USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume II > Part 20
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SAMUEL B. SMITH, liveryman at Tarentum, was born in Allegheny city, Pa., Jan. 11, 1857. His father was R. P. Smith, and his grandfather, Mack Smith. Mack Smith was born in Vermont, moved to Connecticut and then to Pittsburg, where he became a teamster, his route lying between Pittsburg and Philadel- phia. His wife, Frances (Perine) Smith, was a native of Connecticut. Both died in Allegheny city. R. P. Smith, father of the subject of this sketch, was a tin- smith by trade and a manufacturer, and delivered by wagons, selling his wares from house to house. Later he engaged in the hardware business. He was a prominent poli- tician, at first a whig and afterwards one of the organizers of the republican party, and served his borough as councilman. He was a native of Connecticut, while his wife, Margaret (Daychair) Smith, was born in Ireland. They were members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Smith was a member of the I. O. O. F. He died in Allegheny city in 1872, but his wife is still living, at the age of seventy-seven. The subject of this sketch is one of seven children, of whom three are living, Samuel B., Homer and Albert H. Samuel B. Smith was educated in the schools of Allegheny city, Springdale and Tarentum, and at the Iron City business college, in Pittsburg. He spent the first nineteen years of his life on a farm, and then, in 1876, came to Tarentum, where he has ever since successfully engaged in the livery business. He has dealt in horses for many years, and owns property in Tarentum. In politics Mr. Smith is a prominent republican, was for ten years assistant burgess of Tarentum, and is now a councilman. He was one of the organizers of the local fire department, and, for several years, its chief. He is a member of Tarentum lodge, No. 502, F. and
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A. M. Mr. Smith was married, in 1887, to Miss Luella Hazlett, of Allegheny county, and has two children: Lillie Leverna, born April 10, 1888, and Fannie Luella, born May 28, 1890. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ANTON J. KATCHMAR, a prominent grocer and foreign exchange banker of Braddock, was born in the city of Leut- schau (Löcse), Hungary, July 18, 1872, son of Anton and Anna Katchmar, who were of Slavic descent. He attended school until his twelfth year, and then learned the bakers' trade, at which he worked until 1889, when he came to America, landing in New York, Aug. 9, 1889. He immediately left for the coal regions, in Allegheny county, where he worked for a time, and then decided to try his fortunes in the great city of Pittsburg, of which he had heard. On reaching Pittsburg, Sept. 15, 1889, he found himself alone and friendless in the city, with only five cents in his pocket with which to buy food and lodging. Soon, however, he found some countrymen, who provided for his immediate wants, and one of them, Mr. Joseph Gallik, took the boy to his home in Allegheny city, and secured employment for him in the Heinz pickling works. Later Mr. Katchmar went back to his trade as a baker for a time, and then accepted a position as clerk in the wholesale liquor house of William Zoller, in Pittsburg. He next came to Braddock, where he worked for a while for the firm of Calahan & Vey, grocers, and spent three years in the employ of F. G. Bishoff & Co. March 26, 1898, Mr. Katchmar started in for himself in the grocery business on Third street. The next year he built a one-story store- room at the corner of Hawkins avenue and Spring street, and, the business prospering, moved the frame building to No. 107 Hawkins avenue, where he still conducts a prosperous grocery. On the spot where the old building stood he erected a handsome three-story brick building, and, on Oct. 22, 1902, opened a foreign exchange banking and steamship ticket agency. Mr. Katchmar is well qual- ified to conduct such a business, being conversant with the Slavic Polish, Hungarian, Magyar, Croatian, German and English languages.
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FREDERICK LUCIUS MUTH, M. D., a prominent young Wilmerding physician, was born in Mauch Chunk, Pa., Sept. 4, 1876, son of John and Jane E. (Mushlitz) Muth. He is descended on his father's side from German ancestors, while his mother traces her family to the old Penn- sylvania Dutch. Dr. Muth received his professional education at the Hahnemann medical institute in Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1898. After graduation he practiced for a time in Huntington, Pa., and, in July, 1899, came to Wilmerding, where, in his comparatively short residence, he has built up an extensive practice. Dr. Muth is a member of 1. O. O. F., Heptasophs and Knights of Pythias. His office is at No. 208 Westinghouse Ave., Wilmerding.
