USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume II > Part 44
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1903; Katharine, a twin of Emile, and Bessie, the two attending school at Millvale. Dr. Givins is a member of the Methodist church, the Masons, the Royal Arcanum, the Maccabees, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Protective Home Circle and the alumni of the Western Reserve university. He has always been an ardent student of all matters pertaining to his profession, received the second degree in his final examinations at his college, and attended a post-graduate course at Rush medical college, Chicago, in 1901, where he received instruction in the latest advancement of the profession and enjoyed the advantage of per- sonal contact with some of the brightest medical minds of the day.
WILLIAM L. HUNTER, a prominent physician and president of the First National bank of Turtle Creek, has been one of the leading practitioners of Turtle Creek for the past thirty-five years. He was born in Westmoreland county, Feb. 8, 1844. His father was James Hunter, son of Samuel Hunter, an old settler of West- moreland county, while his mother, Annice (Lightcap) Hunter, was the daughter of Solomon Lightcap, also an early settler. Dr. Hunter attended the Elder's Ridge academy, in Indiana county, and then went to the Jefferson medical college, at Philadelphia, from which he graduated in 1868, and immediately began to prac- tice medicine in Turtle Creek. Dr. Hunter owns considerable property in Turtle Creek, and has recently erected several valuable business blocks. He purchased a piece of property from Captain McMasters, at the corner of Pennsylvania avenue and Railroad street, and in 1902 erected on the lot a handsome, double-front frame building. He has also erected, on the lot opposite his resi- dence on Pennsylvania avenue, a four-story brick building, suitable for business, office and lodge use, the property valuation being $50,000. When the First National bank was incorporated, in December, 1902, with a capital of $50,000, Dr. Hunter became a stockholder and was elected president of the bank. He was appointed postmaster of Turtle Creek by President Garfield, and has held this position continuously since that time, except during President Cleveland's administrations. The doctor was married, Nov. 23, 1870, to Rachel, daughter of John and Leonora (Markle) McMasters. John McMasters was the son of John and Rachel (Hughey) McMasters, and a grandson of John Hughey, who fought in the war of the Revolution. Leonora McMasters, the mother of Mrs. Hunter, was the daughter of David and Maria (Cowan) Markle, early settlers in Westmoreland county. Maria Cowan's
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father, Capt. William Cowan, held a commission in the Revolution- ary army. Dr. Hunter and wife have two children: Leonora, a graduate of Pennsylvania college for women, Pittsburg, now mar- ried to J. Grant Anderson, of North Highland avenue, Pittsburg, and Annice Gail, who graduated at Mrs. Long's school, in Phil- adelphia, now married to Francis Fleming Slick, of Johnstown, Pa.
HERMAN A. BRASSERT was born in London, Jan. 24, 1875, of German parentage. His parents, Charles A. and Mary (Stein) Brassert, returned to Germany when he was but a small child, and Mr. Brassert was educated in Berlin, where he took a thorough course in metallurgy and chemistry. He came to America on a prospecting tour in 1897, and secured a position with the Carnegie steel company, where his ability was quickly recognized, and he was made superintendent over the eleven furnaces of the Edgar Thompson steel works. This plant is the largest of its kind in the United States, and probably has a greater output than any other in the world, giving employment to about 1,500 men. Mr. Brassert was married, Feb. 10, 1902, to Maury, daughter of W. W. and Mary F. Childs, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and resides with his wife in a beautiful home at the corner of Jones and Kirkpatrick avenues, North Braddock.
EZEKIEL GORDON, Jr., of River View, Pa., a well-known contractor on the river, was born on July 23, 1859, in Fairview, now called Montrose, O'Hara township, Allegheny Co., Pa., son of Capt. Ezekiel and Isabella (Hulings) Gordon. Young Gordon attended the common schools of O'Hara township, of Kiskiminetas township, of Armstrong county, and of Harmarville, and when seventeen years of age left school and began to assist his father, who was a steamboat contractor. When he attained his majority, he secured a position as a steel melter with the Crescent steel com- pany, of Pittsburg, Pa., and continued with this company until 1891, when he removed to Whitehall, Allegheny county, and engaged in the hotel business. He prospered there until 1898, when he bought the hotel in Montrose formerly owned by his father, and conducted the same very successfully until January, 1903, when he disposed of it, and since has been contracting on the river with his steamboat, the "Charles Turner." He was married, on July 20, 1886, to Jane, daughter of James S. and Eleanor (Marshall) Powers, of Turtle Creek, Pa., the former having served as justice of the peace for twenty years. His father, Ezekiel Gordon, was
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for three years in the employment of the government as steamboat captain, the battle of Monmouth was fought on his great-grand- father's farm, and his mother's grandfather, Samuel Hulings, was among the pioneer settlers of Allegheny county. Samuel Hulings and his wife experienced many phases of the hardships which con- front the pioneer, and they had numerous fights with the Indians while preparing the way for the high state of civilization which Allegheny county now enjoys. Mr. Gordon is one of the leading men of that part of Allegheny county, and is well and favorably known.
