USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Genealogical and personal history of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 15
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(V) William Elliott White, fourth child and second son of Chant- berlain and Sarah M. (Elliott) White, was born in Beaver Falls, Penn- sylvania, May 24, 1876. Until he was fifteen years of age his life ex- perience was confined to the school room, after which he was employed as driver of an express delivery, in which capacity he worked until the outbreak of the Spanish-American War. Enlisting in Company B, Tenth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, he was transported to the Philippine Islands and there served for sixteen months, holding the rank of corporal. Upon his return from the islands he became relief agent in the employ of the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad, remaining with that road for eight years. In 1911 he leased and remodeled the building at No. 1123 Seventh avenue, and there established a moving picture show, the capacity of his house being three hundred, and has since continued in business. His theatre, named the Colonial, has been a success from the start, is maintained upon a high plane, and is patronized by the city's most desirable element. In addition to the censorship exercised by the commission governing such productions, Mr. White personally makes an inspection of the nature of the films shown at his theatre, and nothing of an immoral or suggestive nature appears upon his screen. Such care in the management of the theatre is appreciated by a public loving untainted amusement, and its appreciation is shown by a steady attendance that has marked his venture with the sign of success. As a Republican he has been elected a member of the council of Beaver Falls. He is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Modern Woodmen of
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the World, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Order of Reindeer, and the Independent Volunteer Fire Company.
Mr. White married, October 16, 1902, Elizabeth Patience Houlette, born at New Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Hugh and Lillian (Preble) Houlette. Hugh Houlette is a contractor, born in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, his wife a native of West Virginia. Chil- dren of Hugh and Lillian (Preble) Houlette: I. Elizabeth Patience, mar- ried William Elliott White, both of previous mention. 2. Ellen M., mar- ried Stanley L. Gemmill, and lives in New Sewickley township, Beaver county, where her husband is a farmer; one child, Jane. 3. William O., a resident of Rochester, Pennsylvania. 4. Lucile, lives at home. 5. Joseph, lives at home. 6. Lillian, deceased. Child of William Elliott and Elizabeth Patience (Houlette) White, Hugh Chamberlain.
(III) Robert White, son of John and Elizabeth (Kelso) White, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, December 8, 1816, died on the homestead where he was born, January 10, 1898. He grew to manhood in White township, Beaver county, attending a school conducted by Samp- son McDaniel and standing in a clearing in his property. The building was constructed of logs, light being admitted through greased paper win- dows, rough slabs serving as desks and rude benches, without backs, as seats. The materials for study were as primitive as those for comfort, the only text-books being a speller and the Bible, mathematics and other branches being brought on demand from the cavernous recesses of the instructor's brain, his simple word making rules immovable, laws abso- lute. One of Robert's brothers, John, afterward taught in this building. Here it was that Robert White obtained most of his education, and the fact that never in his later life did he find cause for embarrassment in the meagreness of his learning reflects credit both upon the teacher and the youth who imbibed the teachings so eagerly. He lived on his father's farm until he had reached man's estate, engaged in farming, later learning the stone mason's trade and being employed in the building of the dams for the Beaver Canal. He then turned his attention and talents to railroad contracting, and had charge of the construction of a division of the Pan Handle Railroad. In 1854 he journeyed to Panama to assist in the build- ing of the railroad across the isthmus, but after only a month in that region the climate and its concomitant ills caused him to abandon his work as not only unhealthful, but dangerous to life. The change that the en- gineers of the United States have effected during the occupation of that zone by our citizens in the building of the Panama Canal is strikingly shown by the fact that, in direct contrast to the experience of Mr. White, thousands of natives of the United States live in that country the year round, suffering no more ill effects than if they were in their own homes for the same length of time. Health and cleanliness have followed sick- ness and squalor, the myriad hosts of contagion and disease retreating before the trained forces of scientific sanitation. Leaving Panama he
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spent two years gold prospecting in California, meeting with good suc- cess, and in 1856 returned to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, acquiring title: to one hundred and six acres of the homestead farm and there living; until his death. He was a strong supporter of Democratic policies, ever active in the party organization, holding numerous township and county offices, from 1872 to 1874, inclusive, serving as jury commissioner.
