USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume II > Part 27
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WILLIAM KING, dealer in general merchandise at Buena Vista, Pa., is a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, where he was born in 1864. He is a son of George and Margaret (Ray) King, both of whom were natives of the north of Ireland. His father died in 1902. Wil- liam was educated in the public schools in County Tyrone, and at the age of eight- een years he came to America, settling in Allegheny city. He found employment in the mines of West Newton and those along the Youghiogheny river, until 1889, when he became a stockholder in and manager of the Industrial co-operative association, which was organized for the purpose of dealing in merchandise of all sorts. The headquarters of the association were located at Buena Vista. In 1895 he purchased the interests of the other stockholders, and the stock, and con- tinued the business under the name of the Industrial supply com- pany. Since that time he has started a branch store at Connells-
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burg, Pa., and both the parent establishment and the branch are doing a good business. Mr. King was married, in 1886, to Miss Lizetta Kent, of Philadelphia, and to this union there have been born seven children: James William, in 1887; Frederick Hastings, in 1889; Clyde, in 1891; Elizabeth Margaret, in 1894; George Ray- mond, in 1896; Harold Lewellyn, in 1899, and Hazel Arabella, in 1901. He is an elder in the United Presbyterian church, and in politics is a republican, though he has never held a public office.
JAMES A. McDOWELL (deceased), of Tarentum, Pa., prominently connected for many years with the farming inter- ests of Fawn township, was born on May I, 1826, in Mifflin township, Allegheny Co., Pa., son of William and Hannah (Walker) McDowell, the former a native of Ireland and a son of Archibald and Jane McDowell. The mother was a native of Scotland, and the daughter of William and Mary Walker, natives of Scotland, who came to Mifflin township at an early day, and there lived and died. Archibald McDowell, the paternal grandfather of James A. McDowell, was born in Ireland, and was the son of John and Ann McDowell, who came to Mifflin township in 1810. James A. McDowell was reared on the farm, educated in the common schools, and when a young man began the life of a farmer in his native township. In 1859 he came to Fawn township, purchased seventy-five acres of land and farmed with much success until his death, on April 10, 1886. He was married, on Nov. 26, 1857, to Elizabeth, daughter of Robert and Ellen (Stewart) Jack, both natives of Ireland, who settled in Westmoreland county and there spent the rest of their lives. Mrs. McDowell died on Nov. 14, 1894, and was the mother of four children: William S., born Aug. 31, 1858, educated in the common schools, and is a successful farmer; Mary E., born in 1860, in Fawn township, and since the death of her mother has presided over the household affairs of her brothers; an infant, born Nov. 1, 1862; Robert W., born in Fawn township, June 3, 1864, educated in the common schools, and is a prosperous farmer. William S., Mary E. and Robert W. jointly own the old homestead, and are among the leading people of the vicinity.
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W. F. RUSSELL, who conducts a livery and undertaking business in the town of Bridgeville, is a native of Wash- ington county, Pa., where he was born May 5, 1866. For several generations the Russell family has been identified with the growth and progress of the Keystone State. About the middle of the eighteenth century Andrew Russell, a young Scotchman, married Isabel Mays, a native of Ireland, and, in 1758, . the couple came to America, settling near Oxford, Chester Co., Pa. This Andrew Russell was the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch. He was a blacksmith by trade, and followed that occupa- tion all his life. Ten children-three sons and seven daughters- were born to him and his wife while living in Chester county. The sons were: Alexander, Robert and Andrew, Jr. The daughters were: Polly, Jane, Peggy, Hannah, Ibby, Lydia and Betsy. After the birth of their youngest child, they removed to Washington county, Pa., locating about four miles southeast of the town of Cannonsburg, where they lived until 1782, when they changed their residence to Chartiers township, in the same county, and there passed the remainder of their lives. He died on June 20, 1814, aged eighty-two years, his wife having previously died, May 5, 1802, at the age of seventy-three. Alexander, the oldest son of Andrew and Isabel Russell, was a musician, and during the war of the Revolution was a fife major in the American army. His death occurred on April 20, 1784, when he was but twenty-six years of age. Andrew Russell, Jr., the youngest son of the family and the grandfather of W. F., was born on Jan. 30, 1777. Con- temporary with these early representatives of the Russell family were the McClellands, who also came from Scotland. Andrew
Russell, Jr., married Ann McClelland, the daughter of James and Jane (Guthrie) McClelland, who were married in Scotland in 1776, and came to America the following year. Jane McClelland died on Feb. 15, 1824, aged seventy-five years. Her husband survived her for about five years, departing this life on May 1, 1829, in the eighty-second year of his age. Ann McClelland was born in 1781 and was married to Andrew Russell in 1801. Both lived to a good old age. He died on March 2, 1861, at the age of eighty-four, and she passed away on Feb. 17, 1868, in her eighty-seventh year.
