USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume II > Part 28
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RALEIGH RUSSELL HUGGINS, M. D., of Sharpsburg, Pa., a well-known physician, was born in Marietta, Ohio, Oct. 1, 1870, and is the son of Jason and Margaret (Hart) Huggins, both of whom are still living. His father was for many years a dealer in lumber, but has now retired and lives with his son at Sharps- burg. Dr. Huggins was educated at the Marietta academy and college, and when eighteen years of age entered the Miami medical college at Cincinnati, Ohio, and was graduated from that institution in
1891. The same year he came to Sharpsburg and began the practice of his profession, with his office at the corner of Thirteenth and Main streets. One year later he removed to his present office at No. 1314 Middle St., and also has an office in the Smith block in Pittsburg. He is a member of Grace M. E. church of Sharpsburg, the Heptasophs, and is a thirty-second degree Mason. He is also
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a member of the Allegheny Valley medical society, the Allegheny County medical society, the State medical association, the Pitts- burg academy of medicine, and the American medical association. He is a member of the republican party, but has persistently refused all offers of political preferment. Dr. Huggins is justly regarded as an able and skilled physician and possesses the confi- dence of the entire community.
THOMAS W. BARKER, of Taren- tum, Pa., prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Fawn town- ship, was born in Allegheny county, Pa., Jan. 31, 1852, son of Thomas and Dorothy (Poritt) Barker, both natives of England. Thomas Barker, Sr., came to America with his parents, Thomas and Anna (Lincoln) Barker, first settled in Ashtabula county, Ohio, and later located in Elizabeth, Pa., where the elder Thomas died in 1848, at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife resided on a farm in Fawn township, now owned by the subject of this sketch, until her death in 1855, aged eighty-three years. They reared a family of seven children, all of whom are now dead. Their son, Thomas, engaged in farming with his brother, William, in 1853, they jointly owning seventy-six acres of land, and con- tinued to farm until his death, Feb. 21, 1889. He was the father of two children: Mary, the wife of Robert Dawson, and Thomas W., the subject of this sketch. Thomas W. Barker was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and has fol- lowed farming all his business life, now owning fifty-three acres of the old homestead. He is a general farmer, and has met with much success in that vocation. He is prominently identified with the democratic party, and while he has served several terms as supervisor, he has never sought office. Mr. Barker was married, on March 9, 1880, to Isabel Moore, a native of Butler county and a daughter of James E. and Susan (Ashbaugh) Moore, the former a native of Pittsburg, and the latter of Armstrong county. Mr. and Mrs. Barker are the parents of four children : Margaret E., a milliner, of Pittsburg; Harry M., John K. and Walter O. Mr. Barker is a prosperous and successful farmer, a good citizen, and enjoys the respect and confidence of his neighbors.
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WILLIAM H. CLAY. of Boston, Pa., a well-known citizen and a prosperous farmer, was born in Jefferson county, Pa., Oct. 5, 1867, son of Thornton and Mary J. (Pancoast) Clay, his father hav- ing been a native of Columbiana county, Ohio, and a member of the borough coun- cil and of the school board of Elizabeth, where he died in 1903. Mr. Clay was educated in the schools of Elizabeth, and has devoted his entire business career to farming, first residing on his farm in Lin- coln township, and for the past thirteen years on his present place in Elizabeth township. He was married, on Feb. 17. 1892, to Elizabeth J., daughter of Robert and Sarah (Lewis) Kees, of Lincoln township, and they have had four chil- dren, three of whom are now living, viz .: Henry, Clyde and Samuel; Mary J. having died when four years of age. Mr. Clay is one of the most prominent men of the township, has served for four years on the school board, of which he is now secretary, and is a member of the republican county executive committee. Mr. Clay is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and takes an active interest in its great work for the betterment and elevation of the human family.
