Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 106

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 106

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The father of Mr. Scheidemantle was born in Germany, and was brought to America by his parents when he was three years old. He engaged in farming for a number of years prior to 1894, when he moved to Ellwood City among its earliest settlers. He has been variously engaged and for the past seven years has been care- taker of one of the public school build- ings. After coming to Ellwood City he built a fine residence at No. 801 Crescent Avenue, where he still resides, his age be- ing sixty-seven years. He married Doro- thy Emmert, who was born in Butler County and died at Ellwood City, Janu- ary 22, 1905. They had the following chil- dren: John, now residing at Pittsburg; George, a resident of Mahoningtown; William, who is deceased; Annie, who is the widow of Lewis Marburger; Charles, residing at Duquesne, Pa .; Clara, wife of J. E. Weigle, residing at Mahoningtown; Frank, living at Duquesne; Ferdinand, subject of this sketch; Ida, wife of N. E. Rodgers, residing at Hazel Dell; Emma, wife of William Hollerman, also of Hazel Dell; Walter, who is associated in business with his brother Ferdinand; and Herman, who is a resident of Erie, Pa.

From boyhood, Mr. Scheidemantle has been interested in photography, and from experimenting and the study of text books by himself, gradually increased his knowl- edge of the art until specimens of his work

attracted attention, and subsequently led him into a prosperous business. For a time at the beginning limited means pre- vented his rapid progress, but he possesses the virtue of perseverance, together with his artistic talents, and has reached a high degree of success. He resides at No. 805 Crescent Avenue, but a fine studio is being erected for his use, which will have all the equipments known to the modern photog- rapher. He is a member of the Presby- terian Church at Ellwood City.

CLARENCE M. DUFF, who is the effi- cient local superintendent of the Union Limestone Company of Hillsville, Law- rence County, Pennsylvania, was born in this village, February 19, 1864, and is a son of William and Anna Maria (Henley) Duff.

The Duff family is one of the oldest in Lawrence County. The great-grandfather, William Duff, came to the vicinity of Hills- ville when the land was still in a wild state and Indians roamed through the forests on every side. He reared a family here, and in turn, his son Oliver did likewise.

William Duff, son of Oliver, and father of Clarence M., was a justice of the peace in Mahoning Township for two terms, also conducted a mercantile business in Hills- ville for some years, and over a quarter of a century ago purchased the farm which is now the property of his son, Clarence M., on which he died in August, 1906. He was a very highly esteemed man and was a member and liberal supporter of the Baptist Church. In politics he was a Re- publican. He married Anna Maria Hen- ley, who was a daughter of Matthew and Elizabeth Henley, of Lawrence County.

Clarence M. Duff was reared and edu- cated in and around Hillsville during his earlier years, and then attended Poland Seminary, at Poland, Ohio, and later Mt. Pleasant Institute, at Mt. Pleasant, Pa., following which he taught school for a short time. For many years Mr. Duff then engaged in agricultural pursuits, but

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

since 1902 he has filled the office of su- perintendent of an important industry, as above mentioned.

Mr. Duff married Ella Hoffmaster, who was born on the home farm and is a daugh- ter of the late Solomon Hoffmaster. They have two children: Walter W., who is a student in the Bucknell University, at Lewisburg, Pa., and Lillie E., residing at home.

While Mr. Duff is somewhat independ- ent in his political views, he usually may be found in the ranks of the Republican party. For six years he served as a mem- ber of the School Board, during a part of the time being either its secretary or presi- dent. He is a leading member of the Bap- tist Church and serves as church clerk.

GEORGE W. LAMOREE, president of the Standard Brewing Company, one of New Castle's large and successful business enterprises, was born February 22, 1857, in Buffalo, N. Y. He began industrial life in the Helmbacher Forge and Iron Works, at St. Louis, Mo., and came to New Castle in 1888 to take charge of the "8" Guide Mill for the Etna Iron and Steel Company, in which position he continued until June 19, 1897. He then purchased one-half interest in the Standard Brewing Company, from Louis Kerr, and became an equal partner with Louis Eschallier. In November, 1897, Marcus Feuchtwanger bought Louis Eschallier's half interest in the Standard Brewing Campany, when he and G. W. Lamoree formed the present company and bought the land it is now lo- cated on-on Sampson Street-and built the present plant, which is one of the best, if not the best plant of its size in Penn- sylvania. The company has an annual ca- pacity of 65,000 barrels, in addition to a large and complete bottling works. The plant includes two large wells, which fur- nish the water from which all the beer is made, and every convenience that can be installed in a brewery to make it complete. The firm as now constituted is a follows :

George W. Lamoree, president; H. Grote- fend, vice president; Mr. Feuchtwanger, treasurer ; and E. O. Haun, secretary.

