USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume I > Part 28
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store for nine months, then entered the employ of the Prudential insurance company as a solicitor and six months later was appointed to his present position of assistant superintendent, with head- quarters at Homestead, and since has ably discharged the complex duties of that important office. Mr. Kistler was married, on Sept. 19, 1883, to Flora E., daughter of John C. and Matilda J. (McGuire) Spear, of Derry Station, Pa., and they have three children, viz. : Robert L., Harry A. and Mildred M. Mr. Kistler and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he is a member of Hiram lodge, No. 69, Ancient Order of United Workmen, of Irwin Station; Shidle lodge, No. 601, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and of the republican party.
WILLIAM MACBROOM, a retired business man of Homestead, is a native of Ayrshire, Scotland, where he was born Dec. 29, 1840. He is a son of Archibald and Ellen (Robertson) Mac- Broom. He was educated in the com- mon schools of Ayrshire, and then served an apprenticeship of four years at the boiler-makers' trade in the city of Glas- gow. On New Year's day, in 1864, he was married to Margaret, daughter of John and Mary (Barr) Chalmers, of Glas- gow, and in the following spring came with his young wife to America, locating at Pittsburg. For three years he worked as a miner at Saw Mill Run. He then went to Mansfield (now Carnegie), and worked several years in the mines there. His father died in Scotland, and in 1866 his mother came to America and joined her son at Carnegie, where she lived until her death, which occurred in 1879. In 1873 William MacBroom was elected constable of Mansfield and held the office until April, 1882, when he removed to Homestead, where he found employ- ment at his trade in the Carnegie mill until 1884, when he was elected constable and chief of police, holding both offices until 1888. He resigned at that time to become the chief of the coal and iron police of the Carnegie steel company, and held that position until he resigned, in 1892. Mr. MacBroom then entered the hotel busi- ness as the proprietor of the Garfield house, where he continued until 1899, when he sold out to his son with the intention of retir- ing from active business. The following year he erected the
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Liberty hotel, at the corner of Eighth avenue and McClure street, which has since been conducted by his son, Gilbert, and which is one of the leading hotels of Homestead. He still owns this hotel building, as well as valuable residence property on Fourth avenue. William MacBroom and his wife are the parents of eight children, viz. : John; Mary B., wife of Andrew Helles; Margaret, wife of Daniel W. Williams; Ellen, wife of Harry H. Layman; William, Gilbert, Walter (now deceased), and Jane G., wife of August Meister. Both Mr. MacBroom and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian church. He has been a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows for thirty-nine years, and a member of the Knights of Pythias for twenty years. He is also a member of the B. P. O. Elks, which order he joined in 1902, and of the Heptasophs. In politics he affiliates with the republican party, and, like all canny Scots, is never backward in standing up for his convictions.
SAMUEL McELHINEY, a citizen of Mifflin township, was born on a farm in Jefferson township, on June 4, 1868. He is a son of David and Zeruiah (McGowan) McElhiney, both natives of Allegheny county. The McElhiney and the McGowan families are old resi- dents of Pennsylvania and well known in this section of the State, the paternal grandfather having long served his county as commissioner, and John McGowan, the maternal grandfather, being as prominently associated with the history of Allegheny county. The father, David McElhiney, was a farmer by occupation, having removed to Mifflin township in 1891, where he died in 1898 at the age of seventy-one years. He was the father of the following children: Sarah J., wife of William McKee; James, John, Charles, Thomas, Julia (deceased), William (deceased), Samuel, Perry and Joseph. Samuel McElhiney, the subject of this sketch, was reared in his native county and edu- cated in the public schools there, and upon reaching manhood, turned his attention to agriculture and kindred pursuits. On Nov. 19, 1901, he led to the altar Philomena Schweitzer, a daughter of Frank and Annie (Hackler) Schweitzer, of Mifflin township. One son, John B., has come to bless their union. Mr. McElhiney
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and wife are members of St. Agnes' Catholic church of Thompson's Run, and are prominent in the religious and social circles of the township in which they reside. Mr. McElhiney was elected township treasurer in the spring of 1903 on the democratic and citizens' ticket, for a term of three years.
