Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 87

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 87

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In December, 1888, Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Julia Gillespie, of Michi- gan, and they have three children: Mar- garet, Carrie and Hazel.

CHARLES GEARING HOAGLAND, proprietor of the Hoagland Steam Laun- dry, a successful business enterprise of Ellwood City, was born at Greenville, Pa., July 29, 1865, and is a son of Joseph and Jennie (Stover) Hoagland.

Joseph Hoagland died at Youngstown, Ohio, when his son, Charles G., was only four years old. His widow married again,

REV. JOHN S. DICE.

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being united to R. S. Shingledecker in 1875, and still survives. The family con- sisted of three sons and two daughters, namely: Jennie, who is the wife of Penn Perkins, resides at Youngstown, Ohio; Robert, who resides with his family at Youngstown; Hays R., who is associated with his brother in the laundry, having charge of the inside work; Charles G., and one deceased.

In childhood Mr. Hoagland accompanied the family from Greenville to Lowellville, Ohio, and from there to Youngstown, where he remained in school until he was thirteen years of age. Since then he has been uniformly busy, mastering and follow- ing a number of trades and residing at dif- ferent points. He worked as a cooper at Youngstown until he was seventeen years old, then learned the trades of nail feeder and of stove mounter, working at the same for three years, after which he became a glass inspector and followed that business for two years. For three more years he was with the Youngstown Ice Company, for six years was with the Adams and American Express Companies, and then went into the Youngstown Laundry. He remained eight years with that concern, and during that period perfected himself in all the details of the business, and be- fore coming to Ellwood City he conducted a laundry route of his own for six months. Finding a good opening here, Mr. Hoag- land established the Hoagland Steam Laundry at Ellwood City on October 3, 1906, installing the most approved laun- dry machines and modern and sanitary equipments of all kinds. He enjoys a large amount of patronage.

On May 23, 1895, Mr. Hoagland was married to Miss Ada Maud Miller, who is a daughter of Joseph Miller, of Youngs- town, and they have two sons, Ralph Shearer and Charles Earl. Mrs. Hoagland is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Ellwood City. In local politics, Mr. Hoagland is an independent, but in affairs concerning the outside world, he

votes with the Republican party. For some eighteen years he has been a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics, taking a deep interest in the organization during all this period. He belongs also to the Protected Home Circle.

REV. JOHN S. DICE, pastor of Bethel United Presbyterian Church, in North Beaver Township, is known from one end of the county to the other, having warm and appreciative friends in every section. He was born at Poland, in Mahoning Coun- ty, Ohio, November 12, 1844, and is a son of George and Catherine Allen (Phillips) Dice.

In 1848, the parents of Mr. Dice moved to Crawford County, Pennsylvania, and there he was reared until 1862, when he accompanied his parents in their removal to New Wilmington, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. From the district and grad- ed schools he entered a select school at Meadville, and in the fall of 1863 he en- tered upon the full collegiate course at Westminster College, at New Wilmington. He was graduated from that noted institu- tion in 1869, with the degree of A. B. Mr. Dice taught school for one year in Darling- ton, at three separate times, after which he entered the Allegheny United Presbyte- rian Seminary, where he was a student dur- ing 1870, 1871 and 1872, leaving in the spring of 1873. In the following January he took charge of his present church, of which he has been pastor continuously ever since. This is a somewhat remarkable in- stance, where people and pastor have been in such perfect accord for so long a period. When Mr. Dice came to this charge the membership was about eighty souls, while now the number is 140. He has spent the larger part of his life in the service of this congregation and he has many reasons to feel satisfied with what he has accom- plished. Since locating in North Beaver Township he bought the farm adjoining the church and this is very capably man- aged by his son.

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On June 29, 1875, Mr. Dice was married to Margaret M. MeQuigg, who is a daugh- ter of Charles and Margaret McQuigg. They have four children, namely : Charles L., who is engaged in farming one mile east of his father, married Rebecca J. Kyle, and they have two children, William Renfrew and Mary; Alice Bovard, resid- ing at home, is a graduate of the Allegheny High School; James Renfrew, who gradu- ated in June, 1908, from the Michigan Agricultural College; and Margaret M., who is a graduate of the Mt. Jackson High School and spent two terms as a student in the Slippery Rock Normal School. She is now teaching in the Westfield School.

