USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume II > Part 38
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ously. He was one of the pioneer workers in the steel mill at Vandergrift, and quite active in the fraternal and official life of that industrial center. He held office as member of the council at Vandergrift Heights for two years, being elected as a republican, and resigned a three-year term as school director, to which he had been chosen by the people. Mr. Shaffer's fraternal connections are with the Odd Fellows lodge, No. 1116, and the Knights of Pythias, at Vandergrift, and the Royal Arcanum, the Elks, and the Woodmen of the World, at Tarentum, being a charter member of the last-mentioned order. On July 25, 1896, Mr. Shaffer was married to Miss Gertrude R., daughter of David M. and Mary (Bostworth) Croyle, the former a native of Armstrong county, and the latter of England. Mrs. Shaffer is one of their eight children, of whom seven are still living. Her father, who is a carpenter and bridge-builder by trade, still resides in Armstrong county, but her mother died in 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer have four children: Chester Boyd, Verna Claire, Rubie Pearl and Mary Croyle. The family reside in a comfortable home on Walnut street, which, together with a farm that he owns in Armstrong county, consti- tutes the substantial reward for years of industry and economy on the part of the head of the household. The parents are members of the Baptist church at Tarentum, and enjoy general esteem both as neighbors and citizens.
ELMER J. BASH, at present with the steel and iron mill at Tarentum, comes of an old and honored Pennsylvania family, which, on the paternal side, trace their ancestry to one of the emi- grants who came over in the "Mayflower." Eventually, the de- scendants of the old Puritan voyagers became settlers of western Pennsylvania, and the name has long been a familiar one in Westmoreland and Armstrong counties. Henry Bash, a native of Westmoreland county, married Rachael Collins during the early part of the nineteenth century, but later they removed to Armstrong county, where both ended their earthly pilgrimage in honored old age. Among their children was a son named Michael, who mar- ried Miss Sarah, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Gumbert) Grim, also natives of Armstrong county. Michael enlisted in the Federal army at the outbreak of the Civil war, and had the har- rowing experience of being cooped up in Libby prison for six months, besides at one time being wounded during one of the nu- merous engagements in which his command participated. In 1865 he removed with his family to Tarentum, but after a residence of
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three years at that place, returned to Armstrong county, where he and his wife have since made their home. For some years he worked in the iron industry, but at present is a traveling salesman for the Standard oil company. His children consisted of six sons and one daughter, and of these five are still living. Elmer J. Bash, one of the six sons above mentioned, was born July 4, 1867, while his parents resided at Tarentum, Pa., but was taken to Armstrong county in the year following his birth, and spent his childhood at Apollo. When fourteen years old, he began work in the steel mill near his father's home, and remained with the company owning this plant until 1899. In July, 1901, he removed to Tarentum, secured a position with the Allegheny steel and iron company, and at the present time is working as a sheet steel heater in that estab- lishment. Mr. Bash is independent in politics, and his fraternal connections are with Lodge No. 587, I. O. O. F .; Encampment No. 287, the K. O. T. M. and the Royal Arcanum. In 1888 Mr. Bash was united in marriage with Miss Ella Britton, of Armstrong county, and they have five children: Ethel M., Cleveland, Gladys, Hazel and Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Bash are members of Trinity Reformed church at Apollo.
DAVID WOLF, of Tarentum, Pa., a successful farmer, was born in Harrison township, Nov. 18, 1845, son of Samuel and Mary J. (Haney) Wolf, both natives of Armstrong county, who came to Allegheny county in 1838 and settled in Fawn township. The father was a successful farmer, owned eighty-seven acres of land and other property, and spent the declining years of his life in Tarentum. He was closely identified with the republican party, served as supervisor and a school director, and he and his wife were members of the Methodist church. . They had a family of thirteen children, seven of whom are now living. David Wolf was reared on the farm, attended the common schools, and for thirty-three years was engaged in the oil business. He now resides on his farm of fifty acres in Fawn township, and is three miles from Free- port and six miles from Tarentum. He makes a specialty of rais- ing fruits and berries, and is extensively engaged in trucking. Mr. Wolf is a leading republican, and has been supervisor, auditor and a member of the election board. He was married, in 1864, to Belle Courter, a native of Harrison township, and they have had five children: Laura, John, Nealy, Aggie (deceased) and an infant. Mr. Wolf and his wife are members of the Methodist church, and are prominent in the religious and social circles of their community.
