USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume I > Part 24
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beginning of the nineteenth century, was engaged in the business of calico-printing and tanning morocco leather in Philadelphia. In 1804 he removed to Washington county, settled at Cannonsburg, and started the first tannery west of the Alleghany mountains. Here Martha Hodgens and W. W. Ralston were married, and here Dr. Ralston, the subject of this sketch, was born, May 1, 1867, on the farm where his maternal grandfather first settled, and where his maternal grandmother, Mary (Graham) Hodgens, is still living, in comparatively good health, in her rooth year.
CHARLES SCHMITT, manager of the Homestead brewing company, is one of the progressive and successful business men of the city. He is the son of Fred- erick and Frances Schmitt, and was born in Mifflin township, Allegheny Co., Pa., Jan. 15, 1859. His father came to the United States about the year 1850, and located in Mifflin township, where he followed for many years the vocation of a coal-miner. He died at Homestead, in 1889, after rearing a family of seven chil- dren; John, Joseph, Charles, Frank, Fer- dinand, Peter and Mary, of whom John, Frank and Peter are deceased, the others still living. Charles Schmitt obtained his education mainly in the common schools of Mifflin township. After leaving school, he worked for a time as a miner, then in the Home- stead steel works until 1885, when he started in the grocery busi- ness, which he followed for fourteen years. In 1899 he assisted in organizing the Homestead brewing company, being one of its principal promoters, and has been the manager of the company ever since it began business. On May 17, 1888, he was married to Miss Sophia, daughter of Barney and Frances (Mahler) Schmid, of Pittsburg, and to them have been born six children: Elmer, Madeline, Marie, Paul, Frances and Jerome. Mr. and Mrs. Schmitt are members of St. Mary Magdalene's Roman Catholic church of Homestead. He is also a member of the German Eintracht singing society, the Knights of St. George, the C. M. B. A., and Lodge No. 650, B. P. O. Elks. In politics, he is a stanch democrat. He was appointed postmaster of Homestead by President Cleveland in 1885, and served four years, receiving three different commis- sions on account of the growth of the office. When President
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Cleveland was elected a second time, in 1892, Mr. Schmitt was the unanimous choice of his party for the postmastership, and he was accordingly again appointed and again served four years. The executive ability displayed in the management of the post- office, he has brought to the Homestead brewing company, which has placed it upon a sound business basis and the high-road to success. The product of the Homestead brewery is second in quality to none in the country, and its popularity is largely due to the genial and efficient manager.
DR. BENEDICT STEWART RAL- STON, one of the leading physicians of the East End, Pittsburg, Pa., was born at Havre de Grace, Harford Co., Md., April 15, 1866. He is the son of Rev. Walter W. and Martha (Hodgens) Ral- ston. (For account of parents and ances- tors see the sketch of Dr. S. H. Ralston.) Few men have a better general education than Dr. B. S. Ralston. After attending the common schools of Fayette and Beaver counties, Pa., he graduated from the Beaver high school; attended the Piersoll academy at Bridgewater for two years; graduated from the Vermillion institute, and from the Western Pennsylvania med- ical college in 1889. During the year immediately following his graduation, he was the resident physician of the Western Pennsyl- vania hospital. In 1890 he began the general practice of medicine at the corner of Penn avenue and Main street, Pittsburg. Four years later he established a second office at the corner of Neville street and Center avenue. He maintained both these offices until 1903, when he disposed of his Main-street office, and since then has conducted all his business from the other office, where he is at pres- ent located. Dr. Ralston is a member of the Allegheny county and Pennsylvania State medical societies, the American medical association, the Association of military surgeons of the United States, the Pittsburg hunt club, the Pittsburg country club, the Duquesne club, the Bellefield Presbyterian church of Pittsburg, and is a life member of the alumni association of the Western Pennsylvania college. From 1895 to 1896 he was on the staff at the Home for incurables in the city of Pittsburg. Since 1894 he has been city physician for the fifteenth and sixteenth wards, and
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since 1897 he has been surgeon to the 18th regiment, Pennsylvania national guard. He is also surgeon for the Pittsburg railway com- pany and the veteran corps of "Duquesne Grays." He was mar- ried, in 1894, to Estelle, the only daughter of Edward Groetzinger, one of the leading carpet merchants of the city of Pittsburg.
