USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Genealogical and personal history of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 40
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Stephen Rust and his wife were natives of Vermont, where he was a foundryman, the family moving early to Schenectady, New York, where he established the first foundry. It is told that, to cast the metal for a per- manent cupola, he set up a hollow log lined with clay, which showed his
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adaptability in unusual circumstances, for it is highly probable that no hollow log had ever been used for that purpose before. In his old age he retired from business in this place and moved to Loudonville, Ohio, where several of his sons had established a foundry, and there died. He was a Re- publican in political action, and with his wife was a communicant of the Lutheran faith. Children: I. Lucien, was at one time a foundryman in Loudonville, Ohio, later an oil operator in Franklin, Pennsylvania, his death occurring in Dunkirk, New York. 2. Darius, died in Loudonville, Ohio. 3. Morrell, a foundryman, died in Loudonville, Ohio. 4. Rosanne, of pre- vious mention, married James Coulton Moltrup. 5. Albert, a foundryman of Jeffersonville, Indiana, died in Louisville, Kentucky.
(III) William Moltrup, son of James Coulton and Rosanne (Rust) Moltrup, was born in Loudonville, Ashland county, Ohio, February 5, 1851. As a youth he attended the public schools, later the Greentown Academy, and from the time of the completion of his studies until he attained man's estate he was employed in foundry and machine shops, for some time at Mansfield, Ohio. In 1888, prepared by hard experience and a mechanical knowledge wide, thorough, and acquired by days and months of the most difficult work, he came to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, in the fall of that year entering the employ of the Hartman Manufacturnig Company, retain- ing his position after the control of the concern had passed to the Carnegie Steel Company. During part of this time he had been engaged in per- fecting an invention on which he had been working for considerable time, a process for drawing irregular shapes in steel, one of the departments of steel manufacture that had been but imperfectly developed. Satisfied that he had advanced his process to the highest point of efficiency, he ob- tained a patent on it, and in 1892 organized the Standard Gauge Steel Company, with Professor Knight, president; J. A. B. Patterson, secretary and treasurer; Stephen Moltrup, manager; and William Moltrup, superin- tendent. This firm started business in a modest way, placing a few small orders for their article upon the market, until, when the practicability of their process had been proved and its worth demonstrated, a perfect stream of orders flowed in, causing immediate enlargement of their plant and great delay in accommodating patrons. At the present time from six to eight hundred men are constantly employed in the plant, which has agencies in all parts of this and foreign countries, including one in that great English manufacturing center, Manchester. Several years after the formation of the company mentioned above, the four Moltrup brothers, Arthur Ball, and Samuel Hanna, organized the Standard Connecting Rod Company, the two being merged in 1909. The buildings housing this concern are 1230 X 100 feet, nearly all of two stories, and are valued at over $1,000,000. The man who gave the first impetus to this strong organization, whose work first made it possible, devoted the best of his time and energy to maintaining and improving the high standard that exists in every department of the plant. He is little in the public eye, simple and unostentatious in his manner
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of life, ever with his hand upon the pulse of the business that represented his life labor, which realized so many of his fondest hopes. He has now withdrawn from the active management of the business, although he is a large stockholder and a member of the board of directors. His only in- terest in politics is in the casting of his ballot for an honorable candidate for office, and he is a believer in the principles of the Republican platform. With his wife, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Moltrup married (first) in 1877, Calista Underwood, born in Perrysville, Ohio, died in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, March 3, 1910, daugh- ter of James and Mary Underwood. Children: 1. Joseph, born Decem- ber 22, 1878, died June 11, 1890. 2. Mary Izora, born May 24, 1883; mar- ried Fred Wright; lives in Woodroe, Florida; they are the parents of William and Irene. 3. Stephen A., born October 12, 1890; married Mabel Wallace; is manager of the Standard Gauge Company, and his home is in College Hill. 4. Thorald R. U., born June 10, 1892; married, May 2, 19II, Naomi White, of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, where they reside. Mr. Moltrup married (second) in 1910, Mrs. Miriam (Fox) Wilder, of Cleveland, Ohio.
