USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 146
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6 Ralston Williams, Esq., was elected clerk to fill vacancy May 2, 1881.
1
T. H. Williams and Dr. W. L. S. Wilson, school directors; T. J. Wed- dell, auditor ; Thomas Gregg, John S. Markell, and George A. Hoff- mann, members of Select Council; Henry McCain, Isaac Hodge, I. Shelby Crall, Jerry Amberson, Benj. C. Camp, and Samuel Robin- son, members of Common Council.
Other Borough and City Officers .- The following additional lists of officers have been obtained from the borough, city, and county records. Yet as concerns borough and city officers all records are defective, and it is an impossible matter at this time to prepare com- plete lists :
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
John Clemens, April 14, 1839. Samuel Devore, April 14, 1839. John Clemens. April 14, 1840. Samuel Devore, April 14, 1840. T. R. Hazzard, April 15, 1845. John Clemens, April 15, 1845. John Clemens, April 9, 1850. James Gordon, April 9, 1850. John Clemens, April 10, 1855.
James McAllister, April 10, 1855. Robert F. Cooper, April 10, 1860. William H. Smith, Oct. 22, 1860. Sheshbazzar Bentley, Jr., April 10, 1860.
John Clemens, Sept. 11, 1865.
Johnson Elrod, April 17, 1866. John Holland, March 29, 1870. T. R. Hazzard, Nov. 30, 1870.
ALDERMEN.
A. T. Gregg, May 23, 1873.
John Holland, Jan. 28, 1874.
T. R. Hazzard, Jan. 28, 1874. A. T. Gregg, Jan. 28, 1874.
Moses Scott, March 27, 1879.
W. M. Boggs, April 13, 1875.
T. R. Hazzard, April 3, 1877. Ralston Williams, April 3, 1877.
Ralston Williams, Oct. 6, 1877.
Jobn Holland, March 30, 1880.
Business and Professional Men of 1882 .- The city of to-day contains considerably more than three thousand inhabitants, and among its prominent pro- fessional and business men we mention (though not with the intention of being invidious) the following : Messrs. Alexander & Co., bankers; Neel, Blythe & Co., proprietors of Valley Saw- and Planing-Mills; Maj. Chill W. Hazzard, editor and publisher of the Monongahela Valley Republican (daily and weekly) and postmaster; Yohe, Corrin & Co., proprietors of extensive saw- and planing-mills ; Culbertson & Hart- rick, proprietors of the Union Paper-Mills ; Morrison, Abrams & Co., founders, machinists, and engine- builders ; S. P. Keller & Co., dry-goods merchants ; McGrew & Parkison, proprietors City Flouring-Mills ; Michael Bowman, merchant tailor; John Bowman, merchant tailor and captain of company of State National Guards; William McGregor, merchant tailor ; H. Landefeld, merchant tailor ; R. H. Young, dealer in dry-goods, etc. ; George A. Hoffman & Son, hardware merchants ; Vol. Farquhar, dealer in gro-
6 To date, March 10, 1882, the city has a balance in the treasury of $1262.68, and its available assets amount to $2110.02.
577
MONONGAHELA CITY.
in grain, agricultural implements, etc .; R. M. Gee & was added in March, 1872, and Sept. 1. 1881, the Sons, proprietors steam marble-works; George A. firm-name was changed to that first mentioned in Keller, dealer in general merchandise ; W. A. Pat- this paragraph. terson, grocer; E. Downer, hardware merchant; T. L. S. Dunn, druggist, established his present store July 1, 1879. J. Wallace, grocer ; Wilber S. Sheplar, druggist ; J. C. Scott & Co., druggists ; William H. Scott & Bro.,
H. Landefeld, the genial merchant tailor near the editors and proprietors of the Valley Record ; O'Leary ; post-office, established his business in Monongahela City August, 1878.