DAVID BLAIR DUBLIN, of Home- stead, Pa., the popular proprietor of the Hotel Dublin, was born in Frankstown, Blair Co., Pa., May 1, 1858, son of Daniel and Susan (Henry) Dublin, both natives of Blair county. His paternal grandfather was also a native of Blair county, of Ger- man descent and by occupation a farmer. His maternal grandfather, John Henry, was a native of Yellow Springs, a pioneer farmer of Blair county, where all of his mature life was spent, and was also of German extraction. Daniel Dublin, father of David B, was born and reared in Blair county, for many years was captain of a boat which ran on the canal from Hollidaysburg to Havre de Grace, served three years and nine months in the Union army during the Civil war and died at Williamsburg, Pa., in 1867. He left a family of four children, viz. : Clarence (deceased), David B., James, of Altoona, Pa., and Alfred, of Pittsburg, Pa. David B. Dublin was reared in Blair and Fayette counties, Pa., hav- ing resided at Connellsville from his thirteenth to his twenty- second year, and was educated in the common schools, which he left to become a coke-burner. He followed that occupation from 1873 to 1879, and then for three years worked in the rolling mills of Scottdale and Pittsburg. Subsequently he worked at the car- penters' trade in Pittsburg and Connellsville until 1891, when he began the hotel business at Scottdale, and there prospered for two years and eight months. In 1894 Mr. Dublin purchased the Rat- tigan House, at Homestead, which he conducted for three and one- half years, and, in 1898, purchased his present place on Fifth avenue, which he rebuilt as the Hotel Dublin and has since suc- cessfully run. He was happily married, on Sept. 23, 1884, to Bridget, daughter of Edward and Margaret Kelley, of Connells- ville, but formerly of Ireland, and has one son, Charles B. Mr. Dublin is a member of St. Mary Magdalene's Roman Catholic church, the Knights of Pythias, the Elks, the republican party, and
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was one of the promoters of the Homestead trust company, which was organized in 1903. Mr. Dublin has a splendid hotel, with all modern improvements, and conducts a strictly first-class hostelry.
ROBERT HENRY HEATH, of Dra- vosburg, Pa., the popular and efficient counter clerk in the county recorder's office, was born in Lincoln township, Allegheny Co., Pa., Feb. 22, 1869; son of Henry G. and Rebecca (Davis) Heath, both natives of Lincoln township. His paternal grandfather was Henry Heath, descendant from one of the colonial families of America, members of which have been prominent in the wars of America; William, an uncle of subject, having been killed at the battle of Pea Ridge, and Winfield, a cousin, wounded in the Modoc and Sioux troubles. The Heath family first settled in America at Heathtown, Va. The maternal grandfather of this subject was Enoch Davis, a native of Wales, who resided at West Elizabeth for many years and there was employed in the coal mines of O'Neal brothers until his death. Henry G. Heath, father of Robert Henry, is a resident of West Elizabeth, where for many years he has been engaged in mining, and at present is foreman for the Ella coal company in their mines. Robert Henry Heath was reared in Lincoln town- ship, educated in the primary courses in the public schools and later attended the Grove City academy, the Independent norinal school at Lebanon, Ohio, and the Northern Indiana normal school at Valpa- raiso, Ind. Then he taught school for three years in Mifflin town- ship, Allegheny Co., Pa. ; two years in Lincoln township, one year at Port Vue, and at these various places made a distinct success of that arduous calling. Mr. Heath has been more or less connected with the mines from the ninth year of his life until 1903, held the position of mine foreman for four years and also occupied a very responsible position in the mills of Mckeesport. At the commence- ment of the Spanish-American war, he was selected by the mill men as orator on the occasion of the raising of the United States flag over the mills, and acquitted himself with credit and distinc- tion. Prior to this he had made a fine record as a speaker and orator, winning unusual honors in that line at Valparaiso, Ind. In March, 1903, he was appointed index clerk in the recorder's office,
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and on June 10, 1903, promoted to his present position of counter clerk, which place he fills with skill and ability. Mr. Heath was married, on Oct. 18, 1901, to Sarah, daughter of John and Hannah Lynn, of Mifflin township, and they have one daughter, Rebecca. He is prominently identified with a number of fraternal orders, holding membership in the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the United mine workers of America, and the Knights of Labor. Mr. Heath served as a justice of the peace of Mifflin township for five years, and in the fall of 1902 was a prominent candidate for the legislature on the citizens' ticket and, though defeated, received a most flattering vote, running ahead of his ticket by 1,600 votes.