CHARLES A. PHILLIPS, of Sharpsburg, Pa., dealer in lum- ber and a member of the firm of Vaught, Phillips & Co., operating a planing-mill, was born in Etna, Allegheny Co., Pa., March 31, 1870, and attended the public schools of his native town until fourteen years of age, when he became cashier for Somers Bros. & Co., commission merchants on Liberty street, Pittsburg. He remained in that position for three years, then became bookkeeper for Egli, Vaught & Co., of Sharpsburg, continuing in that capacity for four years, when the firm was reorganized and became Vaught, Phillips & Co., dealers in rough and worked lumber and also oper- ating a planing-mill. This is a prosperous and progressive firm, and they enjoy a splendid local patronage. Mr. Phillips is promi- nently identified with the Masonic order, having taken the thirty- second degree, and is a member of the Heptasophs, the Royal Arcanum and of the republican party. He has served as borough treasurer of Etna for the past five years and has made a splendid record in that fiduciary capacity. Mr. Phillips is a safe and con- servative business man and possesses the confidence and esteem of the community.
EDWARD J. PFEIFER, of Millvale, Pa., member of the firm of Pfeifer & Grall, undertakers and embalmers, was born in Shaler township, Allegheny Co., Pa., Aug. 22, 1878, in an old stone house which is said to be one of the oldest buildings in Allegheny county, there being no record of when it was built. The history of this house has been traced back over 100 years, when it was owned by a half-breed Indian, named Gilbreath, and has gone by the appel- lation "Old Evergreen," until it was torn down in 1901. He is the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Sautters) Pfeifer, the former hav- ing been a cooper up to a few years prior to his death, when he removed to the farm above mentioned and there passed the rest of
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his days, dying in 1881. His mother is still residing in Shaler township. Mr. Pfeifer was educated in the public schools of Shaler township, and when fourteen years of age began to earn his living by doing odd jobs. In 1894 he secured a position with A. L. King, the funeral director of Millvale, and remained with Mr. King until 1902, when he and his present partner, Mr. Philip Grall, pur- chased the business of Mr. King, and since then the firm of Pfeifer & Grall have enjoyed a splendid patronage in their undertaking and livery business. Mr. Pfeifer is a member of the German Lutheran church, the Knights of Pythias, the German Beneficial Union and of the Maccabees. In politics he is a republican. Mr. Pfeifer's mother is a native of Germany, his father was born in Allegheny county, and Edward J, is the youngest of a family of five children. Mr. Pfeifer has made rapid strides in the commer- cial world and is a young man of sound business judgment.
THOMAS McMASTERS LARIMER, the leading real estate dealer in Turtle Creek, is a native of that place, born April 24, 1876. He is a son of John McMasters and Mary E. (Markel) Larimer, and comes of one of the oldest and most prominent families of the Turtle Creek valley. John McMasters Larimer (now deceased) was for over twenty years a well-known grocer of Turtle Creek. Mr. Larimer attended the public schools of Turtle Creek, and then took a supplementary course of study at an acad- emy in Pittsburg. Thus prepared by education as well as by natural business ability, he embarked for himself in 1898 in the real estate business in Turtle Creek, and has already met with .encouraging success.
