USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume I > Part 14
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ELMER ARMSTRONG, of McKee's Rocks, Pa., a prominent dealer in real estate, was born in Hibbardsville, Athens Co., Ohio, on Dec. 21, 1878. He is a son of Elza B. and Elizabeth (Hibbard) Arm- strong, and is the eldest of three children, all of whom are now living and, besides himself, are: Charles Crawford and Ruth, who live at the old homestead in Athens county, Ohio. His father conducts a stock farm of 640 acres, which has been in tlie family since 1798, his great-grandfather having settled there at that time. His paternal grandfather was Elmer Armstrong, and his paternal great-grandfather was Thomas Armstrong, who settled the home- stead in Athens county. His father is now actively in charge of his farm, but his mother died on Feb. 17, 1896. Elmer Armstrong was educated in the elementary courses in the public schools of his native county, and completed his classical training at the. Ohio university. While still a student at college, he became interested with his father in the management of their stock farm, remained in business with him for a number of years, and, later, went into
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the milling business at Columbus, Ohio. In the spring of 1899, Mr. Armstrong came to McKee's Rocks, where he engaged in the grocery business with his brother-in-law, Frank E. Coe, remaining with that concern until 1901, when he disposed of his interest in the store and began the real estate business with his present part- ner, C A. Carter. He was married, on Oct. 2, 1900, to Mary Elsie Coe, of Hibbardsville, Ohio, and their wedded life has been a halcyon one. Mr. Armstrong is independent in his political beliefs, and is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church of his old home in Ohio. Mr. Armstrong is a gentleman of recog- nized ability, and stands high in the business and social circles of the home of his adoption.
FRANK J. SEIFRIED, a prominent wholesale liquor dealer at Carnegie, was born in Austria, Sept. 3, 1867. His par- ents, Frank and Amelia (Gaidost) Sei- fried, came to America in 1882, and set- tled near Beach Cliff, Allegheny county, where they still reside. Mr. Seifried keeps the general store at Cliff Mine. Mr. Seifried and wife are members of the German Roman Catholic church at Car- negie. Of their three living children, F. J., the subject of this sketch, is the oldest; Steven K. is interested in mining machinery, and Mary is postmistress. F. J. Seifried was educated in Austria, and on coming to America attended night school, work- ing during the day in his father's store. In 1890 he began mer- cantile pursuits for himself, opening a small store in Carnegie. Afterwards lie also ran a store for a short time at Bower Hill, and another at Glendale, and still owns the store buildings he occupied in those places. The store in Bower Hill he sold to his brother, Steven K. Seifried, and, in 1891, engaged with John Roach in the wholesale liquor business. He has since bought out his partner, and is now sole proprietor of a large and flourishing liquor house. Mr. Seifried was postmaster at Cliff Mine from 1889 to 1895, and, on his moving away, his sister has filled the position most satisfac- torily since. In 1893 he was treasurer of a building and loan asso- ciation at Bower Hill, which was dissolved after a short time. June 6, 1895, Mr. Seifried married Miss Rosa Kawasky, a native of Allegheny county, daughter of Frank and Katherine (Holeman)
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Kawasky, both natives of Germany, and both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Seifried have had four children. Herbert died when seven months old, Nov. 19, 1899. The others are: Lawrence F., Eugene M. and Margaret Rose. Mr. Seifried and his wife are members of the German Roman Catholic church at Carnegie. In politics Mr. Seifried has always been an ardent republican, as is his father also. He is a progressive, industrious business man, and his dealings are all as honorable as they are profitable.
WILLIAM M. SCOTT. hardware mer- chant at No. 214 Main St., Carnegie, was born in Allegheny county, June 17, 1853. His parents, Thomas and Lucinda (Snod- grass) Scott, are both dead. Mrs. Scott, who was the daughter of John Snodgrass, died July 4, 1861. Her husband died Aug. 11, 1902, at the advanced age of ninety years. Thomas Scott came to this country from Ireland when about sixteen years old, and settled in Allegheny county, where he was for many years a well-known farmer and prominent old settler. Of ten children of Thomas and Lucinda Scott, five died when young, and those living are: John, a shipper in a wholesale grocery house in Pittsburg; Sarah, widow of S. B. McGarvy, and living with her daughter, Mrs. F. V. Blair, at Camden, Pa .; Alexander M., a wholesale grocer, living in Braddock; William M., the subject of this sketch, and Elizabeth, who married Charles C. Robinson and resides at No. 215 Lehigh Ave., Pittsburg. William M. Scott received a common-school education and began his business career, at first as a member of the firm of Robinson, Scott & Co., dealers in general merchandise, continuing at this for three years. His next venture was in the same business in a com- pany store at Coal Bluff, Washington county, under the firm name of WV. M. Scott & Co. After seven years in the store at Coal Bluff, Mr. Scott did not embark in business for a few years, and, later started, at Federal, Allegheny county, a general store under the name of the Federal store company, and remained as sole owner and manager of this business for four years. In February, 1900, he came to Carnegie and opened his present store, where he carries a full line of hardware, stoves, pumps, paints and oils, and general household furnishings, and is doing a steadily increasing business.
