Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 64

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 64

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LYLE G. EMERY, a prominent citizen of New Castle and a member of the firm of Emery & Gaston, engaged in a furnace business, enjoys the distinction of having built the largest mint in the world, this great achievement being done for the Chinese Empire. Mr. Emery is one of

New Castle's own sons, and was born here January 10, 1858. His parents were N. James and Margaret (Gaston) Emery.

The late N. James Emery was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, in 1817, and came to Lawrence County in 1835. He was one of the pioneer builders and con- tractors at New Castle, a man of sturdy character and sound judgment. He mar- ried Margaret Gaston, who was born at New Castle, in 1820, and was a daughter of Robert Gaston. The Gastons came from Westmoreland County to Lawrence County, as pioneers.

Lyle G. Emery remained at home until he was nineteen years of age, in the mean- while securing a good, public school edu- cation. For several years he traveled in different sections of the country, both east and west. Circumstances led to his locat- ing in New Orleans and there he was em- ployed on Government works, for six years, being in the mint department, and becoming so much of an expert that he was sent to China, by the Government, to build two mints, along modern lines, in that far-off land. Both mints were built at Tientsin, one for the direct use of the Government, which is the largest mint in the world, having a capacity of minting 650,000 pieces of money a year. The sec- ond mint was built for the Government of Shantung at Tsinan Fu. Mr. Emery not only built the mints, but instructed the natives in the art of minting. After three years spent in China, Mr. Emery returned to America and reached New Castle in February, 1906. Shortly afterward he went into the furnace business under the firm name of Emery & Gaston. He is one of the stockholders in the Union National Bank.

In politics Mr. Emery is a stanch Re- publican and he takes a lively interest in public matters. He is a Mason of high degree and belongs to the Blue Lodge and Council at New Castle, and the Chapter, Commandery and Shrine, at New Orleans. While sojourning in China he organized a

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Masonic lodge at Tientsin, under the Mas- sachusetts jurisdiction.

WILLIAM T. GILMORE, postmaster at Hillsville and the leading general mer- chant of the village, was born in North Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, January 23, 1858, and is a son of David and Rachel (Dobbins) Gil- more.

The grandfather, William Gilmore, came to North Beaver Township as one of the earliest settlers and spent the remainder of his life in that section. His son, David Gilmore was born in Lawrence County and still survives, having passed this three- quarter century milepost.

William T. Gilmore was educated in the public schools of his native township and at Professor Stead's private college, at New Castle, spending three years of close application in the well known institution, after which he became quarry manager for three years, for the Carbon Limestone Company, at Hillsville. For four years he was manager of the mercantile depart- ment of this company at the same place, and then entered into partnership with E. M. Burk in a mercantile business. The firm name of Burk & Gilmore continued for several years, when Mr. Burk sold his interest to the G. W. Johnson Limestone Company, with which Mr. Gilmore has been associated ever since 1888, the pres- ent firm style being the Gilmore and John- son Company. In politics, Mr. Gilmore is a strong Republican and he was appointed postmaster at Hillsville in 1897, by the late President Mckinley. For six years he was a member of the Republican Coun- ty Committee, from Mahoning Township, and continues his activity in political life. For nine consecutive years he served as a member of the school board and for sev- eral years has been a member of the town- ship election board.

Mr. Gilmore married Annie E. Martin, who died March 24, 1906. She was the estimable daughter of the late Thomas Martin, of Mahoning Township. She was

a consistent member of the Baptist Church at Hillsville. Seven children sur- vive her, namely: Edwin J., Bessie M., Frank D., Fred L., Erma L., Walter W. and Charles. Bessie M. married Benja- min Jacoby and they are residents of Marion, Ohio. Mr. Gilmore is a member of the F. & A. M. at New Castle, Lodge No. 433. He belongs to the Baptist Church at Hillsville.

EDWIN L. AYERS, ex-sheriff of Law- rence County, is a well known citizen of Pulaski, where he is engaged in the manu- facture of galvanized iron-top churns. He is a man of wide acquaintance throughout the county, and is very highly regarded.

Mr. Ayers was born in Pulaski, August 28, 1847, is a son of William and Nancy A. (Morrison) Ayers, and grandson of Will- iam Ayers, Sr., who at one time was a resident of Wilmington Township, Law- rence County. William Ayers, Jr,. was born in Ohio and became an early settler in Pulaski, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania, where the larger part of his life was spent.

