USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 44
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John B. Davis, son of Philip and Ann Davis, was born in 1831, in Staf- fordshire, England, and was ten years old when the family came to the United States. He was associated with his father in the dairy business, and in 1864 moved to Hubbard, Ohio, where for four years he held the position of mine foreman. He then removed to Bethel, Pennsylvania, where he served two years as mine boss, after which he went to Coalburg, Ohio, and there worked in the mines for three years. At the end of that time he returned to the old homestead in Trumbull county, remaining some three years and then retiring from active life. After residing for a year on the state line between Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and Trumbull county, Ohio, he removed to Massillon, Ohio, and there passed the residue of his days. Politically he was a Demo- crat. He married Jeannette, born in 1832, in Glasgow, Scotland, daughter of Alexander and Mary Thornton, who emigrated to the United States about 1810. Mr. Thornton purchased a farm near Sharon, between that place and Sharpsburg. Six acres of this land he subsequently sold at a good price to the old Sharpsburg furnaces, and some time later sold the remainder of the farm for twenty-eight thousand dollars to Strawbridge & Trout, who desired it for speculative purposes. He then purchased for eighteen thousand dollars a farin of two hundred and four acres situated back of Sharpsburg, this land being still in the possession of his heirs. He died on this farm about 1888, aged
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eighty-for years. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Davis consisted of the follow- ing children : Alexander, mine superintendent at Wadsworth, Ohio; Anna, wife of Manna Joy, of Akron, Ohio ; Philip H., mentioned hereafter ; Mary, wife of William Wilson, of Sharon, Pennsylvania ; Charles, policeman at Massillon, Ohio ; Margaret, at home. The death of Mr. Davis, the father, which occurred February 13, 1904, was the result of an accident. Within three hundred yards of his home he was struck by a train of the Pittsburg & Fort Wayne Railroad. His widow resides in Massillon, Ohio.
Philip H. Davis, son of John B. and Jeannette (Thornton) Davis, was born March 22, 1858, in Trumbull county, Ohio, where he received his educa, tion in the common schools. In his eighth year he went into the mines as trapper boy under his father, who was at that time mine foreman. For twenty- three years thereafter Philip H. Davis was connected with mining. In 1880 he went to Scott Haven, and one year later to Sutersville, where in 1892 he was given a license for a hotel which he conducted until 1897, when he sold the business and removed to Mckeesport. After three years' residence there he re- turned to Sutersville and purchased his old hotel, the Harrison House, of which he is now the successful proprietor. He is a member of Mckeesport Lodge, No. 136, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Lodge of Heptasophs, also of Mckeesport, and Sutersville Lodge, No. 405, Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Davis married in 1879, Mary Elizabeth Harrison, of Sharon, and six of their seven children are now living: Harry, storekeeper of the light plant of the National Tube Works, Mckeesport ; Frederick, employed in the machine shops of the National Tube Works ; Margaret, at home ; Philip, at home : Minta, at home ; and Lillian, at home.
JAMES W. HOPKINSON. The paternal great-grandfather of James W. Hopkinson, of Sutcrsville, was William Hopkinson, a man of wealth and influence in Derbyshire, England, where he was the proprietor of an inn and the owner of extensive farm lands. His son, also William Hopkinson, was a native of Derbyshire, and married Ann Bracknell, born in Nottingham- shire, which was also the birthplace of their son, James Hopkinson, in 1826. He was reared on the farm and educated in the public schools, afterward tak- ing up the study of veterinry surgery and becoming one of the best known veterinarians in that part of England, having charge of many of the royal stables. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was for many years an active worker and officer in the Plymouth Methodist Epis- copal church. James Hopkinson married Ann H., born in 1827, daughter of John and Ann Horsepool, of Calverton, Nottinghamshire, where the former was a prosperous manufacturing confectioner. He and his wife were the pa- rents of two sons, John and Thomas, who were in the marine service of the British army. The deaths of both were the result of wounds, and their bravery met with recognition from the government. John is buried at Bengal, and Thomas in the Ascension Islands, Africa. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hopkinson six survive: John T., of Gratztown; Sarah, of Notting- hamshire, England ; James W., mentioned hereafter; William, of Gratztown ; Thomas, of Nottinghamshire; and Samuel, associated in business with James WV. Mrs. Hopkinson, the mother, only surviving member of her family, re- sides in Hucknall Toakard, Nottinghamshire. The death of the father oc- curred in 1898.
