USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Genealogical and personal history of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 53
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(III) Allen B., son of Thomas and Sarah Aun (Davis) Dunn, was born at Hollidaysburg, Blair county, Pennsylvania, November 23, 1884, and was educated in the public schools of Etna, Allegheny county, Pennsyl- vania, later taking up physical education in the University of Chicago and in the Young Men's Christian Association Training Institute. His first position as physical instructor was in Westminster College, where he re- mained one year, after which he spent one year in the Sharon Young Men's Christian Association, then after two years in York, Pennsylvania, he ac- cepted the professorship of physical education in Susquehanna University, where he is at present located. Professor Dunn has achieved a position in the college life that lends to his work the greatest measure of efficiency, for he has many firm friends and sincere admirers among the students, his course being a popular one. He adheres to the teachings of no one school or system, but has combined the best of all with some original ideas that have produced a method valuable for its thoroughness in uniformly de- veloping those following it. He married. January 2, 1910, Clara Croker, of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.
"A truly great life," says Webster, "when Heaven SHALLENBERGER vouchsafes so rare a gift, is not a temporary flame, burning bright for a while and then expir- ing, giving place to returning darkness. It is rather a spark of fervent heat as well as radiant light, with power to enkindle the common mass of human
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mind; so that when it glimmers in its own decay, and finally goes out in death, no night follows, but it leaves the world all light, all on fire, from the potent contact of its own spirit."
Oliver Blackburn Shallenberger, whose demise occurred January 23, 1898, was a man of unusual prominence in the field of electricity, in which he gained distinctive prestige as an inventive genius. Although a resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the time when death called him, Mr. Shallenberger was a native of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he passed most of his lifetime and where his remains are interred.
At Rochester, Pennsylvania, May 7, 1860, occurred the birth of Oliver B. Shallenberger, who was a son of Aaron T. and Mary (Bonbright) Shal- lenberger, the former of whom was one of the leading physicians and sur- geons in western Pennsylvania prior to his demise, in 1902, and the latter of whom is now a resident of Rochester. Dr. A. T. Shallenberger was a brother of Hon. W. S. Shallenberger, formerly a member of Congress and later second assistant postmaster general. On the maternal side the subject of this review is descended from the distinguished Bonbright family of Youngstown, Pennsylvania.
To the public schools of Rochester and to Beaver College Oliver B. Shallenberger was indebted for his preliminary educational training, which discipline was later supplemented by a course of study in the Naval Academy at Annapolis, which he entered as cadet engineer in 1877. Out of the one hundred and twenty-six candidates examined for admittance to the Naval Academy in that year but twenty-five were admitted, and Mr. Shallenberger entered at the head of his class. He maintained first place in his studies throughout the first year, but the work of his second and third years was seriously interfered with by an accident resulting in a dislocated arm and a broken wrist and by impaired eyesight which forced him to abandon night study. Nevertheless he held third place at the time of his graduation. During the entire period of his course at Annapolis, Mr. Shallenberger de- voted considerable attention to electricity and original experimental in- vestigations, and after graduating he took the customary two-years' cruise upon a government vessel. He was assigned to the United States flag-ship "Lancaster," and most of his time was spent in the Mediterranean, where he witnessed the bombardment of Alexandria. Among his contemporaries at the Naval Academy may be mentioned Frank J. Sprague, Dr. Louis Duncan, W. F. C. Hasson, Gilbert Wilkes and others, whose names are prominent among electricians ...
