Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 55

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 55

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).

418

HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

excellent land and he engaged in general farming and in berry growing. He has done a large amount of improving, and in 1904 he erected his commodious residence and substantial barn.

Mr. Miller married Rachel Coleman, who is a daughter of Francis and Jane (Fer- guson) Coleman, and they have four chil- dren: Marinda J., Robert Edgar, Charles Clyde and John Francis. Mr. Miller is a member of the United Presbyterian Church at Mount Jackson, in which he is an elder. He takes no active part in politics, but al- ways performs every duty to his com- munity which devolves upon one who is a representative citizen.

HENRY W. ALBORN, a prosperous general farmer, of Shenango Township, is located on a fine farm of ninety-six acres. He was born in Franklin Township, Bea- ver County, Pennsylvania, August 9, 1869, and is a son of Henry C. and Caroline (Young) Alborn, and a grandson of Augus- tus and Christiana (Elias) Alborn.

Augustus Alborn, the grandfather, was born in Germany and there in early life learned and followed the trade of a miller. In August, 1846, he left his native land for America, and landed in Baltimore, Md., after an eventful voyage of fifty-one days. He immediately therafter located in Beav- er County, where he had kinsfolk, and took up agricultural pursuits. He purchased a tract of fifty-five acres in Franklin Town- ship, Beaver County, to which he subse- quently added ten acres, and still later forty acres. He lived on and farmed that place some years, then moved to a well improved farm of fifty acres in Franklin Township, where he spent the remainder of his days, dying in December, 1885, at the age of seventy-eight years.

Henry C. Alborn was born in Fuersten- haagen, Germany, which was also the birth- place of his mother, November 7, 1839, and he died in Shenango Township, Lawrence County, July 3, 1904, after a long and use- ful life. During his early manhood he

farmed some three years on a rented farm in Perry Township, Lawrence County, then returned to Franklin County and pur- chased a seventy-five acre farm. Ten years later, or in 1874, he sold that property and purchased the farm of ninety-six acres in Shenango Township on which Henry W. Alborn now resides. He was endowed with those excellent qualities of thrift, enter- prise and economy, which characterize the German race, and his business success was continuous throughout life. He married Caroline Young, who was born in Deutch- weiler, Rheinfalz, Bavaria, one of the provinces of Germany, and is a daughter of John and Mary (Mueller) Young, and a granddaughter, maternally, of George Ja- cob Mueller, who was a tailor in the old country, where he lived and died. John Young emigrated to America in 1852, and settled in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where the following year he purchased a farm of fifty-six acres. Henry C. and Caroline Alborn were parents of the fol- lowing children: Mary Amelia, deceased; Caroline, wife of Rev. Ivan Deitrich, of Al- legheny City; Charles F., Henry, Tillie, and Frank E.

Henry W. Alborn was reared on the home farm in Shenango Township and re- ceived his educational training in the pub- lic schools. He helped farm the place until 1891, when he went west to Knox County, Illinois, where he spent two years. He then returned to Lawrence County and en- gaged in farming, and worked in the mill which is now conducted by his brothers, for a period of five years. On April 1, 1898, he returned to the old homestead, where he has since followed farming with uninterrupted success. He is a man of public spirit, and a progressive citizen, who enjoys the esteem and good will of his neighbors and many friends.

Mr. Alborn was united in marriage with Alice Weinschenck, a daughter of George G. Weinschenck. Religiously, they are members of the Lutheran Church. In na- tional politics, he is a Democrat, but is in-

HON. WILLIAM M. BROWN.

421

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

clined to independence in local matters, ex- ercising his franchise in favor of the man he feels is best fitted for the office.

WILLIAM HOUSTON, a representative citizen and capable and successful agricul- turist, residing on his valuable farm of seventy-five acres, in Pulaski Township, was born March 15, 1851, in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Hamilton and Sarah (Cooper) Houston.

Hamilton Houston came to Pulaski Township from Mercer County before the native wilderness here had been converted into a civilized section, great forests cov- ering the land at that time and wild ani- mals making them their homes. He cleared his farm, which, in the course of events, de- scended to his son, William, who completed putting it under cultivation. Hamilton Houston was a Democrat in his political views.

