Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 98

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 98

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GEORGE K. KELSO, a life-long resi- dent of Pulaski Township, belonging to one of the old pioneer families of this sec- tion, has been engaged in general farm- ing ever since he reached man's estate. He is a son of Hiram and Isabella (Dinsmore) Kelso.

The grandparents of Mr. Kelso were George Kelso and Matthew Dinsmore. The former was one of the early settlers in Pulaski Township, coming before the heav- ily-timbered lands had been cleared or roads had been built. The Kelso family has been a highly regarded one in Lawrence County ever since. The maternal grand- father, Matthew Dinsmore, was an equally early settler in North Beaver Township and his descendants are also among the most valued residents in that locality.

Hiram Kelso, father of George K., fol- lowed farming in Pulaski Township and through life performed every duty of a good citizen. He was a member of the Harbor United Presbyterian Church. He died in Pulaski Township in 1898. The following members of his family survive: Matthew D., residing in Pulaski Township;

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Frances A., wife of T. S. Dinsmore, resid- ing at Los Angeles, Cal .; John C. and George K., both residing in Lawrence County, and Jennie A., wife of James C. Wilson, residing in North Beaver Town- ship.

George K. Kelso attended school through boyhood in District No. 5, Pulaski Town- ship, and many of his old schoolmates are yet his neighbors. Like his father, he is a stanch Republican in politics and also, like his parents, he is identified with the Har- bor United Presbyterian Church. As a good citizen, he takes an interest in public improvements, in the way of improving the highways and other matters of equal in- terest to an agricultural section, and is liberal in the support of movements which establish law, order, temperance and mor- ality in the community.

DAVID H. COCHRAN, one of Mahon- ingtown's leading business men, where he is engaged in a livery and undertaking business, is one of Mahoningtown's most substantial citizens. He was born August 7, 1861, in Little Beaver Township, Law- rence County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of James and Hannah (McKim) Cochran.

Mr. Cochran was reared and educated in Little Beaver Township, where his late father was a prominent and wealthy farm- er, at one time owning the valuable land on which the Lea & Patterson Coal Com- pany opened their first coal mines. At the age of twenty-five years David H. Cochran came to Mahoningtown and started his liv- ery and later added undertaking to his business. His main interests are, however, centered in farming and stockraising and he makes a specialty of buying and selling horses and of raising fine specimens on his two farms, which adjoin and contain about 212 acres. They are situated on the Ma- honingtown and Moravia road, in North Beaver Township. He is president of the New Castle Trotting Association and one of its directors. He was one of the foun-

ders and is a director and stockholder in the Valley View Cemetery.

Mr. Cochran married Nanie Ritchie, who is a daughter of William Ritchie, of Taylor Township, and they have two children- William J. and Mary Matilda. Mr. Coch- ran stands very high in the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and takes an active part in all movements of public importance in his section.

CHARLES ELLIOTT WHISTLER, a leading business man and proprietor of the Whistler Bros.' large dry goods and de- partment store at Ellwood City, was born September 8, 1866, and is a son of Capt. C. W. and Mary Elizabeth (Forker) Whistler.

The paternal grandfather, Charles Whistler, was born in Basingstoke, Eng- land, and crossed the Atlantic Ocean to Quebec. He was a son of William Whis- tler. In 1820 Charles Whistler settled in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in farming and also conducted an inn. He died there when aged seventy years. He married Susan Graham, who was born in Mercer County and was a member of one of the oldest families, hav- ing originally been of Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pa.

Capt. C. W. Whistler was born at Mer- cer, Mercer County, Pa., and has prac- tically spent his long life of seventy-three years there. Formerly he was engaged in the mercantile business and also conducted the Whistler Hotel. He is a well known journalist, the editor of the Western Press, of Mercer, and for years has been a con- tributor to the newspapers. He married Mary Elizabeth Forker, who was born at Harrisville, Butler County, Pa., and was a daughter of James and Maria Forker, early settlers there. Mrs. Whistler died in 1903. They had four children, namely : Edmund Quimby, deceased; Julia F. Zahn- iser, of Mercer County; Paul Graham, formerly a member of the firm of Whistler

ROBERT SHIELDS.

MRS. SARAH C. SHIELDS.

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Bros., who died in 1904, aged thirty-five years, and Charles Elliott.

