Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 86

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 86

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Thomas W. Baird was reared in his na- tive township and obtained a common school education in the neighboring schools. His entire mature life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, and on his present valuable farm he raises excel- lent crops and lives the usual independent life which is the fortunate portion of those who enjoy the tilling of their own land. On January 14, 1886, he was married to Mary B. McConnell, who was born in Washington County, and is a daughter of James G. McConnell, a well known citizen of that county for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Baird have had the following chil- dren: Alice M., who married Roy Mc- Bride, residing in Mahoning Township; and Thomas E., James W., David M., Mary F .. Minnie E. and Frances J. Mr. and Mrs. Baird are members of the Mahoning United Presbyterian Church. In politics, he is a Prohibitionist. He has continually evinced a deep interest in the public schools and is serving his sixth year as a member of the township School Board.

S. HENDERSON SANKEY, general contractor, who, during his residence of over a quarter of a century at New Castle, has become a representative and valued citizen, is a native of Lawrence County, born in 1846, and is a son of E. E. Sankey.

Among the early pioneers to Lawrence County, came John Sankey, the founder of this family, in Western Pennsylvania. He reared a family, all of whom were born in Lawrence County. He was the grandfather of S. Henderson Sankey, and the father of the late E. E. Sankey.

S. Henderson Sankey lived on his fath- er's farm until he was twenty-four years of age and then learned the carpenter trade, at which he has worked ever since. For the past twenty years he has followed general contracting and during this long period he has built a large number of the important structures of New Castle.

In 1872 Mr. Sankey was married to Miss Mary R. Thorn, and they have the follow- ing children: Smith T., who is engaged in the contracting business at New Castle; Brant E., who is a practicing physician, residing at No. 54 North Jefferson Street, New Castle ; Luella, who is the wife of Har- ry Davidson, who is a general yardmaster of the D. & H. Railroad, at a point in the state of New York; Ivy D., who is the wife of L. M. Rueker, of Youngstown, and Mamie A., who is the wife of C. W. Emery, of New Castle. Mr. Sankey and family belong to the Central Presbyterian Church. He has been identified with the order of Odd Fellows for many years, and is a mem- ber of the Encampment.

HARRY H. REYNOLDS, who carries on a large grocery business at No. 315 Sixth Street, Ellwood City, was born at New Castle, Pa., February 14, 1877, and is a son of Albert W. and Carrie E. (Coombs) Reynolds.

John F. Reynolds, the paternal grand- father, was born in Germany and was a very early settler in this section. He cul- tivated the very land on which now stands

MR. AND MRS. JOHN LOUER.

. ..

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a large part of the beautiful city of New Castle, and he died in that place when it was little more than a village. The ma- ternal grandfather of Harry H. Reynolds was Moses Coombs, who died in Mahoning County, Ohio.

Albert W. Reynolds, father of Harry H., is a substantial citizen of New Castle. Formerly he owned the old homestead farm and now has large realty interests in New Castle city. He was born in Law- rence County in 1847. He married Carrie E. Coombs, who was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, in 1850. Their children were six in number, namely : Ella M., who is the wife of George T. Gillette, of New Castle; Chester P., who is in the employ of Cooper & Butler, clothiers at New Castle; Harry H., of Ellwood City; Fred C., who is a student in Boston, and Edna and Carrie, residing at home.

Harry H. Reynolds completed his pub- lic school education when nineteen years of age, and then became a clerk in a gro- cery store and continued in that line for about eight years, first at New Castle and later at Sharon. In 1902 he came, in the same capacity, to Ellwood City, and in 1905, after this long experience in the gro- cery trade, embarked in the same on his own account, establishing himself first on Lawrence Avenue, but later moving to his present very desirable location. He car- ries a large stock of staple and fancy gro- ceries and enjoys generous patronage.

On November 17, 1903, Mr. Reynolds was married to Miss Lenora Allen, of New Castle, Pa., and they have two children: Margaret and Ralph. Mr. and Mrs. Rey- nolds are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. In his political views he is liberal, demanding only good govern- ment and just public officials.

JOHN LOUER, whose excellent farm of seventy-five acres is situated on the State road between Mt. Jackson and Moravia, about two miles northwest of the latter town, is one of the representative citizens

of North Beaver Township. Mr. Louer was born January 18, 1826, in Mahoning Township, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania, on a farm which was situated be- tween Edenburg and Parktown, and is a son of Samuel and Susanna (Butterball) Louer.

