John C. Steiner

JOHN C. STEINER, justice of the peace of the borough of Scottdale, a veteran of the Civil war, and an active and public-spirited citizen, promoting to the best of his ability the interests of the community in which he resides, was born in Hempfield township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, May 26, 1839, son of Philip and Elizabeth (Fox) Steiner, and grandson of John Steiner.

John Steiner (grandfather) came front Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, to Westmoreland county about the time of his marriage or shortly afterward. He located in Hempfield township and there purchased a farm of about one hundred and fifty acres, which he cultivated and improved, and whereupon he resided until his decease, when he was upwards of eighty years of age. He was a man of character and standing in the community, devoted to his home and family, and a consistent member of the Reformed church. He was a descendant of a German ancestry. His wife, who was a Miss Wentzel prior to her marriage, bore him children: Jacob, a hatter; Daniel, a mason; Joseph, a mason; Philip, mentioned hereafter; Henry, a blacksmith; John, a farmer; Hannah, married David Million; Elizabeth, married Michael Eisenman; and Mary, married John LB. Miller.

Philip Steiner (father) was born in Hempfield township, Westmoreland county, 1812, and died in 1894, having spent his entire life in his native township. He learned the trade of hatter during his boyhood with his brother Jacob in the village of Adamsburg, Westmoreland county. He followed this line of work for several years, then gave his attention to agricultural pursuits, and later worked at the trade of tinner, conducting a shop of his own until he attained the age of sixty-five years, when he retired from active business. As early as 1845 he served as supervisor of the township, and later served as supervisor, performing the duties carefully and conscientiously. He was a member and elder for many years in the Lutheran church, and was an adherent of Republican principles. He married Elizabeth Fox, daughter of Philip and Sarah (Campbell) Fox, the latter a native of Mercer county, Pennsylvania. Their children were: John C., mentioned hereafter; Maria, wife of John W. Finxel, of New Staunton, Pa.; Sylvester, a resident of Millersdale, Pa.; Henry V., a resident of New Staunton, Pa.; David P., deceased; Elsie C., wife of I. W. More, of New Stranton, Pa.; and Hannah, died in infancy.

John C. Steiner was reared in his native township, Hempfield, and educated in the public schools thereof. He worked at the trade of tinner with his father, and at the age of eighteen learned the trade of shoemaker which he followed up to 1885, conducting an establishment of his own in New Staunton, his business being one of the best and most extensive in that locality. In 1879 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he filled until 1894. Two years later he took up his abode in Scottdale, his present residence, and in 1901 was elected justice of the peace on the Democratic ticket, receiving a majority of two hundred and thirty-six votes. This attested to his popularity, as the borough has a Republican majority of four hundred and fifty votes. He is faithful and efficient in the performance of his duties, and has had very few reversals as he weighs carefully the evidence in each and every case brought before him. He also served as constable from 1875 to 1879. He enlisted, in 1863, in the Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania Militia, and August 30, 1864, became a member of Company K, Two Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He received a gunshot wound in the head at the battle of Petersburg, April 2, 1865, and was removed to a hospital, where he remained until his discharge front the service at the close of the war, June 22, 1865. He is a member of Colonel Ellsworth's Post, No. 209, of Scottdale, of which he is past commander. He is a member of Three Graces Lodge, No. 934, I. O. O. F., at Madison, Pennsylvania, and of A. O. U. K. M., No. 342, of Scottdale. He is efficient and well liked as a public official, and stands deservedly high as a citizen of the county.

He married, August 9, 1860, Harriet C. Pool, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Hauser) Pool. She was born in Hempfield township, and bore her husband children: Curtin Philip, a hotel proprietor; Lizzie M., wife of L. M. Hays, of East Greensburg, Pa.; Charles E., of Scottdale, employed as conductor on the Pennsylvania railroad; Katie T., wife of James B. Funk, of New Staunton, Pa.; Samuel O., cigar manufacturer of Scottdale; Annie M., unmarried; Joseph McKee, cigar manufacturer, Scottdale; and Sarah W., unmarried. The family are members of the Lutheran church of Scottdale.

The firm of Steiner Brothers, cigar manufacturers and dealers, conducting business at No. 103,Pittsburg street, Scottdale, is composed of Samuel O., and Joseph McKee Steiner, mentioned above. This firm was successor to C. P. Steiner, who succeeded B. C. Fritz, who was successor to Daniel Wilhelm. When the present firm took charge of the business in 1896, it was conducted on a small scale, operating three hands a portion of the time, but they at once put new life into it, and have increased gradually until at the present time (1905) they give constant employment to fourteen people. They manufacture stogies exclusively, all the various grades, and their goods find a ready sale in many states of the union. In their salesrooms they handle all kinds of cigars, tobacco and smokers' supplies, also stationery, newspapers, periodicals and various other articles along that line. The proprietors of this business are among the energetic young business men of Scottdale, are men of character and standing, and in every way worthy of the success which has crowned their efforts. Samuel O., born September 17, 1873, is a stockholder in two of the banks of Scottdale, a member of the Lutheran church, in which he serves in various official capacities, and also active in the Sabbath School connected therewith, and a member of the A. O. U. W., of which he is a collector. He married, August 24, 1904, Lillian B Leichleiter, daughter of L. B. Leichleiter, of Everson, Fayette county. Joseph McKee, born February 14, 1875, is also a stockholder in two of the banks of Scottdale, a member of the B. P. O. E., Scottdale Lodge, No. 777, also R. A. He married, November 20, 1901, Catherine O'Neill, daughter of Charles O'Neill, of Everson, Pennsylvania.

Source: Page(s) 157-159, History of Westmoreland County, Volume II, Pennsylvania by John N Boucher. New York, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906.
Transcribed May 2007 by Nathan Zipfel for the Westmoreland County History Project
Contributed for use by the Westmoreland County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/westmoreland/)

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