ROBERT PEEBLES, a surveyor by profession and a prominent farmer and stockraiser, has a fine farm of 300 acres in Scott Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. He was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, May 27, 1830, and is a son of William and Sarah ( Patterson) Peebles.

William Peebles was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in 1794, and there learned the trade of a weaver. While still a young man he came to America and for some time followed his trade in the city of Philadelphia. He later came west to Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and still later to Scott Township, Lawrence, Coun- ty, then known as Slippery Rock Town- ship. He bought a 114-acre timber tract, which he cleared and improved, and there followed farming the remainder of his days. He was united in marriage with Sa- rah Patterson, also a native of Ireland. who was twelve years of age when brought by her parents to America. They located in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where she grew up and received an education in the district schools. Nine children were born to bless this union, as follows: Rob- ert. JJames, Nancy, deceased; John, de- ceased : Eliza, George, deceased; William, deceased ; Thomas and Sarah. Mr. Peebles was a Whig in politics and, religiously. was

long a member of the Covenant Church.

Robert Peebles was reared in Scott Township, and after completing the course of study in the district schools engaged in teaching in that township for thirteen years. He also learned the profession of surveying, which he still follows in connec- tion with agricultural pursuits. He has a fine farm of 300 acres, on which he has made most of the improvements and a part of which he cleared of timber. He has followed stockraising to a large extent, making a specialty of Shorthorn cattle. A man of great energy and superior busi- ness capabilities, his success has been above the ordinary.

July 15, 1858, Mr. Peebles was joined in the holy bonds of wedlock with Miss Mar- garet Brown, who was born in Harlans- burg, Seott Township, and has resided in this vicinity all her life. She is a daughter of James Brown, Sr., who was born in Ireland and became a settler in Lawrence County at a very early period, acquiring a farm of 100 acres in Scott Township, which he cleared and improved. He was united in marriage with Mrs. Dorcas ( Wil- ken) Elder, who was born near Philadel- phia, and was the widow of William Elder, whose death resulted from an accident. Mr. Peebles and his wife became parents of four children, namely: James, William, Sarah Jane, deceased. and Hannah, wife of Rev. James A. McDonald. Mr. Peebles has resided at his present place ever since his marriage. He is an ardent Prohibitionist in polities, and is a member and elder of the United Presbyterian Church. He has ever evinced an earnest interest in all that relates to the development and prosperity of his home community, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citi- zens to a marked degree.

C. W. FENTON, attorney-at-law, at New Castle, is a member of the Lawrence County Bar Association, and has the right of practice in the Supreme and Superior Courts of Pennsylvania, and the District

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and Circuit Courts of the United States. He was born in Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania, in 1870, and is a son of Homer Fen- ton.

Homer Fenton was born in Lawrence County, in 1846, and is a son of Abner Fenton, who came to this section probably in 1835. Homer Fenton has been identi- fied with the lumber trade for many years.

C. W. Fenton was educated in the New Castle schools, the Slippery Rock State Normal School and Hiram College, gradu- ating from the latter in 1892. Mr. Fenton then engaged in teaching for six years, in the meanwhile giving much time to the study of law, and in 1898 he was gradu- ated from the law department of the Ohio Northern University, at Ada, Ohio. About this time he enlisted for service in the Spanish-American War, entering Com- pany E, Fifteenth Regiment, Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry, of which he was corporal, and served for one year. Im- mediately after his return home he was admitted to the bar, and associated him- self in practice with Charles H. Young, the present district attorney. Mr. Fen- ton has advanced rapidly in his profes- sion, and has taken part in a large part of the important litigation which has oc- cupied the different courts in the last dec- ade. He has given considerable attention to politics also, and is a well rounded American citizen.

In 1900 Mr. Fenton was married to Miss Anna R. Fife, of Allegheny City, Pa. They are members of the First Christian Church, of New Castle, of which Mr. Fen- ton has been a trustee for some years. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and to the Temple club.

LAWRENCE S. RANDOLPH, a prom- inent grocery merchant of Ellwood City, was born on his father's farm on Yellow Creek, near Portersville, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of J. V. and Ann (Smith) Randolph.

