USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume I > Part 29
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in the Mount Royal cemetery company, the Pennsylvania college of embalming, and various other interests. Mr. Reel is a member of several fraternal organizations, being treasurer of Ethel con- clave, No. 314, of the Improved Order of Heptasophs; trustee of Branch No. 43, of the Catholic mutual benefit association; deputy grand knight of the Knights of Columbus: a member of Lafayette council, No. 447, Young Men's Institute, and of Allegheny lodge, No. 339, of the B. P. O. Elks. He is also one of the executive committee of the Allegheny county funeral directors' association. In 1883 he was married to Miss Lizzie D. O'Neil, of Mason City, W. Va. She is a descendant of one of the early settlers of southern Ohio and West Virginia.
owned by his heirs. ment at Carnegie.
AUGUST ABBOTT, ice dealer of Car- negie, was born in Allegheny county, Pa., May 10, 1853. His parents, Christian and Helena (Schmeltz) Abbott, were both born in Germany. Christian Abbott, born June 16, 1825, came to America when ten years old. He followed, for sev- eral years, the vocation of a glass-worker, then took up farming, and later bought in Scott township, Allegheny county, the farm which is now owned by his heirs. Later he purchased from the Rev. Mr. Cloakey another farm, which is also The last years of his life he spent in retire- He died June 22, 1897. During his life he was a prominent member of the Lutheran church, in which he held several offices. At different times he held several minor public offices, among them being the positions of assessor and school director. His wife died Aug. 12, 1896, at the age of sixty- six. Christian Abbott and wife had nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second. The others are: Carolina, now Mrs. Charles Schmeltz, who lives in Scott township; Amelia, wife of John Wise, a resident of Baldwin township; Edward, a farmer at Mount Lebanon; Kate, who married Charles Gettle, of Homestead; Lizzie, now Mrs. George Kuhlman, of Coraopolis; Anna, now Mrs. Adolph Doer, of Homestead; Rosa, who is also a resident of Allegheny county, and William, who lives at Bellevue. August Abbott, the subject of this sketch, received a common- school education, and learned the trade of a butcher, working at
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his trade for four years in Pittsburg. He came to Carnegie, where he followed his vocation as a butcher for twenty years. In 1895 he embarked in the ice business, and has since been engaged in this line, meeting with marked success. He employs twelve men, and his plant has a capacity of twenty-five tons a day, producing ice for Bridgeville, Oakdale and the surrounding towns. In 1880 Mr. Abbott married Miss Helena Stauffer, a native of Germany, who came to America with two brothers and a sister, when eighteen years old. Mr. and Mrs. Abbott liave seven children. Florence is a student at Pittsburg academy, Sylvia C. is a graduate of Carnegie high school, and the others, Hallie, Nellie, Jennie, Frederick and Christian, are younger children at home. Mr. Abbott and wife are members of the Lutheran church, in which Mr. Abbott is president of the congregation, and several of the children are United Presbyterians. Mr. Abbott is a member of the Amer- ican Mechanics. He has found his time too much occupied with business duties to take an active interest in politics.
ROBERT C. CRAIG, A. M., M. D., of Pittsburg, Pa., a successful physician, was born in Staunton, Va., Aug. 6, 1875, son of William E. and Annie E. (Ayres) Craig, the former a prominent lawyer and United States attorney. Dr. Craig was educated in the Staunton academy and at the Roanoke college, graduating from the latter institution in 1893, with the degree of master of arts. He matric- ulated at the medical department of the University of Virginia and was graduated from that historic institution in 1896, with the degree of doctor of medicine. On graduating, he entered the United States marine hospital service and was stationed at St. Louis for one year, at New York city for two years, and had charge of the service at Pittsburg for three years, until April, 1902, when he resigned from the service and since has been engaged in practice in Pittsburg. Dr. Craig resides in the East End, has offices at No. 414 Smith block, and has met with much success in his practice. He attended a post-graduate in general surgery at the New York polyclinic in 1899-1900 and keeps well posted on the advances of his profession. Dr. Craig was partly instrumental in getting an appropriation of $125,000 for a marine hospital, which
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is now being constructed on the United States arsenal grounds. He had charge of the marine staff of Mercy hospital for some time, is medical examiner for a number of life insurance companies, and for the United States marine corps, U. S. N., is a member of the Allegheny county medical society, the Phi Delta Gamma fraternity and the alumni of the University of Virginia.
