USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Genealogical and personal history of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 43
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(III) James W. Hall, son of Charles Henry and Mary (Kenneston) Hall, was born in Natrona, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, February 15, 1863. The public schools of the Sixth Ward, Allegheny City, furnished a part of his education, and he also attended the schools in Chippewa town- ship. Upon the completion of his education he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade with Wolf, Shaffer & Crease, of Beaver Falls, a con- cern with which he remained five years. Removing to Pittsburgh, he worked for a firm of contractors in that city for a period of three years, and was then with McDannel & McLean, contractors, for six years. The
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next field of his activity was in New Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsyl- vania, where he was in the employ of J. S. Mitchell. In 1903 he established himself independently in the contracting business in Beaver Falls, and has been a resident of the town since that time, purchasing a beautiful home at No. 2224 Seventh avenue. He has erected numerous fine buildings in Beaver Falls and its vicinity, and his business is constantly increasing. His political affiliation is with the Republican party, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. His fraternal connection is with the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Hall married, April 15, 1886, Amelia Elizabeth Ripper, born in New Brighton, Pennsylvania. She is a daughter of Leonard L. and Elizabeth (Gettman) Ripper, the latter still living. Mr. Ripper was a tobacconist, and was the oldest business man in New Brighton at the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have had children : Snowden, born March 31, 1887, is a student at the Homoeopathic School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois; Frances, born January 13, 1890, is a nurse in the Homeo- pathic Hospital in Pittsburgh; James L., born May 23, 1897.
The Dando family, which has been represented in this country
DANDO but a few generations, has nevertheless already made its mark in the financial and industrial worlds. They are an old family in England, and the town of Hampton-Dando, near Bristol, England, is named in honor of the Hampton and the Dando families.
(I) Mark Dando, who was born in Hampton-Dando, near Bristol, Eng- land, married Elizabeth - -.
(II) George Dando, son of Mark and Elizabeth Dando, was born at Frankton, near Bristol, England, and went to Monmouthshire at an early age. He was engaged in mine contracting all his life, and died in England. He married Elizabeth, also born at Frankton, a daughter of John Anys- bury. A number of their children went to America.
(III) George (2) Dando, son of George (1) and Elizabeth (Anysbury) Dando, was born in Monmouthshire, England, in 1855. He received his school education in his native land. He emigrated to the United States in 1869, and settled at Minersville, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where he served his apprenticeship as a molder with Gartley & Fox. Clearfield, Pennsylvania, was the next scene of his activities, after which he went to Philadelphia, and there worked for Morris & Tasker. From there he went to Pittsburgh, entering the employ of the John M. Cooper Steel Company, and later went to Toronto, Canada. From there he returned to his native country, and was employed in the pottery works for about three years. At the end of this time, 1874, he made his home at Palestine, Ohio, and then in Conway, Pennsylvania. By this time he had amassed a considerable capital, and established himself as a manufacturer of brick, operating below Vanport as the George Dando Company. Later the name was changed to The McClain Fire Brick Company, Mr. Dando being the superintendent and a member of the firm. The date of its establishment was March, 1899.
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Mr. Dando was reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but is now a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Dando married, 1889, Alice Frankland, and they have the fol- lowing named children: John Frederick, George W., Mary Edith, Jane Priscilla, Bessie Olive, Beatrice. Mr. Dando is a man of much energy and determination. He is highly esteemed in the community in which he re- sides as a man of sterling worth, and as one whose business activities have added greatly to the prosperity of the town.
John Todd is the first member of this branch of the Todd family TODD of whom there is authentic record. He descended from Eng-
lish and Irish ancestors, who early made their home in Penn- sylvania and were as a rule agriculturists. John Todd was a soldier in the Continental army during the war for independence. His home was in Fayette county, Pennsylvania.
(II) Alexander Todd, son of John Todd, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and spent his youthful years there. After his marriage he moved to Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he raised stock on one hun- dred and forty acres of land in Ohio township. He also conducted exten- sive farming operations on a large adjoining tract of land, which he rented. He was twice married, the second time to Sarah Jane Stephens, whose father, John Stephens, was likewise a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was the father of sixteen children, among whom was Nicholas, a son of his second wife.
