USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume II > Part 30
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48
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in his native county, and in May, 1896, began work in the steel mill at Leechburg. In 1901 he came to Tarentum to accept a posi- tion with the Allegheny steel and iron company, and is the youngest sheet steel roller in their employment. On May 23, 1899, he married Miss Lillian, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Keenan) Crawford, of Leechburg. Mrs. McPherson's grandpar- ents were Robert and Lillas (Nutman) Crawford, natives of Scot- land, who emigrated to Pennsylvania, where the former died at Grove City, and the latter in Sharon. Their son, Robert, was a boy of eight years when his parents came to the United States, and his wife, whom he married in Pennsylvania, died in 1892. At present he is a mine foreman at Youngstown, Ohio, where he holds membership in the Knights of Pythias order, and exercises his voting franchise in favor of republican principles. Of his eight children, seven are still living. Mr. and Mrs. McPherson have two children, Margaret and Francis E.
DAVID K. CARNEY, a well-known iron-worker of Tarentum, has an honor- able genealogy extending on both sides through many generations of Pennsyl- vanians. Patrick Carney, his paternal great-grandfather, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. By his marriage with Mary Russell, he left a son named John Carney, who married Mary Vensel. By this last-mentioned marriage there were several children, among them Philip Carney, born. Aug. 1, 1814, and he was married, Dec. 29, 1843, to Lucinda Jane Fiscus, whose birth occurred June 28, 1827. The grandparents of the latter were Abraham and Catherine (Aukerman) Fiscus, of Westmoreland county, Pa. Their son, Philip Fiscus, born July 15, 1799, died April 5. 1855. He married Nancy Smith, whose birth occurred March 29, 1798, and her death July 3, 1860, her father being Archibald Smith, of Scotland, and her mother, Mary Anderson, of Ireland. Philip and Lucinda Jane (Fiscus) Carney, above mentioned, have long been residents of Armstrong county, where, at the venerable ages of eighty-nine and seventy-six years, respectively, they enjoy the esteem of a wide circle of friends. During his long and useful life, Philip Carney has been engaged in farming, and achieved high rank as a progressive agriculturist.
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He has always voted the democratic ticket, and has held nearly every official position in his township. He and his wife have long been consistent and esteemed members of the Presbyterian church. This honored couple have had twelve children, of whom ten are living, and among the number is David K. Carney, whose birth occurred in Armstrong county, Pa., Nov. 22, 1870. He was reared on his father's farm and given the benefit of good school attention until the completion of his twentieth year, when he decided to enter upon the serious business of life. Securing employment in the steel mill at Apollo, he remained there several years, then went to Vandergrift and continued in the same line until 1901, when he came to Tarentum at the establishment of the mill at that place. Since then he has been in the employment of the Alle- gheny steel and iron company as a sheet steel roller. He is of a quiet and unobtrusive disposition, independent in politics, and popular with his fellow-laborers and general acquaintances. On July 3, 1894, Mr. Carney was united in marriage with Miss Maggie B. Sincley, of Westmoreland county, and they have two children, Chester F. and Mildred L.
HENRY L. MARSHALL, though still quite a young man, has been engaged as an iron-worker for a number of years, and during that time has estab- lished himself as a good citizen and a reli- able employe. The Marshalls have long been identified with the industries of the Keystone State, and James Marshall, grandfather of our subject, was a pioneer of Indiana county at an early day. He left a son named William H., who became a farmer in Indiana county and cultivated the soil until his death in December, 1902. He married Margaret Hill, also a native of Indiana county, who still survives and resides on the old homestead. Of their eleven children, nine are still living, and Henry L. Marshall, one of the younger sons, was born in Indiana county, Nov. 16, 1878. While growing up on the farm and taking part as a boy in the routine work of the farm, he attended the common schools during the winter sessions, and thus obtained a fair elementary education. When eighteen years old he obtained a position in the steel mill at Scottdale, Pa., which he retained for several years, but also worked
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a while subsequently at Vandergrift. In 1901 he located at Taren- tum and secured employment with the Allegheny iron and steel company as a sheet steel heater. He has risen steadily from hum- ble beginnings, by dint of hard work and close attention to busi- ness, until he is regarded as one of the most efficient of the many mechanics in the busy industries of Allegheny county. In politics Mr. Marshall gives his allegiance to the republican party, and his fraternal connections are with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, at Tarentum. In November, 1902, Mr. Marshall was united in marriage with Miss Mary, daughter of W. H. Harbinson, a worthy young lady of Brackenridge borough, Pa. The young couple are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and enjoy popularity in the circle of society to which they belong.
