USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume I > Part 3
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
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Allegheny county as chief clerk. When the department of regis- tering of deeds was established, in October, 1901, Mr. Siebert was chosen, on account of his experience, as register of deeds, and superintendent of transferring and plotting property. Mr. Siebert has been secretary of the Ewalt Street bridge company since 1868, a director of that company since 1874, and, in 1893, upon the death of his father, Christian Siebert, succeeded him as treasurer of the concern, still retaining this position. He has also been a director in the German National bank of Pittsburg since 1893, taking the place of his father, who was one of its founders before the Civil war. Mr. Siebert is also actively engaged in church work, having been superintendent of St. Paul's Reformed church, Pittsburg, for over thirty years, and having served his church in the higher coun- cils of the same on many occasions. He was also a manager of an orphans' home for several years. He is now the supreme repre- sentative from Pennsylvania in the Royal Society of Good Fellows, and is a member of the Independent Order of Heptasophs, Royal Arcanum, A. O. U. W. and the Odd Fellows. He was married, in 1874, to Sarah O'Brien, of Burlington, Iowa. They have four sons, Wm. C., J. F., Paul T. and George E., and one daughter, Sarah M. In politics Mr. Siebert is a stanch republican.
HUDSON SAMSON (deceased), for many years one of the leading funeral directors of Pittsburg, was born in Pulaski, Oswego Co., N. Y., April 29, 1840. His parents were Jonathan M. and Elizabeth (Draper) Samson, of an old New England Quaker family. There were four children in the family-two daughters, who died when young; Hud- son Samson (deceased), and Dexter M. Samson, who is still living in Los Angeles, Cal. The father died in Pitts- burg, Jan. 3, 1894, at an advanced age. Mr. Samson was educated in the common schools of Pulaski, and prepared for college at the old Pulaski academy. On account of ill health he did not attend college, but came to Pittsburg in Decem- ber, 1859, when nineteen years old. On Feb. 14, 1862, Mr. Samson married Miss Susan Gilmore, of Utica, N. Y. They had six chil- dren, four of whom died in infancy, while one daughter, Miss Cora L., died Feb. 1, 1898. In 1859 Mr. Samson entered the undertak-
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ing business in Pittsburg, and was probably the oldest undertaker in the city, in point of service, at the time of his death. In 1861 he took Robert Fairman as a partner, and the business was suc- cessfully conducted under the firm name of Fairman & Samson, until 1875. During the last fifteen years of his life he was ably assisted by his son, Harry G. Samson, who now succeeds his father in the business. In 1884 Mr. Samson erected a beautiful funeral chapel at No. 433 Sixth Ave., which was considered at the time it was built to be the finest and most complete in the United States. He early considered the idea of erecting a crematory, and, in 1885, built a model establishment. It was the second of its kind in the United States, and soon became famous. It first came into promi- nence in 1891, when the body of Emma Abbott, the famous opera singer, was cremated there. Mr. Samson was perhaps the most conspicuous layman of the Methodist Episcopal church in western Pennsylvania, and was one of the bulwarks of the Pittsburg church union, being its president for many years. He was deeply inter- ested in city evangelization, and was an officer, for a long time, of the National union. It was his custom for a number of years past to build a church each year. This he accomplished through the Church Extension society of the Methodist Episcopal church, and, as a result, many frontier town congregations are happy in their modest and comfortable little buildings, not knowing where the money came from that made them possible. Mr. Samson guarded this pet way of doing good very jealously, and few, even of his most intimate friends, knew that he had followed it for nearly a score of years. Mr. Samson was president of the National city evangelization union of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was also a trustee of the Young Men's Christian association, a member of the advisory board of the Young Women's Christian association, a member of the board of the Methodist Episcopal deaconesses' home, and a member of the board of the Pittsburg free dispensary. He was a member of the board of trustees of Allegheny college, Meadville, Pa., and of Beaver college, Beaver, Pa. He was treas- urer of the Anti-saloon league of Allegheny county, and for the past ten years had been one of the most consistent members of the Oakland Methodist Episcopal church. He was a delegate to the general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, held in Chicago, Ill., in 1900. For several terms he was president of the National and State funeral directors' associations, and was one of the most progressive and widely-known men in his profession. Mr. Samson was a thirty-second degree Mason, and a member of
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Franklin lodge, No. 221, also of Tancred commandery, Knights Templars. During Mr. Samson's business career in Pittsburg he had been fortunate in his investments, and thereby had amassed a considerable fortune. After a long and useful career he died, July 14, 1903. Thus, we have briefly incorporated in this sketch of the life of one of Pittsburg's leading citizens, a summary worthy the emulation of all who aspire to the nobler aims of true and benef- icent citizenship.
