USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Genealogical and personal history of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 52
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John Garrett, who was born in England, came to this
GARRETT country in his early youth, and was one of the pionecr settlers of Wayne county, Pennsylvania. There he took up a tract of land of three hundred and fifty acres, which he cleared and cultivated, and there his death occurred in 1873. He married Patience Cor- tent Albro, born in Connecticut, who traced her descent in a direct line to one of the Pilgrims who came over in the "Mayflower." She died in Wayne county, Pennsylvania, in 1875. They had children: Henry; John Samuel, see forward; Lyman R., who lives on the old homestead, in Wayne county, has a son, Chester, a prominent lawyer in Honesdale; Elizabeth; Eunice; Phoebe.
(II) John Samuel, son of John and Patience Content (Albro) Gar- rett, was born in Wayne county, Pennsylvania, in December, 1833, and was engaged in farming during all the active years of his life. He took a keen interest in whatever affected the welfare of the community in which he resided, and gave his political support to the Democratic party. He and his wife were members of the Berlin Center Baptist Church, in which he had served as an elder from the time he was twenty-three years of age until his death. He married Elizabeth Braman, born in Otsego county, New York, March 24, 1833, died in Wayne county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Rhodes Braman, one of the pioneer settlers of Otsego county, New York, who later took up land at Indian Orchard, Wayne county, Pennsylvania, and settled there. He married and had children: Maria; Margaret, married Daniel Gorr, of Wayne county, Pennsylvania, now de- ceased; Hamilton, now living with a son in the state of New York, was extensively engaged in the lumber business; Elizabeth, married John Sam- uel Garrett, as stated above; Pardon ; Nelson, lives in Potter county, Penn- sylvania. John Samuel and Elizabeth (Braman) Garrett had children: Kate, deceased, married William Treverton, of Scranton, Pennsylvania; Effie, married William Hall, and resides on the old homestead in Wayne county ; Henry William, see forward; Lizzie, married James Wren, of Hawley, Pennsylvania, both now deceased; J. Nelson, of Scranton, Penn- sylvania, has a wholesale mill supply business and a coal exchange.
(III) Henry William Garrett, D.O., son of John Samuel and Eliza- beth (Braman) Garrett, was born in Wayne county, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1866. He received his early education in the public school at Bethel, Berlin township, Wayne county, and after his graduation from this, learned the trade of glass cutting and designing with the firm of C. Doerflinger & Sons, of White Mills, Wayne county, Pennsylvania. He made an especial study of designing, and followed this for a period of twenty years. He assisted in designing the exhibit of the Libbey Glass Company for the World's Fair at Chicago, this being awarded the first prize in its class. Mr. Garrett took up the study of optics under Dr. Landman and Dr. Bone- will, of Toledo, Ohio, and after a post-graduate course under the precep- torship of Dr. Thompson, was graduated from the South Bend College
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of Optics in December, 1899. He practiced his profession one year in Toledo, Ohio, and in 1900 came to Rochester, where he accepted the office of manager of the H. C. Fry Glass Company, with whom he remained seven years, during the last three years having full charge of the lens de- partment. In 1910 he established himself in the optical goods business, with which he has since that time been identified. He owns a fine residence at the corner of New York and Washington avenues. He is independent in his political opinions, preferring to be unhampered by partisan ties. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. Dr. Garrett mar- ried, in 1893, Kate Nelson, born in Beaver county, a daughter of Michael Former, who owned and operated the flour mill at Independence. They have no children of their own, but have adopted and are bringing up the daughter of Dr. Garrett's sister Elizabeth, and the name of the child is Catherine Elizabeth Wren. Dr. Garrett is a member of Rochester Lodge, No. 229, Free and Accepted Masons; and of Samuel Kane Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
CHAMPION The Champions were among the pioneer settlers of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, coming to that region when it was practically a wilderness, and bravely enduring the hardships which the early settlers were called upon to encounter.
(I) Isaac Champion, the first of whom we have record in this family, married Sarah, a daughter of William McGee, who came from Ireland in 1772 and settled in Beaver county. His wife was Sarah Bradley, widow of Lieutenant Bradley, an officer of the revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. McGee had children : Sarah, mentioned above; Hannah, Catherine, Nancy, and an unnamed child.