THOMAS FERGUSON, well known in Allegheny county, though a native Pennsylvanian, is of Irish parentage. John Ferguson, born in Ireland, April 25, 1807, married Mary Duff, born May 12, 1810, and in 1833 the couple left their native land for the United States. They lived awhile in Pittsburg, but later located on a farm of fifty acres in Perrys- ville, which, however, was subsequently sold, and in 1851 Mr. Ferguson came to West Deer township, where he bought and settled on a farm of 100 acres. Afterwards he purchased a farm of 103 acres in Butler county, which is at present occupied by his son, John. He was successful in his operations and achieved prominence as a general farmer and stock-raiser. He died at his Butler county home, June 28, 1890, aged eighty-three years, and his wife passed away, Jan. 31, 1899, nearly completing her eighty-ninth year. Of their six children, four are living. Thomas Ferguson, one of the latter, was born in West Deer township, 'Allegheny Co., Pa., June 4, 1851. He grew up on the home place, which he inherited at his father's death, and has devoted his entire adult life to general farming, owning 100 acres of land, and is regarded as one of the most expert farmers in his section. April 25, 1876, Mr. Ferguson married Sarah, daughter of Rev. John B. and Rebecca (Harrell) Miller, of West Deer town- ship, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson have six children :
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Mary, Maggie, Rebecca, Sadie, Thomas B. and Clarence M. Mary, now the wife of William J. Clendenning, a farmer of West Deer township, has three children, Ethel, Francis and Hazel. Maggie, the second daughter, now the wife of George Camming, has one child, Howard. Rebecca, the third daughter, is now the wife of Ira Sefton, of Butler county. Sadie, wife of George Fisher, has one child, Olive Ruth. Mr. Ferguson is a republican, and has been road commissioner about fifteen years. He and his wife are members of West Deer United Presbyterian church.
DAVID SCOTT, as a breeder of fine stock of various kinds and for successful achievements as a business man, is one of the best known farmers of West Deer township. He is a son of John and Sarah (Dain) Scott, both natives of Ireland, who emigrated about 1822 and settled in Allegheny county, where he purchased 250 acres of land. He cultivated this land with industry and judgment, and had greatly increased its value before the final summons came that terminated his earthly career. First a whig, he afterwards became a democrat, and the religion of himself and wife was that taught by the Episcopal church. He died March 11, 1875. aged eighty-three years, after long surviving his faithful spouse, who passed away in 1866 at the age of seventy-two years. When this worthy couple reached America, they had seven children, which number was increased by nine after their arrival, but the only survivors are Mrs. Sarah Carlisle and the subject of this sketch. David Scott, his father's only male representative, was born in West Deer township, Allegheny Co., Pa., Jan. 11, 1839. After attending the country schools in his neighborhood, he took a course in the Pittsburg commercial college, and afterwards worked for some time in a business house of that city. Afterwards, how- ever, he returned to the farm and made agriculture the principal business of his life. He owns seventy-five acres of the old home- stead place, where for many years he has carried on general farm- ing, making a specialty of pure-bred Berkshire swine and Jersey cattle. He is a democrat in politics, has acted as school director for six years, and is now completing a twenty-year service as justice of the peace. In May, 1861, Mr. Scott was married to Miss
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Elizabeth Caldwell, of Allegheny county, by whom he has had ten children: Addie, Margaret (deceased), Sarah J., John, Cornelia, William Etta, Robert G., Wilson C., Dane and Maude (deceased). In August, 1861, at the breaking out of the Civil war, Mr. Scott's brother, William, organized a company of infantry, in which he held the rank of captain, but, owing to its failure to obtain a full quota of enlisted men, his company was combined with another and merged into Company B, 6Ist regiment, Pennsylvania volun- teer infantry, of which William was made lieutenant. The first action in which the regiment participated was the battle of Fair Oaks, fought in June, 1862. Lieutenant Scott passed safely through the battle, but afterwards, while searching for missing comrades, was picked off by a sharpshooter's bullet and died on the field. The high regard in which this gallant Pennsylvania patriot was held is indicated by the fact that the William Scott post, in West Deer township, is named in his honor.
