USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume II > Part 26
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receive subscriptions for Cumberland county for a loan of
$20,000,000, authorized by Congress, June 29, 1779. William Lyon was born in Ireland, March 17, 1729, and died in Carlisle, Feb. 7, 1809. He married, first, in 1756, Alice Armstrong, daugh- ter of his uncle, John Armstrong, of Carlisle. Their son, James, married Jane Eyre. He married, secondly, in 1768, Ann Fleming, of Carlisle. John Lyon came with his family from
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Emskillin, County Fermaugh, province of Ulice., Ireland, to the province of Pennsylvania, in the year 1763, and settled in Cumber- land county, now Milford township, Juniata county, about two miles west of Mifflintown. The warrant for his tract of land (273 acres, 63 perches) is dated Sept. 18, 1766. In 1773 the proprie- tary granted to John Lyon et al. twenty acres of land for the use of the Presbyterian church of Tuscarora, where he is buried. He died in 1780. He married, in Ireland, Margaret Armstrong, sister of Col. John Armstrong, one of the prominent and patriotic Penn- sylvanians of provincial times. He was one of General Washington's staff officers. The name Lyon has been prominent in the making of the commercial and political history of Allegheny county, and the men bearing the name are direct descendants of . John Lyon.
Florence Mary Foote was born in Rostraver township, West- moreland Co., Pa., Feb. 28, 1870, her parents being Robert Todd Foote, and Catherine (Shields) Foote. The home of her early childhood was the Foote farm, two miles from West Newton, one of the largest and at that time one of the best known farms in Westmoreland county. She was the fourth in a family of five chil- dren; her brothers and sisters dying in childhood, left her the last representative of an old and well-known family. After the death of her father, in 1876, she, with her mother, moved from the farm to West Newton, where she made her home until after her mar- riage. Her early education was in the West Newton public schools, from which she graduated with honors in 1885. Continu- ing her studies in the Blairsville ladies' seminary (now Blairsville college for women), she graduated in the class of 1890. Returning from Blairsville, the next two years were spent in the study of art and elocution, in both of which she became proficient. After a year spent in travel, she remained at home with her mother in West Newton, taking a prominent part in the social life of the community and in church work, she having been an active mem- ber of the First Presbyterian church of West Newton since her fifteenth year. On June 30, 1898, she was married to William Reynolds Lyon, M. D., the marriage ceremony being performed by Rev. John T. Meloy, D. D., who had been her pastor from her earliest youth. After an eastern trip, she returned with her hus- band to their home in Glenfield, Allegheny Co., Pa., where, as in her former home, she interested herself not only in the social life of the town, but as a member of the Presbyterian church was active in church and missionary work, so that in the five years of
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her wonderfully helpful, cheer-giving life in that place, she won unnumbered friends, and by her death, which occurred Sept. 1I, 1903, the community lost one of its most valued and influential members. Robert Todd Foote, father of Florence Mary Foote, was the son of John Stiles and Margaret ( Todd) Foote, of West Newton, Pa., and grandson of John and Lois (Mills) Foote, of Canton, Conn. He was a direct descendant of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Denning) Foote, of England. Nathaniel Foote came to America in 1630, and was one of the first settlers of Wethersfield, Conn., and one of the founders of the colonies of Connecticut and New Haven. At the time of the settlement and founding of Hart- ford and Windsor, Conn., Nathaniel Foote was granted a ten-acre lot on the east side of Broad street, near the south end of the street. He also became owner of a tract of land of 400 acres, lying mostly in the Great Meadows. In 1644 he was appointed delegate to the general court, and filled many offices of trust in the community. He died in 1644, aged fifty-one years, and was buried in the ancient burying-ground in the rear of the meeting-house, where are gathered together the ashes of eleven generations of the Foote family. Many of the descendants of Nathaniel Foote have held positions of honor and trust under the colonial, national and State governments, and have given expression of their patriotism not only in the struggle for national independence and personal liberty, - but in the establishing of churches, schools and colleges, most notably being interested in the founding and support of Yale' col- lege, of New Haven, Conn., and Harvard college, of Cambridge, Mass. They have been prominent as statesmen, officers and soldiers during Colonial, Revolutionary and Civil wars, and have won distinction not only in the preaching of the gospel of Chris- tianity, but also in the practice of law and medicine, as well as in the field of letters. Catherine (Shields) Foote, mother of Florence M. Lyon, was born July 14, 1837. She was married to Robert Todd Foote, Dec. 20, 1860. Her father, Col. John R. Shields, of Elizabeth, Pa., was a son of George Shields, one of the earliest settlers of western Pennsylvania. Her mother, whose maiden name was Mary Fletcher, was born in Londonderry, Ireland. Mrs. Foote resides in Glenfield, Pa., with her son-in-law, Dr. William R. Lyon.
