USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Genealogical and personal history of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 42
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(III) Charles Arthur Dunkerley was educated in the local public schools and at Duff's Business College, from which institution he grad- uated in the year 1907. He began his business life in the position of as- sistant bookkeeper in the office of the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railway and here he remained until 1911, in which year he decided to embark upon a business enterprise of his own and accordingly built, at No. 315 Four- teenth street, Beaver Falls, a two-story and basement store building and here established himself as a grocer. In this line he has since been success- fully engaged, and carries at the present time (1913) a stock valued at about fifteen hundred dollars. He is a model shopkeeper, and his store always presents a spotless appearance. Despite his notable success in his present business, Mr. Dunkerley expects soon to withdraw from it for the purpose of forming a partnership, under the firm name of Emerick & Dunkerley, to deal in shoes. Mr. Dunkerley is a Republican in politics, and takes a keen interest in public affairs. He is a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics.
Mr. Dunkerley married, May 30, 1906, Mary McLean, a native of Scal- loway, Shetland Islands, daughter of Allan and Agnes (Anderson) Mc- Lean. Mr. McLean was born in Stornaway, Scotland, and his wife in Great Yarmouth, England. They were married in Aberdeen, Scotland, and lived there two years, afterwards removing to Glasgow, and after ten years residence in that city, in October, 1903, he came to America and settled in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, whither he was followed by his
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daughter, Mary, in May, 1904, and by Mrs. McLean in 1906. While in Scotland Mr. McLean was in the business of fish curing, but since his ar- rival in America has been employed in the hollow-ware works at Beaver Falls, where he and Mrs. McLean still reside. To them were born eight children, as follows: Susan, died when but eight years of age; Mary, now Mrs. Dunkerley; William, died when eighteen months of age; Clara, now Mrs. Lyle Richmond, of Beaver Falls; Allan, aged eighteen years; Alex- ander, aged seventeen years; Duncan, aged sixteen years; Agnes, aged ten years, the four younger children all living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Lean are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose. Mr. and Mrs. Dunkerley are the parents of two lovely little daughters, Ruth, born November 8, 1908, and Jean, born De- cember 8, 1911. Mr. Dunkerley and his family are members of the Metho- dist Protestant Church.
CUNNINGHAM The Cunninghams are a Scotch family, although many of the numerous immigrants of this surname who came to America previous to the beginning of the beginning of the eighteenth century were descended from ancestors who had lived in Ireland perhaps for many generations. But from whatever country the immigrant Cunninghams may have sailed in their quest of new homes on this side of the Atlantic ocean, the fact remains that probably very nearly all of them came of the ancient Cunningham Clan, which was seated in Ayrshire, Scotland, as early as A. D. 1200.
(I) Philo McGregor Cunningham was born at Ellwood City, Lew- rence county, Pennsylvania, July 22, 1836, and was a farmer and a dealer in hogs, cattle, sheep and wool. He married, in 1865, Alice M. Davidson, and had a number of children.
(II) William Mehard Cunningham, son of Philo McGregor and Alice M. (Davidson) Cunningham, was born in Wayne township, Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, November 25, 1868. He acquired his education in the public schools in the vicinity of his home, then assisted his father in the care and management of the farm until he was twenty-five years of age. He then learned the tailor's trade with L. D. Boggs, of New Brighton, Pennsylvania, with whom he remained associated until 1899, when he started in business independently, and has been successfully identified with this since that time. He married, September 19, 1900, Lida F. Boyd, and they have one child, Elizabeth, born October 15, 1901.
The little mountainous country of Switzerland has furnished
STEINER some of the most energetic and enterprising citizens of the United States, and the members of the Steiner family, now so well represented in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, are no exception to this rule.