ROBERT E. ABER, a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser of Gibsonia, is a representative of the industrious class who have done so much for the develop- ment of Allegheny county. His grand- father was William S. Aber, who married a Miss Elliott, and became an early settler of Plum township, where he lived until the time of his death. His son, Allen, who grew up on his father's place in Plum township, eventually also became a farmer, and followed that occupation during all the days of his adult life. He married Mary A. Ross, whose parents were of Scottish extraction and became early settlers of Westmoreland county, Pa. Allen Aber died Feb. 15, 1886, and his wife passed away March 23, 1889. Both were members of the United Presbyterian church, and Mr. Aber was an adherent of republican principles. Of their eight children, only three are now living. Robert E. Aber, one of the three survivors last mentioned, was born in Allegheny county, Pa., June 19, 1851. He grew up on his father's farm in West Deer township, attended the common schools, and meantime mastered the details essential to success in agriculture. In due time he became a land owner on his own account, and obtained rank as one of the successful cultivators of his country. He has 150 acres of
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land, which he cultivates by up-to-date methods, and makes a spe- cialty of hay. Mr. Aber is a republican in politics, and is in all respects a substantial and reliable citizen. On June 19, 1883, he married Miss Maggie, daughter of Robert and Mary (Henderson) Wilson, of Harmer township, Allegheny county, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Aber have six children: Mary, Tillie and Dillie (twins), Robert M., Sarah and William. The family are connected with the United Presbyterian church.
ALBERT EINSPORN, the genial "mine host" of the Hotel Kepler, is widely and favorably known to the travel- ing public and all others who enjoy good living. His parents were Gottlieb and Mary (Berborenz) Einsporn, who emi- grated from Germany in 1886 and located in Allegheny county, at Creighton. The father died at Ford City, in February, 1901, but his widow still survives. He was a plate-glass worker and was employed by Capt. G. B. Ford, at Ford City. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. They had six sons and one daughter, all of whom are living. Albert Einsporn was born in Germany, May 20, 1866, and was approaching his majority when his parents reached the American shore. He had been educated before leaving Germany, where he studied chemistry, and after reaching Allegheny county, turned his attention to decorating, which occupation he pursued in the glass factory at Tarentum for several years after his arrival. He was employed by Chandler & Taylor, and remained with that firm until their establishment was destroyed by fire in 1891. After that disaster, Mr. Einsporn engaged in the hotel business as an employe of Henry Stamm, and remained with him eight years. He was also manager of the Ford City hotel, owned by the Pittsburg plate glass company. On May 26, 1903, he returned to Tarentum and purchased the Hotel Kepler, in Brackenridge borough, and has since been proprietor of the same. He is a republican in politics and has fraternal con- nections with Etna lodge of Odd Fellows, the German Beneficial Union of Pittsburg, and Fraternal Order of Eagles, New Kensing- ton, Pa. In November, 1890, Mr. Einsporn was married to Miss Louisa, daughter of Joseph and Barbara (Benner) Nickolaus, who,
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when three years old, was brought by her parents from Germany to Louisville, Ky. Mr. Nickolaus was one of the first men em- ployed by Captain Ford in the Louisville glass works. Mr. and Mrs. Einsporn have four children: Albert, Mary, Christine and Helen. Mr. Einsporn's family affiliates with the Roman Catholic church, but he is a member of the Evangelical German Protestant church, in connection with which he has held official positions.