Edwin L. Ayers was reared to maturity in his native township, and received a good common school education. He is of that type which learns much through contact with the world and association with those who had greater educational advantages in their youth, and is a broad-guaged, lib- eral-minded man, well informed on mat- ters of public interest. He was too young to enter the Union Army during the early years of the Civil War, but in February, 1865, enlisted in Company G, Seventy- eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, served in the Army of the Cum- berland under General Thomas, and at the close of the war was honorably dis- charged. At an early age Mr. Ayers learned the trade of a cabinetmaker, which he followed some years, and in later years engaged in the churn manufacturing busi- ness. The galvanized iron-top churn, of which he is manufacturer, is one of rec- ognized merit and has met with a large

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sale. Mr. Ayers ships his product ex- clusively to Pittsburg, from which point it is distributed. He also is a stockholder and director of the Standard Fruit Com- pany of Porto Rico, which is developing a fruit farm of 500 acres, on which will be grown oranges, grape fruit and pine- apples for the New York market. In fact, shipments have already been made, as a part of the plantation is now bearing abundantly. Mr. Ayers has always been active politically, and has been an enthu- siastic worker for Republican success. He served some years as Republican County Committeeman, and in November, 1903, was elected sheriff of Lawrence County. He discharged the duties of that office with marked efficiency during his three years' incumbency, and won a place high in the regard and good will of the public.

Mr. Ayers was first married to Miss Mary Porter, who died leaving four chil- dren, namely: William D., Leon L., Mat- tie A., wife of Professor Charles F. Ball, of Volant; and Clara A., wife of Harry Crooks, of Oil City, Pa. He was mar- ried a second time to Miss Abbie O. Hey, of Lawrence County, and they have two sons: Ralph and Henry H. Fratern- ally, he is a member of the Protective Home Circle of Pulaski, and also of the G. A. R. Post at New Castle.

FRANK G. PATTERSON, whose ex- cellent farm of fifty-two acres of well cul- tivated land, situated in North Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania, is a part of the old homestead farm, is one of the representative citizens of this section. He was born on this farm, Oc- tober 28, 1839, and is a son of James R. and Margaret (Robison) Patterson.

The Patterson family has been estab- lished in North Beaver Township for many years, the old grandfather, Robert Pat- terson, being its founder. It is probable that the early ancestors of this family came from Ireland, but Robert Patterson lived in eastern Pennsylvania before com- ing across the mountains to the undevel-

oped western part of the State, in the days when North Beaver Township was almost a wilderness. The grandfather lived and died on the farm on which his children were reared. James R. Patter- son was a child of six years when the fam- ily came to Lawrence County, and he grew to manhood on the above farm, which was situated north of Westfield Church. After his marriage to Margaret Robison, a daughter of George Robison, he rented a farm for several years and then bought a wild tract of land, containing 106 acres. This land was well situated and James R. Patterson cleared it all and erected the buildings which stand on the western sec- tion, that portion belonging to his two daughters, Martha Patterson and Mrs. Margaret Miller, both of whom reside at Petersburg. They have it cultivated by a tenant. When Mr. Patterson started to build his house, he was obliged to first make a clearing, the woods were so dense at that time. Both James R. Patterson and wife died on this farm. They were people of high standing in the community, church members and esteemed as neigh- bors and friends.

Frank G. Patterson attended the dis- trict schools near his home, in his boy- hood, and all his mature life has been giv- en to agricultural pursuits. His home and interests have always been in North Beaver Township. When his portion of the homestead farm came to him he began improving it, built his comfortable resi- dence in 1869, and in 1880 put up the sub- stantial barn.

Mr. Patterson married Martha S. Les- lie, who was born and reared on an ad- joining farm. She is a daughter of Adam and Betsy (Vaneman) Leslie. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson have five children, namely : William E., who is a farmer residing in Little Beaver Township, married Bertha Swisher and they have two children, Ray- mond and Martha; Elsie R. and Bessie both reside at home; Raymond, who died at the age of twenty-one years; and An- netta, who married William Young, has

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one child, Virgil. Mr. Patterson is a mem- ber and liberal supporter of the Westfield Presbyterian Church.

SCOTT KILDOO, a well known and prosperous citizen of Princeton, propri- etor of the principal store and also post- master, was born in Slippery Rock Town- ship, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, May 14, 1867; is a son of James V. and Mary J. (Shaffer) Kildoo, and grandson of James Kildoo.