In 1883 Mr. Shallenberger returned to the United States and in the following year resigned from the naval service in order to devote his entire attention to the science of electricity. His first position was with the Union Switch and Signal Company, at Pittsburgh, in the electric light department, of which concern he became a prominent factor. This company was then under the management of Mr. George Westinghouse, and in the ensuing summer and fall Mr. Shallenberger was selected to take charge of the experi-
Wilhar-
Q.19. Shallenlyon
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ments made with the Gaulard and Gibbs alternating current apparatus which had just been imported from Europe. During this period he was associated with William Stanley and Reginald Belfield in the commercial development of the alternating current system. The result of these investigations was the organization of the Westinghouse Electric Company, of which Mr. Shallenberger was appointed chief electrician, which position he later re- tained in the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. He was elected an associate member of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers on September 7, 1888, and was transferred to membership De- cember 4, 1888. In 1889 he went abroad and spent a great deal of time in visiting the central stations in many of the larger European cities. Two years later, however, failing health compelled him to resign his position as chief electrician, but the Westinghouse Company, unwilling to part with his services, retained him as consulting electrician. The succeeding winters were spent in Colorado, but during the summer months he resided in Rochester, where he continued his experiments in a well equipped labora- tory near his home. In 1897 Mr. Shallenberger organized the Colorado Electric Power Company, of which prominent organization he was presi- dent at the time of his death. He settled permanently in Colorado Springs in October, 1897, and his death occurred January 23, 1898.
In regard to Mr. Shallenberger's many inventions and contributions to the advancement of the electrical art the following paragraph, taken from "A Memorial," written by Charles A. Terry, and published in the Proceed- ings of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers in 1898, is here in- serted :
"He invented the street-lighting system in which each of a series of in- candescent lamps is shunted by a reactive coil having its winding so proportioned to the mass of iron in its core that upon the interruption of the current through any lamp, a normal current is allowed to flow through the corresponding coil to the remaining lamps by reason of the consequent high magnetic saturation of its core. The construction of converters with primary and secondary coils separately wound and insulated was originated by him. He also was the first, in this country at least, to connect alternating current generators in parallel circuit, and he devised ingenious methods and apparatus for that purpose. The compensating indicators for showing at the central station the condition of the consumption circuit were worked out by him. His latest work was in pro- ducing a series of alternating current recording and indicating wattmeters for accurately measuring the energy consumed upon inductive as well as non-in- ductive circuits, and compensating for variations in temperature and rates of alternation. But of all his inventions, the development of the current meter bearing his name is surrounded with the greatest interest, not alone because of its intrinsic value and importance, but because it illustrates the character and mental aptitude of the man. He was original in his conceptions, comprehensive in his grasp of ideas, conscientiously thorough in developing them, accurate in his conclusions, and complete in his final expression; these characteristics were abundantly evident in his development of the meter. While testing an experi- mental arc lamp upon an alternating current circuit, his attention was attracted by the rotation of a small spiral spring, which, dislodged from its position in the lamp, had fallen upon the brass head of the magnet-spool adjacent to a projecting core of iron wires. The motion was so slow as to be scarcely per- ceptible, but it did not escape his quick observation. He realized at once that he was in the presence of a new phenomenon. All his energies were immediately devoted to ascertaining the cause. Experiment followed experiment in rapid succession. Before he left the laboratory that night he developed from this accidental suggestion the complete conception of the alternating current meter,
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an object for which he, as well as many others, had for many months sought in vain. He pursued his further experiments with such zeal and good judgment that within a month he had produced a complete working mecer, in essentially the same form that it is now manufactured after nearly ten years of extended use."
Following is a letter written by Nikola Tesla, a fellow electrician, a short time after the death of Mr. Shallenberger. It is one chosen from many that were written to express regret that so great a man should be called from his life work in the early prime of his manhood, just when he was beginning to achieve such marvelous success in his inventions and dis- coveries. This letter was sent to Charles A. Terry for publication in the article previously mentioned :
"I am glad that your letter gives me an opportunity to express how deeply I have regretted the death of Shallenberger. The electro-technical profession has lost in him one of its most gifted members. Many a bright idea is recorded in his numerous patents, and much of his work is embodied in the splendid machinery which, during a number of years, he has helped to develop. Although stricken down in the prime of life, he leaves a brilliant record in the profession.
"Shallenberger has also made a record as an original discoverer; for, although at a later date, he independently observed some rotations in a magnetic field, his merit is all the greater, as he did not stop at a laboratory experiment, but quickly applied the principle practically and produced his beautiful measuring instruments.
"Shall we content ourselves to merely mention the name of a man who has done so much? I will not presume to make a suggestion in my capacity as one of his co-workers, but Shallenberger was a friend whom I have liked and esteemed highly, and particularly in this quality I would feel very gratified to see his name more fitly commemorated."
