USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume I > Part 9
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GEORGE WILLSON GOSSER, a member and secretary of the board of assessors of Pittsburg, was born in Pitts- burg in 1853, attended school there, and, in 1867, graduated from the public schools. He then learned the machinists' trade and entered the employ of Carnegie & Co. He remained with this firm twenty-one years, until 1892, serving in various capacities, and was steadily advanced until, at the last, he was a roller, and had charge of the plate department. In 1892 Mr. Gosser organ- ized the Lawrenceville (Pa.) bronze company, and has been secre- tary and treasurer of the organization from the first. He was elected a member of the board of assessors in 1897, and was re-elected in 1900. In 1895 he was elected a member of the school board and served four years. In the same year he was elected a member of the central board of education, was re-elected in 1897, and again in 1901. Mr. Gosser is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree, and is a Knight Templar and a Shriner. He is a member of the Presbyterian church.
CHARLES H. SACHS, of Pittsburg, Pa., a prominent attorney-at-law. with offices at No. 427 Diamond St., was born in Russia, Sept. 29, 1877, son of Hyman D. and Libbie Sachs, both natives of Russia. His father died in Pittsburg, May 7, 1900, and his mother now resides in that city. Charles H. Sachs accom- panied his parents to the United States in 1883, located in Pittsburg, and received his literary training in the second ward school and at the academical department of Pittsburg high school. He matricu- lated at the Pittsburg law school, and there was graduated with the initial class of that institution in 1897. He was admitted to practice in Allegheny county, September, 1898, and now has a comfortable law business, being a member of all Pennsylvania courts and of the United States circuit court. On his admission to
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the bar, Mr. Sachs became a partner of Alexander Spiro, under the firm name of Spiro & Sachs; in September, 1901, H. C. Levey was admitted, and the name became Levey, Spiro & Sachs; in May, 1902, Mr. Spiro retired, and the firni was changed to Levey & Sachs; in April, 1903, that firm was dissolved, and since that time Mr. Sachs has maintained an independent office. He was the organizer of the Cosmopolitan National bank of Pittsburg, and for over a year was a member of its directorate. Mr. Sachs is a member of the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith, is unmarried, and resides in the seventh ward.
MALCOLM GRIERSON, of Pitts- burg, Pa., a successful attorney, with offices in the Methodist Protestant build- ing at No. 422 Fifth Ave., was born in Birmingham, England, Dec. 13, 1878, son of Donald and Celene Grierson. He came to America with his parents when only four years of age, located in To- ronto, Canada, and four years later removed to Braddock, Pa. Mr. Grierson was educated in the graded and high schools of North Braddock, graduating from the latter institution in 1896, and then taught school in Allegheny county for several years, during which time he was also reading law in the office of Thomas Lawry. He was admitted to the bar of Allegheny county in September, 1901, and since has practiced in Pittsburg with much success. On March 1, 1903, Mr. Grierson became a partner of his former pre- ceptor, Thomas Lawry, under the firm name of Lawry & Grierson, and they enjoy a splendid law business. Mr. Grierson resides in the borough of North Braddock, and is a prominent member of the First Methodist church of that borough and vice-president of the Epworth league of that church. Thomas Lawry, the senior mem- ber of the firm, was born at St. Ives, England, March 28, 1857, son of Henry and Mary Lawry, both natives of England and both deceased. Mr. Lawry came to Anierica with his mother in 1864, his father having preceded them, and they located at Johnstown, Cambria Co., Pa. He was educated in the elementary courses in the public schools of Johnstown, and later attended the high school of Ann Arbor, Mich., where subsequently he was graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan with the degree
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of bachelor of laws. He was admitted to the bar of Michigan in 1892, soon after his graduation, and in September of that year was admitted to the bar of Allegheny county. He practiced his pro- fession at Pittsburg until 1898, when he removed to Seattle, Wash., and resumed his practice in that city. Failing to become imbued with the "Seattle spirit," after a residence of two years on Puget sound, Mr. Lawry returned to Pittsburg, and has since met with much success in his professional career in the metropolis of western Pennsylvania. He served as solicitor for the borough of Braddock from March, 1896, to March, 1898, was also solicitor for the Brad- dock school board for two years and for five years was a justice of the peace of Braddock township. During his residence in that borough, Mr. Lawry also published a newspaper called the Braddock Journal, which was well received. He is a member of all courts in Penn- sylvania and of the Masonic lodge at Ann Arbor, Mich. Mr. Lawry was married at Pittsburg, Pa., Feb. 19, 1903, to Mrs. Alice Aukerman, and their home life is an ideal one.
