Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 81

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 81

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William S. Lusk continued to live under the parental roof until his own marriage. When fifteen years of age he learned the carpenter trade, at which he worked for fifteen years, and for some ten years he engaged in threshing. The remainder of his mature life has been devoted to agricul- tural pursuits. In 1892 he purchased his farm, from which his father-in-law, Alex- ander Silliman, who was born on this place in 1821, a son of Charles Silliman, who accompanied his father, Alexander

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Silliman, to this section and they acquired large tracts of land, and the family be- came one of wealth. The Sillimans were originally of Westmoreland County. Charles Silliman, grandfather of Mrs. Lusk, died September 11, 1878, aged al- most eighty-five years. His children were : William, who became a minister in the Re- formed Presbyterian Church; Alexander, father of Mrs. Lusk; Mary, who married H. Hunt; Margaret, who married J. Walker; Serepta, who married Rev. Sam- uel Alexander; Rose, who married John Hamilton; Renrick, and Lucinda, who married Rev. Samuel Boyd.

Mr. Lusk was married (first) in 1880, to Elizabeth Gwin, who died in 1883. He was married (second) in 1884, to Lydia Silli- man, who is a daughter of Alexander and Hannah H. (Wilson) Silliman. They have two children: Lucy J., who was married July 24, 1906, to S. G. Duncan, has one child, Dorothy, who was born May 4, 1907, and John A., residing at home. In poli- ties Mr. Lusk is a stanch Republican. Both he and wife are members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.

WILLIAM G. McCONAGHY, repre- sentative farmer of Hickory Township, re. sides on his well-cultivated property, which consists of eighty-five acres of valuable land. This desirable farm is situated on the north side of the Moffett Road, about one and one-half miles east of East Brook. He was born September 3, 1848, in Law- rence County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Alexander and Jane (Murphy) MeCon- aghy. The grandparents never left Scot- land.

William G. McConaghy obtained his ed- ucation and his practical knowledge of agriculture in Lawrence County. In 1878 he married Martha J. Young, who is a daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Campbell) Young. They have had five children, the four survivors being: Frank, who married Sarah Hettenbaugh, has four children- Edwin Everett, Melvin, Wilbur and Clair;

Mabel; Ethel, who married Archie Allen, has one son, Emerson Clair, and Oscar. The family belong to the East Brook Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. McConaghy is a member of the Board of Stewards. The family home is a comfort- able two-story residence, set in the midst of an attractive lawn, substantial farm out-buildings forming a background. Mr. McConaghy raises the usual grains of this climate and follows agricultural methods which insure him bountiful harvests.

JOHN CHARLES MCKINNEY, a well- known and respected citizen of Big Beaver Township, is the owner of 100 acres of land and is extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, November 6, 1867, and is a son of Robert and Julia (Delaney) McKinney.

William MeKinney, grandfather of John C., was born in Ireland and in early life came to America. He became one of the early settlers of Butler County, Pennsyl- vania, and was there the owner of a farm, which in after years became valuable through the discovery of oil. He died at the age of forty years. He was the pro- genitor of five children, of whom Robert was third in order of birth. The latter was born in Butler County, and was there reared on a farm. Some years after his first marriage he and wife, Rebecca, moved to Iowa, and just two hours after arriving at their destination she died of cholera. By that union he had two children: Will- iam, deceased, and Thomas. He subse- quently was joined in marriage with Julia Delaney, and they moved to Arkansas, where they lived until the outbreak of the Civil War. Being Union sympathizers, they were given twenty-four hours' notice to leave the country, and they returned to Pennsylvania. They located in Allegheny County, where he followed the trade of blacksmithing and also practiced as a vet- erinary surgeon. He was a skillful me- chanie and could successfully turn his hand

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to various trades. He remained in Alle- gheny County about ten years, then moved to Lawrence County and for a period of twelve years rented a farm in Big Beaver Township. At the end of that time he re- turned to Iowa, where he lived until his death, in 1903, at the age of seventy-three years. His wife preceded him to the grave, dying in 1898. They were parents of the following children: Mary L., wife of S. R. Shuller; Sarah (Simpson) ; Amelia, wife of John Smith; Carrie, wife of S. E. Drew, and John Charles.