November 27, 1889, Mr. Shallenberger married Miss Mary Woolslair, who was born in Pittsburgh and reared in Beaver county, and who is a daughter of the late John and Caroline F. (Schreiner ) Woolslair. Two children were born to this union-John W., a graduate of Yale University in the class of 1912; and Gertrude. During his lifetime Mr. Shallenberger was a devout member of the Baptist church, and his family are likewise members of that denomination. Mrs. Shallenberger survives her honored husband and maintains her home at Beaver.
In connection with his life work, Mr. Shallenberger was recognized as an authority on everything pertaining to electricity and its development throughout the world. He was one of the promoters of the Rochester Electric Company, and was financially interested in a number of important business enterprises. Mr. Shallenberger was a man of great kindliness of spirit and charitable impulses, but there was a modesty and lack of all ostentation in his work as a benefactor. His entire life was characterized by upright, honorable principles, and his deep human sympathy and gen- erous nature make his memory an enduring monument more ineffaceable than polished marble or burnished bronze. "To live in the hearts we leave behind, is not to die."
The annals of Pennsylvania abound in accounts of the early
TODD pioneers who settled the state. The early settlers appear to have possessed all the requisites necessary to the conquest of the wilderness and the founding of a great nation. The history of this
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state without an account of the Scotch and Scotch-Irish would be very in- complete. They came before much of the state had been improved, and contributed largely to its growth and prosperity. They were industrious toilers, honest citizens, and when it became necessary, hard and brave fighters. To this class of hardy pioneers belongs the family of Todd.
(I) James Todd, the immigrant ancestor of this branch of the Todd family, was born in Scotland in 1760, and died on the homestead he had founded in Moon township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, July 14, 1846. He came to America in 1788, and in the same year located in Moon town- ship, on a large tract of land. He cleared a portion of this, erected a sub- stantial log cabin, and cultivated a considerable portion. He married, April 10, 1788, Katie Forbes, who had come to America on the same vessel as he did. She was born in Scotland in 1765, and died on the Todd home- stead in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, June 26, 1843. They had children: George, born December 28, 1788; Susan, 1791; Jeanette, January 1, 1793; James, April 22, 1796; William, of further mention; Thomas, May 29, 1801 ; John, 1806.
(II) William Todd, son of James and Katie (Forbes) Todd, was born on the Todd homestead, October 16, 1798. He received his education in the district school, and remained on the home farm until 1816. In that year he removed to Hopewell township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, on a farm of one hundred and forty acres, which he cleared. About 1820 he erected the dwelling house which is still in excellent condition, and is now occupied by his son John, and there he died. In addition to general farin- ing he was largely engaged in sheep raising, in which he was very success- ful. He married Jane McCune, born in Pennsylvania, daughter of William McCune, born in county Down, Ireland, in 1764, died at Raccoon creek, Hopewell township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1848. He was nine- teen years of age when he emigrated to America, and had the intention of returning to his native land after some years in this country, an intention he never carried out. For a time he lived in Philadelphia, then in Cumber- land Valley, from whence he removed to Allegheny county after his mar- riage, to Monongahela. In 1794 he removed to St. Clair township, locating on a farm, then removed to a farm near Steubenville Pike, at Cross creek. Finally he settled in Hopewell township, Raccoon creek, in 1808, and spent the remainder of his life there. He married in the Cumberland Valley, Nancy Lewis, who had come to that section with her parents, and who died on the McCune homestead in Beaver county in 1842. William and Jane (McCune) Todd had children: Nancy, born April 28, 1825, died October 23, 1908; Kate, 1826, died January 10, 1881; John, of further mention ; James, 1835, died in 1859; Maggie, October, 1838, died March 26, 1861 ; William M., of further mention; Thomas, October 11, 1844, died April 8, 1900.
