USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume I > Part 25
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Roberta M. Mr. Bost and his family are members of St. Francis' Roman Catholic church, of Homestead. He is a charter member of Whitaker tent, No. 425, Knights of the Maccabees; the Carpenters' and Joiners' union, and the Turnverein. In politics he is inde- pendent. Believing in the saying of the late President Hayes, that "He serves his party best who serves his country best," he carefully weighs every proposition touching the public weal and casts his vote on the side which he conscientiously believes will secure the greatest good to the greatest number.
CHARLES ADOLPH SCHULZ, post- master and merchant at Hays Park, Pa., was born in Mifflin township, Allegheny county, Aug. 19, 1857. His parents, Carl and Amelia (Sewald) Schulz, were natives of Germany, born near Saar- brücken-on-the-Rhine. His father came to America about 1845, and was for sev- eral years employed in a brewery at Bir- mingham, later locating in Mifflin town- ship, where he continued in the brewery business. During the Civil war he con- ducted the first licensed hotel at Brad- dock, Pa. The greater part of his life was spent in Allegheny county, and he died at Whitaker, in April, 1900, at the age of seventy-three years. (See sketch of Rudolph Schulz for account of paternal grandfather, John Schulz.) The maternal grandfather, Peter Sewald, was born in Germany, but came to America about 1850, settling in Mifflin township, where he conducted a flour-mill. It was there that Carl Schulz married his daughter, Amelia, and to them were born nine children, seven of whom are still living. They were: Charles A .; Emma; Herman; Wilhelmina, married to Henry Bost, but now deceased; Amelia, wife of Lawrence Schopp; Frederick (deceased) ; William; Catherine M., wife of Otto Barthol, and George. Charles A. Schulz, the subject of this sketch, received his education in the public schools. Since arriving at manhood he has been engaged in various occupations, including building, managing a brewery at Homestead, and operating a stone- quarry. He spent seven years in the west, principally in Kansas and Missouri, the greater part of which time he was engaged in merchandising. He was appointed postmaster at Brandsville, Mo., by President Mckinley. Returning to Pennsylvania in 1898, he
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located at Whitaker, where he has since operated a general store, and has served as postmaster of Hays Park since 1902. Mr. Schulz was married, April 15, 1890, to Anna, daughter of Frederick and Wilhelmina (Dasler) Barthol, of Germany. They have two chil- dren living. Hans and Amanda. Mr. Schulz takes an active inter- est in political matters, in which he is identified with the republican party.
LINDLEY SPENCER LAWSON, of Homestead, Pa., president and general manager of the Lawson manufacturing company, was born near Perrysville, Alle- gheny Co., Pa., Jan. 24, 1870, son of James . N. and Frances (Osborn) Lawson, both natives of Pennsylvania. His paternal grandfather, James Lawson, was a native of Ireland, a carpenter by trade, and among the early settlers of Allegheny county, where he was engaged in farm- ing. He was married to Mary Nixon and they had a family of three children, of whom James N. was the eldest. James N. Lawson was also a car- penter by trade, and for a number of years successfully followed that occupation, but in 1880 located at Homestead, being among the first settlers of that borough, and there engaged in the plumb- ing business until 1898. He met with much success in that venture, retired from business in 1898 and died on Oct. 27, 1899. His chil- dren were: Mary J., wife of O. C. Waters; Oliver O., James A .; Lizzie, wife of Dr. F. F. Sumney ; Oscar P., Lindley S., William E. ; Harriet J., wife of J. N. Hoffer, and Howard L. Lindley S. Lawson was reared and educated at Homestead, where he attended the public schools and learned the trade of gas-fitting, which he followed for ten years, four years of which time he was a part- ner of his father. In 1896 he invented what is known as the Law- son gas water-heater and gas-burners for cook-stoves, which he manufactured until 1901 on his own account, and then organized the Lawson manufacturing company, with a capital of $25,000, with himself as president and general manager. This business is in splendid condition, almost doubling itself each year and paying handsome dividends to the stockholders under his splendid man- agement. Mr. Lawson was married, on June 3, 1891, to Harriet M., daughter of John and Mary (Chew) Mailey, of Homestead, Pa.,
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formerly of California, Pa., and they have had three children: Lindley F. M., Harold B. and Lynn. Mr. Lawson is financially interested in the Enterprise land improvement company (limited) and is one of the prominent and progressive citizens of Homestead.