A. WALTER RINEHART, manager of the Postal telegraph-cable company, Pittsburg, was born in Pittsburg, in the fourth ward, in 1864. He is a son of Prof. Edward E. Rinehart, and grandson of Wm. Rinehart, one of the pioneers of Pittsburg. He was reared and educated in Pittsburg, graduating from the com- mon schools in 1877. In 1886 he was married to Miss Mary F. Young, daughter of John and Mary Young. Mr. John Young is general superintendent of the Philadelphia heating company. To this union were born three sons, viz. : W. Wallace, A. Walter, Jr., and Jno. C. Mr. Rinehart began to learn telegraphy in 1877, and was employed until 1887 by the Baltimore & Ohio and the Western Union telegraph company. He then entered the office of the Postal telegraph-cable company, where he served six years as assistant chief operator and five years as night manager. His ability and attention to duty won him promotion in January, 1902, to the position of manager. Mr. Rinehart is a republican in politi- cal belief, and while never an aspirant for office, has always taken an active interest in the affairs of his party. He is a member of the Presbyterian church.
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CHARLES B. McFAIL, manager of the Holmes electric protective company of Pittsburg, was born in Waterville, Me., in 1861, and, in 1873, moved with his parents to Presque Isle, Me. Mr. McFail then entered the employ of the American union telegraph company at Portland, Me., and was engaged by this company and others for several years in the construction of telegraph lines. He first became connected with the Holmes electric protective company in 1884, and has been in the employ of this company since then. Here his faithful services and native ability won him, in 1889, the position of manager, which he has since held. Mr. McFail is an ardent republican in politics, but while taking a great amount of interest in the welfare of his party, has never held office or cared for political preferment for himself. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Episcopal church.
WILLIAM F. WALSH, alderman from the thirty-fifth ward, Pittsburg, was born on a farm in Bedford county, Pa., in 1867. He is a son of William F. and Margaret (Morrissay) Walsh, and they were the parents of six children: Mar- garet, Thomas A., John E., Patrick J. and Mary A., all deceased, except Patrick J. and our subject, Wm. F. The father died July 6, 1888. The mother is still living in Pittsburg with her son, P. J. Our subject's parents brought him to Pittsburg in 1869, and there Mr. Walsh was raised and edu- cated in the public schools. He attended school until he reached the age of eighteen, and then spent three years working for his father, William F. Walsh, a general contractor. Mr. Walsh was married, Aug. 15, 1889, to Mary J. Golden, daughter of Patrick and Mary Golden, and to whom was born one child, Richard J. After this he was employed at the Duquesne club, until March, 1900, when he was appointed to his present position by Governor Stone. Although appointed only to fill a vacancy, Mr. Walsh served his ward so well that in February, 1901, the voters elected
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him to the office for a five-year term. In politics he has long been an active republican. He is a member of the Knights of Macca- bees. He and his wife belong to the Catholic church. Mr. Walsh, besides being alderman, is a prominent real estate and insurance man.
ROBERT J. H. MALONE is the eleventh of a family of thirteen children born by the marriage of William and Ruth Ann (Bevington) Malone, both of whom were natives of Washington county, Pa., in which they passed their entire lives, the father finally passing away at the age of seventy-four years and the mother in her seventy-ninth year. Of their large family, five were sons and eight were daughters, all of whom grew to maturity, thoughi two of the sons and three of the daughters are now deceased. The subject of this sketch was born, Dec. 2, 1853, on a farm near the present village of Bulger, on the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis railroad, in Washington county. In youth he mani- fested a strong inclination for an education, and applied himself diligently at the public school near his home. He finally entered Sewickley academy, then being conducted by Prof. and Mrs. James Dickson, took a full course and was duly graduated there- from; but during this period ceased his attendance long enough to teach a term of school at his old home. Succeeding his graduation, he was elected assistant principal of the Sewickley public schools, and the following year was chosen principal of the public schools of Tarentum, in which capacity he officiated for the period of three years. He then resigned in order to accept higher duties and responsibilities as principal of the public schools of Etna, Pa., and as such served acceptably for five years, adding much to the effi- ciency of the educational system of that town. He finally resigned his school duties in order to take up the study of law, in 1884, in the office of H. T. Watson, on Diamond street, Pittsburg, and there he remained hard at work until April, 1887, when he was duly admitted to the bar. On April 1, 1888, he and William J. Barton took offices together in the Yoder law building, at the corner of Fifth and Wylie avenues, and there they have remained associated ever since, receiving a fair patronage from the public. During
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his active career as a lawyer he has served as school director in the borough of Etna for twelve years, and was at one time borough solicitor. In 1902, when the First National bank of Etna was organized, he became a stockholder therein, and was elected its president, which important position he continues to fill. Soon after his admission to the bar, he married Miss Jennie L. Meyer, of Sharpsburg, Pa., and took up his residence in Etna, and there they have continued to reside. To their marriage the following children have been born : Elsie M., Robert W. (deceased), Stanley H., Roy E., Bernice K. and Lillian Hope. Mr. Malone is a mem- ber of the Heptasophs and of Etna Borough council, R. A. He is identified with the United Presbyterian church of Etna.
