USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume I > Part 6
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Richard Ridgway and his wife, Elizabeth, left Waterford, Berks Co., England, and sailed for America in the ship "Jacob and Mary," of London. They arrived in the Delaware river in July, 1699. Their eldest son, Thomas, was twelve years old when they arrived. Richard settled with his family in Springfield township, Burlington Co., N. J., where he died, leaving two sons, Thomas and Richard. Thomas married Anna Paws, daughter of Joseph Paws, and moved to Little Egg Harbor, N. J., where he died, in 1724, leaving eleven children, named Jacob, Job, Timothy, Thomas, Edward, Richard, John, Robert, Catherine, Elizabeth and Anna. Of these sons, Thomas, John and Robert married and spent their days in Egg Harbor. Jacob, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, went to Springfield township, in Burling- ton county, on a farm known in later years as the "Michael Earl Farm." Richard (son of Thomas) went to Long Island, where his descendants still reside. John, born in 1705, was quite a cele- brated Quaker minister. He married Phoebe Ballinger, and left five children, named John, Phoebe, Jacob, Thomas and Anna. Of these, Jacob became the greatest millionaire of Philadel- phia, and was the father of Madam Rush, wife of Dr. Benja- min Rush, of that city. John married Elizabeth Wright, and died in 1845, leaving eight children, named David, born in 1777; Sarah, born in 1779; Caleb, in 1781; John, in 1784; Jacob, in
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1787; David W., in 1791; Andrew C., in 1793, and Thomas, in 1797. Richard Ridgway, brother of Thomas and son of the first Richard, married Elizabeth Drews, and settled near Trenton, N. J., where he died, leaving several children. Joseph, the eldest, born in 1701, and wife, Abigail, lived near Burlington, and had four sons and four daughters, named David (born in 1733), Allyn, Joseph, Henry, Mary, Sarah, the names of the others being unknown. Mary married Solomon Thomas, of Springfield, N. J .; Sarah married Joseph Pancoast, father of Dr. Pancoast, of Philadel- phia. David married Jane Burr, and moved to Trenton, N. J., and had four sons and four daughters, named David, Richard, Burr, Robert, Abigail, Rachael, Sarah and Hannah. Abigail mar- ried John Livzey, of Philadelphia; Rachael, John Evans; Sarah, John Johnson, and Hannah, Aaron Middleton. Richard, born in 1773, was married at Wysox, Bradford Co., Pa., 1808, to Sarah Cowel. This comprises all branches of the descendants of Richard Ridgway that I am able to discover in America. Another branch of Ridgways is found in Massachusetts. They came to this coun- try at an earlier date, as will be seen by the following: Ist. John Ridgway and wife, Mary, admitted to the church in Charleston, Mass., in 1652. Mrs. Ridgway died Dec. 20, 1670. 2d. John, whose wife's name was Hannah, died in Charleston, Dec. 10, 1721. 3d. James Ridgway, son of John and Hannah Ridgway, born in Charleston, Oct. 13, 1698. His wife's name was Mehitable. 4th. Joseph Ridgway, son of James and Mehitable, was born, April 6, 1735, and died in 1815. He married, as his first wife, Abigail Bell, and as his second wife, Mary Ridgway, daughter of James Ridgway and his wife, Mary Braizer, of another line of Ridgways. Frank Ridgway, the subject of this sketch, was born on a farm in Gloucester county, N. J., in 1859, and moved to Baltimore ten years later, where he received a limited education, mostly in private schools. He entered the United States signal corps, in 1879, as a private, and was placed in charge of a military telegraph line in Arizona and New Mexico, where he remained until his term of service expired, in 1884, having been promoted to sergeant in 1880. After this he came east, re-enlisted in the signal corps in 1885, and remained until the service was transferred from the department of war to the department of agriculture, in 1891. He was stationed in Washington, D. C., until the latter part of 1885, and then sent as observer to Cape May Point, N. J. After this he was transferred to Cape Henlopen, Delaware breakwater, as sergeant in the signal corps, having charge of the military tele-
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graph line between Cape Henlopen and Chincoteague island, and was sent thence to Sandy Hook, N. J., and from there to Man- chester, N. H., where he remained until September, 1887. He was then ordered to Atlantic City, N. J., where he remained a short time and was transferred to Washington, D. C., being occu- pied there until May 31, 1888. Mr. Ridgway was then transferred to Harrisburg, Pa., where he remained until June 9, 1896, and then came to Pittsburg, where he has since been stationed, and has given splendid satisfaction. Mr. Ridgway is an enthusiastic Mason, having attained the thirty-second degree, and is a Shriner. He is a member of the First Presbyterian church of Pittsburg, Pa.
