USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Genealogical and personal history of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 42
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WOOLSLAYER Louis Woolslayer, the founder of the family in this country, was born in Alsace-Lorraine, November 30, 1837, died in Beaver Falls, Beaver county, Pennsyl- vania, March 29, 1894. He was but a few years old when deprived by death of both of his parents, and at seven years of age he was brought to America by his elder brother, Joseph, who has now for many years been living at Stevens' Point, Wisconsin. Louis Woolslayer grew up in Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania, where he became an axe polisher. After his mar- riage he removed to the neighborhood of Marietta, Ohio, where he bought a farm and lived until 1876. In that year his wife died, one month later his barn was destroyed by fire, and a few weeks later his crops were rendered a total loss by a heavy flood. After this series of disasters he re- turned to Pittsburgh, where he resumed his trade of axe polishing, and continued it until 1889, when he removed to Beaver Falls. There he con- tinued axe polishing for the American Axe Company until his death. He was a prosperous man and owned a quantity of valuable property in Pitts- burgh and in Beaver Falls. Politically he was a Democrat, and he and his wife were consistent workers in behalf of the Catholic Church. Mr. Woolslayer married, November 23, 1858, Letta Kirstians, who was born in Pittsburgh, May 15, 1838, died at Marietta, Ohio, June 15, 1876. They had children: Anna Margaretha, born October 2, 1859, married Arthur Ford, and lives in Meherrin, Virginia; John Peter, born September 6, 1861, a polisher by trade, and lives in Beaver Falls; Ignatz, born June 15, 1863, a stationary engineer, and lives in Pittsburgh; Helena, born July 25, 1865, married John McDermott, lives in Braddock, Pennsylvania ; John, born September 6, 1867, a hotel proprietor in the Allegheny Mountains; Louis, born June 17, died July 10, 1870; Frederick Joseph, born April 18, 1871, a machinist, lives in Beaver Falls; George, of further mention; Johanna, born June 3, died July 13, 1876.
(II) George Woolslayer, sixth son and eighth child of Louis and Letta (Kirstians) Woolslayer, was born in Marietta, Ohio, July 22, 1873. He was sent to the Holy Trinity Parochial School in Pittsburgh, and there acquired a substantial and practical education. Upon its completion he was apprenticed to learn the barber's trade, a calling he followed with success for a period of fourteen years. He then commenced working in an axe factory and had been there just one year when the Spanish-American War
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broke out, and Mr. Woolslayer at once volunteered his services. He en- listed, April 27, 1898, in Company B, Tenth Regiment National Guard of Pennsylvania, and was mustered into the United States service, at Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania, May 15, of that year. He went to Manila, re- turning in August, 1899, and was mustered out on the 22nd of that month. He participated in the entire Philippine campaign, including the battle of Malate, July 31, 1898, and the advance on and capture of Manila, August 13, 1898. He was also in service, on the firing line, during the Philippine Insurrection, from February 4 until June 30. Having con- tracted malaria, he was sent to the hospital, and was obliged to stay there until two weeks prior to his return to this country. After his return he worked in the service of the street railway company for four years in Pittsburgh, then removed to Beaver Falls, where he opened a restaurant at No. 1606 Seventh avenue, which he has conducted very successfully since that time. He has always given his political allegiance to the Republican party, and was active in local political affairs until he entered the civil service. Prior to that time he had served three terms as a county com- mitteeman, and seven terms as a member of the election board. On August 26, 1910, he was appointed a substitute rural free delivery carrier, and was appointed a regular carrier, January 1, 1912, and since then has devoted the greater part of his time to this responsible position, also attending to the management of his restaurant. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and of the Knights of St. George. He is also a member of the Holy Name Society and the Sacred Heart Society, and he and his wife are very active in the interests of the Catholic Church, of which they are de- vout members.
Mr. Woolslayer married, January 16, 1900, Elizabeth Renger, born in Bloomfield, Pittsburgh, daughter of Bernard and Elizabeth (Weady) Ren- ger. Mr. and Mrs. Renger were married in their native land, Germany, came to the United States in 1866 and located in Pittsburgh, remaining there until 1891, when they removed to Beaver Falls, and have since been residents of that town. Recently they celebrated their golden wedding, which was an occasion of note. A Saturday solemn high mass was cele- brated at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, after which an elaborate wedding breakfast was served at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Wool- slayer, and later in the day an equally elaborate dinner was served at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Renger. Eighteen of their descendants were present at the festivities, among them being their three children: Mrs. Woolslayer; Bernard Renger, of Sharpsburg; Henry Renger, of Beaver Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Woolslayer have had children: Marcella Elizabeth, born November 12, 1900; Raymond Bernard, October 26, 1902; Frances Catherine, Sep- tember 16, 1904; Joseph, died at the age of one year and eleven months; Clara Anna, died at the age of six months; George, was one day old at the time of his death.
