USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume II > Part 10
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MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
REV. O. H. PHILIPS, pastor of the First Christian church of Braddock, was born near Library, Allegheny Co., March 17, 1849. His parents, Richard and Sarah (Higbee) Philips, lived on a farm in that vicinity. His ancestors on the paternal side came to America from Wales about five generations back, while the Higbees were settlers of Connecticut as early as 1640. Mr. Philips was educated at the Millersville State normal school, and later took the non-resident course of the Wesleyan university of Bloomington, Ill., and holds the pedagogic degree of M. E. D. and honorary degree of A. M. He was superintendent of the Tarentum schools from 1873 to 1875, principal at Sewickly 1875-85, and headmaster of the Sewickly academy from 1885 to 1890. While still connected with the last-named institution, in 1889, he commenced the Chris- tian ministry at Carnegie, where he founded a church of which he was pastor four years and a half previous to his call to Braddock, in October, 1893. The church of which he is minister now occupies a commodious meeting-house on Braddock avenue, at the foot of Fifth street, valued, with grounds, at $35,000, and has a member- ship of over 300. Since coming to Braddock, Mr. Philips has led a very active life, and has been the means of greatly reviving his church and the denominational interests of this section. He is first vice-president of the Western Pennsylvania Christian Missionary society, life director in the American Christian Missionary society of the Christian church, member of the board of directors of the Children's Home society, and an active worker in the Anti-saloon league. He also recognizes that there is good in the fraternal organizations, and is serving as chaplain of Braddock Field lodge, No. 510, F. and A. M., besides being a member of the Royal Arca- num and Braddock Home Guards. Rev. O. H. Philips was married, Dec. 27, 1877, to Minnie M., daughter of Felix Negley and Mary (Wilhelm) Humes, of Tarentum. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Philips are: Mabel, born Jan. 26, 1879, now teaching music; Eugene Negley, born Dec. 11, 1884, now in his senior year at Bethany college, and Dorothy M., born April 17, 1887, now attend- ing the Braddock schools.
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ALEXANDER M. SCOTT was born in Mifflin township, Allegheny Co., Pa., Jan. 18, 1851. His father, Thomas Scott, was the son of James and Nancy (Jamison) . Scott, who were married in Ireland and came to America in 1836, and, after ten years' residence in Butler county, moved to Allegheny county. There James Scott died, July 3, 1862, at the age of eighty- three. His wife, Nancy (Jamison) Scott, died, April 30, 1883, at the remarkable age of ninety-six. The parents of James Scott were Thomas and Mary (Wilson) Scott, natives of Scotland, who moved to the north of Ireland early in the nineteenth century. Lucinda (Snodgrass) Scott, the mother of our subject, was the daughter of John and Sarah (Becket) Snodgrass. Mr. and Mrs. Snodgrass had five children, besides Lucinda: John S., Alexander M., William, Sarah and Elizabeth. After the death of his first wife, Thomas Scott married Maggie, daughter of David Moore. The children of this union are Lucinda, Samuel, Mary, Howard, Annie, Blair and Maggie. After fifty-six years at his home in Mifflin township, Thomas Scott died in 1902, in the ninety-first year of his age. Alexander M. Scott, the sub- ject of this article, commenced clerking when thirteen years old, in a general merchandise store at Camden, Allegheny county, and in 1872 became managing partner in the Lysle Bailey company of that place. In 1889 he became managing partner in the firm of Allen Kirkpatrick & Co., wholesale grocers at No. 903 Liberty Ave., Pitts- burg. The business, which was established in 1852, has met with unqualified success under Mr. Scott's efficient management, and has an extensive trade in a radius of 300 miles from Pittsburg. Mr. Scott is director and stockholder in a number of Allegheny county banks, is president of the board of control for the North Braddock schools, and an active member and worker in the United Presbyterian church. He was married, in March, 1885, to Margaret Bell, daughter of Allen and Rebecca (Bell) Kirkpatrick. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Scott are: Margaret C., born June 16, 1895, and Rebecca Kirkpatrick, born Feb. 26, 1901.
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CHARLES B. GUTTRIDGE, a prom- inent tobacco merchant and member of the council of Rankin, was born in Akron, Ohio, Oct. 29, 1873. When only nine years old he began working in the mines, but, by strict economy and business abil- ity, he was enabled to make a start in the world for himself, and now has an exten- sive and profitable tobacco business. In politics he is a member of the republican party, and was elected a member of the council of Rankin in 1896. He has held this position continuously since that time, and has proved himself a man of good judgment and sound ability. Mr. Guttridge was married, March 16, 1897, to Miss Emma Offenhauser, of Cleveland, Ohio. His wife died some time ago. Mr. Guttridge is a member of the F. and A. M., Knights of Malta, Woodmen of the World, and K. G. E.
