USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume I > Part 26
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JOHN C. KIMBERLIN, assistant water assessor of Allegheny city, Pa., was born in that city in 1859, his parents, Thomas and Mary Kimberlin, being well- known residents of the second ward, where John C. received his primary educa- tion. After completing the course in the public school of the second ward, he attended for a time the Beaver college, Beaver, Pa., and then served an appren- ticeship at the plumbing trade. From 1889 to 1893 he conducted a plumbing establishment of his own on Washington avenue. In 1893 he was appointed to his present position, under Director of Public Works MacFee, and has been continued in it through all the subsequent administrations, which is certainly good evidence that he is both capable and faithful in discharging his duties. In 1884 he was married to Miss Ida B. Miller, of Allegheny city, and one daughter, Norma B., has come to bless this union. Mr. and Mrs. Kimberlin are members of the Episcopalian church. Mr. Kimberlin is a member of Twin City council, No. 601, of the National Union, and Pride of the West lodge, No. 37, United Workmen. In politics he is a republican, and always takes an active part in the political affairs of both city and county. His political views, however, do not interfere with the impartial exercise of his official powers, all being treated alike.
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JAMES A. RUSSELL.
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JAMES A. RUSSELL, president of the Braddock First National bank, was born in Scotland, July 8, 1840, son of William and Helen (Lindsay) Russell. William Russell was a blacksmith, a son of Alexander and Jane (Forester) Russell. In 1852 he came to America with his family, locating first in Mckeesport, and later in Washington county, where he died. James A. Russell, the sub- ject of this sketch, was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker, and, on Nov. 28, 1861, he opened a business of his own in Elizabeth. Four years later he moved to Braddock, and in April, 1866, started a cabinet and undertaking establishment. The business prospering, he erected, in 1884, the three-story brick building, opposite his present stand at No. 836 Braddock Ave., which he still owns. He also owns a number of other properties in Braddock, North Brad- dock, Rankin and Homestead, and has extensive interests in mines and other property in Colorado, New Mexico and the State of Washington. In 1897 Mr. Russell erected the handsome and com- modious undertaking rooms at No. 836 Braddock Ave., and in January, 1901, turned the business over to his son, Robert. Robert Russell was born in 1876, attended Washington and Jeffer- son college, and is now studying in the medical department of the Western University of Pennsylvania. James A. Russell married Miss Mary Melissa Wilson, Sept. 2, 1862. Mrs. Russell is a daugh- ter of Abram and Jane (Kennedy) Wilson, both descendants of pioneer families of Butler county. Of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Russell, only two are living. They are: Robert, mentioned above, and Helen, a graduate of the State normal school at Indiana, Pa., who lives with her father at No. 310 Hol- land Ave. Mr. Russell was one of the founders of the First Pres- byterian church, of which he is now an elder. He is a member of Braddock Field lodge, No. 510, F. and A. M., and several other fraternal orders. He has been prominent in the municipal life of the borough, serving two terms on the board of education, two terms as justice of the peace, and also as burgess and auditor of the borough. About twelve years ago he was elected director of the First National bank, soon promoted to vice-president, and upon the death of W. H. Watt, Aug. 12, 1901, was elected president of the bank. The First National bank was organized in 1882, has a paid-up capital of $100,000, undivided profits of $75,000, and total assets amounting to $Soo,ooo, and is recognized as one of the strongest and most substantial institutions of its kind in America.