John Charles Mckinney was about five years of age when he moved with his par- ents from his native county to Big Beaver Township, Lawrence County, where he was reared until his sixteenth year. He then went to Iowa with his people, but returned alone about four years later. He was mar- ried about that time and purchased the place of his father-in-law, the old Patter- son homestead, in Big Beaver Township, his present farm. He has followed farm- ing since and has met with good results, and now takes rank with the substantial men of the vicinity.

Mr. Mckinney was married in October, 1888, to Anna Mary Patterson, a daughter of Robert Patterson, who was one of the old and respected men of the township. This union resulted in the birth of eleven children, as follows: Lamont, Earl, Laura, Glen, Homer, Martha, Mildred, Margaret, Wilda, James and Pauline. Politically Mr. MeKinney is a Republican, but has never sought for political preferment.

CHARLES E. MEHARD, attorney-at- law, who is successfully engaged in the practice of his profession at New Castle, where he has resided since October, 1891, was born at New Wilmington, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, May 30, 1868, and is a son of Rev. William A. Mehard, D. D.

Rev. William A. Mehard, D. D., was born in Harmony Township, Lawrence County, where his father had been a pioneer. Lib- eral educational advantages were offered

him and he became one of the leading edu- cators in the State. He graduated from the old Duquesne College at Pittsburg, now the University of Western Pennsylvania. For forty-seven years he was pastor of the United Presbyterian Church at East Brook and for thirty-one years he belonged to the faculty of Westminster College, an in- structor in mathematics, Hebrew, political economy and logic. He was a man of great learning and one of the eminent expound- ers of the Presbyterian faith.

Charles E. Mehard was a graduate of Westminster College at an early age and received his degree of A. B. in 1889, after which he read law under the direction of a prominent attorney of New Castle, and was admitted to the bar in December, 1893, and has been in active practice ever since. In January, 1901, he was elected district attorney and he served in that strenuous office until 1904, making a record which may prove valuable if he should have fu- ture political aspirations.

In 1898 Mr. Mehard was married to Miss Jean Wilson, of Allegheny, Pa., and they have one child, Martha Virginia. Mr. Me- hard is a member of the First United Pres- byterian Church of New Castle. He is a member of the Elks Club, the Royal Ar- canum and the Knights of Pythias.

THOMAS J. CARLISLE, a representa- tive and substantial citizen of Lawrence County, who owns two valuable farms of seventy-five acres each, and three houses in Lowellville, has been a resident of Ma- honing Township since the fall of 1901. He was born in Allegheny County, Pennsyl- vania, August 10, 1854, and is a son of James and Rebecca (McMasters) Carlisle, and a nephew of the late B. F. Jones, who was one of the leading iron men of Pitts- burg.

The maternal grandfather was a very early settler in Allegheny County, and at one time owned a large amount of the land on which a part of the present city of Pittsburg stands. He was a pioneer inn-

RESIDENCE OF THOMAS J. CARLISLE, MAHONING TOWNSHIP.

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keeper there and conducted the old Eagle Hotel, a well-known hostelry, and the Mc- Masters family was identified with much of the early development of that section. The Carlisles also were early settlers near Pittsburg, and James Carlisle resided al- most all his life in the vicinity of Turtle Creek.

Thomas J. Carlisle was educated in the public schools and a private school in Jef- ferson Township, Allegheny County, and when he reached manhood chose farming as his occupation in life. On April 9, 1884, he was united in marriage with Lynda Philips, who was born February 12, 1862, at Library, Allegheny County, Pennsyl- vania, and is a daughter of David and Nancy A. (Allison) Philips. The Philips family originated in Wales and is an old established family in Allegheny County. Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle have three children : Velma Isabel, who married Joseph E. Pitts, a nephew of County Commissioner Pitts of New Castle; Larimer C., who re- sides in Mahoning Township, and Frank- lin J., who is pursuing his studies at the Ohio Northern University at Ada, prepar- ing for mechanical engineering. Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle are members of the Mahon- ing United Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder. Mrs. Carlisle takes much interest in the missionary work of the church. In politics he is a Republican.

SCOTT STANLEY BREST, residing on a well-cultivated farm of fifty-six acres, which is situated in North Beaver Town- ship, about one and one-half miles west of Moravia, on the Moravia-Petersburg road, was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, January 11, 1877, and is a son of John Parker and Ruth Ann (Rodgers) Brest.

John P. Brest was born in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and was reared near the Mercer County line, not far from Plain Grove. His present residence is in North Beaver Township and his occupation is farming. He served for over three years in the Civil War, a member of the One

Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, and suffered the loss of a leg at the battle of Cold Harbor. He was a brave and gallant soldier. In December, 1889, he removed from Mercer County to North Beaver Township, Lawrence County.

