Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 69

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 69

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Dr. D. E. Evans was born in Maesteg, Wales, in 1852, and Dr. T. V. Williams was born in the same country, at Llwyny- a member of the Episcopal Church, and

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was one of the founders of the Episcopal Mission, of South End, who are now build- ing their new church, St. Andrew's, on Long Avenue. He is a member of various scientific bodies, including the Lawrence County and State Medical Societies, the American Medical Association, the Ameri- can Health League, and the American Rontgen Ray Society. He belongs to the Ivorites of America and to the Improved Order of Red Men, and in his professional capacity is examiner for several benefici- ary orders. He is a brother of the late Dr. R. J. Williams of Plymouth, Pa.

Drs. Evans and Williams make a spe- cialty of the treatment of diseases (espe- cially skin diseases, facial blemishes and nervous diseases) by various modalities, such as X-rays, electricity, light, hot air, vibration and radium, in the office, and have an extensive practice. The office for light treatment alone is equipped with a fifty-ampere are light (for lung diseases), a London Lupus lamp, a Russian violet lamp, a blue lamp, and an ultra violet-ray lamp, each lamp having superior efficiency in certain indications. They have as well equipped offices in the line of electrical ap- paratus as any in this country, having in- stalled all the latest devices, both of American and European manufacture, which have met the approval of scientific experts. They brought the first X-ray ma- chine to New Castle, also the first static machine, and were the first to introduce the different light treatments. They have met with remarkable success, and patients come to them from long distances. Both Dr. Evans and Dr. Williams have erected handsome residences on South Mill Street, near Reynold Street, and they also built a substantial office building adjoining.

CHARLES S. CHAMBERS, general farmer, residing on the old Hugh Cham- bers farm, which is situated about two miles northwest of Mahoningtown, near the Mount Jackson and Covert Station road, belongs to one of North Beaver

Township's old established families. He was born in a small log house which stood across the field from his present residence, in North Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, April 14, 1862. His parents were Hugh and Hannah (War- wick) Chambers.

Hugh Chambers was born also in North Beaver Township, on the farm now occu- pied by Harry B. Chambers, and was a son of Samuel and a grandson of Captain William Chambers, both of whom were born in Ireland. Captain Chambers owned a farm on Hickory Creek, on which he reared his family and subsequently died. Later his son, Samuel, moved to a farm near Covert's Station, and on that prop- erty, in 1850, built the large brick house which is the residence of Harry B. Cham- bers. Hugh Chambers married Hannah Warwick as his second wife. She was born in Ireland, and was eleven years of age when her father, William Warwick, brought his family to America and settled in North Beaver Township, Lawrence County, west of the Westfield Church. To Hugh and Hannah Chambers were born the following children: Charles S., James Harvey, residing in Montana; William A., a minister of the United Presbyterian Church, residing at Akron, Ohio; Harry B., a prominent farmer residing in North Beaver Township; John Milton, deceased; Sarah Cochran, died in childhood; Jessie B., deceased, married Everett Taylor, who resides near New Galilee; Hugh MeClel- land, died in boyhood; and Mary L., who resides with her brother, Charles S. Hugh Chambers was married (first) to Phoebe Mars, and they had five children, namely : Agnes, residing at Mahoningtown, who married George W. Pitzer; Samuel, died aged five years; Alexander, deceased; Robert, died aged forty-three years; and Jennie, who was the wife of Albert Spaul- ding, died in Montana. Hugh Chambers died in January, 1902. His second wife died in March, 1897.

Charles S. Chambers and sister both

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were reared and educated in their native township. In the spring of 1868 the par- ents settled on the present farm, which is a valuable tract of 100 acres. Here Mr. Chambers carries on a general agricul- tural line, finding both profit and content- ment in improving and cultivating the place on which he has spent the greater part of his life. Both he and sister are valued members of the Mount Jackson United Presbyterian Church.

GEORGE D. BROWN, who bears an honorable record for service in the Union Army during the Civil War, is a prosper- ous farmer of Pulaski Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. He was born in Mahoning Township, Lawrence County, January 3, 1842, and is a son of Joseph and Mary J. (Davidson) Brown, his father being a native of Lawrence County, and his mother of Cumberland County, Penn- sylvania. Joseph Brown, Sr., grandfather of the subject of this sketch, originally came from Virginia, and was an early set- tler in Mahoning Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, where he spent the latter years of his life.