Charles Elliott Whistler was educated in the public schools of Mercer, at Allegheny College, Washington and Jefferson College, and at Curry's Business College, after which he went to California in search of health. There he first entered into busi- ness, opening a store at San Diego. After he returned to the East he embarked in a general mercantile business at Scott Haven, Westmoreland County, Pa., where he continued until 1900, when he came to Ellwood City, where he has been ever since, with the exception of one and one- half years, during which period he con- ducted a wholesale produce business at Los Angeles, Cal. He has devoted the greater part of his life to mercantile interests and has met with almost invariable success. When he came to settle permanently at Ell- wood City he purchased the store and fixtures and business from C. H. Williams and has most desirable quarters, with a frontage of forty-four feet, one-half of which has a depth of 160 feet and one- half of 120 feet. He carries an immense stock, which has been selected with care, and he requires for his large trade the as- sistance of from eight to fifteen clerks. He has modern equipments and the busi- ness is conducted along the most improved lines.

In 1901 Mr. Whistler was united in mar- riage with Ethel May Butler, who is a daughter of Alfred and Emma Butler, of Oxford, England. Mr. and Mrs. Whistler have two children, Julia May and Grace Butler, interesting little American maidens who still show traces of their English an- cestry. Mr. and Mrs. Whistler are mem- bers of the Episcopal Church.

In politics, Mr. Whistler is affiliated with the Democratic party, and as a leading citi- zen public offices have been urged upon him. He is president of the Ellwood City School Board, takes a deep interest in the devel- opment of the city's various industries and contributes liberally to charitable and be-

nevolent enterprises. He belongs to Ell- wood Lodge, F. & A. M., and is a member of the Merchants and Manufacturers' Club of Ellwood City. He was the first presi- dent of the Ellwood Board of Trade, of which he has ever since been an active and useful member.

During a pleasant visit to England, Mr. Whistler had the satisfaction of viewing the section from which came his ancestors, and saw the house in the quaint old English village which has sheltered seven genera- tions of his name.

WALLACE S. EMERY, general con- tractor, residing at No. 159 East Lutton Avenue, New Castle, was born in 1859, at New Castle, Pa., and is a son of Nathan James Emery, who is a native of Car- lisle, Pa.

Wallace S. Emery attended school at New Castle until he was old enough to as- sist his father, who was a general con- tractor, and later learned the carpenter trade. When about thirty years old he visited the West and worked for three years at Butte, Mont., and on his way back to the East, stopped at Chicago and worked at his trade in that city for eight years .. Eventually he came back to New Castle, the beautiful city of his birth, where his interests have been centered ever since. He carries on a general contract- ing business, and is a leader in his line in this section.

In 1882, Mr. Emery was married to Miss Mary Donnelly, of Cleveland, Ohio. In polities he is a stanch Republican. He is a member of the United American Me- chanics and the Odd Fellows, and belongs to the beneficiary order of the Protected Home Circle.

ROBERT SHIELDS, one of New Bed- ford's representative business men, a part- ner in the well known firm of Sheriff & Shields, lumber manufacturers and saw- mill operators, is also, to some degree, in- terested in agricultural pursuits in Pulaski

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

Township, Lawrence County, where he was born, March 7, 1838. His parents were John and Sarah (Smart) Shields.

John Shields was a son of John Shields, who was born in Ireland and lived but a few years after emigrating to America. His son was reared in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and came to Pulaski Town- ship as one of the early settlers, where he lived until his death. in 1867. He was twice married and two of his children sur- vive, Robert and Thomas H., both resi- dents of New Bedford.

Robert Shields grew to manhood in Pu- laski Township and attended the White Oak Springs and the Deer Creek Schools and later the Canfield Academy at Can- field, Ohio. During all his business life, since 1861, he has been interested in the lumber industry and formerly was a mem- ber of the firm of Cole & Shields, which gave place to the present firm some years later. He is an authority in this line of work.

In 1861 Mr. Shields was married to Sarah C. McCready, of Pulaski Township, who died in May, 1893. They had three children: Frank O., Joshua J. and Sam- uel S. Mr. Shields is an elder in the Hope- well Presbyterian Church at New Bedford. In politics, he is a Republican and has been somewhat active and has served as judge of elections and as school director.