(III) John Todd, son of William and Jane (McCune) Todd, was born in Hopewell township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, August 18, 1833,
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died April 15, 1898. He was educated in the public schools near his home, and was all his life engaged in farming, and for a number of years combined sheep raising with this occupation. About the year 1869 he removed to New Sheffield, Beaver county, where he had a farm of seventy- three acres, on which he spent his remaining years. He also owned another farm of about eighty-eight acres in Green Garden. While in active service during the Civil War as a member of Company B, One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Mr. Todd was caught between two wagons, crushed and severely injured. He was a member of Raccoon United Presbyterian Church, all the members of the Todd and allied families being members of this denomination. He married, in 1872, Mary B., born in Moon township, a daughter of William and Jane (Kronk) Irwin, the former born in Moon township, the latter probably also born there. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Todd were Joseph and Mary Ann Kronk, for many years residents of Raccoon township. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Todd were Thomas and Sarah (Baker) Irwin, both early residents of Moon township. Mr. and Mrs. Todd were the parents of children: William W., John and Margaret.
(III) William M. Todd, son of William and Jane (McCune) Todd, was born where he now lives in Hopewell township, February 3, 1841. He was educated in the public schools of New Sheffield, Beaver county, and has always been identified with agricultural pursuits. He married, July II, 1883, Sarah Adelaide Searight, born in 1853. She is a daughter of David and Isabel (Harvey) Searight, the former born at Service, Decem- ber 17, 1827, the latter on the family homestead at Green Garden, January 12, 1822; granddaughter of William and Sarah (Smith) Searight, he born in Hanover township, in May, 1788, she born in Hanover township, 1792; and great-granddaughter of Archibald Harvey. All the grandparents were pioneer settlers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Todd have one child: Walter David, born December 3, 1885.
The Irons family here under discussion came to America di- IRONS rectly from Ireland, but there are grounds for believing that they were originally settled in England, from whence they migrated to Ireland.
(I) William Irons, the first of whom we have record, was born in Ireland, and emigrated to America prior to 1800.
(II) Solomon Irons, son of William Irons, the immigrant ancestor, was born in the state of Pennsylvania, and located on a farm at Monaca, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he became the owner of three hundred acres of land. It was there his death occurred. He married Rachel Dick- son, who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania.
(III) William W. Irons, son of Solomon and Rachel (Dickson) Irons, was born at Monaca, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the old schoolhouse situated on the homestead farm, and resided there until
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his death. In 1857 he erected the present fine dwelling house, but he continued to reside in the old home which had been built by his father, until 1859. He joined the United Presbyterian Church in his early youth, and held the office of elder the greater part of his life, being still in office at the time of his death, 1891. The church of this denomination at Monaca was organized in 1817, and Mr. Irons assisted generously in the erection of the modern structure. Mr. Irons married Sarah, born at Harpers Mills, Hanover township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, died in 1904, a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Hay) Harper, born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, lived on Travers Creek. The Harper, Hay and Dickson families are of Scotch origin. Mr. and Mrs. Irons had children: Sarah; John D., was sheriff of Beaver county in 1885; James; Davison W., a preacher at Coraopolis, Pennsylvania; Martha, died in 1902; Harper S., see forward; Joseph, deputy United States marshal since the administration of Harrison.
(IV) Harper S. Irons, son of William W. and Sarah ( Harper) Irons, was born on the homestead farm, Hopewell township, Beaver county, Penn- sylvania, October 21, 1860. He was educated in the Mount Vernon public school in Hopewell township, from which he was graduated. He has always resided there and has been engaged in general and dairy farming in a very successful manner. His farm consists of seventy-five acres, part of which is devoted to pasturage, a part to fruit growing and the remainder to gen- eral products. He is a man of much executive ability and has been called upon to fill several public offices of trust and responsibility. He has served as a member of the board of school directors, about eight years as supervisor ; and has just been appointed foreman of Routes Nos. 76 and 115, of the new State Road in that section of the country. He votes with the Republican party, and is a member of the United Presbyterian Church.
The Davidson family, of Beaver county, Pennsylvania,
DAVIDSON has been identified with the agricultural and other in- terests of that section of the state for a number of gen- erations. The first member of the family to settle in this district was one of the pioneers in this line, who came to Allegheny county at first. He made his way to western Pennsylvania by wagon, the only mode of travel- ing long distances then known. Subsequently he removed to Beaver county.