VICTOR HUGO SCHULZ, of Home- stead, Pa., a successful and prosperous dairyman, was born in Pittsburg, Pa., Dec. 27, 1879, son of Edward and Mary (Worth) Schulz, both natives of Germany. His paternal grandfather, John Schulz, of Saarbrücken, Prussia, came to America about 1849, and for many years was a resident of Mifflin township, where he was successfully engaged in his profes- sion of teaching, and owned a part of the site of the present village of Whitaker, and there engaged in farming during the latter years of his life. His wife was Rachael Reis, also a native of the Fatherland and a woman of many fine traits of character. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Schulz were Peter and Elizabeth (Stoft) Worth, of Germany. Edward Schulz, father of the subject, is a retired puddler, and for many years a resident of Pittsburg, where he was employed in the different mills of that city, and in 1893 located at Homestead, where he is now quietly spending the declining years of an active and worthy life. Edward Schulz reared a family of five children, viz. : Rudolph E., rector of Coraopolis Episcopal church; Victor H., Otto, Eleanor and Herman. Victor H. Schulz was reared at Homestead from his twelfth year, attended the public schools of that borough, and when fourteen years of age, embarked in the dairy business with a capital of one cow, unlimited energy and a full stock of hope. His business has prospered and grown like the scriptural bay-tree, and at times has expanded to such extent that it has been necessary for him to sell
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a part of his route. He is now doing a business of $9, 000 annually and is one of the progressive and substantial young men of Home- stead. Mr. Schulz is a member of the Episcopal church and the Odd Fellows, and his political affiliations are with the democratic party.
ARTHUR PITTS, of Duquesne, Pa., a prominent real estate and fire insurance agent, was born at Johnstown, Pa., May 6, 1864. He is the son of James and Mary (Flint) Pitts, natives of England, who came to America in a sailing vessel about 1853, and located at Johnstown. Here James Pitts engaged in the coal business and as general contractor until 1873, when he removed to Mckeesport, where he now resides. Mary (Flint) Pitts died Feb. 22, 1901, at the age of seventy-two years. To Mr. and Mrs. Pitts there were born eight children, viz. : George F. ; Enoch W., who is cashier and vice-president of the People's bank of Mckees- port; Mary A., Arthur B., Lillian E. ; James H., a successful real estate agent of Glassport, Pa. ; Charles A. and Frank, the two latter deceased. Arthur B. Pitts was reared at Mckeesport, edu- cated in the public schools of that city, and for thirteen years was there employed in the National tube works. In 1890 he located at Duquesne, and there was employed as a clerk in the real estate office of his brother, George F. Pitts, until Feb. 25, 1899, when he engaged in the real estate business on his own account, handling his own property as well as that of others, and has since met with much success in that venture. On Sept. 21, 1901, he purchased the entire business of his brother, Geo. F. (now located in Pittsburg), the confidence of whose former patrons he enjoys. On its organ- ization, he was elected a director of the Home title and trust com- pany of Duquesne, one of the most successful institutions in the borough. He is also a notary public and secretary of the Duquesne board of health. Mr. Pitts was happily married, Nov. 10, 1891, to Anna B., daughter of Philip and Christiana (Mohn) Rissler, of Mckeesport, and their home life is an ideal one. He is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Duquesne ; Eclipse lodge, No. 892, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Vesta lodge, No. 352, Knights of Pythias, and major of 3d battalion, Ist regiment,
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U. R. K. P .; also member of Vesta company, No. 64, Uniform rank, Knights of Pythias; Mckeesport lodge, No. 136, B. P. O. Elks; Aliquippa tent, No. 70, Knights of the Maccabees; White Rose council, No. 1932, Royal Arcanum, of which he is past regent. He is also a member and treasurer of Duquesne commandery, No. 331, Knights of Malta. His political associations are with the republican party, having served from 1894 to 1897 as tax collector of Duquesne, and is prominent in political affairs.