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CHRIST STARK, of Tarentum, Pa., a substantial farmer, was born in Indiana township, Allegheny county, Oct. 14, 1849, son of Christ and Mary (Fetherkile) Stark, both natives of Germany. They came to Pittsburg in the early days, later resided in Indiana township for twelve years, and then removed to West Deer town- ship. He was a successful farmer, a republican in politics, and was the father of nine children, seven of whom survive their parents. Christ Stark, the son, was reared on a farm, educated in the com- mon schools, and resided in Indiana and West Deer townships until 1889, when he began general farming on the farm of fifty acres which he now owns. He was married, on Jan. 22, 1880, to Polly, daughter of John and Ruth (Hamilton) Christy, both well- known residents of that section of Pennsylvania. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Stark were James and Polly (North) Christy, both natives of Pennsylvania and prominent in the affairs of West- moreland county. Mr. and Mrs. Stark are the parents of four chil- dren : Charles Clifford, Clarence Edward, William John Christian and Mary Pearl. Mr. Stark is an ardent republican, and is closely identified with that party. He and his family attend the Bull Creek Presbyterian church, of which Mrs. Stark and the children are members. Mr. Stark has been quite successful as a farmer, has accumulated a competency, and is one of the leading men of his community.
SAMUEL D. CLARK, of Hites, Pa., a prosperous and well- known farmer, was born on the farm in East Deer township which has been in the Clark family since 1834, on Jan. 4, 1860, and is the son of David and Jane (Hamilton) Clark, both natives of Ire- land. David Clark came to America in 1831, and one year later his parents, Samuel and Mary (Louden) Clark, followed him to the United States. In 1834 they settled on the farm which their grandson now owns, and there they resided until their deaths in 1848 and 1861, respectively. They were members of the United Presbyterian church, and had a family of nine children. The maternal grandparents of Samuel D. Clark were John and Rebecca (Rankin) Hamilton, both natives and life-residents of Ireland. David Clark, the father of Samuel D., devoted the greater part of his life to farming, was a democrat in politics, and a member of the United Presbyterian church. Samuel D. Clark was reared on the farm, educated in the common schools, and all of his business career has been devoted to tilling the soil. He now owns fifty- eight acres of the original homestead settled by his grandfather in
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1834. This homestead consisted of 274 acres, and the Clarks have lived on this farm longer than any other family in East Deer town- ship has resided on their present farm. Mr. Clark has been a lifelong republican, taking active part in the politics of his town- ship. He is now serving his second term as inspector of elections, and in 1901 was appointed to fill an unexpired term as supervisor. Mr. Clark has two sisters living: Margaret E. R., wife of Peter McCorkle, of East Deer township, and Mary J., who keeps house for her brother. Samuel D. Clark is one of the best known citizens of East Deer township, and is a solid and substantial farmer.
WILLIAM WOLFERD, at present one of the trusted and esteemed employes of the Allegheny steel and iron company, comes of good Pennsylvania stock, on the side of both father and mother. William and Susanna Wolferd, his paternal grandparents, were early settlers of Westmoreland county, where they spent their lives of usefulness and ended their days. The grandparents of Mr. Wolferd on his mother's side were early settlers of Alle- gheny county, with whose affairs they were identified until death ended their earthly careers. The parents of William Wolferd are Christopher and Ellen (Painter) Wolferd, natives of Westmoreland county, of which they are still respected residents. The father is a carpenter by trade, but at present is retired from active business. He reared a family of thirteen children, of whom nine are still liv- ing. His son, William Wolferd, was born in Westmoreland county, March 4, 1861, and spent his youth in work on the farm and attendance at the common schools of the neighborhood. When eighteen years old, he began working in a steel mill and continued in this employment at the same place for fifteen years. At the end of that time he spent a year at Vandergrift, and in 1901 came to Tarentum, since which time he has been engaged with the Alle- gheny steel and iron company as a smelter. He is an expert in his line of business, and has always been regarded by his employ- ers as one of their best and most reliable hands in the duties entrusted to him. In 1880 Mr. Wolferd married Miss Nora Hill, of Leechburg, Pa., which union resulted in the birth of nine children : Bert, Grace, May, Florence, Fern, Claire, Horner, Vera, and Violette (deceased). The family are connected with the Trinity Lutheran church at Tarentum, and Mr. Wolferd's political associa- tions, like those of his father, have always been with the democratic party.