J. V. Randolph, father of Lawrence S.,

was also born in Butler County, and re- mained there until this son was seven years old, when he moved to Coitsville Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, where he remained for eight years. He then pur- chased a farm at Robinson's Crossing, which is still in the possession of the fam- ily, and resided there until his death. He married Ann Smith, who was born in Ash- land County, Ohio, and they had the fol- lowing children : Maggie Irene, who is the wife of MeClelland Carpenter, residing at New Castle; Sarah Emma, unmarried, re- sides at Ellwood City; Lawrence S., of Ellwood City; Clara Jane, who is the wife of Warren Thompson, residing at Pitts- burg; William, who died aged two years ; Annie M., who is the wife of A. A. Gal- braith, of Rodgers, Ohio; Elizabeth M., who is a teacher in the public schools of Ellwood City; and Nettie Zenia, who died one year after her marriage to James Pot- ter, residing at Volant, Pa. The paternal grandfather of this family was Job Ran- dolph, who was one of the early settlers of Butler County.

From the age of seven to fifteen years, Lawrence S. Randolph lived in Ohio, and then came to Lawrence County and lived on a farm in Mahoning Township until his marriage, in 1889. He engaged in teach- ing for some fifteen years in Lawrence County, and the greater part of this period was passed in Mahoning Township. In 1897 he came to Ellwood City and started in the grocery business, renting an appro- priate building for a time, but later bought three lots, and subsequently erected his handsome residence on the corner of Fourth and Franklin Streets. In 1907 he built his store building, a commodious structure, 24 by 60 feet in dimensions, with pressed brick front. Here he carries a large and well selected stock of both staple and fancy groceries, and has built up a very satisfactory business.

In 1889 Mr. Randolph was married to Miss Duira A. McGraw, who is a daughter of John and Ellen (Cole) McGraw, farm-

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ing people, near Hillsville, where Mrs. Ran- dolph was reared. Mr. and Mrs. Ran- dolph have two bright, intelligent young sons, who are making records for scholar- ship in the public schools : Lloyd Leverne, who was born June 3, 1892; and James Wilbur, who was born in 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Randolph are members of the United Presbyterian Church. He is a Republi- can in his political convictions, is a strong temperance man and a citizen who is ever ready and willing to promote the general welfare of the city by encouraging public enterprises.

WILLIAM WALLACE McANLIS, su- pervisor of Little Beaver Township, is the owner of sixty-three acres of fine land, lo- cated in the western part, near the State line. He is one of the township's leading men. He was born on the old McAnlis home farm, in Big Beaver Township, Law- rence County, Pennsylvania, January 7, 1838, and is a son of William and Marjorie (Young) McAnlis.

William McAnlis was born in Ireland, and was fifteen years old in 1822, when he accompanied his parents to America. His father, James McAnlis, acquired 500 acres of land in the vicinity of the present McAnlis schoolhouse in Big Beaver Town- ship, where he lived until his death, at the age of sixty-one years. His eight children were named as follows: Jane, Eliza Susan, Margaret, John, William, Robert and James, all of whom are deceased, and al- most all left descendants. In his will, James McAnlis left each son 100 acres. William McAnlis lived on the home farm until his marriage to Marjorie Young, who was horn and reared in Beaver County, Penn- sylvania. William MeAnlis died in 1882, aged seventy-six years. His widow sur- vived until 1884. They had the following children: James, who was killed at the battle of the Wilderness, during the Civil War, was a member of Battery C, Fifth United States Regulars; John Y., Robert,

deceased; William W .; Joseph, Samuel, and Susan Jane, who died in childhood.

William Wallace McAnlis went to the country schools during boyhood, and with- out difficulty recalls the hard slab benches and the many inconveniences of the old log schoolhouse of those days. At that time plenty of wild game was yet to be found not far from his home. He worked on the farm and helped to clear it up and remained there until August 3, 1862, when he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Hague. He served nine months, during which time he took a soldier's part in a number of skirmishes and in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. When the regiment was mustered out he was given an honorable discharge, and re- turned to peaceful pursuits.

On December 16, 1863, Mr. McAnlis was married to Harriet McClure, who is a daughter of Robert McClure, and they have three children: Anna Marjorie, Frances Wilhelmina and Robert Wallace, all at home. After marriage, Mr. McAnlis went to Scotland County, Missouri, where he bought a farm, which he sold ten years later and moved to Gibson County, Indi- ana, locating at Princeton, and for four years followed railroading. He then re- turned to Pennsylvania, and during 1880 lived at New Galilee, and then bought ten acres of his present farm, near Enon, on which he lived until 1902, when he removed to his larger estate of fifty-three acres, on which he has carried on general farming ever since. He owns both farms, and his son, Robert Wallace, manages them. In 1902 he built the comfortable residence. On May 30, 1905, Mr. McAnlis was bereft of his wife. She was a most estimable lady, and left a large circle of mourning friends behind.

