USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Genealogical and personal history of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 60
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This entire record deals with the McCleerys of Beaver McCLEERY county, Pennsylvania, beginning with William Henry Mc- Cleery, who married Marthena Farrer. Of this union there were several children, among whom was James H., of whom further. (II) James H. McCleery, son of William Henry and Marthena (Far- rer) McCleery, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, January 2, 1857. His boyhood days were spent on the paternal acres, and his education was
John C. mellery.
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obtained in the neighboring schools. As the time approached for him to choose a vocation he decided against farming, which his ancestors had followed for generations, and became a blacksmith. In this line he did not remain simply the proprietor of a country shop, but turned his knowl- edge and experience to advantage in the industrial world, being at the pres- ent time foreman of the forge department of the Penn Bridge Company, an efficient and trusted employee of that corporation. The Republican party is the organization to which he has ever pledged his political backing and for two years he held the office of president of the New Brighton council, ably serving the community in that capacity, adding to his reputation as a citizen being whole-heartedly interested in the civil welfare of his borough. For many years he has held membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, numbering members of that organization among his closest friends. He married, in 1875, Sarah, daughter of Joseph and Mary J. (Reynolds) Burke. Her father was born in Henry county, Ohio, in 1831, her mother in Crawford county, in the same state, in 1835. Their home was in Crawford county, where he cultivated a fertile farm. His political convictions were Democratic, while he and his wife were members of the United Brethren Church. Children of Joseph and Mary J. Burke: Sarah, of previous mention, married James H. McCleery; William, deceased; Della, deceased; Eliza; Mary, deceased; Annie. Mr. Burke died in 1876, his wife's death taking place in 1911. Children of James H. and Sarah (Burke) McCleery: Maud G., deceased; William, deceased; Harry, de- ceased ; John Cassel, of whom further.
(III) John Cassel McCleery, son of James H. and Sarah (Burke) McCleery, was born in New Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, March 19, 1883. He obtained a general education through attendance at the public schools of New Brighton, his studies being pursued in the high school. He then took a bridge engineering course in the International Cor- respondence School of Scranton, and for two years was engaged in coal dealing with his father-in-law, John S. Swesey, of Beaver. In 1910 he took advantage of the rapidly increasing, although already vast, popularity of automobiles and motor cycles, and obtaining an agency for a reliable make of machine he established a garage at No. 712-714 Fifth street, where he has been since located. The promise that this business showed four years ago has been more than realized in the intervening time, and as modern methods of manufacture, more efficient and more economical, have removed the prohibitive price from power-driven vehicles and have made what was formerly the luxury of the rich the necessity of the many, placing an auto well within the reach of those of moderate circumstances, the volume of his business both as a dealer and as a repairer has increased. To those who have patronized his establishment he has ever accorded the fairest of treatment, realizing that in satisfied custom lies the only hope of future growth. His garage not only is popular locally, but touring autoists have learned that there is a haven where the usual "hold-up" methods of garage
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owners are not pursued, in consequence of which his transient trade is profitable, comfortably supplementing that of the residents. Mr. Mc- Cleery is a Republican in politics, and holds membership in the Masonic Order, belonging to Union Lodge, No. 259, Free and Accepted Masons. He also affiliates with the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
He married, in 1903, Florence Gertrude Swesey, born in Beaver, Penn- sylvania, in March, 1881, daughter of John S. and Margaret (Diehl) Swesey, of Beaver, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. McCleery are the parents of: Harry S., born March 21, 1905; John Cassel Jr., born February 18, 1910.
VOLLHARDT Henry Charles Vollhardt was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, in 1825, and was drowned in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, March 6, 1880. He emigrated to the United States, and settled at first in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he followed his trade of shoemaking. Later he also had charge of the ferry at Hulton Station, near Verona, on the Allegheny river. In 1852, with his family, he came to Beaver on a canal boat, and lived there until 1863. He still followed his calling of shoemaking, and had charge of the ferry until his death. He was a Democrat in politics, and he was a Lutheran and his wife a Methodist. He was also a member of Bridgewater Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He married, in Germany, Rosa Kerner, born in Germany in 1829, died in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1885. They had children: Louisa Elizabeth, Anna Margaret, Anna Marie, William C., see forward; Henrietta, George W., Emma Amelia, Lizzie Lazette, Charles, Philippine, Henry Charles.
