USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume II > Part 33
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SAMUEL HAMILTON, A. M., Ph. D., superintendent of the schools of Alle- gheny county, was born in Washington county, Pa., June 30, 1856. He is the son of Samuel and Mary (Patterson) Hamil- ton. His father was born of Scotch-Irish stock in Washington county, Pa., Aug. 13, 1807, and was a man of fine literary tastes, who traveled extensively in Europe. While there he married Mary, daughter of Kairns Patterson, of Donegal, Ireland, and after his return settled on a farm in Washington county. To them were born eight children, of whom Samuel, the subject of this sketch, is the fourth son. Near the close of the rebellion, the father, too old to be drafted, raised a company and went to the front. After the close of the war he bought a small farm in Plum township, where he died in 1867, leaving a wife and seven children. The family were Presbyterians, the father being an elder in that church. After the death of his father, Samuel worked for the farmers of the neighborhood in summer and attended the district school in winter. Naturally of studious habits, he prepared himself for the work of teaching, and at the age of seventeen, took charge of the school in which he had been a pupil. While teaching, he pursued his studies under a tutor and attended the academy during vaca- tion. He afterward completed a course in Laird institute, where he worked as a teacher while pushing his studies as a pupil. He was also a student for a time in the Oakdale academy. In 1878 he took charge of the schools of Chartiers borough, now known as Carnegie, Pa., where he remained for three years, and then accepted a similar position in Braddock, and while engaged in this work he read law with James McF. Carpenter, of Pittsburg. In September, 1886, before completing his law studies, he was appointed superin- tendent of the schools of Allegheny county, was elected the next year and has since been re-elected five times. During his incum- bency as superintendent of schools, the county has grown from 576 schools to almost 1,500, and the number of high schools from one to twenty-six. His service in that office has been appreciated in the most substantial way by an increase in salary from $2,000, when first appointed, to $5,000, the amount now received. This is the highest salary ever paid to a county superintendent in the United States. In 1888 he organized the Allegheny county school direct-
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ors' association; he aided in forming similar organizations in other counties, and the movement thus inaugurated resulted in the for- mation of a State directors' association in 1896. Superintendent Hamilton served as president of the Pennsylvania State teachers' association in 1893-94. He completed the work and in 1900 received the degree of Ph. D. from the Grove City college. As early as 1883 he interested Andrew Carnegie in school libraries, and received from him $500 for the public school library at Brad- dock. This is said to be Mr. Carnegie's first gift to the cause to which he has since given many millions. Mr. Hamilton has in all these busy years kept in touch with the business world. He helped to organize a building and loan association in Braddock and served as one of its managers. He was for many years a director in the Masonic hall association, and a member of the board of managers of the Carnegie library. In 1897 he helped organize the State bank of Braddock, of which he is a director. He repre- sented his ward in the city council for six years and served as its president for three. Mr. Hamilton has also taken a prominent part in the religious and fraternal affairs in the community. He is a Presbyterian and for twenty years has been a teacher in the Bible class in the Sabbath-school. When the Calvary Presbyterian church of Braddock was organized, he was one of the moving spirits and he is now an elder in that church. In fraternal circles he has been exceedingly active. He is a member of Braddock's Field lodge, No. 510; Shiloh chapter, No. 257; Gorgas lodge of Perfection, and Pittsburg chapter, Rose Croix. He is a past officer in Pennsylvania council, Princes of Jerusalem; Tancred comman- dery, No. 48, K. T .; a member of Pennsylvania consistory, S. P. R. S., and in 1902 was crowned as an honorary member of the supreme council of the thirty-third and last degree of the northern Masonic jurisdiction of the United States. On June 2, 1886, he married Minnie M., only child of John and Sarah E. McCune, of Braddock, and to them was born one son, Paul Holland Hamilton. His wife died May 9, 1887, and he was again married, on June 1, 1898, to Mary R., daughter of John and Mary Kennedy, of New Brighton, Pa. To them was born one daughter, Elizabeth Hamil- ton. On Jan. 15, 1902, while boarding a train at Braddock, Mr. Hamilton met with an accident which necessitated the amputation of both of his limbs, one at the ankle and the other below the knee. His vigor was marvelous and his recovery rapid. In twenty days he was back from the hospital, and on June Ist was again at work with the aid of artificial limbs. While he was confined to the hos-
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pital and his home 276 teachers sent flowers, many of them twice, and some three and four times. Others sent fruit, house plants and books and more than 500 children sent flowers or fruit; and from dozens of other friends came flowers by mail and by express. Mr. Hamilton was again elected to the office of county superintend- ent in June, 1903.
