Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 54

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 54

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the facts in detail in the record of James McAnlis. Two children were born of this marriage: Iva Dell, wife of Myron B. Heck, of West Pittsburg, by whom she has a daughter, Mabel Ruth, and Margaret. In religious attachment, the family belongs to the Reformed Presbyterian Church.

CHARLES MATTHEWS, first vice- president of the National Bank of Law- rence County and a director of the same since 1903, is identified with a number of the leading business enterprises of New Castle, in which city he is regarded as a very important factor in commercial af- fairs. Mr. Matthews was born October 15, 1856, at New Castle, and is a son of Mat- thias and Anna (Brant) Matthews.

The Matthews family originated in Wales, from which country John Matthews, the grandfather, removed to Staffordshire, England, where his son, Matthias, was born. In 1828, when the latter came to America, he was a skilled iron worker who had been trained in the great iron works of his native land. He settled first in the city of New York and moved from there to New Castle, where he resided until 1858, when he went to Niles, Ohio, returning from there to New Castle in 1863. In the city of New York he was united in mar- riage with Anna Brant, who was a lady of gentle manner and superior education, and they had the following children: Joseph, John, Susan, Mary, Emma, James and Charles.

With the exception of the five years above mentioned, Mr. Matthews has practi- cally spent his whole life at New Castle. From early boyhood he worked at inter- vals in the rolling mills, attending school in a rather desultory manner on this ac- count, and when he was sixteen years old, he was regularly apprenticed as a roll turner in the iron mills. For a number of years he continued his connection with the mills, although not continuously, as, in the meanwhile, he again went to school and also engaged in other less exhausting lines of work. In the end, however, he re-

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turned to the industry in which he had be- come a skilled worker. His final retire- ment from mill work dates from Novem- ber, 1894, at which time he became business manager and treasurer of the Lawrence Guardian, and in this capacity he had his first opportunity to display those business qualifications which have since made him conspicuous. As noted, from 1903 he has heen officially connected with the National Bank of Lawrence County, and in 1906 he became its first vice-president. He is a director in the Lawrence Savings & Trust Company, of New Castle, is a director in the Penn Engineering Works, and is sec- retary of the American Car & Ship Hard- ware Manufacturing Company.

From early manhood Mr. Matthews has taken a deep interest in public matters and has been closely identified with the move- ments of the Republican party, represent- ing local party sentiment at conventions and on many occasions has been honored by election to responsible positions. He has been sheriff of Lawrence County and has been a member of both boards of the city council. He has taken an active part in shaping public sentiment when the wel- fare of the city has been at stake and is an able representative of its best type of citizen.

On February 26, 1888, Mr. Matthews was married to Elizabeth Lutton, who was born at New Castle, and is a daughter of the late William B. Lutton, who was formerly county commissioner and city poor direc- tor. Mr. and Mrs. Matthews have had three children : Charles, Marlen and Helen. They enjoy a beautiful home at No. 215 North Jefferson Street, New Castle.

For many years Mr. Matthews has been one of the leading Masons of this section of Pennsylvania, was grand steward of the Grand Lodge of the state in 1895-96, and has filled many other elevated posi- tions in the fraternity, at present being a director and president of the Masonic As- sociation of New Castle. He also belongs to the Elks.

WHITNEY B. SPENCER, a represen- tative of Pulaski Township, residing on his excellent farm of forty-eight acres, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, April 24, 1838, and is a son of Bissell H. and Fannie (Chapman) Spencer.

Few New England families took a more prominent part in the early history of Con- necticut than did that of Spencer. It came to the colonies from England. Nathan Spencer, the grandfather of Whitney B., was a native of Connecticut, where he lived until he had a wife and family, and they journeyed to the Western Reserve, settling in Trumbull County, Ohio, acquiring land in Hartford Township.

Bissell H. Spencer, father of Whitney B., was born at Hartland, Conn., and ac- companied his parents to Trumbull County. His life was passed on the farm his father secured and which he assisted to develop. There were many hardships to face, but the Spencers were ever of a sturdy type and he survived into old age.