JOHN JACOB BECK, of Sharpsburg, Pa., one of the leading butchers of that city, was born in Manchester, now a part of Alle- gheny city, Pa., Oct. 9, 1864, son of John Jacob and Katharine Beck, the former having been a carpenter and contractor of Alle- gheny county until his death, in 1880, at the age of fifty-four years. He was one of the builders of Isabella blast furnace, of Etna, and during the latter years of his life was assistant superintendent of that concern. Mr. Beck attended the public schools of Sharpsburg until he was thirteen years of age and for two years was a pupil of a German school in Sharpsburg. He learned butchering with Wertz Bros., and for nine years was an employe of that firm. He became a partner in the new firm of Wertz & Beck, which con- tinued until 1899, when Mr. Wertz withdrew from that business,
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and Mr. Beck has since conducted the business on his own account, his present market being located at No. 1740 Main St., Sharpsburg. Mr. Beck was happily married, in 1887, to Miss L. M. Wertz, daughter of Gotlieb Wertz, the pioneer butcher of Sharpsburg, and they have two children, Alverta Elizabeth and John Howard, students of the public schools of Sharpsburg. He is a member of the Methodist church, the Royal Arcanum and the Odd Fellows. His political affiliations are with the republican party, and he is an active and ardent worker for its success and advancement. He has served as a member of the council of Sharpsburg for three years, and has taken a prominent part in the deliberations of that body. Mr. Beck is a stockholder and director of the Glenshaw glass factory, of Glenshaw, Pa., and is a business man of recognized ability and sound commercial standing.
LAWRENCE A. BROOKS, one of Wilmerding's prominent business men, was born in Allegheny county, Pa., Jan. 14, 1864, son of J. M. and Anna A. (Keogh) Brooks. J. M. Brooks was a butcher by vocation, and his son, L. A. Brooks, after an education in the Mckeesport schools, learned the business, and father and son were in business together in Mckeesport for twenty years. . In 1893 L. A. Brooks came to Wilmerding, where he has since been engaged in the meat business on Station street. Mr. Brooks has long been active in local public affairs, has served as member of the school board, and was for three years councilman. His home is in East Mckeesport. Mr. Brooks was married, in 1887, to Emma Brown, daughter of J. M. and Margaret Brown, of West- moreland county, and has seven children-six boys and one girl- viz. : Francis, May, Harry, Paul, Lester, Allen and Lawrence. Francis, the eldest boy, is at present messenger for the Pennsyl- vania railroad company, but expects soon to go into business with his father. Mr. Brooks is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
SAMUEL M. MYERS was born in Lancaster county, Pa., June 16, 1873, son of Christian W. and Rebecca E. (Martin) Myers. Christian Myers was the son of Col. Samuel B. Myers, a veteran of the Civil war, who served on the confederate side as commander of the 7th Virginia cavalry. Rebecca E. (Martin) Myers was the daughter of David Martin, who married a Miss Erb. Both Mr. and Mrs. Martin were of German descent, and in religious belief held to the Dunkard faith. Samuel M. Myers attended the Har- risburg high school, and then went to Franklin and Marshall col-
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lege, of Lancaster county, where he graduated in 1896. For several years he read law in the office of Hon. Robert Snodgrass, of Harrisburg, and in June, 1900, was admitted to practice in the courts of Dauphin county. He has since come to Pittsburg and been admitted to practice in Allegheny county. Mr. Myers has formed a partnership with M. J. Hosack, under the firm name of Hosack & Myers, with offices at No. 1103 Park building. He has recently purchased a home in Wilmerding, and been made solicitor for the borough and for the Wilmerding National bank. Upon the organization of the First National bank of Turtle Creek, Dec. 1, 1902, he was made director and solicitor for that institution. The firm of which Mr. Myers is a member were elected solicitors of Wilkins township, in March, 1903. Mr. Myers is a member of the Odd Fellows and Masons of Wilmerding. He was married, July 25, 1896, to Gertrude, daughter of Amos and Teresa (Hague) Mellinger, both of early families of Lancaster county. Mr. and Mrs. Myers have one son, Christian, born in Harrisburg, July 1, 1897.
WILLIAM A. CRAFT, a successful farmer of Patton township, Allegheny Co., Pa., was born at Towanda, Bradford Co., Pa., June 2, 1854, son of George W. and Catherine (Moon) Craft, his father at that time being a blacksmith of Bradford county, later served in the Civil war for three years and nine months and in 1878 removed to near Rugby, Pierce Co., N. D., where he is now prospering at the blacksmith trade. William A. Craft was edu- cated in the common schools of St. Mary's, Elk Co., Pa., and in 1875 located in Allegheny county, Pa., where he followed the occupation of mining for a number of years. Mr. Craft was happily married, in 1879, to Rebecca N., daughter of George and Eleanor Lang, of Allegheny county, and they have had six chil- dren born to them, viz. : George, Charles F., Catherine, Edward, Nellie and Stella, of whom the eldest daughter, Catherine, is the wife of William Kuhns, of Pitcairn. Mr. Craft is now residing on the original Lang farm, in Patton township, and is a prominent citizen of that community, having been appointed justice of the peace in 1892, and since has held that important position. He has also served as auditor for two years, constable for four years and in his political convictions and associations is a democrat. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Knights of the Mystic Chain, and is one of the leading men of that part of Allegheny county.