ARISTIDE J. SCHMIDT, of Natrona, Pa., a successful farmer, was born in France, May 17, 1837, son of Xavier and Frances (Tellier) Schmidt, both natives and life residents of France. His father was a farmer in early life, later became a glass-blower, and lived to the age of seventy-nine years. He was the father of twelve children, two of whom are now living. Mr. Schmidt was reared and educated in his native country, there learned the glass-blowers' trade, and when a young man, went to England, where he followed the occupation of a glass-blower for twelve years. In 1866 he came to America and spent thirteen years in the various cities of the United States, engaged in working at his trade In 1883 he came to Allegheny county, purchased a farm of
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eighty-four acres in Harrison township, and since has f med in that location. He was married, on March 11, 1860, to ,agustine Epertherner, born in France in 1843, and the daughter of Louis and Augustine (Bregy) Epertherner, both natives of "La Belle France." The Epertherners removed to England, where Mr. Epertherner died in 1868, and Mrs. Epertherner came to Allegheny county in 1882, and there resided until her death in 1900. Mr. Schmidt, his wife and family are members of the Catholic church. Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt are the parents of eleven children, viz. : Augustine, Louisa M., Henrietta L., Josephine P., Aristide H. and Xavier A. (twins), Adele, Emile J., Estelle M., Louis E. and Oscar P. Mr. Schmidt is a prosperous and successful farmer, has reared a large family of fine children, and is a progressive and substantial citizen.
HARRY C. SCOTT, of Glenfield, Pa., a well-known and highly respected citi- zen, was born in Washington county, Pa., June 16, 1864, son of John and Mary Scott. Mr. Scott was educated in the public schools of Monongahela city, and at an early age began working at the newspaper business, in which line he later secured an agency for the Leader, Chron- icle, Telegraph and Times. He pros- pered in that venture and about 1882 obtained employment as a compositor on the Pittsburg Leader, with which journal he remained for seven years; then for fifteen years was in the employ of a railroad known as the Star Union line, and since that time has been employed in his present responsible position with the prominent real estate firm of Black & Baird. Mr. Scott was married, on Aug. 14, 1887, to Charlotte E., daughter of Charles B. and Anna Mccullough, and they have had five children, viz. : Leon F. (deceased), born March 10, 1891; Anna L., born Nov. 1, 1888; Paul P., born May 28, 1893; Thomas G., born May 28, 1896, and Martha P., born Sept. 28, 1900. Mrs. Scott is a most estimable woman and is highly educated, having received both a common and high school course of instruction, and, being of a literary turn, has constantly reviewed her work, and by so doing has kept abreast of the modern and advanced ideas. Mr. Scott is a prominent mem- ber of the Presbyterian church of Glenfield, having served in his
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present position as elder for several years, and takes an active interest in all church affairs. He has been a member of the board of education for the past ten years and also served as clerk of the borough of Glenfield. He is closely identified with the Royal Arcanum and the Heptasophs, and is one of the leading men of Glenfield.
DR. DANIEL G. ROWLEY, a prom- inent physician of the town of Culmer- ville, Allegheny county, was born in the county, May 18, 1858, and has practiced medicine for a number of years in Cul- merville. His grandfather, Daniel Row- ley, was born in Vermont, in 1780, of Revolutionary stock. Upon arriving at the years of manhood, he came to Lock- port, Westmoreland Co., Pa., but ten years later removed to the State of Indiana, locating near Indianapolis, and died there in 1840. His wife was a Miss Cheeney, who was born in Vermont in 1785, and died at Freeport, Pa., in 1865. They had seven daughters and one son. One of the daughters, Mrs. Taylor, is still living at the age of eighty, at McKee's Rocks, Pa. The son, Myron H. Rowley, was born in Vermont, Oct. 13, 1805. He removed with his parents to Lock- port, and later to Indiana. While living in the latter State he began the study of medicine, and in 1829 graduated from the medical college at Cincinnati, Ohio. After receiving his degree, he located at Millerstown, in Fawn township, Allegheny county, where he practiced medicine for sixty-three years, or until his death, which occurred on July 1, 1897. He was positive in his religious and political views, being a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and the republican party. Dr. Myron Rowley was twice married, the first wife in Indiana when he was but twenty years of age. She bore him two children: William, born in 1826, and died near Norfolk, Va., in 1864, while serving in the army; and Mary, born in 1828, and died in Butler county, Pa., in 1890. His first wife died in 1852, in Allegheny county, and about three years after her death he married his second wife, Margaretta Smith. To this union there were born four children, three daughters and one son, all of whom are still living. The daughters are Paulina A., Sarah B. and Laura J. The son is Dr. Daniel G. Rowley, the sub-
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ject of this sketch. After acquiring a good education, Dr. Rowley read medicine with his father, and ever since finishing his medical education has practiced his profession in Allegheny county. On Sept. 27, 1893, he was married to Miss Clara A., a daughter of James E. and Nancy (Porter) Hazlett. Her father was born July 18, 1837, and was married to Nancy Porter in 1859. They were the parents of six children, the names and dates of birth of which were: William P., July 29, 1860; Clara A., now Mrs. Rowley, Nov. 8, 1862; George, April 2, 1865; Harry, Dec. 23, 1868; Mary, July 28, 1872, and Eliott, Dec. 10, 1874. Four of these children are still living. Harry died on Nov. 2, 1881, and Eliott on Oct. 28, 1898. Both of Mrs. Rowley's parents are members of the United Presbyterian church. Dr. Rowley and his wife have one son, Myron E., who was born on April 13, 1899. Both are members of the United Presbyterian church, among the members of which they have a large number of friends. Their circle of friends is not limited, however, to the members of their church. To many a home Dr. Rowley has brought comfort and cheer by the exercise of his healing art, and to these homes he is always a welcome visitor, where a chair by the fireside and a plate at the table always await him and his companion.
