USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume I > Part 16
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who were among the first settlers of the city of Pittsburg. Dr. Shaw's maternal grandmother, Margaret (Murdoch) Conner, was a native of County Antrim, Ireland, near Belfast. The paternal grandparents were members of the Old Brush Creek A. R. Pres- byterian church, near what is now Larimer station. This church was presided over by the celebrated Hendersons (Matthew, Sr., and his son, Matthew, Jr., and Ebenezer, father of Matthew, Sr.) as pastors. The latter Henderson also at that time supplied the First United Presbyterian church of Pittsburg. Dr. William C. Shaw was born on the farm in Versailles township, where his father before him was also born, Feb. 7, 1846. During his boy- hood he worked on the farm and attended the common schools of the township, where he received his primary education. In February, 1864, he entered Newell's institute at Pittsburg, where he spent two years preparing himself to enter college, and was graduated from Washington and Jefferson college, at Wash- ington, Pa., in 1869. He read medicine for one year in the office of Dr. W. R. Hamilton, of Pittsburg, after which he matriculated in the Bellevue hospital medical college, of New York, from which institution he graduated with honors on the last day of February, 1872. For the next six months he studied with Prof. Joseph W. Howe, of New York, and then took the competitive examination for admission to the Bellevue hospital as resident surgeon for a term of two years. He passed the examination over all competitors and served as resident surgeon from 1872 to 1874. During the last eighteen months of his term he was on the second surgical division, serving under such eminent surgeons as Frank H. Hamilton, Louis A. Sayre, H. B. Sands, Stephen Smith and Alexander B. Mott. At the expiration of his hospital service he came to Pitts- burg and began the general practice of medicine and surgery on Wylie avenue, not far from his present location. Dr. Shaw was married, Nov. 1, 1877, to Miss Martha M. Lewis, daughter of J. C. and Sarah (Sargent) Lewis. His wife's father was the senior mem- ber of the firm of Lewis, Bailey, Dalzell & Co., iron manufacturers, of Sharpsburg, Allegheny county. Dr. and Mrs. Shaw have two daughters: Sarah Louise, who graduated from Wilson college in 1902, and Jennie Ekin, who is now attending that institution. From 1876 to 1878 Dr. Shaw was on the medical staff of the Mercy hospital, of Pittsburg, and from 1878 to 1887 he was on the surgical staff of the same institution. Since 1889 he has occupied the posi- tion of physician and obstetrician to the Bethesda home, and until recently was alternate surgeon for the Pennsylvania and Pan
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Handle railroad companies. Since 1881 he has been the medical examiner for the Equitable life assurance society of New York, and for the National life insurance of Vermont since 1882. He is also examiner for the Home, Manhattan and Mutual life insurance companies of New York, the Michigan Mutual, the New England, and the Bankers', of Des Moines, Ia., and surgeon for the Employes' liability and accident company, of London, and the Fidelity and Casualty company of New York. He is a member of the Allegheny county and the Pennsylvania State medical societies, the American medical association, the American academy of medi- cine, the Alumni society of Bellevue hospital, the Pittsburg chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity, and is a life member of the Pittsburg free dispensary, and the Western Pennsylvania exposition society. He is also a member and one of the elders in the United Presby- terian church of Bellevue; a life member of the Scotch-Irish society of America, of which he is secretary for western Pennsylvania, and the Scotch-Irish society of Pennsylvania. In political matters he always acts with the republican party, though he seldom plays an active part in political campaigns. He resides at No. 300 Lincoln Ave., Bellevue, at the corner of Thomas Ave., and besides his office at No. 213 Frick building, he maintains another main office at No. 1009 Wylie Ave. Dr. Shaw has a large practice, and in the treatment of diseases is eminently successful, owing to the thorough training he received while in college and in Bellevue hospital, and the progressive spirit of the man who keeps fully up with the new remedies and discoveries concerning his profession.
DR. ALVIN ST. CLAIR DAGGETTE, whose offices are located at No. 400 South Craig St., is one of the best-known and most popular physicians in the city of Pittsburg. His ancestors were among the first settlers of western Pennsylvania. His paternal great-grandfather, John Daggette, served from 1775 to 1782 in the American army during the war of the Revolution, being several times dis- charged, but each time re-enlisting. During his last enlistment, from June to December, 1782, he was a sergeant under Captain Sexton and Colonel Walbridge. After the war he settled in Erie county, Pa., having formerly been a citizen of Vermont.
