USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume II > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48
٠٫٠٠
,
六. 3
1.
158
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
Brighton, Pa., by whom he had a son, James G. Blaine, of Cor- aopolis; then, to Mrs. Christina Watson, widow of Harry Watson, of Allegheny city, and they have a young daughter, Rebecca Jane. Mr. Gardner is a republican, attends the United Presbyterian church, and is a member of the Order of Americus.
STEPHEN C. CONWELL, of the firm of Maurhoff & Conwell, Bracken- ridge, was born in Allegheny city, Pa., April 13, 1851, and is a son of Stephen C. and Caroline (Hesker) Conwell, the former a native of Allegheny county, and the latter of Germany. The father was a son of Stephen Conwell, a Scotchman, and Mary (Dyer) Conwell, pioneers of Allegheny county, who afterwards moved to Macon city, Mo., and died there. The grandparents of the subject of this sketch were Charles and Caroline Hesker, both of whom died in Pittsburg. Charles Hesker was a native of Germany. Stephen C. Conwell, father of the subject of this article, was a chairmaker by trade, and worked at this busi- ness in Pittsburg for many years. He also followed for a time the vocation of a coal boat pilot, at one time kept a hotel in Pittsburg, and was, in 1845, captain of the Niagara volunteer fire company. In politics he was a democrat. He served with distinction in the Civil war, enlisting in 1861 and serving continuously from then until 1865, except for a time in 1863, when he was incapacitated by sickness. He died in July, 1885, and his wife on Dec. 6, 1894. They had a family of seven children, all but one of whom are liv- ing. Stephen C. Conwell, whose name begins this sketch, was reared in Pittsburg, was educated there, and for some years engaged in the manufacture of cigars in Pittsburg. He also spent about two years in the hotel business there, and, in November, 1885, came to Harrison township, where for two years he kept a hotel. After this he engaged again for a time in the manufacture of cigars, and then embarked in his present business, in company with E. E. Maurhoff. The firm of Maurhoff & Conwell has been most successful, and does a constantly increasing business in sani- tary sewering, and the selling of salt-glazed sewer pipe and build- ing blocks. In politics Mr. Conwell is an ardent republican, influential in local party affairs, and was elected in 1902 for a three-
it
Charge de v ereet
.
07s asob bre T
:1
159
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
year term as councilman in Brackenridge. He is a prominent property owner in Brackenridge, where he has a store building, two dwelling-houses and several building lots, and is a stockholder in the People's National bank of Tarentum. His religious views are liberal, and he gives generously to churches of all denomina- tions, as well as to other worthy charities. In 1874 Mr. Conwell married Christina Nagle, of Allegheny county, by whom he has had eight children, viz. : Charles A., Amanda, Blanche (deceased), Gertrude, Caroline, Raymond, Howard and Stephen C., Jr.
DAVID SPENCE, of McKee's Rocks, Pa., a retired mill worker and a promi- nent citizen, was born in Manchester, England, in 1832, came to America in 1865, and the following year settled in Allegheny county. His paternal grand- father was a dry-goods merchant, of Bel- fast, Ireland, lived to the ripe old age of ninety-seven years, and, in later life, was an excise inspector for the British government. His paternal great-grand- father left a large estate, which is still in the courts of chancery. In 1868 Mr. Spence brought his parents to Pittsburg, where they resided the rest of their lives, his father dying in 1870 at the age of seventy- five years, and his mother dying the following year at the age of seventy-eight years. His father was a bricklayer by trade, and in his younger days was a sailor, having been connected with the American merchant marine and having made a landing at New York city, prior to coming to the country to reside in 1868. They had three children: Mary, widow of a Mr. Blumley, of England; David, and Ann, widow of Samuel Wilson, of Ireland. The two daughters now reside in South Africa, where they possess large means, Mrs. Wilson recently selling several coal mines to Cecil Rhodes. David Spence was first married in England, in 1853, to Emma Rowan, and they had two children, Thomas R. and Henry D. She died in 1865, at the age of twenty-nine years. His second marriage was, in 1867, with Ann J. Heslip, who died in 1875, after bearing the following children: William D., Charles W., George K. and Blanche (deceased). He was again married, in 1879, to Prudence Heslip, a sister of his second wife, and they have had four children, Annie B., Clarence G., Edgar T. and Olive P. Mr. Spence fol-
:
:
..
1
ت
izj
160
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
lowed steel rolling for nearly fifty years, was in the employ of the Pittsburg steel works for the greater part of that time, and, in 1900, retired from active business. He rolled the wire for the cables for the Brooklyn bridge, and was a master of his trade. He has accu- mulated a fine property and is now taking life quietly, free from the cares that too often beset old age.