Scott S. Brest was reared in Mercer County and from boyhood has been asso- ciated with farm life. On February 28, 1906, he married Mabel Victoria Leslie, who is a daughter of Maria Jane and the late John N. Leslie. Mr. Leslie was born in Lawrence County, November 7, 1833. and his parents moved to the farm on which Mr. and Mrs. Brest now live when Mr. Leslie was eight years old. He fol- lowed the carpenter trade for a number of years and later took up farming. He died January 8, 1905.

The property on which Mr. Brest now lives was purchased May, 1905, from the heirs of the late John N. Leslie, Mrs. Brest being the third generation of Leslies to own it. Mr. and Mrs. Brest have one child, John Parker Leslie, who was born Feb- ruary 16, 1907.

THOMAS McANLIS, residing on his ex- cellent farm of eighty-five acres, which is situated in Big Beaver Township, about one and one-half miles south of Wampum, is a representative citizen of this section. He was born July 20, 1848, on the pres- ent farm of William J. McAnlis, in Big Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Penn- sylvania, and is a son of Robert and Jane (Patterson) MeAnlis.

When Thomas MeAnlis was seven years of age he lost his father. He remained with his mother and assisted her in looking after the younger children, never leaving the old farm until his marriage. Five years later, in 1900, he bought his present farm from the Cross heirs. It was known as the old Grandmother Whan farm and the hewn log house standing here has weath- ered the storms of 100 years. Mr. McAnlis carries on general farming and keeps cows, shipping his milk to Pittsburg.

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On February 6, 1895, Mr. McAnlis was married to Minerva Craig, who is a daugh- ter of Thomas and Margaret (Gettis) Craig. Thomas Craig was born in Scot- land and was thirteen years old when he came to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He be- came a prosperous business man in that city, engaged in the house furnishing line, and owned the land on which the Nixon

Theater now stands. He died aged fifty- five years. He married Margaret Gettis who was ten years old when brought to America from Belfast, Ireland, and she died at Pittsburg, aged eighty-seven years. Mrs. McAnlis is the youngest of twelve children. The record of the family is as follows: Hamilton, Thomas and Jane, all deceased; Margaret; Mary, Sarah, Emma and James M., all deceased ; and Elizabeth, Fannie, David and Minerva.

Mr. and Mrs. McAnlis are members of the United Presbyterian Church. In poli- ties he is affiliated with the Republican party.

JAMES WILLIAM KNOX, a leading citizen of Ellwood City, whose prominence is well established and whose friends are found on every side, was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of James and Elizabeth Knox, the former of whom was color-bearer in his regiment, in the Mexican War, in which he served un- der Gen. Winfield Scott.

Circumstances led to James W. Knox being without a home in his childhood. He had a sister that died young and a brother, Joseph, who served in the Civil War and died in 1869, after his return unharmed. Mr. Knox was reared to manhood in the home of John H. Wilson, in Beaver Coun- ty, and from there, when but a boy, he en- tered the Federal army, enlisting in Com- pany F, One Hundred Fortieth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, in which he served for two years. He took part in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsyl- vania Court House, Coal River and Deep Bottom, and was with his regiment in many

other places of danger. He was wounded at Spottsylvania Court House and was sent to a hospital at Alexandria, Virginia, where he was kept for two months and then sent on duty in the Invalid Corps, although he was never formally attached to it, and was honorably discharged April 14, 1865.

After his return from the army, Mr. Knox traveled over a large part of the West, consuming about a year, in 1875-6, returning to the East in order to visit the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia. In the spring of 1877 he bought a farm of Philo Cunningham, and the west end of Ellwood City is now on that land, giving truth to Mr. Knox's statement that he did not come to the city but the city came to him. He bought seventy-five acres and set- tled on it in February, 1878, and lived on it for twelve years and then sold out in 1890, to the Pittsburg Company. Subse- quently he bought some lots and built his present residence and later purchased the John H. Wilson farm of sixty-two acres, two of which now belong to the Interurban Railroad. He has been a resident of what is now Ellwood City for the past thirty years. When he first settled in the limits of this borough there were five other farm houses, several of which are still standing, but on different foundations. Many changes have been wrought by the enter- prise and industry of those who may be termed the pioneers of Ellwood City.