James W. Hopkinson, son of James and Ann H. ( Horsepool) Hopkinson. was born April 16, 1863, in Calverton, Nottinghamshire, and received his edu-
almon R. Young
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cation in the common schools and at boarding schools. His father wished him to go to college, but the youth himself was not inclined to it, and having begun work in the brickyards learned the arts of making and burnring bricks. At the age of nineteen he went to work in the mines, where one year later he success- fully engaged in contracting. In 1887 he emigrated to the United States, land- ing on June 6 in Philadelphia, whence he proceeded to Gratztown, where he became a contractor for the Penn Gas Coal Company. He gained the good will of the workingmen, became a power in the coal mines union and for years was state delegate for the mines. He was one of the first members of the Widows' and Orphans' relief committee of the Mines Union of Great Britain. His in- fluence with the miners caused him to be laid off by the coal operators, and in 1893 he became manager of the store at Blackburn owned by Thomas A. Sprague, of Pittsburg. For two years he retained this position, and in 1895 engaged in business for himself in Sutersville. In 1900 he opened the Brown Hotel, which he has since successfully conducted. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Mystic Chain, and the Sons of St. George, supports and advo- cates the principles and candidates endorsed by the Democratic party, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Hopkinson married, July 28, 1890, Mary, daughter of George Leah, of Gratztown, now of Greensburg, and five children have been born to them, three of whom are living: James, Amy Ruth, and Ann H.
ALMON R. YOUNG, of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, was born January 31, 1855, in Mercer county, near Mercer, Pennsylvania, the son of Lewis C. and Margaret (Glendening) Young.
Mr. Young's education was acquired chiefly in the public schools of his native town, and at the age of fifteen years he left the school room to learn the carpenter's trade with James A. Campbell, with whom he worked for sev- eral years, thus acquiring a good general knowledge of the business and prac- tical experience that would be of value to him in later years. He subsequently purchased an interest in a planing mill, which he followed until 1891. He then came to Greensburg, in the fall of 1888, and here worked at carpentering for two years, and during the succeeding two years the real estate business occu- pied the most of his attention, Mr. Young being engaged in this business with Amos Steck. For the next three years his time was occupied in selling building supplies on the road. At about this time a good opening presented itself for starting a first-class laundry in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and Mr. Young, tak- ing advantage of this opportunity, in 1897. opened what was known as the Westmoreland Steam Laundry, now the Keystone, in which he was eminently successful. In 1901 he removed his business to Latrobe, Pennsylvania, there starting the Latrobe Steam Laundry, and three years later his son-in-law be- came a member of the company. Previous to January, 1901, the date that Mr. Young removed his business to Latrobe, the history of the laundry business in that town was one of failure and discouragement, and the prejudice that had been established against the former laundries of that place, occasioned presum- ably by poor management, was of such a nature as seemed almost impossible to overcome. Almon R. Young purchased the entire plant, including the building, and set himself to the task of improving and entirely reconstructing the old place. It was equipped with the newest and best machinery, and the business started. The result was what Mr. Young expected, success. His business increased to such an extent that new appliances and more machinery were in order, and the four people whose names appeared on the pay roll at the
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beginning of the business have been increased to thirty, and the one delivery wagon which was used has been supplemented by four. Among the interest- ing machines now in use at the Latrobe Steam Laundry are the dampeners, folders, and the steam collar and cuff ironers. The greatest care is exercised in handling every article, and this is one of the great secrets of the laundry's success. Mr. Young's business is certainly one of the most flourishing indus- tries of Latrobe, and an example of what patience, perseverance, energy and honest work can do in the way of overcoming obstacles and building up a suc- cessful business. All told, the Latrobe Steam Laundry is a model in equip- ment and production, and the proprietors, Mr. Almon R. Young and Mr. Harry Brindle are certainly to be congratulated on their well-deserved success.
Mr. Young married Margaret J. Madden, daughter of Charles and Mary J. (Shivley ) Madden, and their children were: Minnie Madge, born July 3, 1879; Cecil Mary, August 2, 1881, married Harry Brindle, November 2, 1903, who is a partner in business with her father ; Alice L., April 30, 1887 ; and Maragret E., December 18, 1892.
