USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume I > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
245
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
word. To these qualities he doubtless owes his success as a politi- cian, and it is quite probable that still further honors await him. The parents of James H. Grenet were Henry J. Grenet and Lettia Grenet. The father of James H. Grenet was killed in the war at the battle of Cedar mountain, Aug. 9, 1862. His mother, Lettia Grenet, died Nov. 25, 1897, at Pittsburg. His parents came to Allegheny city from Philadelphia, Pa., in 1847. His father was born on the coast of Brazil, South America, in the year 1819. The parents of Matilda (Faulkner) Grenet were Henry Faulkner and Sarah Faulkner. They were both born in Allegheny city. Henry Faulkner was a well-known brick manufacturer of Allegheny city, his parents being among the first settlers in Allegheny county. They settled in what was afterwards known as Manchester. The name of the Faulkners often appears in the history of Allegheny county. The war record of Capt. James H. Grenet: Enlisted with Capt. H. K. Tyler, of Company E, 7th Pennsylvania volun- teers; first three months' service from April 16, 1861, as a corporal. On April 24th, he was promoted to sergeant; discharged Aug. 5, 1861. Re-enlisted Sept. 6, 1861, Company R, 4th Pennsylvania cavalry, with Capt. Samuel B. Young, now United States general. Promoted from first sergeant to second lieutenant, Nov. 4, 1864; to first lieutenant, Dec. 13, 1864; to captain, March 8, 1865; mustered out with the company, July 1, 1865, a veteran.
SAMUEL F. BOYD, who represents the fourteenth ward in the common coun- cil of Allegheny city, Pa., is a native of the second ward of that city, having been born there in 1868. His parents are Thomas M., Sr., and Mary Boyd, old and highly respected citizens of Allegheny city. While Samuel was still in his early childhood, the family removed to Shous- town, where he received his first intel- lectual training in the Shoustown public schools. It was while living here that he earned his first money (fifteen cents) by working on the Pittsburg & Lake Erie railroad bridge. When he was about sixteen years of age his parents changed their residence to the second ward of Allegheny city, and there he finished his education in the public schools of the ward, leaving school at the age of nineteen. He then went into the bakery of James McClurg
246
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
to learn the trade, and remained there for four years. Upon leav- ing Mr. McClurg he accepted a position as assistant shipper in the house of James B. Scott & Co., No. 328 Second Ave., now Follansbee Bros., at Second, Third, Short and Liberty streets, where he still continues. Mr. Boyd has for many years been a con- sistent republican and has never refused to give his aid to any honorable movement to advance the interests of his party. In February, 1903, he was elected to the cominon council from the fourteenth ward, and is now serving on the committees on public works, water and surveys. He is a member of the German Luth- eran church; Monument Castle lodge, No. 157, Knights of the Mystic Chain, and Allegheny conclave, No. 212, Independent Order of Heptasophs. On Oct. 9, 1891, he was married to Miss Louise Becker, a handsome and accomplished young lady of Reserve township, Allegheny county, Pa., and one daughter, Naomi, has been born to them. Mrs. Boyd is the daughter of Charles and Louisa (King) Becker, the father being justice of the peace for twenty four consecutive years in his township, and is also ex-captain of the 9th Pennsylvania reserve corps. Mr. Boyd is a modest, unassuming gentleman in his intercourse with his fellow- men, but, nevertheless, he is one with the courage to do the right as his judgment leads him to see it.
ABNER B. PRUETT, president of the Specialty paint company, incorporated, located at No. 3209 Liberty Ave., Pitts- burg, Pa., is a native of Parke county, Ind., where lie was born Jan. 7, 1871. He is a son of Cyrenius and Elizabeth Pruett, members of one of the oldest and most highly respected families in western Indiana. Mr. Pruett received his first schooling in the little village of Mansfield, in his native county, and later attended the Neosho Falls college, taking the full course. Until he was about eighteen years of age, he stayed with his father on the farm. In 1890 he came to Allegheny city, where he found employment with the Allegheny gas company, in the manufacture of artificial gas. He remained with the gas company for two years and then entered the employ of a paint manufacturing company, of Allegheny city. For eight years he continued with this firm, learning every detail
1
247
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
of the business. In 1900 he formed the Penn oil and paint com- pany, though the company was not really incorporated until two years later, with Mr. Pruett as president. The company later purchased the interests of the Specialty paint company, being now known by that name. Politically, Mr. Pruett is a republican, and although he takes an active interest in the political affairs of Avalon, where he resides, he has never aspired to public office, preferring the more certain returns from his business, to which he devotes his attention. He was married to Miss Etta McClain, of Allegheny city, in 1890, and they have three children, Jessie, Ethel and Abner. Mr. Pruett is a member of the Baptist church, and consistently practices the tenets of his religion in his dealings with his fellow-men.