William C. Vollhardt, son of Henry Charles and Rosa (Kerner) Voll- hardt, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, September 14, 1855. He acquired his education in Beaver, and came to Monaca with his parents in 1863. There he also attended German and English schools for a con- siderable length of time. At the age of fourteen years he commenced work- ing on a steamboat, and after the death of his father took charge of the ferry and operated it for about thirty-five years. He then sold it and was engaged in the liquor business for a period of five years, and was then yard foreman of the Sanitary Works for almost seven years. He had charge of an ice wagon for a short time, and has now been with the American Specialty Company of Monaca, Pennsylvania, since December 8, 1912. In 1908 he erected a fine residence at the corner of Washington avenue and Eighth street. He has always been a strong supporter of Democratic prin- ciples, and has filled very capably a number of public offices. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and he affiliates fraternally with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Vollhardt married, in 1885, Jessie Fremont Springer, who was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1862, daughter of Levi and Mary Elizabeth (Lesley) Springer, and granddaughter of Dr.
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Robert and Catherine Lesley. They were both born in Ireland, and settled in Amsterdam, Ohio, where Dr. Lesley practiced his profession. An aunt of Mrs. Lesley was confectioner to the Queen of England. Levi Springer, father of Mrs. Vollhardt, was a noted machinist, and put out the first air brake for the Westinghouse Company, in whose employ he was. He died at Port Homer, Ohio, in 1876. His widow, who was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1823, after the death of her husband came to Monaca with her children, and there taught music; she died February 2, 1899. They had children: Adam James, William, Edward, Mary Catherine, Jessie Fre- mont, who married Mr. Vollhardt; Robert and Frank, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Vollhardt have had children: 1. William Nelson, born March 24, 1886; was educated in the public schools of Monaca, and the Rochester Business College; he is a molder by trade. 2. Kathryn Edna, born June 12, 1887; was educated in the public schools and the Rochester Business College; she also took special training in music; she married Thomas M. Jordan, of Bedford Springs, Pennsylvania, and they have one child, Jessie Salome, born July 25, 1910.
The Retzer family of the state of Pennsylvania is well repre- RETZER sented in Beaver county by Frederick Retzer, beloved and esteemed as a preacher for many years.
(I) Martin Retzer was born in Germany in 1814, and died in that country in 1881. He was engaged in business as a manufacturer of wooden shoes. He married Elizabeth Grüny, born in Germany in 1817, died there in 1890. They had children: Louisa, deceased; Frederick, see forward; Katharine, married Frederick Kindelberger, of West Bridgewater; Philip, of Pirmasens, Germany.
(II) Frederick Retzer, son of Martin and Elizabeth (Grüny) Retzer, was born in Germany, October 3, 1850. He was educated in Germany and taught school there for about four years, commencing when but twelve years of age. He was appointed teacher by the government and was li- censed to preach when about fourteen years of age. He made a trip to Palestine when fifteen years old, and taught school there for a short time. He was a member of the sanitary commission during the Franco-Prussian War. He emigrated to the United States in 1871, arriving at Wheeling, West Virginia, November 13. During the three years he remained in that city he learned the bakers' trade, and then came to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he followed the same calling. In 1879 he removed to Bridgewater, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, continuing as a baker until 1886, when he entered the United States mail service, with which he was identified until 1892. He was then in the foundry business for a period of sixteen years, after which he established himself in the grocery business at the corner of Bridge and Mulberry streets. For many years he has been a licensed minister, at first in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for the last twenty- four years in the Free Methodist Church. In politics he is a Prohibitionist,
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and has served two terms as burgess; is now serving as a justice of the peace, and is in his third term as tax collector and assessor.
Mr, Retzer married (first) in Pittsburgh, October 24, 1874, Susannah Link, who died January 17, 1911, daughter of John Link, who was a soldier during the Civil War and died at its close. He married (second) October 8, 1913, Marguerite Stephens, of Newark, New Jersey. Mrs. Retzer is a member of Golden Link Chapter, No. 31, Order of the Eastern Star, Newark, New Jersey. Children, all by first marriage: Charles W., Lizzie, deceased; Gustav Adolph, Frederick, John Edward, Joseph Henry, Lillian, Marie, a child who died in infancy.