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HARRY ERNEST JOHNS, the suc- cessful editor of the Homestead Press, was born near Honesdale, Wayne Co., Pa., June 13, 1874, son of Benjamin and Eliza (Parkyn) Johns, natives of Pem- brokeshire, Wales, and Cornwall, Eng- land, respectively. His paternal grand- father, Thomas Johns, was a farmer of Wales, and his maternal grandfather, Joseph Parkyn, was from Cornwall, Eng- land, and a prominent farmer of Wayne county, Pa. The father of the subject of this review came to America in 1851, located near Honesdale, Wayne Co., Pa., where he embarked in the lumber business, being a sawyer by trade, and in later life purchased a large farm near Honesdale, which was known as the Parkyn homestead and on which he resided until his death. He reared a family of nine children, viz .: Esther, wife of Edwin Kabelin; Mary, wife of E. L. Gleason; Naomi, wife of George Kabelin; Orange J., Warren, Chiliom B., Harry E .; Elsie, wife of Eugene Kabelin, and Archer R. Harry E. Johns was reared in Wayne county, Pa., educated in the public schools of Honesdale and was for some time engaged in teaching school in his native county. The next four years were devoted to the insurance busi- ness at Braddock and Homestead, three years of which time Mr. Johns was superintendent of agencies for the Prudential insurance company, of Newark, N. J. In 1897 he became a reporter on the Homestead News, later established the Homestead Bulletin, a weekly paper which was later merged with the Homestead Press, when he became secretary and one of the directors of the Home- stead Press printing company and was selected as editor of the journal, which position he has since ably filled. He is also a director and member of the Kilgore & Atkinson sporting goods company, one of the largest wholesale concerns of that kind in western Pennsylvania. He was married, on Feb. 16, 1895, to Ida E. McGuire, of Homestead, and they have one daughter, Mildred. Mr. Johns is a prominent member of the Baptist church and has been superintendent of its Sunday-school at Homestead, for four years. He is a past commander of the Knights of Malta and a member of the Odd Fellows, in both of which orders he is an active figure. Mr. Johns is a stanch republican in his political faith and adherence and takes a great deal of interest in politics,
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believing it to be the duty of all good citizens to contribute to the proper government of the community, and for the past five years has served as a member of the school board from the first ward of Homestead, which position he resigned in the spring of 1903 to take his seat in the borough council, to which he was elected for a term of three years.
JAMES K. P. SHOEMAKER, of Homestead, Pa., a prominent real estate: dealer and a well-known citizen, was born at Berlin, Somerset Co., Pa., Oct. 4, 1845, son of Levi and Maria (Fair) Shoemaker, natives of Berlin and Allegheny town- ships, of Somerset county, respectively. His paternal grandfather was John Henry Shoemaker, a native of Berks county, Pa., and among the pioneers of Somerset county, was a tailor by trade and a son of Henry Shoemaker, who was a native of Germany and one of the early settlers of Berks county, Pa., where he reared a family of five sons: Anthony, Abraham, John Henry, Frederick and Peter. John Henry Shoe- maker had two sons, Levi and Henry, the eldest of whom is the father of subject and now resides at Berlin, Pa., where he was born in IS12, and has lived his entire life, now being ninety-two years of age. Levi Shoemaker was a tailor in early life, later engaged in farming, but since 1890 has lived quietly, retired from the cares of an active career. He had a family of six children: Lucinda (deceased), James K. P., Mary E., wife of Cyrus Musser; Clara (deceased), Rebecca, and Agnes, wife of John R. Turner. James K. P. Shoemaker was reared and educated in his native village, and in 1862 enlisted in Company F, 142nd Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, as a private and saw distinguished service in the Civil war, participating in the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilder- ness, Spottsylvania, North Anna river, Tolopotomy creek, Bethesda church, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon railroad, Peebles farm, Chapel house, Hatcher's run, raid to Bellfield, Boydton plank road, Five Forks, and was present at Lee's surrender. He was honorably discharged at Washington, D. C., May 29, 1865, and on his return home engaged in farming, later taught school and has also been identified with mercantile pursuits. He spent several years in West Virginia, where he was engaged in farming and
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stock-raising, and in April, 1888, came to Homestead, where he has since resided. Mr. Shoemaker is extensively engaged in real estate operations and has made an unqualified success of that line of commercial endeavor. He was married, on Dec. 27, 1866, to Mary E., daughter of Daniel and Jane (Keltz) Carns, of Somerset county, Pa., and they have had eight children, viz. : Cora J., wife of H. A. Robson; Daniel W. ; Oden H. and Benjamin L., twins; Nida I., wife of Andrew W. Soderberg; Levi C .; Darlie O. V. and Mamie B. V., twins. Mr. Shoemaker is a member of Gen. Charles Griffin post, No. 207, Grand Army of the Republic, and of the Union Veteran legion, Encampment No. I, of Allegheny county, Pa. His political affiliations are with the democratic party.
