USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume I > Part 34
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ness, and, in 1900, assumed the management of the Altamonte house, Altoona, Pa. A year later he became the proprietor of the Seventh Avenue hotel at Homestead, which he has since success- fully conducted, the popularity of the house increasing almost daily. Mr. Tressel was married, Feb. 8, 1894, to Miss Mary Burgin, a daughter of Rudolph L. and Mary (Hoffer) Burgin, of Allegheny county, Pa. He is a stanch republican in politics, but has never been a candidate for any office, finding more pleasure and profit in catering to the wants of the traveling public. He belongs to Cap Sheaf lodge, No. 159, Order of Heptasophs, Pittsburg, where he is always welcomed as one of its most popular members.
JOSEPH MACMATH, the genial pro- prietor of the Hotel MacMath, was born in County Durham, England, Feb. 18, 1864, and is a son of James and Margaret (Blackley) MacMath. His father was a full-blooded Scotchman, and his mother was an Englishwoman. An accident in the mines in England caused the death of James MacMath, and his wife, with three children, came to America and set- tled at Lock No. 3, on the Monongahela river, in Jefferson township, Allegheny Co., Pa. There the children grew to manhood and womanhood. Elizabeth is now the wife of John Keennist; Maggie is the wife of John Wilson, and Joseph, the sub- ject of this sketch, is a resident of Homestead. During his first years in America, Joseph attended the public schools of Jefferson township, but in order to assist his mother in providing for her family, he went to work when he was but eleven years old. In 1886 he located at Homestead, and for three years was employed in the Homestead steel works. He next engaged in the occupation of bartender, which he followed until 1897, when he embarked in business for himself, and since that time he has successfully con- ducted the Hotel MacMath, one of the leading hostelries of the city of Homestead. He was married, June 4, 1891, to Miss Jennie E., the daughter of Alexander and Mary Keltz, of Derry, Pa. They have three children, Mearna, Walter and Harry. Mr. MacMath is prominent in secret and benevolent society work, being a member of Homestead lodge, No. 479, and Uniform rank, No. 37, of the Knights of Pythias; Homestead lodge, No. 650, B. P. O. Elks;
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Gray Eagle tribe, No. 393, Improved Order of Red Men; Monon- gahela council, No. 123, degree of Pocahontas, I. O. R. M .; Homestead lodge, No. 253, F. of A .; Mizpah lodge, No. 2324, Knights and Ladies of Honor, and Clan Mackenzie. In all these orders and societies he is an honorable and honored member. He also takes an active interest in political affairs, in which he is always identified with the republican party.
B. O. FAIR, a merchant in Glenfield borough, Allegheny county, son of Philip and Nancy J. Fair, of Armstrong county, was born Nov. 10, 1875, and educated in the public schools of Washington town- ship. He spent his first fourteen years on the farm, and then became a clerk in his brother's store in Irondale, Ohio. After seven years as clerk, he and his brother, Ross, bought the stock of goods of the brother George, forming a partner- ship under the firm name of Fair Bros. After a short time the firm sold the stock again to the brother, George Fair, B. O. Fair accepting a clerkship with the People's company store, of New Cumberland, W. Va., where he remained one year. He again formed a partner- ship with his brother, under the old firm name of Fair Bros., in a general store, and after two years again dissolved partnership to go into business for himself in the grocery and fresh meat lines, in Verona, Pa. In 1900 he bought the stock of goods of T. Philips & Bros., engaged in general merchandising, and has an up- to-date store with a first-class trade. Mr. Fair was married, in 1897, to Lue Wolfe, daughter of Joseph and Rosanna Wolfe, of East Liverpool, Ohio, and to them has been born one son, Clarence S., born Nov. 4, 1901. Philip Fair, father of B. O. Fair, was born in Armstrong county in 1832; married, in 1860, to Nancy J. Gregg, only daughter of George and Mary Gregg, and to them were born nine children, all of whom are living-Harvey, George, Anna, Samuel, Charles, Ross, Barney, Otto and Claude. Mr. Fair was a stone-cutter by trade, was a man of good character, and was prominent officially, having held most of the offices in his own township. He was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran church of Limestone, and was connected in its official relations, having been a deacon for many years. He died May 3, 1898. His wife,
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Nancy J. Fair, is living with her son in Glenfield. George Gregg, her father, was a raftsinan, and was drowned in the Allegheny river. His wife, Mary Gregg, afterwards married Alexander Roofner, and to them were born ten children. She died in 1878. Philip Fair was the son of John and Mary Fair, and John Fair was the son of Michael and Mary Fair, and a native of Armstrong county. He was the father of four children: William, Philip, Susanna and Chambers. William died at the homestead, in Arm- strong county, and Chambers was a soldier in the Civil war, and died in the hospital at Hagerstown, Md. Mary Fair, wife of John Fair, was the daughter of Henry Christman. Michael Fair, father of John Fair, was born near Philadelphia in 1775, and died in 1860. He was a great hunter, and lived at a time when population was sparse and wild game plenty. He crossed the Allegheny moun- tains by wagon in company with Jacob Steelsmith, they being the first settlers in Armstrong county. Michael Fair married Mary Steelsmith, the daughter of Jacob Steelsmith. Michael Fair was the son of John Fair, of Saxony, Germany. John Fair came to America in 1776 and settled near Philadelphia, arriving just in time to enlist as a soldier in the Revolutionary war.