JOHN J. McALINNEY, of Pittsburg, Pa., a successful young attorney, with offices at No. 1105 Frick building, was born in County Tyrone, Ulster province, Ireland, Oct. 11, 1878, son of Bernard and Mary Ann (O'Brien) McAlinney, both natives of County Tyrone, Ireland, and residents of Pittsburg since 1880. His parents had ten children, three of whom died in infancy, and the surviving ones, exclusive of himself, are: Joseph M., Isabel T., Margaret, Rose E., Ber- nard E. and Bessie. John J. McAlinney, when but two years of age, accompanied his parents to the United States, settled in Pittsburg, and since has made that city his home. He acquired his rudimentary education in the public schools, later attended the central high school, and was there graduated in 1899. He then read law in the office of L. M. Plumer, a well-known attorney of Pittsburg, and subsequently attended the Pittsburg law school, where he was graduated with the class of 1902 and received the degree of bachelor of laws. He was admitted to the bar on June 21, 1902, began the practice in July of that year and is now regarded as one of the most successful and best-equipped of the younger members of the Pittsburg bar. Mr. McAlinney is well versed in the principles of law, and this knowledge, combined with the native wit and ability so characteristic of the Irish race, makes him a worthy opponent in the forensic field and assures him much success in his chosen profession.
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JOHN PIERCE, assistant to Theo- dore J. Shaffer, president of the Amal- gamated association of iron, steel and tin workers of the United States and Canada, was born in County Wexford, Ireland, in 1845. He came with his par- ents to America in 1848, the family locat- ing first at Chartiers, Allegheny Co., Pa., and then moving, in 1854, to Grand Rapids, Mich. Here both parents of Mr. Pierce died, the mother in 1858 and the father in 1862. The boy came to Pitts- burg, beginning work on Oct. 10, 1862, in the nail department of Jones & Laughlin's iron mill. Mr. Pierce remained in the employ of Jones & Laughlin until Aug. 6, 1897, beginning as a nail feeder, and ending as roller in the plate mill. After this he spent a year in Birmingham, Ala., and then gave up active work to devote his attention to the association of which Mr. Shaffer is president. Mr. Pierce first joined the Amal- gamated association of steel, iron and tin workers of the United States and Canada in 1877, was elected trustee in 1899, and assumed his present position as assistant to President Shaffer in June, 1900. In religious belief he is a Catholic, and in politics a democrat. He served as school director from the twenty-fourth ward, Pittsburg, for three years, from 1884 to 1887.
JOHN CARNEY, funeral director in Pittsburg, was born at St. Johns, N. B., in 1845, and came to Boston, Mass., with his parents, when six months old. Here he lived until his eighth year, moving then to Brady's Bend, Armstrong county, where he attended school, and resided until 1865. At the age of fifteen he went to work in the rolling mill of the Brady's Bend iron company, remaining with this firm five years, and being employed at the last as a rougher. In 1865 he came to Pittsburg, became a heater for Jones & Laughlin, and remained with this firm until 1898, when he went into the undertaking business, at which he has since been engaged. He is a Catholic in religious belief, and a democrat in politics.
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Mr. Carney's son, John J. Carney, who is nominally the head of the undertaking establishment now located at No. 2526 Carson St., South Side, Pittsburg, was born in the twenty-fifth ward, Pitts- burg, in 1872. He was reared and educated in Pittsburg, attending the public schools, and afterwards the Holy Ghost college, from which he graduated. Having completed his education, he became timekeeper in the Bessemer department of the Jones & Laughlin iron mill; was employed there about two years, and then, in Sep- tember, 1895, embarked in the undertaking business, which has been his occupation since then. Mr. Carney passed the required examination in January, 1896.