FRANK SEFTON, junior member of the well-known firm of Myers & Sefton, is of Irish descent, but his ancestors have been connected with Pennsylvania's prog- ress for more than a hundred years. Henry Sefton, founder of the family, came from Ireland to Butler county as far back as 1790, there married Jane Quinn and spent his life in assisting the other pioneers to build up what is now the great Keystone State. He left a son named John, who married Isabel Bryson, a native of Ireland, and died in 1888, aged eighty-seven years, his wife surviving him until 1899 and passing away at the age of eighty-eight. They had three sons and one daughter, and among the former was John B. Sefton, who was born in Butler county, April 9, 1836. On April 14, 1859, he married Martha, daughter of James and Rosanna (McKee) Fergu- son, who came from Ireland in 1853 to Butler county, where the former died in 1864 and his wife in 1859. John B. Sefton was reared on his father's farm, and after growing up learned the carpenters' trade and has followed that occupation throughout life. He has always been a republican in politics and held the official positions of auditor and school director in Butler county. He and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian church. They had ten children, of whom eight are living. Frank Sefton, one of the family last mentioned, was born in Butler county, Pa., July 7, 1863. After the usual routine education on the farm and in the district schools, he learned the carpenters' trade under his father's capable instruction, and his whole life since then has been devoted to that occupation. In 1882 he came to Tarentum and, with the exception of three years, has been engaged since that time as a contractor and builder in partnership with W. H. Myers. The firm of Myers & Sefton has done a large amount of business during
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its existence of over eighteen years and has been very successful from a financial point of view. They enjoy high standing as busi- ness men and are stockholders both in the People's National bank and the Tarentum savings and trust company. Mr. Sefton is a republican in politics and has served one term in the council. He is a member of the Keystone band and takes an active interest in the social and industrial progress of his community. On Jan. 20, 1891, Mr. Sefton was united in marriage with Miss Minnie, daughter of James E. Karns. Their four children are named William Randolph, Helen Isabel, James Karns and Francis Liggett. Mr. Sefton owns a residence on East Muth avenue, in Tarentum, in which the family make their home, and he and his wife are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church.
SAMUEL MULLET, of Hites, Pa., a successful farmer, was born in Indiana township, Allegheny county, July 6, 1850, and is the son of Samuel and Margaret (Staufford) Mullet, both natives of Ger- many. His father came to America when he was sixteen years of age, and, with the exception of three years spent in Cali- fornia, resided in Allegheny county, a successful and prosperous farmer. He and his wife were members of the Ger- man Lutheran church, and the parents of six children, two of whom are now living. By a previous marriage he had three children, and one of them survives his parents. Samuel Mullet, Jr., was reared in East Deer township, and there received such educational advantages as were afforded by the common schools. He spent four years in Tarentum, being employed for two years by a glass concern, and for a similar period by the house of Grafton & Bennett. Later he purchased a farm of thirty-five acres, on which there was an oil well, and has since followed trucking and fruit farming with much success. Mr. Mullet caught the western fever and spent two years in Colorado, and there was variously employed. He was married to Maggie G., daughter of Adam Walter, of Indiana township, and she died on June 10, 1901, leaving four children: Walter J., Morrison H., Russell E. and Sarah Jane. On Nov. 11, 1903, Mr. Mullet was married the second time, espousing Maggie, daughter of James and Jane (McPhillmey) Hutchison, of Indiana township.
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Mr. Mullet is a republican in politics and is closely identified with the Methodist church. He is well and favorably known in the com- munity in which he resides and possesses the esteem and respect of his neighbors.
JAMES E. HAZLETT, of West Deer township, is probably better known among horse dealers than any other farmer of his section, as he is an excellent judge of these animals and has dealt extensively in them throughout his life. His tastes and success in stock-raising may also be regarded as an inheritance, as he comes of a long line of successful tillers of the soil. As far back as the last quarter of the eighteenth century, the pioneer settlement of Allegheny county was increased by the arrival from Ireland of William Hazlett. He located in West Deer township, married a Miss Lesley, became a farmer and did his full share in develop- ing the resources of his adopted community. George Hazlett, son of the above- mentioned couple, was born May 26, 1800, and in later life became one of the successful agriculturists of his native county. He owned a large tract of land in West Deer township, but spent twenty-one years in Harrison township, returning to his old homestead in 1851. On Jan. 27, 1829, he was married to Eliza Karns, whose birth occurred in what is now Harrison township, Allegheny county, Jan. 25, 1802. Her father, James E. Karns, is mentioned in a sketch which appears elsewhere in this work. George Hazlett died Nov. 7, 1871, at his home in West Deer town- ship, his wife's death occurring Aug. 4, 1870. In politics, he was connected throughout life with the whig or republican party, and held the offices of collector and assessor for a number of years. He and his wife were members of the United Presbyterian church. Of their six children, consisting equally of sons and daughters, only the three sons survive. James E. Hazlett, one of these surviving sons, was born July 18, 1837, in what is now Brackenridge borough, Pa. He was brought up in the usual way of country boys but from an early age manifested a natural aptitude for farming, espe- cially the branch devoted to live-stock breeding. His home is in West Deer township, where he owns 149 acres of land, much of which is devoted to the cultivation of hay. In partnership with
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his brother, John, he also owns 125 acres in Indiana township, and altogether is quite an extensive, as well as unusually successful, farmer and breeder. He is an excellent judge of horses and during the winter has charge of many fine animals sent to him by their owners in Pittsburg. Mr. Hazlett is a republican and has served as assessor for three terms. On Oct. 27, 1859, Mr. Hazlett married Miss Nancy A., daughter of William and Catherine A. (Boyd) Porter. Mrs. Hazlett was born in West Deer township, June 4, 1840. Her grandfather, Robert Porter, was a pioneer of that sec- tion and for many years served as justice of the peace. Mr. and Mrs. Hazlett have had six children: William Porter, Clara Augusta, George Wilson, Harry Leland (deceased), Anna Mary and Clarence Elliott (deceased). The parents are members of the United Pres- byterian church of Deer Creek, Pa.