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On Oct. 14, 1885, Mr. Scott married Miss Hattie Morrison, of Washington, Pa., daughter of James and Sarah Jane Morrison, both of whom are now living in Nottingham township, Washington county. Mrs. Scott had one sister, Anna Lois, now at home, and another, Henrietta, who married C. A. Fry, a dry-goods merchant of Brownsville, Pa. Three children were born to William M. Scott and wife: Sarah B., James M. and Lois G. Mrs. Scott died July 25, 1895. She was born June 14, 1863. Mr. Scott was married to Mary E. Cowen, of Fort Scott, Kan., Jan. 20, 1903, and now resides at No. 61 Lincoln Ave., Carnegie, Pa. Mr. Scott is an active worker in the Presbyterian church and an elder of that church.
JOHN HENRY (deceased), iron and steel manufacturer, was born at Port Talbot, Glamorganshire, Wales, in 1842. His parents, Evan and Elizabeth Henry, were well and favorably known through- out the community. The father, a cop- per roller by trade, filled the position of precentor at the Dyffryn church for thirty years, with constant faithfulness and great credit. The late John Henry was the eldest of six children. Of his brothers and sisters, David, Thomas and Elizabeth are dead, and Llewellyn and William are living in Wales. From early youth, John Henry was remarkable for his good habits, straightforwardness and earnest ambition. He loved his home and native land, but America offered him a broader field and more advantageous surroundings, and in 1866, accompanied by his life-long friend, William Hughes, he came to Pittsburg. In America he met many ups and downs, but profited by his reverses, and in the end succeeded better than he had hoped. At the Frankstown rolling mill, owned by the late Grey Brothers, of Soho, he went through the lower grades of his trade patiently, but persistently, and in 1869 he was given charge of a sheet mill at Apollo, Armstrong county, where he worked four years, giving the best satisfaction as a roller and mechanic, and laying the foundation of an extensive fortune and a brilliant future. In 1873 he received the appointment of manager of the Ironton steel works, Ironton, Ohio, and in 1877 was engaged by the Chisolms, of Cleveland, Ohio, to manufacture sheet steel, being one of the first in this country to make the production of that article a
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success. In 1879 he returned to Apollo and took up the superin- tendence of the mill where he had made his first start as a roller, and soon the concern was in a flourishing condition, turning out superior brands of iron and steel sheet, which commanded an envi- able market. In 1883, with Messrs. Kirkpatrick and Carter as partners, he erected the Chartiers iron and steel works, and was its general manager from the start. The success of this undertaking was phenomenal from the first; the iron and steel sheet turned out was as near in quality to the Russian iron sheet as any brand in the American market, and readily commanded the highest price. In 1899 the mill was sold to the steel trust, and later on, with other mills of the trust, was absorbed by the United States steel corpora- tion; but with both companies Mr. Henry was retained as manager. In 1901, during the iron workers' strike, when the combine ordered the Chartiers mill to be dismantled, he strained every effort to prevent it, but in vain, and after the dismantling he tendered his resignation. The higher officials refused to accept it, and up to the time of his death, he filled the position of inspector, making trips occasionally to the various mills of the company, in an advisory capacity. Mr. Henry was killed, Aug. 16, 1902, by falling between the train and the platform at the Fourth avenue depot, Pittsburg, while en route for Alma, Mich., to spend a month at the sanitarium at that place. Mr. Henry was a man of sterling worth, intensely active, prompted by lofty ambitions, and endowed with unconquer- able courage. Besides being a successful manufacturer, he was a gifted man of affairs, and endowed with the business instinct of a
financier. He was a heavy stockholder in various enterprises, . among them the First National bank of Carnegie, and the Carnegie trust company, holding the office of director in both institutions. In 1892 Mr. Henry was married to Jennie Pettigrew, whose par- ents, John and Jane (Hines) Pettigrew, natives respectively of Scotland and England, were married in Scotland, and on coming to the United States, in 1862, settled at Cambridge, Ohio. Here, on Feb. 15, 1872, the father, when about sixty years old, was instantly killed by the falling of earth in an embankment. His wife, now seventy-five years old, makes her home with Mrs. Henry. Mrs. Henry was the youngest of nine children. Only one other survives, Mrs. William Noble, now a widow, who resides in Cambridge, Ohio, in the old home- place where her family settled in 1852. Besides the widow, Mrs. Henry, four children mourn the loss of an affectionate father: Gwendoline, John, William and Elizabeth.