Bros. & Co., glass manufacturers; W. L. S. Wilson, express and railroad station agent; Cypher Bros., books, stationery, etc; People's Bank (J. B. Finley, president ; J. L. George, cashier) ; E. T. Graham, founder; J. E. Richards & Bro., wagon-makers ; Samuel T. Robinson, meat-market; James P. Shep- lar, proprietor Sheplar House ; Ralston Williams, alderman and general insurance agent; Theodore M. Byers, dealer in dry-goods and notions.
Michael Bowman is the oldest merchant, in a busi- ness point of view, in the town. He is a native of Bavaria. He came to America in 1842 (when nine- teen years of age), and first located in Pittsburgh. From the latter place he removed to Monongahela City in 1850.
William McGregor engaged in the sale of boots and shoes in 1873. His present business of merchant tailoring and the sale of ready-made clothing was ; established in 1875.
R. H. Young has been identified with the business interests of the town since 1857. His present dry- goods house was established April 1, 1881.
George A. Hoffman & Son take rank as the second oldest business firm in Monongahela City. Their hardware- and cutlery-store was established by the former in June, 1852.
T. B. Wilgus established his present large grocery business in March, 1880.
J. F. Nicholson has been engaged in the sale of pianos and organs since 1872. The jewelry business which is also carried on by him was established by his father, W. M. Nicholson, in 1874.
James B. Boyer succeeded the firm of Summerville & Yohe in April, 1879, the latter having established the business in April, 1876.
J. I. Strouse is a native of Germany, but came to America when but eighteen months old. His well- known jewelry-store was established in the spring of 1873.
The drug-store of R. Eugene Byers was established by R. C. Byers & Son in 1869. The grocery-store
D. H. Williams' grocery-store was first controlled by himself in April, 1880.
Under the firm-name of Myers & McMahon, Frank M. Myers and Alexander McMahon established fur- niture salesrooms, etc., in 1880. In the fall of 1881 they divided the business. Mr. Myers attends to the undertaking, while Mr. McMahon deals in furniture exclusively. Mr. Myers' grandfather, Matthias Myers, was a native of Germany, and an early settler near Bentleysville.
Of the merchants here mentioned, the house of S. P. Keller & Co. was established by S. P. Keller in 1860. His brother, E. W. Keller, entered the firm in W. T. Markell established his present business, i.e., 1871, since which the name of S. P. Keller & Co. dealer in cigars, tobacco, etc., in the spring of 1871. has been used. E. W. Keller established a grocery- His father, W. J. Markell, engaged in the same busi- ness in 1856, and continued it for several years. He now controls a distillery on Pigeon Creek. store in 1852. Dry-goods were added three years later, and in 1860 he dropped the sale of groceries entirely, continuing dealing in dry-goods, however, until com- The firm of Anton Brothers, merchant tailors, was P. B. Anton had been a dealer in boots and shoes. bining with his brother in 1871 in the sale of dry- 1 established in the fall of 1881. Prior to that time goods, carpets, oil-cloths, notions, trimmings, boots and shoes, and general merchandise.
The grain and agricultural implement warerooms of S. L. Kennedy, on Main Street, were established in August, 1880.
George A. Keller, whose present grocery-store was started in March, 1881, has been an active business man of the town for a period of more than thirty- eight years. As early as 1852 he was in the grocery business with his brother, E. W. Keller, and has operated a foundry for the past nineteen years.
William A. Patterson's grocery-store, etc., was estab- lished by his father, Joseph Patterson, April 1, 1878. The former assumed control in December, 1880.
E. Downer established his business in 1862. He was a resident of the town, however, during 1851.
T. J. Wallace engaged in the sale of groceries, etc., in 1878, and removed to his present place of business the following year.
W. S. Sheplar, druggist, began business in April, 1881. He is a son of James P. Sheplar, proprietor of the "Sheplar House."
The drug-store of J. C. Scott & Co. was established by J. C. Scott in 1869. The present firm-name was adopted in April, 1881.
Theodore M. Byers, dealer in dry-goods and notions, established his business April 1, 1880.