He married Margaret A. Walker, born at Walker's Mills, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, November 30, 1836, now living on the old home- stead in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, daughter of John and Isabelle (Wal- ker) Walker, both natives of Robinson township, Allegheny county, Penn- sylvania. The Walkers were of Scotch-Irish descent, having been residents. in the United States for several generations. John Walker's grandfather, together with two brothers and two sisters, were taken captive by Indian allies of the British and taken to Canada, where they were detained until the close of the war. Disturbing as this was to their relatives and friends their fate was a happy one in comparison to those of hundreds who met death as their portion at the hands of the savages. John Walker was a. farmer all his life and a member of the Presbyterian Church. The old. family home was in Pittsburgh, the street now known as Butler. Children. of John and Isabelle (Walker) Walker: 1. Margaret A., of previous, mention, married Robert White. 2. William, a veteran of the Civil War,. a farmer, lives retired in Missouri. 3. Sarah, married Daniel Rice, ani undertaker, and lives in Indiana. 4. Anna, married and lives in the west .. 5. Alice, married a Mr. Greer, and lives in Illinois. 6. Georgia, married! a brother of the husband of her sister, Alice, and lives on a farm in Iowa, 7. Addison J., a contractor of Lakeland, Florida. Children of Robert and Margaret A. (Walker) White: 1. John, of whom further. 2. Elizabeth, married Daniel Cunning, a contractor, and lives in Los Angeles, California. 3. Isabelle, married D. C. Wallace, a retired real estate dealer of Los Angeles, California, where he resides. 4. Mary J.,. married T. E. Morgan, a contractor of Morado, Beaver county, Pennsyl- vania, where they live on the old homestead. 5. Margaret, died aged? twenty-two years. 6. Anna, married Glene Wallace, a real estate dealer, and lives in College Hill, Pennsylvania. 7. Sarah, married Howard Littell, and lives on the White homestead. 8. Robert Jr., a contractor and builder of Parkersburg, West Virginia.
(IV) John (2) White, eldest of the children of Robert and Margaret A. (Walker) White, was born in what was then Chippewa, now White township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, November 9, 1858. He attended the public schools of Chippewa township, the school being named the White Schoolhouse. Until he attained his majority he was employed om the home farm, then accepted a position as clerk in the Five and Ten Cent Store of D. C. McCann, after one year purchasing another estab- lishment of the same nature, which he conducted for twelve years with excellent success. Since that time he has lived in retirement because of
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ill-health. He has acquired real estate holdings of value, and is president of the Grand View Cemetery Association. His fraternities are the Modern Woodmen of America, the Royal Arcanum, and the National Union.
Mr. White married, June 2, 1885, Anna Williams, a native of Coving- ton, Kentucky, daughter of William Williams, who was until his death engaged in steel manufacturing. John and Anna (Williams) White are the parents of one child, Verna, born in July, 1888, lives at home.
The pioneers of the Couch family in Beaver county, Pennsyl-
COUCH vania, were Nathan and Emily (Light) Couch, who settled in that locality at an early date and there spent their entire lives, with the exception of a short residence in Allegheny county, whence they came. They were the parents of: Orlando H., of whom further; William Addison, Edward, Sophia, Catherine.
(II) Orlando H. Couch, son of Nathan and Emily (Light) Couch, was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, in 1829, died in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. He was reared in his native county, and was educated in the common schools, as a boy obtaining a position in a woolen manufac- turing establishment. During the Civil War he was employed as a railroad engineer, and for ten years afterward successfully engaged in the mer- cantile business, in 1884, coming to New Brighton, Beaver county, Penn- sylvania, where he became the proprietor of a furniture store, also con- ducting an undertaking business. He was a Democrat in political affiliation. He married Charlotte Dunbar, born near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1830, daughter of David and Esther (Duey) Dunbar. David Dunbar died in Philadelphia and his widow married (second) John Squires, a native of England, one of the first residents of New Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he died August 15, 1859, her death occurring in the same place, March 9, 1884, when she was eighty years of age. Esther was a daughter of Jacob and Anna (Myers) Duey, who settled at Darby, Chester county, Pennsylvania. Jacob Duey was one hundred and four years of age when he died, and his wife had performed domestic services for the British soldiers quartered in that locality at the time of the Re- volutionary War. Children of Jacob and Anna (Myers) Duey: William, Adam, Albert, Richard, Eliza, Anna, Esther, of previous mention, married David Dunbar, and Charlotte. Children of Orlando H. and Charlotte (Dunbar) Couch: Esther Emily, born December 9, 1850; John S., January 14, 1853; Nathan A., of whom further; David D., July 10, 1857, died June 24, 1895; Charlotte Ann, December 9, 1859; Eliza S., May 2, 1862, died March 29, 1909; Mary A., October 11, 1864, died February 26 1894; Orlando R. March 25, 1867.