WILLIAM H. REEL, who for many years was active in the business and polit- ical life of Allegheny county, died on Sunday, May 26, 1901, at his home, No. 202 Delp St., Avalon, Pa., after an illness of two weeks. He was a descendant of one of the pioneer families; his grand- father, also named William, is said to have been the first white man to settle in what is now Ross township. His parents were Conrad and Rosanna Reel, his father being the first postmaster in Ross township. At that time the borough of Allegheny had not been organized and the people there were com- pelled to go to this postoffice for their mail. He was also one of the early collectors of internal revenue, when the district extended to the city of Erie. William H. Reel was born and reared in Ross township. He received his education in the common schools of that township and . Allegheny city. In his early life he was asso- ciated with his father and brothers in the first woolen mill in this part of the country. (See sketch of Charles C. Reel.) In political matters he was always an active and enthusiastic democrat, and in 1875 was appointed as a clerk in the office of the auditor-general, at Harrisburg, where he served one term of four years, at the expir- ation of which he returned to Allegheny city. For more than twenty years he was connected with the Western penitentiary of Pennsylvania, during which time he had charge of the dye houses. He was one of the charter members of the Randall club, which was named in honor of Samuel J. Randall, who represented a Pennsyl- vania district in congress for a number of years. Mr. Reel was a devout Catholic, and throughout his life was interested in the charitable work of his church. He had a pew in St. Peter's church and another at St. Xavier's. For many years he was a director of St. Paul's orphan asylum, and while on the board did much to advance the interests and extend the influence of the institution.
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He was one of the incorporators of St. Mary's cemetery, of Pitts- burg. Solemn requiem mass was celebrated over the remains in St. Xavier's church on Wednesday, May 29, 1901. The honorary pall bearers were Hon. B. McKenna, Michael Ward, Edward Friel, Martin' Gannon and four of the employes of the penitentiary, viz. : Messrs. Stewart, Hill, Johnson and Griffith. The active pall bearers were eight of Mr. Reel's nephews. There is something inspiring in the life of a good man that stimulates those who knew him to higher efforts and nobler aims. Such a life was that of William H. Reel. Industrious and energetic in all the common affairs of life, actuated by pure, moral motives, honest and upright in all his dealings with his fellow-men, filled with sympathy for the unfortunate, and dispensing charity with a lavish hand, his good deeds will live long after he has passed to his eternal rest.
GEORGE T. ATKINS, of Elizabeth, Pa., a successful tailor and burgess of that borough, was born in Monongahela, Pa., Aug. 20, 1866, son of William H. and Susan (Hillman) Atkins, of Monon- gahela, Pa. He was educated in the thorough schools of that city, and then devoted his attention to the tailors' trade. After serving his apprenticeship at that trade, he, in 1893, engaged in business at Zelienople, Butler Co., Pa., and one year later removed to Elizabeth, where he has since prospered in the tailoring business. Mr. Atkins was married, in 1889, to Flora J., daughter of Andrew and Mary Jane (Orr) Woods, of Pittsburg, and they have two chil- dren, viz .: Mary J. and George T., Jr., both attending the local schools. Mr. Atkins is well known and exceedingly popular in Elizabeth, and in February, 1903, was elected burgess of that borough on the republican ticket, and was the only republican elected in that contest, a fact that attests his personal popu- larity in Elizabeth. Mr. Atkins is closely identified with the Knights of the Maccabees and the Junior Order of United Ameri- can Mechanics, of which order he is also a member of the uniform rank. He is a prominent and influential member of the Methodist Episcopal church and an active worker in its ranks, being recording steward.