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His son, George Daggette, married Rachel Morton, whose great- uncle, Thomas Morton, settled upon a tract of land, in 1767, near what is now the town of Buena Vista, in Allegheny county, and received a patent for it in 1771. Upon his death, this farm passed to his nephew, Allen Morton, the father of Rachel, who was the grandmother of Dr. Daggette, and who inherited the farm upon the death of her father. It was upon this farm that Dr. Alvin S. Daggette was born, March 17, 1856. His parents were John Morton and Mary McColly (Kelly) Daggette, who had inherited the old Morton homestead. Dr. Daggette is the second of a family of six children. The others, in the order of their ages, were: Mary Ra Laura; Olive T., who died in 1883; Kate Emma, wife of Noah Rhodes, the cashier of the Smithton bank, at Smithton, Pa. ; Bertie Wallace, who, with the eldest daughter, still lives upon the homestead, and Frank Summerfield, a member of the W. W. McBride paper company, of Pittsburg. Dr. Daggette received his early education in the common schools of Allegheny county. This was supplemented by a course in the State normal school located at Indiana, Pa., after which he taught in the public schools of his native township for several years. Deciding to enter the medical profession, he attended the Western Reserve university of Cleve- land, Ohio, and graduated from the medical department of that institution on March 2, 1881. After graduating, he first located at Shaner Station, Westmoreland Co., Pa., where he was engaged in general practice until November, 1886, when he removed to Pitts- burg. In his new location he soon succeeded in establishing a large practice, and is one of the most popular family physicians in the city. His work is of a general character, including all branches of medicine and surgery. He is a member of the Allegheny county and Pennsylvania State medical societies; the Academy of sciences and art, and art society, of Pittsburg, the American association for the advancement of science, and is president of the Western Reserve alumni association, of western Pennsylvania. He is also a member and deacon of the Bellefield Presbyterian church, of Pitts- burg. Dr. Daggette was married, May 7, 1885, to Miss Fannie Flotilla Prescott, of Youghiogheny, Westmoreland county, and they have one child, William Morton Clair. While living at Shaner Station, in Westmoreland county, Dr. Daggette served on the school board of Sewickley, and was also treasurer of the school funds. He was also surgeon for the Baltimore & Ohio railroad relief association. In all these positions he won the confidence of his employers, because he was always attentive to their interests
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and prompt in the discharge of his duties. The same is true of his private patients. They know that he can always be trusted to come to their relief on short notice, and his popularity is due as much to his readiness to respond to the call of the suffering as to his thorough knowledge of the science of medicine.
HORACE S. RITTER, M. D., of Pittsburg, Pa., a well-known physician, was born in Tioga, Tioga Co., Pa., June 17, 1865, son of Frederick D. and Albina (Vermelyea) Ritter, his father having served through the Civil war as surgeon and major in the 4th Pennsyl- vania reserves; later was a successful physician of Tioga, Pa .; then removed to Gaines, Pa., where he practiced until his death on March 12, 1897. Dr. Ritter's paternal ancestors came to America in 1760, located in Otsego county, N. Y., where Andrew Ritter, his grandfather, gained fame as a soldier in *the Revolutionary war, being a member of the famous Mohawk guards of that State. His mother was the daughter of Horace C. Vermelyea, well known as a true disciple of Izaak Walton, and who was prominently identified with the fishing clubs of New York until his death, in 1878. His ancestors came from Holland, settled in the Amsterdam colony in New York, and were prominently identified with that body. Dr. Ritter was educated in the rudimentary branches in the public schools of Tioga, was graduated from the Wellsboro high school in 1878, and then entered Alfred university, of Allegany county, N. Y. He attended that school for three years, later matriculated at St. Joseph college at Buffalo, N. Y., where he was graduated in 1883, with the degree of bachelor of arts. In 1886 he secured the degree of master of arts from that institution. The next year was spent at the Buffalo college of pharmacy, and in ISS4 he entered Jefferson medical college, and there was graduated in 1888, with the degree of doctor of medicine. He was in the hospitals of Philadelphia for two years, when he removed to Elmira, N. Y. ; there made a specialty of the eye, meet- ing with much success until 1901, when he came to Pittsburg, and has since prospered as a general practitioner of medicine and surgery. In 1897 the honorary degree of doctor of laws was con- ferred on him by the University of Montreal. Dr. Ritter has been
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eye surgeon to the Ogden Memorial and other hospitals in Elmira, from 1892 to 1901, and is a member of the Chernung county, the Tioga county, the New York State and the American medical asso- ciations, the Elmira academy of medicine and the Military surgeons' association of the United States. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having obtained the consistory and Knights Templars degrees; of the Mystic Shrine; of the B. P. O. E. ; of the Sons of Veterans, of which he is first lieutenant in New York State, and is a member of the first class of the Loyal Legion since the death of his father. He was married, in 1888, to Clara Alys, daughter of Charles Scheffel, of Williamsport, formerly a prominent lumber dealer, but now retired from active life. Dr. Ritter is a member of the Episcopal church, and is identified with religious and philan- thropic work in the city.