GEORGE P. WEAVER, grocer on Linden avenue, East Pittsburg, is a type of the self-made men who add so much to the commercial life of a city. He was born at Banksville, a suburb of Pittsburg, July 6, 1863, son of Abraham and Char- lotte (Perry) Weaver. Abraham was the son of Benjamin and Martha Weaver, who lived in Tradega, Wales. : Mrs. Weaver's parents were George and Charlotte Perry, old settlers of Banks- ville, who came to this country from E England. George P. Weaver was mar- ried, Oct. 8, 1887, to Elizabeth A., daughter of John A. and Eliza (Harley) Richards, and granddaughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Richards and Joseph and Mary Ann Harley. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Weaver are: Della H., born Nov. 6, 1888, now attending high school; John Abram, born Aug. 30, 1890; Mabel Irene, born Dec. 3, 1893, and Elizabeth Richards, born Feb. 23, 1897. Mr. Weaver was engaged for some time in railroad work in the capacity of engineer, in 1898 started a grocery near his present location in East Pittsburg, but finding the accom- modations insufficient for his increasing trade, he erected, in 1900, the large store building which he now occupies. The upper part
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of this building he has fitted up for a comfortable residence. Mr. Weaver was early selected as a progressive citizen of his borough and one well fitted to serve in the council of East Pittsburg, and has been, since February, 1902, president of that body. Mr. Weaver has recently completed a fine row of flats on Beach street, and has opened a branch of his business at Wolftown, in North Braddock borough. His brother, William W. Weaver, erected, at the foot of Linden avenue, the fine, four-section brick building called the Weaver block. a handsome structure, which adds much to the arch- itectural beauty of East Pittsburg.
WILLIAM ALBERT REED is pastor of the Beulah Presbyterian church, situ- ated two miles east of Wilkinsburg, one of the oldest churches in Allegheny county. It was organized about 1784, and was called Beulah in 1804. James Milligan was one of the leading organizers and a charter member. Although the early history of the church is very scanty, it is known that Rev. Barr preached there about Sept. 24, 1787, and the first report of membership gives the church an en- rollment of 124. There have been, in all, nine pastors, as follows: Rev. Barr, who was the first; Rev. James Graham, born in Cumberland county in 1776, and pastor from 1804 to his death, which occurred in 1845; Rev. T. M. Brown; Rev. Hastings; Rev. Hunter, who served from April, 1874, to April, 1877; Rev. Miller, 1878 to 1884; Rev. Ralston, D. D. ; Rev. Hayes, 1894 to 1900, and the present pastor. The church has had a pros- perous life, having a membership now of 125. The present officers are: Clerk of the session, N Montgomery, and J. L. Mckeever, Matthew Taylor and Frederick A. Weber. The present pastor, William Albert Reed, was born in Clarion county, Pa., April 16, 1867, son of William L. and Elizabeth (Berlin) Reed. He was educated at the Clarion normal school, the Washington and Jeffer- son college, and the Western theological seminary at Allegheny city. He graduated from Washington and Jefferson college in 1897, and from the Western theological seminary in 1900, and was ordained to the ministry Oct. 16, 1900, as pastor of Beulah church. During his pastorate, Rev. Reed has proved himself an earnest and faithful worker, and has endeared himself in the hearts of his
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congregation. He was married, in 1898, to Viola, daughter of Robert and Mary Scofield, of Venango county. Mrs. Reed was born in Venango county, Nov. 21, 1872, and was educated at the California normal school. She assists her husband by serving as superintendent of the Beulah church Sunday-school. Rev. Reed and wife have one son, William Robert, born April 6, 1901.