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CHARLES J. HIEBER, a resident of Perrysville, son of John and Margaret (Emerick) Hieber, was born in Beaver county, Jan. 17, 1863, and was educated in the common schools. His boyhood days were spent on a farm, and in early manhood, at the age of twenty-two, he left the farm to become a blacksmith. After two years at this, he became a con- tractor for building oil derricks, at which he worked for three years, then becoming engaged at his present occupation in the general merchandise business, under the name of Hieber & Brant, one of the most enterprising firms of the county. On July 6, 1903, Mr. Hieber purchased the interest of Mr. Brant, and under the new regime it will doubtless retain its former high standard. He came to this county at the age of sixteen, having also lived for a time in Butler county. Mr. Hieber was married, Nov. 26, 1902, to Della M. Deimling, daughter of George V. Deimling, of Perrysville. Mr. Hieber is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Bellevue lodge, No. 530, and of R. Biddle Roberts lodge, No. 530, I. O. O. F., of Allegheny city. He is con- nected in an official way in the government of his township, having served nine years as its auditor, and is also a notary public. Mr. Hieber is a stockholder in the McKee's Rocks trust company, also a stockholder in the Frank H. Hieber wagon manufacturing com- pany, of McKee's Rocks. He is also a very prominent man in church circles, being a German Lutheran. In politics he is a republican. The family is of German descent, John Hieber, father of the subject of this sketch, being born in Leutenbach, Würtem- burg, Germany, June 23, 1838. He was married, Sept. 29, 1859, to Margaret Emerick, daughter of Henry Emerick, and to them were born thirteen children: Frank H., of McKee's Rocks, general manager of the Frank H. Hieber wagon manufacturing company ; Sarah M., wife of Adolph D. Beuerman, grocer of Allegheny city (both deceased); Charles J. and George W., of Perrysville, black- smiths; David L., of Allegheny city, grocer; Elizabeth M. Stubble, of Allegheny city; Bertha C. Blind, wife of H. L. Blind, florist of West View; Albert D., assistant foreman of Hieber manufacturing company; Hannah D., wife of William H. Brant, of the firm of Hieber & Brant; Amelia A. Kind, wife of E. A. Kind, of Alle- gheny city; John H. (deceased) ; Wilson S., clerk for the firm of
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Hieber & Brant, and Amanda M., of Perrysville. George V. Deimling, father of the wife of the subject of this sketch, was born Nov. 23, 1845, in Allegheny city. He lived there until the break- ing out of the Civil war, enlisted then as a volunteer in Company G, 74th regiment, infantry department. He was in the front in several important battles-Cross Keys, Freeman's Ford, White Sulphur Springs, second Bull Run and Gettysburg; was taken prisoner at the latter place and put in Libby prison for three months. He escaped from prison and returned to the service again, going then to South Carolina, where he was honorably dis- charged in October, 1864. Mr. Deimling was the proprietor of the West View hotel for ten years. John Hieber, the father of Charles J., came to this country at the age of sixteen. He first settled at Etna, then drifted to Beaver county, at the age of twenty- one was married and now resides in Perrysville. Mrs. Margaret (Emerick) Hieber was born in Beaver county, Oct. 28, 1839, and is of German descent, her grandfather having been a native of Zweibrücken, Germany, and the owner of a ship, which made regular trips between his native city and Delaware. Mrs. Hieber's grandfather settled in Delaware at a very early day, and her father was a native of that state, but both died in Pennsylvania.
JOHN I. SHANKS, son of William A. Shanks, was born in Neville township, Nov. 19, 1858, and educated in the pub- lic schools of that place. For more than thirty years he was a gardener on the island, where he owned a small farm at one time. About two years ago he sold his farm, since which time he has been living a retired life. Mr. Shanks was married to Hattie W. Gibson, of Neville island, and to them were born three chil- dren: Leland R., Paul D. and Wayne C. Mrs. Shanks died March 19, 1897. Mr. Shanks is one of Neville township's prominent men, and is a man of first-class business qualities. He is one of the directors in the Coraopolis National bank and one of its charter members. He is also a director in the Ohio Valley trust company, of Coraopolis; a stockholder in the Bellevue realty company, of Bellevue, and a stockholder in the North American savings bank, of Pittsburg, Pa.
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F. B. MINER, M. D., a physician in Perrysville, son of Ansel and Emma (Bartlett) Miner, was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, Jan. 28, 1865. He received his education in the grades and high school in Warren, Ohio, and matriculated at Allegheny college, graduating in 1889 with the degree of A. B., and receiving A. M. a short time later. In the fall of 1889 he entered the University of Mich- igan, in the medical department, taking the first two years of the course in this school and completing it in the Long Island college hospital of Brooklyn, N. Y. In 1892 he began practicing his profession in Warren, Ohio, remaining in that field four years. In 1893 Dr. Miner was elected county coroner, serv- ing in that office two years. In 1896 he located in Gardner, N. D., where he practiced for over four years, returning in 1900 to Alle- gheny county, where he has a very large practice in Perrysville and vicinity. The family, on the father's side, dates back to the old Connecticut stock, and on the mother's to English ancestry. He was married to Winnifred Wilkinson, in 1892, and to them have been born one son, Alfred W. Mrs. Miner was the daughter of Rev. T. H. Wilkinson, associate editor of the Pittsburg Christian Advocate. Mrs. Miner died Feb. 13, 1903.
