Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 124

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 124

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Samuel McCreary obtained his educa- tion in the early township schools. His life has been an agricultural one and he has been more than usually successful as a farmer. For the past twenty years he has been a member of the State Board of Ag- riculture and has been president of one of the oldest agricultural societies in Penn- sylvania. Just prior to the Louisiana Pur- chase Exposition at St. Louis the commis- sion on agriculture in Pennsylvania select- ed farmers to enter into a grain-raising contest, two prizes each being offered by county and state for corn, wheat, oats and rye. Mr. McCreary is proud of securing the first medal from Lawrence County and the sweepstake first medal from the state. In addition to general farming he has given a large amount of attention to sheep raising. Since he has come into possession of the old homestead he has made many improvements, erecting a substantial barn and other buildings and enlarging the house to a commodious two-story resi- dence. In every direction the eye notes evidence of thrift and good management.

Mr. McCreary married Elizabeth Mc- Dowell, a daughter of Abel McDowell, a prominent farmer of this section. They have had three daughters and one son- Emma J., who married Dr. W. L. Smith, physician, of New Wilmington; Samuel, who has not yet completed his education; Julia, who resides with her older sister, and one daughter, deceased. Mr. and

998

HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

Mrs. McCreary have two grandchildren, Eugenia and Hilda Wright. Mr. McCreary takes no very active interest in politics, but always lives up to every demand of good citizenship.

BENJAMIN BEISEL,* superintendent of the outside construction work of the Pennsylvania Engineering Works, at New Castle, is a traveled and experienced man in his line of activity and has been a resi- dent of this city for the past twenty-seven years. He was born in 1859, at Pittsburg, Pa.

Mr. Beisel's boyhood was spent at school and in the occupations which appeal to youth until he entered upon his apprentice- ship to the machinist's trade, and when twenty-one years old he came to New Castle in order to enter the Withrow & Gordon Engineering Works. He remained with that firm until it dissolved, and then went to Philadelphia, where for twelve years he was superintendent of works in which Mr. Gordon was interested, and for seven years with W. W. Lindsay & Co., of that city, as superintendent of erections. He dissolved his pleasant relations with that firm in order to come to the Pennsyl- vania Engineering Company, where he has continued until the present. The nature of his work has taken him all over the coun- try, even to Nova Scotia, and the larger part of his time is taken up in travel. Nevertheless, he takes much interest in New Castle and has a pleasant home in this city. In October, 1883, Mr. Beisel was married to Miss Mary E. McBride, who was born and reared at New Castle and is a daughter of Hon. Thomas McBride, formerly mayor of this city. Mrs. Beisel is a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

WILLIAM HENRY BRABY,* a retired merchant, residing at Wampum, was born in Kingston, Canada, July 23, 1848, and is a son of William and Marion (Wither- spoon) Braby.

The father of Mr. Braby was born Feb- ruary 2, 1806, in the city of London, Eng- land. For twenty-one years he has served in the British Army, leaving with the rank of sergeant. He was subsequently made a gamekeeper in the royal forest preserves, and he remained in his native land until 1828. In the meanwhile he had married Marion Witherspoon, who was born at Ab- erdeen, Scotland, and was a daughter of a powder manufacturer there. After cross- ing the Atlantic Ocean, William Braby and wife settled in Northern Canada, near Stratford, where they spent their means in the purchase of a pioneer farm from the Government. Their nearest neighbor was a lone bachelor and the nearest family was five miles distant, so their social life was somewhat limited. Their time was fully occupied, however, in clearing enough land on which to raise a crop of wheat and in putting up their log cabin. Farm work was done entirely with oxen, but when Mr. Braby wished to sell his butter and eggs he preferred to walk the ten miles to the market at Stratford rather than to make use of the slow-going beasts of burden. He succeeded in clearing up his farm and lived on it until 1872. The death of his wife on May 22, 1871, brought about a desire for change and in the next year he sold his farm of 125 acres and spent the remainder of his life in visiting his chil- dren, on several occasions coming to Law- rence County, Pennsylvania. The English Government rewarded his military serv- ices by a pension. He died in October, 1882. His family numbered sixteen chil- dren, eleven of whom survived infancy, these. being: Hannah and Harriet, both of whom are deceased; Margaret, wife of William Cotterell; and William H., James, George, Edmund, Emily, Emma, David and Banjamin, both daughters being de- ceased.

