USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume I > Part 45
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estate firms were consolidated as the Homestead realty company, with a capital of $100,000, Mr. Kuhn was made secretary of the new corporation, and still holds that position. He is also president of the Homestead land investment company, of Homestead, a director and member of the executive committee of the Duquesne library land company, director of the Beaver terrace land com- pany, and director of the Beaver terrace railway company. Mr. Kuhn was married, Jan. 29, 1876, to Mary H., daughter of Francis and Margaret (Honan) McCollum, of Chester, Pa., and has one daughter, Margaret Hilda. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, K. of C., C. M. B. A. and Y. M. I. He is also a member of the B. P. O. E. Mr. Kuhn is a popular and enterpris- ing citizen of Homestead, and enjoys the confidence of its best people. He has served his borough as school director for one term, and was for two terms justice of the peace. Politically, he is a democrat.
JOHN MOORE PETTY, of Pittsburg, Pa., a prominent attorney-at-law, with offices in the Frick building, was born near Fort Scott, Kan., Aug. 28, 1869, son of George M. and Elizabeth J. (Brown) Petty, the former a native of Connecticut, and his mother of Allegheny county, Pa. The maternal grandfather of John M. Petty was one of the early settlers of Pittsburg, where he was engaged in the real estate business and was a prominent and influ- ential citizen. The Brown family has been closely identified with the growth and advancement of Pittsburg for many years, and many of its members have occupied positions of honor and trust in that city. George M. Petty was a member of the 15th Pennsyl- vania volunteer cavalry, enlisted in 1861, and served for three years. After receiving his discharge he returned to Pittsburg, where he remained until 1880, except for a three years' residence in Kansas. He served as cashier of the Diamond bank during its existence. John M. Petty removed with his parents to Pittsburg when only two years of age, and after a nine years' residence there accompanied his parents to a farm in Nebraska, where they now reside. Mr. Petty was educated in the common schools of Nebraska and at the high school at Ord, Neb., and dur- ing all of this time worked on his father's farm. After reaching manhood, Mr. Petty secured a position in a general store at Ord, and six months later went into the county clerk's office, where he remained for one year. Mr. Petty then removed to Chicago, became assistant bookkeeper for Alexander Revell, and one year
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later was given a position in another department. In the spring of 1892 he came to Pittsburg to study law in the office of his uncle, Robert B. Petty, and in 1895 was admitted to the bar of Allegheny county. Mr. Petty is a member of all courts in Pennsylvania, and also the United States district and circuit courts, but confines his practice almost entirely to civil business. He is a well-known citizen, member of the Presbyterian church, and resides in the thirteenth ward of Pittsburg.
JESSE MAINHART HOUSE, of Homestead, Pa., a well-known contractor and builder, was born at Lycippus, West- moreland Co., Pa., May 26, 1871, son of Allen W. and Martha (Mainhart) House. His paternal grandfather was Daniel House, a native of Schuylkill county, Pa., of German descent, who married Eliza Crimmel, of Juniata county, also of Ger- man descent, and they had a family of five sons: Jesse, Joseph, Allen W., William H. and Daniel N. The elder House was a farmer by occupation and settled in Mount Pleasant township, Westmoreland Co., Pa., about 1838, and there resided _until his death. His sons, Jesse and Joseph, served in the Union army during the Civil war, the former dying in the service, and his remains are now buried at Culpeper Court House, Va. Allen W. House, father of the subject, was born in Mount Pleasant township, Westmoreland county, Dec. 18, 1844, and there was reared and educated in the common schools. When fourteen years of age he was apprenticed to the blacksmiths' trade, and later served an apprenticeship at the carpenters' trade, which he followed as a joiner for three years. Then he engaged in the busi- ness of contracting and building, and followed that vocation in Somerset, Westmoreland and Allegheny counties until 1902, resid- ing at Homestead since 1888. He was married, on July 4, 1867, to Martha, daughter of Jacob and Savilla (Blyholder) Mainhart, of Pennsylvania township, Westmoreland Co., Pa., but formerly of Germany, and they have eight children: Lawrence L., Jesse M., Harry, Jacob; Della, wife of Edward Rorneck; Viola, wife of Arthur Woodhall; Jennie and Cleveland. Jesse M. House was reared in his native town, educated in the public schools and at Curry institute, at :Pittsburg, and then learned the carpenters'
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trade under his father. In 1888 he located at Homestead, where he at once commenced contracting and building, and has since suc- cessfully continued. He has a well-established business and has accumulated a nice competency. He was married, on Feb. 23, 1891, to Mary A., daughter of Nicholas and Anna Walker, for- merly of Germany, but now of Homestead, and they have four children: Marie, Jesse, Russell and Kenneth. He is a member of the Lutheran church, the Elks and the Knights of Malta, and his political affiliations are with the democratic party.