JOHN T. BROWN, vice-president and general manager of the Damascus bronze company, of Pittsburg, Pa., has been con- nected with the railroad and manufactur- ing interests of the country ever since he was ten years of age. He was born in the city of Philadelphia, on April 17, 1845. His parents were John and Mary Jane Brown, both descendants of Revolution- ary heroes. His father died in 1882 in his eighty-eighth year, and his mother in 1868. John T. Brown attended the Philadelphia public schools until he was about ten years old, when he obtained a position as core boy in the Richards & Norris locomotive works. He remained in the works until 1863, when he enlisted as a private in Company H, 196th regi- ment, Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, but after serving six months was discharged on account of ill health. For the next nine years he was with the Hook smelting company, and six years after with the Baltimore locomotive works, being foreman in the latter concern. He was then with the Paul S. Reese tubal smelting com- pany for eight years as superintendent. In 1886 he started the Crown smelting company, of which he was general manager and which had at that time one of the largest and handsomest works of its kind in the United States. In 1893 Mr. Brown came to Pitts- burg and assumed the management of the Damascus bronze com- pany as vice-president, general manager and part owner. This concern does the largest business of any in the country, its lead- ing products being phosphorized copper and the celebrated Damas- cus nickel bronze, which was invented by Mr. Brown in 1897 and which is now widely used by railroad companies on their locomo- tives. In 1867 he was married to Miss Almira L. Weaver, of Phila- delphia, and five children have come to bless their union: Loretta, Linda, Raymond, Deborah and John, Jr. Mrs. Brown is a highly estimable lady, a graduate of the Philadelphia girls' high school,
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and her parents, like those of her husband, were descended from Revolutionary stock. Mr. Brown is a member of Duquesne post, No. 259, Grand Army of the Republic, of Pittsburg, and of the various mechanical organizations. In politics he is a republican and takes an active and intelligent part in the political affairs of the ward where he resides.
PROF. SYLVESTER STOTLER was born on the farm, twelve miles east of Fort Pitt, in what is now Penn township, on the land first settled by his grand- father, Rudolph Stotler, who came from Lancaster county at a very early age. Rudolph Stotler, a Revolutionary war veteran, was of Holland Dutch descent, born in 1750 in Lancaster county, and was twice married, being the father of five children by his first wife, and eleven by Frances Stotler, his second. He died at the age of seventy-five years, in 1825, and is buried in Mt. Hope cemetery, Penn township, where his wife, Frances, is also buried, having lived thirty-one years after her husband's death. Professor Stotler is the son of Emanuel Stotler, who was born in 1815 on the Stotler farm. Mr. Stotler remained at home, clearing land on the old farm, built a log house, and, in 1843, married Barbara Stoner, daughter of Christian Stoner, who had also come from Lancaster county to Allegheny county. Barbara was one of six children who married and settled in the county. She still lives on the old farm, at the age of eighty-two, active and in excellent health. The parents lived on this farm, which they had reclaimed from the forest, and raised a family of nine children, five of whom are living: Sylvester, Nancy A., Elizabeth, Leah and Frances (twins), Perry, Rudolph, John and Alice. John lives in California; Frances Gillooly, in Kansas; Elizabeth, wife of David Shepard, died in 1885; Leah resides at the old homestead; Perry, married, and living in Kansas, died suddenly; Rudolph died on the farm, and Alice when a child. Sylvester Stotler was educated in the common schools of his town- ship, and while yet in school, was elected to teach in the Adams district, which he did for five years. The sixth year he was elected superintendent of schools of Reserve township, where he remained sixteen years, resigning to accept the position of principal of the
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thirteenth ward school of Allegheny city, a position he has held for eighteen years. Under his management the school has built up from a corps of three teachers to seventeen, and in standard of work is as high as any in the city. . Professor Stotler has the envi- able record of having taught school for forty years consecutively, taking his vacations only in summer, ready for work again each fall. He has had many opportunities of bettering his position and receiving higher salary, but has steadfastly declined all induce- ments, preferring to remain where his work has been appreciated and so remarkably successful. This school is his pride, many of the pupils now in attendance being the children of former pupils. Mr. Stotler's success is due to his keen knowledge of human nature, to his deep sympathy and sincere interest in the lives of parent, teacher and pupil, to his kindly nature, endearing him to all. The facilities Mr. Stotler found for his education were very poor, while those of his parents were still poorer. He often tells of the experience he has heard his father relate of the log school- house with no floor, oiled paper for windows, smooth blocks placed on the lap in place of desks, and the open fire at one side of the room, the smoke escaping through the mud and stick chimney built on the outside of the house. Even in Mr. Stotler's day, quills were used for pens, and indigo used for ink. Professor Stotler's parents belonged to the Baptist church of their township, that being the only church near, though they were doubtless of Lutheran stock. Professor Stotler's love for children caused him to choose teaching as his life-work. He is opposed to corporal