USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume II > Part 3
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MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
WILLIAM L. SHEETS, real estate dealer, Mckeesport, was born in Browns- ville, Pa., Feb. 5, 1860, son of John and Irene Sheets. He was educated in the schools of his native city and at Washing- ton and Jefferson college, and came to Mckeesport, in 1884, and engaged in mer- cantile pursuits for five years. After this he was general manager of the Farm- ers' and Mechanics' S. F. and L. A., of Pittsburg, for eight years. After this he was for four years general manager of the Monongahela valley saving fund, J. Painter being president of the company, and was during that time, for three years, also general manager of the Monyough land com- pany of Glassport. Since then he has been engaged in the real estate business, and has been successful in handling many large property transactions. Mr. Sheets was married, in 1880, to Miss Sarah E. Ruppert, of Westmoreland county, and has six children, W. Harry, Elizabeth A., James E., Margaret S., Irene and Welda. Mr. Sheets is in politics a democrat. He is a member of Mckees- port lodge, No. 136, B. P. O. Elks. Mr. Sheets and family reside in Mckeesport, in the seventh ward.
PETER S. LANGSDORF, alderman from the sixth ward, Mckeesport, was born in that city, Aug. 11, 1867, and was educated in the public and German Lutheran schools. Leaving school at . fourteen, he spent two years in the employ of the Chambers glass company, of Mckeesport. He was then for several years engaged as shearman for the Deweese-Wood company, and after that spent two years in a similar capacity with the United States tin plate com- pany. In 1887 he went into the insur- ance business, representing the Metropolitan insurance company ; continued at this a year, and then engaged, at 723 Fifth Ave., in the fruit and confectionery business. Mr. Langsdorf was elected, in 1900, to a seat in the common council of Mckeesport, for a two- year term. In the following year he was elected for a five-year
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term as alderman, receiving at that time the largest majority ever obtained by a candidate in a ward contest in the history of Mckeesport. Mayor Falkenstein has appointed him his chief deputy mayor of the city. Mr. Langsdorf is a member of the German Lutheran church and of the B. P. O. Elks, No. 136. He was married, July 3, 1889, to Miss Maggie Wolf, daughter of John L. Wolf, of Mckeesport. The family reside in the sixth ward.
HENRY FRIEDMAN, junior partner of the firm of Joseph Roth & Sons, for- eign bankers, was born in Hungary in 1870, son of Bernard Friedman. He attended school in his native country until he reached the age of eighteen, and then came to America. He spent four years in New York, and attended an eve- ning school, where he obtained knowl- edge of the English language. After acquiring knowledge of the latter, and with the help of five foreign languages he had mastered, he succeeded in getting a position with M. Rosett, foreign banker, New York. Having been with this firm for some time; Mr. Friedman accepted a position with M. Rosenbaum, foreign banker, in Philadelphia, Pa. After being with the latter for seven years, he came to Mckeesport in 1900, and, on January 16th of that year, married Miss Anna Roth, daughter of Joseph Roth, and became a member of the firm of Joseph Roth & Sons, foreign bankers, doing business at 422 Locust St., Mckeesport, Pa. In politics Mr. Friedman is a republican. He resides in the fourth ward, Mckeesport, Pa. He is a member of the A. H. congregation, "Gemulas Chesad," and several other lodges. Mr. Friedman, although comparatively young, has had considerable experience in the banking business, and helped a great deal to build up the firm of which he is at present a member. Besides being a member of the firm of Joseph Roth & Sons, he is a ·member of Roth, Schnitzer & Co., of Pittsburg; Loeb, Roth & Co., of Monessen, Pa. ; a director of the First National bank of Suters- ville, Pa. ; a shareholder of the Westmoreland brewing company, of the same place, and is interested in several other enterprises.
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V. ARTHUR AULD, of the firm of Foster & Auld, Mckeesport, is a son of J. P. Auld, and was born in Effingham, I11., April 1, 1875. He came to McKees- port with his parents in 1876, attended the public schools there, and graduated from the high school. He then com- pleted his education at Washington and Jefferson college, graduating from that institution in 1898, and spent several years as instructor in languages in the Mckeesport high school. He then gave up teaching to go into the furniture busi- ness in company with D. A. Foster, the firm buying out the Long furniture company, at 523-525 Walnut St. Mr. Auld belongs to Mckeesport lodge, No. 583, F. and A. M .; Pittsburg commandery, No. 1, Knights Templars; Mckeesport chapter, No. 282, Syria temple, and Penn consistory. In political belief he is a republican. He resides in Versailles township.