THOMAS G. MCCLURE, county treasurer of Allegheny county, was born in Pittsburg in 1856, and there reared and educated. Leaving school at the age of fourteen, he entered the employ of a tin plate and metal firm, and continued with this concern until 1891. For four years before this time he had been a meinber of the firm. In 1891 Mr. McClure started in for himself in the tin plate and metal business, under the name of McClure & Co. This concern has had a most prosperous existence, and now
does an extensive and profitable business. Besides this Mr. McClure established, in 1899, a tin plate mill in Washington, Pa. Mr. McClure has been for many years prominent in public life. He was elected a member of the Pittsburg council in 1883, and served six years in the common council and four in the select coun- cil. During this period he was one of the most influential council- men. He served on the finance committee, and was for the last three years of his service chairman of the sub-committee on appro- priations. During his last year he was a member of the committee on the Carnegie library, and chairman of the committee on build- ing and grounds for the library. He was elected treasurer of Allegheny county in 1899. He is at present treasurer of the city and county republican executive committee. Mr. McClure is an enthusiastic member of the Masonic fraternity, where he has attained the thirty-second degree, and is a Knight Templar and Shriner. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church.
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JOHN A. BLEICHNER, alderman from the twenty-fifth ward, South Side, Pittsburg, is a prominent real estate and insurance man. He was born in the ward which he now represents, in 1870, and there he was reared and given a lim- ited education in the common schools. When twelve years old, he left school and worked for two years in a glass factory. After this he went to Ligonier, West- moreland county, and spent four years on a farm. Returning to Pittsburg, Mr. Bleichner worked a year for Jones & Laughlin, at the same time attending night school. He accepted a clerkship with his brother, George J. Bleichner, in a real estate office, and was so employed for six years. He was elected alder- man, in 1896, his ability and faithful service in this capacity win- ning him re-election, in February, 1901. Mr. Bleichner belongs to no secret order. He is a member of the Catholic church and the Knights of Columbus.
CHARLES F. McKENNA, a member of the Allegheny county bar and promi- nent citizen of Pittsburg, and veteran Union soldier in all the great battles of the Army of the Potomac, from Antie- tam to Appomattox, was born in Pitts- burg, Oct. 1, 1845. He is of Irish ancestry, his grandparents and their ten children-six sons and four daughters- coming from County Tyrone and settling in the city of Pittsburg in the year 1830. His father, James McKenna, died in the city of Pittsburg when the subject of this sketch was less than one year old. His mother survived her hus- band's death until the year 1884, when she died in her eighty- fourth year. A family of six children-all of whom reached mature years-survived the death of James McKenna. The late Hon. Bernard McKenna, for twelve years judge of the second (police) district court of the city of Pittsburg, served as mayor of Pittsburg for the term of three years, from 1893 to 1896, and who died, June 20, 1903, was a brother of Charles F. McKenna. Mr.
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McKenna, the subject of this sketch, received his early education in the public day and night schools of Pittsburg. He was appren- ticed in his fourteenth year to learn the lithographers' trade and attained great success as an engraver and artist. In his six- teenth year he left this employment in response to President Lincoln's call of July, 1862, for 300,000 more Union soldiers and enlisted as a private soldier in Company E, 155th regiment Penn- sylvania volunteers, recruited in the city of Pittsburg. This regi- ment was assigned to duty with Humphrey's division and became part of the famous 5th corps, Army of the Potomac, and within two weeks after enlisting in Pittsburg, the division reached the battlefield of Antietam, and for three years following, until the close of the war by surrender of Confederate armies under General Lee, Private McKenna carried a musket, participating in the great battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Five Forks and Appo- mattox. Among the Pittsburgers who served in the same com- mand were Col. E. Jay Allen, the late Gen. A. L. Pearson, Col. Jno. H. Cain, Col. Jno. Ewing, Major Geo. M. Laughlin, Harry M. Curry, Saml. Kilgore, Wm. Shore, John F. Hunter, Col. S. W. Hill and Jno. H. Kerr. After the war, Mr. McKenna returned to Pittsburg and entered upon the study of law with the law firm of Mitchell & Palmer. In 1869 he was admitted to practice at the Allegheny county bar. He has been in constant and successful general practice of his profession in Pittsburg ever since. He possesses an enviable reputation in western Pennsyl- vania as an