USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume I > Part 19
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CHARLES W. LIGHTHILL, alder- man of the fifth ward of Allegheny city, Pa., was born in the ward in 1835. His father, John Lighthill, died in 1880, and his mother, Nancy Lighthill, died in 1897. Charles was educated in the John Kelley and first ward schools, and upon leaving school was apprenticed to a coach-builder. After learning his trade, he worked two years at it in New Haven, Conn., but at the end of that time came back to Alle- gheny city, where he obtained a position on the river as a ship carpenter. He fol- lowed this occupation for four years, and then for about the same length of time was engaged on the Pittsburg wharf. After leav- ing this place, he followed the river for ten or twelve years, floating coal to the south. This coal trade was divided into two periods, before and after the Civil war. During the war he worked for the United States at Bridgeport, Ala., building boats for the use of the government. Since the war he has worked at various occupations, but the greater part of his time for several years was spent on the river, being made a master in 1880. For ten or twelve years he was in the employ of the Lindsey & Mccutcheon iron works. His first election to the office of alderman was in 1872, serving five years. He was again elected alderman in 1899, and continues in that position, his offices being at No. 1237 Ridge Ave. In the meantime he served four years as a member of the common council of Allegheny city. When he was about twenty-four years of age he was married to Miss Caroline Fergeson, of Washington county, Pa., and they have two children, Sarah and Sidney C. Lighthill. Mr. Lighthill is one of the leading republicans of the fifth ward, taking an active interest in all questions affecting the public wel- fare. His wide experience has made him a good judge of human nature, and he is rarely mistaken in his estimates of men.
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EDWIN B. JENKINS, a prominent and successful broker of Pittsburg, Pa., was born in Kingwood, W. Va., Sept. 16, 1868, and is the son of William M. and Elizabeth (Gibson) Jenkins. His edu- cation was acquired in the common schools of his native town. When he was . twenty years of age he came to Pittsburg and went into business with his uncle, Marshall L. Jenkins, in the oil trade. Edwin Jenkins was elected a member of the oil exchange in the fall of 1889, and continued a member until the exchange went out of existence. He then engaged in business as a broker in stocks and grain in Pittsburg, under the firm name of E. B. Jenkins & Co., in which he is at present. In November, 1892, the firm was incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000. On Feb. 12, 1893, Mr. Jenkins was married to Miss A. Lora Crumrine, a daughter of Valentine Crumrine, of Beallsville, Pa. To this marriage two daughters-Helen and Gertrude-have been born, both girls still in school. Mr. Jenkins is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal church of the East End, Pittsburg.
ADAM STORK, alderman of the seventh ward of Allegheny city, Pa., is a native of Germany, where he was born in the year 1847. His parents, Leonard and Katherine Stork, came to this country about 1852 and settled in Allegheny city, where his mother died in 1868, and his father in 1885. Mr. Stork attended the third ward school, in which he received his education, and from the time of his leaving school until the Civil war, he was employed in the Banner, Hope and Eagle cotton mills. In 1864 he enlisted as a private in Company G, 212th Pennsylvania infantry, and served until June 13, 1865, when he was mustered out in Virginia and returned to Allegheny city. He was then employed as engineer in the works of G. Wettach & Sons and Lappe & Sons until the elec- tion of Thomas Megraw as mayor, in 1878, when he went on the police force. Mayor Megraw's successor, Lewis Peterson, Jr.,
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appointed Mr. Stork a lieutenant of police, and, in 1885, he was elected alderman of the seventh ward, with his office at No. 165 Chestnut St. He continued in both positions-alderman and police lieutenant-until Sept. 18, 1886, having charge of police work at night. Mr. Stork during this period frequently acted as mayor in the absence of Mayor Wyman, and discharged the duties with ability and fidelity. Under Mayor R. T. Pearson he served as lieutenant of police and also as alderman of the seventh ward. In 1890 he dropped the police part, and since that time he has con- tinued as alderman only, except for serving as police magistrate under Mayor Wm. M. Kennedy. Mr. Stork has always been a republican in politics, and for fifteen years has represented his ward upon the republican county committee. Although a partisan, he has a large number of personal friends among his political oppo- nents, having won their regard by his straightforward course in the performance of his duties.