JOHN MONTGOMERY, a carpenter of Whitaker, and a veteran of the Civil war, was born at Bridgeport, Fayette Co., Pa., Aug. 19, 1842. He is a son of Hugh, a native of Columbus, Ohio, and Anna (Johnston) Montgomery, a native of Con- nellsville, Pa., and a great-grandson of Gen. Richard Montgomery, who fell at the battle of Quebec in 1775. Hugh Montgomery spent most of his life in western Pennsylvania, a paper-maker by trade, following that business when it was customary to finish and rule writing- paper by hand. He died at Smithton, Westmoreland county, Oct. 2, 1877, at the age of seventy-seven. John Montgomery received his education in the common schools. On Sept. 24, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company F, 18th Pennsylvania cavalry. His regi- ment was in active service until July 11, 1865, when it was mustered out at Cumberland Gap, Md., under general orders from the war departinent. It participated in a number of engagements, in which the subject of this sketch, like his illustrious ancestor, did his part. He was with the regiment at the battles of Hanover, Hunterstown and Gettysburg, Pa .; at South Mountain, Smiths- burg, Hagerstown, Boonsboro, Fredericktown, Falling Waters, Snicker's Gap, Culpeper Court House, Raccoon Ford, Brandy Station, Buckland Mills, Gainesville, New Baltimore, Stevens- burg. Gorman's Ford, Kilpatrick's raid to Richmond, Mine Run, Spottsylvania Court House, North Anna river, Yellow Tavern, in front of Richmond, Hanover Court House, Ashley Station, Cold Harbor, White Oak Swamp, Weldon railroad, Charlestown, Shep- herdstown, Limestone bridge, Winchester, Front Royal, Milford, Waynesboro, Bridgewater, Brock's Gap, Mount Olive, Round Top Mountain, Cedar Creek and Mount Jackson. He received a saber wound at Hanover, Pa., June 30, 1863, and was promoted to cor- poral for gallant conduct during the fight. Later he was promoted to the rank of sergeant. After being discharged, he
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went to Washington county, Pa., where he finished learning the carpenters' trade, and in 1873 he removed to Allegheny county, where he has lived ever since. He has been a resident of Whit- aker since 1894. He was married, July 3, 1873, to Rosanna, daughter of Thomas and Sarah S. (Wilkes) Granger, of Williams- burg, Pa. They have had seven children: William James and Samuel George (deceased) ; Lillian, wife of Arnold V. Smith; Hugh H., Rosanna (deceased), Louisa M. and Ruth M. Mr. Montgom- ery and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of Griffin post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Homestead, and Encampment No. 1, Union Veteran legion, of Pittsburg. In politics he is a republican and takes a lively interest in all questions of a political nature. It is fitting that men like Mr. Montgomery should occupy places in these pages. His record as a soldier in time of war should be preserved, and his usefulness as a mechanic in time of peace is worthy of emulation by coming generations.
GILBERT PALEN, the genial and gentlemanly proprietor of the hotel at Brighton road and Palen way, was born at Detroit, Mich., in 1862, and is the son of George and Lucy Palen, the former of whom is now deceased. When Gilbert was about eight years old, the family removed to Pleasantville, Venango Co., Pa., and it was at this place that he received his first education. Two years later they removed to Allegheny city, settling in the third ward, where he attended school for three years, when his parents again changed their residence, this time locating in the eleventh ward. Like all boys, Gilbert did a little of everything until he was twenty years old. Then he went into the retail ice business, having his office at his present place of business. He continued in this line until 1892, when he opened a hotel, in con- nection with the vocation of a liquor dealer, his place being one of the best on the Brighton road. In 1882, he was married to Miss Laura Anderson, of Perrysville, Pa., and they have two children living, Sarah and Bertie, and three deceased, Myrtle, Gustavus and Charlie. In politics, Mr. Palen is an uncompromising repub- lican. He was elected to the common council in 1897, and was
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twice .re-elected, serving three terms in all. He is a member of the Chubby fishing club, of Allegheny city, and is a great lover of the sport for which the club was organized.