able and reliable counsel and advocate. In the many years of legal practice he has been connected with many celebrated cases reported in the United States and State supreme court reports. He has been the counsel for the Catholic diocese of Pitts- burg and cemetery and charitable organizations, under the admin- istration of three bishops-the late Rt. Rev. M. Domenec, the late Rt. Rev. John Tuigg and of Rt. Rev. R. Phelan, present bishop- until the year 1892, when he resigned the position because of the increasing demands of general practice. Mr. McKenna has also been the general solicitor of the Western Pennsylvania humane society since its organization, over thirty years. He is also counsel for Ladies of the G. A. R. home at Hawkins Station. During the continuance of existence of the City National and City Savings bank of Pittsburg he was solicitor. Mr. McKenna is a charter member of Post No. 3, G. A. R., and of the Union Veteran legion encampment, No. 1, of Pittsburg, having been elected
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colonel of the latter organization, composed of veterans of the Civil war who had served not less than two years in the field. At all times Mr. McKenna, on memorial day celebrations and at camp- fires and reunions, has been active and has responded to invita- tions as a speaker. In 1872 Mr. McKenna married Miss Virginia White, daughter of the late Dr. N. W. White, of Allegheny city. Although not blessed with children, no happier or more cheerful couple than Mr. and Mrs. McKenna could be found anywhere. Mr. McKenna enjoys remarkably vigorous health, and seems to be still in his prime for intellectual work. No member of the legal profession devotes himself closer or more unremittingly to the duties of his position than does Mr. McKenna. In politics he has acted with the democratic party in national campaigns, but has frequently exhibited independent qualities in bolting unsatisfactory nominations and in actively supporting reform movements in local politics.
HUGH YOUNG, national bank exami- ner at Pittsburg, was born in County Down, Ireland, Dec. 14, 1832. He came to America alone in 1850, and located in Wellsborough, Pa, where he has since made his home. In 1856 he became special correspondent for the New York Tribune at Lawrence, Kan. ; remained in that capacity a year, and then returned to Pennsylvania, where he studied law and was admitted to the bar, but never practiced. In July, 1863, he enlisted as a private in Company F, 35th Pennsyl- vania volunteer infantry, and two days later was elected first lieu- tenant. He served until August, 1863, acting as quartermaster. Returning to civil life, Mr. Young became a candidate for the State legislature in 1876 and was elected. The following year he was appointed national bank examiner, and acted as such until Febru- ary, 1888, when he retired from office and became president of the Wellsborough National bank. He remained in this position until 1891, when he was appointed national bank examiner for Pittsburg, in which capacity he has been, since then, successfully engaged. Mr. Young is a member of the F. and A. M., I. O. O. F., and Cook post, G. A. R., at Wellsborough.
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WILLIAM J. ZAHNISER, contractor, Pittsburg, was born on a farm in Clinton county, fa., in 1857, but has spent most of his life in Allegheny county. He came with his parents to Allegheny city in 1865, and a year later moved to Law- renceville, now seventeenth ward, Pitts- burg, where he was reared and educated. He graduated from the ward school in 1873, and then started in to learn the car- penters' trade, his father, J. W. Zahniser, being at that time a large contractor. In 1883, the father went to try his for- tunes in the west, and Mr. Zahniser took up the contracting busi- ness, in which he has since been successfully engaged. He has long been a prominent man in his community, and, in 1900, the people of the seventeenth ward elected him to represent them in the select council. Mr. Zahniser is a member of the F. and A. M., Royal Arcanum and A. O. U. W. He belongs to the Seventh United Presbyterian church of Pittsburg.
BENJAMIN W. STOUFFER, alder- man from the thirty-third ward since 1860, has been a resident of Pittsburg for about half a century. Coming to Pitts- burg in 1854, he went into the drug busi- ness, in which he spent some time, and later engaged in the commission busi- ness. He was made superintendent of the Clinton iron and steel company, in 1860, and has held that position ever since. In 1860 he was elected member of the school board, and has filled the position most creditably since that time. He has been for the past twenty-one years a member of the central board of education. In politics he has always been an active republican. Mr. Stouffer is a man whose kind heart and generous disposition have won him the respect of the community and the friendship of all with whom he has been associated. He is a mem- ber of the F. and A. M., K. of P., Royal Arcanum, Heptasophs and A. O. U. WV. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian.
