USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume I > Part 43
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WILLIAM HILL, superintendent of the Allegheny workhouse and president of the First National bank of Carnegie, was born in County Down, Ireland, Dec. 3, 1837. His parents, David and Eliza- beth (Dixon) Hill, came to America in 1841, and located in Allegheny county, near Carnegie, where Mr. Hill, who had been a schoolmaster in Ireland, continued his occupation as school-teacher for a time. Later he devoted his attention to farming and continued at that occupation until he moved to Carnegie, where he died a year afterwards at the age of sixty-three. William Hill, the subject of this sketch, is the oldest of four children. Margaret died in February, 1902, when about sixty-two years old; Elizabeth, now living in Carnegie, married David Given, who died in 1885, and Ellen is the wife of A. W. Ewing, and lives in Los Angeles, Cal. William Hill received a common-school education and then spent several years as a farmer. In 1876 he gave up agricultural pur- suits and started the first brick and lumber business at Carnegie, and was engaged in this business for several years. He was justice of the peace for fifteen years, and resigned in 1876, when he became a member of the state legislature, serving in this capacity in the sessions between 1876 and 1879. After this he was mer- cantile appraiser for a year, and later served one three-year term as county treasurer. In 1886 Mr. Hill first became connected with the county workhouse, and has for the past sixteen years been an
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influential member of the workhouse board. Since 1891 he has been superintendent of the workhouse, and his long and efficient service has been an important factor in the success and usefulness of that institution. He has served several terms as school director, and was the first burgess of Carnegie, serving in that capacity three terms. He is now chairman of the Carnegie library com- mission. Mr. Hill was a director of the old Mechanics' National bank of Pittsburg for several years, before that institution was superseded by the First National bank of Pittsburg, and has been president of the First National bank of Carnegie since 1895. Before coming to Carnegie in 1896, Mr. Hill resided for several years in Clermont, Pa. He is now one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Carnegie, and is universally respected by all who know him. On June 15, 1887, Mr. Hill married Miss Elizabeth Boyd, daughter of William and Jane (Walker) Boyd, of Walker's Mills, both of whom are now dead. His youngest child, Boyd D., died in 1895, when three years old, and two others are living: Jane Boyd and William D. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are members of the United Presbyterian church, in which Mr. Hill has been actively interested for thirty years. During this time he has held many offices of responsibility, serving as trustee, church treasurer, superintendent of the Sunday-school and in other capacities. He has been active in the construction of three churches, and was a member of the committee which had charge of the erection of the last church.
JAMES R. TREACY, bottler, was born in the first ward, Pitts- burg, Nov. 12, 1863, and has spent the greater part of his life in that city. After receiving a primary education in Pittsburg, he spent two years, 1880-82, at St. Francis' college at Loretto, Pa., and then became clerk in a queensware store in Pittsburg, remaining in this position about seven years. After this he spent a year in the employ of a Pittsburg brokerage firm, and in 1895 was appointed Chinese inspector, by John G. Carlisle. In the performance of the duties of this position he spent six months in Minneapolis and a similar period in Grand Forks, N. D., and then, on Nov. 1, 1896, resigned and returned to Pittsburg, where he has since engaged successfully in the bottle business. Although not actively interested in politics, Mr. Treacy believes in the principles advocated by the democratic party, and formerly served for four years as school director from the first ward. He is a member of the Elks and in religious belief is a Catholic.
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THOMAS MCDERMOTT, of Glen- field, Pa., a prominent citizen and for years a skilled engineer, was born in the city of Pittsburg, Pa., Feb. 15, 1846, son of Patrick and Mary (Hanlon) McDer- mott, both natives of Ireland, his father having been born in the parish of Kallala, County Mayo, and his mother in the parish of Kellavey, County Armagh. His father was a son of Paul and Mary McDer- mott and came to the United States in 1845, settled in Pittsburg and there worked as a laborer. Subsequently he drifted into the scrap-iron business, beginning on a small scale, and by thrift, energy and economy built up the largest business of that nature in Pittsburg. He died when only fifty-three years of age and left a fortune of more than $100, 000, a splendid tribute to his successful methods and financial ability. The mother of the subject was a daughter of Thomas Hanlon, of Kellavey, County Armagh, Ireland, who was a prominent citizen of that community, in which both he and his wife spent their entire lives. Thomas McDermott was educated in the Catholic schools of his native city, baptized at St. Paul's cathedral and for more than twenty years was a prominent engineer, but is now living quietly at Glenfield, where he has a magnificent residence overlooking the beautiful Ohio river.