CLARENCE LEMOYNE PHILLIS, of Pittsburg, Pa., a successful architect, was born in upper St. Clair township, Allegheny Co., Pa., April 6, 1852, son of William T. and Hannah Little (Arneel) Phillis. His paternal ancestors were German, and the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, Joseph Phillis, was the first member of the family to settle in that part of Pennsylvania. Joseph was a window glass blower, and located at what is now the South Side of Pittsburg, where he reared his family, consisting of two sons and a daughter, viz .: Jacob Joseph, Lewis, and Susan, who married a man by the name of Ryan. Jacob Joseph Phillis, grandfather of Clarence L., married a Miss Verner, and their only child was William T., the father of the subject. William T. Phillis was born in the vicinity of Temperanceville, Allegheny Co., Pa., and when quite young lost both of his parents through death, his father having been drowned in the Ohio river, at the confluence of Saw Mill run, about 1826. William T. Phillis was adopted by his mother's family, where he remained until about eighteen years of age, when he became a soldier in the Mexican war. After that war he returned to the vicinity of Pittsburg and engaged in steamboating on the lower river until 1861. He then enlisted for a three-year service in the Union army, and, at the expiration of his term of service, re-enlisted and served through- out the remaining days of that sanguinary struggle. Later he returned to South Side, Pittsburg, was employed by Jones & Laughlin for some time, and died on Sept. 27, 1872. His wife died
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on July 13, 1879. Their children were: Margaret Ellen, Clarence L., William H., Mary A. and Franklin S. (deceased). The following genealogical table is taken from the family Bible of Mr. Phillis' maternal grandmother, Margaret E. Holmes, who was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1779, viz. : William Holmes married Jane Neal, in 1673, and they had two children: Katie, born Oct. 8, 1674; James, born in 1676. William Holmes died in 1695, at the age of forty-seven years, and Jane Neal Holmes died in 1707, aged fifty-four years. Katie Holmes married Robert Carnahan, in 1693, but no children to this union are recorded. James Holmes married Ellen Graham, in 1706, and to them were born: Twin boys, in 1707, both of whom died in infancy; John, on July 13, 1709; Margaret, in 1712; Thomas, in 1714. James Holmes and his son, John, were lost at sea in 1727; Margaret died in 1718, and Ellen Graham Holmes died in 1739, at the age of sixty-two years. Thomas Holmes married Hannah Little, in 1740, and their children were: James, born 1742, date of death missing; Ellen, born 1745; Margaret, born 1748; William H., born 1750; John, born 1753. Thomas Holmes died in 1786, Hannah Little Holmes in 1772, and Ellen married Hugh Marshall, in 1766, but left no children. Margaret Holmes married David Gray, in 1771, and died, in 1793, without recorded issue. John Holmes married Mary Kincaid, in 1776, and their children were: John, born in 1778; James, born in 1781. Mary (Kincaid) Holmes died in 1789, and her husband married Catherine Wallace, in 1793, she being a widow with one son, Harry Wallace, and they had the following children: William M., born 1795; Thomas H., born 1797; Margaret E., born 1799, and John and James, with no record of date of birth. Catherine (Wallace) Holmes died in 1822, but the date of the death of her husband is not shown. William M. Holmes died in 1878, aged eighty-three years, and was buried in Iowa. No record of marriage or death of Thomas Holmes. Margaret E. Holmes married John Arneel, in 1821, and their children were: Mary, born 1824; Hannah, born 1826; Margaret J., born 1828. John Arneel died on the voyage from Ireland to America, and was buried in Canada, about 1830, and his widow married James Stewart, in 1847, by whom she had no children. Margaret E. (Arneel) Stewart died on April 14, 1869, at the age of seventy years, and her husband, James Stewart, died Oct. 19, 1871. Hannah L. Arneel married William T. Phillis, in 1849, and their children were: Margaret E., born May 30, 1850, married a Mr. W. T. Powell, and died on May 28, 1891; Clarence L., subject
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of this sketch, born April 6, 1852; William H., born Oct. 29, 1854; Mary A., born June 5, 1857; Franklin S., born Oct. 24, 1859, and died Sept. 16, 1877. Clarence L. Phillis received a common-school education, and began his business career in a rolling mill, where he remained for four years. Later he learned the trade of car- pentering and followed that line of work for a number of years. Subsequently he returned to the rolling mill, where for a time he was in charge of the mechanical operations of the mill. For the past twelve years he has followed his present vocation of architec- ture, and has met with success in that profession. Mr. Phillis has been married three times. He was first married to Rachael Hermany, and they had three children: John Franklin, an archi- tect, born Dec. 26, 1876, and married, on Oct. 9, 1902, Estella M., daughter of Alexander W. and Caroline Douds, of Turtle Creek, Pa .; Alice Leah, born in March, 1878, and Hugh, who died in infancy. Mr. Phillis was married on the second occasion to Mary S. Shoemaker, by whom he had one son, Clarence M., born June 24, 1889. His third marriage was with Mrs. Caroline (Brehm) Keitz, a widow with one son, William, and their wedded life is an ideal one.
