Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 80

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 80

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).

John G. Cobler obtained his education in the local schools and the Bedford County Normal School and subsequently took a business course and was graduated from Eastman's Commercial College, in 1882. Had Mr. Cobler followed his own inclina- tion at the beginning of his business ca- reer, he would have sought fortune in one of the new communities of the West, but he gave way to filial advice and remained at home. He taught several terms of school and then embarked in a mercantile busi- ness in Clearville, Pa., where he continued from 1884 until 1889. On May 14, 1902, Mr. Cobler became cashier of the newly opened First National Bank of Everett, Pa., and it was largely due to his untiring efforts that the institution prospered from the first. During his whole period of resi- dence at Everett, Mr. Cobler was a citizen of prominence. Early he identified him- self with the Democratic party and when only twenty-four years of age was elected to the office of justice of the peace in Mon- roe Township. For a number of years he served in the borough council as secretary,

and for five years was postmaster at Ever- ett. He has frequently served as a dele- gate to both State and Congressional con- ventions of his party. When Mr. Cobler retired from the Everett bank he came, in the spring of 1907, to Ellwood City, to be- come cashier of the People's National Bank. Undoubtedly his connection with this financial institution has greatly added to its strength, coming as he did, with the clean record of five years of effective bank- ing experience behind him. At Ellwood City as at Everett, Mr. Cobler has proven himself a most valuable citizen.

Mr. Cobler was married to Miss Annie Baughman, who is a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Mortimore) Baughman. The Baughmans are old established people of Bedford County. The family was one of especial loyalty during the Civil War, in which Sergeant George Baughman, father of Mrs. Cobler, with three of his brothers, lost his life. He was an officer of the One Hundred Thirty-first Regiment, Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry. Mr. and Mrs. Cobler have two children: George C. and Mary Alberta. George C. Cobler graduated from the Everett High School, Mercers- burg Academy, and the Pennsylvania Den- tal University, in the class of 1907. He is engaged in the practice of dentistry at Ell- wood City. Mary Alberta Cobler grad- uated from High School and subsequently spend one year at college. Mr. Cobler and family belong to the Reformed Church. Formerly he was connected with the organ- ization of Sons of Veterans and belongs to the order of the Knights of the Golden Eagle.

CHARLES DALE FULLERTON, an enterprising farmer of North Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania, residing on his valuable farm of 102 acres, which is situated on the lower Mt. Jackson-Petersburg road, two miles south- west of the former place, was born on this farm February 19, 1876. His parents were Walter and Maria (Reed) Fullerton.

631

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Walter Fullerton was also born on the farm above mentioned, a son of James Ful- lerton, a pioneer, and lived on it through his entire life with the exception of the last few years. He retired to New Castle, where he died April 7, 1898. His wife died on the farm in 1884, when Charles D., the youngest of the family, was eight years old. The other children were: J. R., residing at Bellevue Station, Pennsylvania ; James N., residing at Allegheny, Pennsylvania; W. D., residing at Boston, Massachusetts; and Tillie A. and Grace M., both deceased, the latter of whom was the wife of Frank Rus- sell.

Charles Dale Fullerton was educated in the public schools of North Beaver Town- ship and since he has reached the age of re- sponsibility, has engaged in farming. He adds dairying to his farm industries and carries on all his agricultural work accord- ing to modern methods and with the assist- ance of improved machinery.

Mr. Fullerton married Clara McAnlis, who is a daughter of J. S. MeAnlis, of Moravia.

ANDREW KENMAN ROBERTSON is proprietor of a general store at Enon Val- ley, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and has one of the most complete village stores in the county. He was born at Wooster, Ohio, March 3, 1846, and is a son of Hugh and (Ellen) Robertson, both natives of Scotland.

Hugh Robertson learned the trade of an iron moulder in his native land, and was there employed as foreman in some of the big shops. He emigrated with his wife to America, and located at Wooster, Ohio, where he continued at his trade during the remainder of his active career, there also holding a position as foreman in a large plant. He was seventy years old at the time of his death. He was survived many years by his widow who died at the home of his son, Andrew K., in Enon Valley, in 1902, having passed the eightieth milestone

of life. They were parents of six children, as follows: David, deceased, who for a pe- riod of thirty-five years was agent for the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Rail- road at Enon Valley; Margaret, wife of John Preston of Chicago; Ella, of Marion, Ohio; Mary; Maria, wife of A. B. Brad- ford, Jr., of Tennessee; and Andrew Ken- man.