William Henry Braby remembers a hap- py boyhood mainly spent in the Canadian green woods. Up to the age of sixteen years, when he left home, he went to school

999

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

whenever he could be spared, the teaching being carried on in a rude log house hastily put up for the purpose. William Sum- merville, who had married his aunt, Cathe- rine, was engaged in the coal business in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and when he was sixteen years old he accepted their invitation to visit them. Thus, on Christ- mas night, 1863, he reached their home, coming by way of the Pennsylvania & Lake Erie Railroad, which had been completed from New Castle to Erie in the previous year. He then took a hack from Girard to New Castle, and the Pennsylvania line again, that then ran a branch to Clinton from New Castle. He found work in the mines which were under the direction of Pierce, Summerville & Co., and remained more or less connected with his uncle's in- terests for eighteen years, working as a miner for only eighteen months. He was made a clerk in the company store at a salary of $20 per month, and was steadily advanced until he was made bookkeeper, and then paymaster, when he was given $150 per month, with free house rent and the keeping of his horse.

In 1876 Mr. Braby embarked in the hardware and tinware manufacturing busi- ness at Wampum, and after it was well started he hired a man to look after it and went back to his old firm for six months, when he resumed the operation of his own store. This he conducted for many years, and then disposed of that business in order to open a dry goods and notion store, owning the property on which he located it. This he continued alone for five years. He then took in Frank E. Ma- jor as a partner, and five years later took in H. J. McCready, when the business was conducted under the firm style of the Beav- er Valley Supply Company. Mr. Braby also engaged in the stone business for eight years, selling out to the Clydesdale Stone Company in April, 1906. In the same year, in association with his son-in- law, C. C. Cunningham, he bought the Da-

vidson Company store at West Pittsburg, and the business is now carried on under the style of C. C. Cunningham & Co.'s Gen- eral Store. Mr. Cunningham is also inter- ested in the Wampum business and attends largely to Mr. Braby's affairs. The latter is one of the most substantial citizens of this place. He owns stock in the Crescent National Cement Works and is vice-presi- dent of the First National Bank at Wam- pum. In partnership with J. A. Oatman, he owns fifty acres of land in Beaver Coun- ty, and has many subsidiary interests.

On November 23, 1870, he was married to Jennie E. Wilkison, who is a daughter of William Wilkison, and they have three children-Maude M., Lillian May and Mayme. The eldest daughter married C. C. Cunningham, mentioned above, and they have two children, Lewis and Clara. The family residence is a commodious frame house of fourteen rooms, which is beauti- fully situated on the corner of Clyde and Main Streets, Wampum. Mr. Braby has practically retired from business. As a recreation he is engaged in the raising of fine poultry, giving special attention to the Rose Comb Black Minorca variety. In politics he is a Democrat of the old type and served for eight years as postmaster at Wampum, under President Cleveland's administration. He belongs to the order of Eiks at New Castle and formerly was identified with the Odd Fellows. Mr. Bra- by is one of Wampum's most public-spir- ited and useful citizens.

GEORGE N. MEALY, M. D.,* who for the past thirty-two years has been engaged in medical practice at New Wilmington, ranks with the leading physicians of Law- rence County. He was born September 21, 1845, at Clayville, Washington County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Anthony A. and Jane (McCaskey) Mealy. The father of Dr. Mealy was a very early settler in the section of Washington County in which he lived, and he cleared the land which he

1000

HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

acquired and developed it into a produc- tive farm. The family experienced many of the hardships of pioneer life, but many grew to sturdy and useful maturity.

George N. Mealy was given the best edu- cational opportunities the country afford- ed in his early boyhood, and later attended school at Claysville, and after completing the prescribed course he taught in the same school for a period of two years. For three more years he taught in the country schools in that neighborhood, and during the larger part of this time was quietly and patiently reading medicine, with the intention of making its practice his life work. He thus prepared himself for eu- trance to Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, where he studied for one term, going then to Wooster College, at Cleveland, where he was graduated in 1882. He settled for practice at Sisterville, W. Va., and from there came to New Wil- mington in February, 1876.