JOSEPH ROTH, founder of the widely-known and successful banking firm of Joseph Roth & Sons, Mckeesport, Pa., is a native of Austria-Hungary, where he was born in 1845, and where he obtained his early education. When a young man, he decided to cast his fortunes in America, and bidding adieu to home and friends, he sailed for the United States. The first year after his arrival was spent at various points in endeavoring to find a suitable location. Finally, he drifted to Pittsburg, and having mastered the shoemaker's trade prior to leaving his native land and nothing more inviting offering itself, he decided to open a shop and earn sufficient money to send for his wife, whom he had left to follow as soon as he had established himself in some permanent location. Therefore, after almost another year of hard toil, he was joined by his wife, who energetically set about to assist her husband by keep- ing boarders. Thus, at the end of three years, through their com- bined efforts, they had saved quite a snug little sum of money, and really laid the foundation for Mr. Roth's future success. About this time he decided to engage in mercantile pursuits in McKees- port, and opened a grocery store on Peach street, which he con- ducted for some time with success. His last business venture before engaging in banking was the opening of a shoe store on Fourth street. And it was while conducting this store that he con-
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ceived the idea of establishing himself in his present extensive banking interests. Mr. Roth perceived that there was no one to handle the affairs of the large foreign element of the city, who not only desired to patronize a local bank in their interest, but also desired a bank through which they could transact business with their relatives and friends in the Fatherland. So, grasping the situation, he at once established the business at the corner of Locust and Jerome streets. This was in 1888, and after two years, - in which the business grew rapidly and in which he had been ably assisted by his son, Jacob Roth, they removed to their present location, No. 422 Locust St., in 1890. Mr. Roth has been emi- nently successful in all of his undertakings, and through honesty, perseverance and industry, he has accumulated quite a fortune. He has liberally rewarded each of his children as they grew up, and has financed each with a financial start in life, treating his daughters in this matter the same as his sons. As stated in the beginning of this sketch, he was married prior to leaving Austria- Hungary, his marriage occurring in 1865, to Miss Katherine Burger. Mr. and Mrs. Roth have five children, two sons and three daugh- ters. They are: Jacob, Isadore, Esther (the wife of H. Firestone), Lottie (the wife of S. Firestone) and Anna (the wife of H. Fried- man). In politics Mr. Roth is a republican and an influential citizen of the third ward.
JACOB ROTH, one of the leading financiers of Mckeesport and the Pitts- burg district, and treasurer of the bank- ing firm of Joseph Roth & Sons, was born in Austria. He was only six years of age when he arrived with his parents in this country, and therefore received his education in the public schools of Pittsburg. He was of an industrious turn when a boy, and for several years he sold newspapers and assisted his father about the store. When still a youth he entered the employ of the First National bank of Mckeesport, and for several years had charge of the foreign department of the bank. This training admirably fitted him for the partnership with Joseph Roth & Sons, which firm was organized in 1888. He was one of the founders of the Westmore- land brewing company, having financed it with $200,000, and is at
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present treasurer of the company. He is president of the First National bank of Sutersville, and is a member of the firm of Loeb, Roth & Co., Monessen. He financed a large tin plate establish- ment at Allegheny city, known as the Star enameling company. He is ably assisted by Mr. Friedman, his partner, in all of his vari- ous enterprises, and as he speaks seven different languages, he is a favorite among the large foreign element of Mckeesport, who entrust their business to him. As a result, the firm of Joseph Roth & Sons do the largest banking business in Mckeesport. The firm has banking connections in all foreign countries, as well as in the United States. Mr. Roth and wife, who was Miss Claudia Loeb, reside in the second ward. They were married in Sunbury, Pa., and have one child, Madeline.