Mr. McAnlis has been active in politics for a number of years. On the Republic- an ticket he was elected as overseer of

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the poor, serving with efficiency, and since 1903 he has been supervisor of Little Bea- ver Township.

CHALMERS W. WILLIAMS, who has resided in his comfortable home at No. 492 Highland Avenue, New Castle, since 1904, is one of the substantial citizens of Law- rence County, owning the old family farm of 200 acres, situated near Hillsville, on which he lived for many years previously. He was born December 15, 1850, in North Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Penn- sylvania, and is a son of William and Phebe A. (Brown) Williams, and a grand- son of John Williams, and a great-grand- son of Thomas Williams.

Thomas Williams was born near Hot Spring's, Va., and his son, John, came to Lawrence County and settled in Mahon- ing Township before one stick of timber had been cut on his 200 acres of land. A short time prior to this, in 1793, Major Edward Wright, the maternal great-grand- father, settled near what is now Hills- ville. These two families had much to do with promoting the development of the country, owning large bodies of land in sev- eral townships and being patrons of churches and schools.

William Williams, father of Chalmers W., died in 1883. He was one of the foun- ders and a charter member of the Zoar Baptist Church of Hillsville. He was twice married, and five of his eight children sur- vive, namely: William B., who is an at- torney, at Lapeer, Mich .; Chalmers W., Ida M., who is the wife of David N. Allison, of Nashua, Pa .; Sarah E., who is the wife of Rev. Robert H. Tracey, of Hubbard, Ohio, where he is pastor of the Baptist Church, and Lizzie E., who is the wife of Albert M. Hoffmaster, of North Beaver Township. They own and reside on the original tract owned by her great-grand- father. Major Wright, and now known as "The Century Home."

Chalmers W. Williams grew to manhood in North Beaver Township, securing a

good practical education, first in the town- ship schools, then in a private school at Mount Jackson, Pa., and later at Poland Seminary, Poland, Ohio. For four winters he taught school in Mahoning County and Lawrence County, two in each, after which he settled on the farm near Hillsville, known as Brookdale Home, where he en- gaged rather extensively, for a number of years, in breeding Jersey cattle and Poland China hogs. He was numbered with the most successful livestock breeders of this section.

On December 31, 1873, Mr. Williams was married to Essie Hazen, who was born in Shenango Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. She is a daughter of Oliver J. and Rachel (Lutton) Hazen, and a granddaughter of Nathaniel Hazen, who was an early settler in Shenango Town- ship, where the Hazens became people of wealth and importance. Of the children of Oliver J. Hazen and wife, three survive: Delilah, who is the wife of William F. Douds, of New Castle; Ruth L., who is the widow of Dr. J. C. McKee, formerly of New Castle, and Mrs. Williams. To the above marriage four children were born, as follows: Grace, who married Sanford E. Fisher, lives at East Liverpool, Ohio; William H., who is a graduate of the me- chanical engineering department of the Pennsylvania State College, is located near Tyrone, Pa .; Charles H., who is also a graduate of the above school, and Frank C., who attends the New Castle High School. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are mem- bers of the First Baptist Church at New Castle, of which he is one of the trustees. In politics, he is affiliated with the Repub- lican party.

F. C. BLAIR. who has had a varied career in the field of business and is at the present time a resident of Pittsburg. comes of an old and well known family of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, where he now owns a farm of 175 acres at Law- rence Furnace, in Slippery Rock Town-

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ship. He was born in Plaingrove Town- ship April 2, 1874, and is a son of Charles A. and Christina (Allen) Blair, and a grandson of John Blair.

John Blair, the grandfather, was born in Huntington County, Pennsylvania, and was in his boyhood when brought to Law- rence County by his parents, who became large land owners in Plaingrove Town- ship. There John grew to maturity and followed farming all his life, owning a large and valuable farm.