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JOHN WOODS NESBIT, United States pension agent at Pittsburg, is a son of James McConnell Nesbit, who was born in Allegheny county, Pa., in 1810, and died in 1877, and a grandson of John Nesbit, a native of the north of Ireland. J. W. Nesbit was born in South Fayette township, Allegheny Co., Pa., May 12, 1840; was raised on a farm, and received his education in the common schools. On Aug. 22, 1862, he enlisted as a pri- vate in Company D, 149th Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, and served with the Army of the Potomac under Generals Burnside, Hooker, Meade and Grant, taking part in the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettys- burg, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon railroad, Hatcher's Run, and other minor actions. He was promoted to the position of corporal, July 7, 1863, and was made sergeant, Sept. 1, 1864. He went through the entire term of service without a scratch. He was struck in the breast in the Wilderness, May 6, 1864, by a sharpshooter's ball, but a needle case in his breast pocket, together with a roll of shelter tent, protected him from serious injury. Sergeant Nesbit was known as a reliable man, and was compli- mented for bravery on the field of North Anna. He was mustered out of the service at the close of the war, and returned hoine with his company. On his return from the army, he resumed farming, and later became active in military affairs, politics and business. He organized an independent military company, and was elected captain, June 1, 1868. This company was known as the "Free Rangers," and was mustered out of the service, June 1, 1873. In 1875 he organized Company C, 14th regiment, N. G. P., and was elected captain on August 14th of that year. On July 9, 1893, he was elected major, and assumed command of the second battalion of the regiment. On May 12, 1898, Major Nesbit enlisted for the Spanish-American war, but resigned soon after to resume his duties as United States pension agent, to which position lie had been previously appointed. Being an active republican and inter- ested in county politics, he became a candidate for the State assembly, was nominated and elected, and represented the sixth district, Allegheny county, in the sessions of 1881, 1883, 1889, 1891 and 1893. He was appointed superintendent of the State arsenal
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at Harrisburg, Pa., by Governor Hastings, Feb. 1, 1895, and served . until Dec 16, 1897, when he resigned. On June 1; 1896, he was elected president of the sixth assembly district republican league, was appointed United States pension agent at Pittsburg by Presi- dent Mckinley, Dec. 18, 1897, and was reappointed by President Roosevelt, Jan. 31, 1902. Major Nesbit is actively engaged in business, and takes a prominent part in the promotion of local enterprises. He owns and manages a stock and fruit farm at Beechmont, Pa .; is owner of the Oakdale insurance agency; is president of the Oakdale armory association; secretary of the Oakdale cemetery company; president of the Melrose cemetery company at Bridgeville, Pa. ; director of the First National bank of Oakdale; director of the Farmers' mutual insurance company, of Oakdale; interested in the Carnegie, McDonald & Cannonsburg street railway company; director of the Chartiers telephone com- pany; member of the board of managers of the Boys' industrial home at Oakdale, and secretary and treasurer of the Oakdale printing and publishing company. Major Nesbit is a member of the First Presbyterian church at Oakdale, is a member of Union Veteran legion, No. 1, Pittsburg, and of Post No. 153, G. A. R., Carnegie. He resides with his family on Hastings avenue, Oakdale.
WILLIAM THOMAS LINDSEY, clerk of the United States district court for the western district of Pennsylvania, was born in the village of West Middle- town, Washington Co., Pa., some fifty odd years ago. When a boy he attended Vermillion college at Hayesville, Ohio. Leaving college in 1869, he read law with the late Judge Alex. W. Archeson, of Washington, Pa. He also taught a select school in his native town one session, and later was principal for a short time in the public schools of Pittsburg. In 1871 he resigned his position as principal, and became cltief clerk of the said court, which office he filled for twenty years, and was then appointed to his present position. Since 1891 he has been United States commissioner. For several years he was a member of the board of school control of Allegheny city. Mr. Lindsey is president of the Elizabeth bridge company, and a director in the Mercantile trust company, the Central accident insurance com-
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pany, Jack's Run bridge company and North Side bridge company. He was an aide-de-camp on the staff of former Gov. William A. Stone, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Colonel Lindsey is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. He is a de- scendant of Capt. Samuel Lindsey, an ensign of the 3d battalion, Pennsylvania provisional regiment, commissioned May 3, 1758, and commanded by Col. Hugh Mercer. He is also descended in a straight line from John Pancoast, a Quaker, who came to America froin England prior to 1676, and, with William Penn and others, was one of the signers of the jury concessions, March 3, 1676.