HYATT M. CRIBBS, a prominent politician, merchant and real estate man, of Verona, was born in Armstrong county, Pa., June 12, 1865. His par- ents, John R. and Elizabeth A. (Mays) Cribbs, were both natives of Clarion county, Pa., the father born Feb. 18, 1830, and the mother April 5, 1832. They came to Allegheny county in 1870 and located at Logan's Eddy, where Mr. Cribbs engaged for three years in the hotel business, and later, moving to Verona, started a general store there. He remained in business in Verona until his death, which occurred March 5, 1897, the store being run for the last ten years under the firm name of John R. Cribbs & Son. In political belief he was a republican, was for several years a member of the Verona council, and also served as a member of the school board. Although not a church member, he was a liberal contributor to Christian work. John R. Cribbs and wife had five sons and five daughters, of whom four sons and four daughters are living. Mr. Cribbs was a grand- son of John R. Cribbs, a native of Indiana county, and a black- smith by trade, while his wife was a daughter of Thomas Mays, a
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farmer by vocation, and a veteran of the war of 1812. Hyatt M. Cribbs, the subject of this sketch, began his successful business career when only sixteen years old, and has ever since been engaged in business, with the exception of one year spent on a rail- road. He attended the Verona schools in his youth, then took a course in Duff's business college. Mr. Cribbs' first business ven- ture was in a store at Graver's coal works. He is now a member of the well-known firm of John R. Cribbs & Son, the business being in lumber, hardware and builders' supplies. He is also interested in real estate, being a partner in the firm of Cribbs & Allison, and has built thirty three houses in Verona. Mr. Cribbs is an influential member of the republican party, was postmaster at Verona under President Harrison, and is at present serving his sixth year as councilman. He is secretary of the Verona board of trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church, and vice-president of the Verona bureau of trade. Mr. Cribbs was married, on Nov. 12, 1892, to Miss Ida M. Whitmore, of Wilkinsburg, Pa., and has three children, John R., Hyatt M. and Merrill W. He is a member of Verona lodge, No. 548, F. and A. M., Tancred commandery, Zerubbabel chapter, Pittsburg consistory, and Syria temple, Nobles of Mystic Shrine, and is also a member of Jr. O. U. A. M.
FIELDING D. CRIBBS, general mer- chant at Verona, was born in Armstrong county, Pa., Dec. 12, 1862; is a son of John R. Cribbs, but was reared in Verona, and educated in the Ceronia pub- lic schools. He was employed for a time in a steel works, and also worked a short time as a carpenter, but has spent most of his life in mercantile pursuits. His business has been, for the past three years, located in the store he now occu- pies, a well-equipped building twenty- four by sixty feet in size, of one-story and a basement, containing two large warerooms. Besides this,
Mr. Cribbs has other extensive business interests. He is a stock- holder in the Pittsburg wholesale grocery company, the Verona ferry company, and is also interested in the Vista Hermosa, a Mexican sugar company, the main office of which is in Chicago. He is an ardent republican, although never an aspirant for office. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, Modern Woodmen of
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America, Jr. O. U. A. M., and the Iroquois, of Verona. Mr. Cribbs was married, in 1888, to Miss Eliza Wilson, of Penn town- ship, Allegheny county, and has had two children, Margaret (deceased) and Charles F. Mr. and Mrs. Cribbs are members of the Verona United Presbyterian church.
THOMAS LEWIS PARRY, a retired mill roller of Homestead, was born in South Wales, Feb. 6, 1837, son of John and Mary (Lewis) Parry, both natives of Wales. His father was for many years agent for a company for collecting rents, and also served some time on the police force. Thomas L. Parry was reared in Wales, and received a limited education in the common schools. When sixteen years old, he went to work as assistant at the blacksmith trade. Four years later, in 1857, he came to America, locating first at Tamagua, Pa., where he remained a year, and then at Danville, Pa., where he was employed for two years as a blacksmith. From Danville he went to Columbia, Lancaster county, where he worked for a short time at his trade, and then was engaged for six years as a roller. The next sixteen years were spent as a roller at Harris- burg, with the exception of two years, when he was employed at the same trade in St. Louis. He also spent one year in Ohio as a roller. In 1880 Mr. Parry came to Allegheny county, locating the next year at Homestead, where he has since resided. Until the strike of 1882, he was employed as a superintendent and roller, and retiring from the mill, was engaged for two years as a wholesale liquor dealer in. Homestead. Mr. Parry was twice married. His first wife was Margaret, daughter of William and Elizabeth Williams, of Danville, who bore him three children: Mary, now Mrs. William Colgan; William John, and Elizabeth, now Mrs. David Evans. His second wife was formerly Mrs. Miriam (Evans) Morgan, daughter of Reese and Elizabeth (Jeffries) Evans, of Dan- ville, and a native of Wales. Three children of this second union are living: Sarah, George and Miriam. Miriam is now the wife of Herbert Wiggins. Mr. Parry is a prominent citizen of Homestead, a member of Germania lodge, No. 509, South Side, Pittsburg, and a director and stockholder of the First National bank of Homestead. In politics he is a republican.
