USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of genealogy and biography of the state of Pennsylvania with a compendium of history. A record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Volume I > Part 31
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William Neill Howard is a native son of the old Keystone state of the Union, having been born in the city of Philadelphia, on the roth of November. 1834. the cklest, and one of the five living, of the seven children born to Rev. William D. Howard. D. D., and his wife. Adelaide. ncc Allen. Dr. Howard was one of the distinguished clergymen of the Presbyterian church, and was likewise born in the city of Philadelphia. where he was reared and educated. After his ordination he was pastor of a church in his native city for a period of eleven years. at the cx- piration of which he came to Pittsburg, where for one year more than a quarter of a century he held the pastorate of the Second Presbyterian church. His life was one of signal consecration and devotion to the
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work of the Divine Master, in the uplifting of his fellow men, while under his regime his church prospered both spiritually and temporally during the long years of his pastorate. He was endowed with high intellectual powers, was ever gracious and kindly in manner, holding the affection and esteem of his flock and the high regard of all who knew him, while he ever lived to the "mark of his high calling." Ile was summoned into eternal rest on the 224 of September. 1876, at the age of sixty-two years, and his cherished and devoted wife passed away on the 5th of March, 1885. Their memories remain, to all those who came within in the sphere of their influence, as the "benediction that follows after prayer." The ancestry on the father's side emigrated from England to America in 1630 and settled in the New England colonies, having been of pure English lineage, and the ancestry on the mother's side was of stanch okl English stock and an early exemplar of the simple and noble faith of the Society of Friends, and came from England to America in 1682. His maternal grandfather and grandmother came to this country from England in 1793. his grandfather being a native of Scotland, but reared in England, and his grandmother a native of the beautiful county of Warwick, England.
William N. Howard received his early education in both public and private schools in the cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburg, and his was the privilege of having been reared in a home of culture, refinement and deep Christian piety. When a young man he entered the office of the late William Bakewell, Esq .. an eminent lawyer of Pittsburg, where he remained for four years engaged in the study of law, but, his tastes inclining more to commercial pursuits, he did not apply for admission to the bar, and in 1856 entered into mercantile life and was connected with large jobbing houses. In 1868 he changed his line of business. and engaged in manufacturing and mining firms, and from that time
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onward, with short intervals, has occupied positions of great trust and responsibility with some of the largest firms and corporations in western Pennsylvania in the development of those industries which have made Pittsburg one of the greatest manufacturing centers of the world. Ile accepted the position as general manager in Pittsburg for the Howard Supply Company, of Philadelphia, manufacturers of and dealers in railroad supplies, and this incumbency he has ever since retained, handling the business with that signal ability and discrimination which has given him prestige as a capable business man, while during all the long years of his career in connection with commercial enterprises in Pittsburg he has held the most unequivocal confidence and esteem, in both business and social circles, numbering among his friends many of the representa- tive citizens of both Pittsburg and Allegheny city, in which latter he maintains his home, among the number beng the Hon. Morrison Foster, one of the esteemed associate editors of this work.
In speaking of Mr. Howard, one of his old-time business associates, Mr. Lourie Childs, gives a brief but signally appreciative estimate of his character, in the following words: "I have known him for forty years, and can say that I do not think they make any better men than William N. Howard." Mr. Howard has ever shown marked executive ability, a wonderful capacity for the handling of manifold details, and a business acumen and energy which have made him a valuable factor in whatever connection his services have been enlisted, while he is recognized as one of the most expert accountants in the state.
In politics Mr. Howard has exercised his franchise in support of the principles and policies of the Republican party, from the time when he cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont, in 1856. He is one of the most prominent members of the North Presbyterian church,
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in Allegheny city, being an elder in the same, and his deep Christian faith has ever found expression in his daily life.