JOSEPH FIDLER, of Mckeesport, Pa., a leading real estate dealer and alderman of the city, was born in Eng- land, in 1844, being a son of the late Benjamin and Elizabeth Fidler. Mr. Fidler was educated in the schools of his native land, began at an early age to learn the boot and shoe business, later worked at the machinist trade, and was also engaged in brick-laying. He went into the steel mills, worked in all depart- ments, and mastered the details of that calling. In 1868 he came to the United States, located at Pittsburg, and became a puddler in the steel mills of Lewis, Bailey, Dalzell & Co. After severing his connec- tion with this company, he was for the next five years in the employ of Lewis, Oliver & Philips, of Pittsburg. In 1874 he removed to Mckeesport, where for six years he was a welder for the National tube company; then to Pittsburg as manager for the Soho tube mills; one year later became manager for the Franks- town rolling mill; next went with the Continental tube works as welder, and remained with that concern for five years. Mr. Fidler was next connected with the Metropolitan life insurance company for two years, in Pittsburg, and in 1895 returned to Mckeesport, where he engaged in his present business of buying and selling real estate. In 1895 he was elected an alderman of the city, has been honored by his constituents with re-election every time since, and is now a leading member of that body. During the term of
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Mayor André, Mr. Fidler was often called upon to act as mayor of the city, and managed the affairs of the chief executive office with rare skill and ability. Mr. Fidler was married the first time to Sina Jones, and to them were born three children, one of whom is living, Mrs. Emma L. Stanier, of Tarentum. He was married again to Eliza, daughter of Hamilton and Nancy Stewart, and they have one daughter, Martha Scott. Mr. Fidler is a republican and a member of the First Methodist church.
JOHN E. LAUCK, superintendent and general manager of the Mckeesport tin plate company, of Mckeesport, Pa., has had a long, varied and successful career. He was born in Lexington, Ky., in 1862, received a college education, and then entered the employ of the Adams express company, in Lexington, Ky. After that he spent two years with the dry goods firm of Appleton, Lancaster & Duff, and four years with the Chesapeake & Ohio railroad company, being advanced during that time to chief clerk and cashier of the Lexington office. In 1887 he left Kentucky and became teller of the Bank of Wichita, Kan. The bank, which was run by Kentucky people, William Carlisle being its president, was afterwards reor- ganized as the Fourth National bank, Mr. Lauck acting as its cashier until 1890. Returning, then, to Kentucky, he organized the First National bank of Middlesborough and the Bank of Cumber- land Gap, Tenn., and became interested in the Middlesborough town and land company and the American association, concerns with a capital of $22,000,000. In 1892 he returned to his old home, Lexington, Ky., where he engaged in the brokerage business, and invested in gas property and real estate in Anderson and Alexan- dria, Ind. At the same time he became interested in the tin plate business at Middleton, Ind., and, upon leaving there, came to Pitts- burg, where he undertook the management of the Star tin plate works. In 1896 he gave up this position and became general man- ager of the United States iron and tin manufacturing company, at Mckeesport, doubled the capacity of the plant, and had charge until Jan. 1, 1902. He then became connected with the Mckees- port tin plate company, which built a plant at Mckeesport, and has been director in the concern and general manager of the plant 11-3
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since then. The works are among the finest and most complete in America, and under the able management of Mr. Lauck the affairs of the company are prospering. Mr. Lauck is a member of the Knights of Pythias, B. P. O. Elks and F. and A. M He was married, in 1886, to Miss Katherine Clohesey, of Lexington, Ky., and has two children, Katherine and Mary E.
MCKINSTRY GRIFFITH, of Taren- tum, Pa., the county tax clerk in the prothonotary's office, was born at McKee's Rocks, Allegheny Co., Pa., June 16, 1847, son of Joseph and Eliza (Wilkinson) Griffith, both natives of Ireland, who came to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where they were married. In 1836 they located at Sharpsburg, Allegheny county, and . two years later removed to McKee's Rocks, where they remained for nine years, then coming to Deer Creek, in West Deer township, and locating on a farm now owned by the subject of this sketch. This farm consists of sixty-seven acres, and is located at Rural Ridge. Joseph Griffith was a leading republican, and held many township offices. He . and his wife were members of the Methodist church. Of eleven children who were born to them, six survive. His maternal grand- parents were John and Alice (Mckinstry) Wilkinson, the former an officer of the British army. The Griffiths are of Welsh descent, while his paternal grandparents resided in Ireland. Mckinstry Griffith was reared in West Deer township, attended the common schools and the public schools of Allegheny city, and was gradu- ated from the Iron City college in 1867. For one year he followed the occupation of a drover, then settled on the farm in West Deer township, where his father had located, and engaged in farming until 1891, when he removed to Tarentum, and for nine years prospered in the grocery business. He has served as tax clerk in the prothonotary's office for the last six years, and in 1894 held a position in the office of the clerk of the courts. He has always been an ardent republican, an active worker for that party, and while residing in West Deer township was a school director. He has valuable property in Tarentum, and owns the farm on which he resided in West Deer township. He has been a member of the Methodist church since 1864, has been a steward for twenty-nine
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years, and was superintendent of the Sunday-school while living in West Deer township. Mr. Griffith was married, on Oct. 8, 1868, to Eliza Herron, a native of Ireland, who immigrated to Penn- sylvania with her parents, John and Sarah Herron, who spent their declining years in Pittsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith are the par- ents of nine children : Marietta, William A. (deceased), James H., John M. (deceased), John M., Sarah E., Edna B., Ida C., and May (deceased). Mr. Griffith has given all of his children liberal edu- cations, they having attended the schools of Tarentum. John M. is a graduate of Allegheny college, and is prominently identified with the real estate and insurance business in Tarentum. Mr. Griffith has taken a leading part in the affairs of the community in which he lives, and is one of the substantial citizens of Taren- tum.