Whitney B. Spencer assisted on the home farm and attended the district schools until he was about seventeen years of age, when he learned the carpenter trade. Later he became a contractor and entered into part- nership with a Mr. Henry, under the firm name of Henry & Spencer, which carried on a successful contracting business at Burgh Hill, Trumbull County, for several years. Mr. Spencer continued to work as a car- penter until 1897, when he came to Pulaski Township and settled on his present farm. Here he has engaged in general farming ever since.

Mr. Spencer has one son, two grand- daughters and three great-grandchildren.

Mr. Spencer was married (first) to Rhoda Wellman, who was born in Hart- ford Township, Trumbull County, and they had one son, Paul O., who resides on the West Side, New Castle. In 1883 Mr. Spen- cer was married (second) to Adda E. Chaf- fee, of Bloomfield, Trumbull County, Ohio. Mrs. Spencer is a daughter of Stephen K. and Eleanor (Ward) Chaffee, former

HON. WILLIAM D. WALLACE.

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residents of Kinsman, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer have an adopted daughter, Grace L.

Since the candidacy of Abraham Lin- coln, for whom Mr. Spencer cast his first presidential vote, he has been identified with the Republican party.

HON. WILLIAM D. WALLACE, one of the leading members of the Lawrence County bar, and formerly judge of the Fifty-first Judicial District of Pennsyl- vania, was born in New Castle, May 15, 1857. His father, Dr. James J. Wallace, who is now deceased, was for many years a successful medical practitioner in Law- rence County.

William D. Wallace completed his liter- ary education at Westminster College, graduating therefrom in 1881. His college life was marked by brilliant scholarship and a keen taste for athletic sports, in which he excelled, which, with his genial nature and social disposition, made him a favorite, and to a large extent a leader, among his fellow students. Having de- cided upon the law as his future profes- sion, he entered upon its study in the of- fice of Dana & Long, at New Castle, and in a comparatively short time had ob- tained so firm a grasp upon its funda- mental principles as to be admitted to prac- tice in 1882. He soon showed himself pos- sessed of all the capabilities of a good lawyer, and his practice rapidly increased until he had as much business as he could conveniently handle, and was looked upon as one of the most able members of the local bar.

Always alive to the interests of his pro- fession as to those of the public generally, he threw himself heart and soul into the fight to have Lawrence County made a separate judicial district, and it was large- ly through his energetic championship of the measure that the Legislature passed the law to that effect. As a public recog- nition of his services in this direction, he

was elected to the judgeship thus created, on November 6, 1894.

His career on the bench was all that could have been expected by his warmest friends. Here he could let the judicial temperament of which he is possessed in so large measure have full sway. His rul- ings were marked by a keen sense of jus- tice and a full and accurate conception of the merits of a case, that rendered the rightful interests of every citizen safe in his hands. While inclined to sympathize with the poor and oppressed suitor, he was always fair and accurate in his re- view of a case, and impartial in his judg- ments. He easily and gracefully main- tained the dignity of his office without stiffness or undue effort, and his equal courtesy toward the older and younger members of the bar made him esteemed and respected by all. After completing his tenure of office upon the bench, Judge Wallace resumed his private practice, which had been for the time interrupted, and he has since remained engaged in the successful practice of his profession, be- ing at the present time one of the leaders of the bar of Lawrence County.

A Republican in politics, Judge Wal- lace has rendered able service to his party by his counsels, and especially by his abil- ity as a speaker on political topics. He has at various times stumped the county on behalf of his party and its nominees, and his oratorical ability, and, still more, the convincing force of his arguments, have been powerful factors in swelling the number of Republican votes. His style as a speaker is clear and lucid. He never seeks to confuse the issues or to stun the ears and bewilder the minds of his hear- ers by a display of rhetorical fireworks, but rather endeavors to place the issues at stake clearly and strongly before them and to influence their judgment by a sim- ple and direct appeal to their understand- ing. He thus makes converts for his party, not merely personal admirers, though his

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success is well calculated to excite the ad- miration even of political enemies.

Of personal enemies he has few, though perhaps no strong man like Judge Wal- lace was ever entirely without them. All such he meets without any display of per- sonal hostility, yet without any compro- mise of principle or of dignity, and his firm yet reasonable attitude has not un- frequently converted an enemy into a warm friend and admirer.

