USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 31
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Mr. Barkell married, (first) in 1870, Emma J. Bell. She died in June, 1884, at the age of thirty-three, leaving six children: Eliza, living at home ; Mary, wife of John R. Riebe, general secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, Berwick, Pennsylvania ; William, a telegraph operator for the Union Supply Company, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, married Bessie Moran ; Robert B., a clerk for the H. C. Frick Company, Scottdale, married Esther Longenecker ; George K., in the employ of the United States Express Com- pany. Pittsburg, married Cora Myers ; Emma J., died in infancy. Mr. Barkell married (second), in November, 1890, Sarah Robson, of Scottdale, a native of England. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, Mr. Barkell being a member of the official board of the same. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Young Men's Christian Association, and is a stock- holder in the Scottdale Machine and Foundry Company.
CHARLES H. JAQUETTE, son of Anthony and Mary Ann (Shaw) Jaquette, was born October 25, 1871, at Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. The father, a native of Oswego, New York, died May 10, 1901, the seventieth anniversary of his birth. The mother is still living, residing with her son, Charles H. Jaquette, and is a native of Connellsville, Pennsylvania.
The grandfather of Charles H. Jaquette, Peter A. Jaquette, was a native of northern France, and son of a French duke. He married a native of south- ern France, and they emigrated to America and settled in New York state. Their son, Anthony Jaquette, the father of Charles H. Jaquette, was reared in New York state, but settled in Pennsylvania when a young man and mar- ried a resident of Connellsville, Mary A. Shaw. He was in the oil business, a producer in Green county, Pennsylvania, for many years, but later in life lie was engaged in the tailoring business in Pittsburg and Allegheny. He accom- panied Francis Murphy on his lecture tour, taking the platform as a lecturer during about three years, a strong advocate of temperance. He lived in vari- ous towns about the country for longer or shorter periods, including Scott- dale, 1875-79: Mount Pleasant, 1879-82 ; Scottdale, 1882-83 ; Abilene, Texas, 1883-87; thence to Plyattsmouth, Nebraska; 1892, Kansas City; then re- turned to Scottdale, 1897, where he lived the remainder of his life. He was a man who figured prominently in political affairs, and was the candidate for the legislature on the Independent ticket in 1882 and came within twenty votes of being elected. He was also closely identified with the labor troubles, hav- ing represented the state of Pennsylvania as arbitrator in the Lorillard labor strike, the J. P. Clark-Throd strike and others. He was a public speaker of more than ordinary ability, taking the "stump" in various campaigns, usually allied with the Republican party. He was largely instrumental in turning Westmoreland county from a Democratic stronghold to a Republican fortress. He enlisted as a private at the beginning of the Civil war in the Seventh Vol- unteer Infantry, West Virginia, Company E, but was mustered out on account of sickness after two years service, as second lieutenant, each step won by bravery. He was tendered a captaincy on several occasions but refused to ac- cept the commission. After recuperating from his illness he raised a com- pany at Morgantown, Pennsylvania, and took it to the field, then joined his old company again. He served through both battles of Antietam as well as in many of the other principal battles of the Army of the Potomac. He was a member of the Baptist church, of Free and Accepted Masons and Grand Army
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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Robs- Ramsay
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
of the Republic. He had a family of ten children : 1. Mary Eva, died young. 2. Hannah M., died young. 3. John W., a resident of Butte, Montana. 4. Minnie R., deceased wife of H. C. Deitterich. 5. Alice, wife of George B. Mellinger, of Scottdale. 6. William A., who went to the Philippines with Company K, Fifth Regulars, and served three years. He enlisted first with the Rough Riders, in Bucky O'Neal's regiment from Phoenix, Arizona, and was trans- ferred to Company A, first territorial Big Four, United States Volunteer In- fantry, as corporal at the Georgia camp. He was then mustered out of volun- teer service and joined the company, as a private, going to the Philippines, and was mustered out as sergeant major. He returned to America but almost im- mediately re-enlisted. with the Twenty-seventh Regulars. Being an excep- tionally fine penman, he was called into service at headquarters, but refused to leave the boys. 7. Lucinda, wife of G. B. Hitchman, of Mount Pleasant. 8. Benjamin F., contracting painter, and proprietor of a tourists' house. Los Angeles, California. 9. Charles H., of whom later. 10. Sarah Elizabeth, wife of C. V. Leonard, of Kansas City, Missouri.