(I) Daniel Steiner, the immigrant ancestor of the Swiss Steiners now
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in the United States, was born in Switzerland, March 24, 1813. After his marriage he emigrated to America, settling in Allegheny county, Penn- sylvania, where he remained for a time, and in 1842 removed to Belmont county, Ohio, where he located on a farm he had purchased. There his death occurred, December 13, 1873. Until the year 1860 he was a staunch Democrat, but at that time he affiliated with the Republican party, to which he gave his political support until his death. He and his wife were members of the Evangelical Protestant church. He married (first) in Switzerland, Elizabeth Yanny, born in that country, September 24, 1812, died in Belmont county, Ohio, October 14, 1853. They had one child, Daniel Arnold, see forward. Mr. Steiner married (second) Barbara Braun, and had children: Louisa, born May 9, 1857, married Thomas Miller, now deceased; Bertha, born 1858, died 1879; Pauline, married Christian Gailer; Theodore U., now of Belmont county, Ohio.
(II) Daniel Arnold Steiner, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Yanny) Steiner, was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, October 3, 1841. He was but an infant when his parents removed to the farm in Belmont county, Ohio, and there his early years were spent and there he was edu- cated in the public schools. In the spring of 1864 he enlisted in the army, becoming a member of Company C, 170th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and served until September of the same year. He re-enlisted in Company I, 194th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, being honorably discharged at Camp Chase, November 2, 1865. The most important battles in which he actively participated were: Maryland Heights, Island Ford and Winchester. He was an ardent Demo- crat, and a man of influence in the local politics, serving as burgess of Rochester and of Monaca, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and as justice of the peace in Aliquippa, in the same county. In 1873 Mr. Steiner re- moved to Rochester, Pennsylvania, there learning the trade of shoemaking, with which he was occupied for a period of fifteen years. He then re- moved to Monaca, where he resided eleven years, and on September 16, 1899, removed to Aliquippa, where he now owns property on Beaver avenue. He is a member of Rochester Post, No. 183, Grand Army of the Republic.
Mr. Steiner married, in Rochester, Catherine Elizabeth Trax, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 1I, 1849. Children: I. Alice Ger- trude, born January 3, 1870; married John W. Morehouse, of Monaca, Pennsylvania ; children : James, William, Walter, Bertram. 2. Eugene Bert- rand, see forward. Mrs. Steiner is a daughter of Jacob Trax, who was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, September 7, 1824, died May 29, 1907. The greater part of his life was spent in Beaver county, Pennsyl- vania, where he was occupied as a cabinetmaker. In 1868 he formed an association with Miller & Dobson, and they organized a planing mill. He married Catherine Elizabeth, born in Germany, 1827, who came to this country with her parents, Henry and Elizabeth Knabenshue, the former
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Q. B. Steiner
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of whom is deceased. They had children: Catherine Elizabeth, mentioned above; George, Emma, John T., Henry, Lydia, Lewis W.
(III) Eugene Bertrand Steiner, son of Daniel Arnold and Catherine Elizabeth (Trax) Steiner, was born in Rochester, Beaver county, Penn- sylvania, November 8, 1876. Until the age of eleven years he lived in his native town, there attending the public schools, then those of Monaca when his parents removed there in 1888. He was still a very young lad when he entered upon his business career, becoming an apprentice with the Phoenix Glass Company, and after serving the required period he became a glass worker. This connection remained in force for a period of eighteen years, and during this time he further educated himself by a course in the Beaver County Commercial College, and during his spare time turned his attention to accounting and clerical work. In April, 1907, he was appointed secretary of the borough of Monaca, an office he has filled to the satis- faction of all concerned up to the present time. He is independent in his political views and opinions, and has the courage of his convictions. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and he is connected with a number of organizations, among them being the following: Knights of the Maccabees, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, Royal Arcanum, American Flint Glass Workers' Union. As an able accountant, Mr. Steiner has gained a wide-spread reputation which has earned him much commendation from experts in municipal matters, and his reports on the condition of the waterworks department was one in which special interest was centered. He owns his own home in Monaca, where he has resided since 1888.
Mr. Steiner married, July 4, 1899, Florence M., daughter of Gilbert and Elizabeth Trumpeter. Children: Theodore A., born May 20, 1900; Miriam Elizabeth, December 31, 1901 ; Alice G., October 20, 1903; Ruth F., May 20, 1909; Esther, August 18, 1910.
John Stone, the founder of this line of the family in America,
STONE was the son of Rev. Samuel Stone, a non-conformist divine of Hereford-on-the-Wye, Herfordshire, England. He was born about 1610, and came to New England in the summer of 1639 in the company of William Leete (afterwards Governor Leete) and Rev. Henry Whitfield, settling in what is now Guilford, Connecticut. The line first appears in Pennsylvania in the person of Stephen Stone, born in Derby, Connecticut.