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REV. JOHN K. MELHORN, A. M., was born Jan. 20, 1826, the sixth in a family of nine children. His parents, John Melhorn and Sarah, née Kaufroth, his wife, were of German ancestry and residents of Lancaster county, Pa. His father was a farmer, but was called from the peaceful plough and sickle by- the War of 1812-14, he and his brother enlisting -the latter losing his life at the battle of Lundy's Lane, Canada; the former completing his service as captain of a company of volunteers. Some time after the war closed, in 1828, John Melhorn settled near Erie, Pa., where, amid the privations of the frontier, he reared his family, and as an honored citizen spent his days. Of sturdy stock, the beloved mother died at the advanced age of seventy-eight, and the venerable father in his eighty-sixth year. Their son, John K., was in his second year when the family came west. His boyhood was passed upon the shores of Lake Erie. In summer he worked on the farm; in the winter he faithfully used the brief terms of the public schools. Anxious, however, for an education, and desirous of becoming a minister, in the spring of 1844 John entered the Erie academy. He here continued his studies for four years, except when teaching a public school in the winters of 1846-47 and 1847-48. Washington college, Washington, Pa., was the alma mater of John K. Melhorn, A. B. He matriculated as a sophomore in the spring of 1848, and received his degree, Septem- ber, 1850. Chosen as principal at once upon his graduation, for eighteen months he successfully conducted the academy at Circle- ville, Ohio. During this period he applied himself to theological studies also, and in their further prosecution, entered the Lutheran theological seminary, at Columbus, Ohio, in February, 1852. In June of the same year he was licensed to preach the gospel of the Son of God by the western district synod of Ohio, and, in 1854, at Jefferson, Ohio, was ordained to the office of the ministry by the English district synod of Ohio. His heart rejoiced. The aspiration of many years had been attained. Zealous for his holy vocation, immediately upon his licensure, at the close of June 1852, the Rev. John K. Melhorn accepted the call of Jacob's church, Fayette county, Pa., at a salary of $250 per annum, and began his pastorate, which continued for thirteen years. He
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preached every alternate Sunday also at Morris Cross Roads, where he organized a congregation and erected a church. For several years previous to 1861 he also served Zion and Bethel congrega- tions, in Washington county, Pa., which he then gave up to take charge of four congregations in Preston county, W. Va. In this parish, at Crab Orchard, he built a church, and at Hazel Run organized a congregation. Reverend Melhorn's charges were far apart and his parishioners greatly scattered. Much of his time by day and by night was necessarily passed in the saddle, visiting the sick, attending funerals and weddings, and conducting church serv- ices frequently three and four times in the week. When minis- tering to the Jacob's church and affiliated fields, he traveled at least 65,000 miles on horseback, in these thirteen most laborious, yet very useful and fruitful years in the Master's service. In 1865 he took charge of the Freeport parish, Armstrong Co., Pa. Here he labored for six years, organizing the St. Mark's congregation, Springdale, Allegheny county, and St. Luke's, Saxonburg, Butler county ; erecting a church for each of these congregations, and also one for St. Paul's, Sarversville, Butler Co., Pa. For eighteen years, from 1871, Reverend Melhorn was pastor of Grace Lutheran church, South Side, Pittsburg. While in this parish, on the alter- nate Sundays, for thirteen years, he served also St. John's, Home- stead, Pa., which congregation he organized, and for which he built a church. For six years, from June, 1889, Reverend Melhorn had charge in Armstrong county, Pa., of St. John's, St. Matthew's, and Zion's or Fork's church; for Zion's he erected a new house of worship. In 1895, at the earnest request of the missionary presi- dent of the Pittsburg synod, the Allegheny mission came under his care. Here he cleared the church at Tarentum from debt, and erected a neat brick church for the congregation at Natrona. With the close of 1901, Reverend Melhorn retired from the regular pas- toral work, but has been engaged almost continuously in pulpit duties for various parishes. At St. John's church, Homestead, Pa., where he is passing the evening of his days, on June 2, 1902, his brethren in the ministry held services to fitly commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of his work as a pastor. In this half century he preached 6,868 sermons, administered 950 baptisms, received 1,604 to full church membership, solemnized 468 marriages, officiated at 650 funerals, built 8 churches and organized 5 congre- gations. Reverend Melhorn has been honored by election to posi- tions of trust and responsibility in the church. For three years he was president of the Pittsburg synod of the Evangelical
