USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume II > Part 17
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having joined in Shreveport, La., and of the democratic party. Robert F. White, the junior member of the firm, was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, Feb. 22, 1863, and attended the public schools of his native county until he was about twenty years of age. He entered the normal school of Valparaiso, Ind., and was gradu- ated in a commercial course in the class of 1887. He taught school for the next eight years, and later engaged in the mercantile busi- ness with his brother at Paulton. He is also a member of the democratic party, but neither of them have sought office, preferring to devote their time and energies to the business in which they are succeeding so well.
JOHN T. MORGAN, of McKee's Rocks, Pa., tax collector of that borough, was born in Allegheny city, June 11, 1873, son of John and Mary Ann Morgan. His father was a ship-carpenter by trade, is now retired from business and is liv- ing quietly at McKee's Rocks, at the age of seventy-eight years. His parents had six children, five of whom are now living, their ancestors on both sides coming from Ireland. John T. Morgan secured his rudimentary education in the splendid schools of Allegheny city, and when fourteen years of age left his books and faced the world to work out his destiny. He was employed in various capacities, including that of cash boy in Joseph Horn's dry goods store, and when eighteen years of age went to work in Long & Co.'s iron works at McKee's Rocks. He continued with that concern until their failure, in 1890, and then secured employment with the National blank book company, of Pittsburg, with which establishment he remained for a year, and then became a clerk for the Pittsburg & Lake Erie railroad. He was with that system from 1891 to July 31, 1901, and the next day secured a position as stenographer with the Carnegie steel company, with whom he continued until 1903. In 1900 Mr. Morgan was elected tax collector of McKee's Rocks, and, in 1903, re-elected to that important office, receiving an over- whelming majority over his opponent. Mr. Morgan's political affiliations are with the republican party, and he is a member of the Alfaretta lodge, Knights of Pythias. Mr. Morgan is a well- known and highly respected citizen.
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JOHN HARVEY DONNELL, M. D., of Natrona, Pa., a prominent physician, was born in Armstrong county, Pa., March 18, 1863, son of John and Cather- ine (John) Donnell. Dr. Donnell comes of a distinguished line of ancestry, his progenitors, three degrees removed, being Patrick and Peggie (Brice) Don- nell, both natives of County Donegal, Ireland, who came to America and resided in Westmoreland county, Pa., until their deaths, at advanced ages. Their son,
John, was reared and educated in West- moreland county, and was one of the first citizens of Pennsylvania to engage in the manufacture of salt in Allegheny county. He died in 1873, at the age of seventy-four years, and is survived by a widow, aged ninety-four years. Prior to her marriage, she was Elizabeth Kennedy, and is a native of Westmoreland county. John Donnell, the second, son of John and Elizabeth (Kennedy) Donnell, and the father of Dr. John H. Donnell, was for forty years a suc- cessful merchant of Wattersonville, Pa., but is now retired from active business. For many years he was a democrat, and, under the banner of that party, sought legislative honors in 1876. He is now a republican, and has served as a justice of the peace for twenty years. He has been twice married; the first union resulting in one son, the subject of this sketch, and the second marriage in four children, three of whom are living. Dr. Donnell was reared in Allegheny county, and was educated at the Tarentum normal school, and for five years followed the occupation of a teacher. He was graduated from the medical department of the Western uni- versity in 1892; for one year was assistant physician to the Penn- sylvania salt manufacturing company, of Natrona, and since has enjoyed a large business as a general practitioner. Dr. Donnell is prominent in medical circles, and holds membership in the Indiana County medical society and the Allegheny Valley medical associa- tion. He is a leading democrat, and has held several offices in Fawn township, having served as clerk, and later as auditor of that township, and has been an active member of the county democratic committee. He is closely identified with the Odd Fellows, and is a member of the Knights of the Mystic Chain. Dr. Donnell is also prominent in financial circles, is vice-president of the Home guar- antee company, of New Kensington, Pa., and is a member of the
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board of directors of the National real estate company, of Washing- ton, D. C. He was married, on March 24, 1893, to Mary C., daughter of E. D. and Catherine (Knepshield) Bigelow, both mem- bers of prominent Pennsylvania families. Dr. and Mrs. Donnell have the following three children : Mark B., Catherine G. and John Harvey. Dr. Donnell and his wife are members of the Methodist church of Natrona, and are prominent in the social affairs of the city.
