Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 89

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 89

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).

For some years the father of Mr. Raney engaged in milling, owning a mill near Edenburg, but in 1859 he removed to Youngstown, Ohio, where he embarked in a dry goods business. He became a man of prominence there, and served for two terms as mayor of that city.

James A. Raney was thirteen years of age when his parents located at Youngs- town, and after that he was employed dur- ing the summer seasons for several years in the mill situated at the foot of Cham- pion Street, and went to school during the winters. This mill was owned by his two older brothers, Bostic and Almon Raney. In 1864, James A. Raney enlisted for serv- ice in the Civil War, entering Company I, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served four months. When he returned to Youngstown, he resumed work in the mill, and continued there until he came to Ma- honingtown, in 1875. The Shenango Rol- ler Mill was built by Mr. Raney's uncle, James Raney, who was a miller and mill- wright in Lawrence County for sixty years and built and operated many mills. The present owners of the mill are James A. Raney and Mrs. L. Raney. It is a modern, well equipped mill, its machinery including Stevens and Garden City rolls. The mill's specialty is the White Lilly brand of flour.

Mr. Raney was married at Youngstown, Ohio, to Lois McCollum, who is a daughter of Ira McCollum, and they have five chil- dren, namely: Myron, who is an engineer on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, mar- ried Rachel Kincaid, and has one child, Helen; Jessie, who married Andrew Mur- phy; Paul, who is cashier in the New Cas- tle Waterworks office; Daisy, who mar- ried Walter Harlan, has one child, James; and Ralph, who is employed in the She- nango mill.

Mr. Raney has taken an active interest in public affairs at Mahoningtown, and served as its first mayor.

CASPER PFEIL, who died in Union Township, in April, 1895, after a busy and useful life of more than seventy years, was a man who enjoyed the respect and affec- tion of his family and the esteem of his fellow citizens. He was born in Germany, where he lived until reaching man's estate, and after emigrating to America he lived for some time in the city of Philadelphia.

Casper Pfeil was a cabinetmaker by trade, and as he was a skilled workman, had no difficulty in finding employment. When he left Philadelphia he crossed the State to Pittsburg, and after working there for a short time settled at New Castle. He remained in that place for a number of years and was one of the workmen em- ployed in the fine finishing of the New Cas- tle court-house. From that city he then moved to Hickory Township, Lawrence County, where he continued to reside for about twenty-five years and then lived for a short time in Neshannock Township, from which section he moved to Union Township, where he remained until the close of his life. He was an honest, reli- able, industrious man and he had a wide acquaintance throughout Lawrence County.

Casper Pfeil married Margaret Grave, who was also born in Germany, and she still survives, being an octogenarian. Of the six children born to them the following

MRS. MARGARET G. PFEIL.

CASPER PFEIL.

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five are still living: Caroline, who is the widow of Nicholas Breno, resides at New Castle; Mary, who is the wife of Solomon Wortman, lives in Trumbull County, Ohio, and Emma, John and George, all reside in Union Township. Casper Pfeil was a Re- publican in his political views. For many years he belonged to the Odd Fellows.

John and George Pfeil, under the firm name of Pfeil Brothers, own and operate a fine farm of 110 acres in Union Town- ship. Formerly they carried on dairying and had a milk route at New Castle, but now devote their attention to general farm- ing. They are both identified with the Re- publican party. They are good business men and enjoy the confidence and regard of their fellow citizens, being worthy sons of a worthy father.

MATTHEW ALBERT RILEY, a lead- ing citizen of Ellwood City, for many years was identified with the glass indus- try. He was born October 11, 1868, in Philadelphia, and is a son of Thomas G. and Mary Elizabeth (Hibbs) Riley.

The great-grandfather, Matthew Riley, came from Ireland to America, and set- tled at Philadelphia, Pa., in 1760. There his son, Matthew Riley, was born, and at one time owned that portion of Fairmount Park known as George's Hills. There his son, Thomas G., father of Matthew Albert, was born and reared. He married Mary Elizabeth Hibbs, who was born at New Salem, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, in 1836. Her father was Aaron Hibbs. Thomas G. Riley and wife left Philadel- phia about 1874, and in 1900 they came to Ellwood City. They had two sons and two daughters, namely: Hannah Eliza, who married Frank Swaney, of Wilkinsburg; Matthew Albert, of Ellwood City; Katie Anna, who married Joseph Krytzer, who has charge of a gas company at New Ken- sington, Pa .; and Stewart William, who is a railroad man, residing at Portland, Ore.