CHARLES VON MOSS, alderman of the eighth ward of Allegheny city, Pa., was born Jan. 28, 1860, and educated in the ward he now represents as alderman. His parents were John and Elizabeth Von Moss. The mother is still living, but the father died in 1868. When only fourteen years of age, Charles left school and went to work for the Bindley hard- ware company, of Pittsburg. He con- tinued in the employ of this firm for eleven years, leaving it in 1885 to become one of the stockholders in the Star Lake ice company of Allegheny city. In the winter of that year he was so seriously injured by an explosion of natural gas that he was unable to engage in any business actively for four years. Then he again embarked in the ice business, but was soon afterwards appointed clerk in the office of the city treasurer of Allegheny for two terms. He was then appointed, and two years later was elected, constable of the eighth ward, serving until 1901, when he was elected alderman for the five-year term expiring in 1906. Mr. Von Moss was married, in 1879, to Miss Susan Stuver, of Alle- gheny city, and they have had eighteen children. In politics he is a republican. He believes in good government and the enforce- ment of the laws, and in the exercise of his official powers has always tried to carry that idea into practice. As a result, he is a popular official, and retains the confidence and support of his constituents.
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WILLIAM JAMES DORSEY, of .Duquesne, Pa., proprietor of the Hotel Dorsey, was born at Newport, County Tipperary, Ireland, Sept. 14, 1843, son of William and Mary (Carmoody) Dorsey, who came to America about 1850, locat- ing in Cambria county, Pa., where for a number of years his father was employed by the Pennsylvania railroad. The elder Dorsey died at Bennington station, and was the father of the following children : Mary (deceased), wife of John Larkin; Annie (deceased) ; William J., John, (deceased) ; Minnie (deceased) ; Michael (deceased), and Nicholas (deceased). William J. Dorsey was reared in Cambria county from his seventh year, and was educated in the public schools and at St. Francis college, Loretto. In 1857 he went to Philadelphia, where he was employed in a bakery up to the Civil war. On Jan. 7, 1862, Mr. Dorsey enlisted in Company E, gIst regiment, Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, and remained with that command until mustered out at City Point, Va., Jan. 7, 1865. This regiment was organized at Philadelphia from Sept. 9 to Dec. 4, 1861, with Edgar M. Gregory as colonel; Edward E. Wallace, lieutenant-colonel; George W. Todd, major, and was part of the Army of the Potomac, in the district of Washington, from January, 1862; Ist brigade, 3d division, 5th army corps, Army of the Potomac, from Sept. 3, 1862; 3d brigade, 2d division, 5th army corps, Army of the Potomac, from May, 1863; 2d brigade, 2d division, 5th army corps, Army of the Potomac, from January, 1864; ist brigade, Ist division, 5th army corps. Army of the Potomac, from April, 1864; Ist brigade, 2d division, 5th army corps, from June 6, 1864; 2d brigade, Ist division, 5th army corps, Army of the Potomac, from June 14, 1864; 3d brigade, Ist division, 5th army corps, Army of the Potomac, up to the close of the war. Mr. Dorsey partici- pated in the many battles and engagements in which his regiment took part, to give an account of which would be necessary to write the history of the Army of the Potomac, and during his entire mil- itary career bore himself well. At the close of the war he returned to Pittsburg, where he clerked in a store for two years, and then for the next two years was engaged in the liquor business at Shaner station. In 1869 he located in Mifflin township and engaged in the hotel business at Coal Valley until 1873, when he began general
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merchandising at Rock Run and prospered at that venture until 1884. Then he again went in the hotel business at Coal Valley, and there remained until 1889, when he removed to Duquesne, there engaged in various businesses until 1898, when he began his present hotel business in that city. He was first married, on March 3, 1870, to Mary E., daughter of James and Rosanna (Fowler) Hamilton, of Pittsburg, and they have three living chil- dren, viz .: John H., Rosanna and Lizzie. Mrs. Dorsey died in 1884, and he was again married, in 1891, to Julia Brossman, of Pittsburg, by whom he has had five children, viz. : Annie, Minnie, Charlie, Julia and Essie. Mr. Dorsey is a prominent member of Samuel Black post, No. 59, Grand Army of the Republic; is a Knight Templar Mason, and is independent in his political affiliations.