MILO GIBSON CONLIN, of Du- quesne, Pa., president of the Home title and trust company, was born at Coal Bluff, Washington Co., Pa., June 8, 1857, son of Joseph and Sarah (Gibson) Conlin, both natives of Washington county, Pa. His paternal grandfather, John Conlin, was a pioneer farmer of Washington county and both he and his wife lived to be 100 years of age, there being but two weeks' difference in their deaths, and, as he was just two weeks older than his wife, their lives were almost exactly of the same length. His maternal grandfather was also a pioneer of Washington county and a well-known citizen of that section of the Keystone State. Joseph Conlin, father of the subject, was a pros- perous merchant of Coal Bluff, Washington county, and of West Elizabeth, Allegheny county, at which place he died on April 14, 1901. He was the father of seven children, six of whom grew to maturity, viz. : William (deceased) ; Annie; Deliah, wife of William Campbell; Mary ; Milo G .; Erdin, wife of Dr. A. H. Aber, and John (deceased). Mr. Conlin was reared at Coal Bluff, attended the common schools of his native town, the public schools of West Elizabeth and the Mckeesport academy. His first work was that of a coal-weigher at Jones' Station, on the Monongahela river, and in 1888 he began general merchandising at that place. He con- tinued at Jones' Station with much success for a time, and then removed to Duquesne, where he established a large department store. In 1897 he disposed of that business and became tax col- lector, to which office he had been elected the previous spring. Mr. Conlin filled that important position with skill and ability for three years, and at the same time devoted a part of his energies to the real estate business, which he now continues. When the Home title and trust company was chartered, in December, 1902, he was elected president of that corporation and since has directed its affairs in that official capacity. He was one of the organizers of the Duquesne electric light company, of which he became treasurer and held that position until the company sold out to the
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Mckeesport electric light company, in 1897. Mr. Conlin was mar- ried, in 1878, to Jennie, daughter of George and Rachel (Galbraith) Jones, of Pittsburg, and they have four living children, viz : Joseph, George, John and Earl. Mr. Conlin is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Elks and the Maccabees, and his political affiliations are with the democratic party. Mr. Conlin has been prominently identified with the growth and advancement of Duquesne and is ever ready to lend his might to any movement that is for the per- manent improvement and betterment of the borough.
WILLIAM CHARLES ECKBRETH, of Hays Borough, Pa., proprietor of the Hotel Eckbreth, was born in Baldwin township, Allegheny county, Nov. 5, 1863, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Miller) Eckbreth, his father a native of the Fatherland and his mother born under the stars and stripes. His father was born at Hanover, Germany, June 11, 1832, son of Henry and Mary Eckbreth; came to America in 1847, located at Mckeesport, and worked as a coal-miner there and in Westmoreland county until 1902, when he retired from active life and is now quietly residing at Hays Borough. The elder Eckbreth was the father of twelve children, viz: Henry; Mary E. P., wife of Otto E. Wolf; Elizabeth E. C., wife of Thomas Swaney; Charles W., J. Theodore, S. Melinda, wife of George B. Eckman; W. Henrietta, wife of William H. Myers; Anna M., John S .; Sarah C., wife of John Lutz; Sulibell and Walter W. William C. Eckbreth was reared in Allegheny county, educated in the public schools and began his business career as a coal-ininer, which occupation he successfully followed for twenty years. In November, 1902, Mr. Eckbreth embarked in his present business of conducting the hotel which bears his name, and has met with much success in that line of endeavor, having the leading hotel of the borough and enjoying a good patronage. He was married, in May, 1892, to Mary, daughter of Charles Flidow, of Homestead, and they have one living daughter, Sarah M. Mr. Eckbreth and his wife are members of the English Lutheran church. Mr. Eckbreth is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and is a republican in politics.
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LOUIS ROTT, of Homestead, Pa., a prominent financier and president of the First National bank, was born in the duchy of Brunswick, near the Hartz mountains, Germany, Oct. 22, 1844, son of Christian and Louisa (Heiseker) Rott, both natives of the duchy of Brunswick, where his father was an industrious and successful blacksmith until he came to America, in 1850. His father located at Pittsburg on coming to the United States, and continued his trade of black- smithing until his death. He and his wife were consistent members of the High Street Lutheran church, and were the parents of the following children: Frederick, a resi- dent of Pittsburg; C. Z. F., manager of a glass factory at Jean- nette, Pa., and Louis. Louis Rott accompanied his parents to America when only six years of age, was educated in the splendid schools of Pittsburg, and when fourteen years of age commenced an apprenticeship in the retail drug business. He learned that profession in five years, and then entered into a partnership with his former employer, which lasted until the business was closed out twelve months later. He then entered the employ of the wholesale drug firm-of B. L. Fahnestock & Co., and for sixteen years served them in various capacities. In 1882 Mr. Rott embarked in the drug business at Homestead, and conducted the same with much success for six years. In 1888 he assisted in the organization of the First National bank of Homestead, was elected its first cashier, later was elected vice-president, and was recently made president of
that splendid institution. Mr. Rott is also connected with the Homestead brick company, the Mifflin land and improvement com- . pany and the Homestead baking company, and for the past twenty years has been secretary of the Homestead building and loan asso- ciation, which he assisted in organizing. Mr. Rott is a member of Lodge No. 991, Odd Fellows; Boaz council, Royal Arcanum; Amity conclave, Heptasophs; Lincoln castle, Knights of Mystic Circle; the Knights of Pythias, and the Blue lodge and chapter Masons. Mr. Rott has been treasurer of the borough for the past ten years, served on the school board for two years, and represented his ward in the council for three years. He was married, on July 19, 1876, to Arabella J., daughter of Robert McCandless, and they had three children: L. Edwin, cashier of the First National bank of Home-
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stead; R. George, with the Homestead steel company, and Albert John, an invalid. Mrs. Rott died on Nov. 29, 1889, and, on May 17, 1891, Mr. Rott was married to Margaret Virginia McCandless, a sister of his former wife, and their wedded life has been a rarely happy one. Mr. Rott is senior warden of St. Matthew's Episcopal church of Homestead, and in his political opinions and affiliations is a stanch republican.
