Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 110

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 110

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Jessie Novilla Hazen, born January 21, 1881, died on August 29th following, at the age of little more than five weeks.

Mr. Hazen is politically a believer in the principles of Democracy, and a member of the Baptist Church. He belongs to Post No. 164, G. A. R., at Beaver Falls, Pa., being a worthy member of that noble but rapidly diminishing host of heroes of 1861- 1865.

JOHN A. GELBACH, president of the First National Bank of Ellwood City, the oldest institution of its kind in the place, has been prominently identified with Ell- wood City and the growth of its enter- prises for a number of years. Mr. Gelbach was born in Forward Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, March 28, 1862, and is a son of Philip and Sophia (Dambach) Gelbach.

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The parents of Mr. Gelbach were both born in Germany and they accompanied their parents to America. The paternal grandfather, Henry Gelbach, settled for a short time in Beaver County, Pennsyl- vania, but the family was mainly reared in Butler County. Philip Gelbach was an only son. He followed agricultural pur- suits through life. The children born to Philip and Sophia Gelbach were: Jacob, who is a retired resident of Zelienople, Pa .; Philip D., who resides on the old homestead in Butler County; Louisa, de- ceased, who was the wife of W. J. Blake- ley, was killed by a stroke of lightning; William Henry, who is cashier of the First National Bank at Zelienople; Julia A., who is the wife of Peter Schenck, resides at Jamestown, N. Y .; Christian, who is presi- dent of the Mars National Bank, at Mars, Butler County; and John A., of Ellwood City.

John A. Gelbach attended the public schools and worked as a farm boy until eighteen years of age, when he started a general store, in partnership with a brother, at Zelienople, and subsequently became a member of the private banking firm of Lusk & Son, which, in 1892, became Lusk & Gelbach. After one year of busi- ness, the firm style became Gelbach Brothers, and this continued until 1902, when the interests were merged into the First National Bank. Since 1896 Mr. Gel- bach has been connected with the First National Bank of Ellwood City, and has been a resident of this place since 1902. His whole time is given, at present, to the management of this institution, his careful, conservative attitude being well known to investors, who have perfect con- fidence in his integrity and the bank's sta- bility.

The First National Bank of Ellwood City was organized in 1892. Its capital is $100,000, its surplus is $47,000. The officers and directors are all men of high personal character and of ample fortune. John A. Gelbach is president, H. S. Blatt

is vice-president, and W. J. McKim is cashier. Its board of directors are : H. S. Blatt, S. A. Roelofs, W. J. McKim, C. D. Cobau and J. A. Gelbach. Interest is paid on savings accounts, safe deposit boxes are for rent, and foreign and domestic ex- change is afforded. The report of the con- dition of this bank at the close of business, May 14, 1908, showed the total resources to be $636,945.57, with a perfect balance of liabilities.

In 1891 Mr. Gelbach was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary V. Lusk, who is a daughter of Dr. Amos and Agnes (Clow) Lusk, and they have three children : Loring Lusk, Myron S. and Mary Louise. Mr. Gelbach and wife belong to the First Pres- byterian Church of Ellwood City. He is a member of Harmony Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, at Zelienople. In his polit- ical views, he is disposed to be independ- ent, although he believes in the old-time principles of the Democratic party.

ELLIS C. RENO, a prosperous farmer residing in Slippery Rock Township, was born in Shenango Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, March 8, 1868, and is a son of Gilbert L. and Mary (Allen) Reno.

Martin Reno, grandfather of Ellis C., was born and reared in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and always engaged in farming. Upon his removal to Lawrence County, he became the owner of a farm in Shenango Township, and there spent the remainder of his days, dying at the age of seventy years. His widow is still living, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years, and resides with a grandson in She- nango Township.

Gilbert L. Reno was born in Beaver County, and was six years of age at the time of the removal of his parents to She- nango Township. He received his educa- tion in the district schools of the town- ship and at the Normal School at Edin- boro. He remained on the home farm until he purchased his present farm in She-

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nango Township, and although now sixty- ' five years of age, is a very active and pros- perous farmer. He was joined in mar- riage with Mary Allen, a daughter of J. M. and Esther Allen, of Lawrence County, and they are parents of eight children, all living, namely: C. B., E. C., G. L., A. C., F. H., Mrs. D. W. Ferree, Cora L., and Verna M. Cora L. married William E. Geiger.