ELIJAH PENELTON FAIDLEY, of Duquesne, Pa., a prominent real estate dealer and insurance agent, was born in Somerset county, Pa., Aug. 1, 1841, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Meyers) Faidley, both natives of Somerset county, Pa. His paternal grandfather, John Faidley, was a farmer by occupation and a soldier in the War of 1812, married Barbara Kriter, and was a solid and upright citi- zen. His maternal grandfather, John Meyers, a native of Germany and a weaver by trade, spent the last thirty years of his life in Somerset county, Pa., where he died when about sixty-nine years of age. Peter Faidley, father of the subject, was born in 1812, and was by occupation a contractor and builder. He died in 1873, was married three times, and the father of twenty- four children, seventeen of whom grew to maturity. Elijah P. Faidley was reared near Meyersdale, Somerset Co., Pa. ; educated in the common schools, and, on April 18, 1861, enlisted as a private in Company A, roth reserve volunteer corps, for duty in the Civil war, and served three years and three months in that sanguinary conflict, being wounded on three different occasions and taking part in many of the noted battles of the war. He was mustered out at Pittsburg, June 11, 1864, and for the next twenty-two years was employed in the mills of Pittsburg and vicinity. In 1893 Mr. Faidley embarked in the real estate business at Duquesne, and
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has since met with much success in that vocation, now being the leader in that line of business in the borough and enjoying a splendid clientage. He was happily married, in 1865, to Mary, daughter of William and Anna (Waring) Mercer, of Loudoun county, Va., and they have two living children: John W. and Gertrude, wife of William L. Granger. Mrs. Faidley died in 1891, and he was again married, in 1893, this time to Mrs. Grace (Forsyth) Ferguson, daughter of Adam Forsyth, of Mckeesport, Pa., and they have one child, Edna May. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, the Grand Army of the Republic and the republican party, and has served on the school board and in the council of Duquesne.
HARRY PRUNO HUGO QUECK, of Homestead, Pa., the popular proprietor of the Hotel Queck, on Eighth avenue, was born in Zwickau, Saxony, Germany, Sept. 26, 1863, son of Anton Ludwig and Caroline (Kahlart) Queck, natives of Ger- many and Austria, respectively. . His parents came to America in 1865, located at Saltsburg, Allegheny county, where his father worked as a pit carpenter for two years, and then removed to Penny's, on the Youghiogheny river, where he was employed in the mines of that vicin- ity until the early seventies. Then he went to Turtle Creek and there followed mining until 1881, when he removed to Homestead and embarked in the wholesale liquor business. In 1881 he com- menced the hotel business at Homestead and continued in that line with much success until his death in 1895, at the age of sixty-six years. He had four children that grew to maturity, viz. : Harry P. H. ; Anna M., widow of Paul Barthol; Albert H., and Oscar A. Harry P. H. Queck was reared in Allegheny county and educated in the public schools and at Duff's business college, Pitts- burg, and since 188r has been a resident of Homestead, where he was employed in the steel mills until 1892, when he entered the hotel business under his father. On the death of the latter, in 1895, Mr. Queck succeeded to the business, which he has since con- ducted with much success. In 1902 he erected his present fine hotel, which is a splendid brick structure of three stories and equipped with all modern improvements. He was married, on
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Aug. 25, 1889, to Emma Amelia, daughter of Henry and Sophie (Ackerman) Meyer, of Mount Washington, Allegheny Co., Pa., but formerly of Germany, and they have had four children, viz. : Edna C., Myrtle E., Florence M. and Hazel P. Mr. Queck and wife are members of St. Mark's Evangelical Protestant church, and he is prominently identified with the Odd Fellows, the Ger- man Turner Singverein and the D. O. H.