CHARLES A. SPICER, second-ward member of the common council of Alle- gheny city, Pa., is one of the leading photographers of Allegheny county. He was born. in Jefferson county, N. Y., in 1854, and is the son of Charles A., who died in 1895, and Achsa L. Spicer, who died in 1901. While Charles was still in his early childhood, the family removed to Wellington, Ohio, where he received his elementary education in the public schools. He afterwards attended Oberlin college, at Oberlin, Ohio, and then went into a photograph gallery at Wellington, to learn the business. In this line of work he soon developed a skill that was almost phe- nomenal and as a result his advancement was so rapid that at the age of twenty he went into business for himself. Three years later he went to Pittsburg, Pa., where for about two years he was associated with the veteran photographer, B. L. H. Dabbs. In 1890 he removed to Allegheny city, locating at No. 410 Federal St., where he still conducts the business, having one of the best- appointed studios in the city. Upon coming to Allegheny city he soon became identified with all political movements, being an enthusiastic republican. In February, 1903, he was elected to represent the second ward in the common council. In that body he is chairman of one of the sub-committees on public safety, and a member of the committees on water and charities. The com- mittee on public safety is one of the most important committees of
.
248
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
the council, and to be selected for the chairmanship of any of its sub-committees is indeed an honor, but the manner in which Mr. Spicer has conducted the affairs that have come before his com- mittee shows him to be a man of fine executive power, and that the work is in good hands. He was married, in 1894, to Miss Ida Fisher, of Allegheny city, who shares her husband's popularity in Allegheny city society.
JOSEPH JOHNSON GILCHRIST, a prominent member of the legislature of the State of Pennsylvania, was born on a farm near Darlington, Beaver county, on Oct. 13,. 1872. He was the fifth child of Jeremiah Murry and Mary Ann (Arthur) Gilchrist, the father a native of Westmoreland county, and the mother of Ireland, coming to America when a child. Jeremiah Murry Gilchrist, a highly respected citizen and business man of Allegheny, was descended from Squire Murry, of Murrysville, an old and respected resident of the city which bears his name. Mr. Gilchrist was engaged in the river coal business during his active years, and upon his death, the business was continued by his three sons, Joseph J., James O'C. and Harry. Mr. Joseph J. Gilchrist received his education in the fourth ward public schools of Alle- gheny city, whither the father had moved on his taking up the coal business. In 1900 Mr. Gilchrist was elected to the office of school director of the fourth ward, and in this position attended to the needs and looked after the welfare of the schools of that ward so well that his ability was soon recognized, and that, together with his popularity, made it evident that he was cut out for a public career. He served his ward two years as school director, and then became a candidate on the citizens' ticket for a seat in the State legislature. After a hotly contested campaign, he was declared elected, and the very fact that he was on the citizens' ticket is evidence of the high regard in which he is held by all who know him. Mr. Gilchrist is unmarried. He is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, in Allegheny lodge, No. 223; Allegheny chapter, No. 217; Allegheny commandery, No. 35, and Syria Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.
i
-
249
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
HARRY W. MILLER, of Homestead, Pa., the popular and efficient teller of the Homestead National bank, was born in Mifflin township, Allegheny county, Sept. 11, 1878, and his family history is recited in the sketch of J. Clyde Miller in this work. Harry Miller was educated in the public schools, and completed his classical training at the Ada college, Ada, Ohio. On leaving college, Mr. Miller secured a position as bookkeeper with the Homestead National bank, and shortly afterwards was appointed to his present position of teller, in which capacity he has made a record which is a credit to himself and highly satisfactory to the stockholders of the bank. Mr. Miller is financially interested in a number of home enterprises, and is treasurer of the Elber land improvement com- pany. He is a prominent member of the Homestead troop, charter member of the local lodge of Elks, and a member of the Knights of Malta, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, the Knights of the Maccabees, and the Bankers' and Bank Clerks' mutual benefit association.