(III) Nicholas Todd, fifth son of Alexander and Sarah Jane (Stephens) Todd, was born in Ohio township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, April 20, 1823, died in Brighton township, same county, September 2, 1897. He attended the public school of his native township, an old fashioned log structure, and when a young man began farming operations, an occupa- tion to which he had been accustomed all his life. After his marriage he moved to Columbiana county, Ohio, and there rented a farm, remaining in that locality for nine years. He then returned to his native township and there purchased the old home farm of one hundred and thirty-one acres and resided thereon until 1873. On October 3 of that year he pur- chased one hundred and fifty-two acres of land in Brighton township, a farm now partly cultivated by his son, Thomas Jefferson Todd. A little later he added twenty-five acres to this tract and there lived until his death. Besides his agricultural pursuits he was actively engaged in oil operations in the vicinity of Ohioville, and was part owner in several wells that had a most profitable flow. He was a Democrat in politics, holding numerous township offices, and was a personage of importance in his neighborhood. Kind-hearted and charitable, the sight of need and suffering caused him real distress and he was many times the good Samaritan to the unfortunate or destitute. Although prevented from going to the front at the time of the Civil War, he bent his every effort to raising funds and supplying provi-
& doda J.J. Hadd
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sions for the wives and families of those who had gone into the fray, so many of whom were destined never to return. He belonged to the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, as did his wife, and affiliated with the Masonic Order. He made it his custom to keep abreast of all the latest develop- ments along agricultural lines, and was for many years a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, through which medium he kept in touch with farm- ing topics in all sections of the country. He married, in 1844, Jemima Ingles, born in Industry township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, October 20, 1824, died in Brighton township, same county, May 1, 1907, surviving her husband ten years. She was a daughter of George and Amy (Dan- nals) Ingles, both natives of Beaver county, Pennsylvania. George Ingles was one of the first farmers in the region to devote extensive space and time to the growing of fruit for the market, and as a pioneer in this line met with excellent success. He also opened and operated deposits of coal on his land, the mines still yielding largely. Tradition relates that it was his wife who caught the last deer captured or shot in Beaver county. She and her brother were rowing in a skiff on the Ohio and perceived the deer swimming across the stream. Rowing up to the animal and guiding it to the shore they there held it until rope was procured and the deer made fast. Both he and his wife spent their lives in Industry township, the parents of ten children. Children of Nicholas and Jemima (Ingles) Todd: Amy, Henry, Sarah Jane, and Mary, all died with scarlet fever within the space of ten days. 5. George Alexander, died in infancy. 6. Nicholas Peirce, a resident of St. Louis, Missouri. 7. Thomas Jefferson, of whom further. 8. Jackson, lives in Brighton township, a farmer. 9. Dallas, twin of Jackson, died aged five years. 10. Horatio Seymour, a farmer and stock raiser of Ohio township.
(IV) Thomas Jefferson Todd, seventh child and fourth son of Nicholas and Jemima (Ingles) Todd, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, April 18, 1857. He attended the public schools of Ohio and Brighton townships, and later Beaver College where his academic studies were completed. He then engaged in farming and stock raising as his father's assistant for a short time, later renting an adjacent farm and conducting independent operations. At his father's death he purchased seventy-five acres of the old homestead and has there ever since resided. While still farming along general lines, he specializes somewhat in fruit raising and has planted several acres with the best tree stock obtainable. A Democrat in politics, he has held the offices of supervisor and school director and also takes active interest in other township affairs. He belongs to the Patrons of Hus- bandry.
Mr. Todd married, January 9, 1884, Martha Jane, daughter of Thomas Bevington, one of the early settlers of Beaver. Children of Thomas Jeffer- son and Martha Jane Todd: 1. Olive Alice, married Matthew E. Swager, a moulder of Brighton Heights; children : Matthew Quay, born November 14, 1907; and William Paul, born May 12, 1912. 2. William Alexander, a
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mail carrier ; married Lida Swager, and lives in Beaver; children: William Nicholas, born July 29, 1909; child not named at this writing, born July 12, 1914. 3. Martha Jemima, married, June 25, 1914, Joseph W. Davidson, of Freedom, Pennsylvania.
