USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 52
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WILLIAM J. TODD. One of the thriving business men of Scott- dale is William J. Todd, who was born October 26, 1852, in county Down, Ireland, and emigrated to the United States in 1872.
He settled for a short time in Pittsburg, and in the autumn of 1873 went to Scottdale where he entered the service of the Charlotte Furnace Company with whom he remained two years. He was then employed for six months at th Lamont furnace, after which he returned to Scottdale and worked steadily at the furnace for eight or nine years. His next enterprise was the purchase of the confectionery and fruit business which was carried on by his father-in-law in Scottdale. This business he conducted for two years, and at the end of that time sold out and took the position of manager in the general store of J. B. Lott and Company, a position which he retained for eight years. He was next employed for nearly ten years by the Adams Express Company, and then en- gaged in the local express business for himself, conducting the business for three years. He went into the grocery business April 18, 1899, which he has since carried on successfully, having built up a flourishing trade. He belongs to the K. P., affiliating with Lodge No. 443, and is a member of the United, Pres- byterian church, in which for eighteen years he served as treasurer and trustee. Mr. Todd married Sarah, daughter of Robert and Jane ( Burk) McAvoy, and their children were: Mary J., born May 10, 1877, married Jacob Ludy, of
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Connellsville, Pa .; Anna Bell, born June 13, 1880, died December 8, 1888; Walter L., born March 7, 1882, died July 7, 1892; William James, born June 26, 1886, died March 5, 1887; Margaret May, born February 4, 1888; Robert, born January 27, 1890, and died May 28, 1893 ; and George William, born May 28, 1893.
GEORGE PARFITT. Few men in Westmoreland county enjoy greater popularity than has fallen to the lot of George Parfitt, of Mount Pleas- ant, who belongs to a family of fourteen children born to John and Jane ( Sil- cox) Parfitt. John Parfitt, a native of England, was a miner by occupation. He was an active and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he was a local preacher. His wife was Jane Silcox, and of their four- teen children the following reached maturity : Anna, died in England ; Thomas, a coal-miner at Irwin ; Grace, who lives in England and is the wife of Matthew Brooks; John, who was a coal-miner and died December 16, 1902, in Duquesne,. Allegheny county ; Elizabeth, wife of John Webb, of Herminie, Pennsylvania ; George, mentioned hereafter ; and James, engaged in the real estate and insur- ance business at Youngstown, Ohio. All these children, as well as those who died in infancy, were born in England. In 1872 Mr. and Mrs. Parfitt, by the aid of their son George, emigrated to the United States, and settled at Irwin, Westmoreland county, where for the remainder of his life Mr. Parfitt worked as a coal miner. His wife died in 1884, and he passed away in 1887.
George Parfitt, son of John and Jane (Silcox) Parfitt, was born in Som- ersetshire, England, and in May, 1866, came to the United States, taking up his abode at Irwin, where he was employed in the coal mines. Very soon after his arrival in this country he sent for his brothers, John and James, and later for his father and mother. He worked in the mines at Irwin until May, 1882, and then went to Barn Hill, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, to assume the position of su- perintendent of mines for the Tuscarawas Coal Company. After filling this po- sition seven months he went to Coshocton, Ohio, as developing miner for John Casingham & Company. There he remained until 1883, when he removed to Guffies' Station and in that place engaged in coal mining until October 27, 1886. He then moved to Mount Pleasant, where he mined coal for the Illi- nois Steel Company, later the Southwest Coal and Coke Company, remaining with them until 1889. At this period of his life he entered upon a new field of endeavor, namely, that of commerce. Purchasing of W. B. Neel a lot of Quary street, he there erected a store house and engaged in mercantile busi- ness. He was the first settler in that part of East Huntingdon township, and it was in honor of him that the place was named Parfittown. In 1891 he entered the service of the H. C. Frick Southwest Coal and Coke Company, with whom he remained until April 17, 1897, in the capacity of night watchman, when he became the proprietor of the Hotel Parfitt, which he has since successfully con- ducted, placing it by his admirable management among the leading hotels of the township. In 1877 he served as constable of North Huntingdon township. He is a member of the Elks Lodge No. 868, of Mount Pleasant, and in politics affiliates with the Democrats.