SAMUEL ABERNATHEY, alderman from the first ward, Allegheny city, Pa., is one of the representative men in the city where he was born in 1854, and where he has passed the greater part of his life. His father, John Abernathey, died in 1894, though his mother, Kathe- rine, is still living. Samuel obtained his education in the public schools of the first, second and third wards of Allegheny city, and began his business career in a tobacco store as a clerk. In the course of time he abandoned this occupation, and for several years followed the river, holding various positions on the steamers plying in and out of Pittsburg. Upon leaving the river, he engaged in the restaurant business in Pittsburg, return- ing later to Allegheny city, where he took up his residence. Soon after his return he was elected constable for the first ward, and at the expiration of his term was re-elected, serving altogether seven years, when he was elected alderman from the first ward, which position he still holds. He was married to Miss Mary Maple, of West Virginia, who died in 1893, leaving two sons, George and Albert, both of whom are now married. Mr. Abernathey is a mem- ber of Lorena lodge, No. 198, Knights of Pythias, which is the only secret or fraternal organization to claim him as a brother. In
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April, 1903, he was appointed police magistrate under Mayor Wyman. In this position he has shown the genuine judicial temperament, his decisions being based on justice and generally meeting with popular approval.
JOHN A. FAIRMAN, a prominent retired funeral director and livery keeper, of Allegheny city, Pa., has been identified with the business interests of Allegheny city for almost half a century. He was born in what is now the fourth ward of the city, in 1845, and is a son of Robert and Agnes Fairman, both of whom are well remembered by the older inhabit- ants of the city. Robert Fairman died Oct. 5, 1878, and his wife on June 20, 1895. John A. Fairman's early education was acquired in the fourth ward public school, after which he took a course at Duff's college, Pittsburg, and entered upon his business career as an assistant in William Rorah's photograph gallery, which was the first west of the moun- tains in Pennsylvania. While thus employed, the Civil war broke out and young Fairman, fired by the patriotic impulses which at that time found lodgment in the hearts of so many American citi- zens, left his peaceful occupation to take up arms in defense of his country. He first enlisted as a private in the Ist battalion, Penn- sylvania cavalry, but later became a member of Knapp's Pennsyl- vania battery. He served until February, 1864, being captured at Averasboro, N. C., and was for some time an inmate of the famous Libby prison. At the close of the war he returned to Alle- gheny city and became associated with his father in the undertak- ing business. In 1869 he went to Cleveland, Ohio, as secretary and treasurer of the Forest City pipe works, manufacturers of steam and gas pipes. In 1873 he sold out his interest in the com- pany, returned to Allegheny city, and opened an undertaking and livery establishment on Beaver avenue. Afterwards he removed to Sandusky street, where he conducted the business successfully until 1879, when he sold out, and for the next two years was not actively engaged in any business. In 1881 he became connected with the Pittsburg oil company, in sinking wells, etc., in which he continued until 1884, and since that time he has been looking after his interests in that vicinity. Mr. Fairman is a prominent figure
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in the lodge and club life of Allegheny city. As early as 1867 he joined Franklin lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, but later transferred his membership to Allegheny lodge, No. 223. He is also a member of Allegheny chapter, No. 217, Royal Arch Masons, and Lorena Orr chapter, No. 18, Order of the Eastern Star. As a member of Abe Patterson post, No. 88, Grand Army of the Republic, he has held the office of commander, an honor that any man might covet. He belongs to Allegheny lodge, No. 339, B. P. O. Elks, of which he is a past exalted ruler, and in which he now holds the important office of trustee. He was also the chair- man of the building committee, having in charge. the work of remodeling the Elks' home on Cedar avenue. Mr. Fairman has always been a consistent republican, but the only office he has ever held was that of member of the common council of Allegheny city. He was prominently mentioned in connection with the office of sheriff of Allegheny county, but positively refused to become a candidate. Throughout his entire business career he has been dis- tinguished by his uprightness and integrity. As a member of the council he considered it his duty to guard the interests of the peo- ple, and that duty was always well performed. As a young man, a member of Knapp's battery, the same devotion to duty marked his military conduct. Had he been willing to desert his post at a critical moment, he might have avoided capture and imprisonment, but he preferred capture, or even death, to dishonor.
