USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, personal and genealogical with portraits, Volume II > Part 48
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SYLVESTER E. RHOADES, a prominent and enterprising farmer of Mifflin township, and a life-long resident of Allegheny county, is the only child of John K. and Margaret (McClure) Rhoades. The Rhoades family is one of the old Pennsylvania families. Frederick Rhoades, the grandfather of Sylvester, was a native of Lancaster county and was a son of Casper Rhoades, one of the pioneers of that county. After the death of Casper Rhoades, his widow removed to Allegheny county and there Fred- erick was reared to manhood, spent his life as a farmer and died, in 1868, in his sixty-third year. John K. Rhoades, Sylvester's father, was a native of Mifflin township. He also was a farmer, and died, in 1893, at the age of sixty-five. With the exception of three years
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in Westmoreland county, his entire life was passed in the township where he was born. His wife's father, Andrew McClure, was one of the old settlers of Mifflin township. Sylvester E. Rhoades was born July 10, 1853. He was reared and educated in Mifflin town- ship. He owns a fine farm of 160 acres, upon which he has lived since 1866. He was married, in 1877, to Miss Maria B., a daughter of John and Jane (Moore) Wilock, also residents of Mifflin town- ship, and they have three children living. They are: John K., Jeannette M. and Margaret B. Mr. Rhoades is a republican in politics and a member of the Presbyterian church.
FERDINAND CHARLES ECKERT, of McKee's Rocks, Pa., manager for the prominent lumber firm of John Davis & Co., was born in Allegheny city, Pa., April 4, 1860, son of J. H. and Charlotta (Kroener) Eckert. They were the parents of ten chil- dren, eight of whom are now living, viz. : Albert H., Emma, Henry, William G., Ernest F., Theodore W., Ferdinand C., and Charles R., who is a prominent attorney of Butler county and recently a can- didate for congress on the democratic ticket. The father came from Baden, Germany, and settled in Allegheny county, where for many years he was a successful butcher, and now, at the age of seventy-five years, resides in Monaca, Beaver county, retired from active business. He is a democrat of long standing and for many years has been a member of the First German Evangelical Protestant church of Pittsburg. The mother came from Darm- stadt, Germany, was married to Mr. Eckert in Allegheny city, and is now sixty-seven years of age. Ferdinand C. Eckert obtained his early education in the common schools of Beaver county, and when eighteen years of age began to learn the butchers' trade. He served an apprenticeship of seven years, and then entered that business on his own account at McKee's Rocks. He prospered in that venture for four years, then obtained employment as a car- penter with the Pennsylvania & Lake Erie railroad company. After four years Mr. Eckert returned to his father's farm in Beaver county and remained there until 1902, when he secured his present position as manager of the well-known lumber firm of John Davis & Co., of McKee's Rocks. This firm conducts a large lumber business, including a planing mill, and stands high on the commercial and financial lists. Mr. Eckert was married, in 1884, to Mary Steinmiller, of Allegheny city, and they have five chil- dren : Emma, Nora, Stella, Charles and John. He is a member of the democratic party, the Maennerchor singing society, the
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Heptasophs, the Society of the Mystic Chain and the Masons. He is a man of strict integrity, also very companionable, and possesses the esteem and friendship of all who know him.
DR. FRANCIS J. MADDEN, a promising young physician of Duquesne, was born in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, May 31, 1870. He is a son of Cornelius S. and Ellen (McGarrity) Madden, both natives of Canada, but of Irish parentage. While Francis was still in his childhood, his parents removed to Wilkinsburg, Alle- gheny Co., Pa., and his primary education was acquired in the public schools of that place. His parents still reside there. In 1892 he entered the medical department of the Western university of Pennsylvania, at Pittsburg, and was graduated in 1895. He at once began the practice of his profession at Wilkinsburg. Two years later he removed to Blairsville, Pa., where he remained until the spring of 1900, when he located at Duquesne, Pa. Since that . time he has built up a good practice.there, and is popular, not only with his patients, but with the entire community. On April 15, 1896, he was married to Miss Justina M. Whalen, a daughter of Patrick and Justina (Heilman) Whalen, of Wilkinsburg, and they have one son, Paul. Dr. Madden is a member of the Allegheny County medical society. He is also a member of Duquesne camp, No. 80, Woodmen of the World, of which he is the medical examiner, and council commander of Monongahela council, No. 265, Foresters of America, of which he is the court physician. He is a member of and regular attendant at the Holy Name Catholic church of Duquesne and is secretary of the church. In politics he is a democrat, but devotes far more of his time and attention to his domestic affairs and to his patients than he does to the conflicts of the political arena.