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The name of Dillan is but another form of Dillon, and both DILLAN are frequently to be met with in this country. It is said that all bearing either of these names are descendants of Lochan or Logan Delune, or Delion, a descendant of one of the monarchs of Ireland. According to the Breton annals and records, the barons and seigneurs of Brittany rose in arms against Henry II. when he virtually annexed their country. The De Leons were the principal leaders in the revolt, were over- powered, and were compelled to give hostages for their future good be- havior. These hostages were sent to Ireland, according to family tradi- tions, and one of them became the progenitor of all who bear the name at the present day. It is a name of great note in the counties of Meath, Westmeath, Longford, Roscommon, Mayo and other parts of Ireland, where, and in many foreign countries, some representatives have flourished in the highest departments of the church and state. Just when this par- ticular branch of the Dillan family came to America is not of record, but they have been resident in the state of Pennsylvania for a number of generations.
(I) James Dillan was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, died in 1864 or 1865, at the age of about eighty-five years. He settled in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, after his marriage, and there purchased a farm of one hundred and sixteen acres in Big Beaver township, this now being owned by a great-grandson, Albert Thompson. The land was a wilderness at the time of purchase, more than a century ago, and Mr. Dillan, with the assistance of his sons cleared a large portion of it and converted it into good farming land. He built a substantial log house on the run, which he re- placed in 1818 with a good frame residence. There both he and his wife died. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a staunch Whig until the organization of the Republican party, when he joined the ranks of that body. Mr. Dillan married Catherine Naugle and had children: John; Price, a farmer, died in Illinois; Reed, who was in active service during the Civil War, died from the effects of the ex- posure during that period after he returned to his home; James, of further mention; Cynthia, married Jonathan Lawrence and died in the West; Melinda, married, and also died in the West; Catherine, married and re- moved to Iowa, where she died.
(II) James (2) Dillan, son of James (1) and Catherine (Naugle) Dillan, was born in Big Beaver township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1818, died about 1899. He very naturally became a farmer, and in the course of time bought the rights of the other heirs to the homestead prop- erty and lived there until his end. He always supported the Republican party, and served as supervisor and as school director. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married Barbara Ann Smith, born in Big Beaver township in 1825, died on the homestead in 1891. She was a daughter of Joseph Smith, of Pennsylvania-Dutch or German descent, who came to Beaver county when young and settled there
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after his marriage at Homewood, there following the blacksmith's trade. He became the owner of about four hundred acres of land, and died there aged about seventy-two years. He was a Republican, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married Margaret Showalter, who died at about the age of eighty years, and they had children: John, em- ployed on the railroad, died in New Castle, Pennsylvania; Barbara A., mar- ried James Dillan, as mentioned above; Kate, married William Foster, and died at Homewood, Pennsylvania; Margaret, married John J. Freed, and died at Homewood; Jane, married C. C. Wallace, and died at Moravia; William, killed in the battle of the Wilderness. Mr. and Mrs. Dillan had children : Catherine Belinda, married Wiley Thompson, and died in Morado, Pennsylvania; Francis, died in Iowa; Mary, died in infancy; Joseph, a farmer, died in Beaver Falls; Price C., a conductor on the Pennsylvania Railroad, lives in Beaver Falls; James Monroe, of further mention; an unnamed infant; Margaret, died unmarried at the age of forty-two; Beulah, married Charles Hoskison, and lives in Columbiana, Ohio; Elizabeth, mar- ried Henry Sechrist, and lives at College Hill, Beaver Falls; Sarah, mar- ried William J. McClure, and lives in Beaver Falls; William Fletcher, died at the age of nineteen years; John W., was a brakeman, and was killed on the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad.
