USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume I > Part 38
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JAMES G. HARPER, alderman of the fifteenth ward of Alle- gheny city, Pa., was born in Allegheny city, Oct. 11, 1855, and is a son of Thomas and Mary C. Harper, the former of whom died in 1902. James obtained his primary education in the public school of the sixth ward. He then took a classical course in a private institution and became associated with his father in the manu- facture of wagons and carriages, continuing in that business until he was twenty-five years of age. Upon leaving the wagon-works, he was for two years associated with Painter & Sons as a mill-
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wright in the rolling mills, but left this position to become an engineer for Oliver Bros. After two years with this firm, he entered the employ of Trimble Bros., in a planing mill, and while in the mill he had the misfortune to lose an arm in the machinery. This accident compelled him to seek some other line of employ- ment, and for nine years he was in the county court-house in vari- ous clerical positions. He was next for four years in the United States internal revenue service under Collectors S. D. Wormcastle and George A. Miller. On the last day of April, 1900, he was appointed alderman, and after serving one year on this appoint- ment he was elected for a term of five years. Mr. Harper was married, in 1880, to Miss Jane McCoubrie, of Allegheny city, Pa., and three children-Bessie, Martin and Jean-have been born to them. He is an unswerving republican, and his face is a familiar one at the meetings of that party, especially in the fifteenth ward, where he resides. He and his family attend the United Presby- terian church.
JOHN I. WALLACE, of Pittsburg, Pa., for many years a highly successful farmer of Allegheny county, but now retired from active life, was born in Bald- win township, Allegheny Co., Pa., Jan. 8, 1845, his birthplace being the old family homestead of his grandfather and now owned by the subject of this review. His paternal grandparents were Samuel and Mary (Barton) Wallace, natives of County Antrim, Ireland, and of the same general family as Sir William Wallace, the Scot- tish hero. James Wallace, their son and the father of John I. Wallace, was born on the old homestead in Baldwin township, Jan. 1, 1806, and spent his entire life on the farm where he first saw the light of day, enjoying excellent health and a halcyon existence until his death, Sept. 14, 1894, at the ripe old age of eighty-eight years. James Wallace was married, on Sept. 15, 1838, to Jane, daughter of John Irwin, one of the early settlers of the state, who had many thrilling experiences with the Indians while blazing the way for civilization, on two occasions being compelled to abandon his settlement and retreat to the sheltering walls of the towns of the coast region. Jane (Irwin) Wallace was born on Aug. 29, 1810, and lived to be almost eighty-
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eight years of age, her death occurring on April 19, 1898. She was the mother of three children, viz .: Samuel, John I. and Elizabeth. John I. Wallace devoted liis entire business career to conducting the farm on which he was born, and by dint of energy and faithful adherence to duty, succeeded in increasing the old homestead by a considerable number of acres, and amply demon- strated that he was a thorough and conservative business man. Early in life he formed those fine habits and traits which composed his splendid character and which made him honored and estecmed by all with whom he came in contact. The operation of the golden rule was manifested in his daily life, while the beatitudes of the sermon on the mount were constantly exemplified by his dealings with his fellow-men, and his whole life has indeed been a beautiful one. Mr. Wallace continued to live on his farm until a few years ago, when he removed to Pittsburg, and has since resided in that city. His chief object in making this change was to give his chil- dren the advantages of the superior school facilities for which the metropolis of western Pennsylvania is justly famous. He was mar- ricd, on Oct. 5, 1869, to Jane Mary Rath, a most excellent woman, who was born on Sept. 11, 1852, and after a happy married life of above twenty-seven years, died on Jan. 27, 1897, leaving the fol- lowing children, viz. : James Harvey, Lillie Bell, Melvin E., John Duff, Rachel Agnes and Ethel Marie. Mr. Wallace is now living quietly at his city residence and is reaping the benefits and rewards that come to those who live correct and worthy lives, and who do their full duty to themselves and their fellow-men.