CHARLES F. KIRSCHLER, who represents the fifth ward in the select council of Allegheny city, Pa., is a typi- cal German-American citizen. He was born in Butler county, Pa., in 1864, his parents, Christopher and Christina Kirschler, being well-known residents of that county. When Charles was about eight years of age, the family removed to Allegheny city, where he attended the common schools of the second ward, and, after the death of his father, which oc- curred in 1876, he took a course in Duff's and in the Iron City business colleges. His first employment was in the Third National bank of Allegheny city, as messenger. He soon rose to the position of discount clerk, then bookkeeper of the discount department, and finally to that of general bookkeeper, where he continued to Jan. 1, 1893. At that time he bought the fancy grocery business of James Lockhart, on Federal street, but after conducting that business for about a year, he sold out to accept the position of secretary and treasurer to the D. Lutz & Son brewing company. This place he held for five years, and continued as treasurer for three years longer. On July 1, 1901, he formed a partnership with F. H. Tooher for the purchase of the Newell Hotel, in the city of Pittsburg, which they still operate. Throughout his career, Mr. Kirschler has been somewhat active in politics. He is a member of both the county and city republican committees, being the treasurer of the latter. In 1901 he was elected to the select council for the term ending in 1905. In the council he is the chairman of the finance committee, as well as a member of several other important committees. In 1892 he was
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married to Miss Ida, daughter of John McClurg, of Allegheny city, and they have two children, Carl F., Jr., and Elizabeth. Mr. Kirschler is a member of Allegheny lodge, No. 339, B. P. O. Elks. In his business, fraternal and political relations he enjoys the full confidence of his associates, and those who know him best speak of him in terms of high praise.
HENRY EYNON, alderman from the thirteenth ward, Pittsburg, was born in South Wales, in 1852, and there reared and educated. He came to America in 1870, locating in Pittsburg, where he has since resided. He was for twenty years engaged as a contractor and builder, and, in 1895, was elected alderman from his ward. His services during the first term in the council were so appreciated by the people that, in February, 1900, they elected him for a second five-year term. Mr. Eynon is a member of the Hepta- sophs, and belongs to the Congregational church. He was married, in 1873, to Miss Sarah Lewis, daughter of David Lewis, and is the father of one boy and five girls.
JAMES DUNLAP WALKER, the eldest son of William and Margaret (Dunlap) Walker, an alderman of the twentieth ward, Pittsburg, Pa. ; a promi- nent citizen and Civil war veteran, is one of the best known and most highly- respected old soldiers in Pennsylvania. He was born in Allegheny city, Pa. . June 6, 1846, and attended public and private schools there, afterwards com- pleting his education at the Iron City business college, returning his test papers and enlisting for the war on the same day. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company B, 15th Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, and served about two months, taking part in the battle of Antietam, and also in the pursuit and capture of the daring confederate general, John Morgan, by Shackelford's cavalry. He then enlisted in the
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famous Knap's Pennsylvania battery for three years, or during the war, and from the date of enlistment participated in all the marches and battles of that celebrated organization until mustered out at the age of nineteen, in Pittsburg, June 14, 1865. In an hour and a half of fierce fighting at Wauhatchie, Tenn., with four guns in action, the battery lost twenty-six men killed and wounded out of forty-six officers and men engaged, and of forty-eight battery horses which went into the engagement, all but two were disabled. At the battle of Pine Mountain, Ga., this battery fired the shot which killed General Polk, known as the "bishop-general" of the confederacy. The organization was with General Sherman in his famous march to the sea and through the Carolinas and is spoken of in his memoirs as the "famous battery." Colonel Walker was taken prisoner near Blackwater, N. C., by General Hampton's con- federate cavalry, and confined in the confederate prisons at Raleigh, N. C., and at Danville, and later spent some time in the noted Libby prison at Richmond. After the war Colonel Walker spent two years in the west working at his trade of bricklaying, and then, returning home, engaged in the business of general contracting, in partnership with his father, up to 1879, afterwards continuing the business alone until 1894. In 1886 he removed to the city of Pittsburg, and, in 1898, was appointed an alderman by Governor Stone to fill a vacancy, being elected to the same position at the next general election for a term of five years. Colonel Walker has been a member of the G. A. R. since 1867; is a past commander of Post No. 88, department of Pennsylvania, G. A. R .; served four terms as president of the Allegheny county association of Union ex-prisoners of war, and is a past president of the Alle- gheny G. A. R. association. He was for three terms chairman of the executive committee of the Union ex-prisoners of war, and was elected national commander of that organization in 1901, and re-elected in 1902 and 1903. At present he is commander of Knap's battery veteran association. He served in the Pennsylvania State legislature from 1876 to 1881, and as an officer of the National guard and chairman of the military committee of the Pennsylvania house of representatives for three sessions, was very active and successful in securing legislation looking to the betterment of the condition of the old soldiers and soldiers' orphans, and the reorganization of the Pennsylvania national guard. A deserved compliment in recognition of his services at that time was his appointment by Gov. Henry M. Hoyt to the position of chief of artillery, with the rank of colonel, in which posi-
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