USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Genealogical and personal history of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 28
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John F. Maloney, son of James and Mary (Foley) Maloney, was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, March 19, 1877. His boyhood home was Homestead, their residence there being necessitated by his father's busi- ness interests, and in that town he attended the public schools. After com- pleting his studies his first business venture was in the wholesale confec- tionery line, which he followed in Allegheny under the name of the American Candy Company. He continued in this business for three years, abandoning it in favor of real estate dealings in Homestead, in connection with which he sold fire insurance. Homestead was the field of his operations until 1903, when he came to Ambridge, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he has since been located. His business remains the same, and he is the owner of considerable real estate in that place, some of which he rents, the re- mainder being held for sale. During his Ambridge residence he has been
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the promoter of several operations involving numerous dwellings, all of excellent grade and such as made an appeal to a highly desirable class of citizens. Fire insurance is still a branch of his business and his agency protects many of the city's buildings. Mr. Maloney is a stockholder of the Ambridge Savings and Trust Company. Progressive and modern in his ideas and mode of business, genial and agreeable of manner, keen and de- cisive in dealings with his fellows, his likeable personal attributes have done much toward making his business of its present generous dimensions. Honor and integrity form the major part of his business code, it being diffi- cult to overestimate their component values in a structure such as he has erected among his co-workers and competitors. A Republican in politics, he confines his activities in matters public and political to the casting of his vote, and his religious faith is the Roman Catholic. He holds membership in Pittsburgh Council, Knights of Columbus, and Saint Veronica's Holy Name Society.
Mr. Maloney married, in September, 1906, Mary E. McKay, born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Michael McKay, formerly of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, now living in California.
BARNER Prominence in the industrial world of one country and eminence in the educational and religious life of another is the fortune that has fallen to two generations of Barners, the lot of one cast in Germany, that of the other in the United States. This record has as its first object of mention Carl Barner, born in Germany in 1840, a manufacturer of leather. He was connected with this industry all of his life, and in addition to the manufacture of his product was the pro- prietor of a large wholesale house distributing the same. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church, in which faith their children were reared. He married Augusta Otto, born in Germany in 1848. She came of a family all of whom were educators, minister and professors. Children : Robert, of whom further; Paul, Martha, Elizabeth, a child who died in infancy ; Ernest, William, Margaret. Carl Barner's death occurred in 1903, he having survived his wife ten years.
(II) Rev. Robert Barner, eldest of the eight children of Carl and Augusta (Otto) Barner, was born in Germany, October 10, 1866. He there obtained his education, attending the public schools, and for his more ad- vanced studies attending the Latin School and Academy of Prussia, at Schivelbein, Pommern. At the completion of his classical education he entered the Kropp Theological Seminary at Schleswig, where he finished the course prescribed for ministers. He then came to Harrietsville, Ohio, and became the pastor of the German Lutheran church, continuing in that field for three years, in 1891 accepting a similar position in Kittanning, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania. While in Kittanning he began his work along educational lines by becoming principal of the Academy at that place, and was so engaged, in connection with his pastoral work, until 1906, when
Robert Banner
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he came to Rochester, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, as pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Here he remains to the present time and, as in Kittan- ning, he has added scholastic duties to those of the church, having been a professor in Beaver College, and for the last two years instructor in German in the Rochester high school. His value to the institution with which he is identified at the present time is immeasurable, his complete mastery of his native tongue and his familiar knowledge of all of the idioms so bewildering to a teacher who has been compelled to study ceaselessly for his knowledge, give him unsurpassed prestige as an instructor. His broad culture along other lines and his intimacy with other scholarly pursuits furthers his progress toward the goal of the ideal teacher, and the results he obtains from his classes is gratifying in the extreme, both to the students benefited and to those whose interest it is to guard the welfare of the institution. Rev. Barner's work among the youth of Rochester lends to his ecclesiastical value to the community, and were his achievements confined to but one field or the other his life would be indeed well spent. He is an earnest, inspired and eloquent preacher, having a deep and firm conviction in the doctrines he ex- pounds, and preaches with a heart-felt care for his parishioners. He does not confine his labors in their behalf to weekly orations from the pulpit, but in their need or extremity none ever lacks his aid, lighting the darkness, explaining the misunderstood, and freshening the faith of those who had begun to doubt the omniscience and mercy of an all-seeing Providence. This is the place that Rev. Barner has made for himself in the Rochester com- munity, this the outline of the richly rewarded labors in which he daily engages. In 1913 he passed several months in visiting his homeland and in a tour of Switzerland, returning from his most enjoyable vacation invig- orated and strengthened for the resumption of his duties which he has since carried forward with fresh enthusiasm. He inclines toward sympathy with the principles of the Republican platform, but has never been actively associated with any political party.
