Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 109

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 109

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DAVID E. McQUISTON, a representa- tive of one of the prominent old families of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, is re- siding in Wayne Township, on the farm on which he was born, May 20, 1857. He is a son of Mark and Mary (Wiley) Mc- Quiston.

Mark MeQuiston was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and was a son of William McQuiston, who came from Ire- land and located in Beaver County. Will- iam MeQuiston and his wife were parents of the following children: Henry, who located in Lawrence County ; Mark, father of David E .; Sampson, who died on the farm near where he was reared, in Beaver County; John, who went to Illinois, and later to Indiana, where he died; David, who died in Nashville, Tenn .; William, who died in infancy ; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Gottlieb Griep; Nancy, deceased, who was the wife of Andrew Deemer, and lived in Wayne Township; and Margaret, wife of Samuel Freed, died in the West.

Mark McQuiston came to Lawrence County at an early date and purchased 275 acres in Wayne Township. He erected first a log cabin and later a log house, and during his lifetime cleared much of the land. He always engaged in farming and was one of the most prosperous and suc- cessful men of the township. His death occurred in 1895, at the age of seventy-

six years, and that of his widow in 1904, at the age of seventy-nine. Mrs. MeQuis- ton was in maiden life Miss Mary Wiley, a daughter of William Wiley, who resided south of Ellwood City. They were par- ents of the following children: Margaret, who married William Lytle and resided in Shenango Township; Philip, a resident of Chewton, who married Electa Pry; Eliza- beth, deceased wife of William J. Gilbert ; Irene, who is wife of J. E. Roth, and lives in Illinois; William, who married Miss Alice Gilbert, and resides in Ellwood City; David E .; and Tersa, who became wife of William S. Brown, of Perry Town- ship, both being now deceased. Mr. Me- Quiston was a Democrat in politics. In re- ligious attachment he and his wife were members of the Harmony Baptist Church.

David E. MeQuiston was fifteen years of age when his parents moved to the lower farm, on which he remained until he was twenty-six years old, and returned to the farm on which he was born, after his mar- riage. He has 100 acres, which at the time it was acquired by his father was a tract of timberland, only a few acres having been cleared off by the Indians. He is engaged in general farming, and has met with great success in his work, being a man of energy and superior managerial ability. Having always resided in the vicinity, he has a wide circle of acquaint- ances, and many friends.

Mr. McQuiston was married in 1883, to Miss Matilda Brown, a daughter of John and Nancy Jane (Lesnett) Brown. Her father died in 1893, at the age of seventy- four years, and her mother in 1907, at eighty-three years. This union was blessed with the following children: John E., who is at home; Irvin H., of Salt Lake City, Utah, married Bertha Van Lewyen ; Philip, of Lawrence County ; Mark E .; Ralph J .; Jennie: Jesse; Evah; and Minnie. Mr. MeQuiston is liberal in his views on re- ligion and politics, having a wholesome re- spect for the good work accomplished by the churches, but is not a member of any.

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In politics, he exercises his franchise in favor of the man who, in his opinion, is best fitted for the office at stake.

JOSEPH VAN GORDER, one of Perry Township's prominent citizens and suc- cessful agriculturists, resides about three miles northeast of Ellwood City, on his valuable farm of eighty-six acres. Mr. Van Gorder was born November 1, 1876, in the farmhouse which stands south of his present home, in Perry Township, Law- rence County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Alvi S. and Rebecca (Marshall) Van Gorder.

' Alvi S. Van Gorder was born in Perry Township, where he died January 14, 1908. He inherited his farm from his father and conducted it through his active years, and was also interested in both a lumber and grist mill, both of which were built on the farm now owned by his son Joseph. The saw mill is dismantled, but the grist mill is still operated by Joseph Van Gorder. He married Rebecca, a daughter of Joseph Marshall, a well-known farmer of Perry Township. To this union were born seven children, namely: Nannie, deceased, was the wife of Wesley McElwain, of Perry Township, and they had the following chil- dren: Roy, Earl, Clarence, Lillian, May, Arthur and Maud; Lila, who married William Hazen, has three children: Mer- rill, James and Harry; Mary, who married William Ferrel, has one child; Joseph, who resides in Perry Township; Irvin, who is unmarried, is in the undertaking busi- ness at Bedford, Ohio; and Jennie and Birdello, both of whom reside at the home- stead.