(II) Joseph H., son of Isaac and Sarah (McGee) Champion, was born in Hopewell township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1830. He was in active service during the civil war, enlisting in 1862 in Company I, 140th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. Mr. Champion married, February 23, 1869, Elizabeth S. Davis, born in Beaver county, where she was educated in the public and high schools, and in the seminary conducted by the Rev. Taylor, and where she taught school several years prior to her marriage. She is a daughter of Alexander Davis, and a granddaughter of William Davis. Willianı Davis was a pioneer of Moon township, and there his death occurred. He was born in Wales, and married Isabella Scott, born in Pennsylvania. They had children : Henry, James, William, Alexander, see forward; John, Margaret, Mary, Elizabeth, Eleanor, Sarah. Alexander Davis was born in Pennsylvania in 1797, and died in 1857. At the age of twelve years he came alone to Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and lived at Chartier's Creek. After his marriage he removed to Hopewell township, Beaver county, where he cleared a farm, built a log cabin, and later replaced this by a better structure. He married, in Pittsburgh, 1819, Elizabeth Shaffer,
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born at Hellertown, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, in 1799, died in 1870. They had children: Isabella, died in infancy; William, deceased; Isabella (second), deceased; Simeon, deceased; George, deceased; Alexander, de- ceased; Elizabeth S., married Mr. Champion; James R .; Sarah A., mar- ried Rev. Carroll Ghent, a fruit grower, with a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Fresno county, California; Henry E., deceased; Anna M., deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Champion have had children: Harry Ghent, died unmarried, aged twenty-seven years; John W., died in infancy; Anna, married Frederick Miller, of Leota, Clair county, Michigan, and has chil- dren : Joseph and Harry ; Lesley Davis, see forward.
(III) Lesley Davis, son of Joseph H. and Elizabeth S. (Davis) Champion, was born in Woodlawn, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, June 30, 1881. He received his education in the public schools of Beaver county. His business career has been a varied one, and at present he is in the em- ploy of the Jones & Laughlin Steel Mills, of Woodlawn, Pennsylvania. Politically he is a strong Republican, and he is a member of Russell Lodge No. 1065, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Knights of the Maccabees, of Coraopolis. Mr. Champion married, November 6, 1907, Anna, a daughter of John Barto, of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. They have children : Lesley I., born November 10, 1908; John A., July 30, 1911.
Edwin E. Gray, a prominent citizen of Ambridge, Pennsylvania,
GRAY is a member of a family long resident in that state, and was born there in Beaver county, September 8, 1868, a son of Sam- uel B. and Carolin (Thompson) Gray. The paternal grandfather of our subject, St. Clair Gray, was one of the pioneer settlers of New Brighton, Pennsylvania, and died at Beaver Falls in Beaver county. Samuel B. Gray, our subject's father, was a native of Pennsylvania, an artist and railroad man, and was killed on the Lake Erie Railroad. He was twice married, (first) to Carolin Thompson, by whom he had three children, as follows: Edwin E., our subject ; Lewis and Charles. He married (second) Carrie Woodruff, by whom he had two children, Elsie, deceased, and Marie.
Edwin E. Gray was reared in New Brighton and Beaver Falls, and was educated in the public schools of Pittsburgh and the Beaver Falls parochiai schools. After completing his studies in these institutions, he found err- ployment in the year 1893, as a clerk for the Pennsylvania railroad at Beaver Falls, and later at New Brighton as an extra agent. On March I. 1903, he was promoted to the position of first freight, ticket and express agent at Ambridge, Pennsylvania, and here he has since made his home. Mr. Gray is a Republican in politics, and takes a vital interest in public affairs. He is a member of Sewickley Lodge No. 630, Free and Accepted Masons, and a member of the Woodmen of the World, Beaver Falls. Pennsylvania.
Mr. Gray was married, August 4. 1890, to Grace Altsman, of Beaver
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Falls, and to them have been born three children, as follows: Edna, born in the year 1891, educated in the schools of Beaver Falls and the Ambridge High School, and a graduate from the West Chester State Normal School with the class of 1911, now a teacher; Robert, born 1906, and now a student in the local public schools; Virginia, born 1908. Mr. Gray and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
BEST Conrad Best was born at Steinau, Germany, January 28, 1818, and received his education in his native land. He emigrated to the United States in early manhood, and was living in New York City for a time. He soon removed to the city of Buffalo, and from there to Mckeesport, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, where he, his brother Adam, and his brother-in-law Nicholas Rosenburg, purchased the Neal Coal Company, and conducted this very successfully for some time. They then sold this and, taking the money they realized, went to St. Louis by way of the Ohio river. When about fifteen miles from St. Louis, there was an accident, and they lost all their money. Mr. Best then went to Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and bought a farm, a part of the Shamm tract, cleared this and erected a log cabin. He died there in 1888. In political matters he was a Democrat, and he was a member of the United Pres- byterian church, and assisted materially in building the brick church in New Sewickley township. He married Margaret Rosenburg, born in Steinau, Germany, May 1, 1820, died in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1897. They had children: Conrad, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased; Catlı- erine; Henry, deceased; Margaret; Mary; Annie, died in infancy; John H., of further mention ; William, deceased ; and Sophia.