GRIMM William Allen Grimm, who during his life was one of the prominent citizens of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, was a mem- ber of an old Pennsylvania family, his paternal grandfather being a native of Reading in that state. This gentleman, John Grimm, was married to Charlotta Miller, also a native of Reading, and with his brothers migrated to the eastern part of Ohio. Here he came into possession of a farm of about ninety acres upon which a small town eventually grew up, and there lived and died. To him and his wife were born nine children, as follows: I. Kate, died in Vinton, Ohio, at the venerable age of ninety- four ; she was the wife of David Shanefield, of that place. 2. George, of whom further. 3. Susan, died in Starke county, Ohio, the widow of Mr. Mummert of the place. 4. Jacob, a farmer, died near Washingtonville. 5. John, farmer and blacksmith, died at La Otto, Indiana. 6. Sarah, married Peter Connor, of Washingtonville, Ohio, and died there. 7. Barbara, mar- ried Christian Byerley, of Wampum, Pennsylvania, and died there. 8. Lydia, married Anthony Elton, of Washingtonville, Ohio, and died there. 9. Michael, who also lived and died in Washingtonville, Ohio, where he was a carpenter.
(II) George Grimm, son of John Grimm, was born August 26, 1817, at Lisbon, Ohio. When a young man he removed to Painesville, where he remained many years engaged in the trade of blacksmith. He finally went to Washingtonville, Ohio, and there passed the few remaining years of his life, still plying his trade. He was married to Martha L. Shonts, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Slutterbeck) Shonts, of Columbiana county, Ohio, where she was born October 6, 1822. Her parents were both natives of Pennsylvania, he of Butler county, and she of Lancaster county. They were married young and settled in Columbiana county, Ohio, where he followed the trade of carpenter until his death at the age of seventy. Mrs. Shonts survived him a number of years, dying at the age of eighty-one. Mr. and Mrs. Shonts were both members of the Dunkard Church. Their children appear to have numbered seven, as follows: I. Susan, later the wife of Benjamin Bushong, of Columbiana county, Ohio. 2. Mary, who became the wife of Mr. Morningstar, and eventually died in Nebraska. 3. Martha L., who became the wife of Mr. Grimm. 4. Jacob, who died in the west when over eighty-five years of age. 5. - , who died at Youngs- town, Ohio. 6. Aaron, who died in the west. 7. Ferdinand, who died in early manhood. To Mr. and Mrs. Grimm Sr. were born twelve children, of whom but four are living. They were: I. William Allen, of whom further. 2. Shannon, who died in his country's service during the Civil War. 3. Sarah Ellen, was the wife of Firman Howell, of Mahoning county,
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Ohio, where she died. 4. Walton Lewis, now a gardener of Niles, Ohio. 5. Warren W., died in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1910. 6. Willard F., died January 23, 1876, in Columbiana county, Ohio. 7. A child who died unnamed in infancy. 8. Whitmer J., a resident of Staunton, Illinois. 9. Francis Marion, died on the old homestead. 10. Martha, now Mrs. Job Evans, of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. 11. Mary B., now Mrs. George Bowker, of Niles, Ohio. 12. Williamson C., who died in infancy.
(III) William Allen Grimm, son of George Grimm, was born Novem- ber 14, 1840, at Washingtonville, Ohio. He was educated in the local public schools. At an early age he began training in the blacksmith's trade, and followed this occupation all his life. He continued to live in his native town until about the year 1883, and then for a period of some four years moved about among various places, coming in 1887 to Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he settled on a farm of sixty-seven acres situated on a hill in Chippewa township, near Beaver Falls. In this city he established himself in his trade as blacksmith, continning there for the remainder of his life. While thus engaged he resided on his farm in the neighboring country, which was operated and managed by his wife and children. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Grimm did not himself enlist in the army as did his brother, Willard F., but he played an invaluable part neverthe- less, and shod horses for the United States government during the entire period of that great conflict. Mr. Grimm was a Democrat politically, and was affiliated with the Masonic Order. His death occurred October 27, 1895.