ROBERT MARTIN GIBSON, the vet- eran merchant of Richland township, pos- sesses a name which has been made familiar over a wide section of southwest- ern Pennsylvania by reason of the busi- ness connections and public activities of those who have borne it. These activ- ities, confined principally to Allegheny county, extend over a period of nearly a century, but it has been the gentleman above named and his father who have . done the most to familiarize as well as popularize the family name. The emi- grant ancestors, when still young, emigrated from Ireland about 1806 and located in Allegheny county, where they spent the remainder of their days. They left a son, Thomas Gibson, who married Rachael, daughter of Jacob Dixon, a man deserving of more than a passing notice. He was one of the first settlers of Allegheny county, having gone there during the last half of the eighteenth century and located in Pine township, where he bought and cultivated a farm. He served under Washington during the Revolutionary war and was the only man in Allegheny county who drew a pension as the reward for such service. After the war, he returned to his old home, where he lived many years in the quietude of farm life and died at a ripe old age in full enjoyment of the esteem always accorded a life well spent. Thomas and Rachael Gibson left a son named Charles, who was destined to make an
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honorable name for himself and leave his impress on the community in which he resided. He settled in Richland township in 1840, and from that time until his death, fifty-four years later, was a promi- nent figure in the political, social and industrial life of that part of Allegheny county. He was a farmer, miller, carpenter and general man of affairs, there seldom being a local enterprise set in motion without his active aid and generous support. He was president of the Perrysville plank road, president of the Allegheny and Butler plank road, and president of the Pittsburg & Western rail- road. In connection with his equally enterprising son, who is the subject of this sketch, he had much to do with getting the last- mentioned road built and was one of the originators of the enter- prise, as well as an original stockholder. In his capacity as a car- penter, he built the Second Cross Roads Presbyterian church and paid more than half of the expenses connected with this undertaking. For many years he was not only an active member but a trustee of the church, held the position of school director and other minor offices, including that of postmaster for several years at Gibsonia, a town which was named in his honor. On Feb. 15, 1841, he married Elizabeth Logne, a native of York county, Pa., by whom he had three sons and three daughters, of whom four are living. This worthy couple lived to advanced ages, the wife dying April 14, 1885, and her husband July 25, 1894. Robert Martin Gibson, one of the four surviving children above mentioned, was born on the parental farm in Richland township, Allegheny Co., Pa., May 11, 1845. He was educated in the local schools and Jefferson college and was trained in the business of farming and milling under his father's tutelage. Though his father at one time owned 1, 700 acres of land, and though he also is an extensive land owner and farmed considerably in his earlier years, his tastes and inclinations led him to seek commercial pursuits. Being much interested in the prog- ress of the Pittsburg & Western railroad, he took charge of the office of that corporation at Sharpsburg, and remained there eight- een months. His first venture as a merchant was at Gibsonia, afterwards at Bakerstown, where he remained three years, but subsequently he established himself in Gibsonia and has been a merchant of that place for over twenty-two years. He was formerly a democrat and took quite an active interest in his party's affairs, but of late years has been inclined to independence in politics. At one time he was nominated as democratic candidate for the legis- lature, and, though Richland township is largely republican, he carried it by a handsome majority. He has held the office of school
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