Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 107

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 107

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The parents of Mr. Johnston were both born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where the grandparents had settled at a very early day. The Johnston family came originally from Ireland. The children of Thomas W. Johnston and wife were: Mrs. D. A. Brown, who resides on Glen Avenue, Ellwood City; Samuel D., joint proprietor of the Johnston drug store, who married Vina Boyer, of Harmony, Pa .; Clarence T., who is in business on Sixth Street. Ellwood City, and who married Miss Adrian Ful- kinson, of New Castle; and Fred C.

Fred C. Johnston attended the public schools of Homewood and Ellwood City, after which he turned his attention to the study of pharmacy, and in 1902 he entered the Pittsburg College of Pharmacy, where he was graduated in 1904. On November 21, 1907, Mr. Johnston, with his brother,

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Samuel D., opened a drug store at No. 523 Lawrence Avenue, and they have devel- oped it into the largest enterprise of its kind in this place. Mr. Johnston had con- siderable experience in his profession be- fore he came to Ellwood City. After spending a certain time in college, he was given charge of the apothecary room of the Pittsburg Free Dispensary, and he also had charge of the drug room of the Marine Hospital, having previously been employed as a drug clerk at Station Street and Sheridan Avenue. His three years at Pittsburg were thus put to good advan- tage, and when he left there, in July, 1907, with the intention of subsequently locating at Ellwood City, he was well equipped for the work of his profession.

On March 15, 1906, Mr. Johnston was married at Beaver, Pa., to Miss Lena Flowers, whose father, the late William M. Flowers, a soldier in the Civil War, died afterward at Freedom, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have had two sons, one of whom, Fred C., survives. He was born May 21, 1907. They are members of the First Baptist Church of Ellwood City. Mr. Johnston is a member of Alma Lodge, No. 420, Knights of Pythias, of Ellwood City, and of Aerie No. 1246, Eagles. He retains his connection with his college fra- ternity, the Beta Phi Sigma, and is a mem- ber of its alumni association.

ANDREW C. COLE, a leading citizen of Wayne Township. resides on his fifty acres of valuable land, which is a part of the old Cole farm, which was one of the first to be settled in this section. Mr. Cole was born in Wayne Township, Law- rence County, Pennsylvania, April 26, 1840, and is a son of Abram and Elizabeth (Smith) Cole, and a grandson of Isaac Cole.

Isaac Cole, the grandfather, was one of the earliest settlers in this part of Law- rence County. He was born December 5, 1776, and died on the present home farm, February 27. 1857. In 1793 he was mar-

ried (first) to Elizabeth Depew, who died February 10, 1803. Their children were: Andrew, born February 2, 1795; Daniel, born June 30, 1797; and Abram, born May 1, 1800. Isaac Cole married (second) March 22, 1808, to Jane Lytle. When Isaac Cole and his wife first settled in Wayne Township, Lawrence County, the face of a white man was seldom seen. Their surroundings were wild and their neighbors were savages. The land was known as college land, and the grandfather of the present generation of Coles secured 150 acres. Life was lived in a primitive way in those days, and a rude log cabin was considered adequate for shelter, and for many years it was the family home. This property came to Abram Cole and re- mained his home during life. A large por- tion subsequently came into possession of Andrew C. Cole, who still retains fifty acres of the old farm. He has disposed of forty-two acres for building purposes, selling the greater part of it acre by acre, and a large portion of the pleasant and thriving village of Hazel Dell stands on land which Isaac Cole redeemed from the forest. He was prominent in all the early agencies of civilization, and assisted to found the Presbyterian Church in this sec- tion, in which he was an elder for many years.

Abram Cole was born and grew to man- hood on the present farm, his birth taking place May 1, 1800, and he was a babe of three years when his mother died. He as- sisted in clearing up the farm, and in 1822 he married Elizabeth Smith, who was born at East Liverpool, Ohio. They had the fol- lowing children: Mary Y., born Decem- ber 15, 1823, died young; Elizabeth, born September 25, 1830, resides in Wayne Township, and is the widow of John T. Newton; John Smith, born October 5, 1833, died aged twenty years; Daniel, born May 8, 1836, died in 1856; Charlotta, born December 11, 1838, died young; Andrew C., born April 26, 1840; and Margaret J., born April 23, 1843, married John Mar-

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shall, and they reside at Wampum. Abram Cole was stricken with paralysis and died April 1, 1867.

