USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume I > Part 23
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GUSTAVE A. MUELLER, M. D., of Pittsburg, Pa., a prominent physician and specialist on diseases of the ear, nose and throat, was born in Crestline, Ohio, Nov. 10, 1863, son of August C. E. Muel- ler, a native of Pomerania, Germany, who came to America in 1855 and located in Ohio, and of his wife, Elizabeth (Von Dorschlag) Mueller, also a native of the Fatherland. Dr. Mueller attended the third ward school of Allegheny city, and was graduated from the Sharpsburg acad- emy. Later he attended the University of Michigan, and then matriculated at the Hahnemann medical col- lege of Chicago, and was graduated from that well-known homœ- opathic institution in 1885. Dr. Mueller began the general practice of medicine in Allegheny city soon after graduating, and was there city physician from 1885 to 1894. During the latter year he sailed for Europe to study the nose, ear and throat, attended post-gradu- ate courses in Berlin, Heidelberg, Munich, Vienna, Paris and Lon- don, and spent two years abroad perfecting himself in his specialty. Since that time he has practiced in Pittsburg, confining his practice to the nose, ear and throat, and for a time had offices at No. 400 Penn Ave., but in 1900 removed to the Empire building, where he now enjoys one of the best practices in Pittsburg. He is a member of the staff of surgeons of the homoeopathic hospital, and has charge of the ear, nose and throat work in that institution. He has been three times appointed a member of the State board of medical examiners, is a member of the faculty of the Pittsburg training school for nurses, member and ex-president of the Alle- gheny county homoeopathic medical society, member of the East End doctors' club, the Pennsylvania State homoeopathic medical society, the American institute of homoeopathy, and the American homeopathic, ophthalmological, otological and laryngological society. Dr. Mueller is also a member of the Masonic fraternity
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and the Odd Fellows, having held all offices in the local lodge of the latter order, served as representative to the grand lodge, and medical director of the Odd Fellows' endowment association. He was one of the incorporators of the Bank of secured savings of Allegheny city, and is a member of the University, Duquesne, Monongahela, Pittsburg country, Highland golf and other clubs; the Sportsmen's association of Cheat mountain, and of the alumni of Hahnemann medical college. Dr. Mueller was married, in 1891, to Grace Swan, daughter of Wm. B. and Grace (Swan) Miller, her mother having been the daughter of Robert Swan, one of the oldest citizens of Allegheny city, and an uncle of Mrs. Mueller's was postmaster of Allegheny city for several years. They had one child, Robert Swan Mueller, born in 1893, and now a pupil of the public schools of Pittsburg. Dr. Mueller was again married, in 1900, and on this occasion to Nell W., daughter of H. C. and Louise (Worthington) Anderson, of Steubenville, Ohio, and their wedded life has been an ideal one.
WILLIAM GEYER, eleventh-ward member of the Allegheny city common council, and retired capitalist, was born in Allegheny city, Pa., July 28, 1850. His parents, David and Salomona Geyer, are both deceased. His father was a large garden farmer and William was asso- ciated with him in raising and marketing the produce of the farm until his thirtieth year. As a boy he attended the public schools and the St. John's Lutheran school, where he obtained a good practi- cal education. In 1883 he became asso- ciated with his brother Frederick, and Frederick Herman, in the establishment of a brickyard on Woodlawn avenue, Allegheny city, which they successfully conducted for fifteen years. Since that time he has been engaged in building and selling, or renting, houses, though he has practically retired from all active business. Mr. Geyer has always been an active republican, and at the munic- ipal election, in February, 1903, he was chosen to represent the eleventh ward in the common council. When the council was organized, he was placed on the library, water and survey com- mittees, where he has won the regard of his constituents by his faithful attention to, and the intelligent discharge of, his duties.
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In 1880, he was married to Miss Sarah Falck, of Allegheny city, and the union has been blessed by the birth of the following children: Edward, Elmer, now deceased; Stella, William, Ralph, Carl and Thelma. For years he has been a consistent member of the Lutheran church, carrying into his daily life the precepts inculcated by the teachings of his religion.
