USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume II > Part 36
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JOHN W. HEMPHILL, merchant tailor and president of the First National bank of Tarentum, was born in Roxbury, Pa., Dec. 2, 1840. His parents, John and Anna (Longsdorff) Hemphill, were both natives of Pennsylvania, the father being a son of Joseph Hemphill, who was an Irishman by birth and a soldier in the Revolution, and the mother, a daughter of a German who fought in the same war. John Hemphill, father of the subject of this sketch, was left an orphan early in life. He was a tailor by trade, locating in Allegheny county in 1846, and was a prominent tailor in Tarentum up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1859. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had eleven children, of whom four are living. John Hemphill was a democrat in politics, was at one time assessor, and held various minor offices. J. W. Hemphill, whose name heads this sketch, was reared and educated in Tarentum, and learned from his father the trade of a tailor, at which he has been very successful. He now owns considerable property in Tarentum, and is one of the most influential citizens of that place. He has various large financial interests; was one of the organizers of the First National bank of Tarentum in 1890, and has since been its presi- dent; is president of the Tarentum water company; director of the Tarentum glass company and the Baker manufacturing company, and a stockholder in the Allegheny plate glass company and the Allegheny steel and iron company. He is also vice-president of the Allegheny river improvement association. Mr. Hemphill served three years in the Civil war as a member of Company A, United States zouaves, John P. Glass, captain. The regiment after- wards joined General Sickles' brigade of New York, and was known as the 74th New York regiment, volunteer infantry. Mr.
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Hemphill served with his regiment in the campaigns under McClellan, Pope, Hooker, Meade and Grant, and was wounded in the second battle of Bull Run. Mr. Hemphill was married, Aug. 11, 1864, to Miss Nancy Staley, daughter of James M. Staley, an Allegheny county pioneer, formerly engaged in the oil and salt business, and in his time one of the most prominent men of Taren- tum. Mr. and Mrs. Hemphill have had five children. Of these, Elva N. was educated in Tarentum high school, and is now at home; John S., a graduate of Tarentum high school, and a tailor by trade, engaged in business at Monessen, Pa., and died in Decem- ber, 1902; James is with the Carnegie steel company, at Duquesne, Pa .; Orland is employed in Alton, Ill., in one of the largest glass manufacturing establishments in the United States, and Harry H. is with his father, a member of the firm of J. W. Hemphill & Son. Mr. Hemphill is a republican in politics, and has served his borough as burgess, councilman and school director. He takes a great interest in the welfare of Tarentum, and is always identified with every movement for its advancement. He is a member and past master of Pollock lodge, No. 502, F. and A. M., and belongs to the G. A. R. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
JOHN HULTZ, one of the best-known farmers in Scott township, Allegheny Co., Pa., is descended from one of the first settlers in western Pennsylvania. Several years before the beginning of the troubles that culminated in the Revolu- tionary war, Zudock Hultz came to this country. Some time afterwards he entered and received a patent to the land which is now owned and occupied by his great-grandson, who is the subject of this sketch. When Zudock Hultz first settled in Allegheny county, the Indians were very troublesome. In one of their forays into the white settlements, several of his children were murdered by the Indians, but with the courage of a martyr he stuck to his homestead, mak- ing it possible for his posterity to enjoy in peace that which cost him so dearly. Henry Hultz, a son of Zudock and grandfather of John, was born in Allegheny county, and was old enough to bear arms in the American army in the war of the Revolution. John
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Hultz is the son of Elson and Matilda (Alison) Hultz, and was born in Allegheny county, Aug. 6, 1851. Both his parents were natives of the county, the Alisons being among the early settlers. John received his education in the common schools, began life as a farmer, and has followed that vocation ever since. He is con- sidered one of the progressive men of the township, his farm being cultivated according to the most approved methods. He takes an active interest in political matters, is a consistent republican, but never aspired to public office. In 1880 he was married to Miss Mary McMillen, daughter of Wilson and Phebe (Sharlow) McMil- len. Her father was born in Allegheny county, of Irish parent- age, and her mother was a native of Germany. Mrs. Hultz was born in Allegheny county, April 14, 1851, and was educated in the common schools of the county. Of the children born to John and Mary Hultz, three are living, viz. : Roy, Mary E. and Frank V. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hultz are members of the United Presbyterian church.