ADDISON J. BRINKER, alderman of the twelfth ward of Allegheny city, was born in Butler county, Pa., April 23, 1840. In 1847 his parents removed to Allegheny city, where he received the greater part of his education in the public schools. After a residence of seven years in Allegheny city, the family returned to Butler county, where his father, Jacob Brinker, died in 1855. The death of his father threw a good part of the burden of the family support upon Addison, and he went to work in the mines, digging coal. In the spring of 1856 he obtained a position on the old Pennsylvania canal, where he continued for some time, and later, in 1857, went to Meadville to learn the trade of an iron-molder. About a year later he went to Pittsburg and found employment on the river.
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During the Mormon troubles of 1858 he was in the United States service under Gens. Percy S. Smith and W. S. Harney. After a four-month campaign against the Mormons, he returned to Pitts- burg and worked in the oil fields until 1861. Upon the breaking out of the Civil war, Mr. Brinker returned to Butler county and enlisted as a private in Company I, 12th Pennsylvania volunteers, for the three-month service, under Capt. Biddle Roberts. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he again entered the service, this time as first sergeant in Company H, 102d Pennsylvania vol- unteer infantry. In February, 1862, he was promoted to second lieutenant, and went through the Peninsular campaign to Harrison's Landing, when he resigned and returned home. He recruited a company and a third time entered the army, his company becom. ing Company G, 137th Pennsylvania infantry, in which he started as a private, but was soon promoted to orderly sergeant, then sergeant-major and acting adjutant under Col. J B. Kiddoo. On the last day of the battle of Chancellorsville, at the request of the officers of the line, Mr. Brinker took command of the regiment. After nine months' service with this regiment, he returned home, and from that time until December, 1863, he acted as United States detective for Pennsylvania. From December, 1863, to the close of the war he was stationed at Brady's Bend, Pa., at work upon the rolls. After peace was restored, he went to Meadville and secured a position on the police force, serving until 1869, when he resigned to become the chief of police at Franklin, Pa. Two years later he resigned this position to become chief at Butler, Pa., where he remained until 1875, when he came to Allegheny city. For a little while he was connected with the street railway company, but was soon appointed detective, under Chief Robert Hague, at the first exposition. After the exposition he went on the police force as lieutenant in charge of the day division, under Mayor Peterson, and continued in this place until 1884. After serving as constable for a short time in the fall of 1884, he was appointed alderman for the twelfth ward, and held the position for five years. For about nine months he was on the police force, when he was again appointed alderman for a term of five years, and at the expiration of this term he served as alderman for about eight months in the tenth ward. He then moved back to the twelfth ward and was again appointed alderman, this time by Governor Hastings. After the term of his appointment expired, he was with the Bell tele- phone company, as an inspector, for four years, when he was a fourth time chosen alderman, this time by popular election. His
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present office is located at No. 1517 East St. He has been appointed police magistrate two terms, and is at the present time holding that office. Throughout his entire career Mr. Brinker has been a close adherent to the principles and tenets of the republican party. He was married, in 1873, to Miss Jane McCleary, of Alle- gheny city. His wife died in 1901, leaving one son named Blaine. Mr. Brinker is a member of the English Lutheran church, and Lodge No. 128, United Workmen. His long official career has rendered him one of the best-known men in Allegheny city, and in his whole course of life, whether as a soldier, a policeman or an alderman, he has never shrunk from a responsibility nor swerved from a duty.
WILLIAM A. FORD, secretary and treasurer of the Ben Franklin fire insur- ance company, with headquarters in the Berry building, on Ohio street, Allegheny city, Pa., has been with that company over twenty-five years, and has worked his way up from the ranks. His parents were William W. and Mary A. Ford, both of whom are deceased. The subject of this sketch was born in 1854, in the second ward of Allegheny. Until he was four- teen, he attended school in his native city. Then the family removed to New- port. Ky., where they lived for several years, the father following the occupation of a steamboat captain . on the Ohio river. Here William attended the business college of Bryant, Stratton & De Hand, and after graduating from the institution, he became a clerk on his father's boat. In 1877 he was married to Miss Lydie E. McCune, of Allegheny city, Pa., and the next year gave up the river to accept a position with the Ben Franklin fire insurance company. In this business he rose rapidly, filling successively all the places in the offices until he reached his present position. He and his wife have three children, William A., Jr., Fanny L. and Howe R. The family reside in the second ward, where for twelve years Mr. Ford has been a member of the school board. Since taking up his residence in Allegheny city he has taken an active part in political campaigns, in which he has always identified him- self with the republican party. He has served on both the city and county committees, and was for six years a member of the
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common council. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, holding membership in Stuckrath lodge, No. 430; Allegheny chapter, No. 217; Allegheny commandery, No. 235; Pittsburg consistory ; and Syria temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a mem- ber of the Royal Arcanum and the Heptasophs. Mr. Ford and family attend the North Avenue Methodist Episcopal church.