He married, in 1890, Mary Lauer, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Kloss) Lauer, born in Warner, Washington county, Ohio, January 10, 1871, died in Rochester, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, March 14, 1907. Her parents were born in Germany and early in their married life came to Washington county, Ohio, where their deaths occurred. Children of Rev. Robert and Mary (Lauer) Barner, all born in Kittanning, Armstrong county, Penn- sylvania : 1. Robert Paul, born November 15, 1891; educated in music at Beaver College, from which he graduated with degree of M. B. and M. M .; Geneva College; took a post-graduate course in the University of Chicago; now Professor of Music in Beaver College. 2. Luther W., born April 10, 1893; a graduate of the Rochester high school, and Geneva College; now a senior in Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, Pennsylvania. 3. Armin K., born September 4, 1896; a student in the Rochester high school.
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The Kinney family which is now so prominently represented
KINNEY in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, probably came to this country either from Scotland or Ireland. They were located at first in various parts of New England, and from there branched out to other sections.
(I) Nathan Kinney was born in Massachusetts and from there mi- grated to Kinsman, Ohio, where he became occupied with farming. He married Ann Fry, probably a native of Kinsman.
(II) John Kinney, son of Nathan and Ann (Fry) Kinney, was born in Kinsman, Ohio, in 1847, died in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in February, 1910. He attended the public schools of Kinsman, and later established himself in the lumber business, partly in Ohio and partly in Pennsylvania. He removed to Forest Grove, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, in 1895, and to Beaver county in the same state in 1910. Mr. Kinney married, July 3, 1869, Hannah Maria Pennell, born in Austintown, Ohio. She is the daugh- ter of William and Sarah (Oliver) Pennell, she a native of New Jersey, he born in Ireland, and came to America with his parents when he was four- teen years of age. They located in Austintown, Ohio. The maternal grand- parents of Mrs. Kinney were Andrew and Belle Oliver. Mr. and Mrs. Kin- ney have had children : Albert Milton, see forward; John Prosser, George, Frederick Alvin, Emma Mary. They are all members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
(III) Albert Milton Kinney, son of John and Hannah Maria (Pen- nell) Kinney, was born in Kinsman, Ohio, May 28, 1871. He was educated in the public schools of both Ohio and Pennsylvania, attending the latter but a short time. For a time he was engaged in business as a contractor but abandoned this in order to become associated with his father in the lumber business, an association which was continued until 1901. At that time he established himself in the same line independently, with his head- quarters at Pittsburgh. Two years later he organized a corporation which bore the name of The A. M. Kinney Lumber Company, Mr. Kinney hold- ing the office of general manager and treasurer. The company passed out of existence in January, 1912, when Mr. Kinney bought out the entire stock, and has since conducted it as a private enterprise, but retaining the corporation name. He is also extensively interested in oil enterprises. He resided at Forest Grove, Allegheny county, until 1909, when he removed to a farm which he had purchased in 1908 in Hopewell township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. There he has a fine country home, and also a fine stud of racing horses, which is one of the especial pleasures of Mr. Kinney. In national politics Mr. Kinney is a staunch Democrat, but locally he is an Independent. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Kinney married, March 27, 1894, Sarah R. Whittier, of Smithfield, Jefferson county, Ohio, and they have had children: Dorothea Maria, Frederick Lester, Helen May.
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Representatives of the Keeler family came to America at KEELER an early date, and for a number of generations they have shown mechanical ability of a more than ordinary degree of excellence.