The parents of Mr. Louer were married in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, after which they started for their new home, in a four-horse wagon, and camped each night, by the way, until they reached the place where they desired to settle. The father was unfortunate in the purchase of his first farm, a tract of 160 acres, then situated in Mercer County, as the man from whom he bought had no clear title to the land. They then moved from the first farm to one two miles south, where the father bought 160 acres, right in the woods, on which he built a log cabin and spent the remainder of his life engaged in clearing and improving his property. The mother died when John Louer was four years old, leaving five children, after which the father married the widow of Nicholas Bryan and four children were born to the second union.

John Louer was the eldest son of the family and he remained at home and helped his father until he was twelve years old. Differences have arisen on account of the step-mother, a not unusual occurrence, he left home and went to Youngstown, Ohio, where he worked for William Rice, a farmer, for four years. By that time he was a sturdy young man of sixteen years and he went to New Castle, hoping to get work in the mills, but after he reached there he found no vacancy, and rather than be idle, he went to work for L. V. Quipps, a shoemaker, and as he found the work more agreeable than he had expected, he remained until he learned the trade, some four years. He returned to his father for a year, being married in 1850, and then went to Mahoningtown, where he operated a shoe shop for fifteen years, not only sell- ing shoes, but also making them, finding it

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necessary to employ from two to three hands. In 1866, Mr. Louer came to his present farm, where he has carried on gen- eral farming for over forty years. He en- joys a beautiful home, having erected a fine house, and substantial barn, and all necessary farm buildings, and made the many improvements which may be noticed on every hand.

In 1850 Mr. Louer was married to Mary Chambers, who is a daughter of Samuel Chambers, formerly a farmer in North Beaver Township. They had five children born to them, namely: Theresa, who died aged four years; Samuel Edward, who, in partnership with his son, John, runs a hardware business at Mahoningtown; William John, deceased, who left a widow and one son, Clyde; Sidney, who rents the home farm, married Laura Alexander and they have two children, Dale and Pearl, and George, who died when aged four years. Mr. Louer is a member of the Mt. Jackson United Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Louer died July 9, 1907.

PHILIP McQUISTON, who is engaged in general farming and dairying in Wayne Township. Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania. comes of an old family of this sec- tion of the state. He was born in Frank- lin Township, Beaver County, Pennsyl- vania, September 4, 1845, and is a son of Mark and Mary (Wiley) McQuiston. His paternal grandfather was of Scotch- Irish parentage and came to this country in 1802, locating on the MeKimm place in Franklin Township, Beaver County, Penn- sylvania. His wife's maiden name was Swick.

Mark MeQuiston was born in Franklin Township, Beaver County, and was there reared to maturity. He followed farming in that county until 1851, in which year he came to Wayne Township and pur- chased a tract of 100 acres of land of Henry Chew, located near Slippery Rock. He and his wife lived on that farm until their deaths, he dying in 1895, at the age

of seventy-six years. He also owned an additional 175 acres, a part of the Aiken place. They were parents of seven chil- dren, as follows: Philip, Margaret, who married William Lyttle, resides in She- nango Township; Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of William Gilbert; Irene married John E. Rhoades and lives in Indiana ; William, who married a daughter of Allen Guilbert, lives at Elwood City ; David, who resides on the old home place in Wayne Township, married a daughter of John Brown, of Perry Township, and Tirza, who married a son of John Brown, lived on the old home place until her death.

Philip McQuiston attended the Mount Hope school in his home district, and re- sided on the home farm until he was thirty years of age. He purchased his present farm of fifty acres, located near Chewton, formerly the John Egner farm, and has resided upon it since about 1883. He fol- lows general farming and dairying, keep- ing on hand an average of thirteen milch cows, and he has met with success. For some time he was engaged in the mercan- tile business. He has a comfortable resi- dence, which he erected in 1896, and has other good, substantial buildings, including a barn, 50x60 feet in dimensions. He has always evinced a deep interest in all that pertains to the general welfare of the com- munity, giving active support to such measures and enterprises as tend to that end.