Andrew C. Cole was reared in Wayne Township, and obtained his education in the local schools. On July 24, 1862, he was married to Miss Mary Ellen Marshall, who is a daughter of John H. and Susan Marshall. They were natives of Wash- ington County, Pennsylvania. John H. Marshall lived to the age of seventy-seven years, and his wife to the age of sixty-nine years. In 1872 Mr. Marshall was appointed the first postmaster at Hazel Dell, and served nine years, and was succeeded in the office by Mr. Cole, who also served nine years, the family retaining this Govern- ment connection for a period of eighteen consecutive years. Mrs. Cole was the fourth born in a family of eleven children, the others bearing names as follows: Mar- garet, Thomas J., Rebecca J., William B., Enoch H., Diomedes, Izora, Laverga, John F. and Florence. Mrs. Cole died Decem- ber 11, 1904. For many years she was an active and interested member of the Slip- pery Rock Presbyterian Church. She was a lady of engaging personality and of lit- erary acquirements. For a long period she had been a welcome contributor to newspapers and magazines. The children born to Andrew C. Cole and wife were the following: William Hamilton, born June 4, 1863, married Theresa Tillia, and they have five children-Clara E., John H., Frank, Gladys G. and William, the latter deceased; John Withrow, born December 18, 1865, died December 9, 1885; Frank Edward, born March 18, 1868, married Es- tella Parker, daughter of John Parker, and at death left two sons-Andrew J. and Wayne E .; Lizzie Luella and Jennie Izora, twins, born November 12, 1870, the former of whom married Harry MeGovern, resid- ing at Carnegie, and has two sons-Harri- son R. and Harold C., and the latter twin married William Buquo, residing at Hazel Dell, and they have two daughters-Elea- nor G. and Catherine E .; Thomas James,

born August 9, 1873, married Elizabeth J. Hamilton, of Plaingrove, and died Jan- uary 9, 1900, leaving one son-Thomas D .; Carl Hays, born November 15, 1875, died August 24, 1896; Thurman, born January 29, 1879, was a practicing dentist at Ma- rion, Ind., at the time of his death, August 16, 1902; and Catherine M., born Novem- ber 16, 1881, residing at home with her father.

After his marriage Mr. Cole took charge of the farm, as had his father before him. In many ways their lives present similar features. Each was the youngest son and each fulfilled the sacred duty that devolved upon him of caring for his parents in their declining years. On April 1, 1893, Mr. Cole and his sons Thomas, Carl and Thur- man, embarked in a mercantile business at Hazel Dell. Later a fire destroyed their store, and Mr. Cole moved to Ellwood City, purchasing the C. L. Eldridge prop- erty, and engaged in a grocery business there until 1904, when he retired to the farm. In politics Mr. Cole is a Republic- an. He takes a deep interest in educational matters in his immediate neighborhood, and in public affairs concerning the coun- try at large. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Ellwood City.

JOHN SOMERVILLE GASTON, pro- prietor of the Gaston Poultry Farm, sit- uated in Shenango Township, is a member of a family that was one of the earliest among the white settlers in Lawrence County. Mr. Gaston was born April 6, 1847, in Shenango Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of James and Mary (Walker) Gaston.

James Gaston, the grandfather of John S., purchased the farm which the grand- son now owns, and in the latter's posses- sion is the old sheepskin deed, conveying the land to James Gaston from Robert Semple and wife, under date of September 10, 1805. James Gaston was a farmer and stock raiser, and the old log house in which he lived and reared his family is still stand-

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ing. There his son James was born, in 1812. The latter died in 1896, aged eighty- four years. When he married he moved to the Sheets farm, in Shenango Township, on which he lived several years, and until late in the fifties lived on various farms in this neighborhood. Then he bought the interests of the other heirs in the home es- tate, and here he continued farming and stock raising through the remainder of his active life. In politics, first a Whig, he later became a Democrat, and on the ticket of that party served as school director and as supervisor. He was married (first) to Mary Walker, and (second) to Margaret Lockhart, of Pulaski Township. His first wife was a member of the Center United Presbyterian Church. With his second wife, he was a member of the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church, of New Castle. His children were of his first union, namely: Sarah, who is the widow of Kenneth Moore, of Youngstown, Ohio; Walker, who resides at New Castle; Har- vey, who is deceased; William, who lives in Shenango Township; John S .; Prentice, who resides at New Castle; and Ellen, who is the wife of William McConnell, of New Castle.

John S. Gaston was reared in his native township, and attended school through boyhood, and then learned the trade of blaster, which he followed until 1895, when he opened the Gaston Hotel, at New Cas- tle. He conducted that popular house for nine years, and then returned to the farm, taking possession July 5, 1905. He em- barked in the poultry business and has made it a very profitable investment. He ordinarily keeps about 300 hens and raises 1,000 young chickens, having improved poultry quarters and operating along the most modern lines in this industry.