SAMUEL STEWART DINSMORE, a representative citizen and substantial ag- riculturist, residing on a well improved farm that he owns in Hickory Township, has ninety-three acres here, which is some of the best land lying along the Harlans- burg road. He was born in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, May 21, 1868, and is a son of James and Margaret (Hannah) Dinsmore.

James Dinsmore was a son of James Dinsmore, who was born in County Down, Ireland, and came to Lawrence County at an early day in its settlement. Here he

reared his children, and his descendants are among its representative people.

Samuel S. Dinsmore was an only child. His father contracted a second marriage, with Mary McCaslin, a daughter of Sam- uel McCaslin, who came from Ireland and settled on the present farm in Hickory Township, redeeming it from the wilder- ness. Samuel S. Dinsmore has engaged in farming ever since the close of his school days. He raises marketable prod- uce and cattle, and is numbered with the township's men of means whose industry has been well rewarded. His two-story frame residence is fitted with modern im- provements and is a comfortable country home. On both sides of the family the members have long been identified with the United Presbyterian Church.

OVERINGTON I. RIDDLE, president and manager of the Enon Valley Tele- phone Company, and owner of 500 acres of fine farming land in Little Beaver Town- ship, is a prominent citizen of this section, and is identified with other business inter- ests in western Pennsylvania. He was born September 15, 1848, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Sam- uel Lock and Mary Ann (Shroder) Rid- dle.

Samuel Lock Riddle was born at Pitts- burg, Pa., on Squirrel Hill, in 1814. He had one brother, John, and one sister, Jane, the latter of whom married a Mr. Howard, and all are deceased. The father of Samuel Lock died when he was small, and as he was the youngest, he remained with his mother. The latter lived many years longer, dying at the home of her son John, in Butler County, when aged eighty- six years. Samuel was given his middle name from his mother's family. In his carlier years he followed farming and butchering. In 1854 he purchased a farm for which he paid $3,000, which was then considered a large price, but as oil was later found on the land, his investment

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

proved a very good one and enabled him to retire, in 1865, possessed of a large fortune. He died at Oakmont, Pa., in 1895. He married Mary Ann Shroder, at Pittsburg, in 1835. She was born in 1815 and died in 1897. They had nine children, namely: Margaret, who is the wife of Robert Kincaid, residing in Illinois; Will- iam, an attorney, who resides at Butler, Pa .; Samuel L., who lives in Lawrence County ; Overington I., and five who died young.

Overington I. Riddle spent his boyhood on the home farm. In 1854 he went to Butler County and for a number of years worked in the oil fields after this valuable product was discovered on his father's land. He continued to reside in Butler County until 1878, when his father bought him two of his farms in Lawrence County, and to those tracts Mr. Riddle added, until he now owns 500 acres. He carries on general farming, having his whole estate under cultivation. In addition to his agricultural interests, Mr. Riddle is one of the progres- sive men of his community, who can sue- cessfully co-operate with other leading men in local enterprises of a more or less public character, without interfering with his main business. In 1906, when the Enon Valley Telephone Company was organized, he was elected president and manager, and has continued at the head of this corpora- tion ever since. He is also president of the Southern Avenue Land Company, of Pittsburg, has stock in the Union National Bank at Pittsburg, and is on the directing board of other enterprises.

In 1854, Mr. Riddle was married in But- ler County to Anna Eliza Campbell, who is a daughter of Andrew Campbell, and they have the following children: Harry, John, Emma, Samuel, Margaret, Minnie and Ode. Emma is the wife of Charles Bower. Minnie is the wife of John B. Duncan. Mr. Riddle is a stanch Republican. He has served as a school director for twenty-two years, and at present is the able president of the School Board. The Riddle family is

a numerous and prominent one in this sec- tion, one of ample means, fine business qualities and of excellent citizenship wher- ever found.

JOSEPH DICKSON, SR., who has prac- tically retired from the active life of an agriculturist, after many years of success- ful effort, resides on his valuable farm of 100 acres, which is situated on the Mount Jackson and Hillsville road, one mile west of the former place. Mr. Dickson was born November 27, 1827, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Joseph and Rachel (Shipley) Dickson.

The Dicksons settled first in Allegheny County as early as 1772, and the name is still honorably known there. The grand- father, William Dickson, was born in Scot- and, but later moved to Ireland, where he married before emigrating to America. Their son, Joseph Dickson, was born in 1772, in what was known as the Red Stone Settlement, east of Pittsburg, and both he and father spent their lives in Allegheny County, where the latter lived to the age of 101 years.