JOHN ALBERT FERGUSON, of Coraopolis, Pa., a prominent financier and banker, was born in Independence township, Beaver Co., Pa., March 12, 1840, and is the only child of John Fergu- son. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, and his father was by profession a tanner, who began with nothing and by thrift and energy acquired a competency. John A. Ferguson attended the public schools of Allegheny county until he was sixteen years of age, and then commenced work with his father in the tannery. He remained there until he was twenty-three years old, when he engaged in farming and stock-raising, following these occupations until 1890. In 1889, at the death of his father, he became the pos- sessor of a large estate, which he has handled very successfully and increased its finances greatly. In 1890 Mr. Ferguson came to live at Coraopolis, since which time he has taken a prominent place in the financial world. He was a prime mover and one of the chief financiers in the organization of the Coraopolis & Neville Island street railway company. In 1897 he organized the Coraopolis National bank, being elected president, which position he still holds. He was largely instrumental in establishing the Ohio Valley trust company, in 1901, and was elected president of that institu- tion. He is connected with a number of other institutions, being treasurer of the West Pittsburg oil refinery and president of the Coraopolis cemetery company. He has been an extensive owner and operator in various oil fields, being the owner of several large tracts of oil lands in Allegheny and Beaver counties. In 1862 Mr. Ferguson was married to Maria Jane Holmes, of Independence township, Beaver Co., Pa., their children being: Samuel S., of Independence township; Martha L., wife of Scott A. Connell, of Coraopolis; Lula B., wife of Rev. James H. McCormick, of Con- neaut Lake, Pa. ; Francis Ferguson, at home; Charles B. Ferguson,
.. 1
: 4
.
P .:
.&blod
161
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
secretary and treasurer of the Ohio Valley trust company, and Ollie J., wife of Nevin Ferree, of Coraopolis, Pa. Mr. Ferguson has been a stanch democrat during his entire life, casting his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas. He is connected with, and a sup- porter of, the Presbyterian denomination. Quiet and reserved in all his habits of life, he is public-spirited in a high degree, and is one of Allegheny county's most substantial citizens.
THOMAS SCOTT GUNDY, for many years conductor on the Allegheny Valley railroad, was born in Beaver county, Pa., May 12, 1844. His father was James Gundy, an Englishman, who came to the United States in 1840, and died in Beaver county in 1848. His mother, Mary Gundy, died in 1889. James and Mary Gundy were the parents of six children, five sons and one daughter. After the death of her first husband, Mrs. Gundy married Robert Kay, a native of England, who settled in Washington county. James Gundy, father of the subject of this sketch, was a superintendent of mines, and on coming to America became a farmer, and also a teamster, his route being between Pittsburg and Frankford, Pa. The man whose name heads this sketch received a limited education, which he has supplemented by a wide general knowledge gained in his long and eventful career. At the age of fourteen he learned the blacksmith trade, working at it four years. On Dec. 24, 1864, he began his career as a railroad man, on the Pennsylvania railroad, and six years later entered the employ of the Allegheny Valley railroad company. He began as a brakeman, but has been for thirty-five years a conductor, twenty- one years on a passenger train. He is now the oldest conductor on his division. Mr. Gundy was married, May 14, 1868, to Miss Mary Buck, a native of Germany, who came with her parents to America when five years old. Mr. and Mrs. Gundy are the parents of four sons and one daughter, viz. : William K., daylight foreman for the Westinghouse company, at Turtle Creek; John L., bookkeeper for the Standard oil company, at Pittsburg; Harry S., fireman and engineer on the Allegheny Valley railroad; Simon M., timekeeper and draftsman at the Verona tool works, and Mollie E., wife of Ernest Stone, daylight foreman for the Westinghouse company,
II-11
bris
:
1
162
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
at Turtle Creek. Mr. Gundy has lived in Oakmont twenty-one years, and is among the most respected and influential citizens of that place. He and his family are members of the First Presby- terian church of Oakmont. He is a member of Verona lodge, No. 548, F. and A. M., and the Society of Railway Conductors. Mr. Gundy is a democrat, but has never aspired to political preferment.
