial citizen, owning a large amount of valuable city realty consisting of houses and lots.

Mr. Campbell was married in Septem- ber, 1899, to Miss Harriet E. Dinsmore, who was born and reared at New Castle and is a daughter of Watson N. Dinsmore. They have three children : Joseph Watson, Lena May and James Newton.

Politically, Mr. Campbell is a stanch Re- publican and has served on the city council through some of its most important ses- sions. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow, be- longing to Lodge No. 195 and to Lawrence Encampment, No. 85. He is also prominent in his craft and for the past four years has served as president of the Builders' League.

J. CLIFFORD WALLACE, who owns and resides upon a farm of 140 acres in North Beaver Township, Lawrence Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, located on the Small's Ferry road, eight miles west of New Cas- tle, comes of a prominent old family of that vicinity. He was born on the home farm, January 1, 1880, and is a son of John H. and Lizzie J. (Patterson) Wallace.

James Wallace, grandfather of J. Clif- ford, was the first of the family to locate in Lawrence County, and was an important figure in North Beaver Township in the early days. He was born in Waynesboro, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, which vil- lage was founded by his father, Thomas Wallace, who was of Irish descent, and had come to Franklin County at a very early period. The town of Waynesboro was orig- inally known by the name of Wallace. James Wallace was a young man when he

RESIDENCE OF JOHN F. YOUNG, WAYNE TOWNSHIP.

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left his native county for North Beaver Township, and there followed farming during most of his active career, and also for some years he conducted a store at Hillsville, and became postmaster about the year 1830 or 1831. He located upon the farm now owned by his grandson, J. Clif- ford Wallace, about the year 1848. He was three times married, his first union being with Margaret Adair, by whom he had five children. He was next married to Mar- garet Patterson, and they became parents of four children, as follows : Elizabeth Has- son; Margaret; Alice, who died when a child; and John H. Mrs. Wallace died in 1852, and her husband married for his third wife, Sarah Vanderbilt. His death occurred in 1871.

John H. Wallace was born on the same farm as his son, January 30, 1852, and there was successfully engaged in farming all his life. He died October 1, 1901, and his death was mourned as a loss to the community in which he had lived so many years, and where his friends were reckoned by the number of his acquaintances. He was joined in marriage with Miss Lizzie J. Patterson, who was born and reared in North Beaver Township, and was a daugh- ter of James Patterson, who was born and always lived on the farm on which he died, located about one and a half miles south of Mt. Jackson. He bore the rank of major in the State Militia of Pennsylvania. He married Nancy Douglass, who was born and reared on the old Douglass farm in North Beaver and was a daughter of George Douglass. Major Patterson was a son of John Patterson, who came to the township from near Baltimore, Md., and was of Irish parentage. John H. and Lizzie J. (Patterson) Wallace became par- ents of two children, a daughter, in March, 1878, who died in infancy; and a son, J. Clifford, who owns and farms the old home place. Religiously, Mr. Wallace was a member of the Westfield Presbyterian Church.

JOHN F. YOUNG is a prosperous farm- er and representative citizen of Wayne Township, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania. He was born on the farm on which he now lives, and is a son of Jacob and Christina (Geiger) Young, the Geigers and Youngs being among the most prominent old families of the county.

Jacob Young was born in Germany and was about thirteen years of age when brought by his parents to this country, they settling in what was then Beaver County. The grandfather built the house and barn on the farm on which John F. now lives, and his son, Jacob Young, re- sided on the place for a period of thirty- five years. He died in 1897, at the age of fifty-eight years, and his wife died in 1896. She was in maiden life Christina Geiger, a daughter of John F. and Fred- ericka Geiger, who came from Württem- burg, Germany, at an early date. Mr. Geiger died in 1895, at the age of seventy- nine years, and his widow in February, 1908, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. They had one child, Christina (Young). Jacob Young's wife had two children, Anna, who married Henry Len- hardt, and died in 1890, and John F. Ja- cob Young was a Democrat in politics, and in religious attachment was a Lutheran.