Joseph Dickson, the second, was reared in Allegheny County. In early manhood he went to California, where he remained twelve years, and was variously engaged, being a miner, a road contractor, and also operator of a sawmill. In 1868 he came to Lawrence County, and purchased his present farm in North Beaver Township, on which he has resided ever since, carry- ing on a general agricultural line. Mr. Dickson has done all the improving on his property.

After coming to Lawrence County Mr. Dickson married Maria J. Robison, a daughter of J. L. Robison, who was born and reared in North Beaver Township. Mr. and Mrs. Dickson have had six chil- dren: William, who is engaged in a drug business in Pittsburg; Robert, who is a traveling salesman; Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of Edward Wallace, of Wash- ington County, Pennsylvania; Sadie, de-

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

ceased; and Joseph, who operates the home farm for his father. The mother of the above family died in 1905. Mr. Dick- son is a member and liberal supporter of the Westfield Presbyterian Church.

JESSE B. SYLING, general farmer and owner of sixty acres of excellent land in Slippery Rock Township, which is situ- ated two miles south of Princeton, was born October 2, 1866, in Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania. His parents were Conrad and De- lilah (Nagel) Syling.

Conrad Syling, father of Jesse B., was born in Germany and was one of a family of three children. When he was sixteen years of age he came to America and lo- cated in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where he worked as a farmer until his marriage, and then bought the farm which is now the property of his son, Jesse B. He died in Mercer County, but his remains were interred in Slippery Rock Township. He was married in early manhood to Deli- lah Nagel, who was a daughter of Bernard Nagel, a farmer in Lawrence County, and they had the following children: Lewis, Joseph, David, Lillie, James and Jesse, all of whom survive except Lewis.

Jesse B. Syling attended the district schools when he was a boy, and grew to manhood on the home farm, and when his parents died it passed into his possession. He has made many improvements, erect- ing all of the substantial buildings, and in 1902 put up his fine barn. He raises corn, oats and hay, and the end of each year finds him a little ahead of the year before, owing to his industry and good manage- ment. He has good land and knows how to take care of it.

Mr. Syling married Margaret Boyer, who is a daughter of Jacob Boyer, a re- tired farmer of Lawrence County. The name of Mrs. Slyling's mother was Mar- garet Kennedy and Mrs. Syling is one of nine children born to her parents.

In politics Mr. Syling is a Prohibitionist. With his wife, he belongs to the Christian Church.

J. A. STEVENSON, of the firm of Stevenson Brothers, contracting plumbers at New Castle, was born in October, 1858, in Mahoning Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Silas Stev- enson.

J. A. Stevenson is a practical plumber, and with the exception of five years of early manhood spent in the oil fields, he has been engaged in his present line of work throughout his whole business career. In 1883 he embarked in business for himself, being associated with John M. McKarnes. About 1889 Mr. McKarnes withdrew, and the following year his younger brother, Edwin S. Stevenson, became associated with him, and they organized the firm of Stevenson Brothers, one which occupies a leading place among the business houses of New Castle. They do a general con- tracting business, and have established a reputation for superior work that makes a pushing demand all over this section.

In 1880, Mr. Stevenson was married to Miss Elizabeth Kellerman, who is a daugh- ter of Hugh Kellerman, and they have three children, namely: Mary Matilda, who is the wife of George F. Winters, a member of the firm of Winters Brothers; Charles F., who is with his father in busi- ness; and Hattie, residing at home.

Mr. Stevenson has been active in politics for a number of years, and has taken a deep interest in civic affairs. For four years he served acceptably as a member of the city council, and during the last year was chairman of the Select Council. He is an Odd Fellow and belongs to Lodge No. 195, New Castle. He belongs also to the Northwestern Plumbers' Association.

WILLIAM WHITING, a well known citizen of Mahoning Township, whose life has been mainly devoted to agricultural

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

pursuits, resides on his excellent farm of eighty-three acres, on which he was born, April 13, 1831. His parents were John and Matilda (Davis) Whiting.