Joseph Brown, father of George D., spent most of his life in Lawrence County. He was reared in Mahoning Township and there attended the primitive schools of that period. During the early years of his business career he followed the trade of a stonemason and bricklayer, but subsequent to his marriage always engaged in farm- ing. He lived in Mahoning Township un- til 1842, in which year he moved with his family to Pulaski Township, where he con- tinued to reside until his death in 1867. He was a good substantial citizen and had a wide acquaintance and many friends in the county. He married Mary J. David- son, and the following children of their union are living: Jane A., widow of John Clark, of Pulaski Township; George D., whose name heads this record; Samuel M., of North Beaver Township, Lawrence County ; Rebecca E., widow of E. M. C.

Stevenson, of Pulaski Township; Mary E., of New Bedford; and Emma B., also of New Bedford. After his removel to Pu- laski Township, Joseph Brown was fre- quently called upon to serve the community in official capacity, which he did with marked efficiency.

George D. Brown attended the public schools of his native township, and spent his youthful days in work upon the farm. In August, 1862, he enlisted for nine months' service as a member of Company D, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, which formed a part of the Army of the Potomac. He served somewhat over his enlistment, and after his discharge re-enlisted as a mem- ber of Company M, Sixth Heavy Artillery, Pennsylvania Volunteers, in which he served until the close of the war. He par- ticipated in numerous important engage- ments of the war, among them the battle of Fredericksburg. He was honorably discharged in June, 1865, and returned to Pulaski Township, where he resumed farm- ing operations. A man of energy, enter- prise and exceptional business ability, he has succeeded beyond the average.

Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Miss Apalina D. Fostnot, a native of Co- lumbiana County, Ohio, and a daughter of Daniel Fostnot, who spent the declining years of his life at Alliance, Ohio, where he died. Our subject and his wife became parents of the following children: Harry D., of Pulaski Township; Birdilla B., wife of William Barrett, of Warren County, Pennsylvania; Jessie B., wife of William Book, of Pulaski; Mary J., wife of F. L. Smith, of Erie County, New York; and George, deceased. Politically, Mr. Brown is a Republican, and has served his town- ship as school director and road super- visor. He is a member of the Post No. 100, G. A. R., at New Castle.

B. W. COVER, a well known resident of Edenburg, who, as auctioneer and as a large dealer in livestock and wool, is

GEORGE D. BROWN AND FAMILY. (Showing four generations.)

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known all over Lawrence County, was born in Mahoning Township, March 25, 1859. His parents were Hiram and Elzedda (Shoaff) Cover.

The grandparents of Mr. Cover, Jacob and Lydia (Raub) Cover, came to Mahon- ing Township from eastern Pennsylvania among the very early settlers, finding all this fertile farming land covered with dense woods. Jacob Cover, in addition to cultivating his land after clearing it, raised broom-corn and manufactured brooms, which he sold in Pittsburg. In their lat- ter years he and wife removed to Poland, Ohio, where both died. Hiram Cover was born in Mahoning Township, January 27, 1836, followed farming all his life, and died April 4, 1895. He was a man of ster- ling character and was one of the pillars of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Edenburg. He married Elzedda Shoaff, who was born in Lawrence County, and three of their children survive: B. W. and Leon O. and Z. Grace, the latter of whom is the widow of Frank Kuhn, and all reside in Mahoning Township.

B. W. Cover grew to man's estate in Mahoning Township, and obtained his edu- cation in the public schools and a select school at New Bedford. For over a quar- ter of a century he has engaged in the stock business, and for many years has also been an auctioneer and has cried sales all through this section. He owns a valu- able farm of 111 acres, which adjoins Edenburg, and is looked upon as one of the township's most substantial citizens.

On January 4, 1883, Mr. Cover was mar- ried to Elizabeth A. Smith, who was born in Pulaski Township, Lawrence County, and is a daughter of Andrew and Hannah (Fair) Smith, both of whom died in Pu- laski Township. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had four children, namely: Mary E., who is the wife of Leon O. Cover, of Mahoning Township; Henry M., who resides a Ma- honingtown; Elizabeth A., and Minnie V., who is the wife of George Able, of Eden- burg. Mr. and Mrs. Cover have five chil-

dren, namely : Inez B., Thayer, Ruby H., Guy and Alice. The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Edenburg, in which Mr. Cover is a trustee and a mem- ber of the board of stewards.