On the 18th of September. 1862, Mr. Howard was united in mar- riage to Miss Katharine Wotring. daughter of Hon. Abraham Wotring. of Washington county. this state, and of this union have been born one son and four daughters, namely : Adelaide, who died in infancy ; Mary W .. at home with her parents; William B., of Philadelphia, general manager of the Howard Supply Company ; Minnie 11., wife of T. Hart- ford Gillespie, secretary and assistant treasurer of the Union Steel Com- pany of Pittsburg: and Katharine M., wife of Rev. George M. Ryan. pastor of the Presbyterian church of Saltsburg, Pennsylvania.
WILLIAM HUNTER, M. D.
When a man passes away we look back over the life ended and note its usefulness-its points worthy of emulation and perpetuation. What William Hunter did for his fellow men might, in a manner, be told in words, but in its far-reaching influence cannot be measured. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, being a son of James D. and Nancy (Daugherty) Hunter, natives of Londonderry, Ireland, and there they were married. They came to America in an open sail boat, spending six- teen weeks on the ocean, and during that time encountered many heavy storms and contrary winds, which drove them out of their course and many times almost overpowered their small vessel. At times all hope of reaching land was abandoned, but finally they reached the American shore, and a few days after their arrival here the son William was born. The family made their home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, until about the year 1838. when they removed to Greensburg, that state, and there the father engaged in the manufacture of brick, at which labor his
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son William rendered what assistance he could as a boy, carrying bricks in the moulds and arranging them for drying. James Hunter departed this life in 1851, honored and respected by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance, and his widow afterward made her home with her son William, until she, too, was called to her final rest, her death occur- ring in 1881, when she had reached the age of eighty-four years. She survived her husband for thirty years, during which time she remained true to his memory. This worthy couple were devout Covenanters, and reared their family in that faith.
William Hunter received his elementary educational discipline in the schools of Greensburg, and later matriculated in the Greensburg Academy. At an early age he left home and began work for a neighbor- ing farmer, his cash capital at that time consisting of twenty-five cents. and after some time spent in that capacity he secured employment in a factory where window blinds were made by attaching small strips of wood together. In company with his younger brother, Thomas Hunter, he subsequently opened a furniture store in Greensburg, and while thus engaged he read medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. F. X. Spangler, a homeopathic physician. Entering the Cleveland (Ohio) Homeopathic Medical College, he was graduated from that institution in February, 1864. and he and his brother then disposed of their furni- ture store and Thomas Hunter removed with his family to the state of Indiana. William continued the practice of medicine in Greensburg. Pennsylvania, for a few months, and then with his mother removed to Blairsville. Pennsylvania, he having been the first homeopathic physician to locate in Indiana county. Some years later his brother Thomas died, leaving a family of children, and two weeks later his wife followed him to the grave. Dr. Hunter then went to Indiana and on his return was accompanied by two of the children, George, aged nine years, and Lizzie,
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aged six, whom he cared for as if they were his own. The former read medicine under his preceptorship and later entered the Hahnemann Col- lege in Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1886. and is now in the enjoyment of a large and lucrative practice in Blairsville, Pennsyl- vania. Lizzie, after attending the public schools, entered the Blairsville Female Seminary, where she won success in music. In 1891 she was married to Benjamin Sherriff, of Blairsville, an engineer on the West Pennsylvania Railroad, and they make their home in Blairsville.
Dr. Hunter followed the practice of medicine for many years, and became recognized as one of the most talented members of the profes- sion in the state, having done, perhaps, as much to elevate the standard of medical excellence as any other man. He was at all times a genial gen- tleman. courteous and considerate. of broad humanity, sympathies and tolerance, and possessed of that sincere love for his fellow men without which there can never be the highest success in the medical profession. It is a remarkable fact that during all the years of his practice he never lost but two cases of typhoid fever. After the death of his mother in 1881 he was alone in the world, save for his nephews and nieces, his father, sisters and brothers having preceded him to the Heavenly home. until his marriage, which occurred on the toth of June, 1897, when Miss Millie L. Stouffer became his wife. She is still living. He was a most careful observer of the Sabbath, and spent that day, unless providentially hindered, in attending church service during the morning and evening. the intervening time having been spent in reading and studying the word of God. Whenever it was possible he was found at the Wednesday even- ing prayer-meeting, and was always ready to take an active part in the service. He became connected with the United Presbyterian church of Blairsville, Pennsylvania, on the 25th of June, 1892. by certificate from the Covenanter church at New Alexandria, and was ordained and in-
OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. 435
stalled a ruling elder April 21, 1894. which position he held until his death. He was a man who was very conservative in his ideas, yet most loval to his denomination, a faithful attendant upon the divine ordnance and a most conscientious believer in the principles of Calvinistic theology. He was highly esteemed in the congregation over which he ruled, and will ever be held in memory as one who served God and his fellow men by the will of God.
