USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume I > Part 2
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PAGE.
Shaner, James. 497
Shanks, John I. .376
Sheets, William L 28
Shields, John . . 312
Verner, Thomas H .. 80
Vogel, Adam
436
Vogeley, Jacob G 308
Vogt, John J.
187
Volkay, Eugene 392
W
Walker, Clarence A 46
Walker, James. 379
Walsh, Charles H 96
Wampler, James N 461
Warner, Herbert L 422
Soles, Anderson. 81
Soles, Clarence E
68
Soles, Wesley C
75
Spence, David 159
Spencer, Daniel B 448
Sproat, H. H 463
Stahl, James W. .470
V
Stamm, Henry. 455
Stanton, William M 255
Stark, Christ
427
Starke, Emil C ..
268
Starke, Richard H
118
Stebick, Edward J
102
White, William. B.
190
Stephens, Louis M. 240
Stevens, Joseph D 100
Stewart, John W
180
Stewart, Samuel E
145
Wise, John . .527
Wise, William E. .510
Wittman, John M. :
235
Wittman, Joseph J.
.203
Street, George T. .472
Sullivan, J. Bailey 386
Sullivan, N. K . 407
Sutter, Charles 173
T
Taylor, Dos .205
Taylor, Francis A .514
Taylor, Samuel. .520
Thompson, George W .267
Thompson, Harvey .331
Thompson, Lloyd F .393
Thompson, Matthew J .265
Tibby, William C. 269
Tinstman, Abraham O .239
Todd, L. Lewis 473
Trich, Edward M 45
U
Uhlinger, Charles.
180
V PAGE.
Van Kirk, Herbert S 446
Van Sciver, William K 131
Shields, Robert J
.503
Shultz, Herman
.496
Sieber, William 70
Simons, Hugh .387
Sinn, Charles J 409
Skelly, John K. 86
Smith, Albert G
281
Smith, Duane P
77
Smith, Samuel B. .224
Snyder, Daniel A. .246
Snyder, George W 124
Sober, Craig M. 429
Warren, George B 51
Weaver, George P
226
Weigle, Charles R 382
Weigle, Philip 382
Weigle, William 297
Wellinger, John G 213
Wernke, F. W 67
Wertz, J. George. 232
Westwood, Howard H 483
Wheatley, John C 518
Wheeler, Hiram J 249
White, D. M 72
47
Stein, John . 518
Wiggins, Samuel L
64
Wilkins, John. 379
Williams, Ulysses G .237
Wilson, William F 388
Stitt, Meredith C
324
Stone, George R 27
Stone, William A 40
Wolf, David
426
Wolf, Melchior, Sr .519
Wolfe, Frank. 451
Wolferd, William 428
Wolff, Frank 223
Wolff, John A .. 132
Woodside, Samuel P .309
Woodward, James F 12
Y
Yates, William E .383
Yochum, A. M .381
Yost Bros. 449
Young, Clyde F 444
Young, John F. 169
Z
Zenn, Philip
26
Zimmermann, Henry
421
Staley, William ] 154
White, Thomas W
MEMOIRS
OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
VOLUME I
HENRY PHIPPS. Among the men prominent in the history of Pittsburg, and among those who are loved and honored for their public spirit and true philanthropy, is Henry Phipps. He is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Philadelphia in 1839. His father, Henry Phipps, Sr., and mother, Hannah (Franks) Phipps, came to America from Shropshire, England, in 1832, settling in the east, and twelve years later settling in Allegheny city. Of the three sons and one daughter in the family, only two are liv- ing-Henry Phipps and Rev. William H. Phipps-both residing in Pittsburg. Mr. Henry Phipps was educated in the schools of Allegheny city, but left at an early age to enter the employ of the firm of J. J. Gillespie & Co., and after a short time became book- keeper for the firm of D. W. C. Bidwell & Co. During this time Mr. Phipps attended night school for several years, and supple- mented this by private study, and has become a man of broad cul- ture and sympathies. While in the employ of the latter company, he so won the confidence of his employers that he became a partner, continuing as such until the early sixties, when he engaged in the iron business in Pittsburg with Andrew Kloman, who had organized the Cyclops iron works, and shortly afterwards the firm took in Andrew and Thomas M. Carnegie. The firm underwent many changes in name, culminating in the Edgar Thompson steel works, the first plant west of the Allegheny mountains to manufacture steel rails. Mr. Phipps was in active charge of the financial department of these different enterprises until 1888, when ill health forced him to resign. A few years spent in travel in foreign countries proved to be both a benefit and pleasure, for his taste for travel had not been satisfied on account I-2
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of pressing business cares. Mr. Phipps led to the altar Annie Childs Shaffer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Shaffer, one of the best known of the early Pittsburg families. Five children came to bless their home-three sons, John Shaffer, Henry Carnegie and Howard, and two daughters, Amy and Helen. The first public benefaction of Mr. Phipps was the Allegheny conserv- atories, which were given to the city on the condition that they should be open to the public at all times. Shortly after this fol- lowed the gift to Pittsburg of the conservatory and botanical school, which are the finest of the kind in the country and complete in every detail. In making his gifts to the public and in all charitable work, Mr. Phipps has been anxious to escape public notice, and believes that one should not "let the right hand know what the left hand doeth." Mr. Phipps has earned for himself a reputation as one of the ablest financiers of the country, and numbers among his friends all of the leading financial men of the United States.