DENNIS ÆE. BEHEN, of Pittsburg, Pa., a well-known attorney, with offices in the Bakewell building, was born in Little Rock, Ark., July 7, 1871, son of Dennis and Mary (Watterson) Behen, the former a native of Ireland, who died in Pittsburg, Aug. 1, 1896, and the latter born in Indiana county, Pa., and died on June 18, 1903. Mr. Behen was graduated from Mount St. Mary's college, of Emmittsburg, Md., in the class of 1894, with the degree of master of arts, then read law in the offices of Watterson & Reid, of Pittsburg, and was admitted to the bar of Allegheny county, March 13, 1897. He is a member of all courts and the Allegheny county bar association and makes a specialty of real estate law and orphans' court practice, in which he has been very successful. He is a charter member of Duquesne council of Knights of Colum- bus, member of the Keystone bicycle club and the Pittsburg lodge of Elks, and resides in the twenty-first ward.
JAMES ELDER BARNETT, of Pittsburg, Pa., attorney-at- law, was born at Elder's Ridge, Indiana Co., Pa , Aug. 1, 1856, and was graduated from Washington and Jefferson college in 1882. He studied law at the Columbia law school of New York city, taking the municipal law course, and was then admitted to the bar of Washington county, and in 1900 to the Allegheny county bar. He was appointed deputy secretary of the commonwealth by Gen. Frank Reeder and served in that capacity from July 1, 1895, to Oct. 19, 1897, when he resigned that office to return to his practice. He enlisted in the national guard of Pennsylvania in 1884 and rose through the various military grades to that of the lieutenant- colonelcy, to which he was elected in 1897. He volunteered with his regiment for service in the Spanish-American war and saw active campaigning in the Philippines, participating in all the engagements of his regiment during that insurrection, which con- tinued until the capture of Malolos. When Col. A. L. Hawkins
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was appointed to the command of the district of Cavite, P. I., on April 14, 1899, Lieutenant-Colonel Barnett was placed in command of the regiment and served in that capacity until the regiment was mustered out at San Francisco, Aug. 22, 1899. He succeeded Colonel Hawkins to the command of the district of Cavite, when the latter became incapacitated by illness, and served in that posi- tion from May 10, 1899, until the regiment embarked for the United States, July 1, 1899. Colonel Barnett was nominated for state treasurer by the republican state convention, Aug. 24, 1899, and elected to that important position at the general election in the succeeding November.