THOMAS S. GRANGER, of Whit- aker, Pa., a successful grocery merchant, was born in Liverpool, England, July 4, 1844, son of Thomas and Sarah (Fraz- zackly) Granger. His father came to America in 1849, located on the South Side of Pittsburg, where he was joined by his family in 1851, and engaged in min- ing until his death, in St. Clair township, in 1871, at the age of seventy-one years. His family consisted of five children that grew to maturity, viz .: Thomas S .; Henry (deceased) ; Rosanna, wife of John Montgomery; Richard, and William (deceased). Thomas S. Granger was reared in St. Clair township, educated in the com- mon schools, and began life as a miner. At the outbreak of the Civil war, he enlisted in Company B, 62d Pennsylvania infantry, July 12, 1861, as a private, and participated in the battles of Fredericksburg, second Bull Run, Yorktown, Hanover Court House, seven days' fights in front of Richmond, Antietam, Spott- sylvania Court House, Chancellorsville, Mine Run, Cold Harbor, Laurel Hill, and many lesser engagements. He was wounded at Laurel Hill and Cold Harbor and was honorably discharged on July 13, 1864. On leaving the army, he returned to his home in Pennsylvania, engaged in mining in Baldwin township, and later followed the carpenters' trade with much success. He has been a resident of Mifflin township since 1886, and, in March, 1899, embarked in the grocery business at Whitaker, in which he has since prospered. He has been twice married-first, to Mary, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Davis) Upperman, of Lower St. Clair township, by whom he had two children, viz. : Charles H. and Alma B., wife of Burt Layton. He was married on the second occasion to Margaret, daughter of Christian and Margaret Horn, of Homestead, and they have two children, viz. : Christ H. and Margaret S. Mr. Granger is a prominent republican of Mifflin township, and one of the leading citizens of that part of the county.
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ALEX. HOLOZSNYAY, of Home- stead, Pa., pastor of the St. John's Greek Catholic church, was born in County Ung, Hungary, March 28, 1867, and was edu- cated in the diocese of Munkacs, graduat- ing from the Munkacs university in 1891. The following year he was ordained a priest at Repede, and was pastor of Buko- vinka church until 1899, when he came to the United States and was assigned to the pastorship of St. John's Greek Catholic church, of Homestead. At that time the church had a membership of 200 families, and under his charge they have increased the membership to 300 families and now are constantly gaining in numbers. This parish was organized in 1895; the present church was erected the same year, but owing to the rapid increase in the size of the congregation, it has been necessary to let a contract for a much larger edifice, which is to be a handsome structure of brick and stone with a seating capacity of 500. The parochial school, connected with the church, is a splendid institution and now has eighty pupils. Father Holozsnyay is a prominent member of the Sojedinenia Greek Catholic society, which has a membership of 11,000, and formerly served as secretary of that organization.
RUDOLPH SCHULZ, mine host of . the popular Hotel Whitaker, at Whitaker, Allegheny Co., Pa., was born in Mifflin township, of the same county where he now resides, Oct. 8, 1867. His parents were Albrecht and Raghena (Reis) Schulz, both of whom were born near Saarbrücken-on-the-Rhine, Germany. About the year 1847 his father came to America, and soon afterwards located in Mifflin township. He was a man of
varied attainments, being a cabinet- maker by trade, a violinist of considerable ability, a veterinary surgeon, and for twenty-one years operator of a stand on the Pittsburg market for the sale of vegetables raised upon his farm in Mifflin township. John Schulz, the grandfather of Rudolph, was a teacher for several years in the German schools.
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He came to America about 1849, purchased a farm in Mifflin town- ship, upon which part of the village of Whitaker is now located, and died there in 1879. Rudolph is one of a family of nine chil- dren, viz .: Mary, wife of Charles Eichler; Gustave, Dora, Sophia, Rudolph; Catherine, wife of Henry Lawrence; Peter; Margaret, wife of Wm. Rhome, and Caroline. Seven of the children are still living, Dora and Sophia being deceased. The father died in 1887. Rudolph was educated in the common schools of Mifflin township. After farming for about eight years, he engaged in the real estate and produce business, in which he continued until 1901, when he became the proprietor of the Hotel Whitaker. He has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Lydia Wilding, and his present wife was Miss Nellie M. Price, a daughter of John and Helen (McKelvey) Price, of Mifflin township. By his second wife he has one son, Albrecht Stewart Schulz. Mr. Schulz is a supporter of the Lutheran church, and in politics is an unswerving republican, often being called on to serve as a delegate in the county and State conventions of his party. In business he is energetic, the popularity of his hotel being due to his enterprise and genial dis- position.