WILLIAM EMERY THOMPSON, controller of Allegheny county, was born in Fredericktown, Washington Co., Pa., Jan. 31, 1850. When six years old he moved with his parents to Elizabeth, Allegheny county, and lived there until 1885. Mr. Thompson received only a limited education, and left school at the age of thirteen, being employed at first in a boat yard, and later in a sawmill. In 1868 he went into his father's wagon shop in Elizabeth, and was engaged with his father for several years in making wagons. Afterwards he ran the business himself for a time, until 1876, when he became a clerk in the office of the county recorder. He has since been prominent in public life, and, after some six years' service in the recorder's office, was elected, in 1882, to the State legislature, where he remained for two two-year terms. While a resident of Elizabeth, he was one of the leading citizens of that place, serving his city as a justice of the peace from 1880 to 1883, and as burgess in 1881 and 1882. After his service as legisla- tor, he was engaged for a time in the office of register of wills. He was made mercantile appraiser of Allegheny county in 1893, was elected controller in 1896, and re-elected in 1899. On Sept. 1, 1885, Mr. Thompson moved to Mckeesport, where he was for some years chairman of the republican city committee, and, in 1891, acted as secretary of the Mckeesport board of education. Mr. Thompson entered the State militia service in 1868, as a private, and has risen by reason of ability and faithful service through minor positions to the office of colonel of the 14th regiment, Penn- sylvania national guards, which position he has held since 1899. He served at Johnstown from June 4 to June 30, 1889, during the terrible times following the flood. He served as senior major of
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the 14th regiment, Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, during the Spanish-American war. Colonel Thompson is a past master of Stephen Bayard lodge, F. and A. M. ; a member of Shiloh chapter, No. 257, and of Ascalon commandery, No. 59, Knights Templars, and is also past exalted ruler of Lodge No. 136, B. P. O. E. He was married, on Oct. 7, 1872, to Miss Mary F. Applegate. Eight children have blessed this union, namely: Harvey A., Malinda Y., Mary F., Lillian B., Jean M., Sarah A., Lila L. and William E., Jr.
SIMON BURNS, president of the Window glass workers, local assembly No. 300, Knights of Labor, and ex-gen- eral master workman of the Knights of Labor, was born at La Salle, 111., in 1856, son of James Burns, a native of Ireland and a riverman by vocation, who died in 1857. The subject of this sketch received a limited education at La Salle, and then began to work in a glass factory there, where he remained two years, later mov- ing to Rock Island, Ill. He followed his trade as a glass worker in Rock Island until 1874, rising to the position of gatherer, and, in 1894, went to Marion, Ind., where he was employed in a window glass factory. He remained there from March to October, then went to Gas City, Ind., staying there until January, 1895. He came to Pittsburg to assume the duties of president of the Window glass workers, local assembly No. 300, to which office he had been previously elected, receiving in the election a majority over some half dozen competitors. He has been re-elected every year since then, on all but two occasions on the first ballot, and has proved himself a capable and efficient official. Since his election as president, Mr. Burns has, in every year except one, secured for the glass workers an advance of ten per cent. in wages. He is an aggressive leader, and possesses that rare brand of courage which has the singular charm of being admired by others besides his friends and associ- ates. In November, 1900, Mr. Burns was elected general master workman of the Knights of Labor. He held this position one year, and then declined a unanimous re-election, which was tendered him at the convention held in Indianapolis, in November, 1901. Mr. Burns is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He belongs to the Catholic church.