GUSTAV A. BOSS, of McKee's Rocks, Pa., a prominent jeweler, was born in Allegheny city, Pa., Nov. 30, 1865, son of Casper and Carrie (Sauer) Boss. His parents had five children, three of whom are now living. They are: Albert, Peter J. and Gustav A., the subject of this sketch. Both of his parents came from Germany, his father having been born in Marburg, was a tanner by trade, and soon after coming to America enlisted in defense of the Union. He was located at St. Louis at that time, but enlisted in Company H, 27th Illinois volunteers, and served three years and three months with that regiment, receiving an honorable discharge at the expiration of his service. He was a
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man of robust physique and genial personality, and was very pop- ular with all who knew him. Both of his grandfathers were tanners in the Fatherland and his father worked at that trade in this country prior to his army service. Gustav A. Boss obtained his education in the splendid schools of Allegheny city, and when fifteen years of age began to learn the jewelers' trade with his brother, Albert, at Carnegie, Pa. He remained there for three years and then secured employment with the firm of George W. Biggs & Co., of Pittsburg, with whom he continued for eight years. He then came to McKee's Rocks, opened his present jewelry store, and has since met with much success in that venture. He is regarded as a splendid business man, conducts a thoroughly modern establishment and owns valuable property in McKee's Rocks and Pittsburg. He was married, in 1888, to Philippina, daughter of Jacob Morganstern, of Carnegie, Pa., and they have five children : Carrie, Clara, Blanche, Eva and Florence. Mr. Boss is a republican in politics, is a member of the English Lutheran church and of the Royal Arcanum.
ROBERT FRANKLIN CONKLE, M. D., of Coraopolis, Pa., a distinguished physician and surgeon, was born in Hookstown, Beaver Co., Pa., Nov. 28, 1848, son of Henry and Catherine ( Metts) Conkle. His parents had eight children, six of whom are now living: Anna Mary, Mrs. Mattie Bronson, Harriet Stewart (who resides in South Dakota), Samuel M., John S., and Robert F., the subject of this sketch, who is the eldest child. His father was a successful farmer, a very genial man, and a member of the demo- cratic party and the Presbyterian church. His paternal ancestors came from Germany. Dr. Conkle received his rudimentary edu- cational training in the public schools of Hookstown and at the Presbyterian academy at New Wilmington, and his medical edu- cation at the Western Reserve college, of Cleveland, Ohio, from which noted institution he was graduated in 1871. He imme- diately entered on the practice of his profession at Summitville, Columbiana Co., Ohio, where he remained for five and one-half years, and in 1877 came to Coraopolis, and since has stood high among the leading physicians of that community. He was mar- ried, in 1873, to Sarah Stevenson, of Frankfort Springs, Pa., and they had one child, Mary Emma, a most estimable young woman, who was drowned in 1901 while on a pleasure excursion to North East, Pa. Dr. Conkle is the oldest physician in point of prac- tice in Coraopolis, enjoys a very large business, and is known
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far and near for his many deeds of charity and benevolence in connection with his professional duties. He is interested in a sanitarium for the care and cure of inebriates, and has accom- plished much good among this unfortunate class. His political affiliations are with the democratic party, and he is a member of the Presbyterian church.
WILLIAM A. CRUSAN, of Coraopolis, Pa., a prosperous grocer, was born in Braddock, Pa., May 30, 1873, son of William A. and Malinda (Scott) Crusan, his father having been a foundryman, an expert workman and a good citizen. He died in 1890, and his wife is now living at the age of sixty-two years. She is a member of the Disciples' church, a woman of splendid character, who gave her son the best of Christian surroundings. William Crusan received his educational training in the public schools of Verona, to which town his family had removed when he was quite young, and when fifteen years of age secured a position with Wallace & McAffee, of Pittsburg, which firm is now merged with the Con- solidated lamp and glass company. He was employed in the pack- ing room of these companies for fourteen years, and in 1902 began his present grocery business at Coraopolis. Mr. Crusan conducts an exceedingly well-appointed store, and is a man of exemplary character and unusual business ability. He was married, on Aug. 2, 1903, to Atlanta Houghtelin, and their home life is a happy one. Mr. Crusan is a strong advocate of temperance and votes the prohibition ticket. He is a deacon and trustee of the First Baptist church, and also superintendent of the Sunday-school.