Mr. Parfitt married Agnes C., daughter of John and Ann McIntyre, and they had children : John, born July 17, 1867 : Ann, died in infancy : W. George, born September 22, 1870, is a locomotive engineer on the Baltimore & Ohio. Railroad, and married Mary Coruthers; Alexander, born September 1, 1872, is a stationary engineer in Colorado, and married Agnes Kiddy: Jane Ann, born February 15, 1875, died August 27, 1880; Agnes, born July 8, 1877, wife-
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of Harry I. Queer : Martha, born February 13. 1879, wife of G. W. Meredith, . of Mount Pleasant ; Robert, born April 2, 1881, married J. Wilson, and lives at Mount Pleasant : Arthur Lock, born September 30, 1882, married Antoine Benedict ; Benjamin F., born March 24, 1884, married Maud Spence, and is a resident of Mount Pleasant ; Thomas, born January 1, 1886; Webb, born Oc- tober 23, 1887; Grace, born October 22, 1889: and Jessie May, born May 7, 1891.
HENRY C. PORTER. Among the enterprising and prosperous citi- zens of Scottdale must be numbered Henry C. Porter. He is a grandson of Moses Porter, who was born in Fayette county where he spent his entire life as a farmer. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife was Emma Louwade, and their children were: : Kenn, deceased ; Lindley, a physician in Oregon: Samuel, deceased; George, a farmer in Westmore- land county ; Elias C., also a farmer in the same county ; James D., of whom later : Rebecca, married John Kieser ; and Lydia.
James D. Porter, son of Moses and Emma ( Louwade) Porter, was born in 1835, in Fayette county, and has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits in or near his native county, where he now lives. He is a member of the United Baptist church. He married Lizzie Williams and their children are: Thomas W., a grocer of Scottdale ; Moses B., engaged in the same business in the same place ; Emma, married M. F. Stoner, of Scottdale: Margaret, married Harsh . Ohns: Alice, married M. B. Gault : George W., a resident of Scottdale ; G. Ellis, a druggist in California ; and Henry C., of whom later. After the death · of his wife Mr. Porter married Lizzie Ohns, and their children were: Gertrude, married William Dull ; Nellie, married Amner Gault : Winnie, married William Johnson : Mamie, at home ; Olive, at home ; Alexander, at home.
Henry C. Porter, son of James D. and Lizzie (Williams) Porter, was born September 9, 1870, in Fayette county, where he was educated in the common schools, and until attaining his majority remained on the homestead assist- ing his father. He then worked for a time on the neighboring farms, and also acted as clerk in his brother's grocery. He purchased the milk route of W. H. McBeth, in Scottdale, in 1899, and has ever since continued the business which he has made very successful, the output being about forty gallons daily. He belongs to the Iroquois, of Collinsville, and the A. O. U. W., Lodge No. 286, of Scottdale, in which latter organization he has passed all chairs. He also be- longs to the American Insurance Union, Chapter No. 114. He and his family are members of the Reformed church. Mr. Porter married Clara Mabel, daughter of W. H. and Wilty McBeth, and their children were: M. Grace; . Clyde; Irene ; William ; and Fay, who died in childhood.
EDWARD L. DIIRSTEIN. No one among the German-American citizens of Scottdale is more deservedly popular than Edward L. Diirstein. His father, Lewis Diirstein, was born in Germany, and about 1845 or 1850 emi- grated to the United States. He settled in Allegheny county, where for many years he led the life of a farmer, and then, having been seized with the "gold fever," started with some other fortuneseekers for California. He walked about eleven hundred miles of the distance, but failed to realize his expectations and returned to the farm which he continued to cultivate during the remainder of his life. He was a member of the Roman Catholic church. His wife was Eliza- beth Ober, also a native of Germany, and their children were: Jacob, a farmer in Allegheny county : Louis, deceased; Edward L., mentioned hereafter ; Lena,
Louise y Hiszem Dethissem
NEW YORK PUBLIC LEBARY xl Tilden
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
wife of John Berner, of Illinois; Elizabeth, married Leonard Martine, of Pitts- burg; Matilda, deceased; and Mary, who lives in Denver, Colorado. Mr. Diirstein, the father of the family, died April, 1875.
Edward L. Diirstein, son of Lewis and Elizabeth ( Ober) Diirstein, was born September 16, 1877, in Allegheny county, and was educated in the com- mon schools. At the age of sixteen he went to learn the trade of baker with the Glenwood Baking Company, of Pittsburg, with whom he remained nine years. After working ten or twelve years as a journeyman, he purchased, February 16, 1902, the bakery and confectionery of L. J. Colier, of Scottdale. His success may be inferred from the fact that in 1903 he built and equipped the largest bakery in Scottdale, situated on South Broadway. There he con- ducts in connection with the bakery a general ice cream and confectionery buis- iness, his establishment being extensively patronized. He is a member of St. John' Roman Catholic Church, of Scottdale. Mr. Diirstein married Mary, daughter of Robert and Margaret Findlay, of Tyrone townhip.