GEORGE HENRY METCALFE, whose business is that of sanitary plumber and gas-fitter, is one of the promising young business men of Homestead, Pa. He is a son of Matthew S. and Catherine E. (Siemon) Metcalfe, the father having been born in Yorkshire, England, and the mother near Berlin, Germany. John Metcalfe, the paternal grandfather of George, came to this country in 1841, locating in the anthracite coal regions, where for several years he followed the occupation of a coal-miner. He then came to Pittsburg and settled in the little village of Minersville, which is now a part of the city, where he spent the remainder of his life. His wife was a Margaret Schlender. The maternal grandfather, Henry Siemon, came to America in 1848 and located in Pittsburg, where for many years he followed his trade of black- smith. Matthew S. Metcalfe, George's father, has been a resident of Pittsburg ever since 1853. At the age of twelve years he began work in the coal mines and followed the vocation of a miner until 1881. At that time he formed a partnership with two others, under the firm name of Berry, Metcalfe & Watson, as coal opera- tors. The firm did a successful business for several years, when Mr. Metcalfe withdrew and engaged in the business of merchan- dising. He is now retired. George H. Metcalfe is one of a family of six children, his brothers and sisters being Ida M. and Matthew (deceased) ; Anna, now wife of Thomas Pritchard; Eva and Henri- etta. He was born in Pittsburg, Sept. 16, 1876, and was educated in the public schools of his native city. He began life as a book- keeper for the firm of F. C. Kohne & Co., in 1892, and continued to discharge the duties of bookkeeper and estimator for that firm until 1899. That year he went to Neu & Harmeier as book- keeper and superintendent. At the expiration of eighteen months,
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he purchased Mr. Harmeier's interest and the business was con- tinued as E. W. Neu & Co. to March, 1903, when Mr. Metcalfe sold out and embarked in business for himself. On Aug. 21, 1900, he was married to Fannie E .. daughter of Robert Painter, of Elizabeth, Pa. Mr. Metcalfe is a member of the Royal Arcanum and Order of Americus societies and the Presbyterian church. Politically, he is a republican, and although interested in public questions, he devotes the greater part of his time to his business, in which he has been quite successful.
WILLIAM GEORGE FORRESTER, of Whitaker, Pa., a prosperous mill worker in the employ of the Homestead steel works, was born in West Elizabeth, Allegheny Co., Pa., Jan. 19, 1873, son of James and Mary E. (Penn) Forrester, natives of Illinois and Pennsylvania, respectively. His maternal grandfather, Lemuel Penn, resided in Allegheny county for many years, was a coal-miner by occupation, served in the Civil war, and died at West Elizabeth in 1896, at the age of eighty-five years. James For- rester, father of the subject, has been a resident of West Elizabeth for upwards of thirty years, and for the past seventeen years has been an employe of John A. Snee, a prominent gas and oil operator. James Forrester is the father of the following children that grew to maturity, viz. : James L .; Hettie J. (deceased), wife of Charles C. Dunlap; William G .; Jeannette, wife of Henry Wilson; Gilberta, wife of Hengist Briggs; Margaret, wife of William Spence ; Alice J., wife of Harry Longdusky; Mary, and Robert. William G. Forrester was reared in West Elizabeth, and there educated in the public schools. He began his business career as a coal-miner, following that occupation at different times in the vicinity of West Elizabeth until 1898; resided at Homestead until 1901, then removed to his present home at Whitaker, where he has erected a comfortable dwelling. He was married, on Aug. 10, 1892, to Lucy, daughter of John and Jane (Gration) Wilson, of Mifflin township, and they have three living children, viz. : Mary Jennie, Iva B. and James E. Mr. Forrester is a member of Gray Eagle tribe of the Improved Order of Red Men, and in his political associations and convictions is a republican.
