History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 134

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor
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USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 134

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James A. Logan, whose mother was a niece of Mrs. Lobingier's father. Their children are Quincy A., born Jan. 8, 1848, married, Sept. 12, 1867, to Annie E. Wells, of Steubenville, Ohio ; Henry Schell, born Oct. 27, 1849, graduated at Bethany College June 19, 1873, took charge of the Second Church of Disciples, Morrisania, New York City, July 20, 1873, and called to the First Church of Disciples, Philadelphia, Oct. 1, 1878, and married, Oct. 27, 1880, Annie H. Sin- clair, of New York; Ada Bonnette, born April 15, 1855; J. Frank, born July 18, 1859; A. Stewart, born Dec. 22, 1862; and Paul, born Feb. 20, 1868, died Sept. 5, 1870. Three sisters of John C. Lobin- gier were married to three brothers named Graff, now of Columbia County. The Lobingier family has been eminently a religious one, closely identified with all moral reforms for the good of society, and, imbued with progressive tendencies, has ever been found on the side of humanity.

THE JORDAN FAMILY.

David Jordan was born in 1758, and died in March, 1822, in Bedford County. His wife, Mary, was born in 1752, and died March 4, 1888. Their son, David Jordan, was born Oct. 1, 1787, and was married April 19, 1815, by Rev. Alexander Boyd, to Miss Catharine Myers, born in 1790. He removed to Mount Pleasant in 1848, and here died Sept. 18, 1854. His wife died June 12, 1864. Their children were:

1. David, born April 3, 1817, and died Sept. 5, 1818.

2. John Reamer, born June 30, 1820.

3. Franklin, born June 10, 1822, and died Dec. 29, 1846.

3. Johnston Bardollar, born June 27, 1824.

4. Samuel Washington, born May 2, 1826.

5. William Myers, born Nov. 9, 1827.

ABRAHAM OVERHOLT TINSTMAN.

Abraham O. Tinstman, now a resident of Turtle Creek, Allegheny Co., Pa., resided in Fayette County from 1859 to 1876, and there conducted enterprises and aided in laying the foundations of important works which are in active operation, developing the wealth and forming an important part of the business of the county to-day.

Mr. Tinstman is of German descent in both lines. His paternal great-grandfather was born in one of the German states, and came to the United States, lo- cating in Bucks County, Pa., and from thence re- moved to Westmoreland County, Pa., residing near Mount Pleasant, where he had his home until his death; he was a farmer by occupation. A. O. Tinst- man's paternal grandfather was Jacob Tinstman, who was born in Bucks County, Pa., Jan. 13, 1773, and on Dec. 11, 1798, was married to Miss Anna Fox, of Westmoreland County, Pa., her birthplace having been Chester County, Pa., Aug. 8, 1779.

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Jacob Tinstman and Anna Tinstman had ten chil- dren, whose names were Mary, Henry, Adam, John, Jacob, Anna, Christian, David, Sarah, and Catharine. Jacob Tinstman was a farmer, and a man of fine edu- cation.

John, the father of A. O. Tinstman, was the fourth child and third son, and was born Jan. 29, 1807, in East Huntingdon township, Westmoreland Co., Pa. He was brought up on the farm, and attended sub- scription schools. He held important township of- fices, was an excellent citizen, an energetic and pru- dent man, and made a competence for himself and family. He died at the age of seventy years.

A. O. Tinstman's maternal grandfather was Abra- hạm Overholt, also of German descent, and who was born in Bucks County, Pa., in 1774, and came to East Huntingdon township, Westmoreland Co., Pa., about the year 1800, and settled on a farm on which the village of West Overton now stands. He married Miss Maria Stauffer, of Fayette County, Pa., and both being of frugal, industrious, and economical disposi- tions, accumulated property rapidly, lived together harmoniously, and left as monuments of skill and judgment in building and improvements some of the most substantial buildings of East Huntingdon town- ship, having built the entire village of West Overton, including mill, distillery, etc.