JAMES HARVEY MCCABE, de- ceased, late of Coraopolis, Pa., for many years a successful farmer, was born in Moon township, Allegheny Co., Pa, May 3, 1814, and was the son of James E. McCabe. His father was descended from - Owen McCabe, who came to America in the early days from County Tyrone, Ire- land, and founded the McCabe family in America. Our subject's ancestors have been prominent in the affairs of the coun- try, a number of them serving in the patriot army during the struggles of the colonies for independence, and otherwise known in the council chamber and on the field of battle. James Harvey McCabe had eight children, three of whom are now living. William Reed, John M. and Junius D. He was a successful and prosperous farmer during his business career, with the exception of a short period in early manhood when he was on the river. He was a member and strong supporter of the old whig party, and at the birth of the republican party cast his allegiance with it and pro- mulgated its tenets the rest of his life. His religious affiliation was with the Presbyterian church, and for many years was an elder in different churches of that denomination; first, in. the old Sharon church in Moon township; later, in Forest Grove church in Robinson township, and at the time of his death, in the church at Coraopolis. Mr. McCabe was married to Dorcas, daughter of
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James Reed, of Findley township, Allegheny county, and they had eight children. Mr. McCabe's life was a long and useful one, and his passing through the world was of distinct benefit to the section in which he lived. He died on April 10, 1891, having exceeded the biblical limit of a man's life, and his death was sincerely regretted by the entire community.
WILLIAM H. H. LEA, postmaster of Carnegie and one of the leading men of Allegheny county, was born in Alle- gheny county, Pa., Jan. 18, 1846, son of William Lea and Mary Verner Lea. Willianı Lea was a contractor and car- penter, and a well-known man of his time. He was born on a farm owned by 3 his father, also named William Lea, who owned an extensive farm near Carnegie and gave liis name to Leasdale Station. He was the son of Maj. William Lea, an officer in the English army, who came to America some time between 1770 and 1780, and took up the farm which remained in possession of the Lea family until 1896. Major Lea's eldest child was the first white child born in the vicinity. He had- also three other children, Robert, William and Samuel. The major lived to be almost ninety years old, and his wife also lived to a good old age. William H. H. Lea, the subject of this sketch, is the eldest of four children. The others are: Mansfield B., a resident of Etna borough; Cassius M., who lives in Carnegie, and Margaret E., who married E. H. Leasure, and also lives in Allegheny county. William H. H. Lea received his education in the schools of Scott township, Allegheny county, and then, Dec. 7, 1861, when less than sixteen years old, he joined the 112th Pennsyl- vania veteran volunteers, and fought valiantly throughout the war, being mustered out as a lieutenant some four years after his enlist- ment. During the war he was never wounded and never taken prisoner, and came out in much better physical condition than when he enlisted. He had the honor of being first assistant pro- vost marshal under Capt. John B. Kreps, of Petersburg, Va., and also agent of the Freedinen's bureau in Prince Edward and Amelia counties, Va , and at Berksville Junction after Lee's sur- render. After the war Mr. Lea spent several years as a miller at the Woodville flour mills, and in 1870 came to Mansfield, which is
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now Carnegie, and was employed for some time as a clerk. On Aug. 3, 1889, he was appointed postmaster of Mansfield Valley, Pa., under President Harrison, and served five years. He was also for four years clerk in the prothonotary's office in Pittsburg, and then resigned to become postmaster at Carnegie, Pa., appointed by President Mckinley, and is still acting as postmaster, having proved a capable and efficient official. Mr. Lea has held a number of positions of trust and responsibility, has served a year as justice of the peace, been connected with the building associa- tion of Carnegie, and is now a member of the board of trade. He was married, May 30, 1872, to Miss Kate E. McQuitty, daughter of Andrew McQuitty. The children born of this union are: A. Blanchard, engineer; Robert W., electrician; Mary E., a graduate of Westminster college, now teaching in Carnegie high school; Sylva B., money order clerk and cashier of the Carnegie postoffice, and Ben H., student in the Carnegie high school. Mr. Lea and family are members of the United Presbyterian church. He is a member of the G. A. R., and has been adjutant for the past eleven years.