Ellis C. Reno received his early school- ing in the district schools of the county, supplemented by a course in Hall Institute at Sharon, which he attended two terms. Upon his return from school, he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He worked for his grandfather for three years, then in 1894 purchased his farm of sixty-five acres, lying in Slippery Rock Township, about seven miles southeast of New Castle. He is engaged in general farming and truck gardening, in which line he has been decidedly successful.

Mr. Reno was united in marriage with Margaret E. Thompson, a daughter of James Thompson, of New Castle, and they have four children: Edna A., Ethel M., Hazel H., and V. Mabel. Politically, he is unwavering in his support of Prohibi- tion principles. In religious belief, he and his family are Baptists.

S. L. McCRACKEN, a prominent mem- ber of the Lawrence County bar, has been a resident of New Castle since 1881, during which time he has been actively and bene- ficially identified with civic affairs. He was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and was there reared, acquiring his educa- tional training at the Edinborough State Normal School and Grove City. He was then for several years occupied in teach- ing school in Lawrence and Mercer Coun- ties, after which he registered as a student in the law office of D. B. and E. T. Kurtz at New Castle. After a careful and thor- ough preparation for the legal profession, he was admitted to the bar of Lawrence County, September 27, 1883, and imme-

diately opened an office for practice in New Castle. He formed a partnership with the Hon. J. Norman Martin, the firm occupy- ing a front rank at the bar during the three years of its existence.

In 1885 Mr. MeCracken was elected to the office of district attorney, and he dis- charged its important duties with signal ability and fidelity to the public interests. He has never sought political preferment, except along the lines of his professional work, but in times of political stress his services have been frequently called into requisition by his friends of the Repub- lican party, of which he is a stanch adher- ent, and he has always cheerfully respond- ed, devoting his time and talents freely to the advancement of the party's interests. He is a campaign orator of no mean abil- ity, his efforts in this direction being potent in winning Republican votes. In his law practice he has been notably suc- cessful, and his professional reputation is now well established. He is an active and useful member of the Lawrence County Bar Association.

In 1893 Mr. MeCracken was united in marriage with Miss Mary L., daughter of John R. Miller, of North Beaver Township, and they are the parents of one child- Helen E. Religiously, the family are mem- bers of the First Presbyterian Church.

EDWARD JAMES YOHO, a repre- sentative citizen of Wayne Township, where he has been engaged in general farming for the past twenty-five years, was born on the Goshen place, near Slippery Rock Creek, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania, May 7, 1857. His parents were Daniel and Sarah (Wilson) Yoho.

Four brothers of the name of Yoho came together to America at an early day, and three of these settled in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and one settled in Virginia. The paternal grandfather, John Yoho, was born February 11, 1799, and died Septem- ber 23, 1888, in the ninetieth year of his age. He married Nancy Dougherty, who

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was born in Ireland, February 26, 1800, accompanied her parents to America, and lived into advanced age. Six sons and two daughters were born to John and Nancy Yoho, namely: Jacob, Manassa, Daniel, Edward, John and James, sons, and Eliza- beth, who married Martin Foster and died in Big Beaver Township, and a daughter who died young.

Daniel Yoho, father of Edward James, was born August 10, 1830, and died Feb- ruary 26, 1905. He married Sarah Wilson, who was born November 21, 1827, in Wayne Township, Lawrence County, and died November 10, 1907. She was a daugh- ter of John I. and Elizabeth (Munnel) Wilson, the former of whom was born in Lawrence County in 1803. He was the father of sixteen children. . Mr. Wilson accumulated a large amount of valuable farming land, and some of it is still held by his descendants. The children born to Daniel and Sarah Yoho were as follows: John, who is a merchant at Chewton, mar- ried Lydia Robberman; Edward J., resid- ing in Wayne Township, married Elizabeth J. Nye, a daughter of Melvin and Caroline Etna (Johnston) Nye, pioneers in this sec- tion ; George, who died in childhood; Eli E., formerly a well-known railroad man, now engaged in farming in Wayne Township, married Anna Hoover; William W., who resides at Wampum, married Kate Mc- Conaghey, daughter of Nathaniel MeCon- aghey ; Harvey D., who resides at Chewton, married Lydia Cook, a daughter of George Cook; Nancy Elizabeth, who married Charles Coulter, resides in Wayne Town- ship; Ella, who married Henry Garaway; and Mary, who married Andrew Freed, re- sides near Homewood.