punishment as a rule, but believes in appealing to the reason and honor of the children, who come to him unhesitatingly with their troubles, knowing that their grievances will be righted. The thirteenth ward school stands unique in one particular, in that no corporal punishment is inflicted by teachers or principal, though the rules of the board do not prohibit it, and yet no school is better governed, or under better control. Professor Stotler's influence is great, and his example is a very powerful factor in the life of the ward. His long service in this school and his strong hold on the people are sufficient proof of the respect and esteem in which he is held. The thirteenth ward public school is his greatest monu- ment, and the record of his work there constitutes the noblest lesson of his life. Professor Stotler is a Presbyterian; he joined the Millvale church in 1875, and the Pittsburg church in 1879. He is a member of the celebrated physical and health club known as the Ralston club, with extensive headquarters in Washington,
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D. C. He is an ardent advocate of careful attention to health as affected by diet, habits and the like, and uses no tobacco, intoxi- cants or other injurious things, thus doing as so few in this world do-practices as he preaches.
JAMES W. SHIELDS, president of the Osceola coal company, at Emblem, Pa., is one of the best-known and most successful coal operators in what is known as the Pittsburg district. He is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Walker) Shields, both of whom were born in Lanarkshire, near Coatbridge, Scotland, and came to this country in 1848, settling in Pottsville, Luzerne county. Within a year they moved to Elizabeth, on the Monongahela river, where James W. was born on Dec. 25, 1851. Before he was a year old, the family moved to Greenock, on the Youghiogheny river, where they lived until the death of the father and mother, the former in 1884, the latter in 1897. The father followed the occupation of a coal-miner until ten years prior to his death, when he became interested as an operator. He was a man of sterling integrity, and much respected by all who knew him. James W. was the fourth of a family of ten children-five boys and five girls-of whom four sisters and one brother are still living. James W. attended the village school until the age of eleven, when it became necessary for him to go to the mines to earn something toward the support of the family. He studied as opportunity offered, but, as he aptly puts it, "the best part of my education was acquired in the hard school of experience," and, therefore, he has not forgotten what he learned. He tended trap-door at fifty cents a day, drove a mule and mined coal until he was twenty-one, when he went to Kansas and tried the life of a farmer for a time. This not coming up to his expectations, Mr. Shields went to Iowa and engaged in mining coal, and then tried the same occupation in Missouri. His next move was railroading, then mining again in Maryland, Indiana and Kentucky, and after fourteen years' absence, took charge of the Osceola mines as superintendent and manager, in which capacity he acted for three years. Mr. Shields then made his first venture as an operator by purchasing, in 1885, a half interest in what was known as the Republic coal company, at Sewickley. In
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1889 he purchased the present mines at Osceola, where his first day's work was performed. These mines were opened in 1840, and were the first in the Youghiogheny region. Mr. Shields' thorough knowledge of mining has been gained by actual experience, for he has filled every position about the mines from trap-door boy to general manager. These pioneer mines are still operated, and, as they are managed by progressive men, are supplied with the latest and most approved electric and mechanical devices for mining and handling coal. The mines are located on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, at Emblem station, on the Youghiogheny river, where more than 200 miners are employed, and the daily output is about 1, 200 tons of coal. This coal is shipped to New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, east, and to all points reached by the Baltimore & Ohio railroad system in the west. A great deal of the success of the company is due to the energy and ability of the president, Mr. Shields, who knows the mining business so well that he is quick to grasp situations as they arise, and to take advantage of oppor- tunities in many ways that a less experienced man would be unable to see. He was the first operator in the Pittsburg district to con- cede the semi-monthly pay. He also served five years as a mem- ber of the old board of arbitration and conciliation, and he has always been among the foremost in the State in movements designed for the betterment of the miners in particular, and the working classes in general. In movements of this kind he has been a tireless worker for fifteen years. Besides his interests in the coal mines, Mr. Shields is also interested in several other lines, such as gas companies and banking institutions. He is a director in the United States banking concern, and has a high standing in financial circles of Pittsburg and vicinity. On Dec. 17, 1875, Mr. Shields led to the altar Mary A. Wray, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of James M. and Mahala C. (Sherrill) Wray. Four children came to brighten their home: Ida B., now the wife of Irwin M. Fickeison, of the Whitney & Stephenson company; Lillian B., Thomas G. (deceased), and Marguerite. The family have been republican in their politics, and Methodist in their religion. Mr. Shields became a member of the Unity lodge, No. 344, A. F. and A. M., of Perrysville, Ind., in 1875, and retained his membership there until June 27, 1892, when he becaine a charter member of Blyth lodge, No. 593, of West Newton, Pa.