DR. OTTO CARL GAUB, a promis- ing young surgeon of the city of Pittsburg, is a native of the city where he is now engaged in the practice of his profession. He is the son of Jacob and Katharine (Erbe) Gaub, and was born on Oct. 2, 1873. Both his parents are natives of Germany-his father of Wurtemburg, and his mother of Hesse. His father came to America in 1853, and was for many years in the grocery business in Pittsburg, but is now living a retired life. Katharine Erbe came to this country with her parents in 1858. Dr. Gaub received his early education in the public schools of Pittsburg, graduating from the high school in 1891. He then entered the medical department of the University of_Pennsylvania and graduated in 1894. For one year following his graduation he was resident physician in the Mercy hospital of Pittsburg, after which he engaged in general practice until 1900, when he spent about a year in the hospitals of New York and Philadelphia, and took a post-graduate course in the Philadelphia polyclinic institute. Later he went abroad, visiting the leading hospitals of Germany, France, Austria and Italy, and took a special course in the University of Berne, Switzerland. Returning to this country, he became associated with Dr. R. W. Stewart in the practice of general surgery, with offices at No. 4715 Fifth Ave., where Dr. Gaub also resides. From 1895 to 1900 Dr. Gaub was gynecologist at the Pittsburg free dispensary, and from 1895 to 1901 was on the staff of the Roslia maternity hospital and foundling asylum. He is now on the surgical staff of the Mercy hospital, and associate to the chair of theory and practice of surgery and clinical surgery in the Western University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Allegheny county, Pennsylvania State and the Fort Pitt medical societies; the American medical association, and the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. He is also a member and past
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master of Crescent lodge, No. 576, Free and Accepted Masons, of . Pittsburg. Dr. Gaub is considered by the profession as being one of the foremost of the younger surgeons of the city. His standing, however, is due to his thorough preparation, as well as to a natural talent for his chosen profession.
DR. WILLMER A. LATIMORE, one of the popular young Pittsburg physicians of the eclectic school, was born at West Newton, Westmoreland Co., Pa., Oct. 5, 1869. His father, Robert H. Latimore, is a native of Ireland. He came to this country while still a young man and located in Pittsburg, where for about twenty years he was associated with Charles Armstrong in the coal-mining business in Allegheny county. He then went to Westmoreland county and devel- oped the Yough Slope mines. His wife was a Miss Emily Greenawalt, and they are both now living in the East End, Pittsburg. Dr. Latimore was educated in the schools of West Newton, and took a two-year course in the classical depart- · ment of Westminster college. Until 1890 he was associated with his father in the coal business. He then read medicine in the office of Dr. Greenawalt until 1892, when he entered the Eclectic medical institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated from that institution in 1896. Soon after his graduation he returned to Pitts- burg and began general practice with Dr. Greenawalt, with whom he is still connected, though Dr. Greenawalt has almost retired from active practice. Dr. Latimore is a member of the alumni association of the Eclectic medical institute, Alpha chapter of the Tau Alpha Epsilon fraternity, the Monongahela club, and the Shady Side United Presbyterian church of Pittsburg. He is promi- nent in Masonic circles, being a member of Lodge No. 45; Zerub- babel chapter, No. 162; Pittsburg commandery, K. T., No. 1 ; Pennsylvania consistory, No. 320, A. and A. Scottish Rite, and Syria temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He was married, in 1902, to Miss Nellie T. James, of Pittsburg, and resides in the Delaware apartments on North Highland avenue, with offices at No. 517 Wylie Ave. Dr. Latimore has a large and lucrative prac- tice which is constantly on the increase, enjoying the confidence of his patrons, and the respect of his brother physicians.
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JAMES HARVEY IRWIN, Sr., de- ceased, was, in his day, one of the repre- sentative business men of Allegheny county. He was born in Mifflin township on Sept. 16, 1825, and was a lineal de- scendant of one of the oldest families in that section of the State. His paternal grandfather, Joseph Irwin, was born in the southern part of Ireland in 1710. In 1732, more than forty years before the Declaration of Independence, he came to America, taking up a tract of land and obtaining the patent, calling it the "Wormwood Farm," and located in what is now Mifflin township. There he followed the vocation of a farmer until his death, which occurred in 1790. There his son, James Irwin, grew to manhood; married Miss Margaret Whittaker, the daughter of a neighboring farmer, and one of the children born to this union was James H. Irwin, the subject of this sketch. On June 10, 1860, he was mar- ried to Miss Eliza West, the daughter of Matthew and Mary West, who were among the early settlers of the county. To this marriage there were born three children, James Kennedy, Ettie M. and Dessie, who is now the wife of R. L. Thompson, of Ben Avon. After his marriage, Mr. Irwin located at East Bethlehem, Wash- ington Co .. Pa. In 1870 he came to Pittsburg. and soon afterwards began dealing in real estate and investing in various enterprises, in which, owing to his sound business judgment, he was usually successful. He continued in this business all his life, and from the very nature of his occupation he formed many acquaintances, a large majority of whom became his steadfast friends. Politically, Mr. Irwin was a whig in his earlier years. Upon the organization of the republican party, he became one of its stanchest adherents, and remained so until 1876, when he voted for Tilden, and from that time to his death he was a supporter of democratic principles. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church, and died firm in that faith on Feb. 9, 1901. His widow is still living, and is a resident of Ben Avon, a beautiful suburb of Pittsburg. The son, J. Kennedy Irwin, M. D., who is well known in Pittsburg as a physician and specialist on diseases of the eye, was born in Wash- ington county, Pa., Sept. 18, 1862, but shortly afterwards removed to Allegheny county, and has since resided there. Dr. Irwin attended the common schools of Allegheny county, and later St.