James Kildoo, the grandfather, was born in Pennsylvania, and lived in Law- rence County at the time of his death. He was killed by a horse in an accident near the Lutheran Church in Slippery Rock Township, James V. Kildoo, father of Scott, was born in Slippery Rock Town- ship, and attended the common schools there. He learned the trade of harness- maker in early life, and for some years followed his trade in Harlansburg. After coming into possession of a farm in Slip- pery Rock Township, he devoted his time almost exclusively to farming, and lived there until he visited at the home of a daughter in Perry Township, where he died. For more than fifteen years he served as justice of the peace in the town- ship, and discharged the duties of his of- fice with marked ability. He was married to Mary J. Shaffer, who was a daughter of Abraham Shaffer, and she died in 1878, leaving the following children: Robert ; John, who died young; Ellen, deceased; William, deceased; Scott; Abraham; Ag- nes, wife of William Knoblock; and Susan, wife of D. McConnell.

Scott Kildoo received a preliminary ed- ucation in the common schools of his native township, and then attended the schools of Edenboro, and Rose Point Academy. He followed farming for a time, then for eight years followed school teaching, meeting with success as an instructor. At the end of that time he began tending store for S. Shaffer at Princeton, and con- tinued for four years, when he bought out the store. He has since conducted the

leading store of the village, carrying a large and complete line of general mer- chandise, and has from the first served as postmaster.

Mr. Kildoo was joined in marriage with Mancie Lorain, a daughter of Robert Lo- rain, of Princeton, and they have had four children: Edna Pearl and Edwin Verol, twins, both deceased; Clerg and Harold. Politically he is a Republican. In relig- ious faith he is a Presbyterian and has been very active in church work. He has served as elder of the church at Princeton for more than twenty years, having been elected such upon reaching his majority. Fraternally, he is a member of the Royal Arcanum and order of Odd Fellows.

WILLIAM J. MOFFATT is a well known attorney-at-law, of New Castle, Pa., with offices in the L. S. & T. Building, and enjoys a prestige throughout the county. He was born in Hickory Township, Law- rence County, Pennsylvania, January 18, 1867, and is a son of Capt. Robert F. and Martha E. (McCreary) Moffatt.

Capt. Robert Moffatt was born on the old Moffatt homestead in Hickory Town- ship, in 1840, and died in 1873. In 1861, he enlisted for service in the Union Army as corporal of Company F, One Hun- dredth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, the old Round Head regiment, and rose through gradual promotion to the rank of Captain, being mustered out at the close of the war. He bore an hon- orable record for service and participated in a number of the most hotly contested engagements of the war. He was several times slightly wounded, and in the battle of Ft. Steadman received a severe wound. He also was for a time a prisoner of war, incarcerated in a Southern prison. Upon the close of the war he returned to the old homestead, but at the time of his death was living at the old McCreary homestead in Neshannock Township. For some time prior to his death he was engaged in the manufacturing business with good success. He married Martha E. McCreary, a

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daughter of William McCreary, a pioneer resident of Neshannock Township. For some years subsequent to her husband's death Mrs. Moffatt taught in the public schools of New Castle, in which city she still lives.

William J. Moffatt was practically reared in New Castle, and there attended and was graduated from the public and high schools. He then entered Wooster University and continued until his sopho- more year, when he left that institution to take up the study of law, registering in the office of Dana & Long of New Castle. He was admitted to the bar of Lawrence County in March, 1894, since which time he has been in active practice. He is a member and vice president of the Law- rence County Bar Association. In Feb- ruary, 1896, Mr. Moffatt was elected city controller of New Castle, for a three-year term, but on January 1, 1898, resigned that office to enter upon the duties of office as district attorney, to which he had been elected on the Republican ticket in the fall of 1897. He served three years in a most capable manner, then retired to private practice. He has taken quite an interest in political affairs, but is not a politician in the accepted sense of the word.

In November, 1896, Mr. Moffatt was joined in marriage with Miss Susan R. Hut- ton, a daughter of the late Andrew Hut- ton, who was one of the pioneers of Law- rence County. Religiously, they are mem- bers of the First Presbyterian Church of New Castle. Fraternally, Mr. Moffatt is a member of New Castle Lodge No. 404, K. P .; and for six years was captain of New Castle Co. No. 36, Uniformed Rank, K. P., resigning that office to accept that of major of the First Battalion, Fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania Brigade.