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Both were highly respected in the community where they lived. From 1832 until his death Andrew Russell was a ruling elder in the United Presbyterian church. Their children were thirteen in number, viz. : A daughter, who died in infancy; Andrew, who died at the age of five years; Jane, James, Isabel, Ann, Elizabeth, Andrew, Alexander, Robert H., John, Nancy and William M. William M. Russell, the youngest child of the family and father of W. F., was born in Washington county, Pa., in 1826. In his younger days he followed the occupation of a druggist, but the greater part of his life was spent as a tiller of the soil. In 1865 he was elected ruling elder of the Hickory United Presbyterian church, and served as such until he left the neighborhood. In 1855 he was married to Miss Margaret Jane, daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Wilson) Thompson. To this union ten children were born. Their names and the dates of their births are as follows: Joseph A., born Aug. 8, 1856, and died in infancy; Annie E., born April 19, 1858; Joseph T., born Sept. 19, 1859; Maggie W., bern June 25, 1862 ; L. A., born June 15, 1863; Harriet J., born May 14, 1865; W. F., the subject of this sketch ; James Nevin, born Nov. 23, 1869; Mary Belle, born Nov. 23, 1869, and Robert Lee, born Dec. 11, 1872. During his boyhood, W. F. lived the life common to boys on the farm. At the age of thirteen years he began the study of telegraphy and soon became a competent operator. After twenty years of active service in the employ of the Pennsyl- vania railroad company, he gave up the "sounder" and embarked in his present business. He has recently erected a commodious brick building, in which he has one of the best-appointed livery stables in Allegheny county. Ever since he became a voter, Mr. Russell has been a republican, and he takes an active interest in all matters touching the public welfare. He has served on the school board and as auditor of his township. Two years ago he was elected on the republican ticket to the office of justice of the peace for Bridgeville borough, and is now discharging the func- tions of that office to the entire satisfaction of the community. In church matters Mr. Russell has followed the example of his honored ancestors, and is a member of the United Presbyterian church. Three of his uncles were prominent in the ministry of that denom- ination. One was the pastor of the Fifty-third street church in New York city at the time of his death; another was for some time in charge of a large congregation in Boston, Mass., and the third occupied for ten years the pulpit of the Hickory church, in Washing- ton county, Pa. For the past twelve years Mr. Russell has been
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one of the trustees of the Bridgeville Presbyterian church. In his church work and relations he has the full sympathy and support of his wife, to whom he was married on Nov. 3, 1885. She was Miss Jennie B. Galbraith, a daughter of Robert M. and Teresa Galbraith, of Burgettstown, Pa. Mrs. Russell was born at Cross Creek, Washington Co., Pa., Oct. 18, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Russell are the parents of six children. The oldest son, Frank, is now seventeen years of age. He has taken a course in embalming and is now associated with his father in the undertaking business. Robert G., the second son, is fourteen years old and is the bookkeeper for his father. The other children are: Teresa, aged eleven; William, aged nine; Guy C., aged six, and Jennie Isabel, who is still in her first year. Mr. Russell is a member of Bridgeville lodge, No. 396, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and holds the office of secretary of the lodge. In his fraternal relations he is highly respected, and he is generally regarded as a useful member of the community.
THOMAS W. BAIRD, of Port Vue, Pa., burgess of that borough and a valued employe of the National tube works, was born near Glasgow, Scotland, July 8, 1869, son of Alexander and Margaret (Waldie) Baird, natives of Scotland. His father is a successful blacksmith, and, in 1887, brought his family to America, landing in New York, and subsequently locating at Mckeesport, where he has since prospered at his trade. Mr. Baird was educated in the public schools of Scotland and at the Grissley business college, of Mckeesport, and in 1903 was graduated from the Scranton school of correspondence. Mr. Baird has held the important position of foreman of the National tube works for the past eight years, and prior to that served as shipping clerk in the works of that concern. He was married, on Sept. 5, 1897, to Catherine, daughter of John and Catherine Forrest, of Scotland, and they have two children, Catherine and Douglas O. Mr. Baird is the present burgess of Port Vue, having been elected for a three- year term on Feb. 17, 1903, and is making a fine record in that important position. Mr. Baird is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Scottish clan, of Mckeesport, and is a man who possesses the respect and esteem of all who know him.