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WILLIAM F. SHROYER, insurance agent and dealer in real estate and mort- gage loans, at Wilkinsburg, Pa., was born in Garrett county, Md., in 1866. In 1894 he came to Wilkinsburg and established his present business, in which he has a large patronage, due to his business enter- prise, his genial disposition, square dealing and his thorough knowledge of the differ- ent lines in which he is engaged. In con- nection with his business he has traveled extensively, though never in the capacity of a salesman. He was married, in 1890, to Redena A. Anderson, a daughter of John and Mary Anderson, of Ursina, Pa., and they have one son, named Wilber R. F. Shroyer. His wife's father is the leading blacksmith of Ursina. Mr. Shroyer is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and several fra- ternal orders. He is a member of Wilkinsburg lodge, No. 384, Knights of Pythias; W. H. Devore lodge, No. 676, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Encampment No. 280, of the same order. His residence and office are in the second ward of the city, and he takes an active interest in everything that has a tendency to promote the general welfare or the prosperity of the community. In political matters he affiliates with the republican party, but he has neither held public office nor been a candidate for it.
JOHN YULE STRANG, of Whitaker, Pa., a successful contractor and builder, was born at Town Hill, Fifeshire, Scot- land, Jan. 15, 1874, and is a son of James and Janet (Yule) Strang, who came to America in 1879. They located at Eliza- beth, Allegheny county, where the father was employed in the mines, and, in 1886, removed to Mifflin township, where he has since been employed in the Munhall mines. He is the father of nine children, viz .: Janet, wife of Charles Eckels; Christiana, wife of Francis A. Taylor; John Y., William G., Robert, Maggie, Bessie, James and Alexander. John Y. Strang was reared in Allegheny county from his sixth year, educated in the common schools, and when twelve
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years of age began his business career as a coal-miner, which occu- pation he successfully followed for thirteen years. At odd times Mr. Strang had learned the carpenters' trade, and since 1899 has been engaged in building and contracting, residing in Mifflin town- ship since 1886, and at Whitaker since 1901. Mr. Strang was mar- ried, on Dec. 24, 1896, to Lizzie, daughter of John and Sarah (Jackson) McGough, of St. Clair township, and they have three children, viz. : William R., John Raymond and Sadie Leona. Mr. Strang is a prominent member of the Maccabees, Knights of Malta and the Odd Fellows. His political affiliations are with the republican party.
GUSTAVUS J. LIGHTENHELD, of Pittsburg, Pa., a prominent and well- known lawyer, with offices at No. 510 Fourth Ave., was born in Buffalo, N. Y., Aug. 26, 1852, son of George N. and Anna (Mueller) Lightenheld, both na- tives of Germany, and his mother now residing in Allegheny city. Mr. Lighten- held attended the fourth ward public school of Allegheny city, and, in 1869, became a private in Company C, the "Duquesne Grays," a prominent military organization. In 1870 lie matriculated at the Western University of Pennsylvania, in 1873 visited Washing- ton, D. C., with his command, and on his return was appointed assistant regimental instructor of the college cadets, which com- mission he held until his graduation in 1874. Mr. Lightenheld then entered the office of A. B. Hay, a prominent practitioner of law, and there prosecuted his studies until 1876, when he was admitted to the bar on May 13th, and for twenty-seven years has been continuously in the practice at Pittsburg. He has made a magnificent record in both the criminal and the civil courts, con- trols a fine business, and is a member of courts in Pennsylvania and in the District of Columbia. Mr. Lightenhield is prominently identified with a number of leading organizations, being a past officer of the "Duquesne Grays" veteran corps, member and past officer of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, past officer of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, past officer of the Knights of Pythias, past officer of the Red Men, and a member of the Germania Liederkranze. He was married in Allegheny city
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by the Reverend Hay to Henrietta, daughter of Jacob Pack, and they have had five children, one of whom is now living, Ida, wife of Philip J. Reitmeyer. Mr. Lightenheld resides in the thirty-sixth ward of Pittsburg, and is prominent throughout the city.