THOMAS WARRELL BROCKMAN, a prominent funeral director, of Home- stead, was born in East Finley township, Washington Co., Pa., Jan. 19, 1864. His parents, Nicholas Bearly and Sarah Eliza- beth (Warrell) Brockman, were both natives of Washington county. Nicholas Bearly Brockman's father, also named Nicholas, was a native of Scotland, and for several years owned and operated a stage-line in Washington county. His wife was Susan (Bearly ) Brockman. The maternal grandfather of Thomas W. Brockman was Thomas Warrell, a native of Ireland, who came with his parents to America about 1822 His wife, Phœbe Patterson, a native of Washington county, died in 1870. Thomas Warrell Brockman was reared on a farm in Washington county, and edu- cated in the schools of that county and at Jefferson academy, graduating from the latter institution in 1883. After graduation he returned to the farm in Washington county, where he remained until 1890. From 1890 to 1895 he was engaged in the undertaking business at Prosperity, Washington county. On Oct. 1, 1895, Mr. Brockman moved to Homestead, where he has since been engaged in active business life. In October, 1898, he sold out his feed and builders' supplies business, which he had conducted for several years, and, March 1, 1899, purchased the undertaking business of J. H. Gillen. Mr. Brockman has since then devoted his time exclusively to the undertaking business, and has the leading undertaking establishment in Homestead Mr. Brockman was married, in October, 1884, to Martha E, daughter of John and Margaret (Hamilton) McMillen, of Prosperity, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Brockman have four children, Sarah E., Margaret P., Lucille and Virginia R. Mr. Brockman and wife are members of the United
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Presbyterian church. He is a member of Homestead lodge, No. 1049, I. O. O F., of which he is a past grand; of B. P. O. E., Gervais commandery, Knights of Malta, and several other fra- ternal orders. In politics he is a republican. He is now serving as school director from the fourth ward, Homestead.
HENRY BERG, capitalist, one of the wealthiest men in Verona, was born in Bavaria, Germany, Sept. 8, 1853, the only son of Henry and Anna M. (Bayer) Berg. The family left Germany on Feb. 14, 1866, and arrived at Pittsburg on March rith of that year, with a total cash capital of nine dollars and fifty cents. The father, a blacksmith by trade, worked for two years for Peter Haberman & Co., at a place called Haberman's Run, and, coming to Penn township, Allegheny county, was employed as a blacksmith and coal miner by the Armstrong & Dixon coal company, until October, 1873, when he came to Verona and opened a hotel. The building burned on July 26, 1875, and he then built the house in which the subject of this sketch now lives. He started in business anew on April 1, 1876, and managed the business until his death, which occurred October 5th of that year, his widow and son keep- ing the hotel until May 1, 1888. On Aug. 1, 1893, Mr. Berg, the subject of this sketch, started for himself in the hotel business at Nos. 1117 and 1119 Liberty Ave., Pittsburg, managed the hotel until May 1, 1901, and then retired from active business life. He now owns valuable property in the third and seventeenth wards, Pittsburg, in Sharpsburg, Mount Oliver, Oakmont and Verona. He has been treasurer of the Suburban water company, of Alle- gheny county, Pa., since its organization in 1893; was one of the organizers and is now a director of the First National bank of Verona, and was an organizer and is at present a director of the German-American savings and trust company, at the corner of Sixth and Smithfield streets, third ward, Pittsburg, which was started Nov. 10, 1902. He is a republican in politics, and has served his borough eight years as councilman. Mr. Berg was married, Sept. 5. 1889, to Miss Cassea Anth. Mrs. Berg was born in the third ward, Pittsburg, Aug. 28, 1852, and died Dec. 2, 1893. Mr. Berg's mother, now seventy-two years old, makes her home
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with her son. Mr. Berg has traveled extensively in the United States, Mexico and Europe. He is a man of generous nature, gives freely to worthy charities, and is a man whose genial dispo- sition has made him many friends. He is a member of the German Evangelical church of Pittsburg, a church among whose members have been numbered many of the most influential men of that city.