Matthew Albert Riley started out for himself when he was about seventeen

years of age. For twenty years he worked in the glass industry, and during this pe- riod he made so many useful inventions that in many lines he entirely changed the manufacture of glass. Mr. Riley possesses that remarkable talent that enables him to evolve ideas and put these into machines which entirely change old methods, pro- ducing wonderful results, with less cost and less loss of time than formerly. While his inventions have not been confined to the glass industry, his most notable ones have been machinery along this line. The Riley tumbler grinder is in general use, as is also his down-draft glazing machine for finishing glass, and also the grinding machine for inner arc globes. By the use of his inventions, factories, with increased facilities, have been able to produce beau- tiful as well as substantial products within the reach of the ordinary consumer. Mr. Riley has been so successful that he now devotes the larger part of his time to ex- perimenting, working out the details which swarm in his brain. His gift is an unusual one, and he has been able to put it to the most practical use.

In 1892 Mr. Riley was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Conner, who is a daughter of Owen and Ellen Conner, of Steuben- ville, Ohio. They have one son, Charles W.

In politics Mr. Riley is a Democrat, and has been active in public affairs in the county. In the spring of 1908 he was nom- inated on the Democratic ticket for the of- fice of prothonotary of Lawrence County. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, be- longing to the Pittsburg Consistory, and belongs also to Fostoria Lodge No. 86, Knights of Pythias, of Fostoria, Ohio, and to the Elks, at Beaver Falls, Pa. In 1889 he entered the Sixteenth Regiment, Ohio National Guard, as a private, and served until 1897, filling the various grades of non-commissioned officers, and when he re- moved from the State he held the rank of lieutenant. Mr. Riley is one of the di- rectors of the Ellwood City Board of Trade.

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

REV. FATHER PATRICK ALOYS- IUS DOOLEY, under whose pastorate St. Monica's Church, at Wampum, Pa., has developed into an active and potent factor in the acomplishment of good in the com- munity, has been a resident of Wampum since 1902. He was born in County Kil- kenny, Ireland, and is a son of Michael and Ellen (Murphy) Dooley.

Michael Dooley, who is now deceased, owned and cultivated a farm at the edge of the town of Castlecomer, in County Kil- kenny. He was a man whose chief inter- est centered in his family, and he labored to give his children superior educational advantages. Neither he nor his wife ever lived in this country, although Mrs. Dooley has been to America on a visit. They reared a family of nine children, all of whom are still living, as follows: Thomas; Catherine, wife of M. J. Doyle, both she and her husband being principals of schools in Ireland; Michael; John; Rev. Patrick Aloysius; Margaret, wife of Abraham Cody; Edward, who was the only one of the family, aside from Rev. Father Dooley, to come to the United States; Mary; and Nora, who also is prin- cipal of a school in her native land.

Father Dooley attended the local schools at Castlecomer, which he entered at a youthful age, and at the age of four- teen years he began teaching, receiving his pay from the Government. He con- tinued about two years, and in his fifteenth year entered St. Kieran's College, at Kil- kenny. Two years later he entered St. John's College, at Waterford, where he was ordained to priesthood at the age of twenty-five years. He was ordained for the diocese of Pittsburg, U. S. A., and after a short vacation embarked for Amer- ica. He first located at Homestead, Pa., where he was assistant to Rev. Bullion at St. Mary Magdalene Church, one of the largest churches in the diocese. He re- mained there two years, and then, on ac- count of ill health, did not have any charge for a year and a half, spending that time

in travel in the various countries of Eu- rope. Returning to America, he was ap- pointed assistant priest to Father Bren- nan, his cousin, at McDonald, Pa., then three months later became assistant to Father P. J. O'Neil, at Ellwood City, Pa. He continued at that point for nine months, during which time Father O'Neil died. In June, 1902, Father Dooley was appointed to the charge at Wampum, where he has since labored with such bene- ficial results. He immediately set about securing the erection of a new church edi- fice, and after years of conscientious ef- fort, the present beautiful structure was completed. During the first three years here, services were held across the river, at Chewton. By his invitation, the cor- ner stone was laid by Father Gallagher, of New Castle, September 25, 1904, and the church was dedicated on July 9, 1905, by Bishop Canevin, confirmation services being held the same day. The first serv- ices were held on Easter Sunday, 1905, the Sunday following Wampum's great fire. The congregation at this place numbers seventy-five families, representing various nationalities, and Father Dooley also has charge of a mission, St. Theresa's Church, at Hoytdale, Beaver County, Pennsyl- vania. Fraternally he is a member of New Castle Lodge, B. P. O. E., and Beaver Val- ley Council, K. of C.