A. O. Tinstman's mother's maiden name was Anna Overholt, who was a daughter of the aforesaid Abra- ham and Maria Overholt. She was a lady highly esteemed for her kindness and gentleness, traits of character for which her mother, Mrs. Abraham Over- holt, was particularly distinguished. She was born July 4, 1812, and was married to John Tinstman about 1880, and died in the year 1866. The fruits of their marriage were ten children, viz .: Maria, who died at fifteen years of age; Jacob O .; Abraham O .; Henry O .; Anna, widow of Rev. L. B. Leasure; John O., who died when a soldier in the army during the Rebellion ; Elizabeth, who died at three years of age; Abigail, who died at nineteen years of age; Emma, wife of Dr. W. J. K. Kline, of Greensburg, Pa .; and Christian S. O. Tinstman, who is now conducting business in partnership with A. O. Tinstman, under the firm-name of " A. O. Tinstman & Co." Abraham O. Tinstman was born Sept. 13, 1834, in East Hunt- ingdon township, Westmoreland Co., Pa., on the farm upon which are now located the Emma Mine Coke- Works. He received his education in the common schools, attending them during the winter season until about twenty years of age, and continued la- boring on the farm with his father until he became twenty-five years old, when he went to Broad Ford, Fayette Co., Pa., to take charge of his grandfather Overholt's property at that place, the business con- sisting of the manufacture of the celebrated Overholt whiskey, the cutting of timber by steam saw-mill into car and other lumber, and the farming of the lands connected with the Broad Ford property. He thus

continued to manage and do business for his grand- father until 1864, when the two formed a partnership, named A. Overholt & Co. "He, however, continued to conduct the business . until the death of his grand- father, A. Overholt, who died in 1870, in the eighty- sixth year of his age.

During Mr. Tinstman's residence in the county and his partnership with his grandfather b- caused the erection of the most important buildings in Broad Ford, some of which are the large mill and distil- lery now there, as well as many houses for the use of employés.

In 1865 he and Joseph Rist bought about six hun- dred acres of coking coal land adjoining the village of Broad Ford. Mr. Tinstman thereafter (in 1868) sold one-half of his interest in the same to Col. A. S. M. Morgan, of Pittsburgh, Pa., and with him established the firm of Morgan & Co., who put up one hundred and eleven coke-ovens at the point now known as Morgan Mines, on the line of the Mount Pleasant and Broad Ford Railroad, and built one mile of railroad from Broad Ford to said mines, at which place the first coke was manufactured along what is now the Mount Pleasant and Broad Ford Rail- road. Morgan & Co. at this time held almost entire control of the coke business of the Connellsville region.

In 1870, A. O. Tinstman with others organized a company, of which he was elected president, and built the Mount Pleasant and Broad Ford Railroad, he holding the office of president until the sale of said road to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company in 1876.

About 1871, Mr. Tinstman purchased a portion of Mr. Rist's interest in the six hundred acres of coal land previously mentioned. Mr. H. C. Frick, who was at this time keeping the books of A. Overholt & Co., was very desirous of starting in business, and aspired for something more than book-keeping, and having shown by his indomitable energy, skill, and judgment that he was not only capable of keeping an accurate and beautiful set of books, but that he was able to conduct business, manage employés, etc., Mr. Tintsman and Mr. Rist associated Mr. Frick with them, under the firm-name of Frick & Co., and made him manager of the association, etc.

This company built at Broad Ford two hundred coke-ovens. The first one hundred were built along or facing the Mount Pleasant and Broad Ford Rail- road, and were known as the Frick Works, or "Nov- elty Works." The other hundred were built in blocks along the Pittsburgh Division of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and facing the road and Youghiogheny River, and were known as the Henry Clay Works.

In 1872, Col. Morgan and Mr. Tintsman (as Mor- gan & Co.) bought about four hundred acres of coking coal land at Latrobe, Westmoreland Co., Pa., and there built fifty ovens. About this period and on continu- ously to 1876 (during the panic period) Mr. Tintsman bought large tracts of coal lands on the line of the

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JOHN GALLOWAY.

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Mount Pleasant and Broad Ford Railroad, comprising nearly all the best coal lands in that region ; but the pressure of the panic proved excessive for him, the coke business, like everything else, becoming de- pressed, and he failed, losing everything. But having great confidence that the coke business would revive, and foreseeing that it would be one of the earliest as well as surest of manufacturing interests to recuper- ate, he bought in 1878 and 1880 on option a large extent of coal land in the Connellsville region, and in 1880 sold about 8500 acres at a good advance over cost price to E. K. Hyndman, who then organized the Connellsville Coal and Iron Company.

