USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume II > Part 22
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GEORGE I. HAUER, of Shoustown, Pa., station agent for the Pittsburg & Lake Erie railroad, was born at Lebanon, Pa., Dec. 17, 1868, son of Peter and Clarissa (Myers) Hauer. His father has been for years in the real estate and insur- ance business, and is now sixty-eight years of age. His ancestors on both sides came originally from Germany, and his parents had ten children, eight of whom are now living. George Hauer attended the public schools of his native town, and also Schell's business college, where he was graduated at the age of eighteen. He then entered the real estate business with his father, and subsequently was engaged as telegraph operator in Reading and Harrisburg for the Philadelphia & Reading railroad company. Later he went to Philadelphia as manager of the superintendent's office, and there remained for five years, when he again went into the real estate business with his father. He prospered there for four years, and then returned to
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the Philadelphia & Reading railroad as operator at Atlantic City, N. J., where he continued for three years. Later he became an operator for the Pittsburg & Lake Erie railroad, and, in 1902, was appointed to his present position of agent at Shoustown, Pa. He was married, in 1892, to Flora, daughter of James Clark, of McKee's Rocks, and they have four children, two sons and a like number of daughters. Mr. Hauer is independent in politics, and is a member of the Lutheran church, and also of the I. O. O. F.
JOSEPH GRIFFITH, cashier of the Clairton National bank, is a descendant of one of the oldest and most respectable families in the Monongahela valley. He was born at Cumberland, Allegheny Co., Md., in 1876, and is the son of William E. and Jane (Long) Griffith. His father has for many years been identified with the banking and newspaper interests of Maryland and Pennsylvania. He was born in Washington county, Pa., in Janu- ary, 1842. At the beginning of the Civil war he enlisted as a private in an inde- pendent cavalry company that was afterward mustered into the United States service as Company B, of the 22d Pennsylvania cavalry, and was mustered out in May, 1865, with the rank of captain. He was a comrade-in-arms of President Mckinley, and after the war was a near neighbor for several years in Stark county, Ohio. In 1872 he removed to Cumberland, Md., where for some time he was the editor of the Cumberland Daily News. Later he was for several years the national bank examiner for the State of Maryland, and, in 1884, was the Republican candidate for treasurer of State. He was the senior aide-de-camp on the staff of Governor Lowndes, with the rank of colonel, but he always felt far more pride in his title of captain, won upon the field of battle. He served as department commander of the Maryland Grand Army of the Republic, is a member of the Loyal Legion and the Knights Templars. He now lives in New York city, where he is the cashier for Fayerweather & Ladew, manufacturers of leather belting. Joseph Griffith was educated in the public schools of Cumberland, graduating from the high school in 1892. He then entered the office of J. B. Hawes, the leading architect of Cumberland, and remained there about a year, when he was offered, and accepted, a
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position in the office of the chief engineer of the West Virginia & Pittsburg railroad company. In 1894 he was appointed deputy State and county tax collector for Allegheny county, Md., but resigned two years later to accept the position of assistant cashier in the First National bank of Cumberland. While holding this position he also acted as assistant national bank examiner for Maryland. In April, 1902, he came to Clairton, Pa., to accept the position he now occupies. Besides being cashier of this bank, he is a director in the Meadow Mountain coal and coke company, and is a director and vice-president of the Potomac white sand com- pany. Though a young man of only twenty-seven years, Mr. Griffith's career has been most successful, and few men of his age are better known, or have a more enviable reputation in business circles. He is unmarried and is a member of the Presbyterian church, to which he is a liberal contributor.