GEORGE H. VANHORN, who is the oldest flagstone contractor at New Castle, in point of service, has his office and yards at No. 172 South Jefferson Street, deals in coal, and contracts for street paving and cement work. Mr. Vanhorn was born in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, May 6, 1859, and is a son of William Vanhorn, a furnace man all his life and for many years a foreman.

George H. Vanhorn came to New Castle from Clarion County, when he was twen- ty-two years of age, and went to work in a blast furnace. Later he visited Ten- nessee, where he remained for three years

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and four months, and then returned to New Castle, where he has been in business ever since. In 1890, Mr. Vanhorn en- tered into the coal trade, and later became a flagstone sidewalk contractor and in the latter capacity has done a very large amount of business in this city, his excel- lent work being in evidence in every sec- tion.

During his residence in Tennessee, Mr. Vanhorn was married to Miss Anna B. Groover, and they have five children : Wal- ter A., who married Florence Shaner; Minnie R., who married Fred Stidmore; and George H., Leroy and Marietta. The family belongs to the First Park Christian Church. He is a Knight of Pythias, a Mason and an Elk.

JOHN WESLEY SHIMP, general farmer, owner of thirty-five acres of the old Shimp homestead, located one mile east of Princeton, was born on this farm, in Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, August 4, 1866, and is a son of Samuel and Harriet (Houk) Shimp.

Samuel was born March 2, 1817, and died October 23, 1893. Of his parents he knew nothing. When he was four years old he was brought to Slippery Rock Town- ship, from beyond the Alleghany Moun- tains, by a man named Mark Mercer, who located on the farm now owned by Philip Frew. The child had but limited school advantages, and through his own industry and good character made a respected name for himself, and acquired property. For a number of years he worked for various farmers and at length was able to buy fifty acres of the present farm, still later five more acres, and subsequently added ten acres, making a farm that he took pleasure in cultivating and improving, and it was a nice inheritance to his sons. He married a most estimable woman, Harriet Houk, who was born January 5, 1821, on the farm ad- joining Mr. Shimp's land, and was a daugh- ter of William Houk, a well known man of his time. Mrs. Shimp died January 23,

1908. There were six children in the fam- ily, namely: William, who died June 30, 1890; Mary Ann, who married Henry Tay- lor, died June 5, 1898; Eliza, deceased; Samuel W. S., deceased; Philip and John Wesley, the two latter owning the farm to- gether.

John Wesley Shimp secured his educa- tion in the public schools and afterward worked on the home farm for his father and later spent some eight years work- ing for other farmers, and then came back, and has remained on the homestead ever since.

Mr. Shimp married Mary Esther Burtch, who was born at New Wilmington, Law- rence County, October 11, 1870, and they have one child, Samuel Charles, who was born May 5, 1899, and is now making a fine record at school. Mr. and Mrs. Shimp at- tend the United Presbyterian Church at Oak Grove. In politics, he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party's prin- ciples and candidates.

WILLIAM ORD MILLER, manager of the H. S. Blatt Hardware Company, of Ell- wood City, is one of the enterprising and successful young business men of this bor- ough and is also identified with her other interests. He was born at Stoneboro, Mer- cer County, Pennsylvania, August 14, 1877, and is a son of William C. and Jennie (Eckles) Miller.

The father of Mr. Miller was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, in 1844, and died February 16, 1899. By trade he was a carpenter and for thirty years he resided in Mercer County, this being his main busi- ness. During the Civil War he was a brave soldier, being a member of an artillery regiment from Pennsylvania, under the gallant General Kirkpatrick. He married Jennie Eckles, a native of Mercer County, Pennsylvania, where the venerable grand- mother still lives, having passed her ninety-first birthday. Three sons and one daughter were born to William C. Miller and wife, namely: Asa Eckles, who is a

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

railroad man and lives at Ithaca, N. Y .; Estella Don, deceased, who was the wife of S. G. Mears; William Ord, of Ellwood City ; and James Blaine, who is a resident of San Bernardino, C'al.