(I) Edward Lockwood Keeler was born in Hartford, Connecticut, died at Beaver Falls, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, 1909. He early showed decided mechanical genius, and as his parents died while he was still a young child, he was taken to Pittsburgh and there worked in various shops as a machinist. Finally he rose to the position of an inspector in Graft's Axe Works, and in 1867, when the Joseph Graft Company removed their plant to Beaver Falls, Beaver county, Mr. Keeler went with them as fore- man, a position he held for many years. He had a sister, Deborah, who lived in Brooklyn, New York, and an uncle, William Keeler, a very wealthy man, who also lived in Brooklyn. He was of a quiet and retiring disposition and never spoke much of his family. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Keeler married, while living in Pitts- burgh, Sarah Ann Myers (see Myers II), and they had children: William E., of further mention; John M., lives in New Brighton, is a foreman at the wire mills in Fallston, and married Laura Welsh; Emma, unmarried, lives at Beaver Falls; Cora, married William E. Boyce, lives in New Castle, Pennsylvania ; Charles, unmarried, lives in Beaver Falls. Mrs. Keeler died in February, 1912.
(II) William E. Keeler, son of Edward Lockwood and Sarah Ann (Myers) Keeler, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1857. He attended the public schools of Allegheny until he was nine years of age, and then devoted himself to mechanical work, for which he was naturally gifted. His first position was with the Newmyer & Graft Hinge Manu- facturing Company, where he served his apprenticeship and became a journeyman mechanic. When the factory removed to Beaver Falls in 1867 he went with it, and remained with this concern until 1879, by which time he had become a mechanic of unusual ability. He then formed a connection with his uncle's firm, the H. M. Myers' Company, shovel manufacturers, and filled the position of engineer for this firm until 1893, when he was appointed master mechanic of the company, an office he is still filling with marked executive ability. Since Mr. Keeler was first associated with this firm the name has been changed to that of the Ames Shovel and Tool Com- pany, but his position has remained unchanged. When running at full capacity this company employs in the neighborhood of two hundred men, and Mr. Keeler has full control of these. He is recognized as an expert in his line, and has invented and patented an electric level shovel, selling the patent rights to the company in whose interests he has been so efficiently working. He has frequently received advantageous offers from other con- cerns, but is true to his allegiance to the company with which he has so long a time been associated. He owns the house in which he lives, No. 1317 Third avenue, Beaver Falls, as also a number of other houses in the
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city. He is Republican in political opinion, and a member of the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Protective Home Circle.
Mr. Keeler married Mary Catherine Lozier, born in St. Louis, Mis- souri, now deceased; she was a daughter of Edward L. Lozier, also de- ceased, who was for many years engineer on a river boat, and lived at Beaver Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Keeler had children: Eva H., unmarried, lives with her parents; Edward L., a machinist, lives in Beaver Falls; Ida M., married R. F. Alstman, lives above Pittsburgh.
(The Myers Line.)
(I) Henry Milton Myers was born in eastern Pennsylvania, of Ger- man descent, and there grew to maturity. About 1800 he migrated with his family to Columbiana county, Ohio, where he purchased a farm about four miles east of Columbiana. At that time the country in that section was primeval forest, and Indians as well as wild animals were both numerous and dangerous. He cleared the land, and by industry and economy died a comparatively wealthy man, at the age of eighty-six years. He and his family were of the Lutheran denomination in religious belief. Mr. Myers married, before he "came over the mountains," Mary -, also born in Eastern Pennsylvania of German descent, and they had children: John, who became a farmer in Columbiana county, Ohio; Henry, had a farm near the homestead in Ohio, later removing to Elkhart county, Indiana, where he also located on a farm; Joseph, studied medicine and was a physician at Cary, Ohio; Noah, a physician in practice at Erie, Pennsyl- vania; Mary, married Levi Jennings, and lived on a farm in Columbiana county, Ohio; Susan, married - Rickabroat, and lived in Ohio; David, lived on a farm in Ohio; Samuel, of further mention; Jacob, lived on a farm in Ohio.
