Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Biographies

 The following biographies were extracted from:  Biographical review.: containing life sketches of leading citizens of Pittsburg and the vicinity, Pennsylvania. Boston: Biographical Review Pub. Co., 1897, Author:  Anonymous.


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MORGAN EDWARDS GABLE, the editorial manager of the Pittsburg Times and Pittsburg Daily News, is a son of William H. and the late Sarah Ann (Morgan) Gable. Born April 18, 1862, at Strasburg, Lancaster County, he comes of German origin. His ancestors were intelligent, progressive, and broad-minded men. His father was one of the most prominent teachers in the public schools of Eastern Pennsylvania for thirty years, and his mother before her marriage was an instructor in the Linden Hall Seminary at Litisz, Pa. Morgan E. Gable became self-supporting at an unusually early age. When only nine years old he was employed as a slate picker in the anthracite coal region at Tamaqua. When fourteen years of age he began a four years' apprenticeship on the Tamaqua Courier. His first regular employment in newspaper work was in 1881, when he became connected with the Shenandoah Herald.Since that time his career in the press has been phenomenal. Only a little more than a year after his employment on the Shenandoah Herald, in August, 1881, when but nineteen years of age, he became managing editor of the Reading Herald. In this position he gained valuable experience, developing the critical judgment and the quickness of discrimination necessary to the person who has to select the staff for any newspaper.

On November 8, 1883, while making his record on the Herald, he married Margaret Brunson, daughter of the Hon. M. P. Fowler, of Shenandoah, Pa. His connection with the Reading paper had lasted nearly six years when he became the telegraph editor of the Pittsburg Commercial Gazette, and later the city editor. In 1889 he resigned the post arid became special correspondent at Pittsburg for twenty-one of the leading newspapers of the United States. Nearly all the important despatches sent out from Pittsburg that were published in the daily press of the country, passed through his hands. Considering the commercial importance of Pittsburg, this was a position of great responsibility. In December, 1891, Mr. Gable became city editor of the Pittsburg Times, and on May 1, 1892, the managing editor. Mr. Gable has also the editorial management of the Daily News, an afternoon paper controlled by the owners of the Pittsburg Times.
THOMAS WHEELER GALLEHER,  the general freight agent for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, has been connected with this road since he was a boy of fourteen years. He was born near Frederick-town, Knox County, Ohio, April 7, 1858, a son of Ludwell Leith Galleher. His paternal grandfather, Thomas H. Galleher, born July 11, 1792, died February 26, 1859. He resided in Virginia, and followed the occupation of farmer.

Ludwell Leith Galleher was reared and educated in Fauquier County, Virginia, where his birth occurred July 27, 1831. While yet young and single, he went to Ohio, locating in Knox County, where he was engaged in general farming for many years. In 1869 he removed to De Kalb County, Missouri, where he resided on a farm until 1870. Then, being unfavorably impressed with that section of the country, he returned to Ohio, settling in Fredericktown, where he lived retired until his death on November 30, 1888. He married Mary Jane Love, who was born June 21, 1840, in Knox County, daughter of Thomas Love, prosperous farmer. Pleasant and charitable, and a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church in which her husband was for a long time class leader and steward, she resides in Mount Vernon, Ohio. She has six children living, namely: Thomas W., the subject of this sketch; Boman Aker, the agent for the B. O. Railroad at Sandusky, Ohio; Mattie V., the wife of J. F. Hess, who is engaged in mercantile pursuits in Chicago, 111.; Cora Belle, living with her mother at Mount Vernon; Rolla Leroy, of Pittsburg, travelling freight agent for the B. & O. Railroad; and Howard Leith, of this city, stenographer for the B. & O. Railroad.

Thomas Wheeler Galleher attended a country school near Fredericktown until his removal to Missouri with his parents in 1869. On his return to that village in 1870 he completed his education. At the age of fourteen he obtained a position as telegraph messenger at the Baltimore & Ohio station in his native town, and being a bright, intelligent boy, soon mastered the mysteries of telegraphy, at which he spent all his, leisure moments. On November 18, 1872, he became the night operator in the same station, and since that time he has been deservedly promoted to various offices of responsibility until reaching his present position, the duties of which he discharges with thorough efficiency and in a way that gives satisfaction to all concerned. His railroad service, entirely with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad,has been as follows: November 18, 1872, to December 31, 1877, telegraph operator at Fredericktown, Monroeville, Chicago Junction, Butler, Utica, Newark, Lewis Mill, Bellaire, and Columbus, Ohio; January 1, 1878, to July 6, 1880, chief clerk to division freight agent at Columbus, Ohio; July 7, 1880, to January 4, 1882, agent for the Baltimore & Ohio Express at Columbus; January 5, 1882, to February 1, 1882, travelling freight agent at Columbus; February 1, 1882 to April 30, 1882, acting division freight agent at Columbus; May 1, 1882, to May 22, 1885, chief clerk to assistant general freight agent at Columbus; May 23, 1885, to December 31, 1886, chief clerk to assistant general freight agent at Pittsburg, Pa.; January 1, 1887, to March 15, 1896, division freight agent at Pittsburg; March 16, 1896, to February 28, 1897, general freight agent at Pittsburg; March 1, 1897, he was appointed general freight agent at Baltimore, Md., and has since resided with his family in that city.