Mr. MeQuiston was, in 1874, united in marriage with Electa Prye, a daughter of Solomon Prye, of Big Beaver Township, and they became parents of eight children, as follows: Cleo, who married William P. Guy, a son of Albert and a grandson of Peter Guy, has four children: Edward, Ellis, Lillie and Leslie, and they reside in Chewton; James is married and lives in Utah; Minnie is the wife of George Hess, of Wampum, and has three children, Har- old, Mary and Wilbur; Emma, wife of Martin Solsberg, resides in Hazel Dell, and has two children, Mary and Harry; Lillie,

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at home; G. Ross; Ivy married Campbell Price, of Wayne Township, and Annie, the youngest of the family, is at home. Mr. MeQuiston is a member of the Christian Church. He has always been a Democrat in politics, but has never been an aspirant for office.

JOHN HUNTER RUSSELL, one of Little Beaver Township's most prominent citizens, residing on his valuable farm of eighty-six acres, was born here October 21, 1846, and is a son of William S. and Mary Ann ( Auchenbaugh) Russell.

William S. Russell was also born in Lit- tle Beaver Township, where his father had been an early settler, and he had two older brothers and a sister: Thomas, John H. and Isabella, the latter of whom married A. Cunningham. William S. Russell mar- ried the daughter of a neighboring farm- er and they resided on the farm now owned by their son, John H., during the remain- der of their lives. The mother died aged fifty years, and the father when aged sixty- nine years. They had seven children, namely : Emmett, deceased; George, Jane, Margaret, who is the widow of A. H. Stew- art; Pauline, who married T. Young ; John H. and Benjamin W. Two of the children died young.

John H. Russell is one of the best known men in this section, having spent his whole life on the old home farm, where he has carried on a general line of agriculture. He has ever taken an active interest in all that concerns the public well-being of this community and has been a liberal con- tributor of time and means when they were needed. In politics, he is affiliated with the Republican party. Since 1899 he has been township treasurer and a member of the School Board.

In February, 1896, Mr. Russell was mar- ried to Carrie E. Phillips and they have three interesting children, namely: Dale. Margaret and Aileen. Mr. Russell and family belong to the Presbyterian Church,

in which he is a member of the Board of Deacons.

CHARLES B. MAYNE, alderman of the First ward of New Castle, and one of the city's successful and public-spirited men, was born in Minnesota, in 1871, and is a son of William A. Mayne.

William A. Mayne was born in Law- rence County in 1841, and was a son of William Mayne, who was one of the earli- est settlers in the county. William A. Mayne has been identified with the busi- ness interests of New Castle for the past thirty-five years.

Charles B. Mayne has lived at New Cas- tle ever since being brought here a child of two years. After completing his edu- cation he became his father's partner in the bottling business, and for fifteen years was an active member of the firm. Ever since he reached mature years he has taken a lively interest in politics, and has been prominently identified with the Republi- can party in Lawrence County and has served on the county committee of that party for more years than any other citi- zen now living. In May, 1907, he was elected alderman of the First Ward of New Castle, for a period of five years, this be- ing the only office Mr. Mayne has ever en- tered into contest for, although his loyal work for his friends is well known.

Mr. Mayne is one of the few citizens of New Castle who has visited the great Klon- dyke region and returned perfectly satis- fied with his four years of prospecting. He had the experience of crossing Alaska twice on foot, traveling alone, and he op- erated the first successful gold mine in the Keokuk district on the South Fork River. Mr. Mayne is enthusiastic concern- ing the healthfulness of that far northern region. It is probable, however, that New Castle would protest if he decided to make Alaska his permanent home.

In 1901, Mr. Mayne was married to Miss Minnie B. Irwin, of New Castle.

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

SAMUEL S. DAVIDSON, M. D., a lead- ing physician of Ellwood City, is a repre- sentative of a family which was estab- lished in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, over 100 years ago. He was born Novem- ber 23, 1859, at Wampum, in Big Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania, and is a son of William M. and Ma- tilda (Mehard) Davidson.

Farther back than the grandfathers on both sides, the available records do not go, but it is known that the maternal grandfather came to America from Ire- land, and in all probability the paternal grandparents were of Irish extraction. In all probability, Robert Davidson. with his brother Andrew, were the first settlers in Big Beaver Township, Robert settling where Wampum now stands, and Andrew on the site of Clinton. Robert Davidson acquired several hundred acres of land, at one time owning the whole territory from Wampum to Newport, land which his son, William M., inherited. He had the follow- ing children: William M., John, Eliza, who married Judge Joseph Cunningham; Margaret, Rachel, who married John C. Cunningham; and Mary, who married Thomas Wilson, of Centerville, all being deceased.