(II) Ebenezer Davidson was one of the early settlers in Beaver county and was engaged in farming during all the active years of his life. He married Mary Hamilton.
(III) William H. Davidson, son of Ebenezer and Mary (Hamilton) Davidson, was born in Hopewell township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, March 1, 1841. He was educated in the township schools, and with the exception of the time he spent on the river working on a boat as a young man he was always a farmer. He is the owner of a fine farm of eighty acres, on which he is now living in retirement. He and his family are
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members of the Presbyterian Church, and in political matters he is a Democrat. Mr. Davidson married Amanda Baker, who died in March, 1912, daughter of Daniel Baker, also a pioneer settler of the county. They have had children: Jennie, who died in infancy; John A .; J. B., deceased ; A. S., see forward ; Hattie; Sharp; Ida; Josephine, deceased ; E. D .; Luella ; Ross.
(IV) A. S. Davidson, son of William H. and Amanda (Baker) David- son, was educated in the public schools of his native township, attending them part time, and spending the remainder of his time in assisting his father in the farm work. Later he became extensively engaged in the oil industry, in which he was successful, but returned to agricultural pursuits in 1905. He and his brother, E. D., have a fine farm adjoining that of their father, purchasing this about 1908, and they make a specialty of fruit growing.
The name of Laughlin is one which occurred frequently LAUGHLIN in the annals of Scotland and also in Ireland, thence the representatives of the family migrated and are of record in county Down. A branch of the family came to the United States in 1819 and settled in Western Pennsylvania. Another of the same branch came in 1829, settled in Pittsburgh, and founded the Laughlin family noted as iron masters. The original form of the name in Scotland was Mac- Kaughlin, it being a part of the Clan Owen, in Ireland it became changed to Mclaughlin, and in this country has been shortened in many instances to Laughlin. The branch under consideration in this article has had an unusually interesting history.
(I) Robert Laughlin, a native of Ireland, was taken captive in his youth by unscrupulous people, brought to America, and sold into service, as was no unusual custom in those early days. He worked out his period of service in Philadelphia, and after his marriage removed to Greene town- ship, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, with which section the name has since been identified. He was among the very earliest settlers who took up government land in that region and was given a large tract of land. A portion of this land he cleared, erected a log cabin, and lived the remainder of his life in what was practically a wilderness at that time. This land is still in the possession of his descendants. The name of his wife is not on record but it is known that she endured the same experiences as her hus- band, and also worked out her period of service in Philadelphia.
(II) Benjamin Laughlin, son of Robert Laughlin, was born in Greene township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where his earlier years were spent, and where he was a farmer. In 1855 he removed with his family to Dade county, Missouri, and remained until 1863, when he returned to Beaver county, Pennsylvania. He was actively engaged in the War of 1812, and was a staunch Whig. His death occurred at the advanced age of ninety- three years. He married Elizabeth (Blackamore) Mackell, a widow. Chil-
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dren: Thomas, of first marriage; Fitzsimmons, see forward; Robert, a member of Company H, One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War.
(III) Fitzsimmons, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Blackamore- Mackell) Laughlin, was born in Greene township, Beaver county, Pennsyl- vania, May 4, 1837. His education was acquired in the public schools of his native county and in those of Missouri, and also in an academy. Dur- ing the days of his boyhood and early youth he assisted his father in the labors of the farm, and during the 50's he filled various positions on boats plying to New Orleans. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, he answered the first call to arms of three months' men, enlisting under Colonel Kelly in Company I, First Regiment West Virginia Infantry. At the termina- tion of his three months' service he re-enlisted, this time in Company H, Fifth Heavy Artillery, Pennsylvania. He was never wounded. Upon the conclusion of the war he returned to his father's farm in Greene town- ship, where he was actively engaged in farming until he retired. An oil well was drilled on this property, and this has proved itself very profitable. Mr. Laughlin has for many years been actively identified with all matters of a public nature in the section in which he has resided, being a strong Republican, and a personal friend of Senator Quay. He has been honored with all the public offices in the gift of the township, having served as school director for a period of nine years. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church; he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has represented his lodge at Reading.
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