GEORGE HENRY DUERR, a well- known merchant of Tarentum, was born in Sarversville, Butler Co., Pa., March 27, 1859, and was reared and educated there. His father, John Duerr, a German by birth, came to America in 1854, settling in Sarversville, where he died, April 24, 1900, at the age of seventy-three. He was a blacksmith by trade, but also a far- mer, was a republican in politics, and at one time served a year as supervisor of Buffalo township, Butler county. He was a member of the German Evangelical
church. His wife, Elizabeth (Miller) Duerr, mother of the subject of this article, was born in Winfield township, Butler county, and was a daughter of Henry Miller, a native of Germany who, with his wife, came to America in an early day, and was among the pioneer settlers of Butler county. There, too, they spent their last days. Mrs. Duerr is still living, now sixty-four years old. She is a member of the German Evangelical church. George H. Duerr, whose name heads this sketch, began his business career as a clerk in a store in Pittsburg, where he remained two years. Leaving Pittsburg in 1887, he came to Tarentum, locating at first on East Sixth avenue, and moving the following year to his pres- ent place of business. Here he built a store which he still owns, and now he has also two houses and lots in Tarentum. Mr. Duerr has been most successful as a merchant, and has, by industry and persistence, won for himself a competence. Besides his store, he manages a milk route which he has owned ever since coming to Tarentum, and which has also been the source of considerable revenue. He is a stockholder in the People's National bank. In politics he is a republican. On Feb. 9, 1887, Mr. Duerr married Miss Mary A. Smith, of Sarversville, Butler county, and has four children, Lewla, Lolla E., Lyman C. and Alice P. Mr. and Mrs. Duerr are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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FRANK RANDOLF MASTERS, a prominent young dentist of Wilmerding, was born in Allegheny county, Pa., in 1872. His parents, John C. and Elizabeth (Kane) Masters, were born in Westmore- land county, where they still live on a farm, the father at the age of fifty-six. Frank R. Masters is the oldest of a fam- ily of seven children. The others are: Edwin G., Trusie B. (now Mrs. William Kisler), William, Roy, Jennie and Zella. Dr. Masters attended the common schools of Westmoreland county, where he re- ceived his early education, and then became a student in the Laird institute, and, in 1897, graduated from the Slippery Rock State normal school. In the fall of 1899 he entered the Pittsburg dental college, from which he graduated in 1902. In April, 1902, he began practicing dentistry in Wilmerding, and has been successful in his profession. Dr. Masters was married, Nov. 19, 1902, to Lottie E. Eakin, of Eakin's Corners, Venango Co., Pa. Dr. Masters is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his par- ents also belong. He is also a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, of Turtle Creek.
JOHN BENJAMIN JONES, Jr., jus- tice of the peace at Homestead, was born in Pittsburg, Pa., Nov. 4, 1853. His father, John B. Jones, was born in Wales, while his mother, Mary Jane (Whittaker) Jones, was a native of Pittsburg. John B. Jones, Sr., came to America with his mother in 1831, when less than a year old, and was reared in Pittsburg. He became a coppersmith and glassworker, and was employed for many years by leading firms in Pittsburg, and after- wards moved to Homestead, where he was in the employ of Boyce, Higbee & Co. He died at the age of sixty-nine, Feb. 13, 1900. He reared a family of nine children, as follows: John B .; Mary E., widow of Richard Fawcett; Ralph E. ; William C .; Alexander M. ; Huldah M., wife of George B. Forster; Sherman C., superintendent of the open-hearth department, Amer-
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ican wire and steel company, Pittsburg; Lyda E., wife of James S. Ross, and Margaret M., wife of Thomas J. Dulse. John B. Jones, Jr., the subject of this sketch, was educated in Pittsburg, and served his apprenticeship with McKee Bros., South Side, Pittsburg, as a glass-worker. He followed this trade thirty years, fifteen years of that time being spent in Homestead with Bryce, Higbee & Co. Since 1895 Mr. Jones has been successfully engaged in the real estate business in Homestead, and has been, since 1901, justice of the peace. He was at one time a councilman, and served two terms as school director. In politics he has always been an active republican. Mr. Jones was married, Jan. 1, 1879, to Henrietta, daughter of John and Annie Young. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have had ten children, of whom six are now living. They are: Howard S., Lila, Paul, Nellie, Willa and W. Harry. Mr. Jones is a mem- ber of the Heptasophs, of Homestead. In religion he is a Methodist.
WILLIAM L. BARNDOLLAR, of McKee's Rocks, Pa., a successful drug- gist, was born in Pittsburg, Pa., June 16, 1871, son of Samuel L. and Emma J. (Blood) Barndollar, his father being of German descent and his mother having descended from a prominent English family. Both parents are now living, and his father is well known as a tinsmith and as a man of exemplary character. Wil- liam L. is the eldest of nine children, eight of whom are now living, and, besides himself, are: Charles B., a travel- ing salesman for a wholesale shoe house of Cincinnati, Ohio; Olive A., wife of L. S. Henry, a well-known employe of Joseph Horne & Co., of Pittsburg; Isabella D. ; Gladys A , a stenographer, of Pitts- burg; Hazel, a dressmaker; Goldie and Helen, school girls. Nettie A., the fourth child, died about fifteen years ago. William L. Barndollar obtained his early education in the public schools of Verona and Pittsburg, and when fourteen years of age began working with his father in the tin business. When eighteen years of age, he matriculated at the Pittsburg college of pharmacy, was graduated from that institution, licensed by the State board, and secured employment with William Dice, a prominent druggist of Allegheny city. Mr. Barndollar remained with that concern for six years, then worked with other drug houses until 1898, when he
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embarked in the drug business on his own account in Allegheny city. After a year he disposed of his stock, clerked for other parties for a year, and then started his present successful drug store in McKee's Rocks. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Order of Americus, the republican party, and was one of the organ- izers of the First Baptist church of McKee's Rocks, now being treasurer of that institution. He was married, on Jan. 12, 1898, to Elizabeth A., daughter of Joseph and Mary Walker, of Avon, Lorain Co., Ohio, and they have one child, Mildred L., aged four years.