On January 27, 1869, at Wheeling, W. Va., Dr. Mealy was married to Mary Margaret McAnace, who is a daughter of Hugh and Mary (Templeton) McAnace. The father of Mrs. Dr. Mealy owned a large plantation two miles east of Wheel- ing. Dr. and Mrs. Mealy have two chil- dren living, one being deceased. The last mentioned was the second son, John Er- nest, who died October 30, 1902; while en- gaged in medical practice at Girard, Ohio. He married Fannie Wright, who survives with their two children, Alfaretta and Bes- sie. The surviving children of Dr. and Mrs. Mealy are Harry M. and Mary Helen. The former, a physician in active practice at Newton Falls, Ohio, married Belle Scott, and they have one daughter, Dorothy. Mary Helen Mealy married Dr. William Clark, Jr., a prominent physician and sur- geon at New Wilmington, and they have one son, George Paul. Dr. Mealy is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is an active citizen in the matter of prog- ress and public improvements and takes

a particular interest in philanthropic movements.

AUGUSTINE HAID,* foreman of the boiler department of the Pennsylvania En- gineering Works, at New Castle, came first to this city twenty-two years ago and, with the exception of about eight years, has been a resident here ever since. He was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsyl- vania, in 1855.

When a youth of fifteen years Mr. Haid went to Pittsburg, where he entered the works of William McCullough & Co., glass manufacturers, where he remained for two years. Several more years were spent as an employe of the Keystone Bridge Works, and then he was employed for seven years by the H. K. Porter Locomotive Works. Later he entered the Valley Railroad shops at Veronica, Pa., and worked in the boiler department for six years and one year in the Lake Erie shops, after which he came to the old Withrow Works at New Castle. He remained here for four years, going then to Barberton, Ohio, for some eight or nine years. By this time Mr. Haid was a thorough machinist and was as familiar with every detail of the work in his line of trade as years of practical training in some of the largest plant in the country could make him. From Barberton he came to the Pennsylvania Engineering Works, where ever since he has filled the position of foreman and has also acquired stock in the enterprise.

In 1886 Mr. Haid was married to Miss Winnifred McGraw, and they have six chil- dren, the two older sons, Paul Leo, with Edwards, George & Co., of Pittsburg, and Charles M., employed in the Pennsylvania Engineering Works, inheriting the fath- er's mechanical capacity, while the others -Mary A., William J., Augustine G. and Joseph Wendell-are still in school. Mr. Haid and family attend St. Mary's Cath- olie Church. Recently Mr. Haid has pur- chased a fine home located at No. 367 Em-

1001

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

erson Street, New Castle. He is not ac- tively interested in politics and his only fraternal connection is with the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association.

FRANK L. WILSON,* owner of 115 acres of valuable land in Little Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania, comes of an old and respected fam- ily of the county. He was born on his father's farm in that township February 27, 1880, and is a son of Lee R. and Anna (Cook) Wilson.

Lee R. Wilson was born on the farm now owned by his son, Frank L., in 1848, and is a son of Robert W. Wilson, who settled in the woods of Little Beaver Town- ship, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, with his parents at a very early date. Rob- ert later purchased the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch, and there he lived until his death in 1905, at the age of eighty-one years. He married Nancy Reed, who was born in Beaver County, and they became parents of nine children, namely : Lee R., Milo F., Elizabeth, Isa, Calvin, de- ceased; Samuel, Seldon A., Phoebe and Dr. Stanley A.

Lee Reed Wilson helped to clear the farm settled by his father and for many years lived in the old log house which adorned the place. He is a man of su- perior educational attainments, having at- tended the public schools of his native township, and at Edenburg. He was a school teacher in his younger days, as were all his brothers, and he taught in all some twelve years, in Lawrence and Beaver Counties, Pennsylvania, and in Kansas, being in the West two seasons. He later turned his attention to farming, and purchased his present farm in Little Beav- er Township. He was united in marriage with Anna Cook, daughter of John and Isabella (Davis) Cook, and they have but one child, Frank L.

Frank L. Wilson spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, and attended the dis- trict schools and the public schools at Slip-

pery Rock, from which he was graduated in 1900. He then attended Ohio Northern University, at Ada, Ohio, and Duff's Busi- ness College, at Pittsburg, Pa. He began teaching school in 1898, and in all taught about five years with good success. After the death of his grandfather he bought the old Wilson homestead of the estate, and has there since carried on agricultural pursuits. He follows general farming along modern and approved ideas, and his efforts have brought forth good results.