Charles H. Jaquette was educated in the public schools of Mount Pleas- ant and Scottdale. In 1883, when a boy of only twelve years, he began to learn the jeweler's art, meanwhile keeping up his studies at night. He was first employed at Abilene, Texas, where he spent four years, then went to Kansas City and spent five years more, fitting himself for his chosen work. He then went to Plattsmouth, Nebraska, to fill a position as watch inspector for the B. and M., a branch of the C. B. and Q. R. R. This position he filled from 1887 to 1891, at the same time carrying on a private business, handling a general stock of jewelry goods. In 1891 he sold out and went to Kansas City and found employment at his trade, at the same time taking a course at the Kansas City School of Optics, whence he graduated. For three years of this time he was head watchmaker for the Edwards and Sloan Manufacturing Company, and for one year was manager of the Emory Bird Thayer Company of the same city. He then engaged in business on his own account, meanwhile studying at the South Bend (Indiana) College of Optics. In January, 1897. he located at Scottdale, and in September of the same year opened a fine jew- elry establishment, fitting it up in the most modern and elaborate manner. This business he conducted until 1903, when he sold out to the J. S. Parker Company, with whom he was employed for a little more than a year. In April, 1905, he purchased the stock and business of J. A. Bobbs, where he is fitting up a most admirable establishment, and will make a specialty of optics, etc. He is a business man of the highest ability and stands high in the estima- tion of his fellow-townsmen, his position being wholly the result of his own unaided efforts. He is a member of S. of V., Camp 125, and is captain of the military department of this society : member of Americus, Royal Arcanum and of the American Insurance Union. Mr. Jaquette married, May 22, 1891, Bertha May Rounds, daughter of Reuben and Francis Rounds. She is a na- tive of Toulon, Stark county, Illinois, born August 6, 1872. They have four children : Mary Helen, Harry Anthony, George William and Charles Glenn. They are active members of the Baptist church.
ROBERT RAMSAY. Among those whose names and deeds form part of the history of Westmoreland county none will be remembered longer or with more respect and affection than Robert Ramsey, for many years an honored citizen of Shafton, and afterward of Latrobe and of Mount Pleasant. The grandfather of Robert Ramsay was a coal operator, owning mines
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near Dunfermline, Scotland, in the early days of the Scotch coal mining in- dustry. William Ramsay (father), a native of Scotland, was a miner, and in 1852 emigrated to the United States, but after remaining here four years re- turned to the land of his birth. In 1863. however, he came a second time to this country and made his home at Larimer, in this county. His wife was Elizabeth Sharp, also a native of Scotland, and they had a son Robert, men- tioned hereafter. The death of Mr. Ramsay occurred April 16, 1885, and that of his widow August 13, 1889. Both are buried in the Union cemetery at Shafton.
Robert Ramsay, son of William and Elizabeth (Sharp) Ramsay, was born October 28, 1840, sixteen miles northwest of Edinburg, near Dunfermline, county of Fife, Scotland. At an early age he gave promise of engineering ability, and embraced every opportunity of fitting himself for that profession. At the age of twenty-three he and his wife came with his parents to the United States, and he worked at the machinist's trade in Pittsburg, afterward being employed in the coal mines on the Monongahela river. In 1865 he went to Shafton, where he became mining engineer for the Shafton Coal Company. His services were so satisfactory that in 1870 he was given general charge of the operations by being advanced to the position of superintendent of the com- pany, which position he held for eleven years. He then became associated with Messrs. Andrew and Thomas M. Carnegie, also natives of Dunfermline, Scot- land, by serving as superintendent and engineer at the Monastery mines and coke works of the Carnegie Company until 1883, when he moved to Mount Pleasant to be more centrally located and to take general charge of the mines of the H. C. Frick Coke Company, into which company the Carnegie Com- pany's coal and coke properties had previously been merged. Then followed a long and close connection with Messrs. H. C. Frick and Thomas Lynch in the management of the vast Frick interests. This position he retained until 1888, when he became general consulting engineer of the entire company and su- perintendent of the Standard mines and coke works, at that time the largest and most complete plant of its kind in the world. He had a very orginal mind and a strong natural bent toward things mechanical, as is evidenced by the many new mechanical devices which he invented and introduced in and about the mines. In 1886 he built the new Standard shaft, which has held the world's record for large outputs and is considered by the best authorities the finest shaft in the country, his genius being especially manifest in the beauty and simplicity of the design. This plant has been the subject of many articles in technical and scientific journals from mining men the world over. He also engineered and superintended the erection of the Mount Pleasant water works and many other improvements made in the Connellsville coke region by the Carnegie-Frick interests. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Ramsay married, January 4, 1861, Janet. daughter of William and Margaret (White) Erskine, of Elgin colliery, near Dunfermline, and they had children : William. Erskine, Robert. Morris R .. John A .. Charles S., An- drew C., George S., Margaret, Elizabeth, Janet and Mary Stuart. The sons, as they grew up, gave evidence of having inherited their father's tastes with no small portion of his ability. The eldest son William is an engineer on the Pennsylvania railroad. Erskine is a mining and mechanical engineer, banker, coal and coke operator and iron manufacturer at Birmingham. Alabama. He was also chief engineer and assistant general manager of the Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Company at Birmingham, Alabama. some fourteen vears. Robert is a mining engineer and superintendent for the H. C. Frick Coke Com-
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pany at United, Pennsylvania. Morris R. is a mining engineer and coal oper- ator at Birmigham, Alabama. John A. is a superintendent for the H. C. Frick Coke Company at Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. Charles S. has charge of engineering and construction work for his brother, Erskine, at Birmingham, Alabama. Andrew C. is studying mining engineering at Lehigh University. George S. has only recently finished school and is engaged in engineering work. In the spring of 1898 Mr. Ramsay sustained an attack of grip, from which he never fully recovered. In May, 1899, he set out to visit his birth- place in search of health, but before reaching there was prostrated with anæmia at East Kilbride, Scotland. His death occurred August 11, 1899, his wife, his daughters, Elizabeth and Janet, and his sons, William and Erskine, being with him at the time. His remains were brought to this country and funeral services were held at his late residence in Mount Pleasant. He was buried in Union cemetery near Shafton, August 26, 1899. Mr. Ramsay was recognized as having no superior as a mining and mechanical engineer in this country. He was a man whose intellectual force, indomitable energy and blameless character have built for him a monument of respect and love in the hearts of all who knew him. It can truly be said of him that his works follow him. The mechanical and mining genius characteristic of Mr. Ramsay was shared by his three brothers. Morris Ramsay, at the time of his death, in 1892, was general manager of the Southwest Coal and Coke Company at Mount Pleasant, and had formerly been chief engineer of the entire H. C. Frick Coke Company. William S. Ramsay is superintendent for the H. C. Frick Coke Company at the Morewood mines near Mount Pleasant. George S. Ramsay is general superintendent and chief engineer of the Shawmut Coal Company at St. Marys, Elk county, Pennsylvania, he having previously heid the same position for the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company, of Colorado. His wife with the children remaining at home now live at Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
CHARLES L. HOLTZER, son of William and Leah (Zeis) Holtzer, is a native of Westmoreland county, born August 27, 1863, just east of Greens- burg. His father, William Holtzer, was born and spent his life in Westmore- land county. He was a farmer, and a man well and favorably known through- out that district. He was an active member of the Lutheran church. His father was Frederick Holtzer. William Holtzer died in February, 1898, at the age of seventy-nine years. His widow is still living, a resident of Delmont. Pennsylvania. Their family numbered eight children: William, deceased ; Robert, deceased: Emma, wife of J. R. Klinginsmith, of Greensburg: Jacob H., a resident of Delmont, Pennsylvania ; Charles L., of whom later ; Sadie E., wife of John Watters, of Pitcairn, Pennsylvania ; Maggie, wife of Weddle Martz, of Delmont ; Theodore E., of Youngwood, married Catherine Luce, of Pittsburg.
Charles L. Holtzer was reared on the farm and attended the public schools of his native place. In 1888 he went into the roofing business on his own ac- count, at Delmont, and continued at that for five years. He then engaged as a salesman for a sewing machine business at Greensburg, which position he re- tained for five years. He then located at Scottdale and opened a music store and sewing machine establishment, May 2, 1898, and this business he is con- ducting at the present time. He has a full line of musical instruments of all descriptions, sheet music, etc. He assumed the agency for the United States Express Company at Scottdale, April 8, 1904. Mr. Holtzer married, October
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II, 1891. Alice Smith, daughter of O. P. and Mary Smith, of Westmoreland county. Mr. and Mrs. Holtzer are members of the Lutheran church, he being ordained a deacon in 1903. He is also a member of the Maccabees.
FRED M. LEWELLYN, son of Charles and Christina (Protzman) Lewellyn, was born March 18, 1871, at Morgantown, West Virginia. His father, Charles Lewellyn (deceased), born near the Laurel Iron Works, West Virginia, was a farmer and also a cabinet maker.