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JOHN JOSEPH BULLION, pastor of St. Mary Magdalene Catholic church at Homestead, was born in Sharpsburg, Allegheny Co., Pa., in 1856, son of John and Catherine (Ruttinger) Bullion, natives of Bavaria, who came to America in 1852 and located in Sharpsburg. Mr. and Mrs. John Bullion had eight children, Agnes, John J., Mary, Michael, Joseph, Mina (Mrs. Joseph Jacobs), Charles and Annie (deceased). Father Bullion was educated at St. Michael's seminary at Glenwood, Pa., and at the Seminary of St. Sulpice at Montreal, Canada. In 1878 he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Fabre, of Montreal. His first mission was at Dudley, Huntingdon Co., Pa., where he went in January, 1879, and remained a year and a half as pastor of the Church of the Immac- ulate Conception. He was transferred as assistant at St. Peter's church, Allegheny, serving in that capacity nearly a year, and, in the spring of 1881, was assigned to Homestead as pastor of St. Mary Magdalene parish. At that time church services were held in a hall on Sixth avenue, there being no church building, but in a short time a church was erected on Tenth avenue at a cost of about $4,000. At this time the congregation numbered about fifty fam- ilies, but the membership increased so rapidly that better accom- modations were needed, and, in 1888, a two-story church and parochial school building was erected, which cost $10,000. This building was destroyed by fire, Dec. 5, 1890, and, in 1891, a fine, four-story brick building for school purposes was erected on its site at a cost of $25,000. The corner-stone of the present church was laid Oct. 20, 1895, the ceremonies being under the direction of Bishop Phelan, bishop of the diocese, and the church was dedi- cated on December 13th of the next year. This church, which stands at the corner of Tenth avenue and Amity street, was erected at a cost of $80, 000, and is the finest church, outside of Pittsburg, in the diocese. It has a seating capacity of 1, 200. Its erection was mainly due to the efforts of Father Bullion, who has built up the church until it now has a membership of 2,500, comprising some 500 families. The parochial school in connection has an enrollment of about 500. Father Bullion is a member and director of the C. M. B. A. and a member of several other societies. He is one of the directors of the Carnegie library at Homestead.
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NATHANIEL MONTGOMERY, a prominent farmer of Wilkins township, and for nineteen years elder in the Beu- lah Presbyterian church, was born in Wilkins township, Allegheny Co., Pa., June 23, 1843. His father, Nathaniel Montgomery, born Feb. 8, 1816, was by vocation a farmer, and a member of Beulah church. His wife was Mary (McCully) Montgomery. The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools, and has been a farmer all his life. He has long been a prominent man in his community, where he has served as school director. In 1884 he married Mary F. Pitt, now deceased. On May 22, 1895, Mr. Montgomery took as his second wife, Marion, daughter of James and Elizabeth Peterson, residents of Allegheny county, though of Scotch descent. Mr. Peterson, who was born in Scotland, March 15, 1826, was for many years superintendent in the New- town coal mines, and opened up mines Nos. 2, 3 and 4. Mrs. Montgomery is the third of a family of seven children. She is also a member of the Beulah church, which is the oldest church in the county.
LOUIS ZINSSER, of Millvale, Pa., manager of the American baking com- pany, was born in Germany, Sept. 13, 1859, son of Christian and Eliza (Michael) Zinsser, his father now living in Germany and a prosperous baker. Mr. Zinsser attended the public schools of his native land until fourteen years of age, and then spent two years at a soldiers' school. On leaving, he learned the baking business under his father, and for two years was thus engaged. The next three years of his life were spent in the German army, and at the expiration of his term of service came to America, settled in Pittsburg, and for two years was in the bakery of Adolph Zinsser. He went with Marvin & Co., of Pittsburg, and was with them for six years; in 1891 he started a bakery on his own account on Troy Hill, where he prospered until 1900, when he
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removed to Millvale, and there incorporated a business under the name of the American baking company, with himself as president and manager. This venture has been a decided success, and they have a large and profitable patronage. He was married, in 1885, to Emma Dotzenroth, and they have two children, Matilda A. and Gezena E. Mr. Zinsser is a member of the German Lutheran church, the German military shrine and the republican party. He has made three trips to Europe since coming to America, and is well posted on European affairs. Mr. Zinsser is a safe and con- servative business man, and possesses the confidence of the entire community.