Edward J. Yoho obtained his education in the district schools and in the village of Chewton. He has always led a busy life, and before settling down to farming, worked at the Wampum furnace and in other places. He now has charge of the James and Mary Mehard farm, and has 115 acres under lease. He grows grain,

corn, oats and potatoes, and raises some excellent stock. He has comfortable sur- roundings, and has prospered as a farmer. Some eleven years ago he lost his residence by fire, a new one being erected shortly afterward.

In September, 1881, Mr. Yoho was mar- ried to Elizabeth J. Nye, and to this union have been born seven sons and one daugh- ter, namely : Mary Etta, deceased; George E., born August 18, 1882, is rural mail car- rier, Route No. 1, Ellwood City, and re- sides at home; Harry W., born July 14, 1885, works at stone-crushing and lives at home; Everett Merrell, born February 26, 1887, died in April of the same year; Roy Earl, born February 26, 1889, resides at home; Lewis Elmer, born November 21, 1895; Edward Frederick, born August 20, 1900; and Harvey Glynn, born in April, 1902, resi des at home. Mr. and Mrs. Yoho and sons belong to the Slippery Rock Pres- byterian Church. In politics, he is a Dem- ocrat. For two years he served as road supervisor, and for six years was school director.

THOMAS S. YOUNG, a representative agriculturist and prominent and useful citizen of Union Township, serving at pres- ent as treasurer of the township School Board, was born November 10, 1847, and is a son of James and Mary (Spiers) Young.

The first of the Young family to come to Lawrence County was William Young, grandfather of Thomas S., who brought his family from Lancaster County, Penn- sylvania, in 1806, and settled on a wild farm in Union Township. Here he built a log house in the woods and set about clearing his land, living for many years in the old pioneer style. James Young, father of Thomas S., was born in Lan- caster County. He resided on the home- stead farm until his death, in August, 1853, leaving his widow with a family of children, three of whom survive, namely : Joseph, residing in Neshannock Township;

MR. AND MRS. THOMAS S. YOUNG AND DAUGHTER.

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Thomas S. and James S., residing at New Castle. The mother of these children was born in Scotland. She survived her hus- band until 1895, dying in her eighty-eighth year.

Thomas S. Young was left fatherless when he was but six years of age, but he was fortunate in having a capable, wise and frugal mother and he remained with her in Union Township, and after he had attended school through boyhood, learned the carpenter trade. This trade he fol- lowed for some twenty-five years, since giving it up, devoting his attention to farm- ing, both in Union Township and in Paw- nee County, Kansas, where he lived for three years. On June 25, 1878, he was married to Matilda C. Welsch, who is a sister to J. A. Welsch, who is a well known citizen of Lawrence County. Mr. and Mrs. Young have one daughter, Ida Helen. With his family, Mr. Young belongs to the First Methodist Episcopal Church at New Castle. In his political views, he is not in perfect accord with any of the great. parties, and claims his right to vote inde- pendently, as his judgment dictates. He takes a lively interest in public matters, particularly those pertaining to his own section. He is serving his third term as a member of the Union Township School Board, of which he is treasurer. He be- longs to Shenango Lodge No. 195, Odd Fellows, at New Castle, having been con- nected with this organization for over thir- ty-five years.

JOSIAH GREER, of the firm of J. Greer & Son, a leading real estate and in- surance firm of New Castle, located at No. 14 East Long Street, was born at West Middlesex, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, in 1857, where he obtained a good common school education.

The parents of Mr. Greer were John H. and Martha J. (Cunningham) Greer. They were among the early settlers of western Pennsylvania, and were of the Scotch- Irish descent. He was a stone mason and

bricklayer by trade. When the Civil War broke out he was one of the first to re- spond to Lincoln's call for three-year vol- unteers, becoming a member of Company B, Tenth Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Cavalry, and served three years and four months. After being mustered out he re- turned to West Middlesex, where he died in 1894. He was also one of the old Erie and Pittsburg canal men, and operated all through the Shenango Valley. Mrs. Greer died in 1878, while in Kentucky, and was buried in that State.

When sixteen years of age Mr. Greer went to the vicinity of Grayson, Carter County, Kentucky, where he remained un- til August 31, 1883, when he returned to western Pennsylvania and came to New Castle. He was in the employ of A. M. Robbins, in furnace work, for a short time, and then went with the Aetna Iron Com- pany, and continued with that and its suc- cessor, the Atlantic Iron and Steel Com- pany, for thirteen years. From there he went to the New Castle Seamless Tube Company, with which he remained until 1898, when he embarked in the real estate business at New Castle, under the style of J. Greer. In 1902, when his son, John F. Greer, was admitted to partnership, the firm name became J. Greer & Son, which engages in a general real estate business, platting, building and selling, and also handles fire insurance. The firm is one of recognized business integrity and occupies a leading position among the representa- tive concerns of this city.