WILLIAM H. CROUCH, of Port Vue, Pa., a prosperous business man and for many years a well-known justice of the peace, was born in Washington county, Pa., Jan. 9, 1854, son of George and Mary Anne (Sickles) Crouch, his father having been a prominent citizen and manager of the Penney coal company, of near Mc- Keesport. Young Crouch received his education in the common schools, but owing to the stringency of the times was early put to work in the mines, but later in life attended Duff's business college, of Pittsburg, where he was graduated in a commercial course. Mr. Crouch worked at coal-mining at various times for about twenty- five years, and in 1887 purchased a farm in Allegheny county, where he resided for four years. Later he removed to the Edmun- son farm in Port Vue borough, and for twelve years has successfully followed dairying and gardening on that place. He was married, on July 3, 1878, to Nannie, daughter of John and Sarah (Mackey)
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Smock, of Westmoreland county, and they have five children, viz. : Rena; Sarah, wife of Charles Smith, of Port Vue; Charles, Clyde and Inez. Mr. Crouch was elected a justice of the peace of Port Vue borough and served continuously for ten years, during which time he made a fine record in that difficult position. He has also served as a school director and a member of the council of Port Vue, and for one year was president of the latter body. He is a stanch republican and for several years has served that party as county committeeman. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and the Masons, of which latter order he is a Knight Templar and Shriner. Mr. Crouch is also treasurer and manager of the hay, grain and feed department of the contracting firm of D. B. Ault company, on Fourth avenue, Mckeesport, and has been connected with that concern for the past two years.
MAURICE MCCARTHY, of Elizabeth, Pa., pastor of St. Michael's Roman Cath- olic church, was born in County Kerry, Ireland, March 21, 1866, son of William and Annie (Costello) McCarthy. Father McCarthy was educated in his native country, attending the national schools of his own county, St. Michael's at Listowel, the University of Dublin and the All Hallows college of Dublin. He was or- dained to the priesthood, June 21, 1891, by Bishop Donnelly, of Dublin, and his first appointment was as assistant pastor of St. Mary's church, of New Castle, Pa., he having come to America in September, 1891. He continued at New Castle until Jan. 6, 1896, when he took charge of St. Michael's church of Elizabeth, and since has filled that pulpit with ardor and ability. This church has a membership of about 100 families, is one of the oldest in the diocese, and on Sept. 29, 1892, celebrated its golden jubilee with solemn and appropriate ceremonies, which were attended by all the priests of the diocese. James G. Blaine, "the plumed knight," was once a member of its congregation, and the remains of his sister are now interred in the churchyard. Father McCarthy is also in charge of a new church that is being erected at Clairton, Pa., ground for which was broken on May 20, 1903, and it is expected that the church and parochial school will cost $50,000.
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R. H. BAXTER, of Glassport, Pa., manager and treasurer of the Glassport lumber company, was born in Westmore- land county, Pa., Nov. 5, 1868, and is the son of William A. and. Harriett M. Baxter. Mr. Baxter was educated in the primary branches in the public schools of Burrell township, and completed his literary training at Parnassus college. On leaving school, Mr. Baxter began to learn the carpenters' trade at Apollo, Pa., to which town his family had removed in 1888. He then went to Homestead for a two-year stay, and later located in Pittsburg, where he made a special study of the building business, while con- tinuing to work at his trade. In 1894 he returned to Apollo; later removed to Vandergrift, where he was engaged in contracting for one year, and then became superintendent of construction for the Vandergrift lumber company, continuing in that capacity until 1900, when he came to Glassport, Pa., as manager and treasurer of the Glassport lumber company, and is also in charge of the Clairton lumber company. Mr. Baxter was married, in 1891, to Mae M. McElroy, and they have one daughter, Helen. Mr. Baxter is a member of the republican party, and is prominently identified with the business and social affairs of the city in which he resides.