(III) Nathan A. Couch, second son and third child of Orlando H. and Charlotte (Dunbar) Couch, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, January 19, 1855, died in New Brighton, that county, December 27, 1911.
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The public schools of the county were the institutions in which he received his school training, and soon after completing his studies he learned the cabinet-maker's trade under the instruction of a Mr. Algoe, of Beaver Falls, and at once came to New Brighton, Pennsylvania, where he opened a furniture store and an undertaking establishment. In this place he con- tinued in business until his death, prospering and becoming well-known and liked. He was a Democrat in politics, never entering public life, and held membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, that also being the faith of his wife. He belonged to New Brighton Lodge, No. 259, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he was treasurer from December 27, 1896, until his death, and also was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, the Woodmen of the World, and the Royal Arcanum.
Mr. Couch married Matilda Catherine Smith, born near Hamburg, Pennsylvania, October 31, 1854, daughter of Samuel C. and Matilda Cath- erine (Page) Smith, both born near Hamburg, Pennsylvania, he in 1816, she the following year. Her parents moved to Pittsburgh after the close of the Civil War, in 1867 moving to Beaver county, and after a two years resi- dence in that locality went to Illinois, returning later to Beaver county, Pennsylvania. Samuel C. Smith died in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, in 1907, his wife dying in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, in 1892. Children of Samuel C. and Matilda Catherine (Page) Smith: Elizabeth, born August 23, 1838; William Hanson, March 18, 1840; George Washington, June 25, 1843; Mary Ann, March 2, 1845; Samuel K., June 18, 1848; Matilda Catherine, of previous mention, married Nathan A. Couch; Heze- kiah, February 8, 1857; Rebecca J., January 25, 1864. Children of Nathan A. and Matilda Catherine (Smith) Couch: Addie E .; Charles C., of whom further; Alfred S., of Beaver Falls; Beaumont, lives at home.
(IV) Charles C. Couch, eldest son and second child of Nathan A. and Matilda Catherine (Smith) Couch, was born in New Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, July 11, 1882. He was a student in the public schools of that place, and when he reached his majority entered the rail- road employ and was so associated for nearly five years, at the end of which time he entered business with his father. At the death of the elder Couch, Charles C. Couch succeeded in control of the business and has since been sole proprietor, ably continuing the business established by his father and in every way maintaining the high standards of service erected at the time of its founding. His business ranks well up among those of like nature in New Brighton, and holds the patronage of a class of trade desirable in the extreme. He is a loyal Democrat, and is prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of Union Lodge, No. 259, Pittsburgh Chapter, Lodge of Perfection of New Castle, Pennsylvania, holding the thirty-second degree. His other memberships are in the Knights of Pythias, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, the Royal Arcanum, and the American Insurance Union.
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Mr. Couch married, February 18, 1913, Mabel E. Knowles, born in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania, December 23, 1888, daughter of John Knowles, born in England, who came to Sharpsville, Pennsylvania, in 1888, later moving to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, where he resides at the present time.
BESTWICK The name of Bestwick, although not at all common, ap- pears to be borne by a number of distinct families in various parts of the country, and even these are not of common national origin.
(I) Henry Bestwick was born in Derbyshire, England, in 1808, died in 1876. He emigrated to the United States about the year 1840, locating at what is now New Brighton, Pennsylvania. He brought his tin shop to this locality in a canal boat, and was engaged in this business many years. He owned the ground on which the Western Union Telegraph building is now located, and almost all of his children were born there. He was a very successful business man, and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. Bestwick married Mary Kaye, born in Derbyshire, England, in 1810, died in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, in 1884. Children: Isaac, Rachel, Jacob, Reuben, Sarah, Abraham, of fur- ther mention.