In all essential respects Judge Wallace is a good representative of the best Ameri- can type. Servility and arrogance are equally foreign to his nature. Though mov- ing in the highest social circles, he feels it no loss of dignity to grasp the hand of the poor but honest toiler. An honest and manly man is at ease in his presence, feel- ing almost instinctively that he is being estimated for what he is, not for what he possesses, and this doubtless has much to do with Mr. Wallace's popularity.

Judge Wallace was married in 1885 to Miss Beatrice Matthews, and they have a beautiful residence at No. 57 East Wal- lace Avenue, New Castle. Mrs. Wallace is a lady of education and refinement, pos- sessing a decided taste and talent for music. She is prominent in society circles, her popularity being enhanced by her beautiful voice, which she uses in so well trained a manner as to well merit the ap- pellation of a "sweet singer." Judge Wal- lace's fine conversational powers render him also a social favorite; yet in spite of social triumphs he takes the greatest pride in the fact that in his life up to date he has well performed work well worth doing and that his efforts have resulted in benefit to his fellow citizens.

JOHN W. COX, one of Wilmington Township's most prominent citizens, who is extensively engaged in farming, is also identified with the scientific department connected with the State Agricultural De- partment of the Government. Mr. Cox was born in Wilmington Township, Lawrence

County, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1868, and is a son of Thomas and Annie (Lay- ton) Cox.

The late Thomas Cox was born in Al- legheny County, Pennsylvania, and was a son of William and Hannah Cox, who came to this section from England. Thomas Cox subsequently located in Lawrence County, acquired a large body of land and followed an agricultural life until his death on March 15, 1907.

John W. Cox resides on his own farm of 125 acres, which is situated on the west side of the Wilmington Junction road, in Wilmington Township. He is the executor of his late father's estate and cultivates 215 acres of the old homestead farm. He obtained a good public school education and later took a commercial course in Duff's Business College. From boyhood he has taken a deep and intelligent inter- est in all matters pertaining to agriculture and has made a special study of many branches. Agriculture is a liberal profes- sion, embracing, as it does, a perfect knowl- edge of the earth and its products, together with a philosophy of economics that under- stands the necessities of demand and sup- ply. The time has passed when a farmer is only a farmer. For some years Mr. Cox has been a lecturer on agricultural subjects and is commissioned to attend the farmers' institutes in different parts of the country, his duties requiring about twenty-five days' absence from home in the year. He represents the division of Zoöl- ogy, although his studies and investigations have made him acquainted with many other special lines. This scientific work requires a large part of his time.

On September 24, 1895, Mr. Cox was married to Susan E. Foster, who is a daughter of Rev. J. M. and Louisa (Cross) Foster, the former of whom is pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Park- er's Landing, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Cox have a family of three sons and two daughters, namely: Lawrence, who was born July 18, 1896; Anna, who was born December 7, 1897; Harriet, who was born July 5,

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1900; Thomas, who was born January 23, of the late Dr. Cooper, he prepared for 1905, and Norman, who was born June 21, 1907. Mr. Cox and family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church at New Wil- mington, in which they are active and of which he is a trustee. He is an official in the beneficiary order of the Protected Home Circle. For a number of years he has been a much interested member of Neshannock Lodge No. 521, Odd Fellows. of which he is treasurer.

EDWIN S. COOPER, M. D., a physician and surgeon of high standing at New Cas- tle, who was formerly associated in prac- tice with his brother, the late distinguished Dr. Joseph L. Cooper, belongs to an old Pennsylvania family which was established in this state by his great-grandfather, Rob- ert Cooper, who was born in County Down, Ireland. Edwin S. Cooper was born in Taylor Township, Lawrence County, Penn- sylvania, January 3, 1872, and is a son of Robert and Nancy A. (Jackson) Cooper.

The Cooper family was founded in Law- rence County in 1843, by James Cooper, the grandfather of Dr. Cooper. He married Elizabeth MeLester and they reared seven children, Robert Cooper being the second son of the family. Robert Cooper was born in 1823, in Allegheny County, Penn- sylvania, and he became the owner of the many acres of the valuable limestone land which has made the Cooper family of this section one of substance. Robert Cooper married Nancy A. Jackson and they had the following children: James H., Mrs. Elizabeth Campbell, Leander, Joseph L., Charles O., Mrs. Mary Colwell, Mrs. Maud Davis and Edwin S.