OLIVER A. GAILEY, the chief assess- or of Allegheny city, was born in Indi- ana, Indiana Co., Pa., in 1862, and is a son of Andrew and Margaret Gailey. Andrew Gailey was one of the best- known builders in Indiana county. After a common-school education in the ward schools of his native town, Oliver learned the carpenters' trade with his father. At the age of seventeen he came to Alle- gheny city, where he worked as a jour- neyman carpenter for some years, and then became a contractor on his own account. Some of the best buildings in Allegheny were erected by him while in this business. In 1890 he became interested in real estate operations, and being a man of cool judgment and inclined to look at all propositions in a dispassionate way, he has made a success of this line of business, because he has avoided everything that looked like wild speculation. He is eminently well qualified
250
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
as chief assessor of the city, because of his intimate acquaintance with the property and his thorough knowledge of its value. In political matters he is an uncompromising republican, and is recog- nized as one of the party leaders in the fifteenth ward, where he resides. He was married, in 1883, to Miss Addie L. Mead, of Indiana, Pa., and his wife is one of the most estimable ladies of Allegheny city, where she has made many friends.
WILLIAM SHALER ROSS, burgess of Homestead, was born in Allegheny city, Pa., Aug. 12, 1859. He is the son of John and Sarah (McGeehan) Ross, both natives of Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Sample Ross, was one of the pioneer farmers of Fayette county. His maternal grandfather was Bryce McGeehan, a native of Lawrence county and a veteran of the War of 1812. His great-grandfather, also named Bryce McGeehan, was one of the first mission- aries to go among the Indians of the west. He was a Scotch Presbyterian. John Ross, the father of our sub- . ject, was reared in Fayette county; was a carpenter by trade, and started the first planing and saw mill, in connection with building steamboats, on the "Point," in the city of Pittsburg. He was the father of eleven children, viz. : Bryce, Sample, John T., John, Henry, Walter, William S., James, Samantha, Jennie and Effie. Of these children, William S., Samantha and Jennie are the only ones now living. John Ross was an elder and one of the founders of the United Presbyterian church of Emsworth, where he died in 1895. William S. Ross has spent his entire life in Allegheny county. He was educated in the common schools there; was for seven years an official of the Dixmont hospital for the insane, Alle- gheny city, and later was for two years an assistant of Dr. Samuel Ayers in the management of the insane department of the city farm, Homestead. In 1894 he embarked in the wholesale and retail oil business at Homestead, and continued in that line for about three years, in connection with the grocery business. In 1896 he was elected tax collector of Homestead, and served two terms of three years each, retiring from the office in 1903. He was elected burgess by a large majority, and is now filling that office. He was married, in 1885, to Sadie G., daughter of Jacob Carnes, of
1
251
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
Westmoreland county, Pa. They have six children, Malcolm, Effie L., Dale, Florence, Kenney and Gertrude. Mr. Ross is a member of several fraternal and benevolent societies and the United Presbyterian church. In politics he is a solid republican, and as a member of that party he was elected to the offices he has beld, though while in office he discharged his duties with rare impartiality.