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FRANCIS B. BLACK, of Harmarville, Pa., a well-known farmer, was born in Harmar township, Nov. 30, 1825, and is the son of James and Elizabeth (Batty) Black. The father of James Black was Robert Black, a native of Ireland, who settled in South Carolina on coming to the United States, and subsequently located in Allegheny county, where he owned 500 acres of land. His wife was Sarah Aiken, a native of Ireland, who died in Indiana town- ship in 1863, her husband having died in 1853. James Black, the father of Francis B. Black, was a prosperous farmer, a whig, and later a republican, and died in 1889. He and his wife were mem- bers of the Covenanter church, later of the United Presbyterian church, and finally of the Methodist church. Francis B. Black was reared on his father's farm, attended the common schools, and has devoted his entire business life to agricultural pursuits. He now owns a farm of thirty-five acres, and has been very successful in his vocation. He is prominently identified with the republican
party, and is now serving as inspector of elections. He was mar- ried, in 1854, to Mrs. Mary (Martin) McMurdy, daughter of one of the pioneer settlers of Allegheny county, and they had the follow- ing children : James (deceased), Francis, Robert, Agnes, Jeanette, Susie and Elizabeth. Mr. Black and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are identified with the charitable and religious works of their community.
CRAIG M. SOBER, of Tarentum, Pa., a well-known sheet steel roller, was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., April 5, 1874, son of Andrew and Frances (Hill) Sober, his father and mother both natives of the Keystone State. They were married in Arm- strong county; there his mother died on April 27, 1889, and his father is now one of the leading citizens and a highly successful farmer of Allegheny township, Westmoreland county. He is a leading republican, and has held a number of township offices. He is the father of eight children, all of whom are now living except the oldest one. Craig M. Sober was reared on the farm, attended the schools of his neighborhood, and began his business career in the steel mills of Leechburg, Pa. There he learned sheet steel rolling, was employed in that city for several years, worked for over five years in Pittsburg, then at Vandergrift, Pa., until 1901, when he came to Tarentum, and is now employed as a sheet steel roller by the Allegheny steel and iron company. Mr. Sober has acquired a competency by his industry and frugality, and owns property in Vandergrift, Tarentum and other places. . He is an
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ardent and active republican, and is a prominent member of the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. He was married, on Feb. 22, 1900, to Anna, daughter of David, and Lavina (France) Miller, of Armstrong county. Mr. Miller was a prominent farmer, a democrat in his political affiliations, and died in May, 1902. Mr. Sober and his wife are members of Trinity Lutheran church, and are the parents of two children : Clifford Hill and Arthur France.
W. HARVEY MYERS, senior member of the popular contract- ing and building firm of Myers & Sefton, is descended from Penn- sylvania pioneers on the side of both father and mother. His grandfather, John Myers, who married a Miss Boyd, settled in Armstrong county at an early day, and died there in 1883, at the advanced age of eighty-two. His son, Elijah Myers, was reared on the farm and learned the carpenters' trade, which constituted the occupation of his subsequent life. In 1864 he enlisted in the 14th regiment, Pennsylvania cavalry, and served with that com- mand until the close of the war, being wounded in the right arm while fighting on the skirmish line. He married Lavina, daughter of Henry and Catherine (Klingensmith) Shearer, the latter a native of Allegheny county, and the former an early settler of Armstrong county, where he died in 1898, at the age of seventy- six years. He was a member of the 14th Pennsylvania cavalry from 1864 until the close of the war. Elijah Myers, who still resides in Armstrong county, has always been a student, and by self-education has made himself a well-informed man. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Of their ten children, four sons and five daughters are living. W. Harvey Myers, one of the four surviving sons, was born in Armstrong county, Pa., March 25, 1862. He grew up after the usual manner of country boys and learned the carpenters' trade under the pains- taking care of his father, beginning work in that line when sixteen years old. In 1883 he came to Tarentum, and three years later formed a partnership with Frank Sefton to carry on the business of contracting and building. Since the formation of this company, they have been the leading contractors and builders at Tarentum, and have achieved marked success, both financially and profession- ally. The firm owns stock in the People's National bank and the Tarentum savings and trust company, Mr. Myers being a director in the last-mentioned institution. His political affiliations are with the republican party, and for six years he served as a member of the Tarentum council. June 1, 1885, Mr. Myers was married to
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Miss Isabel, daughter of J. B. Sefton, who is elsewhere mentioned in this work. They have seven children: Charles Bryson, Esta Lavina, Martha Alta, Mary McCall, Alice Myrtle, Etta Ruth and Lillie Edie. Mr. and Mrs. Myers are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