At the death of Dr. Hunter the following was recorded in the min- utes of the session of the United Presbyterian church : "While we submit in faith to the ever-ruling Providence, who in His wisdom has called him out of life into eternity. yet it is with regret that we part with his congenial manner. wise counsel, mature judgment and Christian fellowship. In Dr. Hunter the church has lost a loyal member, the session a helpful adviser and the community a respected citizen. He is dead. but his works do follow him. The session desires to express, in behalf of the congregation, the deepest sympathy and love for the widowed wife. and pledge her our prayers that the Holy Comforter may grant her sustaining grace and his richest blessings, while we assure her that her husband's name shall always be held in highest esteem by the congregation which he served."
A. P. BURCHFIELD.
The history of western Pennsylvania during the past quarter of a century is an unbroken record of improvement from day to day and year to year, and as monuments to the enterprise of those who have practically made this improvement possible are a score or more of great business organizations, which are not only honored as foremost of such institu- tions of Pennsylvania, but are numbered among the greatest of their
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kind in the country. The Pittsburg Dry-Goods Company, with its an- nual business of over five million dollars, is entitled to rank as one of the leading houses of its kind, and at its head, as is the case in most of the large commercial and industrial concerns of this country, stood. until recently, one who entered life's activities in a humble capacity, but had the energy and perseverance to reach the top.
A. P. Burchfield, first president of the Pittsburg Dry-Goods Com- pany, is the son of Robert C. Burchfield, whose family came to Alle- gheny from the middle part of the state about 1790, and of Susan R. Burchfield, whose people were well known in Bedford county, whence they moved to the west about 1825. A. P. Burchfield was born in Alle- gheny city, Pennsylvania, January 20, 1844, and was educated in the public schools of the third ward of that city. His school days were brief, for at the age of twelve he entered the dry-goods establishment of William Semple, where he remained till 1858. In that year he became connected with the well known dry-goods house of Joseph Horne & Company. of Pittsburg. He was an intelligent and willing employe from the first, and it was not long before he was advanced from one position to another, until, as the years added to his business acumen and experience, he became a member of the firm. February 1, 1866, when little more than twenty-two years old. From that time on the house owed much of its increasing prosperity to Mr. Burchfield. Mr. Horne afterward took charge of the retail department of the business, and Mr. Burchfield of the wholesale, and the latter has since been merged into the great corporation above mentioned. Incorporation was effected in August, 1893, with Mr. Burchfield as president, which office he held until August, 1897. Upon the death of Mr. Joseph Horne, in 1894, Mr. Burchfield was compelled to give much of his attention to the business of Joseph Horne & Company, in which he had large interests, and in 1897 he sev-
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ered his connection with the Pittsburg Dry-Goods Company, and has since given his entire attention to the retail business. In view of the success of both of these establishments it is needless to say that Mr. Burchfield has a thorough knowledge of the dry-goods business, a broad acquaintance with the trade at large, and exercises the best of business judgment in all his transactions.