JOHN C. FREMONT JACKSON, re- siding on a farm of 135 acres in North Beaver Township, on the New Castle and Moravia highway, one mile north of the latter place, carries on general farming, trucking and dairying. Mr. Jackson was

born May 9, 1862, in Wayne Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of David and Mary Ann (Bell) Jack- son.

David Jackson was born in Shenango Township, Lawrence County, and was a son of Samuel Jackson, who was born in Ireland. The grandfather was one of the pioneers of this section, and his farm was located on Sheep Hill. When he came to Shenango Township the country was so wild that frequently wolves could only be driven from the door by throwing burning brands among them. The grandparents died on their farm in middle life. David Jackson was the youngest of their fam- ily and was seven years of age when his father died. He grew to manhood on the old farm and then married a daughter of Robert Bell, who was born in Allegheny. After marriage, David Jackson and wife bought a farm of 115 acres in Wayne Township and resided there until the death of Mr. Jackson, in 1882, at the age of fifty- two years. Mrs. Jackson now resides at Mahoningtown, aged seventy-eight years. Of their seven children, six survive, name- ly: Robert B., who is a prominent farmer of North Beaver Township; John C. F .; Nettie, who is the wife of R. C. Reed; Emma, who is the wife of A. R. Mornes; Edwin D., M. D., a practicing physician in Mahoningtown; and Bessie, who is the wife of Charles Bannon. Annie, who was the wife of Scott McCaslin, is deceased.

John C. F. Jackson was reared and edu- cated in Wayne Township and remained with his parents until his own marriage, which took place March 27, 1888, to Mary Jane Steffler. She was born and reared in Wayne Township, and is a daughter of George H. and Christena (Wilson) Steff- ler. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have seven liv- ing children, namely: Mary, Christina, Oscar and Orlo, twins; John, George, and Robert Bell. Little Helen died in Sep- tember, 1906, aged two years and three months.

Mr. and Mrs. Jackson lived for six years in Shenango Township on a farm of

DAVID S. PYLE.

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eighty acres, which Mr. Jackson had ac- quired before his marriage. In 1894 he sold that farm and bought the one on which he resides. This property he sold in 1904 to a New Castle syndicate, but he has rented it ever since. It is the inten- tion of the owners to plat it and sell it in lots.

DAVID S. PYLE, manager of the She- nango Works of the American Sheet and Tin Plate Company, the largest tin mills in the world, has been connected with the New Castle plant since 1893. Mr. Pyle was born at New Castle, Pa., May 29, 1870, and is a son of Henry and Evaline (Pol- lock) Pyle, old pioneers of Lawrence County.

David S. Pyle obtained his education at New Castle, but left school in boyhood and after taking a course in bookkeeping and stenography took charge of that work for the Vulcan Iron Company and remained with that organization until 1891, when he entered the employ of the Pittsburg Iron and Steel Engineering Company. He served as foreman and general timekeeper but started in as one of the first employes, while the company was putting in the Bes- semer plant for the Shenango Valley Steel Company at New Castle. From there he subsequently entered the employ of the New Castle Steel and Tin Plate Company, which was later absorbed by the American Sheet and Tin Plate Company. He began before a wheel had been started in the mill and his rise was gradual but sure, becom- ing superintendent of the New Castle works, formerly known as the Greer Mill, and later district superintendent of the two New Castle tin mills and then of the Sharon works with offices in the Shenango mills. On July 1, 1908, he became manager of the great Shenango works, having hun- dreds of men under his supervision and machinery and equipments worth fortunes.

Mr. Pyle married Estella Sankey, who is a daughter of H. R. Sankey, an old fam- ily of New Castle, and they have one son, Harold S. Mr. Pyle is a Mason and he

belongs also to the New Castle and to the Lawrence Clubs.

ISAAC NEWTON, general merchant at Energy, and the owner of a fine farm of seventy-seven acres, which is located in Slippery Rock Township, was born June 26, 1842, in Shenango Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of David and Rebecca (Hazen) Newton.