BENJAMIN W. HUGHES, of West Deer township, may without flattery be described as a model farmer, a useful citizen, and a man who comes as near enjoying life as is possible to mortals in this somewhat vexatious world. The common term "well fixed" applies with peculiar propriety to Mr. Hughes, as he owns a valuable farm, which he takes delight in cultivating, has an elegant home residence, and a lot of fine stock of various kinds. It is possible he gets much of his sanguine temperament and happy disposition from a transfusion of warm Irish blood. His grandpar- ents, Johnson and Martha (Wallace) Hughes, came from Ireland to Pennsylvania in 1818, and located first in East End, Pittsburg. In 1849 they settled in West Deer township, on the farm now owned by their grandson, and here ended their earthly career, the former in 1872, the latter in 1858. James, son of these Irish immigrants, married Hannah, daughter of John and Jane (Denney) Craw- ford, the former a native of Butler county, the latter of Alle- gheny county, and both residents of Pine township, where they died. - James Hughes became a prosperous farmer, owned 218 acres of land, and was quite well-to-do at the time of his death in 1896, ten years after his wife, who departed this life in 1886. Of their four children, two died in infancy and John on Jan. 17, 1903, leaving Benjamin W. Hughes as the only survivor. He was born in West Deer township, Allegheny Co., Pa., April 8, 1858, and at his father's death inherited the home farm with all its equipments. He took up the work in earnest, enlarged and improved the facili- ties, and branched out vigorously as an up-to-date and progressive agriculturist. While pursuing general farming and stock-raising, he pays especial attention to breeding Poland-China hogs. He has a beautiful home, enjoys life to its full extent, takes delight in the many bounties bestowed by nature on dwellers in the country, and is interested in everything calculated to benefit his county. He affiliates with the democratic party, and has served as supervisor and on the election board. Mr. Hughes has never married, but makes amends for this fault, if it be one, by furnishing his friends an excellent example of the model bachelor.
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JOHN A. DICK, at present one of the trusted employes of the glass company at Tarentum, has been engaged in this line of work from early boyhood. His father, Franklin B. Dick, a native of Pittsburg, has been a glass-presser during the whole of his working life, and at present is a resident of Brackenridge. In early man- hood he married Hannah, daughter of John Ward, an old-time settler of Pittsburg, who, during his earlier years, was engaged in river work. He enlisted in the Union army during the Civil war, served creditably through that great struggle and died in 1870. His wife, Martha, survived him many years and died in Bracken- ridge in 1893, aged seventy-four years. Mrs. Hannah Dick died in 1900, aged forty-nine years, after becoming the mother of seven children, of whom six are living. Among the latter is John A. Dick, subject of this sketch, whose birth occurred in Pittsburg, Pa., Nov. 5, 1869. Such education as he obtained was received in the Pittsburg school, which he attended irregularly until his thirteenth year, when he entered a glass factory, and from that time up to the present has continued in that occupation. In 1884 he removed to Brackenridge borough, and at present is engaged as a presser in the establishment of the Tarentum glass company. In politics Mr. Dick is a republican, and his only fraternal connections are with the Modern Woodmen of America, in which order he has held membership for some years. In 1889 Mr. Dick was united in mar- riage with Miss Alice Jordan, of Allegheny county, by whom he has four children : Wilbur, Nellie, Hazel and Mildred. Mrs. Dick is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM L. HUNTER, one of the well-known employes of the iron mill at Tarentum, is descended from early settlers of Pennsylvania. His paternal grandfather, Robert Hunter, was born in Pennsylvania, Oct. 27, 1782; came at an early day to Indiana county and married Mary Lawrence, a native of New Jersey, who came with her parents in childhood to that section. Robert Hunter served in the War of 1812 and his father was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Robert L. Hunter, son of the former, was born in Indiana county, went to Illinois about 1866, and was there married to Martha McGinnis, a native of New Castle, Pa. His first wife having died in 1870, he was married, in 1874, to Mary J. Warner, who, as his widow, now resides at Tarentum. He was a shoemaker by trade, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. William L. Hunter, the only child by his father's first marriage above mentioned, was born at Aledo, Mercer Co., Ill.,
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Oct. 5, 1868. He was consequently five years old when his father returned to Pennsylvania, and he received his education in this State. In 1887 he secured employment in the steel mill at Leech- burg, and worked at different places until 1901, when he came to Tarentum with the Allegheny steel and iron company, with which he is now engaged as a sheet steel heater. His political affiliations are with the republican party, and he is a member of the American insurance union. On Nov. 21, 1895, Mr. Hunter was united in marriage with Miss Gertrude M. Bladen, of Leechburg, Pa., by whom he has three children: Robert W., Eleanor and Martha. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Tarentum.