As a man of wide acquaintance and many important business interests, Mr. Cover has even taken an intelligent inter- est in public affairs, and on many occa- sions has been called upon by his fellow citizens to accept public office. For eleven years he has served as township constable, and he has been collector for eleven years of both township and county taxes, and township auditor. He votes with the Pro- hibition party.

A. S. LOVE, serving in the office of deputy prothonotary of Lawrence County, has been a resident of New Castle for the past forty-two years, and is one of the honored surviving officers of the great Civil War. He was born at Sharon, Pa., and when ten years of age accompanied his parents when they settled on a farm in that neighborhood.

Mr. Love secured his education at Her- mitage, Mercer County, and New Wilming- ton. His father engaged more or less in building and contracting, and needed the assistance of his son during the latter's earlier youth, but subsequently he entered Westminster College, which he left in his sophomore year, in August, 1862, in order to enter the Federal Army as a soldier. He enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served almost three years, during this period participat- ing in all the campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, sharing its hardships and helping in gaining its victories. He en- listed as a private, and although his regi- ment was usually in the thickest of the dangers of battle, he was never wounded, and without any serious injury, was mus- tered out, May 29, 1865, holding the rank of sergeant.

Mr. Love returned to his home and spent

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the following year as a bookkeeper at West Middlesex, and at the same time and place served also as deputy postmaster for H. N. Warren. From that service he came to New Castle, where he went into the business of woolen manufacturing, under the firm name of MeKarns & Love, con- tinuing for seven years under that style, when the old firm was succeeded by H. Love & Sons, which was held until 1877. In the spring of 1878, Mr. Love was elected city treasurer for a period which extended over six years, and when he retired from this civic office he went to Jamestown, Dak., where he was bookkeeper in the First National Bank for two years. After his return to New Castle he was connected with several manufacturing enterprises until 1894, when he was elected county protho- notary. He was retained in this office for six years, following which he was deputy under R. M. Campbell, and is serving in the same capacity under Prothonotary An- drews. He has taken a deep interest in the progress and development of this city. For a long time he was captain of the old Eagle Fire Department. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and of the Union Veteran Legion.

JOSEPH CRAIG, a substantial citizen of North Beaver Township, residing on his valuable farm of 100 acres, which is situ- ated about one and one-half miles north of Mount Jackson, on the Edenburg-Mount Jackson road, was born on Saw Mill Run, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, October 12, 1844. His parents were Joseph and Eliza (Kennedy) Craig.

When Joseph Craig was about ten years old his parents moved to Mahoning Town- ship, where his father bought 112 acres of land. Joseph Craig the elder was twice married, and seven children were born to the first union, Joseph being the third of that family, and two to the second mar- riage. The first wife died several years after settlement was made in Mahoning Township.

Joseph Craig grew to manhood in Ma- honing Township, and his boyhood was spent in attending the district schools and in helping on the farm. In early man- hood he was married to Elizabeth Jane Chambers, daughter of Samuel and Jane (Smiley) Chambers. She was born and reared in North Beaver Township. Her father was born in Ireland, and was eleven years of age when he accompanied his father, Capt. William Chambers, to Ameri- ca. They were among the earliest settlers in North Beaver Township, and became a family of wealth and prominence. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Craig lived on a rented farm in Perry Township for some eighteen months, and then came to North Beaver Township and for the next thir- teen years rented and lived on the old Mooney farm. Mr. Craig then began to buy the present farm, purchasing his first thirty acres from William Lusk and subse- quently adding other tracts by three suc- ceeding purchases until he owned 200 acres of land all in one body. Mr. Craig retains 100 acres, which is under the man- agement of his youngest son, and he deed- ed to his eldest son the other 100 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Craig have but two sons, Norman Alexander and John Harris, both of whom are successful farmers. Mr. and Mrs. Craig lost a little daughter, Mary Bell, aged three years and ten months. Norman Alexander Craig married Annie Gailey, and they have three children: Verna Gailey, William Chester and Joseph Norman. The buildings on the part of the farm owned by Norman Alexander were erected by his uncle, John A. Craig, who formerly owned this property. Mr. Craig is a member of the order of Knights of Pythias, at Mahoningtown. Mr. and Mrs. Craig are members of the United Presbyterian Church, at Mount Jackson.