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VICTOR C. KNORR, son of William F. Knorr, was born in Germany, Sept. 17, 1844. He came to America in 1850 and received his education in this coun- try. He learned the druggist trade and followed this line of business for forty years, starting in Pittsburg in 1872, but retired in 1901. Mr. Knorr joined the 2nd New York volunteers in 1863, and fought in the Civil war until discharged, June 21, 1865. His record during the war was an honorable one, and he came out with the rank of sergeant. Mr. Knorr was married, in 1873, to Mary R. Stifel, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Knorr have four children: Rosa A., William A., Victor J. and May A. Mr. Knorr has been for many years a prom- inent republican of Braddock. He was for six years president of the school board, and has been secretary of that body one year. He is also sergeant of police and assistant secretary of the health department of Braddock. Mr. Knorr is a member of the Major A. M. Harper post, No. 181, department of Pennsylvania, G. A. R .; Royal Arcanum and Knights of Malta. In religion he is a Presby- terian.
RICHARD H. STARKE, harness manufacturer, was born in Saxonburg, Butler Co., Pa., Jan. 1, 1868, son of Frederick and Minnie (Helmbold) Starke, natives of Germany, who came to Saxon- burg in 1838. The father died in 1886, at the age of fifty-six, but the mother is still living, at the age of seventy years. They had ten children, of whom eight are living. The paternal grand- parents of the subject of this sketch, Fer- dinand and Johanna Starke, came to Butler county in 1828, and spent their last days there. His maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John G. Helmbold, also came to America from Germany in 1838, and died in Butler county. Frederick Starke, although by trade a cabinet- maker, followed painting for a livelihood for many years. In political belief he was a republican. With his wife, he belonged to
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the German Evangelical Protestant church. Richard H. Starke, whose name heads this article, was reared and educated in Butler county, and at fifteen began to learn the harness-makers' trade. He spent five years at his trade in Tarentum, then engaged in the harness business in Saxonburg two years, and in 1891 returned to Tarentum and formed a partnership with his brother, E. C. Starke. This partnership being dissolved in 1895, Mr. Starke has since engaged in the business for himself, and has been most successful, his success being due solely to his own ability and perseverance. In politics he is a republican, and has served in the council three years. He is a member of Pollock lodge, No. 502, F. and A. M .; Lodge No. 240, Knights of Pythias, and of Tarentum lodge, No. 587, I. O. O. F. Mr. Starke married, on Sept. 21, 1892, Miss Ida C. Pfeil, of Pittsburg, and has had one son, Wilbur A., deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Starke are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
CHARLES K. BRYCE, superintend- ent of the Homestead glass works, and one of the best-known and most popular citizens of Homestead, was born in Pitts- burg, Pa., Jan. 21, 1852. After a com- mon-school education, he became an apprentice at the glass trade, and after serving his time as apprentice, was employed as mould-maker and designer in the same trade with the firm of Bryce, Walker & Co., and worked for this con- cern several years. In 1879 Mr. Bryce established the Homestead ·glass works, there being associated in the enterprise with him his father, who was the pioneer glass-maker of Pittsburg, J. B. Higbee and J. A. Doyle, Sr. Mr. Bryce has been superintendent of the company since its start, and has made the Homestead glass works famous all over the country, while he has won for himself an enviable reputation as a glass-maker. In 1880 Mr. Bryce organized in Homestead an independent fire company, of which he has ever since been chief. The fire department is his particular hobby, and he has made it an organization unsurpassed by that of any city in Pennsylvania. Although a man over fifty years old, Mr. Bryce has lived temperately, and is one of the best-preserved and most active men in the vicinity.