(I) Stephen Stone was born April 21, 1759. and for several years of his mature life was commander of a sea-going vessel, afterward discon- tinuing his marine occupation, and in 1804 moved to Pennsylvania, journey- ing to the western part of that state and there purchasing twenty-four hundred acres of land in Franklin and Marion townships, Beaver county, for which he paid twelve hundred dollars. He subsequently returned to the state of his birth for his wife and children, at that time disposing of
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one-half of his original tract at the sale price of one dollar per acre, thus regaining the amount first expended in acquiring title to the property. His home he built in Marion township, the group of buildings, consisting of a dwelling, a store, and a barn, being constructed of logs. Later, with more time and capital, he replaced the first log dwelling with a house of brick, containing eight rooms, which was then considered the finest of the town- ship's residences, it being an unusually spacious and comfortable house for the period and locality. Stephen Stone afterward became the owner of land upon which he built a house in Harmony, and in 1805 bought the point of land north of the Beaver and Ohio rivers, now known as Stone's Point. Here he built a residence and erected a warehouse and boat landing for supplying boats plying the rivers, both warehouse and landing being swept away in the flood of 1832. One of his principal business projects was the purchase of pig-iron manufactured at the Bassenheim furnace and its sale at ports along the rivers and transported up the river to Pitts- burgh. The product was delivered to him at his wharf by wagon and was there loaded on keel-boats which were floated down the river to such ports as afforded a market. If the destination lay up-stream, the motive power was human and poles used to propel the boat, although at times it was possible to utilize horse or mule power in drawing them. Frequently, after the cargo had been unloaded, the vessel was placed on sale and the crew compelled to walk back to their starting place, while on other occa- sions the representative of the house or individual shipping the first cargo purchased a load of articles needed at the other end of the voyage and re- tained the crew until the return trip was completed. Stephen Stone con- tinued in dealings of this nature all of his life, and at his death was ac- counted a prosperous and influential business man. He was a communicant of the Episcopal Church.
Stephen Stone married (first) January 5, 1795, Katy Hull, and had children : I. Stephen. 2. Eliza, married Elihu Evans. 3. Mary J., married Joseph McCombs. 4. Dan Hull, of whom further. 5. Sherlock, born August 31, 1804. 6. Charles. 7. Catherine, married Henry W. Smith. 8. Adelia. 9. Henry L., died young. Katy (Hull) Stone died September 18, 1825, and Stephen Stone married (second) November 4, 1829, Sarah Fuller.
(II) Dan Hull Stone, fourth child of Stephen and Katy (Hull) Stone, was born in Derby, Connecticut, September 27, 1802, died March 25, 1879. He was a child of two years when his parents moved to Penn- sylvania, where he was educated, and as he grew to manhood he became his father's assistant, assuming numerous and important duties. One of these was the collection of his father's bills, and when he was a youth of eighteen years he rode to Columbus, Ohio, on horse-back, to collect an outstanding account of two thousand dollars, the commission showing his father's trust in his competent ability. His first day's work as an indepen- dent wage-earner was as a poler on a keel-boat, labor lasting from sunrise until the evening gloom, for which he received fifty cents, the regulation
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wage for work of that nature. His liking for river life was to a large degree inherent, and that was his occupation for many years, although in later life, in partnership with his brothers, Stephen and Charles, he owned and operated several large steamboats, which operated between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Cincinnati, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky, and New Orleans, Louisiana. This was one of the speediest and best equipped lines of the day and held the contract for carrying the United States mail, work given only to the best transportation facilities. Mr. Stone was successful in bus- iness to a gratifying extent, realizing large profits from his venture, and prior to the Civil War disposed of his interest in this line of boats. He had inherited a portion of the old homestead in Marion township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and on this tract erected a saw-mill, venturing ex- tensively into lumber dealing and building up a trade in that line. The panic of 1873 dealt this business a severe blow, and Mr. Stone's personal fortune suffered heavily. He was a most loyal friend, and the pleas of associates in worse straits than his did not go unheeded, with the result that his possessions were greatly reduced, his health breaking under the strain of financial worriment, and at his death, March 25, 1879, his property totaled a small sum in value. He married, July 14, 1853, Mary, daughter of James Patterson, an early settler of Beaver county, Pennsylvania. Children of Dan Hull and Mary (Patterson) Stone: Stephen P., Eliza- beth, Dan H. (2), of whom further; James P., Mary J., Charles H., Sally P.