William Houston has lived all his years on his present farm and should misfortune ever condemn him to reside elsewhere, no spot on earth could ever give him the same pleasure as do these old and familiar surroundings. He attended school in Dis- trict No. 5, of Pulaski Township, through a happy boyhood, and since his early youth has been interested in developing and im- proving his property. The land is valu- able and Mr. Houston carries on a gen- eral line of farming, including the raising of some good stock and domestic dairy- ing.

On November 7, 1895, Mr. Houston was married to Mary Johnston, who was born at New Castle and is a daughter of An- drew and Margaret (Carnahan) Johnston. The father of Mrs. Houston was born in Ireland and came to America with his par- ents when he was fourteen years of age, in 1850. They settled at New Castle and died there. The mother of Mrs. Houston was about fourteen years old when she ac- companied her parents from Ireland to America. They settled first in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, where they lived for a few years and then moved to New Castle.

Mrs. Johnston died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Houston, March 13, 1908. Mrs. Houston has one sister and two brothers: Lyda, who is the wife of Thomas Daryman, of York, Pa .; Archibald C., of New Castle, and William M., of Steubenville, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Houston have had two chil- dren, one son, Ralph W., surviving. Mrs. Houston is a member of the First Chris- tian Church at New Castle, to which her parents also belonged. Mr. Houston is a broad-minded man and is a recognized good citizen, but he is independent in his views and is attached to no political party.

HON. WILLIAM M. BROWN, who for- merly occupied the distinguished position of Lieutenant-Governor of the State of Pennsylvania, and during 1897, 1898 and 1899 was a prominent member of the Penn- sylvania State Senate, is a resident of New Castle and is one in whom his fellow citi- zens take justifiable pride. He was born at Greenville, Mercer County, Pennsyl- vania, in 1850, one of a family of three children born to his parents, who were Van Swearingen and Lydia J. Brown.

William M. Brown attended several of the leading institutions of learning at New Castle, where he completed both a literary and commercial course, and then entered upon the study of law under Judge John McMichael, and was admitted to the bar in 1876. He continued in the active prac- tice of his profession for a number of years. He early became interested in pub- lic affairs, became a leading factor in the Republican party and closely identified with its interests. Prior to 1896, when he was elected to the State Senate, he had efficiently filled many important civic posi- tions, and his name remains connected with enterprises in which his experience and judgment were of the greatest service. His election and subsequent re-election to the Senate but made him a more popular can- didate for the position of Lieutenant-Gov- ernor and to this high office he was pro- moted in 1902. Since his retirement from public life he has given his time largely

422

HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

to electrical railroad contracting. He is a director of the Lawrence Savings and Trust Company of New Castle. Governor Brown married Margaret Foltz, who is a daughter of Samuel and Amanda G. Foltz.

ADAM TRESER. In recalling the citi- zens of New Castle who have passed away, after living within her borders for many years and assisting in establishing her prosperity, the name of the late Adam Treser must be added to the honored list. He was born December 21, 1819, in Ger- many, and died at New Castle February 18, 1907.

Adam Treser was a man of considerable education. He remained in Germany until 1840, where he taught school for a time. Prior to coming to America he learned the butchering business, and when he settled at Pittsburg, Pa., he very easily found em- ployment at his trade and continued there for twelve years. In 1852 he came to New Castle and embarked in a meat business here, which he conducted until 1865, in the meantime entering into other business en- terprises. He formed a partnership with Jacob Siegle in a brewery business, which they conducted together until 1887, when Mr. Treser purchased Mr. Siegle's interest and continued the business alone until 1890. In this year, having already accumulated an ample fortune, he retired from active participation in business, although he re- tained his interest in public affairs to the close of his life. He delighted in offer- ing a generous hospitality in his home and was a man of such kind manner and ready sympathy that the ties of family affection were centered largely in him, binding his wife, children and friends closely to him. As a member of the Republican party he was elected during several years to a po- sition on the city council, where his sturdy honesty and invariable good judgment were held as invaluable.