HENRY LOHREY, a well-known pork-packer and member of the school board of Allegheny city, Pa., is one of the substantial and progressive business men of the city. He was born at Cincin- nati, Ohio, in 1855, and was educated in the public schools. Later the family removed to a farm near the city, where his father, Henry Lohrey, died in 1873. After the death of his father he continued to manage the farm for his mother until he was about twenty-four years of age, when he returned to Cincinnati and was employed by his brother as city salesman in the meat business. During the nine years that he was thus employed he learned the packing business in all its details, and in 1887 went into that occupation for himself, selecting Allegheny city as a location. Mr. Lohrey was the first to introduce boiled hams as an article of commerce in Allegheny city. For about three years he made a specialty of this line of meats, which became so popular that other dealers took it up, and
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he was forced to carry on a general meat-packing trade to protect himself. He established his packing-house at No. 2234 East St., and soon had a capacity of 250 hogs weekly, and could now, with his present capacity, handle 1,000 per week. Since that time he has held his own against all his competitors, and to-day enjoys a patronage second to none in the city. He was married, in 1881, to Miss Barbara Fichter, of Cincinnati, and to them five children have been born, three of whom are living: Charles H., Joseph E. and Walter G. Mr. Lohrey takes a wide-awake interest in all matters pertaining to local government, as well as general politics, and is considered one of the leading republicans in the tenth ward, where he resides. For the last eight years he has represented his ward on the school board, where he has fully demonstrated that he is the right man for such a position. He is a member of the Ger- man Lutheran church, and is regarded as one of the representative men of Allegheny city.
ISAAC A. LEVY, who was elected in February, 1902, for a five-year term to succeed John Cahill as alderman from the eighth ward, Pittsburg, was born in Russia in 1863. He came to Pittsburg in 1874 with his mother, the father having come over about nine months before. In Pittsburg Mr. Levy worked for a time at various occupations, and then went to Leetonia, Ohio, where he acted for three years as bookkeeper and clerk for Julius Skiroll. Returning to Pittsburg, he was employed for a time as traveling salesman for the wholesale dry goods firm of H. Oppenheim, and later served in the same capacity for the now extinct firm of Rosenthal, Aronson & Co. In 1890 he formed a partnership with Samuel Gusky in the wholesale notion business, under the name of Gusky & Levy, Mr. Levy representing the firm on the road. Giving up this business in 1892, he opened a commission house, engaged in this business until 1896, and then was for three years employed in the office of Sheriff Harvey Lowry. After this he went into the life insurance business, and was thus engaged when elected to his present position. Mr. Levy is a prominent member of various secret orders. He is a member of Montefiore lodge, No. 794, and Encampment No. 307, I. O. O. F. He represented his lodge for
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ten years, was nine years its secretary, and served a year, begin- ning March, 1899, as deputy grand master of Pittsburg. He has been no less prominent in the encampment. and represented his encampment for several years in the grand encampment. Mr. Levy organized Benner lodge, No. 399, Knights of Pythias; was elected past chancellor of the organization, and represented the chapter in the grand lodge for several years. He also served three years as grand trustee of the grand lodge of Knights of Pythias, and had the distinction of being the first man outside of Philadel- phia ever elected to this position. He assisted in organizing the White Star company, No. 16, uniform rank, Knights of Pythias, and is its present captain. In politics Mr. Levy is an ardent and hard- working republican, and is the present chairman of his ward.
JOSEPH MITCHELL, Jr., alderman of the seventeenth ward of the city of Pittsburg, was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1841. His father, also named Joseph, was a native of the same county, and in 1846 both father and son came to America, landing in New York in March of that year. The family came directly to Pittsburg, settled in the ninth ward, where they lived for about eighteen years, and then moved to the twelfth ward. Joseph, Jr., attended the public schools of the ninth ward, and afterwards took a course in bookkeeping at Duff's business college. His first position was with W. H. McClurg, a grocer, whose place of business was at the corner of Sixth and Wood streets. He remained with Mr. McClurg about one and a half years, when he became bookkeeper for W. & P. Siebert, grocers, on the corner of Penn and Market streets. After three years with this firm he entered the employ of Gillespie & Mitchell as bookkeeper for their planing mill and lum- ber yard, and in 1861 entered the retail grocery line for himself, locating in the seventeenth ward, where he was in business for about five years. In 1872' he was elected alderman of the seven- teenth ward and served for four years. In 1876 he was elected to the Pennsylvania legislature, and was re-elected in 1878, serving four years in all. He was then appointed state tax collector by the Allegheny county commissioners and served five years in that capacity. Since 1883 Mr. Mitchell has been engaged in the real estate business, and, as stated in the beginning, he is at the present time alderman for the seventeenth ward, having his offices at the corner of Forty-second and Butler streets. Mr. Mitchell has traveled extensively through the central and western states, and in 1863 he returned to Ireland, visiting the old farm near Belfast
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where he was born. He is a member of Excelsior lodge, No. 36, Ancient Order of United Workmen; Sheaf lodge, No. 732, Knights of Honor, and is prominent in the Masonic order, being a thirty- second degree Mason and a member of Syria temple, Ancient and Accepted Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Seventh United Presbyterian church, located on Forty-fourth street, Pittsburg. In 1865 he was married to Miss Adelaide V. McKee, and to this marriage there have been born five children : H. W., a lawyer in Pittsburg; D. E., a clerk in Heyl & Patterson's machine shops; J. C., a roll turner : Frank, a clerk, and B. C., clerk in a bank. All the boys have been properly reared and educated, and, like their father, they are all leading lives of activity and usefulness.