DAVID MURPHY CONWAY, proprietor of a general store at Creighton, and postmaster at that place, was born in Rialto, Ohio, Sept. 13, 1870. He spent his early boyhood in Ohio and Illinois, came to Elkhorn, Allegheny county, when nine years old, and at fourteen moved to Tarentum, where for thirteen years he was employed in the glass works, with the exception of two years spent with a theatrical company as cornetist with the great soloist, Emil Keneke. In 1899 he bought a half interest in a store in Creighton, purchased the other half in 1901, and has been most successfully engaged in business for himself since that time. He has, besides this, other important financial interests, being a stock- holder and director in the Tarentum savings and loan company, stockholder in the Tarentum savings and trust company, and sec- retary and treasurer of the Enterprise coal company. Although an ardent democrat in politics, he was elected unanimously in 1898 as councilman from the third ward, Tarentum, a ward in which there are 300 republicans and only forty-four democrats. He served in the council four years, acting as president of that body. Mr. Conway is a member of the Royal Arcanum, Protected Home Circle, Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, and the Knights of Columbus, and, with his wife, belongs to St. Peter's Roman Catholic church of Tarentum. He was married, in April, 1896, to Miss Anna McGinley, of Culmerville, Pa., and has four children : Stella M., Margaret, Thomas F. and Julia H. Mr. Conway's
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parents were Thomas (now deceased) and Alice (Murphy) Conway. Thomas Conway was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1842, was reared - in India, and served as drummer boy in the British army. Coming to the United States in 1861, he served with distinction during the Civil war, taking part, among others, in the engagements at Fred- ericksburg and Chancellorsville. After the war he located at Rialto, Ohio, worked there for several years as a paper-maker, came to Elkhorn, Pa., in 1879, and died there, Feb. 21, 1881. He was one of the most influential members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and was instrumental in establishing many branches of the order in western Ohio and Illinois. He was a great traveler, and during his life journeyed over most of Asia and visited many places in the United States. In political belief he was a democrat. Alice (Murphy) Conway, mother of the subject of this sketch, was born in Waterford, Ireland, in 1849; came to the United States when young, and married Mr. Conway in Hamilton, Ohio. She is the mother of five children-three daughters and two sons-all of whom are living. Mr. Conway resides at Tarentum, Pa.
N. K. SULLIVAN, an old and well- known resident of Versailles township, was born in Somerset county, Pa., May 24, 1840. His parents were Philip and Rebecca (King) Sullivan. Philip Sul- livan was a tanner by trade and for many years followed that occupation in Somer- set county. Mr. Sullivan was the second in a family of ten children and was edu- cated in the common schools. When Fort Sumter was fired on at the begin- ning of the Civil war, he was one of the first to respond to President Lincoln's call for troops to preserve the Union. On April 18, 1861, a few weeks before he reached his majority, he enlisted as a private in Company K, 18th Ohio volunteer infantry, under Captain Henderson, Colonel Bigbee commanding the regiment. At the expiration of four months he was discharged from the service and returned to Pennsylvania. On Sept. 4, 1861, he enlisted in Com- pany D, 54th Pennsylvania infantry, Col. Jacob M. Campbell's regiment, and served until New Year's day, 1865, when he was mustered out at Harrisburg, Pa. The 54th was in some of the hottest battles of the war, among them being Cedar Creek, Win-
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chester, Fisher's Hill, Lynchburg, Salem, Harper's Ferry and Berryville. In all these engagements Mr. Sullivan was on the firing-line and rendered valiant service for his country. He was mustered out as orderly sergeant of his company. After being dis- charged he went to Pittsburg, and in February, 1865, he entered the service of the Pennsylvania railroad company as a conductor. After five years with this company he changed to the Baltimore & Ohio, on whose lines he was a conductor for nineteen years. On May 29, 1866, he was married to Miss Mary A. Quinn, of Pittsburg, and to this union there were born the following children: Roseltha S., wife of H. C. Christy; Rebecca, wife of William Duncan; Mary, wife of Joseph Kennedy; Emma, wife of George Fisher, of Mckeesport; Laura, who is at home, and a son. Mr. Sullivan is a republican, and takes a keen interest in all matters bearing on the political situation. After his arduous military service and twenty-four years of duty as a railroad conductor, he has retired from the active affairs of life, though since leaving the train service, he has been engaged in several occupations with varying success.