(II) John H., son of Conrad and Margaret (Rosenburg) Best, was born in New Sewickley township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, January 20, 1864. He was reared on the homestead farm, and educated in the public schools of the township. From an early age he commenced to assist his father in the labors of the farm, and lived on the farm until he was twenty- eight years of age. He learned the trade of molding, and came to New Brighton in 1892. His career and occupations have been varied, and are as follows: Machinist in Beaver Falls; mold maker in Ellwood City; two years as mold maker in New Brighton ; some time in Monaca; nine years in Pittsburgh in automobile works; four years with the H. C. Fry Glass Company of Rochester. He now lives at No. 1168 Third avenue, New Brighton. He is a Democrat in political matters, and a member of the Pres- byterian church. His fraternal affiliations are with the Knights and Ladies of Honor, and with the Cather Housier Company, and the Glass Workers' Union. Mr. Best married, July 30, 1884, Mary L. Strutt, born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, March 24, 1867. She is a daughter of Freeland and Sarah (Householder) Strutt, he born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, in 1835, died in 1908, she born in Beaver county, in 1840, died in 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Best have had children: Earl, born October 26, 1889; Ora, born
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July 20, 1891; Spence John, born April 21, 1892, died in infancy ; Spencer, born February 24, 1895; Lester Edison, born in April, 1898, died in his fourth year; Marietta, born February 3, 1903.
PULLION America is acknowledged universally to be the great gather- ing place for all nationalities. People have come to the United States from all classes-rich and poor-and have adapted themselves to the customs of social life and the methods of trans- acting business in vogue here with a facility and thoroughness which is little short of marvelous. In matters of this kind the Italian people have evinced an aptitude which is above the average. Frank Pullion, a well known business man of New Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, is an excellent instance of this kind of adaptability.
(I) Peter Pullion, his father, was born in Italy, where he died in 1867. He married Theresa Grecco, also born in Italy, and now living there at the age of seventy years, and they had children: Sarah, Naccrata and Frank.
(II) Frank, son of Peter and Theresa (Grecco) Pullion, was born in Italy, July 17, 1867. He was educated in the public schools of his native country, and at an early age was obliged to seek work and assist in the support of the family. After some years, noticing that there were but poor prospects for advancement to affluence in Italy, he determined to emigrate to the United States, and in 1890 carried this resolution into effect. He came to New Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in that year, found employment as a laborer, and followed this occupation until 1906. Thrifty and industrious, he amassed a considerable capital, and in 1906 established himself in the grocery business, and has been successfully identified with it since that time. He now owns his own store, and his business is consistently and steadily increasing. He takes no active part in the political matters of the town, but gives his staunch support to the Republican party. Mr. Pullion married, in Italy, in 1896, Sarah Pallegrano, and they have had children : Peter, born in 1896; Theresa, 1897; Rose, 1900; Ernest, born 1901, died 1903; Joseph, born 1905; James, 1906; John, 1907; Robert, 1910; Edith, 1912; and Ernest, deceased.
Mr. Pullion deserves great credit for the business and social standing he has attained, as he is in the truest sense of the word a self-made man. He came to this country without any capital, and was both willing and anxious to take up any employment that offered itself in order to afford his family a comfortable existence. By dint of the strictest economy he laid the foundation of his fortune, and he is now on the high road to pros- perity.