In 1843 Mr. Treser married Catherine Kocher, who died March 8, 1903. She was a daughter of Frederick Kocher, an old

and respected resident of old Pittsburg. To this marriage seven children were born, namely: Magdalena, Elizabeth and John, twins; William, Lavinia, Emma and Kath- erine. Of the above family five are de- ceased: Magdalena, Elizabeth, William, Emma and John. Miss Katherine Treser is the only member of the family still re- siding in the old homestead. The late John Treser married. Martha Morris and they had the following children: Stanley, Nor- man, Flora, Elizabeth and Albert. Lavinia is the widow of Charles Streib and has the following children: William, Albert, Charles, Frank and Earl. Emma married Rev. John Miller, of Beaver Falls, and died when her son, Paul L., was but a few days old. The youth was reared in the home of his grandparents. He is a student at Harvard University, and has his home with his aunt, Miss Katherine Treser. The Treser family has been identified with the Lutheran Church for generations. Mr. and Mrs. Treser not only lived to cele- brate their golden wedding, but they lived more than sixty years happily together be- fore death intervened.

ALEXANDER CHAMBERS, who was once one of North Beaver Township's most esteemed citizens, was a native of this township and belonged to one of the oldest and most honorable families of this part of Lawrence County. He was born June 16, 1856, and died April 9, 1893, aged thirty-seven years. His parents were Hugh and Phebe (Myers) Chambers.

Hugh Chambers was also born and reared in North Beaver Township. He was twice married and was the father of fourteen children, five being born to his first union and nine to the second. Of the first family but one survives, Agnes, who married George W. Pitzer. The survivors of the second family are: Charles, who lives on the old homestead; Harvey, who is a farmer, near Bozeman, Mont .; William, a clergyman, who is pastor of the United Presbyterian Church at Akron, Ohio; Mrs.

423

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Jessie B. Taylor, who resides in Big Beav- er Township; Harry B., and Mary Lu, who lives on the old home place.

The late Alexander Chambers was the third oldest of the large family born to his parents. He was reared and educated in his native township and devoted his life entirely to agricultural pursuits. He married Jennie Hulton, who is a daughter of James and Susanna (Warwick) Hulton. She was born and reared in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, twelve miles from Pittsburg, in the village of Hulton, which had been named in honor of her grand- father, Jonathan Hulton. The latter was a prominent early settler in that locality. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Chambers spent six years on the farm which is now occupied by Harry B. Chambers, and then moved to the farm which Mrs. Chambers has occupied ever since. It contains eighty- seven acres and lies on the Mahoningtown- Covert road, about one-half mile north- west of the former place. Her four chil- dren reside with her, namely: Hugh H., Addison H., Stewart H., and Susan. Mrs. Chambers and family belong to the Ma- honingtown Presbyterian Church, of which! Mr. Chambers was also a valued member.

CHARLES S. TERRILL, a prominent and representative citizen of Pulaski, of which place he has been postmaster for the past six years, was born in Jackson Coun- ty, Iowa, April 23, 1868, and is a son of David D. and Rhoda J. (Sewell) Terrill.

David S. Terrill was born in Vermont and resided some years in Erie, Pa. He served as a soldier in the Civil War, after which he went to Jackson County, Iowa, and subsequently to Missouri, where he died. He married Rhoda Sewall, who was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and resides at Franklin, Pa. She is a daughter of Clement N. Sewall, who was born in Maryland and came to Pennsylvania in 1818, purchasing land in Lackawannock Township, Mercer County, on which he lived until his death in 1857.

Charles S. Terrill, from the age of five

years, was reared to manhood in Lacka- wannock Township, Mercer County. He attended the public schools, where a fine foundation was laid for the social, busi- ness and political education which the ex- igencies of life later brought forward as needed. For a number of years he fol- lowed the carpenter trade in Mahoning Township, Lawrence County. In 1887 he came to Pulaski, where he continued for a time as a carpenter and builder and then engaged in a mercantile business for a few years. As a stanch Republican his serv- ices to his party have very frequently been recognized, and he has been a valuable member of the Republican County Com- mittee. On October 5, 1902, he was ap- pointed postmaster, and is a very popular as well as capable public official. Since as- suming charge he has greatly improved the service and conducts the office in a way to merit the confidence of the Administra- tion and to please the people with whom he is brought into daily contact.

Mr. Terrill married Hannah A. Book, who was born in Mahoning Township, Law- rence County, and is a daughter of Will- iam R. Book, late of Pulaski. They have had two children, Frank and Rena A., the former of whom is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Terrill are valued members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church at Pulaski, of which he is a trustee. He is a member of several leading fraternal organizations, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Pro- tected Home Circle, being an official mem- ber of the latter.

