USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume I > Part 37
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THEO. TONNELE, son of J. L. and Katherine N. Tonnele, and for twenty years chemist for the W. Deweese-Wood company, now the American sheet steel company, was born in New York city in 1858. As a boy, he attended private schools, and completed his education at the Columbia school of mines, from which he was graduated in 1880. Upon graduation he worked as chemist for Professor Richets, of New York; two years for W. P. Shinn, at Wampum, Pa., and in 1882 came to Mckeesport to enter the employ of the W. Deweese-Wood company in the same capacity. He has been in the employ of this company ever since, and during his long service has won the confidence of his employers by his
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ability and faithful attention to duty. Mr. Tonnele was married, in 1883, to Miss Isabella P. Mills, of Hastings-upon-Hudson, N. Y., and has one son, Theo. M. He is a member of Mckeesport lodge, No. 136, B. P. O. Elks, of which he has served two terms as exalted ruler, and is also a member of the Knights of Malta. He also belongs to various clubs and societies, viz. : the Duquesne club, University club, Americus club, all of Pittsburg; the Pittsburg country club, the American society of mining engineers, the Ameri- can association for the advancement of science, the Engineers' society of western Pennsylvania, and others. Mr. Tonnele is a republican in politics. He resides in the twentieth ward, Pitts- burg. He is a Presbyterian in religious belief, and is a trustee of the church.
GEORGE H. CALVERT, of Etna, Pa., a well-known lawyer of Pittsburg, was born at Etna, Feb. 2, 1873, and is the son of Alexander H. and Jennie (Scott) Calvert. His father was a native of New Sheffield, Beaver Co., Pa., came to Etna in 1868, and for thirty-three years was pastor of the First United Presby- terian church of that city. George H. Calvert received his elementary education in the public schools of his native city, and was graduated in civil engineering from the Western university, of Pitts- burg, in 1893. For one year he was engaged with the engineering department of the Pennsylvania & Lake Erie railroad, at Pitts- burg; later matriculated at the Pittsburg law school, and was graduated from that well-known institution in 1897. During the time he was a student at the law school he devoted his leisure to reading in the office of Samuel McClay, a distinguished lawyer of Pittsburg, and on his admission to the bar, in 1898, began the practice of his profession in the office of Mr. McClay. In 1902 he removed to his present suite of offices at Nos. 601 and 603 Frick building, and is now enjoying a rapidly-increasing general practice. Mr. Calvert has two brothers: Henry S., political editor of the Pittsburg Leader, and J. Edward, a chemist of Pittsburg. Mr. Calvert is a member of the United Presbyterian church of Etna, the Royal Arcanum, the alumni association of the Western uni- versity, of Pittsburg, and is president of the alumni association of
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the Pittsburg law school. He is a member of the State bar asso- ciation, is a republican, and at present is president of the school board of Etna. His maternal grandfather was John Scott, a dis- tinguished jurist of Beaver county and a lawyer of exceptional ability. Mr. Calvert is well equipped for the arduous work of a legal career and is highly regarded as an advocate by the older attorneys of the Pittsburg bar.
JUSTUS SCHROEDEL, member of the common council of Allegheny city, Pa., from the thirteenth ward, was born in that city in 1871, and is therefore one of the youngest members of either branch of the council. His parents, John and Katherine Schroedel, are both deceased, the former dying in 1877 and the latter in 1889. Justus was educated in the public schools of the fourth ward, which he attended until he was ten years of age, and then arranged with the school board to take the instruction in German while he was engaged in selling papers. He was one of the boys that sold papers on the funeral train of President Garfield as it passed through Allegheny city. In 1890, in company with his two brothers, Philip and Jacob, he started the Schroedel & Seibel news agency in the East End, Pittsburg, devoting his entire atten- tion to the building up of the concern. Mr. Schroedel takes an active interest in political matters, in which he is one of the repub- lican leaders of the thirteenth ward. For several years he has represented his ward as a delegate in city and county republican conventions, and for the last six years he has been a member of the county committee. In February, 1903, he was chosen to repre- sent the ward in the common council, where he has been honored by appointment on the committees on public safety, surveys and city digest. He is well known in the club life and fraternal organizations of the city, being a member of Lodge No. 319, Junior Order of United American Mechanics; Allegheny council, No. 229, National Union; the German mutual aid association; the German beneficial association, of Allegheny; Troy Hill Mannerchor; the Mount Troy hunting and fishing club, and the American social club of Allegheny. He is also a member of St. Peter's Lutheran church of Allegheny city. In 1892 Mr. Schroedel was married to Miss Katherine Dahla, of Allegheny city, and two children -- Roy H. and Esther S .- have been born to this marriage. Mr. Schroedel is regarded as one of the wide-awake young business men of Allegheny, as well as one of the public-spirited citizens. When the reform movement was started in Allegheny county, he
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was made vice-chairman, a position he filled to the entire satisfac- tion of those engaged in the work, and he is now one of the com- mittee of thirty-two to manage the county campaign in favor of good government. In this work he enjoys the full confidence of the people, and his name is frequently mentioned in connection with various offices as a possible and available candidate. These matters, however, do not disturb him in the least. The business of the news agency has grown to such proportions that it is on a well-paying basis, and requires the greater part of his time. Should the will of his fellow-citizens elevate him to a place of greater trust and responsibility than the one he now occupies, he will not be found wanting in either ability or sterling worth to meet the requirements of the situation.