Mr. Lamoree married Mary M. Wallace January 8, 1891. Mrs. Lamoree died Au- gust 12, 1892, and Mr. Lamoree was mar- ried again to Minnie MeCabe on April 3, 1900. He has three children by his second marriage John Gordon, Thomas Gordon and Robert Whipple Lamoree.

MICHAEL D. MCCARTHY, plumber and gasfitter, who has the distinction of having been the first plumber to establish a residence here, where he has been suc- cessfully engaged in business for himself for the past nine years, was born at Youngstown, Ohio, August 22, 1870, and is a son of Patrick and Catherine MeCarthy.

Both parents of Mr. McCarthy were born in Ireland, and now are residents of Youngstown, where they settled in 1863. For a considerable length of time the father was employed as a puddler in the Brown & Bonnell plant in that city. The children of Patrick McCarthy and wife were: Mary, Cecelia, Helen, Matilda, Katie, Michael D., Patrick, Jr., and Daniel.

Michael D. McCarthy attended school at Youngstown and remained in that city while he learned his trade. He came to Ellwood City in May, 1893, and worked for H. S. Blatt, and Grove & Company, hardware men, and did all the plumbing work in the first buildings erected here. Nearly all of the modern structures along Lawrence Avenue were fitted out by him. His industry and his thoroughly reliable work have combined to make Mr. McCar- thy successful, and he owns valuable real estate here. He resides in a handsome res- idence on Park Avenue. Remarkable changes have been brought about by the early settlers here, who have taken an in- terest in the city, like Mr. McCarthy, who has a right to claim a large amount of credit for the development that has taken place.

Mr. McCarthy was married to Nellie M.

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Watson, of Fayette, Pa., a daughter of James W. Watson, formery County Su- perintendent of Schools of Lawrence County for three terms. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Carthy have two children-Helen and Margaret.

Mr. McCarthy is a Republican, and is now serving as a member of Ellwood City council, having been elected in 1906, for a term of three years.

WILLIAM H. HARRIS, who conducts a tea, coffee and china store at No. 152 East Long Street, New Castle, is one of the city's substantial and representative business men. He was born in Wales, in 1846. Mr. Harris was twenty-eight years of age when he came to America, and he has been identified with the interests of New Castle for the past six years. His first work in the United States was as a puddler in one of the mills of Pittsburg. In 1892 he embarked in the tea and coffee business there, where he continued until 1902, when he came to New Castle. In 1906 he erected his present fine building, a two-story brick block, 26 by 60 feet in dimensions, of pressed brick construction, the frontage being on Long Avenue and Hamilton Street. He utilizes the upper floor as a residence and the lower floor as his place of business.

In 1868 Mr. Harris was married to Miss Harriet Williams, who was also born in Wales. Mr. and Mrs. Harris have eight children, namely: William; John, who is chief clerk in the department maintaining the right of way for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad; Catherine, who is the wife of Harry Thomas, of New Castle; Arthur, who is associated with his father; Esther, who is the wife of George Beaton, of New Castle; Albert, who is with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad; and Charles and Harriet, both of whom reside at home. Mr. Harris and family belong to the Welsh Congrega- tional Church, of which he is a member of the board of deacons. Fraternally, he is

connected with the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.

JOHN H. CONN, proprietor of the Wampum Hotel, at Wampum, Pa., an es- tablishment which has for many years en- joyed an enviable reputation throughout this section of the state, came to Wampum in March, 1907. He was born on his father's farm, near Williamsport, Pa., September 22, 1855, and is a son of John H. and Christiana M. (Mitchell) Conn.

John H. Conn, Sr., was born in Lycom- ing County, Pennsylvania, where he lived for many years. He followed agricultural pursuits on his farm of 160 acres, and also engaged as a lumber contractor. The lat- ter years of his life were spent in New Castle, Pa., where he died in 1882, at the age of fifty-four years. He was united in marriage with Christiana M. Mitchell, who died at the home of her youngest daugh- ter, at MeKee's Rocks, Pa. They were par- ents of the following children: Jerry W., John H.,; Washington, David I., Charles W., who died in 1881; A. Lewis, Lucinda, Jacob, and Amanda Florence, wife of John Ellis.