This sale enabled him again to take a new start in the world as a business man. He then, in 1880, established the firm of A. O. Tintsman & Co., and opened an office on the corner of Seventh Avenue and Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., and soon after bought a half-interest in the Rising Sun Coke-Works, on the June Bug Branch of the Southwest Pennsyl- vania Railroad. In 1881 he bought the Mount Brad- dock Coke-Works, located on the Fayette County Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad; and in the same year he bought the Pennsville Coke-Works, on the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad, embracing in all about three hundred ovens, all of which he still owns and operates.

Thus we see again verified in Mr. Tinstman's life that great truth, that those who "try again" earnestly and energetically will succeed. He is to be congratu- ated in his again being established in business, and being so pleasantly situated and surrounded by home and family relations, as it is well known that while in the county he labored diligently for its welfare; and though he has not received the deserved abun- dant recompense in a pecuniary manner, yet the people of the county appreciate his labors, especially those who have been benefited directly by the devel- opment of the coal interests of the county, and of whom there are not a few.

On July 1, 1875, Mr. Tintsman married Miss Har- riet Cornelia Markle, youngest daughter of Gen. Cyrus P. Markle and Sarah Ann Markle (whose maiden name was Sarah Ann Lippincott), of Mill Grove, Westmoreland Co., Pa. He has one son, named Cyrus Painter Markle Tinstman.

JOHN GALLOWAY.

The paternal grandfather of Mr. John Galloway, of Mount Pleasant township, was born in York County, Pa., of Scotch parentage; his maternal grandfather was born in Ireland. His father, James Galloway, carried on blacksmithing with farming in the township of Mount Pleasant, and on the farm which he owned, and the same now owned and occupied by his son John. He married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of William Hunter, Esq., who was related by blood to the family

of Gen. George B. Mcclellan. James Galloway died Jan. 20, 1887, and his wife died Oct. 30, 1862. They had nine children,-Rhoda, William, Eliza- beth, Nancy Jane, Mary, John, Sarah, Henrietta, and James. Two of these died when children.

John Galloway was born on the farm of his father, and the one he now occupies, March 5, 1810, and re- mained with his father until his death. Mr. Gallo- way at an advanced age, now over seventy-two, still lives on the homestead, his niece, Miss Nancy New- ell, living with him and keeping house for him.

Mr. Galloway and his niece were but lately made the subjects of one of the most brutal attacks at the hands of a villainous set of robbers, which caused much and wide-spread talk. On the 19th of October, 1881, five disguised robbers entered the house of Mr. Galloway, they finding out that he had money therein, and closing with him, they beat him about the head until they took him to be dead, when they dragged him by his feet on to the porch. Although he was an old man he made a desperate resistance, and getting a pocket-knife out of his pocket, he used it in his des- peration to good advantage on the bodies of several of those who attacked him. When left on the porch he recovered consciousness, and arose to totter off to get assistance and to give alarm, but before he was able to get away they discovered him, and again knocked him down and then dragged him into the house again, still beating and kicking him.

One of these wretches in the mean time had at- tacked Miss Newell, his niece, and choked her until she was almost incapable of speech, only relaxing his grip as he asked her where the money was. This she heroically refused to tell. The rest of the robbers, having left Mr. Galloway insensible, were now busied breaking furniture and ransacking the rooms for the money, which to the amount of two thousand eight hundred dollars they succeeded in securing, when they fled. They debated among themselves whether they should set the house on fire or not, and when they concluded not to do so they left in different directions.

Of these robbers, three of them were shortly iden- tified, namely, Bill Collins, called "Shorty," John Mckinney, and "Crossan," and, pleading guilty, were sentenced to the penitentiary, where they are now serving out their term. The other two of the five have not yet been identified. That Mr. Galloway survived the attack upon him is a thing miraculous. The robbers evidently thought they had left him dead, and had they suspected that he would live they would undoubtedly have killed him outright, for upon the hearing after the arrest he, with his niece, identified them in such a manner that their conviction was but a matter of form.

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JOSEPH LIPPINCOTT.