GEORGE L. HOLLIDAY, postmaster of Pittsburg, has been for many years prominently before the public. He was first elected to the city council in 1873, on the republican ticket, and served in that body for twenty-five years, being for about fifteen years president of the council. By virtue of being president of the council, he was a member of the library commission and of the building committee of that body when the main library building was erected, and took a special interest in the location and erec- tion of the branch libraries. When appointed postmaster, he resigned from the office of president of the council and library commission. He was appointed postmaster of Pittsburg on April 16, 1898, by President Mckinley and was reappointed by President Roosevelt on May 2, 1902. Mr. Holliday was born in Perth, Ontario Co., Canada, May 19, 1845, and is descended from Scotch ancestors. His paternal grandfather, John Holliday, was sent by the English government to Canada as a teacher in the pioneer government schools. Francis Holliday, son of John and father of George L., was born in Great Britain, came to Canada when a lad, and was educated in Perth. Subsequently he learned the harness-makers' trade, which he followed for several years,
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and, in 1857, moved to Logan county, Ohio, where he engaged in general farming until his death, which occurred in May, 1896. He married Mrs. Margaret Hamilton McEwan, daughter of John McEwan, of Carleton, Ont., and became the father of nine chil- dren. George L. Holliday had acquired the rudiments of his edu- cation in his native town, when, at the age of twelve, he moved with his parents to their new home in Ohio. Here his schooling was for several years limited to a few months in the winter season, and then, when he had reached the age of eighteen, he began to attend the academy at Northwood, two miles distant. He com- pleted his education at the normal school at Lebanon, Ohio, being graduated from the classical department in 1866. He accepted a position with Harper Brothers, being stationed in Ohio until 1869, when he came to Pittsburg and continued to be the firm's repre- sentative until 1880. He was for a time employed by Ivison, Blakeman & Co., of Pittsburg, but, upon the organization of the American book company, became its active representative. On Sept. 7, 1870, Mr. Holliday was united in marriage to Miss Mary T. Pringle, daughter of Dr. George W. Pringle, of New Concord, Ohio, and is the father of seven children, viz .: George A., Harry C., Grace W., Mary E., Edna M., Samuel P. and Francis M. Mr. Holliday and wife are members of the Second Presbyterian church, and Mr. Holliday belongs to the Masonic fraternity. He was one of the original promoters and is now president of the Duquesne inclined plane company.
EDWIN H. STOWE, ex-judge of the court of common pleas, and for many years a resident of Pittsburg, was born in Beaver county, Pa., Jan. 2, 1826, where he spent his boyhood. He was educated in Washington college. After being admitted to the bar, he spent many years in the successful practice of his profes- sion, and was then elected to his present office. Judge Stowe has the distinction of being the oldest judge in commission in the State of Pennsylvania. He has been re-elected to his position a number of times, and, although in politics a republican, his election has several times received the indorsement of both parties, showing the high esteem in which he is held in Pittsburg.