Physicians .- George A. Linn, George E. Lyth, Franklin P. Scott, James G. Sloan,1 Charles B.
1 Dr. James G. Sloan graduated at Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pa., in the summer of 1862. He then joined the 140th Regiment Pennsyl- vania Volunteers and served three years. After the close of the war he began the study of medicine, and graduated with honors from the Uni- versity of Georgetown, D. C., in March, 1869. He practiced his profes- sion at Fayette City, Pa., for four years, and has been established at his present place of residence, Monongahela City, for more than eight years.
578
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Wood, R. S. H. Keys, M. P. Morrison, G. P. Mitchell, and H. J. Gamble.
Surgeon Dentists .- J. D. Hammond and W. H. King.
Attorneys. -- The present attorneys-at- law are Thomas H. Baird, admitted to practice at Febru- ary term, 1846, and George A. Hoffman, Jr., ad- mitted in December, 1875. Of other attorneys who at various periods have lived in the town or its vicinity were Judge Thomas H. Baird,1 admitted in March, 1808; T. R. Hazzard, November, 1840; Rob- ert F. Cooper, May, 1842; O. B. McFadden, Feb- ruary, 1843; Solomon Alter, May, 1843; J. W. F. White, May, 1844; Ianthus Bentley, February, 1866 ; J. M. Milligan, February, 1866; and John M. Davis, January, 1877.
Hon. George V. Lawrence, of Monongahela City, although not a lawyer, has for many years been a law-maker and one of the most prominent men in Western Pennsylvania. He represented the people of Washington County in the State House of Repre- sentatives in 1844, 1847, 1859, and 1860; Washington County in the State Senate for a term commencing in October, 1848; Washington and Greene Counties for term commencing October, 1860; and in October, 1864, was elected to represent the counties of Wash- ington, Greene, Beaver, and Lawrence in the national House of Representatives.
Alexander & Co., Bankers .- Although we have mentioned the fact that the Monongahela and Wil- liamsport Manufacturing and Banking Company was chartered in January, 1814, it seems that this com- pany was never organized, and that the people of the town could not boast of any banking facilities until the spring season of 1861, when the Messrs. Alexan- der & Co. (composed of Joseph Alexander2 and his sons, William J. and James S.) established a banking- house in connection with their business as merchants.
In 1870 the present elegant bank building was erected at a cost, exclusive of the grounds, of $20,000. It is constructed of brick and stone, ornamented with
Mansard slate-roof, towers, and cresting, and its vaults, fire- and burglar-proof, are among the very best. Though the senior members of the house died in 1870, the business is still continued under the title of Alexander & Co., and most probably will be for many years to come, for its members, by their gentlemanly manners, obliging dispositions, and sterling, well-tried integrity, have secured the confidence and respect of all who meet them in a business way and the every- day walks of life. A capital of $100,000 is usually employed.
People's Bank .- This thriving institution was es- tablished under the title of the "People's Savings- Bank," Sept. 1, 1870, by a stock company, which be- gan businesss with a paid-up capital of $100,000. The first officers were A. C. Sampson, president; J. B. Finley,3 cashier ; A. C. Sampson, James Sampson, James K. Logan, W. M. Devore, and J. B. Finley, directors.
The first president, A. C. Sampson, died May 10, 1872, when James Sampson was elected to fill the vacancy. In January, 1880, a reorganization took place, when the present name, i.e., the People's Bank, was adopted, and the following officers elected : J. B. Finley, president ; John L. George, cashier ; George V. Lawrence, Robert Phillips, James B. Gibson, George A. Linn, and William P. Ketchum, directors. No changes have since occurred. The building owned and occupied by the bank is situated on the southwest corner of Main and Washington Streets.
Manufacturing .- The Valley Saw- and Planing- Mills, Messrs. Neel, Blythe & Co. proprietors, con- tractors and builders, is the pioneer establishment of its kind in this section of the country, and stands to- day where it has always stood, at the head, and in the front rank of all its competitors, both in extent of business done and the quality of work produced.