JOSEPH OVERY, of Cleveland, Ohio, a prominent oil producer, was born in London, England, Feb. 5, 1843. He is a son of Samuel and Eliza (Reeves) Overy, the father being a shoe merchant in London, where he spent his entire life. Joseph Overy received his educational training in the schools of his native city, and at the age of thirteen, abandoned his studies to accept a position in the station- ery house of Richards & Co., in St. Mar- tin's lane. He remained in this business for four years, and then accompanied his mother to America, going direct to Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked on his uncle's farm for two years, and afterward for the Austin powder company for one year. During his stay in Cleve- land, Mr. Overy attended the Erie Street Baptist church and Sun- day-school, of which J. D. Rockefeller was assistant superintendent and William Rockefeller teacher of his class. In the winter of 1863-64 he went into the oil regions of Pennsylvania and engaged in drilling wells at Pioneer, seven months after which he began contracting for the Densmore oil company, near Petroleum Centre, of which the father of A. J. Cassett, of the Pennsylvania railroad, was president. After two years he took interests in the oil wells at Bennehoop Run, took leases of John Bennehoop, and was at his house shortly after the great robbery. In 1870, in company with Wesley Chambers and others, Mr. Overy purchased the first farm south of Bear Creek that was sold for oil purposes, operating it himself, and using the first large casing for drilling which was taken into the Parker oil field. He has the distinction of having the first well that flowed in that region without first being tor- pedoed or tubed. Mr. Overy operated successfully a number of farms from Parker to Carbon Center, and was president of the Keystone pipe line which was laid from St. Joe to Freeport. In 1890 he came to Pittsburg, continuing in the oil-producing busi-
.19
1:
!!
£
163
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
ness in the Wildwood, Coraopolis and Moon oil fields. Mr. Overy is a republican in his politics, and is very prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in the Trinity commandery, of Bradford, and the Pennsylvania consistory and Syria temple, of Pittsburg. Mr. Overy is universally regarded as a man of the highest integrity and probity of character, and the possessor of excellent business qualifications.
HARRISON PAGE MEEDS, of the firm of Meeds Bros. & Co. (limited), was born in Pittsburg, Pa., April 4, 1869. The other members of this firm are J. B. Meeds, Alice A. Meeds, Mrs. B. E. Reed, of Verona, and Mrs. Mary Robin- son, of Madison, Ind. The firm was originally known as Euwer Bros. & Co. (limited), but the name was changed to Meeds Bros. & Co. in 1896. J. B. D. Meeds, grandfather of the man whose name heads this article, was born in England, came to Philadelphia when two years old, and to Pittsburg as early as 1834. He was a prominent educator of that city for many years, and was connected with the Dollar savings bank as early as 1865. H. P. Meeds, Sr., the father of our subject, married Augusta Barker, daughter of Sylvester Barker, who came to Pittsburg from Vermont in an early day and engaged in the planing mill business. Mr. and Mrs. Meeds had five children, all of whom are living. Mrs. Meeds died in April, 1872. H. P. Meeds, the subject of this sketch, was educated in Pittsburg, graduating from the central high school in 1889. He began his mercantile career at an early age, and has been most suc- cessful. The firm of Meeds Bros. & Co. (limited), deals in furni- ture, carpets and clothing, and occupies two stores, one 60 by 125 feet in size, the other 35 feet wide by 117 feet long. Although never an aspirant for public office, in politics Mr. Meeds is a republican. He is influentially connected with various societies, being a mem- ber of Verona lodge, No. 987, I. O. O. F .; Iona lodge, No. 141, Knights of Pythias; General Mcclellan lodge, No. 150, Jr. O. U. A. M .; Edgewater council, No. 484, Royal Arcanum, and Alice Cary lodge, No. 120, Daughters of Rebecca, of Pittsburg. In 1896 he married Miss Millie F. Calhoun, of Verona, and has one child, Nellie Augusta. Mr. and Mrs. Meeds are members of the
٢
£
H
164
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
First Presbyterian church of Oakmont. J. B. Meeds, brother of H. P. Meeds, and a member of the same company, was born Oct. 22, 1860, and was reared and educated in Pittsburg, where, after the usual preliminary schooling, he attended the Western univer- sity. After leaving school, he was employed for several years by the Allegheny & Pittsburg railroad companies, but has been con- nected with Meeds Bros. & Co. since 1888. He now has charge of the furniture department. Mr. Meeds is a member of Iona lodge, No. 141, Knights of Pythias; Washington camp, No. 6.75, P. O. L. of A., Royal Arcanum, and Woodmen of the World. In politics he is a republican, but, like his brother, has never sought political preferment. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Oakmont, where he resides.