Mr. Gaston married Angeline White, a daughter of Matthew White, of Butler County, and they have had eleven children, all of whom survive, with one exception. Pearl is the wife of George Beatty, of She- nango Township. Della is the wife of Al-

bert Beck, of Sharon. Mary Lunetta is the wife of John H. Richards, of Granite City. Margaret is the wife of Edward L. Hagerty. Ella, Tempa, Enta, Robert Lyle, John Somerville, Jr., and George Lamoree are all at home. Tempa and Enta are twins. Mr. Gaston, with his family, be- longs to the Baptist Church. In politics he is a Democrat, voting with his party in national affairs, but claiming independ- ence in local matters.

CHARLES STAPF, who is now living in retirement, was for many years proprie- tor of the Wampum House, at Wampum, Pa. He has been a lifelong resident of Lawrence County, having been born at Mahoningtown, September 25, 1848, and is a son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Kline- dinst) Stapf.

Frederick Stapf was born and reared in Wurtemberg, Germany, and there learned the trade of a cooper. In young manhood, accompanied by his brother Andrew, he came to America, and they made their way to Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and in partnership they opened a cooper shop at Mahoningtown, now the Seventh ward of the city of New Castle. They started in a small way, but with the subsequent aid of Frederick's sons, acquired a large plant, which was operated successfully for many years. Frederick Stapf became a man of ample fortune, and at his death left each of his children the sum of $2,500. He was married at Mahoningtown to Elizabeth Klinedinst, who also was born along the River Rhine, in Germany, she being very young at the time her mother brought the family to America. Her sister, Margaret, wife of Henry Young, and her step- brother, William, also came at that time, all of them settling in Lawrence County. Frederick Stapf died in 1888, at the age of sixty-five years, and was survived eight years by his wife, who died at the age of sixty years. Six children were born to their union: Charles, of Pennsylvania; William, of California; Elizabeth, wife of

CLARENCE STAPF.

CHARLES STAPF.

MRS. MARGARET B. STAPF.

RESIDENCE OF CHARLES STAPF, WAMPUM.

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E. A. Blanchard, of Iowa; Frank, of Hel- ena, Mont .; Adam, who died in 1902; and Emma, wife of Whitmore Bliss, of Cali- fornia.

Charles Stapf was reared in Mahoning- town and spent a few years in attendance at the common schools, after which he learned the trade of a cooper in the estab- lishment of his father. After spending fifteen years at that trade, he became su- perintendent of the Wampum Portland Ce- ment Works, at Wampum, in which he was financially interested. He remained in that capacity three years, at the end of which time he purchased the Wampum House of Jacob Hyle. He conducted this hotel for a period of eighteen years, and es- tablished an enviable reputation with the traveling public, which was always glad of an opportunity to spend a night under his hospitable roof. He sold out April 1, 1906, since which time he has been liv- ing a retired life, in the enjoyment of a well earned rest after the many years of unceasing toil in the field of business. At the time he disposed of the hotel he erected a beautiful brick residence on Clyde Street, one of the finest homes in Wampum. Al- ways a lover of fine horses, they have fur- nished a diversion from business cares during the past fifteen years. He has owned numerous fast horses, which have done well in circuit racing, and is at the present time owner of William O., with a record of 2:041/4, an animal of royal ante- cedents, which has been raced with great success. Mr. Stapf is the owner of the I. O. O. F. building, a large three-story brick structure, located on Main Street, in Wam- pum.

Mr. Stapf was united in marriage in 1876, with Miss Margaret Buchanan, a daughter of Andrew Buchanan, and they are parents of one son, Clarence. Mr. Stapf is a member of the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks, at New Castle. Po- litically he has always been a stanch sup- porter of Democratic principles.

JAMES B. LEECH, a representative citizen of Wayne Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and a veteran of the Civil War, has been a resident of the county since 1852, except for a brief period. He was born in Plumb Township, Alle- gheny County, Pennsylvania, November 30, 1844, and is a son of Robert M. and Catherine (Armstrong) Leech.