William M. Davidson, the eldest son of Robert and Christina Davidson, was born on the present site of Wampum, and in this vicinity his whole life was passed. He was interested in farming and in the lumber industry, and owned a sawmill that stood on the spot now occupied by the de- pot of the Pittsburg and Lake Erie Rail- road, at Wampum. He also operated a flour mill near the same place. He was a man of great energy and understood how to manage the large property that he had inherited. During the Civil War he was a strong supporter of the Government and until the close of his life he was zeal- ous in his adherence to the principles of the Republican party. He married Ma- tilda Mehard, who was born in the north of Ireland, and was two years of age when

she was brought to America. Her father was Joseph Mehard, and he was an early settler in the town of Wurtemberg, where he and wife reared a family, and both died. The children of Joseph Mehard were: Robert, who died at Wurtemberg, for fif- teen years was county commissioner in Lawrence County; James, who died in Wayne Township, Lawrence County; Thomas, who was a minister, is deceased; William, who resides at New Castle; Jo- seph, who lived and died on the old home- stead at Wurtemberg; Matilda, the mother of Dr. Davidson; Annie, who married Thomas Davidson, resided in North Bea- ver Township; and Elizabeth, who mar- ried W. L. Wilson, of Beaver County, be- came the mother of Dr. Norman and Judge Wilson, prominent citizens.

The following children were born to William M. Davidson and his wife: Alice, who married Philo M. Cunningham, of Wayne Township, died in 1908; Christina, deceased, was the wife of W. H. Wither- spoon; Robert, who married Margaret Thompson, died at New Brighton; James M., residing in Wayne Township, mar- ried Emma Wilson; Joseph, who is sur- vived by his widow, formerly a Miss Leet ; and Samuel S., of Ellwood City.

Samuel S. Davidson's father died when he was nine years old, and from that time he was reared in the home of his uncle, Dr. Mehard, in Mercer County. He was educated in the Western University, of Pittsburg, and Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, graduating from the lat- ter institution in the class of 1882. Fol- lowing this, Dr. Davidson took a post- graduate course, and for two years pur- sued his medical studies and scientific in- vestigations in the great schools and hos- pitals of London, Vienna and Berlin. For twelve years after his return to America he engaged in practice at Mercer, Pa., for five years of this period being surgeon in charge of the State Hospital at that place. For the past six years Dr. Davidson has been in active practice at Ellwood City,

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where he finds hearty appreciation of his experience and professional skill. He is a member of the American Medical So- ciety, of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, and during his residence in Mer- cer County, was a member of the medical organization there. In addition to his reg- ular practice he is physician for the Order of Eagles. He attends the United Presby- terian Church. In politics he is identified with the Republican party.

MATTHEW D. KELSO, one of Pulaski Township's best known citizens, residing on his excellent farm of forty acres, was born May 31, 1844, in Pulaski Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Hiram and Isabella (Dinsmore) Kelso.

Hiram Kelso was a son of George Kelso, who was a very early settler in Pulaski Township. Hiram Kelso followed farm- ing all his life. He married Isabella Dins- more, who was a daughter of Matthew Dinsmore, one of the earliest settlers in North Beaver Township. Of their chil- dren the following survive: Matthew D., Frances A., wife of T. S. Dinsmore, resid- ing near Los Angeles, Cal .; John C., and George K., both residing in Lawrence County; and Jennie A., wife of Clark Wil- son, residing in North Beaver Township.

Matthew Dinsmore Kelso bears his grandfather's honored name. He grew to manhood on the home farm in Pulaski Township, and obtained his education in the district schools. On June 24, 1875, he was married to Angeline Donaldson, who was born in Neshannock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and they have two children: Clarence W. and Belle S. They are members of the Harbor United Presbyterian Church, in which he has served as a trustee. In politics he is a Republican.