(III) Dan Hull (2) Stone, son of Dan Hull (1) and Mary (Patter- son) Stone, was born in Beaver, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. After a course in the public schools he attended the United Presbyterian Seminary. He received an appointment as deputy prothonotary in January, 1880, his brother, Stephen P., being at that time prothonotary, and held this office for two terms, each of three years duration. In 1885 he was the successful candidate for prothonotary of the court of common pleas, assuming the duties of his office in January, 1886, and was returned to the same office in the election of 1888, his conduct while in office being of a satisfactory nature. It was while the incumbent of this office that he began the study of law under the direction of two such able tutors as J. M. Buchanan, Esq., and Hon. M. F. Mecklem, and was admitted to the bar, September 19, 1892. The political party that has claimed his allegiance and hearty sup- port is the Republican, while as a citizen of Beaver his part in all projects tending toward and inducing the advancement of the town has received his hearty support. He has been identified with the Beaver Valley Traction Company; was one of the incorporators and formerly attorney of the High River Bridge Company; and filled like positions in connection with the People's Electric Street Railroad Company; and has been attorney for several railways operating in western Pennsylvania. Mr. Stone holds mem- bership in the Masonic Order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being past grand in the latter society.
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Of the earlier generations of this family but little is known. ROMBOLD Both maternal and paternal grandparents died before the birth of August Charlie Rombold, of Beaver county, Penn- sylvania, and his father died when he was but a little more than one year of age. His father was David Rombold, born in Wittenberg, Germany, died there in 1867. He married Jacobina Nasthrich, born near the same place in 1835, and still living in Germany, and they had children: Frederick, a shoemaker by occupation, lives in Germany; David, a farmer near South Sharon, Pennsylvania; Pauline, married, and lives in Ellwood City, Penn- sylvania; Fredericka, married and lives in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania; August Charlie, see forward; John, a farmer near South Sharon, Penn- sylvania.
August Charlie Rombold, son of David and Jacobina (Nasthrich) Rombold, was born in Wittenberg, Germany, June 20, 1866. He received a substantial and practical education in the public schools of his native town, and when he was almost fifteen years of age decided to come to the United States, as affording better opportunities for a young lad of ambitious and energetic nature. He traveled to this country alone and went directly to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There he entered the employ of John Wilhelm, who took him to his farm in Beaver county, where he remained for a period of two years, during which time he obtained a fair mastery of the English language. He has been continuously engaged in farm work, work- ing in succession at the following named places: In Butler county, Penn- sylvania, with several farmers; near Freedom, Beaver county, two years; one year on a farm at Brush Creek, Beaver county; one year for Samuel Ray in Daugherty township, Beaver county. In 1887 he purchased twenty- five acres of land from his last employer, and sold this in 1902 and pur- chased his present farm of one hundred and thirteen acres in Daugherty township. He remodeled the house which stood on this property, and made several additions to the barn, greatly increasing the working facilities of the place. He makes a specialty of dairy farming, and has a very profit- able milk route in New Brighton. He is a staunch supporter of the Re- publican party, and he and his wife are members of the German Reformed Church.
Mr. Rombold married, November 14, 1889, Elizabeth Euler, born in Hessen Darmstadt, Germany, March 29, 1867, daughter of Jacob and Mar- garet (Leibold) Euler, who emigrated to America in 1885. They rented various farms in Butler county, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1893, while she is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Rombold have had children: A son who died at the age of two weeks; Albert, born September 23, 1892; Rudolph, born November 12, 1894; Harry, died at the age of six weeks; Howard, born August 20, 1899; Florence, born June 9, 1902; Clarence and Clara, twins, born February 13, 1906.