HIRAM J. WHEELER, of Coraopolis, Pa., a prominent real estate dealer and oil producer, was born on Dec. 3, 1854, in Pomfret, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., son of Dwight and Josephine (Tarbox) Wheeler. His parents had eight children, seven of whom are now living and are: Ralph, Mrs. Eva Cranston, Hiram J., James B., Homer D., Mrs. Cora R. Bull and John W. Both of his parents were de- scended from Massachusetts families, and his father was a prosperous farmer. Mr. Wheeler was educated in the Pomfret schools up to his sixteenth year, and then matriculated at the State normal school at Fredonia, N. Y., from which he was graduated at the age of nineteen years. He engaged in the manufacture of cheese for two years, made an exhibition of fifty of his products at the Centennial exposition held at Philadelphia, and received a medal for the excellence of his display. In 1877 he went to the oil country, began operating in Bradford, Pa., and remained there for thirteen years. Afterward he came to Coraopolis, where he is engaged in the oil business and has extensive interests. He was married, in 1880, to Henrietta E. Culver, of Westfield, N. Y., and they have one child, Mildred R., a delightful young woman and one of the most accomplished musicians in the State. He is a director of the Ohio Valley trust company, the Coraopolis National
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bank and also of the Lake Carrier oil company, of Coraopolis. This latter company has a capital stock of $150,000, and is the largest in that part of the county. Mr. Wheeler also owns and operates a number of oil wells in Coraopolis. Mr. Wheeler is a republican by birth and by adoption, but has never held office except in the borough of Coraopolis, where he has just retired from the office of burgess after a three-year tenure. Previous to his first election as burgess, Mr. Wheeler served in the council of the borough, and at the last election was again chosen for that position, being the only republican elected. He and his wife are Unitarian in their relig- ious belief, and are valued and respected members of the com- munity in which they live.
GEORGE A. LASHELL, of Cora- opolis, Pa., a prominent real estate dealer, with offices at No. 331 Fourth Ave., Pitts- burg, Pa., was born in Newburgh, now Toronto, Jefferson Co., Ohio, April 27, 1845, son of Jacob and Sarah (Boley) Lashell. They had four children : Mary, who was drowned when ten years of age: George A .; John R., of Atlantic City, N. J., and Mrs. Leonora L. Mckown, of West Bridgewater, Pa. His father was a farmer and river man, came from Hunt- ingdon county, Pa., and later settled at what is now Lashell's Landing, Moon township, Allegheny Co., Pa. He was a prominent citizen, served as county commissioner for many years, and was widely known for his many generous acts. He has been dead a number of years, but is survived by his wife, who is yet in the best of health, though in her eightieth year. Mr. Lashell's paternal ancestors came from France, and his maternal from Germany, a splendid combination. Mr. Lashell attended the school of his native town, and later secured a splendid commercial education at the academy at Sewickley, and at the Iron City col- lege, of Pittsburg. When twenty years of age, he left school to work on the farm, and also on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, plying between Pittsburg and southern ports, with cargoes of lum- ber and produce. He was married, in 1868, to Margaret McElherren, of Robinson township, Allegheny county, and after his marriage went into the grain and feed business at Pittsburg. . He prospered in that venture for about twelve years, then engaged
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in the real estate business, and has met with unusual success in that line of commercial endeavor. Mr. Lashell is vice-president of the Coraopolis savings and trust company, and owns a beautiful home and many other valuable pieces of real estate in Coraopolis. He was one of the organizers and general superintendent and treas- urer of the Pittsburg, Neville Island & Coraopolis street railroad company, which was absorbed by the West End company, of Pitts- burg He served as'justice of the peace for five years, and is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, and the Maccabees. He is a democrat in politics.
SAMUEL MCGREW BRINTON, one of the leading farmers of Patton town- ship, Allegheny county, is a son of the late Stephen M. Brinton, and grandson of John Brinton. John Brinton, born in Chester county, married Sarah Mattock, a native of Westchester, Chester county, and a member of a prominent family of Chester county, on the Brandywine. John Brinton, a farmer by vocation, was an influential man in his day, held a num- ber of township offices, and served in the War of 1812. He was a member of the Quaker church. Stephen Marshall Brinton died at Hot Springs, Ark., April 19, 1883. His wife was Mary (McGrew) Brinton. They had, besides the subject of this sketch, several other sons and daughters, viz. : Dr. W. M. Brinton, formerly a well-known physi- cian of Sharpsburg, and a member of the Allegheny county medi- cal association, who died Dec. 1, 1888; Marshall Homer, banker and statesman, of Ellsworth, Ia .; Mary E. (deceased), and Sarah B., wife of J. Howard Clark, a prominent Washington county farmer. Samuel M. Brinton, whose name heads this article, was born in Allegheny county, Pa., Aug. 23, 1848, and was educated in the public schools of Patton township, Millersville State normal school in Lancaster county, and at Duff's business college in Pitts- burg, graduating from the latter institution in 1869. He has for many years been an important factor in the public activities of Patton township, where he has served as school director, auditor, assessor and in many other capacities. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and F. and A. M., and belongs to the Pitcairn Presby- terian church. Mr. Brinton was married, Aug. 13, 1883, to Miss
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Helen M. Collins, daughter of David and Mary Collins. David Collins was formerly county commissioner of Allegheny county. Of this union were born four children, Mary C., Jean G., Stephen Marshall and William M. Mrs. Brinton died March 2, 1895, and on June 9, 1897, Mr. Brinton married Cydonia Chadwick, a mem- ber of a prominent Westmoreland county family. One son has blessed this second union, Mark Homer, born in April, 1898. Mr. Brinton resides on the old Brinton homestead, where John Brinton located when he first came west of the mountains. His postoffice address is Pitcairn, Pa.