DAVID L. DAVIS, roller at the Zug & Co. (limited), rolling mill, Pittsburg, is one of the most prominent men of Scott township, and secretary of the school board. He was born in Allegheny county, Pa., Nov. 5, 1865, a son of David and Tamar (Parry) Davis, natives of Monmouthshire, Wales. The father was a mill worker in Wales, and on coming to America, in 1857, continued at the same work in this country, being employed most of the time in Pittsburg. He was a heater, and worked for twenty-four years for Dilworth, Porter & Co. He retired from active life at the age of sixty, and died sixteen years later, Feb. 4, 1900, and his wife at the age of seventy, May 9, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Davis were residents of Scott township for thirty-six years, were widely respected people, and influential members of the Baptist church. They had eleven children, as follows: William, a heater, residing in Carnegie; Margaret, afterwards Mrs. John C. McGrew, who died in 1893 when forty years old; John, who died when four years old; Emma, now Mrs. Frank Richards, of Crafton, Pa .; Mary, now the wife of George Bradley, of Pittsburg; Martha, now Mrs. William Lee, of Sutton, W. Va .; Lizzie; David L., the subject of this sketch; Jennie, a teacher in Pittsburg; Birdie, who died when two years old, and Harry, a grocer, of Scott township. D. L. Davis was educated in the public schools of Pittsburg, and after completing his education began to work in the mills, continuing to be a sheet iron worker ever since. He was first employed as a doubler, then as a rougher, and has for the past eleven years been
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engaged as a boss roller. He has always been a faithful and efficient workman, and enjoys the confidence of his employers. On March 25, 1899, Mr. Davis was married at Marietta, Ohio, to Miss Jean Chadwick, daughter of James and Pernielia (Saunders) Chadwick, of Washington county, where Jaines Chadwick was a prominent farmer and an elder in the Prosperity Presbyterian church. He died when sixty-seven years old, Dec. 24, 1896, and his wife died Jan. 28, 1888, in her fifty-eighth year. Mrs. Davis is the youngest of eight living children. The others are: Steven S., a hotel keeper of Culver, Ind. ; Mrs. Orlando Baglin, of East Liver- pool, Ohio; W. W., of Sunset, Pa .; John H., state's attorney at Tuscola, Ill. ; A. Lincoln, a gardener, of Washington, Pa. ; Isaac N., a farmer, of Prosperity, Pa., and Mrs. R. B. Gilson, of New Mata- moras, Ohio. One child, James M., died in infancy. Mr. Davis is vice-president of the Domestic land company. He is now serv- ing his third term as member of the school board, to which he was elected in 1894. He is an enthusiastic member of the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Centennial lodge, No. 544; Cyrus chapter, No. 280, of Carnegie, and Chartiers commandery, No. 78, Knights Templars. He is also a prominent member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle and the J. O. U. A. M: In politics he is an ardent republican.
STEWARD LE ROY MCCURDY, M. D., of Pittsburg, Pa., a leading physician and specialist in orthopedy, was born in Bowenstown, Ohio, July 15, 1859, son of Peter and Mary A. (Bowen) McCurdy. He was educated in the com- mon schools of Dennison, Ohio, and has taken a number of special courses. He was graduated from the Columbus med- ical college in 1881 ; attended a full course at the New York post-graduate college and hospital, and received the degree of master of arts from Scio college in 1894. He was a trustee of the Ohio medical university during 1887-93, and was professor of orthopedic surgery at that institution from 1887 to 1891, inclusive. He is now professor of anatomy and sur- gery, trustee and secretary of the dental department of the Western University of Pennsylvania at Pittsburg, and professor of orthopedy in the medical department of that college. Dr. McCurdy is surgeon
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for the P. C. C. & St. L. and the Pennsylvania railroads, and is president and member of the association of surgeons of the Pennsylvania system of railroads. He is a member of the Ameri- can orthopedic association, member of the Pennsylvania State, the Ohio State and the American medical associations. Dr. McCurdy has frequently contributed articles on orthopedy to the medical journals, is the author of a manual on orthopedic surgery and a text-book on "Oral Surgery," the latter being a treatise on the application of general medicine and surgery to dentistry. Dr. McCurdy was married, in 1887, to Susan Riggs, of Dennison, Ohio. Dr. McCurdy keeps thoroughly abreast of the latest advancements of his specialty, and has spent several winters in New York city attending post-graduate courses in orthopedic surgery.