FRED. C. HINKEL, a resident of Ross township, son of Charles and Maria Hinkel, was born in South Side, Pitts- burg, Oct. 19, 1872, and educated in the public schools of that city. His whole life has been spent in agricultural pur- suits-first in gardening, at which he was very prosperous, and recently as a florist. Mr. Hinkel is the manager of the large farm known as the Hinkel farm, an estate well adapted to agriculture. He is among the largest growers in the Allegheny market, his trade being, for the most part, in the country, and does business both wholesale and retail, the former being much the larger. The principal prod- ucts of this farm are lettuce, rhubarb and cucumbers, and so great
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is the demand for the Hinkel farm products, that a yield of thrice the size could readily be disposed of. Mr. Hinkel was married, in July, 1898, to Lillie Heid, and to this union have been born two children, William and Maria. Mr. Hinkel has served on many important committees of public interest, and has in every way acted the part of the unprejudiced, conscientious citizen. He is a young man of prominence in the county, and a man who has won the admiration and applause of all who know him. The family is German Lutheran in religious affiliation, belonging to the church of that denomination in Perrysville. Mr. Hinkel is a member of the society of American florists and oriental horticulturists.
E. J. PUGH, of Natrona, Pa., a well- known farmer, was born in Clinton town- ship, Butler Co., Pa., Oct. 13, 1835, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Brasey) Pugh, natives of Butler county and Ohio, re- spectively. His father was a successful farmer, a republican in political matters, and the father of twelve children, four of whom are now living. E. J. Pugh was reared on a farm and attended the com- mon schools, the greater part of his edu- cational training being secured through his own efforts. He has followed coal- mining, farming and various other occupations, and by thrift and economy has accumulated a competency, and now owns thirty- three acres of land, under which lies a fine grade of coal. He also owns property in Harrison township. He has also been engaged in the mercantile business for a great many years, and here, as elsewhere, has met with much success. Mr. Pugh is a republican in politics, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist church. He was married, in 1854, to Kezia J. Fox, of Butler county, Pa., and while they have had no children of their own, they have raised five, two of whom they adopted, viz. : Lillie B. and S. B. Lillie B. became the wife of William Bryan, of Brack- enridge borough, and has two children, William and Sylvia May. S. B. is a mere youth, and still resides with his adopted parents. Mr. Pugh is a successful and prosperous business man, and pos- sesses the respect and good-will of all of his neighbors.
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JOHN WILKINS, foreman of the marine ways at Elizabeth, Pa., is a son of William and Eliza (Smith) Wilkins, and was born in Washington county, Pa., March 2, 1869, his parents both being natives of that county. He was edu- cated in the schools of West Brownsville, and after leaving school learned the trade of ship-carpenter. For the last eight years he has held his present posi- tion, the duties of which he has dis- charged with signal ability and to the entire satisfaction of his employers. He was married, in 1890, to Miss Mary Crawford, of Fayette county, and to them have been born four children, named Helen, Rinard, Ruth and John. Mr. Wilkins has always taken a lively interest in all matters pertaining to municipal affairs. He served the people of the borough of Elizabeth for three years in the council, and for one year was president of that body. He was elected on the citi- zens' ticket, although politically he is a republican. He is a mem- ber of the Royal Arcanum, which is the only order of a social or fraternal character to claim his membership. As a mechanic he is master of his trade, and as a citizen he is honored and respected in the community where he lives.