(III) Stephen Moltrup, son of James Coulton and Rosanne (Rust) Moltrup, was born in Loudonville, Ashland county, Ohio, December 10, 1863. His school days were spent in the public institutions of Loudon- ville and Perrysville, Ohio, and as a young man he apprenticed himself to the machinist's trade, following the same in Beaver Falls, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, whither he came in 1886. Six years after his arrival in that city he was one of the organizers and first officers of the Standard Gauge Steel Company, holding the position of general manager, the officers then being: A. Rasnor, of Pittsburgh, president and treasurer; Stephen Mol- trup, vice-president and general manager; and J. A. B. Patterson, secretary and assistant treasurer. After operating for several years in rented build- ings, the company erected its present spacious plant, and there manufactures finished steel specialties, crank shafts, machine keys, elevator guides, special shapes, and numerous other products. With a market that extends over nearly all of the civilized world, products that are in constant demand, and patents covering many of them, the Standard Gauge Steel Company has had a phenomenal growth, employing at the present time between six and eight hundred men. In 1909 the officers of the above company merged their concern with the Standard Connecting Rod Company, which they had organized some time previously, retaining the name of the former. Mr. Moltrup was most fortunately chosen for the position of general manager, his early training being of inestimably greater value than when it brought him a weekly wage, for he was able to work in close accord with the large body of men under him, to appreciate their difficulties, and to sympathize with their viewpoint. One of the consequences of this harmonious under- standing was the excellent spirit that existed in the shops, the workmen well paid, well provided for, and contented. He has now withdrawn from
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the active management of this business, although a large stockholder and member of its board of directors. In January, 1914, he and his brother, J. Thomas Moltrup, organized the Moltrup Steel Products Company, with offices and plant located on First avenue between Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets, Beaver Falls, the property formerly occupied by the Emerson Smith Saw Works. Besides his interest in the company of which he was an organizer, Mr. Moltrup holds a position upon the directorates of the Beaver County Telephone Company and the Farmers' National Bank. He is an Independent in political action, serving for two years as a member of the council, his conservative, practical views playing an important part in the deliberations of that body. His fraternities are the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Malta, and the Masonic order, in which latter organization he holds the thirty-second degree, belonging to Beaver Falls Lodge, No. 662, Free and Accepted Masons, Harmony Chapter, No. 206, Royal Arch Masons, Beaver Valley Commandery, No. 84, Knights Templar, and Pittsburgh Consistory, Sovereign Princes of the Royal Se- cret. In business he is forceful, energetic and shrewd, overlooking no op- portunity for the advancement of the welfare of his company; socially he is genial, pleasant and entertaining ; and to his best friends he is known as a man of generous instincts, constant and loyal at all times.
Mr. Moltrup married Ellen Matilda, daughter of Philip Miller, of Beaver county. Children: Helen, a student in the Beaver Falls High School; Katharine; Jean.
(III) J. Thomas Moltrup, son of James Coulton and Abigail (Russell) Moltrup, was born in Loudonville, Ashland county, Ohio, June 14, 1871. He obtained his education in the public schools of Perrysville, Ohio. Early in life he began to learn the machinist's trade, serving a full apprenticeship, and for ten years followed that occupation as a journeyman, coming to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, in 1888. He was first employed by the Hart- man Steel Company and subsequently by the Westinghouse Air Brake Com- pany, in Pittsburgh, until 1897, when he returned to Beaver Falls and be- came associated with the Standard Gauge Steel Company, in the organiza- tion of which his brothers were so essentially instrumental. In 1903 he and his brothers organized the Standard Connecting Rod Company, with the following officers: A. Rasner, president ; J. Thomas Moltrup, manager and vice-president; Stephen Moltrup, treasurer; and Arthur Ball, secretary. Six years after its organization this company was absorbed by the Standard Gauge Steel Company, both continuing after the merger under the name of the latter. Since 1900 Mr. Moltrup has been a director of the Standard Gauge Steel Company, in which he is a large stockholder, and until 1911 was its able general manager, having supervised the construction of the large modern plant that is now the company's home and having been re- sponsible for the successful and frictionless manner in which the greatly en- larged resources of the company were utilized. He has now withdrawn from the active management of the business, being connected with his
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brother, Stephen, as before noted. His political party is the Progressive, and for two years he served his city as a member of the school board, giving to this work his earnest and careful consideration, and advocating, during his term of office, many innovations for the improvement of the educational facilities of Beaver Falls. He holds the Knight Templar degree in the Masonic order, belonging to Beaver Falls Lodge, No. 662, Free and Accepted Masons; Harmony Chapter, No. 206, Royal Arch Masons, and to Beaver Valley Commandery, Knights Templar. He also affiliates with the Knights of the Maccabees.