REUBEN K. HISSEM. Among the progressive and influential citi- zens of Mount Pleasant, few have had a wider sphere of usefulness than Reu- ben K. Hissem, who was born in Hempfield townhip, June 30, 1842. He is a descendant in direct line from Thomas Hissem, a native of Westmoreland county, Pennylvania, where he was reared, educated, and followed the quiet but useful occupation of farming throughout the active years of his career. (I) Abner Hissem, eldest son of Thomas Hissem, was born in Hempfield township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He spent his entire life in the vicinity of his birthplace, giving his attention to farming and distilling. In religious faith he was a member of the Presbyterian church. He married, in 1804, Mary Walker, and had children: 1. Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Fox; 2. Jane, wife of Joshua Evans; 3. Samuel, a farmer by occupation, of whom later ; 4. Ruth, wife of Jonas Ruff : 5. Mary, wife of Frederick Spielman ; 6. William, married Mary Poter ; 7. Abner, married Catherine Ziglar ; 8. Anna, wife of David Kintigh ; 9. Thomas, married Sarah Klingsmith ; 10. Jesse, mar- ried Catherine Howenstein ; II. Emily, died at the age of four years.
(II) Samuel Hissem, third child and eldest son of Abner (I) and Mary (Walker) Hissem, was born July 4, 1811, in Hempfield township, Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania. Upon attaining the age when he should take up the practical duties of life for himself, he directed his attention to farming and distilling, abandoning the latter after several years, but continuing the former up to the time of his death which occurred January 30, 1882. He was a member of the Middle Presbyterian church for more than half a century, and a ruling elder of the same for eleven years. He was a staunch Republican in politics. Samuel Hissem married Elizabeth Kintigh, daughter of Adam and Sarah Kintigh, of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and their children are : 1. Sarah J., wife of J. A. Stevenson, of Mount Pleasant. 2. Reuben K., of whom later. 3. Mary MI., wife of Dr. R. E. Fulton of Mount Pleasant
(III) Reuben K. Hissem, second child and only son of Samuel (2) and Elizabeth ( Kentigh) Hissem, was educated in the common schools of his na- tive township and at Mount Pleasant Institute. He assisted his father in the cultivation and management of the homestead farm until he was twenty-one years of age, when he assumed entire charge of the same, continuing along those lines until 1894, in which year he leased the property and since then has directed nis energies into various other channels. He was one of the prime movers in the organization of the Farmers and Merchants National Bank of
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Mount Pleasant, in 1893, was elected its first president, and has served in that capacity up to the present time ( 1900). He is a member of the directorate of the Savings and Trust Company of Scottdale, First National Bank of Jean- nette, Jeannette Savings and Trust Company, and the Greensburg Finance Company, discharging his duties in these different positions with efficiency and credit. He was a prominent factor in what is known as the old rolling mill, and was a director of the same until it was merged into the present syndicate. He is a public spirited, patriotic citizen, takes great pride and pleasure in the advancement and growth of his town and community, and has assisted mate- rially in the prosperity of various industrial enterprises. He is a Republican in politics, and exercises a potent influence in behalf of the party whose principles he advocates. For six consecutive years he served as school director. He be- longs to the Middle Presbyterian church, and has been a ruling elder in that institution for almost a quarter of a century.
Reuben K. Hissem married, November 15, 1871, Louise J. Andrews, daughter of John and Hannah ( Carnahan) Andrews, representatives of an old and highly respected family. She was reared in a home of plenty and chris- tion culture, attended the United Presbyterian church, but on her marriage joined the Mount Pleasant Middle Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. His- sem is the senior elder. In her religious life she was active and consistent ; her presence was seldom missed from the regular service, and her help was much appreciated in all that pertained to God's kingdom. To her a christian profes- sion meant a christian life-devoted, kind, cheerful. She died at her home near Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, October 21, 1904, aged sixty-two years. The funeral services were in charge of her pastor, Rev. G. C. Fisher, of the Middle churches, who was assisted by Rev. Howard Wilson, of the United Presbyterian church, and Rev. W. H. Tussing, of the Reformed church of Mount Pleasant. The remains were interred in the Middle Church cemetery. Her life was sweet and beautiful; her death a triumph, opening the door to a glorious immortality. She lies asleep near the church she loved and almost in sight of the home where she spent her youth, and of the home her presence as a wife and mother made so happy, and her absence leaves a great vacancy in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hissem : I. Elizabeth F., wife of Frank D. Barnhart, of Mount Pleasant ; 2. Pearl A., wife of Dr. N. F. Silsly, of Scottdale, Pa .; 3. Mary Olive, wife of Rev. T. A. Gibson, of Bergetstown, Washington county ; and 4. Ada M., a graduate of Washington Seminary, who resides at home with her father
DENNIS E. DE HAVEN. No more popular man than Dennis E. De Haven can be found within the limits of Scottdale. He is a great-grandson of Daniel De Haven, who came from Holland to the United States, and settled near Valley Forge, where he engaged in farming. His wife was Betsey Smith. William S. De Haven, only child of Daniel and Betsey (Smith) De Haven, was born in 1804 near Harrisburg, and all his life followed the carpenter's trade. He was a member of the German Lutheran church. He married Elinor Harding, and their children were: Jessey; Dennis, of whom later; George; Louise : Catharine ; and Mary.