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JAMES WALKER, a representative farmer of North Fayette township, was born in Allegheny county in 1844. He is a son of James and Mary (McGregor) Walker, both of whom were natives of Allegheny county, where the father fol- lowed the vocation of a farmer. James Walker, Sr., was born in 1813 and died in 1895, having attained the age of eighty- two years. His wife died in 1850. Mr. Walker was married a second time, to Julia Ann Robinson, who survives him at the age of eighty-four. James Walker, Jr., in his boyhood and youth lived the customary life of a farmer's son. The summers were passed in aiding his father to plant and harvest the crops, and in the winter seasons he attended the com- mon schools of North Fayette township, where he acquired a
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thorough knowledge of the common branches. Mr. Walker lived with his grandfather McGregor until the latter's death in 1865, when he went to Pittsburg, and later worked three years in a mill at Uniontown, returning to his present home in 1877. Mr. Walker has always affiliated with the democratic party, though he has never been an active participant in political affairs, nor has ever aspired to public office. He married late in life, being united to Miss Ella A. Reed, on May 26, 1897. She was born in 1859. Both husband and wife are members of the United Presbyterian church and consistently practice the precepts of their religion in their daily lives.
CHARLES C. ELWARNER, wreck- master on the Pan Handle railroad, resid- ing at the corner of Sixth and Dick streets, Carnegie, was born in Dresden, Ohio, Sept. 12, 1850. His parents, Christopher and Lizzie (Morningstar) Elwarner, are both dead. Mr. Elwarner is one of two children. An older brother, John, died when young. Chris- topher Elwarner was a prominent butcher all his active life. Charles C. Elwarner, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools at Dresden and Coshocton, Ohio, and when a boy assisted his father. His first occupation in his long service with the Pan Handle railroad was as special officer, located at Coshocton, for putting up telegraph lines, and after about a year of this work, he was employed for a time as a brakeman, and then spent several years in the shops at Dennison, Ohio. After this he became assistant wreck-master at Dennison, and in 1887 came to Carnegie, where he has been employed as wreck-master for over seventeen years. He has been very successful in his life, is known as a master workman, and is deservedly popular among his craft. Mr. Elwarner has been twice married. He took as his first wife Miss Mary Carey, of Coshocton, Ohio, and had by this marriage three children : John P., for the past four years an engineer, living at home; Ella, residing at home, and Mary, now the wife of Mark Murphy, a brass-fitter, of Cleveland, Ohio. His wife having died in February, 1887, Mr. Elwarner was married, Nov. 13, 1889, to Miss Mary Gandley, of Pittsburg, Pa., a daughter of William and Mary (Jordan) Gandley.
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The father was a foreman of car shops in England, and died there, and in 1868 Mrs. Gandley came to America, locating in South Side, Pittsburg. Mrs. Elwarner is the youngest of the chil- dren. The others are: Bridget, wife of Patrick Jordan, a resident of Pittsburg; Thomas, a bottle-blower, residing in Monongahela City, and John, also a bottle-blower, living in Pittsburg. Four children have been born of this second marriage: Eugene V., Vronicha, Charles C., Jr., and William W. Mrs. Elwarner is a member of St. Luke's Roman Catholic church. Mr. Elwarner is one of the "Pan Handle trio," the other two members being E. M. Meyers and John McGrogan, of Carnegie. He is also a member of the following fraternal orders: Centennial lodge, No. 544, F. and A. M .; Cyrus chapter, No. 280, R. A. M. ; Mansfield castle, No. 476, K. G. E .; Mansfield temple, No. 103, L. G. E. ; Mansfield Valley council, No. 840, Royal Arcanum; Carnegie lodge, No. 831, B. P. O. Elks, and of the volunteer relief department of the P. C. C. & St. L. railway company. He is one of the most highly respected citizens of Carnegie, a man of most attractive per- sonality, and enjoys the esteem and good-will of the community.
A. M. YOCHUM, A. M., a resident of Perrysville, pastor of St. Theresa's church, a son of Peter Yochum, was born in Pittsburg, Feb. 11, 1858. His boyhood days were spent in Pittsburg, and in that city he received his elementary education. After choosing his life-work, he took his classical training in St. Vincent's college, and his philosophical and theological courses at St. Vincent's seminary, one of the oldest schools in the state. He entered school in 1887 and finished in 1895, being ordained to the priesthood May 10, 1895. His first pastoral charge was assistant rector of Holy Name, Troy Hill, Allegheny city. He remained in this place for more than four years, becoming attached to his church, both for its possibilities and on account of Father Mollinger's chapel, famous for the large collections of relics and vessels preserved there. Father Yochum was promoted to his present charge in June, 1899. His father, Peter Yochum, came to this country in 1854, and was one of Pittsburg's prominent business men. He was born Feb. 11, 1821, and died Nov. 16, 1893.
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