WILLIAM L. LOUCKS, station agent at Tarentum for the Pennsylvania railroad company, was born at Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., Pa., March 9, 1844. His father, J. M. Loucks, was a farmer, a democrat in politics, and held several minor public offices. He was a Free Mason. He was born in Westmoreland county, and died there in 1863. His wife, Mary A. (Pool) Loucks, died in Allegheny county in 1900, at the age of seventy-four. They had six children, of whom four are living. William L. Loucks, the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm, and attended school at Greensburg, Westmoreland county. After graduating from high school, he began his successful career as a railroad man, in 1863, as a brakeman for the Pennsylvania railroad company. A year later he became assistant agent for the company at Brinton, remained there three years, and then spent four months in the Derry yards. He has been located at Tarentum since 1868, and now has charge of the depot and manages the freight depart- ment as well. He has complete charge of the company's business at Tarentum, doing everything except operating. He was an oper- ator for sixteen years. Mr. Loucks has been a resident of Taren- tum for thirty-five years, and owns considerable property in the borough. He is a democrat in politics, and has served six years in the council and nine years as school director. He is a member of
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Tarentum lodge, No. 587, I. O. O. F., and Encampment No. 187. Mr. Loucks was married, in 1869, to Miss Mary M. Marks, of Port Perry, Pa., and has two children, Albert and Howard. Mr. and Mrs. Loucks are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Tarentum.
CHARLES J. SINN, a prominent farmer and dairyman of Port Vue town- ship, Allegheny Co., Pa., was born in Allegheny county, July 6, 1872, son of Ludwick and Mary (Sheal) Sinn, both natives of Germany and the parents of eight children, of which Charles J. was second in order of birth. He received his educational training in the public schools of his native county and at the German schools of Mckeesport, and has devoted his business career to farming and run- ning a dairy. He has been very success- ful in his business affairs, has a fine farm and all necessary accessories, and is regarded as one of the solid and reliable men of that part of the county. In his political affiliations and convictions Mr. Sinn is a republican, and has served as a school director and as assessor of Port Vue township. He is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and the Woodmen of the World, with both of which orders he is prominently identified in their works for the physical and moral betterment of humanity.
JOHN D. ELWELL, wagon-maker at Tarentum, was born in New Jersey, Sept. 30, 1831. His father, John Elwell, was born in New Jersey in 1797, and died in that State in 1845. He was a farmer, a whig in politics, and in religious belief a Methodist. His wife, Martha (Stanton) Elwell, was also born in 1797 and died at the age of fifty. She was a daughter of George Stanton, whose father fought in the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. John Elwell had four sons and one daughter, of whom two sons are liv- ing: John D., the subject of this sketch, and George, also a resi- dent of Allegheny county. John D. Elwell was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He learned the trade of wagon-maker when a boy, and has followed it all his life, working first in Salem county, N. J. On Sept. 12, 1856, he came to Pitts- burg, and, in 1858, moved to Tarentum, where he has since
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resided, and now owns considerable property. Mr. Elwell is a democrat in political belief, and has served in the council of Taren- tum. He was married, in April, 1860, to Miss Anne E. Duphorn, a native of Tarentum. Mrs. Elwell died March 8, 1899. They had six children, viz. : Sarah, John, Mattie, Marie, William and Pearl. All but John are living. Mr. Elwell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was his wife. Mrs. Elwell was a daughter of George and Sarah (Lookabaugh) Duphorn, who came in an early day from Maryland, and settled first in Westmoreland county, and later in Allegheny county. Mr. Duphorn was a cooper by trade, but for the last thirty years of his life devoted his atten- tion to his duties as justice of the peace. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and two sons, George and Samuel, fought in the Civil war. Mr. Elwell was also a soldier in the Civil war, where he served his time as a member of Company F, 123d Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, and took part in a number of engagements in the war. He served under Colonel Clark, first under Capt. John Boyd, and then under Capt. Michael Baird.