(II) Dr. Samuel Myers, son of Henry Milton and Mary Myers, was born near Columbiana, Columbiana county, Ohio, 1806, died in Elkhart, Indiana, 1861. His early years were passed in the usual manner of a farmer's son, and he then learned the blacksmith's trade. He went to Jamestown, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, to establish himself in his call- ing there, and while there made the acquaintance of several doctors there. They became interested in the intelligence and bright wit of the young man and induced him to abandon his trade and take up the study of medicine. For some years he studied in the offices of Dr. Gibson and Dr. Clark, and then his father offered him all the profits of the farm if he would come there and take charge of it and him. Considering it his duty to com- ply with the earnest request of his father, Samuel Myers returned to the homestead farm in Columbiana county, and remained there until the death of his father. He then removed to Elkhart, Elkhart county, Indiana, and there established himself in the practice of the medical profession, with which he was successfully identified until his untimely and deeply deplored death. He was thrown from his horse and injured, and before he had fully recovered from these hurts he succumbed to an attack of typhoid fever,
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which his undermined constitution could not withstand. He was tall of stature, being more than six feet in height, and stately and well propor- tioned. Dr. Myers married, in Jamestown, Matilda Muntz, born in Balti- more, Maryland, 1821, died 1890. She was robbed of both of her parents by death before she was ten years of age, and then made her home with her sister, Mrs. John Heffley, near Jamestown, Pennsylvania. Here she met Dr. Myers and married him when she was only sixteen years of age. Her only sister was the Mary who married John Heffley, and her only brother was William, who lived in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. and Mrs. Myers had children : 1. William, who died young. 2. Henry Milton, located in Beaver Falls, where he died a very wealthy man; he was the founder of the H. M. Myers Shovel and Tool Company, which later became merged in the Ames Shovel and Tool Company; his widow, Ella (Miller) Myers, lives in Detroit, Michigan. 3. Noah, married Mary Truby; worked with his brother, Henry Milton, and died in Beaver Falls. 4. Joseph, died in infancy. 5. Mary, widow of John W. Fry; lives at No. 945 Western ave- nue, North Side, Pittsburgh. 6. Sarah Ann, married Mr. Keeler (see Keeler I). 7. Elmira, now deceased; married Clark Hill; lived at Brook- ville, Pennsylvania. 8. Matilda, married William Matthews; lived at Beaver Falls, both deceased. 9. John, enlisted at the age of eighteen years and served throughout the Civil War, is now deceased; married Jeannette Mayer, also deceased, and lived at Beaver Falls.
HOFFMANN An interesting point that would be immediately observed by one reading a record of the Hoffmann family herein chronicled is the continued use of the name George for the eldest son of each generation. Another fact that is unusual throughout so long a period of time is that in each case the eldest child has been a son, so that the first born of each generation has been a George. The George with whom this record begins is George Von Hoffmann, who held the title of major in the army of Napoleon I. In the host of that commander he had risen from the rank of private and held an honored position, standing high in the estimation of his leader. He was one of the vast army of more than half a million men who invaded Russia under Napoleon's command, and penetrating as far as Moscow were there compelled by famine and suffering to retrace their steps, more than three-fourths of the gallant band that had so boldly set out upon what they were confident would be a con- tinuation of their successful compaigns falling by the wayside, victims either of exposure or the deadly attacks of the Cossacks. George Von Hoffmann was one of the survivors of this disastrous retreat, and died in Bavaria, his birthplace.
(II) George (2) Hoffmann, son of George (1) Von Hoffmann, was born in Germany, as was his wife, and there lived until 1845, when after his marriage he came to the United States, settling in Allegheny City (Pittsburgh, North Side), Pennsylvania. He later moved to Monongahela
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City, Washington county, Pennsylvania, coming there in 1858, and there died in 1898, aged eighty-one years, his wife's death occurring in that place five years later. He married Barbara Hoffmann, in all probability a relative of his. Among their children was George Andrew, of whom further.