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JACOB G. VOGELEY, who died June 22, 1903, was one of Tarentum's repre- sentative and most progressive business men. He was born in Butler county, Sept. 24, 1853, and educated in the public schools and at Wetherspoon institute. At the age of twenty-one he went to California, where he spent seven years as a clerk, and returning to Pennsylvania, secured employment in the firm of Boggs & Buhl, in Allegheny. In 1883 he began his long and successful business career in Tarentum, where he soon proved to all that he was the embodiment of those qualities which go to make up a noble man. Mr. Vogeley was the son of George Vogeley, who was born in Germany, Nov. 11, 1824, and came to Pittsburg in 1836 with his parents, George and Mary (Mardof) Vogeley. They moved shortly to Butler, where they spent their last days, while the son, George Vogeley, father of Jacob G., remained in Pittsburg, where he learned the tobacco business. He worked in Pittsburg until 1846, was in business for a short time in Kittanning and Bridgewater, and from 1849 until his death, in 1896, was in the tobacco business in Butler. George Vogeley was married in Alle- gheny city to Mary E. Gass, who was born in Allegheny in 1831. She was a daughter of Jacob and Amelia Gass, pioneers of Alle- gheny county. Jacob Gass, Jr., was a native of Switzerland, emi- grating to this country in 1812, where he became a farmer and a carpet and coverlet weaver. His farm embraced the present site of the P. & Ft. W. R. R. depot in Allegheny. George and Mary E. (Gass) Vogeley were the parents of nine children, of whom six are living, two having died in infancy, and one, a son, while a resident of Butler. Mr. Vogeley was a republican, and for a number of years director of the poor in Butler. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Jacob G. Vogeley, subject of this sketch, was a man of wide experience in various lines of business. He was a stockholder in the Fidelity glass com- pany, the Tarentum glass company, the J. H. Baker manufacturing company, the National bank of Tarentum, and the Tarentum sav- ings and trust company, being a director in the last-named com- pany. Mr. Vogeley was a republican in politics, and although not an aspirant for office, had served nine years as school director. He was a member of Pollock lodge, No. 502, F. and A. M. ; Tarentum
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lodge, No. 587, I. O. O. F. ; the Royal Arcanum and Heptasophs. Mr. Vogeley was married, in 1882, to Annie C. Wohllet, of Taren- tum, a native of Philadelphia, and to them were born three chil- dren : Charles G., born June 16, 1883; Lillian P., born Aug. 28, 1885, and Edna L., born Dec. 4, 1890. In religious belief the family is Presbyterian.
SAMUEL P. WOODSIDE, à resident of Ben Avon, son of Hugh and Mary (Paisley) Woodside, was born in Alle- gheny city, Sept. 16, 1860, and educated in the public schools of Allegheny city and Newell's institute, Pittsburg. He began his business career in 1878 in the car record office of the Pennsylvania rail- road company, under Charles L. Cole, of Pittsburg. In April, 1880, he entered the service of the general agent of the Erie railroad, holding this position till Feb. 1, 1884, when for a short time he acted as claim clerk for the Pittsburg & Western railroad. On June 1, 1884, he was appointed agent for the Globe fast freight line, of Pittsburg, and on Feb. 1, 1885, became auditor for the same line in Buffalo, N. Y. Then for a few months Mr. Woodside took up the real estate business with James W. Drape & Co., of Pittsburg, returning to the railroad in September, 1885, as contracting freight agent of the Erie railroad. For a year after that he held the same office for the B. & O. railroad, returning again to the Erie railroad as general agent, where he remained until August, 1902. He is now traffic manager of the Pittsburg coal company. Mr. Woodside was married, Sept. 16, 1885, to Elizabeth W. Walker, and to them have been born four children: S. P., Jr., Isabelle V., Mary E., and Anna N. The Woodside family is of Scotch-Irish descent, the paternal side leaving Scotland for Ireland about 1610 and settling at the Stroan, County Antrim. The father landed in Philadelphia in 1845, and moved to Pittsburg in the early fifties. Hugh Wood- side, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1826. His parents were Robert and Eliza- beth (Nevin) Woodside. Hugh was their fifth child, and left the parental roof for America in company with his brother, now Rev. John S. Woodside, of India. He married Mary Jane Paisley, a native of Pittsburg, and the fruit of this marriage was five sons
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and one daughter. His wife died March 19, 1886, and two of his sons are also deceased, leaving three sons, Samuel, Nevin and Hugh, and one daughter, Anna, now Mrs. Harwood, still living. Mr. Woodside was a singularly pure-minded, industrious and honorable man. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and active in its work. He was connected with different indus- tries and held positions of importance and trust. Mary Jane Wood- side, mother of the subject of this sketch, was the daughter of Samuel and Mary (Graham) Paisley, born June 16, 1834, and died March 19, 1886. She was also a Presbyterian in her religious belief.