PORTER The origin of the name of Porter is interesting. It can be
traced through many generations to William de la Grande,
a Norman knight, who came to England with William the Conqueror, and acquired lands near Kenilworth, in Warwickshire. His son, Ralph or Roger, became "Grand Porteur" to Henry I. during the years from 1120 to 1140, and from this circumstance came the name of Porter. From England the name was carried to Scotland and Ireland, and in the course of time bearers of it came to this country.
(I) John Porter was born in Ireland, and was two years of age when he was brought to America by his parents. They settled in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where his early years were spent. He was a brick manufac- turer and a farmer, his business being in Pittsburgh, and his farm of ninety- three acres in New Sewickley township. He always walked from one of these places to the other, and finally retired to the farm, and died there. In politics he was a Democrat. For some years he was a member of the Presbyterian Church, but at the time of his death both he and his wife were members of the United Presbyterian Church. He married Nancy Sharp, born in Ireland and brought to this country when she was one year old. They had eight children, among them being: Robert, Henry, Edward, John B., of further mention; Sarah, Margaret, the only one now living, married -- Kennedy, and has residences in New Brighton and Coraopolis.
(II) John B. Porter, son of John and Nancy (Sharp) Porter, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and died in the town of Rochester, in the same county, December 8, 1908, He was a farmer and teamster, and after some years spent in teaming, returned to the homestead and finally purchased the interests of the other heirs and resided there until 1876, when he sold the property and removed to Rochester township, where he bought thirty acres near Rochester. He had a new dwelling house and barn erected on this property, about thirty-five years prior to his death. He married (first) Martha Ellen Prentice, who died in 1871 (see Prentice line). He married (second) Agnes Young, of Lawrence county, Pennsyl- vania, who died in March, 1908. By the first marriage there were chil- dren: 1. Child, died unnamed in infancy. 2. Nannie E., married William Brewer; lives in Warren, Ohio, and has children: Lawrence Curtis, Alma
Mrs Ada C. Porter. q.On. Porter.
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Irene, Charles Raymond, Cleveland and Ida May. 3. Sadie, died at the age of four years. 4. Child, died unnamed in infancy. 5. Mary Jane, mar- ried J. Thomas Boggs; lives in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, and has chil- dren: Verner C. and Edith Fay. 6. A son, died unnamed. 7. Ida May, married John H. Fink; lives in Rochester, Pennsylvania, and has daughters: Ethel May and Olive. 8. James Madison, of further mention. By his sec- ond marriage Mr. Porter had one child: Mabel Nelle, who married Samuel L. Otto, a bookkeeper in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and they live near Rochester, Rochester township; they have children: Margaret Fern, Maxine Porter and Bernice Nelle.
James Prentice, grandfather of Mrs. Martha Ellen (Prentice) Porter, was born in Ireland, and there grew up and married. After his marriage he emigrated to America, settling near Clinton, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer and land owner in Beaver county, and spent the remainder of his life there. He and his wife were members of the Seceders' Church. He married Mary Wallace, also a native of Ireland. Their children were: I. Alexander, a farmer who died in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. 2. James, of further mention. 3. William, who was a farmer and died in Jackson township Beaver county, Pennsylvania. 4. Son, whose name is not on record, died during the voyage of the family to this country. James, son of James and Mary (Wallace) Prentice, was probably born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he attained man's estate. After his marriage he settled near the home of his father, where he died at about the age of forty years. He was a staunch supporter of Whig principles, and he and his wife were members of the Seceders' Church, He married Eliza Ann, daughter of John Kirkpatrick; she was born in Beaver county, Pennsyl- vania, and after the death of her husband removed with her family to New Sewickley, where her death occurred in 1880. Children: I. William, a farmer who died in Crawford county, Pennsylvania. 2. John, a wagon maker, died at Sharon, Pennsylvania. 3. James, also a wagon maker, died in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. 4. Alexander, died in Andersonville Prison during the Civil War. 5. Davidson, a plasterer, died in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. 6. Samuel, died just after his release from Andersonville Prison. 7. Martha Ellen, married John B. Porter, as above stated. 8. Mary Ann, married John White, a farmer, who died in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. 9. Charles, died in infancy. 10. Eliza Jane, married Thomas Lukens, and lived in Rochester many years; he died May 28, 1913.