JOSEPH FRANK DONAGHY, of Coraopolis, Pa., a prominent contractor and capitalist, was born in Venango county, Pa., Sept. 26, 1866, son of George W. and Emaline (Mayo) Donaghy, his paternal ancestors having come from Ire- land, and his maternal from Massachu- setts. His parents had eleven children, ten of whom are now living, viz. : James M. ; Nannie, wife of I. N. DeNoon; W. C .; J. F .; George M ; Hiram M .; Emma; Jennie; Nettie, and John. His father was a contractor by occupation, and died in 1902 at the age of seventy-two years. His mother survives her husband, and is now in her fifty-eighth year. Joseph F. Donaghy received his educational training in the public schools of Butler, Pa., and in the schools of Pittsburg, where the family had removed when he was quite young. He left school in 1883, and for a short time was office boy for S. S. Marvin, the Pittsburg baker, and then began to learn the machinists' trade with the firm of Velte & McDonald, on Penn avenue, Pittsburg: He was with them for three and one-half years, and for the next eight years was con- nected with McGill & Co., on the same thoroughfare. He next became master mechanic of the Ellwood City tube works, where he remained for three years. While there he patented a machine for making tubes out of solid billets, which he sold to the National tube works, of Mckeesport. He then took stock in the United States wire nail company, of Shoustown, Pa., became master mechanic of their plant for one year, and for two years was superintendent. He engaged in general contracting and building, and at present is engaged in erecting a large addition to the National brewery, of McKee's Rocks. He still acts as superintendent of the United States wire nail company in an executive capacity, and has just organized the Donaghy foundry and machine company, which is preparing to erect a large plant. He was married, in 1896, to Dora
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S. Colborn, of Ellwood city, and they have two children, Grace and Stanley. Mr. Donaghy is a republican in politics, and is a director of the Coraopolis realty company. He owns fine property in Coraopolis, and is one of the solid and substantial citizens of that borough.
BENJAMIN COE IRWIN, M. D., a prominent physician of Springdale, was born in Indiana county, Pa., July 20, 1863, and is a son of Rev. David Johnson Irwin, D. D., and Sarah H. (Coe) Irwin. Rev. David Irwin was born in Kittanning, Armstrong county, and was for many years one of the most prominent minis- ters of the Kittanning presbytery. He died, in 1899, at the age of sixty-five. His wife, Sarah H. (Coe) Irwin, was a daughter of Benjamin Coe, son of Benja- min Coe, a farmer and coal dealer in a very early day. His wife was Sarah (Hill) Coe. Rev. Irwin and wife reared a family of three sons and two daughters. Of these, Dr. B. C. Irwin is the subject of this sketch; Rev. J. P. Irwin has been for the past eight years foreign missionary to China; Rev. George B. Irwin is a minister of the Kittanning presbytery, having charge of the Presbyterian church of Cowansville, Armstrong county, and Margaret B. and Rozanna Irwin are teachers in the Tarentum schools. Dr. Benjamin Coe Irwin was reared on a farm and attended the Ederridge and Glade Run academies. He took a course of study in the medical department of the Western university, in Pittsburg, and graduated from that institution March 28, 1889. He spent ten years in the practice of his profession at New Alexandria, Westmoreland county, and has for the past four years been located at Springdale, where he has built up a lucrative practice. Dr. Irwin is a member of the Allegheny Valley medical society and the K. O. T. M., of Springdale, and is examiner for a number of insurance companies. In politics he is a republican ; is at present a school directer, and takes great interest in educational affairs. Dr. Irwin was married, March 4, 1897, to Miss Elizabeth A. Douglas, of Greensburg, Pa., and has three children, David Johnson, Hattie Jane and James Harvey. The family are identified with the Presbyterian church, of which Dr. Irwin is a ruling elder.
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JOHN BURKMAN, grocer at Ninth street and Washington avenue, Braddock, is a type of the many successful Scandi- navians in Allegheny county. He was born in Sweden, May 1, 1860, son of John and Pernilla (Johnson) Burkman, and came to America upon reaching his major- ity, and settled in Braddock. For six years he worked in the Edgar Thompson mills, and then, with the savings which his hard work and rigid economy had accumulated, he opened a grocery in the building now occupied by L. H. Bishoff & Co. Five years later, in 1892, he bought the lots at Nos. 866 and 868 Washington Ave., and erected upon it a residence and a store building, where he now conducts a store which keeps on hand a large stock of groceries and a considerable line of merchandise as well. Mr. Burkman was married, July 31, 1884, to Lydia, daughter of Lawrence and Sophia Peterson, both emigrants from Sweden. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Burkman, three died in childhood, and John E. L .. Charles, Gertrude, Paul and Elmer are living. The family are Lutherans. Mr. Burkman is a member of Braddock Field lodge, No. 529, I. O. O. F .; the Scandinavian Brotherhood, and the local Swedish society of Braddock.