(III) James Monroe Dillan, son of James (2) and Barbara Ann (Smith) Dillan, was born in Big Beaver township, Beaver county, Penn- sylvania, March 13, 1855. He attended the public schools of his section, being obliged to walk three miles every day in order to acquire his educa- tion, and was raised on the farm. Upon the completion of his education he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade, then settled at Beaver Falls, and for twenty-two years was engaged in the general contracting business. He built the Catholic Church at Hoytdale, and many private resi- dences, especially in the neighborhood where his early years had been spent. His own home, which is a fine specimen of his work, was erected in 1906, is built of buff brick, and is at No. 4609 Fourth avenue, College Hill borough. In that year be abandoned contract work, entering the em- ploy of the Union Drawn Steel Works, and is now with the Standard Scale and Supply Company. In addition to this he does millwright work, and in association with William Lynch set in place all the machinery for the Fourth Street Plant of the Union Drawn Steel Works. After the death of his father he bought the homestead, lived on it ten months, con- ducting a dairy during this time, and after keeping this land three years he sold it. Formerly he was a Republican in politics, but is now an Inde- pendent. He has served two terms as councilman for College Hill borough, but not successive terms. His religious affiliation is with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife is also a member.
Mr. Dillan married, January 1, 1879, Mary E. Thompson, born in Chippewa township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Anthony and Eliza (Barnes) Thompson, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Dillan
AdamMamman
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have had children: 1. Frank, who was killed while walking on the tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad, February 6, 1907; he married Martha Sald- yard, and had children: Helen; Harry, deceased; Ruth; Frank. 2. Clara, married Thomas Edward, a riveter, and lives with her parents; they have no children.
KORNMAN In all probability the earlier generations of this German family added another terminal "n," but the American members of the family have adopted as the standard spell- ing Kornman, omitting the final "n" of the original name.
(I) Frederick Kornman, father of Adam Kornman, came to the United States from Germany, his birthplace, when he was sixteen years old, and settled in Freedom, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. He here established a blacksmith shop and followed the trade he had learned under the teaching of his father, a mechanic of skill and thorough training, taught in the old German method, which familiarized an artisan with every detail of his craft. After a few years residence in this town he moved to the neighbor- ing city, Pittsburgh, and continued in the pursuit of his occupation. In 1867 he returned to Beaver county and purchased a farm in New Sewickley township, on which he still lives. Although unaccustomed to agricultural pursuits he nevertheless speedily adapted himself to his new surroundings and met with decided success in his farming operations. He was well trained for the exhausting labor in the fields by his work at the forge and obtained excellent results from his untiring toil, which he directed intelli- gently, soon learning the numerous primary lessons of farming, and in due time those more advanced.
He married Barbara Chestler, a native of Germany, who died May 22, 1913. Children of Frederick and Barbara Kornman: Mary Ann, Jean- nette, Frederick, Adam, of whom further; Catherine, died in October, 1912; George, Charles, Margaret, John.
(II) Adam Kornman, son of Frederick and Barbara (Chestler) Korn- man, was born in Pittsburgh, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, November 3, 1864. He attended and obtained his education in the common schools of Beaver county, whither his parents had moved when he was three years of age, and when a young man followed farming in that same locality. From 1903 to 1905, inclusive, he conducted a feed store in Rochester and for the three following years he managed the Rochester Brewery. In 1907 he erected the Hotel Woodlawn and for the three years following was proprietor of the same, then he entered the oil business, in which he still continues. On August 21, 1913, he opened the Majestic Theatre, and be- came its general manager, continuing until February 9, 1914, when he sold his interest. Besides his connections with the oil producing industry, Mr. Kornman is a large holder of real estate in the county, and has conducted extensive dealings in this business. Active, alert and progressive, he has seized every opportunity for advancement and has gained by his own
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efforts a prominent place in the affairs of the region in which he lives. He is a communicant of the German Lutheran faith and affiliates with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and Fraternal Order of Eagles. His political sympathies are Republican and when he was but twenty-one years of age he held the office of school director in New Sewickley township.
Mr. Kornman married, March 1, 1893, Elizabeth E. Lotz, of Union- ville, Pennsylvania, who died October 16, 1911. Children of Adam and Elizabeth E. (Lotz) Kornman: Andrew F .; Alma, deceased; Albert N .; Paul T.
This family, says Burke, came to Ireland, A. D. 1170, with WALSH Strongbow, and settled in county Kilkenny, where they ac- quired large possessions, now known as the Walsh mountains in the barony of Iverk, in the said county. These possessions were con- fiscated during the Cromwellian period and in the reign of William III., after which members of the elder branch migrated to France and Austria, taking military service in those countries. In France the title of "Count Serrant," still extant, was conferred upon the representative of the elder branch. The first of the family who came to Ireland with Robert Fitz Stephen, at Strongbow's invasion, was Philip Walsh, who was called by the Irish Brannagh (or the "Welshman") who in 1174 distinguished himself in a naval engagement against the Danes, at Cork, by boarding the ship of their commander and slaying his son. The son of that Philip, by Eleanor, his wife, daughter of Sir Maurice De Durgh, was Hayle Walsh, who built the castle in the Walsh mountains named after him "Castle Hayle" or Castlehoel. His wife was Catherine, daughter of Raymond Le Gros, one of Strongbow's companions, and the ancestor of those of the name Grace. From Hayle Walsh descend all the families of that name found in nearly all parts of Ireland, and it is of a line descendant from him that the Walshes of this record are members.