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PARKS ARNOLD AMBROSE, of Sharpsburg, Pa., a promi- nent practitioner of dentistry, was born in Kittanning, Armstrong county, Aug. 15, 1865, son of Frank and Rebecca (Dougherty) Ambrose. His father was for many years a leading farmer of Armstrong county, but has now retired from active life. He is a son of Benjamin Ambrose, who was a native of Armstrong county and descended from Irish ancestry. Dr. Ambrose attended the public schools of his native county until his seventeenth year, went to the Worthington academy for three terms, and attended Grove college for one year. While attending the two last-named institutions he devoted his spare time to teaching in the public schools of Armstrong county. On leaving college he secured a position with the Allegheny railroad at River View, and studied bookkeeping while occupying this place. In 1896 he matriculated at the Pittsburg dental college and was graduated in 1899, receiv- ing the degree of doctor of dental surgery. He immediately began the practice of his profession at Sharpsburg, maintaining offices at No. 707 Main St. until 1902, when he removed to his present loca- tion at No. 241 North Main St. He is the fifth child of a family of eight, most of the family residing in Armstrong county. One brother is a dentist of Pittsburg and Sharpsburg. Dr. Ambrose is a member of the Royal Arcanum and the republican party, and is generally recognized as a most successful and competent dentist.
NORMAN R. GRAHAM, M. D., of Sharpsburg, Pa., a well- known physician and surgeon, was born in Sharpsburg, Pa., Jan. 19, 1866, son of Robert T. and Permelia (Buffington) Graham, both deceased. His father was a dealer in lumber in Etna, and was a son of Joseph and Nancy (Thompson) Graham, of Irish descent. He was educated in the public schools of Denver, Col., where he remained until 1873, when he returned to Pittsburg and began the study of medicine, reading for one year under Dr. George T. McCord, a leading physician of that city. He entered the Jefferson medical college, Philadelphia, was graduated in the class of 1887, and has since practiced with much success at Sharps- burg, maintaining offices at No. 114 North Main St. He was mar- ried, in 1887, to Lavina B., daughter of Patrick and Nancy (Brickell) Kinnihan, of Bakerstown, Allegheny Co., Pa., and two children have been born to them, one of whom is now living- Edwin A., a student of the public schools of Sharpsburg. Dr. Graham is a prominent member of the leading fraternal organiza- tion, the Masons, and has taken the thirty-second degree in that
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ancient order. He has been surgeon for the West Pennsylvania railroad for the last twelve years, and is examining surgeon for the United States pension board at Allegheny city, Pa. He is a member of the Allegheny county, the Pennsylvania state and the American medical associations, and keeps thoroughly abreast of : the progress of his profession.
GEORGE WILLIAM RIETHMILLER, of Sharpsburg; Pa., dealer in groceries and feed, was born in that city, July 14, 1868, son of Conrad and Elizabeth (Zimmerman) Riethmiller. His father was a native of Germany, came to America in 1848, settling at Pittsburg, and later became a grocery merchant at Sharpsburg in 1876. His mother was a native of Saxony, Germany, and came to America with her parents in 1845, settling at Pittsburg. Mr. Riethmiller attended the public schools of Sharpsburg until he was twelve years of age, and then worked in the grocery business with his father. He continued with his father for twelve years and then went into the grocery business on his own account at No. 405 South Main St., still occupying that stand. He operates a number of wagons and makes deliveries in Sharpsburg, Aspinwall, Etna and as far west as Pittsburg. He was married, in 1892, to Minnie, daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Wilhelme) Wagener, of O'Hara township, but formerly of Pittsburg, and they have one child, La Verne, attending the public schools of Sharpsburg. He is a mem- ber of the German Evangelical Lutheran church, of the Royal Arcanum and the republican party, but has refused all offers of political preferment. He is one of the substantial business men of Sharpsburg and is well and favorably known in that city.