GEORGE A. DICK, a popular butcher of Hites, has been suc- cessfully engaged in business there for the past twenty-eight years. He was born in East Deer township, Allegheny Co., Pa., Nov. 13, 1852, received a common-school education in the public schools, and began his apprenticeship to the butcher business at the age of fifteen. Mr. Dick's parents, Adam and Mary (Neuwander) Dick, were married, in 1845, and both are living. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1895, and on that occasion ninety- five relatives were present. Mr. and Mrs. Dick are members of the German Evangelical Protestant church. Adam Dick was born in Switzerland, came to Allegheny city when seventeen years old, in 1834, and followed the vocation of a shoemaker for many years. He has for the past twenty-five years, however, lived a retired life at the home of his son, George. His wife, a daughter of Nicholas
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and Barbara Neuwander, came to Allegheny city with her parents in 1843, when eight years old. Nicholas Neuwander was a farmer and dairyman, and owned a milk route in Allegheny city. He and his wife spent their last days in New Castle, Lawrence county. George A. Dick, whose name heads this sketch, is one of a family of seven children, five of whom are living. In politics he is a republican, has served on the school board for the past twenty-one years, and occupies a prominent place in the community. With his family, he is a member of the German Evangelical Protestant church of Tarentum. On May 23, 1878, Mr. Dick married Miss Josephine Shoppene, of Indiana township, Allegheny county, and is the father of two sons. The elder son, William G., born March 17, 1883, attended the Iron City business college in Pitts- burg, from which he was graduated in 1897, and is now bookkeeper for the J. H. Baker manufacturing company. He is a member of Pollock lodge, No. 502, F. and A. M., and of Tarentum lodge, No. 587, I. O. O. F. The second son, Andrew R., was born March 23, 1887, and is now employed by Yost Bros. as a molder.
JOHN WISE, a prominent fruit grower and market gardener of Scott township, Allegheny Co., Pa., was born in Germany, Sept. 6, 1845. His father was John Wise, a native of Würtemburg, Germany, where he was born, Sept. 26, 1815. His mother's maiden name was Margaret Schmidt. She was born in Würtem- burg, April 12, 1820. When John Wise, Sr., was about thirty-five years old he came to America. He walked all the way from · Philadelphia to Pittsburg, where he found employment at his trade, that of a blacksmith. Three years later his family joined him in Pittsburg. In 1858 he gave up blacksmithing, bought a farm in Scott township, and passed the remainder of his life as a gardener and fruit grower. This business he carried on success- fully until his death, which occurred on Feb. 25, 1889. His wife died on May 4, 1892, both having lived long and useful lives. John Wise, Jr., the subject of this sketch, attended school in his native land for about two and a half years, and after coming to America, finished his education in the Pittsburg public schools. Ever since arriving at the years of manhood, he has followed the business of growing small fruits and vegetables for the Pittsburg market. Scott township is noted for its fruit and garden farms, but few of them are better kept or more productive than that of John Wise, who devotes his entire time to his work and to the study of how to secure better results. Politically, he is a republican, but he never
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takes an active part in political contests. In 1874 he was married to Miss Amelia Abbott, the daughter of Christian and Magdalena (Schmeltz) Abbott. Her father was born in Saxony, and her mother in Hesse Darmstadt, the former coming to this country when he was nine years old, and the latter when she was nineteen. They were married in Allegheny county, and Mrs. Wise was born there, Sept. 22, 1854. John Wise and his wife have had seven children, as follows: Catherine L., born Aug. 14, 1875; Carrie M., born Aug. 11, 1877; Elmer E., born Aug. 4, 1879; Anna C., born June 16, 1882 ; Emma J., born Oct. 25, 1885; John C., born March 5, 1887, and Nellie A., born Feb. 27, 1890. Of these children, all are living except Elmer and John. Mr. Wise and family belong to the United Presbyterian church at Carnegie.