LESTER HAVEN BOTKIN, M. D., of Duquesne, Pa., a prominent physician, was born at Claysville, Washington Co., Pa., Dec. 13, 1859, son of George WV. and Nancy (McCracken) Botkin, natives of Fayette and Washington counties, re- spectively, and is of Scotch-Irish descent. His father was a resident of Claysville for many years, in early life was a stage driver on the National pike, dealt in live- stock to some extent, and held the posi- tion of a justice of the peace for a number of years. He was also a commissioner of the National pike, and had a family of seven children, four of whom grew to maturity, viz. : George W., now deceased; Emma, wife of David Frazier; Lewis C., a practicing physician of Burgetts- town, Pa., and Lester H. Mr. Botkin was reared in Claysville, educated in the public schools of that place, and there began the study of medicine under Dr. J. M. Sprowls, a capable and success- ful physician. In 1887 he matriculated at the medical department of the West Pennsylvania college, Pittsburg, where he was gradu- ated in 1888, with the degree of doctor of medicine. Then he located at Duquesne, there initiated his medical career, and has since met with much success in his profession, being regarded and esteemed as one of the leading practitioners of that section of the county. Dr. Botkin was married, March 21, 1883, to Jennie, daughter of James and Catherine (Miller) McKee, of Claysville, Pa., and they have four children, viz. : George McKee (deceased), Mabel, Bessie and Robert L. Dr. Botkin and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He has been surgeon of the Carnegie steel works, Duquesne, since 1889, and also has served the Penn- sylvania railroad in a similar capacity during the same period. He is one of the progressive and public-spirited citizens of Duquesne,
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and despite the exactions of a busy professional career, has found time to devote to municipal affairs, having been a member of the school board for eight years, and is now serving his second term as councilman from the first ward.
JOSEPH H. McKEE, physician and surgeon, of Carnegie, is one of an old and honored family. His great-grandfather, John McKee, fought all during the Rev- olutionary war, and was personally acquainted with Lafayette. On the occa- sion of Lafayette's visit to America, in 1824, Mr. McKee went to Brownsville, Pa., to see him and brought home a silk handkerchief which the famous French- man had given him. John McKee was also a soldier in the War of 1812. His son, Henry, an early settler, had a son, Finley, father of the subject of this sketch. Finley McKee was a school teacher by profession, teaching school in the winter and farming during the summer months. He was one of the pioneer teachers of Pennsylvania, was noted for his success as a teacher, and rendered a great service to his State at a time when learning was not plentiful. He married Eliza A. Harper, whose ancestors came to Pennsylvania at an early day from Scotland. Finley McKee was born in 1828, and died in 1895. His wife died four years later, at the age of sixty-seven. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Finley McKee, Daniel, a State normal graduate, is a Methodist minister at Columbia, Pa. ; Anna married C. Blair, a farmer in Fayette county; Henry died at the age of fourteen ; Joseph H. is the subject of this sketch; Clement L., a graduate of Washington and Jefferson college, is pastor of the Second Presby- terian church at Wellsville, Ohio; William F., a graduate of Ada col- lege, Ohio, is a Presbyterian minister at Turtle Creek, Pa. ; Mar- gery H., who graduated from the California State normal school and taught school for several years, is married to James P. Hagen and lives on a farm in Fayette county; Mary E. is teaching school in Perryopolis, Pa., and Joel S., a graduate of Ada college, taught school several years and is now a bank clerk in Connellsville, Pa. Joseph H. McKee was born in Fayette county, Pa., Feb. 26, 1862. After attending the public schools he became a student at the Southwestern State normal school, graduating in 1884, and later a 1-21
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member of the class of 1891 of the Western Pennsylvania medical college, of Pittsburg. He earned his way through college by teaching school, and studied medicine in the office of Dr. Ellis Phillips, of New Haven, Pa. Immediately after completing his preparation for a medical career, Dr. McKee began to practice medicine at Woodville, Allegheny county, and six years later moved to Carnegie, where, since 1898, he has devoted his time to a steadily increasing practice. He holds the position of medical examiner for several societies and for the Prudential life insurance company. He is a member of the Carnegie board of health and belongs to several secret orders, among them the National Union, Order of Scottish Clans and Protected Home Circle, and is a past president of the latter organization. He is also a member of the Presbyterian church, of which he has for several years been a rul- ing elder. Mr. McKee was married, in 1893, to Miss Lottie L. Keller, of Woodville, daughter of D. P. Keller, an officer in the Allegheny county workhouse, and granddaughter of David Nelson Lea, a member of the Clarke expedition and one of the first settlers of western Pennsylvania. Dr. McKee and wife have had two children. Joseph H. is living, but Wilbur F. died when three months old.