Mr. Moltrup married, in 1889, Anna M., born in Highland, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Fred and Barbara Brown. Children : J. Franklin, a graduate of Kiskiminetas College, lives at home; Maude; Ruth; Evelyn; A son, died unnamed in infancy ; Thomas B .; Marguerite.
BARKER There are many distinct families of Barkers, which bear different coats of arms and reside in various counties of England. The persons who first bore this name doubtless made it their business to strip bark from trees and bring it to town for sale, consequently there was a Barker wherever there was a Tanner. In America the name is frequently found among the early settlers, but it is not known whether the different immigrants were nearly related or not. The progeny of the early Barkers now numbers thousands, and includes many of the leading citizens in various localities. The branch of the Barker family under discussion here located in Delaware prior to the Revolution.
(I) Samuel Barker, the immigrant ancestor of the family, is of record in Delaware in 1685, having a grant of two hundred acres of land deeded to him by the Penns.
(II) Joseph Barker, son of Samuel Barker, was born on the home- stead in Delaware. He was a strong Episcopalian, as were his parents.
(III) Samuel (2) Barker, son of Joseph Barker, married Rachel Ball, and raised a large family of children.
(IV) Abner Barker, son of Samuel (2) and Rachel (Ball) Barker, was born in Delaware, but early in life went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and served in the Fire Department of that city prior to 1790. Being a man of considerable means he early retired from business life.
(V) Thomas A. Barker, son of Abner Barker, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1823, and died in New Brighton, Beaver county, Penn- sylvania, in February, 1859. He was reared to manhood in Beaver county, having left the parental roof at an early age to reside with an elder brother, Dr. Butler Barker, a physician in practice in Beaver. Upon the comple- tion of a common school education in Beaver he located in New Brighton, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits with which he was identified until his death. He married Eliza Oakley, who was born in 1821, died in 1863, and they became the parents of: George O., died at the age of five years ; Frank A., died in 1879; Harry T., of further mention; Ellen O. Mrs.
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Barker was descended from an ancient English family, members of which became residents of America at a very early period. Her father, Milton Oakley, was a native of Baltimore, Maryland, but later resided in Butler county, Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in business in the village of Harmony, and died there in middle age.
(VI) Harry T. Barker, son of Thomas A. and Eliza (Oakley) Barker, was born in New Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, August 28, 1849. His education has been a most comprehensive one, being commenced by attendance at the public schools of his native town, followed by a course in the Military Academy at West Chester, Pennsylvania, from which in- stitution he was graduated; he then studied for a time at Cooper Institute, New York City, and finally studied engineering under the preceptorship of George L. Fox, at that time a celebrated instructor in mathematics and mechanics. Upon the completion of this course he accepted a position in the shipbuilding establishment of the Roaches, of New York City. Upon his return to New Brighton in 1873, he and his brother Frank A. commenced a banking business under the firm name of Barker Brothers, establishing a private bank at Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. This was successfully con- ducted until 1878, when Mr. Barker took up his professional work as a surveyor and civil engineer. The following year he was elected city en- gineer of Beaver Falls and New Brighton, and has been the incumbent of this office since that time. He is also a director in the River View Land Company which was organized in 1892. Politically he is a Republican, and he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Knights of Pythias. His religious affiliation is with the Episcopal Church.
Mr. Barker married, May 29, 1873, Annie V. McClean, and they had children: George M. and Adele, both deceased.