John H. Conn, Jr., spent the first sixteen years of his life on his father's farm, and received an educational training in the dis- triet schools. He then, at that early age, went out to make his way in the world, entering the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in the capacity of sec- tion hand. He continued as such one year, and gradually worked his way up in the service of that company. He worked on the work train for two years, was in the freight service from 1874 until 1895, and then was passenger conductor until 1907. During these many years of faithful serv- ice he never caused an accident, and was in but one of any importance, that being at Sharpsville, Pa., where the engineer, James Robinson, and the fireman, Charles Mc Williams, were killed. He resigned from the service in March, 1907, and pur-

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

chased of Charles Stapf the Wampum Hotel. Although he had never had any practical hotel experience, his traveling experience made him familiar with the va- rious details of the work, and enabled him to step in and assume the management with the same capability as an old hotel man. He knows the demands of the trav- eling public, and has supplied them, and the Wampum Hotel today enjoys greater popularity than ever. This has not been Mr. Conn's first residence in Wampum. He first located there in June, 1863, when there was but a row of five houses and a boarding house. He lived there until 1865, then at Lowellville, Ohio, until 1867; he then was at Hubbard, Ohio, a short time; on a farm in Darlington Township, Beaver County two years; on a farm near Enon Valley until 1881, and thereafter lived in New Castle until he again took up his resi- dence in Wampum.

December 23, 1877, Mr. Conn was united in marriage with Sarah E. Johnston, a daughter of David Johnston, and they became parents of the following chil- dren: Hallie G., wife of C. E. Kemp; Clyde O .; James R., who died in August, 1901; Cecil and Charles, twins, the latter of whom is deceased; Lois; Sallie E .; Ada, deceased; and Anna B. Fraternally Mr. Conn is a member of Masonic Lodge No. 243, at New Castle ; Lodge No. 145, B. P. O. E., at Greenville; and Wampum Lodge, K. of P. Politically he is an active sup- porter of the principles for which the Re- publican party stands.

MYRON O. RIDDLE, a highly respected citizen and prosperous farmer of Little Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Penn- sylvania, resides on a well improved tract of 130 acres, located near the Darlington Township line. He was born on a farm in Butler County, Pennsylvania, October 21, 1868, and is a son of Samuel L. and Eliza (MeClimans) Riddle, the latter now deceased. Samuel L. Riddle, a native of

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, of whom a record is found in this work, moved to Butler County at an early age, there was married and subsequently removed to Law- rence County, being now a resident of Little Beaver Township.

Myron O. Riddle is the second oldest son of a family of thirteen children, one sister being older than he, four of whom are now deceased. In 1876 his parents moved to Little Beaver Township, Law- rence County, Pennsylvania, where he has since continued to reside. He received a somewhat limited education in the common schools of this community, the greater por- tion of his time having been devoted to assisting with the work on the farm. When a mere boy it fell to his lot to care for between forty and fifty head of cattle. Mr. Riddle remained at home until after his marriage, when he took charge of a farm for his uncle, O. I. Riddle, for two years, and in April, 1900, he purchased his pres- ent farm of 130 acres from the John Wal- lace heirs. All of the farm buildings, in- cluding the house, a brick structure, which was erected in 1876, were on the land at the time of his purchase. Here Mr. Rid- dle has since engaged in general farming and is recognized throughout this com- munity as one of the leading and most en- terprising citizens of the township.

Mr. Riddle was united in marriage in December, 1889, with Elizabeth Watson, a daughter of John and Margaret Watson, who were residents of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Four children were born of their union namely: Carry, who is the wife of Ray Veon, of Beaver County, Pennsylvania ; Otis, Hazel and Gladys.

In political affiliation, Mr. Riddle is a Republican and has served his township in various offices, having been township supervisor two terms, Judge of election twice; he was first elected a member of the School Board in 1905, having been re-elect ed in 1907, and is still a member of that body. He is fraternally, a member of the

RESIDENCE OF MYRON O. RIDDLE, LITTLE BEAVER TOWNSHIP.

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

I. O. O. F., Enon Lodge No. 916. He is a stockholder in the Enon Valley Telephone Company.

JOHN M. CURRY, who is engaged in the feed and grain business at Ellwood City, was born in Allegheny County, Penn- sylvania, May 14, 1865, and is a son of William and Martha ( Mckinney) Curry.