DR. S. CAMERON BOWES, whose residence and offices are located at No. 815 Wylie Ave., Pittsburg, Pa., has been engaged in the general practice of medi- cine in that city since 1893. He was born in Toledo, Ohio, April 18, 1864, and is the son of Robert U. and Elizabeth B. (Robinson) Bowes. For many years his father was the general agent of the New York life insurance company, but he is now retired and lives in the city of Pitts- burg. His mother is a native of Blair county, Pa., and lived there until her marriage. Dr. Bowes was graduated from the Toledo high school, and until 1887 was employed in the wholesale drug house of Benton, Myers & Co., of Cleveland, Ohio. In 1889 he began the study of medicine, and, as a preparatory measure, he attended the medical department of Wooster university, Cleveland, for one year. He entered the Western Pennsylvania college, Pittsburg, and graduated from that celebrated school in 1893. The same year he commenced the practice of his profession, locating at
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No. 1222 Penn Ave., where he remained two years, removing to his present location. He is a member of the alumni association of the Western Pennsylvania medical college and the Order of Heptasophs, being the medical examiner for the insurance depart- ment of that order. Dr. Bowes is unmarried. In politics he is a steadfast republican and takes an acute interest in public affairs, but never to the disadvantage of his patients, whom he always regards as being entitled to his first consideration. By this devo- tion to his duty he has rendered himself deservedly popular, not only with his patrons, but in the profession.
MRS. ROBERT PHILLIPS, of Glen- field, Pa., a cultured and highly-esteemed woman, was born in Pittsburg, Pa., April 1, 1852, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas WV. Johnson, her father having been born in Pittsburg in 1816, and her mother, whose maiden name was Caroline Stutton, in England on July 10, 1832. Her parents were married in Pittsburg, in 1849, and had two children : the oldest, Margaret E., who married Jeroine Frisby, on Jan. 17, 1866, and is now a widow, residing in Allegheny city, and the JOHN PHILLIPS. mother of three children: Kate Rolfe, wife of U. S. Jones, of Aliquippa Park; Roswell Benton and William F., both sons being successful carpenters. The younger, Rachel W., is the subject of this resume. Thomas W. Johnson, the father of Mrs. Phillips, was a successful merchant of Pittsburg, and for many years was associated with his brother, Samuel, in a business venture at Smithfield and Liberty streets, where they did a large business and enjoyed a full measure of prosperity. Rachel W. was married, on April 4, 1878, to Robert Phillips, and they have had ten children born to them, viz .: Lillie and Buela (deceased), Charles Clyde, an employe of the Southern Pacific rail- road and a trustee in the Glenfield Presbyterian church; Joseph Larmour, with the United States steel company; Edgar Laird, an employe of the Westinghouse air brake company and a member of the 18th regiment of the national guard of Pennsylvania; Victor Wilson, also with the United States steel company; Adala Sher- wood, Dudley Alexander, Ralph Eustace and Robert Austin. All of her sons are young men of ability and industry, and are, withi-
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out exception, fine examples of morality and integrity. Robert Phillips, hier husband, was born on Nov. 28, 1848, in Stony Ford, County Antrim, Ireland, son of John and Eliza Belle Phillips, the former a son of Thomas Phillips, who spent his entire life near Belfast, Ireland. John Phillips brought his family to America in 1852, and became a successful farmer on Neville island, where he resided until his death, March 6, 1896. He was survived by his wife for several years, and she died on Nov. 1, 1901. Robert Phillips received a common-school education, then became a car- penter and contractor, and for several years was associated with the firm of T. Phillips & Bros., of Glenfield. That concern did an immense business until the death of T. Phillips, Jan. 26, 1899, when the firm was dissolved, and since that time Robert Phillips has devoted his attention to the lumber trade. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have a family of which they may be justly proud, and Mrs. Phillips is a woman who has the respect and esteem of the entire borough in which she resides.