Dennis DeHaven, son of William S. and Elinor (Harding) De Haven, was born about 1835 or 1836, in Wellersburg, Somerset county, and in early life was a carpenter and plasterer. This calling he abandoned in 1861, when he enlisted in Company D, Second Regiment, Maryland Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. He married Sarah C. Johnson, and their children
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
were: Mary Ellen, died in childhood; John H .; Dennis E., of whom later; Ida May, married Wesley W. Grove; and Alice, died in childhood. Ilaving survived the hardships and perils of the war and received an honorable dis- charge in 1865, Mr. De Haven was on his way home to his family when he was unfortunately killed by an accident which befell him at Little Capeon, Maryland.
Dennis E. De Haven, son of Dennis and Sarah C. (Johnson) De Haven, was born January 2, 1861, in Wallersburg, Somerset county, and in boyhood attended the common schools. When about sixteen or seventeen he began working in the coal mines, and continued to do so for seventeen years. He moved to Scottdale, in 1895, and took a position with Mr. Wible, a contractor, who was building the Frick car shops, afterward becoming manager of the pool and billiard parlor presided over by his brother. At the end of a year lie opened a restaurant which he has conducted with great success ever since, having an extensive patronage. He is a member of the Maccabees, of Scott- dale. Mr. De Haven married Caroline Hudson, and their children were : Charles T .; Viola ; Mildred; Ethel ; May ; Ida ; Hazel ; and Maric.
JOHN C. GEYER. The family of which John C. Geyer, of Scott- dale, is a worthy representative, was founded in the province of Pennsylvania some time between the close of the French and Indian war and the opening of the Revolutionary war. The pioneer ancestor, who was a native of Germany, served as a soldier under General Washington, and after the cessation of hos- tilities settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Coonrod Geyer (grandfather), son of the immigrant ancestor, was born in the city of Philadelphia, from which he migrated in early life to Berks, and later to Bedford county, Pennsylvania. He followed teaming as a means of livelihood, his route being between Cumberland, Maryland, and Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia), on the national road or old pike. A heavily loaded wagon passed over his foot and from the effects of the injury thus received he died at his home in Bedford county, in the sixty-fourth year of his age.
Henry G. Geyer (father), son of Coonrod Geyer, was born at Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania, May 4, 1833. At an early age he came with his parents to Bedford county, same state, where he was reared to manhood on a farm, in the meantime attending the common school, and assisting with the varied duties of the homestead farm. He removed to Scottdale in 1873, and there engaged in hotel keeping, in which line of business he achieved a large degree of success. In 1882 he erected a large frame hotel, now known as the "Geyer House" and successfully conducted it until his death. December II, 1884. He was the first landlord at Scottdale to obtain license after the passage of the local option law. Scottdale had only been laid out as a town shortly before Mr. Geyer took up his residence there, and had his life been spared a few years longer he would have been an important factor in its growth and development, as he was a man of enterprise and energy, good business quali- fications, and executive ability. For more than twenty-one years he was a member of the German Reformed church, during which time he frequently served as an officer. Mr. Geyer married, January 2, 1863. Catherine Redinger. who was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, 1841, and the issue of this union was seven children, four sons and three daughters. Mrs. Geyer, with the assistance of her sons, is conducting the "Geyer House."