WALTER ASTON, of Munhall, Pa., a skilled hammerman for the Homestead steel works, was born in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, Dec. 16, 1860, son of Charles and Mary Aston. Mr. Aston was reared in Birmingham, Eng- land, educated in the public schools, and then served an apprenticeship of seven years at the silver-plating trade. In 1883 he came to the United States and located in Mifflin township, where he entered the employ of the Carnegie steel company as a blacksmith's helper, which position he filled for a short time, and was then transferred to the forging department, and has occupied his present position of ham- merman for sixteen years. He was married, on April 6, 1886, to Annie C., daughter of Richard and Mary E. (Carnahan) Straney, of Elizabeth, Pa., her father a native of Ireland and her mother born at Elizabeth, Allegheny Co., Pa. Mr. Aston and his wife are the parents of the following six children: Ada M., William, Flora B., Walter, Earl F., and Cecelia. Mr. Aston is one of the substantial and progressive citizens of Mifflin township, and by industry and frugality has accumulated a fine competency. He is a member of the Episcopal church, the Odd Fellows and the Sons of St. George, and is assistant chief of the local fire company. His political affiliations are with the republican party, and, like all citizens interested in the proper government of the community, he is an active figure in public matters.
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GEORGE A. GRABE, a well-known contractor and builder, and resident of the first ward, Wilkinsburg, Pa., was born in Butler county, of the same state, in 1854. He is a son of George G. and Elizabeth (Frieze) Grabe, both deceased, the father dying in April, 1903, and the mother in 1899. After attending the common schools of Butler county, where he obtained a good, practical education, he removed to Allegheny county and began his business career. In 1879 lie went west, and from that time until 1887 followed the business of a contractor in Arizona and New Mexico. While a resident of Silver City, N. M., he was elected to represent one district in the city council. In 1890 he returned to Allegheny county, locating at Wilkinsburg. In 1882 he was married to Emma D. Rosenfelder, a daughter of Henry Rosenfelder, a promi- nent farmer of Allegheny county and a native of Germany. Mr. Grabe and his wife are the parents of eight children, seven of whom-four sons and three daughters-are still living, all single and at home. For twenty- eight years he has been a member of the Ancient Order of United Workinen, and for ten years has belonged to the Order of Heptasophs. He is also a member of St. Paul's Lutheran church. In politics he is an unswerving democrat, and is now serving as councilman from the first ward in the Wilkins- burg city council, being recently elected for a second term.