Mr. Burchfield has also done much for the public welfare of his city. He is vice president of the Western Pennsylvania Exposition So- ciety, and is a director of the Mount Pleasant and Bradford Railroad and the Pittsburg and Mansfield Railroad, is a director of the Pittsburg chamber of commerce, and through these relations and in many other ways has aided the progress and development of this great section, of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Burchfield was one of the defenders of the Union in the Civil war, and for many years has been one of the foremost members of the Grand Army of the Republic. In 1885 he was elected senior vice depart- ment commander, G. A. R., in the department of Pennsylvania, and his excellent services were such as to lead to still further promotion. In 1895 he was made senior vice commander in chief of the national Grand Army, and as such is known to the veterans of the Civil war through- out the United States. Although Mr. Burchfield has thus given his time without stint to these various interests, it is in the business field that he is best known, and where his energies and talents have reached their highest culmination.
In October, 1865, Mr. Burchfield married Miss Sarah J. McWhin- ney, daughter of Matthew McWhinney, a well known merchant of Pitts- burg. They have four children living: Albert H., a member of the firm of Joseph Horne & Company: Mrs. George L. Craig; William H. :
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and Mary P. Burchfield. Mr. Burchfield is a man of domestic tastes, and delights most in the comforts and pleasures of home life.
WILLIAM JENKINSON.
The wonderful opportunities the United States present to men of industry, ability, honesty and integrity have often and at various times been commented upon, but as long as men have hopes and determination to advance and succeed in life the theme will never be exhausted. While the race is not always to the swift or the battle to the strong. the inevit- able law of destiny accords to tireless energy a successful career, and the truth of this assertion is abundantly verified in the life of William Jenkinson, every step in whose career has involved an honorable tribute to industry, humanity and true manhood. While he has not followed the beaten path, his intelligence and ambitien have enabled him to carve his way to a successful career, his prosperity standing as the result of his own efforts and his course having ever been such as to commend him to the confidence and high regard of his fellowmen. As one of the repre- sentative business men of the city of Pittsburg, where he was long actively associated with important commercial enterprises, and as one of the leading citizens of the beautiful suburban town of Bellevue, lying con- tiguous to the city of Allegheny, there is manifest propriety in according him specific mention in this work.
Among the lofty hills in the vale of the Ken. county of Westmore- land. England. is the picturesque borough of Kendal, or Kirkby Kendal, one of the oldest manufacturing towns in the kingdom, and here, on the 30th of June, 1838, was ushered into the world William Jenkinson, the youngest son and only survivor of the six children born to John and Ann (Troughtan) Jenkinson, both of whom were representatives of
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stanch old British stock. John Jenkinson, who was a stone-cutter and contractor by vocation, was reared and educated in his native county of Westmoreland, and there his marriage was solemnized and there four of his children were born.
When William Jenkinson was a child of three years his parents emi- grated to America, and located in Allegheny city, Pennsylvania, where the father continued in the work of his trade until his death, at the un- timely age of thirty-nine years, William having been a mere lad at the time when he was thus deprived of a father's care and guidance. Among the notable contracts that John Jenkinson helped to complete after com- ing to America was the erection of the old court house and the aqueduct over the Allegheny river, in the city of Pittsburg. His son William, several years ago visited the old home of the family in Kendal, England, and there he was gratified to hear the words of esteem and apprecia- tion uttered by old friends and neighbors of his father, whom they uniformly pronounced to have been a man of impregnable integrity and marked ability and a master workman in the line of his vocation. Such a tribute could not but be grateful to his son, whose memories of his honored sire were but those of childhood days. John Jenkinson was a. devoted member of the Methodist Protestant church, and his life, cut off in its very prime, was one of signal usefulness and honor. His wife survived him many years, passing away at the age of seventy-six years, a noble Christian woman, devoted to her home and to her children.