ADOLPH HERMAN SCHROEDER, whose shaving parlors at Homestead are among the finest in Allegheny county, is a native of Schulitz, Germany, where he was born April 11, 1875, and is the son of Emil and Julia (Cromrey) Schroeder. Until he was about fourteen years of age he attended the schools of his native town, graduating from the high school in 1889. He then served one year as book- keeper in the mayor's office at Schulitz, and in 1890 came to America. The first three years of his residence in this country was spent as a barbers' apprentice in one of the best shops of the city of Pittsburg, Pa. He then worked as a journeyman barber in several cities of the country, among them Baltimore, Boston and New York. When the call for volunteers was made in the spring of 1898, to serve in the war with Spain, Mr. Schroeder enlisted as a private in Company A, 47th New York volunteer infantry, and served nearly eighteen months in Porto Rico. In the fall of 1899 he was mustered out with the rank of second lieutenant. Return- ing to Pittsburg in 1900 he opened his present place of business, which is one of the finest establishments of its kind in Homestead. On June 1, 1902, he was married to Miss Julia, daughter of Amos and Annie (Davis) Kurtz, of Somerset county, Pa., and one little daughter, Emma, has come to bless the union. Mr. Schroeder is a republican in politics, a member of the Lutheran church and of Homestead lodge, No. 1049, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is master of his trade and his shaving parlors are patronized by the best people in Homestead.
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WILLIAM A. HOPE, a well-known attorney of Pittsburg, with offices at No. 415 Fourth St., was born July 11, 1856, on what was known at that time as the Whitaker farm-now the borough of Whitaker-in Mifflin township, Allegheny Co., Pa. He is the son of Thomas and Martha A. (Whitaker) Hope. His father is the son of James and Jane Hope and was born in England, Feb. 8, 1828, but came with his parents to America while he was still in his infancy. They settled in Allegheny county near what is now the borough of Carnegie. Here the family has ever since resided, Thomas being engaged in various occupations, such as coal-mining, farming and tool-dressing. He is still living and is engaged in farming on the Mercer road near the town of Franklin. The Whitaker family is also of English extraction. James Whitaker (at that time spelled Whiteacre), came over with Lord Baltimore on his last voyage and settled in Maryland. Shortly after the Revolutionary war the family removed to Pennsylvania and settled upon a 600-acre tract. of land extending from Green Springs to the Homestead borough line. Upon the death of James Whitaker, his son, Aaron, the great-grandfather of William A. Hope, succeeded to 200 acres of this land and cultivated it until he passed away, when it descended to his son of the same name. Aaron, the second, built the old American furnace in Clarion county, one of the first in western Pennsylvania. In addition to the 200 acres inherited from his father's estate, he became the possessor of about 800 acres of iron-ore lands near Sligo Junction, Clarion Co., Pa. He died in 1847, after a brief illness, and was buried in the old cemetery adjoining his farm. During his life he took an active interest in the welfare of the county and was regarded one of the most progressive men in the community. His wife was Anna Dellen- bach, a native of Switzerland, who died at the advanced age of eighty-eight, at Homestead, Pa. Their children were: Martha A. (Mrs. Hope), Christopher D., Elijah A. and Eliza (twins), the latter the wife of Charles K. West, of Ohio; Fannie, wife of J. W. Adams, of Braddock, Pa .; Wilbur F. and Aquilla T., who died in his infancy. Mrs. Hope died July 28, 1881; Christopher and Wilbur are farmers, the former in Iowa and the latter in Kansas; Elijah is a retired capitalist, living in Oakland, Cal. The children of Thomas and Martha A. Hope were: Jennie A., the wife of M. P. Schooley; William A., the subject of this sketch, and Chris- topher W., who died in 1862 at the age of four years. He and his mother rest side by side in the cemetery at Franklin. William A. Hope received his first schooling in what was known as the old
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Scrubgrass schoolhouse in Scott township. He next attended the common school of Franklin and graduated from the Forbes school, in the sixth ward of the city of Pittsburg, when he was thirteen years of age. He was then admitted to the Pittsburg central high school for a time, but at an early age he began life for himself. He taught music, worked as an accountant, held various other posi- tions and learned the trade of a stair-builder. He was also for two years editor of the Braddock Herald. From boyhood his desire was to be a lawyer, and while employed in the different avocations mentioned, he devoted most of his spare time to reading such law books as he could get hold of until 1875, when he entered the office of Hon. John H. Kerr, of Pittsburg, and began the study of law in a regular way. For three years he remained in the office of Mr. Kerr, when his health failed and he went west, where he found employment as a teacher in the public schools. In the fall of 1880 he returned to Pittsburg and renewed his studies, and in the following spring was admitted to practice in the courts of Alle- gheny county. In October, 1883, he was admitted to practice in the Pennsylvania supreme court. During his twenty-one years of practice in the city of Pittsburg, he has attained a high standing at the bar and has acquired a large clientage. Most of his time is devoted to the examination of titles, though he does a general business as attorney and counselor-at-law. He was married at Kansas City, Mo., Feb. 4, 1886, to Miss Katie E. Goldman, a daughter of the late Jonathan and Marie Goldman, both of whom were of Swiss descent, but were natives of Berks county, Pa. Mr. Hope is a member of Guysuta lodge, No. 513, Free and Accepted Masons, and he resides in the borough of Knoxville, where he is well known and universally respected.