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Lutheran church; for thirteen years he was missionary president of that body ; for ten years he was a trustee of Thiel college, under the care of the same synod; for over thirty years he has been a member of the board of visitors to the Orphans' home and farm school, Zelienople, Pa. His upright figure, quick step and ringing voice yet indicate the vigorous constitution with which he is blessed. Careful in all his pulpit preparations, most faithful in his pastoral duties, of positive faith and strong conviction, Reverend Melhorn earnestly and fearlessly presents the divine message, and sends it home to the hearts and consciences of his hearers. He holds a high and honored place in the confidence and esteem of the churches and of his brethren in the sacred office. Reverend Melhorn and Miss Isabella C. Hill were joined in holy wedlock, July 2, 1852. Miss Hill was born in Washington county, Pa. Ten children blessed their home: Sarah Elizabeth, William Edwin, John Passavant, Eliza Estelle, May L. Zoe, Jennie Florence, Anna Bella, Minnie Etta, Charles Porterfield Krauth and Robert Samuel. At the residence of their daughter, Mrs. F. W. Hirt, at Erie, Pa., in July, 1902, Rev. and Mrs. Melhorn celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Of Reverend Melhorn's fellow- students at the Erie academy, the Rev. A. H. Caughey, Hon. James Sill and Gen. D. B. McCreary shared the happy occasion. Eight children yet live, and children's children increase the joy and multiply the happiness of the long wedded years of the Rev. and Mrs. Melhorn.
WILLIAM WEIGLE was born in Fayette City, Pa., in 1852, son of John and Anna (Redlingshoefer) Weigle. When he was two years of age, the family moved to Brownsville, Pa., where he received his education. In 1874 he moved to Elizabeth, where he has since resided. Mr. Weigle was for several years employed by J. Walton & Co., and in 1884 he, with his brothers, leased the property in Elizabeth, which they have owned since 1892. In 1896 they began building marine ways, and organized a company called the Elizabeth marine ways company, under charter granted by the State of Pennsylvania. The company was organized with the following officers: President, W. W. O'Neal; secretary and
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treasurer, W. J. Kassidy; general manager, William Weigle; yard superintendents, John and Philip Weigle. The company builds all kinds of barges and steamboats to ply on western waters. Under the able management of Mr. Weigle, the company has steadily grown from a small concern employing thirty men to one requir- ing a working force of 250 men. The saw-mill in connection has a sawing capacity of 25,000 to 30,000 feet of lumber a day. In 1898 the business was sold to the Monongahela River consolidated coal and coke company, who have retained Mr. Weigle as manager. Mr. Weigle was married, in 1874, to Miss Anna Storer, daughter of Henry and Anna (Hutchinson) Storer. Mr. and Mrs. Weigle have had eight children, as follows: George J. ; Blanche, now Mrs. Saul Walker, of Elizabeth; Helen, who married J. C. Warner, of Elizabeth; Lillian, Ward D., Sarah V., John William (deceased) and Lucile. Mr. Weigle is a Methodist in religious belief, and in politics a democrat. He is a member of the Monongahela lodge, No. 209, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Elizabeth, and Mckeesport lodge, No. 136, B. P. O. Elks.
EVAN BEEDLE, who operates the leading general store at Jones' Station, Allegheny Co., Pa., is what might aptly be termed "a man of affairs." He is the son of Edward and Margaret (Humphrey) Beedle, and was born in Wales, in 1835. Coming to this country at the age of six- teen years, he worked in the coal mines about Mckeesport, where the family settled, until 1867, when he located at Jones' Station and opened a general store. He still conducts this business, which has grown to be one of the leading mercan- tile establishments of the whole section, and in the meantime has owned and operated the Coal Bluff and Hillsdale mines, near Hillsdale, in Washington county and the Little Redstone mines in Fayette county, and carried on a general real estate and loan busi- ness. In 1900 he sold out his mining interests and since that time has devoted his time and attention to his mercantile and real estate operations. He is a director in the First National bank of West Elizabeth, and treasurer of the Monongahela Valley brewing company. He was married, in 1858, to Miss Sarah Ann Hodson, daughter of William and Charlotte Hodson, of Allegheny county.