MORRISON R. MOORE, whose residence in Mckeesport is among the most modern and substantial in that thriving town, is a son of Thomas and Mary Jane Moore, and his birth occurred in Sewickley township, Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1847.
The common schools in the vicinity of his home afforded Morrison R. Moore the means of obtaining a practical education which thoroughly qualified him for a life of activity and usefulness. After laying aside his books, at the age of seventeen years, he assumed charge of his father's coal yard, managing the same successfully for one year. He then returned to the homestead farm, whereon he labored for a period of time, and for one year thereafter took charge of a set of books for his father, who was conducting a business in Pittsburg. From there he moved to Buffalo in order to take charge of his father's dis- tillery, and after serving five years there assumed the management of a dis- tillery and mines at Scotthaven where he remained five and one-half years. He then located in Mckeesport and erected the "Old Possum Hollow" distillery, which he conducted successfully until 1889. He built the Unity Pure Rye Whisky distillery near the town of Latrobe, in August, 1900, and has since continued the management of the same.
Mr. Moore married, in 1869, Sarah Webb, daughter of Joseph and Eliza- beth (Skaat) Webb, and they are the parents of four children, all of whom reside at home : 1. Odessa, born March 28, 1871, graduate of the Mckeesport high school, also of the State Normal at Buffalo, New York, for the past fourteen years has taught in the Mckeesport schools. 2. Grace Emma, born August 9, 1875, graduate of Mckeesport high school and Indiana State Nor- mal, Indiana, Pa., now a grade teacher in Mckeesport school, having taught there for the past eight years. 3. Morrison B., born October 3, 1877, graduate of Mckeesport high school, and of LaFayette College, was one of the four honor men of his class ; is a mining engineer, now in charge of concrete founda- tion construction work of Republic Steel works, Pittsburg. He married Nora Reed in August, 1903, and they have one child, Morrrison B., Jr. 4. Helen Lottie, born November 17, 1881, a graduate of Mckeesport high school.
FRANK SEUBERT, a leading business man of Latrobe, who bears a most desirable reputation for honest, straightforward dealing at all times and
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with every one, was born in the town in which he now resides, January 29. 1854. a son of Jolin A. and Catherine ( Buttner ) Seubert.
John A. Seubert ( father), a native of Germany, came to this country in 1848, acompanied by his wife, Catherine (Buttner) Seubert, also a native of Germany, and settled in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The following two years he was employed at his trade of tailoring, after which he removed to West- moreland county, on the pike, and tailored for the students at St. Vincent's College for two years. He then took up his residence in Latrobe, purchasing a lot at the first public sale in that town, erecting thereon a house, and here he worked at his trade up to 1885, thereby gaining a comfortable livelihood. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Seubert : Elizabeth A., deceased ; Frank, mentioned hereafter ; John A., resides in Denver and is there engaged in the cement roofing business ; and William T., deceased. John A. Seubert ( father) died December 5. 1895 : he survived his wife many years, her death occurring at her home in Latrobe, June 2, 1882.
The educational advantages enjoyed by Frank Seubert were obtained at the high school of Latrobe, where he completed his studies at the age of four- teen years. He began his active career by securing work in the brick yard of his native town, but at the end of five years he abandoned this in order to learn the trade of shoemaker with Samuel Gerry, with whom he remained two years. Subsequently he learned the trade of painter, working at the same during the summer months for five years, and during the winter at his former trade of shoemaker. At the expiration of this period of time he engaged in the paint- ing business on his own account, and by earnest effort and conscientious work has won a large degree of success. He is still engaged in the painting business, also conducts a large store at No. 309 Weldon street, and makes a specialty of wall paper, mixed paints and painters' supplies. He also has been a dealer in wall paper for thirteen years. He married, January 29, 1885, Mary Hessler, who was born November 3. 1866, a daughter of Philip and Catherine Hessler. Their children are : Catherine S., born November 2, 1886; Estelle G., born Oc- tober 15, 1888; Francis P., born January 8, 1891 : George A., born Novem- ber 27. 1895: James A., born December 18, 1899: and Mary M., born De- cember 22, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Seubert and family are members of the Roman Catholic faith, and in political affairs he is an Independent. He is a member of the C. M. B. A., of Latrobe ; Holy family branch No. 104, and the I. C. B. U., also of Latrobe.
