USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 56
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HEAD FAMILY. The first purely American ancestor of the Head family of Latrobe, of which Judge John B. Head and Joseph C. Head are mem- bers, was William B. Head. He was of English parentage, but was born in the northern part of Virginia. From the place of his birth he removed to Frederick county, Maryland, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He served in the Revolutionary war, died in -, and was buried near his home.
His son John was born and brought up a farmer and was united in mar- riage with Sophia Greene, of Maryland. In 1836 he removed from Frederick county. Maryland, to Youngstown. Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and remained there until his death. He and his wife were the parents of eight chil- dren. John Head was a Whig in the early part of the last century, but became a Democrat in the first Jackson campaign. He was horn an Episcopalian, the American form of the Church of England, of which his ancestors were mem- bers, but became a Roman Catholic. He died near Youngstown, in 1838. He and his wife are buried side by side in the Catholic cemetery near Latrobe.
Willian S. Head was the oldest son of John and Sophia Greene Head, and was born on the farm in Maryland, in August, 1823. When thirteen years of age he came to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, as a member of his father's family. He attended the country schools in his youth, and on the death of his
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father began clerking in a store kept by William Anderson, in the then thriving turnpike village of Youngstown. After a few years he formed a partnership with Mr. Anderson, and still later engaged in the mercantile business alone in the same town.
In 1852, when the Pennsylvania Railroad was completed as far west as Pittsburg, the turnpike business was practically abandoned and drawn to the new line of transportation. Mr. Head removed at once to the newly established station of Latrobe, and erected the first house in that now populous town. He also erected warehouses, and was soon extensively engaged in the mercantile business, and continued in it, more or less, for the greater part of his life. In 1873, in company with his brother Joseph, he opened a private bank in Latrobe, and upon the death of his brother in 1875. John B. Head, his son, became his partner in the bank, under the firm name of W. S. Head and Son. In 1888 the bank was chartered as the First National Bank of Latrobe. Mr. Head was made president of the new organization, which position he filled with signal ability till his death.
In 1848 he was united in marriage with Sarah Coulter, who was born in Everett, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1828. She was a daughter of Joseph and Mary ( Wilson ) Coulter, and a granddaughter of Joseph Coulter, the Coul- ters having come from Cumberland county. They were probably of Scotch- Irish ancestry. William S. Head and his wife had ten children born to them, two of whom died in infancy. Eight are yet living. They are: I. Mary, in- termarried with W. A. Johnston, who resides in Latrobe. 2. John B., see sketch. 3. Joseph C., see sketch. 4. William. 5. Richard. 6. Raymond. 7. Harriet. 8. Julia. Harriet and Julia, with most flattering prospects in life before them, relinquished them all for the benefit of others, and in the interests of their church became nuns of the Benedictine and Mercy Orders, respectively.
Like his father, William S. Head was a Democrat in politics and a Roman Catholic in religion. He was most noted for his purely simple Christian char- acter, his high integrity and his clear discernment of all business propositions. His general intelligence and his dignified and honorable bearing in all walks of life made him one of the prominent citizens and at the time of his death he was properly ranked as one of the leading bankers and business men of the county. He died in Latrobe on February 7, 1806. His widow, Mrs. Sarah A. Head, though now nearing four-score years, still survives him and resides in Latrobe.
JOHN B. HEAD was born at Latrobe, April 4, 1855. He attended the parochial schools till he was thirteen years old, when he entered Mt. St. Mary's College, Maryland, from which institution, renowned for its thoroughness, he was graduated in 1873. After graduation he entered his father's banking house, as has been indicated. On May 2. 1877. he was united in marriage with Miss Naomi Jones, a daughter of Morris and Margaret Jones, of La- trobe, but formerly of Pittsburg.
In 1878 he began to read law in the office of A. A. Stewart, Esq., of Greensburg, and was admitted to the Westmoreland bar in August, 1880. Im- mediately on his admission he formed a partnership with the late Hon. H. P. Laird, one of the most erudite members of the bar. On the dissolution of the firm he formed a partnership with Mr. James S. Moorhead. The new firm at once took a leadership in the most important litigation of the county. Though the junior member of the firm, Mr. Head performed successfully his share of its arduous duties. Brilliantly successful in any of the varied branches of the
John 2 Head
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legal profession, he was probably most noted as an advocate. Whether ad- dressing the court below, a jury of his countrymen, or the Appellate courts, he spoke apparently with equal readiness and potency. In the clearness of his statements, in the logical deductions of his arguments, and in the fluency and purity of his diction, he has been surpassed by no lawyer in Western Pennsyl- vania in our day.