DAVID MCCLELLAND, a popular pub- lic official of Union Township, whose regu- lar business for many years has been farm- ing, in connection with conducting a wagon repair shop, was born February 19, 1833, at Schenectady, N. Y., and is a son of Al- exander and Jane (Alexander) McClelland.

The father of Mr. McClelland was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and his mother was of old Covenanter Scotch stock. Al- exander McClelland brought his family to Schenectady, N. Y., in 1832, and died in

424

HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

Allegheny City, in 1844. David McClelland was only eleven years old at that time. He had only attended school until he was seven years of age, and after the death of his father, was thrown entirely upon his own resources. In the spring of 1853 he came to New Castle, married in that year and settled on his present farm in Union Town- ship. While living on his farm he con- tinued to work in the rolling mills of Rice, Brown and Berger, at New Castle, for a number of years. He later spent some years in Eastern Kansas, but in 1891 he returned to Union Township, where he has resided ever since, his farm being the old home place of his father-in-law. In con- nection with farming, Mr. McClelland op- erates a repair shop. His fellow-citizens have kept him in public office for a num- ber of years. In 1878 he was made town- ship collector and served as such for six years, giving up the office when he moved to Kansas. Upon his return, his neighbors petitioned him to again become collector of Union Township and this office he has effi- ciently filled ever since 1898, and has been treasurer of the Union Township road tax according to a new law relative to this tax.

On November 22, 1853, Mr. McClelland was married to Mary J. Stewart, who was born in Union Township, Lawrence County, Pa., in June, 1838, and is a daughter of William Stewart, who was a prominent Scotch pioneer in Union Township. Of the children born to this union, the following survive : William A., residing at East New Castle; Stewart, residing at Greeley, Colo .; John T., residing at South New Castle; Scott and Gilbert, both residing at Greeley, Colo., and Rebecca and Margaret, both re- siding in Union Township. Mr. and Mrs. McClelland enjoyed the celebration of their golden wedding, in 1903. If he were a voter he would vote with the Prohibition party.

JOHN A. McKEE, who, as postmaster at New Castle, is known to every citizen,

has been identified with the interests of this city all his life. He was born at New Castle, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, October 11, 1856, and is a son of James B. and Agnes S. (MeGoun) McKee.

Mr. McKee's father was a native of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, born in 1815, and his mother in Lawrence County, in 1816. They reared ten children. In early manhood James B. McKee worked at the carpenter trade and later became a bridge builder and contractor. His death took place in 1871.

John A. MeKee was educated in the pub- lic schools of New Castle. When prepared to enter into business he engaged in mer- chandising and continued in the same line until he was appointed postmaster in 1903. The New Castle office is one of considerable importance and the postmaster here occu- pies a very responsible position, which car- ries with it many cares. Mr. McKee has under his charge twenty-one regular car- riers, with four substitutes, has fourteen clerks and one substitute clerk, has two special delivery boys, three mail wagon drivers, and two janitors are on his pay roll. He has an able assistant in E. W. Crawford. Since taking charge of this of- fice Mr. McKee has introduced a number of reforms looking to the expediting of the deliveries and to safeguarding the prop- erty of the government. He is recognized as one of the state's most faithful public officials.

Mr. McKee resides with his family at No. 120 South Grant Avenue, in the Second Ward, in which he was reared and from which he has always voted ever since reach- ing manhood. He served for four years as a member of the common council from this ward. In political sentiment he is a stanch Republican.

In 1903 Mr. McKee married Eva Wick, who is a daughter of J. C. Wick, and they have one daughter who bears the name of Elinor. The family belongs to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Mr. McKee is a member of the Knights of Pythias.

425

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

A. G. SIEG, proprietor of a general store in East New Castle, was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, June 22, 1862, and is a son of John and Jane (Kirker) Sieg.

John Sieg, whose father was Christian Sieg, accompanied his parents to America from Germany, in 1840, being then seven years of age. Although he retired from business activity some fourteen years ago, he cultivates about five acres of land in Butler County, merely for employment and his own pleasure. In his early years of manhood he learned the blacksmith's trade, but soon engaged in farming. He is iden- tified with the Republican party and, be- ing a man of high standing in his com- munity, has been elected to and satisfac- torily filled every township office, except those of constable and justice of the peace. For some ten years he was president of the German Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany. He married into the family of Will- . iam Kirker, an old and respected resident of Butler County, and to this marriage were born four children, all of whom sur- vive, namely: Agnes, who is the wife of Valentine Hebberling, resides at Economy ; Rosetta, who married George Druschel, re- sides on the home farm; A. G., and Mary, who married John Brenner, resides in Mid- dle Lancaster. John Sieg is one of the pillars, so to speak, of the English Luther- an Church in his section.