EDWARD ABBOTT, a well-known farmer of Scott township, Allegheny Co., Pa., was born in that county in 1856. He is a son of Christian and Magdalena (Schmeltz) Abbott. (See sketch of John Wise.) Christian Abbott came with his parents to America at a time when trans- portation facilities were very meager. Several families would band themselves together, get a six-horse team and cross the mountains into western Pennsylvania. It was in this way that he came to Alle- gheny county. He died June 22, 1897. Edward Abbott was educated in the common schools, and upon reaching his majority became a farmer, which occupation he has followed to the present time. He has a fine farm of eighty acres, well improved, with a good two-story frame residence and sub- stantial out-buildings. In 1881 he was married to Miss Lizzie Jacobs, daughter of George and Catharine Jacobs, both natives of Germany. Mrs. Abbott was born in Allegheny county, Oct. 4, 1857, and, like her husband, was educated in the common schools. Mr. and Mrs. Abbott are the parents of the following children, all of whom are living: Christian, Katie, Albert, Edward, Rosa,
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Howard, Helena, Emma, Clarence and Clara. Formerly Mr. Abbott was a democrat in politics, but of late years he has been identified with the republican party. Although he takes a lively interest in all questions relating to public affairs, he does not take an active part in political work. Both he and his wife are members of the German Lutheran church, and both are highly respected by their neighbors.
GEORGE T. OWENS, a well-known real estate and insurance man and justice of the peace, of Tarentum, was born in Washing- ton, D. C., Nov. 2, 1848, was reared in West Virginia and Penn- sylvania, and educated in the public schools. He learned the machinists' and carpenters' trades, and was for many years a con- tracting carpenter. He has lived in Tarentum sixteen years. Mr. Owens engaged in the insurance and real estate business in 1896. In February that same year he was elected justice of the peace. His term extends until 1907. He is a republican in politics, has always taken an active interest in local party affairs, and has filled a large place in the public life of Tarentum. He has served the public six years as member of the council, was two years president of that body, and served one term on the school board. He is a member of Tarentum lodge, No. 587, I. O. O. F., and also of the Heptasophs and B. P. O. Elks. He was married, May 14, 1872, to Miss Julia A. Bartholic, of Tarentum, and has had two sons and four daughters. Of these, the oldest, Lydia M., is now deceased. The others are: William H., Sarah B., George R., Corinna and Edna Pearl. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. George T. Owens comes of a family which was of Welsh extraction, and is a descendant of Thomas Owens. His father, John H. Owens, a native of Baltimore, a blacksmith by trade, was born Feb. 2, 1824; came to Natrona in 1867, and died in 1886. He was a democrat in political belief, and, with his wife, was a Method- ist in religion. Mr. and Mrs. John H. Owens had seven children, of whom five are living. Mrs. Owens, who was born April 24, 1824, is still living. She was, before her marriage, Sarah Gillott ; is a native of England, having been born near Liverpool, and was a daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Middleton) Gillott. She came to America at an early age with her parents, the family locating at Tarentum in 1832, where Mr. and Mrs. Gillott both died. They were Baptists in religious belief. Joseph Gillott was a marble- worker by trade.
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HARRY R. MARTIN, of Harmar- ville, Pa., manager of the Harmarville supply store, was born in Allegheny city, Allegheny Co., Pa., Sept. 10, 1862, son of John and Sarah (Potts) Martin. His father was a brick-molder and died soon after our subject was born; consequently young Martin was reared by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kyle, of Butler county, and in that county he was educated, attending the public schools during the winter term until he was twenty-one years of age. Then he helped Mr. Kyle on the farm until 1894, when he entered Duff's college, of Pittsburg, Pa., and was graduated in a commercial course in 1895. He was a traveling salesman for a number of years for Pittsburg firms, later became a clerk in a store in Washington, Pa., and left this position to become a traveling salesman for the Lewiston monumental com- pany, of Lewiston, Me. He remained with this firm until May, 1902, when he was appointed manager of the Harmarville supply store, of Harmarville, Pa., and has since ably filled that important position. He was happily married, in 1896, to Elizabeth Scott Steward, daughter of William and Katharine (Graham) Steward, of Allegheny city. They have two children: Mary Isabelle Kyle and Robert William Kyle. Mr. Martin is a member of the Central United Presbyterian church, and is closely identified with the repub- lican party. Mr. Martin was thrown on his own resources at an early age, and the success he has achieved has been by his own efforts. He is well known in Harmarville, and is one of the sub- stantial citizens of that city.