JOSEPH EDGAR EUWER, post- master of Natrona, was born in Westmore- land county, Pa., Oct. 25, 1861, son of Robert and Matilda (Young) Euwer, also natives of Westmoreland county, and a grandson of Robert and Nancy Euwer. The first Robert Euwer was born in Ire- land, and came to America in a very early day. He and his wife both died in West- moreland county. The maternal grand- parents of Joseph Edgar Euwer were Joseph and Margaret (Steel) Young, natives of Westmoreland county, and died there. Joseph Young, the grandfather, was a grandson of Captain Young, who fought in the Revolutionary war. Robert Euwer, father of the subject of this sketch, served three years in the Civil war as a member of Company C, 9th Pennsylvania reserves, and during the time fought with distinction in every battle in which his regiment took part. After the war he came to Natrona and followed various vocations until 1890, when he moved to Westmore- land county, where he resided up to the time of his death, which occurred Feb. 4, 1903. Joseph E. Euwer, whose name begins this article, was reared at Natrona. When a young man, he was for a short time brakeman on the Pennsylvania & Central railroad, between Columbia and Philadelphia, after which he was for two years engaged in mercantile pursuits in East Liberty. He received his appointment as postmaster at Natrona in 1897. In politics he is an ardent republican, and has always taken an active interest in the welfare of his party. On April 23, 1888, Mr. Euwer married Maggie C. Bush, a native of Westmoreland county, and has four children: Rankin Edgar, born May 30, 1889; Nora Grace, born
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July 17, 1894; Robert Mckinley, born July 21, 1896, and Edgar Lowell, born Oct. 17, 1900. Mr. Euwer and wife are members of the United Presbyterian church of Tarentum. Mrs. Euwer is a daughter of Eli Bush and wife, Jane (Iddings) Bush, who have been married fifty-four years (1903), and have had nine children, all of whom are living and all married. Mr. Bush and wife are members of the Presbyterian church of Poke Run, Pa. His par- ents were Jacob and Mary (Rimmel) Bush, both natives of Westmore- land county, Pa., but who died in Ohio. Mrs. Euwer is descended on her mother's side from William and Anna (Miller) Iddings, the former a native of Butler county, and the latter of Westmoreland county. William Iddings' father, also named William, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He was a second cousin of Gen. Anthony Wayne, known to fame as "Mad Anthony."
CASSIUS M. C. HARPER, of Boston, Pa., a prominent brick manufacturer, was born in Jefferson township, Alle- gheny Co., Pa., Oct. 24, 1857, son of Simon and Susannah (Ames) Harper, of Armstrong county, Pa., his father having been a prosperous merchant and post- master of Boston for many years. Mr. Harper was educated in the common schools, attending the Belle View school, and on quitting his studies, commenced as a clerk in a store at Boston, which position he occupied for a number of years. He was also engaged in coal mining to some extent, and, in 1885, began the manufacturing of brick as a member of the firm of Kerr & Harper. This venture prospered, and about seven years since Mr. Harper purchased his partner's interest, and from that time has successfully conducted its affairs under his own name. Mr. Harper now has an extensive plant, employs twenty-five men, and has an annual output of 2,500,000 bricks, which are of the shale rock variety and made by the stiff mud process. This plant is in operation the entire year, and Mr. Harper also is a large shipper of sand in connection with the brick works. He was mar- ried, in 1877, to Kate L., daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth (Merrington) Thompson, of Allegheny county, and they have three children, viz. : Hugh G .; Elda R., wife of James Henderson, and Essie S. Mr. Harper is a leading Mason, being a member of both
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the commandery and the consistory, and is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Boston, of which institution he is a member of the board of trustees. His political affiliations are with the republican party, and he is easily one of the leading citi- zens of that part of the county.