G. E. FRANK GRAY, chief clerk for the Carnegie steel company, at the Edgar Thompson steel works, furnaces and foun- dries, Braddock, Pa., was born in North Versailles township, Allegheny Co., Pa., Sept. 3, 1856. He is a son of Richard H. Gray, a carpenter by trade, and Martha E. (Shaw) Gray. The subject of this article was educated in the public schools, and from January, 1873, to October, 1879, a passenger brakeman on the Pennsylvania railroad. He was for two years con- nected with the Dithridge chimney com- pany, of Pittsburg, and, in 1881, entered the employ of Carnegie Bros. & Co. (limited), now Carnegie steel company, at the Edgar Thompson steel works, in the employ of which company he has risen to the responsible position of chief clerk. Besides this, he was for a year chief clerk of the Homestead steel works, and held a similar position at the Duquesne works seven years. In January, 1886, Mr. Gray married Sadie W., daughter of E. W. and Sarah Boyd, of Turtle Creek, and has one child, Martha S., born March 24, 1891, now attending school in Braddock. Mr. Gray is one of the respected citizens of Braddock, and takes a great interest in the welfare of the city. During his residence in Duquesne borough he was a member of the council for the term of two years, is a member of the board of health of Braddock, also a trustee and treasurer of the Carnegie free library. He is a member of the Independent Order of Heptasophs, and a member of the United Presbyterian church. Mr. Gray resides in Braddock in a hand- some residence at No. 430 Second St.
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SAMUEL PERRY MONTGOMERY, farmer, resides on a farm which has been in the possession of his family for over a century. The farm, originally of 207 acres, was received from the government by patent in March, 1786. Mr. Mont- gomery was born in Allegheny county, April 10, 1857, was educated at Pleasant Hill academy, and then learned the car- penters' trade. In 1878 he went to Kan- sas, and from there made an extended trip, in 1878-1879, throughout the western part of the United States. He has been for many years a resident of North Versailles township, Allegheny county, where he has held various township offices, among others those of assessor and truant officer. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Lodge No. 1067, of Wilmerding, I. O. O. F., Daughters of Rebecca, Jr. O. U. A. M. and Sons of Veterans. In politics he is a republican. He is a member of the United Presby- terian church. In February, 1882, Mr. Montgomery married Jennie E. Kline, daughter of George W. and Rebecca Kline, of Westmoreland county. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery have seven children, viz .: David R., Rhoda B., Jennie E., Samuel George, Rebecca T., Alice C. and Howard John.
J. GEORGE WERTZ, of Sharpsburg, Pa., manager and treasurer of the Pitts- burg hair felt company, was born in the city where he now resides, on July 5, 1855. He is a son of Gotlieb Wertz, who was a well-known butcher of Sharpsburg for a number of years, but is now retired from active business and resides on South Canal street, at the mature age of eighty- three years. Mr. Wertz attended the public schools of Sharpsburg until he was sixteen years of age, and for the next two years was a student of the Sharpsburg academy, where he completed his literary training. On leaving school, he embarked in the butcher business with his father and remained with him until 1874, when the elder Wertz retired from business and the concern was conducted by J. G. Wertz and his
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brother. They ran the meat market at No. 816 Main St. with much success until 1898, when Mr. Wertz organized a company and started a hair felt works in Sharpsburg, under the name of the Pittsburg hair felt company, with a capital stock of $50,000, and with himself as manager and treasurer. H. J. Bellman is the pres- ident and F. S. Young is the secretary of this company, and they do a large business, manufacturing hair felt for cold storage and refrigerator car insulation, pipe and boiler covering, and many other uses. Mr. Wertz is closely identified with the Masonic fra- ternity, having taken the Knight Templar degree, and is an active member of the republican party, having served as councilman for one term. He is an extensive traveler, having visited nearly all of the States, Canada, Europe and other places of interest. Mr. Wertz is a man of affairs and is a director of the Spear carbon com- pany, of St. Mary's, Pa .; the Farmers' and Mechanics' bank of Sharpsburg; the Wachter glue company, of Baltimore, Md., and a number of other corporations.