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To this union were born fifteen children, of whom the living are: William G., born April 10, 1859, now living in Union township, Washington Co., Pa .; Charlotte J., born Oct. 18, 1860, now Mrs. George Maurer, of Clairton; Sarah Ann, born Oct. 29, 1865, and now the wife of Roll Latta, of Mckeesport; Stephen, born Oct. 18, 1869, now of Homestead, Pa .; John M., born Oct. 10, 1871, now living in Clairton; Margaret C., born Nov. 18, 1873, now the wife of E. P. Jones, of Jones' Station; Edward Watson, born Sept. 26, 1875, now living in Elizabeth; Henry R., born Sept. 23, 1879, and now living in Clairton; Evan C., born Sept. 22, 1884, still at home with his parents. Mr. Beedle is a republican in politics but has never been a candidate for public office, preferring to apply his talents to the upbuilding of his private undertakings. It must not be inferred from this that he is remiss in his duties as a citizen, for he takes a great interest in the election of good men to office and the proper conduct of public affairs.
ELMER A. SCHUETZ is senior mem- ber of the firm of the Herald printing company, publishers and editors of the Sharpsburg and Etna Herald, at Sharps- burg, Pa. The Herald was established in 1878, Mr. Schuetz becoming the pro- prietor in 1895, and since that time the paper has been greatly improved and its circulation has steadily increased. The company also does a large job printing business and has established a wide repu- tation for fine work. Elmer A. Schuetz was born in Etna, in 1869, and is a son of Michael and Magdaline (Miller) Schuetz. Michael Schuetz died in 1871, and Mrs. Schuetz supported herself and five children by conducting a millinery store. Of the children, Sophie R. died in 1886 and Sarah L. in 1895; Edward A. and Elmer A. conduct the Herald printing company, and Charley is a traveling salesman living at Aspinwall, Pa. Elmer A. Schuetz married Anna M., a daughter of John L. Rolshouse, who was for many years superin- tendent of the poor farm and ex-burgess of Sharpsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Schuetz have two children, Isabel Magdaline, past three years old, and Elmer Bernard, several months old, both very bright and interesting children. Mrs. Schuetz is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Schuetz is a member of the Zeredatha
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lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and in religion affiliates with the Baptist church. Edward A. Schuetz, junior member of the Herald printing company, is a brother of Elmer A., and entered the firm in 1903. Prior to this he was for fourteen years engaged in the manufacture of varnish. He was born in Etna in 1865 and has spent his life in the vicinity. He was married to Annie Olinda, a daughter of George W. Hahn, who was for many years purchas- ing agent of the H. J. Heinz company, of Pittsburg, and to them have been born two children, Edward A., now thirteen years of age, and Glen Hani, three years old. In religious belief Mr. Schuetz is a Baptist, and Mrs. Schuetz affiliates with the Presbyterians.
W. B. ALTER, of Hoboken, Pa., the leading merchant of that city, was born in Harrison township, Allegheny county, on Nov. 10, 1850, and is the son of S. R. and Hanna (Beale) Alter, the former being a well-known farmer of German descent. W. B. Alter was educated in the common schools of Allegheny county and for one term attended the Mount Union college. When sixteen years of age he left school and began his business career as an employe of a grocery house in Washington county. For three years he was manager of the store of J. S. Neale, and then engaged in the grocery business at California, Pa., where he met with much success until 1889, when he removed to Allegheny city. One year later he removed to a farm in Harrison township, where he pros- pered for a number of years, and in 1898 came to Hoboken and opened his present store. He is the leading merchant of Hoboken and enjoys a splendid patronage. He was married, in 1872, to Anna, daughter of Capt. William and Katharine McFall, and they had one daughter, Lillian, who is now the wife of H. R. Gard- ner, an office employe of the Consolidated glass company. He was married, the second time, to Mary J. McFall, of California, Pa. He is a member and steward of the Methodist church, superintend- ent of the Sunday-school and president of the local branch of the Epworth league. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and of the republican party. Mr. Alter has been prominently connected with the public affairs
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of his community, having served three years as wharfmaster of California, auditor several terms, justice of the peace, being elected on the prohibition ticket, and was elected a school director of O' Hara township in 1903. Mr. Alter is one of the leading men of that community and possesses the esteem and respect of all who know him.