William Ord Miller was educated in Stoneboro, leaving the High School to en- ter the MeElwain Institute, at New Leba- non, and he was also a student in Grove City College, which he left in 1895. Mr. Miller then taught school for four years, after which he entered the employ of the Mercer Iron & Coal Company at Stoneboro but shortly afterward became manager of the hardware business of S. S. Scott, at the same place. From there, after three years' service, he went to H. Q. Hines, also of Stoneboro, with whom he continued for two and one-half years. In August, 1905, Mr. Miller came to Ellwood City, where he engaged in clerking until March, 1907. when he was made manager of the busi- ness he had worked to build up during his connection with it. The H. S. Blatt Hard- ware Company is one of the largest con- cerns of its kind in Lawrence County, carrying a stock that is valued at $25,000. Since Mr. Miller has had charge its affairs have been particularly prosperous, and he has extended its territory and has strengthened its trade relations.

In April, 1898, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Clyde Blatt, who is a daughter of Abram and Isabel (Kissick) Blatt. Mrs. Miller was born in New Lebanon, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and received her musical training at MeElwain Institute. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have three children : William Abraham, Frederica Donnabel and Wayne Blatt. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Ellwood City. He belongs to the Sons of Veterans; to Alma Lodge, No. 420, Knights of Pythias ; to Ellwood Lodge, No. 1993, Knights and Ladies of Honor and belongs also to the United Workmen.

CHARLES H. ANDREWS, prothon- otary of Lawrence County, to which impor-

tant office he was elected in November, 1905, is one of the most popular public officials in this section of the State. He was born June 21, 1870, in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John A. and Charlotte H. (Palmer) An- drews. The parents reared five children. The father lives retired at No. 132 North Ray Street, New Castle.

Charles H. Andrews was educated in the public schools. Upon leaving school he became employed in a wire nail factory for seven years. He then engaged in mer- cantile pursuits and so continued thirteen years, until elected to his present office. He has taken an active interest in public af- fairs and is a stanch supporter of the prin- ciples of the Republican party. His fra- ternal connections include membership in the Knights of Pythias, the Odd Fellows, the Sons of Veterans and the Woodmen.

Mr. Andrews married, October 15, 1895, Jennie E. Sweet, who is a daughter of William L. Sweet, and they have one child, Charlotte K. The pleasant family home is situated on Court Street, New Castle.

LEVI REPMAN, a representative citi- zen of Wayne Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, has been a resident of this county since 1866. He was born in Wayne County, Ohio, October 11, 1841, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Leet) Repman.

Joseph Repman was born in Germany and was thirteen years of age when he came to this country, the trip consuming three months of time. He landed at Phil- adelphia and was there bound out to Daniel Hold for a period of three years to pay for his passage to this county. He lived at Philadelphia and near Harrisburg, between which cities he drove a six-horse team on the turnpike, and was employed in a dis- tillery for a short time. After his mar- riage to Mary Leet, who was a native of Pennsylvania, he located in Hummelstown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and later moved with his family to Canaan Town- ship, Wayne County, Ohio, where he en-

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tered a tract of eighty acres of land near Jollytown. He and his wife were parents of the following children: George, who died in infancy; Joseph, who died in Me- dina County, Ohio, at the advanced age of ninety-four years; Hannah (Garver) ; Sophie, who died in Ohio, was the wife of George Fetzer; Simon, who died at West Salem, Ohio; Andrew, who died in Kos- ciusco County, Indiana, where he owned 200 acres of land; Mary (Bemhower), who died in Ashland, Ohio; Jacob, who has 300 acres of. land in Medina County, Ohio, where he resides, is eighty-four years of age and spends much of his time in travel ; Eliza, wife of Rev. Vernlee, died at Upper Sandusky, Ohio; Sarah died at the age of two years ; John, who lives in retirement at Cleveland, was formerly a resident of Wadsworth, Ohio; and Levi.

Levi Repman was reared on the farm in Wayne County, Ohio, until he was sixteen years of age, and then worked in a flour mill there for three years. At the age of twenty-one he came east to New Brighton, Pennsylvania, where he was employed in the mills of Williams and Alexander for three years, then went to Beaver Falls and worked two years as miller for Noble and Duncan. About 1866, he moved from there to Wampum, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania, where he acted as superintendent of the quarry and lime kilns for two years. With Philip Fisher he then leased the kilns at a given rate per bushel, also leasing other kilns in Wampum, and for a period of twenty-two years they were successfully engaged in that business. He then bought stock in the Six-Foot coal mine, for which he ran the locomotive several years, at the end of which time he sold his stock and began gardening. He owned a farm at Chewton, and for a period of five years hired an experienced gardener, since which time he has done the work himself with much success. He has been engaged thus since Ellwood City was built, has twelve acres in garden truck, and farms the bal- ance.