David Newton was born in Wayne Township, Lawrence County, and died in Shenango Township in December, 1897, aged eighty-four years. He was a farmer all his active life. About the time of his marriage he bought property in the south- ern part of Shenango Township, on the old Pittsburg road, and this farm is now owned by his son, Jacob Newton. He mar- ried a daughter of John Hazen, of She- nango Township, and they had nine chil- dren, eight of whom grew to maturity, namely : Elizabeth; John, who lives on the homestead; Isaac; Benjamin, who lives in Beaver County; Lydia, who is the wife of J. Wesley Houk, of Hazeldale; Rebecca J., who is the wife of Lyle Cameron, of Wayne Township; Jacob; and Margaret, deceased, who was the wife of Henry Sum- ner. The mother of the above family is now in her ninety-third year and enjoys fine physical health and her mind is un- impaired. The paternal grandfather, John Newton, came to Lawrence County and settled in Wayne Township prior to 1800. He was a native of New Jersey.

Isaac Newton spent all his early life on the farm, and since his marriage, in 1864, has combined farming and merchan- dising. In the fall of 1896 he built his residence and store building at Energy, closing the store on the farm in Slippery Rock Township, and was postmaster be- fore the establishment of the rural mail route.

On June 2, 1864, Mr. Newton was mar- ried to Mary Emily Montgomery, who was born in Lawrence County, February 27, 1848, and is a daughter of William H. and Sarah (Sweeting) Montgomery. William

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H. Montgomery came to Lawrence Coun- ty and settled here when the country was covered with forests. He had followed the blacksmith business at Ashtabula, Ohio, and for two years conducted a shop at Waggletown, and later a store where Mr. Newton's store now stands. He married Sarah Sweeting, who was born in Derby- shire, England, who was brought to America by her parents when she was eight years old. They had six children, as follows: John Milton, who resides at Boulder, Colo .; David Byron, who was killed during the Civil War, at Louisville, Ky., when aged eighteen years; Mary Emily, who became Mrs. Newton; Anna Melissa, who married George Strider, re- sides in California; William L., who lives at New Castle; and Steward Anderson, who lives at Hulton Ferry, Allegheny County. The parents were faithful mem- bers of the Center United Presbyterian Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Newton have had five chil- dren, all of whom survive and bear the fol- lowing names: Sarah, who married Mc- Clelland Hogue, of Slippery Rock Town- ship, has seven children; Minnie Olive, who married George Young, of Allegheny City; James H., who resides at Wurtem- berg; Cora Edna, who lives at home; and Elmer M., who, with his brother, James H., is engaged in a mercantile business at Wurtemberg. Mr. Newton has a tenant living on his farm. In partnership with his son-in-law, McClelland Hogue, he owns another farm of eighty-five acres, in Slip- pery Rock Township. While neither he nor his wife have identified themselves with any particular religious organization, they have not felt its necessity, proving by their lives the possession of Christian at- tributes. They are people universally re- spected and thoroughly esteemed.

THEO WILLIAM ECKERT, residing on his farm of thirty-six acres, which is situated about one-half mile northwest of Rose Point, has engaged in farming for some years, but the larger part of his life

has been devoted to the lumber industry. Mr. Eckert was born June 28, 1854, in Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John Nicholas and Frances (Morrison) Eckert.

George Eckert, the grandfather, was of German descent, but probably was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, where he resided for many years on his ample farm. He was twice married and he and both wives died at Chambersburg.

John Nicholas Eckert, the father, was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. When seventeen years of age he left home and thenceforward made his own way in the world. He was a general mechanic and especially a millwright, and during early manhood visited different sections of Ohio and Indiana, where he built many mills. After he returned to Pennsylvania he married Frances, daughter of John Morrison, and then bought a place in Slip- pery Rock Township. He had fine water power on his land and soon had both a saw and grist mill built, and these he op- erated in connection with tilling his land. Some years after the death of his wife he moved to a farm which had been purchased by a son and daughter, and there he died, May 18, 1906. His eight children were as follows: Virginia L., Mary Ann, Theo William, Hannah Jane, Laura Catherine, Sadie Emma, Alfred L. and Margaret Addie. Virginia L. and Sadie Emma are both deceased.

In assisting his father both on the farm and in his mill enterprises, after the end of his school days, Theo William Eckert found plenty of occupation until he was twenty-five years of age, in the meanwhile having learned the carpenter trade and worked at it for some time independent of his other duties. He then turned his attention entirely to the lumber industry, and erected a steam sawmill on the home place and operated it for a considerable period. Subsequently he went to the west- ern part of Lawrence County, and from there to Beaver County and carried on a lumber business there for about eighteen

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 64

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