JOHN M. RUSSELL, of Pittsburg, Pa., a practicing attorney, was born in Washington county, Pa., Dec. 7, 1872, son of William S. and Mary (McBride) Russell. He was educated in the rudimentary courses in the public schools, later attended the Union academy, of Burgettstown, and other educational institutions in Washington county, graduating from the Washington and Jefferson college in 1899. He then devoted his attention to reading law in the offices of Davidson & Galbraith, well-known attorneys of Pitts- burg, and subsequently matriculated at the Pittsburg law school, where he was graduated with the class of 1902. He was admitted to the bar at Pittsburg in the December after liis graduation. immediately entered on the practice, and is meeting with much encouragement and success in his vocation. Mr. Russell is a young man of fine parts, with good mental equipment and in many ways qualified to make a complete success of his professional career.
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JOSEPH E. McCABE, secretary and treasurer of the Pennsylvania silica brick manufacturing company, at Latrobe, was born in Woodville, Allegheny Co., Pa., Sept. 17, 1861, in the house in which he now resides. His parents, Thompson F. and Mary J. (Richardson) McCabe, were natives and old residents of Allegheny county, where the father was an extensive farmer and prominent in educational affairs, being a school' director many years. He was also a charter member of the Carnegie Presbyterian church and afterwards one of its trustees. He was a son of Joseph E. and Margaret (Fife) McCabe. Three of the sisters of Thompson F. McCabe are now living, all over eighty years old, and all widows. They are: Mrs. John Anderson, of Ohio; Mrs. Levi Brenniman, of St. Louis, and Mrs. Dr. Coulter, of Pittsburg. Mr. McCabe's wife, Mary Jane (Richardson) McCabe, was a daughter of James and Nancy Richardson, both of whom died in 1851, when Mary Jane was about sixteen years old. Of the ten children born to James and Nancy Richardson, only two survive. Henry Richardson, an old soldier who fought all through the Civil war, is now a prominent farmer in Kansas and owns about 800 acres of land, devoted to wheat, and Nancy A. is now the wife of William T. Easton, of East End, Pittsburg. Joseph McCabe, the subject of this article, is one of five children. The others are: L. Howard, of Allegheny, who married Alice J. Hultz and has two children, Alice Gertrude and Howard; Margaret M., now Mrs. J. Cubbage; Jennie M., who was born Sept. 25, 1857, and died Oct. 3, 1898, and Elizabeth, now Mrs. Andrew S. Hogan, of Green Tree borough, who has twins, Norman R. and Dorothy S. Joseph E. McCabe was educated in the public schools and then farmed the family farm until the property was sold in 1901. He owns considerable desirable property in Heidelberg, and the old McCabe homestead of about twenty-five acres, which will, with the growth of Carnegie, soon be within the city limits and be very valuable. The brick company, in which he is a stockholder, is an enterprising concern and the business bids fair to be most successful. Mr. McCabe has been for ten years a member of the school board and is now serving his second term as justice of the peace. He was married, on March 27, 1892, to Miss Bessie Holland, a native of this county, and daughter of Enoch and
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Harriet Holland. Mr. Holland, a veteran of the Civil war, is now employed as a bookkeeper at the county home. Mrs. McCabe is one of eight children. Of the others, Anna is now Mrs. Frank Osborne, of Allegheny county; Izetta died when twenty-one years old; Harriet married E. G. Ott, a druggist in Carnegie; Reed lives in St. Louis; Adda died when two years old; Roberta is at home, and Florence died when a year and a half old. Mr. and Mrs. McCabe are the parents of four children: Marguerite, Walter Holland, Richard Fife and Joseph Ellsworth. Mr. McCabe is a member of the Knights of Malta. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.