It appears that the first mill standing upon this site was built in the year 1850, by William and Joseph Brown, father and son respectively. It was a two-story structure, fifty-five by seventy feet, and was fitted for planing and the manufacture of sash, doors, shutters, mouldings, etc.
After one year Joseph sold out his interests to his father, and some three years later the latter sold to Messrs. Kiddoo & Pollock. Mr. Pollock continued but three or four years, when David Moore purchased his interests. . The first building was burned in 1858, and the following year the partners, Joseph Kiddoo and David Moore, erected the second one, which was three stories in height, and its ground dimensions forty by eighty feet.
1 Judge Baird was the father of the present Thos. H. Baird, Esq., and resided at the point now known as Baird's Station, on the Pittsburgh, Virginia and Charleston Railroad. He was a gentleman distinguished for his great legal ability, and Oct. 19, 1818, was elected president judge of the district composed of Washington, Fayette, Greene, and, Somerset Counties.
2 Joseph Alexander was born at Rostraver, Westmoreland Co., Pa., in the year 1795. Accompanied by his wife and three children, viz., Wil- liam J., Rose Aun, and Eliza, he settled in Williamsport during the year 1828. He immediately engaged in business as a dealer in general merchandise, occupying a log structure on Main Street which stood op- posite the McGregor building. Soon after, however, he removed across the street to a frame store-house which stood on the site of the present McGregor building, and which was occupied by himself and sons for many years thereafter. His children born after his settlement in Williamsport were James S., Emeline, Amanda, and Theresa His wife died in 1856, and full of years he departed from this stage of action in the year 1870. He was an honorable and successful merchant, a de- voted husband and father, a public-spirited Christian gentleman, a stanch Whig and Republican (though it was his pride to boast that he once cast his vote for " Old Hickory"), and was universally esteemed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
3 Mr. Finley is a representative of the well-known family of Finleys, of Finleyville, though born in the city of Philadelphia. He has been a resident of Monongahela City since 1861, and from that time until the founding of the People's Bank was in the employ of Messrs. Alexan- der & Co. He was a member of Capt. William J. Alexander's company of State militia, and with that command proceeded to the front in Mary- land, immediately after the battle of Antietam.
579
MONONGAHELA CITY.
The firm of Kiddoo & Moore continued until 1867, when the latter sold out to Blythe (John) & Beach (Charles E.), and the former to James Neel and E. A. Foster, the new firm assuming the title of Fos- ter, Blythe & Co. On the 13th of July, 1875, during the conflagration which destroyed the saw- and planing-mill of Culbertson & Hartrick, the building erected in 1859 and occupied by Foster, Blythe & Co. was also burned. The work of reconstruction began at once, and ninety days later, on Oct. 13, 1875, the present building was completed. It is two stories in height, and sixty-five by one hundred and five feet, not including the engine-house.
On the 13th of April, 1876, Mr. Beach's interests were purchased by Mr. Neel, and the firm-name was changed to that of Foster, Blythe & Neel. This firm was continued until Jan. 17, 1880, when Mr. Foster sold out to Messrs. Neel and Blythe, other members were admitted, and the present firm of Neel, Blythe & Co. established, the individual members of the firm being James Neel, John Blythe, James Blythe, John W. Teeters, J. P. Taylor, and Philip Zenn.
The building occupied is a strong and substantial one, and well adapted for the business of sawing lum- ber and the production of flooring, siding, weather- boarding, sash, blinds, doors, lath, railing, wood- turning, scroll-work, etc. The machinery is of the very best in use, and it would be a difficult matter, indeed, to find anywhere a more perfectly arranged and better conducted establishment.
From sixty to seventy-five men are steadily em- ployed. Besides the elegant new school building in Monongahela City, this firm have during the past two years erected a large number of buildings at Brad- dock's, McConnellville, Belle Vernon, and other places. They purchased during the year 1881 300,000 cubic feet of logs and 2,300,000 feet of sawed lumber, and will handle during the year 1882 at least 4,000,000 feet of lumber. They have also an extensive boat- and barge-yard connected with their works.