JOHN DUSTER, contractor, of Tarentum, was born in Germany in 1862, and came to America in 1876, with his parents, Peter and Mary Catharine (Frey) Duster, both now deceased. The family located first in Louisville, Ky., from whence Mr. and Mrs. Duster moved first to Alabama, and then to St. Louis, where Mr. Duster died in 1891. His wife died at Butler, Pa., in 1902. They had four- teen children, of whom seven are now living, all in America. John Duster, the subject of this sketch, was educated in Germany, and on coming to America remained with his parents until 1882, when he went to Jeffersonville, Ind., to work in a car- shop. From Jeffersonville he went to St. Joseph, Mo., where he engaged for a short time in lead mining, going from there to South St. Louis. Shortly afterwards he returned to Jeffersonville, to work in a plate glass factory, his father having been a plate glass worker before him. He next moved to Tarentum, where he has since resided. From 1883 to Oct. 1, 1887, he was employed as a glass worker by Captain Ford, after which he bought the ferry at Tarentum and ran it for four and a half years. In 1892 he engaged in the wholesale produce business in Pittsburg, still retaining his residence in Tarentum, and then went into the business of moving houses, in which he has since been successfully occupied. In 1902 he organized the Duster contracting company, which is engaged in the same business. Mr. Duster is a stockholder in the People's
..
:
165
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
National bank of Tarentum. He is a member of the Heptasophs of Tarentum, and B. P. O. E., and was one of the committee which organized the local lodge of that order, established in 1901. In politics he is a prominent republican, and has served his borough three years as councilman. Mr. Duster was married, in 1885, to Miss Ida M. Harris, of Tarentum, and has four children, Gertrude E., Effie D., Helen E. and Raymond S.
WILLIAM P. LOUREY, of Aspin- wall, a well-known justice of the peace and borough assessor, was born at Brat- tonville, Armstrong Co., Pa., July 21, 1842. He is a son of Alexandria and Nancy (Armstrong) Lourey, descended from very old families who were distin- guished on account of their connection with the patriot army that wrested inde- pendence from the mother country. Mr. Lourey was educated at the Dayton academy, his last year's work being interrupted by his enlisting in the 14th Pennsylvania volunteers, on April 28, 1861. On August 14th he was discharged, but re-enlisted on the same day in Company C, 105th Pennsylvania volunteers. After serving two years, the regiment re-enlisted as veteran volunteers until the close of the war. He entered the service as a private, rose to be color-bearer, and finally received the commission of second lieutenant, serving in that capacity until the cessation of hostilities. He saw distinguished service in the army of the Potomac from the time Mcclellan took command until May 5, 1864, when he was so severely wounded that he retired from active service. Prior to this he was wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks, May 28, 1862; shot through the leg at the battle of Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862; and wounded in the right side at the battle of the Wilderness in 1864. He was mar- ried, on Oct. 23, 1867, to Rebecca J., daughter of John and Anna Hartman, and to this union were born two children: James A., foreman carpenter for Charles A. Hastings, and Bessie A. His first wife died on July 13, 1872, and he was married on Oct. 13, 1875, to Lizzie A., daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Kay, and to them were born three children: Jennie, wife of C. L. Dauber, fore- man of an elevator shop; Francis T., an architect with H. D. Gilchrist, Frick building, Pittsburg; and Walter G., who died
LYcer mat Podeildk Want to sebol sil sila bestrongto
in y ady to
$ 1
;
166
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
May 17, 1898. Mr. Lourey is a member of Sharpsburg lodge, No. 328, of the Heptasophs; Manorville lodge, No. 932, of the Odd Fellows; Aspinwall lodge, No. 238, of the Junior Order of Ameri- can Mechanics; Tarentum lodge, No. 320, of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and of the Union Veteran legion, No. I, of Pitts- burg. He is a leading member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and has occupied many prominent official positions in con- nection with it. He was elected county commissioner of Armstrong county on the republican ticket in 1872, and served four years. He served two terms as justice of the peace in Armstrong county, and on his removal to Tarentum in 1884, he followed the vocation of a carpenter. In 1892 he came to Aspinwall, worked at his trade until 1894, when he was elected justice of the peace, which office he has since held, having been again elected in 1903. He is also borough assessor, and is generally regarded as one of the leading men of his community. His ancestors served in the Revolution- ary war; his father was a soldier in the Civil war; he also partici- pated in that great struggle, and his son took part in the Spanish- American war, serving in the artillery branch of the service in Porto Rico. His family have served their country on all occasions when it was threatened with danger from within or without, and have been ever ready to respond to the nation's call.
GEORGE H. McFETRIDGE, a lead- ing citizen of Hites, and associated in the brick and coal business with his brother, William McFetridge, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work, was born in Derry county, Ireland, May 14, 1855, came to Allegheny county in infancy, and was educated here in the public schools. He is now a partner in all the concerns in which his brother is inter- ested, except in the mercantile business, from which he retired in 1902. He is also interested in real estate with Charles Uhlinger, the firm being known as Charles Uhlinger & Co. Like his brother, Mr. McFetridge began life a poor boy, and has by ability and perseverance won for himself a competence. He has for a number of years resided in Hites, Pa., and is recognized as one of the most influential citizens of that place. He is vice-presi- dent and director of the People's National bank of Tarentum, one
1.