The name Lippincott is one of the oldest of local origin in England, and was derived from Lovecote, which is described in the Domesday Book or cencus, made by order of William the Conqueror, in 1086, of lands held by Edward the Confessor in 1041-66. This Saxon name implies that a proprietor named Love held the house, cote, and lands, hence called Lovecote, which name was probably already ancient. Surnames were not settled until about this date, and hence Lovecote, Loughwyngcote, Lyvenscott, Luffing- cott, Lappingcott, through which variations it has descended to, become fixed in Lippincott during the last two centuries, and is undoubtedly of great an- tiquity. The family were granted eight coats of arms by the College of Heralds. One of them, belonging to the Wibbrey branch, and in the possession of Philip Luppingcott, Esq., of North Devonshire, England, in 1620, when visited by the Heralds, and was at that time already ancient, is thus described : " Per fesse, embattled gules and sable, three leopards, passant argent. Crest, out of a mural crown, gules, five ostrich feathers, alternately argent and azure. The motto, 'Secundis dubiisque rectus,' which may be thus translated, Upright in prosperity and adversity, or firm in every fortune."

The family in America are descended from Richard and Abigail, who removed from Devonshire, Eng- land, in 1639, and settled in Boston, New England. Having been excommunicated from the " church" at Boston for nonconformity in 1651 he returned with his family to England, and resided at Plymouth, and early thereafter became a member of the Society of Friends, then emerging from the various sects around them, and in consequence endured much persecution for the testimony of a good conscience. In 1663 he returned to New England, and lived for several years in Rhode Island, and finally in 1669 established him- self and family at Shrewsbury, Monmouth Co., N.'J., where he died in 1683. His widow, Abigail, died in 1697, leaving a considerable estate. Richard Lippin- cott was the largest proprietor among the patentees of the new colony.

From their eldest son, Remembrance by name, de- scended Samuel, who in 1789 removed from New Jersey to Westmoreland County, Pa. One of his sons, James, was the father of twelve children, viz. : William, John, Jesse, Joseph, Samuel, Henry, Kath- erine (Mrs. Ulam), Sarah (Mrs. Cyrus P. Markle), Rachel (Mrs. Toliver), Harriet (Mrs. Hemingray and Mrs. Oliver Blackburn), Nancy (Mrs. William Mc- Cracken), Mary (Mrs. Clark). The maiden name of

tender wife, and whose memory is dearly cherished by her children, relatives, and many of those to whom she ministered. In 1895 they went to Pitta- burgh to live, where he; in connection with his brothers, William and Jeese, became proprietors of the Lippincott mills, now known as the Zug iron- mills. He remained in Pittsburgh until 1888, when he disposed of his interests and returned to Mount Pleasant, where for over twenty years he was a suc- cessful merchant. He had the confidence of the public to an almost unlimited extent, and as banks were scarce in those days he became a depository for moneys that at times reached a large amount.

About the year 1854 he engaged in the business of safe manufacturing in this city, the firm being Lip- pincott & Barr. The works were situated on Second Avenue, running through to First Avenue, on the site at present partly occupied by Messrs. C. P. Markle & Sons' paper warehouse. In the year 1856 he also pur- chased an interest in the firm of Lippincott & Co., axe and shovel manufacturers. He retired from ac- tive business pursuits in 1859, residing in Mount Pleasant until 1865, when he removed to Pittsburgh.

In the year 1830 he was elected lieutenant-colonel of the Eighty-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Militia, his commission bearing the signature of George Wolf, then Governor of the State. This is the only public position he ever held, his temperament being such that, while always taking an active interest in State affairs and wielding an undoubted influence, yet he did not court publicity.

The colonel, or Uncle Joe, as he was familiarly called, endeared himself to the people of Mount Pleasant and vicinity by his many acts of kindness. If there was a poor man in financial difficulties he was always sure of relief from him, and oftentimes it was voluntarily extended without being asked for. His generosity was unbounded, and to this day many of the older residents of that section recall instances of his unswerving friendship that do credit to his goodness of heart.

He together with his wife were members of the Baptist Church, and in his days of prosperity he was one of the largest contributors that there was in Western Pennsylvania to his church and her institu- tions.

Having almost reached his eightieth year he died in Allegheny City on the 28th of August, 1879; his wife died on the 27th of April of the same year.

In summing up his character the writer of this sketch, his son, wishes to put on record his admira- tion of those virtues in the character of his father gentleman of simple tastes, but he was a man among men.

the mother of this numerous family was Zeigler. She | that were worthy of emulation. He was a country came from the State of Delaware. Joseph Lippin- cott was born near Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., Pa., March 17, 1800; his whole life was passed His surviving children, who all reside in Pittsburgh, in his native county and that of Allegheny. On the ; are Harriet E., Sarah A. (now Mrs. Henry H. Vance), 20th of November, 1834, he was married to Eliza Annie M., and Jesse H. Lippincott. Three children, Mary Jane, James, and William, died in their youth. Strickler, who all through his life made him a loving,

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Daniel Shape

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DANIEL SHUPE.