JOHN C. CROSS, of Cheswick, a well- known business man, was born in Clinton- ville, Venango county, March 21, 1856, son of W. C. and Mary Jane Cross. With his father, William Cross, he was engaged in the furnace business, jointly owning several furnaces in Venango county. W. C. Cross was for some time in the oil business on Oil creek, but being not altogether successful in that line, took up the mercantile calling until his death, in 1897. Jane Cross, grandmother to John C., was the founder of the famous Jane academy, from which Mr. Cross graduated at eighteen years of age. In 1876 he went with his father to the Bullion oil field, where they conducted a store for two years, removing then to Clintonville. Later he spent two and a half years at the oil fields, going into business for himself in 1881 as a contractor and driller, making many wells for the mills in Pittsburg and vicinity. Selling out, he went into the oil refining business, then entered the employ of the Chambers oil company, under William B. Hays, at Brush Creek; later went to the oil fields of Marietta, Ohio, where he leased con- siderable territory, being interested in six or eight wells, two of which were producers. In 1901 he moved to Cheswick and started a general store, which he still successfully conducts. He was mar- ried, in 1885, to Katherine M. Campbell, of New Castle, a daughter of Kirtland Campbell, foreman of a furnace in New Castle, Pa. He was somewhat of a genius in mechanics, erecting several fur- naces in Sharon and Sharpsville, and is now employed by the National tube works, of Mckeesport. Mr. Campbell and Mr. Cross were engaged in the oil business in Warren county, where they owned a lease with four wells. Mr. Campbell was the owner of the North Clarendon hotel, which was destroyed by fire in 1886. . Mr. and Mrs. Cross are members of the Methodist church of New- port, Ohio. In politics Mr. Cross is a republican. His father was also of that belief.
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WILLIAM M. STANTON, of Cora- opolis, foreman of the Producers' and Refiners' oil company and a prominent citizen, was born in Warren county, May 28, 1859. He is the son of Hamilton R. and Sarah Jane (Wilson) Stanton, who were the parents of nine children, eight of whom are living. Hamilton R. was a Lincoln republican and prominent in his party while alive, and although himself incapacitated for military duty, seven of his brothers were volunteers in answer to Lincoln's call for men; in fact, Mr. Stan- ton's people and ancestors have taken to a military career during and since the war of 1776. · Mr. Stanton possesses a most remark- able family tree, tracing his ancestors back to the Stantons of Longebridge and Warwick prior to 1460. From this branch de- scended Gen. Thomas Stanton, of Connecticut, the first known Stanton in America, who came over in the good ship "Bonaventura" in 1635. He filled many offices of trust, was appointed interpreter to the Indians by Governor Winthrop, and was also a signer of the first constitution of Connecticut, drawn up in 1639. Mr. Stanton has a correct history from Gen. Thos. Stanton's arrival in America down to the subject of this sketch. Mr. Stanton, after finishing school at the age of nineteen, worked as telegraph operator for the Pennsylvania railroad company at Warren for three years, then went into the oil field, operating for the Standard oil company as gauger of oil through Warren, Mckean, Clarion and Venango counties for twelve years, and then came to Coraopolis, where he has since been connected with the Producers' and Refiners' com- pany. Mr. Stanton has been twice married-first, in 1882, to Johanna Bromley, of Clearfield county, who died in 1899, leaving three daughters and two sons. The second time he was married to Ida Etoil Covert, daughter of Josiah Covert, a prominent pioneer of Butler county. Mr. Stanton has one daughter by this marriage. He has been prominently identified with the republican party, has served as a member and treasurer of the republican executive com- mittee, was elected a member of the borough council, was later elected president of the council, was a member of the finance com- mittee of the borough, was elected president and treasurer of the fire department, and otherwise served the borough in official capacity. Mr. Stanton was made a member of Canby lodge,
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No. 520, F. and A. M., of St. Petersburg, Pa., in 1885, and is also a member of other fraternal organizations. Mr. Stanton owns his own handsome residence on the corner of Sixth avenue and Wood street, Coraopolis, has a substantial standing in the financial world, and enjoys the esteem and respect of the community.