JAMES L. KELLY, one of the leading young business men of Allegheny city, Pa .. and the popular representative of the eighth ward in the common council, was born in the first ward of Alle- gheny city in 1872, and is a son of James W. and Maria Kelly. When he was about a year old his parents removed to the second ward, where he received his primary education in the public school, after which he attended the Park institute. Upon leaving school he decided to learn his father's old trade-that of a slate-roofer- and he started in at fifty cents per week. The readiness with which he learned the business soon took him out of the fifty-cent class, however, and it was not long until he was receiving the regular wages of a journeyman. In 1901 he became a partner in the Schmidt roofing company, located at Nos. 1018 and 1020 Ohio St., and doing a general roofing business. Ever since reaching his
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majority, Mr. Kelly has taken an active part in political contests, co-operating with the republican party. He has been a persistent advocate of clean politics and an honest municipal government. In 1902 he was elected to the office of constable in the eighth ward, an office he still holds, but in which he is represented by George Wolf. In February, 1903, he was elected to represent the ward in the common council, where he is a member of the water, library and charity committees. He is a member of St. Peter's Catholic church and of Allegheny lodge, No. 19, Knights of St. George. He has been an active and influential member of the Slate and Tile Roofers' lodge, No. 2704, of Pittsburg, but has not affiliated with the order since he became a member of the firm, and is one of the youngest mechanics in his line of work in the two cities. At the time of his admission to this lodge he was one of the youngest members of the roofers' organization in the United States. For five years he filled the position of financial secretary of the lodge, and was for two years president. In 1899 he was married to Miss Annie Wildman, of Allegheny city, and both Mr. and Mrs. Kelly are universally respected by the best element of society in Alle- gheny city.
MILLARD FILMORE BAKER, of Glenfield, Pa., a prosperous ferryman on the Ohio river, was born at Mckeesport, March 19, 1856, educated in the common schools, and began business life as a deck liand on a steamboat on the Ohio river. He followed that occupation for a number of years, and subsequently became a watchman, in which capacity he served on the steamers, "R. J. Grace," "N. J. Bigby," "Coal Valley" and "George Lyle," all four of which plied the Ohio river. Mr. Baker then began busi- ness on his own account as a gardener on Neville island, which he followed for three years; then for a year was in the employ of the Chartiers valley gas company, and since that time has been profit- ably engaged in his present business of ferryman. Mr. Baker has been married three times-first, to Anna Josephine Daily, in 1876, who died Sept. 2, 1885, by whom he had four children: Rhoda, Charley (deceased July 15, 1883), George and Clara; on the second occasion he was married to Alice Sarah Soult (deceased Oct. 5,
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1896), who bore him one child, Alice, and his third marriage was with Alice Whiteman, by whom he had a daughter, Ella May. Mr. Baker is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, of which order he has served as warden, and is also a member of the Royal Arcanum. He has been successful in a busi- ness way, accumulated a competency, and is one of the substantial citizens of the community in which he resides.
CHARLES W. SIMON, one of the firm of M. Simon's Sons, planing-mill operators and lumber dealers, was born in Allegheny city, Pa., in 1862. He is a son of Michael and Marie Simon. For many years his father conducted the planing mill and lumber yard at the corner of Anderson and Robinson streets, in Allegheny city, Pa. He died in 1898, and his wife followed him in 1902. Charles Simon was educated in the public schools of the third ward, and at the age of fifteen went into the planing mill with his father. Upon the death of his father he formed a partnership with his three brothers-Harry, William and John-to continue the business, which they have done successfully, holding all the old customers and bringing to their support a number of new ones. All four of the brothers are skilled in the business, and punctuality in the execution of orders is one of the firm's distinguishing characteris- tics. Charles W. Simon is, in the highest sense of the term, a public-spirited citizen. He is deeply interested in all movements tending to promote the general prosperity of the city, and is always willing to lend his aid toward insuring their success. He is a republican in politics, and is usually found in the campaign work- ing in behalf of his party candidates, but never at the expense of his private business. From 1889 to 1893 he was a member of the Allegheny city common council, and from 1897 to 1901 he repre- sented the first district in the Pennsylvania legislature. In both these positions his public duties were discharged with the same zeal and fidelity that has marked his course in his personal affairs. He was married, in 1882, to Miss Elizabeth R. Bolster, of Alle- gheny city, Pa., and seven children have been born to their union. They are: Ada E., Elsa A., Clara M. (deceased), Elmer H., Herbert R., Charles W., Jr., and Leslie F. Mr. Simon holds membership in but one fraternal organization. He belongs to Allegheny lodge, No. 339, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in which he is one of the influential members.