November 20, 1902, Mr. Wilson was mar- ried to Miss Carrie Patterson, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Russell) Patter- son, and they have one son, Lee Russell. In political affiliation Mr. Wilson is a stanch Republican, has served as township auditor and is at the present time inspector of elections. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

CARMI L. GLOVER,* foreman of the foundry department of the Pennsylvania Engineering Works, has been a resident of New Castle since 1880. He was born in England in 1869 and was brought to America when a child of four years. He lived at Ironton, Ohio, until eleven years old and then came to New Castle. Mr. Glover attended the public schools in this city until he reached a proper age to enter the Withrow & Gordon shops, and he con- tinued there until 1892, when he went to Pittsburg. Mr. Glover displayed unusual capacity from the first in his line of work and became so skilled that he was made foreman of the Union Foundry & Machine Works when he reached Pittsburg, al- though he was then only twenty-one years of age. He remained in that position at Pittsburg for two years and then went in the same capacity to Carrington, Va., where he was at the head of the Carring- ton Machine Company's works for two more years. Mr. Glover then returned to New Castle in order to accept his present responsible position with the great indus- try which is a dominating force in the

1002

HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

commercial life of New Castle, employing thousands in its various departments and distributing an immense amount of capital that makes prosperity. Mr. Glover is a stockholder in the concern. He is a per- manent citizen and has investments in this city, in 1904 having erected his handsome residence at No. 165 Shaw Avenue.

In 1889 Mr. Glover was married to Miss Emma Williams, who was born and reared at New Castle. She is a daughter of Har- ry Williams of this city. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Glover was a popular teach- er in the Central public school. They are members of Trinity Episcopal Church, and Mr. Glover has served as a vestryman for several years. He is a Knights Templar Mason and belongs to the Lodge of Per- fection of New Castle and to the Shrine at Pittsburg.

DANIEL P. REEHER,* a prominent agriculturist of Hickory Township, Law- rence County, Pennsylvania, owns a valu- able farm of eighty-one acres, located on the East Brook and Neshannock Falls Road, about one mile from the former place. He was born in this township, and is a son of Andrew and Susan Reeher. His grandfather, John Reeher, was a na- tive of County Down, Ireland, and became a settler in Hickory Township, Lawrence County, at a very early period.

Daniel P. Reeher was reared on the home place and received a good common school education in the district schools, after which he turned his attention to farming, which he has followed all his life. He has a commodious two-story frame home, and the farm is well equipped with good substantial outbuildings, which are so es- sential to successful farming.

Daniel P. Reeher was united in marriage with Sarah Reeher, a daughter of Jacob and Mary Ann Reeher, who were well known residents of the county. This union was productive of the following offspring : Oresta L., who resides on the home farm, which he manages; Harry; Lloyd, and

Oliva, who is married. Religiously, the members of the family are Presbyterians.

H. W. BURGESS,* superintendent of the pattern department of the Pennsyl- vania Engineering Works, at New Castle, was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, in 1857, and is a son of John and Mary A. P. (Morse) Burgess. The father of Mr. Burgess was born in Poland, Ohio, and later was a resident of Mercer County, Pennsylvania. He married Mary A. P. Morse, who was born in Massachusetts. During the Civil War John Burgess was a brave and satisfactory soldier in the Fed- eral Army, being a member of the famous "Roundhead Regiment," belonging to Company H, One Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. By trade he was a carpenter.

H. V. Burgess received his educational training in the schools of his native county, and with his father he learned the carpen- ter's trade. About 1880 he came to New Castle and went into the Withrow & Gor- don shops and, with the exception of a period of two years, he has been in the em- ploy of the same company ever since, in spite of its changes in names, in owners and in many of its employes. For two years he was at Youngstown, Ohio, with William Todd, and also at Oil City for a short time. In the spring of 1895 he re- turned to New Castle and has held his present position since that time. He is a stockholder in this large enterprise. In 1885 Mr. Burgess was married to Miss Caroline A. Higgins, who was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Richard L. and Elizabeth (Hammond) Higgins. Mr. and Mrs. Bur- gess attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is an Odd Fellow, belonging to both the subsidiary lodge and to the Encampment.