A. G. Sieg was reared on the home farm, where he remained until he was twenty- three years of age, in the meanwhile secur- ing a good, common school education. He then went on a visit to Los Angeles, Cal., and remained in the state, engaged in va- rious ways, for thirteen months, and after his return resumed farming on the home "place. For a time he was much interested in breeding fine Jersey cattle, and when he sold his herd of ten cows, each had a record of producing an average of a pound of butter a day, the year round. He owned a registered bull, and all his cows were registered. He also kept thoroughbred Jersey Duroc swine. In 1899 Mr. Sieg young, and for a time lived in Washing-

came to New Castle and purchased his present store, the business having just been established. He has proven himself a successful and progressive merchant and has one of the best equipped and most mod- ern stores in all this section. He has intro- duced money-weight scales and many of the latest devices in the grocery trade, one in particular being a cheese cutter that works automatically, and another a me- chanical measuring machine for liquids. He also has one of the most modern ac- counting systems. He carries a large stock of seasonable goods and deals also in feed.

Mr. Sieg married Christina Dindinger, who is a daughter of George Dindinger, a resident of Middle Lancaster, Butler Coun- ty, and they have two children: E. Joyce and Ivy L. With his family, he belongs to the English Lutheran Church, in which he has served as secretary, deacon and elder.

In politics, Mr. Sieg is a Republican. Prior to the establishment of the Free Rural Mail Service, he was postmaster at this place, which was then known as Joyce Postoffice. Formerly he was a member of the order of American Mechanics, at Se- wickley. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers' Alliance, and during his resi- dence at Butler was its president during its first year. He is a man of public spirit and is ever ready to lend his influence to help in movements designed to develop this section.

JOHN DUNNAN, general merchant at Mt. Jackson, has been engaged in his pres- ent business since September 7, 1905, when he retired from his farm in North Beaver Township. He was born on the farm he owned in North Beaver Township, Law- rence County, Pennsylvania, about one- half mile south of Mt. Jackson, February 25, 1842, and is a son of John and Ann (Smiley) Dunnan.

The father of Mr. Dunnan was born in County Down, Ireland, the only child of his parents. He came to America when

426

HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

ton County, Pennsylvania, and then came to North Beaver Township, which at that time was a part of Beaver County. After reaching here he married Ann Smiley, who was born on a farm, two miles from Wur- temburg, on the New Castle road, and was a daughter of a Scotch pioneer named Hugh Smiley. John Dunnan acquired a farm on which there was a log house, and in a part of it a Mr. Henry, also an Irish- man, conducted a store for a time. Both John Dunnan and wife died on this farm. They had seven children, namely: David, who died in young manhood; James, who died in Iowa, in 1905; Samuel, who lives at New Lisbon, Ohio; Robert, who died at Harrison's Landing, Va., during the Civil War, being in Battery B, First Pennsyl- vania Light Artillery ; Martha ; Hugh, who lives in Illinois ; John H., who died in boy- hood, and John, who was the youngest born.

John Dunnan was reared on the home farm. He was but little over eighteen years of age when, March 26, 1861, he en- listed for service in the Civil War, enter- ing Cooper's Battery, the famous Battery B, which was recruited at Mt. Jackson and became a part of the First Pennsylvania Light Artillery. In this battery that made a grand record Mr. Dunnan served for three long years, participating in its dan- gers and its victories and receiving his share of honor. He was honorably dis- charged June 9, 1864, and returned to his farm.

In 1878 Mr. Dunnan was married to Mary Martin, a daughter of Samuel Mar- tin, and they have three surviving chil- dren: Bessie L., Ruth and James. Mr. Dunnan sold his farm in 1905 and bought the Woodburn store at Mt. Jackson, and has his son associated with him in busi- ness. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Dunnan married Harriet Lusk, who is a daughter of John Lusk. He is a mem- ber of the Westfield Presbyterian Church. Fraternally, he is connected with the Knights of Pythias.

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 55

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