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WESLEY S. GUFFEY, capitalist and oil magnate. Out of the depths of his wisdom, Carlyle wrote, "History is the essence of innumerable biogra- phies," and Macaulay has said, "The history of a nation is best told in the lives of its people." It is therefore fitting that mention of this distinguished citizen should be made in this publication. History was at one time almost entirely a record of wars, a tale of conquest in which armed hosts went forth to capture, pillage and destroy, but with advancing civilization it has become a very different chronicle, being now more particularly the story of the onward march of progress, the upbuilding of cities and the establishing of enterprises and inter- ests which contribute to man's happiness and welfare. A man's reputation is the property of the world. The laws of nature have forbidden isolation. As every human being submits to the con- trolling influence of others, or as a master wields a power for good or evil on the masses of mankind, there can be no impropriety in justly scanning the acts of any man as they affect his public, social and business relations. If he be honest and successful in his "chosen fields of endeavor, investigation will brighten his fame and point the paths along which others may follow. Mr. Guffey is a son of Alexander Guffey, a direct descendant of William Guffey, who came to this country in 1738. This pioneer joined the expedi- tion under Gen. John Forbes against the French at Fort Duquesne, and afterwards settled at Loyalhanna Creek, where was established by his aid the first English-speaking settlement in West- moreland county. In 1886 occurred a reunion of the Guffey family, attended by five generations, aggregating 293 persons. Mr.
Wesley S. Guffey was born in Madison, Westmoreland county, Feb. 22, 1842, and his career has been a busy and successful one from the beginning. He is the senior member of Guffey & Queen, one of the most prominent, successful and progressive oil, coal and mineral producing firms in the country. This firm is one of the heralds of advancing civilization, recognizing that into the bosom of the earth the hand of nature had placed rich deposits that had been lying dormant for centuries, only waiting for progressive men to open the way that the more timid might follow. Their bold, progressive and successful operations in oil, coal, gas, gold, silver
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and copper mining have not been confined to narrow limits, but have covered every State in the Union where minerals were to be found. The life-record of Mr. Guffey may be chronicled in this brief sentence: Success comes not to the man who idly waits, but to the faithful toiler whose labor is characterized by force and intelligence. It comes only to the man who has the keenness of mental vision to know when, where and how to exert his energies, and thus it happens that but a small proportion of those who enter the "world's broad field of battle" come off victorious in the struggle for wealth and position. His career has been an honor- able and upright one, and now, in the evening of life, he can look back over the past without regret. He has performed a noble work for himself and his fellow-man, has left the impress of his individ- uality upon this community, and has inscribed his name high on the roll of Pittsburg's eminent and honored citizens.
CHARLES ALEXANDER ROOK, president of the Dispatch publishing company, was born at Pittsburg in 1861, the eldest son of Alexander W. and Har- riet L. (Beck) Rook. He was educated at the Western University of Pennsyl- vania. When nineteen years of age he entered the publication office of the Pitts- burg Dispatch, and has spent practically all his life in the service of that journal in various capacities, rising from one posi- tion to another until he has become the proprietor and editor of one of the most famous and influential dailies of the United States. Mr. Rook is well and favorably known to the members of the newspaper fra- ternity throughout the country. He has exceptional executive ability, his pleasantness of manner compelling more than force of
command. He was married, in 1884, to Miss Anna Wilson. Three children have been born to them, viz .: Helen Emma, Charles Alexander, Jr., and Florence Anna.
Alexander W. Rook, father of the subject of this sketch, was one of the pioneer printers and publishers of Pittsburg, a man beloved by his employes, in which respect the son has followed in his father's footsteps. This was appropriately illustrated when Mr. Rook became the president of the Dispatch publishing company, the members of the Dispatch chapel uniting in a series of cordial
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and happily-worded resolutions of congratulation, emphasizing the good wishes of the Dispatch force for the new owner. Mr. Rook is broad-gauge in character, liberal in his treatment of persons and subjects He has an ample realization of the responsibilities of the direction of a great and influential newspaper. The Dispatch is never actuated by any petty considerations, its power being always used to foster the best interests of the community and to bring forth the fittest men for public office. As a journal, it was one of the first in the country to stand upon a platform of absolute independence upon all questions of politics or capital and labor. The wisdom of such a course has been exemplified within the last few years by the great majority of other journals which have been forced to disregard their hide-bound partisan predilections. Some evidence of the worth of the paper as conducted under the regime which Mr. Rook represents may be found in the fact that the Dis- patch was responsible for the agitation that resulted in the move- ment to secure pure water for Pittsburg, for which a large appropriation was made in the recent bond issue; the improvement of the public roads not only in Allegheny county, but throughout western Pennsylvania; the campaign of education which succeeded in having the survey made for a navigable waterway between the great lakes and the Ohio river, and the stupendous movement of the last few months which has brought before the people, the con- gress and president of the United States the enormous importance of having a nine-foot stage in the Ohio river the year around in order that full advantage might be taken of the commercial pos- sibilities resulting from the acquisition and construction of the isthmian canal.