JOHN N. RADCLIFFE, of Pittsburg, Pa., a prosperous lawyer, with offices at No. 413 Grant St., was born in Banks town- ship, Indiana Co., Pa., March 8, 1867, son of James and Annie (Nealen) Radcliffe, the former born in County Down, Ireland, Nov. 21, 1831, and the latter in County Kerry, Ireland, in 1844. His father came to America in 1847, and has since been a continu- ous resident of Indiana county, Pa., where he has prospered as a farmer. During the Civil war James Radcliffe served the federal government as a superintendent of transportation, having expe- rienced former service as a wagon-master. Both parents of the subject are now living, reside on their farm in Indiana county, and have the following children: Samuel D., a grocery merchant of Kansas; John N. ; Mary B., wife of Henry Gorman, of Banks town- ship, Indiana county; Margaret J., Edith E .; James L., with the Santa Fe railroad at Los Angeles, Cal .; Cora, Olive and Ralph (twins), William H., Lola D., Valier G. and Glenn D. John N. Radcliffe was educated in the common schools of his native county and at the Indiana normal school, where he was graduated in 1890, with the degree of bachelor of arts. Prior to this, Mr. Radcliffe had engaged in teaching in Banks township, and in 1890 was elected principal of West Elizabeth schools, in Allegheny county, and for four years filled that position to the satisfaction of the entire community. In 1894 he registered as a student of law in the office of the late Judge Fetterman, of Pittsburg, and in March, 1896, was admitted to the bar at Pittsburg, where he is now a member of all courts and has a fine practice. He is a school director and member of the school board of West Elizabeth, where he resides, and takes an active interest in the bettering of educational methods. He was married in Pittsburg, March 20, 1892, to Emma Snee, and to them have been born two children: Leona M., on June 17, 1893, and
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John N., Jr., on Feb. 12, 1895. Mr. Radcliffe and family attend the Presbyterian church of West Elizabeth. Ralph Radcliffe; a brother of the subject, was born and reared in Banks township, Indiana county, and was educated in the public schools and at the Indiana normal school. He began teaching when only seventeen years of age, and has since been successfully engaged in that pro- fession. During the years of 1902-03 he taught in the Blairsville, Pa., public school, and in June, 1903, was elected principal of the Elliott school of the West End of Pittsburg, a decided compliment and one well deserved by this worthy young man.
GEORGE W. BEALE, a successful farmer and prominent citizen of Natrona, was born in Harrison township, Alle- gheny county, on April 18, 1855, on the farm he now owns. He is a son of Wash- ington Beale, Jr., and Rosanna ( McCune) Beale. The grandfather, Washington Beale, Sr., and two brothers, John and Albion; came from Tuscarora valley, Juniata county, in the year 1801, and were among the early settlers of Alle- gheny county. They located first on Jack's island, and then after a time moved over the river on a farm near Bull creek, buying in the following year the farm known as the Sam C. Alter farm. To Washington and Jane (Given) Beale were born the following children: Elizabeth, Margaret, James, Priscilla, Sarah, Washington, Alexandra, Thomas, Hannah and Nancy. To Washington Beale, Jr., and Rosanna (McCune) Beale, of Greensburg, were born the fol- lowing children: Joseph G., Jane E., Mary J., James B., Margaret M., George W. and Sarah Agnes. Mr. Beale was a very successful farmer, and conducted the occupation on large scale. In 1857 he made his first trip to England after horses, and was the first importer of heavy draft horses in Pennsylvania. Of the four head with which he started for America, two were lost in a storm, but though unfortunate in his first venture, he did not give up, but made three trips afterwards with better success. At the time of his death, in 1885, he owned several large farms, was a stock- holder in the Leechburg steel mills, and a stockholder in the Free- port National bank, of which he was also a director. He and his wife were members of the Freeport Presbyterian church. George W.
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Beale was reared on the farm, educated in the common schools, and has followed the vocation of farming all of his active life. He is also engaged in the raising of fine horses and cattle, making a specialty of imported English horses and Alderney cattle. Mr. Beale owns the old homestead of 133 acres, and has forty acres on the bank of the Allegheny river, where he resides in one of the finest residences in Harrison township. Mr. Beale was born and raised a republican, imbibed the tenets of that party early in life, and is an active and ardent worker for the advancement of its prin- ciples. He has been school director for eight years, and is presi- dent of the board of commissioners for Harrison township, in which latter position he is serving his second term. Mr. Beale is also interested in stone-quarrying, and owns and operates a fine quarry which is situated about one mile from Natrona. He was married, on Nov. 22, 1877, to Zelia E. Harrison, of East End, Pittsburg, and they have one daughter, Martha E., a graduate of the public schools and Blairsville academy. Mr. Beale is a man of sterling worth and unimpeachable integrity, and is regarded with the highest esteem by all who have the honor of his acquaintance.