William Curry, father of John M., was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1825. After coming to America he worked in dif- ferent parts of Pennsylvania, on rivers, and later engaged in farming, coming to Lawrence County some twenty-eight years ago. He has acquired considerable land and owns valuable property at Ellwood City, where he lives, now being aged eighty-three years. He married Martha MeKinney, who was born at Braddock, Al- legheny County, Pennsylvania, a daughter of John MeKinney. She died July 7, 1898, aged sixty-five years. They had six chil- dren, namely: William, who resides on a farm in Perry Township; Robert; Harry; John M .; Annie, who is the wife of Andrew McElwain, of Perry Township; and Bessie, who married W. V. Smith.

John M. Curry remained on the home farm until his removal to Ellwood City, in 1899, and his education was obtained at Greensburg, Braddock, and in Lawrence County. In 1900 he embarked in his pres- ent profitable business, which he has con- ducted successfully, his knowledge of agri- cultural products, as well as his wide acquaintance through the county, contrib- uting to this result. In 1886, Mr. Curry was married to Caroline Zeigler, who is a daughter of John Y. Zeigler, of Beaver County. Mr. and Mrs. Curry have had five children, three of whom survive-Bessie, Marie and Alice. The family belong to the United Presbyterian Church. In politics, Mr. Curry is a Democrat.

JOHN BUCHANAN, whose fine farm of 173 acres lies about twelve miles south of New Castle, in Big Beaver Township, is a

prominent citizen and successful general farmer of this section. He was born July 17, 1833, in County Antrim, Ireland, and is a son of Robert and Ellen (Drummond) Buchanan.

The parents of Mr. Buchanan lived out their long and useful lives in Ireland, where the father died when sixty years of age, and the mother after reaching her seventy-ninth birthday. They had seven children: John; Mary, who married Sam- uel McCormick; William; Jane Isabella, who married Robert Apsley; Robert; Charles; and Ellen Jane, who married James Mc Williams.

Until he was twenty years old, John Buchanan remained on his father's farm in County Antrim, and like every loyal Irishman, he cherishes a loving remem- brance of his old home, which he left, in 1853, to come to America. After landing in the United States, he remained for two days in the city of New York and then went on to Philadelphia. A short resi- dence in that city made him seek a better business location farther west, and hence he crossed the mountains and finally reached Pittsburg. There he obtained rail- road construction work for the following winter, and at other points worked on the railroad for seven years after that, becom- ing, in the course of time, a trusted man in that work, and serving as division fore- man. At length he tired of railroad labor, and in 1861 he purchased his present farm. from John F. Miller. While he was suc- cessful in his earlier work, he has found more enjoyment as a farmer, and ever since coming to this place has continued to improve it. He erected all the substantial buildings and has enriched his land until it produces abundantly.

On December 25, 1860, he married Mar- garet MeClintie, who died in 1898, aged sixty years. She was a daughter of Alex- ander and Mary McClintie. They had the following children: Robert, who married Ann Jenkins; Mary Ellen, who married Thomas J. McClue; Charles A .; Isabella

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

Jane, who died aged twenty years; Will- iam, who married Mary McChesney ; Sarah E .; and James E., who survives his wife, who was a Miss Swisher.

Mr. Buchanan is a member of the United Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Republican, and on his party's ticket he has frequently been elected to local offices, serving in all of them with the efficiency of a capable man and good citizen.

JOHN S. JAMISON, one of Ellwood City's leading business men, a member of the firm doing business under the name of the Dambach Mercantile Company, was born in Venango County, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1870, and is a son of Jeremiah and Mary J. (Thomas) Jamison.

Jeremiah Jamison and wife are both natives of Venango County, and are now residents of Pittsburg, to which city they removed in 1896. Formerly, Jeremiah Jamison was engaged in the oil business. They had six sons and two daughters born to them, namely : Finley T., Ralph H., Carl S., and Jay, all of Pittsburg; Fred F., of Mt. Clemens, Mich .; John S., of Ellwood City, and Alice and Edith, residing with their parents.

John S. Jamison was educated in the schools of Emlenton, Venango County, but left his books when twelve years of age to go to work as a driver on a grocery delivery wagon. He graduated from that position into a clerkship in the store, and later be- came manager of the same, being gradually advanced to that position owing to his man- ifest abilities. Mr. Jamison continued as manager for three years, after which he went into the dry goods and grocery busi- ness for himself. In February, 1907, he came to Ellwod City and became associated as a partner with the Dambach Mercantile Company, which is the largest department store concern in this city. The company occupies commodious quarters on the cor- ner of Sixth and Lawrence Avenues, and their trade covers the whole city.