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J. WILBERT BROWN, division super- intendent of the Pittsburg, Mckeesport & Connelsville street railway, was born in Armstrong county, Pa., in 1872, and is a son of J. S. Brown. He attended a local academy when a boy, studied two years at the Western university in Pitts- burg, and completed his education at the School of Electricity in Washington, from which he was graduated in 1898. Upon graduation, Mr. Brown became night car inspector for the Mckeesport, Wilmer- ding & Duquesne street railway company, was employed for a time as electrician for the United traction com- pany, and after that returned to the service of the Mckeesport, Wilmerding & Duquesne company, as foreman of the company's shops at East Mckeesport. He remained with this company until 1900, was then appointed master mechanic for the Pittsburg, Mckeesport & Connellsville company, and in the spring of 1901 was promoted to his present responsible position as division super- intendent, in which office he has charge of the Mckeesport divi- sion, embracing twenty five miles of road. Mr. Brown is an influ- ential Presbyterian, being a member of the board of deacons of the First Presbyterian church of Mckeesport. In politics he is a republican. He resides in Mckeesport, in the eighth ward.
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JAMES N. LONG, manager at Mc- Keesport for the Pittsburg brewing com- pany, is an energetic young business man who has, in a short time, risen by his own merits to a responsible position. He was born in Allegheny, Pa., in 1875, son of Leon J. and Angenette Long, attended the Allegheny schools, and took a busi- ness course at Duff's college, in Pittsburg. His first employment was with E. H. Merrill, architect, of Pittsburg, where he worked a year. After that he was employed for seven months by D. J. Kennedy, dealer in builders' supplies, and later was connected with the Pennsylvania title and trust company until 1897. In that year he entered the employ of the Mckeesport brewing company, now incorporated with the Pittsburg brewing company, and has, since May, 1901, had charge of the management of the company's inter- ests at Mckeesport, in the capacity of superintendent. On Nov. 16, 1897, Mr. Long married Lottie M. Reno. In politics he is a republican, while his religious affiliations are with the United Pres- byterian church.
JOHN W. PAINTER, banker, senior member of the firm of Joseph Finch & Co., distillers, and a well-known resi- dent of Mckeesport, was born in West- moreland county, Pa., in 1839, being a son of John Painter. He received his preliminary education in the public schools, attended Beaver college, and finished his schooling at the Presbyterian college at Haysville. Upon leaving school, he embarked in business at Guffey Station, and for two years kept a general store there in company with Joseph Finch. He also engaged in the same business for a year in McKees- port, in 1865, in partnership with Theodore Woods, then sold out and went to Pittsburg, where he went into the distillery business in company with his former partner, Mr. Finch. The business was first carried on at the corner of First street and Cherry alley, and in 1869 was moved to McKane and Second streets, on the
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South Side. Mr. Finch died in 1884, and in 1885 Mr. Painter took into partnership Mr. James D. Ponticrat, the firm name continu- ing, however, as Joseph Finch & Co. Mr. Painter occupies a prominent place in the public life of Mckeesport, being a member of the board of trustees of the McKeesport hospital. He was at one time for four years postmaster at Boston, Pa., under President Cleveland. He was married, in 1867, to Miss Isabel Cornell, of Mount Washington, and has one son, Robert C., who married Miss Laura Henderson. Mr. Painter is a member of Lodge No. 375, F. and A. M., and also of the Royal Arcanum. He resides in Mckeesport, in the fifth ward.