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STONE This is one of those names, apparently English in origin, but which, when examined, prove to be translations from another language. The name of Stone, Stein in German, is frequently to be met with. The family under discussion here came to America many years ago, and have become thoroughly a part of the country in which they live.
(I) George W. Stone, of remote German descent, was born in Van- port. Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and was educated in that town. For a time his occupation was that of a river man, but later he purchased a farm in Independence township, Beaver county, on which he died about one year afterwards at the age of forty-two years. He was a Democrat in politics, and an exemplary citizen. He married Rachel, a daughter of Joseph McConnell. They had children: Joseph A., deceased; Elizabeth Wallace, living with her mother; Mary Alice, married - Patters and lives in Independence, Beaver county, Pennsylvania; James Edgar, of further mention.
(II) James Edgar Stone, only surviving son of George W. and Rachel (McConnell) Stone, was born in Independence township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1874. The public schools of his native township furnished him with an excellent education; and he early became practically acquainted with all the details of a well conducted farm. He was engaged in farming until he was thirty years of age, then engaged in the oil business, with which he is identified at Gringo at the present time. He makes his home with his mother on the farm which is in the vicinity. Like his father, he is a staunch supporter of the Democratic party, and takes a deep and bene- ficial interest in whatever concerns the welfare of the community in which he lives.
The name of Hall is one of the oldest in America, and is now HALL to be found in every state in the Union, although the ancestors of those bearing it came to America at many different periods of time. The most probable origin of the name is the fact that baronial seats in England were almost always called Halls, with some title annexed. When men were obliged to take surnames, many took the name of their estate, and thus many names were made to end with Hall.
(I) Thomas Hall was probably born in Washington county, Penn- sylvania, although there is a supposition that he may have been born in Maryland. He was a ship carpenter in his younger years. He settled on a farm near Nobistown, Washington county, with his wife, whose maiden name was Williams, and who was also a native of the county; both were members of the Methodist Church. They had children: Charles Henry, of further mention; Nancy, married Peter Bates, a farmer of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, now deceased; John W., now deceased, was an at- torney of the city of Pittsburgh.
(II) Charles Henry Hall, son of Thomas and - (Williams) Hall,
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was born near Nobistown, Washington county, Pennsylvania, December 24, 1822, and died in August, 1904. After acquiring his education at the district school, he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade. He be- came superintendent of the soda works at Natrona, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, held this position for several years, and then removed to South Side, Pittsburgh, where he became a building contractor, being an active member of the firm of Murdock & Hall. They were the leading contractors of Pittsburgh for a period of fifteen years, and built all of the Pennsylvania railroad roundhouses, besides many other important struc- tures. In 1876 he removed to Chippewa township, Beaver county, Penn- sylvania, where he owned one hundred and thirty-five acres of land. He was a Republican in politics, and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he held official position. He married Mary Kenneston, born in Freeport, Pennsylvania, in 1844, died in Beaver county, July, 1878. Her parents were residents of Freeport, Pennsylvania, where her father died when she was very young. The Kennestons are an old New England family, and a great-uncle of Mrs. Hall was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Her brothers and sisters were: James A., who owned a number of boats, which he personally com- manded, on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, was the first man to use a tubular boiler on a river boat; Snowden, an oil operator, lives in Clarion, Pennsylvania; Albert, now deceased, was an oil operator, and served all through the Civil War, commencing as a drummer boy at the age of four- teen years, when he ran away from home, and finally became a messenger for Grant; Susan, married William Murdock, and lived in Natrona, Penn- sylvania, both now deceased; Sarah, married Major Baer, of Oil City, Pennsylvania, he now deceased, and she is living in North Baltimore, Ohio; A. Agnes, married Orlando Kennedy, removed to Florida in 1872, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hall had children: Jennie, married John Cun- ningham, now deceased, lives in Chippewa township; Elizabeth, married O. H. P. Graham, a Methodist Episcopal minister, now deceased, lives at Farrington, Illinois; James W., of further mention; Joseph K., lives on the home farm in Chippewa township; Laura, married Charles Robel, su- perintendent of a hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, where they reside; Charles, lives in Duluth, Minnesota; Thomas, lives in Joplin, Missouri; Frank, lives on a ranch in Nebraska; Grace, unmarried, lives in Omaha.
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