F. C. DEVENNY, chief electrician of the Pennsylvania Engineering Works, at New Castle, came to this city in 1900, and since then has made business and property

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investments here and identified himself with the city's interests. He was born at Fagundus, Warren County, Pennsylvania, in 1873, and is a son of David and Mar- garet (Walls) Devenny.

David Devenny, father of F. C., died at Oil City, Pa., in 1904. He was a pattern- maker by trade. His widow still survives and lives in the old home at Oil City.

F. C. Devenny was about two years old when his parents moved to Oil City, where he was reared and educated. When he reached the proper age, Mr. Devenny en- tered the Oil City Boiler Works, and re- mained three years in the machine shops, after which he spent three more years with the National Transit Company, of Oil City, and then came to New Castle. Here he entered the machine department of the Pennsylvania Engineering Works, remain- ing two years as a machinist, and then be- coming chief electrician, which responsible position he still fills.

In 1898 Mr. Devenny was married to Miss Mary E. Morrow, formerly of Oil City. She is a daughter of Samuel and Anna Luella (Jones) Morrow. Mrs. Mor- row was born in Jefferson County, Penn- sylvania, and is a daughter of Henry and Mary (Phillips) Jones. Recently Mr. and Mrs. Devenny had the pleasure of enter- taining at their beautiful home on Edge- wood Avenue, Mrs. Morrow and her ven- erable mother, Mrs. Jones, and the un- usual situation was found of four genera- tions being present in one household, little Margaret Luella Devenny representing the fourth. Mr. and Mrs. Devenny are members of the Highland United Presby- terian Church. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow, but in politics he takes no active interest.

JOSEPH T. WALTER, a prominent citizen of Mahoning Township, who for twenty consecutive years has served as overseer of the township poor, resides on his well improved farm of eighty-four acres, where general farming has been car-

ried on for a long period. He was born at Mill Creek Falls, Ohio, March 17, 1833, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Simpson) Walter.

The father of Mr. Walter was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and the mother in Kentucky. The paternal ancestors were of German extraction. In 1833, when Joseph T. Walter was a babe of a few weeks, his parents moved to what it now Mahoning Township, and the fam- ily settled on a farm on the banks of the Mahoning River, where William Walter engaged in milling, having bought what was known as the Angel grist mill. This he operated for a number of years, and resided there until 1865, when he removed to Boardman, Ohio, where he died in 1877, having spent his later years as a farmer. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. In his political convictions he was a Democrat, of the old Jeffersonian kind. Of his five children, three survive, namely: John W., residing at New Castle; Joseph T., and Caroline, wife of Irvin Kerr, residing in Mahoning County, Ohio. William F. is deceased. Louisa J., who died May 16, 1908, resided in Mahoning County, Ohio.

Although Joseph T. Walter was born in Ohio, by rearing he is a Pennsylvanian, each State being anxious to claim her own first class citizens. He attended the schools of Mahoning Township and Poland Sem- inary, at Poland, Ohio. Later he taught school both in Lawrence County, and in Howard County, Missouri, but the larger part of his life has been given to farming. He has ever taken an active interest in the progress and development of his own sec- tion and has been particularly interested in the public schools. For three years he has given his time to performing the du- ties of school director and in a public-spir- ited way has done a great deal for his com- munity. In politics he is a Democrat and on all occasions ably supports the candi- dates of his party.

On September 24, 1857, Mr. Walter was

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married to Agnes J. Welsh, who was born in Mahoning Township and is a daughter of John B. Welsh, formerly a leading citi- zen of this section. To this marriage ten children have been born, the eight sur- vivors being: Ernest J., residing in Cleve- land, Ohio; George, living in Linn County, Missouri; John S., residing near Spokane, Wash .; Guy T., an attorney-at-law, living at Colee City, Wash .; Samuel F., residing in the neighborhood of Youngstown, Ohio; Rolla D., living at home; Eliza J., wife of John McGuire, residing at Mahoningtown; and Ivonette, living with her parents. Mr. Walter is prominent in the order of Knights of Pythias and has served as chancellor commander of Edenburg Lodge, No. 468.