In 1874 Mr. Greer was married to Miss Elizabeth Cook, who was born in Ken- tucky. Her parents were Virginians by birth, and her father, who held the rank of captain, was killed near Abbington, Va .. during the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Greer have nine children: Winfield S., Fannie L., John F., Mary A., Albert M., Kate, Frank J., Fred and Elizabeth Fern, all residing at New Castle.

John F. Greer, who is a member of the firm of J. Greer & Son, was born in Ken-

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tucky, but was educated at New Castle. For three years of early manhood he en- gaged in newspaper work. When the Spanish-American War broke out he joined Company B, Sixteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was located at Camp Meade, Pa., and at New- port News, Va., being confined to a hos- pital at both points, suffering with inter- mittent fever. This made a furlough neces- sary, and after his return to his home he had a spell of sickness that continued after his company was mustered out of the serv- ice. In the spring of 1899 he went into the recruiting service of the United State Reg- ular Army, and during that period was lo- cated at Cleveland. For three years after- ward he worked in the tin mill, and then went into the real estate business as indi- cated above. On Christmas day, 1902, he was married to Miss Elizabeth R. Clark, who was born and reared at New Castle, and is a daughter of H. B. Clark. They have two children: John H. and Mary E. Mr. Greer is a member of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church. He belongs to the or- der of Knights of Pythias, and for five years has been sent as a representative to the Grand Lodge.

Josiah Greer is a leading Republican of Lawrence County, and is a member of the Republican County Committee. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the Pathfinders. The firm has membership in the Business Men's Exchange, the Law- rence County Board of Underwriters and the New Castle Real Estate Association.

SAMUEL M. BUCHANAN and his wife, Anna M. Buchanan, the fortunate owners of a tract of 100 acres of fine farm- ing land, which is situated in Wilmington Township, about one mile west of North Wilmington, on the east side of the New Castle and Sharon road, engages here in general farming and also is engaged in handling agricultural implements at New Wilmington. Mr. Buchanan was born in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, October

12. 1866, and is a son of Andrew Jackson and Jane (Ream) Buchanan, and a grand- son of Andrew Jackson Buchanan, who was a very early settler in this section of Lawrence County.

Samuel M. Buchanan was reared on his father's farm and obtained a good common school education in its neighborhood. He has devoted himself to agricultural pur- suits ever since attaining manhood, and is recognized as one of the progressive farm- ers of the township, and he is also engaged in the farm implement business, having a store at New Wilmington, where he handles all kinds of farm implements. His son, Frank Buchanan, is interested in and looks after the work on the farm, while Mr. Buchanan attends to his store interests and also to his duties as secretary of the town- ship School Board. He is likewise active in the affairs pertaining to the welfare of the Neshannock Presbyterian Church at New Wilmington, Pa., of which he is a member.

Mr. Buchanan was married March 7, 1889, to Anna M. Wilson, who is a daugh- ter of the late John D. and Amelia (Mait- land) Wilson, who were prominent farm- ers in Lawrence County. Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan have three children, Frank A., Thead Jane and John Wilson.

WILLIAM A. McKEAN, whose valu- able farm of ninety-five and one-half acres is located in Little Beaver Township, in Lawrence County, near the Ohio State line, was born on the old home farm in Darling- ton Township, Beaver County, Pennsyl- vania, November 19, 1862. His parents were Daniel Adams and Mary E. (Mar- shall) Mckean.

The grandfather, Johnston McKean, was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsyl- vania, and from there came to Lawrence County at a very early day. He married Margaret Adams, who was born near the site of the farm now owned by William A. McKean. They both died at the home of their son, Daniel Adams, in Beaver

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County. They had the following children : Daniel A., George, John, Mary, Lucinda, all deceased, and Margaret, Nancy and Le- vina, surviving.

Daniel Adams was born April 4, 1828, and died in February, 1904. He acquired the old home farm and purchased an ad- joining one and at the time of death owned 265 acres, all of which remains in the fam- ily. Daniel A. McKean married Mary E. Marshall, who was born and reared in Lit- tle Beaver Township. She still resides in Darlington Township, Beaver County. The following children were born to Daniel A. McKean and wife: Johnston M., William Adams, Elizabeth A., Robert H., Clara E., John W. and Charles A .. Of the above family Robert H. and John W. are de- ceased. Clara E. is the wife of G. O. Young.