Joseph Van Gorder was educated in the country schools, at Wurtemburg College and the Slippery Rock State Normal School, where he spent three terms. When he returned home permanently he became the operator of the grist mill, and two years later embarked in a mercantile busi- ness at Wurtemburg, where he continued

for five years. Before the death of his father, he resumed farming, and came to his present place on December 20, 1907, and completed the building of his hand- some residence in January, 1908.

Mr. Van Gorder married Nellie Baldwin, who is a daughter of Lafayette Baldwin, a prominent citizen of Lawrence County and its present treasurer. Mr. and Mrs. Van Gorder have five children, as follows: May, Ross, Hazel, Martha and Elizabeth. Mr. Van Gorder is a member and liberal supporter of the United Presbyterian Church at Wurtemburg. He is a leader in the Republican party in this section and is a member of the Republican County Committee. Fraternally, he is an Odd Fellow.

PAUL WEIRMAN BLOCHER, who conducts the leading store in the jewelry line at Ellwood City, has fine quarters in the First National Bank Building, on Seventh Street, and he is numbered with the enterprising, progressive and popular young business men of the place. He was born at Gettysburg, Adams County, Penn- sylvania, September 1, 1875, and is a son of J. Oliver and Ella (Weirman) Blocher.

The parents of Mr. Blocher were born in Adams County, where the father died in 1902, aged fifty-three years. He had a prosperous business as a coal and lumber dealer, which has been successfully con- ducted by his widow since his death. There were nine children in their family.

Paul W. Blocher was educated at Gettys- burg and Juniata College, at Huntingdon, Pa., graduating from the High School in the former city and subsequently from col- lege. He then learned the jewelry busi- ness with an uncle who was a jeweler at Gettysburg, and later spent one year in the Ezra F. Bowman Technical School, where he perfected his knowledge of the trade, and from there went to Wilmington, Del. For some time he was employed there, in the jewelry store of Millard F. Davis, and

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then went to Philadelphia, where he had charge of the silver department of the George B. Evans drug store, and remained for two years. In November, 1903, Mr. Blocher came to New Castle, in Lawrence County, where he was employed as a jew- eler, until he came to Ellwood City, in April, 1907, going into business for him- self at that time.

On October 17, 1900, Mr. Blocher was married to Miss Eva G. Hartman, who is a daughter of J. F. and Mary Hartman, of Mummasburg, and they have two chil- dren: Mary and Ruth. Politically, Mr. Blocher is a zealous Republican. He is a leading Mason of this section, belonging to New Castle Lodge, No. 642, and to Pitts- burg Consistory, having reached the thirty- second degree. He belongs also to Cham- bersburg Lodge, No. 600, Elks, and to Refuge Lodge, Odd Fellows, of Ellwood City. He has membership on the city Board of Trade, and is active and public spirited. Mr. Blocher is an enthusiastic automobilist.

ROBERT SPEER, a successful agricul- turist and leading citizen of Hickory Town- ship, residing on his valuable farm of 130 acres, which is situated about three and one-half miles from New Castle, on the north side of the Harlansburg road, was born in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1827. He is a son of Thomas and Mary (Shiels) Speer, and a grandson of John and Hannah (Gormley) Speer, who were very early settlers in this part of Lawrence County. The Speers have al- ways been worthy and reliable people, and have been closely identified with the agencies that have made this a progressive and prosperous community.

Robert Speer attended the early schools and later taught school for several terms, but has mainly devoted his life to agricul- tural pursuits. On December 3, 1852, he was married, first, to Rachel Wilson, daughter of Thomas and Margaret Wilson, of Slippery Rock Township, and they had

four children, namely: Margaret Sarah, now deceased; Mary Marilla; Thomas John, who married Laura Love, of Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and had three chil- dren, Mary, Helen and Clara; and James Renwick. The last mentioned married Ma- tilda Kelso, of Syracuse, N. Y., who died in March, 1895, and in 1900 he married, for his second wife, Hannah Baker, of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. The chil- dren of James Renwick by his first mar- riage are: Robert Wendell; Mary Rachel, who married Ralph Orr, of New Castle, Pa .; William Renwick; and John Cargill. Robert Speer was married, second, to Mary Jane Doutheet, of Butler County, Pennsylvania, daughter of William and Mary Doutheet, and of this union there were two children, Martha Lois and Mary Jane. The former married William E. McGrew and has four children, William Renwick, Mary Jane, Anna Eva and Mar- garet. Margaret Sarah married George Gibson, of West Hebron, N. Y., and is now deceased. After the death of his sec- ond wife, Mr. Speer was again married, his third wife being in maidenhood Nancy Ann Gray, a daughter of James Gray, who was a farmer and carriage manufacturer residing near Bellefontaine, Ohio. Three children were born of this union, Hugh, Mary Elen and Robert Edwin. The elder son, a promising youth, died while a stu- dent. Mary Elen married D. W. Marshall, of Ellwood City, Pa., and has two children, Lucille Gray and Marvin. Robert Edwin married Naoma Myers and they have had four children, namely: Marie, now de- ceased; Leona Edith, Ralph Edwin, and Bessie Mildred. The Speer family home is very attractive, being a commodious country residence, with substantial barns and outbuildings, indicating thrift, good management and plenteous harvests. Mr. Speer is one of the leading members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church; for forty-three years he has filled the office of church recorder, and for many years has been an elder.