(I) Thomas Walsh was born in Ireland and in that country grew to manhood, learning the tailor's trade, and after his marriage in his native land at a very early age, came to the United States, settling at West Lebanon, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, and there continued in the pur- suit of his business until his death, which occurred when he was a young man, not yet in the prime of life. His wife, Mary (McCloskey) Walsh, born in Ireland, never married after his death, although she lived to more than eighty years, ever remaining constant to the memory of his loving provision and his many virtues, with which no one was more familiar than she. Children of Thomas and Mary (McCloskey) Walsh: I. Kate, born in Ireland; married John Anderson, and came to the United States, where she died at her home in Colorado. 2. Daniel, died in young manhood, un- married. 3. Lillian, married a Mr. Calhoun, deceased; lives in Indiana county, Pennsylvania. 4. Margaret, married the Rev. Lane; died in Indiana county, Pennsylvania. 5. Edward, was an agent for a firm manufacturing
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sewing machines; died in Mckeesport, Pennsylvania. 6. James Thomas, of whom further. 7. Mary, married Lawrence Shuster; lives in New Brighton, Pennsylvania. 8. Charles, a retired employee of the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad; lives in Pittsburgh, the recipient of a pension from that road.
(II) James Thomas Walsh, son of Thomas and Mary (McCloskey) Walsh, was born in West Lebanon, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, Novem- ber 30, 1841. His education was obtained in the public schools of the town of his birth and of Salzburg, Pennsylvania, and soon after leaving school he enlisted, August 29, 1862, in Company D, One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, serving as a corporal in that organization until May 24, 1863. After returning home from the front he entered the oil business in Venango county, becoming foreman in the employ of a large company operating in those fields, and was there em- ployed until his marriage, which took place five years later. From that time until 1889 he worked at the shoemaker's trade, an occupation in which he had trained himself when not otherwise engaged, making his place of business in Rouseville, Venango county, Pennsylvania, and in other places in that state and New York. In the latter year he came to New Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, opening a grocery store, of which he was proprietor for one year, retiring from that business to the William Robert- son farm in Dougherty township, which for twelve years he made his home. While residing there he began the manufacture of ice cream, which almost immediately attained such wide favor that he decided to give it his entire attention and to devote all his efforts to the building up of a large and lucra- tive business in that line. In consequence of this decision he moved to Beaver Falls in April of 1902, and began the manufacture of ice-cream upon a much larger scale than anything that he had previously attempted. Like most articles that make an appeal to the physical taste or give en- joyment and pleasure to the epicure, his product found a ready market for trial, and because of its purity and delicious sweetness of flavor became a standard brand. In 1904 he purchased the building at 1426 Fourth avenue, which he had previously rented, and there continued in the ice-cream bus- iness until his death, which occurred on August 15, 1910. The success of his business was due to Mr. Walsh alone, his perceptive mind grasping the field for such an undertaking as his, and his able executive ability carrying it forward to a brilliant conclusion, attended by a large measure of material prosperity. He was a Democrat in political action and was for four years justice of the peace of Knapp's Creek, New York, whither his business had taken him. His religious allegiance was with the Presby- terian Church, and he affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Work- men,
Mr. Walsh married, January 1, 1868, Susan Mest, born in Wyoming county, New York, June 24, 1847, daughter of John and Anna (Kohler) Mest. Both her mother and father were natives of Germany, where they
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were married, coming to the United States soon after and settling in Shel- don, New York. Here he was a farmer and became the owner of many acres of land, both dying in Sheldon, she in April, 1865, he about ten years later. Both were faithful adherents to the German Lutheran Church. Children of John and Anna (Kohler) Mest: I. John, a meat-packer of Sheldon, New York, where he resides. 2. Susan, of previous mention, married James Thomas Walsh. 3. Christina, married James Retallack; lives in Lockport, New York. 4. Margaret, married John Measle; lives in Detroit, Michigan. 5. Barbara, married John Craven; lives near East Aurora, New York. 6. Matthias, a stock dealer, lives in Morganville, New York. 7. Mary, married (first) John Greening, (second) Henry Roth; lives in Buffalo, New York. 8. Annie, married Thomas Boatfield. 9. Rosa, married Henry Stein, deceased; lives in Merrill, New York. 10. George, a carpenter of Morganville, New York. 11. A child who died unnamed. Children of James Thomas and Susan (Mest) Walsh: I. Charles S., lives in New Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he conducts the ice- cream business founded by his father; he married Marjorie Melzena Bor- deaux and is the father of four children, Eva Marguerite, a school teacher, Bertha, James Edward, Grace. 2. Nora, married E. S. Frishkorn, a man- ufacturer of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. 3. Harry, lives with his mother. 4. Bessie, married J. H. Nicholson, an electrician of Beaver Falls, Penn- sylvania, where they reside; they are the parents of one daughter, Helen. 5. Bertha, married Charles Kraft, a barber of Beaver Falls, and there lives; they have one son, James Walsh. 6. Mary, a teacher in the public schools of Woodlawn, Pennsylvania.