Mr. Grimm married Mary Jane McDonald, a native of Nova Scotia, Canada. Mrs. Grimm was a splendid business woman, who while her hns- band was following his trade in Beaver Falls applied her abilities to the operation of the farm, which under her good management flourished exceed- ingly. To her efforts also were due the good early training of her children and their bringing up to a life of industry. Upon their arrival on the farm near Beaver Falls, the children all joined in working under her vigorous direction and a good barn was the result. This first attempt was ill-fated and the structure was burned down, but in 1893 another was erected in its place and a commodions honse as well. The buildings are situated upon a hill and present a fine appearance as well as commanding an attractive ont- look over the surrounding country. To Mr. and Mrs. Grimm were born seven children, as follows: I. Charles, who learned his father's trade of blacksmith, which he now follows in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 2. Mary L., who died in infancy. 3. Mary L., now Mrs. John L. Bucklew, of Florida. 4. Edward H., who resides on the home farm. 5. Delmont, now a student in the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. 6. Donald C., a mechanic in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 7. Kittie L., now Mrs. Harry N. McKinnis, and the mother of two children, Pearl Sylvia and Ethel Rose. Mrs. Grimm survived her husband for nearly nine years, her death occurring in Septem- ber, 1904. Since the death of Mr. and Mrs. Grimm, two of their children,
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Edward H. Grimm and Mrs. McKinnis, continue the operation of the farm, giving especial attention to the raising of fruit and dairy products, their orchard occupying five acres and their herd of cattle numbering twenty-two head.
GILCHRIST Prominence in private, public and business life has ever been the portion of those bearing the name Gilchrist, and in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, this has been es- pecially true, for from early times to the present day the name has stood for all that is desirable in many fields of endeavor.
(I) Joseph Gilchrist, the first of the line herein recorded, was born in Scotland. He married and was the father of six sons and two daughters: James, Joseph, George, David, Archie, John, Rachel, Sarah. David, John and Archie served in the Civil War.
(II) James Gilchrist, son of Joseph Gilchrist, was born in Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, died in Scottdale, Pennsylvania, in 1889. Soon after leaving school he learned the cabinetmaker's trade, following that oc- cupation and undertaking in his native county all of his life. He was twice married, his first wife being Sarah Gross, his second wife, Susanna Van Dyke. Joseph Gross, father of Sarah (Gross) Gilchrist, is the first of this record, and to him was granted a large measure of prominence and influence in his native county, Westmoreland, where he was for many years justice of the peace, clerk of the court, and the incumbent of many other positions and offices that made him an important figure in political circles. An accom- plished politician, he possessed all of the qualities that make one a power among one's fellows, and was entirely devoid of any of the instincts that prompt the use of public trust for private gain, his services being rendered in a patriotic, unselfish manner. He was strongly in sympathy with the administration at the time of the Civil War,and the first call for volunteers to preserve the integrity of the nation found him ready for whatever action might come, in the course of the struggle that followed having an arm so shot and shattered that amputation was imperative. His death occurred in 1888, his mantle falling in part upon his son, E. M. Gross, who occupies an eminent position in Westmoreland county. Joseph Gross married and had a considerable family ; four of his sons, Joseph, deceased, John, Archibald, David, served in the Union army during the Civil War. Children of first marriage: Joseph Porter, William David, of whom further; Hallie, married John Crosby; Eva, Susanna, Erlanda, Sattie. Children of second marriage : Edward, Harry, Robert, Earl, Logan, Ida, Clara, Nora, Emma.
(III) William David Gilchrist, son of James and Sarah (Gross) Gil- christ, was born in Madison, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, June 7, 1861. Until he was fourteen years of age he was a student in the public schools of that place. At that age he began his business career, which has carried him into many fields and has gained him a wide knowledge of the workings of as many industries and occupations. He was for a time em-
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ployed in a rolling mill, then in a brick yard, and for a few following years was busied at cabinet-making and cigar-making. His next position was with the Pennsylvania Railroad, whose service he entered in 1878, in the trans- portation department, at the time of his resignation from that company hold- ing the rank of conductor on the road. From 1888, when he left Pennsyl- vania, until 1902, he was engaged in the same capacity by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, in the latter year becoming proprietor of a hotel at Con- fluence, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, continuing there for three years. In 1906 he became proprietor of a hotel in Ohiopyle, Fayette county, Penn- sylvania, and managed the house until 1911, when he traveled for two years, his family residing in Michigan, and in April, 1913, he purchased the Hotel Ambridge in the town of that name. This public house he con- ducts at the present time, and the favor that the hotel has found with the traveling public is ample evidence of his adaptability to his business. The Hotel Ambridge is conducted upon a high plane of service and value giv- ing, no efforts being spared to make comfort and convenience the predom- inant characteristics of the house, and that such has come to pass is due entirely to the wise direction of Mr. Gilchrist .. Mr. Gilchrist is a mem- ber of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, being a life member of Connellsville Lodge, No. 503; and of the Knights of Pythias, being past chancellor of Fayette Lodge, No. 339; and also of the Pennsylvania State Hotel Men's Association.