GEORGE B. FORSYTHE, a retired farmer living on a ninety-acre farm near Carnegie, was born in Washington county, Nov. 24, 1836. His mother, Margaret (Henry) Forsythe, was of Irish birth, her father coming to Pennsylvania in 1760, while his father, George For- sythe, was for many years a prominent farmer in Washington county, and later in Knox county, Ohio, near Mt. Vernon, where he bought a farm of 250 acres, and resided there until his death, which occurred about 1852. His paternal grandfather was a Scotchman, who settled in Mifflin township in 1755, where many of his descendants yet live. Mr. and Mrs. George Forsythe were members of the United Presbyterian church. Mrs. Forsythe lived with her son, George B., the subject of this sketch, for many years, and later went to live with another son, Calvin, in Kansas, where she died at the age of eighty-six. Mr. and Mrs. Forsythe had ten children, viz .: Harriet, afterwards Mrs. Millinger; Henry, who served four years in the Civil war; James, a Presbyterian minister; Margaret, who married Joseph Ryburn; Joseph, a doctor who practiced and died in Salem, N. Y., in 1855; George B. ; Susan, who married Judge Glenn, of Colorado; Robert, a twin brother of George B. ; Sarah and Calvin, the latter also serv- ing in the Civil war. Of these, Henry, George B., Margaret and Sarah are living. George B. Forsythe attended the public schools, and had started advanced studies at Wilmington, when the out- break of the Civil war called him from his books to fight for his country. Enlisting on Aug. 27, 1861, in Company B, 100th Penn- sylvania volunteer infantry, he served first in Sherman's army, then in the Army of the Potomac, then in Grant's army, and then again in the Army of the Potomac. During the war he fought with distinction in many engagements: at the second battle of Bull Run, at Chantilly, South Mountain, Md. ; Antietam, Fredericks- burg, the siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Blue Springs, Tenn. ; Campbell Station, Tenn .; the siege of Knoxville, Tenn .; in the
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Wilderness (two days), and at Spottsylvania, Va. At Spottsyl- vania, on May 7, 1864, a rebel bullet struck him in the hip, inflict- ing an injury from which he has never fully recovered. This injury incapacitated him for further fighting, and after many months in hospitals at Fredericksburg, Washington city and Staten island, he was given a furlough, and went to visit his brothers in New York. Returning to his regiment, he was honorably dis- charged, after a service of almost four years. His war service over, Mr. Forsythe took up farming in Allegheny county, Pa. Since 1884 he has resided on a valuable farm of ninety acres, lying near Carnegie. On Sept. 26, 1866, Mr. Forsythe married Miss Margaret Henry, daughter of William Henry, and has by this mar- riage two children living. Cora is now the wife of Harry Walk, a farmer of Allegheny county, and has seven children, and George H., who resides near Newbern, N. C., married Ettie Young, of Bloomington, Il1, and has two children. The first wife died in December, 1897, and Mr. Forsythe married Miss Lettie Weller, a native of Montgomery, Orange Co., N. Y. One child, Joseph W., has been born of this second union. Mr. Forsythe and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, in which Mr. Forsythe has been for many years an elder. He is a member of the Loyal Legion post, No. I, of Pittsburg, Pa.
WVM. VALLANDINGHAM NOBLE, of Homestead, Pa., a prominent citizen of Mifflin township, was born near Steu- benville, Ohio, Dec. 5, 1866, son of Tarle- ton W. and Sarah (Lewis) Noble, the father a native of Ohio and now residing in Ritchie county, W. Va., and the mother a native of Virginia and a member of a distinguished family of the Old Domin- ion. William V. Noble was reared in Ohio and West Virginia, and was edu- cated in the public schools, the West Liberty State normal school of West Virginia, and the Illinois normal school, near Bloomington. Since his twentieth year, Mr. Noble has taken a deep interest in politics, voting on national issues with the democratic party, but in local matters believes in casting his ballot for the best man regardless of creed or political associations. He has been closely identified with the democratic citizens' party of Allegheny county since 1902.
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