JOHN RUDOLPH RICKENBAUGH, for twenty years in the employ of the Pittsburg plate glass company, and now foreman of the carpenter department of the company's works at Tarentum, was born in Allegheny county, Pa., May 20, 1852. He was reared and educated in . Allegheny county, learned there the coopers' trade, and then became a car- penter. He now owns property in Tarentum, which he purchased with the savings of his labor. In politics he is a republican. In 1874 he married Miss Margaret M. Hodil, and has had six children, of whom Clara B., Matilda E., Brinton H. and Virginia M. are deceased. Those liv- ing are Laura E. and Calvin R. In religious belief Mr. and Mrs. Rickenbaugh are Presbyterians. Mr. Rickenbaugh comes of a
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family long prominent in Allegheny county. His parents, Jacob and Mary (Hettenfelder) Rickenbaugh, natives of Germany, came to Pittsburg in 1832, and died in O'Hara township, Allegheny county, the father in 1877 and the mother in 1884. They were the parents of five children, all living. Jacob Rickenbaugh was a teamster in Pittsburg in an early day, and owned the first four- horse team in that city. His later life was spent on a farm in East Deer township. He and his wife were members of the German Lutheran church. Mrs. John R. Rickenbaugh's parents were Samuel and Margaret (Grubbs) Hodil, and her paternal grandfather was a pioneer settler of Indiana township, where he spent his last days. He owned a large tract of land there. Samuel Hodil was born in Allegheny county, Sept. 19, 1805, and his wife was born Nov. 13, 1813. They were members of the Presbyterian church, and their nine children all adopted this faith. In politics Mr. Hodil was a republican. Mrs. Hodil was born in Germany, and her father was one of the early settlers of Indiana township.
CHARLES KITTERING BARN- HART, of McKee's Rocks, a well- known contractor and justice of the peace, was born in Ligonier township, Westmoreland Co., Pa., July 16, 1864, and is the son of David and Sarah (Kit- tering) Barnhart. His father was a tan- ner in early life, later an employe of the Pennsylvania railroad, then proprietor of a grocery store, and now resides at McKee's Rocks, where he lives quietly retired from active life. His parents had four children, two of whom are now living, the other child being Benjamin J., a merchant of McKee's Rocks. The elder Barnhart is a stanch republican. Charles K. Barnhart obtained his education in the public schools of Ligonier and at Derry, Pa., and when fifteen years of age began to learn the trade of a plasterer with Jesse Cogan, of Westmoreland county. When twenty years of age, he went into that business for himself at Sheridan, Pa .; later removed to McKee's Rocks, where he is now located, and does the largest business in his line in the borough. He was married, in 1888, to Maria, daughter of William Richards, of Pittsburg, a roller in the steel mills for many years, and they have three children, two daughters and a son, their home
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life being an unusually happy one. Mr. Barnhart is a republican, served eight years in the borough council, being elected by the largest majority of any one, and was elected to his present position of justice of the peace on May 30, 1903. Mr. Barnhart is a promi- nent member of the B. P. O. Elks, and is very popular in the city where he makes his home.
THOMAS D. GARDNER, recognized as the leading real estate dealer of Mckeesport, was born in that city May 10, 1857. His father, Fred J. Gardner, was a native of Manchester, England, while his mother was born in Dublin, Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner came to America early in the fifties, and after a short time spent in Pittsburg, took up their permanent residence in Mckeesport, where Mr. Gardner conducted a bakery up to the time of his death, in 1865, after which the establishment was kept for sev- eral years by his widow. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fred J. Gardner were: Sadie, now Mrs. A M. Kennedy; Carrie, mar- ried to Isaac Reager; Mary, who is the wife of Benjamin Shellenberger; Fred J., Jr., and Thomas D., the subject of this sketch. Thomas D. Gardner was reared and educated at Mckees- port. When sixteen years old, he entered the employ of the National tube works as an office boy, and later worked for three years at the carpenter trade. After this he was for over three years a clerk in the Baltimore & Ohio railroad offices, and in July, 1880, became teller of the People's bank, where he was, in 1882, pro- moted to the position of assistant cashier. After ten years in the employ of this concern, Mr. Gardner became, in 1890, cashier of the National bank of Mckeesport, where he remained until Jan. 1, 1896. Since then he has devoted his attention to real estate, being, up to Jan. 1, 1899, associated with Mr. Gilbert F. Myer, under the firm name of Gilbert F. Myer & Co. For the past four years he has been alone, with an office at No. 521 Walnut St., and has built up an extensive and profitable business. Mr. Gardner has been for eight years past a member of the school board, and was last year elected president of that body. He was a member of the first board of managers of the Y. M. C. A., which was organized about fifteen years ago, and is still actively interested in that organiza-
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tion. He is also a member of the board of trustees of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Mckeesport, and has been for sev- eral years vice-president of the board of underwriters. For many years he has been secretary of the Youghiogheny lodge of Masons, and is a member of various other social organizations. Mr. Gardner was married, in June, 1881, to Miss Nellie Downs, daugh- ter of Isaac N. and Jennie (Thompson) Downs, of West Newton, Pa., and has two children, Edmund R., a student at Bucknell col- lege, and Harry C., attending high school. Mr. Gardner and fam- ily reside in the fifth ward, Mckeesport. In politics he is a republican.