Fred M. Lewellyn attended the public schools of his native place, but at an early age began the trade of cabinet-making with Price Brothers, Morgan- town, with whom he also learned the business of painting. He continued with this firm until 1889, when he located at Scottdale. He then, with a partner, opened a painting and decorating business, under the firm title of Lewellyn and Keister, with an establishment at 602 North Broadway. This firm existed until 1896, when Mr. Keister withdrew, and the entire charge of the business was assumed by Mr. Lewellyn. At that time the business of the firm was con- fined to contract painting and decorating in Scottdale and vicinity, but when Mr. Lewellyn took charge of it he put in a large line of paints, varnishes, pic- ture mouldings, etc., in addition to the former business. In August, 1898, he removed to liis present location, 219 Pittsburg street, and enlarged the business in all branches, putting in a stock of wall paper, and adding other art lines. The establishment has constantly grown until it would be a credit to a place of much larger size than Scottdale. The business is divided into two distinct lines, the painting and decorating department, where he employs from eight to ten men, and the art department, which latter includes books, stationery, holiday goods, toys, etc. He devotes his entire time and attention to the bitsi- ness, and is one of the most prominent young business men of the borough. He married, in June, 1892, Ella Strickler, daughter of Wilson (deceased) and Jennie Strickler. They have one child, Charles A. Lewellyn.
JOHN L. HOWARD, son of Cornelius and Sarah ( Wolf) Howard, was born December 9, 1863, in Preston county, West Virginia. On the pater- nal side he is of Scotch, English and German blood, and on the maternal side of German blood. The Howards came to this country many generations ago and settled in Delaware, whence they scattered to West Virginia and Penn- sylvania and then farther west.
John Howard, the grandfather of John L. Howard, was born in Delaware, but went to what is now West Virginia, then Virginia, and was a member of the legislature formed to secede from the parent state and become a distinct member of the Union. He was a man who took a deep interst in political affairs and was a strong Republicn. He held many offices, and was active in business affairs, engaged in farming, the hotel business and various other enterprises, always successfully. His farms were operated largely by his sons, while he attended to his other interests. His children were: John W., painter and glazier, of Indianola, Iowa : Thomas D., who died about 1891, a dealer and manufacturer in lumber at Grafton, West Virginia ; Claus, carpenter, of Okla- homa : Cornelius, father of John L. Howard, is a farmer and resides near Newberry, West Virginia : Susan, deceased, was the wife of James R. Smoot, Newberry: Martha, deceased, was the wife of John Powell, Newberry. Cor- nelius Howard, son of John Howard and father of John L. Howard, has spent the latter part of his life on the farm near Newberry, but was formerly in a mercantile line. During the Civil war he served the Union cause, in the West
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Virginia Cavalry, and was mustered out at the close of the war as commis- sary sergeant. For the past forty years he has been an active member of the Methodist Protestant church. He has three children: John L., of whom later ; Senie, widow of John B. Fram, of Concord, Nebraska : James E., tool dresser, of Smithfield, West Virginia.
John L. Howard attended the public schools until he reached the age of twenty-one years, when he entered a general store at Burton, West Virginia, that had a postoffice and railroad office attached. He performed duties as a clerk for eight months, then went to Tumelton, West Virginia, in the capacity of a clerk, his duties being in connection with the post and railroad offices. He continued there for five years, then for eight months was connected with the Montana Coal and Coke Company, Montana, West Virginia, as a clerk in the company store. He then formed a partnership with J. R. Smoot and J. N. Bentley, under the firm name of Smoot, Bentley and Company, and established a general store at Ten Mile, West Virginia, also handled lumber, etc. They did business for five years, then dissolved, and Mr. Howard became manager of company stores at Camden and Gauley, West Virginia. He was employed thus for eight months, and then was forced by sickness to abandon the posi- tion. After recovering he formed a partnership with John Calvert, and en- tered the mercantile business at Smithfield, doing business under the firm name of Howard and Calvert. After five years they sold out, and Mr. Howard lo- cated at Scottdale. He purchased the business of F. W. Wright, April 27, 1904, situated at the corner of Pittsburg and Chestnut streets. He carries a full line of dry goods, notions, millinery, etc., ocupying two floors. His es- tablishment is one of the most attractive and modern in this vicinity. He is a member of Independent Order Odd Fellows, Oral Lodge, No. 20, of New- berry, West Virginia ; Damon Lodge, No. 5, Knights of Pythias, of Newberry ; Wetzell Lodge, No. 39, Free and Accepted Masons, at New Martinsville, West Virginia, and of Clarksbury Commandery, No. 13, Knight Templars and Adaniram Chapter, No. 11. He married, November 11, 1893, Susie Bluc. of Grafton, daughter of John W. and Mary Blue. They have one son, Walter Howard. Mr. Howard is a member of the Methodist Protestant church, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
JONAS M. KENNEL was born January 21, 1867, at Champion, Fay- ette county, Pennsylvania, son of Jacob H. and Mary (Miller ) Kennel. The mother is still living, but the father died, March 21, 1900. He was a son of Solo- mon and Rebecca ( Hoyman) Kennel, both of whom were natives of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and of German parentage. Jacob H. Kennel was a na- tive of Somerset county, a farmer, and during the latter part of his life a stockdealer. His life was spent in Fayette county from the time he was fif- teen years of age. His farm was eighty-six acres in extent. He was the father of the following children : Jonas M., of whom later : Norman, of Scottdale, a grocer ; Wilford, died in September, 1903. was a grocer of Scottdale; Simon of Champion, Pennsylvania, farmer and miller ; Charles, of Donegal township, farmer : William, of Scottdale, mill worker.