When Edwin S. Cooper was fourteen years of age, his parents moved to New Castle, and from the schools of this city he entered Grove City College, where he continued his studies until the spring of 1892, when, encouraged by his older brother, the late Dr. Joseph L. Cooper, he decided to bend all his energies to the study of medicine, for which he had had a taste from boyhood. Under the careful tuition

the Western Pennsylvania Medical College, where he was most creditably graduated March 25, 1896. He then entered into part- nership with his brother and the firm be- came a leading one of the county. Since the lamented death of the older physician, Dr. Edwin S. Cooper has continued alone in practice and has won an enviable po- sition in his profession. He is identified with all of the medical organizations of the county and the leading ones of the state, and also has numerous fraternal and social .connections. His residence and office are located at No. 74 North Mill Street, New Castle.

H. BOYD ECKMAN, who is one of North Beaver Township's substantial citizens and self-made men, resides on his valuable farm of ninety acres, which adjoins the town of Bessemer, and owns also a second farm, containing sixty-one acres, which lies in Springfield Township, Mahoning Coun- ty, Ohio. Mr. Eckman was born near Gi- rard, Ohio, March 5, 1845, and is a son of Perry L. and Esther ( Wreagle) Eck- man.

The father of Mr. Eckman was engaged in farming in Trumbull County, Ohio, where he died when his son, H. Boyd, was about seven years old. Shortly afterward his mother contracted a second marriage with William Cracroft, and as there seemed to be no place in the new household for the little boy he sought employment from neighboring farmers, for whom he worked for seven years for little more than his board. In this time he learned to be in- dustrious and reliable and when fourteen years of age was able to command the wages of a farm hand. He worked for sev- eral years in this capacity through Trum- bull County, and for a time was employed at Weathersfield as a coal weigher, but his life has been mainly devoted to farming. In 1867, about the time of his marriage, he settled on his present home farm, which was then a property needing improvement. All of the substantial buildings, includ-

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ing the large house and barn, have been placed here by Mr. Eckman.

Mr. Eckman married Sophia Harman, daughter of Joseph Harman, and they have had two children, Cora A. and Frank. The daughter married D. E. Summers, and at her death was survived by one son, Wilbur Milton. Frank Eckman resides on his father's farm in Mahoning County. He married Dora Sowers, and they have two children, Marie and Clarence. Mr. Eck- man is a member of the Presbyterian Church and is connected with that religious body in Springfield Township, Mahoning County.

WILLIAM L. AIKEN, general farmer, residing on a valuable tract of land aggre- gating 104 acres, situated in Slippery Rock Township, owns this property jointly with his sister, Margaret. He was born here, December 8, 1861, and is a son of Leslie and Sarah Margaret (Henry) Aiken.

The grandparents of Mr. Aiken were James and Elizabeth Aiken, who came to America from Ireland, settling first at Bal- timore, Md., and then moving to Westmore- land County, Pennsylvania. In 1798 they came to what was then Beaver but is now Lawrence County. At that time a Mr. Chew owned many acres of uncleared land and this land in Beaver County he desired to dispose of, therefore he was willing to make favorable proposals to settlers who promised to be a credit to the locality. He offered 200 acres of land to James Aiken if he would clear 200 more, and the offer was accepted, and Mr. Aiken subsequently acquired 200 acres. This land was located along Slippery Rock Creek, and on it James Aiken lived until the time of his death, March 13, 1840, when it was sold. The old log house still stands. After her husband's death, Elizabeth went to live with her son, James B. Aiken, where she died March 11, 1860, aged seventy-nine years. They had twelve children, namely : Ralph, born December 26, 1799; Vincent William, born January 19, 1802, was noted

for his strength, performing feats that no other man in the township could equal; Martha, born February 14, 1804; Isabella, born April 2, 1806; Hiram J., born August 9, 1808, was a noted wrestler in the con- tests of strength and skill participated in by the young men of his time; Sarah, born December 26, 1810; Robert A., born Feb- ruary 26, 1813; James B., born January 27, 1815; Leslie C., born April 12, 1817; Walker V., born September 12, 1819; Mar- garet, born July 15, 1822, and David E., born October 21, 1824.