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

MICHAEL INBODEN, a prominent merchant at Enon Valley, Lawrence Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, is proprietor of a shoe store on Main Street, and of a large gen- eral store on Vine Street, both of which are flourishing establishments, and com- mand the patronage of the leading people throughout this section. Mr. Inboden was born in Germany, October 27, 1857, and is a son of Michael, Sr., and Elizabeth Kathe- rine (Kaufman) Inboden.

Michael Inboden, Sr., was born in Ger- many, January 5, 1815, and followed the trade of a shoemaker in that country many years, but the latter years of his life were spent in agricultural pursuits. In 1882 he moved with his family to America and settled on a farm near Enon Valley, in Lawrence County. His wife, in maiden life Elizabeth Katherine Kaufman, was born in Germany, October 9, 1822, and died March 2, 1899, aged seventy-six years, four months and twenty-three days. His death occurred November 1, 1905, aged ninety years, ten months and six days. The fol- lowing were the issue of their union: Ja- cob, who lives at the old home place in Germany; William, who was the first of the family to locate in America, and is now a resident of Enon Valley; Katherine, de- ceased wife of Conrad Stern; Peter, who died in Germany; Michael, Margaret, widow of Ernest Miller, and Mary (Mur- phy).

Michael Inboden, Jr., was reared to ma- turity in his native land and received a superior education in the schools of that country. He was in the German military service three years, as is the requirement in that country, serving under Captain Crow, in Company I, Sixty-ninth Infantry. While in his teens he learned the trade of a shoemaker, under his brother, Jacob, and after the expiration of his service in the army he lived with his parents. He accompanied them to the United States in 1882, and at once opened a shoe shop in Enon Valley, where he has since continued.

He later opened a small store, carrying a limited stock of shoes, but as his patron- age increased he enlarged his business until he now carries a large and complete general line of footwear. In 1908 he pur- chased the general store which for years had been conducted by George Davidson on Vine Street, and has since conducted both stores, independent of each other. He is a prosperous and successful business man and stands high in popular esteem.

September 4, 1890, Mr. Inboden was joined in marriage with Amelia Vates, a native of Pennsylvania, and the following children were born to them: Lillian, who helps her father in the store; Minerva, Wesley M., Edward Knox, Ruth, Margaret and Dorothy. Religiously, they are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Inboden is a stockholder in the Enon Valley Telephone Company.

CHARLES RUNYON, president and treasurer of the Ellwood City Glass Com- pany, at Ellwood City, is a man of large experience in glass manufacturing, having devoted the greater part of his business life to this industry. He was born in Jef- ferson County, Ohio, August 12, 1858, son of Philip and Elizabeth (Jones) Runyon.

After a long experience in glass manu- facture, Mr. Runyon came, in 1905, to Ell- wood City and reorganized the Clark Brothers' Glass Company, the plant of which had been built by Harry Northwood, in 1892. With his capital, trade relations and superior knowledge, Mr. Runyon was the very man needed to place this industry on a prosperous footing. The capital stock of the Ellwood City Glass Company is $60,000, and it is one of the important industries of this place, giving employ- ment to 210 men and producing a high grade of blown tumblers, which are han- dled by jobbers. The officers of this com- pany are: Charles Runyon, president and treasurer, and W. M: Gertman, secretary. The board of directors is made up of the

MICHAEL INBODEN.

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following capitalists : T. H. Howard, A. H. Patterson, Edward Kaye, George Wehr and Charles Runyon.

R. S. CUNNINGHAM, residing nine miles southeast of New Castle, in Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, Penn- sylvania, is the owner of a valuable farm of eighty-five acres, and is engaged in gen- eral farming. He was born in Wayne Township, Lawrence County, June 4, 1852, and comes of a prominent old family of that section. He is a son of William and Nancy (Vaneman) Cunningham, and a grandson of Benjamin Cunningham.