JAMES CARSON has been a farmer nearly all his life, or until 1893, when he sold his farm to the Monongahela invest- ment company. He was born in Alle- gheny county, Pa., on the farm on which he has lived, Oct. 19, 1838, being a son of William and Elizabeth Carson, respected old settlers. His father died in 1878, and his mother is still living, being in her ninetieth year. James Carson was edu- cated at Pleasant Hill school, and then began his life-long vocation as a farmer. His ninety-three-acre farm has now been divided into building lots, and a greater part of the borough of East Mckeesport has been built upon it. Mr. Carson was the first burgess of that borough, being appointed to that position for a one-year term. He has also served the public as school director, and enjoys the confidence and respect of the community in which he has long played an important part. He was married, in 1877, to Edith, daughter of William and Myrtilla (Carleton) McQuiston, of Saltsburg, Indiana county. Mrs. Carson is now dead. Of the children born of this union, Myrtilla is at home, and Paul Eugene is attending school at Muskingum, Ohio. Mr. Carson served in the Civil war as a member of Colonel Gallop's regiment, re-enlist-
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ing in 1864, and has a most creditable war-record. Enlisting in 1862, in the 123d regiment, Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, under Colonel Clarke, he served nine months, then enlisted in September, 1863, in the 204th infantry, and served until discharged, June 10, 1865.
JOHN W. HANNA, superintendent of the cemetery of North Braddock, was born March 2, 1860, in Hannastown, Alle- gheny Co., Pa., son of John and Margaret (Preachman) Hanna. He was educated in the common schools, and lived on his farm in Allegheny county until 1889. He held the position of road commis- sioner for seven years, and, in 1896, was elected to the office which he now holds. Mr. Hanna is prominent in religious and educational affairs, and a well-known and highly-respected citizen of Braddock. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and super- intendent of its Sunday-school. He is also a member of the North Braddock school board. Mr. Hanna is a member of the Knights of Malta and Jr. O. U. A. M.
ANTON HARTIG, who keeps the leading hotel in Brackenridge, the Har- rison house, is a native of Saxony, born March 2, 1859. He is a son of August Hartig, a farmer by occupation, who now lives in a city in Germany retired from active life, while his mother, Cleonora (Muehler) Hartig, died in 1859. August Hartig had four children by his first mar- riage and six by a second wife. The man whose name begins this sketch was reared and educated in Saxony, came to America in 1880, and was engaged for some time in railroad work, at first on the Allegheny Valley rail- road and afterwards in the shops in Allegheny city. After that he decided to enter upon a business career, and was for some fifteen years salesman and collector for the White sewing machine com- pany. In 1896 and 1897 he was in the hotel business in Etna,
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Allegheny county, and, in 1900, came to Brackenridge, then Har- rison township, where he undertook the management of the Harrison house. This is the oldest hotel in Brackenridge and the most popular house in the place, and under Mr. Hartig's able management has drawn for itself a liberal patronage by the best class of travelers. In politics Mr. Hartig is a republican. In 1883 he married Miss Catherine Hellerman, daughter of Peter and Christina Hellerman. Mr. Hellerman, a native of Germany, emigrated with his family to Allegheny county, where he died, in 1889, at the age of eighty-two. His widow is living, now a woman eighty years old. Mr. and Mrs. Hartig are the parents of five children, Katie, Walter, Hilma, Rudolph and Clara. Hilma died in 1891, when three years old. Mr. Hartig and family are mem- bers of the German Protestant Evangelical church.
JOHN M. WITTMANN, of Sharps- burg, Pa., a prosperous grocer and a well-known citizen, was born in that city on Jan. 27, 1867. He is a son of Joseph and Barbara Wittmann, the former a mill worker for many years, and both now live with the subject of this sketch. John M. Wittmann attended St. Mary's parochial school, of Sharpsburg, until he was thirteen years of age, and for the next four years was a student of the public schools of that city. He went into the grocery business at Nos. 129 and 131 Alhnayer alley, and has since enjoyed a thriving business at that stand. He retains several clerks, operates a delivery wagon and makes deliveries to Hoboken, Aspinwall, Etna and Sharps- burg. He was married, in 1896, to Matilda, daughter of Michael and Mary (Geisenhoffer) Kruth, formerly of Germany, but now residents of Sharpsburg, and to them have been born three chil- dren, Edward, Herbert and Loretta. Mr. Wittmann is a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church, the C. M. B. A., the Knights of St. George, St. Aloysius literary society, of which he has been chairman for nine years, and of the democratic party, of which he was a member of the county committee for two terms. Mr. Witt- mann has traveled extensively in this country and in Canada, is well read and thoroughly informed, and is a most successful busi- ness man.
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