WILLIAM JORDAN, pastor of St. Francis' German Catholic church, at Homestead, was born in the province of Baden, Germany, Sept. 13, 1861, son of Sebastian and Tecla Jordan. He was reared in his native country, and attended the University of Freiburg, from which he graduated in 1886. In 1887 he came to America and entered the theological department of St. Vincent's college, La- trobe, Pa. After completing his religious education, he was ordained to the priest- hood in 1888 by Bishop Phelan, and assigned to his first charge as assistant pastor of St. Mary's church, Altoona, Pa., where he remained four years. In 1892 Father Jordan was assigned to St. Cecilia parish, Rochester, Pa., where he remained two years, and then went to Wexford, Allegheny county, as pastor of St. Alphonsus' church. In 1897 Father Jordan was assigned to Homestead, where he has since remained and dis- tinguished himself as a faithful and conscientious worker for the church. When he came to Homestead the church had a member- ship of 120 families, but now contains only seventy families,
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because the Polish element of the congregation broke off and formed a church of its own. The seating capacity of St. Francis' church is about 450, and the parochial school in connection has an attendance of seventy pupils.
ORANGE SCOTT COLE, locomotive engineer, residing at 110 Railroad Ave., Carnegie, was born in Lawrence county, Pa., Oct. 4, 1849. His father, Encer Cole, born Nov. 27, 1827, is still living, though long since retired from active life, but his mother, Anna P. ( Houlette) Cole, died Aug. 17, 1898, when seventy- seven years old. The father was for many years a prominent farmer and dealer in live-stock, and furnished horses for the army during the Civil war. He was married, Nov. 23, 1848, to Mrs. Anna P. Brown, formerly the wife of Caleb Brown, of Newcastle, who had one son by this marriage, Lafayette Brown. Lafayette Brown served three years as a private in Battery M, Ist United States light artillery, during the Civil war. He was employed as a railroad conductor after the war and lost his life in an accident while making a coupling. By her marriage to Mr. Cole, Mrs. Cole had five children, of whom the subject of this sketch, Orange S., is the eldest. Of the others, Mary E. is now Mrs. William Henry, of Youngstown, Ohio; William M., a resident of Carnegie, is a roundhouse foreman; Edwin W. is in the hotel business at Darling- ton, Beaver Co., Pa., and Lizzie J. is married to Henry J. Polock, a resident of Carnegie, and foreman of the carpenters of the Pan Handle railway. O. S. Cole, the subject of this sketch, was edu- cated in the common schools and the high school at Mount Jackson, Lawrence county. During the Civil war he assisted his father in buying and shipping horses, and later, in 1870, began his life-work as a railroad man. He was first employed for ten months as a wiper, then promoted to fireman, and two years later, Jan. 27, 1873, was given charge of an engine. Mr. Cole has been for thirty years an engineer on the Pan Handle railroad, and his long service in the employ of the same company tells of ability and faithful attention to duty. He came to Carnegie Aug. 9, 1870, and has ever since been one of her honored residents. He was for six years a member of the school board, and while he was secretary of
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the board, an addition to the first ward schoolhouse was erected and numerous minor building improvements were made. On Dec. 11, 1872, Mr. Cole was married to Miss Mary E. Young, of Carnegie, daughter of Joseph and Margaret Young, both now deceased. Mrs. Cole's brother William is now dead, and six other brothers and sisters are living: Ellen K., now Mrs. N. J. Knolten, of Philadelphia; Robert, baggage master on the P. C. & Y. railroad; Eliza J. ; Elizabeth, now Mrs. W. W. Connor; Joseph, an engineer, residing in Carnegie, and John, also an engineer. Mr. O. S. Cole and wife had seven children: Cora B., now Mrs. Frank Mercer, a resident of Carnegie; Edwin J., also a resident of Carnegie, who married Anna Mary Burgan; William J., now employed as a passenger brakeman; Burtie, who died in 1882, when two years old; Nettie O., at home, house- keeper for her father; George H., fireman on the Pan Handle railroad; Ella M., attending Carnegie high school. Mrs. Cole died July 16, 1900. She was born Nov. 26, 1855. She was a devout Christian, an active member of the United Presbyterian church, and a woman whose life was an inspiration to her many acquaint- ances. Mr. Cole is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Royal Arcanum, Knights of Pythias, Knights of the Golden Eagle and Junior Order of United American Mechanics. He has been for years a prominent and influential citizen of Carnegie. In politics he is an ardent republican.