Jonas M. Kennel was brought up to farm life and received his educa- tion in the public schools. In 1890 he engaged in the grocer business at the Dexter Coke works, Fayette county, and remained there for three years. He then located at Scottdale and started in business in company with J. C. Kennel, under the firm title of Kinnel and Kennel. This firm existed for about two years ; then J. C. Kennel withdrew and was succeeded by O. D. Weimer and
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the business was carried on under the name of Weimer and Kennel. Mr. Weimer was succeeded by Wilford Kennel, and the firm name became J. M. Kennel and Bro., which name existed two years. Jonas M. Kennel then sold his interest to his brother and removed to Kifertown, where he bought the old Hickey stand and conducted that business for some four years. At the end of that time he sold out and purchased the old homestead of his father in Saltley township, Fayette county. He operated the farm about one year, and then entered the employ of the Union Supply Company and was employed at David- son, Summitt and Hazelett during about one year. He then purchased his present establishment and has continued there since, engaged in the grocery business and also dealing in tinware, flour and feed. He has built up a large business by his practical and honorable methods. He is a stockholder in the Iron Company of America, located at Roanoke, Virginia, and is the owner of four valuable properties, three of them dwelling houses in the borough of Scottdale. He is truly that noble American type, a self-made man, for he started at the bottom with nothing but a large stock of phick and energy. While yet in his boyhood he purchased his time of his father by giving him one-half of his earnings, continuing this until he was twenty-one years old. During this time he saved of his share of his earnings seven hundred dollars. With this as a basis, he began his successful business career at the age of twenty-one. In politics his sympathies are Democratic. He is a member of Royal Arcanum, Woodmen of the World, Modern Woodmen and the Eagles. Mr. Kennel mar- ried, in June, 1891, Kate Dixon, daughter of Andrew and Barbara (Stauffer) Dixon, a native of Fayette county. Seven children : Grace, Mary, Ray, Edna, Annie, Catherine (deceased), and Ruth Kennel. They are members of the United Brethren church.
JACOB E. WINEMAN, controlling important business interests in Youngwood, Greensburg and other parts of Westmoreland county, was born in Hempfield township, December 31, 1868, a son of Andrew and Caroline (Rugh) Wineman. His father was born in Germany, and was a son of John George and Catherine Wineman who came to the United States from Wur- temberg, Germany, when their son Andrew was an infant, settling in Hemp- field township. While they made two removals at later dates they continued residents of that township. There Andrew Wineman was reared. He learned the trade of cabinet making when nearly all furniture was made by hand, and he made many coffins used in that early day. Later, however, he withdrew from the trade and following his marriage located on the home farm near Youngwood, where he resided up to the time of his death. There his widow still makes her home. Much of the furniture in their home was made by him, and the first cook stove, which he bought at the time of their marriage, is still in use. Mr. Wineman died February 24, 1904, in the faith of the Luth- eran church, of which he had long been a member. His political support was given the Republican party. His family are also connected with the Lutheran church. He had ten children, eight of whom are living : Anna M., wife of A. F. Bortz, a hardware merchant of Greensburg; Lizzie A., wife of H. M. Zun- del, of Greensburg: Mary J., at home : Jacob E .; Gustavns A., a furniture merchant of Greensburg : Charlotte A., wife of Harry Truxell, of Youngwood ; William H., who is working for his brother Jacob ; and George F., who is also working in the meat market at Greensburg.
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