Robert M. Leech was born near McKees- port, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits and blacksmithing. In the fall of 1852 he moved to Wayne Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, where he purchased 150 acres of land. Of this, he later dis- posed of fifty acres to Robert and Daniel MeMunn, and in 1865 transferred fifty acres to James B. Leech, who later sold his interest to Levi Ward. The remaining fifty acres is now owned by a daughter, Mrs. Walker. Robert M. Leech was mar- ried in Allegheny County, to Catherine Armstrong, who also was born in Plumb Township, Allegheny County, and was a daughter of William Armstrong. They be- came parents of the following children, the six oldest of whom were born in Allegheny County: William, who was born in 1842 and died in 1858; James B .; Margaret, who died in the spring of 1853; David Mal- colm, who also died in the spring of 1853; Rebecca, deceased, who grew to maturity ; Sarah Minerva, wife of David S. Walker, residing on a part of the old home farm in Wayne Township; and Mary Belle, de- ceased wife of James Moore, by whom she had two children.

James B. Leech was reared on the farm, and has always been engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. For the past twenty years, except for a part of the years 1888 and 1889, which he spent in Beaver Falls, he has resided near the old home place, where he and his wife own a tract of twenty acres. When the Civil War was in prog- ress, Mr. Leech first enlisted under Cap- tain Shaw, in Company A, One Hundred

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and Thirty-Fourth Regiment, Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry, and served nine months, being discharged at Harrisburg. He then re-enlisted at New Castle, as a member of Company I, Sixth Regiment, Heavy Artillery (afterward Two Hundred and Twelfth Infantry), of which William McCandless was captain. He served until the close of the war, and during his service participated in many important engage- ments, among them Fredericsburg and Chancellorsville. He was discharged at Pittsburg, and returned to his home in Lawrence County. Mr. Leech is a man of high principles, and a public-spirited citi- zen, who enjoys the esteem of his neigh- bors and many friends.

James B. Leech was married in October, 1865, with Miss Rosanna Glasser, who was born in Wurtemburg, Wayne Township, October 2, 1844, and is a daughter of William Glasser, her parents being natives of Germany and early settlers in Wayne Township. This union was blessed with fifteen children, as follows: Ida E., who was married in 1882 to W. O. Weimer, by whom she has four children : Flora Bell (Gardner) ; Kate Rose, wife of John M. Houk; Ora May Weimer, Esther Louise Weimer; Carrie, who died in February, 1889, was the wife of Chauncey Houk, who died in 1888. They had two children: Omar, who married Bessie Booher, and Ira Houk; Ola, who resides in Beaver Falls, married William Sanders and they had nine children: Frank, Milo, Howard, Lawrence, Rose, William, Joseph, Irene and Merrill; Tina R., who resides in She- nango Township, married James R. Lutz, and they have nine children, as follows: Howard, Raymond, Alice, Robert, Lula, Joseph, Ralph Clyde, Myra, Daniel Arthur, deceased; Maude died in 1888; Minnie died from injuries received in the accidental discharge of a gun; James R., deceased (twin), married Elizabeth Wurtz, and has a son, George; Joseph R. (twin), unmarried, of Shenango Township, was a

member of Company E, Nineteenth Regi- ment, United States Infantry, and served three years in the Philippine Islands. Andrew Sherman is unmarried and lives at home; Thomas Herman married Miss Delma Peterman and resides in Kan- sas City, Kan .; a babe that died unnamed; William Blaine, unmarried, resides in Beaver Falls; Oscar L. is at home; Amy Isabella attends schools; and Robert S., who met death in an accident while work- ing in a stone quarry, was twenty-one years old.

Mr. Leech is a member of Wampum Post, G. A. R. In politics, he has been unswerving in support of Republican prin- ciples. In religious faith and fellowship, he is a Presbyterian.

ALVIN M. STEWART, a well-known business citizen of New Castle, where he is engaged in a general contracting busi- ness, and is largely interested in dealing in and improving city realty, was born in Lancaster Township, Butler County, Penn- sylvania, July 13, 1850.

Mr. Stewart was about twenty years of age when he came first to New Castle, where he worked as a carpenter until 1874, when he went to Denver, Colo. Two years later he returned to New Castle, and has been engaged in general contracting ever since. He has done a large part of the important building in this city, and among his most notable structures may be men- tioned the block now occupied by the Trac- tion Company, he purchasing the land and erecting the appropriate buildings; the block in which the Home Trust Company is located; the block in which is located Welch's hardware store, and the Alexan- der Block, together with any number of the city's handsomest residences. He has engaged, during the past thirty years, also in purchasing unimproved realty in differ- ent sections, which he has platted and built upon, subsequently disposing of these de sirable sites.

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In March, 1870, Mr. Stewart was mar- ried to Miss Mary Jane Smith, a resident of New Castle. They are members and lib- eral supporters of the Central Presby- terian Church. He belongs to the trade organization, the Carpenters' Union. Mr. Stewart is quite active in local politics, being a stanch Republican.