CHRISTOPHER MAGEE, Jr., of Pittsburg, Pa., a prominent attorney, was born in that city, Oct. 3, 1863, son of Christopher and Elizabeth Louise (McLeod) Magee. Christopher Magee, Sr., was born in Pittsburg, Dec. 5, 1829, and is the son of Christopher and Jane (Watson) Magee. He is a graduate of the Western university, and also of the University of Pennsylvania at Philadel- phia, from which institution he was grad- uated in the classics in 1849, and from the law department in 1851. He entered on a successful practice in Allegheny county, secured and main- tained high rank as an advocate and counselor, and, in 1886, was appointed judge of the court of common pleas by Governor . Patterson. In the fall of that year he was elected to succeed him- self in that position for a term of ten years. He also served in the State legislature and in the common council, and is still in the active practice of law, being one of the oldest and most respected members of the Allegheny county bar association. Christopher
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Magee, Jr., received his classical education at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in the class of 1887. He then read law in the office of Judge Dallas, of Philadelphia, and was graduated from the law department of the University of Pennsylvania, in 1889, with the degree of bachelor of laws, the degree of bachelor of arts having been previously awarded him by his alma mater. Since then Mr. Magee has devoted his entire attention to his pro- fession, and stands high at the bar. He was married at Bridgeton, N. J., on June 1, 1892, to Julia Vodges, daughter of Rev. Edward P. and Carrie (Titus) Heberton, and the following children have been born to them : Christopher, on March 28, 1893; Margaret Mitchell, on Jan. 4, 1895; Helen Heberton, on April 27, 1897; Norman Heberton, on Dec. 31, 1900, and Julia Heberton, in Sep- tember, 1902. Mr. Magee is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is identified with its efforts toward the elevation and better- ment of the human family.
EDSON KIMMEY, superintendent of the Postal telegraph-cable company at Pittsburg, was born in Albany, N. Y., in 1868, and resided there until 1885, when he graduated from the Albany high school. He then went to work for the Baltimore & Ohio telegraph company, entered the employ of the Commercial Union telegraph company in 1886, and was engaged for a time in establishing various offices in the northern part of New York. In 1887 he became operator for the Baltimore & Ohio at Long Branch, N. J., and, in the same year, was sent to New York city, where he was employed as operator to the superintendent of the metropolitan district of the company. In 1888 he entered the employ of the Postal telegraph-cable company, as operator in New York. His rise since that time has been deservedly rapid. In 1893 he became manager at Albany, N. Y. ; was sent to Pittsburg in the same capacity in 1900, and, in March, 1902, became super- intendent of the Pittsburg district. This district includes West Virginia, and extends on the north to the New York State line, and on the east to Altoona, Pa., and Hancock, Md. Mr. Kimmey is a member of the Blue lodge, F. and A. M.
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CHARLES F. ANDERSON, alder- man from the fourth ward, Pittsburg, was born in the ward which he now represents, Aug. 12, 1849. His father, Robert Anderson, a prominent man in his time, was appointed postmaster of Pittsburg, in 1852, and served six years. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in Pittsburg, and left school at seventeen years of age to learn the moulder's trade, at which he worked until 1874. He first entered the employ of the city in 1878, and has since that time held many responsible public positions. From 1878 to 1880 he was clerk in the office of the city treasurer; from 1880 to 1887 clerk in the office of the county commissioners. He was appointed clerk in the office of William H. Barclay, United States pension agent, where he remained four years, and then went into the office of Bernard McKenna, who was at that time alderman from the fourth ward. In 1893 Mr. Anderson was appointed alderman to succeed Mr. McKenna, who had resigned to become mayor of the city. In February, 1894, he was elected to the same office for a five-year term, and, in 1899, was re-elected. Mr. Anderson is a democrat in political belief. He is a member of the Catholic church.
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