JOSEPH ALOYSIUS WEBER, of Homestead, Pa., a member of the firm of Neu & Weber, sanitary plumbers, was born in Mifflin township, Allegheny Co., Pa., April 10, 1880, son of Joseph and Theresa (Goldbach) Weber, natives of Germany and Baldwin township, Allegheny county, Pa., respectively. His maternal grand- father was Bernard Goldbach, who came to America about 1854, settled in Bald- win township and there engaged in farming. His wife was Sophia Bott and a most estimable woman. Joseph Weber, father of our subject, came to America about 1876, engaged in farm- ing in Mifflin township, and is now interested in a plumbing busi- ness at Duquesne. His living children are: Henry W., Joseph A., Louis, Cecelia, Emma, Frederick, Mary, Veronica, William, Phyllis and Jennie. Joseph A. Weber was reared in Mifflin township, edu- cated at St. Agnes' parochial school, of Thompson's Run, and after serving a five-year apprenticeship at the plumbers' trade, became a
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member of the firm of E. W. Neu & Co., sanitary plumbers, of Home- stead. This firm met with much success from Dec. 31, 1901, to March 16, 1903, when the firm was changed to Neu & Weber, under which name they have since enjoyed a splendid business. Mr. Weber was happily married, on April 13, 1901, to Emma, daughter of Charles Leisegang, of Baldwin township, and they have one daughter, Margaret. Mr. Weber and his wife are members of the St. Francis Catholic church, of Homestead, and he is a member of the Armour Plate council, Order of Americus. Mr. Weber is a young man of exceptional ability and unusual energy and is mak- ing a great success of his industrial career.
OSCAR PATTERSON LAWSON, of the Lawson plumbing company, of Home- stead, Pa., was born near Perrysville, Allegheny county, Feb. 9, 1868. He is a son of James N. and Frances P. (Osborne) Lawson. (For family history, see the sketch of L. S. Lawson). His entire life has been passed in Allegheny county, where he attended the public schools, served his apprenticeship at the plumbers' trade in his father's establishment, and where he worked for several years as a journeyman plumber. His father began business in 1875. After his death, in 1900, the business was con- tinued under the name of James N. Lawson's Sons, until 1901, when it was incorporated as the Lawson plumbing company, Oscar P. Lawson and William L. Davis being the proprietors and incor- porators. It is one of the leading plumbing concerns in Home- stead. Mr. Lawson has been twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth, daughter of John and Margaret (Peterson) Gibbs, of Homestead. By this marriage he has one child, James A. His sec- ond wife is Grace E., daughter of Matthew and Margaret E. (Wood) Thomson, of Jefferson, Ohio. To this second marriage there have been born three children: Grace E., Hilda F. and M. Percival. In politics he is independent, voting as his judgment dictates, for the men and measures that he thinks will best subserve the public interests. He is a member of Homestead lodge, No. 1049, Inde- pendent Order of ()dd Fellows, the Order of Americus, and the Methodist Episcopal church.
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CHARLES C. REEL, one of the lead- ing funeral directors of Allegheny city, was born in the fourth ward of that city, Oct. 2, 1859. He is the son of John A. Reel (deceased), and a great-grandson of Casper Reel, Sr., who was the first white man to settle in Ross township, Allegheny county. Conrad Reel, the eldest son of Casper Reel, Sr., was the first postmaster in Ross township. He and his sons estab- lished the first woolen mills west of the Allegheny mountains, at Perrysville, in 1824, the mills being removed to Alle- gheny city in 1841, and were in operation until 1890. John A. Reel, the second son of Conrad Reel, was born at Perrysville, in March, 1830, and died in 1892. Margaret Reel, his widow, is still living and resides on Sherman avenue, in Allegheny city. The other children of Conrad Reel were: Jacob G., the eldest, who is living at the old homestead on Church avenue; Mrs. Annie E. McGuire, widow of the late Hugh McGuire, of New Brighton, Pa., and William H. Reel, who died in 1901. John A. Reel was the father of eleven children, of whom the following are living : Charles C., the subject of this sketch; Francis M., who is foreman for the Mackenzie-Davis lithographing company, of Pittsburg; John A., Jr., senior member of the firm of Reel & Michiels, plumbers, of Allegheny city; Harry G., who is associated with Geo. B. Hender- son in the butter and egg business in Pittsburg; Homer I. J., a plumber; Cecilia M., wife of George B. Henderson; and Anna K., who resides at home with her mother. Charles C. Reel was educated in the parochial and public schools of his native city, after which he served an apprenticeship at the machinists' trade with the firm of James Rees & Son, of Pittsburg, remaining in the employ of this firm for six years, when he accepted a position with the West- inghouse air brake company, remaining for about ten years. He then took a course of embalming in the Oriental college of embalm- ing, graduating in 1892 His first place of business was on Federal street, in Alleglieny city, but later he removed to his present location at No. 215 West Ohio St , where he has one of the best appointed undertaking establishments in the county and has the confidence of the best people in the two cities. Besides this busi- ness he is interested in various other enterprises, being executor, administrator and trustee of several different estates, a stockholder
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