USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume I > Part 4
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
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suspension bridge at the end of Smithfield street. Before the work had progressed very far, the ownership changed, and plans were adopted under which the present Smithfield street bridge was con- structed by Mr. Lindenthal. Mr. Davis was retained as an assist- ant engineer on this work for some time. In 1881 he was made county engineer of Allegheny county, and has held this responsible position ever since. During his long career Mr. Davis has gained many honors. He has been breveted first lieutenant and captain of the United States volunteers, was made commissioner to the Vienna exposition in 1873, under appointment by President Grant, and, in 1887, was given the degree of A. M. by Washington and Jefferson college. He is a member of the American society of civil engineers and the Engineers' society of western Pennsylvania, and the Pittsburg academy of science and art. He is also prominent among the veterans of the Civil war, is a member of the Loyal Legion; Post No. 1, Union Veteran legion, and Post No. 88, G. A. R. He is a Knight Templar in Masonry, a republican in politics, and a Presbyterian in religion, being a member of the North Presby- terian church of Allegheny city.
J. GUY MCCANDLESS, director of the department of public works, Pitts- burg, and one of the oldest and most prominent physicians of the city of Pitts- burg, was born in Ferryville, Allegheny county, Jan. 1, 1839. He is descended on both his father's and mother's side from early settlers of Allegheny county. His great-grandfather, William McCand- less, came to America in a very early day, and died in Washington county, Pa. William's son, Archibald, born in Alle- gheny county in 1756, was for half a cen- tury elder in the Presbyterian church. Alexander G. McCandless, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Allegheny county, Jan. 15, 1816, being one of the thirteen children of Archibald McCandless. He was for many years a practicing physician in Pittsburg, and died Feb. 24, 1875. His wife, Margaret A. (Guy) McCandless, whom he married on Feb. 15, 1838, was descended from settlers who came to Allegheny county in the old days when the Indians infested the district. Dr. J. Guy McCandless received a common-school education in Pittsburg, attended the Cleveland
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medical college a year and was graduated from the Jefferson medical college in 1863. He also taught school for a time. Dr. McCandless served three years in the Civil war, enlisting as assistant surgeon of the 52d Pennsylvania volunteer infantry. He was afterwards made surgeon in charge of the Cotton Factory hospital at Harris- burg, and lived there until the close of the war, ranking as major. During his service he was under fire in the Peninsular campaign, at Fair Oaks, the Wilderness and Yorktown. Returning after the war to Pittsburg, he has since successfully engaged in the practice of medicine there. He has also a long and creditable career in the public service, and has taken great interest in republican politics. Dr. McCandless has served on the school board as member and also as president of the Franklin board, and has represented his ward in both the common and select councils of Pittsburg, acting as president of each. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the G. A. R., and was formerly, for fourteen years, surgeon of the 14th regiment, Pennsylvania national guard. He is a prom- inent member of the Sixth Presbyterian church, of which he has been an elder since 1875. Dr. McCandless has been twice married. By his first marriage, to Emma Jones, he has one son, Guy, now engaged in the men's furnishing business. In 1876 he married Margaret E. Cluley, daughter of John F. Cluley, and has by this union three children, Walter C., Ida May and Alexander Wilson.
ANTON LUTZ, of the firm of D. Lutz & Son brewing company, brewers, of Allegheny city, was born in Pittsburg, Pa., in 1853. He was reared in Alle- gheny city and attended school there, afterwards pursuing his studies in the classical school in Pittsburg, taught by Professor Hoontz. When seventeen years old, he left school and entered his father's brewery in Allegheny city, and has been, since 1879, a member of the firm. The D. Lutz & Son brewery is an old and well-established concern and is doing a flourishing business. Mr. Lutz was a school director from 1881 to 1891. He was for many years interested in the Third National bank, and is now director of the Allegheny trust com- pany. He is a member of the B. P. O. E. In religious belief Mr. Lutz is a Catholic.