(II) Abraham Bestwick son of Henry and Mary (Kaye) Bestwick, was born in Derbyshire, England, in 1835, died July 8, 1889. He was a tinner by trade, and all the active years of his life was engaged in this business and that of house furnishing, in later years also adding hardware to his stock. After his death his eldest son continued the business for a time, after which it was taken up by his son, George A. Mr. Bestwick was a Democrat and a Prohibitionist, and for a number of years lectured in the cause of temperance. He was grand worthy chief of Good Templars of Pennsylvania. During the Civil War he was in active service for a time. Mr. Bestwick married Sarah Boswell, born in Nottinghamshire, England, in 1833, died July 1, 1887, daughter of George and Millicent Boswell. They had children: John, deceased; Mary; Edward, deceased; David; Eva; Olivia, deceased; George A., of further mention; Ella, de- ceased; Percy, deceased; Abraham.
(III) George A. Bestwick, son of Abraham and Sarah (Boswell) Bestwick, was born in New Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, No- vember 21, 1869. The public schools of his township furnished him with a suitable education, and when he had completed this he took up the trade of tinning under the supervision of his father. Some time after the death of his father he assumed charge of the business in which the latter had been interested, and now owns the stores at Nos. 900 and 902 Third ave- nue. His private residence at No. 816 Sixth avenue is also his own property. He is Republican in politics, was a member of the fire depart-
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ment for a period of twenty years, and is a member of the Independent Order of Americans and the Senior Order of United American Mechanics. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. Bestwick married, in October, 1891, Nora Garber, born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1872, daughter of James S. and Sarah (Main) Garber, a sketch of whose ancestry is subjoined. Children: Erma Grace, born June 24, 1892; Willard Francis, born December 16, 1894, died Feb- ruary, 1903; Wayne Frederick, born November 26, 1903.
(The Garber Line.)
(I) Leonard Garber was born east of the mountains, and settled in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, at an early date. There he spent the re- mainder of his life. He married, and had children: William, James, Emanuel, Aaron, Samuel, of further mention; Hannah.
(II) Samuel Garber, son of Leonard Garber, was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, died in 1896. He was a farmer by occupation, a Republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married Mary Ann Black, who also died in 1896, and they had children: William, James S., of further mention; Henry, John, Theodore, Rebecca, Sarah, Mary, Alice.
(III) James S. Garber, son of Samuel and Mary Ann (Black) Garber, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1844, was a quarryman, and followed this calling twenty-eight years, in the employ of Thomas Ritchie, of Homewood. He was a Democrat politically, and he and his wife were members of the Church of God. He married, October, 1872, Sarah Main, born near Elwood, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1851, daughter of Jordan and Rosanna (Deems) Main, and granddaughter of Nicholas Main, a pioneer settler of Beaver county ; sister of Nicholas, Mahala Jane, Andrew J., Cecelia, Adam, Joseph, Nancy, Mary, Theodore. Mr. and Mrs. Garber had children: Nora, who married George A. Bestwick (see Bestwick III.) ; William H., of further mention; Alice, married Clyde Lynn, of New Brighton, Pennsylvania; Florence, deceased; Maggie and Nettie, deceased. The Mains came originally from Germany.
(IV) William H. Garber, son of James S. and Sarah (Main) Garber, was born in North Sewickley township, Pennsylvania, on a farm, October 20, 1873. He was six years of age when he was brought to New Brighton, and was educated in the public schools. He worked at various occupa- tions, being for some years in the employ of J. D. Martsolf, and then obtained a position on the police force of the town. In 1903 he was ap- pointed chief of police, and filled this position for almost eight years. Since that time he has served as constable. In political matters he is a Republican, and he is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Order of Moose, Police Association and the Protective Home Circle. Mr. Garber married, October 23, 1895, Hannah Nye, of Beaver county, Penn- sylvania, and they had one daughter, Leota, born in 1896, died at the age of six years.
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Samuel Mecklem, born in the eastern part of Pennsyl-
MECKLEM vania, came to Beaver county, Pennsylvania, with his young wife, and located at Brush Creek about the year 1800. They cleared the land and converted it into a farm. His wife was Rachel (McDaniel) Mecklem, also born in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch-Irish descent. They had children: William, see forward; Gideon, Jethram, Smith, Archibald, Rachel, Sarah, Eliza.