HENRY HAUSER, wharfmaster of Allegheny city, Pa., is a lifelong resident of Allegheny county. He was born in the fourth ward of Allegheny city in 1860, received his entire education in the public school of that ward, and at the age of eleven years began his life-work as an employe of the malleable iron works. After learning his trade, he was employed for some years by the Crawford malleable iron works of Allegheny city, and later by the Pittsburg locomotive works. Next he was connected with the Speers manu- facturing company, and still later with the James Hunter River avenue lime company, as collector. Mayor John R. Murphy appointed Mr. Hauser to the city fire department, and for some time he was captain of hose company No. 10. From that company he was transferred to engine company No. 14, and as captain of that company he opened the new house on Perrysville avenue, but afterwards returned to his old quarters with the "Tens." Altogether, he was a member of the department for eleven years, and until he was appointed to his present position, in April, 1903, by Mayor Wyman. His father, Pius Hauser, died in 1895, his mother, Caroline Hauser, having died the previous year. Mr. Hauser is a consistent republican in all things political, having been a member of the county committee for the last ten years. He served nine years on the tenth ward school board, and for six years of that time he was chairman of the board. He is one of the charter members of the Republican progressive association of the tenth ward, and one of the original organizers of the celebrated Duquesne drum corps. In the matter of secret and fraternal societies, Mr. Hauser is a member of Fidelia lodge, No. 415, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, which he joined in 1882; Hope lodge, No. 243, Knights of Pythias; Ricka lodge, No. 5, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and the Perrysville conclave
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of Heptasophs. His church connection is with the Second Christian congregation, whose place of worship is on Observatory hill. He was married, in 1882, to Miss Elizabeth Arnold, of Allegheny city, and they have one daughter, Lyda May.
JOHN LINWOOD BROWN, superin- tendent of the bureau of water supply of Allegheny city, Pa., and son of William and Margarette Brown, was born in Eng- land in 1848, but came with his parents to America in his boyhood. The family settled in Philadelphia, where John gradu- ated from the city high school, and after- wards entered the Baldwin locomotive works as an apprentice, taking in the various departments of machinist, pattern and boiler-making and draughting, in the meantime taking two courses in mechanical engineering. After serving his apprenticeship, he entered the railway service as a locomotive engineer, but in a little while returned to the Baldwin works, and for some time was employed in delivering engines in different parts of the United States, Mexico, Cuba, Brazil, Peru, Chili, and other South Ameri- can countries, Russia and Canada. Later he was employed in the same capacity by the Pittsburg locomotive works. He then again entered the railroad service as master mechanic and superintendent of the Southern Wisconsin railroad, and later with the I. B. & W. and the Mexican Central lines, finally becoming master mechanic of the Pittsburg & Western. On July 5, 1871, he was married to Miss Elizabeth G. Hunt, of Belle Center, Ohio. They have one daughter, Marguerite, who is now the wife of Louis B. Hawkins. Mr. Brown is prominent in Masonic circles, holding membership in all the different bodies of that order, from the Blue lodge to the Mystic Shrine. He is a past exalted ruler of Alle- gheny lodge, No. 339, B. P. O. Elks; past grand chancellor of the Knights of Pythias for the State of Indiana, and past grand officer for several other bodies. He is also a member of the American society of mechanical engineers and of the Franklin institute, and is an ex-member of the National association of master mechanics. He resides in the third ward of Allegheny city, where he usually acts with the republican party in political contests.