The Union Paper-Mills, of Monongahela City, Messrs. Culbertson & Hartrick proprietors, were es- . tablished in 1850 by Dr. Samuel D. Culbertson, of Chambersburg, Pa., being the first manufactory of its kind in which air alone was depended upon for dry- ing erected west of the Allegheny Mountains. In 1862 steam was adopted for drying purposes, and on the 4th day of March, 1864, the buildings were de- stroyed by fire. However, Mr. Albert Culbertson, son of Dr. Culbertson, immediately began the work of rebuilding, and in March, 1865, the works were again put in motion with an increased capacity.
In 1876 the present proprietors, Messrs. S. D. Cul- bertson 1 and R. S. D. Hartrick, assumed control, and have since conducted the business under the firm-name of Culbertson & Hartrick.
Originally, by dint of much hard labor and the most expert manipulations, but two and two and one- half tons of "straw-board" could be produced in twenty-four hours. Now, however, the average daily product is seven tons. Fifty men are here given em- ployment. Straw-board, manufactured from wheat, rye, oat, and barley straw (obtained from the surround- ing country), is the only article produced, and the cities of New York and Philadelphia are chiefly depended upon for marketing the same, yet considerable quan- tities of the products of this mill have been sent direct to England, Cuba, and San Francisco, Cal.
The Foundry and Machine-Shops of Messrs. Mor- rison, Abrams & Co. were established by J. W. Downer in 1872. After a brief period the firm-name was changed to that of Hindman, Downer & Lecky, which firm continued until 1877, when Mr. Downer having retired, the name of Hindman, Morrison & Co. was adopted. Another change took place soon after though, and under the name of Morrison & Co. the business was conducted by Messrs. W. H. Morrison and T. H. Pollock 2 from 1877 until Jan. 1, 1881, when Capt. R. R. Abrams became a member of the firm, and the present title, i.e., Morrison, Abrams & Co., was assumed.
Many improvements have been made during the few years last passed, and the premises, situated mid- way between the railroad and river, are equipped with the most perfect machinery and tools, including a steam-engine of sixteen horse-power. Fifteen skilled workmen are constantly employed by the firm, and the manufactures consist chiefly of complete outfits for the mining of coal, such as coal tipples, bolts, pit-cars, pit-car wheels, castings, etc. They also make a specialty of "Morrison & Co.'s Reversible Engine," which, while running easily and noiselessly, is un- equaled in beauty and finish. This engine was ex- hibited at the Exposition (1876), and has given entire satisfaction wherever introduced. The business of the firm of Morrison, Abrams & Co. is continually increasing, and quite recently they have performed much work for the Monongahela Navigation Com- pany at locks Nos. 1 and 2.
The City Flouring-Mill of Monongahela City, Messrs. McGrew & Parkison 2 present proprietors, was
I Mr. S. D. Culbertson is a son of Alfred, and grandson of the original owner of the mill.
2 Mr. Pollock, who represented the "Co." in the firms entitled Hind- man, Morrison & Co. and Morrison & Co., is also the "Co." in the pres- ent firm of Morrison, Abrams & Co. He is a gentleman of acknowl- edged ability as a designer and practical machinist, having learned his trade at the Pittsburgh Locomotive-Works, and now acts as foreman and general manager of the works.
8 Mr. A. R. Parkison is a great-grandson of one of five brothers, the original settlers of this immediate locality, and his family have for many years been identified with the milling business, more particularly at Mingo aud Elkhorn. Thus we find that about the beginning of the present century Benjamin Parkison (grandfather of A. R.) threw a dam across the river at Mingo and erected two flouring-mills (one on either side), a fulling-mill, and a saw-mill. William, the father of A. R. Parki- son, after inheriting the estate, built a paper-mill on the right bank of the river, and named that locality Elkhorn.