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Vincent's college, at Latrobe, Pa., where he was graduated in a classical course in 1882, receiving the degree of master of arts. He then entered the Illinois State pharmaceutical college, and was graduated in pharmacy in 1884. Then he attended Jefferson medi- cal college of Philadelphia, and graduated from that institution in 1888 with the degree of M. D. For four years after graduating he practiced in Philadelphia with Prof. L. Webster Fox, a prominent lecturer on ophthalmology. At the end of that time he came to Pittsburg, where he has taken an eminent position among the lead- ing physicians of the city. He resides at Ben Avon, has offices in the Smith building, and devotes the major portion of his time to dis- eases of the eye. Dr. Irwin is a member of the Philadelphia county medical society, the American medical association, the alumni of Jefferson medical college, is medical examiner for the New York life insurance company, and chief medical director of the Order of Unity. He was married, in 1891, to Margaret, daughter of Richard M. and Pauline (Miller) Webb, her father having been a prominent leather manufacturer of Jersey City, N. J. They had two children, James H., Jr., and Richard Webb. Mrs. Irwin died on July 4, 1896, and is sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends.
DR. GEORGE L. HAYS, one of the leading young surgeons of Pittsburg, Pa., is of Scotch-Irish stock. His ancestors came originally from the north of Ireland, in 1732, and settled in the Scotch-Irish set- tlements in Northumberland county, Pa. His great-grandfather, Capt. John Hays, was a soldier in the American army dur- ing the Revolutionary war, serving with distinction at the battles of Princeton, Germantown, Brandywine, and in several other important engagements. Dr. Hays was born near the town of Kahoka, Clark Co., Mo , July 15, 1869, and is the son of Alfred and Elizabeth (Moran) Hays. He was educated in the public schools of his native county, the Bellefonte academy, Bellefonte, Pa., and graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in 1895. For one year immediately following his graduation, he served as resident physician in the Mercy hospital, Pittsburg, after which he began general practice of medicine and.
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surgery. Since 1899 he has devoted his entire time and attention to surgery, serving as assistant on the surgical staff of the Mercy hospital. He has been surgeon to the 14th regiment, Pennsylvania national guard, since August, 1900; is a member of the Allegheny county medical society, the Pennsylvania State medical society, the American medical association, the Pittsburg academy of medi- cine, the Fort Pitt medical society, and is associate to the chair of theory and practice of surgery and clinical surgery in the Western Pennsylvania medical college. He is also a member of the Univer- sity club; Bellefonte lodge, No. 268, Free and Accepted Masons, and the Sons of the Revolution. His offices, at No. 4704 Fifth Ave., where he also resides, are superbly equipped with every modern appliance known to surgery, but above all mechanical devices stands the skillful surgeon in the person of Dr. Hays, who has successfully performed some very delicate operations, and who has a pardonable ambition to stand at the head of his chosen pro- fession.
DR. NICHOLAS ALBRECHT, gen- ito-urinary specialist, with offices at No. 1121 Carson St., Pittsburg, Pa., was born in the South Side of that city, July 27, 1879. His father, Henry Albrecht, was born in Baden, Germany, in 1847; came to America in 1873, and located at Pitts- burg, where he has ever since been engaged in the wholesale cigar and con- fectionery business. The maiden name of Dr. Albrecht's mother was Katharine Steiner, of Betch Lorraine, a province of Germany. Dr. Albrecht was educated in the schools of his native city, graduating from the Pittsburg high school in 1896. He then entered the medical department of the Western University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 1901. After receiving his degree from the University of Pennsylvania, he spent a year in the hospital of Johns Hopkins university at Baltimore, Md., studying genito-urinary diseases and surgery, and then began the practice of his chosen specialty in the South Side, with his office in its present location. Although one of the youngest specialists in the city, he has been able to secure a generous share of the business in his line, and has a flattering prospect for the future. His study did not stop when he received his diploma from
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the university, but he keeps in close touch with the progressive thinkers and writers in his specialty, realizing that only by such a course can he hope to succeed, or to rise above the physician of mediocre ability. Dr. Albrecht comes of a family of physicians, having seventeen cousins engaged in the practice of medicine in different parts of the United States.