FREDERICK DIERSTEIN, of Hays Park, Pa., a prominent merchant and justice of the peace, was born near Saarbrücken, Germany, Nov. 30, 1864, son of Louis and Elizabeth (Ries) Dier- stein, who came to America in 1881, locat- ing in Mifflin township, where his father was employed as a miner for many years. His parents had four children, viz. : Sophie, wife of Frank J. Ackerman; Frederick; Bertha, wife of Jesse Lantz, and Clara, wife of Fred Gotsheck. Frederick Dierstein remained in Germany until his sixteenth year, when he accompanied his parents to Mifflin township, where he received a common-school education, and began life as a clerk in the Pittsburg Bessemer steel works in 1881. He remained in that position for five years, and then went with Jones & Laughlin as assistant shipping clerk, in which department he remained for seven years. Later he became shearer and recorder for the last-named firm, and ably filled those positions for nearly nine years. In 1901 he located at Whitaker and began his present
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business. He was married, in 1888, to Sophia, daughter of Christian Miller, of Germany, and they have had six children, viz. : Clara E., Jesse P., Lillie B., Elsie K., Louisa and Ester. He is a member of the German Reformed church, the Red Men, the Ger- man soldiers' association, the D. O. H. and the Whitaker fire com- pany. While a resident of St. Clair township, Mr. Dierstein held the office of register and assessor of the third district for six years; in October, 1902, was appointed justice of the peace of Mifflin township, and in the spring of 1903 was elected for a term of five years. He is identified with the republican party in politics, and is an active worker for its advancement and success. In 1903 Mr. Dierstein organized the Whitaker volunteer fire company's band, of which he is president and director.
JOHN LEADBEATER, of Munhall, Pa., a prosperous and successful carpen- ter, was born in North Versailles town- ship, Allegheny county, Pa., Nov. 29, 1874, son of John J. and Jane (Davis) Leadbeater, natives of England and Wales, respectively. His paternal grand- father, John Leadbeater, came to America in 1855, locating in Mifflin township, where he followed his trade of black- smithing until his death, which occurred at Dravosburg. His maternal grand- father, John Davis, came to the United States about 1850, first located at Pittsburg and later removed to Mckeesport and subsequently to Munhall, where he died. He was employed in the various mines of the Monongahela valley for many years and was prominent in the different communities in which he made his home. John J. Leadbeater, father of the sub- ject, was a successful blacksmith and for many years was employed by W. H. Brown & Co. He died in 1891, at the age of fifty years, and was the father of twelve children, viz. : William (deceased) ; Hannah, wife of William Sellers; Nellie; Sarah, wife of George Wilson; Laura, wife of James A. Porter; Mary, wife of William Drake; Margaret, wife of Wilson Sheasley; John, Alice, Thomas, Edwin and Joshua. John Leadbeater was reared in Mifflin town- ship from ten years of age, educated in the public schools and worked with his father at blacksmithing until the death of the latter. Then he began in the mines, and for the last five years
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has devoted his attention to the carpenters' trade, at which he has been quite successful and has accumulated a good competency. Mr. Leadbeater is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Carpen- ters' union of Homestead, and is a member of the republican party, in which organization he is an active and able worker.
JOHN MARSHALL ORRIS, of Whitaker, Pa., a well-known contractor and builder, was born in Union township, Allegheny county, March 22, 1864, son of Abraham and Annie (Marshall) Orris, natives of Allegheny county, Pa., and England, respectively. His paternal grandfather, John Orris, was a native of Pennsylvania, a coal-miner by occupa- tion, and for many years a resident of Allegheny county, but in later life a resi- dent of Irwin, Pa., where he died at an advanced age. His maternal grand- father, John Marshall, a native of England, came to America about 1853, and located in Union township, Allegheny county, where he engaged in his trade of carpentering until his death. Abraham Orris, father of the subject, was reared in Union township, where he still resides and there follows his vocation of mining. He had a family of six children, viz. : John M .; Lizzie, wife of William Porter; Joseph; Ada M., wife of John Snyder; George, and Annie, wife of John Durst. John M. Orris was reared in his native town- ship, educated in the public schools, and was engaged in mining at different times for several years. In the meantime, Mr. Orris had become proficient at the carpenters' trade, and since 1887 has devoted his attention to that line of industrial effort. Since 1899 he has been engaged in building and contracting as a member of the well-known firm of Strang & Orris, and they are now doing an extensive business, and stand well in the industrial and financial world. He was married, on May 28, 1885, to Annie, daughter of Frank and Georgiana (Johnson) Taylor, of Union township, and they have had seven children born . to them, viz .: Charlotte, Georgiana, Chester W., Francis A., Lizzie, Anna and John M., Jr. Mr. Orris is a member of Progressive lodge, No. 492, Knights of Pythias, and Whitaker tent, No. 425, Knights of the Maccabees, and his political affiliations are with the republican party.