JOHN GILLIGAN, a representative business man of West Latrobe, achieving success by means of honorable transactions, was born May 2, 1856. in Kenton county, Kentucky, whither his parents-John and Anna (Morley) Gilligan-came to upon their arrival from Galway, county of Conart, Ireland, in 1849 and 1851, respectively.
The common schools in the vicinity of his birthplace afforded John Gilli- gan the opportunity of obtaining a good English education, and upon laying aside his books at the age of fifteen years he was apprenticed to the Pittsburg Locomotive works to learn the trade of machinist, he serving a period of four years. He then secured employment with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, with whom he remained fifteen years. In 1890 he established the West Latrobe Foundry and Machine Company, founders, machinists, boiler- makers and blacksmiths, machinery and supplies, heating and ventilating en- gineers, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and has continued the same up to the present time (1906). He has been a resident of Latrobe for more than fifteen years,
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and is universally respected throughout the community. He is a member of the K. of C., B. P. O. E., Lodge No. 907, of Latrobe, Pennsylvania. He is a Democrat. Mr. Gilligan married, September 14, 1878, Anna M. Soisson, born in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, August 12, 1855, a daughter of Joseph and Caroline (Filcer) Soisson. Their children are: Thurston A., born June 10, 1880; William Lewis, December 27, 1881 ; John J., May 4, 1884; Charles L., July 3, 1886; Raymond B., June 24, 1889; Emil B., September 10, 1891; Mary J., September 10, 1893 ; and Soisson L., December 2, 1899. Mr. Gilligan and his family are members of the Catholic church.
JOSEPH W. McMASTER, an enterprising citizen and a progressive business man of Latrobe, was born November 1, 1864, in Ligonier valley, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, a son of Samuel C. and Jane (Douglas) McMaster.
Joseph W. McMaster received his education at the common schools of the neighborhood, which he attended until he was seventeen years of age, after which he worked on a farm for a short period of time. He then turned his attention to railroading, which line of work he pursued for a time, but being desirous of seeing something of his native country outside of the environment of his home he went out west, locating in the state of Dakota, where he re- mained until 1899, in which year he returned to his native state and took up his residence in Latrobe. He at once established a livery business, which pros- pered greatly under his management, and September 27, 1902, he opened an- other livery establishment on Railroad street, where he is conducting business at the present time (1905). His place of business is neat, attractive, commo- dious in its arrangement, and well stocked with horses and vehicles suitable for all occasions. Mr. McMaster married, June 26, 1896, Elizabeth Peth, born in the village of New Germany, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Erwin and Rose ( Kerre) Peth, and three children were born of this union : Rose, Joseph and Catherine McMaster.
HENRY LANGE. The father of Henry Lange, of Webster, was George Lange, born in 1826, in Wurtemberg, Germany, where he learned the wagonmaker's trade. At the age of sixteen he went to Switzerland and there remained five years. At twenty-one years he returned to Wurtemberg to stand his chance of being drafted for military service, but was not drawn, and immediately emigrated to the United States. For some years he worked at his trade on Pine creek, near Pittsburg, and then moved to Belle Vernon where he was employed by Christian Amalong. A year later he bought out his em- ployer and continued in the wagonmaking industry until 1850, when he en- gaged in the livery business, maintaining his connection with it during the remainder of his life. He was an active member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. George Lange married Emily Mccrary, and their family consisted of six children, all of whom, with the exception of one, are now living : Henry, mentioned hereafter; Clara, of Belle Vernon ; Regina, wife of Samuel Du-' gan, of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania : Josephine, of Belle Vernon ; and Wilson, also of Belle Vernon. The death of Mr. Lange occurred February 1, 1885.
Henry Lange, son of George and Emily (McCrary) Lange. was born March 8, 1850, in Belle Vernon, and was educated in the public schools of his native town. On reaching his majority he purchased a team and contracted with the Merchants' Glass Company to deliver their coal. For more than eight years he continued to do this, and in 1880 sold his teaming business. He
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then entered into partnership with Dr. A. C. Streeter, and for some ten years they prospered as a drug firm. Mr. Lange then purchased his partner's inter- est and established his son, W. H. Lange, in the business. The same year Mr. Lange bought of Frost & Carnes the old Webster Hotel, one of the land- marks of the borough, and as the proprietor of this hostelry has been very suc- cessful. He is liberal in his political views.