JOHN MURRAY MOLAMPHY, of Munhall, Pa., a prominent and progress- ive citizen and burgess of that borough, was born in Ottawa, Canada, June 16, 1842, son of John and Julia (Keough) Molamphy, natives of County Tipperary, Ireland. His paternal grandfather, Mor- gan Molamphy, came to America about 1838, locating in Ottawa, Canada, where he engaged in farming until his death. 'His wife was Catherine Ryan. Mr. Molamphy's maternal grandparents were James and Catherine (Cummings) Keough, also early settlers of Ottawa, Canada. John Molamphy, father of the subject, was a farmer of Canada nearly all of his life and had a family of eleven children, five of whom survive, viz. : John M .; Catherine, wife of Patrick Sullivan; Julia, wife of James McKnight; James; Mary, wife of John Brastow. John M. Molam- phy was educated in the public schools of his native city and there served a three-year apprenticeship as a general blacksmith. In the fall of 1860 he came to the United States, located at Cohoes, N. Y., where he was employed in an axe factory for eighteen months, and in November, 1862, enlisted as a private in Company F, 4th New York volunteers, participating in the fights of Chapin's farm, Drury's Bluff, Petersburg and Fort Fisher, and was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant in August, 1865. Then he located in Pittsburg, entered the employ of Kloman, Carnegie & Co. as a blacksmith, and since that time has been with the Car- negie interests. After a service of eight years at Pittsburg, he was made a foreman and later became superintendent of the Pittsburg mill. In 1892 he was sent to Homestead as superintendent of the transportation and labor departments of the Homestead steel works, which position he held until April, 1902, when he was retired on full pay for life. During this period'he held various other positions of importance with the Carnegie interests, and in 1891 was pre-
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sented by the company with a fine block of steel stock for efficient services rendered. Mr. Molamphy is a member of the firm of Alman & Molamphy, furniture and hardware dealers, of Munhall, and is a stockholder in the Monongahela trust company and the Homestead hardware company, both of Homestead, Pa. He was married, in 1866, to Margaret, daughter of James Robinson, of Ontario, Canada, and they have five children: Mary, wife of Red- mond Dougherty; William, John, Julia and Joseph E. Mr. Molam- phy and family are members of the Catholic church and he is also a member of the Knights of Columbus, the C. M. B. A. and the Elks. He is a stanch republican in his political affiliations and is the present burgess of Munhall.
ROBERT BRIERLEY, of Mifflin township, Allegheny county, a successful farmer, was born on the old Brierley homestead in Mifflin township, Sept. 28, 1840, son of Thomas and Mary (Lynch) Brierley. The Brierley family had its ini- tiation in America with the advent of John Brierley, a native of the Emerald Isle, who married Ann Jackman, Dec. 13, 1743, and landed in America, July 28, 1750, settling in Harford county, Md., about twelve miles from Bellaire, where as late as 1885 his stone house was standing and occupied. His descendants Fare many in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and the western states and bear the reputation of honorable and upright people. His children were: Margaret, born March 23, 1745; Elizabeth, born March 12, 1747; Robert, born April 12, 1749; Henry, born Jan. 21, 1750; Jane, born May 16, 1753; George, born Feb. 22, 1755; Isabella, born Dec. 2, 1759; John, born Jan. 16, 1762; Richard, born April 22, 1764, and Thomas, born April 22, 1770. Robert Brierley, the eldest son, was born in Ireland, April 12, 1749, and accompanied his parents to Harford county, Md., where he was reared. In 1777 he came to Allegheny county, Pa., where he secured a deed for a large tract of land in Mifflin township, part of which is now occupied by his grandson. He was married to Elizabeth Bell, of Harford county, Md., and their children were: Anne, who married Isaac Harris; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Harry Neel; Jane, who married Archibald Job; Thomas, who espoused Mary Lynch; Ellen, who