(III) James Madison Porter, son of John B. and Martha Ellen (Pren- tice) Porter, was born in New Sewickley township, Beaver county, Pennsyl- vania, October 13, 1866. He acquired his education in the public schools of Rochester township, and when he had completed it he became manager of the farm which had been conducted as a dairy farm for many years. Later he purchased the interests of the other heirs, and continued it as a dairy farm, thirty-five years all told. In 1911 he sold the dairy rights, and converted it into a fruit and general truck farm, and has cultivated it along
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these lines since that time. He takes no active part in the public affairs of the community, but casts his vote in the interests of the Republican party. Mr. Porter married, May 15, 1895, Ada C., born in Beaver county, Penn- sylvania, daughter of Elias Brewer. They have no children.
This is an old family of Germany, and the name is prob- ROESSLER ably based upon the occupation of the earlier members of the family. Ross, meaning horse, the earlier generations were in all probability trainers or breeders of horses, and thus took their name.
(I) Augustus Roessler was born in Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, in 1830, and emigrated to the United States in early manhood. He obtained an excellent practical education in his native country, and after his arrival here went directly to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There he was for a num- ber of years in the employ of Reineman & Seidle, jewelers, now R. Seidle & Son. When he left them he established himself in the same line of bus- iness in West Bridgewater, Beaver county, and was very successful in this enterprise. He gave his political support to the Democratic party, and was a member of the Presbyterian Church. His death occurred in December, 1880, and his widow is still living in West Bridgewater at the age of eighty years. Mr. Roessler married Mary Kramer, born in Monaca, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1833, daughter of Louis and Sybilla (Fout) Kramer, both born in Wurtemberg, he in 1810, and they came to America in their early youth. They both settled in Monaca, Pennsylvania, where they later married, and had two daughters: Mary, who married Mr. Roess- ler, and Elizabeth, deceased, who married a Mr. Gaikenheimer. Mrs. Kramer was a member of the Economites. Mr. Kramer worked in a plan- ing mill in West Bridgewater for William Davidson, and later established himself as a merchant on the same corner now occupied by his grandson, and conducted his business there about thirty years. He died in the spring of 1899, and his wife died in 1880. They were members of the German Baptist Church, and he was a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Roessler had children : Elizabeth, married James N. Morehead, of West Bridgewater ; Mary, married Dr. J. M. Peirsol, of Bellaire, Ohio; Louis, a resident of Los Angeles, California ; Laura, now deceased, married Joseph Ecoff; Clara, died in infancy; William Henry, see forward.
(II) William Henry Roessler, son of Augustus and Mary (Kramer) Roessler, was born in Allegheny, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, Decem- ber 2, 1870. He was one year of age when his parents removed to West Bridgewater, and his education was acquired in the public school of that town. He commenced his business career as a clerk in Beaver, and was thus occupied for a number of years. In 1897 he established himself in the grocery business at the corner of Lion and Market streets, and has built up a very successful business. His methods are enterprising and up-to-date, and he has the happy faculty of retaining customers once secured. He is
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energetic in many other directions and has taken an active and beneficial interest in the public matters concerning the community with which he is associated. He is a staunch Democrat, and has served as burgess one term. He is now in office as secretary of the board of health, and is an influential member of that body. His religious affiliations are with the Presbyterian Church, and he is a member of the Knights of Pythias of West Bridgewater. Mr. Roessler married, in 1911, Mrs. Myrtle (Swaney) Parr, a daughter of Allen Swaney, of Shippingport, and widow of Charles Parr, by whom she had one daughter, Cora.
General Samuel Powers came from Mckeesport, Allegheny POWERS county, to Beaver county, Pennsylvania, between 1790 and 1800. He was elected the first sheriff of Beaver county, but on account of political differences never occupied this office. He was a member of the state legislature seventeen years, was adjutant-general of the state of Pennsylvania, and led a regiment into action with Perry on Lake Erie. He and Samuel Johnson fitted out an expedition at their own ex- pense and went to the relief of General Hull at Detroit, Michigan.