JOHN A. WILSON, of Pittsburg, Pa., long identified with the practice of law in that city, was born at New Brighton, Beaver Co., Pa., Nov. 2, 1843, son of James Perry and Nancy W. (Sullivan) Wilson. His father was a son of John and Effie (Bryan) Wilson, the former a native of Ireland, who, when three years of age, accompanied his parents to America and settled in Allegheny county, where his parents engaged in agricultural pursuits, as did their son, John, in later years. Effie Bryan, the grandmother of John A. Wilson, was born in Allegheny county and there spent her entire life. James Perry Wilson, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born at the corner of Penn avenue and Third street, Pittsburg, June 12, 1820; was a successful carriage-builder of Pitts- burg, where he spent his entire life and there died on Nov. 11, 1886. His wife, Nancy W. Sullivan, was born on Eleventh street, South Side, Pittsburg, Dec. 1, 1822, and now resides at Avalon, Allegheny Co., Pa. John A. Wilson acquired his rudimentary education in the schools of Pittsburg, and completed his classical training at the Western university, from which he was graduated on June 24, 1864. In November, 1865, he registered as a law student with Marcus A. Woodward, a prominent attorney of Pitts- burg; was admitted to the bar on Nov. 6, 1867, and has since con- tinuously practiced in Pittsburg, where he is a member of all
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courts and has a fair practice. Mr. Wilson was married in the Fourth Avenue Baptist church of Pittsburg, April 2, 1868, to Bella J., daughter of ex-Mayor George Wilson and his wife, Mary F. (Howey) Wilson, and to them have been born the following chil- dren : George P., on June 8, 1870; John A., on April 27, 1874, and Ruth, on Nov. 2, 1882. Mr. Wilson's family are members of the Shady Side Presbyterian church of Pittsburg. George P. Wilson, his eldest son, a rising attorney, was born in Pittsburg, and edu- cated in the rudimentary courses in the fourteenth ward and the high schools of his native city, and later attended Harvard uni- versity, where he was graduated in 1893, with the degree of bachelor of arts. He then read law in the office of his father, was admitted to the bar March 19, 1898, and has since practiced with much success.
FINLEY ROSS CUNNINGHAM, a substantial and worthy tiller of the soil, resides on a farm in West Deer township which has been in possession of his family for fully a hundred years. The first owner was his grandfather, Hughey Cunningham, who came there from Ireland at a very remote period and took up his abode on raw land in a sparsely settled neighborhood. The wife of this old emigrant, whom he married in Ire- land, bore the name of Nancy, and the couple passed all their years cultivating the land and improving it for the benefit of their descendants. Their son, Robert, who was born in 1806, married Eliza Ross, of Westmoreland county, and they inherited and carried on the home- stead place after the death of the original owners. Robert Cunning- ham became a successful farmer and was much esteemed in his com- munity, holding the office of road commissioner for some years and otherwise sharing in the public life of the community. Originally a democrat, he joined the republican party at its organization, and both himself and wife were members of the United Presbyterian church. He died in 1893 and his wife some years later, after becoming the parents of seven children, of whom three daughters and one son survive. Two sons, Hugh and Robert, gave up their lives for their country during the terrible days of the Civil war. Finley Ross Cunningham, the only son now surviving of the
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above-mentioned family, was born in West Deer township, Alle- gheny county, Pa., Jan. 23, 1846. He was reared on the farm of his father, and after the latter's death inherited the place, to which he has since added forty-four acres, making his entire holdings 176 acres of excellent farming land. He has not only preserved his inheritance, but has cultivated the patrimonial acres with such skill and judgment as to greatly improve them in every respect. He carries on general farming and stock-raising and keeps many cows , from which he markets milk and butter. Like his father, he has adhered to the fortunes of the republican party and for a number of years has held the office of assessor. Mr. Cunningham is the father of seven children: Mary E., Lida, Harley R., Courtland K., Hughey M., Geneva and Edna A. The parents were members of the United Presbyterian church. Mrs. Cunningham died Jan. 14, 1901.
JOSEPH P. FIFE, of Pittsburg, Pa., a prosperous attorney-at- law, with offices at No. 1219 Frick building, was born at Sterling, 111., June 15, 1875, son of W. H. G. and Mary E. Fife, both natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Fife acquired his classical education at the Leland Stanford, Jr., university and was graduated from the Harvard law school in the class of 1900. Mr. Fife is a man of splendid natural abilities and these, combined with the excellent literary and legal education which he has received, well prepared him for the arduous duties of the exacting profession that he espoused. He was admitted to the bar in March, 1901, and since has practiced his profession with much success and has achieved a respectable position among the attorneys of Pittsburg.