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married Samuel Wilson. Jane Brierley, of the third generation in America, was born on the old Brierley homestead in Mifflin town- ship, Aug. 23, 1796, and on Oct. 8, 1816, married Archibald Job, who was born in Baltimore, Md., March 10, 1784. They left Pitts- burg in an "ark," or house built on a flatboat, in 1820, and floated down the Ohio river to Cairo and from that point up the Mississippi river. to St. Louis, where they spent the winter. The following spring they advanced to the mouth of the Illinois river, proceeded up that stream to where Beardstown was later founded, and there Mr. Job entered a large tract of land and became one of the foremost men of that part of the country, having filled a number of county offices and served several terms in the legislature. Mr. Job reared a large family, the sons being well- to-do and honorable citizens and the daughters noted for their beauty, intelligence and force of character. Mrs. Job was living at Ashland, Ill., as late as 1876, then being eighty years of age and remembering perfectly the most minute incidents of her early life, often speaking of Abraham Lincoln, whom she had boarded and befriended in the early days of his career. Thomas Brierley, only son of Robert and Elizabeth (Bell) Brierley, was born on the old homestead in Mifflin township, Sept. 10, 1800, and there died on March 17, 1881. He spent his entire life on the old homestead, following the even tenor of his way, and was an honorable and prosperous citizen. He was married to Mary A., daughter of Thomas and Mary (Kirtland) Lynch, natives of Ireland, and reared a family of six children, viz. : Elizabeth ; Robert; Mary (deceased) who was the wife of John Lyon; Adelaide, wife of William Cox; Emeline (deceased) and Thomas. Robert Brierley, of the fourth generation in America and the subject of this sketch, was also born on the old homestead in Mifflin township, where he now resides and is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was educated in the common schools, and on June 5, 1884, married Cor- delia Irene, daughter of John and Caroline (Arner) Fink, of Poland, Mahoning Co., Ohio, and they have had five children, viz. : Cor- nelius, Charles W., Robert E., Jesse A. and Mabel Roberta. Mr. Brierley is one of the most prominent and substantial farmers of Mifflin township, and he and his family are members of the Leb- anon Presbyterian church. He is a large stockholder in the Home- stead national bank, of which he is vice-president, and his political affiliations are with the republican party. Thomas Lynch Brierley, the youngest child and second son of Thomas and Mary A. (Lynch) Brierley, was born on the Brierley homestead, in Mifflin township,
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Oct. 21, 1851, and on Dec. 28, 1876, was married to Ella S., daughter of Robert and Mary (McFadden) Rath and a member of one of the oldest families of Mifflin township. They have four living children: Thomas B., Clara E., Robert R. and Ella S. Mr. Brierley is a prominent farmer and, in connection with his brother Robert, is now cultivating the old farm in Mifflin township. His religious connections are with the United Presbyterian church, and in his political convictions and affiliations he is a stanch repub- lican.
DR. SAMUEL HODGENS RAL- STON, whose residence and offices are located at No. 402 Penn Ave., Pittsburg, is one of the prominent physicians of the city. As a boy, Dr. Ralston attended the public schools of Beaver county and the Beaver academy, and, preparatory to the study of medicine, graduated from the Vermillion institute, of Hayesville, Ohio. Next he entered the Western Pennsylvania medical college, and, in 1896, was graduated with the degree of M. D. For one year he was the resident physician at the Allegheny county poor farm, after which he began the general practice of medicine in the city of Pittsburg, in which he still continues. Dr. Ralston is a member of the alumni associa- tion of the Western Pennsylvania medical college; a member of the Americus club, a political organization, and one of its principal officers; and is the medical examiner for the Travelers' insurance company of Hartford, Conn. He is a loyal republican, and has become prominent in city politics. In February, 1903, he was elected school director for the fourth ward. He is unmarried. He is a brother of Dr. B. Stewart Ralston, of Neville street and Center avenue, East End, and of W. W. Ralston, the real estate broker. They belong to a family of early settlers of Pennsylvania. His father, W. W. Ralston, was a distinguished Presbyterian clergy- man. He died in December, 1895, aged sixty years. For some time he was pastor of the Presbyterian church at Bridgewater, Beaver county; from 1868 to 1876 at Uniontown, Fayette county; for several years at Xenia, Ohio, and, at the time of his death, was pastor at Pitcairn, Pa. Dr. Ralston's mother was Martha (Hod- gens) Ralston, a daughter of Thomas Hodgens, who, about the
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