WILLIAM E. BEST, of Pittsburg, Pa., an able lawyer, with offices in the Bank for Savings building, was born in that city, Jan. 11, 1873, son of Richard and Clara (Fritch) Best, both natives and life-residents of Pittsburg. The Best family were among the early settlers of Pittsburg and since that time have been closely identified with its advancement and progress. William E. Best received his rudimentary educational training in the graded and high schools of Pittsburg and later matriculated at Cornell univer- sity, where he was graduated in 1894. Subsequently he read law in the offices of Clarence Burleigh, a prominent attorney of Pitts- burg, and was admitted to the bar of Allegheny county in March, 1895. Since that period, Mr. Best has prosecuted his professional
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duties with much success and now stands well at the bar of Pitts- burg, where he is a member of all courts and of the Allegheny county bar association. Mr. Best is prominently connected with the leading fraternal orders and holds membership in the Masons, Odd Fellows, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, Royal Arcanum, Foresters of America and the Independent Order of Foresters. He was married in Pittsburg, Jan. 12, 1900, to Grace, daughter of Henry and Hannah Atkinson, the former having been a prominent citizen and the first manufacturer of brick in Alle- gheny county. Mr. Best resides in the thirty-first ward and his home life is an ideal one.
JACOB TRAUTMAN, president of the First National bank of Homestead, was born in the town of Higch, Bavaria, Germany, Feb. 18, 1843. His parents, Adam and Margaret (Redhair) Traut- man, came to America in 1845. On com- ing to America, Adam Trautman engaged in the hotel business and continued at this vocation until he died, at the age of sixty-two, in 1878. Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Adam Trautman, Margaret, wife of Adam Idle, died of chol- era in 1849; Susan married John Miller, now deceased; Daniel died in St. Clair township, Allegheny county, in 1876; John died in 1899 at Columbus, Ohio; Peter is a resident of Mount Oliver, Allegheny county; Frederick died in Homestead in November, 1901; Jacob is the subject of this sketch, and Henry died in Columbus, Ohio, in 1891. Jacob Trautman was reared in Columbus, Ohio. After obtaining a common-school education, he learned the trade of a painter and paper-hanger and then followed this vocation in Columbus for eleven years. In 1879 he located in Homestead. and started in for himself, being successfully engaged in business up to 1889, when he retired from active life, although he has since then been more or less actively interested in real estate. Mr. Trautman's first wife, Celia (Barker) Trautman, of Columbus, Ohio, died in 1878, and he later married Mrs. Elizabeth Redhair, a native of Germany. Mr. Trautman had no children of his own, but his present wife, by a previous marriage, has six children, all of whom are now married. Mr. Trautman was one of the organizers of the First National bank of Homestead, and
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since the organization he has been a director and stockholder and since 1895, president of the bank. He is also a stockholder in the Mifflin Park land company and the Mifflin street railway company, and is one of the foremost business men of Homestead. He is a member of the F. and A. M., Royal Arcanum and Heptasophs. In politics he is a republican.