GEORGE A. KOEHLER, of Ches- wick, Pa., a prominent citizen and a well- known business man of Pittsburg, was born in Allegheny city, Pa., Oct. 30, 1853, son of Jacob and Mary (Winkleman) Koehler, the former having been a lock- smith and later in the stove-fitting busi- ness with William Bissel on Pennsylvania avenue. Jacob Koehler was a native of Alsace-Lorraine, and came to America in 1848, located in Pittsburg, and there mar- ried Mary Winkleman, who was born and reared within three miles of him in the old country, but whom he had never met until both had come to the United States. They had a family of eleven children, nine of whom are now living. George A. was the fifth child, and was educated in the primary branches in the public schools, later attended the parochial and other colleges in Pittsburg until he reached his eighteenth year, when he began carrying the evening mail in Allegheny city. After six months he went into the scrap iron business at Nos. 6 and 8 Sawmill alley, continuing there until 1885, when he removed his business to Pittsburg, and under the firm name of Koehler & Co., transacted a large business at the corner of Columbia and Pike streets. In 1892 he formed a partnership with Myer Strang, under the firm name of Koehler & Strang, changing their location to No. 2830 Liberty Ave., where they do the largest business of their kind in Pittsburg, handling nearly a half a million dollars' worth of scrap iron annually. Mr. Koehler was married, in 1877, to Katharine Heiser, of Alle- gheny city, and they had two children: Rose Edna, attending col- lege at St. Joseph's academy, Greenburg, Pa., and Anthony John George, a student of St. Mary's seminary. He was married the second time, on Feb. 18, 1903, to Mary, daughter of Casper and Louise (Wiegland) Gaertner, of Allegheny city, but formerly of Germany. He is a member of St. Mary's church of Allegheny city, and at present is a trustee of the church at Colfax, Pa. Mr.
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Koehler is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Columbus and the Turners, of Allegheny city. In politics he is a democrat, and served on the common council of Allegheny city for six years, and at present is serving a second term as councilman of Cheswick borough. He is a member of C. M. B. A. and the C. B. L., of Allegheny city, and for twelve years was president of the Jacksonian club, of Allegheny city. Mr. Koehler has traveled extensively, having visited Nova Scotia, San Domingo, New Orleans, Port Huron, and has been in nearly every State of the Union. He began his present business on the bor- rowed capital of $17, which he secured from his brother, and now owns perhaps the finest property in Cheswick, and controls the largest scrap iron business in Pittsburg. He is a stockholder in the Central savings and trust company, and is a stockholder and director in the D. Lutz & Sons brewing company.
JOHN R. MONTGOMERY, a promi- nent business man, of Turtle Creek, was born in North Versailles township, Alle- gheny Co., Pa., July 17, 1863. He is a son of John M. and Elizabeth M. (Lewis) Montgomery. John M. Montgomery, in his day one of the best-known farmers in the community, served during the Civil war as a member of the 63d Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, was wounded during the war and died shortly after its close. The subject of this sketch is one of four children. The others are: Joseph M., a carpenter; Samuel P., a contractor, and Rebecca M., wife of Edward Taylor, who is a farmer. John R. Montgomery was reared and educated in North Versailles township. He was for about seven years a merchant in Turtle Creek, and is now in the contracting business. He is a man who has won the confidence and respect of the community, has served the public as township auditor and held several other offices Mr. Montgomery was married, March 14, 1889, to Agnes C. Smith, who is a daughter of Jacob and Catherine Smith, and was born in Westmoreland county, March 18, 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery have two children, both attending school: Renard King, born Feb. 4, 1890, and Hertilla C., born Sept. 10, 1891. Mr. Montgomery is a mem- ber of the F. and A. M. and I. O. O. F.
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GIDEON H. JAQUAY, justice of the peace of Rankin, was born in Carroll county, Ky., Feb. 12, 1853 He is the son of Anthony and Marietta (Hall) Jaquay. Anthony Jaquay was the first man to carry the art of daguerreotypy west of the Allegheny mountains. Gideon H. Jaquay, the subject of this sketch, was married, Dec. 31, 1872, to Emma J. Herr, of Pittsburg, Pa. To Mr. and Mrs. Jaquay have been born three children, of whom two are living. They are : Clara E., wife of Joseph Kelly, and Adda M., wife of Albert Roderns, both of Allegheny county. Mr. Jaquay came to Rankin with his family in_1889. He was elected to the office of justice of the peace in 1895, and fulfilled the duties of the position so creditably that he was re-elected in 1900. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Ben- Hur, Woodmen of the World, Essenic Ancient Knights, the Knights of Malta and Knights of the Golden Eagle.
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