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WILLIAM I. MUSTIN, a prominent Pittsburg business man and former presi- dent of the Pittsburg stock exchange, comes from a long line of distinguished ancestors. On his father's side he is descended from French Huguenots, who were forced by religious persecution to emigrate to England, where the family name was changed from Moustain to the present forin of spelling. The great- grandfather of the subject of this sketch and the first of the family to emigrate to America, became a merchant in Philadel- phia, and his son, Anthony Mustin, was the first to establish in Philadelphia what is known as a "trimming store." James G. Mustin, son of Anthony and father of William I., was a native of Philadelphia, and for some years engaged there in the trimming business. He came to Pittsburg in 1840, became connected with the Logan-Gragg hardware company, and continued in the hard- ware business until his death, which occurred in March, 1864. His wife, Frances (Irwin) Mustin, died in Pittsburg, Feb. 24, 1897. She was a granddaughter of John Irwin, who was born in Ireland, and came to America in 1772, residing for a number of years in "Carlisle, Pa., and then, in 1790, came to the village of Pittsburg. Here he opened the first dry-goods store, located at the corner of Fourth and Market streets, and continued in that business up to the time of his death, which occurred in April, 1830. A son of John Irwin, William Wallace, grandfather of William I. Mustin, was for many years prominent in Pittsburg politics, at first as a whig and later as a democrat. He was a member of congress, mayor of Pittsburg in 1839, and, by appointment of President Tyler, served as United States minister to Denmark. He died in Pittsburg, in September, 1856. William I. Mustin, the subject of this article, was one of five children, of whom two besides himself are living: Caroline Denny, wife of George W. Nicholson, of Pitts- burg, and Edwin T., a commercial traveler. Mr. Mustin was born in Pittsburg, June 8, 1860, and was educated at home, under the direction of his mother. He began to learn the printers' trade at an early age, and, on Oct. 9, 1871, entered the employ of George B. Hill. In 1881 he was admitted to partnership, which relationship continued until Mr. Hill died, in 1900. In political belief he is an ardent republican, and has long been a prominent factor in Pitts-
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burg politics. He was, from 1898 to 1902, a member of the select council of Pittsburg; councilmanic trustee of the Carnegie library and Carnegie institute from April, 1900, to April, 1902; president of the Americus club from 1894 to 1898; has been vice-president of the Mozart club since 1890; served five years as president of the stock exchange, and it is largely by his efforts that the exchange owns and occupies its present building. He is past eminent com- mander of Tancred commandery, No. 48, Knights Templars, and a member of the Mystic Shrine, and belongs to the following clubs: Monongahela, Duquesne, Americus, Masonic country, Browning and Fishing, all of Pittsburg. He is a member of the Art society, and is a patron of the Pittsburg orchestra. He also belongs to the Manufacturers' club, of Philadelphia, and the New York athletic club, of New York. On April 12, 1883, Mr. Mustin mar- ried Miss Sarah Isabel Dorrington, daughter of John and Sarah Dorrington, and has three children, Burton Hill, Eleanor Dorrington and Agnes Mahon.
DAVID J. McGAREY, police magis- trate and alderman from the twenty-sixth ward, Pittsburg, is a well-known and prominent politician. He was born in Pittsburg, Aug. 16, 1859, reared there and educated in the public schools. In 1872 he left school and went to work in the tack factory of Chess, Cook & Co., and remained for seventeen years in the employ of this firm. He has been for many years prominent in public life, as alderman and police magistrate. Judge McGarey was elected alderman from the twenty-sixth ward in 1889, and has been three times re-elected. His career as a police magistrate began in 1896. He was appointed to this position by Mayor H. P. Ford and Mayor W. J. Diehl, reappointed by Recorder A. M. Brown, and, after the latter's removal, by Recorder J. O. Brown. Judge McGarey is a member of the I. O. O. F., Jr. Order of United American Mechanics, Birming- ham Turnverein, Odd Fellows, Leider Tafel and the Lotus club. Judge McGarey is now engaged in the mantel and tile business at No. 1211 Carson St., as the president of the Central mantel and tile company. He is also secretary of the Central brick company, of Pittsburg, Pa.
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MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
THOMAS FORDING, superintendent of the bureau of water assessment, of Pittsburg, was born in what is now Pitts- burg, and has spent most of his life within the present city limits. He was born in 1841, and taken, in infancy, by his par- ents to what was then called Elliott's Delight, later Temperanceville, and now thirty-sixth ward, Pittsburg. Here Mr. Fording was reared and given a limited education. His father was killed by a boiler explosion, so the boy left school at ten years of age, and was employed first for a year in an ax factory, and then in a nail factory. In August, 1862, he enlisted to fight for his country in the Civil war, as a private in Battery E, Mississippi marine brigade, light artillery, where he served with distinction throughout the war. After the engagement at Vicksburg, he was promoted for bravery in battle to the position of first duty sergeant, in accordance with the fol- lowing order issued by Capt. D. P. Walling, commanding the battery :
VICKSBURG, MISS., Headquarters Light Battery, M. M. B., July 22, 1863.