The founder of this family in Mahoning Township and the pioneer settler on the present farm, was the grandfather, Adam Whiting. He was one of the earliest set- tlers and with them endured the hardships incident to living far from civilization. He built his log cabin, cleared his land and reared an estimable family. Of these, John Whiting, father of William, survived to his eighty-fourth year. He, too, was a man of sterling character. Four of his children survive, namely: William, Charles, who lives in Mahoning Township; Amanda E., who is the wife of William McConnell, resides at New Castle; and Amelia, who is the wife of Clark Norris, also residing at New Castle.

William Whiting grew to manhood on the home farm, and in boyhood enjoyed the advantages offered by the district schools at that time. Since then his atten- tion has been given to farming, and in ad- dition to owning the place on which he lives, he has a one-third interest in an ad- joining farm. This farm has all been care- fully cultivated, and if placed on the mar- ket would command a high figure. In his political views Mr. Whiting is more in ac- cord with the Democrats than any other party, but he is a man who is quite capable of doing his own thinking, and frequently casts his vote as his judgment leads. He is a good and worthy citizen of Mahoning Township.

CHARLES H. YOUNG, prosecuting at- torney of Lawrence County, was born in Little Beaver Township, Lawrence Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, January 16, 1876, and is a son of William T. and Paulina A. (Rus- sell) Young.

The great-grandfather of Mr. Young was William Young, and he came to Little Beaver Township more than a century ago

and was one of the very early pioneers of that section. The grandfather was Miller Young, who was a farmer, and also dealt largely in live stock, buying through the country and driving to the Pittsburg mar- ket. He married a Miss Taylor, and they reared a large family of children. William T. Young, father of Charles H., was a farmer. He married Paulina A. Russell, to them were born five children, and at the present writing (1908) four survive.

Charles H. Young was reared on his father's farm, and attended the country schools, after which he taught school for four years. Later he entered the Slippery Rock Normal School, where he was gradu- ated in the law department, in October, 1897, having prepared under Judge Mar- tin, at New Castle. He was admitted to the bar in the same year, and has been in continuous practice at New Castle, with the exception of the period during which he served as a soldier in the Spanish- American War. He enlisted July 5, 1898, and served with the rank of sergeant. His political affiliation has always been with the Republican party, and on the Repub- lican ticket he was elected prosecuting at- torney of Lawrence County, in November, 1906, a responsible office which he still holds.

During the first year of Mr. Young's incumbency of the office of prosecuting at- torney there was one work he accom- plished which is particularly worthy of mention. The Italian league or organiza- tion known as the "Black Hand" was very strong in the Italian colony at Hillsville and other localities in the county, and they had become a menace to the public peace. Through the vigorous prosecution con- ducted by Mr. Young, thirty-one of these miscreants were convicted, many of them still doing their sentences in prison. The organization was effectually broken up, and Mr. Young's connection with this work is well worthy its place in history.

In fraternal life Mr. Young is identified

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

with the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.

DAVID SYLING, residing on his ex- cellent farm of forty-three acres, which is situated seven miles southeast of New Castle, was born in Beaver County, Penn- sylvania, December 18, 1860, and is a son of Conrad and Delilah (Nagel) Syling.

Conrad Syling was born in Germany, and was sixteen years of age when he came to America. He located in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where he lived until after his marriage, and when his son David was four years old, moved to Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, where he bought a farm of eighty-six acres. He died in Mercer County, but his burial was in Slippery Rock Township, where he was well known.

David Syling attended the district schools and assisted on the home farm un- til his marriage, when he was twenty-one years of age, after which he went to Mer- cer County and worked his mother's farm there. From that farm Mr. Syling went into the steel mills east of Beaver Falls, in Beaver County, where he continued for seven years. Mr. Syling then came to his excellent farm in Slippery Rock Town- ship, where he carries on general farming, and makes a specialty of growing berries.

In 1881 Mr. Syling was married to Nancy Freed, who is a daughter of Stan- ley Freed, of Beaver Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Syling have six children: John, Lilly, Edward, Mabel, Inez and Grover. John was a successful teacher for seven years and is now taking a scientific course at Ada College. He married Florence Myers, and they reside in Ohio. Lilly married James Elliott and they have one child, Luella May.

In his political views Mr. Syling is in- dependent, doing his own thinking and vot- ing as his judgment dictates. He has al- ways been a useful citizen, and for nine years served as township supervisor. With

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 98

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