In 1905 he was nominated by the Democratic state convention at Harris- burg as a candidate for a position on the superior court bench of the state, and was elected in November following. His work on the bench is almost entirely before him, but it is the concensus of opinion among those who know him as a lawyer, that no member of the Westmoreland bar was better fitted than he by ability, by training and by nature, to fill this high position.
Aside from his professional duties he has found time to delve deeply into history, poetry, and philosophy, and into the higher grades of fiction ; and his accomplishments in these fields are manifest in the literary polish and classic beauty of even his extemporaneous public speech.
JOSEPH C. HEAD. Few men of his years in Western Pennsylvania have achieved as much success in the financial world as Joseph C. Head, a na- tive of Latrobe. He was educated in the parochial schools, and was graduated from Saint Vincent's College in the class of 1878. When his brother, Judge Head, began to read law, he took the position of cashier in his father's bank, though he had not reached his majority by several years. This position he held until 1888, when the banking house of W. S. Head & Son and the Citizens' Banking Company consolidated, forming the First National Bank of Latrobe, of which institution he was elected cashier. This bank has been wonderfully successful, and much of its success is due to his management. It has a capital ·of $100,000, surplus profits of $125,000, deposits of over $1,000,000, and has paid in dividends to its stockholders over $300,000. He is now the chief man- ager of the institution. He has otherwise branched out into business projects, some of which far overshadow his banking business. The Latrobe Steel Com- pany, one of the largest manufacturers of steel in the United States, was in- duced to locate in Latrobe largely through his influence, and he is one of its chief stockholders. He is also president of the Fort Ligonier Coal Company, vice-president of the Peters Paper Company, president of the Latrobe Electric Light Company, and was secretary and treasurer of the Latrobe Street Railway Company until it transferred its interests to another corporation. He is a di- rector in the Latrobe Brick Company, and is president of the Combination Bridge Company of Sioux City, Iowa.
But perhaps the project which reflects most credit upon his ability as a financier, is the Latrobe Trust Company. It was chartered on February 9th, 1903. and was opened for business April 2nd, 1906. By his untiring efforts it was organized, and Mr. Head became its president. It has a capital stock of $200,000.00 and a surplus of $250,000.00-a larger capital stock and surplus than any other financial institution in the county.
On October 30th. 1880, Mr. Head was married to Miss Ella Showalter, a daughter of William A. Showalter, who was one of the pioneer settlers at Lat- robe shortly after the completion of the Pennsylvania Railroad. They have three children: 1. Eleanor : 2, Marion ; 3. Cecelia.
In politics Mr. Head is a Democrat, and has been councilman and city treasurer of Latrobe. Socially he is a member of the Latrobe Club, the Monon- gahela Club, and the Oakmont Country Club of Pittsburg, and the Hermitage
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Golf Club of Ligonier. Like their parents, Mr. Head and family are Roman Catholics in religion.
PATTERSON FAMILY. The Pattersons are one of the oldest Westmoreland families. They are of Irish ancestry on the paternal, and of Scotch ancestry on the maternal side. They are of that stout, sturdy, uncom- promising Covenanter stock which always stood firmly for their principles, defying kings, parliaments and ecclesiastical authority when their rights of con- science or of religious thought were in danger. These qualities were trans- mitted to their descendants, and down to the present generation we find them God-fearing, God-serving men and women of the highest type, good citizens, good fathers, mothers and friends, good business men, whose word is as their bond.
The American ancestor of the family was Samuel Patterson, born in Knockbracken, county of Down, Ireland, in 1766. He was one of a family of three children: 1. Margaret ; 2, James, who remained in Ireland, but two of his children are known to have come to America, namely : Susanna, ( Mrs. James Shaw) who lived in Derry township. One of her descendants is Doctor Jack, of New Alexandria ; and Elizabeth ( Mrs. Robert Beattie), who lived in the same locality.