Copy
Battery Order, No. 5.
Promotion-Corporal Thomas Fording to be sergeant for gal- lantry in action on De Soto Point, opposite Vicksburg, June 21st and 22nd, 1863, vice James A. Nevin, dead .- To rank from July Ist, 1863.
D. P. WALLING, Capt. Com'g Battery, M. M B.
Mr. Fording served in this capacity until February, 1865, when he was mustered out at Vicksburg. During the war, he fought in the Red river campaign, on the Black river, at Vicksburg and in many minor engagements. The war over, he returned to Pitts- burg and resumed his work in the nail factory. In 1867 he went to Wheeling, W. Va., where he worked about two years. Return- ing to Pittsburg, he worked in the nail factory again until 1873, when he was appointed inspector of the board of health. He served in this capacity until 1878, and then the council elected him street commissioner. This position Mr. Fording filled most credit- ably for fifteen years, the title being changed, in 1888, to assistant superintendent of streets. In 1893 he was appointed to his present office, where he has made an enviable record as an able and faith-
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ful public servant. Mr. Fording is a member of Garfield post, No. 215, G. A. R., of which he was commander for five consecutive years, 1895 to 1900. He is at present treasurer of the G. A. R. association of Allegheny county. He is a member of the Knights Templars and Mystic Shrine and the Jr. O. U. A. M., and has been for the past twenty-one years treasurer of St. Clair lodge, No. 362, I. O. O. F. Mr. Fording is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
G. WASH MOORE, superintendent of the bureau of city property, Pittsburg, was born in Pittsburg in 1847, and there reared and educated in the common schools. When twelve years old, he left school and spent two years working in a machine shop, and then learned the car- penters' trade. In 1868 he began a long and eventful career in the public service, as hose-man in the volunteer fire depart- ment of Lawrenceville. This suburb was made a part of Pittsburg the same year, and, in 1870, Mr. Moore became hose-man in the Pittsburg fire department. After about five years' service in this capacity he was promoted to the position of captain, and acted as such for about twelve years. In 1885 he was elected member of the State legislature from the fourth, now the fifth, district and, in 1887, was re-elected. Between his terms in the legislature he was elected assistant chief engineer of the Pitts- burg fire department and served about a year. After his second term in the legislature, Mr. Moore filled the position of sanitary officer in the bureau of health, and, in 1893, was appointed wharf- master, but resigned thirty days later to accept the position of superintendent of the bureau of city property. In 1901 he was thrown out of office by the Ripper bill, but was reinstated five months later by Recorder J. O. Brown. Mr. Moore has been con- nected with the city service for thirty-three years, excepting the two years in the State legislature, and has an enviable record for faithful and efficient service. At present he is superintendent of the bureau of health, his appointment dating April 1, 1903. He is a member of the Knights of Honor, and in religious belief is a Methodist.
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CHARLES A. MUEHLBRONNER, the leading produce merchant of Pitts- burg, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., May 10, 1857. His parents moved, when Mr. Muehlbronner was a baby, to La Grange, Ohio, thence to Richmond, Ky , and afterwards, in 1865, came to Pitts- burg, where their son attended the public schools until his fifteenth year. At this time he started to learn painting, and was thus engaged for about eighteen months, afterwards spending four years as a clerk in a grocery in Allegheny city. He went to San Francisco, remaining there as a painter for about a year and a half, and then returned to Allegheny city, where he sold grocers' supplies for two and a half years. He then started a poultry business in Pittsburg, later adding vegetables to his stock, and from this humble beginning he has built up the Iron City pro- duce company, now the largest house of its kind in Pittsburg, occupying a large four-story building at No. 623 Liberty Ave., and handling about $600,000 worth of produce annually. This immense business is carried on entirely by correspondence, no traveling salesmen being employed, yet the better class of trade send in orders by mail, knowing that they will receive prompt and careful attention. Over 21,000 carloads of produce were handled by the firm in 1902, besides a large amount that was received and shipped by boat, the river trade being an important factor in the growing business of the company. In all his dealings Mr.