FRANK BOST, of Homestead, Pa., a prosperous blacksmith, was born at Mckeesport, Pa., Feb. 25, 1861, son of Henry and Catherine (Renn) Bost, natives of Saarbrücken-on-the-Rhine, Germany, who came to the United States in 1842, and settled in Allegheny county, Pa., where his father followed the occu- pation of mining, and later ran a hotel at what is now Duquesne. The elder Bost was also on the county detective force for four years, died in Mifflin township, and was the father of the following chil- dren : John (deceased), Jacob, William, Valentine, Frank, Henry and Lewis. Frank Bost was reared in Allegheny county, educated in the public schools, and when fifteen years of age commenced his apprenticeship at the blacksmiths' trade and served four years. Then for one year he worked as a journeyman at Mckeesport, and, in 1881, embarked in business on his own account at Homestead, where he has since continued with much success. Mr. Bost is the pioneer blacksmith of that borough, and has long been known for the high class and character of his work, as well as for his splendid standing as a man and as a citizen. He was married, on Nov. 30, 1883, to Lena, daughter of Henry and Christiana Wilhelmina I-25
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(Heisterberg) Vondera, of Mifflin township, Allegheny county, but formerly of Germany, and five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bost, viz .: Charles H., Edna, Alma, Relda and Frank, Jr. Mr. Bost enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him; he has been entrusted with a number of public offices in Mifflin township, and his public record, like his private one, is of splendid character.
GEORGE H. ZIMMERMAN, of Glen- field, Pa., a prominent and successful contractor, was born on July 24, 1868, and is a son of Charles and Catharine Zimmerman. His father was born in Germany, and about 1840 came to Amer- ica and settled in Pittsburg, and there worked at his trade of tanning. The elder Zimmerman was a soldier in the Civil war, enlisting in the 5th West Vir- ginia mounted infantry, and served through the entire war, participating in a number of important battles, and at the second battle of Bull Run received a gun-shot wound in the leg which confined him to the hospital for a. short time. On his . recovery, he rejoined his command and served until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. The mother of the subject was a native of Butler county, Pa., of German descent, : having been born in 1830, and died on March 17, 1900, leaving the following children: Louisa and Frank (deceased), George H., Philip E., Clara M. and Emma M. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a participant in the wars between the Catholics and the Huguenots of France, and, being a Protestant, left the land of his birth and sought an asylum in the country that assures liberty in thought and action, settling in America, and there passed the remaining years of his life in peace and contentment. His wife was a Miss Ohl, and was a daughter of parents who were among the earliest settlers of Butler county. George H. Zimmerman was educated in the splendid public schools of Sewickley, worked as a laborer for a short time, and then began his present business as a contractor for sinking oil wells, in which occupation he has inet with much success in that line. He has been a member of the council of Glenfield, and is a member of the Knights of the Macca- bees. He was married, on Dec. 24, 1891, to Ida M. Luster, and to
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them have been born the following children : Charles S., born July 20, 1893; Woren C., born July 30, 1895, and Ada May, born July 15, 1899. Mrs. Zimmerman is the daughter of Samuel and Marie Luster, her father having been born in 1830, and died in 1895, and her mother being born in Allegheny county, April 6, 1826, and now resides at Glenfield. Mrs. Zimmerman's father was a promi- nent farmer and a soldier in the Civil war, serving in Company H, Ist Pennsylvania regiment of light artillery, until wounded, about a year after his enlistment, when he was honorably discharged for physical disability. Her maternal grandfather, Charles Brooks, was of English descent and a soldier of the American Revolution, having enlisted as a volunteer under General Washington in Lou- doun county, Va. ; participated in many of the important battles, and served throughout the entire war. On one occasion his leg was slightly grazed by a cannon ball, and though not dangerously hurt, this wound never healed, but continued to be a source of much annoyance until his death. Charles Brooks was married three times, was the father of eighteen children, and lived to the ripe old age of ninety-five years.