FRED GERDTS, of Duquesne, Pa., a prominent real estate dealer, was born in London, England, May 3, 1863, son of Frederick and Anna (Schumaker) Gerdts, natives of Germany who landed in Amer- ica, July 11, 1873, locating in Mifflin township of Allegheny county, opposite to Mckeesport. The elder Gerdts was employed in the mines of that vicinity for eight years and then went with the National tube works, at Mckeesport, with which concern he continued until his death, Nov. 7, 1902, having resided in Mckeesport for nearly twenty years. Fred Gerdts, the only son of his parents, was reared from ten years of age in Pennsylvania, attended the public schools of Mifflin township and Mckeesport, and began his business career as a clerk in a grocery store at the latter place. He was engaged in that capacity for ten years and in 1889 went to Duquesne, commenced the grocery business on his own account and for six years prospered in that venture. He was unfortunate enough to have his establishment destroyed by fire, and in 1895 began his present real estate business, in which he has met with much success. He was happily married, Oct. 12, 1888, to Susie B., daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Mills, of Mckeesport, and they have three children, viz. : Raymond F., Robert B. and Anna Elizabeth. Mr. Gerdts is closely connected with a number of lead- ing fraternal orders, holding membership in the Elks, the Odd Fellows and the Masons, and is thoroughly in sympathy with them in their great works for the brotherhood of man. He is a stanch republican in his political affiliations and opinions, and has served as auditor of the borough for three years, borough clerk for one year and is now filling his second term as tax collector. Mr. Gerdts is also a notary public and is one of the best-known and most popular citizens of Duquesne.
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EDWARD SCHREINER, of Pittsburg, Pa., a well-known attorney, with offices at No. 718 Frick building, was born at Alle- gheny city, Dec. 8, 1875, and is a son of John and Mary (Ziegler) Schreiner. His father, born in Germany, resided there until nine- teen years of age, when he came to Allegheny city, where he has since followed the occupation of a contractor with much success. Mr. Schreiner was educated in the schools of his native city and at Cascadilla preparatory school, and in the fall of 1895 matriculated at Cornell university, where he remained for one year. Sub- sequently Mr. Schreiner entered the law department of the Uni- versity of Michigan and was graduated from that famous seat of learning in 1899, with the degree of bachelor of laws. He was admitted to the bar of Michigan, and later came to Pittsburg, read law in the office of J. S. Ferguson, and was admitted to the bar of Allegheny county, where he is a member of all courts and has a fine clientage. Mr. Schreiner was married at Steubenville, Ohio, Dec. 15, 1902, to Ruth Foster. He resides in the twentieth ward and is widely known throughout the city. He is a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity.
THOMASGRAHAM, retail shoe dealer in Verona, was born in Scotland. March 1, 1847. His father, Thomas Graham, was a blacksmith. He died in Scotland in 1849 and his wife, Isabella (Christy) Graham, in 1860. They had one son and five daughters, of whom four are now liv- ing in Scotland. Thomas Graham, whose name appears at the head of this sketch, was reared and educated in Scotland and came to America in 1872. He located first in Pittsburg, then came a year later to Sandy Creek, in Penn township, where for several years he followed the vocation of a shoemaker. Coming to Verona in 1886, he engaged in the retail shoe trade, in which he has been most successful. In politics he is a republican, although never an aspirant for office. He attends the United Presbyterian church. Before coming to America, Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Annie Dobie and has one son, Henry D., who was born in Scotland, in October, 1867. He was married in 1901 and has one child, Thomas C., named for his grandfather.