.جـ
siri
١٠٠
£
£
ot
167
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
of the leading stockholders in the First National bank of Natrona, and also owns stock in the Fidelity glass company and Baker manu- facturing company, both of Tarentum. In politics he is an ardent republican, although not an aspirant for office. He is a prominent and enthusiastic Mason, being a member of Pollock lodge, No. 502, F. and A. M., of Tarentum; Shiloh chapter, No. 257, R. A. M .; Tancred commandery, No. 48, K. T., and Syria temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is also a member of B. P. O. Elks. On Jan. 20, 1886, Mr. McFetridge married Miss Adelaide Kluenspise, of Philadelphia, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. McFetridge have one son, George L. McFetridge.
WALTER S. KIDD, of McKee's Rocks, Pa., member of the firm of Kidd Bros. & Burgher steel wire company, was born in Yorkshire, England, March 1, 1847, son of William and Elizabeth (Hall) Kidd. His ancestors were strictly Eng- lish in their origin, and a great-uncle of his mother was with the duke of Marlbor- ough at the battle of Blenheim, and fell mortally wounded in that sanguinary con- flict. His father was a wire manufac- turer in Cawthorne, England, for many years, and died nearly half a century since. Walter S. Kidd obtained his early educational training in the splendidly equipped schools of his native shire, and when four- teen years of age entered the wire manufacturing plant of his father, who had previously died, and the business was then being conducted by the family. He remained with that plant until he was twenty-two years of age, when he came to America and secured employment with the firm of Washburn & Moen, of Worcester, Mass., the largest manufacturers of steel wire in the United States. He. was with that concern for five years, and then attended a literary course of three years at Butler university, of Indianapolis, Ind. Mr. Kidd then became general superintendent of the wire factory of R. H. Wolff & Co., of Peekskill, N. Y., where he remained for two years. In 1895 the present firm of Kidd Bros. & Burgher steel wire company was formed. Their factory was located at McKee's Rocks, now at Aliquippa, where they have a finely equipped plant and employ half a hundred skilled workmen. Mr. Kidd is also financially interested in the Vulcan crucible steel
.
1:
1'
5.000.T
:
٠٠١٠٠٠٠٠٢٠١٢
add:
...
MAX
168
MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
company, which operates a large plant at Aliquippa, Pa. He was married, in 1876, to Vina E., daughter of Isaac Barnes, of Barnes- ville, Ohio, and they have four children. Mr. Kidd is a republi- can, an elder in the Christian church, and a man of unusual integrity and probity of character. He has an appreciative regard for the rights of his fellow-man, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all with whom he meets.
RICHARD L. JONES, deceased, was born in England in 1813; moved to Dub- lin, Ireland, when a boy; was educated, and afterwards engaged in business there. Mr. Jones came to America in 1848 with three brothers. Of these, Samuel was, for many years, a professor at Jefferson college; Benjamin a teacher in the Pitts - burg schools, in the twenty-eighth ward, and William also a prominent educator. A fourth brother, James, was a promi- nent physician in London, and a talented musician and composer of music. Richard L. Jones, on coming to America, settled at Verona, and bought a farm there, which he managed for a number of years before retir- ing from active life. He was fond of gardening and a great lover of trees and flowers, a prominent man in his day, and a man uni- versally admired and respected. He was always faithful to the republican party, but never aspired to office. He was a member of the Episcopal church. Mr. Jones was married, Aug. 16, 1859, to Miss Susan Hawk, who survives him, and lives a retired life on the old farm. Mrs. Jones is a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Steen) Hawk, who came from Greensburg, Westmoreland county. Mr. Hawk lived to the advanced age of eighty-seven, and his wife to the age of eighty-three. They had fourteen children, of whom all grew to maturity, and four are still living. Mr. Hawk's father was Daniel Hawk, a veteran of the War of 1812, who died at the age of ninety-five, while his mother, Mary (Bricker) Hawk, lived to be ninety. Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Jones had two children, Emma and Ida A. Emma is now the wife of John S. Kennedy, and has had two children, of whom one, Marion, Jr., died in infancy, and one, Margaret F., is living. Ida married Samuel Eakin Stewart, who died in 1895, leaving three children, John - Clark, Ida A. and Samuel E. J. Mr. Stewart was a prominent
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.