USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume I > Part 35
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Lucinda Elizabeth, Catharine Nancy, Edward, Jacob, George W., Samuel Erastus and Allen Cross. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have twenty-three grandchildren, and are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which Mr. Moore has been connected in official capacities for nearly fifty years.
PHILIP C. BURKERT, of Glenfield, Pa., a valued employe of the Pittsburg forge and iron company, was born in Pittsburg, May 3, 1862, son of Christ and Christina Burkert. Mr. Burkert was educated in the public schools of Glen- field, spent his early life on a farm near there, and, in 1884, became an employe of the Pittsburg forge and iron company, with which concern he has since continued, and now occupies the responsible position of bolt-maker. He was married, in 1883, to Cathorina, daughter of John and Lottie Luntz, and to them have been born five children, viz. : Lottie and Christina, twins (deceased) ; Fred W., Cathorina M. and Anna Gertrude C. The father of Mrs. Burkert, John Luntz, was born in Bavaria, Germany, Oct. 23, 1827; came to America in 1853, and settled in Allegheny county, where he suc- cessfully followed agricultural pursuits. John Luntz was married to Charlotte Rothhaar, and to them were born six children, viz. : Magdalena (deceased), Caroline, Margaret, Cathorina, John S. and Adam H. Mrs. Luntz was born in Bavaria, Germany, April 20, 1837; came to America when quite young, and died at Glenfield, Pa., Jan. 30, 1896. John A. Luntz, grandfather of Mrs. Burkert, was born at Neustadt, Bavaria, Germany, in 1780, died in 1835, and is buried in the Schornweisach cemetery. John Rothhaar, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Burkert, was also born in Bavaria, Aug. 30, 1802, where he married Katherine Miller, and came to America with his family, settling in Mifflin township. To them were born the following nine children: Christ, John, Catharine, Adam, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Margaret, Carolina and Jacob. Mr. Rothhaar died in Jefferson township, Aug. 10, 1868, and his wife, born May 19, 1805, died on the home farm on Feb. 22, 1866. Christ Burkert, father of the subject, was born in Würtemburg, Germany, in 1833; came to America when a young man, and settled in Allegheny county, where he pursued his trade of iron-working.
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In 1871 he purchased a farm in Aleppo township, and died in Glen- field, Jan. 1, 1903. Christ Burkert married Christina, daughter of Josa and Christina Sinzinger, of Würtemburg, and to them have been born nine children, all but Philip C., Edward G. and William G. being deceased. Mrs. Christina Burkert died on July 19, 1894, in the sixty-fourth year of her life. His grandfather Burkert was killed while plying his vocation of a teamster by being accidentally thrown from his wagon, and his wife died at Temper- anceville, Pa., in her eighty-fourth year.
MRS. AMELIA HAMILTON, daugh- ter of James and Catharine Scott, was born on Neville island, Dec. 13, 1818. Her father, James Scott, of Scotch line- age, was born in Brownsville, Pa., and died in Marietta, Ohio, in his eighty- seventh year. He was the father of eighteen children, twelve of whom lived to rear families of their own. The twelve were: Sarah, Nancy, Alexander, James, Mary, Adam and Maxwell (twins), Amelia, Elsie, Ellen, Catharine and Margaret, all living to be more than fifty years old. James and Catharine Scott had over 100 grand- children. Mrs. Catharine Scott was the daughter of William and Mary Hughey, of Irish descent. They came from Ireland in the early history of the United States, and settled first in New Jersey, removing later to Robinson township, Allegheny county, where he purchased a large farm. Mr. and Mrs. Hughey were among the thrifty and energetic people of their time, and both lived to see more than three-score years. In religious belief they were Pres- byterians. Mrs. Amelia Hamilton was married, Sept. 6, 1843, to James H. Hamilton, of Neville township, and to them were born six children, James A., David D., Mary C. and Hutchinson (all now deceased), Mrs. Nancy A. Kirk, of Allegheny city, and Miss Lydia J. Hamilton, of Neville island. James H. Hamilton, son of David and Mary Hamilton, was born Dec. 20, 1813, and died Dec. 13, 1869, and was a lifelong resident of Neville island. He was a Presbyterian and very active in church work, having held the office of elder for many years. Nancy A., daughter of Amelia and James H. Hamilton, was married, on Sept. 14, 1865, to John M. Kirk, of Allegheny city, a widely-known carriage manufacturer, on
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Arch street. He died Jan. 2, 1899. Mrs. Amelia Hamilton has six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren, of whom the former are: Mrs. Amelia Erwin, of Baden, Pa. ; James R. Kirk, of Neville island; Mrs. Geitz, of Allegheny city; Miss Bessie Kirk, Richard D. and W. H. Kirk, all of Allegheny city. The great- grandchildren are: Amelia Hamilton Erwin and James Andrew Erwin, of Baden; Hazel Amelia, Anna, Elizabeth and Thomas S. Kirk, of Neville island; Charles M., George R., Frederick and Richard A. Geitz, all of Allegheny.