The boyhood of William Adams Mckean was pleasantly spent on the old home farm in Darlington Township, where he attended the district schools and took part in the usual social life of the neighborhood. He assisted his father on the home farm until 1899, when the latter purchased the pres- ent farm from the Sproatt estate, and then he came to Little Beaver Township and took charge of it. The place had been neglected by former tenants and Mr. Mc- Kean found a large amount of hard work awaiting him before he could get the farm into satisfactory condition. He has carried on general farming here ever since and through good management and much im- proving has made his land productive and the property exceedingly valuable.

Mr. Mckean was married in 1892, in Little Beaver Township, to Bella Watt, who is a daughter of Samuel Watt. In poli- tics he is a stanch Republican, has fre- quently been called upon to fill office, and is serving his second term as constable and has been assessor and tax collector. Mr. McKean has other interests in this section and is a stockholder in the Enon Valley Telephone Company.

ROBERT BENNETT WARD resides upon a farm of 121 acres in Wayne Town- ship, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a well known and prosperous citizen. He was born in that township January 6, 1849, and is a son of Levi and Jane (Bennett) Ward.

The Ward family is one of the oldest of the county. William Ward, grandfather of Robert B., came to Wayne Township as early as 1796, it being at that time a part of Beaver County. He had 100 acres of land there and erected a log cabin which stands at the present writing, being located in what is known as the Newton and Houk Hollow. He married a Miss Shoemaker, and the following were the offspring of their union: John, who married Dorothy Lee, lived and died on the old homestead; William Ward, who first married a Miss McGregor, and afterwards Catharine Hun- ter, moved to Mercer County, Pennsyl- vania, where he owned a farm, and for a number of years followed his trade, that of a carpenter; James married a Miss Leslie and lived in Wayne Township some years, later moving to Mercer County, where both passed away; David, the only member of the family now living, has been a resident of Indiana since he was a young man, and is now nearly ninety years of age; Milo died in infancy; Levi; Cynthia became the wife of William Cotterson; Lavina was the wife of William Bennett; Angeline married James Cunningham; Delilah married Smith Cunningham, and Elizabeth became the wife of James Moore and moved to Illi- nois.

Levi Ward was born in Wayne Town- ship, March 18, 1821, and died April 26, 1900, in his eightieth year. He purchased the farm on which his son, Robert B., now lives in 1856, and lived there until his death. In 1862 he erected the barn now standing, and the splendid brick residence which adorns the place, in 1872. He mar- ried Jane Bennett, who was born about the year 1824, and died March 4, 1882. They

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were parents of the following children: Elizabeth, who died in infancy; Minerva, deceased wife of Thomas MeConaghey; Mary, who is the wife of Smith Cavan and resides in Beaver Falls ; Delilah, who mar- ried Frank Kingston and resides in Wayne Township; Robert Bennett; Amos, who married Rosella Friday, is now deceased; Frank, who married Frances Grandy and resides in Nebraska; James, who married Kate Kingston and is a successful farmer of Wayne Township, and John S., who is married and resides in Kentucky.

Robert B. Ward was in his early boy- hood when his parents located upon his present farm, in 1856, and he was here reared to manhood, his wife being reared on an adjoining farm. After his marriage he resided for some years in Perry Town- ship, Lawrence County, but upon the death of his father returned to the home place, which he purchased. He has a fine farm of 121 acres, well improved and all under a high state of cultivation and he has been more than ordinarily successful.

In 1887 Mr. Ward was united in mar- riage with Agnes Mehard, who was born in Wayne Township, and is a daughter of James and Mary (Martin) Mehard. Her father was six years of age when brought by his parents from Ireland to America, in 1816, he being a son of James and Chris- tina (Orr) Ward. The grandfather first settled in Zelienople, Pa., and then came to Wayne Township. James Mehard, Jr., was one of the following children born to his parents: William; Samuel; Joseph; Thomas; Robert; James; Matilda, wife of William Davidson; Anna, wife of Thomas Davidson, and Elizabeth, wife of John H. Wilson. James Mehard, Jr., was joined in marriage with Mary Martin, a daughter of William and Mary Martin. She was born in Ireland and was a child when her par- ents came to America, early in the nine- teenth century. Mrs. Ward is one of the following children born to her parents : Christina, wife of Thomas Wilson; Mary, who married J. C. Cunningham; Elizabeth,

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 110

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