(III) George Andrew Hoffmann, son of George (2) and Barbara (Hoffmann) Hoffmann, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1845, died in Pennsylvania in 1893. He was educated in the public schools, Wesleyan College, of Delavan, Ohio, and at Washington and Jefferson College. After receiving his degree from the latter institution he creditably passed the examinations for admission to the bars of Allegheny and Washington coun- ties, and from that time until his death steadily gained in prestige and reputation among his legal brethren, two years prior to his death, 1890-91, filling the position of district attorney. His power and influence as an advocate was known throughout the state, and few were the adverse deci- sions that fell to his lot. Forceful, able and convincing in argument, in the presentation of his cases he combined direct strength of statement with elo- quence of expression, his appeal being always to the reason rather than the sentiments of his hearers. He spoke and acted from a close familiarity with all of the complex and perplexing technicalities of our legal code, his clients being benefited by his years of assiduous study. He supported, with the influence a highly regarded legal light always wields, the Republican party, and belonged to Henry M. Phillips Lodge, No. 645, Free and Ac- cepted Masons. He married Margaret Aughindobler, born in Germany, now living in Monogahela City, Washington county, Pennsylvania, at the home of her daughter, Mary Elizabeth. She is a daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Zeh) Aughindobler, both natives of Bavaria, Germany, who came to the United States in 1852, settling in Washington county, Penn- sylvania. In that place he was a farmer, in 1872 making his home in Monon- gahela City, Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1908, aged seventy-eight years, his wife's death occurring in 1913, when she had attained the unusual age of ninety-three years. Children of Adam and Elizabeth (Zeh) Aughindobler: 1. Margaret, of previous mention, married George Andrew Hoffmann. 2. Jane, married James Dickey, of Monongahela City, Pennsylvania. 3. Anna, married John Starb, of Monongahela City, Penn- sylvania. Children of George Andrew and Margaret (Aughindobler) Hoff- mann: 1. George Andrew, of whom further. 2. Joseph Adolphus, a resi- dent of Monongahela City, Pennsylvania. 3. Mary Elizabeth, married Dr. George H. Murphy, a physician of Monongahela City, Pennsylvania.
(IV) George Andrew (2) Hoffmann, son of George Andrew (1) and Margaret (Aughindobler) Hoffmann, was born in Monogahela City, Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, November 5, 1877. His public school educa- tion was completed in 1896, when he was graduated from the Monongahela high school, after which he enrolled at Curry University, of Pittsburgh, where he took a business course. Finishing this course of study he pre-
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pared at Pittsburgh Academy for entrance at Washington and Jefferson College, later matriculating at that latter institution. He never received his degree from Washington and Jefferson, being compelled to leave the college and enter business. His first venture was in the hardware business in Monongahela City, in partnersip with a cousin, where he remained for three years, then accepted a position with the Crucible Steel Company of America. After two years' service with this company he became identified with the Valley Electrical Company, now operating under the name of the Beaver Valley Light Company, being thus employed for a period of nine years. His next field was the automobile business, and since his retirement therefrom he has not associated himself with any other venture, living free from all business cares at his home on River avenue, a handsome residence which was completed for his use in 1903. Mr. Hoffmann affiliated with Rochester Lodge, No. 229, Free and Accepted Masons, later having his membership transferred to Woodlawn Lodge, No. 672. In that fraternity he holds the thirty-second degree, belonging to Pennsylvania Consistory, Valley of Pittsburgh, receiving that degree November 17, 1905. He is also a member of Woodlawn Lodge, No. 1221, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. With his wife he is a communicant of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Aliquippa.
He married, in 1899, Florence McDonald, born in Woodlawn, Pennsyl- vania, August 7, 1879, daughter of Captain David Alexander and Mary Francis (Woods) McDonald, of Beaver county, Pennsylvania. Children of George Andrew and Florence (McDonald) Hoffmann: I. George An- drew, Jr., born March 25, 1900. 2. John Kenneth, born January 15, 1907.
ESTERMYER In its German home this family claimed as members many whose pursuits were of the nature that have given Germany its standing as one of the foremost of manu- facturing nations, while still others clung to agricultural lives and took upon themselves a share in the task of sustaining those of the first-named class by the production of foodstuffs. In this country the members thereof have been identified with the glass manufacturing industry, one of the present generation, Louis Joseph Estermyer, having attained an influential position in the public life of his locality. The seat of this branch of the family in the homeland was Byron, and it was in this division, near Metting, in Ger- many, that Joseph Estermyer was born, February 5, 1801, and died there, aged sixty-five years. Agriculture was his lifelong occupation, his fertile farm of 300 acres supplying the family with a comfortable living, as their needs, like their lives, were simple. The Catholic church was that to which all of the family belonged, the faith of their ancestors transmitted to their descendants. Joseph and Theresa Estermyer were the parents of three sons and one daughter, all but one, Alouis, father of Louis Joseph Ester- myer, passing their entire lives in Germany.
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