On September 8, 1886, Mr. Galleher was united in marriage with Miss Anna Hazeltine Potter, daughter of Dr. Samuel B. Potter, of Fredericktown, Ohio. They have one child, Earl Potter Galleher, whose birth occurred May 30, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Galleher are members of the Oakland Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is an officer. Mr. Galleher was made a Mason many years ago in Magnolia Lodge, No. 20, of Columbus, Ohio. He dimitted, and is now a member of Crescent Lodge, No. 576, of Pittsburg; likewise of Ohio Chapter, No. 12, of Columbus; and is a life member of Columbus Council. He also joined Capital Lodge, No. 334, I. O. O. F., of Columbus, in which he passed all the chairs. He is likewise a member of Pittsburg Conclave, No. 89, Improved Order of Heptasophs, of this city. In politics he votes the Republican ticket, but he takes no active part in local affairs.
WILLIAM H. GRAHAM, a prominent business man ofPittsburg, was born in Allegheny City, August 3, 1844, son of Harrison and Elizabeth (Thornley) Graham. His grandfather, William Graham, an Englishman, who had been a sea captain in his own country, was an early settler in Allegheny, where he kept a grocery. William died while the Civil War was waging, being then over eighty years old. Robert, one of his two sons, is now the president of the Bible College of Kentucky. His other son, Harrison Graham, with his wife came to this country from a locality in England near Manchester, in 1830, locating in Philadelphia. After living there for a few years, they travelled over the mountains by wagon, and settled in Allegheny. Harrison was a rope-maker and a confectioner. He died in Pittsburg of cholera in 1854. His wife is still living. They were both members of the Christian church. Of their eight children Sarah, Mary J.; William H., John B., Margaret, and Harry are living. Sarah is the wife of C. L. Netting; Mary J. is the wife of Richard Theophilus; and Margaret is the wife of H. A. Spangler, of Allegheny. Harry is employed in the office of the Recorder of Deeds, Pittsburg.

William H. Graham has passed his entire life in Allegheny. When left fatherless at the age of ten, he was obliged to withdraw from school and go out into the world to earn his living. In April, 1861, young Graham, then only sixteen, enlisted in a Pittsburg company, which, as Pennsylvania 's quota was filled, was not accepted for service. Still determined to go to the war, on learning that West Virginia had been called upon for a regiment, the men composing the company chartered a steamer, by which they went down to Wheeling, where they offered their services. They were accepted for three years as Company A, Second Virginia Infantry. It is claimed that this company killed the first rebel soldier in the war. Mr. Graham was wounded at the battle of White Sulphur Springs, and was sent to the West Penn Hospital, Pittsburg , where he remained until convalescent. Then he returned at once to his regiment. He fought in the battles of Cross Keys, second Bull Run, Beverly, Droop Mountain, Cloyd Mountain, Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, Waynesboro, Five Forks, and in a number of smaller engagements. After two years the regiment was mounted, and subsequently served under General Averill and General Sheridan. At the expiration of his term he accepted employment in the quartermaster's department, and was attached to General Sheridan's headquarters during that dashing general's brilliant campaign in the Shenandoah Valley. He accompanied Sheridan in his famous march across Virginia and ride around Richmond, joining General Grant at Petersburg, and with his cavalry and the Fifth Corps of infantry, he swung around Lee's flank, and fought the decisive battle of Five Forks, breaking Lee's line, and capturing Petersburg, compelling the evacuation of Richmond . During these operations and the pursuit of Lee's army Mr. Graham served as a volunteer aid. While carrying a message to Sheridan on the eventful 9th of April, 1865, he rode out between the two lines of battle to the little village of Appomattox, and there, in the house of Mr. McLean, had the rare good fortune to be one of the few witnesses of the memorable interview between the two great generals that terminated in the surrender of General Lee. After taking part in the Grand Review at Washington he returned to civil life. Upon retiring from the army Mr. Graham and H. A. Spangler formed the firm of Graham & Spangler, wholesale leather dealers in Allegheny. This partnership continued until 1872. Then Mr. Graham became the chairman of Mansfield & Co., Limited, brass manufacturers. He is also president of the Mercantile Trust Company, of the Mercantile Bank, of the Eureka Coal Company, and of the Central Accident Insurance Company.

On September 30, 1869, Mr. Graham married Miss Sadie K. Shields, of whose six children by him: Morris died at the age of eighteen. The others are: Allie, now Mrs. E. R. Kopp; Talbutt C.; William T.; Lesley S; and Elizabeth T. Having taken an active part in politics, Mr. Graham was elected a member of the Common Council of Allegheny in 1873, a member of the Select Council in 1874, and member of the House of Representatives for 1875, 1876, 1877, and 1878. In 1881 he was elected Recorder of Deeds for Allegheny County , and subsequently served nine years in that office. A member of the First Christian Church, he has been a Deacon for many years, an active church worker, and a liberal supporter of the society, and a highly respected citizen. Mr. Graham is also prominent in the Masonic fraternity.


 

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