Andrew K. Robertson was reared in Wooster and received a good common school education. While still a boy he learned printing and telegraphy, but gave this up to enter the Union army when six- teen years of age. He enlisted in 1863, in Company C, Seventy-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Babb, and served until the close of the war, in all some twenty-three months. He was in many hard fought engagements in and about Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee, and Atlanta, Georgia, and acquitted him- self most creditably. He was mustered out at San Antonio, Texas, in October, 1865. In January, 1866, he first located in Enon Valley and for some three years was em- ployed in the office of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad. He was next in the offices of the Panhandle Rail- road in Pittsburg for seven years, after which he took a trip to the Pacific Coast. After one year in the West, he located in Youngstown, Ohio, where he was in the em- ploy of the California Powder Company one year. He then purchased a farm in Little Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and engaged in agricultural pursuits eight years, at the end of which time he returned to Enon Valley. He con- ducted a butcher shop for a time, then sold out and established the general store which he now conducts, his son Frank being in- terested in the business. He has a com- prehensive stock of dry goods and notions, groceries and hardware, and the innumer- able little things for which there is a de- mand in a village. They own the store property, and a fine residence in Enon, in

632

HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

addition to which Mrs. Robertson has an in- terest in the old Reed home farm in North Beaver Township.

On December 25, 1871, Mr. Robertson was joined in marriage with Elizabeth Reed, a daughter of James and Mary (Kennedy) Reed of North Beaver Town- ship, and they have three children : Frank, Effie, and Laura. Mr. Robertson is also in- terested in the Enon Valley Telephone Company. In politics he is a Republican. He was a prominent member of the G. A. R. Post at Enon until its dissolution.

Frank Robertson, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Robertson, is employed in the office of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and is secretary of the Enon Valley Telephone Company. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow Lodges. In politics, he is a Democrat. He married Minnie Wilson and they have one son, Ralph. He is quite prominent in the affairs of the village.

ALEXANDER TWENTIER, of the firm of Marburger and Twentier, pro- prietors of the Central Hotel, at Nos. 708- 710 Lawrence Avenue, Ellwood City, ranks with the leading business men of this place .. He was born in Butler County, Pennsyl- vania, and is a son of John and Margaret (Marburger) Twentier.

The late John Twentier was born in Ger- many and came to America in early man- hood, settling for a time in Pittsburg, but later moving to Butler County. There he engaged in farming during the remainder of his active life and died June 19, 1907, aged seventy-six years. By trade he was a baker. He married Margaret Marburg- er, who was born in Butter County and is a daughter of George and Anna K. Mar- burger. The former was born in Germany, ninety-six years ago and is still active not- withstanding his advanced age. Mrs. Twentier resides in Evans City, Pa. To John Twentier and wife were born eleven children, as follows: John, who resides at Prospect; Fred A., who lives at North Sewickley, in Beaver County; Mary, who

is the wife of J. P. Ripper, of Evans City, Pennsylvania; George, deceased; William A., who resides in Butler County; Henry, who resides at Beaver, Oklahoma; Anna, deceased; Alexander; Samuel, also resides in Oklahoma; Sophia, who is the wife of F. L. Wise, resides at Evans City ; and Mar- garet, who lives with her mother.

Alexander Twentier grew to manhood on the home farm in Butler County and ob- tained his education in the public schools. He followed farming and teaming until about 1900, when he came to Ellwood City to engage in a restaurant business, which he established and conducted for three years, after which, in association with his present partner, he built the fine Central Hotel. This first class modern structure contains thirty rooms and it is conducted for the comfort and convenience of the traveling public. Mr. Twentier is a popu- lar host and the hotel has a large patron- age.

In the fall of 1900, Mr. Twentier was married to Miss Sarah L. Wall, who is a daughter of William Wall, of Evans City, Butler County, and they have two most at- tractive children : Charles and Zelda, aged seven and five years.

In politics, Mr. Twentier is a Democrat and he takes an active interest in local af- fairs. He is a member of Lodge No. 599, Ellwood City, F. & A. M., of Lodge No. 348, Elks, of Beaver Falls and to the Knights and Ladies of Honor. He is a self made man and owes his present fortune entirely to his own efforts, a fact of which he is justly proud.