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EDWARD WEAVER BOLLMAN, a shearman in the Homestead steel works, is a son of Andrew J. and Lizzie W. (Weaver) Bollman, both natives of Penn- sylvania, but of German descent. Andrew Bollman is a wagon-maker by trade, and followed that occupation for many years. He is now residing at Freeport, Pa. Edward W. Bollman was born in Armstrong county, Pa., Jan. 26, 1861. He was reared in Armstrong and Butler counties, where he received the greater part of his education in the pub- lic schools. After leaving school, he served a three-year appren- ticeship in his father's wagon shop, learning the trade of wagon-maker. In IS8r he went to Homestead and entered the employ of the Homestead steel works as a common laborer. Two inonths later he was transferred to the machine shops, and from there to the rail mill. From 1885 to 1888 he was employed in the steel mills near Wheeling, W. Va. He returned to the Homestead works, however, and since 1893 he has held the position of shearman in what is known as the twenty-eight-inch mill. Upon his return from Wheeling, in April, 1888, he located at Whitaker, where he has ever since lived. On Christmas day, 1899, he was married to Miss Sylvia M., daughter of William H. and Mary J. (Venaman) Marple, of McMechen, W. Va. Mr. Bollman is a democrat in politics, and is a member of Tent No. 425, Knights of the Maccabees. ,
CHARLES O. DEVERTS, select councilman for the fifteenth ward of Allegheny city, Pa., was born in Allegheny city in the year 1864, and is the son of Frederick and Sophia Deverts. His early education was obtained in the public schools of the third ward, after which he attended a German private school for almost two years, there completing his education. On leaving school he entered the service of the wholesale millinery establishment of J. D. Bernd & Co. as an errand boy. He remained with this firm for twenty-four years, filling every position in the store. For a number of years Mr. Deverts has taken an active interest in polit- ical affairs, always acting with the republican party. He was for several years a member of the school board from his ward, and in June, 1902, he was elected by a unanimous vote to represent the
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ward in the select council, where he is the chairman of the com- mittee on public works and a member of the committees on finance and charities. Mr. Deverts is a prominent member of the Masonic and club life of Allegheny county, being a member of the Monon- gahela club of Pittsburg and the Union and Humboldt clubs of Allegheny city. He is a member and past master of Stuckrath lodge, No. 430, Free and Accepted Masons; Allegheny chapter, No. 217, Royal Arch Masons; Allegheny commandery, No. 35, Knights Templars; Pittsburg consistory, in which he holds the thirty-second degree, and Syria temple, Ancient and Accepted Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the Watson Presbyterian church. In 1890 Mr. Deverts and Miss Annie Gant, of Allegheny city, were made hus- band and wife, and one son, Carl, has been born to their marriage. In his long and successful career in business and politics, Mr. Deverts has made many friends, who speak of him in terms of high praise.
JAMES R. CONNOR, alderman from the seventh ward, Pittsburg, was born on a farm in Pine township, Allegheny county, Pa., Oct. 27, 1869, and lived there until 1879, attending the country schools. At that time his parents brought the boy to Pittsburg, and there he com- pleted his education in the schools on the South Side. When eighteen years old, he left school and was for the next three years clerk in the Pittsburg office of the Rock Island railroad company. Before his election to his present position, he was for several years agent for a fire extinguisher. He was elected alderman in February, 1900, defeating S. T. Richards, who had previously held the office for fifteen years. Very few people thought Mr. Connor would be elected at that time, for his oppo- hent's name was on three tickets, the republican, democratic and independent, while his own name appeared only in the citizens' column; but he won out by a safe majority after one of the most stubborn battles in the history of the ward. In the fulfillment of the duties of his office, Mr. Connor has won a host of friends by his affable and gentlemanly ways. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Episcopal church.
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JOHN GROETZINGER, alderman for the third ward of Pittsburg, has long been active in Pittsburg politics. He was constable for Allegheny county from 1885 to 1897, and has been alderman since then. He was elected a member of the common council from the third ward in 1890, was re-elected in 1892, 1894 and 1896, and then resigned to undertake the duties of his present position. Alderman Groetzinger was born in Pittsburg in 1850, was educated there, but left school at an early age to work in a grocery. From this he went into a printing office, then into a wagon shop, where he learned the blacksmiths' trade. He worked at this trade until 1870, then joined the Pittsburg volunteer fire department. When the pay fire department was organized he became driver of the hook and ladder company, holding this position until 1882, when he was promoted to captain of the company. On April 22, 1885, while a member of the fire department, he was caught in the third story of a burning building which fell before he could escape, and received at that time injuries which led him to retire from the service. He was then made constable. Alderman Groetzinger is a member of the B. P. O. Elks, A. O. U. W. and several other organizations, and belongs to the German Lutheran church. He was married, in 1871, to Sarah C. McKain, daughter of Samuel McKain. of Allegheny, and has two sons: Samuel C. G. and Thomas G. E. Alderman Groetzinger has been for over twenty years an important factor in local political movements, and the various positions to which he has been elected give evidence of the esteem in which he is held by the public.