ANTHONY STAAB, of the firm of Yunker & Co., funeral directors at No. 110 South Main St., thirty-sixth ward, Pittsburg, was born in the thirty-fourth ward, Pittsburg, in 1866. When three years old his parents moved with him to Elliott, Allegheny county, and there Mr. Staab attended school until he reached the age of thirteen. He then went to work in the iron mill of Painter & Son, was employed there for seven years, and then engaged for a year in the general hauling business. In 1892 Mr. Staab went into the livery and undertaking business, in which he has since been engaged. He is a prominent man in his profession and a member of the Funeral Directors' association of Allegheny county. Mr. Staab is a member of the German Catholic church. In politi- cal belief he is a democrat.
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ROBERT KENNEDY, a well-known citizen of Tarentum, Pa., was born in East Deer township, Allegheny county, April 23, 1842. He was just upon the threshold of his manhood when the great Civil war broke upon the country. On Aug. 27, 1861, he enlisted from Wood county, W. Va., as a private in Capt. Ansel B. Denton's company, afterwards Company C, 18th United States infantry, Col. Henry B. Carrington, commanding, and Oliver Shepherd, lieutenant-colonel. The 18th was one of the three battalion regiments organized under President Lincoln's proclamation of May 31st, ordering an increase in the regular army. The regi- ment took the field in December, 1861, and from that time until mustered out it was on the firing line, sustaining the heaviest losses of any regiment in the regular army. It participated in the siege of Corinth, Miss., during the entire month of May, 1862; was at Perryville, Ky., in the following October; at Stone River and Murfreesboro during the last days of 1862 and the first days of 1863; at Hoover's Gap in June, 1863, and in all the battles and skir- mishes of the Chickamauga campaign. Mr. Kennedy was captured at Chickamauga, Ga., on Sept. 20, 1863, and remained a prisoner for nearly fifteen months. In that time he saw the inside of some of the most noted prisons of the Confederacy. For eleven days immediately following his capture he was confined at Belle Island, Va. ; then for the next two months in Smith's building, Richmond, Va. ; then at Danville, Va., until April 6, 1864, when he was removed to the famous prison at Andersonville, Ga. He remained at Andersonville until about the middle of September, when he was transferred to the race-track prison, Charleston, S. C., held there for about three weeks, and then taken to Florence, S. C., where he was exchanged on Dec. 15, 1864. Up to the time of his capture, Mr. Kennedy had been with his command, obedient . to the orders of his superiors, and always at his post of duty. In recognition of his meritorious services he was promoted to the rank of corporal in May, 1863. He was in all the engagements in which the regiment took part, and was in a number of expeditions involv- ing skirmishes and dangerous situations. As instances of the valor of the 18th regiment, it is worthy of mention that at the battle of Stone River it lost 102 officers and men, and at Chicka-
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mauga forty-eight were either killed or mortally wounded. Corporal Kennedy received . u honorable discharge, and was mustered out with his regiment at Camp Thomas, Ohio, Feb. 10, 1865, having served four months and fourteen days more than the three years for which he enlisted. On Nov. 11, 1869, he was mar- ried to Miss Maria Crawford, at Hites, Allegheny county. After a few years of happy wedded life, she passed away, and on July 6, 1892, he was united in marriage to Idaletta M. Dickey, of Taren- tum. To this union two sons have been born: Robert Dickey, born May 13, 1898, and George Russell, born April 7, 1901. Mr. Kennedy is a member of Eli Hemphill post, No. 135, department of Pennsylvania, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he served one term as commander. He is also a past master of his Masonic lodge, has served twelve years as a school director and one year as road supervisor. In all these positions he acquitted himself with credit and acquired a reputation for that conscientious discharge of his duties which marked his career as a soldier in the army of his country.
SILAS AUSTIN WILL, a well-known attorney of Pittsburg, was born July 28, 1846, in Milford township, Somerset Co., Pa. His parents, Silas and Harriet (Chorpenning) Will, were both natives of Somerset county. During his boyhood the subject of this sketch attended the common schools of Somerset county, but in August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company C, 142d Pennsylvania vol- unteer infantry, and served with that regiment until January, 1864. In August, 1864, he enlisted in Company K, 5th heavy artillery, and served in that regiment until the close of the war, when he was mustered out with the rank of corporal. While in the infantry service he participated in the famous battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and while in the artillery he was chiefly engaged in guerrilla warfare. After the war was over he set to work to complete his education, and graduated from the Millersville normal school, near Lancaster, Pa. For the next six years he taught in the public schools, and on April 1, 1875, was duly registered and began the study of law in the offices of Gazzam & Cochran, of Pittsburg. On April 14, 1877,
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