JOHN E. SCHELL, of Coraopolis, Pa., a prosperous oil producer, was born in Perry township, Clarion Co., Pa., Sept. 6, 1859, and is the son of James A. and Rachel E. (Bell) Schell. He is the second in order of birth of ten children, eight of whom are living, and, besides himself, are: Lloyd M., William A., James N., Penola M., Florence and Alice (who are twins), and Ida E. Both par- ents were natives of Pennsylvania, as were his ancestors for many years. His father was a pioneer in the oil business, living until April 20, 1902, when he died at the age of seventy-two years. He was a republican and a Presbyterian, and is survived by his widow, who is now in her seventy-third year. John E. Schell attended the schools of his native township until his eighteenth year, when he went to work in the oil fields of Clarion county, and there remained until he was twenty years of age. . Then he went to Mckean county, where he was engaged in the same occupation for nine years; later spent a year in the oil fields of Washington county; then came to Coraopolis, where he was a part- ner of E. A. Culbertson until 1898. In the spring of 1899 he organized the Schell oil and gas company, and since has managed its affairs with skill and ability. This company owns, among its holdings, leases on several hundred acres of land in Monroe county, Ohio. Mr. Schell was married, in 1886, to Ella F. Culbertson, of Rimersburg, Pa., and their wedded life has been an unusually happy one. Mr. Schell is a member of the democratic party, and is a Knight Templar Mason and belongs to the Mystic Shrine. He is a stockholder in the Ohio Valley trust company, a director in the Coraopolis savings and trust company, president of the Coraopolis
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industrial company, and is prominent in financial circles. Mr. Schell has passed through many trying ordeals in a business way, coming to Coraopolis with a comparatively small sum of money and losing his home by fire shortly afterwards. Nothing daunted by these disasters, he set to work to restore his broken fortunes, and succeeded so admirably that to-day he is reckoned as one of the substantial men of the borough.
JAMES H. GREEN, a prominent photographer and dealer in photograph supplies, of Braddock, Pa., was born in Staffordshire, England, on Feb. 14, 1854. He is a son of John and Louisa (Howells) Green, both natives of Staffordshire. The father was born in IS21, and was a roller by trade, being the manager of a mill there. He came to America in 1879, the family soon following, and settled in Scottdale, Westmoreland Co., Pa., where he engaged in the same business. The mother was a daughter of Elisha Howells, born in 1824, and was the mother of eleven children, five of whom are living. Mr. Green was a man beloved by every one in his neighborhood, and was familiarly called "Father Green, " on account of his genial disposition. James H. Green was educated in the public schools until he reached the age of fourteen years, and was then bound out as an apprentice to John W. Bates, where he remained three years, working at the photograph business. He then went into the iron mills with his father, and in the five years that he was there, learned the trade of his father, that of a roller. Mr. Green returned to his former occupation, and finished learn- ing the trade, and, in 1886, formed a partnership with Mr. Joseph Johnson, under the firm name of Green & Johnson, conduct- ing a flourishing business in Scottdale for a number of years. In 1891 Mr. Green opened a fine studio in Pittsburg, but lost every- thing by fire in less than a year. This was most discouraging and sufficient cause to make many men give up entirely, but having the true English grit in his make-up, he started anew, opening a gal- lery in Wilkinsburg, one in Braddock, and later one in Homestead, all three thriving from the first. Mr. Green now operates the galleries at Braddock and Homestead, with a fine patronage, hav- ing sold the Wilkinsburg gallery to his son-in-law, F. E.
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Bingaman. Mr. Green was married, in 1873, to Sophia Parfitt, a daughter of Abrahamn and Mary Parfitt, of Pensnett, England, and twelve children came to bless their union, only three of whom are living: Mary, wife of F. E. Bingaman; John W., of Edgewood, and Miss Violet. Mr. Green is a member of Marion lodge, No. 526, F. and A. M. ; the Tribe of Ben-Hur, and the Woodmen of the World. Mr. and Mrs. Green and family belong to the Baptist church at Wilkinsburg. He has a fine residence in Edge- wood, where he and his family enjoy home comforts.