HARRY J. SEIBEL, contractor and builder at Carnegie, was born in Alle- gheny county, Pa., Feb. 18, 1872. His parents, Andrew and Mary A. (Seibel) Seibel, were born in Germany, married in Germany in 1869, and came to Amer- ica in 1872, locating at first in Pittsburg. Mr. Seibel had been a gardener in Ger- many, and has followed this vocation since coming to America. In 1873 he came to East Carnegie, and lived there twelve years, and then bought a farm of his own of fifty-four acres, on which he , has since resided. He is now sixty-three years old, and his wife fifty-four. They are members of St. Joseph's Catholic church, Carnegie. Harry J. Seibel, the subject of this sketch, is the eldest of thirteen children, all born in Allegheny county. Of these, six died in early life, and Charles A., born Feb. 19, 1885, died March 12, 1894. Of those now living, Rosa is the wife of Peter Britner, of Glendale, and has four children, Tony, Florence A., Tillie M. and Matilda; Mary A. married Fred Barthon, and lives on Hill street, Glendale; Anna J. is a saleswoman; August and Andres H. are assisting their father on the farm. Harry J. Seibel attended the public schools of Carnegie when a boy, and worked for his father. Being naturally handy with tools, he determined to learn the carpenters' trade, and has been unusually successful in his chosen vocation. After learning his trade, he also spent one year as a dealer in all kinds of live-stock. On Aug. 24, 1898, he was
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wedded to Miss Carrie Weber, and after marriage worked two years at his trade, and then spent over two years as a hotel keeper. It was while in that business that his wife died, June 12, 1901. She was born Sept. 9, 1873. Mrs. Seibel was the daughter of Phias and Mary (Cutner) Weber, natives of Germany, who came to this country and were married in Pittsburg. Mrs. Seibel was a mem- ber of St. Joseph's Catholic church, was a woman of many friends, and her death was a severe blow to all who knew her. Mr. Seibel has one child living, Mary Anna. His son, Joseph H., born March 3, 1901, died on June 7th of that year. Mr. Seibel has been unusually successful in his business, and has amassed a consider- able fortune. He is at present building fifteen houses of his own on Bower hill, and fourteen for other people. He owns building lots in Idaville, Carnegie, Chartiers township, Scott township, Collier township, and Upper St. Clair and Lower St. Clair town- ships. He has been quite active in public life, and has served as a member of the board of electors of Scott township one year. He holds stock in the Domestic land company, of Carnegie, and the Chartiers valley building company. He is a member of St. Joseph's Catholic church.
J. K. M. PERRINE, M. D., of Pitts- burg, Pa., a well-known physician and specialist on the diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, was born in Idlewood, Allegheny Co., Pa., Nov. 20, 1870, son of T. C. and Sarah Josephine (Morange) Perrine, his father having been a 'mem- ber of the firm of Eli Edmundson & Son, dealers in hardwood furniture and upholstering, and is now a member of the firm of Edmundson & Perrine, engaged in the same business. The elder Perrine is a native of Allegheny county, and his ancestors were among the first settlers of the county. Dr. Perrine's maternal great-grandfather, John Morange, was the first steel nail manufacturer west of the Allegheny mountains, and the grand- father of Dr. Perrine, James K. Morange, was a prominent oil- broker of Pittsburg. Dr. Perrine attended the public schools of Pittsburg, the Willard preparatory school and the Western Univer- sity of Pennsylvania. He entered the Hahnemann medical college, of Philadelphia, and was graduated in 1893 He came to Pittsburg
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as resident physician of the Homnœopathic hospital for a short time, and then went to Philadelphia and attended a special course in the Polyclinic college for graduates of medicine. On leaving this school, Dr. Perrine went to Germany, where he took special courses in the diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, at Göttingen, Hei- delberg and Berlin, and spent two years on the continent in studying this specialty. In 1895 he returned to Pittsburg, and since has devoted his attention to practicing his specialty, in which he has met with much success, and stands well among the physicians of Pittsburg. He is a member and ex-president of the Allegheny county homoeopathic medical society, member of the Pennsylvania State medical association, the American institute of homoeopathy, the East End homoeopathic doctors' club, and is a member of ophthalmological and dispensary staffs of the Homoeopathic hos- pital.
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