J. H. METZLER, of Tarentum, Pa., a prosperous sheet steel roller, was born in Armstrong county, Pa., Sept. 5, 1863, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Metzler, the father a native of Tennessee, and the mother born in the Keystone State. They were married in Armstrong county, Pa., removed south and later returned north, the father now living in Westmoreland county, the mother having died in 1898. His father served throughout the Civil war and in later life has been a farmer and boatman. J. H. Metzler, the young- est of seven children, was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools and the high school of Leechburg. He was actively engaged in the oil business from 1882 to 1892, visiting all the leading oil fields of the United States, traveling in sixteen states in all. He then began to learn the trade of steel rolling at Harrisburg, Pa., and later went to Apollo, Pa., starting at the very bottom, and is now a skilled and experienced steel roller. He was employed at Apollo, Leechburg, Vandergrift, Cummings and other places, and in 1901 came to Tarentum, where he is now in the employ of the Allegheny steel and iron company. He is an active republican in political matters and served as constable in Vander- grift, and as tax collector in Armstrong county. He is closely identified with a number of the leading fraternal orders, holding membership in the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Royal Arcanum. He was married, on Jan. 17, 1893, to Dora May, daugh- ter of Philip and Katurah (Baker) Young, all natives of Blair county, Pa., where Mrs. Metzler's parents now reside. Mr. Young is prominently identified with the public affairs of his community,
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and has served for nine years as steward of the Blair county alms- house. A brother of Mrs. Metzler, Hays B. Young, served in the artillery during the Spanish-American war and was also in the regular army for one year. Mr. and Mrs. Metzler are members of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran church and have one son, Ran- dolph M.
CONRAD HUTH, of Natrona, Pa., proprietor of the River Avenue hotel and a well-known and prosperous citizen, was born in Germany, Feb. 2, 1850, son of Andrew and Margaret (Rommel) Huth, both natives of Germany, who came to America in 1874, settled in Allegheny city, and resided there until their deaths in 1877 and 1895, respectively. The elder Huth was a prominent contractor in the Fatherland, but on coming to Alle- gheny city, retired from active business and lived quietly until his death. They had a family of six children, four of whom are now living. Conrad Huth was reared and educated in his native country and in 1869 came to Massillon, Ohio, where he worked in a brewery for a short time. " In 1870 he came to Pittsburg, where he worked at the coopers' trade for twelve years, and with the exception of two and one-half years spent at Freeport, has since resided in Allegheny county. He worked at his trade for different concerns, in 1883 engaged in business on his own account, and in 1897 purchased the hotel which he now conducts and which is known as the River Avenue hotel. Mr. Huth is a man of affairs, being a stockholder in the James H. Baker manufacturing company, of Harrison town- ship, and a stockholder and director in the First National bank of Natrona. Mr. Huth came to America with nothing but a large stock of ability, integrity and energy, has found that these com- modities are valuable assets in the western hemisphere, and to-day he is prosperous and well established. He was married, on July 21, 1878, to Bertha Fuhrman, a native of Germany, who came to America with her parents, Frank and Anna Fuhrman, and has since resided in Pennsylvania. They have eight children, viz. : Agnes, Mary, Annie, Conrad, John, Rosa, Katie and Loretta. Mr. Huth and his wife are members of the Catholic church, and are prominent in the social affairs of Natrona.
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JOHN SHIELDS, of Emblem, Pa., a valued employe of the Osceola coal com- pany and a well-known citizen of that place, was born in Scotland, April 14, 1846, and is the son of Thomas and Mar- garet (Walker) Shields, natives of Scot- land, who came to America in 1848, when their son was but a small child. Mr. Shields was educated in the public schools of Allegheny county, and then devoted his attention to coal-mining until 1877, when he went with the Osceola coal company, and has since held an important position with that concern. Mr. Shields is prominent in the republican party, and for four years served as auditor of Elizabeth township, in which capacity he made a fine record and fully justified the confidence of his neighbors and friends who placed him in that responsible office.