Mr. Knox married in 1879, Miss Mary C. Rouser, who is a daughter of the late Joseph and Elizabeth (Gillespie) Rouser, formerly of North Sewickley Township, Beaver County. Mr. and Mrs. Knox are Presbyterians in religious faith, uniting with this body in North Sewickley Town- ship. In his political views, he is a Re- publican. Fraternally he belongs to the Odd Fellows and has always been active in promoting the work of this organization.

BENJAMIN POWELL, superintendent of the machine shops of the Pennsylvania Engineering Works at New Castle, has

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been a resident of this city since 1881. He was born in Monmouthshire, England, in 1856 and as he did not come to America until he was twenty-two years of age, he had completed his school attendance and had also learned the trade of machinist.

Mr. Powell's first fields of work were Pittsburg, Verona and Johnstown, Penn- sylvania, and Salem, Ohio. When he came to New Castle, in 1881, he entered the em- ploy of Withrow & Gordon, and practically has been identified with that engineering company ever since, through its changes of title and personnel. From Withrow & Gordon, the style changed to J. P. With- row, then to the New Castle Engineering Company and finally to the Pennsylvania Engineering Company. Mr. Powell has been foreman for about fifteen years and has acquired stock in the business. He also owns valuable city realty and as a perma- nent resident, takes much interest in the development of New Castle.

In 1886, Mr. Powell was married to Miss Maud Beighley, who was born in Law- rence County and is a daughter of Sidney P. and Nancy C. (Stewart) Beighley, old residents. Mr. and Mrs. Powell have five children, namely : Harry Stewart, Clarence E., Mary A., Martha and Dorothy A. By a former marriage, with an English lady, Martha Morris, Mr. Powell has two sons : William and David. The family belong to the First Baptist Church of New Castle, Mr. Powell serving as a trustee for some years. In politics he is a Republican and in fraternal connection is an Odd Fellow and a member of the Encampment.

CHARLES D. MILLER, who resides on his well cultivated farm of forty-five acres, which lies two and one-half miles from the city of New Castle, on the west side of the East Brook Road, was born February 23, 1860, and is a son of Aaron and Mary (Smith) Miller and a grandson of John Miller.

The parents of Mr. Miller came to

America from near Hamburg, Germany, and settled first near New Middletown, Mahoning County, Ohio, later lived for a few years at Orangeville, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. They had three children.

Charles D. Miller obtained his education . in the public schools. In young manhood he went to New Castle to live and there en- gaged in different pursuits before he pur- chased his present farm, since which time he has carried on general farming and dairying. The residence is a spacious two- story frame one, set in a lawn and sur- rounded with beautiful shade trees. All the other buildings are of a substantial character, fully adequate for the purposes for which they were constructed. Like his late father, Mr. Miller is known as a very successful farmer.

On April 16, 1885, Mr. Miller was mar- ried to Nettie Newham, who is a daughter of John Newham, who was a railroad man of Corry, Erie County, Pennsylvania. They have had five children, namely: Alonzo John, Chauncey Dorman, Carl Alpheus, Mary Sarah and Laura Grace. The third child is deceased. Mr. Miller is a member of the Episcopal Church. He takes only a good citizen's interest in public affairs.

ROBERT J. MILLER, who owns and resides upon a fine farm of eighty acres lo- cated in Little Beaver Township, Law- rence County, Pennsylvania, is also a whole- sale meat dealer at Mahoningtown. He was born on his father's farm in Chip- pewa Township, Lawrence County, De- cember 16, 1856, and is a son of John and Sarah Jane (Paden) Miller.

John Miller was born at Newport, Big Beaver Township, in Lawrence County, his father having come from Germany and set- tled in the woods, in the pioneer days. The grandfather lived there until his death and was survived some years by his widow, Mrs. Jane Miller, by whom he had seven children, as follows: Lysle ; Smith; John ; Mary Jane, wife of John McCaskey; Mar-

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garet; and two who died young. These children inherited a farm of 113 acres from their parents.