JOHN HENRY MURRAY, of Coraopolis, Pa., superintendent of the Duquesne steel foundry company of Kendall station, Pa., was born in Dundee, Scotland, Oct. 16, 1868. He is a son of Morton and Isabelle Murray, both long since deceased, his father's business being that of a cattle-drover. Of the three children born to them, all are now living. When six years of age Mr. Murray, in company with his brother and sister, left their parents and the old home in Scotland, and came to Los Angeles, Cal., where they were reared by an aunt. His brother Thomas and his sister Josephine have remained in that city, where his brother is now a prosperous handler of hardware, and his sister is the wife of Thomas Hatton, a well-known grocer. Mr. Murray attended the public schools of Los Angeles until thirteen years of age, and then went to New Jersey to work in the iron mills. He was in the mills of that state for six years, learned his trade, and in 1887 went to Pittsburg, where he secured employment with the Pittsburg steel casting company. He was with that concern for five years, for thirteen months with the Corbin steel company and later went with the Duquesne steel foundry company. The first two years of his con- nection with that corporation was in the capacity of master mechanic, and since then he has ably filled his present position of superintendent. Mr. Murray was married, in 1891, to Sarah, daughter of James and Catherine Ellis, of Allegheny city, and has one daughter, Catherine. He is a republican in his political con- victions and his religious affiliations are with the Presbyterian church. Mr. Murray is a member of the Masons and a number of other fraternal orders and is in hearty sympathy with these societies in their work for the betterment of the human race.
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HARRY W. FERREE, of Coraopolis, Pa., foreman of the car- penter shop of the Pittsburg & Lake Erie railroad at McKee's Rocks, was born in old Middletown, now Coraopolis, the postoffice address then being Vance Fort, Pa., and was the fourth child of Jacob and Nancy (Phillips) Ferree. His father was a successful farmer, and the Ferree family is one of the oldest and most highly respected ones in Coraopolis. The Ferrees are of French-Hugue- not extraction and originally settled in Lancaster county. Jacob Ferree, the head of the family in America, was twice married, first in France, by which union he had three sons, one of whom was a colonel in the War of 1812. The Ferrees were among the pioneers of Coraopolis, and in 1800 purchased 330 acres of land where the borough now stands. Harry Ferree attended the public schools of his native town until nineteen years of age, when he began to learn the carpenters' trade and since has followed that vocation with much success. In 1883 he secured a position with the Pittsburg & Lake Erie railroad, and at present is general foreman of the car construction shops of that system at McKee's Rocks. This is a position of importance and Mr. Ferree has made a splendid record there. He was married, on April 29, 1886, to Nettie Nesbitt, of Moon township, Allegheny county, and they have one son, Eclare. Mr. Ferree is a republican in politics and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church.
JOHN M. RYAN, of McKee's Rocks, Pa., superintendent and stockholder of the Fort Pitt malleable gray iron company, was born in Torrington, Conn., Aug. 16, 1859, son of John and Mary (Lalley) Ryan. His father was a bricklayer and had two chil- dren, of whom John M. is the only survivor. Mr. Ryan attended the public schools until fourteen years of age, then began to learn core-making and later devoted his attention to the molders' trade in the plant of Turner & Seymour, of Torrington. He remained with that concern for four years, when he went to Naugatuck, Conn., with the Tuttle & Whitman malleable iron company. He continued with them for two years, then with the Sessions firm, of Bristol, Conn. ; next with the Wisconsin malleable iron company, of Milwaukee; later with the Chicago malleable iron company, then with the Cleveland malleable iron company, and in 1887 came to Pittsburg to work for the McConway-Torley company, with whom he remained for fourteen years. In 1901 he was one of the organ- izers and a subscriber to the stock of the Fort Pitt malleable gray iron company and since has occupied the responsible position of II-34
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superintendent of that concern. This is a company which employs 225 men, of whom eighty per cent. are skilled workmen, and their products are of high class and value. Mr. Ryan was married, in 1886, to Mary E., daughter of James Leo, of Cleveland, Ohio, and they have two daughters. Mr. Ryan is a democrat in his politi- cal affiliations and is a member of the Roman Catholic church and of the C. M. B. A. He is regarded by his business associates as a man of exceptional executive ability and his management of the complex interests of the large business that he supervises has been of such a nature as to elicit encomiums from many high sources.
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