JOHN WACHTER, of Glenfield, Pa., a prominent citizen and a prosperous farmer of Ohio township, was born in that township, Aug. 8, 1851, son of John P. and Frances Wachter. Mr. Wachter was educated in the public schools of Allegheny county, and has devoted his entire attention to farming, of which occupation he has made a complete suc- cess, and is one of the leading and best- informed farmers of that section of the county. John P. Wachter, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Baden, Germany, in 1801, and came to America in 1847, settling on the place where his son now resides. He was a miller by trade, but after coming to America, followed farming until his death, in 1873, at the age of seventy-two years. His remains are buried in the Catholic cemetery at Glenfield. His mother's maiden name was Hout, and she was born on Feb. 14, 1807, and died in 1883. The paternal great-grandfather of the subject was a noted soldier, and served under the great Napoleon on his invasion of Russia, when the flower of the chivalry of "La Belle France," which had conquered most of the armies of the civilized world, was withered by the rigors of the northern climate. John Wachter was married, Jan. 9, 1877, to Minnie, daughter of Amon Lutz, and they have had four children born to them, viz. : George, born April 5, 1878; Charlie, born April 3, 1879; Joseph, born April 17, 1881, and Rosa, born Sept. 6, 1884. Mr. Wachter is widely known in Ohio town- ship, and is very popular with all classes, having been honored with election to all the important positions within the gift of the township, and at the present writing is treasurer of the board of education and tax collector of Ohio township. He is a member of
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St. Mary's Catholic church, which he has served in official capaci- ties, and is highly regarded by his neighbors and friends as a man of fine judgment and undoubted business ability.
GEORGE H. HARVEY, resident of Glenfield, son of William M. and Char- lotte V. Harvey, was born in Washing- ton, D. C., Nov. 15, 1863, and educated in the public schools of Washington and of New York city. His vocation is that of patent attorney and draftsman. He was married to Anna P. Schulte, and to them were born two children, Aurela C. and James M. Mr. Harvey is a resident of the borough of Glenfield, and has been prominently identified in its official rela- tions, having been a member of the council, board of education, and burgess. Perhaps Mr. Harvey is best known as a genius, having come before the public as the inventor of four patents-the first, a thread protector, used exclus- ively by the United States steel company, of New York; second, the Harvey system of burning oil, used principally by manu- facturers; third, the process of manufacturing gas, and fourth, the Harvey- system of making window glass. William M. Harvey, father of the subject of this sketch, son of George Harvey, was born in Washington, D. C. He was a contractor by occupation, leaving it long enough to render his country signal service in the Civil war. He was married to Charlotte May, eleven children being born to this union. Charlotte (May) Harvey, a Virginian by birth, was the daughter of Francis Russell May, a descendant of Lord Russell, and a veteran in the War of 1812. Mr. May was con- nected for fifty years with the sergeant-general's department of the United States army. He died in 1881 in his eighty-seventh year. The Harveys were among the first settlers of Maryland, being in Lord Baltimore's fleet, which landed first in Virginia in 1632. The Mays, the ancestry on the mother's side, were also early pioneers of the United States. Their first appearance was as traders, about the year 1607.
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DAVIDSON DUFF (deceased), son of William and Margaret (Boggs) Duff, was born Sept. 14, 1814, in Ohio town- ship, on what is known as the Duff farm, or "Deer Park." He was educated in the schools of his own township and in the city of Pittsburg, but spent his entire life on the farin, his attention being exclusively given to that occupation. He was married to Mary Mitchell, July 18, 1837, and to them were born eight children : James H., Margaret A., Sarah, William, Caroline, Isabella B., David and Wilton R. Mr. Duff was for thirty years justice of the peace of Ohio township. He was one of its most popular and esteemed residents, being never defeated for office, and elected to all the important ones in his township. For many years he was a member of the board of education. He and his wife were charter members of the United Presbyterian church of Mt. Nebo, of which he was also a trustee. He died Feb. 29, 1896. His wife, Mary ( Mitchell) Duff, was the daughter of Harry and Margaret Mitchell, and was born in Ireland, May 8, 1814. She came to this country with her parents in 1835; she was also a very enthusiastic church worker and the embodiment of a noble Christian character. She died May 2, 1902, in her eighty-ninth year. William Duff, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Ireland, May 6, 1783, coming to this country at three years of age. His father, James Duff, settled first in Westmoreland county, removed to Allegheny county about the year 1800, and bought a farm of 150 acres, joining Dixmont. He died in 1863 on the Duff farm. He came to America in 1786, and from that date the history of this family begins in America. William Duff was one of the first settlers in Allegheny county. On a journey on foot to Ohio in search of a farm, he spent the night at an Indian camp, where he niet with many thrilling experiences which the family has often heard him relate. For a long time he lived on the Duff farm in a log cabin, a structure considered in pioneer days a great luxury. He was a very generous-hearted man, and was a Presbyterian in religious views, attending church at Robinson's Run. At the time the church at Mt. Nebo was built, he became a member there, and remained so until his death, which occurred Jan. 18, 1863. He was the father of three chil- dren, James, Jane and Davidson. James Duff was a soldier in the