The Dispatch has, also, under the management of Mr. Rook, succeeded in establishing a national and international reputation through its possession of an up-to-date London bureau by means of which it has been enabled to secure the exclusive publication of some of the most startling items of international news for the past several months.
This spirit of enterprise, however, is characteristic of the history of the Dispatch. Founded in 1846 by Col. J. Heron Foster, the stirring news of the Mexican war presented an opportunity for the display of energy in securing and imparting intelligence of which the publishers made the most. Special efforts were made to obtain the news at the earliest moment, and one of these resulted in the first issue of a Sunday edition. Brownsville was then the distrib- uting center for the Pittsburg mail which came by stage over the
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national turnpike. The Dispatch organized a daily express for the purpose of bringing the latest advices to its office, where they were immediately issued to the public. Upon the last day of May, 1846, the Brownsville boat was delayed, and the important news of the crossing of the Rio Grande by the American army under Gen. Zachary Taylor was carried by the Dispatch express from Elizabeth, Sunday morning. An extra edition was at once issued, the first Sun- day edition of a newspaper in Pittsburg. It was not until thirty-five years later that the Sunday issue of the Dispatch was undertaken as a regular edition, one of the strongest in excellence and circula- tion in the country. A feature of the Sunday Dispatch is the fact that it prints a larger number of wants, help and agents' advertise- ments than any other paper in the United States, and more classi- fied advertisements than all other Pittsburg Sunday papers together. In a recent test, out of 280 leading American papers, only 9 brought more than 200 answers each, and the Dispatch led them all with 274. The explanation of the success of the Dispatch as an advertising medium is no doubt to be found in the policy, inaugurated during Mr. Rook's tenure as business manager, of seeking to bring good returns to its advertising customers.
The modern development of the Dispatch dates from the pur- chase of a half interest in it by Alexander W. Rook and Daniel O'Neill, in 1865. Mr. O'Neill was a strong and original writer. Mr. Rook was one of the foremost of his time in all that related to the mechanical and typographical department of newspaper-mak- ing. His qualifications were long experience, remarkable executive ab lity and sound judgment. Under the new management the paper was remodeled and enlarged, and its price increased to three cents to meet the greater expenses consequent upon the war.
But the most notable change was the announced determination that, while continuing to support the principles and national candi- dates of the republican party, the Dispatch would be absolutely free from the control of politicians and from the suspicion of being the organ of any political party. Two years later, when Colonel Foster died, Messrs. O'Neill and Rook purchased the other half interest, the partnership continuing until the death of Mr. O'Neill, in 1877. Mr. Rook survived him but two and a half years, his death occur- ring Aug. 14, 1880. The ownership was continued in the families, Eugene M. O'Neill, brother of Daniel O'Neill, becoming president of the company, and C. A. Rook treasurer and business manager, with Florence O'Neill, secretary and manager of circulation.
On March 12, 1902, Mr. Rook bought the controlling interest
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MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
of E. M. O'Neill, succeeding him as president of the corporation and editor. Under his direction there have been liberal and rapid improvements dictated by his personal thorough knowledge of every department of newspaper-making. While retaining the excellencies of the past, the Dispatch has expanded under the genial influences of Mr. Rook's control, adding new and popular fea- tures, and exhibiting renewed and inspiring devotion to the public interest, and the dissemination of the news and views of the day without prejudice or favor.
JOHN S. LAMBIE, attorney, of Pitts- burg, and for twenty-six consecutive years a member of the select council and for six years president of that body, was born in Pittsburg, Nov. 1, 1843. His father, William Lambie, a native of Scot- land, died when forty-three years old, in 1858. His mother, Aimee (Sioussa) Lambie, a native of Washington, D. C., was a daughter of John P. Sioussa, a Frenchman who came to Washington about 1812, and lived there the rest of his life, having a position in the White House -under President Madison. John P. Sioussa was a sailor in the French navy, and took part in the battle of the Nile. During the War of 1812, when the British came to devastate Washington, he saved Sir Joshua Reynolds' portrait of Washington, and in appre- ciation of that act received a personal letter from President Madison. John S. Lambie was reared and educated in Pittsburg, graduating from the high school in 1862. During the Civil war he served several times for short terms; was corporal of Company F, 193d Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, for 100 days, in 1864; and, prior to that time, served ninety days in the Pennsylvania militia as corporal of Company F, 15th regiment. After the war he studied law with Thomas M. Marshall and A. M. Brown; was admitted to the bar April 16, 1865, and has been very successful in his practice. He was elected to the council in 1877, and has served ever since, representing the eighth ward. For the past six years he has been president of the select council. In January, 1902, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of his election to the council, Mr. Lambie was presented by that body with a magnificent hall clock, as a mark of appreciation of his long and faithful service.