John F. Young was reared and educated in his native county, and early in life turned his attention to agricultural pur- suits. He has a valuable farm of 100 acres, all under a high state of cultivation and well improved. In early years he engaged in gardening on an extensive scale, but at the present time devotes his atten- tion to general farming. He is a man of enterprise and public spirit, and has the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citi- zens to a marked degree.

Mr. Young was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Lenhardt, a daughter of Charles Lenhardt, who also was a well known resident of Lawrence County. A daughter, Lillian, was born to bless this

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union. Religiously, the family belongs to the Mount Hope Lutheran Church. In political views, he is a Democrat, but, nevertheless, reserves the right to vote for the man he deems best fitted for the office at issue.

LOUIS HALLE HAWTHORNE, a prosperous farmer of Taylor Township, comes of an old and prominent family of the county. He was born on the farm on which he now lives, three miles south of New Castle, on the Valley Way Road, in 1875, and is the son of Samuel Sample and Mattie F. Hawthorne.

His grandfather, Alexander Hawthorne, purchased Tract No. 1825, next north of the John Moore farm and next to the farm now occupied by John R. Maitland, about 1804. He built a house and barn on the property and put on a tenant, he himself living in New Castle at his hotel, nick- named the "Pokeberry Exchange," till about 1840, when he moved out on the farm and lived there until his death, in 1864.

Samuel S. Hawthorne was born in New Castle, at his father's home, the old "Poke- berry Exchange." Much of his early life was spent with his uncle, Samuel Sample, for whom he was named. After spending a number of years on the Pacific Coast, being a "forty-niner," Mr. Hawthorne re- turned and lived on the Sample Farm, in Taylor Township, which was left to him by his uncle. Shortly after his return from the West he married Mattie F., daughter of Frederick Halle, a member of a very old German family, who had settled in Pitts- burgh, and later moved to Taylor Town- ship. Mr. Samuel S. Hawthorne died in 1894 and his wife survived him about two years, dying in 1896.

Louis H. Hawthorne is the younger of two children, the older having died in in- fancy. He received a superior education in the schools of the county and in Georgia. He also attended the Pennsylvania State College. During his younger days much

time was spent in Illinois, and in Georgia, Florida, and other Southern States.

After his marriage, in April, 1898, to Tillie Charity Woodward, daughter of Thomas Woodward, of Knightstown, Ind., and Anna (Taylor) Woodward, daughter of Judge Samuel Taylor, of Little Beaver Township, Mr. Hawthorne has resided on the farm left him by his father, which he has operated in a very successful manner. He and his wife are the parents of one child, Samuel Philip, born June 5, 1899. They have a fine home and many good buildings on the hillside overlooking the busy Beaver Valley. The confluence of the Shenango and Mahoning Rivers, together with Hickory Creek, form the Beaver River on this farm.

ROBERT McKEE, one of New Castle's enterprising business men, who conducts a profitable meat business, occupying his own building at No. 114 East Long Ave- nue, was born at New Castle, in 1866, and is a son of James McKee, who died in his infancy.

When Robert McKee was six years old he was taken to Neshannock Township, where he was reared and attended school. He remained on a farm there until 1894, when he came to New Castle to conduct a meat business which he had started in the previous year. In 1897 his business had grown to such proportions that new quar- ters became a necessity, and he built a fine two-story brick building, 20 by 56 feet in dimensions, and here has one of the best equipped markets in the city. He has an electric machine for preparing such dain- ties as Bologna sausage, smokes all his own meat, and while he handles home- dressed meats, he also carries some of the best known packing-house products. He is also interested in coal mining at Coal- town, and to some degree carries on farm- ing. His many interests make of him a busy man, but not too busy to cause him to forego the duties and privileges of good citizenship.

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In September, 1887, Mr. McKee was married to Miss Elizabeth Whittaker, who is a daughter of the late Andrew Whit- taker, who was formerly a prominent cit- izen of Lawrence County. They have two children: Mary Ethel and William Ed- ward. He is a member of the First Meth- odist Church at New Castle.

FERDINAND SCHEIDEMANTLE, who is well established in the photographic business at Ellwood City, was born in But- ler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John and Dorothy (Emmert) Scheideman- tle.

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 105

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