JOHN D. ROBB, one of the leading citizens of North Fayette township, is a native of Allegheny county, where he was born on May 19, 1839. His parents were Joseph and Sarah (Rosenberry) Robb, the former of whom was born in Alle- gheny county, in 1809, and the latter in Washington county, July 4, 1816. They were married on June 13, 1837, and had two children, the subject of this sketch and a daughter, Elizabeth, who was born on June 16, 1838, and died on the 18th of the following August. Joseph Robb met with an untimely death by being caught under a large log as it was rolling down hill. After the death of his father, John went with his mother to Washington county, where they lived for six years and then returned to Allegheny county. Mr. Robb has continued a resident of the county since that time, living on the farm where he was born, and which he inherited from his father. His first education was received in the common schools of North Fay- ette township, after which he attended, for several terms, the Wil- kinsburg academy in the city of Pittsburg. The republican majority in Pennsylvania has become proverbial in the political annals of
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the country. Mr. Robb is one of those who can always be relied on to sustain that majority, as he has been a consistent member of the party ever since he attained the age of a voter. Mr. Robb has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Eliza McMurry, who was born on Aug. 7, 1838, and became Mrs. Robb on March 19, 1863. She bore her husband six children, viz. : Harry, born Jan. 10, 1864; Sarah Addie, July 25, 1865; William McMurry, March 3, 1867, and died March 9, 1873; Margaret, June 27, 1868; Elizabeth, March 8, 1870, and Joseph Wilson, Aug. 3, 1875, who lived but nine days. Eliza Robb passed to her final rest on Dec. 18, 1880, and on March 23, 1898, Mr. Robb married his second wife, Mrs. Sarah Young (née Hopper), a daughter of Robert and Abigail (Hickman) Hopper. She was born on Sept. 19, 1847, and was married to her first husband, William H. Young, on Feb. 2, 1882. He died on Sept. 4, 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Robb are both members of the Oakdale Presbyterian church, the present pastor of which is Rev. James Majunkin. Margaret Robb, the fourth child of John and Eliza Robb, was married, Oct. 2, 1895, to James G. Hopper, and died Nov. 29, 1903.
REV. JOHN HICKEY, rector of St. Thomas' congregation at Braddock, was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, on Nov. 11, 1834. When he was twelve years of age, he came with his parents to the United States, and it was in this country prin- cipally that he has been educated. At the age of fourteen, he entered St. Michael seminary, but on account of too close application to study, his health became impaired to such an extent that he was obliged to return to the residence of his maternal uncle, Rev. Joseph Cody, at Sugar Creek, Armstrong county, where he remained three years. Under the advice of the Rt. Rev. Michael O'Conner, then bishop of the Pittsburg diocese, he took up the study of Latin and German in St. Vincent's college, and prepared for Mount St. Mary's college, at Emmitsburg, Md., from which he received his A. M. in 1855. After a three years' course in theology, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop O'Conner, in St. Paul's cathedral, Pittsburg, in 1858, and in the fall of the same year was recalled by his alma mater as professor of belles lettres, a position which he filled with
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much distinction for one year. In 1860 Father Hickey succeeded Doctor O'Conner as assistant professor in St. Michael's diocesan seminary, two years later took temporary charge of a church at Freeport, and the following year became rector of the cathedral at Pittsburg. While in this charge he finished building the cathedral, erected the present episcopal residence, established the parishes of St. Malachy, St. Agnes and St. James, and founded an orphan asylum with accommodations for 600 children. Father Hickey remained at the cathedral for fourteen years, filling the offices of rector, vicar-general and several times administrator of the diocese during the absence of the bishop. In the summer of 1879 he went abroad, visiting Rome and other parts of Europe for three years, and on his return was appointed to his present position. In 1883 he built a schoolhouse large enough for 1,000 children, and has done many other things for the spreading of the gospel and the higher education of the people. Father Hickey has been offered positions of greater remuneration and with larger congregations, but through the love he bears the people and the love they bear him, both Catholic and Protestant, he refuses, and still serves the parish- oners of Braddock. During the labor troubles at the Edgar Thomp- son steel works, he took such an interest in the welfare of the work- ing classes as to endear himself to all.
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