Leslie C. Aiken resided in Wayne Town- ship, Lawrence County, until his marriage in 1843 to Sarah Margaret Henry. She was born in Ohio in 1822, and died Au- gust 6, 1907. Her parents were John and Sarah M. Henry, of Lawrence County. Les- lie C. Aiken and wife took up a claim in Illinois and lived on it for two years, but subsequently returned to Lawrence County, where Mr. Aiken died in 1889. They had eight children, namely: Sarah M., John H., James W., Isabel, an unnamed infant, Margaret, William L. and Lettie. Sarah M. Aiken, born September 27, 1844, died aged two years, while the family was on a boat on the Ohio River and her burial took place when they reached Kendallville, Ind. John H. was born in Illinois March 17, 1847, and resides in Missouri. He married Laura Gilham, and they have two children, William L. and Ethel M. The latter has prepared herself for teaching and is a graduate of the Missouri State Normal School. James Walker Aiken was born October 13, 1851, and resides at Omaha, Neb. He married Florence Smith, and they have two children, Nannett B. and Doris E. Isabel Aiken was born November 3, 1853, and died September 25, 1866. Mar- garet Aiken was born March 4, 1857, and she resides with her brother, William L. Lettie, the youngest of the family, was born February 2, 1864. She is a successful teacher and has been connected with the Chicago public schools for thirteen years. This family has always been one of high

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standing and very intelligent. Mr. Aiken and sister belong to the United Presby- terian Church.

WILLIAM D. WALTON, B. A., general merchant and public official in Shenango Township, serving in his second term as justice of the peace, was born December 4, 1870, at Princeton, in Slippery Rock Town- ship, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Milton and Margaret (Aiken) Walton.

The father of Mr. Walton followed the shoemaking business, and he kept a shoe store and repair shop in Mercer County, where he lived at the time of his death, in 1880. When only sixteen years of age he went to the front, during the Civil War, first as fifer for Company F., One Hun- dredth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, in which latter he carried a gun and served until the close of the war. He was a member of the order of United Workmen. He married Margaret Aiken, who was a daughter of David Aiken, of Slippery Rock Township, and they had three children: William D., Jessie, who is the wife of David Main, of Shenango Town- ship, and James, deceased.

William D. Walton was ten years old when his parents died, and he was taken by his grandmother, Mrs. David Aiken, and was reared on the Aiken homestead, in Shenango Township. He was educated in the country schools and Westminster Col- lege, where he was graduated in 1895, with his degree of B. A. Mr. Walton then went into newspaper work, first on the force of the New Castle Daily Guardian, and con- tinued when this paper was merged with the Courant, under the name of the Courant-Guardian. In 1897 he went to Pittsburg, and was connected with the Pittsburg Commercial Gazette, until 1900, when he returned to his native township and opened up his general store.

Mr. Walton married Sarah T. McCut- cheon, of Grove City, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and they have one daughter, Martha Marian. In politics, he is a Re-

publican and takes an active interest in public matters. In 1900 he was elected jus- tice of the peace of Shenango Township, and approval was shown of his administra- tion by a second election. He is one of the township's representative men.

WILLIAM S. MILLER, residing on his productive farm of seventy-four acres, which is situated in North Beaver Town- ship, about one and one-half miles south- west of Mahoningtown, is a well known and highly respected citizen of this section. He was born September 26, 1855, in North Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Penn- sylvania, and is a son of John E. and Nancy N. (Leslie) Miller.

The Millers came from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, to Lawrence Coun- ty, and the grandfather, Robert Miller, was a very early settler in North Beaver Township, where the family has ever since been one of substance and stability. The parents of William S. Miller were both natives of North Beaver Township. In his early and middle life the father engaged in agricultural pursuits on his farm in the southern part of the township, but in 1884 he disposed of it, having moved to New Castle in 1881, where his death took place in 1890. His widow survived him for nine years. They had eight children, the four survivors being: James L., who is a farm- er, residing in Pulaski Township; John H., a contractor in street paving and ce- ment work, who resides at New Castle, was formerly county surveyor and for ten years served as city engineer; William S., and Miness E., who resides at New Castle, and is in partnership with his brother, John H. Miller.

William S. Miller attended the schools in the neighborhood of his home, through boyhood, after which he gained the prac- tical knowledge of farming that has con- tributed largely to his success as an ag- riculturist. For five years following his marriage he rented a farm in North Beaver Township, but in April, 1886, he bought and moved to his present farm. This is

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 54

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