FREDERICK HERING, a prominent contractor of Allegheny city, Pa., and member of the common council from the twelfth ward, was born in the third ward of that city on March 7, 1866. His par- ents are Michael and Christine Hering. Until he was about twenty-six years of age, he continued to reside in the ward where he was born, attending school up to his fourteenth year. He then became associated with his father in the house- moving and raising business, continuing in that occupation until 1886, when he was taken into full partnership. At present the business is con- ducted under the firm name of A. Hering & Bro., with offices at No. 1010 Middle St., Allegheny city, and is well known throughout the county. Mr. Hering is a stanch republican, and, in February, 1901, was elected to represent his ward in the common council. His services were so entirely satisfactory to his constituents that two years later he was re-elected, and is now in his second term. He is a member of the committees on surveys, public works and . water, and is chairman of the sub-committee of surveys. In 1891
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he was married to Miss Wilhelmina Bapst, of Allegheny city, and they have three children, viz. : Lillian, Elma and Frederick. Mr. Hering is an influential member of the National Union and of the Knights and Ladies of Honor.
ROBERT B. PAGAN, of Haysville, Pa , prominently identified with the oil industry of that part of the county, was born on Sept. 12, 1855. He is a son of Robert Pagan, a native of Dumfries, Scotland, who came to America in the spring of 1836, at the age of twenty-one years, and here followed his trade of stone-cutting for a number of years, assisting in the stone work on the old Williamsport bridge, and also doing that kind of work for a railroad company. The dust from the stone later began to affect his lungs, and consequently he gave up that trade and engaged in farming in Ohio township, where he died on March 27, 1893, at the age of seventy-eight years. Robert B. Pagan was edu- cated in the splendid schools of Ohio township, and when seven- teen years of age, began to learn the trade of a flour-miller, and after accomplishing that object, was in charge of a mill for eleven years. He was compelled to seek another occupation on account of impaired health, and for three years conducted a blacksmith and repair shop at the old N. W. Mitchell mill, on the Little Sewickley creek. Subsequently he began drilling artesian wells, and later oil and gas wells for C. J. Hammel; then for one year was a con- tractor on his own account, but was compelled to quit that busi- ness on account of losing his tools while engaged in sinking a well. He then became field foreman for the Fisher oil company for thirteen years, and since that time has been in charge of an oil lease for the Haysville company. He was married, on Dec. 30, 1886, to Sarah E. Merriman, and they have three children, viz. : Bessie Annie, born Aug. 4, 1888; Sarah Ellen, born March 1, 1890, and Elmer Robert, born July 27, 1897. Mrs. Pagan was born on Nov. 27, 1870, and is the granddaughter of one of the first set- tlers of Allegheny county, who owned a large tract of land in Aleppo township and was a prominent citizen of his day. Mr. Pagan's mother, whose maiden name was Brant, was born in Berlin, Germany, Jan. 29, 1828, and settled in Pittsburg at the age
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of eighteen years. She was married when twenty, is the mother of seven children, and is now seventy-six years of age, and a hale and hearty old lady.
HENRY B. LATSHAW, of Glenfield, Pa., an important figure in the oil indus- try of that section, was born in Butler county, Pa., Jan. 24, 1848, and is a son of John and Fannie Latshaw. The father was born in Berks county, Pa., May 25, 1819; died at his home in Barkey- ville, Venango Co., Pa., April 29, 1901, and is buried in the Barkeyville ceme- tery. He was a thrifty and successful farmer, and one of the prosperous busi- ness men of that part of the county. Henry B. Latshaw spent his early life on the farm, and when he attained his majority, began as a laborer in the lumber industry, which he followed for four years. Then he became connected with the oil business, working for the Brad- foot oil company, the Union oil company, and for more than ten years has been foreman of the Midland division of the Forest oil company, which was formerly known as the South Pennsylvania company, of Oil City, Pa. John Latshaw, his father, married Fannie, daughter of Adam Tinsman, she having been born in But- ler county, Pa., and died on May 19, 1875, and is buried by the side of her husband in the Barkeyville cemetery. The Latshaws are of German ancestry, his grandfather, John Latshaw, having come to America with his four brothers and settled in Berks county, Pa., where they became a numerous and prominent family. John Latshaw, father of our subject, was the father of thirteen children, eight of whom are now living, viz. : Jacob I., Henry B., Nancy J., Mary Anne, Manuel L., Josiah H., Bertha and Rosa; the deceased ones being David, Levi, Aaron, Sadie and William J. David and Levi Latshaw were both soldiers in the Civil war, the former enlisting as a volunteer in Company K, 4th Pennsylvania cavalry, at the beginning of the war, and was in the following important engagements: Antietam, Blue Ridge, Fredericksburg, Bull Run, Petersburg and a number of others. He saw distinguished serv- ice, and after three years' arduous campaigning, re-enlisted for the rest of the war. Shortly afterwards he was captured, confined for three months in Libby prison, and then transferred to Ander-