THOMAS R. FAWCETT, a brick manufacturer of Mckeesport, was born in Birmingham, Allegheny county, Dec. 1, 1835. He obtained a good, practical education in the common schools, and at the age of nineteen went to work on a farm. During the Civil war he served as a private in the 204th regiment, Penn- sylvania volunteers, and the 5th Pennsyl- vania artillery, participating in a number of engagements and receiving an honor- able discharge at the close of the war. After peace was restored, he was for twelve years the watchman in the Oliver Bros. wire works at Pitts- burg. Since that time he has been engaged in his present occupa- tion. In 1862 he was married to Catherine, daughter of Aaron 11 -21
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and Sarah Brindel, of Allegheny county. To this marriage there were born the following children: Christopher L., who is employed by his father in the brick business; Margaret (deceased) ; William D., a dentist in Mckeesport; Elizabeth, wife of George Bonhouse, of Mount Washington; Mary, at home; Thomas Albert and Clarence B. (twins), Harry G. and Walter. Mr. Fawcett is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Mckeesport, and Col. John W. Patterson post, No. 151, South- Side, Grand Army of the Republic. It is a fact worthy of note that the Fawcett heirs now own the identical spot where General Braddock encamped the night before his historic and fatal defeat.
JOHN C. LITTLE was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, July 29, 1857. His parents, Joseph and Mary A. Little, came to America when John was a boy, and located in Pittsburg, Pa. John attended the third ward public schools of Pittsburg, and at an early age circum- stances prompted him to become a wage- earner. While still a lad, he obtained employment in the steel works of Hussey, Howe & Co., in Pittsburg. His first work was on the small train of rolls at the eight-inch mill, and in time he became competent in that line of work. After several years of service at the rolls, he accepted a position in the crucible department of the same firm. Several years' service in this department gave him considerable knowledge of the process of making crucible steel, and when the late Mr. C. Y. Wheeler, who had been manager of the works, purchased a small steel plant at Demmler, Pa., afterwards known as the Sterling steel company, young Little, being ambi- tious and thinking to enhance his personal opportunities, secured employment with the new concern, which afterwards became world-famous as manufacturer of the Wheeler-Sterling projectile. Mr. Wheeler was the inventor of this projectile, which proved effective in piercing the hardest and toughest of armor plate, eventually destroying Cervera's fleet off Santiago harbor in the Spanish-American war. After several years with this establish- ment, Mr. Little gave up mill work and accepted a position with Barnes Bros.' Troy laundry, in Pittsburg. This firm sent him to Mckeesport, Pa., to look after their interests in that city.
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After continuing in the employ of Barnes Bros. for upward of two years, Mr. Little's natural business acumen led him to believe that Mckeesport was a good field for the laundry business, and there being no local plant in Mckeesport, he formed the Enter- prise laundry company, becoming at once vice-president and general manager. After conducting the business for a short time as a firm, Mr. Little purchased the interests of his partners in the company and changed the name to the Enterprise laundry. The name was original with Mr. Little, and was and is quite appro- priate, for his entire business career has been one of enterprise. A few years ago Mr. Little acquired the property at Nos. 631 and 633 Fifth Ave., Mckeesport, which runs through from Fifth avenue to Jerome street, erecting on the Fifth-avenue frontage a handsome three-story building, and a three-story laundry building on Jerome street. From its very inception the business has steadily increased, until it extends to every town and hamlet in the Monongahela valley. His promptness and thorough business methods have given him a name and reputation which few men attain in the business world, and to this is attributed a great measure of his success. Mr. Little has not only been progressive in the laundry business, but is an enterprising and public-spirited citizen, always in the forefront of anything pertaining to the wel- fare or progress of the city he calls home. He is of a philanthropic and charitable disposition, but dislikes ostentation, preferring to conceal his charities from the outside world. In addition to the laundry business, Mr. Little is a stockholder and director in the Virginia consolidated copper company, which is located in Page county, Va. ; a stockholder in the Commercial trust company, of Mckeesport; the People's ice, light and cold storage company, of Mckeesport; in the Pacific steel company; the Producer mining and smelting company, of Arizona, and is interested in several smaller enterprises. In politics Mr. Little is a republican, and takes a lively interest in all local and county contests. He is also active in lodge affairs, being a charter member and past exalted ruler of Mckeesport lodge, No. 136, B. P. O. Elks; a member of the Tribe of Ben-Hur; also of the K. of A. O. E., of the Inde- pendent Order of Foresters, and Independent Order of Heptasophs. He is a member of St. Stephen's Episcopal church of Mckeesport. In 1890 Miss Tillie Segrand, of Piqua, Ohio, became Mrs. Little, and two daughters, A. Eleanor and Matilda I., have come to bless the union. Mr. Little is domestic in his tastes, and enjoys his home life. In his relations with men he is courteous and affable,
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and all his business transactions are conducted with the strictest integrity. Wherever known, he is trusted and respected, and with his high ideals in business life, it is but a natural sequence that his success has been remarkable and lasting.