HUBERT PAXTON WIGGINS, of Homestead, Pa., one of the owners of the Messenger publishing company, publish- ers of the News-Messenger, a leading daily paper, was born at Redwood Falls, Minn., July 16, 1870, son of Coulter and Adelaide M. (Craigen) Wiggins. Mr. Wiggins is descended, on his father's side, from John Kinter, and traces his ancestry as fol- lows: Coulter Wiggins, born in White township, Indiana Co., Pa., Jan. 23, 1840; Robert Wiggins, born on Ackerson's farm, White township, Indiana Co., Pa., March 26, 1810, and died June 25, 1890; Eliza Coulter, born in Indiana county, Pa., April 11, 1817, married Robert Wiggins, Nov. 2, 1836, and died June 20, 1855; Thomas Wiggins, born on Ackerson's farm, White township, Indiana Co., Pa .; Elizabeth Lytle, born near Princeton, N. J., and married Thomas Wiggins; Samuel Wiggins, native of Ireland, of Scotch descent, came to the United States in the latter part of the eighteenth century; Margaret Wiggins, his wife, native of Ireland, of Scotch descent; James Coulter, father of Eliza Coulter, born in Georgia, Sept. 30, 1791, and died March 6, 1863; Catherine Kinter, native of Indiana county, Pa., born on Dec. 27, 1791, married James Coulter, and died on March 15, 1852 ; John Kinter, native of Huntingdon county, Pa., served three terms of three months each in the patriot army during the American Revolution, and died in his eighty-second year; Isabella Findley, native of Huntingdon county, Pa., married John Kinter, and died in her ninetieth year; Philip Kinter, emi- grant from Holland; Barbara King, wife of Philip Kinter, emigrant from Holland. Mr. Wiggins is descended, on his mother's side, from the Craigens of Scotland, one of whom, Robert Craigen, fought in the battle of Culloden, March 16, 1746, and the ancestral line is as follows: Adelaide M. Craigen, born in Hampshire county,
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W. Va., Dec. 23, 1843, married Coulter Wiggins, Aug. 15, 1868; Jacob 1. Craigen, born in Hardy county, W. Va., May 10, 1807, was a slave owner at the opening of the Civil war, but espoused the federal side, experienced many thrilling adventures, and now resides on the old farm, at the age of ninety-seven; Eliza Sein Parsons, born at Washington, D. C., in 1811, married Jacob Craigen, April 3, 1833, and died Oct. 13, 1872; John Craigen, born in Winchester county, Va., and died at the age of fifty-seven years; Mary Lee, native of Hardy county, W. Va., married John Craigen, and died in her eightieth year; Robert Craigen, born in Scotland, emigrated to Maryland, and finally located in Winchester county, Va. ; Susanna Perrin, native of Maryland, married Robert Craigen; George Lee and Keziah Borgart, parents of Mary Lee, resided in Hardy county, W. Va. ; Joseph Parsons, father of Eliza Sein Parsons, born at Rye Beach, Mass., moved to Washington, D. C., and was a trader and merchant; Elizabeth Betsy Monroe, a native of Washington, D. C., and the wife of Joseph Parsons. Coulter Wiggins, father of H. P. Wiggins, removed from Redwood Falls, Minn., where he had gone in search of health, to his former house at Indiana, Pa., and, in 1890, located at Blairsville, Pa .. where he now resides and practices law with much ability and unusual success, and is one of the leading citizens of that com- munity. At Indiana his son was reared and educated, being a graduate of the State normal school at that place, and later he located in Homestead, Pa., where he secured employment as a printer, which trade he had learned at Indiana, in the establish- ment of M. P. & J. R. Schooley, then the proprietors of the Home- stead News. Subsequently, Mr. Wiggins purchased the plant of the Homestead Messenger, a daily paper, and associated with him Miss Sarah Parry. The News was then bought, and the two papers consolidated as the News-Messenger. Later Miss Parry disposed of her interest to A. D. Slocum, and Messrs. Wiggins and Slocum have continued the newspaper and jobbing business under the name of the Messenger publishing company, and have one of the best equipped plants in the Monongahela valley, while the News-Messenger is a splendid daily paper, which carries great weight and exerts an immense influence in the community. The young men have also acquired considerable property about Home- stead .. Mr. Wiggins was married, in 1896, to Miriam E., daughter of Thomas L. Parry, a retired mill roller of Homestead, and they have one child, Hubert Parry.