JOHNSTON The prosperity of the entire country depends largely upon the condition of the crops produced, and in no field of industry is faithful attention to all the details of the work to be performed more necessary than in agricultural lines. It is for this reason that a work of this nature should include in large number the names of those in whose hands this portion of the welfare of our land lies, and it is with pleasure that the following brief sketch of the Johnston family is here given.
(I) Joseph Johnston came from the eastern portion of the state of Pennsylvania, and located in Greene township, two miles from Georgetown, Beaver county, on what is now known as the Prior Farm. He cultivated the land he purchased here for general farming purposes. He served as a soldier during the War of 1812. He married - Reed, and had several children.
(II) Robert Johnston, son of Joseph and - (Reed) Johnston, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he was educated in the district schools. He was also engaged in general farming, owning a fine farm of
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sixty acres. While he never took an active part in the public affairs of the community, he gave his earnest support to the Republican party. His religious affiliations were with the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Johnston married (first) Matilda Blackamore, (second) Elizabeth Whetten, born in East Liverpool, Ohio, whose parents were English, and whose ancestors came to America at an early date, and were among the pioneer settlers. Children by first marriage: Thomas Reed, Elizabeth, Maggie. Children by second marriage: William, see forward; Rhoda A., Eva, Ida, Ralph.
(III) William Johnston, son of Robert and Elizabeth (Whetten) Johnston, was born in Hookstown, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, April 10, 1866. Upon the completion of his education in the public schools of his native township, he entered upon his business career, in which he has been more than ordinarily successful. He obtained a position with an oil con- cern, and being of an ambitious and energetic nature, had no difficulty in advancing to more and more responsible posts, and has now been identified with oil interests for eighteen years. During this period he traveled all over the United States and solved many difficult problems. In 1910 he re- turned to Beaver county, purchased eighty-one acres of land and established himself as a farmer of general products. He has been successful in this as he has been in other ventures. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Tribe of Ben-Hur, and he is a strong Repub- lican.
Mr. Johnston married, December 16, 1892, Bertha May Shearer, of McLean county, Illinois, and they have had children: Lee, born July 14, 1894; Florence, November 24, 1896; Ralph, February 2, 1903; Phoebe, June 24, 1906; Freda, August 19, 1912.
The record of the Scotch family of Imbrie in the United
IMBRIE States is indeed an honorable one, embracing the lives of members whose duty has been a guiding star of unfailing bril- liance and its performance the pleasure of life. The first of this line in the United States was James Imbrie, born near Glasgow, Scotland, who settled in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, prior to March 11, 1793, that being the date upon his first deed to his plantation near Service, Moon township. On his land were large herds of fine stock and blooded cattle, his reputa- tion as a breeder extending over a wide radius. He and his wife were members of the Seceders Church, and both are buried in the Service grave- yard, his death having occurred in June, 1800. He married in Scotland, Euphemia, daughter of Robert and Maria (Livingston) Smart, of Glas- gow, Scotland, who accompanied him to the United States. She met her death in an unfortunate manner, a blooded bull kept by her husband for breeding purposes becoming enraged, probably at some article of her ap- parel, charging her and inflicting fatal injuries. One of the children of James and Euphemia Imbrie was David, of whom further.
(II) David, son of James and Euphemia (Smart) Imbrie, was born
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probably in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 28, 1777, died June 12, 1842. He was reared in Moon township, Beaver county, and was a student of the old Canonsburg Academy, which later became Jefferson College and afterward Washington and Jefferson College. On November 14, 1797, while a student in this institution, he was the leading spirit in the founding of the Franklin Literary Society, an organization which continues to the present time, having numbered among its members men afterward famous in many walks of life, who within its walls received the first impetus for culture and literary knowledge for which they later were noted. Com- pleting his general education he studied theology under the preceptorship of John Anderson, a student and scholar of more than ordinary attain- ment, well known in that day, and was licensed to preach by the Chartiers Presbytery of the Seceders Church, December 14, 1803. After his mar- riage Mr. Imbrie made his home on a large tract of land in Big Beaver township, Beaver county, which he had purchased in 1800, part of it still being in the possession of his descendants. In the active cultivation of his estate he took no part, although he was in continuous touch with all the operations conducted thereon and gave it his personal supervision and management. During his connection with the ministry of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church he held two charges in Beaver county, one Bethel Church, and another, Brush Run (now Darlington) Church, his death occurring while engaged in this ministry. The primitive transporta- tion facilities of the day made travel by horse the common method of loco- motion, and it was while riding with his daughter, Jean, in his carriage on the way to deliver a sermon at Bethel Church that he was stricken with apoplexy, and died the next day. He was a man large in body, his physical size in proportion with his mental stature, for his strength of mind and intentness of purpose would have ill suited one of weak outward parts. Never did a congregation of a church so sincerely mourn the loss of a loved pastor, never were such glorious plans so rudely shattered, seldom has such a touching demonstration of affection been made as by the solemn grief of his people.