BARNEY T. GEALY* is proprietor of the B. T. Gealy Lumber Yard and Planing Mill, at Enon Valley, Pa., and has a large

1003

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

and well established business. He is a native of Lawrence County, having been born at New Bedford, November 17, 1851, and is a son of William and Sarah (Har- ris) Gealy.

William Gealy was born in North Bea- ver Township, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania, and was a son of William Gealy, Sr. The latter was born in the North of Ireland and at an early date came to the United States, settling on a farm in North Beaver Township at a time when wild game abounded and Indians were numerous in the community. He was the father of a family of six children, as follows: Rob- ert, who at one time was sheriff of Law- rence County; John, William, Andrew, Samuel and Jane (Quest).

William Gealy, Jr., father of the subject of this sketch, was reared on the home farm in North Beaver, and at an early age learned the trade of a cabinetmaker. He moved to New Bedford, at that time in Mercer County, but now in Lawrence, and there followed his trade for many years, both he and his wife dying at that place. He married Sarah Harris, a daughter of Barney Harris, whose father was a soldier in the Continental Army during the Revo- lutionary War, and some time after the close of the war moved west from New Jersey to Mahoning County, Ohio, settling in Coitsville Township. Ten children were the offspring of this union: Watson, de- ceased; Harris; Esther, an instructor in the public schools; Martha, deceased; Phoebe, wife of S. H. Ferree; Merthyne, wife of John P. Lee; Barney Tunis; Will- iam, deceased; George, and Sadie, wife of D. McClanhan.

Barney T. Gealy was reared in New Bedford and there received a good com- mon school education. When a young man he went to Rochester, Pa., and assisted his brother, Watson, in his store for some six months. Returning to New Bedford, he worked in the saw mill of Proctor & Rol- land, and later went with that firm to Mer- cer County, Pennsylvania, continuing with

them until 1875. At that time he, in part- nership with his brothers, Harris and Will- iam, began operating a sawmill in Mahon- ing Township, Lawrence County, on the Book farm, and continued until 1883. They then purchased a timbered farm in Little Beaver Township, and after cutting the timber disposed of the land to good advan- tage. In 1893 Mr. Gealy purchased his present plant at Enon Valley of Shayner Bros., and has since continued his opera- tions there with great success. He is a stockholder and director in the Enon Val- ley Telephone Company. He is a man of marked business ability, and is one of the substantial and progressive men of the village.

October 31, 1878, Mr. Gealy was joined in marriage with Miss Ella Rose, a daugh- ter of Aaron and Martha Rose, of Mercer County, her father being now deceased. Two children were born to bless their home, namely: Edna Tiffany, wife of Charles S. Calvert, of Beaver, Pa., and Tunis Ross, who is attending college at Geneva.

MONTGOMERY LINVILLE, M. D.,* whose thirty-four years of continuous med- ical practice at New Castle entitles him to the honorable position he holds as one of the standard-bearers of medical science in this city, has been closely identified with much that has contributed to the mak- ing of New Castle a city of health, vigor, culture and importance. Dr. Linville was born March 9, 1854, near Independence, Washington County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Jeremiah P. and Martha J. (Mont- gomery) Linville.

Jeremiah P. Linville was born in Penn- sylvania and was a son of Joseph Lin- ville, both of whom followed agriculture. For some twenty years prior to his demise the father of Dr. Linville lived a life of retired ease at New Castle, where he died in his seventy-fifth year. He married Martha J. Montgomery, and they had one son.

1004

HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

Montgomery Linville enjoyed excellent educational advantages through boyhood and youth. He completed a full collegiate course at Bethany, W. Va., after which he entered Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, where he was graduated in the class of 1873 when but nineteen years of age. He has been in the active prac- tice of his profession ever since and, with the exception of five and one-half months, has been identified with New Castle. He is a valued member of the Lawrence Med- ical Society. Dr. Linville has kept in close touch with all advancement made in med- ical science, has taken an active part in promoting medical and sanitary knowledge and his connection with the State Associa- tion of Physicians and Surgeons and the National Association of Railway Surgeons testify to the eminence he has attained in his profession.

Dr. Linville was married (first) in 1873 to Miss Della Chapman, who died in 1875. He subsequently contracted a sec- ond marriage. Dr. Linville is a prominent Mason and is a member of Mahoning Lodge No. 243, F. & A. M .; Delta Chapter No. 170, R. A. M., and New Castle Com- mandery.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 124

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