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
John C. Geyer, son of the late Henry G. and Catherine ( Redinger) Geyer, was born in Juniata township, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, November 2, 1863. When ten years of age his parents removed to Scottdale, Westmoreland county, where he attended the common schools for five years. In 1878 he en- tered the Scottdale rolling mill where he learned the trades of rolling and boil- ing, following the same for a period of six years. Since the death of his father, December 11, 1884. he has assisted his mother in the management of the "Geyer House," which is one of the leading hotels in Scottdale. It has a fine location, is modern in all its appointments, the cuisine is excellent, and there- fore it merits the extensive patronage accorded to it by the traveling public. Mr. Geyer was a member of the council of Scottdale in 1891, and during his tenure of office the first paved street in the town was laid. He is now ( 1905) serving his second term as school director of East Huntingdon township. When he was first elected the township was $13,000 in debt, $8,000 of which was paid the first year and the remainder the second year, which was a very cred- itable showing indeed, and testified eloquently to the energy of the men who were responsible for the same. He is a member of Trinity German Reformed church at Scottdale, which was organized July 20, 1873, and contributes lib- erally toward its support and maintenance. He advocates the principles of the Democratic party, and aids with his vote the success of its candidates. He is a member of Scottdale Lodge, No. 885, and White Star Encampment, No. 286, I. O. O. F., Fountain Lodge, No. 443, K. P., and Scottdale Council, No. 192, J. O. U. A. M. He is a past officer in the K. P., and J. O. U. A. M., and twice represented the latter at their state council, once at Harrisburg and once at Erie. He married, January 24, 1884, Laura A. Milliron, daughter of Samuel Milliron, of New Stanton, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. Their children were: Daisy M., Grover Cleveland, John C., died January 13, 1890; George W .. Grant G., Garfield J., Griffith E., Greeley H. and Garner R. Geyer.
ANDREW B. FINDLEY, a representative citizen of Scottdale, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, was born March 16, 1843, the son of Jesse and Mary (Trout) Findley. On the paternal side he is of Scotch-Irish ‹lescent, and on his mother's side is of German descent.
Jesse Findley ( father) was born and reared in Somerset county, Penn- sylvania, and was a shoemaker by trade. In politics he was a staunch Demo- crat. He married Mary Trout, and they had children as follows: George, William, a stone mason of Everson, Pennsylvania ; Jesse C .. died at the age of twenty-eight years ; a child who died in infancy ; Andrew B., mentioned here- after : Isabelle, unmarried : Mary, accidentally killed when twenty years of age ; and John, a farmer of Iowa. Jesse Findley, Sr., died in January, 1850.
Andrew B. Findley obtained a common school education, and was com- pelled to earn his own living at a very early age, being but seven years old at the death of his father. He was engaged in working around among the farm- ers of the section until he was about eighteen years old, when he turned his attention to the trade of carpenter, which he learned with Jacob H. Hays. He was but eight months at this occupation, however, when, in 1863, he enlisted in the Civil war, Company F, One Hundred and Third Pennsylvania Volun- teers, under the command of Captain Thomas. He enlisted for a term of three years, but was discharged on account of disabilities after two years of active service. After six months he re-enlisted and served until the close of the war. After his return to civil life Mr. Findley gave his attention to his trade of car- penter, in which he was occupied for about thirty-five years, being extensively
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engaged in building and contracting. In 1878 he was appointed by Governor Hoyt policeman around the coal and iron works of Scottdale, and served in this capacity for six years. He was then given charge of the carpenter and mill- wright work in the W. H. Everson Company, being thus occupied for twelve years. He was employed as millwright for the Carbon Iron Company of Pittsburg for two years. He then returned to Scottdale, and entered the service of the National pipe and foundry works, being engaged in carpenter work with this firm for seven years. He was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Scottdale for about two years, and in 1900 established a milk route, beginning with the sale of three gallons of milk a day. The business is constantly increas- ing, and he now sends out about eighty-five gallons of milk daily. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and was elected to the council in 1891 to serve for two years. He also served his borough as constable for five years, and was deputy sheriff under John Guffey for two years. He was one of the seven men who were appointed to break up the "Molley McGuire gang" at Irwin, and suc- ceeded in arresting about forty of them. Mr. Findley is the present com- mander of Colonel Elsworth Post, No. 209, G. A. R., of Scottdale. He is a charter member of the R. A., No. 807, of Scottdale, in which he has passed all the chairs. He also holds membership in the J. O. of A. M., No. 102, of Scottdale, having passed all the chairs in this order also. Mr. Findley married ( first) Sarah Gross, daughter of David Gross, who bore him three children : Carrie May, deceased, was the wife of George P. Frey; William K., died at thirty years of age : Minnie, died in childhood. The mother of these children died in 1878, and for his second wife Mr. Findley married Elizabeth Rowe, daughter of Jacob and Hannah Rowe. They had one child who died in infancy.
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