JOHN M. DUFF, M. D., of Pittsburg, Pa., a distinguished physician and surgeon and specialist in abdominal diseases, was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., Oct. 10, 1849, son of James H. and Susan (Mil- ler) Duff. His father was a physician in Westmoreland county, died there in 1885, and is survived by his wife, who now resides in Wilkinsburg at the age of eighty-five years. Dr. Duff attended the public schools of Westmoreland county until eleven years of age, then entered the Laird institute and was graduated from there in 1868. The next year was spent in teach- ing in the public schools, after which he matriculated at the Western University of Pennsylvania, and was graduated from the classical course with the class of 1872, receiving the bachelor of arts degree. Three years later he received the master of arts degree from that institution, and, in 1888, the degree of doctor of philosophy was bestowed on him by his alma mater. On graduating from the university, in 1872, he entered Jefferson inedical college, at Phila- delphia, and was graduated from that noted school in 1874, with the doctor of medicine degree. The same year, Dr. Duff began the practice of medicine in Westmoreland county and a short time afterwards removed to Pittsburg, where he did a general practice until 1896, when he decided to confine his practice to gynecology and surgery. Dr. Duff is one of the leading physicians of Pitts- burg, and is closely identified with many organizations relating to his profession, being a member and ex-president of the Allegheny county medical society, ex-president and one of the founders of the South Side medical society, ex-president of the Pittsburg obstetrical society, member of the Westmoreland county, the Pennsylvania State and the Tri-State medical societies, honorary member of the Lehigh Valley medical society, member of the
-
252
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
American associations of obstetricians and gynecologists, the American academy of medicine, president of the section of obstetrics of the American medical association and is professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the West Pennsylvania medical hos- pital. Dr. Duff is also a member of the surgical staff of the West Pennsylvania, Passavant, South Side and Rynaman hospitals. When a lad of fourteen years and ten months of age, he entered the United States army, participated in most of the great battles and served until the close of the Civil war. He was slightly wounded in the fights before Petersburg, and also served some time in prison. He was married, in 1878, to Jennie E., daughter of Rev. James Kirk, D. D., LL. D., and of his wife, Abbie (Morrell) Kirk, of Pittsburg, and to them has been born five children. Dr. Duff is a member of the Bellefield Presbyterian church. He served as a school director of Pittsburg for twenty- eight years and has made many political speeches.
THOMAS C. WAITE, assessor of Alle- gheny city, Pa., is a native of the village of Bethel, Clermont Co., Ohio, where he was born in 1846. His mother, Sarah Waite, died when he was only one month old, and his father, William C. Waite, was killed at the second battle of Bull Run, in August, 1862, and was buried in the trenches on the field. After the death of his mother, Mr. Waite removed to Allegheny city, and was adopted by his aunt, Mrs. Thomas Charles. It was in the public school of the third ward that he received his first instruction. In 1857 another removal was made, this time to Emsworth borough, where a four-year course completed his education.
He then learned the drug business, and was engaged in that line for about twenty-five years in the city of Pittsburg, being twelve years at the corner of Fifth avenue and Smithfield street. Subsequently he was nine years in the treas- urer's office of Allegheny county, serving under three different treasurers-Witherow, McCandless and Bell. In April, 1891, he retired from the treasurer's office, but was immediately employed in the assessor's office of Allegheny city, and, in April, 1903, he was appointed to his present position by Mayor Wyman for a term of three years. He resides in the eleventh ward of Allegheny city,
1
253
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
has always been a republican, and for ten years was a member of the board of school directors. In 1869 he was married to Miss Mary F. Crawford, of Emsworth, Pa., and to this marriage there have been born five children, Jennie F., Sarah E., Gertrude I., Thomas C., Jr., and Jessie May. Mr. Waite is a member of Alle- gheny lodge, No. 339, B. P. O. Elks, and of the Central Presby- terian church, in which for twelve years he has held the office of ruling elder.
MILTON BEDELL, of Duquesne, Pa., a prosperous wholesale liquor dealer and member of the council from the second ward, was born in Jefferson town- ship, Allegheny Co., Pa., March 4, 1862, son of William and Lidia A. (Large) Bedell, both natives of Jefferson town- ship. His paternal grandfather, Andrew Bedell, was a native Pennsylvanian and a pioneer farmer and distiller of Jefferson township, where he married Rebecca, daughter of Isaac Ferree, one of the first settlers of that township, and a prosperous blacksmith and gunsmith and manufacturer of powder. " Isaac Ferree was a noted craftsman of his day, skilled in the different branches of industry that he essayed, and his mechan- ical ingenuity and ability have descended to his posterity in an unusual degree, especially to the Bedell branch of the family. The paternal great-grandfather, Joel Ferree, was a colonel in the War of 1812, taking a regiment from Pittsburg at that time. The maternal grandfather of Milton Bedell was Thomas Large, who spent the major portion of his life in Allegheny county, where he was a successful farmer. Jonathan Large, father of Thomas and great-grandfather of our subject, was one of the founders of the Large distilling company, at Mount Washington, Pa., in 1796, which concern produced the celebrated Large whiskey. This was the first distillery in the Monongahela valley, and the original still was on exhibition at the Pittsburg exposition in the early nineties. William Bedell, father of Milton, was for many years an active and progressive farmer of Jefferson township, where he is now quietly living, retired from the cares and anxieties of business. He had a family of thirteen children, viz. : Andrew (deceased), Isaac, Milton, Maggie J., Mary H., Sarah E. (deceased), William
254
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
S., Anna R. (deceased), Arminda V., John H. (deceased), Leroy, Charles H. and Fanny L. Milton Bedell was reared on the old homestead, and completed his educational training at the high school of West Elizabeth. In 1889 he located at Duquesne, embarked in the grocery business, and followed that line with much success until 1894, when he founded his present prosperous wholesale liquor establishment. Mr. Bedell was married, July 6, 1892, to Margaret C., daughter of John and Anna M. (Vogel) Werner, of West Elizabeth, and has one daughter, Annie L. Mr. Bedell is a member of William Youdan lodge, No. 647, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a leading republican, was a member of the first council of the borough of Duquesne, and has since served almost continuously in that body.