JOHN BATTLES, superintendent of the bureau of highways and sewers, Pitts- burg, was born in Mount Savage, Alle- gany Co., Md., in 1853. He came to Pittsburg with his parents in 1860, and was there reared and educated in the public schools. When sixteen years old, he left school and went to work in a glass factory. Later he was employed in a rolling mill, and continued in the mill for many years, leaving it for good in 1892, after attaining the position of roller. Mr. Battles became in that year assistant superintendent of highways and sewers, and served in that capacity until July, 1900, when he was given the deserved appointment as superintendent of the bureau. On June 30, 1901, he was thrown out of office by the provisions of the Ripper bill, but was reap- pointed on December Ist of that year by Recorder J. O. Brown.
CHARLES P. BERNHARD, member of the common council from the third ward of Allegheny city, Pa., was born in that ward in 1860, and received his first education in the public schools there, completing the course of study when he was thirteen years of age. He took a complete course in the Iron City business college, and ever since leaving school has been associated with his father, John Bernhard, in the furniture business at No. 114 East Ohio St., Alle- gheny city. £ His mother, Margaret Bernhard, died in 1902. Charles Bernhard is a member of several fraternal and benevolent
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societies, belonging to Darling council, No. 888, Royal Arcanum; Twin City council, No. 121, Junior Order of United American Mechanics; North Side council, No. 8, Sovereigns of Industry, and Allegheny lodge, No. 339, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. For twenty-five years he has been a member of the Alle- gheny city gymnastic club, and is also a member of the Allegheny Jacksonian club. In political matters, locally at least, he is some- what independent, frequently acting without regard to party affilia- tions. This independence does not appear to have injured his political influence, however, for in February, 1903, he was elected to represent his ward in the council. On all matters relating to national politics he acts with the republican party. As a member of the council he was appointed on the finance and charity com- mittees, both of which are committees of considerable importance. In 1890 he was married to Miss Louise Musgrave, of Allegheny city. To this marriage two children have been born : Elmer and Edward G. Bernhard, both bright boys, and the joy and pride of their parents.
JAMES P. MURPHY, assistant smoke inspector of Pittsburg, is a native of that city. He was born in 1869, and attended the common schools and night school until his eighteenth year, when he gave up his studies to accept a position in a rolling mill, where he remained for sev- eral years, and became assistant roller. He left the employ of the company in a strike in 1897 and never returned to work. In August, 1898, Recorder E. M. Bigelow appointed Mr. Murphy to the office which he now holds. He was dis- charged, Aug. 10, 1901, by the provisions of the famous Ripper bill, and was reappointed in December, 1901, by Dr. J. Guy McCandless, director of the department of public works. He was employed from September Ist until the time of his reappointment, in the county commissioner's office, as inspector of county roads. Mr. Murphy is one of the prominent young men of Pittsburg, well and favorably known in the city, and is a man of whom much may be expected. He is chairman of the republican committee of the thirty-fifth ward. He is a member of the Catholic church, belongs to the Americus club, and is president of the. Oneida social club.