WILLIAM W. MCCULLOUGH, a repre- sentative citizen and successful agricultur- ist of North Beaver Township, residing on a fine farm of seventy-three acres, which he owns jointly with his wife, was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, March 18, 1832, and is a son of Alexander and Jane (Peirce) Mccullough.

Mr. McCullough was reared in Beaver County, his father being employed as a puddler in one of the large furnaces in that section. When nineteen years of age William W. Mccullough came to Lawrence County, and for six years worked as a farm hand in Perry Township, after which he came to North Beaver Township. Prior to this change he was married the first time, to Jane Hole, who was a daughter of John Hole. He was married (second) to Elsie Jane Wilson, who is a daughter of William Wilson, who formerly owned the present farm. To the second marriage four children were born, two of them, Clarissa and John, survive. Clarissa married Will- iam Alexander, and they reside on the home farm. They have one son, Herman Elmer. John McCullough resides also on the home farm. He is in partnership with William Gebhart in the threshing busi- ness.

In 1864, when troops were recruited, mainly for the defense of Washington city, during the Civil War, Mr. Mccullough en- listed in the Fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, and served in this con- nection until the close of the war. Al- though he escaped all serious injury, he took part in numerous skirmishes and en- gagements, and many times proved him- self a brave and efficient soldier. After being honorably discharged, he returned to his farm in North Beaver Township, and resumed farming. In addition to car- rying on a general agricultural line of work, Mr. Mccullough is interested, with his son-in-law, in growing fruit. They have fine apple, peach, cherry and plum orchards. In 1884 he erected the substan- tial home residence, and in 1899, the large barn, making other important improve- ments at various times. Mr. Mccullough's farm is very favorably situated, lying on what is known as the Patterson road, about two and one-half miles northwest of Mo .. ravia. He is known as one of the town. ship's good citizens, but has never involved himself in political struggles. He is a mem- ber of the Westfield Presbyterian Church.

G. M. GIBSON, general merchant at New Castle, at No. 177 Croton Avenue, has been identified with the interests of this city for the past twenty-two years. He was born January 6, 1866, in Allegheny City, Pa.

In 1870 the parents of Mr. Gibson moved to Salem, Ohio, where they resided until 1881, when they removed to Alliance, Ohio, and he attended school as opportunity of- fered. He learned several trades in his youth, those of baker and barber. In 1886 he first came to New Castle, but on finding no favorable opening, returned to Ohio, where he resided until 1890, and then came back to New Castle. In 1891 he established his barber shop, at his present place of business, and has continued its operation ever since. In 1903 he embarked in a gen eral mercantile business, at No. 177 Cro -

JOSEPH P. SHERIFF AND SISTER, MRS. M. H. SUMMERVILLE.

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ton Avenue, and also owns the residence at No. 175 on the same street. In 1906 he built a fine two-story brick structure with basement, 22 by 26 feet in dimensions, all of pressed brick except the back end. He has equipped the whole building with modern conveniences, resides on the sec- ond floor, has his store on the ground floor, and utilizes the basement for his barber shop. He is a man of fine business ca- pacity, and has met with much success in his different activities.

In 1889 Mr. Gibson was married to Miss Ida Chapman, of New Castle, and they have two daughters, Mildred and Grace. The family belong to the Croton Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a member of the board of stewards.

In politics Mr. Gibson has been more or less actively interested ever since reaching manhood, but has not taken time to serve in many official positions ; however, he was a member of the board of elections for eight years. For many years he has been an Odd Fellow, taking a keen interest in the order, and he belongs to both the lower branch and to the Encampment.

JOSEPH P. SHERIFF, senior member of the important lumber firm of Sheriff & Shields, is one of New Bedford's leading business men. He was born October 31, 1829, in Pulaski Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of William and Jane (Block) Sheriff.

The father of Mr. Sheriff was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The mother was born in Adams County, Penn- sylvania, where her father died and she came to what is now Pulaski Township with her mother and brothers. William Sheriff was a son of John Sheriff, who was born in Ireland, and his wife, Martha (Neal) Sheriff, who was born in Scotland. William Sheriff died in Pulaski Township in 1849. He was a Whig in politics and was a man esteemed above his fellows. He followed milling, lumbering and farming as occupations.

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 69

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