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THEODORE J. SHAFFER, president of the Amalgamated association of iron, steel and tin workers of the United States and Canada, was born in Pittsburg in 1856, raised there, and educated in the public schools. He began selling papers when eight years old, and left school at the age of twelve, but afterwards, when nineteen years old, resumed his studies under the private tutorship of Prof. L. M. Eaton, and later attended the Western university in Pittsburg. When fourteen years old he began work in the iron mill of Moorhead, McLean & Co., of Pittsburg, remaining there a year and a half, and then worked until 1,872 at the Penn forge (Everson, Preston & Co.) iron mill on Second avenue. He was employed by the same company for a time in a new mill at Scottdale, Pa., but returned and again worked at the Penn forge. He next spent three years in the employ of Bradley, Rice & Co., returning a second time to the Penn forge. While at this last employment, he studied at odd times under Rev. Dr. W. P. Turner, a Methodist minister, now presiding elder in the Pittsburg confer- ence. After three months' preparation, Mr. Shaffer went before the conference committee and was ordained to preach the gospel. Although he was making fifteen dollars a day at his trade, he cheerfully gave up his position and began his ministerial labors at Confluence, Somerset Co., Pa., at a salary of $500 a year. In this mountainous country he struggled for two years, walking thirty- four miles a day in all kinds of weather and preaching three times. This life was so disastrous to his health that he was compelled to give up the charge, and even now he suffers from the effects of these early hardships. He spent two years each in Washington and Butler counties, holding two charges in each and preaching on alternate Sundays. He was then taken from the circuit, and was given charge of a church at Brownsville, Pa., for two years, and, in 1888, went to Johnstown, Pa., where he remained only six months, being compelled to give up his work on account of ill health. He went to Pittsburg, a dangerously sick man, but, after a short time, his inherent energy asserted itself, so he opened a small grocery and notion store. After about four months of this work, Mr. Shaffer's health was so far improved that he was again able to do a man's work, and, giving up the ministry for good, he
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returned to the iron mills, and has since devoted himself to the work of bettering the condition of his fellow-workmen. From August, 1889, to October, 1894, he was employed as a rougher and roller in the Demmler mill of the United States sheet steel and tin plate company, and, after an idleness of eleven months, became roller in the tin mill of Oliver Bros. in Pittsburg, working there until April, 1897, part of the time as acting manager. In April, 1897, Mr. Shaffer was placed in his present position by the advisory board of the association, was elected to the position a month later, and has been re-elected every year since then. Mr. Shaffer is a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics, Royal Arca- num, B. P. O. Elks, and the Amalgamated association of iron, steel and tin workers. In politics he is a republican, and in relig- ious belief a Methodist. In 1902 he was appointed a member of the municipal improvement committee by Recorder Brown. Both of Mr. Shaffer's parents are living in the East End, Pittsburg, his father at the age of ninety and his mother about ten years younger. The father, Mathias F. Shaffer, is a native of Carlsruhe, Germany, and came to America in early manhood, in 1847.
JOHN CALDWELL, alderman from the twenty-fourth ward, Pittsburg, was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in 1842. He came to America with his parents in 1855, locating in Pittsburg, where he attended the parochial schools. Leaving school when fourteen years old, he started to learn the saddlers' trade, and, in August, 1861, enlisted as a private in Company G, 4th Pennsylvania cavalry. Mr. Caldwell's career in the Civil war is a most creditable one. His first term expiring in February, 1864, he re-enlisted, and was mustered out on July 12, 1865, although the papers bear the date, July 1, 1865. He fought with distinction in the great battles of Antietam and Fredericksburg, and later at second Cold Harbor and the Wilderness. In a skirmish with Stuart's cavalry, Feb: 25, 1863, he received a wound in the left ankle, which disabled him until October of that year. On June 24, 1864, he was captured and confined a long time in the rebel prisons. He was first taken to Richmond, to Libby prison, thence to Lynchburg, Va., and from there marched to Danville, Va. From Danville he was sent by
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train to Andersonville, and held in this famous prison from July to October. After this he was taken to Blackshear, then to Charleston, and from Charleston was moved to Florence, S. C., where he was held in a stockade until Dec. 13, 1864, being then paroled, exchanged and sent to Annapolis. He rejoined his regi- ment at Lynchburg, Va., in April, 1865. Shortly after enlistment he was made corporal, and came out with the rank of sergeant. The war over, Mr. Caldwell became a street car conductor, and was employed thus for twelve years with the exception of two years, from 1870 to 1872, when he worked in a foundry at West Point. In November, 1880, he entered the employ of the Lake Erie railroad company, remaining with them but a short time, and later went to work for Jones & Laughlin. Mr. Caldwell was elected alderman in February, 1891, and has been twice re-elected. In politics he is a democrat, and in religious belief a Catholic. He is a member of Union Veteran legion, No. 1, of Pittsburg.