(II) General Thomas Jefferson Powers, son of General Samuel Powers, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1808, and died in 1888. His early education was acquired in the district schools near his home, and he then prepared himself for the work of a civil engineer. He located the first railroad in Pennsylvania, the Old Portage road across the Allegheny mountains. He served as adjutant-general of the state of Pennsylvania, was supervisor of the Susquehanna canal, and in association with his father had charge of a large portion of the construction work of the Ohio river and Erie canal. From the time of the formation of the Republican party he was one of its strong supporters, and he and his wife were at- tendants of the Presbyterian Church. He married Mary A. Johnson, born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1811, died in 1878, daughter of the Samuel Johnson mentioned above. They had children: I. - , died in infancy. 2. James Johnson, a civil engineer, who aided in the construction of the Sunbury & Erie Railroad, and the Galveston & Houston Railroad, in Texas. 3. Samuel A., an attorney, lived in California for some time, died in 1865. 4. Edward M., of further mention. 5. Josephine, married Gen- eral William Shallenberger. 6. Thomas J., now deceased, was in the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War. 7. Walford, died in infancy. 8. Charles O., deceased. 9. David B., a wheelwright, lives in Pittsburgh. 10. Mary J., married Evan Reno, and lives near Denver, Colorado. 11. Frank C., a wheelwright, of Rochester.
(III) Edward M. Powers, son of General Thomas Jefferson and Mary A. (Johnson) Powers, was born at Catawissa, Columbia county, Pennsyl- vania, July 10, 1838. He was brought to Vanport, Beaver county, by his parents, when he was four years of age, and lived there until the age of seven years, when they removed to Rochester, in the same county, and al-
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most his entire life up to the present time has been spent in that town. His business career has been a varied one. He was commissioned by the secretary of war as a member of an engineering corps and constructed bridges on the Northern Central railroad. He also assisted in the con- struction of the long bridge from Washington, District of Columbia, to Alexandria, and many other works of equal importance. He was com- missioned sutler of the Eighty-third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers by General Simon Cameron, then secretary of war, and served three years. Earnest in his support of Republican principles, he cast his first vote for Lincoln, first candidacy.
Mr. Powers married, in 1862, Susan, daughter of Abraham Shallen- berger, and they have had children: I. William, who is vice-president of the MacManus Advertising Company, of Detroit, Michigan, and a resident of that town. 2. Rachel, married Harry C. Fry Jr., of Rochester, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. 3. Howard S., who is engaged in the life insurance business in Pittsburgh. 4. Mary, married A. R. Thornton, of St. Louis, Missouri. 5. Edward M., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 6. George S., de- ceased. 7. Elizabeth S., at home. Mr. Powers and family are members of the Baptist Church and he served as deacon.
CHAFFEE The name of Chaffee is one of frequent occurrence in Eng- land, and it is probable that the family under discussion originally came from that country. The exact date of their coming is not on record.
(I) James S. Chaffee was a young man when he came to Shousetown, now Woodlawn, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. His occupations were of a varied nature. At first he was a farmer, then rose to the position of en- gineer on the river, on the "C. W. Batcheler" and the "Clifton." During the last few years of his life he held the position of foreman of the mold department of the Rochester Tumbler Works. He was a Republican in politics. He was an active member of the United Order of American Mechanics. Mr. Chaffee married (first) Samantha Goodman, who taught school in Pittsburgh prior to her marriage; (second) Elizabeth Sisiley. Joseph Goodman, father of the first Mrs. Chaffee, worked in a plough factory which stood on the present site of the Speyerer Hotel in Rochester. He was one of the first to carry mail across the country to Harmony, Butler county, and when he first came to Rochester, which was at an early date, he was a watchman. He married Maria -. By his first marriage Mr. Chaffee had children: Alva, Herbert, Edward E., of further mention; Myrtle. By the second marriage: Jessie, Eva, Anna.
(II) Edward E. Chaffee, son of James S. and Samantha (Goodman) Chaffee, was born in Freedom, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, May 2, 1877. He received a liberal education in the public schools of Freedom, Pittsburgh and Rochester, and then entered the employ of Miller Brothers, pottery manufacturers. His next position was with the Rochester Tumbler Works,
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