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FRANK L. OERTEL was born in Butler county, Pa., Jan. 19, 1872. His parents, Henry and Matilda Oertel, came to America from Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Oertel moved to Pittsburg when their son was only a year old, and there Frank L. Oertel received his education in the schools of the sixteenth ward. In 1890 he commenced the painting and paper hanging business, and in 1894 engaged in contract work, in which he has met with encouraging success. He secured his present location at 149 Penn Ave., Turtle Creek, in 1901, and a few months later entered partnership with J. Herman Benner. Mr. Oertel was married, April 27, 1896, to Miss Myra Blanche King. Mrs. Oertel's father, Nicholas King, was the son of John and Mary Ann King, while her mother, Miriam (Jones) King, was the daughter of David and Margaret Jones. Mr. and Mrs. Oertel have three children: David Henry, born May 15, 1897; Myra Alice, born April 21, 1899, and Frank Nicholas, born Nov. 28, 1902. Mr. Oertel is tyler of Turtle Creek lodge, No. 613, F. and A. M.
RICHEY CALVIN HARRISON was born in Pennsylvania township, Alle- gheny Co., Pa., Aug. 24, 1864. His par- ents were George and Rachel (Bond) Harrison, mentioned elsewhere in this book. Mr. Harrison received a common school education in the schools of his native county, and for seven years fol- lowed the vocation of a stock dealer. Subsequently he was engaged in agricul- tural pursuits for four years with his father, and in 1892 began farming for himself. Mr. Harrison is a prominent man in his community, where he has served in several public posi- tions, and is now president of Wilkins township. After serving one year on appointment as tax collector, he was elected to that office for a three-year term. He has also served a term as school director and one as township auditor. Besides the sixty-acre tract on which he resides, Mr. Harrison owns two houses and lots in New-
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town, a suburb of Turtle Creek. He is a member of Valley lodge, No. 613, F. and A. M. Mr. Harrison was married, Dec. 16, 1891, to Annie M., daughter of Joseph and Sarah E. (Lenhart) Johnston, and granddaughter of John and Martha (Saam) Johnston. Mrs. Harrison's mother, Sarah E. (Lenhart) Johnston, was the daugh- ter of Christopher Lenhart, whose father's family were pioneer settlers of Allegheny county. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Harrison are : Adella M., born May 19, 1894; George Richey, born Jan. 5, 1897; James G., born May 14, 1900, and Mildred McIntosh, born Dec. 12, 1901.
GEORGE HARRISON, a prominent farmer of Wilkins township, was born near Mckeesport, Pa., June 25, 1829, son of William and Elizabeth Harrison. William Harrison was of Scotch descent, son of John Harrison, but was reared in Pennsylvania, while his wife was a descendant of the pioneer Germans of eastern Pennsylvania. George Harrison received his education in Wilkinsburg, and was, for many years, employed on the river, where he learned the ship car- penter's trade. When about thirty years old, he turned his attention to farming, and has followed this voca- tion successfully for over forty years. He has served a term as supervisor of Wilkins township, and was for six years school director. For the past forty years he has been a member of Hail- man lodge, No. 321, F. and A. M., of East End, Pittsburg. Mr. Harrison married, June 25, 1851, Rachel, daughter of Benjamin and Huldah (Key) Bond, of Philadelphia. Of the children of this union, William is employed in the Westinghouse plant in Wilkins- burg; George died at the age of forty-one; Benjamin is a rail straightener at the Edgar Thompson steel plant, Braddock; John W. is a machinist in Wilmerding; Huldah is the wife of Norman McIntosh, railroad clerk at Turtle Creek; Richey Calvin is a farmer of Wilkins township; Kate J. is married to George Elkins, of Brad- dock, and Oliver D. is employed at the Edgar Thompson steel works in Braddock. Mrs. Harrison died in 1890, and in June, 1892, Mr. Harrison was wedded to Mrs. Sarah J. Christy, daughter of John and Esther Dodds, of Youngstown, Westmoreland Co., Pa., and widow of J. W. Christy, of Wilkins township. Of the children
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of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Christy, James William is a farmer residing near Wilkinsburg; Sarah Elizabeth is a seamstress at home; Mary Ellen lives in Wilkinsburg; Carrie A. died at the age of eighteen; Annie B. is the wife of W. Hodgson, of Turtle Creek; Laura May is at home; Susan Alice is a music teacher, and George Alvin is employed in the Westinghouse plant. Mr. Harrison and family are members of the Beulah Presbyterian church of Wilkins township. .