Muehlbronner has been fair and honorable, and he has an enviable reputation for unimpeachable integrity in his business life. Besides his vast produce interests, he is a director in the Western savings and deposit bank, a director in the German National bank of Pittsburg and the Central savings and trust company and a stockholder in the German-American savings and trust company. His political career has been such as reflects great credit upon him- self. For three years he was tax collector for the seventh ward of Allegheny city, and while serving in this capacity, he was elected to the school board and afterwards to the common council, so that at the same time he held three public offices, discharging the duties of each with great care and fidelity. His ability and attention to the public welfare won him a re-election to the common council, and then a place in the select council. While serving in the latter
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body, he was elected to the State legislature, in 1890, and he there- fore resigned his seat in the council after serving two years. He served four terms of two years each in the legislature, and, in 1898, was elected to the State senate for a four-year term. In all this long political service he has ever had the welfare of his constituents at heart, and his political opponents have never been able to attack his standing or character. Mr. Muehlbronner is prominent in the social life of Pittsburg, being a member of the Teutonia and the Turners, as well as other social organizations He is a thirty- second degree Mason, and a noble of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the B. P. O. Elks, and several other fraternal orders, and is a contributing member to the German Lutheran church.
THOMAS PERRY, superintendent of the bureau of public lighting, Pittsburg, has for years been prominent in republi- can politics, and has held many positions of responsibility in the public service. He was born in Pittsburg, in 1858, and there reared and educated, attending the public schools and later the Western university, where he studied for four years. He left the university in June, 1877, and, in 1879, entered the office of the county sheriff as clerk, under Sheriff Thomas H. Hunter, remaining there three years. After this he was clerk in the county treasurer's office for two years, and for two and a half years clerk in the post- office. In 1885 Mr. Perry went into the grocery business, was engaged in this business for three years, and again returning to the postoffice, served as clerk for two and a half years longer. In 1893 lie resigned this position to accept the office of wharfmaster, being employed in this capacity for seven years. In July, 1900, he was appointed to his present position, and was deposed, June 1, 1901, by Recorder E. M. Bigelow. He was then employed for six months in the office of the county commissioner as inspector of county roads, and, on Dec. 1, 1901, was reappointed to his old posi- tion as superintendent of the department of public lighting by Dr. J. Guy McCandless, director of the department of public works. In religious belief Mr. Perry is a Methodist.
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WILLIAM R. ROWE, general man- ager of the Pittsburg Gazette and Chron- icle-Telegraph, Pittsburg, was born at Confluence, Pa., in 1872, and, in 1874, came to Pittsburg, where he was reared, and educated in the common schools. Beginning at the age of fourteen, he worked until he reached the age of eighteen in the drug business, and then became assistant bookkeeper in the office of the Pittsburg Press. He remained with the Press ten years, rising to the position of advertising manager, and, in 1900, was made business manager of the Gazette, and, early in 1901, became business manager of the Chronicle-Telegraph, when that paper was acquired by Mr. George T. Oliver. In September, 1902, he was made general manager of both these papers. Mr. Rowe is a rising young business man, who has in the few years of his service exhibited great ability in his line of work. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in religious belief is a Presbyterian.
JAMES McCLURG GUFFEY, the Pittsburg oil and gas king, and the largest individual producer of oil and natural gas in this country, was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., in 1839. He .is of Scotch descent, and his ancestors were among the early settlers of western Pennsylvania, where they located in colonial times, probably about 1750. James M. Guffey attended the public schools, and later the Iron City college, from which he graduated, and at the age of eighteen obtained a clerkship in the office of the superintendent of the Louisville & Nashville railroad company, at Louisville, Ky. He was employed by this company several years, for a time at Nashville, Tenn., by the Adams southern express company, and, in 1870, returned to Pennsylvania to engage in the petroleum business as a producer. Mr. Guffey acquired large interests at St. Petersburg, in Clarion county, and subsequently made Bradford the base of his operations. He also
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opened the Grapeville gas field and controlled it until it was taken by a corporation. This was the greatest of all the gas fields and brought vast wealth to the enterprising operator, who also acquired large interests in the Murraysville field. Mr. Guffey is a man of sound judgment and wonderful executive ability. In politics he is an ardent democrat, firm in his loyalty to the principles of his party and always ready to make personal sacrifices for the party's benefit. Mr. Guffey came to Pittsburg about fifteen years ago. He is married and lives in the East End.