JOHN CARTER, of Mckeesport, Pa., a well-known citizen, was born in Somer- setshire, England, July 14, 1848, being a son of James and Maria Carter. He was educated in the parochial schools of his native country, and on leaving his studies engaged in farming for five years. For the next three years he was coal-mining, then worked in a wholesale grocery store as shipping clerk, and, in 1872, came to the United States. He set- tled in Pittsburg, mined coal in the twenty-second ward of that city for twelve years, and then engaged in the same business at Alfsville, Pa., for three years. Later he came to Mckeesport, secured employment with the National tube mills, and for the past seven years has held his present position of gas reverser in the coupling- forge department. Mr. Carter was married, in 1869, to Annie Young, of England, and they have nine children: Charles J., Constance E., Jennie E., Sarah Y., James, Annie, John, Minnie and Harry. He is prominently identified with the republican party ; 'has served as member of the common council of Mckeesport since 1897, his present term expiring in 1904. Mr. Carter takes great interest in politics, believing it to be the duty of all good citizens to personally charge themselves with the duty of seeing that only good and true men should occupy positions of honor and trust, and thus he wields a potent influence for purity in politics. Mr. Carter's family are members of the United Brethren, and he is identified with the Foresters and the Sons of St. George.
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DANIEL P. BLOSE, M D., of Mckeesport, Pa., prominent as a phy- sician, was born in Mckeesport, Jan. 7, 1878, a son of Rhody and Sarah M. Blose. Dr. Blose attended the public schools, graduated from the high school in 1896, and matriculated at the medical depart- ment of the University of Pennsylvania. He was graduated from that noted school in 1900, and for one year was resident physician in a hospital at Mckeesport. Later he went abroad to prosecute his medical studies, taking a special course at the University of Vienna; then to the hospitals of Prague, Bohe- mia; later to Germany and Dublin, and, in 1902, returned to Mckeesport and commenced the active practice of his profession. Dr. Blose maintains offices at No. 530 Fifth Ave., and enjoys a splendid patronage. He is a member of several college societies and the First Presbyterian church. He is highly regarded in the city where he has passed almost his entire career, and possesses the esteem and friendship of a large number of the leading people of Mckeesport.
FREDERICK ALPERMANN, con- tractor, was born in Brunswick, Ger- many, Oct. 22, 1841. His father, also named Frederick, died when Mr. Alper- mann was a boy. The subject of this sketch learned the cabinet-maker's trade in Germany, and, in 1868, came to Amer- ica to try his fortunes in a new country. For a short time he worked at his trade in New York, and then came to Pitts- burg, where he remained several years. ' In 1877 he came to Etna, where he has since resided. He entered the employ of the Isabel furnace company, where he continued two years, and then worked as a pattern-maker for another concern. In 1890 Mr. Alpermann started in business for himself as a contractor, and is still successfully engaged in this line. In 1897 he was elected councilman of Etna borough, his first political office, entering poli- tics, not from a desire for political preferment, but because he felt
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it his duty to serve his borough, proving himself to be an able and conscientious councilman. Mr. Alpermann was married, in 1871, to Amelia Miller, daughter of Frederick Miller, a native of Baden, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Alpermann have nine children, seven boys and two girls. Mr. Alpermann taught all his sons the carpen- ters' trade, and provided for their entertainment a club house in the rear of his dwelling. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Alpermann are: Herman F. C., born July, 1872, a carpenter by trade, living. at home; August, born April 4, 1874; William G., born Dec. 3, 1875; Lena, born Sept. 30, 1877, living at home; Charles F., born Nov. 10, 1879, a carpenter and baseball player, living at home; Minnie B., born Aug. 28, 1882, at home; Frederick, Jr., born July 10, 1884, a carpenter, living at home; Albert, born July 4, 1886, also a carpenter, at home; Edward, born Nov. 24, 1891, in school. Mr. Alpermann is a member of the I. O. O. F .; the German library, of Pittsburg: Sharpsburg business men's club, and Etna fishing club. He is a republican in politics.
HARRY B. CRAWFORD, foreman of the pattern department, Monongahela furnace, National tube company, of Mckeesport, was born in Brownsville, Pa., in 1866. When two years old, he moved with his parents, Samuel S. and Esther Crawford, to Port Perry, where he received his education in the public school. Leaving school at seventeen, he went into the Edgar Thompson steel works, in Braddock, to learn the pattern- maker's trade, spent six years with this company, three years in the Homestead steel works, and, in 1893, entered the employ of the National tube company at Mckeesport. Here he has since held the responsible position of foreman of the pattern department of the Monongahela furnace. In political belief Mr. Crawford is a republican, and has taken a lively interest in local party affairs. He is a member of Youghiogheny lodge, No. 583, F. and A. M., and belongs to the First Methodist Episcopal church of Port Perry, Pa. Mr. Craw- ford was married, in 1897, to Miss Lillian G. Frederick, daughter of J. M. and Anna Frederick, of Braddock. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford live in the sixth ward, Mckeesport.
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