Samuel Patterson, the third of the family, came to America in 1793, landing at Philadelphia. His future wife, Catherine Campbell, born 1776, crossed on the same ship. They were married in Philadelphia shortly after landing and remained there a year, where Samnel worked at his trade, weaving. Catherine Campbell's grandfather came from Scotland to America and settled in Franklin county. He was the father of four sons-William, Mark, Andrew and John- and one daughter-Mrs. Briggs. John Campbell's first wife was Sarah Fruity, of England. She bore him: John, Andrew, Catherine ( Mrs. Samuel Patter- son), Mary ( Mrs. Ramsey, of Ohio), Margaret ( Mrs. Long), and Hannah. His second wife was a widow-Mrs. Florinda Morrow Shields. One of the children of this second marriage was Annie, who married Samuel Fair. One of their descendants is Professor R. W. Fair, a prominent educator of the coun- try, whose sketch and portrait appear in this work. After a year spent in Phil- adelphia, Samuel and his wife Catherine joined the Campbells in Franklin county, where two children-Margaret and John-were born. Little is known. of their life here, but in the fall of 1797 they came to Derry township, West- moreland county, crossing the mountains on horseback, where they made their home temporarily with John Campbell, who had come before them to West- moreland. Here Samnel applied himself with all the energy of his race to the support of his family. He worked at his trade of a weaver, and his industry and economy is made apparent by the fact that he soon purchased a farm. The transfer relates that he paid for the same three hundred English pounds in cash. Samuel now became a husbandman in addition to his trade. In the years fol- lowing, children were added to the family, and all were taught to bear their share of the farm and workshop burden. Wife and children all worked. They raised the flax and clipped the wool that was woven into cloth and linen. They were taught the weaver's art, as well as how to break the flax, how to- setitch and hackle it, how to skillfully use the distaff, spinning wheel, the reel and the loom. The old loom, pieces of which can yet be seen, was made from timber grown on the farm and fashioned in a rude manner with such tools as they had. There was also a sugar grove on the farm, from which large quan- tities of maple sugar and syrup were obtained. Here the pioneer, with his wife and children, twelve, labored and prospered, earning enough for present needs
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and laying by a goodly sum for the future. The farm contained one hundred and nine acres, afterwards increased to two hundred acres, situated one and one-half miles from New Alexandria, and was purchased from John Elliott, the deed bearing date of March 19, 1798, consideration three hundred pounds. Samuel Craig was the original patentee and this was the fourth transfer. The original log buildings Samuel enlarged and improved. In 1860 the present buildings were erected by his son John. It was on this farm that Samuel and Catherine lived and died, and where ten of their children were born. The religious faith of Samuel was that of the Reformed Presbyterian, or Covenan- ter. He was the first of this faith or belief in the Denistown (now New Alex- andria ) neighborhood. He was an earnest Christian and an example to all around him. At least twice a year, when there was no church building around the neighborhood. he made a church of his home, entertaining all who came, and when the house was too small, erected a tent in a grove near by, where preach- ing and prayer meetings were held. This was the pioneer congregation of the Reformed Presbyterian church in New Alexandria. Samuel and his family were largely instrumental in the building or repairing of the old Associate church of New Alexandria, afterward called the Union Meeting House. He was the means of building up the New Alexandria congregation, which has always borne faithful testimony to the crown rights and royal prerogatives of the Heavenly King. This church was the first to debar its members from church membership and privileges for holding in slavery, human beings. One of the greatest and most eloquent orators against the crime of human slavery was afterward pastor of this congregation-Rev. Alexander McLeod Milligan -whose life and portrait will be found in Vol I of this work.