John Miller, father of Robert J., was born in a log house on the home place at Newport, which then was known as Irish Ripple. He spent his boyhood days on the farm, and later took up the trade of a stone mason, which he followed in association with his brother, Smith, for many years. The evidences of his workmanship.still ex- ist in many of the buildings now standing

in that vicinity. After abandoning the trade of a mason, he bought a farm in Chippewa Township, which he subsequent- ly sold, and then rented a farm for four years. At the end of that time he pur- chased the farm now owned by his son, Robert J., of William Witherow, and lived there until his death in 1882, at the age of seventy-six years. His widow survived him two years. He was joined in marriage with Sarah Jane Paden, who was reared near Galilee, Beaver County, Pennsyl- vania, and the following children were born to them: Martha, wife of Robert Douglass; Sarah Ann, deceased, wife of Albert Douglass; Robert James; Mary, who died at the age of sixteen years; and Amanda, who died at the age of fourteen years.

Robert J. Miller was quite young when he was taken by his parents to live at his present home, and he received his educa- tional training in the public schools of the township. He has lived on this farm ever since and engaged in general farming and dairying with uninterrupted success. He also raises and deals in stock quite exten- sively, and conducts a wholesale butchering establishment at Mahoningtown. He also is financially interested in the Citizens' Telephone Company.

On July 15, 1881, Mr. Miller was joined in the bonds of matrimony with Mary Jane Watson, a daughter of John and Margaret Watson, and they became parents of the following children : May, deceased, wife of George Stewart; John, who married Lucy

Raney and has a daughter, May; Edna, wife of Charles Douglass, by whom she has a son, James; Charles; and Bertha. In political affiliation, Mr. Miller is an un- swerving Republican. Religiously, he is a member of Bethel United Presbyterian Church.

GEORGE B. REED, manager and as- sistant vice president of the Tindel Morris Company, one of the important enterprises of Lawrence County, with plant at Ellwood City, is a native of Lawrence County and is a son of H. W. and Emma B. (King) Reed.

The father of Mr. Reed was a carpenter by trade and he followed the same at New Castle, where he died in 1894. He was twice married, the two sons of his first union be- ing deceased. The mother of George B. Reed survives and resides at Ellwood City, he being an only child.

George B. Reed attended school in But- ler County and in Ellwood City, but put his books aside when he was fifteen years of age in order to accept office work with the Pittsburg Company and he continued with that concern for three years, leaving in February, 1898, in order to come to the present plant as its superintendent. Later he was advanced to be chief clerk and in 1903 was made manager. The Tindel Mor- ris Company was organized in 1862, at Frankfort, Philadelphia, and was first known as the Frankfort Steel Company and later as the Frankfort Steel and Forge Company. In the spring of 1895 the plant was erected at Ellwood City and in 1898 the business was incorporated. The space occupied is two acres, and employment is afforded 200 men. The products are ma- chine tools, gas and steam engines and au- tomobile parts. The officers are: Adam Tindel, president and treasurer; L. I. Mor- ris, vice president ; Lincoln W. Gruber, sec- retary ; and George B. Reed assistant vice president and manager.

In politics, Mr. Reed is affiliated with the Republican party. He was reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church

PERRY MAITLAND.

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and is a member of this body at Ellwood City. His fraternal relations are with Ell- wood Lodge, No. 599, F. & A. M., New Cas- tle Lodge of Perfection; Glen Park Lodge, No. 1016, I. O. O. F., of Ellwood City and he belongs to the beneficiary order of Pro- tected Home Circle. He is one of the city's recognized young business men of ability and is a member of the Board of Trade.

EDWIN W. CRAWFORD, assistant postmaster of the city of New Castle, Pa., has been a resident of that city since 1891. He was born in North Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, in 1862, and is a son of James and Nancy (Lind- say) Crawford.

James Crawford was born in Colum- biana County, Ohio, and was but a child when his parents moved to Lawrence County. Here he learned the trade of a stone-cutter, which he followed some years, but early in life settled on a farm in North Beaver Township, which he had pur- chased. He was a prominent man in the affairs of his township, and in 1890 was elected to the Board of County Commis- sioners of Lawrence County, but death claimed him before he took his seat. Mrs. Crawford survives her husband.

Edwin W. Crawford was reared in his native township, and there attended the public schools. He later attended Grove City College and State Normal School at Edinboro, Pa. After leaving college he engaged in teaching with considerable suc- cess for a period of nine years, then in 1891 took up his residence in New Castle. He held the position of commissioners' clerk for a period of six years, then for three years acted as bookkeeper for She- nango Lumber Company. In 1900 he be- came assistant postmaster at New Castle, and has since discharged the duties of that office in a most capable manner. He is a man of wide acquaintance and is exceed- ingly popular. He is a Republican in poli- tics and has been more or less active in the affairs of his party.

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 81

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