CHRISTIAN JACOBSON, a well known farmer of Mahoning Township, where he owns forty-five acres of valuable land, came to this place in 1902, and has made many improvements here. He was born in Denmark, October 13, 1870, and is a son of Nels and Catherine Jacobson, the for- mer of whom is deceased, but the latter still lives in the old country and has passed her seventieth birthday.

RESIDENCE OF JAMES H. McBRIDE, MAHONING TOWNSHIP.

635

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Christian Jacobson lived in his own land until he was eighteen years old, going to school and learning farming. He crossed the Atlantic Ocean on a steamer plying between Hamburg, Germany, and New York. After landing he went immediately to Mahoning County, Ohio, and engaged in farm work in Coitsville Township, for sev- eral years prior to coming to Lawrence County. He possesses all the sturdy char- acteristics which make the Danes such wel- come citizens in America, and in his own neighborhood he has made many friends. When he came to the United States he was ignorant of the language spoken here, but this drawback he has overcome to a large degree.

Mr. Jacobson married Edith Hale, who was born in England but was then residing in Youngstown, Ohio. Her parents died when she was a child and she was brought to America by her grandparents. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson have an adopted son, Harry C. Mr. Jacobson has acquainted himself, long since, with the public questions of the day in America, and is a Republican in his political views.

C. L. SNYDER, one of New Castle's rep- resentative business men, dealing in jew- elry and diamonds, at No. 68 East Long Street, was born in Kentucky, in 1871, and is a son of Joel Snyder.

The Snyder family settled first in Mer- cer County in 1832 and the father of C. L. Snyder removed to Kentucky prior to the latter's birth, but when the boy was about seven years old, returned to Mercer Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, where he was reared and educated. After leaving school he en- tered the jewelry store of John Brenner. at Youngstown, Ohio, where he remained for four years, going from there to the Hampden Watch factory at Canton, Ohio. Later he was in the employ of Mather Brothers at New Castle, and still later of Hanna & Evoe. In February, 1904, he went into business for himself, purchasing the jewelry store which he has conducted

ever since. He does an extensive business, carries a stock worth $15,000, and has one of the best and handsomest stores of its kind in this section of the State.

In 1894, Mr. Snyder was married to Miss Rosella Curtis, a resident of Salem, Ohio, and they have two children: Vesta and Joel. Mr. Snyder is one of the leading members of St. Andrews Episcopal Church, in which he fills the office of treas- urer. He is fraternally connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of the Golden Eagle, the Independent Order of Foresters and belongs to the beneficiary order of the Protected Home Circle.

JAMES H. McBRIDE, rural mail car- rier for Route No. 2, out of Lowellville, Ohio, was born in Mahoning Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, February 13, 1855, on the farm on which he resides, and is a son of Joshua Anderson and Martha (Lowry) McBride.

The father of Mr. McBride was also born on the Mahoning Township farm, and was a son of John McBride, who was the foun- der of the family of Mahoning Township. He was of Scotch-Irish extraction, and his sturdy qualities have been more or less inheritated by his descendants. He reared an estimable family and his son, Joshua Anderson, who died in June, 1884, was a valued and useful citizen. The latter mar- ried Martha Lowry, who was born in Ma- honing County, Ohio, and is one of the most venerable ladies residing in Mahon- ing Township, having passed her ninety- second birthday. Of their children, the four survivors are: Davidson C., who re- sides at New Bedford, Pa .; Dickson, who is a contractor and builder residing at Lowellville, Ohio; Samuel M., who lives at Lapeer, Mich., and James H., with whom the mother makes her home.

James H. McBride has lived on the homestead all his life. He attended the public schools of Mahoning Township, Westminster College at New Wilmington, Pa., and Poland Seminary, at Poland,

636

HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

Ohio. In his father's blacksmith shop he learned considerable concerning that trade, but he has given the main part of his at- tention to the further development of the farm. For some years he has been a mail carrier and in this capacity is very popu- lar over the route he covers. Mr. McBride was married (first) to Helen B. Anderson, who was a daughter of Thomas Anderson, late of Pulaski Township, and she left one son, Roy L., who lives in Mahoning Town- ship. He married (second) Marietta Jack- son, of Mahoning County, Ohio, and they have one daughter, Helen M., who lives at home. Mr. and Mrs. McBride are mem- bers of the Mahoning United Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Republican.

JAMES F. SMITH, whose magnificent farm of 202 acres, is situated in Perry Township, four miles northeast of Ellwood City, was born on a farm two miles north of his present one, on which he has lived since he was two years of age. His birth took place October 29, 1861, and his par- ents were James and Rose (Morrison) Smith.