MALI The history of the Mali family in the United States begins with Henry Mali, the emigrant, who was born in Germany and there lived until he attained man's estate. The name is an old one
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in that country, frequently mentioned in public records, Henry Mali being the first to leave the Fatherland. He attended school in Germany, obtain- ing an excellent education and an expert knowledge of the trade he after- ward made his life work, carriage painting. He was born in 1831, and in 1852 settled in Pittsburgh, there working at his trade until the beginning of active hostilities between the north and the south, when he espoused the northern cause and enlisted in the Union army, becoming a member of the 123d Pennsylvania Regiment, commanded by Colonel Clark. He saw much strenuous action, and in the battle of Fredericksburg was severely wounded. He did not return to Allegheny county after the declaration of peace, but was for a time in Washington county, then in Pittsburgh for a short stay, but finally came to Clarksville, living there in steady occupa- tion at his business until his death, December 14, 1902. He was a Re- publican in politics, an ardent admirer of General U. S. Grant, but in later life supported the Democratic party. He married Catherine Croft, born in Germany, in 1830, her parents early coming to this country and settling in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, their deaths occurring in Allegheny county, same state. Children of Henry and Catherine (Croft) Mali: Robert, deceased; Christian W., of whom further ; Mary; Alexander, deceased ; Henry.
(II) Christian W., son of Henry and Catherine (Croft) Mali, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, September 9, 1854, and was educated in the public schools of Allegheny City (Pittsburgh North Side), Pennsylvania, early in life learning the trade of his father, carriage painting, under the paternal instruction. In 1883 he came to New Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, there establishing with a partner as a carriage manu- facturer, trading under the firm name of Andre & Mali, remaining in this business until 1896, when they sold their property to the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church. He afterward accepted a position with the Dawes & Myler Company, later associating with the concern by which he is now employed, the Sanitary Manufacturing Company of New Brighton. Since the beginning of his connection with this company he has steadily been entrusted with new and more responsible duties, and at the present time he is engaged in the capacity of foreman of the decorating department, holding the pleased confidence of his employers. Mr. Mali is one of the foremost citizens of New Brighton, is a Progressive in political affiliation, and for the past three years has been president of the borough council. While the word "progressive" has been chosen to denote the political party with which Mr. Mali is in sympathy, it also most fully describes his personal attributes, for he is ever on the alert to grasp and utilize new methods and systems in his business and in the borough government, and has a mind open and receptive in regard to suggestions for improvement in any line with which he may be connected. He has been chairman of the Progressive county committee, and is a member of Lodge No. 259, Free and Accepted Masons. Many of New Brighton's inhabitants claim him as their friend,
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all admiring his capable administrative powers and his energetic enterprise, which are constantly planning for new and better things for his town.
Mr. Mali married, May 12, 1879, Mary, born in Clarksville, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, December 21, 1857, daughter of Seth and Harpolissa (Hazen) Fruyt, both born in Mercer county, he on May 25, 1831, she on September 22, 1833, his death occurring May 14, hers November 26, 1903, five months separating their dates of demise. Seth was a son of John Fruyt, an early settler of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, who married Susan, daughter of Samuel Clark, in whose honor Clarksville was named. Seth Fruyt journeyed to California at the time of the gold discovery, later re- turning to Mercer county, and for forty years was postmaster of Clarks- ville, being a Republican in politics. His wife, Harpolissa, was a daughter of Nathaniel Hazen, a pioneer settler of Mercer county, who died near Clarksville, his wife, Elizabeth (Egbert) Hazen, being a descendant of the English family, of royal blood. Children of Seth and Harpolissa (Hazen) Fruyt: Mary, of previous mention, married Christian W. Mali; Fannie, deceased; Thomas, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased. Children of Christian W. and Mary (Fruyt) Mali: 1. Franklin Fruyt, born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, July 5, 1880; was educated in the New Brighton public schools and the University of Pittsburgh, graduating from the mining en- gineering department, one of the first to receive a degree from that in- stitution. He married Anna E. Ross, and lives in New Brighton, Pennsyl- vania. 2. Harry Egbert, born in Darlington, Pennsylvania, April 24, 1883; was educated in the public schools of New Brighton, graduating from the high school, and in the University of Pittsburgh; he was graduated from the university in chemistry, later taking a post-graduate course, later teach- ing chemistry in a Chicago college. He is now a practitioner in osteopathy, in the same city. 3. Frances Elizabeth June, born June 9, 1897, a student in the New Brighton high school.
