The subject of this sketch, who died at his residence in the Parkinson property, Barr Street, McDonald, December 20th, was in many respects a remarkable man. Being a person of good mind and fine taste, he had as far as possible during the sixty-six years of his life stood aloof as a thoughtful and rather melancholy observer from the rude, boisterous, and ill directed activities of the crude life around him. He was a worker in wood and a master hand at whatever he gave his mind to, and so unwillingly was he to spoil good timber and half-do work that he said only wasted material and marred landscape, that he could be induced with no money to engage in the rude of rank and file carpenters around him, who forever in a hurried panic, without forethought, design, or satisfactory result, were constructing dwellings and business blocks that he considered inimical to all the first principles of art. And so as an ax-man he found most pleasure alone with himself in the woods. He wa! s a great reader and thinker. The habit of his mind was logical, and it was a pleasure to listen to his deliberate utterances of the well defined thoughts he had forged in his solitude. Mr. WILSON spent his boyhood on a small homestead near SMITH's Mills, on the B. & O. Railroad, in North Strabane Township, to which place his father, who was originally from Derry, Ireland, had come when Thomas was five years old. His mother's name was MCCORKLE and was connected with the MCDONOUGHs, BERRYs, HARTs, WEIRs, HULTZes, THOMASes, and other old families still in that country. He was a second cousin of Cashier G. S. CAMPBELL and also of Mr. HULTZ, the young business partner of 'Squire MAY, who died of typhoid fever in McDonald a few years ago. When a youth he went to Pittsburg and learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner. In 1847 he was married to Miss Eliza Ann MCCLAINE, who family had come to Pittsburg from the East--a people noted for ability in intellectual pursuits. Her ! father was the inventor of the first power threshing machine in this c ountry, long known as the "bunty machine," and she herself was a person of unusual education and culture. There were six children by this first marriage. Four died in infancy. Alice L., the eldest, is the wife of Mr. Samuel AYERS, of East Noblestown Street; Robert Burns is a resident of Frankfort, Ky., unmarried, and a man with a national reputation as an artist and writer. Many of his productions have been published in the Century Magazine. The WILSON family lived in Pittsburg, at SMITH's Mills, (where the poet and artist Robert BURNS was born) at Washington, and at West Alexander, where the wife died and was buried. In after years Mr. WILSON was married to Miss AYERS, a daughter of Mr. John AYERS, of Jumbo. They lived in Mansfield; in '72 they removed to Venice; in '85 removed to McDonald. By this marriage were born two daughters--Ella J., wife of Edward JUDD and Harriet wife of Mr. ROBERTSON, well known citizens of this place. Mr. WILSON was always a consistent member of the U. P. Church; while in Mansfield served as an elder.

August VALENTOUR, Esq., of McDonald was in town last week. He says: the enlargement of the borough limits of that famous oil town is an assured fact. The part of Allegheny County which it is proposed to annex, contains 100 acres, and has a population exceeding 300. Other suburbs of McDonald on the north and west will also be included, which will add about 800 to the population. The census of 1890 gave te borough 1,698 inhabitants, but the great oil boom occurred since then and a very large number of houses have been erected during the past three years. It is thought that the population of the borough as enlarged will considerably exceed 3,000. Mr. VALENTOUR has faith in the future of McDonald and believes that it is assured a steady growth and prosperity. He says substantial improvements have been made during the present year despite the hard times.--Observer

HI Terry, As a new member, I was glad to hear about the onit site. Could you share the web address? I'm looking for the obit for my Great Uncle, Jeremiah Kane ( all spellings!) who was hit by a train in Carnegie and killed. Surely that made the newspapers, but I'm only guessing at the date. He was with a friend ( possibly a relative) named Gallagher. He's buried at St. Luke's without a marker, so I've written to the Diocese for death date. In the mean time, I'm working on the assumption that it's between 1920-30. Thanks,, Bonnie Boyle Harvey, Sarasota, FL

I have added a few more years of Death Notices to the website. a few months of 1873-74 all of 1942 Jan thru March of 1950 Sept thru December of 1854 and a few months of 1929 Terry

A Church Fight at Canonsburg For some time past thee has been a split developing in the Central Presbyterian Church in Canonsburg. The trouble grew out of a desire on the part of the younger element of the congregation to build a new house of worship. The congregation had been worshiping in Providence Hall in the old Jefferson College building. The young people though the hall was not stylish enough and wanted a new church. Several congregational meetings were held at which much ill-feeling was developed, and the result was that several of the wealthiest and most prominent members quit the congregation. The young people however, were determined to have the new church, and went to work to build it. They have raised $6,800 and expect to have the building up by next summer. It is reported that a number of the other faction will follow those who have already left the congregation, and a new congregation may be organized.

The Acme Company's nitroglycerine magazine on the Samuel STURGEON p;ace opposite Willow Grove station, let go on Sunday afternoon about 1:30 o'clock. A large quantity of glycerine was stored there, and the explosion broke most of the windows in Willow Grove and knocked the windows out of Robinson Run Church on the hill half a mile away; the report shook buildings for miles around. Cause of the explosion not known, though supposed to have been from fire caused by an overheated hot air pipe used to warm the magazine. No one was around the magazine at the time; at least no one is known to have perished. It is possible that some one unknown at present may have caused the explosion and disappeared with it. This is the third time in two years this Robinson Run Church had its windows demolished by the Willow Grove glycerine explosions. The church people will probably come on the Acme Company for damages. When the glycerine factory at Willow Grove blew up on Sunday a cloud of dust and debris passed down the Valley over Oakdale two miles away. Houses in Oakdale shook as with an earthquake.

TAKEN FROM THE McDONALD, PA RECORD OF JUNE 23, 1905 A miscellaneous shower was given at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison McClaren, Coraopolis, on Saturday June 24 for Miss Emma McClaren, whose marriage to Mr. Harry McElhaney will occur on Wednesday, June 28. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Benjamin Glass, who formerly taught in Imperial academy, was united in marriage to Miss Clara Hamilton of Tennessee on Thursday of last week. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mrs. Mattie McMurtrie, nee McAyael, gave a tea at her home in East End, Pittsburg, Saturday, June 17, at which the approaching marriage of her daughter Nellie to Mr. Glass was announced. Mr. Glass was formerly of Burgettstown but is now engaged as a druggist in Pittsburg. Miss Lena Allison of this place was a guest at the tea. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mrs. J. A. McDonald and Miss Jane C. McDonald were among the guests in attendance at the largest church wedding ever held in Indiana, Pa. It occurred Wednesday evening when Mr. Charles Maull Pomeroy of Ridley Park and Miss Ada Vere, daughter of Rev. Dr. and Mrs. F. Swartz Crawford were married in the chapel of the new Presbyterian church. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Following is a list of the births and deaths in Cecil township in the last 6 months, taken from the official record which the State law now requires to be kept in each county: Births BOAK, ____ male, white, G. G. BOAK, Lottie Bell BOAK, Venice, engineer, June 12, Venice BRUCE, Jane, female, white, James BRUCE, Jane BRUCE, Jumbo, miner, June 18, Jumbo CAMPBELL, Melvin, male, white, Seymore CHAPPELL, Mary CHAPPLE, McDonald, laborer, September 5, Cecil Twp. CUNNINGHAM, ____, ____, white, Robert N. CUNNINGHAM, McDonald, laborer, October 20, McDonald CAMPBELL, Susan Alexander, female, white, Hugh CAMPBELL, Mary CAMPBELL, Reissing, miner, October 1, Reissing DOLAN, Thomas P., male, white, Thomas P. DOLAN, Annie MAGEE DOLAN, Cecil, miners, October 1, Reissing ECCLES, James, male, white, James ECCLES, Annie ECCLES, Cecil, miner, July 26, Cecil Twp. KELSO, William Findley, male, white William J. KELSO, Ella F. KELSO, Primrose, farmer, June 18, Cecil Twp. MEREDITH, Charles William, male, white, William MEREDITH, Maggie MEREDITH, Jumbo, miner, October 15, Jumbo NEILL, Agnes, female, white, William NEILL, Elizabeth NEILL, Cecil, miner, July 22, Reissing ROBINSON, William Archie, Male, white, J. A. ROBINSON, Rosey A. ROBINSON, Cecil, miner, August 16, Reissing SCOTT, ____, female, white, R. C. SCOTT, Mary Anna SCOTT, Cecil, miner, July 6, Cecil Twp. SCOTT, ____, male, white, John E. SCOTT, Luella, B. SCOTT, Venice, farmer, August 21, Cecil Twp. SMITH, Charley, male, white, Henry H. SMITH, Jennie SMITH, Venice, engineer, September 29, Venice THOMPSON, Mary P., female, white, Jacob THOMPSON, Annie THOMPSON, McDonald, pumper, August 9, Cecil Twp TIMMS, Patrick William, male, white, William TIMMS, Annie TIMMS, Cecil, Sept. 30, Cecil Twp. Deaths CARSON, J. W., male, white, 2* years, single baker, may 28, fever, Noblestown, May 29 CAMPBELL, Mary Ann, female, white, 4 years, Sept. 12, croup, 36 hours, Willow Grove, Sept. 13, John CAMPBELL, Mrs. CAMPBELL JAMISON, Christina, female, white, 9 years, Indiana, June 27, Reissing, brain fever, 10 days, Bridgeville, June 29, William JAMISON, Mrs. JAMISON KOLDYKE, Greurit, male, white, 2 years, Holland, August 19, Cecil Twp., consumption, 4 days, Venice, August 20, R. T. KOLDYKE, Mrs. KOLDYKE MARTIN, Ellen, female, white, 68 years, married, County Antrim, Ireland, October __, McDonald, diseased gaul, 3 months, _____estown, October 28 Unreadable, Tressa, female, white, 38 years, married, Allegheny County, May 24, Cecil Twp., dropped dead, ___ YOUNG, William, male, white, 45 years, married, Cecil Twp., carpenter, September 4, Cecil Twp., Miller's Run, Sept. 4 FRAZEE, male, white, 3 years, Chartiers Township, July __, Venice, pneumonia 1 week, Venice, July __, Hugh FRAZEE, Jane FRAZEE GIFFIN, James P., male, white, 37 years, widow, Cecil Township, Sept. 14, Cecil Twp., near McDonald, murdered, Venice, Sept. 21

W. P. REND regrets exceedingly that the mining rate was dragged down. He says he opposed and stigmatized the move, but competition compelled him to follow the other operators. The colonel says reducing wages will not help the mine owners. He is anxious to have the mining rate restored, and says he is willing to pay as high wages as anybody. He adds that 52 cents per ton is entirely too low. Colonel REND regrets that the agreement was wiped out. It is now everybody for himself, and it is only a question of time until the operators will be squabbling among themselves and competition will become ruinous. Same paper different column: Eight hundred Turtle Creek miners have gone to work at 55 cents. Another column: Section Boss SMITH informs an Outlook reporter that all the hands on his section are now paid only 96 cents a day for eight hours' work. And this rule prevails all along the line. *I believe this relates to the railroad The Canonsburg coal works have shut down indefinitely on account of orders. From 100 to 150 men are thrown out of employment.--Notes December 30, 1893 Outlook At a general meeting of the miners and mine employees of W. P. REND's mines Nos. 2 and 4 resolutions were passed condemning the action of the miners' convention in agreeing to accept a 65-cent rate. A part of the resolution said: "We believe that the only remedy for rate-cutting and the present demoralized condition of mining rates in Western Pennsylvania lies in a closer and more perfect form of mine organization than now exists, and we earnestly request all miners to at once take steps to perfect organization of the mines in order that proper steps may be taken for our protection." December 30, 1893 Outlook Bellaire, O.--A strike of alarming proportions will be instituted by 1600 miners in this vicinity on Jan. 1, if the operators do not revoke their decision to cut wages on that date. The miners affected are those employed along the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Some time ago the operators announced that they were unable to pay 70 cents per ton, as heretofore, and on Jan. 1st would reduce to 60 cents per ton. The miners have refuse the reduction and unless some compromise is effected they will on Monday lay down their tools. December 30, 1893 Outlook The time of the conductors and engineers on local coal trains has been cut from ten hours to eight, and wages correspondingly reduced.

BROWN, RYAN, MALONEY Rev. Cyrus BROWN, a highly respected citizen, died at his home in Cross Creek Township Saturday morning, December 23, aged 66 years of heart disease. Early in life he joined the A. M. E. Church and began to fill pulpit vacancies. He has been pastor of many churches, being appointed to them by the Pittsburg conference of the A. M. E. Church. A special from Greensburg says: The remains of the three men killed here last evening were taken to the county home this morning, where they will be buried this afternoon. The names of two of them are Mike RYAN, of McDonald, Pa., and Arthur CAVENAUGH, of Ironwood, Michigan. The other has not yet been identified. On Tuesday afternoon James MALONEY, an Irishman about 50 years old, was killed by a train at Hanlin.

Court Items In Pittsburg on Tuesday, Antonio CHIODA, was sent to the penitentiary for four years and 10 months for attempting to abduct the seven-year-old daughter of I. W. DAWSON, the Oakdale hotel keeper. On Saturday last a commission de lunatico inquirendo with Oliver HENDERSON as commissioner, met at the office of J. M. PATTERSON, Esq., and declared Catherine HINDMAN of Bavington, this county, a lunatic. The action was necessary for a final disposal of some property for which Mrs. HINDMAN was executrix. Before 'Squire Love Commonwealth vs. Mrs. Catherine and Mary KERR, of Rend 4 shaft, assaulting and battering Mrs. Lizzie CRAIG. Compromised. Commonwealth vs. John PASSIEUR, East End, McDonald, charged by his wife with assault and battery, $300 bal given for a hearing next Friday. Commonwealth vs. Jack BURNS of Miller's Crossing fro riding a pony through the streets of McDonald, defying the powers of air and earth, shooting at Officer OLIVER, resisting arrest, carrying concealed weapons, $1,000 pail wanted. Taken to jail by OLIVER Thursday evening. After shooting at the Officer BURNS was found on his pony by Officers OLIVER and CONLEY and John BUCHHEIT. CONLEY upset the horse and man and the arrest was then effected.

Another Willow Grove tragedy. Antonia GRISCOLINI, who is employed in the mines at Willow Grove, cut his throat on Monday from ear to ear. The implement he used to accomplish his work was a razor, and the reason he gave for the act was that he "had too much blood." GRISCOLINI has a wife at three children who live at Willow Grove. Monday about noon he returned from work and going to his room, cut his throat. After he had done this he inserted the razor into the gaping wound and twisted it around in such a manner as to make a frightful aperture. He was discovered in an unconscious condition by his wife shortly after he had finished his bloody work. She called in a doctor who succeeded in stopping the flow of blood. GRISCOLINI was taken to the West Penn hospital where at last accounts he was in a critical condition.

BANNISTER, CANNON, CASTNER, WILSON Dec. 23, 1893 McDonald PA Outlook Joseph BANNISTER, who is well-known in McDonald as an oil man, died at Wellsville, N. Y., last Saturday from injuries received in an accident. The nature of the accident was not mentioned in the telegram. Elsewhere is a brief note of the death of Joseph BANNISTER at Wellsville, N. Y. It now appears that he was run over by a train, both legs being crushed, and he lived but a few hours. He was 32 years old. Was well known in the oil fields as an extensive operator. He had gone home to visit his father and mother. He came to his death by trying to pass across a freight train which blockaded a crossing, the cars starting up and throwing him under. The wife of Mr. Joseph LYONS, who lives in one of the MALONEY houses, is a sister. Mathew CANNON, of Canonsburg, 87 years old, died in Iowa on the 11th. Canonsburg was named after his grandfather. Samuel CASTNER, a highly esteemed and prosperous farmer of Independence Township, died Sunday of pneumonia, after an illness of three weeks. He was in this 75th year. Thomas M. WILSON, of Barr Street, died of enlargement of the liver on Wednesday evening at 9 o'clock. He had been ill during the summer and fall. An autopsy was held under the management of Dr. LAROSS, who had attended the patient, Drs. COOK, WOODS and DICKSON being present. It was found that Dr. LAROSS had diagnosed the case correctly in every particular. The funeral is on Friday at 1 p.m. Interment at the Hill cemetery. A detailed sketch of the life and character of Mr. WILSON, who was, in many respects, a remarkable man, will appear in the next issue.

There is no subject in which the towns of Mansfield, Bridgeville, Oakdale and McDonald are more interested at present than the building of an electric line by a direct route to Pittsburgh. Let the South Side barrier be overcome by a tunnel, and thus shorten the distance to the city by some three or four miles, then with fares less than one-half the exorbitant rates now charged by the Panhandle railroad, and the Chartiers and Robinson's Run valleys afford the most desirable outlet to the overcrowded downtown districts of the city. Which such facilities for travel to this city, this region will enter upon an era of phenomenal development. It is wise for the Pittsburg city fathers, who have in the past been so lavish with their franchises, to construct a movement that promise so much for the betterment of the densely packed downtown and South Side portions of Pittsburg? (sic) These valleys will open up homes for thousands of laboring men's families, near to the mills and b! usiness localities; and once removed from the vice and temptations of the city, they will save their money, become quiet, law-abiding citizens, and own their own homes. Nothing has more elevating influence upon a family than owning and improving of a home. There is no healthier locality in the neighborhood of the city than the section that would be opened up by the Electric line proposed to be built to Mansfield, and which would certainly soon be extended to Bridgeville and McDonald.--Mansfield Item

PREVIT, MCLANDSBOROUGH, TOWARD, MULVEY, RAVENSCRAFT An aged Frenchman named Benoit PREVIT died at Willow Grove on last Friday and was buried on Sunday. He left some property but had made no will. C. M. MCLANDSBOROUGH, a Panhandle brakeman was run over and instantly killed last Tuesday evening near Seventeenth Street, in the Pennsylvania yards. He lived at Denison, Ohio. Died, at Champion, on the 14th, child of Mr. George TOWARD, aged two years. Died, on the 13th, at Willow Grove, John MULVEY, aged 60 years. Died November 16, 1893, in Smith Township, of cancer, Jane, wife of Robert RAVENSCRAFT, aged 76 years.

Attorney Alvin C. SPINDLER has been busy arranging for a settlement of the estate of James P. GIFFEN, who was murdered several months ago on the Venice Road. The division of the estate may involve some litigation as there are many outstanding debts. A list of the debtors, which was contained in a private memorandum book, is supposed to have been stolen on the night of the murder. As yet no trace of GIFFEN's murderer has been found. A quiet search is still been conducted. John P. GIFFEN, a brother of the deceased, has increased the reward first offered to $500. GILKINSON detectives are still in his employ. What headway they are making in the case the attorney refuses to state. Same paper, different column At the time of the discovery of the dead body of James GIFFEN, several months ago, it was rumored that the Union Central Life Insurance Company would refuse to pay the $2,000 insurance GIFFEN carried in that company on account of there being a supposition that suicide had been resorted to. On Tuesday, HUGHES Brothers, the local agents, received from headquarters the full amount of the two policies, $3,000, and this amount is awaiting the heirs of GIFFEN and will be paid over to them as soon as possible.

Near Hickory, David CROTTY was on Saturday night last the victim of a fatal accident. He was a farm hand for James S. BUCHANAN, and had led a fractions colt to the watering trough on the road near the house. Sometime afterward his lifeless body was found on the road by Joseph HENDERSON and wife. The man's clothing was badly torn, his face crushed as also was his shoulder. The cold was found some distance away. It is thought that the animal scared and jerked CROTTY off his feet, and the hitching strap, being probably wrapped around his hand, he was dragged and trampled to death. The unfortunate man was about 35 years of age and has been living for several year in that neighborhood, spending two years of that time at BUCHANAN's. He came from the east and is not known to have any family.

It is seldom, even in these days of disaster on rail and water, that the newspapers have such a horror to record as the killing of Miss Lillie MCDILL, daughter of Rev. Dr. MCDILL, president of Xenia Theological Seminary, and Miss Sophia KELSO by a train at that place recently. The train was making 60 miles an hour, the buggy with the three young ladies was on the crossing. The horse was killed, the buggy was torn into kindling wood, Miss MCDILL was thrown 90 feet, her eye was knocked out onto the cheek, and her head crushed in on a stone: Miss Sophia KELSO was impaled on an iron projection of the locomotive, which penetrated her head, and carried some distance; both legs were broken; Miss Sallie KELSO was thrown about 80 feet and very seriously injured; when found she was wrapped up in the buggy blanket and her head rested on one of the buggy cushions, which alone saved her life. Miss Sallie, the only survivor, is said to be slowly recovering. It will be a century befor! e the MCDILL and KELSO families forget this climax of tragedies. See that buggy, the horse, the three bright young ladies, returning from a charitable errand-such a picture as angels might delight in-a thunderbolt effaces the picture and the crushed and bleeding fragments are hurled through the air. As often as that picture comes to mind it is accompanied with a chill, and, while in the material world is has passed to the rear yet such is the impression it has made on the mind that the Xenia railroad crossing, the horse and buggy, the three ladies, the hurricane of iron that strikes them, will ever be vividly before the eyes of thousands. For such a scene once sunk deep in the mind is always there to be developed in full form and with sharp outlines at frequent intervals, and influencing the life and character-a perpetual reminder that in the midst of the most buoyant and promising life a shadowless Death may be found right there.

TAKEN FROM THE McDONALD, PA NEWSPAPERS MARCH 21, 1924 SELL-WHITE Catherine WHITE, Library To Charles SELL, Noblestown March 15, 1924 Washington, PA Attendants; Peter Habunet, Irene Schafer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MAY 23, 1924 SCHOLLAERT-CORRIGAN Anna CORRIGAN, Monessen To D. SCHOLLAERT, Monessen, formerly Sturgeon May 6, 1924 Will reside in Monessen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DECEMBER 19, 1924 DIVORCE NOTICE A decree in divorce has been recommended in the suit of Olive M. LESCALLETTE of McDonald, against Albert M. LESCALLETTE. They were married April 17, 1911, at McDonald. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CALOHAN November 24, at Oranda, Va., Gen. William S. CALOHAN, well known for more that half a century all over this county, died of paralysis. He was born February 11, 1811, in Peters Township. N business and in politics he was for many years one of the leading men in this end of the state.