Among that band of Scotch-Irish Presbyterians who formed KERR the "Irish Settlement" at the Forks of the Delaware, now Northampton county, Pennsylvania, was James Kerr, who died prior to 1748. He had issue, Joseph, William, Mary, James, Nathaniel, of whom further.
(II) Nathaniel Kerr, son of James Kerr, was born in (now) North- ampton county, Pennsylvania, 1745. He settled in Armstrong county, Penn- sylvania, where he resided until about 1811, then moved to the state of Ohio. Although then quite aged he joined the American army in the second war against Great Britain, but died of camp fever in a few months after enlistment. He married Mary Gallagher and had issue: Thomas G., of whom further; Mary A., married Thomas Crooks; Nathaniel P.
(III) Thomas G. Kerr, son of Nathaniel and Mary (Gallagher) Kerr, was born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, March 5, 1808. When a child he was taken to Ohio by his parents, but after the death of his father, about 1813, the family returned to Armstrong county, residing near Apollo. Thomas G. worked on the farm of his maternal grandfather and attended school three or four months in each year until he attained youth- ful manhood. His mother then moved to Washington county, Pennsyl-
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vania, where he accompanied her. He there apprenticed himself to the blacksmith's trade, finished his full term of service, became a capable journeyman, and early in his career settled in Beaver county, where he worked at his trade and married. He was employed as a smith by the boat building firm of Phillips & Betz at Phillipsburg, (now Monaca) but the purchase of the land upon which their yards were located by Bernard Muller (Count Maximillian de Leon) and the seceding members of the Harmony Society compelled them to seek a new location, Freedom with its deeper water and other advantages was decided upon as their new location. Phillips & Betz purchased one hundred and one acres from General Abner Lacock for the purpose of building a town and new boat yards. The firm, however, was soon changed to Phillips & Graham and the new enterprise was pushed to completion in 1832. Among the first to come to Freedom, then "Shantytown," in that year was Thomas G. Kerr and his family, he continuing with the new firm, Phillips & Graham, as blacksmith. When lots were sold in the new town, two were reserved on Main and Indepen- dence streets for the blacksmiths, Thomas G. Kerr and Samuel S. Coulter. They cast lots for choice, the corner lot falling to Mr. Kerr. He con- tinued with Phillips & Graham, then with their successors, Abel Coffin & Son, then with the Boat Building Society, their successor. The only bus- iness in Freedom then was steam and river boat building, Mr. Kerr being the principal iron worker. The Boat Building Society was succeeded by the firm of Charles Graham & Company, consisting of Charles Graham, Robert McCaskey and Thomas G. Kerr, the latter being secretary and treasurer. In about five years Mr. Graham withdrew, the business, being continued by the two other partners as McCaskey & Kerr. They continued suc- cessfully for thirty-eight years until the death of Robert McCaskey, when by agreement the business was continued under the same firm name, rounding out a full forty years. During this time they built steamboats and other river craft of all sizes and descriptions. One of the largest steam- boats built above the Falls of Louisville was constructed in their yard; another was the fastest ever built on the Ohio; and another was one whose cabin furnishings and fine wood work excelled all others of her day. Mr. Kerr was a thoroughly reliable business man, with good executive ability joined to his mechanical skill. He was a pillar of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Freedom, which he helped to organize, and as justice of the peace held ten successive commissions, covering a period of more than half a century. He was second to hold the office in Freedom and lived to almost complete his last term, perhaps the longest term served by any man in Beaver county. His useful service in the church covered an equally long period of time. He died April 19, 1886, aged seventy-nine years, honored and respected by all who knew him. During his younger years he was captain of militia, but he was not a man of war, but a kindly-hearted man, a builder and not a destroyer.
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