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Civil war, enlisting Aug. 31, 1861, in Company B, 4th Pennsyl- vania cavalry. He was engaged in a number of important battles, as the Seven Days' battle and Antietam, was taken prisoner at White Sulphur Springs, Oct. 12, 1863, and died in Andersonville prison Sept. 12, 1864. Mrs. Margaret (Duff) Graff, the only surviving member of the Duff family, was born Jan. 21, 1842, and resides on the old homestead. She was educated in the schools of her own township, and was married, June 15, 1882, to David Graff, of Tarentum. He was a farmer in his early manhood, but later became engaged in the oil business as driller. He was of German- Irish extraction, and died March 19, 1892. Mrs. Graff is a member of the United Presbyterian church at Mt. Nebo, and is one of its faithful and earnest workers. The Duff family is one of the sub- stantial and trusty families, being known for their honesty and fair dealings in business, and their unquestionable character. Sarah Duff was married, May 30, 1867, to George W. Crawford, and to them was born one child, Harry D. Mrs. Crawford was also a Presbyterian, and died Nov. 12, 1872. David Duff was married to Mary Hamilton, Jan. 13, 1873, and to them were born six children, James S., Olive B., Harry L., Pearl A., Margaret E. and Elmer I. David Duff succeeded his father as justice of the peace in Ohio township, which office he held at the time of his death, Aug. 14, 1897.
FREDERICK TSCHUME, a promi- nent wholesale liquor merchant of Alle- gheny city, Pa., and inember of the select council from the fourteenth ward, was born in the city of Pittsburg in 1854. When he was about six years of age his parents, the late Samuel and Mary Tschume, removed to Allegheny city, where Frederick acquired his education in the public schools and a private Ger- man school. After leaving school, he learned the drug business, in which he continued for six years, when he became associated with J. J. Staud as a salesman. He followed this busi- ness for about ten years, when he withdrew and started a grocery on East street. In September, 1902, he retired from the grocery, but continued the wholesale liquor business, in which he had pre- viously become interested. His place of business is at No. 2316
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East St. Politically, Mr. Tschume is a republican. He served for three terms as school director, and, in 1897, he was elected to the select council. At the expiration of his term he was re-elected, and is now serving his third term. In the council he is a member of the committees on public works, public safety and grade cross- ings. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Kanz, of Allegheny city, and to this marriage four children have been born, viz. : Flora, Elizabeth, Stella and Fred, Jr. Mr. Tschume is a member of the Pittsburg court, Independent Order of Foresters, and of St. Peter's Lutheran church. His record as a councilman has been indorsed by the people, as can be seen by his re-election, and in his private business he is regarded as one of the substantial men of the city.
GEORGE THEIN, of Glenfield, Pa., a prosperous and successful farmer of Aleppo township, was born there, Nov. 16, 1848, son of George and Margaret Thein, both natives of Bavaria, Germany, who came to America in 1847, and set- tled on the farm where their son now resides. His paternal grandfather was a farmer of Germany, who accompanied his son to the United States, and died in Allegheny county at the advanced age of eighty-two years. George Thein, the elder, was the father of four children, viz. : George, Charlie, Anton and Maggie. He died on Nov. 2, 1887, his wife having previously died, the date of her death being May 16, 1882. George Thein, the son, has devoted his entire busi- ness career to farming, and has made a great success of his voca- tion, now owning a splendid farm, equipped with all modern appliances and in every way thoroughly high-class. He was mar- ried, on June 5, 1873, to Mary M., daughter of Armond Lutz, her father having died on May 16, 1897, and her mother in 1892. To them have been born seven children, viz. : Margaret, born March 4, 1874; Mary A., born Nov. 20, 1876; John H. and Rosa, twins, born Feb. 12, 1880; Anna L., born Dec. 14, 1881; Elizabeth R., born Feb. 14, 1887, and Frank J., born Oct. 27, 1888. Mrs. Thein is one of a family of eleven children, she having had seven sisters and three brothers, and is in every way a most estimable woman. Mr. Thein served several years as a member of the board of education of Aleppo township, and also held the position of trustee in St.