Mr. Lange married Frances Billitter, of Portage county, Ohio, and of their twelve children nine survive: Wooda H., druggist, of Belle Vernon ; George, in ice business at Belle Vernon ; Bessie, wife of Samuel Spears, of Webster ; Edna, wife of Bert Ammon, of Webster : Fannie B., Catharine F., Grace, Jessie, and Francis ; all of whom are at home. All these children have been given the advantages of a superior education and have finished at the head of their classes. Among them are three especially gifted in music. Bessie is an accomplished pianist, Fannie B. is equally gifted on the violin, and the attainments of Catharine F., who is now but sixteen, are considered remark- able. The eldest son, Wooda H., is a thirty-second degree Mason.
DR. WALTER H. COWAN, a prosperous and progressive general practitioner of Webster, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, is held in high esteem in the town where he resides. He was born in Allegheny, Pennsylva- nia, May 30, 1868, and is of Scotch-Irish parentage. His early education was received in the public schools of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, after which he attended the West Pennsylvania Medical College, from which he graduated in June. 1898. He was the resident physician at St. John's General Hospital, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, during 1898-99. He established himself at Webster, Pennsylvania, in 1901. At present (1906) he is surgeon for Pittsburg & Lake Erie Railroad. Dr. Cowan is a member of Henry M. Phillips Lodge, No. 326, Free and Accepted Masons, of Monongahela City, Pennsylvania, member of the Monongahela Chapter, No. 249, R. A. M., and member of the A. O. U. W. In politics Dr. Cowan is a Republican, and takes a most profound interest in the well being of his party. He displays a remarkable aptitude in his profes- sion and is socially a very popular man. He is also a member of the Rostraver school board. Dr. Cowan married in 1901, Jane Morrison, daughter of Col- onel Hugh Morrison.
JOHN RANKIN. The father of John Rankin, of Rostraver town- ship, was Robert Rankin, who was born in 1802, in county Donegal, Ireland. where he was reared on a farm and became a road contractor. In 1839 he came to the United States, settling in Elizabeth township, Allegheny county. Pennsylvania, on a farm which had been bequeathed to him by a cousin who had preceded him to this country and had acquired seven hundred acres of land. Mr. Rankin made this farm his home during the remainder of his life. He affiliated with the Whigs, and was a member of the Presbyterian church. He married Margaret Culbert, and of the ten children born to them only two are now living: John, mentioned hereafter ; and Eliza, wife of John K. Graham, of Elizabeth township, Allegheny county. The death of Mr. Rankin occurred in 1854. and his widow survived him twenty-five years. passing away in 1879.
John Rankin, son of Robert and Margaret Rankin. was born Octo- ber 21, 1821, in county Donegal, Ireland, and was in his eighteenth year when he accompanied his parents to the United States. his education having been acquired in the common and select schools of his native country. About
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eighteen months after coming to this country he left home and apprenticed himself to learn the tanner's trade in Elizabeth township. Two years later he went to Connellsville, where he worked at his trade about four months and then moved to Fayette county. He remained there but three months, being compelled at the end of that time to return home in consequence of an injury. Later he went to West Newton and worked for about fifteen months in the tanneries, and was then again forced to go home by reason of illness. His first employer, Major John Rankin, hearing of this went to him and persuaded him to re-enter his service, although in the then state of his health he was una- ble to do the usual amount of work. On the death of Major Rankin, about seven months later, one-third of the farm on which the tannery stood was bequeathed to Mr. Rankin, who purchased the remaining two-thirds and re- sided there until 1866, when he sold the property and bought his present farm in Rostraver township, where he has since lived. The high esteem in which Mr. Rankin is held by his neighbors is attested by the fact that he has on several occasions-no fewer than nine-been given power of attorney to act as executor and administrator of estates. He has served twelve years as township auditor, and for many years was treasurer of the school board. He belongs to the Republican party, and is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Rankin married in 1847. Eliza J. Kelly, and eight of their nine children survive : Margaret C., wife of Elliott Cunningham, of Rostraver township ; Mary E., married Albert Cunningham, of Missouri ; Martha j., wie of Joseph Smith, of Rostraver township; Robert A., registrar of wills of Westmoreland county ; Eliza A., at home ; John C., at home ; William J., lives in Rostraver township ; and Sally B., wife of John Rader, of Allegheny county, Penn- sylvania.
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