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sonville, where he died after a ten-month imprisonment, and was buried in the soldiers' cemetery of that place. Levi Latshaw enlisted in Company I, 6th Pennsylvania heavy artillery, and dur- ing the war was on picket duty until honorably discharged, return- ing then to his home in the Keystone State. Henry B. Latshaw was married, on Feb. 1, 1877, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Sarah Young, of Irwin township, Venango Co., Pa., the former a prosperous farmer, who was born in Ireland, Sept. 1, 1826, and died on June 6, 1886, and her mother was born in Pennsylvania, April 4, 1834, and now resides in North Liberty, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Young had seven children, four of whom are now living, and are among the prominent people of the various communities in which they reside. Henry B. Latshaw has been quite successful in business affairs, and now owns two fine farms-one of eighty acres in Mercer county, Pa., and another of 164 acres in Venango county-both of which are fine pieces of property and fully adapted for the best agricultural results. Mr. Latshaw is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and his political affiliations are with the republican party. Miss Sadie Young, a niece of Mrs. Latshaw, has been a member of their household for more than fourteen years, and is a bright and accomplished young woman.
EDWARD J. WILLIAMS, of Whit- aker, Pa., a prominent citizen and a skilled employe of the Homestead steel works, was born at Irwin, Westmoreland Co., Pa., May 1, 1872, son of William and Jane (Evans) Williams, natives of Wales. His father came to the United States about 1867, located in Westmoreland county, and there engaged in coal-mining until 1885, when he removed to Home- stead, where he has since been employed in the steel works. The elder Williams is the father of five children, viz. : Edward J., Thomas, John, Albert and Hannah. Edward J. Williams was reared in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties, educated in the public schools, and, with the exception of two years, 1892-93, when he was with the Illinois steel company, has been an employe of the Homestead steel works since 1885. He was married, on June 19, 1898, to Maggie, daughter of James and Ellen (Calnan) Barrett, residents of Homestead, and to Mr. Williams and his wife
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have been born two children, viz. : William and Mildred May. Mr. Williams is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Knights of the Maccabees and of the republican party. He is prominently identi- fied with the affairs of the township, and, in 1903, was elected one of its auditors, evidence of the esteem and respect with which he is regarded by those who know him best-his neighbors and associates.
JOHN W. MOORE, of Glenfield, Pa., a highly-respected citizen and a prosper- ous farmer, was born in Allegheny county, Pa., Feb. 3, 1836, son of James and Letitia Moore. The father was born in Northumberland county, Pa., Feb. 3, 1791; married Letitia Young, in 1818, and had fourteen children, eleven of whom grew to maturity, viz. : Harvey, a promi- nent United Brethren minister, who for twenty years was in charge of a church of that denomination at Clearfield, Pa. ; Sarah, Elisha, Thomas M., Eliza A., Margaret, Martha, Emily, John W., Amanda R. and Henry W., a soldier of the Civil war. Two of this large family still survive, namely, John W. and Henry. Their father died on Dec. 2, 1858, and is buried in the Blackburn cemetery, of Ohio township, and their mother, who was born in 1797, died on April 7, 1870. The grandfather of John W. Moore was one of the early settlers of Allegheny county, where he owned a large tract of land which was granted him by the government for his services as a member of the continental ariny during the American Revolution. John W. Moore was married to Mary A., daughter of James H. and Julia (Kittinger) Parsons, on Dec. 6, 1856, and to them have been born twelve children, viz. : two pairs of twins that died shortly after birth: James Milton, born Aug. 8, 1857; Emma Elizabeth, born Aug. 25, 1859; Ida Ella, born Jan. 2, 1862; George Washington, born April 17, 1864; Cora Dell, born Nov. 19, 1866; Mary Frances, born March 21, 1869; John Wesley, born July 8, 1874, and Robert Parsons, born March 29, 1877. James H. Parsons, who was born in Mifflin county, Pa., May 16, 1809, and died on Feb. 17, 1885, and his wife, who was born in Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pa., May 26, 1811, and died in 1896, were the parents of the following twelve children: John, Theodore, William, James F., Mary Amanda,
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