So intensely loyal to church service and so anxious was Samuel Patterson for the spiritual welfare of his family, that often he and they attended services at Greensburg, eleven miles distant, going on foot both ways when horses could not be found for all. This family and their neighbors had one of the best schools of that day. It was held in a log house on the Patterson farm. The furniture was exceedingly primitive, being of slabs and rude in design. Cath- erine Patterson was of the highest type of womanhood, courageous as our pio- neer mothers must have been, she braved the toils and dangers of the forest and mountain, working shouldler to shoulder with her husband, his faithful friend and valuable helpmeet. She was a loyal, loving mother, and testimony is abundant as to her high Christian character and her perfect womanhood. She and her husband lived in the most perfect accord and were laid at rest side by side in the churchyard of the Union Meeting House, where their graves may be seen to this day marked by suitable headstones. Samuel died October 14. 1830, aged sixty-nine, and Catherine. June 17, 1836, aged sixty. They were faithful servants of the Master and left a large family who bear the same testi- mony and strive to emulate their virtues. Their children were:
I. Margaret Patterson, born in Franklin county, 1794. She never mar- ried. She was a dutiful daughter and worked in the fields and at the loom, sharing the family burden and mothering the little ones as they were added to the family. After the death of her father, she, her brother Andrew, and sis- ters Martha and Nancy, purchased a house and four acres in New Alexandria, where they spun, knit and wove stockings and blankets for the entire neigh- borhood, and great was the fame of these goods. She died January 16, 1877. aged eighty-three. 2. John Patterson, of whom special notice later. 3. James Patterson. born 1798, on the homestead farm near New Alexandria. Leaving home in 1826. he was employed for several years on the construction work of the Pennsylvania canal. November 18, 1826, James married Jane Thompson,
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daughter of Moses Thompson, who was a farmer of Indiana county, near Livermore. After his marriage, James settled on a farm near Lewisville, In- chana county, where four children were born: Thompson, Myrtella, Lavinia Ann and Samuel. Jane Thompson Patterson, the mother of these children, died November 1, 1839. James Patterson took unto himself a second wife, October 22, 1840, one Jane Barnett, daughter of William Barnett, of New Derry. To them were born Rebecca Jane and James Barnett. James Patter- son sold his farm in Indiana county in 1836, moved to Derry township, where he bought a part of the Thomas Elder tract. Here he erected a house, barn and otherwise improved his farm, which was his home until his death on November 17. 1870, at the age of seventy-two. Jane, his wife, died March I. 1870, aged sixty-two. James Patterson always took the deepest interest in public matters, particularly church and educational. He was a lifelong member of the Coven- anter church and lived strictly in accord with the peculiar principles of that church, which prevented him from seeking or accepting public office, their con- tention being that God is not mentioned in the constitution nor His law rec- ognized as the supreme authority in civil affairs. 4. Sarah Patterson, born ·on the homestead, 1799. Married Thomas Brown, December 9, 1841. Thomas Brown was a farmer of the neighborhood. No children were born of this mar- riage, but Thomas was a widower previous to his marriage with Sarah, having six small children, and to these children she became a mother in the truest sense. Sarah was of a modest, unselfish nature, strongly domestic in her tastes, and for sixteen years filled the difficult part of stepmother, securing for herself the love and affection of these children, whom she trained in the fear of the Lord, and who all became prominent and much respected in the community. They mourned her as a true mother when she was taken from them December 20, 1857, her death resulting from a stroke of apoplexy. 5. Samuel Patter- son, born on the homestead, 1800. He left the farm at an early age to learn the trade of a carpenter and builder. After learning his trade he was married to Mary Thompson. After his marriage he engaged in business for himself and became the largest contractor in the community. He was known far and near as "Boss" Patterson. He was a thorough mechanic, employing many men. He would go to the woods, select his trees, fell and prepare them for their place in the building. He erected many dwellings, one of which is now owned and occupied by his nephew, Samuel C. Patterson, which he built in 1830. This dwelling is as firm and substantial as when first erected. He owned and lived in a fine home just north of New Alexandria. He continued in business until advancing age and infirmity compelled him to retire. He died at his home, June 13, 1880, aged eighty years. Mary Thompson Patter- son, his wife, was born in Indiana county, in 1810, and died in 1885. They have no living children. Samuel was noted for his expert marksmanship with the rifle, for his great strength and for being the most rapid cradler in the grain field. He was what was termed a "Racker." always taking two steps forward at each swing of the cradle. This required great strength and expertness. There was no man in the neighborhood who was his equal in the harvest field. 