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JAMES LAWRY, of West Homestead, Pa., real estate, insurance and news agent, and collector for the Farmers' sav- ing fund and loan association, of Pitts- burg, was born at St. Ives, Cornwall, England, March 24, 1861, son of Henry and Mary (Lory) Lawry. His paternal grandparents were Henry and Nannie (Martin) Lawry and his maternal grand- parents were John and Alice Lory. His parents came to America in 1863, located in Johnstown, Pa., where his father was employed in the iron ore mines, and later became a soldier in the Civil war. Prior to coming to America, he followed the tin and copper mining industry in England, and after the Civil war in America, returned to Johnstown and resumed his vocation of mining until the strike of 1873. Then he went to Latrobe, Pa., where, with others, he opened and enlarged the Loyalhanna shaft, and subsequently removed to Houtzdale, Pa., where he resided until 1875, after which he was employed in Bedford county by the Wigton coal company until 1877, when he entered the service of the Edgar Thompson steel works, at Brad- dock, where he remained until 1880, when he left that concern and went to England to inspect some mines. He was there killed, in 1881, by the breaking of the wire rope on the elevator in a shaft, which precipitated him and nine others to the bottom of the same, killing the entire number. He was the father of twelve children, viz .: Mary A., wife of William H. Phoebe; Richard, Henry, Wil- liam, John; Hannah, wife of John Tresise; Elizabeth J., wife of Alexander F. Redpath; Thomas; Annie, wife of Cornelius Dickin- son ; James; Sarah, wife of Robert E. Nelson, and Priscilla. James Lawry was reared in Pennsylvania, educated in the public schools, and when eight years of age began doing odd jobs about the coal mines, where he was employed for eight years. In 1877 he located at Braddock, and for five years was in the employ of the Edgar Thompson steel works. In 1882 Mr. Lawry went to Pueblo, Col., and helped to start the new steel works at that place. He then removed to Homestead, where he was employed in the mills until the strike of 1892, then for about two years he was employed by Mr. Charles Schmitt as clerk and solicitor for him in the grocery business. In May, 1894, Mr. Charles Schmitt, having been appointed postmaster at Homestead, sold out his grocery business,
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Mr. Lawry then embarking in the same business for himself, and for six years prospered. Since 1901 he has successfully followed his present business of a real estate, insurance and newspaper agent, owning a very valuable newspaper route in West Home- stead. He was married, on June 14, 1883, to Julia A., daughter of Dr. Thomas W. and Bertha G. (McCabe) Blackburn, of Covington, Ky., and they have five children, viz. : Olive M., Thomas L., James D., Richard H. and George C. Mr. Lawry is a member of the Independent Order of Heptasophs and the Modern Woodmen of America, and his political affiliations are with the republican party.
IVILLIAM BOST, a well-known car- penter of Whitaker, where he has lived since 1892, is of German parentage. He is a son of Henry and Catherine (Renn) Bost. His father came to America about the year 1851 and located in Alle- gheny county, where he resided until his death. For about twenty years he fol- lowed the occupation of a coal-miner, and afterwards lived practically a retired life in the village of Whitaker, where he died in 1886 at the age of fifty-seven. Matthew Renn, his maternal grandfather, came to America in 1852, settled in Mifflin township and spent the remainder of his life there. William Bost was born in Mifflin township, Jan. 1, 1857. He is one of a family of seven children- all boys-viz. : John, Jacob, William, Valentine, Frank, Henry and Lewis. He received a common-school education and began life as a miner, which occupation he followed for about ten years, when he went to work as a heater in the Homestead steel works. In 1892 he made another change in his occupation and since that time he has worked continuously at carpenter work, assisting in the erection of some of the finest buildings in the county. He owns- his home at Whitaker and is looked upon as one of the sub- stantial citizens of that thriving village. On March 14. 1881, he was married to Miss Gertrude Rushe, a daughter of Nicholas and Mary Rushe, of Mifflin township. His wife's parents are both natives of Germany, though of French extraction. They have nine children living: Henry N., John G., Peter A., Gertrude M., William L., M. Florence, J. Oliver, L. Pearl and an infant daughter,
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