McPHERSON Ira Hamilton McPherson, a son of Reuben Henderson McPherson, was born in New Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, December 31, 1877. The public schools of New Brighton furnished him with an excellent education, and upon its completion he was apprenticed to learn the trade of tinplate making. With this he has since been identified, being for a period of thirteen years in the employ of the United States Steel Corporation, located at New Castle, and three and a half years with Jones & Laughlin, of Woodlawn, Beaver county. His arduous work leaves him but little time to devote to public matters, but he takes a deep interest in all that concerns the welfare of the community, and casts his vote for the candidates of the Republican party. He is a member of Protective Home Circle, of New Castle, and he and his wife are members of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. McPherson mar- ried, September 6, 1904, Vida Lloyd Dobbs, of Beaver county, Pennsylvania.
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and they have had children: Emma Margaret, born December 28, 1905; George Elder, January 29, 1909.
George Dobbs, paternal grandfather of Mrs. McPherson, was of Pitts- burgh, was employed on the river boats, and was also a lumberman. He was a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church. Jonathan Fowler, son of George Dobbs, and father of Mrs. McPherson, was a merchant in New Brighton, Beaver county, for almost a quarter of a century, and later resided in Pittsburgh. He is now deceased. He married Emma Lena Lloyd, who is now living in New Brighton, and they had children: Blanche, married Frederick Woodling, of New Brighton; Charles, died at the age of four years; Vida Lloyd, mentioned above as the wife of Mr. McPher- son. Henry Lloyd, maternal grandfather of Mrs. McPherson, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and was a man of influence among the pioneer settlers of that section of the country, his father being included in this number. He married Nancy A. Dunlap.
This recital of the history of the Dunn family, established in
DUNN Beaver from Blair county, has in the two latter generations a story that illustrates well the trend of modern development. In a race which has successfully thrown off the dominion of a tyrant and has risen to a position of eminence among the leading countries of the worid in all branches of human thought and activity, it would be but natural for the people thereof to rest secure in the strength they have shown and to take their ease upon the laurels already won, enjoying the fruits of their toil. But from the examples of history, the lives of nations, comes the warning that the careless ease of a golden age is the forerunner of a period of decadence, and in the United States, great as have been the strides in scientific, scholastic, and industrial lines, the physical welfare and bodily strength of the mass of people have not been overlooked, and in this country is bred none, who, if he take advantage of his opportunity, grows to maturity a weakling, mentally or physically. It is in the latter work that Allen B. Dunn has been conspicuous, as was his father.
The Dunn family was represented in two of the earlier wars of our country, William George Dunn, who died in Hollidaysburg, Blair county, Pennsylvania, having been a soldier in the War of 1812, one of the band who constructed Commodore Perry's fleet in Presque Bay; while his father fought under Generals Anthony Wayne and Israel Putnam in the war for independence. William George Dunn at his death had attained the wonder- ful age of ninety-seven years.
(II) Thomas, son of William George Dunn, was born at Hollidaysburg, Blair county, Pennsylvania, February 4, 1858, and as a young man entered the ranks of professional athletes, traveling for several years and engaging as instructor, gaining a reputation of considerable breadth. Abandoning this line of work he became a sheet steel heater, and in 1906 moved to Ambridge, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he has since been identified
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with the American Bridge Company. He married, in 1880, Sarah Ann, daughter of John and Mary Davis. Her parents were married at Tulford, Wales, and had children, among whom were: 1. Sarah Ann, of previous mention, married Thomas Dunn. 2. Elizabeth, died in infancy. 3. Wil- liam, owner of the Wayne Foundry, of Pittsburgh. He at one time fol- lowed the occupation of puddler, was later a barber, and afterward a trac- tion company employee in the capacity of motorman. He then entered the foundry of H. K. Porter, becoming first superintendent of the core-making department, and later assistant superintendent of the entire plant. He resigned the latter position to establish in independent business. 4. Martha, died in infancy. 5. David, of Sharon, Pennsylvania. Seven other children died in infancy. After the death of John Davis, his widow married a second time, her husband being Thomas G. Davis, not a relative of her first hus- band. He was born at Glamorganshire, Wales, in 1833, son of Enoch and Annie Davis, both of whom spent their lives in the home land. Thomas G. Davis came to Pittsburgh in 1862, and there worked at the puddler's trade, later moving to Sharon, Pennsylvania, where he died March 10, 1908. Children of Thomas and Sarah Ann (Davis) Dunn: William, deceased ; Arthur, educated in the public schools of Etna, Pennsylvania, an athlete, died aged twenty-two years; Allen B., of whom further; Thomas J., a resident of Ambridge, Pennsylvania, married Bertha Fluckinger, for several years assistant postmaster at Ambridge.
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