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JAMES BURNETT HAMILTON, a prominent republican politician of Pitts- burg, was born in Elizabeth, Allegheny Co., Pa., March 12, 1849, and has lived in Elizabeth most of his life. He came to Pittsburg when five years old, but afterwards returned to Elizabeth, where he was educated at Elizabeth academy, from which he graduated. He then learned the carpenters' trade, at which he was engaged until 1880, doing most of his work in Elizabeth. In that year he entered the prothonotary's office, in which his ability and faithfulness won him promotion to chief clerk. In the last election he was chosen to the office of prothon- otary. Mr. Hamilton became a member of the State militia in 1869, enlisting as a private in Company A, 19th regiment, Pennsyl- vania national guard, and served until mustered out in 1874, having risen in the meantime to the position of first sergeant of his com- pany. In 1880 he enlisted as a private in Company I of the same regiment, later became captain of Company L, and, in October, 1898, was made major of the regiment. On April 28, 1898, the 14th regiment was ordered to report at Camp Hastings, Pa., for service in the Spanish-American war. Mr. Hamilton went there with his regiment, following it thence to various forts, and finally
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to Charleston, S. C., where he remained until mustered out, Feb. 28, 1899, and later returned to his place in the prothonotary's office. Mr. Hamilton is a member of the F. and A. M., B. P. O. E., I. O. O. F. and Encampment, K. of P., and Jr. O. U. A. M. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has long been prominent in Allegheny county politics, has been a member of the republican county executive committee for the past twenty years, and was for five years prior to 1901 secretary of the com- mittee. He was a member of the Elizabeth board of education for fifteen years, serving for twelve years of that time as its president.
A. H. LESLIE, director of the depart- ment of public safety, of Pittsburg, was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., in 1853, and spent his early life there, attending the common schools. His father, Malichie Leslie, dying in 1868, the son came to Pittsburg, went to school for about two months and then started to learn the carpenters' trade. He served a three-year apprenticeship at this voca- tion, and finding it too severe for his health, entered the employ of the Alle- gheny Valley railroad company, where he worked first as a brakeman, then as flagman, and finally as freight conductor. In 1872 Mr. Leslie gave up railroading and went into the fire insurance business, also taking up real estate after a time. In 1880 he was elected alderman from the seven teenth ward for a five-year term, and in this position his ability and attention to duty won him re-election three times. When there were still four years to serve on his last term, Mr. Leslie resigned, Aug. 1, 1896, to accept the office of superintendent of police, serving in this position until Oct. 1, 1901, and was then thrown out of office by the provisions of the Ripper bill. He was appointed to his present office on Nov. 26, 1901, by Recorder J. O. Brown, and has proved a faithful and capable official. Mr. Leslie belongs to the Masonic fraternity, Knights Templars and Mystic Shrine, the I. O. O. F., Jr. O. U. A. M. and Knights of the Mystic Chain. He was for two years, 1886-1888, grand chief templar of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee.
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JOHN H. HENDERSON, a prominent lawyer of Allegheny county, was born in Meadville, Pa., Sept. 9, 1866. He was educated at Carrier institute, Clarion, Pa., and at Allegheny college, Meadville. He read law with his father, Harvey Henderson, and was admitted to the bar of Allegheny county in March, 1889, since which time he has been engaged, with his father, in the practice of his pro- fession. For several years he has taken an active part in the work of the republi- can party. He was a delegate to the State convention of 1896, and the following year was elected to the Allegheny city council. In 1898 he was elected a member of the State house of representatives, and again in the year 1900. The ancestor of the Henderson family who first settled in America was Robert, a Scotch-Irishman, who emigrated from County Cavan, Ireland, in 1795; landed at Philadelphia, and came west- ward to Pittsburg, where he remained until 1799. He removed with his family, who were then adults, to Worth township, Mercer county, where he settled and where many of his descendants still reside. Robert Henderson's son, John, who served in the War of 1812, was married to Mary Carroll, and to them was born a son, in 1801, whom they named William Carroll. This son afterwards became a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a constituent member of the Pittsburg conference of that church, formed in 1825. He was an active member of this conference until 1853, when, to enable him more readily to educate his chil- dren, he was transferred to the Erie conference, of which he was a member at his death, in 1882. William C. Henderson was married to Eliza Fawcett, born in South Fayette township, Allegheny county, in 1813, daughter of Joseph, who was born in the same neighborhood in 1748, and whose father, John Fawcett, emigrated from near Belfast, Ireland, in 1769; was married to Ann Fawcett, at Winchester, Va., and removed to Cecil township, Washington Co., Pa., in 1772, where he died, in 1810. William C. Henderson and his wife, Eliza, had five children, one of whom, Anna, died in early life. Harvey, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Ross township, Allegheny county; educated at Allegheny college, Meadville; read law; was admitted to the bar, and prac- ticed his profession in Meadville ten years. During this time he