Mr. Gilchrist has been twice married, his second wife being Nannie, daughter of R. B. Cox, a veteran of the Civil War and a prominent man of Fayette county, where he died in 1908. By a former marriage Mr. Gilchrist had two children, Marion Byron and Harriet Louise, and by his second marriage he has William David and James Bruce. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Gil- christ was educated in the schools of Fayette county, and for ten years was a teacher in the Connellsville schools. Her father, R. B. Cox, was one of the organizers of the county, and active in political matters. He was a contractor and builder and prominent also in fraternal matters, being one of the charter members of the Connellsville Masonic Order, and also holding membership in the Knights of Pythias, Grand Army of the Re- public, Veteran Legion, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His wife was Mary J. Shallenberger, of Fayette county, Pennsylvania.
GILCHRIST The Gilchrists in America are descended from the ancient Scottish clan Killcreast, who lived in Ayr (Ayrshire), the next county north of Glasgow, prior to the conquest of Scotland by William the Conqueror in 1071. At the time of the Re- formation they became Presbyterians under John Knox. In about 1602 many of this family, with other Scots, were induced by James I. of England to settle in the North of Ireland, where they lived many years.
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Just when the first members of this family came to America is not on record.
(I) William Gilchrist was a coal miner in Jefferson county, Ohio, and was a member of the Christian Church. He married and had children as follows, although the names may not be exactly in order of birth : Thomas and John, residents of Brilliant, Ohio; Newton, a contractor in Brilliant, Ohio; Alexander, of further mention, -, who married - Davis; - , married - Chuffy.
(II) Alexander Gilchrist, son of William Gilchrist, was born in Jeffer- son county, Ohio, in February, 1849, and is now living retired from bus- iness in Wellsburg, West Virginia. He grew to maturity in his native county, and at the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in Company B, Sixty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served four years. He was actively engaged at the battle of Gettysburg, and was with General Sherman in the famous march to the sea. Upon his return from the war, he worked in the coal mines. In 1893 he removed to Wellsburg, West Virginia, where he operated a coal mine until he sold it in 1909, selling four hundred and fifty acres to the Pittsburgh and West Virginia Coal Company. Upon the failure of this company he again took charge of these mines for a time. He is also connected in a business way with a number of local banks, and is the owner of a large quantity of real estate. He is a strong Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Gilchrist married Ellen Jane Bucy, a farmer's daughter of Jefferson county, Ohio, and they have had children: Elmer, a coal operator in Wellsburg, West Virginia ; William, killed in a mine in 1910; Alice, a resident of Wheeling, West Virginia, married Thomas Evans, an employee of a tin plate mill; Margaret, married A. J. Antill, and lives in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania; Clifford and Bess, unmarried, live with parents; Blaine, a tin plate mill worker, lives in Wellsburg; Theodore Mullen, of further mention; Alex- ander Jr., unmarried.
(III) Theodore Mullen Gilchrist, son of Alexander and Ellen Jane (Bucy) Gilchrist, was born in Brilliant, Jefferson county, Ohio, September 18, 1885. His earlier education was acquired in the public schools of Brilliant, and he then received thorough training at a business college in Wheeling, West Virginia. Two years were then spent in the office of his father at Wellsburg, and after the sale of the mine property, Mr. Gil- christ accepted a position in the freight office of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company. His father having again taken charge of the mining prop- erty, Mr. Gilchrist took charge of the office in 1905 and was at the head of it until 1910. Then, in association with his brother-in-law, A. J. Antill, he came to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, where they purchased the confec- tionery store of Edward Johnson. They conducted this together until 1912, when Mr. Gilchrist purchased the interests of his partner, and since that time has been the sole proprietor. He owns the building at No. 913 Seventh avenue, and resides in it. He manufactures ice cream and con-
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