The father of Mr. Smith was born in Ire- land and was twelve years of age when he came to America with his parents, who lo- cated at Bloomington, Illinois. James Smith came to Western Pennsylvania dur- ing the building of the Beaver Canal and after it was completed, he worked as a farmer for a Mr. Harris and then bought the farm which is owned by Ross Smith. Later he bought the farm in Perry Town- ship which now belongs to his son, James F., on which he passed the remainder of his life. He married a daughter of Will- iam Morrison, who was a prominent citi- zen of Perry Township, a large landowner and a justice of the peace. They had the following children : Samuel, who was acci- dentally killed; William John; Francis S .; Ross ; James F .; Harriet, who died in Ari- zona; Elizabeth, who died in Lawrence County ; and Mary Ann.

James F. Smith has long been counted

with the most extensive and successful farmers of Perry Township. Ever since leaving school he has been more or less the operator of the farm and since the death of his father has owned the prop- erty.

Mr. Smith married Mary Elizabeth Me- hard, who is a daughter of Joseph Mehard, of Wayne Township, and they have three children: Samuel Hanford, Sarah Helen and Alice Jane. The family belong to the United Presbyterian Church. Politically, Mr. Smith is a stanch Republican and at present is serving in the office of township assessor.

ARCH M. JONES, superintendent of the Glen Manufacturing Company, of Ell- wood City, of which place he is a substan- tial and representative citizen, was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, De- cember 9, 1877, and is a son of Edward E. and Margaret M. Jones, both natives and residents of Allegheny County.

The father of Mr. Jones is an employe of the Carnegie Steel Company, at Pitts- burg, and his two sons both fill positions of responsibility, Arch M. at Ellwood City and Edward L. at Pittsburg, the latter be- ing in the employ of the Central Trust Company.

Arch M. Jones was educated at Sharps- burg and at Duff's Business College at Pittsburg. In 1897 he accepted a position as clerk for the Oliver Wire Company of Pittsburg, and later with the American Steel and Wire Company, spending four years with the two concerns. In 1901, Mr. Jones came to Ellwood City and entered the employ of the Steel Car Forge Com- pany, in a clerical capacity, and in the fol- lowing year was made secretary and treas- urer of the Glen Manufacturing Company, and has been identified with this important industry ever since.

The Glen Manufacturing Company was organized in September, 1902, and began business in January, 1903, with an author- ized capital stock of $100,000. Employ-

...

RESIDENCE OF ROY L. McBRIDE, MAHONING TOWNSHIP.

637

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

ment is given fifty men and the products of the works include wire fencing, door mats and builders' iron work, fire escapes and bank fixtures. About 44,000 feet of floor space is utilized. The Glen Manufac- turing Company bought the Hartman Manufacturing business, the latter having been in operation at Ellwood City since 1892, and prior to that was an enterprise of Beaver Falls. The officers of the Glen Manufacturing Company are: H. S. Blatt, president; A. M. Jones, secretary and treasurer. The board of directors is made up of these capitalists : H. S. Blatt, R. C. Stiefel Thomas Dugan and S. A. Roeloff.

On October 7, 1903, Mr. Jones was mar- ried to Miss Kathryn Brown, who is a daughter of R. T. Brown, of Ellwood City, and they have an attractive little daughter of three years named Leanna Margaret. For the past eight years Mr. Jones has been a resident of Ellwood City and has taken a leading part in its progress and development. He is vice-president of the Board of Trade of Ellwood City.

JOSEPH WILLIAM HUMPHREY, who is an able member of the Lawrence County bar, commanding a large and lucra- tive practice, was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, July 31, 1868, and is a son of James and Ruth (Studebaker) Hum- phrey.

The paternal grandparents were Will- iam and Elizabeth Humphrey. The for- mer was well known all through Butler County and when he built a tavern it be- came the center of a little settlement which was named Billsburg, as a familiar and af- fectionate token of his popularity. His grandson, Joseph William Humphrey, well remembers the old tavern, having lived there during the first ten years of his life. For many years it was the center of ac- tivity, being a stopping place on the stage line. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Humphrey were Joseph and Christina (Book) Studebaker, the former of whom was a son of David Studebaker. The lat-

ter, David Studebaker, came from West- moreland to Butler County, when the coun- try was a wilderness and the Indians were still numerous. One of his sisters was captured and carried off by a band of In- dians. His two sons, Joseph and Henry, both lived into advanced age, the latter being ninety-six years old when he died. There are two survivors of the large fam- ily of William Humphrey and wife: Will- iam, who is a merchant at Portersville, Butler County, and Mrs. David P. Davis, of Worth Township, Butler County.