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REV. BOSILJKO BEKAVAC, pastor of St. Nicholas' Roman Catholic church, of Allegheny city, Pa., was born in Obrenovac, Hercegovina, Aug. 5, 1870. He was educated in the schools of his native country and in Italy, and, in 1895, was ordained to the priesthood. Father Bekavac is fitted by nature for the work and offices of the priest, and from the time of his ordination until 1900 he served as a rector in his home country with a marked degree of success. In 1900 he came to the United States of America, settling at Allegheny city, Pa , and taking charge of his present parisli, where his labors have been crowned with the same favorable results as his work in the Fatherland. The parish of St. Nicholas is one of the most populous in the diocese, having a con- gregation of several hundred families and representing about 4,000 workingmen. Soon after taking charge of the parish, Father Bekavac went to work to improve the church property, and since that time he has erected the present buildings on Ohio street at a cost of about $82,000, the church edifice being one of the best in the city, and one of which both pastor and parishioners are justly proud.
FRANK B. HARKINS, the genial and popular real estate agent and police magistrate of Allegheny city, is one of the best-known men in the city. He was born in Allegheny county, March 14, 1853, and is of Irish extraction, as the names of his parents, Dennis and Bridget, would plainly indicate. His father died in 1890, and his mother in 1895. When Frank was still in his early boyhood, the family moved to Pittsburg, and there he received his first schooling under the private tutorage of Jeremiah Donovan. After this he attended the Brothers' school, and later the ward schools, until he was about ten years of age, when he went to work in the Phillips & Bess glass house. When he was twelve years of age the family went west, locating at Chilton, Calumet Co., Wis.,
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where he spent four years in school, thus completing his education. His parents then returned to Pittsburg, and Frank found employ- ment in the McKee glass house, on Nineteenth street, where he worked until he was eighteen years old, when the family moved to Allegheny city, taking him along. His next position was in the iron works of Oliver Bros. as a puddler, at which he continued until 1884. From 1884 to 1887 he served as an officer of the western penitentiary of Pennsylvania. In 1892 he was elected alderman of the eleventh ward, and, in 1897, was re-elected for another term of five years. He served six years as police magis- trate under Mayors Kennedy and Wyman, and was re-appointed by Recorder Murphy. In 1903 Mayor Wyman appointed him police magistrate of the third district for three years, with offices at No. 3 police station, on Preble avenue. Mr. Harkins was married, April 23, 1876, to Miss Annie Boyle, of Pittsburg. They have seven children, viz .: Annie, John A., Frank J., Dennis B., James A., Mary K. and Edward B.
REV. JOHN B. DUFFNER, pastor of the Most Holy Name parish, Troy Hill, Allegheny city, Pa., was born at Schoe- nenbach, Amt Villingen, Baden, Ger- many, June 19, 1843. His parents were James and Walburga Duffner, both now deceased. Father Duffner began his col- legiate studies at Maria Stein, Basel, Switzerland, a Benedictine abbey, now for some years abolished. His later studies were at the Benedictine abbey of Engelberg, Obwalden, Switzerland, and at Sarenen, near Luzerne. His philosophical studies were completed at the quondam Jesuit college, Brieg, Canton Wallis, Switzerland, and his theological studies at the seminary at Chur, Switzerland. While on a trip through the United States, he stopped for a few days, in the fall of 1867, at Pittsburg, Pa., and in November of that year, without previous in- tention, he entered the then existing St. Michael's seminary, of the diocese of Pittsburg, where he was also ordained priest by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Domenec, on Jan. 25, 1868. Since his ordination, Father Duffner has been laboring as a priest in the diocese of Pitts- burg and Allegheny, Pa. His first station was that of assistant priest to Rev. Father Tomchina, pastor of St. Augustine's, at
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Lawrenceville, Pa. After a few months at Lawrenceville, he was appointed rector of St. Agnes' congregation, near Mckeesport, Pa., where he remained about two years. Next he founded St. Peter's parish, South Side, Pittsburg, and was the pastor of the parish from November, 1871, to September, 1892. During seven- teen years of this time he was president of the German St. Joseph's orphan asylum. In September, 1892, he was appointed pastor of the Most Holy Name parish, Troy Hill, Allegheny city, Pa., and has been there ever since. His parish numbers about 700 families, and in every one of them the genial, kind-hearted priest is a welcome visitor.
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