DR. JAMES FRANCIS PHILIPS, whose family name is derived from the word "Philip," meaning a lover of horses, located at No. 2139 Wylie Ave., Pittsburg, Pa., was born in the little vil- lage of Library, Allegheny county, May 17, 1859. The town of Library was so called because it contained the first circulating library established west of the Allegheny mountains, and has grown but little since it was first founded. Dr. Philips is the son of David L. and Nancy (Allison) Philips, his father being a con- tractor and builder, who died in 1893. His ancestors were among the early settlers of Pennsylvania. Dr. Philips' great-grandfather, David Philips, came with his parents, Joseph and Mary Philips, to America in 1755, from Pembrokeshire, Wales, and settled near the
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town of West Chester, Pa. During the Revolutionary war, General Washington's army was located for a while near the Philips home- stead, and David and his three brothers rendered the American general valuable service in the way of giving information concern- ing the people inhabiting that section of the State. In a personal interview with General Washington, they obtained permission to form a company, and each of the four boys received a commission : David as captain, two as lieutenants, and the fourth as ensign, which was then a commissioned office. After the war, Capt. David Philips settled at Library, Pa., where he organized the Peters Creek Baptist church, of which he was pastor from 1783 to 1829, being the first Baptist minister west of the Allegheny mountains. He died in 1829, and lies buried in the graveyard at Library, his grave being marked by a Revolutionary marker. Dr. Philips' mother was a lineal descendant of one of the old Holland families that settled in the colony of New Amsterdam at a very early date. Dr. Philips was educated in the public schools of Allegheny county and at Piersol's academy, at Bridgewater, Beaver Co., Pa., from which some of the greatest men in the country received their edu- cation. After leaving the academy, he taught for nine years in the public schools of Allegheny and Beaver counties. He entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Baltimore, Md., and graduated in 1889, after a three-year course. The same year he received the degree of M. D. from the Medico-Chirurgical college, of Philadelphia. On May 8, 1889, he located at his present address and began the general practice of medicine. He is a member of the Allegheny county medical society, the American medical asso- ciation, Dallas lodge, No. 508, Free and Accepted Masons; Beaver lodge, No. 248, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, located in West Bridgewater, Beaver county; member of Beulah conclave, No. 296, Order of Heptasophs, and Center Avenue lodge, No. 124, A. O. U. W., and the Masonic country club. From 1890 to 1895 he was vaccine physician for the city of Pittsburg. During the year 1901 he was surgeon to the police force and fire departinent of the city of Pittsburg, and for the same period was physician to the bureau of health. From 1894 to 1898 he was examiner for the Manhattan life insurance company, of New York, and from 1896 to 1900 he was examiner for the Illinois life association. He is now the examiner for the Order of Heptasophs and for the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically, Dr. Philips is a republican, but was one of the instigators and promoters of the citizens' party in Pittsburg, having been chairman of the party organization in
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the eleventh ward from the beginning of the movement. He is a member of Christ Methodist Episcopal church. Dr. Philips is in the highest sense of the term a self-made man. His genial disposi- tion makes friends, but he holds those friends through the sterling qualities that he has developed by careful study and training. His patients know him for a conscientious physician and humane man. They know, too, that they can rely fully upon his word, and have faith in his skill and his promises.
WILLIAM U. SMITH, wagon-maker at Carnegie, was born in Pennsylvania, July 13, 1841, son of W. D. and Martlia (Uffington) Smith, natives, respectively, of England and New Jersey. W. D. Smith was a music dealer in Pittsburg, and afterwards taught music. He came to Carnegie in 1867 and died there in 1872. Martha (Uffington) Smith is still living in Carnegie at the advanced age of eighty-eight. Mr. Smith was a dea- con of the Baptist church, of which his wife is also a member. William U. Smith, the subject of this sketch, is the only one living of three children born to Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Smith. The first-born son, Thomas, died in infancy, and the youngest. Frank, was killed in the battle of Auldey's Gap, Va., in July, 1863. He enlisted with a Pittsburg company and fought with the army of the Potomac in the battle of Gettysburg about a week before his death. William U. Smith also fought in the Civil war, and was wounded in the left arm when fighting at Antietam. He enlisted in 1862, in Com- pany A, 9th Pennsylvania reserves, army of the Potomac. His first battle was at South Mountain; then came the battle of Antie- tain, in which he received the wound that disabled him for further service. He was honorably discharged from the service, after several months spent in a hospital, in May, 1863. Mr. Smith was educated in the common schools of his native county and, in 1858-59, was second clerk on a steamboat. In 1860 he began clerking in a flour mill in Nashville, Tenn., and was there when the Civil war broke out. In 1862 he returned to the north to join the army and fight for his country. After completing his service in the war, Mr. Smith went to England, where he remained two years, returning in 1866 to begin his business as a wagon-maker.
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