Benjamin Cunningham, the grandfather, was a native and lifelong resident of Wayne Township, where his father was one of the very earliest pioneers. William, father of R. S. Cunningham, was born on the old homestead in Wayne Township, and attended the early schools of that vi- cinity. He worked on the home place for some years, then purchased a farm of his own in that township, on which he passed the remainder of his days. He married Nancy Vaneman, a daughter of N. V. Vaneman, of Wayne Township, and they became parents of eight children: Keziah M., Maria M., Martha S., R. S., David L., Amos B., George W., and Frank W.

R. S. Cunningham received his early education in the district schools of his na- tive township, after which he assisted his father on the farm until his marriage. He then went west to Iowa and Nebraska, and farmed some years. Returning to Law- rence County, he lived on a farm in Hick- ory Township two years, then moved to Butler County. In 1886 he purchased his present farm, on which he has made many improvements, and has followed farming with entire success.

Mr. Cunningham was united in the holy bonds of wedlock with Nora Durnell, a daughter of John D. Durnell, of Butler County, and they have five children: Cy- rus C., who married Maud Cameron and has three children, Roy, Mabel and Paul;

Rhoda, who married Lewis Dunbargh, and has a daughter, Agnes Gula; Mitchell, who lives in the West; Herman, who married Laura Nagel; and Harry, who assists in farming the home place. Mr. Cunningham is a Republican in politics, and served a number of years as school director. Re- ligiously he is a member of the Harmony Baptist Church, and is at the present time serving as trustee and also as treasurer.

JAMES A. GEORGE, who is foreman of the hot mill department of the plant of the United States Steel Company, at New Castle, was born at Leechburg, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1864. There he was reared and educated.

When Mr. George started out to choose an occupation, he decided to become a mill worker in metal, and began as a sheet-iron worker with Kirkpatrick & Company, and later learned the trade of tin mill worker. He is one of the few Americans found who are experts in this line of work, the foreign element generally prevailing on account of the great endurance that is required. In 1894 Mr. George came to New Castle and entered the employ of the New Castle Steel and Tin Plate Company, which was after- ward absorbed by the United State Steel Company, which about the same time took over also the Shenango Tin Plate Mill, and Mr. George was transferred at this time. Until within the past six years Mr. George was employed at rolling work, but since May, 1902, he has been foreman of the hot mill department, Shenango works, the re- sponsibility attached to this position be- ing only understood by mill workers. Mr. George is a man of ample means, being a director in the New Castle Building and Loan Company, and a director in the Union National Bank, and a stockholder in the Cash Buyers' Mercantile Company. He has served three terms in the city coun- cil, where his practical ideas on public matters received attention, and he takes an active interest in politics.

On December 25, 1889, Mr. George was

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married to Miss Frances Miller, of West- moreland County, and they have two sons : J. Clare and Raymond M. Mr. and Mrs. George are members of the Central Pres- byterian Church. Formerly he belonged to the Amalgamated Association, joining the organization in 1882, with which he remained connected until 1902.

JOHN B. HAZEN, a well known and respected citizen of Ellwood City, and one of the original owners of the land on which the city is located, was born in North Se- wickley Township, Beaver County, Penn- sylvania, February 13, 1835. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Cadwell) Hazen, and his paternal grandparents Joseph and Martha (Vurdick) Hazen.

The grandfather, Joseph, whose occupa- tion was that of a farmer, served in the War of 1812, at Erie, Pa. He and his wife had a family of eight children, namely : Benjamin, Daniel, Lewis, Peter, John, Polly, Eunice and Sarah.

John Hazen, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in North Sewickley, Bea- ver County, on the paternal homestead, and he was a resident of that township all his life, being engaged in agricultural pur- suits. He looked after his parents until their death, and on coming into possession of the homestead he added to it until it contained 300 acres. Besides farming, he devoted a part of his time to stock rais- ing, and was known as a man of up-to-date and progressive methods. At the compar- atively early age of fifty-five he was at- tacked by quick consumption, and fell a victim to that usually fatal disease, to which his wife also succumbed at the age of fifty-eight. His death occurred Feb- ruary 28, 1853.