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PHILIP DEMMEL, superintendent of detectives, of Pittsburg, was born in Germany in 1844. In 1856 he came to America with his parents, locating at Coal Hill (now Mount Washington), thirty- second ward, Pittsburg, and received a limited education in the public schools. At an early age he went to work in a glass fac- tory, and when thirteen years old started to learn the lithographic printing trade in Pittsburg, and continued at this work until the outbreak of the Civil war. Although only seventeen years old, Mr. Demmel enlisted to fight for his country, and served with dis- tinction throughout the war. His record during these troubled times is a most interesting one, and one of which any soldier might well be proud. He enlisted on July 10, 1861, as a private in Com- pany L, 62d Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, for a three-year term of service. Six months before the expiration of this term he re-enlisted as a veteran and served until the close of the war, being transferred at the end of his first term to Company K, 9Ist Penn- sylvania volunteer infantry. He was mustered out at Camp Cadwallader, at Philadelphia, in August, 1865, after having par- ticipated in the grand review at Washington, D. C. During the war he fought in the following engagements: Siege of Yorktown, second Bull Run, second Cold Harbor, Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill, Frayser's farm, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Chancel- lorsville, Spottsylvania Court House, Willow farm, North and South Anna river, siege of Petersburg, the Wilderness, and in all the fights in which his regiment took part. Mr. Demmel was slightly . wounded in the Wilderness and on several other occasions, and was wounded at Gettysburg. He spent about six weeks in the hospital at Germantown, but was in active service during almost all of his long period as a soldier. Returning to Pittsburg after the war, he worked at lithographic printing until 1868. At that time he was elected high constable of the borough of Birmingham and served as such until 1872, when the borough was made a part of Pitts- burg, and Mr. Demmel was transferred to the Pittsburg police force and made lieutenant of police. Soon afterwards he resigned and was made market constable, serving in this capacity two years, and was then, in 1875, appointed detective by Mayor William C. McCarthy. In 1877 Mr. Demmel was made chief of police and served one year, and then returned to the detective force. In June, 1879, he resigned his position and became a private detective in the employ of Jones & Laughlin (American iron works), and served this firm for ten years. Returning to the detective force, he served on the Pittsburg force until September, 1901, when he
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was appointed inspector of police. After two weeks as inspector, Mr. Demmel was appointed to the two-fold position of superintend- ent of police and chief of detectives, and in January, 1902, he received his present position. Mr. Demmel's long service for the city has been a most creditable one, and he is a man in every way fitted for his present responsible office.
ROBERT H. LINDSAY, general ordinance officer, Pittsburg, was born in the first ward, Pittsburg, June 11, 1851. He attended the Pittsburg public schools, graduating from the Pittsburg high school in 1869, and then supplemented his education by two years of study at the Western university. He then entered the public service as clerk in the office of the county commissioners, remaining in this position until 1876. In 1877 he be- came clerk in the city assessor's office, and continued to serve in this capacity until 1897, when his present office was created. Mr. Lindsay was first appointed to fill this office, for which his long experience had fitted him, by Mayor H. P. Ford, and was afterwards reappointed by Mayor William J. Diehl, and Recorders A. M. Brown and J. O. Brown. Mr. Lindsay is a member of the Heptasophs and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian.
WILLIAM T. MARSHALL, attorney in Pittsburg, was born in Allegheny city, Pa., in 1858. He received his early education in the schools of his native city, and afterwards attended the Western university at Pittsburg. Leaving school at the age of nineteen, he was employed for a time in his brother's grocery in Allegheny city, and then studied law in the office of Hon. T. M. Boyne. In 1881 he was appointed deputy collector of customs at Pittsburg, serving in this capacity until 1885, when he became con- nected with the People's gas company, with which company he is still actively identified. Mr. Marshall has long been prominent in state politics and has always been an ardent republican. In 1887 he was a delegate to the republican state convention. He was a member of the Pennsylvania house of representatives from 1889 to 1901, and served as speaker of the house in 1901. His public career has been an honorable one, stained by no hint of political
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corruption. Says a friend in speaking of Mr. Marshall : "He was one of the most influential members of the Pennsylvania legisla- ture. He was for some time chairman of the appropriations com- mittee, and thus secured large sums for Allegheny county institutions, and he has never had a thing brought up against his character, either in public or private life." Mr. Marshall belongs to no secret order. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
FRANK C. PEARSON, chief clerk to the director of the department of chari- ties and corrections of Pittsburg, was born in the seventeenth ward of that city in 1871. His parents moved to Homewood, Beaver Co., Pa., in 1879, and Mr. Pear- son attended the public schools there until he reached the age of fourteen, when his parents removed to Ingram, Allegheny county, and he completed his education in Pittsburg, graduating from Duff's business college in 1889. He then became chief clerk to the superintendent of the city farm, which was at that time located at Homestead, and in- 1892 was transferred to the city office of the department of charities and corrections. He spent seven years as cashier of that department, and then became chief clerk to the director of the department. Mr. Pearson is a director of the Cash building and loan association of Pittsburg. He is an enthusiastic Mason, has attained the thirty-second degree, and is a Shriner. He is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church. In politics Mr. Pearson is a republican, and takes an active and important part in party affairs.