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WALTER EDSON STEFFY, M. D., of Duquesne, Pa., a leading physician and surgeon, was born at Rural Valley, Armstrong Co., Pa., Jan. 29, 1870; son of Rev. John T. and Margaret (Logan) Steffy, both natives of Armstrong county and of Scotch-Irish and German descent, respectively. His paternal grandfather, John T. Steffy, was a native of Pennsyl- vania, a pioneer farmer of Armstrong county, though a tanner by trade, and later was employed in the mills at Sharps- burg, which were the first rolling mills of that section. He was also engaged in other occupations, but the major portion of his life was devoted to tanning in Armstrong county, whence he removed to Duquesne in 1890, where he lived quietly until his death in 1901, at the age of seventy-nine years. His wife was Mary Earhart, and she was a woman known for force of character and many virtues. The maternal grandfather of Dr. Steffy, Samuel Logan, a native of Allegheny county, Pa., was a prosperous blacksmith and followed that line of industry during his entire business career. Rev. John T. Steffy, father of the subject, was reared in the Keystone State, educated at Mount Union -college and for thirty years has been a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, at present being stationed at the Washington church, South Side, Pittsburg. He had a family of eight children, viz. : Walter E. ; Vernetta, widow of Enos Register; Mary B. ; Estella, wife of Frank McGill; Blanch, James, John T. and Priscilla. Dr. Steffy was reared in his native State, educated in the normal school at California and at the Western university, of Pittsburg, and for two years attended a pharmaceutical school at Pittsburg, subsequently matriculated at the medical depart- ment of the Western Pennsylvania university, where he was graduated in 1894, with the degree of doctor of medicine. Dr. Steffy initiated his professional career at Allegheny city, where he practiced for one year, and in 1895 removed to Duquesne, where he has since met with much success and ranks high among the lead- ing physicians of that part of the county. He was married, on May 29, 1889, to Anne A., daughter of Dr. John T. and Margaret (Hazlett) Black, of Duquesne, and their home life is one of rare happiness. Dr. Steffy is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, also member of United States pension examining board,
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and is a thirty-second degree Mason and an Elk. Dr. Steffy was a member of the medical staff of Mckeesport hospital for five years, physician to the board of health for three years and in many ways prominently identified with the medical profession. Dr. Steffy has also been called on to serve the borough in other capacities than professional, and was a member of the council from the first ward for three years, in which position he made a fine record. He was one of the promoters, and is now a director, of the Home title and trust company and in many ways is one of the prominent figures of that community.
JAMES BICKERTON, the efficient postmaster of Duquesne, Pa., was born in Wheeling, W. Va., Jan. 9, 1844, and is the son of William and Dorothy (Brem- inger) Bickerton, natives of England and Petersburg, Huntingdon Co., Pa., respect- ively, and is of English and German ancestry. His father, now a resident of Kansas, at the age of ninety years, came to America in 1831, and located at Wheel- ing, W. Va., where he operated a coal mine for about fifteen years and was also married, about 1845. Later he removed to Elizabeth, Pa., where he was superintendent of a mine for thirty- five years, and subsequently removed to his present home in Kan- sas. He reared a family of five children, viz .: Eliza, wife of Robert Cardurl1; Ann, wife of George Grant; Clara, wife of George Young; Josephine, wife of Patrick Herron, and James. James Bickerton was reared in Allegheny county from one year of age, was educated in the common schools and then was employed about the mines under his father for a number of years. He was a soldier of the Civil war, serving in Company D, 123d regiment of Pennsylvania volunteers, and participated in the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and others. In August, 1863, he again enlisted, this time in Company C, 14th Pennsylvania cavalry, spent fourteen months doing scouting duty with that command and at the close of the war was honorably dis- charged. He then went to Kansas, where he remained for six years, and later engaged in the coal business in Illinois and Ohio. In 1889 Mr. Bickerton located at Duquesne, Pa., and was there engaged in the grocery business until 1897, when he was appointed
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postmaster by President Mckinley, re-appointed in 1898, and in April, 1902, was nominated as his own successor by President Roosevelt. He was married, on July 24, 1866, to Mary, daughter of John R. and Lucretia A. (Wilson) Mickey, of West Elizabeth, Pa., and they have eight living children, viz. : Mildred D., wife of Albert N. Smith; Mattie E., Charles C .; Nellie, wife of John W. Elliott; George W., James W., Wilbur L. and Hazel M. Mr. Bickerton and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a member of Samuel Black post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Mckeesport; West Elizabeth lodge, No. 442, Knights of Pythias, and of the republican party. Mrs. Bickerton's maternal great-grandfather Wilson, was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war and her grandfather, John, was a participant in the War of 1812, in which contest his wife, Mary, also lent her aid by molding bullets for the new republic.