James Humphrey, the late father of Jo- seph W., resided throughout his whole life in. Butler County, with the exception of twelve years, which he spent in California, where he went as one of the pioneers to the gold fields. For a time he prospected for gold, but later engaged in lumbering and when he returned to Butler County he purchased and for many years operated a circular steam saw-mill, which was the first machine of this kind ever brought to this section of the country. He was born in Worth Township on a farm which now belongs to a nephew and he died on a farm adjacent to it. He married Ruth Stude- baker, and they had the following children : Christina Elizabeth, who lives in the old home; Joseph William, of Ellwood City; James D., residing at Tarentum, Pa., is a Presbyterian minister and married Blanche Bright, of Pleasantville, Venango County; Mary B., who is a successful teacher in the public schools, resides at home, and is a graduate of the Slippery Rock State Normal School; and Ruth Laura, who resides with her husband, Fred J. McCleary, on the old homestead.

Joseph William Humphrey completed the classical course at Grove City College in 1893, after which he taught in the But- ler High School for one year and then en- tered the law office of John Marshall at Butler. In the spring of 1896 he was admit- ted to practice in the courts of Butler and Lawrence Counties, and after his marriage at that time established his residence at

638

HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

Ellwood City. He has taken an active part in everything that materially concerns this community. In politics he is a Democrat and ever exerts his influence in favor of the principles he believes to be right. He is serving in his sixth year as a member of the Ellwood City School Board.

In 1896, Mr. Humphrey was married to Miss Elda C. Hugus, who is a daughter of George B. and Elizabeth Hugus. Her par- ents formerly resided on their farm, but now live retired at Grove City. Mrs. Hum- phrey is a graduate of the Grove City Col- lege. Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey have four children : Gladys Pauline, Raymond Wayne, Josephine Wilhelmina and Elea- nor Hugus. They are active members of the First Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Humphrey is an elder.

WYLIE McCASLIN, a member of the New Castle bar, has been a resident of this city for the past fourteen years. He was born in Scott Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, in 1869, and is a son of William T. MeCaslin.

The MeCaslin family is well represented all through Western Pennsylvania and stands for good citizenship wherever found. It was established in Lawrence County by Robert MeCaslin, the great- grandfather of Wylie McCaslin, who came from Bedford County in 1806. The grand- father was Samuel MeCaslin, who resided in Scott Township, Lawrence County. There William T. MeCaslin, father of Wylie, was born, in 1843. His entire life has been spent there, where he is a pros- perous farmer and large land owner. He was married to Elizabeth H. Searing, who is a daughter of Benjamin F. Searing.

Wylie MeCaslin was reared in Scott Township. attending the country schools and later taking a full collegiate course at Grove City, where he was graduated in the class of 1892. He then studied law with Attorney J. Norman Martin, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1894. His whole period of practice has been encouragingly success-

ful. He is a member of the Lawrence County Bar Association.

In 1907 Mr. McCaslin was married to Mabel C. Gilmore, who is a daughter of W. H. Gilmore, of North Beaver Town- ship, Lawrence County. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Caslin are members of the Second United Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder.

WILLIAM A. LUSK, whose productive farm of seventy-two acres is situated in Little Beaver Township, lying near its eastern limit, is a successful general farm- er and stock shipper. He was born De- cember 3, 1848, on a farm in Mercer Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John S. and Jane ( White) Lusk.

James Lusk, who was born in Ireland, was the grandfather. At an early day he settled in Lawrence County and died in old age on his farm in Wilmington Town- ship. His son, John S., was born on that farm, where he grew to early manhood and then came to Little Beaver Township and became a member of the family of his un- cle, John Witherspoon. Later he acquired the farm on which his son, William A., was born. He married Jane White, who was reared in North Beaver Township. John S. Lusk died July 4, 1898, aged eighty-two years, and his widow died June 11, 1905, aged eighty-four years, both residing dur- ing the closing years of their lives at Mt. Air. They had seven children, namely : James, John M., Harriet, William A., Sam- uel S., Ross H. and Florence C.

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 80

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