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CHAUNCEY LOBINGIER, of Pittsburg, Pa., a successful general practitioner of law, with officesin the Park building, was born at Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., Pa., July 30, 1873, son of J. Smith and Mary J. (Cochran) Lobingier, both surviving and resid- ing at Mount Pleasant, Pa. Chauncey Lobingier was educated at Mount Pleasant institute, where he was graduated in June, 1892, and later attended Lafayette college, where he was graduated in June, 1896. Then Mr. Lobingier read law in the office of Murphy & Hosack, of Pittsburg; was admitted to the bar. on March 23, 1900, and has since practiced with much success. He is a member of all county and state courts, of the Allegheny county bar association, and has a fine practice. Mr. Lobingier is a member of Duquesne lodge, No. 546, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is a mem- ber and secretary of the Theta Delta Phi association of western Pennsylvania, member of the East End board of trade, and resides in the twentieth ward. He was married in Easton, Pa., Oct. 31, 1900, to Isabella Allderdice, daughter of George and Frances (Houston ) Danby. Mr. Lobingier is a member of the East Liberty Presbyterian church, and has served that organization in a number of official capacities.
HUGH S. CRAIG, attorney-at-law, is the son of William B. and Catherine H. (Singer) Craig, both of whom are natives of the Keystone state. The father was born in Cumberland county and his wife in Pittsburg. William B. Craig is a Presbyterian min- ister, though he has retired from the active work of the pulpit and is living, with his wife, a retired life at Shippensburg, Pa., happy in the reflections consequent upon a well-spent life. Hugh S. Craig was born at Duncannon, Pa., July 19, 1864. After attending the common schools and the Cumberland valley state normal school, at Shippensburg, Pa., he graduated from the Croton military institute of Croton, N. Y. He read law in the office of Kennedy & Doty, and on Dec. 24, 1887, was admitted to the Allegheny county bar. He at once entered upon the general practice of his profes- sion and during the sixteen years that have followed his admission, he has established a good business. He is a member of all the state courts, practices in the circuit and district courts of the United States and is a member of the Allegheny county bar association. In October, 1898, he was married to Miss Harriet J., daughter of Rev. John F. and Margaret (Guthrie) Hill, of Cannonsburg, Pa., at Germantown (Philadelphia), Pa. Two children have been born to this union, Thomas S. and William Boyd. For the last twenty-
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five years Mr. Craig has been a resident of Pittsburg, or in the immediate vicinity of the city, and he is well known in legal, church and Masonic circles. He and his family attend Calvary Protestant Episcopal church, he is a member of Hailman lodge, No. 321, Free and Accepted Masons, located at Pittsburg, and of the Pennsylvania consistory, S. P. R. S. He takes an active interest in church and lodge affairs, though his greatest energies are devoted to the demands of his noble profession.
JOHN K. LOWRY, wholesale liquor dealer of Homestead and councilman from the third ward, is a son of John Lowry, and grandson of Thomas Lowry, who came to America from Ireland in 1830, and located in Pittsburg, where he followed his vocation as a weaver up to the time of his death, in 1849. He mar- ried Mary Bowman, and had six children: Thomas, Samuel, William, Joseph, John and Mary A. (Mrs. Samuel Maxwell). John Lowry, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Ireland, but came to America when an infant, and was reared and educated in Pitts- burg. He learned the saddlers' trade, and has followed this voca- tion all his life. He has been a resident of Homestead since 1872. and served two years as a member of the first council of the borough. He married Matilda Francis and reared four children : Belle, wife of George Munhall; Mary (deceased), John K., the subject of this sketch, and William (deceased). John K. Lowry was born July 26, 1860, in Allegheny city, Pa., and has lived in Homestead since 1872. After a common-school education, he served a three-year apprenticeship as a saddler and was engaged at this occupation for twenty years. Since 1898 he has been a whole- sale liquor dealer at Homestead, and does an extensive and profit- able business. On Feb. 18, 1881, Mr. Lowry married Jeanette, daughter of Levi and Hester (Snowden) Farquahar, of Pittsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Lowry have four children: Frank, Alice E., Blanche M. and Florence V. Mr. Lowry takes an active interest in public affairs, and is serving his third term as a member of the council of Homestead borough. In politics he is a republican. He is a member of Homestead lodge, No. 1049, I. O. O. F.
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