JOHN A. FISHER, the leading pho- tographer of Homestead, Pa., was born at Oil City, Pa., May 9, 1869. Several generations of the Fisher family have lived in Pennsylvania. Christian Fisher, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was for many years a farmer of Snyder county. He came, in his boy- hood, with his parents from Germany, being among the early Pennsylvania Dutch settlers, while John Fisher, the grandfather, was a soldier in the War of 1812. John A. Fisher is a son of John P. and Eldretta (Thompson) Fisher, his mother being a native of Kentucky. Her father, William N. Thompson, came of Revolu- tionary stock. The parents of John A. Fisher are still living in Pittsburg, where his father is engaged in the photograph business, though for many years he was an operator in the oil fields of western Pennsylvania. John A. Fisher was educated in the public schools of Oil City, graduating from the high school in 1885. In 1889 he began the study of photography in Pittsburg, and after mastering all the intricacies of the art, he started in business for himself, locating at Homestead. His reputation as a photographer was soon established, his work being excelled by none in the county. On March 27, 1901, he was married to Miss Charlotte, the daughter of Edward and Charlotte Ensell, of Pittsburg, and
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they have one little daughter, Margaret. Mr. Fisher is a modest, unassuming man; one of the kind that devotes his time to his business and his family, though he keeps himself informed on questions relating to the general welfare, and intelligently dis- charges his duties as a citizen.
JOSEPH ALEXANDER DOYLE, M. D., of Homestead, Pa., a prominent physician, was born in Birmingham, now the South Side of Pittsburg, Pa., Oct. 15, 1861, son of Joseph A. and Elizabeth (Jones) Doyle, and is of Irish-Hessian and Welsh descent. His paternal grand- father, Charles Doyle, was a native of eastern Pennsylvania, a carpenter by trade and one of the early settlers of Street's Run, or what is now Hays Borough, Allegheny county, where he was engaged in the manufacturing of He was also a millwright, and built water-
barrels and kegs. wheels, mill machinery, cider presses and other articles needed by . the pioneers. His father, the great-grandfather of the subject, was for many years a resident of Allegany county, N. Y., and was the first postmaster of Painted Post, N. Y. The maternal grand- father of Dr. Doyle was John Jones, a native of Wales, who settled in Allegheny county in 1819, making the journey on foot from Balti- more. He was a stone-mason by trade, one of the early contractors of Pittsburg, and erected the original stone wall around Lebanon church in Mifflin township, which is one of the old landmarks of that vicinity. Charles Doyle was a soldier in the War of 1812, and had a family of eight children, among whom were: William, Joseph A., Henry; Sallie, who married a Mr. Dobson; Maria, who married Seth Wilmont. Joseph A. Doyle, father of the sub- ject, was born at what is now Hays Borough, Allegheny county, in 1824; was reared in Pittsburg, where he served an apprenticeship at the glass-workers' trade, and for over fifty years was engaged in the manufacture of glass in Pittsburg and vicinity. He has been a resident of Homestead since 1873, and reared a family of five chil- dren: Mary, wife of William Stimely; Emma, wife of Charles Bryce; William H., Joseph A., and Elizabeth, wife of William H. Byrnes. Dr. Doyle was reared in Allegheny county, educated at the Thiel college, Greenville, Pa., and for two years was engaged
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in the glass business at Phillipsburg, now Monaca, Pa. He later learned the glass-blowers' trade with Bryce, Higher & Co., which he completed in 1882, and followed that vocation until 1889, when he began the study of medicine at Bellevue hospital medical col- lege, New York city, where he remained for one year. Then he entered the medical department of the Western Reserve college, Cleveland, Ohio, where he was graduated in 1893, and at once commenced the practice of his profession at Homestead, where he has since met with much success in that vocation. He was mar- ried, on April 26, 1888, to Sarah E., daughter of Dr. H. DeLa and Elizabeth Cossitt, of Greenville, Pa., and they have two children, Joseph A. and Sarah E. Dr. Doyle and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian church, and he is a member of the Alle- gheny county medical society and the Masonic fraternity. His political associations are with the republican party.
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