HUMPHREY LYNCH, alderman of the ninth ward of Alle- gheny city, Pa., first saw the light of day in County Cork, Ireland, in 1844. His parents were Michael and Johanna Lynch, both of whom are now deceased. Humphrey was educated at the Christian Brothers' school at Cork, after which he learned the shoemakers' trade and worked at it until 1880, when he came to the United States. He took up his residence in the ninth ward of Allegheny city, though for about five years after coming to this country he operated a shoe store in Pittsburg. In 1885 he opened a shoe store in Allegheny city, on Preble avenue, and conducted it until 1897.
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He was elected school director in 1895 for a term of three years, and in 1897 he was elected alderman of the ninth ward, which posi- tion he still holds, his office being located at No. 654 Preble Ave. Before leaving his native land lie was married, in 1874, to Miss Nora Crowley, of Cork, and the following children have been born to them: Michael, Joseph, Murray, Nora, Jeremiah, James and Margaret. Mr. Lynch is a sterling democrat, and he is looked upon as one of the leaders of that party in the ninth ward. He and his family are members and constant attendants at St. Andrew's Roman Catholic church.
GEORGE W. WILSON, director of the department of charities and correc- tions of Pittsburg, was born in Pittsburg in 1846, and was reared there, attending first the public schools and then the Western university, from which he gradu- ated. Upon graduation he became a clerk in the wholesale grocery of his father, John Wilson, and in 1869 was made a member of the firm, which was thenceforth known as John Wilson & Son. John Wilson died in 1895, and the son sold out the business and spent three years in closing up the estate. Mr. Wilson has been long before the public eye and lias held many public positions of trust and responsibility. In April, 1898, he was appointed assistant post- master of Pittsburg, served in this capacity until Feb. 1, 1900, when he was elected director of the department of public charities. This place he resigned in June, 1900, was for a year director of the department of public works, resigning June 11, 1901, and on Nov. 26, 1901, was appointed to his present responsible position by Hon. J. O. Brown. Besides these offices, Mr. Wilson was fire commissioner of Pittsburg from 1868 to 1877, member of the com- mon council from the twenty-second ward from 1888 to 1898, and for three years chairman of the committee of public works. He was also formerly for eight years school director, being a member of the central board of education. Mr. Wilson is a thirty-second degree Mason, a Shriner and Knight Templar, and belongs to the First Methodist Episcopal church, in which he holds the honorary position of trustee.
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WILLIAM R. BROWNE, superintendent of surveys, Pitts- burg, has been for many years a prominent engineer. A native of Greensburg, Pa., he has lived almost all his life in Pittsburg, where he attended school and received a good education. He began to study engineering in his youth and has followed this vocation ever since. Mr. Browne was appointed to his present position in 1882, and has fulfilled the duties of that office satisfactorily for over twenty years. In religious belief he is a United Presbyterian.
WILLIAM W. MURRAY, county commissioner of Allegheny county, was born on a farm in Washington county, Pa., Oct. 14, 1856. His parents moved to Allegheny county the following year, and there Mr. Murray was reared and received his education. In 1882 he came to Pittsburg as a clerk in the office of the county commissioner, and served in that capacity for fifteen years. In April, 1897, he was elected superintendent of the county poor farm, but served only three weeks, being then appointed county commissioner to fill a vacancy. In 1899 he was elected to the same office for a three-year term. Besides holding these positions, Mr. Murray was for twelve years a member of the Knoxville, Pa., council, and served one year as burgess, resigning at the end of that time. He also served three years as justice of the peace. Mr. Murray has business as well as political interests, being a director of the Chartiers Valley water company and the Bridgeville lumber and supply company. He is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, the Heptasophs and the Knights of the Golden Eagle. In religious belief lie is a Presbyterian.
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