THOMAS A. MCGINNISS, the well-known brick-mason in the iron and steel works at Tarentum, is of Irish parentage, but Eng. lish birth. His parents, George and Rachael (Smith) McGinniss, natives of Ireland, spent some time in England before their emi- gration to the United States in 1867. They located first at Elizabeth, N. J., but went from there to Nanticoke, Luzerne Co., Pa., where the father died in 1897. His wife survived him about one year, and died at Yonkers, N. Y., in 1898. He was an engineer by profession and a workman of superior ability. He left six children, and among this number was Thomas A. McGinniss, the subject of this sketch, whose birth occurred in England in June, 1866. He was scarcely a year old when his parents arrived in America, and his early training and education were received dur- ing the family's residence at Elizabeth. He learned the brick- layers' trade and worked at this occupation in the east for fifteen years. In 1901 he came to Tarentum and began work on the plant erected by the Allegheny steel and iron company, being the first man on the grounds to start the work. He has done all the excavating and brick-work for the company's furnace, and for some time has been superintendent of the brick department. Mr. McGinniss is an adherent of the republican party, and in 1902 he was elected to the Brackenridge borough council for a term of three years. He is a member of Tent No. 57, K. O. T. M., at Sharpsburg, Pa. In 1885 Mr. McGinniss was united in marriage with Miss Catherine J. Carey, of Nanticoke, Pa., and they have seven children: Margaret, Thomas, James, Mary, Ethel, William and Anna. Mr. and Mrs. McGinniss are members of St. Joseph's Catholic church at Natrona, Pa.
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WILLIAM S. REESE, of Natrona, Pa., superintendent of the smelting department of the Pennsylvania salt manufacturing com- pany, was born in England, Sept. 1, 1843, son of Thomas and Mary (Johns) Reese, natives of England. His mother died in England in 1845, and the same year he accompanied his father to Baltimore and called that city home, though they lived in many different places, as became necessary in his father's trade of copper- smelter. Mr. Reese was educated in the different cities to which his father's occupation called them, and when he grew to manhood, he, following in the footsteps of his father, learned the copper- smelting trade. He has traveled extensively in this country, Europe and Mexico, while following that occupation, and, in 1889, came to Natrona to superintend the building of the smelting depart- ment of the Pennsylvania salt manufacturing company, and has since been superintendent of that department. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, and has been a Knight of Pythias since 1868. He was married, in 1869, to Elizabeth Hughes, of Baltimore, Md., to whom were born two children, Leonard D. T. and Beulah B. Mr. Reese enlisted in the artillery branch of the Union army in 1864, and saw distinguished service to the close of the war. He is well and favorably known in Natrona, and is one of the most valued employes of the Pennsylvania salt manufacturing company.
-.. WILLIAM DICK, a prosperous and prominent citizen of Tarentum, has long been identified with the growth of the town in his capacity as a contractor and builder. His grandfather, David Dick, came from Ireland during the first half of the nineteenth century, located in Allegheny county, Pa., and there spent the remainder of his life. He married Letitia, daughter of James and Mary (Canahan) Bartley, all natives of Allegheny county, but long since passed away. Among their children was James Dick, who married Nancy Leslie, and after growing up learned the trade of a brick-maker, which occupation he pursued for some time in his native county of Allegheny. About 1873 he located at Tarentum, and died there Jan. 1, 1896, surviving his wife ten years, as she departed from this life in 1886. He held the office of school director for several years, and was liberal in his religious views, while his wife was a consistent member of the Reformed Presby- terian church. They had nine children, of whom seven are living, and among these is William Dick, whose birth occurred in Alle- gheny county, Pa., Sept. 5, 1850. After growing up at his home in West Deer township, he learned the trade of brick-laying, and
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