MEREDITH C. STITT, at present a well-known and popular mechanic of Tarentum, is a sample of that fine line of American citizenship to whose sturdy industry and indomitable pluck the re- public owes much of its solidity and pros- perity. He is a son of William J. Stitt, a lifelong resident and one of the substan- tial farmers of Armstrong county, Pa. Starting life as a carpenter, he eventually changed his occupation to farm work, and was thus engaged when the opening guns of the Civil war stirred the blood of all patriotic men, and none more so than those living in the old Key- stone State. Mr. Stitt promptly enlisted in one of the regiments of his native State and served creditably throughout the great struggle with no more serious injury than a wound in the hand. Shortly after returning home he was married to Theresa, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Linhart) Shipman, both of whom died in Armstrong county after a long and honored residence. After their wedding, Mr. and Mrs. William J. Stitt took up their abode on a farm and became popular citizens of their neighborhood as well as useful members of the Lutheran church. The birth of their son, Meredith C. Stitt, who is the principal subject of this sketch, occurred on the home farm in Armstrong county, Jan. 28, 1874. His childhood and early boyhood were spent at home, and such book education as he received was obtained in the nearby district school before entering his sixteenth year. When fifteen years old, a position was obtained for him with the iron and steel company located at Apollo, in his native county, and there he began learning the trade which he has steadily followed ever since. When the mill was started at Vandergrift, he went to that place and took part in the first work done by this establishment. He remained there, in different capacities, until July 15, 1901, when he took up his residence at Tarentum, which has ever since been his place of abode. Immediately after his arrival, he obtained employment with the Allegheny steel and iron company, which he
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retains at present, in the department devoted to sheet steel rolling. Mr. Stitt, after the hard work and severe trials incident to his chosen calling, has achieved substantial success and enjoys high standing both with his employers and fellow workmen. That he is also favorably regarded in social and fraternal circles is mani- fest from the fact of his holding membership in the following named societies: Pollock lodge, No. 502, F. and A. M .; Vander- grift lodge, No. 1116, I. O. O. F .; Prosperity lodge, No. 437, K. of P .; Tarentum lodge, No. 644, B. P. O. E. April 27, 1893, Mr. Stitt married Miss Julia D., daughter of Alexander Henry, a brick-layer of Armstrong county, now deceased. Merle C., the only child of this union, was born Nov. 25, 1894. Mr. Stitt's political affiliations, like those of his father, have always been with the democratic party. He and his wife are members of Trinity Evangelical church, at Tarentum.
JOHN P. ONCKEN, an esteemed me- chanic of Natrona, is a contribution to Pennsylvania from that famous Father- land whence have come so large and valuable a portion of the republic's citi- zenship. Herman Oncken, of Germany, after marrying Wilhelmina W. Ukena, remained in his native land until 1883, when he removed with his family to Penn- sylvania and located in Allegheny county. He remained at Natrona until the death of his wife, which occurred Jan. 25, 1898, but some years subsequent to that sad event, returned to Germany, where he has since resided. Of the four living children, Mrs. Charles Huffman, Frank W. and John P. reside at Natrona, while Mrs. Charles Barr is a resident of Vander- grift. John P. Oncken, first-born of the above enumerated chil- dren, was born in Germany, Dec. 1, 1872, and consequently was in his eleventh year when the emigration of his parents brought them to the Keystone State. He attended school in his native land for several years, and after reaching Pennsylvania resumed his studies in the public schools of Natrona. He began the serious business of life at the age of sixteen, his first engagement being with the Fidelity and the Fiscus glass works, where he took primary lessons in the metal trades. Later he secured a position in the sheet mill at Apollo, and after remaining there a short time, went to Vander -:
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