THOMAS JAMES LOVE was born Oct. 9, 1844, in Lancashire, near Manchester, England. He is the son of Thomas and Mary (Carter) Love, who had a family of eleven children, of which the subject of this sketch was the fifth child. Mr. Love received his education in England, and was for some years in the coal business in that country. He came to the United States in 1869, landed in New York city, and located in Westmoreland county in that year, going into the coal business there. He was married, in 1868, in England, to Helen, daughter of William and Alice Hayes, a promi- nent family of Manchester, England. Mrs. Love was born April 20, 1849. Having had no children of their own, they have reared two boys, Joseph and William. Mr. Love located in Turtle Creek about 1881, where he is still interested in the coal business. He
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went into the hotel business in North Versailles township in 1898, and still conducts that venture in a first-class manner. Mr. Love is county committeeman in this county, having filled many town- ship offices at Turtle Creek. He has been a member of the Knights of Pythias in Turtle Creek for thirty-one years. The other members of Mr. Love's family in this community are: Betsey, wife of the late Adam Crumpton, of Turtle Creek; Tamer, wife of Edward Kinsey, also of Turtle Creek, and Mary, wife of Joshua Fellows, of the same place. A brother, Peter, was killed in a railroad accident in 1892. In all of the relations of life, Mr. Love is faithful and true to every obligation. As a citizen, as a business man, as a neighbor and a friend, he is respected by all, and enjoys the cordial good-will of every one who knows him.
HENRY M. KERR, of Boston, Pa., a prominent citizen and well-known business man, was born in Armstrong county, Pa., Sept. 24, 1833, son of Robert and Mary A. (Myers) Kerr, his father having been a successful carpenter and the builder of the first canal boat used on the Pennsylvania canal. Henry M. Kerr was one of a family of fifteen children, was educated in the common schools of Armstrong county and after leaving school was engaged in working on the river, boating and rafting logs from the head- waters of the Monongahela river to New Orleans, and also from the headwaters of the Mississippi to the Crescent city, the country at that time being very wild and inhabited by savage Indians. In 1861 he enlisted in the Union army for service in the Civil war as a member of Company E, 4th Pennsylvania cavalry, later was pro- moted to a sergeantcy and served in that capacity until mustered out at Light House Point, Va., Aug. 16, 1864. They saw arduous service in that great conflict and participated in some of the most hotly-contested battles of the war. Their first commanding officer was Colonel Childs, who was killed. He was succeeded by Colonel Cavode, who was also killed; then there were a number of others in command, and at the close of the war their colonel was S. M. B. Young, now one of the highest officers of the United States army. Mr. Kerr met with numerous personal adven- tures which would require too much space to narrate here, and in all of the various phases of a military career that he experienced, bore himself in a manner that was a credit to himself and to the command of which he was a member. Mr. Kerr was married, in 1865, to Mary A., daughter of Jonathan and Annie (Titus) Bolton, of Allegheny county, and they had five children, four of whom are
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living, viz. : Georgianna; Leota, wife of Harvey Heath; John B., killed in a railroad accident in 1902; William C., and Robert C. Mr. Kerr has been connected with the Boston bridge company for the past five years, and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, the Odd Fellows, the Masons, the Methodist Episcopal church and the republican party. Mr. Kerr is one of the solid and substantial citizens of Boston and is widely and favorably known in that com- munity, where he has passed so many years of his life.
JOHN C. McCLURE, of Port Vue, Pa., a prominent citizen and successful farmer, was born in Lincoln township, Allegheny county, Pa., July 6, 1868, son of Andrew and Jane (Edmunson) McClure, his father being a prosperous farmer of Allegheny county. Young McClure was educated in the common schools of his native township and at the Mckeesport business college, and since that time has devoted his attention to farming and selling coal from his place in Lincoln township. He has been very suc- cessful in his business affairs, has accumulated a competency and is one of the substantial citizens of the borough. He was happily married, in 1903, to Margaret Kunkelman, of Dravosburg, and their home life is an ideal one. Mr. McClure has been prominently identified with the public affairs of the borough, having served as a member of the council for five years, and in 1900 was elected burgess of Port Vue for a term of three years, on the republican ticket. He is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and of the First. Presbyterian church of Port Vue, and is one of the leading men of that place.
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