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served a term as district attorney, and held other public offices. He has resided in Allegheny county, and practiced law there, dur- ing the last twenty-one years. He was married to Harriet J. Hogeboom, of Rochester, N. Y., who descended from one of the families who emigrated from Holland and settled in Columbia county, N. Y., soon after the discovery of the Hudson river. This family has produced a number of men of note in the history of the State of New York. Jeremiah Hogeboom was colonel of the first regiment raised in Columbia county for service in the Revolution, John T. was a judge in the county just named, and Henry served with distinction on the bench of the court of appeals of his State. Harvey Henderson's three brothers reside in Meadville. Edward H. (retired) and John J. served through the Civil war. John J. is now one of the judges of the superior court of this State. William W. is a lawyer. Harvey Henderson's other surviving children are: Gertrude H., wife of Archibald G. Hamilton, and Miss Grace Henderson, all of Allegheny city.
THOMAS DORRINGTON CARNA- HAN, city solicitor of Pittsburg, was born on the South Side, Pittsburg, and there was reared and received his early education. Subsequently he attended the Western university at Pittsburg, graduating in 1872. After graduation, he became a reporter on the Pittsburg Evening Chronicle, and was connected with this paper from the fall of 1872 to the spring of 1881. Mr. Carnahan was admitted to the bar in 1876, and was associated with his father, Robert B. Carnahan, in the practice of law until the death of the latter, which occurred in 1890. He devoted his attention at first to office work, but has since 1881 been actively engaged in the practice of law in the civil courts, where he has met with marked success. Mr.
Carnahan was appointed assistant city solicitor in 1888, and served in this capacity until January, 1902, when he was appointed city solicitor by Recorder J. O Brown. Mr. Carnahan is a member of the Royal Arcanum. He belongs to the Third Presbyterian church. He is a trustee of the Western University of Pennsylvania, of which he is an honored alumnus.
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CHARLES DAVIS, county engineer for Allegheny county, Pa., was born at Bridgetown, Bucks Co., Pa., in 1837, and spent the first nineteen years of his life in that part of Pennsylvania. After the usual preparation, he entered Jefferson college, but gave up his books in his junior year to enlist in the Union army as a private in Company D, roth regi- ment, Pennsylvania reserve volunteer corps. He served three years, until June, 1864, being promoted to second lieutenant in 1862, and in command of his company the latter part of the last year of his term of service. He was captured at the battle of Spottsylvania Court House, but was recaptured a few days later by Sheridan's cavalry at Beaver Dam Station. During the war he took part in the following engagements: the seven days' battles on the peninsula, also South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Bristoe Station, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania and Bethesda church. His war service completed, Mr. Davis took up engineering for a livelihood, and has been successful in his chosen vocation. He was first engaged as transitman on railroad surveys in Lawrence county, Pa., and then, for two years, was employed as assistant engineer by the Pennsylvania railroad company, under Antes Snyder, on the Western Pennsylvania railroad. From 1867 to 1876, inclusive, he was city engineer of Allegheny city. During his term of office as city engineer he designed the sewerage system and superintended the construction of the parks of Allegheny. On his recommenda- tion, the city council secured the passage of an act of the legisla- ture authorizing the present lot registry system. This system has since been extended to Pittsburg. While city engineer he was made consulting engineer on the construction of the Point bridge at the mouth of the Monongahela river. After this he was engaged in the preliminary surveys and construction of the Pitts- burg & Lake Erie railroad, and while there he made the prelimi- nary survey for its extension to Connellsville, then known as the Pittsburg & Youghiogheny river railroad; then for a year a resi- dent engineer on the construction of buildings of the Pittsburg Bessemer steel company, which is now a part of the Homestead steel works. Following this, he was made engineer for the Monongahela bridge company, which was then reconstructing its
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