FRANK J. SCHELLMAN, alderman of the sixth ward of Allegheny city, Pa , was born in 1853, and reared in the ward he now represents. He is a son of Frank M. Schellman, who was killed some years ago by a runaway team at Jack's Run station. Alderman Schellman was educated in the public schools of the sixth ward, where he has grown up with the population, and is one of the best-known citizens of the North Side. He has always been noted for his energy, and at the age of nineteen years he began his business career by starting a tobacco store, and after building up a good trade, sold the business to good advantage. In 1882 he . again embarked in the tobacco business and continued in it until 1891, when he was appointed alderman by Governor Pattison to succeed the late George Shepherd. Up to the campaign of 1896, Mr. Schellman had always been a democrat, but that year, like a great many other members of the party, when the national con- vention declared in favor of the free and unlimited coinage of silver, he renounced his allegiance to the party and came out squarely for Mckinley. Mr. Schellman is unmarried and lives with his mother on Market street. He is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of the Golden Eagle, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, the Heptasophs, and Pittsburg lodge, No. 11, B. P. O. Elks. He is also a member of the Lutheran church, and in his
---
255
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
church and lodge relations, as well as in the community where he has passed his life, he has a high standing. Mr. Schellman can well be called a self-made man, and his success in business and in political channels is due to his sterling integrity and that indomit- able energy for which he has always been distinguished.
C. C. RINEHART, of Pittsburg, Pa., a distinguished homeopathic physician, was born in the city where he now lives, on Jan. 6, 1844, son of William and Mary Ann (Ing) Rinehart. His father was a wholesale tobacco merchant and a mem- ber of the firm of W. & D. Rinehart, of Liberty avenue, Pittsburg. William Rinehart was a son of David Rinehart, who was a native of Chester county, Pa., a farmer, and came to Allegheny county in 1805, where, three years later, Dr. Rinehart's father was born. A paternal great-uncle served in the War of 1812. Dr. Rinehart attended the graded schools and the high school of Pittsburg, was with his father in the tobacco business for three years and for three years was a clerk in the First National bank of Pittsburg. He was with his father for eight years, reading medicine in the meantime with Dr. Cote, and later under Dr. McClelland. He entered the Hahnemann medical college, Philadelphia, and was graduated from that famous homoeopathic school in 1878. The same year he began the practice of his profession in Hazlewood, a part of Pitts- burg, and there practiced successfully for fourteen years, when he moved to the East End, and there has maintained his offices since. He devotes his time to general practice, and now has offices in the Empire building. Dr. Rinehart is among the leading homoeopathic physicians of western Pennsylvania, enjoys a large and lucrative practice, and is closely identified with a number of associations pertaining to his profession, being a member of the American institute of homoeopathy, member and ex-president of the Pennsyl- vania State homeopathic medical society, member of the Alle- gheny county homoeopathic medical society, the East End homœopathic doctors' club, of which he is vice-president, and a member of the staff of the Homoeopathic hospital of Pittsburg. He was married, in 1870, to Laura V., daughter of John and Hannah (Broadhead) Robson, of Pittsburg, and they have two children :
Er
256
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
Frank Atwood, in the insurance business in Pittsburg, and Laura B., residing with her father. The father of Mrs. Rinehart was a native of New Castle, England, as was his wife, and he was a member of the firmn of John Robson & Son, of Pittsburg, dealers in coke and lime. Dr. Rinehart served two short terms during the Civil war with the 15th and the 193d Pennsylvania volunteers.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.