Mr. Repman was first married to Eliza- beth MeColum, a daughter of Aaron Me- Colum, who died in 1873, leaving two chil- dren: Harry J., M. D., who is engaged in practice at Charleroi, Pennsylvania ; and Ida, wife of Frank Snyder, who resides in the East End, Pittsburg. In 1875 Mr. Rep- man formed a second union with Jennie Douthett, a daughter of Jonathan Dout- hett, and they had two children : Frederick, who died at the age of two years; and Charles E., a confectioner of Wampum. He contracted a third marriage, April 29, 1896, with Miss Maud Lostetter. They are members of the Wampum Presbyterian Church. Fraternally, he is a member of Wampum Lodge, No. 865, I. O. O. F. He is a Republican in politics.

FREEMAN R. HESS, station agent and telegraph operator at Edenburg, for the Pittsburg and Lake Erie Railroad, and express agent at the same point for the American Express Company, was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, April 24, 1858. His parents were Matthias and Het- tie (Stevenson) Hess.

The Hess family is of German extraction and it has many honorable representatives in different parts of Pennsylvania. The parents of Freeman R. Hess were both na- tives of Fayette County, and he was reared there, in the old family home. When his schooldays were over, he went to Ver- sailles, Ohio, where he remained for nine months learning telegraphing, and when an expert operator, he worked at different points between Bellefontaine and Indian- apolis, for the Big Four Railroad, for two years and later, for a short time, for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, at Layton, Pennsylvania. He was then assigned to Lowellville, Ohio, as operator for the Pittsburg and Lake Erie Railroad, where he was continued for three years, when he was transferred, August 5, 1885, to Eden- burg and assumed his present duties. He is a widely known and very popular offi- cial.

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Mr. Hess married Annie Ryan, who is a daughter of Jonathan and Mary Ryan, of West Brownsville, Pennsylvania, and a child was born to them, June 26, 1890, who was named Gaches E. In politics, Mr. Hess is a Democrat and in fraternal life he belongs to the Elks at New Castle, and to the Knights of Pythias at Edenburg.

ROBERT PATTON. In the death of Robert Patton, which took place August 31, 1900, Mahoning Township lost one of its most useful citizens and esteemed resi- dents. He was born near Pittsburg, on Turtle Creek, a small stream in Western Pennsylvania, November 6, 1842, and was a son of John and Anna (McDowell) Pat- ton.

The parents of Mr. Patton were natives of County Antrim, Ireland, and after com- ing to America they settled on what is now known as the Patton estate near Harbor Bridge, Lawrence County, after a short residence in the vicinity of Pittsburg. On the estate mentioned both John Patton and wife died many years ago and there is but one survivor of their family, Mary J., who is the wife of Elliott Douglass, residing near Edenburg, in Mahoning Township. She has two children.

Robert Patton was a youth when he ac- companied his parents to Lawrence Coun- ty, and with the exception of about three years, during which he lived in Texas, his whole subsequent life was spent here. He was married March 20, 1878, to Margaret J. Barnes, who was born October 12, 1853, at Pittsburg, Pa., a daughter of William and Martha (Stewart) Barnes, both na- tives of County Antrim, Ireland. The mother of Mrs. Patton is deceased, but the father lives in Hickory Township, Law- rence County, one of its venerable men. To Robert Patton and wife six children were born, namely : John, residing at New Castle, married Maud J. Miller and has one child, Ruth Margaret; William B., re- siding at Palestine, Ohio, married Edith Thompson and has one child, Robert

Thompson; Robert L., residing in Mahon- ing Township; James, living at Palestine; Stewart S., residing at New Castle, and Thomas, deceased. Mrs. Patton has three sisters and one brother, namely: Annie, who is the wife of Thomas Matthews, of Union Township, Lawrence County; Mol- lie O., who is the wife of Presley Bell, re- siding near Greenville, Texas; Martha, who is the widow of Hosea Porter, of Hick- ory Township, Lawrence County, and Rev. William T., who is a minister in the Chris- tian Church and is now a resident of Hick- ory Township.

In politics the late Robert Patton took a good citizen's interest, but was never willing to hold office. He was identified with the Republican party. In his church relations he was a member of the Harbor Presbyterian Church, of which he was a liberal supporter. He was an excellent business man and left a large estate com- prising 190 acres of fine land, and with improvements scarcely equaled in any other part of the township. His widow re- sides in this beautiful home. She is a mem- ber of the First Christian Church at New Castle.

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 89

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