MORRIS W. MEAD, superintendent of the bureau of electricity, Pittsburg, was born at Underhill, Vt. (now New Burlington), Oct. 28, 1854. He is a son of the late Daniel C. and Naomie E. (Terrel) Mead, and a grandson of Josiah Mead, a farmer of Underhill and a mem- ber of one of the old Vermont families. Daniel C. Mead, born in Underhill in 1828, was a prominent man in his day, and was an early oil prospector and promoter of manufacturing enterprises. He died in 1874, and his wife in 1875. Morris W. Mead, whose name heads this article, received his edu- cation in the public schools of the fourteenth ward, Pittsburg, and at the Pittsburg high school, graduating from the high school in 1873. He also attended the University of Underhill. He read law two years with J. H. Baldwin, then, after his father's death, spent two years in the oil business, and returning to Pittsburg in 1877, became head salesman in the establishment of J. R. & A. Murdoch. Shortly after this Mr. Mead entered the city fire alarm office as operator, was made chief operator a year later, and two years after that was appointed superintendent of the Fire Alarm telegraph While holding this last position he was also made secretary of the fire commission, and for two years held both offices. It was Mr. Mead who introduced the police telephone sys- tem of the department of public safety. When the new city charter went into effect in 1887, Mr. Mead became head of the newly estab- lished bureau of electricity, a bureau which has charge of all the electrical interests of Pittsburg, including the control of electric railroads, safety arrangements for electrical propulsion, inspections . of all electric power and light wires, and so forth. In performing
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the duties of his office, Mr. Mead has shown such rare judgment and unusual ability that he has won the confidence of the public. Under his supervision there has been installed in Pittsburg as fine a system of police and fire alarm and electrical inspection as can be found in the United States. He is also the inventor of a scheme for protecting underground wires by means of a rubber covering. Mr. Mead married Johanna E. Ecker, sister of H. P. Ecker, city organist of Allegheny, and lives with his wife in Oakland, East End. They are members of the Bellefield Presbyterian church. Mr. Mead is an enthusiastic member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree, and is a Shriner, a member of the I. O. O. F., Knights of Pythias, B. P. O. Elks, Jr. O. U. A. M. and a past master of the A. O. U. W. He was, in 1900, chairman of the board of directors of the International asso- ciation of municipal electricians, was president of the association in 1901 and is still a member of the board of directors of the organization. He is also an honorary member of the National electric light association, and of the electrical committee of the International association of chief engineers of fire departments. In 1893 he was one of the three assistants to the manager of the electrical department of the World's Fair at Chicago.
JENKIN JONES, a citizen of Pitts- burg for sixty-four years, was born in Cardiganshire, South Wales, in 1835. His parents brought him to America when he was four years old, and located at Pittsburg, where Mr. Jones received a limited education. He went to work at the age of twelve in a glass factory, and, in 1863, started in the business for him- self, under the name of Campbell, Jones & Co. This combination continued until 1886, when Mr. Jones organized another company for the manufacture of glass, the new concern being known as Jones, Cauff & Co. (limited). This firm was discontinued in 1892, and Mr. Jones has since devoted his time to the public service. He has held many positions of responsibility and trust during his long and eventful career. He was from 1868 to 1870 councilman for the borough of East Birm- ingham, Allegheny county, and was then elected to the office of burgess of that borough, but a change of residence necessitated
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his resigning this position before his term expired. His next office was that of school director from the twenty-seventh ward, Pittsburg, where he served three years. He was also elected a member of the central board of education, where he served for a similar period. In 1873 he was elected for one three-year term as a member of the board of fire commissioners of Pittsburg. He has held his present position as wharfmaster since December, 1901. Mr. Jones has long been a prominent republican, and has taken an important part in party affairs. He was a delegate to the State convention held at Harrisburg in 1878, and also to the State convention in 1881 which nominated Silas M. Bailey for State treasurer. In 1881 he was chairman of the finance committee of the republican county central committee of Allegheny county. In religious belief Mr. Jones is a Congregationalist and a member of that church. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Royal Arcanum.
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