Daniel Shupe was the eldest son of Isaac and Eliz- abeth Shupe, and was born June 26, 1816. His father was known as an energetic and successful business man, and carried on farming in connection with mill- ing, tanning, and the mercantile business. In con- junction with his son he erected the extensive flouring- mills in Mount Pleasant town, which are at present operated by Mr. O. P. Shupe. His son remained with him, and carly displaying business talents, assisted him in his various branches of business until his death, about 1847. In the mean time Daniel had married Miss Caroline Hitchman, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Hitchman, Feb. 27, 1840.

The many good points of character which went to make the man might be summed up in these words : He was public-spirited to a marked degree; he was good to the poor; was a genial, whole-souled, pleas- ant companion ; a kind and sympathizing friend, al- ways ready to oblige a neighbor or a stranger; he was upright and fair in his dealings; he was generous to enemies and charitable to all. He was a member of the United Brethren Church, was without hypocrisy, and had many Christian graces. His life-long friend, the late Col. Painter, said to a mutual friend shortly after Mr. Shupe's death, with tears in his eyes, "God made only one Dan Shupe." And it was the general expression when he lay dead that the poor and dis- treesed of Mount Pleasant had lost a good friend.

Perhaps some details of his life and doings may give a clearer idea of the man. Mr. Shupe did not live in Mount Pleasant borough, but in the suburbs, in Mount Pleasant township, and was a member of the board of public schools for twenty-five years in succession until his death. He took a lively interest in the schools and in building school-houses, and by dint of hard fighting against opposition from stingy taxpayers, succeeded in having built for every district in that large township a handsome and commodious house of modern style and accommodations. No other township in the county can compare with Mount Pleasant in the matter of school buildings, which result is to be attributed mainly to the efforts and perseverance of Mr. Shupe. When the schools opened yearly he was in the habit of hunting up chil- dren whose parents were poor, and of buying, at his own expense, outfits of books as an inducement to attend the schools.

For twenty years he labored, in season and out, to have a railroad built to Mount Pleasant, and finally, in the building of the branch road from Broad Ford, on the Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad, realized the hope of many years. He was one of the most ac- tive workers in that enterprise. It was proposed to Mr. Shupe to join with a few others in allowing the road to become embarrassed, and then have it sold and buy it themselves for a song. And although there was plenty of money in it, and he a shrewd, money-

making business man, he refused to join in the whole- sale robbery, as he called it, of those who had taken stock in good faith. That job was accomplished af- terwards, but he had no part or lot in it. He by such a course gained the esteem of all good citizens.

During most of his life he was engaged in the mill- ing business, and many a sack of flour found its way from his mill to families in need, and during the panic times of '78 and the long depression following, a poor man or woman was never turned away by him or his partners in business, Mr. James R. Wade and his son, Mr. O. P. Shupe, even when they knew to sell on credit to many was to give away. If Mr. Shupe was remonstrated with he was ready to admit it was not business, and to add in a high tone of voice in the same breath, "People must live, and how in the name of God can they live without bread ?" If a man got into financial difficulty he was ready to look into his trouble to see if there was not some way out, and if possible help him out and set him on his feet again. For others who got into the hands of the law for some offense, he would do what he could ; even if they landed in the jail or penitentiary he would look after them, and as soon as free see that they got employment. His disposition was to reach out a helping hand, and lift a man up when others kicked him down; of this many examples could be given.

Like most good, enterprising men he had his enemies, ready to kick him down too; and at one time (about 1861 or '62), becoming involved in financial trouble, he was near being pushed to the wall by them without remorse. About this time he and Mr. James R. Wade met in Pittsburgh. Mr. Wade had come down from the oil regions and was not aware of his friend's troubles; but in the night discovered by his restlessness that he was very ill or in some great trouble, and after striking a light asked him what the matter was. His troubles were explained, and Mr. Wade, who is one of the best- hearted of men, took from his waist a belt, and hand- ing it to Mr. Shupe, said, "Here, Dan, is six thou- sand dollars in money ; will it do you any good ?" "Yes," said Mr. Shupe, overcome with emotion, " with six thousand dollars I can quiet all my credi- tors and get out." This was soon accomplished, and he was prosperous again.

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History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 134

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: