Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 123

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1192

USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania > Part 123

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James O'Hara, while as enterprising as Astor or Girard, was as large-hearted and magnanimous as Abraham. John Henry Hopkins, a young Irishman, after- wards bishop of Vermont, came to the United States in the beginning of this century, and about 1811, to Pittsburg, poor, but full of intelligence and activity. General O'Hara, pleased with Hopkins' business qualifications, took him into partnership in an iron works he established at Ligonier, and gave him the man- agement. This business, through no fault of Hopkins, failed, as, indeed, did all business after the war of 1812. Hopkins was overwhelmed, and his hopes ap- parently blasted for life by his share of the debt which hung over him. O'Hara said to him: "Give yourself no concern. You have done your best. I will pay all the debts." He gave Hopkins a clear acquittance and settled up all the debts. This incident was told by Bishop Hopkins himself in the accents of a grateful heart.

General O'Hara died at his home on the banks of the Monongahela in 1819, wealthy and full of years. A patriotic soldier, an enterprising business man, and a charitable Christian. The tears of the poor and rich alike were shed at his grave and mingled with the clods that fell upon his coffin. Pittsburg owes him a debt of gratitude, and his memory should be cherished and held sacred.

Wm. Croghan, Jr., and Mary O'Hara were married in the year 1821. He ivas the son of Major William Croghan, and she was the daughter of General James O'Hara.

William Croghan, Jr., was a remarkably handsome man. He was tall and well built, with remarkably well proportioned features, and an exceedingly keen and intelligent eye. He was a very Chesterfield in courtly manners, and a true gentleman in heart. On the 28th of May, 1835, Mr. Croghan was admitted as a member of the Allegheny County bar. He resided at his beautiful country seat, "Picnic," which commands a view of three historic rivers, the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio, and a far off glimpse of the hazy Chestnut Ridge of Penn- sylvania. He died at his residence near Pittsburg, September 22, 1850, loved and lamented by all who knew him. Mrs. Croghan died October 25th, 1827, leaving two children; William, her oldest child, survived his mother but a short time, and died April 25, 1828. Mary E. Croghan, the daughter, was born April 27, 1826. She married Captain Edward W. H. Schenley, an officer of the British army, and went to England, where she has resided for the greater part of her married life, having now living five daughters and one son.

Mrs. Schenley inherited from her Grandfather O'Hara, who owned

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large tracts of land in Pittsburg and Allegheny County and in other counties of the State, and also lands in some of the Western States, her mother being one of the three heirs of the estate, as well as inheriting all her father's property which he purchased after coming to Pittsburg, which has become quite valuable. Al- though the possessor of this valuable property has lived abroad for a number of years, Pittsburg and Allegheny have good evidence to know that she has ever had the interests of her native land always in her mind and near her heart. The files of old papers back to 1846 show donations of valuable property to worthy charities and enterprises, for in that year she donated property in the Twelfth Ward of this city to the West Pennsylvania Hospital. This is now of great value. We are likely omitting much, and necessarily all her private aids which were many, but in 1889 she donated a princely tract which made the magnificent Schenley Park possible. She gave 300 acres out and out for this great scheme, and sold to the city 120 acres more at the merest nominal price. Unborn generations will enjoy the blessings of this great gift. In 1890 she gave five acres to the Western Pennsylvania Institute for the Blind, now worth at least $100,000. In 1894 she gave a large lot on Old Avenue to the Newsboys' Home. This lot is now worth

$30,000. In 1895 she gave the oldest relic in Pittsburg, the old block-house at the Point, and adjoining property, worth some $30,000, to the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1894, when the citizens of Allegheny had almost des- paired of securing sufficient money to make possible the purchase of their pres- ent beautiful park, she gave large donations and subscriptions, which gave it such a forward movement that the present Riverside Park of that city was se- cured. She also has been liberal to churches and public schools. Mrs. Schenley is very considerate with her tenants, and great forbearance is exercised by her agents, at her instructions, to those on whom misfortune frowns, and helps and aids are always given to the worthy. Under the care of her present agents, new buildings are constantly being erected and improvements made. What its ulti- mate value may become, as we look with prophetic eye into the future, can only be conceived by an estimate of Pittsburg's growth, but our citizens have good reason to believe that the advancement in value of this property will contribute in many ways to the ultimate benefit of all our people.

Mrs. Schenley has six daughters and one son living: Lilly Poole, married to the Hon. Ralph Harbard, son of the late Lord Suffield; Jane Inglez, married to the Rev. Mr. Crafton; Agnez, married to Mr. Ridley; Alice, married Col. Fredrick Gore; Richmond, married Captain Randolph; Hermoine, unmarried and living with her mother; Alfred, the youngest of the family, is married and living near Portsmouth in the south of England.

Christopher Zug. There is no greater pleasure for the historian and biog- rapher than to record the life and achievements of a man who began life's battle under adverse circumstances, and through his own efforts has secured the uni- versal tribute of being an honest man and a gentleman, and who has attained . success in commercial life through unswerving industry and integrity. Such a man is Christopher Zug, a pioneer in the iron industry of Pittsburg. Mr. Zug is a native of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, his birth occurring on the 19th of July, 1807, his parents being Jacob and Margaret (Keller) Zug, of Swiss descent, farmers by occupation, and residents of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, at the time of their marriage. It was upon the home farm, engaged in the duties devolving upon a farmer's boy that Christopher Zug was reared. His school advantages were of the limited character peculiar to surroundings such as his of eighty years ago, and was confined to the ordinary rudimentary branches. It was the groundwork, however, of the liberal self education which began with his young manhood and which has since been his recreation from the hurry and turmoil of a busy life. His first business experience was as a clerk in the store

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of Benjamin Childs, at Carlisle, but after two years he embarked in mercantile pursuits in partnership with his cousin, Jacob Zug, borrowing the necessary funds for his part of the capital. Two years later this partnership was dissolved, and the succeeding three years he was engaged in the brewing and distilling business. He then came to Pittsburg and was employed by the hardware firm of S. Fahnestock & Co., and later with the Birmingham Iron Works, owned by Hoag & Hartman. Later he became bookkeeper for James Anderson of the Lippincott Iron Works, then doing business on the site of Mr. Zug's present establishment at Thirteenth and Etna streets. In 1845 he became a partner with the firm of Graff, Lindsay & Co., composed of Henry Graff, John Lindsay, William Larimer, Jr., and Christopher Zug. This firm purchased the Lippincott Iron Works from James Anderson, and changed the name to the Sable Iron Works, under which title it has continued to the present-a period of half a century. About 1854 the firm became Zug, Lindsay & Co., who a year later purchased the Pittsburg Iron Works from Lorenz, Stirling & Co., with which firm Jacob Painter was identified. The death of John Lindsay in 1856 dissolved the partnership, and Mr. Zug and Mr. Painter became proprietors under the firm name of Zug & Painter. This association continued until 1864, when the part- nership was dissolved, Mr. Painter becoming the owner of the Pittsburg Iron Works and Mr. Zug of the Sable Iron Works. At this latter event Mr. Zug admitted his son, Charles H., as a partner, and since that time the Sable Iron Works have been managed and conducted by Zug & Co., and is recognized as one of the leading business houses in its line in the city. Such, in brief, is the business career of Christopher Zug. In politics, Mr. Zug has been a lifelong Democrat of the Jeffersonian order, but was never an aspirant to political honor or office. As a citizen he has ever been an advocate of good, clean, businesslike government without regard to partisan predilection. In business and socially, the golden rule has been his chief guide; in religion his creed is expressed in those beautiful lines of Pope:

"Slave to no sect, he takes no private road But looks through Nature up to Nature's God."

Mr. Zug was married May 17, 1831, to Eliza Bair, of Hanover, Pennsylvania, and to their union six children-five daughters and one son-were born, of which three daughters and the son survive. Mrs. Zug died December 9, 1863. Mr. Zug comes of a race particularly noted for its longevity. His parents closely approached the century mark-his father lacking but a few months and his mother having passed her ninety-fifth year-and all of their children lived to be over seventy years of age. When we consider what ninety years cover in way of progress and achievement-a period almost compassing the history of our government-and reflect that it all comes within the span of Mr. Zug's life, we can better appreciate how long he has lived, and admire alike the consistent and temperate habits that have continued him in the good health he yet enjoys, and the mental vigor that still keeps him keenly interested in the current events of the day.

Joseph Horne was born January II, 1826, on a farm about eight miles from Bedford, Bedford County. His father and mother were of American stock; his grandfather being of German birth, coming to this country early during the Revolutionary War, in which he was a soldier and served with faithfulness to the end of the struggle. His grandfather, after the close of the war, settled on the farm above mentioned as the birthplace of Joseph Horne, and was a good citizen. He was also a prominent member of the Methodist Church during his life, being

. a licensed exhorter; and largely by his efforts one of the log Methodist churches of that section of the State was built and was known as the "Horne Church."

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Joseph Horne grew up on the farm as a farmer's boy; had an ordinary country schoolhouse education and afterward had a short course at the Bedford Classical Academy in the town of Bedford. After his graduation he was inclined to the study of medicine, but gave that up and secured a situation as clerk in a store in Bedford. He came to Pittsburg as a young man and secured a position with the firm of C. Yeager, in the retail notion business. From that he went to the store of F. H. Eaton, at that time a leading merchant; there became a partner and within a few years bought out Mr. Eaton's interest and started on his own account at 77 Market Street. His devotion to his business and the zeal and skill he manifested in its development rapidly increased it, and it steadily grew so that in addition, a wholesale department was added. In 1871, the present quarters of his business being too small, he removed to the Library Hall building, at that time the finest storeroom in the city, and opened an exclusively retail department, continuing the wholesale department in enlarged quarters on Market Street. In 188I he built a large building at the corner of Wood Street and Liberty, to which was removed the wholesale business. Shortly before his death he built the large modern building at the corner of Fifth Street and Penn Avenue, probably one of the finest store edifices in the United States, to which the retail business was moved.

Mr. Horne was a man of the greatest liberality, having a warm and generous heart, which was shown by his large donations to every recognized form of charity and education, as well as to the many individual cases which came to him with a feeling of confidence that they would be given a satisfactory hearing. His business character was well known for its unflagging industry and sterling integrity. As a public-spirited citizen, he took active part in all matters relating to the public welfare to advance the best interest of the community in which he lived. He was an active Methodist; proud of his denomination and unsparing in his effort to advance its well being, giving his time both as a Sunday-school superintendent in his church, and also being the founder of the large and pros- perous Mission School at Thirty-third Street, which afterward developed into two vigorous churches. He was a trustee of Allegheny College, situated at Meadville, in this State. He was a trustee of the Western University of Pittsburg, and also many years a trustee of the Pittsburg Female College, and a trustee of West Pennsylvania Hospital. His heart was devoted to his business, to his family, his friends and better works of life, and many young men of his acquaint- ance owed their inspiration for a better career to him, through his good advice and his exemplary habits. None of the men of his day in the city of Pittsburg were held in greater esteem or more loving remembrance.

Dr. Curtis G. Hussey. The name of the subject of this sketch is one that is inseparably connected with the material prosperity of the city of Pittsburg. Dr. Hussey was a native of the State of Pennsylvania, was born on a farm in York County in August, 1802, and was a lineal descendant of Christopher Hussey, . an early pioneer of Massachusetts, who was born at Dorking, County Surrey, England, about 1597, and in 1632 crossed the broad Atlantic to found a home on the bleak inhospitable New England coast. He took up his abode in Hampton, Massachusetts, became prominent in the affairs of that section and assisted in the settlement of Haverhill. He was one of the ten Quakers who purchased the island of Nantucket in the winter of 1558-9, and there, owing to the persecutions of his sect by the Puritans, made his home in comparative quietude. About 150 years later one of his descendants, the father of Dr. Hussey, settled near York, Pennsylvania, later moved to Little Miami, Ohio, and in 1813 to a farm in the vicinity of Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, at which place this pioneer, Christopher Hussey, and his wife, formerly Lydia Grubb, led quiet and uneventful lives. The mother was also of Quaker lineage, and her father, John Grubb, was a member of the

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Society of Friends in England. He came to this country before the Revolution and settled near Wilmington, Delaware. Dr. Hussey spent his youthful days on a farm, made the most of such educational opportunities as the times afforded, and upon selecting medicine as his avocation in life, was fortunate in having a prominent physician of Mount Pleasant as his instructor. Upon locating in Morgan County, Indiana, he secured a lucrative practice in a short time and had soon amassed sufficient capital to permit him to engage in mercantile pursuits, and various stores were established in adjoining counties over which he had personal supervision as he made his round of professional calls. Possessing busi- ness ability of a high order, his enterprises prospered in a remarkable manner and he became a heavy shipper of produce to New Orleans. During this time while looking out for his own interests he had the interests of his adopted State none the less at heart, and in 1829 he was elected to the State Legislature, and after serving one term declined reelection owing to his varied business interests which required his personal attention. Rumors had reached him of the rich copper beds in the Lake Superior region, but no efforts were made to explore or develop them until steps were taken by Dr. Hussey in 1843, when he sent John Hays of Pittsburg to prospect and explore. A one-sixth interest was pur- chased for the Doctor in the first three permits for mining in that region ever granted by the United States, each one of which was three miles square. In the winter of 1843-4 the Pittsburg and Boston Mining Company was organized, and Dr. Hussey became a heavy stockholder and later its president until the close of its career. In 1844 the Doctor visited that wild region, and so rich were the veins of copper found on Eagle River, that operations were transferred thither and "Cliff Mine," the first mine opened in the Lake Superior country, was established and became historical and noted for its remarkable richness. From time to time valuable improvements were made in the machinery and facilities, and finally the Pittsburg Copper and Brass Rolling Mills was established on the Monongahela River, of which Dr. Hussey eventually became the sole owner. These mills were among the most active industries of Pittsburg and, in fact, are so still, and its products are put into market by the house of C. G. Hussey & Co., which has continued the business without interruption since 1849. Be it also said to his credit that Dr. Hussey was the first man in this country to successfully make crucible cast-steel in large quantities, and did so in the face of the utmost opposition and discouragement and prophecies of failure. His Anglo-Saxon pluck and grit spurred him on to renewed endeavors, and the ultimate result was success in its fullest sense. In 1862 he made a trip to Europe, visited various steelworks in England, and at various times improved many of his earlier methods and the mammoth steelworks he established came to cover five acres of Pittsburg's land, and were filled with massive and costly machinery. Many men find employment here and the products of the works are sent to all parts of the country and are highly meritorious. Dr. Hussey weathered many a financial gale successfully and creditably, and at all times his good judgment, tact and business ability served to stimulate and encourage those around him. He was undoubtedly the pioneer of the copper and steel industries of Pittsburg -industries for which the city is world wide. famous. His explorations were among the first in California in 1849, and it was truthfully stated of him many times that what he did not know about mines and mining was hardly worth knowing. He was of a very patriotic disposition, a thorough American, was charitable and benevolent and was always especially interested in educational matters, being one of the trustees of the Western University and one of the founders of the School of Design for Women. Politically he was in accord with the Republican party, and in his religious views was of the same belief as his ancestors-a Quaker. . In 1839 he was married to Rebecca, daughter of James

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and Susana (Jackson) Updegraff, of Ohio, and to them five children have been born, only one of whom is living at the present time, Mrs. E. B. Alsop. Dr. Hussey's life was a useful, active and honorable one, his friends were legion and were numbered among all classes, from the highest to the lowest. Everybody was his friend, and his death, which occurred April 25, 1893, was felt as a personal loss by all who knew him, and an incalculable loss to the city which he had done so much to build up.

Joseph Loughrey was a man of mark among his self-made fellows; not that he was notably great, but rather, notably a good man. He won his way from poverty to affluence by such fair, honest effort that no one ever said, or thought, that he had been wronged or deceived by him. On the contrary, everyone who had dealings with him, or came in contact with him in any way, recognized in liim a true neighbor. He was born in County Derry, Ireland, April 22, 1825, and came to this country with his parents when he was eight years of age. Two years later he was apprenticed to Samuel McClurken, harness and saddle maker, 438 Wood Street, the same place where he afterward carried on the same business, and where it is still continued under the name of Joseph Loughrey & Son. Through rare business qualifications and fair dealing he succeeded in establishing an extensive business and, what was better, good credit, so that when the war broke out and there was great demand for saddles and harness he had no diffi- culty in securing large and profitable contracts from the Government; and it is a matter of record that no piece of work ever left his shop that did not fill the specifications to the letter. At the time of Lee's raid into Pennsylvania he led his force of more than 200 hands to work on the fortifications, paying them the same wages they were getting in the shop. After the close of the war he became interested for a time with his brother Thomas in steamboating, but without re- linquishing his regular business. Being impressed with the idea that there was greatness in store for Pittsburg, he invested largely in real estate. His judg- ment concerning the growth of the city, and the direction it would take, led him to make investments which steadily and rapidly increased in value so that his fortune was soon made. On account of the death of his father while he was yet an apprentice, which threw upon his young shoulders the responsibility of caring for the family, he had small opportunity for getting an education. This may, in a measure, have led him to take a deep interest in educational affairs in after life. For many years he was a school director, and a trustee and one of the principal founders of the Pittsburg Female College. . He was also notable for the interest he took in church affairs, being a trustee of the Smithfield Street Methodist Episcopal Church until the Oakland Methodist Episcopal Church was built, for which he donated the site, besides contributing to its construction. He afterwards united with Christ Methodist Episcopal Church, and was mainly instrumental in having the new edifice located at Center and Aiken avenues. As a citizen he was ever thoughtful of the city's interests, was one of the first to suggest the establishment of a park, and pointed out the present site as the most desirable, although there were but few to agree with him at that time. In matters relating to finances, and to investments, the city afterward became his debtor for sugges- tions, or more substantial aid and assistance. The extent of Mr. Loughrey's philanthropy will never be fully known. He gave freely to public charities, and contributed generously whenever money was needed to be used in any good cause. But his greater delight seemed to be in helping those who needed help, and he did it so quietly that even members of his own family knew of it only from those who had been helped, if they knew of it at all. And when he came to close his earthly accounts, he also closed the accounts of many who were his 'debtors by removing all evidences of their indebtedness. It is not too much to say that Joseph Loughrey was one of Pittsburg's ablest and most loyal

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citizens. The family he left behind is a more desirable legacy to the city, and to society in general, than millions in money, or piles of magnificent masonry. He died May 9, 1895.

Thomas M. Howe. It is difficult to estimate the benefit which this sagacious and able business man and upright citizen conferred upon Pittsburg and in fact upon the State of Pennsylvania. He was at all times the friend and advocate of industrial advancement, and the leader in all reforms which had for their obect the prosperity of this city and the commonwealth. He identified himself with the most vigorous growth of the interests of both labor and capital, and gave to this city the best years of his life in his endeavor to make it, as he largely did, the pride of subsequent generations. He was descended from John Howe, who came to the New England colonies prior to 1638, and settled at Sudbury, Mass., and whose descendants afterward became prominently identified with the growth of the New World and participated with distinction in its struggle with the Indians, the French and finally with the mother country. The father of Thomas M. was a pioneer, who, in 1817, removed from Vermont to Bloomfield Township, Trumbull County, Ohio,

Thomas M. Howe was born in Williamstown, Vermont, April -, 1808. He received a good education at the famous Warren Academy at Warren, Ohio. He left home before reaching his majority, to battle with life on his own account and accepted a clerkship in the dry goods store of Mason & McDonough of Pitts- burg, where he continued for some time, and then was employed by S. Baird & Co. in the same line. During this period he learned a great deal regarding business. The canal was being built and Pittsburg was in a flourishing condition, and Mr. Howe realized that the city was destined to become one of the strongest centers of manufactures in the United States. He entered into partnership with Leavitt & Co., hardware dealers, and later Wallace, Howe & Co., hardware dealers, and soon made rapid strides in wealth and commercial importance. In 1839 he was elected cashier of the Exchange Bank, in which capacity, during the terrible times from 1840 to 1845, he exhibited marked business ability and developed exceptional skill in mastering the emergencies of panics and hard times. He was drawn into politics and became a staunch supporter of what was then called "the American system," which demanded protection to home manufactures, and thus was a strong supporter of General Harrison for the Presidency in 1840. He made a profound study of State and national affairs, and during the decade of the forties was prominent in the councils of the Whigs. His ability, fearlessness, candor and energy elected him to Congress in 1850, and reëlected him in 1852, during which time he greatly aided the Whigs in shaping national legislation and in laying the foundations for the Republican party. Upon the birth of this party he earnestly supported its principles, and in 1860 became one of the electors of Pennsylvania who cast their votes for Lincoln and Hamlin. In 1859 his friends brought his name into the Republican convention for the governorship and worked hard to secure his nomination, but he was defeated by a narrow margin by Governor Curtin, whom he afterward cordially supported. He was appointed assistant adjutant-general on the Governor's staff, and during the Rebellion rend- ered most efficient service to maintain the integrity of the government. In 1864 his friends urged him to accept the nomination for State treasurer, but for private and business reasons he declined. In 1874 his name was brought forward again by his friends for Secretary of the United States Treasury but he again withdrew his name. He disliked the bitterness engendered in political life and at his age preferred the quietude of home.

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Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 123

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co. Number of Pages: 1192

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1192