GEORGE HARVEY WILSON, who comes of a prominent old family of Law- rence County, Pennsylvania, is the owner of a valuable farm of eighty-two acres, situated in Wayne Township, and is en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. He was born in a log cabin on his father's farm, about one mile north of his present home, October 4, 1857, and is a son of John I. and Elizabeth (Munnel) Wilson.

The Wilson family was first established in Lawrence County about 1796, with the arrival of five brothers, namely: Alexan- der, James, Andrew, William and Hugh. Of these, James was the grandfather of George Harvey and was a native of Seot- land. He married Eletha Patterson, who was born in Ireland, and was fifteen years of age when she accompanied her father, John Patterson, and his family to America. James Wilson was accidentally killed by the falling of a tree, in 1803, and was sur- vived by his widow and one son. John I. Wilson.

John I. Wilson was born in June, 1803, in Lawrence County, and there lived all his life, becoming a man of affluence in his section of the county. His homestead was in Wayne Township, and he was the owner of a large amount of real estate, in which he speculated extensively. He was mar- ried in August, 1826, to Miss Elizabeth Munnel, who at the time lacked one month of being fourteen years of age. She was born in 1812, and was quite small at the time of her father's death. Mr. Wilson died in 1885, at the advanced age of eighty- two years, and his widow survived him until 1895, dying at the age of eighty-

three years. They were parents of six- teen children, as follows: Sarah, who died in her eightieth year, was the wife of Daniel Yoho; the second child died in in- fancy; Elizabeth is the widow of Harry Moore, who, in 1849, prior to his mar- riage, went to California during the gold excitement, but later returned ; James died in infancy; Eli, a member of Company C, One Hundredth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, known as "Round Heads," was killed at the second battle of Bull Run: William died at the age of four years; Ella married Ira Cunningham, whose death occurred November 21, 1903, at Wampum, and they had one son, John Ira, of Homewood, who married Etta Rob- berts, and had three children, two now living: Robert H. and Charles Lewis; the eighth child, in order of birth, was one who died in infancy; John P., who resides in Wayne Township, was also a member of Company C, One Hundredth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War. He was three times mar- ried, his first and third wives being, re- spectively, Arilla and Alice Johnston, daughters of John C. Johnston, and his second wife was Eleanor Johnston, daugh- ter of James Johnston, and he is the father of eighteen children; Johnston A. Wilson, who was a member of the Eighteenth Regi- ment. Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, during the Civil War, and now a resident of the State of Washington, married Miss Mary Jones: David W .. also a member of Company (, One Hundredth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, during the Rebellion, died several years after the war; Louisa, who married Ira Cunning- ham, had two children: Charles, a mer- chant of Wampum, who married Maud Braboy, and Effie, who died at the age of one year ; Cecelia Emiline married Sam- uel Hill and resides in Shenango Town- ship; Hyram A. and Harriet L. are twins. The former married Mary Hatch, and lived in Missouri at his death. Harriet L. mar-

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ried Frank Shallenberger, and resides at Chewton; and George Harvey, who is the youngest of the family.

George Harvey Wilson was reared on the farm, and attended public school at Hopedale, after which he followed several lines of work for a number of years. He worked at the stone business for a period of seven years, since which time he has farmed. About 1883 he purchased his present farm of eighty-two acres in Wayne Township, it being a part of the old William Simley farm. A man of energy and good business capabilities, he has met with success in farming, and has one of the best improved farms in this locality.

Mr. Wilson was first married in Feb- ruary, 1882, to Miss Amelia Paland, a daughter of Augustus and Margaret Pal- and. Her parents were natives of Ger- many, and coming to this country first located in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and subsequently in Wayne Township, Lawrence County. She died in 1889, leav- ing four sons, as follows : Harry Augustus, who works in Rochester, Pa .; Charles E., residing in Wayne Township, who married Emma Van Gorder, a daughter of James Van Gorder, has a son, Warren William; Herman Lewis works in Ellwood City, Pa., at the Frankfort Steel Works; and Frank I. is preparing himself for a position as mechanical engineer at the Ohio Northern University at Ada, Ohio. Mr. Wilson mar- ried second, May 1, 1901, Miss Elizabeth Grandy, a daughter of Robert Grandy, of Wayne Township, and they became par- ents of one daughter, Mary Elizabeth. Mrs. Wilson died in 1904. Formerly, Mr. Wilson was a member of the Patrons of Husbandry. He is a Republican in national polities, but locally reserves the right to vote independently. He served some years as township clerk. He is a man of wide acquaintance in this part of the county, and has a host of friends.

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 107

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