The early educational advantages of William Jenkinson were such as were afforded in the fourth ward school of the city of AAllegheny, but he very early began to depend upon his own resources, and to assist in the maintenance of the family. At the age of ten years he secured employment in the tobacco house of W. & D. Rinehart, of Pittsburg,
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with whom he remained until he had attained the age of twenty-three years, thus gaining a practical knowledge of that line of enterprise along which he was himself to attain a noteworthy success and commercial prestige. At the carly age noted. in 1861, while still a mere lad. Mr. Jenkinson engaged in the tobacco business on his own responsibility. associating himself with his brother Richard and opening a modest es- tablishment in the city of Allegheny, under the firm name of R. & W. Jenkinson. The enterprise, whose inception was such as to scarcely afford an carnest of the marked precedence which was to come with the passing years, was carried forward with energy, discrimination and ability, while the highest business ethics were rigorously observed from the start. thus gaining to the firm a reputation for reliability and fidelity. The business continued to expand in scope and importance and eventually became the largest of the sort in western Pennsylvania, the establish- ment having ample and well equipped quarters for the manufacturing and wholesaling departments, and the products being invariably of the best quality consistent with prices involved. The senior member of the firm died in 1876, and thereafter the entire management and control of the business devolved upon William Jenkinson, who continued to super- vise the important and extensive interests of the concern until 1890. when the organization of a stock company was effected and the business duly incorporated, under the laws of the state, as the R. & W. Jenkinson Company. At this time, after a long and honorable career as a repre- sentative business man of the city and state, Mr. Jenkinson retired from active duty in connection with the important enterprise, with whose founding and building up he had been so intimately identified. and the business is now entrusted to the management of Alexander and John Jenkinson, sons of his brother Richard, while our subject still retains his capitalistic interest in the enterprise. In addition to their large fac-
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tory the company maintains numerons wholesale and retail establish- ments, in divers parts of the state, and the concern is known throughout Pennsylvania as one of the leading houses of the sort within the con- fines of the commonwealth, controlling a business of wide scope and im- portance and representing one of the prominent commercial enterprises of the city of Pittsburg, where the headquarters have been maintained for twoscore years.
With the founding and material upbuikling of the beautiful suburb of Bellevue, where he has a commodious and attractive residence of modern architectural design and equipments. Mr. Jenkinson has been intimately identified, and is one of its most honored and public-spirited citizens, ever standing ready to lend his aid and influence in support of all projects and legitimate enterprises calculated to enhance the attrac- tiveness of the town and promote the general welfare of the community. Here he has extensive real estate interests, and is also president of the Bellevue National Bank, which, by the time this work is issued from the press, will have been reorganized as the Bellevue Title and Trust and Savings Bank. In political matters Mr. Jenkinson maintains an inde- pendent attitude, preferring to follow the dictates of his judgment in the support of men and measures rather than to be restricted by closely drawn partisan lines, though for many years he was identified with the Republican party, of whose basic principles he is still an advocate. He is a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church, holding member- ship in the Church of the Epiphany, in his home town, while his inter- est in the cause of education has been vital and insistent, and he is now incumbent of the office of treasurer of the Bellevue board of education. His beautiful home is one of the most attractive in this fine suburb, whose people are of the best class of citizens and appreciative of the restful charms and many advantages here to be enjoyed. The town has
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local option and has from the start prohibited the sale of intoxicating liquors within its corporate limits.
The following estimate of Mr. Jenkinson is given by Mr. W. P. Herbert, treasurer of the Western Insurance Company, of Pittsburg : "I have known him for forty years, and know him to be a man of quiet tastes and good business ability. He has done perhaps more for the improvement of Bellevue than any other one man. He has built many houses and superintended the work, and his improvements are of the best order."
In 1878 Mr. Jenkinson wedded Miss Anna C. Claney, of Bellevue. a daughter of Samuel Claney, who was for many years a trusted em- ploye of the Bank of Pittsburg. and a man honored for his sterling worth of character. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jenkin- son four are living, namely : Richard. Margaretta, William and Anna. all young people and yet unmarried. Mrs. Jenkinson is a devoted church- woman, being a communicant of the Church of the Epiphany, and active in parish work. The family are prominent in the best social life of their home town, and their residence is a center of gracious and refined hospitality, the courteous amenities of life being there in distinctive evi- dence, while there also is found a home life of ideal character.
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