Mr. Imbrie became acquainted with his future wife while a student at college, and on November 29, 1804, he married Jean, daughter of John and Anna (Atkinson) Reed. John Reed moved from Lancaster county to Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1777, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. For many years he served as associate judge of Wash- ington county, and of his incumbency of this office an amusing anecdote is preserved, which showed that Mr. Reed was fully conscious of the supremacy of his power in the court room and aware of the superiority of civil over military authority. Gen. George Washington was a party in a case pertaining to a deed of land, and when some evidence was submitted detrimental to his side of the question he expressed his displeasure openly, gaining a reprimand from the court and a fine of $50 for contempt, which was collected from the great general in due order. Children of David and
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Latala.
f. M Imbran
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Jean (Reed) Imbrie: 1. Ann, married Joseph Sharp, and lived at New Galilee, Pennsylvania. 2. Maria, married Dr. J. W. Galvin, and resided in South Beaver township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. 3. Jean, died unmarried. 4. David, born January 24, 1819, died at Ottawa, Kansas, January 29, 1872; studied theology and on July 16, 1839, was admitted to the ministry of the United Presbyterian Church. 5. John Reed, died March 12, 1860; a merchant of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 6. James Milton, of whom further. 7. Elmira Emeline, married John M. Buchanon; passed the greater part of her life in New Wilmington, and died at the home of her son, Madison Buchanon, in Youngstown, Ohio.
(III) James Milton, son of David and Jean (Reed) Imbrie, was born in Big Beaver township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1816, died there April 12, 1889. He grew to manhood in this place, and upon the death of his father purchased the interests of his co-heirs in the home property. In young manhood he and a brother, John R., were the pro- prietors of a general store at Newcastle, Pennsylvania, but after five years in mercantile life Mr. Imbrie returned to the home farm, there spending the rest of his years. During the Civil War he raised many sheep upon his property, the condition of affairs at that time having placed wool at a premium in the open market and made its production the most profitable of occupations. In 1856 he erected the home now occupied by his son, William J. For many years he was an elder of the Reformed Presby- terian Church, and politically was a Republican, filling ably numerous town- ship offices. Both because of his material prosperity and his strength of character, he held a prominent position in the community, being placed at the head of many local projects which his wise leadership and careful, conservative judgment seldom failed to successfully consummate.
He married Clarinda, daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Black) Jackson, born in South Beaver township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, September 29, 1820, died April 18, 1899. Her father was the third of a line of Samuels, Samuel (1) Jackson having been born in Virginia prior to 1729, later settling in Nottingham township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, his will being dated November 29, 1764. He was of Irish descent, and had children: 1. Paul, a celebrated physician of Philadelphia. 2. David, a physician, one of the first to receive the degree M.D. from Jefferson Medical College ; was a quartermaster-general during the Revolutionary War. 3. Mary, married Samuel Dickey. 4. Samuel (2), of whom further. Sam- uel (2) was born in 1747, died in 1778, married Jane Thompson, and had children: I. Hugh, born October 18, 1770. 2. Jean, born July 6, 1772. 3. Samuel (3), of whom further. 4. Margaret, born October 8, 1776. Samuel (3) Jackson was born in Nottingham township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, June 15, 1774, died in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 6, 1859. His father died when he was a child of four years, and a guardian was appointed for the children. Samuel (3) Jackson grew to manhood in Chester county, and was there twice married, Catherine Black
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