(II) William Mecklem, son of Samuel and Rachel (McDaniel) Meck- lem, was a farmer at Brush Creek, Pennsylvania. He married Nancy Strock, daughter of Matthias and Lydia Strock, of Brush Creek, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where the former was also engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Strock had children: George, David, John, Lillian, Nancy, men- tioned above, Catherine. William and Nancy (Strock) Mecklem had chil- dren: Matthias, see forward; Samuel, Rachel, Joseph, Lydia, John.
(III) Matthias Mecklem, son of William and Nancy (Strock) Meck- lem, received his education in the public schools of Beaver county, Penn- sylvania, and at the age of seventeen years went to Pittsburgh, where he was at first a clerk and later a merchant. In 1854 or 1855 he went to Darlington, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he established a general store and conducted this until 1869. He then removed to North Sewickley, Beaver county, where he continued in the same line of business until his death in 1874. He was a staunch Republican and cast his first vote for Fremont. Strongly in favor of the Abolition party, he lent material as- sistance to the various "underground railways." A firm believer in the tenets of the Baptist denomination, he held undeviatingly to his faith in a community where he was the only one of this sect. Mr. Mecklem mar- ried Mary Hunter. John Hunter, father of Mrs. Mecklem, was born near Unionville, Pennsylvania, and married Ella Wines, born near Little Wash- ington. Enoch Hunter, grandfather of Mrs. Mecklem, was of Irish des- cent, and married Mary Musser, who had German ancestors. He settled near Unionville at an early date and there reared his family. William, a brother of Enoch Hunter, was active during the Civil War, was confined in Andersonville Prison, and was liberated when almost dead. Another brother, Abraham Hunter, lost a leg at the battle of the Wilderness. Chil- dren of Matthias and Mary (Hunter) Mecklem: Nancy; Eliza, deceased; Addison; a twin of Addison who died in infancy; William J .; Joseph, see forward; Sarah, twin of Joseph; Rachel; Samuel, deceased; Lester O., see forward.
(IV) Joseph Mecklem, son of Matthias and Mary (Hunter) Mecklem, was born in Rochester, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, November 17, 1872. He was educated in his native city, and from early years became familiar with the details of the contracting business. For a number of years he was associated with his father, and in 1903 established himself in business independently, and conducted it alone until February 1, 1913. The firm of Mecklem Brothers was then organized, this including his two brothers,
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William J. and Lester O. They are general contractors and dealers in builders' supplies, and they have the most prosperous lumber yard and mill in that section. Their place is located in North Rochester, and they have done much of the city construction work, among the buildings erected by them being the Wahl and Doyle Building, the Eagle Building, the City Building, and the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Mecklem is a Dem- ocrat, and while he gives earnest attention to all question of public import, he has never desired to hold public office. He is a member of the United Pres- byterian Church, and of the following fraternal organizations: Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, Patrons of the Home Circle, Knights of the Golden Eagle, and Workmen of the World. Mr. Mecklem married, March I, 1891, Lily F., daughter of Jackson Brewer, and they have had children : Hazel A., Arthur J., Charles C., Helen A., all of whom attend school.
(IV) Lester O. Mecklem, youngest child of Matthias and Mary (Hunter) Mecklem, was born in Rochester, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. He received his education in Rochester, and learned the carpenter's trade with his brother Joseph. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and also of the Workmen of the World. For some time he has been a member of the firm of Mecklem Brothers, mentioned above. Mr. Mecklem married, January 6, 1904, Bessie, born near Alton, Illinois, daugh- ter of P. Henry Young, whose calling is that of glass blowing. They have one child, Paul.
The Welsh family of Porter, represented in Pennsylvania PORTER by Enos Hadsell Porter, descends from the stock claimed by John Balfour Porter, of England, as his ancestral line, the first of the name in the United States being Grandfather Porter, who was a participant in the second war with Great Britain. He was a resident of Indiana, enlisting in a regiment recruited in that state. At the time of the Civil War he was too old for service, his death occurring while that conflict was in progress, that of his wife taking place soon after its close. Both were members of the sect that was afterward known as the Disciples of Christ. They were the parents of seven children: Thomas, lives retired in Wauseon, Ohio; William, died in Fulton county, Ohio; Sarah, married John Dakon, and died in Michigan; Benjamin F., of whom further; Enoch, lives in Wauseon, Ohio, retired; Joseph, a resident of Toledo, Ohio; John, lives near Cripple Creek, Colorado.
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