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Mary's church, of Glenfield. He is a successful business man, a courteous gentleman, and a prominent and influential citizen, and in many ways has contributed to the advancement and prosperity of that section of Allegheny county.
DR. JAMES E. MORROW, principal of the Allegheny high school, was born in Brooke county, Va. (now Hancock county, W. Va.), March 28, 1837, and is the son of Alexander Morrow. He was graduated from Jefferson college in 1856, A. B., with an A. M. in 1875, and a Ph. D. in 1889. He began teaching in 1856, studied law and was licensed in Decem- ber, 1859, and practiced until the begin- ning of the Civil war, when he enlisted as private, serving as such and as a ser- geant until Feb. 20, 1862, when he was promoted to second lieutenant, a little later first lieutenant, and in 1863 was promoted to the rank of captain of Company F, Ist Vir- ginia volunteer infantry, and was on staff duty until his discharge, Dec. 10, 1864. After the war, he resumed his teaching, being principal of the fifth ward schools in Allegheny from 1879 to 1889. He then became principal of the Pennsylvania State normal school at Slippery Rock, which he organized in March, 1889; and in 1891 was elected teacher, and in 1892 principal, of the Allegheny high school. Mr. Morrow was married, in 1867, to Clara J. Johnson, a daughter of John J. and Rebecca M. Johnson, of Cumberland, Md., the latter now living, at the age of eighty-nine years, with Dr. and Mrs. Morrow, in Allegheny city. To this union were born eight children, three of whom, Fred, Earle and Ralph, are deceased; Agnes, the wife of Richard B. Scandrett, Esq. ; Jay J., who is captain of United States engineers; Alice, a teacher in the third ward schools, and Dwight W., a graduate of Amherst, Mass., now of Englewood, N. J., a member of the New York city bar and connected with the firm of Simpson, Barnum, Thatcher & Bartlett, Broad Exchange building, New York city; and Hilda, wife of Rev. Edwin Linton McElwaine, Presbyterian minister, of Emlenton, Pa.
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PROF. JOHN A. JOHNSTON, prin- cipal of the fourth ward school, No. 2, Allegheny, Pa., was born at Brownsville, Pa., and is a son of William H. Johnston, a well-known contractor of building operations in that section of the country. He attended the public schools of his native town and the Millersville State normal, of which institution he is a graduate. After teaching two years in the soldiers' orphans' school at Union- town, he became principal of schools at Belle Vernon, then at West Newton, Westmoreland county, leaving the latter place to become principal of the Johnstown high school. In January, 1888, he resigned to accept his present position. Professor Johnston is a brother of Prof. Edward P. Johnston, of the seventh ward schools. Professor Johnston stands as one of the leading educators of the city, and his long experience and faithful devotion to the cause of good schools,. have made him an influence and a factor in educational circles sec- ond to none. On April 5, 1900, he was married to Miss Isabelle Hunter Robertson, a daughter of Rev. William and Agnes (Had- dow) Robertson, a United Presbyterian minister living a retired life at East End, Pittsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have two children, John Adelbert and Janet Margretta. He and his family are mem- bers of the Episcopal church.
JOHN FAIRFIELD, of Hites, Pa., a prosperous farmer, was born in Pittsburg, Pa., May 8, 1835, son of Richard and Prudence (Griffin) Fairfield, both natives of Ireland, who came to Pittsburg in 1832 and there remained until 1851, when they removed to a farm of 127 acres which they had purchased in East Deer town- ship. In 1863 they returned to Pittsburg and lived in that city until their deaths. They had a family of seven children, four of whom survive their parents. Richard Fairfield was a whig, later a republican, and owned property in Pittsburg, Hatfield and elsewhere. He and his wife were prominently identified with the Methodist church, of
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which they were leading members. John Fairfield was reared in Pittsburg, educated in the public schools of that city, and began his business career hauling coal in that city. In 1851-2 he came on the farm where he now resides, has followed general farming, and makes a specialty of breeding Chester white hogs. Mr. Fairfield is a republican, served one term as assessor, and for thirteen years he has been school director. He was married, in 1862, to Eliza J., daughter of John C. and Catherine (Jones) Stephens, both reared and educated in their native country of Eng- land, and came to the United States in IS37. John C. Stephens purchased a farm in West Deer township in 1845; there his wife died in 1852, and the same year he removed to Ohio, where he resided until his death in 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield are the parents of nine children, three deceased. The living are : Robert H., George R., John C., Florence, Alma M. and Olive A. Mr. Fairfield was one of the first grand jurymen that sat in the new court-house at Pittsburg, the year of the centennial of the settle- ment of Allegheny county.
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