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MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
Mr. Lambie was married, in 1865, to Miss Agnes Cunningham, daughter of John Cunninghamn, and had by this marriage one daughter, Elizabeth, now the wife of Dr. Edward H. Wiggins, of Philadelphia. In 1870 he took as his second wife Anna, daughter of Thos. Robertson, and had by this marriage eight children, of whom seven survive, as follows: Jeanette R., wife of Louis F. Ross; Louis F., editor of the Mckeesport Daily News; Aimee S., wife of Dr. David Beggs; Chiarles S., a civil engineer on the Wabash railroad; John S., Thomas A. and Marguerite McCandless. Mr. Lambie is a member of Post No. 3, G. A. R., of which he has been commander. He belongs to the United Presbyterian church.
DAVID REECE TORRENCE, city treasurer of Pittsburg, is a native of Pittsburg, born April 10, 1847. He was reared and educated in his native city, and has been an honored resident most of his life. When fifteen years old he left school, and was for two years employed in his father's grocery, then he entered the employ of the P. C. C. & St. L. R. R. company, as a clerk in the South Side office. He remained with this company about eight years, then resigned and went to Paducah, Ky. He was appointed local freight and ticket agent of the Elizabethtown & Paducah railroad company, which later became the Louisville, Paducah & Southwestern. In 1876 Mr. Torrence returned to Pitts- burg, and was for two years employed by the coal firm of Negley & Co. He entered the office of the city treasurer in 1878, as clerk, where his career has been brilliant and eventful. In the same year that he became an employe in the city treasurer's office, Mr. Torrence was made cashier, and, in 1885, he was made chief clerk. In 1896 he was elected treasurer, was re-elected in 1899, and, in 1902, was appointed to fill the office for a third term, under the famous "Ripper bill." Mr. Torrence served the thirty-second ward, Pittsburg, for eighteen years as a member of the school board, and for fifteen years of that time represented his ward on the Central school board. During his service on the Central board he was one of its most prominent members, and was chairman of the committee which introduced industrial education into the public
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MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
schools, and chairman of the committee which built the Fifth Avenue high school and the South Side high school. Mr. Torrence is an enthusiastic Mason, a Knight Templar and Mystic Shriner. He is a member of the Episcopal church.
PETER WILLIAM SIEBERT, regis- ter of deeds of Allegheny county, was born Jan. 25, 1849, on a farm in Shaler township, Allegheny Co., Pa. In 1854 he removed with his father, Christian Siebert, to Pittsburg, where his father engaged in the leather business until the year 1883, becoming one of the largest dealers in that line. The son also was engaged with his father from 1866 to 1881, obtaining a thorough business experience. P. W. Siebert was educated in the public schools; at Witherspoon institute at Butler, Pa. ; at the military academy at West Chester, Pa., and at Western university in Pittsburg. Upon arriving at the age of twenty-one years, he was chosen to represent the eighteenth ward, Pittsburg, in the common council, and, removing to the seventeenth ward, was chosen to represent this ward first in the common branch, then in the select branch. He served as council- man for over fourteen years, he and his father sitting side by side for two terms in the city council from different wards. He also took a prominent part in military affairs, having enlisted in the service of the United States at the age of sixteen. He enlisted in March, 1864, in Gordon's West Virginia battery, light artillery, and served until mustered out, in Wheeling, W. Va., in May, 1865. During this time he took part in the movements up and down the Shenandoah valley, and was slightly wounded in the leg in an engagement near Winchester, Va. Afterwards he joined the "Duquesne Grays," of Pittsburg, in which he was promoted to first lieutenant. The "Grays" were later organized into the 18th regi- ment, Pennsylvania national guard, and were thrice called upon by the State authorities to quell riots. Retiring from the leather business, the subject of this sketch became, in 1882, bookkeeper for the Third National bank of Pittsburg, and later became cashier for the Transverse street railway company, serving this company until it consolidated with the Citizens' traction company, and afterwards entered the office of the county commissioners of
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