JAMES A. MELLON, retired, of Springdale, was born in Springdale township, Allegheny Co., Pa., July 19, 1830. His father was Joseph Mellon, who came to Allegheny county in 1822, and was a native of Westmoreland county. He was a fisherman, and afterwards a farmer, owning considerable property. Joseph Mellon's wife, Mary (Halsted) Mellon, was a daughter of Josiah Halsted, a pioneer settler, who located where Springdale now is, and cleared a large tract of land. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mellon were members of the United Presbyterian church. The mother died in May, 1889, and the father in January, 1900. James A. Mellon, whose name heads this sketch, was reared a fisherman, and
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followed this vocation until 1854. He also, in company with two brothers, Jonah and Samuel, ran a market boat on the canal until 1865. He has now retired from active life, having amassed a con- siderable fortune, part of which is invested in Springdale real estate. In politics, as was his father, he is an ardent democrat, and has served his borough as school director. Mr. Mellon was married, in 1855, to Miss Rebecca J. Lemon, who was born in Springdale in 1836, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Hunter) Lemon, early pioneers. Mr. Mellon's mother is still living, now ninety years old. Mr. and Mrs. Mellon have two children, Joseph and Alice. Joseph is connected with the Philadelphia gas com- pany, while Alice is now the wife of James Wensel, and lives in Springdale. Mr. and Mrs. Mellon are members of the United Presbyterian church.
OLIVER C. CAMP, cashier of the National Bank of Tarentum, and prominently connected with various other business enterprises, was born in Armstrong county, Pa., March 16, 1848. His father, Henry Camp, was a son of Jacob Camp, a native of Greensburg, Westmoreland county, but for many years a resident of Armstrong county, where he lived on a farm and died at seventy-five. He married Caroline Reamer, a native of Westmoreland county, at Greensburg, and they came to Armstrong county on horseback. They had nine children, of whom four survive: Henry, the father of the subject of this sketch; Levi O., a resident of Galesburg, Ill. ; Mary A., of Armstrong county, and Lydia, who married John Davis, lives in Iowa and has five children. Henry Camp was for many years a contractor and builder of Allegheny city, but is now retired from active life and lives on Squirrel Hill, Pittsburg. He was born in Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Pa., June 20, 1819. He mar- ried Jessie McIntyre, a native of Stranraer, Scotland, born Jan. 30, 1817, who came to Allegheny county in 1835 with her parents, Wil- liam and Jeane (Nish) McIntyre. Mr. and Mrs. McIntyre after- wards settled on a 250-acre farm in Armstrong county, where they died, he at the age of seventy-five and she at ninety-eight. They had a family of nine children, of whom two are living: Mrs. Henry Camp and Charles, who is a prominent citizen of Armstrong county. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Camp had six children, all of whom are living except Isabella and Richard H. Their names are : Oliver C., Isa- bella, W. H., Aggie D., Richard H. and James M. Mr. Camp is in politics a democrat. His wife was for forty years a member of the United Presbyterian church of Allegheny city. Oliver C.
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Camp, whose name heads this sketch, was reared and educated in Allegheny city. He went to work at an early age as a messenger boy and from that became an expert telegraph operator, and fol- lowed this vocation until 1878. At that time he came to Tarentum and engaged in mercantile pursuits for several years. When the National bank of Tarentum was organized, in 1890, he became the principal stockholder and its cashier. Besides this he is engaged in various other lines of business. He was one of the organizers and the first treasurer of the Tarentum glass company; was one of the organizers and is now secretary and assistant treasurer of the James H. Baker manufacturing company; is secretary and treas- urer of the Hamilton coal-mining company and director in the bank of that company; is director and treasurer of the Allegheny Valley brick company ; was treasurer of the first Allegheny River improve- ment association and is a member of the executive committee of the new association, and is treasurer of a number of minor concerns in Tarentum. He is also treasurer of the borough of Tarentum. Mr. Camp is a member of the Improved Order of Heptasophs and the Bankers' association of Pittsburg. He was married, in 1887, to Josephine M. Galbraith, daughter of Dr. Thomas Galbraith (deceased). Dr. Galbraith was one of the oldest doctors in Taren- tum at the time of his death, and was the oldest member of the United Presbyterian church. He went to California in 1849. He was a most successful physician and a prominent citizen of Taren- tum, where he served as burgess and school director. Dr. Gal- braith married Margaret Gilford, and had ten daughters and one son, of whom all are living except one daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Camp are members of the United Presbyterian church. They had two sons, Oliver C., born Dec. 18, 1890, and James G., born Aug. 25, 1892.
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