Charles A. Blair, father of F. C., was born in Plaingrove Township and received his education in the primitive schools of that vicinity. He early in life learned the trade of a cabinet maker, and worked at it in New Castle at a time when that city was a small village and a pond stood where the city building now stands. After leaving New Castle he purchased a farm in Plain- grove Township, where he now lives, at the age of seventy-six years, in the enjoyment of good health. He married Christina Al- len, a daughter of William Allen, of Law- rence County, and they had four children : Mrs. T. W. Thompson, of Plaingrove ; Mrs. W. C. Smitten, of Pittsburg; F. C. Blair, and Clark, now deceased, who married a Miss Mabel Rhodes, by whom he had a daughter, Edith.

F. C. Blair attended the district schools of Plaingrove Township and after complet- ing his school work engaged as a dealer in junk for seven years, it proving a very remunerative business. He then engaged in the milk business for three years, be- ing one of the largest producers for the Sanitary Milk Company. He then, for one year, operated the store at Lawrence Fur- nace, now conducted by Lawrence Hogue, after which he moved to Pittsburg and engaged in the grocery business until 1907. Since April, 1907, he has been a member of the city police force in Pittsburg, and has proved an excellent and efficient officer. His farm of 175 acres in Slippery Rock Township is a valuable property and one of the best improved in the township.

Mr. Blair was united in marriage with Jennie Evans, a daughter of David Evans, of Jackson Center, Mercer County, and they have one son, Charles Evans, born October 17, 1904. Politically, Mr. Blair is a Democrat. In religious faith, he and his wife are Presbyterians.

NELSON A. CEARFOSS, station agent at Hillsville for the Pennsylvania Rail- road, and agent for the Adams Express Company, at this point, is a popular rail- road official and business man, who has a wide acquaintance all through this section. He was born November 16, 1872, and is a son of Adam L. and Emeline ( Mitchell) Cearfoss.

The father of Mr. Cearfoss located in Hillsville, with his family, in 1869, where he resided for a number of years and then became a resident of Edenburg, where he still lives, now nearing his sixty-sixth year. He married Emeline Mitchell, who was also born in Lawrence County, and they had seven children, five of whom survive: James E., who lives in Beaver County; Nelson A., Nora S., who is the wife of L. Kufman, of Edenburg; Mary J., who is the wife of R. Heasley, of Hillsville, and Minnie E., who is the wife of Joseph Mc- Creary, of Hillsville.

Nelson A. Cearfoss spent his schooldays at Hillsville, and then prepared for his present work by learning telegraphy, under B. R. Smith, who at that time was station agent at Hillsville for the Pennsylvania system. Mr. Cearfoss was an apt pupil, and in the course of time succeeded Mr. Smith, taking charge in February, 1907, although he had had five years of previous experience, partly at Hillsville, later at Lockwood, Ohio, and at Transfer, Pa. In order to satisfactorily fill his present re- sponsible position, he had to prove himself an expert and accurate operator. In his constant business association with the pub- lic he has made friends on every side.

Mr. Cearfoss married Martha A. Dripps, who is a native of Beaver County, Penn-

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sylvania, and they have three children: Albert L., Berenice C. and Martha. Like his father, he is a Republican.

GEORGE W. FISHER, one of Ellwood City's progressive business men, is as- sistant superintendent over a large terri- tory for the Prudential Life Insurance Company and has his offices in the Dam- bach Building, and owns a home at No. 716 Park Avenue. Mr. Fisher was born at Portersville, Butler County, Pa., Decem- ber 8, 1871, and is a son of William and Agnes (Thomas) Fisher.

William Fisher was born, reared to man- hood and educated in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, moving to Butler County after his marriage, where he engaged in work at his trade of wagonmaking. There he died when his son, George W., was twenty-two months old. Two sons sur- vived him, George W. and William S., the latter of whom is a farmer in Franklin Township, Beaver County. The mother died in 1900.

George W. Fisher went to Washington. Pa., after completing school, where he had been offered the management of a grocery store, and remained at Wash- ington for one year and six months and then came to Ellwood City, securing em- ployment in a grocery house, where he continued for five years. For five more years he had charge of the shipping and packing department in the Clark Bros. Glass factory. In 1904 he first became as- sociated with the Prudential Life Insur- ance Company, and after a successful term of fifteen months as an agent, in June, 1905, was promoted to be assistant super- intendent over a district which embraces the territory from West Pittsburg east to Evans City, Butler County, and from Hazel Dell south to Homewood. There are three agents under Mr. Fisher's supervision. Mr. Fisher has had wonderful success ever since he turned his attention in the direc- tion of his present occupation, and stands

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 87

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