JAMES H. REED, one of the leading attorneys of Pittsburg and a former partner of Attorney-General P. C. Knox, was born in Allegheny city, Pa., Sept. 10, 1853, and is a son of Dr. J. A. and Elizabeth H. Reed. He attended the public schools and then pursued his studies at the Western university, Pittsburg, gradu- ating from that institution in 1872. After graduation he studied law with his uncle, David Reed, a practitioner of considerable dis- tinction, was admitted to the bar in 1875, and in 1877 formed with P. C. Knox the partnership which lasted until 1901. As a member of this firm, Mr. Reed soon acquired a high reputation, especially
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in the pleading of large corporation cases. In 1891, when Judge Acheson was appointed to Judge McKennan's place on the bench of the circuit court, leaving the district bench vacant, Judge Reed was practically the unanimous choice of the Pittsburg bar for the posi- tion, and was appointed to the place by President Harrison. His health failing somewhat, he resigned his office on Jan. 15, 1892, and after a period of needed rest, returned to his old place in the firm of Knox & Reed. Judge Reed is a member of the Masonic order. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, of which he is a trustee.
LOUIS BEINHAUSER has been for over forty years a prominent funeral director of Pittsburg. He was born in Hamberg, Germany, Feb. 12, 1837, and came to America in May, 1854. After spending about five months in New York, he went to the coal region of Pennsylvania, where he was engaged for a time as a journeyman cabinet-maker. Hecame to Pittsburg in 1858, and in 1860 went into the undertaking business, in which he has been successfully engaged since that time. Although he has never taken an active interest in politics, he holds in political matters to the tenets of the republican party. Mr. Beinhauser is a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W., and in religious belief is a Lutheran. He is a man whose life has been one of long and use- ful service, unstained by corruption, and he enjoys the confidence of a host of friends. Mr. Beinhauser was married, in 1858, and has three children : Conrad F., Anna and Lulu.
WILLIAM LANG, a member of the board of aldermen of Alle- gheny city, Pa., is a native of that city, where he was born in February, 1852. As a boy he lived with his parents, John H. and Caroline Lang, in the fourth ward, where he attended the public schools. After leaving the old fourth ward school, he took a course at the Iron City commercial college, and for about a year worked with his father at the trade of tinsmith. He then learned the trade of iron-molder and went west, stopping first at Chicago. Not liking it there, he went to Milwaukee, Wis., where for four years he was in the foundry of E. B. Ellis. He returned to Allegheny
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city, and in 1886 was appointed letter-carrier. His next position was that of market constable at the city market, where he remained for ten years, to the entire satisfaction of the city officials and the patrons of the market. At the expiration of his ten years of service as market constable he was elected alderman on the republican ticket, having always affiliated with that party and taken an active part in its operations as a political organization. His offices are at No. 406 Ohio St. In 1881 he was married to Miss Emma Schatzman, of Canton, Ohio, and one son has been born to the union. Mr. Lang was one of the charter members of Alle- gheny lodge, No. 339, B. P. O. Elks, and still holds his member- ship in the lodge he helped to organize. He is also a member of Providence Presbyterian church.
NICHOLAS G. KLAUS, councilman for the borough of East Pittsburg, was born in Baldwin township, Allegheny county, Nov. 7, 1867. His parents, John and Mary Klaus, were born in Germany and emigrated to the United States. Nicholas Klaus was educated in the public schools, and worked for a time as a coal- miner in the Turtle creek valley, but has been for the past fifteen years successfully engaged in the hotel business in East Pittsburg. In politics he is a democrat, prominent in local party affairs and has been councilman for about a year. Mr. Klaus was married July 21, 1889, to Mary E., daughter of Peter and Helen (McDonald) Cusac. The Cusacs are a prominent old family of Pittsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Klaus have had nine children, of whom six are living, viz. : Helen, Clarence, Harry, Mildred, William and Gertrude.
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