FREDERICK KRAUTH, a retired butcher residing in Tarentum, was born in Germany, Sept. 28, 1826, son of Jacob and Ursula (Maisenbacher) Krauth, both natives of Germany, where the father died. Mr. Krauth and his mother came in 1847 to America, where two other members of the family had preceded them, one emigrating in 1836 and the other in 1843. The mother died in Natrona, Allegheny county, in 1860. Mr. Krauth was educated in Germany. On coming to America, he worked for a time in Louisville, Ky., as a cabinet-maker, and then learned the trade of a butcher, which he followed from 1849 until 1890. He was a butcher in Tarentum for over fifty years, and is by far the oldest butcher in that part of the country. He was successful in his busi- ness and amassed a considerable fortune. He was one of the fifteen who built the rolling mill at Canton, Ohio, and has been interested in many other business ventures. He was treasurer of the Glasgow oil company from the time it was organized until it went out of business, and was, in 1860, engaged in the oil business at Smith's Ferry, Pa. He was also, during the seventies, director of the First National bank of Tarentum. Mr. Krauth is now stockholder in the J. H. Baker manufacturing company, the Fidelity glass company and the National bank of Tarentum. He is also interested in the Building and Loan association of Tarentum. In politics he is a republican, and has served as councilman and cemetery trustee. Mr. Krauth was married, April 17, 1852, to Miss Catherine Faas, a native of Germany who came to America with her parents when about eight years old. Mr. and Mrs. Krauth have had nine chil- dren, of whom three-Charles, Matilda and Margaret-are living. The others were: Katie, Mary, William, Frederick, George and
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Benjamin F. Charles has now succeeded to his father's butcher business. Mr. and Mrs. Krauth are members of the German Evangelical Protestant church, of which Mr. Krauth has been an elder ever since he came to Tarentum. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary April 17, 1902.
CHARLES GOEDDEL, a prominent plumber and gas-fitter of Homestead, was born in Birmingham, now South Side, Pittsburg, Pa., Jan. 22, 1856, son of Philip and Elizabeth (Drum) Goeddel, both natives of Germany. Philip Goeddel came to America in 1844, and after a short residence in Pittsburg and Ten- nessee, returned to Germany and was married. In 1844 he brought his wife to America, and settled in Birmingham, where he was engaged for a short time in the saloon business, then became a gardener, following this vocation until 1874, when he retired and located at Castle Shannon, Baldwin township, Allegheny county, where he now resides, at the age of eighty. His family consisted of six children, four of whom grew to maturity. Of these, Caroline, afterwards Mrs. Fred Sanders, is dead, and three are liv- ing: Charles, Matilda (now Mrs. Gottlieb Kinley) and Henry. Charles Goeddel, the subject of this sketch, was reared and edu- cated in Allegheny county, and has always resided in that county. He was married, March 6, 1879, to Kate E., daughter of Christian and Helena (Schmeltz) Abbott, natives of Germany, who settled in Allegheny county. Mr. and Mrs. Goeddel have had four chil- dren, of whom three-Gustave, Christian and Matilda-are living. In early life Mr. Goeddel served an apprenticeship as a plumber, but followed farming as a livelihood for three years after marriage. He located in Homestead in 1884, and spent the next eight years of his life in the employ of the Carnegie steel company. In 1892 he embarked in the plumbing and gas-fitting business, in which his ability and honest methods have won him a large and lucrative patronage. Mr. and Mrs. Goeddel are members of the First Pres- byterian church of Homestead. Mr. Goeddel has served his city as a member of the board of education, and was for three years sec- retary of that body. In 1902 he was appointed councilman from his ward to fill a vacancy. Politically, he is a republican.
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LEWIS N. MORGAN, city assessor of Mckeesport, was born in Pittsburg, Pa., in 1864, but came to Mckeesport in 1875, and has resided in the first ward of that city almost continuously since. He received a common-school education and was then for several years employed in the National tube works. In 1883 he went into the grocery business with his brother, Charles Morgan, and was engaged in this business for five years, then, from 1889 to 1897, he managed the Morgan hotel in Mckeesport. He then spent two years in a trip throughout the western and northwestern part of the United States, and, on returning to Mckeesport, was elected, in 1900, to the position of city assessor, an office which he has filled most creditably. Besides this, Mr. Morgan has served his city eight years as a member of the school board and was for one year president of that body. He was married, in 1887, to Miss Margaret Williams, daughter of Edward Williams, of Mckeesport, and to them were born two children, a boy and a girl, of whom the boy is living. Mr. Morgan is a member of the Royal Arcanum and of Lodge No. 375, F. and A. M., and of the Heptasophs.
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