6. Catherine Patterson, born on the home farm in 1804. married John Mc- Conaughy, July 2, 1834. John was born in Blairsville, February, 1802. They moved to Burlington, Iowa, in 1843, where Catherine died April 5. 1859. John McConaughy died at Washington, Iowa, October 16, 1888. They were the parents of five children: 1. John Calvin, born June 1, 1835: married, June, 1869, Lydia Van Sickle. Their children were: William, May, Frank and Georgia. 2. Samuel P., born July 24, 1836: married, January 30, 1868, Mag- gie J. Scott. Their children are: Edmund M. and Jennie May. Both John
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Calvin and Samuel P. McConaughy reside in Washington, Iowa. 3. Andrew J., born July 29, 1842 ; married Jane Wakinshaw, in 1861. Their home is in, Superior, Nebraska. Their children are: . Maggie C., John Ira, Sadie J., Ella M., Alonzo D. and Samuel A., twins ; Mary C., James H., Rosella, and Eve- lina. 4. Sarah J., born April 8, 1844. died February 20, 1859. 5. Robert P., born November, 1846, married, June 8, 1881, Emma M. Brokaw. Robert lives in Washington, Iowa. Their children are: George J. H., Robert L., and Leta Catherine. 7. Martha Patterson, born on the homestead, 1805. She never married. She was associated, after the death of her father, with her sis- ters Margaret and Nancy, in their knitting and weaving business in New Alex- andria, of which mention has been made. She was a worthy member of this remarkable family and possessed all the attributes of true womanhood. She died December 28, 1873. 8. Mary Patterson, born on the home farm in 1809. She married Josiah Beattie, who died October 9, 1842. Mary Patterson Beat- tie died September 17, 1868. The children of this marriage were five, of whom two died in infancy. The surviving three were : Robert R. Beattie, who served his country in the Civil war and is still a resident of New Alexandria ; Samuel Patterson Beattie, who died May 21. 1883, aged forty-three years. He was a lifelong, active and influential citizen of New Alexandria. His strong mind and unsual ability for public speaking led him to take a lively interest and active part in the Sabbath School Bible Society, temperance, and other reform move- ments. The youngest child was Josiah Alexander Beattie, who married J. Ella O'Brian, June 18, 1879, to whom were born seven children : Mary, a grad- uate of the Indiana State Normal school, class of 1904. now a teacher ; Frank N., now a successful business man, graduate of Leech's Business College, 1903 ; Clara MI., a teacher in the public schools ; Tirzah L., a teacher in the county ; J. Carlisle, Anna O., and Margaret Ellen, still attending school. 9. Andrew Patterson, born on the homestead, April 14, 1812. Andrew never married. For many years he and his brother-in-law, Joseph Beattie, owned and operated a boat on the old Pennsylvania canal, but this was not a particularly profitable venture. In 1854. in partnership with his brother Robert, he bought the Rev. John Cannon farm, one and one-half miles west of New Alexandria. For fif- teen years they worked the farm, Andrew making his home in New Alexandria with his sisters Margaret, Martha and Nancy, and assisting them in their busi- ness. In 1869 he sold his interest in the farm to Robert and thereafter worked and lived in New Alexandria until his death, October 18, 1892. Andrew was a strong, faithful and useful member of the Covenanter church, adhering to and practicing all their principles. He was scrupulously honest, abhorring debt, particularly church debts, kind-hearted, faithful alike to his church and his family. He was a Christian gentleman, and his memory is precious to his sur- viving friends and relatives. 10. Hannah Patterson, ho died in childhood. 11. Robert Patterson, of whom more hereafter. 12. Nancy Jane Patterson, born on the home farm in 1821. In 1847 she married Samuel A. Steele, who was born in 1822. He received his education in the public school, and was a life- long tiller of the soil. He was an elder in the Reformed Presbyterian or Covenanter church in New Alexandria. He was a member of the militia. but took no part in politics. Three children were born to Samuel A. and Nancy Jane (Patterson) Steele : 1. Catherine Rosanna, who, on September 27, 1876, married Jefferson C. Calhoun, of Indiana county, and of whom was born : Samuel Steele, Nancy Jane and Effie Calhoun. 2. Samuel Alexander Mc- Leod, married, October 11, 1877, Sarah Jane Cannon, to whom was born two. sons : Samuel Cannon, cashier of the Madera National Bank, Madera, Penn- sylvania ; and James Elder Steele, a farmer near New Alexandria, who married.
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October II, 1905, Dessa May Long. 3. Mary Jane Steele, married in August, 1875. Henry S. Loughery, who died February, 1887. She has four daughters : Emma Jane, died June, 1887 ; Anna Elizabeth, married Fred. Morgan, superin- tendent for Bell Telephone Company, and lives in Greensburg ; Mary and Hen- rietta, at home with their mother in Greensburg.
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