The children of John and Elizabeth (('adwell) Hazen were as follows : Joseph, born February 27, who died March 28, 1842, at the age of seventeen years ; James B., born May 25, 1827, who removed to Iowa, where he became a prominent citi- zen, representing Lee County in the State

Senate; Nathaniel, born January 14, 1830, now a resident of Beaver County, Penn- sylvania; Andrew, born March 28, 1831, who remained on the homestead and died there in 1904; Theodore, born October 21, 1833, who died November 23, 1853; John B., the subject of this sketch, whose na- tivity has been already given; Mary Ann, born March 22, 1838, who is the widow of Thomas Gillespie; Martha, born March 19, 1823, who married John Young, of Prospect; and Samuel, who died in child- hood.

John B. Hazen acquired his educational training in the common schools of his na- tive county. He was brought up to agri- cultural life, and when, at the age of seven- teen, the care of the farm devolved upon him, he proved himself quite equal to the responsibility, achieving a remarkable de- gree of success for one of his years. His abilities were recognized by his fellow cit- izens, and he was called upon at various times to serve in public office, always dis- charging the duties of such position with conscientious fidelity. His buildings were twice destroyed by fire, but each time he rebuilt them and continued his operations along agricultural lines with renewed en- ergy.

In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, Four- teenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, and during his military career had many narrow escapes from death and capture. He received a severe wound at the battle of Chambersburg, and at Rock Gap his horse was shot from under him and he only escaped capture by the enemy by taking refuge in a dense thicket.

In 1881, years after the smoke of battle had died away, Mr. Hazen came to what is now the site of Ellwood City, purchasing the McGregor farm of seventy-five acres, and eight years later he was the first man to sell land to the Pittsburg Company for the founding of the city. In this transac- tion he exhibited a reasonable moderation and good business foresight, asking only a moderate price and persuading others to

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follow his example. On the land he once owned a part of Ellwood City now stands. After disposing of his property he pur- chased 100 acres more, which now forms part of Hazel Dell. He later added to this tract ten acres purchased from J. C. Johns- ton, and subsequently another purchase of twenty-five acres from Samuel Parker. He also owned a farm of 135 acres in But- ler County. In all respects Mr. Hazen has been an active, enterprising citizen, who has not only carved out a successful career for himself, but had contributed to the advancement and prosperity of his adopted city, where he is widely respected.

Mr. Hazen was married April 22, 1857, to Miss Sarah M. Beatty, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Mehard) Beatty, of Beaver City, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Ha- zen's father was a carpenter and boat builder, who, after the death of his wife, moved to Clinton, Iowa, where he subse- quently died at the age of sixty years. Of their children, two-William and Mary -- died in infancy, Sarah, Mrs. Hazen, being the only one to attain maturity. Mrs. Hazen is the owner of property in Ellwood City, thus being an active sharer in its general prosperity. Mr. and Mrs. Hazen have been the parents of a good sized fam- ily, the different members of which have done credit to the family name. They are: Alice J., Francis J., Elmer E., James B., Mary O., Judith Belle, Nora O., Nathan Madison, Homer C. H., and Jessie No- villa. Their record in brief is as follows :

Alice J., born January 8, 1858, died at the age of thirty-three years. She was the wife of John Dempsey, and left two chil- dren, both of whom are now deceased.

Francis J., born March 19, 1861, died in infancy.

Elmer E., born February 28, 1862, mar- ried Miss Orpha Boyer, of Princeton, and they are the parents of five children-La- fayette, Eva M., Margaret, Alice and John Hazen.

James B., born July 1, 1865, married

Sadie Boyer, of Princeton, and they have a son, Herbert.

Mary O., born July 17, 1868, is the wife of Addison Newton, and they reside at Hazel Dell. Their children are Holiday and Harold.

Judith Belle, born January 2, 1871, is the wife of Lafayette Wilson, and the mother of eight children-Laura B., Jeane, Nellie L., Louise, John, Mabel, Lillian and Dorothy Wilson.

Nora O. is the wife of George Moon, but has no children.

Nathan Madison, born December 4, 1879, married Nellie Smiley, daughter of James Smiley, and they have a daughter, Isa- belle.

Homer C. H. Hazen, born April 30, 1879, in North Sewickley Township, Bea- ver County, Pennsylvania, is unmarried and resides with his parents. He is a prominent member of several of the lead- ing fraternal orders, belonging to Alma Lodge No. 420, Refuge Lodge No. 142, I. O. O. F., of Ellwood City; Roundhead Camp No. 73, Sons of Veterans; and the Uni- formed Rank No. 32, Knights of Pythias.

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 109

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