William Donaldson, father of Mrs. Kelso, was a son of Isaac Donaldson, who was a very early settler in Neshannock

Township. William Donaldson married Susanna Smith, who was born in Alle- gheny County. Of their children the fol- lowing survive: Nancy E., wife of Cor- nelius Carringer, resides in Crawford County; Angeline, wife of Matthew D. Kelso; Amanda, wife of Amber Glenn, re- sides in Lawrence County; James S., re- sides in Beaver Falls; and Mary M., wife of John C. Kelso, resides in Lawrence County. Both the Kelsos and the Donald- sons are old and respected families of Law- rence County.

WILSON HULL PHILLIPS, a leading citizen of Wampum, and the owner of a valuable farm of sixty acres, situated in Big Beaver Township, about one mile southwest of the town, was born April 25, 1861, in Iowa, but was reared from child- hood in Pennsylvania. His parents are Isaac and Elmira (Hoagland) Phillips.

The Phillips family originated in Wales, and its earliest settler in America came about 1758 and located at Philadelphia. The grandfather, Samuel Phillips, was born in Northampton County, Pennsyl- vania, where he married Susan Weiney, and together they came to Mercer County, where he bought a farm near Kiel Ridge, on which both died. Of their twelve chil- dren, Isaac Phillips was the eldest, and he was eight years old when the family removed from Northampton to Mercer County. When he was about seventeen years old he accompanied a party of young men to California, in search of gold. They started in 1849, overland, finding the pres- ent city of Omaha, Neb., but an Indian trading post, its main building being a log blacksmith shop. Isaac Phillips remained in California for eight years, and when he returned to the East it was over the pres- ent route of the great Panama Canal. While he did not make a fortune, he brought back enough money to enable him to buy a good farm, and after his mar- riage, he invested in land in Buchanan

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County, Iowa. He remained there for six years, and then sold his land and returned to Pennsylvania, purchasing a farm in Mercer County, two and three-fourths miles west of Mercer, at a point called Yankee Ridge. Both he and his wife still reside on that farm.

Isaac Phillips was married after his re- turn from the far West, to Elmira Hoag- land, who is a daughter of John and Cath- erine (Hull) Hoagland, the former of whom served in the War of 1812. Cath- erine Hull belonged to the family made fa- mous by Capt. Isaac Hull, in his capture of the British ship, the Hornet. Isaac Phillips and wife had two sons: Wilson Hull and Burton R.

Wilson Hull Phillips obtained his educa- tion in the Mercer County schools, and re- mained closely at home until he was twen- ty-one years of age. He then spent a few years in the West, during which period he lived as a cowboy and had many adven- tures, and took the hazards which pertain to that exciting occupation. In his case they were lamentable, as he lost his left hand in a fight with cattle thieves, after which he decided to return to eastern civ- ilization, and located at Wampum. He was possessed of considerable capital, and first opened a coal bank and later organ- ized the Wampum Run Coal Company. He sold his interest in this enterprise to A. Andrews, of Youngstown, Ohio, following which he bought his present farm, from the Smith heirs. It was heavily timbered and until he had it cleared, he ran a saw- mill and sold the lumber, this occupying some four years. He further invested cap- ital as a banker, being one of the organ- izers of the First National Bank at Wam- pum, and one of the first directors, and continues a member of that board. He also owns stock in the Crescent Portland Cement Works, at Wampum. While more of a business man than politician, Mr. Phillips performs every duty resting on a public-spirited citizen. In his political views he is a Republican.

ISAAC S. ANDERSON, general con- tractor, at New Castle, occupies a leading place among a very capable body of men who have converted this city into the beau- tiful place that is noted for its elegant private residences as well as substantial business structures. Mr. Anderson was born in 1866, in Wilmington Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania.

Samuel Anderson, the venerable father of Isaac S., was also born in Lawrence County. He was engaged in contracting for a number of years, but for the past ten years has been interested in a saw- mill business and continues to reside on his old homestead.

Isaac S. Anderson was reared and edu- cated in Lawrence County and worked on the home farm until he was nineteen years old. He then learned the carpenter trade, with which he has occupied his time ever since, and for the past five years he has followed general contracting, during three years of this period being associated with George Strohecker. For the past two years he has operated individually. Among the many excellent pieces of work completed by Mr. Anderson may be named the West Pittsburg Street schoolhouse, a residence for Samuel Rhodes on Highland Avenue, the Broadbent residence on Sumner Ave- nue and others of equally pleasing style and substantial character. Mr. Anderson owns his own handsome residence at No. 378 West Washington Street.

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 86

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