SAMUEL W. S. DINSMORE, M. D., of Sharpsburg, Pa., a prominent homœ- opathic physician, was born near Kittan- ning, Armstrong Co., Pa., Nov. 23, 1853, son of Robert and Mary (Reed) Dins- more. His father was at one time a country merchant and followed droving in the eastern part of Pennsylvania until his health failed, and in 1835 came to North Buffalo township, Armstrong Co., Pa., purchased a farm and prospered at that vocation until his death, in 1853. Mr. Dinsmore was educated in the elemen- tary branches in the public schools of Kittanning; when eleven years of age entered Reed's institute, in Clarion county; two years later he attended Bucknell university, where he remained but one year, owing to failure in health. He went to Hahnemann medical college, of Philadelphia, and was graduated from that well-known institution in 1876. Dr. Dinsmore began his professional career at Camden, N. J., and in 1877 came to Sharpsburg, and since then has been one of the leading physicians of that city. He had his offices at No. 210 North Main St., and enjoys a large and profitable practice. He was married, in 1878, to Emma, daughter of Lewis and Mary Jane Lewis, of Sharpsburg, her father having formerly been a member of the firm of Lewis, Bailey, Dalzell & Co., pro- prietors of the large iron works conducted by that firm in Sharps- burg. Dr. Dinsmore and his wife have one child, Marion H., a student. He and his family are members of the Baptist church, and he is a prominent Mason and past master of the local lodge. Dr. Dinsmore is president of the Allegheny county homoeopathic
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medical society and is a member of the Pennsylvania State homœ- opathic society and the American institute of homœopathy. In poli- tics he is a republican. Dr. Dinsmore was in the Vienna hospital six months, receiving a certificate of proficiency from that institution in the diseases of the nose and the throat.
EDWARD WELLS POWERS, coal operator, residing at No. 426 Beechwood Ave., Carnegie, was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, June 11, 1843, son of Frank- lin and Eliza (Moore) Powers, natives respectively of Youngstown, Ohio, and Washington county, Pa. Franklin Pow- ers, a widely known stock dealer, died at the age of thirty-three in 1853. His wife, who is now in her eighty-third year, is a resident of Youngstown, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Powers had three other children besides the subject of this sketch : John W. enlisted early in 1863 in the 125th Ohio volunteer infantry, fought at Murfreesboro and Chickamauga, and died in hospital from wounds and exposure, after the last-named battle, in September, 1863; Frank M. is a jeweler in Youngstown, Ohio, and Clarence, who was born in 1850, died in his second year. E. W. Powers, the subject of this sketch, enlisted in 1862 in Company B, 84th Ohio volunteer infantry, and spent the first part of his service with his regiment on the upper Potomac, guarding fords and passes in the mountains. In the battle of Cynthiana, Ky., he received a wound in the arm and was taken prisoner. After being in the hands of the enemy three days, the prisoners were paroled, as the pursuit of the Federal forces was becoming too fierce for the rebels. Mr. Powers spent the remaining two months of his service at Johnston's island, guarding prisoners, and was honorably discharged in Octo- ber, 1864. After the war he entered Allegheny college, at Mead- ville, Pa., but after one year left to engage in the hardware busi- ness at Sandy Lake, Pa. With this and other interests he was busy for nearly five years, when he opened a coal mine near Youngs- town, Ohio; this, and work on another one that had previously been opened, in Austintown township, occupied his time for the next two years. During this time he was the founder and chief promoter of the Ohio powder works, situated in Liberty township. This company has achieved a prominent place in the growth of
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