Mr. Jamison married Miss Ada Knight,

then of McDonald, Pa., formerly of Em- lenton, a daughter of Henry Knight, and they have four daughters and one son, namely: Elizabeth, Ada, Grace, Gertrude, and John. Mr. and Mrs. Jamison are both members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Jamison is a Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge at Emlenton, the Chapter at Frank- lin, and the Lodge of Perfection at New Castle. He is also an Odd Fellow. He is a man of pleasing address, and possesses exceptional business qualifications.

JOHN H. BROWNLEE, for many years a well-known resident and prosperous farmer of Pulaski Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, was born in Mahon- ing County, Ohio, November 17, 1845, and is a son of John and Dorcas (Gamble) Brownlee.

Mr. Brownlee was reared in Coitsville Township, of his native county, and re- ceived his intellectual training in the public schools. He took to agricultural pursuits, and early in life moved to Pulaski Town- ship, where he became the owner of a fine farm of eighty acres, all under a high state of cultivation and well improved. A man of estimable qualities, he won a high place in the regard of his fellow-citizens.

On January 13, 1876, Mr. Brownlee was united in marriage with Miss Merthyne S. Gealy, who was born in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, on November 26, 1849, and received a superior educational training in the public schools of Pulaski Township, and in Westminster College at New Wilming- ton. She is a daughter of William and Sarah (Harris) Gealy, and a granddaugh- ter of William Gealy, Sr., who was born in Ireland, and became one of the pioneer settlers of North Beaver Township, Law- rence County, Pennsylvania. William Gealy, Jr., was born in North Beaver Township, Lawrence County, and his wife in Mahoning County, Ohio. Of the chil- dren born to them, the following survive: Merthyne S. (Brownlee) ; John H., of Little Beaver Township; Esther, a teacher

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in the schools of Sharon, Pa .; Phoebe, wife of S. H. Ferree, of Coraopolis, Pa. ; Barney T., of Little Beaver Township; George M., of Zanesville, Ohio; and Sarah E., wife of David McClenahan, of Pulaski township. Prior to her marriage, Mrs. Brownlee was an instructor in the public schools of Pu- laski Township, and met with much suc- cess in that vocation. In her married life, she has proved a loving wife and true help- meet, and believing "every cloud has a silver lining," has borne the sorrows of life with Christian fortitude, and looked beyond to the brighter things. Religious- ly, she is a member of the Presbyterian Church of New Bedford. Mr. and Mrs. Brownlee are parents of four children, namely : Harvey G., of Pulaski Township, a locomotive engineer on the Pennsylvania Railroad; Roy G., of Pulaski Township; Sarah D., who lives at home ; and Merthyne H., deceased. Politically, Mr. Brownlee has always been a Democrat.

I. L. SMITH, principal and proprietor of Smith's Business College at New Castle, and identified with other important inter- ests here, has been a resident of this city for the past eight years. He was born in 1866, in Iowa.

Mr. Smith was eleven years old when the family left Iowa and settled in Texas, but his education was continued at Lenox College, located at Hopkinton, Iowa. Sub- sequently he graduated from the Bayless Business College at Dubuque, Iowa, and still later from the Gem City Business Col- lege at Quiney, Ill. From that time until 1900 he was employed as instructor or as principal of business colleges at several points. In April of that year he came to New Castle and bought out the business college that was then being conducted here, at the same time establishing Smith's Business College, which has a reputation for efficiency that extends over a large ter- ritory and attracts students from many sections. The college curriculum includes shorthand, typewriting, bookkeeping and

stenography, with other business features. There have been as many as 260 students enrolled in one year, and many of these left the college to accept positions of re- sponsibility, the preparation they received here qualifying them for almost any line of business. Mr. Smith is also manager of the Globe Realty Company, doing a regular real estate business, and he is a director in the Home Trust Company.

On December 29, 1892, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Loie A. Goss, a resident of Peterson, Iowa, and they have five chil- dren : Gertrude, Lillian, Monroe, Arminta, and Althea. The family hold membership in the Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a steward. For three years he has been president of the Lawrence County Sabbath School Asso- ciation. Fraternally, he is a Mason and an Odd Fellow.

FRED C. JOHNSTON, a leading busi- ness citizen of Ellwood City and one of the proprietors of the Johnston drug store, was born September 9, 1879, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Thomas W. and Ruth E. (Hazen) John- ston.

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 106

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