-LOUIS F. HOLTZMAN.
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LOUIS F. HOLTZMAN, one of the most prominent and pro- gressive business men of Braddock, was born in that borough, Oct. 4, 1856. His parents were Louis and Teresa Holtzman, natives of Alsace, who came to America in the early fifties. Mr. Holtzman received his education in the public schools, worked seven years as a coal-miner, and three years in the rail department of the Edgar Thompson mill. In March, 1886, Gov. Robert E. Pattison appointed him justice of the peace, and since then Mr. Holtzman has been four times elected for five-year terms in this office, the last time without opposition, although he belongs to the minority party in Braddock. For twenty years he has been a prominent member of the Braddock council, and has been for several years past, president of that body. During this time he has upheld many measures for municipal improvements, and has been the recognized champion of good government. Mr. Holtzman has held many positions of trust, the most important of which is that of personal representative of Mr. Charles M. Schwab in the erection of the new St. Thomas' Roman Catholic church, which Mr. and Mrs. Schwab have given the city. He is trustee of the $100,000 fund which has been donated for that purpose, and has exclusive authority to select the architect, decide upon the plans, and let the contracts. Mr. Holtzman owns, at No. 918 Braddock Ave., one of the best-appointed fire insurance offices in Braddock, controlling the agency for ten strong companies, and is doing a thriving real estate business, which requires the services of several assistants. On Aug 26, 1880, he was married to Mary, daughter of Patrick and Rose (Mckeown) McMonigle, early settlers of Port Perry. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Holtzman are: Alice and Rose, who are students at the Seton Hall academy, of Greensburg, and Robert, who is attending the Braddock public schools. Mr. Holtzman and family are members of the Roman Catholic church.
DAVID SHANAHAN, of Duquesne, Pa., pastor of the Holy Name Catholic church, was born in County Waterford, Ireland, Sept. 15, 1866, son of David and Margaret (Phelan) Shanahan, both natives of Ireland. Father Shanahan was reared to manhood in his native country, educated at St. John's college, of Waterford, and at St. Patrick's college, County Carlow, where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1891. The same year he came to America, was appointed assistant priest to St. Peter's church, of Allegheny city, and eighteen months later was transferred to St. John's church, at Altoona, as assistant pastor, and there remained for
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two years. Then he was assigned to St. John's church, at Coyles- ville, Pa., as pastor, and for two years and nine months was in charge of that pastorate, where he was largely instrumental in remodeling the church building at a cost of $10,000. In Novem- ber, 1897, Father Shanahan was sent to Duquesne as pastor of the Church of the Holy Name, which at that time was quite small, with a membership of only about 120 families and an inadequate church building. Father Shanahan has caused to be erected, at the cost of $60,000, a handsome structure of buff vitrified brick, richly trimmed with Cleveland sandstone, with a seating capacity of 900, and in every way adapted for the sacred purposes for which it is used. The church, which is of Gothic style of architecture, is 135 feet long, and 56 feet wide (66 at the transepts), and has two towers, one 165 feet and the other 92 feet high. The corner-stone of the church was laid July 30, 1899, by the Right Reverend Bishop Phelan, and the church dedicated by that dignitary in 1901. Father Shanahan also had a fine brick dwelling-house erected at a cost of $8,ooo, which was begin at the same time as the church edifice, but completed in 1899. He is an able and earnest worker in the field of religious endeavor, and under his charge the church has had a splendid growth, now having a membership of more than 200 families, and is in every way blessed with success and . prosperity.
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