AMOS FRYER, who has for many years been a furniture dealer and under- taker of Bridgeville, Allegheny Co., Pa., was born in that county, May 11, 1847, and is a descendant of one of the oldest families in western Pennsylvania. The Fryers are of Scotch-Irish stock. The first of the family to come to America was Leonard Fryer, the grandfather of Amos, who came at a very early day from County Down, Ireland, and soon after his arrival in this country settled in Allegheny county. While serving in the army, he was wounded in a fight with the Indians near Cincinnati, Ohio. At the expiration of his term of enlistment, he walked from Cincinnati to Washington city to get his pay. Leonard Fryer married Ellen Porter, and they were the parents of thirteen children. The seventh son, Samuel, was the father of Amos Fryer, the subject of this sketch. He was born in 1803 and died in 1883. His wife's maiden name was Julia Abbott, whose family was among the Penn- sylvania pioneers. Samuel and Julia Fryer were the parents of seven children, six of whom grew to maturity. Amos was educated in the common schools of Upper St. Clair township, after which he attended a business college in the city of Pittsburg, where he received a thorough commercial training. For generations the Fryers have been farmers, though Amos' father spent the last years of his life as a miller. Amos worked with his father on the farm until his twenty-seventh year, when he went into the under- taking business. For a time he conducted a lumber trade in con- nection, but about 1892 he sold out his lumber interests and put a stock of furniture in its place. Since then he has successfully carried on the business of furniture dealer and undertaker, in which he has built up a large patronage. Mr. Fryer is a member of Bridgeville lodge, No. 396, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of Chartiers Valley lodge, No. 840, Royal Arcanum. In
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politics he is a stalwart republican and is an active supporter of the principles of his party. For several terms he has served as school director, a position he holds at the present time. On Jan. 29, 1882, he was married to Miss Carrie J. Conrad, a daughter of Philip and Catherine Conrad. Her father was of German and her mother of Scotch-Irish descent. Mrs. Fryer was born in Armstrong county, Pa., Sept. 19, 1857. After attending the common and high schools of her native county, she was engaged for several years prior to her marriage as a teacher. To Amos and Carrie- Fryer eight children have been born, six of whom are still living. They are Samuel Blake, Philip Blaine, Edna Catherine, Amos Ralph, Arthur Mealy and Elizabeth Irene. Margaret Dalzell and Harold Cook are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Fryer are both members of the Presbyterian church.
JAMES E. KARNS, postmaster at Springdale, was born in Allegheny city, Dec. 28, 1827. He traces his ancestry back on his father's side to Francis Karns, who was born in Ireland and came to the United States in 1783. Francis Karns' wife was Margaret (Patten) Karns, also of Irish birth, who died in Butler, Pa., in 1818. A son of Francis Karns, James E. Karns, also of Irish birth, married Jean Wilson, a native of Ireland, and settled in Westmoreland county. Jean (Wilson) Karns was a daughter of Charles Wilson, who came to Westmoreland county before the Revolution. The father of the subject of this sketch was Francis Karns, a native of Butler county, born in 1798, a farmer by vocation, an active whig and republican, and a member of the State legislature in 1835 and 1837. He married Nancy Cowan, a native of Allegheny county, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Thompson) Cowan, the father a native of Franklin county, Pa., and the mother of Scotland. Joseph Thompson was a son of Alexander Thompson, a Scotchman by birth and an early settler in Franklin and Allegheny counties. Francis Karns and wife, the parents of the subject of this sketch, had one son, James E. Karns. Mr. Karns died in 1866 and his wife in 1871. They were members of the United Presbyterian church. James E. Karns, whose name heads this sketch, was educated in the common schools and by
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private tutor. For two years he was employed in the Apollo iron works, and has for the past eleven years been connected with the Karns manufacturing company, although now retired from active business life. The Karns manufacturing company, which was organized by Mr. Karns and his sons, manufactures all kinds of sheet iron and does a prosperous business. Mr. Karns is a promi- nent republican in politics, and has been postmaster at Springdale since the beginning of President Mckinley's administration. - Dur- ing this time the postoffice has been made a third- class office. Mr. Karns was married, in 1852, to Miss Nancy Patterson, daughter of John and Mary (Oldfield) Patterson, early settlers of Allegheny county. The Pattersons are of an old family, the early members of which came to America prior to the Revolution, and Mrs. Karns is a descendant of John Brisbin, of Revolutionary war fame. Mr. and Mrs. Karns have had ten children, of whom six are living, as follows: John F., Isabel D., Elizabeth P., James H., Edward A. and Mott F. The deceased are: Mary W., George W., Nancy V. and William T. John F., Edward A. and James H. are members of the Karns manufacturing company. The firm employs about eight men. The Karns family are members of the United Presbyterian church.
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