Mr. McGrew also is a representative of one of the first families to 1 settle in Washington County.
580
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
erected about the year 1845, by Henry Shearer and John Sheplar. Afterwards the mill was controlled at various times by Beach & Co., George & Shaw, and John L. George until the year 1877, when the present firm, viz., James McGrew and A. R. Parkison, became its owners.
The building is a five-story wooden structure, forty- two by ninety feet, and has a capacity of eighty bar- rels of flour per day. The machinery used is of the best and latest improved kind, including a new purifier and middling stone and an engine of fifty horse- power. This firm, as well as all others doing business in Monongahela City, have excellent facilities for re- ceiving and shipping goods either by wagon, river, or railroad. Mr. McGrew has had an experience in the business of twenty-two years; Mr. Parkison of four years. In conclusion, we will add that both are resi- dents of the city, are energetic and enterprising men, and well worthy of their large and remunerative trade.
On the site where the first boats were built in Mo- nongahela City now stands the planing-mills and lumber-yard of Yohe,1 Corrin & Co., the individual members of the firm being Isaac Yohe, James L. Yohe, Lewis N. Yohe, and Edward Corrin. How- ever, the business was established in November, 1880, under the firm-name of Yohe, Carson & Co. In June, 1881, Mr. Carson having retired, Mr. Corrin came in as'a member of the firm. All are practical men of many years' experience and natives of the city.
They are largely engaged in contracting and build- ing, and during the past year have erected many fine buildings at Greenfield, Webster, Tomer & McKin- ney's works, Homestead, Columbia, and in other local- ities. Their lumber-yard is two hundred feet square. The planing-mill is two stories in height, thirty-four by sixty-four feet, and is fitted up with the latest im- proved machinery. Power is derived from steam, and thirty-five men are employed.
"The Monongahela Glass-Works, although situ- ated just without the municipal limits, are among the most important of the many manufacturing interests found within the city or its immediate vicinity. Under the firm-name of Ihmsen, Fox & Co. (H. L. Ihmsen, Gregor Fox, John J. O'Leary, and James : some two or three years later purchased the same. Beck, all of Pittsburgh, being the individual mem- bers), the work of construction was commenced in June, 1880, completed September 1st of the same year, and the first glass was cut September 13th fol- In 1878 the steamer "Hunter No. 2" was placed upon the docks, her upper works detached from and raised above her hull, and while thus supported a new hull was built. lowing. On the 21st of February, 1881, by the re- tirement of Mr. Fox and the purchase of his interests by T. O'Leary, Jr., of Pittsburgh, the title assumed
1 Isaac Yohe, the grandfather of the Yohe brothers (the members of this firm), came from Euston, Pa., and settled near Valley Inn, or on the farm now occupied by Marvin Sheplar, in Carroll township, about the year 1810, having been induced to remove westward in consequence of the flattering description of this county given by a brother who had visited Washington County during the Whiskey Rebellion. Michael, Bon of Isaac, and father of Isaac, James, and Lewis before mentioned, was one of the first to vote the Free-Soil or Abolition ticket in the county.
by the firm was that of O'Leary, Beck & Co. Mr. T. O'Leary, Jr., purchased the interests of Mr. Ihmsen in the fall of 1881, and Mr. Beck's in February, 1882, and thus the firm-name of the present is that of 1
O'Leary Bros. & Co.
Sixty men and two boys are regularly employed, and the products of these works (window-glass exclu- sively) amount to nine hundred boxes per week. This firm also manufacture their own melting pots, an essential and most important feature in the fabri- cation of glass.
The Monongahela City Steam Granite- and Marble-Works were established by R. M. Gee in 1852. He conducted the business alone until the year 1865, when his sons, J. L.,2 J. R., William M., and Charles W. Gee, having become partners, the firm- name was changed to that of R. M. Gee & Sons. In 1873, Mr. J. H. Weygandt entered the firm, and the business has since been carried on under the title of R. M. Gee, Sons & Co.
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